Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 580 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

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If you will step out of the way, we will get out and help ourselves.” ‘Certainly, [ will oblige you in that way;” and Kinworth drew back, Young Blackwell, too, had recognized him, as Be ss noted, and had turned as pale as Cam- eth, Cambeth got out, pretending not to know the detective, and paying no further attention to him, and young Blackwall handed their com- panion out into his arms, Then he followed, ‘It is only a little distance to the lady’s home,” Cambeth observed; *‘ had we not better carry her there immediately?” ‘| think we had,” Waldemar agreed. “If what you have said is true, that she has fainted from fright,” Kinworth spoke up again, ‘vou had better remove the sbawl from over her face,” ‘** That is so,” supported an elderly gentleman who stood near; ‘‘take the shawl off by all means, I am adoctor, and know what | am talking about.” ** But there is danger that she will get cold,” Cambeth still parleyed; ‘‘ we can get ber home ina very few minutes, if you will only make room for us,” 4 Quite a crowd had by that time collected, and the two men were ina desperate strait. Kin- worth was sure that something crooked was going on, but did not want to take too much upon himself. He was content with watching, but meant to know more about it before he let the fellows get out of sight. ‘“If you know what is good for you you will scatter,” cried Foung Blackwall, as an idea struck him. ‘This woman has got the small- pox bad!” Cambeth caught the cue instantly, ‘We did not want to let it out,” he sup- ported, ‘‘ but we are obliged to tell you for your own good,” About two-thirds of the crowd had business elsewhere suddenly, and set off; but not so Kin- worth. He knew that Cambeth and young Blackwall were not the sort of men to be carry- ing small pox patients around the city, ‘This ig a very unlikely story,” he observed. “*T think there is something about this affair that will bear investigation.” she spoke he took a step forward and tore the shawl sag What was his surprise, then, to behold the face of Essylt Parmilye! ** Ha!” he exclaimed. ‘it is just as I thought; there is no small-pox about this lady. Further, I recognize her, and I openly charge these fel- lows with abducting her!” CHAPTER XXXII. THE RASCALS AT THE DANAE. JAMBETH and young Blackwall had got them- selves fairly into a trap, and they realized it. Their ‘* small-pox” story had been so awfully thin that now they had no ground to stand on, ‘* What have you to say?” demanded a police- man, ‘*T think that we are capable of attending to our own business without the interference of everybody,” retorted Cambeth, ‘** But this gentleman charges you with abduct- ing this young woman. that?” ‘It isa lie!” Cambeth cried. ‘‘ You have no right to detain us here. Make way for us, so that we can take the lady home, or to the drug- store.” 2 . - Just then Miss Parmilye opened her eyes, ‘*Where am I?” she asked, looking around her in a terrified manner. ‘*‘ Why are you hold- ing me— Oh! nowI remember. Release me "copa ou villains! or it will be the worse for you aldernar Blackwall, I shall inform your father of this outrage.” Pale, trembling, thoroughly frightened, the Se rascals placed the young Jady upon her eet. ‘**Can I be of service to you, Miss Parmilye?” asked Kiuworth, touching ber arm to draw her attention. She looked quickly around, and seeing who it was, exclaimed: ‘*Ob! Mr, Kinworth! thank Heaven you are here! Rescue me from these scoundrels, and take me back home,” ‘**T will do so.” No sooner had Kinworth spoken to her than Cambeth and young Blackwall, taking advan- tage of the momentary diversion of attention, t - to mh away. e policemen, there being now three upon the spot, detained them, . fa **'No you don’t,” they said. “* Shall we take these fellows in?’ one of them now asked of Kinworth, ‘*No, let them go,” the detective answered. ‘IT know them, and can easily find them when wanted. Let Me go.” hat do you say to “If the charge is true that they have abduct- ed this lady,” the officer protested, ‘‘ they ought to be run in,” **1t is true,” declared Miss Parmilye, ** but let them go. Mr. Kinworth must have a good reason for pea directs,” ‘*'Yes, it will be better to let them go for the present,” the detective insisted. ‘‘I can find them when I want them.” ** You know this gentleman, then?” the officer further inquired of Essylt. ‘* Oh, yes, sir,” the girl assured; ‘‘ he isa friend whom I can trust.” ‘* And if you will disperse the crowd,” ob- served Kinworth, ‘‘I will take the lady home immediately.” Being allowed to go, the two fellows lost no timein making good their escape, and the police- men opened the way for Kinworth and his charge,. They, too, hastened from the scene, ‘* How fortunate that you were again on hand to lend me timely assistance!” the young lady exclaimed, as they hasted along. ‘‘T am thankful that it happened so,” the detective responded. ‘But, tell me bow you came to be in their power, and what it all meant,” he requested. ‘*Tt is soon told,” was the prompt and willing return. ‘‘I was at home, when young Mr. Blackwall came to the house and askea for me, Tle said that his father desired to see me imme- diately, and had sent a carriage for ise. With- out a thought of suspicion, I caught up this light shawl and entered the carriage. was already inside before I noticed that there was another person there. Waldemar got right in after me, and the carriage started off imme- diately. lf I had seen that rascal Cambeth be- fore 1 entered, | would bave been suspicious. We had not gone far when he announced that it was all a clever ruse to trap me, and that he in- tended to make me his wife without delay, I was so frightened that I screamed, and then the bors2s started off ona wild run. The two rascals held me fast, one with his hand over my mouth, and so they continued to bold me till the crash came and the carriage toppled over. Then I screamed again, and that was all I knew until I came to and you spoke to me.” ‘“The impudent, daring scoundrels!” Kin- worth hotly exclaimed. “Is it possible that young Blackwall was a party to such a foul piece of business as that?” ‘* It is possible, for it is just as I have stated it to you. But he will have reason to repent if, for I shall inform his father without delay.” “What do you know about that man Cam- beth?” the detective asked, ‘*T know nothing about him,” was the answer. ‘* He annoyed me that night on the train from Philadelphia, and I have since met bim at Mr. Blackwall’s bouse, where Waldemar had brought him. That ‘s all, but it is clear that he isa thorough villain.” ‘‘ Yes, that goes without saying; and young Blackwall is not far bebind him. I am sur- prised at the young fellow’s audacity.” “And so am I, Do you think I ought to have them arrested, or would it be better to let the matter drop?” ‘“*T was about to ask a favor of you,” the de- tective observed, in lieu of answer. ‘A favor of me!” and Miss Parmilye looked at him in surprise. ‘* Yes, I was about to ask a favor.” ‘* What is it?” ‘*T was about to request that you make no complaint against them, and that you let the affair pass without even mentioning it to Mr. Blackwall,” Essylt was greatly surprised. ‘‘Why, what interest can you have in mak- ing tick a request of me as that?” she wonder- ingly questioned. ‘* What is your object?” **T happen to know,” Kinworth explained, “that there isa friend of yours, a Mr, Arm- strong, interested in you, and that he is about to render you some sort of service. If you let this matter become more public than it is, it may interfere with his plans,” be young lady was still more surprised, “ You know Mr, Armstrong!” she exclaimed. ‘*T do,” the detective assured, ‘* And he has told you something?” The girl’s face was flushed, and she put the question with nervous excitement, ‘*‘ He bas told me nothing,” Kinworth assured, “but I happen to know tbat much, I would let the affair pass, as no serious harm has come to you, and say nothing about it.” ssylt drew a breath of relief. She was glad that her young friend did not know that there was a secret connected with her life. She felt more than a passing regard for him, since he had twice been of signal good servi to her. ** Do you think Mr, Armstrong would like me to do as you request?” she asked. ‘*T think he would.” ‘‘Then I will say nothing about it. Armstrong a friend of yours, sir?” ‘* Yes, IL so consider him,” Kinworth answer- ed, ‘*He isa friend to any one in need of a friend, but a bitter foe to evil-doers, What- ever promises he may bave made to you, Miss Parmilye, you can rely upon. He isa man of his word, if I may say nothing else about him.” ‘*Tam glad to be assured of that, though I had no doubt of it. He said that be bad been a friend of my father’s, so of course I trusted m, ‘*That being the case, there is all the more reason why you may trust him, I am sure; and— Is Mr. —_—— . _ ———— —— ————————- -- ON OS SS IO 2 enc ee 8 eee eC But, let us turn here; it is a nearer way to your home,” ‘“Soitis! I was paying little attention to our direction. You know where I reside, then?” ** Yes; but that need not surprise you, The address was published with the notice of your father’s death, you know,” ‘* Yes, so it was,” Kinworth soon changed the subject, and they chatted on nntil they arrived at the lady’s home, when, as soon as he had seen her safely entered, he turned and retraced his steps the way they had come, In the mean time, bitterly cursing their luck, Cambeth and young Blackwall had hastened away from the scene of their accident and de- feat. ‘That fellow shall answer for this night’s work,” vowed Cambeth. ‘‘ It is not the first time that ue has put bis nose into my business, He is the man who took her parton the boat night, as I told you about,” ‘Is that so? I never suspected that, though I noticed that you and he did not hitch well when you met him at the Danaé,” ‘* By the way, we had better go there.” ‘* Yes, come on,” Cambeth was older than young Blackwall by several years, and if the younger man wanted to become a thoroughbred rascal he had a good tutor. In truth, he was on tbe right road to that point of distinction. Since coming to the city Cambeth had won a small fortune from him at gambling, and young Blackwall was largely in debt to him besides, Cambeth had been playing to gain a point. When he had the young man fairly in his power, then he laid a scheme before him and promised that if he would lend his assistance in carrying it out, he, on his part, would return the promissory noles the young man bad been so foolish as to give him, and would call their stand- ing account squared in full, Young Biackwall took the bait eagerly. As yet, then, Cambeth bad not told who the person was that be desired to get into his power, He had simply stated that it was a young lady whom he Nad met on the train, and whose whereabouts he had ascertained. He wanted to marry her, honorably, he declared, but knew that he could never win her by fair means. He would have to abduct her, and make her his wife by force; after that, of course she would submit tamely to the inevitable, he argued. When young Blackwall had given bis prom- ise, then Cambeth stated that the person in question was none other than Miss Parmilye. Iu alarm, then, the younger man tried to back out, but Cambheth held him to the bargain he had made, and finally urged him on to the stick- ing point. : he arrangements were made in full, the ser- vices of a minister were spoken for, everytbing was made ready for a hasty flight to Phila- delphia after the ceremony, and the two vil- lains went for their victim in the manner shown, It was their intention to put her partly under the influence of a powerful drug, one that bad been obtained from Gonsalvo, but without his knowledge, of course, as to the identity of the intended victim. It would no doubt bave been carried out in full, but for the runaway and the timely inter- ference of the detective. It seemed that Providence had taken a band in the game, Little wonder, then, that Cambeth cursed his luck, and that he was in a desperate mood when the pair reached the Danaé, / He went at once to the bar and dashed off a glass of charaiaalads young Blackwall doing the same, and then they turned to find seats, As they did so their eyes fell upon Dr. Gon- salvo, who came toward them with a _ half- amused smile upon his dark face. CHAPTER XXXII. A FIGHT ON THE CARPET, ‘““Wuy do I find you looking so blue?” the dark-visaged doctor cried, extending a band to each, ‘* Did your little scheme meet with fail- ure?’ “It met with complete failure,” Cambeth growled, ‘* How was that?” | “Ob, luck was against us, and it turned out bad. It would have been all right, if it had not been for that fellow, Kinworth,” f ‘* Kinworth!” The doctor uttered the name in something of the surprise he felt at the mention of it. ‘Yes, Kinworth—curse him!” Cambeth con- firmed. It may be mentioned again that Dr, Gonsalvo bad no idea who the female in the case had been, Young Blackwall had posted Cambeth in regard to the doctor’s having bis mind set upon her with matrimonial intentions. ‘‘ How did he balk you? You see I am inter- este in the matter, When I gave you that drug I thought you would bave a sure thing, if you got hold offyour lady-love at all. But, then, the course of true love never did run smooth, you know. Ha, ha, ba!” ‘‘ Tt would have been a sure thing, as you say, SES TB, CR Aes) alice 0 ee > r, ~ ek Be ee oe ee, LOIS CTA CE ROR ene Sp eee es ee es ere ae ; : Fu a aan ra - \ A Shadow. 1 Cot Gomicbooks P PP Bese fe ss BS 2 ee, ~ 3 ny oe ae