Beadle's Dime Library No. 366 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

— pe | The Telegraph Detective. 13 man’s power in some inexplicable way caused Marvin to hesitate, to forget all save his anxiety for her. The gloved hand extended pointed to the marriage certificate as Revere’s taunting tones broke on the detective’s ears: ‘‘ Your vague threats against me I defy you to put in operation!” he cried. ‘‘I calculate to hold the winning cards, Willis Marvin, and as the husband of the woman whose fortune you thought to share with her I shall resent your intrusion in her behalf any further.” The taunt, the knowledge that this man openly defied him from the stand-point of a villain and murderer, drove the detective nearly frantic. ‘‘Wiend!” he cried. ‘Clear of the law, for the present, my hands shall force the truth from your craven lips.” He started forward in a tempest of passion. The other shrunk back, and drew a eed silver po cares from his pocket and blew a quick, shrill call. **T will end your insane persecutions,” he cried to Marvin, as he evaded him. ‘* My emis- saries will be more careful of your guardianship than Torrance.” Footsteps hurrying through the hall broke on Marvin’s ears as the other spoke. It meant su- perior numbers and peril. If a captive amon such desperate men as Revere, a farewell to al hopes of a speedy solution of the marriage mys- tery. tf Beware!” he cried, in wild, passionate tones as he sprung through the window as two men burst into the room. ‘‘I will tear your coward heart from your bosom if you wrong the wo- man I love!’ The jeering, triumphant laugh of Revere mad- dened his to the verge of insanity as he cleared the garden and gained the street. It was no flight—no cowardly retreat; only the action of a prudent mind, cautious amid even intense ex- citement, to avert the catastrophe of capture when every vital issue of the case in hand was quivering in an uncertain balance. “T will dally no longer,” he decided. ‘This man Revere is the person who killed Hiram Ar- nold. Is he not the captain? Does not the bul- let correspond to the ones in his revolver? and tke gloved hand— Ah! Adrian Revere, if yours was the hand of fire the subtle fluid on the bank- er’s desk has lefta brand neither time nor science can efface!” Under tho impulse of suspense and excitement regarding Constance Thorndyke’s fate, he had turned his face toward police head-quarters. le had not resumed his dreaded disguise. His mind seemed filled alone with the mysteries sur- rounding him, He paused as a bell struck the hour of nine o’clock. ‘* Dorsett,” he murmured, with a start. “I almost forgot my appointment with him. He is a true and valued friend, and his advice will be worth something tome, If Constance Thorn- dyke is Adrian Revere’s wife, it can only ean ) fraud, and he dares not attempt murder w he knows I am watching him. I will not yet inform the police. I will see Dorsett first.” ’ He hastened off in the direction of the Galaxy restaurant as he spoke. Half an hour later he reached the appointed spot of interview, ‘I thought you were not coming,” said Dor- sett, as he greeted his friend, ‘‘ or something had happened to you.” « “Something has happened,” replied Marvin, “and detained me. ome, let us seek a private room, I wish to talk with you.” Ensconced in an apartment by themselves, the Tolegraph Detective began to relate the story of his father’s disappearance, The mobile features of his listener expressed the profoundest inter- cst and curiosity as he heard the recital of that marvelous story of the persecutions of the Dy- namite League, T'rom the very beginning,including his strange meeting with Constance Thorndyke down to the interview of the past hour with Adrian Revere, the detective revealed all to his friend. In graphic sentences he depicted the central figure in the scheme, the silent, unseen hand which op- crated the movements of the band of desperadoes of which Torrance was the leader. *You now know what I know,” he said, in conclusion, ‘The points to gain are: the cap- ture of Adrian Revere and the proof of his part in the murder of the banker, the finding of my father and the treasure-casket and the clew of the mystery of the vailed woman, the secret marriage of Constance Thorndyke and her pres- ent whereabouts, There is no time for delay. Like scattered Bedouins of the desert, routed and driven from a charge, these desperate emis- saries of Adrian Revere at hissignal will return and still more persistently assail our safety and that of those we seé rescue,” Dorsett’s face was thoughtful, and he hesi- tated for some time ere he replied to the anxious looks of his companion. Finally he spoke: “T recognize in the case before us a most singular and perplexing situation. Only one of these men is in our power, so to speak—Adrian Revere. Against him lies a proof certain to us, et so vague to the law that a clever alibi, even if fraudulent, could easily be imposed on justice. ‘The hand of fire! That point must be traced down at once—that point and a close, careful trai) against this man until the hour for arrest has -eme. But, not now—not until some of his confecerates are in our power for whom the police are now searching; not until we have found your father, Robert Marvin!” ‘*Then you advise—” ‘* That we together, independent of the police, follow out this case. Let them arrest the mem- bers of the League if they can. As to ourselves, come!” and Dorsett arose. * You are going?” ‘* Yes; first. to the newspaper offices to insert an advertisement.” ‘*An advertisement?’ repeated Marvin, in some surprise, not comprehending the hidden intention of his companion. “Yes, an advertisement, carefully worded, from you to your father, informing him that it is necessary that he should communicate with you at once.” The words recalled Marvin to this inexplicable aspect of the case. ‘It is most singular that my father should act as he has,” he declared, gloomily. ‘* Not at all,” responded Dorsett briskly. Marvin looked up with an inquirmg gleam in his eyes. ** Why not?” he asked. ‘* Picture his case to yourself,” responded Dor- sett, ‘‘and see if under an impulse, in his posi- tion you would not act the same. He is in ignofance of your movements, is unaware that the operations of the League are known to you, He only realizes that these men have been po- tent to carry on an open warfare under the very eyes of the most perfect police system in the world. His mind weakened by long im- prisonment, his fears of the power of his former captors exaggerated to an intense pitch, he has fled to secure the treasured casket, to hide him- self until he can collect his alarmed senses and act coherently and safely. Alone he was pow- erless; surrounded by friends whom he doubt- less will soon reach, he will defy his enemies, but not until he has recovered from the first shock of the realization that his appearance on the scene of the murder might be construed into the semblance of positive guilt.” Dorsett’s rapid logic satisfied Marvin that he spoke truthfully. ‘* And Constance Thorndyke?” suggested the latter, anxiously. ‘*We must direct our first attention to her. You need not confess it, Marvin; I see it in your face: you love this friendless girl, and de- spite these dark schemers that love will guide you to her rescue. From what you have told me I could stake my existence that she never wedded this man Revere of her own free will and consent.” ‘*You believe this?” cried the detective, eagerly. **T most certainly do. There was a vailed woman in this affair, who was dressed like Miss Thorndyke. I think I see Revere’s plot, and on the hypothesis that he has perpetrated a fraud on 5 ce and the woman you love, we will pro- ceed to Sorigaen Vor ne He might have pretended to her that he held oi and your father at his merey and thus bave induced her to marry him to save your lives, but 1 imagine a clever fraud in which the vailed woman has appeared is the basis of the scheme, The vailed woman —elucidate her identity and I promise to find out the truth readily.” He spoke contidently, ‘You will go to the Irving Place house?” in- quired Marvin. ‘*'Yes, but not openly. Perhaps Revere has secured fraudulent proof of a marriage, and then intends to dispose of the girl.—But what is it? Marvin, as if suddenly recalled to a rece!) >r- tion of importance, had drawn back into ithe room quickly with an exclamation of chagrin, ‘*'The letter!” he cried. ‘I had forgotten it, and it may give us a clew we should have fol- lowed at once.” ‘* What letter?” demanded the other. ‘The rough, rejected draft of the epistle sent by Revere to Torrance to-night.” He took the crumpled document from his pocket, and smoothed it out on the table—his eyes expressing curiosity and anxiety as to its contents. Dorsett, his interest now thoroughly aroused, pressed close to his side, and together they perused the letter with eager glance. Their faces grew excited as they read. The epistle, vague as it was, alarmed them, for it bore directly on the most important issue of the case in which they were interested, and read: “KE. C, NarRoT:— , ‘Failure with the tea-cask, but I have got Armi- nie to aid me, and when it is returned to its rightful owner, I will possess it as her husband. The air is full o fdanger, however. Before the son of our vis- itor was destroyed in the burning building I am sure he told bead-quarters enough to put the ferrets on a trail, and the father is now at liberty. Of course I never appeared on the scene, but be cau- tious or all will be traced to cover, ‘*A new complication has arisen, and Arminie, gaslons and exacting, revives too much of the past o suit me. Deceit has heen necessary, and trouble- some friends must be disposed of. I like the girl, but I depend on you to dispose of her to-night, once forall. I have managed to arrangeit so that at one o'clock to-morrow morning she will meet you and two of your friends at Morris—Leland—" There the letter ended with a scrawl] blotted and evidently impatiently made, as the epistle was abandoned and a new one written, the last two words—‘ Morris—Leland,’—being partially scratched out, ‘ The eyes of the two detectives met as the finished the perusal of this document. Marvin's face was perplexed, that of his friend serious. ‘** Well?” asked the latter. ‘Is it a clew?” “Yes; a vague one, but still worth followin up,” returned Marvin, excitedly. ‘I think see it all. I certainly compre end the three hidden allusions in the letter.” ‘* Hidden allusions?” repeated Dorsett. ‘‘ What do you mean?” ‘* First—E. C, Narrot.” “That is Torrance spelled backward. A clumsy subterfuge—almost a useless one—but it evidences the fact that it is about the same let- ter he afterward sent to his confederate,” ** That looks plain enough.” ‘*'The words tea-cask refer to the casket, and the son of our visitor, myself. For, when Revere wrote the letter, he believed me dead,” Dorsett became even more deeply interested— all his quick instincts now aroused. ‘* As to the balance of the epistle,” resumed Marvin, ‘‘ he refers to Arminie. He refers also to her jealousy—of whom? Of Constance Thorn- dyke, who is apparently in his power. Having secured proof of a marriage with her, to satisfy this Arminie, I judge—the woman who decoyed me to the den of the League—he had decided. to et rid of Constance Thorndyke. As her hus- y»and or widower he could claim the property and the casket and defy the last will I possess of Gerald Thorndyke.” Dorsett uttered an admiring expression of his companion’s clear reasoning. ‘*He tells Torrance,” continued Marvin, ‘ to dispose of the girl, and by some trickery he in- tends to have her at a certain place at one o'clock to-morrow morning, to place her in the ower of this man. There we are at sea, for evere has written the names of two towns— Morris and Leland.” The detective’s brow was clouded with rapt rsa as he studied the letter. **T see but one way out of the dilemma if your theory is, as I believe it to be—a correct one,” broke in Dorsett. ‘What is that?” ‘* ‘You know where these towns are?” *“Yes; about forty miles from the city, on a branch of the Central New Jersey Railroad.” ‘*Good! that is one point gained. Let us not worry ourselves as to how Revere is going to get Constance Thorndyke to the place, if he really intends to dis of her through his con- federate. Let us only assume that at one or the other of these two towns at one o’clock to-mor- row morning an attempted abduction and mur- der will occur.” ee Well 9? ‘* And start forthwith on the first train forthe places designated.” ‘* But, which one?” ‘* Both. You at Morris, I at Leland; we will be on hand todefeat the plans of these villains.” CHAPTER XII. A SCANTY TRIUMPH. CONSTANCE THORNDYKE was the person u permost in the thoughts of Willis Marvin as he started with his friend Dorsett on the strange quest suggested by the stolen letter, and around her had now centered the operations of the League controlled by Adrian Revere. en the Telegraph Detective decided that she had been abducted by the direction of this man, he was not incorrect in that surmise. The plot of the Dynamite League to secure the cov- eted casket had not been formed hurriedly, and a side issue had come up involving the securing of Constance. Alone and friendless, she seemed impotent to injure them; but, surrounded by new and powerful friends, Revere foresaw that he must either rid himself of her, or obtain pos- session of her, and as he recalled the pagers Oh love he had once experienced for her, he decided on the latter course, The dead outlaw, Barnes, and a companion— after the affair at the banker’s—had been depu- tized to carry out this branch of his plot and a new agent had been introduced into the project. Arminie Royal, a French girl, formerly an ac- tress, and known to the gue as a favorite with Revere, had been instructed in her part by Torrance, and she had set about carrying out the task with ingenuity and care. Attired like the proposed victim of the plot, she had secured an entrance to the apartment of the unsuspect- ing girl as has been seen, and introduced hers If asa friend of the detective, who had sent her thither to await his coming. Innocent, pure-minded Constance never sus- pected a plot, as the false Frenchwoman pro- ceeded to inform her that Marvin had met with success in his endeavor to find his father, and had sent her thither to await his coming. All that Constance remembered afterward was hearing her talk cheerfully, experiencing a sin- Eomicbooks col