Madeline Payne, the Detective's Daughter

by Lawrence L. Lynch

  CHAPTER XLVIII.

  THE SWORD OF FATE.

  Evening at Oakley.

  At last the long day was done: the day that to Madeline Payne hadseemed almost endless. At last, too, the early evening hours haddragged themselves away, and the time of her triumph was at hand.

  From out Hagar's cottage a silent party issued, and took their wayacross the snow to the little stile just above the terrace walk. Herethey paused for a moment. Some one was loitering on the terrace, wherethe shadows fell thickest. Madeline stepped through the gap, sayingsoftly: "Joliffe!"

  Immediately the form emerged from the shadow. It was the cat-likewaiting-maid.

  "It's all right, Miss," she said, in a whisper. "They are all in thedrawing-room, but I think they are getting uneasy."

  "Well, I will not keep them in suspense long," said Madeline, and inthe darkness she smiled triumphantly. "Lead on, Joliffe."

  Silently they moved on, and paused again at the side entrance; the onefrom which Cora had endeavored to escape but a short time before.Madeline opened the door, and in another moment she, with Mrs.Ralston, Claire Keith, Clarence Vaughan and two strangers, stoodwithin the walls of Oakley.

  They moved on like shadows to the rear end of the hall, up theservant's stairway, and straight to the west wing. Evidently theywere expected here too, for in obedience to a light tap, the dooropened, and they passed quietly within the outer room of John Arthur'sprison suite.

  "Close the door, Henry," said Madeline.

  This being done, she turned and surveyed her comrades.

  "So far, good," she pronounced. "Now, can you make yourselvescomfortable here for a little while? Hagar and Joliffe will know justwhat to do as soon as I have, myself, viewed the field of battle; orperhaps I had better pilot you in person."

  "As you please," said the foremost of the strangers. "I think weunderstand each other."

  "Then we won't lose time," said Madeline. "Henry, call Dr. Le Guise."

  Henry tapped at the door of the inner room, and in a trice the worthyProfessor stood in their midst. He glanced from one to another inamazement, and the look of confidence forsook his face. He had notbeen prepared to see these strangers, and his first thought was, ofcourse, for his own safety.

  "Have no uneasiness, sir," said Madeline, seeing the fear in his face;"these ladies and gentlemen will not interfere with you. They are herebecause it is desirable that the people below should not know of theirproximity just yet. You are about to aid us, and need have no fear foryourself."

  The Professor drew a breath of relief.

  While this conversation was going on, Mrs. Ralston and Claire hadremoved their wraps, as if they knew quite well what they were about,which, indeed, they did. Now, as Madeline did likewise, preparatory toentering the room of the prisoner, they seated themselves, lookinggrave, but perfectly composed. Dr. Vaughan said a few quiet words toHenry, and the two strangers stood "at ease," looking as indifferentas statues.

  Entering the inner room; in company with the Professor, Madeline foundJohn Arthur pacing restlessly up and down.

  "I wish you to go down-stairs with us for a few moments," saidMadeline. "It is to your own interest to do so. It is the easiest andsurest way of imparting to you what you must know, and, when you knowall, I shall be your jailer no longer. It shall then remain for you todecide whether you will accept my terms, and end your days with atleast a semblance of honor, or whether you will remain here to bepointed at as a man disgraced and dishonored, and deservedly so. Whenyou have seen justice done to those who have wronged you more thanthey have me, for little as I desire to serve you circumstances haveconstituted me your avenger--you will be free to act as you may seefit."

  With this she turned and abruptly quitted the room, leaving JohnArthur fairly stunned by her words, yet utterly unable to comprehendtheir full meaning. Returning to the ante-room, Madeline found Hagarawaiting her.

  "Well, Hagar," said the girl, "we are ready to go down; is the librarylighted?"

  "Yes, Miss Madeline."

  "And the door leading to the drawing-room?"

  "Is closed, Miss."

  "Then go down, Hagar; open the library door, and leave it open. Movethe fire screen opposite the door leading to the drawing-room. When weare all within the library turn out the light. That is all."

  Hagar moved away to do her bidding, smiling grimly.

  * * * * *

  Time was dragging, in the drawing-room.

  Cora was there, not from choice, but because Madeline had so orderedit, and the aggrieved lady was not at all inclined to conversation.

  Miss Arthur, who was hoping for a _tete-a-tete_ with her lover, wasalarmingly glum. She had accepted, in good faith, his statement thathe had received a note from the clergyman, saying that he had beensuddenly called away and would be absent some days, but she did notquite understand why another would not do as well. Somehow, all thatday, she had found no opportunity for hinting to her lover that aUnitarian minister lived quite near.

  Finding the ladies so little disposed to be entertained, the two menretired within themselves, each after his own peculiar fashion.

  Lucian Davlin lounged, in his favorite manner, in a big arm chair, andabsorbed himself in the mazes of "_Lalla Rookh_."

  Percy, seated sidewise on a sofa directly opposite a large mirror,gazed languidly at his own reflected image, and furtively at the twowomen opposite, stroking his handsome blonde whiskers the while.

  At last Miss Arthur broke the silence by saying, with a side glancetoward Cora: "There is one thing that I have not yet asked to beenlightened about. Perhaps you could explain the mystery, Mrs. Arthur?I mean the appearance of Madeline at my bedside not long ago--or herghost."

  Cora uttered a disagreeable laugh, and then replied: "How should I beable to explain? I am not the keeper of Miss Payne, or 'her ghost.'"

  "Probably not; however, you are so friendly, so sisterly, I might say,that I thought perhaps--"

  "You thought perhaps my step-mamma was in the secret?" said the voiceof a new comer.

  All eyes were turned toward the library, where Madeline Payne stood,clad in a walking dress, and looking fairly radiant with suppressedexcitement.

  "You misjudge my step-mamma, Aunt Ellen." As she speaks, Madelineadvances toward the silent group, leaving the library door ajar. "Iwill explain that singular phenomenon. I intend to clear up all themysteries to-night--here--now. First, then, about the ghost: It was I,Miss Arthur, Madeline Payne, in the flesh."

  Lucian Davlin's book lies on his knee neglected now.

  Edward Percy's face has lost its look of languor.

  Cora is flushing red and then paling, while she wonders inwardly ifher time has come; if she is to be exposed to a last humiliation.

  "We will settle another point," continues Madeline, imperturbably, whileshe rests one arm upon a cushioned chair back, and looks coolly from one toanother. "Some of you have felt sufficient interest in me to wonder why Isent home, to my sorrowing friends, the false statement of my death. I willexplain that. When I left home it was with wrath in my heart, and on mylips the vow that I would come back and with power in my hands. I hadwrongs to avenge, and I swore to be mistress of my own, and to bring hometo a bad man the heartache and bitterness he had measured out to another.Well, I did not know just how this was to be accomplished, but Providence,or fate, showed me the way. Then I saw the necessity for coming back toOakley, and to pave the way for my new advent, I sent Nurse Hagar with thefalse account of my death. A girl had died in the hospital--a poor,heart-broken, homeless, friendless, wronged, little unfortunate,--'Kittythe Dancer' she was called in the days when she was fair to see, and men,bad men, set snares for her feet."

  What ails Lucian Davlin? He is compressing his lips, and strugglinghard for an appearance of composure.

  Madeline goes calmly on. "The poor girl died forlorn. She had beenwooed by a vile man, a gambler. She had been to meet him and wasreturning from a rendezvous when the car
riage that was conveying herto her poor lodging was overturned, and she was taken up a helpless,bleeding mass, and carried to the hospital. Then she sent for thisheartless villain, again and again. She implored him to come to her,at least to send assistance, for she was destitute--a pauper. Herefused, this thing, unworthy the name of man. He was setting othersnares. He had no time, no pity, for his dying victim. Well, she died,and was buried as Madeline Payne, while I, standing beside her coffin,prayed to God to make my head wise, and my heart strong, that I mighthunt down, and drive out from the haunts of men, her soullessdestroyer."

  Madeline pauses, and three pair of eyes gaze at her with genuinewonder. But the eyes of Lucian Davlin are fixed upon vacancy, and withall the might of his powerful will he is struggling to appear calm.

  Madeline turns her eyes calmly from his face to Cora's, and seems tosee nothing of this, as she resumes:

  "Some strange fatality had made this man the bane of other lives, thatwere to be brought into contact with mine. I found that the happinessof two noble beings was being wrecked by this same man. One of thesetwo had been my benefactor, had saved me from a fate worse than death,so I set myself to hunt this man down. And here I found that I couldaccomplish two objects at one stroke. I found that the man was playinginto my hands. I followed him in disguise. Little by little I gainedthe knowledge of his secrets, enough to send him to State's prison,and more than enough. But one thing was wanting. For that I waited;for that I breathed the same air with creatures whom my soul loathed,and now that one missing link is supplied. At last, I am free! Atlast, I can throw off the mask! At last, I can say to the destroyer ofpoor Kitty, to the man who swore away the liberty of another to screenhimself--Lucian Davlin, I have hunted you down! I have held you hereto be taken like a rat in a trap! Officers, seize him! He has been myprisoner long enough!"

  Was it a transformation scene?

  While she is uttering those last words, suddenly the room becomes fullof people, and Lucian Davlin is writhing in the grasp of the twoofficers; struggling hopelessly, baffled completely, maddened withrage and shame. When at last he has ceased to struggle, becauseresistance is so utterly useless, he turns his now glaring eyes uponthe brave girl whose life he had sought to wreck, and hisses:

  "Don't forget to mention how you first came to the conclusion that Ihad wronged you! Don't forget to state that you ran away from Bellairwith me; that you lodged in my bachelor quarters; that--"

  A heavy hand comes in forcible contact with the sneering mouth, as oneof the officers says, gruffly: "None o' that, my lad. I'd sooner gagyou than not, if you give me another chance."

  But Madeline answers him with a scornful laugh: "That I shot you inyour own den? Coward! do you think my friends do not know all? Herestands the man who saw me in your company that night," pointing toClarence Vaughan; "and here," turning to Claire, "is the sister of thewoman who came to me, at Dr. Vaughan's request, and told me who andwhat you were! It was these two who nursed me during my illness, andwho have been, from first to last, my friends. Bah! man, you have beenonly a dupe. Your servant, your doctor, your detectives, are all in myservice! I have fooled you to the top of your bent, and kept you underthis roof until we had found the proof that it was you, and not PhilipGirard, who struck this man," pointing to Percy, "and robbed him, fiveyears ago."

  With a muttered curse, Lucian Davlin flings himself down in the seathe had lately occupied, the watchful officers, pistol in hand,standing on either side of him.

  Edward Percy, for the first time since her entrance, withdraws hiseyes from Madeline's face and casts a frightened glance about him.Having done this, he feels anything but reassured.

  Near the outer door stand the two "well-diggers," who have enteredlike spirits, and now look as if, for the first time since theiradvent in Oakley, they feel quite at home. Nearest to Madeline standsClarence Vaughan. Back of these, a little in the shadow, twoothers--two women. One stands with her face turned away, and he canonly tell that the form draped in the rich India shawl is tall andgraceful. But the other--she moves out from the shadow and her eyesmeet his full.

  Great heavens! it is Claire Keith!

  He moves restlessly, his fair face flushing and paling. The firstimpulse of his coward heart is flight. But the two "well-diggers" arenot surmountable obstacles. He turns his face again toward the Nemesiswho is now gazing scornfully at him.

  "I have no intention of neglecting any one of you four," she says,icily. "Edward Percy, I told you last night that I would burn certainpapers in your presence. I am quite ready to keep my word. There willbe no use for them after to-night. But I shall not stifle thetestimony of living witnesses against you." Then she raised her voiceslightly. "Dr. Le Guise, bring in your patient."

  John Arthur, pallid with fear and rage, stands upon the threshold ofthe drawing-room, closely attended by the Professor and Henry.

  Then Madeline turned to the now terror-stricken Cora. "Come forward,Mrs. John Arthur," she says, scornfully. "It is time to let youspeak!"

  When Edward Percy turns his eyes toward Claire, she has instinctivelymoved nearer to Madeline's side, at the same time favoring him with alook so fraught with contempt that the villain lowers his eyes, andturns away his face. As Madeline now addresses the fair adventuress,Claire again moves. She has been standing directly between Cora andher Nemesis. Now she takes up a position quite apart from her friends,and near the officer who guards Lucian Davlin on the right.

  Cora sees that all is lost. But she recalls the promises of safetygiven her by Madeline, and nerves herself for a last attempt at coolinsolence. Her quick wits have taken in the situation. Now sheunderstands why Madeline has led Davlin on, and why her hatred of himis so intense. Now she knows the meaning of the words that last nightseemed so mysterious: "Lucian Davlin is my lover, but I am hisbitterest foe." Now, as she steps forward, the hate she feels shiningin her eyes, and with a growing air of reckless bravado as she glancesat him, Cora, too, is Lucian Davlin's bitter foe.

  "Cora!" The name comes from the lips of John Arthur, almost in a cry.

  But she never once glances toward him. She fixes her eyes uponMadeline's face and doggedly awaits her command.

  "Tell us what you know of this man," Madeline says, pointing to EdwardPercy: "and be brief."

  Cora turns her eyes slowly upon the man. She surveys him with infiniteinsolence, and then she turns with wonderful coolness toward EllenArthur.

  "Miss Arthur," she says, with a malicious gleam in her eyes, "thiswill interest you. I knew that man ten years ago. I was making myfirst venture out in the world, and it was a very bad one. I fell inlove with his pretty face, and married him. Before long I discoveredthat matrimony was a mania of Mr. Percy's--by-the-by, he sailed underanother name then. I found that he had another wife living; a woman hehad married for her money. Well, being sensitive, I took offense, andafter a little, I ran away from him, carrying with me the certificatesof his two marriages, which I had taken some pains to get possessionof. After that--"

  Cora pauses suddenly and glances toward Madeline.

  "After that you went to Europe. You may pass over the foreign tour,and take up the story five years later," subjoins Madeline, coldly.

  "After that, I went to Europe," echoes Cora. "And five years laterfound me in Gotham."

  "Be explicit now, please: no omissions," commands Madeline.

  "Five years ago, then," resumes Cora, "that gentleman there,"motioning to Davlin, but never turning her face toward him, "came tome one day with the information that my dear husband was a rich man,thanks to some deceased old relative, and that his other wife wasdead. For some reason this other marriage had been kept very secret,and my friend there argued that in case anything happened to Percy, Imight come in as his widow, and claim his fortune. Well, Mr. Percy didnot die, more's the pity. Instead of that he lived and squandered hismoney in less than three years. He was hurt, somehow, and a certainMr. Philip Girard was falsely accused and convicted for attemptedmurder."

  "Who was the re
al would-be assassin?" asked Madeline, sternly.

  "Lucian Davlin," emphatically.

  Madeline turns swiftly to Percy. "Mr. Percy, explain, if you wish tolighten your own burden, by what means did that man persuade you tolet him go free?"

  "By--threatening me with an action for--"

  "Bigamy!" finished Cora.

  The villain, bereft of all hope and courage, stood white andtrembling, under the eyes of his accusers and judges.

  "I am letting these people hear you tell these things because I wantthat man,"--pointing to John Arthur, who had long since collapsed intoa big chair--"to hear all this from your own lips," says Madeline.

  Turning again to Cora, she says:

  "Lucian Davlin made use of the papers--the certificates you had stolenfrom Edward Percy--to intimidate that gentleman, and secure himselffrom danger. Am I correct?"

  "Yes," replies Cora, casting a malignant glance from one to the otherof the accused men.

  "Very good. Now we will pass on four or more years. You were in somelittle trouble last June, Mrs. Arthur. Explain how you came toBellair."

  "How?"

  "Yes, for what purpose. And at whose instigation."

  Cora hesitated, and Davlin moved uneasily.

  "Don't think that you will damage your cause by making a fullstatement," suggested Miss Payne, meaningly. "Answer my questions,please."

  Again Cora glances at Davlin. Then turning toward Madeline she assumesan air of defiant recklessness, and answers the questions promptly. "Icame at Lucian Davlin's suggestion, and because he had induced me tothink that I could easily become--what I am."

  "And that is--"

  "Mrs. Arthur, of Oakley!" with a mocking laugh.

  The old man in the chair utters a loud groan, but no one heeds him.All eyes are fixed upon Madeline and Cora.

  "You plotted to become John Arthur's wife?" pursues Madeline,relentlessly.

  "Yes."

  "And--his widow?"

  No reply.

  "You planned to keep him a prisoner?"

  "Yes."

  "And Lucian Davlin, your pretended brother, was your accomplice?"

  "Yes."

  Madeline turns swiftly toward her step-father, as she does so movingnearer toward Edward Percy.

  "John Arthur, are you satisfied?" she asks, sternly. "Shall theknowledge of your disgrace go beyond this room? Do you choose toremain here and be pointed at by every boor in Oakley, as the man whomarried an adventuress, a gambler's accomplice? or will you accept myterms?"

  John Arthur lifts his head, then staggers to his feet. "Curse you!" hecries. "Curse you all! What proof have I that these people willrespect my feelings?"

  "You have my word," replies the girl, coolly. "These gentlemen of theSecret Service are not given to gossip. Mr. Davlin will have butlittle opportunity for circulating scandal where he is going. Mr.Percy, and your wife, will hardly remain in the neighborhood longenough to injure you here, unless by your own choice. Your sister willscarcely betray you, and the rest are my friends. Choose!"

  Pallid with rage and shame, the old man turned toward Cora.

  "You she-devil!" he screams, "this is your work--"

  "No," interposes Madeline, calmly, "it is _your_ work, John Arthur!What you have sown, you are reaping. Will you have all your guiltypast, your shameful present, made known? Or will you leave my mother'shome and mine, and cease to usurp my rights? Choose!"

  Every eye is turned upon the old man and his questioner. Every ear isintently listening for his answer.

  Every ear, do we say? No; one man is only feigning rapt attention; onemind is turning over wicked possibilities, while the others await,with different degrees of eagerness or curiosity, John Arthur'sanswer.

  "Needs must when the devil drives," says the baffled old man, turningtoward the door. "I will go, and I leave my curse behind me!"

  This is the moment which Lucian Davlin has watched. While all eyes areturned toward John Arthur, he bends suddenly forward. He has wrenchedthe pistol from one of his guardians, and the weapon is aimed atMadeline's heart!

  Instantaneously there is a quick, panther-like spring, and ClaireKeith's little hand strikes the arm that directs the deadly weapon.There is a sharp report, but the direction of the bullet is changed.

  Madeline Payne stands erect and startled, while Edward Percy falls tothe floor, the blood gushing from a wound in his breast. In anotherinstant, Lucian Davlin lies prostrate, felled by a blow from onedetective, while the other bends over him and savagely adjusts a pairof manacles.

  The others, even to Cora, group themselves about the wounded man. Dr.Vaughan kneels beside him a moment, then he lifts his eyes to meetthose of Madeline.

  "It is a death wound," he says.

  "Prepare a couch in the next room directly. He must not be carriedup-stairs."

  When this order has been obeyed, and the injured man has been removed,Madeline returns to the drawing-room, untenanted now save by theofficers and their prisoner. They are waiting there until the midnighttrain shall be due, and the time approaches. Moving quite near to thenow silent, sullen villain, the girl surveys him with absoluteloathing.

  "The goddess you worship has deserted you, Lucian Davlin," she says,slowly. "It was not in the book of chance that you should triumph overor outwit me. The bullet you designed for me has completed the workyou began five years ago. Go, to live a convict, or die on thescaffold, and when you think upon the failure of your villainousschemes, remember that this retribution has been wrought by a woman'shand! Officers, take him away!"

  Through the darkness they hurry him, from the sights and scenes ofOakley and Bellair--forever. His goddess has indeed forsaken him. Whenthe two officers take leave of him at the prison, he has had his lastglimpse of the outside world.

  "Edward Percy falls to the floor, the blood gushingfrom a wound in the breast!"--page 439.]

  From the moment when he failed in his attempt upon the life that haddefied him, no word had escaped his lips. Silent, moody, and utterlyhopeless, this proud-spirited, evil-hearted Son of Chance, entersthe prison gates, and, as they close upon him, we have done withLucian Davlin, a _convict for life_!