Beadle's Dime Library No. 263 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

? a reply. Again Boxfisld flapped his hands beside his he and bis lips formed the magic word, -~—_—.--- ~ Tron-Armed Abe, the Hunchback Destroyer. “* How about this evening?” ‘For uw men who was so lately on the war- path ’gainst the lady you are impatient, but I willhumor you. This evening it is.” And so it was settled, and Doctor Rube devoted the remainder of the day te thinking how he would confound the usurper when he appeared like a wraith from the sea. He also hoped ‘‘St. Jerome” would be there to share her baffled anger and annoyance. They went as planned and were soon in Miss Templeton’s presence. No other guest was iu the field. Doctor Rube was momentarily bewildered by the picture of loveliness presented to his view, but he winked twice in an energetic way and became the keen-eyed professional man. He locked for the expected consternation, but he looked in vain. Upon the lady’s face there was uot the slightest trace of the expected emotion, She came forward gracefully, as a lady of refinement only can, and Doctor Rube was a little staggered as she frankly gave her hand. As it rested within his own he felt the same tbrill he had experienced under slightly similar circumstances at the City of the Desert. Her beauty was almost intoxicating, and he looked into her eyes hoping to see a siga that she bad come explanation to make. No sueh explanation was vouchsafed; she re- mained the kind, smiling hostess, but nothing more, Doctor Rube was annoyed, and wondered if the situation would be changed if Boxfield was not there. There was no sign that it would, and the doctor wavered between politeness and wmoroseness, “I believe you resided for a time in Arizona,” Miss Templeton observed, at one point in the interview. ‘Yes, I did,” he replied, brightening. **In the mining region?” ‘Yes; at Snicker’s Gulch. That was about two days’ journey from the secret city.” ‘*The secret city? What is that?’ ‘‘ Another name for the City of the Desert. ‘They are one,” He looked at her significantly, but she did not show any signs of comprehension. ‘“‘T have heard Arizona spoken of as the strangest of our United States divisions, but I was never there,” she serenely observed. Doctor Rube felt like groaning. ‘**I was once a prisoner there,” he said, des- perately, ‘but I managed to escape. Whea I went I was accompanied by a young lady, but my efforts, coupled with the more powerful ones of a strange man ealled Iron-Armed Abe, were enough to baffle her enemies for a time.” “Indeed that was quite a romance,” she said, with a calm smile which enraged him, **It begau as one, but it may end in a trag- edy,” Doctor Rube harshly declared, while Boxfield lifted his eyes in s hless horror. ‘“‘ He’s got "em again, and they’re crawling,” he inwardly groaned. ‘‘ What shall [ do?” ‘“* Wasn’t the escape a success!” the girl con- tinued. “T really dou’s know, but I don’t think I should play my part over again. I did it with a good will then, but lam now inclined to think the young woman was an adventuress.” _At this point Boxfield, who had gained a po- sition where Miss Tempieton could not observe him, put bis hands to his head and flapped them like wings, while his lips framed a word twice repeated, ‘ Kars, ears /” At any other time this serio-comic would have amused Doctor Rube, but in this case it had no such effect, ; ‘You must tell me this story in full,” said Leora, with a pretty assumption of interest. ‘* When?” ‘Now, if Mr. Boxfield will be equally in- terested.” ‘* He won't,” that gentleman declared, “‘ Sen- sational narratives have a tendency to produce sleeplessness with me, and, besides, I have just remembered a forgotten errand for my senior. Doctor, we must go.” 1 | “Excuse me; I will remain,” was the firm This time Miss, Templeton caughS a glimpse. of this system of telegraphy and she looked closely at both men, ‘Do you mean that you wish to vately; Doctor Leyden?” she asked. . He replied affirmatively, though he did not clearly see how ste had gained the idea. “Then Iam sure Mr. Boxfield will excuse us for a while,” she said, smilingly. Mr. Beesinger’s junior winked he had stran- gled his friend before taking him there, but he allowed himself to be banished to another room for the ostensible purpose of examining a pic- ture said to be,from Raphael’s hand. “Now, doctor, I am ready to listen,” said Miss Templeton, still smiling. tell me pri- ‘“WhatamItosay? It pleases you to act in ' fail to see | not reluctant to answer. Esther Alton was decidedly a pretty girl. ' breath in the balance, but as it lacked the scent : - ° , a manner I cannot understand. wha’ your object is, madam.” ts <" <*?,, +s qT “a 5 appeal indi A Something like a look of pain crossed her ace, ** Pardon me, doctor, but I don’t under. myself. {n what way have I failed to do my duty asa lady and as a hostess? I have en- deavored to do both, trying the harder because you are Mr. Boxfield’s friend.” ‘“*T will speak plainly, Miss Templeton. Do you deny that you were at the City of the Desert a eee ago, that I saved you from a great peri 4 Captain Diamond was then your bitter foe?” “You grow. more incomprebensible,” she said, with an air of bewilderment. ‘‘ I know nothing of what you say. This City of the Desert and Copinly Diamond are alike myths to me, though I now remember you mentioned them when we first met. I think, sir, you have nfused my identity with that of some other It trembled on Doctor Rube’s lips to say that probably both she and Mr. St. Jerome had counterparts lying around at every turn in life’s path, but he checked tbe retort and re- mained silent. ‘ ‘Will you be so kind as to tell me all about this strange affair?’ the young lady continued. He had no objection, and he told the story of his experience at the City of the Desert in a dramatic fashion. She listened with considerable interest and a good deal of surprise. ‘* Naturally, my resemblance to this girl sur- prised you,” she then said, ‘‘ but I am not she. ! was living in California at that time, as com- penion to an old lady, If need be, 1 can prove an. alibi,” The last words were gayly added, but he did not smile. ““ And Mr, St, Jerome, Was he also in Cali- fornia?” She laughed lightly. ‘* He was in Italy, in Rome, at that time. T received a letter from him every month.” These sweeping statements dumfounded Doc- tor Rube. He had expected to meet with de- nials, but it seemed as though Miss Templeton ‘would have sworn that she wasin the moon, if need be, and have told it without a change of features, Plainly enough, he had met foemen worthy ‘of bis efforts when he undertook to solve the mystery. e CHAPTER XIV. THE NEXT OF KIN, WaueEn Doctor Rube saw shat it would be a waste of words to talk further with Miss Tem- pieton be abruptly resorted to the old expe- ient of jooking at bis watch and declaring he must go; and as the young lady could not very well say she would very glad to have him stay longer, Boxfield was called in from a de- vout inspection of Raphael’s work and the gen- tlemen left, j Once outside the lawyer waited in vain for Bs; friend to speak; be had to open the ball him- de f. ‘Tf you can throw off the sable ring of mys- tery enough to enlighten me, you will confer a favor on the court and merit some clemency,” he observed, Yielding to the impulse Rube declared he should know all, and in the solitude of his cffice he once more told the story of the strange scenes in which he mingled at the hidden city, He did not make a convert, Boxflield scoffed at the doctor’s theories. from the first, and while he frankly admitted he would be glad to see St. Jerome proved guilty of some Gringo other, which would take him away from Miss Templeton’s side, the idea of the latter be- ing concerned in anything dishonorable was absurd and outrageous. The junior was still prancing about in high ation when a small bcy entered the office to strange and unexpected that Boxfield forgot his wrath and shook him cordially by the band. The doctor went and found his patient in one of the humble streets commonly called “ poor but respectable.” The door was opened promptly, and he was directed to an attic room., There he found two women alone}; one, his patient, old and bed-ridden; the other, her daughter, youvg and handsome, The room was miserably furnished, and Rubs read the old story of extreme poverty very clearly. The sick woman said she was glad to see bim, and from that time she poured a cata- logue of ills into bis ears, which would have amazed any doctor if he had believed in them. But Rube read the old Jady well. Ill and peevish, she imagined scores of complaints, and made the task of caring for her doubly difficult: but her daughter bore her impatient. words with commendable kindness, and always an- swered gently. The doctor soon decided that his call had re- sulted from the old lady’s nervous whim, but he made no-haste to go. The daughter was so anxious to doall that their means would allow, that she had many questions to ask, and he was Doctor Leyden to a patient—an event so. Slightly above the medium hight, she had a ull graceful figure, which even her coarse gar- f tand | ments could not bide, and the thick masses of ebon bair framed in a most attractive face. It . was a strong, earnest face, indicative of a posi- tive nature, but the touch of her hand when she ministered to ber mother was light, tender and admirable. ‘“Why do ycu talk about wines and fruit?” Mrs. Alton fietfully asked, anon. ‘We can- aided by Iron-Armed Abe, and that | pot afford such luxuries. We are beggars, beg- gars!” ‘* Mother!” said Esther, M peace, “Don’t deny it, child. You know it is true. There’s only one life between us and a mil- lion dollars, but that is enough to beggar us.” ‘* But, mother, the doctor will not care to hear this,” protested Esther, in evident pain. ‘*I’m not so sure of that, for it is no common case, Doctor, you are a reading man, and must have seen advertisements for next of kin of Jacob Templeton.” “Of whom, madam?’ questioned Doctor Rube, starting. “Jacob Templeton, sometimes called the miser,” “J have heard of the case,” said the doctor, with fresh interest, “Well, we expected to get all this property once, for Leora Templeton had been reported dead, and we were the next heirs. The hope buoyed me up a good bit, for I thought it would rescue Esther from drudgery. Ah! dce- tor, such plans as I laid! am old and feeble, but for the daughter who is wasting her life forme. I did hope this era of beggary was past.” “But Miss Templeton was found?’ ‘Yes, doctor, and that was the death-knell of all our hones: and since then my health has been a good deal poorer.” ‘Did she refuse to aid you financially, madam?” . , ‘We did not ask; for we knew her reputa- tion. Tis said her heart is of stune.” ‘* Mother!” interrupted Esther, * Let me talk, child; let me talk. I'm an old woman, and it’s to be expected. Perbaps Iam unjust, doctor, but I feel for my poor Esther.” “And very properly, too.” Doctor Rube looked at the young lady, who was busy over her work and evidently missed the last words, and then glanced about the room, What a contrast there was in the lives of Leora Templeton and Esther Alton. One was living in a splendidly-furnished mansion, sur- rounded by servants and all that money could obtain, while the other lived in an attic, miser- oy aati aees and destitute of the necessaries of life, Yet, Honey 3 the existence of the first, the second would be tou’s money, After Leora, Esther was the next of kin. All Doctor Rube’s indignation arose. It had been bad enough to see the self-styled Miss Tem- plavon enjoying a false position, but when he new what ber fraud put upon others it was ten-fold worse, While the impostor rolled in wealth, the real heiress was in utter poverty, perbaps lacking for bread. . He said little then, and did not hint that he knew Miss Templeton, but he vowed to go the next day and coysult some respectable lawyer who might take up the Templeton case afres ‘Pll devote a year to the affair, if pate hf but the wronged shall be righted,” thought the doctor, as he strode homeward after leaving the Altons. . am The hour was late, midnight having pana before he Jeft his patient, and few people we on the street, except those who were supposed to protect the city and those who were stagger ing home after an evening of wat AE ‘Doctor Rube bad made half the distance when he perceived two men hey me by a street-lamp. There was notbing surprising in this, but, actuated by that impulse which often causes us to notice small things, he looked at them with mild curiosity. ey hy Instantly, however, bis mood changed, Both men were known to him; one was verome, the other, Ben Bolter. If he bad wanted addi- tional proof that the former had been at the bottom of Bolter’s attack on him, it was now furnished, The two were not called together at that hour for any ordinary purpose, | Resolved to have Bolter arrested, the doctor dashed into the street so abruptly and blindly that he almost collided with a rapidly-driven carriage and, as it was, slipped and fell. i He was quickly up again, but when he looked _ again toward the corner, St. Jerome and Bolter were gone. ey He dashed to the spot only to find they had completely disappeared, and as there seemed but one way for them to go so speedily, he rushed to the nearest house and begana vicious, but vain, pulling of the door-bell. He was engaged in this work when a police officer appeared, and to him Rube told bis story. The guardian of the night looked very doubtful and seemed to weigh his companion’s. 11 Not for myself, forI . ae the possessor of Jacob Temple- — gi f “S m (G "Eco 0X0) :