Beadle's Dime Library No. 509 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

en Se Ishould have come to love you, howsoever | they could see her face, which was very calm hopelessly, before I die?” and self-possessed, one might even say ironically ithout a word, he kissed her, and, putting | smiling, in its serene expression, his arm around her, led her to the resting place Retta bad uttered a scream, and her he had indicated. crowbar afresh, while both Old Falcon and Then he attacked the barrier with a species of | Mayfield were already attacking the newly- frenzy. Had there been a talisman of safety in that formed semi-barrier with frantic haste, even the detective forgetting for a moment his ordinary kiss, than which none more chastely or brother- ly had ever been bestowed? coolness, Therese spoke to them from her terrible posi- Suddenly he paused and listened, a wild and | tion with as much politeness and address as if hopeful look in his face. Hark!” he cried. merely courtesying in response to plaudits over ‘‘ Answering sounds on | the five thousandth successful performance of the other side! Hurrah! we are not forgotten | her cannon ball act. in our living tomb. Some one is trying to dig ** Mademoiselle et messieurs,” she called out, through toward us.” agreeably, ‘if it is for me that = are making He fell upon the obstruction with renewed | those desperate but somewhat idiotic exertions, vigor, his companions raising their faces with a | let me beg that you will proceed more com- rellsetion of his hope. posedly. Else I very much fear that I shall be Presently came Retta’s first call of inquiry | compelled to make my adieux before you can through the stubborn mass, | possibly reach me—and without kissing my Mayfield gave an answering yell, and then | hand to you, at that; which would be plainly Old Falcon joined him, and together they at- | unprofessional.” tacked the obstruction with crow and spade, ‘Can you bold out till we can reach you—say, In a little while a great fragment, or rather | three minutes longer?” cried the detective, striv- section of it, gave way, and rolled off into a | ing to organize the exertions in accordance with sort of masked gully at one side. her very sensible advice. When full advantage of this windfall had ‘‘ Monsieur, if it were possible, I could best been taken, several yards of the barrier had | answer you by a little shrug of my shapely beer pierced, shoulders. Just imagine the gesture, if you Then came Retta’s second call, the words and | please, and all the uncertainty that it implies,” even the characteristics of her voice being re- cognized. “OTis she, tis Retta herself!” cried Mayfield, joyfully, after shouting back the answer. ‘‘Our deliverancs must be at band!” ‘Work more methodically, eautioned the detective, as imperturbable now | as he had been from the first. ‘* Weshall get on much more effectively than if you wear | CHAPTER XXXV., A PROGRAMME FOR THE DAY. A MOMENT later they succeeded in reaching La Travadeuse, and rescuing her from her peril- ous situation, By the united strength of the two men and Retta, the overtopping mass was pressed top- pling back. Then there was a magnificent exertion of muscle on the oe of the powerful and beauti- ful figure, still supine between the remaining fragments, which were slowly but steadily pushed apart by her strong, extended arms, And with a light, bird-like movement, she sprung out of their threatening embrace, leay- ing them to crash their jagged jaws harmlessly together, while she stood erect, smuiing, free! “ Mademoiselle et messteurs,” and she kissed her hand at her rescuers, ‘‘ you have my heart- felt thanks. But it pains me to have to state, politely but firmly, that a repetition of this specially hazardous performance of mine must henceforth be indefinitely postponed.” Then she darted along through the passage, followed by the others, and not pausing until the pure, epen air of the orchard was reached. at arelief for all, but especially for those who had been so long confined in the noisome depths of the inner passage! ome moments’ respiration of the sweet, orchard air was required before a thorough recuperation all round was effected. — Then the question arose as to the immediate disposition of the treasure left behind in the bowels of the earth, so to speak, in conjunction young man,” yourself out with such frantic exertions.” Therese had risen from her improvised seat, and was silently regarding them, with folded arms, Presently she smiled, She could remember what Mayfield in his ex- citement was momentarily losing sight of—the probability of Henriette’s changed feelings to- | ward the man of her heart, by reason of the dis- | honesty of his past course with regard to the stolen treasure, ‘““He may yet be mine,” she thought. ‘‘ But it shall be solely by fair means, or not at all.” Gritting her teeth resolutely, she fell upon her knees, and, in spite of her companion’s protesta- tions, assisted with her bare hands in clearing away to either side such debris as was now being fast detached from the face of the obstruction. Thinner and thinner waxed the dividing bar- rier. Presently they could talk quite distinctly with the worker on the opposite side. In this manner Henriette became fully in- formed of the situation within, while the impris- oned trio were none the less made aware of the circumstances that had brought her to their res- cue; and all this before the last obstructing layers had been wholly overcome, At last, however, a final secton of the inter- vening barrier gave way with a crash, rolling away to one side, and the junction was effected. Mayfield was the first to spring through the with the ultimate exposure and arrest of Joseph Mervyn, which, it was generally decided upon, should be one of the first grand clearing-up measures for the near future, ‘‘TIt is your fortune, Miss Mervyn,” said the detective at last, ‘* You should by rights have the first and abiding say in the question at issue.” ‘* But it was through no exertions of mine that the fortune has been discovered,” replied Retta, calmly, with a furtive and pardoning look in Mayfield’s direction, which twas not lost upon either the detective or Therese. ‘‘ I decline to advance any opinion on the subject.” ‘But you will, at least, take a run back into the old cistern for a glance at your posses- sions?” ‘* Indeed, I shall not, I shall not pretend that [ am not rejoiced to be rich once more— to come to my own again; but 1 prefer to leave the present puzzling matter wholly in your hands, sir.” ‘That will be best,” said Therese. ‘“ But you must decide quickly, mes enfants. I am in baste to slip back home and change my habili- ments before that dear good old Godlove shall breach. But his first glance of Retta’s face reminded him of what he had forgotten—her knowledge of his dishonesty—and he started back in con- fusion and dismay. As he did so, he brought up against the detec- tive, who said in a low tone: ‘Don’t take it too hard, young man. She'll get over that in time; Pll answer for it.” Retta had come to a pause, with the crowbar still in her blistered hands, and the expression of her pale face was a study. The haggard looks of the two men had touched her to the heart, and yet when the thonght of how unworthily Mayfield had won her heart she could not but betray some of the bitterness and resentment she was feeling, notwithstanding that she still loved him, and was even now all but ex- hausted with her pare save him from the material peril just escaped. es Thera is Fh another whom I do notsee!” she exclaimed. ** Where is the lady who was with | you?” suspect anything outre, for there will surel At that instant there was a sudden fall of rock | have been anxious inquiries by the bushel from and earth from the jagged roof of the breach, ; my New York managers ere this.” and the two men sprung out toward her just in ayfield remained indifferent, while stead- time to avoid being renee: fastly avoiding Retta’s attempts to catch his The disaster had been accompanied by a sharp | eye. : exclamation in a woman’s voice. “Tam to understand, then,” said the detec- lt was Therese’s. Peering back through the | tive, “* that the complication is left wholly to my breach, they could perceive her insnared in a | decision?” dangerous, perhaps fatal, predicament. Henriette bowed, She had fallen upon her back, and was keep-| “This, then, is the programme for the day,” ing back from rolling in on her a huge fragment continued the detective: ‘Madame Bertrande of rock with either outstretched arm, while top- | and I will make ourselves scarce, as the sayin pling directly over her imprisoned form, there | is, so as to afford Joseph Mervyn not the slight- was a yet huger fragment, precariously support- | est suspicion that we have escaped the doom by ed by the side rocks, suffocation that be so cleverly designed for us, It was evident that the least weakening of her | _‘‘ Ditto for our friend Mayfield here, Then effort in holding the side-rocks apart would in- | the three of us manage to be on band at ten dubitably be her death, by F aepe § the over- | o'clock to-night to witness the villain’s discom- topping mass to desceud upon her breast with | fiture when, in accordance with his suggestion pulverizing weight. to you, Miss Mervyn, he shall once more make Her situation was, nevertheless, such that his way down into the cistern by the i way, Old Falcon, the Thunderbolt Detective. y ¥ lesso: p hed af 4 23 in the secret expectation of finding the three of us dead therein, ‘* His arrest will immediately follow his dis- appintment, as a matter of course. And we may even be so fortunate as to take advantage of his panic—though Joseph Mervyn isn’t much hg to panics, I must confess—to startle out of im a candid confession as to bis having really murdered his cousin, Jacob Mervyn, in the so- called runaway accident of yesterday morn- ” m: What!” interrupted Retta, with an appalled look; *‘ was that a murder, then?” ‘*?n my own mind, there is not the slightest doubt of it.” ‘*Great heavens! and I was alone with that terrible man in this forlorn place at that un- seemly bour?” ‘‘ Miss Mervyn, you have had a narrow es- cape. However, think no more or that just now. How does my programme strike you so far as laid down?” ** Excellently well, sir, Indeed, I do not see how it could be improved.” ** Good! tion is how to guard the treasure in the cistern till to-night; for we cannot safely gl | it away with us just now, even if it were well to doso without certain legal and authoritative formali- ties, which it is far best should aftend upon its transfer to some bank-vault in your name.” ‘True; I had forgotten about that.” ‘*T propose, then, that one of our present number should remain hereabouts on guard over it. “The very thing.” ** And whomsoever shall be selected for that responsible duty can be supplied secretly with food and refresbment by yourself, eb?” ‘‘ Nothing can be better devised.” said Hen- riette, composedly. ‘‘ And, if he will but deign to accept. I shall select Mr, Mayfield for that r nsible duty.” he young man looked up im supreme aston- ishment, his face flushing paimfully. ‘‘Retta—Miss Mervyn—you can’t mean it?” he gasped. ‘* Of course I do.” ‘*But you can’t know all. Why, I have al- ready proved myself a coward and a scoundrel in the affair!” ‘*Cowurds and scoundrels never own up to being such.” ‘* But you can’t understand.” ** Yes, I can.” ‘*T have surreptitiously sneaked away with thirty thousand dollars, and more, of your money, and banked it in my own name, al- ready.” She made an impatient gesture, ** Will you accept of the trust offered you, sir, or will you not?” ‘* Yes,” balf-doggedly, and after a final pause. ‘“T do accept the trust, Miss Mervyn, and I shall answer for the inviolability of the remain- ing fortune with my life.” Therese had stood isymerenly during these in- terchanges, with a somewhat clouded brow; but she now started out of her silence with a forced laugh. ‘* Thank goodness it is all settled at last,” she exclaimed, ‘* Now I, for one at least, am off! But what am I to do for my promised music n to-day, ma petite ?” : Retta looked up quickly, ‘I had forgotten that?” she exclaimed. “* How would it do,” to the detective, ‘*to still make my visit to Mrs. Godlove’s ladies, just as pind = nothing bad happened to interrupt my ans ‘*Shull you have nerve for it,” he asked, “‘ after attending to provisioning Mayfield for the day, and all that sort of thing?” ‘*T have never been lacking in nerve,” she re- plied, simply. ‘*Then by all means do as you propose. Nothing would better serve to divert Joseph’s suspicions, should you chance to meet him in the interim,” It was then so agreed. Therese, still out of temper, but looking very attractive in her boyish dress, in spite of her rough experience in the underground passage, had turned abruptly, to go off alone. “Wait, madame!” cried Henriette, impulsive- ly running after her; ‘‘ will you not let me kiss you before we separate?” ‘*No!” and La Travadeuse passionately broke away from the attempted embrace. “‘ Milles tonneres de Diable! what do you think I am made of?” Retta drew hack in bewilderment and alarm, ‘* What is the matter?’ sbe faltered, ‘‘T hate you!—it is that which matters. Re- member, though, I do not let you off from the promised music lesson.” And with that Therese darted away like a deer, and was almost instantly lost to sight. Henriette remained for a moment completely mystified. Then, as her eyes wandered from the detec- tive to Mayfield, who was once more hanging his head in an abashed, shame-faced way, the true state of the emotional complication was re- vived in her mind, and a deep h overspread her countenance. Then the only remaining considera- — Eomicboo € gS) ; Fatt a cor