Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 419 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

> yee ee + — - SE ey awe ke = en —: <_ + 4.4 ee Se icin -—— ‘au ita a oa i ea eee 4>- ve ra 4 me | La «z * 3 vw _ li. —- Sen 1 7 = — 7 P _ — — © v' + * ‘ ez -* ‘“s do - Tey F > a aA * é . é ‘ re * ss, Pa -- ae 8 “Well, Ishould do my best to make it lively and interesting for you,’ Phenix placidly replied. “But now, superintendent, I went a litle of your assistance. I landed from the English stcamer this morning, and on my way up-town in a horse car some rascal stole my vatch.”’ The chief laid back and lauched. “Well, well!” he exclaimed, ‘‘if this isn’t the richest joke of the season! The idea that a pick- pocket, should select you fora subject to operate upon.’ operation; a handsome gold watch that I picked up in London ata bargain; cost me twenty-five pounds; and I haven't the remotest idea how the trick was done, excepting that as I stood on the rear plitform waiting to get off, some fellows brushed past me rather ,udely.’’ *Exictly, and that was just the time the trick was done. Two fellows stumbled up against ycu, you naturally elbowed them off, :nd a third fellow standing by your side snapped the watch off the ring.”’ cs I guess you are about right, superintendent, I was in a sort of a brown study at the time, or maybe I would have detected the trick.” **Give mea description, and I will do whatI can for you by notifying the detectives and the pawn- brokers; but really there isn’t one chance out of a hundred for you to recover the property.” The deseription was given, noted down, and sent out by the superintendent; and then the official pro- ceeded to explain to Phenix about the matter in which he wished to enlist his services. The man-hunter listened attentively, and ex- ressed his regrets when he learned of the death of etective Irving. ‘* As good a man as I ever worked with,’ he ob- served, “Yes, and you will perceive how difficult the task, when such a man as Irving not only failed to appre- hend the murderer, but lost his life in the bar- ain.” one He must be avenged,’ Phenix remarked, coldly ve calmly, yet with a world of meaning in his ones, ** And you will undertake the job?” “Right gladly.” Then the superintendent explained how deeply interested the mayor and Governor had become in the matter. “They will probably stand a big reward—as much as a thousand or two, maybe more, and then Red- mond Lamardale will come down handsomely. Al- together, [shouldn’t be surprised if you could pick up close to five thousand dollars if you succeed in trapping the murderer,” “The money is welcome enough, of course, al- though I am tolerably well provided, but I would undertake the work all the same if there wasn’t a dollar up, for this mysterious assassin is no common stabber, and it is these superhuman villains that I delight to track, I believe I ought to have been born a bloodhound, for I take a flerce delight when | can eb upon the track of such a magnificent rascal. ere is no pleasure in hunting down your common, vulgar scoundrel; that is, not for a man like myself. If [ cannot chase big game, I prefer to remain idle.”’ * Well, judging from what has already occurred, this party will give you all the fun you want. But now, what do you think about the matter? You un- derstand that as far as we can ascertain it was a woman who ty ce Irving to his death.” ‘Yes, but she is not the principal in the matter.” “You think not?’’ ‘Oh, I feel sure of it; the woman never lived with nerve enough to commit these deeds.”’ *“Women have done some pretty nervy things since the world began,’’ the superintendent ob- served. * Yos, but nothing of this sort.” You forget the story of La Tour de Nesle.’’ “That was ina dark and barbarous age, despite the thin veneering of chivalry that covers it; besides there is no absolute proof that the tale is not a fic- tion. We cannot accept as literal truth all the sto- ries that come down to us from days of yore. Ihave no doubt that the woman.is an instrument, but not the master-mind. Chief, this fellow is one criminal picked out of ten thousand. Heis a foreigner too, I _ think; his fantastic appearance, and the peculiar manuer in which the all go to prove that,”’ . “Aha! do you think then that that blunderhead of a policeman did really see the man?” **T have not the least doubt about it. He came u 18) oy that the assassin was nearly surprise with the victim, and just had time to secrete himself behind the freight pile. Then, when he saw that the liceman was not disposed to make much of a time, é came out and sauntered away.” ‘* Yes, the fool supposed it was a case of natural eath-wounds were inflicted, death, but I say, how the deuce did the fellow man- _. Phe reasoning that i bee ditferent ending, age 4 get the bocies to the public places where they were found without exciting attention, because it is clear to my mind that the men were not killed upon those spots?” x shook his head, “The conundrum is too much for you?” * Yes, for the solving of that riddle would at once give a clew tp the murderer, and that point is the one which requires to be carefully worked up.”’ The chief wanted to introduce Phenix fo the mayor and Governor, but the detective begged to be ex- cusel, for he said he preferred to work in the dark. ~“Dowhat vou can for me in the way of the re- ward in case I trap the fellow,” he observed in part- ing, ‘“‘for money always comes in handy, and you know [| work on the motto of ‘no cure no pay.’ ”’ Again they shook hands, and then Phenix set out to prepare for his man-hunt. he sleuth-hound possessed one great advantage; ‘ce had been absent so long from the city that all the new biood of rascals knew him not, auu as he Leal pretty certain that the mysterious assassin was no old offender, it was clear he would not be acquainted with his personal appearance. Phenix took up the lead that Irving had followed, Irving had succeeded in attracting e attention of the assassin he might do likewise, brit he intended the acquaintancesbip, should have a | | — CHAPTER XIII. IN THE SEA. Iv was a terrible sea even for a strong man and an The Bat of the Battery. experienced swimmer to breast, for when the boat | was overturned the storm was at its hight and the waves were leaping about likc angry demons. into the water, soon rose to the surface, and despite the fact that he was sadly incumbered by the heavy cloak which he wore, struck out with lusty strokes tsps Ss LL LL TO “And the worst of it is, that he succeeded in the | £¥ the overturned boat. A vivid flash of just at this moment lit up the vast expanse of water, which was creenas en her, her determined will, she was not able to conquer ‘The stranger, who had been hurled bead-foremost | “ ightning | and the girl, who had risen to the surface just about | the same time, caught sight of her persecutor, and, as she did not lose her presence of mind in this | dread extremity, Lesbia understood that he was try- | ing to reach the boat, but as she was totally ignorant of the swimmer’s art she could not hope to follow his example. In her desperation she struck out wildly with her hands to keep from sinking beneath the surface of the wave. She was in the rear of the swimmer so that he did not perceive her. Her clothing helped to buoy her up, but she was afraid that she would not be able to depend upon this aid for any length of time, and naught but a grave beneath the rolling billows seemed in store for her, The pentane had died away and utter darkness reigned, Alone, helpless upon the bosom of the raging wa- ters, could a poor mortal be placed ina more ter- rible plight? In her great despair she called aloud, her voice mingling wilh the roar of the angry billows and the howling of the tempest. ‘*Oh, merciful God! Our Father, who artin heaven, nape your poor handmaiden in this, her hour of peril!’ And the Great Creator, the only friend of the or- phan and the helpless, deigned to listen to the heart- felt prayer and sent assistance, Her hands encountered a solid substance, floating upon the surface of the waves. With the energy born of despair she grasped it. It was the broken mast with the sai) still attached, but the action of tne billows bad rolled it around the spar so that it formed an efficient support, “Oh, Heaven, 1 thank tiee for this timely aid!” the girl murmured in gratitude, as she wound her arms around the floating buoy. And now, as if satisfied with the mischief which had been wrought, there was a lull in the tempest; no more did the lightning’s flash illuminate the scene; the darkness was intense, so that Lesbia was unable to ascertain whether her persecutor had been able to reach the overturned boat, which had been floating keel upward, or had succumbed to the fury of the waves. In either case, though, it mattered not to her, for she was safe from his attacks. There was some of the cordage still attached to the spar, floating loosely from it; this, with really wonderful forethought, she wound around her per- son, so that if her p ysical strength failed she might still be supported by that novel life-preserver. Although not much acquainted wit the sea, having always resided in an inland town, yet, from what she had read, she thought in time the spar would be carried by the action of the waves to the beach, and then, if the surf was not so terrible as to beat the life out of her when she was flung upon the strand, she would be able to escape without serious injury, The girl’s surmise was right; the spar was carried by the rolling billows in toward the shore, and, as the darkness began to lighten up a little, she could distinguish the white line of the surf where it spent its fury upon the sandy beach. Lesbia was both strong of heart and stout in limb, and had been careful to husband all her strength, for she understood that the supreme effort must be made when the surf flung her upon the land, She must be prepared to escape the undertow, which would inevitably drag her back into the raging bil- lows if she was not careful. | So, as she gradually drew near the land, she re- leased herself from the ropes which she had wound around her ise f ——— to abandon tho spar when the necessity became urgent for her so to do. Nearor and nearer she came; she fancied ones or twice that her feet touched bottom, so shallow had become the water, and the white line of the racing surf, pouring in upon the beach with a roar like the report of a mammoth battery of artillery, could plainly be distinguished, notwithstanding the dark- ness that vailed the face of nature. And now again and again her feet touched bottom as she surged in toward the beach and then was borne out again by the force of the restless waters, but although she tried with all her strength, it was impossible for ber to retain her footing, so powerful be ng the swell of the billows. At last, by an unusually powerful wave she was carried on its foamy crest high up on the beach. She felt that the critical time bad come. She relinquished her hold upon the spar, which had served her so well, suffering it to be carried away by the retreating wave, dug her nails into the sand and held on for dear life. The wave upon whose crest she had floated was an unusually high one, and so its undertow was not as strong as otherwise it would have been, The retreating water made a determined effort to force the girl from her hold, as though reluctant to give up its prey, but was not powerful enough to accomplish its purpose. The instant the water relaxed its grasp ng her, and went roaring as if in sullen rage back to tbe stormy main, the girl, summoning all her strength, rose to her feet; but she was so weak from the ef- fects of the hardship which she had undergone, that she could not walk, and the moment she at- tempted to move forward her limbs gave way be- neath her and she sunk forward upon her face again, ) And then came another mighty wave thundering upon the beach, one even more which had carried the girl to land. Again Lesbia dug her nails into the strand, and struggled against the power of the water; again she succeeded in resisting itg force, and then, when the breaker retreated, warned by experience, she did not attempt to rise, but crawled on hands and knees away from the line of the surf. | owerful than that | ' It was a slow and painful progress, for the girl was weak from exhaustion, her brain in a whirl, and gne had all she could do to keep from relapsing into insensibility. Desperately she struggled against the faintness ut resolute as was nature; the strain upon her strength had been too much, and before she had crept a dozen feet higher up on the beach she succumbed to fatigue and fainted dead away. Although some distance from the spot where she had first landed, she was not yet out of danger. She had been cast upon the beach by the last wave of the obb tide; now it had turned to flood, and was ee steadily upon the beach, gaining inch inch, ‘The girl lay in her stupor, perfectly helpless, and the restless water, like a malignant demon, gradual- ly and surely approaching her. The beach was quite a level one at the point upon which the girl was cast, end although she had crawled some distunce trom where she had first landed, she had barely gained a foot in hight. Alon’; this part of the coast the tide rises about six feet, making, consequently, about a foot an hour, and so, within a very short time the angry breakers were again thundering close to the feet of the girl. Twenty minutes more and most surely she would havo been wrapped in the embraces of the stormy waves, and in her helpless condition such a thing would have been the prelude to certain death. But it was not fated to be. Through the darkness, along the beach, came a glimmering light—the light proceeded from a lan- tern borne by one dark form, while another followed in the roar, plodding over the sand, with their eyes fixed eagerly upon the edge of the breakers. It was a man and woman, roughly dressed, and with coarse, ugly, repulsive features. Tn one hand the man carried the lentern and in the other a boat-hook; the woman also was equipped with a similar tool. Night prowlers were these two; relics of the old pirates of Barnegat, the wreckers who, if report speaks true, in the old days had scant mercy upon the unfortunate souls possessed of worldly goods, unlucky enough to be cast upon their dangerous coast. ‘‘ Hello, hello!” cried the man, as his eyes fell upon the form of the girl, ‘‘ here is something, Betty, that may pay us for our trouble!” “Ay, ay,” responded the woman, hurrying for- ward, and peering in eager curiosity upon the girt. | ‘Pears like as if thar had bina wrack somewhar’s long the coast, but I hain’t seen any stull come ashore,”’ ‘*Ts she dead?’ queried the old woman. The man knelt down and placed his hand upon the wrist of the helpless Lag . ‘‘No, she bean’t; she’s alive, but I reckon she’s had a mighty close shave of it. Anyhow, if we hadn't happened to come along, them breakers would ’a’ had a-hold on her, mighty soon and then she would have been a goner, for sure!”’ | “She's a lady! Jest see what little, white hands, end she’s rotten a rare face, too.”’ ‘ “She ain’t got much jewelry as far as I kin see,” the man observed, examining the girl with wolfish | eves. “Oh, she'll be worth a heap of jewelry to us!” the woman chuckled, ‘*Lay hold on her, old man, and let’s drag her up out of the reach of the water. This will be a rare hau! for us, I'll go bail!” - CHAPTER XIV, THE SEARCH, Tre surmise of the mysterious stranger, the ab- ductor of the girl, in regard to the young sailor hav- ing a great deal of the bull-dog about him was cor- rect, as he undoubted'y would have admitted if he could have followed in Blount’s footsteps and watched his movements when he set oub to discover what had become of the girl. The sailor had thought the matter over carefully. From the little he had scen of the unknown he had come to the conclusion that he wes not much of a mariner, anc ho felt tolerably certain that noone but an o}d and experienced cailor wouki cuececd in safely running down clorg the Jersey ec ast in such a boat and in srch a pele, Theo chances were food, he thought, that the Lost weuld net be slic to live in such a soa, nor to mctke a Jancing without capsiz- ing; in cithcr event it wes possible that the ccecu- pants of the craft micht be able to reach the shore po riculerly if tho aitempt was made near one o the life-saving stations and they were aided by the coast patrol. But the night bad been so dark that it would hardly have been possible for the patrol- men to distingnish the boat until she was right on the beach, and only from some one of the patrol happening to be near the spot when the boat came ashore, could assistance be had. There was a bare possibility that, the ‘two mivht have escaped the periis of the night, but the chances that they had pcrisned were much greater. This was the riddle he must solve. Blount set about his task in a workmanlike man- ner. From a friend of sporting proclivities, who was particularly interested in horse-flesh, he procured an excellent saddle nag, and with the herse he took his way by boat to the Jersey coast. ~ The sailor was weil acquainted with the lay of the Jand, as at various times he had visited the region during the summer season, From the manner in which the boat sped away be- fore the wind, after getting around the point of Sandy Hook, Blount calculated that there would not be any on Serta danger of a capsize until the skip- per undertook to put the boat about in orderto re- turn; then, unless he handled the craft carefully and in a sailor-like manner, the maneuver would result in an upset. Blount’s plan was to mount his horse and ride down along the beach, inquiring of every one he met if they knew anything of a small boat contain- ing a man and woman which had come ashore dur- ing the night. The young sailor had set about his task so prompt- ly that he had rnaanagec to get upon the ground on the afternoon of the very day that the City of Ches- ter had made her berth. Diligently inquired the young man, but not a nar- IOO My : | 4 ~ wo ng ’ . -_ | E | |