Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 551 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

—— we a i _— — ee, -iteeiedena ieee Sr A =r Garry Kean. be afraid of Elmer. No one is more danger- ous than a vicious person, however weak ma be his mind and body. The manly, open foe is always preferable to the furtive one. ‘‘-You must give me time,” she replied. ‘* How much?” ‘¢ A week.” ‘¢ Tmpossible,” ‘‘Three days, then,” Elmer meditated, and then slowly returned: ‘* T don’t want to be severe on one who is to be my ally, and Pil doit. At the end of three mp I shall come for my answer, and it ntust be ready. That’s all for to-night. I must attend to other bnsiness. Madam, I wish you well, and hope we may never be enemies.” e bowed with extreme politeness, and then beat a somewhat unceremonious retreat. On bis way he passed a manin Highland cos- tume, but gave him no particular notice. The Highlander, however, at once went to Mrs, Brackett’s side, ** Excuse me,” he said, hurriedly, ‘* but where is Miss Brackett?” The lady elevated her head superciliously. ‘* Tam not her keeper.” ‘Believe me, I do not ask from any idle motive.” ‘* And who are you, sir?” “* Hubert Lawrence!” ‘‘ Ah! Garry Kean wants to see Miss Brackett. What does that mean? Asa mother—ahem!— I am anxious to know.” ‘‘T can tell youin few words. I learn that Miss Brackett 1s somewhere in the company of a man made up as a Roman senator, The opinion is general that said Roman is ‘ Garry Kean,’ but that is false, as youcansee. I suspect, however, that she may have been deceived, like others,” **And bein the Roman’s company, thinking she is with you?” sen.” ‘* Mr. Lawrence,” declared Cieopatra, playful- ly, ‘‘ lam afraid you are jealous!” ‘* Madam, you tire my patience. I told you I did not speak from any idle motive. I suspect that the man who is masquerading asa Roman chose the disguise with the deliberate intention of passing for me, and that he is my enemy and Miss Brackett’s. If so he is not a safe com- anion for her. He should be found, and, if he as any plot in mind, should be unmasked be- fore he can execute it. I have Miss Brackett’s ae Why dou k to the judge?” on’t you spea e judge eg a, eg if i conker sa him,” ° ** He is not far away; come with meandI will aid you.” Mrs. Brackett was gracious, and she appeared to be solicitous, but, really, she was undisturbed. Her selfishness was as strong as ever, but it would not do to dally any longer. If harm came to Alice, the plotting woman would have good cause to fear the judge. She had already spoken falsely to him, when she stated that she had seen Alice, and she must get out of that complication. Followed by Gar.y, she hastened to where she had left Brackett, but he was no longer there, Both oe and Colonel Yoke Norman had disap- peared. Mrs. Brackett began to be worried. She had thought to smooth over her fiction by pleading a mistake, but if anything serious happened _be- fore she could do this, the judge was not hkely to be easily satisfied. While she stood in irresolution, Electa came hurrying up, her face grim and troubled. ‘‘ I'd like ter know where Alice is!” she de- c CHAPTER XXV., THE ROMAN TANGLES THINGS UP. KEAN turned upon her sharply. ** Don’t | know where Alice is?” ‘That I don’t,” ‘* What is your duty in her service?” ‘Don’t you talk nonsense!” retorted Electa, stoutly. ‘‘If you are an honest man—” ‘*?! am Hubert Lawrence.” ‘‘Great land! ain’t you the Roman thingum- jig?” me. The Roman was not I. Woman, I am afraid that Alice has been decoyed to peril. Was she with the Roman?” * Yes.” ** 'W here?” *“ Right in that alcove, beyoud you, but she ain’t there now. She an’ the tema is missin’.”’ ‘*This must be looked into!” declared Kean. ‘* My presentiment of trouble was well founded. I will soon learn if she is about this place.” Ties hurried away, and Electa kept close to his side, “Say, is English John -Hyar, ter-night?” she asked. ae No,” ’ “Oh! oh! I’ve be’n cruelly deceived.” “By whom?” ‘‘Some scalawag who passed hisself off as English John.” ‘“ He was a tool of Nathan Bradley, ro doubt. If Alice is gone, she has been abducted by that wretch!” **T')l kiJl myself ef it’s so!” affirmed Electa, disconsolately. ‘‘I’ve be’n fooled an’ made game on, an’ I’ve be’n false ter my trust. I wish I lived in the Dark Ages when Joan Dorsey did, av’ then I’d be took out an’ be- headed. I ought ter be, I vum!” ‘* Tt is too late for regrets. Let us, rather, undo the mischief—if we can.” “Ef I git sight o’ that centurium, I'll scratch his eyes out!” It was no vain threat; Electa felt all that she uttered. Her fear for Alice’s safety was only equaled by chagrin at the thought of how sbe had been deceived, and Thad Johnson could not afford to despise such an enemy. As Electa had said, the alcove where Alice had been was vacant, and there was no sign of her or the Roman, Kean now exhibited good judgment. He realized that if Alice was still in the conservatory she was safe, and would be so as long as she remained, but that if Nathan Bradley had hostile intentions, it would be his plan to get ber away from all her friends, This he could do by the rear door, which opened to the outer air, and Garry went there at once. He was greatly relieved to find a man on guard there, stationed to keep out uninvited guests, and, when questioned, he declared that no one had passed out. Unless Bradley’s plot was very elaborate, there was still hope. ** Electa,” said the ex-actor, ‘* will you re- main here on watch, while I search further?” ‘“* Will I? Young man, I should remark! Go about your search, an’ ef the scalawags come this way, I'll put a mark on ‘em they’ll carry fur more than one day!” Kean felt that he could trust the good woman thoroughly, and that she would be as good a guard as any man, so he waited no longer, but resumed the search of the conservatory. In doing this he interrupted conversation be- tween several young couples who were in tender mood, and thereby incurred their hostility, but nothing was allowed to interfere with his deter- mination to make sure in all cases. He had begun to despond when he again came in sight of the rear exit—and something more. A masked couple were moving toward that point, and they werea Roman senator and a shepherd girl. The hour of triumph appeared to be at hand and Garry hastened forward. The couple had already reached the door, but in their path stood Electa with head well elevated and arms akimbo —a veritable rock. Her voice floated to Kean’s hearing. ‘** No, you don’t!” she declared. ‘' You can’t pass out byar without walkin’ right over my dead, lifeless body. I’m willin’ ter die in a good cause, like Joan Dorsey, but you can’t make your game work even when I’m dead. Miss Alice, why don’t you speak? Don’t you know Electa?’ The shepherd girl was silent. ** Woman, let me pass!” ordered the Roman, ** No, I won’t!” ** How dare you obstruct the way?” ‘* How dare you try sech a scheme!” Garry hurried to the shepherd girl’s side. ‘* Miss Brackett,” he exclaimed, in a low voice, ‘you are being deceived. Your companion is not a friend; he is a dangerous enemy |! ‘* Scoundrel!” hissed the Roman, “‘ stand aside, or I will have you thrown out of the building.” Kean started. The voice had awakened new suspicion, ‘* Sir, who are you?” he demanded, hurriedly. ‘*That is my business, not yours.” **T do not ask from any ordinary motive—” ** | do not care what your motive is!” was the hot reply. ‘‘ Unless you go away I will knock you down!” ** Only tell me if this lady is Miss Brackett—” ‘* Sir,” retorted the shepherdess, ‘‘ it is none of your business who I am, and I will call an at- tendant—” | Electa threw up both handsin dismay. Her first suspicion had come when she heard the and down the shepherdess’s person. Consterna- tion followed. “Them ain’t them!” cried the good woman, with utter disregard for grammar. ‘‘ Tain’t Alice! Oh! where is my poor lamb now?” Garry Kean’s eyes flashed, and, in defiance of the statement that he would be “‘ knocked down ” if he gave further offense, he grasped Roman’s arm in a hold that was painful, ‘* Whoever you are,” he sternly exclaimed, you and your companion wear a part of the dis- guises “re 3 worn by those we seek. You are their confederates, but whether guilt attaches itself to you remains tobe seen. If you uphold the plot of a villain you must take the conse- quences. Wedonot carea picayune who you are, but’ you must either tell what has become of those with whom you have Enel eg exchang- ed disguises—or describe the disguises you have cast off—or you shall suffer the consequences of your guilt or stupidity. I command you, choose at once!” These words were spoken with concentrated vehemence which made its mark, The doughty Roman who, a moment before had been going : - * s » , - =. P, « wt ~ af sus! : . 5 4 ‘ a Fel age ee = and she had run her gaze hurriedly up | the 21 to do such wonders with his fists, quailed and became as meek as a lamb. ‘*' We don’t want any trouble!” he declared. ‘* Then speak out!” ‘* We did exchange with another couple.” ‘* What became of them?” **T don’t know,” ‘What were your disguises?” ‘*T was an Arab; this lady was a nun.” ‘* Are you telling the truth?” ‘*] am; I swear it!” ‘ ‘*T seen folks dressed like that earlier in the ~ evenin’,” agreed Electa. ‘So did I; but where are they now?” ** We left them near the fountain,” explained the new Roman. ‘* Who were they?” **T don’t know. The man proposed the ex~ change for a joke—so be said; hang him!—say- ing we could greatly perplex those who thought they had recognized us.” ‘* Have they left by this door?” Garry asked, of the guard. **Then they must have returned to. the ball- room; lam sure they are not in the conserva- tory. I will look in the former place,” He turned away, but just then Judge Brack- ett and his wife appeared. The latter had found her husband and given the alarm, and also lulled his suspicion by ‘‘ explaining ” her statement that she had seen Alice. It had been a mistake, she asserted, and she was ‘*‘ very sorry.” She was crafty enough not to overdo the matter, and, thus far, her word was not. doubted. ** Electa,” exclaimed the judge, as she came up, ‘* where is Alice?” Poor Mi-s Parsons felt ‘‘as though she could | sink,’ as she afterward expr it, and she had barely life enough at command to point to Garry and, with another defiance of grammar, reply: oe ‘*T refer you to he!” ** And who is he?” Brackett demanded. ‘*‘My name is “Hubert Lawrence,” the ex- actor quietly explained. A suspicious look appeared on the Iron Judge’s: face, but he was too deeply troubled topres= _ hostilities then. ‘‘ Have you seen Miss Brackett?” he asked, ‘*T have not, but have been looking for her. I have reason to believe "—lowering his voice— ‘* that she is in the company of Nathan Bradley, against her will.” ** Why do you think that?” **T overheard a bit of conversation between two masked persons.” ae ‘* Bradley was not invited here.” ' ‘** He came, nevertheless; and has been mas- — querading as a Roman senator.” ea Brackett glanced toward the new illustration — of that role, but Kean took him by the arm. a ‘* Sir, if you will defer further talk for the resent, | think you will do Miss Brackett a — Srece: With your permission I will aid P yon -& and the sooner we find her, the better it will be for her. Remember that her blindness is sadly — against her.” 7 ae ** Come!” was Brackett’s terse direction, ashe _ turned away. ‘‘And now, sir, why do you ~— think she is in that scoundrel’s company ?”’ My ‘*T think it was because she did notsuspecthis — identity,” Garry answered, with some embar- — rassment. ‘*Should it prove true, I will break every bone in his miserable body !” - The judge spoke with the vehemence of an — angry father, but close upon his words came the | recollection of the secret which Bradley held— the secret which menaced and hampered him; ~ which menaced Alice’s happiness, too; which — was like a millstone around his neck, 5 Did he dare to punish Nathan Bradley? “ped entered = ae noone was still going on, an emusic and gayety grated on Brackett’s nerves. Never an oolevinan of such J scenes, he loathed them at that moment, we: He and Garry separated at the door and each went a different way, looking carefully, but by | eement, met at the opposite end of the hall, either had discovered Alice, rf r CHAPTER XXVL. phe MISFORTUNE—MADE ALLIES. ae *““THIs is incomprehensible!” Brackett de- — clared. » (oe **T am afraid they have left the building.” ‘*We must question the other doorkeepers,” — suggested the judge. Py. ‘*‘A good idea, though it begins to look as | though Bradley had formed an ingenious plan — and carried it out successfully.” a ‘* My poor Alice!” Sart}. ** Be of good cheer, sir. Ven ce can he as swift as villainy, and we will make Bradley — sorry for his night’s work.” . ace ke with a firmness wk ch * * The ex-actor somewhat cheered the judge. He did not think — then upon what liar f misfortune had — placed him and Kean; when Alice was in dan~— ger, he was ready to accept the aid of his worst. | enemy and be thankful for it. ae The main entrance was reached, and the gt ard. found on duty, upright and watchful asa soldier. — He was questioned, but the old reply came, Ebooks.com com