Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 396 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

ee — - . ed he . tT The Piper Detective. 15 Rawle was reclining on a lounge but arose languidly at sight of his younger friend. ‘“T’ve changed terribly since I last saw you; I’m a hundred years older. Of course you have seen it all.’ Preston Blaine said nothing. He simply bowed his head and held out his hand. The general was changed—more than he had thought possible, though not so much overwhelmed as the major had anticipated. ‘*T sent for you last night, but somehow they could not find you, and I had nothing to do but wait. Now that you have come, I feel indeed that something will be done. Un- til 1 feel better able to face the world I want to put everything in your hands.” ‘‘A thousand thanks for your confidence— I wish I was more worthy of it. Iam too shocked to be quite myself. Have the police found no clew?” ‘The police!” The voice of the general for a moment rose to a wrathful pitch. They are blind as mules. When my head clears a little, I may see straight myself; but then it will be too late. They profaned Re- gina’s room with their presence, stared at her poor, crushed throat, and then said—the would see. There was one man here, a pri- vate detective, of whom I have more hope than of all the rest. He looked over the ground in a cool, business-like way, demand- ed no money, expressed no doubt, but went off to work even when I tried to detain him. Somehow I know that he is my man for a thousand. I am to meet him to-day—you will go with me—and then we will know what to do.” ‘‘A private detective? The class will bear watching. Who was he?” ‘*' There is his card. Wardlaw is the name, I believe.” : ‘*1 don’t know him—by that name,” an- swered Blaine, slowly. The unexpected cool- ness of his friend had had its effect on him, and he was able to think. His veice had even got back something of its custom- ary music. ‘This man is honest; I would stake my life on it. Why, what risk is there?” Sure enough, what risk could there be? But while he was speaking a letter came up from the office, addressed in a neat, business- like hand, though its contents caused conster- nation, since they gave not only. voice but shape to the very doubts that Blaine had hinted at. ‘Dear Str:—Last ss i a man claiming to be a detective, introduced himself to you under the as- sumed name of Wardlaw. The writer, who, for cer- tain reasons, requests that this communication re- main a secret, warns you to be on your guard, should he appear to you under that or any other guise. He is none other than Craig Clayton, a con- victed but escaped murderer. As he has been recog- nized under his disguise, it is not likely that he will trouble you again. Should he do so, hen will be conferring a favor on humanity and the law by tak- ing him to the nearest station, and informing them who he is. I guarantee the warmth of his reception, ** Respectfully, ‘*Your FRIEND,” “What sort of vile net-work is this around me? Read this, Blaine, and see if I have made out its contents aright.” The major read—and knitted his brows. “‘I suppose that is a specimen of what rofessional rivalry leads to. Perhaps this ardlaw is no worse than your anonymous correspondent; but it would be at least un- pleasant to feel that your dependence was on that kind of a man.” ‘‘T cannot help it; in some way he im- pressed me favorably. If ever this night- mare mystery is to be solved, he is the man that will do it. Perhaps he may still make his promised appointment. Surely he must have learned something. If I hear from him you must go with me. Perhaps you_can recognize him, and tell me whether it will be safe to trust to him.” A telegraph messenger interrupted the an- swer. General Rawle hastily tore open the envelope. The message was dated at Albany. “Madam V. out of town, On track. Wait for developments, WARDLAW.”’ The two looked at each other, and both together voiced the one word: ‘* Strange.” . While they hesitated there came another visitor, Who entered with visible reluctance. He seemed to be a st in stranger to the ee but Preston Blaine took his hand at rst sight. rr a ee —_—_—_—_—__8ce.0.0::0n.0 “Captain Hardy! Ah! I might have guessed that you would be around, At last we have some one on whom we can rely.” “Yes, yes,” answered Hardy. ‘‘I will do my best for any friend of yours; but I want to tell you before other things drive it out of my mind, I have just got track, fairly and squarely, of one Craig Clayton, who escaped after conviction of murder long ago, and who has lately been masquerading as one Wardlaw, a private detective. He is Paddy the Piper; and he is chief of the Gilt Edge Gang.” ‘We have him, then,” said Blaine, excited- ly. ‘‘If you can only keep your knowledge from leaking out. Isee it all, now. They did the crime here, and he came afterward to see that all was properly covered up. Gen- eral Rawle, the chances are even that you were speaking to the murderer himself. How far he would trail his associates you can guess. Yet he is not done with you, and if he thinks his incognito has not been in- terfered with he will meet you. Their plans must include you and perhaps the gentleman down-stairs. Ill wager that this warning—” “Wait a moment, major. One thing at a time. About this man down-stairs. You don’t seem to have the latest.” ‘The latest—no. What is it?” ‘*He has disappeared. I came here for a double purpose—intending also to get some information from him, if possible, in regard to his adventures last night. From what I hear they must have been remarkable. I suppose he objects to having his name go be- fore the public, and has dodged reporters, police and everybody else.” ‘* Perhaps he too has been murdered,” sug- gested Blaine, solemnly. ‘*T would not undertake to say. It was only by chance I heard of him, and I do not even know his name. Do you?” Blaine was forced to admit that he did not. About all the information he could give was that he was a gentleman in appearance, and so much resembling General Rawle that not being able to see clearly the battered features he had at first taken him to be indeed his friend. He had found nothing to indicate serious damage, and after washing him up had left him in charge of a porter. Hardy stroked the side of his nose thought- fully as he listened to the brief story. Prob- ably he had his own views of the importance of the matter, and possibly he would have ventilated them had there not come an inter- ruption. A young woman, evidently in a high state of excitement, forced her way into the room, exclaiming: ‘*Oh, is it true that Miss Rawle has been murdered? and please tell me what has be- come of Lizzie? I want my sister.” CHAPTER XVIII. PRESTON BLAINE STRIKES A TRAIL THAT ENDS NOWHERE. THE appearance of the young woman at General Rawle’s rooms was evidently a sur- prise to every one. The general gazed doubtfully at her, a puzzled look in his eyes, ‘‘Pardon me, my young friend, but at such a moment I scarcely feel equal to an interview with a stranger. Can you not go away for the present? If you will leave your address, I will do myself the honor of look- ing further into your affairs if you desire it, Just now it is hard enough for me to keep my head clear for matters that most nearly concern myself.” ‘‘But your affairs are mine. I saw it all in the papers this morning—about Miss Re- gina; and then I knew something had hap- ‘pened to Lizzie. Don’t keep it back, but et me know the whole truth. What is it?” “You seem very much in earnest, but, my dear child, I do not understand you alto- gether. Whoare you? Unless I am woful- ly mistaken, I never saw your face before. How then can I tell what to answer?” ‘* But Lizzie is my sister. The paper does not say anything about her, and I know something has happened.” ‘‘And who is Lizzie?” asked Captain Hardy, stepping forward, ‘‘ Lizzie, I suppose,” responded Blaine, taking the labor of replying from his chief, ‘‘was Miss Rawle’s maid, and perhaps, after a sort, her companion. Unfortunately, she was away last night, visiting her relatives. NN ee i) _ sss Had she been here 1 feel sure that there would have been an alarm—perhaps the fiends would have been captured.” ‘But she was not at home,” broke in the girl, ‘‘She never came. Oh! I am sure they have killed her, too!” ‘‘This becomes more and more serious,” said Hardy, coming positively to the front. — ‘Have you any suspicion that any onecould — have an interest in her death? I mustsayl © cannot believe that harm of that kind could have happened to her, though the coinci- dence is striking. Tell me, was she hand- some? There are other dangers than death. It is even possible that she has gone away willingly. Give me a description, and, if possible, a photograph of her. I will have every precinct notified. It is harder for a woman to vanish than you might think; and it is almost certain that if any foul play has been attempted it will give us aclewtothe® mystery. Where can I find aS R The appearance of the police captainhad — a wonderfully quieting effect on the girl. It might be that it was reassuring, and then again it might be that it caused her to hold her tongue for another and a very good rea- son. ye The general spoke for her now, as Preston Blaine had just done. an. | ‘*Pardon me, Hardy, for leaving the poor girl to speak for herself. I wasasmuchun- — hinged as she was, or | would have under- ~ stood sooner. I can give you all the points 2 you mayneed. Yousee I have toshake my- self together every minute orso. Hercom- | ing seems really providential. Ishouldhave — a woman with us. Every one has been very kind; but we cannot depend on that. You — will stay with me will you not, until after | the funeral?” oe. “And you will be looking for Lizzie all __ the same?” ae ‘Certainly. Donot think I hadforgotten her. She was so much in my thoughts that even last night I wanted to goin search of — her. It was a pity that noone knew where ~~ she could be found. Poor Regina would have known.” 4 ‘“T will stay, then, and you will find me no coward. Maybe as you say, you can find é + » $a +t . oo, me a way out of my own trouble, while Ll am helping you in yours. Take me tothe— to the body.” i A few moments later the young stranger ." was installed as watcher, while the men were gathered together in a consultation which — promised to produce results of importance, —__ Captain Hardy did not linger longer than ~ was necessary to obtain what information — the two could give him, and went away pon- me dering over the mystery of the singular mur- der, which the revelations of the general — only appeared to deepen. 7 Blaine remained for a little while; and + — now that he and Rawle were alone together in the darkened, quiet room his spirit sunk away below zero. He was too anxious to ~ get out and to work, not to be Cepressed; and as the general noticed it, and urged upon ~~ him not to linger through any good-feeling _ toward him, he finally went away. yr The day passed without any startling dis- coveries, the lonely occupant of the room’ spending most of his time writing, and look- ing over the papers that were kept filed away = in asmall trunk that he brought from his bedroom. Fes | As night came on he evidently grew rest- | less, and about nine «’clock he gave afew directions to the watchers with the corpse, to whom he had hardly spoken during theday and then went quietly out. Che No one about the house appeared to notice his going, and without hesitation he walked _ away, with the air of one anxious to leave — the spot behind him, Se aon For an aimless stroller he certainly went very straight, and was in remarkable luck to __ find a hack drawn up near the curb, around the corner from the hotel, into which he © couse vanish, after a careful look around ar If the general imagined that he had entered it unperceived he was very much mistaken, On the opposite corner stood a young man = with keen eyes and a determined looking face, who was evidently surprised to see - ~~), * i] e Shin ~s o% him, and more than half inclined®to speak to him. When the hack started ata rapid pace Preston Blaine, moved by a sudden impulse, followed it. He had only a fleeting Ae e 00 .. ™ we ) | w J. Pa com (e S.GO