Beadle's New York Dime Library, Vol. XVIII, No. 232 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

| ‘(Did not Mr, Jake Calkins bring a couple of young ladies, with a large trunk, to this place yesterday?!” Mr. Turner was more astonished than ever. ‘( No, sir; he did nothing of the kind.” ‘‘ But be assured us that he did.” ‘Then he lied to you most wofully.” Neither Orson Orx nor Donald Marvin were prepared te believe that their driver had de- ceived themin this wholesale fashion. “I can hardly think so, What object could he have in telling us such an outlandish story?’ “M ybehewas aidtodot!” Out of the mouths of babes sumetimes come the words of wiedom. With all the wonderful brilliancy which Orson Oxx possessed, be felt bimself for the moment the inferior of this rough resident of the Jersey Pines. Sam Turner, whether consciously or not, had struck the “‘ key note!” ‘‘He bas spoken the truth,” said Orson, quietly, turning toward Donald Marvin. ‘*Don’t you believe Eva is bere?” asked the astonished lover. ‘She is pot, and she has never been inside this house, Jake Calkins is the one who iied to us.’ “Why should he do that?’ “Mr. Turner intimated the reason.” “‘ He was paid to do it?” “Undoubtedly.” ** By whom?” ‘‘ Need I tell you?” ‘‘ Certainly, for I cannot imagine, unless it was Ward Hildreth, and he hasn’t had the op- portunity to do it.” ‘Tt was not he,” ‘Then this scalawag of a Calkins hasn’t seen Hva!’ ‘Most certainly he has, He carried her and Cora and their luggage away from Farming- dale yesterday. That is clear from his own words.” “ But he has proven himself a falsifier,” “‘Of course, but he could not bave given the description of the two ladies as he did without any prompting from me, nor would he have thought of the large trunk unless he had actu- ally seen it. Up to that point, he told the truth, but thence forward he was a regular Ananias.” “He must have taken the ladies some- where.” ‘Of course; he knew who we were the mo- ment we began our inquiries. I can recall now several suspicious actions on his part, but I never dreamed of treachery from him.” “ Did be not hurry back after we left his carriage?’ ‘“‘Of course he did, for he knew he was on dangerous ground. I would give a good deal to have him within reach for five minutes.” The Man of Iron spoke in a low voice, but there was a gleam in his clear gray eye which meant mischief whenever he should run across Mr. Jacob Calkins. ‘It is plain,’ added Orson, ‘‘ that Cora Hil- dreth has paid him te mislead ue and he has done it most effectually.” ‘‘But we are in the neighborhood of Eva and shall be able to find her.” ** We may to-morrow.” ““I would like to start out to-night.” “It makes no difference what you want, you won’t do any such thing; J am running this business,” The Man of Iron smiled, but he was in earnest. They turned toward Mr. Turner, who had been moving about the place, and now came and sat down beside them. There could be no doubt of bis truthfulness, and he was anxious to give them all assistance he could, He bad known Jake Calkins since boyhood, and there could be no doubt that his reputation was fully deserved, The whole area of eastern and southern New Jersey might be searched in vain for such a colossal talsifier as that individual. Unfortunately Mr, Turner could give no in- formation at all concerning the young ladies. He had never seen nor heard a word about them. “They are somewhere on this broad earth,” muttered Donald Marvin, tossing uneasily on his bed, ‘and I shall never rest until I ipfold my idolized Eva to my heart.” And ob! fond waiting heart, shall that hour ever come? Orson Oxx, the Man of Iron. © CHAPTER XX. ORSON OXX AND DONALD MARVIN PART COM- PANY. Wuen Orson Oxx, the detective, pronounced Cora Hildreth a woman of wonderful nerve and cunning he spoke the simple truth. He felt thas be was engaged, in a measure, in a conflict with her. He had run counter to the gentle sex before, and he knew that it caused the severest mental strains of his life. “The old gentleman is scheming for the property,” said Orson, ‘“‘and his Cora is doing ber part by keeping Eva, the enly obstacle, out of the way until the old villain shall win. ‘‘ She has learned through Swank or Wag- snaff, or she suspects, that I am on the side of the intended victim, and she bas concluded to teach me a trick ortwo. I shoukin’t won- der if she succeeds before the thing is through. ‘‘T wish it were morning.” It would seem that, having traced the wom- an so readily to this portion of the country, and having narrowed the circle so much, the easiest part of his task lay before him. And yet detective Orson Oxx felt that he was now brought face to face with the most difficult work of all. Cora Hildreth, being fully aroused, was likely to display an jogenuity and fertility of resource approaching the marvelous. More bban likely, after coming to this out-of- the-way neighborbood, she would double on her trail and take retuge at some point many miles away. By appealing to the affection of her cousin, so called, she could induce her to consent to many things which were repulsive to ber pure, refined nature, It must necessarily take Ward Hildreth sev- eral weeks to secure entire possession of the property ef his deceased brother. What could not be done in that time, where every day counted for so much? Still, it occurred to the sagacious Orson Oxx that the villain might establish the death of his niece to the satisfaction of the authorities, and thus place his band on the personal prop- erty with comparatively no delay at all. Caleb Hildreth most likely had left a large portion of his wealth in the shape of bonds which represented a vast amount of cash. Thus be might in the course of a day or two after his arrival in Philadelphia take enough money from the vaults of the Fidelity Trust Company to satisfy him. Orson knew that he had only to present the letters testamentary from the Register of Wills in the Orphan’s Cours, under the proper seal to secure all this wealth, His faithful pals, Swank and Wagsnaff’ would be certain to notify him of danger and such would be the course of the old mar, should he deem it unsafe to wait. The simple, common-sense course, therefore, was for Orson Oxx to send a communication to the Register of Wills, begging him to delay the issue of the letters testamentary for a few days; inasmuch as there was good reason to doubt the death of Miss Eva Hildreth the sole legatee under the provisions of her dead fa- ther’s will That excellent and estimable officer would not take such an important step until satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt that it was bis duty todoso. | Aceordingly, Orson Oxx, the next morning wrote a letter to the officer of the import al- ready named, [think that will secure a delay, even if only a brief one,” he said to himself, after seal- ing and directing it, “‘T will mail it from Farmingdale myself to- day,” was bis decision, as be sealed and placed it in his pocket. The morning was clear, sunsbiny and warm. The storm had cleared away in the night, wens traces on every hand of its terrific vio- ence, Our friends insisted on paying Mr. Turner for bis hospitality, but the gentleman would not hear of it, and begged that they would call again on the first. occasion. The two agreed to walk to Farmingdale, as the distance was not great. ‘I hava become convinced of one thing,” said Orson Oxx, while making their way along the road strewn with the limbs and debris from the trees that bad been shattered by the storm. ** What is that?’ “Tt is best for us to separate,” ‘‘ Why so?’ se — a —_ —— = — one meee ~ — “We can prosecute this search much bet- é ne’ How?” “Tt will double the effective force, as you can see. Youcan take one ronte and I an- other; I think your experience of the last np oe bours has taught you a good ** 16 has most certainly.” ** Have you a pistol?’ “I never carried one.” “‘ It is a bad practice as a rule, but the little implement is a handy thing sometimes to bave about the house. As they say down in Arkan- sas, you may not want a pistol at all times, but, when you do, you want it most iufernally bad.” Marvin accepted the weapon, though not without misgiving as to the propriety of doing 80. “You are a womlerfully powerful and active man,” said he, ‘‘ but one single pistol ball can make a complete wreck of such magnificence of muscle and skill,” “I know that; and J suppose that will be the end of me; I have had more tban one narrow escape; the pitcher will go to the well once too often.” The matchless detective heaved a sigh, as theugh a shadowy fear were settling over him. But he quickly rallied and talked with his old-time vim and sprightlinese. ‘‘[ must say there is one person whom I am more anxious to meet just now than any one else.’’ ‘* Who is he?” “Mr. Jacob Calkins; I shall never feel that my mission on earth is accomplished until I have a settlement with him.” But a surprise awaited the two friends. A short time after they reached the vi'lage of Farmingdale, where the detective made some careful inquiries fer the country) man who had played them such a scurvy trick the night be- fore, He learned that he had taken the early train to New York. The information came in such a form that it could not be doubted, ‘It is certain,” said Orson Oxx to his young friend, ‘‘ that Cura Hildreth has become aware of the danger, and she is playing her hand for all it is worth.” * What is to be done?” “‘ We must separate, as I said a moment ago.” ** And what then?’ ‘‘ Aim for the same target, but from differ- ent stand-points,” “What will youdo? Start for New York?’ ‘* Possibly not, for, if be is following the di- rections of that young woman, as I am sure he is, be will play some simple but very annoying tricks.” : ‘‘ What sort?” ‘“‘ He undoubtedly bought a ticket for New York, as we bave been informed, but more than likely he has left the train at some point this side, just as we did yesterday... In case such was his course, it will be a hard matter to trace him.” ‘ “Do you think be has done that?” Ss ‘*T am inclined to believe he went directly to the city.” ine ‘* Will you be able to find him?’ ney _ ‘Without trouble; he will recognize me, as I now appear, but I shall make some changes in my dress, which will close his optics in that direction.” | “IT would prefer to remain here.” _ “Tt is my wish that you do so; you suspect that the women are somewhere in this neigh- borhood ?” , | ‘I do, for, while we know they came bere, we have no reason to believe they have gone away.” | ‘‘ We have no proof that they have done so, but I ineline to think they are a good many mies off and the distance is increasing every minute,” ) dient ““Thay migbt have driven to some other station and boarded the train, though. It does not seem probable.” ‘‘ Well,” said Orson Oxx,.as. the distant whistle of the approaching train was beard, ‘*T will leave you to rely upon yourself and the favor of Heaven.” — ‘How shall I communicate wiih you if it beoomes necessary ?” : “It cannot be done; I cannot give you any address; we are in the same box and each must climb out the best way he can,” ‘Then you go to New York?’ od GOmicbooks (E(0) 1s ~ | | | | | | | |