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1850 George Christy.
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113 Mrs. Carr's Companion. By M.
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By Mrs.
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114 Some of Our Girls.
C. J. Eiloart…..
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115 Diamond Cut Diamond. By T.
Adolphus Trollope..
152 The Uncommercial Traveler.
By Charles Dickens.
20
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153 The Golden Calf. By Miss M. E.
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116 Moths. By “Ouida"
117 A Tale of the Shore and Ocean.
By W. H. G. Kingston...
118 Loys, Lord Berres rd, and Eric
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119 Monica, and A Rose Distill'd.
By "The Duess
120 Tom Brown's School Days at
154 Annan Water. By Robert Bu-
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19
10
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155 Lady Muriel's Secret. By Jean
Middlemas.
Rugby. By Thomas Hughes 20 156" For a Dream's Sake." By Mrs.
121 Maid of Athens. By Justin Mc-
|
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1
122 Ione Stewart. By Mrs. E. Lyna
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123 Sweet is True Love. By "The
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124 Three Feathers.
By William
20
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125 The Monarch of Mincing Lane.
By Sarah
By William Black..
126 Kilmeny. By William Black..
By William Black... 20 161 Th Lady of Lyons. Founded
127 Adrian Bright. By Mrs. Caddy :0 on the Play of that title by
128 Afternoon, and Other Sketches.
Lord Lytton..
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Eugene Aram. By Sir E. Bul-
129 Rossmoyne. By "The Duch-
wer Lytton..
10' 3 Winifred Power. By Joyce Dar-
rell..
10
10 162
20
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130 The Last of the Barons. By
Sir E. Bulwer Lytton.
131 Our Mutual Friend. Charles
Dickens
40
164
40
Leila; or, The Siege of Grenada.
By Sir E. Bulwer Lytton..... 10
165 The History of Henry Esmond.
By William Makepeace Thack-
eray...
132 Master Humphrey's Clock. By
Charles Dickens.
10
20
166 Moonshine and Marguerites. By
The Duchess"
10
10
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133 Peter the Whaler. By W. H. G.
Kingston.
184 The Witching Hour. By "The
Duchess
135 A Great Heiress. By R. E. Fran-
cillon..
167
99
10
20
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Heart and Science. By Wilkie
Collins...
168 No Thoroughfare. By Charles
10
Dickens and Wilkie Collins... 10
136 "That Last Rehearsal." By 169 The Haunted Man. By Charles
"The Duchess ".
10
Dickens.....
137 Uncle Jack. By Walter Besant 10 170 A Great Treason. By Mary
138 Green Pastures and Piccadilly.
Hoppus..
By William Black..
20171 Fortune's Wheel, and Other
139 The Romantic Adventures of a
Stories. By "The Duchess" 10
Milkmaid. By Thomas Hardy 10 172 "Golden Girls." By Alan Muir 20
|
140 A Glorious Fortune. By Walter 173 The Foreigners. By Eleanor C.
Besant.
10
Price....
20
80
174 Under a Ban. By Mrs. Lodge.. 20
10 175 Love's Random Shot, and Other
Stories. By Wilkie Collins... 10
176 An April Day. By Philippa P.
Jephson...
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···
…….
PRICE. | NG.
144 Promises of Marriage.
Emile Gaboriau.
...
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141 She Loved Him! By Annie
Thomas..
142 Jenifer. By Annie Thomas.... 20
143 One False, Both Fair.
J. B.
Harwood..
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By
10
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lope...
148 Thorns and Orange-Blossoms.
By the author of
of "Dora
Thorne 99
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20
10
20
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20 m 2 m 2 27
20
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145 "Storm-Beaten :" God and The
Man. By Robert Buchanan.. 20
146 Love Finds the Way. By Walter
Besant and James Rice..
147 Rachel Ray. By Anthony Trol-
PRICE.
149 The Captain's Daughter. From
the Russian of Pushkin…………
150 For Himself Alone. By T. W.
Speight..
10
10
151 The Ducie Diamonds. By C.
Blatherwick.
10
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157 Mill's Fero. By F. W. Robin-
son...
177
10 178
158 The Staring. By Norman Mac-
leod, D.D.
159 A Moment of Madness, and
Other Stories. By Florence
Diarryat
160 Her Ge 9 Deeds.
Tytler..
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10.
R R R R R A
20
20
20
20
20
10
Salem Chapel. By Mrs. Oliphant 20
More Leaves from the Journal
of a Life in the Highlands. By
Queen Victoria..
10
Little Make-Believe. By B. L.
Farjeon.
180 Round the Galley Fire. By W.
Clark Russell..
..
179
10
10
181 The New Abelard. By Robert
Buchanan.…………
10
10 182 The Millionaire. A Novel...... 20
(3)
10
10
10
THE SEASIDE LIBRARY.-Pocket Edition.
NO.
PRICE.
183 Old Contrairy, and Other Sto-
ries. By Florence Marryat... 10
184 Thirlby Hall. By W. E. Norris. 20
185 Dita. By Lady Margaret Ma-
jendie
10
20
10
20
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186 The Canon's Ward. By James
Payn....
187 The Midnight Sun. By Fredrika
Bremer
··
188 Idonea. By Anne Beale.
189 Valerie's Fate. By Mrs. Alex-
ander..
190 Romance of a Black Veil. By
the author of " Dora Thorne"
191 Harry Lorrequer. By Charles
Lever..
10
15
192 At the World's Mercy. By F.
Warden...
229 Maid, Wife, or Widow? By
Mrs. Alexander…….
10
193 The Rosary Folk. By G. Man-
ville Fenn..
230 Dorothy Forster.
Besant....
10
194 "So Near, and Yet So Far!" By
Alison...
231 Griffith Gaunt. By Charles
Reade...
10
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15
195 "The Way of the World." By
David Christie Murray..
196 Hidden Perils. By Mary Cecil
Hay.
232 Love and Money; or, A Perilous
Secret. By Charles Reade... 10
233 "I Say No;" or, the Love-Letter
Answered. Wilkie Collins.... 15
234 Barbara; or, Splendid Misery.
Miss M. E. Braddon.
10
20
•
10 235 "It is Never Too Late to
|
Mend." By Charles Reade... 20
10236 Which Shall It Be? Mrs. Alex-
auder.
10 237 Repented at Leisure. By the
author of " Dora Thorne
20 238 Pascarel. By "Ouida"
202 The Abbot. By Sir Walter Scott 20 | 239 Signa. By Ouida ".
203 John Bull and His Island. By
Max O'Rell……….
10
240 Called Back. By Hugh Conway 10
241 The Baby's Grandmother. By
L. B. Walford...
204 Vixen. By Miss M. E. Braddon 15
205 The Minister's Wife. By Mrs.
Oliphant....
30
206 The Picture, and Jack of All
Trades. By Charles Reade.. 10
207 Pretty Miss Neville. By B. M.
Croker.
15
...
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•
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197 For Her Dear Sake. By Mary
Cecil Hay.
198 A Husband's Story.
199 The Fisher Village. By Anne
Beale..
··
200 An Old Man's Love. By An-
thony Trollope..
201 The Monastery. By Sir Walter
Scott.
...
208 The Ghost of Charlotte Cray,
and Other Stories. By Flor-
ence Marryat...
10
10
209 John Holdsworth, Chief Mate.
By W. Clark Russell…….
210 Readiana: Comments on Cur-
rent Events. By Chas. Reade 10
211 The Octoroon. By Miss M. E.
Braddon.
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212 Charles O'Malley, the Irish Dra-
goon. By Chas. Lever (Com-
plete in one volume)..
213 A Terrible Temptation. Chas.
Reade....
NO.
PRICE,
219 Lady Clare; or, The Master of
the Forges. By Georges Ohnet 10
220 Which Loved Him Best? By
the author of " Dora Thorne
221 Comin' Thro' the Rye. By
Helen B. Mathers..
10
•••
222 The Sun-Maid. By Miss Grant 11
223 A Sailor's Sweetheart. By W.
Clark Russell………..
By
·
224 The Arundel Motto. Mary Cecil
Hay
5225 The Giant's Robe. By F. Anstey 18
226 Friendship. By "Ouida " 20
227 Nancy. By Rhoda Broughton. 13
228 Princess Napraxine. By "Oul-
da"
| 243
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(a)-
By Walter
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242 The Two Orphans. By D'Ennery 10
243 Tom Burke of " Ours." First
half. By Charles Lever.
Tom Burke of " Ours." Second
half. By Charles Lever………….. 20
A Great Mistake. By the author
of "His Wedded Wife"
244
...... 10
245 Miss Tommy, and In a House-
Boat. By Miss Mulock.
246 A Fatal Dower. By the author
of "His Wedded Wife "..
247 The Armourer's Prentices. By
Charlotte M. Yonge..
10
10
15
10
…………….
248 The House on the Marsh. F.
10
Warden.
249 "
Prince Charlie's Daughter."
By author of "Dora Thorne 10
30 250 Sunshine and Roses; or, Di-
ana's Discipline. By the au-
thor of "Dora Thorne"
251 The Daughter of the Stars, and
Other Tales. By Hugh Con-
way, author of "Called Back" 10
10
252 A Sinless Secret. By "Rita"
253 The Amazon. By Carl Vosmaer 10
254 The Wife's Secret, and Fair but
False. By the author of
"Dora Thorne,"
20
..
...
15
214 Put Yourself in His Place.
Charles Reade.
215 Not Like Other Girls. By Rosa
Nouchette Carey….
218 Foul Play. By Charles Reade. 15
217 The Man She Cared For. By
F. W. Robinson..
218 Agnes Sorel. By G. P. R. James 15
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GEORGE CHRISTY:
OR,
THE FORTUNES OF A MINSTREL.
BY TONY PASTOR.
NEW YORK:
GEORGE MUNRO, PUBLISHER,
17 TO 27 VANDEWATER STREET.
1885
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the years 1877 and 1885, by
GEORGE MUNRO,
in the office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C.
}
ذاال
÷
DAARBUR
и уму
+
✩
GEORGE CHRISTY.
CHAPTER 1.
PROLOGUE.
'
THIRTY years ago a motley assemblage was gathered in an old-
time music hall in the City of Buffalo.
A remarkable performance was given upon the evening of which
we write, as upon this occasion a young man, who has since become
recognized as the father of minstrelsy, appeared for the first time în
black," and started from that moment on a career of success the
most wonderful and unprecedented the world has ever witnessed.
At this time the modern variety performance was unknown,
although the old-time comic song and solo act business was in
vogue, but had not, as yet, graduated to the regular stage.
Negro minstrelsy was also a style of entertainment which had
never been witnessed.
•
+4
The only approach to what has since become a very popular per-
formance was the occasional appearance upon some side show "
stage of a solitary individual, who sung a song in black," or
danced the famous original Jim Crow, a grotesque single act, which
is occasionally represented in various forms even to this day by some
of the old-time performers; such as Dan Sanford, Eph. Horn, Mc-
Andrews, and others.
The young man who appeared in the music hall in Buffalo, as
recorded above, sung and danced for the first time under the dis-
guise of burnt cork to a delighted audience; and the latter, by their
enthusiasm, gave the first real impetus to the remarkable success sub-
sequently obtained by the great first and original Christy's Minstrel
Band, under the leadership of E. P. Christy.
The latter, who became subsequently so famous, and whose name
will always be associated with minstrelsy, was, at this time, a tall,
fine-looking young man, possessed of a great deal of native talent,
and considerable musical taste.
He was also distinguished for remarkable business cunning, and
great executive and managerial ability.
Upon the evening when this same performance was given, there
was among the audience a handsome youth, whom nature had de-
signed seemingly to become, in after years, the great pioneer of fun
in black.
蒙着
​This youth had led a harum scarum existence, having drifted
more naturally toward fun and mischief than toward the more sober
side of young life, and at this time within him were undeveloped tal-
Cle
...
6
GEORGE CHRISTY.
ents, peculiarities, eccentricities, and qualities for mimicry which
fitted him to become, as he subsequently did, the most famous and
greatest minstrel and black comedian that ever clapped a bone or
buzzed a thumb and forefinger over a tambourine.
It was in the Buffalo music hall that the talented, eccentric, and
generous George Christy first felt the inspiration to go upon the
stage, and to display, subsequently, to thousands of audiences, those
remarkable gifts which enabled him to delight the public in a man-
ner beyond precedent.
The world has had, and perchance will have many great histo-
rians, poets, painters, and novelists, but, with all his peculiarities,
faults, virtues, and genius, but one George Christy.
This remarkable actor was a hero as a performer, as a genius, and
as a man.
His whole life abounded with romantic incidents, and the real
romance of his thrilling career never will be, and never can be writ-
ten.
He earned fortunes in a few weeks, which, in reckless profusion,
he would squander in as many days.
"C
It is written that charity covers a multitude of sins." We ▾
know not how, in the final summing up, this text may affect man's
future life, but this we do know, that in fact, a noble charity, or a
generous action, must stand recorded against every evil that this
strangely-successful and yet wonderfully-unfortunate man ever com-
mitted.
We have recorded that the real romance of his eventful life can
never be written; yet, in the course of our narrative, we will, from
data in our possession, present a number of leading incidents, not
only interesting, but fascinating and thrilling-in fact, a romance
of real life, such as the career of such a man could alone furnish.
George Christy was a true friend, and some of his friendships
were romantic episodes in themselves, notably his intimacy with the
great Shakespearean scholar and tragedian, Edwin Forrest.
Both of these celebrated men have passed from the criticism that
stings and smarts, but many old New Yorkers will remember how
they were frequently seen arm in arm together on Broadway, and
how their coming always elicited the stereotyped remark:
"Here come tragedy and comedy arm in arm!"
Our apology to our readers for this prolonged prologue is the fact
that, in the course of our narrative, we shall only deal with the
comic and romantic incidents in our hero's career, and we have only
thus briefly introduced George Christy to our readers in order that
they may more fully be prepared for the singular and startling phases
of life which we shall necessarily record.
In closing we will add, in brief, that our friends who have in
former stories gone with us through so many startling and thrilling
adventures will have the satisfaction of knowing that they are read-
ing no fancy sketch or imaginative story, but the stirring incidents
of a living, breathing romance, interspersed with characters who are
still before the public, living in advance of the shadows of past
careers-men who even to-day are actors in scenes which shall in-
spire the pens of future novelists and narrators.
*
78
GEORGE.CHRISTY.
Jo
CHAPTER II.
A VAST and enthusiastic audience, many years ago, was assem-
bled in a Broadway minstrel hall.
The building, which was located near Howard street, long ago
became a victim to that curse of great cities—a fire.
A strange fatality, in fact, appeared to attend the site, as a hall
subsequently erected was also devoured by the same raging element,
and then again, when immense storehouses were erected upon the
fatal ground, they, too, in a few years were consumed; and for the
fourth time, even now while we write, the click of the mason's
trowel is heard upon once more ascending walls.
The original building was the birth-place of minstrelsy in New
York.
We well remember with what enthusiasm the delighted crowds
gathered, as witness after witness circulated through the city, and
told of the wild, uproarious fun created by the performers in the
new and novel style of entertainment.
Within a few weeks the name of George Christy became the most
famous in the great city.
As the weeks rolled on, that name became the synonym of fun
and jollity.
Not to have witnessed the grotesque mimicry, or to have heard the
sparkling jokes of the inimitable George, was to confess that a whole
world of enjoyment lay unwitnessed.
Time added to the young man's fame, who, like a meteor, bad
shot across the firmament of the world of amusement.
At length a gloom overshadowed the city.
The active form and rich voice of the great comedian was missed
from his accustomed place at one end of the band.
Finally, the truth could not be concealed.
The trick of supplying a substitute, who was but a poor imita-
tion of the fun-provoking George, was penetrated.
An impatient public demanded to know what had become of the
reigning star and popular favorite.
The truth had to be reluctantly confessed.
The active limbs were stretched upon a bed of sickness; the well-
known voice, so free with joke and song, was hoarse with the ago-
nies of a great bodily suffering.
Rumor carried the news at last that the joyous voice was hushed
forever in death.
Tears came to the eyes that seldom moistened, and tender regrets
were expressed, such as had never before been expressed under sim-
ilar circumstances.
New York had never been so shocked and sorrowful when the
cause was merely the suddeu taking off of a popular favorite.
George Christy had taken possession of the hearts of the immense
audiences who, night after night for months, had been provoked to
wild laughter by his extraordinary merriment.
Later came a second rumor. He was not dead; the crisis of the
Y
**
8
GEORGE CHRISTY.
:
disease with which he had been afflicted was passed, and he would
live.
The news passed from mouth to mouth, and glad expression fol-
lowed as universally as when during war times, some great victory
is announced.
George Christy did recover, and at length the show bills an-
nounced his first appearance after his illness.
The night came, and thousands crowded the hall, and, as we an
nounced in our opening paragraph, the audience was vast and wild
with enthusiasm.
The curtain, after the usual long delay, was rung up.
The band, in their old-time black suits, white vests and white
gloves, march with their instruments in single file upon the stage.
Every eye was strained to recognize the people's favorite.
At length, bringing up the rear, he appeared upon the stage.
At once the audience arose en masse, and such a shout ascended
as was never heard before in a hall of entertainment.
Men shouted themselves hoarse, and tears of gladness and en-
thusiasm coursed down many a bronzed cheek.
Ladies were as much excited as men, and white cambric handker
chiefs fluttered aloft, like a great excited sea of drifting snow.
In the center of the parquet was seated a veiled woman.
During the long wait before the rise of the curtain, that thick,
heavy veil which hid the woman's face had been kept closely
drawn.
The moment, however, that George appeared upon the stage, it
was raised, disclosing the face of a woman ravishingly beautiful.
This female was not, strictly speaking, youthful, nor was she old.
Probably thirty summers could be traced upon her bewitchingly
beautiful face.
When the hero of the evening appeared, and received a greeting
that even a president or a king might have envied, a strange glitter
illumined this lovely woman's eyes. A sigh struggled from between
her red lips, and a blush, betraying great suppressed excitement,
reddened her fair cheek.
The entertainment proceeded.
Every little tid bit of fun that fell from the master comedian's
lips was received with furious laughter and shouts of applause.
A
The first strictly musical part of the entertainment came to an
end, and the black variety portion was inaugurated.
Before proceeding with the course of our narrative, we trust it
will not prove amiss to record several of the old-time quips and
jokes that interlarded the performance of which we are writing.
Many of our readers were probably present upon that evening,
and can testify to the lack of exaggeration in our description of the
evént.
Many others may have heard the same jokes, but as they have
never appeared in print, to our knowledge, and as they are
just as amusing to-day as when uttered, and further, as they may
pass from memory, we judge these columns the proper place to re-
produce them and place them upon a lasting record.
At the termination of a song, the end men began their little en-
tertainment and witty dialogue.
GEORGE CHRISTY.
9
2
The tambourine man proposed a bet. The wager was the very
clothes which Bones (George), at that noment wore.
Bones lost the wager, and the pencil of the artist alone can por-
tray the comic look of disappointment and mortification which was
expressed upon the loser's face.
It was not necessary for him to speak.
His look was sufficient to cause the audience to laugh uproar-
iously.
Bones waited until the confusion had subsided, when his face
brightened, and with that peculiar manner and in that peculiar tone
which imitators have ever failed to successfully follow, he said:
66
Look yer, Sam, I'se gwine ter make anudder bet."
"What yer want ter bet, Bones?" was the response.
Bones was standing in the center of the stage, with his hands
ostentatiously thrust in his pants pockets.
"I want ter bet, Sam, dat I ain't got my hands in my pockets.”
Sam shook with delight, as he exclaimed:
66
Why, Bones, yer am crazy! Dar yer are, wid yer hands in yer
pockets now!"
Ca
No dey ain't-I bet yer dey ain't!"
Yer bet dat yer hands ain't in yer pockets now?"
Yes, sah!"
"What will yer bet?"
66
"
(6
"A hundred dollars!"
"
'Well, I bet yer. Now see dar-ain't yer hands in yer pockets?"
"No, sah!"
"How am dat?”
"Dese ain't my pockets; yer jes' won dese clo'es, and de pockets
belong to the clo'es, and de clo'es belong to you; derefore, my
hands am in your pockets!"
Another of George's jokes was how he joined a temperance society
and almost broke his pledge.
Of course the question came:
64
How was dat?"
Well, yer see," responded George, in his inimitable manner,
jes' arter 1 signed de pledge, I was gwine ober a forty-acre lot,
66
where dere was a mad bull, and ef 1 hadn't jumped de fence jes' in
time, I would hab broke de pledge, shuah!”
..
How?"
Why, dis yere chile would hab been compelled to take two
horns against his will!"
And again he told how he was wrongfully convicted by a dumb-
head of a squire.
55
How was dat?" came the question.
24
Well, yer see dar was a man made a charge dat I stole his hat,
and he had two men dat swore dat dey saw me do it, and de judge
said dat I was guilty."
6.
Well, wasn't dat right?"
"
44
No, sah! How could a conscientious judge say dat I wur guilty,
when only two men saw me steal de hat, when dis yere chile could
jes' go out in de street and find fifty men dat didn't?”
Once more Bones' partner gave a boastful account of how he had
bought a farm.
10
GEORGE CHRISTY.
"How large am dat farm?" asked George.
"C About three acres, was the reply.
"What do yer raise on dat ar' farm?”
Cabbage.
"Yer don't tell me dat cabbages cubbers dat whole free acres?"
Yes, sah!"
CL
George shook his head in a disconsolate manner, as much as to
say Dar ar' nigger beats me."
•
A moment later, however, his face brightened again, and he as-
serted:
f+
<<
Did yer know, Sam, dat dis yere chile hab gone in de copper
-kettle business?”
"Am dat so?"
"Yes, sah, and I'se making a kettle dat am a big one.
Yes, sah,
it am so big dat when one man dribes a rivet, de man on oder side
can't hear the blow ob his hammer."
**
#6
>>
Co
*
"And when one man strikes, de next man can't heah de blow?"
"
'No, sah.'
"s
"
How many men hab yer working on dat kettle?”
""
Twenty.
Why, what am yer gwine ter do wid dat ar' big kettle?"
I'se gwine ter lend it to you, Sam, to boil dat ar' big cabbage
in!"
We must leave it to the reader's imagination to picture the full
force of the comic effect of the above quibs when told in the sin-
gularly grotesque manner in which they were delivered.
CHAPTER III.
THE beautiful veiled lady mentioned as being among the audi-
ence during the performance of our hero, the first night after his
recovery from a severe illness, remained until the curtain went down
on the last act.
When the audience rose to depart, she still retained her seat, held
as though by some weird enchantment.
Her beautiful eyes glowing with a strange, longing light, were
fastened upon the drop-curtain as though she anticipated that, de-
spite the darkened lights and departing audience, it would rise
again.
So absorbed was the woman in her own strange thoughts, and so
fixed was her gaze upon that gayly decorated curtain, that she did
not observe a man standing behind one of the pillars supporting the
gallery, and whose gaze was as intently fixed upon her as hers was
upon the drop.
The man wore a heavy overcoat, the collar of which was turned
up so as to conceal the lower part of his face.
A slouched hat rested upon his head, and was drawn down over
his face also, so that between the hat and coat collar his features
were almost wholly concealed.
At length, with a heavy sigh upon finding herself almost alone in
the now gloomy hall, the woman turned to move toward the door.
The man, who was evidently watching her covertly, shrunk back
behind the pillar.
GEORGE CHRISTY.
11
!
*
послания
The woman passed up the aisle until she stood within a few feet
of where the man was concealed and directly opposite the pillar.
There she halted, and turned again to cast one more look upon
that drop-curtain which appeared to possess such a fascination for
her. Then her lips parted.
She did not appear to notice that any one was near her.
A sigh fell from her lips, and in low, audible tones, she mur-
mured:
"I love that man! I love him, and I can not help it!"
Again she turned and walked toward the door.
The man concealed behind the pillar waited until the woman had
passed to the entrance, when he stepped forth and followed.
A carriage stood at the door-a common hack. The woman went
straight to the latter.
The driver was evidently watching for her, as the moment she
appeared, he leaped down from his box and opened the coach door
for her to enter.
As the coach door was banged to behind her, the man in the
slouched hat and heavy coat passed from the entrance of the music
hall. He stood under the great show-light until the carriage drove
away, when, with a curse, he muttered:
**
The mystery is explained! That woman is false and this young
minstrel star is the thief who has bewitched her and robbed me of
her love. I know now where to strike. This Christy dies! No
man can live and divide that woman's love with me, false as she is!"
Broadway then, as now, had located upon it numerous elegant
restaurants.
Not far from the very hall where the entertainment took place
was a saloon kept by a man who afterward became famous as the
victim of one of the most startling and fearful tragedies that ever
shocked the citizens of New York.
This man was the notorious Bill Poole, who fell at the hands of
several assassins some years later, in the famous Broadway
restaurant known as Stanwix Hall.
It was toward the saloon, owned at that time by Bill Poole, that
the stranger with the slouch hat and heavy muffled coat wended his
way.
As he entered the place he threw up his bat and turned down the
collar of his coat, and stood revealed a handsome, determined-look-
ing man, possibly about thirty-five years of age.
As the stranger entered he nodded to a large, handsome man, who
was standing with his back resting against the bar.
Advancing to the bar, the man who had been dogging the woman
called for a glass of brandy; at the same time he said:
"S
Tom, will you have a drink?”
The large man approached, with a good-natured smile upon his
handsome face, and answered:
64
'I don't mind."
This latter individual was a man once famous in New York, being
none other than the great and gentlemanly pugilist, Tom Hyer.
As the latter raised his glass to his lips he appeared for the first
time to observe something strange and excited in the new-comer's
manner, and he said:
Pub
12
GEORGE CHRISTY.
What is the matter, Relfon? Are you out of sorts?”
No," was the abrupt reply.
"You look pale," remarked Hyer.
番茄
​$2
"I feel bored."
"Where have you been?"
"To the minstrels."
"s
And come out after seeing George Christy, and say that you
feel bored?”
"L
""
Yes.'
"Then I guess that you can not feel well, for, upon my word, I
believe that if I were sick it would make me well to see and hear
that prince of funny men.
""
"Do you know him personally, Tom?"
"G
Yes, I am well acquainted with him.'
What kind of a chap is he off the stage?"
""
"
""
Well, he is one of Nature's noblemen-one of the most off-
handed, generous chaps I ever met.
"I would like to see him once off the stage. Where does he
usually hang out?”
"It is ten chanches to one that he will be in here within half an
hour; he comes almost every night after the show is over.
re-
"I should like to see him, and I guess I will wait awhile,
marked Relton. And as he spoke there was a strange glitter in his
eyes, and his delicate fingers worked nervously, as one's do when
clasping the butt of a pistol.
Did you never meet him?"
No.'
A moment later the men were joined by a third.
The latter was the proprietor, Bill Poole, at that time in the full
zenith of his manly strength and rough-and-ready popularity.
At this time Poole was physically the best-built specimen of man-
hood in New York, excepting, possibly, that Apollonian giant, Tom
Hyer.
Poole was a medium sized man, with broad shoulders, propor-
tionately slender waist, and limbs of herculean strength, and mus-
cular firmness.
36
His hair was black, cut short; his eyes small and piercing; his
complexion fair, for a man of his rough-and-ready style of life, and
a heavy, black mustache, which was his especial pride and glory,
fringed his upper lip, hiding as white and regular a set of teeth as
ever graced a man's jaw.
As Poole approached, Hyer said:
"Do you expect George in here to-night?"
86
Which George?" asked Poole.
Christy."
"
"
"Yes.
Well, Relton wants to be introduced to him.'
Relton was a man known to have plenty of means, and a person
whose custom was just such that public-house proprietors most de-
sire.
""
""
66
I expect him here certainly to-night," answered Poole, "and I
will be very happy to introduce Mr. Relton.'
"I do not wish an introduction" answered Relton; adding, “1
GEORGE CÁRISTY.
13
particularly request that you will not introduce me; but I would just
like to have a glance at him."
16
Well, he will be here soon, I am sure,” said Poole, as he turned
away.
A moment later two men entered the saloon.
66
There is Christy," said Tom Hyer.
CHAPTER IV.
In our previous chapter we claimed for Bill Poole that, with prob-
ably one exception, he was the best, physically, built man in New
York.
We are compelled to make one more exception-George Christy
was his peer.
Our hero was not so large in stature, but in proportion he was just
as strongly built.
We presume that it is a fact not generally known that the great
negro comedian was a man of extraordinary physical strength.
At the time he entered Poole's saloon upon the night many years
ago, when he was in the first flush of his great popularity, he was a
man that no stranger would pass without more than a casual glance.
He possessed a handsome face, and one in which genius could be
plainly recognized.
His form was the perfection of physical symmetry, and his feet
and hands were almost fairy in their proportions.
His merry laugh, when off the stage, was like notes of sweet
music, and his bright, cheerful expression like a ray of cheerful
sunshine.
His manners were free and graceful, and his whole carriage off-
handed and winning.
He was not more popular on the stage than off it, and everywhere
he was greeted with the utmost cordiality.
LE
Halloo, Bill, halloo, Tom!" were his words, as, with a jovial
smile and manner, he stepped toward the bar.
A moment later he was surrounded by a numerous company, and
his ready wit and lively sallies were greeted with constant shouts of
merriment.
The man Kelton did not require that George Christy should be
pointed out to him. The moment our hero entered the place it be-
came known who he was.
Everybody within the saloon was merry, and cheerful save one
man. That man who did not smile was Relton. A scowl rested.
upon his fine face, and his eyes gleamed with ill-concealed hate and
bitterness.
Relton remained in the saloon but a few minutes, when he went
out. He walked up a side street until he reached a street lamp,
when he came to a halt.
Again he had drawn his slouched hat over his face, and had
turned up the collar of his coat.
Upon stepping beneath the lamp he cast his eyes in every direc-
tion, seemingly to see if any one were watching him.
No one appeared to be near, when the man drew from his pocket
>
14
GEORGE CHRISTY.
a pistol. This, by the aid of the light flashed down from the street
lamp, he examined.
The examination appeared to satisfy him, as he carefully restored
the weapon, and muttered:
63
That man must die! 1 do not like the idea of taking a human
life, but he has robbed me of that which I hold dearer than my own
lite, and I will be revenged!"
Relton walked back toward the saloon, and crossing Broadway,
took a position on the opposite sidewalk, directly on a line with the
saloon within which his victim was passing a pleasant half hour of
relaxation after the fatigues of his professional duties.
In the meantime the happy, careless, fun-loving George, all un-
conscious of the harm intended him, was laughing and joking, and
quaffing the wine, whose use in the end, as the sequel proved, was
to bite like a serpent and sting like an adder.
4.
Strange are the anomalies of human character.
While Relton stood upon Broadway that crisp, cold night, watch-
ing to waylay and kill the man who had unconsciously won the love
of the veiled woman, another female, in splendid attire, came flounc-
ing down the street.
The latter reached a point on the sidewalk opposite to where Rel-
ton was standing, when, seemingly, she for the first time observed
him.
Relton was standing with his face toward the roadway and his
back toward the buildings lining the street.
The woman advanced and tapped him upon the shoulder.
The man turned.
As he did so, the ray of light flashing from a neighboring liquor
store fell upon the woman's face.
With an oath, the man exclaimed, fiercely:
Halloo! is it you, Em?"
"Yes, it is," answered the girl, “but I did not know it was you,
Harry Relton, when I tapped you on the back.”
看看
​66
Why did you tap me, then?"
"You ought to know of all men, Harry Relton, why at midnight
1 tap strange men on the back.'
"}
64
Go home, girl; I have no time to listen to your reproaches.
44
1 know you have no time, Relton, but you will have time to
think over the wrongs you have done me when the hour of venge-
>>
ance comes.
The man thrust his hand in his pocket and drew out a number of
bills.
These he tendered the girl.
The latter recoiled, and in a voice which sounded like a wail of
anguish, she said:
""
No, no! 1 do not want your money-not yours, of all men's!
I can earn money at the business you forced me to follow, fiend, but
your money-no, sir! Not to buy the bread that would save me
from starvation would I take it!"
At this moment Christy issued alone from the saloon.
Relton saw him, and involuntarily exclaimed:
There he comes, hang him, and he is alone!"
The woman in the gay clothes had also seen the young man issue
Ci
LEN
!
GEORGE CHRISTY.
15
$
HE
&
from the saloon, and a look of interest flashed upon her painted
face as she heard Relton's words.
6.
"
Come, go 'long, Em, and I will see you soon," said the man.
Good-night," answered the girl, and she turned and walked
away.
George Christy was walking up Broadway.
With stealthy steps Relton started in the same direction.
In the meantime, the girl had come to a halt, and was watching
his movements.
•
That man means some diabolical mischief!" she muttered, and
as she faced about, and started to retrace her steps, she added: "I
will follow him; he may mean murder. I will baffle him, and save
a life!"
Our readers may draw their own conclusions from the little side
scene recorded as having occurred between Relton and the woman,
and they will recognize that this man, with crime at his own door,
was seeking revenge at the price of a life for a fancied wrong done
himself.
George Christy proceeded several blocks upon Broadway, and
then turned down a side street.
The assassin at once quickened his steps; the woman in gay
clothes, following in the rear, quickened her steps also..
CHAPTER V.
ALL unconscious, George Christy kept upon his way. At this
time he was lodging in a house opposite to Washington Parade
Ground.
Although right in the very heart of the city, this famous park,
only two blocks distant from Broadway, was for years a dangerous
spot for pedestrians.
It was a lonely place, from the fact that on one side it was bounded
by the towering, gloomy, and unlighted walls of the New York
University, and on the three others by long rows of private dwell-
ings of the respectable class, whose occupants darkened their
houses, and retired early. It was an old park, and at the time of
which we write was not traversed by the streets or avenues which
have since been cut through it.
Trees of immense growth bordered it on every side, and their
spreading branches and deep foliage tended to shut out the moon-
light or starlight, and assisted in adding to the general gloom and
shadow of night.
We must here record that in the day-time these same features made
it a very desirable resort, but at night, or rather after the early hours
of night, the place was deserted, and the silence broken only by the
stealthy tread of some belated pedestrian, a resident of the vicinity.
George was in a jovial mood. His always was a jovial disposition,
and in after years, when sickness, and trials, and disappointments
of a very peculiar character overtook him, he still retained his light,
careless, happy disposition.
He did not suppose that he had an enemy in New York. He cer-
tainly indulged in no feelings of enmity toward a living man, and
-16
GEORGE CHRISTY.
to his knowledge had not committed a single act to incite the enmity
of any one.
He was brave. Ay, George Christy was a courageous man, even
when his strong frame became weakened by excesses; and almost
the last act of his life was one of chivalrous courage, which won
for him a brief return of that fame and valuable notoriety which he
had formerly enjoyed.
In turning from Broadway our hero had made a mistake, leaving
the great thoroughfare one street below that which he intended to.
This brought him along by the University building, and directly
opposite the park gate, which opened upon the path that cut right
through the center of the tree-shaded square.
The sky had become clouded over, and the night had become ex-
ceedingly dark.
George, as we have stated, turned down a different street from the
one he intended. He had proposed skirting the park under the gas-
lights, which lined the sidewalk along its more northerly side.
Upon discovering his mistake, however, he did not attempt to rec-
tify it by passing along University Place, but, with a careless ex-
clamation, he crossed the street, and started to go directly across the
park, thus unwittingly favoring the murderous purpose of the re-
vengeful assassin who was stealing at his heels.
George had reached the very center of the parade ground, a point
where four walks meet.
Suddenly he heard the crackle of footsteps upon the dry leaves
which had fallen from the trees, and had accumulated along the hard
earth walk.
He had no idea of danger, but instinctively turned, when, through
the darkness, he beheld the outlines of a human form.
There would have been nothing unusual or startling in this seem-
ingly ordinary incident were it not for the fact that, as the famous
minstrel turned, the skulking figure came to a sudden halt.
Had the man kept right on, no matter what his purpose, it would
have been unsuspected, but the act of the halt was certainly sus-
picious.
Christy was a resolute fellow, and during the whole of his life
had a resolute and determined way of acting.
He moved toward the figure, his idea being that it was merely
some skulking pickpocket or half famished highwayman.
As George advanced he caught the sound of other and hasty foot-
steps advancing toward him, and the next moment descried in-
distinctly the outlines of a female form running rapidly down the
walk.
Our hero had but just time to notice this last fact, when he was
almost blinded by the near flash of a pistol, and he felt a ball buzz
through his long black locks of hair.
Assassin or robber, it made no difference now to the lion-hearted
minstrel.
With a bound like a panther, he sprung toward the dark form.
The assassin attempted at the same moment to turn and take to
flight, but he ran straight against the female who was hastening
down the path.
Before he could extricate himself, George Christy was upon him.
F
GEORGE CHRISTY.
17
****
We have before intimated that the then popular favorite was a
young man of great bodily strength.
He was even so, and every muscle in his sinewy frame was fully
developed.
With his strong hands he caught the would-be murderer in a vise-
like grip, at the same time exclaiming, while his dark blue eyes
flashed with anger:
"You scoundrel! why did you shoot at me just now?”
Harry Relton was no coward, as far as physical pluck was con-
cerned.
Instead of answering Christy, he grappled with him, hoping tọ
accomplish with his hands what he had failed to do with his weapon.
The would-be assassin was not the first man who had made, or who
was destined to in later years make, a mistake concerning the great
minstrel's personal strength.
At this time George Christy was slightly built, and had the ap-
pearance of being a slender, rather under-sized man.
He was, however, a type of hundreds of young athletes to be
found in New York at the present day.
He possessed not an ounce of extra flesh, but abundance of
muscle.
A terrible struggle followed.
Singularly, the pistol-shot had not attracted the attention of the
police.
At the time of which we write there were not so many policemen
as at present, and as the shot was fired in the very center of the
park, it was less likely to be heard.
Besides, the air was moist, and served to deaden the report.
The struggle was a tierce one.
Relton was the larger man of the two, and a pretty tough cus-
tomer when aroused.
Back and forth along the path, in the damp darkness, the struggle
continued.
Relton at every opportunity used his fists.
George, on the contrary, only sought to overpower his assailant
without injuring him.
Relton improved an opportunity to bury his teeth in our hero's
wrists.
This brutal act caused Christy to lose all patience.
He exerted his strength, and managed finally to throw Relton
upon his back.
Planting his knee upon the fallen man's chest, and pinioning his
arms, George asked, in excited tones:
"
Now tell me, you scoundrel, why you have committed this
assault upon me?"
Before the prostrate and pinioned Relton could make a reply, a
most singular and yet characteristic and startling incident occurred.
CHAPTER VI.
THE Woman whom Relton had addressed as Em had been
wronged by him in the most terrible manner that a man can wrong
a female.
18
GEORGE CHRISTY.
>
Fler feelings toward him, as expressed in her language on Broad-
way, had been bitter, revengeful, and vindictive.
She had followed with the intention only of preventing him from
committing some evil which she apparently suspected he purposed.
When she saw him baffled and helpless, lying under his intended
victim, she seemingly experienced an entire revulsion of feeling, as
she suddenly drew a small pocket pistol, and presenting it at
George's head, said, in a tigerish manner:
"Let him up, or I will shoot!"
George was as spry as he was strong, and also a quick thinker.
In a moment he was upon his feet, and in the same instant he had
seized the girl's wrist, and wrenched the dangerous little toy from
her hands.
"
This is not a nice thing for a lady to play with, sis," he said,
coolly.
George at the same moment examined the pistol, and, satisfied
that it was loaded, he knew that he held the advantage.
Relion had risen to his feet, and stood seemingly undecided
whether or not to run away or renew the fight.
George Christy's propensity to joke and say witty things did not
desert him, even at this tragic moment, and in a playful manner he
remarked, while his full blue eyes flashed with mischief:
See here, my friend-you had first shot; it's my turn now."
Blaze away!" retorted Relton, in a sullen, defiant tone.
All merry men are tender-hearted.
This man had attempted our hero's life.
He had refused to offer any explanation for the murderous assault,
and yet George Christy was not the man to revenge himself upon
him by taking his life.
The minstrel, however, was determined that his would-be assassin
should not walk off unpunished.
Relton attempted to do so, but George summoned him to come to
a halt.
"Will you explain, mister, why you assailed me?" again asked
George.
The man made no reply.
The minstrel did not like the fellow's obstinacy.
"You are as obstinate as you are a cowardly cuss," said George.
The man still stood mute.
An idea struck our hero. He had fallen upon a plan to revenge
himself.
To carry out his plan, it was necessary to get rid of the girl. Turn-
ing to her, George said:
+
Come, sis, it is time for you to leave."
'I will not leave unless Harry Relton goes with me."
""
""
Ah," exclaimed George, so Harry Relton is the gentleman 1
have to thank for making a target of me!"
Relton muttered a curse, and calling the girl a vile name, ordered
her to clear away with herself.
The man was too brutal even to appreciate the service the girl had
done him.
Still she hesitated about going.
George now said:
"
GEORGE CHRISTY.
19
Jaz
"If this man, Relton, is a friend of yours, my poor girl, you need
have no fears on his account. I am not a murderer.
"
""
66
Give me the pistol, and I will go.
'No; you cannot have the pistol. Some other chap may take a
notion to bang at me yet before I reach home, and I have made up
my mind that the next time I'll take a hand in myself. Call at the
Hall for your shooter, sis."
<<
*
At what Hall shall I call?"
Christy's Minstrel Hall."
Who shall I ask for?"
George Christy.
"Is your name George Christy?”
""
I know of no reason why I should deny my name.
George Christy."
Yes; I am
"I wish I had let you kill that sneak!" exclaimed the girl, as she
turned on her heel and walked rapidly away.
A few days previous to the night when the incidents occurred
which we have recorded above, an odd-looking specimen of a
Yankee had called at the minstrel hall with a patent preparation for
the minstrels to black their faces.
*
CC
4
""
""
The fellow had expatiated upon the merits of his preparation, stat-
ing that it could be removed from the face much easier than burnt
cork, and that it made the subject look exactly like a negro.
The Yankee appeared desirous that one particular man shouid
make an experiment with the patent preparation.
The latter was a chap who had been recently added to the com-
pany, and proved to be a youth who was exceedingly fond of putting
on airs.
Although but a tyro at the minstrel business, he pretended to be the
oldest man in it.
The chap was finally persuded to rub the liquid black upon his
face.
He rubbed it well in, too, and all of the minstrels at once pro-
claimed that it was the best stuff that they had ever seen for the
purpose.
Another of the company was about to use some of it, when a mo-
tion from the Yankee prevented him.
The preparation had been applied just before the beginning of the
performance, so the man who had used it concluded to let it remain
until his duties were over.
The chap who had tried the experiment was the first one to finish
his duties.
He had previously stated that, after the performance, he was to
visit one of the handsomest girls in New York,
The minstrel had been about ten minutes in the dressing-room
when the other performers came stamping down the narrow, rickety
stairway.
The chap, whom we shall call Tom, and who afterward became
very famous as a performer, was scrubbing and scrubbing away at
the water-trough.
$4
Halloo, Tom!" exclaimed one of the minstrels, "I thought you
were off long ago."
>>
"Off long ago!" exclaimed Tom, in a tone which can only be de-
20
GEORGE CHRISTY.
3.
scribed as simply frantic. Why, I've rubbed the skin almost off of
my face, and that Yankee's infernal stuff sticks like grim death to a
sick nigger.
""
""
W-h-a-t!" exclaimed the minstrel who had put the question.
'Don't that patent stuff come off?"
"L
""
'No, hang it! And by the hopping kangaroos! if I had that in-
fernal Yankee here, I'd cut his ears off!"
The rest of the band gathered around poor Tom.
The latter scrubbed and scrubbed, constantly giving utterance to
fierce exclamations and threats of vengeance.
64
The company laughed.
**
•
-Tom began to smell a mice," as the saying goes, and turning
toward one of his companions, he asked, in true accents of despair:
Tell a feller, boys, won't this infernal stuff ever come off?"
Honey, I guess dat yer are turned black man for shuan dis yere
time," answered the chap addressed.
66
Was this a joke intended for me alone?" pleadingly asked Tom.
The men laughed-laughed as only actors or minstrels can laugh.
These people, whose mission it is to make others laugh, by a sin-
gular coincidence are the most laughing class of beings on the earth
themselves.
Some of the lads tumbled on the floor, and rolled in laughter,
while poor Tom scrubbed and scrubbed.
The latter at last became convinced of a certain fact. It was use-
less to scrub. He would have to wait for the fatal stuff to wear off.
How long it would take no one appeared to know.
CHAPTER VII.
READER, we have digressed, but we had a purpose.
It is a strange and singular history that we are writing, and the
chances are that we may frequently digress.
We can assure our friends, however, that our digressions will be
interesting, amusing, or startling enough to warrant the liberty.
It chanced that George Christy had a bottle of this wondrous pat-
ent preparation at the very time that the incident occurred in the park.
The king of jokers could not do murder, but he must be revenged,
nevertheless.
Addressing Relton, George said:
"Listen, my friend, you tried to kill me?"
The man did not reply.
George was one of the smartest men on his feet, probably, that ever
stepped behind the footlights.
He edged toward Relton.
Suddenly he used both feet and hands.
Relton was taken unawares, and was borne to the ground.
At last the fellow appeared to be frightened, and he exclaimed:
"For mercy's sake don't kill me!"
"
'I am not going to kill you, my friend," replied George, demure-
ly, adding, “you are a murderer, and 1 am going to put the mark
of Cain upon you!"
The man feared that the minstrel meant to mutilate him, and he
begged like a trooper.
"
GEORGE CHRISTY.
21
1.
.1
"Ah! you have found voice at last, have you?” said George.
While the latter was speaking, in a dexterous manner he was
smearing the would-be assassin's face.
Having finished his manipulations, he arose from the prostrate
man's body with the remark:
63
1 reckon I will know you when I see you again."
George was satisfied. He knew that it would take two weeks at
the outside before the last remnants of the stain would wear off of
the man's face.
It was a novel manner of serving a murderer, but our readers who
remain with us to the end of this narrative will learn that George
Christy did a great many novel things during the course of his event-
ful career.
Our hero appeared inclined to let the man go, and himself pro-
ceeded to his lodgings.
Upon the following morning, as George lay in bed with his eyes
cast toward the ceiling, he indulged in a brown study.
The subject of his thoughts was, what under the heavens was the
motive of the man who had attempted his life?"
Leaving George to indulge his speculations, we will record what
befell the man Relton.
"
The latter had no idea concerning what kind of a trick had been
played upon him.
In the terror, and anger, and excitement of the moment, he had
not particularly noticed that deft fingers were applying a black liquid
to his really handsome face.
After George had left bin, Relton arose to his feet, and moved
toward Broadway, muttering and talking to himself.
"
That's what I get for relying upon a single-barreled pistol. If
1 had had a four-barreled fellow, I would have laid that minstrel
dead, sure; as it is, I have made a great blunder. Hang him!" added
Relton, after a moment; "he is a queer cuss, anyhow. I wonder
he did not shoot; on the contrary, he really appeared to avoid injur
ing me.
>>
Relton came to a halt under a lamplight as he uttered the last
words.
An idea appeared to strike him.
Ilis face assumed a terrible expression, as he said, in a low, bitter
tone:
C
1
That fact speaks for itself, and proves the grounds of my sus-
picious! That minstrel would not injure me because he thought I
was the husband of Agnes, and he could afford to be patient toward
the man whom he had wronged!"
Thus communing and muttering to himself, Relton proceeded
along until he arrived in front of an imposing residence situated on
Eighth Street.
A street lamp stood directly in front of the door.
Stopping beneath the latter, Relton drew his watch from his pocket
and learned the time.
Then glancing up toward the front windows of the house, he no-
ticed a light glimmering through the second-story blinds.
**
Half-past one, and a light in Agnes's room yet!" he muttered,
in a fierce tone.
፡
€22.
GEORGE CHRISTY.
Immediately after, he ascended the front stoop, and inserting a
night-key in the latch of the door, pushed the latter open and en-
tered the house.
The man appeared to be perfectly at home, and under no obliga-
tion to act or move in a stealthy manner.
An old-fashioned bell lamp was suspended from the ceiling in the
hall, and shed a dim light around.
Relton hung his hat upon the hat-rack, opened the front parlor
door, and glanced around a moment, and then turned, advanced,
and ascended the stairs to the second story.
Going to the front room door, he opened it and entered, without
the ceremony of knocking or announcing his presence in any way.
Seated upon a large chair in the room was a female.
The latter was elegantly dressed, and was sound asleep.
The entrance of Relton had not appeared to arouse her.
He stood and surveyed her a moment as she slept.
(C
She is beautiful," he murmured, "and that low fellow has won
her love from me!"
As Relton spoke, a fearful expression passed over his face.
He stood for some moments in the center of the floor, surveying
the sleeping beauty, when suddenly the latter heaved a sigh and
slowly opened her eyes.
f
The first object they fell upon was Relton, standing in the middle
of the room.
She uttered a scream of terror.
Relton advanced toward her, and asked, in a fierce tone:
"Ha! why do you scream?"
Oh, Heavens! is it you, Harry?"
14
"Is it I? Why, woman, ain't you awake yet?"
"C
**
Yes; but why have you sought to frighten me in this manner?”
It is only lately, madam, that my presence is the cause of
affright to you."
44
How can I help it, when you have gone and daubed yourself in
such a horrid manner? You must have intended to frighten me-
and you know you did."
64
I do not know what you mean!" said Relton.
"Have you been drunk, or are you intoxicated now?”
(1
I wish you would explain what you are driving at.
**
If you are not aware of what a horrid picture you present, you
must have been the victim of some practical joker. Pray look in
the glass.
Relton advanced to the glass and glanced upon the crystal surface.
He saw reflected the hideous lineaments of a negro!
He uttered a low scream, followed immediately by a volley of
fierce oaths; and as a certain recollection flashed over his mind, he
exclaimed:
The mark of Cain! Ah, ha! a thousand curses on that jovial
villain!"
"For gracious sake, Harry, do wash that horrid stuff from your
face!" said Agnes.
Relton passed to an adjoining room, and commenced scrubbing
his face with soap and water.
After a good scrubbing, he went and looked in the glass.
}
·
1
GEORGE CHRISTY.
# 23
ܢܐ
{
}
The soap and water had made no impression; his face was as
black as ever, and he presented a most singular and laughable ap-
pearance.
He was cursing and fuming when he chanced to see his wife's
face reflected in the mirror.
The latter's countenance was convulsed with laughter. In a wild
rage, Relton turned, and with his clinched fist struck her to the
floor!
CHAPTER VIII.
WHEN George appeared at the hall for rehearsal upon the fore-
noon following his adventure in the park, his mind was still run-
ning upon the singular occurrence.
He had not been in New York long enough to excite any one's
enmity, and it was this fact that made the incident the more mysteri-
ous.
He had revolved several solutions of the affair in his mind.
It struck him at one time that possibly his assailant was a rival
performer.
His final conclusion, however, was that the man was a lunatic.
At the conclusion of the rehearsal our hero asked several of the band
if they were acquainted with a man by the name of Relton.
None of them appeared to know any such individual.
George finally chanced to put the question to the man Tom, the
same chap who had used the Yankee preparation, remnants of which
still remained upon his face.
..
"Relton?" said Tom.
"Yes.
፡፡
I know him "
"Is he a lunatic?"
#
>>
66
Why do you ask?”
Never mind why I ask, but answer my question," said Christy.
Well, I'll tell you how big a lunatic he is. Ten years ago, when
he hadn't a cent, he managed to marry the handsomest and richest
girl in New York.'
>>
66
Whew!" exclaimed George, in a significant tone, as an idea
flashed through his mind.
It is a lamentable fact that there are a class of weak-minded
women who become bewitched after reigning theatrical stars.
These silly creatures take a hundred foolish ways to secretly ex-
press their admiration; and we may as well here state, in passing,
that ninety-nine times out of a hundred they only get laughed at for
their pains.
As this is a theatrical narrative, and as we shall now and then in-
troduce numerous illustrations of actual comic occurrences, we will
digress to relate an amusing incident which befeil a certain actor.
A spectacular play was upon the boards of one of our prominent
theaters.
*
Do you mean Harry Relton?”
The actor alluded to was cast for a kingly rôle.
His get-up was magnificent, and upon the stage he not only looked
the king, but acted like one.
24
GEORGE CHRISTY.
;
Seeing him from the front, disguised by paint and wig, and velvet
robes, he looked also like an exceedingly handsome man.
The second week of the play this chap began to receive elegant
little bouquets, and upon one occasion, in the center of one of these
floral tributes was a diamond ring.
These offerings continued for two weeks, and the favored recipient
was unable to discover from what quarter they came.
At length neatly perfumed notes used to come, in which the
writer expressed her esteem, and finally boldly confessed her love,
and requested an interview.
The note requesting the tryst informed the actor that the writer
was a boarder at a fashionable school, and that he must give a cer-
tain name, and assume the role of her brother who had come from a
certain distant city to see his sister.
The player of the kingly part was delighted, and, at the time ap-
pointed, repaired to the house named, gave the name as directed, and
was shown into an elegant reception-room.
In the meantime the fair girl had been in a fever of expectancy.
When it was announced that her brother had arrived, she de-
scended to the parlors with a fluttering heart.
Upon entering the room, her eyes fell upon a stout gentleman of
forly, with cross-eyes, a rum-bloated face, and a round, bullet-head,
covered with short, hog bristle hairs of a reddish gray color.
The girl was astonished, but thinking there must be some mistake,
she exclaimed:
26.
"Couldn't Mr.
come?"
I am Mr. -!'' replied the actor, in tones melodious and bland.
"Oh! clear out! Goodness me! you pig!" exclaimed the girl of
sixteen, and away she bounced out of the room, leaving the poor
actor to make his way out of the house as best he could.
Datang. Davant
San Ma
The next day the miss was still further humiliated when the maid
who had opened the door for her brother greeted her with the remark:
"1 guess your brother was behind the door, miss, whin good
looks were distributed in your family.
George had been receiving neat little bouquets for several days
previous to his adventure, and when he exclaimed "Whew!" in
such a significant manner, it was because he connected these little
floral offerings with the rencounter.
We know that tradition hath it, that the great comedian was a
pretty gay young man. We shall sec.
"}
George made some very particular inquiries concerning Relton,
and at the same time decided upon his plan of action in case of cer-
tain contingencies.
Every night, upon coming upon the stage, he had run his cyc
over the faces in the audience, to see if he could discover, by any
sign or signal, the fair sender of the bouquets.
Upon the night following his adventure, he was particularly ob-
servant.
He failed, however, in making any discovery.
Days passed, and still he failed to learn anything of the fair in-
cognita.
The bouquets came regularly, so that the minstrel began to look
for them as a matter of course, but no other sign did he receive.
?
G.
!
GEORGE CHRISTY.
25
About this time the famous Edwin Forrest began an engagement
in New York, at the old Broadway Theater.
Like other American boys, George had always looked upon the
great tragedian as the greatest actor who had ever walked the stage.
He had never seen him, and one night, at the close of the perfor
mance at the minstrels' hall, he hastened down to the Broadway
Theater, hoping to arrive in time to see Forrest in the last act of that
famous play, “Jack Cade.
"
The great tragedian was in his prime and in the zenith of his fame.
Strange incidents frequently occur beneath the surface of passing
events, and among the latter was this first meeting of the two great
exponents of mimic life.
Forrest, the prince of tragedians, tramping the stage in his sublime
act, and George Christy, the prince of comedians, a quiet spectalof, …
seated in the midst of the audience.
The impressions of that night never vanished from the great min-
strel's mind, and in later years some of his most side-splitting acts of
mimicry were founded upon the grander parts of the heaviest trage-
dies.
When the curtain fell, George met a friend.
The latter asked:
$4
How did you like Forrest?"
**
'I am speechless with admiration," was the reply.
""
Are you acquainted with Ned?" asked our hero's friend.
""
I never saw him until to-night," was the answer.
<<
Would you like to be introduced to him?”
**
I would."
We will call on him at his hotel.”
It is a well-known fact that for years and years Edwin Forrest
used to stop at a hotel which at that time was situated at the corner
of Broadway and Howard Street.
44
Three quarters of an hour afterward George Christy was ushered
into the great actor's apartment.
The two famous men were introduced.
George was awed for once into a sober silence.
Forrest was a strange man.
For an instant he scanned George with his eagle eyes, and then
remarked, in that deep voice of his and in that slow style of enuncia-
tion peculiar to him:
""
So this is George Christy, the great fun-maker?”
The mutual friend answered in the affirmative.
Forrest was a wonderful reader of the human face.
It was evident that he was pleased with the frank, handsome face
of the young minstrel, who in another line of the art rivaled the
great Forrest as a popular favorite.
**
Genius of jest, give me your hand," said Forrest.
And the two great stars exchanged a cordial grip; and from that
moment began a friendship which lasted for years, and was only.
finally broken by a strange incident, which will be fully related dur-
ing the course of our narrative.
26
GEORGE CHRISTY.
CHAPTER 1X.
GEORGE had never seen or heard anything of Relton since the
night when he put upon the would-be murderer the mark of Cain.
He was also baffled in discovering the fair sender of the bouquets.
He concluded, as a matter of course, that the sender of the flow-
ers must be young and beautiful, and his anxiety to behold her in-
creased daily.
74
Suddenly the floral offering ceased to come.
The minstrel had been so used to receiving them, that when they
failed to reach him, he felt as though some bright experience had
suddenly dropped out of his daily life.
The matter had become fixed in his mind, that the sender of the
flowers had been the wife of the man who had assailed him.
Curiosity at length prompted him to make some particular in-
quiries concerning the lady.
All that he could ascertain was, that she was beautiful and rich,
but not one breath of suspicion was breathed against her fair fame.
George was finally convinced that the flowers had come from
some other quarter, and the matter had taken such a hold upon his
imagination that he determined, if possible, to discover who the
lovely incognita was.
He determined that she must be lovely, as a matter of course.
For several days he thought the matter over, trying to think of
some expedient to serve his purpose.
He happened to be glancing over the columns of the "Herald,"
and his eye fell upon the Personal" column.
44
Down came his hand upon his knee, and from his lips came the
exclamation.
"Eureka! I have found it!"
Upon the following morning the subjoined notice appeared in the
"Herald," under the heading of "Personals:"
"
Will the kind sender of the lovely floral gifts to Jester,' 472
Broadway, please send her address to same number, and oblige
#C
'GEORGE."
番​.
If she sees that," thought George, "that will bring her sure."
Two days followed the appearance of the notice in the " Herald,”
and still no answer came.
George began to despair.
He had never been really in love yet, although he was just at that
age when young men are most susceptible.
He was getting in love, however-in love with an incognita whom
he had never scen-a myth, whose shadow even to his knowledge
had not fallen across his path.
"I will try the advertisement once more," he said, upon the third
day, and on the fourth the following notice appeared:
"FLOWER GIRL: George will droop like a rose and wither away
unless, sweet birdie, thou come unto him.
JESTER.'
"}
)
።
1.7
QUO
GEORGE CHRISTY..
27
!
1
1
Upon the second day our hero received a bouquet, but no note.
A week passed, and the flowers came regularly, but still no word,-
either written or verbal.
George was becoming possessed.
His appetite began to fail him.
The mystery began to haunt him.
He did not know, at last, but that it were possible he was being
made the victim of some practical joke.
He determined to find out.
He made inquiries, and learned that the bouquets were brought to
the Hall every evening about half-past six o'clock by a boy.
One evening George ate an early supper, and hastened down to
the Hall,
He chanced to arrive just in time.
He saw the boy hand a bouquet of flowers in at the box-office, and
then turn to go away.
The minstrel followed the lad for a block, and then overtook and
stopped him.
66
See here, bub," said George, "you are the chap who brings
flowers to the Hall every night?"
""
Yes, sir," answered the boy, promptly.
Where do you bring the flowers from?"
66
I was told not to tell.”
""
"Well, I tell you now."
"I do not know who you are.
"That makes no difference. Answer my questions."'
86
1 bring the flowers from the florist's.'
At whose order?"
"My father's."
Who is your father?”
>>
"The florist.
"
George laughed.
The boy was a cute chap.
Our hero slipped a Mexican quarter into the lad's hand, and said:
See here, sonny, you must tell me now who sends those flowers.”
"
"
A lady," answered the boy, inspired by the silver piece to be
very communicative.
((
How often does the lady come to your father's place?"
She came about a week ago, and ordered the flowers to be sent
for two weeks.”
""
What kind of a looking lady is she?"
I can't tell.”
64
62
"L
Why not?"
She always wears a thick veil over her face; but 1 know she's
handsome."
"
6.
44
""
How do you know?"
Oh, I know.”
""
Boy, would you like to go in and see the show?"
"Yes, sir."
"Can you keep a little business to yourself?"
"I can, sir.'
"
Will you watch for that lady, and when she comes again to
&
28
GEORGE CHRISTY.
your father's place, can you manage to hand her a note without be-
ing observed?¹·
•
"C
"
George took the lad with him, and penning a missive, the sub-
stance of which our readers can imagine, he gave it to the boy.
"When you bring me an answer to that note," said our hero,
you shall have passes for three nights into the show with a friend."
The boy went away.
At the close of the performance upon the same night that he had
sent the note to meet the fair incognita, George came forth, with a
number of companions, when he felt some one tugging at his coat
sleeve.
Turning, he saw the flower-boy.
What do you want, sonny?" he asked, sharply, thinking that
the lad intended to presume on their secret acquaintanceship, and
bore him.
&&
I have got a note for you, sir," whispered the lad.
George almost betrayed himself by the exclamation which fell
from his lips.
Catching the boy by the arm, he hastened away with him, with-
out making any explanations to his companions.
When a short distance off, George said:
"
Now, give me the note.
·
Yes, sir."
Well, come with me."
44
The lad handed our hero a little billet-doux.
"How did you come to get this so soon?"
I met the veiled lady on Broadway just after I left you.”
66
""
{
Well, tell me all about what happened?"
Oh, it was jolly!" answered the boy; and he proceeded to tell
the following romantic story.
..
And you gave her my note?"
Yes, sir.
CHAPTER X.
"Two minutes after I left you, sir," he said, "I met the lady on
Broadway who ordered the flowers.'
**
'I thought you didn't know the lady," suggested George.
64
I never saw her face, but 1 recognized her by her dress.'
"Well?" queried our hero.
"I touched her upon the shoulder, and when she turned around
I told her I had a note for her.
"Who from?' she asked.
'I said: 'The gentleman whom you sent the flowers to,' and you
ought to have seen her raise her veil and look at me!" continued the
boy.
"She raised her veil, eh?"
"Yes, sir.
}}
""
Well, was she a black gal?"
+4
No, sir. She was the handsomest woman I ever seed; and she
looked at me with her beautiful black eyes as though she wanted to
pierce me through and through; and there was a red spot on each of
her lovely cheeks."
}
GEORGE CHRISTY.
29
:
(<
Well, what did she say?"
She said: 'How do you know that 1 sent any flowers to a gen-
tleman?' and the tone of her voice was so sharp that I began to wish
that I was safe away.
"What reply did you make?”
(
1 told her I was the son of the florist who sold her the flowers."
"What did she say then?"
"Oh, her voice became soft and pleasant, and she asked: 'How
do you know I ordered any flowers of a florist?' and I told her point-
blank that I had seen her at my father's garden.
""
""
Well, what did she say then?" asked George, all attention to
hear the boy's reply.
"
She asked me what kind of a looking man it was that sent her
the note."
"
What did you answer?" asked George, with boyish eagerness,
forgetting for the moment how much interest he was betraying.
The boy looked at George slyly, and answered:
"
'1 don't know as 1 ought to tell you what answer I made."
•
""
"C
You must.
<< Will 1 you give me the passes, sure?"
Yes.'
"C And no mistake?”
And no mistake, bub."
Well, I made her the same answer that I made you."
Off his guard, George asked:
46
Well, what answer was that?”
""
'I told her it was the handsomest-looking gentleman 1 had ever
seed."
$1
**
CC
You scoundrel!" exclaimed Christy, as he caught the smart
youth by the ear.
"You wouldn't have me tell her that you was an ugly-looking
man, would you?" squealed the lad.
""
Well, what did the lady do then?”
"
"She told me to follow her.
"Did you do so?”
Yes, sir."
"Where did she take you?"
แ
46
To a handsome house up town.
She let me sit in the parlor
while she went upstairs, and in about half an hour she came down
and handed me the note I gave you."
""
Nothing else?"
64
"She gave me a dollar."
George fixed his eyes upon the lad in a meaning way, and asked:
What kind of a house was it, hub?"
too.
""
The lad, as we have before recorded, was a smart youth, and giv-
ing a knowing wink, he answered:
Oh, it was a private house, to be sure; and big bugs lived in it,
"}
You may go, sonny," said the minstrel, and he walked up town
to find a convenient place to read the little billet-doux he had re-
ceived through such cunning means.
Our hero was so well known on Broadway that he found it neces-
sary to seek a restaurant on one of the cross streets.
은 ​사서
​30
GEORGE. CHRISTY.
The popularity of our hero was a striking instance of the old adage
that success is success.
""
""
Negro minstrelsy at the time of which we write was the most pop-
ular amusement in New York; and yet, but a few years previously,
the original E. P. Christy Minstrels had made their first appearance
-in the City of Rochester, when the whole band was comprised of
four men and a dog!
The men subsequently became rich and famous; the dog's after
history has been lost.
Poor fellow! it is possible that he afterward became no man's
dog," and wandered-wandered, gaunt and hungry, searching for a
bone,
We will here state, also, in passing, that the first genuine minstrel
performance in New York was given at Palmer's Opera House in
Chambers Street, subsequently known as Burton's Theater.
Success had followed the venture, and in those days gone by the
humblest member of a minstrel band attracted attention as a celeb-
rity wherever he went.
George Christy, in his palmy days, in an assemblage off the stage,
would have divided attention with a prince of royal blood.
Thus it was that our hero was compelled to seek an obscure place
for the purpose of reading his missive without interruption.
We have termed the note a billet-doux; it was in reality a long
letter, and a very mysterious one, containing directions which
promised an adventure of the most romantic and startling nature.
George was instructed to be at a certain place one hour before mid-
night, when he would find a carriage in waiting which would
convey him to a place where he could have an interview with his
incognita.
He was informed it would be an hour's ride, and that he must
not be alarmed.
The latter was an unnecessary caution to such a dashing, cou-
rageous fellow as Christy.
When the latter started ou an adventure he was of the make to
see it through, though perils were to be encountered at every step.
The letter amused our hero, and excited his imagination, leaving
him to anticipate what, above all other things he most enjoyed, fun,
mystery, and adventure.
The trysting was appointed for the second night following the one
on which he received the note.
Those who remember George as he appeared at this time, can
fully appreciate with what impatience he awaited the hour which
was to bring him in the presence of the beautiful and mysterious
correspondent.
The evening arrived, and immediately after the fall of the curtain
our hero hastened to arrange his toilet for the night's adventure.
Our hero had occupied the two previous days in preparing a
make-up," and no man understood the art better.
George had formed an idea of the actual state of affairs as far as
his fair correspondent was concerned, and had prepared himself to
act accordingly.
It was just ten o'clock when George appeared upon Broadway,
GEORGE CHRISTY.
31
The place for him to meet the carriage was less than half an
hour's walk from the Hall.
One idea pervaded his mind, that there was a possibility he might
be the intended victim of a huge joke, and he had resolved if such
was the fact that he would not be caught napping.
When some distance from the Hall, which was 472" Broad-
way, the same place where the Bryants subsequently earned several
fortunes, he darted down a side street, and in a few minutes made
such a metamorphose in his appearance, that his most intimate
friend would not have recognized him.
Having thus guarded himself against being trapped, he proceeded
leisurely toward the appointed rendezvous.
Arrived in the vicinity he selected a good position from whence
he could observe what transpired.
The handsome blue eyes of our hero were fired with animation,
and glowed with a merry keenness as he stood and watched.
He had been in his position but a few moments when he saw an
old-fashioned carriage draw up to a curb at the appointed corner.
He made no haste even then to go forward, but remained for some
time to watch any fresh development.
The coachman sat motionless in his seat on the box; no sound
broke the stillness but the occasional stamping of the horses. There
were no dwellings in the vicinity, and it was not a place where
pedestrians were apt to be found, unless they were there, like our
hero, for a special purpose.
Gradually our hero's suspicions were allayed, the idea of a joke
was banished from his mind, and he advanced from his place of
concealment, going toward the place where the carriage stood.
CHAPTER XI.
WHEN beside the coach, addressing the driver, George asked:
"Are you waiting for any one?"
Yes, sir," was the reply.
"Who are you waiting for?"
Probably you are the party," answered the driver.
•
1 can't tell, unless you tell me the party's name," said George.
65
I was not to tell the party's name; they were to announce them-
selves.'
11
"
<<
•
Are you waiting for Doctor Renwick?”
That's the name, sir.'
Where were you to drive the doctor?"
Are you the party?"
(( 1 am.
Well, hop right in, and I'll have you there in quick order."
Have me where?"
"
*
**
"
""
That's all right. Jump in; I'll take you there."
That chap's got his instructions down to a fine point," thought
George, and drawing a pistol from his pocket, he called the driver's
attention to it, asking, in a significant tone:
查看
​Do you see that, my man?"
>>
"I do, sir.'
1
+
32
GEORGE CHRISTY.
"Do you know what it means?”
香​篇 ​I reckon I do."
Well, what does it mean?”
The driver was a mere youth, evidently a rustic, but withal a
pretty sharp chap, as indicated by his answer, when he said:
"It means if I cut up any tricks I'll get a ball through my head."
You'll do, my friend," said George, adding, "but please re-
member exactly what it means.
"C
""
เ
You need have no fears, sir; all I have to do is to drive you
direct to the Manor House.
"
George entered the carriage, and the moment he closed the door
the driver urged his horses forward, and he was bowled along at a
pretty rapid rate.
Twenty minutes later they struck the old river road, and at the
rate they were going George made up his mind that he was to be
carried to what was at that time some distance into the country.
It was a cold, crisp, clear night, and a crescent moon cast its pale
light upon the surrounding scenery.
Our hero had plenty of time to think calmly over the probable
issue of the adventure.
Of one fact he was satisfied-the fair being whose interest he had
won was undoubtedly a person of weath.
The question which now agitated his mind was:
""
Is she a wife, or a maiden heiress-a married woman who ought
to know better, and who was acting in this mysterious manner be-
cause she knew she was doing wrong, or a romantic maiden who
was acting under the guidance of an excited imagination???
George Christy was a dashing, frolicsome, adventurous young
fellow at this time, but, withal, he possessed the very soul of honor,
and only calculated, in following out the adventure, to gratify his
peculiar fondness for engaging in extraordinary undertakings.
He little dreamed, as he bowled along under the pale moonlight,
how nearly he was approaching a crisis where there was a probabil-
ity that his histrionic career would be nipped in the bud; and that
his fame and popularity would be shrouded by an act which would
ever afterward have linked it with infamy.
The carriage suddenly came to a halt.
The driver dismounted, opened a swinging gate, and without
mounting his box again, led his horses through the opening and
along a carriage-way guarded on either side by arching frees of great
age and immense growth.
To those of our readers who bave heard many stories concerning
our hero-and no man as well known and as universally known as
George ever lived who did not have stories told about him-we wish
to say that it is our mission to record only the bright pages and
meritorious incidents in his eventtul career.
4
His failings and faults are covered by the sods that grow over his
coffin.
A man who held such a prominent position before the public as a
performer, could not escape the voice of scandal.
In those gone-by days there was even more unwarranted prejudice
against actors than exists at the present day even.
Many foolish persons, prominent in New York social circles at
་
21.
་
[
GEORGE CHRISTY.
33
the time George was in the zenith of his fame, became bewitched
concerning him; but because they called at his rooms in their
liveried coaches, and because he was the recipient at one time of
bushels of letters, it does not follow that he received his visitors, or
answered the notes.
The friends of a public performer can easily earn for him the
reputation of a Don Juan, when the poor fellow may really be an
anchorite.
It is no more than proper to state, authoritatively, that of the
thousands of romantic stories in circulation concerning our hero,
but a small portion only are authentic.
George encountered many startling adventures, but not of the
character which tradition has preserved.
In his day he was the most popular man in the business, both in
and out of the profession; and it could not be otherwise than that,
with a slight foundation of truth, there should be many misrepre
sentations concerning him.
As the carriage moved slowly beneath the heavy shadow under
the trees, George glanced out of the coach window, and saw that he
was passing through one of those grand old parks which in the
good old times surrounded many a noble old mansion after the En-
glish style.
The carriage proceeded for fully an eighth of a mile, when it was
halted in front of an ancient and imposing manor house.
The house and surroundings were thoroughly English, and an
imaginative person could readily have believed himself at the
entrance of one of those old ancestral halls so frequently described
by English romancists.
Our hero had prepared himself to be guided entirely by circum-
stances as they developed.
He remained seated in the coach until the driver came and opened
the door.
The latter, as George alighted, pointed toward the massive front
entrance door, and said:
"You will be admitted there, doctor."
George advanced up the broad steps under the grand portico and
pulled the silver door-knob, not without certain misgivings, how-
ever, concerning the final issue of his mysterious adventure.
He waited full five minutes after pulling the bell-knob, without
hearing the least response.
No sound broke the awful stillness but the sighing of the wind
through the lofty trees, and the occasional moan of a dog.
The position was a trying one.
It was not a situation which called for an exhibition of physical
courage, but the exercise of a peculiar sort of nerve and resolution.
At this time George had not become as experienced in this sort of
adventure as he was in later years.
He felt that he could have faced an armed man, or tackled a mad
bull, or rescued a screaming damsel from a burning building; but
when he raised his hand a second time toward the silver door-knob
he weakened, and his arm dropped nervously by his side.
A nervousness had come over him, which affected him as though
icy fingers were tightening about his throat,
•
34
GEORGE CHRISTY.
The driver had led his horses away at the very moment our hero
was ascending the stone steps.
Were it otherwise, George would have compelled the fellow, at
the muzzle of a pistol, to drive him back to the city.
As it was, he had just made up his mind to desert the entrance-
way of the house, and follow the carriage path around to the stables,
in the rear, and command the fellow to drive him back, when a
faint glimmer of light struggled through the side lights of the front
door.
George waited and listened, when he detected a shuffling step
moving through the hall-way of the house.
Our hero's heart beat like a drummer's sticks on a snare-drum,
when the massive door was opened, and a white-headed old negro
man appeared in the opening, and inquired:
66
Who am dar?"
George was on the point of answering with his proper name, but
managed to recollect himself just in time to reply:
"6
Dr. Renwick!”
Ah, doctor, we wer' waitin' fer yer. Come dis way, sar-dis
way, doctor," said the negro, scraping and bowing obsequiously.
64
CHAPTER XII.
THE great exponent of black eccentricity followed the genuine
son of Africa into the spacious hall-way.
The negro opened a massive mahogany door at the left, and step-
ping aside, motioned for George to enter.
The latter obeyed, and suddenly the door was closed behind him,
and he found himself in a dimly-lighted apartment.
Our hero was amazed. He found himself surrounded by magnifi
cent antique furniture, such as one might have expected to behold
in the apartment of a Moorish princess in the Alhambra.
The minstrel had frequently been within the gorgeously furnished
parlors of a modern mansion, but never before had he beheld such
solid magnificence as surrounded him on every side.
He could hardly convince himself that he was not dreaming. Ilis
nervousness had completely vanished; for a moment the sentiment
of admiration superseded every other feeling.
Throwing himself into a luxuriously cushioned and massively
carved arm-chair, he waited.
A moment passed, when, raising his eyes he beheld a figure re-
flected in a large mirror which depended from ceiling to floor be-
tween gorgeous crimson curtains at the lower end of the room.
George was enraptured; he felt that his eyes had never rested upon
such a glorious vision of loveliness before. Ile sat like one spell-
bound, and took it all in.
As he afterward expressed himself, he realized that it was an
effect that had been pre-arranged, and was, as he termed it, a part
of the night's performance.
For full a minute the glorious picture was presented, when it
vanished as suddenly as it had appeared.
GEORGE CHRISTY.
35
ww
The next thing our hero experienced was the consciousness of an
exquisite perfume floating through the room, the effect of which
was to fire his senses, and cause his young, warm blood to glow
with a feeling of rapture.
It appeared as though he were within the domain of some weird
enchantress, and as he sat there enjoying the ecstasy of the moment,
he almost wished, under the bewitching influences, that the spell of
enchantment might not be broken.
-
Full five minutes elapsed when he was greeted with a sight of a
second bewildering picture. This time, however, it was not a mere
reflection of loveliness, but a lovely, breathing woman who had
entered the room, and was advancing toward him.
George Christy was a natural born gentleman. Early associations
and subsequent mixture with men of all classes, failed to rob him
of a courtliness of manner which fitted him in this respect to appear
with grace and credit in the highest circles.
To those who never knew him personally, it is impossible to
convey an idea of the magnetism of his presence, and a singular
fascination which attracted friends of both sexes toward him.
We should not dare to place upon record facts and incidents in
support of this claim for him, lest we might be accused of throwing
a false glamour over the incidents of his life.
At this time he was but twenty-three years of age, and in the full,
youthful bloom of his physical and inental endowments.
The presence of the beautiful creature who approached him did
not abash him in the least.
Rising to his feet, he greeted the strange and beautiful hostess
with a grace that was admirable and an ease and readiness that
would have indicated an acquaintanceship of years.
In a voice of exquisite melody, and with a smile upon her
beautiful face which was simply ravishing, the woman said, with
an air of roguish artlessness:
46
Doctor, I am glad that you have come. You are cordially
welcome.
George instantly fell into the spirit of the exquisite comedy, and
replied, without a tremor in the tones of his voice:
"
My beautiful patient, I am glad to come, but, judging by the
bloom upon your cheek, I trust it is not a serious ailment that has
summoned me to your presence?"
The woman reached forward her jeweled hand, and seizing our
hero in the most familiar manner, she drew him toward a sofa, and
pressing him to be scated, settled herself beside him.
A mellow light pervaded the room, of sufficient brilliance to make
every object distinctly visible, while nothing rested under a harsh
glare.
Our hero's companion had just puckered up her beautiful red lips
to speak, when she was interrupted by the silver-toned clang of a
French clock upon the mantel, which announced a half hour after
midnight.
..
As the last musical stroke died away our hero's companion said:
Now, then, doctor, I am about to tax your patience, woman-
like, with a detailed account of my ailments.
"Let me feel your pulse," said George, roguishly.
Bub
GEORGE CHRISTY.
36
ไ
The lady extended her lovely arm, when our hero who, as the
world knows, was one of the most extraordinary mimics that ever
lived, assumed a sober, professional look, as he placed his fingers,
in a doctor-like manner, upon her delicate wrist.
To complete this excellent tableau in the lively comedy, he took
his watch from his pocket, and holding it after the manner of a
veritable son of Esculapius, listened with sober dignity to each
pulse-beat.
One can readily imagine that the extraordinary circumstances
were calculated to cause a peculiar fluttering.
Speaking of the scene afterward, George said:
"It would have been hard to tell which heart went pit-a-pat the
fastest-the pseudo doctor's or his patient's.'
This pretty scene lasted but an instant, when our hero's fingers
glided from the wrist to the patient's fair hand, and holding her
delicate fingers in his strong grasp, he said, with the utmost gravity
of feature, while his eyes sparkled with merry fun:
"Now tell me where your greatest distress is?”
+6
In my heart," was the artless reply.
Without a change of feature, and in the same grave tones as he
had used before, George said, with a simulation of mock solicitude
that was exquisite:
"I find that the majority of my patients are troubled with more
or less of this heart's distress."
A shade of somberness came over the woman's face, and there
was a deep pathos in her tones, as she murmured:
[4 Alas! their cases are unlike mine.'
">
-"And pray what are the peculiarities of your case?" he asked in
the same tones of mock solemnity.
'You are a wonderful mimic!" suddenly exclaimed our hero's
companion, involuntarily, as a full realization of George's really
comic piece of caricature flashed over her mind.
'Do you think so?”
"Yes."
Then you set me down as a quack, I fear," retorted the com-
edían, and as he spoke, he assumed an expression of offended dig-
nity, which caused his companion to laugh outright.
You are acting with great levity for a patient troubled with an
affection of the heart.
35
*4
Oh, do stop!" exclaimed the lovely woman, shaking with
merriment.
Christy did not want to stop.
He desired to keep right on.
This scene was peculiarly suited to his temperament.
Holding the hand of a lovely woman was one delight, and ex-
hibiting his wonderful talent for mimicry before such an apprecia
tive auditor was a second delight.
At length the woman said:
"You must know that I have not sent for you to come here to
amuse me. I have paid many a quarter at your box office to be
amused, and I have laughed at your comic antics until the tears.
rolled down my face."
""
'Indeed!" said George, in the most ludicrous tones,
GEORGE CHRISTY.
A
37
*M
1
"I have a harrowing story to tell you!" continued our hero's
companion.
19
"Goodness!" exclaimed George. "I thought I had been sum-
moned here to attend to a case of heart affection, and now you tell
me that you only want to relate a ghost story.'
"I did not say I wanted to tell you a ghost story."
"Didn't you?"
*
No."
"What did you say?”
<<
I said I wanted to tell you a harrowing story."
What is it about-a shipwreck?"
No."
"About a murder?”
..
"
+3
Yes.'
Oh, my!" exclaimed the minstrel, and his companion once more
was compelled to laugh merrily.
C4
"6
""
CHAPTER XIII.
WHEN our hero's companion ceased laughing, George said:
Before we proceed further in this medical examination, please
tell me the name of my patient?"
"
Zilla," was the response.
""
Well, Zilla," said George, are you really going to tell me a
fearful tale of murder?" And as our hero spoke he assumed a
terrified expression of countenance, and rolled his eyes up in his
head in such a manner that he really looked like a ghost himself.
The woman was horrified, and in affright she snatched her hand
from his grasp.
44
Oh, how you frightened me!" exclaimed the lovely woman, when
our hero's face assumed a natural expression.
**
Well, you frightened me at the idea of telling me a murder
story.
}
Ce
No one was killed outright, though, in the story I have to tell;
it is only the experience of a human heart.
"
*
">
44
I am your auditor, proceed.
"You must not make any more fun, then, because I have an ex-
planation to offer for the extraordinary circumstances that brought
you to this house at such an unseemly hour; in the first place you
must know that I am a wife.
>"
George sobered right down instantly, and a strange expression
rested upon his handsome face, as he said:
#
Proceed!"
"Will you listen attentively to my strange, sorrowful story?”
"I will."
The woman was silent for a moment, but at length said:
"I was born in France; my father was a royalist, and when Louis
Philip was king, my father was one of the first men at court.
41
He fell into disgrace, and determined to leave France.
!
"1 was but two years old when my parents arrived in New York.
"My father was an eccentric man, and had brought with him to
this free land immense wealth,
Bar M
38
GEORGE CHRISTY.
"He purchased this place, and expended-large sums of money in
furnishing and repairing the old house, and in beautifying the
grounds.
64
When I was six years old my mother died. From that moment
the old story begins.
"
I was left in the charge of hired nurses, and, as a matter of
course, grew up a self-willed, independent, romantic girl.
""
My father went away frequently during the first year, and at
last resolved to visit Africa. Had he taken me with him, much
subsequent misery and heart-suffering would have been saved.
"I was thirteen years old when he went away. Our housekeeper
was a Welsh woman, well educated, and very lady-like. I was left
entirely under her control.
""
My father had great confidence in Mrs. Rendell, and I over-
heard him once tell her that he felt as much confidence in leaving
his daughter in her charge as though she had been his own sister.
My father had been gone two years, when, one day, as I was
wandering through the grounds, I was met by an exceedingly hand-
some youth.
С،
"The moment the young man saw me, he came forward, and,
without betraying the least confusion, begged pardon for intruding
upon private grounds, stating that he had been fishing down on the
shore, and that in coming away he had accidentally entered the
garden.
44
'At that time," explained the narrator, our grounds extended
to the river. In the most pleasant manner, the handsome youth
said that he hoped he had given no offense by his unintentional iu-
vasion.
"1 did not tell him so, but, instead of being offended, 1, but a
giddy girl who had been cooped up all my life, was delighted that
he had entered our grounds. I was like the daughters of the left-
handed Moorish king-I was dying for companionship.
<<
*
Assuming an important air, I told the young man that his in-
vasion was no trespass, and that he was welcome to come as often
as he chose. Of course 1 meant to fish, but the fellow interpreted
my words differently, and made a bold remark that called a blush
to my cheek.
**
64
The trespasser was a really handsome young man, and I was
charmed with his presence, and the result was, before I was aware
of it, I had remained conversing with him for over an hour.
"
'Finally, he took his departure, but not without many pretty
compliments which completely turned my giddy head.
44
} The next day, to my great disappointment, it rained. In fact,
rainy days followed for a week. The first fair day, however, 1 stole
out into the garden, in hopes of meeting the handsome young man.
"I was not disappointed. He came, and as before, had his fish-
ing-rod with him. "Weeks passed, and my meetings with the young
man became more frequent.
"But one result could follow. He professed at length that he
loved me. 1, giddy, foolish child that I was, confessed to a return
of his affection.
-16
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
He was a cunning youth, and, young as he was, well knew just
Ma
"M
39
GEORGE CHRISTY.
į
how to inflame the imagination of a giddy, romantic child such as 1
was.
C&
At length he proposed mariage. This was a contingency I had
not anticipated. I was startled, and for two or three days did not
meet him.
"Alas! the absence from him but increased my infatuation. To
still further agitate me, he managed, in some mysterious manner, to
have notes conveyed to me.
"In one of these notes he told me that he was the son of a wealthy
widow, and that his father had been a distinguished man.
"
1 had no one to make a confidant of, and was compelled to fight
the battle of inclination against duty all alone.
C4
One thought never entered my mind, to consult with the house-
keeper, who was really my temporary guardian.
54
Subsequent developments, however, demonstrated the fact that
Had my father been
such an appeal would not have availed me.
home, I would have been saved.
*
The notes came often, and in them my lover pleaded, with all
the skill at his command, for me to grant him an interview-just
one more, he pleaded, adding that then he would go away, and
trouble me no more.
<+
My own inclinations seconded my lover's request, and I met
· him.
"Oh, what a cunning fellow he was! The moment my eyes fell
upon him, my heart reproached me for my cruelty. He looked pale
and haggard, like one who had just recovered from a severe illness.
I asked him what had produced the change, and he replied that he
had not slept one hour since the time I last saw him. Then he
pleaded with me to save his life, saying that if 1 did not marry him
he would take his own life, if sorrow did not speedily save him the
trouble. His was the old, shallow trick, but with an inexperienced
girl like me it acted with full force. Our interview was prolonged,
and when we separated 1 promised to meet him again. I did meet
him, and every moment my firmness was weakening. I asked him
to wait until my papa returned home. He said no-I must decide
speedily-and added that we could be married clandestinely, and
that when my father returned he could offer no objections, as my
lover's position was unexceptional.
"Oh! how I needed a true friend just at that moment! But I
had none, and at last I promised him that at a certain time I would
give him a decided answer.
**
At length the time arrived. I had made up my mind, and went
to meet my lover, having resolved as to what my answer should be.'
CHAPTER XIV..
OUR readers can readily imagine that the romantic George Christy
was an interested listener to this pretty little bit of romance,
While the fair narrator was telling her story, unknown to her, a
battle was going on in our hero's mind.
He was under a spell, and but a mere boy, and yet, as he listened
to the beautiful woman, he formed a strange resolution.
Mar de a
3
40
GEORGE CHRISTY.
¿
His companion was a rapid talker, and the French clock upon the
mäntel tinkled out one as she resumed her fascinating narrative.
"I met Harry and told him that I had decided.
"The cunning fellow pretended to be greatly agitated; and when
I told him that I would become his wife, he exhibited the utmost
joy.
I answered him that he must treat me kindly, and always love
me, as he professed, as I was sacrificing everything to my love for
him.
"
Oh, how that lover protested his eternal fidelity! and how gulli-
bly 1 believed him!
C
I
Within a few weeks I had become a woman in thought.
1 knew that my proud father would never forgive me the deceit
I was practicing, still I was bewitched, and rushed madly forward
to ruin.
My consent once gained, my lover urged an immediate mar
riage.
46
I consented even to this. I moved like one who had made up
her mind to shut her eyes and go right ahead, no matter what pit-
falls might lie in the way.
64
1 "It was arranged that I should meet Harry upon a certain night,
and that we were to be driven to the city, and go through the mar
riage ceremony in a church.
I insisted upon the latter arrangement.
44
I would not consent to be married anywhere else.
66
'On the night appointed, I stole forth and met Harry, as I had
agreed.
66
Strangely enough, 1 had already begun to feel a kind of con-
tempt for the man who was to become my husband.
I can remember, now, that I was cold as ice, and while we were
being driven to the city, he noticed my strange coldness, and asked
me its cause.
#6
**
Impulsively I answered:
Because I am about to marry a man 1 hate!'
藏品
​'1 was in hopes that this answer would lead to a quarrel.
"I felt just like quarreling.
"I would rather have quarreled than not.
C$ 4
"I was not gratified, however.
46
My husband that was to be showed a very amiable spirit, and
tried to soothe and encourage me.
#6
¦ 'His soft words increased my dislike. I wonder now how I
came to proceed. I believe that I was under some strange spell.
"At length we arrived at the church.
"There were several witnesses present.
•C
I had insisted upon the latter arrangement also.
<
**
When the clergyman asked me if 1 would take this man to be
my wedded husband,' recollect I answered in such a strange, sharp
tone, that the minister, in his astonishment, dropped the book he
held in his hands.
#C
"The marriage proceeded, however, and I found myself a bride.
'During the ceremony I had once turned to look around, when I
saw the form of a female standing by one of the columns in the mid-
dle aisle of the church.
P
GEORGE CHRISTY.
41
The figure struck me as being familiar; but as the figure was
closely veiled I did not see her face, and in the excitement of the
moment I did not stop to consider.
C
"I seemed simply in haste to have the hateful ceremony finished.
To this day I have not been able to determine what possessed
me during that fatal evening.
16
The moment the marriage was completed the veiled woman
came forward.
C
Oh, you two foolish, wicked children!' she exclaimed, in a
familiar voice, and in an assumed manner.
44€
'Mrs. Relton!' I exclaimed.
看​届
​C
Yes, darling,' replied the woman, it is I, and what a little'
deceitful girl you have been, to think that you should have fallen
in love with, and run away and married my son.
6. L
65 6
'My son!'
The words fell upon my ears and sent the blood coursing
through my head in such a manner as to almost blind me.
"I uttered a low scream of amazement, and asked:
•
"What did you say? Your son?'
Yes, darling, you are truly my child now; but I don't know
as I will ever forgive Harry for deceiving me.'
C
I turned to my husband and asked the question:
"Is that creature your mother?'
44 ·
Yes,' he answered, in a firm tone.
" (
"And your name is Harry Relton?'
My name is Harry Relton.'
CR
"Do you know that you have deceived me?' I asked.
"I have not deceived you,' he answered, adding, 'you never
asked me what my name was more than Harry, nor did you ever
ask me concerning my mother.'
(+
This was true.
<<
In my blind infatuation I had accepted everything in one re-
spect as all right, and too late had learned that 1, with the best blood
of France in my veins, had married the son of my father's house-
keeper."
When our hero's lovely companion had proceeded thus far with
her narrative, she suddenly burst into tears.
Poor Christy! he would liked to have caught the lovely creature
in his arms, but one thought-one resolution-restrained him.
The lovely woman sobbed for a few moments, and at length re-
sumed her parrative.
"
When a full realization settled upon my mind as to what I had
done, I fell senseless at the very foot of the altar. When 1 recov-
ered, I found my husband bending over me. I was assisted to my
feet. My new-made husband whispered in my ear:
Come, darling, we will return home now.'
&
In toues of icy coldness, I asked:
"Where is my home now?'
C
"
'I shall never forget the looks exchanged between mother ard
son.
"C
The mother broke the awkward silence by saying:
"You had better remain at the manor until your father returns.'
No, madam,' I answered. I have disgraced my father, and
44 ·
4
42
GEORGE CHRISTY.
I shall never enter the Manor House again, until he forgives me and
asks me to come."
Why, child,' exclaimed the woman, you will only anger your
father the more! Your own interests demand that you and your
husband should live beneath your father's roof.'
CEL
tr
"I had become a woman-a deep, cunning woman. I knew now
that Mrs. Relton, knowing that I was a great heiress, had played.
the whole little romance to secure my father's wealth for her son.
1 had not the least doubt but that she had not only been cog-
nizant of what was going on, but had first conceived the little plan,
and had aided the matter in every possible way.
..
66
!
The manner in which I had received those notes was no longer
a mystery to me. 1 saw through the whole scheme, and 1 deter
mined to punish the conspirators, even at the sacrifice of my own
personal comfort.'
"7
- George had become wonderfully interested in the strange story,
and at this point involuntarily exclaimed:
•
.
<<
You were a brave, plucky woman, and you did just right!"
I had become brave. I knew that I had been outraged and
deceived. I knew that my handsome husband had wooed and won
me because I was rich, and I determined to disappoint him.
'My mother-in-law urged, and coaxed, and persuaded, but all to
no purpose. Already 1 had learned to hate my husband. I hated
him then, and I hate him now!" continued the lovely woman, with
great vehemence.
་་
-
CHAPTER XV.
AGAIN the woman resumed her story:
My father was expected home speedily. Mrs. Relton knew this;
I did not.
66
It was this knowledge that had led her to hasten the marriage.
She knew that if my father returned, her scheming would all go for
naught.
"
"Finding that i was determined not to return to my former home,
my husband secured rooms for us at a hotel.
""
I felt that I had been wronged and cheated.
I was the victim
of a trick and deception of the meanest character, and I felt under
no obligation to love and cherish my husband.
1 "I looked upon the vows which had been forced from me as of
no effect whatever. I did not feel in the least bound by them.
!
Months passed. 1 treated my husband with scorn. Strange as
it may seem, he despised me when he married me.
"
He had looked upon me as a pretty, simple bird whose feathers
were worth the plucking; and had I been as simple as he had
judged me, he would have continued to despise me.
64
When he found that I treated him with scorn and indifference,
he was at first surprised. Subsequently, he attempted to frighten
me.
&&
He soon learned that I was not to be frightened, and at length
my scorn and contempt. won his love.
#
He was of that dog-like nature which made him susceptible to
GEORGE CHRISTY.
43
such a feeling under the circumstances. The man became my ab-
ject slave.
"L
In his weakness, he was a pitiable object. Instead of winning
my heart, his real love tardily aroused, increased my contempt.
"
At length my father returned home. Mrs. Relton told her own
story.
"I was not present to witness the agony of that proud, noble, be-
trayed man. He turned his housekeeper and my mother-in-law
from his door.
"She hastened to my presence, and besought me to go and plead
with my father, or all would be lost.
44
I laughed in her face, and replied that my father had acted just
as I wished him to, adding that he would have lost my love and
reverence if he had acted differently.
46
My husband had no business. He had been living upon his
mother's earnings and stealings! I say stealings, because it was lat
terly proved that she had been systematically robbing my father in
various small ways.
66
A few months passed. The little money my husband's mother
had saved was exhausted. We were in want of funds, and I was
glad every day as our necessities became greater.
"C
My jewels, one after another, were sacrificed. I let them go
without one regret I had become insanely reckless, and I looked
forward with delight to the time when we should be reduced to ab-
solute want.
64
+
Little did I know then what want was. The time came when I
was cured of this sort of vengeance.
64
My husband gambled on the proceeds of my jewels. He lost,
and at last the last bauble was sold.
(4
One night he came home intoxicated, and told me that he was
penniless, and begged me on his knees to go to my father. I laughed
at him, and answered that I would never ask my father for one
penny. He urged, but it was to no purpose.
""
Unknown to me, my dear mother-in-law went to my father
went to him with lies; told him that I had sent her to him to save
me from starvation. My father refused to give her one cent.
"We were at length driven from the hotel where we had been
stopping. We were soon compelled to seek cheaper boarding places,
and at last took rooms in a tenement house. I enjoyed our misfort-
unes; but, then, I had never been hungry !
737
C
The time came at last when we had nothing to eat. My pride
did not break, but my courage failed me.
1 offered to assist my
mother-in-law in earning a living. I could do certain kinds of faucy
work, which at that time was in great demand. I was enabled to
earn money enough to keep us from starving.
&&
One cold winter afternoon some work was to be returned. My
mother-in-law was sick, and for the first time I was compelled to re-
turn some work.
"1 can well imagine now with what a look of scorn and indiffer-
ence upon my face I started forth. My clothes were shabby; all my
best clothing had been sold.
& C
In passing down Broadway, I met my husband. He offered to
accompany me, but 1 refused to let him
PPP ins
44
GEORGE CHRISTY.
一朵
​+
"Before 1 reached the store where the goods were to be delivered,
a drifting snow storm had set in. I entered the store, and offered
the goods.
44
The man found fault with them. 1 answered him in a defiant
manner, when he said, 'Possibly I did not wish any more work?'
'I told him 'That was just as he saw fit.' Then he told me that
he could not pay me for the work I had brought in.
46
"I did not expostulate with him, but turned to leave the store.
A gentleman had been standing near unknown to me. He had
overheard all of the conversation.
As I turned to go away, the gentleman and 1 met face to face,
and I recognized my father.
"6
Oh! what a strange girl 1 was.
""
I merely courtesied to that
good, kind, noble old man, and attempted to pass him by.
66
With the tears streaming down his handsome old face, he rushed
after me, caught me in his arms, and, in our native torgue, ex-
claimed:
"
Oh! my child! my child! has it come to this?'
68
I could not help it, and I wept too.
.،
My father's coach was at the store door. He begged me to enter
it with him, and accompany him home. 1 refused. Then he said:
"Ah! you will revenge yourself upon me for refusing your ap-
peal?'
66
I learned for the first time that my mother-in-law had gone to
him in my name. I set that matter straight at once.
"Then my father said that he had stood ready to forgive me
from the start, if I had only come myself to ask his forgiveness; but
that when I sent for help without one word, his heart turned against
me.
"I told him the whole truth, and he believed me.
The lovely narrator paused for a moment, and quietly wept.
At length, resuming, she said:
"It is not necessary, doctor, to furnish you with any more de-
tails. My father at once settled upon me a handsome allowance, but
it did not change my mood. I was just as indifferent.
$6
"
My husband and his mother had a happy time of it. At length
my father died.
66
I was with him during his last illness. He left a very peculiar
will. I will admit that one clause was at my suggestion.
"He bequeathed the income of a certain amount to my husband,
upon the condition that he should never, under any pretense what-
ever, enter the house where you now are, and which was my child-
hood's home.
"
The will was made in such a manner that my husband legally
forfeited the income if he ever broke the condition.
*
"All the rest of my father's property was left to me.
For the last six years this home has been to me a sanctuary. I
have left my husband and spent weeks here, and he has never dared
to break in upon my chosen seclusion.
'Oh, how I have enjoyed the privilege! and what a terrible trial
it has been to Harry Relton! And now you must hear the last of
my confession," added the lovely woman.
Muall
GEORGE CHRISTY.
45
CHAPTER XVI.
GEORGE CHRISTY had no reason to doubt what that last confession
would be.
Had the scene we havé described happened a few years later, we
would in all probability have had an entirely different story to tell
of our hero and his career.
At this time, however, our hero was in the first flush of his great
fame and popularity.
He had enjoyed that wondrous delight which comes of great suc-
cess.
The spell was upon him-that spell which led him as it has thou-
sands of others, to place professional success above every other con-
sideration.
An anecdote is told of an old cavalry horse turned out in a field
to graze away the remainder of his days.
He was a venerable old war-steed, and from day to day wandered
feebly over the field, nibbling the grass from point to point.
One day, however, a cavalry troop passed the field. The trumpet
call sounded.
The old war-horse heard it, when instantly his ears were raised in
a listening attitude, the next moment he went over a high fence
with a skill and strength as though he had been but a colt, and with
glad neighs he joined the tanks, and pranced beside the accoutered
steeds in regular line.
The same attachment to their profession animates actors and min-
strels.
They will acquire fortunes, become old and feeble, and yet they
will stick to the boards until their feeble steps become but a mere tot-
ter, and many of them are carried from the stage to their death-beds,
while not a few die before the curtain, which only falls when their
voices are hushed in death.
Without digressing further, we will say that Forrest and several
other famous tragedians are notable examples of this clinging to a
desire to appear behind the footlights, even while the light of life is
fast dimming in their aged eyes.
As the lovely narrator uttered the words with which we closed the
previous chapter, she fixed her beautiful eyes upon George with an
expression in them which none but a fool could have misinterpreted.
George felt his breath come and go in gasps.
It was a trying moment.
He was not a coward, and yet he feared this woman.
She was rich and beautiful-wondrously beautiful and dangerous.
Though past thirty, she still retained the freshness and radiance
of earlier youth, and our hero trembled as her lustrous eyes were
fixed upon him.
An awkward silence followed.
A hectic flush reddened our hero's companion's cheeks, and a
wild, fierce light gleamed in her eyes, as she said, in a low, sup-
pressed tone of voice:
46
だ
​GEORGE CHRISTY,
"I have never learned to love my husband, although 1 have lived
with him thirteen years! 1 hate him more than ever," she con-
tinued; and, after a moment, added the query: "Would you like
to know why I hate him more than ever now?"
George made some kind of a reply, and his companion said:
I hate him because I love you!"
$6
Dear reader, we must here temporarily draw the curtain.
A scene followed which we cannot record, and we will take up
the thread of our story just as the French clock upon the mantel
strikes two.
A strange scene is presented.
George is standing in the center of the floor of the room.
His face is pale.
All signs of humor have vanished from his handsome features.
Standing and confronting him is the elegant creature who, but a
half hour previous, was sitting beside him.
Before, her eyes had beamed with a wild, uncontrollable passion,
which was not born of anger. Now, they glowed with a lurid
light.
Her features were contorted with rage.
Her voice was tremulous with the intensity of passion, as she said,
in tones that can only be described as a hiss:
44
I am mistaken in you. 1 thought you were a man. 1 find that
you are but a sentimental boy.
"
There was great dignity in our hero's tone and manner, and very
little of the sentimentality cf a boy, as he replied:
"1 would prove myself but a boy if I entertained your proposi-
tion."
"You have admitted that that man attempted your life; and if
you killed him it would be but blood for blood!"
"
Woman, for Heaven's sake, do not expose any more of the
blackness of your soul!" exclaimed George.
His companion laughed hysterically, as she replied:
Bah! It is no crime. And what is the reward offered you?”
"We may as well terminate this scene," said George, adding, "I
could not have believed that one as beautiful as yourself could have
made a proposition so terrible.
>>
3
++
• My proposition would but test your love and manhood, and bind
you to me, soul and body.'
"
"C
Beautiful temptress, I am not to be purchased; and may 1 never
set eyes on you again!"
!
You may make me an enemy! 1 hate my husband, but my
hatred is born of contempt. 1 may learn to hate you, and my hatred
will be born of rejected love; so beware!"
George was frank and outspoken.
With chilling tremors of horror he had learned that this beauti-
ful woman was either turned mad or a demoness, and he answered,
boldly and meaningly:
"Since what has passed, I would rather feel that I had your
enmity than your love.'
If we could tell the many adventures of our hero just as they oc-
curred, we know that we should not be believed, as our readers could
not accept as possible certain phases of life such as we could disclose.
1
-----
+
متولي
#?
:
47
GEORGE CHRISTY.
Could we have related the scene which occurred between our hero
and this lovely temptress, we would be surely accused of drawing
upon our imagination; but we would be able to demonstrate that
George Christy, with all his faults and failings, possessed a true and
noble soul, and a firmness of character which was proof against
temptations too romantic and startling to be fairly realized.
The words so plainly and meaningly spoken had a terrible effect
upon the woman, and, in fierce tones, she exclaimed:
65
Go!"
George moved toward the door without a word.
He did not wish to prolong the scene.
He had no difficulty in finding his way to the entrance door.
He slipped back the heavy bolt, and a moment later stood upon
the broad piazza under the faint moonlight.
The temptress came to the door, and said, in a sneering tone:
56
Wait and I will have the carriage sent around for you, poor
boy!"
↓¿
Thank you," replied George. "I think that after such a hot
scene a cool walk will do me good," and without waiting to ex-
change another word he stepped down the stone stoop, and pro-
ceeded at a brisk walk under the trees toward the great gate which
opened into the road.
The minstrel had no idea of the distance from the city, but he
was young and strong, and cared little.
He had prooceeded about a mile when he became aware that he
was being followed.
Drawing his pistol, he came to a halt, and waited for the dodger
to approach.
The individual, however, dodged out of sight, like the man at the
imitation window, which our hero used to tell about on the stage in
such a humorous manner.
George did not know whether this artful midnight dodger was act-
ing under orders from the strange creature whom he had just parted
from under such exciting circumstances, or whether it might not be
some vulgar knight of the road.
He was determined, however, to have the question solved in a
most extraordinary manner.
He had walked for about one hour at a brisk pace, and at length
found that he was within the limits of the city.
In passing along the road he arrived opposite to a public-house,
which was open.
A scene of mirth and racket was in progress, and with his usual
love of adventure, he resolved to enter.
CHAPTER XVII.
THE terrible scene through which the great minstrel had passed
had but only lessened his fondness for fun and adventure.
He had just encountered a serious and thrilling incident, and he
was now prepared to risk one of a less startling nature.
It was after three o'clock in the morning, and at that season of
the year when the nights are longest.
算
​48
It yét lacked three hours of daylight.
George advanced to the tavern, and managed to enter and mingle
with the grotesque crowd of men and women without being ob-
served.
He found himself among an assemblage of Germans of the lower
class-good, honest, hard-working, fun-loving people.
Our hero was in his element. A dance was in progress, and he
was prepared to dance at all times, especially when a chance offered
with such nice, buxom girls as were gathered beneath that humble
roof.
GEORGE CHRISTY.
He had not been long in the place when he discovered that earlier
in the evening a wedding had taken place, and, after the German
style, the friends of the bride and groom were having a jolly time.
As a matter of course, the German national drink was in full
bloom, and full and empty lager glasses were to be seen on every
side.
{{
Our hero was a lover of a good glass of lager, and seeing a foam-
ing glass standing upon a table, he seized it, and raised it to his lips.
In an instant the glass was snatched from his grasp, a pair of red,
gleaming eyes glanced fiercely down upon him, and a thick, husky
voice inquired:
Vas dot yours, mine friendt?"
(C
I thought it was," answered George, innocently.
""
Vell, you vas mistaken. Dot vas mine beer-you understand?”
Yes, sir."
""
Vell, who vas you, undt vot vas you doing here in dis house?"
George was a reckless chap, and at times quite pugnacious, al-
though it took a great deal to arouse him.
In illustration of the above quality, we will relate an incident
which happened one night in the Metropolitan bar-room, when that
famous hotel was in all the glory of its great success.
Our authority for the anecdote is that old war-horse of minstrelsy,
G. W. H. Griffin.
Our hero and a number of friends were in the place named, when
the party was joined by that desperate character, the famous Billy
Mulligan.
The latter, when under the influence of liquor, was one of the
most fierce and ferocious men that ever swung around New York
City.
The roughest characters were afraid of him, and one of the most
powerful hitters in New York, a man who it was said feared no
living being, weakened in a quarrel with this same Mulligan.
Mulligan was well known to every habitué of Broadway, and
everybody, as we have said, gamblers and bruisers included, all fear-
ed him, and he was allowed usually to smash and break just when,
what, and whom he chose, without the least opposition.
Any one who chanced to offend, always got out of his way.
Upon the night in question, Mulligan came staggering into the
room.
His large green eyes were inflamed with liquor and gleamed with
fierce passion.
The moment he entered, all conversation ceased.
Men turned pale, and not a few quietly slunk away and got out.
GEORGE CHRISTY.
49.
3
K
Our minstrel hero knew Mulligan by sight and reputation, but
was not of the sort to cease his jokes or lower his usual tones for
any one.
George made some remark to which Mulligan, in his then quarrel-
some mood, took umbrage, and in a fierce threatening manner he
demanded that the statement should be withdrawn.
Our hero's friends were at once terrified for his safety, and a num-
ber of them crowded around him and besought him to withdraw
the remark.
(1
George would not do it, but repeated it, not because he wished
to provoke a quarrel, but simply because from a mere feeling of
cowardice he was not the man to back down when he knew that he
was right.
He was perfectly cool and quiet in the meantime, while a fierce
tempest of words and excited exclamations followed.
Mulligan made a rush toward the famous and popular minstrel,
when his way was blocked by some of his companions.
At the same time our hero was again urged to leave the room:
The answer was:
"There is no reason for me to run away.
But that is Mulligan! He'll kill you.
"All right. Give me a plain coffin.
>"
"C
In the meantime, Mulligan was struggling with his friends to get
away, so as to demolish the man who had offended him.
A person who has never witnessed such a scene can not form the
least idea of its terrible excitement.
A man like Mulligan, in his mood at that time, presented a more
dangerous picture than a wild beast.
Even the struggles of an infuriated madman were as nothing com-
pared to the wild, fierce, frothing frenzy of that enraged bruiser.
Still George was calm.
Not a muscle quivered, and his blue eyes were lighted with the
fires of a determined courage which could not be cowed down.
Even Mulligan's friends, who possibly were casual friends to both
parties, appealed to George to run away and save himself.
The brave minstrel would not move or stir, but stood like a
statue, ready to receive the desperate assault which he knew must
come.
At length Mulligan's holders, becoming exhausted and discour-
aged, let the infuriated man go.
Like a wild beast Mulligan sprung toward Christy, and every one
expected to see the latter beaten in a moment to an almost unrecog-
nizable mass.
Imagine their astonishment, when, instead, they saw the one in-
trepid man do what half a dozen had failed to do.
George Christy caught the desperado in his strong grasp, and held
him with a grip of iron-held him as casily as though he were but
a boy.
Mulligan raved and swore, and at length, in the delirium of his
rage, had resort to his teeth, like the wild animal of which he was
but a human type.
George could have torn the man limb from limb, but, instead, he
50
GEORGE CHRISTY.
ܘ
$2
merely dashed him to the floor as one would a dog that had sprung
upon him.
Raging with mortification, Mulligan drew a pistol, and would
have shot the man he could not mangle to death with his hands.
Here again, however, he was frustrated by the intrepid minstrel.
Christy rushed upon his assailant, tore the weapon from his grasp,
and in less than four minutes the foaming bully was led away by
his friends, a cowed, beaten, and thoroughly subdued man.
We have merely related this incident to illustrate our hero's
character and mode of action under trying circumstances, so that,
in the coming relation of incidents, no explanation of seeming un-
necessary forbearance will be needed.
The Dutchman's manner, on the occasion of which we were writ-
ing, more than his question, somewhat irritated George, and he re-
plied:
C
'I'm here for fun-the same as yourself."
Vell, you haf no businees. Dis vas a barty of Sharmans.
All right, old man, drink your lager and keep your head cool, as
it is kind of warm in this room.
"
""
C&
It is hard to tell how the little quarrel would have terminated,
had not a pretty German girl come forward at that moment with the
invitation:
66
Vill you valtz mit me?"
66
Of course I will," answered George, and away he went gliding
about the room with the pretty little Deutcher gal.
It appeared that our hero was doomed to put his "foot in it at
every step.'
The little Deutcher gal had, but a moment before, had a little huff
with her intended.
It was to spite the latter that she had crossed the room, and, at an
opportune moment, asked George to "valtz mit her.'
The lover was a fiery German, who had been a student at Heidel-
berg.
He was one of those impetuous, dashing, reckless chaps, who had
been in the habit of settling all disputes in a most summary man-
ner, as our hero speedily learned to his amazement.
7
>
CHAPTER XVIII.
IWICE Our hero had glided around the room.
At each circuit, when at a given point, he had observed a tall,
pale-faced youth, with disheveled hair, and wild, glaring eyes, gaz-
ing at him.
Suddenly George felt a heavy hand laid upon his shoulder.
At the same moment, the Deutcher gal slid from his arms and
fell upon the floor in a dead faint.
$4
See here, old Wild Eyes," exclaimed George, “you have fright-
ened my partner.'
46
That was mine partner!" almost screamed the youth.
The music had ceased.
""
Most of the couples had retired from the floor.
George, the wild lover, and the fainting girl, with those who had
GEORGE CHRISTY.
51
M
}
rushed to the latter's assistance, formed an excited group upon the
middle of the floor.
The lover was prancing around in a most frantic manner.
His eyes glared more fiercely, his fists were clinched, and, alto-
gether, he presented a most threatening picture.
"C
What is the matter with you, my friend, have you got 'em?”
asked George, as his eyes twinkled with humor.
&&
You have insulted me!" exclaimed the lover.
No; but you have insulted me, you lunatic!" retorted George.
Will you fight?" asked the lover, in terrible tones.
George was in for it, and despite the fact that the lover was sur-
rounded by a score of countrymen, our hero could not resist an im-
pulse to have some fun.
"
""
"
The picture presented by the lover was very ludicrous, and when
he asked the question, Will you fight!" George, in the most in-
imitable manner, mimicked the crow of a rooster, at the same time
flapping his hands and sidling up toward his antagonist in a very
comical and rooster-like manner.
The lover did not understand the meaning of this little panto-
mime, but concluded that it must certainly mean an insult, and he
fumed the more frantically.
Some of the men present appreciated the joke, and laughed
heartily.
The Germans are a good-natured race, and keenly alive to the
comical and humorous side of matters.
Will you fight?" screamed the excited and frantic lover, at the
same time he flourished his hand after the manner of a man armed
with a foil.
•
George nodded affirmatively, and doubling up his fists, assumed a
pugilistic attitude.
No, no, no!" cried the lover. "I am no American rowdy- ·
fighter. We fight with swords, toils, pistols. You kill me! I kill
you!"
George began to look grave.
He was no coward, and he was no swordsman, either.
He began to realize that what he intended should prove a nice old
shindy was likely to terminate in a first-class tragedy.
He felt, as he afterward expressed it, that he was a comedian, not
a tragedian.
A second German now stepped forward, and said:
"You have insulted my friend, and you must fight."
What shall I fight him for? He has not done anything to me."
"But you stole his girl from him."
Not quite; the young lady asked me to dance with her, and, as
a gentleman, 1 could not refuse."
"You insulted me!" shouted the lover, “and you must fight!"
At the same time the fellow placed his fist against our hero's
cheek.
("
""
Excuse me, gentlemen," said George; "1 guess I have got into
the wrong house, and I must go home.
64
You are a cheat, a thief, a fraud!" yelled the lover, and in his
excitement, without really intending to do so, he struck our hero on
the cheek.
!
52
GEORGE CHRISTY.
}
The minstrel could not stand a blow, even if he died the next mo-
ment, and the result was that the lover was keeled over upon the floor.
A terrible scene of confusion followed.
+
The party all made a rush for our hero, and he was compelled to
strike out manfully.
At this moment a singular incident occurred.
The lover and his friend sided with George, and sought to protect
him from the many blows which were aimed at him.
A cessation of active hostilities followed.
Immediately the lover again came toward our hero, and gesticu-
lating wildly, exclaimed:
66
You must fight! you must fight!"
Hang you! haven't we been having a pretty lively shindy?"
retorted George.
At this moment a friend of the lover's, who had slipped away
during the scrimmage, now returned.
In his hands the latter carried a pair of rusty short swords.
George saw the weapons, and immediately made up his mind that
he must do one of two things-show the white feather and back
straight down, or fight.
46
It is possible that under all of the circumstances he would have
backed down, had not something singular happened just at this mo
ment.
The fainting Deutcher girl had been revived.
Breaking from her friends, she took a position beside George, and
extraordinary as it may appear, she whispered in our hero's car:
"I lofes you! Kill him!"
"C
By ginger!" was our hero's mental exclamation, "this is an
odd turn of affairs.'
The movement of the girl had also served to irritate more sensibly
the lover and his friends.
The whole company now joined in the demand that he must fight,
some of them shouting derisively,
"De Yankee vas a coward!
He vas a rowdy! He vould not
fight!"
George became desperate.
His blue eyes began to brighten with a dangerous light, and at
length he exclaimed:
"See here, mister, if I am compelled to kill you, remember it is
your own fault, and you force me to do so in self-defense.
44
Never mind-never mind! You must fight-you must fight!"
yelled the lover, actually purple with rage.
*
If I must, I must," said George.
Yes; you must!"
6.
"Who will act as my second?" asked our hero, adding, "You
are strangers and enemies to me.
At this moment a heavily-bearded man stepped forward, and lay-
ing his hand upon our hero's arm, drew him away to one corner of
the room.
When alone the stranger said:
1
"I am a Frenchman, and I will be your friend. That Dutchman
is only a blusterer. When you come to face him he will run like a
colt at the sound of a locomotive whistle."
--
!
GEORGE CHRISTY.
53
}
George hoped that the Frenchman spoke truly; at any rate, he
felt bound to accept the man's friendship, and so expressed himself.
The Frenchman now stepped forward, and addressing the student,
said, in German:
46
Take matters easy, my friend. You shall be carved as prettily
in a few moments as a turkey on a Christmas day.'
$6
No; the Yankee will not fight," retorted the lover.
"We will show you.in a few seconds whether he will fight or ---
not. Where are your swords?"
The lover cooled down perceptibly.
Already he began to weaken when all opposition to the acceptance
of his challenge had ceased.
1
The weapons were produced.
The Frenchman took one of the swords in his hand, and after ex-
amining it critically, he murmured in French:
#1
Poor stock, poor stock, but it will do to kill that Dutchman
with; and now the question is to make arrangements for my friend
to escape. He don't want to kill this man, but he feels now that he
must do it."
The lover could speak French, and he understood fully the im-
port of the Frenchman's mutterings:
The Frenchman knew that he could spcak, or rather understand
French, and that was the reason why he did mutter.
The lover had become quite subdued.
There was something so matter-of-fact like in the Frenchman's
manner that he began to feel very shaky.
Turning to George, the Frenchman said, still speaking in French:
"You must thrust straight through the fellow's heart.
can not depend upon these weapons for a bad wounding.'
You
"}
George nodded.
He did not understand one word of French, but he was cute
enough to pretend that he did.
When the poor lover heard this cold-blooded advice his blood was
chilled with horror.
CHAPTER XIX.
As we have intimated, George did not understand one word prac-
tically of French, but he did have the cuteness to understand that
under the circumstances, an affirmative answer was the safest.
An objection was now started.
One of the Germans asked:
C&
Who are you, sir?"
What matter does it make?" replied the Frenchman.
"You are a stranger!" said the lover, vehemently.
44
So is the gentleman whom you wish to fight.
着色
​This reply was a “settler.”
"The inan has an opportunity to apologize."
* 4
We do not make apologies," answered the Frenchman;
we
are here to fight!" The lover would, most probably, have ended the
row in argument, had not his friends accepted the situation in a
different spirit.
44
Who will act for you?" asked the Frenchman.
盖着
​}
*
ܪ
م
MM
54
GEORGE CHRISTY.
One of the Germans stepped forward, when the Frenchman drew
him to one side to settle preliminaries.
In the meantime George had entered fully into the spirit of the
affair.
He assumed a fierce look, and with the eye and manner of an ex-
perienced swordsman he examined one of the weapons.
The preliminaries were arranged, and the whole party prepared
for sanguinary conflict.
It was suggested that, owing to the presence of the females, the
combat should take place outside, under the pale morning moonlight.
All hands started out of the door.
•
George began to feel kind of queer.
The idea struck him at the last moment that it was possible that he
was being played for a greenhorn, after all.
The Frenchman was close beside him, and whispered in his car:
"Don't flinch, it will be all right!"
Our hero thought that possibly it would be all right with the ac-
commodating stranger under any circumstances.
A place was selected under a clump of trees.
The lover and his body guard of friends arew off to one side,
while the Frenchman and our hero stood at the other.
"
Sacre Dieu!" whispered the Frenchman, as he saw the lover
advance, the scoundrel is going to fight!"
Our hero's mad was up now, and as he had gone so far in the
matter, he determined to fight, too.
The principals, with their swords, advanced to the scratch.
Final directions were given, and George found himself dead in
for a life and death combat, with a fair prospect of seriously coming
dead out of it.
The word was given for the principals to take their positions.
George stepped up boldly, but as the lover moved forward, he sud-
denly reeled and fell.
When his seconds ran to his assistance, they found that he had
fainted dead away.
The Frenchman whispered to George:
I knew it!”
Our hero felt quite grand.
He had sustained his reputation for courage.
The Germans were disgusted with their champion, and bore him
into the hotel.
George was about to follow.
Ile anticipated that he would have a fine time now that he had
proved himself such a dangerous chap.
The Frenchman, however, whispered to him:
44
Do not go in there again. You may not come out so lucky
next time.'
""
Who are you?" asked George.
"C
I will bid you good night," said the Frenchman.
>"
44
Not until you tell me who you are.
"I am the man who followed you along the road."
"Why did you follow me?"
1 was sent by a friend of yours."
"i
>
Which friend?"
*
،
{
GEORGE CHRISTY.
*55
..
Mrs. Relton."
George was astonished.
'You are now in the city limits, and I will leave you," said the
Frenchman, adding: "You should not have been hurt in your en-
counter, even if that poltroon had not fainted."
"I am not a swordsman," said George.
"I would have interfered at the right moment; but, good-night,
your road home is clear now.
""
C+
And Mrs. Relton sent you to follow me?"
44
(C
Good-night!" exclaimed the stranger, without replying to our
hero's question, and he darted away.
George stood and considered a moment, but finally came to the
conclusion that discretion was the better part of valor, and that he
had met with fun and adventures enough for one night, so he
started homeward, where in due time he arrived without having met
with any more strange encounters.
A week or two passed after the scenes we have described.
George appeared nightly, and his fame and popularity was on the
constant increase.
One of the members of the company had been very sick.
He was not a prominent performer, but he was very much beloved
for many noble qualities which he possessed.
He had been a generous man, and although not a great success
upon the stage, he was the source of a great deal of fun and jollity
off of it.
As this is but a rambling narrative, we must claim the privilege
of relating several incidents during the course of our story as they
occur to our mind, without regard to period of occurrence.
As we come to this period of our hero's career, we are reminded
of several very funny incidents which we will take this opportunity.
to relate.
The majority of our readers recollect Frank Brower, in certain
lines an inimitable actor.
During one of Frank's later engagements in New York, a comical
incident occurred, which we will attempt to relate, although it really
requires that it should be told verbally instead of being written, in
order to convey the exquisite humor evolved.
Frank, unfortunately, allowed, at this time, his social qualities to
prevail to an alarming extent.
He was in the habit of going, some time during the forenoon, to
a certain resort where actors most do congregate.
..
The usual result was that, along toward four or five o'clock in the
afternoon, he would become, in common parlance, "pretty full."
His long experience in the business, however, ruled strong even
under these circumstances, and when he had, as it is said, enough,
he would go to the theater, array himself in his "make-up," and
after "blacking up," he would stretch himself upon his old property
trunk, and sleep off the effects of his potations, so that when the
time came for him to appear, he was all right.'
Connected with the theater was a comical
ness was that of a scene-shifter.
"
"}
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cuss whose busi-
Upon one occasion, this latter chap got in company and very im- :
prudently drank too much.
(4
A hors
56
*
GEORGE CHRISTY.
Like Frank, knowing that he had duties to perform, he started for
the theater in time to sleep off the effect of his potations.
1
Reaching the theater, the scene-shifter ran against Frank Brower's
big trunk.
The latter presented a cosy place for a sleep.
The inebriated man, however, just at the moment of stretching
himself upon it, remembered Frank's custom.
The chap was not to be debarred out of his nap, so he quietly
raised the lid and crawled inside of the trunk, and was quickly fast
asleep.
A short time later the jolly Frank, according to his custom, ar-
rived.
After going through the preliminary preparations, he went to his
trunk to don his stage clothes.
}
Upon raising the lid, he discovered the scene-shifter nicely en-
sconsed therein.
At the same moment the latter awoke.
Rubbing his dreamy eyes, he asked:
"Is that you, Frank?"
"Yes," was the surprised reply.
Well, shut the door, old boy," came the startling answer.
We have related the above story simply to illustrate the character
of the minstrel whose illness, as recorded, aroused the sympathies
of our hero.
""
George had not been able to visit his friend until, one Sunday
afternoon, he started in company with two others, when the incidents
related in the following chapter occurred.
CHAPTER XX.
GEORGE and his friends arrived at their fellow-performer's home
early in the afternoon.
Immediately upon their entrance, they were greeted with bad
news.
The doctor had announced that there was but one chance out of
ten that Charley would live.
These merry sons of mirth looked more like a trio of sextons
than rollicking minstrels, as they were ushered into the sick man's
room.
Their faces were elongated, and shadowed by very sober expres-
sions.
Their friend lay stretched upon the bed.
His eyes were sunken deep, and his features were pallid and
ghastly.
They had been led to believe that he was so far gone that he could
not recognize any one, yet as each stepped to his bedside a smile of
recognition flashed over his attenuated features, a strange brightness
illumined his eyes, and he addressed each by name and extended his
hand for a friendly grasp.
Having exchanged greeting with the dying man, the visiting
minstrels quietly retired to seats in the room and awaited results.
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​57
The developments came in a most startling manner, at the same
time equally ludicrous.
The invalid beckoned George to his bedside, and commenced át
once to whisper in a very earnest manner, as our hero leaned over
him.
GEORGE CHRISTY.
RISTY
}
Suddenly, to the astonishment of all gathered in the room, Christy
commenced to laugh.
What was at first a merry laugh became a perfect roar of laughter;
George laughed until the tears literally streamed down his cheeks.
The scene was a strange one, and at the same time seemingly a
very shocking one.
The singular incident transpired in a few moments, when the
minstrel rushed from the bedside, and then great sobs struggled from
his agitated bosom; real tears-tears of sympathy and sorrow-rained
down his cheeks.
No one asked an explanation, but a few moments later the aston-
ishment was repeated, when a second member of the company, who
had been summoned to the invalid's bedside, also laughed in the
same hearty manner.
The subsequent explanation of this strange scene was the fact that
Charley was suffering from an attack of mania a potu, and when he
called his old comrades to his side, it was to relate to them some
singular fancy which had seized upon his brain.
The story related to George, with all the thrilling earnestness of
an actual passing occurrence, was as follows:
&&
'Do you see that big Mick there?" said the invalid, pointing to-
ward the center of the floor.
George was shocked, but remembering the fact of the poor fellow's
mental condition, he nodded affirmatively.
"
They are building a sewer there," continued the sick man, ´´ and
I have stolen that big fellow's dinner. It is nearly twelve o'clock.
He will miss it, and he will accuse that other red-headed fellow there
of stealing; and, old boy, you will see the highest old scrimmage
you ever saw in your life.
The poor fellow, in his deranged fancy, saw everything as he re-
lated it.
""
To him the incident was real, and he described it with genuine
gusto.
George still hung over him, when suddenly the sick man ex-
claimed:
፡፡
'It's twelve o'clock, and the big fellow is looking for his dinner!"
From this point followed a minute description of a battle between
the big Mick and the red-headed fellow.
Every incident, no matter how trifling, was related with graphic
minuteness.
So comic was the whole affair that our hero was compelled to
laugh, and was thus forced to present the strange picture of a man
quivering with merriment over the dying bed of a friend.
The story told by the invalid to the other minstrel was equally
strange and comical.
He imagined that he had trained a million cockroaches in military-
evolutions.
So wonderful was the accuracy of his calculation and memory,
*-
58
GEORGE CHRISTY.
even in the distorted condition of his mind, that he enumerated the
names that he had bestowed upon over twenty of the crawling bellig-
erents, and it was subsequently ascertained, by comparing notes,
that the same names were related to different individuals.
In his delirium he described a pitched battle between his legion of
proteges, and every detail was related with the most startling ac-
curacy.
We have related the above incident merely as å fact.
Two of the gentlemen who were present are still living, and to one
of them was described the battle of the cockroaches.
The party remained some time with their friend.
In fact, they remained until he fell into a natural sleep, the first
that he had enjoyed for seven days and nights.
The climax of the disease had arrived.
From that sleep the poor fellow was to awake to die or to live.
We are happy to state that he awoke to live, and when once re-
stored to health he abandoned the wine cup, absolutely became a
teetotaller, rose in his profession, and earned a moderate fortune.
While the party were in the parlor below stairs, after leaving the
sick chamber, three young ladies, neighbors of the invalid's family,
entered the house.
Thinking the parlor unoccupied, they dashed straight through the
doorway, whispering and giggling in a manner peculiar to giddy
young girls.
An instant later the girls observed the presence of the three min-
strels.
One of the girls was a lovely creature.
Her features and form were faultless.
Although the girl had been born in an humble sphere of life, her
face in its beauty was classic.
No one who could have beheld her upon that Sunday afternoon,
in all her girlish loveliness, would have di camed that she was doomed
to become the victim of a terrible and romantic tragedy.
The moment the girls saw the three men, they would have fled
from the room; but with his usual gallantry, George Christy leaped
to his feet, and under some pretense prevailed upon them to remain.
Two hours passed.
During that time our hero had devoted his attention exclusively
to the beauty.
He was charmed with her, and as it subsequently developed, she
was even more strikingly charmed with him.
George had met with so many beauties, and had become so used to
attention and flattery, that it was hardly possible that more than a
passing impression could be made upon his mind.
Such, however, was not the case with this fated girl.
The strange fascination which distinguished our hero had com-
pletely bewitched her.
Upon the night following the visit to the sick friend, George came
upon the stage, and had just taken his seat, when his eyes fell upon
a beautiful and familiar face.
At the moment he could not recall where he had seen the gin, but
a little later he remembered that she was the pretty Louise whom
he had met upon the previous afternoon.
}
11
}
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:**
59
GEORGE CHRISTY.
Our hero thought but little of the circumstance.
At once his duties commenced, and his attention was turned en-
tirely to his business
Upon the following evening he mechanically glanced in the same
direction, where the girl had sat upon the previous evening, and lo!-
there she was again, ber bright, beautiful face radiant, while her
lovely eyes were fastened upon our hero
George, at this time, was greatly interested in another quarter,
and
concluded that the best way to cure the girl's infatuation was to
pay no attention to her, and not by word or look ever indicate the
slightest recognition.
Matters thus proceeded for a week, during which time the girl
Louise had nightly occupied her seat.
The minstrel's heart was touched.
On the Saturday evening he fixed his eyes upon the girl and smiled.
Little did the good-natured man dream that that pleasant, kindly
smile was to cost a human life.
Upon the following Monday night our hero looked in the direction
where Louise had been seated during the past week.
She was not there, and he missed her.
CHAPTER XXI
A WEEK passed, and our hero saw nothing of the girl Louise,
during that time.
At length, amid the many excitements of his life, all memory of
the pretty stranger was fading from his mind, when one day he re-
ceived a note signed "Louise."
The note merely contained expressions of love and admiration.
""
Hang the girl!" muttered George. "I thought she had gotten
over her foolishness.
In the evening, when he went upon the stage, he expected to see
the pretty, upturned face once more.
As her identity had been recalled to his mind, he felt somewhat
disappointed upon discovering that she was not there.
The next day our hero was looking over the "Herald," when a
paragraph met his eye which caused him to re-read it.
The paragraph contained an item in relation to the strange disap-
pearance of a young girl.
These disappearances are not of such rare occurrence as to attract
any great amount of attention, but what attracted our hero was the
personal description of the missing girl.
George was, up to the hour of his death, a tender-hearted, sym-
pathizing sort of chap, and at once he became deeply interested in
the fate of the young girl.
According to the newspaper notice, the girl had been missing for
over a week.
Our hero glanced at the note he had received.
He found that it was dated fully a week subsequent to the day
when the girl had first disappeared.
Here was a mystery which he thought he could solve.
Strangely enough, George had not seen or heard anything of the
7
60
+
GEORGE CHRISTY.
lovely Frenchwoman since the night he had had the singular inter-
view with her at the Manor House.
Neither had he met the fellow Harry Relton.
In fact, his life had become somewhat monotonous as far as singu-
lar adventures were concerned.
In the disappearance of the girl he recognized a chance to enjoy a
fresh adventure.
He had no doubt but that the missing girl was the infatuated
Louise.
The description answered for her to a dot.
The minstrel determined to turn detective for the occasion.
It was Sunday morning when he first read the paragraph.
He resolved to act at once.
His first move was to discover if his surmises were correct as to
the identity of the girl.
He dressed himself in a disguise.
The role he had resolved to take was that of an old man.
He was calculated to act well his part.
Leaving his boarding-house, he went straight to the house of the
invalid minstrel, where he had first met the girl.
He did not wish to be known even by his friends, and his object
in going to this house was to ascertain the residence of the lost
maiden.
Going to the door, he mentioned the girl's name, and asked if she
lived there.
He was told that she did not, and the information was followed by
the question:
46
Why do you ask if she lives here?"
Because I wish to see her," answered the seeming old man.
Are you a friend of the girl's?" came the question.
"It's the friends of the girl I wish to find."
"
44
Did you not know that the girl was missing?"
•
I read a paragraph in the paper.
"Do you know aught about her?"
The person who thus closely questioned our hero was a middle-
aged, sharp-visaged woman.
George did not desire to be cross-examined, and he informed the
woman that what information he had to impart would be told to the
girl's friends.
+6
C
'The girl has no friends," said the woman, adding, "I am the
best friend she has, old man, and it was my money that paid for the
advertisement that has been in the paper for the last few days.
"}
She did not live here?" said George.
No.'
"I
"Where did she live, then?"
"She boarded at a house not far from here."
"Will you direct me to that house?''
"Tell me first whether or not you are a friend to the girl."
"I am her friend.'
>
"
"Are you a relative?"
"Why should I tell you?"
Simply because I take a great interest in her fate; and beside,
GEORGE CHRISTY.
61
to speak plainly, I suspect the people with whom the girl boarded of
being her enemies.'
The woman concluded by asking George into her apartment.
It was evident that she suspected our hero of being a relative of
the missing girl, or an enemy.
When George was once in her room, she said:
Now, tell me what your object is in wishing to find out some
friends of the girl?"
CC
Our hero had managed to ascertain that the sharp-faced woman
was an aunt of the invalid minstrel.
This fact led him to feel that she was not, under any circumstances,
an object of distrust, and he told her frankly that all he wished to
learn was the real circumstances attending the girl's disappearance,
supplemented with the statement that he thought he bad a slight
clew as to her present whereabouts.
The facts be ascertained were that the girl had gone to New York
on a certain Saturday night, and had not been seen since.
A comparison of dates satisfied him that she had been missing
since the night when he had recognized her presence in the theater.
Our hero, upon receiving this information, recollected also that he
had recognized a familiar form seated near the girl Louise upon the
same evening.
From the sharp-faced woman he learned some other facts.
The girl Louise had come to New York from an interior town.
She had been in the city but a few weeks previous to the Sunday
when he had first met her.
He learned further that her purpose was to secure a position as
teacher in a public school; and that, further, she was as accomplished
and intelligent as she was beautiful.
Fine play followed between our hero and the sharp-faced woman.
The latter was wonderfully shrewd, and she cross-questioned
George in an expert manner in order to learn his motives in making
inquiries about Louise.
He managed, however, to finally escape.
Returning to his boarding-house, he was more determined than
ever to find the girl.
Upon the following morning in the personals of the "Herald "
appeared the following:
LOUISE,-Letter received. Write again and give address.
GEORGE."
<<
C&
This advertisement was inserted by request directly under the ad-
vertisement advertising the missing girl.
The day passed, and no answer came to the missing note.
That night George observed a veiled woman seated in the midst of
the audience.
He recognized the wearer of the veil.
He did not, however, suspect that there was the slightest connec-
tion between the veiled lady and the missing maiden.
Upon the following morning he received a note which read as
follows:
14
Dare you meet the dead? Answer through' Terald' personals,"
Our hero was at a loss to understand this startling query..
į,.
62
GEORGE CHRISTY.
However, upon the following morning there appeared in the desig-
nated column the following:
**
'Let the dead explain; no need for mystery.
GEORGE."
The evening following, the veiled lady was again seated amongst
the audience in the minstrell hall.
The next morning our hero was favored with two notes. One
read:
"
"You will learn particulars in a day or two."
The other merely contained the word "Beware!" and was signed
"Louise."
Our hero was astonished.
He could not understand what all these strange communications
meant.
He did not know, either, whether to connect them as coming from
the same person, or whether he had two mysterious adventures on
hand.
A few hours later one of the mysteries was explained.
CHAPTER XXII.
OUR hero was fast becoming greatly excited.
Again a suspicion flashed through his mind that, possibly, he was
being made the victim of a huge joke.
Were it not for the fact of the original advertisement in the paper
describing the missing girl, he would have been certain that the latter
was a fact.
The girl, however, was really missing from her home.
He had, since his visit in the garb of an old man to the sharp-faced
woman, made further inquiries, and he had learned that there was
certainly no joke in that part of the matter.
About this time George received another epistle, which only added
to the mystery.
The letter was signed "A Friend," and ran as follows:
1.
An old foe is upon your track. Your life is in danger. If you
will see the writer, you will learn full particulars of the diabolical
plot to murder you!"
George was in a terrible quandary.
All the letters were written by different hands.
Whether dictated by different persons, he could not determine.
Furthermore, he could not satisfy himself as to whether there was
any connection between them, or whether they came from different
quarters.
The last letter was certainly the most explicit, and an idea ran
through his mind that Mrs. Relton was connected in the matter.
The handwriting, however, was not hers, nor did the writing.in
any of the epistles bear any resemblance to the note which he had
received from that strange woman on a former occasion.
GEORGE CHRISTY.
63
He regretted that the author of the last note had not given
some clew which would enable him to assent to the proposed
meeting.
A day passed, when he received a second note from the party who
had signed A Friend.
•
""
The second note read as follows:
"You are being led into a trap by jealousy; and hatred is pursu-
ing you; if you will meet a friend, answer in the Herald' personals.
The last note was more to the point, and George inserted a notice
in the Herald," stating that he would meet A Friend if ad-
dress was furnished.
•
46
">
+
he re-
The same day that the notice appeared in the "Herald
ceived a third rote from "A Friend " telling him to call that same
evening at a house indicated, and he would learn some startling
facts.
**
George recognized the character of the house indicated.
It was a hotel of doubtful reputation, where thieves, gamblers,
and murderers were wont to congregate.
He had been directed to call at a certain hour, to inquire for a
certain person, at a room the number of which was furnished.
A less brave man than our hero would not have gone to the place
named, alone, under the circumstances.
Our hero, however, did not for a moment entertain any idea of
peril.
He was determined, however, not to be caught in any trap.
He feared being icoled more than he did being injured.
During this whole time, while engaged in this little side romance
and circle of mystery, he did not allow it to interfere with his
business.
He was always prompt at rehearsals, and always just as bright,
brilliant, and witty on the stage as though he were not the recipient
of threatening letters and warnings of impending peril.
"
Upon the night when he was to keep his tryst with A Friend,"
he hastened to his lodgings immediately after the close of the show,
and arrayed himself in a disguise.
He had made up his mind to reconnoiter the place where the meet-
ing was to take place before running, unguardedly, into the lion's den.
The location of the hotel where he was to go was not far distant,
from his lodgings.
It was a neighborhood which strictly accorded with the characters
of the men and women who visited it.
The character George had assumed was one which, at that time,
was peculiarly original for purposes of deception.
lt was the rôle of a green Dutchman.
At this time the German character was not, as it is to-day, a popu-
lar representation on the stage.
There were no Williamses, Phillipses, or Deveres.
The fun-provoking elements which lay under the green coat and
tow-colored hair, had not been discovered.
George had never made a special study of the German-American
dialect, and yet his wonderful gift of mimicry enable him to assume
the character to perfection,
64
GEORGE CHRISTY.
Reaching the hotel, which we will designate the "Empire," he
walked past it two or three times, to discover if any one whom he
knew was about.
At length he entered the bar-room.
A number of men were sitting around.
'T'he same class can be seen in Broadway bar-rooms even to this
day.
They were all dressed in the height of fashion, but their fine
clothes and glittering gems could not hide the vulgarity of their
natures.
Some of them had coarse complexions, scrubby black hair, and
eyes whose most prominent expression was one of fierceness.
A keen observer would have classed them all as a tigerish set of
men-human monsters, ready to destroy and devour.
There was only one man to whom this criticism could not be
applied.
The latter was the proprietor of the place, and when one should
learn his record, their most natural exclamation would be:
66
Who would have believed that such a noble-looking face could
mask such an evil heart?"
}
He was a handsome man, and in all probability the most wicked
and bloodthirsty man in the whole company.
Our hero stepped to the bar and asked for a glass of water.
The bar-tender was a chap distinguished by a rough-and-ready
sort of good nature, and handed him a tumbler of water.
During the brief moment that the disguised minstrel was drink-
ing the water, he ran his keen blue eyes around the place, and stud-
ied the faces of the men sitting around.
He knew every one of them nearly by name and sight.
Strangely enough, he himself did not appear to attract the slight-
est attention, and after drinking the water he started for the door.
On the sidewalk, standing under the gaslight, he saw a man and
a woman.
They were talking in an earnest manner.
The woman was handsomely dressed, and her painted face glowed
with emotion as she raised her gloved hand, and gesticulated in a
vehement manner.
As our hero's eyes fell upon them, he recognized both, and a rev-
elation flashed over his mind.
The man was Relton, and the woman was the poor creature Em,
who had been a witness to the struggle in the park.
George felt assured that his correspondent who had signed "A
Friend," was none other than this woman.
The question now was: Was she acting in concert with Relton, or
was she, knowing the. man's intentions, seeking to circumvent them?
Our hero quickly came to one conclusion-he would not enter the
room in the hotel where he was to meet the girl.
There were several kinds of peril that might follow such a course.
These thoughts passed through his mind during the brief instant
that he stood and watched the pair, before his presence was ob-
served.
He started to move away.
At the same moment the woman and Kelton separated.
GEORGE CHRISTY.
65
The latter started to go down the street, while the woman passed
toward the private entrance to the hotel.
CHAPTER XXIII.
GEORGE waited until she had passed over the doorstep, when he
glided after her.
He overtook her just as she was about to ascend the stairway.
Placing his hand upon her shoulder, he whispered:
Hold! I wish to speak to you.
The woman turned quickly, and asked:
64
Who are you?”
It was dark in the passage-way, and the faces of both were un-
distinguishable.
CA
I have business with you," said George.
"Who are you?" again asked the woman, in a peremptory
whisper.
C
"S
Come upon the street with me and I will tell you."
>>
No; I can not.'
But my business is important."
K
I can not help it, whoever you are, as I have more important buși-
ness of my own.
"
"You were to meet a party to-night?"
46
"
C
The woman turned quickly, and asked, in a nervous manner:
+4
How do you know?”
It's true, then?"
It's false!" answered the woman, in a decided tone; and she
added: “I will bid you good-night.
•
George was a quick thinker.
He remembered that the woman had but a moment before been
talking with Kelton. He remembered, also, that she had not recog-
nized him, and knew that there might be reasons why she did not
wish to let certain parties know that she had an appointed tryst.
There were other reasons, and the most important was a possibili-
ty of betrayal.
Our hero plied the final test when he said:
""
You were to meet George?"
"Hist!" said the woman;
speak low, or you and I will both be
in urdered!"
You are a friend?" continued George, marking the word
friend "
with special emphasis.
*
• C
Are you George?" asked the woman.
44
'I bring a message from him.
IC
19
Well, come upstairs.
No; 1 will lead you to a place where you can see George."
Bring him here.
16
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"He will not come.
How do you know?”
1 am certain.'
C&
64
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44
>>
>>
""
Why will he not come?”
You are a stranger; he fears treachery."
"The fool!" muttered the woman; and at once she added:
risking my life to save his.”
"I am
fr
I
፡
k
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* 66
GEORGE CHRISTY.
Why not follow me and meet him?" asked George. --
The woman was silent for a moment.
44
Our hero guessed what her thoughts were, and at a venture, said:
You need fear no treachery.
46
19
"L
Why did not George keep his word?"
"The request came from a stranger."
(+
But the stranger warned him of danger. Those who mean harm
don't give warnings.'
"}
Our hero's propensity to joke prevailed at this moment, when he
replied:
64
Oh, yes! the rattlesnake gives warning, and so does the cobra."
"You are Christy!" said the women; and she added, as she laid
her hand upon our hero's arm: “Come upstairs with me; there is
no safer place, and on my life, I only mean to save you from harm.'
Our hero could not resist the appeal, and he answered:
"Go ahead, 1 will follow.
""
The woman led the way to the second story, and halted before a
room at the lower end of a long passage.
Producing a key she opened the door, and entered a plainly-fur-
nished room.
""
Is this your room?" asked George.
Why that question?" said the woman, in an irritated tone.
Otherwise we might be interrupted.
'There is no danger."
The woman struck a match and lit the gas.
George had already seated himself, and the woman placed herself
in a chair opposite to him.
The moment her eye fell upon him under the gaslight, she ex-
claimed, in a startled tone:
رد
""
44
1 have been betrayed! You are not Christy, you are a detective
in disguise; you can not play me!"
"C
'My dear girl," said George, "you are only right in one of your
conclusions. I am George Christy, and I am in disguise.
""
Why did you disguise yourself to come and meet a helpless
woman, who wished to do you a good service?”
#
Simply because 1 was acquainted with the character of the house
to which you invited me."
Dear reader, once more we will digress.
There was a time, some years later, when a disguise stood our hero
in good turn.
What we are about to relate is a veritable fact.
During our hero's career he made what is termed a heap of money.
During one of these periods he had made a fortune, and for once
in his life engaged in a wild speculation.
The result of that speculation is a magnificent building, which
still stands on Broadway.
With the details of the speculation we have nothing to do, as the
incidents would possess but little interest for the general reader.
The speculation was a failure, and after a few brici months George
found himself a bankrupt, and deeply in debt.
San Francisco presented a splendid field for the replenishing of
his purse, and he determined to go there.
GEORGE CHRISTY.
67
The moment it became known that the great comedian was about
to leave the city, a number of creditors became alarmed.
Had they known our hero's honorable nature they would have
assisted him to get away, instead of taking steps to prevent his de-
parture.
As is well known, there is a law on the statute books of the State
of New York intended especially to cover the cases of absconding
debtors.
The law was framed to afford honest creditors some sort of protec-
tion against dishonest debtors; but its provisions are such that even
honest men who by misfortune become indebted, can be prevented
from leaving the State when restrained by ex-parte evidence.
George had made all of his arrangements to depart on the regular
California steamer, which at that time left the wharf foot of Cham-
bers Street, if we remember rightly, every month or semi-monthly.
Creditors care little for a man's generous qualities or the causes
that prevented payment.
With them usually it is pay or take the consequences.
Some of the debts were very trifling, but the rumor had gone
abroad that George was about to escape, carrying with him "heaps
of money.
""
Such was not the fact.
He paid his passage with money advanced by kind friends.
When all ready to depart, at the last moment the unfortunate min-
strel learned that some twenty constables and deputy sheriffs were
to be upon the wharf to intercept him.
Our hero had determined to go, and with the connivance of the
officers of the steamer, he made his arrangements to turn the laugh
on the constables and deputies.
At this time our hero was married.
In relating this incident, we have anticipated somewhat, but in
future columns we will give the particulars of our hero's thrillingly
romantic marriage.
We promise that it will be an uncolored romance, but sufficiently
exciting and interesting.
George's friends were all on board of the steamer upon the event-
ful day.
Great excitement prevailed, such as always attends the departure
of ocean-going steamers.
Crowds were upon the wharf.
Scattered among the latter were the Argus-eyed constables and
deputies.
The rear and forward gang-planks were lined by them. Every
inch of the steamer was under surveillance.
Half a dozen of the deputies were in boats, so as to guard against
escape in that quarter.
The officers of the law had heard that they would be eluded, and
they were all on their reputations.
V
7
1
68
GEORGE CHRISTY.
*
CHAPTER XXIV.
OUR hero had been made acquainted with all of these preparations
to capture him.
It had become a sharp game to be played between one man and
twenty or thirty others.
It was even known among the idle crowd that the great Christy
intended to sail in the steamer, and that a number of deputy sheriff's
were going to prevent him.
Thirty minutes before the sailing time a carriage dashed down upon
the wharf.
A rush was made to learn who the passengers were.
The constables and deputies thought that the moment had arrived
for them to act, and they surrounded the vehicle.
A gentleman and lady were seated in the coach.
The lady was deeply veiled.
As the deputies pressed forward, the gentleman attempted to
alight.
It was not George Christy, but George W. H. Griffin, a famous
old time minstrel.
The constables and deputies fell back, while gentlemen crowded
forward to bid Griffin farewell.
"Why, George, old man, I did not know that Mrs. Griffin was
going with you.'
Griffin smiled, but made no reply, only assisted his veiled lady
companion from the carriage.
The constables and deputies imagined that they saw through a
little game.
The veiled lady they concluded was the game they were after.
Among the crowd surrounding the carriage was a drunken sailor.
The laiter made himself very conspicuous.
He it was that first made a rush toward the coach, and the depu-
ties were compelled to haul him away. Griffin and the veiled lady
ascended the gang-plank to the steamer.
""
Three deputies and a constable followed close behind.
In the main saloon the party were met by the captain of the
steamer.
The lady removed her veil.
The captain saluted her familiarly as Mis. Griffin.
The deputies were haffled in this quarter.
It required but a glance to convince them that Griffin's companion
was really a female.
At length the moment arrived for the steamer to start.
Strangers were ordered ashore.
The forward gang-plank had already been hauled aboard.
During all this time the drunken sailor had been making himself
conspicuous.
He amused the crowd by delivering a harangue.
The mate of the steamer came to the side of the vessel to order the
gang-plank hauled in.
GEORGE CHRISTY.
69
His eye fell upon the drunken sailor in his rough clothes and dirty
pea-jacket.
'Send that fellow aboard!" he called.
The sailor shook his hand at the mate, and uttered words of de-
fiance.
The mate ordered other seamen to go down and hustle the man on
board.
The unruly sailor showed fight, and a struggle ensued.
The mate called upon several of the deputies to assist the seamen.
They did so, and a scene of excitement followed, including a lively
rough-and-tumble battle.
The drunken sailor was determined not to go aboard, and the mate
was equally determined to force him on deck.
At length the poor drunken tar was overpowered, and literally
dragged up the gang-plank, and thrown upon the deck.
The deputies and constables who assisted were at once hurried
ashore, the gang-plank was hauled in, and a few moments later the
noble steamer moved from her moorings.
The passengers had heard of the intended departure of the popu-
lar minstrel, and when the steamer moved away without him, ex-
pressions of regret were general.
In the meantime the drunken sailor had been moved to one side,
and placed to sleep off his potations on a pile of canvas.
Grandly the steamer proceeded on its way.
A sharp-eyed man whom no one appeared to know, moved among
the passengers.
His keen, restless eyes searched every nook and corner, and
scanned every face.
Still the steamer glided on, and the poor, drunken sailor, uncared
or and unnoticed, slept.
At length the noble vessel arrived off Sandy Hook.
A tug was seen heading toward her.
Her great wheels ceased their revolutions, and the vessel glided a
short distance, and then stopped and lay still upon the waters.
The tug steamed up alongside.
The stranger with the sharp, keen eyes exchanged a few words
with the captain.
The passengers, having nothing better to do, crowded around to
listen to what was said.
The keen-eyed man remarked:
6.
Captain, you have my thanks for your courtesy. I am satisfied
that George Christy is not among your passengers. I would not
have had him get away for five thousand dollars. My professional
reputation was at stake!"
The captain smiled blandly, and a moment later the stranger was
lowered over the side of the steamer on to the deck of the tug.
The latter moved away a short distance, when, to the surprise of
the people assembled on deck, the captain advanced to where the
drunken sailor lay sleeping, and exclaimed:
+
Hop up, George, if you want to bid an old friend good-by."
The sailor was on his feet in a moment, and leaping on the rail
of the steamer, he waved his hat to the keen-eyed man on the tug,
and exclaimed:
:
܀
GEORGE CHRISTY.
770
“Good-by, Tom! Give my love to all inquiring friends when
you reach the city, and ask them to bid me a happy voyage!"
The face of the shrewd detective was plainly visible.
****
The expression that contorted his features was comical to behold.
Anger and rage were at first observable, but a moment later a
pleasant smile broke over them, and he exclaimed:
66
George, you rascal, you were too smart for me, but it's all right,
old friend. God bless you, and give you a safe passage!"
The detective was making the best of a bad bargain.
The great wheels of the steamer were in motion, and he knew
that his prey had escaped beyond his grasp.
The little river steamer beaded toward New York, and the great
vessel plowed forward toward the angry waters of the Atlantic.
George stood waving his hat until the two vessels were far sepa-
rated, when he stepped down upon the deck, the hero of the hour.
Friends and strangers crowded around him, and congratulations
were uttered from every side.
He was a great actor, but never before had he acted a rôle so suc-
cessfully.
None but those who were in the secret recognized him until the
last moment, when the mask was thrown off.
George had played his joke well, and had accomplished his point,
but immediately afterward, he became the victim of a huge joke
himself.
The veiled woman, who had been registered as Mrs. Griffin, was
really the beautiful Mrs. George Christy.
After waiting a moment or two to receive congratulations, our hero
conceived an idea that he would like to see his wife, and receive her
congratulations, also.
Upon coming on board of the steamer, she had been shown to a
state-room and, for the purpose of saving her any annoyance, she
had been locked in by her conductor, who retained the key.
As soon as George could get away from his friends, he sought
Griffin, and in an impatient manner demanded the key of the state-
room.
Imagine his amazement when he was coolly informed, with a
smile which was "both childlike and bland," that the key he de-
manded was the key of the room occupied by Mrs. Griffin.
CHAPTER XXV.
JOKING appears to be an inborn propensity peculiar to actors and
minstrels; it is a second nature.
Not to have a joke when an opportunity offers is seemingly with
them an impossibility.
When thus informed, as recorded in our previous chapter, George
grew indignant, and demanded what was meant by such an answer.
"Go and examine the steamer's register," coolly suggested the
calm-faced Griffin.
Friends had crowded around.
The situation was apparent, and a merry laugh greeted an under-
standing of the comic situation.
GEORGE CHRISTY.
71
George stormed and raged, and demanded the key, but the steady
answer was:
#6
Look at the ship's books, and if you find that Mrs. Christy is
booked as occupying that room, you shall have the key."
The sequel can be readily surmised.
George was kept an hour or two opening wine, and listening to
dozens of witty remarks and pleasant banterings, when the key was
surrendered.
There was one other incident connected with this voyage which
we will relate right here.
It goes to show that beneath the seeming careless and reckless
bearing of actors anu minstrels, there is a tender chord of genuine
feeling.
On the trip a seaman died, and there followed one of those sad
incidents-a burial at sea.
The corpse, according to usual custom, was sewed in canvas, with
bags of shotted lead attached, and as there was no chaplain aboard,
was about being consigned to the sea with no other rife than the brief
reading of a burial service by the captain.
We have listened to a description of the impressive scene that at-
tended upon this occasion, related by one of the passengers.
It was toward evening, and the sun was sinking in the ocean
amidst its usual surroundings of fire-tinted mountains of clouds,
when the body was borne to the gangway by a number of his com-
panions.
The dead man was but a waif- -a stowaway who had been discov-
ered only when the steamer was far out at sea.
When found, he was ordered to duty with the crew.
J
He had not a friend on board, only the acquaintances that he had
made during the few brief days that he had been aboard.
It was a solemn scene.
The captain read the service, when a quartet from the minstrel
band, dressed in decorous black, sung a funeral dirge.
Our informant, in relating the incident, stated that more impress-
ive music he never heard.
It was not a mock ceremony, but a heartfelt tribute to a dead
stranger.
Subsequently it was learned that the family of the dead man were
people of the highest respectability, and the gentlemen who sung
that solemn funeral dirge on mid-ocean were, in later months,
warmly thanked by the parents of the unfortunate man, and received
mementos in token of their kindness.
Returning to the point in our narrative where we so abruptly broke
off to relate the above incidents, we would record that when George
made the reply in answer to the woman's question as to why he had
disguised bimself, she remarked, after a moment's silence:
46
There was no reason for you to have done so. If I were not
your friend, I would have let you walk into the trap which has been
prepared for you.
>>
How do I know," said George, "but that you are assisting to
lure me into some kind of a trap?'
"I would have no motive," was the answer,
44
772
GEORGE CHRISTY.
$
What motive did you have when you put a pistol to my head,
that night in Washington parade ground?"
#4
I was there that night to save your life, although you were un..
known to me.
""
"
""
Do your kind of people save life by thrusting pistols against a
man's temple?"
Listen to me," said the woman, and as she spoke tears stole
down her cheeks.
For a moment her emotions choked her utterance, but at length
she managed to say:
66
Will you let me tell you a portion of my history?"
Certainly," said George.
""
"C
I was born in luxury," said the woman. "I was reared in a
family of the highest culture. 1 graduated at the most expensive
young ladies' seminaries in the country. I was aided in acquiring
every accomplishment by the best professors in the land," continued
the woman.
Then how is it that you are reduced to your present straits
asked George, in a pointed tone.
Our hero was too old a bird in metropolitan life to be captured by
chaff.
66
This was the old, old story, and an idea flashed through his mind
that the conspiracy tale was a little angle-worm thrown out by this
woman, intended to catch an unsuspecting fish.
The woman appeared to discern the suspicion which had taken
possession of her companion's mind, and she said:
'I know I am telling the old story, but you must bear in mind
that the road that leads to ruin is the same old, well-beaten path.
The scenery on the roadside and the incidents of travel may vary a
trifle, but, after all, in the main, it must of necessity be nearly the
same story.'
"
"You are somewhat of a female philosopher, aren't you, my
lady?" said George.
*4
If you were a finely educated man, you would have discovered
ere this that at least a portion of my story was true," exclaimed the
woman, sharply.
This last thrust cut home.
George saw the point, and was more respectful in his demeanor.
The woman, resuming her narrative, said:
"I am about to relate a circumstance which will probably induce
you to exclaim once more, ''The old gag.
"""
There was an impressiveness in the woman's voice and gesture
which caused our hero to remark, with genuine emphasis:
"No; I will believe anything that you tell me.
"It will be better for yourself if you do," was the answer, with
the added remark: "I propose to warn you of your danger, and then
you can heed it or not, just as you choose.
"
44
1 shall heed any warning that you give me.”
"
If I thought you would, I would not tire you with any further
relations concerning myself."
"I wish to hear your story."
""
Well, my father died.
After his death it was discovered that
AquaSAN »
GEORGE CHRISTY.
73
he, who was supposed to be a very wealthy man, was, in reality, a
bankrupt.
>>
An instant's silence followed this last declaration, when, after a
moment, the woman said:
• L
That is the old story, pure and simple, is it not?”"
6
George could but remark in reply, Yes."
"That is how it always comes out in romance, I believe, but this
time it was an affair of real life-too real for the creature who sits
before you," continued the woman. ·
George could not make any reply.
He was satisfied, now, that he was truly listening to an "ower
true tale."
Resuming her story, the woman said:
My life story runs still in the old line. I was compelled to earn
my living, and managed to secure a position as governess. For a
year I got along nicely, and was able to take good care of my mother.
At the end of a year my mother died, and I was alone in the
world."
Her face became convulsed with
64
Again the woman hesitated.
emotions.
She attempted to speak, but her utterance failed.
George Christy, in all his young life, had never been a witness to
such extreme agony.
At length sobs broke from the poor creature, and her voice re-
turned, when, in wild, whispering tones, she moaned:
"It is still the same old, old story. I was beautiful, and the
tempter came. Oh, Heavens! would that I had died before I ever
saw him!"
George was filled with sorrow, and his blood boiled with a gener-
ous indignation.
He would have spoken, when the woman said:
"Enough of my story. I must now tell you of the horrible plot
which has been arranged to destroy you."
CHAPTER XXVI.
As related, George remarked to the woman that she had not yet
finished her story.
Our hero, feeling convinced that he was hearing a true story, had
become greatly interested in her history, and insisted that she should
name the villain who had wronged her.
16
It matters not about my story," said the poor creature; "the de-
tails are only such as are almost daily occurring in this great city.”
"Who was the betrayer?"
"You have guessed who my enemy was long before this," was
the answer.
Relton?" queried George.
'You have named the man whom I love when I ought to hate
him! You have named the man who was my enemy, and who is
your deadliest foe at this very moment!”
+
Why is he my deadliest foe?”
You certainly ought to know, as you have not been very care-
ful by any means in your actions,"
..
+6
4+
+
74
GEORGE CHRISTY.
"That man has more reason to thank me than to hate me!" said
George, with vehemence.
Emily laughed-laughed in a derisive manner.
It is said that actions speak louder than words; it may also he said
that there is sometimes a fearful significance in a peculiar laugh.
It was so upon the occasion of which we write.
The laugh of our hero's companion implied that he was trying to
blind her to the truth; and it meant, further, that she was possessed
of certain facts which led her to doubt his assertion.
F
The above conclusions were implied as plainly as though they had
been deliberately pronounced.
"
What do you know concerning that man and me?" asked
George.
"
Why should he seek your life?" asked the woman.
“I had not seen him previous to that night."
44
$6
But you had seen his lovely wife?”
1.
You are mistaken.
"Do you mean to tell me that you never saw Agnes Relton until
you went to visit her that night at the old Manor House?"
George gave a start.
The fact that his companion knew of his visit upon that night
meant that he had, after all, been the victim of a deep-laid plot, or
the party whom he went to visit was surrounded by traitors.
He fixed his keen blue eyes upon the woman before him, and
asked:
64
What do you know about my visit to the Manor House?”
"I know all about it."
""
From what source did you learn all about it?"
The source of my information must remain my own secret for
the present.
""
"
Then I must bid you good-by," said George.
•
The woman arose from her seat, and, in a dignified manner, said:
'1 have sought to do you a kindness. I am meeting with nothing
but rebuff and insult. You say you must go. Well, then, I an-
swer, go! Rush on blindly to your fate, and when too late you will
learn that you rejected timely warning.
64
Our hero was impressed by the strange woman's manner.
She displayed a dignity of mien which verified her claims to hav-
ing been tenderly reared.
We have steadfastly asserted that George Christy possessed nat-
urally a generous nature.
He felt at this moment that he had acted ungenerously toward the
woman who claimed to wish to do him a friendly turn, without
hope of reward.
Once convinced that he had acted unjustly, he was quick to repair
the wrong he had done, and he said:
44
I recall my words. 1 am satisfied that you mean to do me a
kindness, but as you wish me to put faith in your word, you must
put faith in mine also. 1 have never done Hariy Relton a wrong.
I had never met his wife when he first made the assault upon me in
the park. I have met her but once since, at her own request, and
then we parted enemies, simply because I would not become a party
to an intended wrong.
>
GEORGE CHRISTY.
15
}
1.2
*
$
"1 believe you," said Emily, adding, “I will tell you how I
learned of your visit to the Manor House. Relton has had spies:
upon your track, day and night; they are among the audiences
when you perform; they follow when you leave the theater. You
are watched when you enter your house at night, and when you
leave it in the morning.
•
'If I ever run across one of those chaps dogging my steps, he
will wish he had been in other business," said George, as a bright
glitter shone in his handsome blue eyes.
#4
You will not be likely to meet any of them. But now let me
tell you, beware of a woman with a handsome face and glittering
black eyes."
•
Who is the woman with the handsome face and glittering black
eyes?" asked George.
$4
A young Italian assassin, who is to accomplish his purpose dis-
was the answer.
guised as a woman,
"
..
"No, not a man-a mere youth; but one of the most crafty and
dangerous chaps on the face of the earth."
L
And this young Italian is a hired assassin?"
"Yes."
""
64
Has he made any attempts to accomplish his purpose yet?”
No, but at any moment you may expect one.
"And Relton is at the bottom of this murder plot?”
+6 'Yes.''
'Have you any more particulars?”
You need no more; it is enough that you are forewarned
against a lovely woman with an olive complexion and glittering
black eyes.
At this moment a step was heard in the passage, approaching the
room door.
"
看​情
​>"
A man in disguise, eh?" said George.
*
#4
Oh, Heaven!" exclaimed Emily, “I hope that is not Relton.'
"You need have no fears if it is," said George, in a low, siguifi-
cant tone.
+4
That man would murder me if he knew that I had been in com-
munication with you.
He shall never know it," said George. You can trust me.'
At that moment there came a knock at the door.
""
>>
""
66
What shall I do?" asked the woman, in terror.
}}
Open the door, and leave results to me, was the reply.
There was no alternative, and Emily arose and opened the door.
A man entered the room.
It was not Relton.
"C
*
Ah, you have company," he said, with a leer.
The fellow possessed a villainous countenance, and there was an
insolent swagger in his manner.
"I vas going oudt," said George, in a frightened tone.
The stranger was intoxicated, and with an oath he asked:
"What is that Dutchman doing in here?"?
"I vas come to ask dis lady uf she could tell me vhere 1 could
foundt oudt her fader."
The man laughed in a derisive manner as he replied:
"I can't swallow that, Dutchy."
}
76
GEORGE CHRISTY.
Emily now spoke up, and said, in an assured manner:
That is the truth, Jack. This man used to be in my father's
employ many years ago, and not knowing what had happened to
our faruily, he has been searching for me.
44
Well, let him get out," exclaimed the man, adding: “I have
some news for you, Em.'
""
The fellow Jack was a vulgar, simple fellow.
It was evident that he did not believe the story told to him, but
placing his own construction on the incident, it did not appear to
disturb him much.
""
Our hero rose from his seat, and addressing Emily in a respectful
manner, he said:
"I vas married now, undt vhen you haf got de time, you must
come undt see mine vife undt der leetle children.
>>
Emily made an accordant reply, and George left the room.
One fact he felt there was no doubt of.
He had noticed lately that there was generally some one dogging
him.
Knowing, now, what their object was, he felt that he might have
an opportunity to play one or the other of these sneaks a nice
trick.
He did not appear to feel the least particle of alarm.
Upon the following day our hero received a note inviting him to
another mysterious tryst.
This time he was informed that he would find the lost and miss-
ing one; but that, to guard against certain exposures, he must sub-
mit to be conducted to the rendezvous under singular restrictions.
The restrictions plainly intimated treachery and peril.
CHAPTER XXVII.
GEORGE resolved to go very carefully about this fresh adventure.
As yet, he had not obtained the slightest clew which connected the
girl Louise's disappearance with the conspiracy and hatred of
Relton.
He had now a certain picture before his mind-the Italian assas-
sin with the handsome face and glittering black eyes dressed in
woman's apparel.
The letter our hero had received indicated that he was to be put
on the track of the missing Louise.
The question which now agitated his mind was whether or not the
missing girl plea was only a plan to get him into the net set for
him by the Italian assassin.
He could not conceive how the two affairs should become mixed,
and yet he had a lurking suspicion that the last correspondent in-
tended in some way to play him false.
According to the note, he was to meet certain parties, total
strangers to him, and allow himself to be securely blindfolded,
when he would be driven in a carriage to a house not far distant,
where he would be permitted to hold an interview with the girl
Louise.
Our hero allowed two days to pass without sending any reply to
the singular note,
GEORGE CHRIST.
TOMY
The object of his delay was to await any developments which
might occur in connection with the glittering-eyed assassin.
He was no coward but he was determined not to blindly place
himself in the power of his enemies, and in such a condition as to
be totally helpless and at their mercy.
Upon the third day he received a second note, asking whether or
not he had lost all interest in the lovely Louise.
In the missive it was also intimated that the girl's personal safety
demanded his immediate compliance with the terms of the first note.
George was now satisfied that by some strange coincidence his
enemies had learned of his interest in the missing girl Louise, and.
that they were taking advantage of this knowledge to lead him into
a trap.
Having arrived at this conclusion, he resolved not to be played
for a dummy.
He was partially minded to call in the aid of a detective.
Subsequent consideration, however, caused him to dismiss this
idea.
Should he do so, the mysterious affair might by some possibility
become public rumor.
Already our hero's name had become associated with several sin-
gular romances, with which he had had no more connection than a
child unborn.
Had he thought that the girl Louise really was in danger, and that
he could have been of any service to her, he would have risked death
rather than have delayed a moment.
As it was, he considered that the girl's name had only been used
as a bait for the hook with which to catch him,
His final determination was to still await developments.
A week passed, and nothing new occurred.
-
George was in daily communication with the woman who had in-
terested herself in the missing girl's behalf.
Both were fast yielding to the belief that the poor creature was
dead-that in a moment of despair she had made away with her-
self.
At length our hero received a third letter from his mysterious
correspondent, and contained in this last note was a most starting
verification of the fact that the story of Louise was not a total de-
ception or "blind.”
Înclosed in the letter was a photograph of the girl.
The picture was one which evidently had been very recently.
taken.
A
In fact, our hero observed that when the picture had been taken,
the girl had been dressed precisely as upon the Sunday afternoon
when he had first beheld her.
This last device settled the matter in his mind.
He resolved to attempt the interview even if it did cost him his
life.
One thought had received due consideration.
There was a possibility that the girl Louise, actuated by a blind
and crazy infatuation, had resorted to this little bit of romance at
her own suggestion,
*
78%
GEORGE CHRISTY.
The minstrel, despite all, made up his mind to proceed very care-
fully in the business.
An address had been furnished through the post-office.
George addressed a letter to the author of the letter, naming a
night and hour when he would meet the parties who were to con-
duct him into the presence of the girl Louise.
Our readers must bear in mind that during all this time George
had other interests and duties to which he attended.
He had many friends, probably more than any man in New York,
at the time of which we write.
He was constantly being invited to gatherings of different kinds,
and at all times was the life of the several companies.
He did not slack either in his hold upon the general public.
He was still the great attraction of the show.
Strangers who had visited the city, and had not seen George
Christy upon the stage, were supposed to have missed one of the
greatest attractions the great metropolis had to offer.
When George named an hour to keep his tryst, he meant to keep
his word.
Speaking of keeping one's word reminds us just at this point of a
remarkable instance of punctuality on the part of that famous min-
strel and author, Charley White.
Charley had now, and always did have, great reverence for birth-
days.
He had always made it a practice upon this annually recurring
event, to give a little social dinner, at which his most intimate
friends were invited to be present.
Upon the occasion of his forty-ninth birthday, Charley made the
assertion that he would eat his birthday dinner in New York, if he
should ever live to see his fiftieth birthday, even if he was compelled
to cross the ocean to reach his home.
44
'No matter what part of the world I may go to during the com-
ing year, I will be in New York on my fiftieth birthday, if I am
alive, and able to place one foot before the other!"
The months rolled by, and at last Charley's fiftieth birthday drew
near.
The minstrel was in New Orleans, in a company which had been
organized by Dick Hooley.
Business was good, and Charley could not be well spared.
His word had been passed, however, and he felt bound to make it
. good.
He bolted from New Orleans, came to New York, arrived on the
morning of his birthday, ate the dinner with his friends, which had
been ordered by telegraph, and that same evening found him on his
way back to New Orleans.
Charley is an odd chap, and among the greater of his odd doings
was his journey of over three thousand miles to make good a promise
for so insignificant a purpose as the eating of a dinner at home.
There are many curious incidents which we remember in the
career of several of our great minstrels.
Among others we recall a comic expedient resorted to by Eph
Horn and Nelse Seymour to obtain a little refreshment.
?
GEORGE CHRISTY,
79
J
These two famous comedians were in Boston at the time the Maine
law was first put in operation in the State of Massachusetts.
One of the provisions of the law was-or possibly one of the eva-
sions it may have been-that no liquor could be sold publicly over
a bar, but travelers in their rooms could obtain all that they required,
on condition that the liquor was consumed on the premises.
Eph Horn and that other prince of jokers, Nelse Seymour, were
walking along Washington Street, in Boston, when they arrived op-
posite the Old Adams House.
We will not pretend that either of the two were strictly temper-
ance men, and besides, the very novelty of getting a drink, under
the circumstances, was a treat in itself.
Turning suddenly toward Eph, Nelse Seymour said:
Say, Eph, old man, would you like to have a nice brandy cock-
44
tail?”
One can imagine the bright gleam upon Eph Horn's countenance,
when he replied:
66
Oh-oh-oh! wouldn'tl?"
Honest?" said Nelse.
CC
Man, man, tempt me not!" murmured Eph; do not cause the
rosy pictures presented to my imagination to cause my fevered pal-
ate to melt with fervent heat.”
44
66
"C
Follow me," said Nelse, in a commanding tone.
Eph did not know what the game was, but he did know that
Nelse was an old reliable, and without an instant's reluctance he fol-
lowed into the hallway of the hotel.
The two handsomely-dressed men ascended to the second hall.
Nelse commanded Eph to hide himself at the uttermost recesses
of the passage, at the same time handing him his coat, which he had
just removed.
Eph did not hesitate, even at the last moment, but promptly
obeyed.
The moment Eph had disappeared Nelse availed himself of his
height and great length of reach, and pulled the bell-wire running
from one of the rooms.
44
With beating heart the joking minstrel waited.
Soon the sliding step of the waiter was heard rapidly ascending
the stairs.
Nelse took his position at the door of the room with which the
bell was connected, and stood in a naturally expectant attitude, in
his shirt sleeves.
The waiter came hurriedly along, and saw a man seemingly stand-
ing in his shirt sleeves in the doorway of his room.
The fellow's conclusion was that the man was a guest of the
hɔuse, and when an order was given for two brandy cocktails, the
waiter hastened to get them.
A low, ruffian-like whistle summoned Eph.
The two minstrels met the waiter as he ascended the stairs, bear-
ing a tray on which were two elegant cocktails.
&L
I am going out, my man," said Nelse, in an off-hand manner,
'and we will drink here."
The waiter suspected nothing, and received his pay, the exact
change, of course,
K
الامه
80
GEORGE CHRISTY.
A moment later the two delighted minstrels exchanged winks, and
descended the stairs, happy in the thought that they had beaten the
new Maine law just once.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
WHILE remembering Nelse Seymour, we will ask our reader's
permission to record one other little incident in that great actor's
career.
The company to which Nelse was attached was performing in
Pittsburgh.
The last performance was to be given on Saturday evening.
On Saturday morning Nelse hired a saddle horse, and took a ride
along the river road to Braddock's Field.
His intention, when he started, was to be home in time for the
evening's show.
He met a jolly party, however, at the hotel, and being a free-
hearted, generous fellow, he remained, and "put up," until his last
cent was gone, and the shades of night had fallen.
Nelse started to return home.
On the way he remembered that he had not the means wherewith
to settle for the use of the horse he rode.
Always ready in devices, he did not despair upon this occasion.
When within the limits of the city, he dismounted at a tavern.
Entering the bar-room, he secured a card, and wrote upon it:
This horse belongs at the stable No. 12 street; the body of
the late rider will be found at the bottom of the Alleghany.
This ticket the jovial minstrel attached to the animal's bridle, and
started him loose.
"C
་
Nelse did not wish to show up among his companions, and he
determined, penniless as he was, to seek lodgings at a strange hotel.
Entering the latter, after one o'clock at night, he went to the
night clerk, the only person on duty, and asked if he could get
something to eat.
pa da det daglig
He was roughly told that he could not at such a late hour.
""
Can't you get me a sandwich?" asked Nelse.
No, sir," was the reply, in gruff tones.
$5
See here," said, the minstrel, who was a handsome man, in his
blandest tones, I would not mind giving a five-dollar bill just for
one sandwich."
A five-dollar bill was a large sum to this poor night clerk, who
probably only received a beggarly salary-in fact, it overcame his
scruples, and made him quite respectful in his demeanor.
"
The cooks have all gone to bed," he said; "but I will see what
I can do for you.
"
66
Do, please," urged Nelse.
66
"
60
The night clerk disappeared to make up the sandwich.
The moment he was gone, the daring Nelse reached over and took
a key from the key rack, and with the utmost composure walked up
stairs and went to bed.
What the clerk's feelings were when he returned with the refresh-
ment we have never heard, but he must have been mad enough,
GEORGE CHRISTY.
81
One thing we do know the fate of the mysterious rider, whose
body was to be found at the bottom of the river, still remains a mys-
tery, and is classed among the strange traditions of the smoky city.
Returning to our main narrative, we would record that a singular
adventure befell George Christy just at the moment that he had
determined to accede to the requirements of his anonymous corre-
spodent.
Our hero was walking upon Broadway.
It was early in the afternoon, and he was merely strolling for
amusement.
It chanced upon this occasion he was alone.
Usually he was attended by a number of friends.
As it was a remarkably fine day, he extended his walk beyond the
point where the greatest throngs are usually to be met with.
He was strolling along, lost in his own thoughts, when he felt a
hand laid upon his shoulder. Turning quickly, he beheld a hand-
somely dressed young man.
"
Is not your name George Christy?" asked the handsome, boy-
ish-looking stranger, with a foreign accent in his pronunciation.
That is my name," answered George.
"You will excuse me for addressing you, but 1 have often seen
•
you perform, and I am a great admirer of yours."
64
Indeed?" said George, coolly.
Similar little incidents of this nature were not of unusual occur-
rence with our hero.
Almost daily parties would take the privilege of introducing them-
selves.
Under ordinary circumstances, George would have thought noth-
ing of the matter.
Upon this occasion, however, a startling fact was connected with
the incident.
The stranger was boyish-looking, and possessed a dark complex-
ion and black, glittering eyes.
He was not attired in female attire, but the complexion and eyes
were the.e, and every other indication pointed toward the hired
Italian assassin.
George knew that he had a part to play now which required all
his nerve; and fortunately, our hero was well supplied in the latter
respect.
You will not be offended if I ask the privilege of walking with
you?" said Glitter Eyes, in the blandest tones.
C
Whom have 1 the
honor of becoming acquainted with?"
Certainly not," answered George, adding:
The stranger passed over a card.
George read the name-" Pietro Rizilli."
"You are not an American?" said George, as he turned and
walked along with the stranger at his side.
64
You have never
No; I was born in the great city of Rome.
been in Rome?"
#
46
George could not resist a little by-play, and he said:
'Oh, yes, I have; we performed there once.
You performed in Rome? In Rome you gave a minstrel show?"
"Yes," answered George, cooly.
•
82
GEORGE CHRISTY.
That is impossible!" exclaimed the Italian. You are joking
""
with me.
"C
Oh, no. We performed in Rome on our way from Rochester to
New York.
"C
Oh, 1 understand!" said the Italian, with a quiet little laugh,
adding: "You are a professional jokist. You mean you performed
at a place named after the great city of Rome?”
64
Yes; I mean Rome in the State of New York, not far from
Utica."
The Italian laughed, and at the same time caught hold of the
minstrel's arm in a familiar manner.
George was not a nervous person, but he did feel a cold chill run
through him as the light, firm hand of the assassin closed upon his
arm.
""
""
The two strolled for an hour.
Their conversation was lively and interesting.
The Italian was an amusing fellow, and appeared to be wonder-
fully experienced for a person of his age.
His age; that was a question that bothered our hero.
The girl Emily had said that the Italian was a mere youth.
Our hero was satisfied that Pietro Rizilli, although he looked boy-
ish, was really much older than he looked, probably a second Man-
fred.
In their walk they turned toward the river, and strolled along
until they stood upon the high cliffs which overhung the dark water.
It was a lonely place-a place just suited for the commission of a
crime.
George had forgotten for the moment that he was walking and
talking with an assassin, a strange being who was under contract to
murder him.
Neither did he observe the route they were taking.
All these facts flashed upon his mind like a revelation.
A look, strange and peculiar, rested upon the Italian's face, as he
remarked:
>>
"What a lonely place this is.'
George fixed his eyes upon the strange fellow, and said, with sin-
gular emphasis:
64
'Yes; it is a good place to commit a murder!"
CHAPTER XXIX.
THE Italian turned pale.
His glittering black eyes were distended by a sudden surprise, fol-
lowed instantly afterward by an expression of anxious inquiry.
The look of inquiry implied to our hero a suspicion that the Ital-
ian's purpose might be suspected.
With a laugh, the handsome foreigner said:
46
Who could think of murder upon such a lovely day as this?
Murderers generally prowl around at night.
Our hero's blue eyes looked straight into the glittering black eyes
of his companion, as he said:
Common murderers prowl around at night, but the educated,
带
​****
GEORGE CHRISTY.
83
1
scientific assassin sometimes depends upon his skill in inveigling his
victims into just such places as this.
George was an odd genius at times.
This moment of which we are writing chanced to be one of his.
odd moments.
Again fixing a keen glance upon his companion, he asked:
Can you swim?"
The Italian turued pale, as he stepped from the verge of the cliff,
and queried:
"C
Why do you ask?”
'Well, I thought this would be a nice place for you and me to
dive from."
>"
66
<<
The Italian shivered at the very thought, as he answered with a
shudder:
+
""
66
""
manner.
Oh! you would not do so. lt would be murder!""
Why, no, it would be only a good joke, and you know it is my
business to perpetrate jokes.
64
""
But I can not swim.
"So much the better!" laughed George.
*
I would drown; that would not be a joke-it would be murder."'
44
64
Oh! I would not jump into that dark water for-millions!"'
Suppose I should throw you off?" asked George, in a peculiar
Are you so afraid of being murdered?" asked George.
Oh! why not? Who is not afraid of being murdered?"
Are you as tender concerning the murder of others as you are
when your own little body is in danger?"
.
The Italian moved away.
C4
There was something dangerous in the gleam of the minstrel's eye.
The situation was a strange one.
George, however, had carried a certain point, and having done so,
he hastened to banish his companion's alarm by remarking:
"It is a point in our profession to study certain situations, as we
call them. I was only studying a situation at this moment. Come,
I must return to the city.
""
The Italian appeared to be greatly relieved at the chance of getting
away from the cliff.
•
The poor fellow remarked:
I was afraid that you might actually carry out your joke."
"
Oh, no," said George;
I would not carry a joke so far with
any one-not even with my bitterest foe. I couldn't hurt anything
that feels and suffers.
21
66
What a generous heart you have!" said the Italian.
The two men were now walking along one of the avenues that
were just being cut through at that time.
In answer to the Italian's compliment, George said:
I
46
Why, you have no idea what a tender-hearted person I am.
was once in the company of a man whom I knew had sworn to take
my life. I had a chance to throw him into the river just as 1 did
you this afternoon, but I would not do it."
Again the Italian flashed upon our hero an inquiring look.
George was covertly watching every look upon the fellow's face,
and was amused at the expression produced by this last remark.
84
GEORGE CHRISTY.
Together they walked down Broadway, when the Italian invited
the minstrel to go to dinner with him.
They were near the Hall when this request was made.
George turned around and asked, in the most pointed manner:
See here, my friend, do you know that you are a total stranger
to me?"
•
Yes; but I would be your friend."
Do you know that it strikes me as somewhat singular that you
should be so anxious to be my friend?”
""
44
C&
66
I can give a good reason.
""
Please do so.
I am an artist."
Well?"
46
66
"
I wish to paint your portrait.
•
I do not wish to have my portrait painted."
The Italian fixed a peculiar glance upon our hero, as he said:
You are afraid to know me?"
"
I am not afraid.”
Will you meet me after your performance closes to-night?”
Why do you wish me to meet you?”
>>
"I have a surprise for you.
44
>>
"
I can not meet you.
George remembered that upon this same night he was to meet the
agents of the strange correspondent who was to lead him into the
presence of the missing Louise.
When George told the Italian that he could not meet him, the lat-
ter appeared to be very much disappointed.
George bid the stranger good-day, when the latter sprung toward
him, and in a pleading tone begged him to promise to meet him.
As our hero glanced at the strange youth, a suspicion flashed
through his mind-a suspicion both strange and startling.
Our hero at the same time recollected the scene upon the cliffs by
the river.
Mystery was being piled upon mystery.
Adventures strange and singular enough were meeting him at
every turn.
""
There was a chance that the Italian, after all, was not the assassin
he had been warned against.
If he was not, an adventure entirely different from any of the
others had been developed.
The Italian clung to his arm in a very peculiar manner.
George was a quick thinker, and said:
"Can I not meet you to-morrow evening?"
Will you meet me to-morrow evening?"
40
If I am alive-yes.'
Why do you say if you are alive?”
""
Because 1 may be dead.
"Are you going to encounter peril?”
""
Yes.
6. Do not do so. Meet me to-night. I have a revelation to
make."
44
I reckon I have anticipated your revelation," said George, in a
significant tone.
04
"<
66
""
GEORGE CHRISTY.
85
“You could not possibly have done so.”
"I will meet you to-morrow night, at exactly quarter past ten
o'clock."
'Promise me to meet me to-night."
>>
"I can not.'
""
You may regret not doing so."
"I must keep another appointment to-night."
"1 can not urge you further," said the Italian at length; and with
the exclamation, "I will meet you to-morrow night!" he suddenly
disappeared.
Our hero was more perplexed than before.
He did not know which of the two mysteries to connect the Italian
with.
There was also a probability that the youth was not connected
with either.
If the latter were the fact, then a fresh mystery had sprung up to
bother the minstrel's brains.
There was a certain hotel on Broadway which was a great resort
for professional men.
Toward this place George proceeded.
He had gone but a block when, chancing to raise his eyes, he saw
a sight which caused his blood to run cold.
He beheld a face, dark and handsome, and illuminated by a pair
of glittering black eyes.
The face and eyes belonged to a woman; and, what was more,
the woman was none other than the youth Pietro Rizilli, or at least
that was the impression which our hero conceived on the instant.
A moment later, however, he had reason to doubt this latter fact.
In the first place, it was not ten minutes since he had parted from
young Pietro; and, besides, the latter had gone up town, while the
woman with the glittering eyes came from down town.
George caught but a glance of her face as she passed, but that
was sufficient for him to recognize a wonderful resemblance be-
tween the woman with the dark face and glittering eyes and the
youth Pietro Rizilli.
The woman did not show any signs of recognition.
She passed our hero with a stare of indifference.
Here was still another mystery.
It appeared as though the bewildered minstrel was destined to be-
come completely environed with mysteries.
The youth Pietro had answered the woman Emily's description to
a portrait; but the warning words said that the assassin would ap-
pear in woman's apparel, and the Italian whom our hero had first
encountered had appeared as a male.
The second appearance answering the description of the assassin
filled the lines to a letter.
Now, the leading question with our hero was, which was the man
and which the woman, or were the man and woman one and the
same person?
86
GEORGE CHRISTY.
A
mamamama
CHAPTER XXX.
GEORGE determined to keep cool, and solve each of the mysteries
in turn.
He felt that fortune was making a strange plaything of him, but
he was willing to be played.
The excitement of the affair suited his temperament.
The lovely women mixed up in the singular adventures added to
the romance of the situation.
Our hero's first impulse was to follow the woman with the dark
face and the glittering eyes.
A moment's consideration, however, determined him for the pres-
ent to take only a passive part, and permit the several developments
to work out of themselves.
That night George appeared upon the stage.
As usual, an immense audience greeted him.
All the excitements through which he had passed, and all the pos-
sible startling events which awaited him, did not effect his nerves in
the least.
He was, if possible, wittier and funnier than usual.
He kept the immense audience in a constant roar of laughter.
It was upon this night that he introduced that famous gag con-
cerning fire-proof safes.
A great fire had taken place some weeks previous, and a certain
maker's safe had passed through the fiery furnace with wonderful
credit to its manufacturer.
The fire alluded to had furnished the first absolute test, and the
consequence was that safes were the ruling topic of conversation.
It is not necessary to state that minstrels draw their lively gags
and sallies of wit from the ruling popular topics, as they do it even
more universally at the present day.
Our readers may, then, imagine the uproarious laughter which
greeted the following:
After the usual solo and chorus, Sam, the tambourine inan, address-
ing Bones (George Christy), said:
4
Hab yer heerd 'bout de great fire?”
Yah."
Well, what yer t'ink 'bout dar 'ar safe dat sabed dem yere
books?"
·6
46
6.
Pretty good safe, dat-pretty good safe!"
See here, Bones, dat 'ar safe ain't nuffin' to a safe data friend
of mine used ter own.
""
""
What 'bout de safe yer friend used ter own, Sam?"
Well, Bones, dat 'ar safe were a genuine Salamander. It were
a big one, and belonged to my friend, who were a banker.'
Your friend dat were a banker? G'long, Sam! When yer hab
a friend dat were such a big bug?"
Oh, nebber you mind, yer common niggah! Yer mustn't t'ink
dat no one ain't got no big friends 'cause all yer cronies bang out
down dar in de Points!"
GEORGE CHRISTY.
877%
*
}
į
"Yah! yah! Sam, dat am jes' de point! But go on 'bout dat 'ar
safe.'
"C
Well, as 1 were sayin', dis yere friend ob mine, who were a
banker, had dis yere big safe, and he had a little dog, jes' as nice
and purty a poodle, wid curly hair, as yer ebber see.
"What hab dat 'ar dog got to do wid der safe?”
""
Oh, yer jes' wait, Bones, as on dat little dog dar hangs a tale.'
Golly! He would be a strange dog if he didn't hab a tail hang-
ing to him somewhar!"
<
Well, one night dis yere friend ob mine closed up his safe and
started to go home, but after huntin' high and low, he couldn't find
neither head nor tail ob dat 'ar poodle.
""
"C
Couldn't find de poodle, eh?"
$1
'No, sah."
Well, mebbe he were in de safe?"
Oh, yer jes' wait, and I'se gwine ter tell yer jes' whar he were.
Dat night de banker goes home widout his dog, and de children dey
had a great cryin' spell, as dat 'ar dog were de pet ob de family.
When de banker arribed at his office in de mornin', he found it in
ruins."
+4
<<
15
#6
16
"Yes, sah.
#4
Well, how did de safe stan' dat 'ar fire?"
"Dat's jes' what I'se gwine ter tell ye, as it were de most wonder-
ful case ob preservation dat were ebber known.
64
A case ob cooked dog, eh?”
毒​者
​No, sah!"
4.
But yer said de dog were locked in de safe."
""
Well, dat 'ar safe were in de fire for twenty-four hours, and
when dey took it out, and cooled it off, and opened it, what der yer
t'ink happened?"
"Roast dog, I 'spec's.'
Dat am jes' whar yer am wrong. When dat 'ar safe were
opened, arter bein' in de fire twenty-four hours, dat 'ar little poodle
jumped out, and commenced barkin' at de firemen!"
64
Had a fire, eh?”
"
Sam got the laugh, and the audience waited breathlessly to hear
how George would get over the extravagant story just told.
George proved equal to the occasion.
•
Screwing up his face in that inimitable manner previously de-
scribed, he said, coolly:
<<
Dat 'ar adventure warn't nuffin'."
K&
"
Why, did yer eber hear ob sich a t'ing as a dog bein' in de fire
twenty-four hours, and comin' out widout a hair singed?"
Can't say dat 1 did; but golly! dat 'ar safe warn't nowhar to a
safe a trien' ob mine made.
#
*
""
What about dat 'ar safe dat your frien' made?”
Well, yer see, my frien' wanted to gib his safe a fair test, so he
jes' took a rooster and locked it up in dat 'ar safe ebery night when
he went home from his office."
44
Ges' yer frien' wanted his bird cooked wid de fedders on?”
No, sah! no, sah! no sich a t'ing! My frien' were a fair man,
an jes' wanted a fair test; and de test came, Sam, and it were de
mos' remarkable test dat eber were known!"
+1
88
GEORGE CHRISTY.
"Well, tell us 'bout dat 'ar test."
"
Well, de office were burned down, and de safe were in de ruins
at white heat for four weeks, two days, and twenty-eight hours.
Pretty long time puttin' ob dat 'ar fire out, Bones."
"
Yes, sah! Yew see dat dey used cannel coal in dat 'ar office.”
"What dat 'ar ter do wid de fire burnin' so long?"
Nuffin' wid de fire burnin', but de smoke were so t'ick dat dey
couldn't see whar de ruins were.
""
"And yer say dat 'ar rooster were in dat 'ar safe for four weeks,
and de sate all de time at white heat?"
"C
Yes,-sah!"
64
:
•
Well, how did dey find dat 'ar rooster when dey opened dat 'ar
safe? I suppose dat he hopped out, and crowed?”
*
[C
#
66
44
44
'No, sah."
What, yer mean to say dat dat 'ar rooster were in dat 'ar safe
fou' weeks, and dat he were only smothered?”
#6
I didn't say dat he were smuddered.”
**
And he were dead?"
Yah!"
46 What kill him?"
•{
No, sah!"
Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Sam. "Den he were dead?”
Yes, he were dead.”
Roasted?" exclaimed Sam.
“He froze to death!”
George got the laugh, as he knew he would, and as he always did
in the end.
Our hero brought out several new gags that night, and it was an
evening of peculiar triumph.
At length the performance came to a close.
The audience retired, laughing, and repeating the many jokes they
had heard that night.
At the time of which we write performances did not lengthen out
to the wee small hours as they do at present in some amusement
halls.
A few moments past ten o'clock our hero found himself upon
Broadway.
The rendezvous named for him was in the worst and most danger-
ous portion of the city.
It required balf a dozen men of excellent nerve to ever pass
through the locality after nightfall in company with each other.
It was a locality which, at the time of which we write, was worid
famous as the home of wretchedness and the resort of criminals.
Years later, when a general clearing out was made, for weeks
crowds visited the spot as they would the locale of some famous bat-
tle.
George knew exactly the character of the place.
He was well aware that a man had to carry his life in his hands in
merely passing through it.
Knowing these facts he determined to prepare himself for the
perilous duty that lay before him.
K
GEORGE CHRISTY
89
CHAPTER XXXI.
WE have described in a previous chapter how George Christy
played the role of a sailor.
Upon this occasion he determined to play a somewhat similar rôle,
only one of a much rougher character.
He had made previous arrangements, so that he was prepared to
make his changes very rapidly, and twenty minutes after leaving
the minstrel hall he might have been seen making his way toward
the dangerous locality indicated.
Few have dreamed it possible for a person to make such a won-
derful transformation in their appearance.
As he strode down the dimly-lighted street toward that once fa-
mous resort for thieves and criminals of every sort, known as the Five
Points, he looked like a miserable, half-famished 'longshoreman of
the most helpless class.
There was a swagger in his gait. and a recklessness in his manner
which well accorded with the character he had assumed.
A short walk brought him into the very midst of the miserable
class who then inhabited that fearful quarter.
Wretchedness, misery, and squalor surrounded him on every side.
Neither London nor Paris could present a more wretched and
dangerous locality than was the Five Points at the time when our
hero walked through it to keep his appointment, according to in-
structions conveyed in the note from his mysterious correspondent.
He quickly reached a point opposite a low grocery and liquor store.
The tumes which issued from the place were stifling.
George glanced around a moment, and finally muttered.
"That must be the place where 1 was to meet conductor number
one; but what on earth the party selected such a miserable place for
I cannot tell, unless, after all, murder is intended.'
·
While our hero was still standing and hesitating before entering
the place, he was accosted by a female voice.
"Is that you, Crummy?" asked a gaunt, raw-boned, long-bodied
woman.
落落
​No, I'm not Crummy, me foine guri!" answered George, ini-
tating an excellent brogue.
Who the divil are ye, thin, an' what are ye doin' standin' around
Boylon's for?"
Faith, it's my business, and not yours.'
Probably ye hev the price of a pint of the juice, or ye wouldn't
get up yer dudgeon so aisy?”
"
Ay! but I hev the price of a gallon, mebbe, if I tuk a moind to
shake it out of me leather.
"
}}
""
•
And are ye a stranger around here?”
Mebbe 1 be, whin Ï hev been goin' since I sowld papers around
the Herald' corners.
""
The woman, who was a strong-limbed creature, caught our hero
suddenly by the arm and dragged him within the rays of the dim
-J
90
GEORGE CHRISTY.
light which struggled through the dingy windows of the grocery
store.
A SREDST
Fixing her wild, fierce eyes upon him, she scanned his features a
moment, and then exclaimed:.
"Faith, yer a stranger about here. I've known every face around
the Points for the last five-and-twenty years.'
""
66
Haven't I been away, me foine gal, for the last five years?"
The woman caught sight of our hero's hands.
They were small and white.
ear:
$6
In adopting his disguse, George had forgotten to make them look
rough and coarse, so as to comport with the rest of his appearance.
A sardonic grin overspread the hideous face of the woman, as she
said, in a significant tone:
5
'It's not haulin' ropes you've been doin'?”
The minstrel realized at once that he had to deal with a character
-one of those vulgar, shrewd, cunning creatures of the Meg Mer-
rilles sort.
He felt annoyed.
It was evident that his undisguised hands had betrayed him, to a
certain extent, to this wild, cunning creature.
The woman soon satisfied him of this fact by whispering in his
asked George.
What lay are ye on?"
"What do yer mean?"
Ah! now howld, man. Yer tongue is not nat'ral to the brogue,
and yer hands betray ye. Now, what is yer afther?”
George had an idea of trying to frighten the woman off.
A moment's consideration, however, warned him that that would
be a dangerous experiment to try.
In the first place, the woman was one of that daring, pugnacious
class which could not be scared, and, besides, she could summon a
rabble in a few moments which would have caused him to fly for his
life.
The woman showed him the wisdom of his conclusion a moment
later by leaning over and whispering in his ear the question:
""
Do yer know me?"
George made no reply.
<
By the powers, thin, but ye hev lost yer tongue, me man; and
now, see here, de ye know that yer life ain't worth a penny if I
should give ye' away?"
George still remained silent, when the woman, once more address-
ing hin, said:
"If ye hev business on hand ye can trust me for a frind, if ye hev
the money to pay for a jug of the juice."
Our hero remembered that upon many occasions women of this
class, as well as men, could be met with who were faithful and true.
This woman's face was an ugly one, and yet there were lines of
frankness in it.
George had a fair knowledge of human nature, and he judged
that he might enlist this strange creature in his service, and find her
very useful.
He was satisfied of one thing; it was of no use to attempt to de-
ceive her or shake her off, unless he made up his mind to forego his
✓
91
GEORGE CHRISTY.
Với n tất c
adventure altogether, and get away from the vicinity as quickly as
possible.
A moment's still further consideration convinced him that, after
all, the presence of this strange creature might prove a very fortu-
nate incident.
She certainly could have no interest against him, and once enlisted
in his favor, the chances were that she would prove as true as steel.
She was thoroughly posted in the dangerous vicinity, to begin
with.
Besides, she was acquainted, as she said, with every resident of the
Five Points for the last twenty-five years.
Above all, her face indicated a rough-and-ready sort of honest
frankness.
George determined to make a partial confidant of her and enlist
her services.
44
"Come with me," he said. 'I want to have a few words with
you."
""
Aha! ye are not so Irish as ye were! What has become of yer
brogue?"
(5
I want to show you my hand.”
*
Well, open yer palms, and niver fear that any harm will come
to yer through the instrumentality of Gipsy Bet.'
""
Our hero had often heard of Gipsy Bet.
She had figured in many a police trial, and he remembered that
her general character was bad, with the exception that no punish-
ment had ever succeeded in making her give away any of her crimi-
nal associates.
He had once heard a prominent detective make the remark that if
Gipsy Bet would turn State's evidence, the police could send a dozen
notorious criminals to Sing Sing, without a doubt.
George had never seen the woman, but he was satisfied that she
told the truth, and now stood in his presence.
"C
GEORGE again said to the woman:
">
Come away with me; 1 want to talk with you.'
Are ye a detective?" asked the woman.
<<
((
Why do you ask?”
Because, if ye are, I want nothing to do wid yer."
66
I am not a detective. Come away with me.
("
CHAPTER XXXII.
+C
Why can't ye spake right here?"
"It might happen that parties may see us together whom I do not
wish should.
#s
"
Well, we will walk away a bit, but, moind ye, if ye are a de-
tective, and ye try to play me, I'll do ye a bad turn; and Gipsy Bet
always kapes her word whin she kiu; and if the dead could spake
I'd hev mony witnesses to what 1 say.
>>
Our hero's blood ran cold upon hearing this terrible confession;
and yet he did not look upon it as an idle boast.
Little do the citizens of New York dream of what fearful vendet-
tas the streets of New York almost weekly witness.
+
92
GEORGE CHRISTY.
You may depend that I am not a detective.”
"Ye will admit ye are in disguise?"
<<
"Yes."
And many's the detective has come down to the Points in dis-
guise, and gone away thinking that he had made a point on some of
the gangs, whin in fact the points hev all been made agin himself."
When you allow me to talk to you a bit you will be satisfied
that I am not playing any points, but I am having points played
upon me; and that is why I am in disguise.
""
& C
Be gorra, ye have an honest heart and generous blood in yer
veins."
+6
"
How do you know that?"
""
1 have a touch of gypsy blood in me veins, and me instincts are
very strong. I think I kin belave what ye tell me.
"You can."
"All right. Come away a bit now, till we see.
As George and Gipsy Bet moved away, a dark figure rose from a
corner of the street and stole stealthily after them.
Bet led the way to a dark alley, when, bidding George to stand
still a moment, she moved away.
A few steps from the entrance to the alley-way she came to a spot
where she found the figure of a man skulking around.
Bet advanced toward the man, and suddenly fastening her strong,
bony hand upon his shoulder, she asked:
66
Who the divil are ye?"
"It's me. "
• C
Ah-ha, Crummy, it's you, is it? And what are ye doin' skulkin'
afther me when I hev business upon me hands?"
""
An' I've not been skulkin'.'
">
""
66
Ye must not attimpt to desave me, Crummy; ye know betther
than that. Didn't I see ye hidin' by Boylan's doorway all the toime?
Ay, but I did, and divil a word did ye hear."
#6
Ye don't know, Bet, how much 1 heard.
Well, ye kin just listen to me, now, me man Crummy; it ye're
not out av the Points in less than five minutes, ould Bet will be afther
tellin' the cops' to look into the death of the man who was found
floatin' down in the slip less than twenty-four hours ago.
C
""
A curse on ye, Bet, for an ould witch, that ye know ivery thing
above and below wather!"
41
""
>"
"Indade 1 do, Crummy, but as yez called a curse upon me, just
moind now, lave the Points, as 1 hev business to-night in which ye
hev no part. An' if ye don't, I'll not only drop a word to the
cops,' but I'll lave wid ye a curse from the stars!"'
¿4
Stay yer words, Bet. Faith, I'm away, an' I was not listenin'
to ye; an' it was only a word I was wantin' to spake wid ye, but it
will do as well another time; but ye'll be silent, an' not lay the
curse on me?"
66
The curse will lay on ye if ye hang around to dog my steps,
whether 1 know it or not; but if ye go away, faith, ye're free only
from the curses yer own crimes may bring upon yer treacherous
head; so moind, now!"
These two strange characters at once separated.
Bet returned to the alley where she had left our hero, and Crum-
7
GEORGE CHRISTY.
93
my, the man who feared the telling of the story of the floating body,
stole in the darkness through a street which led directly toward the
river.
When left alone in the dark alley, George began to grow sus-
picious.
An idea struck him that possibly, after all, he had been foolish to
give the least particle of confidence to Gipsy Bet.
He was, however, on the alert.
He placed his hand upon the halt of the knife which he had
concealed upon his person.
The grasp was strong and confident, and if enemies had known it,
they would have held off from a man so nervy and determined.
He had just made up his mind to steal forth from the alley-way,
when he beheld the tall form of Bet.
66
Faith, it's all right now, sir," she said.
"What is all right?" asked George.
Ay; but there was a skulkin' divil lying around to overhear
what ye had to tell me.
"?
66
19
I saw no one.
Indade ye did not; but I did.
now. When Gipsy Bet threatens
one here in the Points as will go
yer business.'
"I am in search of a young girl who has been stolen,” said
George, coming straight down to business.
*
<<
CL
Ay; and that's the lay yer on?”
"Yes."
<<
Is it the young gurl that has been advertised in the Herald' as
missin' for some time back?"
<
Yes."
6.
Is she a relative of yours?"’
No."
"Faith! that's frank and honest for ye to own that out straight
44
But ye nade hev no fears uv him
the curse of the stars, there's not
ag'in what she says; and now to
and square.
"I take great interest in the girl, however.”
""
Mebbe ye would marry her one uv these foine days afther ye
find her?"
4
No."
"And why are ye afther her, thin? Is it paid ye are to be to find
her?"
14
86
>>
"No."
'What sends ye on this errand, thin?"
Simply interest in the fate of a pretty girl who has been
wronged; and if you will help me to-night, you shall have a ten-
dollar gold piece.
"?
C
""
Faith, ye kin command me as yer plaze.
•
heart, although me ways may be crooked.
Ca
To prove that I have.perfect confidence in you, I will pay you
the money now.
>>
As George spoke he handed the strange woman a golden eagle.
**
That is the smartest stroke of work ye hev done to night," said
the woman, as she eagerly closed her hand over the golden coin,
"I can depend upon you?" said George.
Faith, I hev not a bad
J
:
94
GEORGE CHRISTY.
"Ye can.
lived to betray.
Gold never crossed my palm from a friend that ever I
"You won't go and spend the money, and make yourself helpless
to serve me?"
How do you mane?”
""
By taking too much of the juice, as you call it.'
Faith, me foine boy, Gipsy Bet niver dhrinks at her own ex-
pinse, and it's little I take at the expinse of others. It's a clear
head 1 loike to keep."
**
Are you acquainted in Boylan's?"
'1 am."
"
"Will you go in there, and come back here after awhile, and let
me know if there are any strangers there?"
""
"
""
<<
"I will.'
""
Yes, at present.
Gipsy Bet disappeared, and George remained standing in the dark
alley-way.
Little did he dream that before morning he would pass through
adventures of the most thrilling and startling nature.
Full half an hour passed.
Our hero began to fear that after all, Gipsy Bet had forgotten her-
self, when once again he recognized her tall, gaunt form coming
through the alley-way.
66
¿
Go, then, and I will await you here."
"Is that all ye would have me foind out?"
44
4.
cover any strangers?”
"
Begorra, man, but there is something up in the Points to-night.”
But you have not answered my question."
46
I can do that aisy.”
"
C
#
Why don't you?" said George, impatiently.
Well, me friend, there are strangers there, and they are in dis
guise, like yerself, and I will tell ye how I found thim out."
44
C
Well," asked George,
CHAPTER XXXIII.
THIS reply of Bet's convinced our hero taat the woman meant to
play him fair.
The situation in which George found himself was a strange and
startling one, but once having enlisted in the affair, he was resolved
to see it through.
66
'How did you detect the strangers?" asked the disguised minstrel.
Didn't I tell you that I knew every inhabitant around the Points,
shure?"
"
""
are the old gang there, or did you dis-
What kind of looking men are the strangers in Boylan's?"
Well, now, I could answer that it was hard to tell, as, like
yourself, they are in disguise.
""
66
How did you detect them, then?"
"
**
I towld you onct.
+4
But you say these men are in disguise?"
Well, how did I detect you?"
By my hands, you admitted.”
4
GEORGE CHRISTY.
95
Well, it was by their hands that 1 fust detected the three stran
gers in Boylan's.
<<
There are three of them?”
** Yis."
""
«<
C
66
"
Are they rough men?”
>>
They are foreigners.'
"Yis.
“What countrymen?”
Well, it's hard to tell whether they're Spanish, French, or Ital-
ians. But they'r nayther Irish, English, Scotch, or Americans.'
George considered a moment what he should do under the circum-
stances.
He was satisfied that the three foreigners were the parties whom
he was to meet, but he had received no intimation that they were to
be in disguise.
This latter fact added to the suspicion he had all along experi
enced, that the whole affair was a trick to inveigle him into some
out-of-the-way place to dispose of him.
He had been ordered to come in disguise.
Foreigners?"
>>
"I
This face alone was a strikingly suspicious circumstance.
Then again the place selected for his meeting with the men ap-
pointed to conduct him to the presence of the girl was one where it
would be most likely that he would never be recognized as going to-
ward, and, consequently, if his death was intended, he would drop out
of existence, without leaving the least clew to enable his friends to
trace out his fate.
The last suspicion was the final information that the men he was
to meet were in disguse.
6.
At this point our hero remembered that he had not inqured the
nature of the disguise assumed by the three men, and he asked:
64
In what manner of disguise do those men in Boylan's appear?"
They are playin' off as sailors; but they make a poor fist of it,
as iv'ry one of them is a landsman of the first wather!"
George bad but little time to make up his mind.
He must either go forward or back out entirely.
He had already been for over an hour in the vicinity.
He knew that the time appointed for the meeting must have ar
rived.
44
By thunder!" he muttered, at length, "be it life or death, I'll
risk it!"'
Turning to Bet, he said:
"See here, old woman, I must depend upon you as a friend, and
you must aid me to-night.'
""
M
**
'Ye can depend upon Gipsy Bet; ye are a gintleman born,
whether ye came wid a silver spoon, or were wrapped at yer birth in
the scorched ind of an owld blanket."
"
Can I depend upon your faithfulness and discretion?"
Faith! if ye had toime to make inquiries of the police, and
judges of the courts in this city, ye could soon satisfy yerself that
whin Gipsy Bet onct gives her word she'll stick to it to the death."
Those three strangers in Boylan's are there to meet me.'
"Ah! but I'm sorry for that!”
44
"}
96
GEORGE CHRISTY.
**
Why?"
Bekase I think they are a dangerous lot to trust one's life wid.'
Forewarned is forearmed.'
་་
'I know that, and one game man is as good as three secret assas-
sins any time."
It struck George as a singular confirmation of his own suspicions,
when old Bet spoke of three men as assassins.
He had made up his mind, however, to see the affair through, and
he said:
You and I ought to be a match for them."
That we are, my man; and mother niver watched over her
child as I'll watch over you this night.
Our hero felt satisfied.
"
<<
""
He knew that the strange creature whom he had met under the
circumstances so providentially, was probably the safest guide, and
best guardian and assistant that he could have.
Together they proceeded to Boylan's after having arranged upon a
plan of action, and a score of signals for exchange, as emergencies
might arise.
It is hardly necessary for us to describe the interior of Boylan's.
Similar low resorts can be seen in every city of the United States.
It was merely a low-ceiled, black-walled, filthy grog-shop, with a
counter fronting a meager shelving.
On the latter were arranged a few tea-caddies and other cans and
canisters, intended to give the place an appearance of being a gro-
cery store.
The most prominent articles, however, were the decanters, and
black bottles, and ornamented bitters jars.
The walls were lined with benches, and a few stools were provided
for card-players who wished to avail themselves of the privileges of
the rickety table located in one corner of the filthy room.
George had not been in the house a moment before he discovered
that Gipsy Bet was a sort of influential person in that low and miser-
able quarter.
Walking up to the bar, she said, in a loud, harsh voice:
Come, gintlemen, ye will all have a bit av the juice wid a friend
av moine that I haven't seen this mony a day until this blissed
night.'
""
The miserable crowd did not require any urging.
George fell into the spirit of the adventurer, and took his position
at the head of the bar, and while pretending to acknowledge the in-
troductions of those around him, he was really studying the appear-
ance of the three sailors whom he had recognized upon the instant
of his entrance.
..
In this scrutiny it was evident that he had the advantage, as neither
of the three men appeared to suspect that he was other than what
be seeined.
The scene that followed is not necessary to describe.
There was the same maudlin talk and drunken courtesy that can
always be witnessed upon such occasions and in such company.
George was voted the noblest fellow the sun ever shone upon.
This latter expression reminds us of an amusing incident which
GEORGE CHRISTY.
97
1
happened to that once famous minstrel and popular mañ, Tom Pren-
dergast.
Tom opened a restaurant on Fulton Street, Brooklyn, near the
ferry.
At this time Hooley's minstrels, in Brooklyn, were in the full tide
of success.
A success, we may say, that has never since been equaled in the
special minstrel business.
The actors from Hooleys' were in the habit of congregating at
Tom's place.
If we mistake not, Tom was at the time himself a member of the
company.
One afternoon Tom sat in his bar-room, conversing with that
prince of middle-men, the famous Nick Bowers.
Their conversation was interrupted by a little, confab going on at
the bar.
Before the latter stood an Irishman with a blackened face and a
scoop coal shovel over his shoulder.
On the bar stood a kettle, which the white-aproned attendant had
just filled with beer.
Ef
D'ye mind," said the Irishman, "I'm puttin' in coal for a man
just above here, and he is the finest man the sun iver shone on!"
He must be a fine man," said the bar-keeper, with a bland smile.
"He is.
Yis, sir, the Lord niver made a finer man.
He is a
perfect man in ivery particular.”
"C
落幕
​Tom saw that he had a character, and stepping forward, he said:
Come, my man, have an extra beer with me.
Thank ye, sir, I will.”
&&
That is a fine man you're putting in the coal for?”
Yis, sir; the sun niver shone upon a finer man. He is the best
man that iver lived."
"
C.
>>
Take another beer," said Tom.
Thank ye, sir," said Pat, as he put the second glass to his lips,
when, with the utmost earnestness, he added: The man I'm
puttin' in coal for is a fine man, but, Mr. Prendergast, yer worth a
thousand av him!"
""
*
CHAPTER XXXIV.
THE incident related in the foregoing chapter will aptly illustrate
the characteristic conversation that ensued as our hero settled two or
three times for a portion of the contents from the black bottles.
Half an hour passed, and the disguised minstrel had got on excel-
lent terms with all present.
He heard a great many quaint remarks, and learned lessons in
several phases of life, such as he never dreamed of even in the great
city of New York.
All the time he was watching for an opportunity to make himself
known to the three men who had come there expressly to meet him.
He managed, at length, to secure a seat alongside of one of them,
when, in a whisper, he asked:
66
Are you not playing a part?"
4
98
"GEORGE CHRISTY.
What do you mean?" answered the man, flashing a fierce glance
upon our hero.
(+
44
"
66
The man fastened a keen glance upon the minstrel, and asked, in
a low voice:
16 Are you playing dog?"
66
"You came here to meet some one," continued our hero.
As you know so much about our business, probably you can tell
us who we came to meet?"
44
I reckon I can without trying very hard.”
16
May be you are our man?”
""
Possibly 1 am.
The man uttered certain words.
""
You are in disguise!" said George, bluntly.
What are you driving at?"
You are no sailor.”
If
George replied to them, and it was at once evident that he had
made the right answer, as the fellow exclaimed:
44
Hang it! 1 must have been blind.”
You ought to have been sharper if you want to play your part
well," was the answer.
>
The man exchanged a signal with his companions, and then, turn-
ing to our hero, asked:
""
Are you ready to follow instructions?"
"Yes-on conditions."
""
"What are your conditions?”
++
I want to know where I am to be taken, and why there was so
great a necessity for disguise and secrecy.
"The secrecy was in your interest; the disguise was to aid the
secrecy; and as to where you are to be taken, that is not a part of
the agreement.
"}
64
Am I to be taken far from here?”
No."
"Will we go afoot?”
""
Yes.'
66
66
"And I am to be brought into the presence of the girl Louise?'
<i
}
"It is a part of the agreement that you should be brought into the
presence of the girl Louise, and we will take you directly there.
All right. I am at your service.'
"L
Who is the woman you came in here with?"
A creature I picked up to gain me entrance here and freedom
from questions while hunting for you.
""
The man was thoughtful for a moment, but our hero's answer.
being seemingly satisfactory, he said:
"
We will proceed at once; but you must remember that there
shall be no objection to the fulfillment of the original instructions.
"?
66
'All right!" was our hero's reply.
The man again signaled to his two companions, when the latter,
after a few moments, stole forth.
In the meantime, George had found an opportunity to exchange
signals with the old woman, Gipsy Bet.
The man told George that his name was Lasell; and at the same
time intimated that it was time for them to depart.
George remembered that there was no provision in the secret letter
1
GEORGE CHRISTY.
99
of instructions which he had received which forbade his retaining
his weapons, and he resolved to keep them about him at all hazards.
The fellow Lasell pretended to be slightly intoxicated, and rising
from his seat, he said, addressing our hero:
61
Come, old man, down aboard ship, and we will give you a turn-
in for the night in the bunkers' hole."
Boylan, the proprietor of the rum-hole, was on the point of ob
jecting to our hero's departure, when a wink from Gipsy Bet caused
him to remain silent and offer no objection.
Once outside, the man said, seizing hold of the minstrel's arm:
We must hurry up, it is getting late.
64
George offered no objection, and in silence the two men walked
swiftly along in the reeking neighborhood.
There were a few lamps here and there, but their dim lights but
illy succeeded in dispelling the cimmerian darkness which prevailed
on every side.
At length the two men came to a dark alley-way.
There were numbers of such alley-ways in this fearful locality at
the time of which we write, and many were the scenes of violence
that occurred in some of them time and again.
The man led the way up this alley to a new building.
In the darkness, our hero could discover, as it loomed above him,
that it was a miserable, dilapidated-looking abode.
Our hero's conductor opened a door which led into a narrow pas-
sage-way.
The moment George stepped within the doorway it was closed
behind him.
• 6
'You must now submit to be blindfolded," said Lasell.
The first promptings of the minstrel was to protest, but remem-
bering that he had passed his promise, he merely said:
"All right; proceed!"
In a moment a head bandage, evidently made for the purpose,
was slipped over his eyes, and the next instant all sense and memory
fled from him.
When George recovered his senses, he found that he was still
blindfolded.
He involuntarily raised his hands to remove the bandage, when he
heard a voice beside him remark:
44
'Wait a moment; the bandage will be removed presently."
Our hero felt strange enough.
He was now perfectly conscious, and at the same time aware that
for a period he had been unconscious.
For how long he had been so he did not know, and by what means
he had been deprived of his senses he could not tell.
A moment passed.
It was a terrible moment to our hero.
It seemed to him that days and even weeks and months were
crowded into that brief period.
At length he felt a hand at his head.
The next instant the bandage was removed.
The first sight that met his view was three masked figures stand-
ing near.
Naturally he rubbed his eyes, and then calmly gazed around,
?
=
jy
GEORGE CHRISTY.
100
He was not at all excited now.
Having prepared himself for intended surprises, he was as cool
and calm as though he were not the central figure of a startling
tableau.
The apartment in which he found himself was elegantly, even
luxuriously, furnished.
A heavily-gilded chandelier depended from the center of the ceil-
ing.
One of the burners was lighted and turned low, casting a dim and
religious light over the magnificent furniture to be seen on every
side.
Not a word was spoken by any of the masked men standing
around.
Our hero was permitted to gaze silently about him.
At length, determined to break the awe-inspiring stillness, George
said, in a light, cheerful manner and voice:
"Well, go on with the play. What is to come next?'
A voice came from behind one of the masks, saying:
"You came to find a missing girl?"
>>
"I did.'
Will you answer a few questions?"
"It depends upon the nature of the questions, my friend; you
must admit that thus far your people have had about their own way
in this little comedy.'
"
'You may find this comedy transformed into a tragedy.'
""
CL
I shouldn't be at all surprised," answered George, in a significant
tone, adding, immediately, or a grand farce for a closing scene!"
'Did you ever wrong the girl Louise?" came the question, with
solemn distinctness.
""
44
44
""
What right have you to ask that question?"
>>
'Never mind the right-answer it.
"I will not until 1 know to whom the answer is given.”
"I did not suppose you would answer the question, but come,
follow me, and you shall find that every promise made you will be
religiously fulfilled.
As the masked man spoke, he led the way toward an alcove be-
fore which hung heavy black curtains, seemingly of the richest
velvet.
""
Step this way," said the man.
George did as directed, when the two other masked men came.
forward, and drew the black pall aside.
A sight met our hero's view that chilled his blood, and caused
him to recoil as though he had suddenly found himself at the brink
of a chasm.
CHAPTER XXXV.
FOR a moment the startled minstrel was speechless.
He glared in a terrified manner at the startling picture presented
to his gaze.
Upon a pair of undertaker's stools rested a coffin.
A black pall was partly thrown over the casket, leaving only that
portion clear from whence the head-piece had been removed.
GEORGE CHRISTY.
101
Upon a stand near the head of the casket was a large astral lamp,
with a shade so adjusted that the clear, white light was thrown
directly down upon the face of the dead.
George would have moved away.
He was an iron-nerved man, but there was something appalling in
this terribly solemn tableau which completely unnerved him.
A voice came from behind the mask, saying:
64
Advance, and behold who lies in the casket!"
“What have I to do with your dead, you fools?" retorted the
minstrel, in an indignant tone.
"Advance, and behold your victim!" again came the voice.
A certain revelation flashed over our hero's mind.
Ile remembered the woman Zillah, as she had called herself, but
really Agnes Relton, the wife of the man who had sought his life.
He thought now he could see through the whole mystery.
That wild, fierce, impetuous woman had either died, or, more
probably, had killed herself, and he was to be made the victim of a
slow revenge.
His nerve returned.
He determined to precipitate matters.
If it was to be a struggle for life, he felt that the struggle might
as well come first as last.
The minstrel possessed a clear conscience.
He had done no wrong, and if evil had overtaken any one, it was
not his concern.
"
Will you advance and behold your victim?" again came the
question from behind the mask.
$6
'I have no victims, and this comedy, farce, tragedy, or whatever
you may call it, has proceeded far enough," said George, in decided
and determined tones.
"L
Have you no curiosity to learn who lies in yonder coffin?”
"I have not.
>
"You will behold a face that you have beheld before; you will
gaze upon lips, now closed in death, which once whispered sweet
and loving words in your ears.
"there are
C
"See here, my friend," suddenly exclaimed George,
three to one against me, but as sure as your living face is hidden
behind that cursed mask, if you don't run in your flats' on this
situation,' there will be three more subjects for coffins and black
palls!''
"Would you harm those who intend no harm to you?”’
着​属
​If no harm is intended toward me, why am I made the subject
of this grim joke?".
No joke is intended. Are you afraid to gaze upon the face of
one who was once dear to you?"
•
0%
I suspect whose body lies in yonder casket, and I proclaim that
she was never a friend of mine-ay, not even an acquaintance!"
"Advance and behold whose form lies in that coffin, before you
disclaim a friendship.
">
++
J
Do you wish me to gaze upon the face of the dead?”
It was for that purpose we led you here."
Then remove your mask, and let me see who it is that makes
the request.
>
Ber⠀
"
102
GEORGE CHRISTY.
6t
i
'22 It matters not who makes the request-advance and behold the
face of the dead."
George was becoming exasperated.
He began to feel that the whole affair was a conspiracy to prey
upon his teelings-in fact, a curious mode of vengeance.
He felt for his pistol, and found it undisturbed.
Running his hand around, he felt for his knife. That, too, seem-
ingly, was ready for instant use.
He now felt more assured, and determined to bring the strange
scene to an immediate termination.
#6
Lead me from this place!" he said.
"Go first and glance upon the face of the dead."
CS
I am losing patience!" asserted our hero.
+4
You must calm yourself. You have come here for a purpose,
and that purpose must be fulfilled.”
George drew his pistol from his pocket, and cocking it, he said:
""
'It will be dangerous to trifle with me any longer!"
The masked men did not exhibit the slightest signs of trepidation
at the sight of his weapon; on the contrary, the man who all along
had acted as spokesman, said, in as calm and even a voice as previ-
ously:
f
You have a simple duty before you, why do you shrink from it;-
are you a coward?”
The minstrel raised his pistol, and said, in a deliberate, determined
manner:
Lead me from this place, or, by Heaven! I'll send a ball through
your mask, and your head will have to take an even chance.
"
The masked man did not blanch, although he was standing not
more than four feet from the muzzle of the raised pistol.
The scene presented was a thrilling and startling one.
There rested the coffin, with the light from the astral lamp thrown
down upon the face of the corpse.
The three masked men stood each in a particular attitude, as
motionless as statues.
And again the most prominent figure was our hero in his rough
garb, his raised hand armed with the cocked pistol, and his face
glowing with anger and excitement.
George was puzzled.
He had supposed that the presentation of his pistol would have
precipitated a quarrel.
On the contrary, he was treated like a fretful boy.
The men did not appear to be at all intimidated nor anxious to
force a struggle.
The situation was an exasperating one, and prompted by the an-
noyance that he experienced, George determined to discharge his
pistol without taking aim.
<<
You are warned," he said; and added, with his pistol still
raised: Take me from this place, or I fire!"
46
His threat was treated with a quiet laugh, from all three of the
masked men, while the spokesman said, in an aggravating tone:
66
Blaze away, if you see fit.
The minstrel could stand no more.
His finger was upon the trigger of his pistol, and he pulled,
"
GEORGE CHRISTY.
103
·
The hammer fell, but the flash and report did not follow. On
the contrary, a second laugh fell upon his ears.
The truth flashed upon his mind.
The charge had been drawn from his pistol while he was uncon-
scious.
He still held his knife.
The latter he essayed to draw, when a second mortification
greeted him.
A wooden imitation had been substituted for the glittering knife
with which he had originally armed himself.
The whole affair now began to assume the proportions of a huge
joke.
A revelation flashed over his mind that the three masked men were
minstrels, and that the coffin contained a dummy.
The conviction that, after all, he had been played, made him
determined to drive the joke back with interest upon the gentlemen
who had selected him as their victim.
Of one thing he was satisfied, the coffin was a gotten-up affair,
intended only for effect.
Rapidly thinking the matter over, he came to the conclusion that
in all probability one of his own intimate friends was the pretended
corpse.
He determined to give Mr. Corpse a bounce.
Having adopted the conclusions above stated, he resolved also to
play his own part now, believing that thus far the jokers had all the
play to themselves.
In a perfectly cool manner George said:
"You chaps have got the best of me, but if that' barker' had
been loaded, the laugh would not have followed.'
66
We are only here to fulfill the agreement made with you.'
That sounds very nice, my friend, but I want you to understand
1 have only encountered just what I anticipated I should; you have
played well, and I am satisfied, as I came to see a play.
Will you advance and behold the face in the coffin?"
Yes, I will," said George, and as he spoke he advanced toward
the casket.
""
""
fi
He had made up his mind as to just what he would do, little
dreaming that a terrible result would follow.
As previously stated the coffin rested upon two undertaker's stools.
The slightest push was sufficient to topple it over.
Satisfied that the whole affair was a huge joke, George had made
up his mind to upset the coffin, and tumble the supposed living and
breathing occupant out upon the floor.
He advanced as stated and an instant later stood beside the casket,
when he recoiled, and a cry of anguish fell from his lips.
"
Murderers!" he exclaimed, fiercely facing toward the three
masked men.
The latter still stood motionless.
All idea of a joke was banished from our hero's mind.
The one glance upon the marble face in the coffin had convinced
him that, after all, he was an actor in a terrible tragedy, and not a
laughable farce, as he had been led to suppose.
104
GEORGE CHRISTY.
1
CHAPTER XXXVI.
GEORGE at one glance had recognized the face in the coffin.
Even his first, as well as his second conclusion had proved incor- .
rect.
It was not one of his companions, nor was it Agnes Relton.
He had seen those features in life but a few times, and yet in
their marble rigidness he recognized them as belonging to the miss-
ing girl, the once lovely Louise.
For a moment, after having recoiled and uttered the exclamation,
he stood still. He was undetermined what course to pursue.
The voice came from behind the mask, saying:
46
Ah, ha! you recognize the dead, do you?”
Yes, and shall recognize the murderer!" cried George, and as
he spoke he sprung toward the masked man.
A fearful struggle ensued. All of the masked men were joined
against our hero.
In the struggle, the masks were torn from each of their faces, but
the latter feat did not avail our hero as far as recognition was con-
cerned, as the men had blackened their faces.
Our hero, as our reader knows, was a powerful man, and as it
was, proved almost a match for his three assailants.
Had they sought to kill him they could have done so, but for
some strange reason their only effort appeared to be to overpower
him.
"L
It was a noiseless struggle as far as shouts or exclamations were
concerned, but none the less desperate.
Two or three times the strong-limbed minstrel had thrown each
of them in succession on the floor, and yet they rallied and came at
him again, seemingly determined to wear him out in the end.
At length two of them got hold of him.
George was becoming exhausted,“otherwise he would have man-
aged to free himself from their grasp.
Still he struggled, when he heard one of the men direct the other,
speaking in French.
The command appeared to be an order to put out the light.
At the same moment the three men struggled toward the casket
containing the body of the dead girl.
George made a superhuman effort to free himself from the grasp
of his assailants.
In doing so he caused all three to fall.
Unfortunately, they were near the coffin, and a horrible incident
followed.
They fell against the casket.
The latter was overturned, at the same moment the table holding
the astral lamp toppled over, and the lamp tumbled upon the floor
with a terrible crash.
Utter darkness followed.
George, for an instant, was completely bewildered, but was re-
GEORGE CHRISTY.
105
***
called suddenly to a terrible consciousness by hearing a fearful shriek
close to his ear.
His blood curdled as with the shrieks came the assurance that they
issued from female lips.
The next moment the brave minstrel sunk into unconsciousness.
When our hero recovered his senses, he found himself lying upon
the sidewalk in a dark street, with a steady rain pouring upon him.
For a moment he could not realize where he was or where he had
been.
Gradually, however, his recollection returned.
He remembered the scene of horror in the parlor where the corpse
had lain in its coffin.
He remembered the struggle and the overturning of the casket,
the crash of the lamp, the darkness, and the fearful shriek of terror.
He rose to his feet.
Although he remembered the scenes related, still, at first, the recol-
lection was but a dim, dreamy realization.
Had he really been dreaming?"
No, this could not be so, and yet he was still slightly bewildered.
He walked a few steps toward a street lamp which he saw glim-
mering in the distance.
The lamp proved to be upon the corner of a street.
He looked about in every direction to see if he could recognize the
locality in which he found himself.
He could not.
At length, however, his senses became perfectly clear.
He traced his course from the time he had left the minstrel hall
until the moment when, by some subtle influence, he had been made
unconscious in the doorway of the dilapidated dwelling to which his
conductor had first led him.
Again he took up the thread of incidents from the moment when
the mask had been removed in the elegantly furnished parlor.
He was dripping wet.
How long he had lain in the rain before returning to conscious-
ness he knew not; nor did he know what the hour was.
Of one thing he appeared satisfied--he was having lots of advent-
ures, and those of a most remarkable character at that.
Again he was satisfied that in some way he had been fooled, but
for what purpose he could not imagine.
He was satisfied that the girl in the coffin was not dead, and had
been a party to the singular conspiracy, or else it was a case of
wonderful and startling resurrection.
In the latter idea our hero did not take much stock; and yet it
was a mystery to him how the girl, Louise, should come to lend
herself to such a singular and seemingly nonsensical plot.
He could not conceive what motive she could have had.
Our hero was still standing in the rain, under the light from the
street lamp, ruminating over his strange adventures, when he saw a
figure advancing toward him down the street.
As the latter drew nearer, he recognized that it was a woman, and
a moment later was glad to discover that it was the strange creature,
Gypsy Bet.
V PLANL
106-
GEORGE CHRISTY.
tv
As she reached the spot where our hero was standing, she ex-
claimed:
LE
Ah, here it is ye are.
"Yes," answered George, in a dazed kind of manner, after the
fashion of a man who couldn't exactly tell where he was going, or
where he had come from.
64
Well, I'm glad to set eyes upon ye, which 1 thought I would
niver be afther doin' ag'in."
""
66
IM
>>
How long is it since you saw me last?" asked George.
"The matther of an hour and a half, to the best of my thinkin'."
Only an hour and a half!"' murmured George," and it seems to
me that it is a week and a half?”
1
"Ye may well say so, but by the powers! what hev ye to tell
me? Where hev ye been, and who hev ye seen?" asked Gypsy Bet,
in a quick, rapid manner.
"I can hardly tell myself," replied George.
(6
Ah, but it's that ye don't want to tell. A man in his full senses
would know what he had seen during a brief hour and a half, if he
were awake."
"
64
Ah! but there's the rub," said George, with a slight return of
his usual jovial manner.
64 6
There's the rub!' And what do ye mane by that gibberish?”
"I mean that I did not have my senses, and that I was not
awake."
"It's fun ye're makin' now!" exclaimed Bet, in an indignant
tone.
"1 am telling you the truth," said George.
""
Was it drugged ye were?"
""
1 was.
44
Be the powers, thin, mebbe I can tell ye more about where ye
hev been than ye know yersel'!"
George and the woman had been standing in the rain.
The former was wet through to the skin; the latter, however,
wore an oilskin cloak, and had managed to shield herself from the
rain.
Addressing George, Gypsy Bet said:
"See here, me frind, it's wet ye are to the skin; would ye moind
comin' to Gypsy Bet's eyrie, that ye may dry yersel', and talk over
matthers and things!"'
George was young, tough and strong.
In those days the loss of a night's rest did not amount to much,
so far as he was concerned.
In fact, he could have remained out a week, and still have been
perfectly capable of attending to his business.
When Bet said that she could tell him more than he knew him-
self, his interest was deeply aroused, and he said at once:
"Yes, 1 will go anywhere, for I want to tell you, old woman, 1
have struck upon a deep mystery to-night, and I am going to un-
ravel it, if it costs me my life!''
·
Gypsy Bet led the way, and George followed her.
The woman did not go far, when she stopped in front of an old-
fashioned house right in the very heart of the Points.
"It's in here I live,” she said.
39
GEORGE CHRISTY.
107
A moment later George was ushered into a room on the top floor
of the house.
The minstrel was surprised at the neatness and cleanliness of
everything around him.
There was a nice carpet upon the floor; the furniture was plain
but good, and under the light of the lamp Gypsy Bet had lighted,
everything looked as nice and cozy as you please.
Take a seat," said Bet.
66
George did so, when the old gypsy said:
For the first toime in me life I was fooled on the Points. I hev
a strange story to tell ye, me frind, or ye would niver hey been
made unconscious, for ould Bet would hev been nigh to save ye;-
but it's all right, by their very cunningness the divils hev bethrayed
thimselves!"
46
CHAPTER XXXVII.
IN our initial chapters we promised our readers that we would
relate comic, pathetic, and authentic incidents in the career of many
of the famous minstrels.
In order to make good this promise, it is necessary to interrupt
the main current of our narrative, and record the prominent inci-
dents as they occur to our minds.
We have related numerous comic instances in minstrel life, and
we now wish to present an authentic tale which combines both pa-
thetic and comic elements.
S
We can not do better than to entitle the incident, "The Last
'Lay' of a Minstrel; or, Billy Hart's Stratagem.'
The famous tambo-man, and eccentric comedian, Billy Hart, like
other minstrel stars, is the central figure of numerous comic inci-
dents.
""
In his time, this talented artist has been a member of some of the
greatest and most noted minstrel troupes that ever flashed their black
jokes from behind the footlights.
As an end-man story-teller, Billy was only surpassed by our in-
imitable hero, George Christy.
Off the stage, Hart is the counterpaart of those old-time eccentri-
cians, Nelse Seymour and Eph Horn.
Like old Eph, he is constantly giving utterance to well-pointed
witticisms, and at all times, whether on or off the stage, he is a con-
stant source of amusement for the company in which he may be.
At one time, during Billy's career, after roaming the world over,
and winning fame, plaudits, and medals, he settled to what he
termed "domestic felicity.'
}}
With an air of pleasant drollery, he used to relate the first experi-
ences of an old circus-rider at housekeeping.
Many years ago Billy was attached to a company which included
a young man whose real name was Vannatta.
The latter was not a performer possessed of any great histrionic
talent, while he managed to fill a certain niche in the profession.
He was, however, a whole-souled, generous chap, and being pos-
sessed of some means outside of the profession, proved to be very
liberal and open-handed upon all occasions.
7
108
In fact, among his brethren in the profession he spent his money
lavishly, and instead of laying by a sum for a rainy day, recklessly
squandered the amount which he already had in his possession.
At length money and health were gone, and soon his physical con-
dition compelled him to throw up his situation.
For a short time the ex-ministrel sought to earn a scanty living
by such light mercantile work as he could obtain.
1
GEORGE CHRISTY.
5
Two or three years passed, and as he had never been very promi-
nent in the profession he drifted away from his former associates,
and was wholly forgotten by a majority of them.
Finally poor Vannatta's health became so precarious that he was
incapacitated from doing any work at all.
1
His condition became desperate in the extreme.
Want stared him in the face, and he was reduced to such a state
that he could not actually procure the medicines ordered by the
physicians.
Unfortunately, during the days of prosperity he had not joined
any of the professional benevolent associations, and being neither a
Mason nor an Odd Fellow, he was left entirely dependent upon the
cold charities of the world.
At length his doctor told him that he must seek a warmer and
more genial climate, or make up his mind to live but a few weeks,
or at most months.
It is a sad thing, in the very prime of life, to be told that one must
die unless he should go to some other State, and not have the means
to go with.
This was the case with the poor minstrel.
A man who had not the means to purchase the medicines ordered
could have little hope of going to Florida.
Poor fellow, his heart yearned for the genial clime of that distant
State, but he had no means of getting there, not even the first cent.
As stated, he had been so long out of the profession that he had
passed from the recollection of most of his former friends.
He had little to expect from them, and yet there were none others
toward whom he could turn in his hour of need.
Driven almost to despair, he finally resolved to solicit aid from the
few who might still remember him, as once having belonged to their
guild.
One after another was hunted up and asked to contribute some-
thing toward his passage and sustenance while absent.
The majority of those whom he saw treated him kindly.
Some of them gave him small amounts of money, but the season
was a hard one in the amusement world, and more gave him merely
condolence, and others kindly sympathized with him, asked him to
drink, and hoped that he would soon get better.
Thus the days passed. The cold weather was coming on, and he
was still unable to raise sufficient to get away to those balmy airs
that would bring back life and vigor to his wasting frame.
One day, when wearied and discouraged, the poor ex-minstrel en-
countered Billy Hart.
Billy had never been intimate with him, and Vannatta had no
real claim upon his sympathies.
Still, when Billy heard the poor fellow's story, his heart was
{
GEORGE CHRISTY.
--109
touched, and in characteristic manner he gave expression to his
sympathy.
After listening patiently to Vannatta's sorrowful story, and the
details of his ineffectual attempts to obtain the necessary money,
Billy blurted out, at the conclusion of his old comrade's tale:
1.
Well, old man, I don't see as there is any other course left for
you, but to die!"
The ex-minstrel's countenance fell upon hearing this cruel reply.
During the recital of his sad story he had observed the indications.
of sympathy depicted upon Billy's expressive countenance. Judge,
then, of the poor fellow's despair and agony when this heartless an--
swer fell upon his ears.
The sick man gazed at Billy with an expression of mute despair
upon his wasted countenance, as the latter repeated, with peculiar
emphasis:
66
居家
​Yes, yes, old man, that's what you've got to do: you must die!”
Well," answered Vannatta, mournfully, after a moment, "I am
sure I can not hold out much longer.
>>
66
{
'Nonsense, man!" retorted Billy. Yes you will hold out, and
you are going to Florida. But you must die first.”
64
There is no use of sending my body down there after the breath
has left it. 1 can be buried under the snow as well as under the
magnolia trees.”
#4
(+
S4
Oh! you don't tumble to what I mean," laughed Billy Hart,
adding, This is only a last lay I want to put you on.
46
The old minstrel's eyes brightened for a moment with the jovial
sparkle of former years, as he replied:
44
Yes, I guess I am going to my last lay, that's pretty certain."
Bah," exclaimed Hart: "I see you don't tumble to my mean-
ing. Now listen. It's a funny side of human nature, but it's a
ghastly fact the world over, that money which is refused to help
the living, will be laid out lavishly when too late for a man, on his
funeral.
The ex-minstrel looked mystified, and inquired:
>>
"What do you mean?"
"1
'I mean," said Billy, "that you must go home and go to bed.
Here's five dollars to let you die comfortably. Day after to-morrow
let your landlady address me a note stating that poor Vannatta went
quietly to sleep-that is, died-this morning at five o'clock, and in
the note let her inquire of me if I will assume the responsibility of
your funeral.”
Billy explained more fully his purposes, and the invalid departed.
Upon the second day the shrewd Billy received the note as ar-
ranged, and he started on a mission among the former friends of
the reputed dead minstrel.
It was astonishing into what prominence poor Vannatta's past
virtues suddenly grew.
One after another of his former acquaintances came down liberally
for the funeral, and ere nightfall Billy had raised sufficient money
to send the poor ex-minstrel to Florida.
Down the singular strategist goes to the sick man's house, and it
was not a coffin that he purchased for him, but good clothing, and
many other necessary comforts.
110
GEORGE CHRISTY.
"
Billy had not stopped until he had raised not only sufficient to
send Vannatta to Florida, but enough, also, to keep him there for
six months.
The invalid left, and in a year returned a comparatively well man.
We will not dwell upon the merriment that followed an exposure
of the charitable trick.
All hands were satisfied, and rejoiced when it became known,
after all, that they had contributed their money for a living one in-
stead of a dead friend.
We have told a true story, and the lesson taught applies to people
out of the profession more pointedly than to those in it, as it is a
fact that, as a class, professionals are the most tender-hearted and
charitable of any peculiar class, as is witnessed by their many be-
nevolent societies.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
To return to our hero.
Seated in the neat apartment of the strange woman, Gypsy Bet,
he listened to her story, and how it was that the parties who had
played a trick upon him had betrayed themselves by their over-cun-
ning.
Ye see,
"said old Bet, "I know about ivery nook and corner
around the Points, and whin ye wint out wid that dark-faced chap,
1 jist followed afther ye: and ye remimber whin ye turned up that
dark alley-way?"
*
'I do," said George.
66
Well, just that moment I saw that there was some one else fol-
lowing afther us, and I just turned about to thrust him off uv the
thrack whin, be the powers, I just lost sight uv ye altogether."
· <"
Do you remember the alley-way where we turned in?"
"I do!"
"L
And do you know concerning the rear house at the terminus of
the alley-way?"
I do."
"
"What sort of house is that?"
"Faith! it's an unoccupied place altogether; there is but one floor
to it, the others were burned out.'
""
#4
But there was a door and passage-way."
44
'I know that."
"Well, it was the moment that 1 passed through that doorway
that 1 became unconscious.
"
•
•
And that is just where I dropped to the plan. When ye was
made unconscious ye was carried through into the next street, and
then ye wer' taken to another house, and there is but one house
within a mile of the Points that could hev' a room furnished as ye
say the one was in which ye found yersel' when ye came to your
senses, aither havin' been made unconscious with a drug.
"
"The room in which I found myself was elegantly furnished,”
said George.
46
""
To be sure it was, and 1 reckon that 1 kin just lade ye to that
house in the daylight widout the least trouble.
"What makes you think that you know the house?"
h
1
GEORGE CHRISTY.
111
..
Begorra! man, me reasoning is aisy enough. 1 calculate the
toime that they could kape ye insensible wid thim drugs and pow-
dhers they hev', thin ag'in the place where I found ye, and I'm put-
tin' all thim facts together, and 1 know well enough just where ye
wer' all the toime ye wer' missin' afther I lost sight of yez.'
It
George discovered that this old woman was cunning and shrewd,
and he determined to ask her advice concerning the scream he heard
after the casket containing the body was upset.
Proceeding he related more minutely all that had occurred, and
then asked:
"C
'What do you think of the shriek that came from the coffin?"
Well," said old Gypsy Bet, "in the fust place, are ye shure that
scream came from the body in the coffin?"
44
Where else could it have come from?"
""
"
'Well, there might hev been a woman concealed somewhere in
the room who might hev squealed whin the fight inded wid the
overturnin' of the coffin, and the puttin' out of the lights.
"But the cry came right close to my ear, and 1 was right over the
coffin, and must have been within a few inches of the face of the
supposed dead when the scream came.
11.
64
Wud they hev any reason to make ye think that the person ye
saw was dead whin she was really alive?"
*
George thought a moment, and recollecting that the masked man
had spoken of a victim, he answered:
Ca
They might have had a reason.
Thin ye kin make up yer moind that the scrame came from the
coffin.'
เ
But that is the mystery," said George.
"How could a dead
**
person shriek in that manner?"
4
و
Well, I will tell ye, and I'd hev ye remimber that ye yersel'
were made unconscious, and by the same token couldn't they play
drugs on the girl to decave ye?”
""
This elimination of the mystery by old Bet caused a ray of light to
flash through our hero's mind.
He began to put little items of fact together, and at length he
asked:
<<
"What is the character of the house which you suspect as the
scene of my adventures?"
C
Well, now, betwane you and I, it's mesel' only who has sus-
pected the character of the place, and I hev been watchin' the peo-
ple livin' there for some time.”
46
You say that it is not far from here?”
No, it is not; it is just outside the limits of the Points, but in a
neighborhood where honest people, who courted such ilegant style
as ye hev described, would not live."
"What do you mean when you say honest people?"
(&
**
Well, 1 mane that the men livin' in that house wear fine clothes,
and they do not appear to be doin' any business. If they hev money
in plenty, why do they live there? And if they are makin' plenty
of money, why, then, the secret is explained.
#4
You have not enlightened me at all," said George.
Well, ye see, I'm not sure, mesel', but betwane you and 1, I'm
મ
даст задавати
+
112
thinkin' it's a den for counterfeiters-thim chaps as make bad
money.
64
"C
**there."
Old Bet's revelation mystified our hero the more, and yet enabled
him to come to a definite line of thought as to the purpose intended
toward him.
What country people are they?''
'Mostly French, but there are Italians and English I've seen
Of one thing he felt assured: the whole programme had not
been carried out.
His own violent assault had in a measure upset the game.
Of one thing he was certain-either Mr. or Mrs. Relton was at
the bottom of the whole affair.
""
"
"
The only unexplained feature was the presence of the girl Louise.
After some moments' thought, George said:
Co
Will you take me to that house?"
""
"Not to-night."
"To-morrow?"
1 will.'
Where will I meet you?”
On the corner of Beekman and Cliff streets, and we won't be far
from the place.
""
65
And what time will I meet you?"
"
T
GEORGE CHRISTY.
44
Well, it will be well toward mornin' afore ye get home. Make
it five o'clock in the afthernoon, and that will give ye toime to re-
cover from the fatigues of the night, if ye are not kept to yer bed
from the wettin' ye got to-night.
">
44
I'll be there at five o'clock," said George, adding: “I'll go
now, but one thing remember-you shall be well paid for any serv-
vice you may render."
""
Ŏh, but I know that, an' now I'll go wid ye to Broadway."
It is not necessary.
??
4،
Ay, but it's dangerous goin' through the Points at this hour."
"I'm safe enough, and the rough clothes I wear will be an addi-
tional protection.
">
64
Don't ye reckon so, me boy; it's them same clothes that may
get ye in trouble; this place is always swarmin' wid detectives, an'
if they should nab ye, ye couldn't give a straight account av yersel',
especially if they should drop to yer disguise, an' it's two to one
that they would."
I'll take the chances."
"Divil a chance will allow ye to take, faith! I'm a sure pro-
tection to ye ag'in police or any other evil, an' it's wid ye l'll be
afther goin'.
";
Old Bet insisted upon her point, and accompanied our hero to
Broadway, where she bid him good-night, with the promise to meet
him on the following day.
George reached his home without further adventure, and justified
old Bet's prognostication by sleeping until well into the afternoon of
the day following.
When once about again, his mind ran upon the strange scries of
remarkable adventures in which he had become involved,
As previously intimated, his greatest trouble was to account for
;
GEORGE CHRISTY.
113
渋谷​で​の
​the presence of the girl, Louise, dead or alive, in the house where
she had been encoffined.
While studying over the matter, a sudden recollection flashed over
his mind.
He remembered the last night that he had seen Louise at the
show.
He remembered, also, his having recognized her presence by a
pleasant smile.
He recollected still further that, at the same instant, he had
noticed a pair of gleaming black eyes fastened upon him.
The owner of the eyes must have observed his pleasant recogni-
tion of the girl Louise, and the gleaming eyes belonged to the
woman, Mrs. Relton, and the latter had sworn vengeance against.
him.
Following up this recollection, he remembered that the girl disap-
peared upon that very same night.
The matter began to become clearer.
Agnes Relton loved him. Besides, she was rich, and could em-
ploy any assistance which she desired; and still further, she was a
woman who would stop at nothing to carry out a scheme of re-
venge.
Our hero had good reason to feel assured of the latter fact.
When George started to meet the old creature Bet, he had about
solved the whole mystery, as he supposed.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
FOR satisfactory reasons we will not indicate certain localities as
minutely as we might.
But not far from the publication office of the "Fireside Com-
panion," and overlooked by the windows of the greatest publishing
house in the world, stands a building which still retains indications
of its former grandeur, just as the faded features of a once hand-
some woman retain the outlines of former beauty.
When we speak of grandeur, we do not wish to compare the
house of which we write with the grand houses of to-day, but
merely indicate that it was a grand house when the best houses in
New York were modeled on the old Dutch plan.
It stands there to day, as previously mentioned, amid factories
and buildings of various kinds, an old landmark, to show that the
vicinity, in years long gone by, was a fashionable neighborhood.
George was on time at the place appointed by the old gypsy
woman.
Five o'clock came, but Bet did not put in an appearance.
The minstrel waited until half-past five, and still the old woman
did not show up.
Our hero thought he would walk down toward the Points, as it
was still daylight, and see if he could find her.
He crossed Ferry Street, that famous thoroughfare which runs
through the locality known in New York as the Swamp, and along
toward the locality where old Bet resided, when he chanced to pass
opposite to the house described in our opening paragraphs.
114
GEORGE CHRISTY.
The appearance of the building attracted his attention, from the
fact that it was, as mentioned, a thorough-going old landmark of
old Dutch New York.
He was still standing and studying the appearance of the build-
ing, when he felt a hand laid upon his shoulder.
Turning quickly he recognized the strange young Italian, with
the fierce, gleaming eyes, whom he had had such a strange conver-
sation with but a short time previously.
4.
What brings the great minstrel down in this neighborhood?”’
asked Pietro, in a surprised tone.
64
"What
Well, I can return your question," answered George.
brings Pietro Rizzili down in this neighborhood?”
The counter-question came very abruptly, and caused a flush to
shade his cheek, as he answered, in a hesitating manner:
• C
'A mere accident brought me down this way.
+6
Well, I guess it was the same accident that sent me drifting
down here," asserted George.
"You were to meet me to-night," remarked Pietro, changing the
subject.
As the Italian recalled the promise to meet him, George recol-
lected the strange fact of his meeting with the woman who bore
such a striking resemblance to the youth with whom he was talking.
The minstrel was an impetuous fellow, and apt to blurt out just
what came in his mind, and he said:
"I wish to ask you a question, Pietro, and I do not wish you to
think that I am impertinent."
"I would be proud to auswer a hundred questions coming from
such a distinguished person as George Christy," was the gallant
reply.
""
Have you a sister that bears a wonderful resemblance to your-
self?" asked George.
The Italian's face became ashen pale, as he answered, in a quick,
nervous manner:
64
No, sir; I have no sister that resembles me, but I have a brother
-a twin brother.'
Our hero fixed his sharp blue eyes upon the handsome Italian
youth, and asked again:
"Does your brother masquerade around sometimes in female
attire?"
The Italian leaped back with a cry of anger and astonishment, as
he exclaimed:
Why do you ask such a silly and insulting question?"
"Do you want me to tell you plainly why 1 ask such a question?”
C.
""
I do.'
$6
Well, the day I parted from you I met, ten minutes later, a
female who bore such a wonderful resemblance to yourself that 1
almost thought it must be you.
""
The Italian now looked our hero boldly in the face, as he replied:
66
*C
You are the victim of some funny mistake."
No, I am not," replied George, bluntly and firmly.
"But you must be.
""
"I am not. I saw this woman, and the resemblance was so
wonderful that 1 am not yet satisfied that it was not yourself."
GEORGE CHRISTY,
115
"Impossible!" exclaimed the Italian, adding; "You are either
joking with me, or else you wish to insult me for my temerity in
forcing my acquaintance upon you.
"}
"I swear that I am not joking, and that I am sincerely in earnest,
and do not wish to insult you. I am only amazed at the remarkable
resemblance."
A moment's awkward silence followed our hero's declaration.
At length Pietro asked:
"How long was it after you separated from me that you saw this
shadow of mine in woman's apparel?"
&&
Eight or nine minutes."
Then you must know that it could not have been me.”
'Yes, it is the time which relieves you from suspicion. I do not
believe it possible that you could have so transformed yourself in
appearance in so short a time, otherwise nothing on earth could
convince me that it was not you."
•
I still think that it was a fancied resemblance which deceived
you," said Pietro.
At this moment our hero saw Gypsy Bet approaching.
The former felt a chill involuntarily tremble over his nerves.
At the same moment he felt an instinctive reluctance to having
the Italian discover that he was acquainted with the strange old
""
"
creature.
Why he experienced this involuntary reluctance he could not tell.
Fearing that Bet might come right up and speak to him, he made
an attempt to shake off his companion.
44
""
I was to meet you to-night," he said.
"
Yes, you were to meet me.
Well, 1 will be at the place named at the time set," said George.
Good-day."
And as he spoke, he attempted to move away.
The Italian, however, did not, seemingly, feel disposed to be
shaken off so readily.
He followed George, saying:
"6
64
""
One moment-I would like to talk further with you about the
person whom you met, who resembled me so much.
•
We can talk that over to-night," said George.
The latter's desire to go away was so evident that the Italian
could not but observe it, and it was necessary for him to be abso-
lutely rude or tacitly consent to an adieu.
In the meantime old Gypsy Bet had approached within a few feet
of our hero, when she started to cross to the opposite side of the
street in an indifferent manner, as though she had never set eyes
upon the minstrel before in her life.
George saw that she was shrewd enough, and, anxious to get rid
of the fellow Pietro altogether, he walked along in a directly op-
posite direction from which the gypsy woman had taken.
The minstrel passed clear around the square.
He had learned that Bet was cunning enough to know that he
would return to meet her.
His conclusion proved correct, as, when he came around again on
the corner of Cliff and Beekman streets, he found Bet waiting for
bim. }
{
116
GEORGE CHRISTY.
Before he would approach near enough to address her, she
dropped him a signal, and then moved away toward Fulton Street.
George followed.
The old woman turned down Fulton Street toward the ferry.
Arrived at the entrance to the latter, she passed through, and
went on board of a boat that had just come in.
George did not understand what all this dodging and marching
meant, but supposed that the old creature knew what she was
about, and quietly followed her.
He saw her standing, leaning over the rear rail of the boat as he
came aboard.
It will be remembered that the night previous they had arranged
certain signals, and old Bet availed herself of those signals to notify
the minstrel not to speak to her.
At that time the boats at the ferry departed at the sound of the
bell.
The bell sounded the signal to start a few moments after George
had come aboard; when the boat started on its trip, at the same
moment our hero saw a figure which explained old Bet's move-
ments.
xi
CHAPTER XL.
As the boat glided from the slip old Bet passed through the cabin
to the forward end.
George followed.
As the latter emerged from the cabin on the gentleman's side, old
Bet came over toward him, and said:
CA
Well, we dropped him at last."
•
Who do you mean by him '?" asked George.
Did you know that that Italian had been follering you ever
since ye parted wid him in Hague Street?"
"I did not suspect it," answered George,
until I saw him on
the bridge, just as the boat left the dock.'
46
Well, he has been upon your track, dogging your steps all the
toime; and now tell me where ye became acquainted wid him, and
what ye know about him?"
""
•
Just as the boat had left the slip, George had seen the fellow
Pietro pass through the ferry gate.
When Bet asked him the question concerning the fellow, he con-
cluded to find out what the old woman knew about that singular
chap before satisfying her curiosity, and he said:
C
I know nothing about him."
(6
Are ye sure?"
Why should I say so? What object would I have?”
Well, that I could not tell ye; but one thing I do know, that
that man knows something about ye, and he is moighty dangerous
"
፡፡
company.
64
>>
Dangerous in what way?"
Be the powers! more ways than one; and to begin wid; he is
the most expert forger in the United States to-day; and, besides, he
is under bail at this moment for a worse crime.
";
"What crime?"
!
.
GEORGE CHRISTY.
117
*
"The crime of murder! And now tell me, what was he speak
ing to ye about whin fe two were talking together there in Hague
Street?"
"
Nothing of importance. The chap pretends to admire me in
my profession, and has sought, like hundreds of others, to become
acquainted with me.
""
"Ye are an actor?”
"How do you know?"
Well, I hev guessed as much before now; but now moind, d'ye
kape clear av that Arditti, or ye will foind yersel' in trouble.'
"Arditti is his name, then?'
(A
Ay."
Do you know whether the fellow has a sister or not?"
He has as beautiful a creature as ye iver set yer two eyes
upon.
""
C
It's certain be's a liar!" muttered George, under his breath.
Bet overheard this remark, and said:
""
"
+4
Ay! but he is both a liar, a thief, and an assassin; and as 1
told ye, the less ye hev to do wid him the betther ye are off."
$4
If you had kept your appointment with me I would not have
met him at all.
4.
""
""
豪客
​•
Ye mane if I had been on toime wid ye?"
'Yes."
(6
$4
I was; and 1 think I hev news for ye.
satisfied that it's fooled ye were the other night!"
&
Fooled in what manner?”
64
Well, there was no corpse in the house where ye were.
44
I have not thought there was; but tell me what you dis-
covered."
**
Ag
**
11
A
#
13
Well, I am an ould body, but there's lots uv strength in me
limbs yet; but tell me what brought ye in front uv the house in
Hague Street where I saw ye first to-day?"
Well, I was attendin' to your business all the same.”
Attending to my business?"
"I was on my way to meet you.'
<<
And ye knew nothing about the house opposite which ye were
standin'?"
born."
46
No."
Did ye notice it at all?"
Yes, I noticed it as an old landmark lost among the class of
buildings that surround it.
19
Well, that was the house ye were in last night, as sure as ye are
""
"
And to begin wid, I'm
>>
""
>
How do you know that?”
"Troth! I know it well enough, and it's that house I've been
watchin' the day long.
>>
And did you discover anything to justify your suspicions?"
"I did. I was tellin' ye that mine were old bones, but I'm wiry
and tough yet, and 1 tried me strength and risked me neck to-day
that I might hev news for ye, and I succeeded."
What news have you for me?"
Well, I reckon that I saw the gal that was dead in the coffin!''
You were in the house, then?"
-118
GEORGE CHRISTY.
""
'I was not; but I'll tell ye, I wint into the deserted buildin' that
ye yersel' were led into last night, and I crawled up on the rickety
stairs, and then clambered up the beams at the risk uv me neck,
until I reached the top floor.
>>
What under the Heavens did you do that for, my old friend?"
Wait, now, and I will tell.yer. Ye see, from the back window
uv the ould ruins, I can see into the back window uv the house on
Hague Street. Well, it was there that I lay and watched.."
46
(4
And what did you discover?" asked our hero, eagerly.
Hould on, now, and I will tell ye. The first thing I dis-
covered was that one of the windows was barred wid iron rods, and
it were toward that window I fixed me attention.
""
66
"You are a faithful old woman when you have a friend's interest
at heart," said George, encouragingly.
، ،
Well, niver moind that; but afther many hours' watchin' a
pale face appeared at the iron-barred window, and afther one glance
only 1 made up me moind that the gurl was a prisoner.
接着
​""
64
It was a girl's face you saw?"
Yes, as purty a face as me eyes iver rested upon."
Can you describe her appearance?"
Troth we can go a shorter way to find out if I saw the gal you
are on the hunt afther.
""
""
"
>
How is that?"
Hev ye a picter of her?”
George remembered that he had with him the photograph which
had been inclosed in a letter to him,
He immediately produced the picture of Louise, and showed it to
old Bet.
The moment the gypsy's eyes fell upon the picture she exclaimed:
That is the face of the gal 1 saw at the winder as sure as ye are
born."
66
Certain circumstances will frequently cause us to experience an
interest in others which mere ordinary occurrences would not excite.
Such was the case with our hero.
He had been so engrossed with the fate of the girl Louise, that his
whole mind had become concentrated upon her.
Besides, she was a beautiful girl, and George was one of those
ardent temperaments upon whom beauty makes a deep impression.
Still, had the girl been a total stranger to him, and had he merely
learned of her fate from others, he would have been just as enthu-
síastic in effecting her escape.
During old Bet's narration the ferry-boat had entered its slip
upon the Brooklyn side, and had returned again to New York.
In the meantime night had fallen, and in the darkness our hero
had but little doubt that he could evade the fellow, Pietro.
He was now satisfied that Louise had been kidnapped.
Stranger events had happened in the city of New York before,
and much stranger ones have often occurred since.
George determined to rescue the girl at all hazards.
In company with old Bet he proceeded toward the house in Hague
Street.
On the way he remembered that he was not disguised as he had
;
GEORGE CHRISTY.
119
1
>
been the night previously, and he wondered how Bet had recognized
him.
Addressing her, he said:
44
"How did you come to recognize me so readily this afternoon?"
'I knew ye by yer eyes, me boy, and in them ye bear a dangerous.
weapon agin the purty girls ye mate.
""
The two strange people, thus strangely met, soon reached the
vicinity of the house.
They were standing opposite to it, when suddenly a carriage drove
up in front of the door.
George watched.
A veiled lady, accompanied by a gentleman, alighted from the
coach.
They ascended the stoop, and just as the door of the house
opened, by aid of the light which flashed through the open doorway
our hero met with a startling recognition.
The man was the same fellow who had acted as his second when
fighting the duel with the German student; the form of the veiled
woman he recognized at a glance.
It was Agnes Relton.
George saw through the whole mystery now, and determined be-
fore another sunlight to baffle that woman's plan of vengeance.
←
CHAPTER XLI.
THE monent Agnes Relton and her male companion alighted from
the coach the latter was driven away.
The parties also entered the house, and permitted the door to
close behind them, without having observed the two watchers on
the opposite side of the street.
When they had disappeared, George turned toward old Bet and
said:
·
The mystery is explained! Come, we can go now!"
"And do ye intind to lave the girl to her fate wid thim willains
in that house?"
"
"I do not.
44
'Well, I would tell ye one thing-the quicker ye put the police
on her track the betther it will be for the gal."
"I do not require the assistance of the police. I shall rescue the
girl without any help but yours.
"Well, ye kin depind upon me as far as 1 am able to assist ye;
but I will tell ye one thing-ye hev a desperate-lot ov villains to
deal wid."
19
"
'I reckon they will find me as desperate as themselves," was our
hero's answer.
C4
It was agreed that he should meet old Bet that same night,
when between them an attempt at rescue was to be made.
George had but little time to spare to reach the Ilall in time for
the evening performance.
Although George at this time was the most popular man in the
business, he was still an employee, or rather, an engaged performer.
E. P. Christy, the real and sole owner of the business, as will be
120
GEORGE CHRISTY.
модуль
remembered by all that knew him, was an egotistical, overbearing,
close-fisted man.
He possessed fine executive ability, but at all times flattered him-
self that he was not only the geat mogul of minstrelsy, but, after all,
the chief attraction.
It mattered not that our hero always received the bulk of the ap-
-plause, and was the most talked-about performer in the city, his
manager and step-father was the last one to recognize his wonderful
ability and remarkable popularity.
|
This night, when George came upon the stage, he sought an op-
portunity, as usual, to run his eyes over the great audience assem-
bled, to see if he could recognize any familiar faces.
The night in question appeared to be auspicious in the latter re-
spect.
It appeared as though the fates, in wanton recklessness, had
brought all the actors in his late adventures together in one body.
He recognized Relton and his wife; and, wonderful to relate, they
were in company.
This latter fact astonished our hero, and caused his mind, for once
to be filled with strange speculations, instead of being fastened upon
his business.
Again, among the audience he recognized the Italian woman with
the gleaming black eyes.
He thought, also, that at one time he observed signals passing be-
tween the latter and Mrs. Relton.
There was one other person present, and that was the unfortunate
creature, Emily, the girl who had first warned him of impending
danger.
While exerting his wonderful powers of mimicry, and flashing
out his black wit, as it is called, his thoughts were far away from
his business.
His mind was revolving the probable purpose of this general visit
of the parties who had been so intimately connected with the cer-•
tainly remarkable adventures which had beset him during the past
days.
At length the performance came to close.
The minstrel remembered that he had promised to keep his ap-
pointment with the strange youth Pietro, but subsequent develop-
inents had led him to determine to devote his time to the rescue of
the lovely girl, Louise.
George would liked to have kept his appointment, as he wished to
solve the mystery of the woman with the gleaming eyes.
His fellow minstrels had begun at last to notice that their great
'-star" companion was "up to something,
up to something," as they expressed it.
Previously he used to spend much of his time with them; latter-
ly, however, he had been in the habit of shooting away by himself
the moment the performance closed.
They missed him.
His liveliness and fun-provoking qualities enabled them to pass
many a jovial hour.
We well remember, many years ago, when a trip to Coney Island
was a different undertaking then from what it is to-day.
At that time the country between Brooklyn and the beach was
↑
1
GEORGE CHRISTY.
121
just as much country as the remote recesses of Sullivan County, to-
day.
The inhabitants were just as primitive.
At this time a well-known bank president, in New York, had a
country residence in Gravesend.
This same president was a sporting man, and very fond of the
company of actors, poets, novelists, and in fact all manner of celeb-
rities.
Assembled within this same gentleman's parlors we have seen
authors, editors, painters-not job-painters-celebrated actors, noted
horsemen, and prize-fighters, mingling freely upon the same even-
.ing.
George Christy was a special favorite with the sporting banker,
and many a banquet was gotten up in honor of the great minstrel.
Upon one of these occasions a great entertainment was in progress.
George had been invited, but up to nine o'clock in the evening
had not put in an appearance.
We are compelled to confess that this was a Sunday evening en-
tertainment.
The latter evening was selected to accommodate at least one-half
of those expected to be present, as upon week-day evenings they were
all peremptorily engaged.
During the evening many inquiries were made as to where George
was; the absence of the popular comedian was a great misfortune,
as his social qualities were rare, and his ability to keep the ball roll-
ing, as far as parlor amusements were concerned, immense.
Great disappointment was expressed at our hero's non-arrival, and
every time the roll of carriage wheels was heard, a grand rush was
made to see if the jolly minstrel and tambo-man had arrived.
About ten o'clock when all were assembled, and in the midst of
a declamation from "Hamlet" by a distinguished comedian, a curi-
ous interruption occurred.
It seemed as though all the occupants of the farm-yard had sud-
denly been driven crazy, and that they had all taken refuge upon the
piazza of the house.
Such a strange noise and din as occurred had never been heard in
that vicinity before.
Dogs barked, pigs squealed, cocks crowed, birds whistled and
chattered, horses neighed, and jackasses brayed.
The declamation was brought to a sudden close, and for a mo-
ment the assemblage sat mute, and listened with eyes distended with
terror and astonishment.
A moment later the gentlemen present recovered from their first
bewilderment, and under the leadership of the host, a grand rush
was made to see what had occasioned such a remarkable barn-yard
serenade.
When the party reached the door, a dead silence prevailed, and
not the least sign was there of pig, cock, horse, or any other bird or
animal.
The men were amazed.
They looked in each other's faces, and the surprised inquiry went
the rounds, Where could the sounds have come from?
earth could it have been?"
What on
April M
122
GEORGE CHRISTY.
A thorough search was made round and round the house, but
without success, as far as a discovery of the singular serenade was
concerned.
After a most thorough search, the gentlemen returned to the
parlors.
The ladies were anxiously inquiring what it was, but the men
could give them no satisfaction.
At length quiet and order were restored, and after a great deal of
persuasion, the distinguished actor was induced to resume his dec-
lamation.
The persuasion was necessary from the fact that the declaimer felt
a lurking suspicion that the strange noises were a preconcerted trick
-in fact, that he was being made the subject of a huge joke.
However, he did resume his declamation, and when he had
reached the most tragic portion, as before, he was interrupted by the
unearthly tumult.
This time the noise was heard in the rear of the house.
The actor stopped in anger, and the host, followed by his friends,
rushed out to catch the jokers.
As before, they encountered silence, and no one was to be seen-
neither man, bird, nor beast.
CHAPTER XLII.
THE banker began to feel indignant.
He began to think that he was the subject of a joke, and that an
outrage was being perpetrated on his guests.
His anger was not lessened when he met the declaimer in the hall-
way, prepared to return immediately to the city.
It required the most eloquent language to convince him that the
joke was not intended especially for him.
Upon his return to the parlor, the banker felt it incumbent upon
him to make a little specch.
At the conclusion of his apologetic address, he assured the com-
pany that he would take his double-barreled shot-gun, and go out
and watch, and that he would guarantee that there would be no
further interruption.
The banker also insisted, as a special favor to himself, that the
declamation should be delivered despite the two interruptions.
The banker had evidently come to the conclusion that some of
his country neighbors had gotten up the little side-show, and he had
determined to give them a lesson which would deter them from any
little amusement of the same kind in future.
The gunner had just taken his position, and the actor had once
more cleared his throat preparatory to the delivery of the declama-
tion, when the rattle of wheels was heard, and a few moments later
a carriage drew up in front of the residence.
The first man to alight was the famous and long-expected George
Christy.
Upon this occasion our hero was accompanied by another well-
known performer, and a stranger.
George's arrival was the occasion of much excitement.
f
GEORGE CHRISTY.
123
>
Again the declamation was adjourned, and the comedian was
compelled to listen to a long account of the remarkable interrüp-
tion.
The festivities recommenced, and at length the oft-interrupted
declaimer was permitted to conclude his declamation amidst the
most vociferous applause.
In the meantime the banker had been patrolling outside of his
house with a cocked and primed double-barreled gun in his hand.
At length, seeing no signs of the jokers, the host re-entered the
house.
The fun and jollity was kept up until the "wee sma' hours.'
Our hero, as usual, furnished the bulk of the fun, and everything
passed off as merry and jolly as a Dutch wedding feast.
The banker felt very indignant concerning the interruption, and
protested that he would find out who was at the bottom of the out-
rage if it cost him five hundred dollars.
•
Oh! you wouldn't give as much as that, would you?" asked
George, with a sly twinkle in his eye.
•C
Yes, I would!" retorted the banker.
"What! would you offer that amount in a country place like
this?"
'I would.'
"You can discover the miscreants for less money."
C4
I shall offer a reward in the morning for two hundred and
>>
fifty.
I'll tell you what I will promise," said George.
Well, what will you promise?"
&&
A friend of mine is to have a benefit, and if you will agree to
take two hundred and fifty tickets, I will agree to discover the
parties who kicked up the rumpus.
C
How can you find them out?”
"C
"That is my business; and I will agree that, if I do not discover
the men, that I will forfeit two hundred and fifty dollars."
Co
You are fooling?"
No; I am not. There is a good deal of the detective in my nat
ure, and it would just suit me to go in and ferret out the wicked--
scoundrels who put up this joke on you.
""
It's a bargain," said the banker; and the two gentlemen shook
hands over the novel arrangement.
In this little transaction a prominent trait in our hero's character
was exhibited.
"
George knew well enough that the banker would subscribe liber-
alliy for the benefit of any of his favorites, or for any well-known
and popular actor or minstrel.
Our hero was a generous, whole-souled fellow, and throughout
his whole career was performing acts of kindness.
lt chanced that, upon the occasion in question, the beneficiaire
was a poor man, with a family, who did not hold any position in the
profession, as he was merely a door-tender.
Sickness had come upon him, and George had been the instigator
of the benefit.
t
The hour arrived for the gay party to break up.
1
*
124
GEORGE CHRISTÍ.
Some were to remain all night; others were going to a hotel not
far distant, and a few were to return in their vehicles to the city.
All hands were gathered in the parlor exchanging their adieus,
when suddenly all were startled by an unearthly noise.
It was the same barn-yard din that had interrupted the declaimer
at an earlier hour in the evening.
The musicians were George and the other minstrel whom our hero
had brought with him, assisted by the stranger.
The secret was out.
The mystery was explained, and a merry laugh all around greeted
the minstrel and his friends.
The stranger who accompanied George was one of those vocal
phenomena who have since become quite popular on the variety
stage.
3
The joke was a good one, and the banker redeemed his word, and
took the two hundred and fifty dollars' worth of tickets for the door-
keeper's family.
As recorded, George, upon the night when he discovered the
several characters mentioned among the audience, would have pre-
ferred to have kept his appointment with Pietro, and have solved the
mystery of the woman with the gleaming eyes.
Our hero felt that there was a mystery within a mysery connected
with those two strange persons.
Fle felt more keenly, however, that it was his first duty to rescue
the beautiful girl, Louise, from her imprisonment.
That she really was imprisoned he now felt certain.
And further, he had proof that the woman who had sworn dire
vengeance against him was at the bottom. of the conspiracy, which
had resulted in the kidnapping of the girl.
The minstrel, through a line of reasoning, founded upon facts which
he had gathered, had arrived at the conclusion that Agnes Relton
had fallen into the error of believing that an affection existed be-
tween him and the lovely Louise.
Jealousy had prompted her to kidnap the girl, and it was a singu-
lar mode of revenge which she had taken.
George was still further satisfied that Louise had been drugged,
and placed in the coffin, and that the whole scheme was intended to
convey the idea to him that the same fatal consequences would fall
upon any woman on whom he might fix his affections.
!
He remembered the woman's words upon that night when he had
parted from her at the Manor House.
64
My hatred of Relton is born of contempt! My vengeance to-
ward you will be promptd by a hatred aroused in the bosom of a
woman whose love has been scorned!"
If Agnes Relton imagined that she could frighten the minstrel
into allegiance to herself, she was greatly mistaken.
Our hero was wonderfully sensitive to beauty, but not so blindly
as to respect a fierce, revengeful creature, who would descend to
such wicked measures to discover her hate.
1
When the performances came to a close, George had a suspicion
that either Pietro or Relton, or some other of the enemies who were
present, might seek to speak with him.
GEORGE CHRISTY.
125
!
Having but one purpose in his mind, he was determined to avoid
seeing them.
In the days gone by, minstrel performances closed at an early
hour.
One hour and a half was the limit during which an entertainment
was given.
The hour named for him to meet Gypsy Bet was midnight.
Consequently, when the curtain fell, George did not walk off and
go right out, but remained joking and chatting for a full hour.
At length, when he did emerge upon Broadway, the front of the
house was dark and deserted.
He proceeded direct to his lodgings, less than ten minutes' walk
from the Hall.
When he came forth from the latter place, he was dressed in the
same disguise as he had worn the night previous, when he first wet
old Bet.
#
CHAPTER XLIII.
FORTUNE appeared to favor the minstrel for the work he had in
hand.
The night was dark and misty, and favorable to a secret enter-
prise.
Our hero had armed himself with such tools as he thought neces-
sary for the work in hand.
Among other articles, he had provided himself with a dark-lan-
tern; and displayed his thoughtfulness still further by taking with
him a bundle of wraps for the rescued girl should he succeed in
gaining her freedom.
Our hero had many reasons for wishing to accomplish his purpose
without calling in the aid of the police.
Already numerous romantic tales were in circulation concerning
him, and certain addenda had been made to these scandalous tales
which were calculated to injure him before the best class of people
who were patrons of the performances.
Besides, owing to his own celebrity, greater notoriety would be
given to any escapade in which he might be concerned than if the
chief actor were a person less famous.
Besides, the young lady's reputation might be injured.
1
It may be argued that the truth could be made public, but, un-
fortunately, a certain class in the public are more ready to place the
worst construction upon such matters.
The reputation of the purest and most circumspect woman can
easily be destroyed by the slightest breath of scandal when it becomes
public rumor, no matter how distant from the real truth the scandal
may be.
It was past eleven o'clock when George issued forth upon his
errand.
Old Bet said that he had a desperate crowd to deal with, and he
was well aware that the half-breed gypsy was excellent authority on
such a subject.
His native recklessness would have led him to go unprepared, but
126-
GEORGE CHRISTY.
↓
M
the warning he had received induced him to prepare himself for
every emergency.
He little dreamed when he sallied forth what a path of peril he
was doomed to traverse.
People will read of startling occurrences in the daily press with-
out fully realizing the real romantic incidents connected therewith.
T'he same events recorded in narrative form are received with a
great deal of suspicion, and, in many cases, set down as reckless,
imaginative exaggerations.
The writer recollects a certain scene in city life described in a
widely-read story.
The description was received with incredulity, and the poor author
was berated as a reckless exaggerator.
Within two months from the appearance of the story, the police
made a raid under the orders of their chief, and the New York
"Sun" published an account which not only verified the novelist's
description, but depicted facts from absolute observation, which, in
their fearful details, far exceeded the story-teller's account.
Ofttimes we know, from experience, that writers dare not depict
facts, simply because they would earn the reputation of drawing too
freely upon their imaginations.
George Christy was a well-known character, and because certain
adventures through which he passed were never recorded, many may
think that a great deal of fancy is indulged in concerning him.
There are other well-known characters in New York living, and
there were others who have passed away, whose adventures-if writ-
ten with a free hand-would not only startle the general public, but
astonish many friends who were supposed to know all about them.
George proceeded on his way until he reached that street which,
running from Broadway, led down to the famous Five Points.
Our hero was just turning the corner, when he heard a voice call-
ing to him.
At this time the New York police were not a uniformed body of
men.
The minstrel paid no attention to the hail, but proceeded on his
way.
He had gone but a short distance down the dark side street, how-
ever, when he heard steps behind him.
The minstrel though little of this fact, as it was not unusual for
others to be traveling in the same direction.
He was reminded of a little peril, however, a moment later, when
he heard the steps hurrying close behind him, and a voice called:
Hold on there, my man!"
George was in a hurry, and did not think that he had time to
hold on.
66
Stop, I say!" called the voice, and the same instant our hero
felt a strong grasp upon his shoulder.
Turning quickly, he faced the night-watchman.
What is the matter?" asked George, in an innocent manner.
"
What have you got in that bundle?”
The minstrel did not like this question.
46
The contents of his bundle, he remembered, just at that moment,
might appear suspicious, and he answered;
4
•
I
GEORGE CHRISTY.
127
content on the
"That is my business.".
"I reckon I'll make it my business to find out," said the police-
man, who was an able-bodied, shrewd-faced chap.
This was an emergency our gay banjo man had not anticipated.
Appearances were dead against him, and circumstances also.
In the first place he was dressed in rough clothes, and should he
open his bundle he would be accused of stealing the articles, as he
could not give a satisfactory reason for having them in his posses-
sion without exposing his identity and his errand.
Again, should the officer arrest him, only his identity would be
discovered, as a matter of course, and not only a scandal but a huge-
laugh would be turned on him.
And still again, the lost time would completely upset all his plans-
for the rescue of the girl.
The minstrel ran over all of these contingencies rapidly in his
mind, and came to the conclusion that he must get rid of Mr.
Watchman, and he said:
"Don't detain me, if you please, officer, 1 am in a hurry.”
"You are?"
'Yes, sir."
45
$6
06
ܕ
Well, just open that bundie, and be quick about it!"
"I can't open that bundle, and, besides, there is nothing in there
that you would wish to see.
"
Allow me to be the judge of that," exclaimed the watchman,
and he made a grab to seize the bundle.
George was too quick for him, and jerked the package out of the
peeler's" reach.
46
1)
The latter drew his club, exclaiming:
**See here, my man, if you attempt to cut up any of your didos I
will be compelled to take you in with a sore head.
46
Take me in, where?"
"To the watch-house!"
George was getting impatient, not only on account of the delay,
but he did not like the watchman's tone and manner at all.
+4
Come, will you give me that bundle?"
No, sir."
>>
"I will take you to the lock-up if you do not.'
"I guess you are wanted on your beat, officer," said George.
The officer made a second attempt to seize the bundle, when
George caught him by the arm and gave him a sling toward the
curbstone.
The officer rushed with his club poised, and made a wicked lunge
at George.
If the minstrel bad not warded off the blow with the soft package
he held in his hand, he would have been hurt.
He saw that matters were getting hot, and that it was necessary to
proceed to effective measures.
We have before recorded that the minstrel was a wonderful man
with his feet.
This agility availed him handsomely upon the occasion.
He managed without the use of his hands to throw the watchman
off his feet.
When the latter arose he was mad.
128
GEORGE CHRISTŸ.
He made a second rush at the minstrel.
The latter tossed his bundle on the sidewalk, and dodging the
blow aimed at his head, sailed in.
}
A lively rough-and-tumble followed.
It was not a wrestle, but a fierce exchange of blows.
The minstrel was the most agile, and also the more skillful boxer,.
and in a few moments he had punished the watchman to such an
extent that the latter, almost blinded and bleeding, was glad to sneak
away.
Our hero did not wait to ask any questions, but raising his bundle
from the walk, he started down the street at a dead run.
Unfortunately, he was destined to encounter a second peril within
,the half hour.
1
CHAPTER XLIV.
THE officer did not make any outcry, or seek to pursue George.
Probably the fellow was ashamed at being overcome in a square
rough-and-tumble scrimmage, and felt glad to have the supposed
thief that had worsted him get away.
The minstrel only ran a block, when, satisfied that he was not pur-
sued, he took it more coolly.
As he walked along, a circumstance occurred to his mind, which,
in the excitement of the moment, he had forgotten.
He remembered that while he had been arguing with the officer, a
man had passed along the street close by them.
Coming to think the matter over, it struck George as rather singu-
lar that the passer had not stopped to learn what the row was about.
As our hero's mind dwelt upon this seemingly trifling circum-
stance, it occurred to him that there was something familiar in the
figure of the passer-by.
+4
Hang it!" he exclaimed, "I wonder if I am under surveil-
ance?" And after a moment he added: "I am getting to feel quite
desperate, and it would be better for some of them if they kept out
of my way this night!"
George kept upon his way, and soon arrived in the precincts of
the Points.
He was walking along quite briskly, when a voice again bailed
him.
This time the speaker was an old bummer, who called out:
CE
Hallo, pard! I'm in wid yer on the swag; moind that now!"
The minstrel paid no attention to the old rounder, but moved
right ahead, when through the darkness he imagined that he saw a
figure moving along on the opposite side of the street, keeping about
parallel with him.
The adventurer was anxious not to be dogged, and he determined
to investigate this dodging shadow.
Quickening his pace he got in advance of the party on the opposite
sidewalk, and then darted quickly across the street so as to come
right upon him.
The latter detected the movement and slacked up.
George was now convinced that the individual was really shadow-
ing him, and turning about he walked directly toward the fellow.
**
GEORGE CHRISTY.
129
The dodger turned and walked rapidly in an opposite direction.
Our hero increased his pace.
The stranger increased his also in the same proportion.
The former called out:
Hold on there, mister, I want to speak to you."
No answer was made to this call.
•
George started upon a run.
The stranger ran also.
There was no question now as to the fact that a shadow game was
being played.
The minstrel was a swift runner, and after traversing a couple
of hundred feet-visibly gained upon the dodger.
Suddenly the latter turned; a flash illuminated the darkness, and
the sharp report of a pistol broke the stillness.
The suddenness of the shot startled George and brought him to a
standstill.
In a moment dozens of squalid looking objects swarmed from the
surrounding garrets and cellars, and the minstrel was speedily sur-
rounded by an excited crowd.
In the meantime the mysterious individual who had discharged
the pistol had fled.
The minstrel began to realize that his position was getting to be
rather ticklish.
The hurried tramp of feet and the rap of a club warned him that
the watch were approaching.
66
What is it?" asked several of our hero.
George was quick witted, and he answered, adopting the brogue:
Begorral ye should know as well as mesel! What do I know
about it, only that I heard the pistol go off?"
This answer was a lucky and shrewd one on the part of George.
lt instantly identified him with the crowd, and disconnected him
from any known identity with the shootist.
The watchmen appeared on the scene, but were unable to solve
the mystery of the shooting.
As such scenes of disorder were of frequent occurrence, the police
were easily satisfied and went away.
George felt that he was an exceedingly lucky fellow.
This was the second time he had been shot at, and escaped with-
out injury; although upon both occasions the shootist had discharged
his weapon at point blank range.
(C
As soon as the watchman went away, George remained a few mo-
ments talking with the crowd, so as to divert suspicion, and then
went upon his business.
At the designated corner he met the old gypsy woman, Bet.
The first words of the latter startled him.
She said:
""
"
'It's well ye came.
What is the matter?" asked George.
Yer late!"
Is that all?"
Nay, but it's not all; ye may be too late altogether."
Too late for what?"
66
"
<<
""
16
"¿
To rescue the gal.
I do not understand you."
ļ
130
GEORGE CHRISTY.
1
Well, begorra! there has been strange goings on in that house
to-night.
"
Strange goings on?"
"Yes, sir; and I shouldn't be surprised at all, at all, ef there was
really a corpse in the mysterious place at this moment.'
61
What leads you to think so?”
Well, I hev been watchin' the place, and to-night there was a
coach-load of them came there, and a little while afther they had
been widin the house I heard the most terrible shrieks and scrames 1
iver heard."
>>
"Were they cries from a female?”
""
They were; and begorra! I just thought that me blood would
fraze in me veins! Oh! man, dear, but they were heart-curdling!"
George was much exercised upon hearing this account.
He knew that Agnes Relton was a fierce, desperate woman, who
would stop at nothing to wreak her vengeance.
Addressing old Bet, George said:
"We must proceed at once, and if there has been murder done,
we will track it down, and you may rest assured that the murderers,
male or female, beautiful or ugly, young or old, shall be brought to
justice!"
"Faith! it's a murder I fear, thin, that ye will hev to track down,
as those shrieks came from one in mortal terror, and they ceased in
a very strange and sudden manner.
George, at this time, as our readers have been led to believe, was
young, strong, and agile.
He was destined upon this night to require just those qualities.
Old Bet led the way, and George followed.
After proceeding for some distance, Bet came to a narrow street
in the near vicinity of the house from which the rescue was to be at-
tempted.
"I hev a plan for ye to get into that house," said old Bet, "if ye
be strong, brave and supple.'
46
'I am strong and supple enough," was the reply.
(C
ܕܕ
"
Well, I will take ye to a house where ye can ascind to the roof,
and thin ye must pass from roof to root until ye reach the house
where the gal is confined.
"
What is your plan?"
&
Begorra, ye must go down through the scuttle.”
But I will not know which room to go to when I am in the
house?"
"I hev that arranged for ye, good and straight enough, my good
man."
The old woman led the way until they reached a tenement house,
and bidding George to follow, she passed through the narrow en-
trance-way.
They reached the top floor without encountering any interruption.
"until 1 get
Howld on a bit now. Stand still," said the gypsy,
>"
"
""
tern.
"C
a light.'
I have one," answered George; and he produced his dark lan-
Ah! ye hev come prepared for war."
"Yes.
GEORGE CHRISTY.
131
Well, be the powers, but it may be that ye will hev plenty of it
before the mornin'.
""
"
When George had lighted his lamp, and had slid the mask, old
Bet took it from his hands, and flashed the light around until she
discovered a door in the hallway.
Is this house occupied?" asked George, surprised that they had
not been interrupted.
**
Divil a sowl is there in it at all. I turned all me tenants out the
first of the month.'
"}
C
Do you own this house?"
46
I do, and another as good as it, my man; so ye see ye are not in
such bad company, afther all."
The old woman opened the door, and pointed to a step-ladder which
led up to a scuttle way.
"Come!" she said, and she commenced to climb the ladder.
Our hero followed, wondering more and more at the strange luck
which had secured for him such a strange and cunning friend.
The two were soon upon the roof.
The night was still pitch dark.
16
'Ye must go careful now, and look ivery time afore ye step, or
ye may go tumbling to the sidewalk below," cautioned the old
woman.
George followed, wondering within his own mind what would be
the result of this strange adventure.
j.
CHAPTER XLV.
OLD BET had evidently studied well the strange route taken by her
from roof to roof.
The houses were not all of the same height, and yet she seemed to
know just where to make the safest crossings.
She was as tender and attentive to our hero's safety as though he
had been a young girl, instead of a lusty, strong-limbed youth.
It was a strange sight, the picture of these two persons moving
through the misty darkness, from roof to roof, upon that cloudy
night.
At length old Bet came to a wall that rose some twenty feet above
thein.
Here she halted.
George surveyed the dim outlines of the wall, and remarked:
"L
I guess our game is blocked, now."
"Not at all; this is a tall building forninst us, but on the other
side is the house we're afther."
LOT
C
46
True enough; but how are we to get on the other side?"
That's the question that bothers ye, eh?"
Yes."
"
Well, now, me boy, ould Bet niver goes on a fool's errand, and
I've just laid out for this little difficulty.
As the old woman spoke she moved toward the looming wall, and
returned an instant later with a coil of rope in her hand.
"
Now, thin, me boy," she said, "1 kin just go no further wid
ye. Faith! I'm not a young, dainty girl, and the night it is dark,
132
GEORGE CHRISTY.
but I'm not goin' to dangle my limbs atween roof and sky ag'in that
wall."
The old woman uttered the above with a grim sort of humor.
Upon several occasions she had displayed sparkling bits of wit.
George took the rope, and contemplated for a moment how he was
to secure one end of it above on the ledge over him.
The rope was well adapted for the purpose, being knotted in such
a manner that a man could over-hand himself up with it most easily.
(6
Ye can't see how to fasten the rope above?" said Bet.
I cannot."
"
Well, do ye see the chimney there? Just throw it around that,
and the lead will bring the rope to ye again."
George made the attempt, and was successful the first time.
>"
蓝​6
Now, me man, go ahead, and luck go wid ye.
Our hero adjusted the ends of the rope, and in a few seconds stood
upon the roof of the tall house.
""
Old Bet had previously furnished him with a diagram of the
house where the girl was confined.
Calling to him when he was on the adjoining roof, she said:
Take the rope wid ye, and let yersel' down on the other side;
the house beyond is the one ye are afther."
George did as directed, and a few minutes later stood on the roof
of the house which contained the fair captive.
He had but little difficulty in finding the scuttle, and speedily suc-
ceeded in removing it, and the way lay open for him, and the real
work of his adventure commenced.
"
He let himself down through the scuttle, and descended below to
the hallway.
He had but little difficulty in determining which was the room oc-
cupied by the girl.
Flashing the light of his lantern upon the door-knob, he discov-
ered that it was bolted on the outside, besides being fastened with a
padlock.
He felt a thrill of pleasure upon discovering, also, that the key
was in the padlock.
He stood still a moment and listened.
Below stairs he heard the sound of voices.
Laughter and loud talking fell upon his ears.
The noise made by the people below favored his designs.
Slowly and noiselessly he slid the bolt, and turned the key in the
padlock.
He turned the knob and tried the door.
The latter yielded to the pressure, and the way was open.
The minstrel's heart beat fast and quick.
He knew that the critical moment had arrived.
and
There was still one danger-the girl, in alarm, might scream,
betray her intended rescuer.
The minstrel darkened his lantern, and pressing the door open,
entered the room.
All within was dark and still.
For a moment he stood in the center of the room, and then, bur-
glar-like, and cautiously, he slid aside the mask of his lantern,
He glanced about the room,
GEORGE CHRISTY.
133
It was comfortably furnished.
Rich carpet was upon the floor, and massive furniture and mirrors
were in the room.
Upon the center of the floor stood a table, on which was a lamp,
whose light had been extinguished.
In one corner of the room stood a heavily-carved oak bedstead.
It was not the bedstead, however, which riveted our hero's gaze.
Reclining beneath the rich coverings was a lovely woman.
She was fast asleep.
Her fair face rivaled the snowy whiteness of the pillow upon
which her head reclined.
Her long black hair hung loosely about her beautiful head, and
her long, dark eyelashes and penciled eyebrows contrasted beauti-
fully with the marble whiteness of her complexion.
To George she appeared like a sleeping angel.
He had entered the room so silently, that he had not disturbed
her, and she slept on, unconscious of either danger or rescue.
Our hero was bothered.
He feared to awaken her, lest she might scream in the first start
of terror, and betray his presence.
And again, for a moment, he could do nothing but stand and con-
template the exceedingly lovely picture presented.
At length he felt that it was necessary to do something, and he
had just determined to resort to soine means to awaken her, when
he was startled by hearing a step in the hallway.
With the quickness of a flash he slid the mask of his lantern, and
instinctively sought a place of concealment.
He had observed, while the light from his lantern was being
flashed around, an open closet door.
He stepped into the closet and drew the door after him.
He had moved just in time.
He had but just concealed himself when he became conscious that
some one had entered the room.
The minstrel was not at all nervous.
He felt that he had entered the place with a holy purpose, and he
was resolved to meet all consequences.
If worst came to worst, he was well armed, and felt that if blood
must be shed that it could not be shed in a better cause, and that
any victim beside himself would descrve richly ary fate which
might follow.
We have written that our hero drew the door after him, but he
did not close it entirely
He left a narrow space at a great risk, so that he could witness
what might happen.
He had to wait but a moment when he saw that a light illuminat-
ed the apartment, and by its aid he recognized that the party who
had entered the room was a man
George was pushing the door open a little wider, when he was
startled by hearing a suppressed cry of terror,
The closet was located in that portion of the room 'which prevent-
ed him from seeing into the center of the room.
Dropping upon his knees, he peeped through the key-hole, when
134
GEORGE CHRISTY.
***.
a sight met his gaze which caused his heart to tremble with wild
throbbings.
The man was standing by the table.
In his hand was a naked knife, which he brandished in a threat-
ening manner, as he said in a low, distinct voice:
“Utter a scream, or make the least outcry, and I will kill you!”
George glanced toward the bed.
The sleeper had awakened and had partly risen.
She was gazing at the man, her eyes dilated with terror.
Our brave hero's first impulse was to rush out and confront the
man.
The latter was a dark faced, savage looking fellow, with fierce
black eyes, beavy whiskers and mustache, and an expression upon
his features which was wicked and murderous.
E'er the minstrel carried out his first impulse he was guided by a
second one, which admonished him to wait and observe what might
occur.
He knew that he could spring out at the last moment in time to
prevent either a murder or an outrage, and he felt that he might
learn something of the terrible mystery which had brought him into
his present quarters, by keeping silent.
The girl had not yet spoken.
Her lips appeared to be sealed with a fearful terror.
The man laughed a low laugh as he said:
"I have warned you, and it will be well for you to heed my
words!"
"You miserable' cuss,' thought George, "you had better take
heed, and you haven't been warned yet!"
"""
CHAPTER XLVI.
It was as much as our hero could do to restrain his impatience.
He felt that it was wrong to let the girl Louise suffer a moment's
terror, and yet he felt that there was an advantage in a little delay.
It was not fear that restrained him, but caution, and a desire to
learn somewhat of the strange circumstances which had resulted in
such a remarkable incident.
Again the man spoke. The tones were low, but his words were
distinct. He said:
"I have come once more to ask you, Louise, if you will become
my wife?"
The fellow spoke plainly, although his accent betrayed that he
was a foreigner.
}
To his question the girl made no reply.
The fellow repeated the question, and still the girl replied not.
Our hero, from his place of concealment in the closet, awaited her
answer with little less interest than the man who had put the
question.
For the third time the man spoke, saying:
64
Will you give me an answer?"
At length the girl found voice, and said:
↓
You may kill me, but I will never become your wife!"
GEORGE CHRISTY.
135
..
Her tones were tremulous, but she spoke like one who had decided,
and was determined.
Again George felt like rushing out, and saying: “There, old man,
you have got your answer. Now get up and get!"
He controlled himself, however, and listened.
He had witnessed many a mimic tragedy, but here was one in real
life which beat anything he had ever seen upon the stage.
He felt that he was to take part himself in this real play.
Like the hero in the mimic scene, he was to rush on at the last
moment, and rescue the victim, and drive off the villain.
The man was silent a moment after receiving the girl's reply, but
at length he said:
"I will not kill you.
You are too beautiful to die, and I am too
great an admirer of the beautiful!''
66
He is a sentimental scoundrel!" thought George, as a smile rip-
pled over his face.
"
1 was promised that I should be set free!" said the girl.
$6
You received that promise from one unable to redeem it.
"I reckon, then, I will supply the lacking ability," thought
1
George, and he actually whispered the idea to himself.
เ
Have you no mercy in your soul?" asked the girl.
"It is you who are unmerciful," replied the man, adding: "I
have offered you an honorable love, and you have rejected it.
"You can not offer me an honorable love!" exclaimed the girl,
with spirit.
፡፡
I can not?"
60
No, you can not.”
Why?"
Because you are not an honorable man. Men of honor do not
steal into an unprotected girl's bedroom with a naked knife in their
hands, after midnight, and threaten to kill the object of their love."
*
Oh, my dear, that is only a romantic mode of courtship!"
Yes, exceedingly romantic, 1 should say!" whispered our hero.
There are other reasons why I could not marry you," said the
+4
"
""
fax
46
girl.
66
Indeed? What are they?"
Co
I have learned much concerning the occupants of this house
since I have been a prisoner within its walls."
▸▸
What have you learned?"
"Would you have me speak plainly?"
"I would."
"L
1 have learned that you are a burglar and a counterfeiter, and,
I fear, a professional murderer!"
These were bold words, and George expected to see the villain fly
at the brave girl in a mad rage.
On the contrary, the fellow merely laughed, and said:
"
Who filled your ears with such nonsense as that, my pretty
one?"
"
It matters not-I know that it is true."
It is false!"
Could any one but a burglar, a counterfeiter, or worse, enter a
lady's room as you have to night?"
**
Ay, but I am your friend, and I have come as your friend."
""
+4
136
GEORGE CHRISTY.
"Were you my friend when you assisted in kidnapping me?" ex-
claimed the girl, boldly.
I was hired to do that."
番茄
​Yes; and could any one but a bad, wicked man be hired to com-
mit such a crime?”
64
It is useless to discuss those matters now."
"Are you not adding to your crime? Has not the very person
who procured my detention besought you to free me?"
#6
But I love you!"
"Has not the woman who tempted you with gold to bring me
here offered you double the amount to free me?"
66
Yes; but all the money ever coined would not prove a tempta-
tion. You are dearer to me than gold, silver, or diamonds.'
С.
You can only possess my dead body, wicked man!" exclaimed
the brave girl, having fully recovered her voice and power of speech.
"Bah! I may as well tell you the truth," said the man, in a
triumphant tone. "You and I are alone in this house!”
You are mistaken there, boss," whispered the minstrel, con-
cealed in the closet.
64
At this moment the villain turned to find himself faced by a pair
of eyes, which, though blue and handsome, flashed a gleam as de-
termined as his own.
"L
Who are you?" asked the villain, in tones betraying his amaze-
ment.
..
66
<<
·
I jumped in."
66
The villain's face assumed a terrible expression, as he exclaimed:
Well, I guess you will jump out through that window, if you
don't hurry out some other way!"
"
Is that the way you treat a man who has come to see you?"
asked George.
The devil, or, maybe, Tom Walker!" answered George.
How came you in this house?”
"You come to see me?"
"Yes."
What for; pray, tell me?"
66
I came to see you to prevent you from accomplishing the villainy
you intend,'
""
66
#$
You have?"
'Yes.'
'Well, then, you have entered your own death-chamber!”
CHAPTER XLVII.
As the villain uttered the words, "You have entered your own
death-chamber!" he made a spring toward our hero.
The latter was prepared for just such a maneuver.
The man was a great deal larger in stature, and much heavier in
his build than the minstrel, but the latter depended upon his strength
and wonderful agility.
Upon this occasion George Christy once again betrayed that re-
luctance to take human life which always distinguished him, even
when it would have been justifiable to do so.
}
GEORGE CHRISTY.
137
'The man had threatened to kill him, and sprung upon him with
the intention of putting his threat into execution.
George grasped the hand which held the knife, and wresting the
weapon from him threw it across the room.
In an instant they were clasped in a deadly embrace.
Our hero's magnanimity almost cost him his life.
The man made an effort to seize our hero by the throat; had he
succeeded he would never have released his hold until his victim's
eyes had closed in death.
The minstrel thwarted the movement, and a terrible struggle
followed.
They were both physically game men, and neither one uttered the
least cry.
The only noise which broke the stillness was their heavy breath-
ings, and the snap and crack of their whip-cord-like muscles, as they
strained and struggled for the mastery.
The man had calculated upon an easy victory.
It at once became evident that he was used to physical struggles,
and owing to his stature and immense strength, the chances were
that he had been uniformly successful.
He resorted to several tricks well known to accomplished athletes
to overcome George, but found, after a few moments, that his an-
tagonist was as wary, and despite his slight build, as strong as
himself.
A discovery of this fact, disclosed by his repeated failures to gain
any advantages, caused him to utter several low, fierce oaths in a
foreign tongue.
It was a fearful struggle.
To and fro across the room they moved face to face, gleaming in
each other's eyes with a wild stare, caused by their fearful exertions.
As the man found himself still baffled at every turn, he became
more and more enraged, and gave utterance to more frequent and
fiercer oaths.
During the struggle a sound fell upon the ears of both men, which,
for an instant, caused them to relax their efforts.
It was a slight, terrified scream, and it came from the direction of
the bea.
The minstrel managed to sling his antagonist around so that he
could see toward the bed.
He beheld the girl sitting up, with a look of wild terror upon her
face.
She had recovered from the effects of the anesthetic, and was
Fossessed of full consciousness.
The look of terror was succeeded by one of surprise, as she recog-
nized our hero.
Despite his disguise, she did so instantly, and an exclamation be-
trayed her recognition.
George saw that she was about to scream, and notwithstanding the
fierceness of the struggle, he found breath to say:
#4
Do not shriek.
"He will murder you!" said the girl, wildly.
No, he won't. I'll fix this villain!" replied George.
The villain, upon hearing this talk, became perfectly frantic.
*
Jeppe
138
GEORGE CHRISTY.
.
He surmised at once that George must be the lover of the girl,
who had discovered her place of concealment, and who had come to
effect her rescue.
Jealousy was added, now, to his other motives for gaining a vic-
tory over our hero.
He almost raved, and exerted his immense strength with wild
fury.
He could not, however, gain any advantage over his active an-
tagonist.
George proved a match for him at every turn.
The struggle had lasted fully fifteen minutes.
This was a terribly long time for such a desperate physical contest.
The villain managed at last to bury his teeth in our hero's arm.
The minstrel made herculean efforts to shake the rascal off, but
could not succeed.
•
The mere thought of being chawed up weakened him to a certain
degree.
His antagonist growled like a wild beast, even while his teeth
were buried in human flesh.
Having one of our hero's arms thus disabled, gave the fellow an
advantage, and in a moment George was borne over upon the broad
of his back.
As the minstrel fell, he struck the back of his head with great
force against the side of the bed.
The blow partially stunned him, and gave his antagonist a still
greater advantage.
The latter now reached behind him and secured a second knife,
which was stuck in a back pocket.
The woman on the bed saw the movement, and screamed in
terror.
The glittering knife was poised over the minstrel's heart; a mo-
ment more, and his life blood would have spurted forth, when an
exciting incident occurred.
A tall form entered the room, and in a moment the villain who
held the knife over our hero received a blow on the side of the head
which knocked him senseless over upon the floor.
Ca
Begorra! it was a presentimint Î had that I was naded!" came
the words from the lips of the old half-breed gypsy woman, Bet.
George leaped to his feet, exclaiming:
You have saved my life!"
,
"Be the powers! but I thought I moight be doin' something av
the kind whin I found ye gone so long.
"
How did you manage to get here, my brave woman?”
"Niver moind that now, ye blaggard, but away out av this room
wid ye, an' give this young lady toime to get her duds on, for we
must be lavin' this Hades' hole in a jiffy, or we will hev a legion av
thim divils from below comin' upon us wid their knives an' pistols.
>>
"That scoundrel may recover!" said George, pointing to the
man who had come so near to being his murderer.
"Little fear av it, an' if he does, all the worst for him! Begorra!
ould Bet has a way av disposin' av such chaps as he!"
"But you may need my help still.
down-stairs.'
Some one may come from
""
GEORGE CHRISTY.
-139
Get out wid ye, ye spalpeen! Hev ye no delicacy that ye wuld
be makin' all manner av excuses to remain in the room?"
George saw the joke, but it was really anxiety which prompted
him to delay.
•
Ye nade hev no fear; there is no one down stairs. They hev -
all left the house.'
C
How do you know?”
Begorra! they might all get back while I was tellin' ye. Get out
av this room, 1 bid ye; and if ye don't move quick, begorra, I'll put
ye out; moind that, now.'
CE
George hastened out of the room, but determined to remain in the
hallway, so as to be handy in case his services were required.
The moment he had gone, old Bet said to the girl Louise:
66
Come, now, out av bed wid ye, and get yer clothes on; quick!”
Oh, how did all this come about?" asked Louise.
เ
"
Begorra, gal, but ye are as bad as the young chap widout there!
Ye would lose valuable toime askin' questions.
"
But answer me. How did that brave man learn of my where-
abouts?"
66
*)
'Begorra! I'll take all the romance out av yer moind by tellin'
ye that it was I found ye out! So come now, on wid yer clothes,
and ye will hev toime enough to learn all particulars afther we are
once out av this house."
The girl obeyed.
With old Bet's assistance, she soon got her clothes on, when the
gypsy said:
44
Come, now; we will away."
In the hall they found George, who commenced again to ask
questions; but he was quickly hushed by his old friend.
Louise was directed to go up on the roof, and George was directed
to follow.
46
Wait for me above there," said Bet; adding: lev something
to attind to in the room a moment.
..
George and the rescued girl ascended to the roof, while Bet re-
turned to the room where the man still lay upon the floor.
CHAPTER XLVIII.
WHEN Bet returned to the room where the girl had been confined,
she proved herself an old hand at a certain kind of business.
She proceeded deliberately to bind and gag the man.
"I hev seen yer face before, and ye are a bad chap," she re-
marked; adding, as she proceeded: "I'll just fix ye so that ye won't
make any noise, and prevint ye from coming after us.
>>
Having succeeded in her work, she soon joined George and the
girl Louise upon the roof.
4
I suppose," she said, "that ye hev had time to exchange lots of
explanations, and that ye are now ready to get away?”
葛家
​We have not spoken a word," said George, with a low, pleasant
laugh.
Well, mebbe it's because ye are disappointed at bein' driven from
the room a spell ago?" said Bet, with a chuckle.
140
GEORGE CHRISTY.
Not at all," answered George, and the next moment he asked:
"How are we to get this young lady on the roof of that house
there?"
""
re
Well, if ye had eyes ye would see," and as old Bet spoke, she
pointed to a ladder resting against the wall.
"Oh! that is the way you got here, eh?"
"It is; and if we had not both been lunkheads we would have
thought of it afore widout having the trouble wid that rope.
"
The old gypsy had returned to the house through which they had
first ascended to the roof, and had brought with her the scuttle ladder.
It was with the aid of the latter that she had managed to reach
the room just in time to save our hero's life.
Under Bet's guidance it required but a few minutes to reach the
house which the old gypsy claimed belonged to her.
Through the latter they descended to the street.
Hardly a word had been exchanged during the singular journey
over the roofs.
Bet had taken the precaution to destroy every evidence which
might indicate the course of their flight to the inmates of the house
from which the escape had been made.
Once down in the street, the question arose, what should they do
with the rescued girl?
**
""
The old gypsy, as usual, solved the question.
"Let her come wid me,
" she said;
begorra! there is no safer
place in New York for her at the prisint toime.'
George acquiesced in the proposition, and accompanied them to
old Bet's rooms.
He would liked to have remained awhile, and asked the rescued
girl some questions, but he generously decided to restrain all curi-
osity until some more fitting occasion.
As soon he saw his new friend safely to the gypsy's lodging,
he bid them good-night, and sought his own place of abode.
Old Bet was a singular and eccentric character, but she had enough
of the feminine nature in her to feel a great deal of curiosity, and
when once alone with the girl she commenced to ply her with
questions.
..
It's you, and the handsome young man who saved your life,
who are to be married these few days comin', I suppose?" said Bet.
No," answered Louise, adding: "this is the second time in my
""
life that I ever had the pleasure of speaking to him; and it was but
a few weeks ago that I saw him for the first time!'
"It's well for ye to tell that, but an owld body like me can kape
the privilege ov belavin' as much as I plaze.
"
ܕ
You must be a stranger to Mr. Christy, or you would know that
I am telling the truth.
>
"Ah! and is that his name?"
""
Yes."
And is he George Christy, the great actor, that we hear so much
talk about?"
64
He is.
LA
22
66
Well, I was thinkin' all along that he was some great character;
and it's a brave, beautiful man he is, and 1 don't wonder ye're in
love wid him; nor can I say, by the same token, that it's much won-
GEORGE CHRISTY.
141
:
der, ayther, that he's in love wid yersel', for ye hev a most lovely
and beautiful face, my dear gurl.
"You are laboring under a great mistake," said Louise, adding,
in a musing tone, It's a wonder how he came to interest himself
in my behalf.'
"
"
Old Bet eyed the girl for a moment, and then asked:
66
How was it ye came to be in such a position as to nade to be
rescued?"
F
4
"That is a mystery," answered the girl; and resuming, after a
moment, she said: Within the last half hour the thought has
crossed my mind that, after all, George Christy may indirectly be at
the bottom of my abduction."
""
Why would he be at the bottom ov yer abduction, and thin ov
yer rescue?" asked Bet.
፡፡
I do not mean that he was a cousenting party to my abduction;
and yet I do feel now that it was because of certain trifling facts con-
nected with my rescuer that I was abducted.'
"Will ye tell me yer story, and allow me to help ye in comin' to
a conclusion? Faith, but your frind has found my judgment good,
and it's a tight hand I had in your escape."
Louise was a frank, simple-minded girl, and she proceeded, un-
hesitatingly, to tell the following story of her strange adventures:
She mentioned how she had first met George, and had formed a
singular fancy for him, because of reasons which she did not feel it
necessary to mention, although she strongly asserted that it was not
because of those feelings which would naturally be supposed to at-
tract a young lady toward a handsome young man.
Co
Oh, sthick to that view of it," said old Bet, “an' mebbe some
time ye may begin to belave it yoursel'!"
Louise blushed as she said:
"Oh, I see you are determined to believe that I have fallen in love
with my rescuer.
""
•
Well, melbe I wouldn't be so quick to belave it, if ye war not
so anxious to hev me belave the other way; but niver moind; go on
wid yer story. Ye war sayin' that ye war attracted toward this hand-
some young man for some rayson, an' that will do for the prisint."
"
'I frequently went to the theater to gaze at him when upon the
stage.
64
>>
64
Yes, that was very natural, since ye war only attracted by some
rayson; but how could ye gaze with delight upon his face, whin it
war ail blacked wid burnt cork?"
His voice reminded me of certain experiences in my former life."
"but go on.
Ay!" said old Bet, in a peculiar tone;
Louise was half inclined to discontinue her recital, but intending
to ask a few questions herself, she continued, and said:
"One night when entering the theater, I noticed a man gazing at
me in a very strange manner."
#
That is not sthrange, seein' ye hev such a beautiful face to gaze
at, me dear girl."
>>
There was something peculiar in the man's gaze, which led me
to think that it was not a mere passing look of admiration, even if I
had a face which might attract such a look.'
""
<"
142
GEORGE CHRISTY.
Oh, it's very ignorant ye are av yer own beauty!" said the old
gypsy, in a significant tone.
66
Upon entering the music hall, I soon became conscious that the
same man was sitting near to me, and that his gaze was occasionally
fixed upon me in a very searching manner.
""
•
Had ye iver seen him afore?"
Never!"
LE
**
"Had ye no frind that ye could spake av it to?"
"I had no friend, and when the audience was dismissed, I hurried
out as fast as I could, intending to hasten right home, when a most
singular adventure befell me.
66
Ay, but it was a trap ye fell into, poor child, I suppose?”
66
A square from the music hall a most beautiful woman met me,
and appealed to me for protection.'
>>
46
A woman, was it?"
"6 Yes."
And what protection did she require?”
She told me that she was being followed by a strange man, and
that she was afraid of him,"
#f
"An odd story, that!"
""
I did not think so-and even if I had entertained any suspicion,
it would have been allayed when she said to me that two of us going
together would be a mutual protection.
"}
46
Indade, but that was thrue enough, under some circumstances."
<c
I asked her which route she wished to take, and learned that we
were going in the same direction.'
""
"
Another nate trick!"
("
Yes, it was, as I discovered a few moments later, but then it was
too late for me to help myself.'
""
66
And ye fell straight into the trap widout the laste suspicion?”
I did."
"C
Go on and tell me what befell ye, poor, innocent child!"
"
CHAPTER XLIX.
RESUMING her story, Louise said:
"We had proceeded but a short distance, when the girl who was
with me uttered an exclamation of terror, and pointing toward a
man on the opposite side of the street, said:
64.
There is the fellow who has been dodging after me!'
Upon looking across the street," continued Louise, "I saw the
very same man who had been watching me in such a peculiar man-
ner at the Minstrel Hall.
"I told the stranger of this fact, when she said, as we reached a
corner where a carriage stood:-
C
Oh, the wretch! we must escape from him at all hazards.
Let's get into this carriage.
"">
"
And it was there she played the sharpest trick on ye," inter-
rupled Gypsy Bet.
*
Yes," resumed Louise. "I did not suspect her purpose when
she hastened beside the coach and asked the driver if he was en-
gaged."
**
GEORGE CHRISTY.
143
Ah, ha!" again interrupted old Bet. He was engaged to meet
her just then and there."
"¿
"I know that now, but everything was acted in such a natural
manner I did not suspect the truth at the time.
""
"Ye will know betther next toime."
"The man said he was not engaged, when my companion hurried
me into the coach without allowing me to make one inquiry, or
listen to a single explanation.
Ye were fairly trapped, thin?”
""
I was; as I knew nothing more until I returned to consciousness
in the room from which you and George Christy rescued me this
night."
And what befell ye, child, afther ye were fairly caged in that
vile nest of thieves and assassins?"?
L
(4
no one.
For two days," said Louise, continuing her narrative, “I saw
On the third day a handsome woman, evidently past thirty
years of age, was shown into the apartment where 1 had been con-
fined.'
"
Ye were imprisoned, thin?"
'Yes; the door and windows were barred and bolted against me:
besides, there was a watchman or jailer constantly stationed at the
door.
C
"
*
"C
"}
And what did the foine woman say who came in to see ye?"
"She commenced to upbraid me in the most violent manner.
"Was she the same as inveigled ye into the carriage?”
"C
No; it was another person.
And what did the woman look like who fust played the trick
on ye?"
"
She was a beautiful little creature, with dark, gleaming eyes, and
a voice as sweet and musical as any I ever heard.
"
1)
Old Bet uttered a significant humph! and said:
""
'Well, what did the woman upbraid ye about?"
She accused me of having deliberately robbed her of her lover."
And who did she claim was her lover.
""
44
C4
"
:>
CA
George Christy.
Indade! thin, this was all a sthrange story; but go on with the
quare tale; there is fire somewhere at the bottom av all this smoke.
""
Several times this woman came to visit me, and each time she
abused me in the most violent manner, until 1 became convinced
that I was confined at the mercy of a maniac.
"C
And were there not stranger things happened?"
Yes; one night I awoke in a room, in the midst of darkness and
contusion, after having been thrown over upon the floor, out of
what I have since thought was a coffin.
>"
"
6*
''
"
Again old Bet uttered her significant humph! as she said:
Well, go on, me poor child!”
"I managed at length to convince the woman, who had daily
been coming to abuse me, that the young man, George Christy, was
really a stranger to me, and that I had never met him but once; from
that moment she began to treat me in the kindest manner."
&
But didn't another tormentof step in to annoy you?"
The man, Angelo Lorenzo, had been professing love to me from
the first hour that 1 was carried into that fearful den, and upon this
144
GEORGE CHRISTY.
very night he would have killed me, or have driven me to kill my.
self, when my rescue was effected by you and George.
""
Old Bet, in answer to the girl's inquiries, related all that she and
George had done since the night when they had first met, near the
corner groggery in the center of that fearful locality, the Five
Points.
A short time afterward, but not until the gray streaks of dawn
were brightening the eastern horizon, they retired for rest.
Our hero once met with a comic adventure, which we will take
an opportunity to relate before recording the great minstrel's meet-
ing with Louise on the day following her rescue, and a relation of
his final solution of the mystery of the man and woman with the
gleaming eyes, who bore such a wonderful resemblance to each other.
George was attending a ball at a hotel near Jamaica, Long Island.
It was a genuine country ball, where the guests were gathered from
the surrounding country, some coming a great many miles by
sleighs to be present.
George was just in the full tide of delight upon all occasions of
the nature mentioned.
To a city man fond of dancing there are always heaps of fun to be
had at a country ball.
Upon this occasion a large number were assembled.
The festivities were in full progress, and our hero had been en-
joying himself hugely, when he left the heated ball-room and passed
down toward the bar, or reading-room.
Proceeding through the broad hall, with his eyes fixed upon the
parties seated in the parlor, he was suddently brought to a halt by
running against an individual whose wild staring eyes were fixed in
the same direction.
The man turned, and the great minstrel and stranger stood face to
face.
The latter was a countryman of the greenest sort.
A rough-featured, tow-haired, broad-shouldered, hoary-bearded
chap, such as can be seen in remote country towns.
The moment our hero caught a glimpse of the countryman's face
he saw that something was up.
George was a keen, rapid observer, and read the difficulty at a
glance.
The countryman's eyes glared with a lurid light which would
have done credit to a Bowery Othello, and would have brought
down the gods of the gallery with shrieks of applause.
His great hands were clinched in nervous excitement, while his
features were contorted by an expression which would have graced
the face of a snarling bull-dog.
"Excuse me," said George, in a bland, pleasant manner.
but by gosh! I feel
Certainly, stranger! certainly, stranger!" exclaimed the country-
man, in tones of suppressed anger, adding,
just like chawing somebody up, head and ears!"
"What is the matter, my friend?" asked George.
Matter enough, by gol! and the matter will be more in a few
moments or I'll bust, that's certain!"
"Can I be of any assistance to you?" asked George.
"
$4
C&
GEORGE CHRISTY.
145
"S
}
Assistance to me? No, sir; 1 can just crawl over a dozen such
chaps as have gone and cut me out of Clara's good graces!"?
George felt a jubilant feeling surging in his bosom.
He liked fun, and he thought that he here saw a chance for lots
of it.
"C
Laying his hand on the wild countryman's arm, he said:
Come and have a soda, and cool off, while I have a talk with
>>
(6
you.
The countryman fixed his glaring eyes on the minstrel and said:
Look here, bub, ben't you one of them city chaps that belongs
in York?"
*
No, sir," answered George. "1 am from the interior of the
State.
},
This reply of our hero's was remotely true, as he was really a na-
tive of Buffalo.
"
"
Well, can you answer me one question?"
""
#
'I can't tell you until you put it.
..
Do you know who that chap is sittin' on that sofa with my
Clara?"
•
Which is your Clara?" asked George, glancing into the parlor.
That reddish-haired gal, sittin' alongside of that chap with the
mustache as big as a she bear's shock tail!"
George well knew who the young man was with the big black
mustache.
44
It was one of his companions, and a member of the minstrel band
-a merry, mischievous chup, who would take long chances for a
bit of innocent sport.
""
66
I've seen him before," said George.
Well, who is he?"
"His name is Stewart."
"Is he a friend of yours?"
*C
Why do you ask?"
Because if he is, you had better go in there and drag him out of
that parlor, and take him home.
??
44
44
Why?"
"Because if you don't, gol darn it, I'm just going in there, in
about three minutes, and l'll chaw him to pieces.
"You wouldn't touch him if you knew whose son he was," said
George.
(4
Whose son is he?"
“A. T. Stewart's, the millionaire!" was the reply.
Bang
ᏟᎻᎪᏢᎢᎬᎡ Ꮮ.
AT the time of which we write A. T. Stewart's name was as
well known, as a rich merchant, as the name of W. B. Astor.
Countrymen have a great respect for such people, and stand more
in awe of them than the city people usually do.
The effect of this little fib was marked upon the jealous coun-
tryman.
His jaw dropped, and a hopeless expression came over his face, as
he murmured:
}
¿
Nigh
+
146
GEORGE CHRISTY.
Gol darn it! then it's all up with me; for if a fellow that's got
the ducats like that goes for Clara, she'll just give me the mitten
without winkin'."
fi
i.
"L
Are you engaged to be married to that gal?" asked George.
Well, no, not 'zackly, but I was just going to pop the question
riding home to-night; and, gol darn it, my heart is just set on that
gal.
Well, it doesn't follow, because she speaks to young Stewart,
that she is falling in love with him.
•
Do you believe that, stranger?" asked the countryman, as he
took a tight, convulsive grasp of our hero's arm.
..
Why, certainly," answered our hero; she is just playing you
a little, to make you jealous.'
56
Well, gol darn her, she's just done it, you bet!"
Why don't you pay her in her own coin?" suggested George,
blandly.
"I don't know what you mean?"
፡፡
*
Why, fight fire with fire!"
"How's that?"
++
"}
..
""
Make her jealous of you.'
Gol darn it!" retorted the honest countryman, "1 ain't no
Stewart's son, and no other gal will have anything to do with me.
George was amused at the fellow's honesty, and was almost in-
clined to forbear from finishing his intended joke; but remembering
that no real injury was intended, his love of fun prevailed, and he
determined to go on with the joke.
Addressing the countryman he said:
"I can fix it so that gal will be awful sorry.
Co
"
George knew that the minstrel was only amusing himself for the
moment, and when the countryman asked:
66
How can you do that, stranger?"
"Oh! I can fix it, if you are willing.
I'm just the willingest man you ever seed, my friend!”
"How far do you live from here?" asked George.
"Just twelve miles."
"Well, will you do just as I say?"
You bet I will, if it will only bring that ere gal around to my
affection again!"
George had already fixed a plan in his mind.
His first move was to give Mr. Countryman a good big hot punch.
The next move was to secure several confederates.
The reading-room was exactly opposite to the parlor on the same
floor.
George furnished his dupe with a strong cigar, and then led him
to the reading-room.
Here be seated the chap in one chair, while he arranged him with
his feet on another.
With his cigar in his mouth, his feet over the chair, and the hot
punch dancing in his head and eyes, the countryman presented about
as neat a picture of indifferent comfort as could well be imagined.
Having his dupe arranged, George commenced to rehearse him
for his part, while the countryman, in his delight and gratitude, kept
exclaiming:
GEORGE CHRISTY.
144
"I'll be goldarned, if you ain't just the smartest chap I ever came
across!"
"
'You see," said George, "the female character is very peculiar;
you must handle their dispositions with the lightest kind of
touches.
64
66
""
Well, I must say that you are the goldarndest smartest chap I
ever seed, you are, for sure!"
6
"You see in this case," continued George, returning to the re-
hearsal business, in your case it is necessary that you should show
the utmost indifference to the girl Clara.
>>
66
Well, but I swow I ain't indifferent to her, then how in thun-
der am I going to show it?"
16
She will want to go home by-and-by, won't she?"
66
66
I reckon so; we ain't made no arrangements to stay all night."
Well, now, wouldn't it be nice to have Clara come and coax you
a bit?"
66
You reckon!”
That is just what I am going to make her do.”
"Well you are the goldarndest smartest chap I ever did see; you
just beat 'em all; you do, sure!"
"You must not weaken," said George, "if you want her to love
you more than any man living.'
"What do you mean?"
"
Be you a doctor?" asked the country chap.
""
No.'
fi
ma
Well, when she comes and asks you in a sweet, coaxing way to
come and go home, you must not yield right away.'
""
Well, what must I do?"
"C
Oh, you must say you are not in a hurry, and act as indifferent
""
as you can; make her think that you don't care a cent.'
+6
Well, you are really the goldarndest smartest chap I ever did
sec!"
""
Half an hour passed.
George had his dupe well instructed in every letter of the little
farce that was to be played.
At length the play commenced.
Parties began to leave, and the girl Clara looked around for her
escort.
It may be that she had some slight compunctions of conscience at
having slighted him.
If such were the case, all repentant feelings were speedily ban-
ished.
Several times she had gone in and out of the parlor, and upon the
last occasion, as she came from the parlor, she espied her escort still
occupying his stretched attitude of indifference in the reading-room.
Going to the door she said in a pleasant manner.
66
Come, Jake, the folks are all going home.”
Jake had his cue, and answered under the promptings of our
hero, and the effects of the hot punch and the cigar,
66 Is that so?"
"
Yes."
Well, don't be in a hurry; go and enjoy yourself; I am per-
fectly comfortable, and in no hurry."
148
GEORGE CHRISTY.
The girl Clara was rather pretty, and evidently a high-spirited
country miss, and her eyes flashed fire upon receiving this gruff an-
swer.
With a tear in her eyes, she walked away from the door.
In a few moments, however, she returned, and again said:
64
Come, Jake, ain't you ready to go now?”
، ،
Oh, I am in no hurry; time enough; I am enjoying myself!'
A pleading look overspread the girl's face, as she said, in a coax-
ing tone:
66
Oh, please come!"
Oh, don't bother me!" was the answer.
6.
,
>
The ignorant country lout had begun to appreciate his brief po-
sition of command, and had evidently determined to enjoy it to the
fullest extent.
Again the girl walked away from the reading-room door.
This time not a tear, but a blaze of anger gleamed in her pretty
eyes.
Our hero managed to steal from the room by another door, and
going out into the hallway, he saw the girl, Clara, pacing back and
forth in the parlor with all of her wraps on.
("
She was evidently in great distress.
Approaching, in that courtly manner which he could assume, the
rogue George flashed his handsome blue eyes upon her, and said:
"That lout there has placed you in a very awkward position."
Yes, he has," was the reply, with a pretty girlish spitefulness.
“You would serve him right if you went home and left him just
where he is.
""
3
66
I wish I had the chance," exclaimed the girl, involuntarily.
"Would you permit me to take you home, and aid you in serving
that fellow a good lesson?"
"
You are a stranger," replied the girl, with a blush.
George mentioned the name of the proprietor of the hotel, and
stated that he would introduce and vouch for his being a gentleman.
The girl, Clara, was but a country miss, untaught in the ways
of the world, and smarting under the affront which had been put
upon her, at last consented to have the minstrel drive her home.
The conversation above recorded transpired in a few moments,
and George was quickly upon the way to have his team brought
around.
A moment later he returned, and told the girl that all was ready.
The girl followed, and speedily the merry sound of sleigh-bells
was heard, and George and the girl were being carried toward the
latter's home at a speed which would have been the envy of many
a real sportsman.
CHAPTER LI.
In the meantime, the poor duped countryman began to grow un-
easy.
Several times he asked for George.
No one appeared to know where the gay minstrel was.
At length, thinking that he had sufficiently revenged himself, the
countryman determined to take the fair Clara home.
GEORGE CHRISTY.
149
Leaving his seat, and followed by several who were in the joke,
he went upstairs to look for her.
He could not find her, and at length began to show considerable
uneasiness.
"I wonder where in thunder Clara could have hid herself?" he
murmured.
A laugh was the only response he received to this question.
At length he sought the landlord of the hotel.
C
<C
:6
66
C
""
•
$6
(6
66
64
Do you mean that my Clara went home with that son of A. T.
Stewart's?"
፡፡
66
What son of A. T. Stewart?”
Why, the one that was here at the ball?"
You must be crazy," said the landlord; adding: “A. T. Stew-
art has no son.
""
66
Can you tell me where Clara is?" he asked.
Clara who?" came the question.
"}
Clara Seymour.
Clara Seymour, from S――?”
Yes, sir.
Why, man, she is half way home by this time!”
Half way home?" yelled Jake, leaping into the air.
Yes, sir."
}}
<
Why, who in thunder did she git home with?"
""
One of those chaps from York.
"
Who was that chap with the black mustache who spent most
of his time in the parlor?"
ܝ
6
Ere the countryman received an answer to this question, he saw
the very man of whom he was speaking.
*
Gosh darn it!" he exclaimed, "there's that fellow now. 1
୨
wonder who could have taken Clara home?"
66
'I can tell you who took her home," said a Jamaica man, step-
ping forward.
66
Who?"
Why, that chap from York they call George.'
Why, that is the name of the fellow who gave me the punch and
the cigar."
>>
Well, he's the chap who took Miss Seymour home!"
The country man's eyes dilated.
His features assumed a look that was ludicrous in the extreme,
as he exclaimed, in thundering tones:
66
Well, I swear, he is the goldarndest smartest chap I ever seed!
He's just done me brown for a cookie, that's as sure as you are
born.
About daylight the frolicksome George returned to the hotel, and
asserted that he had the pleasantest moonlight sleigh ride it had ever
been his good fortune to enjoy.
It was a merry joke, and the incident has ofttimes been told by
good story-tellers, whose imitations of Jake's exclamations were
comic enough always to bring down a grand old laugh.
To return to our story.
On the day following the rescue of Louise from the den where she
had been confined, George pursued his way to old Bet's to see the
girl.
150
GEORGE CHRISTY.
He found the old gypsy woman in her apartment, but did not see
the girl.
66
Where is she?" he asked.
The gal?"
'Yes.
She has gone."
"Gone where?"
66
"
CC
"
Begorra! that's just what I can't tell ye. I put her to sleep in
that bed beyond there, and in the mornin' when I awoke, she was off,
leavin' nothin' behind but a bit of a note here, which is Greek to
""
me.
George asked for the note, when old Bet handed him a folded
missive, which contained the following brief words, written in a
neat, clear hand:
";
"I am thankful to both the kind persons who rescued me from
great peril. Some day it may be in my power to more practically
express my gratitude; until then, with a renewed expression of my
heartiest gratitude, farewell.
"LOUISE."
56
Short and sweet," said George.
Read it, that I may catch a bit of the odor of its sweetness,"
said Bet.
""
Our hero saw Bet's point, and read the note aloud.
At its conclusion the gypsy remarked, sententiously:
She's skipped!"
66
"but I will
"I doubt if ye do," retorted Bet, and she proceeded to relate all
that the girl had revealed to her during their long talk a few hours
previously.
CC
Well, yes, she has gone away," answered George;
find her.
The girl's story was a great revelation to our hero.
He had become greatly interested in the beautiful girl, and he de-
termined that, after having been of such service to her, he was not
going to lose sight of her so readily.
The story revealed to him also the fact that Agnes Relton, and the
girl with the gleaming black eyes, were confederates against him.
But one mystery remained to be solved, and that was the myste-
rious connection between Pietro Rizzilli and the woman who bore
such a wonderful resemblance to him.
George liberally rewarded old Bet for what assistance she had
rendered him, and informed her still further that if at any time she
should need a friend to call on him.
"C
An' ye can always find me at your service," replied Bet.
The old woman was a miser, and although she claimed to own
houses, she was not averse to picking up an odd dollar whenever an
opportunity offered.
A week passed with our hero, during which time nothing of an
unusual character occurred.
He had tried in many ways to obtain some clew to the wherea-
bouts of the girl Louise.
Every effort, however, proved fruitless.
GEORGE CHRISTY.
151
She had hidden herself as effectually as though she had never been
in existence. George had called at her former boarding-place, but
they had seen or heard nothing of her.
"Has she never called for the articles belonging to her?" asked
our hero.
*C
She has not," was the reply.
The minstrel had not informed the parties concerning his knowl-
edge of her being alive, and he learned that they were under the
firm belief that the missing girl had committed suicide and was dead.
The fact that she had not made her escape known to these people
determined George to let them remain in ignorance.
A visit to the woman who had shown so much interest in her fate
was rewarded with no better success.
As our hero knew of no other quarter where he would be likely to
learn something concerning her, he determined to insert an advertise-
ment among the "Herald" Personals.
This advertisement appeared daily for two weeks, and no response
was received; and at last George made up his mind that it was of no
use to inquire further.
Just as he had come to this conclusion he received a note which
ran as follows:
Your advertisement has been observed, and it is useless for you
to attempt to find the person whom you seek. Some day when the
hour of need may come, you will hear from the grateful and ever
remembering
"LOUISE."
66
This letter was post-marked from a distant town.
George determined at some future day to give his time to find her,
but was compelled for the time being to give up all effort.
The minstrel had just settled down to the even tenor of his pro-
fessional way, when a startling incident once again aroused him, and
recalled to his mind the previous adventures through which he had
passed.
He was sitting in a prominent Broadway restaurant one afternoon,
when he observed a friend seated at a table in a distant part of the
spacious room.
His order had not been filled, and as the waiter knew him well,
he ventured to cross over to where his friend was seated.
During his absence from his booth, the waiter had brought his
order and had left it upon the marble table.
In a moment or two George returned and seated himself.
He had just taken a glass of lemonade in his hand, when a stranger
touched him upon the arm.
The stranger's face was pale, and he displayed considerable nerv-
ousness as he said:
"Excuse me, sir; but if I were you, I would not drink that lem-
onade.
""
"C
Why not?" asked George, much astonished at receiving such a
signal of warning.
64
I would prefer not to give a reason," said the stranger.
Feeling that the man was joking, impertinent, or drunk, George
152
GEORGE CHRISTY.
raised the glass to his lips, when the stranger caught it from his
grasp.
CHAPTER LII.
THE minstrel for a moment was too amazed to even protest.
The warm blood mantled his cheek, and indignation glowed in
his eyes, when he finally managed to ejaculate:
··
Will you explain your actions, sir, or must I chastise you for
your insolence?”
1.
1 feel that I have saved your life, my friend, although it may all
be merely a joke.
""
If there is a joke intended, I must say that you are the jokist,"
said George, and his whole face was expressive of anger.
(6
"I
I see," said the stranger, "that it is necessary for me to explain
my conduct; and if I appear in a ridiculous light afterward, you
must remember that my motive, at least, was good, and that at any
rate, the incident I am about to relate was certainly very singular.
George at once came to the conclusion that he was talking with a
lunatic, and his impression was strengthened when the stranger ab-
ruptly asked:
66
(6
Have you any enemies?"
That is an odd question," answered George.
56
"I know it," said the stranger;
and still I would like to know
if you have an enemy who would have any object in killing you?"
Suddenly a recollection flashed over our hero's mind, and he be-
gan to think possibly his singular interrogator was not so crazy,
after all, and he said:
""
Please explain yourself, sir."
The stranger hesitated a moment, and then said:
"C
It seems a simple incident, and yet a very singular one, and you
may better explain it than I; but the facts are these: As I was pass-
ing alone here, I saw a lady, handsomely dressed, empty the con-
tents of a little paper package in that glass of lemonade. It was
done deftly and quickly, and it struck me, at the time, that the party
was not aware that she was being observed.”
George felt a cold chill creeping all over him.
The stranger was a frank, gentlemanly-looking man, and certainly
would have no object in relating such a remarkable incident unless
there was some truth in it.
Our hero asked:
66
What kind of a looking woman was she?"
6.
A very handsome woman, with a dark complexion, and singu-
larly black, piercing eyes.'
>>
The mystery was explained, but George had presence of mind
enough to reply, in an indifferent mauner:
66
Oh, I understand it, sir, you have been frightened by an intend-
ed joke; but I am much obliged to you."
A few more words passed, and the stranger moved away,
George had treated the matter seemingly in a very indifferent
manner; but had the stranger remained to have watched his move-
ments, he would have noticed that the minstrel did not drink the
lemonade.
GEORGE CHRISTY.
153
The minstrel had no appetite after this singular disclosure, and he
began to realize what dangerous ground he was treading upon.
If his enemies could resort to such a diabolical method to destroy
him as the means just disclosed, it was certain that his life was
hanging by a very narrow thread,
He did not doubt for a moment as to the identity of the would-be
murderers.
Further, he now felt satisfied that he was being watched and
dogged, and that the assassins were laying for every chance to mur-
der him.
His plan of action was at once decided upon.
He decided to have an interview with Pietro Rizzilli at once.
He got one of the waiters to get him a soda-water bottle, and into
the latter he poured what he was now satisfied must be a poisoned
decoction.
Having secured matters as described, he settled his bill and left the
palace saloon.
Two blocks from the scene of the startling incident above related,
he met the very person of whom, at that moment, he was thinking.
Pietro Rizzilli was at his side.
George felt like seizing the murderous Italian by the throat and
choking him to death, but restrained himself, as he had determined
upon a different mode of dealing with the fellow.
Our hero was satisfied of one fact.
He now believed that the man and the woman with the gleaming
eyes were one and the same person.
The fact of meeting Pietro so soon after leaving the saloon satis-
fied George on this point.
That the fellow had some wonderful means of transforming him-
self in appearance was now seemingly an established fact,
Pietro advanced, and spoke in the same soft and insinuating man-
ner as upon former occasions.
George was very cold in his manner, and very brief in his remarks.
You have not kept your appointment with me!" said the Italian.
No," was the abrupt answer.
The service I wish to do you may never be performed unless
you meet me as I desire.
''
46
""
CC
61
I will meet you," said George.
was the quick query.
>
"When?
To-night.
"
Where?"
#6
€4
Anywhere that you may choose."
The Italian named a place and an hour.
"I will meet you," said George, and, at the same moment, he bid
the Italian good-day.
**
ވ
7
Ten minutes later our hero was the subject of a second wonderful
surprise.
Four or five blocks from where he had met Pietro he met the
woman with the gleaming eyes.
"Great Heavens!" exclaimed the minstrel,
mortals, or am I haunted by Satan himself?"
That night, during the performance, our hero's mind was con-
stantly fixed upon the singular adventures of the day; and when the
ang sa kan
66
am I dealing with
154
GEORGE CHRISTY.
theater closed, it was with the greatest eagerness he hastened to the
place where he was to meet Pietro, and solve the mystery of those
gleaming eyes.
During the course of our narrative, we have related several ad-
ventures in the careers of many notable minstrels, and we will now
ask our reader's patience while we repeat a few comic incidents as
related by the nian who was most nearly the prototype of George
Christy.
The famous Dan Bryant was a remarkable man, and a great come-
dian; and we trust that the few incidents related, as told by Dan
himself, will not prove uninteresting.
We will record the incidents in the great comedian's own lan-
guage. He said:
66
Had I kept a record of the comic exclamations and unsophisti-
cated inquiries of the thousands of countrymen who have visited my
performances, it would fill a volume.
Upon one occasion we introduced an act where we brought an
imitation baby elephant upon the stage.
$4
The make-up' was the mere throwing of a blanket over two
'knights of the cork,' with a well-made elephant's head attached,
while the two performers wore leggins representing the fore and hind
feet of the lusty animal.
56
As a matter of course, the act went off well, and afforded con-
siderable amusement.
•
6.
Your servant was not on the stage at the fall of the curtain, but
was standing in front of the house, watching the throng pass out,
when the following amusing conversation took place:
60 6
Papa, was that a real elephant?' The speaker was a buxom
rustic girl, seemingly of fifteen years.
66 •
Of course not, Liddy,' was the reply from her sun-browned
daddy.
66
It wasn't!' exclaimed an old lady, hanging upon the farmer
papa's other arm, as she shot a surprised glance through her specta-
cles.
66 6
6
Of course it wasn't a real elephant,' asserted daddy.
<
'Why, John!' ejaculated the old lady, you must be blind
when you say that it was not a real elephant. Goodness! didn't you
see how it walked around, and how frightened and nervous it seemed
to be?'
(6 C
+60
Then you think it was a real elephant?' said daddy.
""
'I know it was,' came the emphatic answer.
“'How do you know?'
Because no stuffed skin could wag its tail as naterally as that
ar critter did!'
""
Upon another occasion," related Dan, a canaler who was in-
troduced to me after a performance, inquired, innocently:
"How do yer get that tarnal black dye stuff off yer hair so soon,
Mr. Bryant?'
""
66 6
<<
He appeared to be perfectly satisfied when I answered: 'By an
electric shampoo.'
"}
A country chap once asked Nelse Seymour how he got the curl
out of his hair so soon after coming off the stage.
Nelse replied, promptly:
GEORGE CHRISTY.
155
+
**
By flashing powder on my scalp!" The fellow was perfectly
satisfied.
Both of these comedians were always ready with a reply, and the
occasions were frequent when they were called upon to exercise their
wit when off the stage.
CHAPTER LIII.
WHILE writing up a number of Dan Bryant's jokes, we will relate
one or two comic incidents which occurred during his experience as
a manager
Upon one occasion, when playing at a matinee, during one of the
scenes a minstrel extracted a pocket-book from one of his brother
performer's pockets.
After the performance a long, lank-looking countryman sought
Dan out, and addressed him as follows:
66
Look a-here, Mister Bryant, ef one of your performers misses
his pocket-book, 1 kin jest put my hand on the chap that stole it—
for I seed him do it!"
<<
'Did you?" asked Dan.
"Yes, sir-ee!"
"C
Aware that the company had about washed off the black from
their faces, Dan thought he saw a chance for a joke, and he said to
the greeny:
"
EC
Are you sure that you saw a pocket-book stolen?”’
By gol, I am!
And can you identify the thief without any mistake?”
65
I can pick him out just as nice as a good dog can smell his mas-
>
ter.
You may get yourself into an awkward scrape if you should
make any mistake.
*C
If I don't lay my hand on the man who smouched the pocket-
book, I jest stand wine for the whole company.
K
Well,
" said Dan, "I do not wish to keep any thieves in my
company, and if you can point one out you will do me a great serv-
ice."
<
I kin do it, Mister Bryant."
44
>>
Dan led the greeny around to the dressing-room.
The men were about ready to leave, having changed their stage
rig for their ordinary attire.
As any of our well-informed readers well know, minstrels are
very ordinary looking men, and have no distinguishing marks about
them when off the stage.
"
As Dan ushered the countryman among the members of his com-
pany, he whispered.
Now, then, which is the thief?”
The greeny turned all colors.
It seemingly just struck him at that moment that the black was a
disguise.
In a helpless tone he inquired:
•
Are they all here, Mister Bryant?"
Yes."
ต
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156
GEORGE CHRISTY.
1
"Well, then, by gol, I gin it up! But hang me ef I didn't see
one on 'em steal that pocket-book square!"
Upon another occasion the same sort of a chap was in the theater,
and a very amusing incident occurred.
One of the performers, during the course of a burlesque, made
use of the expression:
"I am a pugilist, I am; and I'm from Ulster County, and 1 can
just whale any man from my county, or any man in the whole cre-
ation!"
At the conclusion of the performance, the countryman alluded to
forced his way around to the dressing-room, and inquired fiercely of
Dan:
46
{
Has that Ulster County chap got his toggery off yet?"
"Who do you mean?" asked Dan.
"I mean that chap who said on the stage that he was from Ulster
County, and could clean out the whole creation!"
Dan dropped to the little mistake the fellow had made, and again
seeing a chance for some fun, said:
**
"6
What do you want of him, then?"
"Well, you see, cap, I'm from old Ulster County, and I've just
always taken the rag up around our way, and as that chap thinks he
is so smart, I would just like to take a tug with him; I don't take
water from no one, I don't."
Scenting the pith of the joke, Dan said, as he led the man on to
the stage;
'Oh, I know who you mean now; are you a friend of his?”
No, sir."
You just wait here until all the people are out, and I will send
your pian on the stage to you, and you can take your tug right here,
without running any chance of interference."
At the time the incident we are relating occurred, there was a
dwarf connected with the company, an agile and talented chap, less
than forty inches high.
Waiting until the company had time to assemble in the side scenes,
Dan sent the dwarf upon the stage.
""
The countryman evidently meant business.
He had thrown off his coat, and was pacing back and forth upon
the stage like a caged lion.
As the dwarf stepped upon the stage, after having received his
cue, he said.
"1
Are you the chap who is looking for a clinch?”
What's that your business, bub?" was the fierce answer.
Well, I thought if you were, I'd just accommodate you, as you
have sent for me.
??
""
I sent for you?"
"Yes, sir."
"
}
Who are you, anyhow, my little hop-o'-my-thumb?"
I'm the chap from Ulster."
"You are?"
"Yes."
"L
"And be you the chap who challenged any man in all creation?"
"I'm just the boy who did that, my friend."
+
GEORGE CHRISTY.
157
"Well, you must have grow'd down considerable since you made
your boast
**
No, I always look large from the front.'
You do?"
喜​看
​.. ވގ
66
Yes, sir.".
Well, I guess you do; but good-day, bub, I've been sucked in, I
hev; but you talk loud for a boy, you do.'
As the countryman uttered the words recorded, he seized his coat,
leaped over the orchestra, and with a wild laugh ringing in his ears,
fled through the auditorium into the street and was never seen
around those haunts any more.
Dan Bryant was a very charitable man, although peculiarly eccen-
tric in his mode of distributing his charities.
We remember upon one occasion a seedy looking man accosted
Dan one day in front of his minstrel hall; said the stranger:
""
"Mr. Bryant, 1 am in hard luck and the father of a family; when
in better circumstances I used to patronize your place, and I would
be thankful if you could render me a little assistance.
""
Instantly the great minstrel's hand was thrust into his pocket,
when the applicant for assistance said:
"I don't think it is any more than right, Mr. Bryant, that you
should let me have some money, as when I had money 1 patronized
you.
""
Dan flashed one of his peculiar looks upon the man and an-
swered, in his quick, decisive way:
"
That settles it!"
He would have given the man when he asked it, but when he de-
manded it, the case assumed a different aspect.
A strange incident is told of a certain knight of the bones-in
other words, a celebrated bone-player.
This performer, who was the most famous in his peculiar line, bc-
eame stricken with that wasting disease, consumption.
At length he had wasted away till nothing remained of his once
strong, robust frame but skin and bones.
His last hour approached.
Friends were gathered around his bedside, and it was calculated
that each painful breath, as it struggled forth, would be his last.
At this moment a friend and former associate entered the room,
and advanced beside the bed.
The dying man recognized the new-comer, and managed, by an
extraordinary effort, to extend his skeleton hand in salutation.
As he did so, he murmured, in allusion to his former vocation,
while a sickly smile struggled over his pinched features:
*4
Bones, Tom, bones!"
We recollect in this connection a comic incident in the career of
the once famous minstrel, Johnny Pell.
John was once up among the mountains in Ulster County, York
State.
He had inquired his route from a hotel-keeper, and upon a bright,
clear August morning started to walk to his destination, a certain
cottage about eight miles distant.
In taking the mountain road, he had been instructed to keep to
the left.
158
GEORGE CHRISTY.
The hotel man had forgotten to tell him that he must make one
turn to the right and then keep to the left.
Johnny was a good walker, and under chances ought to have cov-
ered the distance in two hours and a half at the outside.
As it happened, however, he started at five in the morning and
walked until noon, and for the last two hours of his walk he had
not seen a solitary dwelling.
At length he came across the cabin of a settler, when the follow-
ing comic dialogue ensued:
""
Can you tell me how far it is to Decker's?"
The proprietor of the mountain mansion chanced to be a Dutch-
man, and the latter answered, as he scratched his fuzzy head:
"
Vot Decker do you want? Vas it Chon Decker?"
Yes," replied the minstrel, “John Decker, that is the man 1
""
C
want.
Again the Dutchman scratched his head as he replied:
Vell, mine friendt, Chon Decker vat I knows liffs in Ulster
County."
"
What in thunder county is this one you live in?" yelled Johnny.
'Dish! vy, dis ish Sullivan County.
John had started from Allenville, in the heart of Ulster County,
and when the Dutchman gave him this information, he said:
"
'I was told to take the road by the wintergreen distillery and
keep to the left."
(+
Yah, yah!" laughed the Dutchman, "yer did shust as yer vas
toldt. You moos haf kept to de left until you left de road undt de
county all behindt, und you keep on I guess dot you soon leaf de
State altogedder!''
"
"
The laugh was all right, as far as it went, and the joke, too; but
it was a serious matter for the minstrel, after all.
Here he was, almost walked to death, and a greater number of
miles away from his objective point than when he started.
At length, addressing the Dutchman, the minstrel asked:
"Which is my shortest route to the right road?"
In answer to his inquiry, he received the following true and mar-
velously explicit direction:
"Vell I toldt you. Go down de road vich you left till you come
to de liddle voods; den you go troo him until you come to de pridge;
den you cross him until you come to anudder pridge; den you come
to anudder liddle voods; you go troo him till you come to a liddle
path; den you go 'troo him until you come to anudder pridge; den a
Inill; den a road; den a voods; den a pridge; den you go on, undt
undt-"
"Hold on, old fellow," exclaimed Johnny. "I guess the best
way is for me to go back the road I came first."
Vell, ya-a-s,
answered the Dutchman, in a
ting tone, "I guess dot dot vas petter, after all.
de left-go back by de right.
>>
And so the minstrel did in the course of a week.
drawling, calcula-
You come up by
!
F
ક્
* T
GEORGE CHRISTY.
159
CHAPTER LIV.
To return to our hero.
One night, just about the time in George Christy's career of which
we have been writing, a young man stood upon the corner of Broad-
way and a well-known cross street.
The individual in question appeared to be waiting the approach
of some one, as he scanned, almost with impertinence, every passer-
by.
The time passed and the clock on a neighboring steeple tolled
eleven, and still the watcher paced to and fro and continued his
scrutiny of every passer-by.
At length a figure muffled in a heavy cloak approached.
The watcher's eyes fell upon the advancing stranger, and at once
an exclamation of satisfaction burst from his lips.
The muffled figure drew nearer and also appeared to be searching
for some one.
A moment later the two figures stood within a few feet of each
other when the smaller of the two and the one who had been watch-
ing said, in a low voice:
"I am here!"
""
Ah! I did not know you," came the answer from the muffled
individual.
..
"I recognized you, Mister Christy, in spite of your cloak."
64
Indeed!" was the quiet response, with the added remark: "Your
eyes are sharper than mine, friend Pietro.”.
The man disguised bencath the cloak was the great minstrel and
our hero, George Christy.
At last he had set out to solve the mystery of the man and woman,
with the gleaming black eyes, and discover if possible their purposes
toward himself.
As intimated in a former chapter, one of their deadly purposes had
already been betrayed
After leaving the restaurant our hero had had the portion of the
lemonade which he had preserved analyzed, and had learned, as he
suspected, that but one swallow of the poisoned draught would have
killed him.
The party who had dropped the poison into the drink had been
described as a woman with dark complexion, handsome features,
and strangely piercing black eyes.
The question now to be solved was whether or not Pietro and the
poisoner were one and the same person.
The minstrel had come to the conclusion that they were.
Upon every occasion when he had encountered one he had almost
immediately afterward met the other.
It seemed to him almost impossible that such sudden transforma-
tions in disguises could be accomplished. And yet facts appeared
to indicate that nevertheless they were.
í
At first he had looked upon the importunities of Pietro for an in-
terview with little interest; he had learned now to look forward to
160
GEORGE CHRISTY.
such a meeting with the liveliest apprehension; and upon the even-
ing when he sallied forth disguised in the cloak, as recorded in his
meeting with the mysterious little foreigner, he had come fully pre-
pared to solve the singular mystery to the very bottom.
After the recognition between them had fully occurred Fietro
said:
(6
I am glad you have come!”
""
Well, lead the way. Where do you want me to go with you?"
answered the minstrel, in a sharp, impatient tone.
"I want you to feel, before we proceed, that no danger will
attend your accompanying me.
"I am not thinking of danger. I am only surprised that you
should be so anxious to have me accompany you."
>>
My object is in your interest.
<<
I can judge of that after your purpose has been explained."
Will you have perfect confidence in me and accompany me
without question, even though I may lead you into a seemingly sus-
picious place?"
"I will make no promises; you have sought this interview; you
are a stranger, and your actions are suspicious; 1 shall be guided by
circumstances, and, to speak plainly, you can not lead me into any
trap.'
""
''
I do not know why you suspect that I wish to do so."
CA
Had I drunk the lemonade I should have been beyond sus-
picion," was the ambiguous reply.
Pietro did not appear to understand the singular remark, and ne
said:
•
I do not know to what you allude when you say you would have
been beyond suspicion if you had drunk the lemonade.
>>
As this brief colloquy transpired the two men were standing
directly under a gaslight.
Our hero's face was muffled behind the folds of his tightly-drawn
cloak, while Pietro's face was plainly revealed, and every changing
expression could be readily observed.
The keen blue eyes of the minstrel were fixed upon his companion's
face and each expression was keenly watched.
George learned nothing from the latter.
If the Italian had placed the poison in the glass of lemonade, he
was certainly the best actor who had ever attempted a foul crime
and found a necessity for concealing it under a cross fire of close
questioning.
>"
A moment's silence followed the allusion to the lemonade.
Matters were becoming awkward, when George said:
•
I have no time to waste; if you wish me to accompany you,
pray lead the way.
""
+
>
Rather than that you should be suspicious I would prefer to ac-
company you to some place where we can hold our talk in private.
This proposition astonished our hero.
It was evident that the Italian was not relying upon confederates:
if he had any foul scheme in his mind, he intended to rely upon
himself alone for its accomplishment.
The minstrel was too brave a man to avail himself of this privi-
lege, and he said:
GEORGE CHRISTY.
161
*
"I have come here to meet you, and I am prepared to carry out
your programme; I only claim that no time shall be lost!"
་་
Then follow me!" was the reply.
And the Italian turned and led the way through the cross street
leading toward the Bowery.
Reaching the Bowery, they turned down that famous thorough-
fare, and proceeded several blocks, when again they struck through
another cross street.
During their walk not a word was exchanged.
Our hero felt that he had been engaged in many strange advent-
ures, but he had come to look upon this one with the mysterious
Italian as the strangest of them all.
After proceeding some distance down the street leading from the
Bowery, they made one more turn, and entered upon a neighbor-
hood which our hero recognized as a locality settled almost entirely
by Italians, Chinamen, and in fact, people from all parts of the
world.
Pietro finally stopped in front of a house which bore the appear-
ance of a third-rate hotel.
66
Will you follow me within here?" the Italian asked.
George felt a little squeamish, but his bold, brave nature would
not allow him to back down, although it was after midnight, and the
locality almost as suspicious and dangerous as the famous Five
Points.
"
'Lead the way!" answered the minstrel, adding, "1 have come to
listen to your story, and have no intention of backing out at the last
moment.
46
You will not regret your confidence; I am your friend: but you
must not show any surprise at actions which may appear suspicious;
my danger is greater than yours.
""
George was more and more inclined to the opinion that he certainly
was engaged in a remarkable adventure; but when the Italian
ascended toward the private entrance to the hotel, he followed un-
hesitatingly.
Pietro appeared to have free entrée to the place, as he produced a
night-key, and opening an inner door, led the way up a stairway to
what appeared to be the top floor.
Opening the door of a room, the Italian said, in a whisper:
Enter and wait; I will be with you in a few moments!"
George entered the room, in which there was no light; but he did
so, however, with a feeling of misgiving, as though he had a pre-
monition that all was not right.
Walking toward the center of the room he stood still a moment,
when he heard the door closed behind him.
A few moments passed, when, tired of standing, he groped around
to find a seat,
After a moment he found a chair and seated himself.
Ten minutes passed.
All within the room was still, not a sound could be heard save the
beating of the minstrel's own heart.
His nerves had become peculiarly sensitive and were strained to
the utmost.
Still Pietro came not.
162
{
GEORGE ›CHRISTY.
4T23
After waiting awhile George rose from his seat, went to the door,
and tried it.
He found it locked.
All of his former suspicions of treachery and assassination re-
turned with tenfold force.
His first idea was to force the door and make his escape.
Before he could carry out this intention he was startled by the
sound of voices.
It seemed to him as though the speakers were in the room with
him.
Instinctively his hand was thrust down under his cloak, and he
clasped the handle of his pistol.
He had made up his mind to at least have first shot upon the least
show of treachery.
Thus prepared he listened, and his blood ran cold, when, in a
coarse, gruff voice, he heard the remark:
"L
Cut his throat and have done with him!"
There was no doubt now, delay might be fatal.
Our hero seized the knob of the door, when it was opened from
the other side, and, in the darkness, some one in entering ran right
against him.
The minstrel clutched the intruder, and was about planting the
muzzle of his pistol against his temple, when a voice said, in a low
whisper:
4.
Move back into the room and be silent-you have nothing to
fear."
George recognized the voice, and said:
Pietro, 1 must leave here, you mean treachery."
2
46
"On my life I do not!" was the quick answer.
"Then lead me forth.
""
Not now, not now; everything is arranged; be quiet, and re-
turn into the room, or you will spoil all, and cost me my life!"
George allowed himself to be pressed back into the room, but at
the same time he kept his pistol elevated, and at length he felt it.
pressed against something.
•
What! have you a pistol?” came the inquiry, in a terrified whis-
per.
"Yes."
Oh, for Heaven's sake do not shoot! I love you! Pietro is a
woman!"
The muzzle of the pistol was lowered instantly.
CHAPTER LV.
CONCLUSION.
GEORGE CHRISTY was astounded--not so much at the discovery
that Pietro was a woman, but at her confession of the same.
The mystery was now solved; the meetings and transformatious
also, as he supposed.
He still held upon the woman in the darkness, and could feel her
trembling in his grasp.
GEORGE CHRISTY.
163
Even at that moment he could not but reason that it was strange
that she should so suddenly have lost her nerve, as to accomplish
what he supposed she had accomplished required not only nerve,
but great experience.
A moment's silence followed the strange confession.
At length George said:
"After what you admit, had you not better lead me from this
place?"
..
If I do," came the trembling answer, "my purpose will be un-
accomplished.
> T
Our hero was perplexed.
He supposed the woman's purpose to be murder, but if such were
truly the fact, she certainly would not thus openly acknowledge it.
"Can we have a light?" he asked.
'Yes."
"C
The minstrel released his bold upon the girl, but still held his
pistol ready for all emergencies.
It was an attempted assassination which he anticipated, and he
was still determined to be prepared for it.
The girl, as she claimed to be, stepped across the room to the
mantel-piece, and securing a match, lit the gas.
As the light from the sputtering burner flashed through the room,
George fixed his eyes upon his companion, and saw that it was still
Pietro.
The youth's or girl's eyes dropped under his gaze, and burning
blushes mantled the dark olive cheek.
George said:
Then, after all, Pietro, you have been playing a double rôle ?”
"I have not."
60
"And you would still try to deceive me?"
"I have never deceived you.'
"Have you not appeared to me sometimes as a male, and at other
times as a female?"
"C
I have not!"
"But you now confessed that you were a woman?”
But I never did before."
"
'Did you not appear to me as a woman? Was it not you who
dropped the fatal powder into my lemonade at Taylor's?"
&&
«C
I was never in Taylor's in my life!"
"You know that frequently after separating from you as Pietro,
I have met you as a lady."
CA
Never!"
"Then I have met your double."
"C You have!"
"Can you explain the mystery?"
It was for that purpose 1 brought you here. Three men are
under oaths to assassinate yon!"
George did not make any comment upon hearing this startling
declaration, and after a moment's silence the seeming Pietro resumed,
and said:
"
It is my purpose to point out to you these three sworn assassins,
so that you will know them, and be on your guard against them at
all times,"
164
GEORGE CHRISTY.
**
First please explain to me the mystery of your double."
..
I have a twin brother. He and 1 bear a wonderful resemblance
to each other. My brother is one of your sworn assassins!"
"And it is your brother who has been masquerading around in
female apparel to kill me?"
"C
Yes.
And you-what have you been doing?"
"I have been watching my brother.
your life!''
66
""
What is your brother's object in murdering me?"
"Money.
""
"Who is to pay the money?"
Harry Relton."
You are speaking truly?"
64
Three times have 1 savea
"1 am.
spoke truly?"
"Did you know anything of the attempt upon my life in Tay-
lor's?"
"I did not."
George was too much astonished at what he heard to thoroughly
weigh it all.
Of one thing, however, he was convinced-for some strange rea
son it was evident that the seeming Pietro was his friend.
A long conversation followed between the two, which was finally
interrupted by cries, groans, shrieks, and curses in the room below
them.
The shrieks and curses a moment later were followed by pistol
shots, then all was still.
What object would I have in speaking at all unless I
"Oh, God!" murmured Pietro, standing in the middle of the
floor, with clasped hands, and an expression of agony on his face.
63
What means that tumult?" asked George.
"It means," answered Pietro, "that it is too late; the house has
been raided; I have been tracked by detectives, and have innocently
been the betrayer of my brother!"
44
Had we not better get out of here?" asked George.
"No; we must wait until the police have gone. They have
secured their game, and will not stay long."
Half an hour passed.
Pietro said:
'Wait until 1 return.'
George waited ten minutes.
Then the door opened, and Pietro entered the room.
A wonderful change had come over the Italian's face.
She looked at least a dozen years older.
44
'Well, what has happened?" asked George.
64
..
My brother is dead! He was shot by the police! You are safe
now; the other assassins are in custody, and will be convicted as
coiners and forgers.'
George could not say one word.
Come,"
said the disguised girl, "I will lead you forth now;
the police have saved me the mission 1 had in view.”
Once upon the street, George seized l'ictro's hand, and said:
**
GEORGE CHRISTY.
165
***
"I owe you my life, I feel assured now; and you shall learn what
my gratitude will be!''
66
No; you will never see me again," replied Pietro, in a sad
voice.
46
66
**
But I will-I must!" protested the minstrel.
Never, never, no, never!" was the sad answer, in a low, sweet
tone.
Steps were heard approaching, and Pietro said:
"Hasten now; the police are returning.
"
George could not afford, owing to his position, to become mixed
up in an affair, every detail of which would be so wide-spread in the
morning through the daily papers, and he fled away.
It was near daylight when he reached his quarters.
Upon the following day the story of the attack of the police was
duly reported, including a detailed account of the shooting of a des-
perate young villain who attempted the life of one of the officers.
As George read the account he felt that another inystery had been
solved, and he determined in future to be less venturesome.
He realized that he had escaped a great danger, and it seemed that
he had been almost providentially rescued from a horrible death.
Weeks passed.
In the meantime the trial of the Italian forgers had taken place.
They were all convicted, and the principal witness against them
was a young Italian girl, described by the papers as being wondrous-
ly beautiful.
Pietro was so associated in our hero's mind as a male, that, despite
the latter's confession, he did not once during the whole trial sus-
pect that Pietro and the lovely witness, about whom the papers
were raving, were one and the same person.
After the conviction of the forgers the city was startled by a
tragedy.
A lovely woman, in the most deliberate manner, had committed
suicide.
Investigation revealed the fact that the self-murderess was the
witness who had led to the conviction of the Italian forgers.
The day following the suicide our hero received a letter through
the mail.
Its contents brought a chill to his heart.
He learned then, for the first time, that the pseudo Pietro and the
beautiful witness were one and the same.
The letter contained many other startling facts of import, which
it is not within our province to record.
One fact we will relate.
The letter received by our hero was the last earthly missive written
by the ill-fated girl.
Dear reader, our narrative draws to a close.
We did anticipate relating the circumstances of George Christy's
truly romantic meeting with his wife, and the not less romantic
marriage which followed.
Should we do so, we would but anticipate a publication, which
we have been informed is already prepared for the press by parties
closely allied to the great minstrel,
Allg
66...
GEORGE CHRISTÝ.
During the course of our story we have but elaborated one or two
hrilling events in our eccentric hero's career!
Could we have written with a free hand, and have related in-
cidents giving names and localities, our readers and the general.
public would have been greatly astounded.
The final closing scene in George Christy's career is a part of the
history of minstrelsy, and by some abler hands, at some future time,
will be fully recorded.
Our readers may think some of our incidents exaggerated. · And
yet we can state, that since the appearance of the opening chapters
of this narrative, incidents, both secret and authentic, have been re-
lated to us even more startling than any we have recorded.
George Christy's was a romantic career, and some day the whole
story may be told.
THE END.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
M
THE BEST
JAMES PYLE'S Washing Compound
EVER INVENTED.

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No Lady, Married or Sin
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MUNRO'S PUBLICATIONS.
The Seaside Library
POCKET EDITION.
P. 0. Box 3751,
240 Called Back. BY HUGH CONWAY..
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246 A Fatal Dower. BY AUTHOR OF "HIS WEDDED WIFE" 10
250 Sunshine and Roses; or, Diana's Discipline. Br
THE AUTHOR OF "DORA THORNE".
262 The Count of Monte-Cristo. BY ALEXANDER DUMAS.
Parts I. and II., each...
10
270 The Wandering Jew. BY EUGENE SUE. Parts I. and
II., each
279 Little Goldie. BY MRS. SUMNER HAYDEN.
284 Doris. By "THE DUCHESS
286 The Iron Hand. BY F. WARDEN.
330 May Blossom; or, Between Two Loves. BY MAR-
GARET LEE..
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345 Madam. BY MRS. OLIPHANT....
20
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359 The Water-Witch. By J. FENIMORE COOPER..
362 The Bride of Lammermoor. BY SIR WALTER SCOTT.. 20
•
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THE GREATEST FASHION BOOK OF THE YEAR!
THE NOVEMBER NUMBER, NOW READY
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Price 25 Cents Per Copy. Subscription Price $2.50 Per Year.
IT CONTAINS
A Brilliant Array of New Winter Costumes, New Winter Cloaks
and Jackets, Evening, Reception and Dinner Toilets, Wool
Suits and Wraps, and Bridal Costumes..
Wool suits are fashionabie and popular. Striped goods are especially fa
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materials are bison cloth, tweeds, French tricots, tufted suitings and suitings
of men's cloth, lady's cloth, cashmere and wool plaids. Black gros grain
silks of the richest quality, trimmed with laces, jet and velvet, will be worn
on the most important occasions. All the newest modes and important
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HATS AND BONNETS FOR FALL AND WINTER WEAR.
New Shapes, New Colors, New Combinations,
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Winter Fashions for Children, Overgarments for Boys and Girls.
THE NOVEMBER NUMBER CONTAINS THE COMMENCEMENT OF AN ORIGINAL, EN
TIRELY NEW STORY, ENTITLED
A WEEK IN KILLARNEY.
By “THE DUCHESS.”
IT CONTAINS ALSO THE CONTINUATION OF
THE BELLE OF SARATOGA. By Mrs. Lucy Randall Comfort.
ALSO THE CONTINUATION OF
SWORN TO SILENCE;
Or, Aline Rodney's Secret.
By Mrs. Alex. MoVeigh Miller.
A Story by a New Author, entitled
DELDEE,
The Ward of Waringham.
Six Extra Pages are devoted to new designs in Embroidery and Fancy Work.
A choice selection of Sketches, Essays, Fashion Items, Personals, Home
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We employ no canvassers to solicit for the New YORK FASHION Bazar. All
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{MUNRO'S BAZAR PINNED PAPER PATTERNS.
We are prepared to supply Munro's Pinned Paper Patterns, cut and pinned
into the shape of garments of all fashions published in this Magazine.
The New York Monthly Fashion Bazar
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GEORGE MUNRO, Publisher,
R. Q. Box 3751
17 to 27 Fandewater Street, New York.
i
MUNRO'S PUBLICATIONS.
THE SEASIDE LIBRARY
ORDINARY EDITION.
GEORGE MUNRO, PUBLISHER,
(P.O.Box 3751.) 17 to 27 Vandewater Street, N. Y.
The following works contained in THE SEASIDE LIBRARY, Ordinary Edition,
are for sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address, postage free, on
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#5
MRS. ALEXANDER'S WORKS.
30 Her Dearest Foe.
36 The Wooing O't..
46 The Heritage of Langdale
370 Ralph Wilton's Weird..
400 Which Shall it Be?..
532 Maid, Wife, or Widow.
1231 The Freres
1259 Valerie's Fate..
1391 Look Before You Leap.
1502 The Australian Aunt..
1595 The Admiral's Ward.
1721 The Executor....
1934 Mrs. Vereker's Courier Maid..
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13 A Princess of Thule....
28 A Daughter of Heth.
47 In Silk Attire.....
WILLIAM BLACK'S WORKS.
48 The Strange Adventures of a Phaeton...
51 Kilmeny.....
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470 The Fortunes of Glencore...
529 Lord Kilgobbin..
546 Maurice Tiernay.
566 A Day's Ride..
609 Barrington...
633 Sir Jasper Carew, Knight..
657 The Martins of Cro' Martin.
657 The Martins of Cro' Martin.
822 Tony Butler.....
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872 Luttrell of Arran, Part I..
872 Luttrell of Arran. Part II
951 Paul Gosslett's Confessions.
965 One of Them. First half..
965 One of Them. Second half.
989 Sir Brook Fossbrooke. Part I.
989 Sir Brook Fossbrooke. Part II.
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1235 The Bramleighs of Bishop's Folly.
1309 The Dodd Family Abroad. First half.
1309 The Dodd Family Abroad. Second half.
1342 Horace Templeton...
1394 Roland Cashel. First half.
1394 Roland Cashel. Second half.
1496 The Daltons; or, Three Roads in Life. First half.
1496 The Daltons; or, Three Roads in Life.
Second half.
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Part II.
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GEORGE MACDONALD'S WORKS.
455 Paul Faber, Surgeon..
491 Sir Gibbie..
595 The Annals of a Quiet Neighborhood...
606 The Seaboard Parish..
627 Thomas Wingfold, Curate.
643 The Vicar's Daughter..
668 David Elginbrod...
677 St. George and St. Michael..
790 Alec Forbes of Howglen.
887 Malcolm.
922 Mary Marston...
938 Guild Court.
A London Story
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948 The Marquis of Lossie.
962 Robert Falconer...
1375 Castle Warlock: A Homely Romance.
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THE SÉASIDE LIBRARY.-Ordinary Edition.
1439 Adela Cathcart.....
1466 The Gifts of the Child Christ, and Other Tales.
1488 The Princess and Curdie. A Girl's Story.
1498 Weighed and Wanting..
1884 Donal Grant.
1921 The Portent..
1922 Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women.
136 Katie Stewart...
210 Young Musgrave..
391 The Primrose Path.
452 An Odd Couple.
475 Heart and Cross.
MRS. OLIPHANT'S WORKS.
488 A Beleaguered City..
497 For Love and Life..
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511 Squire Arden
542 The Story of Valentine and His Brother..
596 Caleb Field..
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651 Madonna Mary.
665 The Fugitives....
680 The Greatest Heiress in England.
706 Earthbound....
775 The Queen (Illustrated).
785 Orphans..……..
881 He That Will Not When He May..
919 May...
1319 Lady Jane..
1396 Whiteladies..
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802 Phœbe, Junior. A Last Chronicle of Carlingford..
875 No. 3 Grove Road....
959 Miss Marjoribanks. Part I..
959 Miss Marjoribanks. Part II.
1004 Harry Joscelyn..
1017 Carita
1049 In Trust.
1215 Brownlows.
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1407 A Rose in June.
1449 A Little Pilgrim...
1547 It Was a Lover and His Lass...
1647 The Ladies Lindores……..
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1662 Salem Chapel....
1669 The Minister's Wife.
1669 The Minister's Wife.
1680 The Wizard's Son...
1697 The Lady's Walk.
1703 Sir Tom..
1794 A Son of the Soil..
1798 Hester: A Story of Contemporary Life.
1804 The Laird of Norlaw...
First half.
Second half.
1937 Madam..
1945 The House on the Moor..
"OUIDA'S" WORKS.
49 Granville de Vigne; or, Held in Bondage..
54 Under Two Flags
55 In a Winter City..
56 Strathmore
59 Chandos...
61 Bébée; or, Two Little Wooden Shoes.
62 Folle-Farine.....
71 Ariadne-The Story of a Dream.
181 Beatrice Boville.
1919 The Prodigals: And Their Inheritance..
1935 Memoirs and Resolutions of Adam Graeme of Mossgray,
Including Some Chronicles of the Borough of Fendie... 20
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211 Randolph Gordon…….
230 Little Grand and the Marchioness.
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241 Tricotrin …………..
249 Cecil Castlemaine's Gage.
279 A Leaf in the Storm, and Other Tales.
281 Lady Marabout's Troubles..
334 Puck...
377 Friendship.
379 Pascarel.
386 Signa...
389 Idalia..
563 A Hero's Reward.
676 Umilta.
699 Moths...
791 Pipistrello.
864 Findelkind..
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behandel and
手机
​*****
THE SEASIDE LIBRARY.—Ordinary Edition.
915 A Village Commune.
1025 The Little Earl.
1247 In Maremma.
1334 Bimbi.....
1586 Frescoes..
1625 Wanda, Countess von Szalras
1755 Afternoon, and Other Sketches.
1851 Princess Napraxine....
CHARLES READE'S WORKS.
4 A Woman-Hater....
19 A Terrible Temptation.
21 Foul Play………….
24 "It is Never Too Late to Mend”
31 Love Me Little, Love Me Long.
34 A Simpleton..
41 White Lies.
78 Griffith Gaunt..
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86 Put Yourself in His Place..
112 Very Hard Cash……….
203 The Cloister and the Hearth.
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39 Ivanhoe .
183 Kenilworth.
196 Heart of Mid-Lothian.
593 The Talisman..
723 Guy Mannering.
857 Waverley.
920 Rob Roy.
1007 Quentin Durward.
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237 The Wandering Heir....
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246 Peg Woffington.
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270 The Jilt.....
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371 Christie Johnstone.
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536 Jack of all Trades.
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1204 Clouds and Sunshine.
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1322 The Knightsbridge Mystery.
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1390 Singleheart and Doubleface. A Matter-of-Fact Romance... 10
1817 Readiana: Comments on Current Events.
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1853 Love and Money; or, A Perilous Secret....
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1082 Count Robert of Paris.
1275 Old Mortality.
1328 The Antiquary.
1399 The Pirate..
1462 The Betrothed: A Tale of the Crusaders, and The Chron-
icles of the Canongate ...
1598 Redgauntlet. A Tale of the Eighteenth Century.
1701 The Monastery..
1702 The Abbot (Sequel to "The Monastery")
1827 The Fair Maid of Perth..
1831 St. Ronan's Well....
1848 The Black Dwarf, and A Legend of Montrose
1865 Peveril of the Peak.
..
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First half.
Second half.
First half.
Second half.
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1318 Orley Farm. First half..
1318 Orley Farm. Second half.
1348 The Belton Estate..
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12 The American Senator..
399 The Lady of Launay
530 Sir Harry Hotspur of Humblethwaite..
531 John Caldigate...
601 Cousin Henry…….
768 The Duke's Children
870 An Eye for an Eye..
910 Dr. Wortle's School .
944 Miss Mackenzie.
1047 Ayala's Angel……….
1090 Barchester Towers..
1201 Phineas Finn.
1201 Phineas Finn.
1206 Doctor Thorne.
1206 Doctor Thorne.
1217 Lady Anna……..
1255 The Fixed Period...
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1283 Why Frau Frohmann Raised Her Prices, and Other Stories. 10
1292 Marion Fay………………
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1419 Kept in the Dark..
1436 The Kellys and The O'Kellys.
1450 The Two Heroines of Plumplington....
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THE SEASIDE LIBRARY.—Ordinary Edition.
1455 The Macdermots of Ballycloran.
1473 Castle Richmond..
1486 Phineas Redux. First half..
1486 Phineas Redux. Second half.
1494 The Vicar of Bullhampton.
1511 Not If I Know It.
1551 Is He Popenjoy?.
1559 The Small House at Allington.
1559 The Small House at Allington.
1567 The Last Chronicle of Barset.
1567 The Last Chronicle of Barset.
1634 The Way We Live Now.
1634 The Way We Live Now.
1656 Mr. Scarborough's Family.
1685 Alice Dugdale.
1707 The Land Leaguers....
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Second half..
First half
Second half.
First half.
Second half.
1728 Anthony Trollope's Autobiography.
1756 Rachel Ray........
1802 Framley Parsonage..
1805 La Mere Bauche..
1816 An Old Man's Love....
JULES VERNE'S WORKS.
• •
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68 Five Weeks in a Balloon..
72 Meridiana, and The Blockade Runners.
75 The Fur Country.
Part I.
Part II ..
75 The Fur Country.
84 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas
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5 The Black-Indies....
16 The English at the North Pole
43 Hector Servadac......
57 The Castaways; or, A Voyage Round the World-South
America...
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60 The Castaways; or, A Voyage Round the World-Australia 10
64 The Castaways; or, A Voyage Round the World-New
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87 A Journey to the Centre of the Earth.
90 The Mysterious Island-Dropped from the Clouds..
93 The Mysterious Island-The Abandoned......
97 The Mysterious Island-The Secret of the Island...
99 From the Earth to the Moon..
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111 A Tour of the World in Eighty Days..
131 Michael Strogoff.
1092 Michael Strogoff (large type, illustrated edition).
414 Dick Sand; or, Captain at Fifteen.
414 Dick Sand; or, Captain at Fifteen.
466 Great Voyages and Great Navigators.
466 Great Voyages and Great Navigators.
466 Great Voyages and Great Navigators.
505 The Field of Ice (Illustrated).
510 The Pearl of Lima...
520 Round the Moon (Illustrated)..
634 The 500 Millions of the Begum.
647 Tribulations of a Chinaman..
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678 Dr. Ox's Experiment..
710 Survivors of the Chancellor.
818 The Steam-House; or, A Trip Across Northern India.
Part I.
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Part II.
1677 The Headstrong Turk. First half...
1677 The Headstrong Turk. Second half..
1716 The Green Ray..
P. O. Box 8751.
11
818 The Steam-House; or, A Trip Across Northern India.
Part II...
1043 The Jangada; or, Eight Hundred Leagues over the Ama-
zon. Part I...
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Part II.
Part III.
1043 The Jangada; or, Eight Hundred Leagues over the Ama-
Part II...
1519 Robinsons' School..
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The above works contained in THE SEASIDE LIBRARY, Ordinary Edition, are
for sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address, postage free, on
receipt of 12 cents for single numbers, and 25 cents for double numbers, by
the publisher. Parties ordering by mail will please order by numbers.
GEORGE MUNRO, Publisher,
10
10
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17 to 27 Vandewater St., N. Y.
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