Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 437 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

| te IS ce Deep Duke, the Silent S ee ee ee —_— ee eee oso —— ——— — -— —_—»=- - _—— —— SS SC ee ct rm ee * _— — ae TE —————————— “ Stop!” The tone, the imperious gesture which accom- panied it, compelled obedience. ‘Tf you are in earnest” said Claudia, ‘‘ I will answer the same way. Man, you are mad! You speak of the noblest man living, and call hima criminal, Enough! You have shown how mad you are, and [ will listen no further. I command you to go away!” ‘‘ And I refuse. I will be heard—” ‘*T will not bear you.” ** You must and shall!” He spoke fiercely, but she retreated a step and made a gesture to keep him back. ‘+ You do not know what you say. I am going to the house now, and if yourpersist in annoying me I will direct the servants to eject you. If necessary, an officer shall be called.” ‘Call one, and I will publish your father’s crime to all the city. Woman, do you think to cast me off so easily? I am one whose blood flows like fire, and when i love, it is like the simoom’s breath. I will not be thwarted. I know enough, to bring your father to the gallows—the price of silence is your hand!” ‘* You play your part well.” ‘“T shall play it well at the altar.” and for all, I know that all you say is false, and I will not hear you.” She was turning away, but he spoke in a voice of such concentrated passion as to stay her. ‘*Stop! Hear me out. Unless you promise now to become my wife, I will go to a magis- trate and make my statement at once. member that murder is an ugly charge!” Claudia was very pale, but, as she could not parley with this man—she was already a wife— she resolved to cut the interview short. ‘‘ Absurd to the end! Well, so be it. I defy you; do your worst!” Once more sbe turned away, but with two long bounds Wilberson reached her side, He threw his hand around her, and then pressed a kiss upon ber lips. Her pale face grew crimson with anger and she made an attempt to call for help, but once more she was frustrated, His hand closed over her mouth, preventing any cry. Another moment and the odor of chloro- form greeted her nostrils, A sense of t danger flashed over her, and she struggled to escape, to cry out. In vain! His superior strength baffled her every effort, and she could not avoid breathing the drug. Her senses wavered—the scene about her grew dim—she lost consciousness. It was a daring piece of work, and the worst was yet to come, e had drugged her on her own premises, and he had now to get her away —for such was his intention—in the broad light of day. | Half an hour later Professor Woodside came out of his study and inquired for Claudia. She was not to be found in the house, but one of the servants announced that she had seen Miss Woodside and a gentleman in the grounds be- yond the house. The professor went that way, but she was not anywhere on the premises. He was retracing his steps in a troubled mood, and wondering who the ‘‘ gentleman” could have been, when he came upon a little vial which lay by the path, He picked it up; it was labeled ‘ chloro- form!” This added to his alarm, and when he saw evidence of a struggle in the path, he became greatly agitated. He rushed to a conclusion be would not so quickly have adopted in former days, before trouble came to him, but which was, nevertheless, correct. Claudia had been abducted! Instantly his mind turned to Ralph Hath- away. The young man’s conduct had been vio- lent, and Woodside ‘was now ready to believe that he had stolen Claudia. He was netina mood to reason the matter clearly, aud the con- clusion was purely instinctive. He was stirred out of his ordinary calm by the thought, and toa fury. No one would have believed him capable of such emotion; but to him Claudia represented about all in the world that was dear. He had been robbed of his child, and his fury knew no bounds, Quickly he ran to the street, and calling a cab, ave a few directions, sprung in and was soon being whirled away. The journey was not long; in a short time he drew up at a small, neat house. , By some chance the door had temporarily been left ajar, and he pushed it open and entered unceremoniously. Two steps further and he stood face to face with—Margaret Hathaway! Yes; it was the Hathaway cottage; and he stood in the presence of the woman who claimed that he had murdered her husband. . He thought not of that, but one fierce ques- tion sprung from his lips. “Woman, Iam Archibald Woodside—where is my daughter?” But Mrs. Hathaway did not answer. Paler even than usual was her face, and she stared at the visitor as though at a specter. Yes, he was really there—the man who had struck down Temple Hathaway in cold blood: He had dared | | | | | | | widow, ‘““You will never stand there with me, Once | before come to him, but he realized it then. Re- | —— TTT, Lo TTT LL LL ttt TTT TtHCtrCrCrCrCrr LL come there, to the presence of the woman he | « Suspicion may well point to one man— had widowed. Such hardihood was amazing. | Horace Wilberson. This person is a rejected ‘* Why don’t you answer?” he cried, irritably. | suitor, and he has heen refused admission to ‘** Your precious son has stolen my child, but I | Woodside House. It would be just in keeping will have her back. If you know aught about | with his nature to do such a deed.” the matter, speak out. here is Claudia?” ‘*T can well believe you, and it is to Wilber. Margaret Hathaway’s face flushed. Her first | son we must Jook. As for me, I need hardly surprise rolled away, and her slender figure was | say that 1 am wholly innocent, I would sooner drawn to its full hight. Standing before him ! cut off my right hand than wrong Claudia in like a tragedy queen, she stretched out one hand | any way.’ and vehemently exclaimed: “I believe you, Mr. Hathaway.” ‘You are a very fit man to turn accuser! I! ‘Now, to action!” added Ralph, in a ringing wonder that eve your unparalleled effrontery | voice. ‘‘ We must start while the trail is warm, was great enough to send you here. Where is | and run this scoundrel to earth, Have you uny Claudia? {I know not where your viper off- | idea where to look for him?” spring is; but let me ask one question in reply: | ‘‘ Unfortunately, I have not.” Where is Temple Hathaway ? Ah! villain and ‘*TIn my opinion we had better consult a good murderer, have you at last cqme to face the wife | detective at once, and I know just the man for of your vi-tim?” the work. His name is Duke Dorgan.” ‘*T know him, too,” said Woodside, after a CHAPTER XXXIV. use, “are Pi Se ; Ralph hesitated. He remembered that he had SEEKING TO. SAVE CLAUDIA. | employed Dorgan to clear up the mystery of his EVEN a rock is capable of impression, and, | father’s death, and had directed his suspicions of deep as was Professor Woodside’s concern for | Professor Woodside. Who knew what progress Claudia, he forgot it in that moment. True, be | had been made? stood in the presence of Temple Hathaway’s “Has he--a—called upon you?” the young The full sense of the tact had not | man asked, with equal hesitation, ‘Casually, in conneetion with business with my son.” Iph glanced at his mother. She had wept Margaret Hathaway’s impassioned words seemed to burn into his brain, and he reeled | back, faint and dizzy. herself quiet, almost forgotten by him, and was ‘What! have you nothing tosay? You were | now looking at him calmly. She understood the very ready with words a moment ago!” cried ; glance. | the widow. ‘‘ Had you forgotten to whom you | ‘Go, my son, but first give me a word in spoke? Atleast, you know now; you know, and | pr.vate with you. Come with me!” I ask you—where is Temple Hathaway ?” | She retreated to the parlor and Ralph fol- ‘** Forbear!” gasped the wretched professor. | lowed. ‘*Forbear! Did you have mercy upon him?” ‘*‘My boy, you are going out with the man ‘* Woman, I never knew—I did not intend—” | who killed your father—” ‘*No wonder you stammer! A murderer's | Hie made’an impatient gesture, but she went tongue may. well fail him.” on in a steady voice: ‘“Mercy!” cried Woodside, putting out one} ‘ And I bid you be very careful. All thismay hand, be a trap to decoy you to some lonely place and ‘* Did you show mercy?” | make way with you as your father was made sh did not know—” way with, I donot think that this is the case, ‘‘ Again you stop. Your excuse is not ready; | but, for my sake, be careful.” your plea of innocence. You are not so brazen | The warning grated on Ralph’s nerves then,for as you thought. Ah! well may your courage | his thoughts were all of Claudia, but_he knew fail in the presence of the wife of the man you | how devotedly his mother loved him. He kissed ‘*T will do all you ask, but you need have no killed!” her tenderly. The last words were brokenly spcken. The unnatural mood which had swayed » rs. Hatha- | fear. I feel sure this is just as Woodside says, way for a few moments, and turned her usual | and my duty to my wife is plain. Rest assured, gentleness to violence, was passing away, and | though, [ will be careful.” He then rejoined the professor and they went outside. The cab was wailing, and, struck with there were signs of an almost hysterical collapse on her part. Woodside, however, had been a sudden thought, the professor addressed the driver: Pray, making great efforts to rally, and not without a degree of success, He was almost as pale as Mrs. Hathaway, but his manner gradually “‘T found you waiting near my house. grew calmer and more dignified. did you see any one leave there shortly before L ** You do not know what you say, madam. I appeared—in a cab, for instance?” never harmed your husband.” ‘No; but two men brought a sick lady out 0’ ‘** Of course you deny it.” the next house, an’ carried her offinacab. It ‘* More,” he went on, ‘*I never evensaw him; | was the house east o’ yourn.” Woodside saw the point atonce. It was the deserted house, and, by making use of the I never had any connection with him in any way, shape or form,” grounds, the abductors had borne Claudia away successfully. The cabman admitted that he had » ‘** Do you expect me to believe this?” ‘**T should be gad to have you.” ‘* No doubt! No doubt you would be glad to | not seen the “sick lady” until they had con- blind me; to make yourself safe, But you talk | veyed her to the gate, and could not say that in vain; i words as | she had been brought from the house. One of have my husband’s dyin my guide, and his blood cries aloud from the grave for vengeance. Oh! villain that you were, to rob me of all I had!” She sunk into a chair and burst into violent sobs, but at that moment steps sounded on the floor above and Ralph came hurriedly down the stairs. He paused in amazement at the scene before him, scarcely able to believe the evidence of his own eyes. His mother and Professor Woodside together! What did it mean? The professor’s voice broke the silence. ‘““Mr, Hathaway, I bave come here to see you. Do you know where Claudia is?” There was nothing barsh in his manner. “he last scene had crushed ell inclination that way, and when he saw Ralph, he instinctively felt that his was not the face of a woman-stealer. * Claudia!” Ralph echoed, ‘‘No, I have not seen her. Why do you ask? I hope nothing is wrong.” ‘Something is wrceng.” ‘What? Speak cuickty ¥ ** Claudia has disappeared.” ** Disappeared !” The yo ng man echoed the word nervously, and clutehed at the bannisters as though for sipport. Then he suddenly rallied and came down the remaining steps quickly. His expres- sion was a mixture of alarm and resolution which spoke well for him, ‘* What has happened?” he demanded. ‘ Speak out at once. Why should Claudia disappear?” ** T have reason to believe she has been abduct- ed, and in the first rush of my emotions, I con- fess, I suspected you. I was probably wrong. You shall hear the story.” And then the professor told what he had seen and heard at Woodside, Ralph knit his brows in a thoughtful frown. He recognized the al - sence of convincing evidence, but his own fears bad been aroused, and he was inclined to take the professer’s view of the case. ‘Who could bave molested her?’ he asked, the men who helped carry her, be added, was the driver of tie other vehicle. Being asked to describe the lady and the second man, he did soin such a way that both bis hearers fe't positive that Claudia’s abductor was Horace Wilberson. ‘*But the other cabman,” said Ralph. ‘Did you know him?” ' ‘““T did, that. His name was Mose Acker, ab? he’s what may be called a rew-beef rough.” ‘* Where would we be likely to find him?’ “The Lord knows; I don’t. Dve secn him on the street often, but who he is, or who he drives. for, I don’t know.” entered the cab. ‘It will becasy encugh to do all but find the man, himself, end the police cen co that. Ifeela 1 deal cncouraged. Uhless they spirit Claudia away with great rapidity our chances are good for econ running Wilber-- son down.” ] By this time they were rolling toward Dor- gan’s house, and this place they reach d in éve time. Disappointment awaited tLem, kew- ever. Dorgan wes not in, nor could the recple ef the house give any clew to his whereabouts. ° _ Ralph and the professor Icoked at each other ‘in troubled inquiry. W bat course were they to take now’ They were in the work tegether es earnestly as though no cloud had ever (cme be- tween them, Animated by one cemn en motive, they forgot that event of the past which shculd, in their opinion, make them shrink from each other. “ Their ruling passion was fo save Clavdia. ‘What is the next step?” Woodside asked. * T don’t know, and have a general alarm sent out, but we— what are te to do?” ES to notify arid aap as you say. After that— well. IT, at least, cannot remain idle while Claudia is in peril. Drive like the wind, man!” | EOMIEDOOKS . . , ‘ : i434 ; Md ’ P “EA I ; . ‘ p ~ iat a Me }* 2. . * a ne? . =e 4 ‘ . ‘ . : ge “We can learn,” interrupted Wccdside, as he : We must rotify the police, | ‘“ We must do something, but our first duty is — on %, t , - - 7 * * 2 fur