Fritz to the Front, or, the Ventriloquist Scamp-Hunter. Wheeler Edward Lytton

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ the stolen booty to him. On learning this, myself and neighbors formed into a vigilance committee to hunt the rascal down, but he took to his heels, and fled Eastward. A few days later, my poor child turned up missing, and with her the sum of twenty thousand dollars, which had been paid me from the sale of a mine, and which I had lodged in my safe for safe keeping until I could deposit it, the next day!"

      "Twenty t'ousand – so much ash dot?"

      "Yes – a big sum, and likewise nearly all the money I then possessed. I immediately took up the trail, but egad! 'twas no use. The girl is sharper than lightning, and eluded me at every turn. I found that her destination was Eastward – doubtless to join her evil genius – and so I telegraphed to Chicago and St. Louis for the detectives to look out, and intercept her, if possible. But all to no avail. She was seen in those places, but owing to some irregularity beyond my comprehension, was not captured. When I arrived in Chicago, I found that she had two days before left the city, Eastward bound. I trailed her to Philadelphia, and there lost all track of her. Thinking quite likely she would come to this summer resort, I came on, to-day, in hopes of striking the trail, but all to no avail. I have as yet heard of no clew to her whereabouts."

      "Vel, dot ish purdy bad," Fritz assented. "Vot ish your name?"

      "My name is Thornton – I am a mining speculator from Leadville, Colorado."

      "Und your daughter's name vos – ?"

      "Madge. She is a pretty young maiden, aged eighteen, and left her home very well dressed."

      "Und der feller vot vas pocketing der money – vot vos his name?"

      "It is hard to guess what his true name was. At Leadville he was called Pirate Johnson – at Pueblo he was known as Griffith Gregg."

      "Gregg – Gregg?" Fritz said, meditatively. "I am on the look-out for a man by that name. But my man is a smuggler."

      "This villain may be connected with any nefarious piece of rascality. If I only had him here one or the other of us would get laid out – that is as good as sworn to. God only knows what perils my poor child will pass through before I succeed in finding her, if I ever do."

      "Vel, I reckon ve can find her, uff der ish such a t'ing in der dictionary," Fritz asserted.

      He then went on to relate the particulars of his assisting the lady on the boat, and of the marriage in the cave, which excited Mr. Thornton greatly.

      "By Heaven! I see through it all! Madge Thurston is no more or less than my daughter, and she has wedded this rascal, Atkins, who is one and the same person who was the Gregg or Johnson out West. God forbid that my child is married to such a wretch. Describe him."

      Fritz obeyed, giving a description according as he remembered the bridegroom – also of the man who took Madge Thurston from the hotel.

      "The latter was undoubtedly Gregg," the speculator declared, "and the other also, was, it is likely, disguised for the occasion, with a false beard. Now, Fritz, I want you to help me find my child, and break the neck of this rascal, and you shall have for reward the sum I promised you. We'll search this world high and dry but what we'll recover my child. Come, let's seek a conveyance to take us to the cave."

      They accordingly went back to the Hotel Brighton, ate dinner, and afterward secured a carriage and set out for the scene of the strange wedding the night before.

      And thus Fritz entered into a five-thousand-dollar chase, which was destined to lead him into more adventures than he had yet experienced.

      CHAPTER III.

      THE BLUFF HOUSE

      In due time they arrived at the cave, where the ceremony of the previous night had taken place, but a thorough search of the cavernous wash-out failed to yield any tidings of the romantic lovers.

      "Pshaw! there's no use of further search in this direction; they have long ere this set out for some other portion of the country, and we are wasting time in tarrying here."

      "Mebbe dot ish so, but I dink dey vas go on up der coast, instead off cum pack by Atlantic City."

      "Not impossible. In that case, it will be our best lead to go back to Atlantic, take the cars to Philadelphia, and strike for some sea-coast point ahead of them."

      "Dot vould pe a purty good idea vor you, but I t'ink better I remain on der coast stardting vrom here, und follow der trail in der rear. I'll bet a half-dollar I find 'em first, afore you do."

      "Very well. It shall be as you deem best. I will leave you here and join you, or rather be there to meet you, when you reach Long Branch. If nothing results in our favor by that time I'll decide what is the next best course to pursue. Here is a hundred dollars, toward defraying your expenses. If you need more, telegraph to Jim Thornton at the Chalfonte, Long Branch, and I'll remit."

      And placing the sum of money in Fritz's possession, he soon after took his departure.

      After he had gone, Fritz sat down on a rock in the mouth of the cave, which overlooked the ocean, and gazed thoughtfully out upon the sunlit waters.

      "Vel, here I vas – but der next question ish, vere vas I?" he soliloquized. "I haff undertaken a job mitout any bases vor a start-off. I kinder vish Rebecca vas here, too – but ash vishin' don'd vas do some good, pizness is der next consideration."

      Night was not far distant, but he resolved to continue on up the coast in hopes of finding a fisherman's house, where he could obtain food and lodging.

      He accordingly left the cave and continued his journey. He soon came to a level stretch of beach again, and followed its northward course for a number of miles – until sunset, when he found himself as far from any human habitation as he had in the start.

      He accordingly sought a grassy spot, back from the beach, and lay down to rest.

      Arising early the next morning, he struck out once more on his journey, feeling decidedly anxious to find some kind of a human habitation, as he was very hungry.

      He soon spied a farm-house, inland from the beach, and made for it in double-quick time.

      A gruff-looking man sat upon the front veranda, as he entered the well-kept yard, and eyed him with an expression of suspicion.

      "Well, what d'ye want, young man?" he demanded, sourly.

      "Grub – somedings to eat," Fritz replied, spiritedly. "I vas hungry like ash a sucker after a hard winter."

      "Get out! I don't want no tramps about here. Clear, I say, or I'll set the dog on you," the farmer growled, stamping on the veranda with his cane.

      "But, I don'd vas no tramp, nor I don'd vas skeardt at der dogs!" Fritz replied. "I vants some preakfast, und ish able to pay vor id like a shendleman."

      "Go to a tavern, then. I don't keep no puttin'-up place."

      "But I don'd find some tavern, und I ain'd going no furder ondil I get somedings to eat. So trot oud der best vot you haff, und I pay for 'em."

      "Didn't I tell you, you couldn't get something to eat here?" the man cried, getting exasperated. Then he began whistling for the dog. "I'll show you who runs this place."

      "All right! Fetch oud der canine," Fritz grinned, perching himself on the fence, and taking a pistol from his pocket. "I yoost ash leave haff dog steak ash peef stew. Anydings СКАЧАТЬ