Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 886 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

eee Seow ale eh a 14 ‘¢ He needs some ginger!” muttered Kell, dis- contentedly. He was watching the receding messenger when a close carriage left the street and turned into the alley at the side of the house. Kell’s blood seemed to leap in his veins—it was in that way that Nicolo had said Jean Beauclare was to be lured to the house. Before the Prodigy could fairly realize the situation the carriage had passed his point of view. ‘+ Murder will be done, an’ I’ve got ter make a break!” he decided, ‘* Here goes!” He ran out of the room, and, finding no one in the hall, went rapidly, but lightly, down the two flights of stairs, Before he had passed the second flight, he knew that he was not to have plain sailing. The unknown Italian stood in front of the closect front door, grim and motionless, Kell made a pretense of ignoring him and tried to pass, but he was caught by the shoulder and held back, ‘* Stay here!” the man sternly ordered. ‘‘ What fur? I want ter go out!” There was enough of rebellion in the answer to show the Italian that danger was at hand, and he promptly bared a knife of true stiletto shape. ‘* Be quiet, or die!” he ordered. At that moment there was a scuffling noise at the side of the house—the sound of a struggle— and Kell knew that Jean Beauclare was in the trap. What would be done? Would they slay him at once, or was there still hope? If a short reprieve could be gained, all might not yet be lost. The sounds ceased, and Nicolo entered the hall hastily. ‘‘ Ha! whom have we here?” he demanded, ‘¢T know not, comrade. id ‘‘ A boy!” cried Nicolo, a look of recognition appearing in his face. ‘‘ He is an accursed spy! By my life! he has come here to hunt us down!” CHAPTER XVII. KELL @REATES A DIVERSION. NicoLo drew a knife as he excitedly spoke these words, and Curly Kell turned and made a dash for the door, regardless of the second Italian’s interposin form, but the latter caught the Prodigy, closed his hand over his mouth, and the prisoner had no chance to cry out. - “Bring him this way!” Nicolo directed, re- covering his calmness, and putting away the knife. The order was obeyed, and, though Kell struggled to the extent of his ability, he was soon in the rear room. He was not surprised to see Jean Beauclare there, but was some- what relieved to discover that he still lived. Nicolo caught up a small rope,a portion of which bad previously been used to render Jean helpless, and the Prodigy was soon bound as fast as his companion in misfortune. Then he was dropped on the floor without ss) pone Beauclare remained the center of interest, but he had nothing tosay. His whole manner indicated the utmost terror. His body was limp, and he could only roll his startled eyes and look beseechingly at his captors. ‘The latter held a whispered conference, and in a short time, the leaders-—-Nicolo, Merry and Madame Lapierre—collected, as it proved, to interview Beauclare. Kell looked on iu silence. He realized his own danger, but did not aban- don hope wholly. He had sent out a message —perhaps it would fallinto the hands of some policeman with enough curiosity, if not confi- dence, to test the truth of the statements it con- tained. ‘‘ Prisoner,” spoke Nicolo, ‘you are in the presence of your judges.” Beauclare did not answer, ‘‘Your father was a marquis in France; you might be one now, if you had been wise, You were not wise; you joined the Sons of the Sti- letto, and then betrayed them.” ‘‘ Nevair!” exclaimed Beauclare, feverishly, ‘‘T knew not ze ways of ze league when [ s’all have joined it, and cor, 4k it only for ze polit- ical purpose; and when | knew ze whole truth, I leave zeband. But betray it—nevair! nevair!” ‘t Opinions differ. We have hunted for you; we have found you.” ‘‘’You persecute ze life of me!’ groaned Beau- clare. ‘* Years ago I had ze happy home, but I know ze Sons of ze Stiletto were on my track. Zat ees what drove me insane, I wandered away; I came to ze reason, years after, in an asylum; I Jeave zere, aud hunt for my family, but find zem not,” ‘They thought you dead. A body was found Curly Kell, the Prodigy of Paradise Park. in the river. It could not be recognized, but it had on your clothes—so they decided. Of course it was a mistake; the clothes were like yours, but not yours. You have been the same as dead for many years.” ‘‘ And my family—do zey live?” asked Beau- clare, eagerly. ‘+ Yes. ‘¢ Where? where?” ‘¢ You will never know.” ‘* Heart of stone!” ‘‘ More than this, another political turn of the tide in France has put your family in favor. You are being bunted for to fill the shoes of\a marquis,” ‘*1 care not for ze empty honor.” ‘‘Tf neither you nor your son appears, the title and estate will go to your cousin, Basil.” ‘* He can have them.” ‘¢ He shall have them, but he shall pay us well to keep the real heir out of sight.” Cobwebs began to see why the birds of prey were so interested in Vincent. ‘‘ Believe me, ze estate I s’all not claim,” Beauclare quickly answered, ‘‘Right! We shall not use you, but your son. AllI need to work the game is certain papers now in your wife’s hands. I bribed aservant of hers to get a duplicate key made to a certain room in the house—the front door is secured with a chain, as wel] as lock—and get the pa- pers, but was defeated. I shall not fail the next time.” Beauclare sighed. ‘¢ Do you know this woman?” continued Nico- lo, pointing to Madame Lapierre. ‘* Only too well!” ‘*She was one of the band in olden days; she is stilla good schemer. She knew the money that was in this case, and was working the same game. Now she and I have joined hands, as we often did in Continental days. This honest man is also my ally.”’ This time he pointed to Monk Merry. ‘‘T know,” replied Beauclare, bitterly. ‘‘ We wandered through ze country roads together, ragged companions in misfortune, and I told him too much,” ‘‘A feller’s got ter earn a livin’,” growled Monk, not without signs of shame. ‘‘So much to make all plain, Beauclare. Now,” continued Nicolo, his voice growing hard, ‘‘ we will return to the matter between you and the Sons of the Stiletto/ Do you know wae we have lured you here?” he unfortunate ain. ‘¢ T know not,” he faintly replied. ‘¢ To-night you and the League settle the old score. ears ago you betrayed us—”’ ‘‘ Never!” cried the prisoner. ‘‘ I Jeft ze band, but I swear by ze saints zat I never lifted ze one finger against you.” ** Why do you lie?” ‘**T speak ze truth.” ‘‘Knough of idle talk, You are doomed by re i of the banded Sons—to-night you e Beauclare unclosed his lips to plead for mercy but cs came to his aid and he suddenly cas off the appearance of weakness. No wonder he had broken down when hunted for years by hid- den foes whose stroke might come at any mo- ment, but he was not a craven, The doom he had so dreaded seemed certain, and he resolved to meet it like a man. During this conversation no one had been paying any attention to Curly Kell, Regard- ng him as a very unimportant factor in the wie now that he was tied up, he was left to him- self. This was just where they made a mistake, The Prodigy was nothing if not plucky, and he was no sooner in bonds than he began to scheme to get outagain. It was his first experi- ence in that line, but he soon made a discovery which the others had overlooked. His wrists were much larger, proportionately, than his haaods, and his the cords upon the former sent his hopes away up. All the while they were ee he was at r work, and at last he succeeded in drawing one of his hands out of the noose. This done the rest was easy, and he was soon wholly free. His first impulse was to make a dash for the street, and this he had cause to believe would be successful, but the certainty that the gang would at once fall upon Beauclare deterr aie He surely would doom the Frenchman by oing. The decision was heroic enough for a veteran soldier, but Kell made it with modest di a of everything but a desire to help his fellovy prisoner, os renchman began to tremble attempt to squirm out of He had a pocket-knife with a big, keen blade, and this he drew and opened. Just as Nicolo was finishing his remarks the Prodigy carefully rose to his feet. There was a general stir among the enemy which indicated that all regarded the interview asover. It was at that moment that somebody else stirred—Curly Kell. He made a rush for Beauclare’s side, and with two quick strokes severed tbe bonds on the latter’s hands and wrists. ‘The Frenchman was free. ‘‘ Up!” the Prodigy cried. ‘‘ It’s life or death —fight yer way through!” Every one was taken by surprise, and no one more so than Jean, but the very Janger that he was in spurred him on to promptness of action unusual to him. Hesprung forward and knock- ed down the nearest Italian, and then essayed to rush through and escape, but Nicolo’s stiletto was raised for work. One moment it looked as if nothing could save the imperiled man, but Kell was there, and keep- ing his eyes open. That cunning young man lowered his head and ran between Nicolo’s extended legs, and the Italian fell like a log, But Madame Lapierre threw her arms around Beauclare’s neck, bound to frustrate his escape, and, as the first of the Sons of the Stiletto was on bis feet again, ruin stared our two friends in the face, It was a serious crisis, but of short duration. | Suddenly the door was flung open, and blue- coated policemen rushed into the room, Kell saw Mrs. Belden close behind them, and flung up one hand in a wild gesture. ‘‘ Hooray!” he cried; ‘‘the under dog is on top now, b’jinks!” The turn of the tide had come, Madame La- pierre, Monk Merry, Nicolo and the other Ital- ian were secured, but not without a hard strug- le. When it was done the foundation of the plot was utterly gone, and not a shred remained whereby the schemers could console themselves. They were hurried away to jail, while Beau- clare, his wife and Vincent, husband, wife and child, were reunited after many years. Mrs, Belden’s delay in answering the summons was due to the fact that she had been away when Kell’s note arrived at the house. The Prodigy never knew what became of his second note— the one sent to the policeman, 3 Nicolo and his countryman were never tried for their crimes. They escaped, were pursued took to the river in a boat, and were rowned by being upset in collision with a passing Monk Merry received as long a sentence to Sing Sing as his abduction of Vincent wouid al- low, while Madame Lapierre, who was an old offender, was tried for a formercrime and given fifteen years at the same retreat. The charge against Bianca was not pressed, | but in less than a month she was in ck iho for participation in a robbery, and was convicted and sentenced. Investigation showed that the Sons of the Sti- letto, individually and as a band, were about extinct, and, on being assured that he would be in no danger, Beauclare decided to resume his old name. After communicating with friends in France, he took his wife and child and sailed for the Continent. The political power of the day received him gladly; he resumed the title of marquis, which had been his father’s; and in the years that have since say he has never seen a Son of the Stiletto, or heard from them. tong Nicolo’s death they practically ceased to exist. The family did not forget that their success— their victory, happiness and prosperity—all was due to one certain person, and when safe in the old home they sent a large sum of money to a prominent New York lawyer with theinjunction: ‘‘See that the boy, Jehiel Kellar, is given a chance to go to school and become a true, honest and noble American, which he surely will be- come if properly encouraged and helped.” It is bard for people to throw off all their uliarities, but ‘‘ Curly Kell” left Mr, Tubbs’s odging-house and went to school with a deter- mination to succeed if possible—in any case, to do his very best. That meant a good deal in his case, and to- day— But our story does not deal with his later life. Enough to say that, perhaps, you will some day happen into the Broadway store where he is doing a flourishing business as a merchant, THE END. | ie rt Sieg Rais + 4 4 a , f 7 ' « Ok Tes y BRAS F5-55 =e rt Tyr <= t “iG Fa Oe % = re Si pe. — > oe — a S aS” 4 te, A. £., ~~ os eis ' — ~~ — P “ > . & : ' a - \ °° [wee ge? St Z =