Beadle's Dime Library No. 415 — page 18: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

* ‘ * . | ie! te be. - ties 4 « coaat : ~~ = > ~~ < i % ay A wo ¥ ee *, . * ’ - coast of Mexico.” Fe : ml? : = ee - 18 “My dear father, don’t put it in that way. You would hardly understand if I told you. Neither money nor jewels has been lost; only —a—documents relating to our researches, All will be made clear in due time. Pray give me leave to send Tim for Detective Neat.’ ‘* Do it; do it if you want to. I’m only a passenger,” sourly replied the veteran, And so the San Francisco detective was sent for. He had just finished a trail and was waiting at Clifftown for the boat to take him back, but he promptly obeyed the call to assist tne rich Nettletons, not knowing how few of the household wanted him there. Paul and the professor had, in the mean- while, held a conference in the east room. What was said nobody else knew, but Paul came out with a set, determined face. ~’ Mr. Hazlitt had lost all his individuality, and was pale, nervous and ill at ease, Detective Neat proved to be a tall, slender man with an expression of deep melancholy, but keen, observing eyes. Paul took the lead in conversation. An arti- cle of value had been stolen from the drawer of the “‘ secretary” in his room, and he was will- —_-- + ing to pay well for its recovery. ‘What is lost?" asked Mr. Neat, with deep melancholy. ** Documents of value.” ** What is their nature?” ‘Ts it necessary that I should state?” Paul asked the question with apparent embar- rassment. ‘*Certaizly. How can I hunt fora thing the nature of which is unknown to me?” *-T will fully explain to you later, then.” Commodore Nick moved uneasily. No one gave the members of the family was within hearing of Paul’s voice, yet he still declined to _ speak plainly. ‘Tf you think me, or Bab, or Leona, has rob- bed you, boy, spit it right out,” he said, sharply. _ “My dear father, I think nothing of the kind, It is only because you would not comprehend that—” - you’re right, my girl. ‘‘Wather,” interrupted Barbara, coldly, ‘I - think that you and I, and Leona had better re- tire. We are evidently three ghosts at this mysterious banquet.” ‘Shoot me for a pirate! if I don’t b’lieve We'll go.” The veteran rose, but Paul spoke in a firm voice: “Wait, sir, if you please. It is absolutely necessary that you remain. You must hear what I have to say.” Detective Neat’s keen eyes were losing noth- ing, and he plainly saw that Paul had all his kindred against him. The man from Frisco be- . to think he had stumbled upon a family af- iS fair of no small magnitude. Commodore Nick sat down again. He wanted to hear what was said, and would not throw away the opportunity merely to spite his son, ** Blow your bugle he growled. ‘*T wish to say,” added Paul, in a hard, tense Yoice, “that I believe I know who the thief “Ah!” said Mr. Neat, quickly, but very qui- F etl . ; > Tt is an Indian woman, named Loyola!” ‘** Beard o’ Neptune!” The commodore started to his feet, and then _ gtood looking at his son for a moment in utter amazement; but a flush of anger then colored his face, anc he struck his massive hand cn the table. _. “Young man, you don’t know what you're proper jud ed - - i . . about!” ‘*T beg your pardon, sir, but Mr. Neat is the of that.” Barbara touched her father’s arm, and he sub- sided with docility not induced by his son. * Allow me to ask why you suspect the Indian ar said the detective—‘‘also, who is e? “A servant in this house—the doer of the heavy work. Father found her years ago on the “That explains in a measure who is she. Next, why "She is do you suspect her?” the only member of the household _ whom we ern suspect—and the thief was one of ‘i +>. 3 Z * * * . ae 2 .* “re i, 4 * «4 cf ri 4 Ma ‘ “ en im ‘ a * ~ ee) 7 @ with perceptible 4 « _ the household.” The shadow of a smile crossed Mr. Neat’s face, but only to leave his melancholy more pro- now ; I a Were the lost articles of value to her?” - Paul hesitated, and glanced at Professor Haz- litt, who in turn looked around the circle as though fr ghtened. “We will k of that later,” said Paul, embarrassment. ‘ First, let me me state how the missing article disappear- ed— “Article? ‘You used the plural number be- ~ sore.” came ang Mr. Neat, ; Sey ioe t afternoon. At that time I put it in the morning it was go quietly, ‘*Tt should be the singular.’ ** Proceed,” ‘* The missing article was safe at five o’clock secretary drawer and locked it up. This ne. ** Where was your key during the night?” Hot Heart, the De ®. ee % - * ¢ . “ > « as tle oF as a ** In my pocket.” ** And you slept in the room?” “cc es b) ** Are you a heavy sleeper?” ** Quite the contrary. have no doubt that the theft took place before I retired.” ‘* Was the key in your possession during the evening?” ce Yes.” ‘Ts there more than one key?” Paul glanced at Barbara, who coldly answered that there was but one key. ‘** Was the drawer broken open!” ‘That is what puzzles me. There is no sign that such was the case, but how in the world did any one get in otherwise? I believe—” He paused, looked secretly at Barbara and Fy at tective § did not finish. Detective Neat arose. He had | already seen that Paul did not have the sym- pathy of his relatives, and he felt that it was a waste of time to continue the conversation there. ‘‘ Show me the secretary and the drawer, if you please,” he said. Paul and the professor went with him, The secretary wasan old piece of furniture which had seen about as many hard knocks as Commodore Nick himself, but the wood was tonzh and firm, and Mr. Neat saw no sign of decay except that there were numerous bruises | and, in places, the wood had shrunk apart where | tho various pieces met. The drawer was a small one, and as tight as when first made, so far as the actual box-part was concerned. The detective examined it; saw that there was no chance for a rat or mouse to enter at the top;looked at the lock critically, shook the drawer and then sai i: ** Lock it.” Paul obeyed. Neat then bore down slightly on the knob, and, giving the drawer a quick, sharp pull—lo! it opened, leaving the bolt pro- truding upwa.d. oe thouzht so,” quietly added Neat. ‘* The wood has Soatraeted so that tho bolt does not hold sufficiently to make it secure. We need spend no more time in speculating how it was opened, Any one could do it.” Saying this, he turned about, leaned against the secretary, looked at Paul with melancholy intentness and added: ** Now, young man, what is lost?” Paul and Hazlitt had talked for nearly an hour to decide what to say to the detective, yet the former hesitated and glanced at his ally be: fore he ventured the reply: ‘* A parchment.” ‘*Um! Do you use the word in its only cor- rect sense, meaning the dressed skin of an animal, prepared for writing?” “Was there writing upon it?” CHAPTER XXIL THE YELLOW PARCHMENT. ONCE more Paul hesitated fora moment. He looked grave and troubled, while Professor Hazlitt’s hands trembled with nervousness, and his eyes had a frightened look. ‘Ves, there was writing upon it,” Paul finally answered, ** What was the writing?” ‘* We no not know.” ** Don’t know?” Mr. Neat spoke somewhat sharply, and his eyes seomed to read young Nettleton’s mind, He knew he was on the track of a mystery, and was very anry that his employer did not speak out more fully. “The writing was in cipher, and we have no idea what it was, nor how to translate it.” ** Who wrote it?” ** Even that we do not know.” ‘* Where did you get it?” “In a curiosity shop in San Francisco, It was kicking around with a lot of waste paper, collected from scores of stores and offices—old vdds and ends—but I saw it, and, being inter- ested in ciphers and the like, set out to know what it was.” ‘* Then its value is personal, not monetary?” ** Just so,” said Paul, witha sigh of relief. ‘Then why are you so anxious to find it?” ‘** Did I not tell you I was interested in secret writing, ciphers, and the like?” ‘* What reason havo you for thinking that the | ' alike, -_—_—_—-- eee - a | i | Indian woman, Loyola, is similarly interested?” — Mr. Neat, hanging heavily on the desk with | his hands spread wide apart behind him, looked at Paul with melancholy intentness, and hi: , es questions were very annoying. Paul ushed, and the professor moved nervously. PY. a five hundred dollars sufficiently pay you ‘* Unless I devote a good deal of time to it, it would.” Then Mr. Neat looked out of the window and drummed a slow, melancholy tune on the secre- tary with his fingers. ‘** There may be one other person worth watch- ing,” added Paul, after a pause, ‘Who is that?” ‘** The ranch overseer, Philip Warburton.” This was a gratuitous insult to an honest man, and arose only from Paul’s hatred of his rival. ‘*Why should he want the cipher?’ asked Mr. Neat. **He don’t ike me. He is a careless, inatten- tive employee, and I have been obliged to call my father’s attention to him. Of course he would like to be revenged.” The detective’s gaze wandered ovt of the win- dow again, hovered there a moment and then came back again to Paul’sface. Neat’s regard then became painfully sharp. ‘**Mr. Nettleton, are you sure you are dealing frankly with me?” he asked. “Certainly I am, sir. Why do you ask the question?” **T ean harcly believe thet ycu wonld employ a detective, and pay five hundred dollars, to re- cover a secret cipher found among old rubbish, when you kuew nothing of its nature and con- tents.’ Paul’s eyes fell before that incisive gaze, ‘You sjould remember that no two men are Each of us has his passion, peculiarity, pet fancy. Mine is for research, such es other men would laugh at, and I called Professor Hazlitt to my aid because I knew him to be in- terested in just such things.” ‘* What did the missing parchment look like?” ‘Tn shape, it was much like a sheet of writ- ing-paper, of the size called ‘fool’s-cap.’ Its color was a yellow; while the characters on it were nearly white, having probably faded from. the original color.” “* Have be a copy?” ** More fools we, we made none.” ‘* Do all the servants know of the theft?” “* Undoubtedly.” ‘** Let me see the Indian woman.” Paul went out, and soon returned accompa- nied by Loyola. She was as calm as Mr. Neat, himself, and in the few seconds he devoted to silently studying her, he came to the conclusicn that she was no ordinary person. Her manner, however, was respectful, and free from both fear and defiance. ‘* Loyola,” said Mr, Neat, quietly, ‘‘ I suppose: you have heard that Mr. Nettleton has missed a parchment.” ‘*‘T knew something was gone; me not know what.” She answered gong & mixing good English with bad, according to her usual custom. ‘* Do you know what parchment is?” ‘*Skins made to mark on,” “Exactly. Well, when you saw this parch- ment here, before it disappeared, did you notice it enough to recognize itif you were to see it. again?” ‘**T never saw it here, senor.” ‘“No? Where did you see it?” *“ Nowhere, senor, I did not know Master- Paul had any such thing.” ‘*Did you notice what was lying on this table last night?” ‘‘T was not here last night. Rosa, she look after rooms; I work below, in kitchev.” **Do you not do any work here?” ae work, senor. Rosa, she work in cham- ¢ ‘* Did she work here last evening?’ “Don’t know, senor. Me not up-stairs im evening, nor yesserday.” ‘* Who told you something was missing?” ‘“Mrs. Drake—housekeeper. She tells Rosa and me.” | ‘* Did you ever see the key to that drawer?” ** Yes, senor.” ** When?” ‘‘In Frisco—here. It has always been in the drawer just like as now,” ‘* Always?” ‘¢ Yes, senor.” ‘Tt was, until I came,” said Paul,in a low voice, to the detective. ‘Since then it has never left my possession.” ‘‘Ts there a locksmith near here, or any one who could make a key from a model, or an im-. »ression ¢” ‘* Not to my knowledge,” Neat meditated for a moment, and then “Loyola,” the younger man replied, ‘‘is the turned again to the Indian woman. only one of the household who would do such a sknl This was a falsehood one in Coast Castle had paid so little percepti- ble attention to him and Haziitt. ** What could she want of the parchment?” “Tt would, of course, be of no real use to her. Only natural viciousness con!d urge her on.” ** Ts she naturally vicious?’ ‘** My fatber would say, no; I say, yes.” ‘* How much are you willing to this cryptograim restored to you?” g around and prying into my affairs.” from whole cloth. No | ' pay to have | of ‘‘Loyola, how long has it been since this: met and T have noticed that she has been drawer has been in such condition that it could in not be securely locked?” The question seemed to puzzle her, and he had to repeat it before obtaining a direct answer. She then said that she bad never tried it, or given thought to the matter. She furthermore stated that she did not remember being in the room but once since Paul came home, and she had not then noticed whether the key was in its lace. She did not know that he had anything especial interest, or value, in the room. Paul was impatient to have her directly ac-- <€om chooks:com