Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 413 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

4 ‘playing a gigantic game, sure enough! ee ae Pe é ~ * Tevil 4 ¢ 3 * ray ? * ~ - : - . ‘ Pi oe d v 4 Thomas Keenear bowed. ‘‘ What are you going to do with your guest?” he asked as he rose to depart. ‘*‘ Leave her to me,’ was the answer in a tone of confidence. ‘*Do your duty; get the girl away from Captain Coldgrip and fix the dwarf. I’m on top yet in spite of the League and my other enemies! They don’t eucher Ferguson Fowler in a gold game as big as this. He’s got too much at stake!” A minute afterward the front door of the millionaire’s mansion opened and shut, and the | private detective passed out into the night. ‘‘Ho! this means something!” ejaculated a person who saw Thomas Keenear come down the broad steps, and when the secret sleuth walked away he had a tracker at his heels. “I believe my old master has grown tired or suspi- cious of Captain Claude. If he has, he finds employment for one of the most disreputable shadowers in New York. Whatis your mission, Mr. Tom Keenear? Il'll just give you a little at- ‘tention and get onto your work, if I can.” The private detectivo did not walk far before he found a cab which was soon whirling him toward the lower part of the city. If he had looked behind tho vehicle he would have seen a passenger not included in the single fare he was to pay the driver, a passenger who looked like a monkey clinging to the irons, with ibis body half under the cab, But with a big fee ahead, the private sleuth did not think of spies, and began to lay his plans as the horses carried him along. ‘*Hal ha!” he suddenly laughed. ‘‘ Who ex- pected to see that woman in Ferg Fowler’s man- sion, and intrenched there, too? She atone e threatened to drop me in my tracks if I didn’t make speed down-stairs! Well, I guess [ went. I don’t want to deal with Helen Hotspur, as she calls herself in certain quarters. I’ve seen her before, and I hope circumstances will speedily remove her from this game if I am to take hand in it. I don’t want to play against a fury like that.” The cab did not stop till it rolled up before a certain house in the Bowery, and the private sleuth alighted and paid the driver. He did not notice the living object between { ‘the wheels, and the cab carried it away as Mr. KXeenear turned to the house, his own private ‘quarters, ‘*-You will probably take a rest before you make a move in Ferg Fowler’s favor,” said the dead-head passenger dropping to the ground from his uncomfortable perch. ‘‘1 will see Captain Claude and inform him that it is dia- mond cut diamond. But first Pll go back to Mowbray and spin my little adventure for his ‘benefit,” Half an hour later the speaker who, as the reader has guessed ere this, was our friend Duke Dado, ran nimbly up a stair in a dimly-lt hall- way and rapped on a certain door. In a minute or so the door was opened, and a ‘handsome young man of twenty-two or twenty- | three greeted him with a smile. ‘* Youve had an adven‘ure—I can see it by | your eyes!” the youth exclaimed. ‘‘Pve had a ride, Mowbray,” was the rejoin- der, accompanied by one of Duke Dado’s grins, and then the dwarf threw himself upon the edge of the bed from which Mowbray had just risen. | ‘¢T euess we'll have to watch Floss pretty close from now on.” ‘‘ What has happened?—tell me!” cried Mow- bray losing color. “Only this: Ferg Fowler has set another sleuth on the trail—a private watchdog who is to play against the captain and all of us.” “ Who is he?” , ‘‘'Tom Keenear, a man who is to be feared for his tact and low cunning.” Mowbray was silent for a moment, ‘We eA on top, now,” he said. “The cap- tain has made two excellent plays lately. Bow- ery Burt, Elegant Ahab’s best man, and the Raven are behind the bars—safe. Our next stroke is against Ahab and his witch—then comes the great victory!” vs ‘‘Tf Tom Keenear fails,” said Dado smiling. ‘‘Hoe must fail!—he shall!” cried Mowbray ‘‘T want to see the person below us In possession of her rights. The papers and_tho diamond dragon which Mortimer Nogg or Elegant Ahab took from Fowler are in our hands. Captain Coldgrip found them secreted in Bowery burts quarters. They prove everything. But, as you say, this new man, Keenear, must not play any of bis hends out!” ‘* Where is the captain?” asked Dado. ‘*At work somewhere,” was the reply. ‘* Without that man the whole thing would col- lapse, and justice never be done.” At that very moment, in another part of the city, Elegant Ahab was startled by a hurried knock at bis front door, He Pog. from his chair and rushed into ‘the hall. Sk. ‘‘ By Jove! it is the signal!” he cried and then ‘he opened the door, _ ‘ A man leaped inside with a strange cry and ‘turned on the head of the Dragon League. ‘Bowery Burt!” ejaculated Elegant Ahab. ‘'There! don’t give the winds my name 4 «y . ba a an A PPL Ls (a? & + “lead «; a ; Me 4 © ~~ vu? . , > . a> * P P a7 ‘ Captain Coldgrip in New York. again!” said the man clutching the handsome sport’sarm ‘I've just esca and—” ‘* Escaped from where?’ and Elegant Ahab’s eyes seemed ready to fly from his head. ‘‘From the station-house to which I was taken by Captain Coldgrip. Don’t ask me for the particulars. I’m here on almighty short | time. I expect I’ve got the cops on my heels ; again. Where is Helen?” ** At Ferg Fowler’s.” The announcement almost took Bowery Burt's breath. “Great Scot! she then!” he said. ‘* Yes, and she says she will win, too.” ‘But not while Claude Coldgrip lives to thwart us!” was the reply. “That sleuth- | hound is onto the whole scheme. Floss—I | mean he knows more than he should!” | Elegant Ahab looked at his right bower, but | said nothing, ‘‘I?’m wanted badly by tho police, I know, but something’s got to be done for us,” Bowery Burt went on. ‘‘ By the fires of Tartarus! we've got to turn on the hunter and make quick work of him! I guess I’m the man to do it, Ahab. Desperate remedies for desperate diseases, We've got to kill the bloodhound!” CHAPTER XXIX, RUN DOWN. ** Now let tho sleuth of New York look out!” This sentence, resolutely spoken, fell from the lips of a man who did not resemble the escaped prisoner of tho station-house; but who was no one else, all the same, The eventful night which has witnessed sev- eral of the most interesting plays in the deep gold game was vanishing before the onward march of another day. Bowery Burt had left Elegant Ahab to his re- flections, and had departed from the house tee the last words of the preceding chapter on islips: . ** We've got to kill the bloodhound!” And “the bloodhound” was Captain Cold- is playing her game, grip! ar Burt saw the desperateness to which the game of the Dragon League had been re- duced; he knew that without the removal of the New York spotter, his own little game would nover prove successful. He expected nothing less than the heralding of his escape to the whole city by the morning apers, which would appear on the streets short- y after daylight. Like a hunted beast, but thoroughly disguis- ed, he hurried along the almost deserted thor- oughfares, with his cyes on tho alert, seeing everything, as it were. His escape had been effected by one of those peculiar combinations of fate and fortune which comes to the assistance of tho desperate criminal when he does not look for it. It is not our intention to detail it, and noth- ing need be said here more than that a half- drunken officer on duty had afforded Bowery Burt a chance to reappear in the play. At last the Bowery sport dodged into an alley and was lost to sight. Five minutes later he reappeared in the de- serted room of an old house not unfamiliar to the reader—Papa Pangborn’s. Bowery Burt wanted a hiding-place for a short time, and he had found one. Ile knew that the old Jew who had betrayed him had not ventured back, and he expected to | red tho whole of the infamous house all to him- self. In this he was not mistaken, for the house was as silent as the tomb, and Bowery Burt, like a hunted tiger in the heart of the jungle, saw the morning dawn once more. A boy came along the streetsinging his newsy words, but the villain dared not buy. He | wanted a paper worse than he needed bread; he | was burning to see if some enterprising reporter had got onto his escape, but the temptation had to be resisted, Let us leave him in the man-trap and return | to another character of our story. “Ah, boys, do you know what happened last night?” laughed Captain Coldgrip, as he entered a plainly furnished room and greeted Duke | Dado, the dwarf, and the young man known as | Mowbray. _T e two tenants ot the room started, and gave > him an inquisitive look. | “Tho cage did not hold my first bird,” con- | tinned the detective. | “ Bowery Burt?” ejaculated Mowbray. ! ‘‘ The Bowery spider broke the web and got | away.” ‘* That is a misfortune,” said Duke Dado. ‘Only im one respect: He may warn the others,” was thereply. ‘* But I have more news than this. Ferguson Fowler has found the | Percy heir at last ” ** Impossible!” eried Mowbray. ‘* It cannot he!” exclaimed the dwarf. ‘She is an inmate of his house at this mo- ment,” continued the detective, in all serious- ness, ‘Why, Floss is in the room below us,” young Mowbray said, his face almost white and his eyes dilated. ‘* You have told me that she is a -_ = | got a sudden flash as he broke from the porter _ open, and the next second he stood face toface and her eyes were from the moment of his en- — | As Duke Dado says, I’ve got to play a 25 the real Percy heir, but here you tell us that Ferg Fowler has found the true one, and that when Floss is still with us. How is this?” A smile, faint but perceptible, appeared at the corners of the ferret’s mouth. ‘*You would be astonished at the beauty of this new Frances Percy,” he went on. ‘** When did you see her?” “This morning, at one of the windows of the Fowler mansion.” ‘‘ My God!” cried Mowbray: “* what kind of a game is this, anyhow?” ‘‘An almighty deep one, young man. Tho woman who is installed in Fowler’s house as Frances Percy is Helen Hotspur, Elegant Ahab’s partner.” ‘* Ah! she can play it, captain!” cried Duke Dado, ‘If I wanted to beat the Fates, I'd put my cards into the hands of this woman. ou must play boldly to beat her now. She is in- trenched; she fais not gone to Ferg Fowler | without some startling evidence of success, Where is Elegant Ahab?” ‘*At the Palace, on Canal street. He is let- ting Helen play the game.” ‘““And what do you intend doing?’ asked Mowbray. ‘*T am going to see the cobra in the dove-cote,” laughed the detective. The two men started. ‘*Beware! Captain Keenear is in Fowler’s pay,” said Duke Dado. ‘*Aha! I will not overlook the private sha- dow,” was the reply. ‘* He is to play against you.” Captain Coldgrip drew a note-book from an inner pocket, and wrote rapidly on one pr gefor a moment. Wheu he finished, he tore the leaf out and handed it to the dwarf. ‘You will keep an eye out for Captain Keen- ear,” he said. ‘‘If the fellow is liable toeffecé anything, you will take this note to Captain Williams of the police.” re Duke Dado glanced at the writing, and read; “Have ‘ Captain’ Tom Keenear Ponte detective arrested at once on a charge of blackmail. Hold him till I see you. COLDGRIP.”’ ‘That is to be delivered to Captain Williams only when Keenear promises trouble,” said the city sleuth. ‘“‘If he isin Ferg Fowler’s pay, he ~— will show it before long. NowlI am going to © see the new Frances Percy.” “vt ‘**Don't let her captivate you, captain,” laugh- ed the dwarf, ‘*For heaven’s sake spoil her game!” said Mowbray, ser.ously. “If-the Dragon League wins, Floss’s cause is lost, you know.” ‘Ah, yes!—if it wins,” was the reply, and — the next moment Captain Coldgrip was going down a flight of steps to the street. ‘By Jove! Helen Hotspur has played her — boldest card,” said the detective to himself, ‘*The strike is for ten millions, or nothing. IT have seen women take chances before, but never one like this.” It was not long afterward when aman walk- ed up the broad steps of the millionaire-banker’s mansion and jerked the knocker. a The hour was not very early, and the people of the bro:d street were astir. | ae a door soon pe 4 oe Hee bi i ae am expected,” said Captain Co ip, 48s be walked into the hall. re ~ igs ‘*Mr. Fowler is not up yet,” the servant an- — swered. ork ‘**T will wait for him,” said the captain, ste an ping toward a door, but bis arm was quick o clutched by the porter, and he was pulled back. “The guest i; in there, sir,” he whispered. — “Tt is the laiy who came last night, and she may not want to be disturbed.” Se “Til attend to that,” and the detective’s eyes ~~ and Jaid his hand on the knob of the door. In another moment he had pushed the portal — * * - ae) with a handsome woman who occupied the cen- ter of the magnificent perlor. > ai Her queenly figure was drawn toits full bight, F5- trance riveted on the city ferret. sci “Oh! it is you, is it?” exclaimed Captain Cold- ovip advancing. as here was no answer; the woman's eyes seem=- ed to get added ferocity, and her fingersappear- ed tosink deep into her pink velvet palms. pee What a dazzling beauty she was! ne “T’ve got a tigresson my hands. I can see that.” mentally ejaculated Captain Magy “fea game against this creature.” eae He walked to the heavily-curtained front win- dow and threw back the sweeping folds of the lace shades. a The sunlight fell full upon Helen’s face. ee ‘** Ah! I can see you now!” laughed the detec- __ tive, turning uponher. *Thisisa bold move, _ woman, itis what I would call carrying the war into Africa.” genes 2), For a moment she made no reply, then as she _ ‘y seemed to set her lips firm, she came toward him ~ and at a eee T se | sh. vs game, eh? I neve any other — kind The case demands it.” vanaf ava + ‘* So it does,” said Coldgrip quietly, ‘“WhenI — Eomichboo th lt at ~~ ie « . 2 s.con , an