CHAPTER XXII.
THE EMPTY SEAT.
A hand shook the door as Professor Ruggles entered the room. He atonce suspected something wrong, but cared only for his own safety, andso did not attempt to warn the inmates of Mrs. Scarlet's den of theirdanger.
He hurried to the rear of the block, down an upper hall, and as he waspassing into an alley down the back stairs, the four men had burst inthe side door and rushed into Madge Scarlet's dingy sitting-room.
"The beaks are out in force, it seems," muttered Ruggles, as he haltedfor a moment on the ground to rest from his exertion. "I hope Nick andthat fool pard of his will finish Dyke Darrel before the cops get ontothem. As for me, I shall turn my back on this accursed town the momentI am assured that Nell is out of danger. I will be quite secure in NewYork, I imagine."
And the red-haired villain made his escape from that building and,leaving his charge in an out-of-the-way alley, went forth to find aconveyance to take the wounded girl to a more safe retreat. Hesucceeded in finding a hack that suited his purpose, and with hisinsensible companion he was driven to another part of the city, on theWest Side. Ruggles had more than one resort in the great Westernmetropolis, and after he had placed Nell in a cozy room, with an oldnegress to watch over her, he breathed easy once more.
Nell Darrel was badly injured, and for several days she raved indelirium. When she came to her senses she was weak and almosthelpless. During all this time the black tool of Darlington Rugglescared for her in a most kindly manner.
The negress had been instructed to do all in her power for the girl,who, the Professor assured her, was a near relative who was not whollysound in mind, and this fact, combined with an accident, had broughton the trouble from which she was now suffering.
"Poor little lily," murmured the negress, in a sympathetic tone, whenthe girl was able to sit up and look about her.
"Where am I?" demanded Nell.
"Youse in good hands, chile," answered the black woman. "Your cousinsays he'll take you outen dis soon's you can trabbel."
"My cousin?"
Nell stared at the black, seemingly honest face in wonder. Of a suddenthe memory of the adventure in the basement on Clark street came tothe girl as a light from a clouded sky. She had indeed been under acloud for a long time, and had no means of judging of the passage oftime.
What had happened during all this while? What fate had been herbrother's? A feeling of deepest anxiety filled the girl's breast. Ereshe could find voice for more words, however, the door opened and aman entered the room.
A low, alarmed cry fell from the lips of Nell Darrel.
Before her stood Harper Elliston, smiling and plucking at his beard,which was but a mere stubble now, he having shaved since she had methim last.
"Ah, Nell, you are looking bright; I trust that you feel better. Youhave been very sick. How does your head feel?"
For the first time the girl realized that there was a sore spot underher hair at the side of her head. She touched it with her hand, andseemed surprised.
"You have forgotten, doubtless," he said. "You were rescued from aband of villains nearly a fortnight since. It seems that one of themmust have fired at you, since there was a slight wound where you justput your hand, that was doubtless made by a bullet."
Nell Darrel was beginning to remember the scene in the cellar.
"I was rescued, you say? Who were the rescuers?"
"Myself among others. I think you may safely acknowledge that you oweyour life to me," said the New Yorker coolly.
"And Dyke?" questioned Nell with intense eagerness.
"Was saved also, but he is badly hurt, and will be laid up for a monthor more. He is in one of the city hospitals."
"Oh, sir, I am thankful it is no worse. What have they done with thevillains, that sleek one with the red hair and beard?"
"They are all in prison, and will be brought to court as soon as thewitnesses are in a condition to appear against them."
"The witnesses?"
"Dyke Darrel and yourself."
"Can I go to Dyke?"
"Hardly," he answered with a smile. "You could not walk, that iscertain, and I am sure to attempt to ride would prove a dangerousexperiment. I am too deeply interested in your welfare to permit theattempt."
"But I am quite strong, I assure you," returned Nell, rising to herfeet only to sink back again with a cry of piteous weakness.
"You see, it would not do to attempt leaving your room at present,"said the villain, still smiling. Besides, there is no need of it. Yourbrother is doing as well as could be expected, and he has theassurance that you are out of danger, which has proved a great comfortto him, I assure you.
"Well, I suppose I ought to be thankful," sighed Nell, with tears inher dark eyes. "I cannot understand it all just now. It seems strangethat I should be subject to such treatment. Do you know the man Sims?"
"Sims?"
"The one with the red beard and hair. He met me at the depot."
"Exactly. I cannot say that I know the fellow, but I suspect he is ascoundrel of the first water. Don't bother your head about thesethings now, Nell. Try and get rested and strong, so that you can getfrom here and back to your own home as soon as possible. I hope you donot fear to trust me?"
He eyed her keenly at the last.
She was too weak to fully realize the enormity of this man's offense.She knew nothing of his connection with, the ruffians who made of Mrs.Scarlet's building a rendezvous; she only knew that he had beenindiscreet and insulting once, when in liquor, but of this he mighthave repented long since. At any rate, he seemed to be doing her agood turn now, and she could do no other way than trust him.
"I am still puzzled about one thing," she said, seeming to forget thequestion he had propounded.
"What is that?" asked Elliston.
"Why was I brought here?"
"Simply because you were not able to be taken home."
"But the hospital----"
"Was no place for a lady. I realized that you needed the best of care,and knowing Aunt Venus was a kind, motherly soul, an excellent nurse,even though she had a black skin, I brought you here."
"And here I've been--how long?"
"About fourteen days."
"So long?'
"You are surprised?"
"It doesn't seem a day."
"I suppose not. You haven't been in your right mind any of the time.Have you any word to send to Dyke?"
"Are you going to him soon?"
"Immediately. I call at the hospital every day to inquire after thedear boy, and I haven't been there this morning."
His voice was gentle, and there was a moist light in his dark eyes. Itwas barely possible that she had wronged the New Yorker, and thethought caused a pang. In the time to come she would confess herobligations, but now she was not in a mood for it.
"If I could write a line it would do him more good than aught else,"said Nell.
"Can you control your hand?"
"Oh, yes, easily."
"Then you shall write the dear boy. As you say, it will be of immensebenefit to him."
Mr. Elliston drew forth from an inner pocket a book. Opening it hetore out a leaf and placed it, with pencil, in the lap of the invalidgirl. It was not without difficulty that she controlled her handsufficiently to write.
Taking the folded note Elliston bade her good morning and passed fromthe room. The moment he gained the street he tore the bit of paper tofragments, a smile glinting over his face meantime.
"So much for that," he muttered. "Nell is about in the right trim forremoval, and I must not delay another day. Simple little thing! Shebelieved every word that I told her regarding the outcome of thatracket on Clark street. What an opinion she would have of me if sheknew the exact truth. I must get me to Gotham immediately. My fundsare running low, and SHE must replenish them. I haven't seen AuntScarlet since the racket. I hope she got her quietus. I believe I havehad quite enough of her disinterested assistance; quite enough of it."
And yet the scheming gentleman was to receive more of the Clark streethag's assistance in the future, and in a way that was not just exactlypleasant, than he imagined.
* * * * *
Night hung its sable mantle over the earth. A silver moon rode in aclear sky, and the lightning express rattled down through the nightwith a hiss and screech that rent the silence with an uncanny sound.
The train was speeding through the Empire State, and when morningdawned, with no accident happening, it would come thundering into thegreat city by the sea.
Two persons occupying a seat in the car next the sleeper merit ourattention. One is a heavily-veiled lady, apparently sleeping, sinceher head reclines against the back of the seat, and a low breathing isheard, or might be but for the noise made by the train rattling overthe steel rails.
Who is the woman?
No need to ask when we note the fact that the man sitting therepossesses red hair and beard--the irrepressible Professor DarlingtonRuggles, of Chicago. He has been eminently successful thus far in hisplot for the safe abduction of Nell Darrel. Under the influence of apowerful drug he conveyed her to the station, and set out on theprevious day for the East.
His companion was an invalid sister, who was in a comatose state aportion of the time as the result of her ill health. This was thestory told by the Professor to inquisitive people, and the truth didnot come to the surface. Travelers, who become accustomed to seeingall sorts of people, are not often suspicious.
The villain was more successful than he could have hoped. Within a fewhours he would be in New York, and then he felt that he could biddefiance to pursuit.
It was now past midnight. The man from Chicago felt a deep drowsinessstealing over him. He wished to shake it off, and so, rising andseeing only people in an unconscious state about him, he concluded togo into the smoking-car and enjoy a cigar. He began to feel nervous,and such a stimulant seemed absolutely necessary.
The train drew into a station, paused less than a minute, and thenwent swiftly on its way.
Calmly the scheming villain sat and puffed at his cigar until it wasmore than half consumed, then he tossed the stump through the openwindow, and once more he passed into the other car.
When he gained the seat he had lately occupied, he could not suppressa cry of startled wonder.
THE SEAT WAS EMPTY!
He had left Nell Darrel there not more than twenty minutes since,drugged into complete insensibility. She could not have gone from theseat of her own volition.
An indefinable thrill of fear stole over the stalwart frame ofProfessor Darlington Ruggles. He glanced up and down the car; the girlwas not in sight. But one person was awake, an old man, who said:
"Lookin' fur the young lady?"
The Professor nodded.
"She got off't last station." "Got off? How--"
"She had help, of course," explained the old passenger, quickly.
"Who helped her?" cried Ruggles, in a husky voice.
"An old woman, who got on and off at the last station quick's wink."
Dyke Darrel the Railroad Detective; Or, The Crime of the Midnight Express Page 22
