Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 413 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

—— £ a Te door in the tall shut as noiselessly as if had opened, and the Shadow hung the picture back in its place. | He then moved toward the hall beyond the room and turned on the light again as he went by. “AN at once he heard a noise that made him look toward the couch. To his horror and astonishment Helen Hot- spur was sitting bolt upright, and her eyes were fixed upon him in a wonder-struck stare! ‘‘ Jehu! this won’t do!” cried Bowery Burt. “‘This is a surprise not down on the bills, I don’t let any hand floor me at this stage of the game, What if the girl sounds the alarm?” The situation fairly th illed the thug in his stockinged feet, All at once be bounded forward like the jun- gle tiger, and: landed with the noiselessness of that beast at Queen Helen’s bed. In a flash bis hands flew at her throat and tightened there. Not a word did he utter; he cid not want bis voice to sound in the woman’s ears. 4 Bowery Burt had leaped forward just in time, for a wild cry was trembling on Helen’s lips. The fury of an Othello shone in the Bowery tj adow’s eyes, He saw the woman’s frantic struggles cease, and at last he threw her away. ‘Raven Rob throttled you, my leopardess, and found nothing; but I have got the key to the city bonanza!” he hissed. Now, for the cutest BAY ot all.” Bowery Burt passed into the hall and unlocked the door; then he went to the threshold of Ele- gant Ahab’s chamber, and listened for the space of ten minutes. ‘* The next play comes now,” he said, and then with a bound he covered the distance between Elegant Ahab and the door, and was shaking the iridded sport out of a deep slumber, ‘* Get up, for God’s sake!” cried Bowery Burt :4 Ahab’s ear. ‘The house has been tapped again!” Wlegant Ahab was on the floor in a minute. | Ile had a wild and frightened stare, and, revol- f ; ' ‘ ver in hand, he faced work. Bowery Burt ready for ul N omebbdy has just left the house,” continued Burt. ‘‘I heard the door shut and it is un- locked.” ‘‘The Raven has played another hand, may- be!” cried Ahab. ‘“T should not be surprised,” was the cool reply. Rlegant Ahab darted away, and in a second was in Helen’s room, i " } | | | | ‘ , | almost proves the thief to have been the Raven, ' He did this once before, you know.” i played burglar and tigerin her room, he had for the thief and I will throw her bomb into the ‘* Great God! look here!” he exclaimed, hold- ing the lamp over the unconscious beauty on the bed. ‘*‘ You are right, Burt!—somebody has been here!” Abab did not see the light that seemed to danee in the depths of his companion’s eyes. The sight before him was, to him, one full of horror, ‘*The dockements,” said Bowery Burt. ‘I wonder if the devil found ’em out. Elegant Ahab sprung to the picture, tore it from its fastenings, and touched the secret spring. The door in the wall flew open, and in went his hand, The nextinstant he withdrew it with an exclamation of surprise. ‘* Gone, eh?” asked Bowery Burt. ‘‘ Gone!” echoed Elegant Ahab, wheeling upon his partner and coming toward him with color- less face. ‘‘ We have been robbed of the best weapons we had. The documents—those that fitted Helen for the part she is to play, with tho diamond dragon—are gone! To es with the thief who rob the treasury! He must nothe vos Avian a a a a Coldgrip in New York. -_—_ enother thread till then, and I will show you Captain Coldgrip’s countenance brightened: ! Helen Hotspur’s play!” | suddenly. * 90 ‘Tt shall be done!” said Elegant Ahab. ‘If | ‘‘1 will see this innocent place,” he said. ‘‘E Captain Coldgrip thinks a kidded gentleman is | will find out what Mrs, Hoyle knows.” not dangerous, be may discover his error tohis ‘‘ Beware!” cried Floss, ‘‘If the subtle hand of Bowery Burt is in this play, I have a right to say, beware!” he detective took the letter and looked it over carefully. “This was dictated,” he said slowly. ‘I | can see that between the lines. Very well, Bowery Burt; if this is another decoy, we wiil | see what will come of it.” Twenty minutes later a man who did not Jook - much like Claude Coldgrip stepped in front of the trap,” | Mrs. Hoyle’s window as iif inspecting the sam- ‘‘ Agreed. To-morrow night Frances Percy | ples of sweetmeats which were for sale within. claims her own,” answered Elegant Ahab, _ He looked shorter than the detective, his ‘*T guess I’ve got string enough,” murmured face was covered by a dark-brown beard, and Bowery Burt as he walked from the house with his clothes deno an individual of no par- the diamond dragon in his pocket. | ticular occupation. It was the dawn of another day. Behind a counter on the inside sat a large cost. Now, Bowery Burt, we have big work to | do. You know more man-traps than the one in | Papa Pangborn’s house. e must chain this man, who always turns up just when he isn’t wanted. Helen shall make ao play in spite of Tartarus, Now or never!” ‘** That is my motto—now or never!” cried the woman, | ** Put the play off till to-morrow night,” said Bowery Burt. ‘Give me time to get the rat in ee CHAPTER XVII. | She filled the space between counter and shelves, TRAP NUMBER TWO, | and was one of those creatures who are always THAT same day, and early in the morning be- | ready to make a dime, fore many of the late sleepers were astir, Cap- | tain Coldgrip walked into his quiet apartments | strolled into the little confectionery. Her eyes on the Bowery and was greeted by Floss. | twink'ed with greed. The detective saw at once that the girl had | something to communicate, and she soon hand- | ed him a letter with the explanatory remark | out he might have seen her dart a look to-— ward the further end boy who did not look like a street arab. aptain Coldgrip took the letter and looked | into Floss’s face with a pleasant smile. ‘* The wolves haven’t called yet, my girl?’ he | of a look of this kind; he quietly took in the said, | woman’s stock in trade and remarked that he ‘‘ Not yet, and my wish is that they will heep would take a ‘‘ dime’s worth of caramels,” their distance,” was the quick reply. teeth,” he went on, as he tore open the envel- | suddenly leaned toward ber. ope ‘“What is it you want?” he asked. “Ts it my jailer, Raven Rob?” to.” the man you wro | woman who was Amazonian in proportions, — She got up suddenly as the man described % If the supposed customer was on the look~ — of the room where a | that it had been brought to the room by a small | curtained arch led the way to what was labeled © a— ‘* LADIES’ AND Gents’ [ck CREAM PARLOR.” | The visitor seemed to be entirely oblivious — Mrs. Hannah Hoyle began to adjust the lit- ‘‘ One of them is not in a good fix to show his | tle scales on the counter when the customer — ‘Tam ‘No, the other one—Bowery Burt, Erethis| A sudden change took place. Mrs. Hoyle he has changed his plumage and is flying, if in- | started quickly and looked intothe man’seyes. deed he is or an © re “gs ach maar feath A The ‘‘So you are he?” she said in a coarse vo os s Fe e : a Y- police want him just now—for murder.” “You will pardon me for not knowing youim = hee girl started and repeated the man-ferret’s re es es, . want ee you. Step back = words: in e house, please, captain. art ‘* For murder?” | The woman astonished at first had aig ore ‘* Papa Pangborn sees an opportunity to save recovered. She threw another significant ti - own neck,” said Captain Coldgrip. ‘‘Hein- | toward the cream department of her shop,amd = Satan ate tao Ee Pan te gr me Not: ae pet said the detective, suddenly mis tS was killed by Bowery Burt. An officer was de- | catching her wrist as he Jeaned overthecounter, tailed to make the arrest, He found Burt athis | ‘‘ Your store is quiet enough for a conference. __ own quarters, but the slippery fellow effected | The street outside is the same. You sent for j ’ . oe : . 19 - his escape, I don’t think he will exert himself | me. Tam bere, Now, whatdo youwant? hunting you now with the coppers of Gotham on What I con’t want Is somebody to overhear the eee ue oes ware races detective _ my poate Vo you, said “ he aan See opened his letter and began to read. some spirit. could bave sent for Tom Keen- ‘*Tam wanted, and by a lady!” heejaculated, | ear, but I have something for you. However,” looking up into Floss’s face. ‘‘Mrs, Hannah | and she suddenly assumed an air of indifference oe Hoyl- wants to se» me on business that can’t be | well calculated to deceive, ‘‘however, if yor delayed, Sbe sends the letter b writes, What was the boy like, ‘‘He was cleanly dressed and rather good- looking. I should think he was nine or ten years old, and somewhat bashful.” “T think I have seen this Mrs. Hoyle at the window of her little confectionery.” ‘* Where does she keep?” ‘* Houston, below Broadway.” Floss was seen to give a slight start. ‘ Will you let me see the letter?’ she asked, putting ous her hand, _ “Certainly,” and the little sheet was placed in her possession, Instantly the girl seemed to forget the pres- ence of the detective, for her eyes were riveted her son she oss?” grip, I can It’s all one to me, however. doing you a favor.” . ejaculated the city reynard. had marched back to her chair. resumed the detective. ‘Not a word of it!” snapped the wcman. A smile appeared at the corners of Captain Colderip’s mouth. Burt dictates all the letters you pen?” he , don’t want to hear me in private, Captain Cold- ob. ab ostpone the business indefinitely. I thought I was ui % “This woman talks too much,” mentally © * ‘‘T am now con- ne that Floss’s suspicions were well found- es 4 He had dropped Mrs. Hoyle’s wrist and she — eee ‘You won’t transact the business here,eh?? £3 a bai ° is > ~~ «4 e a . ‘ ed A ony ‘© Will you let me ask you whether mip 2 ae “yh Po permitted to turn his hand toadvantage, By | letter: lowering his voice. the souls of the saints! he never shall! Whether | « Q,pn,ny Cotparip of the Plice :— The woman recoiled from the ferret’s gaze. the Raven did this or the ferret, our game must | ‘I wi-h you would come to my house as soon after | ‘Do you think me not on the square? she 0 on all the same. There are millionsatstake, | you receive this as possible. I believe I havecertain | cried, her eyes flasbing fre as shesprungupand owery Burt: We must get ahead of the | Information which will be of value to you ere long. | seemed about to throw herself across the coun- thief. If it is Raven Rob, he is playing for him- og pr tend to be a spy or anything of that sort, | ter upon him. “I’m an honest woman who self; if Captain Coldgrip, for Ferg Fowler, San rete ene f gfe justic> done, jopeee & Bon doesn’t call it a crime to support herself and Helen may have seen and recognized the fiend. | } am a widow with one chil d, the little who wili | Child by keeping a few candies. Bowery Burt, She has been choked into insensibility, which Half an hour later Bowery Burt, with a cool smile under his drooping mustache, was listen- ing to Queen Helen’s story of the robbery. She could not fully describe the man who had operated with such quickness and force. ‘* The game goes on with the treasury empty!” said the woman firmly. ‘*‘ You men will hunt gold camp.” mf ‘With affairs in this shape?” asked Bowery urt. ‘Yes! The man who carried off the prize can do but one thing—sttempt to sell the dragon and the papers to the millionaire. WhenI come upon the scene with the tattoo on my arm— when I confront him in his library as Frances Perey, and show him the mark which the child Frances had on her arm, as all Engiand and one- balf of America knew after the Englishmen’s death--I will drive the golden wedge home! | Burt once sent me to Mrs. Hoyle with a letter, Keep Captain Coldgrip from me till after to- . A i. m1 “\ , 3) -: . Morrow ée ¢ Fy * a ; an . u. night; prevent him from picking up —— sir? ho is he person whose name is an eni answer to my honest letter, bo carry this to you. Please do come Sninediasely. If you knew what I know, yon would come at once. ‘*Mrs. HANNAH Hoye.” Captain Coldgrip sav Floss read this letter to the end, and then go back and read it again. ‘It is a study end a puzzle to her,” he said mentally, ‘‘Ah! she is going to give her con- clusions now.” At that moment Floss lifted her eyes and caught the great detective’s gaze. tier you really know the Widow Hoyle?” she asked. “I do not, but I believe I have noticed her What do you know about nothing honest connected with i’. as he looked the woman dcwn. ters.” a ‘‘No sir! and if he did, you would be the man to whom I would betray him.” ‘*TTIo! ho! just as I thought,” said Ceptair lace of business. Coldgrip. ‘ er?” ‘‘ Nothing, only that Bowery Burt sent me there once.” _ “ Aha! is the hand of this hunted Shadow still in the game?” exclaimed Captain Coldgrip. ‘* How does it look to you?” asked Floss. ‘* Rather suspicious since you have mentioned Bowery Burt’s name,” | “Tt may be sll right,” said the girl. on the writing which made up the fcllowing too small a scale, Mrs, Hoyle.” end of the counter and advanced upon the dete tive with clinched fists, All at once she got between : street door, and towering like a mountain of ‘‘Bowery | passion in his fronc compelled him to face ber. turn his back cream parlor. and she gave me a packet from which he took a gold watch when I returned.” ; *- - « zr: 5 ® "te You try to connect me witha — a. Is this your ~ aptain Coldgrip?? The detective knew that this indignation had ‘“T merel Ros asked you whether one Bowery Burt who is just | now wanted for murder, dictates all your let- ¢ | “Don’t go off hke dynamite,” he said seit CY a Jy. I will inform you now that the . scheme won't work. You run a man-trap om ‘‘ A man-trap is it I keep?” exclaimed the wo- man, and the next moment she came around the _ fim and the : « This state of affairs forced the city sleuth to cComicbooks.con = eet: