Beadle's Dime Library No. 42 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

which stood im one corner of the entry, and with folded arms stood regardiny her, A quick, anxivus glance Coralie cast into his impassive face; naught there could she read. “David Van Rensselaer, have you deceived me?” she cried, « sudden, horrible suspicion taking possession of her mind. “* Deceived you—how?” he asked, coolly. “This place,” she answered, slowly, her eyes wandering around, noting the squalid walls and the discolored, uneven floor. ** Well, what of it?” “‘ Where am If’ she demanded, abruptly, and a flash of angry light shone in her clear eyes. “‘ What earthly difference can that possibly make to you?” he asked, evading the question; there was a slight touch of sarcasm apparent in his voice. “David Van Rensselaer, you have deceived me! I am sure of it!” she exclaimed, a crimson flush gathering upon the brow and cheeks hid by the dark vail. “If you are sure of it, I will not attempt to argue the point with you,” Van Rensselaer said, in his calm, quiet way, and, us he spoke, he removed the beard from his face. “And why did you assume a disguise?” *“* Oh, that is common at a masquerade,” he answered. ** Do not trifle with me!” the girl exclaimed, annoyed at his tone and manner. ‘‘ We are not at a masquerade now.” ‘*'Yet you wear the disguise which you assumed at the masquerade; the vail even still conceals your features.” ““David Van Rensselaer, will you answer my question?” she cried, impatiently. ‘‘ Tell me at once what and where is this place, and for what purpose have you tricked me into coming hither?” ‘‘ How very curious you are to-night,” he replied, in a pene of banter. ‘* Will you answer me?” she demanded, sternly. “ Yes.” There was a peculiar glitter in his eyes as he pro- aounced the simple word—a glitter, snake-like in its gleam. For the first time the suspicion came into the mind of the young girl that Van Rensselaer, with all his courtly polish, roused to action would prove a dangerous foe. ‘“‘ You have asked me direct questions, and you shall have direct answers,” he said, coldly, quietly, but with a strange, metallic ring in his voice. ‘‘In the first place, I have de- ceived you. I have used you as an instrument by which to ac- eomplish certain things. 1 wished the old man in yonder room to come here; by your aid he has been induced to come. Now I wish you to aid me still further. Ina few minutes a gervant will bring a bottle of wine into yorder room. You must induce the old gentleman to drink, but you must be careful not to drink yourself, for the wine is drugged.” “ Drugged? Oh, Heaven!” exclaimed the girl, in horror. Van Rensselaer went on in his speech without apparently heeding the interruption. “After the wine takes effect, which it will do speedily, and the old man falls asleep, you must warn me. I shal) %e in waiting outside the door; then take your place in the sarriage. In a few minutes I will bring the old man. You shall be driven to your home, and he to his. That is all.” ‘* What terrible purpose have you in view?” Coralie asked, breathlessly. ‘““The folly of asking such a question as that!” Van Rensselaer exclaimed, impatiently. ‘‘ What terrible pur- oose I have? The old man drinks a glass of wine, ‘hen falls asleep. When he awakes he will find himself upon his own bed in his hotel. The events of the night, dating from the masquerade, will appear to him only as a disordered dream.” “You can not deceive me!” the girl cried, suddenly., ‘ Yor bave some deep purpose.in thia. This ia no foolish Beadle’s Dime _ibrary. oe ee et ee —-_~-— ——— wager, but a subt.e plot. can not guess what it is; I do not care to know. But, one thing I will do, and that is. baffle your design. I will return to yonder room, not to urge the stranger to drink your drugged wine, but to reveal to him the plot of which he has been the victim, and aid him to escape from it.” ‘‘Golden words from lips of flesh,” Van Renaselaer said, dryly, not a whit alarmed. ‘‘ What a shame it is that you can nov carry out such an admirable design.” ‘‘ And who will prevent me from carrying it out?” sos asked, scornfully. ‘Your humble servant,” he replied quietly, * You?” '** No one .lse.” “You shalt not fetter my tongue!” she cried, quickly. “You have been skillful enough to entrap me into aiding your scheme thus far, but now my eyes are open, and I will act as your decoy no longer. I will warn this stranger of his danger, and save him from it.” She turned as if to go, but Van Rensselaer’s strong hand was upon her wrist and stayed her. **Oh, no, you will not,” he said, not a trace of excite. ment in his voice. ‘‘ You will do exactly as I say—oarry out my plans to the letter.” ‘* Never!” the girl cried, indignantly, making an effort te free herself from his grasp. “‘T tell you that you will do my bidding. Do you know that you are in one of the worst dens in all great New York —a dance-house in Water street? If you doubt my words, descend the stairs and you can behold the festive scene by — simply opening a door. If you refuse to do as I say, I will tear the vail from your face and call the rabble below to look upon the famous actress, Coralie York. To-morrow the report of your visit to John Allen’s den will be in every newspaper in the city, and a rare bit of news it will be for your friends.” Coralie’s heart sunk within her, as she comprehended how utterly she was in the power of the man who held her wrist with a grasp of iron. Her breath came thick and fast; vainly she tried to devise some method of escape. “Come, your answer,” he said; ‘‘ why hesitate? Do you, think that I want to murder this man?” ‘But, why do you do this?” she asked, almost mechanically. “That is my business, and not yours,” he answered, harshly; ‘‘ but I swear to you that I mean him no harm.” ‘‘ Oh, what a dreadful scheme you have lured me into,” the girl moaned. ** You consent?” “T must; I am helpless in your power,” she murmured. “The wine will be here soon; remember my instructions,” With a heavy heart, Coralie re-entered the room, OHAPTER XIV, THE INDIAN CHIEF, Van RENSSELAER watched her until the closing door hid her from his sight, then a scornful smile came over his face. ‘* The foolish girl,” he muttered, ‘‘ to attempt to measure wits with me. I laid my plans too carefully for that. De coy she said: no longer act as my decoy; how aptly she put it. She could not have named the part I have forced her to play better. She, in this affair, 7s my decoy-duck to lure the field-bird within range of my fire. She would fain. spread her wings and fly—to carry out the simile—but 1 have clipped them too closely,” and Van Rensselaer laughed merrily to himself. ** Now for Bishop and the wine,” he muttered. And even with the word, Bishop’s head cam: peering round the angle in the entry, CONNIELIOOKS G (0) — ee *<