Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 104: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ROSE MORTIMER ; OR, slouching gait, that stealthy stride, seemed to express murder most terribly plain. So it seemed to Rose. Another little startler awaited the two trembling watchers. The masked man advanced towards them. Neither could move nor speak. They remained as if paralysed for the time—frozen with terror. Fro/n beneath his cloak he now produced a lantern and his right hand grasped a long Spanish knife. Its blade was draped with blood. The knife! the very knife ! With dilated eyes Chowler and Rose Mortimer stood there awaiting every moment the ruffian’s ap- proach, Both anticipated the worst should they be observed. And nothing appeared more probable now. Had he advanced to their sides, threatening them with the bloody dagger which had just wrought one fatal deed, neither could have offered the least re- sistance. So thoroughly entranced were their faculties and their powers by the fearful crime which they had just witnessed. On came the mask. A pair of coal black eyes glistened furiously through the holes in the black visor. It was a glance never to be effaced from the be- holders’ memory. And now only a tree, a lilac bushy, separated the assassin his deed of blood. The light from his lantern flashed around. Its rays even rested within a foot of Chowler and Rose. Nothing could the man discover. So near was he thatthey could now even hear him speaking. ‘“Oh! it’s all quiet enough,’”’ he muttered to him- self. ‘‘It must have been my fancy. I’m growing weak and womanish I suppose.”’ The searching was resumed. ‘‘ See,’ whispered he to Rose in a very hoarse voice, ‘che’s masked !”” ‘So heis, and it’s the same man!” ‘‘ By Heaven it is!” Yes, there was no mistaking the fellow. That and that not very rom the witnesses of factory at last. ‘‘Confound it!’ they heard him mutter as he turned upon his heel. ‘‘ She’s as obstinate as she canbe. She no more saw anybody than I did.’’ He walked up the gravel path and disappeared. But where? That it was impossible to say. His sudden departure had been as singular as had been his appearance. They had seen him distinctly in the fatal chamber the very minute before. They had moved in the direction of the front door, by which he entered the house at first, and were, therefore, assured that he had not made his way to that side. This involved the whole proceeding in a deeper mystery than ever. Why had he not chosen this entrance at first in preference to either the window or the front door ? He had returned, too. There he was once more in the room. From the distance they could plainly discern the shadows of the two forms about the room. ‘‘There’s some damnable piece of villany going on there,’ said Chowler, ‘‘ and I should very much like to spoil it.” ‘*Come away,” said Rose. SSS. The nonsuccess was evidently considered as satis- “ Ay, we must,” quoth ~ eaee.” whienexad he ta’ Rosa ina yecip hoses voice | baa aeaaeiaar tien jn ee “or we might get into trouble.” ie" The garden gate was passed. Asigh of intense relief broke from Rose as they pained the road. She pressed Chowler to hasten their steps. “Come, come,” she said, “it is growing very late.” ‘Have no fear,’’ Miss Mortimer,” said Chowler valiantly. ‘* But we are turning the wrong way.” It was the truth. Both were so confused by what | they had just witnessed that they had turned to the left instead of the right upon emerging from the gar- den. Strange to say, too, they had got some forty or fifty yards before the mistake was discovered. However, they wheeled round and returned. “Oh!” said Rose, ‘‘ we shall have to pass that dreadful house !” They had not advanced two steps when they heard the sound of footsteps a little ahead of them, *“ Who’s that ?”’ said Chowler. The question was immediately answered. A dark form, whose shadowy outline now began to be familiar to Rose and her companion, stepped forth from the garden which they had only just quitted. He looked along the road. Then, perceiving Rose and Chowler adyancing, he raised his hand and hastily removed his mask, Then he came up and confronted them. Rose trembled very much, but Chowler, to do him justice, was tolerably composed. ** Good night,’’ said the latter. “Good night,”’ said the man, ‘* Have you seen any- body pass here ?”’ “¢ Lately 2”? ** Yes—this minute.” ‘‘T have—a man. He’s only gone by this instant,” “*Ah! Where did he come from ?” ‘Well, I can’t say. In the same direction as you I think.”’ ‘* From the—”’ ‘‘Yes—as near as I can say. But, to speak the truth, I was better engaged at that moment,” The comedian gave his companion a killing leer at this bit of gallantry. ‘‘ He went there?” demanded the assassin ina hur- ried manner. * Straight on.”’ “ Was he hurried 2?” “Oh, running.” “Thank you—good night.” And off he started in pursuit. ** May you catch him !”’ said Chowler with a laugh. And they once more passed the garden of the house in which they had seen so terrible a tragedy performed. “* What's that?” ‘* Nothing,’’ said Chowler. Mortimer. Nothing more.” **T have been so frightened,”’ said Rose, ‘ with all I have seen to-night that I fancy each stirring leaf is a masked murderer.” At each word she uttered in fear Rose clung so sharply to Chowler’s arm for protection that he grew quite embarrassed. Each trifling movement—her unthinking pressure upon his arm, sent his heart flying to his mouth. Beating, too, as if it were endeavouring to force a way through his waistcoat. But now unfortunately they felt too secure. They were, for the critical position in which they had been placed by the force of circumstances, un- guarded in their speeeh, The full force of this imprudence very shortly made itself apparent, “Fancy, my dear Miss COMIC OO KSMCOn