Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 238 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

sounding violently, with hardly any intermis- | sions. Harry Hound chanced to be sitting in the room where the instrument was, and imme- diately responded. Prompt as he was the signal had rung forth several times. “* Well?” be called, ‘** Hello, there!” ‘‘ Hello yourself. What's up?” ‘“* City Detective Agency ?’ ** Correct.” “ An officer wanted at once.” ‘* Where?” ‘‘No. — Prytania street. Wanted without any delay.” ‘Allright. Anything else?” “Nothing. That will do.” “‘Good-by, then,” said Harry, closing the con- nection. ‘‘Looks like a job at last,” he exclaimed, hopefully. t that moment his chief entered. He mentioned the message, concluding with: ‘*] would like to see what it is,” “Very well; but I bardly think it will be worth while for a man of your abilities.” “Why?” ‘Ob, no doubt some trifling loss of silverware | or some such commonplace,” ‘I want it, if there is no objection.” ‘*Go ahead,” The Hound lost no time in reaching the wealthy and fashionable precinct of Prytania street. As he approached No. —, he saw a hand- somely dressed gentleman descending the steps of the house. The two passed without apparently noticing one another. It was the party we have seen figuring under the name of Perey Desmond, and whom we know, by the detective’s muttering at the hotel, to be an adventurer known among the frater- nity of sports as ‘*‘ The Prince,” ‘*{ wonder if that fellow is on visiting ac- quaintance at this house?” he queried, inwardly. “TI must find out.” He was soon admitted to the rich interior of the residence, the massive door to which bore a gilded plate, having on it the name of Girard Ardway. ‘“Who shall I say has called?” asked the ser- vant. ‘*Oh, no matter. Just say some one on im- portant business, that’s all.” In a few minutes the servant returned, with the request to walk up to the library. The Hound was ushered into the presence of Girard Ardway—a gray haired and portly gen- tleman, whose mien was impressive with the dignity of one who can carry the importance | of weilth without its arrogance. @ was a widower. ‘* Be seated,” he said, pleasantly. Then: ‘TI am glad you did not let any hint fall to the ser- vant as to who you were, sir.” Harry smiled, It was not likely, if he was to be employed upon a case of detective service, that he would begin by revealing himself to gos- siping servants, when the business might in- volve them especially. He was thinking, as did his chief, that only some pilfering had been going on. ‘* What is your name?’ ** Henry Hound.” ‘‘Ah! Lam glad to hear it.” “Why, particularly?” ** Because I have heard of that name and it owner’s exploits, It is popularly known in New Orleans—” ** Not popular with a great many, sir.” ‘‘No doubt, no doubt. Now, id have a case for you, Mr. Hound.” “Or what nature?’ ‘‘Something that will require the best skill I believe you to possess. It is no common af- fair. The detective’s ears pricked attentively at this. ‘** Please state the case.” “TI will begin at the begin ngs some a a my: In my younger yearsI very dear end— Ah!” _ He was interrupted by the library door open- ing. n the doorway appeared, like a vision, a ver beautiful young Be La : ’ y I bid f-y Fao cased going one for a crive, ardy, She said, m , while b ten- ia a tinted glove. a. oe ‘Very well, my dear. I hope you will enjoy yourselves.” ‘“T thought I would tell you, so that you would not miss me.” ‘Very proper, Edna. You have been with us such a little while, I feel as if I hardly yet had a firm };old upon you,” the last playfully. When the young lady had reclosed the door, Ardway asked, quickly: * Di you look at her face?” eé Yes. ’ “You bardly seemed to.” ** Qh, there is no need to stare impolitely at a person to impress the face on one’s mind, A glance has always been sufficient for me.” Hank Hound, the Crescent City | “Then you would recognize her if you saw her again elsewhere?” ; | ‘‘ Assuredly. But, why do youask? Has that _ young lady anything to do with—” | “Tt will be explained by what I am about to tell you. AsIwas saying: I had a very dear friend. His name was Bernard Crystol. He married shortly after I did and went to Mis- souri to live; he had two children—they were girls and twins, Colonel Crystol’s health failed him; be died. Some years ago, while travel- ing through that portion of Missouri, I made inquiries for Mrs. Crystol. The widow, too, was dead. The children were adopted by a lady living in St. Louis; I went to her address and found that she was dead, having left no property of any earthly value. Lucy, one of the children, bad, I learned, run away from her benefactress when but a small child, The other child, whose name was Edna, had been lost sight of by those who had casually known ber. For my old friend’s sake, 1 resolved to find the surviving child—the other child being presumably dead—and adopt ber as ne ward if she consented, There is a lawyer in this city named Margrip—” He paused as he observed a smile on the de- | tective’s face. “You know him?” ** Who does not know him?” | A reasonable counter-question. There were few in New Orleans who did not know or had not heard of Silas Margrip, the miser lawyer, who boasted of more criminal clients of more varied scrapes than otber brother professional, ‘‘ Well, it seems this old Margrip has efficient correspondents in St. Louis, for—to be brief—he | found the child, Edna Crystol—” “For which he made you pay roundly.” “Of course, I expected that. The sly fox loves money and knows how to charge. Edna received my proposition gladly, gratefully. | She had been earning an uncertain livelihood | by coloring photographs after the electrograph | anton Sie sent me her picture, painted by herself. Here itis. Look at it, please.” | He produced from his desk a cabinet-size pho- tograph, colored to look like porcelain-type, handing it to The Hound. ‘* Now, Edna was to have arrived yesterday. | Instead, she came on the day before yesterday, | rezistered at the St. Charles, notified me of | her presence there, came home at once with me | and—that was she you saw at the door a mo- ment ago.” | The Hound had been contemplating the pic- ture. He looked up with a start, He recalled the incident at the St. Charles Hotel two days previous. ‘T would like to ask you a question, Mr. Ard- way.” What is it?” ‘‘ As IT came in I met a gentleman going out.” * Well?” ‘‘An acquaintance of the family I take for granted. But, who is he?” | ‘Describe bim.” ‘‘Medium hight; a face possessing a great deal of self-assurance: dark, ample mustache neatly combed down; hard black eyes; wearing a fawn-colored overcoat and—" ‘*Oh, that is a particular friend of my son’s —Charles Courtley is his name. He hails from Richmond, I believe. cud is living on the inter- est of a splendic .nheritance.” The detective could scarcely refrain from an out’ ~ . Jaugh; but he asked, quite soberly: «ou are sure that is his name?” « Why, yes.” ‘* His face seemed familiar, that is all; a mere passing impression,” noting the surprise his in- guiry was causing. Percy Desmond, then, was sailing under false representations in the wealthy circle surround- ing Girard Ardway. ‘ Let me call your attention more particular- ly to that picture, Mr. Hoand, There is some- thing strange—” ‘*T have already noticed it.” ** What?’ ““ Whoever painted those eyes intended them for brown.” ** Evidently—yes,” said Ardway, nodding. “The eyes of the young lady whom I just saw and heard address you were more like a pair of black diamonds,” **'You have hit it.” ** Have 1?” . ““My son Royal and I have noticed the strange circumstance, At first we were in- clined to attribute it to a mere mistake on the artist’s part—” ‘‘T do not think such a thing likely.” ‘Your reason?” ‘Simple enough. A person painting their own picture would endeavor to be exact in the matter of hair and eyes above all things.” ** What, then, do you make out of it?” ‘That young lady is not the one this photo is meant to represent.” “Sh! Net so loud, please.” way arose and went to the door. After casting a look out into the hallway, he returned to his seat, saying: ‘‘Royal and I are yielding to the same sus- picion. But we wish whatever is done to be 8 eee rr LL oe ag etective. 3 done quietly. We would not for worlds make any move which, eventually, would cause the young lady a needless wound.” “*T comprehend.” “Still,” Ardway added, whisperingly, ‘for satisfaction, in view of the circumstances, we must bave proof beyond what we already have that she is or is not the person she is supposed to The Hound was again studying the face of the picture, It was very plain. The eyes were a peculiar blue-brown. The eyes of the Edna Crystol he had seen were jet-black., Ardway waited for him to speak. CHAPFER IIL A MISSING GIRL, a some minutes of silence the detective said: ‘‘T understand you wish me to investigate upon your suspicions, Mr. Ardway ?” ** Precisely. ‘*T willdoso. This is all, is it?’ ‘*No; I have something singular to commu- nicate.” “In connection with this case?’ ‘*Perbaps yes, though I have no good reason for supposing so.” ‘* T should like to hear what it is.” ‘‘ There is a young girl now in the city of New at ee, ~ « h Orleans who is an exact counterpart of our | Edna,” ‘Indeed! Some strong resemblance, eh?’ *“*By no means merely that. An exact coun* terpart, I say.” ‘* Black eyes and all?” ‘* Yes, in every feature.” ‘*Such a thing is rare.” ‘* In this case it is a fact.” ** Where is this young lady?” ** At the dry-goods store of Haskel & Deal.” ‘“‘A clerk there?” ‘* Yes. One day last week, in anticipation of the arrival of my prospective ward, I went into that store to make some purchases. At one of the counters where I was waited upon was this girl, I bad not then received the picture from Edna; when it arrived, its remarkable likeness o the girl at Haskel & Deal’s struck me likea ash.” ‘“*T think I must have a look at her,” observed The Hound, thoughtfully. ‘‘ Have you any ob- jections to my retaining this picture for a few days, Mr. Ardway?”’ ** None at all, sir.” **T suppose this circumstance of the different colored eyes is the only basis you can give me to work upon?” ‘* Positively thatisall. Is it too frail a thread for you?” ‘““My dear sir, I have trapped and jailed many a criminal with a smaller starting-point than this,” was the confident rejoinder. When Harry Hound left the house of the re- tired merchant, his brain was working busily. Prominent in his thoughts were the inci- dent at the hotel, his knowledge of the true character of Percy Desmond, “The Prince,” and his assumption of a false role in the charm- ed circle of higher society. “It will take a few hours to think this out,” be mused, “If there is really any deviltr afoot I guess I know the man who needs ae owing. This Desmond is a bold fellow. It is no easy game to live under two names in the same city for a man who moves around much, But first, for a part. I fee direction,” He proceeded straightway to the store of Haskel & Deal. After traversing the store, looking in vain for the face he sought—examining an article bere and there with affected curiosity—he paused at a counter that seemed to be without a clerk, In a few seconds be was confronted by a mid- dle-aged woman with flaring red hair, cavern- ous stniles, but most equable manners, “Can I wait upon you, sir?” Are you the regular clerk at this counter, an unaccountable interest in that “No, this is Miss Deemse’s counter, But no~ body knows where she is.” ‘A young lady?” ‘Yes, about—” she checked herself. Why should this stranger want to know so much about Miss Deems? “Young and beautiful, too, is she not? Harry continued, **She might be considered so.” “Ts this the Jady?" He showed the picture. ‘* Nell Deems, for all the world!” instantly ex- claimed the saleslady. Then, with a mysterious smile: ‘‘ You are some relative of hers I pre- sume, sir, or—” ss Yes, lama cousin.” ' ; Soe are looking particularly for her?” | i hy “Then I’m sorry.” *“Why are you sorry?” ‘* Haven’t you seen the morning’s paper?” ‘‘Not to read closely.” She slipped the paper from her pocket and . limpse of Edna Crystol’s counter- A i ne oe Ghboo <S! @( 0) y io ~com