Beadle's New York Dime Library, Vol. XVIII, No. 232 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

10 _ —— ss —_——— iteness of the young lover bearing a hand in » rescue of his beautiful and imperiled mis- Having bid him -night, the detective turned in for a refreshing sleep ' Just before closing his eyes he almost started out of bed. + ‘*My gracious! how came I to forget it?’ he asked himself. ‘It was a bad oversight.” He sprung to his feet and looked at his watch. “It is too late. His train has gone, or I would overhaul him and put him on his guard,” What was it that alarmed Orson Oxx to such an extent? During all bis conversation with Donald Mar- vin, he bad never once referred to Luff Swank and Hank Wagsnaff, the two rufflans who were unquestionably associated with Ward Hildreth in ng through this evil conspiracy. ow he failed to do so, the detective could not tell. **T think the old fellow will use them to guard the retreat where the young women have gone, or he may use them fo pipe us.” ‘“‘He knows that to succeed, he must neglect wT clide agepocts that Y ame trying to inte tg’! ** He suspec at I am trying to mix up in the business, ‘They must know that this young fellow is the betrothed of Eva Hildreth and he will be likely to make desperate efforts to recover her ** He may gain an inkling of the truth. “‘They will watch him closely. Bes If he does get on the trail, they will follow im. ‘ /- a necessary they will knock him in the ead, “I wonder they did not dog him from Phila- delphia. ‘* [¢ must have been because he left before they could make their preparations to do so. ‘*T ought to have given him warning, else while the hunter goes to hunt the tiger, the tiger will hunt him. ‘‘ Heaven trons him and the rigbt.” And with this prayer on bis lips, he closed his eyes, TT | Orson Oxx, the Man of Iron. The dispatch would be delivered him on his “‘ Houghton broke his engagement,” ‘(The mischief! How?” ‘He is entrapped, as sureas heaven!” mut-/ «By not coming, of course.” tered Orson with white, compressed lips. : : ot sr two friends are Luff Swank and Hank . ome send no excuse!” agsnaff. ark “Donald Marvin isin more danger than Eva | ““ He’s a fraud!” Hildreth, bis betrothed. My opinion exactly. This gent.eman was ‘‘She must wait awhile while I look after | here yesterday, when the early morning train him.” from New York stopped.” The next train southward bore Orson Oxx, hastening to the rescue of the one whom be had already befriended in such an important man- ner. And there was need of urgent haste. At this point the countryman came forward, and shook hands with Wagsnaff, who addressed him like an old acquaintance, “TI beg pardon, Van Cleve, I didn’t know you. Did yeu have any passengers yester- day?” CHAPTER XVI. | "Only two young ladies, that wanted board DONALD MARVIN mar al AN IMPORTANT DIS- | in a quiet place for several days.” ‘ ‘* Who were they?” “IT forget their names. They didn’t have much to say; were in deep mourning, and suffering with sorrer, I should suppose.”’ As may be supposed, Donald Marvin was on the qui vi e. ‘‘How far frem here do you livef’ asked Ir would be a hard matter for any one to explain the impressions, which in his mind, s0metimes settle convictions. When Donald Marvin departed from Phila- delphia, in the gray light of early morning it was with a belief that Eva Hildreth and her companion had left the train the day before, at | he no great distance out from the city. He had settled upon a certain station as the one where he was likely to pick up some of the lost threads for which he was hunting. Before the countryman could answer, Luff Swank struck in. “Van Cleve isan old friend of eurs. He lives about a mile out beyond that stretch of It is hardly worth our while to give the vvoods yonder. Houghton, whom we expected name of this station, at least for the present. to meet, is staying for the simmer ata farm- There were a large number of passengers on house just beyond. He ought to be here to see that early morning train, and among them were | us, but he basn't come.” two who were very sociable and communica- “What will you do?” tive to the young lawyer. ‘*There must have been some misunderstand- The latter was so thrilled with pleasureto ing.” learn that his beloved was alive, that he could | Wagsnaff spoke up. not feel otherwise than in good spirits. ‘* We shall have to drive out there.” He started with alarm now and then, when Naturally enough, Donald Marvin was con- he recalled that she was missing and was to vinced that he bad struck the trail of Eva, at a certain extent in personal danger. | the very beginning, as may be said of the But that was so infinitely preferable to death, bunt. But it was a long time before he slept. | that he felt profoundly grateful. dn the morning he felt more uneasy thanever. | He slept a great deal in going to Philadel- hurriedly ate his breakfast and caught phia, on the slow night line, secured his break- the first traim which stopped at Monmouth | fast at the latter point and fels well pip eee gl seed Ena a allege rs | for the work before him. S 10tt NOW LOPrK at O:wW City time, an © | Naturally enough he fell into conversation scheduled time for Monmouth Junction was with the person who shared his seat with bim. <~ hed that point not quite ten minutes |. Donald found that he had traveled a good ta lata. deal and became interested in his account of He inclined te believe that the young ladies, | bis experiences. for whom he was hunting must have preced There was no special cause for young Marvin him by just twenty-four hours. to be reticent nor did he hesitate to say that he He therefore made inquiries for the two pas- | was going to leave the train at a small station sengers by that train of the day before. in Pennsylvania. Pe iacmiahasiorenstcuien, Wok af nis 8 “I regret that such is the fact, for I sball ful, ona of the officials remembered both dis- | feel the loss of your company. That’s odd,” remarked the other gentle tinctly. **] take it for granted they were purty,” said | man, who sat facing them and smoking a very good cigar, ‘‘ but that is the station where we Nha a grin; ae I —e “es ae ky er face, ‘cause they were so heavily vailed, to stop f bl ] their vails reaching almost to their feet, but |r icone rn ee © Powsibly only an hour they had such sweet voices that they must have Donald. wae delighted. been handsome.” —_— a “ They were alore?” “I am looking for a friend,” added the “‘ Had they any baggage?” compunctions of conscience. ‘Yes, one trunk, a regular three story Sara- toger, that weighed about a ton. It was cov- ered all over with labels and must have been in af eign country.” “Where did they check it to?” “To Farmingdale, I think, though I didn’t take pb md notice; I can find out.” **T’ll be obliged if you will.” “Ours is a matter of business and it may not detain us more than en hour or 80,” His companions did not seem to feel any special curiosity to Jearn more about the friend whom Donald wished to see. Had they expressed much curiosity, Donald might have felt suspicious. — a few m — rene yaar yee toh But tbey devoted themselves to be entertain- 6 announcemen at toe important trunk | agreeable. had been forwarded toa place called Farming- | 7, om Pre dale, in Monmouth county. Orson Oxx found that he could leave in a few minutes, but he inclined to wait for Donald ‘** Perha recalling the arrangement agreed upon. When he inquired, sure enough he was handed | 4 yee envelope, with a dispateh inclosed. | t was from a point down the road, and read | gaeijed to be a farmer, waiting witb no par- as follows: | | ' view. “Have struck the trail; come at once; if IT don't | wthey penal gar hear from you within a half-hour, will go alone: two | 4 ~ yt DM. The interview was very earnest, especially friends got off with me. M h + of. Or: trod (on the part of Luff Swank, who gave the SBE BARTS Oh. ners. O24, alpaost es ' countryman five dollars on condition that he when he read these words, which were a at | would follow his instructions, deal more significant than the sender imagined. | He saw that it had been sent fully an hour | While this little scheme was being hutched, before. 'Dovald Marvin was quietly prosecuting his Ob hiram he telegraphed a reply on the | inquiries about two young ladies, dressed in “You are mistaken; come here at once; I have | the cars at that station om the preceding day. nds ind andicles ATS; YAH ;, CORRE 6. aoe | He learned nothing, and was inquiring the This message was forwarded at once, but the =p Foyer. ee se ry could depart, when accommodating telegraphist, in answer to bis eenieee o t te inquiry, was informed that the ty to whom He addressed his companion, Hank Wag- revs oma was sent had left the station some ars wee care that Donald should hear his me before. wo «Veg, young legal gentleman, with jast the slightest derstood the art more perfectly than they. They were too wise to propose apy quiet | game at cards, or to arouse the suspicion of there’s a telegram for me,” he said, , their new acquaintance in any manner. Donald therefore was pleased when they left the train at the same time with him. One immediately went over to a man who ' He walked over to the farmer, and inter- - Viewed him. rc —_— - | | | Mr. Van Cleve, fortunately, was not obliged equipped to descend into particulars. All he bad to do was to stick to his original version which was simplicity itself. He had taken a couple of young ladies to bis home to remain several days. Both were very pretty, but he had forgotten their pames, When asked when he meant to go home, Mr. Van Cieve said he was waiting for the down train to Philadelphia and would not be hack until night, when his carriage would coa.e to meet him. Just then Luff Swank approached. ‘*We bave just hired a team to drive over to Houghton’s; if you will go along we shu! be obliged,” Donald intended to procure a team for hin- self, but that was bard at soch a small place, It would be very pleasant to ride over with these two gentlemen, leaving their vehicle at the gate of Mr. Van Cleve and going straight to Eva Hildreth. When the two should meet, it would be easy to determine their future course. No one would presume to interfere wi » them. He therefore accepted the invitation with pleasure, Before starting he sent the telegram already quoted to Orson Oxx, at Monmouth Junction. The vehicle contained two seats, Donald sit- They succeeded admirably, for no one un- | ting on the front with the driver, while Swank and Wagsnaff occupied the one directly be- hind them, The driver was a stupid countryman who huvg srotnd the station, with a dilapidated team, on the lookout for a job. He didn’t know anything, and. after some futile attempts to pump him, Marvin let him alone. ; Up to this moment, Donald Marvin had not held the shadow of a suspicion against these two persons, who sat behind him, smoking and making jokes. Bat they bad gone less than half a mile, when be caught a singular expression which it may be said a jolt in the carriage flung into his ear. We've got him dea _ to rights!” That single expres-ion let in the whole truth upon the brain of the young lover. It was like a blinding streak of lightning across the midnight sky. He understood on the instant that these men were in the employ ot Ward Hildreth and they had been dogging him from the moment he lit the station in Philadelphia. Ebooks e€om (E(0)