Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 238 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

a 10 *‘No—stern facts.” Edna arose and took a step toward her rival, confronting her almost fiercely. **T must speak plainer, I see, for you to com- prehend the situation,” she cried. ‘‘ Royal Ard- way is completely in my power.” “Tn your power?” echoed [sabel, dazedly. ‘J can give evidence which will almost of it- self convict him of the heinous crime!” ** You, Miss Crystol?” “Yes, I. Mark my words well. I can prove him a murderer, or’”— her voice hoarse with a half-bridjed passion—‘‘I can shield bim by throwing the oflicere.on thé track of others. Do not ask me how | am able to do this; suffice it that I can. I make no idle boast.” Isabel trembled in every fiber. She had no voice for speech as she began to comprebend the meaning of the strangely-beautiful being with a volcano in ker soul. **Does it dawn upon you, Miss Clyde?—the extent of my power. Give up Royal Ardway, that I may win him; break your engagement in any way youchoose. All will be well if you do: Royal is safe.” * And if I—” ** If you are so blindly stubborn as to refuse, I will ruin, blast, crush him, as sure as the sun shines—oh! I can do it! I swear to youl will do it!” ' Isabel was tottering. ‘*‘More—and beware: if you so much as breathe a sentence of this interview to him, or any one else, then I shall send him to the gal ows, whether you consent to renounce biim or not. Be warned by this, too, therefore. You may have a little time to think over my proposi- tion—I grant you that. Give bim up and save him from an ignominious death, or cling to him and see him die! IL will call upon you for you decision in a few days.” With a menacing gesture, the lovely demon swept from the room and from the house. The showy coach drove off. For some moments Isabel stood as if stupefied, speechless, staring at vacancy. One hand clutched tightly over her palpitating heart, one hand pressed hard upon her white brow, where the brain seemed fairly reeling under the terri- ble disclosure and threat uttered by the ward of Girard Ardway. **Royal—a murderer!’ she faltered, choking- ly. ‘“ No—no—I will not think of such a mon- strous thing. Oh, Heaven! my love—for—his —life. It would kill me to give him up now. W hat—what shall 1 do?” *“*Doas your pure and loyal heart dictates, my child,” said the grave voice of Martha Clyde, who came slowly into the room. ** Mother!—oh, mother!” Isabel ran to her, throwing herself with a sob- bin outburst, into her arms. ‘“T have heard all, dear child. A wicked woman is she who came here. We will tell Royaleverything thet has passed—” * But you heard what she threatened?” ‘Yes. But fear not, I can match her.” ‘You, mother?” ‘Even I, Bella. There is that in my power to do which will utterly confound this Edna Crystol. I had hoped there never would be a cause for me to go back through the vale of years to bring up a matter long buried, even though I remain cognizant of a wrong being perpetrated, But to preserve your bappiness, [| must, I shall, act. You have more right, Isabel, to be the ward of Girard Ardway, at this minute, than the girl who calls herself Edna Crystol. Wait patiently; leaveall tome. And I say to you, fear not,” ‘Why, mother, what can you mean?” *T mean that she is an impostor, and I can tear her down as easily as a cobweb from the wall!” Martha smiled down with a mysterious assur- ance upon the daughter who held all the sym- pathy of a mother’s boundless love. CHAPTER XII. PLAYING THE GAME, Upon returning to the mansion, Edna Crys- tol found a visitor awaiting her in the small re- ception parlor at the back of the hall. t was Silas Margrip. He had been about the most astonished man in New Orleans when he read the account of the Ardway mystery in the Picayune. As Edna entered, he rose with his foxy grin and sinuous manner. “Ah! Good-day to you, my dear young lady,” rubbing bis fingers through and through like a bune} of eels, as he bowed. ** Well, sir?’ spoke Edna, icily. ; Margrip looked a little taken aback at her one. ‘‘Ahem! Remarkably sad affair, this— About Mr. Ardway, I mean. Yes, very. I sympathize with the family. Curaet valeas.” ‘*Who are you, sir?” Judging by the expression of countenance, this haughty accented question seemed to strike Margrip like a smack in the face. ‘* Why, bless me! my dear young lady, what do you mean?” “I? Mean? Are you a lunatic?’ # The lawyer stared blankly, then managed to stammer: ‘‘T see, see, You are inclined to be playful with old Silas, Yes, I see. But, oh, come, now, if you are elated at your grandly elevated fortune, you must not try to make me believe you have forgotten your promise.” ** My promise?” “Why, yes—ahem!—your promise when I first saw you in St. Louis.” ‘‘] was never in the city of St. Louis.” ‘‘ What nonsense, now, my dear young lady! In St. Louis, you promised—and you know it well—to pay me $5,000 as soon as you were safely installed as the ward of Girard Ardway, I think the time has arrived for payment. I am ready to receive it. Behold me. Iam here —I am yours truly. Fortiter, fideliter, felic- iter.” “What are youtalking about? Do you know who I am?” ‘The honored Miss Edna Crystol, heiress, For which, thanks to me, Silas Margrip.” ** You have made a mistake.” “Indeed? How very playful you are, my dear young lady.” ‘*T am by no means in a playful mood, sir. It would appear that somebody has been making you promises of some kind. You are ste in with an absurd idea of my being that some- body.” Silas was decidedly astonished by her ear- nestness, ‘““You say your name is Margrip—” * How well you ought to know that. Fortuna sequatur,” ‘*T never knew any one by that name.” “* But—but—” 1 1 never laid eyes upon you before in all my ife. “Oh, but—Flebile ludibrium!” Silas splut- tered amazedly. ‘‘And as I think you must be some deplor- able crazy man, I shall have you put out at once, before your insanity assumes a harmful phase.” She stepped toward the bell-rope with out- stretched hand. ‘* Stop—stop!” he cried; “‘no need of that. I will depart. 1 plainly perceive I have been an old ass. Yea—fronti nulla fides. I go, Miss Crystol. Ahem! Never mind about the bell- rope,” Silas burried from the house. Out on the steps he struck the crown of his hat a bang with his palm, mumbling: ‘‘l’m dropped—bounced! It’s not fair. I’m beat—beat out of $5,000. I might have expected it. Put Silas Margrip down: dolt, fool, ass, Fedum inceptu, fedum exitu! She feels safe, defiant in her inheritance; Ardway is murdered, and the first will stands, which makes her joint- heir. She won’t recognize me at all; she coolly throws me over. But the will—ho, ho! I bave the will—ha, ha! Now, if 1 had the adoption papers—ahem! if I had the adoption papers—if { had the—” The words diel slowly on the lips of foxy Silas Marvrip as he strode away, and he stroked his pointed nose with a new, deep re- flection, As the lawyer departed, Royal Ardway de- scended from the library. He met Edna at the parlor-door. f ‘Oh, Royal!” she exclaimed, hastening to him impulsively. : Twining her bewitching arms around his neck and turning a face of eager yearning up to his, sue said abruptly: ‘** Do not disgrace ponies Royal, dear.” “ Disgrace myself?” se Yes.” ‘‘T have no such intention if it can be avoid- ed, I assure you.” ‘‘-Yet you are in danger of doing it.” “Why, in what way, Edna?” There was a tighter clinging of the arms, her perfumed breath was fanning on his face. There could be no misunderstanding the fact that this lovely being had conceived an ardent passion for him. ‘When you marry, Royal, it should be with one who will not drag you down from society and the pleasant accesses of wealth, but who can meet you half way.” “IT hope the lady may be such a one,” he agreed, smiling. “Then why throw yourself away upon a poor and obscure music-teacher ¢” ‘* A music-teacher?” be repeated. ‘* You know of wnom J speak—Miss Clyde.” yi a Miss Clyde, eh?” eS Edna eagerly construed, from bis careless re- ception of the subject, that perhaps, after all, Miss Clyde was not so wholly the captor of his heart as at first appeared. ‘‘What of Miss Clyde, Edna? Ah! you have been to see her.” ‘““T have.” ‘*-You are teasing.” ‘‘No, Ihave just come from her home.” ‘Ill wager a box of kid gloves you do not know where she lives,” “Yes, but I do.” ‘* Where?’ Hank Hound, the Crescent City Detective. Elna gave the address correctly. What more might have passed between che passionate, beautiful, scheming girl and the man she had chosen to love, was interrupted by a peal at the door-bell, She left his side, and hastened up the stair- case. Charles Courtley en.vcred—or, as we shall con- tinue to know him better, Percy Desmond, The Prince. ‘Hello, Royal, my boy, going out?” ‘‘ Just on my way for a walk,” ‘Well, I'll accompany you. I wished to see you particularly.” The two had met before cn that day, and the sad mystery of Girard Ardway’s disappearance was fully discussed as far as delicacy would permit. On the street Desmond continued: **] have something of special importance to speak about. Have you telegraphed for your sister, Clarice?” ee Yes.” ““T supposed you would, of course. It is of her I wish to speak.” ** Well, what about Clarice?” ‘Tt will surprise you greatly, I know, to hear that I already have the pleasure of her acquaint- ance.” ‘Ts it possible?” * Cuite.” ‘‘You never mentioned it—” ‘* And I hardly know why I did not.” * What were you going to say?” **T love your sister.” “Tis is an astonisher.” ‘‘True, I assure you. I was visiting in the city of Baltimore at the time of being Fonored by an introduction; she had not long been an attendant at the finishing academy there. I at once confessed to myself that I Joved her, and commenced paying my earnest addresses, which, I had reason to think, were not distasteful to her. Business suddenly called and has kept me away from that city ever since, unfortunately.” The Prince might have more truly said that his reason for a burried departure from Balti- more was, the police detectives had spotted him as a suspicious character! Royal was in complete ignorance of the true scale of his adventurer friend. ‘Now, Royal, in the existing unhappy state of affairs, you are the only one I can speak to regarding my desire to resume my addresses to Clarice and, if she is still beart free, ask her to be my wife.” ‘‘That is all right, Charlie. If you can win Clarice, do so. I believe you are a first-rate good fellow.” ‘* You will aid me in my suit?” ** Reasonably, yes.” Loyal seemed anxious to be ridof his com- panion, and soon separated from him upon seme slight excuse. As he walked on alone, he muttered: ‘* Edna Crystol is in love with Royal—be is in love with a certain Miss Clyde. I should have been advised of this, { might have tripped up.” The voice did not belong to Royal Ardway. It was **Tbe Hound,” who was thus, with consummate skill, playing the deceptive part we have seen him map out for himself. CHAPTER XII, A LINK AND A SURPRISE, ‘‘Miss CLypE and Miss Crystol are rivals,” continued Harry Hound, musingly, to himself. ‘Miss Crystol had just returned from a visit to the young lady who disputes the claim to Royal’s effection. I am curious to know what was the object of that visit. Clyde.” By the trick of the wager we have seen how easily the masquerading detective obtained Isa- bel’s address, ‘‘ Hello!” he exclaimed, sud¢enly. He bad made a discovery. He was being fol- lowed. To be certain of this he made several aim- less turns and loiteringe. There could be no doubt of it. In bis disguise as Royal Ardway he was being “ shadowed.” At first the knowledge brought a frown to his face. ‘‘ So Royal Ardway, whom I am mistaken for, is being watched, eh? The hint received at po- lice head quarters is being acted upon,” Then his face cleared at a new thought. “All right—I’ve no objection. This may rove rather advantageoustome. When Royal Pimself is abroad these fellows will follow bim; that will keep them out of my way.” Calling a cab and giving directions to the driver, he was soon landed before the Clyde cottage. As he was admitted, Isabel, her face still wet from recent weeping, would have emLraced him with all the gladness of a child. ‘* Hold!” he interposed, putting out one hand, while with the other he pushed the door shut be- hind him. . “ Why, Royal, what does this mean?” wavered the girl. ‘You are deceived.” ** Deceived?” ‘‘T am not Royal Ardway.” I will interview Miss JOOKS.COM