Beadle's Dime Library No. 260: The Masked Mystery; or, The Black Crescent — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

\ . "- + As ~~ —_ ** 4 gee OF ee a your pay. Do you understand me? Will you do this?’ ‘‘ Well, I will that, sir. you say, sir. And there won’t anybody come in while J’m here!” ‘Remember! co not leave the room fora moment, unless I am here to take your place. Guard my interests, James; guard them well. I will arrange to have your meals brought you.” Forde, having spoken these instructions, withdrew. ‘“‘ Well, now!” exclaimed the guard, looking after him, “I do wonder what on this earth’s the matter with ’im? He’s been actin’ mighty queer these past days a few. An’ Lord! he don’t look nothin’ like he did when I first came here! Poor man—ah! he’s gettin’ old, an’ I s’pect he’s onwell, or somethin’,” and shaking his bead, James sat down to keep his watch, Harnden Forde retired to his room, to seek a few hours’ repose. Human nature could not bear up under the tax that had been put upon him within the last two days, and notwith- standing the maze of thought, fear, anxiety which rushed upon Lis turbid brain, his head no sooner touched the pillow than he slept. It was after noon when he arose and par- took of a light repast, Slumber had been sweet to him. It was a forgetfulness of the shadows that encompassed his existance. His return to wakefulness was like re-enter- ing a spbere whose air was misery, and the Jandscape dreary, bleak with ill-foreboding. The groan from his lips as his eyes opened to the day of the busy world, contained more than words to speak his utter wretchedness, Eola bad waited for him in the front parlor along while. When he entered she advanced to meet him. ** Father, are you not better this morning?” presenting her ripe lips for the accustomed kiss, “In body, my child, Iam well enough, But in mind, ah' ~ can never be well—never! Look at me!” Eola shuddered. Sbe had looked, The strange, unreadable glance of those eyes— the ghastiy bue of the face, frightened her, for she knew not what it meant, ‘*Doal look improved?’ And as a sickly smile for a moment twitched the corners of his mouth, she shuddered again, “Come,” she said, ‘sit by the window, The warm sunshine may benefit you.” He shook his head sadly, but did as she re- quested, ‘““ Now, father, tell me—for you have prom- ised! What is it that weighs upon your mind? Explain this mystery. I must know. Remem- ber, I have much at stake, Austin Burns is—” “No, no; forget him. You cannot marry him. Never!” “ Then Tinsist upon a full explanation, I demand it!” her lovely face crimsoning as she spoke, ** See,” he said; ‘‘ here is Harold Haxon as- cending the steps—” “ That man!” She bit her lip, and one of her dainty, slip- pered feet patted the soft carpet in an im- patient way. Evidently—from her tone, froin her manner—Harold Haxon was a most un- desirable acquaintance to her, and a deep si- lence reigned as father and daughter hearkened to the servant admitting the visitor. | A few moments later Haxon, smiling and bowing, was ushered into their presence, CHAPTER VIII. WHO DEALT THE BLOW. To return to Austin Burns. He bad not long to wait for his new-found friend. When she came back, she was accom- panied by a physician—a tall, spare-limbed in- dividual, with booked nose and peculiarly and humorous poise, was far from disagreeable in expression, “There is your patient, Doctor Cauley,” pointing to the young man, who arose upon their entrance, and steadied himself by holding to the back of the chair, for it seemed to Aus- tin that in every minute his friend had been gone he had grown weaker, and at tbat mo- ment he felt very faint. A scrutinizing glance at Austin’s face, a eS | saa S TllL do whatever eee eee ee rr Mystery. ee The Masked stroke of the smooth chin, and the physician suid: “Exactly, um! Going to faint, may be. Keep up, sir; keep up. Retain your pins and shut your mouth. Now, lay down,” ; With their assistance, Austin was fixed comfortably upon the sofa, and the man of medicine proceeded to attend to the wound. He screwed his thin features into an ugly frown while examining the cut, and, nodding to*the woman in biack, uttered, briefly: , ‘’ Must bathe iv, Tepid water. Got a sponge?’ and as she hurried after the desired articles, he continued, to Austin: ‘‘ Retain your position and keepquiet. Bad wound, this, Feel weak, eh?” “Very, sir.” ‘¢ Retain your senses and say nothing. Now then.” When the water and sponge were brought, he began t> bathe and then dress the wound, Tho blade had not sunk deep, but the flesh was horribly tora. *€ Doctor, is it dangerous?” ‘Now, wy dear madam, everything is dan- gerous., It’s dangerous to eat, for fear we overload the stomach. It’s dangerous to drink, even water, for fear we strangle. It’s dan- gerous to live, for fear we may die; and there’s more danger in being born than there is in dying. Permit me to remark, madam, that ‘in the midst of existence we are liable to be- come defunct,’ Easiest thing in the world to die, if—” ** But this wound, doctor? me if it is likely to prove fatal.” “Um! Well, if he retains his wits, and promises to keep clear of politics for the bal- ance of his life, he may come out of this all right. Nurse bim well, purse him well; it won’t hurt bim,” ‘* Tam deeply interested in him, Dr. Cauley —very deeply. His life is precious to me. Say he will live.” * Let bim try. talk very little. in a week.” ‘‘T understand,” with a sigh of relief. . ‘‘ He will live. You can not imagine what a load of anxiety is taken from my mind, But, Doc- tor Cauley, will you now do me a favor?” ‘Retain my character and win your esteem? Certainly.” “Will you remain here with Mr, Burns un- til about three o’clock?”’ ‘Hey?’ pausing in his work and arching big brows. as he looked at her inquiringly. ‘Will you remain here, with Mr, Burns, un- til Ireturn? I must go away; will be gone, probably, until three o’clock,” “In the morning? This a. mM?’ Please inform Retain his compusure and I'll come and dine with him sé Yes, ” ‘* Necessary ?”’ “Very. Ican not explain, as my business is private, as well as important, If there is an extra charge, do not hesitate to include it in the bill.” ‘‘Um! Retain the promises and keep awake all night. Certainly. If you are not back by the hour named, I shall begin to get—break- fast. Expect to see the table set, and tea- kettle boiling,” with this he turned again to bis task. Austin Burns was looking at bis strange friend, in a puzzled way. There was some- thing about her which had not impressed it- self upon bis mind when be first saw her face; something which seemed to strike the chords of memory with a familiar, yet inexplicable harmony. Wasit some dream that had been bis, in which he beheld the sad features and the deep, black eyes looking down upon him, as they were at that moment? or was it the new life of a buried recollection which, through & marvelous retentiveness, his brain created, to fill him with uncertain thoughts! It was not an unbandsome face; perhaps, in youth, its outlines were penciled by a wand whose merest touch was beauty. But now, its expression was sad and worn to the un- mistakable lines of unhappiness, though it was full of kindness, beaming with tenderness, and as their eyes met, he strove his best—in vain —to place the picture before bim. ‘Doctor Cauley will stay here, Mr. Burns— let me call you Austin?’ “You may,” he answered, still regarding her steadily; for something told him she had a right to the privilege she asked. _“ Doctor Cauley will remain with you, Aus- tin, until I get back, and will attend to your comfort. Iam very sorry I must leave you; 9 ee — but, there is that demanding my attention which I can not neglect. Be of good cheer. Good-by—” ‘Ahem! Retain your senses and listen to me,” interrupted Cauley. ‘‘ This young man must have something to quiet him—not eter- nally, but for a little while, He’s unstrune, madam—-l say unstrung. Now, if youre goivg to whisk yourself off, who gets the medi- cine?” “T think you'll find exactly what you wanf, in that closet beneath the stairs. The meui- cine you gave brother Wat when he was feverish. There are many bottles there; bus all are labeled.” Having thus relieved the physician of his perplexity, she departed. ‘““How familiar!?? exclaimed Austin, feebly; ‘‘T am sure I have seen ber before.” *“Um! Retain your ideas and close your lips. Of course you've seen her before, Every- body bas seen everybody in the course of a lifetime, or somebody that Icoks like he, she, or it, more or less. What you want, is quietude. Where did you get this cut/ Been. fighting?” ‘““Some*hing I avoid, sir, and have never yet disgraced myself by engaging in a public brawl, The wound was given me on the Fayette street bridge, to night, by some one who evidently meant murder. TIT never knew, until to-night, that I had enemies.” * Pooh! Everybody has enemies, I’ve been fighting mine ever since I played top, at school, Retain your surmises and forget your enemies, for the present, while 1 complete this little job,” The woman in bleck eped away from the house, back toward the bridge at the Falls, She had reached the west end of the bridge, when she caught sight of two men whv were just then passing the gas-lamp at the fence, They were coming toward ber; the features of both were easily discernible, “Ha! It is Harold Haxon and bis ally, Gil Bret. What are they coming here for?” The spot whereon she stood was very dark; no one was near to detect her movements, and she crouched down, close by the rail, to vatch the comers. The two men halted on the bridge. What followed we have seen, When they oe; arted, she continued swiftly on to her destination, which was the house of Harnden Forde on Eutaw street. Reaching here, she made ber way through © the narrow alley, and inserting her arm in the large, round hole near the latch of the gate, she slipped the bolt. The library window was before her, and the stcut grape-rack offered means of reaching it, “‘T may venture,” she thought. “It is al- most time for Wat to be bere,” But few women can ascend a ladder with ease of mind and body, and it was with no little difficulty she made her way to the top, The back windows of other bouses in the vicinity were darkened. No wakeful eyes — marked her acti ns, and, after much exertion, — she reached the top strip. ; To her surprise the window was unlatcbed; and, as her heart fluttered at the boldness of her undertaking, she cautiously iaised the sasb, emu et: - “T will not close it,” moving noiselessly toward the door. ‘There is no knowing in — what haste I may have to pass out again, Ab) — , hark!” Lee There was a scarce audible footstep on the stairs, so sudden came the sound, that she al paused, undecided, midway across the room, | ae But the one outside—who was Harnden — ai Forde seeking the room of his strange andun- _ welcome guest—continued past. 1 Te With a few quick, silent steps, she reached the door, and found it; barely closed, To open it, slightly, was the work of a moment, and, by the dim rays of a small burner which lighted the second floor, she saw Forde, wih the significant ropes in bis hand, just turning at the landing. Aaa The ropes, the cat-like tread, with which coy was ascending the rtairs, at once struck her, Could she bave obtained a glimsse of his face? AE ac But sight of the ropes, especially, filled her mind with suspicions. "ae In the corner, by ber, stocd a thick cane of heavy, unyielding wood. Almost involunta- rily she grasped this and stole after him, mOoy- — ing no less like a specter than he, ; ; He led her to the third story; then he- dis- Eomicbooks,;com we % ~ , ' 7 i" C ne \ =