7
« The
Peril and the Prize”
Written Expressly for this Magazine by David Kyle Nicholson
CHAPTER I.
Their coming had been a mystery, their “I think it would be better,” she said, not broken, ribs in return for my demon
had been a greater They had gone “if you would give me the names now,
I thought it over and decided to
ET others say what they may, I going
had been absolutely noiseless and unseen, and I will look up the addresses and have stration.
let the villains die at some other time and
claim that for a bachelor there is as
completely as if they had never existed. as many of them as possible to dinner place,
though
prayed that it might be
no comfort like that of a fur Now
seven years had passed and the to-morrow. But won’t you get into the soon. I walked I unhesitatingly
through the
nished room. A hotel gives a certain
mystery
was
as
complete
as
ever.
Not
a
while we talk? The air seems door and into a dark hall. The door
measure of independence, but you are single inquiry ever had been received to carriage
very
chilly
to
me.”
never for a moment unaware that you ate indicate that elsewhere in the world was “Certainly,” I said, and stepped within. closed with a bang, and I heard it locked
the outside. Tiiere was an uncom
in a hotel. You are one of many, and no anybody interested in their coming and Just then the hackman shouted out some from
fortable wait, and then a door opened at
matter how long you stay, you never feel going.
words.
the other end of the hall and a fat,
that you are at home. A boarding-house Now for good or ill I had chosen to indistinguishable
is it?” said the woman, rising middle-aged woman appeared, carrying a
is a place where you have all the disad make Lucy Dean the object of my roman and “What
putting
her
head
out
of
the
carriage.
vantages and none of the advantages of and sentimental regard. It was not suf “I say as how I’ve been drivin’ round small lamp.
“How do?” she said, as she came for
hotel life. Private board, so called, means tic
to make nte lose any of my good long enough,” he said. “I’ve got to see ward
with a kind of vacant grin, appar
that your privacy is in all respects reduced ficient
three
meals
a
day
or
to
cause
me
any
the
color
of
your
money
or
I’ll
drive
youse
ently intended to express welcome.
to the minimum. Extensive apartments particular grief at any time. It was to the station, see?”
I
stood
make a man feel as if he were a fish and rather a luxtfry than otherwise. It filled “No need of your insolence!" said the greeting. stiffly and did not return her
the only one in, say. Lake Ontario. But my dreams whenever I chose to be senti woman, taking out her purse and stepping “This way ^ and I’ll show you your
a well-furnished room with good light, mental. gave me a chance to believe that to the sidewnlk.
“Hnw
“How mnrh
much i« is the hill
bill? room," she said, still grinning and show
proper heat and an obliging landlady will I, too, had had my romance and supplied What sidewalk.
the hackman's response was I ing a row of teeth which, while perfect,
insure all the comfort any reasonable man a vision whenever I hummed “Annie never knew,
for the woman Hung shut the were absurdly small and with wide spaces
can desire; and the feeling that he is lord
or other lovesick tune. Also it door of the carriage, and at the same between
them.
of all within his four walls comes to him is Laurie"
possible
that
her
memory
had
prevented
there was a forward lurch and I could see no reason for standing in
and comforts him when, wearied and dis me from falling in love with some pretty moment
the
horses
went
away
at
a
gallop.
the
hall,
so I followed without a word.
gusted. he comes home at the close of a stenographer whom I met in the course of I jumped up in the dark and tried the Up two flights
stairs I went, and then
trying business day.
work and marrying and living happily door of the carriage, but I could find no I was shown a of room
white un
I had engaged such a room as I had my
ever after in a Harlem flat, up four flights way to open it. I shouted, but in vain. doubtedly a prison for which,
Lhe time, was a
long desired. It had no outlook Worth of
stairs.
I
could
hear
a
steady
clattering
of
what
I
luxurious one. I saw a bed with
mentioning, but I am much more inclined I looked around my comfortable lodg knew not, but it was sufficient to drown most
snow-white linen, easy chairs, a table, a
to reading than to looking out of the win ings which 1 had determined should be nty voice, shut within the close confines of bookcase
filled to overflowing. The room
dow. If I were anxious Tor a view of out
home for many years to come, and the swiftly moving vehicle.
was spacious, the ceiling was lofty, the
of doors. I had only a short walk to River my
then
took
down
a
volume
and
began
to
On
the
carriage
went—on
and
on
and
was thick and fine. A grotesque
side or Central Park. The room was spa read for the thousandth time Thackeray’s on, in spite of all my frenzied efforts to carpet
feature, considering the undoubtedly crim
cious. my own belongings were duly “Cane-Bottomed
Chair,"
sentimentally
im
escape.
Why
I
was
being
taken
thus
was
inal
nature
of the place, was a hugii famil :
placed, tile fire was blaring in the grate agining that many years had passed and a mystery. At first I thought of the Bible, occupying
of honor on the
and I.settled down to my first evening's that I had grown old and white-haired, ludicrous, if annoying, explanation that table at the centre the of place
the room.
enjoyment of my newly occupied apart but still dreaming of the days of my youth the woman was an impostor who had “That looks comfortable,
doesn't it ?"
ment. I was so well satisfied that I felt and fitting my Lucy to the Fanny of the given the hackman the slip after beating said the woman, pausing at the
“I
that it would be years before I should poem. True, she had never been in the him out of her fare and that the latter was hope the boys hain’t been rough door.
have occasion to choose other quarters. room and I had no cane-bottomed chair, taking me to the police station to answer nor nothin', ’cause they had orders with not you to
And yet so uncertain are the affairs of but when we are determined to be senti for the sins of another. This explanation be. You'll be treated right, don’t be
human life that I was destined never
we do not stick at trifles.
faded as the carriage continued on and afraid. The boss wants to sec you a little
to spend a single night within those mental
I could hardly be blamed for my sen on. I heard the crash of the elevated bit in the mornin’ and then you'll go all
walls, even though the clock was just then timent.
With or without reason, sen trains, the clang of the street car gong, right, an’ nielibe a tidy bit in you? pocket.
striking the hour of ten.
is bound to play a part in our lives together with the continuous beat of the It s more of a joke like than anything else.”
• I leaned back in my chair in dreamy timent
and—I
had
Lucy Dean. Seldom is horses’ feet upon the pavement. Pres “Quite a joke,” I said, stiffly.
enjoyment, accentuated by the fact that to given, below seen
stars, a vision of beauty ently all these sounds ceased and we were “Ill be back in a minute,” she said.
morrow was Thanksgiving Day and there such as I had the beheld
in the brief months going along dirt roads. The city was be shutting tlie door, which closed with a
was no going to the office. I ant not our acquaintance. The
clear blue eyes, ing left behind. I threw myself back on spring lock. I saw nor heard anything of
laity, but who docs not enjoy a respite of
the
light,
rippling
1
frown
hair, the faultless the cushions and defiantly awaited the the
gang, but I knew that they were not
from the regular daily grind of business? complexion, the high, smooth
brow, the outcome of my adventure.
far
away,
and it would be folly to attempt
I determined the hotel at which I would frank, innocent expression, the
I was utterly and hopelessly puzzled rushing past the fat woman who was con
dine on the morrow, the excursion I laugh, the silvery voice, the dancing merry
step
as
to
why
anybody
should
take
the
trou
iny jailer. She came back speed*
would take, the theatre I would attend. never could be forgotten. And she was ble to kidnap me, for I was neither a stituted
ily. bearing a plate of sandwiches and a
Then, though my years arc not so many good as beautiful, with the strong mtclli- maiden fair, a soldier brave nor a king glass
of
as they are now, I fell to thinking of the gence necessary to complete goodness, dom's heir, a trajtor vile nor a millionaire, "You’ll milk.
find these are good." she said,
past. Everything is relative and the young kind,
and true. Never. I felt and why they should take such elaborate putting them on the table. "You must be
man looks back a few years to what seems assured, sympathetic
would I see her again and, though pains to carry off a broker’s clerk with hungry after your long ride."
the distant past and sings “AllId Lang I might grow old, Lucy would remain to six dollars in his pocket was too much for “Is it very far?” I asked, thinking thus
Syne]' as sentimentally as the most ancient me always the same.
my comprehension.
to gain a clue, even if a slight one, as to
of his elders.
How long I might have gone on dream On we went. Like other foolish and where I was.
This was especially the case with me, ing I cannot say. We never ¡nay know, impatient persons I asked if that ridq ever "Well, now! Do you think I'm such a
who. in coming to the city years before, though we think we may. what would would find an end. Of course it found an green one as to answer questions like
had in a moment completely severed with have happened if something else had not. end, as does whatever is evil and dis that?” the woman answered, laughing and
the past. On leaving the little academy I was brought back to earth by a loud tressing in life. The motion of the car shaking her fat—well. I believe that polite
writers would probajily call it her sides.
which had furnished me with ^11 that I knock at my door. I promptly opened and riage slowed and then stopped.
There was a long wait and then the I drew up to the sandwiches without a
could afford in the way of higher educa confronted my visitor.
tion. I had gone straight to the city and It was the man with the raw-beef face carriage door was thrown open and I word, and the woman was gone, bid
by an odd chance stumbled into a satis and dingy green uniform of a public hack- looked upon a landscape brilliantly lighted ding me a cheerful good-night
by moonlight.
I was indeed hungry, and the sand
factory position. I exchanged letters with driver.
my friends and relatives, but they grew "Ziss Mr. Westmark?" he asked in the “Come out, young feller,” said the wiches were certainly good f ate until I
less and less frequent and harder and language and husky voice of his kind. husky voice of the driver. “Nobody's was satisfied, and then, though I knew
goin' to hurt you. But if you try to it was far toward morning. I began look
harder to write. I had a few new-formed “That is my name,” I answered.
friends in the city, but they occupied little “Zare's a lady down in dc street wants break away or go puttin’ up a fight you’ll ing around the room. The window was
not barred, but it was at least thirty feet
'a
see
you.”
lie
said.
come
to a sudden stop, see?”
of my time or thoughts. So I worked
“All right. I’ll come down.” I said, I saw, fortunately for my health and from theaground. and I could hear tile-
through the day and at night went to my though
with profound wonder as to who comfort. There were five or six fellows steady crunch of the gravel in the walk
room and read and thought about the could wish
to see me. It must be, I standing about and as tough-tooking a lot in the garden beneath, which told me that
past.
there was some one doing duty as sentrv
vaguely
thought, some distant relative as one could wish to see.
-
That evening, which above all others from tne country
to let me know' the “This way, cully,” said one of them, to prevent any effort at escape. The walls
must stand out in the memories of my Hotel at which sho come
were of stone, the door was of heavy oik.
was staying.
seizing my arm.
life, I was thinking, as I often did, of
followed the hackman downstairs to “Hands off!” I said, angrily, shaking If I had attacked it with my penknife
Lucy Dean. I had known her but a year the I street
probably
after many hours I could have
the carriage stood at the myself loose. “I am not trying to get
when I was at the academy, but she was curb. He where
at once climbed to his seat away. Here I am. What do you want pierced it, but to what purpose? I was
still before me, a joyous vision such as after
there to stay until my captors saw fit to
flinging open the door of the car with me?”
I never expected to see again. There was
A face leaned forward from “Want you to go in the house and keep give me freedom.
a mistery about her, too. or rather, about riage.
I looked at the books. They were of an
quiet!” said one of the gang.
her father and family. They had come to within
"How de do? I suppose you don’t know “Mcbbe you'd like to say something to assortment such as any person of taste
the little town and rented a house and e?”
might
select, and certainly nothing likely
came
a
thin
voice.
“I
am
Mrs.
Min
me
in
particular!”
said
the
one
who
had
I,ucy had gone to the academy, the father ton, Professor Monroe's sister." she said, Jaid hands on me.
indicate a criminal or even morbid taste
had walked about with his head bowed after I had admitted that I did not know. “I certainly would!” I said. “H the rest to I looked
in the flyleaves for some inscrip
and an aunt had kept the house and kept
professor is in Brooklyn for a Sew will see fair play. I'll promise you an in tion, but found nothing, such search in one
out visitors; and people wondered and "The
case
having
been anticipated by tearing out
days
and
he
wants
you
to
take
dinner
with
teresting
two
minutes.’'
talked and shook their heads. Where
to-morrow."
“I'm ready for you, all right," the bully the writing. I looked at the pictures on
they came from nobody knew. Often him “Why.”
the wall. There were three of them,
said, in astonishment. “I said.
times the question was hinted and some heard that I Professor
Monroe died three “Get out, yoti fool!” said another, paintings of rare merit. One was a land
times put point blank.
scape showing an excellent combination of
years
ago
I”
chucking
him
unceremoniously
aside;
“Papa does not want me to talk about
lake and mountain. Another showed sev
of all things in the world !" said “the boss wouldn’t stand for it."
his affairs,” Lucy would reply with so the “Well,
woman, with a feeble laugh. “If he “Don't be afraid, young feller.” he con eral boys engaged in a game of marbles
sweet a smile that there was no chance is dead
the last hour. How tinued, “you’re goinf to get a square deal The other was a portrait of a lady, and in
for offense. The two elders were shorter on earth it did is within
you ever hear such a thing Just be peaceable and you’re all right. front of this I stood with starting eyes,
and more decisive in their replies.
as that’"
But there ain't no use gettin’ mad about just as my lamp, burning low, started to
One day the news went round the little “I had a letter from one of my class it ’cause there’s no good in try-in' to buck flicker preparatory to going out. It was a
town that the Deans were gone.- They mates,” I said.
the whole gang. Right in at that door!’ picture of Lucy Dean.
had rented a furnished house and the rent “Well, you come o \ir to Brooklyn to Common sense again came to my rescue,
CHAPTER II.
was paid three months in advance. They morrow and see whether he is dead -or would have been a fine piece of heroics
owed nothing in the village. Nobody had not Do you know if there are any more for me to cry “Die, villain!” or something The expiring light left me no choice but
any word ol their going Nobody had of his hoys in the city’"
of that sort and fling myself at the toughs, to go to bed. I had expected, in my fever
seen them at the station They had no “I believe there are several." I «aid. T but there is no doubt that I would have ish excitement, to lay awake until morn
will
try
to
look
up
such
addresses
at
pos
horse, no carriage. They had tv* engaged
gained a broken head, a bloody nose, two ing. but Morpheus is a god who plays
(CtmtmwtJ *r
f |.
any. so far as anybody knew. Their flight sible and let you know to-morrow."
black eyes and an assortment of sore, if
L
à.