Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 793 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

tt Dick Doom in Chicagro. a package which he said he would deliver only to the millionaire in person, A note however he had sent in b and breaking the seal Mr. quickly: ‘*'We have found him Clarice.” ** Found whom, father?” “Why, your unkuown bero, of course, for here is a note from bim, ‘*T will read it aloud.” Then Mr, Carrol) read as follows: “THURSDAY, May Ist, 18—, **Mr, SAMUEL CARROLL:— — ** Inadvertently I walk-d away with your sachel of valuables on the night of the hotel fire in St. Louis, and, as I had sent my baggage to the depot, hastened to catch a train for the Kast. ‘*I discovered afterward your sachel, and recalled that Miss Carrvll had placed in it some important papers and ber jewelry, yet, not knowing even your name I was forced to await my return from the East before returning the packages of value, “ I learned in St. Louis yesterday your name and address, so send you the sachel by reliable messen- ger. with the hope that you will find afl in it just as as upon the night of the fire, ‘* With the hope that neirher Miss Carroll or your- self suffered any ill eff-cts from the shock you had to undergo, I remain with respect, “Leo LEF¥INGWELL.”’ ‘Well, Clarice, what do you think of that?” “A very manly note, sir, with no reference to the service he rendered me; but where is he, the servant arroll cried pe ; ** There is no address given.” ** The messenger will know, sir.” The messenger was at once sent for, and he brought in tbe sachel with him, neatly folded and sealed, ‘“* Well, my man, { am Mr. Carroll, so let me bave the package,” ** You will receipt for it, sir?” ** Ob yes, and here is for your trouble.” ‘* The gentleman paid me, sir. ** Yes, but that is for yourself, “‘ Now, where is the gentleman who gave you this package for me?” ibe was called to the Grand Pacific Hotel, “ All right, that will do,” and armed with his seceins ne messenger left, while Clarice opened age. re was the little sachel, with the shoulder- about it, and within was the box of jewelry and leather case of papers. ** Yes, the papers are all here, Clarice,” ‘* And my sees but not the money.” “That is not to be considered, for it was not put into the sachel,”’ ** Of course not, father, or it would be here, “ But you will goto the Grand Pacific and look Leffing well?” ‘** Crumbs, order my carriage for me,” and the millionaire soon after went off in search of the unknown rescuer of his daughter. CHAPTER VI. THE MIDNIGHT VISITOR, THE summer has passed and the autumn has come, The winds sweep over the lake, chilling the air, and rustling the falling leaves in the home of Clarice Carroll, Rumors have been going the rounds that Clarice had found her “hero,” and that he was a man of aristocratic name and bearing, al- though he dwelt upon the Nebraska plains, where he had a large cattle-ranch, Mr, Carroll bad been called away for a couple of months, to make a hasty trip to England and the Continent, on business, and Clarice had gone to spend the summer with friends who bad a home upon the lake-shore, And thither it was said that Leo Leffingwell had followed her, engaging rooms at the sum- mer hotel not over a couple of miles away from the home that Ularice was visiting. He had taken a parlor and room, had his valet, his driving and riding-horse, and it was said that he was ey rich, a fact which caused the poor lovers of Clarice to wonder why the riches of this world could not be more evenly divided, Heo pang wall, rumor had it, was Aon pr m ngue appearance, tal! en formed, with mgt Wwe dy nd beard, the fortes falling waving manes upon his broad si ye and the latter reaching almost to his w a His eyes were large, intensely black, and full of expression, a certain dreauay look haunting them that was very fascinating to the one upon whom they were turned. He was a man of courtly manners, dignified, brilliant, when warmed up in conversation, and one who knew the world well. There were rides on horseback in the morning, drives in the afternoon, sails on the lake by moonlight, and in fact the couple were almost constantly together, There was a tournament given, and Leo Leffingwell won the first prize by his splendid horsemanship, and he had the honor of crown- ing Clarice Carroll the ** Queen of Love and Beauty.” There was a rowing-match upon the river, and once more Leo Leffingwell was the victor, as he was in a shooting for prizes soon after. In fact the handsome cattle-king, as he was called, proved himself an expert in all manly sports, It was not to be wondered at then that Clarice Carroll, owing him her escape from a fearful fate, and also regarding him as her beau ideal of manhood, learned to love him with all ber heart and sov\, At last the season drew to a close, the winds on the lake became chill, and Clarice went back to her home to meet her father. Leo Leffingwell escorted her as far as the city aud then took the train for his home in the far West, promising to return early in the autumn, The gay season of Chicago began with Clarice Carroll still the reigning belle in society, and her many admirers were delighted to know that the man to whom it was said she was engaged, was not in the city, thus giving them a clear field once mere, With a maiden at once beautiful and fascina- ting, and possessed, it was said, of half a million in her own right, left her by her mother, with the prospects of twice as much more from her father, every effort must be made to keep her sot as ita one not of her own city, it was argued, | mong the gifte ie or: her from abroad by her father, were a diamond necklace, a atid of bracelets, superb solitaire earri a uckle and a comb, all valued at the large sum of thirty thousand dollars, In addition to them she had a strong box full of jewels which had belonged to her mother, and were gifts from her father, among them those saved at the time of the fire. The new jewels Clarice put on one night to attend a reception, and upon their return heme with her escort, her fatber—who had not been feeling well—the butler said had retired. ‘I will sit by the library fire, Crumbs, for awhile before I go up to my rooms, so you need not wait up; I will send Jule down to turn out the lights,” she said to thé butler, who bowed and gladly retired to his rest, For some time did the beautiful girl sit by the lowing fire, ber thoughts busy, for she seemed n a mood that was unbappy and disquieting. “Then she arose with a sigh, and oy Ba the iron door set in the wall, and where her father kept his valuables and she her jewels, she turned the knob to catch the ‘ combination” and opened it, Then she took off her necklace, bracelets, ear- rings and comb, and laid them in their case, taken from atin box in which were her other treasures—a fortune in themselves, Their beauty caused her to stand gazing at them foran instant, and then, with another sigh, she was replacing the tin box when she saw a shadow from the chandelier fall upon her and heard the words hissed into her ear: ‘* Make a move, or utter a cry, andI will kill ou, ‘Keep quiet and you will lose your jewels, not your life.” Startled though she was she uttered no cry, but turned and faced the one who uttered the threat, She saw before her a man clad in rough clotb- ing, the collar of his coat turned up, a muffler about his neck and yet whose bands were gloved and face was masked completely. In one hand he held a knife, and with the otber had grasped her arm. White as death Clarice Carroll turned, as she looked upor the masked robber, while from her lips fell the words in a tone of horror: ‘* My God! I know who you are CHAPTER VII, THE DISCOVHBRY,. SWEETLY the maid of Clarice slumbered in her. easy-chair, toasting her toes before the fire in the beautiful sitting-room upon the second floor, where everythin ke beauty’s bower. She was awaiting the return of her m and as was her wont, for she was a priv person, Jule had put on her warm £- ft - SS shes own and was sleeping away the hours in com-. ort, But the fire burned low, and at last witha shiver Jule awoke, ‘Why, it is five o’clock, and Miss Clarice has not yet returned home. ‘‘ It is not usual for her to stay out so late, ‘“‘Ab! but it is storming and that must have detained her,”’. Jule stepped to the window, drew back the heavy curtains and shading her eyes looked out, . | The waves fell upon the lake-shore with heavy thud, the winds whistled savagely around the house and the whole earth was covered with ‘*Ob! what a terrible night. ‘*T sup Miss take the long drive home, so has remained in town with some friend, ‘But then the carriage would have returned with word, for fear her father would be anx- ious, and Grumbs would have come to notify me, for be is only too anxious to get an excuse to talk to me, ‘* Let me see, I have slept since nine o'clock, and I do not wish to go to bed for she may re- turn, ‘It will be nearly two hours before any one is stirring in the house, so I will brighten up the fire and take another na She put on more coal, placed the blower on to enliven the fire, and taking a large Mexican blanket wrapped herself in it and once more set- tled herself to sleep, But she could not sleep now, and said after a half-bour’s trial: ‘““T hope nothing has happened to Miss Clarice.” Then she sat gazing into the coals and after awhile got up impatiently and said: “TI cannot stand this, for it is nearly six o'clock, ‘I will just go down and see if the carriage bas returned,” Sbe went to the door and found the gas burn- ing brightly in the lower hall, ‘Crumbs must have gone to sleep too,” she. muttered, and down the ca stairs she — to the large and spacious upon the first oor, She did not find Crumbs in his nook in the rear hall, and so descended to the servants’ de- partment in search of some one, The cook was just building her fire, and start- ed at sight of her. ‘“‘Has the carriage returned, Nancy?’ she asked. ‘* Yes, for David called me ashe always does,” the cook answered. “Then Miss Clarice remained in town all en for I have been waiting for her,” said ule, ** Miss Clarice came home before one o'clock, for Crumbs just told me 90,” the cook sai ‘* Miss Clarice did not come home, for she has not been near her room,” cried Jule. M =a you mean it, Jule?” ** I do, ‘*Oh! maybe she has fallen off to sleep in the library as she did once before,” and Jule ran up- stairs aud opened the library door. The gas wes burning brightly there and in an easy-chair was Clarice Carroll. ‘**Oh, Miss Clarice! you will catch your death of cold,” and Jule rushed to her side, Then through the house rung forth one long, loud, wailing shriek that caused Mr, Carroll to spring from his bed and the cook and Crumbs to rush up-stairs in ¢ire alarm. When they arrived open the scene Jule lay upon the floor unconscious, at the feet of her mistress, But one look at Clarice Carroll, and exclama- tions. of amazement and horror burst from the lips of Crumbs and the cook, just as Mr, Car- hen in dressing-gown and slippers entered the rary. A Posi came through his shut teeth, and staggering he would have fallen, bad not Crumbs quickly caught bim in bis strong arms, And no wonder, for there sat Clarice with her: dress all stained with blood, while in her white, neck was « knife, driven to the hilt, a knife with qoreied handle which she had herself purchased nD ° The char, slender blade had pierced the heart,. and life had ebbed at once away. The door of the iron safe in the wall was open, the tin box of jewels was there, and all was as. though she had taken her own life, | There, upon the table near her, lay a letter un folded, and Crumbs handed it to the stricken father, who sunk down in a chair to read it, A Clarice dared not attempt to. comicboo — EE ee enti Se