Beadle's Dime Library No. 415 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

2 we .'. wiley tL bs = oe ot ae . > ¢ Hot Heart, the Detective Spy. - ‘‘So she had a lover? Foolish girl! Now, in- deed, you touch my heart. I pity her!” ‘‘ Sir,” said the detective, sharply, “I beg that you will abandon this light manner. We have reason to believe the unhappy girl has | tive came suddenly u drowned herself in Nigger Arm.” Hot Heart became serious in a moment. “I beg your pardon, sir; I did not suppose it was anything like that. Why do you think she is drowned?” “It is all along of that wretched mystery at Coast Castle. If my suspicion is correct, she probably passed bere some time after eight o’clock last night, Did you see any woman pass?” sé No.” ‘‘And you can throw no light on the sub- ject?” ‘* None whatever. By the way, you connect her with the mystery of Coast Castle. Do I un- derstand you to intimute that, if she has drown- ed her elf, it is a direct result of the Coast Cas- tle robbery?” ‘* Yes, sir.” ‘‘Then you are wrong.” ‘** You speak positively.” =o.” ‘What other motive could she have for drowning herself?” ‘*T haven t the ghost of an idea, but you can bet she had no part in the robbery.” “Mr. Hot Heart, you owe it to your good name to tell me what you know about the ob- ' ject of that robbery, and the nature of the arti- cle stolen. You take no trouble to hide the fact that you know all this, and if you do not ex- plain, you may give birth to the suspicion that you know all about the actu.] theft.” ‘*T have no fear of being implicated in it,” Mrazer coolly replied. ‘‘As for telling you what was stolen, 1 decline to state my opinion. That is the place of Paul Nettleton. More fool he, if he don’t speak plainly to you—more fool ‘ou if you work on the case in the dark. Young ettleton knows very well who committed the theft, and why it was done.” ‘‘He says it was done by Loyola and Red Jaguar.” _* Well?” | gong could they want of—of what is miss- ing ** Ask your employer.” ‘‘Loyola is from Mexico; Red Jaguar is a Californian Indian. What interest have they in common?” ‘* Ask your employer.” ‘*[ am asking you.” ‘‘ And throwing away a good deal of breath. I don’t love Paul well enough to help him re- cover his losttreasure. On the contrary, I ought to flog him.” ‘‘- You would, were it not for his sister.” Frazer’s eyes suddenly sparkled. ‘* Excuse me,” he said, rigidly, *‘ but I see no need of dragging a lady’s name into the discus- sion. +7 merely wanted to let you seo that I am not blind,” Mr. Neat dryly replied. ‘‘ Well, Hot H , if time pulls you and me by the ears, pray remember that I have twice requested you to be my friend and ally.” There was a significance in the last sentence which Frazer could not avoid noticing, but ho disregarded it, As his visitor arose, he asked where the detective was going. “To Nigger Arm, to search for signs of Rosa.” oa : ‘‘ With your permission, I will accompany rou,” : Neat did not object, and they walked down to the water together. ; Hot Heart evinced a “iesire to get particulars in regard to Rosa, bré it was tho detectivo’s turn to be non-comm ictal, and he would not sat- isfy his companion” curiosity cag 6 ey searched thoroughly for the girl’s foot- prints, but found tosign whatever. The waters of the dark inlet rippled with unusual placidity, and told no talJs. Midway to-vard Clifftown, three boats’ crews were draggiag ‘the ocean-arm for Bill Peters’s body, but ~yithout success. Tbs od,” remarked the Fire-Water, ‘‘ how to do with Paul Net- those who have anythin Nigger Arm when a tleton gravitate towar grate is needed.” nce more Mr. Neat thought his companion’s ~anner significant, and he slowly observed: ‘* Perhaps you can explain Peters’s death.” “ You con better ask your employer,” dryly replied Frazer. he detective did not answer, but stood look- ing at the men in the boats, thoughtfully. He was hemmed in with mystery in his latest case, — there were other mysteries about Coast e. knew about Bill Peters’s case; he was aware that Commodore Nettleton had declared that the missing man was too good a sailor to be drowned in Nigger Arm; and Hot Heart's last words brought up vague doubts and speculations in his mind. / turned abruptly away from the water, He “T think I will go back to Coast Castle,” he | men from their said, curtly. Hot Heart accompanied him as far as the —— | | him, He mentioned his unavailing visit to Nig- He had heard all that people in general | thought. ‘‘ Hisreferences to Bennett and Peters, | ruined convent, but not a word passed between | them. Neai’s manner had grown frigid, and the Fire-Eater was yrs indifferent. As he entered the Nettleton grounds the detec- | n Paul, and he deter- | mined to mention an idea that bad occurred to ger Arm, and then added: ‘*T saw that the dragging for Bill Peters’s body was going on, Three boats were out and a NOTE.” .... ** Zealously ?” ** Well, I can’t say as to that.” **I shall increase the reward offered. I must find Bill’s body, if such a thing is possible.” ‘‘He was your servant for a long time, I believe?” ‘**Six years,” ‘* Continuously ?” no ‘* And well known to your father before that?” “eee ‘* Likewise, a trusted servant?” ‘*Yes, sir. Peters was a rough, uneducated man, but he was a jewel; an honest, faithful | mar, ‘*THumph! Did he know you possessed the se- cret cipher?” Kor a reason best known to himself, Paul’s blood seemed tv grow cold. Why did Neat went | to know about Peters? Paul felt a cold perspi- | ration gathering on his forehead, and was pain- | fully suspicious that conscious ruilt was express- ed on his face. He tried to answer indifferently, naturally. “Oh! no; be never heard of the cipher. To him it would have seemed child’s play. He was no proerapber. ‘** Was there no way by which he could have learned of the secret paper?” ‘* None whatever.” ‘‘Are you sure he was drowned in Nigger Arm?” Paul longed to throttle the man who asked these ugly questions, and felt himself treading close to a precipice. “There is no reasonable doubt in the case, that Ican see. At the same time, I hope Bill escaped.” ‘*Is it not possible that he learned of the se- cret paper and, believing it to be of financial value, determined to secure it; then concted the scheme of making you think him drowned, lay arouud and finally stole the parchment?” ‘**I should pronounce it simply impossible. What gave you the idea, Mr. Neat?” ** Hot Heart suggested it,” Again Paul was terribly startled. He had not forgotten that the revolver with which he had shot Bill Peters had been found in Hot Heart’s room; nor had he forgotten the mysterious ref- erence to George Temple Bennett which so star- tled him on the day Barbara was rescued from Lopez, the Mexican; and he had been fearing that the Fire-Eater would do him berm. It was with difficulty that he replied: ‘‘ What did Hot Heart say?’ ‘** Well, his exact words have escaped me, and they were not so very importantin themselves,” Neat honestly answered, ‘* but I gained tbe idea that there might be more in the Peters matter than was “apna orp known. In fact, that you might know something to prove that Peters was not drowned in Nigger Arm,” ‘* I know nothing to that effect.” ‘* And you really had confiden¢e in Peters?” ‘* Implicit.” ‘* What do vou think of Hot Heart?” ‘*He’s a scoundrel. There is ro doubt in my mind but that he killed Palmer Hague.” ‘Why do you think so?” ‘* He, alone, had a mctive, and the testimony on which he was released was far from convinc- ing. ‘** Any other reason?” “ None, except his bad character.” Mr. Neat fell into deep thought, and Paul wandered away and left him. In truth, the de- tective was perplexed in morothan one way, not the least of which was Palmer Hague’s death. If Paul had been told that the San Francisco man had accepted his case merely as a cover un- der which to work a greater one, and that it was this which had brought him to Clifftown the young man would have been surprised; yet such was the fact. The detective had many things to occupy his attention, but as he usually won a case when he took hold of it, he was liable to make matters a for somebody around Clifftown before he e e had already frightened Paul desperately. The young man walked away with a white face, wiping the perspiration from his forehead. “Hot Heart knows all, as sure as fate!” he ae eee iC rove that. But how did he get hisinformation? an it be that—” ; A new expression of alarm passed over his ace. He believed he had shot Peters fatally, and he had certainly piled three feet of earth upon him, but, having heard of the resurrection of araves he was beset with a fear that Peters had been dug up by the Fire-Eater and brought back to life. mr OO AR cg ee ee eee 21 From that moment he was possessed of a mania to look into his former servant’s grave, and make sure that the body was there; and as. every moment of pre gyms was torture, he began to consider how he could do it at once. He dared not go, even by night, when Hot Heart was in hisroom. No, Hot Heart must be rl fae out of the way. But how could it be one? Paul studied on this point for hours, and finally concluded that the simplest way was the best. So far as he knew, the Fire-Eater was on visiting terms with but one family in the vicin- ity. This family he had befriended by means of one of his fights, and they were so grateful that their repeated invitations obliged him to call there often. Acting on this knowledge Paul wrote a note ina disguised hand to Frazer in- forming him thatif he would call at this house that evening he would hear something of inter- est to him, and the writer would see bim be- tween nine and eleven. Knowing the Fire-Eater as he did, he felt sure this note would take him away from Con- vent Rest, and afford thed sired privacy for the grave-digging affair. He sent it by a trustworthy boy, and then impatiently awaited the arrival of the appointed hour. During the day nothing was found of Rosa, and Mr. Neat puzzled over his various mysteries in vain. Early in the evening Paul left the family, went outside, secured a. shovel, and went over to Convent Rest. A light still burned there, but as nine o’clock had not arrived, Paul sat down to wait as atiently as possibly. He was well rewarded. n due time the light disappeared, Frazer came- out, mounted Jack Jet aud rode away toward Chiftown at an easy pace. / He was hardly out of sight before Paul was inside the ruins, spade in hand, anxious to sulve the question of whether Bill Peters rested in his: grave. It was dangerous work, but it seemed better to the assassin to run the risk than to rest ir. doubt, uncertainty and fear. The grave must be opened. CHAPTER XXVI. BILL PETERS’S GRAVE, Pau believed that he was sure of two hours” time, but it would not be wise to waste any ‘Sof it. He promptly raised the flat stone he bea placed over the grave. Both the stone and the ground beneath seemed as he had left them, and for a moment he kesitated and mentally as— sured himself that be need have no fear. But, no; he could not bear the suspense; he must know alive and liable to strike back at him any mo- ment. | He plunged the shovel into the earth and be- gan the work. Once begun, he prosecuted it feverishly. He , had sent Hot Heart away, but he might return, or some one else chance along, and the most ob- tuse person would think this strange work for the heir of Coast Castle. Driving the shovel deep into the soft earth, he flung it up pj or The longer he worked the more he became con- vinced that the work was unnecessary; that alk 4 was as he bad left 1t. He had, however, begun, and now he must go on and settle the matter. If he was not discoy— ered—ah! that was the rub!—if not discovered, — all would be well. | His zeal would have astonished a professional — ve-digger, but, anon, bis shovel began to lag. fie bad gone well down, and the lone occupant. of the grave would soon be exp spade moved even more slowly. Crime was no strrnger to bim, but though hardened to the taking of human life, he was. not so to the accusing, though silent, voice of death. He dreaded to look upon the white face which had been for days confined in that abode of death. Slower still became the strokes of his shovel; they ceased entirely and he leaned against the side of the Dy trembling from causes not purely physical. Horrors like that he had never hefore felt. positively that his ex-servant was not. ; . Then—"*..... of then—Paul shivered as he thought of it, andhis Suddenly he aroused, such weakness would | never do; his work was almost done and must — be finished. a Again he thrust down the spade; this time s'owly, for be felt that he was liable to touch the senseless shape which had once been a man. What really happened astonished and dismay- ed hi him. ' The shovel went through the earth without effort, as though into a hollow space, and then down went Paul, also. He dropped only a foot or so, but if was enough to frighten him terri- bly, though vaguely, and he bounded out of the ve. rt moment sufficed to dispel this fear, but an- other and more tangible one rushed upon him. He went back, looked into the grave, descended. Then he leaned once more against the surround- ing soil, weak as a child, but not with the fear of seeing Bill Peters’s dead face” The body was gone; the grave was empty! Gomicboo