A STRANGE CASE; OR, Beaten with his own Weapons.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3183, 10 September 1881, Page 1 (Supplement)

A STRANGE CASE; OR, Beaten with his own Weapons.

A EEALISTIC STOEY OF THE

QUAKER CITY.

BY MAJOB ALTKED EOCHEFOET

CHAPTEE XXX. HOVT IT FAKED WITH 808 BETTS

' Turn tip yehr coat collar, , said Black Ike, as he conducted Bob Betts down into the basement. ' Kinder turn up yehr coat collar and pull yehr hat ober yehr eyes till I can fix yeh snug j dats de way all de boys does when dey comes har foh to hab dar little sport.'

' Well, I'm one of the boys and I'll do as they do,' replied Bob Betts, doing exactly as had been suggested.

It was too early for the dancers, too soon for the return of the thieves and prowler.

The dance hall was silent, and the fiddler was absent, though his throne, the barrel, stood in a far-off corner.

' Dis am de place, , said Black Ike, turning up the lamp that hung from the ceiling, ' Whar de young folks dance.'

' They can't be very tall,' eaid Bob Betts, standing on tip toe and knocking the top of his head against the ceiling.

' Not so tall as you and me ; but bress yeh, dey ken enjoy life jest as well as ef dey was giants. I lub to see de young enjoy deyselves. I was once a bit young myself.'

' I wouldn't have believed it from your present appearance,' said Bob, surveying the black man with maddening deliberation. ' Wa'al, I reckon we was all young once.' 'Do you think the devil ever was young ?' asked Bob, and he was startled by his own question. 'Not knowin' him I can't say. Wot's yehr notion 'bout dat? asked Black Ike, with a chuckle. ' I think he was born old ; but go ahead, fix me lip. I'm in for the night and I'll "see her out.' ' Ah, dats the talk,' laughed Ike. ' You've got grit and muscle, and dem tings.' Under the head of 'dem tings' he included the twenty dollars and thirteen cents, but he took care not to say so. He saw that Bob Betts was decidedly green in the ways in which he was himself so ripe, but he also saw that this green man was not a fool, and that the first attempt to make him out such would result in trouble for some one. Black Ike was after the money. He led Bob Betts up the very stairs that Helm and Sam Sage had so often descended, and into a little room not far from the one for which they paid rent at this time. Bob was on the point of asking Black Ike about the man with the beard and long hair, but he checked himself and said instead : 'It's a bit lonely here when folks aint about.' ' It's right smart so,' replied Black Ike, who was pulling parcels down from a closet shelf. Laying the parcels on a single iron bed, he said: * How would you like to appear, as blonde. or brunette ? Most gents are opposed to blondes of dar own sext, but hankers arter dem ob de opposite.' ' See here ; what's your name ?' 'Ike.' 1 Ike, yoti look like a man of taste.' 'So I is.' ' Very well 5 fix me up to suit yourself.' * Ah ! dats gen'rous.' Ike took out a number of wigs and false beards, and after much eyeing, and trying, and standing off, he changed Bob Betts as far as red beard and hair could change a man who was naturally dark. Then he stained Bob Bett's nose a lovely carmine, and he put a daub of the same fiery color on either cheek, and invited him over to a cracked looking-glass to admire the effect. ' Wa'al, wot yeh tink ob dat ?' asked Ike. ' I like it; I look as if I had been toasted and took fire. Aint you got a scarlet shawl and a torch ? If you have, I'll go out and hire myself for a lighthouse!' Ike regretted that he had not those appliances, and in the same breath he told his guest that the cost of this disguise, for the evening, amounted to the small sum of four dollars and twenty-five cents. 1 It'd be cheap at a tenth of the price,' said Bob, pulling out his money. He was very deliberate about it, and the black man's eyes were on the bills, and he chuckled to himself, as he counted at least twenty dollars. ' Now, will yeh come down, or wait har till de fun begins ?' asked Ike. ' Oh, thunder! If there's no fun down there, I'll wait,' replied Bob. • 'Twon't be for long. Mebbe you'd like to smile while yehr waiting.' ' I certainly should,' replied Bob, who had a most indefinite idea of the figurative meaning of the word ' smile,' as used by Black Ike. ' ' Got any favorite beveridge ?' ' No ; 1 feel as if I could drink an aqua fortis punch, sweetened with dynamite.' Bob Betts had never used such strong words before j he had never felt so desperate before j and he had a dim conception that he was becoming vicious. Ike brought up a bottle and two glasses, and to prove that the fluid was not poison, he took a long drink, and Bob said he would ' imbibe at leisure.' The drinks cost a dollar and Bob paid for them, and declared he would carry off the bottle. Black Ike was delighted. He had never met so original a character before, nor one who was so free with his money, or more certain to get through with it before leaving the den.

He went to a room on the samp floor, and tapping at the door, he called out: ' Are you dnr, Mr Larkin ?' * Yes. Come in.'

Black Ike entered, laughing, and saw the man with the long hair sitting at a table, and like the king in the nursery ihyme, ( counting out his money.' ' What har you snickering 'bout ?' asked Larkin, with one hand on the pile of bills before him.

' I've just been having fun with a green one,' replied Black Ike. 'Where did you get 'im ?' ' Picked him up outside my door, and he told me he bad twenty dollars and thirteen cents, and that his name was Bob Betts, and

he didn't care a fig who knew it,' The black man closed his eyes in laughter, and so did not notice the start which Mr Larkin gave on hearing the name of Bob Betts. ' I don't care to 'ear more about the cove,' said Mr Larkin. ' But tell me, Hike, will

you take fifty for the ring ? 'Taint worth arf that, but hit takes my hi, and I want hit.'

4 It's yoiu'3 for the money,' said Ike, taking the ring from his finger and laying it on the table. Larkin counted him out the money, and after admiring the design—it bore the Clifford crest —he put it in his pocket. ' Are you going to play with Sage again to-night ?' asked Ike. ' He plucked me of a 'undred last night, but I've made it hup to-day. I feel a bit tired, and would like to go to sleep ; but if this cove is hin for hit, vy, I don't mind trying again, you know.' ' Ah, yehr game,' said Black Ike, admiringly. ' Yeh've got the backbone, yeh hare, and yeh'd orter win. , ' Awe, thanks,' Mr Larkin bowed, and the black man withdrew, all smiles. He went to the room occupied by Helm and Sam Sage, and after knocking, was admitted. The partners were disguised, but their attire was better than usual, and they were smoking cigars, the odour of which told the negro that they belonged to one of the imported brands. ' Well, Ike,' said Sam Sage, ' what's up ?' ' Nothin' as yet, Mr Kiel; it's too early for fun.'

'Heard anything more of our Cockney friend?' ' I've seed him,' said Ike, cautiously. ' He's ruffled over his loss, aint he ?' ' Don't appear so. He's got lots of de stuff.' ' Is he willing to lose more ?' 'I'll ask him if you say so.' ' Well, do so. We'll be down in the card room if he wants to play.' ' All right, gents.' Black Ike bowed and withdrew, and the two friends, or ' pals,' as they called themselves, went on with the conversation. ' And so you heard the servants say in the cellar last night that the doctor is getting well,' said Sam Sage, in an interrogatory voice. ' I did,' replied Helm, gruffly. ' That's very important, and proves that you'll have to go back and finish the job. Can you do it ?' ' I can, if need be.'

' But isn't it necessary to have him out of the way ?' ' Yes.' ' And aint you still willing to do it ?' ' I am,' replied Helm, with an oath. ' What else did you overhear ?' 'A great deal. The truth is, the cook and the butler were down in the wine cellar making a night of it. Confound them, I felt like pushing back the slab and shooting them both, for they kept me from making another haul—' ' Never mind about that. You can make another haul again. What did they say ?'. ' They said he'd get well.' ' You told me that.' ' And that my wife is back there nursing him, and that my daughter is out with a Miss Ida Compton in Germantown.' ' That's the lawyer's daughter ?' ' Yes, Sam.' ' She's in love with Deeming ?' ' That's what folks say.' ' And I guess they are right in this case, for she visits him in his prison every day, and carries him books and goodies. Isn't her father the lawyer that's after us ?' ' Yes, Sam. You know him. He was Dr Clifford's lawyer.' 'Of course I know him—that is, I know him all I want to, unless I get his cash and put him out of the way. But tell me, what's become of your son ?' 'I was going to say that the servants spoke about him, and they surprised me by saying they thought he was going crazy—' ' Crazy, did you say ?' ' That's what they said. It appears that he does not stay at home any more, but goes prowling about at night.' ' Like his honored father, eh ?' ' Oh, I don't put any reliance in what such people say. Of course the young man, like all young men, must sow his wild oats.' 'To be sure.' Ham Sage took off his hat, and began stroking his fat forehead in the way that waß peculiar to him when his mind was particularly active. 'I think,' said Helm, after a pause, ' that the autliorities are sure that we are back, and that Mr Compton and his brother-in-law, Mr Orne— my wife was an Orne—are after us.' 'Why should they be?' ' I give it up.' ' Let them be after us. When we have cleaned Clifford out we will turn our attention to them. They are well feathered, and will stand plucking. And this brings to my mind something I wanted to speak to you about.' ' What is that, Sam ?' ' I know you'll kick about it, but I think it's best that you should see it just as I do.' 'I see most things that way,' replied Helm. 'You have been the boss.' ' If I had been we'd be better off now. But I'm not the man to cry over spilt milk. I've stuck by you and you've stuck by me because we were of use to each other, and I guess we're of use to each other still.' Helm said he hoped so. 'Very well. When I first saw you I thought I had a hold on Clifford through a scrape he had in Paris when he was a young man, but I found I was mistaken. I hated him because he had me arrested and imprisoned for two years for finding his watch, and I was anxious to get even with him. That thought and other pressing necessities sent me to America.'

'I understand.' ' And I. met you—' 'I guess I remember that.' ' Of course you do, and you also remember that I entered heartily into all your plans, and that finding you a congenial spirit I've stuck by you ever since.' 'That's true.'

' I fully appreciate your object in getting your son substituted for Clifford's, and at the same time —though I confess I couldn't exactly tell how it was to come about —I imagined that you'd reap rich gain from tho

transfer.' 'So did I,' said Helm, with something like a sigh. ' But we can now see that even if Doctor Clifford was dead, that beyond the gratification of pride, which in the past meant much to you, but which in the present means nothing, you have nothing to gain. Am I not right ?' ' You are, Sam.' 'I am glad you think so. You have lost your wife and daughter. They know you are living—' c And wisb I was dead.' 'Of course they do. But would not Caspar Clifford wish ten thousand times you were dead if he knew you were his father ?' ' I can't think so,' said Helm, desperately. ' I know so,' persisted Sam Sage. ' How do you know it ?' 'In a hundred ways. He is a gentleman, and you are a murderer and a thief.' ' Don't say that, Sam; don't say it.' ' But isn't it true ?' ' That doesn't make it any pleasanter to hear.' ' I suppose not. But I ask you —have you forgotten the day a young man blacked your eyes on the river bank for daring to speak to your own daughter ?' ' I have not; but he did not know who I was.' ' That's so ; but supposing you had told him, would he believe you.?' 'No Sam j but his mother knows it now.' ' She has not told him and she will not tell him. If you drive her to the wall she will deny your story, and she will be believed, though she is wrong, simply because heretofore she has always been right: and you will not be believed because you have always been wrong, and the world takes no acconnt of exceptions.' ' But what are you driving at ?' ' At this, you must give up all thought of your wife, daughter and son, as if they were in their grave,' said Sam Sage, bringing his liancl down on the table with, a bang that made the tin candlestick jump up and tumble in its efforts to settle down again. ' But supposing that Ellen and Caspar should fall in love and marry ? My God, man, think of that!' ' I do think of it,' said Same Sage, with another bang. ' Well ?' 'Well, I think it's not near as bad as murder,' said Sam Sage, with an emphasis on the last word that made the air colder. ' I don't know but you arc right, Sam,' said Helm. ' The whole thing has drifted away from me.' ' No, you have drifted away from it.' ' Perhaps that's so. But the thought of that boy being the owner of that estate has kept me up for many and many a day ; and I've dreamt about it at night, and woke up happier for the dream. It makes me happier now, even if he never understands what I've done for him.' ' The time has come when you and me will need to forget everyone but ourselves.' 'It seems so.' ' And we must strike down everyone that comes in our way, without asking who he is. If we don't agree to do this we might as well go down to the station house and surrender ourselves. What do you say ?' ' I think you are right.' ' Aint you sure I'm right ?' ' About so.' ' I'm glad to hear you say that. I'm glad that you appreciate that you are alone in the world, and that Caspar Clifford, even if assured of your relations, would be the first to arrest you.' ' Why do you think so ?' ' I have my reasons.' ' But, tell them,' urged Helm. ' I can't do it now. The lines are tightening, and I have only one request to make.' ' Make it.' ' That for forty-eight hours you shoot at eYerj mark I give you.' 'Shoot?' ' Yes ; and don't be afraid, for I will not ask you to shoot where you cannot escape.' ' I will do it,' eaid Helm. ' Here is my hand.' CHAPTER XXXI. HOW 808 BETTS SEES THBOTJGH LAEKIN'S DISGTOISE AND TOLLOWS HIM AGAIN. Bob Betts was in no sense romantic. As he sat in that wretched room, taking occa-1 sional glances at his sanguinary face in the looking-glass, he wondered if he was the young man who superintended the Clifford place, in plain working dress, or an escaped lunatic. He always had a reason for his acts, for he was deliberate and methodical, but for the life of him he could not explain why he was there. He thought seriously of throwing off his disguise and knocking over any and everything that opposed him, till he reached the alley and headed for home. ' What would mother think if she saw me ?' he said, aloud, as he again surveyed his fiery face and dress. If young men kept this question ever before them there would be more noble old men in the world.

' Well,' lie sighed, ' it's a kind of comfort to know she wouldn't recognise me if she was to see me.'

He opened the door with the half-formed thought of running, when he heard a soft step near by, and the next instant the man with the long beard and hair faced him. ' Awe, good evening, will-o'-the-wi?p,' said Larkin, bowing, and looking at the gorgeous person in the doorway with an amused expression in hiß brilliant eyes. ' I guess you'll know me again, Mr Thundergust,' replied Bob Betts. ' Awe, I 'ope so, I'm shuah.' And to Bob Betts great surprise the man with the beard and hair walked into the room and shut the door.

' Looks as if you thought you was specially invited,' said Bob Betts, when Larkin, after locking the door and putting the key in bis pocket, sat down and deliberately crossed his legs and arms. ' I 'aye a 'abit,' replied Mr Larkin with admirable nonchalance, ' hoy makin' myself at 'ome.'

' And I 'aye a 'abit,' retorted Bob, amazed at his own mimetic powers, hoy firing folks tb.vov.gh winde l "! th". f . pokes their noses wiiere they aint wanted.' ' Awe, it's very unfortunate that there

isn't any windaha to this hapartment,' laughed Larkin, glancing- about the room. ' But,' he continued, ' why should me and you quarrel?' ' I didn't start it.' 'Well, 'aye I?'

' You come where you aint got an invite. I've paid for this room, and this blazing old costume, and the paint on my nose, and I want to enjoy them in peace,' said Bob, pointing as he spoke at the articles in which | he had a temporary proprietorship. ' Larkin lay back in his chair and laughed both long and loud. There was something about that laughter that struck Bob as familiar, but he could not associate it, at the moment, with any individual. 'Act as if you was tickled,' said Bob Betts, at length. ' Tickled !' repeated Larkin, ' why, Bob, I never enjoyed auything so much in mj life.' ' What! Are you—but, no—' 'Yes, Bob; lam.' Larkin sprang to his feet, pulled off his beard and wig, and Bob Betts Baw Caspar Clifford before him. The brave fellow was so amazed that his under jaw fell, and his eyes stared without winking. He would have been as cool as a bather at the North Pole in the face of a real danger, but this appearance tinnerved him. When he came back to himself he sprang to his feet, and reaching out both hands, he cried : ' Well, Mr Caspar, who'd have thought it?' ' Hush ! I knew you were here. I will tell you again how I learned. I am sure your mother sent you after me. I had the things with me, and disguised myself as I came on. Perhaps it is as well that you are here, for I have work for two on hand tonight.' While he was speaking Caspar Clifford replaced the beard and wig, and became Larkin again. 'Ah ! now I sec through, it. You are hunting down Helm and Sam Sage.' ' Yes, Bob. Speak low.' ' Have you found them ?' ' They are now in this house —' ' In this house !' ' Keep cool, Bob. They are in this house. I have been meeting with them for some time. I cannot tell you all now. I meet them at a card table again to-night. You must be there. Are you armed ?' ' Armed ?' ' Yes. Have you a pistol ?' ' I never carried one in my life,' replied Bob. ' It's a bad habit, but an occasional necessity. Do you know how to use one ?' 1 Yes, as well as the next man.' ' And you know when not to use it ? for that is the great point with a man who is forced to go armed.' ' I would only use it in defence of my own life, or in defence of yours.' ' Here, put this where you can easily reach it.' Caspar handed him a revolver, and after looking at the movement, Bob Betts slipped it into his breast-pocket. ' Remember that I am Larkin before others! You must not know me. Do you understand ?' Bob Betts said he understood very clearly, and intimated that while he might look a bit queer at times, that those who undertook to fool with him would soon learn that he was not as verdant as he appeared to be. With a clear understanding as to where they should meet outside, Caspar, or ' Larkin,' as we shall call him in the character he so cleverly assumed, unlocked the door and went down to the dance hall. The blind negro was perched on the barrel, tuning his fiddle, and holding it close to his ear while he slowly drew the bow over the strings. There were a number of thick-necked, bullet-headed men smoking at one end and discussing a dog fight that had excited their world the night before. In one corner a fat, frowsy woman held a thin, fair-haired child in her arms. Its blue eyes had the wondering look of an angel lost in Hades. Larkin went into the card-room. Black Ike was there. ' Will the detectives be here to-night ?' asked Larkin. ' Doant know ; but if dey comes, bars lots of doahs yeh ken get out through,' replied Ike, rolling his eyes around the room. ' Are Spencer and Riel coming down tonight?' ' Oh yes ; dat man Riel tole me to say he was ready to gib yeh all de satisfaction yeh wanted.' ' I don't want satisfaction. I play for fun, for sport, yon know,' laughed Larkin. ' Golly,' chuckled Ike, ' I neber seed a gent as could stand losin' like you ken. Wy, yeh doant 'pear to know any tricks wid de keeards.' ' I know 'em, but I never practise 'em. I've got lots of money. Wait till I'm short, hand I'll show you 'ow to play.' ' Seems to me likes ef yeh could win all de time, ef yeh so wanted to,' said Black Ike. Larkin amused himself shuffling the cards till Helm and Sam Sage came down. In the meantime the blind fiddler had got his instrument in working order, and the thumping of feet on the floor told that the dancing had begun in the other room. Larkin drew back and bowed to the 'p«ls.' Thoy would have shaken hands with him had he met their advance. ' Feel like trying the pasteboards again ?' asked Sam Sage, glancing at the cards, which Larkin still held in his hand. ' I don't mind. It's hawful dull 'ere, and I won't go out for some time.' ' Got pressing business on hand when you do go out ?' queried Sam Sage. ' You can follow and see,' replied Larkin lightly, as he sat clown and threw the cards on the table. ' Oh, I don't care to play spy,' sneered Sam Sage. ' You'd rather play cards ; come.'. They played for some time, Larkin losing steadily, and apparently without any regret. It was midnight, and a little after, when i Black Ike, who came in frequently, to see if the players wanted anything, and who looked ' the door when he left and entered, found as

he went in that the door did not close, and lon his turning to learn the case he found [ Bob Betta just behind him. ' ' You must get out of here,' said the black man, angrily. ' Must I, now ?' and Bob forced his way in. ' Yes, you must. This place is private.' ' There's gaming here.' 'But these gents ai*e friends,'said Black Ike, moving as if he would force Bob from the room. ' Well, I'm not an enemy. But see here, my friend, don't you lay your hand on me.' ' I will if you don't get out,' said the black man, showing his teeth. ' Oh, you will ? I like that. Your voice has a business ring to it that just suits me. I dropped in here for excitement and I haven't seen any yet—' ' Please to leave us halone,' said Larkin. ' Oh, certainly ; go on. I won't interfere,' and Bob Bett3 sat down and adjusted his wig, which had dropped to one side in the most tipsy fashion. Helm and Sam Sage exchanged glances. They saw through the disguise and recognised Bob Betts. ' Let the gent stay if he wants to,' said Sam Sage, ' me and my pal don't care, if Larkin don't.' ' Ho, if it's hagreeable to the othei's, why, I 'ay nothing to say,' said Larkin, picking up the cards he had thrown on the table. 'Now this gent,' said Black Ike, 'had ought to treat yeh for yehr kindness. 'Taint every one would let you off so.' ' I was in hopes they wouldn't let me off,' said Bob Betts. ' I'm yearning to see the fun you promised me ; but for the sake of good feeling I'll Btand a bottle of wine—a cheap bottle, mind you, for my pile is getting low.' While Bob was.speaking, Sam Sage nodded to Helm, and they rose and went to one side, where they spoke in whispers. ' Know that fellow ?' asked Helm. 'Of course I do. And I know the other one, too,' replied Pam Sage. * You mean LarMn ?' 'I do.' ' Aint he straight ?' ' He's a spy. Put a bullet into him first chance you get.' ' But should we remain here ?' 'No ; but it won't do to leave yet a bit. We must go out one at a time.' ' Out of the house ?' ' Yes; if we stay here another hour, the law hounds will be on us. Don't let them see that we suspect them.' They came back to the table and the play wa3 resumed; but to two of the men it had lost all interest. Bob Betts knew nothing about cards, but he was on the point of asking to have a hand dealt to him, when Helm rose and asked to be excused for a few minutes. After he had been gone half an hour Sam Sage said he would go out and find his friend. Now Caspar and Bob Betts exchanged glances. They did not attempt to stop Sam Sage, but the moment he had gone out they followed. Sam Bage went up stairs, and they were close behind him, uncaring for the pi'otests of Black Ike. They heard tramping on the stairs leading to the roof, and they followed, getting up in time to see a man disappearing down an adjacent trap. 'We must get down to the street, Bob. Hurry !' They ran back and through the danceroom, Bob knocking down Black Ike, who tried to stop him, in order to' git de costume,' he said. They got out in the alley, and they heard the fall of rapid feet, flying on the northwest. ' Now, Bob!' 'Now, sir?' 1 Run, if ever you ran in your life.' 1 If we can't outrun them old codgers, we ought to undergo double amputations forthwith,' said Bob. During this brief talk they were running. Caspar was as light and swift as a deer, and lie was surprised at the speed of the young giant keeping abreast of him, like a human meteor, for Bob still retained the wig, beard and dress.

The police heard the running, but they could not see the men, for pursuers and pursued were in the side streets, or flying through garbase-covered alleys. The older men had the start; the younger men had the adyantage of speed and endurance.

On they kept, the panting of the men in front becoming louder and more frequent. It was evidently not the first time they had run with pursuers at their heels. They readied the open space near the waterworks, where there ia now a beautiful park, and they dashed in the direction of the boat-houses. 'Stop!' shouted Caspar Clifford. 'Stop and surrender, Helm, or I'll fire.' The answer to this was a shot that whizzed past his ear, and a savage oath from the man who fired. 'Don't shoot back, Bob,' cried Caspar. ' Save your loads till we can use them.' They got to the river in time to see a boat shooting into the middle of the stream. ' Keep back !' roared Sam Sago, and from the stern sheets he opened fire with a pistol in each hand.

Bob Betts dropped on onekneo. For the '■DOinent Caspar thought he was shot, but he Kit relieved when he saw him throw his piotol over his left arm and draw a careful Dead on the man nearest liim.

He fired, and a cry of rage and pain came ■back from the boat. ' Come, Bob 5 we must follow.' ' But how.'

' I have a key to the boat-house; Come! Come!'

Caspar Clifford ran to the boat-house and opened the door. He knew where everything was there. He handed Bob two oars, and then, with the strength of a giant, he drew a boat out and shot it into the river.

Both sprang in. Caspar seized the oars, He was now in his element.

He could hear the creaking of row-locks up tho river, and he dashed in the direction of tho sound.

He gained rapidly, and again the fire opened from the boat in front. Four pistols were being used, and it was evident both

men were at it. Caspar never stopped rowing, and Bob Betts kept on firing uutil all his shots were gone. The bullets had torn through the frail boat as if it had been paper, and it sank in front of the Clifford mansion just as the men in front leaped to the shore and abandoned their craft. [TO Bfl CONTINUED.!