Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 238 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

tober palatial home. —- ' _—_—_ a buttwo lines. This she addressed to Lock Box , City P.O. No name, In ber own carriage—among the first presents eaceived from her new and liberal guardian— 6 was soon being driven to the post-office, or some reason she did not choose to trust a messenger. Stamping and mailing the note, she returned At about four o’clock Pp. mw. again Miss Crystol ent forth in ber private equipage. This time or courses was toward tke old cathedral. In front of Jackson pe she alighted. The carriage drove off under instructions to 1etura in twenty minutes, Evona advanced toward the monument. She did not observe, following closely behind her, a young man with oil-d blonde bair, effem- imate mustache and etbereally cut garments, who carried a book of poems in one band, and whose eyes were bent upward in a silent mood of dreamy inspiration. Sauntering idly near the monument was a guan—The Prince, Desmond. ome received my note?’ she accosted him efly. “That is what brings me here.” The young man with the book had paused, and wasabsentl y contewplating the monument, seemingly oblivious to all else. Edna cast a suspicious glance toward him, saying: ‘Let us move away from here.” ** What for?’ She nodded toward the party with the book. ‘“Oo! that fellow? He isn’s paying any atten- tion to us. If he bad knee-breeches on he would make a good Oscar Wilde. But come this way. Now what isit you have to communicate that you are afraid to say it within the walls of the Ardway mansion?” “There are many reasons why we might not have an opportunity tospeak privately together there. What 1 have to tell you will not admit of delay.” ‘‘Something extraordinary?” he rejoined, lightly. **Tt is,” “Out with it then.” "The plot is in gt ig of failure!” eee was that in the words to cause him to start, ‘* What do you mean?” “There bas been a great oversight.” “How?” ‘The eyes of the picture are painted brown,” “ The picture—” ““Of E.ina Crystol.” ‘Ah, yes. Well?” * Look at my eyes—as you should have done in the first place.’ She raised her vail and regarded him steadily with her black-agate orbs, Then as she lowered the vail, he clinched his fists, with the muttering hiss: **1'm a fool!” ** Jt would seem so,” she said, half-sneeringly. ‘“‘We must get the picture and have the eyes altered.” ‘Tt is now too late for that.” * Too late?” uneasily. " The picture is in the hands of another rtv. ** Who has it?” ** A man named Hound.” He looked at her for an instant, speech- esslv. : ,. aound—Harry Hound?” fell in a gasp from ips. ‘* He is a detective. I judge vou know him by the way you act. Let me tell you: I was oing out for a drive this afternoon with Royal rdway, when I saw a strange man shown into Mr. Ardway’s library. Determined to know bis business there, I entered the adjoining room and, by means of the secret of the picture, of whieh you luckily informed me, I was enabled to bear all that passed.” Rg did you hear?’ he questioned fever- hly. ‘“The man’s name was Hound. Girard Ard- way has noticed the circumstance of different colored eyes. He strongly suspects something wrong. He has employed the detective to sat- isfy him whether or not I am Edna Crystol. But there is more.” “More!” he echoed excitedly. ‘‘Is not this enough? That Hound is the keenest deteotive in New Orleans to-day. If he is on our trail—” ? “ Listen, for my time is limited. It is grow- ing late.” ‘Go on.” “A lawyer named Margrip also visited the house today. He has been requested to prepare rain ta will, in which Edna Crystol is totally ored, ‘Pury!’ gnashed The Prince, in an under- breath. ‘* When is this to be signed?” ** To-morrow forenoon.” A peculiar gleam lighted his eyes. He seemed to grow calmer, with a sudden thought, ‘‘T must be going, now,” Edna said. ‘The carriage will return in a few minutes. I have done all I can in bringing you this informa-: ticon— | ER | ‘Do not be frightened,” he returned, with a confident air. ‘* Separate from we here. It would hardly do to have it known that Charles Courtley and Edna Crystol have such meetings—” * Wait.” ‘* What is it?” ‘The other, the existing will—where is it now?” s Margrip has it.” * Ahal has he? Well, au revoir.” She turned and left bim abruptly. CHAPTER V., THE OWL ASSASSIN, THE carriage was punctually aurea as Edna Crystol returned to the park entrance. For a few seconds Desmond stood looking after ber. Toen he started rapidly from the spot. An evil smile, that could scarcely be called a smile, twitched the muttering lips be- neath bis mustache. ‘*Suspicioned! The Hound on the track! By Heaven! there must be prompt action here. Curse the picture—its brown eyes, I mean. But ll beat them after all! I shall summon The Owls. There is work, urgent work, ahead for The Owls!” The young man with the book turned away from the monument. His eyes were no longer filled with the languor of a fantasy-soaring mind; instead, they snapped shrewdly as he omen watched the receding form of Edna rystol. 2 Strikes me there is a remarkable intimacy between Miss Crystol and the fellow who calls bimself Charles Courtley. I would give ten dollars to have heard what they were saying.” The voice was that of Harry Hound. As a first move he was shadowing Edna Crystol. He had net with some reward. The Hound hada cab near by. Entering the conveyance, he was leisurely driven in the wake of Miss Crystol’s handsome equipage. As he passed the Ardway mansion she was alighting to go in. Reasoning that she was likely to remain at home during the balance of the late afternoon, be dismissed the cab at the end of a few turns. Slipping a five-dollar bill to the driver, he cautioned: ‘*This is business, Jerry. Be mum! Hold yourzelf ready for me at any minute.” ‘* All right—and mum’s the go, sir. Reckon I’ve served you long enough to know what's wanted of me.” Ear'y in that evening Royal Ardway was | about leaving the house when he met Edna in the entry way. Royal was a fine-looking young fellow. His face was frank and engaging; he wore slight side-whiskers and mustache, with the cbin cleanly shaved. In hight and form he was much like Harry Hound. This fact of resemblance is mentioned for the reader’s remembrance. ‘“‘Going out, Royal?” asked the beautiful girl, inquisitively. ** Yes, Edna.” ‘* 1] would like to know where tof” ‘You must not be so curious.” ‘** But I want you with me.” ‘** Anything in particular?” She threw her arms around his neck impnul- sively. Her lovely faco wasaglow. ‘Stay at home, won't you?’ For a trapsient spell he was simply astonished at this sudden rer re of passionate affection— orp seamed no less; then forcing a smile he said: ‘* My evenings are always engaged, Edna.” ‘With whom?” ** A young lady who is very dear to me.” ‘Oh, Royal!—” He interrupted by a reverent kiss, and dis- engaging the clinging arms passed out. **Good Heavens!” burst aloud from him, when outside. ‘‘Wehave known one’ another only two days, and I believe she has fallen des- perately in love with me. What would Bella say? I must put astop to it by hastening my marriage.” Shortly thereafter we find him at a cottage in a widely removed locality—an humble \dwel- as with a modest little garden-way at the r nt. ‘* Bella” resided here, and it was she who opened the door to admit him, for immediately he was encircled in a loving embrace while a pair of fresh young lips were upturned for a kiss, Isabel Clyde was the young man’s betrothed— a pretty little lady of about twenty years of age, with very soulful blue eyes, and a dispo- sition of that quiet kind which holds the deep- est ardor. Sh and her widowed mother alone occupied the cottage, Bella managing to earn 4 comfortable living by teaching instrumental music, Royal had himself taken lessons from Miss Clyde; it was over the keys of the piano he had resolved that she should be his wife if he could win her. It had not been an easy task for him to con- vince her that the son and heir of so wealthy a man as Girard Ardway could sincerely leve the the Crescent City Detective. <ce t ttttttttlLt.tttttttlliilllillllltttttt: tt CC LC l: tol’s apartm 5 poor and struggling music-teacher. But when moved by bis honest and persistent earnestness, she bad finally yielded up to him the best love of her heart. There was a bar to their immediate union. Good-natured though Girard Ardway was Royal still bad some fears tbat his father woul oppose the marriage. The former had high am- bitions for his son’s future. ** But I will Galey no longer, Bella,” he said, as on this nigbt, they sat side by side, ‘ To- morrow I will inform my father of our attach- ment and my desire for an early consumma- tion of the ceremony.” ‘*Ycu know best, Royal, dearest. But—” “But what?” . ‘* What if he—” ‘* Porbids it, you would say?’ ‘‘ Yes,” unsteadily. ‘Let us not irvite trouble. I am quite old enough to select my own wife,” ‘‘But think; you and your father would be on Ob, come, Bell gining improb- ‘‘Oh, come, Bella; you are imagining impre able difficulties.” nigh ‘*T feel oppressed,” she said, husbedly. ‘* Oppressed ?—wherefore?” ‘*] do not know. Ob, Royal! there isa weight on my heart to-night. 1 feel as if an evil cloud had come over our love—yours and mine.” She clung tightly to him as she spoke, as if even then some urseen presence was hovering near to blight their happiness. And so there was, Beyond the window of the humble sitting- room—which looked out upon the brick walk leading around to the rear door—gleamed a pair of eyes—gleamed in silent watching fury upon the oblivious lovers, gathering intenser fire at every affectionate Cemonstration made by the couple. ‘* Hush, Bella! This is not an age for foolish fantasies and superstitious fears. Be cheerful, darlivg. To morrow | will have a talk with my father.” Ah! ‘‘ to-morrow,” How many castles have fallen before the ar- rival of that promised day! It was after ten o’clock when he left the cot- tage of the Clydes. Lie did not perceive a cloaked and hooded female form that came around from the side of the building and fol- lowed him at a distance. ‘*T love him—madly love him—and he is the promised of another,” muttered the mysterious spy, lowly. ‘‘I am too late. He is lost to me. But”—with vehemence—‘‘if lost to me, he shall never be the husband of another. I bave loved you from afar, Royal Ardway; 1 vowed IL would yet be your wife. That dream is past, [ pany see. Now look to yourself, If I cannot jave you I will destroy you. You shall never wed that girl!” As she moved away, the form of a man— who had been prone on his face on the inside of a low iron railing—v:.ulted noiselessly over onto the pavement. ‘*Cuss that shemale!” he blurted, in a coarse whisper. ‘If it badn’t been for ber comin’— an’ I thought it was ainan—I might ’a’ downed the gent an’ made my pile. An’ she ain’t no friend of hisn, anyhowtorkin’ about déstroy- in’ bim. Cracker Bill, mebbe here’s a chance for a side lay, As how? Why, run down the gal, interduce myself, an’ for a roll ©’ greens rub out the recreant lovyer. That’s the racket.” With the tread of a cat he trailed the cloaked female. He saw her enter a basement door beyond a gate in a rich-looking garden on Prytania street. ‘‘ButT ain’t seen her phiz, That’s bad. As how? ‘Cause how am I to know my spot?” and thinking on this point, the prowler glided oif in the darkness, At a certain street-corner young Ardway met a man— Percy Desmond. The meeting was evidently an appointment. ‘Ten minutes late, my boy,” was Desmond's hail. “Oh, that isn’t much. But J am sorry I kept you waiting. Come, lam feeling bright for a game to-night.” They sought a gambling-salcon on Custom- house street. ; It was after midnight when they separated. As Royal opened the door of his home—and ere he bad witbdrawn the latch-key from its lock— he paused, struck with a thrill of dread, For at that instant be heard a distant, half- smothered cry, as if uttered by some one in mor- tal agony. Agreeable to understanding, Ardway, senior, after tea sent a message to Miss Crystol that he would be pleased to see her in the library. j He was somewhat surprised to hear, urn: ‘Miss Crystol bas retired for the night with a headache, and is now sleeping, with the re. quest that she shall not be disturbed.” This from the new French maid, Josette, de- livered at the furthest outer door to Miss Cryg- re- ents, Eomichoo (E Ss co