Beadle's Dime Library No. 415 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

>. ee ‘¢¢ Don’t ask me!’ she replied. “*Nay,’ said I, ‘but why should I not? We | are both women, and I, too, have seen trouble.’ ‘‘Upon that she lifted ber head and looked at me in a calmer way. She knew me, spoke my name, referred to my own late trouble, and a sort of a bond was established between us. She ceased weeping, and we talked on various mat- ters. I did not urge her further to confide in me, but her heart was full and she longed to speak to some one. I was different from the women who lived here regularly; she dared not confide in them, for fear they would spread her secret; but with me it was different. 1 was a stranger, and would not repeat what she said. ‘Finally she did speak out. Her trouble all came from the new owner of the old convent— Frazer Hot Heart. She had happened to meet him once, and he was very kind, polite and gal- lant. He had professed great admiration for her, and she, poor child, had not the wisdom and strength to resist his arts. “The first meeting was followed by many others, and Hot Heart made love to her dces- perately. Never before had such a fine gentle- man paid attention to her; he professed to love and admire her; and not only was her head turned, but her heart was rigs rENeg his ‘* Up to this time she had told me nothing to explain ber sorrow, but after a good dealof hesi- tation she went on and explained, or partly ex- plained, that also. Sbe had learned that her idol was not perfect. He had asked her to com- mitacrime. What it was she would not say; but I know it did not concern her directly, and did call for treachery to the Nettletons. ‘This demand had revealed to her the fact that he did not love her; that he had not sought her for herself, but in order to mako her his tool in the mysterious crime which she would not explain. asked if he wisbed her to rob the Nettletons, and she said hurriedly that he already had money enough, ‘*‘ My last pointed question had frightened her, and she seemed to regret her confidence. She made me promise to keep her secret, pleaded work at the house as an excuse for leaving me, and hurried away. I never saw her after- ward.” a ‘¢ And this is all you have to say?” ‘* Yes, sir.” ‘“You are quite sure thet Frazer Hot Heart was the lover = referred to?” ‘*T am positive.” ‘That will do.” Zenobia rose, and Mr. Huglife escorted her to the adjoining room. Neat looked sharply at Frazer. The latter’s composure had never wavered during the ordeal, and his careless ex- ression made him seein one of the least in- rested persons present. Innocent or guilty, he bore it well. Mr. Neat turned away and sharply said: ‘‘Garth Griffith, we will now hear your testi- mony!” CHAI TER XXXII. WHAT GARTH KNEW ABOUT IT, THE. Bush-Wolf started nervously. He had been sitting behind Mr. Huglife, the largest man resent, and peering over his shoulder at Frazer ot Heart as one would at an unchained tiger. Garth was frightened. His whole life had been devoted to crime in its various grades, but he was terribly afraid of the Hermit. He wished himself a hundred miles away, and that he bad never bargained with any one to in- jure the Fire-Eater. The very calmness of the latter terrified him, and he felt a sickening pre- sentiment that the man would visit bis sins upon him in a way which would leave but little of Garth Griffith. ‘Senor, I have but little to tell, but—” Thus far had he faintly spoken, trying to keep behind Huclife, but the bluff Inagistrate had never heard of a witness crouching down behind him when testifying, and without any idea of how he was gah whctnains the Busk-Wolf, ke brought him around and made him the central figure of the group. Once there, he was exactly facing the Hermit, and the latter fixed a gazo upon him which made Garth’s knees tremble more than ever. He twir ed his old, ragged hat gsc and his own gaze wandered about as though he was si for some hole through which he could re. ‘‘ Now, then,” said Neat, ‘‘ what do you know.” ‘* Senor,” faltered the half-breed, ‘‘I am abroad much at night,” Huglife smiled broadly; he knew that every man in Clifftown who kept fowls would be will- ing to swear that, in his opinion, Garth was often ‘‘abroad at night.” ‘‘ State one occas’on when you were abroad,” ‘The night that Rosa Strong disappeared.” ‘¢ What did you see then!” The terrible eyes were still on the Bush-Wolf, and he squirmed about in bis chair before au- swering. ; “Senor, I had rg: ope . g aahyc fields look- ing for game, and return y the Clifftown road, passing t Castle. It was then eleven t Heart, the Dete SS = ctiv Spy. —~-- = — —— ee no dna knows. Who is Mrs. Hague? A woman mad for revenge berause her husband has been — ee end o'clock, 1 think. Icame on, and was passing the old convent when I saw two persons moving along. killed!” ‘‘{ was in the shadow of the bushes, and I ‘* All this you can urge at your trial, Mr. Hot. paused to look at them. The night was bright, Heart.” ‘*T shall bave more than this to say there,” the Fire-Eater replied with a grim look at Pau!. ‘You still say that you can tell us nothing about Rosa or the robbery?” **] know nothing about either.” “Well, Mr. Neat,” said Huglife, sudden!y though the moon had not risen, and I recognized them easily. They were—” | Garth’s wandering ie had encountered the Hermit’s fixed one, and he paused abruptly. ‘* Who were they?” Neat asked. ‘* Senor Hot Heart and Rosa Strong!” “Ah! Do youswear that this was at eleven | coming out of his obscurity, ‘‘ what bail shail o’clock, the night that Rosa disappeared?” we fix?” ‘*T do, senor.” ‘** Bail!” echoed Paul. ‘Were they talking?’ 7% Gai &é ‘“‘ This not a bailable case.” ‘* Why isn’t it?” ** Rosa Strong’s fate is not settled.” es, senor.” “In a friendly or quarrelsome way?” | To save his life the Bush-Wolf could notavoid | glancing at the Fire-Eater, and that terrible | ‘‘ We have no reason to believe she bas beer gaze completely upset him. | barmed. If sheis in Nigger Arm, more likely ** Friendly,” he taitered. | it was suicide.” Hot Heart glanced at Paul Nettleton. The; ‘I appeal to Mr. Neat,” said Paul excitedly. young man’s lace bore a black scowl. | ‘*T see no objection to releasing the prisoner ‘* What happened, Garth?’ | on good bail; say about two thousand dollars.” The Bush-W olf twirled his hat and glanced at | Paul opposed this strenuously, but Huglife the Fire-Eater. ' was an obstinate man when he had a fixed opin- him. | ion. He insisted that until there was more di- ‘* They walked away, and so did I.” rect proof against Hot Heart, he should not hold ‘* Which way did they go?” | him, and settled on two thousand dollars as the ‘* Toward Coast Castle,” | necessary sum; whereupcn the Fire-Eater pro- ‘* Did you see them again?” | duced a plethoric pock-book and coolly counted ‘* No, senor.” out the money. ‘*Or hear anything unusual?” There was enough left, too, to enable him to ‘* No, senor.” make a stout legal fight. They were through with Garth, and heslunk | Paul was very angry, and when hesaw Fr-zer That gaze was again bent upon back behind Huglife like a whipped cur. Pau] ride coolly away on Jack Jet, he turred upon looked disappointed and angry. Detective Neatand Huglife and denounced their course Neat’s face was impassive. He turned deliber- sharply. If he had been wise he woud not have ately toward the Fire-Eater. _doneit. Neat, at least, was an important figure ‘*Mr. Hot Heart, whut have you to say to all ; in the case, and it was very imprudent to quarrel this?” | with bim. ‘* Well, sir, I believe if Mrs, Hague and Garth | His reply, however, was very brief. were to combine, they could write a novel ‘‘T advisé vou to save your words awhile, Mr. which would shatter the fame of Arabian | Nettleton. Before I am through with this Nights and Robinson Crusoe all to kindling- | ease I will make a)l clear, and then only the wood. As liars, they certainly excel.” | guilty will have cause to complain.” “Do you mean that you deny their allega- | The cool, dry remark struck a chill to Paul's tions?” _ blood, and he began to wish he had never. ‘*Rather. There isn’t a word of truth in | brought the San Francisco man into the affair. either story. I was not with Rosa the night! Zenobia Hague was told that she could go she disappeared, nor did I see her.” As for the | home, and she went at once. Don Esteban story Mrs. Hague says was told her, somebody * Villegas was waiting in the parlor when she has lied hke perdition. There was no ground arrived, and he started up eagerly. \ for the story. I never made love to Rosa; I! ‘* Well,” he said, “is Hot never asked ber to commit a crime for me; and | halter?” I never spoke with ber in my life!” ‘* Not yet,” was the vicious reply. This sweeping denial was emphatically made, | ‘‘ But he is locked up?” and Mr. Huglife looked perplexed. Hot Heart ** Not even that.” had the appearance of an honest man, but the ** What! did you and Griffith fail to tell your testimony was strong against him. stories?” | ‘**Of course he denies all,” put in Paul Nettle- ‘*IT told mine exactly as you directed, but ton. Griffith weakened and utterly failed.” Hot Heart wheeled sharply upon the speaker. ‘“*Didn’t he say that he saw Hot Heart push ‘* ‘Why shouldn’t 1?’ he demanded. the servant-girl over the cliff?” ‘‘ Criminals rarely confess at the beginning.” ‘‘No. He merely said that he saw them walk- ‘‘No, but they sometimes come to grief, es- | ing together that night, talking in a friendly pecially if the crime is murder!” was the retort. | way.” Much to his dismay Paul felt that he was ‘“‘Curse the fellow!” raved the Mexican, ‘** how dared he play me false{” growing pale, but he tried to maintain a bold air ‘‘Hot Heart frightened him out of bis wits,” ‘* Just what we intend shall be the result in | and then Zenobia described the Bush-Weclf’s this case,” he answered. ‘‘Mr. Huglife, I | conduct under examination, as seen and heard charge this man with baving made way with | by her through the half-open door. Rosa Strong. I charge bim with having led | Villegas swore roundly, calling down curses the girl on to steal a certain article from Coast | on Garth’s head, and when he realized the Castlo, and then, when he had obtained it, with | folly of this, sullenly added: having put her out of the way. I believe he ‘*One more effort gone, but I will snare him has killed the girl!” yet. Wall you hold to your story?” ‘* Paul Nettleton, you lie!” eart’s neck in the. Hot Heart thundered the words, and he arose | derer?” with a face flushed red, and his eyes ‘blazing. ‘*T do.” His ayncareaes recalled all the terrible tales ‘** Then I will keep my compact with you.” told of him as a ‘‘ Fire-Eater,” and Garth Grif- “So far, good, and if I don’t find some way to fith darted from cover just as Huglife sprung back in alarm, falling over his chair and crush- ing it. And while the magistrate lay sprawlin there, Garth made one Jeap and shot throug the window like an acrobat. Paul, too, was startled. and he fully expected to be assaulted, but Mr, Neat kept bis seat with unshaken calmness, ‘Mr. Hot Heart, sit down!” he coolly said. ‘* Now teat you mention it, Mr. Neat, I will,” said the Fire Eater, and he did so. me a ety they had been friends. Before, His sudden change of manner was so remark- | both had been suitors for her hand, and though able, that even Mr. Neat looked astonished fora } usually good friends they quarreled near moment, while Huglife gathered himself up and every day concerning her. Since her disappear-- looked ruefully at the broken chair. He also | ance they had mutually agreed that neither felt somewhat ashamed of his trepidation. ever had achance. She was young and pretty: ‘‘In a word, these charges are absurd,” added | they were middle-aged end homely. So they Fra zer. devoted their spare t?me to consoling each other, ‘Well, you see how I am placed,” replied | and trying to lighten their sad hearts, snare Hot Heart, my head bas lost it’s cunning. tees playing a we pg: game, but I am bound. win! CHAPTER XXXIV. A HOUSEHOLD UNDER A SPELI» Tr WELCH wandered out into the gardem Neat. ‘‘I have the task of finding a certain!) On this oceasicn Timothy found Joseph lean- article lost at Coast Castle, and to learn what | ing on his garden-rake, and gazing sadly at the became of Rosa Strong. Mrs. Hague’s testi- | watering-pot. mony seems to show that you induced Rosa to ‘“* Still thinkin’ about Rosa, Mr. Jigson?” commit the theft, while that of Garth Griffith c the Joseph shook his head. would indicate that you have spirited the girl ‘* No, Mr. Welch, hit is han entirely different. away.” matter.” ‘Possibly to the waters of Nigger Arm,” added Paul. “Tt dees.” ‘Possibly not!” Hot Heart replied. ‘I know Joseph ran his rake along a flower-bed, and’ nothing about Rosa, in any way, shape or form. then added: Garth, at least, has deliberately lied. I wonder; ‘Mr. Welch, what would you doif you b’ad that you entertain these cherges. What is a weight of woe bon your mifid?” Griffith? A notorious scoundrel, asall the world ‘** Oi should thry to get rid ave it.” Eomicboo ‘* It seems to trouble ye.” “S ‘*'‘You promise to reveal my husband’s mur-- | where Joseph Jigson was at work. Since Rosa’s _ 7 Za - 7 ~ —_?* | 4 7 > i - * a uD!