Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 771 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

ee ee ag a A ee a ee 7 - 7 4 . 6 Warden stood in irresolution, eager to follow and capture the ex-sport, but deterred by pru- dence, ‘‘Singin’ ’skeeters!” exclaimed the Keener; ** how dii you git here, mister?” The question was asked of Harding Otis, but the rich man regarded him inquiringly. “7 don’t know you,” be returned. ‘*Didn’t s’pect you did, but I know you! When I git interested in a feller I ginerally contrive a way ter git my opterkel eyes on him an’ see how he looks.” ‘Out of here, all!” the detective ordered, ‘*Tt seems that there are two gangs abroad, and though I don’t know what the second, is driving at, there are enought to clean us out. Besides, we bave business elsewhere,” fle burried out of the office and stable, and along the alley toward the street, and bis com- anions were not reluctant to follow, Foxy red was looking at Otis wonderingly, curious to know how tbe rich man had chanced to be in the stable with a revolver at his head, but Otis’s face was set, and he made no step toward ex- planation. gney reached the street, and there was general rolief. ‘*Guess we're still ‘in it!’” the Keener de- clared, ‘There is work to be done,” added Warden, hurriedly. ‘‘We have located Berthrong at last, and he must not be allowed to escape, I will remain and watch the building, Fred, and do you hurry to tbe police station for help. See?” **?’'m ‘on,’ an’ I’m off!” The Keener answered the more readily be- cause Otis bad already taken the same direction, He was sovn by the latter’s side, and his inquisi- tive propensity brooked no delay. ‘*Say, mister, we found you in a p’izon fix, didn’t we?” “You did, Your coming relieved me, Allow me to thank you.” Otis’s manner was as curt as his words, but Fred was not to be discouraged. ** W’ot was it all about?” ‘** Merely a personal affair,” ‘* But why was them masked fellers goin’ ter shoot ye?—fer I seen them have a revolver at yer head,” J; ‘* The matter is all over with,” answered Otis, *fand | owe. you thanks, You came just in time, I trust your own business will end as well, whatever itis, As toits nature you need not explain, for I am interested only in my own affairs. It is a good rule to follow.’ The speaker’s voice had gro \n very civil, even kind, but the hint was too plain to be lost upon the bearer. Foxy Fred realized that he had been very distinctly told not to pry into Mr, Harding Otis’s affairs, He was not in any degree bashful, and it was doubtful if be would have heeded the injunction, but at the next street-corner Otis Jeft bim abruptly and walked away. CHAPTER VIIT. THE DECREE OF DOOM, ** WaL, I guess 1 ain’t in it!” The Keener made the remark dryly as he watched Mr. Otis recede. If he had been at leisure the rich man migbt not bave escaped so easily, but Fred was not one to shirk his duty. He let the man go and hastened on his own way. ‘** Great goin’s on, ter-night, by gum!” he com- mented. ‘‘Can’t imagine who them masked critters was, but they bad H,. Otis, Esquire, right by the wool, One tap on the trigger of that six-shooter would have put him ter sleep, Wonder ef his case was connected with ourn? But why should it be? His servant was stole, but that is noreason why anybody should prac- tyse shootin’ with him fer a target,”’ By that time the precinct station-house was reached, and the Keener dashed in and called for police reinforcements, The order was obey- ed sooner than he expected,’and in a comparative- ly short time be had the men back where War- den still awaited them, ‘““No sign from the enemy,” remarked the detective. ‘It really looks as if we have them housed,” He rapped on the door, and, when no reply. came, forced it open. Resistance was expected, but none was met with, nor was any one found to resist. The closest survey failed to bring ‘one of the gang to light, and Warden was com- _ pelled reluctantly to decide, that they bad made — good their ese pe, , Foxv Fred’s Odd Pard. ignorance and innocence, They explained the scene in the office, in which Otis had taken such an uncomfortable part, by saying that all those concerned had been strangers to them, They thought it only a drunken row, but were not in any degree certain, Foxy Fred, at least, took their statements with a large grain of allowance, but the rebuff he had received from Otis had not left him eager to work in the latter’s behalf, Utterly failing to get any clew to Berthrong, Warden led the way to the street and dismissed his police? aids. Fred lingered with bim, ‘* My lad,” then observed the detective, “ you have done nobly and proved yourself possessed of great nerve, Although we have failed, I am very grateful for your aid.” ‘“That’s all right, general; but w’ot about Perce?” ‘*T shall search anew.” ‘* Ef you find a young woman with the gang, look after ber, will ye?” ‘* A young woman?” ‘“‘T may as well teil you ali,” Fred decided; whereupon he related the story of Clarice Wal- bridge’s strange disappearance from Harding Otis’s house, and the suspicions which he and ‘* Mrs, Stannard ” entertained. ‘*Et would be jest like Perce ter take re- venge on his wife,” the Keener said, in conclu- sion, ‘‘an’ we argue that such was his first thought as soon as he escaped. He watched, found out she was workin’ fer Harding Otis, an’ sent in his men ter kidnap her, In some way, mebbe, they thought they knew where she slept, but they didn’t. Anyhow, they got the wrong woman,” “And you think Berthrong has Miss Wal- bridge, now?” “6 Yes.” ‘If she is not the woman he wanted, why doesn’t he allow her to go away?” ‘‘Mebbe he dassent, an’ then, ag’in, mebbe she’s pretty enough so he thinks he’ll be less lone- some with her around,” ‘* Logical, as usual, Iam converted to your belief, and will make her an additional feature of my search, By the way, call on me when you can, I’d like to keep track of one who bas shared my dangers, and it’s possible we may be able to work further together,” ‘*T’m with ye, general; I'll call.” The Keener spoke heartily, and they shook hands and separated, ‘* Seems like old times ter be buckin’ ag’inst Perce,” soliloqguized Fred, as he walked home- ward, ‘I’ve got ter keep it up, too, for Mary Stannard won't be safe while he’s at liberty. Yes; an’ I’ve got ter rescue Clarice Walbridge, too—fer Perce has got ber, sure!” But what would Foxy Fred have thought could he have looked over the shoulder of an ac- quaintance in the same house from which Clarice bad disappeared and read the following letter as its recipient read it, the next morning: ‘“ HARDING Otrts:—With the luck which some- times attends the perjirer and the traitor you es- caped us last night. Chance defea’ed us. Do not, however, flatter yourself that you have triumph-d. You merely have areprieve. The Power still lives, and its hand will scon be at your throar. We wil be frank enough to say that the girl 7s in our hands; why we took the course with you, last night that we did, mattérs not. The Power has reac red her. but its work is not yet done. Tremble, you, for the next blow concerns you. Your doom has been pronounced, According to the custom of the Power, you are not to know when the blow is to fall. It may be at morniog, nocn or evening; or it may be at the dead of nigot. You mav awaken to find the slayer at your bedside, The Doom is pro- nounced, — For the Committee of Death, . ** AZRAEL.”’ Harding Otis dropped the paper. ‘Tt was to be expected!” he murmured, His face was pale, but there was a calmness, outwardly, in bis manner which was not to be expected, No gleam of defiance appeared in his eyes, however; he acted more like a man who, doomed to die, had given up hope and resigned himself to his fate. Anon, he rose and began to pace the floor, Deeply he meditated, and his features began to work strangely. ‘*T ean die!” he cried, at last, “‘ but she must not, She must be saved! But how? Is there power enough in New York City to do it? I will call upon the chief inspector, and all his forcee— But, no; I may as well adhere to the original plan, One shrewd man may be able to do more than a score, Pray Heaven the child may he saved from those fiends!” ‘ You are late,” she remarked. ‘‘I’ve been busy. Stopped ter play craps,” Fred replied. ‘‘- You fail to convince me, You never let trivial things delay you. Have you seen any of the enemy ?”’ “ ‘* A few.” ‘‘ Was it Percy Berthrong?” ‘‘ He saw me!” the Keener dryly remarked, ‘¢ Listen ter the chronikel!” And then he told the whole story. He haia rapt listener. When Mary Stannard married Perey Berthrong she had been inexperienced in the world. He dazzled her with his good looks, good clothes and aristocratic ways. Gradually she learned tbat be was far from perfect, and, later, that he was a crook, He abused her, but she clung to him devotedly until his many crimes compelled her to leave him, To frustrate his plans in an infamous scheme she assumed the disguise of a boy and worked hand-in-hand with Fred to accomplish the desired end. He was captured and sent to prison, and she as- sumed her maiden name of Stannard and tried to lead a quiet life, but his escape and the re- newal of hostilities, was proof that quiet was not yet hers. . ‘The battle must be fought over again,” she sighed. ‘Fact, by ginger!” ‘‘ You have seen how he hates you. He hates me even worse, for it maddened him when I dared to turn against bim. You are right in thinking he is after revenge. Yes; and, unless we beat him again, he will kill me!” CHAPTER IX. THE DETECTIVE COMRADE’S RISK, ‘““You must hide!” oxy Fred declared, “T will do better than that,” Mrs. Stannard firmly answered, ‘I will again disguise my- self asa boy, and once more we will be detec- tive comrades in bringing Percy Berthrong to justice,” “But say; he’s seen you in boy’s clothes al- ready, an’ he will know ye, first off,” Fred cautioned, Mrs, Stannard smiled calmly, | ‘‘ We will see. Before, I practically had no disguise except the clothes of a boy. This time it will be different. When I heard that he bad made his escape my first idea was to flee; my next, to disguise myself so as to look like an entirely different woman. I finally decided to goto Mr. Otis’shouse and sink into quiet life, which I did, but the idea of a disguise has not been out of my mind, To-morrow morning | will show you what I can do, Then we will take the trail.” . ‘¢ Ev’s resky.” ‘* Don’t I know that?” ‘¢ You do, sure.” ‘¢ Whatever I risk, I will do my best to save r Clarice Walbridge.” 3 ‘Ets hard on her ter suffer fer somebody else, I allow,” ‘Yes, and we will rescue her!” Mrs. Stannard spoke confidently, but, though she bad on former occasions proved her courage, the Keeney was not wholly satisfied to have her venture within reach of Berthrong. He had faith in her judgment, however and opposed her no further, Shortly after he retired to rest, and slept well until morning. He was late in knocking at Mrs. Stannard’s door, but, when be did, it was at once opened, Some one whom he took to be a stran- ger stood there, ‘Mrs, Stannard in?” he asked. ‘She has gone to Chicago.” “* Gone—to—Chicago?” The Keener repeated the words in amazement. What could have sent her to Chicago, and with- out seeing him? ‘* Why,” he added, ‘* what the dickens— Sing- | | in’ ’skeeters!” | The ‘*stranger” had smiled, and it was this which made Fred stop short and, later, utter the exclamation. ‘Wal, I'll be darned!” he added, For it was Mrs, Stannard who stood before . him, but so changed that she had deceived even him. change. She had colored her straight, light-brown hair oadeep black, and curled it in ringlets short ‘and erratic: she had darkened ber skin until it asa veculiar shade of brown; and in place of Not until hs was intheroomand had look- ed still further did he realize the extentof the +f 2,7 ed ’ yy’ & . os er usual costume she wore @ man’s fancy suit. 2 Why, you look like a stage feller!” Fred de- — clared, ‘ ** Deuced hard Inck!” be commented, ta eh The stable was visited. There were two| Late as it was, Foxy Fred did not think of | ‘‘ How abouta Cuban?” fi a Br)? Bsleepy: looking bostlers there, but they professed | retiring until he bad seen Mary Stannard, ‘Singin’ ’skeeters! you've hitit, Iketch your — oe ! r , sit 1 ‘ ¢ , ; : , 4 4 aw v ' pA my aie i Pie, q ers : a * . ‘ 4‘. - a aed ; ; ‘ : Po 5 : ‘ . P i * - » / . * o > .« - / . * cy r " ii » * : : c 1* b ; , ‘ ° ; } a we be & P . 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