Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 535 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

xa > ae Ta o . ~~, 20 and bitter. ‘‘ You would surely be branded as aliar. What!” with increased bitterness, ‘‘ La Masque able to weep? Crocodile tears, every one!’ Dandy Dutch could hardly believe that, just at present. He was beginning to doubt his own acumen, firmly though he had defended it against the judgment of Sanl Sunday. And if he could have done so with anything like grace, 7. would have abandoned the matter right there, La Masque tossed back her head with a natur- al or assumed air of recklessness as she spoke again: ‘“*T owe vou an apology, Mr. Deutsch, and so— can I offer a better one than by listening to your interrupted confession?” It was by no means what Dandy Dutch an- ticipated, and itrevived his former suspicions as to the real character of this masked mystery. Perhaps it was just as well, for otherwise he could hardly have carried out his original plans without serious embarrassment. “You are willing to listen patiently, lady?” he gravely asked, “Call me Duquoin — Stella Duquoin,” La Masque said, her tones softening once more as she added; ‘“‘ That alone should reassure you, Mr, Deutsch, for never another man in all this region ever heard me pronounce that name; age name my sainted mother bestowed upon me “Then it shall be sacred, even from my lips,” quickly replied the detective, ‘* At least until I have proven my worthiness to take it upon them, Until then, shall it be La Masque?” ‘* Perhaps that would be best,” with a touch of her former recklessness, ‘‘ As often as you utter it, the title will remind me of what I am now, at least in the common estimation, La Masque let it be, then!” _ “ And you will forgive my audacity in send- ing you that note, begging an interview?” ‘Why not? Wasitnot natural? What else could I expect, filling the station you saw me adorn?” with a hard, reckless laugh. ‘* You are resolved to punish me, after all,” sighed the detective, reining back his horse,and bowing low as though taking his leave. ‘It is no more than just, perhaps, yet—choose your path, La Masque, and I'll take the opposite di- rection,” ‘You really mean it?” her voice softening, woman like, ‘‘ You will go your way and never try to cross my pathway more?” **Tf you say I must, lady,” he bowed. The strange woman sent her horse forward until she could rest a hand on Dandy Dutch’s shoulder. She leaned forward in her saddle un- til she could gaze fairly into his eyes. A faint flush tinged her cheeks, but he met that search- ing gaze unflinchingly. And then La Masque drew back, turning her steed until she was by his side, saying softly: “*T never thought to be so weak again, but I trust you, Mr, Deutsch. [ believe you are what you claim to be; atrue friend, We will ride on together, and you may talk as freely as ey please. Then—-perbaps I may find my tongue, As her steed moved forward, that ridden b the detective kept pace of its own accord, Andre Deutsch was far too thoroughly befogged to ere him the cue, so perhaps it was just as well. Experienced in all the arts and wiles of crimi- nals though he was, and priding himself on being an acute judge of human nature, the detective felt himself completely puzzled just now. Up to avery few moments ago, he had felt rfectly confident that the one figuring as La asque of the Oasis was the game to bag which he had traveled thousands of miles. Now—he doubted everything. Yet there was a touch of the bulldog in his nature, and even while he felt certain uneasy qualms, he quickly resolved to play bis part to an end, and then, should his suspicions prove without foundation, he would humble himself in the dust at her feet, pleading such excuse as the truth could offer, **Have you never borne another name than that of Stella Duquoin?” . “You forget La Masque,” with a laugh—was it a start? _He could not be entirely sure, but the suspi- cion lent him nerve to go on in the path he had marked out for himself. ‘I saw you, as La Masque, for the first time, two nights ago. I happened by chance in the Oasis, for I did not mean to stop long in town. I was attracted by your figure. I managed to catch one look into your eyes, and that glimpse strengthened my suspicions that you and I had met under very different circum- starices.” ‘* How can that be?’ asked La Masque, in low, uncertain tones, “If you are indeed the person I fancied, in that moment, you ought to be able to answer shat question,” gravely added Deutsch. ‘“ You ought to remember how we parted, and why.” Tell me what you mean, please,” in still less certain tones. “IT had a friend once. I lovell her dearly. ’ Dandy | Dutch. So dearly that I treated her as a precious sis- ter, when I might have made her all my own,” ‘“*Few men are so generous—or so cold-blood- ed,” she murmured, but with a touch of scorn in the last words, and a glint in ber eyes as they shot a fleeting glance into bis grave counte- nance, ‘** Not the last, for I loved her as few men can love, Yet 1 held ker at arm’s length because there was a barrier between us which could not be crossed with honor.” ‘*She was wedded, perhaps?” *“*T was married, rather,” with a short nod, his eyes directed straight ahead, seémingly un- conscious of her keen, though furtive gaze. ‘* That barrier has been removed by ceath, but long before that happened, the friend I loved as a bride and treated as a sister was gone. She fled from me, believing the worst of me that malicious tongues could tell.” ‘* Never to be found again? Or did you take the trouble to search?” ‘* Ever since 1 was free to tell her all, I have wandered the world over with that one hope in view. I never found a trace of her until—did I find it, two nights ago, La Masque?” ‘* Tf you had found her, what would you have said?” slowly asked the woman, her eyes seeming to be backed by living fire, ‘* Explained the past, and begged her to mar- ry me and live only for the future,” was the im- petuous response, *“*Andif she had not felt free to accept? If some wretch had her in his power, through no sin of her own, asa cruel wretch now bas me?’ ‘*Tell me his name, La Masque.” ‘Frank Steele, alias Silky Steele. know him, Andre Deutsch?” CHAPTER XXV, THE STORY TOLD BY LA MASQUE. LA MasQuE was watching her companion keeuly as she pronounced this name, but Dandy Dutch gave no sign by which her suspicions could fasten, though that man was the last on earth whom he had expected to hear named by those masked lips. ‘Never heard of the—is it gentleman or tough?” he asked, his dark eyes calmly encoun- tering those glittering orbs, La Masque made no immediate response, She threw all her power into that gaze, like one striving to read what might lie deep buried under the surface, She might as well have tried to read the his- tory of past centuries, written upon the face of the bleak rocks by which their horses were carrying them. ““What matter, solong as I called him my enemy ?” ‘‘None. Where can I find him?” “You would kill him, then?” slowly asked La Masque, & curious quaver in her tones, a strange intentness in her gaze. “ You would do this, simply on my declaration that Silky Steele was my bitter enemy?” **T would do it ten times over for the woman I once treated as a sister. ‘Then why not just once for the woman whose figure, whose eyes, whose voice all so strongly remind me of Chat lost love?” If still acting, Dandy Dutch proved himself an adept. His face was pale, with a curious blending of sadness and hope. His tones were firm and even, yet underneath lay a faint tremor that miglit almost be cailed the echo of a shadow, La Masque bent over in her saddle until ber gloved hand could drop lightly, almost caress- ingly upon his arm, and her voice was softer and more musical than any she had called into play before. “You mean this, Andre Deutsch? You will prove yourself my friend, even though I be not your long-lost love? The Decorator from Dead-Lift gave a faint sigh, flinging back his head like one casting aside a dearly cherished hope, Then he square- ly met the gaze of his enigmatical companion for a few moments before speaking out. ‘Put me to the test, La Masque, and if I don’t come up to your expectations, be sure it'll not be through lack of good will, This enemy of yours—Silken Steel, you said?” “Silky Steele. Surely you have heard of him?” ‘‘Never before his name passed your lips, to my knowledge,” was the unblushing response. ‘* Pll know him better, though, if you diract me how and ‘where to find the gentleman.” La Masque turned her eyes ahead, riding for some little distance hefore making any reply to this quiet speech. Dandy Dutch seemed quite content that she should take all the time she re- quired, for he himself would feel all the safer for a time of cool, keen reflection. p to this very hour, he bad felt confident that the being posing as La Masque was none other than the notorious criminal Silky Steele himself! He had staked his reputation upon it, and bad begun to play bis cards in accordance a soak supposition, Now—what was he to thin That La Masque was proving herself a better actor than the trained Getective? That beneath that womanly surface really lay hidden the Do you TE STE ee LLL iii NN — ee ee = eee 8 criminal whom he had trailed acrcss thousands of miles? Or was shea stranger to crime an:|! to him? Or was she only an ally to the man whom he hunted, sent to lure him into a snare, instead of being trapped? ‘“*T can hardly believe it!” murmured La Masque, so lowly that only the keenest of ears could have made out the words above the sounds of their horses’ hoofs on the flinty trail. ‘ Is there so much true manbood left in the world? Can a man so serve a woman, without extorting his reward in.advance?”’ ‘Try me, La Masque,” quietly interposed Dandy Dutch. His companion gave a sudden start, turning toward him like one who was, abruptly recalled to the present. ‘““T did not—I forgot for a moment where I was, Mr, Deutsch,” she said, her whip-band ris- ing to rest beavily against her heart. **And I fancied you were speaking to me,” bowed the detective, as he added: ‘' Forgive me, and pray I never heard your soliloquy !” ‘*And you have fully decided that I am not the lady you loved in the long ago?” ignoring his half ironical speech. ‘*Tt?s hard to think so while you look at me with those eyes and talk to me with that voice, La Masque,” hesitating just a little as he added the words, “If I might beg you to trust me as a friend—if I might pray for just one vlimpse of that face, lady!” La Masque turned abruptly away, touching her horse with the whip and breaking intoa trot. Dandy Dutch kept close to her side, measuring his pace by hers, seemingly content to await her pleasure. La Masque seemed to be a creature of inypulse that bright day, for as abruptly as she started, so she checked her horse, wheeling it about un- til the two horses rubbed noses in silent com- radeship. **T will trust you fully, Andre Deutsch,” the woman spoke, her voice a little unsteady, but still that of one who bas fully determined her future course. ‘* You shall see my face, since a doubt still lingers, but I warn you that you will be doubly disappointed when the mask is lifted. I am not your long lost love. And I am not so marvelously beautiful that I have to mask my charms in order to— Bah!” with a passionate gesture. ‘‘Can I never forget the old stage tricks?” ‘** Vhat’s because you still doubt my sincerity, I fear, La Masque.” **Not so, my friend. If I doubted you, I would not have said as much of myself,” came the quick denial. ‘‘ Nor would I ask you to lis- ten to my reasons for following the life I lead in Prospect.” “Tf the story is painful to recall, why make the attempt?’ earnestly asked the detective. ** T'll take your story on trust, and wait to hear all until after IT have proved my worthiness by bringing your enemy to book, Only—may I not see the face of my new friend?” ‘**T ought to refuse, lest the sight dampen your ardor,” laugbed La Masque, as she deftly sprung from the saddle before the detective could divine her intention. ‘* Buta willful woman maun hae her way, ye ken? And after [ve told you m past, Pll show you what lies hidden beneat this friendly covering, Andre Deutsch.” Curionsly hovering between doubt and cer- tainty, Dandy Dutch made no further effort to hasten that revelation. He dismounted and took charge of La Masgque’s borse, hastily knotting the bridles together as he saw her sink grace- fully upon a grassy knoll hard by, those mag- netic eyes watching his movements with half malicious, half-sad intentness, ‘* Be séated, my friend” La Masque said, as he approached, motioning with her whip to a mossy rock before her, ‘‘ Unless you are already weary of a woman’s whims, Even now, I’m in- wardly debating: whether or no I had better let this matter go any further.” | ** May I act as judge?” “What would be your decision, my good friend?” ** Prove that you are not jeering at me when you use that title!” with sudden earnestness, as he leaned forward and took her hand. ‘ Show that you really consider me a friend.” **To do so I should banish you immediately, for naught but evil can follow those who love— who try to be friends to me.” ‘* Tl risk all punishment, La Masque, ‘“ Will you put me to the test?” **] will!” with sudden energy. ‘Ill tell you. Listen, Andre Deutsch, and try to count up all I owe Frank Steele! ‘“T met him for the first time, “years ego; never mind where, Never mind just bow we became acquainted. Enough that I was gay, careless, happy as the day was long, up to the hour When his fatal beanty came under my eyes: for he was an angel in outward guise, handsome as a demigod, an Apollo in miniature!” ‘* And you fell in love with bim?” ‘* How could I help it?’ with sudden harsh- ness. ‘*ButI forget. You say you never met the man.” ‘*T hope to meet him at no distant day, for your sake, La Masque.” **'You shall, if woman’s wit and woman’s ha- NIGDOOKS — ~ (E(@)