Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 483 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

| | | i oe + ee side, and the mate came there to see who the intruuer wanted. He was an honest-faced sailor, and said, aN ‘Well, young man, what do you want on a ryacht where you were not invited?” ‘* Sit down, sir, and I will tell you; butdo not lose your temper, for 1 can convince you that I have a right here, and perhaps can save you trouble,” There was that about the boy that impressed the sailor, and he asked, politely: ‘* May I ask your name?” ‘*Tt matters not, sir, but I wish to ask you some questions, and here is my authority.” As Will spoke he showed his insignia of office. The mate gave a low whistle, and said: ‘* Anything wrong about the Von?” sé Yes.” ‘*T half suspected it.” ‘* How long have you known the Don?” *“T wo weeks,” ‘‘ Where did you first meet him?” ‘On board the vessel which | built as a toy, and losing money, 1 concluded to sell, so adyer- tised it, ‘The Don came in response, paid me my price, wanted a sailing-master and 1 volunteered. “Then he wanted a crew, a cook, a steward and a negro valet, and I got them for him. ‘‘That is all I know, unless it is that he says he is Don Sebastian Fonda, a Cuban planter.” ‘‘ He is a murderer, a thief, a forger, counter- feiter, burglar and all else that is bad. ‘‘ He is not a Cuban planter, but an impostor, and I am here to arrest him as such.” The sailing-master was astounded, but when Will, who had determined to act promptly, showed his proofs of what he said, the honest old sailor cried: ' ‘‘ By Neptune’s beard! but Dliattend the hang- ing of that man with real pleasure.” ‘* When do you expect him back?” ‘‘ He was not to board us here, young man, but 1 was to sail down to Sandy Hook for him, as he said he had to fighta duel there with a gen- tleman who insulted him, and if he killed him, be would have to sail at once to Cuba.” ‘*‘ And when were you to be there?” ‘* As soon as I can get there, and we have a good breeze.” ‘Then let me signal to yonder window, where I‘have half a dozen young men, and send a boat ashore for them, please, so that we can go with rou. : This was done and in half an hour the yacht was bowling along merrily down the harbor, and 2 eee ees | | | ‘The Ferrets Afloat. — ——— ————— + — CO and introduced him to one who was pledged to be Cr wife, ‘* He stole her from me on the eve of the day set for our marriage; the shock killed her old mother; her father died of a broken heart, and I followed the scoundrel to get revenge, and, in a duel he nearly killed me, leaving me for dead. ‘‘Now we meet again, and I intend to kill him, for I have sought him for years for that purpose. Only death can atone for his crimes and the suffering be has entailed.” The words of the stranger, Kent Lomax, cre- ated a sensation, and Elegant Kd, for the first time in his life, felt his wonderful nerve fail him, The seconds gave the order to fire, the wea- pons flashed together; one man fell, the other was unhurt. He who fell was Elegant Ed, and, as he did so, Wizard Will and his Boy Ferrets dashed up- on the scene, ‘Great God! am I too late? Is he dead?” cried Will. ‘Yes, I killed him in a duel fought face to face, man to man, though he deserved no mercy at my hands,” ‘That man deserved the gallows, sir, for he murdered my poor mother— Ha! you are Planter Lomax?’ and Will turned to the stran- rer, ‘‘- Yes, and you are the brave Boy Detective I met in Maryland, when you wero there to aid Mr. Rossmore in finding the body of his dead boy.” “Yes, sir, I am Will Raymond, the Boy De- tective, and I have dogged that man for a long time, that he might end upon the gallows, for, in addition to his other crimes, he took my mother’s life, and 1 vowed to be avenged upon him,” ‘‘ Boy, do you know who I am?” All started as the deep voice fell upon their ear's. It was Elegant Ed who spoke, and springing toward him Wizard Will cried: ‘tHe lives! he lives! Save his life, that he yet may hang—hang like a dog!” ‘“No, boy, | ain dying, and s0 let me tell you who I am. “That man knows me as Schuyler Cluett, who stole his lady-love; you know me as Ele- gant Ed, the Chief of the Land Sharks. ‘‘T am both: but the woman I married was Ruby Raymond. She took her maiden name, and, boy, you have been saved by Kent Lomax, from leading your own father to the gallows !” All started as these fearful words fell from the lips of the dying man, while Wizard Will her destination was an isolated spot on Sandy | cried: Hook. ' CHAPTER XXYV. BROUGHT TO DOOM, THe mate had told the truth, when he said that Don Sebastian Fonda was going to Sandy Hook to fight a duel. The fact is, he tad been gambling heavily at the club the night before, and with a stran- ger in the city, who had been introduced there y some friend. From some reason the pretended Don tried to foree trouble upon the stranger, and he met with such suceess that he got his face slapped for some insulting remark, Of course such an insult could be wiped out only by a duel, and the Don had challenged the stranger, who had promptly accepted. Seconds were selected and a meeting was ar- ranged to take place on Sandy Hook the fol- lowing afternoon before sunset. The duelists and their seconds were to take the Long Branch boat, which departed at one o'clock, and arriving at the Hook, they could hire a boat to take them to the scene. All met sedi upon the boat, and upon their reaching the bok: two boats were se- cured to take them to the appointed place of meeting, which one of the seconds knew well. ‘*Why, there 1s my yacht coming down the harbor,” said the supposed Don, as he saw the pretty craft coming along under full sail, her et pared evidently seeing the party in the boats, an B 1 heading toward them. ut a landing was s0én made, and the party stepped into a clump of cedars, the seconds measured off ten paces, loaded the pistols, and | all was in readiness for the meeting, ‘Pardon me, gentlemen,” suddenly said the stranger, before the pistols were placed in their hands; ‘* but I wish to let that man know that IT am aware of just who he is. ‘‘ He thinks that nearly eighteen years have so ehanged bim that I do not remember him; but I do, and [ will tell you that once I saved his life, ‘* No, no, my father is dead, long ago! You lie, even under the shadow of death!” .“*My son, is your mother Ruby Raymond?” asked Kent Lomax. ‘** Yes, sir, such was her name,” ‘**That man tells the truth; I see it now, for you are the image of your mother, and, thank God, { saved you from sending your own father, vile murderer that he is, to the gallows!” ‘Thank God that it is so,” cried Will fer- vently, and he gazed with a look of horror at bis father, as he told the story of his life, up to the death-blow be had given his wife. With the last words, unrepentant, sneering, he died, and thus had Elegant Ed cheated the gallows, though shadowed to his doom by one he had most bitterly wronged. CHAPTER XXVI. CONCLUSION. ELEGANT Ep was buried where he fell, and all present seemed most anxious to keep the se- cret on account of the part they had otaved in the tragic scene. All sailed back to the city in the chief’s yacht, which Wizard Will turned over to Captain Daly as a prize, while he told the story of the Land Shark’s death as it had occurred. Just as he had finished the strange story Foxey came into quarters, with half a dozen of the Land Sharksas prisoners, which he had cap- tured in Philadelphia, and it was hoped that the Book of Doom, which Wizard will had found in Elegant Ed’s room, would hang them, but the book with the life-histories of the Land Sharks had mysteriously disappeared from the cottage, and it was believed the chief had seen and taken it the night of his visit there, The Land Sharks, however, were put upon trial, and got ten years apiece in prison for their crimes. ) Foxey also made a most wonderful discovery while in Philadelphia, and this was that he not only found who Flora was, and discovered the A ee eee 15 eS SS eC ee ce mm executors of her father’s will, but he found that ho was her own true brother. In the pleasant home of Wizard Will, he told of his escaping massacre by the Indians, and being taken sty, done then how a gentleman adopted him and sent him to school. is bene- factor died, leaving nothing, and Foxey had drifted tosea. All the time he was trying to find his sister and his former home, : He told a straight story, the song his mother taught him, he and Flora alone could sing, and the resemblance between them was striking. So Foxey, or Foxwell Dale, as his real name was, and his lovely sister, went to their old home and came in possession of their vast in- heritance, As for Wizard Will, he, too, gave up the life of a detective, after that last awful experience. He and Pearl returned to pager Se with Kent Lomax, who adopted them as his children, and they were very happy in making the latter years of his life years of great peace, after all the sorrows he had known in the past through the Le rgeactetn ae of that Prince of Evil, Klegant THE END. Edward L. Wheeler's Deadwood Dick Novels Beadle’s Halfi-Dime Library. 1. Deadwood Dick; or, The Black Rider of the Black Hills. 20. The Double Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick’s Defiance. 28. Buffalo Ben; or. Deadwood Dick in Disguise, . BS. Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval; or, The Brotherhood of Death. 42. The Phantom Miner; or, Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza. 49, Omaha Oll: or, Deadwood Dick in Danger, 57. Deadwood Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar. 73. Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity Jane, the Heroine of Whoop-Up. 77. Corduroy Charlie; or, The Last Act of Dead. wood Dick. 100. Deadwood Dick in Leadville; or, A Strange Stroke for Liberty. Deadwood Dick’s Device; or, The Sign of the Double Cross. 109. Deadwood Dick as Detective, 121. Cinnamon Chip, the Girl Sport; or, The Golden Idol of Mount Rosa. . Deadwood Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s Gulch, Blonde Bill; or, Deadwood Dick’s Home Base 149, A Game of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike, Deadwood Dick of Deadwood; or, Picked Party. 195. Deadwood Dick’s Dream; or, The Rivals of the Road, 104, 138. 156. The 201. The Black Hills Jezebel; or, Deadwood Dick’s Ward, 205. Deadwood Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity Jane’s Last Adventure, - . Captain Crack-Shot, the Girl Brigand; or, Gypsy Jack from Jimtown, Sugar Coated Sam; or, The Black Gowns of Grim Gulch, . Gold-Dust Dick. 263, Deadwood Dick’s Divide; or, The Spirit of Swamp Lake. 268. Deadwood Dick’s Ocean to Ocean. 309. Deadwood Dick’s Brick of Oregon. 821. Deadwood Dick’s Dozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats. 347. Deadwood Dick’s Ducats; or, Rainy Days in the Diggings. The above are for sale by all newsdealers five cents a copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six ceats each. BEADLE AND ADAMS, PuBLisHERs, 98 William street, New York, 221. 989 Death Trail; or, From Big Deal; or, The Gold