Beadle's Dime Library No. 801 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

ee a Se I ag, OD Py EF Sey > Jale | | of the 5 ounded sol ~ errr ‘¢ And I really fear that daring girl will ven- ture beyond her strength.” Hardl the fair lips of the brave swimmer came {or help. a 0 . . - is ae re ers The Pointing Finger. —s—s—i“ t;w.hCUw® Finger. carried in his arm a bullet from the rifle of an Indian warrior, tbe scene changes back te the had he uttered the words when from | home of Grayson Glyndon, ‘ a cry | The silence that followed the crack of tHe pis- to land the shivering of the lamp to atoms was A perfect chorus of shrieks arose, and yet not | intense, while the Garkness seemed almost one dared venture out to the aid of the dr own: | ing girl, w ho had suddenly looked shoreward, _ tangible. The husband, Grayson Glyndon, wiao had so and, appa. led at the distance the undertow had atacpaetonre come upon the scene, iv find his carried h.r out, had felt her inability to reach |! wife’s hard in the grasp of anothi r, his kiss the shore and had cried for help. burning upon 1t, stood like a statue, obeyin r the Another chorus of shrieks arose from the | sterncommand of the unknown speaker to do girls,as they saw a horseman urge his horse down the steep bank, at the risk of life and limb to both, and dash toward the roaring | breakers. The horse paused as he reached the waves; but the spurs sunk deep into his flanks, and | | | so, but the young officer, Douglas Drew, felt his arm seized and he was drawn out into the hall, and thence through the open front door upon | the piazza. “Go quickly! threshold of Grayson Glyndon's home,’ and never again cross the said the with a snort of pain and fear he dashed into the | one who had so unceremoniously drag: ged him wild seas. ‘‘ Bear up bravely! Ill soon reach you!” The cheering words were heard far above the | roar of the surf, and breathlessly the crowd of | girls stood on the shore biding the result, while Madame Rosini, white-faced and with clasped hands, seemed uttering prayers for the rescue | of Ruth Lonsdale, the best Joved of all her pu- pils, the beauty of the school and the heiress to Cedar Hall, the grandest old estate on the banks of the Hudson. Through the waves went the frightened, but gallant horse, and his rider guided him with Steady hand and low-spoken words of en- couragement. Ruth Lonsdale saw him aporoaching, and it gave her courage to fight for life, though her nerve had nearly deserted her. She had not meant to go out so far, bat the treacherous undertow had carried her away very quickly, where she had not suspected it. ‘» One moment more, miss, and you are safe,” cried the young soldier, as he saw the large eyes turned pleadingly toward hi m. And as she gazed appealing'y upon the young soldiercoming to her rescue, Ruth Lonsdale saw that his left arm was carrud in a sling, and that thus crippled he had come to her aid. Ev-cn in her great peril she saw his dark, handsome face bent on her with determination to save her or die with her, and she made a des- perate straggle to reach him. A moment more and he grasped her hand, drew her toward him, nud said; ‘*Take my placein the sad lle, miss, and my horse will carry vou ashcre,’ ‘© And you, sir?” ‘¢ Will follow.” ** But you are crippled.’ ‘‘ Tt matters not; Ican swim back, though [ could not have come out alone.” ‘* But, sir—” “DoasI say!” It was not a request, but a command, and she obeyed, and as she drew herself upon the saddle he turned the horse’s head shoreward. The animal swam rapidly toward the shore, while a scream of delight went up fromthe girls on the beach, And in the wake of the horse came the young soldier, swimming with a bold, strong stroke, and apparent ease, though with ‘but one arm! As the horse reached the surf Kuth Lonsdale looked back, She saw that her brave rescuer was yet some distance away, and instantly she decided to act. She was rested now; a life seemed in danger to w bich she owed her own, and she would —yr be the one to forsake him. Instantly she slipped from the saddle and the horse went on alone, while her comrades gave another cry of horror, not knowing her inten- tion. _ But they saw her bravely buffeting the waves and hoiding her own, while she waited for the coming of the young soldier. “Go ashore, miss! Do not wait for me, for Tam all right,” he cried, seeing her act. *T will ‘not, sir! I will wait for you,’ was her plucky response. And egain a breathless silence fell on those ashore, and all watched, waited and prayed. Nearer and nearer came the bold swimmer, but Ruth Lonsdale seemed to feel that he was struggling for life, and she swum toward him and said: ‘* Let. me aid you, sir, for [ am strong and brave, now. **Thank you.” And she gave him what as istance she could, and the exh instant a huge wave carried them in to a footing on the sands, ‘* But for your aid, miss, I could not have reached the shore, for I have a wounded arm and my clothes and shoes weighted me down, so we are quits,’ he said, with a smile, while the two walked ashore where the young officer was at once surrounded by more beautiful faces and forms than it had ever been his good fortune to gaze.on before, Ey, | a” : a OMAPTER VII. , rr) ..* A . oe ma) THE WIFE’S SECRET. Piitex __ Fro Mt oy Mision from the sea of Fo mag iar, ios tf * - ' | | from the room, ‘*Whoare you?’ asked Lieutenant Drew,striv- ing in the darkness to see who it was that thus addressed him. ‘*One who just saved you from death and is entitled to obedience—go !” ‘‘As you place my actions upon that footing, I obey. val" thank you, sir, and bid you good-night.” The young soldier spuke haughtily, raised his hat politely and descended the broad steps to the grounds, quickly disappearing in the shadow of the trees, In the mean time Grayson Glyndon had stood like a statue for’ full a moment, remembering the stern, threatening words: “Move from where you die!” But the young wife, after the first moment of alarm, and impressed by the darkness and the silence, moved quickly to the bell and rung for a servant. vs butler promptly appeared, and she called out: ‘*Bring lights here at once, Maddox,” ‘* Yes, lady; but has‘the lamp gone out?” ‘You see that we are in darkness, sir.” ‘* Yes, lady,” and Maddox hastened into the dining-room and returned with the lamp from there, ‘* Place it there on the table, and then pick up that broken glass.” and Ruth Glyndon gave a hasty deaotabe about the room to see who was present Her husband had sunk into a chair near, and no ono else Was present. The lieutenant and the one who had fired the shot that had shattered the lamp, had disap- peared silently and mys-eriously. addox looked amazed, but he saw in the face of his mistress a look that brooked no ques- tions, and he hastily swept up the glass, and re- moving the shattered lamp disappeared. Meanwhile Ruth hed stood silently regarding his movements, not even casting a glance to- ward her husband, who kept his seat 1n silence, though apparently nervous at what had oc- curred, As Maddox disappeared, Grayson Giyniion looke1 uv and said: ‘* Madam, your accomplice, as well as your lover, have disappeared.’ ‘Grayson, I have neither lover nor accom- plice, and I will brook no insult from you,” and her voice had a firm tone, a trifle threatening, he thought, ** Who was the one who fired the shot and ‘saved your lover, for I would have killed him, after what I saw?” ‘*T know no more than do you who it was that fired the shot that saved the life of Lieu- tenant Drew; but I thank him from my inmost soul, as he saved you from becoming a mur- derer.” ‘* He saved me from killing a man who con- fessed himself in love with wife—ay, and whom she said she had loved,” he said, savage- stand, and you “I did love him, Grayson, but that was in the past,and I am your wife now,” and her voice quivered. ‘* Yet you received him asa visitor?” ‘* No, I did not dream of his coming.” 42 Granted; but who was the other one?” * “T know not,” a Ruth, you are keeping something back from me,’ ‘* Upon my honor, no.” ** You mean that you do not know who it was that fired that shot,and threatened me with death?” ‘“T do not.” ‘* You know, but you will not tell.” ‘*T said upon my honor I did not.” ‘* Was it not another lover of yours, one who was here before Drew came?” ** Indeed, no,” ‘ i bid did you know this Lieutenant rew ‘s T ates him when I was a school-girl, one day when Madame Rosini took us to the beach to spend the day. We were in bathing, the sea was very rough, and [ was borne beyend m “pion when L foaralief g on oreeback et Fae the into the surf, reached depth and was Drew, wh> was ri shore, dasbed me just athe ; Sore oe ha 2 ' 7 rr shes me 5 nearly lost his own life in aS beled ile viele at aes | aceite Wade la is tS te os: on Mawel so, as he was wounded in the arm at the time. ‘* Madame Rosini invited him to call, when he came to the city, and he did so several times.” és Go on. ” ** | have nothing more to tell.” ‘You have a secret from me, Ruth.” ‘*T have told you all there is to tell,” ** You love him?” She was silent, and he repeated: ** Confess it; you love him!” ** Grayson Glyncon, do not insult me because you have the power to do so. I am your wife, sir, and as such would allow no love in my heart for another man. *\Vell said, my ay beauty; but you have a secret in your heart you will not tell roe.’ She gazed at him an instant, as though about to speak In angry tones; but, checking the im- pulse, sne smiled, and turning quickly swept from the room, while he muttered: “She has a secret from me, and I will ferret it out, ay,and know, too, who it is that prevent- ed me from taking the life of that soldier and uttered that threat against me.” CHAPTER VIII. FERRET, THE DETECTIVE, GRAYSON GLYNDON was a popular man with all who knew him, and yet there was not any one who was his intimate friend. Asked about his antecedents, none of his friends knew aught, but they had heard that he was from New ngland somewhere, and had come to New York to make his fortune as a lawyer. e had ‘‘ hung out his shingle” as such,and et the same time business had driftedin his way, unknown though he was, and it was when goin to Albany on a legal matter that he had sav Colonel Lonsdale and his daughter from, being lost on the burning steamer, After his marriage to Ruth, Glyndon still kept his law-office down-town and was wont to go there daily. He was a handsome man, a good talker, yet a trifle austere and reserved, ‘and a favoriteat the several fashionable clubs to which he belonged, for be gave excellent dinners at his elegant home, and his beautiful wife was admired by all who knew her. That there was a ‘‘skeleton” in the Glyndon family closet no one had a thought, and until he had come home that night and found Lieutenant Douglas Drew with bis wife he had not suspect- ed that she had a secret in her heart. Of a jealous nature,and not understanding all, while he heard just ‘enough to arouse his an- ‘ger, he had entered the room with murderousin- “4 i, Secret ed 1 r thourh he a “> i : MO tent in his heart. That he would, in his jealous frenzy, have taken the young officer’s life, there is little doubt, had it not been for that mysterious shot from out on the piazza, which shivered the lamp, left the room in darkness, and held him under the muzzle of a weapon held in unknown hands. The more he thought of the matter, the more Grayson Glyndon was mystified. That his wife knew who had fired the shot he could not but believe, though she denied so doin , and he felt a desire to learn the secret. will know all, and Ill set the hounds of the Bid going to-morrow to track down the m - Th + work with care, for I do not wish to be known in the matter, so I will go to that new Secret Service Agency, which I saw the sign of yesterday.” So said Grayson GI lyndon, and having made up his mind as to course, his conduct to- ward his wife was the same as before. But the next day he went to an office on the door of which was a sign reading: ‘“ PRANK FERRET, Secret Service Agent,” He opened the door and entered. ae: There was a suite of several rooms, and ata desk in the first one sat a young man who turn- wl Peal ed as he entered and took him in at a glance. **Is Mr, Ferret in?’ asked Glyndon. ** Yes, sir; yo ur name, please?” “Tell him thata lawyer wishes to see him,” The youth disappeared into an inner room and = a moment returned, asking Glyndon to follow im. ln the inner office, which was a most comfort- ably fitted-up room, sat a man with ay hair anu beard, both worn long, and a dark, piercing ey and the lawyer said, politely: ‘¢Mr. Ferret, I believe?” ‘* Yes, sir sir, and who have I the honor of: re-_ ceiving?” was the courtly reply. nh | es to remain unknown, sir, at least at resen ‘** As you please, sir; but you have business 2 | with me?” “Yes, I have work for you to os VHe was one to commadd respect at a glance, ee)