Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 238 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

—_ | ——— 20 SS A ATS Ain AAAS ‘¢ What do you say to a trial of luck?” “‘T really do not feel like playing.” **Look on, then,” * All right.” They started for the saloon on Custom-house street. As they entered that street an anforeseen event tr nspired. A small-statured man stepped suddenly up to them, and laying his hand on the detective’s shoulder, said, ina sharp, business way: ‘Royal Ardway, you're ‘ wanted.,’’ The two stopped in surprise. “1 am wanted?” ‘6 You are,” “By whom?’ “ The law.” “For what?” ‘“-You must save your catechism until you get to head-quarters.” “You intend to arrest me?” “That is my duty just now.” ‘‘-You are an officer?” ; “Yes,” displaying a detective’s badge. Harry saw in an instant exactly what this meant. . For some new reason the police deemed it ad- visable to take Royal Ardway into custody. There must have been some further development of the hint given by the hooded and mysterious female to the patrolmen on the night of the tragedy. The police lieutenant was at the bot- tom of this move. “I think you have made a mistake, my n ** Not much.” ‘*T have done nothing to merit this intrusive insult,” ‘¢ Of course not,” joined Desmond, emphatic- y. . “T know my business, and I have my orders,” declared the man. ‘* Come—shall I run you in quietly, or are you going to make a row? * Tn re is no necessity for a row.” ‘Come ahead with me, then.” ‘* Won't you stafe what I am arrested for?’ Harry was weighing as to a course of action, and dallied to gain time. ‘I's not my business to explain whys and wherefores when I arrest a man.” . “But you can surely tell me—” “You eome along immediately or Ill blow my call for police aid.” As he said this, the man fastened a strong gripe on bis prisoner’s arm. There was now a singular condition of things. The *‘ shadow,” of course, bad due authority to arrest Royal Ardway, or be would not have come forward so boldly. Desmond did not wish the disguised detective to be arrested; at that very moment there existed a deep laid plot for the latter’s assassination. Already Desmond bad begun to congratulate himself that he would soon ani forever be rid of The Hound. Harry eould not afford to undergo an arrest because he wanted the attempt upon his life to occur, and believed that to be the object of the arch-vil- jJain’s calling for him at the mansion; at the sta- tion bis real identity must come out, and the only thiog accomplished would be a loss of time that was valuable to him. ' He was vexed, even angry, that this man— innocently and well-meaning enougb—should be thus deliberately interfering with his plan of operations. He made up bis mind to a decidedly belliger- ent course. The action of the officer, in taking hold upon the arm of the man be believed to be Royal Ardway, hastened a surprising climax, CHAPTER XXVII. THE STROKE OF THE BLACK JACK, Tur party who was undertaking this arrest owas the same ‘‘shadow ” who had been on the track of Royal Ardway for some days. As Harry bad supposed—when we have seen him cleverly and easily elude the pursuit after bis first visit to the Clydes—he was not a regular officer, but one of those adjuncts to the detective service whose specialty is more to trail and watch the movements of suspected persons. He was neither long experienced in his voca- tion nor very familiar with the sly ins and outs of that particular locality, as the closely subse- quent result of this occasion proved. Tbe Hound bad instantly resolved to ‘‘ down” the man as his only mick method of escape. Still he hesitated, not liking to harm a brother professional, when the latter was simply dis- charging a duty. : 1 gag your hand, sir!” he commanded, sharply. ‘*Ob, no! I think you are disposed to be ug- ly.” ‘“*T warn you!” ‘‘ What will happen if I don’t heed, hey?” “T make no threats.” “You seem to mean it, though. Will you promise to come peaceably?” “7 make no promises.” “Then I guess l’d better hold on. Come.” “ Remove your band!” There was a menace in the second warning that could not be mistaken. Hank Ho und, the Crescent City ec TL OE LLL LL LEE LILA ALLL AAA ee a A a a a a a ls ow ER Rd i aR te ee eer a= “4 a ge + ee Ss = See here, I don’t want any trouble with ‘‘ Then remove your hand from my arm.” It was a third warning. ‘*TInstead of doing that I gutess [’d better hold on tighter. You just come right along with me now, Mr. Royal Ardway, or—” His speech was cut short in a rather terrific way. The powerful right arm of Harry Hound shot out straight from the shoulder, and with the startling quickness of a bursted clock- spring. There was a dull, thudding sound of knuckles on flesh and bone. The man went head over heels, nearly performing a somersault, falling flat on the pavement, and for about a quarter of a minute bis vision was a confused maelstrom of stars and flamy blurrings. When he recovered sufficiently to scramble up he was entirely alone. He hastened to the well-known saloon at the corner, scouting vainly bere and there in search of bis escaped game. But he was completely outwitted. ‘*T guess the next time I get my band on that young man I’ll do well to have some assist- ance,” he concluded, in his chagrin. Immediately upon knocking down the ‘‘ shad- ow” Harry ran into a long, dark, narrow entryway close by, Desmond following. ‘* Good!” indorsed the latter. ‘‘That was a crack deserving admiration.’ You are up in the manly art, I see.” In truth, be was surprised at the masterly stroke, It gave him some further insight of the other’s prowess. ““1f you bad not struck him, Royal, I would.” “*T really did not want to bit bim,” ** There was no help for it.” ** It seems not.” ‘*-You did perfectly right. The idea! does anybody want to arrest you for?” ‘* Don’t know, I’m sure.” At the far rear of the entry there was a door; beyond the door another passage; then a flight of stairs: at the head of the stairs a second door, where a neatly-attired usher acmitted them to a set of magnificent and costly parlors, Although so very early in the evening, sev- eral quiet games were in progreas—the salon being not devoted to the votaries of the green baize exciusively, but having a number of pri- vate tables in alcoves, upholstered in a style of fairy-like extravagance. ‘ So you won’t play to-night?” half-bantered Desmond. ‘* No, I think not.” ‘Tt might prove interesting after a few ven- tures.” ** Excuse me,” Harry had never played a card in his life in any other way than for mere amusement. And, too, he was now playing a different sort of game, so deep, so hazardous, that he could not efford to engage his mind with anything calculated to throw him off his guard. He could not foresee in what way or at what instant the attack upon him was to be made. One second of inattention to bimself might cost him bis life. Desmond plun at once into the faro deal. Judging by his display of abundant money, the detective concluded that he must have succeeded in realizing on the stolen diamonds. For there are numerous ways of raising money sub silentio in New Orleans without recourse to the pawnbrokers; and many an article of plun- der might be traced to singular haunts in D_ u- pbine and Burgundy streets. For nearly two hours the detective remained a looker-on in the gambling parlors. Desmond seemed to be solely engrossed by the cards and their dealer. There was apparently nothing in this feature of the evening to suggest a lurking plot of mur- er, Such inactivity did not suit the detective. He became restless. ‘*Guess I'll be going, Charlie.” * What! are you off?” se Yes.” ‘Well, it is tiresome when one isn’t playing.” ‘‘ Are you coming with me?” “No, I think Pll remain. I’m in luck to- night.” For a second Harry Hound was puzzled by this reply. A second only—then it flashed up- on him that Desmond did not intend himself to aim the murdcrous blow. His tocls—some of the Owliss crew—were to commit the assassin deed. Fully satisfied of this, fully prepared as be felt: the climax almost at band, and seeking to forces the issue, he passed out of the saloon. Hardly bad he taken a dozen steps when his surmise was verified. Forward from the gloom sprung two men, cne on each side of him. In their hands were poised the deadly sand-clubs. Powerful ruffians they were; murder their in- tent. But the assailants met with a stern surprise. Right and left—and only once each way— swept the detective’s arm. F . his tight fist was grasped the terrible black- ack. What Detective. Two blows only he struck—they were enough; these delivered with a scientific precision, the irresistible cunning of a master band. There were two dull, cracking, thumping sounds, and two figures, as if suddenly shot, dropped limply to the pavement. ot a word had been spoken. The thrilling incident was over in a moment. The intended victim was safely gone from the spot. A man ran forward from the entrance to the gambling-saloon. It was Desmond. He must have been close and stealthily following when the supposed-to- be-doomed detective emerged. Kneeling by a prostrate form he lighted a match. He was eager to behold the dreaded face of Harry Hound in death. Then an ejaculation of astonishment and rage burst from him. The fellow was one of the would-be assassins, He was recovering and gave vent to several painful groans, Desmond shook the man angrily. ‘* Where is he, you botch?”’ ** Who?” confusedly. ‘¢‘The man you and Josh were to lay cut.” ‘“‘Cap’n Percy, the cove’s a stunner,” ‘‘So it seems,” sneeringly. ‘Did he escape unharmed from you two?” ‘Ask Josh. I’m kinder ’bout uncertain reun’ the cranium, I am.” ‘ “ I don’t believe you so much as touched im.’ ‘‘ Blest if I know what Josh's done, I didn’t git a lick into ’im myself, afore somethin’ just took me ’side o’ the jaw, an’—an’—durned if I don’t b’lieve the whole cheek o’ my face ’s bu’sted,” ‘This almost looks as if he was ready for you,” said Desmond, with a sudden suspicion. i He was cer—tain—ly ready, don’t you fer- et. ‘Do you know who it is you have allowed to escape?” ** Didn’t ’pear to me to bea question of ’low- ance, Cap; ’e just took his own sort o’ way *bout it. Who was the chap, anyhow?’ ‘¢-You won't feel any easier when | tell you.” ‘““ Who was he?’ ““The Hound.” ce No!” “Sure as you’re laying there. And I suspect he is after The Owls,” Desmond arose from his kneeling position, and walked a short distance along the pave- ment, looking around as he went; then he moved in a similar way out and back on the street. ‘‘ Where’s Josh at?” half blubbered the recov- ered assassin, coming up slowly and holding one hand to his face, where the black-jack had cut both flesh and bone, “That is what L am looking for. have become of him?’ The two searched arowd for awhile, but nothing was to be seen of the other ruffi in. Why should he have deserted his c .mpanion? The detective had disappeared; so bad the fellow named Josh. Undreamed-of by the evil pair who lipgered in Custom-house street, Harry Hound bad per- formed a singular feat after downing” those who had assaulted him. CHAPTER XXVIII. THE OWLS IN DURESS. Tue feat tbat followed The Hound’s rapid and summary demolition of the plot against his life by Desmord’s cut-throat coadjutors was the impulse of an idea that flashed into his brain even as he dealt those stunning blows with the terrible black-jack, A thorough master in the handling of the weapon, he knew precisely how and where to hit to inflict severe punishment and preduce in- sensibility, complete though not fatal. We have said that he was a quick thinker and actor. The scope of his thoughts and the plan conceived in that one transient moment were something remarkable. ; Springing to one of the prostrate ruffiane, in a trice he grasped him up, slinging the limp body, like a bag of meal, over his shoulder. The ease and celerity of this performance showed the wonderful strength of the aetective athlete. With bis burden firmly held, he sped swiftly from Custom-house street, making for a mear hack-staud. Rushing forward, and shoving the insensi>le man into a vehicle before the astonished cab- man could oo! his mouth, he jumped in him- self and cried: ‘‘Drive to the —— station-house. Whip up your hors¢s!” Had cabby been inclined to object to what had a strong appearance of being some kind of foul play, the order to drive direct to a police- station at once disabused his mind of the sus- picion. He climbed to his box and started his horses at a lively gait, without exchanging a word with his sirgular customer, The Hound’s order would deliver him at the station nearest to the precinct in which was the Ardway mansion. What can 4 . com s comicbooks