Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 118 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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16 With ala d FY Mr. So forward a loud cry of joy, Mr. Somers sprung forw and clasped Will in his arms. “My son! my son!"’ he cried, “ my One, long- sought son! Oh! this is too great joy! ave I found you at last, my dearly-loved son?”’ Will struggled in t close embrace, and looked inquiringly at Mr, Fitler. "He is right, Will. There is no doubt that he is your father," said the latter. With a strong muscular exertion Will pushed the old man from him, his hands firmly grasping his shoulders, and looked him sternly in the eye. “If you are oy father, why was I left in the poor- house? Why did you turn me loose on the world?’’ he bitterly asked. * { I turn you loose! You were stolen from me by an enemy. I would have lost my heart's blood first. Oh! my son, can you repulse me, and my whole soul yearning for your love?”’ A flush of emotion came into Will’s face at this heartfelt appeal. a renee silently to his father’s embraces. Their were united in that warm rs must leave ‘el said Mr. Fitler, looking nerv- ously at his watch, I will go at once to the alms- house. I will pursue this matter. Your daughter must be found. “*God bless you,”’ said Mr. Somers, pressing his hand gratefully. ‘I owe you more thanI can ever repay. Don’t fail to tell me without delay what you corn are everything to work, I will pay liberally or Hi Mr. Fitler bowed himself out, asif r to escape. Mie left father and son, with clasped ds, seated in earnest and loving conversation. CHAPTER XXL THE INITIALS. ‘“‘Ig Mr. Powers in?’ inquired a lady’s voice, at North 10th street, No. 1,485. “Not at present,” was the reply. ‘“ But we expect him every minute. He does not leave the store till after five o’clock.”’ ‘‘In what store is he engaged?”’ asked the lady. * At Brown and Felger’s, on Market street.” *T will wait a few minutes, if you are sure he will aot be long.”’ eg Please step into the parlor, miss. He will soon ere.”’ The visitor seated herself in the small, but neatly- furnished parlor. A few pictures h there, which she occupied herself in examining while impatiently awaiting the Somning of Mr. Powers. “Brown and Felger. That is next door to Mr. Leonard's,” she said, in an undertone. ‘* Does that indicate anything?” Her soliloquy was interrupted by the opening of the front door, and after several minutes by the en- trance of a gentleman to the parlor. He was a tall, rather portly man, with black whis- kers, and a restless, shifting look in his eyes that impressed his visitor unpleasantly. ‘**Mr. Powers?”’ she asked. “That is my name,"’ he replied. ‘‘ Whom have I the honor to meet?”’ “ ay nee is Arlington,"’ she replied. ~y Jennie Arlington?”’ <j Yes, sir. May lask how you have learned my e?’ ‘*T have heard of you,” he said, with some hesita- tion. “ You know | am engaged next door to Mr. Leonard’s.”’ ‘** More paoneny you know of me through your friend, John Elkton.” “Yes, yes, very likely. I remember, you are en- gaged to Mr. Elkton." “ Have you known him long?”’ ‘* Por several years.”’ ‘* You have not been to see him in his present mis- fortune. He wrote to you but his letter failed to reach you. I thought 1 would call and request you to visit him.” ““Why, Miss Arlington,” he said, rere ney 2 “T have y been too busy. I have felt for him in his misfortune, for John is really an excellent man. I am sorry for him." “On what account, sir?”’ “Of this unpleasant difficulty. I cannot believe that he is guilty of the charge nst him. I do not know their proof, but think they could hardl have a & man like him without sufficient evi- dence.”’ ‘*You should take the time tocall on ras ag ou have not lost your friendship for him. friends have been there.”’ “Then he cannet be lonely,” said Mr. Powers, laughing. “The fact is, the visiting hours at the prison come in my busiest time.” ‘*Mr. Elkton and you were close friends?” ‘* He seemed to think a great deal of me,’’ was the cautious answer. ‘‘'Then the feeling was not returned?” she quickly asked. “Oh, yes! Ina measure, I had much respect for John. or his part he would persist in feeling grateful to me.”’ “Yes. You had rendered him a service,” she said, assuming a knowledge which she did not pos- Bess. “‘Not much,” he said, quietly. “ Nodoubt, though, po nat regres ogee whens I saved his - ulling rom t ver. was easy enoug for me to do, but he seemed to think it the greatest favor.’ ‘* He had reason,” she replied. weft | in to see through John’s action now,” she said to herself. ‘“‘The gratitude of an honorable man is a strong feeling. Has he allowed it to make him take the of a guilty man?”’ (i NN eeeeeeEeEeEeEeeEeEeEeeEeEEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeeeEeEeEeEe—eeeeeeEe——E eee Will Somers. “TI would very much like to call on John,” he said. ** And if I can spare the time. I hope he bears his imprisonment well.”’ ‘Not very well,’ she replied. ‘It is having a very serious effect upon him.” ‘*T am sorry to hear that,’’ was his answer. ‘*' You know, I presume, the cause of his imprison- ment?” she asked, shifting her chair so that she could look him more directly in the face. “Not fully. It is on suspicion of being concerned in a robbery at Mr. Leonard’s.” “Tt is on account of his ha a small piece of the stolen goods,”’ she said. ‘‘He will not explain how he obtained it. In consequence he has laid himself open to suspicion.”’ “It has a doubtful look,” replied Mr. Powers, his eyes uneasily egos 3 ‘Though the public does not know,I1 know the whole air,” she earnestly replied. “TI have learned where he got the silk. You have seen this before, Mr. Powers?” she displayed the fatal bow, which again had fallen into her possession. ‘*T can’t say that I have,” he replied, looking at it tT ee ‘Not in that shape, perhaps. But the ailk, I rete That is the piece of silk you gave John Elk- a * A slight, uneasy movement followed her words. He looked closely at the silk. “*T don’t know what you mean,” he said. saw it before.”’ She rose to her feet, her large eyes scanning him from head to foot. He sat unmoved, with no trace of feel or confusion in his face. “You know better,’’ she cried, indignantly. ‘‘ You gave it to John Elkton, asI en. hes to know. You will permit that man to languish in prison, rather than come up and acknowledge the truth. You must be seriously afraid of the truth in this matter, Mr. Powers. He isa grateful and honorable man, He will suffer himself rather than let suspicion reach you. But there is nothing hinders me from speak- Ing. I owe you no gratitude.” ‘There is one thing that should hinder you,” he quietly replied. - t is that?’ she quickly asked. ‘“*T never “The fact that all you are saying nowis pure esswork. Your lover has told you not of the ind; and cannot, for it is not the truth. t me advise you, Miss Arlington, not to be too ready to jump to conclusions in future.” ‘*] will bid you good-evening, Mr. Powers,”’ she re- plied, with dignity. “I see that there is no use to prolong our conversation. I have learned all I de- s ; He smiled derisively as she left the room. Ina moment more she was on the street. She felt faint, and needed the touch of the fresh air to revive her. She had felt far more emotion during this interview than she had displayed. She walked slowly down toward her present home. She was staying with a friend in the city now, hav- ing left her home after her stormy interview with her guardian. A familiar voice at her elbow caused her to turn. wae ilful Will, a smile of welcome on ace RPA. to see you,” he said. ‘“‘ Late in the city to- f Yes. Iam on a visit here,” she replied. They walked along ys geal engaged in conversa- tion. Will was insensibly drawn into a description of his late discovery of a father and of his hopes of yet rigny tm lost sister. Jennie was greatly inter- ested in this romantic story, and } yes earnestly with him in the hope that he would yet succeed in pei, his sister. ‘* Did she look like you?” she asked. ‘*Yes. Something * em color hair and eyes. And then you look something like me. I wish it would only turn out that you were my lost Jennie.” She laughed in t amusement at the idea. “Tlike you, Will,” she said, ‘“‘but hardly with a sisterly love, and I do not think you would be much credit to the family in society. Iam glad to see, though, that you are improving.” “You won’t be ashamed of me after a while,’ he replied. ‘“‘ Just give me time. "Tain’t easy to rub off an old stain; you must wear it out.”’ “Your new position, as the son and heir of a wealthy man, ought to aid you. I suppose your plans are changed. You will be leaving the store and going to school.”’ ? Bu indifferently. ‘‘ Ain’t laid nno yet,” said W any plans. Bound to find my sister, if she’s living; that’s one job. But I’ve got another job to put through first. I’m on the track of the burglars that na eore through Mr. Leonard’s store.”’ ‘ Ah!” she said, with sudden interest. “‘ Have you learned anything about them?” ‘*On their trail. Bound to bring them up stand- ing,’’ said Will, positively. **Keep mum. n't told Mr. Leonard yet.’ ‘*Do you know a man named Jesse Powers?”’ she Mr. Leonard’s. “Never heered the name afore,” said Will. ‘‘A large man, with dark complexion, and black hair and whiskers. Rather ‘** My stars!”’ cried Will, clapping his hand on his knee, with a burst of laughter. ‘That’s his photo- ’s his name?” owers.”” identical chap that wrote the letter. Don’t happen to have a scrap of his handwriting?”’ asked, eagerly. ‘* Heis engaged in the store next to 8 ” ‘* What sort of a chap?” -faced, and with prominent nose.”’ ph toahair. Do I know him? Don’t I! What “J. P., er I don’t know myown name. That’s the “No. For what purpose do you want it?’ ~~ ote aw ST ee “To nail a thief, that’s all, Didn't I see the very chap in a nest of burglars? What do you know about him ® **T know that he gave Mr. Elkton the piece of silk which has been the cause of his imprisonment.”’ ~ Better and better. Mr. Elkton won’t blow om “No. He is under obligation to him.” ‘You and me ain’t under no obligation. Don’t you be worried about Elkton. Bet I fetch hm out of quod inside of two days. Could you get a speci- men of that chap’s handwriting?”’ “Very probably. I might get a note from him to Mr. Elkton,” ‘The very dodge!” cried Will, in enthusiasm. “You're quick at a hint. Work it on him and I'll do the rest. t between us we sell him out. Bring it down to the store as soon as you nail it, and it tome, Ask for Mr. William Somers, and anybody Mid ies me,”’ r try,”’ she answered, lau ly. “And now I must bid you good-day, Will.” ee **Good-by, Jennie. Tell you what, I'd give half my fortune to come if you was only my little lost sister, Jennie.”’ ‘You will find her yet, Will, Your love will bring you to her.” “You can bet I will love her amazing when I find her,’’ said Will, as he hastened away to hide an un- wonted softening at the eyes. CHAPTER XXIL THE SECRET OUT. Ir was Friday. The goods taken in the previous day had been examined and found correct. Mr. Leonard, however, in accordance with his promise to Will, bad kept faithfully the latter’s secret. Not even Mr. Wilson, his confidential clerk, was aware ee cellar was to contain a sentinel the coming n ‘ e had mentioned it, indeed, despite Will’s cau- tion, to the detective. The latter had been quite successful in his visit to the alms-house, and had found quite satisfactory evidence that Will was in- deed Mr. Somers’s son. This change of position had raised our hero to a still higher place in the officer’s estimation, and he placed great reliance on Will’s shrewdness. He had also found eae traces of the missing sister, which, however, he had not yet been able to work out to any safe conclusion. The merchant and detective were seated in earnest conversation this afternoon, the latter in the same 9 ear in which he had formerly visited the store. He deemed it inadvisable to appear in his ordi- nary dress on the eve of a new enterprise of the burglars, lest they should be frightened off. eir conversation was interrupted by the entrance of Will, in company with Miss Arlington. He turned a quizzical look sy the apparent CRE merchant as he politely handed the lady a seat. Mr. Leonard looked on in utter surprise at this un- expected visit. I’ve got a trifle of secret bizness with you, Mr. Leonard,” said Will, quietly. “But your friend needn't go. I guess he won’t blow.”’ “Secret business?’’ repeated Mr. Leonard. ‘* Well, as it is no secret from all present, let us have it.”’ ‘‘Ever see that handwriting before?’’ asked Will, handing an oper letter to the country merchant. ‘*Me?”’ said the latter, in re. “Yes, you,” replied Will. ‘Didn't think you sold me with that toggery, I hope? Know you likea breeze, Mr. Fitler. Jist look at that letter."’ ‘**You needn’t be afraid of that boy not be shrewd enough,’ said the officer to Mr. Leonard, viewing Will with admiration. ‘Ah! where did you get this?” he exclaimed, as he granned at the letter, ‘‘ You know it then?’ asked Will. “Of course Ido. It is the very handwriting of the scrap we found in the cellar signed Jessie Powers, The same initials, J. P. This is most important. Who is Jessie Powers?” ‘* He is the man who gave Mr. Elkton the scrap of silk which has consigned him to a prison cell,” said Miss gs me excitedly. ‘' He little dreamed that it would fall into my hands, and under the eyes of the man whom he robbed. So it is that villains fail when most they seem secure.” “But how have you learned this?’ cried Mr, Leonard, ‘Through Mr, Elkton?” ‘“‘No. He was too loyal to his friend to reveal it, He owed this man a debt of gratitude, and was wil- ling to repay it by suffering in his stead, rather than injure one who had saved his life. It was I who learned the secret, and who obtained from Powers a letter addressed to his imprisoned friend. That let ter ion now hold.”’ - ere can this man be found?” ‘‘In Brown and Felger’s store, next door to you." “This is so. I know him,” cried Mr. Leonard. ‘Shall we arrest him?”’ “We will do nothing os itately,”’ said the officer. ‘‘We may be enabled after to-night’s work to arrest the whole gang. If you will excuse me will take Will outside for a while. I wish to talk this matter over with him.” “‘ Certainly,” said Mr. Leonard. The gu n and ward were left together. Deep silence reigned between them. Neither ap peared willing to break it. At length Mr. Leonard k spoke: “You have done mea great service, Jennie,”’ he said. ‘‘Tomeandto Mr. Elkton both, in fact. course all charges against him will now be with- drawn, and he can be released at once, I am sorry ou took the precipitate step you did in leaving my ouse. I hope that you have given no one your reasons, and that you will now return.,”’ COrr DOOKS.COMm