Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 574 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

“- af > oO % + — . ~—? ) - ” » ae se Se Nee : “> * Awe, 4 <. so “el 2 a mw =a re, <¥ seute * iJ - or. ay - “eh ‘ wih ne os ¥ he . i e . LAs we ant we - 16 venturer and robber, Ny q and bo think of him with no less horror than detes- 26 Old Falcon’s Double. his exact likeness did—and getting into the coach without further delay, was driven away. Now if there could have been a more pro- nounced manifestation of a ruse stimulated into action—of the counterfeit abbe giving place to the real one on the former perceiving the detec- tive on watch—one would have thought that it was here; and Eleanor was at once on the alert for the signal that she should take up the chase. Judge then of her surprise at seeing Falcon- bridge quietly step into his coach, and follow on after, as a signal that he had got the right man, and that she must take the next comer. Then followed the duplication, in absolute confirmation of the Falcon Detective’s marvel- ous accuracy of divination. The three retainers went back into the house, to return again in Jess than a couple of minutes, _asapreliminary to the exact reproduction of the same scene. Another coach came to a pause ati the foot of the stone steps, and another abbe, the precise external image of his predecessor, stepped into But now it was the abbe’s (or the abbe’s coun- terfeit, whichever it might be) turn to manifest embarrassment, ; For at the same moment Nelly, as the detec- tive’s Double, issued from her crypt and stood calmly waiting. What! were there two Falconbridges, no less than two abbes? The second priest had stood irresolute, and was evidently in a state of unaffected hesita- tion, However, it would seem that there was more risk in drawing back than going on. The man —e into his coach and was driven away, just as his predecessor had been, while Nelly imitated her prototype’s example by sum- moning her carriage, and setting off in pursuit. Her action had been duly marked by ber hus- band and Hugh Spender from a convenient dis- tance, and they lost no time in following. Estella’s fugitive led her to the depot of the Strasbourg Railway. He tried in vain to elude her among the throngs, but as the train was ou the point of starting he at last desperately entered one of the ae 9a compartments, and she was at his eels, At the same instant she had the satisfaction of seeing Charles and Hugh enter the next com- partment behind. Then there was a whistle, it was succeeded by another, like an echo, from the adjoining depot, and the two trains of the parallel lines were simultaneously under way. CHAPTER XLV, WHICH? ELEANOR found herself and her fugitive the sole occupants of their compartmen The latter, now thoroughly self-possessed, ex- ternally at least, produced a newspaper, adjusted a pince-nez, that was thickly rimmed with old, and was soon to all appearances absorbed his corner, | . ‘*T wonder which be can be—the real or false abbe—the true criminal, or the priest who is shielding his escape?’ thought Hleanor, furtive- ly eying her companion with mingled curiosity dread. ‘* What would I not give to know? Then, as the train was approaching the for- tifications, she glanced out of the compartment - window at ber side, which was the one having few rods distant at this place, in view. the parallel track of the place Railway, but a The train of that line was also moving out, directly athwart the intervening space. She caught her breath joyfully as she per- ceived a man making a slight but encouraging signal to her from a window of the rival train. . It was Faleonbridge himself, and his signal seemed to say. ‘' Be of good heart! no mistake has been made.” _ Then she fell to thinking of what an extraor- _ dinary man he was, and how accurately, with little oak of a mysterious prevision, or clair- ’ voyance, he had divined the ruse that would be attempted, and taken his measures accord- ly. ober that she also produced a newspaper, and pretended to read as a mask for her con- stant and assiduous study of her compartment | ao ig _ We have said that she puzzled herself over his identity with a mingled curiosity and dread, a word heretofore lit pening young woman’s composi e rie wh = i Na in the on. | as before the murder of the Corsi- 12210, when she had never conside the C that of an unscrupulous, perhaps desperate, ad- ut a murderer, too! From the moment of ' conviction that he was that also—that he as an assassin, with his hands reddened with ‘ and ruthless spilling of human womanliness had never been able ‘now not only hated, but feared bim. will therefore be readily seen with what repidation, in spite of the comparative she still felt in her fictitious personality, pi ry Ws ‘ YY ; 7 z 3 ) 4 dys : a) e Le | ° ‘ iy ; y va t » tite j 5 * le’s character other than ry itty 4 i she debated the question as to whether the de- tective might not have made a mistake, and left her to deal with the now terrible Juan Borleo himself, while getting on the track of the harm- less churchman on bis own part. Besides, notwithstanding Falconbridge’s re- assuring signal, she could not get over the im- pression that this man, her coach companion, whether the dreaded Creole in disguise or not, was something other than he seemed, True, he paid her not the slightest attention, seemingly wholly absorbed, and what she could see of the venerable face, covered with a lon white mustache and closely-cropped white ea, —an unusual thing with French prelates, most of whom are close-shaven—appeared to be per- fectly natural; but the plump white little bands were too small and delicately shaped even for a priest’s, she was quite sure; there was a studied grace of attitude in the short, rather fleshy per- son that would have seemed more in keeping, or so she thought, with an actor’s garb than the sacred vestment that was its habit, while et other characteristics seemed to deepen the impression alluded to, However, the train was speeding rapidly, and Artois was already passed. The next place, only ten miles further on—less than that now— would be M@—. If she was to induce or compel her enigmat- ical companion to on the train there, in ac- cordance with the detective’s instrrctions, she had better make a beginning, or be thinking how to make if. Less than five miles left now. She summoned her best assurance to her aid, and. shifting her seat, placed herself directly vis-a-vis to him, ‘‘ Monsieur Jl’Abbe!” said the detective’s Double, politely but with a ring of resolution in her voice. The other looked up from his reading, with a well-simulated start of surprise. — ‘* Well, my son?’ he calmly asked, in a mu- sical and effeminate voice. ‘ Tt is absolutely necessary that I should thus interrupt you, monsieur.” | ‘* Necessary! and why, pray?’ with a freshly surprised air. ‘© Because, Monsieur l’Abbe, you were so ab- sorbed in your reading that you might forget you are to leave the train at M——, which is now but two or three miles distant.” ** Thanks, my son; bat yor mistake. I have no intention of stopping at M——.” ‘‘ Pardon me, sir, but it is my intention that you shall.” Down went the newspaper, and up straight- ened Monsieur l’Abbe, both indignant and curi- ous, or seemingly so. ‘““ Sir!” he exclaimed, with a slight tremor in the effeminate voice; ‘you have doubtless taken leave of your senses?” ** Not at all,” coolly; ‘* though you, monsieur, will assuredly take leave of this train at M——. ‘* Ha, ha! this is refreshing!” ‘© You will then, monsieur,” smiling, ‘‘ be in the less need of purchasing refreshment at ‘* But I sha’n’t get off at M——. way to the frontier.” ‘* You shall stop over at M——.” \ ‘* What do you take me for, sir?” ‘* A dishonest man, doing his best to aid a thief and a murderer to escape the consequences of his crimes!” “Sir! sir! I donot know what you mean.” <: You will be more or less enlightened at I amon my ‘‘ Who are you?” ‘* Falconbridge, the Falcon Detective!” after an instant’s hesitation. “Well,” after a slight start, ‘‘I don’t;care who you may be, [have had about enough of your insufferable insolence!” and he made a suspicious movement, Quick as a flash, Eleanor covered him with her revolver, No further fears now as to the abbe being Burley, or as to the great detective’s penetration having been at fault. The abbe bad suddenly collapsed, trembling like a leaf, his face, white to ghastliness, the picture of unrelieved, absolute, genuine, and agonized womanish fear, ‘* Ah, Monsieur l’Abbe, and do you submit?” ‘* T do,” was the stammered and unqualified reply. The train is slowing up. Prepare to quit the train at my side, If you call attenticn to your thralldom, or fail obey my slightest word or sign, I shall cheerfully blow out your pious brains,” As she stepped out of the train, the abbe was glued to her side like a terrorized hound. Eleanor first entered the station and tele- graphed to thedetective, announcing her arrival and success, CHAPTER XLVI. — « THE CREOLE AT BAY, | Tue return dispatch came almost instantly as follows: ‘* All well! Meet me midway in the wooded inter- ‘val with your prize. ve With her captive literally in tow, she at Pa Noe Ys hy ney eee | i %1 7 ° 7 ty " | ee Neen n renee nner renner nnn ne ner acre cree CC tian, once quitted the station platform, and started along a narrow footpath leading directly west- ward through the woods, It promised to be a lonely walk, but she no longer held her Monsieur l’A bbe in anything but contempt, and was, moreover, quite sure that Charles and Hugh, whom she had seen alight from the train, would not be far behind. However, at least somewhat of the abbe’s pusillanimity proved to have been assumed. They had hardly got fairly into the solitude before he set out to run, and then, before his captor coula recover from her surprise, he “ap Bd turned with a leveled revolver, and red. But Eleanor had instinctively dropped upon her hands and knees, and so opportunely that the bullet flew wide of its mark. Then, springing forward, in a fit of exaspera- tion, that was a sufficient foil to any trepidation she might otherwise have felt, and with ker own weapon leveled, she had him disarmed and at her mercy in a trice, At this juncture, Howland and Spender, alarmed by the shot, came running up. ** Why don’t you handcuff the old hypocrite?” cried Hugh. ‘““He dared to shoot at you!” exclaimed Charles, who was greatly agitated on his wife’s account, ‘* Let us give hima sound thrashing first!” ‘* Neither,” cooll double, once more fully self-possessed. sieur l’Abbe, forward march!” She held a pistol in either hand now, and the re did not wait for a repetition of the com- mand. As they were approaching what they thought must be the midway point between the two stations, there was suddenly a tremendous ex- plosion from somewhere a little further on. They rushed forward to investigate, the abbe with no less eagerness than the others, There was a scuffling, tramping and snarling sound, such as might have proceeded from a wounded tiger suddenly finding bimself in his hunter’s snare. Then, as they entered a little open glade, a mene and terrible spectacle was before them. The further side of the space was covered with the freshly scattered leaves and branches of trees, a great, smoking hole was in the ground, and over and around the spot there was a haze of dust, together with a heavy, rather sickening smell, On the turf directly at their feet, two forms, scarcely recognizable as those of human beings so close was their clutching struggle, so ra id their writhing and twisting movements, which raised a constant and thick dust, were engaged in such a clinching, clawing, wild-beast strife as not one of the appalled spectators had ever wit- nessed, or perhaps conceived of, before, The snarls, and they were now distinguished as mixed with curses and oaths, seemed to come from but one of the contestants, while the other was silent. But scarcely had the new-comers arrived, be- fore Falconbridge’s clear, calm voice rung out from somewhere amid the writhing, struggling, mass as it might be called. **Don’t interfere!” it cried; ‘‘I can manage bim.” ‘Here a fresh surprise was occasioned by Eleanor’s captive clasping his hands and giving utterance to a wild, womanish wail. ‘* Who and what are you?” cried Eleanor, sud- denly seizing the priestly figure. ‘*Don’t touch me, scorpion!” screamed the other, wildly. ‘‘ Do you not see that my love, my Juan, is being torn to pieces before my eyes? Wolves, sleuth-hounds! have you no pity, no remorse?” . Then, by a few frenzied gestures and clutches, the abbe’s robe disappeared in one direction, a white wig in another, a false mustache and beard in yet another, and the astounded trio ** Mon- prelate, but a furious and agonized woman, who was none other than Madame la Comtesse d’Es- i bm oreover, she was so richly and even fashion- ably habited—save that she was devoid of crin- oline of any sort—in garments suitable to her sex that Eleanor could scarcely credit the decep, tion that had been practiced upon her; while the woman’s long and still abundant and beauti- ful blonde hair, loogened from the disguising shave-pate wig that in some manner man- aged to fetter and conceal its luxuriance, tumbled about ber angry face and shapely shoulders in a sunny storm. ; She continued to rave, but, notwithstanding their continued astonishment, Eleanor and her companions turned to the struggle going on at rene side, as being the master sensation of the wo, | At length there was a tremendous spasm in the fight. Then came the sound of terrible, swiftly-repeated blows, which was followed by the click of handcuffs, and the awful spectac was at an end. Covered with dirt and dust, and with his clething torn in prem came but otherwise un- injured—one might ost add, unrt —th ys : , | | | rox) My. comicbooks. eh Soe P| ok replied the detective’s™ —_— were no longer confronted by by a wailing ©