Beadle's Dime Library No. 42 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

= 26 — And with this aetermination, the detective ascended the steps and rung the door-bell. Ina few seconds a servant opened the door ‘Is Miss Coralie York in?” the detective asked, blandly. “Yes, sir,” the girl replied. “‘ Will you be kind enough to tell her that a gentleman desires to see her on important business?” *‘Shall I take up your name, sir?” ““No; that is useless; I am an entire stranger to Miss York; she would not know my name. Only be particular to tell her that my business is very important.” “* Yes, sir.” The servant conducted the detective into the modest little parlor, and then withdrew to bear the message to the lady. ‘‘ Now I wonder what sort of a party this is,” Bright mut- tered, as he sat down in a comfortable easy-chair, and waited for the young lady to make her appearance. He did not have long to wait, for in a few minutes Coralie entered the room. The moment the detective’s eyes fell upon her face, he started as though he had received an electric shock; while Coralie upon her part looked amazed when she beheld the face of the detective officer. It was evident that both were strangely excited. Controlling his wonder with a powerful effort, the detective rose to his feet and bowed to the girl. ‘“‘ Have I the pleasure of addressing Miss Coralie York?” he asked. The girl gazed with a look of blank amazement into the face of the detective, when his voice fell upon her ear. ‘Yes, that is my name,” she said, slowly, recovering from her astonishment. ‘I beg pardon!” exclaimed the detective, suddenly; ‘‘ but. have I not had the pleasure of seeing you before?” “IT think so,” she replied, ‘‘for your voice, is strangely familiar and your face also, but I can not remember where.” “‘ Neither can I,” he said, puzzled, ‘‘ and it is very strange, for I seldom forget a face. But allow me to offer you a chair, as our interview may take up some time.” The two sat down facing each other. CHAPTER XX, THE RECOGNITION. ‘Iw the first place, to begin right at the beginning,” said dright, ‘‘I am a detective officer.” Moralie started in surprise. “‘ A detective officer!” she exclaimed, in astonishment aot unmixed with alarm. ‘““ Yes, Miss, a detective officer,” repeated the gentleman, coolly, never taking his keen eyes off the pretty “ace of the actress for a moment. A rapid and a searching glance C»ralis cast at the impas- sive face of the detective, as though she expected therein to read his thoughts, but the face 9f the Californian was as a sealed volume. ‘“ A detective officer, and you have business with me?” she asked, slowly, and in a tone of wonder. ‘“* Yes; you must not be astonished at that; we detectives, you know, have business with almost everybody. I sup- pose of course that you are curious to know what my busi- ness is with you?” “* Yes, I frankly confess I am curious.” “‘T will not keep you long in suspense, but proceed at once to explain. Last night an old gentleman named Hart- right was decoyed from the masquerade ball at the Academy of Music to a low den in Water street. A woman acted as the decoy. There, in the Water street dance-house, the old Beadle’s Dime Library. Cal gentleman was induced to drink a glass of drugged wine. He fell asleep, and during his sleep was robbed of a valuable paper.” Coralie’s face grew deathly white as she listened to the words of the detective, but beyond that she betrayed no sign of emotion. ‘“* What has this to do with me?” she asked, with a great effort controlling herself and speaking with an unnatural calmness, ‘* Only that you are the vailed woman who, in this matter, acted as the tool of David Van Rensselaer.” Coralie wondered at the knowledge possessed by the de- tective, but made no reply. “You do not answer,” Bright said, after quite a long pause. ‘‘ You can not deny that I have spoken the truth. I do not blame you for the part that you have played in this affair, for I fully understand that it was forced upon you, and that, until the last moment, when retreat was impossible, you did not really know what you were doing.” ‘‘ Suppose that I do not deny the truth; why should you think tha; Iam in possession of the paper stolen from the old geutleman?” she asked, slowly. ‘“‘'The guess is natural enough; the paper was in the old man’s possession when he entered the room. After you de: parted, the paper was gone,” Bright answered. “‘ And your business with me?” Coralie questioned. “Is to ask you to give up the paper.” “To you?” “* Yes.” “‘ Suppose I have the paper, why should I give it to yout What assurance have I that you are not an enemy to the old gentleman rather than a friend?” ‘* And your purpose, then, in taking the paper was te pre- vent it from falling into the hands of David Van Rensselaer?” Bright said, quickly. “T have not confessed that I have the paper yet,” Coralie replied, a smile appearing on her face for the first time. The decective laughed. “‘T have very little doubt regarding that. idea of what that paper is, or of its value?” Coralie shouk her head. “avid Van Rensselaer would be willing to give from ten to twenty thousand dollars for that document.” The young girl looked astonished. ‘* It 1s the will of his father, Philip. It gives one-half of the property to David and Clara, and the other half to Alice Gordon Van Rensselaer, hia elaest child.” Then Coralie suddenly remembered that Alice Van Renss elaer was the child of whom the stranger had spoken! “You see that David Van Rensselaer was playing for a heavy stake when he entrapped you into aiding his pur pose.” ‘‘ Yes,” Coralie said, absently; her thoughts were busy with the history of the lost heir as related by the stranger during the interview in the dance-house. | ‘“Do you know that I think I can persuade you to give me that paper?” the detective said, suddenly. During the whole interview he had been critically examining the girl’s face. The cool, clear-headed detective officer was strangely interested in the young and pretty actress. Coralie looked at her visitor in astonishment, **Do you think so?” ** Yes, I have an idea that you and I are old friends.” “Your voice and face are so familiar, and yet—” CoralLe paused in doubt. ‘Oh, I’ve changed greatly in three years,” he said, cave- Have you any lessly. fame into her pale cheeka. Gomicbooks.¢o m ry