Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 580 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

eg ee >’, ‘on ® Pil nal % 4 4, Paap a a Pe Shadowing a Shadow. be Sr i Hg | st 3 _ a - p Ate aS * "te ‘ —r- e { Ae | ‘ ; Net sa A a i! gt. i, ~ - : - Sis ‘ a . t . **T shall not bein condition to drink with you when | send for you a week from to-night.” ‘*T should say not.” The doctor rose and touched a bell, and ina few moments his colored man-servant ap- peared, ‘* A bottle of the best wine in the house, Tom, and glasses,” the doctor directed. The darky ducked his bead ani disappeared, and in a little time the wine was served in the proper manner. ‘* Well, Mr. Parmilye, bere is to your health,” said the doctor, when the glasses had been filled and the servant had retired, ‘‘ 1 cannot say— And to your long life,” be added, ‘*No, not under the present circumstances,” responded Mr, Parmilye. ‘“‘ Allow me, bhow- ever, to drink to your health, long life and fu- ture happiness, ay you have the success you deserve in winning my daughter’s hand, when I am gone, and may you gee ot become my suc- cessor in the house of Blackwall, Parmilye & ‘*Thank you, sir, I will drink to that with all my heart.” hey drained their glasses, and the doctor filled them again. ‘* By the way,” he observed, ‘“‘ you have ar- rane that with your partner, I suppose?” ‘* Yes, it is all arranged,” was the assurance. “And Mr. Blackwa to me, eh?” ** Yes, he will propose it to you.” Once more they found cause for merriment. ‘* When may I look for that?” the doctor pres- ently asked, ** When you shall have married my daughter, say about a year after my death. e will pro- pose to you that you take my place in the busi- ness, and the sign will then be altered to read Blackwall & Gonsalvo,” ** Not a bad combination of names,” ‘* Not by any means, Here is to the prosperi- ty of the firm; drink to it with me.” ** With pleasure, sir.” Again the glasses were drained, and soon the bottle was empty. Some further conversation followed, and “a a little time the old visitor rose to take his eave, ** Remember,” he ary at parting, ‘‘ one week from this night I die, and by your band.” ‘*T shall not fail you,” the doctor answered. CHAPTER IV. CARRYING OUT THE SCHEME, THE house of Blackwall, Parmilye & Co, was well known, and was considered one of the substantial private banking establishments of the city. It was in the financial quarter of the town, in the neighborhood of Wall street. Mr. Blackwall was the head of the firm, and was at his office every day when not out of town, Mr. Parmilye was not so important a person in the eyes of the head clerk and the other employees, He was at the office only oc- casionally, and then only for an hour or so at a time. As for the “company” part of the con- cern, none of the employees knew anythin about him—or them, unless possibly the hea clerk did. When Mr, Blackwall had occasion to be away for a day or longer, then Mr, Parmilye, if in the city, was more attentive at the office, and the clerks bad long since found that he could hold the reins of business with as firm a hand as his partner. The head clerk was a man named Jason Grif- fit. He was about fifty years of age, and was looked upon as knowing the affairs of the house as well as the partners themselves, or better. He was a little man, bald and wrinkled, and one who had very little to say to any ‘ On the morning following the night on which took place the interview set forth in the previ- ous chapter, the bank was opened promptly at the u hour. The head clerk had never been known to be one minute late on any occasion. He was a very pink of promptness, And the other employees were allowed but very little grace. If they were ever more than a certain number of minutes late, Mr. Griffit never failed toreport the circumstance to Mr. Blackwall. | On this morning Mr. Blackwall put in an ap- pearance a little earlier than his usual time, He said a * -morning” as he passed through the m room of the bank to his rivate office, and motioned the head clerk to ollow him. Mr. Blackwall was a man whose age might have been queens’ at anything between fifty and sixty. He had close-cropped iron-gray hair, was clean-sha ved, and had white and even teeth with a little filling of gold in them here and there. He was well , worea silk hat, and car- ried himself very erect, The head clerk followed him into the office, and stood to ag mee by while he removed his oe and coat, donned his office coat, and sat own, ‘* Griffit.” the banker then said, ‘‘I start at noon for New Orleans.” will make the proposal] | head clerk suggested that a NNN ee ‘‘ And Mr. Parmilye will take charge of things here, as usual, during my absence,” ‘* Yes, sir,” the same as before. “You understand that be will have full con- trol, that what he does or directs will be the same as though done by myself. I shall agree in whatever he may do, so you are to obey him in all things without question.” "Von ar,” ‘* You will keep an eye open to business none the less, however, and you will report to me on | my return all transactions of any importance that may have taken place.” * vee, or” ‘Tt is not likely that he will come to the office this afternoon, though he may. To-morrow, however, and thereafter, he will no doubt be here quite regularly.” . ‘* Yes, sir.” **'You must render him all the assistance you can, for he cannot be expected to understand the business as you and I understand it, Griffit.” Yes, sir.” “That is all for the present. If I think of anything further, I will apprise you before I start.” ‘* Yes, sir;” and with a respectful little inclina- tion of the bead, Mr, Griffit went out. In a little time Mr, Blackwall called to him, ‘* Griffit,” be said, when the head clerk ap- peared, ‘‘I came away from the bouse without my gripsack. It isalready packed and standing in the hall. Please to telephone for it and bave James bring it down, ‘Then go to the Astor House and buy a ticket for New Orleans. Here is the money.” ‘7 e8,: sr.” In about twenty minutes the bead clerk re- turned with the ticket, and, some time later, a cclored servant came into the office with tbe for- gotten gripsack, At half-past eleven Mr. Blackwall started, He walked down to the Cortlandt Street Ferry, crossed over to Jersey City, and there took the noon train on the Pennsylvania Railroad, Mr. Parmilye did not put in an appearance at the bank that afternoon, but on the next morn- ing he was on hand, though somewhat later than Mr. Blackwall’s hour. His appearance was the same as it has been described, He entered the bank with a slow but not tot- tering step, walking a little stoop-shouldered, and with his hands behind him. He nodded a greeting to all, and entered the office. There he removed his bat, and laid it on the floor at the side of his chair. He was ready for business, Presently he tapped a bell that stood on the table, and the head clerk came in, ‘* Mr. Griffit,” he said, ** will you please have one of your young men come in here and lower these curtains about half-way? The light is much stronger than [ am used to.” ‘*T can do that sir,” answered the head clerk, d the curtains were soon arranged to Mr. armilye’s satisfaction. ‘‘Thank you for the trouble,” the old gentle- man repaid. ‘Can you spare a little time Mr, Griffit ‘* Yes, sir.” ** Sit down, then, and give us a little insight into matters. Blackwall went off rather sud- sours and I am not posted as well as I ought to The head clerk sat down, and Mr. Parmilye asked a great a questions, all of which were gaps a answered, ‘There, that will do, I guess,” Mr. Parmilye finally decided, ‘*l am keeping you from your A oe if I want to know anything more I will call you. “ Yes, sir.” Many times during the day the head clerk was called in to answer some question concern- ing the routine of the business, as Mr. Parmilye wanted to be exact in every thing he did, and wanted to follow as closely as ible Mr. Blackwall’s manner of conducting the affairs of the office. The work that passed through Mr. Parmilye’s hands, however, was faultless in a business light, and Mr, Blackwall would have found it hard to have improved upon it. Mr. Parmilye left the office earlier than his partner’s hour, but the business of the day was ae over and there was nothing to detain him onger. Next day he had less questions to ask of the head clerk, and after that he was master of the situation and held the reins with a strong hand. One afternoon, when he had remained later than usual, the little bell in his office rung out several times in succession, sharply. The head clerk almost fell off his stool in his haste to respond, When he entered the office he found Mr. Par- milye leaning back in his chair, his hands 8 over his heart, and he panting for reath. ‘* Are you ill? he cried. ‘‘Shall I send for a doctor?” ‘* Get me—a lit—a little water,” Mr. Parmilye e water was forthcomin , and again the octor should be ‘* Yes, sir,” the head clerk passively observed. sent for. / ~ =) too, and would occasionally be away for weeks - eee ee ele, TT _ oe ee - ™ | ‘N—no, not yet,” the old gentleman gasped: | “send fora carriage and have me tak—taken | home as soon—as soon as you can,” | The head clerk quickly dispatched the bank | runner for a carriage, and returned immediate- | ly to the private office, anxious to do whatever | he could, But there was nothing Mr, Parmilye wanted dene. All that he seemed to care for was to get , home, Jn a very short time the carriage was at band, and Mr. Parmilye was assisted into it, one of the clerks of the bank getting in with him, and he was driven rapidly homeward. At the last moment he had requested the head clerk to telephone for Dr. Gonsalvo, giving bim his address, and as soon as the carriage had started, the head clerk had carried out his in- structions. Mr. Parmilye lived on a quiet up-town street. He was a widower, and had only one child—a daughter. She was at present in Philadelpbia. visiting some friends, The house was managed by a housekeeper. He had always been a very centric man, e would not sleep in his bome on ap average of more than two or three nigbts ina month. He was something of a traveler, culiar and ec- at a time. It was understood that he bad crossed the ocean something like thirty times, and that he had been three times around the world, Such was his own account of himself, He had a room in a building down-town,. where he had a library, and it was understood that he spent a great deal of his time there, when in the city. He had a bed in the room, and it was known that he slept there occasionally at least. | When the carriage reached his residence it was found that Dr. Gonsalvo was already there, and he and the bank clerk carried him into the house and up to his room. ‘What do you think of him, sir?” the clerk asked, aside, when the doctor had felt of the old gentleman’s heart. The doctor’s face was serious, ‘* His relatives had better be notified,” he an- swered, ‘* He will not live many hours.” ‘¢T will tell Mr. Griffit as soon as I return,’ said the clerk. Just then it was seen that the old gentleman wanted to say something, and the doctor bent over him. ‘* What is it?” he asked. ; “ 'Tell—tell the young man to—to have Mr. Griffit telegraph at once for Mr, Blackwall.” The doctor repeated what he bad said, and the clerk bastened away to carry out the instruc- tions. No sooner was he gone than Mr. Parmilye sat up and smiled, He looked no more ill than he bad on the previous evening. ‘* How do I play the part?” he asked, ‘‘ Fine,” ejaculated the doctor in a low tone. ‘‘ Keep it up just the same and you will deceive them all.” ‘*Good. Now see to it that my daughter is sent for, and every thing else carried out accord- ing to programme.” ‘**T will do so, sir.” ‘* Have you the poison ready ?” ‘Yes, it is all ready, Within balf an hour after the arrival of your daughter you will be adead man, Hist! I hear steps. Your house- keeper is coming.” Mr. Parmilye fell back again as ill as he had been before. CHAPTER V. AN UNLOOKED FOR ADVENTURE. ‘*Srr, will you please to protect me from the disagreeable attentions of this ruffian until I can claim the protection of the policeman on the other side Prentiss Kinworth looked up in great sur- prise. It was evening, and the passengers of an in- coming train on the Sop Sade Railroad were transferring themselves from the cars to the ferry-boats at Jersey City. Among the passengers was Detective Kin- worth, about at the end of his long and tiresome journey. He bad just taken his seat in the dies’ cabin of the Cortlandt-street boat, when a lady who bad entered just behind him stepped up close to him and, in a low but excited tone, uttered the words quoted. She was handsome, apparently not over twenty-four or five years of age, and was richly and well dressed he was a brunette, a little above the average of her sex in height, and her form was perfect, She had jetty hair and eyes, and the flush that was now upon her velvety cheeks added a new charm to her beauty. Close behind her came a man who at first lance looked to be at least thirty-five, —— @ was perbaps some years younger actually. He was tall, wate a silk hat of the latest edict of Fashion, and considerably overdressed. He undoubtedly considered himself a thoroughbred swell, and desired to be mistaken for a gentle man: but he had withal a dissipated look that ke his true character. It was this man that the young lady indicated Eomicbooks. » % 4 ‘ pa’ a; ’ : " : aig e