Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 296 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

L4 —__ es — — villains puffed away at their pipes vigorously, while Mary Monk was standing just behind them, in the cave entrance, with pale, frightened face, scarcely breathing lest they should hear her. A cocked re- volver was in her hand. What did all this mean? Could she credit her hearing? Had Bill Blake, as these two roughs stated, sent for her? Her heart thrilled at the mere thought. She was armed; practice had made her a good shot. Why, then, should she not make her presence awiie and talk with these envoys of the man she oved? “Gentlemen!” she said, holding her weapon in readiness. The two Drews wheeled in great apparent’ sur- prise. ‘Hold! ma’am; don’t fire!” the older exclaimed. “We're not enemies, as you may suppose, but friends, and we're just consulting as to the best way of apprising you of the fact without endanger- ing ourselves.”’ “T overheard your conversation. Who are you?” “Waal, mum, we’re what aire commonly known as road-agents, an’ we belong to Apollo Bill’s gang. My name is Serious Sam, an’ my pard’s handle, hyar, is Californy Chet.” “ Exactly, and, judgjng by your conversation, you were sent here to capture me?”’ ** No, mum—not to capture you, but ter fetch ye back to eur captain's camp, ef you were willin’ to zo.” a I to understand that your captain sent for me "7 “Yes, mum.” ** And your captain's name is William Blake, is it?” “Yes, mum.’ | a ne did aay og: eut pow Bg here?” " no, exactly. He came cam heer , and after givin’ us directions how te find place, sed, as how we was te come here an’ tell you he would like you to come and see him, and bring the child, whoever that may be, mum.”’ ‘Where is this a located ?”’ * Waal, I dunno as I'm right to tell, but seein’ as you an’ the capt'in aire friends, [I dunne as there is any harm i llin’ you. Ht’s on an island ia the river, belo cGuffin’s, whar ne one hes ever tho't ©’ lookin’ fer us."’ t Mary was silent several moments, in deep medita- on. “T believe I will go with you,"’ she said, fimally, *‘ for I desire very much to see your captain. You will please’ wait until I am ready.” With this, she re-entered the cavern, and the two plotters were-left to themselves. In the course of half an heur she reappeared, car ‘a child in her arms. “ on, and I will follow,” she said. They yed without demur. It nped raining, and the clouds everhead ver gradually breaking away, but it was still very ark. On reaching the river, Dick Drew helped Ma ae oe seat In the stern of the boat, while he took up his station at the prow, and his foster-father in held thé ears, The frail craft was soon Fiiding swiftly along with the current, like a yen ife. Not a word was en by the two villains, as a rode aang, | while pleasant thoughts came te faithful Mary Monk, as she looked forward to a meeting with Bill Blake. McGuffin’s was passed, and, half an hour later, the or ype upon the sandy beach of a small wooded island. ‘Here we are!’' Dick Drew announced, leapi out, folowing by his father; “allow me to assis you out, and I'll blow the signal for the captain to come and meet you, Miss Monk.’ a allowed him to lift her out, but it was a fatal on. His arms clutched about her, and while he thus held her, despite her struggles, the elder Drew se- curely bound her, hand and foot, thrust a gag into her month, and blindfolded her. He then took her from Dick's arms, and carried her into the depth of th woods, Dick following with the screaming child, They soon came to a log cabin, which they en- tered, to find themselves In a rudely-furnished apart- ment, where a fire was burning, and light was fur- nished by a torch. Madame Moree sat by the fire, but arose, as they entered, “We've caught the bird, and Drew, Sr., said, as he thrust ry into an inner ro#m, and locked the door. “The kid you can keep here. ‘We shall be here, again, in a couple of days, to perfect our arran ents. Itis perfectly under- stood between us?—yofn are staying here, as jaileress, at a salary of a hundred a week!”’ ‘ Exactly!” madame assented. ‘Then, we must be off, and back toacamp, ere it is daylight. Look well to your charges!" ou are her jailer!” Madame Moree was good for her word, as long as that night lasted, but that Was all. The next morn- ing, she left the island in a boat, and took the child with her, The child was ain, yr into a sound sleep, however, and knew nothing of its perils. About an hour after her departure, a boat was beached upon the island, and Drew and Dick stepped therefrom, and plunged into the forest. ot fifteen minutes afterward, another boat eae the island, and two more persons disem- rked. Things began to look decidedly as if they were rece syn Pt to a crisis—at least, for Darcy Drew and his pted sou! : , _ Apollo Bill, the TT CHAPTER XIV. CONCLUSION. Tue latter boat had landed several rods further down the beach, in a little. inlet, and consequently out of sight of the first boat. The occupants were Rowdy Kate, and the Trail Tornado, Apollo Bill. **T hope you are right, butI fear that this is a wild oose chase!’ the -agent. said, as they disem- rked. ‘I don’t believe Mary Monk and the child are on this island.”’ ‘*Mebbe they ain’t, but I see’d the two Drews a- comin’ from this direction, and I opine et looked somet like it, to me!”’ “Well, I hope you are right, The next thing is, to make the search, and find out, which ought not to take long, on so small anisland. First, let us look well to our eg An examination proved that they were in condi- tion; then Apollo took the lead, and they entered the forest. Small though the island, more than an hour was nt in search, ere they came to the old log cabin, the door of w was rs nem ; ‘Hal didn’t I tell you?"’ wdy Kate exclaimed. “That's the place where Mary, Monk is to be found, and I'll bet money on it. Come! let’s see.”’ “Hold! do not be too fast!” Apollo Bill said. “You may rush into a lion's jaws first you know. Let’s pause here in ambush a few moments, and listen t"" Which they did, but could see no sigu of life about the premise ‘“‘If Mary Monk has been here she has probably been removed befere this,’’ Apelle Bill said gloemily. *“*Ah! hark!” The sounds ef pitit f . 80 of some person came from in the direction of te cabin. “ By blazes! some one’s hurt, am’ that’s certain!’’ ‘Kate cried. ‘‘ Come! let’s make me mere benes ef it, but make a rush!” : Accordingly they dashed ferward, and inte the cabin througk the opem door. But they paused near the thresheld—paused aghast at what met their gaze. Upon the floer in front of them, bound hand and foot, and gagged, Monk, her face disterted with the pain of acute suffering. Her back had been bared, and was ene intricate mass of bleeding cuts, evidently inflicted by a bull- a which lay Bear at han er d. face was alse bruised and discelered in aay upos and several bleeding weunds had been infli her head with some sb instrument. Both Billand Rewdy were by her side an instant later, cries of horror br from their lips, and Bill gently raised her head upon his lap. ‘‘Mary! Mary! de yeu Khew me?" he asked, bend- ing over her, and kissing her en the lips. “Speak te me Mary—1 am Bill—Bill Blake. 6 you re- member?”’ The sound of his voice seemed to arouse her, and she opened her eyes and up into his face. “Ts it you, Master Bill? Oh! thank God!” she murmured, ng at him wistfully. “I haye so long wished te see you, Bill—I—I have spent all these years faithful te you, Bill, knowing we should meet, sooner or later!"’ ‘*God bless you, Mary! Ialways knew you were a true But you are hurt, Mary—you have n cru abused! Tell me, who is the wretch who did this devilish brutality?’ A shudder passed through her frame before she answered. ‘* Yes, I have been killed—I have been maltreated until I am dying. Oh, Bill! it was awful, but itis all over now. They captured meand brought me here last night, and placed me in charge of a woman who told me her name was ame Moree, and that she was going to take the child to Lord Clifford. This morning she left, and not long afterward Ben Bog- hart and another rufflan came. They found the child ace and were furious. They swore if I did not tell them whose child it was they would beat me tiny at paca fia belly ded so bru that ; e me the aera Sts short time before you came,” “Then, Mary ~, brave girl, hear me swear here, and before High eaven, that your wrongs shall be ave !” Apollo Bill cried, sternly. ‘My whole life of late has been made miserable by the accursed doings of Owl-Eye, alias Ben Boghart, and I'll guar- antee he shall never live to make any one else un- happy. Kate will stay here with you until I send back a boat to convey you to McGuffin’s, where [ will have arrangements made for your comfort, But first, Mary, before it is too late, tell me—is the child you have watched over and guarded so faithfully mine or Lord Clifford's?” ‘* Bill—_thank God—it is yours! The child bas been re reared and knows her own name, Welly ake |” Then she sunk back, exhausted. With tears rolling down his cheeks, Apollo Bill kissed her once more; then calling Rowdy Kate aside, he addressed a few words to her in a Mw tone, after which he took his departure. Madame Moree went straight from the island to MeGuffin’s and to the room of Lord Clifford, but she did not take the child with her. His lordshi was engaged in reading, but he arose and greet her pleasantly: ‘‘Well, I suppose you have come to bring me news?’ he said. ‘Yes, I have,” she replied. “I took your advice and went into the employ of Dick Drew and his fos- ter-father, and as a result I have obtained possession of your ehild.” Trail Tornado. te --oo—o— eee a — —_ -————— “Very well; so far, s0 good, Now, then, how do you know it is my child?” “Very well. The Prews made Mary: Monk con- fess the truth, and she gtated that it was Lord Clif- ford’s child she had taken with her, on the night of the fire at the farm-house.”’ ‘‘Madame Moree, are you lying to me?”’ ‘Lomi Clifford, I am not.”’ “Then, why’ do you not preduce the child, at once?”’ ' The madame smiled. “You must remember, my ‘ord, that there is a consideration to be agreed upon, I am & woman. of the world, who have to earn my living by my wits. Consequently, I cannot undertake dangerous jobs, without proper reward,” ‘‘Ah! of course. But, look you;—a woman of your stamp cannot afford, either, to play the de- spoiler—I am rfectly willing.to pay you a fair compensation, but of course, you could not reason- ably expect me to pay you the rewards I have of- pene! as they were merely baits to gain inferma- tion,” ** ‘*T presumed you were the kind of a man to back your own propositions. However, that matters not to me, as itis not money I want!” ‘**Not money?”’ “No, not money. I have another price than money, Lord Clifford, and you ‘shall know it, As the case stands, you shall have it. I, Madame Moree, the last surviving member of the ence dis- tinguished Moree family of have eeme into n of your ehild, little Maude lifford, sole heiress ef Olifford Cliff, England. Te ou this child is all in all, for, were she tedie, Lady eresa would succeed te your in event of our th, and Dick Drew would wear yeur shoes. Therefore, it is, ef course, important you that your child comes to light, as your heir and suecessor. rheee enaannanes manenaenad nats DARIEN. have e by my wite,and never let an epportanity to make mo Sip to, On. .eerotng Unite pessersion of your child, I drugged her with a poison* of which I always have a su ; ace of safety, until I could ceme and see you. is drug has but ene antidote, and I doubt if a phy- siclan in America understands it. If te sleep two hours from now, she will be dead. You will therefere readily perceive that I have the des- tiny of your heir, all in my own hands!” “My "God! Heaven help her!” Lerd @lifford SS Pe covering his faee with his hands. ‘*Heaven cannot help her!" the madame eried, exultantly; ‘‘enty I have the power te her back to life, and t power is limited te twe hours. Shall I restore her, er let her die?”’ “Woman! devil! go en and name yeur price!” Lord Clifford groaned, , “Twilldo so, My Be is yeur hand im marriage within half an hour ou mad?” ‘*Great Heaven! are ‘‘ Not in the least. You cam de as yeu please. I will go and b the child here, and a minister. When Iam joined to you in wedleck the child shali have the antidote. You can have a few minutes te consider; in the mean time, I will bring the child!” And, with a eS ee she swept frem the room, leaving the nobleman pacing the , with a pale face and wildly glaring eyes. pe Ourse her!” he SMianedt petweed his clinched teeth; ‘she has me completely in her pewer. I have_ nothing left me but to accept terms. I dafe not ite patie her; if 1, - s. just 5 ys ute ve her revenge. Yes, 1 must marry have to drawn ber on our voyage back fe Mingland. It is my only chance!”’ Madame went dewn-stairs to the hetel office. “There is a miner here who is an ordained minis- ter, is there not— working in a mine or somewhere?" she asked of the clerk at the bar. “'Yes'm; ‘spect John Doe does thet kind o’ busi- ness, but ye cant git him off durin’ workin’ hours. *Spect we can fix ye, tho,’ fer yonder’s a new arrival sittin’ over thar who registers as the Reverend Simeon Shaver. Better go tackle him.” Madame ened at the individual indicated a mo- ment, sharply—then walked over to him. He was a -sized man, respectably dressed, and wore a plug hat. His face was nearly covered with gray beard, while his bushy hair was of the same . Hi s eyes were screened by a pair of blue glasses, and Bogtem jd had a clerical sppensence. “ Exeuse me,” e said, “ but I was told that you are an ordained minister, Is that true?”. ‘“Yes’m!’ was the reply, in a squeaky voice— : thes ES ae + cuitaslt to & coupl ‘Then, pre : marry e, on m sh Sig you will be well paid.” en the madame left the hotel. In cremty minutes she returned, carrying an ap- Pie minister to f¢ he minister to follow her up stairs, which he did. They both entered Lord Clifford's room, and ma- dame laid the child upon the bed; then turned to his lordship, and said: bs “There is your child, my lord, and here ’’—hold- ing up a small vial—‘‘ is the antidote that will save her e. See! I lay it on the table, within my reach! Marry me, and I will let you give the contents to your child, Refuse, and t smash the vial into atoms.”’ | “ ! I have made ip Cp mind to save my child's life, at pb havea” lordship cried. . “Stand up here and I will marry you; then, if you do not restore that child to consciousness, I'll murder you before you leave this room!” “T am willing so to do when we are man and ecoilm GDOOK child, in her arms, and motioned .