Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 292 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

Moke Horner, the Boss Roustabout. bly reigned in the room. Then, unable longer to endure the painful suspense, Horace Ward spoke: “You may produce your proofs, We cen have that much done while waiting for Mr, Dingeon.” Shaky Joe laughed a little sourly as he said in reply: “ “One would think his failure to appear would be proof sufficient for even you, but I’m not par- ticular to a shade. ‘Shall I speak out betore this worthy star, or will you prefer bis finger out of the pie?” Horace Ward hesitated, but only for an in- stant, ‘Speak out. If your tale is true, no matter how many besides ourselves know of it. Ifa lie—as I firmly believe! he will be a good wit- ness when you are brought before the bar of justice to answer for your vile conduct!” Even these hot words fell from the armor in which Shaky Joe had incased himself, just as water drops from the oiled back of a wild-duck, ‘‘Tt is for you to decide, my dear sir,” he smiled, as he produced a fat note-book from an inner pocket, opening it and arranging various papers with his quivering fingers. ‘'I leave my re- ward wholly to your generosity. I was toodrunk to be wholly myself last night, or ’'d never have tangled myself up in this affair, without mak- ing one more effort to bring the boy under my thumb, When I found he was false to me in one respect, 1 jumped to the conclusion that he was false in all—that his boasted heir- ess was a lie with all the rest!” é * Sa a do you mean?’ sharply demanded ard, ‘That my pockets are empty. That I haven’t a decent suit of clothes to put on my back, nor a@ picayune to buy a drink of whisky or bite of grub! If I had known for sure that the boy was speeding so well in his game for a fortune, I would have waited until afcer the bappy da then struck him for a generous stake, He thee! have come down handsomely, rather than have me blow the gaff sosoon! But like an idiot, I must get drunk and nurse my revenge against him until it set my brain wild with the longing to put a spider in his dumpling! I came here, and you know the rest. I’ve settled him, for he’l] never show his face to oe again or—” * He will if he is alive! I believe vou have murdered him to escape bis vengeance!” gasped Drusilla, feverishly, ‘*Did you speak, my dear sir?’ suavely asked Shaky Joe, of the meréehant. “IL faneied I heard you say something about my committing murder. If so, this man can prove that I never passed out of his sight afver | was placed in:his charge,” “It is true,” gravely uttered the policeman. *T never lost sight of him for a moment, When we left the station, no word had come of any fight or murder having taking place.” ‘Then of course I must have been mistaken thinking I beard any such charge, for of course none present would make such unless they had ample proofs to back their words.” “You have made a charge—are you able to prove it?” sharply cried Horace Ward. _‘* Yes, since I can do no better, Curse the jiquor that unbiuged my tongue! I might have made a glorious stake—” If you prove what you say, you shall not want for gold, you bloodhound! I will give you enough to enable you to drink yourself to death and bless the day that witnesses the end!” hoarsely uttered Ward, turning from an anxi- ous glance at the face of the clock, /**Go on—I am sitting on nettles!” _ ‘*Good enough!” cried Shaky Joe, with a sat- isfied light-in his eyes, ‘* Your word is your bond, I’ve heard meni say, and I'll trust to your ideas of what is right. “In the first place,” he added, selecting a small scrap of paper from the book, “here isa note of the place where I married my wife, You can easily find the record of our marriage,as well 4s the birth and baptism of our son, if you ‘choose to go that far back in your investigations. : Next, a memorandum where the Lrish cou- ple live who took charge of the boy, when bis re es saw fit toabadon him. ou will. find tod lew eee and ‘a bit of gold will doubt- oO ; they know. to’ open their mouths to tell’all ‘Here is the ' note which was pinned to th dress of the child Judge Dhipeie canted lohan it was left at bis door.”»>\., ‘You are wrong there!” eried Drusilla, her eyes glowing. ‘The judge found him in the streets, and though he spent both: time and money freely, he failed to find any clew to his parentage, no matter bow slight! Ifyou falsify in one thing, you will not hesitate to do so ee, salad th N ‘That was the story the judge pre tell his friends, I am well dware, "ene the, joo! retort; “but investigation will show that lam now giving the correct versions’: = 5) ‘‘The child was left at his door, one dark and stormy night, and when the bell was answered the lad walked inside. When they could under. stand his story, it was too late to seek for the rca “Bebe ae him ane) with any hope of D er, and consequently none was Rleatinightu-t Thoda yout «8 2A) vin dgnet SET — a TT ‘muzzle m a — ~ . **On the child’s dress was found a note, stating that he was the son of honest parents, who would claim him in time. The note was written by acrony of the Irishwoman’s, and she bad taken this means of getting rid of a burden, since all pay ments bad ceased coming in for his support. *T add to this, a copy of a memorandum which the judge made of the day and date, with other tacts which may interest you. You can satisfy yourself of theirauthenticity at your leisure, And now I come to the second part of my story. ‘‘Here are several notes which were written tome by the young gentleman, when he could not furnish me with the money I asked of him. They are not signed, but you may be familiar with his handwriting; if not, you can easily procure samples,” Drusilla darted forward and caught the notes from his disease-shaken fingers, scanning them eagerly. Sbaky Joe leaned back in his chair, smiling grimly as he saw the color fade from her face and her eyes fill with a bunted light. ‘* They are base forgeries!” sbe cried, rendin them to fragments and tossing them aside. af will not believe this horrible story, until he himse]f confesses bis guiltiness!” The clock struck the hour of five, and. Shaky Joe lifted bis trembling band with a hard and bitter laugh. ‘‘He has confessed! Two hours late, and still he is ‘not here! What better proof do you ask than that? If innocent, he would have been here before the time, rather than lie under so heavy an imputation one minute longer than necessary! I told you last night he would never come, and I repeat it now!” The door-beill rung sharply, and Drusilla uttered a cry. ‘* He has come! love!” Shaky Joe laughed harshly as he muttered; ‘* Lend me a dollar, and I'll bet it against a picayune that it isn’t our duck, even yet!” But there was an uneasy light in his eye that told the watcbful merchant he wag ill at ease despite his bold words. CHAPTER IX. THE LAST FEATHER, DrusiuLa started from her chair as though she would have rusbed to welcome the man in whose truth and honesty she alone seemed to have perfect faith, but Horpsce Ward anticipat- ed ber intention, and swiftly. striding to her side, he held her arm with a grasp which she was unable to struggle against, as he hastily cautioned in her ear? **Compose yourself, daughter! Time enough to give full vent to your feelings when he bas explained this long delay.” l eyes’ were turned with ¢xpectant impa- tience toward the door, but as the moments rap- idly rolled up without the appearance of Mar cus Dingeon, Horace Ward bit his Jips until the blood showed, while the flush slowly faded out of the face of the loyal maiden. Full, five min- utes had elapsed since that sharp ring startled them, Already so late—surely the, accused, if it were indeed he, would not keep them waiting like this?” Shaky Joe leaned lazily back in bis chair, a malicious smile playing around his quivering lips. He alone of all the party seemed. fully at his ease and wholly satisfied with the way. in which matters were working. A gentle tap at the door, a brief pause, then in obedience to the Words of Horace Ward, the door opened and James, looking: flushed and unusually embarrassed, entered the library. ‘+ Well, what is it?’ hastily demanded the merchant. ‘‘Has not Mr. Dingeon arrived? Show him in at once.” “Ifryou please, sir, it is not. Mr, Dingeon,” replied the flustered servant, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other, ‘It’s a woman, which I think she’s crazy by the way she do go on! She says She must and will see you, though—">; ‘‘You have your instructions—not at home to’any body but Mr. Marcus Dingeon.. Tell her to callagain.” 9»: , ‘Indeed I did, sir, but) she wouldn’t take it for an answer by no means, and swore that if I didn’t let’ her in; she’d: tear the door-bell down an@rousé up the whole street.” : Shaky Joe gave vent to a low, mocking laugh that stung like the lash of a whip. ‘The police- man caught him by the arm and shook his club menacingly as he growled harshly: ‘Keep’ still; you, or Ill lend you.a wooden I knew he would—my noble The door was flung violently open, the knob striking James in ‘the small of tbe back with a force that staggered him, and a woman rushed into thé library,an eager cry parting her lips; but breaking short off as she, glanced around the room without discovering the per- son she cong ) ‘Where is he? Am I too late?’ she gasped, etog ring back with one hand pressed,over her ear 1 DNBISU Ave VE ay’ 't or? eds Horace Ward stepped forward and confronted + cher. ‘His face: was hard-set, his voice so cold ‘that-it sounded very harsh, for his suspicions "sikh ies a. 25 be _ bad taken another turn now, and he believed that this woman was only an ally of the disease- shaken ruffian—tbat they were leagued to- gether to ruin Marcus Dingeon in the sight of his friends, “Who are you, and what do you mean? Who did you expect to meet here?” With a delicately-gloved band the woman threw back the beavy vail which covered ber face, staring around her witha bewildered air, upparently without hearing or comprehending the meaning of the words uttered by the mer- chant. Her face was thin and yery pale, with swol- len circles about her eyes that told of long and bitter Wenig : Her gaze fell upon Drusilla, who was leaning forward to command a fuller view, and with a sobbing cry the. stranger brushed past Horace Ward, falling on her knees at the feet of his daughter, raising her clasped hands as she gasped; ‘* You, lady—your face is kind and true—you would not attempt to deceive a poor, beart- broken girl? Tell me that itis not true, and [ will bless you till my dying day! Tell me that it is false—that he is innocent of the damning charge which they bring against him!” Hysterical sobs choked ber further speech, and ber head fell forward until it touched the knees of the astonished, bewildered girl to whom she pleaded so wildly, Drusilla lifted the quivering head and pusted back the hair that, shaken from its confine- ment, fell over and concealed the grief-marked face from view. With a soft band she caressed the tear-wet cheeks, and in soothing tones she whispered: ' ‘You are safe here, dear, and amon friends. Tell me what is your cause for grief, and if T can help you, I certainly will do so, Whois it you seek, and why look for him here!” The woman abruptly freed her head, and raised her red and swollen eyes to the compas- sionate face above her, seeking to read the truth therein, Then she wildly exclaimed: ' “My husband—he is not here? He does not want to marr ou, as they charge? Say it is a lie, and I will forever bless and pray for you! Oh, lady! it is not true?” Drusilla turned pale as a ghost, posing back her chair and staring wildly at the kneeling suppliant, a terrible fear for a single instant as- sailing her heart and shaking her supreme faith in. the honor of the man whom she loved better far than Jife itself, But only for a moment; then. she flushed with hot shame at having doubted him even for an instant, Horace Ward recovered from the surprise into which the impetuous actions of the stran- ger bad cast him, and as his daughter recoiled, he sprung forward and caught the woman by the arm, sternly demanding: Lie Se ‘Who are you, and what is if you want here? Speak out, and explain why you bave intruded where you are neither known nor wanted-— speak out, and quickly !” ‘¢Show him the letter I sent you, and I rather reckon he'll find that sufficient excuse for your intrusion!” suddenly uttered Shaky Joe, twist- ing his arm, free from. the grasp of the police- man and sliding his chair to a safer distance. With a half-smothered curse, Horace Ward wheeled upon him, bis eyes glowing with bitter scorn. as be cried: | **T might have known it! You are in league to ruin an honorable gentleman in our estima- tion—but you will fail! Ay, worse than fail, else there is no justice to be had in the whole land for dastardly plotters such as youl”? Shaky Joe listened to this outburst with a cold smile, and his quiet reply was more effect- ive, than the hottest retort would have been: ‘If we are conspirators, it is for the purpose of saying your daughter from the cunning toils of one who would make her—not his wife, for I believe our present laws rather frown on polygamy.” The hot speech of the mercbant served to nerve the woman by wounding her self-pride, and taking a crumpled, sheet of paper from her bosom, she beld it toward him as she cried: “This is my excuse for intruding, as you call it! Have I not the moral right to come here, or anywhere, in order to disprove such a foul and lying charge against my husband?” | Mechanically. Horace Ward took the’ pa from her hand and cast his glowing eyes swiftly over it. Then, with an oath that almost scorehed_his lips, it was.so full of bitter hatred and longing for vengeance, he dropped the note, and ag it touched the carpet, be raised one foot to grind it beneath his heel. Impetuous as was his action, the movements of Drusilla were still more rapid, and her white hand rescued the decument from destruction, springing back to avoid the agitated grasp of her’ startled parent... res ‘* Do not read—Drusilla, 1 command you!” be eried; but bis.words fell unheeded as her wild eyes drank in the lines, | ., They were not many, and may be giyen place bere: |... : ‘Mrs, Marcus Dineron:— ** Mapammu:—Though these lines come to you with- Ecomicbooks Pd (Eo)