Beadle's Dime Library No. 366 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

The Te aT 23 first, Brown next, decoy them away long enough for me to search the room of the de-. tective, or to talk with Robert Marvin in my | new character, I'll guarantee to find out the whereabouts of this mysterious casket.”’ ‘“T’ll supply the disguise,” and Revere turned to leave the room. ‘‘ When will you carry your idea into effect?” ‘‘ Barly to-morrow morning. Let this man stand and have you arrested for murder now | and here.” As she spoke she faced him, trembling with suppressed passion, her face the play- ground of contending emotions. ‘You cannot go with me!” he declared, desperately. ‘* To-night of all times.” ‘1 will go.” He started to pass her, but she blocked of yours, who was just here, be ready to | his way. help me, and we'll start before daylight.” “Very well,” and Revere left the apart- ment, and, soon after, by a secret side pass- age, the house, After visiting a second-hand dealer's, and obtaining a part of the disguise he wished, he started to return. The hour was late, but there were no persons on the street whom he noticed, until, a few squares from the house where Constance was, a woman came around the corner, paused, caught him by the arm, as she cried: ‘* Adrian Revere !” He started back in alarm. ‘* Arminie Royale!” was all he could say. CHAPTER XXII. JUST TOO LATE. Despite his alarm at thus unexpected] meeting the woman he had so wronged, Adrian Revere stood his ground, the ugly nature of the man written in the hard ex- pression of his face. ‘Yes, Arminie Royale, your wife,” re- plied the woman. ‘‘ You did not expect to meet me again so soon?” He turned his evil eyes upon her. “What do you want with me?” he de- manded. ‘“‘ Justice—revenge! Oh, you need not scan the streets. 1 donot Pcie to call the olice or alarm the city. simply intend to ollow you, to go where you go, to wring a confession of the truth from your lips, an acknowledgment that 1 am your wife, and then—” ‘‘Well, what then? Come, I’ve no time to trifle.” ‘‘Then,” replied the woman, ‘I will con- sider the best way to punish a man who at- tempts to murder a true and faithful wife.” He recoiled at her words. She had the advantage of him, and he knew it. He did not dare attempt to conciliate her and lead her to bis new place of residence, of which she was in ignorance, but the section of the city in which it was located she had eyi- dently learned; por could he afford an open quarrel. He attempted to mollify her. ‘‘See here, Arminie,” he said, in more entle tones; ‘‘let us be friends. In a few days I shall be rich. Give me your address, and I agree soon to rid myself of Constance Thorndyke and fly with you to Europe with the fortune she will bring me.” A derisive laugh broke from his compan- ion’s lips. - ‘A pleasant fiction truly,” she answered, mockingly. ‘‘Fly with you! Adrian Revere, you little know my nature. Wife only in name +o you, I hate you as I co my deadliest enemy. A woman may forgive unfaithful- ness, but utter ingratitude never! My address is your address, Tve found you, and [’ll stick to you until I die. Not for your love, but to haunt you with the memory of your des- picable treason to me, who even lent myself to your schemes to destroy the life and hap- piness of a pure, innocent girl—Heaven for- give me!” “She is a dangerous woman,” thought Revere. ‘‘I must get rid of her,” but his hand seeking the knife in his bosom dropped again te his side as he realized that a public scene could not escape notice, He determined on flight. ‘““T agree to send you the marriage-cer- tificate tf you will not annoy me to-night—” he began, seeking to temporize with her. She laughed shrilly. ‘* Another lie. You have not got it, Oh, I read your scheme, Adrian Revere. To deceive me to fly with Constance Thorn- dyke and her fortune, but it will never be, never!” He was roused to the highest pitch of angry resentment. “Curse you!” he muttered. finished you once. time!” \ ‘“You threaten me? Be careful, Adrian Revere, lest I denounce you where you “T nearly Beware of the second ‘‘Curse you, take that, if you will per- sist !”’ He pushed her so violently that she fell against the fence near which they were standing, and without waiting to see the re- sult of his assault, he sprung across the street, darting down an alley, and disap- peared within its darkness. ‘*Coward! murderer!” shrieked the wo- man, in an agony of passion, as she strug- gled to her feet. ‘‘I will follow you! [ will drag you to the gallows for that blow!” She started in his wake with the desperate resolve of a wronged woman, but a strong arm held her back. As Arminie had turned the corner of the street where she had met Revere, a form which had been following her paused as if to await the result of the interview. Coming forward at the momentof Revere’s escape he caught her arm and turned her face toward him, to verify his suspicions. ‘Let me go,” she cried, wildly. ‘‘In Heaven’s name do not detain me. Yonder man is my husband, and—”’ ‘‘Not till you have answered me a few questions.” She started at the voice. ** Willis Marvin!’ she cried. ‘‘Oh! man, quick, guick/ Down yonder lane with me, and pursue the man who has just escaped me.” But the detective smiled scornfully at what he believed to be a ruse to escape him, “You shall answer my questions,” he re- plied. ‘I have found you, and you must tell me where your accomplice, Adrian Re- vere is.”’ The woman uttered a low cry as the mo- ments flew, and she realized that the man he named had escaped. “Why did you detain me? Oh, why did you not join me in following up that man, for that was Adrian Revere, and in losing his trail you have lost all trace of the woman you love, Constance Thorndyke!” CHAPTER XXIII. THE WRONGED WIFH’S ONE PURPOSE. THE woman pointed to the alleywa down which Adrian Revere had disappeared. “It is too late to think of following him now,’ he answered. ‘‘But what does this mean? You claim to be his wife, and yet—’ ‘‘What, with all your shrewdness, can you not imagine the truth yet? My words should bring you joy, for if I am Mrs. Adrian Revere, the woman you seek is not his wife, and never can be so long as I live.” ‘‘ But the deception?” ‘**T will tell you all about that in due time. It is not difficult for a husband to induce a wife to aid him in securing proofs of a fraud- ulent marriage to gain a fortune, but when that husband repays the sacrifice by treach- ery and outrage, it is difficult to deceive the wife again.” Her eyes blazed as she spoke. “Then you mean that you and this man are at war?” Marvin asked. ‘‘At war?” replied the woman, wildly; ‘“at deadly enmity! Oh, you need not think IT am deceiving you. If my past actions have wronged you and those you love, I will yet atone for it by bringing Adrian Revere to justice. Your father—have you seen him— do you know his present whereabouts?” o abrupt was the question that Marvin’s suspicions were aroused. He had left the house with the intention of telegrapbing to Dorsett that he could not leave the city, and to call in local assistance regarding his pris- oners, when Arminie Royale attracted his at- tention, and he had followed her with the re- sult now attained. Ignorant of the episodes subsequent to his wild ride on the runaway engine, he only saw in the woman's query a disposition to discover his secrets. ‘‘ My father,” he replied. ‘‘ Why do you ask?” ‘‘Because I have a right to—because he saved my life and is my friend.” legraph Detective. ‘Your friend?” replied Marvin, in won- dering surprise, ‘Yes, Willis Marvin; I do not blame you for suspecting me of treachery, for T have been an enemy to you in the past, but if your father were here, he would verify my words. Is he in the city—do you know where he is?” ‘“ Yes,” replied Marvin, hesitatingly. ** And you can lead me to him?” “*If I so desire.” ** Will you do so?” ‘* Why should I do that?” he asked. ‘‘ Because between your father and myself is an arranged plan, and we should exchange views in order that Adrian Revere may not escape.” ‘** You talk in enigmas,” ‘“Then let me be plain. From the time that I decoyed you to the den of the Dyna- mite League until | had, by assuming Con- stance Thorndyke’s identity, succeeded in se- curing for my unworthy husband proofs of his marriage to her, | was acting as his accom- plice. But when, at Morris, he shamefully betrayed me into the hands of hired assassins to put me out of the way, that he alone might enjoy thé fortune and love of Con- stance Thorndyke, 1 became a changed wo- man. I met your father,” and briefly she related the incidents of her experience in the old cabin, her flight to the city, and her meet- ing with her husband, whose footsteps she had come to shadow. Marvin's incredulity was compelled to give way. So fully did the story accord with the facis, that he was now eager to admit her as a confederate in the effort to hunt the villains down. ‘‘l believe your story, and will lead you to my father. He may not recognize you, for he is suffering from a delirious fever; but your forlorn face tells me that you need rest.”’ ‘* Rest!” and the woman laughed harshly. ‘‘ [| want no rest till my wrongs are avenged. But I will go with you, because I can aid you, ome you can aid me, in the work we have to Dy" ‘Will you answer me one question con- cerning Ronmunte Thorndyke?” asked Mar- vin, as they proceeded on their way. ‘‘ What claim has Adrian Revere on Constance?” ‘* None whatever.” “Then what is the mystery of the mar- riage?” ‘** When she was brought to the mansion in Irving Place she was under the influence of chloroform. The next morning Revere ad- ministered a drug,which,whwWe it affected her mind, did not render her thoroughly insen- sible, but, subservient to his influence in her dazed condition, he led her to the parlor, dressed and vailed, where a reputable clergy- man was in waiting. Whatever the secret potency of the drug, it certainly enabled him to carry out his plan fully, forcing Con- stance Thorndyke’s mute obedience to his every injunction. She lifted her vail at his direction, and the clergyman and those pres- ent saw her face. As the clergyman was getting ready to perform the ceremony, on an agreed plan, Revere took him into the front parlor for a conference, during which I led Constance into the extension room and there readily dressed myself exactly like her, which was easy to do, and then re-entering the second parlor alone, still enveloped in the vail, | personated her in the ceremony, all present believing me to be Constance Thorndyke.”’ The detective’s face betrayed the pro- | foundest amazement and indignation at the baseness of the whole transaction. ‘*But why did he not force Constance to the marriage? If she was under this influ- . ence, why not have her submit to the cere- — mony?” Arminie Royale laughed derisively, ‘*Do you imagine I, his legal wife, would have allowed it? No, no, cure him the fortune, but not to place an- other wife in my rightful Snes He agreed to treat the girl with pe sonally, but, by the fraudulent claims of marriage to secure the casket and then aban- | don her, You see how, later, he abused my confidence and attempted the atrocious dou- ble crime of murder and wrong.” They had reached the Syed where Marvin's room was located, and the de was willing to lend myself to a scheme to se- ect kindness, per- tective | GOMIEDOOKS..¢ t oa - en oy, ee } ° ~ 4