Beadle's Dime Library No. 263 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

| | ——— _ SSS. FRI S—S —- BK . Se eo ~ S ene ~ - Tron-Armed Abe, the Hunchback Destroyer. a ne —— : -__— Se Ce miay be all right, but, ez I said before, I hez uiy doubts—l hev ’em bad!” Griff scowled and shook his head, and the junior, saw that they really believed him a ras- cal of a sanguinary dye. All this would amount to little in the end, for he could prove an alibi by Doctor Rube, and the senior would pull bim through any ordinary. scrape; but the more Norola frowned the more it pocaened to Ned he would like to see her smile, He finally persuaded Griff to sit down and listen to bim; ang then he told all he knew about affairs relating to the cabin, explaining _ how he first appeared with St. Jerome, and all the events of the previous night. Griff was inclined to be stubborn, or, as he called it, ‘‘ to have bis doubts,” but the frequent imploring glances Boxfield directed toward No. rola were not without effect, and she finally suggested that Doctor Rube be visited as a means of settling the matter. ** You know, father Guiff,” she added, ‘‘ this gentleman should have benefit of the doubt.” , ? Tbe junior looked deeply grateful and very happy, but his brief candle went out as Griff r emar . “ He’s got ther benefit o’ my doub’‘s, an’ it’s a reg’lar matinee, at that. He kin smile an’ smile, but I’d hey my doubts ef he’d b’en intro- duced as a preacher; I would!” Finding it impossible to convince him Box- firid tried no further then, but before they started for San Francisco he went to Norola and spoke in a straightforward way: “Pardon me, but as I am aware that I ap- pear to you in a very bad light I wish to ask you to.suspend judgment and not regard me either as a villain or fool until you have further prot, If St. Jerome is the man you believe im to be, I am unlucky in having been as- sociated with him in any degree, but I have — a — —— ¥ - - = —- there not to deviate from calm politeness at any stage of the interview. ‘“*I bad expected this,” he acknowledged. “Furthermore, I learn that Smith’s principal witness is yourself.” ‘** Unfortunately, yes.” ** Do not be a hypocrite, sir!” “I am not, Miss Templeton, I say ‘unfor- tunately ’ because a sense of duty has led me to do what is most unpleasant. I bear you no ill- will, and I am sorry to war onalady. Justice, however, has its demands,” ‘* Do you call it justice to rob me of my prop- erty?” * Tf it is really yours, I hope you may enjoy it all your life; but if, as is suspected, it belongs to Esther Alton, I hope to see her in possession of it,” be firmly said. Miss Templeton’s foot beat audibly and nerv- ously on the carpet, ‘By what right do you assert that I am not Leora Templeton?” she asked. ‘*I do not assert it.. I merely know of certain circumstances which I have thought fit to place in the hands of Mr. Smith. Tuese facts cast a doubt on your claim, if you must hear the plain truth. Further than that I have nothing 0. , ‘Ah! Well, I have sent for you to learn what these suspicious circumstances are,” ‘‘Pardon me, Miss Templeton, but the matter is wholly inthe bands of Mr. Smith. I am not at liberty to gy anything.” ‘*Perbaps you think you will yet want to manufacture additional evidence,” she cried bitterly. ‘‘ Do you think your schemes are im- penetrable? Beyond a doubt Esther Alton has promised ‘o marry you if you can steal the Templeton, fortune for her.” Doctor Rube flushed deeply at the unjust ac- cusation, and only preserved his temper by a strong effort. ; ‘“‘T wonder at your presumption,” be said, — would not have looked so hypocritical be would have declared a hope that she might go through the fire unscathed. ‘This trial must really go on, then?” she con- tinued, after a pause. “Tt rests with Miss Alton and her attorney,” **T shall see them.” ** Doubtless the suit will be dropped if you can prove your claim to their satistacvion.” sig Unfortunately, 1 have led such,a roving ife— She paused suddenly, as though awaré that sbe had nearly committed a mistake, but the doctor gave no visible sign of having heard. However, the interview was at an end, and they soon said good-day. Miss Templeton’s manner was such that Doctor Rube went awa feeling an actual sympathy for ber; but it would have been shaken bad he been able to look back and see her again. Ouce alone, she stamped angrily on the car- pet. “The wretch!” she cried, axctiedly. ' “The unmanly creature! If I was a man he should suffer for this, bué he is not likely to escape, Mr. St. Jerome will look to him.” And then she sat down and wrote a note to the gentleman last named, asking bim to call at once, In the mean while, Doctor Rube went straight to his office. Two hours later Boxfield and Griff appeared, and when he had congratulated the latter on his escape the junior came to busi- ness. ‘‘T am in need of a character,” he said, ‘ Be- ing suspected of abduction, tLeft, assault and bat- tery, and so on, it needs a strong light on my character to ciear me. Mr. Griff thinks mea rascal.” ‘*] don’t say it,” added the fisherman; ‘I don’t say. I merely hev my doubts.” He spoke with less confidence than before, for he had become favorably inclined toward Box- a neither been his ally or confidant. with cold severity. ‘‘ Considering the events of | field, in spite of his ‘‘ doubts,” and when Doctor + / “I believe you, sir,” the girl impulsively an- | the past, your conduct is unparalleled. Do you | Rube had told his story, he frankly begged his ' h _swered, ‘and I must apologize for my rudeness | imagine I can forget what occurred at the City ‘| companion’s pardon. | eke i when.you arrived to-day.” __ of the Desert? Are the faces of Captain Dia- It was settled that Boxfield had not abducted ih . “Do not mention that, Miss Norola, for Ido | mond and yourself to be forgotten in a day? | The Wild, but what of St. Jerome? Griff re- | i it _not blame you. Iconfess that I have anambition | Madam, when I met you at the Aberdeen ball, | mained steadfast to the suspicion advanced by a. 2 i » be your friend, however, and if you can be-| and you refused to recognize me, 1 knew you | Norola, and the doctor was ready to believe the Beet gin by tolerating me I am glad.” bad not forgotten my face. Your conduct was | men capable of any villainy. Ned wavered for a) Boxfield was sincere; he even felt, as he looked | suspicious, Then later, »hen events took shape, | a moment, but he would have favored any ahs 7), into her beautiful face, that he would desert | how could I but suspect you?” reasonable idea to bave agreed with Norola and H Leora Templeton for Such a woman as this; and She looked at him in silence, and very ear- | he ended by arraying himself with bis com- they sealed a truce, if not a friendship, by | nestly, for several seconds, . panions. | clasping hands, : “You still insist that we had met beforethe |. Griff was of an impetuous nature and favored | Tuen Norola took Griff aside, when the two | night of the ball?’ she finally questioned, calling on St, Jercmé to make a plain charge, men were about to start for the city to visit '* Nv turally.” but Doctor Rube advised a different course, octor Rube, and spoke a good word for the ** And I deny it.” If St. Jerome bad kidnapped The Wild—for junior. aia Doctor Rube silently inclined his head, which there seemed a good reason—he had un- ‘*He may. be all right,” the fisherman. ad- ‘‘Do you hear me? she sharply demanded. | doubtedly concealed ber somewhere where she mitted, ‘‘ but I hey my, doubts. He sart’inly | “I deny it!” could not easily be found, Hence, the way to sPamearopeeded Pens pa. an’ r uar’, an ‘‘T hear, Miss Templeton,” he calmly an- | find ber wag by the good old plan of still bunt- though he may mean we my douvts, as swered, Ing. said afore. I has ’em bad!” A ‘And hear with indifference, Well, what it was finally settled that Boxfield should more can one expect of a man who persecutes a | drop in on the suspected man and use his eyes | Tee CHAPTER XX, woman?” sonewhat; and then be went away and the gail « DOCTOR, RURE UNDER.-FIRE, ‘** Miss Templeton, believe me, my positionis , o*h«rs awaited his return, r Tr was with astrange mixture of contradictory | a painful one—” We need scarcely repeat his report. St. emotions that Doctor Rube approached the ‘* Believe you! Can you tell the truth?” Jerome was not a man to leave traces of a dam- empleton house. He had told bimself, that ‘* We will uvt discuss that point, but I can at | aging nature, and Ned found bim in immaculate | eora was a base, Fre pe Bagipeebeagi a and | least terminate an interview where I am so| dress and cheerful spirits; and while they | -he bad loudly proclaimed his scorn for such | cgntemptuonsly treated. If your business is | talked the serpent’s eye sparkled until! it seemed | people, but, somehow, he had made a careful | done, I will go.” to nod and wink jovially at the visitor. toilet for the occasion and actually found him- The proud, angry face before him changed St. Jerome betrayed nothing, but an astute self hoping the interview might not be so very | expression and ber lips quivered with real or rivate detcctive had been engaged to watch severe. . feigned emotion. im befcre Griff left the city. If he knew For, in spite of all that had since occurred, he “Forgive me,” she said, “for I fear I was | where The Wild was they meant to know, also; | ‘had never outgrown the impression received | harsh and unladylike. I will acknowledge that | though Griff was beard to say he had his doubts » when the girl lay on the bed in Diamond’s house } at Jeast. But I wish to talk further. Will you | about the detective doing any good and “‘reck- and ber fair hand was placed in his for sacri- | remain if Ido not again transgress the laws of | oned he could nose out a secret as quick as any ’ Pea labe tag 14 gia tale sd itt, ay arte Sage Ora: rs b’iled-shirted seeker arter truth.” © - . Then, he had fe ward her as he had never ‘‘ Certainly, Miss Templeton.”. . ‘ ’ % done toward any other woman, and the feeling ‘* Then let me ask if you are sure I am the CHAPTER XXII. vy had never weakened. Weakened? Oy the con- | person. you saw in that mysterious past of BEN BOLTER HELPS HIMSELF. — | “4 trary, it had grown apace in spite of disad- | which I have asked a full account of late? May THREE days passed without events of impor- aed ae CR ame Ne ITSM DSLAN Ces. sap f- you not have been deceived by a chance resem- LPHCS meueh affairs were slowly moving on to- | ») | On arriving a e Templeton house he was | blanve? ward an end, 3 ‘le ush in bra servant, but he had not been ‘*] feel that such a thing is impossible,” he The Wild had not been found and the “ b’iled = teh _. , left alone a great while when Leora entered | replied, temperately, “but even if it were so, | sbirt” detective had gained no clew. He lad | ree) the room, ~ what of Mr. St. Jerome? Here t see the same | dogged St. Jerome, but that gentleman’s con- ! Fe ie Doctor Rube arose and then stood in some | man who figured in that ofa scene; the same duct bad been irreproachable. on oe embarrassment, for he scarcely knew how to | man even tothe superb diamond which sparkled Ben Bolter had not been arrested. The offi- lh greet a woman whom he was trying to deprive | at his bosom. His face, you must admit, is a | cers of the law were looking for him, but he | Gon OF _of a fortune, Her own manuer soon settled the | peculiar one, and one not easily forgotten. He | wisely kept out of sight. — ae { “ condition of affairs. was the man I saw at the City of the Desert.” Doctor Rube went daily to see Mrs, Alton, = te She bowed frigidly. “‘ Where is this place?” though he no longer considered her in need of mete! ‘Pray be seated, Doctor Leyden,” she said, ‘You ought to know as well as IJ, for my | medical attendance. He had, however, become er 1a icily,. ‘Lam gled to see you, though I am not | knowledge is limited. It isa mystic city, like | the friend of the two ladiés and, as both had a | : hy ite enough to pretend that this is due. to | the one in Yucatan which a traveler once saw, | rather poor opinicn of law and lawyers, they hay frieniship.” : _ | its walls blazing in the sun, and could never | asked bis advice to a great extent. They be- pe Hal The doctor thought he could well believe it, | again find.” ! lieved in Mr. J. Q. A. Smith toa proper degree, ot as be noticed a strong sparkle about her eyes, Miss Templeton smiled sarcastically. but it was more pleasant to have a friend be- Ns TEES bu: he bowed and replied: ‘* The traveler had probably taken too muck | hind the scenes, aaa *‘] bave come at your summons,” wine, As for your mystic city, I know nothing Toward Esther the doctor had begun to have a aah ae “Yes,” she answered; ‘“‘I did summon you, | about it; I was never there. lUtbink IT can say | very brotherly feeling. She was good-looking, ME 7 and there seemed to be reason enough for it. I | the same for Mr, St. Jerome, He is a gentleman | earnest, refined and intelligent, and he rather oO 5 _eam informed, sir, that you are at the bottom of | aud my friend, and those who accuse him of | «njoyed baving her confidence. What the fu- oe ee a piot to rob me of my inheritance. In brief, a | conspiring to belp me gain a fortune by false | ture would bring forth no one could say. ye | t reartain J. Q. A. Smith, acting as attorney for | pretenses may yel have a chance to answer for The suit of Alton vs. Templeton was fairly oH one Esther Alton, hus notified me that he dis-| the libel,” under way, and as the latter was the possesscr de th putes my right to Jacob Templeton’s property, Doctor Rube remained silent.. He saw the | of a million dollars, a good deal of interest was ° ai i _or, in plainer words, intends to prove in court | folly o: continuing the conversation and felt | felt in the case by all grades of society, heat} that I am not myself!” ashamed of quarreling with a lady, He felt | We need scarcely say that Doctor Rube went a ee She spoke indignantly, and Doctor Rube felt | sorry, too. to be against Leora Templeton, Her | no more to the Templeton bouse, Once, Leora _-——-fu0z5 uncomfortable; but he resolved then and ' bold on bim was as strong as ever, and if it passed bim by chance on the street, and her | a ae , ‘comichbooks:com ee" Fie 7 ‘4 wid P es § ae ; mae es ne eee / 4