Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 658 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

: . +be “ * Gel ~ - Ve ‘4 AD 4 o Bh ed a ‘ le ee ie ee 4 PY ee 4 yw 4 » 1 * His a . he Sea.” cate a bis,” Sky-Rocket Rob, the Life-Saver. 13 idea in mind—to get away before any such calamity could occur. Piling several blankets into Tony’s arms, he ave his own aid to Carona and hastened the re- reat. No one barred their way, and, in a very short time they were by their boat, It was not the easiest thing in the world to get it afloat on the open water, but, as no one ap- peared to oppose them, they were soon receding from shore, Rob saw that the wind was still north, which would be very much in their favor, and, as soon as possible, this wind was utilized, and they were gliding through the channel. There the water was rough, but the broken land was a shield ia a measure, It was a gal- lant and not unpleasant voyage while these con- ditions lasted, but all changed when they reached the open water. The ocean was rolling and foaming in an ugly way, and the night could not have been darker. Rain had almost ceased, but the blackest of clouds hung over them, Into this area of gloom and danger they must go, but Sky-Rocket Rob shut his teeth firmly and faced the danger, Tony was once more himself, and that meant that he was to be relied upon for good seaman- ship; Carona was comfortable as was possible, with the blankets around her; and the Life- Saver felt that he had rather face the perils of the ocean than the men who had made all this trouble. There was joy in Otis Bond’s house the next day. Just as the sun was rising Sky-Rocket Rob’s boat came gallantly toward the shore, and, after that, it was not a long task to return Carona to her old quarters. Roger Walden was not there to welcome her, He had returned from his trip too late to tuke part in direct pursuit of the abductors, not ar- riving until after dark; so he had taken a train for the North, hoping to head the enemy off in their flight, During the day everything was very quiet. Rob saw Wesley Carter at the hotel, in conver- sation with Mrs. Vincent-Brown, and fancied that the man gave him a most unfriendly glance, but no words passed between them, Rob was anxious to see Roger return, Plain- ly, Carona ought to be in a place safer than their town could ever be, The fact was settled that she had enemies, and it was not likely that their late defeat would end activity on their rt, The unfortunate girl ought to be removed eon their knowledge, and given a safe, pleasant home, where she could recuperate fully, The Life-Saver knew of no such place, but he thought that Roger would be able to man- e it, “"Detetrained not to lose sight of her until Wal- - den took charge, Rob remained at Bon1’s house, Tony Bristles went to rejoin Foretop Ben at the Giant’s Boot. Rob watched for Roger, and, as night drew near, felt that the young man must soon appear. Thus it was that the youth saw the first approach of a party which, though it did not contain Roger, was destined to act an important part in the near future. It was composed of three persons. The most noticeable was Mrs, Vincent-Brown; the second was the hotel-keeper; the third was a local justice, In this party Rob had but little interest, at first, and as he sat at the side window they assed out of his mind as soon as they did from his sight. He heard the door-bell ie but gave that fact only casual attention_until he heard footsteps in the hall and Mrs. Vincent-Brown’s voice sounded. Then, struck with sudden apprehension, he opened the door. The trio were inside the house, having been admitted by Mrs. Bond. The latter’s face bore a frightened look. ‘The young lady is in her room,” she was saying, “‘and I hate to disturb her,” ‘** When the law demands we have to do many unpleasant things,” the justice replied, ‘‘But, surely, Carona can have done no harm.” ‘‘Is it nothing to steal my property?” de- manded Mrs. Vincent-Brown, viciously, - Mrs, Bond turned pale, “Surely, she has not done that!” gasped the good woman. . ; “Be at ease,” interrupted the justice, kind- ly. ‘I, for one, make no charges while proof is lacking. Mrs. Vincent-Brown has lost money and jewels, and the fact that an envelope was found in her room, at the hotel, with Carona Dane’s name upon it, compelled me to investi- ° - Lert es i —_ 4 yy 7 - . ‘.” ~- dd Fy ate ) pt A.” ° ann ‘ j Sky-Rocket Rob pushed forward with eyes in- | dignantly sparkling. “It’s a vile plot!” he cried. ‘* Perhaps you know who did it!” retorted the lady from New York. ‘*T don’t believe you lost any money.” ‘** Is this the voice of an accomplice?’ demand- ed Mrs, Vincent-Brown, sourly. “Be calm!” interrupted the justice, again. **Our Rob is above suspicion.” ** Nobody is—” ‘You are right!” The last retort was from the Life-Saver, and it clearly expressed his opinion of the woman, but the justice, who was a fair man, again in- terfered and calmed the hostile elements. A robbery had been committed at the hotel, Mrs, Vincent-Brown had lost fifty dollars in cash, two bracelets, and a ring; none of the jewelry being extremely valuable, She had re- ported the loss to the landlord, and, by his ad- vice, the matter had been kept secret, and a quiet search made, but on this day au envelope bearing Carona Dane’s name and address had been found in the room from which the valua- bles were taken. Hence it was thought proper to search Carona’s possessions, and the justice had decided that this should be done, Rob did not waver in his opinion that all this was a plot, but he was of the opinion, further- more, that the justice would be convinced of Carona’s innocence most easily by allowing matters to take their course, Accordingly, all went up to her room, Carona had just risen, and she opened the door without delay. She looked in surprise at the large party, but the justice, confused and apenas made known their errand as quickly as ible, he girl’s face flushed. When aboard the Singing Sally she had been accused of theft, and it appeared that the game was not over. ‘* What new plot is this?” She asked the question in a manner so impres- sive that the justice felt more ashamed than ever, and he hastened to reply: ““ Believe ine, if the charge is not true, you shall not suffer from it, You deny the charge?” ‘**] do, emphatically.” ** And what she says you can depend upon,” declared Rob, stoutly. ‘*' Will some one remove that child?” deniand- ed Mrs. Vincent-Brown, irritably. ‘Rob has a perfect right here, and will re- main if he wishes,” the justice firmly asserted. **Miss Dane, excuse us, but we must make a search,” ‘*Certainly. Do your duty, sir.” The search began. Mrs. Bond put her arm around Carona to assure the girlof ber sympa- thy, while Rob’s defiant, hostile air indicated that he was still her champion, Mrs, Vincent- Brown looked on with a sneering smile. The two men did the searching. Carona’s property was so limited that it was soon looked over. Nothing was found. Rob’s face took on a triumphant look at what he regarded as a successful end of the matter, but the justice glanced at the carpet, and then began to search around its edges, He soon reached a point where there was a suspicious bulging of the fabric. He ran his hand under, fumbled for a mo- ment, and then brought out—a roll of bank- notes! Mrs, Vincent-Brown uttered a cry of triumph. ‘‘Tt is mine!” she exclaimed, ‘* Wait! lost?” ‘No: but there were five ten-dollar bills,” « That is just what we have here!” “Then I claim them.” ‘Be patient! Let me look further.” This he did. Next he brought out a card oer which, after a casual survey, he aid down, The next effort brought to light a ped of bracelets, with a ring tied to one of them, ‘* Mine!—mine!” almost screamed Mrs, Vin- cent-Brown, in great excitement. ‘““They certainly agree with the description you gave,” the justice reluctantly admitted. All eyes were turned upon Carona, Paler yet she had grown, but with ber startled eyes turned upon the jewelry, she was silent, Not so Rob Wiley. “* [t’s all a vile plot!” he reiterated, ‘‘and that woman and Wesley Carter are in it!’ He had not forgctten seeing Carter and Mrs, incent-Brown in conversation at the hotel, and now he had a presentiment that his accusation was true, But a cool, a “Who takes Have you the numbers of the bills voice sounded at the.door: name in vain?” \ ‘ ra) 4 * og \) am . es | 7 * iy 4 ST * : ee ~~ v P “3 a f, « . . eaolt g Idered * Ro stairs. ¥ a ee Ww . * ‘’ - t 5 \ 7 * yw, ™ _ -? . oN hae lt . aA a WY p! 4, It was Wesley Carter himself, who had sauntered in accompanied by Otis Bond, a cigar rakishly thrust into his mouth, : ‘* 7 take your name!” declared the Life-Saver, stoutly, ‘‘but not in vain, You have hatched this infamous conspiracy, as you hatched all the others!” CHAPTER XVII. THE PACE THAT KILLED, CARTER coolly flipped the ashes from his'} cigar. ‘I plead not guilty, though I don’t know what the charge is,” he answered, nonchalantly. ** Wait!” commanded the justice; ‘‘ J want to talk bere. Whose photograph is this?” ‘*T don’t claim it,” answered Mrs, Vincent- Brown, The previous speaker beld it toward Carona. ‘*Ts it yours, Miss Dane?” he asked, The light fell full upon the photograph and revealed the likeness of a fine-looking lady of about fifty years. Carona gazed at it, started, snatched the picture away, and then continued to look with a strange intentness. Large grew her eyes, her color came and went, and one band was raised and pressed to her forehead. Her expression was bewildered, but it suddenly cleared, and the light of a revelation was in her face and eyes. ‘‘ My mother!” she gasped; and then she reeled and dropped fainting into a chair. Utter silence prevailed for a time. broken by Wesley Carter’s voice, It was. ‘‘ A doctor seems to be needed here, and I'll go. for him,” he remarked. It was, in some ways, a careless observation, but Rob Wiley, glancing up quickly, caught an uneasy expression upon his face, Even then the shrewd youth suspected the cause. Carona had recognized her mother’s picture; might it not be that full recollection of her past life had re-- turned, and that Carter dreaded the result? The Life-Saver blocked his way. ‘You can’t leave until this is settled!” Rb declared, firmly. ‘*T can’t! By heavens! stand out of the way’ or I'l] twist your neck, you insolent cur! the way! i come and go when I please, and it: pleases me to go now.” ‘** But you can’t go!” It was a stern voice behind Rob that spoke the: words, and Roger Walden appeared with Hor- ace Addison, Foretop Ben and Tony Bristies close bebind him. Like Roger, Addison looked. severe and menacing. | ‘* Instead of going,” added Roger, ‘‘ you will yield yourself a prisoner, Carter!” ‘*A prisoner? Ridiculous! have you against me?” ‘‘Your ally, Benson, alias Call, has been ac-- cidentally chanced upon by us, and he has con- fessed that you have been systematically perse-. cuting Miss Dane. Her rea] name he could not tell, but you know it. He, badly wounded and alarmed for his life, has confessed that he came. here disguised as a deg that you stole cer-. tain articles from Mrs. Vincent-Brown, and hired him to hide them in this room, The arti- ee were fifty dollars in money, two brace- ets—’ ‘*It is an infamous falsehood!” cried Carter, hotly, though Mrs, Vincent-Brown looked be- wildered., ‘We have proof. Tony Bristles, here, discov- What charge. ered the bogus tramp at his work, and forced to. keep the fellow company at the revolver’s muz- zle, saw the articles hidden, Threats made at. the time so egy Tony that be dared say nothing, but he has at last spoken out.” _ ‘Yes: an’ I’m goin’ ter swear toit, on it, upon it, an’ at it!” declared Tony, proudly. Carter’s face was covered with perspiration which had started out rg He saw that he- was in a corner, but not being a man to yield tamely, he suddenly wheeled, ran to the open window and made a desperate leap for liberty. Misfortune attended the effort. His toe caught on the lower part of the window, a heavy fall followed, and when the others looked out, they saw him lying in a heap, koger, Rob and Tony hastened down the: i Horace Addison, kind and noble as ever, ad- vanced to aid Mrs. Bond in resuscitating Carona, but was stopped on the way by the picture, which the justice chanced to hft. . ** Bless me! what’s this?’ Addison cried, with. ° WA likeness found in Mies Dane ns ikeness found in Mi ane’s possession, “In her possession?” “Yes; though she denied that it was Still, she fainted as soon as she saw it,” by le Ul seas ile . . ( «Js tae f Mi ’ Ne . P ° ‘ o é » * 7 \ ' ote ' di od hah sake” t 2 Out of . * +4 aA,” . me r > , * hers... : ; . a - — , . 4 : ds! Wy Ses ee + z 4 / la 7 \ | a a ) ; aa / G { om . > * - VSP | fs wy N > @2s - G4 x at = ¢ Qe 3 ~~ yy ‘ re *F 4 u * Z .