Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 496 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

oe = " —_ —— — = — — ‘‘Indeed! Why, that is strange! What can have become of her?’ ‘* You can best answer that question, sir, and ou must answer it!” “1¢ Why, you talk foolish, sir. What do I know about the Donna? I’ve not been dogging her footsteps every minute to keep her in sight!” ‘That matters not a whit, sir. You know where she is, and have got to tell or suffer the consequences, You've caused all the mischief in my house you are likely to.” ‘* In what way, sir? Have [ not conducted my- self as a gentleman since I have been here?” ‘*No, sir, you have not. You, knowing that the Donna Nola was the affianced wife of Don Juan, have sought, by every power you possess, to fascinate and infatuate her. You have suc- ceeded in turning her foohsh young head, and she has broken off the match with Juan at the very bridal hour, and put disgrace upon tho never-before dishonored name of Mellique. Ay! even more—you have abducted the poor child, and I shall hold you responsible!” “’Tisfalse! I have not abducted your daugh- ter! If she has fled, she did so on her own ac- count, As you well know by our previous in- terview to-night, | have never put forth the slightest impediment to the marriage; indeed, in keeping silent concerning the inheritance, I have favored the match. You are both unman- ly and unjust in making this attack on me, and you know it well!” ‘Bah! you are a liar, and a double-faced scoundrel, and you shall answer for this night’s disgrace with your life, Up-stairs Juan is lock- ed In a room, raving like a madman, But for me, he would have killed you, ere this!” Dick smiled, provokingly; then he suddenly arose, his face stern, his eyes flashing danger- ously. “ Bok Pedro Mellique 1” he cried, ‘‘ I will listen to no more insults from you. I thought you a centleman, but, now, [ see that you are not one. Understand this: I fear neither you nor your nephew. Ishall leave your house, and take up my quarters at the Planter’s Hotel, until I as- sume control of ‘The Turrets.’ You need no longer seek to keep from Don Juan the fact that Zam owner of that property. So, if you want anything of me, you will find meat the Planter’s. Good-nicht!” and the young detective started out of the room, and lett the house. He went direct to the Planter’s Hotel, and registered, and there learned where he could find a minister. Then, to the minister’s he went, and obtained an interview. His object in this visit, was to find the name of the minister to whose house Nola had fled, and where his residence was located; for he had nevlected to make these inquiries of Nola. The minister gave him the desired informa- tion. and he took his departure. The impover- ‘ished clergyman’s name was Salem, and inside of an hour, Dick stood knocking at the door of Mr, Salem’s not very Palatial residence. The summons was answered by a meek-faced, neatly-clad middle-aged women, Is the Reverend Mr. Salem at home?” Dick asked, politely. ; ‘Yes, sir, Will you walk in?” Dick did walk in. to what proved tobe a large but humbly furnished kitchen, the most conspic- uous furniture of which were a number of clothes bars, loaded down with laundry work. There were three persons In the room, as Dick entered—the minister’s wife, tre minister him- self, a thin, consumptive-looking man, and— Nola, who, now arrayed in a calico dress, was actually assisting Mrs, Salem at ironing! She dropped her flat-iron plump on the floor, however, when she saw Dick, and with a glad cry rushed forward to meet him. “Oh! Dick, how glad Tam tosee you here,” she said, putting ber arms about his waist. “I was so afraid you wouldn’t come, very soon. See, I’ve been trying my hand at housework, so I would know how to dothings, when we are settled at The Turrets. But, come here: I ‘most forgot, I was so glad to see you. Mr, and Mrs. Salem. this is my friend, Mr. Bristol, whom I was telling you about!” Both the ‘minister and his wife shook hands | | He had plenty of wealth, and furnished the cas- “It was very good of you to take Nola in,” | with Dick, and bade him a cordial welcome, Dick said, ** and [ will pay you weil.” ‘Nay, speak not of pay, sir, for the good young lady has paid us @ long way ahead, | and put us in comfortable circumstances. Had | she come penniless, she should have had shelter She is a good girl, sir, and you may well be proud of her, if you are to be married. But, we hope you will not take her away from us, T# B 1? a = ————————EEEEEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeES0uo<__ yi! ° le ch Bef r " : La (pte 9” ie 4 a $4) ( ing * i wa,” - 7) ea] a oa ores wey =" Monte Cristo, Jr. so soon, for we love to have her here, She has been a good Samaritan to us, in days of ad- versity.” “ ] shall nottake her for a few days yet, until [ get matters well arranged for her comfort.” ‘** And so you are to be the new master of ‘ The Turrets,’ my friend?” ‘** Yes, sir; so it is willed.” ** Well, I wish you all the good luck in the | world, but I have grave misgivings you won’t like the place, grand in many respects though it is. If you live a year there, you'll do better than any one else has done since ve known it, and Pye lived here since [ was a child.” ‘*TIndeed? Nola was telling me something about the place having a history, And, now, dear, let’s have the story.” ‘‘“Mr. Salem can tell it better than I, so let him, But first, tell me what happened when you went back.” ‘“Oh! the Don and I had a little growl, and I changed boarding-places, that’s all, Now, Mr. Salem, let’s hear about ‘ The Turrets,’ and after you are through,if Nola isn’t too proud to be married in calico, we'll have a quiet little wed- ding. iB t, I am too proud,” laughed Nola, ‘‘ and as | know the story, while Mr. Salem is tellin it to you, I will change this dress for the one was to have married the Don in!” And she and Mrs, Salem sought an adjoining room. CHAPTER VI. THE TALE OF THE TURRETS. “WELL, sir,” said Mr. Salem moving closer to the fire-place, for the evening was a trifle chill, even for that warm climate—well, sir, it ain’t often l’m called upon to speak of ‘The Turrets’ history, but since it’s you, and you're to be its owner, I'll tell you the story as it goes, not vouching for its truth, you know. ‘* Well, years upon years ago, no one knows how many, ‘ The Turrets’ was built, Itis a large stone struc- ture, in the heart of the mountains, half a day’s ride northeast of here. Some believe it was built by a wealthy Spanish robber, not many decades after New Mexico was first colonized by Spaniards in 1582, Others think it of the trou- blous times of the last century when Indian up- risings were frequent. ‘** However that may be,it stands there now,as it has stood certainly for over a century, a grim irregular mass of ponderous block stone, situa- | ted among the beetling crags, and surrounded by precipices, on three sides, the fourth leading onto two thousand acres of the grandest farming land in the whole territory. ** Tt is a picturesque place, huge in size, with castellated turrets that remind one of pictures of some grand old European castle. And yet, while picturesque, there is something so un- canny and awe-inspiring about it as to repel the timid and fill the superstitious with dread.” ‘*By Jove! I believe I shall like it!” Dick de- detlared, enthusiastically. The parson shrugged his shoulders, “You must have a queer taste, to like the place because it is uncanny,” he answered. ‘‘ Maybe so, but I[ like solitude and that which is wild and odd. Have you ever explored the house?” ‘‘ No, indeed! and few ever have in this cen- tury. Those who have, or claim to have done so, tell wonderful stories of sights they have seen, and mysteries they bave encountered; tell of underground dungeons and dismal passages, from which emanate blood-curdling sounds; tel of hot and burning blasts that sweep through the mighty halls, and of various other startling things. “For the past forty years it is said to be haunted by a nondescript, half human and half beast, which the few who baveseen could accur- ately describe, asit appeared to them but for an instant, and frightened them so that they took to flight.” ‘‘ How did the property fall into Jose Mel- lique’s hands?” ‘* Well, through gambling. Fifty years azo, a Polish exile, named Petroziski, together with a son, took possession of the place with the avowed purpose of spending the remainder of his days. tle with lavish taste. HFlis son, a young man of twenty, and himself dwelt there in solitude, and few ever went near thet, ‘‘ Pimally, after a ten years’ residence. the son came here and reported that his father had mvsteriously disappeared, and that immediately afterward, a demonish thing, half-devil, half- man, had made its appearance, and continuous- ly haunted the halls and corridors, and so terri- ' want to fight, sir?” 9, | RO “— ! — — ~—_—— ‘eed ae ae ne ae ae 5 fied him, the son, that he had, been forced to leave. ‘*The story was generally discredited, and so a party of adventurers and curious ones accom- panied the son to The Turrets to investigate, and he satisfied them to their utter consternation that his report had not heen fictitious, and they fled from the-place in hot haste. Other visitors reported seeing the same hideous’ object, which gained the name of the Man-Dragon. ** Petroziski came back to this city and never went near The Turrets again. He however per- fected arrangements with the Government that made him sole owner of the property. After he did this, he frankly admitted that he believed a se- cret gold mine existed beneath the castle, and that the Man-Dragon was its guardian. Later,another Russian came here and offered Petroziski an enormous sum for the place, which was flatly re- fused. This fact, coupled with that of the would- be-purchaser being a Russian, set people to thinking, and the place has since been regarded as of priceless value. ‘‘ Well, Petro had loads of money and went to gambling, and gradually his fortune melted away until he got down to his last dollar, Five ears ago he played his last game with Don Jose fellique, who was one of the luckiest gamblers of the day. Petro had no money, but offered to play The Turrets against ten thousand dollars. he offer was accepted, the game played, and Don Jose won. Petro then assigned the proper- ty to Don Jose and shot himself dead. ‘* And now you have about all of the story of The Turrets that is known at the present day,” Mr, Salem said in conclusion, “And a strange one it is,” Dick declared ‘* Did Don Jose ever visit his purchase?” ** Frequently.” ‘‘TDid he ever see the Man-Dragon?” “@h, yes; but he claimed to have no fear of it.” “Do you know if any one has visited the place, recently?” ‘*T do not,” ‘‘ How about the furziture; I suppose that re- mains.” ‘What's left of it, I presume. But, after all these years, it can’t be worth much.” At this juncture, the ladies entered. Nola was arrayed in a bridal costume, and looked inexpressibly lovely, Soon afterward, she and Dick stood up, side by side, in the presence of the minister and his wife, and the divine, in solemn tones, read to them the good old Methodist marriage service, asked the all-important questions, and received each an affirmative, and then pronounced the benediction that made them man and wife. At the express wish of both Dick and Nola, Mr. Salem was to keep the marriage certi- ficate, until they called for it. It was also arranged that Nola was to remain with the Salems, until The Turrets wes ready for her. Soon after midnight Dick bade his bride and the Salems good-by, and took his departure, for the second time in his young life, a Benedict, and a happy one at that. CHAPTER VII. THE WRONG MAN. WHEN Deadwood Dick arrived at the hotel, the office was deserted, with the exeeption of the night clerk, and two well-dressed, respect- able looking young men, whom at a passing glance, he took fer yzuests of the house, and so paid no further attention to them, He went to the office. got his key, and was about to pass up-strirs when he felt a tap on the shoulder, and turning, found himself confronted by these two men. ‘“You will excuse me, sir,” one of them said, ‘*but your name is Richard Bristol, is ity not?’ ‘That's ahout the size of it,” Dick replied, suspecting what was coming. * Ah! yes, justso. You are acquainted with a gentleman named Don Juan Mellique, are you not? ““Yve met the character, on several occa- sions!” ‘Yes, Well, Mr. Bristol, I have an unpleas- ant duty to perform—something I have never done before, and anite distesteful to me. But you know these little difficulties—” ‘Rah! why dodge around the corner?” inter- runted Dick. ‘‘ You have a challenge for me, eh?” “Well, yes, Don Juan feels that you have grossly wronged him, and thinks the most gentle- manly way to gain satisfaction for his wounded feelings would be by meeting you in the duello!” “Well. I've no objections, When does ho 2 - v = r er -? Pd ’ * - . a =