Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 100 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

a momeni too late for Philip De Vin. Ho saw his horso dashing away ata full run down Ruo do Lafayette, and on the back of tho animal a fizuro whom ko recognized as Osalind Ray. At every leap of tho Lorso he saw his prizo siipping further from his grasp, end whilo Le stamped and swore vociiei ous!y in all theinterjections of ‘his Parisian tongue, he suddenly felt a powerful ipe upon his throat wiich checked and choked Fis vebement blasphemy. ‘What, ho, there!” he gasned, wit stran- gling Lreath. ** Hands off! Who the devil are ou‘ 4 *‘T am Franz Edouin!” hissed that person fiercely, into hisear. ‘** At last I have my hand on your carcass, Philip De Vin, and shall bring you to account for attempting my lite at Ver- enilles, and for robb nz me of my beloved Osa- lind!—or for trying to rob me!—and_ for impri- soning Dorlan Ray! fcoundrel Do Vin, I suall equeeze your Jifo out!” ‘* Parbleu ! not if Iean help it!” snorted Do Vin, struggling stoutly with his assail.nt, and then both tripped and rolicd over the pave in a deadly embrace. CHAPTER XV. THD ESCAPE OF CSALIND, OSALIND Ray dil not recover from her deep swoon for some time after tho departure of her lover, who, unknown to ber, had made the ex- change of rings. When sho regained conscious- ness the French girl was seated near, occupied with glancing over tho pages of a novel, and secn.ingly inaifferent as to whether her charge was cither insensible or dead; for though the girl had at first bestowed every attention, aad (xerted all resources toward resuscitation, ‘she at last desisted abruptly and threw herself into a chair, exclaiming aloud: * Merci! she must be truly dead. And, after all, is it not better that sho should never again Open her eyes than to become the victim—not the first victim—of Monsievr Do Vin? Ah! what a wretch is he, I know full well! What is this? A novel— Camille.’ Bien, I shall read a little. And if she revives”—glancing at the still form on the lounge—‘‘ I will take pains to guard her weil for my—yes, my master. He is my master, though I hate and fear to disobey | But ‘Camille,’” and she commenced vo read, A slight noise in the direction of the lounge drew her attention from the Look. Osalind was sitting upright, intently regarding the girl, and for a few seconds her eyes expressed the be- Wilderment of her brain as she tried to recall What had bappencd. Th. pn she remembered all; he arrest of Lier father; the message conveyed When De Vin handed her the ring of diamonds, and whispered that Franz Esouin was dead. More: she readily perceived that the Fiench girl had been left there to keep watch upon her and prevent any attempt to escape; for she, as well as her father, had fathomed the design of the Commune colonel, and realized that she was destined tor a hatcfu) alliance or horrible dis- onor, The eyes of tho French girl sparkled with shrewdness, and ber every out‘ine of feature showed that she was a person to whom the maiden could not look for hen! pte or assi: t- ance. Burying her face in her hands, as if to shut out her miserable situation and its pros- pects, Osalind sat boweiand silent, a picture that might have moved to tears. , **So, ma’mselle comes to herself again!” ex- claimed the French girl, pertly, as she closed the book and faced squarely about in ber chair. ** Would that I had died!” sobbed Osalind. “Ob! To die when so young aid so beautiful! Wake, ma’mselle. You are in a sorry plight. You must prepare yourself to receive the ae lant colonel, who will return, I think, before daylight,” “Ob, girl!’ wailed the wretched Osalind, springing from the lounge and fallirg in a sup- plicating attitude upon ber knees, “‘ have mercy upon me, and aid me in escaping from this wick- edman! You area woman, like myself! The day may come when you, too, must beg what I now beg! Have you no pity, no sympathy in our heart?—that you would see me the victim bis heresy never harmed you! I will reward ou! elp me in this frightful extrem- ity and I will forever bless, aud Heaven forever smile upon you!” ‘*Ma’mselle begs for impo:sibilities,” was the coolreply. “Iam the slave of the colonel—I am your jailer, I shall not permit you to es- me a te lose my life in consequence. Oh, no!— She was interrupted by Osalind, who stood u suddenly, with a strange stare in her eyes, and, ry the moment, without a sign of sorrow in her ace, As she clasped and raised her hands in that appeal to one of her sex which any but the base would have answered with succor, she had made two discoveries: first, thatthe ring of dia- mords was gove—und she knew that ‘she kad either placed it on ber finger, or clenched it ightly in her hand, in the same moment cf her : There is serious trouble ahead. I have halfa The French Spy. Tae 13 recognized instantly as the property of her pictare. there, and, though you do rot merit it, lover—was upon the third finger of her le't will intercede and save—perhaps your miser- hand. Often had Franz slipped that ring off , able life!” an‘ on tle same finer. saying: | The girl turned obedient toward the picture ‘‘T almost feel, darling Osalind, as if in doing | indicated and took two or three steps that way. this, 1 am toying with our wedding ring.” “This one, ma’mselle?’?, Aid then she As intended, the sight of this ring conveyed | screamed: ‘ Mon Dicu! I am tricked! Shcis the message that Franz Edouin was not dead | gone!” throwing herself upon her knees in the and was somewhere near. The discovery, and center of the room, in which position Philip De the reaction aroused by the beliif that be was | Vin found her a moment later. watching over her, forced from her lips a short, | In the half-minute that the girl’s back was hysterical laugh, and tears rolled from her eyes, | turned, Osalind, swift as ji, htnmg, | ad shiyy«d while she turned her back upon the French girl, | from the studio, transferred the kr y and Icchcd to gaze, unnoticed, ard with blissiul cmotion, | the door. Wild with the hope of «scape, she upon this token of Franz Edouin’s near though fled through the dark and nairow cross-passe ge unseen presence, mentioned in a previcus clapter, gaincd the ‘Come, girl,” sho said, turning sharply, ‘you | ball Leycnd, cescended the back stairs, crossed wish me to prepare for the reccp ion of my un- again to the main stairs, and on, cn, to the welcome suitor, who considers midnight as suit- | front entrar ce, increesing the spced of lca flight able as noonday for a tete-a-tete, Come—to my | as she heard pursuing stcps abcve. cbamer.” Gaining the outside of the bcuse—ard fer- “ Merci!” thought the guard-attendant, ele- | ceiving the horse tied to the pave—a new vating her brows in surprise, ‘‘ thisis almost too _ thought struck her. With nimble firg:rs she quick a change.” And aloud: ‘*Arm-in-arm, | loosed the strap frcm the iron )ing, sj1urg into it you please, till we are in the next room, sol | the saddle, and giving the arimal a sharp Llow can guard the door.” with the flat of her hand, dashed cff at a gallep. ‘* As you please,” remarked Osalind, proceed- | Free! Free from De Vin! was her cnly thought, inz from the studio arm-in-arm with the girl. | Unless also mounted, he could never ovei take ‘Keep close watch, Miss Prudence, for Franz that mettled steed bounding forward es though Edouin, my lover, will presently arrive, and he | each limb was prodded by a spur of thorns. will punish you for all tnis.” Philip De Vin had the reputation of Leinga ‘* Ma’mselle is mistaken,” answered the other, | horseman of rare excelJence, and when he rede confidently. ‘‘I have heard of Franz Edouin, | it was upon the tack of a spirited charger the famous cCetective. If he is the lover of whose bit many other men would not herve ma’mselle | feel sad. I heard acertain man tell | cored to handle. Not long, therefore, was this Monsieur De Vin that he was killed at Ver- | beast in ignorance of the {frail character of bis sailles,” burden. Before the second bkl.ck was passed, ‘*Be not so sure of what you hear. I have | he had seized the bit between his teeth, and his proof that Franz Edouin is alive, for he ex- course, dangerously swilt before, now became a changed rings with me within an hour.” mad plunging run which threatened cestruction ““ Mon Dieu !” flashed into the brain of the | to himself and rider. girl, as she cast a glance upon the ring which Close on the heelsof the runaway beast lea Osalind wore. ‘‘I comprehend. The man who | another shape, the shape of a dag, large, slick stole the ring of diamonds must have been Franz | and powerful. which made no effort to stop the Edouin, and by leaving another ring—which | flight, but kept close as a shadow.. It was Be- she knows was his—thus he has assured her that | lial, the huge dog of the Voodoo, whose presence he is alive and will aid her. Stould he return | and pursuit will be explained anon, again, he will show me no mercy. I have no On plunged the mad, foaming horse, leaping means to communicate this to Monsieur De Vin. a broken ’bus or a pile of rut bish like a t ing with wings, and once over a barricade so hig that to clear it seemed impossible, while the wrath of De Vin. 1 will decide that point in a | scattering soldiery behind it—many of whem few minutes. If Franz KJouin is alive, knowing | were near being dashed to pieccs Ly the iron what has happened, and should come again hcofs—vented cries of mingled astonishment ! —— mind to let her go, then hide myself from the ahead of Philip De Vin, he may cut off my ears | and alarm. as punishment for keeping prisoner his lady- ‘**Ho! I am near killed!” shouted one, love!” ‘““A daring messenger, forsooth!” cried an- Entering her boudoir, Osalind leisurely set | other. about arraying herself in handsome apparel. ** No—it is a runaway!” Perfect confidence in Franz Ecouin enabled her ** Shoot the horse!” to banish all further dread ot Philip De Vin. Several guns were discharged at hcrsee and She called upon the gir] todress her hair becom- | rider, and Ovalin i—shuddering, terrified, but ingly, to fix a pin here, a bow there, to lace her | still unhurt as she clung frantically to the ani- gaiters, and s> on until the attendant half for- | mai’s ne k—could hear the bullets thud around ot ube danger of her position, and, true to/| her. The horse gave a lord sncrt of jain, as aris.an nature, entered with a lively zest into | mcre than one ball pierced his ficsh, and gather- all the mysteries of the toilet. ing strength from ago: y and fright, bounded ‘*There!” she exclaimed, at last, smiling with | faster on and on, till block after tlock seemed to satisfaction, “‘ma’mselle looks grand—perfect! | fly past like a melting, shapeless series of sha- What a lovely picture for Monsieur De Vin, | dows. Clear and echoing rung the clatter of when he shall come!” hoof stiokes on the night. The breath of the ‘* Let us return to the studio,” said Osalind. | beast came deep and quick. On and cn; now ‘“*T hope your villainous employcr will ke satis- | slower, until another Ledlain of cries ond gun- fied with my appearance.” | shots caused him to sirain his cxhausted muscles ‘Oh, he cannot be otherwise!” cried the girl, | to frenzied effort. truly delighted with the seeming resignation of ; Osalind, white with terror and dumb with ber char’e; and arm-in-arm the two walked | dread for the result, still clung witb all her toward the studio. strength to neck enc mane. A crowd of men, Had Osalind been beautiful before, she was | women and boys had sterted in chase, when now a marvel to behold, in all that is regal in | suddenly, her horse fell caead cn the pave, and grace end lovely in form and feature. She | Osalind was thrown with terrific force, stunned dreamed not, as she swept right royally along | and motionless, several feet akead. the kallway, that in a very short time toth rai- | She recovered to find heiseif in a small, dingy ment and figure would undergo an ordeal to | rcom of foulestatmcspteie, with two grotesque, change her almost beyond recognition. Hardly | vil ainous-looking men, who, as she opened her had they reached the studio, when a heavy foot- | eyes, were conversing in a low tone. step sourded in the lowerentry. Osalina’s face | “T have not yet told you, Jecoli, another of grew deadly pale, while the bleck eyes of the | my secrets,” said one, who was Pierre Pla3ue, French girt sparkled with anticipation. | “What next, then, ccmrade?’ inquired the “Aha!” thought the latter, ‘‘Iamsavedfrom | second rascal, gla: cing toward Osalind, who the vengeance of Franz Edouin, for | think that | had closed her eyes and was wondeiing into is the step of Colonel Philip De Viu!” whose hands she had fallen. But her smile and the sparkle in her eyes | ‘‘I not only know that this is the child of Se- vanished instantly at a sudden and singular | lissa Gordon, but I also know that Selissa Gor- behavior on the part of her captive. don and Helen Varcla, the famous ectress, are Ozalind also telieved the comer to be Philip | one and thesamejcrson, Olo! By the, bones De Vin; but in the same moment of dread | of the catacombs! I cm a mine of sccrets!” caused by this belief, her intelligent brain sug- To Osalind Ray, the words of the Death-cart gested a bold, desperate plan for escape, upon | driver sounded very strange, for she knew that which she a naniee, acted. She burst forth | he must be alluding to ber when he said: in a laugh of admirably simulated glee, clapping “This is the child of Selis*a Gordon.” ber hands like a child who feels the coming of a Knowing that they must be speaking of that promised bounty. mother of whom she had no recollectior, and ‘Tis he! Franz Edouin! Hear: at every understanding the English language perfectly, second step, his boot scrapes the stair; his beots she maintained a semblance of unccnsciousnesg do not creak: it is a quick yet well-measured . and listened. : pace. I know all that by heart, for I have listen- | ‘If Selissa Gordon is Helen Varcla,” said Ja: ed to the same a hundred times. Franz Eaouin coli, ‘that much of it is good. But where to ishere! Ha! ha! hal” - find this Helen Varcla?”’ ‘*Ma’mselle!” cried the startled girl, ‘‘I am ‘“ Yes, but there is more. Since she left the lost. It is now my turn to plead for mercy! stage, I have seen her Lut once, and that was Save me, 1 implore you!—save me from his abovt a month ego, here, in Paris,” nger!” ‘Paris is a large city, comrade,” “Vile girl! You deserve that he should pun- “Oho! Still I can find her,” pursued the fer- ish you severely. But see: Iam more merviful | tile-minded and secret-holding Pierre Plaqua, mating; second, that another ring—oue she! then you, I will save you. Kicp ‘chine that ogling his largeore eye wisely & a ee There Eomicbooks I _——— [Ses