Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 470 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

10 -_—— — _—_ ~ supposed to be stars, the lines the pathways of planetary communication. Estelle leaned forward and looked at the cards with much curiosity; after a moment’s inspec- tion she looked up at the false astrologer, ‘* You have spoken of conditions, What are they?” she said. ‘This card names them,” replied Larry, tak- ing up the green pasteboard. ‘‘ Before J can re- veal the secret of Mr. Morey’s disappearance, you must accept the august proposition I am authorized to announce. The stars have told me that a very fine gentleman seeks your hand. I am sure he already possesses your heart, Miss Estelle. Before the great secret can be revealed, a must promise the planets, through their umble servant Nezzur-Adden, to bestow your hand upon him within five days.” ** And unless I do—what?” ‘‘I must depart with the secret unspoken.” said Larry, assuming a sad tone. Estelle was silent for a moment, then she rose, and waiking to one of the front windows parted the curtains and looked out. The carriage was still before the house and across the street a heavily-built man was walk- ing up and down, smoking a cigar, Kstelle saw this in her brief sojourn at the window. When she came back Larry took hope; her countenance had undergone a change; he was sure he was master of the situation. ** Harris said I couldn’t play this role; but I'll show him,” he said to himself. ‘‘ I’m better at a game of this kind than the regular Nezzur- Adden himself, if there really is such a person. I win this game for the boss to-day.” Estelle took the chair again. ‘‘T am anxious to know what has become of my friend,” she said. ** The stars will tell you.” ‘‘ That is, they will reveal the secret if I prom- ise to become a bride within five days?” Larry bowed. ‘* Will they tell me where Mr, Morey is, or will they restore him?’ ‘*They will restore him?” ** But who is this person whose wife I must become?” ‘* His name is Rogers Marxe.” There was a slight start on the girl’s part. ‘*Mr. Morey’s partner!” she exclaimed. **I do not know that,” said Larry. ‘I only speak what the heavens have revealed. This rson to whom they wish you to give your hand is handsome, wealthy and highly educated. Of his business relations I cannot speak. Within two days after the marriage the mystery of Mark Morey will be a mystery no longer.” ‘* ‘Why do you not report this to the police?” ‘* The planets send me to you,” was the quick response. ‘‘I have never seen Mr, Rogers Marxe; the stars have selected him for your life partner. In Persia everybody obeys them; the shah himself would wed a menial if the stars, through the royal astrologers, selected her.” ‘*T cannot give this promise,” said Estelle, *‘T must have time for reflection.” Larry got up and threw arapid glance around the room. As far as he could see they were its only occupants, e saw more than one object which his evil fingers longed to clutch; he knew they would find good storage at Moses the Jew’s, or a profit- able sale at Papa Picklock’s, “Then you reject the message?” he said to Estelle. ‘‘ You do not believe in horoscopes.” ‘*T have not said that I do not,” was the re- ly. Bl. Do you think I would come here with a false one—I who have cast them for his High Mighti- ness the Shah?” ‘*T have not accused you of deception.” ‘*'You have visited astrologers since Mr, Mapex disappeared "7 e ) “They have told you that Mr. Morey will come back before long, but they gave you no real satisfaction. Ab! “fs. see I know what the charlatans told you! If you reject the message I have brought from the mysterious bodies that control our lives from their places in the hea- vens, all will be lost. If you become the wife of Rogers Marxe within five days Mark Morey will appear; if you refuse, the mystery of the Nabob will never be solved.” ‘* Is this final?’ asked Estelle, gazing into the face of the false astrologer, ‘“‘Tt is final!” wastheanswer. ‘I never bear two messages from the stars to the same person when one has been rejected.” ‘*T am obliged to reject the one you have de- sivered to me,” Estelle said, smiling faintly. The Boy Shadow. SS ee _—_ A sudden light flashed up in Larry’s eyes; he was near the door when he spoke again. ‘* You had better do this,” he said. There was a hidden threat in his tone, and for a moment he looked like Larry Lolan the city | desperado., ‘*IT am determined,” said Estelle. marry no man after this manner,” ‘* Then the Fates will fall upon Mark Morey!” almost hissed Larry. ‘*Upon Mark Morey they shall fall!” ‘** Beware!” ‘** What! do you threaten me?” ‘* No; the stars are still speaking,” There was no reply, and Larry reached the door which Estelle opened for him. ‘‘ Ah! I forgot to recompense you,” suddenl said the girl. ‘‘The Astrologer of the Sha cannot afford to carry star-messages for noth- ing.” She drew forth as she spoke a little purse, that made the crook’s eyes flash. His fingers itched to grab it and make off. Estelle opened the pocketbook and took out a ten-dollar bill, which she extended to Larry. There was no hesitation on the crook’s part, for he took the bill and bowed his thanks as he thrust it into his waistcoat pocket. The next moment he was on the step. ‘‘Good-morning, my lady,” he said, doffing his hat, ‘*Good-morning, Mr, Lolan!” was the re- sponse, Mr, Lolan! The name, accompanied by Estelle’s manner, seemed to stagger the crook from the large stone step. She knew him! And all his play had been for nothing. **T can Larry seemed struck speechless by the mere | mention of hisown name. As the sound of it died away, the door was shut and he turned and walked toward the carriage. “Td give a thousand to know how she got onto me,” he muttered. ‘ I’ve been hit before in my time, but never a blow like that. Talk about thunderbolts from clear skies; this is a first-class one, and no discount on its force either, I must keep this from Harris, and, of course, from Marxe, If the girl does not think that he sent me to her, we'll win yet. Nezzur- Adden, my old chap, I think this 1s one game you’ve lost.” And Larry tried to laugh, but the attempt was a failure. As for Estelle, she went back into the draw- ing-room and confronted a well-built boy, whose eyes were full of victory. ‘What do you say now?’ the youth ex- claimed, ‘* You were right, Felix Fox. That pretended astrologer was Larry Lolan. His own name staggered him.” ‘*T knew him on sight. Him read the stars? He’ll have the rules of Sing Sing read to him before he’s much older!” CHAPTER XII, AN UNBENDING PRISONER, It was a little past high noon of the same day when Harris Hodge walked into a certain cloth- ing shop on Baxter street. ‘“Where’s your father?’ he said toa young man who was a youthful presentment of old Moses, so well known to the reader, ‘* He has gone away,” was the reply. ‘* Out 0’ town?” . The young Jew hesitated. ** Mebbe you don’t recognize me. ris Hodge. I am Har- Now, where is your father?” The last words were accompanied by a look | which accused the youth of lying, and Hodge | stepped forward as he spoke them, ‘“My father is up-stairs, entirely prostrated. Dot man what he saw in der store last night—” ‘* What man?” ‘*Dot man, Meester Hodge; der von what creeped out o’ der vell after he was dead,” ‘**Shrewd Simpson?” ** Dot’s der man.” Hodge laughed, but he’ did not bring any as- suring color back to Isaac's face. ‘*See here! You don’t mean to stand there aud tell me that Sbrewd Simpson is alive after passing through your mother’s hands?” ‘* It ish even so.” ‘*T recollect now that Larry claimed to have seen him alive after the occurrence here,” con- tinued Hodge. ‘‘I didn’t put any faith in his story, and I don’t like to in yours,” ‘Tt was dot man an’ not a ghost dot frighten- ed father, He saw Shrewd Simpson in this shop.” - — mg | here till I want to come out. | is to bedone when I have seen ‘“'The—Old Harry!” he exclaimed. ‘“ Larry was right then, after all. Your father is up- stairs, eh?” ‘* Endirely prosdrated. He vants der prisoner taken avay before der whole thing gits into the hands of der bolice.” ‘* Pll see about that,” said Hodge. He went into the stolen property-room of the establishment, and ascended the stairs, ‘“Who ish dere?” asked a voice beyond the door, at the head of the steps. Harris gave his name, and was admitted into a long room, which was darkened and foul of air. The person who admitted him was Mrs. Meek, the amazon, ‘Harris! Harris! Veepin’ Rachel! I haf waited for you,” said a voice from near the front windows, and the next moment the crook was looking down upon the old Jew, who occu- eh dirty cot that sent out an unpleasant smell, The old man had undergone a wonderful change within the last twenty-four hours. If he had not found him on bis own bed, Harris would not have recognized him. ‘‘ Harris, my God, I vas dyin’,” continued Moses, as Hodge took a seat on the edge of the cot. ‘‘ Dot man vat ve put into der vell ish at large, an’ der house o’ Meek vas crumblin’ over my head.” ‘** Not much, Moses. We are just winding up the business to big dividends,” laughed Hodge. ** IT von’t be here when it ish wound up,” said the Jew. ‘Der pird vat we caught must go.” ‘* Not yet,” said Hodge. ‘He ish in my house, an’ vile he ish dor it ish not safe. Harris, for my family’s sake, let dot man out.” At this juncture Mrs. Meek stepped forward and touched the crook’s arm. He looked up into | her face. *‘ That man must go,” she said firmly. *‘ Moses and I don’t want the police to find him here. We go to Sing Sing if they do; you know that, Harris.” The desperado sprung up. ‘* Let him remain a little while longer. We will win the game within forty-eight hours. We are going to play a hand that cannot fail. We can’t take him away without preparation.” ‘* He must go,” said the Jewess tirmly. Harris was on the puint of replying sharply and with insolence when his gaze happened to fall on the amazon’s hands, and in a second he ' thought how they had clutched and mastered | Sbrewd Simpson. ‘‘ The children know thet we haf a prisoner,” said the Jewess. ‘Il caught Rachel listening at his door to-day. She goes out on the street.” ‘She does!” cried Hodge. ‘‘ Where is the child now?” ‘‘T don’t know; but Rachel is not likely to spread her discovery.” ) "whe must not! The child should be kept in, ‘I can’t look after elefen children,” said Mrs. Meek, a gleam of resentment in her eyes, ‘Dot leedle Rachel come to me an’ say, ‘Daddy Moses, who ish dot man up-stairs?” said the old Jew on the cot as his wife finished. ‘*Dare ish no man up-stairs, chile, I say, but Rachel shakes her head an’ say, ‘ Dacdy Moses, I heard dot man talk.’ Harris, ven you can’t deceive a leedle girl, how vill you fool der bo- lice? Dot mai must go!” ‘If he goes you may lose a thousand dollars,” said Hodge. The old Jew shut his eyes for a moment, and his thin hands closed on the bed covering, ‘It ish ‘lose a t’ousand an’ stay out o’ Sing Sing,’ or get it and go dere mit Sarah. I vill lose it!” For once in his life Moses Meek had decided a | against the accumulation of money. ' ‘*T must see this man, and then Twill report,” | Harris Hodge said. ‘‘T understand that he has | nearly come to terms,” | He stepped back and looked at the woman, who exchanged looks with Moses, then she led him to a stair-loor in one corner of the long room, and held 1t open while Hodge drew a heavy false beard from an inner pocket and ad- justed it on his face. “Tm all right now,” he whispered to the | woman, and the two went up the steps, | At the head of the stair there was a strip of | heavy velvet carpet which led to a door in ® | partition wall, and Hodge and the Jewess drew | up before it. ‘‘T go in alone,” said Harris, ‘* You stand I will knew what him,” Mrs. Meek inserted a key into a lock and | turned it slowly; the key made no noise, —_.. comicbooks.com —