Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 771 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

eS ee ele 2 - Mr. Appleton rolled his eyes around the room, Inquisitive eyes they were, and he noted all things there. Especially did he take heed of Foxy Fred, Sometbing like sullen dissatisfac- tion seemed to come of the last scrutiny, but he was not turned from his purpose. ‘* Mur,” he proceeded, ‘* you kin see fer your- self that 1am a poor man. I don’t need ter say that. I ain’t poor because I’m lazy, but ’cause | hev played in bard luck, I allays work when I it a chance, an’ it is alongside my last job that T hev come to you. I bear a message.” ‘‘Hrom whom?” ‘Wal, mum, et’s like this: 1 gota job over on Hudson street ter do heavy work fer a gent that I guess ain’t no gent. Among my other duties wuz ter carry water up ter the top-floor, where there wa’n’t no runnin’ water. I had ter leave a pitcherful on a shelf ev’ry mornin’, an’ orders wuz ter hev it there by five o'clock, _ ‘*Wal, mum, I ain’t meddlesome, an’ I didn’t even know who had the room, but this mornin’ a voice riz in the room when I -put down the water. " It wuz a gal’s voice, an’ it kinder give me a start. ‘‘ She axed me ter hold on, an’I held on. Then she interrogated me, wuz I an konist man? I tol’ her I wuz, an’ thea she stated ez how she wuz a prisoner there, an’ wanted ter git out. We had a talk, an’ when she found I wuz reliable, she says, says she: ‘**] want you ter go on an arrant.’ *** All right,’ says I. “** Et’s ter a lady,’ says she, ‘an’ [I want her ter come an’ rescue me,’ says she. ‘I want her ter come in person, fer she is the best frien’ I hev, an’ I know she kin advise me,’ ‘*** Pll do ez you say,’ says I, ‘***Go, then,’ says she, ‘an’ may Providence be with you, Say ter her that it is Clarice Walbridge who wants ter see her!’” CHAPTER XX. HOW THE CONVICT SUCCEEDED, THE ragged man ceased, and looked at his companions, He tried to keep the dull expres- sion befitting John Appleton, but his eyes bristled with keen interrogation points, He was eager to learn the result of bis stig {rs. Stannard would have been dull bad she not perceived the trap laid for ber, but she did not betray any suspicion outwardly, or even glance at Voxy Fred. ; ‘*So this Clarice Walbridge is a prisoner?” she returned, ‘* Yes, mum,” Appleton returned. ‘Of whom?” ‘* Wal, the feller who hired me is a one-legged man named Abe Woods, Then there’sa woman who is called his sister, Mrs. Shaw.” ‘* Why do they hold the girl prisoner?” ‘*T don’t know, mum,” ** How did she know where I was?” ‘*T don’t know, but she bid me ter come here, an’ ef you wa’n’t here I wuz ter go to another place,” and the speaker gave Harding Otis’s residence by street and number. *Am1| gee to rescue her by main force?” continued Mrs, Stannard, ‘‘The way she planned it wuz this: You wuz ter take a stout, brave, trusty man, an’ him, an’ you, an’ me wuz ter go along ter the house, an’ we was ter go in an’ take the poor gal out. See?’ They did see. Nothing could be plainer. The trap was as plain as the bewhiskered head of the trapper, and no more explanation on his part was necessary. Mrs, Stannard answered: ‘‘] am but a casual acquaintance of this Miss Walbridge, and 1 am not sure [ should be doing myself justice to risk anything for her, Why didn’t she send for the police, if she is in trou- ble?” ‘‘ She says she bas a secret, an’ that sho would be forever ruined ef the case got inter the courts, Et is a family affair,” added Mr, Ap- pleton, warming to his subject, ‘an’ she an’ her mother has enemies they hev got ter keep out o’ sight of fer a few weeks more, If things is precipitated too soon, she an’ her mother wil] be undone forever, I tell ye, mum, the gal pleaded hard, an’ it made my heart ache. I felt fer her, powerful!” ** You look it!” he comment came dryly from Foxy Fred, ** Eh?’ questioned the visitor. ** You look tender-hearted,” “ 1 be ” “ How much?” c eS meanin' ain’t clear,” eltoer ain’t your f “Bh?” ape rams Foxy Fred’s Odd Pard. Mister, with 80 many gallons o’ drink rollin’ along the North River ev’ry mornin’ afore sun-up, you ought ter find a place big enough fer you ter takea bath!’ ‘* Boys should be seen, not heard,” declared the visitor, scowling. ‘* All right; look at me, Et won’t cost you a cent, though I dare say you could develop gold- pieces trom every pocket of yer wardrobe. Git if in Paris?” ‘* Git what?” ‘* Yer raiment, I kinder like it, The goods ain’t so smooth an’ glossy as some o’ the tip- toppers on Murray Hill wear, but it’s all there. Fits yer wal, too, ‘Them pants can’t never bag at the knee, fer when you move ag‘in they would spring out like the sail on a vessel, I reckon. er left leg is a bit crooked, ain‘t it?” ‘** My legs bev nothin’ ter do with you.” “Ef I had ’ero I’d use ’em fer the frame ter a lacrosse stick, Put stringin’ on them an’ they’d be jim-hickeys. You never’d make a football player, fer the whole rush-line would go right between yer legs an’ never touch the posts.” Foxy Fred spoke with an air of generous can- dor, but bis comments were not relished, The visitor’s scow] grew deeper, ‘* That'll do!” be declared. ‘* Hope I don’t offend, Mr. Applejack.” ‘* My naine is Appleton.” ‘* Excuse me, Mr, Applegate.” The man turned to Mrs, Stannard, but his anger was so aroused that his face did not look like that of the kind and Samaritan-like in- dividual he professed to be. He forgot his wheezy utterance, and sharply inquired: ‘““ Are you going, madam?” ** I don’t think I will” ‘* Have you no pity or the young lady” ‘Tl have abundant p y; but if you are so con- cerned on that point,’ by did you not take her out at the time? You vere alone with ber; you bad conversation wi 1 her. You area strong man, If you felt so lL 2enly on the subject, why didn’t you take her away at once, instead of coming to me, a woman, to do it?” The visitor hitched about in his seat, this time in real uneasiness, perhaps. ‘*There wa’n’t no show at that time, fer the captors were all down below, in the way; but the coast will be clear after ten o’clock. I could let her out, then, alone, but she’s shy an’ timid, an’ declares she wante a wowan there, an’ a friend at that, whom she kin trust,” ‘* Shouldn’t wonder ef she’s afraid o’ you, Mr. Applepie,” interpolated Foxy Fred, candidly. he ragged man would not deign te glance at the speaker, “Perhaps I can improve on your plan,” re- marked Mrs, Stannard, evenly, *‘ but tell me your way, in detail,” “Why, you git a stout man, an’ him an’ you go along with us, an’ we jest go ter the house an’ take Miss Walbridge away. We do it on the sly, but ready ter fight, if necessary.” ** Do you think J would be safe in the house?” “Ob! we'll take keer o’ you, mum!” Right, Mr. Appleseed!” quoth Fred; ‘ you would!” **’'You shall see what I can furnish in the way of a man to keep me company,” quietly re- marked Mrs, Stannard, ‘‘Come in!” At the order the door opened and the two guards walked in. Mr, Appleton had specified that the man should be a stout one, and he had his fill, now. Two more muscular fellows he rarely had seen; they looked capable of any deed. of musele and daring, More than this, one of them hada revolver, and this weapon he brought to bear upon the visitor at once. ‘“*I guess Pm the huckleberry you want,” he remarked, in a matter-of-fact way. Appleton bad started, and he now turned bis gaze npon Mrs, Stannard. ‘* What does this mean?’ he demanded, ‘* Simply that I know you, Percy Berthrong !” She answered swiftly, knowing the time had come for action, but not with her usual coolness, Now she was facing the man who had openly avowed his intention to shoot her, she, knowin his nature as she did, dreaded the next few seconds, Nor had she miscalculated, The convict saw that his plan had failed, and that be was unmasked, e had oue resource left, and be proceeded to use it. With fiercel y flashing eyes he jerked a revolver out from under bis ragged coat, and turned it upon his ex-wife. ‘“‘ Die, traitress!” he cried, madly, The other men sprung forward to check the shot, They were too late, Ever quick witha revolver the visitor pulled the trigger. The ‘* Kt ain’t clear o’ dirt, 1 mean. weapon was discharged. 13 CHAPTER XXII. IN THE NICK OF TIME, HARDING OTIS folded his arms and met Eldred’s gaze without perceptible emotion, ‘lam at your mercy,” he admitted, ‘“ Kilb. me, if you wish.” ‘*'Your time has not quite come,” Eldred re- plied, like a machine, **I know of no rule of the Power which re- quires its followers to torture as well as kill. You say you have certain orders, Why not earry them out at once? I have given up bope. I came here, to-night, resolved that if I must die I would not be the only victim. I did not think to save myself, but pride would not let me fal! like a craven. I say plainly that, if my will had availed anything, you and your associates would have fared bard, Luck was against me: I failed. Do your own work, now,” **'No,” Eldred answered, unmoved. “ You are warned, but the hour of your death is not yet set. I await due orders, and will do nothing until such orders come, Go, now; I have no- more to say to you!” Otis hesitated. Hisenemy was larger than he, and had the advantage of the revolver. Despite: this he was tempted to make a fresh attack, and only the probability that it would end in morti- fication, rather than tragedy, deterred him, Eldred was like a rock, Convinced, at last, of the folly of further- effort, the rich manturned slowly away, With— out another word to his enemy, without a back- ward look, he walked down the street, No fear of thus exposing himself to attack in the rear troubled him, and his movements were deliber-. ate. As he turned the corner of the block he took aw glance. Eldred still stood as he had left. im, ‘*Insatiate monster!” he murmured; “ why don’t Ph do your work and return whence you came?” Step by step he retraced his way until again before tke door of his own home, He entered. Chance again favored bim, and he reached bis own room without being seen by any member of" the household, Once there he removed his dis- guise and replaced everything as before. Them he produced another revolver, loaded it, laid it: on the table and sat down to smoke, ‘*Events must take their course,” he remark- ed, quietly. ‘‘I cnly hope I may be able to gel my hfe dearly!” Percy Berthrong had fully intended to take his ex-wife’s life, and the other men had been too much dazed to interfere in time, but one member of the party was thoroughly alert. That one bad looked for something of the kind.. When the revolver was raised the Keener leaped forward agilely. Just as Perce pressed the trig- ger the former struck with the sand-bag,’ and the bullet plowed a hole in the ceiling. Plaster fell freely, but no further damage was done, Foxy d had saved bis detective comrade’s life by his timely blow, and in another moment the two men had disarmed the ex-sport, and raised him to his feet, ‘“'Wal, you’re a jim-hickey, ain’t you?” ex- claimed Foxy Fred, derisively. Bertbrong had nothing to say. ‘““Ef you give the word,” put in one of the defenders, ‘‘ we'll throw the feller down the: stairs an’ break hisneck. He deserves it!” ‘*Et might break the stairs, too,” returned the- Keener, nonchalantly. Mrs, Stannard looked only at the foiled as- sassin. He was glaring fiercely at ber, but was wholly helpless in the hands cf his captors. He had played bis cards and failed; he could do no- more, but his batred was as bitter as ever, “Percy Berthrong,” she spoke, presently, ‘* you bave been saved from being a murderer,” ‘*May destruction overtake those who pre- vented it!” he retorted. ‘*Knowing you as I do, I am not surprised at your sentiments, Yet, wing tg all I have suffer- ed at your hands, I should be glad to find you in- a different frame of mind. My death would do you no good, much as you desire it, for ycur purpose is known to so many that arrest weuld follow fast upon your crime, wherever it might be committed, and you know what would follow arrest. Think of this, and do not pursue your d rate purpose further,” “Fle sneered scornfully. ‘You need not preach to me, for it will avail’ nothing. My purpose is fixed, and only m own death can change it. You are doom woman. Further than this I have nothing to any. Do with me as you will!” e closed his lips, and was resolute in the pur— pose to say no more,