Beadle's Dime Library No. 386 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

— a a we re eee Hawk Heron, the Falcon Detective. 23 lodgings were everything he could desire, he id aed he could only hope that madame was equally pleased with her lodger, _ ‘* Monsieur plays upon many instruments,” said the old woman. ‘* Monsieur does not retire until very late.” [ Mr. Schmidt hung his head like a_ scolded schoolboy, and began a rambling apology. She cut him short. Monsieur’s musical exer- cises did not annoy her, but her poor husband! He mostly came home very late, and undis- turbed sleep was indispensable to him. Would monsieur kindly say what time he usually found forgetfulness in slumber? Then madame’s poor husband could regulate his retire- ment to something like an accustomed hour. Mr. Schmidt rubbed his hands afresh, and smiled all over, He was happy to inform madame that by two in the morning he was usually folded in the arms of Morpheus. - That was well; and was monsieur in the habit of sleeping soundly? ; Oh, yes; Mr. Schmidt thanked Heaven, his age and fine digestion that, once fairly asleep, a cannon-shot’s concussion on his ear-drum would hardly avail to arouse him. That was yet better; madame realized by her chronic face-pains that sound sleep was an im- a rable blessing. : Tho old Gertiat went into the house, still smiling benevolently, but the other remained standing in the doorway, looking up and down the street. rr Youw’re a deep one, old lady!” said Hawk to himself. ‘‘ What can be brewing against the simple old German, and what would I not givo for a study of your features?” He was about to slip away unobserved when heavy footsteps were heard ri) peter, rapidly. The old woman manifested expectation, and then a powerful figure passed under a near street-lamp. ** Blithers, by all that’s wonderful!” murmured Hawk, resuming his watch, ‘Come, come; it grows interesting.” The old woman’s manner was obsequious, and that of the Scotland Yard detective gruff to in- civility, as he ascended the steps. ** Any news?” he asked in French, ‘*' None,” was the reply in the same language, ‘The old German?’ ‘* All is satisfactory.” ‘* Have you procured me the missing names for my list?” “ec Yes.” ‘Without exciting suspicion?” a3 Yes.” ‘“The German’s room is accessible?” “*Tt will be later.” ‘* Bh bien, let us go in.” They entered the house, closing the door, ‘¢ Short and sweet!” commented Hawk, coming out of hisconcealment. ‘‘ Oho, Mr. Blithers, my ess as to your deep game is doubtless correct! ou are maneuvering to sell out these plotters to the Czar’s Government, as the price for get- ting your detective’s grip on Kotzka, and thus capturing both the Russian and the English re- wards, But let us wait and see who will first run him to earth, the British bulldog or the American bloodhound!” In fact, Hawk could not abstain from a sense of admiration of what he imagined as Bli- thers’s deep game, — Then he found himself confronted by a coun- ter reflection. “True,” he muttered, ‘‘ but how account for the pardon offered in the secretary’s letter, in addition to the reward?” Finding this too hard a nut to crack, he turn- ed his thoughts elsewhere. ; ‘What can old Schmidt have in his posses- sion that Kotzka covets?’ he thought. ‘* Let me see; at all events I should be on hand at two in the morning, to look after his safety. He re-entered what had now become,a house of horror, and made his way to the rear yard. A narrow extension ran Ore the first story back of all the houses in the block. A light was shining from Mr. Schmidt’s third story window adjoining, and presently the notes of a flute came out upon the crisp night air. Hawk discovered that he could easily, on oc- easion, make his way along the extension roofs, and thence, by the waterspout and other foot- holds, up into the old German’s rooms, He was about to retrace his steps, when a second story window of the Dupont domicile was softly raised, and a burly figure slipped out extension root. +f ms Kotzka, a revolver in one hand, a dag- i other. ni Gellees light issued from the windows above to enable Hawk to recognize him. ‘‘ Heavens!” thought the latter, as he crouch- ed near the fence while arding the nt’s movements, ‘Can Blithers know of his danger —ns rhe Sd pepe che a dangerous man whose betrayal he is plotting’ | . He drew his own tol and sighted the giant’s head for a ig a but his sober second thought withheld his finger at the trigger, though the temptation was a powerful one. +9 No, no!” he murmured, putting up the weapon; ‘though the blood of Clarisse now swells the cry for vengeance on his head, I must take him alive, alive! His doom must be the scaffold, the gibbet and the throttling cord!” Kotzka only remained on the extension roof a few moments. He seemed to bend his gaze inquiringly on the lighted windows above, Suspicion and distrust were in his manner and attitude. Hawk felt sure that if the old German had ventured to thrust out his head at that moment, it would have cost him his life. He therefore felt relieved when Kotzka slip- ped back through the window. **How did the villain get through the divid- ing wall, out of that room into which I cornered him?” thought our hero, as he made his way back to the street. ‘‘That isa mystery yet to be solved.” He had hardly issued from the door, when he shrunk back, A. hackney coach had just driven up to the adjoining house. ** Oho!” thought Hawk, with his eyes peeled; ‘* what a pity that it isn’t our black-and-yellow coupe, with our Monsier Dupont on the box, and the big dapple-gray! That would cap the cli- max! But it was an altogether different species of turnout. A moment later, Blithers ran hurriedly down the adjoining stoop, sprung into the coach, and was driven off. Hawk made a movement to start in pursuit. But at that instant, a small, active figure darted into view and leaped behind the vanish- ing vehicle with the agility and stealthiness of a monkey. Hawk had recognized the figure. ‘““My faithful henchman! my own little Nixey!” he muttered. ‘* Like a young but true sleuth- hound, he’s fastened to his trail.” Hawk had some more business at Police Head- quarters before keeping his midnight appoint- ment with his associates. He therefore hurried away in his turn from rp decidedly sensational precincts of Melton place. CHAPTER XXV., TANGLED THREADS. HAWK and Seagrave were on time at the Pig and Whistle rendezvous, but Nixey arrived ten minutes late, looking considerably blown. ‘* How are we with our reports?’ inquired the detective, as they took their seats in the little private room. Seagrave shook his head, while Nixey looked radiant. ° ‘** Well, bad news first. Heave ahead, Ralph.” ‘**T have failed to find the missing half of the Russian manuscript,” said Seagrave, ** That’s the long and short of it, Hawk.’ ** It had not been left 1n the black-and-yellow coupe, then?” ** Not having the felicity of searching, or even mee bs black-and-yellow coupe, I can’t say.” a at do you mean?” ‘It disappeared five minutes after being driven to the peters station by the policeman,” ‘** What explanation was offered?” 7 None. he officers were as much mystified as I. ‘* This is very extraordinary !” “‘T should say so. There was a commotion at the station en ce, it seems, at the time the coupe was driven there, A bunch of drunkards was being taken in. The policeman having the coupe in charge quitted the box for a few min- utes, to assist his fellow-officers. en he re- turned to look for the turnout, it was gone.” ** Have you tried to trace it?” yy ge ade ae rit in vain,” , well! doubtless the scrap of r would not have been found in it, after ae ** I feel sure it would, could I only have search- ed the interior.” “ Why?” ‘* Because, from the feel of things, I obtained the fragment in our possession by tearing it from the rest, which had somehow got wedged in between the seat-cushion and the upholstery at the side.” ‘Yes; and IT am sure that the missing ty ere has remained there, unperceived even if t © coupe may been occupied a dozen times since. ‘*Good! Then the coupe must be found.” ‘** Tt has been found, boss.” Nixey interpolated this, very quietly, but with his impish grin. ' ‘Ha!” exclaimed Hawk, both delighted and erento **Are you there, my little true- penn ** Yes, boss; an’ it’s no fault of Mr, Seagrave's that he couldn’t track the black-an’-yeller a ** Well, it’s ycur turn, my lad.” Nixey was quite ready with his report. **T didn’t get out of bed, boss, till the middle of the afternoon. Then it was nigh on to dusk before I caught on to Mr. Blithers. It was in the Brunswick vestibule, an’ I had tough work keepm’ out of sightgwhile keepin’ him in sight At half-past eight’a district messenger brought him a note, There wasn’t any reply. Then Mr, Blithers skipped away in a hurry.’ ** You still shadowed him?” “Straight to Melton lace, and on foot, boss, He disappeared, not in Miss Clarisse’s house, but in 34, next door, after chinnin’ a little with an old gal on the stoop.” “Sr rue,” ‘Then a fireman vanished into the next house, boss that I now see must have been yourself.” * True. “Then, in less than ten minutes, a public coach drew up to 34. When it druv away, Mr. Blithers was inside an’ I was behind, boss.” ‘True, again; I saw you.” “Mr. Blithers druv to 890 Madison avenue, a handsome, bang-up private residence,” ‘** Aha! we must find out who lives there,” ‘**T have found that out, boss.” ** Who, then?” ‘Count Rudovoski, the Russian Consul.” Both Hawk and Seagrave gave a surprised start, while the former quickly produced the torn fragment that had been translated, ‘See’? exclaimed Hawk. ‘The letters ‘dovoski’ would just fill out this third line, making the whole read, ‘Count Rudovoski.’ Truly, we’re in luck. Go ahead, Nixey.” “Mr. Blithers stayed in that bang-up crib a long time, boss. He was then druy to the big old brewery buildin’ with me still at his back. He stayed in there a long time, boss; maybe he’s there yet.” ** How so?” “Because I didn’t see him come out again, boss; but, after a long time, somebody else came out in bis stead.” e Who?” ** Kotzka.” ‘**'You astonish me.” “Tt astonished me, too, boss; you might ’a? knocked me down with a feather.” ‘** Well, did Kotzka get into the coach Blithers had occupied?” ‘*The coach had druv off, a minute or two be- fore, boss, and the black-an’-yeller coupe taken its place.” “What! with the original driver?” ‘The identical, Simon Pure, original Jacobs, boss, side-whiskers included.” “So! Well, what then?” ** Kotzka jumped into the coupe, an’ was driv- en off.” ** And you?” ‘T was hangin’ on behind like a postage-stamp, boss, though it was all-fired tough work, there bein’ no foot-hold, an’ I was mighty glad when they came to the next stoppin’-place.’ ‘'W here?” “One hundred and tenth street, corner Sev- enth avenue, at the top of Central Park.” ‘* At what sort of house?” “None at all, boss, There was enipty lots on one side, the Park on the other.” “Well?” **Kotzka jum out, an’ said to the driver, says he, ‘ You’ll be at the house I told you of an hour before sunrise? ‘ Yes,’ says the driver. ‘ Will it be best,’ says Kotzka, ‘to cross at Ful- ton Ferry, or by the bridge?’ ‘By the bridge,’ says the driver. ‘ Don’t fail then,’ says Kotzka. ‘Tl have the young lady in readiness.’ That was all, boss.” Both Hawk and Seagrave had been worked up to a high pitch. ** All!’ echoed the former. ‘‘ But what fol- lowed?” ‘*The coupe whipped off, boss, while Kotzka cut across some empty lots, with me at his heels, Fast as Iran, he ran faster. I lost track of him, an’ here I am, boss.” ‘* How long ago was this?” ** Less’n an hour, boss. Havin’ lost my man, I made tracks for the Third Avenue Elevated, an’ here I am.” ** Well and good!” said the detective, rubbin his hands. ‘* This is better, far better than had hoped for.” ‘* What do you infer from it all?’ asked Sea- grave. “Why, it is obvious. Kotzka has Olga tem- py in ma somewhere in Harlem. But 6 has also provided some securer place of con- finement for her over in Brooklyn. The trans- fer is to be effected this very morning. The coupe will cross the Brooklyn Bridge, with Kotz- ka and his prisoner inside, at say half-an-hour after sunrise. That is, the attempt to do so will be made. We must be on hand to prevent it, or at least to rescue Olga, say midway on the bridge roadway, without attracting undue attention from the police.” ‘“* Ay,” exclaimed Seagrave, ‘‘and perhaps re- cover the missing half of the telltale paper at the same time!” *“ Certainly.” ‘ ‘* Kotzka will make a hard fight for the young lady,” suggested Nixey. “That stands to reason,” said Hawk. ‘ But can we ask for anything better than a fair fight with him on open ground?’ “Not I, for one,” growled Seagrave. ‘His head can hardly be so bullet-proof as his body.” **T owe him one for firin’ me down the hotel elevator,” said Nixey. ‘‘ The Short Tails always gets even sooner or later.” . c — - ee tee i i eee ee eee ee Eomicbooks.co * as ea te te me te wn ee ee ee em he ee ee ee eee _——~ - ~ 2 pe - -- _ ES