The Bradys Beyond Their Depth; Or, The Great Swamp MysteryDoughty, Francis Worcester
General
The Bradys Beyond Their Depth; Or, The Great Swamp Mystery
Doughty, Francis Worcester
American fiction; Detective and mystery stories; Dime novels
"Will you stick to the case a while longer if I do?"
"Certainly. Why did you ask that question?"
"Because we haven't satisfied ourselves about what Mason and the black
valet were doing on the river with that boatman. If we find that the
old gray-bearded fellow was the one who brought the body to the morgue,
it would seem to indicate that Mason and the coon know something about
how Mr. Dalton may have met his doom. Remember the object they had
towing behind the boat may have been the old broker's corpse. We can
find out by attending the coroner's inquest and gaining a glimpse of
the man who picked up the body."
"Then we shall do so."
On the following day they went to the morgue again and there found the
coroner and his jury.
The inquest was in progress.
As the boatman who found the body was the only witness present the
Bradys saw him the moment they entered the building.
It proved that their suspicion was correct.
He was the same little old man whom they had seen rowing Mason and
Johnson out on the river.
Satisfied of this and having learned his address, the detectives left
the building with renewed hope in their hearts.
Outside, Harry said to his partner:
"It's the same fellow, sure enough."
"No doubt about it, Harry. But then, he may have found the body long
before he met the negro and Mason. He may have learned whose corpse it
was and telegraphed to Mason to come down to the river and identify
it."
Harry shook his head.
"I don't agree with your view," said he.
"Why not? It's plausible."
"No, it ain't. It don't account for Johnson being there ahead of
Mason."
"By Jove, I didn't think of that."
"I tell you, Old King Brady, the whole circumstance is so suspicious
that I'm yet of the opinion that the whole thing is a deep-laid plot,
and I'm convinced that we will get at the bottom of the mystery if we
keep a watch on the foxy Mr. Mason."
"It won't do any harm to try a while longer."
Harry looked pleased to hear this, and they went downtown and put their
plan in operation at once.
Within the next few days several important events occurred.
The body was taken from the morgue and was buried from Mr. Dalton's
house, Lizzie and Mason being the chief mourners.
The Bradys had found out who Mr. Dalton's lawyer was.
Having called on him and explained their suspicions of Mason, they
asked him if he had seen Mr. Dalton's will.
He told them that Mason had given it to him that morning, with a
request that it be read at the house that afternoon.
It was then sealed up and according to Mason's story, had been in Mr.
Dalton's safe a long time, in the Broad street office.
"We must hear the contents of that will," said Old King Brady. "As Mason
is an unscrupulous man, we fear he may have tampered with it."
"You might disguise yourselves and go with me," suggested the lawyer.
"I could tell Mason you were called on as witnesses."
"Very well. What time are you going there?"
"I'll leave here at four o'clock."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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