Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 196 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

“4 her beautiful face covered with her apron, was apparently weeping, yet she heard and noted | 1 that took place, Monsieur Noire dilated upon the case; ex- plained the nature of the wound, and his idea | why the ball, instead of producing instant death (which by all the rules of surgery should have followed such a fearful wound), had only thrown the man into this peculiar trance hke state: then stated at length the full particulars of the operation which he proposed to. per- form. ‘‘1t is the heroic treatment, gentlemen,” he said, in conclusion—‘' one chauce for life and two for death: but if the operation is not per- formed, nothing can save the man.” To this all agreed, for, after all, if the opera- tion failed, what was the life of this poor wretch of a locksmith compared to the ad- vancernent of scientific knowledge? Eagerly the girl listened. “Oh,“if they will only give him five minutes’ speech that I may seize upon the clew which will lead me to the beart of ‘this mystery!” she murmured. The experiment began— Ten minutes— It was over! The twelve doctors, one after the other, shook gray and wrinkled Noire by the hand and con- gratulated him. The operation had been a complete success! The locksmith now had nine chances out of ten for life, The eminent men departed, each one satisfied that he had witmessed a master-stroke, Monsieur Noire had received the congratula- tions of his professional brethren with rare modesty, and after they had departed, saw that the patient was made comfortable and then ad- dressed the girl. “Cheer up, little one!” he said, in quite a fa- therly way; ‘the operation is over and your big I am glad to say, has a chance for life.’ ‘Oh, mon Dieu ! you have saved him!” Down on her knees went, the girl, and she bowed in adoration before the doctor es though he had been the Pope in peron, ‘Oh, what a great man you are!” The outspoken compliment of this poor inno- cent child touched the old practitioner much more nearly than the praise of his associates, but he affected to make light of it. ° ‘Get up, get up, my child!” be said, assisting the girl rise. ‘‘It is a trifle, that is all; a trifle when one understands how to handle such a thing,” ‘‘Oh, monsieur doctor, it is so wonderful! I can hardly believe it is real!” ‘* You need not worry about that; it is real enough; your brother, although he is likely to be laid up for some time, is worth a dozen dead ‘*Oh, monsisur, J cannot find words to ex- ress my titude!” she exclaimed, ‘ My rother and [ are alone in the world, no rela- Lert no tw po and if I lost him I should be elpless indeed,’ ff feel pear safe in assuring you, made a moiselle, that there is very little danger.” ‘Oh, mousieur doctor, I can explain to you what joy it will give me to hear the voice of my dear brother again, It will be like one returning from the tomb; he will know me ml doctor, will he not, and he will speak to me ‘‘No, no!” eried Noire, in alarm, “that mustn’t be; the slightest exertion on his part now might be fatal to him, If I allow you to remain here, you must give me your word that you will not permit him to speak to you,” “Oh, yes, 1 understand, of course, it would be dangerous to-day, but not to-morrow—?”’ ‘¢ No, nor to-morrow either; he must not open his mouth under a week!” ‘ A shade passed rapidly over the face of the girl, but it was goné ere even the keen-eyed doc- r could observe it. ie ‘A week! Oh, that is too long!” ‘* His life depends upon it.” ‘** But, there are family matters, and I do not know what to do until he tells me.” ‘‘The family matters must wait; bis life is more important.” . ‘Oh, what a greatstupid Iam!” she exclaim- ed, with the most charming air imaginable. ‘‘ He can write what he requires me to do.” “Write!” fairly howled the doctor; ‘if he takes a pen or pencil in his hand under a fort- night I willthrow hint out of the window!” ‘Oh, then he mustn't write, monsieur!” cried the ae with a horrified air. ‘No, he must be kept very quiet, and if I permit you toremain you must promise not to talk much to him, and on no account to allow him to talk to you.” pina ‘He shall not speak, monsieur,” averred the 1, in a tone of resignation. “That is a good child,” and he patted her on the head as though she were indeed a ebild in- stead of a good-sized, buxom can go and sit by his side, but I have told you.” ‘*Oh, yes, monsieur doctor, and I am so grate- ful,” and dropping a low courtesy the girl, ‘‘ Now you t:emember what girl La Marmoset, the Detectiv , illic ene emg rei incase Ee ee ee ee ee pinta a — — | hastened to where the patient reposed and re- sumed her seat. The old doctor watched her for a moment and with the muttered observation that she was a very interesting child, he returned to his study. A cndextal change had taken place in the appearance of the wounded man; the deathlike look had vanished, his eyes were open, and al- though he seemed in a dreamy condition yet he appeared to comprehend what was going on around him. | ‘‘ Well, Lonis, my pippin, do you know me?” asked the girl, after a cautious glance around, so as to be sure she was not observed. ‘“ Don’t attempt to speak or to move, for the surgeon who has just operated on you says he will not be answerable for the consequences if you do either, under three or four days, and after you have been dragged back from the threshold of the dark valley we cannot allow you to take any chances. But, I must have some informa- tion, and 1 cannot wait three days for it either, and at the same time I will not put your life in jeopardy, for you have had a narrow enough chance of itas itis. If you understand what 1 have said, wink, for I don’t think that will hurt you. There was a slight movement of the eyes and the girl nodded ‘‘ all right,” gladly. “T guess you ean tell me what I want to know; I want to get on the track of the rascal who bored that little hole in your head, I can- not allow one of my operators to be used in such a way. Now I will relate what happened to you, and when I am wrong wink, so as to sto me, I must know all the particulars before am an hour older, and then I will try my luck with the demon that haunts the Hotel de Mo- rel, CHAPTER XXVII, WHY THE RUSSIAN WAS NOT KILLED. To return to the scene of the duel, When the Russian prince fell before the fire of the Ameri- can both his second and the doctor who bad ac- companied him believed from the manner of his fall that he was mortally wounded, and there- fore it was in perfect good sali that the cap- tain had recommended the Americans to get be- yond the frontier as fast as possible. When the French surgeon reached the side of the fallen man he had fainted, and being PS yin 8, a young professional, unused to these had been heedless enough to leave his box of in- struments in the carriage, as he had intimated to the American doctor, but, as the vehicle had moved away prudently to. quite a little distance from the scene of the encounter, the Frenchman was now obliged to trot off after his tools, “T will run and get them, although I don’t think that they be of the least use, for I think the man is done for. That American he in shot and put a ball right through him! The doctor hurried away, and the captain, whose coolness never deserted him, took out his cigar-case and helped himself to a ‘‘ weed,” just as a low moan came from the lips of the fallen man. ‘‘ Hallo, hallo!” exclaimed the officer, almost letting his cigar drop in his astonishment; “hang me! if the fellow ain’t alive, after all! pied e must have as many lives as a cat!” e knelt down by the side of the Russian and as he did so the prince opened his eyes, ‘‘T am not satisfied!’ he muttered, ‘TI de- mand another shot. Help me to stand up and give, me another pistol; I will have his heart’s ‘* Here’s a fire-eater for you!” the captain murmured, and then he assisted the Russian to rise to a sitting tion, and as he did so an exclamation of astonishment broke from him. ‘What is the matter? Why do you = out like that? and where is my antagonist?” de- manded the prince, angrily. dear boy, to find that ‘“Only surprised, my you are alive, that’s all,” replied the captain, who recovered himself in an instant. ‘*Where’s the American? I must have an- other shot! Vl kill the rascal this tie.” ‘‘ Not this time, my dear prince; some other time, and you will have to fire a deuced sight quicker or else you won’t hit your man; and in regard to where he is, the chances are that he is on his road to the frontier as fast as he can go. The fact is, prince, he thought he had set- tled you for this world. You went down with a bullet through your lungs, apparently, and that usually finishes a man so far as this world is concerned. I advised him to get over into either Belgium or Switzerland as soon as he could, avd I was just speculating where was the best spot for a gentleman of about my size to betake himself, for lexpected your death wonld kick up a deuce of a row, even has run off after his instruments so as to =< the ball and give you a chance for your ife.” “*T am: very much obliged to bim, but he need not trouble himself on my account.” “Reaily, my dear boy, your “scape is most wonderful,” the captain declared, a smile upon his swarthy face. ‘*W by, when I saw you tumble, I would willingly have laid ten to one e Queen. hy, the doctor | Li? that the fellow had bored you through and through, and that you would never stand upon your feet again.” ‘*A slight wound, that is all, but the shock produced a sudden faintness.” **Of course, certainly; but, surgeon; you had better let h see where the bill is.” “No, no! No need of that; it glanced off after just drawing the blood,” protested the Russian, evidently not disposed to submit to an inspection. ‘*But, I say, old fellow, hadn’t you better pretend that you are pretty badly wounded?” the Frenchman asked, a sudden thought occur- ring to him. “The surgeon believes that you are, and the American has hastened to a more congenial clime under the idea that, baving slain you, the pulice will be after him. Now, if he hears that you are unhurt he will return at once, while, if the report is that you are lingering on the verge of the grave, he will not venture to trust himself on French soil.” The idea was excellent, and the prince adopt- ed it at once. he found the onder comes the examine you So when the doctor came u prince leaning upon the captain’s shoulder, evi- dently in great pain. ‘“We won't need your instruments, doctor,” the captain said. ‘I found the bullet and cut it out with my penknife, as the prince was not able to bear thé pain. We old soldiers are good at. rough treatment, and now if you will summon the hag we will get him home as soon as possible, have bandaged the wound, and al- though itis an ugly scratch I am in hopes his highness will pull through.” ‘I told the carriage to follow me,” replied the young man, and even as he spoke the ve- ri drove up as near as it could get to the spot. The prince was assisted to get into it, all the time pretending to be very weak and in great pain, and then away they all went for Paris. When they arrived at the lodgings oecupied by the Muscovite, his valet was summoned, and. with a great deal of awe he was assisted up- stairs and deposited upon his couch, And after the doctor and valet had Se ath if the captain sat down in a comfortable easy- chair and gave himself up to a hearty fit of laughter, much to the irritation of the other, who did not relish a laugh at his expense. ‘*Why do you laugh?” be demanded. “ You are acting like ah idiot!” “JT cannot help it, my dear fellow; I do not think that in all my life I was ever taken in and done for so cleverly; and then—that devil of an es, foes for the frontie”, think- ing that he has killed you and no doubt expect- ing to be tapped on the shoulder by a gendarme every moment! Oh, it is really too rich! Ha, ha, ha!” And <0 the captain roared, ‘I do not see much cause for merriment!” the Russian exclaimed, savagely. “No, of course not; but pe Muscovites are such deuced cool fellows! You get thut from your climate, I eee ** What do y by this folly?” ‘Oh, come, old fellow, don’t try to bumbug me; Iam too olda bird. No wonder you were satisfied to fight with pistols, with a shirt of mail on underneath your clothes” The other bit bis lip in anger at finding tha his cowardly trick had been detected, although. he believed he could confide iv the discretion of the captain. as Seb it was not to that worthy s interest to betray ; ‘The shirt of mail worn next to bis skin had saved the Russian’s life, for had it not been for the armor, which turned aside the ball, would have a savage one. : **Oh, come; don’t make any bones about the matter!” the officer exclaimed, perceiving how much the other was annoyed at the discovery of his secret, ‘“‘If you only knew the particulars of some little episodes in my career, you would A e shot. find that I am as deep in the mud as vou arein — the mire. But, I say, don’t you want me to join forces with you in this litle gaine you are playing? I think I could be of co atdarsbly as- sistance to you. for I have had a great deal of experience in such matters, and now, that you have got the American out of the way, you ought to be able to win the countess.” * Well, it’s a bargain; and I will let you in for a share,” the Russian said, after thinking the matter over fora moment. “ But, can we keep the American away?” ‘For a time, yes; I will see that the ioe a pers are doctored; I will have you lying at the point of death in every news journal issued to-morrow, end take care that the reports are sent to the foreign pa ; and then, if the countess is not be kind, if fair means will not avail, per’ aps 1 can suggest some foul ones that will.’ | And so the agreement was reached between the two. ¥, CHAPTER XXYIIL LA MARMOSET REFUSES, AGAIN the escaped galley slave, Castiglione, sought an interview with the Detective Queen, and when she learved who was her visitor gave orders for his instant admission. JOOKS AMUCE € (0) (E(0) er ae — ”