Beadle's Dime Novels No. 300: The Crested Serpent — page 29: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A SIREN SONG. Ramee Ea # She had touched a tender spot in the nature of the Liberal soldier, and again she filled his goblet, and as he sipped it, he talked as glibly as though among his companions, the Comar- go vitles. ‘Chrowing open the broad folds of the tent, she invited him | to eater, and he was astonished at the oriental elegance that dis}:] layed itself, ‘ Be seated, Senor Steager—that is your name, I believe— Steager ?” “ Steager; that is it, madam.” : Grasping ‘her harp, she ran her fingers over the strings with astonishing swiftness; then from the unintelligible sounds there broke one beautiful and low, and Murieta’s voice rose and fell with it, as rippling waves upon a shell-strewn strand, It was an Ar alias love-song. Her deep-red eyes were swim- ming in a liquid light, and she acted as one absorbed in the Sweet music that was blossoming and bursting forth in fra- grant roses. Murieta was only acting, and she struggled, by artedeception and genius, to gain that which her husband had failed to gain, the Liberal soldier over to the Imperial cause, SO that in the end they could use him to their own purposes. She ceased playing, and languidly laid her barp aside. Strange thoughts passed through the honest bead of Stea- ger, and with wine, music, and a beautiful woman reclining upon crimson cushions, he came to the conclusion that being i prisoner in the hands of the MS, was rather a _Pleasant affair, “ Senor Steager, will you not renounce the service of the 2 Liberals and espouse our cause? I will interest myself wae your behalf, and you will reach a high position in the Impe- rial service, : A look of displeasure passed over the visage of the pris. Oner, and he gazed from the tent to the high peaks of the mov atain in the distance. . . ‘* Madam, Steager would not seth bis honor for all the wealth ‘Of Mexico, He is poor in purse, but rich in honor, No,-he Would net change positions now with the usurper Maxi- Milian.” She looked steadily into his honest gray eyes, and in them Baw a determination that no honors, no wealth, nor wine nor — oe thing comicbooks. care ee ee AP ae ae -~” “(2-9 _Be