Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 396 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 oo. ——_—— — — _ this wise conclusion, sauntered off on the side street in search of the area that he thought needed watching. The hack meantime had been driven as rapid- ly as was prudent, and the driver evidently re- quired no further directions, for not once did he ' confer with his fare inside. Bs, 3 For Good Samaritans they were certainly in | no hurry about finding a physician or a resting- Bi place, since the driver went in a circuitous way, asif to leave a trail that could not well be fol- _ jowed up, while the friend, who had so readily ___-recognized the general, allowed him to proceed a » un uestioned. rien? he result was that in fifteen minutes the hack was on quite the other side of the city. yo" Approaching a corner the speed of the horses _ +was moderated to a slow walk, and then the ar vehicle wheeled suddenly as a man lounging un- _ der the shade of a lamp-post raised his arm with -_, an almost imperceptible sign. After going a few yards the carriage wheeled again, and this time it had very nearly reached its journey’s end, | since it almostimmediately disappeared, through a narrow ayer The gates closed behind it, the lounger on the _ corner moved away, and no sign was left to show in what direction to look for the vanished vehicle. Meantime the hack had pulled up under an "= =. © ae | . i 4 aaeerey: acy The driver, leaping down, threw open the ie opr and the compassionate gentleman sprung out. “Ring the bell,” said the latter. ‘‘We will need help. The man is hit to keep, and if we _ don’t do something for him quick we’ll have a -_ eroaker on our hands.” : The driver took a side step or two and placed his hand against the wall. TAR Almost instantly another man stood by the _ gide of the carriage. It was so dark that only a dim outline of his form could’be seen, and he an- peared to have stepped right out of the solid Pd * , ‘* He is here,” growled the driver, ‘‘ but I won’t swear whether he’s dead or alive. Help him in ' _—-while I get out of this. Tl get nabbed on one ~ +! of these lays yet and be hanged to ’em. I gen- erally take ’em out; it'll be bad luck to begin _ bringin’’emin. Rustle around, can’t ye?” | The surly question was entirely unnecessary. - The two men seemed to know their work, from the start. Before the words were fairly uttered the body was lifted from the carriage, there was a slight noise of shuffling feet, followed by a low click. Then the driver was alone, while the - ¢aptors,‘or whatever they might be, and their _ burden were within the building. The men were at home in the darkness. _. Without a word they went on, their slippered feet making no sound on the floor of the narrow passageway. Along the secret corridor they he mamas and down a flight of stairs, at the foot of which a door opened, and at last a faint glim- _ ter of light appeared, shining through an open - floorway. hig “200 Taian was nearly at an end. A few - more steps, and they deposited the still motion- less body upon a lounge, and then turning, made _ a low bow to the only other occupant of the - room, who stepped steadily forward, with a _ face that expressed neither surprise or regret, though that face was a lovely one to look at for it belonged to a most beautiful woman. ; “You have brought him; it is well,” she said, in clear, flute-like tones, slightly inciin- - ing her head. “Is he living or dead?” *Tjiving,”’ responded the one who had come in the hack. “He has had a terrible blow, _ however, and there is concussion of the brain, if not a fracture of the skull. He may die.” “Satan guards his own too well for that. _ For the present nothing can be done. When he awakes to consciousness perhaps I will need our assistance. All things are arranged, and Ds vu can retire.” ; _ If the voice was clear it was also cold. The men listened, bowed low and backed out from her presence, leaving her alone with the man — in the stupor. $he stood, with her arms folded, looking : eho eed A curling smile played around her od a | red lips, and there was a glitter in h black eyes. Her magnificent arms, bare to the _ very shoulders, were folded on her breast, gleam- eles white against the black of the velvet in which she was clad; and her exquisitely-mold- = BF form, whose bang lines were revealed by the perfectly-fitting costume that she wore - geemed to tower above the luckless sufferer. TT think, Edgar Raven, I could kill you where you lie,” dropped from her lips. ‘if I do not it will be no mercy of mine. Poor re- ward it would be to lose you now. Oh, you were mad to put yourself in the way of fall- a) ing into my hands; mad to come here where ord am a power, when [ would have given up all to track you across the seas and strike, had [I but known that you still lived. Die? No, you shall not die—not now, at least, Your life is very dear to me. I will nourish it, oh, go tenderly, that you may wake to conscious- OSS, and know how terrible a thing isa woman’s * "Pry “; a te, bic It seemed as though tho man must feel the ; f-. | ’ : The Piper Detective. fierce flame from her eyes. Certainly he stirred; perhaps he gave a faint moan. The Rhy ey th smile came quickly to the woman’s face, her eyes sparkled more brightly, and she raised her little, clinched hand, as if to strike him where he lay. Hate could show it- self no more. And then—a finger was laid lightly upon her bare shoulder. No door had she heard open, or footstep ap- proach, but, as she turned, three strange figures ranged themselves in line, with hands out- stretched; and the nearest, he who had touched her shoulder with his finger, bowed low, as he murmured: ‘** Pardon, but the sahib is ours.” There was no mistaking the foreign tone, the straight black hair, the bronzed faces, the strange garb. The three men who had pene- tra into this strange retreat were not her comrades or allies; they were Hindoos, and they claimed her captive. It was only for an instant that the woman’s self-possession left her; though even in that mo- ment she neither flinched or uttered a cry. With a quick motion her hand flew into her breast. ‘* You villains! you have surprised our secrets. You must die!” Her hand had closed upon the hilt of a ready revolver. If she was quick so were the intruders. With a shap, a rope settled over her shoulders; she was helpless to act with that noose drawing tigh er and tighter around her arms. When she would have cried out a gag wasthrust in her mouth, Yet all the time it was evident that no evil was intended her. The hands that knotted the restraining cord touched her so lightly that she could scarcely feel their presence. Though the lamp suddenly went out, and she was thrust backward against the wall, not another sound was uttered, and she knew not when the three left, or if they took with them the _agbacstiond to secure whom she had gone to so much trouble. She could only feel their absence, and guess that the huge bolts that secured the door had been turned behind them, She was a prisoner in her own den, and in more danger than she yet supposed. CHAPTER VI. MAJOR BLAINE’S STRANGE ADVENTURE. PRESTON BLAINE was dumfounded at the glimpse of the face of the gir] he saw disap- pearing in the entry of the house whose fur- ther corner was occupied by the Rat Trap. His senses had never played him any tricks to speak of, and at first he did not believe that the had done so now. He stared like one possessed, But after a little he began to believe that he was mistaken. He knew just where to look for the men who had been stationed to watch the block, and he hastily sketched his pregramme. ‘*T will have them watch whether she comes out; and [ll go and beat up the general’s quar- ters. I have certainly learned enough to-night to make it worth his while to listen to me, To think thus was to act. In a very few moments he was hurrying away from the spot bent on finding out immediately the falsity of his ridiculous suspicions, Of course it was a delicate matter, and one harder to gracefully explore than he had thought of in the first burst of his enthusiasm, It was, however, too late, now, to back out; and he went ahead, a. little a how to pro- ceed, or what excuse to give for the questions he saw he might have to ask, It was with some hesitation. that he inquired at the office if it was possible that General Rawle had not yet retired. | ‘* Why, major,”—the clerk seemed to know him, though the face was unfamiliar to Blaine —‘*the general has not come in yet—unless he has just slipped up-stairs. It was only a few moments ago that Miss Rawle was making in- quiry about him. He’s not generally a late bird, either.” : The major was surprised, and at the same time uneasy. He had understood Hector Rawle to say that he would remain at home that evening, and he wondered what could have induced him to break that resolution. At any rate it gave him a chance to see Miss Regina, if he any longer doubted that he had been the victim of an optical illusion. : He considered a moment, . He was almost if not quite convinced; and yet without being able to explain why, he knew that it would be more satisfactory to at least obtain a glimpse of the young lady. Besides that, there was the least possibility that he might be of some service to her. | He scribbled a few words on a card, stating that he had called to see the general, and under- standing that she was uneasy about him, wished to know if he could be of any service, He sent up the card by one of the hall-boys, and did not have very 1 to wait. Miss Rawle expressed a desire to see him for a moment, if it was not too much trouble for him to step up to their parlor. He was satisfied now; but of course it was too as Lule _ oo é Le eee late for him to draw back. He went up, won- dering what excuse he could give to Miss Regina for his singularly timed visit, and was ushered into the dimly-lighted room, ‘Tam so glad you happened along,” said Re- na, Her tone, however, was much colder than her words. Was she less cordial, or only in trouble? ‘* Father went out for an hour or two and has not yet returned. Do you think anything can have > gps to him?” ** Hard yo answered the major, with what was intended to be a reassuring smile. ‘I sup- ose he has met some friends and they are tak- ing refreshments after the theater, If they fair- ly get to work on old time reminiscences you can’t count on when they will break up.” ‘*That is possible—I had not thought of it. The fact is, I have not yet gotten over the mys- terious thing that happened here this afternoon and I would have been better pleased if he had heeded the warning, even though it might have come from an enemy. I cannot understand i ” ‘*T would not give a second thought to that. I have no doubt but that the scene was planned for effect. The Irishman. seems determined to at- tract attention to himself; and heis going about it in a way that will succeed. They have half the reserve force of a precinct watching for him now, where he has dodged into what seems to be his kennel.” ‘¢ But will they find him, think you?” ‘““That isa conundrum I wouldn’t attempt to answer. It is to be hoped so, though, after all, if he was in earnest, they are hardly giving him fair play. I don’t pretend to fathom the chief’s meaning, and it is possible that he is only mak- ing the chase seemingly hot to throw others off their rd.” ‘*But who is he? What is he? How did he come to be here, and for what object?” ‘*T cannot tell you, except that he is believed to bea thief and murderer, who wishes to sell out other thieves and murderers. It is posible —even likely—that he had something to do with the matter we were talking of, which your father has determined to investigate. In that case perhaps he would have shown something of his hand if he had found the general alone. One thing, though, is very certain—he is a bold rascal and knows no fear.” ‘‘T am sure that you are right, and I am obliged for the interest that you have taken in our unfortunate affairs. You have reassured me, and I doubt not but that father will be in soon, to — at my fears. . I hope he will come, for though I am not much given to nervousness, I have fretted myself ill, and I doubt if I will be able to raise my head to-morrow. If you wish to see him, and can find time to call m the morning, you will no doubt find him at home, and learn the truth of my words in regard to myself,” t The nervous little laugh that followed affect- ed the major unpleasantly. He had an idea that it was time for him to be leaving, and without much more delay, he bowed himself out, He was more interested than he knew in Re- gina Rawle, but he had no desire to see her in a hysterical mood, as she would be if they kept up their conversation in regard to the mystery which the general was bent upon unraveling. The missing man had not yet returned when the major inqgmred again down-stairs, and in his own mind Blaine was becoming a little un- easy. Under ordinary circumstances he would not have been sur rised at finding the general out, away after midnight; but, after the warning of the afternoon and the assurance that he did not intend to be out late that evening, the major was of the opinion that this me absence meant something. Yet it seemed ridiculous for him to be troubling himself about a man older than himself, both in years and experience, who had scrambled through every nook and corner of the world without ever failing to take the best of care of himself. ~ Anyhow it was time for the major to be seek- ing his bed if he expected to be ready for his work in the morning. As he had lost interest in the woman he had left near the Rat Trap, and did not know of anything he could do for Gen- eral Rawle, he determined to seek his own quar- ters. He left the hotel and walked thoughtfully away. He had a couple of squares to go before he could take the cars, and as he went along he was pondering over the events of the past twenty-four hours. His ears and eyes were open for anything that might be near him, so that he was not likely to be taken by surprise. At the same time he was not taking such strict account of his surroundings as he would other- wise naturally have done. It was more by chance than any watchfulness of bis own that his eyes fell upon two forms that were flitting by him on the opposite side of the street. At the sight he started and halted, looking back over his shoulder. Then he gave a short laugh. ‘“‘T swear I must be going crazy to-night, Every feminine I see puts mein mind of Regina, © Isshe so wonderful that she embraces all woman- Gomic & rt é ’ . : ; aly? - a es 1h. 4545 DOOKS: es