Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 396 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

+ or - V2. é om »\ \ ‘ e « : * ‘ 6, + ~, = we, Pow , kind? That is the second time I have been fool- ed; for I could have sworn again that that was she. If I had been drinking lately I would think it was jim-jams. Of course I know better now. The very idea is preposterotis.” He proceeded resolutely on, more than half- ashamed of himself. Had he taken as much care to verify this suspicion as he had the other he might have found something to wonder at rather than to smile. The lady finally disappeared through a rear entrance to the hotel that Preston Blaine had so lately left, while her escort then hurried away in a direction opposite to the one taken by the major. Preston went on across town and finally stood on a corner, waiting for a down-town car. As the hour was late his wait was naturally a long one, and he at last turned to the left and strolled slowly on. As he neared the next cross street he heard the rumble of a car coming toward him. ) And then, just as the car reached the corner, a carriage «lrawn by two horses, at a frantic speed, rushed upon it. The horses shied; but it was too late. There was a sickening crash, the wheels on the off side went grinding into the rear platform and then the carriage was a wreck, while the horses, that had evidently been running away, tore on, and were lost in the darkness. At the instant of the collision there was a shrill scream from the carriage. Blaine saw that the catastrophe must happen, and instinctively rushed forward to assist, for he felt sure that harm would come to those in- side. The two or three occupants of the car were every whit as much frightened, and made their exit by the front platform in remarkably quick time, so that the major was no longer alone. As he stood at the wrecked carriage, he saw tliat the driver, who had been flung some yards away, was not seriously harmed, since he stag- gered to his feet and started off at a gradually increasing rate of speed in the direction taken by his horses, The one side of the carriage was crushed in— on the other side Preston Blaine tore the door open ——s to find some one dead or badly hurt. There was no doubt but that he had heard a cry of agony from within. ° In some surprise he started back. Neither cry nor groan came from the vehicle, but, instead, two men, who were very muc alive, though seemingly dazed from fright. Without a word they sprung through the open- ing, and darted away, following in the direction taken by the horses and driver. ‘What idiots are these?’ said Blaine, half- aloud. ‘* | suppose they’ve all got awa to explain the racket. Confoun the use to run now?” He was satisfied that there was nothing hu- man there; and yet, with the thoroughness that had always characterized him, he reached into the darkness to make sure. He drew his hand half-way out with a little cry of surprise, here was still some one left; and this some one would not run away. If he was not a corpse he felt strangely like one. ‘*There’s a dead man in there,” he said ina low, solemn tone to the men who came pusb- ing up. ‘‘ We must get him out.” The body lay down among the debris on the shattered side. To bring it out and carry it to the sidewalk under the lamp on the corner was but the work of a moment. The sight of the face was more than a sur- prise, it was a terrible shock. ** Heavens and earth!” the major exclaimed, scarcely willing to believe the evidence of his Own senses, ‘*Tt is General Rawle!” i Phat’s that ye sez?” man in the uniform of a policeman pushed jem forward, and gazed down into the white ace. ‘*Say that name wanst more.” “It is General Hector Rawle—a friend of mine. He has just been killed in a collision of his carriage with a street-car.” ‘‘ Thin, be the powers, it’s a long time he war a-dyin’! The Gilt Edge Gang shtomped the loife outen him an hour or two ago, clane at the ither ind av the shtrait, an’ be ther same token) it war ersilf ez shtole him away. If yez hev bin roid- in’ him ‘round iver since, it would hev killed him ag’in widout smashin’ av him ag’inst a shtrait- ear. Did yez think Oi’d shtand by an’ say bloody murther done fur yer dirthy tin dollars? Come out av that, me b’y! Sure an’ this toime Oi’ll pull yez in, anyway.” Policeman MeCulligan had struck the second edition of the Rawle mystery, that had been Meme him more and more the oftener he hought of it. His hand, that was neither ten- the majors canine ao is ica coat-co an Ww vi i dead earnest. _ si gait cae oe ‘* Don’t be foolish, Michael,” said the major, and left me them, what’s | ards 4 ad no more to do with this matter than you. I was standing on the corner waiting for tel : © Gey : s - » » > a9 Ye J . 7 at es se : a 4 “i 4 { e h pear lowed Beal “4? y ww ¥ a ue nae ~ (a "4 - wes - * m % 2 ro. : : . - he Piper Detective. @ a car, and happened to see the accident. Now | can’t come any av his goom games over McCul- I recognize this gentleman as a friend of mine.” ; ‘*So yez said wanst afore, at the ither ind av the shtrait. Av yez couldn’t foind his place in two hours, yez don’t know it no betther than yez should. This time he goes to the hospital, an’ you goes to ther lock-up.” r tell you, man, you’re crazy! Here’s my card. I don’t remember to have seen you before for a week—certainly not this evening. While you are making a fool of me, the general is dy- ing. He should be moved to his own rooms at once. If that can be done before he comes to, there is a chance for him yet.” ‘Phat yez said before, an’ here yez are, dhrivin’ ’round yit.” McCulligan spoke a little more doubtfully. He could nab hein ut recognize the genuineness of the hopeful ring in the major’s voice. ‘*Confound you, do you think I want to run away? Here’s a man hurt near to death. If you have half an eye you can see something must be done. These gentlemen will help. Go with us, and I will show you that 1 am in earnest.” ‘Now yezshout—ef yez don’t m’ane Castle Garden er ther flats at Harlem. But I don’t lit me eyes off av yez ontil I sees yez a square mon, an’ knows why yez hev bin dbrivin’ ’round half ther noight wid a corrupse.” ‘“*In Satan’s name, he 4 us now, and I'll satis- ry yeu afterward—if | have to do it with a club, The last few words were spoken sotto voce, or rhaps Policeman McCulligan would not have eat so willing to assist. As it was, he followed the procession with alacrity, but all the time keeping a keen watch on Preston Blaine. CHAPTER VIL. THE GOOD SAMARITAN COMES TO GRIEF. It was an actual fact that the victim of all this ill-treatment was yet alive. Certainly he had gone through sufficient that night to kill an ordinary man. he blows that had beaten him down in the first place had been enough, when administered to other unlucky wights, to settle them beyond resurrection. | : In addition, as the reader knows, he had been handled by no means tenderly: and, finally, had sustained a shock in the collision, that was of it- self serious enough. , Nevertheless, he was gn | something of his senses, and though not yet able to speak, he evidently understood much of what was now going on—or thought that he did. Evidently he had no great confidence in the good intentions of the procession; and had he been a little stronger might have made an effort to break away. Major Blaine noticed this, if no one else did, and he tried to reassure him by some whispered words of encouragement; but his only answer was an unrecognizing stare. Policeman McCulligan was close at hand. He had turned over the charge of the wrecked carriage to one brother officer who made his ap- ance on the corner before the departure of the little squad. Another was started on the trail of the runaways, for McCulligan did not believe that they would return, and obsti- nately refused to be convinced that the major was not one of the party and would not attempt to escape at the first -pportunity. ‘** What under the sun are you bringing us here?” exclaimed the night-clerk’s assistant, as the attendant deputation came uproariously in. He had just gone on and failed to recognize Blaine. ‘*Pve found him,” answered the major, ‘‘ but I’m afraid he is in a bad way. Hush! don’t make a noise. I don’t want the news to get out, for we must break it gently to his daughter.” ‘Break what ?” Who are you talking about and what’s the meaning of bringing him here?” He pointed in angry disgust at the battered figure of the half-conscious man, and then took a couple of steps, as if about to come around and bar the way. : ‘* Can’t you see?” interrogated Blaine, angrily. ‘Tf you don’t recognize me you ought to know General Rawle when you see him. I believe he boards here.” The major was angry and threw all the scorn- ful emphasis he could into his words; he was scarcely prepared for the outbreak that fol- wed. : ‘““Come, come! this won’t do! This isn’t a hospital. And that game is thin as your cheek isn’t. General Rawle came in fifteen minutes ago, and just went up-stairs.” ‘You are mistaken, my friend,” answered Blaine, trying to speak calmly. “Tought to know the general. I was with him in his rooms to-day, and I served on his staff some years during fhe late war.” ‘Can't help it, if you married his grand- mother. The general is in his rooms, and we’ve no accommodations for your friend, who looks more like a sneak thief that had been through a bark-mill than General Rawle. Get out of this, or I'll call the Bn tao ‘* Sure, an’ I knowed ther was some shenana- gin, Oi’ll take him roight along wid me. He | » ) - ‘ * . ed ™ ligan. Come in, me b’ye, out av the wet.” his time the policeman was in dead earnest, and Blaine, who was more puzzled than fright- ened, was nevertheless in a fairer way than ever for going to the station-house, a terribl - leasant ending to his Good Samaritan efforts. hat would have been the probable result had not the door opened and General Rawle himself entered. He had come down-stairs again, and made his appearance just when he was wanted. e surveyed the scene fo an instant, and saw enough to tell him that his younger friend was in some kind of difficulty. Then he stepped forward and rested his hand lightly on the major’s shoulder. ‘‘ How’s this? How’s this? In trouble as usual! What is the matter now?” Blaine stared. Up to this moment he had been unable to acknowledge that there had been any error on his part, but he could now hold out no longer. “Pll give it up,” he said, still puzzled. made enough mistakes to-night to muddle m brain fora month. Ill be hanged if 1 wouldn’t have sworn that I had you in tow—now who is your double?” ‘Tf he looks like me, I suppose I'll have to look after him a little.” seen that his double had gone through a mill that beat a thrashing-machine, and that pever- theless he seemed to be a man of respectability and position. At any rate he did not intend clerk made quite a difference in the attitude of that functionary, and between them they molli- fied Policeman McCulligan sufficiently to induce him to depart. ger and stow him away for the night. He had done better than could have been ex- cted, while being let alone. ad his senses about him, though he had very et iar to him; and about all he wanted was to be washed and put to bed. ae major was an amateur surgeon of no mean skill. oye every day. e found no fracture of the skull, the thing that he expected, and he forbore to ask many questions. When he had seen the stranger safe- ly stowed away he and the general left him, either serious or lasting in their effects. “This has been a day brim-full of adven- tures,” remarked Blaine, meeting with you and tinally with this stranger, in.’ ord daughter, and thing about him. Where did you I confess the resemblance is somewhat startli though, if he is not thoroughly dazed, he is about as ungrateful for little attentions as any man ever saw. How did the accident occur? I pice him up? = sure he will tell his story—or if he even can. hat the start of it.” ‘But he is evidently a gentleman; and he has met with bad usage. rest here,” ‘*T don’t know. There is a mystery where, though when you foll hopes it will lead to the Gilt "Edge Gang. It is could have been easily disposed of.” believe.” fended at the insinuation. - 1¢ Fadl, _ “Of course it is truth, and I ougkt to be hunt- instead of allowing that blundering M a chance to muddle it all up.” . ‘Then you do not think that the three were comicbooks ‘Tye The general had been using his eyesandhad = that he should be neglected. A few words tothe — It took some little time to look after the stran-_ He was weak, but little to say. He did not seem to know what had . His fingers went over the man’s head as — softly and yet firmly asif he was walking the , without much fear that his injuries would prove — ‘*T had expected lively times when I threw my- self into the Gilt Edge Gang business; but the ~ ave all been thrown — ‘« And this stranger—who is he? Tell: mesome- _ couldn’t make head or tail outof what I heard.” ‘It’s a queer sort of affair,and I'm anxious to get at the rights of it myself, though ’m Doty gt Certainly he will not letit w it back Iam in their work. But if that policeman tells the truth ‘ I cannot understand why he should have been hauled around in a carriage so long when he ole lowe => « ~ 5 g up Captain Hardy to put him on the trail, _ - . 4 ° t-. ad 4 - s ae o | a a , ee 1 Re . = Oe ee par McCulligan seems to know something about _ 4 n a* Fa Re : - 4 =~ ae ry “le ae ‘ ~ , : yee tr. - a | ‘*‘You have that gang on the brain, I verily , ‘* Perhaps I have—I’m after them close enough. — And by the way, now that I think of it, you _ ave me a point to-day, that fits into this even- <5 ing’s affair with wonderful exactness,” me e peneras laughed. \! i eee ‘‘ What was that? [I’m not muchinthe point © line, or I would have dropped down on that in- fernal intruder. He scared Regina half out of her senses. Ill be even with him yet.” » oe ‘‘ Don’t you remember saying the name wasa translation of an eastern one?” ya “*T believe I did say something of the kind.” ‘‘ Well, you may believe me or not, but the other three occupants of thecarriage werenever — born on this continent. I doubted at first, but the more I think of it the more Iam satisfied that they were Asiatics,” : cane 2 ‘Is this truth you are telling me, or is it a hs 5 oe tle imaginative coloring?” s a The general spoke so seriously that Blaine looked at him in surprise, and forgot to be of- — \_ * . t< 12 ne) tan vs —é.. x | -~