Beadle's Dime Library No. 465: The Actor Detective — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXXII, A REVELATION, ~The Actor Detective. | os ‘Tt is plain,” he murmured, as he left the | house, ‘‘ the fellow gained access to the room and | attend to the door entered the room, bearing the “ -Yxs, it’s very odd,” the landlady continued, | wrote the letters there, but how did he gain the | card of Judge Anaconda Fitzgerald aud a mes- At this point the servant whose duty it was to ‘“‘and the more I think about the matter, the | knowledge which he evidently possesses in regard | sage from that gentlemen that he would be duly more I am perplexed. ‘* A young man came here that very afternoon; he said he was an actor, and had come to New York in search of a situation and wanted to en- gage board with me, ‘** He was a very nice, agreeable young man— a perfect gentleman he seemed, and he offered to | pay in advance before I had a chance to tell him | teat it \as my rule always to receive pay in ad- vance from strangers. ‘*But as he badn’t anything smaller than a twenty-dollar bill, and I had nochange, I told him to wait until he broke it, as there wasn’t any hurry. ‘** You see I had perfect faith that he was all right, and he said, too, his trunks were in the as oF the expressman, and would be here by nig t. What sort of a looking man was he?” the | Texan inquired. And then the landlady, who had an extremely | retentive memory and great natural powers of observation, sharpened, too, by her experience | fighting for her bread as a boarding-house-keep- er, gave a perfectly accurate description of the | adventurer who called himself Richard Roe. Any one who had ever seen the man and no-| ticed him carefully could not have failed to re- cognize him by the description. ‘* Did you give bim a room?” ‘** Yes, and—would you believe it+—~after I had come down-stairs, he slipped out without saying | a word, and | never either saw or heard thing of him.” ** Did his trunks come?” ‘** Not a trunk,” ‘* What could have been his object in acting in such a way? I do not see as he gained anything by it,” the Texan observed. Well, sir, it is a regular mystery, and the more [ think of it the more Il am waned deo, ‘* If he had stolen anything I could understand it, but not a thing was touched, andif his trunks any- had come I should have thought that some evil. had befallen him, but the non-arrival of the bag- gage gives a suspicious look to the matter.” ‘**Can I see the room you assigned him? I in- fer from what you said that he went up to it.” ‘** Yes, and locked himself in, for I distinctly heard the key turn in the lock as I went down- stairs. ‘*T thought it probable that be was tired after his long journey and wanted to take a nap, but when | come to examine the room after he had “i out, pot a thing had been disturbed. ‘ But come up-stairs, and I will show you the apartment. It is right next to Mr. Keene’s room,” she continued, as they ascended the stairs. ‘* There’s a door leads from one room to the other. ‘* The man seemed to be extremely particular —I may say notional in regard to his room, and though I showed him another one that 1s far bet- ter than the one he selected, he said he greatly preferred that one.” * * No doubt—no doubt,” muttered the Texan, under his breath. The gentleman examined the room with ex- treme care, and then turning to the boarding- house mistress, asked if she could open the door between the two rooms so he could take a look at the apartment occupied by Keene. “Certainly, I have tue key in my pocket on my key-ring.” oe door was opened, and the Texan, entering, went immediately to where the writing materials were kept, the lady remaining in the doorway. ‘* Just as 1 expected,” he murmured, in a jow tone, communing with himself, his words not audible to the woman’s ears, ‘* The pen has been moved from its place; itis not as it was left.” Then he opened the drawer and examined the stationery. The first thing that met his eyes was the letter to his brother-actor, which Keene had written, but neglected to send, Roe, in his haste, had not taken the trouble to fold the letter, but had thrust it into the drawer open. N It is as plain asa pikestaff,” muttered the searcher after knowledge, to himself. ‘*The fellow made his way from that room to this one, and by means of this letter, which gave him the bandwriting to work upon, for the three letters which were designed to prevent any one from inquiring after the missing man. ‘‘ He is really a superhuman scoundrel! ‘** Where is he now? That is what I must find out. I must see Estelle; possibly 1 can gain some information from ber.” Then turning to the boarding-house-keeper he remarked ; ‘‘ This is a very strange case, and I must con- fess 1 am greatly puzzled by it, but I really can- not understand why my boy should depart in this hasty manner, I will write to Texas to-morrow, and it is possible I will be able to gain some in- a ee in ra to the matter.” then, after apologizing to the lady for the trouble he had Denealonad the gepeval with: to Edmund Keene having friends in Texas? ‘‘ That is a mystery which seems well-nigh in- comprehensible, and where is the scoundrel now? Lurking in the city, [ suppose, planning more mischief, but T’1l soon be on his track and seeif I can’t put a stop to his tricks.” Straight to the next house went the general, aud when the servant came in answer to his ring he sent in his name, General Yellowbird from Texas, an old friend of Mr. Edmund Keene, to a ee eg ee _———e | Miss Estelle, and requested to be allowed the , pleasure.of a few minutes’ conversation with | her. He was conducted to the parlor, and ina few minutes the young actress entered. 5 The Texan rose and greeted her with a courtly 20W. Then he introduced himself just the same as he had done to the manager and to the boarding- | house-keeper, and proceeded to explain the busi- ness upon which he had come. Estelle listened without a word; only a tinge of color came up to her pale cheeks, and she seemed to be nervous and excited. When he had finished, she hesitated for a mo- grateful if the actress would be so kind as to favor him with a private interview, as he had some important business upon which he wished to see her. Estelle hesitated, and looked at her lover as though to crave his advice, ‘* 1 can guess the nature of the e~rand upon which he comes,” she said, in a whisper, to _ ‘‘ Ever since I have been in the theater Keene. he has almost persecuted me with his attentions, and when he found that I would neither go to supper nor to drive with him, nor accept an othes of the little attentions which I could possi _bly decline, he even went so far as to attempt to bribe Miss De Browne to plead his suit for him. ‘‘But she is an honest soul, and when she found that I was averse to the man, she frankly told him—at the risk, mind you, of making a deal of trouble for herself—that he was only wasting his time by trying to force bis attentions upon me.” “The judge is one of those bull-headed men, who, because he has been lucky enough to make money, doesn’t understand that there are a great many things in this world that money will not | ment before she spoke, as though uncertain what | to say. _ Then she arose—she had taken a chair at the beginning of the interview—the general had a most courtly way with bim—went to the parlor door and listened attentively for a few moments. After satisfying herself that there wasn’t any | one witbin earshot, sbe returned, her light figu-e trembling with excitement, and holding out both her hands to the visitor, said: ‘*T must speak—lI must speak or I feel that I shall choke!” she exclaimed, ina voice tremulous with emotion. ‘If you wish me to pretend that I do not know you, I will do so, but it is not the truth.” ‘* You cannot deceive me, even if others’ eyes _ have failed to penetrate your disguise. I know _ you, and oh! words are poor to express the’ joy | which fills my heart!” | And then the Texan, for a stranger, acted in an extremely strange manner, _ Seizing upon the outstretched bands he drew | the girl close up to him, and then, with a warm, | Joving embrace, folded her to his heart, and she nestled there with her head resting contentedly upon his shoulder, as if all her life she had been used to just such a place. | Kiss after kiss be imprinted upon her ripe red _ lips, and she did not resent the familiarity in the least, but with a long-drawn sigh gave herself up to his embrace. __ The earnest reader, of course, has penetrated the secret long ere this. The Texan general was not the veteran law- yer, Yellowbird, who at that precise moment was eating curried chicken with the dusty na- tives of far-off India, but the young actor, Ed- mund Keene, who had adopted the disguise in order to get upon the track of the man who had so wantonly attempted his murder. The first transports of bliss ended, the maiden, blushing like a red, red rose, endeavored to es- | cape from her lover’s arms, __ “Oh, Edmund, you must not clasp me so tight- _ ly; let me go,” she pleaded. | “* Yes; provided you agree at some near time in the future to give me the right to clasp you in | my arms for the rest of our natural lives.’ _A faintly whispered ‘‘ yes,” came from the | lips of the girl, and then conducting her toa _ chair the pair took their seats and the young actor explained the reason which caused him to adopt the disguise, and so related the strange’ adventures which had befallen bim. CHAPTER XXXIII. THE JUDGE GETS AN ANSWER, THE girl listened with eagerness, so interested in oy tale that she hardly spoke during the re- cital. ‘* My suspicions in regard to that wretch were correct then,” she said, ‘* And unfortunate that I am, I have drawn you within the range of his anger.” ‘Oh, don’t worry yourself about that,” Keene replied. ‘‘ It is fate that has arranged matters **'You are but a blind, unconscious agent in | gnised actor crossed the threshold of the door’ — ee ee ee ee | buy,” the actor observed, speaking in a cautious. tone, so that the servant Mines | at the door should not be able to understand the purport of the speech, ‘‘ He evidently imagined that I would be daz- zled by the suit of such a man as he is, for he took pains to tell Miss De Browne how rich he: was, and howif I only consented to listen to him, he would give me all the luxuries that the beart of a woman could long for—as if all wo- men in this life were alike and cared only for such things!” and the superb lips of the young actress curled in scorn as she spoke. ‘* He took particular care, too, to assure Miss: De Browne that his intentions were strictly hon-- orable, and painted in glowing colors the proud iene which I would occupy in this city as his: wife! ‘*Oh, yes, the wife of a petty ward politician, who, thanks to his influence with the ‘ boys,” has risen to the bench of the Tombs police. court, is a great gun in the metropolis!” and’ the young actor laughed in ridicule at the idea, ‘* ‘What shall I do?” ‘* Receive bim, of course, listen to his words, — and then send him off about bis business, ‘Tt will be disagreeable, no doubt, but it is: one of those penalties which a handsome woman: must pay for her beauty. “Tf you were as ugly as a hedge fence, novw,,. you would not be troubled by suitors, and in the: mean time I will make myself scarce until he- departs,” and Keene rose to his feet. e girl rose also. conduct him here,” she said to the girl. The servant withdrew. **Had him?” she asked, as a sudden idea occurred to her. ‘* That is, if if is necessary for the success you are here in disguise, for he migbt recognize. ou. “Very little danger of that, 1 think,” an- swered the young actor. “My ware ye tg was perfect enough to deceive Billy Freebigh, and even Mrs. Cantor, of the- boardiug-house, next door, who has known and been familiar with me for quite a long time.” | ‘‘Tt did not deceive me,” she rejoined. ‘**I re— cognized you almost as soon as T set eves upon you, that is, I thought I did, and when you “ spoke I was certain of it.” ‘Tt isan old saying that it is a difficult thing to deceive the eyes of Jove.” and he kissed her smooth, white forebead fordly, “‘and after what bas bappened to-day I believe there is a great , } ha ¥ ial deal of truth in the saying. ‘*But there, I hear the judge on the stairs, and so I will get out until e departs. $°> ‘‘T’m sorry that I can’t stay to help you bear~ the brunt of this ordeal, but that is quite out of | the question.” ee Then the two exchanged a warm pressure of _ the hand—and how the hands can speak when earnest lovers clasp them—and then the dis- the matter. As it is, though, I fancy the rascal just as the ponderous judge made his a — in this case has overreached himself: he has ar- | ance at the bead of the stairs conducted ranged a mine, which, when it explodes, will do more damage to himself than to anybody.” ‘**’You must be careful of your precious life,” she exclaimed, gazing at him with eyes lustrous with the light of love. “Don’t you fret about that,” he rejoined, pressing her soft white hand affectionately be- tween his own broad palms. ‘*Since I have received your promise my life | j in that way, not you, | has become doubly dear to me, and I shall not lightly risk it; but I am determined to bring this | murderous rascal to justice, ‘* He is playing some deep game in this matter, fathom it, but I will before I get through. ‘I have sworn to bring the rascal to justice, and I will assuredly keep my word,” “ Quite i bringi maid-servant. Keene bad mentioned the old saying in regard a to the clear-sichtecness of the eyes of love, but _ forgot that the prophet also predicts that the eyes of bate were almost equally keen. And there isn’t much doubt that there is about as much truth in one saying as in the other, for | even in the dusk of the badly-lighted entry, Judge Andy fancied thut the face and figure of the other were familiar to him, and themoment he entered the presence of the actress he re- ferred to the matter. - R. | , ‘* Good-afternoon,” he said; ‘I have taken © although 1 coufess at present I am not able to | the liberty to call upon you, andI trust youare Estelle replied,, well, thank you,” ing a chair for her visitor. comicboo pes 3 you not better avoid encountering | | of your plavs that no one should suspect that — y heavy tread of the- — , as y the « = . x n ’ . >o y” « 7 ~~ _ ; . 4 . ‘¢ Tell the gentleman I will see him, and please: (; v > mae’ * » \ p ay if nar" 4 : dul > ‘i ‘oe 4? r ; nee ih, a f ged > - - t i i 7 bg + eg " ~~ s id . iw * ¢ a tig - ~~ s ¢4 i : ) ra 4.4 7 “ s 7 : fg " d * 4 ~ de _ # * 1 © t -