Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 379 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

) i) ji i jl y a Best = <> += pe ¢ Bot ie this blind man and his daugh- r ‘That question can be answered better after you tell me just what discoveries you have made,” with poorly assumed carelessness, The widow was silent for a brief space, but then said: “Tt was not a difficult task to get at the story of their past, and I was careful to keep track of all the main points. I had to, since you forgot to tell me just what it was you wanted to find out.” “Don’t harp on that string, Mercy! Haven't T told you I’d let you in on the ground floor, presently?” he muttered, impatiently. ‘“‘T was afraid you would forget the fact,” and the widow laughed a little maliciously. ‘ But 3h ead memory is so good, business! “Years ago, Herman Moskau, with his wife and two children, lived in the East, fairly well off, if not wealthy. He was a merchant, an im- porter of some sort, though I didn’t pay much attention to that part of the story. He was music-crazy, I reckon, from what I learned.” Colonel Mallison made an impatient gesture. ‘* Never mind going so far badk, Mercy!” ‘‘ Just as you say; you know I am groping in the dark,” with another malicious little nod and sparkle of the nut-brown eyes. “If you could just give me a hint as to which one of the family you want to—” ‘Don’t crowd me too hard, or you may regret it,” slowly muttered the magnate of Good Leather, an ugly look in his small eyes, ‘‘ You know well enough; about his son.” The widow nodded, her eyes aglow. She had gained her point, and like a true woman, was content for the present. ‘* Well, this son, named Franz Moskau, ap- pears to have been an enterprising sort of youngster, and though his father had enough for all, he would strike out for himself, resolved to make a fortune by quicker means than dabbling in musty dry-goods or whatever it may have been the old gentleman handled. And so, with a snug sum in his pocket, and the blessings of father, mother and sister besides, he set out for the West, to look about him before piling up his fortune. ‘“‘it did not take him long to make up his mind. The country was mine-mad then, and he fell in with a smooth-tongued fellow called Morris Grant, who claimed to be an experienced miner, but just then down on his luck, He felt sure he would strike it rich, if he had a fair start in the race for wealth, and before he gave over, this Franz Moskau believed the same. At any rate, he staked the prospector, and they agreed to divide the profits, if any. * According to the letters Franz wrote home Morris Grant’s head was level, and made Ro his ethos of striking a good thing. They worked together, I believe, and one of them made a lucky hit. Franz had money enough left to develop the claim sufficiently to prove its worth, and then, I believe, there was some talk of selling out fora large sum; just what, I don’t think the old man mentioned. “That was- the last letter they received from anz. Time passed on, and misfortunes came n them, thick and heavy. The mother died, e father lost his eyesight, which had been growing poor for years past. And then, b some means which I! failed to fully understand, they lost all their. property. ‘“Tn all this time they heard nothing from the son, though they wrote often, begging him to come home, let the sacrifice be what it might. As he did not come, and as they heard nothing from him, they began to fear he was dead, or that some great misfortune had befallen him, ‘To settle their doubts, the father and daugh- ter sold off what few articles remained to them, from the financial wreck, and set out in search of the missing son. They knew the name of the lace near which his mine was located, and had ittle difficulty in finding it. That was New Rush, and the mine was called The cad Widow Watkins paused as she uttered these names, gazing keenly into the face of her hus- band, seeking to read there the truth or falsity of the suspicions which his strange conduct at sight of Herman Moskau had awakened in her mind. She saw a dark and scowling coun- tenance, with redly-glowing eyes and hard-set jaws; but the colonel made no sign, spoke no word, and she resumed: “This much they found without difficulty, but it was about all, at least so far as their princi- pal hope was concerned, The mine was being worked for all it was worth, and the present owners bade fair to make their independent for- tunes out of it. But neither Franz Moskau nor Morris Grant were of those owners. “The old man told his story, and the mine- owners proved their title clear, even to the blind man’s satisfaction. They showed their papers and they were in perfect shape. One set show that Franz Moskau had transferred his share in the Plenty Mine to Morris Grant, for full value received. The others showed that Morris Grant had in turn sold the mine to the present owners, for a large sum: $75,000 I think. As for the rest, no one seemed able to tell them where either Franz or Morris had gone: they might as well have dropped into the bowels of the earth! rm ee eee ne - Howling Jonathan. ‘‘Then began the weary search which has lasted until this day, and wholly without success. The old man fondly believed that at last his fid- dle would bring back the missing son, that through the old love for music, which, it seems, was quite as strong in Franz as in his father, they would once more be united.” ‘*Not this side the grave—curse them!” sav- agely grated Mallison, a hard, merciless laugh following, cut short by the low ery and exul- tant laugh from the lips of the widow. ‘‘T knew it! I felt it all the time! ‘You are Morris Grant!” she cried, her brown eyes all aglow. ‘You put the missing man out of the way—that sounds so much better than to say you killed him!” Colonel Joel Mattison started to his feet, his hands clinched until the nails were stained with blood. His face was distorted until he looked fairly demoniac. His voice was harsh and strained, though habitual prudence kept it at a low pitch. ‘You lie! Say that again, and ’ll—” His fist was drawn back and he seemed on the point of dashing it into the widow’s face. It seemed as though he would murder her in his savage rage, but she never flinched, never lifted a hand to ward off the blow or tosign for mercy, She looked him full’in the face, laughing in a low, mellow tone, utterly fearless, It was 4 su- pi exhibition of nerve, and it carried the ay. The clinched fist slowly lowered, and Joel Mallison sunk back into his chair, his florid face turning a sickly yellow as he muttered: ‘Don’t crowd me too far, Mercy! I don’t want to hurt you, but—” ‘‘ All the same, you are Morris Grant!” was the positive interjection, a sudden scorn leaping into the fair face and blazing in the nut-brown eyes. ‘Bah! have you known me this long, Joel Mallison, yet think to blind me to so plain a truth? Once more, I say you are Morris Grant, one time partner of Franz Moskau, for whom these people are hunting. Not that it matters to me the value of a crooked pin, but I’m tired of being treated as a spy, or some foolish child whose lips cannot keep a secret.” The colonel sat glaring at her from under cover of his shaggy brows as he crouched with his elbows supported on his knees, Twice he seemed about to break the silence, and twice he closed his lips again without saying a word. ‘“You should know me well enough by this time, Joel—to have no fears of my betraying you—supposing there is anything in particular to betray,” slowly added the widow. ‘‘ I amas much an angel as you are saint—nomore. I have kept some pretty off-colored secrets in my time, and if I fail_a friend now, it will be the first, Once more, I say you are the man who called himself Morris Grant, whether that was your rightful name or not,” ‘Suppose I was—what of it?’ growled the colonel, savagely. ‘* You said everything was square about the mine and its sale!” ‘“‘Of course it was,” and the widow laughed lightly, more like her usual self now her point was gained. ‘‘I know you about as well as you oe yourself, and I never once set you down a ool, ‘What are you driving at, then?’ he snap- ped, sourly. ‘* Kicking for my Tights—the rights of your wife, love!” laughed the widow, her eyes spark- ling with true womanly malice, ‘‘ And because I wanted to give you a solemn warning for your own good,” “Tm not in the humor for nonsense, just now.” ‘Tt will be sorry jesting for youif ever the truth gets out, my dear! True, you are the chief of Good Leather, and until now your light- est word has been as law to these poor fools! True, these two strangers who hunt for Morris Grant only less earnestly than they search for Franz Moskau, are poor and helpless in them- selves: but he is blind, she is young and lovely and innocent. Let them raise their voices against Colonel Joel Mallison—let them prove that he is Morris Grant—let them charge you with removing their brother and son, and if there is the slightest joint in your armor, be sure a necktie-party will come off in Good Leather, with you as the principal perform- er! “That's just what I’m afraid of,” muttered Mallison, starting up as a mocking laugh broke from those scarlet Se “Tf you are not Morris Grant, what have you to fear?” she asked, catching quickly at his slip of the tongue. ‘‘Havén’t I owned that I did once pass as Morris Grant?” sourly. ‘Not in so many words, my precious!” i “Well, if you will have it—I was Morris Grant!” , ‘ ‘‘Now, that’s white and decent, just as it should be, dear,” said the widow, stepping to his side and resting one hand on his bowed head. ‘Tf I can’t be trusted with all, Pll be trusted with nothing. The day you plainly show you doubt me, Joel, will be the day of our last part- ; ing. ‘“T do trust you, little woman,” he said, but still in a surly tone of voice that brought the / bright light back to her eyes and sent her to her former place, ‘‘Iladmit that I played it sharp on young Moskau, but he brought it on himself. He would crowd me with temptation, the idiot! He made me gouge him, almost against my will!” ‘Don’t spoil a good thing, dear. I ama bird of prey, as well as you are, and it does me good hs ear of a smart operation like this must have een! *“*it wasn’t so bad,” and Mallison laughed ' shortly. ‘‘ They can’t find a single flaw—they can’t prove anything against Morris Grant, even: if they ever find him. But—you know how easy it is to raise a mob among such hot-bloods. And. you know how hard it is to choke them off whem once they get started, too!” ** Don’t Te and a gray shade settled over the woman’s facé, making her look years older, and far from beautiful. ‘‘ I’ve seen more than one ra time, and I hope to never take part in an-. ovuner, get at the bottom of this affair. I knew I could be of more use to you then; and if these people ever suspect that you are Morris Grant, be sure you will need all the aid you can get.” ‘They’ not trouble Good ather long. When they fail to learn anything of the mam they are hunting for, they will move on again. I know this, for I have kept track of them for the pens year—ever since I first heard of them strolling through the country.” ‘Yet they took you by surprise to-day?” ‘‘T lost track of them two months ago. Them they were facing tothe south, I didn’t look for them up this way.” ‘“You know—they spoke of one who had. sroved himself a good friend,” said the widow,, er voice suddenly growing harder. “If you have kept track of them as closely as you say,, you must lave heard of his Quixotic notions! ‘*You mean Frank Spartan?” ‘‘Of course. You know he has just come to» town?” ‘‘T saw him to-day, yes.” ‘That girl told me he had promised to find her brother, if he was on the face of the earth,, and when Frank ait pe makes a promise, it is no common difficulty that can turn him to one side, You know that!” _A short, hard laugh came from those thick ps. ‘‘ He'll have to look somewhere else besides on the face of the earth for Franz Moskau! But k don’t fear his interference one-half as much as I BAe of another—that infernal red-haired ras-- ca ’ ‘‘Not Howlin’ Jonathan?” and the widow looked the surprise she felt, ** Howling devil!” grated the colonel, savage: ly. ‘‘He was playing a part, I could almost: take my oath! You know the word that tame of a dangerous enemy, a detective or something of the kind, who—” ‘‘This coarse brute can’t be the one!” exclaim~ ed the widow. ‘‘T wish I was as sure of that; I’d sleep a good deal sounder this night!” grated the colonel, scowlingly. There was a brief silence, broken by the widow. ‘Well, one thing ata time. After all, if this: fellow is the one you think, it is not our part to handle him, so let’s settle about this other scrape. Do you know, I’ve got an idea?” ‘* Let’s have it, then.” ‘‘Why not make assurance doubly sure? Why not take to yourself a safeguard that wilh protect you, and seal their lips, even if it should come out that you were the partner of Franz: Moskau?” ‘“‘T don’t understand you, little woman!” ut- tered the colonel, his small eyes opening wide,, filling with a puzzled light. ‘Speak out!” This did not seem so easy for the one address~ ed. It wasa bold card to play, and she hardly relished the idea of facing it. The colonel had an ugly trick of bursting into a hot and danger-- ous rage at times, when he was hardly account- able for what he might do. Yet, ever since she left Amelia Moskau, after drawing from the poor child her secret, widow Watkins had been weighing this very point and when she entered the room of the Go Leather magnate, it was with the firm resolve to place the scheme before him in plain words. “You know that Frank Spartan isa hard. card to draw against. You can guess why he is: so interested in this matter. She told me—she said that he loved her, and had begged her to marry him.” The words seemed to stick in her throat, and’ she kept her glowing eyes cast down, as though she feared their light might betray her real reason for making such a strange suggestion. ‘“Well? He isn’t the first fool led away by a pretty face!” ‘¢ Morris Grant has more to fear from Frank Spartan than from both the others. If he is bluffed out of the game, there wouldn’t be so much to fear. And it can only be done in one way—by your marrying this sister of nz Moskau yourself!” It was out now, and the widow looked up to laugh softly as she encountered the astonished, almost stupefied gaze of the colonel. That is the reason why I determined to. Eomicboo c Ss COM —