Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 551 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

“=~ Garry Kean. b .* 25 coat, and his glittering buttons were laid aside, and all that remained of his superb grandeur was his mutton-chop whiskers and a brogue. Clad in plain stable-garments, the wonderful statue looked so much like a common man that no millionaire would have been afraid to adcress him familiarly, and even a small boy might have ventured a respectful bow, ‘¢ Where is Job?’ Brackett asked, abruptly. ‘‘He’s gone ter de village, sor,” was the re- spectful reply, for, grand as the statue was, he knew whence came his money. ‘* How are the horses to-day?” ‘¢ All right, sor.” Brackett looked around and nodded approv- ingly as he saw how neat the stable was, but his attention’ became fixed as he saw something in a small box. ‘‘ What is that?” he asked, ‘*Tt’s arsenic, sor.” “Arsenic! What are you doing with it?” ‘‘Oi am goin’ to fade it ter de rats.” ‘* We have rats here, then?” ° This theory was not in keeping with the judge’s expression as he stalked rapidly from the stable to the house. His powerful face was grim, stern and forbidding, and one of the female servants whom he encountered looked at him in awe and fear, and then shivered as he passed by her. He did not pause until be had reached his private room and locked himselfin. Then he sat down, and new lines and shadows appeared in his face, The late incident had startled him. Alice had been mysteriously ill, and Doctor Crundall had expressed the fear that the trouble might have been the result of arsenical poison, the deadly drug having been met so promptly and effectually as to have overcome the usual fatal consequences. Every day a decisive re- port was expected from Boise City which would state definitely whether poison had been used, and this fact had been so much in bis mind that it was well conditioned for the scene last de- scribed. —_——— ee C8 OT over your refusal ter give ’em a lift in politics, an’ they ain’t goin’ ter fool away no more time on pertitions. They will vote, but their ballots will be o’ lead, Thar’s a riot on foot, jedge!” Brackett did not evince any surprise at this news, ** Led by Bradley, I presume?” ‘**'You presume jest right. But that ain’t all. They mean ter seize the City Hall, git the wee- pons stored thar, hold the place as a fort, an’ raise Cain outside. That ain’t the worst on’t; they’ve got a few men marked fur destruction, an’ you’re one on’em. They perpose ter burn your house. What they’ll do with you ain’t sartain, but Bradley’s temper is all up ag’in’ you, an’ef he has his way, you'll be lucky ter git out on’t alive.” ‘** How did you learn this?” The miner explained. He had come there with the fixed intention of giving Garry Kean all the credit, but after floundering around con- siderably, he told a plain story, keeping back nothing. ‘They are gittin’ dhat thick an’ bowid dat There had really been arsenicin the house Brackett listened with unwavering calmness. they bid to carry off de harses’ fate ef we don’t | at the time of Alice’s illness, ‘*T am not surprised,” he commented. ‘‘ The stop thim, It’s a misch’avous lot they are, en- Doctor Crandall had asked questions on this | leader of the Reds is capable of anything, and toirely.” point, but without any further result than to ; his ruffians will follow him eagerly. My good ‘* Where did you get that arsenic?” ‘*From Mrs. Brackett, yer Honor.” ‘** From Mrs. Brackett!’ ‘* 'Yis; yer Honor,” ** How was that?” ‘“Why, sor, Oi knowed nothing else w’u’d cl’ane’em out so complately, an’ Oi asked her w’u’d she give me some, an’ Oi rec’aved it ackardin’. She towld me not to mention de mather, an’ as Oi prasume she has some good r’ason, not a sow! shall hear of it.” The magnificent man was smiling and doing his best to be agreeable, and, never suspecting that he might be ‘‘ putting his foot ia it,” he failed to study his employer’s expression. Had he done so, he would have been surprised to see what was revealed there. ‘** ‘You say you asked her for the arsenic?” ** Yes, sor.” ** How did you know she had any?” ‘*Oh! Oi brought it to her.” ** From where?” ** The Expriss arfice at Gold-Bug.” ** When?’ ‘*Siveral wakes ago—Oi don’t jestly know whip.” ‘* You say you bought her some arsenic from Gold-Bug,” pursued Brackett, holding stub- bornly to the subject, but making his manner careless. ‘‘ How do you know you did? Ex- plain!” ‘* Well, sor, you may remimber the day last spring whin {L'went to Gold-Bug av an arrant, an’ broke down on me way home, an’ was out so late?” OO.” ‘*Oi went for Mrs. Brackett, an’ she towld me to get a package at dhe Expriss office, Oi ot it ail right, but on me way home | broke own in de mountains, in de darrak. Oi could till what de mather was, an’ knew Oi could fix it ef Oi could get a loight, but Oi had only wan match, an’ de wind was blowin’ a gale, Oi got a pine splinter, but was so afeerd Oi would lose me loight that I stripped arf de paper from de Expriss package, an’ used it to make a sure job. Oi did it, too, an’ came out all roight, but when Oi tuk off de paper Oi found a small box in me band wid a label on it which said: * ARSENIC— DEADLY Porson!’ Weil, sor, Oi handled it wid care aftber that, an’, was roight glad to get rid ave it; but Mrs. Brackett laughed whin Oi towld her so. She said it was a very good friend, at toimes, and that Oi w’u’d see there w’ud be less rats around afther awhile.” Abram Brackett had turned and was looking out of the. window, ‘* Exactly,” he put in, as the servant paused. ** So, yer Honor, Oi knew where to go whin dhe rats got into dhe stable, an’ Oi wint an’ borrowed ave her, She gave this to me, but towld me not to mention it, an’ bégorra! Oi won't!” ‘‘That is right,” slowly commented the judge. ‘Has Mrs. Brackett got rid ave all dhe rats in the house, sor?” “T think there are still two or three that trouble her,” answered Brackett, with a signifi- cance which the coachman did not suspect. ‘* Why don’t she poison thim?” ‘** Parbaps she will.” ‘Tf it’s anny good, Oi shall clear thim from de stable.” The judge turned away from the window. ‘‘Qne word of advice to you, Bartholomew!” ‘¢ PPase sp’oke out, yer Honor.” ‘‘ Whenever you set out to clean out trouble- some rats, don’t let the rats discern your inten- tions!” ‘* Eh, sor?” ‘‘Be shrewd, for no rat likes arsenic as a steady diet, and they may rebel if they under- stand your game!” | With these words Brackett walked away abruptly, leaving Bartholomew looking after him in perplexity. ‘* Begorra, Oi don’t fully understhand now but Oi presume the judge is in high spirits an’ wanted his joke. awaken certain speculations in the judge’s miud, Later came Mrs. Brackett’s prophecy that un- less Alice was carefully looked to she might not long survive, on account of physical weakness— something which, her father knew, did not exist. Now, what about the arsenic? Why had Mrs. Brackett cbtained it? The judge had never heard rats in the house, though, if they were in the stable, they might bein the house also. But that Mrs, Brackett would concern herself with rats in the house, in the stable, in-doors, out-doors, or elsewhere, was absurd. She was mistress of the Brackett resi- dence, and occasionally made her authority felt with a vengeance, but when it came to looking to minor details, like the management of kitchen, chamber or cellar, there her work was unknown, If the parlor and her own room were kept in good condition she regarded the house as well managed, and dirt might have run riot in the kitchen, water in the cellar and rats every where | and she would have been ignorant of the fact— unless she chanced to hear the rats, Domestic Mrs. Brackett was not and never had been, and to infer that she had been making a campaign, secret or open, against the rodents, was somethi ng the judge could not believe. Why, then, had she wanted the arsenic? And what use had she made of it* Abruptly the judge arose and began to pace the room, At one moment he was tempted to summon his wife and demand an explanation, but caution prevailed. if she had allowed her well-known dislike of Alice to carry her so far as to make her a criminal, her mere detection and expulsion from the house would not satisfy him. He had pessvely borne her indifference, and had gone his way while she went hers, and never gave outward signs of irritation, but the moment that Alice was menaced, the lion was aroused. How should she be protected? Ideas flashed through his mind, but they were vague and disconnected. He had an impression that his proper course was to watch his-wife, and, if she was engaged in guilty work trap her. But that would require time, and he had no crafty plan rey just then, ‘‘Whata flock of vultures men and women are!” he muttered, in bitter scorn. ‘ All are selfish, corrupt, criminal! Would to Heaven I were free to deal with the schemers here as I wish. If they menaced me in any way save through Alice, there would be a marked thip- ning out of the evil element before many nights would pass. As it is, they are foading me into a dangerous mood. They call me the Iron Judge, yet think to buffet me about like a foot- ball, I wish I was free to deal with them as [ could wish!” Sterner became his face, and his anger burned strongly against Nathan Bradley. How was the man to be met? The expedient of sending Alice out of town had been thwarted by her sudden illness, and now it was thought of no longer. He did not dare to leave her out of bis sight. A knock sounded at the door, anda servant appeared to announce English John. Brackett directed that he be admitted at once, and the miner was soon in the room, ‘* Hope [ don’t intrude, jedge,” was his greet- ing. C Not at all, sir. You represent a class of men all too few in number here—you are an honest may. Sit down and make yourself at home.” ‘*T’ve come ter bring news, jedge!” **Of what?” ‘Garry Kean has diskivered that there is a monstrous plot afoot byar in the city.” < Then why has he not come to tell me him- self?’ “Garry is bashful, jedge!” The miner shook his grizzled head soberly, as though the ex-actor’s bashfulness was a very melancholy fact. ‘* 'W hat is the plot of which you speak?” 5 sir, I thank you for this warning; it will result in the saving of the town. The Reds shall be met in a way they will not like. Iam sure we can depend upon your aid?” ‘* Bet yer life, jedge!—me an’ Garry Kean,” ‘‘'Your friend shall not be overlooked. He seems to be—” the judge hesitated for a moment, ‘a worthy young man, and all such are very welcome under our banner,” “Garry is white, clean through!” John as- serted, with great enthusiasm, ‘** You will please thank him for me.” **So I will, jedge, an’ when the crisis comes, you'll find him all thar. Thar is bound ter be some monstrous hard fightin’, an’ you'll find Garry a Man with Backbone, in the full sense, Yes, sir!” . CHAPTER XXXI. THE AUDACITY OF DECEIT. WHILE the judge was closeted with English Jobn there was another visitor at the Brackett house, Alice had gone to the parlor, but she did not know that a caller was at hand until the ropm was entered. Her ears were very quick, and she at once suspected that some one not a member of tbe household was present. She started toward the door, but Mrs. Brackett’s voice sounded in the sweetest key imaginable: ‘** Alice, Colonel Norman is here!” The announcement was like a bombshell. Alice bad not forgotten the conversation in the conservatory, and the knowledge that the Ken- tuckian had actually come to the house threw her into confusion. ‘Tam charmed to meet Miss Brackett,” de- clared Norman, in a deep base, There was no reply, and Alice continued her excited effort to reach the door until she actual- ly ania herself stopped by Mrs, Brackett’s hand, ‘** Did you not bear the colonel’s remark?” the elder lady demanded, her voice not wholly pleasant. ‘* Yes,” faltered the girl, ‘‘and I thank him; but I must go.” “Go? Why? ‘*T am weary.” It was the first excuse which occurred to her, and sbe realized how poor it was, as soon as it — was spoken. ‘*By Mars! but her bright eyes belie it!” Norman asserted. Mrs. Brackett was not slow-witted. Ever since the time at the ball when it was tmade known to her that, during some part of the evening, Alice and Bradley had occupied a recess in the conservatory next to the one in which she had permitted Colonel Yoke Norman to talk nonsense to her, she had been mentally inquiring whether Alice’s ears bad drank in delicate secrets. When, on the present occasion, she announced the Kentuckian’s presence, she believed that she had her answer, Alice had changed color and shown confusion; had really seemed startled. The female Czsar’s resolution was at once taken; she determined to keep her step-daughter in the room, m7 set about it as only a crafty woman could. ‘* My dear, let my age and wisdom speak for you. Your mode of life is wrong; nothing wearies one so much as doing nothing: no one thing can so age a person as solitude. You are dull, gloomy. Do you not know the remedy? It issimple. Lively company will cure the mind most diseased,” “True as tbe Bible,” Norman agreed—“ jin | the case of ladies. For men, blue-grass whisky and a hoss-trot makes a powerful appetizer !” ‘For shame, colonel!” cried Mrs. Brazkett, lightly. ‘‘Do you not know all ladies are pro- hibitionists?” ‘‘ Amend the statement, my dear madam, and > say that the class you mention is made ~ | folks too weak-headed themselves to drink, but ‘The Reds are durnedly put out an’ wrathy " just strong evough to determine that other folks “ - - £ * 7 ij 4? w Ss ? ae ~~ comicbooks +" r* P , * ‘ ma eg a * ¥