Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 262 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

a Then she stopped as if not knowing how to continue, ‘‘ What is it, Miss Somers? You have a ques- tion to ask.” “Yes. That is—” *“ Ask anything you please, to answer you.” ‘‘Itis this. I must be thinking about—” I willdomy best ce About—” She seemed to be struggling with her feelings | “ About what?’ he asked, as she stopped. him in m and finally said in a low tone: ** About the funeral. Harvey started, In the rush of other incidents he had almost forgotten the body in the Morgue, and the necessity of claiming and burying it. He knew that he could only do it by authority from Nina; and to show that, must lead to a public acknowledgment of her present resi- dence, which the wished to keep sccret from Buck Jarvis. Nina saw his perplexity, for she said: * Sup that man claims—claims’ the poor body. He mus¢ not have it. She must be buried properly, and by me.” ‘That is true,” he answered, gravely; “ but have you reflected that if he does claim the body, as the husband, and you resist the claim, he will have a right also to claim you, as» your legal guardian.’ Nina shuddered slightly. ‘Yes, | have thought of it. But what am I todo? She must be properly buried.” ‘*Will you leave it to me?’ he said. ‘* Iwill see toitall. Trust me for another day, If the worst comes to the worst, and we have to fight him in the courts, they will never give you into the power of a man of notoriously bad character. Trust me for another day, and L will do my best.” Nina hid her face in her bands. “Poor mother. And all this time she lies among strangers with no one to take care of her. Mr. Harvey, I must go. Take me with you; no matter what happens. claim her body.” Harvey drew himself ap rather stiffly. “Tf yoa insist on it, of course: 1 must igo,” was all he answered. CHAPTER XVII. THE COLONEL’S PLAN. LEAVING Nina to speak to the senora about what he thought was her rash resolution, Har- vey went down-stairs to see the colonel, and found the old warrior in his white fencing jacket mounting a foil in the work-room behind the academy. The colonel looked up and nodded. ‘Vell, you find her vell, ha?” “Yes; but she’s got an idea into her head that is ‘sure to end in harm.” “Vat is dat?” “She wants to claim her mother’s body in person and take it away.” The colonel knit bis brows and pursed up his lips, saying: ‘Vell, vat of dat? Itis natural. De daugh- ter should take care of her moder.” ‘Yes, but don’r you see that we have taken her with great difficulty from the power of this villainous step father, and-if she goes there she is sure to meet him?” The colonel whistled. “Aha! [see. He vill vait for her dere. | Is dat it? I see, I see. Let me tink. The old man bas good head yet.” He went on filing at the mountings of the foil in silence for nearly two minutes, and finally broke out: “IT have it. I go vith you. De ladee she git us letter. She too seek to go. Ve fool dis Buck Jarvis. I manage it all. Come with me. He led the way up to his mother’s room with his rapid, impetuous step, and went in after a single sharp rap. They found Nina already dressed for the street, while the old lady seemed to be remon- strating with her, and the colonel:broke in at once: ‘“Vat is dis I hear, senorita? You are tired of de academee alreadee, and vant to go to dis Senor Jarvis, ha?” Nina colored deeply. ‘*No, I don’t say that.” “But I do say dat. You go from bere, and how s’all ve keep you from dat man? He is sure to geb you. e have no right to keep you here. We are not felatif, No, no. You must stay here till we find you de relatif. You haf some, ba? You tell de senora last night you haf oncle in de Fift’? avenue, is it not so, de general vat you call him—Meeks? Is.dat it?” Nina seemed to be much distressed. ‘Yes, General Mix, my mother’s brother; but be would have nothing to say to her when she was alive. I cannot go to him.” ‘‘But vich you like best? Go to heem or to dis Jarvis?” asked the colonel sharply. Nina looked as if she were about to cry. ‘Ob, anywhere rather than to Jarvis. But my uncle would not receive me. I never saw life. ; “J vill see to dat,” answered the colonel My poor mother,” L must see and —_e——e———ee———— - — Fighting Tom promptly. ‘“ You gif us letter to take charge of de body, and ve find de general. Dat is settle. I cannot take de responsibilitie of letting you go tell ve haf try everyting.” So it was settled, much to Nina’s real relief and the colonel and Harvey went away to find the body of Mrs. Somers and bunt up Nina’s enkiiiad uncle, General Mix of No. — Fifth avenue, When they were in the cars, going up-town, the colonel said to Harvey: ‘* Vere you go first? ‘*To her house.” “Aha! Why?” Harvey told him of the missing list and related bis adventures of the past night, to all which the veteran listened attentively. When he had finished Svenson said: ‘Dat is strange story, De man dat haf dat box is crazee,” -“ So I think,” ‘‘Think? Iamesure, You say dat de police captain laugh at de story?” ** Yes. Heevidently didn’t believe me.” The colonel pursed up bis lips. “Aha! Maybe he know somet’ing of dat man. I haf heard of kim before.” ‘““Of whom?’ Dey call hum de Night ‘* Of dis crazee man, Valker of de Fiat.” ‘*The Night Walker? That is what she.said was his name.” ‘Yes, .I haf heard it. vill tell us-all about bim,” ** And who is he?” ‘+Uncle Joe Marks,” ‘* Whois Uncle Joe Marks?’ ‘*De oldest policeman on de force. He was retire, and now he keep a house ia de Ninth Ward. We will go see bim.” ‘* Rut first to the house. I must get that list. If it bas the numbers of the bonds I can adver- tise them, We get out at this station and walk across * They ‘got out and walked. across the long, emp'y stretches of land, with the tall columns of sewer pipes intersecting the blocks. As they neared Murderer’s Row by daylight, they saw that quite a number of police were there, and the colonel observed: “Dat captain know bis business.. He vill breek up dat gang yet,” They went to the house, for Harvey had. got the key, and found’a policeman watcbing it. He questioned them and they had to call for the roundsman before he would let them in, but they finally satisfied him of their right to, enter, and went through the house, which lay in the disorder in which it had lain, the night before, after the visit of the mob, Harvey went straight to the corner Nina. had told bim of, pulled aside the bureau, and felt the crackle of paper under the carpet, from, which he drew forth in triumph an enyelope directed in a lady’s band as follows: * Nina SOMERS JARVIS. “* List of papers, ete. *« JuLy —, 18—.” The date was several years back, Harvey eagerly opened the envelope and pro- duced a list of several foolscap pages, which he scanned hastily till he saw: “U, 8. Bonps. Numprrs,” There were fifty of them, not in regular order, but with no clew to the denomination of the bonds, and Harvey was. perplexed, till, as be looked again, he saw a note referring to the end of the list, and found the figures and words: “* $1 000 each.” That settled it. Nina Somers was. entitled to fifty thousand dollars in U.S. Bonds, and..he had the numbers with him safe, | “ We can go now,” he said to the colonel. ‘‘I have the facts to advertise,” They locked the house and went away in the direction of, Murderer’s Row, As they by, Captain Samuels came u in a buggy, and when he saw the colonel noddec affably, saying: | ‘* How are you, colonel? What are you doing about here?” Every one knew the colonel, who nodded in Stop, I know a man reply. T Just jook around. You know de old sport goeverywhere. You know dis young gentle- man, fri’nd of mine? Very fine man, Mistare Harvie.” Samuels looked at Harvey askance, “ Ay, ay, I’ve seen him, Friend of yours?” ** Yes, sare.” ‘**Then you'd better tell him he’s a fuol fo try and work without ws,” said Samuels tartly. ‘* We've the hest chance to run down Buck Jar- vis and all this gang, and he won’t make a com- plaint.” The colonel answered 9 gee I ‘“*Samuels, my dear friend, lt vould not do. Dere are familee matters, A ladie in de. case. Dis Jarvis he vill go to de end of his rope all de soonair, if he t’ink ve dare not prosecute him.” uy AY, ay,” returned Samuels, ill-temperedly. I know what you mean. Give it to the pri- vate apenas. Lose all copie got. Youll never find that tin box without us. eee EEE ne | to advertise a thousand dollars’ reward 13 ** Can you put your hand on it?’ asked Har- vey facing the police captain suddenly, amuels shrugged bis shoulders, **T might if | wanted to.” ‘Well, you'll have a chance, I’m going now or tite There’s fifty thousand in bonds.in it,” The captain brighteved up. ‘‘Makeit two, and I'll engage to have it. for you in a week.” The colonel pressed Harvey’s arm to keep him still, answering: “If you get it to-day, my, friend, ve'll say yes to dat.” ’ ‘I hardly know—” began Harvey, but. the colonel squeezed bis arm again. | “If you get (it) to-night, you shall, have de money... You know my place, , Send, it dere; and ve pay you.” “Ill do my best... Good-day!”, said Samuels, hurriedly,/and; be drove cff to the end of. the block and talked earnestly. to a group of. men in plain clothes, while Harvey said to the colonel impatiently; | wd ‘ What made you offer bim so much? ,It is an imposition on Miss Somers.’ The colonel smiled and walked on. nuts “ My, friend,” he said presently, ‘‘dat man, will not get it, but. dere is no barm in setting de. detective to work. Dey will bunt.op every maw dat live .n dis row and: have, him before night, Dat isa gain. Now, ve go to see Uncle Joe.? ‘No, no,” said Harvey, earnestly, ‘‘ First. to, claim the body, That poor girl!, L, could; not face her if we could not, tell. her, all ,was ar- ranged decently,” | ty) 9) _ ‘My dear friend,” answered the vetenan, ‘‘it is plain you are young. De body is inde hands of de aut’oritie. Dey. vill bury -it.,if,no.one comes, Jarvis vill be dere and he vill not spend de monee for de funeral;.. He,,vill. vait, for jus, Let bim. vait, It vill do him good... Ve.go see Uncle Joe, and den de enendl Maeke, if do de right ting we can Jaugh at digs Jarvis, ; You be guided by me. I take you rigbf.” .., .. They went down-town on the cars and the colonel got out at Bleecker street, and led the way through a labyrinth of streets down to the wharves on the North. river. Hitt ¢ Thence he proceeded to a, blind alley which, terminated in a Jittle green garden, plot that looked like an oasis of freshness in jthe wilder- ness of bricks and mortar, VV tunth o At the end of this little garden; stood..a) neat and comfortable-looking frame cottage, which. was fronted by avery broad and | generous piazza, set. with tables and chairs, , _ Across the front.of the piazza. ran a long sign in blue and gold, which read: Jaa iep “UNCLE JOE'S.” | That was all it said, but the colonel observed as be ascended the piepe: oes ‘Dey all know Uncle Joe,. He,keep de best of everything and de grand people come from all over to see Uncle Jo2,. Come in”... ».., They ascended the steps and entered a. large, rather low room of old-fashioned character, mihi Mle mipEas in one end, behind which co seen the glitterin asses of. neat little bar, 2 . a " hy The room was.furnished with tables.-and chairs, plain but handsome, and was hung with such excellent pictures that Harvey could not help exclaiming: he sab ‘\ Why, this man is a connoisseur!” Hb ae Svenson smiled, yr eee ‘Old Joe knows his business. . Here he comes now. A great man, my friend.” . _. ., “ : iv , io CHAPTER XViL 0") MR. JARVIS GETS ANGRY. Mr. Buck JaRVIs arrived at the “Retreat? that same morning in a very unamiable, frame of mind. He h nt. a whole night to n purpose, had dropped a good deal ot axdetions money for very bad whisky in, treating , friends of Murderer’s Row, and had got Lenselt into a bad scrape, besides coming away without the property he had boped to secure in the tin Originally a gambler by profession, with the masculine beauty in his arias Ce gp at yh, a powerful physique and a big mustache, he had captiva the simple widow of the music- teacher—Herbert Somers—fifteen years before, as soon as be found out that the lady had some property of her own. | ailing to coax ber out of this in their: first ear of marriage, he had undertaken to get it y the simpler process of kicking and. beating her out of itin the next four. ~ To his surprise, he bad found ;the little Jady gifted with an amazing amount of, passive. ob- stinacy and endurance, and witb. the, one fixed idea in her head that her property was.a sacred trust for the benefit of her only child, Nina Somers. . For a long time he could not find where she kept her bonds, and when he at. last diseovered the tin box with her nameon it, and open to gloat over his prize, he found inside, another and much stronger bcx ef-irop, which had such an Pe earn a eo My could not be picked, and he could not break it open without reg burglars’ tools, ali hein JOO GoM <=) (C (E@)