Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1019 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

2 Burd Bayard’s Close Call: IN THE DEATH-NET. BY CAPT, R. M. HAWTHORNE, AUTHOR OF ‘‘ HURRICANE GULCH,” CRUMM’S CRYPTOGRAM,” ETC. ‘MAX CHAPTER I, THE CAPTAIN OF THE ALBATROSS. TOWARD the close of a lovely day in spring- time the schooner Albatross came to anchor in anarm of the Chesapeake, off the straggling town*of Buzzard’s Roost, on the West Shore, The tide was in, and the water where the natty vessel lay was deep enough to float an iron-clad frigate, Hardly was thesplash of the forked iron as if sunk from the prow of the Albatross heard on shore when a small boat containing six men put out from the schooner’s side, Making straight for the wharf they landed, and five of them headed for the old tavern in front of which bad creaked the sign of the Golden Boar from the days of the Revolution. They entered the dingy inn, while the sixth continued up the highway, as though he had no further interest in the seamen from whom he had parted company, Tne five who strode into the bar-room were strangers in Buzzard’s Roost, neither the lana- lord por any of the loungers there remembering ever having seen them before. The sixth per- son was of medium size, with immense bushy whiskers covering his breast, while his sailor hat was drawn close over his eyes. He carried a large cane, which must bave been intended as a means of defense, since such an athletic young man could not have needed its aid in walking, ° Taking the broad bighway, this person strode off toward the old mansion known since colonial days as The Cedars, and which had been the home of the Havens from the days of Lord Bal- timore. Thts young man, the captain of the Albatross, Walkel so rapidly that the intervening two miles were passed sooner than he intended, for the sun was still above the horizon when he cameinright of the buge gray-stone mansion, Noticing the fact, he muttered several words, and then, turning his face toward Buzzard’s Roost, walked a balf-mile at a leisurely pace be- fore coming back in the direction of The Cedars, By this time all sunlight was gone and twi- light had settled over the earth, The sailor paused, and, leaning against the fence at the roadside, gazed off into vacancy as though lost in deep reverie, Suddenly he passed his hand over bis chin, and when he drew it away the whole luxuriant wealth of black beard followed, le his face clear and clean as that of a girl, **] haven’t much faith in this disguise,” said the young captain, holding off the hirsute ap- pendage and surveying it. ‘I feel so awkward with it tacked on to my face that I'm sure eve one I meet suspects the truth. However, it’s growing dark—” He started like a thief in the night as he caught a heavy footstep behind him, and whirl- ing about saw a negro standing within six feet of him, too terrified to speak. “Goll gracious! bope you'll ’scuse me,” said the darky, with chattering teeth, “but you stood so clus to de fence dat I didn’t see you till arter I see’d you, and if I had see’d yer afore I see’ yer, why, I wouldn’t hab—dat is, see’d yer. While this jumble was falling from the negro’s lips thesailor was holdiug his beard in his hand, Recalling the grotesque blunder, he turned his head,and in a twinkling the whiskers were re- stored to their place. | But for that glimpse of the African the young captain Bight have played the part of Dr. Jekyiland Mr. Hyde with some success, but be knew be had failed, and be was aflame with chagrin as he faced the negro whom he saw moving off. ** Hold on, there!” commanded the sailor, so sharply that the other halted, though it was ap- parent he was ill at ease, ‘“’Scuse me,” pleaded the negro, his voice still tremulous, ‘‘ but I promised missis I wouldn't hab weeps to do wid de debbul—so [ll bid ood-night and go home!” “No, you won't,” warned the young captain, stepping threateningly toward him; ‘* whereare you going?” — — —___ — emma anes a he ————————————————————————————————————————— nn SR RR ee ee ee res Burd Bayard’s Close Call. ‘¢ Home—up dar!” replied the negro, pointing in the direction of The Cedars, tbe great ram- bling structure invisible in the wealth of trees and vegetation by which it was surrounded. ‘It’s late already and I hope you'll ’scuse me, for if I’m late ag’in I'll get lammed.” ‘*You can go when [ am through with you and not before,” declared the sailor so sternly that the other became all meekness at once. ‘Tell your missis that you were stopped bya robber, and that if you hadn’t done what he told you to do, be would have killed you,” ‘¢ Dat’s de trouble,” returned the negro—‘‘ dat’s de wery story I habbeen tellin’ her fur de last free months and a half, till I’m ’feared she be- gins to feel some doubts ob my weracity.” ‘‘Your name is Pompey and you are a ser- vant of Colonel Haven.” ‘* Golly gracious! who told you dat?” demand- ed the astonished negro; ‘‘ you hit it de fu’st time, only I s’pose you know dat Colonel Haven hab been dead six months,” ‘¢ What! Colonel Haven dead?’ exclaimed the sailor, starting back, ‘* How long ago did you say it took place?” ‘* A little more dan six months, It came on de colonel mighty suddint, jes’ while he was a- settin’ at de dinner-table and touching his glass to dat ob de missis and drinkin’ her health, I tell yer, Mr. Debbil,” added Pompey with a sniff ashe drew his hand across his eyes, ‘‘ we all miss him, fur he war a kind master,”’ The young man was deeply affected by the news and beld his peace until the servant had overcome his emotion, Suddenly the latter looked up in a peculiar way. ‘De colonel didn’t die right off, you know, He fell ont ob his cheer onto de floor, and while dey was doin’ whatdey could for him, I jumped onto Thunderbolt and sent him flyin’ arter Dr, Hazeltine, but it warn’t no use; afore de doctor got dar de colonel war dead, and, ” added the negro in an awed voice, ‘‘afore he died who do you s’pose comed to see him?” ‘‘ How should I know?” impatiently asked the young captain. ‘¢ Yer gee, Pete told mo all aboutit. It war Muriel—de gal come—nobody could tell whar from—but jist like a bird out ob de sky—she flowed in—frowed her arms about her fader’s neck and kept ’em dar till he died!” ‘‘ And—did be—speak kindly to her?” asked the sailor, striving hard to control his emotion. ‘‘Bress you, yes! Dey talked jist like when she war a little gal. He opened his eyes wid Miss Muriel’s hair lyin’on bis breast, and he didn’t see nuffin’? but her and she didn’t see no one but him, and nobody else said a word, Dey talked and cried and, jist as he died, she had her lips to his’n.” ‘¢ And what then?” asked the deeply-interested wats? 4 ‘‘Wal, de gal—dat is Miss Muriel—vanished jist as she come and nobody hain’t seen nuffin’ ob her since, and don’t know whar she am gone!” ‘‘ You can go now, Pompey, and here’s a dol- lar for answering my questions, Remember you are to tell no one you met me to-night, or that any one asked the questions you have an- gwered, “‘ Jist trust me for dat,” said Pompey, deftly catching the coin tossed to him, and starting in the direction of The Cedars with the resolve to tell every one whom he encountered for the fol- lowing month the whole particulars of the inter- view. ** He’s a mighty oe chap,” mused the Afri- can, as he moved swiftly away. ‘‘ When I fu’st gee’d him, he hadn’t any whiskers, den he moved his head round and when he looked back, dar dey war! I neber seen a man’s beard grow as fast as dat. Den, when he spoke, his voice sounded like thunder till we war talkin’ "bout Miss Muriel, and denit war as low and soft as hern. If I didn’t know dst Burd Bayard war dead, I would say dat war him come back from de sea, dough dar war a time when I war sart’in he war de debbil, Mebbe it war Bayard’s ghost!” he added with a furtive glance around, ‘only ghosts don’t go to slingin’ silver dollars round as dough dey don’t cost nuffin’, and I’m sure to git lammed ag’in when I got home. Dere ain’t no use ob my tellin’ de troof for dey won't believe me and I'll hab to gib up tryin’ to be good,” -_—_—_—_—_——_— CHAPTER II, DOCTOR HAZELTINE, For a long time attsr the departure of the ro, the yonng sailor stood in a thoughtful at- titnde, holding his heavy cane in a careless grasp, and now and then drawing a long, deep sigh, — —— — ee ‘‘T hardly think Pompey could have recog- nized me, though I acted like aa idiot, [ dis- guised my voice, if I didn’t my face. There's one thing certain—nature never meant me for a detective, ‘‘ { didn’t dream of Colonel Haven dropping off like that,” he continued, resunting his walk toward The Cedars, ‘‘[ thought ho was good for twenty years yet, Then he died with Mori- el’s arms around his neck, with the two whisper- ing words of affection to each other. Lalways understood the Havens to bea race that never forgave nor forgot. If the colonel relented, he was the first of his kind to do so, but the death- dew was on his brow, when be spoke the loving words. ‘‘T can never go back to the Albatross, till I learn more about this awful business, Ab! that was a dark day, four years ago, when ths storm burst over The Cedars! I felt that thes'\adow could never be lifted from that threshold again, ‘‘ Was the shadow lifted? Was all made right in that last moment® No! Too deep a wrong was done for it everto be made right this side the grave. ‘‘There is only one person besides ma, outside of the family, who knows the history of the frightful sorrow which crossed the threshold that nicht and blighted all, as did tho avenging angel that smote the first-born, That person is Doctor Hazeltine, the family physician, He knows all that I do,av, and more, fur he was present at that supreme interview between father and daughter. He can tell ma, but will he doso? Dare I trust myself in his presence? Can I preserve my incognito? Will he not spurn me from him?” As if in answer to his prayer, he observed through the gloom of the nigbt the weil-known gig of the physician, who had ministered to the physical ailments of the neighborhood for the last two score years, The carriage stood at the side of the road in front of a cottage, and the doctor, having come forth, was untying his horse, preparatory to driving cff on his round of visite, “Til try it,” muttered the young sailor, com- pressing his lips and walking boldly f rward. ‘‘Tg this Doctor Hazeltine?” be asked, taking care to disguise his volce, et ‘‘It is,’ was the curt reply of the physician, who continued his attention to his horse, ‘‘T wish to speak to you,” ‘“T know of nothing to prevent it, sir. me feel your pulse.” The sailor laughed, ‘‘T don’t need your professional services, I am thankfultosay. Ihave justreturned from a long voyage and wish to make some inquiries about The Cedars and its late owner.” ‘*T am listening.” ‘Then it is really true that Colonel Haven is dead ?” ‘‘ Ttis; he expired more than six months ago, while celebrating at home with his wifetne feast of St. Michael, the Archangel; he was stricken with apoplexy.” ‘‘T trvst, doctor, that you will pardongmy pointed question, Colonel Haven had a daugh- ter, Muriel, and you are aware of the trounle of four years ago. learned of their estranze- ment, but have been told that she was wit! him when he died—that the dark past was forgotten, Let and that he departed fully reconciled to her, Can you tell me whether such was the fact ?? Noctor Hazeltine drew himself up end replied in his most frigid tones: ‘‘-You must take me for a fool t-gimag'ne I can be mads to reveal the secr ts of“eny of my patients. Good-night, sir.” The young man canght the doctor’s arm, as he wasin the act of stepping into hi* £iy. ‘© By heavens! you shall answer me! Ihave come to you as the only one who can do 80, and you shall not refuse me!” The indignant physician turned around, and, by the aid of the moonlight, peered intently into the disguised face of the sailor. ‘Thats it!” he exclaimed, straightoving up more scornfully than before, ‘‘ You spoke in your natural tones, then, and although your face bas become covered with a wighty beard since I saw you four years ago, yet I know you, Burd Bayard, and my reply to your imperti- nence is to advise you thatif you want to keep your neck ont of the halter, you had better put to sea at once, and stay there! There is no call for you to come tothese parts. Things are now as they were when you left, and you can make up your mind that they will stay so forever. Good-night again!” And, stepping into his gig, without interfer- ence this time, the doctor gave the reinsa sharp COM eC —_— se —_—-+ ~~ = OF i eR t *, \ he €booKS.cOom ae Ss Sony ~ *