Beadle's Dime Library No. 509 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

22 out two or three others, as far as their precious wares would admit, ‘** We're being buried alive!” shrieked The- rese, starting up; but almost immediately, re- membering Mayfield’s comparatively reassur- ing words, settling back in her enforced but rather undignified attitude, adding discontent- edly: ‘* But we’re trapped, anyway, like rats in a hole; there is no discounting that.” ‘*Who are you?” demanded Mayfield, still half-mystified. ** Mon Dieu ! don’t Fee know me, cheri ?” **Humph! Nowldo. The devil!” ‘Oh, no; not so bad as that, mon ami! though I frankly acknowledge to a spice of the Old Boy in my cormposition,” But Mayfield bad turned bis frowning atten- tion to the detective. ** So [= have run my secret to earth at last!” he said, contemptuously. ‘‘ Well, name your demand,” with a gesture indicating the exposed treasure, the sight of which was already making La Travadeuse’s eyes widen. ‘‘ Of course, you are come to insist on your share!” ‘‘There’s where you’re out, young man—de- cidedly out,” replied the detective, coolly. *‘ But, before I answer your insulting insinua- tion, let me investigate this means of egress that you hint of.” As he arose and stepped crouchingly across the uneven rubbish-heap that formed the floor of the cistern, the last clods could be faintly heard falling into the excavation far above their beads, and these sounds were followed by vaguely caught intimations of that denuncia- tion, on the part of Henriette, which had fol- lowed upon her cousin’s treacherous work above ground, ** A woman’s voice that!” exclaimed Therese, listening intently till the sounds had ceased. “* Monsieur Vieux Faucon,” to the detective, who had turned with some degree of satisfac- tion from examining the breach in the wall, ** how do you account for our humiliating mis- fortune, notwithstanding that it has served asa summary introduction to our pious and wealthy young friend here?” ‘*We have only our short-sighted failure to provide against the treachery to blame,” re- plied the detective, resuming his seat on the de- molished treasure-boxes, ‘* But whose treachery, monsieur?” ‘* Joseph Mervyn’s, without a doubt. It is clear enough now. He was shadowing us while we were shadowing Mayfield here; with which premises our present predicament explains it- self, I should have kept the bracelets on the scoundrel’s wrists when [ had them there—there was my mistake,” ‘* But didn’t you hear that feminine voice a moment ago?” a6 Yes ” ** How do you account for that?” **In this way,” replied Old Falcon, after a moment’s reflection. ‘‘ After spotting the lay of the house here, he must have sought out and. se- cured to himself a companion for the adventure that has followed.” ‘* A companion, monsieur?” poe ii it out that way.” ** A female companion?’ “sé Yes.” ‘* But this is astonishing! What woman could he have induced him to accompany him on such an adventure, and at midnight at that?” Old Falcon fastened his strange, soul-reading eyes curiously upon Harvey Mayfield’s moody and clouded fave, as he slowly and impressively replied: h Retta Merrivale, otherwise, Henriette Mer- vyn, the rightful heir to all this money, together with that which may have heretofore been feloniously abstracted therefrom !” The young man started to his feet so abruptly as rap his head smartly against the vaulted roo . ‘*Good God!” he falteringly exclaimed, ‘f can it be possible?” CHAPTER XXXIII, : BURIED ALIVE. THERESE had evinced an astonishment at the detective’s reply that was only second to May- field’s, which was simply prodigious, Old Falcon signed her to silence, and con- tinued to rivet the young man with his eagle gaze. ‘* You somewhat emotionally ask if it can be possible?’ he said, sternly. ‘‘Do you allude to the hypothesis of the young lady having ac- companied our enemy in the misadventure that bas been wrought upon us, or to the mere fact of her identity with the heiress of the stolen funds, sir?” “To the latter, as a matter of fact,” was the stammered reply. ‘‘ Retta Merrivaie and the banker’s lost heiress one and the same?” “cc Yes. ” “Heavens! I can't believe it possible.” “It is the simple truth, Madame Bertrande here is a witness to the fact.” * Cher amant, e’est vrai,” it is true, supple- mented Therese. Harvey Mayfield sunk again into a sitting posture, and buried his face in his hands, When he raised it again the shame, confusion and self-contempt expressed in his comely features was most pitiable. *‘ Oh, if had but known, if I had but guessed!” was all he could say. ‘‘This emotion is to your credit, sir,” said Old Falcon, gravely. ‘‘I then infer that your course, with regard to this treasure, would bave been different, had you suspected the young lady’s identity?” ‘Different? I should say sv! Not only would my love for her have impelled me to throw it at her feet, but I would not for an instant have yielded to the temptation that has beset me,” Therese had made a wry little face at this mention of love for her rival, though she still held her peace. ‘‘And you also acknowledge,” the detective went on, “that even apart from the young lady’s legal claim upon this property, your own course in designing to appropriate it (knowing it to have been stolen, though not aware from whom,) was criminal? ‘‘Of course, 1 acknowledge it,” replied the young man, humbly. ‘Iam not such a fool as not to know the distinctions between right and wrong—chicanery and uprightness. It was simply a base temptation, appealing to my vulgar desires to grow ricb without work, and I weakly, miserably succumbed to it.” The detective’s face had lost its iron stern- ness, and he was softly rubbing his hands to- gether. ‘Excellent! excellent! Better and better!” he exclaimed, half to himself. ‘‘ When a man of naturally honorable instincts talks in that way, there is every hope for his redemption. I suppose, young mam, you no longer think me capable of baving hunted your secret to earth to-night with a self-seeking motive in view?” “T do not, sir,” in a yet humbler and more despondent; tone, “I offer you an apology, which I hope you will accept.’ ‘Certainly, certainly; don’t mention it again. By the way, this is likely not your first visit here?” ‘* No; it is my second one.” ** And how much did you carry off with you at your first visit?” ‘* About thirty thousand dollars, But I have squandered literally nothing of it as yet, thank God! The-entire amount has been banked in New York, with the exception of some hun- dreds now in my writing-desk, and two hundred dollars that I almost forced upon Retta asa loan, on the morning of our extraordinary first meeting in this house,” ** Ah, then it is all right. what can be rectified.” ‘‘No, no, no! it is not all right,” burst forth the unhappy young man, in a. fresh access of despair. ‘ Nothing can.ever be right again! I have dug the grave for my own happiness; I am lost, lost, lost!” - ‘‘' What do you mean?” “Oh! do you not see that she inust now be told all—that is, if we ever get out from this accursed hole?’ and Mayfield looked wildly around, “For I will not shirk one _hair’s- breadth of the just penalty I have incurred. With my own lips [ shall tell her of my self- shame, my depraved surrender to dishonest self-suggestions. And can you not see that she will then despise me?—that my last hope of win- war? love and respect will have vanished?” ‘Well, I don’t know about that,” said the de- No harm done but tective, consolingly, and momentarily forgetful of Travadeuse’s personal interest in the affair. ‘‘ You had no idea of Henriette being other than a poor and friendless girl at the time. There is that much in your favor.” “Tt will avail me nothing,” groaned ee ‘field. ‘‘I know her. Her contempt and loath- ing of dishonesty or want of principle ina man is simply superlative. I can never be the same to her as I have seemed to be, after she shall know of my shame.” ‘That is true, cher Harvee,” said Therese, thinking it time for her interposition in her own ‘“‘T have made the demoiselle’s ac- quaintance, and she is simply an angel of pu- rity—but uncommonly on your austere and icicle order. You have lost her irrevocably, my dear, but you haven’t lost me. Don’t for- get that!” He looked at her half-stupidly. : “*You see, mon ,”’ she went on, quite easily, while taking one of his clinched hands, and patting it in a motherly way, * I still love you to distraction, and will marry you, even if you haven’t a penny to bless yourself with. There!” He still stared at her, and then snatched bis hand away with a harsh laugh. ‘« Let be, let be!” he cried, and then he started up wildly once more, ‘‘ But let us get out of this hole, if possible. Come, come, come! The air is already growing close, if not stifling.” This was true, and his companions lost no time in following him, as he took up the lan- tern, and stoopingly entered what was evidently the beginning of a subterranean passage. ‘No need to fear for our money during our absence!” he exclaimed, throwing a lass glance back before stepping into tie cave. ‘* Monsieur Vieux Faucon,” said Therese, ‘* you have not said how you think it possible that ta Old Falcon, the Thunderbolt Detective. Mademoiselle Henriette can have assisted our enemy, Juseph Mervyn, in this playful attempt to bury us alive.” ‘She cannot, of course, have assisted him,” was the reply; ‘‘ but was perhaps induced to ac- Sg ed him, and in that way would have been, r fcrce, a witness to our seeming murder.” ** Joseph doubtless imagines he has accom- plished our murder, then? ‘Without a doubt.” sé But—” ‘* Oh, there is no telling what plausible fabri- cation he may have concocted to induce her presence at the scene, He can be eloquent and rsuasive on occasion, and would doubtless ope to marry the young lady and her money sooner or later. But we shall neatly block bis little game, if we but succeed in getting out of this, ‘‘ Hallo! a find!” They bad been following Mayfield slowly and tortuously, and this exclamation was evoked by the appearance of a rusty old crowbar and spade standing up closely against one side of tbe passage.” oe Waive we shall have need of these,” con- tinued Old Falcon, taking up the implements in his arms. He was right, After proceeding a few yards further, the passage suddenly widened out, and then showed a seemingly all but hopeless ob- struction to continued progress, The entire space was completely vhoked by fallen and settled fragments of earth and rock, ete as Retta was destined to find it a few hours ater at the opposite side, ‘‘There’s no help for it,” growled the detec- tive, pushing past Mayfield, who had come toa stupefied pause, lantern in hand, ‘‘ We sball have to work and sweat for our deliverance, even if we are ever to effect it, which is unplea- santly dubious,” And with that, he dropped the spade and struck the crowbar deep into the obstructing mass, CHAPTER XXXIV. AT THE BARRIER. Two or three hours of hard and discouragin work followed, each member of the imprisone trio taking spells at wielding the crowbar, while the spade would be jn use to clear away the debris and dispose of it to the best advantage at the sides of the passage. But the earth would not infrequently fall in from the roof quite as fast as it could be removed below in a forward direction, Added to this was the condition of the air, which was hourly growing closer and more stifling, so that at last they could only breathe it pantingly, while there seemed to be no termi- nation to the obstructing mass, At last Therese, who chanced to be taking her ninth or tenth turn at the more arduous labor, came to a dispirited pause, as the point of the cad struck upon what seemed solid, unyielding rock, She was probably stronger physically than either of her companions, but she was streaming with perspiration at every pore, and, brave- hearted as she was, a dogged, desperate look had come into her anxious face that was not good to see, ‘‘T feel like giving up!” she panted, leaning wearily on the crowbar ‘ Messieurs et amis, it is not under trifling circumstances that your fair and gifted companion is inclined to throw up the sponge (oh, for one now, saturated with eau de cologne, to press against my nostrils!) but she is sorely tempted to do so at present. The heaatty barrier seems to grow adamantine. Being fired out of my pet cannon five bundred times in rapid succession were as nothing to this work, Diable ! it is heer -breaking: Mayfield—the detective chancing to be hand- ling the spade at the moment—came forward, and gently relieved her of the heavy bar, His spirit was already much chastened, and he had grown steadily more forbearing and entle with her since the hard struggle for de- iverance and life bad set in. ‘* Rest yourself on this broken fragment,” he said, reac ing for the tool, ‘I will take a spell now “ No, no; you have only just relinquished it to e ‘* That is nothing.” He insisted, and was oes 3 the crow from her hands, when she touched his shoulder and looked up earnestly in his haggard face, ‘* Cher amant, kiss me!” she said. ‘* Monsieur Vieux Faucon will not mind, and you have never yet returned one of my innumerable kisses, which,” a little bitterly, but yet with in- describable sadness, * you huve doubtless found unwelcome enough.” The young man hesitated, and looked annoy- ed, But, there was an appeal beneath her still half-bantering manner, to say nothing of a sus- picious quiver of the lip. ‘Ts it then’'asking so much—too much—cheri? Ah, it was once but your comeliness that I ad- mired. But the end of all things may be at hand, mon ami, and, even if you can never care for me—the slum-child, the convict’s daughter, the dazzling bluebottle fly born of the corrup- tion of the London gutters!—is it my fault that €omicbooks.com —