Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 437 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

_ the deserted rm -_-_— **So you took hold of it?” ac Yes,” ‘‘ What was your first step?” ‘*To find a man named Archibald Woodside for he it was who, Hathaway alleged, first led the firm into considering a wild speculation, and then killed said Hathaway. here was one Archibald Woodside who was known, but it was absurd to suspect him—” ‘* Why so?’ ‘*Because he was a man of irreproachable character, and as little bent for business as I have for ballooning. I refer to the Professor oe ' Woodside of to-~lay.” * Then you did not turn your attention that way? ‘‘No. He had just sailed for Europe, and, be- sides, was not to be thought of in such a connec- tion. I looked for another Archibald Woodside, and one who knew something about South America, From the nature of the business of Hathaway’s firm, I argued that it was in such a direction that a business scheme must point for them to take hold of it.” ‘* Did you find such a man?” | ‘*Not at once. In fact, it was two or three years after when I read in a paper of the break- ing up of a gang of counterfeiters in Bangor, Maine, and among the members of the gang mentioned was one Zachary Rose, alias Archi- bald Woodside, an ex-South American This caught me at once, and 1 journeyed to Bangor, only to find that my bird bad flown. Where he went to 1 don’t know, and as I had before then lost faith in my case, owing to the fact that Hathaway’s surviving partners denied all knowledge of Woodside, and that the respectable, I abandoned the chase, heard of Woodside since.” ** Did you never hear that he was arrested for stealing a horse after his flight?” ‘*No. Was such the fact?” ‘*So the Bangor police records state.” ‘* They did not inform me, but they might not have learned of his arrest until somewhat later, when I had practically dropped out of sight and reach,” were so *ve never ** True,” ote Duke spoke absently. Two questions were in bis mind, First, who were the men who had gone to the Massachusetts State Prison to arrest the horse-thief for murder, just one day too late? Secondly, why had Mrs, Rose been unable to state why her husband fled from Ban- gor, if the papers had been full of the crime, with his name therein? The majority of women do not read criminal news, but, naturally, Mrs. Rose would have searched, when she knew her husband had been mixed up with some crime, and others were likely in hase mentioned it to her, if they saw the account. As for the first question, there seemed no way whatever of solving it just then, It occurred to Dorgan that Abe Benlow might have known more than he told, or have told more than was true, but Abe was not at hand to be questioned. Very likely he was done with life, Only one thing more did Cross say which wes of interest to Duke. He spoke about going over uarters of the Bangor counterfeit- ‘ers—a dilapidated old church, long out of use as ’ such—and it gave the detective an idea. Mrs. R. se’s marriage-certificate was missing. Zachary had taken charge of it immediately after their marriage. If he had not destroyed it, what was more likely than that be had con- cealed it in the old church, either for safe-keep- ing, or with deliberate fraud in mind? Dorgan determined to learr if this church was still standing. If it was, his visit to Cross might yet be productive of more good than ap- peared on the surface. He did not try to convince Cross that Profes- sor Woodside was not above suspicion, but, thanking him for what little he had told, took his @eparture and started for Jersey City again. Duke’s faith was not in the least shaken by the fact that a veteran like Cross had once decided that the professor was too eminently respectable to be investigated; in the opinion of the detect- ive, no man was too lofty in life to be free from doubts. He saw trusted public men going to the bad ‘ever day—why not Archibald Woodside? i never connect him with the murder of Temple Hathaway,” Dorgan thought, “but I ropose to give Mrs. Rose a husband. That far am going to succeed, As for the murder case, it would be far better for Claudia and Ralph if I could prove it groundless, rather than true, If ‘*] ma true, their lives are ruined. But we will see.” By this time the ferryboat touched the Jersey side, and the detective stepped off briskly. Be- fore he reached the street, however, a respecta- ble-looking man approached him and nodded politely. ™ ft Beg your pardon, but isn’t this Mr. Dor- n ‘‘ That’s my name, sir.” ‘*T have come from Mrs. Rose, who wants to see you as soon as ible. Lam her neighbor, and as she has struck a bit of a clew which promises much, I am helping her. I have a cab outside, and if you will go with me I'll take | — — you to her in a jiffy. She’s at my sister's, on —— street.” : ‘‘ All right. I was just going to her, any- way. Tell your Jebu to rattle along as fast as he pleases,” hey had reached the cab and Dorgan enter- ed, while his companion turned to the driver. He did not, however, give directions in regard to their speed, but shutting one eye significantly, he said in a low tone: “* He is in the trap !” And then he entered the cab, sat down beside Dorgan and began talking briskly. He said that he did not know what Mrs. Rose’s dis- coveries were, nor did he fully understand her case, but he believed her a fine little woman, and was glad to help her in any way. The cab rattled along for nearly half an hour, and then drew up before a large wooden house which stood by itself in a somewhat spacious bet The guide looked at it and waved his mand. ‘‘My sister is watching for us,” he said, smiling, Duke Dorgan did not see the sister, nor did he care particularly for her. Hefollowed the guide Deep Duke, the Silent Sleuth. | | — eS — 15 Peters spoke slowly, but emphatically, and the troubled servant replied that he did hear, He retreated par yf ‘*Gentlemen,” said Mrs., Rose, tremblingly, “T do not likethis. He will be very angry.” “What of it? Wedid not come here to be bluffed.” ‘*T don’t believe he will give way.” ‘“Don’t you be afraid. He was playing a bluff, and when he finds that it won’t work, he will go all to pieces. .Here comes the servant— my word for it, he has brought a different an- swer this time. Well, James, is he coming?” ‘* He sent this card.” ' James spoke curtly, and his troubled manner had given place toa somewhat menacing one. The change was accounted for by the card. A few lines had been hastily scrawled upon it, and this is what the plotters read: “*T will not see any one of you. If you are not gone from my house at the expiration of five min- utes, the servants will throw you out. Should you continue troublesome after that, you will be handed over to a policeman.” Peters turned pale with rage and pees geo ment, There was a ring about these words not up the walk, and the latter then produced a key | to be mistaken, and the sight of a second athletic and they entered, Next, the detective was ushered into a large square room off the hall, Mrs. Rose was not visible, but two men sat at ease in their chairs and smiled at sight of him. No one spoke, however, and after a brief but awkward pause, Duke turned to the guide, latter ha with his back against it. He too was smiling. “Where is Mrs. Rose ?” the detective asked. ** Don’t know!” was the brief reply, and then the two strangers laughed aloud. ‘** Don’t know? What do you mean by that?” ** Well, Mr. Detective Man, to give it to you short and sweet, I mean just this: The woman ain’t here, and hasn’t been, but you are ina trap. We have decoyed you here to stop your infernal prying and peeking, and we’re going to do it. th, boys?” | servant advancing to join James did not tend to lessen the impression. The private detective was boiling with rage; he knew then that the orofessor Would not see them, More than once in his contempt:ble career be had forced his way The | into the private room of men he wished to black- closed the door and was standing | mail, but he knew he could not get there on this occasion, Woodside had shown the iron hand witha vengeance, and there stood his stalwart servants to carry out his threat. Plainly, it was a case where discretion was better than impudence and bravado, and Peters, though angry enough to draw a revolver and shoot down the men who stood between him and the professor, was not so incapable of reason as to defy the inevitable, The man he bad felt sure of humbling had or- ** You bet; and there’ll be one less blamed de- | dered him from the house and he must go. tective on earth in about ten minutes!” “Quite a surprise-party, Dorgan, ain’t it?” added the treacherous guide, ‘* Not in the least !” was the detective’s unex- pected reply. run my head into such a silly trap as this. I topher Street Ferry, and that the spy watched me all the time I was on the boat, and I tumbled to your shallow trap the moment you appeared at the Jersey side. Perhaps you wonder why I came so tamely. It was simply because I want- ed to look at the trappers and size up the trap. Now, gents, we are all here, so let’s find out who is the best man!” At the last words the speaker whipped out a brace of revolvers, and stood facing the men hie flashing eyes, the weapons turn them. CHAPTER XVIII. PETERS TRIES HIS HAND, PROFESSOR WOODSIDE paused in astonish- ment and anger when he saw his visitors. He had been aroused from his studies and had scarcely heard a word that the servant said, and only comprehended that had callers. Therefore, when he saw Wilberson, Peters and Mrs. Rose, it was a disagreeable surprise, to say the least. Perhaps he saw only one of the party, for he looked only at Wilberson, “but bis pale face flushed with anger as he saw,that the man he had forbidden the house was again in his parlor, Peters opened his mouth to speak with easy confidence, but what occurred next was far from being what he had planned and desired. Without a word Woodside stepped quickly back out of the room, the door closed with a barlg, and the visitors were once more alone, For a moment Peters was speechless with surprise, and then he sprung toward the door. ‘* Devils alive!” he cried, “this won't work!” He tore open the door, but was too late to intercept the professor. The hall was vacant. There he paused irresolutely, for he not onl did not know where Woodside had gone, but it was alittle too much to go searchirg for him over the house. | Wilberson came to his side. ‘* Dished, ain’t we?” Horace inquired. ‘* By the fiends, no! I’ve come here on busi- ness, and am not to be frustrated. That old rascal shall come down off his high horse, or—” Just then the servant, James, reappeared in the hall. He showed some embarrassment, but advanced directly toward them without delay. ‘* Gentlemen,” he said, ‘‘I am directed by my master to say that you are not wanted here,” ‘* Makes no difference whether we are or not!” blustered Peters, ‘‘ Here we are, and we are going to stay until he comes and talks with us. ou can tell him that,” ‘“ He will be angry if Igo back. He peremp- torily ordered mé to show you out at once,” James replied. ‘Young man, you go to your master and say that Eunice Rose and that we demand his presence before us in this parlor, Do you hear?’ ‘**You must think me a fool to | ‘**Come,” said he, huskily, ‘* we'll go, but this will prove a, bad day’s work for Archibald Woodside.” | He was about to tear the card in two when, struck with a sudden thought, he drew his pen- cil and scribbled the following words under saw that I was followed all the way to Chris- W oodside’s: “We obey this time, but before this affair ends you shail see all of the police that you want.”’ He gave the card a twirl, and it fell on the floor at the servant’s feet. ‘*Take this to your master!” he said, super- ciliously. James calmly picked it up, but Peters’s arro- gant way had left a sting, and he could not for- bear adding his mite to the flood rolling over the full upon | baffled schemer, ** Directly, sir; but one minute of the five stil remains, do not yet know whether I shall need to obey Professor Woodside’s order about throwing you out.” It was the last touch of disgrace, and Peters, feeling himself insulted by a servant where he could not get square without adding to bis down- fall by getting personally chastised, marched out of the house in silence, pale with rege. Mrs. Rose gladly followed, and Wilterson brought up the rear, but not a word was spoken | until they reached the street. “What now?” Horace then asked. ‘“‘T’m going to ask for a warrant for Wood- side’s arrest!” Peters hissed. | ‘*Slowly, my friend; you said an hour or so azo that you hadn’t proof enough to expose your case, ‘*And I,” interrupted Mrs. Rose, with unex- pected firmness, “‘dechne to take another step until [have seen Mr. Dorgan. Another scene like the one I have just experienced will drive me out of my senses!” Peters made a —< effort to calm himself. He recognized the force of what Wilberson had said, if not Mrs. Rose’s assertion, and he tried to swa'low his wrath and use some common sense. He had been defeated in the hour when he had felt sure of triumph, and of bringing Professor Woodside to his feet, but his active mind now began to look about for a way tosave something from the wreck. When he obtained possession of Mrs. Rose he regarded it as a master-stroke, and was not in- clined now to give up the advantage thus — gained. He regarded the case as a race be- tween him and Duke Dorgan, to see who could peal the game, and Mrs. Rese was the leading card, He determined not to give her up under any condition. ‘It's odd that Dorgan did not whys as he said,” the schemer observed, blandly, after a use, ‘‘ and, as the case is critical, 1 think we d better take a cab and drive at once to bis house.” ‘*[ had rather go home,” said Mrs. Rose, faintly. ‘* Ah! but Dorgan may not think it best. In friends are here, and | this emergency we need his long head.” ‘“*That’s a fact,” Wilberson added, seeing that ~ his ally had some well-defined Ky ‘in Sit : S) ECON MINCE OOK e)