Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 396 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

‘ Po Ae 2 +” a . at 3. a : WF Oa Oth. ¢ : } ‘ a £ ~ A . 2 ee ann ‘ ; f - + # > * 5: gore) Ten jae ys Sew , ~ef / is s ve — => pd mite 5 < ; sal, 2% pee te PM "i ’ The Piper Detective. . ‘ s é 7 \t Pat . . . yi « .? * : - _~ ; t _ that if I tell to you the whole truth, and convince you, then you will be my friend whosoever's interest that friendship may hurt.” ‘‘T am all amazed, yet if only what you have told me is the truth I can give you the promise without hesitation.” ‘«'Then listen: ‘Perhaps you have understood that I have not seen my parent for very many years. You know that afier the war he left his na- tive country and wandered through the Orient. Finally | only heard of him at long intervals and he became almost a myth. ‘When I learned at last, that he was about to return to his native country 1 was very happy over the intelligence, and joined him at the earliest moment. *““He did not seem at all wanting in na- tural affection, and we appeared, on the face of things, to be a very happily situated couple. I think I would have been perfect- ly content had it not been for the astound- ing discovery that he was not my father at all.” ‘‘But my dear girl, that does not prove that he is not General Rawle. lam very much inclined to credit anything you tell me; but I have the evidence of my senses that he is my old commander; while, if there is any mistake, it may very well be on his art, in believing that you are his daughter. am not altogether a child to believe the last and largest story told me.” ‘‘And yet you have three or four times been the dupe of a flimsy disguise. Listen and I will give to you the proof positive of what I have said. General Rawle had not only a daughter, but a son. The son itis true, has been thought to be dead for years and years; but that does not excuse his own father for being ignorant of the fact that he once existed. When I discovered that I had my suspicions, What we have since learned has made us positive. And I can assure you that there has been a deep game played, of which I now hold the key. Whether or not my father has been murdered by the villain who has been personating him I have yet to learn. How hard a task that will be you can judge when you think of the extraordi- nary powers of the man who for a time de- ceived us all. Will you believe me now, or must I imperil everything by revealing the further proofs that had best be kept in re- serve for the present?” Preston Blaine had been shocked and he had been surprised. If he had not already lost his head he was in a fair way for it now, as the softest, whitest little hand dropped on his shoulder, and the eyes, that now he won- dered that he had ever failed to recognize, looked into his in a way that set his heart going faster, and his very finger-tips tingling. This woman had actually come back to him from the other world; he knew that she wanted to wind him around her finger; and it had come down to a question with him whether he should let her. As to the story —if any one else had told it he would have laughed it to scorn. From her lips it might be worth while to at least try to fancy it true. The major was honest as man or friend. He could not give away the interests of General Rawle; and yet—was it not pos- sible to compromise in some way, protecting Regina, and preserving her good opinion until he could convince her of her error? He spoke slowly and gravely. ‘“‘T think you are honest in your inten- tions, but wrong in your facts. hen you came to your sober senses you would de- spise me if I allowed myself to forget the sacred duty I owe to the man I call my friend, and who has so freely trusted us both. I think it can only be in his absence that this wild delusion seizes you. No doubt he will be here soon, and—but, heavens, what will not the shock be when he learns of the ter- rible mistake that has been made, and finds. you still in the land of the living.’ | ; ‘**Not, as great a shock as you Imagine; though, such as it is, I do not wish to give it to him for a little while if it can be avoided. There is a mystery about it that we have not fathomed. Before he knows that I live, we must know whether it was for him that the attempt was made to put me out of the road.” ‘‘Regina, you are surely mad, though I hope it is only a temporary craze. hat - wonder, too, after the narrow escape from a ——————————————————————————————————— a a ad such deadly danger? ‘Whether intentionally ' tion to any one save the one for whom it was od or not, your companion sacrificed her life for you. Leave me to break the news to your father. Then pha can see him, anda word from him will dissipate these illusions, Be quick now to make up your mind, since | my presence here with a brace of conspira- intended. I accept it.” Blaine held up his hand. ‘*And if the true General Rawle comes in with all the dash of yore how can I explain he may be here any moment, and before you | tors?” “4 go, return to its place of keeping, or intrust to me that paper. done you, and that all shall be explained. If you are not General Rawle’s daughter, I promise you that you will find in me such a true friend as you never before knew; and | can say as much for my old commander | confidence in you since I am not afraid to = after the edge of his disappointment has once | have you listen to our conference.” been dulled. Is it a bargain?” He was wasting time fearfully. She list- ened, stretched out her hand, and then drew it back again with a laugh, as he moved to meet it. I will see that justice is | speaking positively. | | *“‘He will not come,” answered the man, ‘*He is about at the end of his tether. He is fully engaged with mH visitors that he is receiving elsewhere. I see _ I will have to convince you later on; but you may, know that I have all of my old time While he spoke, his fingers were at work, and the two had finished their scribbling sim- — ultaneously. 2, oa What was the result of the mutual inspec- tions would be told by what followed, since ‘‘Enough of this nonsense. I will not | the two turned from the table for a brief order you to hold your peace—that is a mat- | caress. Tey, ter of taste which I leave to you to decide— | Then the man held out his hand to Plaine. —__ but I do tell you to stand aside. [have busi-| ‘‘ A few words will tell you my story, and _ ey ness that cannot wail longer, and it calis me | explain to Regina all that it is necessary for owe elsewhere.” her to know’. ue He still held out his hand. ‘*T have had some experience in the Far & “Very well. Go. But youmust not take | East with audacious criminals; but never By with you what belongs to General Rawle. have I before met with a man like this = Leave with me that paper, and for the rest | Raven. haar’ you may do as you please.” ‘‘He must have beenin service atthe same © ‘Ha, ha! You are growing angry. I | time as mysclf, and I think he hadatsome thought you had more sense, or | more in- | time a personal acquaintance with me. Cer- | RS fluence. Interfere with me at your peril. _ tainly he. knows much, very much, of my — uy The paper I will keep. When the true gen- | past life; and aided by a strong personal = eral Rawle asks me for it it will go into his ; resemblance and a wonderful facility at dis- = hands—before that into none other.” guise he might easily personate me with ‘*Then the time is here, my dear, and the true General Rawle with it. You have found there was something in a boot besides leather. Good. If you were sharp enough to discover that no fraud can befool you, I am glad to find I have a daughter after my own heart. Give me the paper.” At the first sound of the voice the two had turned toward the intruder. It was not the General Rawle that Preston Blaine had known of late, but it was the man he had followed not so very long ago, and who had vanished about the time he had been stricken insensible from behind. ‘‘And who are you?” exclaimed Blaine fiercely, darting in between the two witha quick side step or two, and making @ vain effort to watch both at the same time. The intruder gave a short, grim laugh. ‘‘T should think you would begin to suspect. You were ready enough the other night when I wanted no recognition and you picked me up off of the street. Why, con- found,you, you have been the biggest card in that rascal’s hand, and he seems to have played you for all you were worth. Thank Heaven I’ve got my foes in front of me at last.” ‘*“And who then do you say is the man I have known as General Rawle?” ‘“Who but the scoundrel Edgar Raven, the chief of the Gilt Edge Gang?” CHAPTER XXIV. SOMEBODY EVIDENTLY WRONG. Tne exclamation of General Rawle Num- ber Two is doubtless no surprise to the reader ; but to Preston Blaine, in spite of all that he had heard and seen, it was a shock, though as yet he by no means was satisfied to be- lieve in the self-asserted identity of the new- comer. And while Blaine silently digested the in- telligence he had just heard, he had an oppor- tunity to note that ‘the two were eying each other sharply, as though wishing to believe yet not altogether convinced. ‘1 have already been badly deceived, and now I do not intend to take on trust any and every man that comes saying ‘I am your father,’ Prove to me that you are General Rawle and I have much to tell you.” So Regina interjected and the other an- swered promptly: _ “ And'T might say the same—though there is litile difficulty about the task for either of us. There is paper convenient; write a page of the last letter I received from you as nearly as you can remember and I will dothe same. After that there will be little room for doubt, even if either of us feel any great amount of it now.” ‘‘A fair test that, and a shrewd one since nothing in either letter can give any informa- } * he - * « A ‘ ‘ ; ™ j ’ = y 7 ~~ . Ph rs . ~~ ; be - A - ."" v “i be av Aa F . ce I = a gm —— ee : strangers, so long as I was out of the way. , a ‘You know how Alvah Wharton died. = He was my brother-in-law, and his willnam- ed me as executor and residuary legatee. He was supposed to have committed suicideafter losing his fortune in speculation; but l[know : the Jast is incorrect—and I havereasonto' — believe that he was murdered. Unfortunate- ly for the desperate men in whose hands he 2 fell he had hidden his fortune away, and sent to me the clews to find it. 5st , nee Raven probably thought that I was ead. ‘‘He had reason enough, since in the Far East he had assumed my name and face and turned toward me the vengeance of three — men whose father he had robbed and slain after having won his confidence. os, Ny ‘‘Had these men wished to kill on sight I would have been lost. They are even yet deceived, and three times they have had me in their clutches. All the story is too long to rare tell now; enough that their eyes are partially _ open but that my own safety depends upon | my showing the false general as he really is, both to them and others. a “You brought me into contact with him. " Perhaps until that time he thought me dead, for he had here, again, fearlessly appropriat- __ ed my belongings. If I did not then reveal myself to you it was because I had plans: with which I could not allow any interfer- ence, and it was just as wellthat didnot | know that my daughter had been adoptedby this consummate rascal. He had my diary, and made use of it. Si - td ~ & 7 =e. From that he could tell you dozens of little trifles that would con- vince you of his identity more positively than would an unpremeditated conversation ~~ with me. TO “To-night, as you know, the stranglers . were again upon my track; but they made an onen attack, and for that Iam always — ready.” ee Conviction was stealing upon the major; and with it a shame of his great blunder, “| give it up,” he said, ‘‘This has been | a night of surprises, and I see now what a fool I have been. How can I ever obtain — your forgiveness for so aiding, as I have done, your worst enemy? AndIevencon- ~~ nected you with this great crime, done no _ doubt when you were far enough away. I | could not measure time.” ee Os ‘“‘Say no more. I know your loyalty— Pe! erhaps you will be able to aid me yet. here is a chance that Raven will return _ here. If he does he has the brazen courage /— that would lead him to attempt to beatme — out of my own belongings. In that case, without you it might be a'year before I I: prove my identity. In that time what plun- der would be left behind?” | oe Blaine lost all reticence at that, and at once began to tell of his own adventures that’) “-*Ecomieboo — a