Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 483 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

, 6 —— ee ee What was the meaning of the strange pro- ceeding neither father or daughter could guess; but a week after the Norfolk packet hove to off the Castle Kenyon cove, and a boat put off for the shore. As it touched the beach a tall form sprung out, and a seaman followed with some baggage. Then the boat returned to the packet, and Jaspar, who had seen the landing approached the spot where the one who had been lett by the beat awaited him. “* Ho, Jaspar, I am glad to see you. ‘¢ Here, shoulder my traps if you wish to see the color of a gold piece. ‘* But how are all at the castle?” “Well, captain, all well, sah, and kinder ex- pecting you, Missy Kate war.” ‘‘ Ah! it will be no surprise, then, to come as I do,” and Carl Casandra walked toward the mansion, followed by Jaspar. At the door he was met by both the planter and his daughter, and a warm welcome was ex- tended to him. And then from hislips they heard how, taking advantage of the Vandal being laid up for re- pairs, some daring pirates had boarded and cap- tured the two prize vessels he had taken from the smugglers, with all their booty on board. ‘¢Tt is rather a hard blow at me just now, asI have met with some other losses of late; but let me give you your certificate of deposit, Mr. Kenyon, for the ten thousand—there!” He handed over a paper, and the planter glanced at it. ‘*' This is for eweney thousand dra, and it was ten t ou.” ‘“‘ Ah! Yes, I made a mistake in the certifi- cates, for that one is in my name, as you see, and here is yours,” and the right one was handed over by the cunning officer, who, as though without intention, had allowed Kate and her father to see that he had twenty thousand dol- lars to his credit. How he got that money the reader is aware, for he it was who successfully captured his two prizes when they were near port, and Marks had promptly carried out his contract with him, so that Carl Casandra was a free man, as far as his debts were concerned; but then he had laced a weight upon his conscience not easily hrown off, . ; Captain Casan- ousand dollars that I gave CHAPTER IX. DESPAIR, AFTER a visit of a couple of weeks, Carl Cas- andra left Castle Kenyon, with Kate his pro- mised bride. The eganaa had tried to banish his suspicions against the young officer, for Carl Casandra cer- tainly appeared to be all that a young girl could wish for, a devoted and honorable husband, and he had given his consent to their engagement, with the promise that Kate should become his wife within a few months. Back to the city went the gambler captain, assured of his-prize, and in his joy he determin- ed to forget his promises made of reform, and once more try his luck at cards. He entered the same gambling saloon, a few 50a after his return, and s at the gaming table until he saw his twenty thousand dollars depart from him, and only left when he had given his I. O. U. for thirty thousand more, Almost desperate, he went to Marks on the Ee ‘‘ Marks, you must help me out!” he said savagely. ‘*T cannot.” You yor ee May ae ‘Don’t get di eeable, Casandra, for [I tell you frankly I do not see how I can help you.” ‘* You must find some he 8 ‘“? donot know any, and I only made, after the charter of vessel and pay of crew were coun- ted, with loss on some goods damaged, about five thousand on that prize transaction.” “That was enough.” ** You got the lion’s share.” ‘* T deserved it, for I gave up my honor to do as I did.” ‘*- You sold your honor cheap, Captain Casan- dra; but that is not the case in point.” “T wish money, I tell you,” sullenly said Cas- andra. *¢ T can tell you how you can get it.” “ec How 9”? ‘¢ When will your schooner be ready for sea?” * To-morrow.” ‘* Well, go in her and capture a prize, and put a prize crew on board, which I will ship for ‘ou. 7 ++ Let them brin~ her into port to me.” “But the officers in charge?” + A Cabin Boy’s ““ Let them be put ashore at some point, and my man take charge.” - opal must not be harmed, Marks, for I did not like having to take life before.” ‘‘'They resisted you like fools,.so you could not helpit, but now go to bed as soon as you can.” ‘*T cannot, and owe this money.” ‘*¢ [ will pay that for you.” sé Ah 7) ‘** On conditions?” ** Well?” “That you give me your note, dated one month after you marry Miss Kenyon, for the amount.” °° Tl do it.” ‘‘ Then I'll write the note, and also a draft to your order, which you can indorse and I will send it to the gambling saloon for you.” ‘** T will take it.” ‘¢-You will not, for it is my money.” ‘¢ Well, give ms a thousand to try me luck to- morrow night, and I will not go beyond it if I lose.” ‘‘T}] do it,” and the papers were drawn up and duly signed. } he next night found Carl Casandra again in the gambling saloon, and he not only lost the thousand dollars, but far more, for the keeper had said to him: ‘‘ Your credit is gilt edge, captain, for all you need, for I received your draft this morning for the amount due.” ‘‘T sail to-morrow, Benedict, and if I loe more, you will have to await my return to ort.” “ All right, sir, draw for what you need,” was the answer, and, with the temptation Carl Casandra obeyed, and soon owed twenty thou- sand dollars. He was about to ask another loan, when a familiar voice said: ‘‘Come, Captain Casandra, come with me, for this will not do.” ‘‘ Planter Kenyon!” gasped Carl Casandra. ‘*'Yes; but you seem nervous, and half ill, so come with me away from here. ‘*T called at your rooms, and found you gone so at last traced you here, but am sorry did not arrive sooner. ‘‘ We came up to town on a shopping excur- sion and are at the Monument Tavern,” ‘‘ Miss Kenyonis with you?” gasped the sailor. *‘Oh, yes, so breakfast with us in the morning and meet her; but let me now say, Casandra, that I am surprised to find you such a reckless gambler. : “TI was wrong, sir, very wrong; but I was tempted to play, yielded, and have a severe les- son in my losses, ‘*T beg of you not to speak to Miss Kenyon of my wrong-doing, and [ promise you Ill not again rT’, The kind-hearted planter grasped the hand of ae pel ae officer and the two parted for the night. toing on board his vezsel Carl Casandra gave orders that he would not sail for a couple of days, and when the schooner did sail, beautiful in her new paint and rig, the planter and his daughter went as passengers down to their home on the Chesapeake. The schooner lay all night in the little harbor, and then sailed on her mission. It was two’ months before she returned, and then Carl Casandra was almost desperate. He went to his rooms and found there await- 39, him a number of letters. he first one bore an official stamp, and break- ing the seal his brow grew black as he saw that he was suspended from rank, service and pay for the term of one year, for conduct unbecom- ing an officer and a gentleman, in gambling away thousands of dollars with only the pay of a naval captain to live on, and a small sum he had gotten by prizes being taken, He was ordered to turn his vessel over to the officer next in rank, and not to report for duty until one year from date. _ Another letter was from planter Kenyon, and it broke off the engagement between Kate and himself, as it said: ‘My daughter shall never marry a gambler, such as you have proven yourself to be, and one whose temper has allowed him to take the life of his sea- men for slight offense.” Another letter was from Benedict the gambler, demanding an immediate settlement of his large claim, and the Jast was a missive addressed in the hand of Kate Kenyon. It admitted her love for him, forgave him his broken pledges, for much had come to her of his wrong-doings, and said that when he proved himself worthy of her, she could become his . wife, for her father sought her happiness morer than all else, and would forgive all when he knew that he was sincere. * “T love her more than I do her money, and she shall be mine; but bah! she will soon know of my disgrace in the navy, and then she will de- spise me. ‘‘T will go and see Marks, make him give me money, pay off my debts, go to Washington and show that I do not owe a dollar, and have been maligned, and then Kate shall be my wife, for the Government will pardon me, I know, and re- store me to my rank and duty. ‘‘ Now to see Marks, for all depends upon that rascal,” and leaving the room he walked rapidly toward the home of the strange individual whom’ he only knew as Marks. CHAPTER X. MARKS’S TERMS. A Knock at the door, and his name, brought: Marks down, lantern in hand, and Carl Casan- dra was soon seated in the same easy-chair: where he had sat on a former occasion, and roven himself the tool of a greater villain than “Well, captain, back again?” said Marks, who sat at his takle, as before, with gold and papers on it. ‘“* Yes,” was the sullen reply. ‘What luck?” ‘* None.” ° ‘“‘That is bad.” ‘* For me, yes.” “For both of’us.” ‘‘T know I am driven to.desperation.” ‘¢ Never despair, captain.” ‘‘ Read that document,” and he handed over the official communication regarding his punish- ment. ‘‘ This is bad.” ‘“‘T should think so; but this is worse.” He handed over the letter of Cyle Kenyon. ‘¢ Ah! this looks bad!” *¢ And here.” It was the letter from Benedict the gambler. ‘‘T did not know about this.” ‘““No, for I drew that and lost it before Lb sailed.’ ‘‘ After your promise to play only the thou- sand?” ‘* Curse you and your promises! ‘‘T promised Kate Kenyon to reform, and I have not done so, only have gone worse.” ‘+ Well?” ‘‘T have a letter from her; but you shall not palate it with your villainous eyes, Marks, for ] ove her with all my soul, and she will marry me if all goes well” ‘What do you call going well?” “Tf I reform.” ‘“ Why do you not do so?” ‘*T intend to.” ** When?” ‘6 As soon as I have paid my debts.” ‘‘ Your reform is doubtless a long way off, for as I understood you, you had not captured #& cee],” ‘“Notone.” | ‘¢'Then how will you pay?” ‘“T cannot.” ‘“ Then you cannot marry.” ‘You must pay all for me.” ‘You have no claim upon me, Captain Cas~ andra.” ‘‘T know you to be the receiver of smuggled! | and piratical goods.” «Ah! that is excellent; for you turned pi- rate, and now accuse me of buying the goods: ou captured. ‘Well, this is good.” ‘*’'You are a villain, Marks.” “Calling me names, my dear Casandra, does not anger me in the least. ‘“ But turn your eyes upon yourself, and let us see what you can do.” ‘*T can do nothing.” oO you give up?” ‘No, I depend upon you.” ‘‘ Well, I have a little plan.” **'What is it?” ‘You cannot get your commission back so that must go.” “Why?” ‘“You can do nothing with Government, that: is certain, so sit down and send in your resigna- tion, at the same time protesting your Inno- cence, and asking that an examination might be made into your affairs,” ‘+ And find out all?” sc ‘ n ”? ‘*Oh! I’m all ears,” ‘““This will give you the sympathy of the * eS ae et, - | '