Beadle's Dime Library No. 762: The Rounder Rogue in New York — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

,4 y e > : cognize him. This ‘his ear at the keyhole yonder, R, BY JACKSON KNOX,—" Old Hawk,” CHAPTER IL, OLD GRIP. A YOUNG lady, beautiful, blonde, richly dress- ed, and with a general air of wealth, intelligence and refinement, was wandering among a wilder- ness of office-doors and office signs in the upper part of a great building not far from Wall street and Broadway, New York. At last she came to a pause, with a little sigh of relief, before a door sign bearing this rather unique inscription: “ EpwaRD GRIPPON, (“ Old Grip,”) “* Private Detective.” “Come in,” said a soft, musical voice, in re- sponse to her knock. And, as she entered a modest office, its sole occupant, a peculiar-looking man, ross from a desk near the window, and offered her a chair. Could this soft-voiced, mild-eyed individual be the professional for whom she was in search? His peculiarity was a pallid, bawk-like face, that seemed to indicate for its possessor almost -any age from twenty-five to fifty. For the rest, he was athletic, unobtrusive and prepossessing, but altogether undetective-looking, according t the visitur’s preconceived impression, _ ** Perhaps I have made a mistake, sir?” she began, a little nervously. | ** Hardly, [ think,” with an encouraging air, “You must have read my sign-board before knocking,” ** 'Y-e-e8, sir; but are you Mr.—Mr. Old Grip, the celebrated detective?” ‘* At your service, miss, though I won’t an- swer for deserving the celebrity. **{ shouldn't have thought it, Dear me!” in a scarcely audible murmur, Then she accepted the proffered chair, the de- tective reseated himself at his desk, after a swift glance into the street below, **T am afraid I don’¢ often make a good first » impression,” said he, with a smile that made him look like an under-graduate. ‘‘ Perhaps it’s be- eause [ don’t look as grippy as is expected, What can I do for you, Miss Hardy?” ** You know my name, sir?” ia surprise, **T guess at it, from recognizing your family coach and pair in waiting. y memory is rather extensive, I may say photographic, for ' equipages, no less than for faces which being the case, Miss Hardy, you should have come to-day, on this sort of visit,in a cab that might bave saved you being followed’‘and watched, _ The young lady turned pale, and instinctively ipproached the window, when he pointed out a ushy-bearded, apparently careless individual on the opposite street-coraer, who was, never- theless, keeping an eye on the coach and pair drawn up at the building’s entrance, ' _ * It is Richards—my step-motber’s footman |” exclaimed the one lady, indignantly, ‘I re- 3 shameful!” Speak lower, then, as he may Jeg ge have ing that you desir eae supposing that you desire my service, miss?” | She had resumed her seat, with a noticeably hightened color’. _ © Yes, sir, that is what I am here for.” ~ “Tt isa family trouble?” ‘* Yes, sir.” -. “Give me a history of it, if you please, our come | Whether you employ me or not muntcs gum be ogg gabe in co Mia. tard After | minary hesitation is y | yi -s pee J her case, to wk ich the de- tective listened with a thoughtful air, that some- now seemed to make him look as old as by questioning you, 1 think,” said be, had come to a rather bewildered pause, “*T hope so, sir,” she replied. 7. . “ Your step-mother, the present Mrs, Wallace lardy, was married to your father—when?” “* Two years ago, in Paris,” Gi, | she L been a widow, the Lady Gladys . “T can get at the heart of this. ing ig | e “Yes, I have money of my own, or she Ait in she b harder with me than she does, a is, she has secretly binted to my father t | were best off in a [Ainatic Asylum.” 1 your brother?” & chief danger that brings me to you, n ke or fear her, and my | father is almost the only one not to see it,” *% Me tebe ts Bil 2 The Hbdeder 'Boow, in New York, he idley ?” Foe or she bad called herself on _ “ Neither you nor your brother, Leslie Hardy, |, in ** No—unfortunately !” or A infer, then, that you dislike _* No, I detest and fear her,” r: ‘Old Grip, the Detective. ‘*T understand. You think the lady an ad- venturess, with fictitious antecedents?” ‘‘l am sure of it!” eagerly, ‘* My desire is to prove it, and to rescue my father from her sor- cery is what brings me to ycu.” you in other ways?” **In every way, but always secretly,” ** But especially?” ; Miss Hardy colored, but went on bravely: ‘* There is a gentleman—he loves me. She is plotting to deprive me of him, no less than of my brotber.” . ‘**T understand, His name?” ** Herbert St, John.” a ee club man, ani a fine charac- ter! I know him, as I know your brother Les- lie, by reputation. Any other complication?” “Yes; my brother might be betrothed to Herbert’s sister — Mary St. John, my best friend,—but for this—this son |” ** Your step-motber is still young?” ‘* Under thirty+she confesses to twenty-six.” ** How shall I know her on sight?” ‘By her singular, Gy v-tke beauty, and superb presence. She is beautiful,” but has a disfigurement, thought to be an iadditional charm by many. It was caused by a burn in infancy, and gives a continual smiling or arch expression to one corner of her mouth,” ‘he detective gavea sight start; ‘“‘What! the beautiful lady who is so often thought to be flirting for that reason?” ‘*Tt must be the same; though it is her mis- fortune, and not her intention. I give her credit for that much,” ‘*The Fair Lady Who Smiles!’ said the detec- tive, half to himself, ‘‘ La Belle Dame Souriante _Mysterieuse! La Belle Sourciére Mysterieuse ! La Belle Dame des Souris Glacé !” :s ‘‘T sea you know something of my step- mother, Mr. Grippon.” ‘* Perhaps so; but why do you think so?” ° ‘*Those designations are the ones by which she has been known in the fashionable public. Club men, I am told, have come to allude to her by the first, as The Pair Lady Who Smiles, After her marriage to my father, we discovered that by the others, respectively, she was known in Paris—‘ The steriously Smiling Beauty,’ ‘The Mysterious Mouse-trap,’ and ‘The Beauty of the Frozen Smile.’” . The detective gravely bowed. **T shall unde if you wish it.” ** I do wish it.” ‘*Tell me just what you would have accom- plished?” . ‘* Protection for age against whatever in- jury may be de gn d for me; release of my bro- ther from a baleful fascination; restoration of my father to the hale and wholesome vigor that was his characteristic before he was so hopeless- ly immeshed in this serpent woman’s enchant- ment. All of which, 1 am sure, can be effected by exposing her as an adventuress of vicious antecedents.” The detective shrugged his shoulders slightly, | but with the odd youthtul iock coming back in- to his enigmatical face. ‘“‘T am at your service, Miss Hardy, As a first step, I must become acquainted with your family circle. Does not your step-mother givea masked ball to-morrow night?” | “e Yes,” “Have an invitation sent to this address:” He wrote on a card and handed if to her. ‘IT shall make my appearance as a Mephistopheles. Som thing may arise. Count on me, Miss J: ‘ a od ze f ans sat ou a retainer, sir?” eed money you will be asked 3,” with a glance out of the his street-corner. Pay he fellow. emai : el oe Miss Hardy took her departure, encouragéd and hopeful. a9 | } As she was driven away, the disguised man suddenly alert, was starting in pursuit when O Grip, who thad followed his fair client to the street without her knowledge, tapped him on the |“ Thiat will do, my man ” said tho detective, tisin of your further con am gett man—a eS y, beetle-browed and im- ‘nenteala muscular f Brw—-flarcely feokaioa the te Dn. * Out of my way—l’m ina hurry the growl- ed, in mingled anger and surprise. ‘‘I don’t know you! “But 1 may know you; and you'll not follow that coach another rod.” ‘*The deuce you say!” and, with a contemptu- ous look at his seemingly insignificant vis-a-vis: | Hands of, or you'll rae it!” With a lightning-like gesture the detective | mnatchet away the fellow’s bushy false beard and then suddenly closed in with him like a cat | There was a bricf struggle, anl they went rolling down the basement-steps cf a recertly ' ‘ 4 F i" ‘ ; nf > ‘ " * * 4 fet : 2 “ * f : « erie! We Se Oe aire tyahe sy: “The asylum biot apart, she is inimical to e your business, Miss Hardy, | ed vacated broker’s office, landing in the tiled ves- tibule with Oid Grip on top. One stroke, and the burly spy straightened himself out with a jerking tremor. ‘‘Get up!” commanded the detective, coolly rising himself. ) The fellow did so after a momentwith a crest- fallen but covertly murderous look. ‘Now, Mr. Romany Ralph, a few words more and 1 have done with you—for the pres- ent. “What! you do know me, then?” And Mrs. Wallace Hardy’s old English family | fodtman looked up uneasily. ** Just what I do, Rom.” ** How, when and where?” - No reply; save— ** Your sister, Mincing Meg?” ** What of her, curse you?” ‘* Ts she also in the service of My Lady of the Frozen Smile?” ‘* Richards ” put on a bewildered air. “‘ What are you talking about?” he growled. _*¢ You know, and you will answer, too!” ‘‘Ha! Don’t be too sure of that, Mr.—Mr. What’s-your-name.” **- You will answer.” ‘Why will 1?” Old Grip bent his hawk-like face closer, with & menacing glare, © ‘* Because,” and he erg geet something par- enthetically, ‘‘ otherwise | shal] hang you!’ Richards started, and for the first time he paled visibly. ** My sister is Mrs, Johnson now,” he answer- ed, sey ‘“and she’s my mistress’s lady’s ‘** That will do for the present, Romany Ralph, alias Richards,” Then, as the detective stepped to one side with an ironical smile, the fellow darted up the steps and disappeared, making a peculiar sign over his head as he did so. ‘*Whatcould that have meant?” thought the detective, cautiously following up the steps. But he was passed by one of the under-janitors of the building, who had just emerged from one of the rear basement offices. As this man set foot on the sidewalk, there was a whirling sound, a crash, and he fell dead, almost in the detective’s arms. é CHAPTER II, THE FROZEN SMILE, A METAL sign, apparently torn from its fast- enings high overhead by the strong wind pre- vailing at the time, had fallen upon the poor fellow with fatal effect. A crowd was quickly gathered, together with F policeman, who telegraphed for an ambu- a f nce, though the man was already past praying or. ‘*Poor Tommy!” commented the janitor of the building at last; ‘‘ be was a good man and a willing worker. Who'd have thought one of them insurance signs would ever have Leen blowed off so sudden?’ Another policeman had just come up, puffing and red in the face. ‘* Tt wasn’t blowed off!” he cried, indignantly. ‘““Tté was throwed off, and with murderous in- tent, at that!” The detective, who had maintained a somber and thoughtful silence, looked up with a start, ‘‘ How do you know that, Blake?” he demand- ed of the officer. ‘‘T saw the dirty trick from yonder corner,” replied the latter. ‘‘ The scoundrel gained the street, and made off Jike the wind, just after twisting off and flinging down the sign from the passage front just above. He stopped a second, thoagh to lock at the poor fellow whose death he caused, and there was a sort of 2 rror in his face, asif he might have mistaken but lost I gave chase, ‘was sorry for it. in the crowd about the Stock Ex- ' Pe : . been growing sterner, and a took had deepened in his th 2” he eskea. : ; all | could notice before he was ‘ | taking to shapers with me after him,” detective said nothing more, but returned to his office, the majority of the idlers looking after his retreating figure with a species of re- ‘spectful ‘That is Old Grip, the, great detective!” said one. Rin ‘That is so,” put in another, “and I’d hate to te his grip on me, if I'd been doing anything Tho dead body had by this time been carried away, and only a small knot remained, of whom the policeman, Blake, a veteran officer, was one, ; ‘* But his name is Grippon,’’ observed a third, ** Why do they call him Old Grip?” ‘* Because he’s a regular gripper, I suppose,” replied the first speaker, with a laugh. ‘*The say his detective experience would fill vo umes.” ‘* But he’s been Old Grip in many another profession than his present one,” observed the policeman, who chanced to be in a talkative | | thred hair anda freckled - comicbooks.com on, “toe ihe PA Bie ~ Py a é + 9 ala eho hg