Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 413 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

ee ee at ew —— —--~ 24 you so cruel? Is this the way you treat the child of Major Percy, the man who started you on the road to wealth?” ‘* Major Percy?’ echoed Fowler, looking into her face. ‘* You don’t look like him.” ‘‘T should suppose not, after the checkered life ' ‘1 have been obliged to lead,” was the reply. “But I need not detain you here. If you will have me shown to a chamber, I will leave you to reflect till morning.” Fowler started and uttered a cry of astonish- ment. ‘‘ What! are you going to remain?” he asked. ‘“ Why not?’ smiled Helen. ‘‘ isn’t this house in part, my home? I install myself here until everything has been adjusted.” : The very boldness of theimpostor was startling. He knew that there was no Percy blood in the veins of the woman before him; her mien, her cold words told him that she was playing a deep game for gold. The thought of having her under his roof was galling. What if she should meet Nydia and proclaim herself Frances Perey, who, as he had told hiswward, was surely dead? ‘* Won’t you go away and let us have anotber _ meeting?” he said. ‘*No! I cannot. I stay bere till I get what belongs to me,” was the retort. Ferg Fowler seemed set his teeth hard, as if he had taken a desperate resolution. ‘“Very well. You must wait tillI am ready - to meet your terms,” he said. ‘‘If you are to «become my guest, you will find a lady’s apart- — ment on the right of the hall above.” 5 Triumph flashed up in Helen’s eyes as she i leaned forward and touched him with one of her fr; tapering fingers. t zi Ee Remembe ‘* You i ——————E —= <i ane 7 — ;? Se et eek ee a 7. 2 a - ae ow » = a . ——L Toe? . = :s en PP ee Ae a aw wd on toe sca ae Te a aw = . p eee g - a 4a i . a elke “fv. ee os , , . » <™e? ® ‘Remember !” she said, in low tones. ——— ee ee tee we eS ee —_ ———— eS Se eC Ee ooo nr ay PT ~ She a 7 : ‘ =r : > , Pty a oo aS ae - + > . es yay na t. Captain Coldgrip in New Y ‘“‘ Here?” echoed the detective, showing con- siderable surprise. ‘‘ What has happened?” ‘““T’ve got a dangerous guest; a woman who claims to be what she is not. She has installed herself under my roof and declares that she will not leave until she has blackmailed me to an amount that would break the best banks in the city.’ he private detective opened his eyes. ‘* Where is she?” he asked, looking about the room, ‘‘ By Jupiter, Mr. Fowler, this is a bold piece of business.” ‘* Tt is galvanized gall,” grated Fowler. ‘** Who does she claim to be?” ‘‘ One Frances Perey, who died long ago.” ‘Percy? Percy—” ‘‘Oh, you didn’t know the family, captain,” interrupted the millionaire. ‘‘ This cobra is up- stairs in the best boudoir in the house.” ‘* Gone to bed, eh?” grinned the Shadogwer, ‘** She retired some time ago,” ‘‘ Well,” said Keenear, straightening, ‘‘ what do you want done?” ‘*T want her silenced! And I don’t want her here, either. Nydia will be coming back from the opera by and by, and I wouldn’t have those women meet for half I’m worth,” ‘* Will you show me the room?” asked the pri- vate sleuth-hound with a coolness that seemed to give Fowler hope. ‘Pll take you up, but first tell me that you will silence her.” ‘* How much is it worth?” asked Keenear with a smile, ‘* Five thousand?” ventured the banker. és Yes. ”? “Then go ahead, Come, I will guide you to the door of her room. Maybe you will know her. You detectives know all the doubtful characters. Remember, 1 wantthis one dealt “Show me up,” said Keenear, like a person eager for the fray. mboldened by the presence of the man who ‘|! § are to show no signs of disepproval, Mr. Fowler. If you attempt to eject me without a settlement | with effectually.” _ jn full I will strip you of the mask you wear ‘and bold you up to the derision of New York. I Fs am Frances shar and you dare not deny it. I + am your guest till justice discharges me, This __ js indeed a game, but it is Frances Percy against the man who sprinkled her father’s gold with blood before he took it. Now, good-night,” ~.. he woman drew back with her eyes gleam- - sing over flushed cheeks, and before Ferg Fowler » could catch his breath again he heard her on the In God’s name, what am I to do with that ss - woman in my house?” he exclaimed, ‘‘She bas __ the gall of Mephistopheles, and the cold demon- / — jsm of a thug. I have made provision for startling events, but I never mas of being + confronted by a being like this. ust I give up ten millions to be bled again by her? That sum, large as it is, would only whet the appetite of the Dragon League, whose first play was the - theft of the papers and the diamond dragon, I - ~—s eould throttle this woman, beautiful as she is! ~- Leould throw her into the Hudson and watch the waters wash her out to sea. She knows -_- more than the Raven claimed to know, and he bled me for twenty thousand dollars. I am face to face with the Queen of the Dragon hens. ' IT would sooner have faced Elegant Ahab than | this admixture of beauty and demonism.” ‘Fowler left bis chair, crossed the room and ‘listened at the door. + ~—s Net a sound was heard in the house. _-~—~—sC **«‘T wonder how the cobra got inside,” he said _. tohimself. ‘‘I remember that I haven’t heard Jason since sundown. Did he let the plague in? - Something must be done! I would give a thou- sand if Captain Coldgrip or my new man, _ ~+Thomas Keenear, would come,” ‘But neither of the detectives obli the mil- _ lienaire by coming to his rescue at that particu- - Jar moment. «He went back to his desk and to the work in- --—s terrupted by Helen when she called. ~~ ~*Heran swiftly over the papers now and burn- + ed them rapidly. Burning my ships behind me!” he ejaculat- ed, with a sickly attempt at merriment. ‘‘ By the dead saints! Ferg Fowler is going to win in the end. And the woman up-stairs will find r= ‘the tables completely turned on her before =~. He was still engaged at his task when the bell mt /snnounced somebody at the door, \ ae Fowler waited awhile for Jason to admit or fet: inspect: the visitor, but as he did neither, the Oo a) *. “— a of» Pa y+ 'l og 42 7 fue Te @ > F millionaire got up with a word of censure and - -went to the door himself. —s * Ah! the man I want!” he exclaimed, seeing Tom Keenear on the steps. ‘‘ Come in with us little noise as possible.” ” And Captain Coldgrip’s rival tip-toed it into the library, watched with delight by the banker- ___- millionaire. --—s«s Fowler shut the door carefully behind them. “JT have a favorable report,” said the private - detective before Fowler could speak. “I have discovered that Captain Coldgrip has a certain _--—- young girl under his protection,” ae oe aap Old Harry!” ejaculated Fowler. ‘‘ Where is she 2 * _ Where I can lay my hands on her when you want me to do so.” ‘*T'l] want you to do that very soon, I hope,” was the nse. ‘But I have work for you Be right here in my house.” ee ee had thus opportunely come to his rescue, Ferg Fowler was only to eager too obey. He opened the library door and led the private detective up the stair. At the door of a room in the corridor above Fowler paused and looked at his hired tool whose eyes were full of expected triumph, Thomas Keenear stepped forward and laid his hand on the knob. ‘Now for a display of tigress teeth!” he laughed. The next moment the door was jerked open in bis face, and in the full light of a gas-jet stood Helen Hotspur with eyes in a blaze, ‘*T will not be disturbed!” she said, looking over the barrel of a revolver. ‘‘ You can take cot trail-dog down-stairs, Mr. Fowler, or I will ill him in his tracks!” ‘*Come!” said Keenear, wheeling about. ‘‘I ni that woman, and I don't want to deal with er : CHAPTER XXVIII. DESPERATE MEASURES, THE millionaire banker looked at the private detective, and could hardly keep back an ex- clamation of surprise. **Good-night, gentlemen,” said Helen, and then the door was shut. “Don’t you intend to keep your word?” ex- claimed Fowler. ‘Not if I have to deal with that woman,” was the reply. ‘**T’l) call the police in and have her ejected.” ‘You may, but I wouldn’t,.” said Keenear. ‘*She’s dangerous. I tell you I’d get rid of her as quietly as possible.” ** Would you compromise with her?” *T don’t know but that I would.” **T will not! by heavens! never!” grated Fow- ler. ‘‘She is a money leech with nomercy. She sha’n’t make me a beggar!” The two men re-entered the library and Fowler dro into his favorite chair. “Now, who is this person up-stairs?” he asked of the detective. ‘‘ You call her dangerous, and why? You must know something about her. You have met her before?” The private detective smiled faintly. ‘We have met before, but let me stop here,” he said, “Ah! you don’t like to unmask her?” said Fowler auice. “It is not that, but I don’t like to open a cer- tain past.” Fowler was silent for a moment. ‘You will tell me one thing, I know. long have vou known her?” “Ten years.” ‘* Had she a tattooed dragon on her arm then?” The detective started. ‘*No, nothing of that kind,” he said. **T thought so!” exclaimed Fowler. “This proves that she isa base impostor. I dor’t compromise with such people! Is there any place in the city where tattooing is done?” ‘*A dozen or more, perhaps. I know an old fellow whe is such an exert at the art, that a tattoo finished yest.rd.y will look twenty years old to-day,” How _ ‘ ‘. : : - a 2 « » * ork. baths > ee Aa “s a i ae es ‘ ah iY. f ‘That is the person I want to find!” crie& Fowler. ‘* What! are you going to prove that a certain tattoo on the woman’s arm has been put there for the purpose of hoodwinking you?” ‘“‘lTam! and then, by the furies! I am going to send the beautiful blackmailer to Sing Sing)” and the mill onaire brought his hand down upcn his desk with emphasis. ‘‘ Don’t you want n.e to do this, Mr, Keenear,” ‘* Yes! I wish she was behind the latticed irons. of Sing Sing now.” ‘* Help me, then.” Thomas Keenear seemed to draw back. “Do all youcan and I'll pay you literally. Go and see this famous tattooer; find when and where he tattooed a dragon on a Woman’s arm. Get the points for me, and I'll have the rest at- tended to. This is a deep game sure enough, and I am going to see it played to the bitter end. Now, about the girl I told you to look fcr— the one Captain Coldgrip is supposed to protect. You told me you have found her?” ‘‘That is true. She is where I can get her at any time with a little strategy.” ‘*Good!” said Fowler bnghtening up. ‘ You have seen her?” sé Yes.” ‘* Did you get a.good look?” ‘* | studied her face for ten. minutes or more,’” Ferguson Fowler said nothing, but wheeled his chair toward _ the little steel safe and opened it. He next unlocked a drawer on the inside and tooE from it a wrap as he turned back to the private detective. ‘“Does she Jook like this picture?’ he said placing before Keenear a daguerreotype. The detective looked at the face before him a moment and then caught the banker’s eye. ‘Is this a picture of the girl’s mother?’ be exclaimed, Fowler smiled, **Do you think so?” he asked. ‘*T would say it is,” was the ree: ‘The girl you have found in Captain Cold- grip’s keeping resembles this picture, does she?® ‘*She is the counterpart of it.” ‘‘ And the face up-stairs does not resemble this one?” ‘* Not at all.” ‘Very well. Tam glad you have found the captain and his protegee,” seid Fowler, ‘ Now, I went you to employ a little strategy. You need not fight the serpent in my house to-night. I will do that. I want this girl taken away from Captain Coldgrip,” ‘* Abducted, eh? ‘*Call it what you will,” said the banker, with asmile. ‘* He must not have her in his clutches, I guess I’m rich enough to employ you, Mr. Keenear?” ‘Tt will take work. Claude Coldgrip is no boy.” % We acknowledge that; but I am not afraid to put you against him. When you have re- moved the girl from his care, report at once.” ‘*Do you want her brought to your kouse?” ‘**No!” cried Fowler, starting, ‘‘ You know where she will be safe till further orders: take her there. Does Captain Coldgrip seem to be her ouly friend?” ‘“No. Ihave already discovered two others.” ‘“Who are they?” ‘“‘One isa young man, a little past twenty; the other is a dwarf.” Ferg Fowler gave utterance to an exclama- tion he could not keep back. “A dwarf, do you say, Mr. Keenezr?” he cried. ‘* Are you certain of this?” ‘*T am; and what is more, sir, he looks like the person you used to bave about the house.” “Duke Dao? Impossible! Why, that im of humanity is dead!—the river police pick him up off the wharves some time ago.” ‘‘That may be. I only say he resembles the servant you used to have.” “IT have proof in this desk of my dwarf's death,” Fowler said; “‘ but I wish you would watch the one who is the girl’s friend along with Captain Coldgrip and the young man. may have been deceived—there is a possibility of this. If I have been—if the dwarf you have seen has a tattooed cross and three stars on his arm—if one of his front teeth is gold-built, I want you to come at once to me for instructions. No! hold on! T’ll instruct you now.” Ferg Fowler got up and went to the door that. dotiea into the hall. He opened it noiselessly and looked up the richly-carpeted stair to the door of Helen Hot-- ur’s room. It was closed and all was silent there. ‘fT don’t want that dwarf to bother me if he is marked as I have just told you,” he said, oing back to Tom Keenear. ‘‘If you can net him and bring him here secretly, do it. If he gives you trouble, fix him so he will never get a chance to blackmail me! I’ve got some des- rate enemies to fight. The money leeches are Setermined to strip me. Do you know Elegant. Ahab?” | ‘“Yes: and so does the woman up-stairs!’ laughed the private detective. ‘*; know that. We understand one another now, I think.” JOO <eom S) (E ket which he began to un-. 4 ‘ot «34 Uae * “ a a) a , . ~* * os