Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 434 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

* * i at cg a eee herself should say that I am not the man she contracted this unfortunate marriage with?” ** No, for dhe is mistaken, I have the minister as evidence that you are the man, and a minis- ter’s word goes a great ways in court.” ‘Where is this man?” ‘*T left him at the corner. Shall 1 bring him?” ‘Yes, bring him! If he7is a minister, as you claim, it cannot be that he is conspiring against me, as you seem to be.” ** You mistake my motive, sir. I wish you no harm, but, on the contrary, aim to get you out of this unpleasant predicament. I will bring the minister, but I am surprised that you do not make a clean confession, and save yourself the additional mortification of being confronted by the very man that married you,” ‘Bring your man, and if he dares to claim that he ever married me, I’ll throw him through the window into the street!” ‘* And get locked up for doing it,” Guion said, with a tantalizing laugh. ‘‘I think, however, we can settle this matter all right. I will re- turn in a moment.” And rising, the arch-plotter left the room, Myra, sitting on the sofa, then arose, and crossed the room to where Carrol sat in any- thing but a pleasant frame of mind. “Oh! Carrol, this is not true, is it?” she cried, dropping on her knees, before him; ‘‘ oh! tell me it is not so,” ‘* Tt is not true, Myra—it is not true. As God is my witness, itis not! But this man Gilbert evidently means to make me trouble, if he can. Come what may of this mistake, you will not doubt me, will you, Myra?” ‘No! no! I will cling to you, my husband, until the last, and not believe that you have de- ceived me.” ‘*May God bless you, then, for your words have made me stronger to meet this Lucifer, whom intuition tells me is conspiring for my ruin.” ‘*Then, your name is Morgan?” ‘Yes, my name is Morgan. Owing to the fact that my father is a very bad character, however, [ have never usedthe name, but have retained the one I was brought up under—Car- rol Carter.” Guion soon returned, accompanied by a tall, slim man, of clerical aspect, who was dressed in well-worn black broadcloth, and a silk hat that was very much out of style. ‘** This is the Reverend Timothy Binks,” Guion said. ‘“‘Now, Mr. Binks, you see this young man, here, who claims his name is Carter, in- stead of Taylor. If you were put upon the wit- ness-stand, to testify, what would you say.” Binks looked Carrol over, critically, and then answered: . ; ‘* According to the best of my belief, sir, this young man is the one I married Miss Hurst to.” ‘Would you swear to it?” ‘*T would.” ‘‘Then, you may go. If your evidence is wanted, I will let you know.” Binks bowed, and took his leave, evidently only to escape the light of fury that burned in Carrol’s eyes. When he had gone, Guion continued: ‘‘And now, sir, you will see that I have the power to haul you up in court for bigamy and separate you from this young lady. his I do not care to do, however if we can come to terms?” ‘*To terms, sir?” ‘Exactly. You are in my way here, in Phil- adelphia, as J intend to marry Hazel Hurst my- self, as soon as a divorce can be quietly gotten. So Pll tell you what Pll do: Take your new wife, and leave the United States forever. Go to Canada, or Europe—anywhere, so you leave the States, and never set foot in them again. Promise to do this and I will give you two thou- sand dollars, in ready cash. Refuse me, and I’ll have you arrested, before the day is out.” ‘* You will eh?” Carrol cried, springing to his fect. ‘‘ Then if you do, Pl give you a better cause than bigamy for doing 1b!” He threw open the door, and then leaped upon his tormentor and with the strength of a young Hercules, dragged him out into hall, where he pitched him headlong down the stairs, The only wonder was that the villain did not break his neck, in falling. But beyond a bloody nose, he evidently did not sustain any serious injuries, for he quickly regained his mak rinm, and hurling a malediction at sta’ od from the house. CHAPTER XV. A NOTABLE CLIMAX. : Mr. CHRISTOPHER GUION called upon Jim arrol, | Jim Beak and Pal, Private Detectives. Beak, that afternoon, and held a long conversa- tion with him—the result of which was that Beak paid a visit to Middle Alley, and held a long conversation with Mrs. Botts, and the re- sult of this was, that three persons received no- tice to call at Beak’s office the next afternoon at two, namely, Harrington Hurst, Gilbert Guion, and Carrol Carter, When the hour arrived, there were seated in the office, Christopher Guion, Beak and Mrs, Botts, who was deeply vailed. Harrington Hurst soon put in an appearance, and was scarcely seated, when Gilbert Guion entered, and was followed in rapid succession by Nellie Botts, Hazel Hurst and Carrol Carter, Beak got up, then, locked the door, and put the key in his pocket, At which Gilbert Guion uttered an oath. ‘What does this mean?’ he demanded, turn- ing pale with apprehension. ‘* It means!” Beak replied, ‘‘ that your jig is up. You've done all the plotting you’ll have a chance to, for some years to come, and don’t you forget it! You will plainly see, if you take the pains to make note of who is present, that your goose is cooked,” The arch schemer dropped upon a chair, white and nervous, and gazed from one to the other, in a helpless sort of way, as if he did not know what to make of it, so startling the situa- tion was, ‘‘It was mainly through your grandfather, that I am able to arrest you as [ now do, In the first place, you are guilty of one of the most atrocious cases of blackmail I ever heard of, You have charged Harrington Hurst with the crime of murdering his wife and daughter, when ou knew they were alive, and where they ived. Under threat of swearing his life away, ou have extorted large sums of money from {r. Hurst, and even tried to force him to com- pel his daughter to marry you!” ‘*Go on!” the villian said, with a sneer. ‘‘Have you got any more petty charges to make?” ‘Certainly Ihave. While you were working this game on Mr. [urst, you were also trying another one on your grandfather, which will send you to State’s prison for some years. I have in my preg peat the forged orders which you executed and which Mr. Hurst cashed.” ‘¢ Well?” ‘* Nor is that all the evil you have been trying todo. Fearing your brother, here,”—indicatin Carrol Carter+‘‘ would become your grand- father’s heir, you have tried ‘to force him _ to leave the country under penalty of being arrest- ed for bigamy. You knew Miss Hurst had been wedded to one Terrol Taylor, and you also knew that your brother was a very counterpart of Taylor; so you planned to have Carter. here, married to one Myra Morton, and afterward to accuse him of bigamy, hoping to establish it as a fact, and thus force Carter to leave the country so that, failing in his efforts to find said Carter, your grandfather would draw up the willin your favor!” Gilbert laughed dryly. ‘“You seem to have mastered the case very well, my fine fellow. But how you ever found out so much is beyond my comprehension. Have you got any more charges?” “Two! You stole Hazel Taylor’s marriage- certificate and have it now in your possession. That makes you a thief; to that I may yet be able to add the charge of murder.” ‘** How so?” . ‘* Because the real Terrol Taylor has disap- peared!” ** How does that concern me?” ‘‘Tnasmuch as I hold a document in my pos- session, which is in your hand-writing, nin 9 Male lenges Terrol Taylor to meet you at Atlantic City and fight a duel, it concerns you in a very certain manner.” ‘* Where did you get it?” ‘* Tt was found in the street.” ‘‘ Then Taylor must have thrown it away. I did challenge him, because he slapped me in the face once. I have not seen him for several days, and do not know whether he intended to accept the challenge or not. I suppose he will never get the chance now?” ‘*T should presume not, Where is he?” ‘**T do not know, as I have learned that he has left the place where he formerly stopped, in Ox- ford street.” Just then a rap was heard on the door, and Spider’s voice was heard, crying: ‘*Let me in, Jamesy! let me in, fer I’ve got the biggest kind of news fer ye!” Beak hastened to admit him, and Spider came dancing’into the room with a bundle of papers under his arm. 15 ‘Hi! by golly! Ye kin kick me fer a cat ef 1 ain’t got news! Terrol Taylor has fell from a scaffolding, on which he had got a job o’ paint- ing, and broke bis neck. ere’s full account ‘bout et in ther afternoon papers,” Beak seized a paper and read the item, which corroborated Spider’s statement. Terrol Taylor had fallen from a scaffold, where he was engaged in painting, in the north- om aay of the city, and had been instantly cilled, And so Hazel’s strange marriage was no longer a marriage, after all! For which Jim Beak secretly felt more re- joiced than he would care to confess, Gilbert Guion, we bave to add, did not get the deserts many another man would have received. He offered to refund — cent he bad extorted in the pursuance of his schemes, he baving s ulated and made a great deal of ready cash, if he was allowed to go free, ard it was finally so arranged, He was permitted to leave the coun- try—never to return. arrington Hurst prevailed on his wife and daughters to come back and live with him—for the reader has, no doubt, premised that Nellie and Mrs. Botts were those who had been so long lost to him, Mrs. Hurst preferring to live alone in poverty rather than with a drinking husband in riches, They are all hap row together, ard Hazel is soon to wed Jim t ak, while Spider will, no doubt, lead Nellie to the altar in dué time, see- ing that she persists in regarding him as an ex- traordinary young man, who will some day be President of the United States. But not as Spi- der, for he confesses that his true name is not Spider but Sylvester—Samuel Sylvester ;—that, as every street arab has his street name, he was known as The Spider; but now, having left the street by virtue of his promotion to a first-class school, he proposes to come forth as Samuel Sylvester and ds credit to hisname, As he cer- tainly will! Carrol Carter and Myra, too, are happy and doing well, Carrol having recently patented an invention from which he is making lots, of money. And when old Christopher Guior dies, Carrol—for he still clings to the name with Christopher’s consent—will become his heir. Old Jake Morgan disappeared from Philadel- phia shortly after his son’s departure, and has not been seen or heard of since. THE END, Half-Dime Singer's Library 1 Waroa, Erma! and 59 other Songs, 2 CapTain Curr and 57 other Songs, 8 THe GAINSBORO’ Hat and 62 other Songs, 4 Jonnny MorGan and 60 other Songs, 5 [ut Strrke You Wir A FRraATHER and 62 others, 6 GEORGE THE CHARMER and 56 other Songs. 7 Tue Bette or Rockaway and 52 other Songs. 8 Youne Fev.uan, You're Too Fresax and 60 others. 9 Buy Youna Grr and 65 other Songs. 10 I'm THe Governor’s Oniy Son and 58 other Songs 11 My Fawn and 65 other Songs. 12 Comin’ Touro’ tur Kye and 55 other Songs. 18 Tax Roiiicgina Inisaman and 59 other Songs, 14 Otp Doe TaKy and 62 other Songs, 15 Whoa, CHARtIe and 59 other Songs, 16 IN TH1s Wueat By anv By and 62 otner Songs, 17 Nancy Lee and 58 other Songs. 18 I’w Tae Boy THAT’s Bound TO BLAZE and 57 others, 19 Tae Two Orpnans and 59 other Songs, 20 Waat are THE Witp WAVES SAYING, SISTER? and 59 other Songs. 21 INDIGNANT PoLtLy Woe and 59 other Songs, 22 ‘I'am OLp ARM-CuarRr and 58 other Songs. 283 Ow Coney IsLANp Beacn and 58 other Songs, 24 OLp Simon, THE Hot-Corn Maw and 60 others. 25 I’m in Love and 56 other Songs, 93 PARADE OF THE Guys Rps and 56 other Songs, 27 Yo. 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