Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 765 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

Flipper Flynn, the Street Patrol. 9 Patrol. ‘ Wal, Dun, ll hev a squint at him, too. Oh! soit’sa woman! The plot darkens!” Flipper thought he had the matter down fine, but the result actually dazed him. Harold, after the sharp survey, rapidly toward a lady who, clearly, bad been waiting. She rose to meet bim, and Flipper sidled up, strong in the faith that be was going to discover another lady-love of the gay city gentleman. Hence, be looked bewildered when he saw her plainly. It was Viola Stowell! ‘Well, b’jinks! here’s a queer go!” So declared the Patrol, and bis belief did not waver as he watched. he could get near enough tooverhear the conver- sation, and this be did not hesitate todo. There was a deal of pantomime to go with the rest. Harold had a very eager air, but when he would have clasped Viola’s hand, she drew back and avoided the warm reception. Then she stood looking at ber lover in silence, her face stern and accusing, her manner that of a tragedy queen, as it were, ** Viola!” Harold exclaimed, ‘‘ what in the name of the wonderful does this mean?” ** Don’t you know?” she asked, icily. ** Indeed, I do not.” ‘*) think I can make it plain to you!” she re- marked, pointedly, ‘'I bave called you here for that purpose; though it seems to me you should have read the truth at tbe hotel,” ** How could I?” ‘*T refused to marry you, and that, too, after coming all the way from my home for that especial purpose. Did you ever know me to ‘be weak or vacillating? Did you ever know me to be erratic? Did you ever know me to act with- out just cause?” ** No; and that is just why [am so much at fault. Viola, Il have been about mad since last night! I have passed an utterly sleepless night, end by every device have tried to solve the mystery.” ‘*T cannot believe you so ignorant as you pre- tend, though you may, indeed, be somewhat in the dark,” Flipper Flynn was baving nota little interest- ing occupation in watching these _ persons, Harold looked what he pretended to be—wholly bewildered and upset: while Viola maintained her air of stern composure—her accusing severity. ‘You will have to explain,” returned Dun- ning, helplessly; ‘‘ I cannot grasp a thing.” ‘“‘It was a mistake to give me a room so near that of your brother. Does that convey any- thing to you?” ‘‘ Nothing! Surely, Gilbert has not given you cause for annoyance?” ‘‘He has not. You alone are responsible, Since you insist upon the explanation, you shall have it without delay. In brief, you lost all when I took the room which I had, It was, as you are aware, next to your brother’s, More than that, the walls were so thin that it was not a to overhear couversation from the other side, She paused as if the secret ought to be his, then, but he maintained his perplexed air, After @ pause she went on firmly: ‘* Last evening I heard some one in the other room for some time, but gave the matter no at- tention until a second man entere}i,” - ‘*Aba!” murmured Flipper Flinn, with a start, ** Well?” inquired Harold. ‘“‘]T was not in the business of spying, and, as [ said, I gave the matter no especial attention until the voices grew loud and angry—at least, one Of them did, It was that of thevisitor, He was angry, and he proceeded to heap some ac- cusation upon the former occupants, I could not avoid hearing what followed. ‘‘The visitor charged his companion with playing bim false in some matter of business; and this was what I made out: ‘‘They had been in a secret work together, and the visitor had paid the other one money. He had been deceived; he had come for satis- faction. This be had failed to get. He had been roughly received; the satisfaction had been refused. He grew angry at this, and sud- denly cried out so distinctly that I could not avoid hearing his words: *“*T will force you to treat me fairly! You shall release your grip on my throat, or I'll ap- ply to the police!’ *** You dare not!’ was the cool reply. *“**T dare, and will! You have asked too much of me; I will endure it no longer, Your de- mands mean ruin to me, if carried out, If_I must go to the dogs, I won’t go alone!’ bad gone forward He was so situated that ** * You'll have to catch me, first.’ “‘*That is no longer difficult, I know you, at last. Dare you deny that you are Harold Dunning?” For tho first time Harold showed confusion. ** W hat?” he exclaimed. “‘T thought that would touch you. Yes, sir: I heard all. I need not linger upon the words that followed, From words they came to blows, and I knew the visitor was in some way iajured —I dare not think, I dare not surmise how!” For the first time, like ber companion, the girl’s mood shanged, Her head drooped; her voice trembled. She had borne up well, but there was a limit even to such endurance as hers. ‘*Do you mean,” cried Herold, ** that the visi- tor accused the other man of being me?” ** He did so accuse him.” ‘* Surely, it was promptly denied?” ‘** No; the charge was admitted,” ** Admitted?” ren” “There is some horrible mistake here, I give you my word of honor I was not in the room.” ‘* But I heard your voice!” **As a party to the talk?” ‘*The man who was in the room when the visitor came: who held the conversation with him; who admitted he was Harold Dunning: who finally assaulted the visitor and, for all I know, seriously wounded him, was you, Harold Dunning! Do you suppose I could be mistaken in your voice?” The reply was certainly clear enough to be understood. Harold did understand, but he remained looking at Viola in a dazed way. Innocent or guilty, it was clear the blow fell heavily upon him, At last be found his voice again, ‘** Viola,” he cried, ‘‘I declare to you there is some horrible mistake, I ‘solemnly assert that I was not in the room at all. Nay, I swear toit! You saw meas soon as I came to the hotel; I saw you first of all, This is the sacred truth!” Sbe shook her head, ‘*T cannot doubt the evidence of my senses,” she replied, sadly. Harold was not ready to give up; he did not give np. He began an earnest argument, using every plea he could bring to his aid. In the mean while Flipper Flynn did some thinking. He was better situated to understand the matter than any one else, and he could grasp what would have been obscure to the unintiiated. ‘Dun, ol? chap, yer sins hev found ye out. Yer sweetheart is dead onter ye, an’ she ain’t yer sweetheart any more times, The little biz has gone back on ve; you must answer fer Roger, livin’ or dead!” CHAPIiER XI. A CLEW GAINED, FLIPPER FLYNN was not disposed to be un- charitable, but he regarded the case as fully proven. Viola ought not to be mistaken in her lover’s voice, and her assertions were only in keeping with what bad been presented to the Patrol’s own observation. No doubt, he thougbt, the Dunning brothers bad been equally concerned in the mysterious disappearance of Roger Hethington, ‘* Dan,” the listener soliloquized, ‘‘ you may as well let Viola go back ter the country, right away. You ain’t in it!” Harold was not inclined to accept this view of the matter so readily, aud he continued to press his case until Viola broke into tears, This was not a point gained for him, however; she did pot waver in the stand she had taken, That she had not conquered her love for him was evidenced by the fact that her grief was so deep, yet ber resolution was unchangeable, At times Harold had hesitated, as if he had something on his mind, and he finally requested: ‘‘ Let me bring my brother before you as evi- dence—” ‘* No!” she answered, firmly; “‘ 1 have thought of that, and I can plainly see he would do all in his power to clear you. Better let it rest as it is. My own ears have given me evidence that ou are a man who lives by his wits: a shameful ife; the life of a confidence man, kidnapper, crook—I'’know not what it is called in slang of this great city, but the results are very clear tome. I see ge? varrowly escaped marrying a criminal!” “I swear to you it is not true! You are in error. [ have no cause to blush for any act of mine—” ‘* Perhaps you have forgotten how to blush,” sadly returned Viola. no more, I sent for you to meet me here be- cause I was willing to help hide your secret; because, for the sake of the days that are gone, I would not be the one to drag you to a felon’s dock. Even from my father a will keep the secret,” ‘*’Yes,” agreed the Patrol, ‘‘she’ll keep it, Keep it? Why, great ginger! you couldn’t hire ber to go back on him. She’s got the nerve ter throw him over, but she likes him jest oz wal ez ever!” She had made a movement to go, but Harold was not so easily to be shaken off. He contin- ued his pleading, his protestations of innocence, and Viola was not able to terminate the inter- view, Finally, he saw he was throwing his time away, and be suddenly threw his head back and exclaimed: ‘*] will trouble you no more, now; but this you may depend upon: Even if you and I never exchange a word, again, I am going to prove my innocence! I will settle this matter if it takes ten years to do it. 1 bave beenun- justly accused; [ am going to compel all who doubt my bonor to themselves admitit, I have no more to say!” Flipper Flynn scratched bis head, * Indignant innocence! Is it real, or put on?” It was a question he could not answer, Harold did not seek to prolong the interview. He recovered his calmness as quickly as he bad lost it, and offered to escort Viola home, but she declined the offer, They .separated and went their ways, where- upon Flipper also moved on, He felt that the case was shrouded in darkness, and did not see how he was to get light without a good deal of luck, Yet, he was nearer the solution than he suspected, His course took him past where he had left Betty Gray, and at that point he was surprised to see that small maiden come sailing out in such haste that ber har flew wildly in the wind, “Oh! we want ter see you!” she exclaimed, **I'm yer bhuckleberry,” responded the Patrol, with dignity. ‘‘ In w’ot way kin I be of value?” ** Abe is here!” ** Abe? Who's he?” “* Why, he’s Motber Jacobs’s husband,” ‘** Hil so it’s that fortunate gent, is it? Now, that’s encouragin’, How did ye get him—witha lasso?” ‘* He was passin’, an’ I called him in. been cast off, too.” **Motber Jacobs must be hevin’ a gineral house-cleanin’, But w’ot does it signerfy ter us? Anything promisin’?” ‘* Abe is clean down on’em an’ he will tell all he can,” ‘*G od fer Abrabam! hevin’ a chat witb the good soul, Sunshine!” They entered the house, and Flipper was soon sitting in Mr, Jacobs’s presence, He was not an interesting man, in appearance. He was small of stature, thin of face, and shabby of dress; and his expression was a singular mixture of false humility and natural Viciousness, sr Now, Abe,” directed Betty, ‘* yuu tell all you can, ‘“*] kin tell enough,” asserted Jacobs, peevish- ly. “‘l’ve been kicked around like a dog all my life, an’ now they’ve cast me off. I won’t bear any more,” ‘* That’s the proper spirit,” asserted the Patrol, gravely. **A man is justified in bein’ stern when he’s drove ter the wall, ain’t he?’ inquired Abra- ham, seeking for information. “Sure!” ‘** l’ve been misused, an’I don’t care who hears me sayit! They always thought l was no good; they never gave me any show at the plunder—l mean, they didn’t use me well,” amended Abe, with the haste of one who has been too frank, “f was only a dog fer them, anyhow. They said I wa’n’t bright, but a phrenologist told me I had a fine head. My wife has always abused me; I’ve been only anerrand boy. Now, they’ve cast me off!” Her voice was shrill as he made his complaint, and he doubled up a little hand and shook a little fist in wrath, Unknown to him, he had given far more of his history than he bad put in words. Flipper Flynn easily understood why he aad stood so poorly with his wife and the gang. Clearly, he was as vicious as any of the party, but Nature had not given him an average share of brains, and it would have been a rash person who would trust him with important secrets. It had been natural, but far from prudent, to He has I shall take pleasure in Heave abead, ‘Let us speak of this ; cast him off, |