Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 535 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

2 > Dandy Dutch. | up and down the street, seemingly undecided which direction to take, ‘*Kither way, and you'll wish you hadn't, Lida—my Lida from this time hencefortb!” muttered the major, with eyes only for the lady, forgetting for the moment that he was himself | liable to observation, from tbe rear if not in | front. ‘‘ A woman’s trick, but even a woman would hardly dare try it on again.” 7 He saw the young lady step to the rude plank sidewalk; moving rapidly toward him, and his beard bristled anew as he drew still further back, biding his time. A basty move had be- trayed him once, but that should not happen again. Not until the rapid click-click of dainty heels came to his keen ears did the major move, then stepping briskly forward he stopped short with lifted hat and bland smile to utter: “Your servant, Miss Corwin! bound, may I ask?” The young lady paused, recoiling and half- turning as though to retrace her steps; and though her vail was drawn, a visible flush man- tled her cheeks. The major’s eyes snapped, but his voice was suave as usual, ‘**T saw you call at Mason’s, but hardly dared join a lady while on shopping bent, even with an excuse so urgent as mine,” he glibly uttered, holding himself in readiness to take whichever direction the young lady saw fit to elect. ‘‘So I took a stroll around the block and—behold my reward!” ‘** But you were going in the—” ‘*Tn the other direction, when you saw me— just so,” blandly smiled the major, as Miss Cor- win hesitated. ‘‘It is the unexpected that al- ways happens; a motto of mine by adoption, dear lady. You thought I was waiting in one direction, and so—was that why “you tvok the course directly opposite?” ‘* You are presuming too much, Major Gar- denhire,” coldly uttered the young lady, bowing out as though taking leave of him. ‘‘ Why | should [ take so much trouble to avoid meeting you on the street?” *“ Why, indeed!” was his echo, stepping brisk- ly along by her side as she resumed her way. ** And yet—can you frankly say that you have not taken just so much trouble, Miss Lida?” ““T deny your right to ask such questions, | sir,” bowing again. ‘‘Good-evening, I will | not take you out of the way.” ‘Your way is mine, for the present, Miss Corwin,” be persisted, his tone growing jnst a | trifle less smooth and even. ‘' There is some- thing I wish to bring to your notice, and—” ee You know where I reside, Major Garden- ire, ‘* And I know, too, that one is not always cer- | tain of finding you at home, I called last even- ing, to receive just such an answer.” ‘**T was otherwise engaged.” **So I learned afterward,” his half-closed eyes flashing redly for an instant as they glanced to- ward that vailed face. ‘‘I was told you were suffering with a severe headache, Yet—halfan hour later another caller was admitted, to re- main for two long hours,” ‘**My cousin, Dudley Mann; he called to see father on business,” was the low, hurried re- sponse, ** And remained to court the daughter” Swift as thought was the retort, and one used to the low, soft, smooth tones of the gallant | major would hardly have recognized his voice just then. It was harsh, hoarse, full of hottest jealousy. For a single breath his mask was dropped, and Lida Corwin shrunk from his side with a sensation of fear, even while her eyes were lighting up with the fires of indignation. What right bad this man to use such words, such tones toward her? She had known bim scarce a month, and not at all intimately even during that brief space. He had crossed their threshold less than a half-score times, and on every occasion his plea had been business with her father, the one banker of whom the mining- town of Prospect could boast. Great as was her indignation, her amaze- ment was even stronger, and before she could find fitting rebuke for such insolence, Major Gardenhire spoke again: ‘“ Impudent, but .true, Miss Corwin. Though Homeward barred out of paradise myself, I know pre- cisely how matters Boe cant on the other side of toat barrier. If Leonard Corwin knew as much, think you he would rest in sucb blissful security? Even now he is none too deeply in- fatuated with the son of his sister. What would it be, then, were he to learn that that nephew was scheming to become his son?” » “You have no right—I will not listen to your shameful insults longer!” passionately cried Lida, flinging off the hand that dared to touch her arm in warning. ‘‘ Leave me, sir, or [ll call for help!” Fortunately for both, perhaps, few people were stirring on the street at that hour, and not one was near enough to catch those words. Major Gardenhire may have known this by in- stinct, but he did not deign to cast even a single glance around, to make sure his words were caught only by the flushed, indignant yet trem- bling maiden, by whose side he persistently maintained his place. . ee ee His brief show of angry jealousy had van- ished, leaving only a half-sad, half-pitying com- miseration to be read in his face and eyes. The latter were more widely opened than usual in his strong interest, and for the time what those who liked him least called his squint, was bardly to be observed, Despite his rather diminutive stature, Major | Holly Gardenhire just then looked almost noble. And why not, when he was risking his own hopes of future bliss on the frail chance of sav- ing this fair girl from shipwreck on the shoals of ill-placed love? . You may call, and help may come, Miss Corwin,” his voice once more smooth and equable. ‘*‘ You may avoid me now, as you did last evening, as you attempted to do but a few minutes ago when you so suddenly remembered an errand that rushed you into Mason’s; but the time must come when you will have to listen to the words I am prepared to speak. Lida cast a swift glance around them, and as she saw no aid immediately at hand, her own hands closed quickly with an impulse which she found it by no means easy to conquer, Though by no means an amazon in hight and proportions, she stood more than an inch over the major, and she felt sure that she could brush him from her path without an actual struggle, Only for her womanly horror of ‘‘a scene” in public, she would almost certainly have made the attempt, so intense was her in- dignation at his impertinent persistence, ‘*Tf you were a gentleman there could be no question of summoning assistance, Major Gar- denhbire. Will you leave mea fragment of re- spect for you, as a business friend of my father, by going your way and leaving me to go mine? The street is no place for such words as you have already dared to utter!” ‘‘-You denied me admittance to your house, Miss Corwin. You tried to dodge me but a bit ago. Can you deny this?” ‘* That you can ask such a question ought to be answer enough,” the maiden flashed, swiftly, her eyes gleaming through the vail that covered her slightly flushed face, ‘ If you persist—” ‘* Permit me, Miss Corwin,” bowed the major, his beard bristling. ** Then—I aceath both charges, I refused to sée you last night. I tried to avoid meeting you tu-day. I entered Mason’s solely to keep from meeting you, and my end would have been gained only for your altering your course, and lying in wait for me like a—” The sentence was left incomplete, but its sting was none the less keen for that, though Major Gardenhire smiled as though he rather Ilked it than not. Only for aninstant, Then he grew grave and earnest in face as he was in voice and manner, : ‘There is no need to speak more plainly on your part, Miss Corwin. know who warned you against me, I know who advised you w avuid any confidential converse with me, And he acted wisely, from his standpoint. With al- most any other man in question, his ruse would bave succeeded. With me it has only gained him a few bours’ respite.” *‘T donot pretend to understaud what you mean,” coldly retorted Lida, turning the corner and taking the shortest way home. “All I know, it has gained me a most disagreeable es- cort.” ‘““You are very hard, Miss Corwin,” with a barely perceptible sigh, ‘‘Some day you will recall your words and wish they had never found utterance. They are so hard that, were | one whit less your friend, they would drive me into silence, leaving you to fall a victim to that audacious schemer, Dudley Mann!” The maiden turned upon him with a low, pas- sionate cry, and only for his swift action her loved hand would surely have swept across his fC neted lips. His fingers closed about that round wrist, holding ber belpless for the mo- ment, asshe panted: ‘ ; “How dare you to couple his name with so foul an epithet?” ‘*T dare, because it is the truth,” was the cool response, his eyes boldly meeting her indignant gaze. ‘*I dare, because I am your friend, and as such am resolved to save you from the devil- ish snares which are being shaped for your un- wary feet. I dare, even though I know so dar- ing will briag upon my head your bitterest curses, your deepest hatred, instead of the love for which I would gladly empty my veins and lay down my life!” For a brief space Lida Corwin gazed #t the speaker, too thoroughly amazed _ for speech, but then she gave a short, hysterical laugh, saying: ‘Are you not prematurely exposing your hand, Major Gardenhire?” “‘T have nothing to conceal, so need not pick and choose my words, Miss Corwin, I under- stand your sneer, but it stings me not. Itis true that I love you as a man only loves the wo- man whom he would choose from all the world to become his wife; but it is not mere jealousy that forces me to use the terms I have—not jealousy of Dudley Mann, your father’s clerk, your own cousin. Shall I tell you why?” ‘*T have heard too much already.” ‘* Because a gentleman can be jealous only of 2. ee Ti ae his equal. I am not unduly proud, but I can never admit that Dudley Mann is that equal, ‘*Nor I!” flashed Lida. ‘‘Heis a thousand- fold your superior!” * Will you say as much when Dudley Mann stands in the felon’s dock?’ starply demanded the major, bis beard bristling afresh. CHAPTER II. THE MAJOR PLAYS A TRUMP. DESPITE her implicit confidence in the rela- tive thus sharply assailed, Lida Corwin was taken aback by that pointed speech. False in toto as she firmly believed it, there was some- thing in the manner of Major Holly Gardenhire that chilled her warm blood and sent a thrill of sickening dread to her heart. The major saw this, and his tones softened, a white, slender-fingered hand gently touching her arm as though in readiness to lend support in case of need, **You force me to use plain, harsh terms, dear lady, though I would have avoided them if possible.” ** They are lies!” panted the maiden, rallying from the shock and shaking that Kand from her arm. ‘* You dare not repeat thena in his pre- sence!” ‘“*T am ready to say even more to his very face, if nothing but his own confession will con- vince you, Miss Corwin,” once more cold and even of speech, ‘‘ Shall we turn back to the bank? It is not yet time for closing, and doubt- less Mr. Mann will be at his post of duty.” There wasa brief hesitation, Lida half turned to carry out that suggestion, but then she ban- ished the thought, She would not give this bold calumviator even so much satisfaction, Not even in seeming would she share those charges against her cousin. “Will you leave me?” she demanded, her voice harsh with repressed passion, ‘‘Shall I call for help?” ‘*T have said too much not to say more, Miss Corwin, andif you summon aid I will only have a larger audience to drink in my charges against Dudley Mann. You must hear me out. If you persisi in going headlong to your ruin, at least my skirts shall be blame-free.” : Lida made no immediate reply, but walked rapidly toward home. The major kept close by her side, measuring bis pace by hers, quiet, cool, resolute, Evidently he meant all he said, and the maiden began to realize that the surest method of terminating that interview would be by hearing what he had to say. She stopped short midway the block, a quick glance showing her that the street was clear of pedestrians for the time being. ‘* Finish what you have to, say, as quickly as possible,” she said, with forced composure, ‘* You will never have another chance, for if you dare accost me again I will give you in charge.” ‘** So you think now, no doubt,” with a faint smile, ‘' but I have faith that you will learn to look upon me as your best, truest, most faithful . friend, Until then I am content to wait for my reward,” Lida made an impatient gesture, though she said nothing, and correctly interpreting this, Major Gardenhire at once came to the point: ‘* It is not such a pleasaut subject that I wish to dwell upon it longer than necessary, Miss Corwin; but to avoid the necessity of going back to pick up stray threads, you must permit me a little latitude, ‘Your father is sole owner of the only bank which Prospect can afford. Itis a paying in- stitution, but it rests solely upon his good credit, He alone is responsible for itsintegrity, he alone could be called upon to make good any loss or defaleation which might take place. Am I right, so far?” Miss Corwin bowed in silence, “Very good. Your father, with one clerk, does all the work of the bank. That clerk is the only child of bis dead sister. He boards at a hotel, but be sleeps in a room’ at the rear of the bank proper. He is a gay, dashing, fun-loving young fellow, though steady as a clock during anking hours, Once more, am | right?’ Again that silent assent, though Lida drew her vail closer about her faceand slightly quick- ened her steps as they were about to meet a couple of men who gazed curiously upon them, ** This is what you know about your cousin’s life, Miss Corwin,” resumed Gardenbire after passing the two men. ‘‘To you he has ever turned the brightest, cleanest side of —” ‘There is no other!” flashed the maiden, quickly, ‘* Unfortunately I must prove to you there is another side, far less pleasing,” was the cool, unmoved retort. ‘‘ Dudley Mann is a model of business propriety and integrity while the bank is open, and while in the company of his uncle or his cousin; but no one would recognize him by that description when he is‘out with the boys.’ or Then he is the wildest of the wild. Then he peg no man to drink more heavily, play oS and spend money more spel lacie than e. Lida abruptly faced the major with: “Wave you nothing but lies to tell? AmI comircbook: + » See fF ~ ae — é . " is . 0 i.