CHAPTER XVIII.
BEATEN BACK.
The moment Nell Darrel felt herself lifted from her feet she uttered awild cry, which was smothered in its inception by the hand of hercaptor.
"Quiet, child; nobody's going to hurt you if you behave yourself."
Nell was young and vigorous, and she made a desperate struggle forliberty. It was with the utmost difficulty that the man made his wayto the room occupied by Mrs. Scarlet.
"Bring the chloroform," said the villain. "We can't do anything withthe girl without it."
"I'll fix her!" answered the woman, in a voice that sent a shudder tothe heart of poor Nell.
Then a subtle fume filled the girl's nostrils, and soon her sensesfaded out upon a sea of nothingness--her troubles were over for thetime.
Then the man, who was none other than Professor Ruggles, bore hisinsensible burden after the steps of Mrs. Scarlet, to a room in agloomy basement beneath the building.
As we have before remarked, it was in a disreputable part of the city,and it was not likely that the friends of the fair Nell would look insuch a quarter for her.
"Now, then," said Professor Ruggles, when the twain were once more inthe room above, "I shall hold you responsible for the girl's safekeeping, Mrs. Scarlet."
"I'm ready to do my part," answered the woman. "How long will you keepher here?"
"As long as suits my purpose. I am not sure. I may conclude to waituntil Dyke Darrel is put off the trail before I take the girl toGotham; that city will be my ultimate destination. I must leave younow, my dear, but I shall call to-morrow and see how my girl isgetting on."
He turned then as if about to depart.
"See here Professor!"
"Eh?"
He faced about once more.
"Haven't you forgotten something?"
"I think not."
"The girl must eat!"
"Certainly."
"And do you imagine _I_ am going to pay the bill?" demanded the woman,tartly.
"Well, I had forgotten that a little of the root of evil was necessaryin your case."
A smile, deepening into a disagreeable laugh, followed, as ProfessorRuggles laid a greenback in the hand of his tool.
A moment later he was gone.
As the door closed on his retreating form, the countenance of MadgeScarlet underwent a change. The wrinkled face flushed with wrath, andthe skinny hands were raised on high.
"Professor Ruggles, you may have successfully duped the girl, but youcannot make one of me. I can read you like a book, and it maybe that Ishall conclude not to permit you to have your way in this matter.Through this girl I shall be able to wring the heart of the man Ihate, and I mean to do it. Ah! Dyke Darrel, venomous scoundrel! Thehour of my revenge draws nigh! I shall willingly cast my soul intoHades for this one drop of satisfaction."
There was an awful glitter in the woman's eyes at the last, and herfierce emotions caused her frame to tremble visibly.
In the meantime, how fared it with poor Nell Darrel, who had gone thusblindly to her doom? She did not awake from the stupor caused by thechloroform, until another day had dawned upon the world, although butlittle light was permitted to find its way into this undergroundapartment, whose stone walls were damp with ooze, and from whence novoice could penetrate to the busy world above.
A faint light entered the place from between iron bars that spanned anarrow window, far above the head of little Nell Darrel.
The only furniture in this cellar was a straw cot, on which Nell hadbeen laid, and a low stool. The girl felt terribly sick and weak whenshe came to realize her condition.
She could understand now the truth, when too late, that she had beenenticed from home by a villain, and naturally enough her thoughtsreverted to Harper Elliston.
Yet, why should she think of that man? Surely he was not wicked enoughto stoop to anything of this kind.
Nell was not to be left long in suspense, however. The door to herprison creaked on its hinges, and a man entered and stood confrontingher in the gray light.
It was Harper Elliston.
There was a smile on his sinister countenance, and he stroked hisbeard with the coolest insolence imaginable.
"How do you find yourself this morning, my dear?" questioned Ellistonin a low voice.
"This is your work, villain!"
"Hush; don't speak in such a harsh tone, Nell," answered Mr. Elliston,with a deprecatory wave of the hand. "I cannot permit you to impugn mymotive, Miss Darrel. I claim that all is fair in love and war. Youknow from repeated assurances on my part that I love you; once Iwished to make you my wife. Blame me not if I have changed my mind onthat score; it is you who have driven me to it. Nevertheless, I amconstrained to deal justly and kindly with you, my girl, and againoffer to share my New York palace with you. Could anything be moregenerous?"
The infamy of his proposition roused all the fire in the nature ofNell Darrel.
"Harper Elliston, how dare you insult me in this way? Do you imaginethat I would for one moment countenance anything so base? You havemissed your mark if you imagine you can frighten me into consenting tomy own ruin."
"It may be accomplished without your consent."
Such a look as swept his face startled the girl. The hideous natureof the man was now revealed in all its naked deformity. She shrankfrom him as she would have shrunk from a venomous serpent.
He continued to smile and stroke his glossy beard.
"You see how it is, my dear," he proceeded. "The wisest thing you cando is to submit to the inevitable."
He advanced as lie spoke.
She recoiled with a shudder of wild alarm.
"Back, scoundrel! Do not touch me!" she cried, warningly, anindignant, perhaps dangerous, fire blazing in her eye.
Again the demon laughed.
"You seem to take my love-making hard, Miss Darrel."
"Not another step," warned Nell.
"Ho! ho! ho! Would you try to frighten me? You can't do that, I'vetamed more than one such as you. Come, be sensible, and let me haveone kiss at least."
Again he advanced.
CLICK!
Harper Elliston uttered a low yet startled cry and shrank back inalarm.
A cocked derringer gleamed in the hand of Nell Darrel, and the openmuzzle was pointed at his breast.
This was as disagreeable as it was unexpected.
A low-muttered oath fell from the lips of the baffled villain.
"Girl, have a care, that weapon may go off," he cried, in a voicehusky with disappointment and rage.
"It WILL go off if you do not depart at once," she answered, with allthe sternness she was able to muster.
"Hand that pistol to me."
"Never! Its contents you will get if you dare advance another step."
Harper Elliston realized that he was baffled for the present. He hadnever suspected the presence of a weapon on the person of Nell Darrel,else he would have disarmed her at the outset.
After a moment of hesitancy the villain turned and strode from theplace. When Nell attempted to follow she was confronted by a solid oakdoor that Elliston had quickly closed and locked behind him.
With a low moan Nell retreated and sank weak and trembling on themiserable cot, and for the next few minutes gave free rein to heralarm in tears.
In the meantime Elliston hurried above, and confronted Madge Scarletwith a terrible frown on his brow.
"You and that red-headed Professor have played a smart trick on me,old woman, a mighty smart trick; but let me tell you it won't go downfor a cent. I don't like it much, neither."
"Eh? I don't understand," said Mrs. Scarlet.
"I'll make you understand," and Elliston advanced angrily upon thewoman, and raised his hand.
"Strike if you dare!"
She looked ugly at that moment.
"You're just capable of strikin' a woman," sneered Madge Scarlet."I've seen such critters before. God never meant them for men,however."
Mr. Elliston h
eld his hand. He saw that he had come near making amistake.
"Forgive me, Mrs. Scarlet," he said in a subdued voice. "I was besidemyself, but I had reason to be. Do you know that Nell Darrel isarmed?"
"No."
"She IS, nevertheless, with a pistol. She's a perfect tigress, andwould as soon shoot me as not. I shall leave it for you to get theweapon from her."
"I can do it easy enough."
"I hope so. To-night I will have more definite plans. I may concludeto take the girl away then."
Mr. Elliston passed from the room. He had been gone but a few minuteswhen another person entered--Nick Brower, the tool and friend of Mrs.Scarlet and the Professor.
"Well, what's the news, Nick. My nephew is still in durance vile?"
"Yes," answered the low ruffian, "and what's more, Dyke Darrel, thedetective, is in Chicago!"