Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 501 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

** Sunday night and Monday morning, when mf : - +e * oe ae *. 2 d * roe : istadss! cay Te TT A, a a ¥ -@, ~~ . at Springsteel Steve. it is now but Friday!” burst out Edna, with passionate bitterness. ‘‘ But what of my lost darling till then?” And she once more gave way to a tempest of useless anguish, But nothing could be done, and nothing of any hopefulness offered itself again until the following Sunday. In the middle of the afternoon Langley again made his appearance. **No more word from my anonymous corre- spondent as yet,” said be. “* But Pve neverthe- less, made a startling discovery.” Willard and Springsteel were at once se interested, while Edna, who bad grown pitiably thin and worn, looked up eagerly. **T have just learned,” continued the sheriff, ** that the eloping couple took a south-going train at Tarrytown edrly this morning, after being driven thither in a close coach from White Plains.” What!” exclaimed Edgar; ‘‘ they have then beer hiding in the village ever since the elope- ment?” ** Undoubtedly, or in its near neighborhood.” ‘** But this seems scarcely credible!” ** Oh, itisa trick worthy of even Red O’Meara!” cried the old detective, learned, Jake?” ‘ **Not much. But I have found the livery- man who drove them over—a chap from Mount Vernon.” ‘* Where had he taken them aboard?’ ** At a spot on the road to Tuckahoe, one mile out of White Plains; he met them there, by ap- pointment through the post-office on the previ- ous day.” **The whole county has been roused over the elopement. Wasn’t the fellow’s suspicions waken- ed up as to their identity?” ‘* Perhaps so, and put tosleep again. At all events, he only grinned in response to my in- quiries, and volunteered the remark that he was paid for carrying passengers, not for catch- ing runaways.” ‘A shrewd trick!” repeated Springsteel. “* Where could they have kept themselves so snugly for three days in gossiping White Plains, with none the wiser?” The party were seated on the front piazza, and at this juncture the sheriff started up with a good deal of surprise. ** Perhaps she might know!” he exclaimed, pointing down the drive. ‘*‘ What! were you expecting a visit from the old grenadier in pet- ticoats?” The surprise of the others was no less com- plete. It was Miss Raw’s appearance on the drive that was the occasion of it all. Primly enthroned in lonely state on the fore- seat of a dilapidated carryall, drawn by a bony uadruped of architectural aspect, she was hold- ng the lines with a resolute grip, and not a muscle of her hard features changed until she had come toasolemn halt at the foot of the piazza steps. Her announcement was then fully at par with the unexpectedness of her ap ‘* Mrs, Willard!” she call ** What else have you nce. out, in her harsh- est and most cracked voice; ‘‘ you’ve beerd me say as how I don’t like kids, and neither I don’t, on general principles, specially wher they spew and squack. But that’s not sayin’ thet I’m will- in’ to see em trod over rough-shod, an’ abused. You’d better come down an’ get your nuss and babby out of this wagon. J’ve got about enough of ’em.” Edna was down at the wagon with a scream, and the men were not far behind. The side-covering was torn aside. The next instant the heir of Willard Hall was in his mother’s arms, while Mary, the nurse, looking dazed and bewildered, was helped out by the detective. “You'd better look to that gal!” suggested Miss Raw, who had scarcely changed her ram- rod erectness a hair’s-breadth. ‘‘ She’s been stunned with p’izen, or somethin’ or other, an’ don’t seem in her right senses,” Mary, who had indeed seemed hardly to know where she was, here made a violent attempt to tear the baby out of the mother’s arms, raving incoherently that he should not be barmed, or something to that effect. She was given in charge of her fellow-ser- vants, who had come trooping from the house in a high state of Wh ous excitement over the good news, and Willard gave orders for the | a payee to be summoned without delay. for the son and heir, he was in prime con- dition and spirits. “Wasn't you that sent me the anonymous note Langley’s first question of Miss Raw. ** Young man, it was my effort, and I ain’t ashamed of it, nuther.” ‘* Nor need you be, ma’m; but how have you been able to effect this good work?” . *“ That's tellin’ secrets.” “Still you might amiable by letting us know.” “Tf I'm asked to stay to tea, perhaps I will.” The overjoyed young couple were only too happy to extend the desired inyitation, I got on Friday, ma’m?” was Sheri Jats yourself yet more a - Pod ‘ - ; rots fas \ eet CHAPTER XXXIITL MISS RAW’S CONTINUED SURPRISES. Miss Raw was gravely solicitous as to the welfare of her horse. ‘*Be mighty keerful of that dumb critter, oung man,” said sbe to the coachman, who bal been summoned to take the animal in charge. ‘‘Eff this is a hired turnout, I’m mighty pertickier as to the treatment of dumb critters,” She carried an old-fashioned reticule, which the sheriff gallantly offered to take charge of while escorting ber up the piazza steps, but Miss Raw slightly recoiled, with a decided, ** Not eff I know it, Shurff Jake; so don’t you try on your sweet sugar airs with me!” She maintained a rigidly taciturn air until after tea, and it was only when they were all seated on the piazza a little later that she con- descended to unbend. ‘You're like enough expectin’ some sort of regular story from me,” said she. ‘ But you ain’t agoin’ to getit. I ain’t good at conseckey- tive yarnin’, an’ never was, But what I choose to let ye snake out of me by questions, as sha’n’t be imperternent, you air “welcome to. Mr. Thiefketcher there,” (pointing to old Springsteel) ‘*kin prehaps turn the pumpin’ crank ’bout as well as anybody else.” ~ The veteran detective smiled his appreciation of the not very certain compliment conveyed, crossed his legs, assumed his most urbanely judicious air, and proceeded to his rather con- genial task without preamble or delay. ‘*Who was the abductor of the nurse and child, Miss Raw?” “That dirty thief, O’Meara.” ‘*' Who was his confederate?” ** Don’t know.” -** When did you first get wind of the place of captivity” ‘ Friday, afore daylight.” ‘*Of whom did you obtain the information?” **Of O'Meara, when he ’lo to my house with that lunkin’ big fool-elephant, Libby Webb.” “ Ah! the eloping couple have then been with ou. mG Till this mornin’ early, when I made ’em up traps and scoot. May it please this here court an’ jury, howsomever, I want to make a state- ment in defense of my own reppertation.” ‘** Certainly, Miss Raw.” ‘*T want to say, emphatic, thet I only consent- ed to take ’em in because I hoped by that means to find out what had become of the missin’ kid and nuss, And, furder, thet”—with genuinely modest confusion—‘‘they ockerpied separate apartmingts while under my roof.” ‘““We might have known as much, without your statement to the fact, Miss Raw, since your character is above suspicion.” ‘**Thankee, Mr. Thief-ketcher.” ** Now let us go on, Did O’Meara volunteer the information as to where he had disposed the girl and child?” ‘He did, thinkin’ me his friend, whereas I hate the man wuss’n p’izen ivy, with a rattle- snake throwed in, That very mornin’, while they was asleep, I writ an’ posted that ’ere enornymous letter to Shurff Jake.” ‘*Could you not have relieved the dreadful suspense of Mr. and Mrs. Willard without the delay?” ** No, sir; much as I would haveliked to. Oh, Lord! dye think thet I didn’t feel for her?” with a kindly look toward Edna, who was still keeping the child, now fast asleep, pressea to her bosom. ‘ Well, I did, anyway.” ‘**Pardon me, Miss Raw, for asking why you thought the delay necessary?” “*[ don’t only hate that man, I fear him. He would have killed me on suspicion of my play- ing him false. I even shivered all the time I writ that note to the shurff. He may kill me yet when he finds out.” “Oh, no dangor of that, I think!” : : Well, you kin jest bet he won’t, ef I kin help ** Was Miss Libby aware of O’Meara’s villainy before eloping with him?” ‘“No, she wasn’t. There’s thet much to the fool-elephant’s credit, any way. Fact is, she’s been blubberin’ over it ever sence.” ‘** How did you get rid of them at last?” **By purtendin’ thet my next-door neighbor was growin’ suspicious-like.” ** How did they get away without excitlng re- mark?” *“* By going off on foot before sun-up. What's become of ’em I don’t care,” *“They’re off to New York, so you can rest easy On that score. Did O'Meara treat his com- panion kindly?” ‘Well, sorter. He’d kiss her now and then, but would mostly laugh at her for a fool, or get mad at her blubberin’.” “*But she bad the money stolen from her father, hadn’t she?” “Not a cent. He had made her fork over every bit of it, saying that women couldn’t take care of money. ‘ Mebbe some can’t,’ thinks I to myself, ‘but ef 1 was that fool-gal I'd try to make one ’ception to therule, anyway.” ** Well, Miss Raw, what did you do this morn- a : ing, eid getting rid of your unwelcome ests “‘Swallered some breakfast, includin’ a quart measure of hot tea, fu’st off.” “Ah! And then?’ ‘* Hired thet turnout of Tom Biggs (dollar ’n’ a half fur all day, an’ be to call bisself a Chris- tian, too!) am’ set off to find the kid an’ nuss.” ‘** W bere were they?” **Way up in Whippoorwill; eighteen mile from the Plains, in a shoemaker's cabin, where ree was to be kept at a dollara day till called or. ‘Were they being well cared for?’ ‘** First rate, the child ’specially. You see the shoemaker’s wife hed lost a babby of her own only the week afore, an’ Mrs. Willard’s got the milk what t’other one would hev had. They seemed to have most trouble with the nuss, who had been dosed or drugged with suthin’ thet had left her sort of loony, jest asshe is now, or’wuss.” ‘* Name of the couple?” ** Simmons.” The detective started a little, as did one or two of the others. ‘* Simmons, eh? Had they suspected that any- as was wrong?” ‘“*T guess not. ’Peared to be ignorant and innercent. Besides that, they seemed to have trouble enough of their own.’ ** ‘What seemed to be their trouble?’ ‘* Couldn’t tell exactly. But it seemed to be about a son of theirs, a sailor chap, what is nigh on to death in one of the New York horsepickles, an’ they not able to fetch him out to hum, where he might bev a chance to get well.” ‘‘That will do, Miss Raw. And 1 hepe you won't be offended at my saying that I consider ou a thoroughly noble woman. I wouldn’t have expected it of you. You're a rough dia- mond, from top to toe,” Miss Raw arose stiffly. ** Pd thank one of you chaps to order around my critter,” said she. ‘‘I didn’t come here to be soft-sawdered; an’, what’s more, I don’t want to be late to Methodist meetin’, for ['m sort of pious on occasion, ef I don’t ’zactly look it.” But here both Edgar and Edna, with their hearts overflowing, pressed forward to grasp her bands, ** We must be your friends henceforth, dear Miss Raw!” exclaimed the latter. ‘‘Ob, you will sometimes let me do something for you, won't you?” ‘‘T want to be your friend, too, Miss Raw!” cried the young man. “ Apart, wholly a from any secret you may possess”—this in a low voice—* I want you to consider me your friend and well-wisher from this time forth,” Miss Raw seemed to stiffen up more formida- bly and forbiddingly than ever, at first; and then, to the astonishment of all, she not only grasped their outstretched hands, but kissed them both, husband and wife (though the last- named first) squarely on the forehead. ** What air you two, anyway, but a couple of young ones yourselves?” she said, ‘* Howsom- ever, I hope you ken take keer of the babby be- twixt you.” After that she was instantly her iron, ram- roddy self again, looking as gaunt, spare and uncompromising as ever. * Sburff Jake, air you going my way?” she asked, as her equipage was brought up to the piazza. ‘If you air, I don’t mind giving you a friendly lift so fur as the Plains,” But Langley bad driven over in bis own team, and was compelled to decline the offer. Then Miss Raw vouchsafed to unbend once more before climbing into her carryall, ‘““T say, you-’uns,” she remarked, particular- izing the domestic trio, ‘Ill relieve your minds by saying one thing—at present. There is a twin brother, an’ Pll unbutton my lips te any extent when you’ve cornered him.” Then, after resuming ber seat behind the architectural steed, and taking up the lines, she seemed to soften yet further. ““ Of course thet demand of mine fur half the estate was humbug, to keep up the idear that I was on the side of that skunk, O’Meara,” she called out. ‘*‘Come round to my cottage to- morrer, early as ha please, and, if still alive, I'll tell you all I know about all you want to know.” *¢ Ah, why wait for to-morrow?” cried Spring- steel Steve, who was ever wary of postpone- ments, and he stepped forward with his most wheedling smile. ‘‘ Why not relieve our anx- ieties now, at once and for all?” She shook ber head. ‘¢ I'm tired an’ worked up: besides there’s that Methodist meetin’. Can’t think of it. To-mor- row, early as you please.” And she drove off. Sheriff Langley, to whom all had been more or less incomprehensible, was partially enlight- ened by the old detective, when he too drove away, leaving lightened hearts and fast reviv- ing hopes behind him, CHAPTER XXXIV. ; ANOTHER BLACK CLOUD. THERE was an early and almost joyous breake fast at Willard Manse on the followingday. : a} i's'f -| ieee 0 eK @) —_ a ee se ab