Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 238 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

> + it ie ‘ re 12 ad out it was late, an’ says I: ‘Now for me suf- ferin’ pockets—down ’e goes!’ But, blast the luck! there was a female woman a-follerin’ of him, too, which I had noticed her when goin’ there. 1 hadn’t thort she’d ’a’ been sn’akin’ af- ter him yet, but she was right there. Cap, I hev a timid spot in me heart—I was too timid to smash that feller’s noddle while havin’ a wit- ness by. D’ you see?” “Oh, yes, Lsee. You are a very unassuming fellow.” “Hey my thanks. But lis’en. As that there female hoofed it past the place where I was a hidin’ at, I heard her mutterin’ like she was all- fired mad at that partic’lar gent an’ mighty mad ’ith some other shemale, an’ by the way ’at she gabbed, I corncluded she’d be "bout as happy as a pig ina pud-muddle if she could find a individual who would be willin’, for a con- sid’ration, to punch that there young gent into a eternal pone-dough. Heyr was the starin’ op- portunity, d’ you see, to make a pile by hirin’ of myself toa woman w’ot might want fightin’ done. Sol lights out peart an’ follers the she- male—” ‘* Where to?” Bill gave the number of the mansion on Pry- tania street. “Did you get a glimpse of her face?” “Nary glimpse, Cap. An’ I was hangin’ round the edges like, tryin’ to think w’ot I was goin’ to do to identify ’er an’ make a business a ag eae when ’long comes a man w’ot un- ocks the garding gate an’ goes in, same’s if he lived there, an’ who never seen me onc’t in the shadder by the wall. But, Cap, you can’t fool the boss alligator from Floridy—nary—no, I’ve seen a heap, I have, an’ when I caszh’ly ob- served this feller’s ways, which was more like a cotton-hoofed spook, I reckoned he was on the sweet lay for makin’ wealth by the takin’ of it. Now, I ain’t the honestest alligator in Floridy, if I am the boss, I admit square. I fear’d the spooky chap might haul out too much to carry all alone bisself. Hence why, | up an’ toed it after him. He moved across the gard- ing till he came plum’ clos’t to the wall o’ the house where there wasn’t no door at all; an’ then, Cap, he jest—spfst!—now you see it, now you don’t—he wanished!” “The man vanished?” “Straight for gospel—wanished frum all wiszhun of the yearth!” “That was strange.” ‘That there thing so kaboozled me ’at I jest put in two whole hours—not a fracshun less, a-tryin’ to find out where the cuss had went to. An’ while I was a-glidin’ an’ snailin’, Injun- like, aroun’ an’ roun’ the garding, a-buntin’ for somethin’ I couldn’t see, all on a suddent—so help me snakes!—I came nigh bein’ run down by a owl w’ot had outgrowed the size o’ nature. es, Cap, a owl’s head, fur a fac’—but it hada man’s legs, an’ them same legs was a-goin’ it fur all they was wuth. I'm nat’rally o’ a timid nature, as I says: an’ whenever I sees a man runnin’ I allus think the police ’r’ a-comin’, Likewise I follered Mr. Owl, an’ my shanks isn’t bad on a gallop I kin tell you, Jest out- side the garding gate, fast as I was a-goin’ it, too, I spied a gleamin’ objec’. I was born an’ oe up ’ith a curiosity fur gleamin’ objec’s. stopt long ’nough to grab the thing up. Cap, it was the diamon’ shirt-stud. I was a-con- gratulatin’ of myself this mornin’, an’ was jest considerin’ w’ot was best to do with me capital —buy a steam packet or run for a councilman —when I was nabbed, hauled, took in, em- braced by a man lover in blue an’ buttons, Tbhere’s the whole thing.” The tale came straight, without a stumble. Cracker Bill was telling the truth, and it car- ried conviction. i CHAPTER XV. SPOTTING A QUARRY. ACCEPTING the recital of Cracker Bill as a verity, the detective was furnished with a new and striking base for Annee) Bills statement regarding the mysterious female who followed Royal would accord with Josette’s information of her mistress’s secret de- peru in disguise from the Ardway mansion, na had boasted to Isabel that she held Royal in her power, and could throw the officers of the law successfully on the track of others for the solvence of the Ardway tragedy. To do this, she must have some strong grounds for action, and whatever her knowledge, she was determined to use it either for the annihila- tion of Isabel Clyde’s sacred love, or against Royal himself, in her desperate desire to win the young man. Did she at that moment know who it was that had made off with, and perhaps murdered, Girard Ardway? ‘‘-You say you saw the man—the one with the owl’s face—run from the garden?” “Sure for a fac’—an’ me after ’im.” ‘* And he was alone?” “Lonely as the owl w’ot ’e’peared to be. Lookt like ’e couldn’t spare no time fur to pick up comp’ny.” ‘* Was he carryin sry Act “ Nary carry, he went fur to et plunder ’e must ’a’ drapt it, that’s all.” > “Nothing whatever in his arms, or slung over his back?’ ‘*Nary slung.” This statement presented a new suggestion. It the predatory man-owl departed alone and way, alive or dead, must still be within the building. There had been no possible opportunity since the first hour of the mystery to secretly remove such a cumbersome thing as a corpse. Almost the first move The Hound had made was to place a trusty assistant in such a posi- tion that every one and every thing entering or departing from the Ardway residence would be readily noted and reported. ‘‘ Well, Cracker Bill, I am inclined toswallow this story of yours.” ‘It’s the naked truth—hope to die if ’tain’t!” ** And now you must do me a favor.” “Wot is it? Behold me rags! Do I look like a feller w’ot can do favors?’ “Do not repeat to any one what you have told me, and I’ll give you a twenty.” ‘*Hey?—twenty dollars?” “Yes. Here it is in advance.” The detective drew forth a crisp note and dis- layed it temptingly—temptingly for such an impoverished tramp as was the boss alligator of Florida. ‘““But— Why, say, this heyr thing wouldn’t do at all.” “Why not?’ f apomen I keeps my meat-trap shet, when heyr lam jugged fur a hangin’ matter, as you says. Looks to me like I'd best be spoutin’ loud meé unvarvisht argyment fur all ’at it’s wu’th.” ‘Oh, that part will come all right.” sas Fig Yk so,” with a ghoulish grimace. ‘““When I’m h'isted, you mean.” “No, I candidl lieve you to be innocent as far as this murder is concerned. You have given me more valuable information than may at first appear. I am, as I told you, a detective. I am engaged on this very case—was engaged before they brought youin. I donot wish any- body else to get the points you have given me. I'll see that no harm comes to you, and give you atwenty. You won’t suffer, except—” *“’Cept w’ot?” _ “You may be kept some time in jail; in fact, it is better for my purpose that you should. I may use you.” ‘*Well, it ain’t so bad in heyr, with reg’lar grub an’ no killin’ work fur to do, an’ a man w’ot ain’t got no wisible occypation.” “And Pll agree to pay you fifty cents a day for every day you are locked nem The blear eyes kindled greedily, and over the rough visage spread a broad grin. “You mean this heyr, for sure?” ‘*‘ Honor bright, old man.” ‘Cap, it’s a barg’in—shake!” Again the dirty paw of the boss alligator grasped the detective’s hand. ‘‘ This heyr thing’s about the mos’ genteel job ’at I’ve struck sence I landed into Louzeanny. Twenty dollars down, fifty cents a day, rations fur nothink, an’no work to‘’do. W’ot more kin man sigh fur? "Sider me engaged. They'll never make no profit outen Cracker Bill. I’m bought right up.” Harry now congratulated himself upon being somewhat ahead of the prematurely jubilant lieutenant. Not only was he satisfied that Cracker Bill had nothing to do with the Ardway mystery, but from the fellow he had gleaned several valuable points. ‘‘ How did you find him?’ queried the officer in charge. ‘‘Cross asa bear. Won't talk atall,” was the reply, with an object. At the 7 pepy shortly thereafter, Tbe Hound was handed a note requesting his presence at a pawnbroker's store on Baronne street. Answering the summons without delay, the proprietor met him and said: ‘‘ How you was, Mr. Hound! Wear you haf been, eh? You get my note?” ‘“Yes; what’s it about?” ** Aboud dose shewelry.” ce Ah?’ ‘‘Dere wos a man gomes fun my shtore leedle while ago und dry to get some money by dot diamont shtud business, I telephone mysellef at your blaces und you wos oud, I send me a letter by de messenger.” Harry felt some vexation with himself at this. So there was another party trying to obtain a loan on a piece of the missing jewelry. Had he not been engaged in the cell with Cracker Bill at the time, he might have spotted this new man. ‘‘ What sort of person was he, Mr. Solomons? Describe him.” ‘‘Oh, he was a very nice mans, He haf a black mustaches, comb straight down, eyes so black Jike a coal, und he haf nice clodes und fawn-color overcoat fun de outsides.” The Hound could scarcely repress a start. Solomons was describing Prince Desmond, the adventurer! ‘‘Did you lend him any money on the stud?” ‘You dink I wos grazy? Oh, no, Meester Hound, I wos in der backg room oud when he Hank Hound, the Crescent City Detective. empty-handed from the mansion, Girard Ard- | ee U EEE EEEUEEEEEEE IEEE NE -— — — re gomes, My clerkg pring der shtud jn wear I wos. So soon I see de letter ‘A’ by de backg mounting, | say righd away gwick, we don't want dot shewelries—we haf too much diamonts all-a-ready. 1 telephone for you und you don’d gome. We keep dot man dalking till I wos so tired mysellef—und den be glears oud. Ob, no, I don’d puy dose stolen shewelries—I was too shmart for dot.” Leaving the German-Jew, Harry visited, in rapid succession, several other money-lenders’ stores, At two of these he heard of his quarry. *‘Of dot man gome some more dimes, we shall haf bim arrested?’ asked one of the brokers, after giving a similar description of the party who wanted to pawn the stud. ‘** No, not all,” replied the detective, ‘ That is not my game. I only wish to satisfy myself whether he is the party I think he is; I am not ready to haul him in yet, if he should be.” Next he sought a retired dwelling which seemed to be wholly unoccupied. But in the upper story there was a comfortably -furnished bedroom, In this room was Royal Ardway, reclining on a lounge, reading. “Tl Jet you have your liberty for a little while, now, Mr. Ardway.” ‘* That is pleasant news. tired.” ‘‘Make it a point to return to your home. By the by, I bad better post you. You met Miss Crystol in the hallway this afternoon, just as she returned froma drive. She hugged and would have kissed you, had you permitted it, and seemed very anxious that you should give up your attachment for Miss Clyde, the music- teacher.” Royal frowned. **T, too, had discovered, unfortunately, that she bas conceived a passion for me, and I shall very abruptly nip the thing in the bud, I assure you. A fellow cannot very conveniently marry two women, you know. Wonder how in the world she found out about Isabel?’—the last more to himself. The detective could easily have enlightened him, but he did not deem it advisable to ac- quaint him with the serious plot Edna was working to attain her supremacy in his pre- ference, ‘Another thing, Mr. Ardway: you must again seclude yourse)f before midnight to-night, and you cannot return here.” ‘ Not here? Where, then?” “Take this key and go, before the hour I name, to No. , Baronne street, No one will interrupt you there. It is only office-furnished, but remain and make yourself as comfortable as you can for the night; for I will not be able to see you until morning. Something is about to transpire which will necessitate my using this room for another important purpose.” While speaking, he placed a latch-key in the young man’s hand, Harry Hound had keys to houses in various localities, well adapted to just such emergencies as this, and which served him as relays for the changing to different disguises when required. It was almost nightfal) when he separated from Royal Ardway. He had particular arrangements to make pre- vious to his prospective engagement with the reporter, Trim Taskar, Among these was a hasty communication to the cab-driver, Jerry, whom we have seen serve the detective when the latter shadowed Edna Crystol to Jackson Square, and who was usually employed when The Hound required convey- ance in his professiona) flittings, Tbe communication was a notice to be punc- tually at the agency at the hour of twelve, midnight. The Hound knew he had work ahead; but this was to be a night of even greater developments than he anticipated. CHAPTER XVI. A FOX IN HIS DEN. On the afternoon that Harry Hound inter- viewed Cracker Bill in the station cell, Silas Margrip met with a somewhat astonishing ex- perience. The lawyer’s office was literally “up an alley,” the creaky door opening on a level with the narrow, unswept pavement. It consisted of a single, small, square room, having but one window, the panes of which were thick with dirt; and the bare floor, the cheerless walls, against one side of which stood a dilapidated desk, and on another side the bed- lounge, where be was accustomed to sleep, with here and there a dangling cobweb, gave the place an appearance more like a lair than an office—the whole impressing with an idea of the occupant’s miserly habits. He entered his dim and dusty retreat, after transacting some court business, still possessed of the paramount but indefinite idea be in- I was just growing ferred from his thoughtful muttering when we. last saw bim leaving the Ardway mansion. ‘If I only bad the adoption papers,” he re- peated, over and over again. He was Saeny angered by what appeared to be a clean repu ta tes aniiicelexeye) S iation by Edna Crystol of any (E(@) / ‘ i m eS Gi? aw = oa