Beadle's Dime Library No. 263 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

Sr ‘+ a profound confidence in the honor of Miss '”-mpleton, and after nearly falling asleep he aroused and went to his own quarters, We will not dwell on Doctor Rube’s thoughts thatnight; enough that he-carried outa fixed plan and visited A. Beesinger, attorney-at-law, the following day at an hour when he knew Boxfield would be out, The lawyer was now past sixty, in point of years, but he was hale and heurty, and a red face made a marked contrast to an eecentric line of white hair which, disdaining to grow on the top of his head, crept around each side from the back and eventually met under the chin like a dog-coliar, His lips and cheeks were clean-shaven. Mr. Beesinger was very polite un(il the caller | Then | | married daughter and her twelve-year-old son, | both of whom took an interest in the matter; asked for the address of Abram Tuttle, his spectacles were readjusted and he looked fixedly at the younger man. ‘* Allow me to ask why you come to me for this information?’ he crustily said. . Simply because I thought you might give it,’ ‘“T’'ve heard the name of Tuttle until I am discusted,” Mr. Beesinger declared, ‘ For a man who isin his dotage he is much sought af- ter, Perhaps you aspire to figure in the Tem- pleton case?’ “ T trust that case will bear scrutiny,” retort- ed the doctor. “So it will, sir; soit_will, Bring your guns to b-ar as soon as you wish,” “Pardon me, sir, but as I have not expressed any intention of taking part in the case it seems to me you are over-hatty in defending it.” ‘Ob! I know what's wanted when old Tuttle is inquired for,” Beesinger explained, and he glared at his visitor until bis red face grew of a still deeper bue. ‘*T have heard this Templeton case mentioned, and it seems to me to be asomewhat singular ” “"Oh! it does, doés it?’ the learned gentleman sareastically inquired. ‘‘ Well, what have I to do about it?” ‘* At present your share in the case is not wholly clear, but time may make it so. You show a disposition to strangls inquiry in the case, ' ‘* Nonsense!” said the lawyer, brusquely,. ‘*-You are as crazy as the executors, You shall have Tuttle’s address. He livesa mile or two out of town—at this place. Hope you'll enjoy your call!” Tossing a card to his visitor, Mr. Beesinger smiled in what seemed to be a malicious mauner, turned to bis desk and resumed work. ; Doctor Rube, finding he had really secured what purported to be Abram Tuttle’s address, dodged Boxfield on the street and went to his own offise for meditation. Naturaly, he felt a good deal of interest in the Templeton case; chance had made him an actor therein, and it would have been a clod who could have turned from it after what bad occurred at the City of the Desert. ; ‘‘T am not over-weighted with patients,” thought the doctor, ‘‘and as Diamond saw fit to mix me into this affair, perhaps I'll stay in longer than he wishes, I'll look into the matter a trifle, and if I find it really suspicious I'll make known what occurred at the secret city. Sus- Picious? Of course it’s that, and old ony was in the plot. He was very much afraid I would find Tuttle and get something out of him. So I will, if he can be made tospeak. This false heiress, aided by Diamond, alas St. Jerome, has stolen a fortune and must be made to sur- render it,” Doctor Rube felt a little thrill of hesitation as he remembered the position the girl had always held in his esteem” until the previous night. From the time when he gaw her lying helplessly on the bed, and had been ordered to sever her band, she had inspired a deep interest which had nearly developed into a warmer feeling, ‘‘ But she’s as treacherous as every one else.” growled the doctor, as he pitebed his cigar away, ‘“‘and the prospect of money and fasbion's glitter was not to be resisted. She has seen fit to join her fortune with Diamond; now, she must taxe the consequences.” Thus it was that he went that evening to the address given by Beesinger to see Abram Tuttle. He accounted for his zeal in the case by mutter- ing about the demands of justice, but fairness compels us to doubt if he would have been so bitter against Miss Templeton if she bad not dis- owned him and taken Diamond for her right. hand man, ; Consequently, jealousy was at the bottom of the investigation in the Templeton case. CHAPER XI. THE EVENTS OF A NIGHT, lace mentioned as the residence of Abram Tuttle was between San Francisco and San Jose, and Doctor Rube decided to go by water. For this journey he would have liked Boxfield for a companion had not events shown the latter arrayed against him in the case. As a resnit, Rube went alone. He pulled over just after sunset and found Tuttle at a small cabin as he had been informed TAE ~ ron-ATMe e, € s2UNnCIDAC Jestroyer. C he would, but there was nothing encouraging | PL Waz-al, thet thar is my rowt, too. about the meeting. ‘ Half an hour sufficed to show him that what Tuttle once knew about the affair had slipped away on the inclined plane of old age. As Bee- singer had declared, the man was in his dotage and nothing of importance could be obtained from him. Like all old people similarly afflict- ed, he lived in the distant past and his recol- lections of the recent railroad accident were but |; vague, One thing only was certain; he was sura he had thought that he saw Leora Templeton lying dead on that oeeasion with one hand severed from her arm, . . Beyond that he repeatedly contradicted bim- self. The other oecupants of the cabin were Tuttle’s and Doctor Rube could not doubt that, what- ever was the Templeton plot, no shareof the ill-gotten money had come to the Tuttles, The condi:ion of the old man was annoying, even while it was not open to fault-finding, and the doctor finally arose abruptly. ‘It’s going to rain, mister,” said the boy. “The fog is settlin’,;and at this;time o’ year rain comes down easy,” At any other time Doctor Rube might have admired the precocity of the youth ‘who, like the majority of other youth, was repeating what he had heard some adult say, but not feel- ing in that mood just then he walked to the window and looked out. | The boy had told the truth about the fog. It was steadily settling, and he knew he ought to return to San Francisco as soon as possible, but he stood gazing thoughtfully into the dark- ness, , He was so discouraged by Tuttle’s condition that he was tempted to abandon the whole af- fair, but his injured pride still tempted him to work against the schemers, He was still gazing in an absent-minded wa when’ something arose above the window-sill, coming between him and the fog, and he bad a momentary view of a broad, coarse face hedged in by bushy whiskers and bair, and a broad hat; but as a pair of small, furtive eyes met his, tho head Ges ppee and the man was gone, An evil-looking fellow be had been, but just then Doctor Rube had no doubt but that he was the father of the boy. In any case he did not see wherein he was interested in the affair. Turning away from the window he paused to thank the woman for her kindness, and when she offered bim some wine as a ‘‘ protection against the weather,” to drink; and then be left the house and the old man and made his way toward where he had secured his boat. The fog hung thickly over the water, but no rain had yet fallen, and, in any case, the ele- ments would not rage to any extent in that inland spot. . Doctor Rube embarked, and pulled away. He was a fair oarsman, aad settling down to his work, be began the return to San Francisco, _ in coming up he bad bugged the western shore, but after going for half a mile, he aroused from thought, and looking around, saw that be had par company from the desired stretch of land. Resting ou his oars he made this out by dili- gent peering about; but just as he was about to resume work he was met by a new sound on the water. The creaking of oars was plainly audi- ble, and he looked towurd the rear. Then, as abruptly as the sound bad been neard, a boat became visible in the fog and darkness, and he saw a single boatman steadily advancing. “Pl find out where I am,” thought the doctor, who then awaited his neighbor's advance, The latter came down without once looking over bis shoulder; but when a few yards away, Doctor Rube deemed it expedient to attract bis attention, ‘** Boat dhoy!” ’ ' Tbe motion of the oars suddenly ceased, the boat drifted free, and the oarsman turned his head slowly. r The motion gave the doctor a little surprise for even by this indistinct view he recognize the same man whom he had seen peering into the window, For a moment there was.mutual silence and inactivity, and the two men looked at each other steadily. Then the unknown dipped his oars again, and began moving on down the water. The movement aroused Doctor Rube, ** Ahoy, friend!” be cried; ‘“‘ wait a moment, if you will. Iam going your way, but 1 am a little confused in the fog. Can you set me right?” There was a perceptible hesitation on the parti of the other man, and then he again ceased rowing. ** Pull this way,” he said, gruffly. The voice was not an agreeable one; but the doctor obeyed, and soon laid bis boat beside the other craft. ‘* Wharaway?” the unknown asked. San Francisco.” ¢ id ye say yer wanted ter pay me a dollar ter row yedown?” * * The speaker thrust forward his shaggy head, and leered in a way which did not. improve bim. Doctor Rube inly pronounced him a fit subject for the hangman; but accustomed to seeing rough Western men, swallowed _ his instinctive dislike. : ‘Pd give the dollar willingly, but my boat is } a hired one, and must go back tv San Fran- cisco,” ‘* Let her trail. gunwale,” The coctor hesitated for a moment, and decided to accept. The mi gled fog and dark- ness made woyaging so difficult that he had little taste for it, and the waierman looked strong and rugged enough for the work, ‘‘A dark night, friend,” he observed, as be gained the new position, and the man resumed work. ‘I’ve see’d darker,” was the surly reply. ‘* Do you live beside the water?” **] never died yit,” “ Astonishing! One more question, if you please, What's your name?” ‘* Ben Bolter, is ther sort, on’t.” ‘‘ Certainly not. Do vou live hereabouts?” “ Stranger, I’m hired ter pull you ter ’Frisco. Ef thar is anything else I kin do fur you, name it fur ducats,” : ; ‘‘Sensible to the Se ail you?. But never mind; I don’t care to talk ” F Both men relapsed into silence. Bolter pulled on through the night and Doctor Rube devoted , most of his time to thought, though he did not fail to keep an eye. on bis pilot. The fellow looked like a murderer let loose, and it would be no loss.of time to look his way now and then, He finally paused and peered sharply abead, .. ‘* Well?” questioned his employer. helt Ma “T ain’t sure itis right. It’s durned black, . pard, an’ I ain’t sure I’m on ther right, course. = pocket-compass would lose ther course in th O 3 . . ft os * 7 “* Nonsense! One would think we were off- coast. An accomplished boatman like you,can scarcely lose his reckoning.” : «it bandh 4 ‘Sech things has happened afore an’ muy berpen ag’in,” was. the sullen reply; but, Mr. Bolter resumed work and the boats progressed at fair speed, C ' Doctor Rube bad centered all his attention on the present time, but he was so ill-prepared that when they. nnceRpAtety ran upon a sand- bere nearly cat Pi balance, gat ** We are hyar ter gravely announce Tbe doctor withheld his wrath, ‘** What are we to do?” he asked. ‘‘Get out an’ shove her off was cerned reply. . . in There seemed no help for it and they sli over the gunwale on opposite sides. ter made an examination and, announced that tho boat must, go back, They stood knee-deep in water, and when the pilot directed Doctor Rubo how to use his strength there was no difficulty, in so deing, . - aiarn Mr. Bolter, however, did not seem very anxious to carry out his plans. No sooner had be directed his companion’s attention to bis. work than he stood*erect himself and, quickly raised one of the oars, ud edd There was a wild, startling gleam in his eyes, though the darkness hid it, and his Rabe Get in here, an’ cling ter ther I ain’t ashamia the Uuncon- were very suspicious, bad Doctor em, Up went the oar, and in the air became mentarily motionless: then down it whistled, the bead dimly visihie ws the sorter fugaat ay e bead dimly visible as the doc at the boat. yee “ed 3 A dull thud, a NADI SHES splash followed, and then the would-be assassin leaped into the boat and grasped his victim. rae He drew the dark object into the craft, but it lay motionless, with a pale,face up ed to acy ty A a D3 ceiv ast injury, he was certainly off the field for the time. "t 2 rae, Bolter satisfied himself that he was+uncon- scious and then deliberately procerdad ta ok i | to the condition of his pockets. In this. ine bis discoveries were rot very giatifying, for the doctor was pot a rich man, es er eet “A silver watch, knife, burch of keys an’ a cigar. Sboot bim, he makes a poor - ition. though ef I kin find whar his office is I be able ter use ther keys ter advantage. T' ant all, so ther quack goes ter feed ther fishes now.” aire * feats o- i The scoundrel stowed his dishonest ns away in his pocket and punched Doctor Rube in the ribs. Fat Pe ‘* Physician, heal yerself,” he said, with rf ee tor Rube 1 th his pale f. ut Doctor Ru ay wi is ace up-— turned to the sky a made no answ oy The cruel blade of the oar bad dashed life from his body, for the time or forever, and he was at the mercy of this bird of prey. | The boats remained in the foremost : piace, clinging to the sand-bar. ‘he See ; | i te ,comicboouks: com