Dyke Darrel the Railroad Detective; Or, The Crime of the Midnight Express — John Shaqi
Dyke Darrel the Railroad Detective; Or, The Crime of the Midnight ExpressPinkerton, A. Frank
General
Dyke Darrel the Railroad Detective; Or, The Crime of the Midnight Express
Pinkerton, A. Frank
Crime -- Fiction; Detective and mystery stories; Railroad stories
"It is a mighty close resemblance," returned the gentleman. "Where did
you obtain this, Dyke?"
"From Sibyl Osborne."
"Sibyl Osborne?"
"She who lies before you. If that is not YOUR portrait, and if you are
not the man who murdered Captain Osborne and ruined his daughter, then
I am out of my senses."
With the words Dyke Darrel presented a cocked revolver at the heart of
the cool, smiling villain before him.
The smile left the New Yorker's face, and a serious expression
followed it.
"What? You draw a pistol on me, Dyke Darrel? I am surprised," cried
Mr. Elliston in an injured tone. "I did not imagine that you could
lose confidence in me, let what would happen. Can it be that our
friendship was but a brittle cord, after all?"
"I cannot remain friendly when my confidence has been betrayed."
"And you deem me a most hardened scoundrel? Of course you will give me
a hearing. You are an upholder of law, and do not approve of lynching.
Here, put on the handcuffs, Dyke, and take me to prison. You will be
sorry for this some time, but now that circumstances are against me
your friendship falls to the ground. I did not expect such treatment.
However, I can live through it; but I shall never feel toward you as I
have in times past. Put on the irons, Dyke. Why do you hesitate?"
"There is a chance for a mistake, of course," said the detective,
"I am glad you admit that much."
"Is that your photograph?"
"You said it belonged to a young lady!"
"But is it a photograph of your face?"
"It is not."
"You swear it?"
"I do."
"And you were not in Black Hollow, last night?"
"I was not."
"Swear it?
"I swear it."
"You did not know this dead girl?"
Dyke Darrel pointed toward the face in the coffin.
"I did not."
"Will you swear to this also?"
"With my hand on my heart I swear."
The white hand of Mr. Elliston was laid impressively against his
bosom.
There was such a look of honest earnestness on the man's face it was
impossible to doubt, and Dyke Darrel was forced to forego arresting
the New Yorker then and there.
If he was not fully satisfied, he did not permit Elliston to note the
fact.
"I did but try you, Harper," Dyke Darrel said with a smile, extending
his hand. "You are true as steel and I am glad to find it so. I have
endured misery since last night, because I feared, and came to believe
otherwise."
"You will trust me as of old?"
"Yes."
"Thanks. Now tell me all about the facts regarding this poor girl."
Dyke Darrel did as requested, although he kept back some things that
he did not deem it necessary for Mr. Elliston to know.
"And you saw this Hubert Vander peering into the cabin window--the man
who looks like me!"
"I did."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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