Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 771 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

Foxy Fred's Odd Pard: The Keener’s Huge Hustle. A Romance of the Strange Otis Case, BY JO PIERCE, AUTHOR OF ‘“‘ TOM THISTLE,” ‘‘ SPICY Jim,” ‘* DENNIS DUFF,” ‘‘ BOB 0’ THE BOWERY,” CHAPTER I, A BLOW THAT WENT HOME, THERE was a sensation in the household of Harding Otis. That morning no breakfast-bell had rung in the house, and when those who com- prised the family were aroused, it was in a very unusual manner. A servant bad rapped at Mr, Otis’s door, ** What is it?” the ex-merchant asked, **Mr, Otis, I want to see you at once, Please to opeu the door,” It was the voice of Julia Day, the chamber- maid, and Oiis threw on his dressing-gown, unlocked the door and faced her, er eyes were unusually large, and her expression was startled. ** Oh! sir!” she exclaimed, “‘ something terri- ble has happened, down-stairs!” What is it?” ‘When I went down no one was in the kitchen, and when I looked for the cook, I couldn't find ber for a long time, She was in her room, tied band and foot, and gagged. Some men did it, in the night.” ‘* Ha! robbers, eh?” **T don’t know, sir.” ‘** Robbers, certainly, I'll look to it.” Harding Otis seemed angry, but not alarmed. Before he retired from mercantile life he had made enough money so that he would never know the difference if burglars carried «ff all of the portable articles in the bouse, and he could afford to disregard the financial loss, if there was any. It was, however, exasperating to think that any one would have the audacity to make free with his premises, He dressed with dispatch, and went down to see the cook, Mrs, Ruby White. As if in de- fiance of her name she was very black; a colored woman who was of ample proportions and, usually, of great good-humor, Just now she was groaning dismally. ‘* Et’s been a hard night fer me, sah!” sho de- clared. ‘‘ They tied me up wuss’n a Christmas turkey, an’ afore mornin’ my j’ints ached that bad I thought they was rent a-thunder.” ‘* Who were the men?” . ** Deed, sah, I dunno how they luoked. They was masked an’ gloved, an’ may have heen white, or black, or Chinee, fer all I knows,” ‘* Did they speak of plunder?” ** Didn’t hear ’em, sab,” ** Tt don’t matter; we’ll see what they secured. Come, Julia!” The chambermaid followed him, and he went first to the safo where the family silver was kept. The safe was closed, and not a scratch was to be found upon it. Mr. Otis opened it, still unconvinced, but not a thing was missing. Not a little puzzled, be next went to his wife’s room, She always had been careless, and in the habit of leaving ber diamonds lying around as freely as bair-pins, but, when she was aroused, it was found that all her jewels, ber watch and her money were intact, When they had gone to the room of their invalid daughter, Madeline, and looked through the parlor, the tempting things of the house bad all been accounted for. If burglars had been there they had iguored all that was really of value—and it could not be found that anything was gone, or disturbed, ‘* Strange!” Mr. Otis commented, in per- plexity. ** Julia,” added Mrs, Otis, ‘‘ go to therooms of Mrs, Stannard and Miss Walbridge.” **T will accompany you,” added the master of the bouse, quickly, So they went to the upper floors together. Mrs, Stannard was ‘‘ companion” to Made- line Otis, while Clarice Walbridge was a young lady whq was endeavoring to instruct the twin sons of the household in the mysteries of early education, ‘‘Governess” was the name by which she was known, but the boys were 80 “gig that it was hard to teach or govern em. : ~ Foxy Fred’s Odd Pard. A knock at Mrs, Stannard’s door brought her to view promptly. She had just finished dress- ing. lt did not take her long to say that she had seen no burglars, but her face was anxious until she had made sure that her small possessions were safe, Only one thing remained, ard they went to the top floor of the house, The chambermaid knocked at Clarice Walbridge’s door, There was no reply. She knocked a secoud time with the same result, ‘* She is asleep,” Julia remarked. ‘* Then she sleeps soundly. Try the door.” Julia obeyed, and, very much to her surprise, it opened readily, Sbesawa vacant room, A woman’s apparel Jay as it had been disposed of for the night, but Miss W albridge vas not there, ** Why, this is odd!” exclaimed the maid. She noted the fact that the bed bad been oc- | cupied, and that the governess’s modest little watch was ticking merrily on the mantel. Then she turned to her employer. Mr, Otis bad been a strong, ruddy-faced man, and she had not heard it said tbat he was ill, but ill he certainly looked, now, His face was pale, and singularly haggard, and his eyes had a strange, glassy— almost a frightened appearance. This occupied her attention but momentarily, then: ** Where can Miss Walbridge be?” she added, Otis walked to the bed. Giving the covers a noted before; the blanket is missing. Julia noticed this and commented upon it, ‘* Search the house for her!” the master order- The maid hurried away. Left alone, Harding Otis looked around asif he expected the burg- lars to burst upon him in a body, with hostile in- tentions. ‘* Merciful heaven! it has come!” he whisper- ed, consternation and terror in bis voice. j any one bad overheard that exclamation the question would have been natural: What was there in the disappearance of a salaried girl, and a late arrival, at that, to cause the rich man to | fall into a panic? | The bare walls seemed to interest bim, as if the story of the night might be written there, but when he had looked to all points of the com- | pass, he began to pace the room with quick and nervous steps. Once he wrung his hands, be- traying emotion still more surprising. ulia. finally returned. ‘* Miss Walbridge is nowhere ip the house, sir,” she anuounced, Otis did not look surprised, Neither did he answer. ‘* What can it mean?” the maid added. ‘* Not a thing was stolen, anywhere.” ‘* Robbery was not the motive,” ** What could it have been, then?” - “T don’t know,” ‘* Mrs. Otis wants to know what we shall do,” ** A bout-what?" ** Sending for the police.” ’ Oh!” ejaculated Harding Otis,” with a start; and then be more quietly added: ‘Ob! course. police station; I don’t care who. I trust break- fast will not be delayed, I will be in my study.” And he walked rapidly out of the room. ‘* Dear me!” quoth Julia, ‘‘he takes it very coolly.” But Mr. Otis went to his study, locked himself in. staggered to the lounge and fell thereon in a fuint. He, the strong man, lay there pale and capil as helpless as a feeble woman, Strange act! Why had he fainted? CHAPTER II. WHO DID IT? EITHER those left to Cothe work were not prompt about sending for the police, or the lat- ter were not prompt in responding; it was some time later when an officer arrived, On being conducted to Mr. Otis’s room, the latter met him in a perfectly calm way. He was somewhat pale, but wholly at bis ease, He told the story quietly. ‘‘The missing girl must have been in league with the intruders,” remarked the officer, ‘ Otis was silent, whereupon the former speaker added: ‘‘No: that cannot have been it. Nothing was taken but the girl, and she went without her clothes. The missing blanket indicates that she was hurriedly wrapped up in it, and, really ab- ducted,” “Do you think so?” asked Otis, with polite in- terest. ; ‘** What else could have been case?’ ‘** No doubt you’re right,”’ shake he developed a fact he believed he had , sion of her, in order wreak vengeance upon her, | | | of Well, have some one go around to the | ‘* What is the girl’s history?” “Tt is unknown.” ** ‘Where are her relatives?” ‘* Equally unknown, She came from Toledo, with a recommendation from a friend of mine who had employed her, but who was about to leave for California. He remarked in the letter, I think, that she was not of Toledo, herself, but that her faithful service entitied her to a recommendation, Further than that I know nothing of her history, Where my friend is I cannot say. He went to California to look for a location, and may be anywhere between Oregon and Mexico. I never heard that the girl had relatives or acquaintances in this city.” Mr, Otis seemed to anticipate that a good many questions would be asked, and had an- swered them in advance by this comprehensive statement, it left the officer downcast. » ** We don’t seem to have much of a clew,” be remarked, gravely. ** Not especially.” ‘‘The intruders did not even care for plunder, for they neglected to take what was at their fingers’ end, so tospeak. Hence, it is clear that Miss Walbridge, and she alone,- was what brought them here. Now, why could they want her? There is a bistory back of all this, These men knew her of old, and wished to get posses- or keep her silent, Which?” niga, is the question,” answered Otis, list- essly. se Rince we are so poorly informed, we can only hustle and try to locate her on general principles. Have you any suggestions?” ** Suggestions?” ** Since the search will not fall to my lot alone, I will reraark that a reward offered by somebody would stimulate the force.” ‘“Oh! well, say that Pll give two hundred dol- lars for her safe recovery,” ' Otis seemed to grow more indifferent as the conversation progressec, and, finding thers was nothing to be learned there, tbe officer rose, said that be would question theservavts, though he did not expect to learn anything thereby; and then return and put the machinery of law in operation, ‘; He left the room, and then Harding Otis rested his bead upon his band. “This is horrible!” be murmured. ‘‘ Two bundred dollars? Why, I would give tens of thousands, if necessary. But what is money in | this case?” Outside his room matters were fast assuming the former tranquil state of the bouse, It was shocking, of course, to bave any one thus spirited away, but Miss Walbridge was only a hired per- son, and nearly a stranger to all there. Mrs. Otis aud Miss Otis grew calm; the Masters Otis, freed from the necessity of study, waxed bila- rious, and even tbe servants began to joke mer- rily over the affair. After noon, however, when Mrs, Otis was congratulating herself that matters were no worse, her daughter’s ‘‘ companion,” Mrs, Stan- nard, came to her with a serious face. ‘* Mrs, Otis,” she began, abruptly, *‘ this trou- ble has made me ill, Can I bave leave of ab- sence?” ‘©1112 Why sbould you be ill?” ‘*Tt is the shock, madam,” ‘‘ What was Miss Walbridge to you?” ‘¢‘ A sister woman; no more,” ** And her abduction bas made you ill?” ‘Yes, madam,” ‘‘Then you are weaker than! thought, Go away? Nonsense, Stannard! you should not in- dulge such fancies, Suppose we all have had a seare. why, that is the best of reasons why we should feel safe. Lightning never strikes twice in the same place; we sball not have another invasion of our house.” ‘‘{ think you under-estimate my courage, madam, and slightly misunderstand my mean- ing. All I desire is to. go away to recuperate, After that, I certainly bope to return,” Mrs, Otis was not an indulgent woman, but Mrs. Stannard bad been so eminently satisfac- tory as companion to the lady’s invalid daugh- ter, that sbe did not deem it prudent to be too dictatorial. Reluctantly, therefore, she finally consented to let ber take a few days’ vacaticn. ** Singin’ ’skeeters!” The exclamation was uttered by a boy of about fifteen years. He sat in a plain room of a house on Morton street, and was busy over sev- — eral pieces of complicated machinery which “ Wal, Pm were on the table. “So you are here?” he added, «* . i ’ * ae (a) . ae