Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 526 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

~~" ks * *4 ‘ €:4' 30) wv 4 » os) oa - ‘ae oe ite * S the ' . , . | tg Oe et et ae . 10 **T don’t.” ‘* But Thomas has gone somewhere.” ‘* 'Thart is a safe asseveration,” Nat agreed. At this point Beckwith turned his head to- ward the negro, ** Franklin!” ‘Yes, sah!” “‘T think the cap of the key-hole is mis- placed.” ** The which, sah?” ‘“*] feel a very perceptible draught—the wind strikes upon my shoulder harshly—and I think it must-blow through the key-hole of the door, Probably you will find that the cap has failed to fall into place. See to it at once!” Nat winked solemnly at B, Franklin Betts, and that colored gentleman, who lacked Nat’s powers of self-control, was obliged to hug his mouth with both hands to keep from laugh- ing aloud. He found the cap in place, but to humor his master, reported that it had been to one side, ‘“*I thought so,” Beckwith answered. ‘“‘It is much more comfortable now, but I fear I have already taken cold.” | “Why,” exclaimed Nat, ‘‘ the mercury stan’s at eighty above zero, out o’ doors!” ‘* No doubt, but Iam very susceptible to any draught,” ‘Tell ye what’d do ye good, mister,” Nat abruptly said. és \ That?” , ‘Go over ter the Polo Grounds arnd play nine innings 0’ base-ball, You could hold down third base, whar you'd git some daisies, singin’ right from the bat, or ef the pitcher was a fair speci- men o’a human cannon, you’d enjoy life ez a ketcher; while ez fur runnin’ the bases, I’d ad- vise yo ter make a home-run lick ev’ry time ye was ‘up,’ arnd then canter the circuit o’ the diamond like a two-year-old colt. Ef you could rap the sphere over center-field fence, the grard- stand arnd free-seats would jest split their throats in yer honor.” Nat gave this information with a sort of sol- emn enthusiasm, but Beckwith looked at him in horror. ‘* Boy!” he exclaimed. “ec Yes?” ‘Do you know I am a hopeless invalid?” ‘* [s the Injun doctor’s yarbs workin’ on ye so bad as that, mister?” ** They are all that keep me alive.” ‘**Mebbe; but ef I’s goin’ ter swaller the stuff, I'd want my life insured in advance, by ginger!” ‘You, too, are prejudiced; but let it pass. did not engage you to give me advice,” ‘“The best doctor-stuff I know on is pure air, arnd thart is what you should take, The art- mosphere o’ this room would give a statoo the wu’st kind o’ a maludy. As long as you breathe p’ison at this rate you'll be a subjict fur a doc- tor, arnd quacks like Chippy will reap a harvest outer ye. Assooredly!” Beckwith’s face had flushed. For years his most powerful emotion had been melancholy vexation, but he was genuinely angry at last. On the table beside him lay a book called, ‘* The Diagnosis and Cure of all Diseases,” which he had read with interest because he thought he found proof therein that he was afflicted with each and every one of the complaints it men- tioned He now seized this book, and flung it at Nat’s head with such good aim, that the boy only escaped by ducking his head quickly, ‘* Franklin!” cried the hypochondriac, ‘¢VYes, sah.” ‘ ** Open that door!” *¢ Ves, sah.” ** Quick, you snail!” “Ves, sa ” But Mr. Betts, accustomed to moving like a dignified cat in his master’s room, was not quick enough to please the angry invalid. The latter J up himself, strode to the door and ned it. “Go!” he said, addressing Nat, and pointing to the hall. ‘* Go, and never dare set foot in my house again. You are discharged, andI will never receive any communication from you again. I give you ten minutes to leave the house.” ** Assooredly,” replied Nat, as coolly as though nothing unusual was occurring. ‘‘ Remember me ter Foretop Tom when he comes back, arnd say ter him thatI think 1lcan tell who stole him, EfIsee him afore you do, never mind the message. Good-day!” | And then Nat walked out of the room with all the composure in the world. CHAPTER XI. IN WHICH MISFORTUNES MULTIPLY. ; _ Mr, BECKWITH banged the door to, and then » he . a € ia . — ~_ “ ~? “a é : - iy hes ne he | a o ‘ ‘ie —- ; > % ‘ North River Nat. returned tohis chair. B. Franklin Betts was watching him with his eyes and mouth open to their full extent. Never before had he seen his master so angry; never before had he seen him move so agilely; and never before had he seen him so reckless of exposure to fresh air. ‘* Franklin!” exclaimed the invalid. ‘* Yes, sah.” ‘Give mea dose of the medicine in the blue bottle.” ‘* But, sah, it ain’t time fur it fur half an hour—” ‘* Bring me the medicine!” empatically order- ed Mr. Beckwith. ‘‘Ilam master here, and I will show all the croakers that it is not injurious. I will take it when I see fit. Do you hear?” "x eS, sah,” Mr, Betts passed it over in fear and trembling, for he was utterly upset by the new order of things. What would occur next he did not know—perhaps it would be an earthquake which would shake the house down upon his head, ‘‘ Have I sunk so low,” demanded Beckwith, when he had swallowed the alleged medicine, “thata boy talks like that to me in my own house? Have I, in my illness, lost all hold on my own affairs? If he dared be so impudent, what do the rest say of me? What do the ser- vants say? What does Eudora say? ‘Tell mo that, Franklin!” “Really, sa-sa-sah, I don’t kn-kn-know what—” ‘Silence! Your stammering tongue betrays you. Don’t lie to me, you scoundrel!” Beckwith, as poor Betts afterward expressed if, ‘‘ was on the war-path in dead earnest,” and his anger was all the more riotous because he had so long covered it over with the mantle of melancholy. The unjust suspicion nad suddenly occurred to him that Eudora was not the duti- ful daughter she had seemed, and the awful glare of his eyes made his servant's knees knock together. ne me!” thundered the self-styled in- valid. “ Wh-wh-what shall I say, sah?’ chattered Franklin, ‘Tell me what infamous thing Eudora has said against me. Your manner shows your guilty knowledge. What are you keeping back? eed oe wish me dead? Speak out, sir—speak out ‘* Indeed, sah, I’s never heerd her say a word disrogatory to yer character an’ a’flictions—” **Enough! You, too, are against me, All are against me—servants, friends, daughter! All want me dead; I can rely on noone, My last friend went when Foretop Tom was taken from me. Poor brother! where is he now? Kid- napped—perhaps murdered. And he may never be avenged.” Tears actually appeared in the speaker's eyes. He had loved Foretop Tom second only to Eudora, and now that his sudden suspicion pointed to the latter as a traitress, he turned to the memory of lost Tom as the only thing dear to him, Then he thought of North River Nat. He had relied on the boy to help identify the mur- derers, or kidnappers, as the case might be. If Nat went, would. not his only witness be lost? Would not all hope vanish of avenging Tom? The thought sobered and quieted him, and he scarcely stirred for thirty seconds, Then he formed a resolution, Nat had spoken severely to him, but was that any reason why he should put away the last hope of avenging bis brother? He turned abruptly to B. Franklin Betts, ** Franklin !” ‘* ‘Yes, sah,” ‘“Go down and tell that boy that I retract what Isaid. Tell him toremain in this house, as before.” , ** Yes, sah.” Betts disappeared from the room willingly: he only wished that he had been ordered to stay away, His peaceful occupation of standing be- hind his master’s chair bad been rudely broken in upon, and he had a vague fear that that yen- tleman was about to become violently insane. ‘*T see how it is!” muttered Beckwith, when he was Once more alone, ‘My eyes are at last opened. Like all old and feeble persons I have become an incumbrance, Those whom I have loved wish me out of the way—even Eudora is against me. Franklin’s stammering tongue re- vealed the truth!” | The speaker had devoted the last five years of his life to hugging hobbies, and he seized upon the new oue with avidity, if not with pleasure. | | Ina few minutes Franklin returned, looking more frightened than ever. ** Well?” questioned Beckwith, sharply. ».' oP AP | : ‘ 7) 7 — . t - ‘* Sah, the b-b-boy says he won’t stay!” *'Won’t stay?” ‘No, sah; be says you ordered him out ob de house, an’ he am a-goin’, sah.” ** Did be say this after you told him I wished him to stay?” ‘* Ye—ye—yes, sah.” ** Why do you stammer ed Beckwith, fiercely. fore. You are ridiculing me, are well, I'll settle with you, later, boy doing?” ** Putting on his hat ter go, sah,” Mr. Beckwith sprung from his chair, his face flushed with anger, and, forgetting the cane without which he had not thought he could cross the room of late, tore the door open and strode out into the hall, ‘It’s come fo’ suah!” cried Betts, raising his hands in horror. ‘‘ He’s gone ravin’ crazy, an’ we'll all be murdered by his frenzy. Oh! golly, why didn’t dis niggah stay down in Car’liny!” Down the stairs went Mr, Beckwith with steps as firm and heavy as those of a trvoper, and he at once became the focus for three pairs of eyes. North River Nat, Eudora and Katie McKeevin were in the parlor hall, and the girls had evi- dently been trying to dissuade Nat from leaving. All, however, gazed in mute wonder as they saw the so-called feeble invalid transformed into an active man. Beckwith strode to the front door, locked it, and put the key in his pocket. Then he turned upon Nat. ‘So you’re going to leave the houss, are you?” he sternly demanded, ‘* Assooredly !” Nat coolly replied. “TI forbid it!” “When I am discharged, 1 usooally git out. Fax is fax, arnd they’re stubborn things,” ‘Did Franklin tell you I had changed my mind, and wished you to remain?” ‘* He did.” ; ** And you persisted in going?” ‘6 Jes’ so.” ““T forbid it. You are my servant, legally employed by me, and I forbid your departure. You must obey me; | am master here. You shall not go!” Nat bad rarely ever been placed in a situation as peculiar as this, and for a moment he did not know what todo. He did nct bear Beckwith a particle of ill-will, and his temper was wholly unruffled, He wished to do what was right, and was reluctant to abandon the Fcretop Tom case. But how was he to deal with Daniel Beckwith? At this crisis the boy’s quick wit stood him in good use. He comprehended that the old gentle- man’s sudden exhibition of strength and activity was wholly the result of his anger, and was of the opinion that if he was allowed to have his own way without anything to ruffle his spirits, he might relapse into his old state, The boy thrust bis thumbs Into the arm-holes of bis vest and faced Beckwith grimly. ‘“‘ Be you my guardeen?” ke asked. “Tam your master.” ‘*Hev you any legal right ter dispose o’ my rson? Kin you restrick my liberty, keep me in bondage, or Incarcerate me in any pestiferous prison-cell? Ain’t Ia free moral agent? Can’t I vote when Im twenty-one, ef anybody will pay me fur it? Ain’t I—” | “That will do. Enough of idle talk—you will remain here, as I said.” *¢ Ez a pris’ner, eh?” ‘Call it so, if you wish: you will remain!” ‘* Assooredly! "I ain’t the chap ter kick when I can’t help myself, arnd I'll stay, but cne thing I want ter hev onderstood: I submit under pro- test. B. Franklin Betts, bear witness that I submit under protest.” Nat waved his band solemnly teward the gen- tleman of color, who was peering over the top of the balusters on the floor above. Only half of his head had been visible, and that disappeared suddenly when Nat thus “gave away” his secret reconnoitering, ‘‘Boy,” added Beckwith, less severely, “I should think you would be Willing to do a8 much | as this for My poor, lost brother,” ‘1d forgot Foretop Tom, but sence you order me ter remain, I'll take hold o’ the case with vigor, arnd bring it toa successful climax, ‘T am sure. father, that Nat is to be trusted,” ou knave?” demand- ou never did so be- ou# Very Nhat's that 5 observed Eudora, gently. “Ob! you ares eh?” erimly retorted Beck- with. ‘‘ You are a pretty subject to offer con- solation, Girl, 1 know you at_last as you are: I know how you despise me; I know how you have often said that you wished me dead. Franklin Betts has told me all!” ere ‘Oh! oh!” cried a shrill voice from the floor = above, and Mr. Betts’s black face and white * si NSS eet AS | le = , 7 ; 3 fee ee ees == a ot Pa >» ~ 4 = % — a