The Argosy, Vol. XI No. 19 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

dU4 smiles upon me, I'll make sure of what I have won, and leave off in time.” Vincent went straight from the gambling house to the house of his friend Smithson. The latter came down stairs half dressed and let him in. “What brought you here so late ?” he asked, rubbing his eyes. ‘* Because I have some news for you.” ‘“Whatis it 2 Nothing bad, I hope.” “Oh, no; it is only that I have found the thief who bas been rob- bing you.” ‘It is the boy, then, as [ thought,” said Smithson eagerly. ‘No, it isn’t the boy.” ‘Who, then ?” “Who else is there 2?) It is Albert Benton. ‘© Are you sure of this ?” asked Smithson, dumfounded. “* Yes; there is no doubt of it.” ‘Come in and tell me how you found out.” Vincent entered and sat down on a chair in the front room. ‘“T will tell you,” he answered. ‘*1 took the liberty to go to your money drawer and mark four bills this afternoon, I marked them with a red cross on the right hand corner of the reverse side. Well, Benton took two of those bills with him this evening when he stopped work.” ‘* How do you know ?” “T was near by when he left the restaurant. distance, and saw him enter Poole's gambling house.’ “Well?” | ‘© T entered too, and took my place at a neighboring table. He pro- duced a five dollar bill, when some one suggested that gold was pref- erable. Upon that I offered to give him gold for bills. He produced two fives, and I gave him two gold pieces for them.” “Well 2” ‘* Here they are.” The detective drew from his wallet two banknotes and showed Smithson the red cross on the reverse side of each. (70 be continued.) I followed him at a ’ ee er a THE PENROSE PLOT. BY WILLIAM MURRAY GRAYDON. CHAPTER XLI. IN WHICH ‘THE CURTAIN FALLS. ARDLY had the words recorded at the close of the preceding H chapter left the major’s lips, than a head rose over the crest of the house and was followed by a sharp report and a red flash. “I'm shot,” cried Burns, and with a vain attempt to keep his balance, he slipped down over the shingles. Three officers had already crawled out of the window, and as the wounded man came near they caught him tenderly and passed him through to thetr companions inside. Major Penrose blazed away instantly, but tco late. dodged out of sight. A hundred throats were yelling hoarsely in the street below as the major advanced a few more steps up the roof. He hardly realized the extreme peril of the situation, “The fiend shall not escape me,” he muttered, and then he turned to the officers who were creeping behind him. “Shoot at first sight,” he whispered.‘ The assassin can never be taken alive.” Bang! A red-flash blazed on the crest of the roof, and the weapon, shot from the major’s hand, went spinning into the street far below. ey This is the last act," said a voiee, hoarse with passion, and looking up, Major'Penrose saw Eugene Maillard standing on the very pinnacle of the roof, not three vards distant, ‘* This is the last act,” he repeated. gether, major. But you will go first.” He turned the muzzle of his revolver into the major's very eyes. His finger was on the trigger, but with fiendish hatred he hesitated to end his victim’s torture..° | He had forgotten the presence of the officers below him—perhaps he did not know they were there—and as he toved with the trigger of his revolver two Skots rang out from the lower slope of the roof, and, with ashrill cry, Eugene Maillard dropped forward, rolling past the very feet of Ins intended victim, past the -officers who held the smoking weapons in their hands, and then plunged over the edge of the roof The assassin “We will go off the stage to- THE ARGOSY into the street below. His fall was drowned in the cries of the people. * % * F ** This is the last act,’ Eugene Maillard had said, and he spoke the truth, When dawn struggled through the chill November mists that wrapped the city in a shroud, his bruised and lifeless body was borne through the streets on a stretcher. All that day the city was in a ferment of excitement, and crowds clustered about the modest brick house at No. 1622 Cumberland Street, and surrounded the city hospital where the wounded chief of police had been taken, Major Penrose and party went directly back to Lewisberry, and be- fore nightfall the quiet country village wore an aspect that vividly re- minded the middle aged citizens of ** war times.” It is only proper that the curtain should fall with the death of the chief villain, and vet, as an audience can claim the right to bring their favorite actors out for a final bow before the lights are extinguished, the reader is surely entitled to the same privilege. squire Penrose recovered, and great was his amazement to learn the strange events that had taken place at the farmhouse during his sick- ness. It is needless to say that Horace Penrose proved to be a model son. He and Dick will be worthy inheritors of the squire’s possessions, and the good old man—who looks to be safe for twenty years yet himself— has no fears for the future. Chief Burns pulled through after a hard fight for life, and all who had taken part in the Cumberland ‘street affair were amply rewarded. It was the major's intention to deliver Ford over to justice, but that erratic individual escaped from the farmhouse one night while conva- lescent, and all attempts to recapture him) proved fruitless. Ue is probably safe in England by this time, and it is to be hoped his future life will be free from crime. Dock Dawson's reward came in the shape of a permanent position on the farm. He receives a good salary, and is a trusted member of the household. There is no cause to fear that he will ever betray the confidence placed in him, Dr. Galen will always be the nearest and dearest friend of the family. He is more popular than ever he was, not only in Lewisberry but throughout the neighboring country for miles, and his practice has as- sumed such overwhelming proportions that he finds it absolutely im- possible to treat half of his patients. Pompey and Betsy seem to have taken a new lease on life since the return of Major Penrose, and from all indications they will administer the affairs of the household! for many vears to Come. It isa gratification to be able to state that Frank Barret 1s still em- ployed in the banking house of Mederoft & Holmes. His friends know nothing of the black page in his life. His reinstatement was largely due to the influence of Major Penrose, though Mr. Medcroft was not averse to giving the lad a new trial. This confidence has not been misplaced, for Frank is now as steady and industrious as he once was wild and dissipated. He has learned a lesson that will stick to him through the future temptations of life. Dr. Clinch was dealt with in a very summary manner, The New York authorities were informed of his complicity in the celebrated Ban- nister case, and he was promptly arrested. Dawson was the principal witness, and through his testimony the doctor was convicted and sent to Sine Sing fora term of years. The asylum at Rockport on the Hudson was thoroughly ventilated by the newspapers. Most of the inmates, however, were genuinely in- sane, and among these was Dick's friend, Major Andre. But three unfortunates were found who plainly had no business in such a place, and the exposure of the guilty parties who had) put them there was a nine days’ wonder. The Antiquarian Club continues to flourish. The boys made several attempts to force their way into the cavern at Rich Hill, They had to abandon the plan, however, for the whole well had caved in and tons of earth and stone hid the entrance to the underground chamber where Dick, Nellie, Dock Dawson and John Manners so nearly lost their lives, Miss Nellie Maynard, by the way, is just as pretty and charniing as ever. She and Dick remain the best of friends, and though Dick is now away at college, they keep up the acquaintance just the same, as Mr. Jefferson, the postmaster, could no doubt testify if he chose. Time alone can tell what results may develop from Miss Nellie’s con- nection with the great PENROSE PLOT. THE ENI. EORNICOO© () COLL