Beadle's Dime Library No. 762: The Rounder Rogue in New York — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

. or me ee * hs —s ow Ho ote oe + ee we mk NS eS ee a . to 6 ke - - ~— ~—_ ——_—_"~s- SE - ‘es yd yf ISR: - wee, wre ae ee - ——— —e ~ 4 z * . P je 3" " ’ , -_ me His eyes glistened, he flushed through his crisp beard, he wrung his hands softly together, and for the moment seemed incapable of speech, Shoe had finished the refreshments, thrustin aside plate and glass, and her sparkling hand, which she had ungloved, rested upon his arm, as if unconsciously, ‘* You will retain my ring?” , ** Retain it? Upon my finger never, against my heart forever! Madame, you are peerless! Gladys!” in a hushed, apostrophizing tone. ‘*What a name!” ** Ah, you heard my husband address me*by a Christian name, J remember now.” he count ground his teeth, his hands clinch- ing copvulsively. ** What is it, dear friend?’ The jeweled hand somehow came to rest against one of his, “Is it that you do not like to think of me having a husband?” ‘** Ah, signorina! the thought of another pos- sessing you—”’ j He seized her hand, and pressed it to his lips. ‘* Stop, Signor Count! this—this is—” ** Wrong, presumptuous, distasteful to you?” ** Not at all, but—imprudent.” ** ‘here is yet another!” he murmured, with a jealous glare. ‘*To whom can you refer?” Before he could reply there was an approach- ing step, he quickly released her hand, and that other was before them. CHAPTER IX, MASKS AND FACES, ‘* Wat, Leslie! wearying of Miss St. John aud the dance so soon?” said Fae Hardy, sweet- "Phe intruder with difficulty concealed a jeal- ous scowl, ‘‘But my fair step-mother knows how to con- sole herself, at all events, he sneered, with a short bow of recognition for her companion. ‘*Of course, my dear boy; for could I help feeling a trifle faint after the affair in yonder?” With a slight shudder at the tragic nook, as she took the count’s arm and arose. This was said in a subtly propitiating tone, accompanied by a melting glance, that com- leted the detective’s secret disgust for her in- duetinstiate falseness, and still further excul- pated him in his own eyes from the otherwise unenviable double-part he was playing, to her deception and ultimate exposure. Even this fascinated youth, her own step-son, was not to be permitted an escape from her un- ean se lightly mollified, Leslie accompanied their ‘return to the ball-room. **T did not suspect your pretended evanish- ment from our shores as a mere ruse, count,” he remarked, ‘‘ until my sister asked me at the last moment to send you an invitation,” ** Ah, signor,” was the reply, *‘ how fortunate for me, then, that street-recognition of hers on «+ thesameday! However,I am to remain incog- nito for the present—political and other rea- tae sons.” ua) * Still, your unmasking with the rest to-night could hardly tend to the preservation of an in- » eognito,” | a oe ** Corpo di Bacchio, no! but could I resist the temptation of a bal-masque, and such a one as this?’ And the pseudo count struck his fore- head with so comically foreign an air that th young man with difficulty repressed a smile. Instantly bis scowl] returned, however, for the edge of a whirling waltz had by this time been reached while Gladys and the count had slipped eon into its vortex, with scarcely a nod of Pisin 4 Following them with his moody eyes, Leslie 5 leaned against the wall,a prey to gloomy reflec- tions, which even a gay recognition from Avice and Herbert St. John as they undulated past failed to dissipate. s ‘* What beastly witch’s glamour is come over me for the past Pascoe e wearily cogitated. | **Honor and common decency should warn me back, and time was when a single. smile or bright glance from Mary 8t. John was all of heavenly cme I desired. But now”—he passed his hand across his forehead with an in- ward groan—‘‘God in heaven! it seems as if I would go through fire or contest the seas for a + single side-long, blood-rousing look from my sown father’s beautiful young wife! just slipped he A Srey es young lady, who had sly from out the rhythmic him light — — ——_ ™ — - = —— ‘a ~ . > 5Euy..” 2 wt oo ailled _ . ‘ - ~ “ - ‘ . ~ - a> : > : ~~ - “= n" ~~ es _— . -_- =~ ~ a" > —_ ee * ° ' — — “ ". =% pe un =. er } = ” -- . ” <5 - 4 > ~ . _ - —_ - . ¥ ._ breathles yY dismissed her partner therein, tapped him | . “tp whtadhins - fy with her fan. + ~ * What! you as a wall-flower, and in such a ra _ scene?” she exclaimed with a gayety that was a little forced, A half- face, for it was Miss ‘ ‘Why, Mary, I was just thinking of you!” He blushed to think in what connection. *‘ Are you too tired to finish the waltz with me?” ‘Tired of the dance, and while the music throbs? Have you forgotten me of old?’ And then sbe was off with in theseductive swim, nae with a renewed color in her fair face, for, little ss ag: be may have deserved it, Mary St. John’s heart had long since been secretly given away to his unworthy keeping. | mri ae eS ty color came into the young man’s . John herself. ee ee ike ee a ee = abe ze ee” = es oP ¥ mrs. i! - ~ ae wee 4+ > yz ‘ i § | ” 1 + Pe, : | : ¢ ’ r : ut # » 3 . ~ iw f . = > .- ‘ = —s An a MB. -_ Old Grip, the Detec y ' soe oat 7 * r alae eae ;'«&* 4's f 7 - of i 0) died mS vs Shady. BA ae bd wy ** Am I to suppose that Leslie is that ‘ other’ you jealously alluded to, Signor Count?” Gladys es i yea args to her partner. ‘* Maldetto! what other could I mean?” was the ego Gladys gave her low, musical laugh, her eyes flashing into his as they slowly revolved in time with music’s voluptuous swell. ** Poor Leslie!” she murmured; ‘‘ he is so hope- lessly my slave, though I shall take care he is kept within proper bounds. But you shall have no cause to complain, Montalvo!” The count emitted a half-amorous, half-de- spairing little groan. ‘*How am I to know that there are not yet others?” he asked. Again she laughed, this time in keeping with the coquettishness of her ineffaceable half- smile. ‘* You are not to know anything about it,” she exclaimed, with beautiful effrontery. ‘‘ You are simply and blindly to—to rejoice in what the gods may send in your own case.” Grippon’s sense of disgust and hatred for the woman’s recklessness almost overcame his di- plomacy. ‘* Aud your husband?” he burst out; ‘‘ what of him?” ‘* What, my doating lord, my money-maker, my purse-holder? Ah, count, you do not know me,” with a light snap of her fingers, ‘‘1 have him secure—manacled and chained beyond wis- dom and beyond escape!” A sense of suffocation, as if the perfume of her beauteous presence were a stifling air, came over the disguised detective. ‘* The music is initslast agonies,” he murmur- ed, ‘‘and perhaps I shall not see you again to- night. A prior engagement.” ‘* But you will communicate with me, and soon, soon? Promise me that, count!” ‘* Yes, yes! what think you I am made of?’ ‘* But swear it!” The dance was at its last flurry. ‘* Gladys Hardy, I swear that henceforth you shall know enough and more than enough of me, until you fairly tremble and grow faint at the thought of my continued attentions!” With this whispered and rather enigmatical assurance, be landed her with a parting bow in, the midst of her awaiting satellites, and was gone—not, however, without catching a glance of encouraging significance from demure Eleanor Williams, alias Boston Nell. ‘*One moment, count!” appealed a low voice, as he was slipping away through the crowd. It was from Avice Hardy, who had just sunk into a seat, after dismissing her lover-partner for the nonce, ‘* T must speak with you alone,” she whisper- ed, with ill-concealed agitation, as he gave her his arm. ‘The garden ought to be deserted now, and [ doubt if the night-air is over chill.” He quickly procured her a wrap, and they managed to pass unperceived into the garden, which fulfilled her prediction of being both de-. serted, with not too chill an air, and, still bet- ter, with more than half the gay interspersing lanterns burned out, which © the seclusion yet more desirable. ‘Tt must be our parting interview for the night, Miss Hardy,” said the detective, with the deepest respect, ‘* but I am glad Ip sought it. bog are jin the swim, you and |, with our af- air. ‘*Tt encourages me to know it. And your half-anticipated sensation was on hand. Ah, that man’s strange death!” | ‘““ A tragedy, truly, yr a but an eae in the comedy of Diamond cut Diamond that is un- der way.” ‘* What do you mean?” ; ! ‘*That the seeming tramp’s strange death is the black pivot upon which our nd denoue- ment—the exposure and humiliation of our ad- venturess—must ultimately turn.” , ‘* You cannot be more explicit?” ‘© Not now.” ‘* But those terrible dying words! They were undoubtedly accusatory, and of her.” ** Undoubtedly.” ‘ The poor man could have been no stranger to her. ‘* By no means,” with an unwillingness to con- tinue the subject, though Avice’s curiosity was too fevered to give heed, ; ‘* Tell me, at least—was there poison? And if so, was it self-administered, think you, or—” She paused with painful inquisitiveness. ‘*That I have already a ay ny to find out. Now, no more on this point, I beg of you, Miss Hardy.” She reluctantly acquiesced. ‘* After all,” she said, ‘‘ that is not what I par- ticularly wished to see you about,” | ‘** What then?” ‘* A new terror—for me !” ‘* Explain,” } ‘*Mr, St. John haz to-night received pretty broad hints from my mother that her footman, Richards, is not what he seems—is, in fact, a man far above his menial position. Then Rich- ards himself—” oe on. I begin to guess my lady’s wde~ Oo . : 4 P' Well, a short time ago Richards himself— 4 i “. i i. 7 7 f * “e : #, ' ay . * mal FY ' eens : fl ‘r * . =p ore , - +1 7 * a iy 7°? ve ' mi! ; ao; ie ‘ : whi arta” 4 7 ! ‘i #e - ch + z <e-e 4 ‘ 8 ® spt. - _— - tive. Vv « ‘ oe) : & mo iY ; art = ger oe MEG ag I verte |. bee Be TT AX) ie ea who of course had been relegated to his proper place after the unmasking—met me in oneof the second floor passages, and—and—”’ She was blushing indignantly and with tears in her eyes, at this second pause. ** You can trust me. Go on.” ** And ventured not only ona familiarremark, but associated it with a bold look of—of positive admiration!” And Avice almost broke down completely at the humiliating recollection. CHAPTER X. THE POISONED CHAMPAGNE, A DARK look, characteristic even through the perfection of his impersonating make-up, had’ come into the detective’s face. ‘**Rash play, rash play, my lady!” he com- mented, more to himself than aloud, ‘* Well, your action in the matter, miss?—though of course I can imagine what it was.” ** Doubtless,” continued Avice, who had re- covered her composure. *‘ I reproved the fellow sharply, though rather by my manner than my speech. ‘To ah amazement, he underwent no confusion, ‘Miss Hardy, you are making a mistake,’ said he, quite composed!y. ‘Iam not the menial I seem, as Mrs. Hardy can inform you. Can you imagine a gentleman—a gentle- man of lofty lineage and good fortune—accept- . ing such a position is I hold in this house for love—out of overwhelmingly passionate if here- tofore unavowed adoration—and the object of that love and adoration yourself alone?’ And before I could recover from the semi stupor of my indignant amazement he was gone.” Her hands clinched, and her eyes were fairly blazing now, The detective’s face, however, was once more serene. ‘*Bad play for her ladysbip!” said he, ‘In fact I should scarcely have thought her capable of such a stupidity. Well, what do you think of it all, Miss Hardy?” ‘*That is what I want to know from you.” ‘* Still, you must have pieced these surprises together in your own mind?” ‘Perhaps so, though not very distinctly.” ‘What have you thought?” ‘*That Gladys Hardy seeks to make me, ulti- mately, the object of this man’s open attentions, and in that way to get me more helplessly at her cy. ‘*Right. In the mean time, simply be con- stantiy on your guard, and don’t forget to keep me thoroughly informed of what may chance,” ‘*Of course I shall do that, sir. Then you think I have no real cause for fresh uneasi- ness? . ‘‘Not at present. Watch them incessantly, and,if necessary; take the costume-fitter un- hesitatingly into your confidence.” ‘* What, that girl?” | ** You have my assurance that she will be a valuable ally. tus go in now; you may be looked for.” _ They had entered the garden by a little porti- co at the side of the conservatory annexes and were now at the still half-open glass door by which the mysterious tramp must have surrrep- titiously entered the glass-house, only to meet his mysterious death. Avice remembered this and drew back, with an involuntary shudder, as her companion led the way thither. ‘*This is unworthy of **Come; we can doubtless tion by returning this way. She mastered her reluctance and followed him noiselessly into the place, almost stepping, in fact, across the spot On which the tatterdc- malion had fallen dead, The conservatory was less brilliantly lighted | than it had been. Indeed, as the peg Fe out of 9 cm ed nook it gg pair us ong and partly lig passage ween the tiers of flowers and plants that they could catch eg s of the glowing and animated ball-room yond, where the dancers were circling ne flashing past the open communicating por- 8. They advanced but a few paces, and then came to an abrupt pause, while Avice instinct- ively clutched her companion’s arm. In ® nook a little off the main passage—the same indeed that bad been occupied by Gladys Hardy and the pretended count—a loving inter- view was in progress before their eyes, The lover was silently kneeling at his adored one’s feet, with his arms outstretched to enf+-ld her waist, and she, bending. ong him in re- sponse, was pushing back the hair frcm bis forehead seb in Sea 1 eee hands, Ba zing earne to uplifted eyes, an Scurpiaietien mr A | that could not be over- heard | The woman was Gladys, the man Leslie Hard —there was no peewee id pene, though it was just made certain in the dim light. Silently indignant, though altogether for 7 sake and the shock to her modes- the detective turned away from the shame- ady disa Bed, She was waiting for him, however, outside the little door, shame-stricken and wrathtul. Nelo) naire exexe) .< ou,” he whispered, best escape observa- peak -% . - s ‘ pe “5 a << 2%. 3 eT ! par Hos Wiz ele a sh tale. a ES y hie nf ee ad ~ ve 82. 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