Beadle's Dime Library No. 260: The Masked Mystery; or, The Black Crescent — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

to?’ ‘*7 do not know.” ** But did you not ask?” The ‘Gone, Wat!” Bertha exclaimed. ‘‘ Where | lous! Madam, has he been eating anything | | + ; VI ree ‘ “A fe&- ‘ ‘3 oo Masked z 1: injurious? Strange case—very Remarkable! Left bim improving this morning; now he’s in a high state of excitement. Dangerous! Mad- ‘““Hang it!” said Crewly; “it’s all Wat | am, I ask what’s the matter?” Blake’s fault. No—ahem! we forgot to ask anything about it. Positively.” 4 Bertha was somewhat excited by the in- telligence they brought. Aft first, she could not realize it; then it burst upon her, “He must be found!’ she cried. “It will fis never do to let him escape us in this way— | Ie never!” | ‘* How can it be helped?” “But it must be helped!—must, I say,” was her quick rejoinder. ‘‘ Are we to be so ‘ easily baffled? You do not know Harnden Forde as 7 do. Can you not see his plan? He ' flees from us that he may gratify the wishes 4 of Harold Haxon! Eola will be sacrificed! ; Oh, Heaven! Back!—back to his house, and ask where he has gone. There are servants there. They will tell you—” rw “My dear madam—” began Crewly, seri- a ously. Sit, *Mr. Crewly, be quiet!” she interrupted, and he subsided. Pacing the room, her dark eves flashing t with excitement, and the pale cheeks for a 5 moment flushed with a delicate tinge, she was, even at her afivancing age, a handsome wo.- man; and the impatient fire of her youthful days seemed now to heat her veins. _ Blake did not move, Pausing before him, she said, rapidly: “Up, brother; up and off! Oh! don’t lose amoment. He must not escape us. He must be tracked!—tracked! Eola is in danger!— my child! Will you not go ?” and she clasped ‘a her white hands to her throbbing temples, as if he a sudden pain had centered there to agonize yt her. a Wat Blake arose, Crewly, anxious to be st on hand in everything, squirmed from his seat and, in his eagerness to depart, very mearly forgot both hat and umbrella. ' “ Bless me!” be exclaimed, wriggling back . across the room; ‘can’t go bareheaded, much, :. you know; positively. Excuse me,” and he followed Blake, with two-yard strides, “What was that I heard you say of Harn- ; den Forde?—and Eola?’ inquired Austin, ay when the two had gona. Ora bad remained a silent spectator of all tthat passed, and said nothing now. For some momerts, Bertha seemed unable to calm herself. Then she advanced to his bedside, and told him all; how Harold Haxon was determined to wed Ela, and the power _ used by the villain to grind Forde to bis will. But while she told him of the false prophetess, and the latter’s league with Louise Ternor, she was, at the same time, careful not to speak of herself or her sufferings. Neither dil she acquaint Austin with his identity. ‘And this, then,” murmured the young aman, ‘‘is why Harnden Forde cast me off?” ‘“Ttis. But be of good cheer, Austin; you ‘will be righted soon, if Heaven does not desert mus in this trying moment. Ob! why don’t Le they come back? Why don’t they come?” -_ -Her excitement had given place to extreme - mervousness, and Ora, with soothing words, | strove to calm her, * ‘¢ Patience, dear mother,’ she said, her bright blue eyes beaming and her ripe lips wreathing _ .asmile of encouragement; ‘‘all will yet be well, I am sure. Try and calm yourself, for omy sake,” ' Ne Bertha kissed the pure brow of her child, and tried to be patient. Austin was reflecting deeply upon the story _ fhe had heard. And in his thoughts dwelt an impatient count of the hours be would be com- _ pelled to lie there, idle aud helpless, while Eola his own dear prize!—was threatened by the ¢ - machinations of a heartless, desperate, ay, blood- thirsty villain; for Bertha bad named the wretch who committed the murderous assault at the Fayette street bridge. The young man’s reveries were interrupted by the entrance of Dr. Cauley. Feeling _ Austin’s pulse the physician said, gravely: Madam, there’s something wrong. Um! young man’s excited—considerably excited. x ts the matter, sir?’—to Austin—“ your heart thumps; your pulse jumps; your brow i is feverish—” “J want air,” said Austin, who could think of nothing but Eola; ‘I am nearly choking! I - smaust get up!” » “Choking! Wonderful! Get up? Ridicu- <r lige: A ~ 8 | | ; sete s me EE ee Despondency ofttimes chills the lips and palsies the voice; and Bertha, in striving to be calm, had grown despondent. She only looked at him and smiled as she shook her head; while he rattled on: ** Young man, retain your—hold wrist still! —senses, and wait till I feel your pulse again! explain what’s—very queer case!—the matter, eh? Extraordinary! Um!—m m!” Wat Blake and Christopher Crewly re- turned at that juncture. At sight of the physician, the lawyer ele- vated his nose and retired, with dignity, to a far seat. ‘Well, Wat—well; you found out?’ Bertha ran forward to meet her brother. sc No—” “Oh, Heaven!—” ** Wait, sister; calm yourself. I have done the best I could—” ‘‘ Fact!” indorsed Crewly in a breath that betrayed utter exhaustion, ‘*The servants know, but they won’t tell us—bang ’em! not a bit.” ‘* But whut are we to do?” she cried. ‘‘He has eluded us. Ob! Wat, Wat, do you think of Eola?—of the fate that may be hers? Do you—’’ She was interrupted by an exclama- tion from Dr. Cauley. ‘But, my dear sir! Retain—really, now! no—your senses—you must not, I say!—Im- possible! Don’t doit! Kill yourself!” ‘Clear the room!” Austin cried, as he struggled in the grasp that held him down. *T tell you that I will get up. Eola must be found! If there be a way, I have both the will and the strength. Sheisin danger! Let go, doctor. If one servant in Forde’s house knows where she is, and will not tell me, J’l/ wring his neck! Clear the room. I will get up!” Crewly leaped from his seat, ‘Good! That’s it!” he exclaimed. ‘“ Let bim up, Doctor Quidley! Clear out, all of you. Fly! Let him up!” Whether it was to oblige Austin, or whether she meant to visit Fordo’s house, herself, Bertha ran from the room to procure her hat and shawl, and Ora followed her. Dr. Cauley now changed his remonstrances to words of emotion, lest the wound might take a fresh start and begin to bleed, Christopher Crewley disappeared. But the lawyer soon returned, saying he had a cab at the door. He partook of the general excitement—bis hat perched on the back of his head, long coat flying loosely, and umbrella occasionally flour- ishing aloft, be danced, jumped, squirmed around them in a half frantic state. Austin was placed inside the vehicle, with | Bertha, O‘a and Wat Blake, and, with a de- | fiant smirk at Dr, Cauley, the lawyer mounted to a seat beside the driver, saying: “Now, go like the deuce!—only be very | careful. Go! Avoid the ruts. Go! Take the railroad track. Skoot!” Arrived at Forde’s house, James answered the violent pull at the bell. Austin Burns supported by Blake and Crewley, stood on the steps. ‘* James,” cried the yonng man, hot with the determination to learn of Eola’s where- abouts, ‘“‘ where is Mr. Forde?—where is Eola? Answer me! I am not to be trifled with. Tell me quickly, too. You know me; you know I am one to keep my word; and [ tell you James, if I do not obtain the information I seek, there shall be suffering—” “And weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth!” put in Crewly, with a scowl at James. Quite unexpectedly, the servant said: “Til tell you, Mr. Burns; but I wouldn’t tell anybody else.” “Then be quick!—quick!” patience was without bounds, “Do you hear?—quick!” said Crewly, re- solved to have a word, ‘* Well, Miss Forde gave me a letter for you, Mr. Burns—” Without more ado, James produced the. let- ter, and, in a second, Austin was reading as follows: Austin’s im- **Dear, DEAR AUSTIN: “To esca pe—what, I cannot say—father and I have gone to Washington, I musteee you, for my Mystery. | | ——— — heart is nearly breaking, and my strength fail- , under a great tax that [ can not now explain. Follow me as soon as you can, OLA.”* With a laugh which was half that of a maniac—:0 great was the reaction from de spair to joy—the young man turned and stag- gered down the steps, toward the cab, break- Your own _ing from his sapporters, wio sprung after him, fearing he would fal), ‘To Washington!” he gasped, sinking back upon the cushions, ‘“‘Now—abem! look, if you don’t take things more coolly, you’ll have brain fever. Fact!” declared Crewly, with the air of an emphatic philosopber; and turning to Wat Blake, he continued: “Where to, now? Better keep Burns quiet or—— Stcp! there’s my umbrella upon the steps.” James considerately brought him the valued article. Blake consulted his watch. ‘Three o’clock. The train leaves at four. So we have an hour yet. Back to Mrs, Len- ners, Again the lawyer mounted to the box, and the cab drove off. In due time, they were at the depot, and Crewly, baving purchased the tickets, ex- claimed, while be jammed his hat tigbter on his head, and thumped his umbrella on the planks: ‘‘Now, then, we’re after ’em with a hot stick, Akem! Hurry up! Cars are going.” Sight of this party was what startled Bret and Haxon, as these two, also in pursuit of Forde, stood upon the platform of the car. But the villains were not seen. Bret, being the first to recover from his surprise, pulled Haxon backward, into the car, in time to es- cape observation, CHAPTER XXII, CHISTOPHER CREWLY SEES A SIGHT. WASHINGTON, February 20. The Carni- val. How many readers will glance twice at that date, and a momentary thrill pervade them as they recall to mind the great National Festi- val! Ushered in through portals crimsoned by its flaming disk, the red sun dipped upon the far- off horizon—then lit in splendor all that dwelt beneath. A day whose glory vied with those of distant Shirez, where dews are life and every breath an incense, dawned upon the world; and twink- ling stars, ashamed before the day-god’s glint, were paling soft as night’s tears on the petals of a rose. The very skies were smiling on this prom- ised day of rejoicing—for it was no less; and in the breasts of thousands who had thronged to the gay capital, hearts were already bounding with delight. Balmy as the early days of fall, when sweet- est flowers weigh their fragrance on the passing air; seemirg like a lovely, wandering rose whose lot had wrencked it from repose in Tran’s bowers, to stray and halt amid the clime of snows and frosts; wafted like a choice celestial ray to break the chilly spell of winter, while nature stood in awe at its own change; beautiful below, and in the boundless azure, where fleecy mists whose silent flights were like the soaring isles of spheres that charmed the eye with mystic forms, then faded into naught—such was the gift of Providence. Ne'er knew the streets a grander dress than decked them then, for all who lived, lived but for pleasure’s will; and like the pending burst of something to enrapture, the hours marched quickly onward. : Pennsylvania avenue threw off its look of dreariness seared with dust, and, like the famed Corso, reveled in its show. Had hosts of Peris lifted mighty Rome and borne it to our midst? What dreams! And yet, to mark the universal draping of the bal- conies, the rich and countless shades and glit- tering hues that blazoned every window, and even clothed the trees with colors shimmering in rarity; to see the hurrying carriages, with merry occupants, and prancing horses chafing at the bit; to know that heavy cannon waited to belch forth the rumbling thunder of their voice—our fancy turns to Rome, and one thing, alone, remained to give the scene its blending with the Carnival as it should be: the confetti showers, Weeks had passed since we left our charac- ters in the last chapter; and in that time, Wat ‘ecomircbook ;. IP a Deal ain eae