Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 580 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

~ _——-—- - |Z a a te a he : inte Min oaths peaenemnnad | es © OSs - sabe Se Ett ogee a ° — Ritmars.'¢ 4 erway oe Ce RATE rae A oon | ee. * 12 and when I saw he was in good luck, did not disturb him; but when he began to lose, I puat tapped bim on the shoulder and called him awa ly at me, yet did as I told him. ‘‘Then I told him whol was, and that I was on his track, ‘*T told him, just as we talked it over, that if he’d turn State’s evidence as it were, and make u Clean breast of it, we'd see that he got off free, and more, would promise him a snug sum out of the reward the Government of Mexico offer- ed for the return of the prisoner. ‘*Then I told him if he refused to tell the truth, ’'d take him to Cuba and give him up to tie Spaniards as a wrecker of the Babamas, and that meant the garrote for him. ‘Under these circumstances he wisely said he would come here with me, and you see him before you.” ‘*T do for a fact, Mate Brewer. ‘* But does he know anything?” ‘*T think he does, ‘‘Now, Mate Travis, just help yourself from that bottle, and then tell us what you know,” Tae wrecker sullenly obeyed, as far as help- ing himself to the liquor was. concerned, but then said: ‘* Do you want to know if I helped the prison- er to escape?” és Yes. yb) ‘**] did not,” ‘* Who did?” ‘‘The scout.” 4é How 3”? ‘* Well, he got you all drunk, and put some drug in the liquor to stupefy you.” dé Aha "79 “*Then he set the ,risoner free, called to me to come along, and we left in a shore-boat which he had already waiting off on the water, and signaled to come alongside.” ‘* And then?” ‘‘ We went ashore, and then he told me to go my way, and the prisoner walked off with him,’ ‘* They gave you no hint as to where they were going?” ** None,” ‘* It is strange,” ‘Why, for 1 was not their friend! “The scout told me he would set me free -~when we got to port and give me a little gold to start me in life, if | would pilot the craft out of the island reefs, **T did so, and he kept his word.” ‘** And that is all you know about them?” "10 1g” Tho two officers stepped ‘apart for a few mo- tents and conversed in whispers, Then they came back to the table and said: “Travis, do yon wish to make some money ?” ‘* That?s what I do.” ‘*Well, if you will serve us we will pay you well, so start out to morrow and see if you cannot find out from some of the scout’s triends where he is most likely to be,” “If Il do” ** We'll pay you well, and if we find him Pll double your pay.” ‘*T thought you wanted the prisoner?” ** We do; but where we find the scout we will de apt to find the prisoner,” ** Tf you don’t?” ‘**'Then the scout shall be forced to tell where hbeis. Will you help us?” ‘* Yes, for good.” ** You shall be well paid, as I said,” ‘** And if you do not act square we'll see that ou hang for a pirate,” added Barkis, “Til do the fair thing by you, for the prisoner is nothing to me,” was the reply of the wrecker, and then the three began to plot their manner of age puma upon the morrow, The next day they started forth upon their search for the friends of Loae Star Luke, and when they met at night Brewer had discovered that the scout had a ranch once on the Rio Grande and had doubtless gone there, . Then Brewer had discovered that the scout had a friend who was a young doctor, and that the latter had purchased three horses and a camp outfit on the day following the escape of the prisoner. Brewer had gone out to the cottage home of the young physician, and seeing the old negro man working in the garden had called to him aad asked him quite a number of questions. The result of it, mates, was that I found out that his master had had two visitors of late, one of them a scout and the other a bandsome young gentleman. / : af . f = - ‘ rs _ r P ‘ «* = e ee —— oe) < te did not know me, but looked suspicious- The Outcast Cadet. I SA EN A SE nn mgm ‘*Now they have gone away together, and left by night, aud their destination was doubt- less the ranch of Lone Star Luke. ‘* But will the prisoner go there with him?” asked Barkis,” ** Why not?” ‘*He might go to some other place on the coast or in the interior, and from thence make his way North again.” ‘*Perhaps; but that we can only find out by starting for the ranch of the scout.” ‘* It’s a long trip, and a dangerous one,” ‘Yes; but risk nothing, gain nothing.” ** You are right, and what we gain is worth the risk; but we will have to get an outfit, guide, and be ready to protect ourselves,” ‘* We can do that, for we'll take a coaster for Indianola, and from there go on horseback to San Antonio, for the ranch of the scout is be- tween the latter place and the Rio Grande somewhere,” ‘* Well, ’m ready, mate, whenever you say the word.” ‘‘ We'll go by the first coaster and we'll get our guide and outfit in Indianola.” This course having been decided upon, the three men left Galveston the next day in a coaster, bound for Indianola. CHAPTER XXII, THE HEIRESS AT HOME. Tue fair heiress to te Dabney fortune had fin- ished her school days and returned to her home, Sleepy Hollow, the grand old estate of the Dab- neys, was hers. through the death, by the hand of an assassio and by suivide, of Rodney St. Orme and Richard Dabney, ant with it sbe had a large fo: tune to support it, So matters stood when Pearl Vavasour returned to her home. She had graduate at the head of her class, but entering into none of the festivities cf the cecasion had accompanied her mother to Sleepy Hollow and settled down to a life of quiet, There were haunting memories about the old home, and havinz loved her two cousins dearly, she could not but mourn their untimely taking off. Her mother was cheerful, in fact seemed perfect- ly happy und-r the circumstances then existing: but the haunting p! antoms of Rodney St. Orme and Richard Dabney would rise before Pearl in the dead hours of the nighr. Some days after her return Lawyer Lennox came down on a business visit, and then Pearl found her- self in full possession, After his departure Madam Vavasour began to hint at a quiet tea, or dinner party; but Pearl had at ouce said that she would indulge in no gayety at Sleepy Hollow, that its doors should not be thrown open to guests, until a year had passed since the death of Richard Dabney. There was another phantom that came before the youns heiress, and that was her being bound to Oscar Leighton the artist. The more she thought of this the more she fret- tel under the chains that bound her to him. She was a wife in secret, and though she felt sure thot her mother would be glad to have her marry Oscar Leighton sbe yet felt that she did not love him, When she thought of the artist the remembrance of the soldier came before her. She had not forgotten the man who had saved her from the kidnappers. She had sent to him, to Glen Richmond, a sword as a fitting tribute for a soldier, and as a souvenir of her appreciation of his act. His handsome face came before her, and then be- tween the two arose like a phantom the form of Osear Leighton. ‘**] certainly have my cross to carry,and a crucl one it is,*”* murmured Pearl as she sat alone one af- ternoon, Then it came to her to have Lena Richmond eome to heron a visit, and she thought of writing her, when her mother joined her.., Pearl, I have decided to have my portrait and yours painted, and also several views made of pretty bits of scenery about Sleepy Hollow, * Yes, mother,” “ And 1 krow of no one who would do them better then Mr, Leighton.”’ ‘**I suppose thas he would, mother; but I dislike to have any business transactions with Mr. Leigh- ton.’ ‘*T will attend to that part of it my child. and will at once write to him to come here and do the work.” “Mother, if he comes he is to paint your por- trait, not mine, and what views you may wish; but he is to remain at the hotel in the village, not to be my guest,” The words were spoken firmly, and Madam Vava- sour was surprised. ener an heiress had certainly made her daughter firmer, and somewhat hard In expressing her opinion in contradiction to her own, Then Madam Vavasour said: ‘You are foolish, Pearl, and I will not yield to your ideas regarding Le’ghton. *-T will write him and have bim come here,”’ “Then, mother, I shall accept Lena Richmond’s invitation to visit her and remain during Mr. Leigh- tons visit here.” “‘ Why, Pearl, what is the matter with you?”’ ‘** Nothing, mother.” ‘* Do you not like Mr. Leighton?” ‘*Oh, yes, very much: but I do not wish to enter- tain him here at Sleepy Hollow.” “You are fovlish, child, and—”’ ‘Mother, I will go to Eimwood, as I said.” ‘ es _— I will write him to come and remain at the otel.’ * Do so, if you wish mother, and I will write to Lena to come and visit me, if she will be content with a house of mourning.”’ **Why do you wish her now?” ** Because I am lonely.”’ ** Leighton is Certainl delightful company.” ** True, mother, but fe is to paint your portrait and will be busy all the time, so I will have Lena come, andin a quiet way, we can enjoy ourselves.” Madam Vavasour was piqued. She saw that Pearl would be firm and carry out her threat to go to Elmwood ona visit. By the t.rms of the will she was her own mistress at eighteen, and her birthday had just passed, Madam Vavasour did not care to quarrel with her daughter, and so it was that she yielded. She wrote to Oscar Leighton to come and do some work for her, and Pearl’s letter went to Elmwood, asking Lena Richmond to visit her, Upon the same day the two arrived, and, much to bis chagrin, Ozcar Leighton went to the hotel in the village a mile away, instead of becoming, as he had hoped to be the guest at Sleepy Hollow. But he had an idea that Pearl had been the one who had wanted him to come to Sleepy Hollow, and his heart felt hopeful for the future, ‘‘ We will be glad to have you retvrn home with us Sundays, Mr. Leighton, when we attend church, and take dinner with us,’’ Pearl had said, and Madam Vavasour bit her lips, for she had intended to have the artist to dine and lunch every day. ‘What a charming spot, Pearl, and the idea that you could think I would not be happy here with you,”’ Lena Richmond had said, when she glanced about her from the broad piazza, ‘‘T hope you will be, Lena, for we can drive, ride, wall, go beating, and enjoy ourselves indoors, also; but we will have to depend upon ourselves wholly, as we will have no beaux, for Mr, Leighton will busy with his painting, you know.” And Oscar Leighton began to think, as he heard this, that after all Pearl had not been the one to send for him, under cover of her mother’s wish to have him paint the portruits and landscapes. CHAPTER XXII, BLACK JACK. To coaster, with the two Government officers and Travis, the wrecker, on board, reached Indian- olo in good time. The ri ag of the vessel had told the men where to go to find a guide, as they had said they wished to go into the interior toward San Antonio, and upon landing they sought an obscure tavern and looked about for their man. They found him in the person of one who answer- ed to the name of Black Jack, He called himself scout, guide, hunter, Indian- fighter and borderman in general, but was known to be one of the worst desperadoes in the community. As there was a scarcity just then of plainsmen in the town, the two officers were compelled to take the best that offered. and after consulting together about Rlack Jick, they decided that, aftcr all, he would be just the man. So he was told to visit them at their tavern, He came promptly, and was sober, He thought that he scented a good thing ahead, and so deprived himself of his usual allowance of rum for the occasion, ‘‘T’m on hand, Stranger Pards, like a thumb,” he said, with an attempt at wit, as be entered the room where Barkis and Brewer sat, for Travis was not admitted to the council, ‘We are glad to see you,” gaid Barkis, and he motioned to a chair and shoved a bottle and glass toward him, “T don’t drink much,” said Black Jack, with a virtuous look, and then gave the lie to his words by ouring out a glass nearly full of liquor and dashing it off as though it had been water. Black Jack was a dark-faced man, with long hair, and his look was that of a cut-throat. He had a finger gone on his left hand, one ear gashed, and his face was badly scarred, His form was muscular and his movements were quick and he bad the appearance of being always wa'ching for a foe, “ Your name is—” ‘* Black Jack.” ‘Well, sir, we want a guide out into Texas,” con- tinued Brewer, ‘*T are yer man.” ‘‘We wish to go out to the neighborhood of San Antonio, between there and the Rio Grande.” * All right, pard,”’ ’ ‘*“You know the country?” ‘‘T guess 1 does know it, forI has fit Injuns all ther way about thar.” 7 ant you know a man by the name of Lone Star uke} The name seemed to act as a red flag upon a bull, for Black Jack a to his feet and roared: ‘*Does I know him? ‘*T does, and no mistake, ‘‘T knows him for all he are worth, and some day thar’ll be a funeral 0’ my gettin’ up, and he'll be a& leadin’ ther prosesh in ther hearse. * You are not friends, then?”’ ‘* Friends? | | ‘Are a man friendly with one who has branded him fer life? A ita ee i DOOKS.COM —