Beadle's Dime Library No. 465: The Actor Detective — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

re. ity ba re * _ 26 ever did anything underhand in my life, but I wanted the money so badly and I yielded to the temptation. ‘‘ And if anything should go wrong now, the can’t blame me, for I bave done exactly as , and of course a weak old woman like myself is no match in trickery fora great man like Mr. McCracken.” é' And by the time that the madame’s reflections came to an end, the coach was well on its way back to the city. Estelle, after the madame quitted the room, took a seat, prepared to nares wait her re- turn with the erring Billy, in regard to whose escapades she was somewhat acquain Ten, fifteen minutes passed away, an the madame did not return, Estelle began to grow impatient. hen the girl heard footsteps in the hall. ‘‘ She has come at last,” she murmured. Imagine the girl’s surprise when J we Andy Fitzgerald entered the room, followed by the Irish lawyer, Corny McCracken, Estelle sprung to her feet in alarm, her eyes dilating, and her bosom heaving, ‘*T am greatly pleased to welcome you to my house,” said the judge with an elaborate bow. The trip had n so timed that night had fallen when they reached the old mansion, but as the parlor was illuminated with a coal-oil lamp, there was plenty of light on the scene, ** Your house!” cried Estelle in horror, ‘‘ Yes, but of course, you know when you con- sented to elope with me, that I would bring you to my house. “Tt is not quite so elegant as my mansion on the avenue, but it is quiet and retired here, and Wwe can enjoy our honeymoon in peace, and there will not be any danger of our being dis- turbed by these sleuth-hound reporters, anxious to obtain the latest particulars of the great elopement case.” ‘““In Heaven’s name, what do you mean?” cried Estelle, wildly. ** Have I been eee ‘Not at all! You have only yielded to my rsuasions and been induced to elope with me, ‘*My friend here, McCracken, can bear wit- ness to that, as also can Madame Mikella, who conducted you to my arms as per agreement. ‘* Both she and McCracken will tell their stories a and the morning newspapers on Monday will have a full account, so that every- body will know all about the matter, and, if you are wise, and value your good name, you will not attempt to dispute the truth of the story, for if you are not married to me by tosnorrow morning—and my friend here can summon a minister in a very few minutes—the world will be apt to have a very poor oe of you, for most certainly Madame Mikella will testify that ou came of your own free action, as also will he driver of the coach, and that you knew you were coniing to me.” As will be seen by this statement, the plotters Meer not keeping faith with the tool whom they a to shield. Estelle was so astounded by this unexpected | turn of affairs that, for a moment, she had dif- ficulty in believing she had heard aright. There must be some mistake, or, was she wandering in the mazes of a horrid dream? But for a brief time only did she hesitate; then her indignation flamed forth. ‘Oh, this is too infamous for belief!” she cried, indignantly. _ “* But, no; I cannot believe you really have descended to so base a trick! This is a jest—a sorry one it is true, but still only a jest. You have contrived this scheme to frighten me, and you are not in earnest.” ‘*My dear Miss Estelle, you never made a greater mistake in your life!” the judge re- lied. ‘“‘There is no joke about the matter: am thoroughly in earnest. True, I have adopted a means to win you which the law would not approve, but my excuse is that I knew of no other way. You have rejected the suit I have so ardently pressed, but I am not satisfied to take no for an answer, and so, de- iring of being able to win you by fair means, have adopted this underhand method. The only e that I care to offer is that your beauty and goodness have inspired me witha passion whicd Iam unable to resist. If a jury of my fellow-citizens were called to sit in judg- ment upon me their verdict certainly would be that Iam really not responsible for my acts. For the time being I am a little cracked in the upper story—mad with love, you know.” Though the judge had spoken in a bantering manner, the young actress co see that he was thoroughly in earnest and - NNe nn ee _ _ — The Actor Detective. successful! No matter if all the world thinks I have so far forgot myself as to fly in secret with you. I know that I have not done so, and in time the world at large will know the truth too! The judge’s face darkened and he glanced at McCracken, who shook his head in a signifi- cant manner, as much as to say that extreme measures must be adopted, or else the girl’s stubbornness would set at naught the cunning — which had been devised to entrap er. ‘‘My dear Estelle, [ do not doubt that you are going to make a desperate fight, but I can assure you that I counted the cost of this scheme before I went into it and I made up my mind to win,” the judge remarked in a resolute way. & I know perfectly well this proceeding on my t would not be sanctioned by the law, and that, in fact, I am running the risk of the State Prison by embarking in this enterprise. ‘‘Now with this knowledge staring me in the face it is not likely I will neglect any means to make you mine and so compel you to keep silent.’ ‘““You will only have your labor for your pains!” Estelle cried, indignantly, unable to re- strain her anger. ‘‘ You may ruin my reputa- tion—you may be able to make all believe that I am a foolish, guilty creature, but I know it is not the truth, and in time I am cer- tain that the world will know it also,” ‘‘Now, my dear girl, lam going to talk to you in the frankest manner,” the judge observed. “T have taken considerable trouble to get you here—really committed a criminal offense, as I observed before, and I have made up my mind that by fair means or foul you shall be mine. I have a legal friend, a justice of the peace, who is authorized by law to perform the wedding ser- vice, and this party, in a case of this kind, to oblige such a man as myself, will be deaf to any- thing that you may say; any remonstrance on your part will not produce the slightest effect upon him. He will marry us, no matter how aroney ou may protest.’ ‘** Oh, this is infamous!” Estelle cried in horror. ‘“‘There’s an old adage, you know, ‘the end justifies the means,’” Fitzgerald replied. ‘*] have determined that you shall be mine and I intend to accomplish my object if it costs me ‘a fortune! Now you might as well submit quietly, for there is not a chance for you to es- cape. is Mind you, most men situated as I am would not treat you as well as I abe ees todo. Tam oing to make you mg wife, and there will not Ba a woman in all this big city who will be able to enjoy life better. Everything that money can give you can have,” Estelle’s lip curled in scorn and her lithe form quivered with indignation as she listened to the words of the politic ‘Such a marriage would not be anything but a mockery!” she exclaimed. ‘‘ And, despite your words, I do not believe you would dare to commit such an outrage!” ‘‘ Before you are four and twenty hours older ou may have reason to change your mind in regard to that,” J — Andy replied. ‘ And now, I willleave you alone to meditate upon the situation for a few hours; possibly when you come to think the matter over you will come to the conclusion that it will be wise in you to accept the situation with resignation.” hen the judge and the Irishman withdrew and Estelle was left a prisoner. The two men repaired to a room on the same floor eae the one occupied by the girl. “Wel , what do you think- of matters?’ the judge asked with a moody brow as he helped self to a chair. ‘‘My dear Andy, Iam not afther liking the way the gurl goes on,” McCracken replied with an air of great deliberation as he too sat down, ‘‘T had no idea that she was such an obstinate little vixen!” Fitzgerald exclaimed. ‘‘Upon me wourd, she is as contrary a: piece of humanity as I have run across in a dog’s age,” the lawyer remarked, ‘*T calculated that when she found herself in such a trap—her reputation compromised— that she would be glad to accept any chance to get out of the scrape.” “True fer yees! Wid nine gurls out of tin it would have worked that way, but this little divil is as obstinate as a mule!” ‘Say, Corny, my boy, do you think we will be able to carry this thing through?’ the judge asked, abruptly. ‘‘ Andy, me bucko, it looks mighty doubtful er heart sunk | jist now, unless we make a change in the pro- when she reflected how helpless she was, now | gramme that she was completely in his power. She had told no one where she was going when she accompanied Madame Mikella, an as far as she could see, there was not the Then clew for a rescuer to seize upon, n fact, but one person in all the wide world would be apt to trouble himself in the matter and that was the young actor, Edmund e. But she was rot the one to yield to despair. She rallied and in excited tones cried: “This base and unmanly trick will not be ‘Yes, I think we will have to change our scheme in some way,” the judge observed, with a doubtful shake of the head. ~ ‘* Yis, yis, for though our fri’nd, the justide isa tough b’ye, yet he wouldn’t like to perform the marriage ceremony whin the gurl was, maybe, screeching like a wild-cat ag’in’ it.” “What would you iy ge “We will have to afther g a little strategy,” the Irishman replied, with a cunning chuckle. ‘* We must be afther fixing her so that whin ~*~ ———————— Sells lls sess NR —_—_eeax—rereee— ee the wedding takes place she will not be able to object.” ‘** How can that be arranged?” ‘“* Aisily enough; she must be drugged,” the other replied. ‘** Molly, who has charge of the house here, is. a cunning woman, and she will do jist as you want her too, provided she is well paid, L’ave me alone to fix a plan so that wid her aid this gurl will be put mto such a condition that she can be married without being able to kick up the l’aste taste of a row.” ‘We'll have Molly in at once, and talk the matter over with her!” exclaimed Judge Andy, feeling decidedly encouraged. CHAPTER XL. ESTELLE’S JAILER, AFTER the door closed behind the two men and she heard the key turn in the lock, thus showing that she was a prisoner just the same as though confined in a jail, the young actress felt sick at heart. ‘*Oh, it does not seem possible that it can be true,” she murmured, sinking listlessly intoa chair, completely unnerved by her dreadful po- sition, ‘*T have read of such things in romances, but they always seemed so unnatural—so far- fetched, yet now I am in the toils of a design- ing villain, and my situation is fully as strange and terrible as any depicted in these works of fiction. ‘* Will the man dare to carry out his threat and marry —- force whether I am wiiling or not?” she queried, ‘“*Tt does not seem possible that he would dare to commit such an outrage, and, too, it is extremely improbable that any man, author- ized by law to perform the wedding ceremon would dare to marry a woman against her wi if she protested strongly against such an out- e. nen Oh, no, itis an attempt to frighten me into consenting. He thinks by work ng upon my fears—by threatening, that I will finally brin myself to to this marriage, but he wi find, although I am a weak girl, yet in such a case as this 1 can as obstinate as the strongest man.” Estelle’s eyes were wandering around the apartment while she was giving utterance to these reflections. The room was nicely furnished, although the furniture was strange and old-fashioned like the house. There were two windows shielded by heavy curtains, and the thought came to the gir! that, perhaps, she might be able to escape through one of. the casements, but upon examination she was discouraged to find the windows were guarded by heavy shutters upon the outside, so securely fastened that it was not possible for her to open them. Then a door at the other end of the room from where the one was situated through which she had entered the apartment, caught her eyes. Immediately the thought entered her mind that, possibly, she might be able to escape by means of this portal. When she came to examine, though, Estelle was disappointed to find that it led into a small inner room, fitted up as a bedchamber. There was no door in this apartment but the one by which the girl entered, a single window only, and this was as tightly secured as the ones in the outer room, Estelle gazed around witha despairing look upon her face. ‘* Alas, I fear that it will not be possible for me to escape!” she cried, in despairing accents, ‘¢T am as much a prisoner as though confined in a dungeon.” Then the noise mad? by some one at the door of the outer apartment attracted her attention. She returned to the large room just in time to meet a large, masculine-looking woman, with a decidedly Celtic face. She nodded in the most igo manner while her face was wreathed with smiles, there being nothing of the stern jailer about her. ‘* Glad to see you, my dear,” she said, “‘and I hope you find yourself comfortable. I’m Mrs, cree ote I am a very old friend of Judge ndy. = hud are you the mistress of this house?’ the young actress asked, eagerly, for there was something in the face of the woman which in- spired her with the hope that she might be able to make a friend of her. ‘‘ Yes, my dear, this is my house.” ‘* You do not look like a wicked woman!” Es- telle exclaimed, and this was indeed her impres- sion, for although Mrs. Molloy had a masculine face, yet it was not a cruel one. ** Indeed, I should hope not!” the woman cried, as though horrified by the idea. ‘‘No, indeed,” she continued, “I try to do right and attend to my religious duties as faith- fully as a woman can,” ‘*Then you will surely aid me to escape from the snare into which I have fallen.” ‘Oh, yes, yes, of course,” the woman remark- ed, in a soothing kind of way, adopting the tone that one would use to a ges . ailing child whom it was not deemed wise to scold, <eom Eboo S Pi