Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 434 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

Ce ee ——— Jim ae —- ~-—- — the face. ‘If you have come here for that you can leave.” **T shall undoubtedly choose my time about doing that,” was the cool retort. ‘‘ There’s no use of your getting mad at me, Harrington, for ou know you'll have to cool right down again. Vhere is Hazel?” ‘* In her room, I suppose.” ‘You only suppose, then? that she is there?” ‘* OF course, she is there.” ** Of course she is not there!” ‘What are you talking about? Who said she was not in her room?” ‘‘Tsay so. Isaw her less than half an hour ago, on Spruce street, just emerging from an office, in company with a man!” “You are an accursed liar!” Hurst cried, springing to his fect, furious withrage., ‘*‘ What oO you mean, sir?” ‘“Sit down!” Guion ordered, sternly. ‘*‘ What Tam telling is true. If you do not believe it, ascertain if she is in her room or not. I am well satisfied that she is not.” The speculator touched an electric button in the wall, near his desk, and in a few minutes the housekeeper entered the room, ‘‘TIs my daughter in her room?” Harrington Hurst demanded, sternly. ‘‘T believe she is, sir. She complained of a headache, this afternoon, and directed that she should not be disturbed, unless she rung.” ** Ah! go to her room, at once, and see if she is there.’ The hesieepeper departed, but soon returned, looking decidedly alarmed, for she had been or- dered to see that Hazel did not escape from the house, ‘*T rapped, sir, but got no answer,” she an- nounced. ‘ The door is locked, too.” A quiet laugh broke from Guion’s lips, as, with a furious curse, Hurst arose, and hastened from the room, followed by the housekeeper, “‘ The old man will go wild, now, and tear his hair,” Guion soliloquized, puffing away at his cigar. ‘‘ But, what care I? The time is pretty near for me to force matters, and if I can’t win my game one way, I can another, Win I cer- tainly shall, and so, after all, my planning has not been for nothing.” Hurst soon returned to the parlor in high dudgeon. ‘‘She is gone, sure enough,” he declared. “Quick! tell me where you saw her.” ** On Spruce, as I said,” ‘* Whereabouts on Spruce street?” ‘“Coming out of the shop of the man you visited this afternoon—Jim Beak, the detective.” ‘“Ha! what can have taken her there? Who was with her?” 7 ‘* Bea’, himself. I first saw them coming from the direction of the river, and followed them, They went to Beak’s office, and were closeted for some time, I awaiting on the out- side. After awhile they came out, and I de- manded of Beak that he deliver Miss Hazel to my custody, when he pitched onto me and we had a tussle. I finally broke away—and here I ” ** ool! Why did you not follow them?” ‘* Because I was not armed.” At this juncture the housekeeper entered. “Tf you please, sir, here is a note I found in the young lady’s room, sir,” and she handed it to the ex-speculator. A snarl of anger and disgust burst from him as he glanced it over’ then he read aloud, as follows: ‘Dear FATHER:!— “Tf have grown heartily tired and sick of being shut up inthe house, It is an unendurable persecu- tion. You know ! lave my husband, and TI have told you [ would never! never! marry Gilbert Guion. I despise and loathe him. I am going out now, and merhape shall put an end to all this trouble by drowning mys°!f in the Delaware, At all events, I shall never return to the shelter of your roof until you cast out that viper, Gilbert Guion, whose only desire to marry me arises from the hope that he muy be able to get hold of a part or the whole of our fortune. I have adaugh er’s affection for you, ut the viper is forcing you: to act beyond the bounds of your authority, and make me the victim of his evil designs. I will not submit, so escape, now, ere it is too late. Hazen.” ‘ Curse her!” Guion gritted, under his breath, *¢T eculd kill her for writing that.” Aloud, he said: ' ‘A very pretty letter to come from one as refined and intelligent as your daughter. [I will leave it to you if it is not, friend Hurst?” ‘*Confound it, man, I can’t blame her. She don’t like you an better than I do.” ‘‘Maybe not. But that shall make no differ- ence. The fact is, Hurst, I’m heartily tired and Do you not know ae ——— re — ee ee ee sick of this dilly-dallying, and have made up my mind not to stand any more of it. That girl must be found, and must marry me inside of three days, or you will give the sheriff another job.” ‘*Curse you! curse you, inhuman wretch that you are! You well know that I am no more guilty of such a crime than a new-born babe. Curse you, [ say! You would drive me to sac- rifice my daughter to screen an act I never did. Oh, you devil! Your time will come to pay up for this blackmail—this infernal, damnable blackmail!” ‘You mean your time will come mighty apick unless you behave yourself. Supposing that Jim Beak, the detective, were to know that you foully murdered your wife—” With a cry of fury Hurst leaped toward his accuser, as if he would annihilate him. But Guion slipped out of his chair and eluded him, ‘**Curse you, will you shut up?” Hurst gasped. ‘How do you know but what some one over- heard your words?” ‘Bah! what of it? The whole matter is bound to come out anyhow, if you refuse to come to my terms, and that, too, without de- lay.” ‘*T have not refused to come to your terms; but God in Heaven knows I[ am not guilty. Why, then, does He permit this human fiend to persecute me?” and throwing himself upon a sofa, the man of riches buried his face in his hands and shook with emotion, that appeared to be genuine, ‘*Come, come, no more of that!” Guion said, fiercely. ‘“‘It won’t work, Yow re not theman to make a baby of yourself: You know I hold the proofs against you, and am not a man to trifle with; so be sensible. DoasI have order- ed, and all will be well,” ‘But, how'can I marry you to my daughter, man, when she will not consent?” “« Make her consent!” ‘** T cannot,” ‘YYou can. You have never been explicit enough. Do you suppose if she knew your life depended upon it, dis would refuse?: No! nol Give her credit for more sense than that!” ** But it would be no marriage. It would be bigamy, to which you would both be knowing arties.” ‘Nonsense! Within three days I will be pre- pared to furnish proofs that Terrol Taylor is dead; and your daughter free to contract a legal marriage.’ ‘* Bah!” i ** You do not believe it?” ‘‘ No, of course I don’t!” ‘¢ Nevertheless it will be as I have said. The roofs will be ample. So now all we have to do is to find Hazel, and you force from her a prom- ise to wed me when I prove that Taylor is dead. Once she promises, she will not go back on her word.” | ‘‘No. You are right. Hazel’s word is as stanch as adamant. But where doyouthink she is?” ‘Beak knows. Hunt him up in the morning and make him tell you, or arrest him for abduc- tion. Ihave no doubt but what it will be an easy matter to find the girl.” CHAPTER VIII. THE PERPLEXED DETECTIVE. WueEn Detective Jim Beak arrived at his office the next morning, he was not a little annoyed to find that Spider had not yet put in an appearance. nstead he found a slip of paner, in the hand- writing of the young gamin, which read thus: ** DEAR JAMESY:-— ‘*Can’t wait fer ye. Got *portant bizness on hand. You remember old Jake Morgan, the burglar, who got out of prison "bout two monthsago? Well, Lhev struck his trail, an’am after him like a dorg after cats. He’s up ter some deviltry ag’in, an’ I’m goin’ to find out what it is. Yer know I owe him a rrudge fer soakin' me over the head with a billy, So you won’t see yer darlin’ till he has got some news, ** Yours til] death, “ SYLVEsTreR Sprprr.”’ “After Morgan, eh?” Beak muttered, as he seated himself at the table. “TI wish he'd let Morgan alone, and attend tomy needs. The old chap hasn’t been bothering any one since he got out of prison last time, and I reckon he will fay low for a while yet, anyhow. Spider will spend his time on a wild-goose chase, ‘¢ And now I suppose the next thing before me is tohunt up this Terrol Taylor, and break the news to him that he is a villain and a bigamist. I don’t fancy the job a bit, but I don’t see any Beak and Pal, Private Detectives. 9 oes -_ —_—< ee ee - ---* - + - help for it. I pity the poor girl he has made a dupe of more than all,” Spider had given him the directions where Mrs. Morton lived, and he had no doubt but what he would find Terrol Taylor there, It was yet too early, however, to look him up; so, locking his office, the detective spent several hours in dodging about town and performing a few errands of minor importance. He had no doubt but what Harrington Hurst would visit his office during the morning, and he was not quite prepared to meet the ex-speculator, just yet. During bis walk he passed the hotel where Hazel was stopping, but of course saw nothing of her. Although he had always held forth that he cared very little for the female sex, and distrusted and avoided them, he could not help wondering if he had not taken a decided fancy for the unfcrtu- nate Miss Hurst. It was after ten c’clock when his stalwart frame darkened the dcorway of Mrs, Morton’s candy store, which he entered, to find Mrs, Morton presiding behind the counter, ‘* Good morning,” Beak said, hardly knowing how to begin his investigatory conversation, ‘* Ahem! is Mr, Taylor in, may I ask?” “Mr, Zaylor, sir?’ replied the widow, in surprise, ‘** Yes, madam,” ‘There is no Mr. Taylor here, sir, nor do I know any gentlemun of that name.” ‘* Indeed! Let me see—no! I cannot be mis- taken. This is the place I was directed to, Why, madam, have you not a daughter called Myra?” ‘Oh! yes, sir.” ‘* Ab! And was she not married last night, to a man named Terrol Taylor?” ‘Indeed, no, sir! Myra got married last night, but not to Mr. Taylor. Myra’s husband’s name is Carrol Carter.” Jim Beak gave vent to a prolonged whistle, and his face, usually zoperturbable, showed how great was his surprise, ‘** Carrol Carter?” he echced. this is the name, madam?” ‘“ Why yes, sir. Carrol Carter is his name— that is, sir, the only name we have ever known him by.” ‘** How long have you known him?” ** About six months, sir.” ** Where and how did your daughter make his acquaintance?” ‘*Tam sure I couldn’t tell you, sir—I s’pose likely she met him coming from work, and fiat got acquainted in that way, sir? But, why do so many questions—what is the mat- ‘You are sure ‘The matter is, madam, Iam looking for a man by the name of Terrol Taylor, and had been informed that he was married to your daughter. There may be some mistake, however.” ‘*Oh! there must be, of course. Are you a detective, sir?” ‘*T am.” ‘** Ah! then, that accounts for your question- ing. Carrol is a very nice young man, and it’s a very nice match,” ‘Is the gentleman about?” **'No, sir. They rented a couple of furnished rooms complete for housekeepjng, bright and early this morning, and have gone and taken possession of them, Myra had a little money saved up, and they’re to get a thousand dollars to-day, from a gentleman, as a wedding pres- ent,” ‘* Ab! how is that?” ** Well, you see, it is somewhat romantic. A gentleman who claims to be an unknown friend of Carrol’s, came here yesterday, and stated that he had heard Carrol and Myra were in love with each other. I told him perhaps they were, Well, when Myra came home, he told her that if she would influence Carrol to marry her, im- mediately, he would make -her a present of one thonsand actinrs: but Carrol was to know noth- ing about the bargain. He gave as his reason that Carrol had an eccentric uncle, or other rela- tive, who proposed to give the young man a handsome sum of money providing he got mar- ried, at once!” ‘‘Tndeed. Why, this is by all odds the most remarkable thing [ ever heard of. This visitor, then, was commissioned to act as go between.” “Yor sir,” 6 Did your daughter accept this strange pro- ‘No, sir, she did not! She said she would have to think it over, and would leave word with me before she went to work this morning. Last night, however, Carrol came, they took a walk in the park, and—well, Carrol proposed, oe > « --« Se o-