Beadle's Dime Library No. 211 — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

——— rr lSSSES—E—E=>E—™—=—E=E—a— eee Colonel Plunger. 29 <r eee ce found it out, for the two women have met, and | ruin him as he had ruined me. It was his| to be thrown away. I will tell Mr. Noble Coralie has murdered the other. Listen.” He read out the extra as follows: * This morning, at eleven o’clock, the waiters at the Bon Bon Hotel were startled by screams pro- ceeding from the roon:s of Madame St. Aure, the | uestrian in the circus which opened yesterday. | At first they eepeht it WQS only a practical joke, for St. Aure was her rooms at all times, but when they heard the ery of * murder’ in a woman's voice four or five rushed to the room, broke open the door, and found Mad- ame looking wild and excited standing over the body of a small, pretty blonde woman whom she had just stabbed no less than six times with the half of a sma)l-pair of scissors, The poor girl was quite dead, and St. Aure apparently a raving maniac for it required the strength of four men to hold and dis- arny her, ge the st le two of the waiters weal stabbed. The origin of the trouble is shrouded n ry; the name of the victim unknown at | first, but on her body was found a marriage cer- | tificate between Mary Madden and Phill ter. | Madame was taken to the police station, and Coro- ner Britt summoned a jury at once to sit on the | dead body. The police are ae for Lester, the | husband of the dead woman. en he is found the mystery will probably be revealed.” Frank said nothing as he listened, till the colonel finished, when he observed: “‘That’s strange. Philip Lester was the name of that man who wrecked my poor uncle’s life so many years ago. Is it possible Crooke can be the same!” The colonel laid his hand on his arm, ‘* My boy, is it possible you do not see the truth?’ Frank stared. “The truth! What truth?’ “That Lester and Crooke are one.” ‘‘ But Lester bada scar, Crooke has none. Lester was thin and wiry; Crooke is stout and burly.” ‘‘The scar is on his face yet, but he has learned how to paint it out. His growth of flesh aids his disguise. Do you not remember how confused he was in the Decade Club when I told him of -the man Lester in California? He knew he was the man, and that I knew it, too.” “But how in the world did you know him? Were you ever in California?’ ““T was.” “But I thought you were in the French army, colonel. How—” “How came I in California?” ae Yes.” ‘It isa long story. . But is it-possible, once . more that you bave not yet seen who I am?? — Frank started violently. ‘You? Good heavevs, no! What do you mean by that? You know Lester? You found him out at the club in the very same trick— Colonel, colonel, tell me [I’m dreaming. I seem to see something coming out. Am I dreaming it? It seems too wonderful.” ‘You are not dreaming, my boy. On the contrary, you are waking up at last to reality. Frank, Frank, did you think it natural fora total stranger, a mere soldier comrade of your father, to take in you the interest I have done? | Can you not see who I am yet?” Frank was tremblivg violeutly,.as he | answered in a low tone: | “T see it now, sir, and I see how blind I have beem You are Paul’Malcolm.” CHAPTER XXIX. CONCLUSION. Bur little remains to tell of this story which the reader has not already long since divined. Paul Malcolm, the outcast of twenty years before, had indeed returned to his old home, reformed by adversity, able to live in luxury by his own labors, and independent of the fortune alienated from him by bis father. The very qualities which, unregu ly hal led to his ruin as a young man, had’ proved his salvation under the teachings of hard, bitter es rR been brimfvl of physical strength and mental energy, with a craving for excite- ment that had led him into all sorts of dis-ipa- tion as a young man. Asa soldier of fortune those qualities had led him to success. He tok his story some time after when he and Frank were sitting at the table of Gover- nor Bloodgood, all parties reunited at last; even the two lovers reccuciled. ; ‘You never knew, Frank,” be said, “ that the Governor bere has been my legal adviser in days of old. It was a fact. To him alone I confided, after I bad sounded him thoroughly, my story after I came back. I told it to bim on the night before the four-mile race, and he laid with me the plan to expose Lester, and EE nown to have very loud people in» ae The race offered the opportunity for one, and | | money that I wagered on Ambition, and he would not touch one penny of the winnings,” | ** But how came it that you were said to be dead?” asked Frank. own identity. I knew that I had fuiled to prove Lester's villainy and that my name would always be associated with failure, so [ took ad- vantage of a wound received:in a battle in Mexico, and had my death announced, while in reality I left the country. I did enter the French army, but «nly in the foreign legion where I served long enough to learn the lan- gvage and pass fora Frencbman. Then! got aleave of absence, went to California, and tound Lester there under the name of Sharply. I knew him, but he did not know me, for I had changed much and he thought Pau! Mal- colm was dead. As Sharply I exposed» him there, and he was ordered out of the country by the Vigilance Committee. I then thought he was drowned at sea, and it was not till I | came to New York this time that I ascertaio- ed the reverse. Meantime I had made money | in California and I made more in Mexico, finally returning to France, where 1 made most of all by speculating in Mexican bonds on the | French Bourse. At last, having made a for- tune for one in my lonely state, I determined | to come here and look up my remaining rela-_ tives, I came hereand the first person I saw | on the race-course at Squantum Bay was the | evil genius of our family now under the name | of Crooke, trying on you the same arts he had | once tried on me. 1 was actually appalled by | your likeness to myself at your age even more | than to your father. I determined to save you at any hazard from my errors, and you know | how I succeeded. At last, at the Decade Club, I found the opportunity to prove the trick of | twenty years ago, and I proved it. That eve- | ning for the first time Lester knew who I was and from that moment he feared me, As | the Californian he could have tried to fight me, but as Paul Malcolm, he knew he wasin my power.” “Then why did you not expose him that night as Lester?’ asked Frank. ‘‘ Because to expose him would have been | | to leave him his money and I was determined | to beggarhim before ] drove him from society. | my knowledge of his plans fur the other. IT knew | Coralie had married him in Paris, when he | was still Philip Lester, with no stain on bis | pame. [found that/he had married this otber | poor girl and I knew I could have him ar- . rested for bigamy and revealed to the world |. at any time. Coralie’s wild jealousy hur-— ried on the ending. It,seems that she de- | coyed that poor-girl.to herrooms, bya mes- sage, got into a violent quarrel with ber and | stabbed hir in a passion. ' All the same, the , myself,” ae he turned to Frank: “Mr. Noble, your uncle it seems has enough | for bis wants—at least he thinks he has, and ‘‘T spread the report myself and sunk my | only accepts your gift on condition that he be allowed to turn it over to this young lady here.” ake “To Miss Bloodgood?” echoed Frank. “Yes, sir, but again on certain not very hard conditions—” “Now, papa, I won’t, L.wen’t, I won't stay here to hear the rest of it,” cried Funny, im- petuously starting up. ‘It’s not proper—it's —it’s—I shall leave the room if you go on.” The Governor chuckled. . “You ean certainly do that, my r,’’ he said, ‘‘ but aa this is» matter of legal business affecting Mr. Noble I must explain it to bim.’”” ‘Then exp.ain when I’m gone,” said Fanny, now perfectly crimson, and out of the room the ran in a way sbe had never run before, while Frank turned from one to the other com- pletely astounded. ““What does this mean!” he asked, “Tt means, my boy,” said Paul Maleolm gravely, ‘‘that I have accepted your father’s generosity but cannot retain it. I have deeded _ pwey all the half of the property you deeded to me, to Miss Fanny Bloodgood on condition ye phe marries you. Are you willing to ask er? “ Willing?’ echoed Frank. “Why, sir, I would give half my life if she would consent. to be my wife.” “Very well,” said Governor Bloodgood with another chuckle, “settle it between you, while Malcolm and Igo down to smoke a cigar.” } And when they came back an honr later, they found two people in the drawing-room, one of whom rose up and said in the voice of Frank: ** Governor, uncle Paul, congratu’ate me. It is all settled and I’m the has piest man THE END. ene ee oe = a we ee eee em DIME DIALOGUES AND SPEAKERS FOR SCHOOL EXH/BILTIONS AND HOME ENTERTAINMENTS. Dialogues, Nos. 1 to 29 inclusive, 15 to 2% popu- lar dialogues and dramas in each book. Each vol- ume 100 pages 12mo. Speakers, Nos, 1 to 2% inclusive, Fach speaker 100 pages 12mo0, containing from 50 to 73 4 YOUNG PROPLIOS SERITRS truth has come out. on the inquest, and Lester | Pime Book of Winter Sports. has fled the city. He will bardly come up | again, as be has done twice in twenty years as a sporting man in first class society. Ten | years hence, if he can alter his appearance agaiu he will. be past fifty and his energy gone. He can do no further harm to society. I have accomplished my task, punished him and saved you from following in my track.” “And now, sir,” said mains for me to execute the wish of my father, and give up to you the half of my grand- father’s property which sbould be yours of right. Governor, bave you delivered my uncle the d-eds?” Governor Bloodgood smiled in his dignified and patronizing way. “T have as you requested, Mr. Noble, and I have the pleasure to tell you . Dime Book of Summer Athletic Sp ote Dime Gents’ Letter Writer. Dime Book of Etique/te. Dime Book of Verses. Dime Book of Dreame, Dime Fortune Teller Fravk,' “it only re- | Dime Ladies’ Letter Writer. os tamn.08 Dime Lovers‘ Casket. Dime Ball-Room Companion, Dime Book of 100 Games. Dime Chess Instructor, Dime Book of Beauty 2" The above books are sold by newsdealer« : d, to any ad- , : le Leven pore e will be sent, post-paid, y bas at once made PP Fherknti “arena, om oe ee ee. eee whom I take a great interest on certain not | very hard conditions.” “What do you mean?’ asked Frank, pur- “Suppose we adjourn to the drawing-room,” suggested Paul Malcolm, as the Governor hesi- tated. “We can discuss the matter, there, better.” They found Fanny in the drawing-room. | and Paul Malcolm led Frank up to her, saying: : ‘* Miss Bloodgood, will you kindly show this | gentleman the deed I gave you to-day?’ . ‘‘T won’t do any svch thing,” retorted the young lady. turning scarlet. “I dont. wart anything to do with the affair. I didn’t wsk for it,” ‘(All the same,” interrupted her father, in | his blandly ponderous way, ‘it ie not a thing & Apams, Publishers, 98 William st,, N.Y. ms THE Sunnyside Library ? Latua Rooxge. By Thomas Moore ..... ..... 100 2 Dox Juax By Lord Byron . 0c og ee 3 Parapise Lost. By John Milton . 10e 4 ‘fue Lavy or THE Lage. By Sir Walter Scott., 10c 5 Lreus. By Owen Meredith — ..-.-. 100 6 Urxnrne; or, tHe Warer-Sprair. From the German of Friederich De La Motte Fouque.. 100 For sale by all newsdealers, or sent, postage paid on receipt of twelve cents for single numbers, double numbers twenty-fourcents, ADAMS. VICTOR Oo. 86 Williaws «treet, New York. EOomMmicbooks eC) mi