Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 238 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

Hank Hound, the Crescent City Detective. -_- —- _ ‘‘ What is the matter?” ‘Why, Mr. Hound, the very girl!” * What girl?” “The one I saw in the house on Franklin street. I’d swear to it!” “Color of her eyes, and all?” “Well, now, 1 wasn’t close enough to decide about color of eyes. But the face—” ** Ts it the same?” ‘‘ Positively, yes.” The Hound was now deeply interested. Per- haps, by a lucky accident, be had struck the trail of Nell Deems, the missing shop-girl. ‘*T will attend to this at once, Trim. Now, here is an item for you, I suppose other papers will have it, so the Picayune might as well get it too.” To the surprised reporter be gave some brief poinis in regard to the supposed Ardway mur- er When Trim, ‘highly elated, started for the Picayune office, Harry Hound left the agency to investigate the mystery at the voodoo dwell- ing. fi was near day dawn when he returned. Trim Taskar was awaiting him. The repor- ter was anxious to know what Harry Hound had done. In this he was to be disappointed. ‘You have started me ona curious affair Trim.” ré Find out anything” “ Bat you G4n’t want to let me in.” “That’s abSut it. There’s no white girl at the house on J"ranklin street—” ‘But I tell you I'll swear—” ‘‘Never mind about the swearing. I only want you to keep absolutely close-mouthed about this thing for the present, I promise that 4 due time you will havea good sensation out of it.” “All right, That's fair.” The detective hud made a strange discovery, considering the strongly assured information re- ceived from Trim. Exactly what it was will be revealed in due progress. Giving instructions to be awakened, punctual- ly at the end of three hours, he threw himself on a lounge in the rear office of the agency to snatch a little needful rest. By nine o’clock in the morning we find him active again, andin the vicinity of the dimagy rum shop before mentioned on Franklin street. But no ove would ever have recognized the famous detective in his new role. He was the veriest negro among them all. Attired in a sailor-like s=i#+, and with face and hands admirably blackened, he was soon known as belonging to one of the St. Louis packets; had just been paid off, and spent his wages freely among the whisky-drinking denizens, The news of a death having occurred in the vooioo doctress’s house wis being discussed extensively. Prominent among the gossipers on the subject was a white man with a rubicund nose, who presented a fair specimen of bow low a buman may sink when “sold out,” body and soul, to the demon of rum, They called him ‘ The Doctor.” The Hound quickly found that this inebriate knew more than any one else about matters at the somber dwelling. Getting him to one side, the detective pro- ceeded to ‘‘ pump” him. ‘Say, boss, who’s died up to the woodoo’s!” sodas iad pene sip aig eek , where I am perplexed. oung girl, though. ‘*A gal? Litile pales eal?” “And now you’ve got me again. I haven’t seen her. I only know she was a grand- daughter of the chief voodoo, Black Zela. No- body ever knew she bad a granddau hter, much less thac she was in the house, until the death happened. ‘An’ what kill de gal, boss?” “ Consumption, sir black,” ‘‘ How you knows?” ‘Why, | wrote the certificate.” “Oh, you prac’ses med’cin’ den?” “Certainly. I am a regular graduate. My petzons are these people around here, Every- dy patronizes ‘The Doctor’—and they are good pay, sir, good pay.” The disguised detective was immensely dis- gusted. Here was a medical practitioner, vile of habit as the drunken negroes of the surround: ing in which he had his own abiding place, who had given a regular certificate of death by con- sumption, without having so much as attended mo eae living, or looked at the body ead. Had the money of Black Zela accomplished this bribe? Was it not likely that the negress of supernatural profession was but the instru- ment of a more ingenious brain, which had fore- seen the ease by which ‘“‘The Doctor” of Teaviciin street could be bought to blindly serve a plot? ‘* Whar dey’s goin’ to berry de gal at?” ‘Well, you see there’s been a new lot Jately bought and opened near the Half-way House, to be used as a colored cemetery.” ‘Goin’ to put her out dar?” ** Yes, I believe so,” When?” } ‘This afternoon. But, look here, my friend, you seem to be very inquisitive.” ‘** Oh, I’se jes’ talkin’. Les’ take a drink.” ‘“ Always agreeable,” signified ‘‘ The Doctor,” with a toper’s dignity. They sought the sloppy bar, and indulged in some of the horrid stuff there dispensed—at least the disguised detective pretended to swallow his portion. The pseudo sailor from the St. Louis packet priesnttt disappeared, much to the regret of sundry loafers. He hunted up the managers of the new negro cemetery. From them he learned that a corpse was expected to arrive on that afternoon, from somewhere om Franklin street. Pretending to have a personal interest in the funeral, he succeeded in having a glimpse of the exact spot where the dead girl was to be entombed. At about the stroke of midday, the door-bell of No. — Prytania street was rung, and the ser- vant admitted Hank Hound, in propria persona. ‘*T wish to see Mr. Ardway.” Royal promptly came forward, and the two ascended to the library. ‘‘ Any visitors?’ inquired the detective, off- hand. ‘Two or three,” “Who more particularly?” “The police lieutenant who was here last night.” “é Ab !” ‘It seems he had forgotten, last night, to ask to see the body. He appeared to be worried by some newspaper report and tbe fact that an abduction prevented any actual evidence that a mur ler had been committed.” Harry laughed lowly. As be had foreseen, there occurred a breeze of dismay at police- head-quarters when Trim Taskar’s startling report in the Picayune for the first time opened their eyes to their singular remissness. ‘*On this visit the lieutenant was particular to ask what had been stolen, too,” added Royal. * You told them?’ “ Yes.” ‘* Well, that willdo no barm—it seems to have been necessary.” ‘Have you accomplished anything, Mr. Hound?” **T think I have. I can only say that I believe I am on the scent of the plotters.” “*’You are?” **T have some very strong theories, at least,” ** And you think there is a plot, then?” ‘‘Oh, I have positive evidence of that in my pocket this minute.” The detective alluded to the mysterious warn- ing he had received from unknown parties ap pellating themselves the Owls of New Orleans.” ‘* Now to business, Mr, Ardway,” pausing. “1 would like to hear anything you have to say.’ ‘*T must have access to this house in a way that will give me full, free range of it without exciting any suspicion of my objects. It will be coat manage If you will observe closely, you will see that you and I[ are of about the same pbysique. oan easily alter my face, hair and voice to match yours.” ‘You propose—” ‘*To pass for Mr. Royal Ardway—not con- tinuously, but at intervals. Understand?” “* Perfectly.” “To begin with, you must show me over the premises, so that 1 will be entirely familiar.” ‘‘Come, then. But of myself during these intervals? **T shall take the liberty of making you a prisoner in hiding.” Harry was shown about the house until he felt as much at home as if he had lived there all his life. It was not a secret that detectives were work- ing on the Ardway case. sturning to the library, the detective said: ‘* Now come and take a walk with me.” The two went out together. CHAPTER XI, A WOMAN'S AVOWAL, SHORTLY after the departure of Royal and the detective, the handsome private coach be- longing to Miss Crystol was brought to the front by ber order. Entering it she was driven rapidly away. When the coach stapped it was before, the Clyde cottage. The young music-teacher had returned from her morning visits to the residences of ber pu- pils; she and her mother were about to sit down at their humble dinner-spread, when therc came a peremptory rap onthe cottage door. | ‘* Continue your meal, my child, J will see who it is,” said Mrs, Clyde. e She was surprised upon beholding the brilliant equipage outside and the lovely-faced young lady confronting her on the steps. : ‘“Madam, what is your name, if you please?” ** Clyde,” ‘“*Ah! Have you a daughter grown e Yes.” “Then it is she whom I wish to see. Can I have a private conversation with her?’ “Certainly. Walk in.” he . 9 Mrs, Clyde supposed it to be a new applicant for instructions in music, who had preferred seeing for herself the teacher she intended en- gaging. She courteously ushered the visitor into the cosey little parlor and hastened to inform Isabel. A few moments later the two young girls were facing one another alone. Isabel could not help acknowledging to herself the striking beauty of her callen. ‘You are Miss Clyde?’ Edna said, with her black-agate eyes fixed searchingly upon the young music-teacher. “That is my name. What will you have?’ “T have called to speak with you concerning Mr. Royal Ardway.” “ Royal!” fell half involuntarily from Isabel’s lips, in surprise. There was a transient sneer in Edna’s face, “Yes, of him. It would seem that you and he are engaged to be married—” ‘Pardon me—but who are you, that you have any interest in Mr. Ardway’s affairs and mine?” ‘‘ My name is Crystol—Edva Crystol. Iam the adopted ward of Girard Ardway, Royal’s father.” “Well, Miss Crystol?’ “To be brief, I have come here to warn you that you must give up your adventurous aspira- tions for wealth and station.” ‘‘T do not understand you,” was the quiet, dignified rejoinder, ‘You and Royal must not marry.” “Why not, pray ‘—if we are perfectly satis- fied, mutually. Edna having announced herself as the ward of Girard Ardway—of whom Royal had made mention—Isabel maintained « polite demeanor toward her, notwithstanding this impertinent introduction of a subject sacred to the lovers themselves. ‘There is good reason why you, an obscure girl, should renounce the hope of being wedded to Royal Ardway.” ‘* Will you please to name that reason?” ** Because I love him.” As Edna thus declared, her eyes evinced a gathering of passion in their depths, as if her nature would next minute flash forth to meet an expected angry outburst from the astounded young music-teacher. ‘You love him!” ‘“T spoke plain enough.” PY does R yal—is he aware of your at- ch— ‘* That is neither here nor there. I love him; it is sufficient. You must give him up.” ‘* But I shall do nothing of the kind,” was the sudden, flat, decisive reply, ‘You will not?’ *‘No, Miss Crystol.” ‘You are a stubborn thin, ” **T have given my heart to Royal Ardway at his own wooing,” Isabel said, calmly but red- dening at the other’s tone, ‘‘ If he shall chooss to deceive me and fling it back why, then—” “Then you will, I suppose, sue for breach of promise and drag the name of Ardway through the mire of the courts.” ‘You are mistaken in my character from first to last, Miss Crystol. If you love Royal - Ardway—win him. I would not wish to retain a fettered affection. But my love is too deep and strong to be set aside for such a reason as you give—indeed, what you suppose to be a reason only seems to me absurd; and if you are loving him, unloved in return, you should bl to apprise me of it. I have listened to you thus far, not wishing to wound the feelings of one bearing the family relations to Royal which: you do. I decline to hear any more.’ It was evident that Isabel possessed spirit, She arose while delivering the short-accented speech, signifying a determination to end the interview. “Stay!” Edna said, imperatively. “T will not listen to any more on the subject, Miss Crystol,” firmly. : ‘* Have you read this morning’s paper?” ‘‘T have.” “Then you saw an account of the mysterious disappearance—or perhaps murder—of Girard Ardway.” ‘ ‘‘ Mother and I were discussing the sad effair as you came in,” __ “Do you know, Miss Clyde, that the authori- ties are even now strongly suspecting Royal of having destroyed his father to get the inheri- tance?” ; ‘* Why, such a thing is preposterous!” ‘Nevertheless, the law shows no partiality to station in dealing with criminals,” j More intense grew the gazing orbs of Edna Crystol. * What do you mean?” Isabel half-gasped. ‘*I mean this: You will find, before lang, Royal Ardway in jail, arrested upon the charge I am now but binting. Strange information regarding him has already been received by the police. Once arrested, a sufficient motive for the deed will easily be found.” ‘* Merciful heavens! what imaginings are these of yours!” ‘*Not imaginings, Miss Clyde.” “They must be,” ‘ ‘ m € “ , Nt > os i on. - « ee ee * ~~. ' / Si + ~ P a : 1 * y > s A Sati « = | . ae : . 7 comicbooks Me oie riers A ) ) a ——>