Beadle's Dime Library No. 366 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

=* 7 nl ‘ ae on juge oe ~~ — —* — - -—~ Se A. + nS i . « 22 for not pausing at the very instant of dan- ger to endeavor to save Constance Thorn- dyke from the flames. His feet seemed winged as he flew toward Irving Place. The street was crowded, and the fire-engines were still playing on the smoking ruins of the old mansion. No one seemed to know how the accident had occur- red. Not one of the servants or residents of the house had been found, nor yet any traces | of the victims to the disaster been discover- | ' Gome at once to Morris; I have cornered Tor- rance and the girl.” And the name signed was that of Dorsett, the detective. CHAPTER XXII. NOT BAFYLED BY DEFEAT. CoNsTANCE THORNDYKE had indeed es- caped the results of Robert Marvin’s insane act. She had been compelled to leave the house by Adrian Revere, and was led to a close carriage in waiting in front of the resi- dence. Marvin's heart was a dead weight in his bosom, as he saw the utter wreck and ruin | wrought. It seemed impossible that any of the occupants of the house could have es- caped, and he had wandered to the stable, and a low moan of agony escaped his lips as he gazed at the debris of the beautiful struc- | ture. Constance had sunk back upon the seat, But at that moment hestarted. Emerging | while she was whirled rapidly away from the from the stable was a form he recognized— , Thorndyke mansion. the watchman in the garden. | Her companion started violently and look- He overtook him as he was leaving the | ed back in some alarm as he heard au explo- alleyway. The man turned, recognized him | sion, and soon after flames proceeded from with a curse, and shook off his hand angrily, | the vicinity of the house he had just aban- with the query: doned; but he did not allow annoying con- ** What do you want?” jectures long to engross his thoughts, while *‘T want to talk with you,” replied Mar- he kept a close watch on the silent figure by vin, sternly, ‘‘and you will do well to stop | his side, chagrined and angered at her mood and listen.” | of persistent silence. The other stared at him doubtingly.| ‘1 will never break her proud spirit,” he alarm,” he said, warningly. ‘‘If you suc- ceed in attracting attention by any ruse, instantly avert all interference.” And recognizing the futility of struggle, Evidently, as he recalled the episode of tho | mused; ‘‘and I dare not foree her to be- | appearance of the man Revere ha Let it | to spy on the home of the detective. cellar, he dimly suspected the tramp was not | come my wife in reality, as in name. what he pretended to be. | pass. The fortune shall be mine, and ‘Well, what is it?” he asked, crossly. then she can return to her lover, if she ‘“‘How many were killed in the build- | wishes,” ing?” The carriage finally stopped. Revere had “ e,” selected a secure residence for his professed A mighty throb of joy filled the heart @ wife. It was in a retired portion of the the detective. | city, and was located at the very terminus of “None?” he cried. ‘‘ Are you sure?” | a quiet side street hemmed in by residences “‘Certain! Whoever you are, I thank you | on all sides. for warning me, but it’s a mystery to me | He dismissed the carriage and led Con- how you came to be in the basement.”’ stance into the building and to an apartment ** Never mind that now,” replied Marvin. | which was already lighted and well furnish- *‘ Tow did the servants escape?” ed, on the second floor. Evidently it was a **'There were only three in the house—the | place with which he was familiar. cook and two men. The back part of the “This i3 your apartment,” he said; ‘‘ and house blew up and they were in the front, | here I calculate you will be safe from the and ran out in time to escape the fire. The | interference of your so-called friends. I give driver, of course, was not hurt. He was | you two days to decide to publicly acknow- driving the master away—” edge myself as your husband or to lend ‘And the woman with him?” ventured | yourself to my plans to obtain the stolen Marvin, eagerly. casket. If you are still obstinate at the end ‘Yes; bridegroom and bride managed to | of that time, force will accomplish what fair escape just in time.” means have failed to effect. As to escape, I ** Where have they gone?” warn you that every outlet from this house “IT don’t know for sure; but the man you | is carefully guarded by trusty friends.” carried out—where is he?” She did not deign a reply as Revere left *“Out of the way there, or you'll get run | the room, locking the door after him. Her over!” thoughts were anguished ones as she recalled The interruption came from the hoarse | the possible fate of Robert Marvin, but her throat of a hose-cart driver, as the vehicle, | wearied mind and body soon sunk into slum- dashing through the alleyway, divided the | ber, and she slept profoundly. crowd right and left, Marvin, separated Revere’s plans had been fully decided up- from his companion looked in vain for him} on by that individual. He had no- doubt again after the excitement had subsided, but /now but that Robert Marvin and his son a deep thankfulness filled his mind as he | were aware of the existence of the casket, turned to leave the place, deciding that his | was even inclined to believe that the old attention was now due to his father, and | lawyer had deposited it with some person for trusting to the future to reveal the new pris- | Constance. He knew that threats would never on-place of Constance Thorndyke. win the secret from the lawyer, and hoped Ife was unaware that the watchman had | through his son to effect the compromise of seen him after the ppiaode of the hose-cart. | giving up Constance and securing the covet- His question to Marvin concerning the | ed fortune. escaped prisoner had revived in his mind| Completely at fault in his ideas, and cool- the thousand-dollar reward offered by Adrian | ly considering the death of Robert Marvin as Revere for proofs of the death of Robert | no barrier to the discovery of the casket—ig- Marvin. e now knew that the tramp | noring any suspicion that he and his son was an impostor; so, tracking him to his | were not acting in harmony since the escape residence, he caught sight of the in-| of the former—he had determined to quietly terior of the apartment and the patient; | remain in covert for a day or two and act then he hastened away, determined to see | through his agents. Revere. He was somewhat worried concerning Until morning dawned the detective sat by | Torrance. Within the very house where he his father’s side. The patient was more | now was were the two men who had accom- uiet now, but the son’s solicitude was deep | panied him to Morris, and they had found or his suffering father as he saw how wan | no trace of their leader. But about noon and sunken were his features; and all his | Revere was surprised by a visit from the bitter hatred of Revere and his League re- | man he had deputized to dispose of Robert turned as he recalled how much that parent | Marvin. had endured through them, for his fidelity | He listened in bewilderment to the state- to the interests ot Gerala Thorndyke. ment of the man concerning the explosion, it was latein the afternoon when a tele- | and his dismay was real when the story of graph message was delivered at the door of | Marvin’s rescue was told him and the subse- isroom. It had gene to his former rooms, | quent visit of the man to the home of the but by instructions he. had left had been sent | detective, for Revere decided that Robert to his new quarters. Marvin had been rescued, and that, too, by He tore it open 2nd was not a little startled | his son, the Telegraph Detective. atitscontents. It was dated at Morris, an ‘*[ promised you a certain amount to dis- hour earlier, and ran. pose of my prisoner at the mansion. I will ~ ‘‘1t will be useless for you to make an | with the influence at my command | shall | The Telegraph Detective. double the reward if you will learn for me the exact condition of the patient, the name of the attending physician and that of the nurse, and the hours and habits of the young man who rescued the prisoner under the guise of a tramp.” The man started on the quest, and Revere was left alone, considering the complica- tions of the case, until late in the evening, when one of his men came to the room, ‘*'Torrance has come,” he announced. ‘‘Send him here,” he ordered, excitedly. The leader of the Dynamite League soon made his appearance. He was pale, ex- hausted, and his apparel disordered. He flung himself into a chair with a sigh of re- lief and replied to Revere’s inquiring looks with the words: ‘*T have had a run for it.” “You have just returned to the city?” ‘Yes, after delaying an hour to get my handcuffs cut off by an obliging locksmith,” and Torrance proceeded to give an exact account of his various adventures. The re- cital was listened to with rapt interest by his companion, who only interrupted him to explain how circumstances within his own knowledge concurred with the story of his confederate. Then, over their liquor and cigars the two men canvassed the case they were involved in, and were interrupted, finally, by the re- sent to ‘* Well?” Revere asked, as the man seated himself. ‘* 1 have found out what you desire.” ‘* What is it?” ‘*First, the tramp is the Telegraph Detec- tive disguised.” ‘*T suspected that.” ‘* Next, the patient is his father, formerly . your prisoner.” “That I also knew, What is his condi- tion?” ‘* Raving mad when he first got home, but quiet enough now. The doctor says he will regain his senses in a day or two, perhaps sooner,” ‘‘ What is the physician’s name?” inquired Revere. ** Winston.” ** When does he call?” ** Morning and evening.” ** And the nurse?” ‘*Tsa rough fellow,named Brown, is strong, as he is honest.” ‘* And the detective?” ‘* Goes and comes at all hours.” ‘* That willdo. Stay in the house until I see you again,” and Revere dismissed the man with an unceremonious wave of his hand, then turned to Torrance: a You understand the case now?” he ask- ed. ** Perfectly.” ‘* And our chance of success?” ‘Was never better.” ‘*You mean—” ‘That I see a way to find this casket if its whereabouts is known to the Marvins, Bring me pen, ink and paper,” he ordered ab- ruptly. \ evere pointed to the desk in the corner. In afew minutes Torrance had written his orders. ‘‘These two notes,” he then announced, ‘‘are the essence of a plan to carry out my scheme. The first is directed to Willis Mar- vin, the other to the nurse in charge of his father—the man Brown. Read them.” He handed them to Revere, who perused them eagerly. The one directed to Willis Marvin was written in a feminine hand and ran: “ Mr. Marvin:— ‘I write for Miss Constance Thorndyke in a great hurry. She has been taken to the place I name, Hasten there with the police, or fie at anee. st Y ” The other was directed to Brown, in a larger handwriting, and bore the signature, Doctor Winston. ‘“‘ Brown,” it read, ‘*I send a nurse to relieve you. Come to the direction below at once. Iam waiting for you.” And beneath both notes was written a lo- cality several miles from the business center of the city. ‘“‘T think I see your game,” said Revere. ‘‘But not entirely,” laughed Torrance. ‘All Lask is the co-operation of one man and a disguise. Clear the room of Marvin Gomichoo cS alt ut panes 2 P PN te (e(@) : | ; > é 4 ‘| »