Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 238 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

8 ee a = =< wr ee ae ee Ee NE es ak FL Bee ; : - a ; Pa: A - ~ - 7 . > i~ —_ - . * ——— eg ee a em ~ Snel oiprngeeeaPT . hs ie ee as egy we 7 eh ee iit ~ . ee ae ae = ee ee ge > - . > —_ —_ ————— -- . - _ - - - eS f (LEME oe ——— ae - ‘ = 4 > ~~ a ea - Lt ETP Ls i cm : . = a ae a - 18 ne ee neq 8 —-—- = ‘Yon are wrong in one thing, sir,” he said, with snappy quickness, * Am 1 * You are,” **] would like to know how.” ‘*T am not a party to a fraud against the true Edna Crystol.” ‘* Explain. then.” “My proposition to the girl who calls herself Edna Crystol—and who, until very recently, I honestly considered to be that person—was made at the actual request of the true Edna Crystol’s mother.” ** You astonish me!” Pact, sir.” ‘The true Edna’s mother is willing for this remarkable thing?’ ‘Willing and anxious.” ‘What can she be thinking about? It is un- heard of.” ‘‘She bas a peculiar reason.” ne | should suppose it was peculiar. What is ** Listen and I will inform you.” Margrip gave his chair another hitch. He proceeded to give the detective a full account of Mrs. Clyde’s visit to his office. The fact that he was under an oath not to do this very thing ght 3 utterly escaped his spate fe And therein was surprising information for the listener. Jt was a remarkable fate that Royal’s betrothed, Isabel Clyde, should appear to be the very young girl for whom Girard Ard- way was peg 1 ‘IT shall see Mrs. Clyde and her daughter,” Hound said, arising. ‘** Ah! but there is a difficulty,” Silas rejoined, rubbing his nose. ** Difficulty —how ?” **T forgot to ask Mrs, Clyde where she lived.” ‘*Ou, I know her address.” “You do. Are you going there now?’ ** During the day, some time.” “Please tell ber, for me, that everything is all right. The young lady who had meant to be her daughter’s formidable rival has consented to withdraw from—ahem!—from the love tour- nament,” Harry had doubts about the reliability of this message, with no other influence than the lawyer’s recent arrangement to back it. His eae told him thas girls of the false Edna’s bold and passionate nature were not prone to so easily relinquish an ambition of love once con- ceived. ‘Before leaving you, Mr. warning and a small piece-of a ou.” ** What can it be?” ‘Your life isin danger.” ‘Heh! What do you mean?” ‘Just what I say. Take my advice and get out of New Orleans—to day if youcan. There are those who have doomed you to assassination —I know it.” ** You know it!” frightenedly. ec Yes.” ** Arrest them! Jail them!—” ‘*Ob, no; not yet, if you please. The truth is, Mr. Margrip, there is quite a tremendous plot going on, involving itself with Mr. Ardway’s death. Iam after the big frog in the puddle, This individual has an incentive to blow your brains out, or cut your throat. Leave New Orleans until I have bagged him; advise me of our whereabouts, and I will let you know when t is safe to return. Address, Harry Hound, Detective’ Agency, St. Charles street near Canal,” ‘*Blow my brains out! Cut my throat!”— spluttered the astonished lawyer, ‘‘Good day,” broke in Harry, briefly, and passing out at the door. Margrip was fully aroused to an apprehension for bis bodily safety. . He lost no time in leaving the city—leaving, too, several criminal cases docketed for early trial at court, with only a hasty letter of in- struction to a brother lawyer, aaa expeditious action doubtless saved his e, For at the midnight hour of that nicht there was a startling tableau in the dingy office. Within the apartment suddenly came the faint sound of cat-like treading feet and a soft rustle ef garments, as of one or more persons feeling searchingly about in the darkness. Then a match crackled; a light gleamed, re- Margrip, I have a dvice to give ' -vyealing two spectral forms with owl faces, dom- ino gowns and hands gloved in sable thread. There would have been three, as on a previous eccasion, but for a strange incident to be shown in a future chapter. In each a ing band was grasped the terrible ceeert, e half raised to deal a murderous ow. But a simultaneous oath broke from each owl- ish mask as they saw that the room was ar 4 mt: he lawyer was not asleep in his accustomed place; instead, on the head of the lounge was inned a letter-sheet, on which was written in e, sprawly letters, as if with a pen-butt, the announcement: monet to escape assassination! my Somebody is Quod ide. Hank Hound, t erage euceres a — ee ge CHAPTER XXIV, CUPID AND THE PROFESSION, Harry HouND was very anxious to visit the young girl whom he had so providentially res- cued from the grave at the negro cemetery, If was now high noon, and he deemed it a suitable hour for presenting himself. There was so much at stake upon Ducril’s me- dical skill, that he felt some uneasiness as to what awaited him. His course was from thither. When he reached the house the Indian woman admitted him with a promptness that showed she had been watching for him. . The quick, searching glance he bestowed upon the dusky face, discovered as much as words could have told, and a long breath of relief es- caped him. * How is she, Ducril?” “The danger is past.” ** She has recovered?” 46 Yes,” ‘*In sound mind?” “The brain is clear. But have a care how you approach her, for her nerves will not bear excitement,” ‘*Oh, PIL be as coo) as asummer zephyr.” Elated, and treading softly, he ascended to the room where Ducril’s charge, partly prepared for this visit, awaited him. The girl was seated in a Jarge, comfortable chair near a window that afforded a cheerful prospect over the busy city. " She greeted him with a smile, weakly raising and extending a hand. ‘* Ah!” she wavered; ‘‘ you are the kind friend my nurse has been speaking about.” ‘©Yes, miss,” rejoined Harry, gently, and placing a chair for himself near her. “T wish to prove my friendship for you all I can.” ““T know you have been doing something very, very noble for me; exactly what, is a blank to me, except that I am freed from my enemies. What has happened?” ‘That is Just what I wish to ask you, Miss Deems.” ‘‘T have had an awful experience.” “So I imagine.” “You are surely my friend?’ with a slight lingering startled look in her eves, ‘*Miss Deems, my name is Harry Hound. I am a city detective”—displaying his small, bright badge of office. ‘‘I assure you [am your friend. I know you have been, by some foul means, in very cruel bands, But you are now entirely safe—safe as my rightarm and the law can make you. Banish every fear. Be open; confide in me. I must know all that has befallen you, that I may be able to bring your enemies to an account.” ** You are very kind. ‘Your voice has a true sound. I feel safe with you.” Almost unknowingly to herself, in her deep emotion of gratefulness, she laid ore hand upon his arm, as achild will cling to a strong pro- tector.” The action sentia thrill through his frame. a I am quite puzzled at one thing,” she said, ** What is that?” ‘Tell me; is this a private madhouse?” ‘A madhouse!” he exclaimed, in astonish- ment. ‘* Indeed I am not mad, though Ihave passed through enough to have robbed me of all rea- n— the lawyer’s office ‘* A madhouse!” he broke in, ‘My dear girl, what can you be thinking about? Nothing of the sort. I might almost say you were crazy toask such a question.” ‘‘Then why do you address me by @ name that is new and singular to me?” “What name?” ‘* Miss Deems.” ‘Ts not your name Nell Deems?” “ON, 10.” The Indian woman was standing near, silent and attentive. ‘**Ducril,” he said, handing to her a sum of money, ‘take the basket which you will find down-stairs, and go for some provisions, while I remain with the young lady.’ When satisfied that Ducril had left the house he continued to the girl: ‘** You say your name is not Nell Deems?” * No, it is not.” “Were you not a clerk in Haskel & Deal’s dry goods store near Magazine Market?’ “No, I never heard of the firm you name.” ‘'Then, will you please tell to me, first of all, who you are?” He had really supposed this young girl to be Nell Deems, a victim to Desmond’s plot in his game for the band and fortune of Clarice Ard- way. cs My name is rather a mystery, even to me, of late,” ‘‘xplain it as far as you can.” , ‘“‘T know that I am an orphan, and I have not the slightest recollection of my father and mother, But from childhood my name has been pretty distinctly fixed in my memory.” ‘What name?” “Crystol.” he Crescent City Detective. — $$. a ee a ot oe te + . a —— ——- ‘‘ Orystol!” he repeated, in surprise. ‘‘Yes; I bave grown up believing my name to be Louie Crystol—I say believing, for recent- ly, it seems, there are those who assert that TI am wrong, that my name is Edna—not Louie,” The detective was struck by a sudden revela- tion. He drew forth the electrograph portrait, ‘Did you ever see this before?’ he ques- tioned. * Why, I painted that myself!” she exclaim- ed. “You did?’ ‘Yes, there are marks by which I know it,” The original of the picture was facing him-— brown eves and all. ’ Here was the girl whom Girard Ardway ha expected to adopt as his ward. The plot for millions of money lay bare to his xen perception—everything was plain. But he said: ‘* Tell me your story.” “Tt is a short one. Llived in St. Louis. I was making my living by picture-painting, One day there came to me a lawyer, who said he bad been searching for a long while and at great ex- pense to find me. He persisted that my name was Edna Crystol—not Louie—and argued so strongly, so plausibly, supplying links for my caine beanie of the past, that at last I half be- lieved he must be right. It was pleasant news for a girl in my humble condition of sirugglin life-work, to hear that some one in this colc world desired to lift me up to wealth and a lov- ing home, I gladly consented to go to the gentleman who wished to adopt me as his ward—” ‘‘ His name was Ardway?” «t Yes.” '' Proceed, please.” **T was to have started for New Orleans on a certain day. But before the day set I received a telegram instructing me to come by the very next packet. I obeyed. When I landed at the levee, I was met by a rather handsome man, who said he had been deputed by Mr. Ardway to meet and conduct me to the St. Charles Ho- tel. Instead of going to the hotel we were driven, in a cab, to a horrid locality. The man said we were first to see Mr. Margrip—the law- yer who was managing the business concerning me, and that his office was here. I was per- suaded to alight and enter a house. Then—” She paused, covering her face with her bands, as if the remembrance of what followed was too much for utterance, **Go on, miss.” ‘‘T was seized by the man and by a great, ugly negro woman who admitted us to the honse. My cries for help were stifled; something—some disagreeable substance—was forced down my throat; I became unconscious. After this— bow shall I ever describe it?—I experienced the most singular sensations it is possible to con- ceive of. I knew that I was alive, but beyond this fact, no more that was definite. I could hear human voices, knew that others were around me continually. I could see, but what I saw was very queer—nothing buman in any- thing, as it were; all fantastic, all shapeless— nothing that I could fix comprehensively in my wind longer than theinstant. I knew thatdays were passing; there came to me intervals of rest, then wakefulness. Suddenly all ended.” The Hound forebore shocking her by telling her that she bad been buried alive. ‘“‘Do you know the name of the man who met you at the levee?” | ‘* He gave me his card.” ‘* What was on the card?” ‘Percy Desmond.” ‘‘Ah! I thought so. Now, can ber the name of the company by which you re- ceived the telegram summoning you to depart immediately for New Orleans? “Yes, distinctly,” and she mentioned the head-lines on the telegraph company’s note blank. ‘‘One more question. Can driver of the cab which carri enemy away from the levee?” tay es. ” ou describe the you and your This information she also could give. The detective ventured to take one of the weak, dainty hands in bis own strong palms. **- You have passed through a terrible ordeal,” he said. ‘‘ But it is over. You will soon be wellagain. If it will afford you any satisfac- tion, I can tell you that the villain who sought the sacrifice of your young and innocent life | will soon pay penalty for that and other | crimes. Rest, nurse yourself; try and be con- | tented with this little room for a while. Re- member that I am watching over you. There is no danger now.” His voice was very tender. The girl’s brown eyes met his in a full trustfulness, and there was r faint, peaceful smile in her pale, beautiful ace, : ‘‘T feel even happy,” sbe answered him, low- ly. ‘I know I am safe with you. Be with me as much as you can, won’t you?” “* Yes, I will.” The heart of the famous detective was pulsing with a strange, delightful warmth, Eomicbooks-co ou remem- . i. pew ie,f* A EE