Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 437 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

— — - CO—t— SC ee Duke advanced and tapped his rival quietly on the shoulder with one finger! ‘You need not explain,” he said, “‘for your warrant will not be served!” Never had he spoken more calmly, but Peters suddenly flushed and a determined gleam ap- peared in his eyes. “ By my life, it will be served!” he cried. ‘‘ Beware how you interfere here, Duke Dorgan; I bold a genuine warrant, and represent the law. You interfere with me at your peril, Beware how you act!” A calm, grave smile had appeared on Dor- an’s face. He was towering above Peters and ooking down upon him ina serene, unmoved, yet impressive, way, which made him seem like a ruler among his subjects, rebellious though ony, might be. He had the air of a master ! ‘“* Peters,” he quietly said, ‘ step this way. I want a word witn you in private.” ‘*T have nothing to say in private.” ‘*'You will do precisely as I say,” coolly re- plied Dorgan. ‘* It will be best for you.” Peters glared angrily at the athletic man before him, but there was a sinking at his heart which was not to be despised. He knew there were vulnerable places in his record of the past, and he was afraid of cool Duke Dorgan. Assuming as pompous a manner as possible he said that, ‘‘ to avoid argument,” he would give the detective a word in private, and they went aside, ' Claudia, though silent, was looking hopefully, imploringly at Dorgan. She had before had a prejudice against him because, when she sum- moned him, he might have learned too much, but he now seemed to be on the scene as a cham- pion, She hoped for the best. Two other men had followed Dukein. If they were detectives she did not want to know the class intimately. Both appeared to be men of low rank in life, and one was flashily dressed, like a sporting-man. Dorgan and Peters paused at the extremity of the hall. ‘* Well, what is it?” the latter growled. ‘“*T want you to forego arresting Woodside.” “T deciine,” Peters stoutly replied. ‘‘ I have a warrant for his arrest on a serious charge, and I shall arrest him.” \ * You will not!” Dorgan serenely answered. Peters flushed a dark-red. ‘** Be careful what you do!” he hissed. ‘* The law—” ‘Bah! You are are a pemeg 2 man to prate about the law—you who nave been breaking it all your life. As for Woodside he is my game. I want you to let him alone, and I'll tell you why. Interfere with him and [ll have you ar- rested on three charges. First, assaulting me and stealing from me a photograph; secondly, kidnapping Mrs. Rose; thirdly, about the Brem- ner ease, you know!” With the Bremner case this story has nothin to do, but it was one which Peters had handled. Dorgan knew this, his late investigations having opened his eyes to Peters’s real character, and he was aware of the nature of the shot he was speeding. It went home. Peters recoiled, anda : tripbienee look appeared in his face, uke looked at him in silence, waiting for him to speak, but Peters was very slow about it. ‘“f[-J didn’t know—” he began stammer- ingly. “Phat I knew? Well, I do, and ask you plain- ly if you are not willing to abandon your pro- ject of arresting Woodside? You say you have a warrant. This is true, though the man who issued it is a miserable creature, more wortby of rison honors than any other. I want you to estroy this warrant.” | ‘* But Woodside is guilty. I have ample evi- dence to prove that he is guilty of—” ‘You hesitate. Well, | know what you were about tosay. Ido not give an opinion on the case, but this Ido say: Woodside is my game. I want you to let him alone.” It was a bitter disappointment for Peters, but be dared not rebel. Heread the mettle of his rival, and knew that his threat would be kept. The safest—the only way for Peters was to re- treat. He did it most ungracicusly, merely tell- ing his man in a surly voice to follow him, and then they went from the house. Dorgan and his companions went almost as | abruptly, thereby preventing any thanks from a. Clan She had gone to help her father to a chair, and when she returned they were moving down the walk. , Another strange, ‘startling episode was over, and she was none the wiser as to the errand which brought them there. She questioned her fa- ther, but bedoclaved that he had noidea whatever as to the nature of the charge, and advanced the idea that, as Deep Duke had so easily driven the other men away, they probably were blackmail- ers and had no charge against him, This theory did not impress Claudia as plausi- ble, nor was her father’s manner open and frank as he made if. In the mean while Dorgan led his two follow- ers to his own room and gave them seats, ‘* Now, Quane,” he said, addressing the flashy S$? re ee — man, ‘‘you have seen our party, prematurely, but plainly. What have you tosay? Is he the man you knew in Bangor, as Zachary Rose?” ** He’s the very gent,” was the confident reply. ‘*Why, when I seen him, it so hitme that I al- most forgot my promise to you and nearly went up to see him. es, siree; he’s the very chap, I'll swear to it!” (Juane spoke emphatically. He was the man Deep Duke had gone to Bangor to see— Zachary Rose’s old associate—and though an emergency had obliged the detective to show him Wocdside under circumstances he would not otherwise have adopted, he seemed honest in his verdict. Deep Duke turned to the other man, This person had been porter in the store where Tem- ple Hathaway met his death, at the time of the tragedy, and was evidently an honest man. He had been found, questioned, and led to state a fact he had long concealed in order not to lose his situation with the surviving partners of Hathaway’s old home—he admitted that he had seen the Archibald Woodside referred to by Hathaway in his dying statement to his wife, as he had often visited the stcre, and he, too, had been given a sight at the professor with the same object in view. ‘* Well, Allen, what have you to say?” Dorgan asked. ‘* Does Professor Woodside resemble the Archibald Woodside of old?” ‘* He’s the man!” was the quick reply. ‘* Are you sure?” Tver ‘* And ready to swear to it?” ee Yes.” ‘* Recoliect that this is a serious matter, and thet twenty years is a long time.” ‘*T know, but time ain’t changed this man as it generally does. Except that he’s a bit older, he looks jest as he used to when he come visiting the firm.” ‘** You had a good chance to see him then?” “Certain, I was always in sight of the office, and couldn’t help it. I never forget a face, and when I seen that man to-day it brought back old times witha rush. [ am willing to swear that he’s the same man!” Dorgan leaned back in his chair in a very thoughtful mood. Somehow, he would have been better pleased if the verdict bad been other- wise. It seemed a pity to break up such a household as the professor’s, and he ene of Claudia with great pity, It would be a terrible blow to her. Yet, justice must be done. It would be throwing away pity to show mercy to the man who had shown none to Temple Hathaway. Murder had been done, and justice, though tar- dy, must be meted out with a firm hand. CHAPTER XXVI. KIDNAPPED IN A CAB, THE silence was suddenly broken by Allen. + By George!” he exclaimed, ‘I’ve got an idea!’ ‘What is it?’ Dorgan asked. ‘* Tt tas suddenly occurred to me that mebbe I can put you in a way to learn more about W oodside, ‘“ If so, do it, by all means,” ** Well, you see, once when he came into the store he found the partners out, an’ so chatted a little while with me. Nov, it’s a long time to look back, but it really seems to me that Wood- side told me he was connected with John Berg- nam, ‘* Who is John Bergnam?” ‘‘ Why, I supposed you knew. He’s the dealer in South American goods, an’ he’s still in busi- ness—got an office on Broadway, New York, near Battery Park.” ‘* Are you sure of this?” ‘Well, I won’t swear to it. It didn’t much interest me then, an’ I’ve never thought of it sence, It’s a long time to look back, but I vow I do b’lieve he said so.” He seemed to be honest in this statement, and though Dorgan had no great amount of faith in his sudden recollection, if such it was, he deter- n.ined to test it. A glance at his watch showed him that by making good time he could proba- bly catch Bergnam before he left his office, and he disposed of Allen and Quane and started at once, When he reached the New York end of the ferry, he took a cab to expedite matters, and was soon being whirled away. He found Berg- nam, and at once set him down as a valuable man, if he knew anything about the matter. He had the appearance of being not only well-to- do, but honest and refined—a good man to pre- sent toa jury, if it came to that. He questioned Mr. Bergnam. ‘*Remember Woodside?” repeated the old gentleman. ‘* Why, certainly I do; I never forget anemployee. True, Woodside was with us only six months, but I’ve not forgotten him.” ‘* When was he employed by you?” Bergnam consulted a book, and then gave the dates. According to this he had begun his term of service within a week of the time Professor Woodside was said to have left for Evrope. ‘* Why did he leave you?” Dorgan then asked. “We ‘shipped’ him. Heknew nothing about the business—we only took him beacause he was well recommended—and he proved to be any- "eS Deep Duke, the Silent Sleuth. SS on eee. thing but practical, poured wild business schemes: into our heads until we became disgustea, anc then we let him go.” Furtber questioning satisfied the detective that Bergnam knew nothing about the Tempie Hathaway affair, and as Woodside had not beex authorized to broach new schemes to any one for Bergnam, it was probable that he had mace that particular scheme a side issue, with bis own interests solely in view. ‘You say he was well recommended,” pur- sued Duke. ‘‘ May Lask by whom?” ‘“Eb nezer Oates, a Jersey City clergyman.” ‘* Ah! I know him,” ‘‘ A fine man, | think.” ‘* Undoubtedly. Now, Mr. Bergnam. I don’t: mind saying to you that lam a detective, and on an important case. Would you be willing to see a man who, I have reason to believe, is your former employee, and see if you can identify him?” ‘*Tt will not be pleasant, for I have an aversion to such matters, but I will do as ycu ask, freely.” Thank you. I also want Mr. Oates to see him, so, if you will call at the clergymen’s house at—say two o’clock—to-morrow, we will con- trive to give you both a look at the same time. Is that agreeable?” Bergnam said it was, and the arrangement was settled. Then, as it was alread M vast Berg- nam’s hour of leaving, Dorgan took his depar- ture. He had directed his cabman to wait for him, and in the gathering darkness he perceived a vehicle by the curb. He glanced at the. driver, who was on the box, briefly directed him to return to the ferry, and then entered the cab. This done he proceeded to speculate on his. latest discoveries. They promised a good Geal.. If the Jersey City minister, who bad recom- mended Woodside, had not forgotten him in the lapse of time, he might be able to clear up the whole case in short order. At any rate, Bergnam must see the professor. ‘““Let him identify the man, as Allen and Quane have done, and I will arrest Woodside at once. Itisa sad case, but I have no choice in the matter. Poor Claudia! She is irrevocably married to sag Hathaway, and the truth will: about kill her, | suspect. Poor girl! The detective’s sympathy was sincere. Time and his profession had not served to harden his: heart, and he could still feel keenly for the unfor- tunate. , He was so deeply engaged in thougbt ‘hat he’ paid no attention to the course the cab was taking, but he was suddenly aroused as it mede an abrupt turn to the right, Jashed through a wide doorway, and then entered the unmis-- takable precincts of a stable. “Why, the stupid has forgotten that he has #. passenger!” thought the sleuth. He wrenched open the cab-door and thrust: his head out, to emphatically notify him of the error, but, as he did so, something fell upon his head with great force and he dropped to the bottom of the vebicle. The blow did not stun him, but it seemed to utterly deprive bim of the power of motion,,. and when rough hands seized and dragged hin» out he could not resist, though sufficiently clear-- headed to realize that be was in a trap. He was borne into a little room and dumped into a chair, and, as the men saw that he was: Se -t a revolver was thrust almost into his. ace, ‘* Nota word, now!” warned a rough voice.. “Tf you try to yell, I'll put a bullet through: your head!” | But Dorgan neither stirred nor spoke. He saw that he bad four men opposed to bim, and, | in his present condition, he would certainly stand no chance with them in a fight. ** Quite a surprise-party for you!” mocked the last speaker. ‘‘ Your calby is miles away by this time. You see, we tock the _venture- of dismissing your cab, and putting one of ours. in its place, while you waited on Broadway,. and you walked right into the trap like a Fhe / . Deep Duke, indeed! Why you’re just a shallow~ | re gt ae are. Still the detective did not answer, but he real— ized the truth, When he left Bergnam he had been too absent minded to perceive that the cabs. had been changed, and this was the result. Bit- terly enough be reproached himself for his inat-- tention. ““ He is still half-unconscious,” declared one of the other men, “‘and now is our time to finish the job. Do as I ordered.” One of the men produced a lon other some cords, and they the prisoner. The leader ha ance, but none was made. Considering how clear-headed Dorgan had. again become this was peculiar. He was clear-headed; how much so may be seen when itis stated that in the leader of the party he had recognized one of the men sack, an- who had been opposed to him when Brown, the — man now in the station-house, tried his hand at kidnapping. So this new trouble was due to the same parties, but they bade fair to be more successful.__ this time. There lay the sleut!:. Lound hand and foot,. ‘omicbooks = are ed to bind — expected resist-.— ecom