Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 886 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

S) a \ 4 = ra of a Mrs. Belden realized all this as time went on. She had based all upon Kell’s opinion, and he frankly admitted that the aforesaid opinion was not based on anything definite. If Nicolo Mazzeo and Bianca attempted a lawless act and were frustrated by Kell and bis two aids, all would be well and good, but if no such act transpired, and Mrs, Stanley discov- ered their presence—then there would be a dis- turbance, Realizing all this, Mrs, Belden grew nervous, and she made a visit to her confederates, after Nicolo and Bianca were conducted up-stairs and gave them repeated injunctions to use all possible care. In due time both the ladies of the house re- | floo tired, and a little later Kell and his associates ascended to the next floor and took refuge in a closet which opened off of the hall, Of course no risk was run in giving them the Mike Keefe comprehended the dilemma. ** Leave her ter me!” he whispered, and left the closet before Cobwebs could stop him, The latter was alarmed, Keefe was a large man, and accustomed to hard labor, and such persons are not usually light-footed. Mike, how- ever, surprised his ally; a cat could hardly have moved more softly than he. Having previously had a good look at the ro- bust Italian girl, Keefe knew that he had no mean task ahead of him, but he thought he could manage it. He reached her sitie unseen | and unheard, and promptly closed one hand | over her mouth, preventing any outcry, while | with the other arm he lifted her clear of the r. ‘**Did ye iver see a rabbit jump whin he got a charge ave shot in him?” was the question the honest [rishman was accustomed to ask, after- ward, when trying to explain Bianca’s efforts, liberty of the house, for, though the Prodigy | She dide* jump,” and she struggled furiously in was a stranger, Oakes and Keefe were known to Mrs. Belden, and she knew they could be trusted in all ways. The three stowed themselves away in the closet and waited as patiently as possible. At times Kell’s faith in his own judgment wavered, and he suspected that he had been rash in taking so much for granted, but he had only to recall Nicolo’s record to regain courage, The Italian was a bravo who did not scruple to attempt murder to repay a real or imaginary wrong, and his present rdle of meekness and misery was very much out of place. His au- dacity in introducing plump, healthy Bianca as a nervous, sensitive girl was only equal to Mrs, Stanley’s blind credulity in believing them, but both had acted their parts well. if mischief was intended, the presence of friends was very fortunate for Mrs. Belden. She slept on the samo floor where the Italians had been placed, while her aunt occupied the back parlor as a sleeping-room. This would have left the younger lady alone in the upper part of the house with the Italians if it were not tor her secret allies, There was a long period of inactivity, and the trio in the closet felt anything but comfortable, They heard the clock strike eleven and twelve, and another hour seemed about gone, But their patience was not to go unrewarded., Kell was at the door of the closet»with that obstacle pushed back far enough to give him a chanco to listen, Hebad used his keen youn ears well, but heard not a sound to warn bim o any one moving until there was the slightest possible rustle in the hall near him, and looking out, he saw a dark figure. It passed his hiding-place and paused in front of Mrs. Belden’s door. ‘*The Eyetalian, b’jinks!” The thought passed through Kell’s mind quickly, but it was intuition, not certainty; he could see nothing clearly, and the prowler might have been Italian or African; white, black or red. The latter had come to a ron. Standing by Mrs. Belden’s door, he stood like a statue and listened carefully. Minutes passed before he changed his position. When he did, he raised his arms and began to fumble about the key- bole. Kell at once suspected an intention of picking the lock, but Nicolo had a better way than that. Slowly, cautiously, almost noiselessly, he intro- duced a key,and then turned the bolt back with a steady hand and no betraying sound, The way to Mrs, Belden’s room was open! Kell nudged his confederates, He was in high glee atseeing his suspicions thus confirmed ; Nicolo stood branded as a law-breaker, if noth- ing more. . | he time was not come to disturb bim, how- ever; #t had been Mrs, Belden’s request that they should delay action until the fellow had betrayed the object of his efforts. He next left the door and went to the further end of the hall, but speedily_returned with Bianca in charge. Nota word passed between them, but she seemed to know just whatto do and did it with the coolness and readiness 0 oneoldincrime, She took her place by the door and Nicolo safely turned the knob and pushed the door open. _ eng more he listened; then he entered noise- essly. Y Kell wasin a dilemma. Although Mrs, Bel- den had promised to remain awake, so that she would be able to appear on the scene at once in case of alarm, there was a possibility that she had fallen asleep. In any case, the Prodigy wished to be near enough to foil any murderous attempt on Nicolo’s part, and therestood Bianca in the way. | | | his arms, Strong as he was, he found it no small task to hold her, but bis muscles were hard, and he won the day. As her feet were clear of the floor, all betraying sound was pre- vented, 4 Kell hastened to take her vacated place by the oor, He had barely done this when a narrow band of light flashed outin the darkness at the other side of the room, Nicolo was using a dark-lantern. The light was turned in various directions un- til he finally located a big, old-fashioned desk. Upon this he set the lantern, and then opened | the unlocked drawer. tse ee oe | | | | Kell was curious to know what this meant, Mrs. Belden had avowed that neither money nor other vaiuables were in the house, but the Ital- lan evidently was of different opinion, and knew just where to look for what he wanted. Ee began to fumble among the papers, There were but a few in the desk, and, after discarding several that he came upon first, he seized upon a compact package, gave the con- tents brief examination by the light of his lan- tern, and then thrust them into his pocket. He reclosed the desk, but his hour of success was over, There was a sudden sound by the bed, and then the gas leaped up fully and the whole room was in strong tight, Nicolo turned abruptly. He stood face to face with Mrs. Belden, She stretched out one hand toward bim dra- matically, and,in a voice tremulous with excite- ment, exclaimed: ‘You thief! you think you are going to take your plunder to those who sent you, but vou will \not go unless it be over my lifeless Re icolo was silent and motionless for a mo- ment, not so much because he was discovered, but because her manner was so striking that it appealed even to his low and evil nature, and beat down his will-power. But the influence soon passed, and he revealed his real nature likea flash. Out from his coat he jerked a knife witha long and glittering blade, and sprung toward Mrs, Belden. She had been brave the moment before, but her courage went out like a light. Nicolo’s face was a revelation, with its utter raping aud fiendishness, and she was rendered incapable of motion, She saw her life in peril, but could not move, Fortunately for her, there was one there less affected. Curly Kall had armed himself with part of a broom-handle, and he sprung to meet the Son of the Stiletto, Both struck at about the same time, Kell’s aim was good; his club fell upon Nicolo’s arm and the knife went spin- ning away, but Mrs, Belden had been saved by & narrow chance, A long gash in her dress showed how near she had been to death, and the futile stroke of the knife would haye been fatal had not the Pro- digy’s blow diverted the steel from its course somewhat, } Sim Oakes was at Kell’s heels, and he had no disposition to be idlethen. He grappled with the Italian, and, after a brief struggle, bore him to the floor. Mrs, Belden, though weak and trembling, had recovered her presence of mind and she brought a long, slender rope, once u to cord her trunk, and the Son of the Stiletto was bound and rendered helpless. “You murderin’ hound!” Oakes exclaimed, rs hi ought ter be hung with the rope, not ti Nicolo remained silent, but, looking at his right hand. moved the fingers of that hand slightly. Kell’s chance blow had struck in such a way that Nicolo’s arm had been paralyzed LLL LL LLL LLL LLL LL LL tt sia, sts Curly Kell, the Prodigy of Paradise Park. 9 temporarily, and it was this fact which had enabled them to overpower him so easily. He was a desperate fighter, and Sim Oakes, strong as he was, could never have overcome him alone, ‘* Take the papers from his pocket!” Mrs, Bel- den directed. Sim obeyed, and the lady put them in the bosom of her dreas, ‘*‘Your errand here is revealed,” he added, addressing Nicolo, The Son of the Stiletto rolled his dark eyes, but made no reply, ** Should say murder was his errand,” observed Sim, looking at the knife. Mike Keefe entered the room, bearing Bianca in his arms, ** She’s fainted!” he explained, Sure enough, the girl seemed to have :ost con- sciousness, She hung a limp weight upon him and, as that weight was no trifle, he dropped her on the bed with more haste than cere- - mony ‘*Swoonded as ‘ice an’ ’asy as if she was wan ave dhe belles ave Fitt? Avenoo,” he added. Little attention was bestowed upon Bianca, All looked at Nicolo, and Oakes was very frank in expressing his opinion. ‘* As murderous-lookin’ a reptyle as I ever saw !” he declared. ‘* American,” remarked the Son of the Stilet- to, turning his gaze upon Oakes, ‘* I will see you again,” ‘* You see me now, don’t yer?” ‘“‘f am a prisoner, now.” ** You'll remain one.” ‘Wrong! I shall escape |” ** Not from them ropes,” ‘*T shall be free some day. It may be years hence, but the day will come, I shall live when you are dead. Iam not to die like an insect of a summer—yow are! Look you, American, 1 am an [talian dog, to-night. tn the future you shall see what you shall see. Beware the teeth of the dog! American, you are doomed! I sa you shall die, and die you shall. Do not loo torward to my return [roma prison to which you may send me, Death never waits for his victim. My friends are Death’s agents. You are doomed! Theson of Italy, whom you calla dog, will live to see the thistles and wormwood grow over your grave!” CHAPTER XI. A TRICK, AND THE RESULT, ‘'HOSE who listened to Nicolo Mazzeo had never before bad any comprehension of how much could be expressed in words, The Son of the Stiletto did not raise his voice, or rant, or in any way grow dramatic intentionally, but his quiet utterance was so suggestive, and the light in his eyes so malignant, that, every one of his captors shivered, t was not hard for Curly to understand why the band selected Nicolo for desperate deeds. Sim Oakes, brave and strong as he was, changed color and applied no more severe terms to the prisoner. After a short pause Mrs, Belden went a step nearer to the bound man, ‘* Where is be who sent you’ here?” she asked. ‘* Nobody sent me,” ‘* It is useless to deny it.” ‘* Nobody sent me,” calmly reiterated the Italian. ‘*Do you mean to say you ere ignorant of the value of the papers you tried to steal?” ‘* IT have nothing to say.” q ‘It is useless to deny it.” “IT deny nothing.” A machine could not have been more et sive than the prisoner, and it was plain that he was no ordinary man, criminal that he was, ** Better let me go fur a p’leeceman,” suggest- ed Cobwebs. ‘* Wait one moment.” Mrs, Belden kept her gaze riveted upon Nico- lo, and her expression was eloquent, There was much in it that Kell could not read, but he realized that there was something back of all this that she partly knew and partly guessed at, “Sir,” she continued, earnestly, addressing the ltalian, ‘‘I presume that money is of some value to you, ou came here because there was money to be Made, Well, you can double our earnings by changing employers. You ave failed to get the papers, and your pay can- not be large. n the other hand, [ will reward you well if you will help me. Let us forget what has happened; let pity move you, and see me, a weak woman who has been a child of - isfortune, give your aid. I will pay you we } | oleh e) EGCOMIG w. a