Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 765 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

ee ee Te ee SP — ee ee a SS eee ee —_ ° * — CHAPTER V. ¢ A STARTLING STATEMENT, Suspicious Fiipper Flyun thought there was a good deal of the city ‘‘ confidence man ” in this address, and in the warm way in which Harold Duuning grasped Stowell’s band; but the latter was as free from doubt as ever. He met the new-comer in equal cordiality. he forgot the trouble in the next room, and was only recalled to consciousness by the inquiry for the girl. Then his face suddenly grew grave. He hesi- tated what to say, but Harold took the responsi- bility from bim, His gaze wandered to the number on the door, and he exclaimed; ‘‘ Here’s the room now, I'll surprise ber!” He opened the door without ceremony and went in. ‘‘ Howlin’ hyenas!” muttered Flipper; ‘* he’s in fer it, now!” Jager to see the result, the speaker pressed forward to the threshold, He was in time to see the whole drama, Harold and Viola were face to face, His ex- pression was eager, while the surprise of his sud- den entrance bad not yet, given her chance to assume a definite look for the occasion. But the visitor moved forward quickly. ‘* Viola,” he cried, ‘*l bave come, at last! This is most awkward and unpleasant, but | ean explain itall, 1 am mucb chagrined, I do assure you,” His hands were outstretched to grasp hers, and she did not refuse the reception, but ber | own hands lay like lifeless things in his clasp. She was silent and passive, ‘* 1] got to you at the earliest possible moment,” he went on. “I had to be busy just when I feast wanted to be, One who is a hired man can’t be his own boss, you knuw; and—” Harold stopped short. He had, at last, seen that he was not getting a warm welcome, “ Why, what is wrong?’ he added, anxiously ; and if the anxiety was fictitious, it was well feigned, Viola had withdrawn her band, though not roughly, and she now seemed to make an effort to recover her calmness. The attempt was a failure, and her endurance suddenly gave way. Sie dropped into a chair, covered her face with her bands and burst into tears in the same vio- lent way before observed by two of those pres- ent. Harold looked amazed. ‘* What does this mean?” It was to Mr. Stowell he addressed the ques- tion, and that gentleman found bimself com- pelled to come to the front, ** Well, you See it’s like this—or, at least, you don’t see, { mean, J don’t see!” The good man floundered around over an ex- planation he was not capable of making, and came to a full stop. Harold gazed at him in what seemed to be genvine perplexity. ‘‘[ referred to Viola’s grief,” he explained. ‘* What has gone wrong with her? I trust there is no bad news?” Stowell stroked his gray beard and looked at Viola as if imploring ber to come to his aid, but she did not do so; sbe kept up her almost con- vulsive sobbing, Seeing that he must fight his own way, the father frankly confessed; ‘‘{ shall have to refer you to Viola, Much as I would like to make all clear, I can’t do it, for lam as much in the dark as you. Viola seems all broken up, but why, 1 have not been able to find out,” i i Flipper Flynn, the Street Patr ** Never!” she cried, ‘‘1l refuse to listen to it!” The two men stood in speechless amazement. Net so Flipper Flynn. He was not in the least surprised; the announcement was just what he bad been looking for. ‘*She’s dropped on Mister Harold in some For a moment | way,” was bis mental decision; ‘‘ an’ that festive gent is in the drink, tue worst way. Will she tell why?” ** You won’t listen?” gasped Stowell, when he could command his voice enough to speak, ‘** T refuse to be married,” Viola distinctly ex- plained. ‘* What does this mean?’ cried Harold, ‘*T have no statement to make, Call it a wo- | man’s whim, if you will; it wakes no difference. Now, one thing more: | wish to be left aPone, I want every one to go away from me!” She suddenly turned her gaze upon the Patrol, | seeming to see for the first time that a stranger was present, ‘* Who is this boy?’ she added, complainingly. Fiipper Flynn would not have been himself if he bad proved unequal to the occasion, He plucked off his old cap, and confidentially re- lied: ee Iv’s all right, mum; I’m one o’ the white hen’s chickens, I’m a sort of necessary evil in the community, but not the worst or crookedest. | am on the square, an’ no assassin or man-killer, Yes; an’ I kin keep a secret, too!” He wiuked at her sagely, but the hint was thrown away, ‘‘ Why did you admita stranger here, father?” Mr, Stowell pulled at his beard and was un- certain, For the firsv time he realized that family secrets had been spread in a promiscuous way, and he wondered vaguely how it happened Flipper had been taken into the conference, anyhow, Harold’s whole thought was of Viola’s apparent rebellion; be struck to that point tenaciously, ‘*] could not meet you at the depot,” he urged, ‘‘and I could not get here sooner. I was sent out of town by my employer, and an accident to the train made me an oxile, there. I did my best, but I could not overturn the decrees of Nature. Iam sorry you are burt about it—” ‘* Have I said I was?” ‘* No; but what else can it be? cause of your opposition to me—” ‘* It is not!” ** Not the cause? What, then, in the rame of all tbat’s wonderful, is the cause?” ‘*T have no explanation to make,” Viola, to speak lightly, ‘‘ held the fort.” The men looked dumbly at her. Stowell was amazed, and if Harold did not share the feeling, he gave a good imitation. Whenit was seen that she was going to say no more, the gen- tleman betbought himself of Flipper Flynn, again. He took the Patrol by the sleeve and led him out, and a wink to Dunning caused the latter to follow after. Viola was left in possession of the fieli, Once in the hall, Stowell put on a mys- terious look, ‘* What does it all mean?’ he demanded, in a loud whisper, **T don’t know,” Harold returned; ‘‘ but, sure- ly you must have some clew to the matter,” ‘*T baven’t any. The girl came down here to marry you, and now sbe utterly repudiates the contract. It is astounding to me, Have you no theory to offer?” ‘**] can only infer that she is vexed because I It must be the Harold looked perplexed, but settled down to! have been so late,” the task of solving the mystery. He assumed a lover’s ways; he put his arm around her waist, and tried to get the explanation from her, This was not easy, but she finally recovered enough to curb her violent emotion. She raised ber head and spoke to the point. ‘* Nothing is wrong with me,” sbe asserted, half implore ty half-defiantly. ‘ You make a mistake in thinking tbere is,” ‘* But your tears?” ‘Tears do not always indicate trouble,” ‘“ W bat else do they indicate?” ‘“‘Tt might be one of several things, As for myself, there is nothing the matter. You will please not refer to the matter again.” Again ber manner was a mixture of appeal and defiance, but there was that in it which told those who knew ber well that it would be use- less to press the inquiry. Harold looked at Mr, ' Stowell helplessly, but the elder man came into the discussion in the most inappropriate way imaginable, “Never mind, young people,” he advised; “‘ this will all be right. Remember that you are to be married to-night,” Viola started up quickly. : J . 4a . ee ’ . * ppg 2 * - Par 4 | FP IY = - > 4) ~4 4 4 , o 4 a , ‘That is not it. Sbe has from the first insist- ed that you had some good reason for your ab- sence; and ske is not one to evade the point by falsehood or subterfuge.” “Trae” “Then what are we to think?” The two men grappled with the conundrum in earnest, while Flipper Flynn smiled knowingly. ‘* Gents,” be thougbt, ‘** the trouble is that you give Viola a room too near the ranch of Mr, Gil- bert Dunning!” He was not disposed to intrude ais views upon any one. He had nct been asked for them; and he was not sure be would get out of the case well if he related what he did know. What reason- able excuse could he give for his invasion of Gil- bert’s room? If, as he suspected, Harold was in league with his brother in ways that were dark, it would be possible for him to order the arrest of the Patrol] and have him sent to juil as a bur- glar. This would utterly destroy the value of his testimony, if it did not give bim a term in the State’s service. The Patrol was duly dis- creet, Conversation lulled between the men, and Harold turned to Flipper. ee ol. 5 ‘‘ About this boy,” he suggested; ‘‘I have not et heard who he is,” ‘*He’s a friend of your brother.” sé Ob "7 Harold did not look very much pleased with this information. ‘* Where is Gilbert?” he added, The question was addressed to Flipper, and he did not prove uvequal to the occasion, Calmly and seriously he replied: ‘tT havo an idee he may hev gone out fer a shave, bu6é I ain’t noways certain.” ‘* Has he been here lately?” “I've one jest struck the burgh, myself, an’ can’t say. He wa’n’t here when I ‘showed up. You ought ter know where he is, mister.” lt was a quiet suggestion to Harold, but it produced no visible uneasiness, Dunning an- swered: ‘*T donot. Do you know my brother well?” ‘* About tolerable, I may say.” ‘Oh! he’s a friend of his,” put in Stowell, jumping at the conclusion recklessly. Harold evidently had some idea in bis head, but what it was he did not explain, He and the old gentleman were all bound up in other mat- ters. Still further they discussed the mystery which threatened to break up a wedding. In the mean while, Flipper was doing some think- ing. f Mebbe yer brother has got back, now, an’ is in his room, mister,” was his suggestion, after he bad meditated somewhat, Stowel]] caught at the idea. ‘* We'll look at once,” be decided, He opened the door and all walked in, but Gilbert was not there. The time had come, however, for the Patrol to spring his bomb, ‘* Wot’s that on the bed?” he asked, innocently. ‘* Why,” Stowell returned, ‘it’s almost like blood!” ‘* Blood it is, gents,” the boy averred; *' an’ fresh, Say, who shed it?” CHAPTER VI, FLIPPER TAKES THE TRAIL, BEFORE making tbe last announcement Flipper Flyno bad gone through the form of examiiilos the red stain on the bed, and he made his report without undue show of feeling. He watched sharply, however, to see what effect it would have upon Harold, Unfortunately, Stowell was not prepared for the tragic as the Patrol had been when he came in, and the old gentleman did nothing to belp along the plot. He did not know what meaning the red stain might, or might not bave, naturally. As for Haroli, he ignored the thing entirely. Assum- ing a thoughtful expression, real or feigned, he stood like one wholly absent in mind, is Mister,” persisted Flipper, *‘ w’ot d’ye think of it? ‘‘] know not,” impatiently answered Harold; “and I don’t krow as I care, I am going to leave you, Mr. Stowell I will see you at the earliest possible moment; but I have business, now. I hope you and Viola will come toan upnderstan:ing, and have all fixed when I return.” Viola’s father hoped so, too; and be said as much. He was in a mood fora long talk about the mystery, but be was not humored. Harold had something else on hand, and he got out of the house as soon as possible, though with due ceremony and deference to his aged companion, A word to Flipper had caused that young man to follow; ard Harold turned upon him quickly, ‘** Boy, will you do an errand for me?” ‘* Reckon I kin, boss,” ‘| want to make arrangements for my friends to go to a better place than this; and I want to get word to my brother, so be can help me out. All of this I cannot do at once, of course, Now, { would like to hire you to take word to Gilbert. Wil) you act for me?” ‘* 1 s’pose I might.” ‘*Do it, and I will give youa dollar for your trouble, All I want is for you to notify him that I want to see him as soon as possible.” ‘‘ That’s simple,” ‘* Here is your money, and here is a card with my address. Give it to him, and tell him to come to me at once,” ‘‘]’m yer man,” Harold banded over the articles named, and then bastened away without waiting to see what the Patrol was going to do about it. lf he had remained, he would have seen Flipper stand perfectly still. ‘*Old chap,” he soliloquized, ‘‘ you want ter take a long breath at this point. Yon want ter see where you are. You’ve been driftin’ wits the tide, an’ it would puzzle a Feladelphy law~ \.t oA } . eal (ae i Sea er, erie’ >, on — y A om “a ~ Ce BN |