Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 501 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

a = to obtain this from me (aha! but you knew the vital,the fatal danger to yourself of its remaining in my possession!) that you and your three con- federates attempted my assassination last even- | ing on the Whippoorwill road! It is this—look, murderer, look!” and he shook the pocketbook once more aloft—it is this that shall hang you et! : O'Meara seemed to lose his head altogether for ap instant, With a fierce oath, he made a bound to snatch the wallet, but was intercepted in a manner he could hardly have looked for. CHAPTER XL. TURNING THE TABLES, THE unexpected interception was in the form of a knock-down blow between the eyes from Edgar Willard’s fist, It was cleverly delivered, with surprising celerity and expertness, and before tbe floored scoundrel could more than stagger to his feet, Sheriff Langley had slipped a pair of handcuffs on him with commendable neatness and dis- patcb. Edna had only flushed with pleasure, while her father nodded his approbation of the pugilis- tic surprise; but both Patrick, the coachman, and Albert, the colossal gardener, burst into an unmistakable cheer, while the female domes- tics clapped their hands without restraint. Even the fact of poor Mary’s dead body lying up-stairs was momentarily forgotten in the en- thusiasm of seeing their young master acquit himself so unexpectedly and creditably. ‘*Hooray for Misther Willard!” shouted the coachman. ‘Give him just one more, sor, for the honor of the house! Sure, an’ isn’t that the dirthy blackguard that stole the baby, an’ did our poor Mary to the death?” The applause of the domestics turned to fury, and there was a demonstrative movement against the prisoner, which was, however, in- stantly checked by a gesture on the part of both master and mistress. ‘* You dare not arrest me without a warrant,” cried the ruffian, glaring like a baffled wild beast. ‘‘Release me, or produce your arrest warrant, Otherwise, I’ll have the law on you!” Springsteel slightly lost countenance, for there was more truth than empty bravado in this; but Sheriff Langley was provided for this emer- ency. * “Not so fast, my noble count!” said he, quiet- ly producing a document. an extra warrant wouldn’t be amiss in your aristocrati2 case, so I provided a double-shctter, ou my own respons*ility, before quitting White Plains this morning.” ‘¢On what charge would you dare arrest me?” ‘‘On two charges, my beauty! First, on Far- mer Webb’s charge of having stolen his money on the night of your elopement. As the war- rant says nothing about A ne stealing his daugh- ter at the same time, I suppose he’s willing to let her slide, as being very much of age, and big enouch to take care of herself.” 5 O’Meara, who had now got bis unruly temper in hand again, burst into a disdainful laugh. ‘* This is too ridiculous!” he exclaimed, ‘‘ The theft, if any, was the young woman’s, not mine, Langley waved his hand in a mock deprecat- ing way. ‘‘ Next, on Mr. and Mrs. Willard’s charge of kidnapping their infant and his nurse,” ‘¢ You must add also the cbarge of causing the nurse’s death,” called out Edna, before O’Meara could interpose a second denial. ‘‘ The poor girl died last night—the victim of that villain’s brutal contriving, if there ever was such a thing in the world.” Here there was another demonstration, on the rt of the servants, which was suppressed with more difficulty than before, * That’ prepete charge again!” roared O'Meara. ‘t Why, I’ve already proved the ab- surdity of it!” ; ‘‘ That remains to be seen,” said the sheriff, whose team, a Jarge spring wagon with two horses, bad just been driven _up to the piazza, “At present, young man, I want you bad. Come along!” ‘Isnt he to be arrested?” shoutel the discom- fited scoundrel, fairly quivering with rage as he pointed to Willard. ‘‘Is the sworn charge of murder against him to be boneyfugled out of sight and existence in this way?” gar, whose hat bad been brought to him, had already stepped smilingly between the two constables. ‘Oh, the warrant will have tu be executed for form’s sake, I suppose,” replied Langley, with a careless shrug of tbe shoulders, ** But these little ornaments can be readily dispensed with in Mr. Willard’s case,” and be tapped O’Meara’s handcuffs with jocose significance, “Come along, your Highness!” : But O’Meara underwent another frightful ac- cess of rage at finding the tables so absolutely and ignominiously turned upon him. : Foaming at the mouth, he stiffened up his short but powerful frame, and menacingly shook his manacled hands aloft. “I'll be cursed if I do!” he shouted, with a torrent of blasphemy. ‘‘ Curse it all, it isn’t ‘*T kinder thought ° ‘ i ‘ a i “ m7 z — the fair thing! You cover me with shame on the merest pretense, while that white-handed, equally accused man, simply because he’s got money and position— Stand back, Langley, or Vl brain you with my ironed wrists! [Tm a desperate man, and—” At that instant be was borne down by a giant hand—belonging to the colossal Albert, but seeming at the moment as large and heavy as the proverbial hand of Providence itself—falling upon his shoulder with crushing force. Then the great Swiss seemed to fairly tie the ruffian up in a knot with the most phlegmatic ease, in spite of his oaths and struggles, after which the wretch was tossed into the wagon with such summariness that he could only re- main there, impotently glaring and gnashing his teeth. ‘* Thanks, my friend,” said the sheriff, polite- ly bowing his acknowledgments, while taking his seat beside his deputy. ‘‘ 1 rather think we shall get on now.” Patrick, the coachman, who had celebrated the feat of his Swiss co-laborer with a mild shindig of delight, drew mysteriously close to his master. ‘*Say but the wurrd, sor,” he whisperéd, in- dicating the country constables by a motion of the thumb, ‘‘ an’ ye sha’n’t even go to the Plains with these sbpalpeens. Albert an’ meself will break the back av thim in the shake of a sheep’s tail. ‘* Don’t forget yourself, Patrick!” said Wil- lard, reprovingly. ‘‘ Even Albert’s interference was uncalled for.” He then pressed Edna's hand, and signified his readiness to accompany the officers. ‘“‘One moment before you drive off, Jake!” called out Springsteel, stepping down to the sheriff’s wagon, ‘‘A parting word for the benefit of your amiable prisoner bere.” And he smilingly turned to O’Meara who had gathered bimself intosome sort of shape after his unceremonious tumble, and was occupying the rear seat in the wagon with a species of sulky resignation, ‘* What more do you want of me?” growled the ruffian, with a fresh oath. ** Only to tell you this, my boy,” was the now thoroughly ee rruply response. ‘* You spoke, 1 understand, of being able to produce a second eye-witness to the murder of Miser John Wil- lard—meaniug, doubtless, your former accom- plice in the Bleak Hollow job, Tom Simmons, the sailor?” ** What if I did?” ** Nothing: only that, while you are in dur- ance vile, my boy, I shall be hunting bim up in New York, with the view to producing him as a witness on our side. See? There’s nothing like being beforehand in matters of business, my boy; and I thought you might want to know. By-by!” O’Meara could only scowl as he was driven off; and Willard was not far behind in the nom- inal custody of the constables, who had left their conveyance around the turn of the drive. ‘* Well, my dear,” said the old detective cheerfully kissing his daughter, as he bustled indoors with her a few moments later. ‘‘ The great and much-dreaded agony is over at last, you see, and without a great deal of harm done, after all,” ‘Yes, thanks to your Spoon return,” re- plied Edna, who was by this time in almosta cheerful state of resignation berself. ‘* Ob, what a narrow escape you must have had! and how odd your clothes look!” ‘*So would yours, if you had taken a header in Wampus Pond, without the preliminary of undressing. But Ill tell you all about it at lunch, after I get myself in better shape. Send up some hot water to my room, please, and bave Patrick make the barouche or Surrey ready by half-past twelve.” ‘*What for?’ cried Edna, who had followed him to the door of his room. ‘ You're not go- ing away right off again?” “Only to New York, that’s all. And of course you'll accompany me as far as the sta- tion, to see how Edgar is surviving the clutches of the myrmidons of the law, as the story-tellers are so food of styling us poor devils of the baton and shield. Ah, I thought so! Run along, then, and send me the hot water.” He duly recounted the story of his adventure at luncheon, and, half an hour later, after much other conversation had passed between them, they were on their way to the White Plains sta- tion, with Patrick at the lines. **Do you apprehend that vou will have any trouble in finding the man Simmons, father?” inquired Edna. “Yes, more or less; but Pll find him, my dear. No doubt of that.” ‘*But if he is sick to death in a hospital, what trouble can there be in finding him at all?” ‘In the first place, my love, because he may not have been quite sosick to the death as he made out; and then again, on broader and ab- struser principles, he is a sailor.” ‘What of that?” ‘* Sailors are convivial, my dear. But let this rest How. [ shall bring the rascal out in time for Edgar’s preliminary examination before the grand jury, which ought to take place prompt- ringsteel Steve. — i eee Se ae ly, as Langley told me it was now in session— that is, I tnink I shall. In the mean time, Ed- gar can procure bail in any amount, so that neither you nor he need be especially incon- venienced in my absence,” Springsteel was justin time to catch his de- sired train, so that Edna could only kiss bim good-by, and then hurry off to the Court House where it was understood that both her husband and O’Meara were in custody. While making her way through the crowded court room, under Sheriff Langley’s escort, a towering an@ voluminous beauty spoke to her. It was Miss Libby. ‘* What, vou here, Miss Libby?’ exclaimed Edna, greatly astonished. ‘*The Countess Omeerando now, if you please!” corrected the mighty damsel, with a grand air, ‘‘ Here is my card.” CHAPTER XLI. IN COURT. Epna only glanced at the card extended to her, and then burried on. ‘Even as it is, I do hope that she has not really married the man!” she whispered to Langley, who bad passed Libby with merely a cold stare. ‘‘Oh, but she has; there is no doubt of it,” was his reply. York two or three days ago, I understand, and she has been dar, Son get word with him here since be was first brought here. And the joke of itis she still persists in imagining herself nothing less than a countess.” But Edna could see no joke in it, whatever, and could only silently grieve over the self- wrought os he of the foolish young wo- man whom she had once regarded as her friend. The examination was almost finished with re- gard to Edgar, who turned from fhe side of bis counsel, one of the most eminent lawyers of the county, to respond with a smile to the cheering pressure of his wife’s hand, O’Meara’s charge of murder against the young master of Willard Manse, which had already caused the wildest public sensation, was dul considered by the Court, after which he was ad- mitted to bail in the sum of ten thousand dol- lars, to appear before the Grand Jury on the second day following. ‘ His bondsmen were on hand—Mr. W—, his counsel, bad taken care of that—and ina few moments Edgar was at liberty. Both he and Edgar waited, however, to see the action that would be taken in O’Meara’s. case, The latter had also managed to secure the services of capable counsel, who at once under- took to pooh-pooh the charges made against his client, as having been solely inspired by a spirit of spiteful reprisal. But Sheriff Langley bad already had the ear of the district attorney, an intelligent and dis- criminating man; and, moreover, Farmer Webb himself was present, with blood in his eye and revenge in every square inch of his per- sonal appearance. The judge summarily disposed of the case by holding the accused in ten thousand dollars on — the countercharge, and im five thousand each on — the associate charges of robbery and kidnap- ing. x Then the prisoner’s counsel entreated that the bail might be reduced so as to be within the reach of bis client, whom he feelingly alluded to as ‘‘a comparatively penniless man, with few personal friends within the jurisdiction of the Court, and so unfortunate as to bave incurred the rancorous resentment of the powerful and wealthy criminal whom he had dared to charge with a heinous and barbarous crime, the mur- — der of Jobn Willard, of Willard Manse, five ears ago, but still fresh in the shuddering recol- ection of a justly indignant public.” Tbe appeal was useless, however, and, in de- fault of bail, the prisoner was sent to prison, to | B await the action of the grand jury. O’Meara bad resigned bimself to the discom- — a fort of his predicament, and was putting the best face op the matter. lpn, He was creditably assuming the deeply-injured but heroically-resigned part, and turned with an affectedly crushed and virtuous look to ac- cept his counsel’s outstretched hand before being Jed away to his confinement, But at this juncture there was an awkward@d and most unexpected interruption, There was an emotional scream, of a locomotive. like the blast ‘Count! my husband!” shrieked the voice; os ‘‘they shall not separate us. Your countess- bride is with you still.” And the whilom Miss Libby was seen shoul- | dering her way through the intervening crowd, like the fistic champion Sullivan amid a mob of dudes and dandies for the gate-money. Her monstrous and absurdly over-dressed figure—for, brief as had been her allotted time, she had somehow managed to achieve wonders from among tbe New York milliners and dress~ making emporiums—surged and undulated amid her pigmy surroundings, like a frigate in a mill-pond. ' Her arms were waving frantically, emotional ‘om (C ‘*“They were married in New _ ht * . Ts ‘ * « a - * * * J ba) < * ~_- . * po - - + \ Mass * ‘ ® * \% rs er ; «ial , a Lj *e. + far ‘ iS we: *.