Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 432 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

Invincible Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret. society always welcomes a scion of the nobil- ity. Ye was everywhere voted a gentleman of charming manners, and so highly interesting, and with such a delightful foreign accent. So- ciety, the ladies in particular, were captivated by the count, and the news of his kidnapping threw all the first families into mourning. - The authorities must act vigorously in this matter, said everybody. New York would be forever disgraced if this outrage was allowed to pass unrevenged. Where were the police au- thorities? Had they gonetosleep? Itseemed so when such an event could take place in the public streets. a The authorities seemed of the same mind. Every means was taken to discover the per- petrators of the outrage. The police were set everywhere at work. All the detective force was called into requisition. A thorough search was made of every locality in the neighbcrhood where the affair had taken place. But all was without effect. Not a trace of the kidnappers and their victim could be found. The villains had thoroughly covered up their trail. ‘Tt is outrageous! It is simply outrageous!” cried a fashionably dressed lady, walking the floor excitedly. ‘The authorities of this city are ridiculously weak and blind. Do you sup- se such a thing could be done in London or aris? No, never!” ‘¢ We will be sneered at by Europe!” exclaim- ed another impatiently. ‘‘And with good reason. For a noble visitor to be aarotal off from under our very eyes! What will Italy ° ” ‘‘Ttaly will say it does not matter much; that she has plenty of counts to spare,” remarked George Duncan, who was one of the party, in his cynical tone, ‘That is just like you, Mr. Duncan,” declared the first lady. ‘‘ You ara always picking at the nobility. Yot we shall have to forgive you, I suppose, for ew oa you did act with wonder- ful courage in that readful affair.” ‘‘ That is so,” answered George laughing. ‘‘I ran away and brought up a policeman, as soon as L could find one. It isn’t everybody would have had such presence of mind,” ‘‘T won’t permit you to depreciate yourself,” cried the lady petulantly. ‘I know all about it. How you fought for ten minutes with six burly ruffians, and were too proud to call for help. And how you did not give way until they had disabled the count, and all set upon you. Everybody is talking about your brave defense.” ‘‘T’m sure I ought to be dreadfully obliged to everybody,” declared George, with an amused look. ‘‘I don’t recollect anything of the sort, but I suppose everybody knows, and I will have to give in.” ‘“You are too provoking for anything, George Duncan,” exclaimed the second lady. ‘‘ You know it is all so, and you just might as well ad- mit it.” ‘“‘T surrender,” laughed George. ‘If people choose to say that I fought with a regiment, and floored fifty of them with a feather, | won’t dare to contradict it. Of course I can’t be expected to know. But I hope Italy won’t send me a box of diamonds for my brave defense of the noble count.” The ladies present looked vexed enough to shake him for his sarcastic tone. He had no business to receive their praise in any such spirit. But further remarks were prevented by the entrance of another young man, in a highly ex- cited manner. He bore a newspaper in his hand, and his face was flushed with indigna- tion. , ‘‘ Listen to this!” he cried. summation of the outrage! Listen to this vil- lainous advertisement, which has been put in the Herald by the abductors of Count Or- mond!” . ; Hlis excited words created a sensation in the room. The persons present crowded eagerly round him, with the exception of George Dun- can, who sat unmoved, with his usual cynical smile on his lips. : he young man read the advertisement in a voice of high indignation. It was couched in the following words: “tf the friends ot Count Ormond care to see him again they must take the bloodhounds of the law from our track. The police can never find him, and if they hunt us tooclose they will get but a corpse, Fifty thousand dollars ransom, and no questions asked, is the price of the count’s release. f this amount is not paid in twenty days from date the count’s two ears will be laid on the City Hall steps. If not paid within thirty days the count’s ‘* Here is the con- — ee SS. rr nose will be left on the desk of the Police Superin- tendent. Them is our best terms, Answer by same means. Address, RoabD-AGENT.”’ This daring advertisement created high ex- citement in the bevy of ladies. There were sharp exclamations of anger, fright and dismay. They fluttered around lke so many wounded birds. Their fans went as if worked by steam. One of them fell on the sofa in a half-faint. The only cool person in the room was George Duncan, who received this startling declaration as if it was an every-day matter. ‘* What is to be done?” they cried, ‘‘ This is perfectly horrible! Was there ever anything so cold-blooded? What do you advise, Mr. Dun- can? Give us your opinion.” ‘‘T suppose the money must be paid,” an- swered George, coolly. ‘* These fellows mean what they say. There is no beating round the bush in that declaration.” ‘‘ But fifty thousand! Such a preposterous sum! Has the count so much money with him?’ ‘‘T doubt if he has it here, or anywhere else. Some of these small nobles are not much better off than our Yankee tramps.” ‘‘Small’ nobles indeed!” cried an indignant lady. ‘* You do beat anything, George Duncan! Do you intend to let a nobleman be mutilated in that horrible manner?” ‘“T think we had best raise a subscription,” suggested George. ‘I doubt if the count could pay the tenth of it.” - ‘But fifty thousand! Such a sum!” ‘* Perhaps our considerate friends will be will- ing to take less. Suppose I insert a counter ad- vertisement, offering twenty-five thousand. You ladies ought to be able to raise that much.” ‘“Yes, yes! Do it at once, Mr. Duncan, We will solicit subscriptions. We will raise it,” After considerable more talk on the subject George’s plan was agreed upon as the most feasi- ble one. He consulted the authorities, however, before putting it into execution. They did not agree with the plan. There had been too much of this buying off crime. They had decided to offer a reward of ten thousand dollars for the capture or betrayal of the kidnappers, and the recovery of the captive. The next day’s Herald contained two adver- tisements concerning the abduction. One of them was signed-by the mayor of New- York city, offering a reward of ten thousand dollars for any information that'‘wouid lead to the capture of the abductors, and the release of their noble prisoner, Count Ormond. The other offered a sum of twenty-five thou- sand, and no questions asked, for the release of the captive. It was signed ‘‘A committee of ladies.” George Duncan had declined to insert it, after his consultation with the authorities. But the ladies, who were thoroughly seared by the threats of the kidnappers, and had little faith in the effect of the public reward, had inserted it on their own responsibility. Will Emory bore the paper containing these two advertisements in his hand, as he entered the broker’s house that day for dinner. Mr. Middleton was seated in the library. He had come in just before, and was very pale and haggard, with a look in his eyes like that of a hunted deer. It was a look which had come upon him with- in the past few days. Whatever his trouble it seemed to be gathering more deeply around and over him. ‘‘ See here, uncle,” cried Will, in an excited manner, ‘The affair is working. Here is the answer to that detestable advertisement of yes- terday.” ‘“T have seen it,” answered Mr. Middleton, dejectedly. ‘‘ That offer of reward, you mean.” ‘ And this other one of ransom, What is to be done, uncle? The count 1s your personal friend. It was you introduced him to New York society. What do you propose?” ‘‘He must be rescued!” exclaimed Mr, Mid- dleton, with some show of energy, “ and with- out delay. I don’t like that offer of the author- ities. It may drive the villains to kill their captive for safety.” ‘Then how about the other? I understand some of our first ladies have formed themselves into a committee to solicit subscriptions. They are only waiting to see if the abductors accept their offer.” ‘T will do my share,” answered the broker. ‘‘Tf they fall short of the necessary amount I will make it up.” Can it ever be raised? ‘** That is my noble uncle. I knew the ccunt was safe in your hands,” exclaimed Will, with enthusiasm. Further conversation was interrupted by the ringing of the dinner-bell. The two gentlemen descended to the table, where Will did justice to a good dinner, but his uncle scarcely touched the food. He seemed to have sunk into a deeper depression than ever. ses a word came from his lips during the meal, After dinner they ascended to the smoking- room together. Will was growing more and more anxious about his uncle’s long-continued depression, while his curiosity about the mystery was in- creasing. He could keep silent no longer. ‘* Excuse me, uncle,” he said, positively, ** but something more than a trifling sickness ails you. Something has happened that you are conceal- ing from me. The whole house is full of an atmosphere of mystery.” ‘‘ That is nonsense, boy!” exclaimed Mr. Mid- dleton, petulantly. ‘* Why will you keep harp- ing on that string?” ‘‘It is more than nonsense,” declared Will. ‘You wish to keep it secret, but it is too late. It is all over New York. Everybody is talking about it.” ‘* Ha! is that so? What are they saying?” ‘* That your house was robbed, on the night of the pare of some very valuable diamonds which you had in trust.” He looked keenly at his uncle as he spoke. Mr. Middleton started as if with surprise, and flushed deeply in the face. He fixed his eyes irresolutely on Will for a minute, and then quickly arose. ‘* Come with me,” he said, Will followed, wondering what this meant. Mr. Middleton led the way up-stairs, and to a neatly fitted up office which he had on this floor se his bedroom. He threw open the door and entered, Will following. ‘**Do you see that safe?” he =, OH pointing to a small iron safe that stood in a corner of the room, and was riveted to a strong stanchion in the wall. ** Yes,” said Will, wondering. The broker threw open the door. ‘*{t is unlocked and empty, you see. When it came here it was locked, and contained some of the most valuable diamonds in this country. The lock is no ordinary one. I have here the key. It has not left my pocket-book, which has not left my pocket. et on the night of the party | found that safe open, as you see, and the jewels gone. How it was done, or by whom, is a mystery which neither I nor the police have yet been able even to conjecture.” ‘* And you have kept it secret at the suggestion of the police?” ‘* Yes,” admitted the broker. Will looked at the safe in bewilderment. He could not understand how it had been entered. But he could less understand his uncle’s depres- sion. ‘*You are haggard with trouble, uncle,” he said. ‘*‘ Why? have known you to meet a greater loss without a change of color.” ‘*Tf I could meet the loss with money I would not change color now,” replied Mr. Middleton. ** No money will pay for those diamonds, The are irreplaceable heirlooms, which were left with me on trust. My honor is engaged for their safe return.” “Ah!” eried Will. ‘‘ This isa serious affair. But why did you accept such a trust?” ‘“To save myself from ruin, Will, I got my- self in a desperately tight place. A friend offered me a loan to tide me over. He had no money to spare. But he was just leaving the city for a trip South, and sent me these dia- monds, giving me the privilege to use them as security fora loan. Ididso, I pledged them, and saved my business with the proceeds. I was but to return them when called for.” ‘¢On what security ?” ‘¢My honor. The honor of Silas Middleton.” Will looked at him. He knew what these words meant in the mouth of the sterling man of business, ‘Who was this friend?’ he asked, ‘** Pearson Fletcher. He has gone to Havana for his health.” Will started. Something in the name struck him strangely. ** And whan are you to return the diamonds?” ‘*‘On demand. That was the agreement. The demand has come. I have here a letter requiring their return in twenty days from date.” ‘ But if they are not found?” ‘Then I wi y my debt in other coin,” said the broker, resolutely. ‘If I cannot return the JNA