Читать книгу The Bradys Out West; or Winning A Hard Case - Francis Worcester Doughty - Страница 3

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“Now, Old King Brady,” said the Chief of the Secret Service, as he glanced down the page of the note book, “I think you will find this case a hard one.

“It has been recorded in detective annals for over ten years. Just the other day I received this letter.”

The chief handed the letter over to the great detective. Young King Brady sat at his elbow and also read it.

Thus it read:

“Chief of the Secret Service, New York City.

“Dear Sir: You no doubt have on record the details of the Jacobs murder, committed in New York city over ten years ago, and for which Jack Mosely was arrested and tried, but who managed to escape from his keeper in the court-room, and who has since never been heard from.

“Now, I have pretty good evidence that Captain Vail, the leader of a gang of road agents in the Black River Hills, near this town, is no other than Jack Mosely. If you are desirous of securing this man, let me know, and send a couple of detectives out here at once. Yours truly,

“CLIFTON BROWN, “Captain of Vigilantes, Red Cliff, Wyoming.”

Old King Brady read the letter carefully and exchanged glances with his young protege, Harry Brady.

These two detectives were leaders in their profession.

Harry Brady, though of the same name, was no near relation of James Brady by any tie of blood. The old detective had taken a deep interest in him and had given him many valuable points, until now Harry had become second only to his teacher.

The two Bradys were the dread of the entire criminal world.

They never failed to win a case. This gave them a prestige which nothing could destroy.

So the chief knew that he was putting the Jacobs case into good hands.

This was one of the most mysterious crimes ever committed in Gotham.

Ten years before Alden Jacobs had been known as one of the leading bankers of the city.

Jack Mosely was his nephew and one of the “bloods” about town.

One day the old banker was found dead in his office from a blow on the back of the head with a bludgeon.

Jack Mosely was known to have been the last person seen with him alive.

Suspicion naturally pointed to him.

But for a time he enjoyed his freedom. He inherited his uncle’s property and proceeded to lead a riotous life.

Had he been more shrewd and gone to another part of the world, the evidence against him might never have been resurrected.

But certain circumstances led to positive proofs that he was the murderer of his uncle.

As a result he was arrested, tried and found guilty.

But he managed to elude the court-room keeper at the close of the trial and made his escape.

He dropped from sight utterly.

It was reported that he had committed suicide. A body was found in the North River answering his description.

But this could not be proved, so a current belief remained extant in police circles that he was still alive and at large.

But all efforts of the detectives were baffled, and the case was dropped long since.

Now, however, this letter from Clifton Brown meant the reopening of the case beyond a doubt.

Old and Young King Brady exchanged glances.

The chief watched them closely.

“Well, what do you think of it?” he asked.

“It is all right,” said Old King Brady. “There is no doubt but that Clifton Brown is right.”

“You think so?”

“We do.”

The chief was interested.

“Have you any reason other than this assertion of Brown’s for believing that Captain Vail, the road-rider, is identical with Jack Mosely?”

Old King Brady nodded.

“I do!” he said. “I am positive that they are the same!”

The chief looked surprised.

“Then you know something about this case already?” he asked.

“It is not new to us,” replied Old King Brady. “We run across a thread of it while looking up quite another affair.”

“Ah! May I ask what?”

“The May disappearance case.”

“Oh, I remember,” said the chief, turning to his note book. “On my word, the locality is the same. Colonel May and his daughter Helen about three months ago were on their way to their ranch in the Black River Hills when the party was set upon by bandits. Colonel May was wounded, a number of his party killed, and his daughter Helen abducted. No trace of her has since been found.”

Old King Brady nodded.

“The same case,” he said.

“You have been working on it?”

“Yes.”

The chief closed his note book.

“Well,” he said slowly, “that is all right. Go ahead and combine the two cases. I’ll wager you will come out all right.”

The two detectives arose and gripped the chief’s hand in parting.

“You shall hear from us soon,” said Old King Brady. “As soon, at least, as we have gained the case.”

In the street a moment later Old King Brady bit off a chew of tobacco from a big plug and said:

“Well, Harry, I told you that woman was here for money. Now what do you think of it?”

The young detective whistled.

“I think we’d better keep close on her track,” he said.

“First we had better see Colonel May.”

“Yes.”

“If he pays the ransom, as he may be foolishly tempted to do, the case is lost.”

“Correct.”

The two detectives crossed Broadway.

They entered an office building.

They ascended to an upper floor by the elevator.

Then they stood before the door of an office on the glass of which was printed: “Alston May, Banker and Broker.”

Old King Brady entered.

A number of clerks and typewriters were busily at work. At a desk sat a man of fine soldierly appearance, with side whiskers and handsome features.

He looked up as the detectives entered.

“Is this Colonel May?” asked Old King Brady.

“It is, sir.”

“My name is Brady. I am a detective.”

The Colonel gave a start.

“I have heard of you,” he said. “Do you bring me good news?”

“Neither,” replied Old King Brady. “I have dropped in to ask you a few questions.”

The Colonel indicated a chair.

“Sit down,” he said. “I am ready to answer them.”

“First,” said Old King Brady brusquely, “have you had a lady visitor to-day?”

Colonel May looked startled.

“Why—I—yes,” he stammered. “A lady did call this morning.”

Old King Brady smiled.

“I thought so,” he said. “Did she give this name?”

He tossed a card on the table.

“Beatrice Vail.”

The banker glanced at it.

“That is the woman,” he said. “Do you know her?”

“I know about her,” replied the detective evasively.

“Well, I think she is a detective,” said May with conviction. “She intimated that she knew where my lost daughter Helen is and with a certain sum of money could procure her ransom.”

The two Bradys exchanged glances.

“Just as I thought,” said Old King Brady.

“This is all a mystery to me,” said Colonel May anxiously. “If you know the woman, tell me who she is.”

“You did not give her the money?”

“No.”

“Well, don’t do it.”

“I shall not.”

“She is Beatrice Vail, the wife of the bandit Vail, who has your daughter in his mountain retreat in Wyoming.”

Banker May nearly leaped from his chair.

“The deuce!” he gasped. “If I had only known that, she would not have gone from here. I will arrest her on sight.”

“I fear that you will not see her again.”

“What do you mean?”

“She will not come here again. She has left the city.”

“Ah!” said the Colonel with a deep breath. “Then you fancy that was really her purpose in coming to New York?”

“I know it was,” replied Old King Brady. “But she has taken the alarm and has undoubtedly left for Wyoming before this.”

The Colonel looked disappointed.

“That is too bad!” he declared. “If we could capture her——”

“It would amount to nothing.”

“You think so?”

“Certainly.”

“But—why not?”

“That is very easy to see,” said Old King Brady. “The danger of your daughter’s position would be only increased.”

Colonel May arose and paced the room in great agitation.

Finally he cried:

“Is there not some way to secure my child? I think the horror of this thing will drive me mad! I am not even sure that she is alive!”

Old King Brady chuckled.

“The mere fact that Beatrice Vail has visited you for a ransom is sufficient proof that she is.”

“Oh, if I could only be sure! Take my fortune—take all I have, but give me back my daughter.”

“We do not want your fortune, nor any part of it,” said Old King Brady, rising. “But we will get your daughter back for you safe and well. Keep up your courage, and above all, keep dark. That is important.”