Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 432 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

— . ——— — trying a trick of that kind on John Logan, the Ferret!” answered the cool detective. ‘‘ When you went for Count Ormond you struck a fox in the skin of a sheep. You may as well remove a masks, gentlemen. I know you, George uncan and ''om Spicer, which, I believe, are your present titles. ou are free on this job according to promise; but I happen to want you for another little job—that of shoving coun- terfeit stock on Silas Middleton, broker.’ At these words, with a violent oath, the masked spokesman leveled his pistol and fired. But it was knocked up by Toby, who stood close by, and the ball passed over the head of the impassive officer. He made no movement in response, except to put his hand to his lips and give vent to a shrill whistle. The sound had hardly died away before the door of the house was thrown open, and two men rushed into the room. ‘* Don’t try that on again,” remarked the detec- tive, Seen ‘You may as well give up, Dun- can. Yourropeisatanend. I arrest you, not for eranwn , but for forgery.” His han fell heavily on the shoulder of the discovered criminal. CHAPTER XIII. COUNT ORMOND’S SECOND ADVENT. WR need scarcely say that the events recorded in the last chapter made a decided stir in soci- ety. The reappearance of Count Ormond in the saloons of the fashionable circles, was hailed by a sag ovation. The good ladies, who so dearly loved a titled foreigner, would have swallowed him alive had it been possible. As it was, they were wild with joy at his release. ‘Ts it eu true. what rey is saying,” asked one of the circle, after the delighted ex- citement had subsided, ‘‘ that George Duncan has been arrested for forgery?” ‘* And that he is a notorious villain, who has been palming himself off on society as the son of a noted Western millionaire?” ‘* And that this is but one of a dozen names under which he is known?” ** Tt is all true,” answered the count. ‘‘I have made inquiries, and I am so positively told. George Duncan is one bold forger.” ‘*The impertinence of the wretch! And to think of his courtly and high-toned manner! Could it be possible for a low-born rascal to as- sume such a manner?” ** No doubt of it,” answered the count. ‘Tt may be possible in our mixed American circles,” answered a lady, thoughtfully. ‘It could not be possible in society abroad. For in- stance, Count Ormond, it would be utterly ridiculous for one not born to the title to assume the role of a nobleman with us. We would see through the counterfeit at a glance.” ‘‘T am not so sure of that,” said the count, with a smile, ‘I fancy a good actor could de- ceive even you.” ‘* Never—never! There is a tone, a manner, an aroma, if I may say so, that clings to the born nobility, and the lack of which at once re- veals the impostor.” The count showed his white teeth in a laugh, and changed the conversation, Shortly afterward he left the circle and made his way to the street. There was a look of deep amusement on his aristocratic face, ‘“Tf these good ladies should ever know how they have been humbugged, I would never be forgiven,” he said to himself. ‘‘I fancy they would a thousand times prefer that I should keep the ransom money rather than be exposed to public ridicule for being taken in by a detec- tive in the disguise of a nobleman. Yet I am about to shed my borrowed skin asacount. I must let those charming creatures down easily. They have been too kind to me to be made a laughing-stock,” The next morning there appeared in the news- paper columns an item to the effect that the noble Count Ormond, whose strange adventure had created such a sensation in New York, had been suddenly called to New Orleans on impor- tant business. He had been obliged to set off at a momeunt’s notice, and was forced to take this way to bid adieu to his many friends, whom he hoped to see again very soon, ‘*So exits the count,” laughed the detective. *-T fancy he will not get back from New Or- leans at an early date.” He was on his way, as he fpoke, to the Jersey City ferry. Crossing the Hudson, he took his seat in an out-going train, and in a few minutes more he was gliding over the New Jersey flats at locomotive s . | He left the train at Elizabeth, and proceeded on Loot toward the older portion of that town. 1 Invincible Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret. ———— ooo He paused at length in front of a large but sober mansion in a retired street. ‘*Ts Mr. Fletcher in?” he asked of the servant, who answered his pullat the bell. ‘**No, sir. He will not be in till 6:30.” ‘*You are certainly mistaken. He made an appointment to meet me at six.” “He told me himself the héur he would re- turn. He has just come back from Havana, sir, and has much business,” ‘‘Justso. But here is his own signature, with house address,” He handed the servant a slip of aper. ‘‘He must have forgotten. Very well. will wait. Fortunately I am in no great hurry back.” The servant recognized the handwriting as that of his master, and ushered the visitor in with profuse apologies, ** He must have changed his mind since morn- ing. Nodoubt he will be home in a few minutes. Step in here, sir. Let me have your hat.” ‘It is of no importance,” said Logan, throw- ing his hat on the table, and picking up a news- paper, as he fell back into a cushioned chair. ‘‘ I can manage to amuse myself till he comes.” The servant withdrew, leaving the visitor alone in the waiting-room. ‘*T have ways of my own of amusing myself, my good fellow,” said the detective to himself. He threw down the newspaper, rose from his chair, and advanced with a noiseless step to the door of the room. Here he stood ror a minute or two, intently listening. Hearing no disturbing sound, he slipped out into the hall, and made his way to the stairs. oe these he vanished, and all sunk again into silence. At seven o’clock the house door again opened, and the tall, dark-faced personage of the ferry entered. ‘“* There is a gentloman waiting for you in the arlor, sir,” said the servant, ‘‘He has been ere since six o'clock.” ‘Six? Itoldhimseven. Ill seehim at once.” He opened the parlor door, and entered. The next moment he emerged again, and called James in a sharp tone: ‘* There is no one here,” he declared. ‘*T left him there. I told him you would be home at 6:30, He offered to wait.” “Hang his forgetfulness! Seven was. the hour. So he has got tired and walked out? Not a very polite way of leaving a man’s house. I rami | he don’t ie badly want the lots he of- fered to buy. Well,let him go. I don’t care to sell. Is supper ready, James?” * Yes, si.” An hour afterward he had finished his supper, put on his slippers and dressing-gown, and as- cended to his room on the second floor. This was a large apartment, handsomely fur- nished, with velvet carpet and richly curtained windows, Opposite the door by which he enter- ed was another, opening into a deep closet. On the side of the room opposite the windows was another doorway, but a pair of rich, drooping curtains here supplied the place of a door. The master of the house took a turn or two up and down the room, with folded arms, as if deeply cogitating. ‘*But two days more,” he muttered to him- self. ‘‘Two short days, and my long delayed revenge will be consummated. Ruin him? Ruin is nothing. Disgrace is what he fears, and deep- ly disgraced he shall be. The money king, roud of his honor and his record, shall ee his ead in shame before the people of New York. I have sworn it, and by my father’s soul I will accomplish it!” These last words were hissed out with the vig- or of concentrated hatred. After a few turns more he seated himself at the desk, which he threw open. He continued to talk, in an audible tone, as he drew some pa- pers from their pigeon-holes and opened them. ‘“* He fondly dreams that I have been in Ha- vana. He little knows that I have been onhand at this elbow, pry aring for his dishonor, Wouldn’t he writhe if he knew the neat plan by which my letters and telegrams have been re- forwarded from Havana?” He laughed, a laugh of devilish malignity, as he examined the papers he had opened, ‘* Little he dreamed that I kept a duplicate key to the safe,” he continued, speaking clearly in his confidence that he was alone. He seemed to gloat over the mischief he had prepared. ‘‘ His detectives may hunt the lost diamonds. I ai they will hardly find them. In this pa- per lies the secret of their hiding-place. O man—not even myself, can recover them with- out this document.” He laughed in triumph, as he struck the palm of his hand on the important paper, . Py _* 7 . a , * : ' a + > P ee, “et a Sere = ee ; : - 4 = » - 1? * ————e 3 : - * - ? -—- .- = er rs Almost as if that blow had set off a secret train, there was at that instant a sharp explo- sion in the room shaded by the drooping cur- tains. It sounded like a fulminating cracker. In utter amazement, Fletcher sprung up with a loud cry of surprise, and rushed to the room from which this strange sound had proceeded. He thrust the curtains apart and hurried into the shadowy room, As he did so a lithe figure glided out from be- hind the curtain, and slipped noiselessly across the floor. Two minutas passed. Then Fletcher returned more amazed than before. ‘* What could it have been? I see nothing but a scrap of scorched paper. Has somebody prepared a trick to astonish me? Ha!—” He paused suddenly, his face pale as death, his frame shaking as in a palsy, his starting hin fixed in horror and dismay on the open esk. Tke valuable paper in which lay the secret of the diamond robbery, had disappeared! CHAPTER XIV. THE DEED OF A DESPERATE MAN, It was the day fixed for the return of the loaned diamonds. And yet they had not been found. The efforts of the detectives, so far as known to the broker, had been futile. George Duncan, the forger, lay in prison, but the broker would have willin Vy ten times lost the fif thousand if he h ut been able to keep his word of honor with the diamonds. He sat at home with a face of deep and brood- ing gloom. He had just opened a letter brought him by the last muil, and his eyes were fixed with despair on its contents, ‘‘HWe returned five days ago. He has been too busy sinze his return to callonme, But he will call at three o'clock to-day for the dia- monds, as per his letter from Havana. It is absolutely necessary he should have them to- day, for important family reasons. He trusts with implicit confidence to the unblemished honor of a Middleton that they shall be returned as per agreement,” ‘* The unblemished honor of a Middleton,” re- peated the broker in his gloomiest accents, dro ping kis head despairingly upon his hand. ‘Shall it be said that that honor is tarnished? Shall the finger of scorn be pointed at me, as the man who boasted of his unsullied reputa- tion, yet failed to keep his plighted word? Nor is that all. It will be said that I myself made way with the loaned diamonds. But it shall not be said of me alive! I will not live to sur- vive my honor.” This was said in a tone of deep and fervent resolution. e dark reflections of the despairing man were interrupted by the sound cf a step in the hall below. It was Will Emory. There was a sorrowful look on the young man’s face as he ascended the stairs. He papused for a moment to speak to a man whom he met on the landing. ‘* You are John Logan’s agent?” a "G85 GE. ‘‘Watch closely, for it is important now. Have gh removed all weapons?” ‘* All that I can discover.” ‘‘He may have concealed some. Be on the alert. It don’t take Jong for a man to kill himself, in these days of science.” He kept on, and entered the room where sat his uncle. The good broker was crouched in his chair until he seemed shrunken to half his size. He looked twenty years older in the face. ‘* What news, Will?” he asked in a listless tone. ‘*T have the best hopes,” answered Will, with an effort atcheerfulness, ‘‘ Logan is working— working hard. He is sure he is on the right ; ay track, and that before dark to-day he will the lost diamonds in your hands.” ‘¢ Tt will be too late,” he said. ‘‘TI have here a letter from Pearson Fletcher. Fe will call at three to-day for the diamonds. What answer shall I give him?” ‘*Put him off on any plea. Tell him that they are in bank, or in a Safe Deposit vault. Promise them as scon as you can withdraw them from deposit.” : “That answer will not do,” said the broker fixing his eyes on the enthusiastic Mpiesias Si have had full notice. That is not the way of a Middleton. The diamonds must be in my hands by three to-day, or the worst will come to pass.” Will listened, and heard in his voice the tone of an implacable resolution. He saw that his uncle’s mind was weakened by the impending trouble, and that he might as well reason witha lunatic as with him in his present humor. The young man sprung up and paced the flocr impatiently for several minutes. : - Ba ate » % a t ~~ a in lp tla ag nel ating ett CIR IG OI a a ll ge, » J , : : fe yi ae CS .cCOoOm an 7 : *