Beadle's Dime Library, No. 240 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

24 ‘ bat and shawl and accompany me to Dr. Jul- liard’s?? “*] decline to ge.” ‘‘The distance is not great, and you can easily walk: I hope I shall not be c>mpelled to _ put handcuffs on you ani use force,” Ethel shuddered, for she saw no help for her- gelt. Her lover had not come, and ske must go | back to prison. ‘7 wiil go with you,” she said, rising to her feet. Mrs, Burrage belped her to put on her hat and shawl, the doctor respectfully waiting, bat in hand. Bidding good-by to her kind friend ina low voice, E:bel followed the detested Doctor Bell out of the door. Side by side they passed down the short lane, neither uttering a word. They walked slowly, looking down at the | grovuod in front of them, with very different | themes occupying their thoughts. Doctor Bell was congratulating bimself on | the ease with which be was about to earn fifty dollars. ‘‘ it looks as if this young Jady was going to be a regular gold mine to me,” be muttered | witb a chuckle. FE: he] was sad and sorrowful. ‘What a cruel disappointment,” she mur- mured; ‘‘I abomioate that prison and if may be that I shall be kept there for years and years: if Iam I shal! die. ‘Ob, why does not Brayton come—” Just then she looked up and saw Brayton | before ber, He had not gone far on his quest for the car- riage and team, when he liogered, to take a_ survey of the buildiag which was sanctified in his eyes by ‘he knowledge tbat it held the most | precious being in all tbe world to him. While gazing upon it witb the rapt ardor of one who Was infatuated with bis belovel, he saw her come forth, accompaniei by a man who was a stranger. Tae sight instantly upset all his calculations. He turned about and started back, timing bis progress, so that he met the coup.e as they came ou: into the main bighway,. When Ethel recognized him, she uttered a faint scream and stopp2d. Brayton Russell restrained his eagerness to rush forward and enfold her in his arms and demanded: “ Ethel, who is he?” ‘‘ He jis one of the men who placed me in the carriage the other night and brought me to the asylum,” The words were hardly uttered, whan the young engineer made a plunge for the miscre- ant. He was boiling over with anger and meant to pusish him as he deserved for tbe outrage. Doctor Bell thought it was a good time for disappearing. He therefore proceeded to disappear. H.» bad had considerable practice of late in fleeing and he got over the ground with such baste that his irate enemy desisted from pur- suit before going far. The disgusted doctor circled about so that in escaping the vengeance of the young man he came face to face with Orsou Oxx. “I’m glad to meet you!” exclaimed the — panting pbysician; “‘do you see that young man over yonder with his arm around that young lady’s waist?” Tbe old farmer, after turning his spectacles in several directions, finally located the loving couple, ‘“That woman is crazy as a loon.” “You don’t say s)!” ‘Yes; I was taking her out for a walk, when he came up and threatened to kill me if I didw’t give her up to him.” “How do you know she is crazy?” “Because ’m a physician and examined her.” ‘* Wal, what of it?’ ““T’ll give you five dollars if you’.l go and pound that man so I can get the lunatic te ; n.” ‘*Can’'t do it for less than ten dollars.” ‘* Well, bere’s your money! Be quick about it or they’ll get away.” The old farmer deliberately folded up the __ two five-do'lar bills which were placed in his ”"* ~ Miss Langdon the other might and carried ber one from the esylum debouches into the main C ~ +... mee pocket and then asked: ‘*‘ Ave you one of the doctors that examined eff to the asyium?’ Fd A Cool Head. a ee | “Certainly, I just told you I was.” | ‘“Do you want to know my opinion of you?” ‘What do you—” * Here tv is!” Catching the astounded doctor by the collar of bis coat, Orson Oxx twisted him about and delivered three tremendous kicks in quick suc- cecsion. Taeir force was appalling, for each time the | horrified scamp was lifted clear from the ground and he didn’t fully recover from the castigation for several weeks afterward. Getting beyond reach of the awful foct, Doctor Bell broke into another run, wondering whether, from the way things were going, he | | was to be kept on the run all his lifetime, He was discouraged. Orson Oxx then proceeded to the house of John Burrage, stated the lamentable case of Jake Calkins, secured a substantial pair of trowsers, which belonged to the brother-in-law and made the Jerseyman happy by delivering them to him a few minutes later, CHAPTER XLVIII. NOT A MINUTE TO LOSE!) ** BRAYTON!” ‘* Ethel, my own beloved!” And the overjoyed maiden rushed into the arms of her lover, who pressed ber to his heart again and again, showering kisses upon her cheeks and lips. ‘‘T thought you would never come,” she | murmured, biding her queenly head on his shoulder. ‘‘T bave been searching for you ever since | they took you away; you shall never leave me again.” ‘‘No, no, no; nothing but death shall part us!” And again be embraced the dear, sweet one. And then, standing there in the glare of the Autumn sun, they talked over the teeming past and the blissful present. The delighted Brayton Russell forgot his promise to follow the counsel of the Man of Iron. He forgot that be bad set out to procure a conveyance, in which to hasten away with the idol of his soul. He forgot that every minute they stood thus, they increased the very peril from which she was fleeing. He forgot everything except that he held her in bis arms, and the wor'd bad suddenly changed from a dismal, dreary waste, to a region of radiant sunshine ard bappiness, The lovers would have stood thus much longer had not Orson Oxx, having delivered the garments for which Jake Calkins craved, hastened to the spot. He announced his coming by 4 vigorous clearing of the throat. Releasing the lady, Brayton Russell intro- duced the detective to her. The pleased Man of Iron shook both by the hand and warmly congratulated them. ‘But you must not stay bere,” he added; “every minute, as you well know, Brayton, is fraught with danger.” “* What shall be done?” | € Complete the errand on which you started.” ‘To procure a carriage?” se Yes.” ‘‘ Where shall I find one?’ ‘*Certainly not here.” ‘‘ What shall be done with Ethel while I am away?’ “T shall be pleased to take her under my protection,” ‘‘You could not be in safer bands; go to | him, my dearest.” ‘‘The friend cf Brayton is my friend,” said the lady with a charming smile, as she stepped to the young man and placed her delicate _ gloved hand in his. | Orson Oxx felt a slight flutter of the heart, _ for she was a wondrously enchanting woman. | But the feeling vanished on the instant. | He was the soul of honor, and be would _have given up his life, sooner than harbor a | wrong thought toward his friend. He had never been disloyal to a true man, | and he never could be. | But, when I obtain the team (if I do),” ' said Braytoo, “‘ where shall I bring it?’ The detective was thoughtful a minute. “TI observed that the road which Jeads by the woods over yonder makes a sharp angle to the right; drive down to this place, where the | ; i { highway.” a ry eo or = ae ‘‘ Suppose a force is on watch here?” ‘*If the outlook is unfavorable and we do not app2ar, drive up the road and turn to the rigbt; I will conduct the young lady through the wood, and you can pick us up beyond, The distance we will thus travel will be much shorter than yours, and it will occasion little delay, even though you drive fast.” ‘Very well; that’s the unders!anding then.” And Brayton called out good-by and has- tened away. Left in charge of tha young lady, Ovyson Oxx gave his whole attention and energy to her safety. ‘Tt will be more prudent to enter the for- est,” said he, offering his arm and moving in that direction. ‘¢- Your wishes are my law.” ‘‘There is such a hue and cry over your flight, that we shall be forced to use extreme care.” ‘*T wonder what has become of the lady who came away with me?’ ‘*] met her and conducted her back to the asylum a short time ago,” replied the Man of Ircn, who did not think it necessary to explain the particulars, nor to tall of his vigorous chastisement of the unprincipled Doctor Bell. They speedily entered the wood where they were joined by the waiting Jake Ca'kins. The latter bad little to say, for he was con- vinced that the company was not a promisicg one in which to indulge in his ludicrous vapor- inge. As the detective had intimated, they found their situation one of extreme danger. They moved from place to p'acea in the wood, with great caution, for the attendants were searching everywhere for them, At the suggestion of Oxx, Jake Calkins crept up close to the appointed :endezvous, and watched for the coming of the carriage. It was agreed that when it appeared, he was to make it known by a whistled signal. Both Oxx and the lady felt that the chances were against the success of Brayton Russell’s scheme. It might not be difficult to find such a con- veyance as they wished, but it would be bard to meet an owner willing to place it in charge of a stranger. Russell had agreed to return at nigbtfall, whether be succeeded or not, In case of failure, the party would endeavor to steal out of the neighborhood in the dark- ness of night. For a time the young engineer met with refusal at every p:ace to which be made appli- cation. Good fortune at last attended him. He fcund an old acquaintance to whom he stated his difficulty and his wishes. Precisely the carriage and the team needed were promptly placed at his disposal. Just as it was growing dusk, Jake Calkins gave the preconcerted signal, and Orson Oxx and Ethel Langdon moved carefully forward. When they reached the main bighway the carriage was iv waiting. But fully a dozen men were alsvu there, as though they had received knowledge of the intended attempt. O:son Oxx surveyed the outlook, and de- termined to make the essay. ‘Quick !” be whispered, taking the arm of the lady, and half carrying her on a rajid run toward the carraizge. She hurried in, Brayton followed, and Juke Calkins springing on the seat, caught up the reins, and lashed the horses into a dead run At the same instant several men dashed for- ward from the roadside to intercept them. Orson Oxx, as might have been expected, waited until bis three friends had preveded Jim, when he attempted to leap upon the seat of the moving vehicle. He would have succeeded, bad not one of the attendants seized his arm at the very instant, checking bim just enough to permit the horses to dash away and leave bim behind. ** We've got you, old fellow,” exclaimed his indignant captor, “and we'll make you sweat Sor this !” CHAPTER XLIX. WHEN THE SUN WENT DOWN. Ir was a moment of fearful excitement, when the daring attempt was made to carry Ethel Langdon away in the face of the dozen furious men, whorushed forward to prevent it. It was cne of those occasions, when the ri — 4 oe Se (Eo) EOMIG a ers ‘zi? - ee _- ’ Lh Fre I al