Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 716) (1891 04 14)
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Sr EEA: Arvest. AY \ Sime rik ho. 2 eee ‘aie ies TI mathe wean (ste De Tr ri —r =a Ina ori Entered at the poe biose at New York, N. Y., at Secon d Class Ma: a Rates. Co opyr right 1591, by BE. ADAMS, . _ Apr ril 14, 189 ge. 50 p UBLISHE D WEE KLY BY BE ADLE AND AD AMS. Price, No. 716. a Year. No. 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK, 5 Cents. Vol, XXVILL iT Se! iN LL Le a IK} i) \ \" Vet os 3 AS umes | Me Wile eT Hi | ' i iil Hil a ar aa, IN i >< VG s HK il HN int ii i on a i | v an 1) gid | : — i : J = TT | | ‘ UL y ye | * ~ \ \V a FA Ni we ‘ao Sea : il mp ti S i ™ il AR | i | c | i, The Second Round i San Francisco. ar The Romance of a Baffling Mystery. ha } BY EDWARD L. WHEELER, —— : is AUTHOR OF EIGHTY ‘‘ DEADWOOD DICK” ——S hl Alf He appe to number, and glanced at a paper be had in hand, CHAPTER I. OPENS THE DRAMA, Drapwoop Dick, JR., passed along Kearney street with rapid strides, be looking for a certain ‘ \ uly Ww | \ } | NOVELS; ETC., ETC, I a - Raa, Presently he stopped short, before the open doorway of a building, and looked at the signs AS KODAK KATE DARTED OUT, THE PRISONER ATTEMPTED TO SEIZE HER, BUT THE there displayed, of which there were several, HEAVY DOOR WAS SWUNG TO WITH A CLANG,
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One of these bore the words: “ KINCARTH & KINCARTH, ‘LAW OFFICE.” “This is the den I am looking for,” Dick said to himself, Taking mental note of the number of the ' room indicated, be thrust the paper into his awakened interest in you. pocket and went in. Springing lightly up the stairs with his firm, | that caution. athletic step, he turned to the right and was soon at bis destination, where, on the door, the sign was again to be seen, Opening the door, be stepped witbin, to find himself in a well furnished and nicely appointed office, and also standing within a railed in- closure. Right at hand, at a small desk, was a small boy, while further away at another desk sata man witharemarkably bald bead, It was en- tirely innocent of any sign of hair anywhere, Another desk, opposite this one, was vacant. These things Deadwood Dick saw at first glance. The man with the bald head looked up, seemingly with one eye only, but made no other move, The small boy, however, was off his chair immediately and at the railing. ‘* What shall I say for you?” he asked, ‘Ts that gentleman Mr. Kincarth?’ Dick in- quired. ‘“* That is one of him, sir,” was the peculiar an- swer. Dick looked at the small boy in a half-amused way. He certainly could see it was not two of the man. **I mean to say this is Mr. Samuel, sir,” the boy further enlightened him, in response to his questioning look. ‘‘ Mr. Daniel is out.” Again the man at the desk glanced up with one eye, but without moving his head or seem- ing to look up from his work. ‘* Well, just hand the gentleman this note. He will understand, I guess,” and he handed the boy the paper at which he had looked as he came along the street, which was addressed to himself and had come from this office. ‘* Yes, sir,” and the boy darted across to where the man of the bald head was seated, Samuel Kincarth glanced at the note thus de- livered into his band, and then looked up with both eyes and favored Dick with a momentary stare, ‘** Admit him,” he directed the small boy, “‘ and place a chair.” Back to the railing the boy darted, touched a spring and opened a gate in it, and then flew to P “ a chair for the stranger near the lawyer’s es. . Deadwood Dick had entered, now, and sat > a as the lawyer waved his hand toward the chair. ‘*Mr. Richard M., Bristol?” the lawyer ques- tioned. ‘* That is my name,sir. Iam here in response to your note, which reached me none too soon.” The lawyer was a man of sixty years, evident- ly; but keen-eyed and alert as many men at half his age. He had already given Dick a thorough scrutiny. Dick bad done the same with respect to ‘* Mr, Samuel,” and had formed his estimation of him. It was not an unfavorable one. ** You were going away, then?” the lawyer re- marked, ‘*T was already starting, sir. Another min- ute, and your note would not have found me,” ‘** Lucky it wasin time, then. I jnquired of the police, found where you were located, and sent atonce, I want your services, as my note informed you,” “And [ am here to lend them, as you see,” smiled Dick. “But we are strangers to you. I hardly hoped you would come,” “Since I have, though, what is the case you want me to take hold of?” ‘Just a moment before we enter upon that, sir, You are a peculiar man, and I would know more about you,” ‘*Wery well; ask what you will,” Dick in- vited. ** You say you were going away—had already started. How was it that a note from utter pe bie bad power to lead you to change your min Deadwood Dick smiled, sadly perbaps. ‘‘My life is devoted to hunting crime and criminals to exposure and justice,” he explained. “‘It needed but the mention of a mysterious murder to bring me to take a hand in the busi- ness of finding out the murderer,” ‘Now I begin to understand you. You see, sir, your receut case here in San Francisco bas The moment this “ | | crime came to our notice, I said to my partner: ‘Daniel, the man we want is this Deadwood Dick, as be is called,’” ‘* Well, you bave got me,” Dick assured, ‘‘ so make use of me, Give methe story of thiscrime of which you speak,” **T will proceed todo so, You will notice that I speak ir cautious tones, and I see that you are doing the same, Let us continue to observe It is one of the rules of our office, when a client is present on business, Now for tbe story, Perbaps Daniel will be in by the time I am done, You must meet Daniel before you go away.” ‘* T should like to see him, of course.” ** Daniel and I are one, sir. When you have occasion to call, no matter which of us is here, it is all the same. What is known to one is known to the other. As I said, we are one.” ‘*Which your office boy seems to understand pretty well, I imagine.” : The suggestion of a smile lighted the lawyer’s ace, “He says strange things. But, I see you are impatient for the case. Lend me your atten- lion, ‘‘Here in San Francisco, until yesterday, lived two old maiden ‘sisters, rich, one about eighty years of age and the other four years older. Now one, the younger, lies cold in death, the victim of an assassin’s knife. ‘These old ladies were peculiar people, and were as nearly alike in all things as it was pos- sible for them to be. They dressed the same, and had the same ideas upon all points save one, which I will refer to presently. They lived ina quiet way upon a quiet street, and had one ser- vant, ‘* Yesterday morning the younger sister was found dead in her bed, with the wound of a knife in her breast, She was discovered by her sister, who ran screaming into the hall, calling for the servant. At the head of the stairs she fainted, and there the servant found ber, She in turn tock up the ery, ran out of doors and notified a policeman; and so the crime was made known,” Deadwood Dick was listening attentively. He rather hked the old gentleman’s way of presenting the facts of the case. Mr. Kincarth paused for a few moments, as if to get the subject in hand as he wanted it, and resently resumed. “You will naturally inquire about this ser- vant,” he went on, ‘She is an elderly woman, nothing under fifty-five, I should say, and has been in the employ of the sisters for years. No suspicion whatever can attach to her. She is as deeply affected by the death as the sister her- self. No need to say anything more about her, as you will probably agree. “T have said that these two old ladies could agree upon every point save one, and that was, the manner in which they were to dispose of their fortune at death. You see, their property was held by them jointly, by a complex point of law, and if they desired to make a will it had to be made jointly or it would be invalid. That is to say, neither could make a will independent of the other while both lived. Such was the law upon that particular case. ‘“ Now the bone of contention between them was a grandnephew whose name is Howard Crandford. He is about twenty-five years of age, and has been a rather wild and reckless oung man. He is the only relation, and in Ae stands natural heir ‘to the proves ys in the absence of a will. Phoeve Roylan, the mur- dered woman, wanted a will made, leaving three- fourths of the property to this young man, the other fourth to go toa woman in whom Susan, the living sister, a deep interest. **Susan would not agree to this at aJl, She wanted it the other way; that is, three-fourths to her friend, a Mrs, Pratson, and the remain- der to young Crandford. They could not agree, and finally came to us aboutit. The estate is managed by us as trustees, you see, though we have no power over its disposition as such, We advised them to make the will leaving half to each. But both were stubborn, and would not come to that\arrangement, Susan would not wom so much of it to go to the rascal, as she ermed Crandford; Phoebe would not hear to such a proportion being given to a woman who had no legal claim upon them, ‘“* Right there, asI say, the matter bung fire, and that was the situation at the time of this crime. You see, 1 am trying to give yvoua clear understanding of the case, all around.” ‘*T comprehend,” responded Dick, ‘* Well, circumstances have combired to point to this young man, Howard Crandford, as the enh aes PEE, We oly eats Deel LDR + bigs ‘Oliver Upp isa strange boy,” he observed. > ge Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Still Hunt, murderer. He has been arrested, and is locked up, charged with the crime, He and Susan had never been on good terms. She did not like him, and he regarded her with the same feeling. Fhoebe had always been his friend, and had more than once supplied him with money, robbing herself to do it.” ‘“* And still he is suspected of the crime?” Dick mused, ‘Yes, On the night of the murder he was in the house till a late hour, with the murdered woman, in the sitting-room, They were alone together, for Susan would not join them, owing to ber dislike for the young man, He bad come for money, and failing to get the sum required, had some hot and high words with bis aged ben- efactress, When he went away it was in anger. These statements came out at the inquest, and the young man was premptly put under arrest. Now the question is: Dud he kill Phoebe Roylan or did ke not? ‘‘ First, his own assertion is that he did not. He declares that he did not know anytbing about the crime until he was arrested. On the other band, a night watchman has come forward and taken oath that be saw Howard Crandford steal- ing out of the house at a very late hour; more definitely, about two o’clock in the morning. This, also, the prisoner denies, Again, marks of blood bave been found upon bis right sleeve; fresh marks, which, upon examination, prove to be human blood, Still egain, a bowie-knife that was known to have been upon the wall of his room at*his lodging, is missing, and he claims that it has been stolen from him,” ‘¢ A pretty darkelook for bim, circumstantial- ly,” remarked the listening detective, **T know it, sir, I know it; but, in spite of ap- ances, I believe Howard Crandford to be as innocent of the deed as I am!” CHAPTER II. DICK AT THE JAIL. Drapwoop Dick was deeply interested, for this was just the sort of mystery he took de- light in. here was a pause after the old lawyer's last assertion, during which the door opened, and another old gentleman entered, whom, from his strong resemblance to the lawyer, Dick immedi- ately recognized as the partner, Daniel Kin- carth, Instantly at his appearance the “strange” office boy who had the predilection for saying strange things was off bis chair, and the gate in» the railed inclosure was thrown 0 The man entered, with a glance at Deadwood Dick, and went straight to the vacant desk. ‘Daniel?’ spoke his brother, ‘** Well, Samuel?” was the response, ‘** Let me introduce Mr, Bristol.” At this name Daniel immediately came for- ward to where Dick sat. An introduction followed, and Daniel Kin- carth fell into the conversation at once. Sam- oaaers him an idea of what had already been “Yes, sir; we think the young man is inno- cent,” Daniel coincided. ‘We knew his father well, and he wasa man of finest honor. If his blood is in the veins of his son, Howard Crand- ford did not do this deed.” ‘‘Have you any suspicion who did, then?’ asked Deadwood Dick, ‘* We have not,” was the answer. i ‘* You want me to go to work, then, with the theory of Howard Crandford’s innocence, and to fasten the crime upon some one else. ‘That is it, exactly. We know that the young man is in a very tight place. The evi- gg of that night-watchman alone would bang im. and we want to prove him so.” Deadwood Dick was thoughtful for some mo- ents. “Well,” he finally decided, “I will investi- ate the matter from that standpoint. I hope Feat bring the matter out to suit you; but, rest assured that I shall fasten the crime upon the right party, if Iam able to do so, even though it he the young map.” m “We are willing that you should do that,” Our confidence in his innocence is strong enough to warrant our giving you that license. “That is understood. Now let me get at some of the particulars of the case that have not been touched upon. In what order were the doors and windows of the house when the crime was first discovered?” ‘(It is impossible to tell.” answered Samuel Kinearth. ‘‘The servant was so excited that she does not know whether she found doors open or shut, fastened or unfastened. When the Ged pe? Seema Sah es st In spite of all, we believe him innocent,
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Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Still Hunt. | 3 police began to investigate, many of the doors and windows were open.” “That is a bad state of things to begin witk. But, it is what might be looked for, Did the police discover any direct clew ?” ‘*They found a button from young Crand- ford’s coat in the hall, near the foot of the stairs.” “Bad, certainly; but he may have lost it there in the evening.” “Yes, we know,” agreed Daniel; ‘‘ but, see the other evidence. It is perfectly damning!” ** Tt lacks only an eye-witness to make it per- fect,” declared Dick, ‘‘ It may be hard work to explain it away, even if the young man is inno- cent, as you believe,” ‘But it must be explained away!” cried Samuel. ‘‘In justice to the father of this boy, whom we knew weil, we have pledged ourselves to that task. His case is in our hands, and we rely upon you to supply us with the material for the defense, We believe you can do it.” ‘“* T certainly hope I can,” Dick said. ‘I will make the effort. What more can you tell me?” ‘* There is little more to tell. ou will have the whole field to yourself. The police have made out their case, and are done with the matter.” Dick went away armed with all the lawyers could tell bim, and with perhaps all it was necessary to know, at that juncture. He pro- ceeded straight to tbe jail where the prisoner was held. e wanted'to see Howard Crandford, to judge of his character for himself, and form his own impression as to his innocence or guilt. Arriving at the lockup, he made known tbat he was from the office of the Kincarths, and was admitted into the cell where the young man was confined, At sight of Howard’s face, his first impression was not atall favorable. There was a worn, dlissipated look, and a scowl that did not augur well for his innocence. When he looked up, however, his face cleared, and the shadow seemed to pass off. And, now, had Dick not had another view of him the cooky moment, the impression might not have n against bir. ‘* Who are you, sir?’ the prisoner demanded. Dick did not respond until the jailer had locked the door and retired, Then he sat down upon the stool with which ‘the cell was furnished, sg the prisoner, who sat on the edge of the cot bed, ‘Tam a detective,” was Dick’s answer, ‘I am sent here by your lawyers to have an inter- view with you toward establishing your inno- cence, I hope you will be entirely honest with me, ‘* What is your name?” the prisoner inquired. “*That is not important, is it?’ ‘But I want to know. Do you belong here in San Francisco?” **No; 1 am a stranger here, almost,” Dick re- sponded, ‘‘ My name is Bristol.” ‘“* Not the Bristol who just bandled the Wyn- thorpe case!” ‘“*The same, Are you satisfied?” Dick noted that the fellow’s manner was more nervous than it had been, and imagined that he had pon slightly pale, ‘“*T am satisfied,” was the return, ‘‘ but I don’t believe you can do me any good. I am afraid the case against me is too strong to be set aside,” ** Are you innocent of the crime?” “Tam! I swear it!” “Then why can not your innocence be estab- ished?” ‘**T don’t know that it can’t be, but Iam afraid that i Won't be. I am ina bad situation, Mr. ristol. “So it looks, What are the strong points against you?” “ Have the Kincarths not told you?” “T am now move you. Remember, I am , ere to work in your interest,” “Well, the worst is the statement of that night watchnian, who nave he saw me stealing out of the house at a Jate hour.” ‘“You deny that, then?” ‘“*T do, most emphatically.” ‘* Does he know you well enough to he sure of what he asserts?” “That is the worst of it. He knows me well, and a bare is pad than mine. I have the mame o ing a wild scapegrace. “* Well, whine next?” sit “ These marks of blood on my right sleeve.” “How came they there?” ** Well, what next?” **T used to have a bowie-knife hanging on the wall in my room. That is suddenly missing. The weapon that killed my aunt must have been a similar one.” ‘“‘Have you any suspicion as to where that knifeis?” **T have not. 1t puzzles me completely.” “Stolen?” ‘*Yes, of course. It could be missing in no other way. I have not laid a finger upon it in weeks,” ““And yet, in the face of all this, you insist that you are innocent.” “Tn the faceof it all I swear that I am inno- cent but, I can do nothing. My bands are tied—” ‘* Ha! there is more back of it, then?” **T have not said so,” **T infer so,” “Well, to youl admit it. I did not say this to my lawyers, for they would only bother me to tell more,” ‘“*And could you establish your innocence if you would?” y ‘*No; for even were I to tell the whole truth, it migbt only serve to render my situation the more desperate, and it would only bring ruin to another—” He stopped short, “Do you know who did kill the woman?” askel Dick, abruptly. ‘* No,” was the answer, ‘‘I do not know.” ‘* Have you any suspicion?” **T have none, ‘When it comes to the pinch, I suppose you'll tell your story.” **T will tell no more than I have told you; perhaps not somuch. What I have let out to you isin confidence. If you have the ability they say qe8 have, you may be able to help me,” ‘Which I doubt. It could not possibly look worse for ites as I said to the Kincarths, unless an eye-witness to the crime sbould appear against you.” “T know it, but I can do nothing.” *“ What you can tell will bave more weight now than it will later on.” “Perhaps; but [am silent, You cannot un- derstand the situation, so do not press me.” ** But men will call you a fool, torun the risk of the gallows if you have a possible chance of clearing yourself of the charge.” “*T care nothing for that, I know what I am doing. And mind, keep to yourself what I have let out. Make such use of itas you think you can, toward finding the murderer,” The detective took bis leave. He was puzzled. Was the man innocent? He hardly believed it, and yet be might be. Anyhow, it was his business to probe the mystery toits very heart, and to do it he was determined, CHAPTER IIL AT THE SCENE OF THE CRIME, Dick’s next move was to visit the actual scene of the crime—nota very pleasant duty, but one necessary to his work upon the case, He must see the interior of the bouse, the room where the crime was done, and draw his deductions from such things as might come under his observation. When he came to the place he found police- men in charge. Not in formal occupation, really, but there to preserve order and give protection until after the funeral, There was quite a knot of persons in front of the house, gazing at it with morbid curiosity, as people will wherever a great crime has been committed, ; Dick ascended the steps to the door where the policemen ‘* A friend of the family, sir?’ one asked, “No, not just that,” answered Dick, * but here on business,” ‘* Want to see Miss Roylan?” “Exactly.” ** Well, the chances is she won’t see ye, but I'll tell her. What name?” ; “My name is Dick Bristol,” Dick informed; “better know as Deadwood Dick, Jr.” And as he spoke, in a low tone, be displayed his badge, Both the officers whistled softly; their manner toward him changed immediately. “Come right in,” one invited. ‘‘We didn’t know ye, Going to take a hand in the case?” Yes,” Dick nded, as he followed into _ ‘Tam not permitted to tell you that.” the hall, ‘I have asked to take a look at aie and your life at stake? Are you a nt scene of the crime and see what I think ; about i “I hope I am not. But, no use urging the| ‘‘ All right, I'll show youtbe room, We have point; I am silent.” sein here, you enow, It is on the next > ! A a Sa > ’ art ah ss, . rh a Sp S sto Seietcne | e RA ‘ ra ' ie we — ~ een floor. Of course,” in lower tone, “it isa dead sure thing against the prisoner.” **Not much doubt about that, it would now seem,” Dick agreed. The policeman led the way up stairs, and along the ball to the front. There the hall ended in a point, like an arrow- head, and a door was on each side, at an angle. Opening the one at the left, the policeman stepped in, Dick following after him and closing the door, “This is the room,” the officer announced, Dick looked well about bim, taking in every- thing. Two windows were in front, and between bey stood the bed, the space being unusually wide. On the right was a doorway without any door, but closed with a hanging curtain of heavy ma- terial. This evidently opened into an adjoinin room, the one which was entered from the ha by the door on the right, ao room is this other one?’ inquired ck, . “That is the one occupied by Miss Susan Roy- lan,” was the answer. ** And she heard nothing of the horrible work that was going on in here.” “That is the way it stands, At the inquest she said she called to her sister, and getting no answer, came in, Then she discovered the crime.” Bristol looked well around, examining win- dows and doors carefully, but could find noth- ing to suggest a clew or point. ‘** Any one in the other room? he asked, ‘* No,” was the answer, ‘no one,” He drew aside the curtain and passed through. This room was like the other in almost every particular, : Here, again, the detective keenly scrutinized everything, but without result. **Not much to be gained here,” he observed. ‘Where does that servant sleep? Where is her room?” “She bas a room right at the rear of the ball, on the floor below,” ‘* And it can’t be supposed for a moment that either of them did the deed,” reflected Dick, as though to himself, The policeman looked hard at him. ‘*- You don’t imagine that Howard Crandford didn’t do it, do you?” he demanded. “The young man vows he didn’t,” said Dick. “That be hanged! We've got the bulge on him too hard. He can’t get out of it,” Dick left the room and passed along the hall to the stairs, the policeman following. * Where is Miss Roylan?” asked Dick, “Was in her sittin’-room a bit ago; want to see her?” “Yes, I want to talk with her, while I am here.” They descended the stairs, and at the bottom ree knocked lightly on the newel with his elub, A door at the end of the hell immediately opened, and a woman of advanced age looked out inquiringly. ‘“‘ Your pardon, Miss Roylan,” spoke the officer, ‘“* but I knocked for your servant, to tell her a gentleman to see you.” This, then, was Susan Roylan. Dick had taken a good look at her before she could respond, He saw in her a sharp-featured old woman thin and straight, with keen eyes that looked out of place in so old a person’s head. ‘*You want to see me?” she interrogated, ‘*'Yes, madam,” Dick returned, and he ad- vanced toward her, “What is your business with me?” “‘Some questions I would ask concerning this crime.” : you an officer, then?” tai bY am,” She drew back into the room, holding the door open for bim to pass in. ~ This he did, and found bimself in a dimly lighted sitting-room, with two or three other women present. The old woman did not ask him to a seat, but stood before him, waiting for him to speak. “ First,” Dick ventured, ‘‘do you really be- lieve, madam, that Howard Crandford ied your sister?” The old face before him became hard andcruel _ in its lines, and the answer came promptly, hard and cold: . ‘To be sure I believe it!” she declared. ‘He is none too goed to do such a deed, and all the proof is against him. Why do you ask that question?” me use the young man is so emphatic in his eS
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i Oe, « * Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Still Hunt. denial, and we are beginning to look about to see whether it is possible that it can have been the work of some one else.” Dick’s words and manner went to imply that he was of the police. ** You are welcome to look about all you will, sir,” the woman spoke next, in the same tone, ** but it is my opinion that all you will discover will only confirm the evidence the more. Every- thing points to the rascal,” ** Does it not seem a little unreasonable that he would kill the woman who was his friend?” asked Dick. ‘* He was capable of doing even that, sir. I know Howard Crandford for what heis, J never did trust him, and never would.” ‘*T have heard from the Kincarths concerning the dispute about making your will which you and your sister had,” Dick went on, ‘‘ [t looks unreasonable that the young man would thus put away his chance of getting any of the fortune.” The woman’s eyes snapped, as she looked at him keenly. “You mean to say, then, fhat if he had killed either, the victim would have been I?” ‘Tt seems to me so, You certainly have no intention of willing Nene fortune to him, as he must have known well enough.” “You are right;I haven’t! But you don’t know that boy’s characterasIdo, There is not- ing good in bim, Why, he demanded a large sum of money of my sister the other night, and went off in high anger because he did not get it.” ‘“ Which does not prove that he came back and killed her,” reminded Dick, ‘* No; but what if he came back to steal it, and my sister discovered him?” ‘* Has anythiag been stolen?” “*I do not know; but if my sister had any money in the house it has been taken, for none was ound in her room where she always kept it. “* What bank was your sister’s money kept in?” She named the inatitution, Dick made mental note of it with an object in vievv. “ Another question,” he continued; ‘‘ had your sister any enemy, so far as you know?” , “She had none, sir. Everybody liked her, and, if anything, she had more real friends than have,” ** And thereis not one circumstance you can cite in favor of young Crandford? Not a thing that will speak in his favor!” ** Not a single barge He is the guilty one; I feel no doubt about it.” ** But, of course, if you did know of anything in his favor, you would mention it, and so give him the benefit of it?” ** Assuredly. He shall have justice, so far as Iam able to render it,” “You were the first one to discover the crime.” , **T was, and have not recovered from the shock yet. I thought it would kill me.” ‘* Were there any indications that a struggle had taken place?” “None. I believe she was killed in her sleep.” ‘ “Then it must have heen done with afore- thought intent, and your suggestiou about her ‘discovery of Crandford stealing her money, does not hold,” “T had not thought of it that way,” the wo- man spoke in a meditative tone. ‘I may have been wrong in the other surmise.” ‘And it seems you were. Was that knife driven through the bedclothes? or was it buried in your sister’s breast direct?” “Tt had been struck right through the bed- clothes, sir. feel as if I must faint.” ** Yes,” spoke up one of the other women pres- ent, ‘it is not right to torture her so.” “T am done,” Dick immediately announced. But, pray hasten, for '“T will withdraw.” And that he did, forthwith, rejoining the officer in the hall, CHAPTER IV. A SUSPICION IS AROUSED. e. NEW and gl ste a had seized him, as it possible, could it be possible, that this woman had killed her sister? : He felt ashamed of the thought, but it had come, and something seemed to urge the sus- picion upon hin. Had he any ground for the suspicion? Look- ing at it squarely, he saw that he had none. It wasa thought without anything to support it, or at any rate with buta mere ow or im- pression for its foundation, Bet: what did you gain?” the policemen hs te Aiea “Very little,” Dick had to admit. * Anything to lessen the suspicion against the prisoner?” ‘* No; his case seems hopeless. go hard with him.” **T thought you would. Is there anything more you want to get hold of here?” be Ww here is that servant? I want to talk with her. ‘*She is down in the rooms below. I'll call her up if you say so—” ** No, don’t; I'll go down there.” * All right, as you please,” Dick descended the stairs that led to the basement. Arriving at the bottom, he tapped at the door nearest at hand, and it was opened by a woman past middle age. Dick went right in, closing the door after him, the woman having stepped back at his advance, “Don’t be alarmed,” he said, ‘1 am an offi- cer, and merely want to ask you a question or two, ‘*T was in hopes that was all done with,” the woman observed, ‘‘It has been awful tryin’ upon us, you wouldn’t believe.” ** No doubt about that; and I will be as brief asIcan. Whatdo you think of the arrest that has been made? Do you believe Howard Crand- ford is guilty?” ‘How can I believe any other if sir? Doesn’t it speak for itself? I wouldn’t ha’ be- lieved it of him, but I can’t help it when it is so plain. I don’t see what the boy was thinkin’ about,” ‘*Suppose he badn’t been suspected and ar- rested, is there any one else whom you might have thought guilty?” ‘Not a one, sir, It would be a puzzle indeed, then,” ‘* Well, I want to see the dead woman, and did not like to ask her sister; I thought it would be too severe upon her. Will you oblige me?” ‘Why, certainly. And Miss Susan wounldn’t ha’ done it, nohow, so it is just as well you didn’t ask her, poor soul.” ‘Ts that so? But, then, it is easy to under- = how she must feel about it, for it is terri- e, ‘* Yes; she cannot bear it. She fainted at the discovery, and has not seen the body since, Come, and Ill take you up to the room, * All right. covery, then?” “Yes; and if you could have heard ber screams! I found her fainted in the ball at the top of the stairs.” ‘** It must have been a terrible shock, and little wonder that she has not gotoverit, It isa won- der she can sleep in the house, after it,” * And I don’t believe,she could, only for me, She sleeps with me in my room, and don’t go up to her own room at all. And yet she bears up wonderful well, considerin’.” That suspicion in Dick’s mind strengthened, in spite of him. : The old servant led bim up to the main floor, and into the front room, the parlor, This room was quite dark, and in the space between the windows could be discerned the dread object, a coffin, covered with its black drapings, aving closed the door, the woman advanced to one of the windows and drew the heavy cur- tain a little aside, and lifting the end of the pall, directed Dick to step forward and look, ; This the detective prince did. He looked upon an aged but kindly face, and judged that, while Phoebe Roylan had much re- sembled her sister, hers had been the better nature, Dick was soon satisfied, and drew back, The woman dropped the pall in place, closed the curtain, and they withdrew. ‘Is there anything further? the woman asked, when they were in the hall and the door had been closed after them. “There is one thing more, if it is not asking too much,” Dick answered. “Say what it is, sir, and if it is anything that I can do, why--” “Tt is this: I want to see the bedclothes un- der which the woman lay when the blow was struck. Have they been preserved?” ‘* They are down in the back kitchen, sir. I will take you to look at them.” Here Dick hoped to gain a point, and it would ge be for Howard Crandford, or against m : ; I fancy it will It was she who made the dis- Following the woman down, he was Jed to a room whero al] the rough work of the house was evidently done, and the blood-stained bed-cluthes were shown to him.,? - ‘** Which of these were on top?” Dick asked. ~ { _ 1 : “This one,” the woman indicated, touching a light quilt, ick drew it apart from the others, and took it near the light, There was a cut in it, just an inch and three- quarters wide. On the under side were some blood-stains, but on the outside, none. Having measured the cut, and noted other points, Dick threw the quilt back and announced that be was satisfied. There was nothing more he could trouble the woman about then, Shortly afterward he left the house, “Well,” he mused, “ here is one point in favor of the prisoner, and really it is more than f hoped to find. Now I bave more faith in his declaration that he is innocent, “The band that struck: the death-blow to that poor old woman was not stained witb her blood. Upon this point I am positive, blood came through that outer quilt, and I be- lieve that the blood upon the sleeve of young Crandford’s coat is not correctly accoun for. ** But, if be did not do the deed, then who did? That is what is my business to find out and make known. Hang it! I hate to suspect that old sister, but, somebow, I can’t shake it off, It gains hold 4 me at every step. H she did do it, then it is easy to understand why she will not look upon the face of the dead, or sleep again in the room next to the one in which the crime was committed.” ; These thougbts be turned over and over im mind as he walked along. His objective point now was the bank that had been mentioned by Susan Roylan, in answer to his question, Coming to his destination, he entered, and ad- vancing to the office which he noticed was marked ‘* Private,” touched an electric button on the door, ‘Is the president in?’ he inquired, when the door was opened by a colored man in buttons. . ‘*No, sah; he am not,” was the information @ got. “Who is in, then?” ‘*De president’s private clerk am in, sab.” ‘He will do, I guess. I will see bim.” * oe right in, sab. What name shall I say, sab Diek was disgusted with so much red-tare on the part of the flunky, ‘* Tell him a police detective on business,” be snapped, “and be lively about it, too.” The gentleman cf color bastened off, and Dick looked around the place, to find bimself in @ sort of reception ¢flice, and not in the ‘‘ inner of inners,” as it were, There was still a further bags beyond, While he was reflecting how next to impcssi- ble it would be fcr an outsider to get into that inner cflice turned, followed by a gentleman of middle age. ** You want to see me?” he asked, ‘7 am an officer,” Dick answered, ‘‘ and want to a private inquiry about a certain de- tor. ** State pour business, then, sir.” | ‘‘Did the dead Phowte Roylan have any ac- count here? If so, has she recently drawn upoD it to any considerable amount?” “Ha! the Roylan affair, eh? Stramge case that. Wait one moment, sir, and you shall have the information.youdesire. Washington,” to the darky, ‘“‘ request Mr. Gilroy to step ip here. But, no need to dwell at length upon tha rec- tapiem by which Dick finally got at what be wanted to learn. It was found tbat Phoebe Roylan had en account there, and that on the day preceding her deathshe had drawn upon it to the amount of twelve hundred dollars. Dick left the bank in a puzzled freme of mind, ‘Had it been for that money tbat the woman was murdered? Here was an object, a mctive: but who was to be suspected if not the wayward young man? a, The postibilities of the case were just begir- ning to open before the mind-vision of the all alone detective. There might be a more in- tricate tangle than even he had dreamed of. He had proceeded only a little distance from the bank, when a light touch fell upon his arm. Looking around instantly, be stopped short, witb an exclamation. — ‘*Kodak Kate!” the words he uttered. ** And you, bere!” Such was ber response, and as their bands met her eyes questioned for an explanation, “‘T don’t wonder you are surprised,” laughed Dick; ‘* I’m somewhat surprised myself, Not a drop of | the door opened and the darky re-— Tex- to be whirling away to the north, by this — time; but, here I am, still in old ’Frisco,” “But how is it?” the little camera shadower | ) | ana “ee s eos 4 #: fie 4 tee fete piihas tose poe ries es ye sey: a, Rs sic? Dit ase dy ve ee iRretee & leneee 4 OY ae ee PUT ooh Delta ag re ha e > at a
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ay Oe ™ Wie Seed : , in SS eee f 4 . —— ie a Tae * = ; Nei ical eg ee ee : ee — y — a! - : : : Oe pe pS ES En ar a bee Sao eS io 5 RA ne Ae nN k a wr 4 —\ ad a a Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Still Hunt. inquired, ‘Certainly it was your intention to set out, when you bade me good-by,” ** A note detained me. Just asI was about leaving the hotel a letter was put into my hands, and asa result [did not go, I have been request- ed to take hold of this strange Roylan affair.” “The Roylan case!” ‘Exactly. Are you surprised?” *T, too, am working on the same case, Dick.” “The merry deuce your are! And in whose interest are you working?” “TY am tryivg to find something that will meg the favor of the prisoner, Mr. Crand- ford, ‘Tt seems, then, that we are in company for anotber round, Kate. I am on the same lay. But, let us walk on together, and compare notes. This promises to be a big piece of work, if lam any judge.” CHAPTER V. THE INTEREST DOUBLED. DICK was | glad of the chance meeting with his late ally. Kate had proved her ability by her work upon the other case, and Dick was glad enough to have her for his “ pard” again, ‘* How came you to get upon the case?” Dick asked. ‘*Through the notoriety the papers gave me regarding that other affair,” was the answer, ‘The same here, too, But, for whom are you working? Come, let us get an understanding, and then we’ll forge abead with cur ideas,” ** It-isa rather strange affair, my pert in it, Dick, I received a note this morning in a wo- man’s hand, with a hundred dollars inclosed, Tbe mote requested me to go at work immediately upon the case, trying to establish the innocence of Howard Crandford,” ‘And is that all you know about it? To whom were you directed to report? It looks strange, to say the least.” * And if is as strange as it looks, too. But, it is all right, so far asIam concerned, I had nothing to do, so took right hold, I am to re- port to the young man’s lawyers if I find any- thing favorable to bis case.” ‘** And there was no signature to that letter?” “Tt was signed ‘A Friend in Secret.’” ** Will you let me see it?” ‘* Of course.” Kate thrust her hand into an ‘inner pocket of the jaunty jacket she wore, and brought forth ‘the note, which Dick took and read eagerly. The writing was good, and the language fault- less. But there was something about the writing that 8), pe an attempt at disguise, ‘It had a backhand slant, and the same letters in different words and lines were differently formed. The message was in almost as few words as Kate had stated it. “There is a woman in the case, as usual,” Dick observed. ‘Yes, as there always is,” assented Kate. ** Eve 1s always on hand, where Adam is found.” ** Aud you have no idea where this letter came from, eh? No suspicion as to who this unknown muy be? We con to find out, if possible.” ‘Haven't the slightest idea,” _ “Tt is an ordinary letter, in all appearances.” “Nothing more. [t has probably been dropped into a post-box, and the risk of its reaching me assumed,” ‘** But the money, what kind was it?” » ‘Tt was a new hundred-dollar bill.” **On what bank?” ‘ She named the one Dick bad just visited, ‘* | have just come from there,” Dick informed her, ** And so have I!” ‘We must have been there very nearly at the same time. I did not notice you, when I came out, “*T may have been standing at the teller’s win- dow. I was asking about the bill, Thought 1 might learn to whom it bad been paid out, as there was not a crease in it except where it had been folded to put it in the letter.” ** And could they tel! you anything?” ‘* Nothing; only that it had been paid out to within two days,” ‘** How could they be so sure about that?” “The bills had been in their hands no longer than tbat,” 8, _. “Isee, But, let’s go back there immediately, _ make sure, ee I have another point now to investigate.” They turned and retraced their steps, Dick explaining the errand that had taken him to the bank, and Kodak Kate telling him bow she ; bo Byte She recognized him, seeing bim a. upon the street, and had hastened forward to distance ahead of ber when she came out | Po Re-entering the bank, Dick cast his eye about to find the man Gilroy, who had supplied the information he sought before, and seeing him at his post, called bis attention, ‘*Pardon me,” be said, ‘* but will it be possi- ble for me to learn what kind of money was paid out to Phoebe Roylan the other day?” The man turned away to speak to the teller, who had probably handled the money, and after a little talk with him, returned and announced: ‘*The payment was made in twelye new one hundred-dollar bills, sir.” Dick thanked him, and he and Kate went out and away. ‘*The case is evoluting,” Dick observed, ‘“* It is possible, but this is only a supposition, you know—possible that this bill is one of the twelve the murdered woman drew from the bank on the day before her death !” ‘*Tt may be, but it don’t seem probable. Do you know, Dick, it seems to me that we have taken bold of a case this time that is going to baffle us.” ** Tt sha’n’tif I can help it, be sure of that. But, what were you going to do next? What plan, had you in mind when you caught sight of 7 ‘““Why, I thought I would go to the jail and see the prisoner, and from there go to the office of the Kincarths, to see if they could enlighten me any in regard to the note.” ** T approve of your going to the jail, but not of your visit to the office of the lawyers, It will do no harm to keep this point out of their grasp for the time being.” ‘And what ought I to say to Mr. Crand- ford?” ‘*We want to learn what woman has an ipter- est in bim,” ‘*Yes; and it must be got around ina nice way, or he. may baffle us on the important int, ‘** Would you be willing to let me take the note and money, and visit bim in your stead? a "i Why, certainly; and be glad to let you do it. “hat is what I will do, then. Let’s go to- gether, and you can stand just outside the cell and listen to what is said,” Their steps were bent in the direction of oH jail, at once, and ina little time they were there, * When they reached the jail they met a vailed woman just coming out. She was in deepest mourning, and it was impossible to see anything of ber face, ‘*W hat woman was that?” Dick immediately asked of the jailer, or at any rate the man who had admitted bim before. ‘*T give it up,” was the answer, ‘‘She’s been in to see your man Crandford. I didn’t geta look at her face.” Dick had turned to his brave little ally. ‘*Your mysterious correspondent, for a hasty guess,” he quickly whispered. ‘* As likely as not you are right. Shall I fol- low her, and see what comes of it?” ‘Certainly! and don’t let her throw you off, I'll be at your home this evening at eight.” Kate was off; the vailed woman was under surveillance, Dick expressed his desire to see the prisoner ain, and was admitted to the cell. e found the young man with the same scowl upon his face that he bad noticed upon his first visit, but it vanished when he looked up. “ Back again?” he queried. ** As you see,” answered Dick. «Well, what have you accomplished?” ‘More than you may suppose,” Dick hinted. The prisoner looked at him questioningly, even eagerly, ' “ Well, teil me what it is,” he requested. “TI can stand it.” / ‘First tell me how the police accounted for that blood n your sleeve. I want to know what they thought about that.” ** Why, they set forth the idea that I had got it from the knife, after the deed was done, They argued that it hadn’t come there in any other wa 7 i ve they must take some such view of it. Ibavefound that it was impossible for the blood” to have spurted upon yon, for it did not any more than stain the outer quilt.” “That was the way they explained it,” **And yon still assert that it was not the blood of the murdered woman at all, do you?” ‘“*T still swear that it was not. Iam as inno- cent of the crime as you are. Ido not know anything whatever about it. Let this be final upon that point,” ‘All right, I will mention itno more, And now I1’JI tell you something. On the day before yesterday Phoebe Roylan drew twelve hundred dollars out of the bank.” Did the prisoner give a start? or did Dick only imagine it? ‘* Well, proceed,” the young man urged, as Dick paused. ‘* What follows that?” - ‘* You seemed to start when I mentioned it.” “Did If Well, maybe I did.” ** Why should you?” **T was thinking how she fibbed to me that night. I wanted a loan, as is well known, but she said she hadn’t the amount.” **T see; and the fact that ycu wanted money, and the fact that she had that day taken money out of tbe bank, and no doubt had it in the house, tells against you. 1 suppose you can see that.” ‘*- Yes; but go on!” ‘‘ Well, that money was taken by some one; I will not venture to guess by whom. But, I know where it went to!” The prisoner’s eyes fairly burned, but be held control over bis features. ‘*Then you have made a step forward in the case,” he remarked. ‘‘ But where did it go to? I am anxious to hear more about it,” ‘** Tt passed into the hands of a woman,” Dick asserted, eying the man keenly. ‘Into the hands of awoman in whom you have an in- terest, a more than common interest. I have one of the bills in my possession now. Here it is.” CHAPTER VI. POSITIVE EVIDENCE, TuIs time the fellow gave a start that was not to be doubted. \ **You are a very fiend at detective work!” he cried. ‘* How did you get hold of this?” This exclamation scored for Dick a big point, and one that he stored away todraw upon at the proper time. It looked daiker for Howard Crandford, Dick had aimed well, and the blow had struck home. He was coming at something, though of course he could not foresee what it/ would prove to be. He was more than half inclined to think the police had made no mistake, He smiled at the prisoner, baffling him. ‘“*Fortune seems to have favored me,” he re- turned. ‘I have struck oil much sooner than I ex ed I should.” , ‘ But, what have you learned?” was demanded. ‘Tf you are working in my interest, as you say, let me know what points you have gained,” ‘*The points may not be at all favorable to you, in which case you might not relish the dis- closures,” The reader will see that Dick was tryinga bluff” game. He of course did not really know that this bill he bad in hand was one of the twelve that bad been in the possession of the murdered woman; but that was something the prisoner could not know. He could only see the matter in the Jight in which Dick presented it, and in no other, and from that Dick was trying to gain further ground, ‘*T don’t care whether they are or not,” was the response. ** You seem inclined to take your situation in good spirit. One would not imagine that the rope is as good as around your neck.” ‘Why not that way as well as any other? I am in for it, and all the proof is against me. What am I going to do about it? I cculdn’t clear myself if I would, so I may as well take it easy. PD crime : ‘*T haven’t much hope of escape from that fate. “ You don’t give me any hope, that is cer- tain. ** Because I can’t, But, you have a friend who is working for you, ng to do what she can. I mean the woman m whom this bill was obtained.” ‘Tf I have any friends,” was the evasive re- onse, ‘* they may do memore harm than good. ou claim to be my friend, and yet you as much as tell me that | killed my aunt to get this money.” : : “ Tonly tell you how it looks, And now, for your own sake, I want you to take me into your confidence and make a clean breast of the whole thing. You are innocent, you say; tell me where you were, and what doing, about the time this awful murder was done.” “Can't do it; no use your urging me. Go ahead with your work, If you to the evi- you really think you will hang for this dence against me, 1 can’t help it. If you can clear me, then you are a better man than I think vou are, and I'll think you beat the ghost of Vidocg at your calling,” “Then you absolutely refuse to give me any
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6 | Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Still Hunt. ae further than you have already one ‘*T do. I will not utter another word regard- ing the case,” ‘Tben I must take other steps, I will have nt gg this woman tospeak. She just left your cell. ; At this the prisoner half-sprung up. ** Has that woman been detained?’ he gasped, “* «She will not be lost sigbt of,” assured Dick. ** Then all is lost! Fool that she was to come here,” * Dick congratulated bimself upon the fact that Kodak Kate was into the case with him. Upon this woman, whoever she might prove to be, he believed, hinged the whole scheme. And Kodak Kate would be likely to learn some- thing about her before she gave up the task that bad been given her, The prisoner had sunk down upon the stool, and let his head fall upon his hands, ‘You may as well tell me everything,” Dick observed, ‘‘It will be only a question of time when I shall get at the truth, anyhow.” **See here, Deadwood Dick,” and the fellow looked up, ‘I'll tell you this: I know nothing about the murder of Phoebe Roylan. Believe that or not, just as you see fit. But, if you go on upon the trail you have set out upon, you are going tohang me, If you have any regard for a poor devil in my fix, if you can take my word that I am innocent, draw out and do not let the police know anything about tbis woman.” ** An innocent man would have no such fears as that,” declared Dick. ‘*Then you believe me guilty. Very well, go on, and some day you may find out that I have not lied to you.” “Ts it possible, then, that this woman is the guilty one?” questioned Dick. He was pushing the case while the fire was up. ‘* By heavens, no /” was the cry. ‘She is as innocent as an angel!” ‘““You may have to speak, to save her from taking your place here, my friend.” ‘* No fear of that,” with a sad smile. ‘She is safe; but, if you go on, I tell you you will hang me, as sure as I live this minute. Drop the case, and spare me, There may be a ghost of a chance for me, if you will.” ‘*T will not drop it. Thatis not Richard M, Bristol’s style, I rather think it is the woman you are concerned for, more than for yourself. e shall see, no doubt.” ‘You won't take my word. Mag well; I can say no more. The womanis safe, I tell you that candidly. Iam the onein danger. Goon, if you are determined, but it may sometime come to you that you have been the means of hanging an innocent man,” “Your situation can’t be made any worse than it is, I fancy,” reminded Dick. ‘‘If you are innocent, as you maintain, something ma come to light that will save you. Anyhow, am not going to give the case up,” **Then I have no more to say.” **'You won’t tell me who this woman is?” **T will not.” \ ‘** Nor what her interest is in you?” “ No ” ‘* Nor how she came by this money?” “‘How do I know that the money has been in her possession at all? I believe you are trying to bluff me on the weakest kind of a hand, Dead- wood Dick,” , ‘You are welcome to entertain that idea. But I see there is no use talking to you. You are as determined asa bulldog, and had rather bee, | than try to save yourself, it appears,” *l have told you thatit is no use for me to try. The circumstantial evidence has closed around me with such power that the chain can- not be broken.” ** Nonsense! You have only to tell where you were at the time the crime must have been done,” “And that I will not do, though I swing as high as Haman!” _“ That settles it, No use wasting any more time with you. I'll get at the facts, though, without your help.” - Dick took his leave to make other moves, at once. The scent was now warm; he hoped soon to make it hot. He had learned the address of the night watch- man who had given such damaging testimony against the yonng man, and wan to see him to form an Opinion of his character by personal contact, so he made his way direct to his place of residence. He found the man at home, and up and awake, having not yet retired for bis daytime ae. e was a man of forty or so, a plain but a worthy looking fellow, with every appearance of sobriety and honesty. **T have ealled to ask a question or two re- garding that Roylan affair,” Dick explained. ** And it is a mess that I wish I’d never know- ed anything about,” the man declared forcibly. “Why do you say that, my man? Dick asked. ** Because, hang me if I don’t feel sorry for young Crandford.” ** But he is not deserving of pity, for there can’t be any doubt about his being the murderer.” ‘** That is the way it looks, [know. Of course he must be guilty.’ ‘You know him well, then?” ‘* Yes, perfectly well,” ‘* And there’s no chance for a mistake about the man you saw coming out of the house?” ‘* Not a ghost of achance. I wish there was, for [’ve nothin’ against Howard Crandford, and would like to see him get clear.” : ‘* How came you to testify against him?” **T was called, It was knowed that I was watchman at the store across the way, and the crowner sent for me,” “Then you didn’t go of your own will, eb?” **No;. and I don’t believe I would, either. But when I was in for it, why of course I had to tell the truth,” ‘* And what did youtell? Kindly give me the fact of what you know and of what you told at the inquest.” ‘Tt is soon done. I had stepped out on the street, in front of the store, right opposite the house where the crime was committed. It was about ten o’clock, It was three or four minutes after two when I went into the store a little while afterward, ‘While I was there, I looked across the way and saw a man coming out at the front door, very cautiously, Thinking it might be a robber, I started across the street, but when I was nearer, and the fellow was coming down the steps, I saw who it was and turned back,” ‘¢ And there was no chance whatever for you to be mistaken?” ‘No, most positively. My eyes do not fool me.” os Oh ah your evidence, sir, the poor devil will probably be hanged.” “‘T can’t help it; I have spoken the truth, and that only. I can’t lie about it, and I wouldnt, either.” ‘* But the young man himself declares that he was notin the house, and did not come out at that time, Asserts positively that you must be mistaken,” ‘¢-You have heard my statement, sir. Inquire about me, and you will find that I am a_man of truth. What I have said must stand, because it is the truth, and I will not change it to a lie, I positively saw Howard Crandford coming out of that bouse at two o’clock in the morning, the night of the crime,” here was nothing more to be said, so Dick thanked the man and took his leave, puzzling his mind with the different points. It did not seem a point of doubt, now, that the accused man bad been in the house at an un- usual hour, on the nigbt of the crime. The wit- ness evidently was candid in what he said. That being the case, Crandford must be the mur- derer. _ CHAPTER VII. KODAK KATE’S BRILLIANT PLAY, MEANWHILE what of Kodzck Kate? Giving the vailed woman a little start, she had gone after her with the determination not to lose sight of her. ‘he unknown stepped out at a gait which proved that she was not by any means an old person, and the shadower found that it was go ing to tax her own speed to keep up with the shadowed. The trail was a plain one, 80 to speak, and one easy to follow, and the direction lay toward a semi-aristocratic quarter of the city, Block after block was passed, the vailed wo- man keeping up the same pace, until one of the business thoroughfares was reached. Here she slackened her pace a little, but made no stop until suddenly she turned and entered a millinery store, Determined not to lose sight of her, Kodak Kate entered the same store as soon as she came to its doors, and in the rear of the long sbop she saw her suspect, with the heavy vail thrown a little aside, speaking toa woman whom Kate knew to be at the head of the establishment, Without appearing to be paying any notice to her, Kate approached a ribbon counter and began examining samples, finally making a small purchase, = While she was busy there, she noticed that the vailed woman passed bebind the rear end of the counters, into a sort of workshop, and from that into another apartment that was curtained off, and which Kate knew to be a dressing-room. Having made her simple purchase, Kate talked ‘‘ hats” with the saleswoman while she waited for the reappearance of the woman ip ack. Finally the curtains parted, and a woman game out, a bandsome, dashing woman, richly dressed. At first Kate did not believe it could be the person she had seen to enter. When the woman stopped again, to speak to the head of the establishment, however, she leaned over the glass case precisely as the vailed woman had done, This made the camera expert alert in an in- stant, and when the woman took her leave and started toward the doors, Kate took a good look at her dress and recognized it. Trust a woman to pay attention to dress, every time! That it was the woman who had entered the store in disguise, the able little detective was now positive. ; When thé woman was near enough, walking with stiff, aristocratic step, her eyes upon tke door and fnoticing no one, was Kate’s oppor- tunity. She had ber camera with her—was seldom without it—carrying it by its strap over her shoulder, yet hidden under her jacket at her left side, She touched it with her hand, there was scarcely an audible click, and she had ‘‘ bagged” a picture! And this, too, without pausing in her idle talk | with the saleswoman upon the ponderous sub- ject—" Hats.” When the woman had passed out, the little detective ended her conversation and followed after her. Now the pace was leisurely and dignified, like that of a lady out merely for a little shopping exercise, Kate followed, and at last had shadowed the woman to her destination. She entered a house in the aristocratic limits and Kate, who had seen her ring the bell, an enter immediately when the door was opened, concluded that it was her bome. A person calling, she reasoned, would have to ‘pause to exchange a word with the servant, un- ~ ess in an exceptional case, In this case there had been no such pause; the woman had stepped right in the moment the door swung oper. he alert little ‘‘ Snap Shot” noted street and number, and then came the inquiry, what the next move should be. Her work would scarcely meet the approval of Deadwood Dick, she believed, unless she learned who this woman was. But, how was she to accomplish that? It was at first a difficult problem, but an idea was soon. coined. Advancing to the house, she mounted the steps and rung the bell. ’ The door was soon opened by a trim-looking girl in white apron and smart or : “Will you kindly tell me who lives here?” Kate asked. ** Mr, Crandal Ingerslee,” was the answer, “Then I have guessed the right number, it seems,” Kate observed, ‘‘Is Mrs. Ingerslee at home?” ‘She is,” was the response. ‘* Will you tell her that a young woman de- sires to see her?” ‘* What name is it, if vo please?” “Tell the lady that I thought it best not to foe my name. She will very likely under- nD “Very well. Be seated here, please, and I will carry your message to her at once.” And indicating a reception chair in the hall, the girl went up stairs. In a few moments she was back. ‘*T will show you into this room,” she said. “Mrs, Ingerelee has been out, and will come down as soon as she changes her gown.” From this bit of detail Kate learned one thing—that the woman she had shadowed was Mrs. Ingerslee, __ Kate stepped into the room and waited, and after a little time the door opened and the wo- man came in. * Is was, in truth, the same one Kate had shad- owed, and her name was now positively ascer— tained. This was one point, even if she gained no — others. At first Kate did not speak, wanting to see if the woman would know her by her recent por~ trait in all the papers, a a “Shahn ale ee — «Ge eae
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+ 7 4 | ki ‘ ‘ Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Still Hunt. — She noticed that the lady did give a slight | find your patron, as you call the person who en- start at ber first glance, but recovered immedi- | gaged you in the matter?” ately, and as Kate hesitated about speaking, said: * You wanted to see me?” ** Tf you are Mrs. ingerslee,” was the response, ‘*Tamshe. I do not remember ever to have seen you. I presume we have never met be- fore. ‘* We never have, to my knowledge, madam,” Kate made answer. ‘I received your note this morning, with the hundred dollars inclosed, and The woman had paled, her eyes were starting, and she interrupted: “My note! Hundred dollars! crazy?” ‘““Not at all, madam,” was the quiet assur- ance, “You must be, Who are you?” ‘“‘T am Kodak Tate, whom you sent for, or rather—” ‘*Kodak Kate! Sent for! Surely you have made a mistake. I never heard of you; have no knowledge of you.” But the woman’s face had not recovered its color, and her hand trembled slightly with the excitement she could not repress, The little detective smiled. ‘*Tf you insist that 1 have made a mistake, I sup I have,” she remarked. ‘I have come with something important to say, however, madam.” ‘“*T was never so mystified in my life,” the woman declared, in a manner that was well- calculated to {make Kate doubt her being upon the right track. ‘‘But you have roused my curiosity to the highest pitch. Who and what are you? if you will permit me to ask that.” *“ All I can say, since it seems certain that I have made a great blunder, is, that I am a detective. But, it seems almost impossible, too, that I can have made a mistake in this instance. I received a note from a Jady this. morning, in- closing a hundred-dollar bill, with instructions to go at work immediately upon a certain case which I will not mention yet. Now, having discovered something of great importance—so great, in fact, that I dare not follow the direc- tions of the letter further, for fear of getting my patron into serious trouble, I set out to find her to report. My effort in this direction has lei me straight bere.” The woman's lips were compressed, her whole manner was that of the greatest possible strain of excitement. “You fairly thrill me!” she ejaculated. ‘*You have roused my woman’s curiosity to the highest pitch, Still, I must insist that you have, made a wonderful mistake, and one that I cannot possibly account for. I will not ask you to disclose anything, but I am burning with interest, as I will not deny.” “Well, if you are really not the woman who sent me the money,” Kate remarked, ‘‘ you cer- tainly cannot know anything about her, and so I will make one statement, since it can do no harm.” ‘*No, Ido not ask you to disclose anything. Still, if you are free to do so, since you have thus far awakened my interest—more than in- terest, why—” “You are entitled to a little enlightenment, and I will give it, tbat you may know the im- portance of my coming here—that is, of my desire to find the person who employed me. That hundred-dollar bill was stolen money, and was probably stained with the blood of a horrible murder!’ ‘*Oh, heavens! You do not mean it!” The woman had sprung to her feet, her face a picture of horror, Kodak Kate was looking at her keenly, and a gleam of satisfaction shone in her sharp eyes. “You do not know what a shock you have given me,” the woman immediately added, ‘I am so nervous; the least thing upsets me, and such a horrible statement as you—I almost fainted, I believe.” ‘“‘ Bnough to shock any one,” Kate assumed. “‘ But, how in the world did you ever make such a mistake as to come to me?” the woman Are you ked, “ That, since I have made S0 serious mistake,” was Kate’s answer, ‘‘I dare not reveal to you. { will take my leave, and I am sorry that I have troubled you, But I would ask a favor of you, madam.” ‘ “* And what is that?” was the quick demand. “* That you will reveal to no one what I have said to you. It might be the means of getting an innocent person into serious trouble.” _ “ Rest assured that I shall respect your wishes. But, what do you intend doing, since you cannot i + the : 6 Be CORES ae ‘ m PAG ree. Ba, : serine mes CaN cia. Ps kl teclegt Sa eee “gn a : et we Sy ite ENE i ** Really, I hardly know what to do, The af- fair has taken so dangerous a turn that, in jus- tice to my unknown employer, I believe | ought to drop it right where it is and investigate no further.” “T beli@ve I would dothat. Thereis no know- ing what awfulconsequences might result if you | | man who had entered? went further, But, itis not for metosay.” , “That is what I shall do,” Kate spoke de- cisively. ‘‘I have no desire to figure in the matter any further, working in the dark. 1 shall drop the case at once, [ think, and keep secret what I have learned. It can do little good to make it known, and it might do much harm. I bad better look into it no further.” CHAPTER VIII. DOMESTIC DISCORD, THE little camera queen had done nobly, and she felt like congratulating herself upon her fine playing and the success it had brougbt, » In her mind there was no doubt that this woman was the person who had sent her the note and money, and engaged her services in the | case. Her deep excitement, her nervous anxiety, and now, last of all, the relief she seemed to ex- perience when the camera detective told her she intended to drop the matter and investigate no further. ; The success was greater than the little ‘‘ Snap Shot ” had dared dream about. She anticipated with exultation her reporting to Deadwood Dick. ‘* While I know nothing about the matter,” re- marked the woman, ‘‘it seems to me you are taking the right course in the affair. If what I suspect is true, thereis no telling what trouble might come of it, even to yourself. You cannot imagine to what a pitch you have roused my in- terest.” “T suppose 1 have, and no wonder,” was Kate’s response to that. ‘But, I dare not en- lighten you any further than I have, for that would be to break the very resolve I have just formed. So pray do not ask me any questions. I am very sorry that my mistake has caused you all this trouble, or if not trouble, then excite- ment, at least; but I felt sure that I was upon the right track.” ** Well, I cannot ask anything, of course; but you see how very easy it is for oue to be mis- taken. Have you no means of finding out who your mysterious patron is?” ‘*No means whatever, now, since this has gone wrong. I could report to certain lawyers, but I will not do that, now,” ‘*No, I agree with you that that ought not to be done, out of justice to your unknown friend. For surely the person must be your friend, It might cause her untold trouble,” “That is the situation, and you can under- stand how I am placed.” ‘* And the woman gave you no address? Nor oe directions how to reach her, in case you ound it necessary?’ “Neither, madam,” ‘“ Well, well, it is mysterious. It is like a chapter in thrilling fiction. It is just possible that she may communicate with you again, though,” ‘* Yes, it is possible, but I do not look for any- thing further from her. I am of the opinion that her first message was her last—that it told everything in few words, and ended everything.” Kate had risen to take her leave. At that moment the front door opened, and steps were heard in the hall. Mrs. Ingerslee immediately showed great per- turbation, and her finger went to her lips, a sig- nal of caution. The other door opened immediately afterward, the door of this room they werein, and a tall, dark man entered. He was evidently at home there. ‘*Pray tell Madam Christie,” the woman was saying to Kate as the man stepped in, “ that I have not yet made up my mind regarding the garment. I may drop in to see her to-morrow, That is all, I will show you out.” She had laid a hand upon Kate’s arm, now, and pushed her gently but forcibly toward the oor, The little detective quickly understeod, and accepted the cue, “T will carry the message, madam,” she meekly assured, and allowed herself to be forced from the room without further remark. The woman did not fullow ber into the hall, but closed the door bebind ber at once and turned t Tela wae kee | to the man, stepping toward him with bands out- stretched in welcome, and a smile upon her face. ; Kodak Kate had no excuse for tarrying, so opened the front door and passed out and has- tened away. She had gained much, but was only the more disappointed that she had not been able to gain still further clews and-evidence, Who was the Why had she been turned away so very suddenly at his coming? ‘*Deadwood Dick was right,” she mused, “This is going to be a big case, before it is done with. And how strange that I should be associ- ated with him again! Brave, noble, chivalrous Dick Bristol! I could almost say— But, what am I thinking about!” Whatever her thoughts were, they caused a flush to mount to her cheeks,and she glanced about her, as though to see whether any one ob- served. But, let us return to the house she bad just left, and witness what passed between the wo- man and man she had left in the room, The man took the proffered hands, but with never a smile upon bis dark face. And his face was adark one. It seemed to wear a habitual scowl. He was good-looking, but his countenance was marred by its expres- sion of—what? Suspicion seemed to be his rul- ing expression. On his nose, at this time, was a strip of plas- ter, and a dark circle under one eye looked as though he bad been having a bout at fisticuffs, He was elegantly dressed, in perfect taste, and locked like a Spanish gentleman of blue blood. He probably was of Spanish descent. ** Who was that woman?” he asked, coldly. **Only one of Madam Christie’s persons,” was the smiling answer. ‘* How am I to know that?’ was the suspicious demand. ‘* What business brought her bere?” ‘* Now, really, Crandal,” was the smiling re- sponse, ‘* I am half-determined to laugh at you. Can't you take my word for it? Or, if that won’t do, didn’t you hear what we were talking about as you came in?” ‘* Well, forgive me, pet, but it is my passion- ate love for you that makes me so jealous of even a woman. I will share your affection with no one. Do you understand that? With no one!” This last came out fierce and strong. ‘* And no one asks you to share it,” was the smiling rejoinder. ‘t My love is all yours, so do not let that trouble you any. But what brings you home at this unexpected hour?” ** Have you forgotten what date this is?” **T believe it isthe twelfth.” ‘Right. And what about the twelfth?” **Upon my word, I do not know what you are coming at, Crandal.” “What! Have you forgotten that thousand dollars that is due to-day? Is ‘it possible that es are going to tell me you baven’t it? By eayens! but Ill investigate that story of yours—” ‘* Ha, ha, ha!” in a merry ripple of Jaughter, “but you do pt so excited, you dear old dear, you! Why, I have had that money laid by for a good many days, and never once thought to ae it to you. will go and get it immedi- ately. Sie disengaged her hands, tripped lightly away to the door, opened it, and continued on up the stairs. The man looked after her with his dark face scowling, and his eyes burning with a light that was unmistakably jealousy. And the woman, the moment she was out of the room, allowed her own countenance to alter suddenly, The smile vanished, and in its place came a hungry, wistful, hunted look that it was pitiable tosee. It looked as though she had‘a heavily-burdened heart. She was not gone more than a minute, and when she returned, she had in her hand a num- ber of crisp, new bank-notes, The smile was upon her lips again, as she entered, and extend- ing the money, she said: “* Here it is, Crandal, every dollar of it. And I assure you that it is returned with grateful thanks to you for the kindness,” ‘‘ARumph!” the man muttered, taking the bills and glancing at them. There were ten of them, each of a hundred dollars—one thousand dollars the sum total. Having counted them, the man thrust them into his vest pocket, and that done, turned upon his wife—such was their relation—and de- manded: se Now, I want to know where this money has n. ** Crandal!” a _ le cee tay we 3 rqs 4 I A i | B)
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- 4 The exclamation was in ap injured tone, and accompanied with a look of keen reproach. ‘*Oh! I know,” he waived, ‘* but it is my right to know, and I’m going to find out, too. Who bas had this money?” A look of settled firmness came into the wo- man’s eyes, and she answered: “7 will not tell you!” ** But you shall!” /? reece? | | Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Still Hunt. it is really necessary I can go and fetch him, for he is not far away.” ‘* Yes, I will come in for a moment, if I may,” Dick accepted, stepping in and following ivto a plain but neat parlor, ‘‘ You need not send for him, however; it is not worth while,” Two little children had followed the woman into the hall, and now into the room, asd when she had placed a chair for the caller and taken “T will not! When the money was bor- | a seat herself she took the younger of the chil- rowed, it was upon the condition that you were not to ask whom it was for. I was to be respon- sible to you for it, and upon that understanding ou let me have it. Beyond the fact that it bas n in the hands of a lady, as you knew before, I shall tell you nothing.” ‘* Furies! dare you talk this way to me?” * Crandal, it is not a question of daring or not daring; it is a point of honor between myself and a dear friend, and in accord with the under- standing we had when the money was asked for.” ** But, who is this friend? That is all I ask toknow. 1 can respect the secret as well as you.” **And you would have your wife break her word of honor, spoken in pledge? To say nothing of breaking your own part of the simple agreement!” ‘* Then you refuse to make the disclosure?” **T ‘have been forced to refuse.” ‘‘Phere must be a deep reason for it. But, I will learn what it is, and then let me warn you—” ‘* How unreasonable you are! When this lady came to me to ask the favor, the loan of a thousand dollars, her face was flushed with shame at the humility, and my pity was in full sympathy for her. She would not have her name disclosed to you, and would not accept the money except on that condition. I put the matter before you, and you at once agreed. Now you would break your word of honor! For shame!” The man cooled under that reproach, at last, and gave way. ‘* Well, well, it is asking too much, I suppose,” he remarked. ‘‘ But you have made me su sus- picious by your actions, that—” ‘* It is all your terrible jealousy, you dear old goosey,” the woman interrupted, flinging ber arms around him, ‘The money jis again in your pocket, and there is no reason in the world why you should doubt me.” “IT know, love, but these mysterious transac- tions do not tend to increase my confidence any. And to say nothing of mysterious burglars in tbe house— Confound it! but that experience of the other night is enough to- make a man of my hot temper go out of his head. Pity I didn’t kill the wretch!” CHAPTER IX. DICK’S HONOR TESTED, In the mean time Deadwood Dick had made another move. It was one he had bad in mind from the first, but which had seemed of minor importance, at the preliminary moves of the investigation. Whether it would amcunt to anything or not, he of course could not tell till it had been put to the test. But, be that as it might, it was a point in which he bad interest. The prince of all-around detectives still bad in mind wkat the old lawyer had told him,concern- ing the Roylan sisters, and their inability to agree upon the manner in which they should dis- i of their prope.sty by will. Susan was for eaving the bulk of it toa Mrs, Pratson, And this was a woman, who, according to what Dick had gathered, bad no claim upon the sisters whatever. At any rate, that had been the way in which Pocebe had looked at it. Dick had the address of the woman, Mrs. Pratson, and upon leaving the jail on the last- mentioned occasion, he started out to find ber, When he reached the destination be found it was an humble home, in a part of the city in- habited by the poorer classes, The door was opened in response to bis ring, and a pleasant-faced woman of twenty-five was before him, “Are you Mrs, Pratson, madam?” Dick in- quired, “That is my name, sir,” she answered. ‘* Ts your husband at home?” ‘* No, sir.” ‘** He is at work, I suppose,” ** Yes; did you want to see him?” ‘Yes, But perhaps you can answer some + atom et Ee as well. By \the way, what is his usiness?” ‘*He isacarpenter, sir. Will youstepin? If / ee Pry eS ye a ‘ dren in her arms, and awaited to hear what the caller’s business might be. ‘“You bave heard of the murder of Phoebe Roylan, of course,” Dick opened. The woman started, and a sudden paleness came upon her face, The mention of the crime evidently gave her a shock. ‘* Yes, I have heard of it,” she acknowledged. ‘Ts your husband in any way related to the Roylan family?” ‘* Not that 1 know of, sir. in fact.” “* Then it must be yourself.” ‘*T do not know it, I am sure, can be so.” sy Do you know Susan Roylan the living sis- ter “Yes, I know her, sir.” ** Are you well acquainted with her?” ‘‘T think Icansay lam. She has been here a good many times,” “ And you have visited her.” ** No; I have never been there, vited me.” “Do you know what the nature of her interest in you is? I believe she thinks well of you.” ‘**T am sure I do not know. She has been very good to us, at times when my husband has been out of work, ThatisallI can say.” . ‘* Well, did you ever see the murdered sister?” {Noy air.” ‘*Or Howard Crandcford, who is under arrest for the crime?” ‘* No, sir; never saw either of them,” “And all you know about them, then, is simply that which you bave stated concerning Susan?” “* That is all, sir.” ‘* But, how came she to have an interest in you, in the first place?” “TI donot know. It was once when Charles, my husband, was out of work, She called, said she had heard of our bad luck, and wanted to help us a little, We were in no position to I am sure he is not, I don’t think it She never in- ter,” “ And from that time on, eh?” ** Yes; and perhaps before.” ‘* How was that?” “Charles has often ad work put into his hands that has come to him witbout his seeking, and he could never tell how it had come to him,” ‘* Then you have every reason to think well of Susan Roylan?’ ‘*-Yes; you may be sure of that.” *Dick had evidently reached the end of his rope, here, and it was useless to remain any onger, With some plausible excuse for his call, and the questions he had asked, he went away, as much puzzled as when he had come, What was this woman to Susac Roylan? he asked himself. The fact that shg had made her an object. of a charitable impulse, was not im- portant; but that she desired to leave a fortune to ber, was, He could not answer the question, For the present, then, he was done, and would return to tbe office of the Kincarths. Tu due time he came out upon Kearney street, and was not long in reaching the destination in view upon the busy thoroughfare. Mounting the stairs, he was soon at the door of the office, and opening it, entered the railed inclosure within, There was Oliver Upp, the strange boy with the strange partiality for say- ing strange things, ready to greet him, At a glance Dick saw tbat both the Kincarths were at their desks, The boy acted as though he had never seen Dick before, Neither of the Kincarths looked up, except Samuel's glancing with one eye, ‘What shall I say foryou?” asked the office boy, as solemnly as an owl, in his set form of question, tosee what answer the lad would make this time, The question was needless, _ “Yes, sit; botb of him,” was the respouse, ““Which one of him will you see, sir? bat shall I say: for you, sir? Mr, Samuel, ‘sir? or Mr, Daniel?” “ By this time it was clear that Dick was eo a / res 4 ee wera wihss 3 Mh 63 i te — Ta or Oe me ey refuse, and she assisted us liberally all that win- ’ ] ‘*Is Mr. Kincarth in?” Dick asked, purposely - alt <e iil la pilin et 84 j si *} TEN ick Shales Sid leh Fy in the usual form, according to the rules of the office, of which he had already heard enough. ‘* Well, I want to see both of him,” he inform- ed the boy. ‘Just tell bim it is Mr, Bristol.” The boy was off like a shot. Stopping upon a square in the carpet between the two desks, he spoke. “ Sirs, Gentlemen. Mr, Bristol. To see rr of you, sirs.” And he stopped short at that, at. Both the old gentlemen g'anced up, took a survey at Dick, and in one voice both gave the usual direction, * Admit him,” they said, ‘‘ and place a chair.” Dick detested all this nonsensical flummery, but it was according to office rules and regula- tions. ‘* Glad to see you, Mr, Bristol,” spoke Samuel, when Dick had entered and taken a seat, And he spoke in the low, guarded tone, another rule of the office, as we have already seen, ‘** But I notice your degree of gladness doesn’t do away with your stiff and formal way of ad- mitting me,” Dick suggested. ‘It is like work- ing one’s way into a lodge-room, to get inside that railing.” The gentlemen smiled, ‘ ‘‘The rules of the office,” explained Daniel. ‘*Tt will be the same at your hundredth call, if ou come so many times. No chance for office oys to suspect and magnify, and possibly tat- tle; and less chance for young ears to overhear and carry tales out of school. See?” Dick admitted that he saw. ‘¢ Well, and what is it?” asked Samuel. “T have a clew, and thought I would drop in and report, as I am at leisure for the time being.” ‘* At leisure! Then have you solved the rid- dle? But, no, since you speak of only a clew, What is it you mean?” “Some cases don’t admit of being pushed,” responded Dick, ‘This is one of them. I have come to tell you that the outlook for Crandford is dubious.” “Ba! you think it is, eh?” ‘“¢T must admit that Ido. It looks dark,” ‘* What bave you done? What have you dis- covered?” ‘‘T have visited the scene of the crime, and thave interviewed several persons. There is no doubt in my mind that Crandford came out of that house at two o’clock on the morning of the murder,” ; “Then you think that night watchman’s evi- dence will stand?” ' ‘*T do, in spite of everything.” ‘That is bad. We hoped we would be able te break that.” ““T don’t know how you are going to do it, gentlemen,” : “Why, we'll tell you,” whispered Daniel; ‘* we'll have an alibi set up, and one that can’t be broken down.” “You are welcome to do that, if you can,” returned Dick, ; “ But, we want you to furnish us with the right scheme,” explained Samuel, P “(hh do that,” said Dick, coldly, “if it agrees with the facts of the case, but nototherwise. If I find that young man is guilty, my evidence wiil go toward his conviction, that’s flat.” The two lawyers exchanged a glance. “This will never do,” whispered Samuel, ‘He must be saved if possible, “You must work for him, Mr. Bristol.” ; ‘« Just What I am trying to do,” Dick assured, ‘but so far the outlook is not promising. If he was in that house at two o'clock, how are we going to prove that be did not do the crime?” ‘But, he was not there,” urged Daniel. “We will fix that part of it ourselves, Mr. Bristol.” 5 ‘*He was there!” insisted Dick, “and nothing but false testimony will do away with the fact. And you won’t get any false testimony out of me, Now, did he do the assassin’s work, or did he not? That is the question.” —— CHAPTER X. ANOTHER HUNDRED ADVANCED, THE lawyers seemed to be puzzled over this, It jooked as though they bad expected ter help from the detective than they were likely to get. It was plain he would not aid them in any crooked work toward saving their client, and it was not probable that he would let them offer any alibi thet was not based upon truth, And that was just the situation, They had put ; Dick’s honor to the test, as it were, and had found out that it was of the pure metal. And 9 ; going to get no recognition until it came about * jes ee Sere rae re en err a eee
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eS he eg ee age atin. ese: tase t he. = — evenly. ae 8. Ee aU ee <i Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Still Hunt. a maine ante the detective bad the advantage all on his side. He was not working for pay, but was, indeed, the—Independent Detective! But, back of all this there was gold in the old lawyers’ make-up, too, They had taken the case upon the strong conviction that the young man was innocent of the murder, in spite of all the evidence against him—in fact, had invited Dick to make the fullest kind of investigation. And yet, still further back, was the secret in- tention of resorting to crafty scheming, if other means were likely to fail, This, however, as a jast resort, had been knocked away by the firm stand Dick had taken, There was now nothing for them to do but to make the best fight they could upon honest grounds, unless they did otherwise without the assistance of the detec- tive. “ But, what is your own candid opinion about the young man’s guilt?” asked Daniel. “Tl have two opinions about it,” was Dick’s response, ‘I can beliove him guilty, or I can believe him innocent.” ‘* But that isn’t to the point,” urged Samuel. “Which of these views do you favor? But 1 think it is plain to be seen that you think him guilty.” “Ido, and I don’t,” answered Dick. ‘ There are some indications that point in his favor, and as I am trying to prove him innocent if he is in- nocent, [am giving them full weight.” ** And what are these indications?” ‘**T prefer not to disclose them yet,” “Then what has brought you here at all?” This was from Daniel, rather imperiously, it seemed, “1 will tell you that, sir,” responded Dick, € ‘“*T came to report; to tell you that the evidence, as it stands now with the police, is go- ing to hang the prisoner. That is to say, if the real murderer is not found, assuming Crandford to be innocent, then he must swing. Besides this, T want to get information, if you can give any, ‘* Then the alibi is out of the question?” , “I think it is, entirely. Don't see how you'll prove it,” ‘** Well, what do you want to ask, then? You are a stubborn mystery in yourself, Mr. Bristol.” “Yes, perhapsIam. I want to ask what you know about young Crandford’s private life, Do you know whether he is married or not?” “We don’t know if he is married,” was the straight answer. ‘‘ We suppose and believe him to be single. It is news to us if he is married, sir. But, what ie in the wind now?” “There is a woman in the case,” exclaimed Dick. ‘“*Hal” So they both exclaimed, and Daniel added: “The devil’s to pay, now, with a woman in the affair,” “Yes, there is a woman in the case, and a mysterious one,” Dick set forth. ‘I did think I would not mention tffis to you, but have de- cided to do so. You may make something out of it, with the prisoner, Do not let him know how you gained the pointer, however.” “ All right; we will take care of that. But, what part is this woman playing?” ‘That, too, I am not ready to disclose. Iam afraid, though, that the young man is hurting himself to protect this woman, but in what way I do not yet clearly see. I am not disposed to think that she is a murderess, however; I have another suspicion with regard to that,” ** You talk in riddles, sir,” ‘* Not with regard to what I want to make known. You know now that there is a woman in the case; that she is in some way concerned in this affair; that the prisioner is protecting her by his silence, if in no other way, There is ate ge in that for you to make something out of. But [ doubt your being able to draw Crandford into saying anything,’ “Tt is worth the trying, anyhow,” declared | Daniel. * And if you gain anything, I must request that you give me the benefit of it,” added Dick, ‘Without me you would not have the point to work on,” “We will do so,” promised Daniel, “if it is anything favorable to the young man, Other- wise we may not,” “As you please about that,” waived Dick, “And is that all?” inquired Daniel. **One other point. Do you know why Susan Roylan is interested in this Mrs. Pratson?” “We do not,” was the answer. ‘She has never taken any one into her confidence with regard to that, so far as we know.” Well, ond this is all for the time being, The funeral of the murdered woman takes place to-morrow. After that it is probable Susan Roylan\will have her will drawn up at once.” ‘“We consider it very probable, considering her advanced age,” ‘*And the law allows her to dispose of her money as she wil], without any restriction?” “She must leave something to Crandford; a nominaksum if she pleases.” ‘‘To make the will binding, and keep him out afterward?” ‘* Exactly; that will balk him afterward,” **Can you putoff making such a will for some days?” * We can delay it a ge course.” “‘T want you todo so. ou will understand my reason for this later on, when my work is done,” “Then you do not mean to give up the case?” “Who bas said anything about giving up? I shall give up when the mystery is cleared; not before, so long as there is anything to work on. , Dick went away, and allowed the case to rest for the time being. Before proceeding further he wanted to learn what success Kodak Kate had had in shadowing the vailed woman. At the appointed hour that evening he pre- sented himself at her home, and was as cordially received as he could wish. The little lady de- tective was all smiles for him. But this might! be attributed partly to the wonderful success she had bad in her work and the satisfaction she had been anticipating of making ber report of it to Deadwood Dick. Dick made it bis first care to return the money and paper tuat had been intrusted to him, After that, and the first greetings having been exchanged, Kate went abead and told what she had accomplished, Bristol was not stinting with his praise, “Kodak Kate, you are a jewel!” he cried. “You seem like a second self to me, in your manner of working. You have done nobly, and I must compliment you.” “Thank you,” was the blushing respone, ‘* but now what use are we to make of what I have gained! You are the one to do the directing, I may be able to follow, but I am no leader.” “You say that, after what you have just re- vealed?” cried Dick. ‘* Youcan never make me believe it. I am sure you have some plan out- lined, even now,” **No, I do not think I have; but there is one point—” ‘* Pardon me for interrupting,” Dick broke in, ** but I’m going to guess what it is, if I can.” ‘**- You are welcome to try.” ““T want to see if our minds do not take the same view of a certain chance I have discoy- ered during your recital,” ‘Well, what do you guess?” the little lady asked, ‘‘ But Iam sure you will find your mis- take, for I conld never hope to catch at points you would see, Would you have me forget that ou are Deadwood Dick?” “Not at all; nor that you are Kodak Kate, the best and bravest lady detective in the pro: fession.” “Oh! do not try flattery. point?” ‘Tt hinges upon this woman, the prisoner, and visit to him in her disguise of deep mourn- ng. ‘I believe you do guess it arigbt,” Kats ac- knowledged, **I know I do, now,” Dick declared positively. ‘Dare you undertake the role, Miss Burtou?” “1 dare, and will, if you think I can play it,” was the answer. “And I see no reason why you should not, In fact, I know you can, A man is not such an observer of woman’s wear as a woman is, and engi would never suspect the deception at rst, ‘But my voice, how would it be about that?” “I have heard what you can do in the way of imitation,” was Dick’s reply. ‘‘I leave that to your art as a detective.” ‘“‘ Then we will try it to-morrow morning?” ‘Yes; let it be to-morrow morning. I will meet you at the jail at nine.” It was talked over at length, and the plan fully arranged, And when the business part of their interview had come to an end, then the eae of their conversation fell in pleasanter places, While they were talking there came a ring at the bell, . = But, what is the The call was responded to by Mrs, Burton, who came in, bearing a letter. It was one edthessdi to Kate, and it was seen at a*glance that it bore a special stamp, “It ig from my mysterious employer,” Kate announced, as soon as she glanced at the writ- ing. ‘‘ I mustsee what it says.” She tore it open with baste and drew forth a sheet of paper, and another bill of one hundred dollarsin amount, a twin to the one first re- ceived. And the note, which she read aloud, was as follows: “To KopakK KaTE THE DETECTIVE:— ‘Here find one hundred dollars. Please accept it, and draw out of the Royian case immediately. I have made a discovery which answers all I wanted to learn. You can dono good by looksng further. There is an important reason why you should obey this request, as 1 believe you will. Believe me— ‘A FRIEND IN SECRET.” Yes, the detective pards had ‘* struck it rich,” CHAPTER XI, DICK’S RIGHT BOWER. ABOUT nine o'clock on the following morning Bristol was on hand at the jail. He had a talk with the jailer, and after that loitered around in the office as though waiting for some one to join bim. Finally another person arrived, a woman clad in deepest mourning. She, too, had some talk with the jailer, and Dick was informed cf ber arrivai. Together they were admitted into the jail proper, where they paused for a brief consul- tation, This ended, Dick went down the corridor to the cell where Howard Crandford was confined, but stopped before passing into sight, just back of the door. He bad moved with great caution, and there was little chance that the prisoner could have heard him. When he bad taken up bis position there, he signaled to the woman. She and the jailer came down to the door of the cell; the jailer opened it and the woman en- tered, At sight of her the prisoner started up with a Jook of alarm. ‘**'You here?” he exclaimed in hoarse whisper, Yes,” the woman responded, in a choking voice. ** And what has brought you bere again?” The woman bad dropped upon the stool, and por covered her face with her bands, under her vail. ‘* Tt has all been discovered,” she sobbed, Deadwood Dick did not know the voice, Had he not known who the woman was, he could never have guessed it to be Kodak Kate, *“ What has been discovered,” the prisoner demanded, ‘‘ Tell me the worst, and at once,” ‘*You—you know without asking,” was the sobbed answer. ** About that money?” * Yes; and—and—” But ber sobbing overcame her ance, and she could not finish. It seemed plain that some terrible thing had happened, ‘*There, now, don’t take on like this, Celia,” the prisoner said, soothingly, laying a hand upon her shoulder. ‘Tell me all about it, and let me see how bad itis. Perhaps it is not so bad as you imagine.” ‘‘Tt—it is worse—than you can think,” she sobbed. ** Have you had to tell all about it?” “Yes; I had to tell.” “Fool! You did not have to tell. didn’t you keep your promise?” “Ob, you can’t understand,”. the woman moaned, ‘‘ You do not know what I have suffered, I had to make the disclosure.” “Then I am doomed, .that is certain, Crandal Ingerslee will hang me, bang me as sure as fate, if he can. But, I little care, now, One is but a degree worse than the other,” ‘*No, no, he cannot hang you,” the woman sobbed, ‘* You have only to tell the full truth, now, and—and—” The little detective was going as far as she dared, and was in danger any moment of going too far, and betraying the trick she was im- wer of utter- Why sing. ar Thunder!” the excited prisoner cried, in a fierce whisper, ‘‘isn’t that just what you have done? And isn’t that the very weapon he will use against me? What bas he done to you? Has he turned you out?” The woman sobbed, making nor nse, ** Can’t you see how it is?” Crandford insisted, “They have proved that I was in the house at about the time of the crime, Now what will save my neck? When they learn about the money, then it will be all up with me, That will settle everything. See what you have done!” Deadwood Dick was taking in every word, for ARS 7" sf aor ee x . = _ —— «a
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& we wt, ‘ “a ¢ * te “ 5 a ee ee 10 G ; i cf mewn a FIRE OR Te a eee Den ocean pope eee eerie, . , a AF ~~ 2 ¥ - 7 om “Tes ee Speen te - . Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Still Hunt. se a YH _™ the prisoner’s talk was in a tone sufficiently loud for him to overhear, The prince of detectives smiled, too, as the words fell upon his ears. By degrees he was grasping the truth of a state of things that would be a surprise to the police when made known. “But I could not help it,” the woman pro- tested. ‘*T know better,” Crandford grated. ‘‘ You vowed that you would not allow even torture to wring the truth from you.” ‘But it was forced! Can’t you understand? Oh, you do not know—” a es, 1 do know—that you have done the very worst thing you possibly could. And I know, too, that the accursed detectives have got upon your track.” “‘Tmpossible!” the woman cried, with well- simulated alarm. ‘*Not impossible, but the fact, That bundred- dollar bill you let get out of your hands has given you away, somehow.” ‘* But, tell me, what is going to be done?” the woman suddenly demanded. ‘How are you going to save yourself?” ‘*T can’t save myself, that I can see,” “But you did not kill the woman, did you? You have—” “Of course I didn’t kill her, Would to God that I knew who did, then it would be of some use trying to prove an alibi, You know that I didn’t kill her, that I would be the last person in the world to— But, let mesee your face; fool that I was not to demand it in the first place, I might be fooled in this way—” He had laid a hand upon her vail, to lift it, but she was upon her feet in a moment, and his hand was knocked aside, In the same moment Deadwood Dick swung open the door, Kodak Kate darted out, the pris- oner attempting to seize her, but the heavy- barred door immediately swung to with a clang, barring the prisoner just as he was acting upon an impulse to follow, *“*My curse upon you!” he cried, as he saw Deadwood Dick. ‘Thank you!” responded Dick, ‘But, that don’t harm me any. I’m going to save your neck, Crandford.” ‘**T little care whether you do or not,” was the vicious response, ‘‘ But I want you to tell me one thing, since you have no doubt overheard all that passed.” “Well, what is that?” ‘* Who was that woman who was in here?” **T will not answer, though I will tell you it was not Celia Ingerslee, as you supposed.” **T know it wasn’t now, and I curse you for the trick you played upon me, I want you to leave me to my fate and spare that woman,” ‘* But you are innocent of the murder, as you still insist, and as I now more firmly believe, and the right one must be put in your place. That is what I am going to do.” “Tf you can, you mean! But, you can’t do it. Iam as good as hanged already, and I don’t see what you can do to save me.” **See here, you still swear that you didn’t kill Phoebe Roylan? “T do. Iam innocent of that,” * And youdo not know who did?” **T do not, I swear it.” . ‘*Was the woman alive when you left the house?” The prisoner looked hard at Dick, as if debat- ing how to answer. ‘IT know that you were in the house, and you know [ know it,” Dick urged. ‘*I cannot see the sense of your holding out so stubbornly, You bave just now as good as confessed all about that part of it. Answer my question.” ‘Yes, I will,” the young man whispered, hoarsely. ‘* When I left the house the woman was alive and asleep. Now I have told you everything that I can tell. You area devil at detective work, Deadwood Dick; you can draw out of a man anything you please,” Dick had to smile. “That is all in your mind,” he said. ‘ But now I have sure grounds to work uron, for I believe your statement, Now to find tha guilty one. ** Which it may not be easy to do, Iam of the opinion.” ** And it may be easier than we imagine.” “But will you do me a favor, Deadwood Dick?” _ “T make no promises where I do not know what about,” was the guarded response. “Well, I'll tell you; if you do get at the murderer, and make out a case, will you help me to prove that I was not in that house?” “T imagine your lawyers will take care of that,” was the reply. ‘‘ There seems to me little hope of your proving it, however.” “Then there is no hope of your fastening the crime upon another,” was the reminder. ‘* You know why I was in that house at that hour. Once let a jury of twelve sane men get hold of that, and they will render a verdict of guilty without leaving their seats.” “True enough; but the fact that I do know why you were in the house, is enough to clear you of the murder, provided another person can be found who had something to gain by the death of Phoebe Roylan. The fact that you had nothing to gain, but all to lose, by ber death, is a strong point in your favor, But, we shall see how it will come out. Give me a little time, and if you are innocent I'll save your neck for you, though I don’t promise you anything fur- ther, With that, and some further remarks, Dick went out and rejoined Kodak Kate, and they went away together, ‘* Well,” asked Kate, ‘‘how did I play the part?” ‘*To perfection,” cried Dick. ‘‘ You are the best ‘ pard’ I ever had.” ‘*T am glad you think so well of m poor ef- forts. It gives me confidence in myself.” ‘** And that is all a detective needs,” declared Dick. “But what do you think of our case now? Can you see light ahead?” “*Yes, and plenty of it,” was the answer, “but it is through a glass darkly, yet. But we know where old Phoebe Roylan’s money went to, for one thing.” ‘Yes, true enough. We know that it was stolen out of that house on the night of the crime, and by Howard Crandford, Further, that it was passed over to this woman, Celia Ingerslee,” ‘““There is some secret between those two. Some powerful reason why that money had to be obtained and paid over to the woman, What it is, remains for us to find out; but the mystery of the murder is no nearer being solved than it was.” ““T am not sure about that,” declared Dick. ‘“*T have a suspicion, but what it will amount to is yet to be learned. But that aoe te you have of the woman— I want that to show to the lawyers, to see whether they kaow the per- son or not, though I don’t hope to gain any- thing by showing it to them,” ; The picture, though neither attached much importance to it, was passed into Dick’s keeping. After a talk they parted, Kate going home to lay off her disguise, and Dick turning his steps in the direction of the lawyers’ office, There a small but very gratifying bit of information awaited him, CHAPTER XII, A FRUITLESS SEARCH. LION-HEARTED Dick was soon again at the office of the brothers, Oliver Re was at the railing the moment he entered, with his usual inquiry. But this time Dick was in no mood for parley or delay, and opened the gate himself and he in, much to the horrorjof that small youth, “You're not hae awn for what you can’t help, my boy,” Dick said, smiling. ‘‘I can see that one of him is in, and as Iam in a hurry I won’t stop to go through all the forms this time,” Samuel Kincarth had looked up, at the un- usual occurrence—looked up with both eyes this time, and he stared until Dick was at the desk where the old lawyer was sitting. **- You have not been announced,” he observed, coldly. ‘I’m here to speak for myself, this time,” de- clared Dick. ‘‘ Don’t let’s spend any time mon- keying Do you know this face?” e ye the photograph upon the desk be- fore the old gentleman, It was taken up and looked at, and as the law- yer studied the face, Dick noticed that his lips twitched, and that his eyes dimmed, ‘**- You have seen the face?” Dick questioned. “It revives a memory of the past,” was the answer, “Then it merely reminds you of one you have known?” “ Yes,” ‘* Years ago?” ‘“‘ Twenty-five, at least.” & Well, it isn’t a tikeness of any person you knew, then, for this was only recently taken, and the original is just as you see her.” ‘*T know, I know; it was only the recollection Se ee ee ee is) | revived, But who is this person? And what are you doing with her photograph? Has this | anything to do with the case you are on?” | ‘* Yes, it has much to do with it,” was the answer. ‘‘ This is the woman in the case, as we always say. This is the womanin whom Howard Crandford is interested. Do you know that Phoebe Roylan drew twelve hundred dollars out of the bank on the day before she was killed?” The old lawyer looked the surprise he felt, and his hands twitched nervously, ‘*No; did she?” he demanded. “*She did. What is more, that money has been turned over to the woman whose picture this is,” ‘**Goodness me! How much more of a tangle is this thing going to get into, Mr. Bristol?” “T think it is rather getting out of a tangle,” corrected Dick, ‘* We are coming out into the light, now,” ‘* But why should Phoebe Roylan pay such a sum over to this woman? What is she to the murdered woman? Come, make it plain,” ‘*T don’t know whether you are trying to blind me, or whether your question is all straight,” remarked Dick. ‘* Anyhow, if it is the former, you can't doit. I have got at the bottom on one point.” «Explain, explain!” ps ‘* Well, Howard Crandford was in the house on that night, and his business there was to steal that money to pay it over to this very woman. And he made a thorough job of the undertaking, too.” The old lawyer could only stare. ‘‘Are you more thap human?’ he cried. ‘** How did you get at these facts?” ‘ By the most simple process in the world,” Dick smilingly assured. ‘‘ Nothing so very iy about it. But what do you think of it 1? “Think! Why, I think Howard Crandford is going to hang in spite of all that can be done to save him, that’s what, I’m sorry that I ever called ‘you into the affair, I will pay you hand- somely if you will drop out of it,” Dick was now puzzled. What meant such a stand as this? These lawyers, it seemed, wanted to save Crandford at any cost. He was silent a moment before he spoke. ‘*T don’t know just how to take that remark,” he finally said, ‘“‘but rest assured that Dead- wood Dick can’t be bought off when once he has taken hold of a matter, But it isn’t so black as it looks.” ‘7 don’t see how it could well be any darker.” “There is something more to be said. If Crandford didn’t kill that woman, and I am of the opinion he didn’t, who did do it?” ‘¢ Ha! then in spite of all you do think him in- nocent, do you?” “Yes, I do consider him innocent, and I want to try to prove it, UnlessI can, his fate is cer- tain, ‘“* But where does your suspicion point now? Is there any other person whom you look upon as probably the guilty one?” ** There is.” ‘“ Who is it?” Deadwood Dick mentioned a name in a still lower tone, “Good heavens!” the old man cried, ‘‘ you can’t mean it!” ‘“*] mean it, or I would not mention it,” Dick assured. ‘ And I want all tke help you can lend me toward finding it out. If the guilt is not to be placed there, I must then look upon Crand- ford’s assertion as a blank Jie, that's all.” _ ** And you don’t think he has lied?” **T donot,” ‘* But this other is too horrible to be given thought, Mr. Bristol.” ‘““No more horrible than it would be in any case. A murder is a murder, and the worst of criraes,” Upon this point they held a long and earnest talk, in which Dick unfolded certain plans which were in hismind, to be brought into play if cir- cumstances favored any of them. : One thing be learned, the thing to which ref- erence was made at the close of the preceding chapter, that Susan Roylan had sent for her lawyers to come to her immediately after the funeral, and also that she wanted to employ an- other domestic in her household, Armed with this latter particular, Dick lost no time in getting the information to Kodak Kate, telling her to apply for the place immedi- ately through the lawyers, whom the old woman had requested to supply the want, the house of the crime, to see the old servant again, and to be in time for the funeral. ~ That word having been sent, Dick set out for It was nearing the hour for the funeral, and i a. a on ak
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if - + Onn” = os, 3 = Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Still Hunt. 11 the street in front of the house was black with people. Dick pushed through to the door, and was ad- mitted as before, He passed immediately down to the basement, The old domestic was there. ‘*T see you bear up well under all this excite- ment,” Dick observed. ‘** A body can do what a body has to do,” was the response, * But how is it with poor Miss Roylan?”’ the detective inquired, ‘* Does she hold out yet?” **Yes; but for the life of me I don’t see how she doesit, She has changed—you wouldn’t be- lieve how she has changed.” ‘* How do mean changed? What is different about her?” **T have the idea that she is onbalanced in the mind, or is gettin’ so. why, she won't hardly leave me out of her sight, when she has no other company ’round.” ‘* Well, it is the horror of the affair, We can’t wonder at that.” ‘And she don’t sleep at night; leastways she didn’t last night.” “That is natural, too. No doubt she will employ more help, now, in order to have you with her all the time.” “Yes; she is going to do that, sir. She told me so this mornin’,’ “Tt is a wise thing, But, what I wanted to ask you, there is nothing new in regard to the mystery, is there?” ‘ ‘(Not a thing, sir, It is the same as ever. Bat, then, there can’t be, for it is plain enough who done the crime, and that is all we want to know.” . To this Dick agreed, and after some further words exchanged, left her. The hour for the funeral soon came, after that, and Dick took careful note of everything that fell under his observation. Susan a Pe was present, of course, clad in deepest black, her face hid behind a vail, and she trembled and tottered so that two wo- men had to assist her, She did not look at the dead when the coffin was opened, nor did she once lift her vail from her face, Dick noted that the arrangements were indi- cative of the Catholic faith, anda priest was in attendance, a young man, ; When the body was carried away, the com- pany following, Dick took the chance to make a thorough exploration of the house. The police were in charge of the place, and everything was free to him, The old servant was one of the two women who had assisted the aged chief mourner, and no one remained save the officers, Dick looked almost everywhere, the officers aiding bim all they were able. But the search was fruitless, Not a single suspicious thing was discovered, and certainly nothing to strengthen the suspicion against Susan Roylan, that sus- picion which had forced itself upon the detec- tive’s mind. Perhaps be was disappointed, but if he was, no one with ‘him could detect it, but all were struck with the thorough way in which he did his work, By the time the women could be expected back, he had finished, and was standing in the hall talking with the officers, when there camea ring at the bell. ne of the policemen opened the door, and there was a young woman, with something sug- gestive of a housemaid about her looks, Deadwvod Dick immediately recognized his noble little ally, Kodak Kate, No look of recognition ed between them, and Kate asked for Miss Roylan. Sbe was informed that she had not yet return- ed from the funeral, and was let into the rear sitting-room to await her coming. Dick wanted to know what the result of this move would be and waited in the hall, still talk- ing with the policemen, until the women re- turned, And it was not long after that when the result was evident. Kodak Kate followed the older domestic down to the basement, and Dick going down soon after was informed that she had been engaged. Satisfied on this point and knowing that he need have no further concern for anything of importance that was to be brought to light there, Dick set out to work in another direction, CHAPTER XIII. _ PLAYING FOR POINTERS. DeEapwoop Dick was ere long at the resi- dence of Crandal Ingerslee, tA ic ane SS EPA rig. RAN a eee The door was opened in response to his ring by the same trim-looking gir] in the white apron and smart cap, whom we have seen before, ‘‘Is Mr. Crandal Ingerslee at home?’ Dick inquired. e did not want to sea the man, but made this inquiry to be sure of his ground before pro- ceeding further, ‘** No, sir; he is not,” So he was informed, promptly enough, **' Then perhaps Mrs. Ingerslee is at home,” he added, **'Yes, sir,” the girl admitted; ‘*she is within, sir. Will you see her?” ‘*T desire to see her, yes;” Dick admitted cor- rectingly. ‘Tell her a gentleman from the lawyers’ office,” Directing him to the hall seat, the girl disap- appeared, soon returning to admit him into the reception room, as seemed to be the rule of the Louse, Ina little time the woman came down. Dick recognized her immediately as the origi- nal of the photograph in his pocket, ** You desire to see me?” she asked, i ‘** Yes, madam,” Dick responded, **T am here on a matter of importance.” ** What is it, sir? if I may ask.” **It concerns the arrest of Howard Crand- ford, madam.” The woman paled, and appeared ready to fall ina faint, so great was the shock she experi- enced, : i ny dropped upon a chair, trembling in every imb. ‘*T—I know nothing about that,” she gasped, Dick smiled grimly. ‘*] happen to know better,” he declared, ‘* What do you know?” ‘*T know that Howard Crandford owed you a thousand dollars, That in order to discharge the debt, he entered Phoebe Roylan’s room to steal the money, Being detected in the theft, he murdered the woman in order—” ‘*No, no!” the woman interrupted, excitedly, “he did not kill her!” ‘** How do you know he did not, madam?” ‘* He has told me so,” The woman was unable to hold out longer, dg the searching eyes of Dead wood Dick upon er. ‘* Well, are you willing to try to save him?” Dick asked. “*T can’t, oh! I can’t,” the woman cried de- spairingly. ‘** You believe be did not do the murder?” ‘*T am sure he did not.” “But he will hang, unless every effort is made to save him,” ‘*T know, I know; but what can I do?” **'You will have to tell all you know about the matter. It must be shown and proven why he entered the house at that late hour.” ‘But that will send bim to the gallows, sure. He has told meso, I cannot do that, sir, indeed I can not, Besides, he would not want me to, [ know,” ‘**We are not considering what he wants,” de- clared Dick. ‘A suspicion of the murder has fallen upon another person, but it must be shown why Howard Crandford was there.” ‘* Upon whom has suspicion #fallen?” “TI will not disclose that to you, but it is true.” “* But I cannot reveal the truth, sir; I will not do it. My husband would kill me were he to know.” ‘““What is Howard Crandford to you?” de- meee Dick. © ! spare me, spare me!” was the a L, ‘You must confess all,” Dick Hoe adi: will be better for you todo so, I assure you.” ‘But my busband} He will kill me if he ever learns, No, no! I cannot tell, I will not tell. Howard Crandford bas forbid my telling. + ‘**Then my duty is plain,” warned Dick. ‘* You must be arrested and held with him answerable for the crimes, You may take your choice;a confession may save you the arrest.” The woman dropped her face upon her hands, weeping. . Hew did you ever learn?’ she sobbingly in- quired, “Crime cannot be hidden,” was the response, ‘* And if I tell you, will you spare me?” / “T make no promise. If you are innocent you may escape.” ‘“* And I am innocent, innocent of any part in this robbery or murder,” t = oh me, ees what is e prisoner to you? must know that point, or I cannot acce r statement,” a ; sited “‘He was my—my lover, before I married Mr. Ingerslee,” ‘IT thought so. Perhaps he is your lover still, and you are not blameless in all respects.” ‘*No, no! He is my worst enemy!” So the woman cried, and she looked up, her eyes flashing. “Then Mary need you hesitate about exposing him, and let him suffer as he deserves?” Dick knew well enough why, but he wanted to draw the woman into further statements, if he could, ‘**Can’t you understand?’ shecried. ‘‘ He was my lover, as I have confessed to you. Must I say more? He would betray me to my busband, who, in bis jealous fury, would murder me,” si But, this money ?” ‘*T borrowed it from my husband to lend to Crandford.” ‘** He forced you to do that?” oY ake: ** And still he had the honor, to call it that, to do a deed of crime to pay 1t back to you. How do you account for that?” ‘* He—he loves me.” ‘Ha! now I begin to see light ahead, He forced you to lend the money, using his know- ledge of something of your life to threaten with, and you borrowed that sum from your husband, giving some excuse,” ‘* Yes, yes. And I had promised to pay it back at a certain time, and Howard bad regard enough for me to make every desperate effort to get it and put it into my hands,” ‘*The most honorable dishonorable fellow I ever heard of,” Dick mused. ‘* But, you will spare me tbe exposure, will you not?’ the woman pleaded, anxiously, **You will have to trust to the march of events for that,” Dick answered. ‘I can prom- ise nothing. In what regard do you hold this. man Crandford?” ‘*T hate him!” was theery. ‘‘Ihate bim, but fear him, He holds the destruction of my hap- piness in his hands,” ** And you do love your husband?” “*T do, truly and honestly. Ob! spare me, if you can!” Deadwood Dick had his doubts about this statement, and with good reason. The woman was one whose face did not im- press him favorably. It was a face too strongly stam with deceit, ** Yet,” Dick reminded, ‘‘ you thought enough of Crandford to visit him at the jail.” ‘** | have not—” “But you have,” insisted Dick. ‘*‘ You have admitted seeing him since the crime was dis- covered. You went there in disguise of deepest mourning. Do not try to deny facts we are sure of,” “Well, I admit it, though I de not see how it ever came known to you. But I went to see about this money. I wanted to.know whether it was blood-stained or not.” ** And what did you learn?” ‘*He denied even having stolen it.” ‘* And that satisfied you. Still you seem to know he had stolen it.” ‘* Doesn’t every thing indicate it?” “The same as it indicates his guilt of the greater crime.” ‘*But [ am sure he did not do that deed of blood, sir. He would not kill the very woman who would have willed bim a’fortune if she uld.* Now Dick was coming to a point he desired to. reach. ‘But the evidence against him,” he urged. Tre ro are we going to get over that? It is. itive, “The only thing positive about it is that he was seen coming out of the house, Only for that he would never have been suspected.” ‘**T am not so sure about that, Mrs, Ingerslee,. There is the blood on his arm, or rather his sleeve; and then the miasing knife.” ‘* The blood I can account for—” Macing caught herself quickly, and stopped short, “You can account for that, eh?’ observed Dick, ‘‘ How do you account for it, then, Mrs. Ingerslee.” ; ‘The words came out without thought, sir,” the woman tried to explain, with confusion. ‘“They mean nothing. I was thinking—” ‘‘ Nonsense!” cried Dick, ‘* Tell me what you know, and at once,” With this he displayed a pair of handcuffs, twirling them in his fingers as he eyed the wo- man narrow] y. It bad the desired effect. ‘*He—he was in this house that night, sir,” she confessed. ‘" He bad come to money. I bad left a door open so that he could enter. He came to my room, left the money, ee ae Seti ay me the:
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Ph oi a * a a ee een a ee 12 him,” ** Ah-hal” “He sprung after him, and they met and | grappled in the hall, where they had a furious | ght. My busband got the worst of it, and was left bleeding and half senseless on the floor of the ball, That was when and where Howard ‘Crandford got blood upon bis sleeve.” **But the knife,’ Dick intimated. ‘‘ Did he use a knife in fighting your husband?” “Heavens! bow did you know about that?” ‘tthe womancried. ‘* Are you gifted with powers more than human? He did havea knife, but did not use it, I found it in the hall, while the struggle was going on, and hid it,” ‘*Give me that knife immediately,” Dick com- manded, The woman rose to get it, and Dick smiled at the success of his ruse. He had never hoped to strike a truth with a shot so at random. CHAPTER XIV. SUSAN ROYLAN’S WILL. Two things had been upon Dick’s mind all along. One had been, to account for the blood upon the prisoner’s sleeve; the other, to learn what had benoans of his knife, Now, it would seem, the first-mentioned bad been explained. Learning what he had concerning that night’s work, on the part of Howard Crandford, he had come to the conclusion that he had left his lodgings with the knife in his possession, nowing the danger of the evi) mission upon which he was bent, it did not seem likely that he would go unarmed. And what handier or better weapon could he have than the bowie-knife? He bad taken it, of course, as Dick had be- dieved. And now that point made sure of, had he used that weapon upon his aunt? And was he, after all, the murderer? Presently the woman returned and laid the knife in Dick’s hand. Dick looked at it critically. {t was dark with long disuse, and there cer- ‘tainly were no recent stains upon it, or evidence ‘that it bad been cleaned. Taking a small rule from his vest pocket, Dick measured tie width of the blade, and found it ‘to be an inch and three-quarters. This was just the size of the weapon with which the murder had been done, a strong int. : The woman watched this operation, and when he had done, Dick told her of the coincidence, to call it such. **Heavens!” she gasped, ‘then I shall have hanged him!” = ‘it is a terrible piece of evidence against him, that is true,” Dick agreed. ‘“‘Oh! why did I not think of this before? Why did 1 ever mention this to you, sir? Go! ‘Go at once, and leave me!” ‘“T am about ready to take my leave,” Dick assured, ‘ But before I Fe let me impress one thing upon your mind. That is, that if you are called upon to testify, you had better tell the wholo truth. It wili be better for you if you ‘“*Go! That isall I ask of you, sir. My hus- band may appear at any moment, and would discover all. ou do nct know the danger you are in’ Should he find you here he would kill you, 4 Dick smiled at that. He had little fear upon that score. . “Two might play at that game,” he re- minded, ‘‘ But, as I have no excuse for staying longer, I will now go. Bear in mind what I have said.” Little more was said, beyond another appeal on the part of the woman, to be spared any ex- posure, and Dick was soon away from the house and making bis way in the direction of the “Well,” he mused, as he hastened along, ‘‘my still hunt is progressing. I am getting at facts by piecemeal. Perhaps I sball have the whole thing in my hands after awbile. But what of Howard Crandford? Only one thing stands be- tween him and the rope; and that is, the truth. of my other suspicion. reacties. * at the jail, be was again admitted into the cell. ! ** Well, what do ycu think of this?’ he asked the gona displaying the bowie-knife, ‘* Where did you get that?” the man excitedly demanded, “TI found it where you lost it,” was the an- swer. ‘‘ In the residence of Crandal Ingerslee.” “* Curse you!” the prisoner cried, “* you could and was going away when my husband heard | ) i =| ~ ~~ . v. ns + 4 ess — _<T - <4 ER NO ee ee, ee ea — Uae Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Still Hunt. bring a secret out of the middle of the earth, I et Do you know this is going to hang me?” **No, Idon’t know that it will,” responded Dick, easily, ‘‘though it is a terrible point against you. Do youstill declare that you are innocent?” “Tdo. I still swear that I am innocent. This blade never touched the body of that poor wo- man,” ‘*But it was in your possession at the time when you were in the house.” , you have cornered me, and I must admit it. ** And you lied when you said you did not know where it was. It all tells badly against you,” ** And wouldn’t any man have lied—lied like a trooper—under the same circumstances? [ think so. I knew that this one thing, more than any other, would condemn me, if it needed anything further.” “T have — come from having an interview with Celia Ingerslee,” informed Dick, ‘‘ And of course you know everything, now.” “Everything except one.” ** And that is—” ‘*Who killed Phoebe Roylan. But I am de- termined to make one more effort to find out, Do you still assert that you bave no suspicion who did the deed?’ ‘‘Tdo. I am puzzled more than I can ex- ress,” ‘*Has itever struck you that it may have been iad Dick whispered a name. ‘*Good heavens! You cannot mean it!” ‘**T do mean it, and only one thing will lead me to drop the matter and look no further.” ‘* What is that one thing?” * A confession from you that you did it your- self, ‘“ Which you will never get. I did not kill Phoebe Roylan; and now that other things have been ferreted out by you, and there is no longer reason why I should be silent,1 am going to make a fight for my life.” ‘‘ That decides it, then. I go on, and press the matter to the end. If 1 am wrong in my 8.s- picion, however, I am afraid it will go hard with you. ‘““AndsoamI, But, since you have mention- ed it, Ido not think it is impossible. But it is horrible—horrible !” This was uttered with such genuine force and feeling, that it decided Deadwood Dick for once and allin the opinion that Howard Crandford was indeed innocent of the awful crime. From the jail, Dick went to a place agreed upon between him and his ally to which word to him was to be sent, When he reached there he was justin time to meet a messenger with a note for him. Paying the bearer well.and telling him to loiter around the Roylan house in waiting for anotber job of the same kind, Dick opened the note and read it. It informed him that Susan Roylan had sent for the lawyers to come to the house and make her will, which she bad decided to bave done im- mediately. And a hint was given Dick that he might invent some way to come with them. n this last Dick saw that once again did his little helper and he agree fully upon a point. Leaving word at the place concerning bis in- tended movements, Dick lost no time in present- ing himself at the lawyers’ office. Both the lawyers were present when he en- tered, and were talking together in an excited way. And Dick was with them before the een, bad time to think about intercepting im, “You are going to make Susan Roylan’s will(” Dick asked, ‘*How did you know that?” they both de- manded. ‘* It is my business to know a little of every- thing that is going ou in the matter,” Dick quietly returned, ‘Yes, we are going there,” was the acknowl- edgment, then, ‘ But we are debating what ex- cuse to offer for delaying the signing of this wil]. There will be no reasonable excuse for de- laying it.” “T bave changed my mind about that,” Dick apprised. ; A word of warning in the note from Kodak Kate had led him to this, _ “You have!” in surprise, oe Yes ” “And for what reason? ‘You were deter- mined upon it only a short time ago.” ‘‘T bave my reason, rest assured, Besides, have you any rigbt to alter any plans this wo- oe ee ae man may have? Hasn’t she full and sole right to dispose of this wealth as she sees fit?” “She certainly has, sir; and it was upon that we were considering. She has the right and power, and tbe only thing we could do would be to make some delay in responding.” “Let us go, and at once, and let the will be made, I will go with you as a witness whom you have chosen.” ‘*You? She will recognize you, and—” ‘Will she?’ And then and there Deadwood Dick made a change in his appearance that caused the two old ‘gentlemen to look at bim in amazement, Had ‘they met him upon the street, or had he entered their office in this disguise, they would never have suspected his identity. Oliver Upp, the office boy, almost dislocated his jaws, so wide did he allow his mouth todrop open. _ “There is little danger that she will know you,” Samuel admitted, ‘Come, and we will go and have the business over with.” When they came to the house they were shown into the little rear sitting-room, where Susan Roylan was awaiting them, sitting stiff and pas- sionless, seemingly, in a great easy-chair. The window was open, to admit light, and Dick had a good chance to study the woman’s features, Her face seemed to picture a heart as cold and unfeeling as stone itself. “Who is this man?” she inquired, indicating Dick. ‘t Merely a person whom we have brought with us to witness the instrument,” Mr, Daniel an- swered, . This seemed to satisfy her, and Dick took a back seat where he was out of the way, but where he could observe everything. When the lawyers were ready, the old woman proceeded to dictate what they should write, and with the keenest judgment and sbowing of men- tal strength. A merely nominal sum was set apart for How- ard Crandford, provided he should be acquitted of the charge against him, Then everything else was lert to the woman, Mrs, Pratson. The will was ‘finally in order, and was duly signed and attested, after which it was given in- to the keeping of the lawyers. : “ Now | am ready to die,” the woman sighed, letting go her will power and falling back into the chair, limp and seemingly exhausted; “ and I care not how soon the summons comes, I want to join my sister in that better world, if I be per- mitted to enter there. Pray go, and leave me alone with my sorrow.” a CHAPTER XV. LUCKY CLEW; QUICK WORK. DEADWOOD DIcK was more puzzled than ever, Surely bis suspicion against Susan Roylan must be groundless, in spite of all the points that went to strengthen it. If guilty of the awful crime, could she talk like this, and act the part to such perfection? He did not deem it possible, And yet it was not by any means impossible, A woman capable of murdering her sister in cold blood, would certainly be equal to almost anything else, But these words bad about them the genuine ring as of coming from the heart, and Deadwood Dick was, as said, puzzled. Let us consider, for a moment, upon what grounds Dick’s suspicion had been formed. First, it bad come like a flash upon bis mind, at his first meeting with the woman. It had re- fused to be driven cut, but bad gained a bold upon him, There was an impelling motive in the dispute the sisters had bad over their prop- erty. And then the aversion she had to looking upon the dead woman’s face, or of going to the room where the crime bad been done. “All these things bad lent their weight toward strengthening the suspicion, and once formed, it. was hard to break away from it. In fact, nothing but the proof, one way or the other, could settle the vexing question. And that proof was what must be bad, and what the detective and his able little ally were determined upon having. Dick accompanied the lawyers from the room, and stopping to exchange a word with Kodak Kate in the hall, followed them from the bouse. ‘* Well,” observed Mr, Daniel, ‘‘ that business is done.” “And the will isa fact,” added Mr, Samuel. “Which seems to dispose of Howard Crand- ford’s chances, whetber innocent or not,” ob- served Dick, a4 ah ‘Not if your suspicion proves correct, said Mr. Samuel. ‘In that case it can be success- Seah. a efor SA A
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fully contested, But I doubt the correctness of that suspicion, now.” ** And so do I,” declared Mr. Daniel. ‘* You heard the woman’s parting words to us, Do you imagine & woman guilty of so heinous a crime could talk like that? Ido not.” ** My experience has taught me to trust little to appearances,” remarked Dick, ‘‘ for seeming angels often turn out to be very devils. But im- pressions, while often correct, are sometimes away off the truth, and it may be so in this case. I admit that I am mystified.” ‘* But what are you going to do about it?” asked Mr, Samuel. **Give me a little time,” answered Dick. “That woman’s guilt or innocence is going to appear before many days, maybe before many hours,” When he company with the lawyers, Dick went once more to the jail. It was his intention to inform Crandford that all hope was lost, and that his doom was about sealed, By that means, since the man had declared he would make a ys oe for his life, he hoped to draw something out of bim more thaa he had yet tuld, It was not unlikely that the fellow had some suspicion against some one, nor was it altogether improbable that he might know who really had done the critne. Dick meant to make one more effort. j When he arrived there he was none too soon, for the hour was about up when the jail would be closed against visitors for the day. But that would have made little difference in Dick’s case, perhaps. Still, he was well satis- fied to have it as it was. ‘*'Your woman in black has been here again,” the jailer informed bim, “She has, eh?’ Dick made response, in sone surprise, ‘* Yes; has just gone away.” Dick was admitted, and the two passed along to the cell where Crandford was held prisoner. The jailer opened the door, and Dick was about to step in when he stopped short with a start of surprise. Instead of Howard Crandford, the cell held the woman, Celia Ingerslee! Your prisoner is gone!” Dick cried. ** Gone! Greatest excitement prevailed immediately. The alarm was given, and a search was insti- tuted without delay. Deadwood Dick not stopped a moment to speak to the woman, but bad hurried out and away. He understood the escape at a glance, The woman had put her ekirt, shawl, hat and heavy vail upon Crandford, and in the disguise he had walked boldly out, The jailer, never dreaming of such a thing be- ing attempted, had had no suspicion whatever until the discovery was made. Dick made all haste in the direction of the prisoner’s lodging, believing the prisoner would there immediately, for the one purpose of aying off the disguise, and perhaps to provide himself with means of esca This turn of events made the matter even more mysterious than ever. Now it looked as though Crandford’s guilt was positive. When he neared the destination in view he saw the disguised man ahead of him, walking asswiftly as was consistent with safety from exciting suspicion. And Dick saw something more, Behind the escaping prisoner, and keeping pace with him, was another man, whom from a description he had had of him, Dick recognized as Crandal Ingerslee. “Whew!” Dick whistled. ‘There is going to be a humming on the breeze now. f see through the Nhe | thing. Ingerslee has follow- ed his wife to the jail, and thinks this is she. He must be blind as a bat, not to see the cheat,” The escaping prisoner went straight to his lodging, and Jet himself into the house with a ke ugerslee followed, rung the bell, passed some words with the person who came in response to the summons, and also entered. Deadwood Dick was right behind, and when the door was opened to him he displayed his badge and demanded to be shown as ot as possible to the room that had been occupied by oward Crandford. | The servant led the way, but before they had reached the door of the room the sounds of a struggle were heard. " Deadwood Dick was upon the scene quickly, and saw two men engaged in a desperate fight. ‘With weapons in hand, the detective ordered them to desist, but Ingerslee paid no attention Deadwood Dick, J 1's, Still Hunt. 13 to him, and it was clear that he was seeking the life of his antagonist. Seeing this to be the case, Dick had to inter- fere, which he did with no gentle hand, But the worst came of it. Suddenly the enraged husband turned upon him, displaying a strength Dick had not given him credit for, and while Dick was defending himself against his attack the prisoner escaped, Craniford had grabbed up a hat, and tearing off the skirt, darted out into the hall and away like a shot, sending back a Jaugh of derision as he disappeared. The struggle lasted for some moments, and by the time Dick had finally disengaged himself, and was trying to make the man understand that he was not in league with Crandford against him, Crandford had made good his escape. ‘*Curse my stupidity!” the man exclaimed. ‘““He has esca me. I took you to be his friend, helping him to get away.” ‘* Yes, he has got away from us,” agreed Dick, “but he will have to be sharp to elude the police, His escape is known all over the city by this time.” **And I took him to be my wife, fool that I was,” ‘““What is this man to your wife?’ Dick de- manded. ‘What is he to her? Curse him, he is her lover! But I will have his life. I swear it!” ** Let us get back to the jail without delay,” advised Dick. ‘* Your wife is there, a prisoner in bis stead. Her action proves all your suspi- cion against her to be true.” Tkey returned immediately, talking over the matterpby the way. Dick had a clearer understanding of it, now, and saw plainly that the woman and Crandford were two precious bad ones, at best, When they arrived at the jail another sur- prise, aud greater, awaited them there. The cell was open and the woman was gone, ‘No one knew how, when, or by what means she had got away. Deadwood Dick jumped immediately to the conclusion that the whole thing had been pre- arranged. If not that, then it was the doings of the woman entirely, and showed.her to be a per- son of keenest shrewdness in the time of emer- gency. The jailer protested that he knew nothing about it, and could not account for the disap- pearance, How the woman had ever managed to get out of the cell, was a mystery calculated to baffle them all. It was guessed that she must a been provided with keys and an additional isguise. ead wood Dick and the dishonored and en- raged husband made a basty examination of the cell, and Dick discovered something lying on the bed that gave him the key to the situation im- Si: regg One glance at his discovery, and he was out of that cell and away, too hasty even for Inger- slee to follow him. But Dick had told him to await bis return. What Dick had discovered consisted of two railroad tickets to a point in Washington, and knew immediately that flight was intended. Hastening to the nearest station, he obtained two policemen, and in a little while they were at the railroad station ready for the guilty pair. Within an hour a man and woman entered the station, a couple to whom Dick at once gave at- tention. If their game, they were in disguise, but that was looked for. Their actions were nervous and hasty, and their glances at the clock were impatient. Dick and the policemen kept their eyes upon them, Dick in disguise, too; and soon Dick ob- served something that made his reasonably sure of his prey. The women felt in her pocket, and then gave a great start, speaking to the man in the greatest ible agitation. The lost tickets, was Dick’s thought, and he directed the officers to make the arrest. It was done, and Dick stepped forward before they could recover from the shock the arrest gave them. Taking bold of the man’s beard, itcame off in his hand, and Howard Crandford stood reveal- ed, It needed no unmasking of the woman, then, to discover who she was, “A pretty cute trick,” Dick remarked, with easy coolness, ‘* but you see we bave nipped your little game right in the bud. Take them back to the jail, officers, and see that they are locked ~ in cells too far apart to prevent their talk- ng. A crowd was beginning to collect, but it was all over now, and the policemen led the prisoners away in one direction while Dick . ——————__—_—_—_—_— Te took his departurein another. The lost ground had been recovered, and now for the pushing ahead to the end. CHAPTER XVI, SOMETHING LITTLE EXPECTED. DErapwoop Dick’s first care was to visit the place where he should hear from his ally, if she found it necessary to communicate with bim. There was nothing there for him, and the day being spent, he repaired to his hotel to get something to eat and take an hour’s rest. It had been a busy day with him, He had little hope that the case would be cleared up very speedily now. lt might take weeks to get at the bottom of the mystery. Certainly, he thought, it would require several days. It would be a game of patience, now. The prisoners, with nothing more to lose would. be stubborn. But he was nearer the end than he thought, He had not finished his su;per when what was his surprise to have Kodak Kate touch hina on the arm, _ ‘What is it?” he asked, in amazement, ‘Tt is now or never,” was the brief answer. ** Come.” Dick dropped everything and accompanie@ her out. He knew that something of importance: was at hand. He understood this from the fact that she had come in person, and that sbe had not only beem to their ed-upon place of meeting, but had come on the hotel with the hope of finding him there at that hour, ‘““Well, my brave little second self, what is it?’ Dick asked, as soon as they were out upon the street, “Susan Roylan bas sent me out to bring & priest to the house,” Kate informed bim, ‘“*-You are the priest,” she added, ‘“‘andI have come for you,” ‘*T’ll be darned if I don’t believe the gun is: loaded too heavy for Deadwood Dick this time,” Dick cried. ‘‘IT have my doubts about playing that role, Kate, and that’s the truth.” ‘“*You must play it,” the little Snap Shot urged. ‘Susan Roylan is going to make a con-- fession. She is in suchastate of mind that I don’t believe she is going to live twenty-four hours. It is now or never, as I told you.” ‘*T see that I have got to undertake it,” Dick agreed, ‘‘and, fortunately, I have been present at such scenes once or twice, I -will do it, and do my best, even though a failure is the result. But I must have time to prepdre. I will be there in one hour, and you may tell her so,” They parted, and Deadwood Dick, finding @ cab, went in haste to get the two old lawyers. He wanted witnesses. He had previously learned where they resided, and found them at home. With a hasty explan- ation of the situation, they were fired with in- terest, and accompanied Dick at once, Dick’s next move was to get the proper dis- guise, and as soon as that was accomplished the three hastened to the house where the priest was. Saran he lawyers stood back while Dick applied for admittance, for it would spoil everything if their presénce was suspected. But it was Kodak Kate who opened the door, and Dick hurriedly explained his plan. : e was shown into the little sitting-room at the end of the hall, and when he had entered, and Kate admitted the lawyers, and accompani- ed them into the front room, where a sliding: door, a little ajar, gave them every opportunity to overhear al] that was said beyond, Meanwhile Dick had explained why he, a strange priest, had come. The one sent for, he oiferel, being unable to attend, bed requested him to come in his stead. And be bau takena position very close to the shding-door, He had reason to believe that the woman’s confession would not be made in a loud tone. Susan Roylan was all broken down. Her nerves were all unstrung, and a single day seemed to have aged her ten years, / Dismissing her old servant from the room, with strict orders to go down to the rooms below and remain there, the aged woman closed the door after her and turned to the supposed priest, falling upon her knees before him, For abhi: De ware ys neither moved or ke, but her lips moved in prayer. . PDuring that time Kodak Kate heard @ step in the hall, and a hand tried the knob of the door leading into the room where she and the lawyers were. But this duor Kate had taken the pre- caution to lock. ; The hand was removed, the knob clicked , \
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_ 14 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Still Hunt. a Slightly as it fell back into place, and the step was heard again soft and cat-like. Ina moment Kate was at the door, opened it without a sound, almost, and looked out. In the hall was the ser- vant, just in the act of applying her ear to the keyhole of the other door, Closing and locking the door again, as silently as she had opened it, Kate returned to her place, and with note-book and pencil in hand, holijing the book in the ray of light that came through the crack from the other room, pre- pared to jot down whatever words might reach her ears. The confession began, proceeded, ended. Deadwood Dick played the part so well that not a shadow of suspicion was aroused. ‘*T have been a sinful woman,” the confessor began, ‘‘but not a vicious one, I sinned years ago, and have carried a secret in my breast all the years since, locked from the eyes of even my poor sister, She never knew it, never guessed it, never suspected it. She, poor soul, wanted to have our property left to that worthless rascal, our grandnephew. She could not read his char- acter as[ could, But I, I was determined that it should be left to Mrs, Pratson, who bas more claiuis upon me than ever Howard Crandford could ever have had, even were he worthy, for she is my own grandchild. ‘* Yes, it is true, true. Ob! the weight my sin has been upon me al) these years that are past and gone! The anxiety at never knowing the fate of my missing child, tbe daughter of my shame!” Something like a groan was heard, and the woman stopped, ’ The sound was not repeated, and she presently resumed, this time continuing to the end. “No one ever guessed the truth, I pretended to go away from home, but really never went out of the city, Chicago, where we used to live. My child was born, anil put it into the hands of a charitable institution. There it was reared until a girl of thirteen, when she was taken bya family and given a home, But evil was upon her, and she was no credit to the institution that had reared her, though sbe was a credit to the sin that she had inherited from me, 1 had heen evil; she turned out even worse than that. But in spite of all I loved her, for my own blood was in her veins, and she was my own child, though I could never acknowledge her or let ber know who her mother was. * But finally a better day came, She married honorably; a little baby girl blessed the union; she had a good and faithful husband, and I hoped the end of the evil was come, But it proved not so. She was false, disappeared, and her hushand was left with the baby to care for, not knowing where the mother was or what bad Leen her fate. Hedid not know ker past, Had heknown it, she would never have been his wife, for he was honest and honerable, He cared for the child, raised her, and lived to see her happily married, but died soon after, ‘*Now that child, the child of my own off- spring, my grandchild, is a happy wife and mother, inheriting all her father’s goodness of character, with little or none of the evil of her mother. And it was to her that I wanted to leave the bulk of the wealth enjoyed by my sis- ter apd me. But my sister op me. She was determined it should go to Howard Crand- ford; I was determined that it should go to my grandchild. I could not explain, ob! I could not explain, and I knew that while my sister lived I could never hope to carry out my wish.” The listeners expected now to hear the story of the heinous crime. **T loved my sister,” the woman went on, “* but upon this one point we could never agree, She did offer to give consent that a quarter of it should go to Mrs. Pratson, and I made the same concession toward Crandford, but there we stop- ped. I would not yield to the half, and neither would she. And there it seemed likely to stand until both, no, one of us had passed away. was the older, and naturally feared that I should be the first to go. I could not confess my sin, after all these years, and tell her the truth, that Mrs, Pratson is my grandchild. What was I to do? God forgive me! but I really wished that Phoebe might die suddenly, thus giving me the chance I wanted.” Horror almost held the listeners spellbound. ** But finally,” the woman concluded, “I re- | Bolved to yield the point, If my grandchild could receive Agen of our wealth, I fully de- cided, it was all I could ask for her. I would yield the point, and our will should be made at once. It was in the night that this resolve was made. Having made it, and my mind at peace, I fell asleep, and did not awake till morning— that awful morning! I called to my sister, to \ tell her of my resolve, She did not answer, I called again, Still no answer. Fearing the worst, I sprung out of bed and ran in, when— Oh! the horror of what I saw!” At that momenta loud groan was heard, a door was flung open, and the woman servant staggered in from the hall, throwing herself at Susan Roylan’s feet. ‘““My mother! my mother /” she cried, clasp- ing her hands, ‘I never knew you, never uessed you were my mother, I am your cbild, the child of evil; I am the mother of your grand- daughter; I—J am the one who killed your sis- ter! Hear my confession—bear it, hear it!” A column would not suffice to depict the scene, or peal the varying emotions of these women and those who listened to their words, ‘*Tam all that you have said of me,” the wretch moaned. ‘A crime made me leave my busband and hide myself from all who had known me. I resolved upon a better life, I got a place with you, never suspectin’ who you was. [ have been with you ever since, faithful and true in all things. I watched over the growth of my child, though I dared not go near her. I saw her hap- pily married and settled. And you can’t tell with what a feelin’ of joy it was when I found you was doin’ her kindnesses when she was 80 r. Then, I heard you and your sister a- quarrelin’ about leavin’ your money to her, and it worked on me till at last I nerved myself to Phoebe out of the way to give you the chance knowed you wanted.” With a scream of rage, old Susan Roylan sprung at ber as though she would kill her, as indeed was her intent, if she could. ‘Curse you, you shall pay for that, child of mine though you be!” she screamed wildly. i | will choke the evil life out of you, the life that vat cursed my own since the hour you were born. But the other had sprung back, whipping a long, keen bowie from her bosom, ‘© You need not kill me,” she cried, interrupt- ing; ‘‘ Pll do that myself. Mine is an evil spirit; no Lider eg of yours, good father, could save it from the fate that is awaiting it, But hear my last words. I killed Phoebe Roylan. I crept into ber room, killed her with a single blow, wiped the knife on my apron and returned to my own room, That apron is between the spring and mattress on my bed. I have not yet dare to burn it, And this is the knife with which the ci ime was done.” Deadwood Dick had stood ready to stay her hand, intending to spring upon her and tear the knife away; but, she was too quick for him. With ber last words the blow fell, and the blade was buried in her breast. Immediately the sliding-door opened, and Kodak Kate and the lawyers came forth, much to the amazement of the trembling old lady, who was almost dazed with what had taken place in so short a time. Dick threw off his disguise, Kodak Kate doing the same, and then followed explanations in full, which it is not essential to quote, In closing our narrative, few additional state- ments are necessary, Everything has been brought out so that all the minor iculars are easily understood by the reader who has followed our story. The revelation of the mysterious murder was such as no one could have foreseen, If Deadwood Dick made a wrong guess, it was so near to the truth that following it ry brought about the denouement we have seen. It was an investigation that would not otherwise have been made, for the proof against Howard Crand- ford bad seemed positive of his guilt. He had been in the house barely half an hour before the crime was committed, and only for Deadwood Dick and his noble little assistant, the rascal’s neck might have heen stretched for a crime he had never done. Henarrowly escaped, and soon disappeared, together with the woman who was no better than himself. Crandal Ingerslee bad no trouble about procuring a divorce, A mys- tery hung over this woman, & mystery in which the old lawyer was concerned, and although Bristol never troubled himself to try to find out the secret, he believed it_was a case not greatly unlike that of Susan Roylan’s, Dick little cared. This case brought new honors to Dick and Kate, which they wore modestly, as usual. Susan Roylan lived only a short time, and was laid to rest beside the sister she had loved. Her will held good, and her granddaughter was bene- fited by it, though she was never allowed to learn the truth of the old lady’s interest in her, For once the newspapers did not get the inside particulars of a case that bad excited the great- est interest. And so the matter ended, a mys- tery still to all but the few who were allowed to know the truth, Deadwood Dick lingered in San Francisco, even though he bad been summoned to the wilds of the North, an urgent summonsand one which he had responded to, and where he knew be must be expected daily. He had a reason for staying. There was an attraction be could not resist. In Kodak Kate he had found a kin- dred spirit, and be loved the girl! She was, he declared, like a second self. Ina few days there was a quiet wedding at the residence of Mrs. Burton, and Dick and Kate were made one; as happy and well-matched a couple as were ever seen, Dick was free to marry, aud thougb he had loved and wed before, this time it seemed as though he bad found the one woman whose soul was twin to his own, A brief honeymoon of a week passed all too soon, then Dick set out upon his Northern mis- sion, ‘promising to return as soon as the cam- paign should close, THE END. Beadle's Dime Library. BY NED BUNTLINE. 14 Thayendanegea,the Scourge; or,“The War-Eagle. 16 The White Wizard; or, The Seminole Prophet. 18 The Sea Bandit; or, The Queen of the Isle. 23 The Red Warrior; or, The Comanche Lover. 61 Captain Seawaif, the Privateer. 111 The Smuggler Captain; or, The Skipper’s Crime. 122 Saul Sabberday, the Idiot Shy 270 Andros, the Rover; or, The Pirate’s Daughter, 861 Tombstone Dick, the Train Pilot. 517 Buffalo Bill’s First Trail. 584 Fire Feather, the Buccaneer King, 621 The Red Privateer; or, The Midshipman Rover, BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID. 8 The Headless Horseman. 12 The Death-Shot; or, Tracked to Death, 55 The Scalp Hunters. A Romance of the Plains. 66 The Specter Barque. A Tale of the Pacific. 74 The Captain of the Rifles; or, The Lake Queen. | 200 The Rifle Rangers; or, Adventures in Mexico. 208 The White Chief. A Romance of Mexico.\ 213 The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse, 218 The Wild Huntress; or, The Squatter. 228 The Maroon. A Tale of Voodoo and Obeah. The Hunter’s Feast. The White Squaw. BY MAJOR DANIEL BOONE DUMONT. 883 Silver Sam, the Detective. 889 Colonel Double-Edge, the Cattle Baron's Pard, 411 The White Crook; or, Old Hark’s Fortress, 420 The Old River Sport; or, A Man of Honor, 439 Salamander Sam. 454 The Night Raider. 464 Sandyecraw, the Man of Grit. 508 Topnotch Tom, the Mad Person, 573 The Witch of Shasta; or, The Man of Cheek, MISCELLANEOUS, 6 Wildeat Bob, By Edward L. Wheeler, 9 Handy Andy. By Samuel Lover. 10 Vidocq, the French Police Spy, By himself. 11 Midshipman Easy. By Captain Marryatt. 82 B’hoys of Yale; or, The Scrapes of Collegians. 60 Wide Awake, the Robber King. By F. Dumont. 68 The Fighting eae 9 a By Capt. J. F. C. Adams, 76 The Queen’s Musketeers. By George Albany. 78 The Mysterious Spy: By Arthur M. Grainger. 102 The Masked Band. ae Ag a L. Aiken. 110 The Silent Rifleman. By H. W. Herbert. 125 The Blacksmith Outlaw. By H. Ainsworth. 133 Rody the Rover, By William Carieton. 140 The Three Spaniards. By Geo, Walker. 144 The Hunchback of Notre Dame. By Victor Hugo, 146 The Doctor Detective. By George Lemuel. 152 Captain Ironnerve, the Counterfeiter Chief. 158 The Doomed Dozen. By Dr, Frank Powell, 166 Owlet, the Robber Prince. By S. R. Urban. 179 Conrad, the Convict. By Prof. Gildersleeve. 190 The Three Guardsmen. By Alexander Dumas. 261 Black Sam, the Prairie Thunderbolt. By Col. Jo Yards. 275 The Smuggler Cutter, By J. D. eyes 312 Kinkfoot Karl, the Mountain Scourge. By Mor- ris Redwing. 350 Flash Falcon, Society Detective. By W. J. Cobb. 853 Bart Brennan; or, The King of Straight Flush, By John Cuthbert. 366 The Telegraph Detective.” By George H. Morse, 410 Sarah Brown, Detective. By K. F. Hill. 518 Royal Richard, the Thoroughbred. By J. W. sbon. 534 Green Mountain Joe: or, The Counterfeiter’s {| Cave. By Marmaduke De 542 The Ocean Drift; or, The Fight for Two Lives, By A. F. Holt. ; 566 Thé Dauntless Deteciive: or, The Daughter Avenger. By Tom W. King. Beadie’s Dime Library is for sale by all Newsdealers, ten cents per cop, for sent by mail on receipt of twelve cents each. ADLE & ADAM! Publishers, 98 William street, New York,
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BEADLE’S« H ALF- DIME« LIBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold, at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers. BY OLL COOMES. 5 Vagabond Joe, the Young Wandering Jew. he! The Dumb Spy. 27 Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. 81 Keen-Knife, the Prince of the Prairies. 41 Lasso Jack, the Young Mustanger. 58 The Border King; or, The Secret Foe. Delaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy. 74 Mawk-eye Harry the Young Trapper Ranger, 88 Rolle, the - anger. 184 Sure Shot Seth, the Boy Rifleman, ‘148 Sear-Face Saul, the Silent Hunter 146 Silver Star, the Boy Knight. ‘ Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. Little Texas, the Young Mustanger. 17S Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper. 182 Little Nurricane, the Boy Captain. 202 Prospect Pete ; or, The Young Outlaw Hunters, 208 The Boy Hercules: or, The Prairie Tramps, 218 Tiger Tom, the Texas Terror. 224 Dashing Dick; or, Trapper Tom’s Castle, 228 Little Wildfire, the Young Prairie Nomad. 288 The Parson Detective; or, The Little Ranger, 248 The Disguised Guide; or, Wild Raven, the Ranger, 260 Dare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger. - 272 Minkskin Mike, the Boy Sharpshooter. 290 Little Foxfire, the Boy Spy. 300 The Sky Demon; or, Rainbolt, the Ranger. 884 Whip-King Joe, the Boy Ranchero. 409 Hercules; wr, Dick, the Boy Ranger. AlT Webfoot Mose, the Tramp Detective. A22 Baby Sam, the Boy Giant of the Yellowstone. 444 Little Buckskin, tne Young Prairie Centaur, 457 Wingedtoot Fred; or, Old Polar Saul, 468 Tamarac ‘Tom, the Big Trapper Boy. 478 Old Tom Rattler, the Red River Epidemic, 482 Stonewall Bob, the Boy Trojans 562 Blundering Basil, the Hermit Boy Trapper, 652 Don Barr, the Plains Freelance. 661 Old Kit Bandy’s Deliverance. 670 Norway Nels, the Big Boy Mountaineer. 680 Dauntless Dan, the Freelance, or, Old Kit Bandy in Arcadia, BY BUCKSKIN SAM (Major Sam. 8, Hall.) 284 Old Rocky « ** Boyeess or, Benito, the Horse-Breaker 246 Glant Geared: or, The Ang’ of the Range. 275 Arizona Jack ; or, Giant George’s Pard, 297 The Tarantula of Taos; or, Giant George’s Revenge, 807 The Strange Pard; or, Little Ben’s Death Hunt, 818 Ker-whoop, Ker-whoo; or, The Tarantula of Taos, 827 Greeping Vat, the Onaddo; or, The Red and White Pards. 882 Frio Fred; or, The Tonkaway’s Trust. 344 The Fighting Trios er, Rattlesnake, the Tonkaway. 849 Wild Wolf; or, Big-Foot Wallace to the Front, 857 The Ranch Ralders el The Siege of Fort Pargatory. $64 Snap-Shot, the Boy Kanger. $75 Chiota, the Creek or, The Three Thunderbolts, 881 Bandera Bill; or. Frio Frank to the Front, 392 Romeo and the Reds}; or, The Beleaguered Ranch, 404 Little Lariat; or, Pecan Pete’s Big Rampage, 414 The Dalay from Denver. 427 The Three Trailers; or, Old Rocky on the Rampage, 442 Bluff Bill; or, The Lynx of the Leona, 455 Little Lone Star: or, The Belle of the Cibolo, 684 Cache Carl, the Chico Giant BY PHILIP 8. WARNE, 67 Patent-Leather Joe; or, Old Rattlesnake, the Charmer. 175 race ype rota or, Patent-Leather Joe's Big Game. 198 Captain Mask; or, Patent-Leether Joe’s Defeat. 219 Despard, the Duelist; cz, The Mountain Vompires, 388 A ‘Tou h Boy 3 or, The Dwarf’s Revenge, 868 Little Tornado; or, The Outcasts of the Glen. BIB Little Jingo; or, the Queer Pard. 888 Little Oh-my 3 or, Caught in His Own Trap, 401 Little sheo-Fly or, A Race for a Ranch, 408 Little Lea her Breeches 3 or, Old Jumbo’s Curse. 481 Little Ah ‘tn or, The Curse of Blood, 451 Colorado Kate. A Tale of the lines. 480 Three Jolly Pards. . S17 Jim Gladden’s peputy. 527 The Jolly Pards to the Rescue, 7 Sandy Andy; or, A Good Man Down, 556 Lartat Lil; or, The Cast fora Life. 574 Old Weasel-tep, the Man with the Dogs, 598 Keen Clem, the Ranch Imp. 599 Jim Dandy the No-Name Sport. 618 Billy Blazes: or, The Skeleton’s Legacy, 685 Oklahoma Hi, the Blue-Coat Scout, 648 Happy Harry’s Big Find. 664 Cheeky Charley, the Special. BY EDWARD WILLETT, 167 Asa Scott, the Steamboat Boy, 199 Featherwelght_ the Boy Champion of the Muskingum. 228 Ozark Alfy or, Featherweight Among the Outlaws. 282 The Typo Detective ; or, Weasel, the Boy Tramp. 295 Fearless Phil; or, The King of Quartzville. » 811 The Roving Sport; or, The Pride of Chuckaluck Camp. 822 Nemo, the Detective; or, Kit Kenyon’s Vendetta. 840 Clip the Contortionist; or, The Montana Vigilantes, BY JO PIEROE. 89T Bob o’ the Bowery; or, Thie Prince of Mulberry Street. 415 The Vagabond Detective; or, Bowery Bob’s Boom, 452 Log ped Bob, the Street-Boy Detective. 460 The Lawyer’s Shadow; or, Luke’s Legacy. A472 Jaunty Joe, the Young Horse-King. A94 Surly Sim, the Young Ferryman Detective. 54 Five Points Phil. 509 Jack Jnggers, the Butcher Boy Detective, B16 Tartar Tim; or, Five Points Phil’s Menagerle, B26 North River Nat, the Pier Detective, S228 Wrestling Rex, the Pride ofthe Sixth Ward, &11 Jeff Flicker, the Stable Boy Detective. &1 Nick Nettle, the Boy Shadow. &RY Harlem Jack, the Office Boy Detective. 589 Brooklyn Ben, the On-His-Own-Hook Detective, B77 Pavement Pete the Secret Sifter, &S8 Jack-o’-Lantern, the Under-Sea Prospector. OR Wide-Awake Bert, the Street-Steerer. 614 Whistling dacob, the Detective’s Aid, 623 Ruck Bumblebee, the Harlem Hummer. 689 Sunrise Saul, the Express-Train Ferret. 649 Gamin Bob, the Bowery Badger; or, Scooping a Slippery Set. 658 Sky-Rocket Rob, the Life-Saver. 688 Saltpeter Sol, the New York Navigator, 694 Spicy Jim, the Only One of His Kind. 706 Tom Thistle, the Road-House Detective. BY J. W. OSBON. - 469 The Rival Giants of Nowhar’ 498 Cactus Burr, the Men from Hard Luck. 5ST Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow. 564 Powder P i the Boy Miner, ; $20 Tee ip htt at count hergrigttn Mystery of tne Island, e ne’s League; or, The Mys 688 Plueky Paul, the Boy Depectos. ome } ; Vl ee eae OEE 5 ate ee be esd BY ALBERT W. AiKEN, 11 The Two Detectives; or, The Fortunes ofa Bowery Girl. 76 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer. 7% Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapper. 2468 Joe Buck of Angels and His Boy Pard. 447 New York Nat, A Tale of Tricks and Traps in Gotham. 458 New England Nick; or, The Fortunes of a Foundling, 464 Nimble Nick, the Circus Prince. 498 Taos Ted, tae Arizens Sport. 510 Cool Colorado, the Hal!-Breed Detective, 518 Cool Colorado tn New York. BY GEORGE WALDO BROWNE. 86 pony Roek the Man from Texas. 90 The Dread Rider; or, The Texan Duelist. 99 The Tiger of Tnos; or, Dandy Rock’s Angel. 115 The Mad Miner; or, Dandy Rock’s Doom. 181 The Golden Hand; or, Dandy Rock to the Rescue, 164 Dandy Rock’s Pledge; or, Hunted to Death, 178 Dandy Rock’s Rival; or, The Haunted Maid of Taos, BY CAPT. J. F. ©. ADAMS. 84 Oregon Sol; or, Nick Whiffles’s Boy Spy. 46 Glass-Eye, the Great Shot of the West. 564 Ned Hazel, the Boy Trapper. 56 Nick Whifiies’s Pet; or, In The Valley of Death. 60 The White Indian; or, The Scovt of the Yellowstone, 70 Old Zip’s Cabin; or, The Greenhorn in the Woods, 81 Lightning Jo, the Terror of the Prairie. 85 Buck Buekram; or, Beas, the Female Trapper, 247 Old Grizzly and His Peta; or, The Wild Huntres 251 Light-house Liges or, Osceola, the Firebrand. 257 The Lost Hunters; or, The Underground Camp, 288 The Scalp King; or, The Human Thunderbolt. BY ROGER STARBUCK. 25 The Boy Captain; or, The Pirate’s Daughter. 114 The Black Schooner; or, Jib Jank. the Old Tar. 259 The Golden poe ny ¢ or, Loat Among the Floes. 848 Fire-Heela; or, Old Skinflint, the Death-Shadow. 854 Big Horn Ike, the Hill Tramp; or, The Odd Pards. 861 The Phantom Light-house. 870 Breaker Ben, the Reef-Runner. BY WILLIAM RK EYSTER, 190 Dandy Darke; or, The Tigers of High Pine. 210 Faro Frank; or, Dandy Darke’s Go-Down Pards BY ©. DUNNING CLARK. 185 Captain Paul; or, The Boy Spy of the Mountains. 280 The Yankee Rajah; or, The Fate of the Black Shereef. BY GEORGE ©, JENKS. 485 Git Thar Owney the Unknown. ’ 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledge. 518 The Demon Doctor. 56S1 Double-Curve Dan, the Pitcher Detective. BYS Flute, the Singer Detective, 608 The Pitcher Detective’s Fotl; or, Dan’s Double Play, 616 The Ocean Detective: or. The Last Cruise of the Black Boar, 681 The Pitcher Detective’s Toughest Tussel. BY CAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR U. 8. A. 191 Buffalo Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker. 194 Buffalo BILI’s Bet; or, The Gambler Guide. BY WM. G. PATTEN, 489 The Diamond Sport; or, The Double Face of Bed Rock. tain on Lap tot 3 or, Five in One, 881 Dale) Mare the Sport from Denver. B87 Old KHombshell, the Ranger Detective. 604 Iron Fern, the Man of Fire. 619 The Boy Tramp Detective; or, The Double Grip Witness 629 Violet Vane, the Velvet Spon. A 641 Dismal Daye’s Dandy Pard. 651 Bound Boy Frank, the Young Amateur Detective 66% Violet Vane’s Victory. 682 Wild Vulcan, the Lone-Range Rider, 69R Violet and Daltsy, the 4 Pards. 705 Violet Vane’s Vow; or, The Crafty Deteetive’s Craft. BY MAJOR E. L. 8T. VRAIN, 292 Sancho Pedro, the Boy Bandit. 801 Leadville Nick, the Boy Sport. 812 Redtop Rube, the Vigilante Prince. 888 Brimatone Bob, and His Lightning Horse Quartette, *852 Tombstone Tom, the Arizona Boy of “ Sand.” 859 Durango Dave, the Young Champion Wrestler. 871 Kingbolt Chri, the Young Hard-Shel! Detective, 880 Avalanche Alf, the Foothills Guide. 890 Jaguar Joe, of the Mountain Mail-Line, * BY EDWARD 8, ELLIS, 6 Bl Biddon, ig er. 8 Seth Jones; or, 4 Captives of the Frontier. 10 Nat Todd; or, The Fate of the Sioux Captive. 21 ‘rne Frontier Angel. 98 The Boy Miners; or, The Enchanted Island. 182 The Hunted Hunter; or, The Strange Horseman, 254 The Half-Blood; or, The Panther of the Plains. 271 The Huge Hunter; or, The Steam Prairie Man. BY MAJOR LEWIS W. CARSON, 278 The Three Tra raz or, The Mountain Monster, 288 Indian Joe; or, RRS White Spirit of the Hills, BY CAPT. MARK WILTON. 256 Young Kentuck; or, The Red Lasso. 270 Blizzard Ben; or, The Riot at Keno Camp. 286 Josh, the Boy Tenderfoot. BY BRACEBRIDGE HEMYNG. 89 Ialand Jim; or, The Pet of the Family. 91 The Captain of the Club; or. The Rival Athletes, 101 Jack Markaway in New York. BY MAJOR HENRY B. STODDARD, Ex-8cout, 806 Neck-Tie Ned; or, The Dug-Out Pards. 846 papier Raphael ; or, The Swordsmen of Zacatecas, 891 Kid-Glove Kit, the Dandy of the Rockies, 898 Kid-Glove Kit and Pard; or, The Gold King. 406 The Mad Man-Hunter: or, The Golden Gulch Mystery. 505 Powell’s Pard; or, The One-Armed Giant. BY CAPTAIN FRED. WHITTAKER. 15 The Sea-Cat ; or, The Witch of Darien. 29 The Dumb Page: or, The Doge’s Deughter. 48 Dick Darling, the Pony Express Rider. 150 Lance and Lasso; or, The Children of the Chaco. 154 The Sword Hunters; or, The Land of the Elephant Riders, 159 The Lost Captain; or, Skipper Jabez Coffin’s Cruise. 200 The Boy Bedoutina; or, The Brothers of the Plumed Lance, 214 Wolfgang, the Robber of the Rhine. 249 Milo Romer the Anima! King; or, Round the World, 265 The Tiger Ta The Le: of the J That Mactionmus.. 95 California Joe’s War f 4 ‘ . ce is 4 gow rae, ae Vy sari hes BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR. 2 Vellowstone Jack; or, The Trapper. 48 Black John, the Road-Agent; or, The Outlaw’s Retreat, 65 Hurricane Bill; or, Mustang Sam and His Pard, 119 Mustang Sam } or, The King of the Plains. 186 Night-lLiuawk Kit; or, The Daugiter of the Ranch, 144 Dainty Lance the Boy Sport. 151 Panther Paul; or, Dainty Lance to the Rescue. 160 The Black Giant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy. 168 Deadly Dash; or, Fighting Fire with Fire. 184 The Boy Trailers; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path. 208 The Bey Pards; or, Dainty Lance Unmasks. 211 Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestial City. 810 The Barranca W olf; or, The Beautiful Decoy. 819 The Black Rider}; or, The Horse-Thieves’ 885 Old Double Fist; or, The Strange Guide 855 The King of the Woods: or. Danie! Boone’s Last Trail, 449 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective. 625 Chincapin Dan, the Boy Traller. 677 Chincapin Dan’s Second Trail, 688 Chincapin Dan’s Home Stretch. 698 Old Crazy, the Man Without a Head. 708 Light-Heart Lute’s Legacy. BY W. J. HAMILTON, 68 The Red Brotherhood; or, The Tweive Avengers, 66 Canale Mand; or, A Life for a Life. 72 Mad Tom Western, the Texan Ranger. 887 Ben Bird, the Cave King; or, Big Pete’s Scoop. BY JACK FARRAGUT. 815 Ned, the Cabin Boy, 820 The Sea Sorceress; or, The Boy Skipper. BY LIFUT. H. D. PERRY, U. 8. N. 176 The Boy Runaway; or, The Buccaneer of the Bay. 180 The Sea Tratler; or, A Vow Well Kept. 192 Captain Kit; or, The Mystery of Montauk Point. BY COL, A. F. MOLT. 899 Black Buckskin; or, The Masked Men of Death Canyon. 419 Kenneth, the Knife-King. 485 Littie Lightfoot, the Pilot of the Woods. B28 The Dandy wport; or, The King Pin Conspirator. 678 Ralph Renwood, the Lightning Express Detective. 691 Headlight Harry’s Haul. BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID, 78 Blue Diekys or, The Yellow Chief's Vengeance. 87 The Land Pirates; or, The League of Devil's Island, 187 The Helpless Hand; or, Backwoods Retribution. 289 The Gold-seeker Guide! or, The Lost Mountain. "BY FREDERICK DEWEY 818 Cimarron Jack, the King-Pin of Rifle-Shots. 478 Tangemund, the Desert Detective. 542 The Canyon Pards, BY ARTHUR ©, GRISSOM. 440 Little Foxfoot, the Gold Bowle Kid. 558 The Sure-Shot Pards, 621 Truthful James, the “ Pecooliar” Man. BY LIEUT. A. K. SIMS. 546 Captain Cactus, the Chaparral Cock. 568 The Dandy of Dodge. 576 The Silver Sport. 588 Saffron Sol, the Man With a Shadow 589 Tom-Cat and Pard; or, The Dead Set at Silver City, 601 Ha py Hana, the Dutch Vidoeg. 611 Bilda Barnacle, the Detective Hercules, 622 Texas Tom-Cat’s Triad 681 Tom Cat’s Terrible Task. 688 Tom-Cat’s Triumph; or, Black Ivan’s Great Combine, 646 Cowher Gid, the Cattle-Range Detective. 657 Warbling William, the Mountain Mountebank, 665 Jolly Jeremiahsy the Plains Detective, 676 Signal Sam, the Lookout Scout. 689 Billy the Gypsy Spy. 699 Straple Sim, the Bronco Buster. 712 The Mesmerist Sport; or, The Mystified Detective. MISCELLANEOUS AUTHORS, 4 The Wild-Horse Munters. By Capt. Mayne Reid and Frederick Whittaker. 9 Adventures of Baron Munchausen, 12 Gulliver’s Travels. By Dean Swift. 14 Aladdiny or, The Wonderful Lamp. 16 Robinson Crusoe. (27 Illustrations.) 18 Sindbad the Sailor. His Seven Voyages. 22 The Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinson Crusee, By Juan y 98 Robin Mood, the Uutlawed Earl; or, The Merry Men of Green- wood. By Prof. Gildersleeve. 105 Old Rube, the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive. By Captain Hamilton Holmes. 112 The Mad Hunter; or, Ihe Cave of Death. By Burton Saxe, 124 Tippy, the Texans or, The Young Champion, By George esnon. 128 The Young Privateer; or, The Pirate’s Stronghold. By Harry Cavendish, 148 Sharp Sam; or, The Adventures of a Friendlees Boy. By J, Alexander Patten. 227 Dusky Darrell, Trapper: or, The Green Ranger of the Yel- lowstone, By Edward Emerson. 261 Fergus Fearnaught the New York Boy. ByG, L. Aiken. 266 Killb’ar, the Guide; or, Davy Crockett’s ked Trail. y Ensi . Warren. 298 Red Ola the One-Eyed Trapper; or, The Maid et the Cliff, By Captain Comatock. 817 Peacock Pete, the Lively Lad from Leadville. By Lien- tenant Alfred Thorne. 828 The Sky Detectives or, A Boy’s Fight for Life and Honor, By Maior Mickey Free. 850 Red Ralph, the River Rover; or, The Brother’s Re venge. By Ned Buntline, 865 Raltimore Ben the Bootblack Detective. By A. P. Morris, 874 Gold-Duat Tomy or, Ben’s Double Match, BY @ H, Morse. 876 Callfornin Joe’s First Trail. By Colonel Thomas Hoyer Monstery. 418 Biily Bombshell, the Cliff Climber. By F. S, Winthrop. 475 The Black Ship. By John S Warner. 484 Comanche Dick and His Three Invincibles, Henry J. Thomas. “ 582 The Cowboy Duke. By Edwin Brooke Forrest. B52 Artel the Athlete. By David Druid. 585 Will Waters, the Boy Ferret.. By H. Enton. 682 The Dead Detective’s Double. By Gerald Carlton A New issue Every Tuesday. The Half-Dime Library i» for sale by ail newsdealers, five @ents per copy, or sent by mall on receipt of six cents each. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York,, ‘ Cc. w.
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i Boe a ee I Ge Fr ee oo Te he NS parse aie rere. ara BEADLE’S*H ALF-DIME* LIBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. BY EDWARD L. WHEELER. Deadwood Dick Novela, 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road. 20 Deadwood Dick’s Defiance; or, Double Daggers. = anes mek = Piageiee). or, Buffaly Ben. ead woo e n « Castle. 42 Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza; o-, The .«antom Miner. 49 Deadwood Dick in Danger; or, Omaha Oll. 57 Deadwood Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards ot Flood Bar. 78 Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity 4 ne, the Heroine, a00 fay bet ert 3 eo ak or, Corduroy Charlie. ead woo ck in Leadville, aoe eeenese + pee ge es ai The Double Cross Sign. eadwoo ck as Detective. 129 Deadwood Dick’s Double; or, The Gorgon’s Gulch Ghost. 188 Deadwood Dick’s Home Base; or, Blonde Bill. 9 Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike; or, A Game of Gold. 156 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood: or, The Picked Party. 195 Deadwood Dick’s Dream; or, The Rivwls of the Road. 201 Deadwood Dick’s Ward; or, The Black Hill’s Jezebel. ae | ae hee | coe Boom Re Calamity Jane’s Adventure. Bai Dondwood Dick's Death-Dinnt. 282 Gold-Dust Dick. A Romance of Roughs and Toughs, aes enawons ee abreg Na ja Spirit of Swamp Lake. eadwo ck’s Dea rail. 809 Deadwood Dick’s Deal; or, The Gold Brick of Oregon. 821 Deadwood Dick’s Dozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats. 847 Deadw Dick’s Ducata; or, Days in the Digzings. pet peodwecs |e Pog rage or, the Terrible Vendetta, cadwe ek’s Claim, 410 Deadwood Dick's Dinmonda.” w « Dinmonda. 421 Deadwood Dick in New York; or, A “Cute Case,” 480 posgwees are pets or, The Chained Hand, 448 Deadweod r. 448 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Deflance. 458 Deadweed Dick, Jr.’s, Full Hand. 459 Deadweod Dick, Jr.’s, Big Round-Up. 465 Deadwoed Dick, Jr.’*, Racket at Claim 10, 471 Deadwoed Dick, Jr.’s, Corral; or, Boreman Bill. fe Biseroet bre ge nirsereca™ en ¥ 41 Deadweed Dick, Jr.s, Compact. 496 Deadweed Dick, Jr.'s, Inheritance, sta Deadweed Dick, Jr., in Chicago, 678 Deadwoed Dick, Jr., Afloat. 5S4 Deadweed Dick, Jr., in Denver. 590 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Decree. Seq Dentvecd But’ aniat Genee Tlea eadw e r., at Ceney Island, $06 Dendweed Dick, Irie, Leadville Lay. 612 Deadwoed Dick, Jr., in Detroit. 618 Deadweed Dick, Jr., In Cincinnati. 624 Deadwoed Dick, Jr., in Nevada. 680 Deadwoed Bick, Jr., in No Man’s Land, 6 Deadweed Dick, Jr., After the Queer. 642 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Buffalo. 645 Deadwoed Dick, Jr.’a, Chase Across the Continent aga Becdvecd pict $3 eset nn taneato™ 666 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Back in the Mines. 672 Deadweod Dick, Jr., in Durango} or, * Gathered In.” 444 poagwees 4mm 3 phen peesreras or, Found a Fortune. ; e eed Dick, Jr.'s 6 $90 Deadwoed Dick, Jr.’s. Dollars. 695 Deadwoed Dick, Jr., at Danger Divide, 700 Deadwoed Dick, Jr.'s, Drop. 704 Deadwood Bick, Jr., at Jack-Pot. 710 Deadweod Dick, Jr., in San Francisco, Other Novels by E, L. Wheeler, 26 Cloven Hoof, the Buffalo Demon. 82 Beb Woolf; or, The Girl Dead-Shot. 89 Death-Face, Detective; or, Life in New York. 45 Old Avalanche; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Srigand. 58 Jim Bludsee, Jr., the Boy Phenix. 61 Buckhorn Bills or, The Red Rifle Team. 69 Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter; or, The Boy Detective, 80 Rosebud Rob or, Nugget Ned, the Knight. 84 Idyl, the Girl Miner 3 or, Resebud Rob on Hand. 88 Phetegraph Phil; or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance, 92 Canada Chet 3 or, Oli Anaconda in Sitting Bul!’s Camp, 96 Watch-Eye} or, Arabs and Angels of a Great City. 118 Jack Hoyle the Young Speculator. 117 Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sport Detectivo, 121 Cinnamon Chip, the Girl Sport. 125 Bonanza Kill, Miner. 188 Boas Bob the King of Bootblacka, 141 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. 145 Captain Ferret, the New York Detective. 161 New York Nell, the Boy-tirl Detective. 177 Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Sierras Scamps, 181 Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravo, 209 Fritz, the Bound-Bsy Detective, 218 Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventriloquiet Hunter, 226 Snoozer, the Boy Sharp; or, The Arab Detective, 286 Apollo Bill, the Trail Tornado. 240 Cyelone Kit, the Young Gladiator, 244 Sflerra Samy, the Frovtier Perret. 248 Sierra Saws Seeret; or, The Bloody Footprints, 258 Sterra Saws Parad or. The Angel «1 Big Vista. 258 Slerra Sam’s Seven; or, The Stolen Bride, 2T8 Jumbo Joe, the Koy Patrol: or. The Rival Heirs, 27T Denver Doll, the Detective Queen. oe Denver Doll's Victory. 8& Denver Doll's Decoy ; or. Little Bill’s Bonanza, 291 Turk the Boy Ferret. 296 Denver Doll's Drift; or. The Road Queen. 299 A No, 1, the Dashing Toll-Taker. 808 ’Liza Jane, the irl Miner; or, the Iron-Nerved Sport. 25 Kelley, Wickey & Co., the Detectives of Philadelphia. 880 Little Quick-Shot 3 or, The Dead Face of Daggeraville, 884 Kangaroo or, The Mysterious Miner. 9 Kangaroo ae . Racket. 48 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Blood, 58 First-Class Fred, ‘he Gent trom Gopher. 68 Vreka Jim, the Gold-Gatherer; or, The Life Lottery, 872 Yreka Jim’s Prize. 878 Nabob Ned; or, The Secret of Slab City, 2 Cool Kit, the King of Kids; or, A Villain’s Vengeance. 5 Yreka Jim’s Joker; or, The Rivals of Red Nose. 889 Bicycle Beng or. The Lion of Lightning Lode, 894 Yreka Jim of Yuba Dam, ac Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective. 416 High Hat Harry, the Base Ball Detective, fang Slabsides, the r-Boy Detective, | Jim Beak and Pal, Private Detectives, Santa Fe Sal, the Slasher. Bealskin Sams, the Sparkler, No Double Numbers, BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM, 7 The eee Yankees or, The Ocean Outeast. Z Ralph Roy, the boy Bucesncer; or. The Fugitive Yacht, 4 Diamond Dirks or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone, 32 The Shadow Ship; or, The Rival Lieutenants. & The Boy Dnelist; or, The Cruise of the Sea-Wolf )2 Dick Dead-Eye, the Boy Siuuggier. 11 The Sea-Devil; or, The Midehipman’s Legacy. 16 The Hussar Captain ; or, ‘The Hermit of Hell Gate. 97 Little Grit; or, Bessie, the Stock-Tender’s Danghter. 04 Gold Plume} or, Buffalo Bill, the Pony Express Rider. 216 Bison Bll, the Prince of the Reins; or, Butte Bill’s Pluck. 222 Grit, the Bravo Sports or, The Woman Trailer, 229 Crimson Kate; or, The Cowboy’s Triumph, 237 Lene Star, the Cowboy Captain. 245 Merle, the Middy ; or, The Freelance Heir. 250 The Midshipman Mutineer 3 or, Brandt, the Buccaneer, 264 The Floating F eather; or, Merle Monte’s Treasure. 26” The Gold Ship; or, Merle, the Condemned. 276 Merle Monte’s Oralse; or,“ The Gold Ship ” Chase, 280 Merle Monte’s Fate; or, Pearl, the Pirate's Bride. 284 The Sea Marauder; or, Merle Monte’s Pledge. 287 Billy Blue-Eyes, the Boy Rover of the Rio Grande. 804 The Dead Shot Dandy ; or, Benito, the Buy Bugler, 808 keno Kit; or, Dead Shot Dandy’s Double. 814 The Mysterious Marauder; or, The Boy Bugler’s Trall. 877 Bonodel, the Buy Kover; or, The Flagiess Schooner, 888 The Indian Pilot; or, The Search for Pirate Island, 887 Warpath WII, the Boy Phantom. 898 Seawaif, the Boy Lieutenant. 402 Inodor, the Young Conspirator; or, The Fatal League, 407 The Boy Insurgent; or, Thu Cuban Vendetta, 412 The Wild Yachtaman; or, The War-Clouo’s Cruise, 429 Dunean Dare, the Boy Refugee. 488 A Cabin pers Luck; or, The Corsair. 487 The Bea Raider. 441 The Ocean Firefly ¢ or, A Middy’s Vergeance. 446 Waphazard Harry; or, Tne Scapegrace of the Sea, 450 Wizard Will: or, The Boy Ferre: of New York, 454 Wizard Will's Street Scouts, 462 The Born tiulde; or, The Sailor Boy Wanderer, 465 Neptune Ned, the Boy Coaster, 474 Florays or, Wizard Will's Vaganond Pard. 488 Ferrets Aflonts or, Wizard Will's Last Case, 487 Novada Ned, the Revolver Kanger. 495 Arizona doe the Boy Pard of Texas Jack. 497 Buck Taylor, King ot the Cowboys. 508 The Royal Middy; or, The Shark and the Sea Cat 507 The Hunted Midshipman, 5611 The Outlawed Middy. 520 Buckskin Bill, the Comanche Shadow, 525 Brothers in Buckskin. 580 The Buckskin Bowers, 585 The Buc skin Rovers. 640 Captain Ku-Klux, the Marauder of the Rie, 545 Lieutenant Leo, the Son of Latitte. 550 Lafitte’s Legacy; or. The Avenging Son. 555 The Creole Corsair. 560 Pawnee Bill, the Prairie Shadower. 565 Kent Ki on, the Card King. 570 Camille, the Card Queen. 575 The Surgeon-Scout Detective. 580 The Outcast Cadet; or, ‘Ihe Falee Detective 586 The Buckeskfa Avenger. 591 Delmente. ig pears. Sea Raver. 597 The Young Texan Detective. 602 The Vagabond of the Mines. 607 The Rover Detective; or, Keno Kit’s Champions. 617 Ralph, the Dead-Shot Scout; or, The Kio Raiders. 644 The Hercules Highway man. 650 Butteray Billy, the Pony Kider Detective; or, Buffale Bill’s Boy Para, 656 Butterfly Billy’s Man Hunt, 662 Butterfly Billy’s Bonanza. 668 The Buceaneer Mid-hipman, 674 The Wizard Sailor; or, Red Ralph, the Rover. 79 The Sea Shadower; or. The Freebvotr’s Legacy. 686 Orlando, the Ocean Free Flag; or, The Tarnished Name. 692 The Rival Sharps; or, Redfern, the Secret Service Seont. 697 The Searlet Sombrero; or, The Sharp from Texas. 702 Blne Jacket Bill; or, The Red Hat Rancers’ Red Hot Racket TOT The Red Sombrero Rangers; or, Redfern’s Last Trai), BY BUFFALA BILL (Ifen. Wm. F. Cody) 8 Kansas King; or, The Red Right Hand. 19 The Phantom &py: or, lhe Pilot of the Prairie. 55 Deadly-Eye, the Unknown Sernt. 68 Border Robin Hood; or, The Prairie Rover. 158 Faney Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’s Trust, BY CHARLES MORRIS, 18 Will Somers, the Boy Detective, 22 Phil Wardy, the Boss Boy. 26 Picayune Petes or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective, 80 Detective Dick; or, The Here in Rags. 42 Handsome Harry, the Bootblack Detective, % Will Wildfire, the Thoronghbred, Black Beas, Will Wildfire’s Racer. Mike Merry, the Harbor Police Boy. Will Wildfire In the Woods. Billy Baggage, the Railroad Boy. A Trump Card 3 or, Will Wildfire Wins and Loses, Rob Rockett ; or, Mysteries of New York. Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner, The Hidden Hands or, Will Wildfire’s Revenge. Fred Halyard, the Life Beat Boy; cr, The Smugglers, Bob Rockett; or, Driven te the Wall. 6 Shadowed ; or, Bob Kockett’s Fight for Life, 206 Dark Pant, the Tiger King. 212 Dashing Dave, the Dandy Detective, 220 Tom Tanner; or, The Black Sheep of the Flock. 225 Sam Charcoal the Premium Darky, 235 Shadow Sam, the Messenger Bor. - 242 The Two “* Bloods”; or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang. 252 Dick Dashawny ; or, A Dakota Boy in Chicago. 262 The Young Sharps: or, Rollicklng Mike’s Hot Trail, CNS CH STON 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 STPBHTNNNMAAMIAS ‘274 Jolly Jim, the Detective Apprentice. 289 Jolly Jim's Job; or, The Young Detertive. 298 The Water-Hound: or, The Young Thoronghbred. 805 Dashaiway, of Dake tas or, A Western Lad in Quaker City, 824 Ralph Ready, the Hote) Bov Detective. 841 Tony Thorne, the Vacabond Detective, 858 The Reporter-Detectives or, Fred Flyer’s Blizzard, RET Wide-Awake Joe: or, A Boy of the Times, 879 Larry, the Leveler; or. The Bloods of the Boulevard, 408 Ctrefly Jack, the River-Rat Detective, A422 The Lost Finger: or, The Entranped Cashier, 428 Fred Flyer, the Reporter Detective. 482 Invincible Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret. 456 Billy Brick, the Jolly Vagaoond. A466 Wide-Awake Jerry, Detective; or, Entombed Alive. 479 Detective Dodges or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty. 488 Wild Dick Racket. 501 Roots, the Boy Fireman: or, Too Sharp for the Sharper, 336 he Secret Service Boy Detective. 596 Jim the Kid; or, A Lamb Among Wolves. p44 px. rece of prhapaass or, ak Sabb a ah Plu y Paul, oy Specutator, 667 Rob and Sam, the Daisy Detectives, 709 The Curbatone Detective; or, Harry Hale’s Big Beat, ” BY J, ©. COWDRIOK, 860 Silver-Mask, the Man of Mystery. 869 Shasta, the Gold King; or, For Seven Years Dead. 420 The Detective’s Apprentice; or, A Boy Without a Name, 424 Cibuta John; or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar. 489 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout. ‘ 467 Disco Dan, the Daisy Dade. 490 Broadway Billy, the Bootblack Bravo. 606 Redlight hale the Prince of the Road, 514 Broadway Billy’s Boodle. 524 The Engineer Detective. ‘B86 preedway Billy’s ‘Ditikilty.” 548 Mart, the Night Express Detective. 557 Broadway Billy’« Peath Racket. 571 Alr-Line Luke the Young Engiueer. 579 The Chimney Spy; or, Broadway Billy’s Surprise-Party. 592 The Boy Pinkerton. 605 William @ Broadway; or, The Boy Detective’s Big Inning. 615 Fighting Harry the Chief of Chained Cyclone. 628 Breaey 97 Billy’s Dead: Act. 640 Barebrek Beth, the Centaur of the Circle, 647 Typewriter Tilly, the Merchant's Ward. 659 Moonlight Morgan, the *‘ Pizenest ’? Man of Ante Bar.” 669 Broadway Billy Abroad. 675 Broadway Billy’s Beat; or, Beating San Francisco's Finest, 687 Broadway Billy in Clover. 696 Broadway Billy in Texas. 708 Broadway Billy’s Brand. 711 Broadway Billy at Santa Fe. BY T. ©, HARBAUGH. 28 Nick o’ the Night; or, Th« Boy Spy of '76. 87 The Hidden Lodge} or The Litt. Hunter. 47 Nightingale N at) or, Tne Forest Sip weer 64 Dandy Jack ; or, The Ontiaws of the Oregon Trait. 82 Kit Harefoot the Wood-Hawk. 94 Midnight Jack ; or, The Boy Trapper. 06 Old Frosty, the Guide; or, The White Queen, 28 Kiowa Charicy the White Mustanger. 89 Judge Lynch, Jdr.t or, The Boy Vigilante. 55 Gold Tr sr, the Sport; er, The Girl Avenger. 69 Tornado Tom 3 or, Injun Jack From Red Core, 88 Ned Temple, the Border Boy. 198 Arkansaw 3 or, The Queen of Fate’s Revenge. 207 Navajo Nick, the Boy Gold Hunter. 215 Captain Ballet; or, Little Topknot’s Crusade, 281 Plucky Phil; or, Rosa, the Re! Jezebel. 241 Bill Bravo; or, The Roughs of the Rockies, 255 Captain Apoll: , tne King-Pin of Bowle. 267 The buckskin Detective. 279 Old Winchys or, The Bucksxin Deeperadeoes. 294 Dynamite Dan; or, The Bowie Blade of Gochetopa, 802 The Meuntain Detective; or, The Trigger Bar Bully. 816 Old Eclipse, Tromp Card of Arizona, 826 The Ten Pards; or, The Terror of Take-Notice, 886 Big Benson; er, The Queen of the Lasso. 845 Pitilesas Matt; or, Ked Thunderbolt’s Secret, 856 Cool Sam and Pard; or The Terrible Six. 866 Velvet Foet, the Indian Detective. 886 Captain Cutlass; or, The Brecaneer’s Girl Fee. 896 Rough Reb; or, The Twin Champions of Blue Blazes. 411 The Silken Lasso; or, The Rose of Ranch Robin, 418 Felix Fex, the Boy Spotter, 425 Texas Trump, the Border Rattler, 486 Phil Flash, the New York Fox. 445 The City Vampires; or, Ked Rolfe’s Pigeon. 461 One Against Fifty; or, The Last Man of Keno Bar, 470 The Boy Shadow ; or, Felix Fox’s Hunt, ATT The Exceisior Sport; or, The Washington Spotter, 499 Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sport. Py 502 Branded Ben, the Night Ferret, 512 Dodger Dick, the Wharf-Spy Detective, 621 Dodger Dick’s Best Dodge. 528 Fex and Falcon, the Bowery Shadows, 588 Dodger Dick, the Dock Ferret. 548 Dodger Dick’s Double; or, The Rival Bey Botectives. B58 Dodeer Dick’« Desperate Case. 568 Dodger Dick, the Boy Vidorq, 678 The Two Shadows. 582 Dodger Dick’s Drop. 594 Little Lon, the Street-Singer Detective. 610 Old Skinner, the Gold Shark; or, Tony Sharp on Guard. 626 The Champton Parda. 687 Dick Doan, the Dock Boy Detective. 645 Kit, the Pavement Sharp. 658 Billy Bantam, the Boy Beagle. 671 Jersey Jed, the Boy Hustler; or, Shadowing the Shadower. 685 Happy Hugh, the Boy Musician Detective. 701 Photograph Fred, the Camera Sharp. : LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. 718 Carl. the Mad Cowboy; or, The Lariat Queen. By Cod, Prentiss Ingraham. 4 714 Old Misery, the Man from Missonri; or, The Mystery of the Mountain League. By Wm. G, Patten, 715 Wide Awake Len, the Quaker City Ferret; or, Caging the Cormorante. By T. C, Harbaugh. yf 9 eadwood Ick, Jri’e, Still Munts or, The Second bi ce in San Franciseo. By Edward L, Wheeler. VAT Moaauito. Jack, the Hustler Gamin; or, Move-on Mike’s Gra d Catch. By Jo Pierce. . Ready April 21, 718 Light-Henrt Lute’ Last Tratls or, The Gold Crater’s Secret. | y Joseph E, Badger, Jr. Reudy April 28, 719 Pawnee Bia Pledges 07, The Cowboy Kidnapper, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. j Ready May 5. A New Iasue Every Tuesday. ek et ek et The Half- Dime Library !s for sale by all newsdealers, five cents per copy, or sont by mail on receipt of atx cents each, BEADLE AND ADAMR, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York, \