Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 899 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

7 - ~ « -> - . s - es a ~ snce brought over. The adventuress was in- stilling the poison slowly, and Adrea was, as yet, neither thief, blackmailer nor decoy. Adrea wavered ; there was a tremor of her lips, and a dimness of her eyes. “Those words sound much like Captain War- jand,” put in Pearl, craftily. ‘* Sister, give attention to me only. I repeat, you need not return to our father; I will make you a home where you will be your own mis- tress,” Meredith was ignoring the adventuress, but she was not to be put down, ‘“‘ Just the offer the captain made to you, Adrea. Strange! The fine Italian hand of the senior Warland is visible in this.” ‘‘Tt is false!” cried Meredith, angrily. ‘J would not be so base as to deceive my own sister, Do not think that every one is made off the game pattern as yourself,” ‘‘- You need not abuse Pearl,” remonstrated Adrea, with spirit. ‘¢ What about her charges against me?” ‘* They may be true.” ‘‘To you believe all she says, and nothing I ”? ‘*T have faith in her. As for the Warland family, I cannot say as much,” Basement Bert, listening attentively, but keeping discreet silence, shook his head, He saw that Meredith had a big undertaking on his hands, Adrea was not only under Pearl!’s influ- ence, but she had a temper of her own, and was too stubborn to be reasoned with, Meredith did not give up. He redoubled his efforts, and would soon have convinced his sister had her evil genius been out of the way, but at the proper moment the latter always managed to introduce a few sly words which undid all he had gained, At last he plainly asked Adrea if she would go with him. She looked at Pearl, received a eonae in reply, and then answered in the nega- tive, ‘Tg this your final decision, Adrea?” 46 Yes. ” ‘‘Then, since I cannot save you with your consent, i will save you anyhow!” Speaking these words sternly, he turned upon the adventuress and added: ‘‘1t is for you to show the way here, Inform Adrea that shecan no longer remain under your roof, or I will call a policeman and have you arrested!” Pearl’s eye flashed, but it was Adrea who found words to answer first: ‘¢ Dare to do this and I will never speak to you again!” ‘‘ It is for your sake, my sister.” ** Bosh! o might a rattlesnake say when he gave his envenomed sting, if he had your gift of speech. Meredith, will you forfeit all my re- gard for you? Do you want me to think of you as Captain Warland has compelled me to think ‘of him?” — ‘‘ Heaven knows my heart is heavy, but you must be saved, I repeat it,if you donot go with me willingly, I shall call a policeman, I will see that your evil genius does no more harm. Which shall it he? The hour bas come when a decision must be made. Shall I calla policeman?” “Tf you do,” Pearl broke forth, fiercely, ‘it will be the worse for you!” **T shall do it,” Meredith spoke with inexorable firmness and ‘moved toward the door, but Pearl sprung in front of him, drew a revolver and leveled it upon him, Stop!” she cried, passionately. ‘If you advance another step. it will be your death- warrant!” CHAPTER X, THE MAN WITH THE REVOLVER, THERE was an ominous pause, Meredith Warland had made the mistake of supposing he could carry on this scene about as he pleased, but the presented revolver taught him a new lesson. The weapon did not tremble in Pearl’s grasp, and he could not doubt that she would ‘keep her threat and fire if he tried to pass, Presently he turned to Adrea. ‘Is it thus you and your friends proceed?” he asked, The girl was somewhat agitated, but her alle- giance did not waver. “© What can you expect?’ she returned, ‘‘ You have abused and threatened Pearl—she would be more than human if she did not resent it, Ali this is due to your own work.” Warland turned his back upon his sister. +‘ Boy,” he said, addressing Bert Lincoln, *‘ I a re ei et nD as EEE EEE LE EE EE ee Om Oo - pee - a, Basement Bert. have scored a failure here, and will excuse you from further attendance. You can go.” Pearl laughed unmusically. | ** Don’t you wish you could?” she cried. ‘‘ If I look as green as you seem to think me, I am to be pitied. You would like to send this kid out to call a policeman, wouldn’t you? Evenif that was not the plot, he could not go; I’ve seen him before, and have a grudge to settle with him, The kid stays here!’ Basement Bert heard this decision with dis- gust which he took pains not to betray, ‘Your hospertality is very agreeable ter a oor feller like me,” he answered, *‘but I feel a it out o’ place in so much grandeur. Be’n ’cus- tomed ter sleepin’ in boxes on the piers, I hev; an’ thisis gorgeous, Much obleeged, mum, an’ I accept yer invitation.” ‘*Fool! don’t act the innocent, I believe you’re even more dangerous than Warland.” ** Dang’rous?” **So I said.” ‘‘ Land o’ love! you’re ’way off—” ‘‘T believe you are a sneaking spy, Young America is precocious in the city of New York, and every bit as dangerous as a viper who has grown gray in meddling with other folks, You shut your jaw, and let me hear no more of your gab!’ Pearl’s low nature broke forth every little while, and words fell from her lips very char- acteristic of her class, but Adrea remained as blind as ever. Meredith had been gazing fixedly at the ad- venturess, It was particularly aggravating to be checked just at the moment when success seemed at hand, and he did not intend to sub- mit. Revolver or no revolver, he was going to try and leave the house at once, tO summon an officer, Just as he arrived at this decision, the door unexpectedly opened and Holmes and Draper entered. It was a mutual surprise, and the two crooks stopped short near the threshold. Pearl’s face brightened; triumph now appeared cer- tain. eredith.could not find similar satisfac- tion in the situation. ‘¢ What does this mean?” Holmes demanded. ‘‘ That fellow is here; he forced his way in,” Pearl. explained, quickly. ‘*t Now he threatens to take Adrea away by force—the dear child does not want to go—and to have me ar- rested,” ‘So that's his game, Well, I think Mr. War- land will not do anything of the kind. When he set himself up as his sister’s persecutor he for- feited all claim to the regard of honest peo- le— ‘‘ Have done with hypocrisy!” Meredith hotly interrupted. ‘‘ I will not listen to such absurd talk. I demand free passage from this room!” He moved forward resolutely, whereupon Holmes caught the revolver from Pearl's hand with the intention of turning it upon their com- mon enemy, but this change gave the latter just the chance he wanted; he sprung forward and grappled with Norman, preventing the use of the weapon, He was strong and skillful, and for a moment there seemed to be some hope for him, but Draper leaped upon his back and bore him to the floor, Basement Bert was eager to do something in the cause, and he made for the door, but Pearl again seized the revolver and brought it to bear upon the cobbler, ‘* Stop, or I shoot!’ she cried. ‘You old tiger-cat!” exclaimed Bert, in a passion of anger and disappointment, ‘‘ ef you don’t hustle out o’ the way, I'll live ter see you in Sing Sing.” ** Rubbish!” ‘*That’s all right, ol’ lady, but you won’t be so cranky when 1 Fon gitthere.” . By this time Meredith was overpowered, and Holmes called for cords with which to bind him, Despite all that could be, and was, said and done, both he and Bert were soon reduced to a state of helplessness, Some one then thought of Adrea, and she was found lying on the floor in a swoon; the scene had been too much for her endurance. ‘‘So much the better,” Draper commented. ‘‘“We have gone too far for half-way measures ; the prisoners must be taken careof; and the girl maria only be an obstacle in our way. Before she recovers we must have our bargain signed and sealed; these cattle must be out of sight.’ He kicked Bert iu the ribs, asif he thought those ribs were made for that purpose, ; ‘‘ Tt’s an infernal fix!” Holmes growled. ‘‘ The whole matter is reckless enough for even you and Pearl, but I don’t see how we were to do anything else. Take Adrea into the next room, LTT. Tw a ee eee ee 9 Draper and Pearl obeyed this direction, and the three conspirators then talked together for some time, hen a decision was arrived at, Pearl went out of the room. About twenty minutes passed, and then she returned and an- nounced: ‘* Allis ready!” ‘*Now comes the pinch,” remarked Holmes, nervously. ‘It is risky business—” ‘“ We've done greater deeds,” Draper. ‘¢ True, and a good deal can be done in this blessed city of ours; but there is a limit to all things. Weare going ata rapid pace, and are bound to bring up witha jerk sometime, The moment may be close at hand, but we have no time to moralize,” He turned to the prisoners and added: ‘‘You are going away in a hack, but I warn you that any effort to give an alarm will be dangerous—more, it will be fatal. We are where we must make or break, Carry them out! Meredith and Bert were conveyed to the hack, the street being clear enough at tbat late hour so that no one saw their movements, Thisdone, Holmes and Draper piled in with them, and the vehicle rolled away toward the West Side, Basement Bert did not like captivity, and was inclined to risk everything and cry out for help but he felt that Warland was his leader and should be allowed the right to govern their course, as far as they had power over it, Really, silence was their only hope, for Holmes sat with dre wn revolver, and he was a desperate man, A short ride took them to the North River, where there was another delay, but they were finally taken out of the hack and conveyed toa sail-boat which lay by the pier. Again the luck of the kidnappers stood by them, and no police- man or watchman was at hand to interfere with their scheme, The boat was shovel out from the pier until it wasin the grasp of the wind, when it moved away briskly. Nothing could more clearly demonstrate the power of Norman Holmes, and the fact of his wide acquaintance with crooks of all grades, than his ability always to find some man to do his evil bidding. The boatman was serving him as loyally as the hackman, Basement Bert did not like the policy of silence which Warland was pursuing. At the best the could no more than be treated toa shot, and it seemed about as bad to be borne away from at as to be severely used within the city imits, When near the middle of the river a canvas was thrown over the prisoners’ heads, evidently to prevent their taking nofice of their course; but Bert could hear the waters of the noble stream splashing against the bow, and knew their course was northward, He could not estimate the lapse of time, how- ever, and when they finally touched on the Jer- sey shore he could not tell where they were, Across the stream many lights were glittering, but they were north of the point where he was well acquainted, and the sight was not one of familiarity. Tke prisoners were landed and conducted up the bank, At first Bert could see no sign of life, and trees and bushes seemed to have the lace to themselves; but after going afew yards they came upon a dark, rambling old building which looked gloomy and deserted, : Holmes began to hammer on the door, but if was long before he succeeded in arousing any one, Finally a hoarse, complaining voice sound- ed from an upper window: ‘+ What’s the matter down thar? Go away, or V’ll put a dose o’ buckshot inter you!” ‘Hold on, Buck! It is not tramps, bat friends, Don’t you, know us?” ‘‘Divila know! Be off, before I shoot!” ‘‘'You fool! you know us, or ought to. Come down and open the door; we are your em- interrupted ployers.” Evidently the man was convinced, for, though still grumbling audibly, he withdrew, descended and opened the door, The prisoners were taken inside; through a tumble-down passage, and up-stairs to another room, Buck was ordored to strike a light, and, after a good deal of trouble, had a lantern going. He held it up and looked at the new-comers in a peculiar way. ) re You're still half asleep, Buck,” Holmes complained. ‘‘ Wake up, and get a move on ou. We've brought these critters for you to ke care of,” ‘* Drat ’em!” Buck muttered. ‘‘ They are to stay here as prisoners, and you