Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 551 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

—_—a— ‘Thus far, no one had left the building by his door, so neither the persons described nor an one else could have gone. Of that he was posi- tive. Kean had done the questioning, and had made his manner so matter-of-fact that no one sus- cted that trouble was afoot, but when they Rimed away, the judge’s face was the picture of despair and wrath. ‘* Every person in the place shall unmask!” he declared, in an inexorable voice, ‘*T do not think that will do any good,” ‘* Why not?” “They have left the building!” ** Why do you think so?” ‘¢‘ Bradley was crafty enough to change their disguises once, but he could not keep that up long. They are not in the ball-room or the con- servatory.’ ‘* And the doorkeepers assert that they have ‘not gone out.” ‘*They are wrong. I will not say that the men spoke falsely, for I do not think so, They have either been false to their trust, or have been hoodwinked. I assume that the latter case was true. Bradley had bis ruffianly friend, wJohnson, here, and it would not be hard for him to decoy the guard from the door and give Brad- ley a chance to pass out.” ‘* But Alice would not go.” ‘* Not ualess led to do so by some plausible lie,” ‘*You are right, sir, and I thank you for your timely suggestions. My own capacity for thought seems dulled, but 1 must cast off this apathy. It is time for action,and Nathan Brad- ley shall, as you say, bitterly repent this night’s work!” Through the speaker’s mind flitted recollec- tion of the secret which was like a millstone, but it found only passing quarters there. Garry spoke again, and to the point. ‘*Our next step should be investigation be- yond the rear door. There the carriages are collected while waiting, and if a couple have passed out, the drivers must have seen them.” ‘* That is sensible advice. Come on!” With quick steps they returned to the conserva- tory, but only to leave it at once, Outside was quite a collection of carriages, the drivers of which were gathered in ups, talking and en- joying their pipes. Brackett was at once recog- nized, and bis servant came forward. ‘Job, how long have you been here?’ the judge asked. ** All the time.” ‘* Have you seen any one come out?}—any per- son, or persous, in mask?” ** One couple went away, sir.” ** Who were they?” ‘*We didn’t know, The man was made up as an Arab, and the womanasanun, They came from the conservatory.” ** Where did rr’ go?” ‘They drove off in a carriage. Lew Potters was waiting for a job, and they hired his outfit and wentaway. At least, that’s what we or = and Potters said he was waiting for a job, but there was no talk, as far as I could see, and he 58g have been engaged in advance,” That was what Garry Kean thought. He knew that Potters was one of the ‘‘ Reds,” and bably a devoted follower of Nathan Bradley. o the ex-actor it looked as though Nathan had carefully laid his plan and had Potters in wait- Sng. In case his superior was successful, Pot- ters had work to do; if the plot failed, there ‘would be no great loss. ‘* Which way did they go?” he broke in, “Yonder.” The driver pointed to the east—the most sug- gestive quarter possible. By that road, and by - no other, could a carriage leave the valley, »& : * ) o ¥ | . -“' 1" * i Fs } and drive us after that other carriage. tered, he gave the anim ‘* How long have they been gone?” ** Perhaps ten minutes.” ** Job!” cried the judge, *‘mount to ve box ver- ‘take it if you kill your horses!” The peremptory order was enough to stir Job into immediate action. He wheeled around his horses, and, when the judge and Kean had en- each a cut of the hip and sent them flying down the road, much Wh the wonder »f the otber drivers, who did not - suspect the motives which led to the abrupt de- rture. ig kon the old man has set down on Job!” remarked another Jehu, carelessly. Brackett and Garry were sitting side by side in the carriage. ‘* Young man,” said the judge, ‘‘ I want more light on this subject, How did my daughter ever happen to choose Bradley for a companion? She might as well have selected a tiger. Make all plain, for I am painfully anxious! The speaker could declare his state of mind, ut Kean had to bear all in philosophical si- nce. He could not win Abram Brackett’s ood will by lamentations, but he might do so by means of decisive action. Neither could he confess that in all probability Alice had gone in roomy company because she mistook bim for Garry ean. The gly resort was to say that the leader of the Reds had undoubtedly been mistaken for a friend, and that was the explanation which Brackett received, F, Garry Kean. Job was sending his horses at a tremendous pace, though there was but little need of urging them after that one cut of the whip. They were spirited animals, and the indignity of a blow was not soon forgotten. They swept through and past the village at what looked like runaway speed. ‘* Are you armed?” Kean asked, ‘No, sin” ** You may need a weapon yet. volver, small but trustworthy.” Brackett received it gingerly. ‘*T donot believe in carrying such weapons, but this is an exceptional case. When we over- take Bradley, however, I am liable to ignore the revolver and throttle the scoundrel.” ‘*He may have several Reds with him.” ‘“‘That will only increase the number of our victims!” The judge was all iron then. Whatever fears were tugging at his heart, he did not Jet them weaken him, On the contrary, he was a man of ice, but with a volcano’s fire throbbing under his iron exterior. Kean needed no assertion that they were bound to overtake the runaways, if they were on the same road. There was not another pair of horses belonging to the city that could cover ground at such a rate of speed. Objects by the way seemed to swim past dizzily, and the carriage bounced when it struck a stone, like a oa buffeting against the breakers. he race was destined to be shorter than they had dared to hope. A sudden cry came from Job, and in a moment more the less elevated passengers caught sight of a second outfit ahead of them. ! **Run them down!” uttered Brackett, in a steel-like voice, Job was willing, and so were the horses, and the race began in earnest. The pursuers had been seen and the fugitives were doing their best, but the result was not Jong in doubt, The rear carriage gained, and gained fast. _As that in advance bad a top it was impossi- ble to say whether Alice was there, but that point would soon be settled, Foot by foot the pursuers drew up until only a few yards separated the two carriages—then a man was suddenly seen to rise and make a leap from the foremost vehicle. He struck on his feet, but lost his balance and fell to the ground. Not long was he down. He leaped up and made a dash for the rocks by the wayside, but a foe was quickly on his track. Without a word Garry Kean took the same leap, and he did not fall. The runaway was clambering up the acclivity as fast as possible, but Garry went with speed superior to bis, Looking back, the ex-actor saw that both car- riages had come to a halt, but he did not give up his purpose. His quarry was clambering desperately, but was no match for the agile pur- suer. Garry saw his opportunity and, reaching out, seized a luckless, dangling foot. He pulled back smartly, and, in a moment more, had land- ed the man at bis own feet like a fish, Promptly Kean covered him with his re- volver. ** Yield!” he cried, sternly. The captive looked at him steadily. ‘**'You can’t scare me!” he sullenly replied, ‘** but [ am not on the fight. I surrender!” ‘*Mr, Nathan Bradley, I see!” ** At your service, hat do you want?” ‘** Judge Brackett will tell you.” ‘**T bave no business with him.” ** Well, he has business with you,” “Fix it as you will. Vil go down!” The fellow’s coolness was surprising, and Garry began to be troubled, Why should Brad- i, up that for which he had worked so hard? Was there a new trick, yet to be discoy- ered, which would prove disappointing to them? Still covered by the revolver, Nathan set his face toward the road. ‘*There’s trouble down below!” he noncha- lantly observed. This was the fact. A scuffle was going on there, and Kean could easily see that the second driver was defending his claim, and obstructing the progress of Brackett and Job to his car- riage, Here is a re- atban was the most obliging of captives, and he descended the ledge as cheerfully as though he were aiding a friend. Kean’s suspicions in- creased; his belief became strong that the orn was going to take an unexpected urn, Just as they reached the road the affray there came to an end, and Job brought the rival Jehu to his knees with a well-directed blow. Brackett advanced toward the carriage, and was greeted by a feminine voice. ; ** Mon Dieu and dogs!” It was the voice, not of Alice, but of Marie, ! Messieurs, you quarrel like cats the French maid! CHAPTER XXVII. DONE BY A WOMAN’S TRICK. JUDGE BRACKETT bad already seen that the carriage had but ope occupant, and as the French girl spoke, he started back in surprise, —— = P ae Sar t. i + 2 ee _“? es 7 > a i ————_—_——————e—e—eaese se. — ——————— —— ————— KL K == oo rr < + ‘ ye Marie adjusted her skirts in complacent self- possession, and lightly added; ‘* Monsieur Judge, 1 s’alJ thank you ver’ heart- ily for your kindness!” ** Alice!” gasped Brackett. ‘* Where is she?” ** At ze ball, to be sure.” ** She is not there—” ‘Ah! cannot you comprehend? Ze captain of ze Reds think he elope wiz z2 heiress, but he make von grand meestake and elope wiz ze maid.” ** Jig’s up!” added Bradley. ‘‘ Don’t you lie too fast, haat, Frenchy; face tbe music and admit that we were off foran elopement, I know nothing about Miss Brackett.” ‘Mon Dieu!” how ze man do lie!” cried Marie, clasping her bands. ‘‘ He think all ze time zat he have Mees Alice, and I fool him—oh! so grand!—-but make one great meestake, Elope wiz you? May Heaven forbid!” Brackett grasped her arm savagely. ‘‘Tell me the truth, or you shall suffer!” he severely ordered. ‘‘ Where is Alice?” ‘* Monsieur, I swear she is at ze ball. Bradley ask her to change her disguise, and I go apart wiz her to help, but I have ber put on another mask and lead her to ze ball-room, while J put on ze nun’s clothes and go wiz zis grand gentle- man,” . Garry Kean heard these words and believed. The girl’s manner was one of candor, and her situation as Mrs, Brackett’s maid was too valu- able to allow of its being thrown away lightly. She exhibited a triumph which appeared gen- uine, and he suspected that the arch-plotter had been duped in turn. Brackett was not so easily convinced. ‘Did Bradley wish to elope with you ?” he asked, ‘* Mon Dieu /—of course not. heiress!” ‘*T will not dispute a lady,” gracefully put in Nathan, but the judge ignored the remark. ‘Do you mean to say that he came thus far with you and did not recognize you?” ‘*‘ Zat ees ze fact,” Marie replied, ‘Ze mask hide my face, and I pretend to be weak and faint, and not able to talk; and he never suspect ze truth until you have almost overtake us. Zen I tell bim who | am, and he shoomp from ze car- riage and try to run away.” ** All this is still an enigma to me,” the judge declared. “T will explain,” began Nathan. ‘* Silence!” commanded Brackett. there until I am ready to chastise you.” ‘You won’t do it, sir,” confidently asserted the plotter. ‘*| may have you arrested,” **You may manacle my limbs, but you can’t bridle my tongue!” The cool assertion had a meaning known only to the two men, and it accomplished its object— it reminded the judge of the millstone around his neck, The latter was silent, but Nathan added: ‘*T am ready to throw up the sponge. It was on the hooks for me to elope with the fair Marie, but she repudiates the bargain. That is enough for me; I want no more of it. Mademoiselle, I present to you assurance of my most distin- guished consideration, but Cupid has sped an arrow fruitlessly.” ‘*Saint Catherine! I know not vhat all those long words mean,” Marie answered, ** but be- ware how you slander me, brute! elope wiz you? Nevaire! nevaire! Say it again, and I will skre-vatch out youreyes. How dare you say such a thing? Scoundre]!, Villain! Brute! Ruffian! Infamous monster!” The fair daughter of France was in temper, and might have gone on with her epithets for- ever had not Brackett interrupted. ‘Mr, Bradley, do you say that my daughter is at the ball-room?” ‘‘T presume she is; I do not know.” ‘* Will you remain in our company until the matter is settled?” “* Cheerfully.” ‘* Then we will all ride back together.” Garry Kean was irritated. Unless the judge was playing a waiting game, Bradley bade fair to get off without punishment. This was bad; the fellow was guilty, and he ought to be dealt with rigorously, This could be done without recourse to law, or to Brackett’s own muscles, Job was at hand with his whip, and if that whip was laid upon Nathan’s back with force and conscientious repetition, it would just about even matters up. And then, again, if Job did not aspire to tackle the leader of the Reds, the judge had only to request the ex-actor to polish athan off—a very enjoyable task, and a con- summation well deserved. Kean did not expect to have the chance. He remembered what Elmer Nicholson had said about the secret hold Nathan had upon Brackett, and believed that he could see the reason of the Iron Judge’s half-hearted course. The carriages were turned around; Brackett and Bradley entered one, and Garry and Marie the other. Marie was still in an angry mood. “If ze judge s’all believe zat liar I s’all be in despair!” she asserted. “I haf tcld ze truth. Bradley tried to decoy Mees Alice away, and Il am not ze ** Stand | ES GOomiGcgnoe ‘S eS OOOO NT