Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 551 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

a a ee ge i r ee - * Brackett was not the worst person in the world, nor was she the best. The ex-actor readily acquiesced in her plan, and then she ordered the statue in buttons to turn and drive back to the village. The order was obeyed, and they were soon on the home- ward course, No further reference was made to private af- fairs. Mrs. Brackett gave Garry no chance to say more, even had he wished to, She talked steadily, but it was upon minor matters, and she concealed her chagrin with the art of a clever woman. She did not take her compan- ion to the village witb her. At the point where she had taken him into the carriage the statue in buttons was directed to stop. Kean took the hint and stepped out; a few words were said at parting; the carriage rolled away; and the ex- actor was again alone, He had not enjoyed the coveted solitude, but it no longer had charms for him. Straight to English John’s shanty he went. ‘* What sort of a woman is Mrs. Brackett?” He sprung the question upon John without warning, but after a look of wonder, the miner recovered his composure, ‘‘ She’s a woman o’ parts,” he returned. ‘‘ What am I to understand by that?” ‘‘ Part angel an’ part tiger-cat.”__ ‘‘Not an unusual combination in woman. Which predominates in Mrs, Brackett?” { ‘Each has its roostin’-place. The angel is outside; the tiger-cat within.” ‘‘T infer that you don’t admire her,” ‘“‘Pard, she’s royally handsome.” ‘* Granted!” ‘‘But selfish as woman canbe. The hub of the universe, in her opinion, is Mrs, Jedge Brackett.” ‘¢ Just how bad is she?” English Jobn closed one eye and nodded sage- ly. Me You can’t tell how bad folks be until they’re ~~ I don’t mark Mrs. B, down as very ad.” ‘* Yet, your opinion is not favorable?” ‘*Right! She ain’t a woman ter descend ter crime, but ter serve her own ends, an’ carry out her schemes, she would go so fur on ter thin ice that it would crackle like sin under her pooty feet, She’s selfish, an’ she’s greedy o’ power. I’ve tol’ ye afore how things stand at Brackett’s, They go their way, an’ she goes hern.” ‘You referred to this, but only casually.” ¢**T didn’t s’pose you cared much,” | *¢ Just now, 1 do,” The question was asked, and the answer was not delayed. Kean told the whole story, while John listened with eager attention. When he had heard all he declared that Mrs. Brackett was ‘‘a deep ’un!” ‘“ What scheme is back of this?’ Garry asked. “To you think there is one?” ' *T am in doubt what to think,” ' “Blieve Mrs. Brackett. I reckon she told the truth, She’s a queer critter. She’s the jedge’s wife, but they keer fur each other no more nor I do fur them, I dar’ say they don’t quarrel, but pel ng diffrent ways. ra. B. has always ignored Alice, an’I b’lieve she told the truth likea little man when she said she i jealous of Alice an’ wanted ter git red 0’ er. ‘‘ What if Brackett knew of this?” ‘‘He’d guard his darter all the closer. With a foe in his own house he would be right on his muskle, an’ that means a good ’eal when Abram B. is concerned.” ‘*Mrs. Brackett isa dangerous woman. She may not intend to do anything serious, but her schemes may yet prove quicksands to envelop her and others.” ‘*That’s about the size of it, pard.”’ ‘Well, we will let her rest. Important a factor as she may beconte in the future, she does not seem to concern us now. What we have to think of is the coming night, and the expected events thereof. It seems that Mrs. Brackett has not been informed that Alice is going away. This looks very strange, but the explanation may be simple; it may be that she has not been around since the sudden resolution was made. Be that as it may, Alice is going, and if we con- descend to follow her, we must make prepara- tions to that end.” The preparations were not elaborate or diffi- cult,’ The miner had a horse, and it would not be hard to secure another for the time being. He proved this by engaging one, and then they sat down to a frugal supper, Half an hour later they left the shanty and the village. English John knew the surrounding hills well, end knew, too, how to gain a favorable point on the trail by another route through the hills. This way was rough, and they had no small amount of trouble, but the journey was safely e, They gained the traveled road at an hour con- sidered early, but, to make sure that Alice and her conductors bad not passed, John lighted a = splinter and looked the ground over care- ull AN kerrect,” he announced, cheerfully. «*‘ There ain’t no fresh tracks hyar o’ any sort, ee ee eee eee Garry Kean. iage or t’otherwise, All we have to do is ter wait.’ The spc ared simple enough. They drew — orses i a convenient cover and sat ) to wait. Upwardof a mile away they could see the glistening lights of the village, The road wound around the intervening country like a huge serpent, This was the course Alice was expected to travel, willingly or unwillingly, with friendly escort or as prisoner, as the case might be. ‘They watched for the "die An hour passed—two hours, Some —— began to be felt. But two interpretations were to be placed upon the delay —eitae Judge Brackett intended to wrap the affair ir. complete mystery, by leaving at an ex- tremely late hour, or there had been some unex- pected check to his plans. Another hour wore slowly away, and still there was no change. The trail remaieced as deserted as though no human being had ever traveled it. The situation was perplexing. There was but one way that the looked-for persons were likely to go. Jack’s Delight was situated, with two other mining-towns, ina valley. A very good road connected the three, but carriages could get in and outof the valley by but one course, Any other would lead to the wild, unsettled mountains, - That Alice would be taker there by her father was an idea too absurd to be considered; that she would be taken to one of the other camps in the valley -was out of the question, for they were so near each other that the affairs of all were common property for comment, Alice would not be hidden there, Garry and the miner discussed the matter in all its bearings, but, when midnight had come and passed, finally arrived at the conclusion that they were having their trouble for nothing. They brought out their horses, mounted and rode toward Jack’s Delight. It was an uneventful ride. No human being was seen on the way, and when they finally emerged from the hills, they were none the wiser. The village lay before them, and, from that point, not a light was to beseen, They left their horses in cover aud continued their way on foot, determined to have a look at Brackett’s house, The first sight increased their curiosity—in ~ phir contrast to its neighbors, the house was ighted. ‘* 'W hat does this mean?’ Kean demanded. ‘** You’ve got me!” John admitted, ‘*Cen’t be they’ ve got company?” ** Assuredly not. No light shows on the lower floor; they are all above. What is more to the point, one of the lighted rooms is Alice’s,” “* Fact,” ** Something is wrong!” ** Oh! I reckon not.” 4° ce tomy it, then.” ‘*Mebbe they’re jest preparin’ fur [the journey.” ‘“‘Hardly! After all their pains to keep it secret, they would not make suchastirnow. A journey deliberately postponed to this hour isa secret journey, and such publicity as this would jeopardize all their aims,” ‘** Somebody may be sick,” ‘‘ Yes; or a start may have been made, and the journey prevented by an accident.” ‘‘T hope the little gal ain’t hurt.” ‘¢ Her room is lighted.” “Oh! I guess she’s all right!” declared the miner, observing that Garry was really troubled. ‘*T hope so, but I cannot understand the matter.” ' ‘*Tt’s too late ter inquire.” ** Most arg into | Not wishing to be noticed near the house they retired toasafe distance, yet where they could themselves keep up the vigil. The Man with Backbone felt positive that there was a mystery about the house which concerned Alice, and not pleasantly. Something had interrupted the journey. What wasit? Oneof a good many simple causes might be the reason, but if it was an ordinary matter, why did the light show in her room at that hour? The watchers discussed this point without satisfaction, but were not disposed to give up easily. They kept their place and used their eyes the best they could. One thing tended to inerease their apprehensions. Scveral times a shadow was cast temporarily upon the lowered curtains of Alice’s room, Someone was moving about there, but who it was they had no means of knowing. Two hours longer they watched, and then all the lights went out. Whatever was the mystery of the house, they were to see no further indica- tions of it that night. CHAPTER XVIIL A TROUBLESOME SUSPICION, At ten o'clock the next forenoon Judge Brackett left bis house and walked down the street, His carriage had never been more erect, or his iron face more proud and firm, To all appearances he was a man without a trouble or a care, J 15 After going a few rods he stopped in front of a neat cottage and rung the bell, The house was that of tor Reed Crandall, but as the judge’s manner was so cool and deliberate, he did not appear to be seeking medical aid. He was soon in the presence of the doctor, an ordinary-looking man of middle age. ‘* Well,” said Brackett, with sudden eager- ness, ‘‘ what is the report?” **T don’t know what to say,” Crandall admit- ‘* Have you mace a chemical analysis?” ‘*To the best of my ability, but you will re- member that I warned you how imperfect were my facilities.” ‘“*True. Goon.” ‘‘T am not able to say anything definite. We shall have to await a report from Boise City, IL think.” ‘* Which means a delay of several days,” ‘’ yes, or.” ** This is very annoying.” ‘That is true, judge, but you will remember that I am a physician in the gold regions, Even as the merchants here have an inferior stock of goods, so am I limited as to quantity and qual- ity. I hope to grow with the city, but that does not help us now.” ‘* You see no reason to change your opinion?’ ‘* None.” ‘‘And the symptoms point to poisoning by arsenic?” ‘* They do.” “Tt is alarmingly strange!” uttered Abram Brackett, his forehead contracted in a gloomy frown. ‘*‘Had the blow been aimed at me, ib would not have been surprising: for every time l sentence a criminal, I make three scores of enemies among the Reds—or, rather, add fresh a to their hatred of me as an instrument-of aw. "t The poison may have been intended you. ‘* Possible, but not.probable.” ‘* Has not further meditation caused you to suspect some particular person?” ‘*No. My servants are few, and I believe them to be perfectly honest and upright. I do not believe one of them would harm me, while as to Alice—why, they might as well hold en- mity against an angel!” ‘‘Miss Brackett’s virtues are well known to me; I have often seen her by the bedside of my suffering patients.” ** No one could harm her.” ‘*] believe you,” Crandall replied. ‘‘ As to the poison, if such it was, may not some one have had it in the house for innocent. porgoent, “T cannot conceive why they should.” * Would it not be well to inquire?” ** To do that would be to admit our suspicions, and, besides, the one who had it might be alarm- ed and deny all knowledge. I have already asked if Alice might not have taken some for- eign substance by error, and no one would admit knowledge of such a possibility.” ‘‘Perhaps it would be well to wait until we have a definite verdict. I only await your orders to send to Boise City.” ‘* Send at once,” **T will do so. Do not let mv suspicions trouble you, for it may prove that I am wrong. If Miss Brackett really took any poison into her stomach, her present promeg condition is due to Electa Parsons. The emetic administered upon her own responsibility may have saved the young lady’s life. The only regret is that, hav- ing induced your daugbter’s stomach to relieve itself of its conteuts, the woman threw it away. We fhus lost the part best of all for chemical analysis, end that the most strongly-impreg- nated with whatever injurious element was there. The one period of nausea after I arrived produced but little effect, and it is of that I have a specimen for analysis.” “Send to Boise City at once!” Brackett tersely ordered, , ‘** T will do so.” The judge arose, ‘* When you have any ‘report to make, send for me. Of course you will continue to visit Alice until she is well, but 1 do not want any one in the house to know of our having secret conferences.” ‘That is quite right.” Brackett passed over a roll of bank-notes. ‘Spare no expense in your investigation, Crandall, Let it be thorough, whatever the cost. I want light on this mysterious subject.” “T will do iy Smee wed his distinguished patron | for The doctor out, and then looked thoughtfully after as Brackett walked aney ‘*Erect and proud of bearing,” commented the man of medicine, ‘‘ but his mind is not at case, He worships his daughter, aod barm to her would kill him, strong man that heis, I suspect he is not dealing frankly with me, but that is his affair. I could almost swear that he suspects some certain person in his household— but, as I said, it is his affair.” | ndall closed the door. The judge returned home at once. On the way he met several of his acquaintances, and greeted them with reserved courtesy. No one inquired for Alice, for they did not know she cs Eomichboo cor . ey Fh. : see oy Wh +e a ‘: i >» . -