Beadle's Dime Library No. 366 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 while a fafher suffered, while a villain was dominant in schemes of peril and death to honest men, would be criminal, He could struggle even if he failed, and the same kind fate which had guided his course on the river— which had enabled him to gain land, he scarcely knew how, would direct him safely through the dangers with which a conflict with Torrance and his accomplice would inevitably surround im. An hour's sleep after donning dry garments, and then as he meditated for a moment silently and left the apartment, his closed lips and reso- lute face spoke more plainly than words: ‘I have decided on my course and I will follow it to the end,” The constantly increasing tide of humanity hurrying along the crowded thoroughfare to work, inspired his mind with the excitement of action. Surrounded by men, in view of the provision made for man’s protection, he won- dered if his mind had not magnified the influ- ence and daring of the men opposed tohim, At all events, as he was ushered into the parlor of the house where Constance Thorndyke had taken temporary refuge, his thoughts looking more to the future, less to the past, took hope, and the appearance of Constance inspired him with new resolves to conquer in the task he had undertaken, or to die in the attempt. **T have come to explain my note of last even- ing,” he said, and the earnest, anxious face whicb looked so trustingly into his own, grew white with terror as he related his adventures with Dayton. ‘** You will follow up these men?” she asked, when he had concluded. ) ‘*Yes. With apparently unsurmountable ob- stacles in the way of my success, I am deter- mined to pursue the trail I have begun.” ** But the peril?” Marvin turned an earnest glance upon his fair companion. ‘Shall | waver when my father’s fate is in doubt? When your fortune, perbaps your life will pay the penalty of retreat?” With hopeful words he left her. His foot- steps echoing on the pavement, seemed sound- ing a last farewell to her solicitous heart as they died out, and she knew that he had gone to meet his foes and her own—perhaps a victim to duty and love. He did not pause until he had reached the City Hall. He was some time in accomplishing the object of his visit, but at last was seated in the private office of the chief of police. : The superintendent welcomed him cordially and evinced his interest in his welfare by the sincerity he exhibited in questioning him as to his whereabouts since he had last seen him, Marvin’s replies were formal and _ laconic. Anxious to broach the subject nearest his mind he said abruptly: “You remember that I was dismissed from the detective force, two months since?” The chief nodded, a grave look on his face, ‘I remember that your resignation was asked for,” he corrected—‘“‘ an act I have since regretted,” arvin regarded him in some surprise. “‘Then more recent developments—” he be- n. ‘¢_Have corroborated my first impressions of the case—that persona] enmity evoked the order from the commissioners.” The young man’s face broke into a gratified ression, ‘I am glad this is so,” he said, ‘‘for it opens the way for what I desire to say to you. I have come to ask a reinstatement on the force.” The chief’s face grew grave. ‘* You understand that cannot be the work of a moment,” he replied. ‘‘ After you left, I pos- itively learned that the complaint against you was a plot of men unworthy of credence. But, in order to obtain your reappointment, certain ya are requisite which will cause some elay. “ do not intend to ask for a reappointment,” declared Marvin; ‘‘my sole object in seeking you is to endeavor to obtain, uot the position nor its salary, but the authority to act as a de- tective in matters which affect myself solely.” The superintendent looked curiously at the young man. “The same hand,” continued the latter, “which drove me from my position under you, has wrought me and mine a cruel wrong—has pursued me relentlessly since I last saw you, I will not weary you with the details of as foula conspiracy as your officers have ever unearthed ; only will I state to you that a bold, powerful league of criminals, knowing that my father ssessed a valuable secret, have kidnapped Fey and that, finding me on their trail, they have endeavored to assassinate me by mears only employed by the most desperate of men.” ‘You startle me,” exclaimed the chief, in- tensely amezed. ‘‘If such a confederation ex- ists—if any citizen has been placed in their power, the entire force shall combine to outwit them.” ‘ “No,” returned Marvin. “Such an action would be known to them before vou could exe- cute a move, for they have spies eren among your men! These men have apparently ceased line of trade and location, to war on society af large, and have centered their operations around an individual and his fortune. Should [ secure your codperation they would simply kill their victims and disap- Der aie ai even the faint clew I now possess concerning them. The time may come when concerted police action may be required; but at present, my own patience and individual effort alone can move in the initial stepsof a dark mystery, freighted with peril and complica- tions. ‘I therefore ask that you invest me with the powers of a detective, trusting to my honor that the privilege will never be abused—that in following out a personal issue, I will make no sacrifice of the interests of justice.” The chief drew out a drawer in his desk and took from it a silver badge. Silently he handed it to Marvin. The face of his visitor flushed with gratitude at this sincere token of the official confidence in his honesty of purpose. His eyes gleamed brightly as he read the inscription on the glittering plate—‘‘ Secret Service Corps, Metropolitan Police Force. Chief’s Staff.” His steps were lighter, his face more hopeful as he left the City Hall, the good wishes of the superintendent, and his proffers of assistance at any time, ringing in his ears. A dark chase bo- fore him—a mystery enveloped in the deepest gloom, he resolutely put aside the thoughts of tho ids y uosurmountable obstacles in the way of success and set his wits to work to be- gin his task with all the prudence and caution of a detective undertaking a case requiring ex- traordinary skill, perseverance and daring. He thought of ye Revere. To find and follow this man might lead to important re- sults, but he knew the character of the indi- vidual too well to believe that he would keep any traces of his connection with the League’s desperadoes at his command in his possession, or that he would not exercise the greatest cau- tion and secrecy in his operations with them. Dayton! He shuddered as he recalled the name and fate of the conspirator, but his eye brightened as the memory suggested a course which might establish the identity of some of the band he sought to find. He knew the lo- cality of the room of the outlaw where he had surprised him the night previous, and he deter- mined on a visit to the place. No one ..ndered his passage to the building which he had entered so cautiously after the casting of the dynamite shell into his room; no one observed him as he opened the unlocked door of Dayton’s apartment and Jooked around the room in search of some valise, or package, which might contain papers bearing on the case in hand, The apartment appeared to have been only a temporary Sp! -place for the man, however. A small sachel lay empty in one cor- ner, and its contents, a change of clothes, had been placed in a drawer of the bureau. The most persistent search failed to reveal any lev ters or papers, and the detective was about to abandon this venture as a failure when he picked up a card lying face down on the floor. He would have cast it aside again as an or- dinary business card had not the words written in pencil on the back—‘* Thursday evening ”— attracted his attention. The front of the card was the common inscription—a firm name, its There was nothing in this which in anyway served to indicate a pos- sible location for a band of criminals, yet he could not divest himself of the idea that, as it had prob- ably been in Dayton’s possession, it really bore some relation to the nefarious business of the outlaw. He pocketed the piece of pasteboard, left the room, and mechanically turned his feet in the direction of the number indicated on the card. A at oe belief that he was wastin his time caused him to betray but little enthusi- asm in his effort, but as he gained the street a singular circumstance placed him on the alert and awoke toaction every impulse of his nature. He had passed the building designated on the card. Its five stories bore a continuous series of sign-boards indicating that, like neighboring structures, it was devoted to the business of a mercantile firm. There were two entrances from the street, the one into the store and counting-room, the other to a broad stairway. The double door of this latter entrance, how- ever, was closed. Had it been unlocked and open Marvin would probably have paid but little attention to any one entering the place, but, as he watched the doorway, and saw a man appear, look sus- piciously up and down the street and then yee let bimself into the hallway, relock the oor and disappear, his suspicions were aroused. Glancing up at the top story, he observed that its windows had broad sheets of heavy manila per stretched across them, and he began to think that, after all, the card found in Davton’s room might lead to some important develup- ments. The appearance of a second man, in whom he imagined he traced a marked resemblance to the companion of Torrance the night previous, and whose injuries on that occasion had evidently been slight and transient in their effects, verified Marvin’s suspicions, The Telegraph Detective. “T have located my men,” he murmured. ‘They are in the top story of that building!” He would have been content to remain where he was, and follow his men when they left the mig but as he was inspecting the building om the rear he saw drive up to the side of the pavement a wagon which he at once recog- nized. It was the truck vehicle of the police department employed in light errands and in official business. A bright thought in his mind, Marvin approached the driver, who was taking a small package from the seat and was about to . dismount. Ransom,” accosted Marvin, advancing to the man, The other glanced at him suspiciously, and then, with a hearty smile, grasped his hand. “You, Marvin?” he cried, been for the last month?” Marvin replied in a general way, and asked: ** Delivering supplies?” ‘Yes; the main wire to head-quarters is weak at several places, and we’re splicing and repairing. This package [m leaving in the store yonder until the repairer comes along.” Marvin caught his arm as he stepped toward the door of the store near at hand. ‘‘ Wait a minute,” he said. The other glanced at him in some surprise. Marvin pointed upward. ‘¢Is it the wire running across that block?” he asked, “es Yes,” ‘‘ Are the instruments and material in this package?” pe a Fd ‘* Give it to me!” Ransom started in absolute amazement, ‘*Give it to yout’ he replied. ‘‘ Why, what do you mean?” ‘*I mean,” he said, in low, cautious tones, ‘that if 1 can gain access to the roof of the ad- joining building through this one, in the guise of a line repairer, I may be able to bag some game the department will be pleased to dispose of.” ‘‘T understand,” replied Ransom, and with- out cavil he handed him the package. The corner building was of the same hight as the inside one in which Marvin believed the conspirators were assembled. A word to the employees of the building sufficed for them to show him the way to the roof, and the detec- tive had gained one point at least. He glanced eagerly over the roofs, Askylighton the minor structure told him that he must move with cau- tion, and not be seen. To insure safety should he be watched he examined the police wire, de- tached a rusted and crooked piece, and supplied a new piece from the coil in the package. He approached the skylight cautiously and looked over. He drew back as quickly, as he saw in the room it lighted four men, They were smoking, their chairs tilted back against the wall, and the voice of a loud speaker, borne to his ears through a broken pane of glass, was that of his captor opposite Long Island—the man Torrance! He was exultant as he lay by the side of the skyligbt and realized that the men he sought were within hearing distance—that he could distinguish their words, The first sentence borne to his ears startled him. It was: ‘“Then Robert Marvin has confessed?” ‘“‘ No,” replied Torrance to this inquiry of one of his companions, ‘Imprisonment, torture both have failed to secure from him one wo relative to the missing fortune.” “‘ And yet, the casket has been found?’ ‘“‘ As good as found. Starvation and torture failing with our obstinate prisoner, we con- eluded to try strategy, at Revere’s suggestion.” “‘ And it succeeded?” ‘Yes, Last night I directed one of the men to put my plan into operation, This morning na alti te me a letter, It was directed to the chief of police and it was written by Robert Marvin. Our plan bad been to raise a window in his prison and open the blinds as if to admit. air. We knew his first move would be to throw out a letter as soon as he could write it, and we took pains to leave paper and pencil in his each.” ‘‘ And he did it?” ‘Two hours later an envelope went fluttering down to the street, and was duly picked up by a roan on the watch.” ‘* And its contents?” ‘‘Marvin related to the chief of police his story in brief, an attempted location of his prison, and the whereabouts of the long-missing t.” a exclamation of excitement from Tor- rance’s auditors was borne to the listeners’ ears. ‘Tt proved to be a private banker’s residence. Revere was right, Dayton wrong. The casket had been disposed of by Marvin, and under in- structions he had carried it to a private banker; but where, never mind; the place we know, Within two hours the casket will be in our pos- session. We have reconnoitered the residence, After pgp ital ie L calthy a quiet one, the ifferen arded. net What fe your Visa? asked one of the men, Torrance smiled confidently. ** Where have you MICO) KS G (o) pee | ES}