Beadle's Dime Library No. 386 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

26 ing open the perforated door, he strode into the front rocm. ‘Brine in the lamp, mynheer; let us take a look around.” As the old man obeyed, Hawk examined the door leading iniv the passage. This had also been secured. ‘T have no more ammunition to spare for this sort of warfare,” said Hawk. ‘* Escape by these front windows is my only remaining chance.” ‘* Bué that will be impossible,” said the profes- sor, setting down thelamp. ‘It is more than thirty feet to the sidewalk.” ‘« “’Tmpossible’ is a word not in my dictionary when duty calls,” muttered Hawk. He threw up a sash, and looked down into the deserted street. It was, indeed, a deep plunge. Far too deep to risk a jump, and there was no chance of clambering down the front of the house. Neither was there any tree-top into which he might have leaped with safety, as he had leaped ere this. None; but there were some telegraph wires, and the nearest post stood before the next house but one. But though on a level with the window- sill, the wires followed the line of the curb- stone below, with the breadth of the sidewalk between, Nevertheless, Hawk resolved to avail himself of these wires, ‘‘ Tet me have your handkerchief, mynheer,” said he, while muffling his right hand in his own, for he had no gloves, Mr. Schmidt, who now comprehended the attempt about to be made, handed him an- other handkerchief. This served the detective’s left hand ina similar way, and,: thus prepared, he made a gesture of farewell, and began crawling through the window. “Wait a moment, my friend,” said Mr. Schmidt. ‘ Tell me one thing first.” ‘Never fear for your own safety,” said Hawk. ‘Ill bear your situation in mind,” “Oh, it isn’t that, my son. I know I have nothing more to fear now that those rascals imagine they have the coveted documents in their hands.” “What is it, then?” ‘“‘ Satisfy my curiosity on one point.” ‘Certainly, if I can.” ‘““Why, think you, did Dupont, in the con- versation we overheard, make no allusion to the pa of which he had robbed me such a short ime before?” ‘““The deuce! Can you not guess?” ‘‘ No, my son, else I would not ask.” ‘“ Why, the rascal doubtless deemed the theft too important to give away to his vulgar as- sistant. It is a precious morsel of intelligence fit only for the ear of the monarch of criminals, the creat Kotzka himself.” ‘‘ Ah, do you really think so?’ ‘*T am sure of it. W separag oh Hawk now straightened himself up on the outer window ledge, with his back to the sashes, and his face toward the wires, The intervening space was all of twelve feet, and, should he miss his flying grasp, the stones below would be pitiless. But the leap was indispensable. ‘Calling every physical and nerve force to his aid, he at last made it. The attempt was successful. As he clutched two of the wires in his pro- tected hands, his weight together with the mo- mentum of his fall sagged them down so far that he bad no need of making his way along the line to the adjacent pole, as he had first in- tended. He had merely to drop, which he did, landing on the sidewalk in a standing position, and re- ceiving something of a shaking up, but no ma- terial injury. With a parting gesture toward the old pro- fessor, who was still looking down at him from the window, Hawk hurried away. The light of a new and cloudless day was broadening in the eastern sky as he boarded an Elevated train a few minutes later, and there was every prospect of his reaching the Brooklyn Bridge entrance on time, But it often hayeena that man proposes while corporational negligence disposes of this work- a-day world. An accident on the Elevated track brought train to a stand-still, which threatened to bea serious detention, at the Grand-street station. Hawk deserted the train, intending to make the rest of the way on foot. Another obstacle presented itself. A fire was in progress close at hand, and the street corners were so packed with noisy sight-seers as to be almost impassable. Our hero was so exasperated that he half- ascribed these interceptions, in his excited im- agination, to some new aud occult machinations on the part of his arch-foe. Heinstantly banished this impression as wholly unworthy of him. But presently an incident occurred that serv- 4 to give it both color and body. EE a Hawk Heron, the Falcon Detective. As he was forcing his way slowly through the crowd, two men, both of whom he fancied he dimly recognized, objected to his wedge-wise tactics, and, turning upon him, assailed him with a torrent of abuse in a foreign tongue. ‘* Keep your tempers, my friends!” said Hawk, doing his best to keep his own,. ‘‘ It is absolute- ly necessary that I should get through—a case of lifo and death—and I do not mean to incon- | | the box, boss.” venience any one.” A fresh volley of outlandish curses was the answer, and ene of the men flourished a cudgel over his head. q This was taxing the detective’s patience too ar. He promptly knocked the fellow down, and proceeded to give his companion a lesson on the | with our hero in hot pursuit. most approved scientific principles. But if the ruffians had purposed to delay his progress, this was effected. By the time Hewk had polished off his second antagonist, a dense crowd had collected about | Hawk glanced toward the lad, who was now cee aeenpa gine in great haste from his lofty perch, ** Ay!” said he; “the tug of war is at hand. Don’t forget my instructions.” At this moment they were joined by Nixey. ‘*Tt’s headin’ for us, boss,” said he, ** From what direction?” ‘* Down Center street, but there’s two coves on He hes ‘Never mind. Go with Seagrave. the instructions. Lose no time.” Then, as his subordinates darted through the promenade gates, he slipped behind the Elevated railroad stairway, and waited. Three minutes later, the black-and-yellow coupe was trundling over the deserted roadway. The middle of the bridge was reached. Seagrave and ree already had the dapple- gray by the head, while covering the men on the box with their pistols, and hive. likewise them, and a policeman put in an mt ten pee Not chancing t be acquainted with the oflicer, an elaborate explanation was required to pacily revolver in hand, was tearing open the door of the coupe. He already had his left arm about Olga, and him, which was none the more shortened by its being corroborated by the majority of the by- standers. In this way much valuable time was lost, Then, again, Hawk had no sooner disengaged himself than his late antagonists darted past him, and he overheard one of them say to the other in Italian: ‘‘ Never mind; we'll get another chance to interrupt him!” ‘* We'll see about that!” thought our hero, and, as they had taken his direction, he started in pursuit. Away they sped, down the Bowery, under the Chatham Square Elevated station, down Chat- ham street, to the very entrance of the bridge. Here Hawk lost his fugitives, but brought up himself almost in the arms of Seagrave, who, true to agreement, was patrolling the entrance to the right-hand roadway. ‘‘Two foreigners, bearded and swarthy, one with a bloody nose?” gasped Hawk. ‘ Quick! did you see them?” ‘Yes; but you are too late. They passed. in, and are well out on the promenade ere this.” Hawk stamped his foot, but did not continue the pursuit. ‘*Tt would be no use,” he growled. only hope they are not in Kotzka’s pay.” ‘“ What is the matter?” Hawk briefly related his last adventure. Seagrave was disposed to make light of it. ‘‘ Where is Nixey?” said Hawk. Seagrave pointed to a lofty telegraph-pole at sonenes of Center street and City Hall Park. Perched on its summit was the irrepressible street-arab, who waved his hand airily as an in- dication that he was on the lookout for the big dapple-gray and the black-and-vellow coupe. “Good enough!” commented Hawk. ‘‘ I shall follow the vehicle by the roadway, while you and Nixey take the promenade to the middle of the bridge. There you will clamber over the intervening railway, ond gain the roadway in advance of the dapple-gray.” ‘‘ What! the middle of the bridge?” ‘Certainly; there will be less likelihood of po- lice interference there.” ‘¢ But if one of us should chance to be tossed over the rail?” Hawk Heron laughed. “What then?” said he. ‘“‘Itis only a matter of two hundred and thirty feet to the river’s sur- face.” se Ah!” ‘‘But of course such an anticipation is not agreeable, so we'll drop it. Above all, be on aoe guard against a flanking attack from those wo rascals who just eluded me.” ‘* Make yourself easy, Hawk,” said Seagrave. ‘“‘ Let me only geta grip on the dapple-gray’s bridle-rein, revolver in hand, and Nixey and I will perform our part of the programme.” This was said in a quietly resolute way that was encouraging in itself. It was a clear and beautiful morning, and the sun was just trembling on the rise. The southern roadway wasas yet almost desert- ed. But numerous teams were coming over from Brooklyn by the opposite side, the promenade was already thronged with its living tide, com- posed almost wholly of young working-people, all setting in one direction, New-Yorkward, in obedience to labor’s morning summons, while fresh girlish faces and tasteful costumes dotted the press that was pouring out of the gates. In the shadow of the arched approach nestled the smoky roofs and narrow, awaltatis streets, while far out under the lofty and superb span from hore toshore sparkled the broad waters of East river, with the varied craft upon their breast, the tallest-masted of which failed to brush the web-like beams and girders of the structure so airily but stanchlv arching them, Hawk had crossed the mouth of the south roadway, and was talking to a policeman of his acquaintance, in order to prepare him for the scene that was about to be enacted, when Sea- grave called to him, “A apes is signaling,” said the latter, as Hawk rejoined him, *T can . oe kal eeceneee AD ee 8 re a tre was thrusting the muzzle of his pistol into Kotzka’s mouth. At this instant, however, the two ruffians who had intercepted Bawk at Grand street clambered over the railway to their chief’s assis- tance, swearing like troopers and brandishing their clubs, Kotzka and the men on the coupe took advan- tage of this diversion—the former to dash aside the pisto], drag back his prisoner, and then leap after Hawk, who had just received a stunning blow from behind, while Dupont and his com- panion leaped from their seat and made them- selves active. Several shots were fired, and the struggle grew desperate. Dazed as he was, Hawk flew at Kotzka’s throat, when another dastardly blow from be- hind completed his momentary helplessness, Before he could recover from it he was in nt eee herculean grasp, and being whirled aloft. ‘Ha, ha, ha!” roared the giant. ‘Let us see if you escape this time, my falcon beauty!” Vith that he hurled the detective far out over the outer rail—out, out over the yawning river-gulf! CHAPTER XXTX, LIGHT AHEAD, FATE again.interposed to rescue our hero from the all-but certain death that seemed to Bae for him after being hurled from Brooklyn ridge. It chanced that a great clipper ship, whose exceptionally tall athe nearly scraped the lower edgo of the arching span, was being towed under the bridge at the instant Hawk was launched into space. Into the loose-flapping main-royal of this providential vessel he accordingly fell, with just sense and strength cnough to grasp with the tenacity of despair several ropes that came to his hands. Here he remained almost helpless till assisted to the deck by some sailors, for his miraculous escape had been witnessed not only by those on board, but also by many others. The air had greatly revived him. He was almost his old dauntiless self again upon reaching the deck. Without pausing to more than thank the offi- cers and crew of the Flying Scud, as the vessel was named, Hawk hailed a passing tug, clam- bered into it, and made an offer to be put ashore on sa Brooklyn side, which was promptly ac- cepted. anding at the foot of Washington street, Hawk hurried up the hill toward the bridge ter- minus, : Midway he met Ralph and Nixey. They were sorrowlully bent on making in- quiries as to the discovery of his dead body. The \oysoe of the unexpected meeting can better be imagined than described, ‘““A miracle!” exclaimed Seagrave, delight- edly. ‘“Hooray!” cried Nixey, fairly dancing a jig around our kero, when the latter had briefly re- lated the manner of his escape. ‘‘ Hawk Heron hereafter ag’in’ fire an’ flood!” ‘*How did you two make out on the bridge?” asked Hawk, leading the way into a small hotel private room near at hand. ‘* They were too many for us, boss!” said Nixey, hanging his head. me CVG ‘Ves, boss; they got away with the young lady. But Mr. Seagrave here got on to some- thing good.” Hawk turned eagerly to Ralph. “ve got the ee half of the Russian manuscript!” cried the latter, shaking a paper over his head. ‘‘Ha! It was then in the coupe ?” “‘ Yes; stuck fast between the inside cushions, asI had thought. Isecured it in the fight on the bridge.” Hawk signed them to draw up to a writing- table, ana produced the first half of the manu- script, with the translation Seagrave had made. = €or 7" M4 4) — ayaa JOOKS; CO