Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 396 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

4 wom Werks ‘er: . : _~ . ~. ae P ‘ as 1. * re a, © ‘ 4 Ae ‘ ‘ : —_——-——-—----- — a | can judge whether it is best to threaten | me.” ‘Regina dead—Katie—my sister—why this thing is false. I have nosister. Thereis no Katie. Ihave no mistress. You are trying to play on my fears and make me forget my osand I will not go until you tell me what has become of the man you met last night.” “And I tell you, girl, that 1 know nothing about him; that so far as [am concerned you are altogether wrong. But I know that you are wanted, and I shall give you a chance to explain to the police the cause of your ab- sence. Ihave been playing with you so far; but it has been with a. purpose. By your own admission you are connected with the extraordinary ruffians known as the Gilt Edge Gang, and it has already been more than suspected that they were concerned in the crime at General Rawle’s rooms. Now, the proof is patent. I hold the key to the mateny in my hand. If you are the mpeg gir]—” ” His fingers closed suddenly on her shoulder with a vicious force that she had evidently not expected. She did not wince or cower, but looked him fearlessly in the face. ‘‘What can you prove? Think twice be- fore you put your own head in the noose.”’ ‘“No noose will there be for me; but I’d go any length to fit one for the man or wo- man who murdered Regina Rawle.”’ ‘‘Faith, an’ it’s well yez may say that, jedge darlint,” broke in a voice with a rich brogue, ‘* fur be ther same token this is ther girrul hersilf. She’s fooled me wanst er twicte; but sbe don’t do it ag’in. Fraze onto her, jedge dear, fur when we have her, we have the hub av ther ontire thing. Och, but she’s a daisy, an’ don’t yez furgit it. Oi blamed you wid this racket they put up on me last night, an’ Oi hed come to git even; but Oi say what’s forninst the millstone, an’ Oi’m willin’ to shake hands when this ducky is put where she can’t do more hurt. Phat yez starin’ at? Oi'm Paddy the Piper, an’ this kid’s General Rawle’s girrul.”’ The judge appeared to be all abroad, yet it was not at the appearance of the lrishm who had stolen in through a door opposite to that by which the disguised girl had entered. His hand loosened its gripe and he staggered back, though his eyes never once left her face. ‘Regina Rawle—impossible!”’ he exclaim- ed at length; and yet there was just hesita- tion enough to show that he was more than nalf convinced, and that the knowledge was for him specially a shock. ‘It’s thruer than gospel. It’s Lizzie thet’s tue dead wan, me own sister Lizzie. Be- twane thim they've kilt the poor gurrul, an’ I’ve swoor to git even. It was on you I blamed it all last noight, whin they knocked me down an toied me up; but now Oi know it were part ov their game. Some wan came to yez in my place. Phat did yez do wid him? Answer me that. If he’s livin’ it’s in dape danger we all are. If he’s did then this daisy must folly the same road, an’ we'll be safe.” ‘‘What is the bottom of this mystery?” answered the judge, passing his hand across his face in adazed sort of way, ‘‘ | know nothing about the man you both say came to me last night, and I want nothing more to do with either of you. By your own show- ing you are a pair of criminals; and I doubt not you are in league. Who you may be I cannot say; but this Ido know. This girl is not Regina Rawle. She is dead.” ‘‘ He says so,” responded the girl sharply, pointing one shapely finger at Wetherington, ‘“And he ought to know. That man is Gen- eral Rawle, himself.” rVare ‘Thank yez fur tellin’ me. It’s a p’int in my game; but it don’t help you. Come, gin- ‘ral dear, we hev yez down foine; are yez fer me or aginst me? Yez naden’t be so bloody eareful. She’s ez good ez a dead woman. Spake roight out.”’ At last the judge was ready. There was the sound of the tinkling of a little bell in the adjoining room, and at that he suddenly step- ped back a pace and raised both hands, each clasping a revolver. “It makes no difference who Iam, I will protect myself. The girl remains in my hands as a hostage; while you, Captain Waite, or whatever your name may be, can meet me at some other place if you want to ~ eS, “ Va 4 ay fh . 7 ” - / ’ : - Py ie A ye! ; \ . i : 7 . af a ' - A ‘ _ a a Ne | The Piper Detective. talk business. When I am at home no man ever scares me, or gets the drop.” While he spoke two men entered. One away, while the other linked his arm in that of the remaining intruder, in a free and easy ray. An right, my covey. You and I can take a stroli down the avenue. The judge is off for a tea “party and we are only in the way here.” ~CHAPTER XX. THE GANG GETS IN MORE WORK. PRESTON BLAINE turned away from the neighborhood of Judge Wetherington’s in anything but a pleasant mood. He had just had enough experiencesduring the last few days to make him suspicious, and not enough to enable him to see clearly. He was in- clined to believe that he had been badly de- ceived, but could not imagine in what way. had left his rooms at all. It was less than natural that he should. When this idea fairly got in his head, he determined to verify it, and he turned his face toward the hotel. As he came near he glanced upward. He had a very clear idea of where the general’s rooms were located, and as he neared the spot, unconsciously he looked up. Just at that moment there was a flash of light in the window of the room where he believed Regina lay. ' e, and he halted and It caught his e watched. The light appeared and disap- peared several times, It seemed very much like a signal. A slight exclamation caused him to look sharply around. There was another watcher. At least it could hardly be an unmeaning coincidence, that a shabby-looking old man should be watching that same spot at that identical time, and should hurry away when the light finally disappeared. Scarcely taking time to think why he did it, the major followed. When he had gone some little distance, he discovered that either the old man was act- ing in a very strange way, or else he was aware of being tracked. After noticing that much, the major was all cautious attention. He had been beaten so often of late that he was not only being put on his mettle, but he was learning wis- dom. Though he looked keenly around, he could seé no one that appeared to be a trailer, so that he was almost assured that his own pursuit had been noticed. In that case the man had something to fear, and something to conceal, In that case it was not very likely he was what he seemed. “The fellow is well gotten up, but Ill wager ‘money he is in disguise. If he is, there is enough unexhausted muscle there to make him dangerous. He may hide in the shadows, and try to lay me out when I stum- ble within reach,” This was a very shrewd suspicion, and al- most at once it seemed justified. Some dis- tance separated the two, and suddenly the quarry disappeared. The spot was almost deserted of passers- by, and Blaine, his head crammed full of love in regard to the Gilt Edge Gang, hesi- tated about proceeding. There might be a trap or a pitfall just ahead. While he loitered, pressing close up to the inner edge of the cave, the affair developed rapidly. There was the sound of a low cry, and a scurrying of feet. At once the major dashed forward. Three women had flitted by him at the last Corner, and from their garb he had judged that they were Sisters of Mercy, hurrying away on some mission. Now he was horrified at hear ing a heavy blow, and seeing one of them drop as if shot, Then he could see the shabby old man at work, am out with the strength and skill of ascienced boxer. Two more blows the man struck; and at each blow one of the Sis- ters went down. : Blaine was a heavy hitter: but he was no brawler; and he suspected that in this case he was clearly overmatched so far as muscle went, Instead of throwing himself upon the ruffian, as was his first impulse, his hand \ a's ‘ le of ica i Remembering the occurrences of the preced- | deserve such kind treatment at your hands. ing night he began to doubt if General Rawle | My word for it—there’s not a woman in the ‘ ' = ee went up; and he had a cocked revolver aimed at point-blank range. ‘‘Surrender there, you villain. Tl have oy picked up the disguised girl and carried her | you in the station-house for this work, if I have to carry in your corpse myself.” **Don’t be a fool, Preston Blaine,” brisk- ly answered the man, in a smoother tone than had been expected. | ‘‘This isn’t your quarrel at all, an@ you're ; only breeding trouble for yourself by trying : to make it such.” ‘It 7 my quarrel whenever I see a brute insult a woman. You have struck three, and women, too, who should have been sacred. No parley now. I hope we will find a policeman on the next corner. If we do I shall leave you in his hands and come re to see how much damage you have one.” ‘‘Ha, ha! And are you that easily made «@ the dupe of appearances? Examine your ~~ three blooming females and then say if they me lot. Youcan do what you please, but of * course I shall see that they do me no harm; - unless you listen to reason, and slope with as me while we have the chance.” 36 The words of the old man—or the disguis- = ed young man—seemed like a marvelously bold lie, and Blaine’s hand never wavered as e. he heard them. What he would havedone or said had time been allowed him, remains =_—> a secret to this day; for, as his lips opened, a heavy blow fell upon him from behind, and he dropped unconscious upon the pave- ment. When he came back to consciousness ey- _ erything was quiet, and the man and the ~ three women had vanished. Slowly he steadied himself into a sitting posture and stared around him, at first won- dering what had happened, and then that ~~ the fracas had attracted no attention. ae Then he heard approaching footsteps, but he was yet too limp to attempt to stand. | Feeling around in an aimless sort of way, his = | hand touched the revolver with which he ~ had been menacing the man he had follow- ed. He caught up the weapon and held on -” to it, awaiting the new-comer with the trepi- dation of one who has just been pega) aa slugged, and is uncertain what new misfor- | tune may be about to befall him. | ) oe He was not long in doubt. . The man came nearer, and caught sight of = || the figure on the sidewalk. ue ‘‘Hello! what’s this? Drunk as usual, old man? Better crawl out.” an The hearty tones were familiar, and the : 3 - . ‘on € . r aye - ‘ ; major felt himself grow stronger on the in- stant. ae ‘Is that you, Captain Hardy?” he said, staggering to his feet, and holding outhis hands as though reaching for help. 2 ‘‘ Captain Hardy it is, sure enough; but who in creation are you? What has been going on here?” 4 ‘* Murder for all I know—something very, like it 1 am sure. Look around. You m | ‘as find a body or two. After they struck mel don’t know what happened.” Pts ee ‘Hello again. It’s our friend the major. __ Didn't I tell you so? The gang has been after you in earnest this time, and lucky you = -are that they didn’t leave you with yourskull split wide open. Let’s look for damages first thing. ‘This may be more serious than =~ you think.” bok. ‘Oh! I’m allright. Some one struck me __ on the back of the head with aclub, but I think the blow glanced, just taking the bark > off. Ough! I can feel the blood trickling _ down my neck now.” ae ‘You're all right,” answered the captain, — who had been feeling while he spoke, an digging his thumbs into the major’s head in | a scientific way. Paue ‘Nothing broken here, and nothing that = will show when you get dressed up. Now fire away with your story, quick. We're a .. « losing valuable time. How did youcome to be here, and what has happened. Did you recognize any one?” al ose The question caused Blaine to put on his thinking-cap—not the easiest operationinthe world, either; for he was still somewhat con- fused. Up to this moment he had not eine peed of recognizing any one. He had, supposed de that of course they were all strangers. BS Not to tose time he began: and, as he eo thinking as he went along, perhaps he "og comic S . a : 700) / 4 *