Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 396 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

16 eee Dut he was sure that he had not been mis- taken. | And there was some one else with an eye on the general, as Blaine had the chance to ‘see. A boy ran silently and fleetly out from the shadows, and sprung up behind. The question was whether it was some street urchin, who was bent only upon stealing a __ ride; or whether it was some onc on the track of the party inside. . If the major had not been anxious to find out himself it is likely that such an idea would never have entered his head; but feel- ing, as he did, that he was guilty of some _-want of faith toward his friend, it made him suspicious of the rest of the world. a And then the detective fever was doubly strong within him, since the murder of the night before. There was a possibility of something developing out of this chance 7% meeting. Being light of foot, and in fair training, he managed to keep up for some distance. x) Then, when the speed had been accelera- ted and several turnings made that caused him to think it barely possible that the driver - was trying to discount pursuit, the vehicle, which had drawn well ahead of him, sud- denly vanished. ‘> There was no eee mystery about what a) em happened. well dressed young man _. like himself would attract more attention than was pleasant if he went racing along the sidewalk ata deadrun. He was simply — out-paced from start to finish. am ‘‘Confound it!” he muttered. ‘‘ They're ‘gone, sure enough; and that’s the last [ll see of them, to-night. I didn’t even have mption enough to hollow out to cut be- hind. That boy will be with them when they stop; and if it’s for any bad purpose I'll never forgive myself. I should have run on see at all hazards and taken him off anyhow. _ In Hardy’s hands who knows what he might er’) not have divulged?” + The more he thotght of it the more was -~ Blaine excited and perplexed. He thrust his hands in his pockets, bent his head down, and walked on, rapidly but aimlessly. He had no idea of the lapse of time, either. When he looked up with a start as a carriage drifted past him it certainly was not that he thought he had any interest in it. He would ae not have recognized it had there not been a boy hanging on behind. Chance had again directed his footsteps, and once more he had te his uarry in sight. ae h When he could see the boy again he was not half so anxious to haul him from his perch; or even to cry out, cut behind. At the leisurely pace the horses were going, it was not difficult to keep well up without ex- citing suspicion; and it struck him that it would be more interesting to follow on to _ the end. -. While he was turning this over in his — mind, every sense being now on the alert, _ ‘the hack drew up to the curb, just far enough ahead of him to have a fair view of _ the individual that immediately sprung out. Preston Blaine could not restrain a gesture of impatience. | The man was a perfect stranger; a stout _ gentleman with light hair and blonde beard, who stepped with an air of conscious owner ship toward the nearest building, which was evidently the residence of some one of means and respectability. Blaine waited in vain for the appearance of - General Rawle. The driver spoke sharply to his horses, and the conveyance was whisked away without delay. i The major had his choice of two supposi- _ tions. un - Perhaps Rawle had been taken up by the - gentleman with the light beard for the sake of a brief business conversation. af In that case he might have got down again long before Blaine had again struck the trail. Or he might still be in the carriage. The major gave a hasty glance at the house, and then ollowed on. It took a minute to Jose track of the conveyance; and a minute more to remember that the boy had disap- peared as well. He wheeled, then, and has- tened back, but by that time the street was empty, for at leasta block. Thoroughly dis- - gusted, he hurried away. ‘When he had turned the nearest corner go- _ ing toward Broadway, the boy came to the surface again, and stepping boldly up to the <% =F ? Ve ae A a’ ~~ — ‘q FS. be * ' * "ho | The Piper Detective. > b — 5 wa at . ioe é \ “\ + on * 4 r" . S ee : . - &, < lee ; a fr Te < , af ng a” s 4 t ’ ’ : + 4 a % 1 . =", ay et . doorway rung the bell, somewhat after a cu- | on a different lay. We know that he met rious fashion. In a minute or less the door opened; after | you. you last night, but he never came away with You've set up a job on him; and if the briefest of parleys it closed again—with | you don’t play crawfish and bring him back | to the waiting family, we'll set one up on the boy on the inside. CHAPTER XIX. A PROTEAN DRAMA. As the boy entered the hall the door swung shut behind him. “Now, then,” said a sharp, quick voice, ‘““what do you want with Judge Wethering- ton? He is busy to-night—just back from the country—and can’t be bothered. Ive turned away several callers, and I let you in to get out of sight of them. If you have any word give it to me and ['ll take it in, while you go about your business.” ‘‘The word I’ve got for him he hears from me, and nobody else. if you don’t want to get yourself into trouble, and maybe him too.” The man gave a short laugh. The idea of a boy such as this talking about his card! It was ridiculous—and yet there might be something init. First his face wore a grim smile, and then it lengthened into an air of respectful attention. ‘‘Very well. If it is possible no one is ever sept away from here unattended to. me this card of yours and I will see what the judge has tosay. If you have been funning me | pity your ears, that’s all. I have you in a trap out of which you can’t get until [ am ready to leave you.” You take my card in | per.” Give | you that will shake New York like an earth- quake.” “You must be wild, my lad. Certainly I know no such person as Captain Waite; and so I can assure you that I did not see him last evening. And as for Paddy the Piper, if he is the same man, I don’t know him in that shape either. You have come to the wrong place altogethet; who sent you on such a nonsensical errand? I would like to know. Some enemy of mineI should say, though such silly stuff cannot annoy me. Clear out now, or I’ll have you arrested for attempted blackmail. I know nothing of any Waite, Conyngham or Paddy the Pi- / judge certainly kept his head very Te showed not the slightest sign of He The well. embarrassment, and very little of anger. was only, if anything, too cool, If he thought to get rid of his young visi- tor in that manner he was very much mis- taken. ' ‘‘That won’t do, judge. Honor among thieves. If you’re on the square with him, we want to be on the square with you. If you ain’t, we want to know where he went to, right now, so blow the whole game.”’ ‘“'Then you would be willing to crush him along with me, if I deny your right to call me to account. You're a brick, young man, ‘You think? There’s men ov your size | but not a very bright one; and if you area been fooled before this,” answered the boy, fair sample, | must say that this Captain coolly, as he placed an envelope in the hand | Waite is not very fortunate in the choice of of the man, who turned without answer and | friends.” disappeared through a neighboring door. ‘Don’t fool yourself. If we blow the He came back very promptly, and there | whole game it’s only a start for him under was someting like a troubled tone in his | another face and a different name; but when voice as he spoxe: ‘*You’re a gallus little fraud, I'll put up any money; but the judge will see you. you haven't a good reason for disturbing him, If | do with him?” Vm going to take your hide off when you | come out for bothering me; so you look a little out.” ‘ You bet,” responded the boy, serenely. | ‘‘There’ll be several hides off when I get through; and maybe I'll go off with your scalp in my belt. IL know what I’m after.” With the saucy words lingering on his lips, the lad was ushered into the room where Judge Wetherington was seated. ‘You may go now, Thomas; and see that you remain withincall. It is not very likely the interview will be a long one.”’ The speaker was the same gentleman that Preston Blaine had seen enter the house. As he spoke he settled his spectacles on his nose and looked sternly at his visitor, while Thomas was backing out of the apartment. When the door had closed he continued in a lower, but sharper tone: ‘* Now, what is it? Speak quickly. You had no business to come here and | should not have allowed you to enter, but men in my position must see everybody, even a boy. A boy may not have much influence; but there’s a chance that there is behind him some one who has. Who are you?” The boy had been watching him quite calmly, and now drew himself up in a way that showed that he was ready for war. “Don’t try any of ycur snide games on me—TI know you clean through, and the men that are backing me can bring you to your milk if they just work their fingers. Touch me softly, judge, for I’m used to careful handling. henever there’s a neat job to be done they shout for Tommy; and 'Tommy’s around.” ‘Very well. want?” “Tommy wants to give you a pointer. We ain’t all as dumb as we look, and we know you clean through. What more I want to know is, where’s Captain Waite? We want him turned up; and that mighty sudden too.’ ‘Waite, Waite! And what does Tommy Really, you are beyond me—though, as | see many men I can hard- ly be expected to remember them all, Who is Captain Waite; and what have I to do with him?” ‘*Don’t try that on, judge; it won’t work. We know all about it. He’s Paddy the Piper, if that will suit you any better—just as you’re Captain Conyngham when you're 7 . ty ‘y } oe ~ He a : Saal > - Ni <: f.)\% rg was ‘ uo &, . ; A> ial . " ~ i ] ag -- wv. a tis . _ Pie malt, a feet. oes ey Py ye’ >. CLI a Ne Eee _— +0 tumble, it’s the smash-up of your life. ’m asking for the last time, what did jou The boy was in dead earnest—of that there was no doubt. Indeed he was in too much earnest for his own good. He forgot himself for an in- stant, and his voice, that had all along been skillfully disguised, took on the liquid tones that could only come from female lips. The judge had been eying his visitor keenly, and 1e did not fail to notice the change. ‘* Ah!” he said, ‘‘ there is more here than we looked for. You are no boy. Who are you? You ought to know that when you mix in with these affairs you are runnivg deadly risks. I know nothing of the man you speak of, Dut I must know something ‘more of you before you will be allowed to go away from here. A word from me, and you spend the night in the police station.” ‘‘Or somewhere else. Men like you are don’t want to call in the police when they can get around it... I’m not afraid of your trying that, but I am that you'll set up some worse job on meif youcan. But don’t you try it, judge, There’s good men behind me. You touch me, and they will lay for you. Your gang ain’t the only one that can stave a man’s | ead in.” ; ‘* And for the last time I ask you, who are you?” ” ‘‘T am Lizzie Waite, and a sister to the man whom I believe you last night murder- ed. Now you know who I am, and who are behind me, Will you speak?” The voice grew more earnest. “Of course I will, my dear. the missing girl, Do you know that if sus- picion once gets turned in your way, it will be apt to go very hard with you? Indeed, some people are uncharitable enough to say that if the truth were known, it would be found that you had a hand in the murder of Miss Rawle. And I am afraid that this fixes it on your brother, anyhow.” ‘*Miss Rawle? do not understand you!” ‘“‘Of course not. But there’s a Captain Hardy of the police that is looking for you So you are all the same; and your sister Katie is taking | your place by the side of the remains while they are searching for your body.” ‘In the name of Heaven, who is dead?” ‘*Miss Regina Rawle, your mistress; I saw her father a few moments ago. He and your sister are moving Heaven and earth to find you, and have enlisted the police in their ser- vice. If you have anything to conceal you EOMUG Y arg? of sal ey y 7 * ? Ba > fit ¥" ’ 3 Ge 4 ; . * ie . ~~