Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 767 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

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Well, she has been very near it—and As Mac well knew, it was not doubt of his | ing through the country as Robert Barrey may do so, yet! identity that caused bis visitor’s hesitation, but | clare (according to the newspapers), that the ‘Two months ago, I overheard her tell her | the sight of bis proffered proof é¢alled up a | would never recognize him—he is so much ~ y “oo J mother that she was strangely tempted toin- | smile, which seemed to give her confidence, | changed.” Bic vestigate this matter—and you know what that | an’ after a smiling glance at the balf black- ‘* Where is he, now?” ae. «3 oe would mean, if sharp men were put on your | ened uppers, and white edges of the brogans, she ‘“‘T donot know, We have to ask Mr, Fulton, cv | ig trail. bogan: when desirous ef learning where he is,” “AS ‘‘ Well, since’ then, notwithstanding what I| ‘*My name, as you see by my card, is Barret— ‘Hump h! Wh> wre th’ doctors?” saw, J have had her every movement watched, | Eunice Barret, ‘* Professors ‘'caerza aud Sanders, and Doctor to see that she did not yield tothe temptation. ‘‘T was recommended to your firm by Mr. | Lewis.” without our knowing it. Hamilton—the gentleman whose life you saved, The last named was uttered after a momen- **Now, it is for you to say what shall be | but he said I had better see Mr. Austin: that you | tary hesitation, accompanied by a slight blush, done.” were very—” neither of which escaped keen-eyed, quick-witted Fulton seemed to be strongly moved by this She paused with a half smile, and then jJump- | Mac, watchfulness in his bebalf, and said: ing the reason, continued: ““I'd like t? talk t’ wan o’ th’ docthors,” be ‘*Emily, you should know better than judge ‘* That is why I asked for your partner.” said, ‘* will ye allow it?” by appearances, but, henceforth, you shall not ** Phat did ye say was th’ raysun, ma’am?” ** Ye-es,” was the hesitating reply, ‘* you have even the ghost of a chance to complain. ** Well—he said you might be a little cross,” | might speak to Doctor Lewis.” ‘“You are to be my wife, and shall be—but, | was the reply, accompanied by a nervous laugh, ** Oh, ther’ all above suspicion,” declared Mac, ; Emily, it must be as Eunice Barret! ‘Well, may th’ divil admire him!” muttered | adding: ae ** As you know, it was your resemblance to |; Mac. ‘* But I'd like t’ hear what the’ know of it, her—aside from your beauty—that first attract- ‘*[ beg your pardon, sir, I did not catch what ‘* I'd like ye’d be home t?-morra’—Ill be want- t in’ t? see th’ room, ’n’ ax some questions.” **[ shall be there,” returned Miss Barret, and as she was escorted to the elevator, was aston- ished and amused at the irrelevant remark of the ‘* hod carrier:” . It’s a pity ye’r’ rich! If yer were poor, we could take ye in wud us!” you said.” ‘**T said I was much obliged t? him,” unblush- ingly replied the oid détective, ‘‘ an’, now, pl’aze tell me yer business—or will ye wait for me partner?” ‘*Oh, no! Indeed, 1 prefer to tell it to you.” Mac bowed quite gracefully, but grinned most disgracefully, while his fair client con- tinued: ** My business is to engage your firm to solve certain doubts which exist only in my mind—as to the identity of the man now traveling through the country under the name of Robert Barret, and to ascertain what has become of tbe man ed my attention, and now the tiine is fast ap- proaching when that resemblance must be made use of! **The old lady can be got out of the way, by an appeal from Barret (#) to join him—without the daughter. ‘** At the first sign of trouble from her, she can be easily disposed of. You will disappear— return home—and reappear as Eunice Barret!” ‘*But how can I do that? She isa blonde, while I am a brunette.” **Go immediately to one of those women who make a business of changing hair and complex- ions, engage one of their people to accompany ‘ ‘ ai an > wh CHAPTER XI. , THE ‘‘ HOD-CARRIER ” AND THE DOCTOR, ae From the ‘ hod-carrier’s” last remark, it would appear tbat he bad no mean opinion of you, and transform you from brunette to | whom be pretends to be!” Miss Barret’s abilities as a detective, and when londe, Mac had heard too many queer tales in his | his partner, ‘‘ Quiet Jack ” Austin (who came ** Some large hotel in the city will be the best | long experience to show much surprise, but, | in shortly afterward), heard the story, he re- a place to go to—I can then reach you easily and | as he afterward remarked to Austin, this pre- | marked: : ; va quickly—and you must be ready, at an hour’s | liminary statement was ‘‘ a corker!” “‘ Wonderfully clever, though it’s a remark- et cr. notice, to assume the character of Eunice Bar- “Is it Robert Barret, the railroad an’ steam- | ably queer story.” ote: | ret. boat millionaire, ye m’ane?” he asked, ‘** All th’ more likely t’ be thrue! . wea ‘‘ The letter that calls you back will give full; ‘*Thesame. I am his niece.” ‘* Now, how’ll we arrange it? You, in your 5 ios, instructions as to how you are to act,” ‘* An’ pbac makes ye think tbat it’s not himself | own quiet way, lock up Misther Fulton, an’ me ” mi th docthor an’ house?” St turning bome—to visit her fatoer, and from that ‘*Beecause on the day my uncle was declared ‘* Just as you say—it suits me,” carelessly re- eS hour, Eunice Bariet’s every movement was } insane, Mr. Fulton, bis cousin, and my cousin, | plied Austin, adding, as be arose from his chair: = watched, too, forbade me to approach Mr. Barret’s door, ‘‘ Better begin at once, I suppose,” That was just five and one-half months after | saying he was about to have another violent Mac looked admiringly at bis partner, who , Robert Barret’s physicians decided that he was | fit.” bad just returned from a long, and weary—but mH a lunatic, “ Violent fit! Phy, I thought it was softenin’ ; successful—bunt, and after a half-hour’s rest, tc sae 0’ the brain?” proposed starting on a new chase. a ‘So the papers kad if, “Quiet Jack” was the very reverse of his | a CHAPTER X, ‘‘ Well, altbough, I bad been forbidden before | partner in appearance, being a well-dressed, es d SIX MONTHS AFTER. and had no desire to see or bear my unfortunate | handsome, gentlemanly - looking, unobtrusive a ; / uncle as a raving maniac, this unnecessary | man of about thirty-five. ‘ : ae A SCORCHING hot day in July; an office on the | warning arovsed my curiosity. ‘* Well, for an ordinary lookin’ chap like your- fe top floor of a high building in Broadway; a ‘““We bave a very intelligent boy in the | self, ye’r’ th’ most dasavin’ [fever met!” exclaim- as 5! roughly-dres-ed, innocent-looking, but keen-eyed | house—bis mother was my nurse, and he is much | ed Mac, adding: “eo . hs iy man of about forty-five, and an elegantly- | attached to me—and calling Jo, I sent bim to ‘But, I’m not goin’ t let ye kill yerself. An 7 attired, beautiful blonde of nineteen, or there- | see what was going on up-stairs, ‘We'll talk this over while /’m gettin’ some- a) abouts—and you have the scene. ** He is half Indian, and being warned, did his | thin’ t’ ate.” : re ] 4 ‘* Is Mr. Austin in?” work without exciting suspicion, returning to ‘* By George! that reminds me, I’ve had noth- | eS: The young lady is asking for the junior mem- | me just as Mr, Fulton entered with three physi- | ing but a cup of coffee to-day.” rs Fac Se ber of the firm whose name adorns the door: cians, for whom he had gone immediately after “ Just like ye! Shure it’s dead ye’d be, if it, 1a, warning me against going up-stairs. wasn’t for me. ¥ “McVeIGH & AUSTIN.” ** Joe reported that he had heard nothing but ‘Three o'clock, an’ nothin’ but a sup o’ coffee % my uncle’s moans and cries, until Mr. Fulton re- | in his stomach.” | turned witb the doctors. Then, be heard Her- ‘“ Phot are ye med of, anyhow?” Rs Austin laughed, but made no response; he was accustomed to his partner’s remonstrances, though these remonstrances and remarks were pone the less deserved, Under an ordinary exterior, ‘Quiet Jack” (Nothing more appears on the sign, nor does the interior of the office give any indication of man, who was my uncle’s attendant say: Five the character of the business carried on by the minutes, eb?’ and then: ‘He will do; more might spoil it!’ ” ie r ~ -— >} = “a tS ae - * = in » = p: . J yar * (> ‘**He is not, ma’am,” promptly replies the ‘* Did be see anythin’?” « rough-looking old fellow, ‘« Well, yes, he saw, or rather thinks he saw e ks The young lady looks distressed, and hesitating- | Herman tickling my uncle’s feet with some- | concealed an iron frame; muscles of steel; un- oo ce ly asks if Mr. McVeigh is in, thing.” failing nerve, and dauntless courage. ae ‘“‘ Faith, be is, ma’am,” is the rich brogue re-| Ricklin’ his feet!” echoed the detective and 9 bis partner, Quiet Jack was @ most de- e ceptive man, ‘a Ply. you think I could see him?” in a curious tone, *“ hie now, that’s quare,” ‘Do 2 ‘‘ Five minits,” muttered Mac reflectively, and hile eating, the partners discussed the affair This timidly -asked question caused the man to seemingly reminded of aa Omission by these | in en my on parting decided to hold to the original plan, ‘*T’ll meet you, then, about this time to-mor- , row,” said Austin, adding: ; ‘* It’s too late tofgo down-town, so I'll see what’s to be learned around the clubs and hotels,” ‘An’ I'm not feelin’ well, so Pll consult Doc- ther Lewis,” rejoined Mac. Jack laughed in his quiet way, and started on his tour of the hotels and clubs, while Mac sought ‘* his” physician, We will accompany the latter. For so young a man—be was about twenty- ay eight—Doctor Lewis bad become te promi- (<a, ac did not n, ed hac grin, as he replied: aan ** Indade, ye kin, ma’am, for yer eyes are fine, an’ Mac sthands forninst thim.,’ The visitor shrunk back in evident confusion, and apparent or real awe. a, “ Why!” she exclaimed. ‘‘ Mr, Hamilton said i” you looked like a—” be Becoming even more confused, the young lad oe short; but Mac filled up the blan ae with: feos | ** Like a hod-carrier. ‘Yis, ma’am, I’m the words, the visitor continued: ‘“*T should have stated, tbat each time Mr. Fulton brought the doctors, I noticed tnat they remained down-stairs for five minutes after he rung the bell,” ‘* Afther who rung the bell?” “Mr, Fulton.” ‘* Didn’t he havea kay?” “Ob, yes, and that is one of my reasons for being suspicious that everything was not as. it should have been. ‘*The doctors came severnl times, each time accompanied by my cousin, and each time he had forgotten the key—and rung twice!” ‘*P—hew!” whistled Mac, and looking admir- ingly at his fair client, asked: ‘‘ Anythin’ else that ye noticed, that was quare?” ‘Yes, my uncle was taken toa private asy- lum, but remained there only a eek. ‘Since he left home, neither my mother nor myself, have seen him, but people who knew m uncle, and have accidentally met the man travel- Cy, 3 7 e # > en oe = we & “ > we ~ ¢ . ra > m wan yer’ aftber.” ee ** But 1 thought hod-carriers wore white—” une “Yis, ma’am, so the’ do, but these ’r’ me Sun- da’ clothes. __ ** Ye see, if I wore me phite pants, I'd have t? wear me hod, too, an’ that 'd niver do, for instance: runnin’ down a dark alley afther a Ditchman! ** An’, now, ma’am, phat kin I do fer ye? nent in bis profession, and though know bim, he knew of him. ‘‘There’s no more doubt of his honor, than there is of his ability,” mused Mac, as he pro- ceeded on bis way, ‘‘and if there was any foul play, it’s strange that ke didn't discover it, “One thing is certain—the fair Eunice has more than a family physician regard for him, one ‘It would bea mighty fine match for him, _ for some of the Barret millions will surely come ' aa “Don’t be afeard,” he continued, as the visitor eee _ stood hesitating. ‘‘ I’m th’ roight man—ye kin is tell that be me brogues!” Next day, Emily declared her intention of re- somebody else he is(!)?” fe 5 7 © : 7 . 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