Five Cent Wide Awake Library (vol. 2) (1897 08 13)
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9 Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., as Second Olass Matier. ; “7 FRANK TOUSEY, Purtnisuxr, 29 WEsT 26th Si, N.Y, PRICE No. 1332. {compuwrs } New Your, August 13, 1897. IssuED EVERY FRIDAY. 5 CENTS. Vol. IT. Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1897. by FRANK TOUSEY, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. O. A Story of Trials and Triumphs On HE A (} ON and Off the Stage. ; B By GUS WILLIAMS. LEDAT HIS TREES The murderous Italian plucked a ‘stilletto from his breast, seized the needle-like point between the thumb and first finger of his right hand, and lifted it above his head to hurl it at the helpless victim, ms vf
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» " THE ACTOR'S SON. The Subscription Price of the Five Cent Wipr AWAKE LiIpraAry by the year is $2.50: $1.25 per six months, post-paid. Address FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, 29 West 26th Street, New York, A Story of Trials and Triumphs On and Off the Stage. CHAPTER I. “FRANK SPARKLE.” “ Yes, sir.” **Come here.” The voice was that of Professor Whackboy, founder of the academy, for youth of the male sex, bearing his name, and thus admonished, Frank, a bright, intelligent lad of eighteen, arose from his seat, and walked up to the professor’s desk. “You called me, sir,” he said, after he had remained silent for some seconds without any apparent desire upon the pat of the principal Ney had summoned him to open a conversa- ion. Professor Whackboy glanced ‘at him over ws Sh oauaaie and his thick brows contracted sternly. “Yes; Ihave received a letter relating to you, and also one from your father, The lat- ter calls ‘you from school, and if the former is eorrect, I cannot say, sir, other than it is most welcome, for if would spare me the pain of expelling you.” Frank’s face flushed. S* What have I done, sir?’ he demanded holtly. ‘ Professor Whackboy coughed lightly. “Nothing,” he said, with a freezing air; **but this letter to which I allude informs me that your father follows that disgraceful pro- fession of, hem—an actor! Is this true?” ? Frank Sparkle’s face flushed and paled by urns. : “ Well?” he asked, coldly. “Ts this true?” re-demanded the learned gentleman, “Tt is, sir; and I am proud to own it!” “That is sufficient, sir. You are no longer a pupil of mine; as I before remarked, your father has sent for you; in fact, he is dying.” i Dying!” repeated Frank, turning very ale, : Nppratcen And although I wish no man ill, I ean only say itis better thus than that ne oe further pursue those disreputable uties——” ‘ Professor Whackboy never finished the sentence, Quick as a flash, Frank Sparkle leaped for- ward, seized a heavy inkstand, and hurled it at him. \ _ It whizzed through the air, struck him fair- ly in the mouth, and cut the sentence short. Naturally quiet and passive, Frank was like a lion when his father’s name was as- sailed; for he loved the old comedian more than sons are wont to love parents, and I ma: be pardoned if I say, I think, just then, Prof. Whackboy got an inkling of how deep and true that affection really was. The school burst into a roar; the ink bub- bled from the lips of the professor, streaming down the bosom of his. heretofore spotless shirt, and paciie op. his cane, he leaped to. his feet and flourished it over the boy. Frank Sparkle’s fist clenched, and there was an ominous light in his eye; so ominous, that the learned and ink-begrimed man low- ered the rattan as the boy said: ‘Don’t you dare to strike me; I am no longer under your control, and I have served you as I would any other person of question- able respectability who attacked the name of my father!” 1 } ‘Leave the house, sir,” yelled the infuriat- ed man, pointing toward the door, Frank merely bowed his head, and with - great dignity. strode into the hallway and up G) to his own dormitory. In half an hour a ate bore him down the road to the depot, followed by the ringing By GUS WILLIAMS. cheers of the boys, among whom he was a fa- vorite. He rose up, waved them good-by, then the stage swept around a bend in the road and he had left V prcers Academy forever. He reached the depot, paid the stage-driver and strolled into the station. “ How long before the next train leaves for New York?” he asked, as he purchased his ticket. “Twenty minutes, sir,” was the agent’s re- ly. +: lie thanked the man, drew back to a seat in the corner, and lost himself in thought: What did it all mean? He had received a letter from his father but three days before, wherein he expressed himself enjoying the best of health, and now’ to hear thus sudden]; of his approaching death, was bitter an strange indeed, A It seemed to him that the train would never come, and he caught himself repeating: ‘* Sixty seconds make one minute,” etc. At length the iron-monster thundered into the depot, and with a sigh of relief, Frank picked up his valise and entered the car, The ride to New York was not an extreme- ly lengthy one, although the scenery was most beautiful: but the lad had no eye for it to-day, and when the train rnmbled into the gress metropolis, he leaped gladly out and ailed a hack. ““Drive me to No.— Bleecker street,” he said, as he sprang feverishly in and was rat- tled away to his destination, Night had fallen, bringing with it a driz- zling mist, and when Frank reached his fath- er’shome, he was surprised to see it envelop- ed in darkness, He sprang out, darted past a couple of men who were lounging near the door and ran up the hallway... Reaching the upper landing, he knocked on the landlady’s door and asked for his father. *“Lawk’s sir,” was the woman’s reply, “he left for the theater half an hour ago, “But—but I thought he was dying!” « i “Never was better in his life—that is since ve known him, and that’s twenty years— long before my Nell died, and——” Doubtless Mrs. Brophy would have gone on in this strain all night, but Frank cut her short by egona ‘Did he say he expected me 2” “Not a blessed word, sir.” — “Thank you ; I will leave my valise here, and take a stroll down to the theater.” The fevasariouk letter puzzled him greatly, and as he turned into the Bowery, he mut- tered to himself: $ Lig * Confound it i what does it all seat at Whackboy get it up as an excuse for expell- ing me? Hang it all ! I'll find out what dad has to say before I’m a day older, and——’ His remarks were cut short by a flower girl yelling her wares in his ear. Sa el He bought a white rose, fastened it in his button-hole, and strolled down towards the theater, followed, although he knew it not then, by the same two men who lounged groan the door of his father’s boarding- ouse, At the time of which I am writing, the Old Bowery was in the heydey of its popularity. e Its massive walls resounded to the bellow of | the ease ‘Forrest, the graceful faces and finishe acting of Julia Dean, Susan Denin and countless lights of more or less brilliancy in the theatrical world; but come who might, a Booth or a Howe, none found a heartier reception from the packed house than the ever popular Sam Sparkle, whose flashes of sentiment, dashes of comedy, high or low; from the ‘‘ Mock Duke” in the *‘ Honeymoon” to “Jacob Harwig” in ‘‘ Boots at the Swan,” viene the delight of the circles and the joy of e pit. ; Frank was passionately fond of the stage— in fact, he had long settled upon it as the ursuit of his life, and was ‘“‘up” in the juveniles of many of the popular plays of the et from Shakespeare down to Clifton hey. As he passed the brilliant entrance of the theater, he saw that the bill of the night was “Romeo and Juliet,” supplemented by the farce of ‘Turn Him Out,’ He noted this with a smile, for the ‘‘ Nico- demus Nobbs ” of Sam Sparkle was a perform- ce never to be forgotten for its broad slices fun, and then strolled around to the back es The gruff, grumpy old door-keeper glanced up as he entered. The play had not begun, and the whole house wus in a hubbub. Men ran hither and thither ; walking gents in crimson hauberks, and pretty ballet girls in court trains, design- ed especially for the halls of the crusty Capu- let; stage carpenters cursed and swore at wings and set pieces, supers mumbled and talked lowly to one another, and amidst it all, a short, thick-set, spectacled ‘man, with a prompt-book in his hand, flitted around the men and questioned, ~ Now and then he caught the words : ““Won’t you, Taylor, or you, Baker, or Roche, or Kennedy? A week’s salary to the one who speaks first. D—n it; the house is full; we can’t send ‘em away!” Then each man shook his head, and each man in turn, replied : f “Not up init. It would damn me forever, and I’d never be able to show my face again in New York.” Frank turned from these and asked the door-keeper : / “Can I see Mr. Sparkle ?” “Not yet; he’s dressing.” , “But I am his sun; I must see him.” ‘Can't help it, sir; call again; there’s no time to be wasted now.” “Tt’s no use talking, you can’t see him now.” Med But I tell you I must see——” The man arose and pushed open the door. The boy had just taken a step forward, when a man strolled upon the stage. It was Sam Sparkle made up for Peter, and raising his voice, Frank shouted: The comedian turned, saw him, and darted forward. “By Jovel it couldn’t have been better; the very one!” He tapped the stage manager on the shoul- |der and whispered a few words in his ear; his face lit up and he called to the doorkeeper, Jenkins : : 4 “Let that young man in,” Frank came. forward, seized his father’s hand and was about to speak, when the stage manager, the short man in spectacles, said, quickly : “Don't waste time in words. Are you up in Romeo? That beastly Burns is drunk as a fool and can’t speak a line.” Frank’s face lit up; he glanced at his father, and he too asked ; ee know you are up in it, Will you play y ; i avi “ But ” Whistling and stamping could be heard from the front—the audience were getting impatient,
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“No buts about it. SOMOS. “Then tear down-stairs like mad.” The old man hustled him past, the come- dian whisked him down into a dressing-room where tights, symmetries, swords, feathers, hauberks, shapes, shirts and even togas lay piled about in direst confusion. “Don't stop to tell me how you came to leave school, but pile in and make up, Ther2’s flake white, here’s chalk and rouge, there’s a hare’s foot and a lining brush. ere’s some cosmetic or India ink, which ever you wish. Sail in, and if you don’t do me credit and lay all over that milk and water Burns, I'll dis- own you.” All around was bustle and confusion. He heard the call boy sammons: “First act: everybody up to begin!” he heard the bray of the instruments in the or- chestra, felt himself slipped into a blue’and white hauberk, and as one in a dream, drew the strap still closer around his tights, slid his feet into a pair of cross straps, blue slip- pers, and put the last touch of rouge on his cheeks—so confused that he attempted a dozen things at once. “ Hurry up—hurry up!” ** Come now!” * Quick there!” These words met him‘upon every side, and amid the bustle and confusion the rustle of the ascending curtain was heard. He worked on faster, buckled on his sword, bent back his plume and hastened up the Stairs, ;? “Just in time,” he heard the stage manager say. ‘‘There’s your cue—go on!” , andsome, well-dressed and majestic, he strode forward upon the stage. There was a moment’s pause; the lights seemed to spin around, then the house broke into cheers, and he heard swell: up from the throng, like a million throats : “ Hi—hi—bravo—Sparkle—Sparkle!” Will you play?” CHAPTER II. For a moment Frank was astounded to hear his name, but he soon after learned that the stage manager had apologized for the non-appearance of Mr. Burns, “owing to severe indisposition, and his part would be essayed by Mr, Frank Sparkle, son of the eminent comedian,” ‘ He seemed to live in a dream, but in a few seconds he warmed up to his work, and “carried the house,” breathless, with his every movement. His heart leaped with joy, his face was flushed, his blood tingled; while even old actors lounged at the wings and followed the young lover with comments of praise from act to act thoroughout the entire play. But all were on the qui vive for the cele- brated balcony scene and when the act-drop rustled-softly upward a death-like stillness Swept over the whole house. _ The scene was a master-piece. He stood there in the center of the garden, the pale, bluish light of the calcium moon streaming on his white hauberk, his young, handsome face turned towards the vine-drap- ed baleony, over which hung the lovely ** Ju- ae and as the scene grew the silence deep- ened, Suddenly Frank heard a low, agonizing gasp from the wings, and as he cast a back- ward glance, he saw Sam Sparkle clutch the profile edge, his face white as ashes, his lower Ea dropped, and his eyes fairly bulging rom his head. ‘ For @ moment our hero forgot his lines. That pale, painful face burned into his very soul; but another sound attracted his atten- tion to the proscenium box. A band swept aside the lace curtain, a tall, handsome man arose in the box, and hurled a bunch of white roses at the very feet of the young actor. Another low gurgle from Sam Sparkle, the eyes of the two men met, and with a cold, eynical smile, he in the box raised his hat. The curtain fell back again, but not before ‘Frank had seen another form in the rear of the box, and recognized both, They were the two men he had seen in Bleecker street. : “By Jove!” he muttered, ‘I have seen those men before.” Fora moment it troubled him, then was forgottenin theexcitement. i e meant,to ask the comedian who they were when he left the stage, but in the bustle eee THE ACTOR'S SON. and confusion of dressing, he forgot all about it. Nevertheless, the men would nof allow themselves tp be forgotten; for their cheers were the heartiest, their bravos the loudest ; and often Frank felt his eyes wander towards them, strive how he might to same them away, and once or twice he caught himself wishing they would go. At times his gaze would wander to the wings, and he would see the old comedian leaning against the proscenium with his eves: riveted upon the strangers, and his face dead- ly white. All this combined, rendered it still more uncomfortable for the debutant, but he shook off the feeling, and drove at his work with renewed vigor and spirit that seemed to tell upon the audience, and elicited cheers where they were least expected. * * * * * * The curtain had fallen upon the tragic end- ing of the great play, and while all was in bustle and confusion for the farce, Frank wended his way to his dressing-room and silently doffed his sable robes. The bunch of white roses lay beside him, and as he picked them up, a slip of paper flut- tered to the floor. ; He raised it, and read: the actor, and—the actor's son.” “What the deuce does he mean by under- scoring the last three words?” mused Frank, “Hang the man! I don’t know him!” The farce was soon over, and Sam Sparkle came down the stairs, looking blue and down- cast. While he was disrobing, Frank told him the story of the mysterious letter, and was not surprised to find that the comedian knew nothing of it. ’ However, the man’s face grew pale as ashes, and as he caught sight of the paper, he snatched it up and read it hastily, “T knew it—I knew it!” he groaned, as he erushed the paper in his hand. “ There’s danger afoot after all these years, Oh, my poor boy!” Frank looked at him in surprise; he had never seen theold comedian so much affected, and he hastened to inquire the cause, “Ask me nothing now,” returned Sparkle, “but look to yourself, and be careful for the love of Heaven,” ‘“But why, dad?’ Of what?” “You will know soon enough, lad—you must know, it is better. Oh, my God! that this should happen! That he should appear iving—when I had so long thought him dead! It would have been better so—it would——” “ Good-evening, Mr. Sparkle.” He turned as he was saluted, and saw the man who had been in the box standing on the threshold of his dressing-room. _ One would imagine it impossible for a face to grow so pale as did Samuel Sparkle’s at that sight, and he stammered as he turned away. eS shes ae Re | down here, Philip Dev- erell 2?” The dark man smiled, showing an even set of teeth, and sank into a chair. ‘Not avery graceful way to meev a fellow after all these years. Mr. Frank, you’ have grown a fine lad, and a capital actor, but I thought you died nearly eighteen years ago. Didn’t you, Sam?” He spoke those last words with a cold, chilling emphasis, and the comedian shiver- ed from head to foot. Philip Deverell laughed sardonically, and continued : “Whata rogue you were, Sparkle, to send world with all his theatrical talent—worse, too,” and the man’s voice grew harsher still, “to give the world to believe that he died in early infancy!” “For God’s sake, Deverell!” moaned Spar- imploring plance, Meanwhile Frank had stood a surprised lis- tener to the conversation, and turning quick- ly, the comedian said to him: “Go up-stairs and search around. the sta: for the buckle I lost from my shoe in the tragedy.” Without a word, Frank obeyed him, and then the scene in the dressing-room took a stronger turn. ‘So you have deceived me!” hissed Dever- ell, glaring at the comedian. ‘Now, see “Philip Deverell presents his compliments to d your boy to school and hide him from the! kle, turning his eyes upon the man with an. , Thrice he strained Frank to his heart, and here, Sparkle, all this business for which you ° have been paid might have been done easily ' years ago. It is harder now, but by —— it must be done all the same!” ; “* Mercy, Deverell, mercy!” “Mercy!” foamed the infuriated man, “ How dare you ask it at my hands, Samuel Sparkle? Do my bidding—kill this son of yours—hark ye—kill him, or by —— the law will clutch you as firmly as——” “Oh, for God’s sake, Deverell!” gasped Sparkie, Spi his hands up before his face. Philip Deverell arose and bent his lips down. to the actor’s ear, “You are in a ees Sam Sparkle,” he heard, ‘and you shall do my eee or go to the seaffold. Do you think I have forgotten that night in the road? Do you think forgotten that poor creature Be for her life while the blood streamed down her face ? Do you think I have forgotten that last erushing blow which mashed through her head and Jaid her lifeless at your feet? Do you think——” “Don’t—don’t, for the love of Heaven!” moaned the wretched man, clasping his hand . over Deverell’s mouth and glancing around. , “Walls have ears; keep my secret and—and ape have come again—I will talk with you then.” “But will you promise to put this boy out of the way? Remember, you sign your own eath-warrant by your refusal.” Fora moment the comedian wavered be- tween two opinions, then he shook his head, ~ feebly. Deverell’s brow grew dark, “* You refuse ?” he gasped, Yes; do with meas you will, but out on the very trap of the scaffold, I will denounce. you, ae everell, Take care, you may tempt and try me, but you will find me true to the death. Go,de your worst! Ican die but once,” then his voice sank to a whisper, and he continued: ‘and I can murder but once! Once, said I? No, twice! You have aeeges me on, Philip Deverell, until I am esperate; leave me, orf may be tempted to repeat the scene you witnessed in the dark road! Go!” The tempter saw that he was desperate, and crept towards the door. “Tt is war then?” he asked. **'To the death!” “‘T will see you again; I will give you a week for reflection——" ““T want it not.” “Then look out for me.” The door slammed sharply to; he was gone, A The actor sank back in the chair and coy- ered his face with his hands. * Oh, my poor boy,” he moaned, ‘‘oh,my _ poor boy!” — : At that instant he caught the echo of Frank’s footstep upon the stairs, and spring- ing up, he began. dressing at all speed, hum- ming while he worked. “Can't find the buckle, dad,” said Frank, as he entered the room. “ Never mind, it is here, You’ve done well __ to-night, my boy, and you have the juveniles for the rest of the season, for refusal or ae- r ceptance. You’vye made many friends, my _ boy, but you've made one bitter enemy.” fh ‘ “Who is that?’ asked Frank, glancing up in surprise. ve “The man who was here—the man who gave you these!” flinging down the roses and rinding them under his feet. ‘Shun him, oy, as you would a serpent! Be careful, watch, wait, be faithful, or, as surely as you are living to-night, he will sting you in the dark! Those roses are a signal of danger. Beware!” - Fa “Of what, dad?” Ba “A nameless danger, my boy: But come’ what may, promise me you will never think ~ too harshly of your old dad.” ; Frank seized his hand and shook it firmly. “How could I, dad? You have been good to me, and but for this shadow we should | have been so eee A ' **Ay, so happy!” repeated the actor, an then he spoke no more until they were hom the tears from the old eyes dripped down 0 the handsome young face of the boy, then he put him from him and bade him go to rest ; Once alone, he sat down and began wri “Tl make notes,” he muttered, ‘Th may be of use to the boy if—ifI die. I tell him the story ‘with my lips, and w me are still and cold these pages may are God pity me and Satan curse you, Phil
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; THE ACTOR'S SON. leverell, with your handsome, fiendish face. here is villainy afoot—but what? Oh, a sibyl could not more plainly foresee the fu- ture than I do now!” CHAPTER III. Niegut after night Frank Sparkle continued to act, to the intense delight of crowded houses, and night after night that bunch of + white rosebuds fell av the young actor's feet. “Romeo and Juliet” had passed its run, and a great; spectacle was in preparation in which Frank enacted a prominent character, The night when this great spectacle was to be first unfolded to the ‘public was the last ii night of grace accorded by Philip Deverell to Samuel Sparkle, and the old comedian dread- ed each hour as it passed, fearful of the con- ; Paras of that man’s threat. till he was not disturbed, but could he have seen Deverell that afternoon, his fears would have been increased threefold. It might have been half-past_ three o'clock when the man left his abode and strolled leis- urely down to the Five Points. At this period it was not a common sight to see an elegantly dressed man in the vicini- ty of the old brewery, and many eyes were turned upon him as he came down the filthy thoroughfare. Reaching the dingy red house, Deverell darted in and picked his way to the upper story. It was evident he was known here, for upon : reaching the door facing him as he mounted, he turned the knob and strode boldly in. & A dark, sinister-looking fellow was lying i on an apology fora bed, but sprang up as _ Deverell entered. . *‘Howa youa do, Mr. Deverell?” an “Oh, [mall square. St. Gash, I want you i to doa bit of work for me. You remember that ie ones at the Bowery the other night ” *De von you trowa de flowers?” ; oc Yes.” ; Giovanni St. Gash nodded his head. _» Deverell continued: is “You are pretty good at flinging a knife, I hear, Giovanni, but in all the years we have " been together I have never put that to the test. Now the business I want you to under- take is——” He bent down and whispered in the Ital- ian’s ear. St. Gash was an old hand atscenes of bloodshed, an old slave of Philip Deverell, and he merely smiled, as the other laid out his plans, but that smile meant acceptance of __ the terms. Z “Ver goot; I nevair miss amy mark, -I will be there on the time.” “Remember,” continued Deverell, as he arose to go, “not till the play is well on, and then in the confusion, aim at him at whose feet falls a bunch of white roses.” The Italian nodded his head, and the arch plotter took his departure. Night came on, and father and son wended their way to the theater, beneath whose bril- liant light crowds were surging in, eager to get seats; not one dreaming of the tragic end- oe night to “Raymond and Agnes.” / S a spectacle, this play can scarcely be sur- passed; and the glowing, red-lettered bills me vand eee cuts, from quarter sheets to threes, lured the playgoers to the grand old house in hundreds, __ Meanwhile, Giovanni St. Gash had bought himself into the graces of the super-master, _ and in the dingy old room set apart for the + supernumeraries, was arranging himself for the performance. ne “How is the house?” asked Frank, as he came upon the stage. ** She's a ripper; look for yourself,” The young actor applied his eye to the hole # es ‘the curtain, and viewed the vast sea of ces. ' Boxes, pit, cireles—all were jammed to suf- _ focation, and Frank felt his breast swell with pride at the assemblage he was to face, The last note of the overture had died away - he drew back, and a slight rustle ran through the audience. “Clear stage!” came the cry of the promp- _ ter, accompanied by a sharp clap of the hands: _ then the bell rang briskly, and with a heavy ‘rustle the curtain went up, and the first act _ had begun of the great spectacle that was doomed yet to be swept out in flames and mourned in tears. _ Frank Sparkle played that night as he had ever Porte hefore, and at length the master scene came wherein both his father and him- self were upon the stage. ‘“Now isa ma time!” hissed St. Gash, and while all eyes were riveted upon the stage, he struck a match and applied it to the old can- vas. Wilder and wilder grew the scene, louder and louder swelled the applause, and happy, smiling faces were seen upon every side. ** Hi—hi! bravo—bravo.” Then a thrill of horror; a long insidious tongue of flame lapped up and fired the borders, the audience sprang to their feet. tumbled like sheep towards the doors, an while women screamed and fainted, and men cursed and swore, high above the din rang the awful ery of: “Fire!” In the twinkling of an eye, the old, frayed canvas was enveloped in sheets of flame, while knife in| hand, St. Gash awaited the signal of the roses, he crash and splinter of glass as the mad- dened creatures leaped from the windows could be heard, anaé amid that hell of sound, Philip Deverell arose and hurled the bunch of/roses at the stage. At that instant the actors, cognizant of their peril, had started to fly, and the bouquet fell at the feet of—Sam Sparkle! “Sacre!” hissed Giovanni, and hurled the stiletto forward, It whizzed through the fire, circled in mid air; then a loud ery broke above the hellish din, and with the hilt peering from his blood- stained bosom, Sam Sparkle reeled backward and fell crashing down among the flames? CHAPTER IV. Tue broad sheets of flame curled and lap- ped around the tinder-like scenery, the wood- work and canvas blazed and smoked, and above all arose the unearthly shrieks of wounded, frightened and dying men, women and children, Even in the midst of that miniature pande- monium, Philip Deverell saw the fatal mis- take the Italian had made—a mistake for which no one was to blame—and leaped up from his seat. But it was too late to recall the blow, too late to seek out St. Gash and acquaint him f it. * Maledictions!” hissed the plotter, “he will escape us after all, The man whom I would have live is killed, but safety now de- mands my attention.” He sprang boldly into the struggling, screaming mass and beat his way to the door, Escape by that quarter was entirely cut off, for, in their mad haste, the people had crowded into the lobby and were jammed to- gether in a solid body, only able to scream and curse while others clambered over their heads, trampjed upon them, beat them from their hold, until, from wall to wall, from floor to ceiling, was one solid mass of squirming limbs. *“Good God!” gasped Deverell, “have I trapped myself?” By this time the flames had reached the auditorium; balconiesand circles were con- verted idto crackling bodies of fire, the dense black smoke was suffocatidg many of the miserable beings, and the flames scorching as many more, 7 f “Furies! I must get out of this!” shrieked Deverell, as he beat his way back into the theater's center, } Right and left his blows fell, and nerved with a horrible desperation, he flung the struggling wretches from his path. From where he stood he could see a vacant window upon the gallery above, and rushing at all speed towards one of the supports, he wound his arms around it and prepared to clamber up, “Save me, oh, my God! save!” shrieked a woman, tottering forward, and grasping his coat, “D—n you! let go!” he hissed, as he dealt her a heavy blow on her upturned face. The blood trickled down from her nose and mouth, but she still clung to him and cried: “Oh, for God’s sake, save me! Think of my little ones at home; think——” e slid back from the pllar, stooped, tore the woman from her grasp, and lifting her bodily in the air, hurled her over the xe e of the gallery, and into the very midst of the flames below. ' One single shriek rent the air as the circled over and over in her downward flight, then ! ' she disappeared in the dense, black smoke with a heavy crash. Deverell again began the ascent. By this time the fire-engines had reached the scene of the conflagration, and dense bodies of water splashed through the broken windows, igo bes the miserable wretches, and falling on the flaming wood with a fierce, heavy splutter. Deverell reached the gallery above, clam- bered over the’ seats to the window, reaching which, he dashed away the glass with his clenched fist, and wrigzled through, gashed and Paes pees to the stone sill. The blaze lit up the place with a light that rivaled the brilliancy of nooday. Below, the streets were thronged with peo- le, the fire-engines buzzed and shrieked, and ending forward, Deverell espied a shed some twenty feet below. Sudddenly a howl went up upon the night air; the people had seen him—were pointing at him—and as his bloodshot eyes turned to- wards them, he saw the firemen lugging for- ward a ladder. The stones upon which he clung were be- coming too hot to hold, and he waved his hands abovs his head in a despairing appeal for aid. At that moment a dull rumble was heard, followed closely by a splitting sonnd; the walls rocked and heaved, then the roof fell in- ward with a heavy crash, mashing the crowds below, and against the brilliant ackground his slender form stood out in bold relief. “Save me! Save me!’” he shrieked, forget- ting in his despair the poor creature whose appeal for aid he had answered by death. he next instant the broad sheets of flame swung up towards him, curled around his body, and he saw that another moment’s de- lay would be fatal. Crouching down, he measured the distance to the shed below, and with a fearful oath of blasphemy, leaped forward into space, His body whizzed through theair, he landed upon the tin with a heavy sound and over- powered with horror, The moment he real- ized he was safe, he fell back with a low gur-. gle, senseless. A groan went up from the throng at that fearful leap for life, and willing bands lifted the ladder to the shed and brought the inan- imate man down, ‘*Poor fellow! he’s dead,” someone said, but such they soon found out was not the case, Better—far better would it have been for Frank Sparkle had it been so, but the devil never deserts his own, aud Phillip Dev- erell was one of his most devoted subjects. Inside of twenty minutes he had recovered his senses, and mingled with the crowd gaz- ing at the crumbling ruin, and wondering if Frank Sparkle had fallen withiit, CHAPTER V. FRANK SPARKLE did not notice the comed- ian fall with that fatal stroke, but dashed wildly through the flames and with his broth- i actors, fled at all speed towards the ba’ oor. The scene had been a box set, and in the twinkling of an eye the whole stage was sur- rounded with a wall of fire. “For God’s sake save me!” he heard one of the screaming ballet girls shriek, and stoop- ing down, he wound his sinewy arms around her, and bore her safely to the street. The fire engines had arrived, the red-shirted rescuers were doing all in their power to save: the theater, but the dense crowds that jam- med and blocked up the streets saw that this. was useless—the house was doomed. As Frank rejoined his brother actors, he rroct for the first time the comedian was not ere. _ ‘“Where’s pop?” he cried, turning and _fac- ing the heavy man, who worked now with an energy that belied his calling. . “Good God! I don’t know. I didn’t see him come out. As sure as you live, Sparkle, he’s in the theater yet!” Frank waited to hear no more; he hurled the people from his path and dashed back to- wards the theater. “Come back—come back!” a hundred voices shouted; he heeded them not, but sped to- wards the back door, out of which the smoke was rolling in dense, black clouds, and long, insidious tongues of flame darting like ser- pents’ fangs. , He held his clothing over his mouth and leaped in. j , Scarcely had he gone half a foot beyond the
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THE ACTOR'S SON. threshold ere he felt himself seized from be- hind, and a fireman's voice yelled in his ear: “Are you mad, man? You will be sacri- ficed!” “T care not!” cried the brave boy. ‘“ My father is in there; I must get to him, Let me ‘o! ‘*No, by Heaven, I won't!” “Let me go, I say!” ** Never! you-——" He turned, dealt the man a blow, wriggled from his grasp, and followed by a groan of severe from the lookers-on, leaped forward and disappeared in the flame and smoke, - Rafters and flaming scene frames fell onall sides of him, but he plunged boldly on, leap- ing each barrier as it fell, until he found him- self surrounded by smoke and fire, past which it was impossible to see a single foot. The border lights thundered down upon the stage, and at that instant he hearda cracking above him, He looked up, uttered a terrified cry and leaped away. ot an instant too soon, for, the flames hay- ing severed the ropes, the massive paint- bridge fell with a heavy crash upon the very spot where he had been standing. He struggled upon the stage—his father was not there! Desperate still, he darted to the winding on on the ‘O, P. side,” and fled into the ies. A window beyond was flung open, out of which the fly-man had just leaped, and as he passed by this, the brave boy was seen by those in the street, and cheered lustily. Suddenly, however, their cheers changed to groans, for, right in their sight, a heavy tim- ber had fallen upon his head and he lay sense- less across the window-sill. Quick as a flash a ladder was pieces against the wall, and springing upon this, a fireman darted up and pulled him from the very jaws of death, as the roof fell inward! For an instant man and boy areseen boldly by the livid light, then with the dense smoke surrounding them, the brave rescuer bears Frank in safety to the earth. Poor Frank! he was saved from one peril, but he was menaced by a thousand more. The eager crowds gathered around him, but the police beat them off, “Open his clothing;” Stand back!” “ Give him air!” * He is reviving.” These, and various other comments from the throng, met the bold boy’s ears as his senses returned. “ Where am 1? Where's dad?” he gasped, in a breath, “Dunno,” replied the fireman, who had saved him, shaking his head sadly; ‘ p’raps dead—many another is.” ; No, no, no! don’t tell me that!” shrieked Frank, struggling tohis feet. “‘ He must be saved! I will go back after him, and——” He stopped suddenly, the words froze on his lips, and with one glance at the theater, he reeled back and covered his eyes. It was a heap of ruins. £ Oh, my God! he has perished! Dad—poor Then he fell back into a man’s arms, and a merciful unconsciousness blotted out all the horrors of his awful situation, and_the frightful death that had overtaken Sam Sparkle with his comic laughter still warm upon his lips. | The wound in his head bled profusely. An ambulance was summoned—a rude one —tender hands raised the poor fellow and he was driven to his home. A surgeon dressed his wounds, administer- ed an opiate, and left him to the watchful eyes and tender care of Mrs. Brophy, who, like all who knew him, had learned to love the lad. ; In three days he was sufficiently strong to leave his bed, and | at once began a search through his father’s effects. Among his private papers he found a torn sheet of foolscap, and upon this he read: *_Peverell’s power cannot be disputed, for —but he shall not hurt one hair of the boy’s —I will defend him with my life. Oh, —beware! his vengeance will pursue you to —for you stand in his light to that great —not see this till I dead, and in my —beware, boy, leave N.Y.; go anywhere, but escape —he will kill you. Go! and donot think too harsh : —and may God' forever bless you, and at | There the paper ended. Me , * Me ys x It was one of the pages the comedian had written on the night of Frank’s debut, and had torn asunder to re-write in another form. Frank scratched his head in perplexity. ** Well, here’s a jolly go! at the deuce could dad have meant? One thing is certain; he anticipated death at the handsof this Philip Deverell, and danger for me from the same quarter. Itis plain he would have me flee from New York, and now that he is dead I shan’t disrespect his wishes, Yes, I'll go— anywhere; tramp from town) to town to es- cape this man; but beware, Philip Deverell, if the knowledge of the secret power you pos- sessed over my father ever becomes known to me, I will hunt you to the ground with no more compunction than if you were a rat! “Rat! that’s a fitting title for you, for did you steal into our happiness and snatch it from our very lips ? “Only wait awhile; my day will come, never fear, and when it does, seek your hole, rat, and never show your head, if you don’t want it nipped off on sight.” ‘The boy’s face was flushed as he concluded, and there was a light in his eyes that would not have pleased Mr. Philip Deverell could he have seen him just then. However, Mr. Philip Deverell didn’t chance to see him, and Frank Sparkle mean that he should, Herummaged further among the comedian’s effects, fancying he might find more papers alluding to himself, but in this he was disap- pointed, for none could be found—not even the packet Sparkle had written on that fatal night, intended for Frank’s eyes at this time. e lingered a few days in town, but when his money was all gone, came to the conclus- ion that he must find something to do; but as he respected his father’s wishes, that “ something” must not be procured in New ork. “« There is no help for it,” he moaned; “I must tramp my way west and enter some of the theaters there. ‘Ivan do odd jebs along the road and thus save myself from starva- tion.” Accordingly he picked out a few wigs, a couple of “shapes,” a pair of tights, some stage jewels, and a pair of shoes, These he made into.a bundle, tied them to the end of a stout walking-stick, and sat down to write a letter to Mrs. Brophy. He did not wish to tell her of his reasons for leaving the city, and he knew that were he to tell her in person that he was going, this explanation could hardly be escaped. Night came on, and the young actor sat alone in his desolate apartment watching the clock on the mantel, and counting the hours before he must depart from a danger he knew no more of than that it existed ; but in what shape, and what the reason might be for its assuming any form, he was totally ignorant. He had only the old comedian’s words to uide him: “It is a nameless peril, m oy,” and from this strange danger, this peril without a name he was fleeing—fleeing, ig- norant of its direction, and knowing not whether he was going from it or walking blindly into its embrace. It was a perplexing situation. The hours came and went, and at midnight our hero arose, slipped the letter under Mrs. Brophy’s door, and passed down the hallway and into the street. “T have no guide,” he muttered, “but the railroad tracks, and may Heaven watch over me!” Then he shouldered his stick, passed on through the city, and followed the glistening rails that were to lead him to safety in the far West. His plucky heart never once faltered, and when he had gone about two miles up the track he stepped aside to allow a train to pass. The iron monster thundered on and swept away into the darkness. With a sigh as he watched it disappear, Frank took a step for- ward, but came to a sudden standstill. A man was standing directly in his path, his arms folded across his breast, and his dark eyes glaring upon the wanderer. CHAPTER VI. PxHILir DEVERELL’s nervous system was so completely shattered by the awful ordeal the fire, and not being made of the same stuff as Frank Sparkle, that he did not leave his wierd ‘ a a a a a, ~ oa ore flan't| " through which he had passed on the night of room until the afternoon following our hero’s flight from the city, despite the urgency of the case, However, having like ‘‘ Richard,” ‘‘ become himself again,” he donned his clothes and sallied forth, taking the direction of the Five Points, in which place, the reader will be pleased to remember, resided that murderous Hee of the euphonious title—Giovanni St. ash, As previously, Deverell passed up the rick- ety staircase and pushed open the door of the Italian's room without a courtesy of asking admittance, and found Giovanni, as usual, dis larite the laziness of his race, by snoring on his bed. The new-comer strode to him and shook him roughly. “Get u i The Italian opened his eyes and a smile of satisfaction painted his dark face, **Good-de-day, Mr. Deverell. Ia thoughta your burn’ up, but Ia didn’t get ze chance to see youa, and youa forbida me to come toa your house.” Rg “Quite right,” replied the visitor, sinking into a seat with an oath that made even Gio- vanni’s blood curdle. ““Whata ze mattair?” he asked, springing p. St. Gash, we have “* Whata wea done ? ss Nothing ; only killed the wrong man— that’s all,’ Deverell replied with a sardonic. laugh, ‘‘and he the very one I would have had live. By my power over him, I held a power over the boy; but now he is gone, there is no help for it—we must dispose of the whelp ourselves, “Noone is to blame; it was all a mistake. The bouquet fell at the feet of the wrong per- son, and you killed him. Of course you were not supposed to know the difference, and I did not calculate upon changing positions— at least, just then, 4 i “One would naturally suppose that his guardian and protector being dead, the boy was wholly at our mercy; but there one would be wrong, for I did not wish the stain of blood upon my hands, and, although he defied me, I am confident I could eventually have brought Sparkle to terms and made him kill the boy; but as matters now stand and I before re- marked, it devolves upon ourselves. ’ All this while St. Gash had been an earnest been fools !” listener, for this was the first intimation he — had received of the terrible mistalze. After Deverell concluded, there was a UE, pause of silence; then the Italian spoke: “Dis boy ; wherea he is 2” ‘Of course, at the house in Bleecker street.” “Well, whata wea do?” For reply, Deverell looked him straight in the eyes, and said: “St. Gash, if a serpent lay in a certain hole only waiting the passage of time to sting you, what would you do?” — “Do,” said the Italian, his eyes glitterin fiercely, “‘do? Iddigga him up and cr-r-rus him under my heel!” “That's exactly what I mean to do, We must first unearth this reptile and then slay him, before he becomes aware of my reason for hunting him down, since Pl eect may have left that which will eventually acquaint him, and in such an event, my cake is dough. Come, we have not a moment to lose, for even now the whelp a be slipping through my | fingers, curse him ‘ Giovanni St. Gash donned his hat, and fol- lowed his employer into the street, They passed on through the crowded thor- oughfare, and emerged, in an hour's time, upon Bleecker street paeadt opposite the home of honest and talkative Irs, Brophy. Quitting the Italian’s side, and bidding him to remain where he was, Philip Deverell sauntered forward and rang the bell. Mrs. Brophy answered the summons in % person.” | ““ Who would you be pleased to see, sir?" she — asked. c ; Deverell lifted his hat politely. ae “Ts Mr. Frank Sparkle at home ?” y T wish h ws nd him, oe ie There were few words upon the sheet, but ge ‘ y am § a
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THE ACTOR'S SON. | am “TVOh! strike me lively. Bustmy bloomin’ h’eyeballs h’if b’it aint a brother purfesh!” The change was so great, the man’s appear- ance so ludicrous, that Frank burst into a loud laugh. “ Are you an actor?” he asked, when he could recover his breath, : “H'am I! h’ain’t, I! Pm a commedyun, those few were sufficient to blanch Philip | neck, noone will be any the wiser, and I shall Deverell’s face still whiter, and to raise a tu- | be safe,” mult of varying emotions in his bosom. It was late when they passed the second The letter read : house, for they knew the boy must rest, and ¢ while so doing they might overtake him. DEAR Mrs. Bropuy: I cannot tell you how Half a mile past the last farm-house, the sorry | am to leave you, but pursued by a deadly . pate of which my father Reaenod me, I have Italian stopped suddenly and clutched his left the city until I am able to return a man. com anion’s arm, é a “Then I shali return, and woe be unto those ooka there! What re you?” beat : who have persecuted me and mine so long! He pointed as he spoke to the wooded slope,| ‘‘I’ma juvenile ; but I didn’t think you were ; ws a fakir also.” ‘“Yer didn’t? vell, so ’elp me proper! Vot did yer take me fur?” *** Well, to tell the plain truth,” replied our hero, “I though you an escaped lunatic,” The misjudged artiste flung up his hands. ‘““H’Oh, carry me\’ome!” he eried. ‘ We a loonytick—me? h’Oh, strike me lively? Vy, : I'm a purfeshnal actor from the ‘Queen's oo Temple o’ H’art an’ H’artists.’” ““ Were you in the Bowery on the night of the tire ?” “Yes; vos you? “T shall tramp (having no money) towards the | and through the trees a light could be seen west, es the Faron oe Supeures until I burning. Ser ee OL ce el “He has halted there, It will not do to ROG Ys eens oe sp your ts ame shoot—the report would give the alarm; we x must steal upon him, and if he has a compan- As he finished the letter, Deverell crushed | jon, put both out of the way.” it in his hand, tossed it to the floor, aud with-| Accordingly they slipped into the trees, out a word, turned abruptly on his heel and | each witha keen dirk clutched in his hand, _ Strode away, leaving Mrs. Brophy gazing} and stole cautiousiy towards the fire, where after him, and not quite sure he was not be-| Frank Sparkle had halted to cook afew po- reft of reason, ; tatoes he had obtained upon the road. As for Deverell himself, doubt and hatred| As yet the plotters could not see the faint- in tore his bosom, and they were equally match- | est sign of a human form—was the boy sleep- rte on ae el y ed antagonists, ; , ; ing? Deverell fancied so, and his lipsmoved| ‘Rather; 1 played Romeo, My name's i He reached the Italian and drew him aside. | with a triumphant smile. Frank Sparkle. Well?” : Ten yards more and the worst will be} ‘Vell, strikeme lively! My name's Nic’las “There is no help for it—we must follow | known. Dopp. You played Al, but ’im as did th’ the boy.” Slipping into a deep patch, along which the | comedy, ’e vastn’t h’a patch on mel” “Ts he gone?” bushes grew thickly enough to conceal them} Frank felt his eyes grow dim “ Don’t speak ill of him,” he said, huskily, Pees was my father, and he perished in the re.” Nicholas Dopp scratched his head. “T axes yer parding, Sparkle. Blest if I “Yes, to the west, tramping along the | from the fire, Deverell paused and whispered ; rails. Curse him! there was that in his let-!to St. Gash: ; ter——d—n it, does he know?” ‘Strike well, and leave no blood stains up- The Italian did not offer a reply, but stood | on the ground, as you value your dirty life!” mutely by, watching him and awaiting his; ‘“Trusta me! Ia nevair mees ze mark!” r) comman They took another step forward, two figures | hain’t allus a-puttin’ my foot in it. Come he Deverell foamed with rage. sprang from the thicket, two sticks knocked | now, gather up_yer perqu’visits—yer vard- “Vl find him—Ill crush him, if I put my the knives from their hands and hurled them | robe, I mean, and step along. My vardrobe’s own neck in the noose! Come, St. Gash; | over in the dust, as Frank Sparkle exclaim-|’id h’in a ’ole jist up the road, an’ if yer’ve no come!” ; ed: ubjeckshuns we'll pal together as far as yer “ Are youa goin’ toa follow de boy ?” “Good evening, gentlemen !” oin’, But see ’ere—vot does yer vant ter Ry “Yes 3 step by step to the end of the world! With a smothered oath, both men leaped to | leave th’ city fur? Carn’t yer get no ’ngage- —come|’ i : their feet,and were confronted by a pistol] ments?’ “St. Gash grasped his arm and said : barrel. ‘**Oh, yes, plenty,” replied Frank, “‘butlike “Tf he isa walking de track, we cannot ride.| ‘Move one step, Philip Deverell, and I’ll| you, [m on the tramp westward to seek a We musta walka it too.” “ 2 feed the crows upon your body, You perse- a “You are right, there is no time to lose; an| cuted my father, you are hunting me to the| ‘Then, as briefly as possible, he related all hour's Cra may be fatal.” “ death, but just now, I have a full hand !” that had happened since leaving school, at Deverell had plenty of money on his person,| As the words rang forth from the lips of the | which Nicholas Dopp marveled much, and and being the heir of a vast estate,*could | Actor's Son, the arch plotter heard another | expressed himself at its close: \ - easily draw upon his banker from any town j voice again : for such sums as he might wish. “Bust my biler, but ain’t dis a rum go? Therefore he stayed but long enough to} ‘Lay on Macbeth,’ an’ strike me lively ef I urchase firearms and ammunition, and hav- | don’t lay you out | Wictory ! shout, Sparkle, ing found the boy’s trail, started at once up-| ’ere's a tablux fur de curting tocum down on. " on it. Willany trumphanted over by wirtue, Hoor- it ‘Tramping the track was new work for the] ay !” millionaire, but his fp Pe ia a it, and __-when his strength failed him, avarice and re- CHAPTER VIL ye _yenge nerved him on for the struggle. . _Iv will require no great exertion upon the They traced the boy easily, for Frank had| reader’s part to recall the night of Frank been seen by several inn-keepers along the|Sparkle’s flight from the great metropolis, road, butall thisjnaturally delayed them, and | and he or she will readilly remember that as _ two days expired without their coming up| the train swept away in the darkness, and with the wanderer. the actor’s son stepped on the ties, and began bit They put up at a second-rate hotel, and on raeiog Sloat up them, he came toa sudden By. the next morning, well victualed, returned to | halt as he glance quickly up and saw aman, the hunt, p with arms folded across his breast, glaring at ‘As the afternoon grew, Deverell spied a} him.. lonely farm-house, and, stepping up, accosted |} It was scarcely light enough to distinguish a girl who was seated near the Bae: the features of the person eho put in such a 4 ‘I beg pardon, miss; but did you see a| strange and sudden appearance, but his atti- _ young, well-dressed fellow passing along here | tude was of such a blood-curdling najure,|a seckont.” | atany time?” that we may forgive Frank if he involuntar-|| And with these words the gamin was gone, ; “Oh, yes, sir; if it is the one you mean. He| ily drew back with a shudder, *: leaving Frank with the articles he had hon- carried a stick, to the end of which was at-| ‘The stranger never moved his arms, never|ored by the name of ‘ wardrobe,” among tached a bundle. He was very handsome, | took his eyes from the boy’s face, but ad-| which the really good pistols were the only and not more than nineteen, He stopped here | vanced slowly, nearer and nearer. articles of any value, although such words to get a drink, and was joined, up at the| Frank was not a coward, but he somehow] would have been more than sufficient to in- ? bridge yonder, by another.’ fancied this new-comer was an escaped luna-| cur the life-long enmity of Mr, Nicholas Dopp, sia Deverell’s brow grew dark—who was this | tic, and show me the man, be he ever so brave, | comedian, of the ‘‘Queen’s ‘Temple o’ H’art other? who would not quail at such a meeting, and | and H’artists,” “Thank you. He’s a runaway from school. | in such a place. ° : ‘ Left alone, Frank flung himself down upon _ Did you notice which way he went?” ‘ Sparkle had backed several feet, his eyes| the earth, his locked fingers clasped behind A The girl arose and pointed far up the curve. still Axed upon those of the supposed mad-| his head, his knees pointing upward, and his een} “*¥es; I watched him until he got out of} man, when, striking suddenly against one of | eyes riveted upon the starry skies. i d sight ; he went that way.” the rails, he went sprawling over backward,| In ten minutes Nicholas Dopp returned with “Thanks, How far is the next house?” The bundle alhped from the stick, the slim | his arms laden with potatoes he had dug from ** Some six miies, sir; and none beyond that | knots burst asunder, and as the young actor | a neighboring field, f They gathered some brushwood, lit a fire, for at least eight more,” » Deverell oltied St. Gash. iin and cooked the vegetables in the flames, : BA eel : aie Ts thea on ie Pita ‘ He ae ee they sities heartily, and then ' rail. At the farthest he is not more than aid them down to sleep. ah As Early next Horan. they were astir; the at fifteen miles ahead of us.” i | Accordingly, they walked briskly on, and | breakfast presented no change from their sup- ‘ per, and with the remainder of the raw pota- as Frank, never dreaming of pursuit, saun-| ota tered slowly along, they gained upon him at ‘toes in their De eal they trudged along up — the tracks as happy as a pair of kings. every foot. ; ‘They passed the first house. The boy had It is needless to go further into detail con. _ been there also, and with light hearts they cerning this tramp. Suffice it to say, that — journeyed onward. while they were cooking their potatoes on the _ Night came on. night when Philip Deverell and the blood- _ “Good!” muttered Deverell, as he surveyed hf thirsty St. Gash came upon them, Frank hap- _ 1e paonndines “Tf the boy should 4 pened to cast his eyes out over the tracks, ; L i a stone around his fs rar ; and there sa the t ) ny “S’elp me proper, vouldn’t I like to’ave a bust h’at that Phil’p Deverell’s claret case? H’oh, no!” : By this time, having walked on up the track some yards, they came to a curve, and switching off from the track, Dopp led the way to a sort of ravine, through which a slender, thread-like stream of water was gurgling. ; “ Velcome to the ’alls of Capulet,” he said, flourishing his hand above his head. ‘‘ You see, Sparkle, Ivas jest goin’ h’out to ’ook a few pertatoes ven I met yer, an’ I thought as ‘ow yer vas a beadle—beak, I mean—no, I don’t! ’Ang it, perlicemen’s the word. Now ist sit down, make yerself comfort’ble, an’ ‘ll slide h’out arter those ’ere pertatoes, an’ we'll ‘ave a good supper afore we goes to sleep. There’s my vardrobe an’ my pistols Wif you vants to look h’over e’m vhile I’m gone. Be careful, though; them’s loaded— he the pistols, I mean, By—by my bloomer, fur }
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He gave a violent start, and paced forward. “Vot's h’up?” cried Dopp, glancing quickly at him. “Hush! spedk lower. I must get away from here; Philip Deverell is coming uP the road incompany with anotherman. Ah! they have seen the fire; and are creeping forward with knives in their hands. I can doubt no longer—he seeks me, and bas found my trail. For God’s sake, Nick, give me one of your pis- tols, and we will creep forward and surprise them—further, if possible, disarm them and escape.” “‘Blarst me bloomin’ h’eyes!” cried Dopp, passing him the pistol, “‘h’Oh, von't ve pep- per ’is wart!” And bent upon this “ wart peppering’” ex- pedition, the two young actors crept for- word to repulse their enemies, and with what success we have already seen, Philip Deverell had not counted upon such odds, and as he stood there with the barrel of a pistol glaring him straight in the eyes, his thoughts and words were far from being the best and holiest In the calendar. As for St. Gash, for once he did not dare to hur! his stiletto, as the gamin capered before him, pistol in hand, and shouted: “Bust my bread-basket! h’ain’t yer a bloomin’ pair o’ beauties ?” CHAPTER VIII. WE must now ask the reader to pace over a lapse ‘of one week, and follow us to the picturesque little town of Piqua, in Ohio, The night is a damp and drizzling one ; the heavy mists that hang over the earth render the air raw as a later March night, and but few people have turned out to witness the per- formance of a traveling Sa aoerh who have come in for three nights during the fair-time, to present the “ blood and thunder” drama to a people who will follow it with wide-open eyes and mouths, and go home to their beds as much in the dark ee the plot as though they had never left their homes. More’s the pity ; this style of play lives and is popular to-day. “Ten o'clock!” chimes forth the cracked bell in the church steeple, and hardly has the last echo died out upon the stillness, ere a woman comes in view, passing down the one street and on up the road where it breaks off in a dark, deep fringe of poplars that toss in the wind to-night like gaunt, shadowy fingers that point upward toward a starless heaven, An ample cloak of the brightest scarlet falls in graceful folds from her shoulders, and one end, flung over her head, formed its only covering. X Long wisps of white hair straggled down from this, Puvteniag in her sallow face, twist- ed around her scrawny throat, or patting her hollow cheeks. Her chin and nose are prom- inent through the loss of teeth, but her jet black eyes twinkle and flash wickedly, and as bright as those of twenty . Who was she? the reader will ask. . For years the country people had been do- ing the same thing, but beyond the fact that she lived in a tumbledown shanty far back in the Lo ge woods on the banks of a slug- glish sheet of water known as Elkton Pool, that her name was Hagar, and she was artially demented, they knew nothing, and Nid not care much, Not a soul stopped the woman as she ae ed on up the street, but coming suddenly upon a lamp whose light streamed over a colored poster, she halted and scanned it eagerly. Jer face changed ; the color faded out from it until those black eyes glared ssorenr art It was the first intimation Hagar had re- ceived that a theatrical company was in town. She had passed the day at the fair, telling fortunes and such to the people who believe her, and taking the money thus earned from ‘a capacious pocket, she clutched it in her palm and strode forward towards the little theater. | $3 x ae “Give me a programme,” she said, striding up to the man at the door. | ie ‘That worthy complied with her wish, and snatching it from him, she ran her eyes hun- over the cast of characters. face grew even whiter; her eyes da bowed upon her breast, the eal ungedéd into her face, | th THE ACTOR'S SON. es ace moved slowly away.up the muddy road. In a short time she reached the poplar woods. ' A few feet on, a barred gate guarded a seraesling road beyond, but with an agility that her appearance belied, Hagar placed her hands upon this and vaulted over it. Never so much asa word did she utter as she passed on up this dismal avenue and emerged at length :n a sort of valley where lay the dank pool, and upon the other bank stood the rickety hut she was wont to call home. Moss and ereepers almost covered it,’ but through a little window a eienen of light stole out upon the darkness, and from a tall, brick chimney a faint trail of bluish smoke issued and drifted off through the trees. A rough ladder in one corner, led, by means of a trap, to an apartment above, and as she drew a chair up before the fire, Hagar cast a furtive glance towards it. **Humpbh ! asleep.” That was all she said, and fallfng back in the chair, she covered her face with her hands while a tear trickled from beneath her locked fingers and fell upon the back of a cat that had leaped into her lap. Half an hour passed ; the weird woman did not move, until suddenly, without the least provocation she sprang to her feet, went through a bh pees pantomime expressive of a murder, and ended by falling flat upon the hearth. Her acting was graceful, her facial expres- sion most wonderful, and had any of the sim- le townfolk seen her then, they might have ancied at some time Hagar, the Prophetess, had been an actress. As suddenly as she had begun her acting she leaped to her feet, drew herself toward the chimney, and looking cautiously around, pulled out a brick, took forth a printed sli of paper and held it where the firelight coul stream upon it, while she read. “Nearly eee years,” she muttered, that devil light coming again into her eye; ‘‘every hour has been a century of pain, but the end—ha—ha—ha! the end—the end!” CHAPTER IX. RETRACE we our steps to Frank Sparkle and Nicholas Dopp, whom we left holding’ Deverell and the Italian at bay in the little glen. Once the desperate man essayed to spring forward upon his gallant young antagonist, but Frank’s finger pressed the trigger, and Deverell saw that he only courted death, “Nick.” - “Ay? ‘Cover that ruffian and back towards me,” “All right, mé covey.” The gamin backed towards him, and when he was near enough, Frank put forth his hand, took the pistol from him and covered St. Gash. He now held both at bay. ; Drop your knives!” he commanded. Both weapons fell to the earth with a me- tallic clank. “Pick them up, Nick.” Dopp did as desired, and when_the knives were iu his possession, Frank said to the two men: * Hold up your hands!” Up in the air went two pairs of hands. “Now, Nick, search them—take away what other weapons they may have, but if either one moves a muscle, I'll riddle him,” : “Blowed h’if this ’ere h’ain’t prime!” said Dopp, as he went through the men’s pockets and extracted’ the revolvers Deverell had bought when he left New York. With four loaded pistols directed at them and themselves unarmed, you may imagine the men did not feel any too comfortable. _ Frank a dake face was radiant with ere With his eyes fixed on Deverell, he said: Hlady of to-day (vide bills) pointed h *Orray fur Sparkle an’ Dopp!” shouted the young comediam as they came to a halt. “Ve vax ’em that time, Frank!” The young actor merely smiled and laid . down to sleep. They were certain the men would not again attack them until they had refurnished them- selves with weapons, and so slept soundly. Early the next morning they were astir, and after cooking a few potatoes and shoot- ing a couple of robins, they feasted well and went on their way. There was asmack of romance about this gypsying life that just suited Frank. nce or twice as they passed through towns, they saw the bills of theatrical companies, as- certained the way they were going and press- ed on after in hopes of overtaking them. Thus a month elapsed, and one bright night they entered Piqua with the welcome know- ledge that a show was in progress. Music clashed and crashed upon the air as they passed up the street, and reaching the little play-house, Frank pointed to the bills and said; } “Look, here they are; we must see the man- ager,” Spt Dopp grasped his arm and cried, as he pointec the opposite way: ‘Strike me lively, look there! Blest if there hain’t hopposishun,” And sure enough a portable theater was erected opposite, and the next moment anoth- er sheet-iron band began playing ‘See the Conquering Hero,” in various keys, This, mingled with ‘‘Annie Laurie” from the other side, and the shouting of both agents in this extreme dilemma, was by no means pleasant, and the crowds that thronged the street cheered both sides lustily. ““flere you are, the finest show on earth. ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ ‘The Bleedin’ Buccaneer’ | and ‘ Macbeth’ to-night,” from the agent of the portable, and: “Walk right in, ‘Cast-Iron'Dick,’ ‘The Slab- Sided Ruffian,’ and a first-class farce!” from the agent of the opera-house company. Dopp’s face lit up. “ Bloweme if this hain’t like ome!” he said, clutching at Frank’s sleeve. ‘Go hit, little un, shout, Slab Sides, ’ooray!” ‘ By mistake both parties had hit the same town, and bcth were desirous of carrying off the honors! ‘Finest show on earth!” “No connection with other impostors.” “Walk right in!” “Step up, now!” © “There'll be a row,” said Frank; “which manager will we see first ?” “Suit yourself—I’m content.” Again the music burst forth, the shoutin agents bawled at the top of their lungs, an the crowd cheered lustily. ““Ooray! guy it ter ‘em! Lay hon, Mac- beth ! ‘ooray! Look there, Frank.” No sly Nicholas Dopp turned sharply—the spot where the Actor’s son had been standing was vacant—Frank had suddenly disappeared, CHAPTER X. WHEN Nicholas Dopp turned so suddenly around, and found our hero gone, his first surmise was that Philip Deverell had put in a sudden appearance, and spirited the young actor away. With his hand laid npon the butt of his revolver, and a decided low-comedy air, the eminent London comedian darted through the crowd in quest of Deverell. He carefully scanned the features of each one that he met, but no-trace of Philip or St, Gash could he find. i 4 His fears now took a more formidable shape, and raising his voice he shouted. * Hi, Sparkle—Frank, where h’are re ay A hand was laid heavily upon his shoulder, and, turning, he saw our hero standing be- -side him. ; ; They picked their way to the side door of ie eu the little theater, the only one the town could boast a save when, 28 now, a portable one came along. Frank ae secured a bill, and found the © manager’s name to be Mogul Neyersink, so he boldly knocked upon the door and asked to see him. A frowsy-headed woman in a spangled iw 4 black velvet train that had seen its best days some fifty years previous, but, nevertheless, draped the form of the bewitching leading _
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fh a = THE ACTORS SON. slender, herring-shaped man ina glossy suit of black, pacing up and down the stage, tear- ing his hair, and giving utterance to language not heard in polite society. Frank doffed his hat and stepped forward. The seedy manager stopped suddenly, eyed him from head to foot, and after a prelude of most expressive adjectives, demanded : ‘“Who're you? how did you get here? where did you come from, and what do you want?” ‘Tm an actor, sir, and from New York. I want an engagement for leading juveniles.” “Oh. you do,eh?, What's that beside you? One of your props, or part of your wardrobe?” Nick’s breast swelled prow fe ** No, sir,” he said, ‘‘I h’am Nich’las Dopp, the eminent Lunnon commedyun, from the Queen’s Temple o’ H’art an H’artists.” “You are, eh?” demanded Manager Mogul Neversink. ‘‘ Well, we don’t want you.” “But, sir——” began Frank. Mogul Neversink waved his hand toward the door. ; “JT don’t want you!” he bawled. Git!” “But lam Frank Sparkle from the Bowery Theater.” “ Bowery Theater be blowed. Git, I say!” Humbled and abashed, our two friends strode towards the door. On the threshold, Dick Dopp turned and waved his hand. “‘Veleaves yer,” he said, “but ter yer dyin’ h’our yer vill be ’aunted by h’our ghosts, yer snaggle-toothed, pestiferous, last year’s bean ‘stalk, yer——’ - His remarks were cut suddenly short by Manager Neversink snatching up a pound paint brush and hurlingit at him. It struck him squarely in the stomach, and the eminent London comedian made an acro- batie exit through the door. “Blow the h’old fox!” he gasped, when he struggled tohis feet. “Ill git h’even with "im! “Never mind, Nick,” laughed.. Frank, as they turned away, “‘ you got his brush, any- how.” «) Sadly they wended their way toward a farm-house, and creeping into the barn, found a bed in the sweet fragrant hay. In the morning they sougut out the man- ager of the portable theater, Hugh Trugold, and stepping up,)Frank raised his hat. “Mr. Trugold, I believe? My name is ears Sparkle. [amin quest of an engage- ment,” ‘* Have you ever played before ?” “Oh, yes, I was the leading juvenile of the Bowery Theater at the time ofits destruc- tion.” ‘** Have you bills to prove that?” For reply Frank pulled them from his pock- et and passed them to him. Hvyidently something pleased the manager, for he shook our hero’s hand and said: **Come in; I must speak with you.” : After introducing Nick, Frank complied, and was led into the theater, a pretty affair, clean and neat as the proverbial new pin. «Mr. Sparkle,” said Trugold, motioning the boys to a seat, “‘ you have come most oppor- tunely. I see by these bills you are up in ‘Romeo,’ Could you play the part to-night?” “Most assuredly, sir.” “Do so, and I will give you ten dollars each per week and pay all expenses. Is this satisfactory?” The sum was not great, but both boys were overjoyed. Trugold excused himself for a few mo- ments, called in a man who had been tacking up pees and talked earnestly with him. The man gathered up some paint and brushes and passed upon the stage. Manager Trugold returned to our heroes, “Mr. opp, what farces are you up in?” ** H’oh, I'm h'up h’in most h’all on ’em,” He then Lae ein with a list, and at - length struck upon one with which Trugold’s ony were familiar, and this was an- nounced for the night. ; “Now,” said the manager, after they had been talking for a couple of hours, “‘ we will repair to the hotel, where you must be intro- duced to the company.” In the best of spirits the boys passed out of the theater and were surprised to see a vast crowd gathered around the entrance. Approaching nearer, they saw that.a fresh- id dy painted canvas was the center of attrac- ‘to m, and on this was lettered in brilliant colors :. i “To-night—to-night! The event of the nine- teenth century! egeomtent of the famous and talented actor, Mr. frank Sparkle, whose escape from the fire at the New York Bowery Theater has excited the whole world, and produced a fu- rore only second to his wonderful acting. Also, first appearance of the famous comedian, Mr. Nicholas Dopp, of the Queen’s Temple of Art, Lon- don, England. A glorious bill—three great plays!” And beside this glowing announcement were the bills of the Bowery Theater in neat price: clearly proving the identity of our ero. This was the straw at which Trugold had clutched, and it was likely to prove a solid one. The two boys were led to the little house that flattered itself by the title of hotel, a wagon ‘was secured, this in turn was plas- tered over with panegyric announcements, and led by the band, they paraded the fairs pad aireele to the delight and, astonishment of all. The little-theater was packed to suffoca- tion, and on the steps of the opera house Man- ager Mogul Neversink cursed his folly in let- ting the boys slip through his fingers, and finally closed his doors in utter despair and left, for not a sow] entered his show. The performance opened with the farce, and comical Nick Dopp carried the house by storm. Then followed *a dark, mysterious and gloomy outrage, called the ‘‘ Bleeding Buc- caneer,” and then—*‘ Romeo and Juliet.” The heroine was a lovely miss, who, at the least, acted intelligibly, and more than pleased the audience, who went into hyster- ical delight at the clever acting, handsome face and well-padded form of Frank, Our hero’s dresses were new and bright, and if the audience did not appreciate his act- ing as well as they should, the glittering tin- sels and glossy satins elicited volleys of ad- miring ‘‘Oh’s!” and the pretty country girls yoted him “just too lovely to live.” His triumph was complete. The play proceeded ; and at the end of the fourth act the handsome young Romeo was called before the curtain to answer to a vol- ley of cheers, At that instant a bouquet tore through the air and fell directly at his feet. The young actor drew back as though stung by an adder, and gasped: ‘““ White roses! The signal of danger!” Then his wild eyes roved over the house in quest of Philip Deverell, but he was nowhere in sight. “ He threw it; I knowit,” muttered Frank, as he picked up the bouquet and bowed off, CHAPTER XI. On the night of Frank Sparkle’s appear- ance at the portable theater old Hagar stood in the shadow of the ruined hut, her eyes fastened on the ripple-stirred bosom of the dark pool, the wind playing idly through her white tresses, and her bony fingers opening and closing with a convulsive movement. ““Ha—ha—hal” she chuckled, feebly, ‘a show in town—two shows in town! Oh, I'll go to-morrow!” Then acloud obscured the face of the moon, a shadow distorted the features of the proph- etess, and she fairly hissed: “Ts he there? Is he? Blood—blood to drown him init! He lives yet; I know it; we shall meet again, and ‘like the hungry ti- gress, battling for its young, I'll tear my vie- tim limb from limb!’ Ho—ho—ho! One blow, ay, two, three, but I'll have a thousand for each one, and a million for this!” As she spoke. the weird woman rent the crimson felds of the drapery from her head, and revealed a dark, purple scar across the upper part of her forehead. Then turning upon her heel she strode into the hut and cast a dry log upon the fire. It soon burst into flames, and with the weird light shivering over the scene, the half demented creature locked the door, or rather barred it, hung a heavy cloth over the win- dow, and darting to the ladder, began climb- ing rapidly up it towards the loft above. he light was but faint here, yet strong encagh te disclose a long, narrow box, secure- y locked. suk With folded arms, the prophetess surveyed this for an instant and chuckled: “ Ha—ha—ha! asleep!” Merely these words, then she fumbled in | her pocket, produced a key, and falling upon ———————— her knees, inserted it in the lock and turned it briskly. A sharp, clicking sound—the lid flew up and disclosed—a human skeleton! Summoning her cat, which leaped upon the ladder as though well aware for what it was called, she took it into her arms and east it into the box. “Gnaw ’em, Sancho, chew the bones; crumble ’em to powder, that he may see my work. He slew her, not me. She was going to die but I would not spare the blow. Venge- ance is on the trail, murder is in the wind, and blood—blood everywhere. Gnaw, chew, exthe, Sancho, good cat, brave boy, ha—ha— al we'll find him yet, an’ then, woe—woe— woe! Ha—ha—ha!” Sancho gnawed at the dead bones, the hor- rible sound filling the air and the flicker from the burning log in the room below lighting up the unhallowed place. Hour after hour the half-crazed woman sat there and watched the feline’s ghastly feast. The darkness of night died out, and when the dull, gray streaks of coming dawn stream- ed athwart the eastern ‘sky, she arose, called off the cat, locked the box and shambled to her wretched couch. ; The afternoon waned, the night drew on, and in the shadow of her rude hut the mad woman stood awaiting the hour when she should away on her mission of vengeance, The shadows deepened. Still she stood there, jingling some coins in her skinny palm, her eyes fixed on the noisome bosom of the fetid pool, and her ears drinking in the distant sounds of the band, that told her the hour for the performance had drawn on. “ Now I will go,” she chuckled. She took a mock-jewel-hilted dagger, evi- dently a stage prop, from a chest, sharpened it upon a stone, and concealing it beneath her drapery, barred the door and stalked to- ward the town, She reached the long street and passed slowly down it, her eyes bent upon the grounds until the lights of the portable thea- er informed her of her journey’s end; then with that hideous leer on her face, she glide forward. Her eyes fell upon the canvas placard. She started, grew pale, and drew nearer, « To-night—to-night!” she read, half aloud ; then those great, hungry orbs flashed lower. fell upon the name of the Actor’s Son, an she drew back with a gurgle of delight. « Sparkle—ay, that’s the name—the furies are just—revenge—revenge!” CHAPTER XII. Wuen Frank Sparkle tottered off the stage with the white bouquet in his nerve- less fingers, the members of the company crowded around him, and were lavish in their praise of his acting. Even the “ juvenile” who had before play- ed Romeo, and naturally felt somewhat iqued at the change, forgot his anger, and fice a true son of Thespis, grasped the boy's hand and said: “Sparkle, you’re immense; hang me if the change isn’t the best eard Trugold has shown this season.” The young actor looked the thankfulness his heart forbade him utter, then as he caught ‘those welcome words he shook the *“juvenile’s”” hand heartily and then turned toward the dressing-room. Then the frightened, pallid stoniness came back into his face, and tossing the bou- quet to Juliet with a poor attempt at a smile, he bade her take it and glided into the room to change, ‘ Here were assembled other members of the company, for, in ‘taking the road” with an organization of this kind the gentlemen are often obliged to dress together, and on every side the young actor was met with words of eee raise: ick Dopp was there, dressed for the street, and as Frank entered he arose and came towards him with outstretched hands. Then as he drew him aside he whispered : “What makes yer so pale? Yer tight Gigs ’ais’t busted, ’as h’it 2” “No,” he said, “either not quite so bad as eee much worse—Philip Deverell is in roat.” ‘Blast me wes’cut! Yer don’t mean h’it?” Frank then proceeded to tell him the story of the roses, and his reasons for believing his enemy near. The comical, frightened look that had first come’over the comedian’s face ay ‘=
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THE ACTOR'S SON. 9 broke away, and as our hero concluded he burst into a hearty guffaw. * Ho, ho, ho! Dash my buttons! knock me inter a red flannin’ peddicut, hain’t yer jolly reen. Vy, hit’s some gal has ’as gone hoff er nut arter yer, hand throwed yer them ’ere blossoms ter show ‘er happreciation hof yer booty hand helegance, “Tain’t no more Philip Dev’rell than hit’s me as chucked ’em.” Somewhat reassured, Frank made his change of costume, and the tragedy proceed- ed, although our hero’s eyes would often wan- der over the house in search of Deverell or the villainous St. Gash, but he saw neither. * * * *% * * * The play was over; Juliet had joined her poisoned lover; the lights were put out, and the performers making all haste to repair to the hotel. : Quietly BS eee up his wardrobe, Frank gave it to Nick, and with the leading lady on his arm, followed by Dopp and the soubrette, accompanied the party home to the hotel. In the hallway our hero called the eminent London comedian aside, and said : “See here, Nick, I feel blue and downcast; those flowers have affected me—although I don’t believe Deverell was there, after all. I'm going to take a stroll down the roada bit Pen needn’t wait up for me. Good- night. " Ave yer got a pistol ?” ‘No: there will be no need for one,” with a light laugh ; “I shan’t be attacked.” ‘Well, then, good-night. AIII ask hof yer his ter keep yer klinkers peeled.” Our hero nodded his head, and passed out into the mellow moonlit roadway. 5 Reaching a cutting where a slanting path- way hedged in by rows of briars, swerved from the roadway proper towards a patch of woodland below, the young actor charmed by the natural beauty of the spot beneath the telling effects of a swelling moon, strolled leisurely into it, and slowly began the de- scent, The briar path led on for haifa mile, then it wound off through the pine patch, and as our hero entered this, he more than half fan- cied he heard a soft, stealthy footfall crush the leaves and twigs behind him. He turned quickly, byt the moonlight alone was in the road. ) He took a half dozen steps forward; the fancied crash became reality, as two men ieap- ed from the shadow of the brushwood and seized him. : A single glance told him who they were— Giovanni St. Gash and Philip Deverill ! “Good God! trapped!” he gasped, as he reeled back, “trapped, and I am unarmed!” Philip Deverell folded his arms and glared at him—a chilling sneer curling his lips. i e o, my beauty, you are in my power at ast.” Philip Deverell,” eried Frank, *‘ why do you hunt me down? What am Ito you?’ “A viper!” hissed the man, ‘‘a deadly, poisonous viper, and I mean to crush you, Away with him, St. Gash !” ‘ The Italian pushed the boy back against a tree, bound him) a cord he took from his pocket, and the pped back to view his work. 3 “Vera goot. ~ 1 maka de fine corpse !” . Without deigning to speak to the boy. ae Deverell tu , faced Giovanni an said: 1 ahaa _ “Let one stab pieree his heart—the body may be left in the road. We will not be sus- le for the law respects gentility. TOW The murderous Italian plucked a stilletto from his breast, seized the needle-like point between the thumb and first finger of his right hand, and lifted it above his head to hurl it at the helpleas victim, **God help me!” moaned Frank, closing his eyes, in momentary expectation of death. “Von, twoa, thr— “ Hold!” A brawny figure strode through the thicket, stood up before the boy, and faced his assail- ants with a glance of fire. “Maledictions! Who are you?” “Well, I might be Christopher Columbus, but I ain’t,” was the reply of the new-comer, as he freed the boy; ‘but forall that I love fair play, and I’m going to see it.” The knife had fallen from Giovanni's hand, _ and he leaped forward to regain it, - *Saere!” he hissed. ‘‘Standa aside, or my y eeu aaana your heart's blood!” , t * “Strike!” shrieked Deverell, as the Italian spoke. The glittering stiletto leaped into the air, but before it. could be hurled forward on its deadly mission, St. Gash awoke to the reality that a pistol barrel was glaring him straight in the eyes. ““A pretty good point, Macaroni, but I go you several better. I know you, Philip Dev- erell, and I hate you only worse than the car- rion vulture, “This has been a deep-laid plot, but just now I have the upper hand. “Wolf-hearted monster, you seek this lad’s life—come and take it at your peril. By the God that sees us, I’ll brain the first man who dares to advance and stay the boy! * Now, cowards, show your pluck!” CHAPTER XIII. Nort one foot did either of those desperate menadvance, as the new-comer hurled that defiant challenge at them, and bade him who] j dared come and take the boy from behind the pistol he clutched in his iron-like grasp. “You are a pretty ery fellow, Philip Deverell,” the man chuckled, ‘but’ you have met your match this time.” “Who are you?” rve-demanded Deverell. **How do you know my name?” The stranger laughed a cold, chilling laugh, whose every note gurgled like liquid poison in the ears of his listeners, “How dol know your name? Ha-ha-ha! well I like that. How could any man mistake you when it is written so plainly on your forehead, You call yourself Deverell, but the fiends know you better, for they have spelled it there—Devil-Hell, and by the Eternal, they do know you well when they change the or- thography like that.” Deverell’s face grew livid with tere “A truce to this,” he foamed. “By what right do you interfere 2” ‘Right! by the right of justice. You'd like to slay that boy, wouldn’t you? Just as the eth ica fiend beside you slew his protector, Sam Sparkle !” Frank leaped forward. “Did he kill my father?” he cried. “No: but Mr. Devil-hell did. Sam Sparkle was not your father, the man who hunted him down knows who he was. Look at him, Philip Deverell and tell him I have lied—if you can ! Tell him that weve Arlington still, lies when he says youlslew his father in cold blood, still lies when he says you are his uncle, the brother of the man you killed !” While he was speaking the pistol had fal- len at his side, and as he caught those fatal words and knew that his secret was out, Philip Deverell leaped forward. ‘ The hand clutching the pisto1 leaped up, but before Harvey Arlington’s finger could ress the trigger, the weapon was dashed rom his hand and his infuriated and blood- hungry assailant closed with him. “You know too much!” he hissed, as they went crashing to the ground. Over and over went the combatants; as ee Deverell gained the upper hand, he cried: ’ ** Quick, St. Gash, the boy!” The Italian leaped forward, seized the sti- letto and whirled it about his head. Whizz! the deadly missile whirled through the air,and as Frank saw it coming, he dropped upon his face, while the keen, slend- er blade buried itself in the tree where he had been standing. ; As = fell a hero’s secs acoehee the fal- en pistol, and he gripped it eagerly. With a wild, animal-like howl Giovanni St. Gash leaped towards him. ‘ Sacra! youa shall nota escapa!” With a single bound, Frank leaped to his feet and leveled the pistol fairly at his head. “Sha’n’t I? well, now, old cockalorum, don,t you be too sure of that!” The Italian halted in his onward progress glared down the smooth, glittering barrel of the pistol, and with a howl of rage, turned ee and fled at full speed up the moonlit road. ; Frank discharged a shot after him, but the bullet flew wide of its mark, ; He then turned his attention to Philip Deverell and Harvey Arlington, but _the man recognized his peril, saw the turn affairs had taken, and shaking Harvey from his hold, bounded to his feet and fled after his com- panion in crime. + “Fire after him—kill him!” hissed Arling-| ton, springing to his feet, but Frank’s hand pa ped to his side and he shook his head sadly. “No,” he said. ‘‘ You have declared him my uncle—he did not deny it; and be his faults what they may, blood should not re- volt against blood, I cannot kil] him even if he did slay my father.” Harvey Srey Be hung his head. “Oh, my God!” he moaned, ‘‘I should have remembered that. Why did I not kill him myself when he was in my power? Better, far better, that I should swing for that, than he should live to torment and to torture you! Give me the pistol, boy!” ¢ eee Butiyou must promise me you will not kill im. “IT promise,” said the man, and he took the weapon from our hero’s hand, and Frank re- joined: ’ “Let him go; let the law be his punish-~ ment. He will run to the end of his rope and then it will hang him, Evil never triumphs ong, Mr. Arlington. It is like a cat—it has nine lives, but let it hang long enough and it would die if it had twenty.” Harvey Arlington laughed softly and slid his arm into our hero’s, * You are.quite a philosopher, Frank,” he ‘said, ‘‘but come jnow, let us get back to the hotel.” “« Are ‘you stopping there, sir?” ** Yes, I came on from New York this morn- ing in search of you.” “Of me?” ; é “Precisely. No doubt you are surprised at the interest Itake in you. Learn then that I knew and loved ‘igo father, and vowed to compass the death of his destroyer. I also knew the mar who reared you and taught you to believe yourself his own—Sam Sparkle, the comedian.” 4 The strangers voice grew husky as he spoke, and Frank saw him brush away a tear, ~ but for which man. “Of course you knew of his death, Mr. Ar- . lington ?” , “Yes; he was stabbed by that Italian. I saw it dorte.” He then proceeded to tell the story of the murder, at which our hero marveled much, - for he believed the oldcomedian had perished - by the flames. ' “God help me to bring his assassin to the scaffold,” he moaned, “‘for I will do it, Mr. - Arlington,” ** Heaven bless you, boy, for your kindness. You have been kept in the dark too long; to- morrow I will tell you all, and you may then put in your claim to the vast wealth which is yours by right at your majority. I would tell ou now, but my heart is heavy; you shall xnow all on the morrow.” “On the morrow ; how blind are mortals, . for with all their ingenuity they cannot fore- see a trifle of the future; cannot probe the 2a mysteries of those two small words—to e! Arm in arm the stranger and the boy pass- ed up the moonlit road, turned into the main coat and bent their footsteps toward the otel. As they reached the portable theater— which stood on a space where years after Conover’s Opera House was erected—a figure rushed forward from the darkness beyond, and the result was a collision between both parties. “Hoh, me vind! Blarst h’it hall, carn’t yer keep h’outen h’other people’s vay ?” “Nick!” cried Frank, in surprise, as he rec- ognized the speaker by his voice, ‘‘ what the deuce brings you out at this time of night?” The comedian scrambled up from the dust where he had fallen by force of the meeting, andrushed headlong atSparkle. “Vot, Frank! Blow me h’if I h’ain’t glad ter see yer! I thought h’as’ow yer was h’a stiff long h‘afore this.” “But that is not answermg my question. What bring you out here?” __ ’ “Blarst hit all,” replied Nick, “ vot do yer arsk me that fur when Ive h’answered yer? Don’t I tell yer I thought yer vas a stiff? I felt summat h’ac ’ow yer vas h’in trouble, h’and I couldn’tsleep yer know; so I jist got h’up, shuffled h’inter me togs h’and come h’cut h’arter yer. But I didn’t come h’un- armed—look!” He opened his coat as he spoke and display- ed a perfect arsenal beneath; then, with a sudden, serio-comic air, he seized our hero by — thearm and whispered in his ear: ; ra)
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_ with their bitter lig 10 : ; i THE ACTOR'S SON, “YT say, Frank, who’s the h’old bloke h'alongside h’on yer there?” Speedily as possible young Sparkle made him acquainted with the ‘old bloke” in question, and informed him of the inestim- able service he had done him, Nicholas ane seized Arlington’s hand, and wrung it so heartily that Harvey looked to be certain that it was not loose at the wrists, By this time they had reached the hotel, and all three passed up the narrow stairway. On the upper landing Harvey Arlington seized Frank's hand, shook it fervently, and passed into his room, "R's a prime sort of a chap, Sparkle,” said Nick, as they reached our hero's door, “ but I'm glad ’e’s gone fur there’s summat h’as I wants ter arsk yer, now that Philip Dev’rell’s turned h’up.” ; “Well, fire away, old man, but make it in one act, for I’m deucedly sleepy.” “Frank,” and the eminent London com- edian’s voice sank to a low whisper, ‘ yer wants a pertector.” “No! do I, though?” “Ay, that you do. This Dev’rell’s a desper- ate cove, h’and ’e’d sand yer nut h’as quick ‘h’as ’e'd vink ‘is bleedin’ h’eyes, yer know. Now take my h’advice, let _me sleep h’in the room vid yer ter night. Yer know you're h’on the h’outside h’of the ’ouse, h’and h’a pursing might h’easily get h’'in. Jest let me turn bh avake h’all ae long. Donow.” ° Frank laughed and shook his head. ‘No, I thank you, Nick; I’m safe enough. Philip Deverell wouldn’t dare seek me here; I'm too well surrounded to be fearful of that. Good night.” y “Good night. Von’t yer now?” “No. Good night. rehearsal.” The chamber door closed softly. “The emi- nent comedian stood alone in the hallway. “°° von’t be varned,” he muttered. “ But blarst my bloomin’ h’eyes h’f I'll leave ’im h'anyway!” i And with this queerly expressed sentinient Nicholas Dopp laid door-mat, with his left hand resting on the butt of one pistol, and his right clutching the muzzle of another. * * * * * & * “e Ah!” A low, muffled ecryof pain. Nick started up into full wakefulness and sat up. . “ Ah!” the cry came again. **Good God! h’it’s Frank!” CHAPTER XIV. WE left the mad prophetess standing be fore the flaming sign bearing our hero’s name, in front of the portable theater. Deep, dark flashes of light burned and spluttered in her coal-black eyes as she read the ete name, and hate, fierce, terrible, un- | m: nh dying hate—swayed her gaunt form and dis- torted her white face. “ We meet—we meet?” she hissed, ‘‘ Loved once, now doubly despised; I shall nerve my arm for the fatal stroke of vengeance, the bloody retaliation |” Then, and for an instant only, the memory . of an old love sprang up in her heart, soften- ed the light in her eye and gave battle to the words of vengeance Satan whispered in her ear, They were equally matched antagonists: sometimes one wavered, sometimes the other but the conflict was short lived and the fiend was victorious, : Still Sinan her dagger, she strode for- ward and passed into the theater. As we have said, it was densely packed, and Bevis arrived late, Hagar was unable to find a seat, Slinking back in the shadow of a pillar, she tutned those glittering eyes, sparkling t, towards the stage and watched for him, t eat ‘Many in the crowd glanced at her and won- dered to see the weird woman, the seeress and the prophetess they were wont to call her, throwing off her mantle of silent mum- mery and mingling with the throng in the hall of Thespis. Ais ab ! how little they knew of mad Hagar’s ast. — . “4 it : ne roar of the orchestra had died out, the - eurtain rolled upward with a soft rustle, the farce ba on, the mysterious drama follow-]_ ten tragedy in haw, h’and ven I sleeps I'll be vide} h ake me in time for | y' down to sleep on the| fof it— The woman’s heart beat quicker. Her eyes sparkled—her face paled, and the hand be- neath her flaming mantle clutched convul- sively at the hilt of the jeweled dagger. A low, soft swell of music, then a flutter among the audience, and as she bent forward she heard a man whisper to his companion : “* Here he comes!” ** Here he comes!” she Si gecot, huskily, as a tumult of applause shook the canvas sides of the theater, but the words were drowned and lost. The applause grew louder; her eyelids drooped with excitement, and when next she raised them Frank Sparkle stood upon the stage. e spoke; her ear drank in the sound, her face grew even whiter, and her form shook as with palsy. She reeled, drew back, and gasped : * “The furies are false; ’tis the wrong man!” Looking forward to the meeting had taxed her sorely, but to find she was mistaken was the last.straw that broke the camel's back; and with those words still warm upon her lips, she fell backward to the floor in a death- like swoon. Strong arms raised her tenderly, and bore her from the theater, but her iron clutch up- on the jewel-studded hilt of the stage dagger never relaxed, When consciousness returned the cool air fanned her face, she saw the stars above er. She arose to go, but a man stepped to her side and bent over her. “ Are you better, ma’am ?” She looked at him, passed her hand over her brow to collect her thoughts, and then replied mechanically : 6 Pes What's the matter? Who are ou?’ “You fainted in the theater, for =P to your first question, and to your second, I am the manager.” She sprang up like a tigress. ie Seek, the manager! Then you know im ?” “Him—who?’ replied Trugold. “The actor—Sparkle.” “Well, rather, considering I pay his. sal- ary.” ' She drew nearerand clutched his arm. ““Who ishe? Where did he come from? Speak! Why do’ you stand there like a statue? Answerme Whois he?” Hugh Trugold looked at her as though she had taken leave of her senses. “Don’t you understand me?’ shrieked Hagar, shaking him like a refractory poodle, “Are youdumb? Who is this Sparkle?” soW. Ys he’s Sparkle, of course. That’s all I know.” ““ Whence comes he?” “From New York. Himself and a man came— Se A man ” questioned Hagar ‘Is he nota an’ y . Trugold shook his head, : ; “Not yeb; he is scarcely more than eigh- een,” The prophetess glared him in the eyes as if toread his thoughts and probe the truth of his replies, then with an inexpressive “ Hump!” turned abruptly upon her heel, and strode away in the darkness, leaving the shaken manager to gaze after her in undis- guised surprise. i “Phew!” he whistled, “if she hasn’t a shingle loose on her upper story, then I’m off my nut!” And having thus given vent to his feelings, he turned back into the theater. As for Hagar, she passed some feet up the road, hid the dagger, and clasped her head in her hands. “I’ve heard ’em call me mad,” she mutter- ed, ‘I wonder if I am. It was his name, but it was not his face, form, nor voice; he should be old; he should be gray-white, ike me. Still—still, this Sparkle’s voice was like one I haye heard often somewhere, in my dreams, A pao It is that of —of—of— hirn God! am I mad, that I cannot remem- er? C “Names, faces, voices of. the past crowd UE me, but I cannot place one of them, yet l live in the mist of bygone days. “What if I should die after all without meeting him? won’t. Home—home, to watch, to yait until he comes, ha—ha—ha! until he comes!” — ; pts he reeled on up the road a few yards, but e@ calught iat aura ate just as she came toa dark curve, s ; Laren Won tacts tytn st No—no—no! I must not think | escaping, aprate forward, seat i the sound of men conversing, and as she sank back in the shadow, she muttered : “* V oices—voices ; I know one of them, but whose is it?” Again her hands wandered over her’ wrinkled brow as if to collect her scattered thoughts—scattered by insanity—and at that instant, Philip Deverell ang Giovanni St. Gash came down the road on their way to the theater. . They were talking earnestly, and Hagar drank in every word the former spoke, while her face assumed a puzzled air. Nearer they came, the faint light showed u the features of both, as it streamed throug the interlaced boughs, then passed onward and the weird prophetess was wlone. She dragged herself into the middle of the road, and followed Philip Deverell with her ties until the darkness hid him from her sight. Comat voice—that voice,” she muttered, “where—where? Itis—it is—oh! I have for- gotten!” ‘*She passed up the road, picked her way through the poplar woods, skirted the fetid pool and pushed open the door of her habita- tion, all the time muttering of Deverell. She took the jeweled dagger from its hid- ine piace: putit carefully away, and tossing off her garments, flung herself upon her couch and called her cat to her. “They say we're mad, Sancho, but we have. met that man before. I should know that face; I have seen it before, but where— where? Think, Sancho, brave boy, good cat, think for me. It’s all muddle here in my ee I know him—he “is—pshaw! am I mad!” CHAPTER XV. : he an instant, Nicholas Dopp was para- yzed. “Vot the blazes does h’'it mean? I could swear h’as’ow I’earn Frank a callin’ h’out fur ’elp, but h’it’s stopped now. * Blarst h’it h’all, hits them ‘ere purtatoes h’as I h’eat fumme supper h’a risin’ h’on me stomach. H’I’ye got the nightmare, that’s h’all Wabout hit. Blang my blarsted but- tons h’if h’ever I h’eats h’any more h’of th’ bleedin’ vegetables h’if they be goin’ ter serve T like this ‘ere. “Ang b’it! Pll jest lay down h’agin h’and snatch a wink h’of sleep.” Accordingly he flung himself back upon the mat, and closed his eyes, ““ Help—oh, my God, help!” Shrill, clear, cutting like a knife, the er rang out upon the night air, and with a sud- den bound, Nick leaped to his feet, “Blow my veseut h’if h’it h’is the purta- ee Wit'’s Frank, h’and summat’s th’ mat- ier.” He leaped forward and dealt the door a heavy blow with his clenched fist. ““Frank—Frank! vot’s h’up? door, like a zood lad, I arsk yer.” “* Nick, he Ma The ery was cut short as though a heay hand had clutched the speaker’s throat, an with a yell of defiance that awoke every soul in the house, Nick ra mn Yack a few feet and flung himself again: c ith a crash and from its hinges, fell in the comedian to the o1 The next moment he fo grasp of Giovanni St. Gas struggling in the arms of Philip Deverell. ‘“* Maledictions ! too late !” hissed Deverell, as he caught the sound of feet hurrying along the hall ; ‘kill the whelp, St. Gash, we must escape |” i iter it- was hurled d and precipitated Very considerate indeed upon the partof — Mr. Philip Deverell, but Giovanni St. Gash was spared the trouble of following his in- structions by the whelp in question dealing him a heavy blow under the ear, and sending him sprawling towards the open window. Fs OEE te paar re rang forth the pistols the comedian had fortified himself with, but in the excitement, the bullets flew wide of the mark, | There was a ladder against the window, ‘and with a blood-curdling oath, Giovanni St. _ ae leaped upon this, and shouted to Dey- erell : ‘ ‘Come, wea bea de capture !” Arlington, burst into the room. He saw Deverell as Haat aclpied a loade af bi hats istol from Nick, and leveled Sones tear Pat a tae AL a | Hh HWopen the © h, while Frank was ,. The next instant, a crowd headed by Harry he was in the act. of .
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THE ACTOR’S SON. tL ont and as he shouted back to him, Frank splut- tered forth: **Nick—help!_ I-——” _But the hard fingers pressed tighter and tighter. He felt his strength leaving him, while in his ears rang the din of approaching _ Quick as a flash, the desperate man grab- 2 cheer as knife thrower, and his failure, bed our hero from the bed and leaped upon | while it embittered him, urged him on to the window-sill, holding him up before him | eventually accomplish the unhallowed task, as a shield. He was about to speak again, but Deverell “ Why don’t yon shoot?” he cried, exult-| held up his hand warningly, and bent for- antly. “ You held the best hand a while ago, | ward in the attitude of listening. now it is ra turn! Shoot, fire if you dare, “* Hist!” he said, ‘‘I hear their voices ; they | aid. for your bullets will only reach my heart | are coming up the road.” Livid with rage, the desperate man toiled through his |” “Oursa, [a paya him now!” hissed the Ital-| on, and then it was the door was burst in- ward, and the crowd surged into the apart- ment, f What followed is already known to the reader, With that living shield held up before him as hestood in the open window, Philip Dev- erell defied Arlington, laughed him tc scorn, and bade him shoot if he dared. Harvey’s arm fell, and he groaned brokenly: “Oh, God! Thad not thought of that. dare not fire—I dare not fire!’ “Ha, ha, ha!” came back the villain’s tri- Maiti eer laugh; ‘‘are you palsied—are your bullets no deadlier than your hatred? M soul to him whocan take the boy from mef *T can fill that bill!” shrieked Nick, as he sprang forward and flung his arms around Frank’s neck; ‘“‘now, then, go fur ’em, Mr Harlinton! ae is booty an’ bust ’is figger- ’ed ter pie-stuffins! Ooray!” “Curse you, let go!” foamed Deverell, re- leasing one hand and aiming a blow at the comedian’s face. ‘‘ Let go, [ say!” With one wrench, Nicholas Dopp pulled the boy from his grasp and Deverell stood uncov- ered in the casement, : ian, leaping forward with clenched fists. CHAPTER XVI. With one bound Philip Deverell reached ; Wits the reader's attention and permis- | his side and grasped bis arm. , sion, return we now to Philip Deverelland| ‘‘Are you mad, St. Gash? Back—back to ' the villainous Italian, whom last we saw fiy- | shelter or we peril ourselves, We must work ing up the road to escape the bullets of the|silently. ‘Sh-h! they are coming; we will actor's son; although be it remembered he| track them home and force an entrance to had refused to shoot at the former, after | the boy’s apartment, _ hearing the bond of relationship existing be-| ‘‘ He once put out of the way it is an easy tween them. ; task to slay this Arlington, and close thus ‘fhe knowledge that Philip Deverell was his | the only mouth that can give out my secret. uncle, had been bitter indeed to Frank} Back—back, I say!” _ Sparkle, but he choked down his sentiments| By main force he drew the Italian back upon that score, and wisely forbore mention- | into the brushwood; but not a moment too ing them to either Harvey Arlington or Nich-} soon, for scarcely had they well concealed olas Dopp. themsélves ere Frank and Arlington came ““Oh, my God!” was his thought, ‘‘ that this | up the road and passed within a foot of them bond of blood should forbid me slaying my | on their vey to the hotel. father’s assassin. Why did I ever hear it, or} On went the young actor and his new-found hearing it, why was I not made less sensi-| friend, and on too went the two plotters not tive? Blood revolted against blood in the] a dozen yards in their rear, _ days of Adam and Eve, but a curse followed] They saw the meeting between Frank and it! [cannot punish him, but the law shall.| Nick, but carefully slipping Along in the Step by step I will follow him to death itself, | shadow of the trees they followed the trio and scourge his life into nothingness with | until the hotel was reached. the seaffold rope!” When the door closed upon them, Deverell ey ss ‘ Still, with this sentiment in his heart, he | came forward. i Crack! rang forth the report of a pistol, and wore a smiling face, and his white lips “ Hist! St. Gash.” with ashriek of pain, Phi ip Devereil slipped framed other words. . “Well?” asked Giovanni, coming forward | back upon the ladder as Harvey Arlingtom But this silent thought was an oath, and | to his side. hurled the smoking weapon from him and Frank Sparkle mentally resolved to keep it,| “They have gonein; quick, let us get with- | bounded to‘the window. ‘e if he did not express it orally. in the grounds. We can easily tell which The shot had made a flesh wound in Devw- . The actor’s son was one of those boy-men | room he occupies by the light. Come!” whose life, hazarded upon the die, would} Silently striding forward, they grasped the ' never relinquish his resolve, be it years in poe s, and vaulting lightly over them, coming. History'records at a aaa from |found themselves within the grounds sur- youthful minds, and, although I do not hold | rounding the hotel. my hero up asa god, and say: “Here, look| Stealthily as the noiseless footfalls of sin at him; is he not brave? Follow if his foot-| they crept around to the side of the house. steps,” Ido maintain that his better senti-| At that instant a light flashed up in one of -. ments, respecting the bonds of ie gran the windows and the shadow of a man was and his undying love for parents and friends, | limned upon the curtain. are such as would well befit the youth of our} It was Harvey Arlington. { - country, irrespective of the social scale, to} Deverell ground his teeth and shook his fist emulate. at the shadow. How Frank and Arlington encountered| “I donot want you yet,” he hissed, “ but Dopp on the journey homeward is already | the day will come——" known to the reader, as is the scene in our} A low exclamation from Giovanni attract- hero’s room, but return we to Deverell, and|ed his attention, and he turned quickly to ascertain how he gained admittance there. see the Italian bending over something lying Where the dark, wood-fringed pore on the grass. ] ‘forked out from the road proper, Philip came| ‘ What's up!” upon St, Gash, who was crouching back in| ‘‘Look, a ladder.” the brushwood and glaring up and down the} * Deverell was about to make reply, but at passage, | that _very instant another light flashed up, When, however, he caught sight of Dever-| and Frank Sparkle threw up his window to ell, he sprang up and bounded to his side, admit the night air. : Sacral Fie saints bea de bless! Youa]| ‘They could see his shadow as he disrobed, area de safe. Maledictions ona de whelp, Ia| then the light went out again, and all was -er-rusha hima yet!” darkness, He lifted his clenched fist in the air as he] Crouching back in the shadow, the men spoke, and his dark, satanic face wore a look | awaited the time to strike, restore Arlington to consciousness. of repulsive rage. An hour passed. } The wound in the man’s head was a desper- Philip Deverell wheeled and faced him, his} ‘‘ Now!” muttered Deverell, gliding for- | ate one. ¥ ’ distorted features white as ashes. ward, ; The force of the blow had fairly ripped awa; _‘*Orush!” he fairly hissed, “crush! You] They raised the ladder against the house, | the back portion of the scalp, and expos: talk thus; let me but close these fingers on | and with his foot on the lower rung, Philip | the bare, blood-stained bone to view, his throat, and by the demons who prate of | turned and whispered: * He eb like alump of clay in their arms, ay , I’) not relinquish my hold tillthe| “I will strangle him—it is clean and sure.” | his half-open eyes gazing vacantly up at the j Tast drop of blood forsakes his body and lays} Then the two forms glided Mpmees like | ceiling. et him lifeless at my feet. As for this man, this | shadows, lifted the curtain and slipped into| “Send at once for a physician,” said Frank, Harvey Arlington, no martyr on the rack, in|the apartment where Frank Sparkle lay | as the manreturned, _ one whole day of torture, ever felt the pangs | sleeping soundly. “There's one in the house,” spoke up t' ‘ i landlord. ‘*Heis on the top floor; No, 20.” CHAPTER XVII. A man left the scene and returned shortly TrpToRING his way to the couch, Philip | after with the physician, who was one of the Deverell bent over the sleeping boy. + many graduates who picked up a living im He any. upon his back, one arm sane over | those times by traveling from town to town. peace ene his thick curls tumbled over| He washed the wound with a sponge, sew- is forehead. ; ed and strapped it without speaking a word. St. Gash stood at the window; one hand | one When this was done, he demanded the | drew back the curtain, and allowed the moon- | man to be taken to his own room and put fo light to stream in upon the sleeper. _ *“Sleep,” muttered Deverell, bending over | the boy. “Sleep on, for you will never wake.” y | He drew up, his sleeves, placed one knee .y, youa hate!” foamed Giovanni, “but| upon the bed, ua lofed him, I woulda not spare hima | erell’s left arm, but as his enemy bent over the sill, he plunged forth his right fist, and striking him squarely between his eyes, bow ed him over bazkward. His head struck the bedstead, and he fell to the floor, senseless and blood-stained, whilefim his ears zany the ery: “Living I hate you, deadI curse you! You are my prey, and the time will come!” Le darted wildly down the ladder as he spoke, “Quick! to ther geading and secoor ‘im!” cried Nick, as he darted to Arlington and raised his head, he having laid the senseless Frank upon the bed. Like a pack of hungry wolves, the others crowded to the garden, but the ladder was poe down and the two desperate men had isappeared, They searched the grounds thoroughly, buti they had made good use of their time and not a trace of them could be found. Disappointed with their luck, for the rough westerners would surely have lynched the men had they found them, they retraced their steps to the young actor's chamber. y this time Frank had recovered from the effects of the atraeele. and was busily ea- gaged in helping Nick, who was striving to and bending down, gripped
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12 Be DE Sak, CER ER NE i, PUA RN coef 5 eR TOA Oe eet Re epee Wee Ne A dl THE ACTOR'S SON. ean reveal the secret of my life. Oh, Philip cup brought before me, I found that he had Deverell, you have much to account for!” He knew he could do nothing, still he sat zp beside the man all night and listened to his wild, incoherent ravages. y Harvey Arlington’s skin was very dark, his face smothered in a thick beard, and once, as Frank bent over him, he saw that this * was dyed—more, his skin, too, was stained. ‘There was evidently some reason for this dis- guise, but Leg : : f The news of the attack spread like wild- fire, and seats the next night at the Portable Theater were ata premium. loudly and long theapplause swelled forth as Sparkle made his ae etnnee, and for the nonce, he was a veritable hero. Still his thoughts were all with Harry Arl- ington, and once in the midst of the tragedy, he caught himself saying: ¢ ** Oh, will he die!” Thrice he missed his cue, until Nicholas Dopp upbraided him and bade him forget his own troubles in those of Romeo. He profited by the comedian’s advice, and being a true son of Thespis, shook off his woes and imagined himself the person he was enacting, ‘‘ Lazy actors!” the world calls them, but no portion of the human race has to endure so much for sustenance, and put those in their places who call them thus, pick out the energetic ones, and you will find them these same lazy actors. No class of people are so misjudged. What a mockery is their life! Beet ee brain-bursting, but all smiles to the people before, Oh, the injustice makes me sick! The play was over, the stand broken, and the theater to be moved that night to Lima, where the company would follow on the next morning. ’ On their way home to the hotel, Frank ac- costed Hugh rugold. “Mr, Trugold,” he said, “‘I am sorry, but I must sever my connection with your compa- ny to-night,” “IBut, my dear boy, you. are billed in Lima —it will ruin me, Whatis the cause of this sudden resolve? Have I not always acted fairly with you?” : “Oh, yes, sir, and indeed, I am very grate- ful; but that poor fellow who lies at the hotel cannot be neglected. Remember, he was in- jared in defending me.” * Nobly said, Frank; but you must also re- member that he cannot remain there without money.’ A “True—I had forgotten that. But I will work in the hotel for his board.” | “Indeed it will not be sufficient. Go on with the company; I will double your salary, and you can then send money weekly to pay for his attendance until he is able to join At first Frank was marble to this appeal, but Nick joined Trugold in it, and he eventu- ally succumbed to numbers and consented to He made arrangements for Arlington to be well cared for, and left a week’s board in ad- vance. The next morning the company started. Stealing into Arlington’s room, Frank bent over him, and with tears in his eyes, mur- mured: “You promised I should know all to-day, . bat I will never forget your kindness, Good- by. God bless you and restore you to health!” Half an hour after he was thundered along the rails, being rapidly divided from the man who knew the secret of his life, and whom he might never see again. CHAPTER XVIII. THE ride between Piqua and Lima is not an extensive ‘“‘jump,” to use a theatrical term, and the company arrived there without .ad- venture, They put up at_a house kept by an old Frenchman named Largarette, which, house, if I mistake not, was called the ‘‘ Westerner,” and was removed about twenty yards from the corner now occupied by the “‘ Burnet.” _Monsieur Largarette was a man of educa- tion, but the tricky jade, Fortune, had play- ed him scurvy capers, He was a widower, a droll matter-of-fact fellow, but somewhat ec- centric. I remember once, monsieur asked me whether I desired coffee or tea, and feei- ing in a joewlar mood, I replied, “Both.” Sudge of my disgust upon sipping from the : a ‘ pt aa An coer DU taht mixed both together. I pushed it from me and said: “Give me acup of coffee well sweetened.” Monsieur raised his voice and shouted : ‘* Hisie, a vase of the sedative well supplied with the saccharine.” But I digress. The town was heavily billed and unusual excitement prevailed, Large posters and two sheet heads repre- senting Frank, were displayed throughout the town, and the band paraded the streets all day long, to the intense delight of the sim- ple townsfolk. The fair at Lima was to last a week, and for that time the show was billed—‘ six per- formances only.” The first night was a repetition of our hero’s triumphs elsewhere, and, to quote Hugh Tru- gold: ‘‘The people went mad over them,” The second night came and went ; the third erformance passed, and retiring to his dress- ing-room, Frank changed his dress to his street costume. Nick Dope was there awaiting him, for, after that dreadful experience at Piqua, they were never separated—even rooming togeth- ers Arm in arm they passed on toward the ho- tel, and when about midway something rus- tled past them. “What's that?” cried Frank, coming to a standstill, and wheeling around. Something whizzed past his head and fell with a sharp clank upon the stones. It was a stiletto! Nick turned pale, grasped his arm, and hurried onward. **Come!” he said, ‘‘ them ’ere willunsis h’on er track. Yer got a charmed life, Frank, ut don’t tempt fate!” They hurried on to the hotel, and passed in. Frank was nervous, for the knife plainly betokened the presence of his enemies, but he said nothing to Nick. They bade the company good-night, and passed on up the stairs, As they reached the first landing, they saw by the moonlight streaming through a win- dow at the rear, a tall, mantled figure barring their onward passage. “Lord ha’ mercy!” gasped Nick; “h’it’s a sperit!” ** Ha—ha—ha!” came back in chilling tones from the mantled figure. ‘‘ You area Sparkle, I hate the name—I hate the name!” CHAPTER XIX. Map HaGar did not leave the hut by Elk- ton Pool for some days after her visit to the portable theater. When, however, she did so, she kissed Sancho, the cat, good-bye, and after carefully barring the door, but not from any fear of in- trusion, for the simple townsfolk would as willingly have gone into the open jaws of a furnace as past her threshold,—she strode on up through the poplar woods, vaulted over the gate and passed leisurely down the main r oad. She reached the space where the theater had stood, and drew back with a cry of sur- rise, : F There were the marks where the beams had been erected, but the theater itself was gone. A grayish pallor overspread the woman’s face as she stood there in the sunlight and gazed at the debris left by the strolling play- ers. Motionless as a block of marble she remain- ed fora moment, and when she could find voice for utterance, muttered slowly: “He has escaped me! He was a Sparkle, and I would have wrested from his bosom the hiding-place of that other who bears the same name and whom he must know. Oh, ye furies! if he is dead. No—no—no! Hea- ven could not be so cruel; we shall meet again—we must! : “This boy, his face—his voice is the echo of one I knew in the clouded past, and that one was Dev—Dev—pshaw! my memory plays me odd tricks; I can remember nothing. faces—all voices are dead save one, and that is ever before me. It ishere—here!” she went on, beating her clenched fist upon her white forehead, ‘“‘in traces of fire that scorch my very brain! I hate him bitterly. “Bitterly! Ay, that’s the word; bitterly as the memory of bygone happiness and youth to the aged, when the world has tossed them about like dead leaves ow rotten fruit.” 4 } All Then her chin sank upon her breast, a film gathered before her eyes, and she stood there” in the mellow light of the warm sun, lost in visions of the past and dead to the world around her. } For a moment only this silent struggle went on in her breast, then the ue fingers locked convulsively over her heart, her thin, bloodless lips drew tightly together, and her black eyes twinkled like “evil orbs.” “They have gone,” she murmured, and this strange boy with them; them to the end of the world, but I will find the man I seek! Now to work, Hagar, like a viper. Viper! Ay, that’s the word; low, cunning, creeping viper be it then. But the © first move; I must find where these players have gone. Yet how?” She paused for a moment and thought. Suddenly her face lit up, and she started onward, muttering as she went: “The hotel; that’s the place. There they must know.” “ This thought was a good one, for the hotel- keeper usually does know—to his cost. But no ill luck had caused the company to ‘‘ fly by night,” like the witches in Macbeth, and arriving at the hotel, the prophetess passed hastily in. “Who keeps this place?” she asked, abrupt- ly, of a lout lying back on a rickety chair and seemingly having no other duty than to ex- pectorate copious streams of tobacco juice over the floor, The fellow looked up and drawled: “Tt keeps itself, but if you mean who runs the mercheen, why it’s Stayman, the blacl- bearded man you see yonder.” Without a word, Hagar turned upon her heel and strode over to the person indicated. “Are rn Mr. Stayman ?” “Well, I calkerlate I be.” “Did the theatrical company just gone, stop here?” “Guess they did, aunty.” “Do you know where they are now ?” “Reckon I dew. If they oe tharsafe, they be in Lima, a bit up the road.” “Good !” As abruptly as she had entered, the weird woman turned away and left—turned away to seek the man she most wished to meet, and never knew how near they were together. Muttering and peer to herself, the strange fortune-teller bent her footsteps in the direction of Elkton pool and soon found herself home. Going over to the wide chimney place, she sat down and called Sancho to her, The feline ran up, leaped into her lap, and arching its back, began purring loudly, - Hagar patted his black head, ‘* Sancho,” she said, softly, “we are on his track, we shall find him yet, and soon too. You've never seen him, boy, but I know him and one day you shall feast on him as upon the one above stairs there. I’m going to Lima to flnd this Boye who bears his name and if I have to cut his heart out, T will find what he knows of him, Be a good boy while Tam gone, and watch thehouse. Now bring my shawl.” The cat leaped down with a lusty ery, and seizing a black shawl in his sharp teeth, dragged it to his mistress. She laid some food and water beside the fire and after straining Sancho to her bosom, put ; him from her. : Falling upon her knees on the hearth, she counted the bricks from the wall, and hav- ing arrived at the one she wished, inserted her fingers beneath it and lifted it up. A deep space thus revealed was seen to be full of coin, the proceeds of her fortune-tell- ing expeditions. She took out a handful, counted it, and poured it into her capacious pocket. This done, she kissed Sancho ence more, and then left the hut. With the black shawl drawn over her head and shoulders, she glided on through the town, reached the railroad station, and was soon thundering away on the track of the actor's son, for such we will still call him, since by this title he is best known to us. At dusk she reached Lima, and was over- joyed to see the company billed throughout the town, That night she went to the theater, and fol- lowed the company home to the hotel to as- certain where they were stopping, She arrived there before Frank, and atonce engaged a room. 5 tae ~ Worn out by excitement, she plunged her- : yet I will follow . —
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, t . THE ACTOR'S SON: 13 e "self upon her couch; her eyes closed, and when next she woke, the sunlight was stream- ing into the room. It was broad day. She sprang up with a cry of alarm, and}: glanced around, - ing. I will this.” S night, watched for Frank’s return. he heard his footstep on the stair as he eame in with Nicholas Dopp, and flinging the _ black shawl over her head, leaped out into the hallway and faced him. Of this meeting we are aware. As our hero caught the words: ‘‘ You are a Sparkle; I hate the name!” he took a step for- ~ ward. ““ Who are you ?” he gasped. ** And who are you?” came back the py er of the mantled woman. “Know you anot: of your name?” Nick grasped the young tragedian’s arm to pull him away, but Frank shook him on and answered : “Yes ; a man of years, my name, but he was not my father.” “Ah!” gasped Hagar, pulling down the sable mantle so that it concealed her face and Heap en menculekly forward, ‘‘know you who is ?” ‘Tf you are an emissary of his brother, the man whoseeks to deprive me of my rights, go—tell him I defy him, and dare to call my- self a Deverell !” With a cry of surprise the mad woman drew baek. “Deverell! ay, that’s the name I strove to everell was his friend ; his Speak, boy, recall. Harold child must know where he is, speak! Where is he?” * He, who?” . “The man I seek—Samuel Sparkle !” “You seek him?” cried Frank, recoiling as he spoke ; “find him among the dead |” “Tt is a lie!” hissed Hagar, eee for- 1ave told me so, . Tellme where he is, or I will strangle you ward, “he lives; the furies where you stand !” Her fingers clutched around the throat of ae brave boy and bore him backward to the oor, The instant Nicholas Dopp realized his as he was with fear, he whipped out one of his pistols, and with- } ng aim fired at the veiled figure, which neither knew to be a woman, fired at friend's peril, shiverin: out takin 1” her. of its ma “ What's the matter?” “Who fired ” | bi U3 Bay. one hurt ?” | ‘Frank Je riedly around. The mantled figure had disappeared! / a CHAPTER XX. | spirit into the apartment. Again the questionin count the story of the strange meeting. . * Whether it was a man or a woman, I | cannot say,” he went on; “ but be it who | it may, the person stood there by the | window and was shrouded most effectually | in a dark mantle that fell all around the form, “Mantle!” cried M. Largarette, elbowin __ his way to our hero’s side; “ monsieur, did | Understand you to zay zat ze persong vas _ coovaire in ze foldts oof a dark mantle?” “ You certainly did, M. Lagarette,” replied wheeling around -and facing the ex- Hau Frank et cited Little Frenchman. Mon Diew! and would monsieur know ze face, if monsieur see it once moor?” The young actor shook his head. | “T have already said it was too dark to een a manor a woman; cern if it had ‘*Furies!” she hissed, ‘I shave been sleep- I should have seen him last. night, but. he took her meals in her room, and, at From him I took But ethene caused the bullet to fly wide rk, and the moment Hagar heard the } hg oe she flung the young actor from her. he noise echoed and re-echoed through the hallway, and a minute after, it was filled with aped to his feet, while the excited | people were crowding around Nick, who still | grasped the smoking pistol, and glanced hur- Tue door of Mad Hagar’s room opened up- onthe landing where she had encountered | the young actor, and the moment she flung _. Frank from her, under cover of the darkness, _ she pushed open this door and glided like a was commenced, and Frank found himself compelled to re- ~ therefore, monsieur wil] see that it is quite impossible for me to recognize the face even were we to meet again.” M. Lagarette wrung his hands in despair. “ Je ne sais pas ce queje deviendrai ou ce quejevais devenir!” he moaned. ‘“ Iam von ruined man. It vill all get out zat zere ees von ghost in my house, and no von will coom to ze place. Oh, monsieur, ees zere not zoom vay vat you coot—vat you call him—recog- nize ze persong?” ““Yes, one,” returned our hero; “‘I should know the voice again, should I hear it.” At that moment Pierre, Monsieur Lar- gargette’s son, came upon the scene, and in- quired what caused the disturbance. Of course monsieur felt in duty bound to explain all, which he did, interlarding his speech with French adjectives, and talking as fast as a Massachusetts groceryman. “A mantle!” repeated Dlenre. ike his fa- ther, ‘‘ zat is so easily proven. You were not in ze office ven I let No.6 to a femme in a black mantle. Zere ees ze room—zere.” He pointed as he spoke to the door of Hagar’s apartment, and following the direc- tion of his finger with his eye, Frank said, quickly : “That is the place where the stranger stood. Had it not been for Mr. Dopp’s pres- ence [I should undoubtedly. have been strangled, for the person was endowed with more than ordinary rej ete . Without a moment's delay, the whole party rushed to the door, and hammered loudly on the panel. : _ “What want you?” cried Hagar from with- in. Frank Sparkle started. “That's the voice!” he cried, and the next instant the men burst in the door, A candle was burning on a shelf, and still wrapped in her black shawl and clutching the jeweled hilt of the stage dagger, Hagar stood in the center of the apartment. Monsieur Largarette made a dash forward, but the keen blade flashed ominously in the dim light. “Back, all of you!” shrieked the mad wom- an, her black eyes gleaming like living coals. ““The first who lays a hand on me, dies like a aoa I want him—I must have Samuel Sparkle, and the furies have told me that we shall meet! A boy, an actor, a Deverell told me he was dead, but itis false, he has hidden him, and Tl Be wring ‘the secret from his black heart. Oh, for blood to drown him! “The world is wide—the world is dark, but it shall be black for him who dares approach me, or stand ’twixt me and my revenge! Living I will find him; dead, I'l drag him from the very jaws of the tomb, and be his form reeking with decay, Sancho shall feed upon his accursed body!’ Again Monsieur Lagarette sprang forward, The brilliant blade flashed Pee kly down- ward, and cut through the flesh of his right arm, making a ghastly-looking stab, from which the blood flowed copiously. 3 “You have dared to defy me,” shrieked the rophetess, “‘and the blow is stricken! Miends! are you all heartless! Why do you hide this Samuel Sparkle from me? Step b step through the whole wide world I will follow him, and who dares to stay me? I seek—I seek——” Her eyes fell upon Frank, she leaped for- ward, wound her left hand in his hair, and with that more than human power of a ma. pict oc him to her feet, and hissed : “You!” The ee ering knife, its luster bedimmed with Gaspard Largarette’s blood, leaped high in the air and was poised for a deadly blow over the young actor. _ ‘Tell me!” she shrieked, “ tell me where he is, or by the black heavens above us you die ae be shall! Tell me—tell me, I say, for-——” ang! The sharp are ohe of a pistol—Nick Dopp had fired with good effect. : a The bullet, aimed with great precision, crashed against the knife blade, shivering it in a thousand fragments and leaving the jeweled hilt in the mad woman's grasp. The very next instant the men leaped upon her and wrested the boy free. It is past a doubt that the weakest sane persons, when driven mad, possess a greater strength than that of ordinary persons, and this was the case with Hagar. Right and left she hurled her adversaries from her like sticksinher path, *Unhand me—unband me!” she screamed, flinging them off. ‘Let me go—let me go, I say! Come, furies, and help me!” A burly fellow seized her left shoulcer, bué wrenching her right hand free, she dealt him what Nick Dopp afterward termed ‘a bugle buster,” spreading his nose out over his cheeks and dashing him bleeding to the floor. Another blow, another wrench--she is free! ‘* Ha, ha, ha! follow me who dares!” With a single bound she reached the door, Eapeed it in their faces, and leaped into the all, Not a minute to lose. The desperate men fairly wrenched the door from its hinges and dashed after her. Her wild, awful gurgles of chilling laughter ran through the empty corridor as she darted onward to the open window where Frank had first seen her, “* Stop—stop!” screamed her pursuers, but she heeded them not, She reached the window, leaped upon the sill, and turned for an instant to face them. “The blood-hound is after him—who dares follow her?’ Her hands flew up suddenly above her head, the black mantle, now torn to tatters, fluttered in the gale, and with a last laugh she leaped forward into space, The merriment rang but an instant on the air; then came a dull, heavy thud, echoed by a shriek of pain, and all was still. * She’s killed!” ** Broke her neck!” “Now we have her!” “‘Come on!” These and various other cries mingled to- gether as that scream of agony died out, and with one accord, the whole party made for the doorway below, which led to the road into which Hagar had leaped. Lying in the moonlit road, her tattered robe covered with dust, her white hair dab- bled in the blood that flowed from her mouth and nostrils, her white face turned up to the skies, and her black eyes dimly seen through the half-closed lids, they found her. “Gone!” a rough voice murmured at Frank’s elbow, as he pushed his way to the side of the prophetess, * Blowed h’if she ain’t croaked!” muttered Nicholas Dopp, as with Frank, he bent over the limp body. “Hush!” returned our hero, holding up his finger, ‘‘ hush! we are in a mightier presence than ours; speak no harsh words—she is dead, and her strange secret dies with her!" Then he wound his arms around the body and lifted her from the dust. “ Largarette,” he said, ‘‘ harness up your horse, she must be taken to a doctor.” Monsieur Largarette’s son, the one address- ed, held up his hands in surprise. eee monsieur! she try to take your life, *“And Heaven has taken hers,” responded Frank, solemnly. ‘What she has done is past. Is there a doctor near?” “Oui, monsieur, at the lunatic asylum, some two mile oop ze roadt.” “ Quick then, harness up.” A few moments after, the horse and wagon were brought ‘around to ‘the front of the house; with Nick and Pierre, Frank lifted the bleeding form in, and drove to the asylum, “The woman was crazy,” he explained te the doctor, who was not over pleased at being pulled out of bed at this hour. - “Take her into the operation room yon- Tenderly the ao actor bore the limp body pet the threshold and laid her on a long ta- e. The room was quite dark but the doctor struck a match, lit a lamp, and then threw a white sheet over the woman’s body. Then he turned and faced our heroes. “ What ails hernow?” he asked abruptly. ‘Had a fit and injured herself ?” ; Frank shook his head, “No,” he said, slowly, “ina fit of despera- tion she leaped from the window and we found her in the road ; I think she is dead.” “Dead!” repeated the doctor, “ I am 10t in the habit of having corpses brought here. I thought she was only in a comatose condi- tion. \ He turned to the mantel as he spoke, and lifting the lamp bore it over to the table. With one hand he held up the light and with the other drew back the sheet, ‘* Humph!” that was all he said, Frank Sparkle looked up quickly; he had cherished a hope that she might be living,
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but that expressive ejaculation fell like lead | ‘Often have I tried to place your features, upon his heart. “« She is dead?” he asked. - The doctor set down the lamp, flung the sheet over the body, and said : “Neck broken!” CHAPTER XXI. HaARvrEyY ARLINGTON’S wound was by no means as desperate as the traveling doctor had said, and the day after our hero had left Piqua, he opened his eyes in consciousness. “Where am I?” he asked, glaring around at the girl who sat by his bedside. “Hush! you are ill; you must not talk.” “11? what's the matter? What makes my head hurt so?” “Do you not remember the fight with the man who entered Mr. Sparkle’s room a few nights back?” “Oh, yes—yes—where is he now?” “Who? the man, sir? I don’t know.” **No—no, Mr. Sparkle. Send him to me at once,” “* He is gone, sir.” “*Gone—gone where?” “On to Lima with the company.” She then proceeded to tell him all that had happened, and over and over again bade him lie down and not talk. But lying down was out of question just then with Harvey Ar- BagtOn, so he sat there mumbling to him- nelf: ““Gone—gone, and I not near to protect him from Deverell. I must get well—I must !” A strong determination to battle death often wards it off, and thus it was with Ar- lington, for on the sere pees the night upon which occurred the events nar- rated in the foregoing chapter, the girl came to his room and found it empty. He had arisen from his couch, dressed and stolen away. Let us follow him on his journey. Stiiadsil on to the depot he went, and en- tering the cars was rattled off to Lima. * About the time the train rumbled into the station Hagar was battling with the men in the room, Accosting a fellow who lounged on the platform, he said ; * Can you tell me at what place the travel- ing actors are stopping?” *Yes; a matter of Heed miles up the road there at Largarette’s ‘ Westerner,’ Thanks.” He turned into the road and plodded on up it. Half an hour elapsed; a carriage came rat- ting up the road, and looking a quickly Arlingto ae vent to a suppresse: cry, rh “T can’t be mistaken,” he muttered. follow them.” ‘ On—on he went in their track, till the car- riage stopped and the three figures emerged, bearing a dark bundle, and passed into the house in front of them, Gliding forward Arlington followed. * * * * * * Y ‘Tt is too true, then, she is dead, doctor?” “Yes, past a doubt.’ . Frank had turned to go, but witha sudden resolution he turned back to the table, re- moved the sheet and lifted up the blood-stain- ed head. At that instant a shrill ery awoke a dozen echoes tn the hall, the door was thrust open, and a tottered in, infec lifted his eyes, saw the man and cried: “Mr. Arlington!” 5 ‘The man noted it not, butrushed past him, knelt beside the dead woman and moaned : “Thank God I can face the world once more! I am not an assassin! Now, Philip Deverell, look to yourself, for I'll hunt you ‘down! O, God, my Hagar!” ‘What do you mean?” cried Frank, “That woman is my wife, who loved you - sag but whom I thought I had mur- ered!” f “Merciful powers!” gasped our hero, ‘‘ and i you are——” “The man who reared and loved you al- ways as a father—Sam Sparkle!” a CHAPTER XXII «FRANK SPARKLY threw up his arms and Fak tee hi back as though shot. E ¥} Wier ou—you' Samuel Sparkle?” he cried. 1a! i), le living? How was it my but—but—— Harvey Arlington turned his face towards him. “But what?” he asked, lowly, laying one hand on the brow of the dead woman. “ You think me. younger, Frank, my boy, is not that it?” “Yes,” replied the young actor. “If you are Samuel Sparkle, you should be at the least, fifty years of age. Your hair—your beard——” “Should be white! Exactly. But have you forgotten that, there is such a thing as dye? When the stain is from my face and hair, when my beard is gone, perhaps the likeness will not be so hard to trace. You have been as good to me as. ae you had, indeed been my child; come, Frank, to these arms that so long have yearned to embrace you, and say you have not forgotten the poor old man who has loved you better than life itself!’ * Father—father!” cried Frank, throwing himself upon the old comedian’s breast, ‘‘ for such you will ever be to me, how much worse than ungrateful I would be, could I ever for- get your kindness. “JT never knew a parent’s watchful care other than yours, and come what may, you shall never know other than a son’s love from me !” Tears trickled freely down the old man’s cheeks, “God bless you—God bless you!” he cried. *‘ You are indeed a true son.” As for Nicholas Dopp, he flung his hat in the air, capered around like a madman, and shouted at the top of his lungs: ** Hoh, s'elp me proper! Cum ter me h’arms, me cheyild, h’and ’eving bless yer. ‘Ooray!” Frank raised his hand. “Hush, Nick,” he said, {|solemnly. ‘“ We must not forget we are in the presence of death.” At the mention of Mad Hagar, Samuel Sparkle wept afresh, and turning to him, our hero inquired: “How was it I never knew your wife was ou escaped from the flames at the Bowery Theater?’ The old comedian then proceeded to relate the story of the Italian’s terrible mistake, all of which is already known to the reader 3 therefore, we will pass it by and pick up the thread where it will be a revelation to us. “When I fell back in the flames,” went on Sparkle, “it was more from the force ard suddenness of the blow than real pain, for I did not imagine myself so badly injured as 1 was. Still [lost consciousness, and the fire soon after revived me, and I sought escape from a side door. ** While sh pert Mag to extricate myself from a heap of ruins a falling brick struck me upon the head, and I fell in a senseless heap to the floor. “Tt appears a fireman saw me fall and saved me, for [remember no more until my eyes opened with reason within the walls of a hospital, whither I had been brought. “AS soon as I was able I left the place and went to Mrs. Brophy’s. You were gone. She showed me your letter and told me of two men who had been there inquiring for you. ‘From the description I knew them to be Philip Deverell and the Italian, Giovanni St. Gash. 1 knew there was danger, and pre- pared to follow you under the assumed name of Harvey Arlington. “You know already how I came up with you—how my uiraety arrival saved you from the deadly blow of the Italian, and the no less deadly hatred of your uncle.” “My uncle! Yes of him and of my: el ; added Frank. “Pray go on, and like Hamlet, ‘let me not burst in ignorance.’” Harvey Arlington smiled feebly. _“Like Hamlet,” he repeated. “Ay, the simile is good, for like him, you are the vic- tim of an uncle’s malice towards his brother, But I must begin at the commencement: “ When y eat young—not more than twen- ty-five—and my way to fame lying open before me, I fell in with a Spanish actress, one eae a D'Lavernti. I will not say that I was madly in love with the woman; her genius, her mas- feuy, rendition of different characters fired lood, and when I saw that I was not dis- tasteful to her, I grew bolder, and in an evil hour offered myself and was accepted, “In the profession I was looked upon as a ou promised to tell me | ¢ devilish lucky fellow, and in my mad infat ation, I fancied I was. ; ‘But Signora D’Lavernti was not the spot- less angel I imagined her to be, although I did not find this out until it was too late. **She was surrounded by the greatest and richest men of the day, and among these were two young fellows, brothers, named 4 Deverell, the eldest, Harold, not more than eighteen, but their money gave them place with older men. d “The pai er brother, pre was deep and crafty—I never liked him, but with the free-hearted, good-natured, impulsive Harold I soon became a fast friend and an inseparable — companion. “Thus matters went on for three years, at the end of which time old Deverell died, leay- ing all his money to bis eldest and favorite — son. 3 “* Philip Deverell was madly jealous of Har- old, and my instinct told meif a favorable — chance brpsented itself, he would not scruple — to put him out of the way to obtain the. — wealth he coveted, although Harold shared equally with him in all things, f ** A few months after—some seven or eight —I married the woman to whomI wasen- — gaged, but both having profitable engage- ments, we remained in New York, where my _ darling little Ethel was born. ° “The Deverells were still our yisitorsfand one night, when my daughter was but three years of age, Harold came to me brimful of — the blissful tidings that he also was a father. — “T knew not of his marriage, buta few words sufficed to tell me that my only sister — was and had been his wife for more thana — year, * “‘I was overjoyed, but the gladness was not for long, for three days after the birth of her Me son, my sister Kate died. Rens: “Harold was almost crazed with grief, but the child was still left him by a merciful proy- idence, , f ‘“* About this time I learned that all wasnot with meas I had thought, and quarrels be- — tween myseli and wife were of frequent oc- currence, , ¥ “T determined to leave the city—to travel —and' take my wife from the society with which she was surrounded, «The Deverells followed us, (the child pe i left behind), but I speedily saw that I had, Sashes pe with me the very viper from whom I fe. would escape—Philip. ; We ‘In the roadway onenight, I quarreled with Hagar before the brothers and mad with — jealousy, struck her, as I then thought, dead at my feet. “At the same instant Philip Deverell | plunged a knife into the heart of his brother, and as I turned upon him, he pointed to the body of my wife and said : ‘ Pye “"We are quits! Dare to betrayme and you go to the scaffold!’ WANs “*Monster!’ I cried. ‘I will deliver myself _ up to see you punished for the murder of a ij man whose every impulse was good ad true!’ ( ** Ah, how well he had plotted! ate “He laughed at me, pointed to the bloody knife, which was one of my stage properties — and bore my name on the hilt. at aha “One word!’ he hissed, ‘and I summon aid to arrest you for this double murder!’ “God pity me! I was in his power and could do nothing. He disposed of the bodies, and it was agreed that I was totake Harold's” child and make away with it, thus leaving the path to the Deverell gold free and un- ~ trammeled forhim. =~ De “The son of Harold was sent to me, but I fled with it, though a few days after my little Ethel disappeared and left me a childles father and a wifeless husband. ret “My heart yearned to the little orphan; I did not slay him; I sent him away to school as my own son, and after many years came back to New York. | : Ee “Season after season dragged by; I saw nothing of Philip Deverell ‘until, by some strange chance, he learned that the boy was" living, divined the trick I had played upon him, and sought me out on the very night o that child’s debut. : a “Wealth now awaits Frank Deverell, now that Lknow the blow did not kil wife, only injured her reason, give me yo hand, boy, we will regain ittogether. c<now me now as Samuel Sparkle. know you as Frank Deverell, the heir to m ions, but once and always my ¢child—Th ) Actor's Son!” Vy, “i i yi Tee f ur festa
Page 15
,mad to the magistrate. iv THE ACTOR'S SON. - CHAPTER XXIII. As Samuel Sparkle ceased speaking, he bent down, kissed the cold forehead of the dead woman, and with a low sob, reverently replaced the sheet to sbut out the hideous sight of those wide-open eyes staring blankly at space, sightless here, but in another worid endowed with immortal vision. “You have suffered much,” said Frank, “but God willing, all our trials are over. Let me but gain my‘inheritance, and you and faithful old Nick, here, shall pass the rest of your days with me in my home.” Sam Sparkle strained the boy once more to his heart and arose from his position beside his dead wife. “Come,” he said, ‘we must get to the ho- tel now. On the morrow Hagar must be buried.” They obtained permission to leave her at the insane asylum and passed out to the car- riage. As they rumbled down ‘the road, two fig- ures sprang into the thicket, but not before the eagle eye of the old comedian had recog- nized them both. ' “Drive like mad!” he shrieked to Frank, and as the vehicle a down the dusty track, he sprang up and shouted: “You have played your cards badly, Philip Deverell. Iam nota murderer, the rightful heir is in my hands at last, and here goes for New York and happiness!” To this inflammatory oration, Nicholas Dopp added an addenda in the shape of a lusty: “’Ooray for Sparkle h’and Dopp! Tigur!” Crack! The sharp report of a pistol, anid uttering a shrill cry of pain, Samuel Sparkle fell back in the seat, the blood oosing from a ghastly wound in his breast. “Dad, are you wounded?’ gasped Frank, dropping the reins and springing to the old comedian’s side, “Dad, are you hurt?” . ’ 4 2 old man nodded his head, and replied, eebly : “Ay, lad, to the death, Drive—drive like I’ve got my last dose, but I mustn't shuffle off till my story is on paper. Drive—drive! Oh, my God, how it burns!” Nicholas Dopp seized the reins and urged the horse down the road towards the hotel, while our hero held the wounded man in his 7 arms and strove to stay the terrible flow of blood. But the task was useless. “Ts it bad, dad?” sobbed Frank, as he saw how rapidly the old man was sinking. ‘Is it bad? ‘ “You know what Mercutio says, my boy, “tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church door; but ’tis enough, ’twill serve!’ Drive on! Oh, for the love of Heaven, drive —drive!” On—on flew the horse; they reached the door of the ‘‘ Westerner,” and here Nicholas Dopp sprang out. : “Where h’is the ’ouse h’of the magistrate?” he cried to Gaspard Largarette, who, with others, stood af the door awaiting their re- turn, ** Zere at ze toop oof ze heel ; ze ferst house.” Up again leaped Nick, and away tore the vehicle at lightning speed, never stopping until the door of the house indicated was reached, ‘ : In due time they were ushered into the mag- istrate’s preehce he having been aroused from ee ed, and the facts of the case were stated. The dying man was propped up in a chair, the words fell slowly from his lips, and were accompanied by the sobs of Frank and the fabs of the pen, as the magistrate recorded them. The last word was wyritten—Frank’s right to the inheritance was proven—then the pa- per was pushed forward, a pen pressed into the stiffening fingers of the dying man, and, held up by Frank, he wrote his name: “Samuel Sparkle.” The final “‘e” was written; the fingers slipped, the pen dropped to the floor, and with a great sigh of relief the faithful old comed- ian sank | ack into the chair—dead! On the following day officers were put upon the track of Deverell and St. Gash, and after a lusty ride came up with them in a bit of woodland some three miles beyond the road. A tough fight, in which Giovanni St. Gash was killed, ensued, and after much trouble Philip Deverell was escorted to prison under a pate) guard, and thence sent to New York for trial. Frank and ma remained long enough to bid farewell to Hugh Trugold, then with the Beate of Hagar and Samuel Sparkle, follow- ed him, The bones in the hut of Hagar were discoy- ered fully a year afterwards, but Philip Dev- erell never betrayed himself by telling that he had stolen the comedian’s child and given it to its mother, who, in her wild fury, slew it; and so to the world that ever remained a Pay pone sealed when both were bur- ied, * * * * * * * Philip Deverell’s trial was a short one, and with the double murder and the burning of the Bowery Theater at his back, he did not look for mercy, but his face paled, his form shook, as he arose to view the jury returning, There was an instant’s ghostly silence. A word from the judge, and then the reply of the foreman : Guiltyl” ADDENDA, READER, the task is done, the end is reach- ed, A few more words and we lay down the pen, happy if we have wielded it to satisfac- tion and pleasure. Frank Deverell regained the wealth of his father with but little trouble, and to-day he holds it, but not alone. Enough was settled upon Nick to keep him comfortable, but he could never stifle his love © for the roving life of a player, and continues still to fill that vole. The sharers of Frank Deverell’s wealth are a lovely wife and a blue-eyed baby boy, whom he has named after the man who lost his life for him—Samuel Sparkle. Deverell. We look in upon him once for the last time before we say good-by. He sits alone in his study. A door opens softly ; a servant has entered with a paper in his hand, Py “Well?” asks Frank, ‘«The paper you sent me‘for, sir.” Very pale he turns as he rises from the chair, and takes the sheet from theman. _ He looks at it once, falls back into the chair and casts the paper away; but, lying as_ it does upon the floor, we can read the bold, black letters that have startled him : “PXTRA | “BouLL AccouNT OR THE EXECUTION OF Purvre DEVERELL.” [THE END.) Wseful and Instructive Books. HOW TO MAKE MAGIC TOYS—Containing full directions for making Magic Toys and devices of many kinds. ally illustrated. Price 10 cents. For sale by all news- dealers, or sent, post-paid by mail, upon receipt of price. dress Frank Tousey, Publisher, 29 West 26th Street, son, By A. Ander- York, e ork, Af Street, New York, HOW TO DO SIXTY TRICKS WITH CARDS—Embracing all of the latest and most deceptive card tricks with illustrations, For sale by all newsdealers, or we will send it to you by mail, postage free. upon receipt of rice, Address Frank Tousey, Publisher, 29 West 26th Street, By A. Anderson. 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rE, SA eS 1137 Frank Re: are YR Art Le oxi sn sincinonsis twelesise _ 1138 Green Mountain Joe, the Oia 1 rapper of Malbro Pond......... y Lieut. E. H. Kellogg “1139 Red Light Dick, the Hnetucer Prinee..... by Albert J. Booth -1140 Adrift in the Tree-Tops....... by Allyn Draper # 1141 Lost in Labrador; or, The pester we oe WYVOZENE PE Atel soos velswin wae die asiwices Litt 2 The Mysterious Man of the Monten. ne a, 4 ok Story of the Hudson River.by P. T. Raymond 4145 “Special” Bob; or, The Bria - of the Road ¢ Albert J, Booth 1146 Adrift in a Haunted Lane con The Mys- tery of a Lost War Ship. by Roger Siaveneke 1147 The Arkansas Scout......... by Paul Braddon 1148 The Wolf Boys of Michigan................ by Jas. D. Sacre dag e, Jr.’3 Electric Cyclone; or, dventures in No sag 8 Land. ““Noname” In the Sea of Ice............ by Albert J. Booth The ae Derertare; or, The Mystery of Rameey’s Island.......... by Berton Bertrew the Fa: nic y 4 1152 The Gane Cock of Deadwood, A Bia. Ot the Wild Northwest......... by G 1153 Randy Rollins, the ae Fireman. A Story of Heroic Deeds..... By Robert. oer as 1154 Little Buffalo Bill; or, The Boy Scout of the Rio Del Norte....by Lieut. E. H. Kellogg 1155 ip nape Island. A Romance of a F’ ‘orgot OLE cadmiaisers ss sume antes by C. Little 1156 the Silent Bante scvnacnaesensie oa *“Noname” 1157 Kit ere s Little Scout; se he Rene- BAGS LIGOM sa cas ace desiveck Gaston Garne 1158 Sidi eae Ladder Jack, t Young ; ae a eslhe ert, Lennox \ 1159 The en in Green “Noname” 1160 Yellowstone Kelly Revert Maynard 1161 stage Jack Tempest, the gras of the eee gee te he Hero of by George G, Small School Scrapes; or, The Rackets oung Ventriloquist. Part IL— Eds Posd cece ranked ane by Tom Teaser 1164 Boncding School Scrapes; or, The Rackets se on Cae! Ventriloquist. Part Retake star al no (pled si clbiy pales y Tom Teaser 1165 teat oe a Yacht; oe The Way catares of Four American Boys........ y R. T. Emmet 1166 ee Rudder, the Boy. Pilot of the Mississip- b . Raymond Sc 1163 Boaedin oe a 1167 On a Sinking Island.. PF, Kit Clyde 1168 Muldoon’s ats—comic y Tom Peer 1169 The Hut in the Swamp; or, tiie Mystery o Hal Percy's Fate... 0.2.00... mmet 1170 he ane Jed, the King ‘tape oe of the T. Raymond by 1174 inet ee of eee: Adventures oward De Vere As ock a 1178 ae Potomac Detective..... by Ralph Morton 1179 Union Dick in the Rebel ag RE ee Eee y Philip Murdock 1180 Cavalry Jack at Murtreestiro ease alice y Col. Ralph Fenton 1181 Cavalry Jack in the eure Py SR ae A by Col. Ralph’ Fenton _ 1182 pees Ser or, The “Adventures of a BOY PROVO! 2 sp 'a.0 otisich sie oeit by I. James, Jr 1183 The. Short, s on the Road; or, we the Old Business Just for Fun—comic. - by Peter Pad q 1184 The Haunted Cave...... b: s. D. Montague s 1185 Infantry pave, the Youn Scout of the mn? CT eam by Ralph Morton Wildern 1186 Daniel Dogue: the Hero of Kentucky..... " Latest Issues af THE 5 CENT WIDE bres ine Ci Bae 1197 eheey Dell School; or, Haps aba Mishaps f Schoolboy ‘Life... .. by Capt. Will Dayton 1198 Dick Wright and His Band Bt Cs J. R. Scott 1199 Sawdust Charlie, the Pet of the” Lin: Neheie by An Old Ringmaster 1200 The Blasted Pine; or, ae, Boy Scouts. . be Capt. Will Dayton 1201 The Boy Trapezist. .by a Former co dasa 1202 Little Nugget, the Pride of Leadville y Major J. Anderson 1203 The Young Aeronaut............ by Prof. Wise 1204 Denver Dan and His Mystic Behan by C. Little 1205 Denver Dan and the Road Agents. by C. Little 1206 Denver Dan and the Counterfeiters by C, Little 1207 Denver ati Outwitted; or, The sett lh 8 SPrimmMpein.; ALocaeyckenwendvasncs’ C. Little 1208 Denver Dan the Sheriff............ by C. Little 1209 Denver Dan to the Rescue; or, The Moun- taineer’s Stratagem............... by C. Little 1210 Denver Dan and His Chums....... by C. Little 1211 Denver Danin New York......... by C, Little 1212 The Twin Boy Scouts....by Pere B. St. John 1213 Prairie P’ hil; or, The Panther of the Platte by Harry Rockwood 1214 Trapper Duke; or, The Female Avenger. by Jas, D. Montague 1215 Bleck and Blue; or, Nick W etton on the Aas hay 02: ro ae Hey ee, by Harry Rockwood 1216 Little) Hal, the Boy Enginee by Capiai Will Dayton 1217 The Pirate’s Son........... y J. T. Brougham 1218 The Search for the * MMidaat or, Treasures from the Deep............. by Gerald Fleming’ 1219 Gorilla George: or, A New York Boy in PPI GAahes Tap cutincae sence by J. L. Freeman 1220 Sp tae Benross Ned, the Prince of Boy rapa Sing Ardkork ADELE y Horace Appleton 1221 Noth Woods Tom, the Athlete Hunter.. by Kit Clyde 1222 Lighthouse Lem; or, The Mystery of Dead- man’s Reef............by an Ola Sea Captain HK. Shackleford 1224 Lasso Luke; or, The Three Prairie Pards. by Kit Clyde 1223 Joe Jordan, the Young Oy entor. 1225 Jack Harkaway’s Schooldays. ad Jack Harkaway Afioat, 227 Jack Harkaway Among the Savages, | 1338 Jack Harkaway’s Escape. 1229 Jack Harkaway at Oxford. 1230 Jack Harkaway and the Black Band. . 1231 Jack Harkaway and the Brigands, 1232 Jack Harkaway and the Spy. 1233 Jack Harkaway aera 1234 Jack Harkaway and the Italians; The Brigand’s Doom, 1235 Jack ee and His Son’s Adventures Round the World. 12386 Jack Harkaway and His Son Homeward Bound. 1237 ong arkaway and the Pirates, 1238 Jack Harkaway’s Triumph. 1239 Jack Harkaway on Magic Island. 1240 Jack Harkaway’s Peril. 1241 Jack Harkaway to the Rescue. 1242 Jack Harkaway, the Magician. 1243 Jack Harkaway, the Avenger. 1244 Jack Harkaway in Australia. 1245 Jack Harkaway and the Convicts, 12346 Jack Harkaway and the Bushrangers, 1247 Young Jack Harkaway and His Boy Tinker, 1248 'Tinker’s Man, Bogey. 1249 Young Jack Harkaw: yay in Spain. 1250 Young Jack Harkaway in Turkey. 1251 Mole Among the Mussulmans. 1252 Young Jack Harkaway and the Renta: 1253 A i Harkaway and the Counterfeiters 1254 Dick Lightheart..... by Bracebridge Hemyng 1255 Dick Lightheart’s Trials................... eerpepbnid de Hemyng 1256 Dick Lightheart’s riimph r 1257 Dick Lightheart at fen 1258 Dick Lightheart Peete the Wi by B Titacobigen ee 1259 Dick Lightheart in Lond on by Bracebridge Hemyng 1260 Dick Lightheart’s Wicte. Keane enstyah Ganges or, pe inage Hemyng AWAKE LIBRARY: 1272 Secrets Under the Sea..,........- by Kit Clyde 1273 Noung Jack Harkaway and the Muti- Dace bie osnalioeiaeio by Bracebridge Hemyng 1274 The. Peete Revenue Detective; or, Among the Moonshiners.................. by a Retired Detective 1275 Long-Paw, the Mysterious Hunter........ by Kit Clyde 1276 The Young Engineer; or, Fighting Against OdGS hawt ala uceieee tess by Howard Devere 1277 raua Jack Harkaway and the Miners of Cripple Creek....... by Bracebridge Hemyng 5 1278 The Sea Fiends; or, Under the Ocean ....., a by Howard Devere 1279 Zola, the Old Trapper’s casieg ts Sahiba he T. Emmet 71280 pas Hazle; or, Adrift on a Mating Isl- C, Emmet and Tene Pearl 1281 Sonne Jack a ana Divers of Ceylon.. Ry racebridge Hemyng 1282 Stuttering Mose; or, 'T a ee eer of the Revolution. .........:. Gen. J. L. Johnston 1283 Seem Hurricane; a "The Wait of the by Allan Arnold 1284 The youse ‘Explorers. The biay entures of Two Boys i in ‘Guatemalan... tiie cakes , by Capt. W ill Pie Bisa 1285 Young Jack Harkaway in the Land PAR OLGS «tic's ois reais sie by Bracebridge Bans oke A 286 ieee ae Jr., and His Band of Dead- . by ‘‘ Noname’”” Capi, . Will Dayton 1288 The Mad Man of the Nowth ‘ole; or, The Boy Mazeppa of the Arctic Seas.......... by Kit Clyde 1289 Motes Jack Barker and the Thugs of ; Bracebridge emyng . ero of the Rail.. } by J. R. Scott - Ind 1290 Saokeatasi Bob, “the! ¥ Mouarna” 1293 The Mad Hunter; or, sir Mystery. of the ; Beaver Dam.. by Capt. Will Dayton 1294 Young Jack Ha way and the Boers of the Transvaal....... by Bracebridge Hemyng 1295 Sumter’s Aide. A Story of the American Revolution. .by Capt. Geo. Granv: ile, U.S.A. 1296 Washed Ashore; or, Adventures in a Strange Land............ by Harry Rockwood 1297 Death Gulch; o: Evil iD Chief of the Comanches: .is) 26,250.05 y Alex. Armstrong 1298 Young Jack Harkaway in Cuba........... by Bracebridge Hemyng 1299 bale teak the Boy Scout of the Wilder- ER ice eer iar 3. Seu by Morris Redwing 1300 Old. Meee or, The My este of the Trunk.. y a New York Detective 1301 The sie Island; or, The ae of the Caroline ri cni cogs cases by Col. J. M. Travers 1302 vais a ida Harkaway Mich the Cuban nsurgents.....,..... by Bracebridge Hemyng 1303 Huron Harry, The Pirate Le ay or, ‘The Haunted Skiff........... Bride ontague 1304 pace Dick; or, The nine, of Pen ber Fim er cyi tana demas colette D. Montague 1305 Batkaio Bill’s Chum...by Woe ibe Ralph Fenton 1306 Young Jack Harkaway ighting the x Slave Traders of the Soudan.............. } by Bracebridge Hemyng 1307 Young Lynx, the Amateur Detective..... by Richard R. mare rr 1308 fae Drummer Boy to General. <A ‘4 “A of ‘the Moxidan Ward. c.cicivenuetves gate Mite by Richard R. Montgomery 1309 Silvershot, the Sport From Sacramento... Kit Clyde 1310 Young Jack Harkaway and the Dervishes of the Nile... ........ y Bracebridge sige ‘ 1311 Red ives Bill, the Prince of Scouts...... 2 His: ne by JoR. Scott yea: 1312 The “Sea Wave's” Last Cruise; or, ae Pirates Caves... 2s. cctvewetan ce by Kit Clyde 1313 Sam Sharpe at School..by Capt. Will Dayton ; 1314 Y: oung Jack Harkaway in Armenia; or, A ; } Fight With the Curks iii; oc eevee scence by Bracebridge Hemyng 1315 The Coral Cave; or, Paul Philip’s Cruise.. by Horace Ap leton by Paul Braddon na Boyt by Bear ebeaae Hemyng | 1316 Bona, the Texan; or, the pemene te of the cone ‘ pF a 1261 oe Dodger, the Boy Ventriloquist........ | ANAM... 0. eee eee eee ene cot sa PS I CARER: ip Ccramiorore mec Lane i 2 by Gus Williams | 1317 Matt Merry or, the Life es the Schoo 15% if ‘1188 Burt, the Detective; or, A Sleuth-Hound 1262 Little Mac, the Boy Engineer.by ay Royal y Capt. Will Dayton i. on the Track...... by Police Captain Howard | 1263 ees Marked Moccasin; or, Pand lis’ 1318 pang Jack Harkaway Fighting the Ban- . 1189 ae Mysterious Mespeneers or, The Secret - et SATE ORT) As Marling Manley its of the Balkans..by mpl ocho 13 Hemyng f the Three Black’ S ” .by Hart Barnard | 1264 Tom Brown’s Harkanvay Thomas Hughes | 1319 Little Jack and His Twenty fen ‘iremen Mea ae % w190 The oe Middy; as econ) by Pi- 1265 ar Jack atte ighting the i i ‘obert Lennox b Eats Reale v2: pa enes Sn y Rich hard R. Montgomery} — _- Moors..............+ 1320 Keeping His Word ; or, Tueey. Landy’s os 1191 Meta, the Girl reblidehr or, The Secret of 1266 varret: the Little iateeyer oot PIMOS: ine ccteicee stasis by Jas. D. Montague i y 8 BOR, ra nousigine.n'y das sian by Gus. Williams of Many Faces. . 1321 His Last Cent; or, How Joe Dutton Made _ ty 1192 image the Gallows........ by a U. S. Detective $1267 Chased hoon the eee or, 1 His Fortune............ by H. K. Shackleford Ge 1193 The Gold Hunters of Mexie0;, 0 The tective’s Mistake 1322 Young Jack Harkaway in the Wilds of | Prairie Phantom............. HO. Emmet |} 1268 Master of Himself; or, A Boy’ 8 viane in Siberi by Bracebridge Hemyng 1194 Drifting Harry; or, Hoeing iis Ovin Row the World........... 1323 wt Ocean V Story of Privateerin by: J. G. Bradley | 1269 Young Jack 1) PRs rear tener ie George G. Small ' 1195 A Trip to the Center of the sath Peril ctaaay Gold...... 1324 Bufhalo B and 0 ins Shots or, The Boy ratior of pear On Deck oats, Boy Pilot of Lake Erie 1395 Billy Hutto Sota Glows ana co P ot; 0} railer 0 nD CS OFF e Boy Pilot of Lake Erie.. a i n n - 3 218 “te itl Hom ats ie oe Col sale? M. Travers: i) by Howard De Vere back Rider.........1. by Lieut. EK. H. Kellogg: Pcl. a d % * For gale by all newsdealers in the United States and Caneitest or sent to your aaa post-paid, on receipt of iY ) cents, Address