Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 229 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

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' Crimson Kate,the Girl Trailer #8 | ° £S ‘* First, Mr. Algernon, tell me the words you heard him utter?” said the general, I heard, sir, the dying man say: ‘** Ah, Lester, —’ ‘* Lester !” ‘Yes, general,” ‘Proceed, sir.” “* Ah, Lester,’ he said, ‘‘‘I had not be- lieved you would do me this wrong. ‘**T have loved you as a son, and now you tell me that you have given me the poison that causes my death, for this is death, as I cannot move.’ ‘‘He then groaned in the deepest agony, and the youth said: ‘**My father drove me from his house, and I feared you would some day do the same, so I have murdered you to protect myself, for never shall [ be a vagabond, a wanderer again, for this ranch shall be the foundation of my fortune,’ ” ‘* Was this all, sir?” ‘‘There was more said, sir, which I do not recall, and then, in fearful anguish the man died.” ‘‘And you are positive this young man was the one you saw in the cabin?” ‘*T’ take my oath on it, sir.” ‘* Enough,” and General Earl touched a bell and an orderly appeared. ‘**Send the sergeant of the guard here with a couple of soldiers.”’ Then turning to Lester Langdon, who stood by as white as a corpse and as motionless, ap- parently dumb with terror or amazement, he continued: ‘‘Y revoke the commission I gave you, sir, as its acceptance has not yet been sent on to Washington, and I send you to the guard-house disgraced, degraded, and wholly shorn of the regard I felt for you when I believed you a young man of honor.” With no reply upon his lips, only one look | into General Earl’s face, another at Lilian, and a third, long and piercing at his accuser, who met his gaze unflinchingly, Lester Lang- don turned, and placing himself between his guards, walked from the room. CHAPTER VIL. LILIAN’S STRATEGY. THE arrest of Lester Langdon, upon a charge 80 base, cast a deep gloom over the inmates of the fort, for the youth had been liked by one and all, from the general to the humblest sol- dier. All wished to believed him innocent, yet how could they reeoncile themselves to such a be- lief against the damning testimony of Algernon against him. He had accidentally been the witness of a scene he daredmnot intrude upon, and had ar- rived at the fort to find a young officer there the very one who had committed the crime he told of. Circumstantial evidence pointed to the truth of bis charges, and upon his testimony Lester Langdon was tried, found guilty of murder, and sentenced to be shot within the week, for the general wished the matter well off his hands, and wished to forget the one he had had to thank for saving his loved daughter from a fearful fate, and had found so unworthy of his regard of him. in his lonely prison of logs sat the youth, pale, stern and silent, for not a word had he said other than that he was not guilty of the charge, P He seemed heart-broken at the end that must be his, yet uttered no remonstrance, and day and night paced his prison, his wrists in iron manacles, awaiting the inevitable with calm resignation. The sentinel before his door heard the pris- oner pacing to and fro and seemed to pity the youth that he had to die, for once or twice he sighed and muttered: Dae ‘“‘A brave bhoy, be jabers, gf he did be af- ther killing the ould man.”’ ** Dennis!” The sentinel started, turned to the right about, for he had heard no step, and beheld be- fore him a female form. ‘* Begorra, but. ye came upon me loike an angel, miss,” he said, saluting, for he thought he recognized the fair form and face before him, in spite of the heavy cloak and hat. ‘‘May nothing worse than an angel ever catch you. unawares, Dennis; but you are on duty until midnight, I believe?’ said the muf- fled visitor. ‘In faith I am, miss, for I come on an hour ago at eight.” [believe your term of enlistment has ex- pired, Dennis?” ‘*T don’t get yer meaning, miss,” ‘* Your time of enlistment as a soldier ex- pired three days &go?” ** Faith it did, miss.” ‘* And you are not going to re-enlist?” ‘No, miss, for I wish to-see the ould lady and the little ones, whom I left five years ago to come soldiering?”’ ‘‘ How is it you are on duty now?” “The garrison was short of men, miss, as the major took so many on the raid yesterday, and I told ’em I would sarve the few days I would bs here until the train went east, with which we discharged sogers goes.” ‘Ah! then if you left now you would not be a deserter?” ** No, miss, for ’m out of the army.” **So I thought; have you been paid off?” * Yes, miss, and I have anice sum to carry to the ould woman at home.”’ ** Dennis, would you not like to increase that sum?” ** W’u’d a fish loike to swim, miss?’ ‘* Well, I will tell you how to do it.” ‘Its Dinnis O’Rouke thet’s all ears, my lady.” ‘*'You know me?’ ‘Yes, miss,” ‘* Well, you know that I care not to see one die who served me, no matter of what he is accused, and [ wish to save him.” “The boy?’ sé Yes. ”” ** Poor fellow, but it can’t be done, miss.” ** It can.” ** Divil the loikes 0’ me knows how then.” **T will tell you.” “Tm listening to yer swate voice, miss, which is as pleasant as ther winds om the lakes o’ ould Killarney.” ‘‘ Well, Dennis, in my stable you know I have several good horses?’ ‘Yes, miss, some dandies,” “ Well, get your saddle and bridle, go there and take your pick, and then get the animal that belongs to Lieutenant Langdon and saddle and bridle him.” *‘ But if they see me, miss?’ ‘They will not, for I have gotten the stable- men out of the way at supper with my maid.” ‘And what am I to do then, miss?” “You are to take the horses to the grove yonder and wait for me; but mind you, Den- nis, get your own luggage, for you will have to go.” ‘* Have to go, miss?” ‘Yes, here is just one year’s pay for you, according to your late rank as an artillery ser- geant, and I give it to you for a purpose.” ‘‘Howly Moses!” said the surprised Dennis O’Rouke. ; ‘Tf you were an enlisted man I would not ask you to desert; but as it is you can go, and I will take the blame’ upon myself. ‘You and the prisoner can go together and ride hard to prevent capture. ‘Here is a pass that’ will let you out of the forest gate of the fort, and the sentinel will not know who you are. “They will miss you when they come to re- lieve guard at midnight, buf you will have been gone three hours then, and the scouts cannot follow your trail until daylight, so that you can make good your escape, as Les- ter Langdon knows prairie-craft well, ** Now go, Dennis.” ‘‘Must it be said that Dennis O’Rouke of ould Ireland desarted his post?” ‘‘Tt must; here is your money.” ‘You know best, miss, and God bless you, ‘*'You are after being the gineral’s daughter and I obeys orders. Good-by to you, miss, and the Vargin preserve you from harm and Dennis O’Rouke too.” Lilian Earl held out her band and the Irish- | man grasped it, and went on his mission, while she calmly took his musket, advanced to the door of the log guard-house and turning the key, which was on the outside, stepped within. It was but dimly lighted, but at one quick glance Lester Langdon recognized his visitor, and bowed low, yet did not speak. ‘Mr. Langdon, to-morrow you are sen- tenced to die; but I will not see you shot when, in my heart, I cannot believe you guilty, and I have come to set you free.” ‘Tt will only get you into trouble, for your coming as you do, proves to me that you do so clandestinely,” he said sadly. ‘Yes I do; but I have arranged all for your escape, and it will not get me into trouble, for my father will readily forgive my act, andsbe glad that I saved him the pain of executing one who so nobly served me,” ‘But the sentinel will suffer?” ** No, for as good luck has it, his term of ser- vice is out, and he goes with you, and I will protect him. ‘Come, your horses and the sentinel await you, and by dawn you can defy pursuit. ‘* Here are your rifle and revolvers, and this military overcoat will disguise you, and see, I free you of these irons,” and she unlocked them as she spoke, with a key she had brought with, her, The youth could not speak for the emotion that welled up into his throat from his over- flowing heart. But at last he said sadly: ‘No, Miss Earl, let me remaip and meet my fate, for [ have nothing to live for now, as my every hope is crushed.” ‘You have something to live for.” “Name it, please.” “You are young and the world is before you; and more, you can yet prove your inno- cence perhaps, in spite of the seeming guilt that condemned you,” ‘Ha! now you give me new life, and I go free to prove to you that Tam not the guilty one that man and boy made me,” he said eagerly. ’ “Then go, and lose no time; you will find Dennis O’Rouke awaiting you in the timber with horses; Good-by, Lester, and may Heaven bless you.” Again his emotion choked back his utterance, but taking the hand of Lilian he pressed a kiss upon it, seized the coat and his arms and walked out of the guard-house, Watching him she saw him enter the timber, and following slowly, she beheld a moment after two horsemen ride up to the gate of the fort, and the sentinel halt them. But after glancing at their pass, by the light in the sentry-box, he permitted them to pass, and with a sigh of relief, she glided to her room and throwing herself upon her bed burst into tears. CHAPTER VIII, THE CONFESSION. Tar escape of Lester Langdon, and the dis- appearance Of the sentinel, Dennis O’Rouke, was discovered only at the relieving of the guard at midnight, for the log prison where — the condemned youth had been confined was apart from the regular fort guard-house, and kept only for special service. In her room Lilian Earl heard the alarm, and also the order of her father to at once. have all prepared for a hot pursuit at dawn, for it would be worse than useless to attempt to pursue until daylight showed what course had been taken, comicbooks ‘com