Beadle's Dime Library No. 386 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

’ Hawk Heron, the Falcon Detective. | 7 kindness and tenderness as if he were my own father.” Kotzka started, and gave her a peculiar look. ‘* Your own father?’ he repeated. ee Yes,” ‘‘ Would you thus trifle with the sacred name that belonged to him alone, Armand Letours, your martyed sire, who, dying in Siberian exile—” ‘“Yes, yes; and left me the daughter of the Brotherhood, and in your special and fostering care!” she interrupted, half-bitterly. ‘‘ Oh, I am not repining at my fate! The cause of the Brotherhood is just and a sacred one to live and die in, though [ cannot thank it for blending my poor fortunes with such as yours, blood-stained and desperate as they are.” He made an angry gesture, and would have replied, but that she interrupted him afresh. ‘No more of the old captive, then,” she said. “Tf you would reproach me with aught else, speak on.” ‘Thera is one other thing,” said Kotzka, con- trolling himself. ‘It refers to this Hawk Heron.” ** So; what of him?” ‘“T observed you narrowly while with him,” ** Indeed !” “You paled when he passed, unsuspectingly, ‘into the tunnel.” ** What of it?” ‘“‘ Your face was radiant when you knew he had escaped the trap I was preparing for him,” ‘“ What of that?” Kotzka suddenly gave vay to an ungovern- able bit of fury. “Girl! woman!” he exclaimed; ‘‘ should you —knowing this man to be sleuthing me down in the interests of the sworn enemies of our sacred Brotherhood—” ‘*T know him to be doing nothing of the sort.” ‘**Do not madden me with interruptions,” con- tinued Kotzka, savagely. ‘‘I say he is the secret agent of the Russian representative in this city, howsoever he may mask his pursuit of me upon other grounds. I shall prove this to you, as well as to the Brotherhood. And, after being aware of this fact, if you should dare to cherish a tender sentiment for this Hawk Heron, I warn you to beware.” ; The color rushed to the girl’s temples, and then she burst into a scornful laugh. “That for your solicitude where my private feelings are concerned!” said she, snapping her thumb and finger in her enragec face. ‘‘Is that all—aro you through now?” Kotzka again controlled himself with an ef- fort, ‘Yes, for the present,” said he, sullenly. ‘* Now it is my turn,” said Clarisse, eying him with a dauntless and stern expression. ** Proceed.” ‘*T have just read the evening newspaper ac- count of the terrible double tragedy in the Gotham Flats.” ‘‘T explained to you early this morning my innocent connection with it, when I gave you the basket containing the wax-work emblem.” ‘Ay; but truly?” **On my honor!” ‘Ay; but on your oath of affiliation, like- wise?” Kotzka turned pale, but she was scrutinizing his face relgpnanys so he drew a long breath, and answered, reso yank ‘“ Yes; by my oath of affiliation, I swear it!” “Bnough. I dare not doubt you further. You were simply guilty of abducting the girl in the interests of the Brotherhood?’ ‘‘ Of nothing else, upon my oath!” And you found her lying senseless by the form of her mother, whom some one else had already murdered?” *‘Have I not already told you so? The girl afterward died on my hands, or seemed to lapse into death,” ‘* And the wax emblem?” “I saw it hanging in the murdered widow’s room. It not only identified her past with mine, but recalled the days when I was the friend and mentor of this man, this Hawk Heron, who is now pursuing me. Hence, I carried it away.” ‘* Who could have murdered Mrs. Ashcombe?” ‘‘ How should I know?” “‘ But you were the agent of our Brotherhood, and you have admitted that it was the Brother- hood’s interest to silence her, as well as obtain possession of the daughter.” “True; and chance—accident—has interposed in our favor.” Clarisse drew a long breath. “You would not dare trifle with that dread oath,” said she, in alow voico. ‘‘I must needs believe you.” **You can do so safely.” __ ‘** And that is well for you, Kotzka,” ‘What do you mean?” “Simply this: Close and paternal as have been your relations toward me since my earliest recollections—much as I know you to have stained your soul with crime and blood in the interests of our glorious Brotherhood, whose cause 1s that of liberty and humanity—did I sus- pect you to have been the murderer of that poor woman and her daughter, I would without an instant’s hesitation aid this Faicon Detective in companion’s ' his righteous quest, and give you up to the hang- man on the spot!” Kotzka with difficulty repressed a shudder, but he managed to say with moody calmness: **Say you so?” she exclaimed, ‘‘I will secc nd you to the extent of my power.” ‘*T thought so,” said Kotzka, smiling. After giving Clarisse a few more whispered in- “Tt is, however, as I have asserted. And I structions, he took his departure. shall eventually prove to the Brotherhood’s satis- faction, that Hawk Heron is in reality a Russian | secret agent, who has merely taken up this pur- suit of me as a cover to bring about the disrup- tion of our Order here in this country.” ‘* But, as Max Steinman, the London forger of European securities—” A All in the interest of the Brotherhood, recol- ect!’ ‘Yes, yes; but it was still in that capacity that you were already the object of Hawk Heron’s pursuit before the tragedy of this morn- ing, ‘True! and the political nature of those for- geries proves him to be instigated by foreign politica , as well as ordinary detective, employ- ment. ‘** T don’t know that.” ‘**Clarisse, [ swear it, by tae same terrible oath that you have already evoked!” * Ah!” Yes, and also that he seeks to fasten this ad- ditional crime upon me to the same political end!” ‘** All this on your oath of affiliation?” ** All, all! and a hundred times reiterated, were it necessary.” wh Enough: I believe you. Now, are you sure of baffling Heron?” ‘*How can you doubt it, with my genius for disguises, my familiarity with numerous secret resorts, my boundless command of money, and, lastly but mostly, with the unquestioning devo- tion of our entire Brotherhood at my back?” ‘*True; he must be even more than human to outwit you.” : ‘* He cannot—it is impossible!” cried Kotzka, exultantly. ‘¢ This last disguise of the Scotland Yard detec- tive seems to stand you in good stead.” ‘*T rely on it more than anything else.” ‘‘ Where is the man you are personating?” A deadly and impassible look came into Kotzka’s face. : Question me not, Clarisse,” said he, ‘‘ He is —gone! ‘larisse shuddered, she scarcely knew why. ‘You have not told me,” said she, after a pause, ‘in what way the poor murdered widow and her daughter stood between the Brotherhood and its aims.” ‘* Nor shall 1 tell you now,” said Kotzka, in a deep and impressive voice. ‘See to it that you, in your turn, remember your oath of affiliation in ‘that Order of which I am the august Master!” - The proud girl bent her head submissively, as if under a merited rebuke. ‘*One question more,” she murmured, ** Name it,” ‘“ Was the murdered Mrs. Ashcombe a widow in reality?” | Kotzka started, and gave her a swift, search- ing look. **She seems to have thought or called herself such, at all events,” hoe said. ‘Is not that enough?” ‘‘ Perhaps so; but then, since reading of her tragic fate, and the mystery that seems to have surrounded her life, I cannot help unaccountably coupling that woman with—with—” ‘With whom?” ‘* With our imbecile life-prisoner—with the Baron Tauchnitz. He was rumored, J remem- ber, to have had family connections in Hungary —the mystery was never wholly cleared up, and—” Kotzka interrupted her with an outburst of mingled wrath and derision. ‘* Preposterous! You have been misled!” he exclaimed. ‘' Think no more of such folly!” She again bent her head. ‘*T shall strive to obey you,” said she, ‘ Grati- fy my curiosity on one other point.” ‘* Proceed,” “Twice to-day you have had Hawk Heron’s life in your hands—yes, thrice, if I include the elevated railroad incident—and—” *“* And yet I spared him? This is what you can’t understand, eh?” ee Yes, » ‘* Well, I cannot explain myself more fully than to repeat that I was the friend and mentor of his youth in other days and other climes. I prefer not to destroy him until it shall be abso- lutely forced upon me,” Clarisse’s face brightened, “ But,” he continued, observing her narrowly, “ ouch a result will doubtiess be forced upon me sooner or later.” . Her face clouded again, but he austained from comment, Kotzka now prepared to depart. *“ Work is s*ill before me to-night,” said he, “work at which you may assist.” She looked up quickly. ‘** It concerns Olga Ashcombe,” he continued, ‘** What! the dead young girl?” He bent forward, and whispered in her ear, Clarisse started back in supreme astonish- ment. | | eee ee ee ee Sn ~ ——. CHAPTER VII. A MOMENTOUS REVELATION. HAWK was just in time to give his testimony before the coroner’s jury. As it only embraced what he had actually seen with regard to the tragedy, the reader can judge how little it availed toward identifying the murderer. Mr, Schmidt and the old charwoman, the on] other witnesses, had already given their testi- mony, to no better effect. The verdict was accordingly a mere reflection of the ignorance evolved, and, for the time be- ing, the terrible crime remained shrouded in impenetrable mystery. he undertaker’s duties had already been per- formed. The coffined bodies of the victims lay upon trestles side by side in the front apartment of the humble suite, Hawk was one of the last that lingered after the verdict had been declared. He was also about totake his departure, when his arm was touched significantly by a young man who had accompanied the coroner and his assistant, and had aided in the post-mortem ex- amination, ‘‘ Pray, wait till we are absolutel alone, sir,” said the young man. “Ihave ar markable revelation to make.” Hawk looked at him in surprise. By the rays of a single lamp that stood on the mantile-piece he appeared to be a prepossessing young man, 0 twenty-five or six, decently clad, but with a ha geard and careworn look. Sobs proceeded from an adjoining room, in which the grief-stricken old music-master had taken refuge. ‘* Help me to get rid of Mr. Schmidt,” contin- ued the young man, in a whisper. “It is best that what I must tell you should be secret from even him, at least for the present.” Equally impressed and puzzled, Hawk nedded his assent. The young man passed into the adjoining room, and returned leading in the old man, who was finally persuaded to retire to his own apart- ments on the floor above, on receiving an assur- ance that strict watch and guard should be kept in the chamber of death. ‘*Who are you, sir?’ asked the detective, when alone with the young man. ‘*Ralph Seagrave, a simple medical student, and an occasional assistant of the coroner’s phy- sician,” was the quiet reply. ‘But I,am also something more. Come here!” He took the lamp, and, passing to the head of one of the coftins, reverently unvailed the marble face of the occupant. It was that of the beautiful Olga. . ‘* Behold!” said he, solemnly. ‘*I am hcr wor- shiper, her adorer.” ‘What do you tell me?” exclaimed the cetec- tive. ‘** You might once have been what you say, but here is only the lifeless shell of the love- ly being that has passed to her last account.” Ralph Seagrave smiled strangely. ** Are you sure of it?’ said he. ‘“‘Of course I em, as were also the coroner, his medical examiner, and his jury. One does not worship or adore a lifeless form—a corpse!” **No, surely. But what was the alleged cause of death in this case?” ‘* Heart disease, hastened by a violent nervous shock. So the physician made out in his report to tLe jury.” ‘‘The physician was deceived. The cause of her mother’s death was apparent enough—a dis- location of the spinal cord by the murderous garroter’s wrenching clutch, But as for Olga, the innocent, the beautiful—” ‘* Well?’ said Hawk, as the young man paused, with a repetition of his strange simile. ‘As for Olga,” continued the latter, ‘* the examination was superficial, the premises hasty, the decision fallacious,” ‘* What do ycu mean?” * She is not dead, but sleepeth!” Hawk thought at first that the youth had gene mad, but his earnestness and collectcdness quick- ly dispelled this impression, **Look!” said the youth, setting down the lamp, and removing the entire coffin lid, * This — is the astounding revelation I made in secret during the examination, and have resolved to share with you alone.” The heautiful Olga had been dressed for burial in a simple, but becoming suit of every-day wear. As he spoke, Seagrave lifted and bared the right arm of the motionless form. t was round, white and firm as if molded from alabaster, save a tiny discolored spot in the hollow of the elbow. ‘‘ Observe that spot,” said Seagrave. ‘*T am doing so,” said Hawk, examining it closely. “ at is it like?” “ Like—like the puncture of a needle-pojnt.” “Right! It ¢s the puncture of a needle-like point, at least—the, point of a hypodermic syr- inge!” | a ee * + ° m (E(0) »f Ebooks.co SE a a mn