Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 522 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

¥ « a | ; *?< — at Sie i A —_ > Pie * . = 4 ® fs Sit e: = "r mad a ‘7° to your brother!” * Deadwood Dick’s Three, —_—-——- - *“Oh! I can stand anything, if my dear hus- band is really alive!” Fanny declared, joyously. * But tell me, sir, if he is alive, why don’t he come tu me? I can’t understand that!” ‘*The principal reason for his not coming is because f counseled him not to do so. He isin disguise, and together we are working up evi- dence against your enemy that will eventually cast him into prison, where he belongs.” “My enemy? Pray, whom do you mean?” ** His name is Duncan McDonald,” * Ah! But how should he be my enemy? I never did him an injury.” “That matters not. McDonald is a diabolical villain. Two weeks before the fire, he induced our husband to make his will, and also get his life insured for ten thousand dollars. In doing this, it was a part of McDonald’s plan to get you into his power, and to get possession of the in- surance money. In order to carry out the latter scheme, he made the attempt to cremate your husband, after decoying you to this house!’ Fanny held up her hands in horror, ‘‘The monster!’ she gasped. ‘‘ Then to think he had the audacity to seek an interview with me, last night!” ‘*Oh! that’s only a part of his scheming. He will call this morning, and doubtless seek to induce you in one way or another to marry him. You must receive him, and refuse his pro- posals, ina hesitating way. But, as his argu- ment grows stronger, you must appear to de- fiberate, and, finally to yield to his persuasions, and set the date of the wedding for day-after- to-morrow-night,” ‘* What! I promise to marry that man, and my own dear husband living?’ cried Fanny, in- dignantly. ‘* Why, what do you mean, sir?” ick laughed. “I mean, ina’am, to have you aid us in coraling the scoundrel. Our plan is to weave the web of evidence so strong about him, that, just as he is about to marry you we can close in on him and make his defeat doubly sure.” **Ah, yes, f now understand. If I can aid you and Frank, of course I will willingly do as ou direct. But, I would dearly love to see my usband.” ‘* Have everything ready and be prepared to marry Duncan McDonald at eight o’clock, day- after-to-morrow-night, and you will be restored not only to your husband, but in all probability To my brother! _Why, how strangely you speak. I have no brother!” “No? Well, we shall see. I am pretty well satisfied that you have, and thatI can put my hands on the right person. Let me alk. what was your name before you were married, Mrs, Fairfax?’ ' ‘* frances Fulton, sir.” id ** Were the Fultons your own parents?” ‘** No, sir; 1 was their adopted daughter.” **Do you know who your own parents really were?” ** No, sir—that is, the Fultons would never tell me more than that my father’s name was Bates.” ‘Ah! then Iam on the right trail. You are the long-lost daughter of the late Butler Bates, of Boston, and of his discarded wife, now dead, who has been known, herein Bismarck, as Peggy Parkhurst. Consequently, you are part heiress to what money the recluse left behind her. “But, say nothing of this interview to Mc- Donald, when he comes, nor mention aught I have told you; and if the rascal tells you a sim- ilar story, feign ignorance of having heard it before.” “ Very well, sir’; I will do as you wish,” “ Now, as it is near time for McDonald to put in an appearance, and as I want to overhear what he has to say, in order to form counter-plans, is there anywhere I can secrete myself, near at hand?” ‘**T don’t know of any place, unless you get in under the bed!” Fanny laughed. “* Capital place!” Dick decided, ‘‘only I hope your coming suitor will not make a protracted ye hE e had only fairly got himself ensconced in his hiding-place when the ringiug of the door- bell announced the arrival «2 Duncan Mc- Donald. CHAPTER XIII. MCDONALD'S WOOING, A SERVANT soon brought McDonald’s card up, and directly afterward the arch-schemer appear- ed before Mrs. Fairfax. and became seated. He was elaborately dressed, and had the ap- oF ay: ae ce of a fashionable society OM bam Ny man of wealth Ah rages fant ctatio oa ; nbs > | SS Many a woman might have become enamored of him, but Fanny Fairfax had an intense dis- like for the man. ‘* Did you wish to see me, sir?” Fanny asked, coldly. ‘‘Ahem! Well, yes, Mrs. Fairfax,” the vis- itor replied, removing his gloves. ‘* l have some little pusiness to transact, and, in addition, I wished to tender my sincerest sympathy for you in your bereavement. It must have been a sad blow to you, to lose your good husband, in so shocking a manner.” ‘* Yes,” Fanny by aes reservedly. ‘‘ Whatis the nature of your business with me, sir?” ‘* Well, it’s really somewhat of a complicated matter, you know, but for your sake I am sa ful I shall be able to straighten things out. You see, it’s this way: For some time past I have been cognizant of your husband’s failing health, and saw that at the furthest, he was not long for this world. I knew that you were both poor, and that should he die, vou would be left at the merev of an unpitying world. ‘* Owing to the tender feelings I have enter- tained for you since the time we were better known to each other than of late, my feelings have revolted at the thought you should be left penniless, and the matter preyed so on my mind that meeting your husband, a few days before the fire, I had a talk with him, and induced him to have his life insured. After due consider- ation, he consented, and we went together and had the matter fixed up. His life was insured for ten thousand dollars. He then made his will, and made me executor of it. It was drawn in such a way that, in event of his death, the in- surance money should be paid direct to me, and I should hold it in trust for you, until you were comfortably married again, when [ should make it over to you.” ‘Indeed! A very strange will, I should say.” ‘Yes, rather. But that ain’t the worst of it. The money is here in Bismarck, and so is one of the directors of the insurance company, who is inclined to dispute the validity of the contract and to refuse to pay over the money, until I pro- cure ten reputable citizens’ vouchers, to bond me as custodian of the money. ‘* Of course this is not one of the easiest things to do, but I think, for your sake, I can arrange matters. But, right here arises the question: Whom are you going to marry? Have you any one in view?” ‘Certainly not.” **T presumed not. Butin order to get the in- surance money, you will have to select and marry some one within a day or two, or the director will return East, and take the money with him. ‘*Then there is another matter, Mrs, Fairfax, I wish to call your attention to, which is con- cerning the will of your mother, Peggy Park- hurst, whose intimate friend and adviser I have been for ree Tha will gives to you and your brother, Burton Bates, each the sum of one hun- dred thousand dollars, with the following pro- visions: In case Frances Bates is dead, the money all goes to Burton to do with as he elects. If Burton is dead, the fortune goes to Frances, in case she first weds the man of her mother’s selection—that is, half goes to Frances and half to her husband. Im case Frances refuses to marry the man of ber mother’s selection, the entire fortune goes toward establishing a college in Bismarck. And it so happens that I have also been appointed by the dead woman _ to take sole charge of the disposal of this for- tune. Really, now, am I not placed In a p cu- liar position?” And the arch-schemer laughed, with apparent heartiness, It was a laugh, though, Fanny did not a It was the laugh of ill-concealed tri- umph. ‘Yes, I should say you were placed in a strange position, but not so much so as myself,” Manny replied; ‘nay, not half so much so as myself. hy, it seems as if I am to be re- married, whether I will or not. But they'll get disappointed, for now that my husband is dead, I wouldn’t marry the best man in the world!” ‘In that case, Mrs. Fairfax, you will be the loser of a nice sum, for I may as well tell you that your brother died in St. Paul, while in search of you, some six months ago. It really seems too bad to see you literally throw away a fortune, when it would give you comfort for the remainder of your life.” ‘No doubt you are right; but the fact is. that, marrying a man [ could not respect, much loss love, would be a misery no amount of money could atone for.” ‘* Well, of course you are the best judge of your own feelings,” McDonald said, with a parent carelessness. ‘*‘ But I think I co suggest a way which would not be objection- able. ‘* How do you mean?” ** Well, you know, Mrs. Fairfax, that I have: loved you dearly, and even though you rejected me when I asked you to be mine, it did not. deaden my affection for you, but made it burn all the fiercer. However, like a man of honor, I have never since ventured to approach you on the subject of love until now, when I find my- self situated where our interests are mutual, Marry me, and not only will I make you a lov- ing and devoted husband, but I will secure for you all that belongs to you.” ** How can you do this? Where do you get so much power?’ ‘** Well, by marrying me, you get the insur- ance, for, once you are my wife, I can have the- money turned over to you without the necessity of getting bondsmen. By marrying me, you will also become eligible to one-h of the Pegg Parkhurst fortune.” ** How so?” ‘*From the fact that I am the party your mother selected for you to marry!” ** Indeed?” ‘‘ Just so. You seem surprised; but when you come to consider that I was always a faith- ful friend to your mother, you can scarcely wonder at her choice.” ‘‘Supposing I refuse to marry you?” Fanny asked, thoughtfully. ‘* Well, in that case, there is but one line of duty for me to pursue. I shall of course not. feel like going to the expense and trouble of se- curing bondsmen, and the insurance director will refuse to give up the money. As regards: the other case, I shall feel in duty bound to. carry out the directions of the will to the let- ter, which will be to devote the entire estate to. the erection of a college. Soit seems to me, Mrs. Fairfax, it seems very strange to me, that you will allow the fortune to slip away from you just on account of prejudice!” cr have not said I was going to do so, yet!” Fanny replied, promptly. ‘** How long will you give me to consider?’ ‘*f must have my answer before I leave here. to-night!” ‘* Supposing I do marry you, how am I to be. certain of receiving the money?” . ‘*My word is sufficient, The wills give the money to you, and I would have to deal fairly with you. And why should I not?” “Well, I—I—; when must this marriage take- place?” ‘** At once!” ‘* That will be impossible. I cannot possibly” be ready for the ceremony, before day after to- morrow night, at eight o’clock!” ‘* Well, that must do [ suppose. As soon as: the words are spoken, that make us man and wife, I will place half of your mothers’s for- tune in your hands. The insurance matter can be closed up, soon afterward. Have I your sromise that you will marry me, at the time you have named? ‘“Yes, I will then be ready for the cere- ei “Thank you! thank you! Your words have- brought to me the greatest happiness of my bitherto lonely life. Your good sense will also bring us the comfort resulting from wealth, as we go down through life together, * But, I will not tire you further, now, but leave you to yourself, until the eventful hour of our nuptials arrives, when I shall expect to find. you in readiness. In the mean time, with every breath I shall bless you for the happiness you. have given me!” He caught her hand in his, kissed it, and then in a very knightly way, bowed himself out o the room, Villain though he was, he showed some con- sideration in not wishing to kiss the lips of the. woman whom he flattered himself he had made his dupe. oh CHAPTER XIV. CAST INTO THE MISSOURI. As soon as Duncan McDonald had taken bis. Dick crawled from under — departure, Deadwood me bed, and straightened out his cramped are already twisted into as many sha camel’s. By the way, Mrs. Fairfax, a congratulate you, for you played my satisfaction, and at the same McDonald. tts, “It will be easy work now to nabhim, Soe all you will have to do is to continue to play ‘ he declared, with a grimace, “ for my lim ow me “A 12 Pane mbs, Sh “By Jinks! I’m glad that scoundrel’s gone!” _ ‘ as arte 4 our part to — ¢ * heal se a A | ; .