With Links of Steel; Or, The Peril of the UnknownCarter, Nicholas (House name)
General
With Links of Steel; Or, The Peril of the Unknown
Carter, Nicholas (House name)
Detective and mystery stories; Dime novels; Popular literature
The seat which the girl had occupied stood on the greensward, about
eight feet from the gravel walk. By several clusters of shrubbery some
feet away at either side, the seat was somewhat obscured from the view
of persons approaching along the walk from either direction. Several
trees cast shadows nearly over the spot, which was one very likely to
have been selected by a couple desirous of being somewhat alone while
resting from an afternoon stroll.
Nick quickly noted these several features, then glanced at Chick and
asked:
"Do you find anything?"
"Nothing by which to identify her."
"Her purse?"
"It contains only a few pieces of silver. No cards, nor so much as a
scrap of paper. Other than her purse, there is only a latchkey in her
pocket, and a perfectly plain handkerchief. Her identification must come
later."
"I guess we have missed nothing here," nodded Nick. "I'll have just a
word with Fogarty, and then we'll go along."
"What do you make of it, Detective Carter?" inquired the officer, as
Nick approached.
"I am not prepared to say," replied Nick, ignoring the startled glances
of the several men who heard his name and now beheld the great detective
for the first time.
"The girl is dead, sir, isn't she?"
"Oh, yes; there is no doubt of that," bowed Nick. "It may be a case of
heart failure. You had better take the proper steps for the removal of
the body. This box and wrapping paper, however, I am going to take with
me, and will be responsible for them."
"All right, sir."
"By the way, Fogarty, how long ago did you discover the body?"
"Scarce a minute before you came, sir."
"Were you the first to see it?"
"I was, sir."
"Had you seen the girl about here before during the afternoon?"
"No, sir."
"Did you see anybody leaving here just before you arrived and discovered
the body?"
"I did not, sir."
"That's all, Fogarty. I'll get any other particulars later."
Thereupon, as Nick was about to turn away, a young man in the crowd came
suddenly forth, and exclaimed:
"One moment, Detective Carter, if you please! I saw that girl, about
half an hour ago, walking this way with a gentleman."
Nick turned abruptly to the speaker.
"What is your name?" he asked.
"Tom Jenkins, sir."
"And your address?"
"I live at the Hotel North, and am employed by Hentz Brothers, in Broad
Street."
"You say that you saw the girl walking this way with a gentleman?"
"Yes, sir."
"Did they appear to be on good terms?"
"Excellent, sir. They were talking and laughing, and seemed to be
enjoying themselves."
"Do you know the girl's name, or where she lives?"
"I do not, sir; nor anything about her."
"Do you know anything about her companion, the gentleman you saw with
her?"
For the bare fraction of a second Jenkins hesitated, as one might do who
was loath to bring trouble upon another. Then he replied, in faltering
tones:
"Well, yes, sir, I know the name of the man who was with her."
"State it, please."
"His name, sir, is Harry Boyden."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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