Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 580 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

eT ae .2 — +e fee ie a, ° , ; Se ad ae | a . P< >> oe , had it not been for that fellow; or, at any rate, if it had not been for an unforeseen accident.” = Shadowing a Shadow. Mr. Kinworth. 1 am none the less glad to see you, though, Sit down,” © al “ce * . ~* ~ 25 its kind, kept on hand two or three professional ‘* bouncers,” whose business was to nip right in r ‘+ An accident, eh?” Kinworth did so. the bud any kind of disturbance that might , ‘‘Yes, We got hold of the pretty one all ‘You have a remarkably short memory, I | arise. right, but after we had her in the carriage the | am afraid,” he observed good-naturedly. * You There were two such present on this occasion, team ran away, smashed things up generally, | do not remember calling fur me at the hotel, eh? | and they made straight for the Pacific Slope and right at the place where it occurred that | Well, it does not matter; others who saw you Detective. man Kinworth happened to be,” might help your memory if necessary, per- Dr. Gonsalvo and young Blackwall were well ‘‘ Whew! but that wasa muddy streak of luck, | haps. But, what matter? We meet this time, | known there, while the detective was a stran- and no mistake. Of course the game is all up | anyhow,” ger, and naturally they set upon him, with you now.” ‘**Really your words puzzle me,” the doctor But they both met with a surprise they had “T don’t give it up yet,” was the doggad as- | insisted. ‘I certainly have not seen you until | not counted on. ’ surance; ‘I mean to have that little beauty for | now, this evening. You arethinking of another Kinworth brushed them aside with his pow- mine, or know the reason, Of course 1 expect | occasion, surely.” erful arms, not striking them, and the next in- some harder work now, as she will be as shy as ‘‘ No matter whatever,” the detective waived, | stant he had his revolvers in band and his back a frightened bird.” __ | “since the point will never be questioned. As | against the wall. ‘‘Undoubtedly. By the way, who is she, if | I said, Iam surprised to find you here, I did ‘Hold on,” he cried, “there is no need of you do not mind telling?” hope to find these two gentleman here, however,” | trouble here unless you force it. I acted only in ‘IT had rather not disclose her identity, doctor. | and he turned for the first to Cambeth and | self-defense in knocking those two fellows down. Of course you will not be offended.” young Blackwall, ‘‘and IL have come here on | Stand back, gentlemen, till you understand this “a “Of course not. But, what about the fellow? |! purpose to give them a word of warning.” Te. ; Have you a rival in him?” | The two rascals turned a shade pale, and be- ‘* But we don’t “low no disturbance in here,” ‘‘ Tt will be a wonder if I don’t have, now that | came uneasy. one of the ‘‘ bouncers” growled, ‘‘so you jest he has befriended her—now that he hasacted! ‘I want to give you both some words of | hand over them weepins or we'll have ter take as her champion.” warning and of advice as well,” he went on, ad- | ’em away frum ye, ou have got to git out o’ He had come near saying— ‘‘now that he | dressing them, ‘‘ You, Waldemar Blackwall, | here.” has befriended her twice,’ but he checked | if you know what is good for you, will shake The detective smiled. himself in time. That might have given the | the company of this man without delay, and ‘*T have no desire to make any disturbance,” | doctor a suspicion as to who she was, carry yourself a little more straight. "You have | he said, ‘ but you do not suppose that I would *¢ And of course you will want to put him out | been guilty of a Stute’s Prison offense this | sit with my hands folded while those fellows of the way—that is, get bim out of the field in | night, and you may consider yourself lucky pe ag me, do you? I am not built that way. i some manner,” the doctor suggested, — that it is not to be brought up against you. ow, if you want to stop the trouble, just take ‘JT would put him out of the way in earnest, | You need not fear arrest—neither of you, for | care of them and you will have no trouble with if Thad the chance,” the fellow uttered in a | that matter; but it is not because you do not | me.” vengeful hiss. deserve it,” ‘““That ain’t the thing!” the other bouncer | ‘* Love is a desperate disease,” said the doctor, The detective was s — in low tones, so | chimed in. ‘It was you that made the fuss, | smiling, ‘‘and it sometimes requires desperate | that no one outside of their little group might | and it is you that must git out. Now put them treatment. Were it my case I think I would | hear, things right up afore we git at ye.” take prompt steps toward nipping that fellow’s Young Blackwall’s face was burning red now, By this time Gonsalvo and Cambeth were chances right in the bud.” but that of Cambeth was decidedly white. upon their feet, and the attention of the whole As he said this he was thinkiug of Miss Par- “As for you, Dugald Cambeth—if that is | room was upon the detective and them. milye, as he remembered that Kinworth had | your name,” the detective went on, turning to The superintendent of the place, too, came already befriended her, him, ‘‘you can consider yourself even more | forward. : ‘* We are in the same boat toa certain extent,” | lucky. If that lady were to have you arrested “* What is all this about?” he demanded. ‘‘ We he added, on the charge of abduction, and appeared | allow po such work in bere, young man,” ad- ‘‘ How is that?” inquired Cambeth, though he | against you, it would go even harder with you. | dressing the detective; “ put up those weapons gyuessed what was pean. This is the second time that I have been for- | immediately.” ‘Why, it is no secret that I am as good as en- | tunate enough to be on hand to protect ber, and | ‘“‘I will do so, if you will see that I am not set gazed to a certain young lady of this town, and | I warn you that it must be the last. Interfere | upon,” agreed Kinworth, in a calm and easy chis fellow Kinworth has already done her a | with Miss Parmilye again at your peril!” tone, service that she will not easily or soon wey The rascal looked as though ready to faint, “Well, put ’em up.” . especially as he is so deuced good-looking. Not | This was what he bad dreaded—the mention of The revolvers disappeared instantly, and the that I would think anything of it, you know, | the young Jady’s name in the presence of Gon- | detective’s arms were folded. Mp but my own hook isn’t any too well caught.” Oo sooner were the weapons out of sight, Young Blackwall gave Cambeth a sly nudge. ‘* How will it do for us to join forces against him, and give him a ticket-of-leave?” suggested Cambeth, ‘ ‘‘ How is it to be done? Where can we induce him to go to, and how?” the doctor questioned, pretending not to know anything of the inner meaning of the fellow’s words, ‘‘ Where can he be induced to go to?” Cambeth repeated; ‘‘ why, to the great and unknown Hence, of course.” ‘Oh! Well, I’d rather be counted out of such a serious game as that. It is a little beyond my line of practice, you know.” ** Yes; but a little of tg poison—” They were talking in low tones, but the doctor interrupted to caution: ‘You had better be careful what you say. Walls have ears. No, I could not do anything for you in that line, if you were determined to do it, though, I might tell you of a certain per- son who would help you out, that is if you are prepared to come down handsomely,” ‘“ Who is it?” Cambeth asked. ‘It will dono barm to know such a person, that is sure,” ‘* His name is—” The name and address were given in a guarded whisper. ‘¢ Thanks,” said Cambeth, “‘I may have occa- sion to visit him for help in some way, if not for that purpose.” “You will find him a handy man. I do not mind telling you that he supplies me with a sub- ject now and then.” ‘‘Ho! that is how you come to know him, eh? I might mention your name by way of intro- duction.” - ‘Tt would do no harm; but you want to bear in mind that I take no abe in any such work as you have suggested. You want to leave my name out of that,” ‘* Oh, that is understood.” The doctor was playing adeep game. If he could edge Cambeth on to kill the detective, it would bea good stroke of work for him, and Mr. Blackwall] could not hold him responsible. It would clear the way, and their insurance scheme would bowl along merrily, Little incidents sometinies turn the tide of affairs. ; While they were talking, the main door of the salon opened and the Pacific Slope Detective walked in, He looked around, and seeing the doctor, Cambeth and young Blackwall, crossed over to where they sat. ‘“We meet again in the same evening, it seems, Aoctdes” Wee ted when he came up. **T did not expect to find you here.” vo. ** Miss Parmilye!” the doctor exclaimed; ‘‘ do you mean to say that it was she that he tried to abduct.” “That be did abduct—yes,” Kinworth af- firmed, ‘* And while I am about it,” he added, “‘T may as well add a word for your benefit, too: You told me that the lady in question was as good as engaged to you. You told me a lie, On the contrary she holds you in actual dislike. Knowing what I know and what she does not know, I warn you to cease your attentions there at once.” Dr. Gonsalvo almost gasped for breath. Not a word had been spoken loud enough to draw attention, and on many eyes were upon the group. It could be seen that something was wrong. Thered face of young Blackwall, the blanched countenance of Cambeth, and now the demon-like expression on the doctor’s face— As for the latter, he wanted to tear both Cam- beth and the detective limb-from trunk. ‘“"WVh-what do you mean?’ he demanded sharply. ‘* By what right do you set yourself up as that lady’s champion? By heavens, sir, you had better have a care, or you may have cause to regret it!” This was in a louder tone, and those around saw that there was indeed bad blood rising. * You will find that I have a deeper interest in that lady than you are aware of,” the detec- tive returned in his same quiet, calm tone, ** And you will find that if you interfere with me and my business,” the doctor grated, ‘‘ that it will be the worse for you. You will find yourself in a worse fix than you were—” : ‘This evening, eh?’ the detective finished, ‘You might as well say it out. But there is no need for ascene here. You have heard ee words, and you had better heed them, I will go, for 1 see that your looks, words and ac- tions are drawing attention.” As he said this the detective rose to go, but ere he had quite got te his feet he received a heavy blow in the shoulder from Cambeth. It pole He nes and unlooked-for, and Kinworth stag- gered back. Cambeth had considered well his action. He knew that he would bave the support of Gon- salvo for the time being, even though he might be called to account by him later on, He was not mistaken, No sooner did the doc- tor take in the situation than he aimed another blow, Cambeth following instantly with a third, But their blows fell short of the mark, and in the same instant both men went gracefully over upon their backs, the fists of Lightning-Flash having been planted with telling force upon their breasts, though, than the two peacemakers of the den sprung forward, and the superintendent did not interfere to stop them. He did not keep the word he had tacitly given. Instead, he smiled as though gloating over a point so easily ained. But his smile wes of short duration. The de- tetctive’s arms unfolded, and the cocked re- vovers were again in his hands, The two bouncers were brought up with the weapons staring them in the face at close range, and they fel) back as though they had been shot, ‘* What do you mean by such work as that?” demanded the superintendent in hot rage, ‘* That is the way I deal with men who do not keep their word,” was the cool nse, “IT inferred that _ would see that I was not set upon while this affair was being explained, but no sooner did my weapons disappear than your men were at my throat. Now you will stand back, all of you.” Dr. Gonsalvo looked upon the young detective with something of fear. He bad seen revolvers. handled, but never as this man handled them. They simply appeared and disappeared, as though by the most wonderful sleight-of-band. Others looked upon bim with admiration, Uis very coolness won their regard and respect, ‘* You had better bear what the young man has to say for himself, Van,” one man observed, speaking to the superintendent. ‘Well, what have you got to say?” was the surly demand. “T bave ron this to say,” spoke Kinworth, ‘* that 1 do not desire trouble any more than you do, and will not make any unless I bave to doso to defend myself, In that case you may be sure there will be trouble for somebody, Iam not a braggart, but mean pure business, Those two men struck at me and I struck back. Iam in the habit of doing that.” ‘* Why did they strike you?” the superintend- ent asked. “They can best answer that question, sir.” ** We attempted to punish him for bis sults,” explained Doctor Gonsalvo, “I demand that he be turned out of this room immediately. If not, then I will never enter it again,” ** Nor I,” seconded young Blackwall. The superintendent had but one choice, and that was to get the detective away asspeedily as possible. He was a stranger, and it would never do to permit him to drive away regular fre- quenters. " ““T must thd! oy you to go quietlv away,” the superintendent announced. ‘‘You are a stranger to me, while these gentlemen are well known. Your quarrel with them is nothing to me, but it must not be carried on here,” “Again? the doctor interrogated with a CHAPTER XXXITTI. He spoke now ina comparatively civil man- well-feigned manner of surprise; ‘T am not MRS. MILBURN MISSING. ner. aware that we have met before this evening,’ Now the Danaé’s Donjon, like other placesof | ‘‘I am perfectly willing to do that,” agreed | ¢ wa Nd 4 es . 7 hi ys £5 OMmic 900 cS