Beadle's New York Dime Library, Vol. XVIII, No. 232 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

a "7 iA A, Orson Oxx, the Man of Iron. — Fool that he was never to suspect them. He ought to have avoided them from the first. They bad drawn the countryman into the scheme and the only business which led them to stop at this out-of-the-way station was to checkmate him. “They are shrewd, cunning villains who would not bave been hired to go into this af- fair, if they would hesitate before any crime; they mean to get me into their power and thea kill me.” What was to be done? As yet Donald had no pistol, but he was not the one to yield without a struggle, CHAPTER XVIL. AMONG THE JERSEY PINES, Youn@ Donald Marvin was too sensible a man to suppose that the two persons sitting, be- hind him meant quietly to shoot or put bim to death in broad daylight or in an open manner. They were too steeped in crime to incur any such risk. They intended quietly to manipulate matters ‘30 as to get him out of the way forever, by “as if appear that he was killed accident- ally. There were many methods by which that could be done, He did not feel safe while sitting on the seat. A pistol in the hand of one of them might go off ‘‘ accidentally.” There were half a dozen methods by which the cunning villains could encompass his death. The only recourse was to get out of their company. a They had just passed through a long stretch of woods, when they came opposite a small farm-house standing at the edge. ‘Who lives there?” asked Donald, starting “up. ‘Mr. Jones—Josiah Jones,” ‘Is that so? Why, he’s the very man I want to sev; hold up a few minutes,” Tn a tw okling the young man had leaped out and gone through the gate, before Swank and Wagsnaff understoed what he was doing. ‘* Wait there a few minutes,” he said, wav- ing bis hand to the astonished passengers. They looked as if they were undecided what to do about it, But it was out of their power to prevent the young gentleman from deing as he pleased. Donald knocked at the door and the woman of the house answered. He saluted and walked in without any invi- tation, somewhat to her surprise and displeas- ure. When the door was closed he said: ‘Madam, I beg pardon for intruding, but there are two persons in the carriage out you- der from whom I wish to get away; they are not agreeable company, aud the only way to - part with them is by using a little strategy. I pretended I wanted to speak with you, so as to gain time. Now, if you will permit me, I will pass out the back way, and when they call to ask for me you can tell them the truth. Here is a trifle for troubling you.” He placed a silver half-dollar in her band, and then deliberately walked through the house and out by the rear, During all this time the lady of the house never spoke a word. She seemed unable to grasp the situation. Fortune favored him. A few minutes after his arrival a train steamed up, and he boarded it. He looked down the road in the direction he had come and, with a throbbing heart, dis- cerned a carriage approaching at a rapid gait. He had no doubt it contained the two vil- lains, who were hastening to catch the train. He now held them in no special fear, but it would be exceedingly disagreeable to encounter | them. Besides, a good march would be stolen on _ them if he could leave them at this station and net i effect a junction with Orson Oxx before they could interfere. The conductor saw the carriage approaching at a tremendous pace. But the modern railroad doesn’t wait for be- lated passengers. The engine began puffing and moved north- ward, leaving the two foiled villains struggling vainly to reach the station in time, and vent- ing their chagrin in imprecations on the poor horse, which could not be pounded into going faster than a mile in twenty minutes. A half-hour later, when Orson Oxx’s train steamed into the Trenton station, he was sur- prised and delighted to see Donald Marvin walk down the aisle toward him smiling and pleased. They sho k hands, stepped out on the plat- form and took the next train for Monmouth Junction. Donald quickly told his experience. ‘You were rather fresh in taking up with the two strangers so suddenly. I bave formed many pleasant acquaintances while traveling, but I never give them my confidence nor put myself in their power.” “Do you think they would bave done me harm?” “They would had they gained the opportun- ity, for I know them both to be sanguinary villains, But they might not have got the chance. It was fortunate that you gave them the slip you did in such a clever manner.” “‘ What will they do?’ “They know where the ladies are staying, and it is their duty to prevent our discovering them. I wonder that they are not in this train, but you may depend they will be close be- hind us.” ‘‘ You are certain Eva and Cora left the cars at Moamouth Junction?’ “There isn’t a particle of doubt about it. The big trunk which carried the effects of both was checked to Farmingdale, a small station below Freehold, where the Pennsylvania crosses the tracks of the Southern. They are somewhere in that neighborhood.” “‘And while we are hunting them, these two scoundrels will be trailing us; is that it?’ “That’s it, precisely.” ‘* Will it not mix matters somewhat?” cc It may.” “Can they not defeat our purpose?” “I do not see how that can be done, but,” said the detective, earnestly, ‘‘ we must meet cunning with cunning. Swank and Wagsnaff are close behind us; they may overtake us at Monmouth Junction, but as this is the summer _ time, there are a good many trains running ' | to the sea-shore, and I hope to keep ahead of them.” “Of course that will be a great advantage.” “ Their first effort will be to learn whether At the moment Donald Marvin was climbing you and I got off at Monmouth Junction. It the fence, a vigorous bull-dog made a lunge | will be hard, and I think impossible for them after him, but the exceptional dexterity of the youth saved him. While Donald Marvin was hurrying through the woods in the direction of the railroad sta- tion, he was inclined to suspect he had been unnecessarily alarmed, and was cutting a rather ridiculous figure in fleeing before an imaginary danger, But when he reached the station and read the | reply of Orson Oxx, he congratulated himself on his safe escape. The only matter now which annoyed him pleased was the disarrangement caused by his own ac- , friend. tion. A little study of the time-tables, however, showed him that he could intercept the detect- ' | | | ) | to make sure on that point; probably they sus- pect I am in this business, but they do not know what disguise I have adopted for the present. There is nothing about your dress or appearance to attract attention; how then are they to distinguish either of us when making inquiries?’ “If there are not many tickets sold for Farmingdale, they may gain a clew by that means,” : “There you have struck it,” said Orson Oxx, with the quickness of his young “After all, your rather absurd ad- venture of this morning may prove a help te us,” ‘“‘ By giving them such a vivid idea of my ive at a station beyond, before Orson could | verdancy that they will conclude I never can reach the point at which Donald had left the | find what I am searching for?” train. This was a great relief, for young Marvin ‘“‘Hardly as bad as that, but they. are not | likely to hold you in much fear. But, I was was naturally anxious to get away from the! about to say I will buy a ticket to Long station previous to the return of the two scoun- drels who were plotting bis ruin. \ Branch and you can purchase one for Ocean Grove. A great wany people are going to those points at this time in the year, so we shaii be lost in the crowd, so to speak.” “Will not our getting off the cars attract remark?’ —— “Not necessarily, if managed right.” ‘* How is that!” “ When we step out at Monmouth Junction we must act as though we were strangers to each other.” ‘* But at Farmingdale?’ “Quietly go to the rear, wait till the train moves off, and then step to the ground, on the side beyond the platform.” “ And then?” ‘And then we will decide anew what is te be done next.” “ But, if Farmingdale is such a small station it may be our train does not stop there.” “We can determine that easily enough.” A few inquiries led Orson Oxx to decide they were in luck. The car in which they were then riding switched off at Monmouth Junction, making a halt of only two or three minutes. Thus it was impossible for Swank and Waz- snaff to overtake them at that point. It also stopped at Farmingdale, provided there were any passengers to get off or on, the station being a signal one. ‘*We will take our chances,” quietly re- marked the detective. “It is best to buy our tickets of the conductor for the points men- tioned.” “Suppose we are carried beyond Farmi).z- dale?” “Tt will only delay matters slightly. We won’t be many miles out of the way, and we can come back.” Accordingly, this plan was followed, Once more their good fortane attendud them. Below Freehold a casual inquiry of tbe con- ductor made known the fact that he had no passengers for Farmingdale, and unless the red. flag was out, the train would thund r across the track of the New Jersey Southern at the rate of forty miles an hour, Donald Marvin thought it best to get ff boldly, as be could see no cause for such se- crecy of movement. Their errand was a legitimate one, and wv! y take such extra precautions againet porsiit when all the advantages were on their ovn side? But Orson Oxx shook his head When they approached the barren region in the midst of which the quaint old village of Farmingdale stands, the train began brukirg up. Orson Oxx thrust his head through the win- dow and looked abead. ‘We are going to stop. I see several pas- sengers waiting, and the signal is out.” He hurried back to the rear car, while Don- ald Marvin stayed where he was. Both did as agreed, and dropped from the platform when the train was moving ahead again. They came together smilingly after the cars were out of sight down the single track. ‘Well, bere we are among the Jersey pines,” remarked the detective. ‘‘ Up yonder lies the hamlet of Farmingdale, from which your friend, Mr. Hildreth, traveled in a stage most likely, when he made his visits to the sea-shore.” “Tt may be that Cora, who you ray is such a cunning adventuress, has played a trick on us, and they did not get off at this place.” . “That is possible, but if their trunk was cheoten for this point it must bave been left ere,” “Ts it certain?” ‘Rather say it is very probable. I do pit. think we shall have any difficulty in finding out.” CHAPTER XVIII. JAKE CALKINS. Orson Oxx met with more difficulty than — he anticipated. | The day was drawing to a close, and there were signs of a heavy storm gathering in the West. 3 The official of whom they made inquiry bad no recollection of the ies and the large trunk. There was so much travel from every di- rection that he could not undertake to tax bis mind in that fashion. Very probably the parties of whom they wished information had got off there aud their JOOKS Gomme 12 - vd - SE EE ee ee ee er oe ee ee — (E(@) + ee