Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 532 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

** [—never—thought —of—-that!” he gasped. ** You've seen Juliette?” ‘“*T have,” ‘** But noticed no resemblance between her and (Jueen Leo?” ‘** Captain, that was long ago, sure enough, and we change a good deal in twenty years, Juliette, Queen Leo?” ‘* I did not say so. T merely asked—” ‘*T understand,” broke in Xerxes, ‘‘ But she did not get to establish her claim.” ‘*No. A lot of hands came between.” ‘* So they did!” grinned the little man. ‘ But, Captain Cinnabar, what do you think of her claim?” ‘At this day, Xerxes, with all that has hap- pened?” ‘$.-Vos,”? ** She was right.” ‘*And Colonel Nero, the King of the Spider League, was her husband?” ** That follows, eh, Xerxes.” ‘Hang me, captain, if this doesn’t lay me out!” exclaimed the spy. “If Juliette was General Raymont’s wife, then her heirs, if there be any, are entitled to every dollar of the mil- lions Nora holds.” a Yes,” ‘I begin to see,” continued Xerxes, passing his hand across his forehead, ‘ Now, if Nora does not discover an heir, the web will win.” ‘* That is it! Xerxes, the web must win! Be- cause the Spider League has transferred its basis of operations to New York, it must not be baffled by a young girl and her sleuth, Cap- tain Pygmy is at work somewhere, for because he has been in the web, he will not quit the ame, Why was he interested in the child, ucy—Juliette’s protogee?” “Immortal gods! it goes through my brain like an electric bolt!’ exclaimed Xerxes, ** What does?” smiled Captain Cinnabar, ‘A thought about the girl. I am off again,” ** After Zubiano?” ** Yes, and on another trail at the same time,” He stooped and picked up the red whisker mask, which he adjusted to his face, ** Look out for Nora’s new shadow,” admon- ished Cinnabar, eT will andif I find him and get a chance, captain, I'll give bim this!” And Xerxes, with an evil glitter in his eves, drew a knife, and throwing it above his head, executed a quick downward stroke, CHAPTER XVII. a NEW WORK FOR THE WEB, CAPTAIN CINNABAR listened with a smile on his face to the footsteps that echoed for a mo- ment in the hall beyond the room, and then died away with the closing of a door, ‘I thought I could startle Xerxes,” he said to himself in audibletones, ‘‘?vegiven him a new idea of Juliette and put him on a new trail be- sides, [ll warrant that his head is still ina whirl, but he’ll cool off pretty soon and get down to business again. ,When I called his attention to the girl Lucy who lived with Juliette how quickly he seened to catch the straw. Let him go to the double trail he thinks of now, I will play my hand against the gir] who threatens the existence of our web. If Nora has set a new sleuth on the trail, we want to know it at once, It is time Monte should be here,” A minute later the musical tinkle of a bell came into the room, and Captain Cinnabar caught and jerked a little cord that dangled above his bead, He was answered by footsteps beyond the door which he watched with eager eyes, and when it opened he saw the figure of Monte hatless on the threshold, The man came forward and dropped into a chair at the table. Espying an open box of cigars on the cloth he dived one hand into it and helped himself before paying any more attention to the ex-Californi- an. ‘Smoking quiets my nerves,” said he with a glance at Captain Cinnabaranda grin, * They need a sedative just now. I’ve been chased,” The man on the sofa sat bolt upright and stared for a moment at the speaker whose face was partially enveloped in a cloud of white smoke. ** Chased?” Captain Cinnabar echoed, “ Well, I hope you haven't led the sleuth-hounds to this er m no tool, Captain,” laughed Monte, some- what irritated by the words just spoken, «The fox never gets too old to double on the hounds, I guess I got here without any one at my heels, hy don’t you draw the web?” **On whcm?” cme Be girl rime ee detective,” innabar left his sofa and crogsse between it and the table, co bd bata **Pm going to,” said he, ** When?” ** Pretty soon.” ‘* That’s indefinite,” snapped Monte, “So it is,” confessed Cinnabar, name the hour just now.” ** You'll have to name it soon.” “T can’t — ee &“ Why 9”? ‘*The sleuth is no young hound who loses the scent every now and then,” ‘** Have you seen him again?” Monte removed his cigar and knocked its ashes into a wooden bow] on the table. ‘* Have I seen him?” he echoed. ‘What did Isay when [camein? I’ve been chased.” ‘** You leave me in the dark.” ‘**Do I, captain? I was down among the boats locking for Captain Pygmy, whom [ lost there last night, as you know, All at once I became conscious tbat [I was watched, and a little shrewd spying on my part confirmed my sus- picious. Lounging among the merchandise on tbe wharf was a shiftless-looking man with a pipe in his moutb, I did not have to look the second time to know that he was the sleutb who had me in tow. He was playing anall-fired sleek game, but not sleek enough to hoodwink me. * Nora’s sleuth,’ says I, and then I set about to baffle him, I began by moving straight toward him, as if he wasn’t in Gotham at all, and I be- lieve I nearly touched him as [ passed. My idea was to get a good look at him, I wanted to photograph his eyes for tuture use, but hang me, captain, if he didn’t keep a cloud of smoke before his face and baffle me completely. I drew him away from the bales, however, just as I knew I would do, I had bim at my heels be- fore I had fairly left the wharf, For balf an hour I played with the ferret—led him hither and thither just for amusement, and then I got down to business, I gave him a long chase, till he must have cursed me roundly for my impu- dence, AlJl at once I vanished,” ‘** Are you sure you broke the trail beyond his a ae it up, Monte?” inquired Captain Cinna- ar ‘** ve been tracked before,” was the answer. ‘*A man who has beaten sleuths in California ought to match them in New York. I’m no spring chicken when it comes to trails.” ‘**T knew you, Monte, and I am willin cept your report. But what about Pygmy whom you lost last night?” ** He is lost still, but I think I picked up aclew to-day.” ‘* A real clew, Monte?” “e Yes.” Monte unbuttoned his coat and drew forth a bit of paper which he handed to Captain Cinna- bar without opening it. ‘* That,” said he, *‘ I found to-day among the ashes on the hearth of the room which Captain Pygmy occupied less than a fortnight ago. You see that it was thrown to the fire along with a lot of other things perhaps, but the flames pre- served it for my fingers,” Captain Cinnabar unfolded the paper the edges of which were scorched and looked at it intently. ** Who is the person whose name I see here?’ be asked, glancing through his long lashes at onte, ‘*T found that out the first thing I did,” was the laughing response. ‘‘Mr, Noel Nixon is Nora’s friend—the adviser behind the throne, captain.” ‘Do you think so?’ ejaculated Cinnabar, a cJoud settling over his brow. ‘“*That’s my opinion. The young man is a well-to-do person about twenty-five, and a law- yer who doesn’t seem to care whether he has any clients or not. I followed up the clew as soon as I had found it, anl I might call myself one of his clients just now. It didn’t take much cheek, captain, I represented that 1 had been chiseled out of some honest wages by a fictitious employer, and I stated my case so plausibly that I think Vll get my money inside of ten days. Noll Nixon thinks so, too, ha, ha.” Captain Cinnabar set a smile against Monte’s laugh, and the spy taking fresh breath, contin- to ac- aptain ued: ** He’s ashrewd, good-looking chap—just about the sort I would expect a handsome young wo- man like Nora to like. I don’t know what Cap- tain Pygmy was doing with his address, nor why he tried to destroy it; but I found it on the hearth in the condition it is now in your hands, While I was talking to Nixon a young lady passed the door and went into the private room adjoining. It was Nora.” ** Are you certain of this, Monte?’ ‘* My eyes never deceive me, Don’t cause me to distrust them, captain, because a great deal depends on them just now.” ** How long did Nora stay?” **About an hour. Her coming took me out, but I waited and watched below till the lawyer handed her into her carriage at the curb.” Cinnabar folded the paper and put into his ‘Pll try a band now,” said he, alurking smile appearing at the corners of his mouth. ‘TI think we'll tighten the web, I've just sent Xerxes away on a new‘trail. He’s lost Zubi- no. ‘The witch, eh?” cried Monte. “Yes, the so-called Queen of Sorcery,” replied Caer Tconld'give Xerxes’ yor ay could give Xerxes a pointer, though his trail is not dine? - ; R ‘* Give it to me, Monte,” Monte leaned toward Captain Cinnabar and ‘ Jack Javert, the Independent Detective. i i rrr a ts sssssssssssslSlSllltesesseneeneeeetnnenensansssnnnsssse 13 rested his chin on the hands which ie deposited on the edge of the table, ‘* If Zubiano has cleverly given Xerxes the slip, she has crossed my path,” said he. ; bee deuce she has!” cried Cinnabar falling ack, ‘** Tt was accidental,” resumed Monte. ‘t While the sleuth of the wharf was chasing me, 1 saw a woman alight from a closed carriage and enter a certain house which stands in a queer neigh- borhood for fashionable people. I got one owes of her face, but that was enough. You cnow [’ve seen the woman whose short career as Zubiano the Sorceress has been so eventful, Well, the face I saw between carriage and pep was hers. If Xerxes has lost the trail | thin I can belp him,” Cinnabar of the Spider League hung breath- less on Monte’s narrative as it fell from bis ips. ‘*Give me the clew. Tell me where you saw this woman!” cried he bending forward with eyes that fairly danced with eagerness, ‘‘I want to know where sheis, Imustknow. I've gota hand for that woman and a special web for her schemes. With Zubiano, as she calls herself, in this game, we bave no real assurances of success, You know what she has already done, She killed General Raymont, our old Colonel Nero, with a mysterious agent which she can handle with ease; and Juliette who was found dead in her private chamber met her shortly before the tragedy. Where is she, Monte?” Monte saw the poorly suppressed excitement that almost took Captain Cinnabar’s breath, ‘“*T saw her alight at and enter Number 444, Y—— street.” ** That is near the river,” exclaimed Cinnabar. **Yes,a by-street, not very stylish, but a good hiding-place for all that.’ ‘*That is enough,” rejoined the Californian falling back. ‘* This is unexpected fortune, I can now meet the woman who played the hand that gave a new phase to our game, Do you know who Zubiano is, Monte?’ ** No, captain,” ‘** Have you tried to think?” “Yes, but maybe my head was thick.” **Tll tell you by and by,” said Captain Cinna bar leaving bis chair. ** When you come back, eh?” ** Perhaps.” ‘* Be careful! The woman I have found is dangerous if one is to judge by her work,” ‘* Pll risk the danger,” laugbed the weaver of the gold web. ‘If, Captain Cinnabar isn’t a match for the shrewdest woman alive, then to Tartarus with our play for Colonel Nero’s mil- lions! Go back to your trail of Nora’s detec- tive who saw you on_the wharf. Find out who he is and what he is doing. Of course he wants to find Zubiano, but he never willif 1 can un- successfully play the vo bi you have just given me. By Jove! Monte, Ill give you an ex- tra ten thousand for to-day’s work.” ** When will you come back, captain?” ‘““ When the web has finished the Queen of Sorcery and the death witch of Gotham!” CHAPTER XVITI. THE HAND OF DEATH. WHAT has become of Lucy Lemon and her quest. Let us see, The reader has not forgotten that we left the girl staring at the inscription ‘‘ For Rent” on the closed door of Javert the detective’s office whither she had gone with the sealed message from Juliette Jansen in her bosom, The result of her mission perplexed the girl, To be coufronted by a locked door beyond which she could not see, was too much for her, The import of the packet in crimson wax grew more startling and mysterious than ever, She did not want to keep the secret a minute, After awhile she went to the end of the hall whither a second sentence on the ‘' For Rent” placard directed all inquirers, She found there another door closed like Javert’s, with the words “ Janitor and Agent” painted thereon. Luey tried the knob, but it would not turn. _ “T am too wig for information, I must come again,” flitted through her mind, and then she went down the stairs and into the street. ‘Must I go back to Juliette with the packet undelivered?” she asked herself. ‘‘ She does not expect me to come home thus, In heaven’s name, what ought [ to do?” With no one to advise ber, and with ber tor- turing thoughts for unconpenial ecmpany, the strange child of Gotham walked undeciced from the building. ; Her steps, despite herself, tended toward Juliette’s house, and hefore she knew where she was she found herself confronted by the build- ing. ‘*T can steal in through the basement without | noise,” argued Lucy. ‘‘I can see what Juliette is doing, and if she is asleep, I can go away without being discovered—back to my hunt for Javert the sleuth.” : ; The girl followed her line of reasoning. She stole down the steps leading to the basement door to which she hada key in the nocket of her dress, Eomicboo <SnCOM,