Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-06-04
The unexpected apparition Of this :,


have been very much perplexed at her inn
pudence, but the sudden opportunity pre-
senting itself of knowing something about the
fate of the young lady he had left in the pos
session of the old woman, made him thank
his stars that she had crossed his path.
After moments hesitation, he requested
her to proceed to some private place, and in
form him what had become of the lady he
had saved from the flames.
T" Just step in here" said old Mag, "and
will make you acquainted with everything
concerning the affair."
As she made this proposition, she turned
and opened the door of house that then stood
upon the site of the present Odd Fellows
Hall, and bid him enter. When they We're
once fairly seated, the old woman related
every thing that had occurred since the faint
ing of Ida till her Imprisonment at Mrs.
Bachelors.
George listened with undivided attention to
the story of the old demon, half regretting
that he had anything TO do with the alb
duetion of the beautiful and unprotected or
phan he made up his mind to pay Mrs.
Bachelor visit, and to turn to account the
adventure of the night before. With this in
tention he inquired who We're there, and il the
old poman was disposed to contribute to his
success. Mag replied that there was none
that he need to care for, and that he might
proceed there and she would follow at a re-
spectful distance.
A few moments walk brought George and
his accomplice to Mrs. Bachelors. They seat
ed themselves without much ceremony at the
gaming table, upon which was placed num-
ber of decanters and glasses. Mrs. Bachelor
is seated along side of Mag, and they are
talking in very low tone. Georges face
became suffused with a reddish glow indica-
tive of animation, and his gesticulation denot-
ed man whose feelings were becoming
worked up to high pitch of excitement, by
the discourse of the two women.
ais il possible" said Mrs. Bachelor, with
doubling emphasis placed on the possible,
''that you refuse us the paltry sum Of hun
dred dollars Why am really astonished-
no gentleman would ever think of refusing to
pay so small a sum for so much service rem
dered and so much risk to run too"
$50 am l." chimed in Mag.
| "Surprised or not, | will pay no such
price as that, can assure you Things have
come to pretty pass when every little thing
one gets done must play the devil with a
hundred dollar note," rejoned George.
"Whether it plays the devil with a hun
dred dollar note or not, If the law harpes get
hold of this transaction, they will play th--
devil with us. Not only Mag and me, but
there are other people who will cut aconspicu-
Gus figure in the matter"
As Mrs. Bachelor administered this little
piece of caution she cast knowing look at
old Mag as if to say that is the string to pull.
George, seeing the peril of his position fully
as much if not more than any OF the Others
concerned, was disposed to cheaper the price
of their rascality as much as possible; but
the idea never once entered his mind of plac-
ing his liberty in jeopardy for the sake of
few dollars.
Having frequently had his pockets bled
freely by these old imps, and knowing their
propensity to grab every dollar they could get
| in their clutches, he was not disposed to place
his purse any more at their discretion than
he could well help. Coming to this determi-
nation he proposed that Mrs. Bachelor and Old
Mag should receive twenty-five dollars each.
With apparent Indignation they peremptorily
refused declaring they would have cool
hundred or release the girl.
Fearful of an exposure he reluctantly agreed
| to nay the sum required.
Mrs. Bachelor told the young man to follow
her aud in a few seconds they were i'm the
room where Ida was confined
At the opening of the door she slowly raised
her head from her hands as if to observe who
entered and then replaced it again with shud-
der. A shade of melancholy appeared TO pass
over the face of the libertine as she reviewed
the captive. Remorse of conscience for once
seemed about to assume the ascendancy,. but
before his mind could be brought to a proper
sense of justice Mrs Bachelor commenced ad-
dressing the dropping grl;
"Well, pretty Miss. | have brought You
nice young gentleman here who is desirous of
forming your acquaintance. real genuine,
simon pure, clear-girt, first rate gentleman
who owns the rocks. Il amt often poor girls
like you have the opportunity Of making such
fine acquaintances | can assure you. Don't
you think my little mink that am kind old
grandmother to you; to think of every thing
you want without your even asking for it
Even to a beau and he a perfect gentleman
at that ~
To this harangue Ida made no reply, but
the tears that ooursed down her pale cheeks
spoke a language palmer than her tongue
conld have uttered under such circumstances.
At the sight of weeping innocence Georges
heart almost died within him. He was irreso-
lutte, and had it not been forth risk and ex-
pense he had incurred, he would willingly
have restored ito her parent the being whom
he had hunted down with his human blood
hounds.
| The old procuress, seeing his resolution
about to falter, turned with that sagacity
which but few people possess, to George and
addressed him thus
"You, young man, may well be proud of
the acquaintance Of woman possessing my
qualification. Although appear not in pub
lie among the people who profess to be wise
/ ana kllOW1iEY ytl nave bho NttAhNttfV HN"SA
of drawing around me all the butterfly beau
ties of the day, and through my trusty ser
wants the more substantials OF the night.
Now, sir, have what no other person can
have-the pleasure of introducing to you one
of the most beautiful girls in the state al
though she is Niobe, as far as the tears are
concerned, yet she is none the less beautiful
| for all that"
At this immoderate declaration of the old
woman Ida sprang to her feet-her eyes shone
with brilliancy that illuminated her coun-
tenance and with an expression that betoken-
ed a resolution not to he trihed with she con-
fronted the young man.
| " YOU sir, commenced the infurated girl,
81 suppose, have been instrumental in bring
ing me here for a detestable purpose which
YOU can never be able to accomplish while
life and strength are mine |"
While she pronounced this sentence, with
her eyes rivited upon the libertine, it was
evident that the woman had assumed the
character of the heroine, with a resolution
not to be shaken by any emergency. With
out winlxing an eye, she gazed the stranger
| in the face. George for the first time in his
life saw the unclaimed tiger-woman and he
auailed before her glance. The memory OF
the injuries she had received crowded upon
her mind, and she was conscious that the
man before her was the cause of them all.
Drawing herself up to her full height, with
determination and threatening expression up
on her countenance, she exclaimed
| 90 Monster in the shape of humanity, how