Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 284 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

and crew; and the craft of Captain Eduardo, the Mexican pirate. The Sea Marauder. able that Merle turned over to be given to his old shipmates of the cruise, upon which he had ‘‘Now I know, when the Government Jearus | knownso much of pleasure and of pain. that you have recaptured Brandt, after his | escape from my vessel, and alsoa lugger with arms and men which he had sailed with, not to speak of the schooner Sea Marauder; yow tri- umph will be complet« : but what do you think about this Captain Pierre?’ ‘** As I told you, sir, he disappeared most mys: terviously from where I left bim, bound to a tree. ‘‘ A huge alligator was found dead near hin, and at first it looked as though he might have been torn away by the monsters, and dragged into the lagoon and devoured. ‘“‘ But finding out, through Mr. Murcli, that a Peon Indian of Mexico, a seaman on the Sea Marauder, whe was given his pardon, had also disappeared, closer search was made, and the knife ef the Mexican was found in the mouth of the alligater, and it was evident that the ropes holding Pierre were cut, not broken. “This proved that he escaped.” “Then he is harmless, for be has no vessel or crew, or gold to help him get a craft, as you say . his fortune was on the Sea Marauder?” ‘** Yes, Captain Meredith: but he is a danger- ous man, and I shall expect to see him afloat again before long.” ‘Then, Merle, you will have to run him down e your Gold Ship, which you say you intend to keep. ‘** Yes, sir, I shall retain my schooner asa yacht, at least for the present.” ‘Bat remember, I bring you to-day your commission as a ilectenantt in the navy, for ant services, and here it is with your par- — for yourself and crew, for sailing withouta ag. ‘“Your so-called mutiny, which I have fully investigated, I found to caused by a plot, formed by several envious officers on the Sea Wolf to get rid of you, and so I reported to Government, and the result is your honorable restoration to the service, and promotion, and . the prompt dismissal of Lieutenant Dunning Graham and Midshipman Paul Martin.” ‘‘l am sorry for them, sir; but they brought it upon themselves.” ‘You have a noble heayt, Merle Monte, and will be an ornament to the service, and, I pre- dict, go up another step of the ladder of promo- tion when the Government learns of your late heroic acts.” ‘*No, Captain Meredith, for I bave here awaiting you my resignation.” ‘Your resignation!” exclaimed the officer as- toon al i tion f th 4 , r; my resignation from the navy. ace von do ob iiiead Wiis, Merle?” “T do, sir.” “ Think !” “T have thought, sir.” ‘* But let me persuade you.” “No, Captain Meredith, ] am resolved upon my course. ‘You gave me a berth in the navy, for serv- ices I rendered you when I was a mere boy on the Mexican coast, where I dwelt upon my Treasure Island with my faithful slave Mezrak. ‘Suceessful, I won the envy of some of my brother officers, and the result wasa plot to ruin me, which well-nigh succeeded. ‘*Upjustl Bxtee sag ey ope I ara es- caped death a yard-arm, along with poor ‘‘ But now my acts have been condoned, my pardon has followed, promotion has followed mv pardon, and feeling that I have triumphed I now resign from the navy.” ‘‘ But what will you do, Merle?’ ‘Oh, sir, I have vast riches, I love the city of New Orleans, where my mother and fatber. lived before me, and [ shall buy me a home there and live to enjoy my riches.” Ah, Merle, I had counted upon you as one of my lieutenants.” “Tam sorry, sir, but I am determined upon my course, * Yet, should there be a war between the United States and avy foreign power most gladly will I again enter the service, and arm, man and equip my own vessel to serve my country.” in vain was it that Captain Meredith urged Merle to reconsider his determination. He remained firm, and his resignation went on to Government, with a request that his share of the prizes be had captured be divided among the officers and crew of the Sea Wolf, and, as the captures included Brandt’s brig Huntress, the Mexican cutter Gold Hunter, the Sea Marauder and the lugger, with their ar- maments, the sum wes by no means inconsider- ——————————— Ne eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeEeeEeeEEEEOEEEEOEOEOEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEEeEeEe—eEeEeEEEEEe CHAPTER VII. MEZRAK MAKES A PURCHASE, HARDLY had the excitement over his mag- nificent achievements quieted down when Merle Monte became: again an object of uni- versal admiration and observation, for he had purchased a grand mansion above the city,* which had been built by a millionaire, who had been unable to keep up the place even with his fortune, and found it, as be had believed, un- salable property upon his hands. The mansion was extensive, built in the grandest style of that period, and was loeked upon as an ornament to the country. Acres of flower gardens, lawns and parks surrounded it, and altogether it wasa palace fit for a king. A few days after bis arrival in New Orleans Merle had commissioned Mezrak to find him a bome and purchase it, and the abeve mansion house was the selection of the faithful black. He had asked to see the owner, and that gen- tleman, feeling rather blue over having spent a fortune on a home he was unable to keep up, granted him an audience, believing he was a messenger from some friend in the roi He was rather astounded at beholding Mez- rak, with his Persian costume, short legs, long body, huge head and remarkably lengthy arms, and said quickly: | ; ‘* Well, my man, what is your business with me?” ‘Is this Monsieur Luzette?’ asked Mezrak in a courtly way, removing his turban, “Yes, [am monsieur Luzette.” “Will you kindly tell me the costof your home here, monsieur?’ was the surprising ques- tion. ‘Well, as to that I do not know how you, a slave, can be interested in that subject; but I'll tell you that it cost me so much that there is not m4 of my fortune left to keep it up as it should be.” ‘*Thank you, monsieur. it?s **T will.” “Will you be good enough to name your price, monsieur?” Monsieur Luzette at this laughed right out, for the idea was ridiculous to him, and he began to believe that the black was crazy, for he never seen eitber Merle or his slave. But he answered: “Yes, I will name my price, andif you will find me a purebas.r I will buy you your free- dom.” “I thank monsieur, but I do not care for my freedom,” was the cold reply. ‘Ah! thea you have a good master, doubt- less; but, my man, as you ask me my price for my home, which you can see is really a palace, T will tell you that it cost me just four hundred thousand dollars.” ‘* Ah! [ expected that it had cost more; but as monsieur should make a rest to repay -him for his outlay and trouble, [ will give bim just half a million dollars for it.” “You willdo what?” “T will give mousieur just half a million dol- lars cash for bis home.” ‘*The devil!” Monsieur was not a profane man, but he could not resist, on this startling occasion, using the name of his Satanic Majesty as an exclamation. Nani monsieur accept?’ quietly asked Mez- rak. Monsieur Luzette was astounded, and still be- lieving that Mezrak was insane, he answered: ‘**Of course [ accept, when I can makea clear huudred thousand on a property I expected to lose half my outlay upon.” ‘Then will monsieur send for his lawyer to draw up the papers: while he counts over these notes to see that it is the sum I offer?” As Mezrak spoke he drew from the folds of his scarf several packages of bank notes con- taining bills of the eet aps denominations, and placed them in the hands of the amazed owner of the house. Monsieur Luzette looked at the notes, saw that they were genuine, and from their num- ber, and the amounts engraved upon their face, that they must aggregate the half mil- lion dollars. With them in his hands there could be no mistake about the earnestness of the black; but * Now the suburb of New Orleans known as Car- rolton,—THE AurHoR. Then you will sell ad | 5 where could he have become possessed of such a sum? “Do you mean it” he gasped. ‘‘Has not monsieur the amount to prove that Ido?” ** True, stands?” ‘*'Yes, monsieur.” “Who are you!” ‘*Mezrak, the Abyssinian slave ef the Senor Merle Monte,” was the ealm response. “Ah! the young here of those pirate cap- tures?” *“*'The same, monsieur.” **T remember it was said that he was enor- mously rich,” ‘* He is, mensieur.” ** Werth several millions I have heard.” “‘Many, very many milliens, monsieur.” ‘* And he sent you to buy my place?” “He ordered me to purchase for him a suit- able house, and your mansion is wy cheice, monsieur.” ‘* But will he permit you to spend a sum so vast?” ‘“He gave me no limit, as my possessing that sum of money proves, monsieur. ‘*In fact, | expected you to set a larger price upon your beautiful house than you have, mon- sieur. ** And had I done so?” ‘**T should have purchased it, monsieur.” “Then, I wish I had done so; but the place is yours for your young master, and 1 will at once send my carriage for my attorney and have the deeds drawn up.” And this costly purchase it was of Mezrak, for Merle Monte, that set the city agog again about the young hero, for Monsieur Luzette moved out bag and baggage, and Merle moved in, while bis yacht, the one time Gold Schooner but renamed the Dragon, ran up and anchored off the shore, in front of Monte Manor, as the elegant house had been re-cbristened. If Monsieur Luzette had had to cat down his expenses to live in his house after it was built, Merle at once showed that his purse was a deeper one than the builder's, for Mezrak pur- chased for him a large number of slaves, w he attired in costly velvet liveries, and gold was most lavishly spent upon every | that rsap add to the palatial home of the favored youth, © me pn a mee re ee ee + ee And you wish to buy the place as it CHAPTER VIII. THE MONEY LENDER. ’ A¥rrTeR the retarn of Brasil Banch and his family they went to a hotel in the city, and, as soon as be was sufficiently recovered from his wound to go out Mr. Branch hastened to his agents regarding his estate. : e knew that the merteree had been due for some little time, on the plantation known as The Retreat, and he feared that he might lose it. To pay this mortgage, and save his wife and daughter from beggary, had the really a motive which prompted the planter te throw his last card, which was to turn to piracy. When he had left Brandt the Buccaneer, at the time that his daughter and himself had been 1 Pa upen the coaster, Basil Branch had re- ceived from the chief a few precious stones of value, which, when sold, would bring sufficient gold to liquid ate a few of bie preaetnie Gow and gain time on the others, which he w to do. These gems he still had, and from his hotel, before going to his sere he hastened with them to a Jew money- lender. ‘Is Mr, Isaac Jacobs in?’ he asked the youth in charge of the shop, ‘‘ He ish,” was the reply of the yeuth, and he at once summoned the one who answered to the name printed in gilt letters over the door. ‘*‘Ah! it ish mine frint, Mishter B’anch, I ish so glad!” said Isaac Jacobs, smiling a wel- come, ‘** Doubtless you are, Jacobs, as I never come but that you make a few hundred Vind cent. on all our business transactions,” was blunt re- sponse. ¢ “Ah! no, mine fri’nt, I makes but a leetle in- ** But I vash hear dot Brandt, t’e Puccaneer”’ **- Yes: he seized the brig upon which T took passage to Galveston; but I am back aguin safe, and I want some money.” ‘-Yesh, you ish always wants money, Mishter Branch. But wha‘ has you for de security dish time?” ‘Here are several precious stones of value and I want on them every dollar you can let me have.” you ish pe a priz’ner to ~ (e(o) IOOKS mite Got