Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 853 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

pa ers to me here, saw me masked only, and fhe is treacherous Dinah can simply say that her lady lodger is gone, and you know the houses are both owned under different names.” ‘*Oh, but you are a schemer.” ‘‘ Thanks, I am proud of it.” ‘‘ Well, what fortune did Pietro get for ou?’ ‘‘ All of the Granger papers in the hands of old Beall, the lawyer.” ‘«That was a good haul indeed.” fat ‘‘So good that it makes me mistress of | the situation.” “ You can bring her to terms now?” ‘* Oh, yes, easily, as she is in my power.” a “Of course, holding the papers you do,” | ‘« But [ hold more.” ** What?” ‘The woman!” a “* Ah!” ah ‘‘Itis true.” e ‘* Where is she?” oe ** In this house,” a ‘*How did you get her here?” . “I used two more of your pals to go with me last night and kidnap her,” 5 ‘** You are a dandy.” i is ‘‘Thanks; I accept the compliment, as aN you mean it.” nt ‘‘She is here, then?” er? ‘¢ Yes, and I will bring her to terms,” ‘‘T think you will.” “But I wish to make terms with you first.” * Well?” = ¥ You are ready to hear my demand?” ; ‘tT will get for you a fortune.” vi **So you have told me for years,” Tapes “It is in our grasp now.” a ** It really looks so.” he ‘‘Now, Lam not working for any one else F ere tae and myself.’’ «6 see bP J at _ “The money I got for the houses will be | used up in my bribes and plotting, leaving but little; but it is make or br now.” “Tt A neo to be.”’ ‘** With the fortune gained, we can go else- where and enjoy it, as 1 have said; but be- fore 1 do more, and remember that what I have done I can undo, I wish a pledge from ou,” ee Well?” ‘‘T wish two,* | ‘¢ Name them,” | oe ‘* First, you are to ellow me to handle the fortune, to manage it.” he Well, it would be better, for Tam a trifle extravagant.’ a “You grant this?” aay: (aS “The next is that you give up your wife, desert Beulah to her fate, and consider the ‘tie between. you forever broken, for in an‘ other land I will get for you a rich wife.” ‘‘Must I do this?” «You must, or lose all.” | ae ‘Poor little Beulah must go, then, for I -._ love gold better than all else,” said the heart- Jess youth, ‘‘Then it is settled; now return to your room, for I have another to see.” with us CHAPTER XXVIL. A STRANGE INTERVIEW. WueEn the heartless youth had returned to 4s the safety of his room, and been locked in —«&y' the negress, Dinah, the masked woman again touched the bell. Dinah appeared and her orders were: ————s * Now go to the room of the lady brought here last night and bring her here.” _--- * Yas, missus; but I kinder feels sorry for ee ed to feel awful bad.” * ont “All the sympathy you feel, Dinah, TI will give youa golden plaster to cure, » ‘ i ? 4 me : a : ~ s va ‘f ’ % Ce, NY ae 2 CS Fa Roles si Lat See Dick Doom’s Kidnapper Kn | her, for when I tuk her her supper she seem- ng et ae } < ' : : ; ’ - rs _*? _ Se .* é : ee ‘ =" fa! p ' J i's : A G4 vt, Ni aed ef} nile A 5 ek AT sey witd ; ‘ u y is Ca ss : yen aed .- . . 4 ' , phe ¥. ma -~;> . eee Fe LP PS tae 4 SE gabe on . * \ 1 ae ‘* Yas, missus,” ‘** Now go.” Dinah went to another room, one in the center of the house. There was no window in it, only a sky- light, and the ceiling was very high. It was intended as a lumber, or storage room evidently. In it was a mattress upon the floor, a low chair and little else. There was no furniture that might be used to climb up to the skylight. Upon the mattress, as Dinah unlocked the door, lay a woman. It was Mrs, Granger, and not only were her hands manacled, but there was a gag in her mouth. The negress said in a not unkindly tone: ‘‘T done come fer yer, honey.” The woman rose and faced her, as though ready to go where she might be taken. She silently followed the negress from the little prison, for it was nothing more, and was led into the presence of the masked woman, She started slightly at beholding her, and the masked woman said: ‘* Dinah, remove the gag from her mouth.” The negress obeyed. ‘Give her a glass of water.” It was done. ‘Now, madam, J am ready to talk business with you,” The prisoner bowed, for her throat was et too contracted to speak, “ Attempt to call out— Leave the room, Dinah!” The negress quickly obeyed. ‘‘ Attempt to call out and I will kill you as I would a dog.” ‘*T shall give no outcry.” ‘You will be wise not to. ‘*Now, do you know me?” ‘Tf I did not know to the contrary,” and she spoke with evident difficulty, ‘‘{ would say that 7H were my maid, Frills,” ‘Am [ not Frills?” ‘She is insane and in an asylum,” ‘So were you.” ‘« Alas, it is true as far as being held in an asylum was concerned, but I was not in- sane.” ‘‘ Nor was IJ, for I feigned it,” — ‘‘Ah! then you are Frills?” ‘“So you called me, but my real name, or the one I went to serve you under, was Charlotte Hull.” ‘‘T remember, and you proved my foe, for you it was that brave young detective Dick oom found out, that murdered my sister, believing that you were poisoning me.” ‘“Yes, Iwas so accused; but I escaped from the asylum and I plotted to kidnap ou, ‘* And did so.” : “Oh, yes, I accomplish what I under- ‘¢ You wish ransom money now, I suppose, so that you can make your escape?” ‘*T wish money, yes.” ‘« Name vour price and [ will try and pur- chase my freedom from you.” | ‘‘Have you any idea what you are worth ?” ‘**T have.” ‘So have I, for I know every dollar you possess, all your real estate, bonds and every- thing that will bring money.” ‘* You are well informed.” ““Oh, yes; but I tell you this to show you that I will not be deceived by you.” **T do not seek to deceive you,” “Then tell me what you are worth.” ‘* Ata guess, for I have not figured up ca) ie carefully, I am worth about a on,” | **- You are worth more.” **T am glad to know it.” | ‘* Yes, your estate is worth three hundred thousand over the sum you named, and let | me tell you that just six hundred thou- f : » p . yy . é - we - : 5 * ‘ ‘ , : re «4! > 2. ee * ’ a% . P ¥! . » 47, * “ me —% : ot ock-Out., | es ‘ 4 y ie . Jen ” - : net J ; ‘ tee: ” ad 13 sand dollars are in negotiable bonds and money. ‘“‘Deducting that sum ao have large real estate interests that will leave you some: seven hundred thousand dollars and pay yow | a very handsome interest besides.” : : i A ‘Well, what is all this figuring upon my: fortune for?” ‘* To show you what you are worth.” ‘‘T expect you are about right, so that there is no reason for argument upon the: | subject.” a ‘“Now you wish me to name my price for ” your freedom?” . ‘é I do.” ‘It is just six hundred thousand in the bonds and money I spoke of, with a pledge 5 not to attempt to hunt me down or prose~ es! cute me in any way.” rs The response of Mrs. Granger was a burst of om that really did not seem to be: orced, CHAPTER XXVIII THE SECRET NOTICE, ‘You appear amused,” said the masked im woman sharply. “a ‘*T am.” ‘What amuses yout” Your demand,” ‘ * You refuse it?” ‘‘ Naturally.” **T have more to say.” ‘‘T can but listen.” ‘“You are a weman along in years, and the fortune left you—for [demand but one: half—will support you like a princess, and’ no one need know about the bonds and money I get.” “Well?” ‘‘In return you are set free, forever of me and your son Loyd. ‘He is in prison and the gallows will free me me of him, while my being abducted from "a my home will set the tireless Dick Doom. upon your track so that you will soon be: ae run down and J freed.” a ‘¢ You think so?” ‘*T know so!” “Let me tell you that I live many lives). This negress has never seen my face, and) does not know me. “T have sold this house under one name I. yy bear, and I have sold the one that is in the: ie rear, and into which I have a secret meansi : ot going that would surprise you.” ‘T did not know you were so rich,” child ‘Oh, yes; I managed to pick up a great. | ia deal during the * ear that I was in your ser- Pe - vice. But let re tell you that in the other building I ama different person altogether, so no one can track me, and you must come. to my terms ” T will not.” ** We will sce.” ‘We shall.” ‘Now you think that Loyd Granger is fn’ prison,” ‘ ‘T know that he is.” | | | Aa “You are mistaken, for I notonly freed. myself from the asylum, but I kidnapped. Or you, and J likewise set him free.” a ‘*T donot believe it.” Les | Ca The masked woman touched a bell and aes when Dinah appeared she ordered:. and get rid, ye 4 > > ‘Bring that young man in here, Dinah.” Ae Dinah disappeared but soon returned, ac- ee companied by the youth, ; 3 ‘* Loyd Granger! - (a ‘My God! you tell the truth,” exclaimed = = | Mrs. Granger, a “Take him back, Dinah,” and.turning to > her prisoner she continued: Ne eeteotah ge a Vou are satisfied ?” Se T am.” | | ‘¢ Will you pay that money now?” “7 must then give you another reason — ce 4 ’ »#™ for your doing so. 4 Jk Te is i ‘ — r ; ‘ i. a> 6 , : % ei . iar say ane < & P . % ' “6 " o Pui ib tee = = d-¢ : : * A e My ® ~ wate i } J Atle a | “wd seat Fr ete Do att * 7 wih ad Ue ‘ ) OMmrepdpooks.com