Beadle's Dime Library No. 801 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

—_ i ee eee The Pointing Finger. a | ‘‘ Why wasit I saw her so differently at the opera that night? ‘¢ And her aunt? Why, she’s a charming lady, fresh as a rose, and I am half in mind to— No, no; the one love of my life is buried in the grave with the mother of my children. ‘‘[ will not be an old fool, but live for the happiness of my son and daughter. “From to-day I will turn over a new leaf with Kent, tor L believe he will stand firm as a rock with that woman to gui e him.” Queena Estevan bad won her game, CHAPTER LI. WHAT A SEARCH REVEALED, BACK to the city went Grayson Glyndon with all haste, confident that at last the large inherit- ance, which he feared his wife had lost forever, would be restored to her, ‘*What a lucky thought, that of mine, to go up and see that madman,” he muttered, to him- self, and over and over again, From certain things that he remembered, he had always supposed that Patsey Belt had more knowledge of Colonel Lonsdale’s acts than any one else, Patsey had been his confidential servant in all things. He drove the colonel out, moved him about in his easy-chair, was valet, nurse and all to him, After the death of the colonel, Patsey Belt had heen ill from grief. It had been a bitter blow to him, and when the house was left deserted he bad remained in charge, It was then that one night Patsey’s brain had been turned by what he had seen there. Always of a vividly-superstitious nature, he believed in ghosts and goblins, and what had appeared before his vision as he slept in the Cedar Hal) Mansion had upset bis brain, So fearful was his fright, so violent did he be- come, that he had been sent at once to an asylum. And yet, out of that brain, obscured by the cobwebs of insanity, Grayson Glyndon had got- ten a ray of reason, bad found the treasvre which he had deemed forever lost, The madman also had told his reason for hid- ing the valuable leather case in his master’s cottin; it was to keep it for his young master Lionel, whom he dearly loved and who he be- lieved bad been Gisinherited. Patsey had supposed that Ruth would get the Cedar Hall estate, the town property and the money in bank, and if Lionel got the bonds iewels and money in the leather case it would e a fair division. So he bad taken the leather case and hidden it, where he knew no one would find it, in Col- one] Lonsdale’s coffin, there to await the com- ing home of Lionel. Believing Lione! dead, as Grayson Glyndon had told him, he confessed what he had done, so that all could go to Ruth. It was known that Co'onel Lonsdale, from his youth, had been a great admirer of precious stones. He had inherited a number from his father and grandfather before bim, and, with a mania for them, he had collected a large quantity, spending large sums in their purchase. Then his Mexican wife had been very rich, and she had also brought him a number of ems. . These he had kept at home, in his safe, and the leather case contained them, each stone hav- ing its space and its little history. hese gems, worth balf a million, the bonds, and a large sum in money Grayson Glyndon was now to find in the grave of the dead col- onel, and he felt very much elated at the thought. Straight to Lawyer Lockwood's office he went, and his story was soon told. Mr. Lockwood looked serious, ‘“T¢é is a strange story, Glyndon, and yet it has thestamp of truth, as the poor fellow was known to be devoted to young Lonsdale, and says that he bid the case away for him.” ‘J will at once have the search made.” ‘‘ Now go slow in this matter, for I like not this disturbing the ashes of the dead,” ss But—”’ ‘* What does your wife say?” ‘¢T did not tell her one word about it.” ‘‘Tt would be better, for the opening of her father’s coffin needs must give her great sor- row.” ‘‘T would like to have you go with me, by night, and—”’ ** No, I will do nothing in an underhand way, Glyndon.” “ What do you mean, Mr. Lockwood?” ‘‘] mean that Iam no grave ghoul, and I go there simply to find property said to be left there, end which cannot he found,” ‘‘ What do you advise?” ‘‘ will co to the village, get a permit from a justice and—” ‘‘T wish no publicity to the affair.” ‘‘ Nor need there be, for you can carry up two men with you from here, to do the digging, and ; # ap Ma te, ee Pit a = 4 "ithe ; om —— ——__—_—_- —- -— ——_- - ll ‘* Then we can open the grave, and, if we find | and the coroner had to be called in, why, I the leather case, you can report to your wife | could do nothing else than let you know all.” that it was found in a place you had never thought of looking before,” ** All right, 1 will be guided by you in this matter. ‘‘ When shall we start?” ‘** To-morrow morning; so get your two men and have them ready, and I will write to the justice, whom I know, and have had business with, to meet me at the landing.” And so it was arranged, and the next day the party of four were met at the landing by the justice, who accompanied them up the hill to the burying-ground, The two men at once set to work digging down into the grave, which had been disturbed’ twice before, and soon one of them uttered a cry and sprung out, as his shovel unearthed a human face. [tf was a moment of horror. W hat could it mean? The colonel had been buried in a metallic case, and his grave had been dug deep. Here, not three feet from the top, was a form, and more, it was not in a coffin. In the midst of their amazement a tall form suddenly appeared before them. It was Del Monte. ** Sefioys, 1 saw you approach, as I was over at my home,superintending some workmen, and took the liberty of joining you. ‘*Mr. Glyndon, am I intruding?” “Oh, no, Sefor De} Monte,” said Grayson Glyndon, chagrined at the coming of the Mexi- can,and he presented Lawyer Lockwood and the justice, and explained in an instant their reason for opening the grave, by saying: ‘*Some important papers were said to have been concealed in Colonel Lonsdale’s coftin, and Lawyer Lockwood is desirous of finding them, | for he is the executor of the estate,” ‘* And it seems that there lies a coffinless body?” said Del Monte. ‘ [tis; but what can it mean?” Mr. Lockwood said. The men, at a motion of the lawyer, con- tinued digging, and soon the body was: ex- humed, Grayson Glyndon gave a sigh of relief, as he saw that it was not the bodv of Celonel Lons- dale, for he had feared that the coffin had been already opened and the corpse simply thrown back into the grave. It was the body of Bruiser Bill, the Water Wolf, who had been struck dead by lightning, as will be remembered, and whom old hnrber hee buried, at the command of Lionel Lons- ale, But no one present gave any solution as to the mystery of the body being found there, and the justice ordered that it should be laid one side as a case for the coroner to decide upon. This was done, and the bloated form and fea- tures of the dead ruffian were covered loosely with earth. Then the digging was renewed, and at last came the sound of the iron striking the box be- neath, This was opened, the coffin was revealed in- tact, and with implements brought for the pur- pose the lid was taken off, Quickly the search was made, and eagerly; but the leather case was not found, Grayson Glyndon almost staggered under the blow, and could utter no word, while Ingersoll Lockwood said: ‘** The story of Patsey Belt was but the rav- ings of a mad mind.” Witb bitterness in his heart Grayson Glyndon walked away, while the coffin-lid was replaced the grave refilled, and the body of Bruiser Bill left to the care of the justice, who thought that the village eoroner might be able to solve the mystery. ut he wasn’t, and it still remained a mystery as to why that body was in the grave of Colonel Lonsdale, . ‘** Some one else knew the secret. ‘*That madman told the truth. ‘*Some one has robbed the grave.” So said Grayson Glyndon to Ingersoll Lock- ie as the two were on their way back to the ci ‘ CHAPTER LII, THE ASSASSIN, GRAYSON (LYNDON was almost made ill] over the result of the search of Colonel Lonsdale’s grave. He had felt that he had found his wife’s lost fortune, and to discover that he bad not was a bitter blow. Of course, as the news of the finding of the strange man’s body there must come out, for the coroner's inquest must be public, he had to tell Ruth of his visit to the asylum, of Patsey Belt’s story, and of his having the grave and coffin opened in his search for the leather case, ‘*Lawyer Lockwood, the justice of the peace, and Sefior Del Monte were with me, Ruth. so they were witnesses, and they were all of the ssed. that it would be best not to knowing. that we get the permit from the | opinion I expre | ao: of she vinden, will understand that it is | tell you, asit would only cause you sorrow. _ all right. ‘* But, as the strange body was found there, att, ht ble mt aya a Le vy 3 i ae . a bs ‘i! A per _ 2 } | Ruth was deeply grieved, and said earnestly: ‘*] would rather have lost the property, even had poor Patsey’s story been true, than had the grave of my poor father desecrated, looking for his gold.” Some days after, Grayson Glyndon decided that he would drive up and makea call upon Del Monte, who had gone to Cedar Hall to live. He arrived in time for lunch and was well en- tertained by the hospitable Mexican, who urged him to remain all night, as there was rain threatening. ‘* No, L will go on, and if I cannot reach the city, 1 guess Judge Cassidy will give me shel- ter,” said Grayson Glyndon, who had visited the Mexican to see if some trace could not be gained from Thurber, asto who had been th robber of the coffin or Colonel Lonsdale, for he still stuck to the belief that Patsey Belt had told the truth and that some one had gotten the | treasure. Old Thurber could give no clew as to having seen any mysterious persons about, and so Gray- son Giyndon started upon bis return home. He drove rapidly, ai.¢ yet the rain overtook him before he reached the handsome stone gate- | way leading intoStone Vale. As he came in sight of the gate, he saw a vehicle come in view, and he knew it was .the depot wagon of the judge. The judge was in it, called to the driver to halt, and said: ‘Well, Glyndon, I amin luck, for I can cap- ture you for my guest to-night, ‘*] am ail alone, for as you know, my daugh- ter is in the city visiting your wife, and Kent is _ hardly ever at home, ay | od. ‘** You certainly will not venture on in the face of this storm, but stay with me.” Thus urged, Grayson Glyndon accepted the invitation to remain all night, and he was soon seated in the comfortable library chatting pleas- antly with the judge. Just as they sat down to dinner a note was handed to the judge, and the servant said: ‘* He is waiting for an answer, sir.” ‘* Pardon me, Glyndon, a moment, for I have not thesheart to keep a man waiting in this storm,” and Judge Cassidy left the room. It was quite a while betore be returned, and he excused it by saying that he had been de- tained by a matter he had to see to personally. The dinner passed otf pleasantly, anc Grayson Glyndon, who was noted as a splendid dinner- table talker, delighted the judge with his wit and reminiscences of great men, They lingered long over their coffee, and the judge asked: ‘** By the way, Glyndon, can you tell me any- thing about this Mexican beauty my son seems to be so much in love with?” ‘*T learn, sir, that she is very rich, and she certainly is exceedingly beautiful.” ‘* You know nothing of her antecedents?” ‘*No more than that she is the daughter of an American lady, who married a Mexican officer of rank and wealth.” ‘*Well, Kent is deeply enamored of her, and yet [am not yet willing to give my consent to his marrying her, as I received a note the other day, anonymous though it was, which told me to refuse my permission to his making Miss Es- tevan his wife.” ~ ‘*Do you put faith in anonymous letters, judge?” ‘**No, and yet they have their weight, and I was glad when your wife asked Jule to visit her for a few days, for she could call upon Miss Es- tevan, and let me know just what she thought of her, and my daughter is a great reader of human nature.” ‘** | hope she will like her, for I think she will make your son a good wife.” ‘*It is make or mar with my son. ‘*He grew up steady as a deacon, and then went wild, ‘‘T made my will, leaving him everything, and for him to share with his sister, as he deemed right, so much faith [ had in him. ‘** But he has been very fast the pasttwo vears, and I intend to change the will, for it isnot right to give him the power I did, and I now see I was wrong. ; _“* But fam keeping you up late; so let us re- tire. ‘* Hark! how it storms,” and thé judge showed his guest to his comfortable room, for he had told the servants they might retire some time . before. Going to his own room the judge paced to and fro for a few momentsand then went to hed. He seemed to make an effort to keep awake, but at last dropped off to sleep. He bad slept but a few minutes when the hall door slowly opened and a fourm appeared, The judge kept a night-lamp burning, and by its light the intruder was seen to approach the bed, knife in band. Suddenly he sprung forward, as the judge started up, and the knife was descending when a sharp report rung out from behind a nt er curtain, and the intended assassin fe shots, | fl = - - : * Tee 4 Tae ™ _.. 4 oa _ = Vd *,8 s +e — =< 7s : =) Then came the sound of rushing feet, o ~=scomicboo x ~ * 7. Fe Rese f- 4 = d ere ae hr « -