Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 416 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

city - — 4. ue oe “ ' , i. sa | Pod Monte Jim, the Black Sheep of Bismarck, - But not to tell you the black story of the past. - ie My lips are forever under seal so far as that is concerned.” ‘‘ Under orders?” echoed Medea. ‘‘ Then some other person bade you come here and seek me out?” The professor bowed in silence. ‘*Are you also sworn to secrecy on that point?” with a cutting sneer. ‘‘ Does the mys- tery cover this master of yours also?” ‘* Mistress, not master,” coldly replied the professor, with a bow of correction to the young lady who stood so proudly before him in her almost regal beauty. ‘‘I come from my sister.” ‘** And her interest in the case?” ‘‘ Not much, though you may find it sufficient to excuse my intrusion. She is the wife of the man Ret are hunting.” Medea Pennington started back with a low cry CHAPTER XIII. THE PROFESSOR BLUFFS AND IS BLUFFED. ** Hrs wife! The wife of Lloyd Pennington?” ‘Yes; and I repeat it, worse luck,” emphati- cally uttered Professor King Smith, riveting his little pig-eyes on the Sage startled countenance of the young lady, who seemed partially stun- ned by his recent disclosure. What was her portion of the secret—of the mystery which seemed to inwrap this man who was called Lloyd Pennington? What was her object in seeking him so earnestly? Doubt- less a friendly one, since sbe was so swift to de- fend bis name when attacked, but what was the precise nature of the connection between them? Such were the questions that flashed across the busy brain of the professor as he stood gazing keenly upon the young lady, waiting for her to recover from the shock which his abrupt speech had given her. **Married! A wife—and living! dreamed of that!” Mechanically the broken sentences dropped from her lips. Her eyes drooped before that steady gaze, her countenance became deeply suf- fused, her fingers twined together with a ag ae of nervousness and indecision such as she had not displayed before since that peculiar inter- view ee The little eyes of the professor began to pro- trude and to sparkle with a sudden access of light, for he began to believe he had caught the I never - clew he desired to find. ‘shameful treachery. ‘*My dear young lady,” he said, in his most unctuous voice, as he drew nearer to Medea, his stumpy hands reaching out to clasp hers. ‘* Do not give way to grief—do not suffer your gentle soul to be crushed into the mire of utter despondency by the discovery of tais man’s This man, did I say? Rather this demon in the guise of a human be- ing!” his hands touched hers, Medea Pennington ve a little of shivering disgust, started ck with a regal haughtiness in tone and look that came so unexpectedly as to almost cast the dumpy professor into another spasm. - How dare you, sir? Oblige me by keepin your distance. Make another attempt to touc my hand, and our interview is at an end for- ever.” ‘Your pardon—most humbly I beg your par- don, ma’am,” he gurgled, bowing low, his hands tumbling over and over each other, ‘I meant no harm, intended no insult, I assure you, ma’am; just the contrary, believe me. I merely wished to express my heartfelt sympathy after a fatherly fashion, for that organ, ma’am, gave a mighty bound and a sympathetic throb as it heheli—figuratively speaking, of course, my dear lady—your proud head wed down with grief at the terrible discovery that the cruel de- mon whom you seek has another wife, whose prior claim— Ahem! If she hasn’t gone crazy, I’m a howling liar, mght from headquar- ters!” As the final sentence burst from his lips in a ludicrous sort of an aside, Professor King Smith jumped back with a haste that came near land- ing him on his beam-ends, his pop-eyes protrud- ing, his face turning crimson,his flabby lips work- ing like the pendulous muzzle of a wearied horse, For, instead of sinking upon his manly bosom in an excess of grief, the icy barriers giving way before his honest sympathy, so touchingly ex- pressed, Medea Pennington burst into a fit of merry laughter, despite her utmost efforts to the contrary, Noting his thorough discomfiture, and really fearing he would be cast into another of those curious spasms, Medea controlled her risibles by a desperate effort, saying: “TI beg your pardon, Mr, Smith, for my ill- timed explosion, but I really could not help it. Your words and looks—” ‘‘No apologies, ma’am, are necessary,” stiffly interposed the dumpy little Dah yt injured dignity showing in every word and look. doubt [ gave you ample cause for merriment by my uncouth endeavors to express my sympathy for the devilish duplicity which that demon has—” “ One moment, sir,” she interposed, checking = [ , ' <__~ = —-* - 78 iy - ioe . ¢ = ‘esty or truthfulness, . mii cine ie Se Ci y@ e-<3 vat ee ~ * . - ng 9 ‘ his further speech by an imperious wave of her white hand. ‘‘If lcomprehend your meaning, you are sadly deceiving yourself. Without fur- ther preamble, will you tell me just what you fancy I am to Lloyd Pennington?” ‘It is easier to say what you are not /” a little stiffly. ‘‘ As I had the honor to inform you, my sister is his wife. As the ceremony which united them took place years ago—when you could have been nothing more than a child—you must see that she has a prior claim; that she is his wife, while you are not.” ‘*My dear sir, have I advanced any such claim?” ‘* But I inferred—” ‘*That I wasseeking fora man who first de- ceived, then deserted me—precisely. It was that extreme liveliness of imagination on your part, coupled with the fact that [had not given you the slightest cause for thinking such a thing, that made me burst out laughing.” _** Then what in—why are you so eager to find this Lloyd Pennington?” almost snarled the pro- fessor. ** When I can recognize your right to ask that question, I will answer you; not before,” was the cold response. ‘* You sought this interview, not I. Iam ready to listento what you may have to say, but beyond the simple fact that I am very anxious to find Lloyd Pennington, if still in the land of the living, and am wiiling to pay any reasonable reward to the one who can bring us face to face, lL have nothing to divulge. If you are willing to speak out pla’nly on these terms, doso. If not, I must beg of you to ex- cuse my remaining any longer.” **'Very well, ma’am. J was afraid of causing = pain, and under that dread, I have bungled, suppose. But now Jil be my usual self—a business man, pure and simple. ** As I bad the honor to inform you, I over- heard your conversation with Monte Jim on the train. The mention of that name deeply inter- ested me, as you may imagine, and instead of continuing my journey home where loved ones were impatiently awaiting my arrival, I stopped off here, and at once communicated with my sis- ter, spurred thereto by accidentally overhearing a conversation between your cousin and his friend, Mr. Frank Lisle, which touched on the same subject. ‘*T told my sister all I had heard, and she, thinking her evil husband meant you some mis- chief, made me promise to seek you out and —— you on your guard against him and his angerous arts. I was highly unwilling to mix in the affair, more especially as she still held me to my old oath to take no positive steps against Lloyd Pennington to avenge her wrongs, but in the end I yielded, and here I am.” He paused to catch his breath, gazing fixedly into the pale, composed countenance of Medea Pennington, as though expecting some comm: nt from her lips. Then, as none came, he added, or ‘** She bade me tell you this much, and to add: Tell her to cease hunting for Lloyd Pennington, unless she wishes misfortune to fall upon her head as heavily as it bas descended on mine! Bid her return to her home, and forget that such a demon in human shape ever drew the breath of life!” ‘*T will never do that, while I live, or until I am fully assured that Lioyd Pennington is dead and in the grave. I bave taken a solemn oath to find. him and made full restitution for the past—to lift a cruel stain from his name which it has borne wargd formany long years. This I have sworn, and I will make my oath good, if the perforniance lies within the scope of mortal power! A harsh, unpleasant laugh broke from the pie hee 4 at does one stain more or less matter? Even if you erase that one, ten thousand equally as black will remain.” ‘Possibly. You may be speaking the truth, or you may be falsifying, for aught I can tell—” ‘** Do you wish me to make oath to my words?” ‘** No; L have neither the right nor the desire to ask anything of the sort. Nor do I mean any offense by whatI say. You must bear in mind that you are an entire stranger to me, and of course I can know nothing concerning your hon- But you declare yourself the deadly enemy of Lloyd Pennington, and that ‘is equivalent to admitting that you would not saint his character any lighter than you can help. ossibly you exaggerate its darkness.” ‘That would be impossible!” sneered the pro- fessor. ‘*Let it go at that, then,” was the cold re- sponse, ‘‘ Tell me the name cree Be Pennington now bears, if not that which rightfully belongs tohim, Tell me whereand how I may find him; then name your price, and it shall be paid, if it is not wholly beyond the bounds of reason.” ‘*] warn you, for the last time—” ‘* And once for all I say: your warnings are worse than useless, I must and will find Lloyd ‘No | Pennington!” ‘Then put on your wraps and come with me. ‘You shall learn for yourself what manner of per- son you are seeking.” “Go with you—where?” “To the home of my sister.” track of Lloyd Penningten. If not, blame — yourself, not me or mine. Once more, good- — evening.” ad rrr rr Sn ’ . 11 Medea started, gazing fixedly into the face of the fat professor, a sudden suspicion seizing upom her mind. Something told her that there was a cunning snare concealed beneath this blunt proposal; that all along this man had been playing a part; Lut for what? What ends could he hope to serve by decoying her away from the hotel? In whose interests could he be working, if her suspicions were true, fer surely it could not be wholly on his own account? Keenly, if covertly, Professor King Smith watched the workings of her mobile counten- ance, reading her doubts and suspicions almost as readily as though they had been impressed there in visible letters. An amused smile came over his face as he spoke: ** May I ask what grounds you have for thus doubting me?” Medea started, being taken by surprise at hay- ing her inmost thoughts thus readily interpreted, but then her cool wit rallied, and her reply came prompt and unmistakable: ‘You say you hate Lloyd Pennington. Hating him, you would not like good fortune to over- take him, I havesaid that I am trying to bring this to him—to find and make restitution of what he was robbed of in the days gone by—to lift a black cloud from his name. You have repeated- ly warned me to give up the search and cease my efforts to discover him. I believe that, fail- ‘ ing in convincing me, you mean to try other means of foiling my purpose.” ‘** That I mean to take you prisoner and keep ou thus, until death puts an unsurmountable — arrier between you and the object of your quix- otic quest?” laughed the professor. ‘*My dear Miss Pennington, what a frightful ogre you must believe me! Really, I feel most highly compli- mented !” Her face flushed hotly, as his mocking laugh gurgled out of his fat throat, for, now that it was put into plain words, she. could not avoid realizing how far-fetched was her idea, +d 2 ‘If my suspicions wronged you,I ask your pardon,” she said, frankly, adding ina milder tone: ‘* You can give me the information I seek. Why will younotdoso? Whatnecessity is there for me to seek out your sister?” ‘* Simply because that is her will, and mine as _ well, if you still refuse to let the dead past rest — in its grave.” : ‘*T have already answered that part of the © matter,” Loa ‘“* Very well. Then there isonly the onealter- native. If you are determined to know all, you must call on my sister. I have said alll intend saying. My lips are forever sealed, by an oath to the full as sacred as the one you plead asan excuse for not retreating from your search for Lloyd Pennington. If you will come withme, allright. If not, I wash my hahds ofthe whole _ affair, and will startfor Mandan inthemorning. — Please give me your decision, my dear young _ ‘** Where is your sister?” oa ‘‘At home, waiting formy return with or without you.” wit ate ‘* ‘You know what I mean,” ‘** ‘Where does she live? town, or elsewhere?” “In town, and only a few moments’ from this place.” For a few moments Medea stood in a reflec- tive attitude, seeimg to deliberately weigh the _ pros and cons; then her head lifted and her voice came clear and decisive: AL: ‘*T will go with you on one condition.” E ‘* And that condition?” ent ‘* That my cousin bears me company.” ‘‘Good-evening, Miss Pennington,” coldly ut-_ tered the professor, bowing low and starting to- ward ‘he door. lng te “Stop!” cried Medea, swiftly moving be-— Bs ee a and the door. ‘‘Whatdo youmean — y that {ae ‘To bid you good-evening, since you abso- lutely decline my offer. Possibly you may find ~ some other person who can place you on the . ? 4 f How far from here? In — eg.’ 5 ~ v0 ; Not yet!” and the young woman, pale but ~ with glowing eyes, placed herself with back against the dcor, confronting the man with desperate resolution. ‘‘ You do not leave this room until we have arrived at some sort of an understanding. If you mean honestly by me, | why are you so strongly opposed to permitting / my cousin to bear us company to the house where you say your sister, the lawful wife of Lloyd Pennington, is awaiting your return?” A harsh, bitter laugh escaped the man, his fishy eyes filling with a reddish light, his flably. lips contracting until they sewesiial his yellow- ish teeth and pale gums. By; ‘You demand my reasons for not accepting _ the company of your cousin, Alva Penninstowte. rs Well, since it is a lady who asks me the ques- _ tion, I will reply, and frankly: “tetdos ‘* My lips are forever sealed concerning the past, | as I had the honor of saying before; but if they were not, | would sew them up with a red-hct | wire before I would do anything to publish ber — and my shame to) the werld! We CA roo lc Bm Gomichbookstcom es = ty 4 %