Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1168 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

ee whipped him and drove him out of the neighbor- * Sir, you would have me believe that British Bill is an infernal coward, would you?” cried Roscom- mon, his eyes flashing PeReesy > ®, gentiemen,’’ cried Colonel Fairmont, “I thought this was to be a friendly matter. Don’t get off of balance, gentlemen, but take it cool,”’ *T$ was to have beon a friendly discussion,” said Weems” Ara View that courtesy due one gen- tlenan from ancther; but this has not been observ- ed by Mr. Ilwood and I shall insist on satisfaction by way of an answer to my question from him,” **You shall have it, sir,’’ coolly returned Elwood: “os to British Bill being a coward at heart, I am un- able to say, positively; but he acted very much like a coward in his fight with Delaware Dick.” ** Sir, this ig an insult that you shall answer for!” thundered Roscommon, tearing a wig from his head and @ massof false whiskers from his face, “for J, Rubdal Roscommon, am British Bill / and as he con- cluded he drew a pistol and cocked it. “Sir,” replied Marvin Elwood with marvelous coolness, ‘' you shall have satisfaction to your heart’s content, for I, Marvin Elwood, am Delaware Dick!” and he, too, threw aside a discuise of hair and whis- Kers, at the same time drawing a pistol and cocking uv / “My God, gentlemen!" exclaimed Samuel Fajr- mont, starting up, as Kis two guests threw aside their disvuise, and drew their weapons, “I want no murder in my house!’’ * But, colonel,’ said the rebel spy, with provoking eoolness, fixing a steady, determined look upon his hated foe, *‘ your amialje friend, British Bil, is wr- gent in his desire for satisfaction. “*Pat exvay your pistols, men,’ cried the old man, involuniarily pushing aside the ycung Tory leader’s weapon with one hand and Delaware Dick’s with the other; “‘thero must be no bloodshed here, Hf you will fight, go out and fight as brave enemies fight, upon the fleid.”’ “Colonel Fairmont!” stormed the Tory partisan, his face flushed with liquor, his eyes flashing with fary, and his hand trembling with excitement; ‘ no rebel, especially that outlawed traitor, shall insult me with impunity. THis life is the reprisal I demand,” ‘You speak as though you were a host,” retorted Delaware Dick, with a contemptuous calmness, Coloue!l Fairmont watched like a hawk that neither raised his weapon against the other, for he most earnestiy desired to avert the horror of.a conflict, 4. troiéd was between the young partisan foes. Upon it s9t the glasses and bottle from which they hail dran« to. each other’s health, twill yet make you feel thet my power is that of 3 host, Delaware Dick,”’ was British Bill’s response. ‘You have bearded the lion in his den, sir, and since It is Colonel Pairmont’s request that no scene be enacted here, I shall respect his wish, and—’’ “Tam purpiised that you have the least respect for any one,”’ interrupted his antagonist, “You will be still more surprised before you get through with me, now mind.” Dick made no reply more than to recognize his words by a sncer that was more provoking than the bitterest retort would hove been. British Bill had risen to his feet, but Diek remain- ed seated, with his thoughts divided between the young ‘Tory and Colonel Fairmont. Somewhere or other, he had seen the old man, but to save him he could not recall the time nor place, His face linger- ed in his memory like the face of ene seen in a vague dream that leaves its influence upon us, but keeps the main characters just beyond our mental reach, While revolving the matter in his mind, his rest- loss eyes suddenly caught a movement upon the wall behind the colonel and to the vight of British Bill. A curtain of crimson satin was pushed slowly and noiselessly aside, revealing a large, square picture- frame of rosewood and mahogany. thet had been set into the wall and elaborately finished off, From this frame the face of George the Third looked down up- on him with all the tyrannical imbecility of that lish potentate, 6 sight of the picture settled one point in Dela- ware Dick’s mind: Colonel Samuel Fairmont was a loyal subject of the crown, But, why had he keps it covered? Was he afraid that the exposition of the Agate would betray his sympathies? 6 these questions were being entertained in our hero’s mind, he saw the portrait of King George disappear from the frame as if by magic; and in the kness behind the spot where it had been, a white, ostly object a em At first there was no ble form to it, but as it approached the frame, * it.was gradually unfolded fromthe nimbus of dark- ness surrounding it, and the fair and lovely face of a young girl stood out in bold relief before him, laware Dick started with an involuntary cry of et he for in the face of the young girl, he recog- the features of his betrothed, Agnes Mel- rosa! All was plain enough tohim now. Colonel Fair- roont was the f old gentleman that had stopped fm front of the -Wa with A , when he was a prisoner in the building, Pairmont Place, oe, was the home of Agnes. His heart gave a A ip of joy, for it had been relieved of a heavy British Bill saw the young patriot’s sudden emo- tions, but fn Ser a wrong construction to their origin. He lieved they were the expressions of fear Ae part of Dick; and a smile of pecahty ee wicunses his 4 ills tate to he m 4 pockets for something, an 4 ight a gmail silver whistle, This he twirled between his thumb and index-finger for quite a minute, at the game time bestowing 2 terrible look upon his. young enemy, as though he intended to annihilate him, per a > 3 | Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. mm me ee a ee eee ee ee a Dick, however, soon regained his equanimity, and returned his adversary’s look with searching con- tempt. This so enraged the young Tory that he turned abruptly upon his heel, and advancing to the east door of the library, threw it open. Then he placed the whistle to his lips and blew a sharp blast poe. it, that pierced keenly through the frosty night. elaware Dick at once mistrusted the import of his enomy’s movements, and yet he betrayed only the coolest indifference. With a strange smile upon his face he rose to his feet, and crossing the floor, threw open the west door. ae tramp of feet was heard near each door out- side. Colonel Fairmont started with a look of profound horror upon every lineament of his wrinkled face, while amazement Locate stampe.apon the features of British Bill's, . ‘*My amiable Tory friend,’ Delaware Dick said, while a grim smile 6 triumph played c»out his lips “the signal you gave was exactly the same tha I “was to have given my men, in case necessity required it. Sir, you have called up the Scarlet Wings, as well as your Tory nighthawks.” Even as he spoke, a Scarlet Wing, with a drawn saber, entered through the west door of the library; — at the same instant, a Tory came in at the east oor, Then followed a scene of terror that sent Colonel Fairmont flying from the library. Scarlet Wing after Scarlet ihe, and Tory after Tory came filin into the room, and “ quickly forming in the ranks o war.” . CHAPTER XI, A DOUBLE CATASTROPHE. A conruict in the library of Samuel Fairmont seemed inevitable. Delaware Dick and British Bill stood glaring at each other across the room with a fierce and deadly determination in their looks, Dick still maintained his usual composure, but his enemy fairly trembled with the intensity of his emotions. The followers of these two young partisans were reatly surprised at the situation of affairs, for they had not the remotest idea of what was going on until they entered the library. Each part come in response to the preconcerted signal of its leader. . It eee but a few moments, however, for them to define the state of affairs and place themselves in a defensive position. Both parties seemed to be actuated by the same ower, They hastily formed in lines up and down he great room. Guns and pistols were held in a position for instant use.“ Murmurs of deadly ven- eance and bitter animosity passed from lip to lip. full score of Tory partisans glared across the room into the faces of as many Patriots. At this juncture a footstep was heard approaching along the hall leading from the main building into the Soa and the next moment Samuel Fairmont entered the room entirely recovered from his late panic. With remarkable coolness and provokin effrontery, he advanced to the table in the center o the room, and filling one of the goblets, held it aloft and exclaimed: “Here is success to you, my friends, adherents to the royal cause of King George;”’ and then he swal- lowed the liquor at a single gulp. A shout from the ri of vhe Tories answered his words of cheer, for they gave the Tories renewed courage. Onthe other hand they smote heavily up- on the ears of the patriots, and filled the heart of Delaware Dick with a fecling akin to despondency. Ile was convinced now, beyond a single doubt, that Fairmont was @ royalist; and he felt that an insur- mountable barrier was rising between him and his betrothed, Agnes Melross. But he had little time for reflection upon the matter. Scarcely had the old man drank to the suecegs of the Tories than the a a raised their weapons and fired upon the patri- ots, Our friends, however, were on the alert, and an- ticipating this sudden movement of the foe, averted the volley. of lead by droppin Not a patriot was touched, and the next instant their weapous rung forth in deadly clash, and the battle became gencral - The Fairmont mansion now resounded with all the horrors of the baftle-fleld; and the terrible din roiled and echoed from chamber to chamber, filling the inmates with speechless terror. house shook under the clashing strokes of sabers, blows of clubbed muskets, and all of bodies; while the night_ without was convulsed with the horrible sounds, which, as they issued from the mansion, be- came incorporated into one dreadful roar* “vt rolled away over field and woods. : The oot soon became filled with thick pep sare: ous smoke, through which ‘the lights of the chande- lier shone dim and ghostly, and through which the forms of the combatants surged and swayed like phantoms in the gloaming. ' It seemed strange, to the terrified auditors crouch- ing in the adjacent parlor, that so many shots could be fired and so many blows rtruck without some de- cisive result. Suddenly the butt of a long rifle sweeping over- head in the hands of an infuriated Tory, struck the prea lights above and brought chandelier and to the floor, For a moment darkness pervaded the room, and a lull in the conflict followed. But the gloom and silence lasted ‘only for a moment. One of the burning,candles flew across the room and falling in a pile of papers, set them on fire. There was no one to oxtinaiioh fas flames, and in a moment a bread re lit up. the room and shone upon the scene of horror. The floor was slippery with blood, in which a score of patriots and Tories together lay dead or dying. upon their knees,” The’ +--+ The conflict was renewed with increased fury. The flames rose higher and higher, communicating with the heavy curtains, and licking and lappin their flery tongues along the pening. and walis until a holocaust seemed to threaten the lives of both patriot and Tory. The room became filled to suffocation with heat and smoke. It was more than human nature could endure, and finally terminated the conflict and drove the combatants from the room. They carried their wounded with them; but the dead were left to the devouring flames. Out in the open air the patriot rangers expected the struggle to be renewed; but the Tories disap- peared in the darkness, and were seen no more that cht, Our friends, with their wounded: in charge, hastily retreated from the place. They moved down the road until they reached the timber, then turning ab- ruptly to the right, pnated on through the woods until they reached the point where they had loft their horses. Here they halted to enumerate their loss and ascertain the extent of the injuries of the wounded, They found thet half of their number were missing and wounded. Among the missing was their fear- less young leader, Delaware Dick. A comrade had seen him fall in the heat of the contlict, under the = of a Tory musket; nor did hoe see him rise again, A gloom of despondency and bitter sorrow settled upon the faces and in the hearts of the survivors of the little band of partisans, They knew that their beloved young leader was among the slain left in the burning house, and it was too late now to think of recovering the body from the flames. Already they could see the flames bursting from the mansion and shooting their long beams into the sky. The cur- rounding soon became lit up with a dazzling glare, and from their covert in the forest, the patriot rangers could sec the Fairmont mansion enveloped. in a mountain of seething fire, and could distinguish forms passing hurriedly to and fro about the grounds, The leadership of Delaware Dick’s band, or what was left of it, now devolved upon Lieutenant Banks, a young patriot, whose knowledge of the country, indomitable courage and fearless daring fully quali- fied him to lead the party. Though the little baud of partisans had suffered the loss of their beloved captain and nearly one half of their number, they did not lose all hope in the cause for which they were battling. On the con- trary , it roused the spirit within them, and hence- forth they resolved to devote their time and lives to the ‘execution of One object—the avenging of the biood of their fallen comrades. The .care of the wounded was the first duty de- volving upon them, and Lieutenant Banks had con- cluded to move them at once to the hut of an old woodman and true tricot, who lived a few miles north; but before they could effect arrangements necessary for the removal of the suffering men, the fierce bark of a dog startled the little band. One of the peste seized his gun and peered into the gloom around him, ain the bark of the dog emote upon their ears. see orses sniffed the air and pawed the ground un- e ; * Boys,” whispered Banks, “there’s something not a right about here!” “Ho dar, massa, don’t shoot, for I’se a friend to everybody,” came a voice from out the gloom. x Who are yout’? demanded Banks, seizing his pistol. **T’se ole Grind ,1 is; and dat dog’s Box; de best dog for ’coon and *possum on de ribber,” and as the speaker thus explained, he advanced into the open- ing where our friends were awatting him. Was sir, What are you doing here?” asked anks, Tse huntin’ you; dat is, if you’s dem pattyrots what Delumware Dick leads.” é > Wel what do you want of us? Whosent you ere bh) ad * One ob your friends—didn’t ax his name; but he war wounded in de fight, and crawled out into de bushes, whare ole Grindy find him.” ** Bless Heaven!’’ cried a youth, excitedly, ‘ per- haps it is Dick himself.” “He didn’t tell me what his name war; but ole Grindy tote him off into de woods and hide him whar de ornery Tories won't find him.” ‘““How does it come that you are a rebel, and yet the servant of old Fairmont?’ “Wal, massa,” said the old negro, scratching bis woolly pate, “‘ole massa Fairmont alway tell his nigger at he’s pattyrot when paityrots am around, and as dey come de mostest times, ole Grindy got to be a pattyrot at heart, like de.young missus. And now, if you'll jis’ take dem wounded folk down to whar Ise got dat other feller hid, I'll jis’ bet a doub- loon dey don’t suffer, and dat de Tories won't find dem, s chile’s no slouch ob a doctor, and as I’se too ole and shaky to fight in de ranks, I want to do sumfin in de cause of liberty,” There was something so honest, outspoken, and noble in the old man’s words that the rangers at once became convinced of his sincerity of heart. To ‘make sure, however, that the old man was not try ing to deceive them, two of the party were dispate with him to where he Glaimea ay FY, seonined cne of their comrades; and that he might not become of- fended at their evident mistrust, the rangers claimed a desire to investigate the condition of the quarters Be ee selected before consigning the wounded erein, With his dog in the lead, the old man directed the way toward his hidden h For several min- utes they pushed through tae glookay labyrinths of com in TS “ . - ee iy wm. . fa ee JOOKS: COM