Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 432 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

ee ee ee a ee Se “Mercy on us, I ain’t going to make myself miserable to serve as an exainple to my fellow clerks. There’s too much sport afloat for that.” ‘*T shall have to cut down your allowance, you scapegrace,” said the broker, with a faint sinile, ‘‘Then Dll live on my salary,” rejoined the | laughing youth, ‘‘I do that part of my work anyhow. I draw my salary faithfully. Good day, uncle. I’m off for the office.” Will was away like a shot. The conversation had taken a turn which he did not care to keep up, and he failed to perceive that it had been done purposely by his uncle, to escape inconven- ient questions. Yet Will was not wanting in shrewdness, As two weeks from the date of the pony slowly passed away it became evident him that something serious was amiss, There were com- ings and goings of strange people about the house, Mr. Middleton’s depression seemed to grow deeper. Something was wrong. What was it? That was the question. One evening at the end of this period, a group of young men was gathered in the conversation room of one of the New York club houses, They included Will Emory, George Duncan, and sevy- eral others of those whom we have already seen in Mr. Middleton’s smoking room, But they had thrown off their party manners, and wore the aspect of fast young bloods, whose only duty in life was to get rid of their parents’ hard-earned cash, in any sort of wild way. They were lounging around the table well sup- lied with smoking utensils, while the air was eavy with the vapor that rose from pipes and cigars. ‘That new importation, Count Ormond, is making a deuce of a flare up in society,” said one of them, taking the meerschaum from his lips. ‘The ladies are wild about him. It isn’t xs they drop down on an Italian count. He’s a prime fellow too, Dll say that for him.” ‘Where did he come from?” asked a second, ‘¢Who knows anything about him?” ‘‘ Ask Will,” remarked George Duncan, ‘It was his uncle Middleton introduced the count to society.” ‘‘PWaith, I can’t answer for him,” rejoined Will carelessly. ‘‘ It seems that my uncle met him in his travels in Europe last year, and in- vited himover. The count has accepted the in- vitation. That’s all I know.” ‘*[ wonder where he keeps his castles,” que- ried George, with a cynical smile. ‘“ I heard of no Count Ormond during my travels in Italy.” , ‘*That’s easily accounted for,” said another of the party, with a laugh. ‘‘I don’t believe you mixed much, with the nobility in your travels. fancy you had other fish to fry.” ‘You fellows are too confoundedly critical,” remarked another of the group, 1n a testy tone. ‘‘(ount Ormond’s a prime chap. He’s full of life and spirit, and he’s got a touch about him that we don’t have this side the water. There’s a tone in the nobility that we democrats don’t get. George laughed in an irritating manner. ‘“T give in, Mort. That noble tone settles the question. It’sa bud I can’t get in my button- hole, Come, light another cigar and don’t mind me. I’ve got an ugly fancy for plucking pea- cocks,” ‘* Hush!” warnedanother, ‘‘ There comes the count now. It would not be pleasant if he knew how we were discussing him,” ‘*Not to him, maybe. It wouldn’t hurt my feelings,” growled George, as he twisted himself round in his seat to observe the titled personage thus announced. The gentleman whom they observed walking easily toward them was of good figure and pro- portions, and of a quiet indolence of manner that was in strong contrast with the American briskness. He was of a swarthy, southern complexion, with dark-brown hair and black whiskers, His face was not exactly handsome, yetit was one of that kind that grows on a person. There was a foreign air about him, both in the cut of his whiskers and the fashion of his light-colored and loosely-fitting clothes. He walked up to the group, twirling a flexible cane, and with something very light and airy in his manner. ‘‘Glad to see you, gentlemans,” he remarked, with a trace of foreign accent, ‘‘ You do pass life away in smoke, I perceive.” There was a burst of greetings from the party. George Duncan alone remained silent, though his eyes were fixed on the count with an investi- gating look. Invineiple ee oe —_—_-—- { | Ina few momertits their noble friend was seat- | | ed in an easy attitude, with the cigar that had / been pressed on him held airily between his fingers, while he chatted away in a gay hght manner that bespoke his Latin blood. There was something attractive about the man, despite his airiness. He had a good voice | and a free flow of fashionable chat, while his | laugh was musical and infectious, His eyes seemed his most uneasy feature. They could change from an indifferent look to a very sharp one, and hada fashion of roving from point to int that made it not easy to fix their glance. fet, at times, they settled into an intent and piercing look, But this was never for more than an instant, and they quickly resumed their rest- less roving around the room. ‘** Been making a round of calls this afternoon, gentlemans,” he said, showing his white teeth in a smile, ‘* Ladies Van Horn and pany ps Moreland and Singerly. Your American dames are very beautifuls, Very beautifuls and sweet. [I do much enjoy them!” ‘* Thank you, count, for the ladies,” answered Mott, with a ratified look. ‘** And they talk so lively and charming,” con- tinued the count. Everybody seemed grateful for this compli- ment to the American ladies, except Will, who appeared to be thinking of something else, and George, whose eyes. were fixed with a cynical glance on the count’s expressive face, ‘They do talk gossip with so delightful an air.” ‘* Gossip, eh?” ejaculated George. ‘*‘ So you've found that out, count?” ‘‘ The ladies is privileged, you know. The la- dies everywhere is privileged.” He waved his hand airily. ‘‘ And they do say sour things in such sweet ways that one forgets their taste,” ‘‘ You are a regular ladies’ man, count. But what is the particular item of interest now?” ‘‘ Why, they do relate that Mr. Middleton has been robbed. Of some valuable diamonds, gen- tlemens. Some very valuable diamonds.” His eyes roved round the circle of faces as he spoke, but settled for aninstar.t on Will Emory’s face with the intent and piercing look of which we have spoken. Will had in fact started violently at these words, while an exclamation like an oath came from his lips, ‘What in the deuce do you mean, sir?’ he epecul stad hastily. ‘‘ Robbed? Of diamonds? Who set afloat such a cock-and-bull story? My uncle has no diamonds. That’s like the stories that were set afloat on the night of the party, when they sunk a ship that was never heard of, with a cargo of silks that were never woven.” ‘‘T am not responsible, my very dear sir,” re- joined the count, with an easy wave of his 1and. ‘‘Itis the ladies, bless their sweetness. It is the charming ladies told me that secret.” ‘They didn’t know they were pouring their news into a sieve,” remarked George, dr ly. ‘* You are not good at keeping secrets, count.’ ‘* Ladies’ secrets, you know,” replied the count with an expressive shrug. ‘They are not for keeping. But [ admit there are some ladies who can hold their tongues.” ‘* And some men,” said Will dryly, and a little angrily. ‘* But they are not counts, and do not come from Italy.” The count’s eyes flashed at him sharply and hastily. He looked confused for a moment, and then burst into a gay laugh. " BY Jove, bub did get it hard!” he cried merri Ne ‘¢ Mr. Emory, you are one wicked per- son, One very unkind person,” ‘‘ T couldn’t help it, count,” answered Will, in good humor at the success of his thrust. ‘‘ You leave yourself so open, you see. Come, let's for- get and forgive. You are not smoking.” ‘*T will enjoy a cigar with you gentlemans,” rejoined the count, as he lighted his cigar, ‘I do like you Americans. You are so different from us Italianos. And so queer,” ‘“We have some queer ways, that’s a fact,” remarked George. ‘‘ We know how to open the eyes of you foreign gentlemen, when we take a fancy that way.” “That is what Iam here for,” answered the count, with a quick glance at George’s cynical and secretive countenance. ‘“ To get my eyes open is my object, for there is much to behold in your great country.” ‘Raith, I’m on hand if it’s an eye-opener you want, ” cried George, in reply. ‘‘ What say you, lads? Shall we show the count a bit of New York life? So far he has only tried the upper crust. Let us give him a taste of the lower crust of the pie.” ‘* That’s the idea. D’mon hand. We'll show him something of life,” came from the enthusi- astic youths. | Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret. | 3 -_ —_——— ee Several of them sprung to their feet, as if eager to be off. Will Emory remained quietly seated. “One word more, count,” he remarked. ‘“ Will you please tell me just what it was you heard about my uncle? I don’t promise to be- lieve it, for there is no end to the lies afloat. But I’d like to nail some of these lies in their pas- sag.” ‘*T know nothing whatever about the matter,” rejoined the count, ‘‘ But Mr. Middleton is one friend of mine. I do like him much, and I very much hope there is no truth in this. But they do say that my good friend has been robled of some very Valuable diamonds. Worth one-half million of dollars. And he is very sad there- fore.” ‘ That’s a cheap lie, anyhow,” laughed Will. ‘‘T never knew him to kave a diamond, except a finger ring stone that did not cost a hundred.” ‘But they were not his. They were left with him in trust by a gentleman that is abroad.” “T hardly think my uncle would go into a de- cline about that. He is able to pay for his losses.” ‘‘They cannot be paid for. looms, which no money will pay for. He must return the diamonds, or lose his honor, That is what the gossiping ladies say,” concluded _ the count, with an airy wave of his hand, “I do not believe it, of course, I do not believe any- thing in this country, only what people want me to believe.” ‘*'You are certainly very polite, count,” an- swered Will. ‘*I am very much obliged to you. Let the ladies talk, bless their sweet souls. at does them good, and can do nobody else any arm, ‘But how about that round?’ broke in Mort. ‘Tt seems to me that you folks have as long tongues as any of the women,” ‘*T’m on hand,” replied George. ‘‘So are we,” echoed the others. ‘““T give myself in your hands, gentlemans,” said the count, politely. ‘‘ You must take very good care of me, for I am a very innocent person,” A laugh followed this sally. In a minute or two more the party had left the club-house, bound in search of more disreputable scenes, CAAPTER. ITI. SOMETHING LIKE A ROMANCE. A WEEK more passed slowly away. On a corner of Fifth avenue, not far from his man- sion, stood the broker, Silas Middleton, looking very much out of spirits. He seemed to have grown doubly within the past few weeks, while his face looked thin and haggard. His usual somewhat pompous dignity had vanished, and was replaced by an expression of nervous anxiety. e had stopped to converse with the wide- awake personage who had been sent for oa the night of the party, Mr. John Logan, the detec- tive. ‘Do you mean to say that nothing has yet been discovered?” asked the broker, with great anxiety. ‘‘ Something must be done, Mr. Logan. Employ all the detective force. Set every wheel in motion, Money is no object. It will be fatal to me if you don’t succeed,’ ‘“Not so bad as that, I hope,” said Logan, easily. ‘I have some clews, Mr. Middleton. They are not much as yet, but they are promis-, ing. This is a most mysterious affair; it is no common, vulgar business. But I begin to have hopes.” ‘“ Ah! you are on the track, then? Who do you suspect?” “Tt is too doubtful as yet; I had better men- tion no names. But when the truth comes out, I fancy you are going to be very much sur- prised. ou would not believe me now if I wera name the party. Wait till I get further roof, z He ceased speaking, and turned quickly as a step sounded near by. The person approaching started slightly on observing the detective’s face, but he instantly recovered himself, and address- ed the broker: ‘4 Good-morning, Mr. Middleton. How do you do, this morning?’ “None too well, Mr. Duncan,” replied the broker, George Duncan, for it was he, bowed to the detective. : ‘‘Good-day, sir. I met you in the smoking- room at Mr. Middleton’s party. I had forgotten where for the moment.” He held out his hand, which the detective They are heir- took. ‘‘T am happy to meet you again,” he said, They conversed in commonplaces for a few comicbooks. ° ° ——-) “— 2 é - g - A < at 5 ee a ae = 7 a . 2