Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1154 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

— 10° Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. if | desperately jammed his right down into the in- sidu pocket, beneath his left shoulder. There were several articles here, but certain of th right one, he caught the stiff brown paper, and attempted to untie the bundle, As is always the case at such times, the knot was sO yw Bae that. this was found impos- sible, and he began to get mad. ‘I might be sure of that,” he growled, as he mg yer A peak med his finger through the paper; *‘ but Ill get it somehow.” He soon succeeded in securing a pinch of it, which he aie FG out, and ther, as he passed the stick over to the other hand, he managed quite dextrously to sow it all over the meat. ‘* So far s6 good,” he concluded, quite satisfied with his success; ‘‘ twoor three exploits like that and every thing will be put in om Avg et Looking up, e@ saw the reproachful dark eyes of Helena Fullerton fixed upon him, mutely protesting against this dark okie: pon x but the mdivid most concerned seemed sublimely in- different to what was going on around them, in the culinary line, ‘‘ Here she goes again,” muttered the hero, as he made another plunge into his pocket, and se- cured some more between hls thumb and finger. This he transferred to his left hand, so as to make the affair appear more natural, but, in at- tempting to scatter it over the nearly-broiled meat, he missed it altogether, and flung it into the fire. Helena Fullerton, who was watching her cous- in with an eager intensity, saw this miscarriage, and she observed another thing that escaped the eye of her cousin. One of the Indians saw the thing, and looked inquiringly at the vexed white man, asif he would like to know the meaning of sucha performance. But Fitzsimmons failed to note this, so intent was he on getting through with the performance 48 soon as possible, It was not long, therefore, before he made an- other re of the mineral, taking which in his right hand, he easily managed to fling it over the meat, ** Onee more I think will finish that.” Tn his eagerness to perfoym his self-allotted ‘ask, Percy had scorched his hands and face so that they smarted not a little, **T do believe my nose is as thoroughly roast- efias that mutton,” he growled, pausing a mo- rmaont to rub his nasal protuberance; ‘‘ but I must go her once more,” By this time he had worked down so deep in his pocket, that it was a matter of no small diffi- culty to fish up what he wished, He succeeded at last, however, and grabbed half a handful of the white powder, which he took out and delib- erately scattered. over the meat, as though he were seasoning it with salt. ‘By Jove!” he exclaimed to. himself. ‘I think that job is about as complete as it can well be.” When this was done, so; was the meat, and one of the Sioux approached with the remark: ‘** Much good—t’ink.” ‘Tam sure you will find it so,” said TFitzsim- mons, rising to bis feet and handing it over to L. While the red-skin was giving the meat the last touches, Percy rejoined his cousin upon the fallen tree. ‘‘Didn’t I do the thing nicely?” he asked, tri- an ynanttys as though he accomplished a most meritorious act. . , ‘“‘ T am sorry to say you did,” she answered, in a ey. sad voice, ‘You will feel different when you see those three red-skins stretched out upon the ground and giving up the ghost one after the other—” “Oh! Percy!” she plead, raisimg her hand, as if to shut out the dreadful sight. He was enjoying his triumph, when’ she sud- ner looked up. ) * You made one great oversight,” ‘* What was that?’ he asked, quickly. ‘You didn’t watch the Indians themselves.” “By Jove! After I got started I forgot that, but none of them noticed me, did they ‘“That one that took the meat from you never took his eyes from you during the last fifteen minutes, He saw you fail once, when ou tried to throw the poison in with your left and saw each effort afterward.” ** Is it possible?” “Yes; and his suspicions have been on the, alert ever since. He knows you were trying to play some trick. I coughed once or twice to warn © he but you would not look, and, if you pad, do not suppose you would have stopped, »yovhaaae ygagoagetins er you the first piece of mea : eet te tT eee eee ee ee ——————————$—$—$—$—$—$— IS SS -_ . CHAPTER VIL SWALLOWING HIS OWN MEDICINE. Sucnu beyond a doubt was the purpose of the Sioux, who, paning severed quite a goodly- sized piece of meat from the main portion, ad- vanced to where the two prisoners sat, an handed it to Fitzsimmons, ‘*Much eat—good.” ‘No, I thank you,” replied the young man, bowing gracefully and waving the donor away. ‘‘I’m dieting myself he now, and have for- sworn mutton and lamb.” Instead of passing on and offering the food to the lady, the Indian stood still, and repeated: ‘* Much eat—good,” ‘‘Ts he the fellow that watched me?’ asked Percy, in a side-whisper to Helena. She nod- ded in the affirmative, and he began to suspect. that he had gotten himself in an embarrassing position. Haven't I told you I didn’t wish it?’ re- plied Fitzsimmons, quite excitedly. ‘‘It isn’t gentlemanly or polite to urge a fellew to drink, after he has signed the pledge.” * You eat—me kill,” ' This command was Fs ay in unmistakable anfuage, accompanied by an expressive grasp- ing of the handle of his knife, that protruded from his belt, and there was the eye at the same time. “ But I can not eat when I ain’t hungry.” You eat—me kill.” “‘ Heavens! is there no escape from this?” wailed the terrified Fitzsimmons, looking plead- ingly to his cousin, ‘*Can’t you help me?’ Anat was terribly agitated and did not re- fuse the a ae so piteously made: “Why do you urge him to eat, when he doesn’t. wish to do so?” she asked, stepping up in front of the savage. ‘’ Throw the meat aside, and get more,” ‘*Vell him I was always.a stubborn boy, and nobody tried to drive me to do any thing, be- causé it wasn’t any use,” ‘* Put powder on. meat—me see—he eat—den Injin eat,’ added the savage, whose deadly earn- ate was not to be mistaken. ‘‘ He eat+me ‘IT do not see what I can do for you, Percy,” she said, utterly miserable at the turn’ affairs had taken. ‘Why, let me have your pistol, and J’ll do something,” and as he made this demand, he senpes toward her, as it to take the weapon; out bi evil gleam of is master interposed, and drawing his knife from the girdle, uttered his command once more. By: this time the other two Indians had gather- ed around, and were deeply-interested specta- tors, no doubt fully understanding what it all meant. Helena was. so terribly agitated, that she turned her head.and walked a few steps away, unable to look upon the scene. Poor Fitzsimmons was in an agony of terror— for he could see no escape—it being merely a choice of deaths. The cold perspiration stood upon him, and he fell almost paralyzed. When he recalled what he had done to the meat that was held out so in- vitingly before him, he turned his look aside with a shudder, and resolved that he wouldn’t touch it. But when he looked uD, there steod the paint- ed savage, as inexorable as Fate, and it was pretty miata that he had reached the agree of endurance, and would resort to the knife, there was longer hesitation. Suddenly he remembered that he hadread or heard, that an overdose of arsenic failed of causing death—while only a small portion was ne to accomplish the eg ak Although little versed in toxicology, it came to him lke inspiration that if he should eat a large quantity of meat, although certain of dis- ing sickness for a time, there was more chance of life than in braving the ‘‘ cold steel” of his master. ‘Well, since you insist upon it,” said he, reaching out and taking the food, “cy shall have to oblige you, I suppose.” The next moment, Fitzsimmons was devour- ing the meat, as though he were a contestant for the championship, while the three spectators watched his motions with no little interest, the maiden standing off, with her back toward him, unable to look upon the scene. It is hard to understand the emotions of a man who is doing his utmost to swallow enough poison to render it powerless—who knows and yet is uncertain of the precise moment, that there is a time, when he has just the right quan-: ic Matar tap Atha es Seal ioamaen yn 8 lame Vg , with all his ability, to pass that point. —- The meat was of goodly size, and never did Percy Fitzsimmons use his molars as he did on the present occesion. In an incredibly short time, he had swallowed the last morsel and clamored for more. ‘*T haven’t half enough,” he called out, “ give me another piece—quick, before I starve,” None of the Sioux moved—seeming to think he bad eaten enough for an ordinary meal, ‘“‘Helena! Helena! as you love me, give mea piece of meat and be quick!” he called to his cousin. As the girl had no knife in her, possession, she picked up.the entire piece, that was burned in some parts to, a crisp, and hastily carried it to the gourmand, She latter seized it with both hands, and re sumed his gastronomic performances like a famished man, Never had Percy Fitzsimmons eaten such a meal as he now threw himself outside of. It was immense, and swelled him up like a frog. But there is a limit to all earthly things, and at length he reached that point when it was ab- solutely impossible to swallow another. mouth- ful, and it required no little effort to keep down the usual freight with which he had already charged his stomach, There was no question but what the Indians suspected the nature of the trick their prisoner he pitamnnters and so they compelled the phy- sician to take his own medicine, and then watch- ed the result, es Rising from the log it really seemed to Percy as if he could not contain all that he had eaten, but, as the occasion was an unusual one, so his og eed was exceptional in the present instance. eeling that it was very probable that the re. sults would be fatal, he walked over to where his cousin was standing dejected and weeping. ‘““ Well, Helena,” he said, in the most cdolorous voice, ‘ it’s alldown. I’ve done it.” ‘‘Did you eat all the meat?’ sho asked, en deayvoring to rouse herself. ‘By Jove! no: but I have masticated ana swallowed more food than I ever did at a’single sitting in my life. I’m chock full of poison.” She looked at him with a sort of terror, and asked, falteringly: ** How soon will—that is—how soon will you begin to foel it?” ‘* Pretty soon—right away , I believe—I think I can detect a sickness of th ; stomach gradually coming on this minute,” ‘*Then, Percy, spend your last moments solemnly. Have you av / messages to send to your friends at Philadelphia?” _ ‘‘T have lots of them—so many that there aay any use of trying; but I will bid you good- ry. ‘* No, no, no,” she replied, impetuously; ‘‘ nob yet—sit down by yourself. I will watch by ou, and do everything that I can for you, but itis too soon to bid you good-by.” ; ‘* But,” continued Fitzsimmons, Aetanie a curious emotion, ‘‘I must tell you, Helena, that I deeply—deeply love you.” ‘‘ Of course; we are cousins and have always thought a great deal of each other from child- hood, I know that, Percy.” ‘‘ But I mean to tell you that I love you more than that—that no one else has ever dared to feel the peculiar tenderness toward you that I hold this minute, and if Iam not mistaken this, dear Helena, is not altogether unreciprocated. . In the words of the laureate: ‘If by signs my heart can tell, Ph se I have watched thee daily, I think thou lovest me well.’ Ait ‘‘Tel] me, dearest Helena, Jet me hear the_ sweet avowal before I take my departure.” It;would be hard to imagine @ more embar- rassing situation than that of Helena Fullerton. It was impossible to misunderstamd her CODENE: although she strove to np his approach, an she knew not what reply to make. She had not a particle of love for him—such as was that of which he spoke—for» her whole soul wes wrapped up in that of the noble Ned Hosmer. And yet, above all things, she was anxious to avoid wounding the feelings of her cousin. She felt as though she would do anything almost, that could divert his mind from the painful sub- ject, and yet she was sorely at her wits’ end, _ Silent a moment, she was compelled to make answer to that earnest question, shown more in the eager, questioning look than in the words themselves. : ‘‘Dear Percy, this is no time for such ques- tions. If you feel that death is so near, your thoughts should be centered on that alone. Dis- miss all else from your mind,” “Tintend to do that in a few minntes; but you cannot imagine how deeply, , und] —_ le - . : i !