Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 413 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

* 5 . 4a ym 4 ‘a ? : <a y +) - “ a LJ ile - dwarf, but after awhile his patient opened his eyes. of Who did it?” asked Duke Dado eagerly. ‘““Was it Bowery Burt?” ‘‘No, a bigger man than he.” ‘‘My God! I have him!” exclaimed the atom shutting hishands. ‘‘ Captain Keenear, the pri- vate shadower, is carrying out Ferg Fowler’s commands. Why didn’t I deliver Captain Claude’s demand on Captain Williams for the rascal’s arrest?” It was too late now, for the swoop of the pri- da detective had been successful and almost atal. He would do anything for money. CHAPTER XXXII, THE PRIVATE DETECTIVE’S STROKE, Tus is what had oer ened: Duke Dado was on Helen Hotspur’s trail, when a man, well dressed and apparently disguised, as bis beard did not correspond with the shade of his hair, walked rather stealthily up the stair that led to the landing occupied by Floss, The reader will remember that Dado the dwarf had found the girl by means of several lasses of claret which he adroitly got into Raven Rob at a Broadway cafe, and that he had removed her from the Raven’s clutches, while the Raven himself bad fallen into Captain Coldgrip’s hands while trying to track the adroit little man, The man who went up the stair toward Floss’s 88 apartment, had the shrewd eyes of a scoundrel. He seemed to know where to find the girl, for he walked straight to the proper door and knocked lightly. A light step in the room beyond answered his summons, and a moment later he stood before Floss herself. A slight movement of aversion on the girl’s part was his grecting, but the man was not abashed. ‘This is the place,” he said, walking into the room without any invitation. ‘I want to speak with you a moment, miss. I am here on impor- tant business, and— Ah, I sec you have com- an y 7 r Floss’s company was young Mowbray, who was not seen by the caller until that moment, hence the exclamation that greeted him. ‘‘This gentleman is my friend,” said the girl quickly. ‘‘ Thisis Mr. Mowbray, and any busi- ness you may have with mecan be transacted before him,” The man looked puzzled and displeased for a moment. It was evident he wanted to find the girl alone, and he had not bargained for the presence of this visitor. Floss spoke firmly; she had determined that Mowbray should hear the stranger’s business, or the stranger should take his departure with it unstated. The man did not accept the chair to which the girl pointed him as she concluded, On the contrary, he took a sudden step for- ward, his eyes fastened ou the young couple. ‘““Ican’t talk with this gentleman here,” he said, glancing from Mowbray to Floss. “T prefer to remain,” was Mowbray’s reply, as if he had suddenly suspicioned the speaker. ‘¢' You do, eh?’ rejoined the other, with inso- lence, and his hands seized the nearest chair. “‘Tf you want to stay, stay you shall!” Drake Mowbray scemed to see what was com- ing, for he started up, but all at once the heavy chair came down upon his head, and he sunk like a dead weight to the floor! The sudden attack and its results seemed to paralyze Floss. The blow was like the fall of a thunderbolt. ‘Not acry of any kind!” said the stranger, darting forward and grasping her wrist beforo she could recover. ‘ You don’t want to bring the cops nor anybody else here. You want to obey me.” “ Obey you?” echoed the girl. “‘Who are ou? me Not a seraph, I suspect,” was the reply, ac- companied by agrin which seemed to give the man's eyes additional brightness. ‘“* Yes, my child, you want to obey me and noone else. The young man isn’t dead. I tempered my blow to suit the occasion, You are the girl called Floss, eh?’ ‘*T am Floss.” . “Under Captain Coldgrip’s protection?” ** Captain Claude is my friend.” ** Just so! He is making a good card of you. Floss looked surprised, ‘You are talking in riddles now,” she said. “To you, perhaps, but the captain would know if he were here,” was the rejoinder. ‘¢ We'll not pursue this subject further just now. You are going with me.” “With you?” cried Floss, drawing back the len¢th of his arm. ‘With nobody else, my girl! You will ac- company me and make no outcry. A word might prove dangerous, Remember that you have Captain Claude for a friend!” “T am your prisoner, then?” said Floss, ** For the time.” “You came after me?” ” éé Yes.” As he answered, the stran the door and Floss was fore clutch of his hand. They went down the stair together and out in- to the street, ‘* Who is this man and why does he want me?” she asked herself. ‘‘ He is neither Bowery Burt nor the Raven; but Iam in his power just the same. In God’s name, when is this gamo to be played out?’ On the first corner below the house the man who had captured Floss exchanged significant looks with a hackman whose vehicle stood close to the curb. ‘Get in, my child,” the stranger said to Floss as he opened the hack door, and when she had entered he sprung in after her. The interior of the vehicle was dark, so dark that Floss could no longer see the features of the man. ‘* He does not went me to see the route he takes,” passed at once through the girl’s mind. “He knows that this part of the city is familiar to me, and he would keep me in the dark as much as possible,” he carriage going at a good rate of speed, rattled on for some minutes and when it halted at last and the door was opened, Floss found herself in a dingy alley and close to the portals of a brick building, In a moment she was helped out by the man and the door was opened by some person on the inside. | Floss was ushered into a poorly lighted apart- ment, but was immediately led up a flight of steps into another room whioh was lighter and larger, ‘* This is the place,” said the stranger, speak- ing for the first time since entering the car- riage. ‘* We are home, Floss,” **Home?” echoed the girl, starting. ‘ This is not home,” ‘‘V’d like to know what else it is!” said the man, laughing. ‘‘ You won't stay here for long, I hope. hat did Captain Coldgrip in- tend doing with you?” Floss gave the man a searching look, but said nothing. ‘* Don’t want to talk, eh?” continued her cap- tor. ‘*When did the captain expect to play his card against Ferg Fowler?” The girl could not suppress a start at the mention of the banker’s name, A new light seemed to flash across her brain. r started toward to follow by the stain Coldgrip in New York. | ee | | 27 —_—_—_—- > — “Yes, when I occupied the home of Bowery~ Burt on Chatham street.” “I thought so. You're the decoy the old rascal used to have.” Floss blusbed deeply and dropped her eyes. ‘** Never mind,” laugbed the private shadow “We'll not go back to these old times, but we'll keep pretty close to the present. By Jove! you’d make a good mistress of a mansion like Ferg Fowler’s. You’d have to dispossess Nydia, the woman he has raised.” ‘*T'd give her a share,” said Floss. *“Oh, you’d be liberal, I see!” said Keenear. ‘What would you do with the banker him- self?” A sudden pallor chased every vestige of color from Floss’s cheeks; ber eyes flashed with a light that startled the sleuth. ‘*Don’t ask me!” she said. ‘* My brain burns. when I think of that man and what I believe be did once.” ‘“In America?” ventured Tom Keenear, **'No, in England,” said the gir:. ‘You can’t try a man in this country for what he did across the water.” “That is true, but the law is not always ven— geance,” was the quick rejoinder. ‘‘I have no good thoughts for Ferg Fowler. How could I have when I know his millions are mine, and when I think by what infamous means he got them.” ** You should be certain of all thiss, Floss.” ‘Tam certain! The proof of his work is liv— ing, and in this city! Captain Coldgripis going ' to see that I get justice.” ‘Aha! the captain again!” exclaimed the private detective, with a.sneer, ‘‘ He is very disinterested just now. But I must leave you here awhile.” ‘** Where am I?” The question came without an effort to the girl’s lips. ‘In the city,” was the reply, accompanied by a look which Floss understood. ‘* I have as good a right to play a game as Captain Claude, IL can take you into your inheritance as easily as. he.” ‘But you do not intend to! I know you, Thomas Keenear.” ** All right!” he cried, springing forward and halting before the girl, who did not recoil an inch. ‘*‘ What dol care for your claims, so long as I can feather my nest? I[ see a gigantic scheme ahead, and I never let an opportunity slip. This house is your prison until } see fit .o “Is this the man Drake Mowbray was telling | let you out. Nobody knows where you are, me about just before he came?” she asked her- self. ‘*Can this be Thomas Keenear, the pri- vate detective who is said by Dado to be in Ferg Fowler’s employ for a certain purpose? If it is, I am in the power of an unscrupulous man, for I know ‘om Keenear by reputation. I'll try him, anyhow,” Then she looked straight into the man’s eyes, and said: ‘“Is Captain Coldgrip’s play as black as yours?” The man started: he could not help it. ‘What do you mean?” he cried. ‘*T mean, did Ferg Fowler hire you to abduct me, or, are you working on your own hook, Mr, Keenear?’ The stranger did not know what to do; but the girl’s quick eye saw him bite his lip. ' oe at once he burst into a coarse, triumphant augh, “By Jove! you send your arrows home, I see,” he exclaimed. ‘‘I might as well unmask,” and his beard fell to the floor, showing him a smooth- faced, good-looking fellow with wonderful black eyes of strong penetrating powers. ‘' Yes, [am Tom Keenear, and I am playing a game of my own. Your friend, the captain, is shrewd at some things, but he leaves poor soldiers on guard sometimes, You are the trump card in the deck he owns; I have found this out. Ho is go- ing to play you on Ferg Fowler for the biggest stakes ever put up in Gotham. He, ha! my supposed heiress; do you think the captain will strip the table when he throws down his hand?” ha. flush of indignation overspread the girl's ce. ‘ He is playing no game for self,” she cried, advancing toward the man quietly watching her. He knows who I am and how I have been treated all these years, Captain Claude suspi- cioned the truth before Ferg Fowler engaged him to hunt the Dragon League down.” _. What trath?’ asked Keenear affecting ignorance, ** Ah! you know without asking me,” was the reply. ‘You know that I am Frances Perev fhe real owner of much of the wealth claimed by bi Serato at this day.” @ priva etective chang thrill passed over him, steht «Menges ‘Great Jehu! I see now why Ferg Fowler wants this girl out of the road!” he said to him- self. “‘If I am not mistaken, I’ve made a ten- strike to-day, and if I don’t feather m nest, may I never pass the portals of bliss! If this is the real Frances Percy, she’s worth her weight in gold, and to me, at that!” “So you are the Perey heir, eh?’ he said, leaning toward Floss, ‘* They used to call you Floss Burton, didn’t they?” a Ee mm am em me ie OCC O——_— The man who drove the hack is my tool, and will never ‘ peach.’ Captain Claude and your friends can never find you, for I need not come- back here any more. ‘This bouse isa grave just as much as one in Greenwood is. You can make up your mind to stay. Miss Percy—or Flcss— whichever name you like best. Tom Keencar did not come into the game till late; but, by Heavens! he holds the band that finally rakes im the stakes. DI be the Crcesus of the play ere long!” And his laugh was demonism itself to the poor girl. CHAPTER XXXTI. THE DEADLY DECOY. Two days passed away, and in the early part of the night of the second, Captain Coldgrip, the detective, presented himself before a young man who occupied a smail room in a certaim part of the city. ‘**What news from Floss?” asked the youth,, ay Hh he city sleuth smiled faintly. ‘**T have none,” he said. Drake Mowbray shut his lips hard, and his: eyes were seen to flash. ‘*Ts Tom Keenear to prove too much for us?” he asked, with a show of censure. ‘“ Wait and see,” said the detective. ‘I have never lost a game yet, and I say this with pride. Floss bas heen missing ever since she was taken: away by the man who gave you the stunning” blow. That man was the private detective;, therco’s not the least doubt of that.” ‘‘But what has become of him?” exclaimed: Mowbray. ‘Ah! that is the question,” was the reply, and then Captain Claude was silent for a mo- ment. ‘This fellow is a person of manifold. disguises,” he went on. ‘‘Iam certain that he has not gone to Ferg Fos ler with his report. But, look here! I have found an advertisement: which interests me.” As the detective spoke, he drew a paper from his pocket and pointed to a certain place in the ‘*rent column.” | Mowbray read as follows: ‘‘For Rent.—Two rooms, or the whole ot No. —. Canal street. Possession given immediately. App'y on the premises.” | “Aha! Elegant Ahab and Queen ficlen have: given up ‘the Palace’ exclaimed the young man, ‘Tt looks that way.” ‘« Your threats to the woman at Ferg Fowler's: bave frightened the League from the game, wish we could also say that we knew where: Floss is. Do you think the beautiful pair have: left the city?” sd ECOU (C ; ; ; . ‘ ee ee ee |