Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 238 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

_————E—— Hank Hound, the Crescent City Detective. ‘¢ Come to the library.” ‘* Have this door closed, please, and fastened.” Giving the order as requested, Roya! led the way to the library. hen they were seated the detective said: ‘*Please tell me whether your father wore anything in the shape of jewelry.” * Weg.” ‘* Describe it.” “He had a partiality for three bosom-studs— a solitaire diamond each; though he did not care to display them, wearing his vest buttoned high.” % Anything more than ordinary about the studs?” i“ No,” **Any marks?” ‘*No; excepting that the button parts had engraved upon them the letter ‘ A’,” ** Any other jewelry?’ *‘ Nothing more than his watch— a handsome gold chronometer, which also had the initial in- side the case, and a carnelian seal-ring.” “ Then there is burglary in the case.” ‘* Why do you say so?” “For the simplest of reasons, His bureau- drawers were rifled over; his shirt-bosom I noticed, and there were no studs in it; there was no watch in the vesi which I saw on the back of a chair—it had been jerked roughly from its receptacle, for the clasp of the chain, which was of peculiar pattern, still remained. The robbery was completed before the struggle —your prompt hastening to and entering the room upon hearing the cry proves that. Plain- ly, burglary was the prime object; your father awakened; the assassin struck. But now there are two items which puzzle me immensely.” ‘* What are they?” “ FPicst pet why should the burglar carry off the body of your father?’ ‘You think be has been kidnapped?” P Well, it looks decidedly that way, does it not? “True. But what else—” “Second place—how could he possibly have carried off the body, when you state emphati- cally that the door was locked upon the inside, and, too, scarcely a minute elapsed between the time of your hearing the ery and burstiog in the door?” There ensued a brief silence, loss for any suggestion. ‘Now, Mr, Ardway, I think I have pretty thoroughly examined that room. It has but one large window; it opens upon the garden; it was latched upon the inside; it could not have been unlatehed for access, then locked after egress and leave the panes whole. There is no manner of reaching the window, either by tree, spout, or lightning-rod. Your father was a heavy man, yet he has been deliberately made off with, by some one strong enough to carry him, or compel him to go, There is but one theory.” ‘‘ What is your theory?” ‘‘ There must be some secret passages leading through this house,” Royal was at a SS est snes rr At that instant, as if in answer, The Hound stoc and picked up something, ‘“‘ This, among other things—or for one, any- how.” ‘“What have you there?” By the rays of the lamp, Royal saw an article that had evidently been made to be used as a disguise for the face. An admirable imitation of a great owl’s wide, round-eyed phiz, ‘It is a mask!” se Yes.” -** Rather a strange one,” ‘‘It amounts to a revelation that whoever had use for such a thing bas passed through this garden.” ** The burglar?” ~** That is my opinion. It is acommon method with that class of rascals to hide their faces in some such gear. The fellow has some wit to use the face of an owl, being a bird of the night himself. We will return to the house.” n the lower entry, Royal took a diary from his pocket. ‘I shall get you to perform a friendly ser- vice for me, Mr, Hound.” ‘With pleasure.” The young man handed hima slip of paper containing a few lines. ** It is a message to my sister, Clarice, who is finishing a course of study in the city of Balti- more. She must come homeatonce, Will you kindly attend to it for me at the telegraph office?” **T will send it to-night.” “Thank you.” **Of course, Mr. Ardway, this thing cannot be kept out of the newspapers—I wish it could. To any occurring inquiries, please be reticent; say that it is in the hands of detectives.” “*T will do so,” “For the present, good-night. I maysee you soon again—perhaps not. Be at reasonable ease, and remember that Iam working.” The detective stepped out of the house. The door closed. Simultaneously a hand fell upon his arm. ** Monsieur!” It was Josette. The light from a near-by lamp shone dimly on her face, but plainly enough to reveal to him that she was deeply agitated. CHAPTER VIII. BEWARE THE OWLS. THE girl continued suppressedly: ‘*T would speak with you, Monsieur Detee- tive.” ‘“ Well, what have you to say?” “You have see me there?” pointing to indi- cate the interior of the house. ‘* Yes, [saw you up-stairs, I believe.” “‘T am Josette. serve the Mademoiselle Crystol.” ** What are you driving at?’ “You wish to know something?” ‘* About what?’ ** Ah, ciel! of the murder I speak.” 7 ‘*T shall bave delight to serve monsieur,” With this Harry Hound left her standing on the steps. ‘The girl may be of use to me,” he thought; “though I must remember the wise saw: ‘A dog that will fetch will carry.’ She’s an ava- ricious piece, I see; money will buy her back- ward or forward. But the information has given me an idea, I must see that lieutenant who comes to the house.” He found both lieutenant and captain at the station. The two had their heads together in a low-voiced conversation as Harry Hound en- tered. They looked up inquisitively at bim, the lieu- tenant easily recognizing him as oue whom he had seen at the Ardway mansion. ‘Well, sir, what can 1 do for you?” “*T have called to ask a question or two.” **Oh, you have?” with a tinge of sarcasm, ‘**] would like to know how the information reached you that there bad been a murder com- mitted at No. — Prytania street.” ** What is your object in such a question, sir?” “T have some right to know.” “Who are you? ‘1 am a detective.” ‘Ob, you are?” ‘‘T have been employed by Mr. Royal Ard- way upon the mystery of his father’s murder.” e exhibited his badge, ‘* What is your name?” “Ha rry Hound!” ee A h ) The exclamation broke from both. ‘The Hound ” was well known, by fame if not by sight, to every offieer of the force in New Or- leans, This announcement of his identity made quite a difference in his reception. He was scon made acquainted with the fact that the patrolman on beat bad been approached by a woman—a woman whose face was covered by . vail, wearing an ample hood and long cloak. She made the startling declaration that a murder bad transpired ot No. — Prytania street, It was involved in considerable mystery. This was accompa: ied by a strange hint. Royal Ardway was addicted to heavy gambling: he was the largest prospective heir in his father's estate; of late he bad betrayed much depression of spirit, produced, it was presumed, by his losses at the aenve tenia, It would probably be as well to investigate the young man, So much for the woman. “Who was this woman?” Harry queried, “We bave no idea. She told Patrolman Rogers she was a servant in the house,” ‘* Did he see her face?” ‘“No. Sbe whisked off before Rogers could insist upon that, It would seem that her in- formation was correct in part, anyhow.” *‘May [ask what you purpose doing, gentle- men?” “ Assuredly nothing to interfere with your operations, Mr. Hound,” was the evasive answer, ‘* But in a murder case, you are aware, we have m- m Lo — te “ee Jee he SP “On, that might do for olden times,” said ‘* Speak on then,” certain steps er o Royal, doubtfully. “There is a secret,” ‘*Oh, yes, I know that,” ‘* How long have you lived here?” ** What kind of a secret.” Thanking them for the information they had ‘Ten years,” ‘*One grand mystery of the mademoiselle.” | given him, he left the station. ¥ ‘* Well, how else would you account for the “Miss Crystol?” His eyes twinkled amusedly. rs disappearance of your father?’ “Of her I mean.” ‘*I think there will be a breeze around that 1 ‘“Ah! I must leave all to you, Mr. Hound. ‘If it concerns the murder, let me hear it.” | station by daylight, when they find there isn’t = My brain is too confused to think at all. Brin “She been privately out while we have stand | any corpse to prove a murder, Somebody will ~ | to justice the murderer of my father and I will | and wait for the officer.” feel like kicking himself when he remembers oa make you a rich man,” * Out?” that be did not even ask for a glimpse of the Bh ‘You wish me to undertake the case?” “Qui, monsieur. With the hood and cloak | dead body st No. — Prytania street. Pretty b.. | Assuredly, By all means, and—do your | of disguiss she run out when she think nobody | botchers, truly.” f best. look, and come back with the grand excite- Then bis thoughts turned upon the matter of nh i ‘* Depend upon it, And let me tell you some- | ment in her face so beautiful. I bave see | how the patrolman had been first apprised of the + ad this, Again when the night was early she | tragedy. Bs, “What?” — have take the cloak, the hood, and slip out upposing Josette’s gorsip to be strictly — “ T will bring back Girard Ardway all right.” | quick, She said to me: ‘ Josette, I am sick, I | straight, Miss Crystol was the hooded female Xe Royal stared blankly at this bold avowal. hall retire, [ shall see nobody from my room, | who bad encountered the man Rogers, : » ‘* You say bring him back all right?” You understand? When Monsieur Ardway She must bave a deep motive for fastening I | ‘* Those were my words,” send for her once I must tell the big lie: ‘My | criminal suspicion upon Royal Ardway, | ' “You mean you will recover the body from | mistress she is much indis . ou excuse A person with such strong motive might, a i those who have slain him?” her.’ It isa mystery of the Mademoiselle Crys- | naturally enough, be an intimate acccmplice in ori | ‘No, I will recover it from those who have | tol—do you not think?” the murder or abduction or both. | | not slain but made off with bim.” ‘Why do you tell me this?’ This indicated either malice or a plot against : “Good Heavens! you think he is—” ‘You are the detective !” ‘ Royal—of whose absolute innocence the detect- oo 7 * Alive!” ‘6 Yes,” ive felt assured. . | * But the blood?” ‘To you must be told the everything.” But Harry Hound did not , mp headlong at atl \ Wounds, perbaps. But itisa blind. I have “True.” : any such conclusions, n aw good, but very private reasons for believing that ‘* Then why [ shall not tell to you whatever I “Tt may be a plant,” he ar; ued balf-aloud, ; your father is in the meshes of a plot. There, do | can? Of the great import it may be—or mey | ‘‘Perbaps it was Josette herse f who started ij not excite yourself; remain calm throughout | be not so; I cannot judge that.” Rogers for the house; she may b even in coliu- by and leave the work tome. Let us go down Throughout The Hound had regarded her | sion with the burglar—knows hi w he jentered od into the garden,” steadily. and made his exit, if she did not directly aid, 2 ‘* Why to the garden?” He was an apt reader of faces. The twink- | Burglary was intended, and in part accom- d ‘My dear sir, you must make up your mind | ling little eyes of the girl, her eager yet servile | plished. It may be this very Josett » isin league ‘ to oblige every little request I shall make. I demeanor, and peculiarly wistful gestures, re- | with some gang, and is trying to h de the trail , have a curiosity to look around there a bit.” | vealed her character distinctly to him, of her associates by turning susp.cion upon The two proceeded to the garden Exactly what he read there was shown by his | both Royal and Miss Crystol, they being the he It was a dark night; the sbrubbery and | action the next minute. parties to derive most benefit from Girard few trees were like dim specters on adimmer | Running one hand into his pocket he drew out | Ardway’s death, We shall learn anon, my 4 background. a bright dollar. The coin he placed in the ready | birds.” mi . But the detective was prepared. From his | though assumedly reluctant palm of the maid, | First dispatching the hurried telegram which : ih pocket he drew a bull’s-eye lantern, which | remarking, quietly: was to bring Clarice Ardway home, be went to : } was lighted in a trice by a mechanical contri- “‘ Take this as a reward for your information, | the agency for a respite of thought. , ' vance. Then he glided about, his eyes bent | my girl.” A surprise awaited him. a searchingly on the ground. *‘ Ah, merei, monsieur !” ‘“* Here’s a note that was left for you not tem a ‘‘ What do you expect to find here?” Royal | ‘Should you have anything further to eom- | minutes ago, sir,” said the watch clerk, 4 & inquired. municate, you will have later opportunity.” ‘ A note?” ng Fie | cComicbooks:-com > Ss res ec “ks . 31d - $3 ~~ be hele. : ee “ik 5% —y. 7 eS es * = P + ~ . a a _ . .: —-