Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 535 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

= S=_. See 10 Dandy Dutch. he stuck to his duties until they were fully per- | guess his companion—shall I tell you why, Lida formed. All that remained to indicate the exciting gy of the day was the stoutly boarded win- ow. The last act performed before closing the bank for the night was writing a brief little note to his cousin, and this Dudley slipped into the hand of the woman who answered his ring at his uncle’s house, ‘Give it to Miss Lida, Jane, and tell her [ called in person,” he whispered, after being as- | surec that the young lady appeared to be in her usual state of health, Dadley did not enter the house, for he had simply passed that way while on his way to sup- per, at the Occidental Hotel. Just then be had no wish to meet Leonard Corwin. “It’s odds [’'d blurt out enough to catch the sack!” be muttered below his breath while | rapidly strjding down the street. ‘* And that— | unless I could coax Lida to go with me!” The hour was still early when Dudley again rung the bell at the Corwia residence, to be admitted by Lida herself, still pale and looking far from natural, yet so lovely’that her cousin cuught her in bis arms and pressed her tightly to his breast. ‘‘Don’t—please, cousin!” Lida managed to utter, averting her face and cheating him of the kiss be tried to rifle. ‘Uncle Len isn’t in? I thought he’d be off to Lodge!” # e has gone, but he promised to be home early. Dudley looked as though he felt defrauded, but Lida was already moving toward the par- for, and he could only follow after, It was hardly an auspicious opening, to his mind, and even when the door closed behind them, he made no more “ cousinly ” overtures. ‘That other kiss was rankling in bis mind, and for the time being Mann felt more like quarrel- ing than love-making, even with such an at- tractive partner. , * Jane gave you my note, of course?” he said, after a brief silence which must have proved quite as painful to the maiden as to himself, for she simply bowed, unwilling to trust her tongue even to utter so few words as this query re- ‘quired, The young man shifted uneasily in his chair, his face flushing, to grow pale again. Lida sat with downcast eyes, no less ill at ease. Each felt that a crisis was at hand, but neither knew precisely how to open the subject which was, naturally, uppermost in their minds, “You are not—not expecting company this evening, Lida?” at length ventured Mann, **] have no engagement, cousin,” was her low response, ‘**T didn’t know but what you found me in the way, and—” ** Dudley !” ** Is it so mighty strange, then?” with his eyes glittering through their glasses, bis face flushing with rising temper. “ How many evenings have I fuund you alone during the past half- month? Can you remember one night on which that in—that fellow who calls himself Major Gardenhire, hasn’t been here?” **He calls to see father, cousin,” her tones lower than ever, her lip quivering, sharp pain revealed in her pale face, ’ ** And that father— Bah!” flinging back his head impatiently, his nostrils quivering as he flung out one hand in anger. ‘‘ Lida, what is there between you and that fellow?” ‘*Do you mean Major Gardenhire, cousin?” **T mean the man who dared to kiss you in ublic on the street this day, Miss Corwin!” hed the now thoroughly jealous clerk, rising from his chair and striding rapidly to and fro, It was a brutal speech, and in caJmer mo- ments no one would be quicker to recognize as much, but just then Dudley Mann was hardly accountable for bis words or actions, Cursed with a more than ordinary fiery tem- r, the events of that day had driven him alf-mad, And though he knew well his own weakness in that direction, Dudley bad drank more than one glass of liquor while waiting for the hour at whicb be had asked permission to call on bis fair cousin. All this combined seemed to fill his brain with fire, and for the time being hé had very slight control of his tongue, He stopped short before Lida as he uttered those words, but she made no reply. Her head was bowed upon her hands, and he knew she was weeping from the motions of her lithe figure. It was hard to resist the impulse to drop on his knees before her, to take her hands in his, to lift her sweet face and kiss therefrom those bit- ter tears; so hard that be mechanically thrust his bands bebind his back, “‘ Whether he had the right to kiss you or not, Lida, it was the act of a cur, not of a man,” he added, his tones all the harsher from the battle he was waging with his love, ‘‘ Il ought to have killed bim—lI wish now that I had!” Still no response. Only the sobs grew more severe, the head bowing still lower, **T saw you just before—it happened ” chok- ing over the term and substituting another. ‘I recognized him first, and that helped me to | Corwin?” ** Don’t—you are cruel, Dudley,” the poor girl | Managed to utter. . ‘* [t’s the truth that stings sharpest, always,” with a short, harsh laugh, ‘‘ And yet—Lida, | look at me, please,” She made the effort, but it was a failure. Tears dimmed her sight, and again her fair face was buried in her trembling hands, With forced composure Dudley Mann drew a chair closer to her seat and dropped into it. He touched her hands, but as they did not immedi- ately yield, he desisted, drawing tack and coldly saying: ‘If I had been the only wituess, Lida, it would not be so terrible, for even a cold-blooded rascal like that might make amends as far—” The maiden lifted her head, her eyes glowing with a sudden indignation, more at his tones than the words he had chosen, harsh though they were, ‘* You have no right to speak to me like this, Mr. Mann! Of what crime dare you accuse me? You, whom I tried to—to—” The words failed her, but she no longer hid her face, And in her eyes there shone a sad, yet brave reproach that fairly bewildered him, ‘*T have the rigbt in so far that you are mv cousin, Lida,” be managed to utter, growing bitter as he proceeded, ‘‘I have the right to punish a cowardly cur who dared insult that cousin as few women ever were insulted, And, as Heaven hears me this night!” his trembling hand uplifting and clinching tight, ‘* ll call Major Gardenhire to a stern account before he’s a day older!” ‘No, no, you must not! Promise me that you will let the matter drop right where it is, dear Dudley,” impetuously cried Lida, recalling with a shiver those dark hints let drop by the person in question, Unfortunately Mann could not know this, and jealousy led him to believe her fears were awak- ened solely on his rival’s account, The bitter thought served to calm him in a degree, though it only deepened the deadly resolve he bad taken, ‘* What do you know of this fellow, anyhow, Lida?” he asked, coldly. ‘‘ Who is he? What is he? Wheredid he come from? For all any honest person can say, he may be the blackest rascal unhung! He is a gambler, to my certain knowledge. He may be a thief, a forger, even this mysterious Captain Vampire, for that mat- te »! ‘* Whatever he is, 1 hate him even more than I fear the man!” impetuously cried the maiden, flushing hotly as she recalled the dastard deed of which he had been guilty that afternoon. ‘*Tjida!” gasped the clerk, thrilling to his very center. ‘** You—you are notin love with him? You—say again that you hate him!” **T do say it again,” steadily meeting his ardent raze, ‘* Why should I not, when it is the truth? Why should [ not say itafter—oh, Dudley!” her courage sudlenly deserting her, and sobs again breaking her voice, ‘‘ I would rather have died than—than have you see him—” The sentence was left incomplete, for with a glad cry that almost choked him, Dudley Mann clasped her to his breast, fairly reeling under that precious burden, his emotions were so de- liriously sweet. The scales had dropped from bis eyes af. last. He knew now, what only his unreasoning jeal- ousy had kept unseen for so many painful days, that his cousin loved him, even as he loved her, And yet, even when his joy was the greatest, the evil vision of Holly Gardenhire would per- sist in intruding itself. If that vile outrage had never occurred! Nor was Lida Corwin perfectly happy, though she made no resistance when his hot lips almost smothered her with kisses, Though she had for nearly a year sbyly looked forward to the avowal with strange delight—a delight that awed while it intoxicated her—now that it had come, in actions rather than words, she trem- bled with fear and dread for the future, rather than with unalloyed bliss, She could not forget the seemingly damning proofs which Major Holly sey aenbire had pro- duced. She could not forget that he had hinted her cousin’s honor, if not his liberty, lay wholly in his hands, She longed to tell Dudley all, that he might arm himself against this unscrupulous rival, but she dared not. She dreaded lest her worst fears should be confirmed by word or blush, ‘“Am I in a dream, Lida?’ at length asked Dudley, drawing back to gaze into her face as it res against his heaving breast. ‘‘ You love me, not that scoundrel?” ‘**T love you, Dudley,” was the brave response, her eyes meeting his, and for the first time dar- ing to let him see the depth and powet of her love. ‘‘ I love you, and you alone!” After such a precious confession, Dudley could not be expected to say much, for a time, but his actions'surely ought to have my repaid the maiden for her sacrifice. Just how long that rapture might bave lasted, there are no means of deciding, for amet after there came the sound of an opening do drawing near the room, or and footsteps I NE ee CHAPTER XII, A WELL-MEANT LECTURE, “It is father!” softly exclaimed the maiden, slipping from the embrace of her cousinly lover and taking a seat quite remote from the one in- to which that startled young man dropped, This was scarcely accomplished before the door opened and the portly figure of Leonard Corwin paused on the threshold, his keen gaze roving swiftly from maiden to man, his thin lips closing ever. more firmly than ordinary, ** Evening, Dudley,” he crisply uttered, with a slight nod. ‘* Left allin good shape at the bank, of course?” ** As usual, uncle,” bowed the clerk, flushing under that steady gaze. ‘‘I bad the window boarded up firmly, and I'll sleep with one eye open to-night. It was too late to do more,” ‘‘That was enough. I’m glad you called, for there’s a bit of business I wanted to talk over with you.” Without waiting for an answer, Leonard Corwin turned and passed on, leaving Dudley Mann feeling ait Pc but bappy. ore than ever did he realize that his employer was a hard, cold, stern mav, Would what had hap- pened that evening soften him any? Lida seemed to read his thoughts, for she glided over to his side and gracefully dropped to her knees with one hand touching his, the other resting tenderly on his shoulder as he bowed over ber. ** Just one, dear!” she murmured, then added hurriedly: ‘‘ Father will be back immediately, and before he comes—will you grant my first wish, dear?” ‘To the extent of my life, darling!” was his impetuous response, ‘‘ Then—pray don’t tell him to-night,” falter- ed Lida, her eyes drooping and a charming blush suffusing her cheeks. ‘‘ I fear—-he may not be in a good humor, and—” ‘*Tf you ask it, little woman,” breathed Dud- ley, secretly delighted to obey, but managing to leave the impression of a favor conferred rather than one received, Lida thanked him in the best way a maiden can thank her lover, then avoided bis attempted retaliation, slipping out of reach, touching her lips with a finger-tip as she crossed the threshold, Scarcely had her graceful figure vanished from his sight, than, sad to relate, the old demon of Jealousy again took possession of the lover, who should have been in the seventh heaven of delight. Was she so eager to postpone the announce- ment solely because she feared a rejection of his suit, or was it— ‘Curse that little hound!” he grated, savage- ly, his hands clinching tightly, his eyes glowing vividly through his glasses at the thought, “Pll never rest easy nutil I’ve broken his in- fernal neck!” He could remember now that Lida had never cleared away the mystery preceding that public salute. Why had she been walking arm in arm with that puny scoundrel? Impudent though he might 7 would he bave dared venture so far without at least the shadow of encourage- ment? Strange doubts for a lover just accepted, but true forall that. It was the weakest yet the strongest trait of his character, this inordinate jealousy. Dudley Mann looked gloomy enough when Leonard Corwin returned to the room where bis clerk was waiting, and though the banker seem- ed relieved by the sight of bis frowns, the ab- sence of his daughter seemed to strengthen the suspicion which had found birth in his brain when he first paused on the threshold, { ‘*T have kept you waiting a little longer than I anticipated, Dudley,” be gravely said, as he drew a chair near the center-table, ‘‘ Not at all—never mention it, sir!” was the brisk reply, as the voung man drew himself erect, looking all attention. ‘‘ You wished to see me ona point of business, I believe, uncle?” ‘* It may be called business, though it has no- thing particularly concerning the bank or your clerkly duties,” slowly said the other, resting an elbow on the table and shading his eyes from the ligbt, Dudley Mann stirred a little uneasily at this, for he felt that this was more to cover that keen, searching gaze than to protect his eyes. And this suspicion carried bim into that lecture with a handicap, “Of course I’m ready to listen to whatever you may care to say, Uncle Leonard. I have no secrets from you, sir.” ‘** Are you quite sure of that, nephew?” The question was more than grave: it was even anxious, But Dudley only felt the sting of pe aa and chafed at it. ** Will you kindly speak out plainly, sir?” he asked, his voice held under fair control, though his face flushed and his eyes began to glow. ‘** Have you heard auything to my discredit? If so, it?s no more than fair you should give mea chance to explain before you condemn, “Steady, nephew!” with a grim nod. ‘I have accused you of nothing as yet, Iam not sure there is anything to accuse you of, I sin- > fe comicbooks.com Neen ae