Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 535 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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18 Dandy Dutch. But Fanny was obdurate, and shrunk away when he tried to take what he so humbly ‘** You don’t know how sharp some eyes are, just when they ought to be better employed, aul,” she murmured, with a frightened glance around them. ‘‘And though I might pass un- noticed, thanks to this hideous old ulster, ’m afraid they’d recognize that lovely suit of ours!” ‘* Ef I ever wear it ag’in, hopemay— Fanny, dove?” ** Well, Saul, dear?” ‘* Ef L was to skoot back to the hotel an’ steal a rig o’ the best the boss is got, don’t you reckon—” **’You’d hardly find me here on your return,” a little impatiently interposed the maid. ‘I can stay but a minute, and unless you’ve for- gotten all you wanted me to learn last night—” ‘* Jest as ef I could ever ferget!” echoed the love-lorn valet, his eyes rolling upward in ecstasy at the mere memory thus invoked. ** When I never slep’ a wink fer thinkin’-- when I could smack the two lips o’ me an’ bear the honey-bees buzzin’ ail through the hotel lookin’ fer the clover-patch— Fanny?” ** What is it now?” with just a shade of tart- ness in her voice, ‘* Let the boss an’ the mistress go to thunder, an’ we two go hunt up a dominie fer to ax him— Why not?’ ‘*Glory Ann—isn’t that sufficient?” Solemn Saul ‘‘ wilted” immediately, and if there was something very like an oath mingling with his groan, can any true lover blame him? ‘* When you can come to me with those words, a free and honest suitor without evasion, but until taat day comes, I am compelled in self-defense to hold you aloof,” was the grave, yet tremulous decision, ‘‘And now —were you in earnest last night when you spoke of your master being so eager to form the ac- quaintance of my mistress?” ‘* Was I?” echoed Saul, brightening up won- derfully, considering the serious rebuff so re- cently received. ‘‘So much so that I cain’t jestly begin to tell how much, An’ the boss? aal, little lady, he’s so hard hit that them as holps him git even one word in edgeways with the ma’am, couldn’t set tha’r price too high. He'd jest kiver ’em a foot deep with gold chips, ef they said they wanted it that way. Fanny made no immediate remark, though this enthusiastic speech seemed to make an im- pression upon her. She walked slowly beside the gorgeously-arrayed valet, her head. bent, her face fairly well concealed by her vail, ‘* Money wouldn’t be good enough fer ’em!” added Solemn Saul, by way of a clincher. “Tt isn’t the money so much, though that comes handy to have about the bouse!” with a short little laugh, her dark eyes flashing a look up into his face that caused him to catch his breath with a gasp, ** Our house, Fanny?” “If all goes well— Behave yourself, sir, or I'll leave you to guess all the rest.” “*Sufferin’ grandpap! ef it was only come night ag’in!” groaned this modern Tantalus, scowling through his misery at the bright sun, Fanny faced him sharply, her face growing hard and impatient, her voice warning him not to cross ber too far, just then, unless he wished to defeat his own hopes, . ** Are you a a drive me away, with my message untold? If not, try to restrain your impatience and listen to what I have to say. Time is pressing, and if I linger much longer, my mistress will suspect something of the truth.” ‘*?'m muzzled, Miss Black,” meekly uttered the valet. ‘*T had no chance to deliver your note last night, but I dropped it in my mistress’s way this morning. She read it; of that I am positive, though she never once mentioned the matter, and of course | dared not make any allusion to ““Then it didn’t skeer her very much,” ven- tured Solemn Sau). ‘*T may yet hear frcm it,” with a little shiver. ** Long as I have served her, my mistress is still an enigma to me; but never mind that. You en and I could not refuse your prayer, u ‘* They ain’t nobody lookin’, Fanny!” pleaded Sunday. ** And I have no more time to spare, Saul. I may be missed at any moment, and I almost be- lieve La Masque would murder me without a scruple if she so much as suspected me of plot- ting against ber in favor of a stranger.” ‘*So much the more reason fer gittin’ her an’ the boss to hitch,” grimly nodded the valet. ‘* Wer ef be cain’t tame her by kisses, I reckon he kin by other means. Anyway, be jest needs to squint at me once fer to make the cold trim- miles run races all up an’ down my back!” Fanny frowned impatiently at this discursion, but lest another reproof should delay her still longer, she permitted the speech to pass, ‘*T hardly dared ask La Masque any questions after having placed that note in her way, as you ess, but in the end I learned all you me to discover. My mistress intends to ma wis Saul, ll answer you’ ride to-day, as usual, She will not start out much before noon, if any, but when she does go, “4 will be to follow the road leading to the Eagle’s est. “They ain’t any sign-boards on that trail, I don’t reckon?” feebly ventured Sunday, tugging at his goat-like beard, ‘‘ Ef we was older citi- zens 0’ Prospect, it mebbe’d be different, but the way it is ef the boss ain’t no smarter then I be, the lady mought ride clean thar an’ back ag’in long afcre we got fairly set to goin’!” ‘*EKagle’s Nest lies due south of town, and your master could hardly go astray if he tried,” quickly returned the lady’s maid. ‘‘ If he comes to a place where he feels at a loss, let him watch for a lady in dark green, riding a black horse, If you carry this information straight, I don’t see how he can possibly go astray.” ** Word fer word he shell hev it, honey dove, but I cain’t tell it in that same sweet voice—not ef I was to try double times over.” “Then make use of your own voice, silly,” laughed Fanny, seemingly greatly relieved at having finally delivered her information. ‘If bs can find time, Saut, come this evening to et me know how he prospers.” ‘t' You ain’t goin’ to run off an’ never— Jest one, Fanny!” **What would Glory Ann say?” mocked the maid as she deftly evaded his grasp, beating a rapid retreat, CHAPTER XXII DANDY DUTCH ACCEPTS THE BAIT, SOLEMN SAUL made no move to check her hasty flight, or to follow after her, standing with bowed shoulders, his fave the image of melan- choly despair. And he was occupying the same position when Fanny Black turned to look back for an instant before rounding the corner on her way back to her mistress. ‘*She’s a keen one, or I’m ’way off!” the de- tective muttered to bimself as he turned to seek his partner, ‘“ Vdgivea snug littlesum to know just what the woman is thinking, this minute! Dollars to cents she’s laughing in her sleeve at the smart manner in which she’s fooled the trick. ster! Despite himself Solemn Saul was ill at ease, and more than once during that short trip back to the hotel, he caught himself wishing he had succeeded less completely. “Tf I could make Dandy look at it with my eyes, [ wouldn’t care so much, He’d be more on his guard. Now—for little ’d shut down on his keeping this appointment—for that’s just what it amounts to, Fanny or no Fanny!” Nothing of these doubts showed in his face when Solemn Saul came in sight of the Oceident- al, He was once more the meekly sad valet, and with humbled head he stood and bore the lan- guid abuse showered upon him by his master. “Drunk again, you hypocritical sponge! And I’ve been waiting this hour past to learn whether I'll go riding or turn in again to sleep the day to anend. Saul Sunday!” ‘** Yes, sir, boss, your Honor!” ** 'You’re an infernal fraud!” The valet meekly groaned assent to this lan- idly vehement summing up of his character, instinctively dodging as Dandy Dutch flung the the stump of a cigar at his head and rose to his feet, ** Show me the way to my room, you rascal,” ‘* Sufferin’ grandpap!” sighed Saul, reproach- fully glancing over the laughing faces of the guests. ‘* Time was—” ‘* And you'll hear it begin to strike in just a second if you don’t begin picking up those deli- cate hoofs of yours, Sunday,” yawned the Decorator, lazily. Sadly subdued, the valet led the way into the hotel and up to the chamber sacred to the eccentric sport from the upper country. But the instant the door closed behind them, both men changed to their natural characters, ‘** Lucky or a fizzle, pard?’ asked Deutsch. ‘*T met the girl, and she told me her mistress would go out riding as usual. She'll take the Eagle Nest trail, wearing a dark green habit and riding a black horse. May not start much before noon,” ** Multum in parvo !” nodded Dandy approv- ingly as he glanced at his watch. “Isn't it just a little too much, old fellow?” slowly asked Saul secre A his face grave and his eyes showing the troubled brain behind them, ‘* We don’t often find matters all coming our way, just as we want them. To me, it looks more suspicious than salubrious—heap sight!” ‘* You think it’s a trap set for me, not for the woman?” ‘* Don't it begin to bear the same appearance to you?” was the counter questiop., ‘The girl said she dropped that nete where La Masque found and read it. Sbe said ber mistress told her she would ride as usual, and even named the course she would take.” - ** Natural enongh, surely,” with a nod, ** Granted, if La Masque is really the woman she claims to be. But if she 1s, then you are left. If she isn’t—if she is Silky Steele—then a chance like this can only cover a deadly trap!” ‘ Which horn of the dilemma do you think it, pard? ‘*T begin to believe La Masque is really La eS eee ere | | | Masque, 1 think sheis an ally or partner of Captain Vampire, instead of being the original Simon. And I believe that if you follow ber to- day, you'll run up against a snag in the shape of a gang of road-agents before you see town,’ And I feel dead sure that La Masque is Silky Steele,” grimly retorted Deutsch, beginning to change his garments for others more suitable for the saddle, ‘*So sure am I that 1’ll risk my share of the profits on my judgment, And if it’s in the wood at all, Pl] know the whole truth before the sun sets this evening, All I ask is one glimpse at La Masque’s left cheek, She would hardly wear her mask 1n the daytime, but if she does, I'll manage to get under it, somehow!” Saul Sunday said no more, though his brows were clouded still. He knew that argument would dono good, and though he might com- mand, he was averse to taking such a decided step, under the circumstances, ** Hadn’t you better go order my horse, Sun- day?’ smiled Deutsch, ‘‘I can’t afford to miss a chance, and women are proverbially uncer- tain. It is barely possible that La Masque may alter her mind about waiting until noon before setting sail for Eagle’s Nest.” Without a word further, Saul Sunday left the chamber and hastened to the livery stable, only a short distance around the corner, where the horses on which they bad entered Prospect were stabled. In his character of the Sad Man, he delivered his orders, and dolefully waited for the steed to be prepared for the road, then lead- ing the Phare back to the botel, standing in meek silence while the few guests still linge: ing on the veranda guyed him to their hearts’ con- tent. They were thus engaged when Dandy Dutch came down from bis chamber, neatly yet richly attired for theroad. He caught some of those jests, and his darkly handsome face took on a cold severity as he said: ‘* Gentlemen, you are laboring under a slight misapprehension, Saul Sunday is my valet. I pay for the privilege of cursing him. I give him wages for permitting me to turn him into a laughing stock, but that lends you no license for attempting to make him the butt for your arrows of wit. So—I humbly beg of you to make a note of it for the future, gentlemen!— you are infringing on my patent, And after this, the man who insults my servant, insults me!” Without pausing for a reply tothis polite in- timation that for the future it must be ‘‘ hands off ” under penalty, Dandy Dutch leaped light- ly into thesaddle, giving Solemn Saul a playful touch across the shoulders with his gold-handled riding-whip theh trotting off at a fair rate of speed His face was turned toward the south, and despite the lament of Solemn Saul over their slight acquaintance with the surrounding coun- try, Dandy Dutch showed no hesitation nor any inclination to ask his way of any of the citizens whom he passed by. The town was quickly left behind bim, and Dandy Dutch rose in his stirrups as be gained the top of a slight ridge, gazing keenly in ad- vance, looking for the green habit and black horse, but without sighting it. Not tbat be really believed La Masque could have gotten ahead of bim, but it was a rule of his to neglect no precautions, ‘* Tt’s only right that an ardent lover should be earliest at the rendezvous,” he nodded, set- ting forward once more, a curious smile light- ing up bis face at some inward thoughs, ‘* And La Masque, if she does come this way, shall have as little to complain of as her maid, so far as outward warmth goes!” He laughed aloud as bis good horse broke into an easy, swinging gallop that carried him rapidly forward, and none of the doubt and anxiety which Saul Sunday had betrayed could be seen in bis face. Yet, he believed that he was Sepa to encoun- ter one who would almost certainly know him for what he was: a professional hunter of men, a detective, doubtless with a warrant ready for execution, ‘* What will Prospect and her gallant sports think if my guess should prove true?” be mused, his eyes twinkling with grim humor at the bare “What will they say if 1 bring La Masque back with me in steel bracelets? And when they see what has so long and so jealously been hidden beneath that velvet mask—it’s too good to realize!” ° Once more his clear, musical laugh rung out, for now he was riding through a lonely tract of ground, where there was no possibility of his unusual merriment awaking curiosity. Presently he sobered down, his head bent a little like one buried in deep thought. He was trying to settle on the best course for bis action in case La Masque should indeed keep that ren- dezvous. ; It took nearly an hour to carry bim to the vicinity of Eagle’s Nest, and then he concealed himself on bigh ground where he could see for miles along the way he had come, drawing a pair of field-glasses from his saddle-bags and sweeping the country round about his covert. Thus he spent something more than an hour without making any discovery of moment, but | Eomicbooks (Eo) |