Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 306 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

The Roughs of Richmond. ed *“ Where is he?” ‘* Safe—in jail.” iT) Tn jail!” Something like consternation prevailed upon the announcement, which came like a sinall thunderbolt to the admirers of Caudrey Brown, the broker. Further to their amazement, they saw the detec- tive deliberately open the safe and search therein for a few seconds, presently drawing forth the pack- age of bonds, * It’s all right,’ he muttered to himself. ‘*‘ Caught oa the person of the thief, asit were. If they had once heen negotiated, the bank had no redress, I think Tuff and I will haul in that thousand.” ‘* Why, what are you doing, sir?” the clerk began to protest, at this singularlibervy. “‘That is Mr, Brown's private safe. Even I would not dare—” ‘* But, my eben friend, you observe that Ido dare, Ishall just take possession of these stolen bonds your employer was about to negotiate, and if anything unpleasant comes of it, you may simply refer the parties making any noise about it to Jo Call, the detective. Understand?’ and without as much as * good-day to you,” he departed hurriedly. Straight to the agency he went. Tuff was there. “JT found our young man, Jo. He's not in any hurry to leave town, if seems, Just. gone back to his boarding-house. And heisin citizens’ clothes, That fact caused me to make inquiries at the post- office. He somewhat abruptly resigned yesterday evening and quit work without waiting to see whether his resignation at the time was convenient or not. Isee you have Wing-Wing pretty close on his trail, so I thought I would come back here to see if you had anything fresh—”’ ‘Ihave. Sit down and share. I have seen our bird. Who do you guess it can be?’ * Give it up.” ‘*No less a person than Mr. Caudrey Brown, the broker.” ** Whew!”’ Call rapidly related all that had transpired, ‘* You have the bonds then?” “Here they are. Caught on the person of the thief—or the thief’s accomplice, it’s all the same—so we can return them to Upton Girard, or his bank, rather, and take in that little trick of a thousand." “Good!” exclaimed Tuff. ** Here—take them. Read the numbers while I compare them with the memoranda.” Tuff took the bonds and began calling off the num- bers, while Call compared them with the numbers in “es diary, which he had received from Upton Girard. ‘* 93 94-9596 —97 —98—99—100—102—”” “Stop. Is that right?” ae Yes.”’ ‘You've skip * No, I haven't.” ** Read them again,” Tuff repeated the numbers. ** Look through the package for 101,” This was done. 101 could not be found, ‘*Count the bonds,” said Call, This was done. There were only nineteen, The two detectives exchanged glances, Then, with a complacent smile, Call said: “Tt’s pretty plain, isn’t it?” ‘* What?” “Don’t you see? 101—101, Tha‘’s the number this young Albert Royal seems to have been carry- ingin his mind for some reason, as witness the oc- currence of the number in his diary. fvcud by Mrs. Fenwick in the garden of her mansion, and on the slate which Wing-Wing brought to me from his boarding house.” ** Albert Roval has the missing bond,” **Of course,” “Have you any theory?” “Yes. That Albert Royal, with the money which, by some means, he has obtained from the youn lady to whom he was making up as a lover, an with the money which he hopes to realize from the Bond 101, is on the point of departure to negotiate that bond somewhere North, and perhaps will never come back to this section. Or, again: This Albert Royal is in some way connected with Brown, and was the first sent out by Brown to see whether the bonds could be_nerotiated without suspicion. Or, in: Albert Royal is in with the whole gang of the Golden Beetle, and is one of those to whom will be intrusted in turn—supposing that we had not stepped in to oil the programme—the task of ne- gotiating the bonds in such a manner and at such remote points as not to make it dangerous for the party offering them in the market.” ‘“We must have a close eye on Albert Royal.” “He must be detained at the very moment he is about to board the train. That is the task I have given you, ; ** And I will not fail.” Tuff departed from the ncy by one direction and Call was about to go off by another, when once more Wing-Wing came in sight, his white-topped and peculiarly formed shoes shuffling over the pave- ment at a lively rate, ““*Melican plos’ man go heapee up-town, fix ’cm up bessee, look heap fine mashee.”’ **Did you follow him?’ Wing- Wing nodded, smiling. Then,in his way, he gave the detective informa- tion to the effect that Royal was then at the house of the murdered man, Dorsey Fenwick. Wing-Wing was dispatched with instructions to watch the house for the outcoming of the young man. As the Chinaman turned away the party who had previously called at the agency when the detective was ee interviewing the prisoner, came hurry- ing up, with: <n I have something to tell you.” one.” “Signor Murguio has been at the ruins on Four- teenth street ever since the paper gave the item of the occurrence this morning, and he seems to be the most earnest in w g to see the bodies that are being dug out ” Si The affair was in the papers?” “Yes, the whole of it.’ “I haven't read a paper this morning; I have been too busy.” ‘* Here it is.” Glancing over the paper which the other handed | _ ——— to him, Cali saw with a frown that Bob Boswick had been too free in his report about the operations of the previous night. It was all there—the account of surprising the criminal band at its work, the fall of the floor, the capture of one of the band, while all the rest had we enh y perished. “T can understand why the Signor Murguio is so anxious to see the bodies that are taken out,” he muttered, more to himself. ‘If he is satisfied that the only survivor is the captured rascal, he will try to make away with him in some way—perhaps by assassination. I must give warning at the station- house.” ee Mitt CHAPTER XXII. PLANNING A ROGUE-TRAP. Aupnert Roya, the lover of Erminie, softly rung the bell at the Fenwick mansion. He felt that he was intruding to some extent upon the sacred quiet of the death-stricken home at the time; but there was a motive so powerful as to sweep aside cen other scruples. The sable hall-servant answered the summons on tip-toe, opening the door with a slow cautiousness, as if he expected to ba met by some one striving to force a sacrilegious entrance. He knew the comer well. ‘*Can I see Miss Fenwick?’ Albert asked. “*Deed, Mars’ Albert, doegn’t fink ‘at she’s want- i, fo’ to see anybody; dough she mou'’l see you, sah,” Thouch Albert Royal had been requested not to continue his visits at the Fenwick mansion by both Mr. and Mrs. Fenwick, the servants knew nothing of the fact. ‘Please see her, Snow, and say that I am here and earnestly request a short interview before I leave town, which Lintend doing this afternoon.” **Isn’t you gwine fo’ to stay fo’ de fun’ral—” **No, Snow; I have business that calls me away at once, Convey my message to Miss Fenwick, will you, please?”’ ‘* Yes, sah—step in de westibule, sah," Leaving Royal waiting while he hurried noiseless- ly to deliver the message to Erminie, Snow tip-toed away up the staircase, An almost palpable silence pervaded the house; truly the solemn quiet of the tomb was upon it. In afew minutes there was a slight rustle of a wo- man’s dress. Erminie came forward in some agitation, “Oh, Albert!” a And for a second they were clasped in a fond em- rece, ‘Come into the front parlor,’ she said, leading the way. And when they were alone: “It was hardly wise, Albert, for you tocome here, knowing how my mother opposes the continuance of our acquaintance.” She would not say, in the face of the fact that he had been forbidden the house. **T could not help it, Erminie, darling: "Iam going very far away from you with the mouey you forced upon me, and in the endeavor to build so fortune upon it, so that when I do return at your majority no one can say that lam not your equal in wealth. I had to see you once more ere that long, long part- ing—three years; think of it!” He was gazing yearningly into the girl’s lovely face; and he was struck by the fact that there were no traces of recent tears; instead, there was an ex- pression as if she was even then sustaining an ordeal of alarm that surely could not be caused by the death of her father, which could only reasonably produce deep sorrow, ‘* What is it, Erminie?”’ She was glancing uneasily about. **Ob, Albert, you must leave Richmond without a moment's delay. Do not linger, or you may become terribly involved.” ** Why, what do you mean?” ‘*- You must not ask me to explain,’’ she said, with a perceptible shudder. ‘ But go—lose no time; get as far from this unfortunate house as you can. But I will remain true to you, Albert, 1 vow it before Heaven. When Iam of age, you shall see that Er- minie Fenwick can keep her vow well. ‘There—kiss me, Albert, Say good-by. Do not stay here. My mother may surprise us at any moment, and then— Ah, too late!” The door from the hallway opened, and Mrs. Fen- wick stood upon the threshold, her peculiarly bril- liant eyes fixed upon the lover couple in a baughty manner. “A very fitting time for love-making, is it not?” she fittered cuttingly. ‘‘ Your father, Erminie, ly- ing in his coffin in the room adjoining this, and you rs) ding a love meeting with a man here who, you know, has only my despisement and the dislike of your father while he lived—” ** Mother.” “Mr. Royal,” turning to the young man si a psi ly, “‘you will oblige me by remem ng that you were once requested not to visit this house sa “I shall do so, madame, but before I take the last leave, I hope you will it me to say that you are doing both myself and your daughter a very great bafta ‘We will not discuss anything.” “On this one occasion we will—as between a gen- tleman and a lady, where the question of superiori- ty in the matter of wealth does not enter,” he said, rmly. “ You are wronging your daughter because you are less of her happiness. She loves me pape and I am sure that no man ever entertained an affection for a lady more sincere and ardent than mine for her. In seeking to separate us, you would cast an eternal blight over two young lives. Perhaps you will find, however, that such a love as ours cannot be so easily crushed; and perhaps some day you will see Albert Royal occupying a pra among the citizens of Richmond as enviable as that of your husband was. That is all I wish to say, and I shall bid £m good-day—Erminie—” He held out his arms to the young and trembling girl, as ifin utter defiance of her mother’s presence. “'Erminie—be true, darling. Happiness will be in store for us yet.”’ Unable to resist the impulse of her pure and lov- ran emg cle she sprung into his arms and was folded to his breast in a passionate embrace. Tn the moment of this exhibition of 4 See a NN E——————————— ee SSS 19 mutual affection, there came a light of fury into the brown eyes of Mrs. Fenwick. She clinched one fist tightly and took a half-step forward, as if to inter- fere. ** Albert Royal,” she said, in the deep voice which was sometimes peculiariy hers, ‘‘you will find that before you can accomplish what your words hint at, you will be the most disgraced of all pre- sumptuous adventurers! Even now there hangs over rou a suspicion which 1, myself, have augmented n the minds of the authorities, and not even to save my daughter’s name will I forego the opportunity to crush you from my path as I would any ot troublesome bug that might crawl into it—” Her onate outburst was checked by a low ring at the door-bell at that moment, A voice that was familiar to her ears in a way that wags polite but peremptory: **T wish to see Mrs. Fenwick, at once.”’ “Yes, sah—wait, sah.” Snow had seen his elder mistress enter the parlor. Appearing at the door, he announced the presence of a gentleman at the front who wanted to see Mrs, Fenwick. “| will see him > cameras bi she replied. ‘‘ Show him to the Lbrary for the present—’’ “Pardon me, madame,’’ said Jo Call, who stepped into view at the door, ** but I havé no time to wait, What I have to say must be said without delay. Please oblige me by deferring anything else you may have on hand, and attend to me.” as she mistaken? Was there not a tone of com- mand in his speech that fora moment occasioned her some surprise? The glance from his shrewd eyes, too, told that he meant exactly what he said. ie tone inaudible to the detective, she said, to oval: ** Will you please take your departure?” He bowed, arid, with a final yearning glance to- ward his betrothed, withdrew from the house. “Now, sir, I am at your service,” she said, in a, business-like way, turning to the detective, She led the way to the library. “Whatisit you have to communicate regarding the case of murder? Would not some other time have been more fitting than this, when we are in. the sad pre tion for the funeral?” “No, madame, it would not. This is the time, and no other."’ he replied, a little shortly. ‘ Detee- tives do not sto) for time or place when they have something on hand that must be accomplished quick- ly, ; A ge found the murderer,” ** Are you still anxious to bring him to justice?” ** Assuredly, yes.” There could be no doubting her sincerity. “* Why do you ask me such a question, sir?’ ** Because, when I that. individual, I shall use: you as one of the principal witnesses against him,’* ‘*Me—use me?’ in astonishment, “Precisely.” ‘In what way can I be a serviceable witness in the case?” He es because you know the murderer well,” Mrs. Fenwick was completely astounded, ** Explain, sir.” “Twill. You have more recently informed me tha b the, murderer was, beyond doubt, a Milanese,” ** Yés.”” ‘* Arban, the astrologer, is an Italian.” She was silent, with wide and conjecturing eyes, ‘“‘Arban, the astrologer, and Alvaro Mandez are one and the same pemeoen So, also, is Signor er same as Arban and Alvaro Mandez.”’ Ty e s “Haven't you an intimate acquaintance with Alvaro Mandez, the Master of the Order of the Golden Beetle?’ and as the detective put the ques- tion, he saw her strangely beautiful face grow wae, tae ‘What makes you think that I know such a per- son as Alvaro Mandez?"’ she queried, with a remark- ably steady voice. “Tdon’t think at all—I know, madame, And T know, too, that I am now talking with a woman who is on me verge of becoming a very great criminal,’” ‘* Let us not beat about the bush, madame. Lister tome. Perhaps the detectives are a little que er in thefr discoveries than is always pleasant for the es themselves who employ them, You have een shadowed from the moment yee put me on the case. I know that you were at the rooms of! Arban, the astrologer, who introduced you into the underground temple of the Order of the Golden Beetle. You were selected the queen of that order, to supply the place made vacant by the sudden death of your husband. He was an active and suc- cessful worker. The object of the order vee i e gold upon the market, gold coin, that been tampered with. Fortunately for dees you had not yet been intrusted with an effort in that direc- tion when the whole gang of criminals was hroken 3 and the only survivor—one—caught and fused. fe) €Z, as demanded. w, this Italian, or M oor Alvaro you choose, is no doubta descendant of the father of the maiden, Para, whose history p pow gave me. He has all along been intending the death of your husband. He isthe murderer undoubtedly. You see, you have even entered into a binding associatio with the man who killed Dorsey Fen okrpiitenel with him upon a criminal career. Shall I hope that,, now you have learned of your narrow escape, you will take warning while you have yet time? Ishall keep it for your daughter's sake, if you 80 romise. Now, are you re to assist in the act of bagaing the murderer?” com an t pl din enwi over’ stant change came Mathilde ck as the detective thus revealed that her transaction with the Order of the Golden. Beetle was tobi es known to him, With an almost fiery vehemence she cried: ‘*Yes, I will do anything to bring to justice the murderer of Dorsey Fenwick! No oath that I made tothe Order of the Beetle shall bind me, no obliga- tion deter me from this act of justice: Tell me. what 1 am to do?” ‘** You can identify Alvaro Mandez.”’ ‘* Yes, if he is brought before me.” ‘*You must bring him to your house—” ‘“T have not the slightest idea where he is.” “ll tell you that. He is already under our sur- veillance, Write a note to the Signor Murguio, eay~ NIGDOO (ECO) cS Pa > si