Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 513 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

? 14 Texas Tartar. ‘* Where did you then go?” ‘* Home,” ** At once?” sc Yes.” ** How long did you remain there?” “ Until morning.” 7 eh pe not go out again during the night?” 0. “That will do, Mr. Kendall.” The prisoner sat down, and Captain Grandford rose. *“‘T think I may now safely ask for the pris- oner’s discharge,” said the ex-soldier. ‘“‘There is one more witness, Tim Purcell, tell us your story.” The boatman complied with visible reluctance, *“ Yer Honor,” said he, ‘‘Oi was out a bit last noight but wan, mesilf. Oi wint home an’ wint to bed, but niver a wink o’ sl’ape could Oi git, an’, finally, up Oi got an’ wint out. Habit is strong, they say, an’ I wandered down to me _ boat-house_ wid- out much idea where Oi was goin’. All was quiet there, an’ Oi wint a bit aside an’ laid down on the beach. It was cool an’ pleasant there, an’ Oi soon got drowsy. The sound ave oars waked me up fully, an’ Oi looked an’ saw a boat comin’ in. Nota fu’t did Oi stir, but there Oi lay an’ watcbed until it was brought toa full sthop by me own boats. By that toime Oi knew it was wan ave me own crafts, an’ Oi wondered who had been bould enough to go out on de lake. ** Oi stharted forrud, but before I could get there he was walking fast away. Oi was some mad that anny mon should use me boats widous’ me consint, an’ Oi was about to boller at him, whin thinks Oi, ‘ Ain’t dat Robert Kendall? Oi knowed him to be wan ave de squarest men in town, an’ Oi thought ef ’twas him, be was welcome to de boat, but Oi was detarmined to make sure, so Oi follered him. ** Yer Honor, Oi bate to say it, but be wint straight to de house where Robert Kendall lives an’ wint in!” ** Did you recognize him?” Tim brushed his fingers nervously through his hair. **Oi did.” ** Who was it?” **It was Robert Kendall!” There was a sensation in court, for it was clear that the justice expected to prove by a re- liable witness that Kendall had spoken falsely when he said he was not out, CHAPTER XVIII. TEXAS TARTAR LEARNS SOMETHING NEW. DaviIpD WESTERLEY, like every one else, had turned his gaze npon Kendall, but there was but little to reward him. For a moment a peculiar expression rested on the prisoner’s face —one very hard to define. It was plain that Kendall felt the force of Tim Purcell’s state- ment, though whetber it was the reflection of detected guilt no one could determine. In a moment more he regained full control of his fucial expression, and exhibited far more coolness than his friends. ‘* What have you to say to this, Mr. Kendall?” asked the justice, ** Purcell is mistaken.” ** Do you still say you were not out last night?” ac Yes ” ** Are you aware that Purcell’s reputation for veracity is of the best?” ** Yes, and justly, I believe. He would not ) willingly do any one wrong, I am sure, but he is mistaken in this matter. Tim, wasn’t that a dark night?” **Tt was, that,” the boatman agreed. **Did you have a light?” “ce No.” “Did the man you followed have one?” ac No.” “Then how can you be positive as to who it was that you followed?” Honest Tim twisted his hat uneasily in his hands. He wassincerely sorry to testify against Kendall, and wisbed himself well out of the whole case, but he felt far more positive than he was willing to show.” ** Well, it wor your shape in ivery way, an’ it looked loike your face,” he slowly returned. + Oe you did not see the man’s face by any oc No,” “* Then, while I admit Mr. Purcell’s desire to tell the truth and nothing more, I submit that he cannot be sure of what he says. The recog- nition is not perfect.” ** Well said,” coincided Captain Grandford. ** Tf the man was not you, Kendall,” continued the justice, ‘‘ perhaps you will tell us why he entered the house where you live?—a house where there are only two men, and one of them weighs two bundred and fifty pounds. It can- not have been your landlord.” ‘There is nothing to hinder any one from en- tering the house. The door is not kept locked.” ** Why should another party enter there?” **T can give no particular reason; there might be several.” ** 1 think we will consider Purcell’s recognition _ _yperfect,” the justice dryly added. Captain Grandford objected. He’ took the floor and made an eloquent speech. He declared that there was no evidence against Robert Ken- dall. The young man had been arrested on the vague charges of a man delirious with brain trouble; aud it had not been proved that Robert was out, as Tim Purcell thought. Hence, the speaker called upon the justice to release the aecused, alleging that absolutely nothing ex- isted by which they could hold him lawfully. Replying, the justice very correctly stated that he did not run his court on set forms, and while he did not wish to do injustice to any one, he proposed to have an accused man where he knew where he was. Grizzly George was ex- pected to recover froia his injuries, and when he did so, he would be given a chance to explain. If he then retracted his charge, Kendall would be released—unless there were other charges against him. Every one understood this significant addi- tion. Officer Tabor was keeping quiet, but it was known that he still believed that Kendall was leagued with the smugglers, and had given the information to the free-traders which re- sulted in the death of Craver and Wells. There was no use of fighting the case further at that point, and Grandford and David reluct- antly acquiesced in the justice’s decision. Rohert Kendall must remain in jail, but they were free to work for him, and work they in- tended to with all possible zeal. Among the interested spectators were Texas Tartar and Yank Yellowbird, but they had nothing to say. When all was over they took a homeward course. ‘* What’s your idee?” the mountaineer asked. ** Speaking as a detective, I must say there is more evidence against Kendall than looks good for bim,” ‘« Still, Grizzly George ain’t in a fit state ter accuse any man.” ‘“‘No. If events did not corroborate him [ should pronounce it decidedly unjust to act upon his charges, but the clash between Kendall and Purcell looks bad. Tim gave his evidence with great reluctance, and if he had not felt ositive, he would never have given it at all. endall denied that he was out. What was his motive?” ‘* He may have had an egregious secret ter hide, or he may have did it on gin’ral grounds,” ‘* Whichever it was, he made a bad break. Again, granting that Purcell was right, what was Kendall doing in the boat on the lake?” ‘* Possibly he was out fur air.” “‘Tt is possible, but you can rest assured that Charles Tabor will not forget that it was on the same night that the smugglers landed their con- traband goods,” ‘* Looks bad fur Kendall, by hurley!” ad- mitted Nevermiss, with a shake of his head. ‘* Still, Texas, men hev been wrongfully accused afore now.” ‘‘ We will hope that Kendall will be proved innocent. This reminds me to say that I shall visit Norma Westerley, after dinner, anc try to et some light in regard to the handkerchief we ound at the Point of Pines.” This arrangement was followed out. The two men went to their quarters and remained quiet until past noon, Shortly after this hour they saw Grandford and the Westerley brothers go past, and tbe detective was not long in realizng that he would have a clear field at the Westerley house. He started at once, When he arrived there he asked to see Norma, und she soon joined him in the room to which the servant had accompanied him. Evidently she had heard all the unfavorable news and was deeply affected. Her face was grave and sad, but she turned ber regard upon him with an anxiety which plainly asked if he bad brought a good news. e began by referring to the so-called exami- nation, and assured her that there was no need of worrying over it while the case was based on a fever-stricken man’s charges. Later, they could see what Hendricks would say in his right mind, and act accordingly. Then he came quietly to business, “Yank Yellowbird and I were over to the Point of Pines, yesterday. By the way, were you ever there?” This established the fact that it was not Norma who dropped the handkerchief, but he went on calmly: ‘“We went over the whole ground, but, of course, there was only a mute sign or two. We found footprints, but they prove neither inno- cence nor guilt.” **T am sure Robert Kendall was not there.” “The prosecution will yet prove it if they keep on. If he was out in a boat, as Purcell says, he would have barely time enough to go to the Point of Pines and back. If we can show that be did not go, one charge may possibly be disproven at its very beginning.” ‘**]T am sure he was not out in the boat!” de- clared Norma, firmly. ‘That is the proper way to look at it.” ‘* Robert is not capable of either crime laid at his door.” ‘** Such is my impression.” ‘*T am impressed with the idea, sir, that you and Mr. Yellowbird are capable of learnin more than any other person here, and I woul be glad to have you formally enter my employ, if you will, at a fixed rate of payment, and do all you can to prove Mr. Kendall’s innocence.” ‘*Thank you for your confidence, Miss West- erley, but neither Yank nor myself care to do this. Weare not in need of money, at present, and not willing to engage ourselves to any one’s service, We will, however, continue our in- vestigation, and see what we can learn. By the way, I have found a handkerchief outside the village which has your name upon it. May I ask if it is yours?” He produced the bit of evidence from the Point of Pines, and Norma became agitated. ‘‘ You did not find it near George Hendricks’s house?” she asked, uneasily. ‘* Nowhere near it.” The girl breathed a sigh of relief. ‘‘T am glad to hear it. Yes; the handkerchief is mine.” ‘“ May I ask why you thought that I found it near Hendricks’s house?” ‘‘T did not think so, but the fear was mo- mentarily suggested by the fact that Mr, Ken- dall took it from me, in sport, a few days ago.” ‘Carried it away with bim, eh?” “6 Yes,” ‘* When was this?” ‘To-day is Thursday—it was last Monday. But why are you so particular to know®’ she suddenly added, with a show of suspicion, ‘‘ The article looked so fresh and neat that I was sure it could not have been on the ground long. For sucha remote place as Powderhorn Mile, you use a very fine quality of bandker- chief; but then, ladies carry good taste wherever they go.” Texas Tartar had careiessly replaced the handkerchief in his pocket,for it had assumed. no small importance. Norma had given it to Kendall on Monday, and it bad been found on Wednesday at the Point of Pines. near where the smuggler-assassin stood and talked. He be- lieved it had been accidentally dropped there on Tuesday night, just before the shooting, and its mute evidence was very important. He had tried by rapid talking to divert Norma’s atten- tion from nae fact that he had again pocketed it, but the artifice was not a success. She, too, had an interest in the article, and she did not fail to watch it. CHAPTER XIX. THE DETECTIVE TAKES A FIRM STAND. Miss WESTERLEY spoke quietly. ‘‘Haven’t you forgotten one thing, sir?’ she asked, ‘¢ What is that?” asked Texas Tartar. ‘That the handkerchief is mine, not yours,” she replied, with a smile. ‘¢ J did not forget, but I would like your per- mission to keep it.” ‘Why do you want it?” ‘“‘ Perhaps Mr. Kendall would like it back.” He assumed a light, playful way, but her face at once became grave. ‘‘ There is more to this than I know!” she ex- claimed, ‘* f don’t understand.” ‘It is plain to me that you have an object in keeping the handkerchief not known to me. You produced it here, and brought about a con- fession from me, for an object which I cannot conceive. What does it mean? Are you de- ceiving me?” She bad grown agitated, and he saw that her quick penetration had forced him into a di- lemma, ‘“Why should I deceive you?’ he asked. ‘* How can I deceive you?” ‘*] will tell you one way, and what I sus- pect,” she answered, in a tremulous voice. ‘* You may be a detective, who has purposely sought and gained my confidence, to wring from me admissions which you hope to use against Robert Kendall. Tell me if you have done this?” Miss Westerley had risen, and she now stood before him pale and agitated. yet with an accus- ing look and an exbibition of reserved firmness which was suggestive. Sbe bad only to make sure that her suspicions were correct, and she would be Texas Tartar’s bitter enemy. He was vexed and chagrined, but kept his composure better than was to be expected. (in one word, Miss Westerley, you are wrong. I am not your enemy, nor Robert Ken- dall’s, nor do I wish to prove him guilty. On the contrary, I should be very glad to prove bis innocence, and I wil) do it if I can,” ‘“-You are a detective!’ Norma asserted. “Why do you think that?” ‘““T dowt know why, but I am sure of it,” ‘* Oblige me by being seated, and I will ex- lain. She slowly resumed her former position, but still looked at him accusingly and suspiciously. ‘‘T wish to declare one thing most emphati- cally,” Texas Tartar added. ‘‘ When you be- lieve that I have worked against you, you wrong me. I have made some investigation, but I have always worked witb your best in- terests in view. This I firmly assert!” “ecomic st hea hee acere > Xo) 0) <S com |