Beadle's Dime Library No. 384 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

"4 bl =F - — eo ee ee re Ee et oe - ~- - —*- — _——_- = is os ~- — ‘ the matter. O | OD ‘No, no, it cannot be possible! I will not be- lieve it, but I will do my best to discover the truth.” Upon their arrival in the East the pair_had taken up thcir abode in the wpper part of Tow York beyond the Harlem river in what is popu- larly called the annexed district, This was formerly Westchestcr county, but as the metropolis grew great it needed more breathing-room for its citizens, and so took a slice of the neighboring territory. , But calling the annexed district the city did not materially change its appearance. Tt was still the country, and in some parts ex- tremely wild and desolate, the houses standing widely apart, and the most of the streets being nothing more than country roads. Everest had talzen a ecttage on the very edge of the annexed district, in a by-street, and with- out anotaer house within hail. To the woman, used to the wild life of the mining region, it did not at all seem lonely, and as Everest now professed to be an artist—he really was an amateur painter of considerable ability—it was not strange that he should select a situation where he could enjoy nature in her unadorned loveliness. Everest’s tale to his wife was that he had now won a reputation as a painter, and could com- mand a good price for his work, A thousand dollars for a small canvas was the lowest ha said he received, and as he usually fin- ished a subject in two or three months from the beginning, the amount of his yearly gains was arple to support him in good stjle. Then, too, he said he speculated on the ** treet,” that vague and indefinite way of get- ting a living which somany men profess to fol- low—men who are without any settled cmploy- ment, but who appear to live tolerably well without doing much work. Alethea had faith in his statements, and never thought of doubting their truthfulness. jut now the words of the detective had awakened the demon of suspicion in her soul, and all the way home she pondered deeply over \Vas Malachi Everest what he purported to be, or was he a double-dyed villain, who was so sk‘llful that for these many years he had suc- cceted in deceiving his own wife? [Everest was at home when she arrived, busy in his sudio conning the evening journals, Io was a great reader, this Malachi, and ning in the way of literature came amiss to him, although he chiefly affected newsapers and paid particular attention to the criminal columns. The moment she entered Everest saw by her face that her mission had been a stormy one, aad he laid aside his newspaper, prepared to listen with due attention to the details. ‘*Fedelia is in the care of Talbot, but in the house of Phenix, the detective; do you know him?” she said, abruptly. This peculiar beginning put Everest at once upon bis guard, and with that marvelous quick- ness which was so characteristic of the man, he immediately guessed what had occurred. ‘Oh, yes, I know and have known him for vears,” he replied, with a fine expression of con‘empt visible in his voice. ‘*T knew him long before he went into the de- tective business. We came in contact, and I succeeded in getting the best of the bargain, and ever since that time the man has followed me with the bitterest hatred. * T’ve no doubt that he will never forgive me for having got the better of him as long as he lives.” ‘‘Then he is an enemy of yours purely on private and personal grounds,” she said, not exactly knowing what to make of this state- ment. ‘** Most certainly,” he replied, promptly. ‘* And on must understand, Alethea, that this man is not a regular detective. He is not attached to the police force, but is what is called a private detective; that is, a man who is ready to do all sorts of dirty work, provided he is well paid for it. ‘‘ Just the kind of a fellow, you know, who will entice a weak-headed man into the com- mission of a crime so as to be able to get a chance to win reputation by apprehending him. ‘Such men are a blot upon civilization, and ought to be suppressed by law. I’ve no doubt the fellow attacked me in the bitterest man- nor.” ‘* He did; he said you were a scoundrel, the leader of a band of desperate men, and had been so for years.” Everest laughed merrily as though amused by the statement, ‘A fine detective he must be then, if I am all this, that he has not put a quietus on me long ago!” he exclaimed. vex ‘Why, the doors of a dozen different prisons must bé growing wide to receive such a man as he makes mie out to be.” 2, He spoke very bitterly indeed against ou. ‘*No doubt, and I do not much wonder at it. He has been trying to do all in his power to in- jure me for years, and words are the cheapest -_-_— - LLL SE e- - oe vo—w ye aoe es - ow < 2 wee te . * _ Injun Dick, Detective. . | . kind of weapons, although they are not gener- tage was the Bronx river, and the ground sloped ally as effective as blows. ‘* But, Alethea, to take the trouble to serious- | ly consider this absurd metter, if I was what this braggart affirms, would not the proper of- ficers—I speak of the real police detectives, not such paltry Cheap Jacks as this fellow—have had me under lock and key long ago? ‘*It is ridiculous to suppose that a man can keep on in the path of crime for year after year without being detected.” ‘*Palbot accuses you, too, of having returned to the cabin after leaving it with me, taking the rest of the gold and laying a trap to compass his death.” ‘* Yes, yes, I know all about that,” he replied, with a touch of impatience visible in his man- ner. ‘‘ With the assistance of this Phenix he man- aged to hunt me up and forced a quarrel upon me so that I was forced to meet him in a duel. ‘*T am an expert swordsman and so chose that weapon, thinking I could easily master | him, but the fellow bas the luck of Satan him- self, and left me for dead upon the field. “Just by a baro chance I escaped with a | slight flesh wound although even the doctor | thought I was done for.” ‘* You never told me of this!” was Alethea’s natural exclamation, ‘*No, [ did not think there was any use in worrying you about the matter so long as I was lucky enough to get out of the scrape. ‘As for Phenix I laugh at bis malice, but Talbot is worthy of more attention, and [should be glad to put a stop to his pursuit.” ‘* How was it that you ceme to know that my daughter was with Talbot?’ she asked, the thought suddenly occurring to her that Everest had not vouchsafed any explanation on this point. ‘‘ By sheer accident only. If you remember you pointed her out to me in the store the other day; the first time that you revealed to me the secret of your daughter’s existence, and happen- ing this afternoon to pass through the street where Talbot lives I saw both him and the girl at the window together.” The explanation was reasonable, and the wo- a a not for a moment doubt that it was the truth. ‘So Talbot will not surrender the girl to you?” he continued. ** No, acting evidently under the advice of the : detective, he refuses.” A sudden idea came to Everest. over it for a moment, decided that it was fea- sible, and then spoke. ‘‘ Alethea, how would it do to have Talbot and Phenix come here so we can talk the matter over quietly? ‘Of course, by invoking the law you can gain He pondered | possession of your daughter as she is not yet of | age, but it would be far bet o- to settle the mat- ter quietly 1f possible.” **] thin after reflecting in regard to the matter for a few minutes. ** Are you willing to see them about it?” ** Certainly!” ‘* Explain to them that we would much rather prefer to compromise than to fight; say to them that I know they are laboring under a misap- prehension in regard to me, and that if they will give me an opportunity I feel certain I can explain everything in a satisfactory manner.” ‘I will gladly undertake the task,” Alethea remarked, ‘* I will admit I never felt a mother’s affection for the girl, but I am not willing for her to remain under Talbot’s care, She is a beau- tiful creature, and there shall not be any love affair between the two if Ican help it.” Everest looked at his wife shrewdly for a mo- ment and then laughed. ‘* A little touch of jealonsy, eh?’ he observed. “1 had an idea that if I had not turned up as I did Talbot would have succeeded Limber it would be a good idea,” she replied, | | ee in | your affection when that fool idiot dropped into | a drunkard’s grave.” The woman’s lip curled as if in scorn at the idea, but she did not condescend to reply. Tle next day she called upon Talbot and made the proposition that he and the detective abruptly from the street on which the cottage was situated to the little plain through which ran the stream. This was no new resort of the Old Man but an ancient haunt, and so cleverly had Everest managed it that not a detective on the force had any suspicion that this solitary cottage was the retreat and hiding-place of one of the most desperate band of criminals that bad ever in- fested the great metropolis and its envircns, The place belonged to Malachi, so there was no anxious landlord or prying agent to be found, and as the members of the band were careful never to be seen lurking in the neighborhood of the house in the daytime, the suspicions of the few people who dwelt in the neighborhood had never been excited. By night it was perfectly safe for the mem- bers of the gang to make their way to the house through the desolate neighborbood, for there ae very little danger of their encountering any- oay. Alethea had departed on her mission, and Ey- erest and his right-hand man, Melancholy Mike, were alone in the house. Mike had been represented to Alethea as a Bo- hemian writer, a man who sometimes was able to be of great service to the painter by procuring favorable notices of his works in the newspapers and it was for Everest’s interest to bave him make himself free in the latter’s house whenever he so felt inclined. In this ingenious manner, Melancholy Mike’s frequent visits were explained. Alethea though hed not the slightest suspicion that Melancholy Mike was aught but what he pretended to be, Malachi Everest and Mike were old pals; for fully twenty years they had worked in com- pany, and although such rogues, as a rule, do not stick together. but are ready on the ap- preach of danger to screen themselves at the expense of their comrades, yet these two had proved their devotion to each other on a dozen different occasicns. And generally it was Mike who sacrificed him- self to savo his leader. A dozen times at least, when the two being en- gaged in some unlawful enterprise, were ‘ur- prised by the satellites of the law and it was ap- pores that only one cculd escape, it was Malachi iverest who fled and Melancholy Mike who re- mained to pay the penalty exacted by outraged justice. , But Mike never suffered long, for by hceok or crook Everest always managed to set him free. It was a favorite expression of this chamyion crook that there was more than one way to kill a cat. And if the able criminal lawyers wh«m Ever- est invariably employed, the best in the bkusi- ness, could not find some legal loop-hole threugh which the accused man could escape, and he was condemned to languish in durance vile, then the powerful influence of gold wi s brought to bear. Through underhand means the cflicials of the prison where the condemned man wes confined were *‘ got at” and some venal warders were brought to be false to their trust and permit the prisoner to escape. And when the jail men proved to be incor- ruptible fellows, stern in virtue, who would not barter their henesty for money, Malachi Everest had been known to reach the very fountain-head of justice, the Governor of the State, and by means of powerful influence brought to bear upon him, secure a pardon for the convicted felon. It was little wonder under these circumstan- ces that Melancholy Mike was as true as steel to his leedcr Mike bad reached the kouse just as Alethea was ready to depart, and after she had gcne te questioned Malachi. ‘s What is in the wind now?” he asked, ‘The woman looks as if she had the weight of an em- pire on her mind. ‘She goes forth as an embassador,” Everest | replied, a strange sort of a smile playing upon should come to the cottage of the ‘‘ artist” and — see if some arrangement could not be made. *The oy pay was promptly adopted, and siesta o'clock on that very night fixed as the our. his pale face, en I don’t exactly ccmprehend your mean- ing. ‘She has gene to see the two men who are i . . pressing me so hotly just now.” After the woman departed the three men— | fcr Bowers was present, and was to make one of | the party—looked at each other. ‘Tt is a plant—a trap, gentlemen!” Phenix exclaimed; *‘but in catchmg us they will find they have caught a Tartar.” CHAPTER XXIX. EVEREST’S RESOLVE. THE cottage selected by Everest had net been | chosen without a purpose. As we have said, there wasn’t any other house near, and from the unper chamber—the cottage was situated on anite an elevation—a complete view of the surrcunding eruntry could be had. Five hundred fect away in the rear of the cot- | ‘Talbot and Phenix?’ Mike asked, looking the surprise he felt at the news. ‘*The same. She is charged with a delicate mission. These two gentlemanly bloodhounds, you know, are giving chase to me just now in a manner which I despise, and I have made up my mind to put a stop to it.” ‘Curse them!” cried Mike, savagely: ‘they are bloodhounds, and no mistake. Why. in twenty years’ experience, we have never had anybody give us so much trouble.” “Yes, you are quite right,” and an ominous scowl darkened the pale face of the villain as he reflected how closely the pursuers had kept upon his trail. : ‘* And it is not Phenix so much as this scoun- drel of a Talbot. ‘* | little thought, when I first ran across him in the West, that he was destined to play so im- portant a part in my history. \ om S) Gomichdoo . « he (Ele) 4 as im >