Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 535 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

bearing with your insolence only for this? Mr. Mann does not drink or gamble!” ‘* No doubt he has often assured you thus,” bowed Gardenhire, ‘‘but the record tells a different tale. Remember, Miss Corwin, what I tell you now I stand ready to repeat before Mr, Mann bimself if you care to put us both to the test. And I reckon [can back my words with documents which even his nerve could not face unmoved.” ‘** Go on,” coldly uttered Lida, once more mov- ing forward. ‘‘Itis your turn now, The reck- oning will come later.” ‘** Thanks for the permission, Miss Corwin; it isso much more comforting than to bave to talk without leave. But as I was saying, Dudley Mann spends far more money than any man can afford to, whose salary is no more than eighteen hundred a year. . And, I think you will admit, he has no private fortune to back him up in bis wild extravagance?” He paused as thoughfor a reply, but none was vouchsafed. Lida Corwin was keeping a tight grip on her temper now, and hardly dared trust herself to speak. ‘That is a high figure for a young man to reach, in this imperfectly developed region, and as he is single, without any person to take care of save himself, Mr. Mann should be sav- ing money against bis settling down as the head of afamily. Unfortunetely he is wild and headstrong. Even worse, he is a gambler wha bets without judgment, who crowds fortune the harder whenever she proves coy, and still worse: @ man who never knows when to quit if he is ahead of the game. Asanatural consequence he loses far more money than he can afford for aclerk on a modest salary; far more than he can ever pay without very generous friends to Yack him, or—” ‘“* Or—what ?” demanded Lida, facing the major with pale face but blazing eyes as he paused significantly. ‘**Or some method of making money which is almost certain tocome to light in the end. Then—the prison cell!” “You dare not—you are charging bim witha crime?’ **Not exactly,” with a fleeting smile and a bright flicker of light from his nearly closed lids, ‘“‘Tt has not come to that, so far as I am con- cerned, Miss Corwin. Indeed, I fear you will say that I have permitted my regard for you— for your safety and well-beivg, that is—to carry me a little too far as it iss And yet—will you oblige me by glancing over these documents?” As he spoke, Major Gardenhire produced several slips of paper from a leather notebook, taken from the bosom of his tightly-buttoned coat, bowing low as he spread them apart and held them before the eyes of the lady, yet taking care to keep them safely in his own possession, Lida saw that there appeared to be promises to pay, or notes of some sort, each one signed by Dudley Maun. She instantly recognized his rather peculiar signature, Almost instinctively she noted, the amounts, turning paler still as the total flashed across her whirling brain. Surely she must be dreaming! Surely her cousin could never have incurred debts to that amount!. * Enough, surely, Miss Corwin, to justify much of what I have said,” uitered the major, returning the notes to their former resting- lace. ‘A little less than six thousand! And I ve reason to believe that there are other bits of paper in existence which would run the sum total up to—well, a rather startling figure for a bank clerk who is wholly dependent on his salary.” ‘* They are forgeries! And you—how did you get them?” ; ‘‘ Purely in the way of business, Miss Corwin,” with a bale ping smile about his eyes; the only features, save his nose, left open to view by that luxuriant beard, ‘‘ Fortunately 1 am a man of business, and as such I have kept a clean record of all business transactions. When you so choose, I shall be most happy to explain just when and how the notes came into my bands, And to your ears alone will I give one under- lying reason: I took up these I U’S. because Dudley Mann was your cousin; because I had cause to fear you loved him as something nearer and dearer than a cousin!” ‘‘Cousinly love is quite enough to make me denounce these notes as vile forgeries!” flashed Lida, her feelings fully overpowering her for the moment, ‘You shall explain bow they came into your possession, but not to mealone. You shall confront Mr, Mann and answer for all you have said, all you bave so vilely insinuated, to him in person, sir!” : Cold. unmoved,even smiling as she poured forth her passionate words, Major Holly Gardenhire stood before the maiden wtose very soul he was so cruelly torturing. And when she paused for lack “owiorenetaganc ae want of further speech, he equably responded: ‘*Nothing would please me better, Miss Cor- win, believing as i have been taught, that cru- cia] remedies are always the surest in the end, I made the offer before of my own free will. I would have insisted upon it had I not feared for its effect upon you, dear lady.” Lida Corwin could not trust herself to further | speech. Dandy Dutch. Turning in the direction of the bank, she took the major’s arm, not for support, but to guard against his giving her the slip. He laughed softly at this, for right easily he interpreted her meaning. He made no resist- ance, for nothing could suit him better than to be seen walking arm in arm with Lida Corwin under fhe broad light of day. And he laughed all the easier because he knew that the poor girl never once gave that point a thought in her angry confusion, ‘* Your will guides, Miss Corwin, as a matter of course. Iam more than ready to explain all I know in connection with these notes, but— have you paused to reflect what your honored father will think when he learns the whole truth concerning his trusted clerk? it is not yet too late to keep his dangerous secret. One word from you will seal my lips and place these notes in vour hands, to be disposed of as you see fit, One word—one sweet vow, my—” Lida swiftly withdrew her hand from his arm, flushing ney as she only too clearly divined his meaning. e made no effort to retain control of thedainty member. He boldly met her flash- ing gaze, adding: ** Remember that if we go on to the bank, it must end in ruin for either your cousin or my- self. If these are forgeries, as you hint, my race isrun. lf not—and one glance at bis face will tell you the truth, dear ladv—then you must know him foralll havesaid. And not only ou, but your father will know the whole t uth! o L say, take thought before you put us both to the test. For your sake I will bear this loss, But if Ido, I must ba¥Ve my reward in another shape!” Lida could not reply in words, just then, Driven to desperation she hurried on, soon com- ing in sight of the bank building, pausing ab- ruptly as she saw the portly figure of her father just ascending the steps to enter the building. Gardenhire quickly drew her band through his arm and urged her forward, pausing when in front of the large window 1n the front of the bank buildiug to rapidly whisper in her ear: ‘““Which is it, my darling? Will you face your father and your cousin, knowing how much Gepenie upon the result? Or—will you be mine?” ithout waiting for her reply, the audacious fellow brusbed back her vail, fully exposing her pare face to view, then swiftly pressed -his hot ips to hers in a passionate kiss! CHAPTER ITI. THE DECORATOR FROM DEAD-LIFT, BUSINESS was hardly “rushing” at ‘ Cor- win’s,” that afternoon, although it was the only bank of deposit which Prospect ceuld boast. But that was always the case on the last day of the week. Those who had de- posits to make, and those who had money to draw out against their labor account, as a rule did so earlier in the day, and this Saturday was not an exception. Dudley Mann, a_ well-built, fresh-colored, smart-looking young fellow enough, was busy over his books when his trained ear caught the sound of light footfalls on the stone steps lead- ing to the front door. A side glance from his position enabled him to note the comers, and a quick light of interest leaped into bis frank, blue eyes, visible through the glasses he wore, The bank building was not large, even for a comparatively new town like Prospect, though substantially built of native stone. The struc- ture was Only one story in hight, raised a few feet above the level of the street and entered by way of a cut-stone flight of steps. The apart- mert occupied by the bank itself was fair] large, fitted up with a counter of polished wood. topped by a woven-wire guard, in which were two openings perhaps two feet in width, for the accommodation of customers and such business as they might bave to transact across the counter. This counter extended nearly across the front of the room, curving and running back to an- other apartment, leaving a narrow passageway between the wall and the woodwork. In that room Leonard Corwin, owner of the bank, was generally to be found during business hours, and in that room Dudley Mapn passed his sleep- ing hours. Just at present Mr. Corwin was out, and his clerk rose from his desk to wait upon the two men whose foststeps had drawn his attention from his work. ‘* Never mind rapping, stupid! Open the door! Will vou never learn how to conduct yourself properly, as the valet of a gentleman skould?”? came a languidly impatient tone, fol- lowed by a muffled groan. *“*Good Lawd! an’ him a-cussin’ an’ a-kickin’ jest fer my not stoppin’ to knock no longer ago'n—yes, sir, boss!” The fellow in liverv flung wide the door with such nervous vigor that made the glass rattle, bobbing like a duck in a thunderstorm as he stepped aside to give his master free passage. ‘* That’s better, Sunday, though you don’t want to tear things. Simmer down, my fine fellow. Oil your joints to-night before you re- tire, and don’t use grasshopper grease for tbat purpose, please. Y.u really make me nervous — te eee ___ EEE 3 with your staccato movements and—yours, pardner!” abruptly breaking off with a short nod toward Dudley Mann. ‘‘ Might I ask if— Saul Sunday, you clumsy scoundrel! If you break your neck I'll dock your wages!” ** Sufferin’ Srendpap to miseryation an’ wuss!” groaned the man in livery, whose long legs had become entangled with the peculiar staff be carried, bringing him to the floor in a guivering heap. ‘‘As ef I’d do it—yes, your onor, sir, boss!” With a swift stride his master was beside him, bending over and then rising erect, one shake of his strong arm serving to disentangle Saul Sunday and set him on bis feet. fibre P haa a confounded nuisance. Sunday, if I didn’t know you were playing for just that same thing, I'd discharge you without even the ghost of acharacter. As it is—prop your bundle of bones up in yonder corner and practice your lesson, Stick to it until I say quit. Sabe, Sunday?’ ** Yes, sir, boss, an’ I’m wishin’ [I didn’t—wuss luck me!” mumbled the r fellow, literally ae the sharp commands of his master. That master turned toward Dudley Mann, forcing a smile as he frankly said: “Beg pardon, pardner, but unless I keepa stiff curb on the rascal, he'll never give over bucking. Tricky? Well, [should remark! He plays it so fine you’d be willing to take oath he was born without sense and kept on growing worse ever since, That’s because I got the butt- end of a bargain, and he’s playing to cry it off. Only for that—well, let me whisper a bit of a» secret in your ear, pardner! Never try to set up a ‘wally-de-sham,’ for it’s ten to one the thing turns ont all sham, like my choice bit of bric-a-brac yonder!” With a wave of his hand he called attention to Saul Sunday, who had propped binself in the corner, bis long, gaunt features the very picture of subdued disgust with all things earthly, and his own lot in particular. flis little, deep-set gray eyes were gazing fish- ily upon the staff already alluded to, now held perpendicularly before bim, to be shot down- ward until the spike in its smaller extremity was planted firmly in the flooring. A twist of his bony fingers turned a band of polished silver which encircled the staff near its head, then slipping the metal ring downward, the motion causing the wood above to divide into four equal parts. Within the shell thus exposed had been hidden a square of black velvet, the corners attached to each quarter. As these fell toa level, a smooth table in miniature was formed, on which Saul Sunday dropped a tiny black ball and three polished shells, formed from English walnuts by splitting the nuts in halves, **Nickels, dimes an’ dollars!” dolefull groaned the man ip livery, shifting the shells one by one witb his bony fingers. ‘* Now you see it an’ now you don’t. Here she is an’ thar she am, Over an’ under, this way an’ that, all the while the little joker—but you cain’t prove it ef you don’t bet!” Mechanically the clerk permitted his gaze to follow that waving band, barely long enough to recognize the somewhat antiquated method of swindling greenhorns; but then his gaze re- turned to this glib-tongued stranger, ever sense on the keen alert, his voice cold and hard: “It may be well played, but I’ve seen it be- before. If you have no other business—” A sott, amused laugh cut him short and the stranger dropped a bit of pasteboard on the counter while speaking: **Do I really look like a dead-beat, Mr. Mann? And are you a gentleman such asa rascal would pick out to skin by a trick as old as that? I don’t kick on my own account, but I ought to on yours.” ‘*'Whar’s my Glory Ann?” came a doleful groan from the corner where Sau) Sunday was still nimbly manipulating his shells and little joker, ‘‘WillI? Kin I? Shell I ever find her? Oh, Glory—Glory Ann Sunday! Why did ye go fore do it? Why did ye kiver me all over with— **Saul, you rascal!” sharply uttered his mas- ter. : ‘* Yes, sir, boss, your Honor!” spluttered the manu in livery. straightening up and making the shells fly with incredible swiftness, droning over his set phrases the while. ‘‘Never mind him, dear sir,” turning to the clerk, who was glancing keenly from card to face and -back again. ‘“‘ Perfectly barmless, I assure you, but he’s a little worse than usual this evening. Met a young lady while coming here, and the sight of her charms recalled a painful loss which partially unbalanced bis brains—if he ever had any! And— Anything wrong with that doorplate, pardner?” He bent forward as though to assure bimself he had made no mistake in delivering his card, nodding cheerfully-as he drew back again. ‘**Plain as print can make it, to my eyes. ‘Andre Deutsch.’ My name when I am put- ting on dignity. ‘The Decorator From Dead- lift. Simply a title won by many a long night’s work, and—” **'We have no work in your line, I’m sorry to say, Mr. Deutsch,” coldly inter n, his eyes glowing brightly behind their gold-bowed comic JOO S “com