Beadle's Dime Library No. 509 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

ee — — Old Falcon, the Thunderbolt Detective. —— a a eer et 25 Mr. Major,” repeated Retta, smiling. moreover, still positive she never saw you be- fore, Mr. Major merely bowed with his band on his heart, and his eyes uprolled with a mute adora- tion from a shrug of the shoulders so exaggera- ted that Therese could not avoid laughing cut- right. ‘‘ Ah, madame, it is my delicious privilege to amuse you, then?’ maundered the cracked voice, in »n apparently vain effort to modulate itself to a blandishing softness, ‘‘Then [ am too happy to complain of madame’s briefness of memory, notwithstanding that she was my close companion—though in a companionship that was somewhat compulsory, as I must admit— not twelve hours ago.” “TI? cried Therese, still bewildered beyond suspecting the truth. ‘‘Surely you rave, mon- sieur!” ‘* But aren’t we all tempted to rave at times, under certain harsh vicissitudes of adversity, Belle Therese?” And now the cracked-trumpet was no longer present in the gentleman’s plean- ant voice. She gave a little scream. **Oh, mon Dieu! it is you, then, Monsieur Vieux Faucon? Mais c'est merveilleux, c'est incroyable |” ‘*TIt svould be quite believable by this time though you must not more than hint of it again, and but softly at that,” replied the disguised de- tective, while Retta laughed heartily at The- rese’s expense, ‘‘ However, your heretofore ig- norance isthe best compliment you could pay to my make-up, my dear Whirlwind, howsoever unflattering may have been your personal com- ments,” ‘Oh, it is grand, it is perfect!” cried Therese, clapping her hands, ‘‘ But tell me, you two,” in a lower voice, as they all moved toward a yet more secluded portion of the grounds, over- looking the railrvad and the river’s edge, *‘ what is the meaning of it all?” ‘*Doesn’t it appear on its face that our pet villain, Joseph warn. must be kept in the dark till to-night?” ‘* Ah, T understand; he must still imagine us to be suffocated in the cistern, eh?” **Of course.” ‘* And where is be now?” “Still in this neighborhood, I opine. At all events, bis cousin’s remains were dispatched to New York this morning, anc Joseph was not the person who accompanied them,” ‘And the dear little Mayfield—mon cher Harvee ?” ‘* Mr, Mayfield is doubtless faring comfortably where we left him on guard,” Henriette took it upon herself to seriously reply. ‘I managed to convey to him a capital basket of provisions from tke larder of the best restaurant in Yonkers before getting myself ready to accom- pany the major on this musical jaunt, in order to keep my promise to you, Madame Bertrande. By the way, that reminds me of something.” And she took on a look of uneasiness, ‘* What are you reminded of, petite ?” ‘*Why, I told Joseph Mervyn, you know—I shall never allude to that man as my cousin azain—that I would defer my visit hither, and now, should he know of my having returned to my original intention, he might suspéct some- thing wrong.” ‘* Parle du diable et le voici!” [‘* Talk of the devil and heappears!”’] exclaimed Therese, in an undertone. And then Joseph Mervyn himself was per- ceived advancing toward the group, with a smiling face and a nonchalant air, CHAPTER XXXVIIJ. BY THE RAILROAD, THE part of the house grounds to which the trio had strayed directly adjoined a small public park at this point, which was a sufficient ex- planation of Joseph Mervyn’s unlooked-for ap- pearance, Moreover, he seemed*to be but moderately surprised at perceiving Retta’s presence, and, after exchanging a bow with Therese and under- going an introduction to ‘‘ Mr, Major,” merely said, pleasantly: ‘‘You were then induced to change your mind, as to visiting Tarrytown to-day, Miss Merrivale?” ‘ ‘* Yes,” replied Henriette, composedly taking her cue. “I remembered my promise to Mad- ame Bertrande; and then besides an unexpected escort chanced to offer himself in the person of my friend, Mr. Major here.” Mr. Major grimaced, grigned, shrugged his shoulders and adjusted hiss cles, and Joseph, after a suspicious glance, evidently set him down as merely a harmless oddity, though of course he could not but continue puzzled as to how Henriette, in her work-girl character, could bave formed such an acquaintance, However, the detective’s black-eyed boy com- panion of the cistern adventure was still to be accounted for in Mervyn’s plotting mind, and, as he took the liberty of joining the trio in their stroll, Therese found his eyes more than once fixed upon ber with an uncomfortable scrutiny, though of course she was equal to any emerg- ency. ** And is, | ‘‘ By the way, Madame Bertrande,” he said, after a few minutes’ general chat, ‘‘ you ought to be careful about cheating the public of your anticipated performances, or even your popu- larity might receive a check.” “And how do you know, mon fils, that I missed my performance last night?” she asked. ‘* By the morning newspapers, as a matter of course, There was quite a sensatioa at the great show. The manager’s excuses for you were re- ceived with a storm of disapproval, and it was some time before the spectators could be ap- peased,” ‘“'Yes: my cannon-ball act is not any re- placed with anything inferior in the dear public’s estimation,” observed La Travadeuse, compla- cently. ‘* However, could they have known how frightfully ill in bed I was all night, and until a few hours ago, some sympathy might have been extended up this way.” ‘** Ah, you were ill all night, then?” 7 meee ae Ah!” She cleverly simulated a sudden pallor, and, leaning against a tree, seized Retta’s arm for support, while secretly telegraphing to the dis- guised detective by a look, which was fortunate- ly understood and acted upon, The latter imstantly button-holed Mervyn a little apart, and began to pour forth a descrip- tion, from report, of Therese’s recent imaginary sufferings, with such crack-voiced grotesqueness of details as to engross his unwilling attention for the moment, while Therese hurriedly whis- pered to Retta: ‘*He evidently wants to get a private word with you. Oblige him at once, and, above all, don’t Jet him make Godlove’s acquaintance, or we are lost. Ah, mon Dieu! there’s the woman now.’ Mrs. Godlove had, indeed, just put in an ap- pearance not far away, together with one of her lady boarders and the irrepressible Mignon, and was even sauntering in the direction of the group. Henriette only understood that somethin was to be done decisively, and she did not heat tate, “Mr, Major, look et that child on the rail- road track up yonder,” she said, quickly ad- vancing to the two men, and giving the detec- tive a significant look, ‘Is it notin some peril, think you?” **T should say so!” exclaimed the quick-witted Mr. Major, in a voice like a fog-horn, and with a glance in the opportune direction indicated. ‘‘ Ha! there’s a warning engine whistle even now.” And away he dashed along the overhanging bank, tumultuously followed by La Trava- deuse, who neglected not to communicate her excitement to Mrs, Godlove and carry her, to- gether with Mignon and the lady companion, along toward the somewhat distant point. Retta bad remained rooted to the spot, with wide eyes and paling cheeks, for the peril of the child was by no means imaginary. But for ail that her ruse bad been successful, and Joseph was saved from a chance chat with Mrs, Godlove, which might have given away the secret of Therese’s ‘irregularity’ with re- gard to the boy’s costume, to the consequent en- lightment of Mervyn as to the real situation anent the cistern adventure, ‘‘A fortunate diversion—at Jeast for me!” exclaimed Joseph, who had regarded the inci- dent with nnmitigated contempt, and he ad- vance: eagerly to the young girl. ‘It is highl important that I should exchange a few Wend with you, Cousin Retta, unperceived by your new friend, Mr. Major, and that brazen hussy of a French mountebank,” ‘*You should not allude to Mrs. Bertrande in that coarse way,” replied Retta, quietly, but nevertheless leading the way into a compara- tively shaded by-path as an intimation of ac- ceding to his request—a concession that seemed to please him not a little, ‘‘ What more is it that you would say to me?” ‘* Pardon my inquisitiveness, cousin,” said he, already presuming too eagerly on the compla- cency accorded; ‘* but this odd gentleman, Mr. Major? An old acquaintance, perbaps?” ** Not an old one, but a gentleman in whom I have something more than a passing confidence,” was the cold response, ** But excuse me, cousin” —she had declared that she would not again address him as such, but forced herself to re- consider her decision in the interest of getting rid of him, in accordance with La Travadeuse’s warning—" if you only wish to ask me trivial questions, I scarcely understand your request for a few words in private.” “Oh, forgive. me!” he hastened to make amends, ‘I wouldn’t offend you for the world. You see, it was merely to confer with you upon one point in our agreement for to-night’s work—” He was interrupted by a ai i cry on Retta’s part, and instinctively followed the di- rection of her eyes, which were filled with a suddenly startled and suspenseful look. They had partly descended the green, sloping bluff overbrowing the railroad to a little grove, at a considerable distance back toward the pub- lic grounds from which Joseph had first put in an appearance, and yet which commanded a more complete view of the narrow, iron-railed perspective than was commanded by the higher situation they had quitted. The Jittle child—evidently from some one or another of the rough laborers’ shanties near. at hand—was to be seen still playing fearlessly in the middle of the down-track. The young girl’s frightened exclamation bad been evoked by the ap; arition of a down Ex- press train, which had just made its appearance around a curve, and was dashing full upon the unconscious urchin, with every probability of killing it in another instant. As it was, she could only Clasp her bands and ~ look on in supreme horror. Far along the bank stood Therese, Mrs. God- love and some other ladies, likewise transfixed with horror, and gazing down helplessly at the anticipated tragedy, the scene of which was al- most directly under their feet. Another screech from the engine, now not ten rods from the child! The engineer has perceived the situation—his hand is on the throttle, he has already signaled a reversion of the flying wheels—but it is too late. The impetus is too great to be counter- checked. The locomotive slows up just perceptibly, but is already upon the child, the cruel cow-catcher rushing on its prey like a giant spear. But, no! A flash down the steep slope, from where the ladies are standing, a rivulet of speed made by Mr. Major’s white hair and whiskers along the green bluff, a flying leap of the inter- vening ditch, and the child is snatched from the very jaws of death! There isan admiring shout from the engine, and as the train sweeps past, revealing Mr. Major again to tbe spectators, the urchin un- harmed, though kicking and squalling lustily in his arms, notwithstanding that he has lost one of his coat-tails, which is fluttering from the baffled cow-catcher as it disappears around a curve, ‘* What an unmitigated ass!” exclaimed Joseph Mervyn, with a contemptuous laugh. Jt was said before he bad noticed that Retta had buried her face in her hands, and was softly sobbing out her gratitude for what had chanced. She turned upon him like a fury. ‘“An ass, you say, for risking his life for another?” she sobbed, indignantly. ‘‘ Is that vy hat you mean?” ‘‘Not exactly, Cousin Retta,” he temporized. “But the child was nothing (probably nothing,” with a subtle sneer) ‘* to the old fellow who has so narrowly escaped his own death in snatching it back to life—a dirty-faced imp, a common laborer’s child!” **So much the more noble and unselfish the deed!” with a at a lip. ‘But no matter,” impatiently, and drying her tears as she slowly led the way yet deeper into the little grove. ‘*You were about to say when we were inter- rupted—what” ‘Oh! and he also was glad to dismiss a sub- ject that had evoked his brutal cynicism into so unattractive a light. ‘* Well, cousin, I think it was ten o’clock to-night that we fixed upon for revisiting the old cistern?” ‘‘ Yes,” she briefly assented, with yet averted h ead. ‘‘ Well, I wished to suggest if an hour or two earlier would not be better substituted—say eight o’clock, or about dusk?” ‘No, I think not.” ‘*] thought the earlier hour might better suit your convenience,” | ‘Tt might—my mere convenience,” She sud- denly turned upon him a face in which she had managed to throw a good deal of fictitious hor- ror and fear; for she did not disdain to dissimu- late in this man’s presence, ‘*I—I donot wish for an earlier hour, however.” ‘’ But why?” ‘‘Can you not imagine?” “T confess that Icannot, It will bea more convenient and seasonable hour, in every way, for the transfer of the hidden funds to some bank vault, or some other place of absolute security.” ‘* And that is all?’ her apparent distress was now wae pitiable. ‘*Why do you look that way, cousin? Oh, I remember! ‘The release of Mayfield and his com- panions from the cistern-pit?” be es, yes, * But f shoal think that would cause you to hasten the hour yet the more.” She shuddered, and once more turned away her face, . Se Yeas itt thoughe their deliverance were not long ere this past hope.” “What!” eagerly; “you fear that we shall find them suffocated?” ‘Yes, yes! Ah, my God!” ‘“* And would therefore defer until the last mo- ment the hour of uncovering their dead bodies?” ‘Yes, yes! Oh, the thought is horrible! I fear I permitted you to deceive me as to the cis- pet having sufficient ventilation to keep them ive. A fresh and gloating joy took possession of him, She evidently su the truth, or what he was absolutely sure was the truth, Mayfield, ee Eomicbooks AS a . in (E(@) Ae ' sat — - Py. oe ? se - se —. wee a .