Beadle's Dime Library No. 386 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

qu ss “Quick!” he exclaimed, with sparkling eyes. “Translate afresh, Ralph; and then for the comparison !” The translation of the newly-acquired fragment produced the following: DOVOSKI, n Consulate, New York City, Srmr:— orK, October 12, 18—. able to give the desired cerning the organiza- ary Martyrs in this irst be assured of ard, together with ditional pardon nt protection against of the Society. in the councils of that my informa- tly relied on as fountain head, the same pre- fore. tt This translation, pieced on to that presented to the reader in Chapter XXI, made the follow- ing complete communication: ‘‘ New York, October 12, 18—. “To His EXCELLENCY, **CountT Rubpovoskl, ‘* Russian Consulate, * New York City. * HonoreD Sir:— ‘ Ai-anh fully able to give the desired information concerning the Organization of Revolutionary Mar- tyrs in this city, but I must be assured of the prom- ised reward, together with the Czar’s unconditional pardon and subsequent protection against the ven- geance of the Society. “T am so high in the councils of the conspirators that my information can be implicitly relied on as proceeding from the fountain head, ‘* Answer with the same precautions as saci Jc This having been effected, Hawk secured the several papers and sprung to his feet with a radiant face. ‘* Come!” he exclaimed; ‘no time is to be lost. This night we shall have run down our game.” ‘* What?’ cried his companions, in one breath. ‘* Ay, my friends; this very night Kotzka shall be in irons, and the murderer of Olga’s mother, Clarisse and the old captive shall be on the high road to the scaffold!” ‘This very night?’ repeated Ralph. ‘‘ Ay, for | have discovered that the Brother- hood, of which Kotzka is the chief, are then to assemble again in the cellar-hall of the old brewery.” ‘* Well?” ; ‘‘ Kotzka will of course be present, to continue his treacherous scheme of betraying his own as- sociates to the Czar’s representative.” ‘ Well?” ‘We shall also be present, our knowledge of the grips and passwords affording us en- trance.” “Well?” : ; ‘‘ We shall have policemen with us, in dis- guise.” ‘* What more?” * Zounds! Can you ask? I shall denounce Kotzka to his associates, producing these docu- mentary evidences of his contemplated treach- ery, together with such others as I can obtain from the Russian Consul himself.” ‘* You will, then, confer with Count Rudo- voski?” ‘‘With no more delay than it will take to ef- fect a suitable change in my appearance,” seid Hawk, looking down over his fire laddie’s uni- form. “After that, with the full proof of Kotzka’s designs in my possession, can you doubt of the effect upon bis fellow-conspira- 3 99? art No,” cried Ralph. ‘‘ It will be immense!” rs They’ ll foam at the mouth an’chaw things!” said Nixey. ‘“T should say so! We all know the desperate character of those oath-bound fanatics. Their revengeful fury will be like that of wounded tigers. Gad! if we shall only succeed in pre- serving Kotzka for the hangman’s noose, I shall be satisfied.” Ph: The friends were now equally enthusiastic over the decisive measures in prospect. They ordered a substantial breakfast, and, while eating it, considered the best manner of dividing the work before them. It was finally decided that, while Hawk was looking after the Russian Consul, Seagrave and Nixey should discover the new retreat to which Olea had been carried, and telegraph the result to “him at the Police Head-quarters in New York, after which a fresh rendezvous would be in order. ; "With this understanding, they separated, — About an hour later, as Hawk Heron, fitting- ly attired, emerged from his head-quarters’ dressine-room, he received word that the chief att e rished to speak with of the Detective Bureau wi spe Hawk was no sooner alone with his superior than he perceived him to be in an ill-humor. ‘“‘So,” said the chief, peremptorily; “ what have you to report with regard to your special case?” ————s ‘Tt will be wound up to-night, captain.” What?” ‘*My man shall then be in custody, and I shall have the evidence to secure his conviction.” The chief’s manner softened perceptibly. ‘*T am really glad, Heron, to hear you speak thus confidentiy,” said he. ‘‘In spite of the short time allotted us to run down the murderer of the widow Ashcombe and her daughter, the | public and the newspapers are abusing us un- mereifully.” ‘‘{ know it, captain; their abuse shall cease after to-night.” ‘** Good!” Do you require anything?” ‘Yes, A letter of introduction, if you please, to Count Rudovoski, the Russian Consul, such as will cause him to respect my authority.” The chief looked surprised, but at once set about framing the desired letter, without making comment, ‘* There you are,” said he, at length. Hawk was about taking his departure when his superior riveted him with a peculiar look, ‘** How about Mr. Blithers?’ said he. Hawk with difficulty concealed a tell-tale start of surprise. “He knows more than I do about Blithers,” he said to himself. ‘‘ Let me be careful lest I show my ignorance.” He then winked gravely in response to the chief’s peculiar look, but kept an immovable face. ‘** What about him, captain,” said he, dryly. ‘*That is what I want to know of you, sir. | Anything peculiar about Mr. Blithers?” Hawk hesitated but an instant before reply- ! ing, with quict confidence: ** Yes, infernally pecuhar,” said Hawk, hiding his bewilderment under an assumption of intense cunning. ‘I was going to tell you about that a little later on.” The chief looked a little disappointed, like one who has unavailingly sprung a trap from which he promised himself a piece of satisfaction. ‘** All right, Heron,” said he, terminating the interview with a gesture. ‘‘I have also found out something oddly peculiar about Blithers. Return here in an hour or two, and we may com- pare notes to advantage.” Hawk replied with another solemn wink as he quitted the room. ** What the deuce is up?’ he thought, on his way out of the building. ‘‘ By Jove! I would run up to the Brunswick and interview Blithers at once, if Lhad time.” ‘* Telegram just come for you from Brooklyn, Mr. Heron,” said an officer coming up from the telegraph office in the basement, ‘* What, from Seagrave, and so soon?” thought Hawk, hurrying down into the office. ‘* This augurs well.” . The dispatch awaiting him was, indeed, from Seagrave. It was as follows: “TWELFTH PRECINCT, BROOKLYN, 9:30 A. M. “Have spotted the house. Nixey will bring you word an hour hence, All goes well. Five minutes ago our game started for New York, alone, and in red-hot haste. SEAGRAVE.”’ Hawk looked at his watch. It wanted a quarter to ten. ‘* These foreign swells are apt to be late break- fasters,” he thought. ‘‘I shall first seek my Russian count at his Madison avenue residence, What if i should come face to face with Kotzka there? So much the better!” He lost no more time in hurrying to the Rus- sian Consul’s house. CHAPTER XXX. THE BEGINNING OF THE END. HALF an hour later, Hawk Heron was in earnest conference with Count Rudovoski, at the latter’s up-town residence, ‘* The consul’s private secretary, Herr Gruben, was also present, A meditative silence had followed an animated discussion. Count Rudovoski, a highly intelligent, courtly gentleman, of middle age, sat facing the detec- tive, with a half-frown on his face, and some manuscripts in his hands, He was the first to break the silence. ‘You then assure me, Mr. Heron,” said he, slowly and with but little foreign accent, ‘‘ that this Ivan Kotzka is bent on deceiving me.” “Certainly,” said Hawk. ‘ He is bent on ob- taining the twenty thousand rubles reward, to- gether with the Czar’s pardon, at the expense of his miserable associates, That is all.” ‘* And those associates?” “ Are wretched, unimportant adventurers and fanatics, information with regard to whom can be of no value whatever to your govern- ment.” ‘‘ Prove this to me.” ‘‘T shall doso at once.” To meet this emergency, Hawk had already obtained from a er a detective a list of hair- Hawk Heron, the Falcon Detective. ; | ee ee woe of mere nobodies—rapscallions, boobies and idlers, of no account!” “True,” said Hawk. ‘‘ And it is the sur- render of the secrets of such obscure impotents: by which Kotzka hopes to win your money and a pardon for his own political offenses,” “*Tseeitallnow. But let as come to a full understanding.” ** By all means.” “You engage, then, with the possession of these proofs of Kotzka’s treachery which 1 hcjd in my hand, to have him taken in custody, and speedily brought to the gallows, under the crinsi- nal laws of this community?” 1 dow’? ** But can you also engage that the Brother- hood which he seeks to betray, but of which he is now the controlling spirit, sball cease to exist as a secret political organization?” Hawk pointed to the discarded list. ** You see of what material its ranks and file is composed,” said he. ‘ A brotherhood of refu— gees and vagabonds! What adhesiveness car such an organization possess when deprived of its master spirit?” ** Well answered. But there is, besides Kotzka, another controlling spirit—a young and remark— able woman, as beautiful as ee is dangerous,” A sudden and profound melancholy fell upom our hero. ‘*'You allude to Clarisse Letours,” said he. ** Yes,” ‘**T have reason to believe her dead.” ** Dead?” ‘Ay: and by the murderous hand of this same fiend in human form, Kotzka.” ‘* This is important. Explain, I beg of you!” Hawk did so, with terrible succinctness, with- out even omitting the kindred circumstances: that pointed likewise to the murder of the old captive. ‘This is both wonderful and horrible!” ex- claimed Count Rudovoski. ‘Of the unfortu- nate young woman I know next to nothing. But the old captive—what if he might have becn the Baron Tauchnitz himself, whom Kotzka v as: suspected of having murdered in Hungary fur his estates?” ** And who, it has since been more generally supposed, died in Siberian exile?” ‘**The same. Such was the story circulated abroad by Kotzka and his agents. It was, how-. ever, false. Tauchnitz was never sent to Si-. beria. After his disappearance, he was eagerly sought by the Imperial Government for anoth«r and most benign purpose.” It was now the detective’s turn to be aston ished. ‘*For what purpose?” he exclaimed, breath- lessly. ‘* His innocence had been established, end lis estates in Russia restoredto him. The latter are even now awaiting his heirs, if such are living. The search of the Government was ineffectual. Tauchnitz had disappeared; sc had his wife and children.” ‘* Should the heirs, or but one of them, be pro- duced, would the Tauchnitz estates be forth— coming?” ** Assuredly, together with an immense sum ire ready money, the steadily-accruing interest {cr many years past. to that vast estate here in my possession. But. explain yourself fully, sir. Is it possible that you know of any heir or heirs?” ‘**T think so, but I cannot answer for a cer- tainty till, say to-morrow morning. In the mean time, however, I can assure you that the old captive, who has doubtless been murdered by Kotzka, was the Baron Tauchnitz.” “Ha! Will you prove it?” “Yes; at the same time I produce the heir, or heirs. Now, Count Rudovoski, will you give me those papers?” “With confidence,” said the count, handing: them to him, *‘ and Heaven prosper your under- taking!” ‘“Thanks. One more question, count.” ** A dozen, if you like.” ‘* Kotzka has called on you in person?” “Yes: and in disguise.” / ** Ah, I understand—as Adolphe Delancourt. a French artisan?” ; se Yes.” ‘* Now let me ask you if you know a Mr. Jack Blithers, a Scotland Yard detective from The official looked at him with a peculiar smile, but made no answer. At that instant an equipage was heard to drive up hurriedly to the front of the house, At a sign from his superior, the secretary stepped to the window. ‘ ‘It is Kotzka himself,” said the latter, peer- ing between the curtains. Count Rudovoski gave an order in Russian, The secretary then conducted Hawk into the brained, windy socialists and anarchists, many | entrance passage, and, just as the door-bell was. of them Russians, which he thought would is | rung, ently forced him into a curtained reccss. muster as belonging to the Brotherhood of which | near the foot of the stairs. Kotzka was the head. He now produced this list, and handed it to | ed, ‘and you will like enough discover why - the consul. The latter merely glanced over the names, and then cast the list impatienly away. ‘** Preposterous!” he exclaimed. ‘Remain here, sir, observantly,” he whisper- His Excellency did not deem it worth while to reply to your last question.” ie then let the curtain fall, leaving our here ‘“*The names considerably mystified. I have the papers relatirg- a SS Eomichoo Cc cor