Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 423 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

— = ee apn Bad femme © OE io a 8 o--——_——_—_—_-—-_ —-- —_———— my confidences, Otherwise, it is a matter of little importance.” ‘** But this is of great importance,” said Mr. Sharp, significantly touching the burnt scrap which he had taken from a drawer of the table, | *‘T shall be glad to hear all you wish to say | about it. You were wrong in burning that let- ter, Mr. Foster.” ‘*l was wrong in not completing my job,” answered Harry, with a laugh. ** Lil luck picked out the very worst parts of the letter to pre- serve. AsIcannot show you the original, the best I can do is to offer you a copy of it. Ihave written to my friend, telling her of the unlucky accident, and she has rewritten that part of her letter as well as she can remember it, As [ wish to take you into my full confidence in this affair, I have brought you her letter.” He produced from his pocket an envelope with the Boston post-mark, and took from it a letter which he unfolded and handed to the detective. The latter quietly received it, and cast his eyes over it without speaking. He contmued to look at it thoughifuily for several minutes after receiving it. ‘* That has a truthfulsound,” he sail a%)joneth. He took up the scorched scrap and con:pered the handwriting. ‘‘ Isee the lady is not pleased with your burning her letters. Who is this Estelle Laurent?” ‘‘ A friend of mine,” answered Harry, coldly. ‘On her return to New York, which she says will very soon occur, I shail take the oppor- tunity to let you have an interview with her. I wanted to keep her out of this affair, if possible, but the interests of justice must be answered.” ‘‘ Her name need not be made public in con- nection withit. But thisis highly important, Mr. Foster. .Why did you not ask her for a list of the inmates of her house at the time her ring was lost?) And particularly the servant she sus- pects. It is necessary that I should know all about this woman, her appearance, her ante- cedents, everything. Write again at once, and ask for full information. We have aclew here that may be worked up to some effect.” ‘* tad we not better wait to see Miss Lau- rent personally?’ ‘*No. Precious time has been lost now by your vain efforts to play the detective. Ever yan to his business, is my motto, An hour’s pee, may ruin all. Write at once.” ‘*T will do so. By the way, Mr. Sharp, how does your case look? Have you struck any clew at all?” ‘‘ None worth speaking of, except that rela- ting to Davis, and the marked mone ye ‘* Davis is an honest man,” said Harry posi- tively. *‘ And ho is not a fool. If he wanted to get rid of stolen monoy, he would hardly have done so by exchanging it for other money on his own desk,” ‘* Then you suspect some of tho other clerks?” Mr. Sharp fixcd his eyes on him inquiringly. ‘* T suspect nobody.” ‘* Davis carried the key to the bank,” rejoinod Mr. Sharp. ‘‘So far as I can discover that door was opened by the key on the night of the burglary.” ‘‘™her. you suspect him? You have learned something about him?” be Yes.” ‘“ Will you tell me what? I havo somothing to ‘cll you in return. I havo somo reasons to think that Davis has been made tho victim of certain sharpers,” ‘“ Ah! Ther we wil: exchango information. So fav I havo simply learned that he has speculatec! to some extent, and that he has lost money. No great amount, but more than his salary would warrant.” Harry changed color, ing close to himself. ‘In the second place,” continued the detective, *‘he had been keeping very irregular hours, for some time efore the robbery.» On the night the bank was opened he did not return home until after midnigit. That is all Lhave so far learn- ed. He scems to have had no companion in these movements,” ‘‘He must be made to speak!” cried Harry energetically. ‘‘I begin to sceit allnow. I re- cognize the meaning of his rambling words, He has been made the too! of that woman pal of the burglars; theone whostole thering. She has fas- cinated and robbed him,” ‘*Please explain. We were to exchange in- formation.” Harry proceeded to relate what he had learned during his visit to Davis’s cell, and his suspicion that some artful woman had lured from him the This matter was com- key. Co af The siren; the fiend; these were his com- ‘ a, \ 4 ” th ate ee dees oe “Nothing. Only I deny his right to repeat —EE Pa ERA | ee Na” & — * The Lost Finger. plimentary names for her. He had a story to tell, but the too hasty return of the keeper pre- vented my hearing it. Smce then I have en- deavored in vain to make him speak, He has grown sullen and morose.” ‘‘ All this is of great interest, Mr. Foster. I begin to see iny way clear.” : ‘*T am ready to hand Davis over to you. Per- haps you can find some means to make him | speak.” ‘‘Tcantry. We have various ways of deal- | ing with obstinate men.” ‘‘T have my theory of the burglary,” said Harry. ‘‘I hardly think that the person who stole Miss Laurent’s ring kept it. Such things are dangerous keepsakes, Iam inclined to think it has been seld or pawned, and thus fallen into the hands of some burglar’s sweetheart. Yet it was no ordinary woman who owned that finger, who lured Will Davis to his ruin, and who boldly accompanied the burglars in their dan- gerous work.” ‘‘That is certain. Yet your theory sounds very plausible. I shall see what can be learned from Davis. I am much obliged for the infor- mation you have given me, ‘Mr. Foster, and wish it had been given sooner. Yet it may not be too late.” ‘*T could not speak at first,” explained Harry. ‘*T was in a cruel maze of doubt and horror. The sight of that ring completely upset me. I knew, of course, that a lady like Miss Laurent was above suspicion, yet I was overwhelmed by the strangeness of the incident, and by the ap- peananed of the finger, which might well have een that of alady. Her explanation has won- derfully relieved my mind.” ‘* Without it you would not have spoken?” % ‘*T would have died rather than compromise er.” ‘‘Then she is more than a mere acquain- tance?” “Yes. I may admit that to you.” ‘‘T can understand your feeling, Mr. Foster. And I thank you for your frankness. I will do my best to keep Miss Laurent’s name out of this ugly business.” ‘*Thank you. I will esteem that a personal favor.” In a few minutes more Harry took his leave. The detectivo remained in a deep study, his head on his hand, his eyes fixed on the scrap of paper. For nearly a half-hour he sat thus, ap- parently lost in a reverie. ‘*Can it be that there are two dupes in this affair?” he asked himself. ‘‘ Will Davis and Harry Foster? Who is this Estelle Laurent? Is that a Spanish name? At any rate it can do no harm to ask some questions about her.” CIIAcCTER VII. i! THE BOUDOIR OF THE COUNTESS, “| AM home. i arrived last night. Shall be glad to see you as early as you can make it convenient to call. [am eager both to see vou, and to hear what has been learned about that burglary. You don’t know what a fascination that subject has for me since you have connected my ring with it, and toid me that horri- ble story of the cut-off finger. iets This note Harry Foster found at his rooms, on his roturn “rom tho bank on an afternoon sever- al days after his interview wit tho detective. The ‘otter threw him into a flutter of excite- ment, hile the color camo and went in his speaking face, ‘‘Home again! It has been hard for me to endure her absence. Only her _positivo com- mand, and the danger of leaving homo just now, has kept me from sceking her in Boston. You need not fear, Estelle, that I will be long in re- sponding to this welcome invitation,” He seized his hat and left tho house in impa- tient haste. There was a warmth on his eyes oat, clearly told the story of his lover-like er- rand. His steps took him straight to the Red Hall, a place he had not visited since the evening of his rambling experience, Nor had heseen his gam- ing companions sinco that date. He had avoid- ed them, and they seemed to have equally avoid- ed him, As he went a host of thoughts passed through his active brain. A suspicion which had been growing *1 his mind became stronger as he re- flected on the incidents of that gambling match. Where had the money come from that he had loaned Will Davis? Had these men played any trick on him? Butif that monoy came from eee what did it involve? Were they the bur- ars? And Estelle? What were her relations with these men? There was some strange myster surrounding her which he ‘ad never prob —_—-- - ——_ —__- —_ All he knew was that she was a stranger in New York, that she was the mistress of a private gambling saloon, and that she bore special rela- tions to the men with whom he had played. It was they who sad brought him, and others with money to lose, to her saloon. He merely knew besides this that she was fascinating, and that he loved her with the warmest feeling of his soul, ‘You will find Miss Laurent in her boudoir, Mr. Foster,” said the servant. “She has in- structed me to send you up, if you should call.” - “Thank you.” It was with a fluttering heart that the lover reached the door that concealed the lady of his love. He knocked with a faltering hand. ‘*Come in,” spoke a voice, in a silvery tone that made his every nerve thrill. He opened the door. Before him was a small but richly-furnished room, the light entering it through deeply-curtained windows. <A pale rose tint here replaced the crimson bue that marked every other visible part of this strange house. All was soft, delicate, and rich, and full of indications of a cultivated female taste. Yet Harry’s eyes saw none of this. He saw only the stately form of the woman who rose quickly, on his entrance, from the silken cush- ions of the sofa on which she had been reclining. She was tall and full-formed, yet very grace- ful in figure, and with a face that seemed to unite the rich beauty of Venus with the proud haughtiness of Diana. It was no ordinary face, that Grecian-cut countenance, with its high nostrils, its deep black eyes, and the winning curves of the proud mouth. Yet now the distilled rose-tints of the curtains seemed to give an unwonted softness to the countenance, which deepened into a blush of welcome as Foster hastened with an ardent step across the room, his face warm with excite- ment, She extended to him her daintily-gloved hands. A soft smile curved her crimson lips. ** Estelle!” ‘* Harry! soon.” ‘‘T got your note, and flew to see you. I could not bear to lose a moment.” He drew her toward him. She yielded to his ardent impulse. His lips met hers in a kiss of love, the first which he had dared to impress upon them. : The proud woman rested for a moment in his arms, with a warm flush of happiness upon her face. Then she drew herself ercct with a start, while an expression of pain and regret crossed her countenance. She withdrew from his half-embrace and step quickly back. . ** We -are Peyae the fool,” she said, in a voice of strange modulation. ‘I fancy we have You are a good boy to come s0 both let ourselves be surprised into a folly that had better not be repeated.” ‘‘Why not?” demanded Harry, in indignant protest. j ‘‘For good reasons, Harry Foster. Sit, and let us bo rational again. I did not think Icould yield to such weakness.” She seated herself on the sofa, while Harry drew up a chair close beside her. He sought again to take her hand, but she withdrew it, while a look of cool decision crossed her coun- tenancc. “Why do you repel me?” he murmured. ‘¢- You know how I love you. 1 hoped—I was sure it was returned.” “That subject is forbidden,” she quietly an- swered. ‘‘ What I might have said and thought had fate been differcut, need not be discussed now. As it is, there are reasons, which I am not at liberty to mention, that preclude all thought of love between you and me.” A lock of pain that was almost anguish marked her lips for a moment, but it wasinstantly driven from the proud lines of that self-reliant: coun- tenance, ‘Yet you yielded to my kiss just now.” ‘‘T was weak then. All women are subject to their weak moments. I am strong now. ou do not know how strong I can be, Harry Fos- ter,” ‘‘T think you can be strong enough to break my heart and your own too, and never show a trace of it in that proud face,” ho half-angrily replied. ‘* But whatneed of our eee hares ‘Thero can be nothing; 'n your life to hinder my loving you. I cannot ¢ >| will not believe that. ‘Will you cease ‘xJki-~ about it?” sho de- manded, rising «he: feet and looking down upon him from <’: her stately hight. ‘ Fool that I wes to givo way +o such ° weakness! forbid you to mention tho subject again if you wish to see mo more.” Despite ner proud look, ‘books ‘ a : 4 ae