Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 396 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

Se * s —~ Sow te — , < ee it ee eee — —* aA — ol pei Mi ° L 2 ; ? "7 e | you where it is, and they may have left some pickings behind. This isa temporary affair here, but I wouldn’t wonder if you - could find enough to satisfy most anybody of what kind of a nest it is.” a- “And whereabouts is this delectable den?” | asked the captain, staring around him in an uncertain way. ‘‘Well, Ferd’s is on one side of it, and Madam Velvet’s on the other; and if I’m not - mistaken her jurisdiction extended over the two houses. She'll tell you when she gets back.” ‘*Perhaps. But where is she now?” ‘On the trail of Edgar Raven,-the chief _ of the Gilt Edge Gang. If she don’t bring “But I don’t understand how he managed to slip out—or why they didn’t kill you when they had the chance.” ‘*Small blame to them; if they didn’t it ff ’ s wasn’t for want of trying. They were afraid to use shooting-irons, and I beat them floor opened under me and | went down as | fired my first shot. Then some one pitched ~~ down on me from above—he’s in there now,”’ * ¢ vs don’t understand yet into the game.” eae ing his battles as well as my own—even if I | indicating with a motion of his thumb the cell from which he had emerged, ‘‘ and he’s 7 dead as a herring. ‘‘And you’ve done all this. , By heavens, our work; though I - you’re no slouch at ow you came to drop ‘*T am Hector Rawle’s son and I was fight- was half deceived by Raven, For myself, | Captain Waite was the manI was after. I'll | tell you why in the morning. For the_ present you'd better clean up here and go on | to the nearest station-house. After that yow’il have time enough to raid Copper Sile’s and - the house nextdoor. I’ve got some relatives here that I want to see myself; and then, after the surgeon has braced me up, maybe Id better stay and bring Madam Velvet around when she comesin.” =~ ta, ge CHAPTER XXIX. “6 A DYNAMITE WRECK. | JuDGR WETHERINGTON had,in conjunction _ with his assistants, made a double capture. ~ When he had seen Paddy the Piper hurrying _ or hurried away, he turned to give his femi- nine captive attention. _ _He had not yet eutirely recovered from the shock of the revelation, yet he seemed to = 4 ae i ‘ ae ; the disguise of the sex, there seemed little _. reason why he shouid have, _He went down the steps leading to the cel- lars in a thoughtful mood, and rapped at a heavy door. Then he pushed back a bolt on _ the outside which was answered by the turn- ing of a key in the lock from the inside. The door opened and he entered. His beetling-browed assistant stood there, with a grim smile on his face. | _ *Pve drawed ther kinchen’s teeth,” he _ said, extending his hand toward the judge. - *-Here’s a nice little tool she tried to lug out, an’I reckon if she hadn’t been in such a - thunderin’ hurry to use the pop she might pot in some mighty nasty work when 7 J ~ hev ther eavy part ov ther game begun. Ef she can’t bite she may scratch, an’ you'd better -_keepan eyeon her. Sich cats are solid light- nin’ when they begins ter yowl.” ® No roughness, if you please,” said the {idee, quietly. ‘*‘Miss Rawle has been act- ing very strangely, and seems to be in league vay h desperate, parties, but I desire to pro- tect her as well as myself, and I know she wiil pardon me if I adopt methods that seem alittle out of the way. Until I had got rid should be in perfect security. Now I hope less strenuous methods will be sufficient. For a time her life was in danger—it would be yet if that man or his partners could al reach her.” | _ ‘And what do you intend to do with me now?” the prisoner asked coolly, and in her - most flute-like tones. To keep you here until I can break the - intelligence to your father and bring him _ here, You already know what has happen- - enéd, and can judge from its effects on me what the shock will be to him.” “And this, I suppose, is the lady of the _ house?” ry ‘i ’ ~~ wn ‘ - 4 = { —? ‘ Ps w y" Le oe Lat ‘ CAPD Ce arcing lente kenge eragettgtent — . - 3 ’ ws am WV, - - - off, and was ready to shoot myself when the | have no doubts; and after once penetrating | | of that desperado it was necessary that she . Fad -. = on ~ = - ~ et — <a = —a SORE WR Me ee way **. - | She pointed at her jailer, who stood listen- ing with a smile on his coarse but not alto- gether brutal face. ‘*Heisa man that we can both trust.« A man occupying the position in politics that I do sometimes requires a body-guard, and _I selected this gentleman with reference to his character as well as his slugging abili- | ties. You can be certain that he is thorough- _ly reliable.” ‘‘As much so as yourself. If you think to deceive me any longer, you are much mis- taken. I will wait in patience to see how far you will go; but I warn you that #f, meantime, you meet any of my friends, of whom [ still have a few, it will fare hard him to grief before morning I know nothing | with you.” of what a vengeful woman can do.” ‘Thanks for the warning; but I am abun- dantly able to take care of myself. I am sorry that lam compelled to put you under seeming restraint, but I can see, if you can- not, that you are in more danger than I. I must go now. Think no harder of me than can help, and when your father comes 1e will explain all.” He added a few words ir a low tone to his henchman, and then took his departure. This time the jailer took his position on the outside of the door, which was again bolted. As the key was left within, the prisoner had the option of locking herself in, which she did without loss of time. After that, for half an hour she maintain- ed a complete silence; and the jailer, if le was about, was not heard from. He was there and on guard, however, when a seemingly different gentleman made his appearance. The new-comer stepped with an air of certainty that betokened familiarity with the place, but if looks went for anything, this was General Rawle himself, “Ah, you’ve come,” said the watcher. *‘Been a-waitin’. Where’s ther jedge? I ‘spose he’s posted yer on ther p’ints. Quiet as & mouse in there now; but watch her. She’ll wake up lively enough. I don’t believe sh¢ hes any too much love fur her parient, an” she’s took it too cool not ter hev some plan afoot, © ’Pears ter me she’s a leetle cranky in ther upper story. Im sorry fur yer, general, but maybe she’ll come ‘round all right in time.”’ He spoke loud enough to be heard by a listener in the room beyond, and in spite of the warning ‘‘ hush,” which perhaps was no warning at all. Then he pushed back the bolt and tried the door, which was still lock- ed from the other side. / He rapped sharply on the door, at the same time that the other ages ~ ‘‘Regina, Regina! Open quickly. It is your father. hat is the meaning of this terrible deception—or is it Wetherington that has been deceived?” The bolt in the lock flew back and the girl- ish voice gave answer: ‘No one has been deceived. I know you now in whatever shape you may choose to come, and in every shape you are a fraud. If it was not that | want to trace your vil- lainy to the utmost limit I would resist you here and now. What is your pleasure? | will yield to it until I know certainly what is your aim, and how far it will carry you. After that, beware!” ‘Yes, yes,” he said, soothingly, much as though he was humoring a sick child. ‘I understand, and I accept your warning. But, come; we will hot stay here another moment. The judge may have been a little harsh; when you came to him in such a guise how could you blame him. I will give him my thanks again. He could not return with me—he went to the police station to see what disposition had been made of the ruffian you saw. I hope he is safely lodged behind the bars. From what I hear you are in dan- ger with him at large.” He had placed his hand lightly around her arm and was leading her away, while behind him walked the man who had played the jailer, | A carriage—the same one that she had suc- cessfully tracked thither—was drawn up close to the curb in front of the door, and the ' two entered without hesitation, while their | follower climbed up by the side of the driv- er. Then the vehicle rattled away. It was some little while before it halted; | when it did so and the two had stepped out they were on a lonely side of the street, in J. ae | : - jue ; ~The Piper Detective. ’ front of a small three-story building, the ‘ 4 »| oa ry * 2 , ) 1 i gee ‘ Fa . . A - « wal Aut . et aol, . front of which gave no sign of any life with- in. ‘“‘ Well?” said the prisoner, fearlessly, but with inquiry in her tones. ‘It is well,” responded the general, as srr ‘‘ Mv mission is about ended in this city, and I do not care to take you back to the ho- tel, which has its memories connected with such horrors. For a day or two you will rest here. To-night I came in possession of the papers relating to Alvah Wharton’s af- fairs. He had been preparing for a bolt, and the money we here looked for in vain has been deposited safely enough abroad. As I suspected, you have an interest in it, and I shall see to it that you enjoy it. Then I shall go back to the old roving life in the Orient, a this time you shall be my companion.” hile he spoke, she allowed him to lead her unresistingly, into the building. Only once she looked over her shoulder, to note that their attendant had descended from his seat by the driver and was following close behind them, while the carriage was already whirling away. The doors closed behind them, and she stood alone with the general in a dimly lighted room. ‘‘A very pleasant programme, Edgar Ra- ven, but what if I resist?” She turned and faced him coldly as she spoke; but her words seemed to strike him with more strength than if they had been ever SO passionate. “Why do you call me by that name— where did you chance to hear it?” ‘*No difference, I know not if it be your true one; but it is more likely to be than the one you have tried to bear with me. You are not Hector Rawle—you are no father of mine.” The two stood facing each other, and their eyes met steadily. In spite of the disguise it was not hard to trace the features of the girl he had supposed to be dead; and it was time now that he should decide on a question he had expected to hold open for a time longer at least. So it was that he spoke slowly: ‘‘A week ago I would have feared to say what I intend to now, but the last few days have shown me that there is danger in delay. I will tell you the whole truth and then you may judge. And first I give you my solemn word, that while I knew of your existence, I had not the faintest idea of meeting you, or that you were in the city when I decided on the only course open to me to obtain the large amount which Alvah Wharton was in- debted to me. I had been a friend of Hector Rawle in years that are past; but, as you have just said, I am Edgar Raven.” ‘. Man alive! have you the courage to ad- mit this wicked, this monstrous attempt at deception? Where then is the true General Rawle?” | ‘* Dead—buried at sea, as I only happen to know.” The other gave a backward step and threw up her hands to her face, as if overwhelmed by the intelligence. , ‘Tt was cruel, I admit it, but at the time I Gecided on my course I had never met you. 1 did not unmask when you first dawned in on me, and after that it was too late. Ina day as it were, you were dearer than a daughter, and I had decided that you must never know the truth until I could fully justify myself. With thousands at my command even if I never recovered all that Alvah Wharton had fleecél me of, I would so surround your life with blessings that to me you would look for the con- tinuance of its brightness. And when I was certain of my ground, then, then I would tell you all.”’ ‘“‘And you dare to tell me this? Edgar Raven do you think the history of your past life is unknown to me? Or are you mad enough to believe that J could ever trust you again were it only for this first grand decep- tion at our meeting?” ‘*Do not be hasty. I know it is like hop- ing against hope; but if you will giye me time—and you must and shall do it—I can remove the evil impressions that I see have been made. The life of Edgar Raven has been a strange one, entangled with that of another for whose deeds I have been blamed and suffered. When you know all you will know that I have been more sinned against than sinning.” com f Ebooks.c gt : | | | '