Beadle's Dime Library, No. 240 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

_—-_=—- He peered furtively from beneath, but he did not dare venture forth. His smarting countenance and the resolute attitude of the young man convinced him that it wasn't wise to interfere just then. Algo] Langdon remained crouching in the corner, Orson saw that neither dared attack him and he indulged in a few taunts with a view of spurring them up. “Say, you Mr, Yelland, under the table,” said Orson lowering bis bands, placing them against his sides and laughing heartily, ‘* wby do you not come forth and arrest me?’ ‘* You needn’t crow,” growled tbe crouching figure; ‘‘ you'll be snatched up before you know if.” ‘‘Bat why don’t you do it?’ asked Orson; “there were three men of you who came in here to pull me and not one bas placed a hand on me yet; what’s the trouble?” Mr. Yeliand saw that in an argument of this kind, it was a difficult matter for him to pre- sent anything original or convincing; so he held bis peace. Therevpon Orson turned toward the Wink- ing Domon. “T think you made a remark a short time ago, to the effect that you viewed mein the ligbt of a prisoner; may I ask whether you still ciing to that opinion?’ The occasion was one to which the Winking | Demon could not do justice. Therefore he did not make the attempt, but remained quiet. ‘« You’re a pretty sp»cimen,” added Orson, with a sneer, finding little prospect of rousing | the wrath of the coward “T have no weapon in my hand, and you three dare not attack me. do it, I shall bava to attack you!” The justice of the peace under the table groavued. Mr. Langdon tried to crowd bimself through the wall into the next room or outdoors, As the Man of Iron sprung forward, Shadrach Yelland made a plunge for the door. He went through more bastily than he an- ticipated, for a prodigious kick from Orson Oxx helped bim materially. Algol Langdon made a desperate attempt to | hmitate bim. He would have succeeded bad be been about three times as fast, or bad the Man of Iron | ebosen to permit bim. But as he dashed forward Orson Oxx caught him by bis coat collar aud the largesi portiou of his trowsers. Lifting the bowling wretch clear off bis fest, he swung him back and forth several times like a pendulum. When the amplitude of the vibrations were great enough, be let go. A splintering wreck and crash followed. Algol Langdon, the Winking Demon, was hurled straight through one of the windows of the library. It so happened the window was closed, Hence the destruciion of glass and wood- work, The window through which this plunge was made, considered strictly as a window, was not of much account immediately after the oocurrence. Prosperity Johnson, who had been cowering on the outside, concluded that when he saw bis master coming through the window with the sash about his neck, it was time for him to do something. Acco: dingly he did if. Leaping out of the door, he dashed for the lane, shouting at the top of his voice: “‘ Murder! murder! thieves! fire! burglary! arson! and eberyving else under de sun!” Orson Oxx looked around and saw there were no more worlds for him to conquer. ‘‘T think I can be dispensed with in this section of the Union for the present,” he re- marked, feeling thaf, if he remained, he was likely to become involved in unpleasant conse- quences. Accordingly he proceeded to make a change of base with as little delay as possible. CHAPTER XXXVII. A WARM TRAIL. Well, if you won’t | A Cool Head. eee aan — ee ee Asylum, that he was at a loss to determine the next step he shou'd take. | But a brief confereace with Orson Oxx set- | tled that, and, on the morning succeeding his | | disappointment, ke was back again in the vil- lage in the company of Mr, Maggiore the law- | yer. | ‘Itis the most curious thivg in the world,” | remarked the latter with a laugh. | ‘* What’s that?’ | ‘“Dida’t you get my telegram?” { ‘] have received none from you.” ‘‘ When did you leave Ardvilief” ‘Tate last night.” | “That accounts for it; I sent it this morn- | ing.” ‘* What was its purport?” ‘That you and I were fools.” “Why?” | “Did you ever hear of Doctor Julliard’s | Asylum?’ | The two men looked in each other’s face, for | a moment, without speaking. | Then the engineer «xclaimed impatiently: “That beats everything! I knew of that place when I was a boy.” ‘‘And so did I, and yet it never entered the mind of either of us, even after we learned Miss Langdon was notin the Brandon Lunatic | Asylum that sbe might be in that of Doctor | | Julliard.” | ‘T did not think of it until this moment,” said Brayton Russell, ‘‘and then only because _ you reminded me.” | “*It came to me immediately after we parted yesterday; I was sure it would be the same | hour; but, when you did not, I telegraphed | you,” | westward I believe,” remarked Russell inquir- ingly. | ‘*Not quite so far,” replied the lawyer. ‘‘The institution is a private one and has been | well patronized for a number of years.” ‘‘ If Miss Langdon has been really placed in an asylum it must be that of Doctor Julliard. I was about to start out to trace the carriage, but that seems hardly necessary.” «No, the trail is very warm without it.” ‘‘Shall we go to Juige Durham again?” | © Yes, but hold on!” suddenly added the | lowyer checking himself; ‘‘ we are coufronted | by a curious condition of «ffairs.” ‘In what respect?’ ‘“‘Brandon lies in one county and Doctor Julliard’s Asylum in another.” | ‘‘Arethe districts of the Supreme Court | Judges limited to single counties?’ , ‘Not at all; each Justice has a certain dis- trict which in some instances is composed of several counties. In this case, when we cross c De | over into tbe neighboring county, where Doc- | tor Julliard bas labored so long for unfortu- nate humanity, we shall enter the jurisdiction of Judge Hohorne,” ** What of it?” ‘‘He is a very different sort of man from | Judge Durham.” | ‘Tg he less accessible?” | ‘ He is crusty, crabbed and at times exces- | sively disagreeable; more than likely he will | refuse to order the writ of habeas corpus.” ‘Tt will not settle the case if he does.” | a Why not?’ | “Tam determined that Miss Langdon shall | come out of that infernal place, no matter what the cost.” ‘‘Tt is a dangerous thing to array yourself against the law.” ‘*T am desperate and cannot | elp it.” ‘‘ Wait till we see Judge Hohorne.” Lawyer and client made their way to the | residence of the official who was found engaged in court. As soon as lawyer Maggiore could gain his ear, be made the request for him to issue the writ of habeas corpus, It so happened that the judge was in one of his ugliest moods, He listened impatiently to the statement of the case by the counselor. When ke was through be asked him whether he was certain the young lady was ia Doctor Julliard’s Asylum, The lawyer could not speak positively, but he expressed himself as having no doubt on with you, and expected tosee you return every | * Julliard’s Asylum is about ten miles to the | | faced counselor, ‘‘but the judge is right after all,” ‘* What's to be done now?” | ‘Wego to Doctor Julliard’s.”’ | Accordingly they made all haste thither, | They reached the institution in the after- | noon, They found evidence of much excitement. Plainly something bad occurred of an un- usual nature. But the superintendent himself was on the spot, and, when asked whether he had a pa- tient of the name of Miss Ethel Langdon, he answered: “‘T had, that is, until some time in the small | hours of this morning.” | ‘*Ts she not here now?” **T regret toinform you that she escaped.” | * Alone?” asked the breathless lover. ‘‘T am sorry to say she was in the company | of one of my most dangerous lunatics.” | ‘*‘ Have you searched for her?” | ‘Every possible effort has been made and is being made; I have more than twenty persons ' hunting for ber.” : ‘** Have no tidings been gained?” | ‘* The last report was that not the first clew bad been obtained of either.” ‘* But they must be found,” “Undoubtedly they will. Iam ‘ooking for news every minute. It is impossible for them to keep out of sight much longer.” | ‘*Did you say the companion of Miss Ethel | is a dangerous patient?’ | We have no more dangerous one in the in- | stitution.” “Tn what respect?” | ‘She is quietand rational at times, and them | she becomes very violent—her mania being a desire to kill those around ber.” | As may be supposed, this was alarming news 'to Brayton Russell, who, after asking a few more questions, set out with the determination to join in the hunt for his beloved. ; CHAPTER XXXVIIL A FAMILY COUNCIL. Miss HAxNAH HaHBuo and Ethel Langdos overheard the conversation between Jake Calkins and the two men who stopped at the door to inquire for them, When they had departed, Hannah came into the room. She looked at the amazing falsifier with ad- | miration. “You did that well,” said she. ‘‘I feel safe so long as you are sentinel on the cuter walls.” Calkins was delighted. It was his belief that this lady was in her right mind, while Miss Langdon was clean | daft, in spite of her ladylike deportment. Besides, it may as well be confcssed, the susceptible Jerss3yman was very much im- | pressed with the attractiveness of Miss Hablo. Of course, he could not fail to note that the | other was remarkably beautiful. But she manifested no interest in him, True, Jacob bad a good, faithful wife await- ing his retarn down in the fragrant Pines. But he intended her no serious wrong when he made up bis mind to pass off himself for a young, unmarried man in the presence of this lady, who showed she was struck by his win- some looks and manner. “T did that all for your sake,” said he, with an enormcus grin of pleasure, “T must thank you then,” said she, extend- ing her small band, which Jake caught and pressed warmly. John Burrage and his wife (who was tbe sis- ter of Jake) saw how matters were going and they felt disposed to help them along. | For greater security, the curtains were now drawn and the key was turned in the door. Then all sat down to the breakfast-table. No stranger, dropping in at that moment, could have suspected that either one of the lady guests was not in ber right mind. | ‘* We must be very careful,” said the head | of the house, ‘for the folks will be bunting | around us all day.” | ‘] shall take good care to guard the young ladies, specially Miss Hahlo,” remarked Jake with a smirk and expressive glance toward the lady. ‘The latter smiled sweetly in return. ‘‘] shall feel safe, so long as I have you to > : a fut uA 2 - ALL this time, 1t must be borne in mind, | the matter. protect me.” b _ Brayton Russeil did not allow the grass to The judge gave a grunt of disgust, and bade Ethel saw how matters were going and she Fs grow under bis feet. him go and find out before he approached him | rather welcomed it asa relief to the nervous a ie. He was so set back when he learned that his | witb such a request, strain under which she had been suffering se ) bar beloved was not imprisoned iw the Brandon “It's infernally proveking,” said the red- ' long. im ee jess wae: a a ae : (E(9) in Cc 900) <S7 Efe) (LA ot oe a 8 U 2 £