Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 437 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

we ere + 8 eee — a —— — - ae Se -™ . futures one. ‘slayer and then at once taken steps to ruin gide?” 10 Deep Duke, the Silent Sleuth. _had by his own statement been in the Old W orld, but, oddly enough, had not written to his old friends at all. Here was a chain of circumstances which, with the evidence given by Hathaway, seemed perfect and overwhelming. It only remamed to prove what had been asserted, and to fill in the blanks, and Archibald Woodside would be hopelessly in the toils. Dorgan was glad to obtain this new client. He knew it was absurd to suppose that the professor would ever receive Mrs. Rose as his wife. She would not have been left in poverty for twenty years if her husband had cared anything for 1er, nor was she fitted for the place in life where the W oodsides moved. It was to be war to the knife, and he could act in the interest of Mrs. Rose and young Hatha- “ at the same time. he latest revelation gave him valuable in- formation, and it would enable him to start in- telligently. He had the name of the firm of which Temple Hathaway was once a member, and though the name did not then appear in the New York Directory, he believed he could trace the other partners. He prolonged the conversation with Ralph un- til he Manel all that seemed possible, and then assured the young man that he would do his best to solve the mystery. He did not mention that he already had an in- terest in Archibald Woodside’s affairs. Ralph went away, and then Deep Duke pre- pared for other work. It was on this evening that Abe Benlow had promised to see Peters and tell what he knew about the ex-convict, and the detective had not abandoned his intention of hearing what was said, He donned a rough suit of clothes, such as seemed most appropriate to the low court where Abe lived, and then left the house. Ralph returned home and reported the result of his: visit to his mother. Having seen Duke Dorgan he was more than ever satisfied that the case would be attended to with zeal. Neither he nor his mother showed much en- thusiasm, however, and silence soon fell between them. Neither could forget that Claudia was Ralph’s wife, and it was clear that an investiga- tion must drag her down to disgrace and misery. The peculiar nature of mother and son was pasty shown—there was much of the fanatic in oth, and they were ready to go forward even though fresh misery was the result. Temple Hathaway must be avenged at all cost. They were still sitting there when a cab paus- ed at the door, and a lady alighted. Margaret Hathaway looked hastily at her son. Her heart told her who this pro tive visitor was. Ralph’s face was pale, and he made two efforts | tos before he succeeded. ‘You must receive her; I cannot,” he finally said. ‘* Say that Iam occupied—ill—anything. I cannot see her now!” He rose, moved out of the room and ascended the stairs just as the door-bell rung. Margaret Hathaway was far from calm, and she would gladly have avoided this interview, but she was a woman who would make any sac- rifice for the sake of one she loved, She answer- ed the ring; the door swung back, and she and Claudia were face to face. The young wife had expected that Ralph’s mother would answer her summons, and when she saw this tall, pale lady she felt sure it was so. More than this, much of the apprehension she had felt faded away. There was that in Margaret Hathaway’s face that told of patient kindness, even though no encouraging light was then visible. ‘Ts Ralph in?’ the visitor hesitatingly asked. Mrs. Hathaway would not tell a falsehood. She briefly answered affirmatively. “Will you tell him I would like to see him?” There was a brief silence, and then he slowly replied: ‘**1t may be that time has swept away all evi- dence by which this great wrong can be righted but I will never rest until it has been tried. I shall at once put a detective on the track.” Mrs. Hathaway looked troubled, ‘“‘Our enemy may strike you as he struck your father.” ‘*He cannot. My father did not know what a villain he was—l do.” ‘* But bis daughter?” Ralph’s face grew hard and stern. ** Justice shall be done though the heavens fall,” he said, in an inexorable voice, ‘‘ M father shall be avenged. Give me all the facts you can, and I will immediately goto a keen de- tective of whom I know.” ‘Is he a trustworthy man?” “He is so regarded, though I do not myself know him, His name is Duke Dorgan.” CHAPTER XI, AMONG THE BREAKERS, DEEP DUKE was seated in his private room when his housekeeper announced a gentleman to see him. He directed that the caller b2 admitted, and in a mioute more a young man stood in his presence at whom he stared with an exhibition of surprise seldom seen cn his face, Despite the change of scene, and the indistinct view he had first had of that person,he now recog: nized the man he had seen stand besides Claudia Woodside and speak the words which made their ** Gooc-evening, sir,” said Ralph, ** Good-evening.” t ‘*T have come to consult you professionally, Mr. Dorgan.” ‘Well, | am at your service.” The detective was wondering if trouble had already resulted from the secret marriage, but he was soon set right. Ralph repeated the story he had just heard from his mother, telling it in strong, graphic terms which would have inter- ested any one. And what of Duke Dorgan? When he heard the name of Archibald Woodside mentioned in connection with it he grew intensely interested, and Hathaway little suspected how eagerly h followed what was said, or how certain points seemed to fit in as evidence. When secretly listening to the conversation between Levi Peters and Abe Benlow he had heard the former declare that a certain man of whom he spoke was a murderer, and had then said that this man was named Archibald Wood- side or Zachary Rose. At the same {time Ben- low had admitted that his fellow-convict—pre- sumably the same man—had been wanted for murder. Now this visitor stated that Woodside had killed his father. All this was strange and cng asf but Duke looked sharply at the speaker. Ralph had not mentioned his secret marriage, but the detective, already aware of it, wondered why the young man had married the daughter of his father’s him. The possibilities of this case occurred to the detective, and he asked: ** How long have you knqwn this story?” ‘* Not two hours.’ There was a hopeless inflection to the speaker’s voice which explaineda good deal. Dorgan felt sure that the revelation had been the result of the secret marriage. _ “Have you fully considered the possible re- sults of attacking sucha man as Professor W ood- Ralph’s face grew stern and hard as he re- plied: se have.” .*T do not think he will see you. He bade me ‘He will fight desperately.” say that he was not at home to any one.” ‘“*T expect it.” ‘But—do you know who I am? ** It is hard to bring a rich man to the gal- ‘To the gallows!” Ralph could ‘not help echoing the words—the cold, stubborn words which implied so much— and Dorgan saw that he was deeply agitated. Nothing, however, could make him pause now. ‘* Justice must be done!” he added, in a hard voice. | . ** As you will.” The detective then asked several questions in It was Ribbon. harder for Claudia to speak, for the elder woman’s face was cold and discour- aging. **] think I do.” Still the discouraging look; still the discourag- ing inflection of voice. Claudia began to feel embarrassed, troubled, doubtful. She hesitated, and then broke a prey pause. “ Has Ralph told you anything to-day which surprised you, Mrs. Hathaway?” ‘“He has told me all. Not to waste words I will admit that I know you to be Archibald regard to dates, and was surprised to see how | Woodside’s daughter. I am sorry that you can- neatly all fitted into mia) | not see Ralph, but this unfortunate affair has August 10th, 18—, Temple Hathaway was | prostrated him. He has gone to his room and killed, as he asserted, by Woodside. Presumably | denied himSelf to all.” Claudia’s face expressed so many emotions that her companion could not tell which pre- dominated, but, after a short pause, she answer- ed in a voice of unexpected firmness: = ONG ar I must see you. Will you invite me in They had remained standing in the hall, for Mrs. Hathaway hoped the caller would soon go, but the steady voice had a tinge of imperious- ness in it which one like the elder woman could the latter then fled from the vicinity. In August of the same year, the present Mrs. Rose met in Bangor the man whom éhe married, and who seemed to be Woodside, Three years later Zachary Rose fled from Bangor, ax admitted by his wife, toescape arrest for some crime. But did he escape it? It was less than a year after his flight that Abe Benlow, going to prison, found there a man whom Peters dently asserted was W oodside. And during all this period of time Archibald Woodside, august professor and esteemed citizen, | not well resist. Feeling herself compelled to yield, she did so » —E———EEeE — courteously and gracefully, and they were soon seated in the front room. Claudia was beginning to feel some resent ment, and she now proceeded straightforwardly. ‘‘T suppose you are aware that Iam Ralph’s wife,” she said, with calm dignity. ae Yes.” ‘*T have come to hear the explanation which Ralph sought of you. I expected to hear it from him.” ‘*T have explained why he cannot see you.” Mrs. Hathaway felt that her course was small and ignoble, and Claudia held the same opinion, though she did not say so. She felt the coldness of the elder woman’s manner, and her nature arose against the slight that was being put upon her. She was calm outwardly, but, really, her heart seemed to lie like lead in her bosom. Had Ralph refused to see her? Was fresh trouble in store for them? , She answered the last remark in a steady voice: ‘‘Then “perhaps you will speak for him, I wish to know the cause of my father’s objections, and—if there is hope,” Her voice wavered a little at the close, and Margaret Hathaway’s heart echoed the pain of her own. Why, the mother wondered, was this fair girl called upon to suffer for another’s sin? ‘“‘T regret that I can tell you nothing, at present.” * Why not?” ‘‘Ttis no more than right that you should go to your father for information.” ‘* He has given you permission to speak.” ‘‘ And I give him the same permission,” “He will notdoso. Itis clearly my right to hear the truth from some one.” ‘* You had better forego the right.” iT Why ” Claudia was altogether too straightforward - Mrs. Hathaway, who began to be afraid of er. ‘* Because there is too much pain and sorrow in the past.” ‘*T am willing to forgive—-overlook—all.” ‘* But I am not!” Mrs. Hathaway could not withhold the words, and they were so vehement and bitter that they frightened even her. She saw Claudia grow more grave und troubled. ‘‘There is much about this affair which I do not understand,” the young wife said, after an- other pause, ‘‘ but I feel that I have a right to know. I am Ralph Hathaway’s wife. Why does he not see me? If he is ill, my em is b his side, I must ask you to go and tell him that am here.” ‘* He knows it, already.” ‘‘ He does? And has he refused to see me?” Mrs. Hathaway bad said too much. She knew it when the last words were, metaphori- cally speaking, shot at her, and her answer was not ready. ‘‘What have I done that Ralph refuses to even see me?” Claudia pursued, with emphasis, ‘‘ T thought the objection all against him, but you intimate that itis not. Whatcrime have I committed?” ‘‘ None, 1 sincerely believe, but—” ‘* But what?” ‘*Oh! my dear young lady, I beg that you will not ask for an explanation now. You are making the scene painful for us both, for I feel for you most sincerely. I am ay that you should suffer for another’s sin. If I could see the way clear I would help you, but I cannot. AllI can do now is to ask you to wait patiently for an explanation.” ‘* Until when?” ‘*T don’t know, as yet.” — ‘‘ Tt is too indefinite, too unsatisfactory, and I cannot comply with any such request, gal Hathaway had no right to make me his wife, and then so soon decline to see me, simply because of eapipaes & that occurred in the past. I decline to accept the fate marked out for me. I will not leave here until I see my husband!” And Claudia removed her hat and placed it on the table in a manner as inexorable as the inflection of her firm voice. CHAPTER XII THE DETECTIVE FACES DEATH. DUKE DORGAN found that he had calculated well in regard to the time necessary to reach the court where Abe Benlow lived, and where he was to meet Peters. He reached this region of age, decay, dirt and crime with punctuality which would have brought him at once near his fellow-detective had the latter been equally prompt. Peters, however, was not visible. There were so many loafers around that Duke did not feel at all afraid of attracting attention by making one of the ornaments of the place, and he had made himself up so that his superior pa ee ye! did not show at that hour in the ill-lighted court. His rags did, however, and he seemed a bird of their own feather. Half an hour he waited, and then had his reward; Peters appeared, moving at a quick pace, He made his way through the loafers, and toward the house where Abe Benlow lived. As / Eomicbooks : nj