Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 574 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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get 1 ceed 1h exonerating him?—as you seem insane enough to imagine you can do?” ‘* No,” she replied, with a little secret smile behind her gravity of mien. He seemed slightly relieved at this. ( ‘*Then why should you interest yourself any eg further in the man’s case?” he asked. By “Why!” ber eves flashed. ‘ Well,” striving not to let her contempt appear in her voice, ** you, at least, seem capable of the question!” ‘‘Of course, I am,” even wonceringly, his moral fiber was so pitiful. ‘‘ I repeat it.” ** As an act of simple justice, then—because it i is Charles Howland’s simple due!” she cried. | ‘He shall be righted and freed, because he is ‘® innocent and wronged,” “The jury thought differently,” in a half- timid way. | ‘* Wait till Iam through with his caSe,” com- - posedly. ‘* Look here, Eleanor, your success in what ou so wildly propose would consign Burley to State Prison in his stead as an accursed per- jurer.” ‘* Do I need you to tell me that, father?” ‘* And yet you receive him kindly, if not en- couragingly.’ ‘““You mistake, father; only complacently. Just what you asked, and what [ promised.” ‘*T honestly believe him an honorable, worthy young man.” ** You are at liberty to do so, father.” ** He is passionately in love with you.” **So much the worse for Jobn Burley.” ** He hopes and expects to marry you.” ‘“*His great expectations will assuredly last him his lifetime, then.” ** T also hope it, Eleanor.” **T shall never marry John Burley, father. If it will convenience you, however,” and she looked at him steadily, ‘“‘ that he should continue hoping to the contrary, you need not necessarily enlighten him.” i ee Colonel Sherwood had been gradually grow- — ing disturbed, until his agitation was now very great. “ Would that be treating him very honorably on your part?” he managed to say, with a last attempt at paternal dignity. ‘* It would be treating an infamous, plotting scoundrel as he deserves. Do we vouchsafe fair play to serpents?” **Oh, come now!” Look you, father, I want to have this mat- ter over and done between you and I once and for all.” ** Certainly, Eleanor.” “You once spoke of John Burley having you _ in some way in his power?” ““Ttis true,” shamefacedly, but still trying to caf keep himself up. ~~ In what way? Tell me everything.” “Ob, I—I can’t!” And then he broke down, turning away his head. “‘Pather,” her voice had a melodious and pitying sweetness now, ‘‘ listen to me. You are weak, while 1 am strong. I shall crush this wretch in my own ee time—I know, I feel it _ and speedily. Of what weakness have you ever been guilty, the knowledge of which can _ place you in John Burley’s power?—or make ad you apprehend it would—for I'do not believe ‘that such would really be the case. Surely you - ¢an trust in my strength, no less than in the _ merey of such a man.” - He looked up at her with a pitiful mingling of ‘i My shame, weakness and agony in bis face—his old dandy face, with its masked wrinkles, and its contemptible make-up of rouge poudre de riz are and mustache-dye, _. The next instant her strong arms were around him, and he was sobbing like a child upon her noble breast. Eleanor remained perfectly silent and unde- -_-monstrative, only lightly smoothing and pat- ting the poor bowed head, and with the tears just visible in her pitying eyes, She had never been alven to tears, and, . ea sng accustomed to repress all kindred agita- tion Hid iron will, it was less through a sense of pride than a heroic consciousness of ber - womanly strength and what was due to it. Pvitee t 4 : r yomel Py bd oe ys ‘ae Me oe dae The colonel really seemed to feel better after _ this break-down, and he primped himself up amazingly under Eleanor’s enconraging smiles _ and words as she resumed her seat. €PH tell you everything, my love,” said he. “Dl do it, by Jupiter! Twenty-five years ago, _ before I was married or you were so much as thought of, I—I committed a crime.” _ * Be brave, father. What was the crime?” _-He turned away big face again, but only in order to avoid her ey Heys 45 “Rorgery!” 4 _.. The word was out, scarcely audible, it is true, but distinct. | ___ §So this was the man who had dared to repro- bate a similar and unproven crime in her hus- pe d, Charles Howland? Sk ms wever, she only said, with infinite gentle- on, father, Tell me the story.” ul fed will hate me, if y do not do y we 7 —*, ‘a - Se : 4 % F af" . ' 4 toa | STOP lgt/ Oy a4) { 7 Hh 2 Beet 4 1) oe ? = of » aoe ; 2 eee if you please, fatber. y , 7 ‘Hate you, papa? Are you leave of | ' senses ‘Com about. y af > y ee * me ae Old Falcon’s Double. CHAPTER XV, ELEANOR’S NOBILITY. COLONEL SHERWOOD seemed nerving bimself to a distasteful and bumiliating effort, ‘*T was still only a banker’s clerk then, Nelly, but about to start out for myself with another young man, similarly situated, I know whata hypocrite [’ve been, Neily, but don’t, please don’t throw it up to me that Howland was only a banker’s clerk, too!” ‘* Nothing of the sort, father.” ‘*{—-I couldn’t raise quite the necessary capi- tal, or my share of it, and the prospective part- nership, on which I had set my heart, was in danger of falling through. ‘*1—I forged a rich financier’s indorsement on a note, ‘ hurriedly,’ in order to get it cashed. There you are, Nelly,” with a long breath, ‘That is the accursed story.” ‘But with any disastrous result to yourself, father?” ‘* None whatever,” . ** How was that?” ‘*Once in the swim cn our own account, we wore successful from the start. I paid the note before it was due. Then, like an egregious ass, I confessed to the financier whose name I had surreptitiously used, craving his pardon and in- dulgence,” ‘* Rather say, like an honest man, willing and glad to make amends. Did he prosecute you, or threaten it?” ‘* Bless you, no! He wasn’t of that sort, or perbaps had been similarly tempted in his own youthful start.” ‘* What did he do?” ** He was a Californian, Nelly.” ** But what did he do?” ‘* Lectured me severely, promised me to keep it a secret, and invited me to dinner,” ** Did he keep it a secret?” “Oh, yes; he was a gentleman—a brick. But—” **Go on, father.” ‘* Like the infernal idiot that I was, I negiect- ed to destroy the canceled note, but left it among my old papers,” Well?” ‘* Burley got hold of it some way, together with its history, five or six months ago, It is in his possession now,” ‘Ah! But what of that, if long ago it was both forgiven and canceled?” ** Nelly, [am not rich, if you are. In fact, I am now, and have been for long, just strug- gling along — keeping up appearances, you now—and hoping for the lucky stroke, which never seems to come, that will enable me just decently to retire.” ' ‘* Well?” a little impatiently. ._ ‘* The. sapeeore of that old transaction would hopelessly blast my reputation on the street—or at leans with certain powerful and unscrupulous rivals, who would instantly take advantage of it to down, me. I would be absolutely ruined.” ‘“‘Sol” there was a suggestive quiver in her voice now, ‘‘And John Burley threatens to make this exposure on occasion.” ‘* Not exactly that, Nelly; but then he could do it. Itis in bis power.” : And he contrives somehow to let you know i * W ell—yes,” Eleanor’s eyes flashed. ‘* And yet you have dared to insist upon it to me,” indignantly, ‘‘ that he is an honest young man—a worthy young man?” The colonel bowed his averted head without answering. ‘‘And you have frequéntly introduced the Creole cur here—have dared to compare him with Charles Howland, to that gentleman’s dis- favor—would even have had me marry him, to save you from his power—which is so much more apparent than real, on the face of it, that I cannot but blush for your understanding, father, as well as for your—your moral feeble- ess?’ ** Don’t, Nelly, please don’t!’ almost whim- peringly. ‘* Well, 1 sha’n’t then,” recovering her equa- nimity with an effort. ‘' Father, I promise to speedily relieve you of this bugbear, but solely on condition of your promise to follow my advice implicitly, unquestioningly.” He looked up at her eagerly, Never before had her strength contrasted his. weakness so erp or had it seemed that he could lean upon her so trustingly. Her calm, healthful self-confidence was the breath of new life to im. “ By ee ph Nelly, you are a wonderful woman |” e exclaimed. ‘‘ However, so was your dear mother, for that matter, whose an- cestors helped to cut off the head of Charles L, and then fought their way among the red-skins asamong sheep. I don’t believe there’s your equa in New York City, or New York State either, for that matter.” | ‘Yes, yes. But your answer to my propo- es, every time, my love! I give you the promise you demand,” | “You will 1 my guidance absolutely?” “I swear it!” | _ “Good! Keep on inviting John Burley here, ete eth! age ” YR : Wr f 71% ae i ? : vie bbe in y ic SAN ay 4 : DL 4 ris. eh Ss 63 oy A ; ». yr & yy : ve + ha ‘wy, “) 4 poy. e . &, « : 4 aa 7 fy « - an i’ ce ie Wet J “ let him continue to hope that he may ultimately marry me. I will attend to his case when I get ig, ft ‘* But, Nelly—” ‘** You were not even to question, remember.” ‘* True; but do tell me one thing, my dear.” ** 'W hat is it?” ‘* Might you marry the fellow, if he were really worthy, and you liked him well! enough, caring for no one else?” st No.” ‘© Why not?” ‘¢ Because it would be impossible.” ** Impossible?” ** Exactly.” ‘* How could that be?” **T cannot tell you. But you will know some time—so will he.” ‘Well, you are no less an enigma than an Amazon, Nelly.” 4 What time were you to join your yacht, papa? Colonel Sherwood consulted his time-piece, and then rose hastily. ‘‘No time to lose!” ,he exelaimed, ‘*' God bless you, Nelly! I feel like a new man al- ready.” She kissed him gently as sy separated. A little later on Hugh Spender called. EKleanor’s greeting was even more cordial than was her wont, and she lost no time in acquaint- ing him with her success of the previous after- noon, The lawver listened with mingled admiration and amazement, ‘*T can scarcely believe it!” he exclaimed. ** You succeed almost like magic, where I and others so painstakingly wrought and sought in vain, Even with your cleverness, I can’t ac- count for it,” Nelly laughed. ** Don’t leave the name and prestige of Fal- conbridge—though both so unscrupulously bor- rowed—out of the account.” ‘* But who could have worked even them as you have done? The discovery and identifica- tion of the fountain pen was simply immense!” ‘For which Florine should have the chief credit.” ‘« My dear cousin, I will not have you depre- ciate yourself in this way.” ** Tell me this, Cousin Hugh,” and her earn- estness increased. ‘* Would the pen discovery and identification alone do our work?’ He reflected, ‘‘Scarcely, to the full,” he replied. “It would make trouble with Burley, in support of a direct charge of perjury: but might not clear up things for Howland altogether. No; we must have those witnesses, too,” ‘** Well, they can be obtained,” ‘*T hope so, The fact of your meeting Bur- ley when coming out of the restaurant is suspi- cious, Should he get wind of your inquiries, be would lose no time in sending them on their mysterious travels again, and into yet deeper obscurity.” ; ‘* | have thought of that, but I do not think he can get wind of what I have already dis- covered, Mr, G—— is discreet, I think, and the chef is not likely to miss that scraw! from Ar- monk in a hurry.” “* Well,” cheerfully, “‘ judging from the start you have made, you have got a right to hope for the best.” ‘‘ T shall set out in my search for the men to- morrow, My father’s absence is my opportun- ity; though it is not such a great matter if he should learn of my masculine masquerading now. We have had a sort of understanding, which I will some time be at liberty to explain to you, Cousin Hugh. What a pity that it is a Sunday! Now, the question is, which man shall I seek first--John Kennedy at Eagle Rock, or Peter Kelly at Armonk?” ‘Where is Armonk?” ‘* Westchester county, thirty odd miles north, I was once there with a Tally-Ho party.” “And Eagle Rock?” | _ ‘“‘TIn the mountains just back of Orange a mile or two, in New Jersey.” CHAPTER XVI. PIPE- LAYING. ‘Prt tell you what we will do, my dear cousin, as a beginning,” suggested Lawyer Spender, after a reflective pause, ‘‘ We’ll be- n our inquiries, say at the Jersey locality, to- ” . x On a Sunday?’ “That must not interfere in an affair like tbe best on Sunday, but we'll do the best we can, . ‘“ Agreed, then,” assented Nelly. ‘I will translate myself into Faleonbridge’s Double in short order, and to-morrow we'll look up our other absentee in Armonk.” he “Wait! I hardly think I can be with you there and then,” ** Why not?” f ‘* My mornings are always occupied with the courts, and in the afternoon to-morrow—” he hesitated, | | : ** Well, Cousin Hugh?” Wcomicbook: ae con " ~~ True, the railroad facilities are not of — #, or - * be = PES SL Pe wh IE AOS eee A ete ogee oe ew a td Py. a , ee - ag - p me 4 - - a Pe a ye oe ee nagnen oe = - ," —— wr _ Pa