Beadle's Dime Library No. 628 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

‘Yes, it really seems to be almost heyond be- lief!” the woman exclaimed, ‘‘How can it be possible that any one could come to such a con- clusion? There is not the least bit of proof to go.upon.”: 5. ‘‘Oh, no, it is all pure conjecture, and it goes to show that the detective, whoever he is, must be a most remarkable man,” ‘‘ Have you any idea as to who it is?” * Yes, I think Ihave. Ido not believe that there is but one man in the country who could form such a theory upon such unsubstuntial grounds and that is the bloodhound who is call- ed Joe Phenix.” ‘ ‘“Of course, being a stranger here, and not knowing one detective from another, it is not possible for me to form any opinion about the matter,” ‘I have heard this detective spoken of as be- ing a regular demon on the scent by men who have been hunted down by him,” the English- man observed, in a gloomy way. ‘‘ Judging by this disclosure he is indeed a man to be feared!” the woman remarked, ‘The revelation took meso completaly by sur- prise that for a moment I did not know what to say, and yet 1am a man who has always prided himself upon his self-possession,” ‘¢*T do not wonder at it, for I was so astounded that if I had been face-to-face with the man I surely could not have helped showing my confu- s10n, ‘‘ It was so entirely unexpected!” the English- man declared. ‘‘ Everything was going on so nicely, and I fancied from the way the man con- versed with you he was satisfied that everything was all right, and I was congratulating myself upon the fact that the way was clear for us to seize the prize when this disclosure was made.” ‘** Yes, but he certainly did not seem to place any credence in the theory,” Mrs, Engleburt ob- served, thoughtfully. ‘‘ And how strange it seems, too, when you come to think about it, that he should have made the disclosure!” ‘* Ah, the fellow is a deep rogue!” the other declared, with a heavy frown. ‘“‘ At first I was deceived into the belief that he was a mild-man- nered old fellow, who might be shrewd enough when it came to dry law matters, but was sadly out of place when set to examine into the merits of such a case as this one.” ‘*That is exactly the opinion that I formed!” the woman declared, ‘* But 1 have changed my mind, though!” the Englishman exclaimed, ‘“The man Is no pottering old fossil of a law- yer, but a shrewd, sharp man of the world, and ue made the disclosure in order to let us see that he was up to our game.” ‘* Yes, bnt was not that a mistake?’ the woman asked, thougbtfully. ‘‘It seems to me that it would have been the better policy for him to have ng ds the knowledge to himself.’ ‘Well, I don’t know; it is hard to decide a point like that,” the other replied with a doubt- ful shake of the head, e ‘*Tt may be that it was his idea that if he warned us that our game was suspected wo would become alarmed and afraid to keep on,” ‘* But it is not possible for him to prove that there is any truth in this theory, His state- ment must be backed by evidence! It is one thing to make an assertion, but quite another to prove that the assertion is the truth!” Mrs, Engleburt declared, ‘* And now that we are on our guard, it seems to me that it will be ever so much more difficult for him to procure p/oof that there is a conspiracy.” ‘* Tt would seem so, but I am satisfied that this fellow is playing a deep game, and there is no telling what scheme he may have on foot,” Mr, Rochester observed, thoughtfully. ‘“‘ Tt is my idea, you know, that this man was no lawyer but a detective in disguise,” “Do you think so?” Mrs. Engleburt inquired, evidently astonished by the supposition, ‘*T know that the idea is an odd one but I be- lieve that it is correct, all the same!” the Englisman declared. ‘** The fellow plays the part to the life too, and I will admit that there isn’t anything about him to lead to the supposition that ho is anything but what he claims to be, excepting that be has rather overdone the thing; he was too easy, too good-natured ; a genuine lawyer pursuing such an investigation would not have been apt to be so pleasant.” — ‘* Yes, I believe that you are right,” the wo- man remarked, slowly. ‘‘ His manner was cal- culated to lull us into the belief that his report would be such a favorable one that we need ex- 2ct no more trouble.” “Exactly, and his disclosure as to the detec- tive’s idea about the conspiracy was designed to show us that ke did not place any faith in the surmise.” “Yes, but like many another able actor he overdid his part, and so allowed us to get an idea as to the truth!” Mrs. Engleburt ex- claimed. ‘* His frankness has put me on my guard, and now if the fellow succeeds in trapping me he will be much smarter than I think he is!” the Englishman declared in a tone of conviction, ‘**But isnot every point so covered that it Joe Phenix’s Combine. discovery?’ the woman asked, an anxious look upon her face, ‘That is my belief, still one cannot always be certain about such a matter,” the other answer- ed in a reflective way. ‘The moment the suspicion entered my mind that he was a detective in disguise I hurriedly ran over all the points in my mind, eager to sce if there was any weak spot anywhere, but as far as I can see there is not,” ‘‘T donot think there is, scheme too carefully.” ‘‘ His game now will be to cable to England with the idea of finding out all he can in regard to both of us.” ‘* Yes, I suppose so,” ‘“*He did not attempt to cross-examine me in regard to my past career, but that will come in good time. I presume he was afraid to attempt to doso now for fear of exciting my suspicions,” ‘* He questioned me closely enough though,” the woman observed, ‘‘T am aware of the fact; none of the conver- sation that passed between you two escaped me,” Rochester remarked, ‘“‘I had the door slightly open so I could overhear every word,’” ‘* Well, suppose that the man is a spy, as you suspect—suppose he does cable to England—he will put himself in communication with the de- tectives at Scotland Yard, I presume,” ‘* Yes, that will be his game,” ‘What can he find out about me if he does?” Mrs, Engleburt exclaimed in a defiant manner, ‘*Not a thing beyond what you yourself told him!” the other replied, ‘*T was an actress, and not a very good one; my parents lived and died exactly as I describ- ed, and I defy the keenest-eyed detective to find out any thing crooked in my life.” ‘And if the fellow has the luck to get on my track, all he will be able to find out is that one George Rochester, who came originally from the town of Stockton-on-Tees, and was for some time a clerk in the banking office of Lambeth & Son, was rather inclined to be fast, to specu- late in sure tips on dark horses, and indulge in card and billiard playing, and in these uncertain pursuits he was so fortunate as to be able to give up his clerkship and set up for a gentleman of leisure. Nothing out of the way in that, I am sure!” **Wecan afford to laugh then at tho efforts of this bloodhound to defeat our gume!” the woman declared, but there was an anxious ring in her voice as she spoke. ‘* Well, 1t looks as if every point was care- fully guarded, but we must not allow ourselves to be lulled into a false sense of security,” the Englishman announced in a thoughtful way, ** Ob, no! we must be on the watch, of course, for asthe French say, ‘ It is the unexpected that always happens.’ ” ‘* Yes, and with a patient and tireless worker of this kind on the track there is no telling what may happen. ‘*T have a suspicion that this pretended law- yer is Joe Phenix in person,” The woman looked surprised. ‘* Do you think so?” ‘Yes; [am acquainted with Joe Phenix, you know. He once spoilt a little game that I was You planned the working; caught me dead to rights, as these. bloodhounds say, and though he 1s so carefully disguised that 1 was not stip to recognize him, yet there isn’t anything strange about that, for e has the reputation of being able to disguise himself so completely that his most intimate ac- quaintance would be at fault in detecting that he was not a stranger,” ‘‘ A dangerous man, indeed!” the woman de- clared. ‘* Yes, I think so, and although at present I am not uble to see what barm he can possibly do, yet it is not pleasant to know that there is a loodhound of this kind on the watch, eager for an opportunity to do mischief.” ‘* Indeed it is enough to make one anxious!” Mrs, Engleburt declared, ‘*Tbat is my idea, and from the fact that this fellow has been employed it shows that young Engleburt is not inclined to give up the money without a struggle.” ‘** And we were congratulating ourselves that: we were uot going to have any trouble about the matter,” ‘I know it, but now I see that it was Hngle- burt’s game to make us think in that way while the detective did his best to find some weak point in our chain of evidence,” ‘‘Tt was a cunning trick!” the woman de- clared, an Fil. ‘¢ Yes; Engleburt himself, of course, was not up to a game of the kind. He hasn’t sense enough to contrive anything of the sort, but if he hasn’t got the brains he has the money to pay other people to think for him, and he was wise enough to put the case in the hands of the best man be could get, which was this Joe Phenix evidently, and by the detective’s advice he has been acting.” “Tt was a lucky thing for ns that you sus- pected the lawyer was a detective in disguise,” Mrs, Engleburt remarked, ‘*’'Yes, or the fellow might have succeeded in 17 on our guard, and I fancy that it will be a dif- ficult matter for him to catchus,” — . ‘*Tt is extremely unpleasant though to know that there is a vigilant and persevering foe con- tinually on our track,” the woman observed, thoughtfully, “You are right! To be tracked by a blood- hound, ever on the watch, isextremely disagree- able, and I think we had better follow the plan that the fugitive slaves used to pursue when they discovered that they were trailed by a dog.” ** And what was that?” *¢ They laid in wait for the brute and killed him!” the Englishman declared, with an ugly scowl, The woman pondered over the suggestion for a few moments before she spoke, her face dark and gloomy. “Tf this detective is as able a man as you ap- pear to think him, it will not be an easy task,” she suggested, **T am aware of that; I am not underrating the difficulties of the job,” he replied. ‘ That is not my style, you know. I believe that it is always the wisest course to think that your opponent will turn cut to be better than you think him instead of being under the mark.” ‘*Oh, there is no doubt about the matter!” Mrs. Engleburt declared in a tone of convic- tion, ‘“‘And being such an extra good man do you think that it will be possible to get at him?” ‘‘Why not? He is only mortal, you know! As good men as he is have met their doom at the hands of men whom they hac pursued until in desperation the game turned and destroyed the hunter! ‘* As far as I can see it is much the best thing to be done at the present state of affairs,” the Englishman continued. ‘yy While he lives he is a continual menace to ** Yes, yes, that is surely the truth!” the wo- man exclaimed. ‘* His death renders the success of our plans certain, He is the only obstacle which stands between us and the rich prize which is almost within our grasp, ‘* Mark you! Ido notintend to perform this work myself. I can easily find some desperate fellows in a big city like New York who for a hundred dollars would be willing to murder al- most anybody.” ‘* T suppose that there are such wretches in the world,” Mrs, Engleburt said with a shiver, for hardened aa she was the thought of a crime like this terrified ber. ‘* Oh, yes, and I will make it my business to ut them on the track of this spy. He shall ave a dose of his own medicine!” the English- man declared with a malignant smile, CHAPTER XX, A TRANSPLANT, THE Englishman was one who believed in acting promptly, and so he at once proceeded to et to work to carry out the scheme which he ad formed. But as he had an idea that he would be ‘** shadowed,” be acted with the utmost caution. In order to put himself in communication with the men who would be likely to take such a job as the cota hhed } of the detective would be, it was necessary for him to visit the low dens where such fellows could be found, but it was of the utmost importance that the detective should not be aware of the movement. Rochester proceeded with extreme caution, Ina band-bag he packed a common suit of clothes, a flannel shirt and an ugly round hat, much the worse for wear. Then, about five o’clock in the afternoon, he went forth. : He was satisfied that his movements would be watched, and so be took particular pains to see if he could spot the spy. Careful and cunning as he was, though, he failed in this endeavor. If there was a shadow on bis track, the man performed his task so well that the Englishman was not able to discover him. ‘‘It is very strange,” Rochester muttered, quite annoyed at his want of success, ‘‘] don’t understand it at all. I did not believe that it was possible that any one could play the spy upon me without my being able to detect the fellow. ‘*Can it be possible that I am not shadowed, after all? ‘‘“My mind would be much easier if I could bring myself to believe that such was the fact, but I doubt its being the truth,” Although in a quandary in regard to this matter, the Englishman proceeded as though he was sure of the fact that he was being shad- owed. “Tt is my game, though, to act as if I hadn’t any suspicion in regard to the matter,” he murmured, ‘* For a man is not likely to think aspy ison his track unless he is engaged in some crooked work, and it is my game just now to appear as though there wasn’t anything that I desired to conceal.” ; avill not be be possible for any one to make a ! getting us into a trap, but, asitis, we are now Acting on this idea the Englishman walked to (E| 0)(0)@) e€oim gs) ete)