Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 152 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

Black Bess, Will Wildfire’s Racer. every kernel of those nuts, and ram down the tract for wadding. I think he needs to digest his own ob- servations on the sin of gambling.”’ A look of nervous apprehension came parson's face. He set his teeth firmly, as mined not to swallow the obnoxious dose. “Thegentleman is going to resist,’’ said Pierce kneeling overhim. ‘“ Lend me ned knife, Ben, till t force open his teeth. Have you the nuts ready, Pete?” The boy, his face radiant with impish delight, had been eagerly pioking out the doctored nuts from the sound ones. e opened the former and extracted the yellowish stained kernels. “T's got de provender,”’ announced Pete, grinning. ‘“‘Lawsee! won't he squirm when he gits a dose of thunder an’ lightnin’ inside him? Guess what’s good fur de jockey is good fur de parson.” The face of the latter showed intense distaste and dread. He strove vigorously to keep his teeth clenched, but the strong blade which Pierce forcibly thrust between them soon wrenched them open. “Don’t give in,’ warned Luke. “It will all be over in five minutes, and then we can la “Will it?’ asked Pierce, sarcastically. not, It is not so far away toa drug store, my dear sir. If this dose don’t work we will try some others. There are such agreeable mixtures as ipecac, and croton oil, and cow-itch and some other charming applications. If nothing else serves I will do up the parson, from head to foot, in mustard plasters, and lay him by till he comes to his senses.” All this was spoken with such cold-blooded firm- ness and deliberation, that a shudder ran through the frame of the parson, and cold sweats broke out all over him. e held up his hand pleadingly. ‘** Don’t let him slide!’’ screamed Pete. ‘* He done dosed me, and he’s got to swaller dem peanuts, or dar’ll be sumfin bu’st.”’ ‘* Are you ready to confess?” asked Pierce. ee — do, I will murder you!” yelled Luke. ‘*All right. Let’me have the nuts, Pete,—If they don’t bring him around, I will send you over to the drug store,” The parson’s hand was again lifted, while a con- vulsive dread marked his face, ‘*T will confess,’’ he cried. “Tf you do—”’ Luke again threateningly began. But his speech was abruptly ended by Jack Brace’s heavy hand, which descended upon his lips. Pierce withdrew his knife blade from the parson’s t eeth, ‘* Mark Preston has got the papers,” he cried. “ Where?” asked Will, eagerly. ‘** In his ket. He showed them to us not an hour ago.’ ‘*Good!"’ exclaimed Will, jumping hastily to his feet. ‘And we saw him jogging back to Philadel- phia, We can overtake him, if we ride hard. Where are the horses, Pete?” ‘**T luff’em outside, hitched up to de fence palin’s.”’ ‘Come, boys, then. We must be short, sharp, and decisive.” ‘** And if this cae a lie, I will not forget you,” said Pierce, with a threatening gesture toward prisoner. ‘‘T'll swear he had them an hour ago,” asseverated the latter, earnestly. There was a look of intense disapproval on Pete’s face as he followed his master out to the fence, where the horses were patiently waiting. ‘**Dat’s all mighty nice fur you gemmen,” he growled, discontentedly. ‘‘You’s got what you want, I s*pose. But I dunno as I’s paid up fur de thunder an’ lightnin’ in my internals, I ain't let up on dat nc yit, nohow.”’ Jack Brace and bis comrade followed their res- cuers out, requesting them to send a certain tele- gram to the city from Paschalville. Here was an opportunity for Pete. Quick as a flash he stole back to the house. The t prisoners had taken advan- tage of the momentary absence of their captors, and were engaged in a conversation, in which threats deter- “Maybe and curses formed the chief Sooky ‘You can blow till you’re blind,”’ said the parscn, angrily. ‘‘That chap meant business, _ oe store believe you would have stood os a of your stomach, any better than I did. you suppose I wanted to be griped like that infernal nig- ger was, when he fell from the sulky?” The perecn made a slight error in opening his mouth for this speech, for, before he could close it ain, several hard substances were dropped into it, most Te him as they lodged in his throat. “Ya! ya!” laughed Pete, in intense glee. ‘De ‘fernal nigger’s got de game now. We'll see how de parson lubs doctored peanuts.” Coughing, choking, and screaming with fear and rage, the bound prisoner managed to roll over on his side, and to eject the distasteful morsels, but not untilevery portion of the powerful drug with which they were anointed had passed down his throat. is struggles and the panic of dread which affect- ed him only hastened the operation of the medicine, and when the detectives returned, after their short absence, it was to find the parson squirming over the floor, yelling with severe pain, and occasionally double-up to a greater degree than Pete had been in the sulko, : As for the latter individual, he was simply wild with glee, rolling over the floor in laughter, while yells of impish delig screams of agony from his victim. ‘Hallo!’ cried Jack Brace, on beholding the un- expected scene. ‘‘ What is going on here?’ ‘* Nothin’,”’ returned Pete, “ only I’ve gub de doctor a dose 0b his own med’cine. Didn't he physic me fur de hoss-race? Jess you bet it’s Pete’s turn now.” And the boy burst out again into his wild fits of laughter, rolling and clapping his hands with delight. Meanwhile the three horsemen were pushing at a sae bay of t echoed the | | | i words passed between them, but their lips were set and their eyes flashing at the hope of at last bring- upen the | ing the leading villain to his well-deserved punish- ment. On Will’s face particularly this stern ex- pression rested, and he spurred his horse with cruel energy as he thought of the object before him. They halted for a few minutes at Paschalville. When they set out again they were accompanied by a mounted officer, bearing a warrant for the arrest of Mark Preston. The sun was getting low in the western sky when they reached the borders of the built-up portion of the city. They had gained the long wall of Wood- land Cemetery when they first perceived, at a con- siderable distance in advance, a horseman, who, as oo could plainly make out, carried his right arm in a sling. ‘““Our game, fora thousand!” cried Pierce. ‘He is jogging along, to save his arm. We will come on him like a thunderbolt.” They were very close at hand before the horseman in advance seemed to hear their rapid approach. He then looked around, showing the expected visage of Mark Preston. A strange exp on shot over his face. His first impulse appeared to be to put his horse to its speed. But a second thought showed him that this was useless. “Halt!” cried Will, sternly. ‘‘We have a slight matter of business with you, Mr. Mark Preston.” “*T have none with you,’’ Mark haughtily replied, paying no attention to this peremptory order. n the next instant Pierce had vigorously grasped his bridle, near the bit, and was facing with a stern expression. **Do your duty,” he said, to the officer. “What does this outrage mean?’ asked Mark, in fierce accents. ‘*‘ Who dares stop me on the public highway?” ‘I do,” replied the officer, “ by virtue of this war- rant of arrest.” “Tt is all up, my good sir,” remarked Ben Huntly. “Your pals have blown on you, and we will rake you in as the ringleader of a gang of burglars.”’ “Tt is a lie!’ screamed Mark. “I defy you to prove it!” ** We shall see about that!’’ cried Will, seizing him by the arm. ‘Search him, officer.” Mark made a fierce effort to escape, but he was held as if in avise. In an instant more the alert fingers of the officer had extracted a thick packet of papers from the inside pocket of the prisoner's coat, and held them up to Will’s inspection. ‘“Good! They are the papers!’ cried the latter. **Do you keep them in charge for the present, and conduct your prisoner to the nearest magistrate’s office, where we will bla our charges against him.” Mark Preston's pale face grew lividly pallid as the small cavalcade turned and made its way toward the office of a justice, the hand of the officer firmly clasping the bridle of the prisoner's horse. CHAPTER XTX. AN HOUR BEFORE THE FIRE. A CHEERFUL fire burned in the open grate in the | samen nceestary ag of Miss Moreland’s residence. he surroundings were celightful. The mantle of rose-streaked marble, with its delicate bronze fig- ures, and the magnificent Sevres vase in its center the soft tints of the walls and carpet, the flow of fleecy curtains, the attractive pictures, the display of richly-bound books on the center-table, gave the room an aspect of charmingness and comfort com- bined, which was not detracted from by the figure of the beautiful mistress of the house, clad in tender grays, and nestling in her soft arm-chair before the glowing fire. A warm color was upon her cheeks which doubled her beauty. A soft luster filled her eyes; her lips were half parted. Evidently some pleasant thoughts were rene unchecked through her brain. “Tf it could be!’ she murmured; and then turned suddenly, the warm blood flowing up to cheek and Ww row. For there stood the form of him who had evident- ly been in her thoughts, the erect figure and frank ace of Will Wildfire. He had just entered and re- mained with his hat in his han admiringly on the charming tableau before : “Tf you knew what a picture you were malin you would never have stirred,’’ he said. ‘I woul give more than a penny for the thoughts which filled your mind just now.” They are not for sale,’ was her laughing and blushing response. ‘ But I am so glad to see se Let me have your hat.—Here, take this seat. You look cold. Come up close to the fire.” Tam not so cold but that Pe warm welcome will serve to drive away the chill,”’ he gallantly replied. And I have got something for you more cheering than even a coal fire,” he continued, as he took the chair she had set in front of the grate. _. Something for me!”’ cried Clara eagerly, draw- ing her chair near his, and nestling again in its soft depths. “‘What is it? Do tell me at once. You know I can never bear to wait.” ‘“* But you must wait,” laughed Will. ‘I shall not encourage any such childish impatience.” ‘Of course I am childish,” she quickly responded, “* But I want it at once.” “No doubt you do. But supposeIam not ready to give it at once?” “Oh! Idon’t care! I don’t want it at all,” she petulantly replied, drawing herself back in her chair, and looking the picture of disdain. But she could not keep up this mood for a minute. ote pace over the road toward the city. Few <r taitt: dstttt ll i CO _—1 0 ALLLABOLLL_LLLL LL T ee — ——— _ Tbe amused smile on Will’s face was followed by a | _ quick burst of laughter from her. “You are too bad!" she exclaimed. me, at once!”’ 15 “Not till you give me something in return,” he said, in a quieter tone, though the smile still played about his lips. : She looked at him an instant, with inquiring eyes, and then fell back in her chair, her gaze fixed upon the fire, while a tinge of color came into her cheeks like a reflection from the flame, For aminute not a word The smile faded from Will’s by an earnest look. “You know what I mean,”’ he began, taking her hand, which was not withdrawn. “It is not the first time, Clara, that I have dared—’ Hehesitated. | “* What is it you have brought me?’’ she asked, in a changed tone. ‘*T have brought you my love!”’ he exclaimed, “The honest devotion of a young heart, but a true one, Clara.”’ He had drawn his chair nearer hers, and was look- ing eagerly into her flushed face and sparkling eyes, ‘And I know you return it,’ he declared, capturing her other hand. “I know my love is not given in vain, for you have told me—”’ ‘*T have told you that we were only boy and girl, and too young to think of such things,” she replied, But she left her hands in his, and partly turned her face from his earnest gaze. ‘We are not too young to love!”’ he cried, ‘*And I know you love me, Clara! Say that you love me!”’ ‘*What have you brought me, Will?’ “*T will not tell you till you say that you love me!” Her eyes, bright but suffused, turned again slow! to his; the pink in her cheek deepened and spread; her lips slightly parted. For a minute they sat look- ing at each other thus, his face intense with eager- ness, hers soft with emotion. Then she spoke. **I love you.” They needed but to bend further toward each other, and their lips met, in the long, clinging, first kiss of love, while their sparkling eyes looked into each other as into two lakes of infinite trust and love. Will’s arm had slipped around her slender waist, and they sat thus for many minutes, lost in each other, and oblivious to all the world without. Nearly an hour had passed ere Clara returned again to her first seep ‘* What is it you have brought me, Will?” ‘*Myself,”’ he replied, with a smiling look. d between them. ps, and was replaced . . . ' “No, no; there is something else,’ she quickl q y replied. ** It is not fair in you after all—after—”’ ‘After your giving yourself to me in return,” he rejoined, with another kiss. ‘* Yes, I have brought you something, Clara, Iwill not keep you in sus- pense any longer.” Her eyes burned with eagerness as he slowly drew from his pocket a closed package. Removing the enveloping cover he held it up before her ogee. ‘*My lost papers!” she ejaculated, quickly seizi it. ‘That is too fortunate! Where in the world di A get them? Have the burglars been caught? o were they? Do tell me all immediately!” “They have been captured,”’ he replied. ‘ And it was as we supposed.”’ ** Mark Preston?” “Yes, and his confederate, Luke Lister, the English sport.” “I knew it!’ she exclaimed, excitedly. ‘‘ This is too good! You do not know what these are worth tome. They are the proofs on which my possession of my whole fortune rests. Mark Preston might have rared me.—How shall I ever repay youyr”’ ‘* You have repaid me,’’ he replied, looking at her with a warm meaning in his eyes. She returned his gaze for a moment, and then threw her arms impulsively around his neck, kissing him with loving fervor on the lips. “Tlove you, dear Will!” she cried. ‘‘I shall love you, for ever and ever and ever,.”’ d we leave them so, before that flashing glow, their hearts warmer than the fire on the earth, their young love adding the last charm needed to make the room a perfect nest of delight. And here our story ends. We have but some loose threads to take up, some frayed ends of plot, to ve a finish to the tale through which our readers ave so kindly accompanied us, Of course the burglars got their deserts. The whole party of them were sent to the penitentiary for terms of imprisonment ranging from five to ten years. Add to this the failure of all the schemes of the ringleaders, the loss of the heavy wagers they had laid against Black Bess, the recovery of Clara Moreland’s papers, and it may be seen that with them the path of crime did not run smooth, but that retribution followed wrong-doing with swift and steady course. Our other friends are all active and well-doing. Pete remains in charge of Black Bess, who has won em races since her memorable victory at Suffolk ark. Old Pomp still hangs out at the Bell, the establish- ed a of the race-course for all the country round. As for Pierce Browning he is enjoying life in the same listless, easy-going way as ever. "Ge is con- tinually telling his friends that he expects soon to marry and settle down; but no one has yet seen any evidence of his intention to do so. Ben Huntly is occupied now in training for the Fall races of the Schuylkill navy, being as eager a we are as ever, and as fond of sport in every shape. As for Will Wildfire he is not yet married. Clara has declared that they are both too young yet, ee it is whispered that the happy day is not far 0 And meanwhile he keeps open house to his friends | at Wildflower Hall. whose old rafters ring with the ** Give it to | songs and merry laughter of many a jovial party. JOO eom (C S)