Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 532 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

—_— 4 ¥ 4 Jack Javert, the Independent Detective. had experienced a stinging disappointment, for walk in the Park to-night. I did not promise he expected to get something out of the dwarf, Beyond the escape of the prisoner the officer in charge of the station knew nothing, He told the story as it had been reported by the police, and Javert was obliged to be content with it. The upshot of the affair was that he went back to his office. As he unlocked the door he heard a rustle of skirts on the steps he bad just ascended and, a moment after ward, he stood face to face with a young woman whom he had never met before. ** You are Jackson Javert, the detective, are you not?’ she asked in a voice, which, in its eagerness trembled slightly. he young man bowed and opened his door as an invitation for his visitor to enter. “T come to you in a time of need—of need and vengeance!” continued the young lady, in whose beautiful young face were fresh lines of sorrow. ‘* You like people to come to the point at once, for you detectives are men of business, Within the last two hours I have beon de- prived ofa father’s care and affection. Iam the daughter of Ruff RRO a gentleman who may not have been unknown to you. He is dead, and I want blood for blood!” The detective saw the change from white to crimson which came to the speaker’s face at this; he saw, too, that the hands were clinched till the transparent nails were almost wounding the flesh. ‘““They do not know that I am _ here,” she went en, “I have heard of you and I wanted to be the one to put you on the trail. My father met his death by violence, though there is not a mark on his person. He received a visitor this morning—a strange woman whom he ordered the servant to admit despite the earliness of the hour. I did not see her, but Julie marked her well, even to a singular ring which she wore on her hand, I want you to see Julie, though I can give you her testimony word for word. Don’t say ‘no’ to me, Mr. Javert. Remember that I have sworn to devote my life to clearing up the dark mystery that invests my father’s death. I have nothing to live for beyond that. All the wealth he left behind—and that is much—is at my com- mand, and I will hold none of it back in my bunt for the slayer. You must come to my as- sistance. There must be no other cases between you and this one. Say that you are free to help me. Here was a strange dilemma, Javert thought of the trail he had already | from suffocation caused b sesseennetiemetiiillicemmmmmnmmmmmemmmee eee Ae her that I would be near, but Iam going to see the outcome of ber adventure, It would do me good to help the child to the secret of her parent- age provided it were honorable. I must not have too many irons in the fire, but I have dealt with double trails before, and i try not to lose ney 9 in this maze of mystery.” ot long afterward the detective was intro- oe to the members of Ruff Raymont’s house- 0. . Sys found things as Nora had briefly described them. Tbe doctors who had been summoned to the mansion had decided that Raymont had died the introduction of some unknown substance into the lungs. Be- yond this they knew nothing, and it remained for Julie the maid to forge the first links ofa chain of crime. Julie was ready to tell her story to the small- est particulars when she had the detective for a listener. She was an observing girl of twenty-two, and when she concluded her narrative Jack Javert had a mental photograph of Raymont’s visitor as Julie had seen her. His visit to the house and his subsequent ir parations for the first move took up the t part of the day. The detective did not see fit to rush things. He had one, if not two, of the deepest cases of detective experience on his hands, He saw the shadows of night gather over the roofs and towers of New York. Juliette, no doubt, was waiting for his report, ignorant of the dwarf’s sudden return to life, and his subsequent escape. At that very moment she was wondering why he did not place the serpent-headed ring in her hand, and did not dream that the wheel of fate would turn many times before she should see it ain. A few minutes before eight the detective con- sulted his watch, and posted away in the direc- tionof Union Square. He bad not forgotten that Lucy Lemon was expected to walk among the trees there, thus accepting the terms of the strange letter whose writer hinted that he could unravel the secret of her birth, and place in her hands a fortune of which she had bean wrongfully deprived. The sweet face of the young girl had impress- ed its image on Jack Javert’s heart. More than once he had seen her enter and emerge from Juliette Jansen’s house, and he knew Juliette taken up. He lingered again over Juliette and better than most of her neighbors did. her oath. ‘You hesitate, but you will not turn me off!” cried the young girl, whose deep blue eyes were | irresistible. not forget that Nora Ray- mont has been made an orphan by a species of crime which, as yet, is nameless because it is not known. You will find the murderess with the serpent-headed ring on her hand—” ‘“The serpent-headed ring!’ echoed the de- aay the words going through him like a fe, ‘* So Julie calls it,” was the response. ‘‘She says the crest of the ring had eyes that shone like diamonds; but she will tell you everything.” | ‘‘ At what bour did the visit take place?” asked Javert. *¢ At six o’clock this morning.” ‘‘ Your father was in his room?” ‘Tn the library.” ‘‘ Nothing was overheard?” ‘¢ Unfortunately, not a word,” ‘¢ Who let the unknown out?” ** Julie.” ‘* Did she see the ring then?” ‘*No; she noticed it when she admitted the caller.” “1 will see, Julie,” declared the detective, | unconsciously speaking his thoughts aloud, and for the moment forgetting that he had sworn to serve but one mistress. ‘‘ A thousand thanks! I knew you would not refuse me!” exclaimed the young girl, clasping her bands in gratitude. ‘Something told me all the time that I would not appeal in vain. Captain Javert, you will win the eternal grati- tude of Nora Raymont by championing her cause and helping her to vengeance. have fulfilled my mission, and now I can go back to the sad duty of watching over the dead.” She held out her hand, which the detective took, holding it for a momentand then dropping it to let her go. Before she was half-way down the steps his brain was busy. ““What is this?’ he ejaculated. ‘ Juliette’s at loss is a peculiar ring which she declares d no duplicate, and here one is seenon the hand of the woman who is supposed to have killed Ruff Raymont, the ex-Californian and re- tired millionaire, I am in Juliette’s employ. [ am to hunt thering. Ske has bound me with an oath to do ise | else. If I am not mis- taken, I can serve her while helping Nora Raymont ‘‘to vengeance” as she calls it, Mystery jostles mystery in a manner that heats my blood. Were I to choose I would rather serve the gentle Nora than the cold-blooded but scheming and impulsive Juliette. But, amid all this I must not forget Lucy Lemon and her a Aaah and agnin he kad asked himself why had Juliette taken up with the girl of unknown parentage, when she had Mariette to obey her slightest wish. He had found the problem in- soluble. Now that the girl had brought bim a message from Juliette, his interest in her had received fresh impetus, and with that keen reasoning which seems to come natural to the ferrets of crime, he was already connecting Lucy with the mystery before him. ‘¢ Somewhere in all this mage of murder and robbery, lies justice for Lucy Lemon as well as vengeance for Nora Raymont,” he would say again and again. t was dark when he reached the Square. The many lamps were throwing their light among the trees which had not yet put on their spring vestments, and here and there pedes- trians were moving across the plot. Javert at once began to look for Lucy, It was now fully the hour suggested by the author of the letter, und something ought to be seen. Presently the figure of the girl came in sight. She tried to appear unconcerned, though Jav- ert detected considerable excitement in her man- ner. He stepped back lest she should recognize him, and in a moment sbe had passed by. Almost immediately there glided past him a figure that had a cat-liketread. It was low and agile, The hat was pulled over the eyes which Javert could not see, but for all this, he received a shock which sent a thrill through his frame. The man—for man the figure was—sprung swiftly after the girl, ana Javert saw Lucy halt as a hand fell on her shoulder, and a af escaped her and drove her back, for she undoubtedly faced the long-armed dwarf! CHAPTER V. CAPTAIN PYGMY AND SHADOW. JAVERT had unexpectedly found the man for whom he had been looking—the person who had feigned death so weil in Juliette’s house and afterward escaped from the police! He was anxious to know if this was the ‘‘ For- tune” of Lucy’s mysterious letter, for, havin found the dwarf keeping an appointment, as i were, with the girl, he was resolved to get to the bottom of the adventure. For a second the gir] threatened to run off and leave the little man to himself; but her flight, even if seriously contemplated, was checked by the closing of the band that had dropped upon her shoulder, and the dwarf leaned forward with a leer of satisfaction in his eyes. ‘*You area good girl,” said he. eight o’clock, and you are here,” ‘Yes, I thought it best to answer your letter by coming hither myself.” ‘* My letter?’ laughed man. ‘Do you think it was mine, child?” Lucy colored. ‘If not yours, why are you here?” she asked. He did not reply. “*So you want to see me?” continued Lucy, who more than once bad looked around in search of a figure which she could recognize as Javert’s, ‘*T would not be here if I did not want to talk with you,” responded the dwarf. ‘* You are at a loss how to address me when you speak. My name is not ‘ Fortune’ which was the signature to the letter as you well remember. You may call me Captain Pygmy, for want of a better name. It suits my size, though I don’t look very well ina military title. Whither shall we go? Is it too cold on the benches here?” Lucy who wanted the deiective to hear all he could if he was near, said that, if Captain Pygmy did not object, the Park would suit her very well for their talk. She could not stay long as she might be wanted by Mrs, Jansen at any time. At mention of Juliette’s name Captain Pygmy’s eyes seemed to get new light, and he led the girl to one of the settees which, resting against a tree, was pretty well screened from observation. Jack had witnessed all this, though he had not been able to catch every word. He now took up a position near the settee and prepared to listen. For a little while the dwarf regarded the girl with curious eyes, then he caught her wrist and squeezed it as he cried; ‘You look like him ; I swear you do!” ‘Like whom?’ asked Lucy, though there was a name struggling for utterance on her lips. ‘* Ah! let it go,” said the Pygm , droppin her band and drawing back. ‘‘ We will talk about something else first.” ‘** Go on.” Lucy found herself forced to content herself with anything she could get. ‘‘ When did you first see Juliette?” asked the ““Itis just man. The girl thought for a moment, ‘* It was two years ago, I think.” ‘* How old are you now, Lucy?” ‘* As near as I can tell, 1 am nearly fifteen.” ** Did you ever ask Juliette?” ** No. Why should I?” She looked up into Captain Pygmy’s face for a moment, and caught bis eye. ‘* Are you much at Juliette’s house!” he went on without taking notice of her question. ‘‘T am there eften.” ‘“* And you see a good deal?” ‘“*T see some things, I cannot help it, you know.” He nodded. ** What about Juliette’s visitors?” ** She has some. ** Yes, yes. Does the large man come any more?” ‘** The large man?” echoed the girl. ‘* Ah! you must have seen him,” ‘* What is he like?” ‘“‘ He has dark bair, a full figure and a mus- tache that drops over bis mouth.” “Oh! you mean Mr. Raymont!” exclaimed Lucy. be Do Rs know him by that name?” Lucy Lemon seemed to shrink from him, and Captain Pygmy saw that, in her own estima- tion, she had made a mistake, ** Yes, [ mean Raymont,” he responded, be- fore she could apologize or explain. ‘‘ Does he come any more?” ‘‘ He has not been to the house for some time,” ‘* When he comes, do they quarrel?” Lucy looked at him without answer, ‘Tf you want the secret and the fortune, girl you must talk out,” he urged. ‘‘ You can trus Captain Pygmy to the uttermost. This is a case with thousands in it—for you, at least. I bold in my hand more than they think. Now do they quarrel? You keep your ears open, I know.’ rf! bave heard them have words in the par- ) a ‘**Hot words, eh?” ‘They grew loud at times,” “T thought so. What did they say?” “You ask too much now, for I do not re- member,” answered the girl, ‘‘ You see I did not expect to meet you here.” ‘¢ Of course not, After Raymont goes away, does Juliette show any excitement?” ‘* She is nervous, but as she shuts herself up _ her room, I do not get to see anything of er. He was silent for a moment, during which time the girl caught sight of a man nearby whom she thought must be Jack the shadow, ‘‘ Did anything happen in Juliette’s house last night?” he suddenly asked. ‘* She says she was robbed.” ** Robbed, hey?” cried vane Pygmy. “ And pray, what did my lady Juliette lose?” “She did not tell me all,” responded Lucy, ‘“but she claims to have Inst a coce Cel,” — ") 33a i é * Eomicbooks.com, i = 4 >