Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 238 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

22 of stalwart men, and on the breast of each man, though dim the light of the stars, could be dis- cerned the polished badges of the city se Uprose and advanced quickly, this sudden force, and ere the three at the water’s edge could run or resist, they were grasped to help- lessness by the vise hands of the law. ‘* Three!” spoke a voice recognizable as that of the chief detective of New Orleans City Police. ‘‘That’s the right count. Harry has two in jail, and his eye on the leader in case we did not catch him here. March them along. And a couple of you go out to the island and report what’s there,” Three ruffian voices were growling in rageful oaths, and had to be half-dragged away. ' When searched at the station, the pockets of each were found to contain black gloves and an ingenious mask patterned after the preying bird of night. Under the coat, around the waist of each, was a domino of some light-weighted and sable fabric. Provided thus, they could assume the garb in less than half a minute. It was a bad night for Owls! But we follow The Hound. He alighted at a little village, after riding a few miles. With the exception of a tavern crew near the railroad, the inhabitants were : abed and slumbering. He made his way along the main and gloomy street to its extreme terminus, and paused before a frame dwelling. ong Pam sharply on the door, he was admitted ‘by no less a personage than Silas Margrip. ‘* Eb—hey!”’ exclaimed the lawyer. ‘‘ You, Mr. Hound?” “Not my ghost, I guess.” **What a surprise. Ah! I see, Some coup de main, eh? Come in, sir—come in. What’s in the wind?” Silas sniffed as if he scented something ex- citing. ‘*T am about to close in on my game,” said the detective. **Good—good! Decidunt turres !” Silas rubbed his eely fingers in and out with ' the pleasurable anticipation of bringing rogues | to justice. | a ——— ~ — eo ee CHAPTER XXX, THE END OF THE TRAIL. | ‘“T SHALL want you to be on hand at the Ardway mansion in the morning, Mr. Margrip,” the detective continued. ‘‘ In fact, you had bet- ter go in to the city with me.” | ‘Bat, why not have telegraphed and saved yourself so much trouble?” “That wouldn’t do, for many reasons. I ‘ passed the telegraph office, too, coming up the street, and observed that it was closed, so you gee vou could not have received a message from me to night. Besides, I want a little talk with you, Having been mixed up in the Ardway matter of late, it may be as well that you should be the one to search out the proofs of Martha Crystol’s identity. I visited her this evening, - and she expressed such a wish, giving me these papers and a list of prominent parties in Ten- nessee who knew both her and her husband.” "Rts He gave the lawyer a small package. Then , ensued a lengthy conversation between the two. Harry Hound had prepared a magazine for explosion on the morrow, there was no stopping train for the city ntil after daylight, the detective availed of the | nterval to get a little sleep, and threw himself Py on a lounge in the room when through talking with the lawyer. In the gary morning, before the streets were thronging, The Hound and Margrip entered the city and went direct to the Ardway mansion. hey were admitted by Royal, who appeared to have been expecting them. ‘What about the police?” The Hound ques- & tioned. “They are here,” “Good. Then it won’t be long before we nab our man.” . Hardly had the three entered the parlor, when acab came whirling up to thecurb, and a young lady alighted in great haste, almost running as she ascended the steps. It was Clarice Ardway, who had just arrived from Baltimore, having traveled day and night after receipt of the a arming telegram from ay her brother. _ Royal went to the door to admit her. - mere . -_- “ In a tremble of dread she threw herself upon his breast, crying: ets) ‘Oh, brother! what is it—tell me?’ ** Be calm, Clarice—” “Tecan not becalm, Oh! the misery of mind . { have endured coming bere.” - He * Let us go into the parlor.” 7 They entered where the detective and lawyer ) had remained. " . Seeing who the young lady was, and her : almost hysterical condition, Harry stepped to | the young man’s side, and whispered a few words in bis ear. Royal partially recoiled. His face expressed | ee sagen grr nae his gusiied ae ou are not jesting?” he A i ** Nota particle. We'll leave you with your sister, and I guess, now, you can quiet all her fears,” \ en ee eS OE Hank Hound, the Crescent City Detective. ss ores Care — ‘* Heaven be praised!—yes. You area won- derful man!” “Oh, never mind about that at present. Come, Mr. Mar ip.” Harry led the lawyer to the library, and left him there. He then walked in the direction of the bedroom where had occurred the tragedy of our early chapter. Royal, himself in a state of mind bewildered, related to his sister a remarkable story. And it was while brother and sister were thus en- gaged, that the door-bell rung, announcing a visitor. Royal answered the ring. The caller was Percy Desmond. His mind was made up that The Hound must die, and his knowledge with him. There was murder in his thoughts as he grasped Royal’s hand with hypocritical cordiality. Then a quick start passed over him. His searching gaze discovered that the side-whiskers were genuine; and there were other points re- vealing that it was really Royal Ardway who faced him. “Why, Charlie, glad to see you! Come in; Dve Fhe ete for you.” Royal was playing his part according to the detective’s instructions. **T understood you to say you had a previous aueere with Clarice?” oie “*She has arrived.” ‘* Indeed?” ‘*Tn the parlor now. Walk right in.” Desmond seemed to experience a sense of dan- ger in the perfectly quiet atmosphere of the mansion. HS | half-hesitated, as if he would turn and leave with some abrupt excuse. But Royal was gently leading him by the arm, and he presently stood before Clarice, whose recent perturbation bad entirely vanished. Evidently, by the exchange of address be- tween the handsome adventurer and Clarice Ardway, they had met before; evidently, too, she was in complete ignorance of the true char- acter of the man, for her greeting was highly pleasant. With but the exchange of a few common- ae: remarks—ignoring the subject which had rought Clarice so suddenly to New Orleans— and without baving seated himself at all, he ex- cused himself from further intrusion upon brother and sister. “*T shall do myself the honor to call soon again se ie if Imay be permitted, Miss Ardway,” é said. ‘*Doso, Mr. Courtley. I remember that our acquaintance in Baltimore was very enjoyable to me; it would be pleasant to renew it here. shall not return to the academy.” “Thank you. Good-day.” The Prince advanced toward the door, Royal SNe as if to accompany him through the i all. Hardly had he taken six steps when a thrilling event transpired. ‘* Halt!” sounded a stern voice. Hank Hound stood in the doorway, one hand outstretched commandingly. Behind the de- tective ‘“‘dressed” two stalwart, uniformed policemen, Desmond did halt, A transient terror widened is eyes, . Then his bold effrontery asserted itself. ‘* Well, sir, who are DAG ?—and what does this mean, I would like to know?” ‘‘ It means that you are my prisoner, sir.” ‘Prisoner! What am I arrested for, pray?” ‘* Abduction and attempted murder, and com- licity in some of the heaviest burglaries that haw n committed in New Orleans for many years, to say nothing of a daring perpetration of fraud. Sufficient charges, are they not? Hold out your wrists—” “ top 1” Desmond retreated before an advancing policeman who rattled the ‘“‘darbies” in readi- ness to place them on the culprit. “This is a most unpleasant mistake. You are deucedly wrong in these charges.” ‘‘Am I? Let Miss Louie Crystol speak for herself.” At the words the curtains of the alcove were ae aside and the beautiful victim of the oodoo sorcery stood before him. It was, to him, indeed like an apparition from the grave. ** You see, Prince Desmond, I am not doing my work by halves. I hold you for deliberately and murderously burying that young girl alive | More, you have to answer for the monstrous at- tempt to stab to death Girard Ardway.” ‘‘It’s a lie! Who dares say I did such a thing?—” ‘*/ do!” answered a deep, accusing voice. Again the curtains parted, and into the room slowly stepped Girard Ardway. He was wan and weak, his once genial face ainfully emaciated and his ordinarily robust rame shockingly reduced even in those few days since we last saw him in all health and vigor. Nevertheless, it was Girard Ardway in the living flesh, standing there to hurl confusion on the quaking villain. te - ‘*My father! Ob, thank God!” burst from Royal, rushing toward him with arms out- stretched for an embrace of joy. “Ah, Royal, my son, it is a miracle of Heaven that you see me here—a miracle worked through the wonderful detective skill of Mr, Hound, whom may God forever bless! Look!” —leveling a quivering finger at Desmond. *‘Look upon that vile semblance of a man— that thief, ghoul, assassin! In the dead hour of night he came to my bedside and struck with a fiend’s hand at my life, I succeeded in grap- ling with him, and in our struggle I tore from is face the mask of an ow] which he wore. Twice, thrice his keen knife entered my flesh, and when he thought me a corpse, unable to name him to others, be dragged me into a secret passage. To make further sure, he fairly wrapped me in knotted bonds and tied a gag in my mouth. It was no doubt his intention to return for me at some more convenient time, and consign my body to an unknown grave, But God, in His mercy, bad not willed this terri- ble thing. I recovared, and oh! the misery, the unspeakable torture I endured, lying there helplessly, writhing until unconsciousness— which I prayed might be death for relief—came againupon me. When next! knew that I lived, this brave detective was at my side; I was lying in my own bed. I suffered more from those hours of torture t!:an from my wounds, for none of these were dangerous, and had almost stanched themselves. Bear witness all, I charge that wretch with this assassin deed!” ‘Hold out your wrists!” sounded the stern voice of The Hound. The officers advanced to take their prisoner, But Desmond lived ever prepared for such a crisis. Quickly he drew from his pocket a tiny vial that could not have contained more than fifty drops of a clear liquid. Ere a hand cou! grasp him he thrust the vial into bis mouth and his teeth crunched down on the thin glass, ‘*There! let us see you take me!” he cried. **f defy you all!” They were the last words he ever uttered. In a few minutes he was a corpse. From the remnants of the vial, which bad been ejected on the floor, one of the policemen drew forth a label which read, ‘* Prussic acid.” It was a solemn tableau that formed about the body of the bold suicide. And in the background had suddenly ap- peared Trim Tasker, the Picayune reporter, bis pencil flying over his tablets with lightning | rapidity. ‘Whoet of the beautiful impostor who was this man’s accomplice in crime?’ asked Girard ? Ardway, first to break the awecome silence. ‘*T have learned from Josette, her maid, that she mysteriously departed last night,” replied the detective. ‘‘ Let the poor thing go, I say. She has perhaps learned a lesson which wil! keep ber out of such tricks in the future, It would probably cost more than it is worth to catch and punish her,” Of the scheming Lucy Crystol nothing was afterward heard. ‘* And where is the real Edna Crystol?” ‘*She and her mother will visit you to-day.” ‘‘T have a warm place in my heart for both. And this unfortunate young lady ”—turning to Louie—‘‘ I shall make up to ber for all her suf- fering. Her too I shall try and induce to be- come my ward and—” But Harry astonished all by an interruption. Stepping to Louie’s side, he took one of her hands, saying: | “Pardon, Mr. Ardway, but I object to that | part of the programme. Please accept the young lady’s thanks through me. But, as I | saved Louie’s life, I intend assuming entire charge of her heart also, and—we shall be glad to have you at the wedding.” ; It was totally unexpected to the young girl. But this quickest of all strange courtships re- sulted in happiness to both. The grandest of grand weddings known to the elite of New Orleans—a double wedding—was celebrated at the Ardway mansion before the advent of winter. Royal and his Isabel—whose real name, Edna, could never become familiar to his li and The Hound, with his beautiful betrothed, Louie Crystol, were wedded simultaneously, and the four started in company upon one of the most deighttn of honeymoons. Silas Margrip duly found fully satisfactory proofs of Martha Crystol’s identity, and when | the brides and bridegrooms returned, they learned that Girard Ardway had wooed and ' won the widow of bis early friend, and another wedding had been fixed for a not distant day. The Owls met with the usual punishment met- ed to such burglarious classes, and Cracker Biil was “let down easy” according to the detect- ive’s promise, ; The drama that had opened with such a phase of terrible tragedy bad all come right at last, and general happiness, and magnificent reward, crowned this last case in the diary of the famous Detective Hank Hound. THE END. } (e(0) ,00 / mill S c. com shy