Beadle's Dime Library No. 366 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

The Telegraph Detective. vin’s glance. ‘* You seem to be unfortunate in your attempts to follow us.” Marvin was silent. A slow agony burned in his mind, as he feared the wires would be dis- covered, or bimself removed before he could complete bis message to the police. As if was, he venvured to slowly telegraph the sentence: “ts Even now I face the man who robbed the banker s-—’ ‘* What was that?” It was one of the men who spoke sharply, sus- ae ee - in his face, Torrance fo" %--% with an oath, | His companions bad sprang into the corridor; but he, even with arrest threatening him did not yet retreat. “Tt is a lie!” he cried, do it!” The instrument lifted triumphantly in Mar- vin’s hand, and his excited face as he ciicked the transmitter was his reply. | ‘*You may escape for a tine,” declared the “You could not undaunted Telegraph Detective, “but the law piciously, The faint click of Ube telegraph in- | | strument had caught his ear. With his free hand Marvin tapped nervously on the side of the bed. It quieted the outlaw’s suspicions. **| have only a few words to say to you,” said Torrance, pacing the floor, ‘‘ As a body of men acting under imperative instructions, we do not hesi ate at violence to accomplish our ends, Had you accepted your situation and awaited our action, in time yourfather might bave been restored to you. Asitis, you have brought on our own fate. Tne powerful League of which Yaw a met ber brooksno interference from God or man.” ‘Villain!’ eried Marvin; dare you ac- knowledge that it was you who kidnapped my father?’ Tne other laughed scornfully, but with a shade of anger. ‘You will gain nothing by hard words,” he said. ‘I offer you your liberty after a time, on one condition. You must leave the city, and seek Constance Thorndyke no further.” ‘‘T refuse.” came firmly from the young man’s lips, “‘ to treat with either you or any member of your vile band.” “Fool!” hissed Torrance, ‘‘For myself I would not bandy words with you | It is only at the direction of another that } do so,” ‘‘And that person Adrian Revere!” cried Marvin, The other started. * No matter,” he returned; ‘‘ Il have done my mission, You refuse my offer; then die! I leave your fate in the hands of these men.” Click! click! The little instrument at bis side sent the quick words on their way as Marvin endeavored to procrastinate the termination of the interview. ‘¢ These men,” he replied, scornfully.’ ** Who are they! The off-scourings of the State peni- tentiary !” A low grow] from the villains warned the tel- egraph detective that he bad incurred their. in- creased resentment, | RY OFF ‘* Your perceptions as a detective are not very acute,” replied Torrance, “* Yoti are in the bands of no ordinary criminals—Jacques War- necke, an exiled Belgian, and once possessed of the royal diamonds of the'duke of his province; Leary Osborne, the most skillful safe breaker in America; Barnes, the Canadian bank note en- graver, and myself, will scarcely care to be classed as men from’ the’ slums, Ahb,:Iodo not fear to reveal our identity,’ Our fears .of-your inquisitiveness will soon cease,” $+ abbtytir he elicking instrument in its monotonous taps had ceased to attract the attention of the Fe and muttering men. . Torranee turned ogo. *- * OF Wil agadlong vre “You can dé with: him’ as yau: please,” he carelessly announced to bis. confederates. »» Two men started forward. 'They fell; back as Marvin sprung to bisfeet. 6 6 6 ny * Hold? he demanded, imperatively. Torrance turned. ar y ‘** You have something. to’say?” he asked, ,. ‘Yes, I havésomething to say!” Ya **Out with it,” ** ‘You deem mein your power,” cried Marvin, with rising excitement and flashing eyes. ‘* You are mistaken. Before cne of your number can leave this building the police wilh guard every outlet!” bot cee Torrance started, but’ assumed a_ careless, scornful smile, as he retorted: ** You think to frighten us.” But scarcely had the words been uttered when a bell so.nded tbrough the place. “ The signal of danger!” exclaimed Torrance, pe ois a startled face on his compayion, ‘' The police ‘Yes; Sidney Torrance; the police!” cried Marvin, in ringing tones—‘‘ the police sent for by me—summoned even from this, prison of yours! oq sim He stood boldly defiant, triumphant in face and manner, victory endowing him with a reck- lessness which might cost bim dear. ““ What do you mean?” demanded Torrance; “vou summoned them?” ‘Ay; Jsummoned them! I mean that first notifying the police that I was here, your pris- oner, while you have been so boastingly intro- cue ue —— and your accomplices, I, with this little instrument—and he revealed the tele- graph relay to Torrance’s startled vision— ‘have been clicking name for name, word for | | ; j j | will soon overtake you. At least one of your accomplices is by this time safely cornered or under a close surveillance,” . “The captain,” insensibly murmured Tor- rance, bis eyes glittering with rage. ‘*No; Ais time will come wheu the mystery of the band of fire is elucidated. The fifth mem- ber of your conspirators—the man who left the banker’s garden after you, and disappeared in a house near by. I traced him, and his where- abouts [ have communicated to the police.” A wild, derisive shout like a cry of triumph and satisfaction broke from the outlaw’s lips, startling the young man with its intensity. ** Fool!” he cried, as he drew a revolver and leveled it at Marvin’s breast. ‘“‘ Your warning to the police bas precipitated your own death, and your information concerning the man you refer to, has doomed him you would have saved, For the fifth man of the party in the banker’s garden—the man you have betrayed to the police as one of the assa:sins of Hiram Arnold, is your father !” CHAPTER VIII. THROUGH FIRE. AT the terrible announcement that in his eagerness to secure the capture of the banker's murderer he had placed the brand of guilt on bis own father’s name, Willis Marvin, the Tele- graph Detective, fell back, overcome with dis- may. oy Great heavens!” he cried. ‘Was I blind not to have foreseen this?” The demoniac light in the eyes of Torrance faded to serious alarm as the warning bell sounded again through the building. ‘* Blind and reckless both, to trust your feeble will against that of the Dynamite League,” he siet, ‘* Willis Marvin, your quest ends here, ie! He leveled the revolver straight at the detec- tive’s breast, and fired as Ne spoke. Amid the smoke end dim light in the apartment he was satisfied that his murderous mission had been executed, as he saw the form of his victim sink pegs to the bed; and he gained the corridor at aleap. The wildest confusion prevailed among the men as they hurried to the’end of’ the hallway. A man coming hurriedly up the stairs glanced eagerly after them, , ‘* Torrance,” he cried—‘ where is he?” ' ‘*Here,” replied the outlaw leader. |“ What ” “The police!” ae __ “The bell informed us of that. Are they in the house?” out tte <n “No, but at the rear door. “They came only a minute since—six of them in the embulance wagon,” ‘** Marvin spoke the truth, then,” remarked Torrance, “They examined the building closely, and then knocked at the door, demanding entrance. They would have 4 on, but’bne of the men flashed a light and it betrayed us.” “Can they force the doors?” inquired Tor- rance, Poy ite ang _ ** Yes, and will do so, very soon!” = *., Torrance’s eyes flashed like two ineteors as he if seemed to reflect deeply, theset He turned to Barnes, who stod near by, ' ** Are all the men here?” he asked) “Yes, every one of them.” (95 + “Let. them take the most'valtiable packages of rer ge silk job and drop‘them down the shaft pave St@aee ** And the mén?” mt Saye at “Take the winding stairway to ‘the'cellar, earry the goods through the break inthe wall and skirt the sidewalk wall until the next street is reached, Then ‘one by oné' creep ‘cautiously out to the street and hide the plunder.” " The men, gathered around him with alarmed and anxious faces, started to exeeute his com- mand as the sound of a heavy’ hammer beating on the doors below attracted their attention. Torrance turned to Barnes again as he saw the men disappear. ‘ “fhe building must go,” he said, decisively, The other started, as if astonished. “As bad as that?” peu “Yes; we must leave no trace behind—not even thedetective yonder. Quick! To the first floor and fling a burning lamp among the pack- ages there.” e himself started for a doorway through | which seyeral of bis men had already cisap- | peared with packages—the secret exit from the word, over the wires to the office of the super- | Place. intendent of police!” Startled, dismayed, appalled, a white alarm Barnes, with cool precision, descended to carry out his leader’s commands, The door of the or two longer.” ce) — SE = oa nrisoner’s room leading to the earridor had vet been locked, and the hall was plunged in dark- ness as the outlaw took the lamp with him, ‘The fiends!” murmured a voice from the room. ‘' They destroy life by any means to rid themselves of: an enemy.” It was Marvin who spoke—Marvin whose feint at being mortally wounded had succeeded ina de- _ ceiving Torrance. He sprung to the door of the corridor once it was clear, but stooped to pick up a glittering object on the floor—the revolver dropped by Torrance in his excitement. The Telegraph Detective’s heart beat wildly as a faint smell of smoke and burning wood perme- ated'the air, He was about to endeavor to seek the exit spoken of by Torranee when he heard a. step coming rapidly up'the’stairs, yim». “Tt is Barnes!” he murmured, | He shall not escape me if I have to drag him through the £re to the police!” ‘ The fire! Aiready the dense increasing smoke told the detective that the fell purpose of Tor- rarce had been accomplished, and tbat in a few moments all chance of escape in the direction of the lower portion of the house would be cnt off yet *he nerved himself for a struggle with the Villain, and as he saw his approaching form dimly outlined in the corridor he stepped for- ward to meet him, There was a contact, Barnes brushed against Marvin, but the exclamation which followed ety altered the detective’s preconceived an. ‘Torrance?’ spoke the League confederate, Yes,” replied the detective, in a low tone, ‘*T have fired the place. The police have broken in, and we must hasten to escape before the fire cuts off the passageway.” He brushed past his supposed superior, and Marvin followed without a word. He hoped that those of the e who.bad preceded were sufficiently far in advance to admitof hiscarry- ing out a suddenly projected schema when the street was reached. ei Down the we Rag, staircase, his mind in a whirl of excitement, following close onthe heels of his guide, the detective hastened, Utter dark- ness in the cellar prevented him seeing his, com- panion. He could only follow him by the sound of his feet, intaig At last a break in the masonry compos ng the foundation of the building was reached, and Barnes crawled through. Marvin following found himself on the damp clay bottom of the sidewalk pit. As they proceeded, neither spoke, but the detective started and clasped tightly the weapon in his hand as he saw ahead of, them a dim ray from the ne ey ma through an open- —s the end of the sidewalk, alt he form of a man emerging through it was faintly outlined. Barnes peused as be reached tbe place and appeared to listenintently,,,, Then he peered forth and turned to Marvin, — . « *Come,”*be said. ‘! The fire-enginesare in the street, and in the confusion and crowd we Shall. not be noticed. Now is our chance)” “ Wait.” KL TO Risaw dow — detective could’ observe, bis companion 8 ar ‘ aby Seas . , .“* What. do you mean?’,demanded the man, drawing back suspicigusly. The ‘*I mean that we will remain here a minute iit Oh. ; A low cry of alarm from the scoundrel’s lips told Marvin that the man bad.discovered the erromhe bad fallen intos (op nes bo ‘Not Torrance!” he cried, as. he endeavored to shake loose the grasp of the detective, ‘) No,” replied Marvin, coolly, ‘ but. yours truly,’ Willis Marvin, the Telegraph Detective,” | as he pressed the muzze of the revolver to Basnes'asempie,: eg Ga + OF Gy 4 ** Trapped!”, wailed the outlaw, in w cry. ‘Yes, Barnes; aud my prisoner! Now listen to me,” came in steady tones. . “ Walk straight abead into the street, without a word, a move, or attempt to escape, or I will send a bullet to your heart,”’ Not the quiver of a muscle traversed the frame of the detective as he laid a hand on the shoulder of his prisoner and advanced with him to the street. Once there be caught his wrist in a vise-like grip, the pistol in deadly menace by his side, The wretch ground his teeth in mute anger, and glared murderously at his captor. Even then, amid the surging mass of people - rushing. pell-mell to the burning building, he would have attempted an escape, but the tight lage of Marvin’s hand, the glitter in his eye, subdued the desperate impulse, ‘** Dorsett!’ —- ; Tbe word was a call, quick and clear, from Marvin's lips, directed to a man barry ine by— & man who had just emerged from the alley be- hind them. The person addressed turned. ** Marvin!” be cried in wild surprise, “ You here? For Heaven’s sake, what does this al mean—the message, the fire—” : His eyes alternated in wild glances from the detective to his prisoner. “It means that I have esca death,” answered Marvin. “I than I can delay to tell you.” d a terrible means more Eomicboo (C S)