Beadle's Dime Library No. 386 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

—_ including last night. Always he occupied the | one seat. Always he sat like a statue, fixing Olga with his snakish eyes,” * Describe him.” ‘Much over six feet, portly in proportion, doubtless of gigantic strength. Elaborate even- ing dress, with a great diamond in his shirt. Fifty years old, black beard and mustache, short, bristling black hair, and piercing eyes, whose glance made your flesh creep.” It was now the detective’s turn to give a start “Wonderful!” he muttered to himself. ‘* The same description tallies with the supposed forger have been shadowing for a week past!” Then he added, aloud: *“*Good! Your description, mynheer, is suc- cinct enough for a hand-bill. haunted Olga’s performances night after night?” es Fac 9 { of surprise. ‘** How long would he remain?” ‘‘ About twenty minutes; say betwecn nine and half-past nime.”’ ‘* Always at that hour?” “ Always. He had timed Olga’s appearance in a particular German song, and never missed fascinating her during its rendition. Then he would disappear.” ? ‘“ And that,” again soliloquized the detective, “‘ would give him ample margin for visiting the Casino, where 1 have repeatedly marked my man. Marvelous!” ‘‘ What did you say, mynheer?” ‘‘ Nothing of moment. You say he fascinated Olga?” y Yes; or terrified her unaccountably. When- ever she passed me behind the scenes, after un- dergoing that basilisk gaze, she was white and trembling.” ** Had you or she ever seen him before his ap- pearance at the theater?” ‘“*T never had. Olga was uncertain. His face haunted her like one she might have known and feared in her infancy.” *““Ah! Was her mother informed of this man’s pursuit of Olga?” yh 0. We feared to terrify her, and kept uiet, . ‘* Well, mynheer, do you keep quiet while I am absent.” ‘*Trust me, Mr. Heron, for remaining here, and saying nothing.” ** A last question. So, you think there was a resemblance between Olga’s abductor and her serpent-eyed haunter of the theater?” ts build and hight, yes.” ** Enough.” , Ten minutes later, Hawk Heron was waiting for a down-train at the Twenty-eighth street station of the Third Avenue Elevated road, It was still early morning, at the hight of the commnission hours’ rush. The platform was densely crowded, mostly with working people, eager to reach their places of employment. Suddenly, as the train approached, Heron felt a poper slipped into his hand. fore he could search whence it came, there was a general rush, then a recoil, during which an enormously fat and tall man, in a workman’s ae backed rudely against him, tramping on 1is toes. ‘“Oaf! mind what you’re about!” growled the detective, punching him in the back, Then, as the fellow heedlessly shouldered ahead, with Hawk slowly following in the press, the latter threw his eye over the epee which bore the following scrawl] in pencil: “Hawk Heron, beware! Expert as youare. your persistence in this morning’s murder case will cost you your life!”’ Hawk digested this warning while atnding on a car platform, the train being in motion an crowded to excess. “Who the deuce could have given me this?” he muttered. ‘* The devil seize that obese giant who trod on my toes! But for him, I would have had the eyeing giver by the throat.” He was so jammed against the car gate as to be hardly able to turn his head. ‘* Nevertheless, the jam was sensibly augment- ed, rather than diminished, at the next four stopping-places. Then, just asthe train was getting clear of the Ninth-street station, the same obese giant, red in the face, came rushing out of the car, scattering the crowd right and left, “‘ Saere! zis is ze station zat I most get off!” he spluttered, thrusting the brakeman aside, and tearing open the gate. ‘“‘Ah, mon Dieu! what haff ITcommit? Ze poor young man! He vill be dash to pieces!” The substance of this alarm was now taken up by many voices, and with reason. e ‘poor young man” was none other than our hero. Apparently .without intention, he had been hurled through the gate by the giant’s blunder- ing rush, and was now dangling over the street by a mere finger-hold upon the lattice-rail of the swiftly speeding cars, Yet, even when realizing that he would doubt- less be dashed to death in an instant, Hawk nevertheless glared up at his persecutor with mingled suspicion and resentment. Hawk Heron, the Falcon Detective. You say this man | TNE eeEeee———E———— ea... ——— —_— Eee iis: —- -. aan eee ES **Curse you!” he gasped. ‘I half-believe you purposed my destruction!” Leaning far over the gate, the giant’s eyes seemed to dilate gloatingly as he peered down at his dangling victim. **'V’at!” he hissed between his teeth. ‘* You take not ze first warning, zen v’at you expect? Ah! ze telegraph-wire cut off ze legs of ze poor young man!” Hawk just had time and strength to clear the Cooper Institute telegraph-wires crossing under- neath the track, Then, noticing a friendly cals just be- neath, he let go his hold, oh psi imself out and scudding into it like a flying-squirrel. A passing policeman assisted him, consider- ably scratched and bruised, to the ground, while the train thundered along overhead. ‘““A narrow escape, young man!” exclaimed the functionary. “What! Hawk Heron, is it rou? vat Yes,” panted Hawk; ‘ but it’s another man Im after.’ And he sped toward the Houston-street station like a bolt from a gun. The passengers were pouring down the steps, but the fat giant was not among them. Hawk dashed up into the station just as the train was gliding away. He interchanged a sign of recognition with the gateman. **A noticeably big man, in working clothes, with a red face!” he whispered, hurriedly. ** Have you seen such a one?” ‘* Yes; just a minute ago,” “Which way?” **Down-stairs. He was the first off the train; spry asa kitten in spite of his size. A young younes with a basket follered him through the ate, ‘* The deuce!” “What's up?” Without waiting to reply, Hawk regained the sidewalk. ‘*Curse the fellow!” he muttered; ‘“‘he has given me the slip.” But as he was hurrying along Houston street with the intention of saying nothing at Head- quarters of his misadventure, his heart gave an exultant leap. There, in front of a tall, dingy tenement, stood the object of his search, talking confiden- tially with a handsome young woman who car- ried a small basket. ‘“‘[’'m trumps again!” muttered Hawk, darting behind a grocer’s wagon and observing the pair nei ‘Wait! That girl with a basket— surely [ saw -her in the crowd when that moun- tain of flesh flattened out my toes. Might she not have slipped the writing into my hand? Doubtless! And hasn’t all this a connection with this morning’s murders? Like enough!” While these reflections were flashing through his mind he was making sure that he had his weapons and handcuffs in readiness. Then he bounded toward his prospective prey without a warning word, Quick as he was, however, the man and girl were quicker, They had disappeared into the tenement in an eters slamming the door in his face and lock- ing it, awk Heron was possessed of an immense muscular strength, in strange contrast with his slendarness of frame. In another instant the door, torn from its fast- enings, was hurled inward before his wrenching onset, and he was following the fugitives through a long, miserably-lighted passage. ‘* Halt, in the name of the law!” cried the de- tective, covering the giant with his revolver. ‘* Halt, or you’re a dead man!” The colossus turned, seeming to hesitate, while the girl, suddenly opening a small door, stood looking back, pale and breathless, from the thres- hold of a dark interior, ‘Vat is ze mazzer?” cried the man, making a grimace and throwing up his hands, ‘I do nuzzing wrong—I commit no crime!” ‘We'll see about that. At all events, you hurled me off the train,” “Ah, mon Dieu! you are zat poor young man?” ** Yes; and you are my prisoner!” ‘** Oh, my sweet Adolphe! you must surrender,” called out the young woman, in excellent Eng- lish, ‘‘Thelaw summons you, And see; he has three policemen behind him!” Thrown off his guard, the detective turned to look for the unexpected reinforcement—which, of course, wasn’t there. As he did so, there was an ominous click, fol- Sif BY. a report, and a bullet whistled through is hat. However, though baffled, he was so close upon the fugitive’s heels as he disappeared through the opening, followed by the girl, that the latter dropped her basket outside the door that shut out further pursuit. In vain did Hawk again essay his herculean strength. The door was as immovable as if backed by masonry. He accordingly appropriated the basket, and retraced his steps, mentally photographing the locality, insidé and out. ‘What have we here?” he muttered, opening the basket, after regaining the sidewalk. *‘ Like enough a workwoman’s lunch, or— Ha! Mystery of mysteries! Are this morning’s murders to twine me perpetually with their invisible links?” The basket contained a beautiful design in wax. Appended to it was a business card bear- ing the name and address of Olga’s mother—the murdered wax-worker whose remains he had quitted scarcely twenty minutes before. But the design itself? It was that of a falcon, with a stricken vul- ture in its grip, in the form of a medallion, all in wax, and tastefully wreathed! ‘This revelation affects me personally,” said Hawk, pursuing bis way, after covering up the basket. ‘‘So I think I shall be justified in keep- ing it to myself, at least for the time being.” He reached the Head-quarters in Mulberry street without further interruption. ‘**Is the chief here?” he asked at the door of the Detective Bureau. ‘Not yet, Mr, Heron,” replied the officer in charge, ‘But it is nearly seven o’clock, the chief’s hour.” “Allright,” said Hawk, “T'll be with him soon,” He disappeared into a small room near at hana, from which he presently emerged, without aN soo and a greatly changed man exter- nally. He had gone into the room resembling a young mechanic out of a job and down in his luck, He came out of it an elegantly attired man- about-town, almost a dude in his general make- up, with an eyeglass at his eye, a flower-sprig in his button-hole and a toy cane in his hand. A moment later he was closeted with the chief of the Detective Bureau. : ‘** Now, captain,” said Hawk, when he had fin- ished his recital. ‘* Will you give me a carte- blanche, roving commission in this double mys- tery? © But can you do it justice, Hawk, while look- ing up your forger” “cc Yy es ” ae How 9” ‘“* There is a connection between the cases,” sc What?” ‘* Tt is true.” **'‘You amaze me!” “Yes; but I cen’t explain now. Can I go ahead on my own hook?” “Why, with all my heart, if you think you are equal to it!” cried the chief. ‘* You know I consider you without a peer on the force,” * Thanks, tective, Blithers, who is to meet me to-day about this foreign forgery case?” ‘** Here is his paces h. He sent it an hour ago, directly after quitting the steamer, by a district messenger. ” ) ‘Yes; and_he’s reckoned a keen one at Scot- land Yard.. I suppose hell be down here some time to-day with his credentials.” Hawk was inspecting the photo. It was that of a middle-aged, beardless man, of large, open countenance, with short-cropped, curling light hair, and apparently of a tall, portly and power- erful physique. **So,” thought Hawk, half-aloud. ‘There seems to be a regular run of big and fleshy men of late.” ‘What is that you say?” ‘Nothing of importance, captain. A mere coincidence,” ** How do you like Blithers’s looks?” ‘Well enough in the picture, but I'll answer better after seeing him in person. Where is he stopping?” **At the Brunswick.” ‘* How? The Brunswick, too? Wheels within wheels!” ‘* Anything odd in Blithers’s stoppping at the Brunswick?” ‘** No, no! morning!” ‘Hold on, Heron!” said the chief, an attend- ant at that moment handing him a telegram, “This dispatch will interest you.” ‘* What is it?” “Tt is from the precinct covering this morn- ing’s tragedies. Daughter’s body has been sent to her former home, to keep the poor mother’s company. Inquest on both this afternoon, One Schmidt, living in same house, will bear expense of funerals.” **Glad to hear he’s able to,” commented Hawk, dy If Tam not at the inquest, I'll be represented ere, Only another coincidence. Good- CHAPTER III. THICKENING MYSTERIES, . AFTER disposing of a hearty breakfast, o which he was greatly in need, Hawk Heron lost no time in returning to Madison Square. That fashionable locality now presented a scene of bustling life, in sharp contrast with the early dawn that had glimmered softly on Olga Ashcombe’s lifeless form on the dewy greensward a few hours before. Faithful to his trust, Nixey still oceupied bis post in the northeast corner, with his eyes riv- eted on the Hotel Brunswick entrance, How shall I know this London de-. - * What luck, Nixey?” Ehoo ecom SiG (o)