Beadle's Dime Library No. 465: The Actor Detective — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

The Actor Detective. ? he had picked up the champion slugger for an opponent. . he tramp, though, was not wise enough to understand this, and having vile liquor enough on board to make him angry, he rushed at Keene, bent on exterminating him at a single blow. The reception he met with, however, com- pletely took all the fight out of him. — The young actor met him with a “‘right hand- er” which seemed to fairly lift him from his feet; it struck him on the Sas of the jaw, and sent him over on his back, stunned and help- ess. He landed on his shoulders and then his head struck the pavement with a dull thud. To use the lan e dear to the hearts of the sporting writers: ‘‘ The tramp had been knocked out in one round.” ‘‘Take my arm now, Miss Estelle,” said the victor, as quietly as though “‘ knocking out” tramps was an every-day affair with him; ‘‘ he has got enough to last him for some time.” And then the two proceeded up the street, leaving the ruffian to recover as best he might. CHAPTER IX, ESTELLE’S STORY. THE girl bad watched the encounter with al- most breathless eagerness, but all had trans- pired so quickly that the ruffian, who had so wantonly assailed her, was vanquished almost before she realized that the fight had begun. ‘**T hope you haven’t killed the man,” she re- marked, casting a parting glance at the pros- trate form of the ruffian as she proceeded up the street, arm in arm with her protector. ‘** Oh, no, no danger of that,” Keene returned. ** Fellows of his kidney have heads of iron, and they don’t mind a few hard knocks. ‘It’s the only way to get any sense into their noddles, I didn’t expect to lay the chap out so easily, but as he knew nothing of boxing and came at me like a mad bull, it was not difficult to put a blow where it would do good execu- tion. ‘*He’ll feel as if his head was too big for his body when he recovers his senses, but that is about all he will have to remind him of his downfall.” ‘* How fortunate it was that you were near at hand to rescue me from this ruffian,” the girl remarked, gratefully, and she looked with eyes Sool of trust in the young actor’s face as she spoke. ‘Yes, I am glad that [ was able to be of ser- vice to you, for the fellow undoubtedly would have got off with your valuables if I had not happened to come upon the scene just as I did. ‘In my boyish days, when I was at college, I took a great interest in boxing. ‘*In fact, some of my tutors used to remark that if I would pay as much attention to my studies as 1 did to my boxing, my standing in the class-room would be materially improved. ‘* As a boxer I easily ranked a good first, but I am sorry to say I cannot make the same vaunt in regard to scholarship. “The boxing ability came in play to-night though, and I must say lam glad now that t did waste some hours in making myself master of the science of self-defense.” ‘** T have very little to lose, for the bag only contains a few pieces of old-fashioned jewelry, but I should bate to be obliged to part with them, for it is all in the world that I have to re- mind me of my mother.” Tears sparkled in the great, lustrous eyes of Estelle as she spoke. ‘*T remember you said your mother was not living,” the young actor remarked, touched by the agg in the voice of the girl. ** No, neither father nor mother; I am an or- han, without a relative in the world, as far as a Myo tly, so I y own situation, exactly, so I can sympa- thize with you.” “ “You are an orphan, also?” questioned the girl, somewhat astonished at the coincidence. ** Yes, and have been so from an early age, but fortune favored me by providing me with a friend, who has been like a father to me. u In fact, so much so that I have never known what it was to miss my own father. ‘*Of course, all the friends in the world could not make up for a mother’s love.” ** Oh, yes, I can understand that,” the girl re- marked, sympathetically. ‘*I was more fortunate than you, for I was blessed with a mother’s love until a year ago. ‘‘ My father I never knew, and when in my thoughtless childhood I used to question my mother abont him, her great, beautiful eyes would fill with tears and she would beg me not to worry her with questioning. *** Some day,’ she said, ‘when you are old par gy to comprehend, I will tell you every- ng. ** So, as I rew older, perceiving that any re- currence to this subject gave my mother pain, I refrained from speakin about i. ‘It was strange,” Keene mused, having lis- paoee to the recital with a great deal of inter- “ Yes, it was plain to me that there were some memories connected with my father’s death that gave mother pain whenever her mind dwelt upon them, and so as I grew older and became more sensible, I tried my best to avoid bringing the sorrow of the past to her mind.” ‘* A very sensible idea, indeed.” ** And then mother acted so strangely at times that I did not know what to make of it. ‘*She seemed to be haunted by a constant fear, though exactly what she dreaded I never could make out. ‘* But the visit of any stranger to our humble | home always worried her, no matter if it was only a peddler who came to the door with things to sell, and she never was at ease until he de- | formance parted.” ‘* That was strange,” Keene observed. ‘Yes, she seemed always haunted by a fear that some one, whom she evidently dreaded, would discover her whereabouts. . ** Even the name we bore was a false one; in a moment of confidence she revealed that to me i a - before she died.” ‘* Mystery on mystery.” ** Yes, the name by which she was known was Mrs. James, and one day when in childish curi- osity I tormented her to know her first name, she replied it was Ellen, and then, seemingly thinking she had committed an imprudence in disclosing the fact to me, she scolded me for my persistence, and said I must never say anything to an ybody about it.” ‘** It certainly was very strange,” the young man observed, ay igee by the odd affair. ‘* Yes, and when I became old enough to un- derstand something of the world, I comprehend- ed then that mother was acting as though she was hiding from some one and feared discoy- -__ and while professing utter ignorance in regard to my parents, has acted like a father to me. ‘“*] shrewdly suspect the old fellow does know something of my parents, but for some reason he is reluctant to tell, some day, though, he may be induced to open his mouth.” By this time the two had arrived at the door of the boarding-house. As luck would bave it, Keene boarded in the rival professional house next door, **As we are neighbors, hi must allow me the privilege of seeing you home after the per- ereafter,” Keene said, and the girl shyly accepted the offer. And then they parted, as pleased with eack other as two people could well be. CHAPTER X, THE PRISONER. In the Tombs prison sat the young man whe | had created such great confusion on the previous evening in the Bowery Theater, His pedigree had been taken on his entrance to the prison, andon the books of that institu- _ tion read as follows: ‘* Name, Richard Roe Age, Twenty-four. Country, American. Occupation, Gentleman,” He was perfectly self-possessed, and, as all the prison officials who came in contact with him remarked, acted like an old stager. ‘‘Pretty serious charge, young man,” the warden remarked, in the reception-room, as he | finished noting down the prisoner’s answers to his questions. ‘‘ Will you excuse me, sir, if I object to that ery.” * s “ ‘ ; ; ,. x Her actions would certainly give rise to that | term, ‘young man,’ which you have just used?” | the prisoner asked, with the utmost self-posses- surmise.” ‘* But only guilty people hide, and I am sure my mother was a good, pure woman if ever there was one in the world!” the young actress exclaimed with warmth. ‘**[nnocent people hide sometimes when pur- sued by the guilty,” Keene observed. ‘‘ You must remember there is such a thing as persecu- tion in this world, and from appearances it seems to me as if your mother feared the malice of some deadly and unscrupulous foe,” ‘* Yes, that is true. ‘‘A hundred things come back to my mem- ory now which serve to strengthen the belief that your supposition is correct. ‘She was careful to keep me from the street as much as possible, and always express! warned me not to talk with strangers, and if questioned regarding my name, my mother or my home, to shake my head and run away as fast as possible.” ‘‘How did your mother manage to live? had she any means of support?’ the young actor asked, thinking it was ble.that some clew to the mystery might gained in this direc- tion. ‘She was an exceedingly skillful needle-wo- man, and was also expert in all sorts of fancy work, lace-making in particular; she made the most beautiful collars and handkerchiefs, arti- cles that sold readily to the store for ten to twenty-five dollars apiece, and so she had no dif- ficulty in making a comfortable re ‘** We resided in the upper part of New York, occupying two rooms in a small wooden_ house on Eightieth street, and I have never known any other home. ‘Madame Mikella boarded with the lady who owned the house and who occupied all the rest of it, and so I chanced to make her acquaint- ance. ‘* Just about a year ago my mother was taken suddenly ill; heart disease, the doctor said, and she sunk so rapidly that within six hours from the time of the first attack she expired.” The girl’s voice faltered as she recalled the sad event, and it was a moment before she could on. ae She barely had time to say a few parting words to me before the dark angel set his seal upon her lips. ‘*She said: ‘ Estelle, my child, I ought to have told you everything years ago, but I shrunk from the painful task, and now it is too late; the secret will not perish with me, though, for I have written out all the particulars and inclosed them in an envelope which you will find in my trunk, securely sealed and directed to you. “¢On the envelope I have requested you not to open the packet until’you are twenty-one, *** You will be a woman then and will be strong enough to take care of yourself.’ ” ‘* And you are not yet twenty-one?” ** No, I lack six months of it.” ‘* Well, when the time comes, command me if you need any aid,” Keene remarked, gallant- ly. ‘‘lam something of an amateur detective and really think seriously of going into that line altogether, and if yours is a difficult case I shall be glad to undertake it.” ‘**'You are so kind!” the girl exclaimed, in grateful accents. ** Not at all; I am an orphan like yourself, and know even less about my parents than you do. ‘* An old lawyer down in Texas, General Joe Yellowbird, has always taken charge of me, i sion, ‘* Between gentlemen, sir, such an ex- pression is not at all permissible. You, I take it, are the person in charge of this institution; Iam a gentleman who, by accident, has been. brought here, but notwithstanding this I can- not liow you to address me in any such famil- iar manner.” This speech took the prison officials by sur- rise, and the ve and usually stolid warden eaned back in his chair and gazed with amaze- ment upon the prisoner. ‘* Upon me wourd, yees have a howly cheek!” the old grizzled assistant warden cried, amazed out of all propriety by the impudence of the stranger. ) As for the warden himself he hardly knew what to make of the stranger, who was well- dressed, although his clothes betrayed evident signs of long wear, and he had the air of a man who had been well brought up; evidently an educated person and one who had been used to mingling in good society, and yet, to she experi- he enced eyes of the veteran, something about the haw man suggested that he was a member of that peculiar class who manage to pick up a living through their wits. | To use the French expression,a ‘‘ chevalier of > fortune,” who preyed upon the world. It was just possible, though, that there might con be some mistake about the matter. The man’s looks might belie him, and he might be a re- spectable member of society, after The difference between the confidence-men who roam through the world seeking whom they may devour, and the young bloods of fash- ion, who sow their wild oats with a reckless - hand, is not so great as to be detected at the first glance,even by the most experienced ob- server. “Sy The warden was impressed by the manner of J the prisoner. If he was only a common adven- pl turer he was first-class in his line, at all events, i as his superb bravado proved. AY ‘‘T meant no offense, sir,” the official are ed. ‘* All I intended to say was that you have got yourself in a bad box.” ‘*Oh, not at all,” the other responded, per- fectly collected. “‘A manof your judgment, ou know, ought not to believe all you hear. Txvorianice ought to have shown you lon that one tale is good until another is told. sides of the shield must be examined before is justified in swearing positively as to its col ‘The accusation against you isa very se ous one.” “You will be astonished at the ease witk which | can disprove the allegationwhen [have an examination. Meanwhile, warden, I hoper | am not asking anything out of the way when EF | request you to treat me with the respect due to ee. a gentleman who, by an unfortunate a is put into a false position.” , iv ‘Certainly not, certainly not,” replied the official, really bewildered by the assurance of 4 the prisoner, whom he n to believe to be either one of nature’s noblemen or else the cool- est and most consummate scoundrel who had ever entered the cloomy portals of the gloomiest A pile the United States can boast. ‘* All men are liable to fall into bee gre “% > A Lal ~ . =" 4 =4 « a eit oF 2 e -_— . i] a he t é * . 4, piste aioe > ® - scrapes once in a while, and I cannot ho be more lucky than the average mortal. in the mean time, I hope you willdo what you can to make my position as pleasant aspos- sible.” | ‘Of course,” said the warden, more and more bewildered. gg): ICO _ (Ee) <