Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 194 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

- oe —— — air, and catebing a stout branch-which ran out nearly horizontally from .a tree, made an effort superior. to any ever seen in a circus and cast himself clean over the fence like a rubber ball. Dorval paused in amazement. Such an act as that seemed more than buman, and while the dog dismally bayed at the fence pickets; his fellow keeper looked for footprints to make sure his late visitor had been a creature of the flesh. At that moment, Wilder, somewhat jarred’ by the force of his fall on the further side, was stealing orca d away, but, look where he would, he could find no sign of bis allies. They had not paused until the village was reached, and, temporarily, at least, the Triad was defeated. CHAPTER XVL THE TELI-TALE PICTURE, ON the day following themountain expedition, Theodore Rivers called at the Austin residence nominally to inquire if Octavia had sustained any injuries from her adventure. tt was Judge Austin who first came to him in the sitting-room, and one glance showed that dignitary to be in ill bumor. ‘The ladies are in their rooms, but will shortly join us,” be said, after a cordial greet- ing. ‘‘ Octavia is feeling as well as ever, and I think it rather lueky of the two that the road- agent came to her aid.” : ‘* He oa not be as black as he is painted,” Rivers replied, smiling. “Still, we don’t want him around Mount Tabor, and Sheriff Roberts is determined to capture bim. We are having too much out- lawry about here. What do you suppose hap- pened last night?” ** Nothing serious, I a a ‘‘- Yes, and no. When I put up the fence out- side people laughed at me, but, thinking I had barred out all Eousstrenkevs, horse-thieves and marauders in general, I bore it philosophically. Now, however, I bave found that my fence is not impregnable. The inclosure was last night entered by some unknown persons.” * Did they do any damage?” ‘*My man and dog put them to flight before their work was done, but notso soon but what we know their object.” ‘It was robbery, I suppose.” ‘* Robbery of the mound, Mr. Rivers.” “Ts it possible?’ ** More than ible; it is true.” And then he told of the events of the previ- ous night. , ‘* It was badenough to be roused from sleep, as we were, but itis worse to bave the mound disturbed. Perhaps it would be of no value to ou, sir, but I have a fancy for such things and am going to protect it.” The speaker shut his teeth with a vicious snap and then coptinued: ‘*T now propose to put a solid stone wall, four or five feet thick, around it, and over the wall set an iron fence, which no human being can climb or break. Dll protect the mound, if I meget lay a train of dynamite all around the spot. , Plainly, the judge was not a man to be trifled witb, when his foot was set down in earnest, Rivers sympathized with him, as in duty bound, and shortly after, the three ladies entered to turn their thoughts to more pleasant matters. : Pleasant enough the time was to Rivers, for the next half-hour, and then be groaned in spirit, as a servant announced Sheriff Roberts. Woy, in the name of peace and good will on earth, did this man always appear like Ban- quos’s ghost at the banquet? For once, he bad come on business, for he proceeded, first of all, to state to Austin that, as yet, no trace of the nocturnal intruders had been found, but, in all probability, they would soon be captured. Such was the me a of his call, according to his own statement, but be showed no haste to depart when his errand was done. Rivers was at first tempted to take his own leave, but unwilling to desert: the field, he con- cluded to remain and endure the torture Rob- erts’s presence always brought to him. Conversation ran on the would-be mound robbers, Don Sombrero, outlaws in general, and then drifted back to the former subject, and Austin invited all to go out and see the pei and listen to his plan for guarding it in the u ure, : ‘He is clean gone on the subject,” the sheriff remarked, to Rivers, as they stood together, waiting for the others. ‘Many people take a deep interest in such matters,” answered Rivers, quietly. ‘Did it ever occur to you that ie may have some motive, which docs not appear on the surface?” se No.” “Yet, you or I would not make so much fuss about a pile of dirt.” ‘* Every man has a hobby of some sort, and if his is of this nature, it is only such as many learned men engage in for years.” ; approach of the judge prevented further Don Sombrero, the — —EE eg : ee a a ee we moras on the subject, and all went out to gether. The mound bad been as nearly restored to its former condition as was possible, and there was little to be seen; but Duke Dorval, who chanced to be near, explained his encounter with the robbers, and Austin told how he intended to guard the place from despoilers in the future. It was Rivers whom he forced to listen to his lans, and the others were standing a little ack when Laura chanced to see a photograph lying on the ground. She picked it up and saw the pictured face of a girl of bold and dashing beauty, a face she might have admired had’she not recognized it as that of a girl of the village, whose reputa- tion was none of the best: *“Di Vernon” was a sobriquet given her around Mount Tabor, and most other women shunned.her because she often wore mas¢euline dress and kept questionable company. Whether she was really worse or better than they thought her need not be here discussed, but the picture,was at once recognized by Laura. ‘* How did this come in our garden?. Perhaps it may eye a clew to the robber,” she said. ‘‘T think Mr. Rivers must bave dropped it when he took bis bandkerchief from his pocket a moment ago,” said Roberts, carelessly. * Ts it of any one you know?’ He mat pe forward and looked for himself, and then hastily added: ‘* Excuse me, for I see I was mistaken. Of course it is not Mr. Rivers’s property.” Laura turned the picture over and changed color. There, written in a feminine hand, were these words: ‘* Theodore, from his loving Di.” It seemed to be an embarras moment for Miss Austin, but, as Octavia and Viola came forward, in a flutter of excitement she brushed ee them and extended the picture to the valier. ‘*Pardon me, Mr. Rivers,” she said, in a voice whieh was calm, but rather unnatural, *‘ but you should not be so careless of your treasures.” He took the picture and looked at the pretty face in a manner more curious than guilty. ** Who is this?” he asked. **T think you ought to know.” “1? And why so?” ‘*T judge by the inscription on the back,” He turned it over and read in surprise. ‘* No wonder you thought so,” he said, laugh- ing, ‘ but I wnt en e soft impeachment. I do not make a photograph album of m pockets, nor do I know the original of th picture. [am not the Theodore in question.” He looked up in what seemed smiling inno- ore but each of the ladies was looking ati him coldly, ‘Then it is only a coincidence,” Said Laura, in the same strained voice. ‘* Probably that word covers the whole case, At any rate, I know nothing of this picture or of Di. Pray, from whence did it come?” **T found it upon the ground.” ‘Then it was probably dropped by the rob- ber,” he said, quickly. | | ‘Very likely. Pardon me for you Mr. Rivers, but 1 thought at first you dropped it yourself when you took ypur handkerchief from your ket.” ) So far, Roberts had listened in silence; his face very calm, but his time for speaking had come. ‘* Mr. Rivers’s theory is a good one,” he said, ‘‘and I shall now watch this Di with a view to finding the would-be mound-robber.” ‘*Sinece you have business of which to talk,” said Laura, coldly, ‘‘1 will ask you to: excuse me. She said good-day to each one, and, followed by Octavia and Viola, retreated to the house. Riv with his keen perceptions, could not but see that something was wrong. It was very evident in the manner of the ladies, and Austin looked unusually stern. ; Sothe Cavalier looked believing that in that lay den upheaval. Ln It was a pretity face, but he saw the boldness of look very plainly and began to scent trouble in the air. CHAPTER XVII. RIVERS SPEAKS PLAINLY, , Movep by a sudden thought, the Cavalier turned to his companions. “Gentlemen,” he said, ‘‘ is there any one in this vicinity who answers to the name of‘ Di!’” ‘‘ There is sir,” said the judge, stiffly. ‘* Who is she?” * A young woman who goes by the name of Di Vernon, but. she has the adventuresome spirit of Scott’s heroine without any of her booed a In brief, a female who rides a entaar, shoots like a Creedmoor star and a prairie scout combined, drinks wine freely:and “ee ome in male costa met Son eyo ; picture, purporti m to Theodore,’ is that’ of this madcap?” “Yes, sir,” said the judge, coldly:.'. ~. > ° “It is no wonder the ladies retreated to th house, for | am placedin a very unenviable light. Judge, I wish to give you my word of cause of of his money, giving him at the nes ; 18 - California Road rent. Me 11 honor that I never saw this Di, and that I never saw the piciure until it was handed me by Miss Austin.” ‘*T am glad to hear it.” Still the cold tone, and Rivers saw that he was ‘not believed. He fixed his gave upen Roberts, and there was suspicion and resolution in the olance, but the sheriff did not waver. **Can you give meé aclew to this mystery, sir?’ he asked. ‘‘My theory is that it was dro by last night’s intruders,” said Roberts, with apparent frankness. ‘It was not here at any time during the Yen said Austin. ' ‘Perhaps it lay further off and was dragged here by the ladies’ dresses.” 60 ‘*Be that as it may, I propose to solve the ayetery before another day,” said Rivers. ‘Until. I bave succeeded in proving that it is not my property I feel that I shall not be well regard by my friends.” : he judge looked at bim keenly. He seemed sincere, and his face was that of an honorable man. jhe , “Do not be troubled, Mr, Rivers,” Austin said, impulsively. “We are not $b yes to con- demmn a man on suspicion, and I beg Hat will not feel any oni barraperhent about calling at Arcadia.” red peules It was a remarkable outburst for the stern judge, and the Cavalier thanked him warmly. ‘* We will drop the subject for now,” he said, putting the picture in his pocket, ‘‘ but IT shall sift the matter to the bottom. This Di shall explain to whom she gave this picture.” No wore was said on the subject, but Roberts was shrewd enough to read the glance bestowed upon him. . “ He suspects me of putting = a job on him,” he thought; ‘*but he can do all the sifting he sees fit. He will not succeed in implicating me, and unless 1 am tly mistaken he bas to day lost more ground than a season’s work wil] re- cover. We will see if the three greces will henceforth flutter around him like moths before a candle.” Both of the visitors departed without seeing the ladies again, and, curiously enough, both had business in the village immediately after. | Rivers went to seek some one who knew the residence of the madcap girl, and the sheriff bad just as important a matter to look after. The following day Sheriff Roberts was riding out of the village, when he espied a horseman coming from the opposite direction. As he came nearer he recognized Rivers, and the expression of his rival’s face -told him that a storm was brewing af “« How do you'do?” the limb of the law bland- ly said; ‘‘ Wine day, isn’t it?” ‘It suits me well enough. haste?” ‘* Well, rather. Don Sombrero was on a maraud last night and relieved a rich ranckman quite a bad scalp- wound atthe same time.” === Rivers looked surprised. — § ' Ts it possible?” | . * Possible and true. T’m going over now to see the victim and get bis statement.” = ‘After which I suppose you intend to capture the road-agent!” rans: : : “6 Vos, sir, T do.” unp Tom ‘I wish you good luck,” said the Cavalier, with a dryness which indicated a lack of faith in the s s ability to do it. “While going, oa you will oblige me by watching for iss Di,” “If I see her I'll let' youwknow.” © =) * Do you ima 8 ot would have to work very hard to find her?” ox “Oh! she’ll reappear in a few days,” was the careless reply. . “Not while it is to any one’s interest to keep her out of the way.” ‘* Do you suspect such is the case?” : “Ves, sir; Ido, Shall I tell you whom I suspect.” v “Certainly.” ig “| suspect you, Sheriff Roberts.” * ‘* Me?” u «Why. the dick snspet Hof” y ickens do you mef” the sheriff cried, in seeming whale yf Ok pie ‘Because I believe you hate me, desire my discomfiture and disgrace, and you knew of no better way. to accomplish your object. That picture game'was a plot to poison the minds of the Misses Austin and turn them against me.” If Roberts had ever been at a loss to gau his rival’s pluck, the last doubt was removed. His face was were blazing withscorn, and though he talked coolly, there was a steel-like ring to his voice that was ominous.’ a9 Still, the sheriff was not a coward, and he would have’ flung the word liar at the other had not his cunning brain told him there was a tter way. ia 0 190 ‘*Good heavens!” he exclaimed, “are you mad, Rivers? You must think very poorly of me to malse such a charge. Why should I wish to poison any one’s mind against you” ‘**'You do not want me at Arcadia.” Gboo com Sj Are you in: m but implacable, his eyes (E@)