Beadle's Dime Novels No. 97: The Doomed Hunter — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

s THE NIGHT ALARM. 17 *. “The fire is out!” | ! Withdrawing, then, from his post of honor, Ralph ran his eye rapidly over the faces of those assembled. But the fea- tures he sought were not there. “Where are the people of the house ?” he demanded. Sure enough—where were they? None had seen either Jehonikam or his daughter since the outburst of the fire. During the’ fearful excitement which prevailed no one had thought of it. But now an immediate search was instituted. After calling aloud until satisfied that they were not in the vicinity, lights were procured, and a party set about explor- ing the house. The room where the fire had occurred was perfectly bare, and they immediately pushed on to the next. As the door of the latter was opened a horrid sight met their gaze. Lying upon the floor, in a pool of his own blood, was Jehonikam Andrews! ‘The room being filled with smoke, he was lifted and borne to the open air, where a hasty exam- ination was held. It was evident from the first that he was dead. An exam- ination of the body showed several deep cuts, one upon the back plainly indicating that he could not have given the fatal blow himself. Besides he had been stabbed through the heart, which was evidently the immediate cause of his death. The anger and excitement which prevailed as these devel- opments were reached baffle description. The commotion when the fire raged most fully was nothing in comparison. Strong men rayed and wept by turns, vowing deadly ven- geance upon the cowardly murderer; while women and chil- dren gathered in weeping masses, and strove to reassure each. other, each more frightened than her neighbor. All, save Ralph, were thoroughly overcome by the fearful revelations. He merely satisfied himself that Jehonikam was past all human assistance, and then he started in search of Nancy. Ifharm had befallen the father, what more likely than that the daughter was also involved! The very thought was fearful to the bold hunter. Tastily summoning one or two assistants, who grasped lights, they turned away and completed the exploration of the house.’ Indeed, only the chamber remained to be searched. It was reached by a rough stairway, which had been partially cComichooks. com