Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 238 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

. — oe — a handed it to him, her finger indexing a certain paragraph in the personals. It read thus: ** Nellie Deems will confer a favor upon anxious friends by advising them of her whereabouts, Ad- dress to landlady of her lodging-house.”’ He returned the paper. ‘‘ What does it mean?” ‘Why, she’s gone.” ‘*Gone?” ‘* Vanished—yes,” “You don’t tell me so!” ‘‘ Went home to dinner, day before yesterday, and basn’t been seen since.” ‘* What was her address?” This was given to him. The saleslady was called away at that junc- ture and Harry Hound passed out of the store. There was a peculiar, snappy twinkle in his eyes. A wonderful theory was entering his keen mind. Theories chase one another rapidly in the braio of an experienced detective when opening into a fresh trail. Hardly bad he taken a dozen steps when he met Trim Taskar. The reporter was working under a pressure of some excitement. “Pve got it!” exclaimed Trim, abruptly. ‘* Bad?” laughed the detective. **No, no, I don’t mean that, but the sensa- tion.” ““Oh, yes; you were looking for a sensation when I last saw you. What is it, now?” “A young lady—has disappeared from the face of the earth—friends advertising for her— beautiful victim—foul play, ete., ete. See? lve a big paragraph!” ‘What was her name?” ‘*Nel] Deems, they tell me; clerk in Haskel & Deal’s dry goods—” The detective’s hand fell on the reporter’s shoulder with an uncomfortable gripe, surprise at the action cutting short further utterance, ‘* You must keep this thing quiet, Trim.” ‘What do youmvan? What's the matter?” “There must not be any sensation about this in the Pirayune or any other paper. Say noth- ing relative to Miss Deems’s disappearance,” “Why, what are you talking about?” burst from the astonished reporter. ‘*T spoke pretty plainly, didn’t I, Trim?’ ‘* But, see here; sensations are my bread and butter. Besides, if I don’t write it up, some other paper may, and the Picayune isn’t in the habit of coming in second on news items.” ‘Keep this thing shady. You shall lose nothing—nor the paper either.” *“Oh, I begin to see, you must be working on something concerning the girl.” aL am. I am nowon my way to her lodg- **I’ve just come from there. But all right, Hound; [il be mum as a keg of nails.” ‘See that you are, Trim; it will pay you.” At the house where Nell Deems had lodged Harry Hound had a conversation with the land- lady. He thought it advisable to continue re- aa bimself as a cousin of the young ady’s, just arrived in New Orleans and looking for her. Mrs. Splubbs could give no more information than he had gained from the saleswoman. ‘Tt is an unfortunate state of affairs,” he re- marked, regretfully. ‘La, yes, sir, it’s mightily strange of her, sure enough. But then, you know, pretty girls as has lovers—” she paused significantly. ‘You think she has gone off aid married somebody?’ “Yes, maybe—I can’t say.” ** And | feel sure she would not have gone without leaving some message for me. ave you looked about her room for such a thing?” ‘La, sir, I wouldn’t go into her room, when I’m not sure but she’ll be back.” ‘‘ Have you a key that will fit her door?” ‘Yes, but then I wouldn’t dare—” ‘*Oh, I’ll take the responsibility. Iam quite sure we will find a message there for me,” He bad a curiosity to see the room of the young lady, about whom there appeared to be a deepening mystery. Mrs, Splubbs led the way up-stairs. Entering the room occupied by Nell Deems, their search failed to be rewarded. ‘“‘ Well, I do declare!” broke from the land- lady. ‘* What is it, madam?” ‘“‘If sbe’s run off to be married, she hasn’t taken a stitch along.” This proved true. The trunk, neatly packed with snowy Jinen, was standing there untouched; the closet was filled with wearing-apparel, some of it such as no young girl would be apt to leave behind, even with good prospects in her flight. ‘‘T am so sure there is a message for me,” urged the dissembling detective, earnestly, ‘‘that I would suggest your searching the te ets of her dresses, Sbe may have written a note and forgotten to place it where it could be found.” “Tf you'll bear witness to the honest motives, sir,” she demurred. “* Certainly, madam,” He had an object in turning the landlady’s at- tention away from himself, No sooner was she at ber investigation in the closet, than The Hound noiselessly stooped be- fore the open fireplace. Lying there was a small piece of rolled paper blackly charred, and close beside the match by which it had been ignited. It was a note that had been written in pencil, and on the surface he was able to decipher these few words; “** * * at once **** ut fail. Same place and we wil] * * * #” ‘‘There’s nothing whatever in her sir. They’re cleaned out,” spoke Mrs. coming from the closet. ‘ Look here, madam, this is Miss Deems, isn’t t?” He displayed the picture. gaze at it, she said: ** No, sir; I don’t think it can be,” ‘You do not—why?” ‘It’s mightily like her, but there’s a differ- ence,” ‘‘In what respect?” ‘The eyes.” ** Well—the eyes?” ** Nell Deems’s eyes are very black—these are a kind of brown, not like her eyes at all.” ‘* You can swear to the color of Miss Deems’s eyes?” ‘*That I ean, sir—black as midnight.” There was nothing to be gathered from Mrs, Splubbs, ; He left the house, Whatever his thoughts or STEEDS ER they were locked in silence withia im. The few traceable lines upon the charred paper suggested that Nell Deems had an ap- pointment with some one. To him—who could almost tell the character of a person by the ap- pearance of their private surroundings—tbis note betrayed that Nell Deems had been in her room quite recently. The general tidiness of the apartment indicated that she would not have permitted burnt paper to remain on the nicely painted hearth when a draught might scatter it in disfigurement there. Was the landlady right in suspecting that her boarder had gone off with a lover or husband? or was there some foul play bebind the request to come to a certain place of meeting? But a stronger suspicion than either of these was being gradually entertained by the shrewd detective. Midnight of that night found him sitting in the rear office of the Agency buried in profound reflection, “The Hound,” was mapping out a course of procedure, based upou the suspicion hinted above. It was an invariable habit of his, He had made a singular and suspicious dis- covery during that afternoon, the nature of which will be shown in our next chapter. Suddenly the stillness of the room was broken by the telephone bell. Loudly and at quick intervals it rung, start- ling Hound from bis absorbing meditation, ‘ What’s up?” he answered, at the box. ‘*City Detective Agency?’ came the inquiry from afar. ‘“* Correct.” ‘* An officer wanted at once. street.” ‘* All right.” Another summons from vic residence of Girard Ardway. What could it mean at this unseemly h--~* He looked at his watch. It lacked five u. utes to one o’clock. With a remark to the night clerk that roused him from his sleepy nodding over a newspaper, Hound started for Prytania street. A terrible discovery was in store for him. He was about to be confronted by a new and startling phase in the trail he had scarcely yet started upon. ockets, plubbs, After a studying No,~— Prytania CHAPTER IV. A MEETING AT THE SQUARE, THERE had been another visitor at the Ard- way mansion witbin an hour after The Hound’s interview there. ‘‘Mr. Silas Margrip to see you, sir,” an- nounced a servant. ‘“Margrip? Show him up bere, to the libra- ry. Ardway was expecting the lawyer, for he arose as that party entered, saying: ‘You are punctual, Mr. Margrip.” ‘Yes, sir, always punctual—always your obedient—ad libitum.” “IT have anew piece of business to arrange with you.” ‘‘ Glad to hear it, sir—delighted.” ‘* Please be seated.” Silas Margrip was a man of under stature, with very broad shoulders and a wasp-like waist, wearing long, narrow, Sheen gaiters, His hair was quite long and bushy, pushed care- lessly back from the temples; his nose promin- ently long and sharpening downward; eyes of a glistening black, beady, unwinking, ratty. The lawyer was a miser, a successful practi- tioner, but, though reputed wealthy himself, ever betrayed a profoundly servile respect for ; , 4 und, the Crescent Citv Detective. } mw a re rr a ee | rr Se eee EE others who were well supplied witb riches, more especially if dollars were to be plucked from the piles thereof. His voice was a rasp, a wheeze, short and gaspy. ‘““f wish to speak about my will,” Ardw continued, * Your will?’ “There appears to have arisen a necessity for altering it.” ‘Certainly. Yes, sir. Of course—a la mode, Ahem!” Margrip was slightly surprised. ‘‘The will you prepared at my request, in view of the adoption of Edna Crystol as my ward, isentirely satisfactory as far as intended. But I have recent reasons for desiring that there should be another, a later dated will, in which this young lady shall be entirely ignored.” Old Silas was inwardly hugely astonished. He bad been at no small trouble to find the daughter of Colone) Crystol; but she was found, entisfacturily identified, papers of adoption were already prepared. Ardway’s will bad been drawn, signed and witnessed, making his ward joint heir with bis two cbhildrew, Royal and Clarice. Clarice was then completing her course of studies at a Maryland seminary. As if to prevent the very inquiry of wonder ment Margrip might bave ventured, Ardway added: ‘My reasons for this change are a secret of my own,” ** Oh, decidedly—of course.” “Simply rewrite the will as it is, with the exception that you leave out any mention of Edna Crystol. If I should die before a certain matter is definitely settled, this last is tbe will that must go to probate. Brivg it to me to- morrow for signature,” ‘* Yes, I will—ante meridiem.” ‘The mornirg will be most convenient.” ‘*T’|] bave it bere.” ‘* Another thing—” ‘(Name it, sir.” ‘The fact of alteration in my will—or, in- deed, that 1 have es much as made any will— wust remain strictly secret.” ‘“Oh, depend upou me for that. Ars est celare artem.” ; ‘That is all I bave to wg Mr. Margrip, Per- haps you bad best take the existing will with you to ae from.” ‘Yes, 1 think so.” Ardway stepped to a small safe in one corner of the library and drew fortb a legal-looking document, handing it to Margrip. It was the will which gave to Edna Crysto} an equal inheritance with Royal and Clarice Ardway. The igen departed with a puzzled twink- ling in bis beady eyes. ‘It’s none of my business—ahem! no,” he mumbled, as he sped away with a seesaw gait. ‘¢ Alter bis will a thousand times, if he chooses; all the same and better for me, A thousand alters, athousand fees. Some people are quirky. Quirky people wbo can pay are my game all the time. C-rtum pete finem.” Ardway aid not Jong remain in the library. Locking his safe and desk, he stepp:d out into the hallway. He bad a business engagement at that hour. To his surprise he encountered Edna coming forward. ‘Why, Edna, I thought you were going for ' drive with Royal!” ‘* But I changed my mind, guardy.” “Aan? why, dear?’ She drew sear to bim caressingly. ** Because, on second evar’ I preferred to come and be with you, you deer, good guardy. I hardly know you yet, except that you have a big, kind heart, and I want to love you so much! Have your visitors gonef—and can I have you all to myself?’ She was smiling brightly; but ber eyes were restless, her soft cheeks flushing. ‘My visitors are gone, Edna, but—” ‘‘ Then let us go back into the library, guardy, and have a long, long talk.” ‘‘T have an engagement,” he said, leaning to kiss her lovely forehead, ‘‘I much desire just the long, long talk you invite,my dear; you bave not yet related to me the history of your past life.’ ‘* And you must keep this engagement?” ** Unavoidably—yes.” “Tam sorry. Can I have you this evening?” playfully. “Yes. I regret that you lost the pleasure of your drive fr this disappointment.” With another tender ies be left her. Edna stood looking after him until be had disappeared down the staircase; then a strange change came over the beautiful face, In it was depicted a thrilling surprise, fear, a mingling frown of sinister depth. Something had transpired to transform the lovely Edna Crystol, as by the donning of a mask, into a woman whose heart beat in combined alarm and viciousness. With steps of nervous haste she sought her rivate apartments and sat down to indite a brief note—brief, because it was composed of <S comieboo (EC) a co