Beadle's Dime Library No. 260: The Masked Mystery; or, The Black Crescent — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

sy / . * — ' “ f* * , ~. ot , 3 ‘4 % , . hh , 5 Tt 4 i ‘. a! , a5. ad hw ar a 4 oe J We: ‘+ te iS ¥, dispersing the crowd. ** What’s the matter?’ demanded Haxon. ** Look’e there!” * Where?’ “Over yonder, See that ’ere man standin’ by the lamp? See ’im?” **Yes. What of bim?” “‘That ’ere’s Wat Blake—” “* Ha!” "Sh! Don’t make no fuss, now; that’s him,” The two exchanged glances—glances that ‘were significant, speaking like a silent telegraph, a sign in cipher. Wat Blake stood with his back toward them; ~ The Masked Mystery. “ Ah—yes; it was severe.” ** Now then, to Forde’s.” ‘To Forde’s,” assented Blake, and they started toward Eutaw street, CHAPTER XX. A BAFFLED TRAIL, THE sight of two men running at the top of their speed—and one of these fashionably at- tired and bareheaded—very naturally aftracted a deal of attention. Several ‘‘ Arabs” greeted them with howls and cries, and as they dashed on through the street not a few pedestrians paused to look at reonsequently their approach was unnoticed by them, wonderingly. him, Cautious in two ways—not to attract his at- tention, nor that of passers-by—they drew mear to bim. * Do’t right, Haxy; don't bungle, an’ we're all hunky. Go for ’is inside pocket.” Nearer they came. Blake glanced about thim; but having no suspicion of their proxim- ity, and being just then interested by some- thing in an opposite direction, he did not per- «ceive them, Presently some one struck Blake on the tem- ple. Confused, half-blinded, he reeled, and would hhave fallen, when a pair of muscular arms twined around bim, pinioning him firmly, ‘“* Now, Haxy!” But, almost before the ‘words were spoken, Haxon’s hand glided into ‘the pocket of their victim and Gil Bret’s pocket- ook was drawn out. “Fight! fight!” howled the cabmen on the other side of the monument, and a dozen of them madea dash for the scene flourishing their whips and screaming loudly. But the action of the two villains was so quick, sy-tem»tic, successful, that in the pass- age of a tew seconds they bad dashed off with their prize. As Haxon turned the corner and ran after Bret, something de-cended with terrific force i already 1]l used bat, and the latter went whizzing out into the gutter. Christopher Crewly’s umbrella again! And ‘this time the lawyer felt certain bis pet wa: ir- rep»rably injured, for be spent some moments in examining the article, beedless of the crowd ‘that gathered around Wat Blake. ‘‘ Been robbed! Robbed ia broad daylight! “Who was it? How was it?’ were the exclam- ations and inquiries that went round from lip to lip. “Know the parties?” asked a sober police- ‘Man who was just in time to be too late, _ “No,” replied Blake, not fully recovered from the blow he had received, and looking thoroughly bewildered. “What have you losi?” continued the of- _ ‘ficer. Blake was not long in pocaxtalning his loss, * A pocket- book.” “Valuable? Lodge a complaint. Detect- tive—” *No—no; it was not worthit. I—” “Come—scatter!” ordered the policeman, “‘There’s nothing the ‘matter now.” ‘Well, Wat Blake, another row, eh?’ Chris- ; topher Crewly elbowed bis way up to him. tinued difficulty of late. Do you know who it | 4 A 4 * Yes, Mr. Crewly,” returned Blake with a faint smile; ‘‘it seems that Iam fated to con- was—’’ _ Out of this rabble first. Rag, Tag, Bob- ‘tail, Samuel, Richard and Henry assemblage ds no place to talk. _ “way—rascal! Hang it! get out of my you won't!’ A street Arab seemed determined to biock their way and ‘Crewly treated him to an unkind lunge of his ~ umbrella, causing him to retire with an un- earthly bowl of pain. _ Once clear of the crowd, Crewly said: _ * Now, Wat Blake, you’ve lost something.” ** Yes—the pocket-book that I secured only ast night!” . =) * hy & Ahem! - dains—” Bad business! ~ **Who was it?’ - * Who? em, “Nothing else. Hang those vil- Why, who could it be but Harold ‘Haxon-as he calls himself—and that other _ dog, Gil Biet? Nearly broke my umbrella over | Hixon’!ll have to buy a new hat this thime—sure. Nothing but the pocke'-book?” Miserable wretches!—I do a a a Bret was in the lead, panting and blowing —for the run was a severe one, Two squares were passed over before Haxon closed up the space between them, **Got it?’ spurted the bruiser, breaths, “ Yes,” ** Where’s your hat?” ‘Gone, That man knocked it—” ‘What man?” ‘‘The same who appeared on the scene at the gates last night. I knew him by his tall form; and now I am sure it was an umbrella that struck me, Tl be even with him yet for bis interferences!” ** An’ who in thunder is he?’ “‘T know not—wait, Come, quick!—in here, and we're safe.” They were before Haxon’s boarding-house. In a twinkling they entered and preceeded up- stairs. When the door of the room was closed and locked, they threw themselves into chairs and looked at each other. ‘* Purty well dorle, Haxy—that was; hey?’ said the bruiser presently. Haxon turned his attention to the pocket- book, At sight of it Bret’s eyes half closed ina broad grin. *‘Open it, Haxy. The game's ourn ag’in! We’re all right; open it.” The contents of the pocket-book were at once examined into. Haxon’s face lighted up as he drew forth several greenbacks, and Bret looked on in si- lence. ‘Forty dollars and a few cents.” Bret’s countenance fell a little—fell, but was not altogether without evidences of pleas- ure at the announcement. He was glad to get the money, but he was not yet satisfied. ‘*Go on,” he said, “look again, There’s somethin’ else.” ‘Nothing more,” returned Haxon, over- hauling the pocket-book more thoroughly. ‘* othin’?” - * Nothing.” ‘* Here—let me look.” Bret snatched it from him, and in a moment tossed it on the floor. ‘*Not there, by thunder!” ** What is not there?” ° “ Why, the paper!” Haxon seemed to have forgotten that Bret had told him the valuable paper was in the stolen pocket book. “Ts this your pocket-book?” he asked. **Thunder—of eourse!” Then, as usual, he betrayed no further sign of chagrin. To an observer, he was as cool as if he had never known a disappointment in all his life. ‘This money wil! last us for a while,” said Haxon, “and I shall soon bave more to put with it, Everything will be satisfactorily ar- ranged before long, for our whole future, Forde need rot know—why should, and how can he?—that we no longer hold the paper with which to bend him to our will. Avd once married to Eola, our bark will glide smootnly enough. She is wortha for:uve in her own between right—left ber by the brotber of ber gran‘- | That girl—fiends seize her!—will thwart me father. That muchI have found out during my visits there.” “ When ’r’ you goin’ up there?” “ I told him I would call again to-day. My reception yesterday was cold 4s Zero and pain- ful as caustic. The girl bas a spirit fiery as hot iron—once struck upon, the sparks fly pro- miscuously.” * You ain’t got a hat.” “You'll go get me one, Bret. I guess there mot grudge them that; for I guess they must be | was not enough seen of you in our little game pretty near starving. But, no more cf it. isa matter of little consequence.” “Allright. Bad luck, though, yuu got.” It | to bave you spotted. Besides, we will avoid the vicinity of Guy’s in the future.” Looking at his watch, he added; - : * . . * ** ‘You'd better be off at once, too. It’s al- ready after noor. I would like to get there in time for dinner, Forde sets an excellent table. Hurry, now.” Bret started out to purchase a bat for his companion, who was, perforce, a prisoner un- til the article was bought, About half-past one Harold Haxon entered a car for Eutaw street. Bret sought a restaurant on Holliday street, near the theater, where he partook of a sub- stantial lunch and a few “settlers.” Harold Haxon, in a state of exuberance over the successful game which he flattered himself he was playing, ruminated upon his prospects as the car slowly neared his destina- tion. When he alighted he was surprised to see the windows of Forde’s house closed, ** Strange!” be thought, as be ascended the steps and puiled the bell. He repeated his summons three times before it was answered. “What can be the matter?’ he wondered, and then he paled slightly. ‘‘Can anything have happened to Forde? ’Sdeath! if so, then my plans are ruined— Oh!” James stood in the doorway, “Well, James, Mr. Forde in?’ “No, sir ”—briefly. Haxon started, and looked hard into the servant’s countenance. *- Indeed! Gone fora ride, eh?’ ‘*No, sir.” ‘Then, where is he?” impatiently. ** Left town, sir.” ‘‘Left town!” and Haxon repeated the words in amazement, ‘‘ You say he has left town?—when?” * Last nigbt, sir.” ‘Did Eola go with him?” ‘Miss Forde went with her father ’—the first two words rather emphatically spoken, ‘But where to?” “That I can't say, sir.” ** Ab, you can’t say!” He caught something from tbe man’s words; ‘* but you know.” “T’ve got nothing to say, Mr. Haxon, T can’t—tell—where they’ve gone.” . James saw a dollar-bill in the other’s hand; but he was too tried a servant to betray bis employer’s secrets. Forde bad given him instructions before leaving, and these instructions were made im- pressive by both money and promises—to say nothing of James’s natural integrity. “You are mistaken in me, sir,” in answer to a wink from Haxon. ‘You won’t tell?” * No—sir !” Here was a dilemma, Here was news to set the villain’s hair on end with rage! Forde had escaped him, at least fora while. Gone. Where? What use in the inquiry? He saw that James was not to be ap- proached, and turning abruptly on his heel, he left—not failing to hear the door shut with a bang that must have meant gratification at his departure. If Harold Haxon was at all a handsome man, that feature was lost in the fierce scowl, tbe pale cheeks, the compressed lips and flam- ing, flashing eyes, which marked his appear- ance as he strode down the street. He gazed down at the pavement with sav- age glance, and, between gritting teeth, he cursed the fate which led him to grant Forde a single hour in which to prepare Eola for her sacrifice, “Did I not bave him in my power—like a felon inside the prison wall?’ he muttered, ‘‘Could I not bave crushed him at a single blow, if he dared refu-e immediate action on my demand? Was not everything convenient to my desires? And then, that I—fool! fool! —should have allowed the prize to slip my grasp so easily! Curses!—it is Eola’s doing! yet, if there is much delay, [ will erush them both! Yet, in reality, I am powerless, having lost the paper, May the shades of ruin fall upon you, Harnden Forde, for this defi- ance! But you have not escaped te—no! [| will ferret you out, though the task may lead me thrice around the globe! And TI have one to assist me, whose scent is keen as that of the sleuth-heund!” Gil Bret had just finished his meal when Harold Haxon strode into the room. It had been arranged that they should mes: there; but, by the surprise Bret evinced, it < EOmie . 20OKS l a)