Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 658 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

- - — Vid Sky-Rocket Rob, the Life-Saver. 3 and pretty, and as her damp, unloosened | oun bair fall over his arm, it was like a great vail. Rob felt his own inability to deal with the ease properly, and as he glanced uround and saw that all the men were busy, he called to Mrs. Vincent-Brown. She came with steps noticeably slow for one ordinarily so head- strong. **Do you see this?” cried the boy. ‘“*T see,” answered Mrs. Vincent-Brown, coldly. ** She came from the wreck,” ts Yes,” ** What can we do for her?” “*Haven’t you done enough?” “Enough! I’ve only begun. her, somehow?” **Oh! she’ll come out of it!” retorted the wo- Can’t we revive man, indifferently. “ What are you here for,” cried Rob, ‘‘ if not to help the unfortunates?” **T choose those I work for.” whi Life-Saver regarded her in silent amaze- ment. “‘T have none too good an opinion of that woman,” added Mrs, Vincent-Brown, severely. ** What do you know about her?” **T have eyes!” was the wise reply. ‘‘ Others may be stupid, but I profess to be able to tell the character of another woman as soon as I see her. If she is unworthy, I havea subtle pre- sentiment of it, Call it instinct, if you will.” “‘T call it rank nonsense!” declared Rob, ; ** Noimpertinence, boy!” ~ “When my tongue gets as lawless as yours, Tl try to curb it.” The Life-Saver was filled with indignation, He was built upon a broader plan than the lady from New York, avd even if he had known that one of the sufferers of the wreck was a criminal of the worst type, he would have given hearty aid in that hour, believing that one of the fore- most duties of life is to help another in time of distress. However good Mrs, Vincent-Brown’s judg- ‘ment may have been, her eyes were as keen as those of all her sex usually are, and she suddenly moved :forward, reached toward the rescued girl’s neck, and lifted an ornament that en- circled it, .1t was a necklace of diamonds! The fifelight caught the jewels, and out flashed a hundred little gleams of light such as only the pure gems can give. The little gleams made Rob Wiley wink rapidly. He had not seen the necklace before. “A costly trinket for one to wear with such clothes!” proclaimed the austere discoverer. The Life-Saver was but a poor judge of fe- male apparel, but, in this case, he did see that the garments referred to were of the plainest material and simplest style. **Moreover,” added the critic, ‘‘ you will see that, instead of being worn in the usual way, the necklace is made longer by means of a cord, so that if was big enough to slip down out of sight on her neck, I should not have seen it had it not been disarranged. Why should she wear the:necklace like that?” ‘* Because she wanted to, I presume!” retorted Rob, feeling that his reply was justified by Mrs. Vincent-Brown’s own language, ‘¢ You are impudent!” ** Then don’t you be so unfeeling !” Further conversation was interrupted by the approach of the men. They had made one res- cue, and only. one; the man first seen had been dragged out of the boiling waves, He was not insensible, but he leaned heavily upon Roger Walden’s arm as he approached, Keep up your watch,” he was urging to oger. “Tbat shall certainly be done, though J doubt if more will be saved. Whoever else is in the water is making slow progress, and the longer the journey the more danger of death upon the rocks by the way.” ‘* There were a dozen on the vessel.” ** Heaven help them; we cannot.” The stranger looked at the scene before them. ‘* [t’s a bad place for a boat, I admit.” “The worst on the coast. I know every point, [ may almost say, from Cape May to Sandy Hook, and there isn’t a place where the ocean buffets more fiercely in a gale. Jagged rocks are all along, and it’s a very caldron of wrath at such atime. <A boat can’t live there.” Sky-Rocket Rob and his party had not yet been seen, The fire blazed between them and Walden, with black smoke rising freely from the nen pile of fuel. Now, however, Roger direc the rescued man to sit down while he went for a supply of whisky which old Ben had brought with excellent foresight and placed ina safe niche. , oo : ' . A -* - ° * ; : at at *»~ “A - > é | z ~ ; ps CA de Let if ; aS AS X bs d ; Cay af A 8 bs F } y > » . RL aay ° * 2 As he turned around tbe fire, the young man saw Rob and his companions and paused in sur- rise, ‘* What! another saved? he cried. ** Yes, yes!” Rob responded; ‘* but she’s insen- sible. What can we do? There is whisky by yonder rock—is it safe to give it to her?” For answer Roger hurried to the niche. His sympathies were aroused afresh, and in a stron- ger degree than before. He returned. with a well-filled bottle. = Did you save ber, Rob?” he asked. es **’You’ve done yourself proud.” **Tt’s a rare treasure, no doubt!” There was a sneer in Mrs, Vincent-Brown’s voice as she made this comment, and Walden paused and looked up at her gravely, ‘** Don’t you think so?” he inquired. ‘*T want it proved before I believe it.” ‘* At least, she is a woman,” ‘* Some persons are a disgrace to the name.” ‘*T’ve known such!” retorted Rob, pointedly. Roger did not make further comment, but roceeded to pour some of the liquor between he rescued girl's teeth. He showed a care and sympathy in doing so that brought a sneer to Mrs. Vincent-Brown’s face, That woman was not by any means all evil, but she was selfish and uncharitable, especially in dealing with her own Sex. It was very evident that what the unknown woman needed was the care of another woman, and when Roger had given her the whisky, he, with doubt and anger in his mind, was about to address certain emphatic words to ber when the man who had been snatched from the ocean made his appearance on the lower side of the e. The sound of voices had brought him, and he may have had some important thing to say, but it fled from his mind at sight of the girl. He stopped short and looked at her in sur- ise, ‘**So she is saved!” he muttered. ‘Did you know her?’ Walden asked, eager- y- ** She was on our vessel,” ** W bo is she?” ‘* Her name is Carona Dane.” ** Had she friends there?” ‘* She was alone,” **' What do you know about her?” ** Nothing to ber credit!” The rescued man spoke harshly, and Mrs. Vincent-Brown’s face lighted up with triumph. “*T told you so!” she declared. ‘** What do you mean?” asked Walden, ignor- ing the last speaker, ‘But why dolask? This is no time for idle gossip. This gir] has claims upon us, as every woman would have, which we cannot be deaf to.” ** Bless me! I believe the man is smitten!” The new retort caused Walden to turn an angry glance upon Mrs, Vincent-Brown. She had come down from New York on her vacation, and had amused herself by seeking bis company much, and trying toget up a desperate flirta- tion. She had been wholly unsuccessful, but friends of his had been glad to receive her money for a few weeks, while she was their boarder; and he had never quarreled with her, though despising her severe remarks and selfish- ness, ‘“*The woman was practically a prisoner on the vessel,” added her late fellow-voyager, ‘‘ and would have been turned over to the authorities on arrival at New York.” ““ Why?’ asked Mrs, Vincent-Brown. “For theft!” Rob Wiley turned a wondering gaze upon the motionless face of the girl he had saved. **T don’t believe it!” he declared. It was the impulsive retort of an honest heart, but there seemed to bea good deal of foundation for the opinion, The face did not appear that of one given over to crime or mis- demeanors; it was innocent looking in all re- spects. Rob felt that he ought to be the cham- pion of her whom he had saved, and was re- solved to be so. --A frown was on Roger Walden’s face, but he did not waste any more words. He looked to where Foretop Ben and the other men were still watching todo good, ‘We must adjourn to the shanty,” he ob- served, ‘* Rob, will you give our intentions to our old friend, tell’ him to use his judgment ere, and join us when he thinks proper?” Tbe Life-Saver hastened away. ** Will you two go to old Ben’s shanty?” Roger added, ‘* Anywhere,” the rescued man returned, “ to be out of this fierce wind.” Bai | **And how about helping me carry this in- sensible girl?” ““Tli do it, surely. I want to keep watch of her, you see.” CHAPTER III, THE WAIF OF THE WRECK, THIS speech brought another unfriendly glance from Walden upon the speaker. There was something ominous and sinister about it, Roger thought, but it was no time to argue the. matter; If the girl was being slandered, she was uuconscious of the fact. The young fisherman turned to Mrs, Vincent- Brown slowly. ‘* Can you be persuaded to give your aid after we reach the shanty?” he asked. ‘‘The girl needs care.” ‘** Not being selfish, I am always ready to give my assistance,” the self-appointed model of propriety responded. ‘**‘ You can rely upon me, Sudden as was her change of expresssion, her voice was not such as toawaken doubts of her sincerity. Something else would have done so if Roger had been enough at leisure to watch her closely. Ever since the unknown’s assertion that Ca- rona Dane was a thief, Mrs. Vincent-Brown bad been looking curiously at the necklace, and then at the other survivor of the wreck, All things went toindicate an inquisitive turn of mind as deep as it was discreditable. Rob returned, and Carona was lifted and car- ried toward the shanty. On the way the stranger explained that his name was Wesley Carter; that the doomed ves- sel had been the Singing Sally, bound from Norfolk to New York. Ithough a medium of trade she had accommodations for half a dozen passengers, and he and Carona Dane had been among those who had started on what was un- doubtedly the schooner’s last voyage, Even then he displayed a willingness to say more about the girl, and in no complimentary vein, but Walden did not encourage him: and the wind not only made conversation difficult, but interfered with locomotion, In due time the shanty was reached. When Foretop Ben retired from active sea life, and ceased to be a sailor, be went over on the Giant’s Boot and built a bome such as his taste craved. His taste and the home were alike simple. Seen at this later time, the latter was a one- storied structure of extremely weather-beaten aspect. The boards which composed it had never been painted, smoothed, or laid in much order, and it would not have satisfied a finical person. Entering, it was seen that comfort was not lacking. There were two rooms, with a stovein each, and, meager as was the furnishing, the shanty was quaint, cheerful and inviting. Roger had been a frequent visitor at the place for years, and he did not hesitate to make him- self at home, Carona was carried to the inner room and placed upon the bed. The leader then fixed a steady gaze upon Mrs. Vincent-Brown. ‘*As I have before said,” he began, quietly, ‘our rescued friend needs a woman’s care. You will observe that she shows signs of returning consciousness, 80 I will leave it to you to say whether her wet apparel shall be removed before or after she comes to. In yonder corner you will find feminine garments. They were once the property of other wrecked women, but are now Ben’s by possession. They are at this girl’s Spee Are you disposed to take charge? t was not a very gracious question either as to words or manner of utterance, but Mrs, Vin- cent-Brown knew very well that ske could not trifle with Walden. While she remained on the coast his good will was valuable, and though she would rather have acted disdainfully, she was shrewd enough to be complacent, ; Besides, she was curious as to the waif of the wreck, and something might happen to her good if she was left alone with her. “Go along!” she retorted, airily. ‘* What does a man know about such matters? It is purely a woman’s affair, and [am able to man- age it, Get away, all of you, and I’ll let you know when you are wanted. **Omit no precaution in her behalf,” ‘* Bless me! what next? Be off!” — Mrs. Vincent-Brown had brains, if not con- science, and she could be ous when she tried. Knowing her as he did, and well aware that she was not capable of feeling deep sym- pathy for any one, ger was reass a Ss Wie ea) / - Te, i a ~ comic te Ee Sa rons, He v, 957.5 Sf Se eae ~ = - oa T b. &? . eed ‘ % : = S. | | rS 4 N OOKS.CO od — A ‘ Se y e 6 d a - 2