Beadle's Dime Library, No. 240 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

ee —_—— 2 = ee — began to think of the stranger whom te had A Cool Head. “ What sort of man is this person who bears encountered in the lane and whom he had agreed | the singular but I must say appropriate name?” to meet at the inn. Meanwhile the closed carriage halted in front of i.e home of Ethel Langdon and was turned so as to face the other way. The driver did not leave his seat, but sat with the lines in hand, ready to start on an instant’s notice. Two men carefully pushed open the door at tre side and stepped out. They exchanged a few words in a low voice; then passed up the walk and sounded the knocker. Tone Winking Demon must bave been expect- ing them, for he opened the door himself the next instant. He grinned and winked his artificial eye, as he conducted them into his library. The negro servant who was hovering about the main hall, wondering what all this meant, saw a great deal more to bewilder him, Shortly after, he caught the sound of a light footstep and observed the outlines of the beau- teous Ethel, as she too entered the library. Then the negro heard the murmur of voices, but grew tired of waiting and made his way to his own apartment, but had scarcely prepared himself for bis couch when he was horrified to hear the scream of a young lady. Then followed sounds as if parties were strug- gling; then a smotbered shriek again, and tne front door was banged shut with a fierceness that caused every window in the house to rat- tle. The servant made desperate haste to don his garments, but by the time he had done so, and had dashed out by the rear door, it was all over. : He caugbt the noise of carriage-wheels, and it told him the horses were going down the lane at breakneck speed. The driver was lashing them into a dead run, at the imminent risk of his life and those whom he carried. By and by the sounds died out and all became still. The negro crept back to his apartment mut- tering: ** As sure as heben dey hab run off wid Miss Ethel and dey’ll neber bring ber back!” Alas, he spoke the truth! CHAPTER VIIL BRAYTON RUSSELL MAKES THE ACQUAINTANCE OF A FRIEND, WHILE the mysterious incidents were in pro- gress at the homestead. just outside of Ardville, Orson Oxx, the Man of Lron, was seated in an upper recom of the Delaware House in confiden- tial converse with Brayton Russell. Phe detective bad waited for the young en- gineer and made known bis own personality, as soon as they were alone. The civil engineer, as may be supposed, was amazed, for be had not dreamed of the identity of his new acquaintance. When it was all made plain, he laughed heartily and congratulated Oxx on the hurri- eane-like fashion in which he disposed of Sha- drach Yelland and ‘Sam Six-Eye,” who were in ‘avor of handing him over to the mob to be torn asunder, as may be said, ‘* Both are terribly bunged up,” declared Rus- sel], ‘‘and they have been subjected to no end of jeering because they allowed a single person to getaway witb them in that fashion, though I ree come in for an equal share of blame with em. ‘Mr. Six-Eye was in the bar-room, and I had quite a talk with him before youcame. He said the bell hound, as hecalled him, struck bim with a chair when he was in the act of stooping over to pick bis bat from the floor, and, if he—that is Mr, Six-Eye—bad had a second’s warning, he would have laid out the ‘ hell-hound’ referred to, adding also that he would give a thousand Sonat for a chance to paralyza and pulverize im,” Brayton Russell laughed again, but Orson xx had more serious business on hand. ‘*Mr. Russell, the professional detective as a rule does not take any one into his confidence but I shall violate the laws of the profession an tell yon some things that will surprise you.” assure you everything shall be held sacred by me,” ‘I owe you a debt of gratitude for your kind- ness this evening, but, without that motive, I should feel it my duty to tell you that your life is in danger.” Such an announcement is calculated to dis- turb the nerves of any person, Brayton Russell, Lrave as he Peet ly was, started and caught his breath in a way which showed he was not prepared for the in- formation. * | was not aware that I bad given cause for any such enmity,” said the civil engineer, ** You have not done so willfully, but the of- fense has been given, nevertheless. ‘“Whois mine enemy? *‘ Algol Langdon, the Winking Demon!” Brayton looked searchingly in the face of n Oxx, for several seconds, and said: ‘Surely you are mistaken. He has encour- aged my attentions to his niece and knows we are engaged in marriage.” eee eee eee EO ee OEE eee TT ‘* Truth compels me to answer that he bears a very unsavory reputation.” **T am aware of that; above all he is a hypo- crite.” ” But you never met him before this even- ing.’ ‘That was long enough.” ‘* Has he threatened me?’ ‘‘ He swears that you and his niece shall not marry before she becomes twenty-one and she now lacks something like two years of that age.” **But, why has he not signified bis wishes to me or his niece?’ ‘Would you be willing to wait two years, if he should do so?” ‘* No, Pll be banged if I would!” was the na- tural exclamation of the lover. * Would she ?” **1’m bound to add that she and I are unani- mous on that subject,” replied the lover with a smile and a blush. ‘Therefore it would be useless for him to use moral persuasion.” - But why not make known his sentiments to us?’ ‘‘ Because he is a hypocrite; it is his nature.” ‘**Butif he had stated bis wishes a year ago, Ethel migbt have given her promise to wait un- til she became twenty-one.” Orson Oxx shook his head with a laugh. ‘‘My dear sir, you know better than that; but, without speculating on that matter, let me tell you that Algol Langdon sent to New York for me; I have been out to bis house; we have bad a business talk; he swears by all that is sacred and profane that you and his niece shall not be married before she reaches her legal ma- jority.” ‘*‘ How will he prevent it?’ asked Russell, with a chuckle, ‘*Hoe wanted me to hel large sum of money, if him; he offered mea Sse | 5 — a eee ee | the night before, gave him as full a knowled of the real character of Algol Langdon as he needed; but he strongly suspected that this man was one, if not the principal *‘fire-bug ” who had caused such destruction and suffering in Ardville during the past few montbs. The fact that the incendiary of whom the de tective caught a glimpse, had the same slight limp as the Winking Demon was what gave the officer his first suspicion. But for that it is scarcely likely such a thought would have en- tered the head of Orson Oxx. ‘* It seems to me his lameness, slight as it is, would bave given him away before this; but he has been very careful, though it looked as if he forgot his caution when I came upon bim.” The detective was desirous of learning some- thing about the absence of Langdon, the night before. The Demon bad admitted that he went out for a short walk, but insisted it was not ex- tended beyond the lane. ‘*There are a good many people in this world who walk with a limp, more or less, and I may be altogether off respecting the guilt of the old scamp. The honest-looking old farmer walked into the lane leading to the home of Mr, Langdon, his face beaming with benevolence and kind- ness. He had formed a pretext for securing an interview with the man with the single eye, and he relied on his own wit to pull bim through, when the interview should take place. But these calculations were knocked in the head, so to speak, when the same negro whoan- swered his summons the oe before, told him his master was absent and would not be back before night. * Bless me!” exclaimed the visitor in dis- may, ‘“‘after my coming all the way from Dutchess county to see him! Didn't be leave any word for me?” ‘Your name am what?” * Perkins—-Hosea Perkins; I wanted to tallete would succeed in get- | him about selling him my farm that he spoke ting you out of the way, so that all danger | about tome, week afore last.” would be removed. You can speculate as to the mearing of those words, if you choose.” ‘* Knowing the man as I do, 1 should give them the worst possible construction.” ‘That is what I did.” * You did not ask for particulars?” ** No, I did not want them.” ‘*T do not understand why he should be so deadly opposed to my marriage within two years, but indifferent to it afterward.” **Nor do I.” ‘*Tt may be another piecs of hypocrisy on his part.” ‘ His opposition to your marriage with his niece is anything but hypocrisy.” ‘*f mean his willingness that it should take place after the lapse of a couple of years.” ‘Very probably he is insincere in that, be- lieving that if the wedding is deferred for that time it will be equivalent to an indefinite post- ponement.” “T cannot imagine why he should feel such mortal hatred of me,” said Russell thoughtfuily ; ‘*T am able to support bis niece in comfort and would never consent to receive any assistance from him.” ‘* He has the reputation of being very wealthy, has be. not?” ‘He is supposed to be.” ‘‘ More than likely the bulk of his wealth is beld in trust for his niece and must be turned over to her on certain conditions, when she reaches the age of twenty-one, The father of Ethel may bave left some oddly-worded will, which is the cause of Algol’s opposition to this impending union.” ‘‘ITam convisced you are not far from the truth; but, let that go and tell me how it is my life is in danger.” ‘*Of course under no circumstances would it be in danger from any one except Algol Lang- don, or his agents.” ‘* He is a coward,” said Brayton witha laugh. ‘But he has money and can hire those who do not fear to take buman life,” “‘T understand and will be on my guard.” CHAPTER IX. PROSPERITY JOHNSON IMPARTS SOME STARTLING TIDINGS. As Orson Oxx had become fully satisfied of the sinister purpose of the Winking Demon, be decided to spend tbe major portion of the fol- lowing day in *‘ browsing around” Ardville and picking up some points that might prove of value. After sauntering beyond the village, he put himself through quite a metamorphosis, by which be was changed into an honest-looking old farmer, with a frioge of sandy whiskers under his chin, a pair of large, bowed silver specta- cles, a broad, flapping bat and a short frock-coat considerably humped up in the back, on account of his round shoulders. , Although he had never wrought a day in all his life upon a farm, yet Orson Oxx was fond of assuming the character of Josh Whitcomb. He liked to be taken for an exceedingly verdant countryman, as it gave him a good chance to ** play it” on certain ake ge he information picked up by the detective, } ' “TI didn’t hear him say nuffin.” ‘* Bless me! how blasted queer. name, my gocd man?” ‘** Prosperity Johnson, sah!” ‘* Well, Prosperity,” said the honest-looking Mr. Perkins, * tell the niece of Mr. Langdon that I wish to have a few words with her.” ** But de niece, Miss Ethel, am not at home!” Orson Oxx was genuinely surprised. What's your Nothing was more natura! than that both | should happen to be absent at the same hour, but it was not that itself which startled the de- tective. It was the expression whico crossed the dusky face before him when the announce- ment was made, That, and a certain tremor in the voice of the African, told him like a flash, that something extraordinary bad taken placs since his call of the evening before. Orson Oxx was @uick to catch on to such evi- dence, which in this instance was instantly per- ceptible. ** Well, Prosperi'y,” be said quite heartily, ‘““vou are at home and I would like to have a little chat with you.” The silver doliar and the smile which accom- panied it were both of the bland order, and the old farmer had rendered himself “solid” with the negro from the beginning. ‘**Come right in,” assente Prosperity, and Pll talk wid you a good long while.” “Thank you, my friend; lm sure we'll get along well together,” said the visitor, taking off his broad hat as he stepped within the hall and the door was closed bebind bim, He hoped that the servant would conduct him to the library, and he turned toward the door; but Prosperity did not forget his duty in that respect, and led bim up-stairs to hisown bumble apartment in the rear, apologizing by saying that they could talk there without fear of inter- ruption from any one, ‘ Are you the only servant in the house, Pros- perity?’ asked the visitor, seating himself on a rather rickety chair, crossing bis legs and de- positing bis broad-brimmed bat on bis knee, ‘‘ Sometimes de sister of Mr. ra ae am here, but not offen; she am deaf as a door-post, ana haben’t been here since last month.” ‘*Then you are the only one at present?” ‘‘Yas, but my wife, who libs in de little house down by de road, comes here twice a week and does de wasbin and ironin’, She am li’ble to come in any time, and she habso much cur'osity dat she mought go to axin’ questions, and would tell Mr. Langdon if she sawed you heah,” Orson Oxx did not see why theservant ehould object to this, inasmuch as he had called to see Mr. Langdon, and had not intimated that there was any secrecy about his business. But he was glad of the precaution of his sable friend. The detective won the confidence of P ty to that extent that, within the succeeding fit- teen minutes, the African told bim all he knew r the mysterious occurrence of the night be- ore. Orson Oxx was amazed. He had never dreamed of any such action on the part of Algol Langdon. What did it mean?” He questioned the negro closely, but his lack of knowledge on the more important points was MICLOOOLS (E(0) (eo)