Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 580 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

and Lone Star Luke confronted the two guards, his weapons covering their hearts. ‘* Pards, I chips in right here. ‘Ther cap’n kin do as he likes, but he’s got ter stand off right here. ‘“* But for that gent he’d ’a’ lost this craft, and our lives with it, fer I thought all we1e done fer when Pard Dick cut ther wrecker cap’n down and kilt ther big sailor man ahind him. ‘That settled it, and I says this young man hain’t gwine ter be put back in no irons, ‘¢-You was ter take him ter Vera Cruz, “ Well you kin cruise on thar yerselves; but ~ Dick Darlin’ and me bids you adoo at Galveston, and ef yer don’t like it, just come ashore and tackle us. ‘‘ Here, Pard Dick, take this weepin’ o’ mine, and ef these gents goes ter give yer any more trouble, my advice to yer, and it are solid, is ter just draw and shoot, and yer kin do it, fer I seen yer shoot when them pirits were on ther reef, and yer hit dead center. ‘¢ Pards, hain’t yer satisfied?” It was evident that the constables were not, for they turned to the captain and said: ‘** We appeal to you to help us.” ‘*Cap’n, don’t you be no fool, for I means business, every time.” But the captain felt that it was his duty to side with the officers of the law, and said: **T must aid the officers, Texas.” ‘* Waal, thet only makes three ag’in’ two, and I has faced bigger odds many a time,” said the Texan. ** You forget my crew.” ‘Waal, ’m a-thinking your crew hev got horse sense, and some of ’em has, I knows. ‘*Then thar’s ther wrecker, and he sides with us, so put it to yer sea pards, cap’n, and let us have the thing squar’d up,” ‘* Rather than cause bloodshed I will submit,” said Dick Darling, for a glance showed him that the crew were taking sides with each party, and that a desperate conflict must follow. ** No, you don’t, pard.” ‘Yes, I will not permit bloodshed on my ac- count, so yield. ** Officers, lam again your prisoner.” ‘* No, pard!” and Lone Star sprung forward, while the wrecker left the wheel and came to his side, the crew also dividing equally and coming aft. ** Hold! I will not have this. “‘T submit!” cried Dick Darling; and even Lone Star Luke stepped back at his command- ing tones, , ‘* Ef yer says so, pard, I give in; but I think yer is a durned softy ter do it, fer we kin run ther machine ag’in’ 'em,” ‘No, I will not be a bone of contention, so officers, I am again your prisoner,” He held out his hands for the irons, as one of the officers drew them from his pocket, and the captain said: ; ‘I ask you that he be confined in the cabin, not the hold,” , The officers demurred at this, but seeing that Lone Star meant to chip in again, they consent- ed, and ten minutes after Dick Darliug found himself confined in the cabin of the little schoon- er, againdn irons and chained to a ringbolt in the floor, while one of the two constables was to keep guard constantly over him. CHAPTER XI. THE TEXAN’S PLOT. THE little schoonér captured from the Sea Wolves, went swiftly on its way into the Gulf. er skipper was a good sailor, and it had not been through any act of his that his vessel had been wrecked. He congratulated himself that it was no more, and though two of the crew had been killed and several wounded, he yet had ample force to work his vessel, Then he had saved the most valuable part of his cargo and allof hisown and the private property of the passengers and crew. The captain’s sympathy was with the unfortu- nate prisoner. He had seen how bravely he acted in the the fights witb the wreckers, and it was through his suggestion that the plan was made, and suc- cessfully carried Out to seize the vessel of the pirates when they Would attack the wreck. But the skipper was a stickler for duty, and the Government officers in charge of the prisoner he felt that it was his duty to support. The handsome young prisoner he knew noth- ing about, and he certainly did not look like a guilty man, as he was charged to be. The Texan and the scout talked this matter over time and again, for Lone Star Luke was in the habit of “* standin’ picket duty” as he ex- EE sete The Outcast Cadet. a —_— —_-- ——_——_—_——_ —_—_ - pressed it every night with the skipper when he was at the wheel. The Texan liked the captain, but he wisely gave away none of his confidence, for he read tbe character of the sailor at a glance, and knew that his idea of duty would prevent his giving bim any aid in a little plan he had on and. And Lone Star did have a plan on band all his own, ‘“Thet young pilgrim won’t see Mexico this time, sart’in as shootin’,” be said to himself, As for the two constables the scout had uo use for them in the world. He did not like the way they acted, and came to the conclusion that toey were working for a reward offered for the prisoner rather tnan to see justice done for a murder. ‘Like as not ther’s gold offered on bis bead, ary that’s what they’s anxious to finger,” he said, he two officers also held aloof from him, In fact, they seemed really to fear him, They were uneasy when he entered the cabin, and, as though anxious to tease them, he was wont to go often to bave a talk with the pris- oner, ** Let him come on deck, fer he hain’t goin’ ter jump overboard,” he said, The officers hesitated, but the captain made the request also, and so Dick Darling was al- lowed to spend most of the time on deck, But then both of the officers would be with him, as though fearful he would escape them in some mysterious way, At last Key West was left astern, and the wind was fair for a rapid run across the Gulf, and in due time the schooner dropped anchor off Galveston. It was night, and the Texan at once went ashore, He said he wanted to get something to drink, and added: ‘ ** Pards, when I come back Ill treat you.” He kept his word, too, for by midnight he was back again, coming off in a shore-boat and every bors on the schooner was awakened for a drink. The prisoner refused to drink, in spite of all | urging; but the Texan’s heart was mellow with liquor, and he even got friendly with the two officers, both of whom were most willing to have a nip of the liquors. The captain had one fault, and that was to get on a spree at times, and, urged by the scout, he was unable to refuse, and so joined in the carousal, The Texan had also brought off with him a tempting lunch, and he was generous to all, for the crew shared alike with those in the cabin, At length the potations so numerous began to take effect, and the scout fell over drunk, lying on the floor, The captain went on deck, crawling up the companionWway on all fours, and then decided to rest, and lay his length ina state of utter un- consciousness, The guards fought manfully to bear up, but one at last went to his bunk, telling the other that be would relieve him in an hour or two, This the man left on duty did not even hear for he was snoring sweetly ere his comrade had departed. On deck all was quiet, and in his bunk lay the a his eyes wide open and a smile upon is face, At length the head of the scout was raised from the floor, his loud snoring ceased, and he glanced about him. ‘ His manner and look was certainly not that of a drunken man, Rising to his feet he went toward the com- panionway. ca Upon deck he found the captain lying there, fast asleep, and amidships were the men, every one of them asleep, No, not all of them, for one arose and came aft. ‘* Thes’re fixed, pard?’ asked the scout, ‘* All of them. sir.” ‘* Well, take ther lantern and turn it thrice around your head, facing seaward, “Do this until you gets a answerin’ signal, and then yer"ll see a boat a-comin’, so let her come alongside under ther starn, ‘¢7}1 go an’ unlock ther prisoner,” The scout returned to the cabin, bent over the sleeping officers, and took from his pocket the key of the irons that were locked upon the ankles and wrists of Dick Darling. A moment after the prisoner stepped out of his bunk, and slowly and noiselessly followed the scout from the cabin, Laine eet 7 Reaching the deck, they saw the wrecker standing there, and he whispered: ‘*' The boat’s alongside, sir.” ‘* All right, pard, we'll perceed ter occupy her.” Over the side the two weat, the wrecker fol- lowed and the boat pushed off, and, urged by two oarsmen, pulled for the shore. “They certainly drank deeply, to sleep so soundly,” said the prisoner, referring to the guards and others on the schooner. ‘*] went to a friend o’ mine as keeps a p’izen shop--” ‘* Poison!” exclaimed the prisoner, excitedly. ‘* Waal, a drug-shop; but 1 calls all medicines pizen, pard.” ‘‘He perscribed a sleepin’ portion fer me ter put in ther licker, not enough ter hurt, but jist a quantity ter make’em sleep like they hed no conscious’ but Um reckonin’ they'll hev heads on’em iu ther mornin’ ontil the’r bats won't fit.” ‘You took big chances to serve me, my friend, and when you motioned to me not to drink the liquor, | thought you had a motive for it,” | ‘‘ Life’s a big chance itself, pard.” ‘‘ How can I thank you, my triend?” ‘¢ We'll talk o’ that arter awhile; but now we must git out o’ town as quick as we kin, and our pard here kin go his way, though he'd bet- ter lay in hidin’ fer a day or two, or disguise pees by cropping off them long whiskers and a’r, ‘* Mebbe they’d not know yer then; but here are yer little gold-dust I promised yer, so as we is ashore nuw, I'll jest say, give up piratin’, and here’s my grip in gcod-by.” Tke scout grasped the wrecker’s hand as he spoke, and a moment after the boat touched the shore. The boatman seemed to be known to the scout for he led the way, the wrecker going in another direction after landing. CHAPTER XII. OSCAR LEIGHTON, ARTIST. LET us now return to Sleepy Hollow Manor again, where, it will be remembered the house was cast in deep mourning by the mysterious ending of the life of its young master, Richard Dabney. The Jetter of the young cadet found upon the grave of Rodney St. Orme, was proof to all of the suicide of the unfortunate young man. All were convinced that remorse for his kill- ing of St. Orme, for no one seemed to have a doubt that he had done so, had driven him to take his own life, The telegrams sent by Madam Vavasour had beea promptly answered by the coming of those telegraped for, and the next day found Lawyer Lennox, Oscar Leighton and Pearl Vavasour aft Sleepy Hollow. The letter left by Dick Dabney was read and reread, and it left no doubt in the minds of all that the youth had been driven to his desperate act. Madam Vavasour told how moody he had been of late, and that he had said his friends at the military school had completely outlawed him from their society, while the neighbors about Sleepy Hollow had not noticed him upon his return home, There was a general search made for the body, and a reward was offered for its recovery by Lawyer Lennox: but the days passed away and no trace of it was found. The terms of Judge Dabney’s will made Pearl Vavasour the heiress to the wealth which had been divided among the three cousins, for in case of the death of either the share of the de- ceased was to be divided among the two sur- vivors, This also gave to the beautiful young heiress the estate of Sleepy Hollow, and Madam Vavasour almost forgot her grief in the great good fortune that had befallen her daughter. ‘Poor Rodney was killed by Richard on account of his insane jealousy of him, for he feared St. Orme would marry Pear], with whom the boy was also in love. . ‘*T would not hint this to Pear], to make her unhappy, but it was best that poor Richard should die than live the life of remorse that would bave been his.” So Madam Vavasour had said to Lawyer Lennox, ‘Then you believe that your daughter swore as she did to save her cousin?” asked thelawyer. * “ Surely; though I think she believed bim in- nocent,” was the wily response of the fond mother, O = 1@ ————— ee f ees as : ye . ‘ip id ~ Rss : os