Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 464 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

- - ’ . = ie lee O - ~<s ei eo © Mom = et arnt a a = -. 2 .* + ‘ "> ‘ . Pas ere ant Os saat, = = ee ‘2 . ~ wh a . * p> ae . are, - —— Soe) ee -* wr. 16 sp ‘Sandycraw, the Man of Grit. me ae —_— ee ee _ **Was this man a witness in the case which “you have just heard?’ demanded Harding. *“*He was,” answered the justice, who was known as Judge Hopper. ‘‘He was the main witness in the case,” _ “Then, sir, [ respectfully request that he shall be held for further examination, as I may have something to tell youwabout him.” An order to that effect was immediately made, and Mr. Henry Everson was put in the custody of a constable—a proceeding which displeased him more than he cared to tell. His partner, Ben Somes, seeing a chance of trouble ahead, had taken advantage of the tem- porary disturbance to leave the court-rvom and make himself scarce. Colonel Tazewell then made a little speech, ostensibly to Judge Hopper, but mainly to the audience, whose influence upon the proceedings was manifest. ““This young man,” he said, “‘ having no friends in Seen town, and nobody who knew him to speak a word for bim, has bad stranger’s duck here, and by that [ mean to say that he has not had the chance that he might have had. “*T admit, from what [ have heard of the evi- dence, that the circumstances were very strong against him, and it is not a bit surprising that any or allof you should have come to the con- clusion that ke was implicated in that bank burglary. ‘** But I and the friends who have come here with me have good reason to believe that he is not guilty, and we propose to show you if we are allowed to do so, that this affair is the result of aconspiracy on the part of the men who robbed the bank, to get him into trouble and make him suffer for their sins, ‘We have come here at a pretty heavy ex- ase, hoping to be able to crush that conspiracy in time, and before we lef5 St. Louis we sent you notice that we were coming.” ‘What kind of a notice did you send?’ in- quired Judge Hopper. “My young friend here, Mr. Darrell, sent a telegram to your sheriff, saying that we would come down as soon as possible, and asking bim to look out for a small steamboat named the Gazelle, and to watch the men on board of her if she should land here, Is it possible that the telegram was not received?” **T suppose it got here all right, colonel; but the sheriff has been out of town for some days, and it is likely whoever received it for him, judging it to be a private dispatch, didn’t open it ” At this point the proceedings were interrupted by the arrival of Sheriff Heilman, who had just returned to town, had opened the telegram in question, and had hastened to carry bis rather old news to the center of interest. The contents of the telegram were such as Colonel Tazewell had stated, with the addition of a hint at possible bank robbery. “IT now request,” said that gentleman, “ that the examination be reopened for further evi- dence on behalf of the accused. As this sort of proceeding is usually and necessarily informal, presume that thero will be no objection to granting my request.” There was no objection, and Mrs, Crebbs, so- called, was introduced as a witness, Colonel Tazewell taking the case in charge, after a brief explanation to the young lawyer who had vol- unteered to ack as counsel for Jack Jones. Mrs, Crebbs told, just as she had rehearsed it to Colonel Tazewell, the story of the conspiracy an by Alexander Crawley, and arranged to e executed by him and Ben Somes and Berry Sanders, which she bad heard from her vanta ground of the whispering gallery in the bath- room. Fortunately there was nobody present who cared to question her concerning the cause of her presence there and the nature of her rela- tions with Alexander Crawley, and she was not likely to volunteer any information on those points. The only person who could have had any in- _ terest in questioning her was a young gentleman from Arkansas, Harry Scatchell by name, and he, since the arrival of the strangers from St. uis, had in a measure effaced himself, retir- ing into a corner where he was invisible to the principal parties to the proceedings. CHAPTER XX. TRUTH TAKES A START. THE testimony of Mrs, Crebbs had a strong effect upon the magistrate and the audience; but there was more to come, and Colonel Taze- well hastened to bring it forward. Clifford Darrell was the next witness, and his evidence was also highly favorable to the ac- cused, corroborating exactly the story that Jack had told concerning the kidnapping exploit in East St. Louis, as well as confirming to that ex- tent the statements of Mrs, Crebbs concerning the conspiracy. Colonel Tazewell followed, relating how Mrs. Crebbs had come to his hotel in St. Louis to tell him the story of the conspiracy, and detailing the su uent p gs which had finally brought him and his party to New Madrid. Amos Harding then took a hand in the game, A ——— and what he had to say was quite to the pur- pose. After giving his name and f obia ete + and telling how he had been allowe to accompany | ject. ! ’ Colonel Tazewell and his friends on this expedi- | tion, he fixed his bright eyes on Mr. Henry Everson, and that individual shrunk under his PAZe. **As that man was the main witness in this case,” said he, *‘ [ would like to know what, he called himself and where he bailed from,” ‘* He gave his name as Henry Everszon,”,an- swered Judge Hopper, ‘‘ and he claimed to be a private detective.” ‘* Very private, [should say. I would thank you to ask him nowif he was ever known as Jim Hanley.” ‘That is just what I asked him,” broke in Jack Jones quite irregularly. The proceedings, however, were generally ir- regular as well as informal, and this additional bit of irregularity was of no consequence, ‘** What did he answer you?” **He denied that he had ever been known as Jim Hanley, though 1 was almost sure that I had seen him on board of the Gazelle, and that I had heard him spoken of by Sandy Crawley as Jim Hanley.” ‘*T can easily settle that point,” said Harding, ‘* He has been lying right hard down here; but he won’t lie tome. His name is-Jim Hanley, and he is a well-known St. Louis crook. is yicture is in the Rogues’ Gallery there, and he i served time at Jefferson City more than once, If you want his full record, the Chief of My only thought was revenge, It was I who discovered his plans, and who put our friends here on his track, so that he could be hunted down and given his deserts,” Colonel Tazewell came to the rescue of Mrs. Crebbs, confirming what she said concerning the valuable services she had rendered, and suc- ceeded with the help of Clifford Darrell in per- Police at St. Louis will send it to you, together | with his photograph.” The information furnished by the St. Louis official, fitting so well the statements made by Jack Jones, seemed to settle the character of Jim Hanley, alias Henry Everson, and no fur- ther evidence concerning him was needed from the St. Louis records, He was immediately sent to the New Madrid county jail, on a charge of conspiracy, which would thereafter be put in shape. This prevented him from farther posing as a hero, shut off the drinks which he had Beekt enjoying in that capacity, and put an end to bis hopes of a reward for catching one of the bur- glars. Judge Hopper, however, was in a greater suading her brother to regard her rather more leniently. ‘Tf it had not been for her,” said the colonel, *““we would not be here now; we would have learned nothing of Crawley’s scheme to rob the bank here, and would have missed a fine chance to follow him up and bring him to justice. You had better join us, Mr. Scatchell, if you want co see that man punished.” ‘That is what I am here for, As soon as "a the after | had buried my poor old father, set out to seek his murderer, and I suppose it must have been a special Providence that brought me to this spot. Yes, Colonel Tazewell, you,are right, and I am already under great obligations to you.” ‘* You must remember, my young friend, that mine is a selfish search, and that [ have ends of my own to accomplish, which I need not ex- plain to you just yet. I shall be very glad to have your help if you will join me.” ‘*That is settled, then. I shall have no more words of blame for my unfortunate sister, who may, after all, have been more sinned against than sinning, and [ shall devote my best ability to your enterprise.” he next question was, what should the expe- dition do, and how should Crawley and his part- ners be pursued and captured? There could be no doubt that the little Gazelle had crossed the river from the hend above the town, had gone down the Mississippi, and had not been seen to return. Of course the Mountaineer, the small stern- wheel craft that had brought Colonel Taze- well’s party from St. Louis, could follow the Gazelle, and she was there for that purpose with steam up. So a party was quickly arranged, which was considered amply sufficient for the pursuit, quandary than any of the rest, as he had to de- | cide upon conflicting testimony and upor con- ; flicting interests. As far as the evidence went, he was of the opinion that the story of Jack Jones was true, that a mean game had been played upon him, and that he ought to be allowed to go free, Against this view of the case, however, stood the officials of the bank which had been robbed. One of the robbers had been caught, or one who was reasonably supposed to have been con- nected with the rdébbers, and they were by no means disposed to let him go until they could prove bis guilt or persuade him to disclose bis accomplices, The point was decided, as frequently happens in such cases, by a compromise, It was settled that though Jack’s guilt was by no means clear, he should be held for trial, but that his bail should be lowered to such a sum as could be easily procured through the influence of Colonel Tazewell. The matter was satisfactorily arranged by that gentleman, and Jack Jones was turned loose to accompany his friends. In the mean time there was another scene in the court-room which, though a quiet one, was both dramatic and painful. It has been said that Harry Scatchell, after the arrival of Mrs. Crebbs, effaced himself from the proceedings, retiring into a corner where she could not see him, though he did not fail to watch her closely and listen to all she said. When the case of Jack Jones had been settled he arose and approached her, Her surprise at seeing him there was great, and was accompanied by signs of consternation. “T had not expected to see you here,” she said. ‘*And I had not expected to see you here or any where else.” ‘Or anywhere else? What do you mean by that?” ‘*T had hoped that you were,dead.” ‘‘That is a very hard thing to say, Harry, to your only sister.” ‘*What else ought decent people to hope for such a woman as you?” ‘** You are too cruel. Perhaps I am not as bad a woman as you believe me to be. I was law- fully married to the man with whom I left my home; but he deserted me shortly after the mar- rai ‘*What else can a woman expect of a man with whom she runs away in that style? And since then, to judge by the story you have told here, you have been living with the man who killed your father and caused the death of your brother.” ‘**Don’t make it any worse than it is,” she leaded. ‘* As soon as I learned what Crawley ad done, [ determined that he should be pun- ished, and I have stuck to him because I meant to bring him to justice. This was my only ob- The only additions to the original number were Sheriff Heilman, of New Madrid, with two assistants selected by the bank officers, and Harry Scatchell. Besides these there were Colonel Tazewell, whose years did not prevent bim from being a | splendid fighter, Clifford Darrell, Dan Thedford and Amos Harding. Jack Jones was not counted, as he was not _expected to take an ‘active part against Craw- ley, in spite of the recent strange and treacher- /ous conduct of the man who had brought him up, and Mrs. Crebbs was of course not consid- ered as a possible combatant. | ' ' | i ; The men who were counted seemed to be an abundant force for the capture of Sandycraw and his two partners, and they hastened to board the Mountaineer and begin the pursuit. Before the start the precaution was taken to send telegrams to all the towns along the lower river that could be reached, asking that the Gazelle should be watcbed and stopped, and that all on board should be arrested. ‘T am afraid,” observed Sheriff Heilman, ‘‘ that we are going to havea jong hunt, some- thing like a search for a needle in a haystack,” ‘*T don't see why that should be so,” replied Colonel Tazewell. ‘‘ Weare behind them, and are bound to overtake them sooner or later,” ‘“ They may go on to New Orleans.” ‘* What of that? They can’t run their little boat out into the Gulf, and if they leave her we | can track them on land. As long as they stick to the river we are bound to find them.” ‘** But they apse not stick to the river.” ‘** Where will they go to then?” ‘There are any amount of creeks and bayous into which they can slip and hide.” “T had not thought of that. As you say, Mr. Heilman, it will be something like looking for a needle in a haystack.” ‘* We have one big advantage over them, though,” remarked Harding. ‘“* What is that?” | “They don’t know that they are pursued, and won’t be likely to believe that they are.” ‘‘ Let us hope that they don’t and won’t,” CHAPTER XXI. ALL FOR REVENGE, No reasonable person would have supposed that Sandy Crawley, who was known not only to his intimate acquaintances but to many others as a careful as well as intrepid gamester, a man who lost no chances, but took every step calmly and deliberately, whether engaged in a big game or a little one, could rush headlong fink an enterprise that might land him in the nitentiary, or magne even cause him to finish is career at the end of a rope in the control of alynching party. | though be was universally recognized as be- ing absolutely without fear, a man of unques- tioned grit, whom no odds could Sa and who actually delighted in the presence ger, yet he was not (E(@) ed as a person who micbooks J J Af : * in T shy. : De 5° * < ie | ; N y ae A ‘com ott 1. <% Ee . . te | a ’ ‘? ; a ’; + » oo , fal J a |. ww