Beadle's New York Dime Library, Vol. XVIII, No. 232 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

2 - eee ep re Then he fondly embraced and kissed ber - by, and three hours later he was inthe city of New York. Donald was a bright, wide-awake youth, but had he not been oppressed by the great burden of his grief, he would not have committed the blunder which he did, shortly after bis arrival in the metropolis. After making such inquiries as he could, he was convinced that the body of his beloved had not yet been found. He thought it more than likely it never would ee ee ee Nevertheless, be could not forgive himself, if he ae to put forth every effort at his com- mand, For that purpose in view he sought out some good waterman. lll-fortune brought him in contact with two of tho worst characters in New York. Tom Tit Tompkins and the burly black des- perado, Ris-up_Bilkens appeared to be in want of a job, while Donald was looking for some one to tak» him on the wild search for the body of a woman drowned the night before. ‘“Where do dead bod es go, when the tide is running ont?” asked Marvin of the massive dwarf. nrg ge sea, sometimes,” was the grinning reply. if That would seem to follow, asa matter of course, but you do not catch my meaning. Thev are often discovered, are they not?’ ** OF course,” “Where?” ‘In a good many places.” ‘But do they not tend to some particular part of the bay or river?” “That's hard to say; sometimes they to do that, and then ag’in it’s t’other way.” ** Explain.” ‘“You see they mought be carried well down the bay, when the back tide would carry ’«m back ag’in beyant the spot they started from.” ‘“*T understand; the y Lam searching for is that of a young lady who sprung off the New Brunswick, of the Courtlandt street line, last night, between nine and ten o’clock. th these men knew at once to whom he re- ferred. Each saw a little further into the business of the night before. Accustomed as they were to crime, they per- ceived that a chance opened before them for another probable fea from the very parties who had already paid them so liberally. Nothing in their looks or manner showed that they “twigged” to what the handsome young man said. “Let me see,” The Tom Tit bent his head as if in deep thought; then he suddenly raised it. ‘*Yas, the tide was settin’ out strong at that time; I remember it very well.” ‘‘- Yes,” assented the negro, ‘Il roweda gem- man out toa schooner, and it was de boss bard job dat I’ve done in weeks.” Donald Marvin became painfully interested. “Knowing the river and bay as well as you do, can you not te)l me where the body would be likely to float? [understand, of course, that you can do little more than guess.” ‘* Let me see.” The Tom Tit and his dusky pal turned about and looked out to sea. They seemed to be studying the direction of the gentle wind and the action of the tide. At thesame time they exchanged a few words in a low voice. ey waiting Marvin did not hear anything ars said. They did not mean he should hear. He suppored they were debating over the all- importan matter about which they were in- qu'rin So (bey were; but not entirely. Had he caught the meaning of the sentences they exchanged, he would have fled from them as from a pestilence. During this singular interview, which took place near the Battery, a fourth party watched em closely. nee was vttired in a blue cheviot suit, with soft felt hat, eye glasses and a blonde mustache. He stood but a short distance off and was en- gaged in whittling a small pine stick. ut bis eyes were fastened on the party and he rightly surmised that the unsuspicious young ee was bargaining for a ride in the small at, Suddenly the Tom Tit turned about. ‘Over yender,” said he, pointing in the di- rection of Communipaw, “the body may be und, ‘You think it likely it has washed there?’ eagerly ae young Marvin. 4 e oO. ‘‘What will you charge to take me over there and tospend several hours in the search?” “W.!l, boss, 16 ain’t a pleasant bus’ness; night’s comin’ on and it’s rather spookish bunt- ing for dead persons. We wouldn’t be willin’ to undertake the job for less than ten dollars.” “Tl pay you vy ur price and if you find the lady ril give you double that sum, “Tt’s a go; jump in.” es oe ee : | a NR = - - - -_ a naan _ others made ready one called: “* Helloa |” Looking up, they saw the gentleman in the blue cheviot suit before them. “ Will + a take me over to Communipaw with you?” The Tom Tit and Bilkens looked suspiciously at him and hesitated. But they observed that he was well dressed and carried a handsome gold chain to which no doubt a valuable watch was attached. ‘“ Tt’ll cost you five dollars.” “ All right: ’m your man.” And he sprung lightly into the boat and took his seat at the stern, beside the astonished Donald Marvin. Tbe next minute the boat was shoved off, the dwarf caught up the oars and began rowing in the direction of Communipaw. to shove off, when some Night was closing in and the quarter toward | which the boat was beading is one of the most dangerous at night that can be found in the New York harbor. The new passenger was Orson Oxx, the Man of Lron. CHAPTER XI. OFF COMMUNIPAW IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT. ORSON Oxx, although a man of resources, made an occasional slip like tbe rest of us, He meant to be up before light, op the morn- ing succeeding his shadowing of Ward Hildreth to the house of widow Johnson, But he overslept himself and did not reach the spot until several hours later than was in- tended. Having decided on his courses of procedure, he walked straight to the door and asked for Mr, Hilcreth. He was assured by the widow that the gentle- man and ladies had left at an early hour and and were not expected back, As to anything further, of course she was profoundly ignorant; the most skillful pumping fai'ed to extract an iota of information. Because the widow declared that her guests had departed was not accepted by the detective as evidence that such was the fact. He lingered in the neighborbood and held the building under surveillance for a number of hours. At the same time, he picked up some points which left no doubt in his mind that the ‘* birds had flown.” It therefore remained for him to trace them, and this was always an annoyirg duty to tbe detective, who disliked the frequent snubbing he received from those who refused to give in- formation. ‘* As they crossed the Courtlandt street ferry, or started to do so, the cld fellow will be apt to avoid that place asthe one likely to be inquired about.” Just there, as the reader will perceive, Orson Oxx committed another mistake. It was the means of his Iosing the greater es of the day without picking up a single clew, Late in the afternoon, he stood near the Battery searching for the river pirates, Tom Tit Tompkins and Riseup Bilkens, “They were the ones who picked her up after she sprung overboard,” he sid to himself: ‘‘and they may be made to disgorge some ot their knowledge. I don’t suppose they know where Hildreth and the ladies went, but the low-browed rascals must have a few points, which it would benefit me to have. ‘*Speak of bis Satanic Majesty and he will appear!” exclaimed the detective, the next minute, when he caught sight of the two river pirates by the water’s edge. A third party was present and seemed to be trving to make some engagement with tuem. Orson Oxx watched them a few minutes and then sauntered forward, We have told how it was he secured passage on the boat. He was actuated by several motives. It would bave been easy perbaps for him to call Donald Marvin, whom he had never seen before, from the boat, warn him of his danger and persuade him to give up his contemplated project. ad he known that he was the lover of the who was supposed to be lost, most likely the detective wou!ld have taken this course. But Orson did not catch enough of the words to learn that, though he knew the young man was searching for the body of a drowned per- son. Another motive which Jed him to make the voyage from which the majority of men would bave sbrunk was the old feeling that had in- duced him to “‘ play cff” with many ambitious sporting men and with obstreperous bullies. He had the time at his command; be knew Orson Oxx, the Man of Iron. | stranger was TE ee — ——- — 7 Donald Marvin quickly took his seat and the | The Man of Iron, despite his failure of the day, was in good spirits, and although the to be reserved and silent, yet Orson forced him into a conversation, ‘‘] beg pardon,” he remarked, shortly after the boat was under way,-‘' but I overheard a word or two which led me to suppose you have started on a melaxcholy errand,” * You are right.” “You are searching for the bedy of a friend?” ‘* Sucb is the fact.” ‘May I inquire who he was?” ‘It was a lady—my affianced wife.” ‘*T am sorry to hear it.” ‘*Tt was asad affair. Her mind was unsettled from grief over the loss of her father.” ‘*Ab! Did she leap into the river?” ‘‘She sprung from the ferry-boat last night pf crossing from Courtlandt street to Jersey ity.’ Orson Oxx suspected the identity of the lady for whom the young man was searching. Now he felt that Providence had favored him. He did not show by bis manner that he knew anything of the case, though it was in his | power to lift a mountainous load of grief from | the shoulders of the poor fellow. —_————~steee—~—~—im atta i ES i CN ED LLL LLL EL LL I LL LL LLL LL LC lk nee — — He th: ught it wise to wait awhile before com- municating the astounding news that bis be- loved was no more dead than either of them, ‘The trail is getting warm,” be said to him- self. ‘‘This young msn, whose locks and a pearance attest bis nobility of heart, can giv me all the clews I want. shall prove myself his friend, and I will use him to unravel the mystery and to bring the guilty to punishment for their atrocious crimes, ‘Tt seems to me,” said he, in a feeling vo ‘that there is but the slenderest prospect your errand being successful.” ‘*T am afraid not.” ; “The ocean is always hungry, as may be said. Multitudes are lostinitevery year and month and week, and yet it calls for more,” ‘‘ Alas! your words are too true.” Marvin looked off over the water and sighed. It was growing dark, and the starlike points of light were twinkling in every direction. Puffing steam tugs were bustling hither and thither, ferry boats were moving ponderously, their walking-beams dimly discernible through the gloom as they went up and down, while other craft lay at rest on the bosom of the water. The lights of Jersey City, cf the great metro- polis, of Brooklyn and other points blinked and gles med like innumerable constellations, The hoarse . creaming of whistles, the ringing of bells and all the bum and throb of a vast teeming citv were in their ears. The Tom Tit rowed strongly and well, keeping a little to the south. They passed several smaller boats, but no word was exchanged with them. It had grown darker and darker, Orson Oxx was well acquainted with New York and the surroundings, and he knew where the men were taking them. Many a dark deed has been done off the Com- munipaw Flats, ; Murderous river pirates steal out in the gloom, and, boarding coasters and other vessels, plun- der and rob and murder. The out.oing tide has carried many a pulce- less body, which has been stabbed to death ty these terrible desperadces, Orson Oxx knew thatthe Tom Tit and the ne- gro meant to take them to a lonely spot and there rob each. That done, they intended to pitch bim and his companion overboard. What became of the unfortunate passengers was of no account to the wretches, {f the victims could swim, possibly they might save themselves; if they could not, they muet drown, | It wasa matter of entire indifference to the criminals. Suddenly a boat with three men shot out of the dark ness. It appeared so quickly that neither Orson Oxx nor his companion noticed the direction from which it came. They rowed up asif they meant to attack the occupants, but they irstanuy changed their minds, for they recognized the Tom Tit and the negro, and drew off with a muttered apology. They were too bonest to trespass on the pre- serves of brother murderers, Orson Oxx bad been silent a minute or two; he was carefully studying their surroundings, At the same time he studied the movements of the two men, He felt that vigilance was never more neces- sary than just tben. * O:son Oxx and Donald Marvin were sitting at the stern. The boat was furnished with two psirs of oars, and the Tom Tit was using the couple nearest the parsengers, Riseup eus being on the seat just beyond. ‘* My friend,” ssid the Man of Iron, ‘peeking Tom Tit and Bilkens to be two execrable | in a low voice, ‘‘I have something of the wretcies, who deserved death a dczen timcs OV tered the herculean detective, ‘an j8 a good time to work it in.” | er. “T feel the need of exercise,” grimly mut- | darkness into the water surrounding them, the present | Already he wes searching for the body importance to say to you.” Donald Marvin was peering through the of bis beloved, hoping yet dreading to see it; but he Eomichbooks com