Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 658 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

wt iy 6 Sky-Rocket Rob, the Life-Saver. Such a man the wily lady could not afford to affront deliberately. She returned to the inner room, and succeeded in returning the necklace to Carona’s neck with- out awakening her, Roger had a vague theory as to the plan that was in the old gentleman’s mind, and respected him all the more. Foretop Ben and some of the other fishermen came in, reporting that no new discoveries had been made, and Roger announced that he would take a turn along the line of the breakers, Rob hastened to add that he would go, also, and they went forth together after Walden had privately cautioned Ben not to leave until his return. ** What do you think of it?” Rob asked, eager- ly, as they once more faced the wind. ‘Of what?” “The girl.” “There isa mystery to this diamond affair which I can’t understand. In fact, all that re- fers to her is mysterious,” **T don’t think ill of her, though.” Roger made the statement with emphasis, but it expressed only a part of what was in bis mind, Carona affected him peculiarly; he was strange- ly drawn toward her, and inclined to feel for her in her misfortunes. If the weight of testi- ' mony was against her, and it was hard to ex- _ ry away, be could not believe that she was a thief. ** We must help her, Roger,” Rob pursued. **We will.” ** But what can we do?” ** There’s the rub!” ** She didn’t steal those diamonds,” ** Then how came she by them?” * That’s what ’m going to find out, Addison ain’t a hard man, and he’ll give us a show, Then I’! go ahead and find out the facts.” Walden did not reply. He appreciated Rob’s hearty good will, but was equaliy alive to the difficulties of proving what they wished. The scene of the alleged robbery was the schooner, and that bade fair to go to pieces before the storm abated ; yeaa) only three persons had been saved, and these were the alleged thief, the man who had been robbed, and a man who hated the alleged thief. The groundwork for a detective case was not By that time Roger and Rob had reached the water’s edge, and they proceeded to view the scene critically. The rain had decreased some- what, and the wind, as a consequence, was less difficult to face; but the ocean had abated no part of its fury. High, foam-capped billows were a each other constantly toward land, and they fell upon the Giant’s Boot with a force which filled the air with boom after boom, Out on the deadly rock upon which she had been impaled, the Singing Sally was yet to be seen, her sole remaining mast rising above the La a which almost constantly broke over her eck. ** She won’t stand it long,” shouted Rob, **That she won’t, There’s a tremendous force at work, and she will go to pieces right there, unless she manages to wrench herself clear of the rock. The wonder is that she holds, any- how; but I presume that there is another rock at bow or stern, from which she gets some sup- rt. “This going to sea is a serious business, Roger.” ‘You are right, my boy; let that life alone, Better be a bumble fisherman on this coast. True, the men in ovr town who are engaged in other pursuits think we sometimes take great risks, but it isn’t like cutting loose from all but a frail vessel. The sea is a merciless master.” ’ . For an hour the two friends paced the shore. No bodies were cast up, and the only change to be seen was in the schooner. Her deck and her mast appeared to be getting lower and lower, and the only explanation was that she was being steadily wrenched apart. Later, Roger and Rob returned to the shanty, They found Addison and Carter asleep on the floor, while Foretop Ben smoked a black pipe and warmed his back at tne fire with an air of great satisfaction. Mrs, Vincent-Brown had retired to the inner room, As no more could be done then, the remainder of the men lay down, and all were soon asleep, ig rested well until daybreak and past. orning found a fairer scene on the Giant’s Boot, The sun was out in undiminished glory, and the sky was of the brightest blue. But the ocean was not so easy to appease, It’s surface : a4 x » * : : a 7 ; y ford was still rough and foamy, and the incoming waves broke angrily on the beach, Of the Singing Saily but little remained, The last of the masts had gone, and the only thing which rose above the hulk was the remnant of that mast which had succumbed first to the gale. The dismantled craft was a sorry-looking thing. The time had come at last when a boat could be handled, and the fishermen launched one and went to the wreck. No sign was seen of a hu- man being, alive or dead, and but little could be told as to the exact condition of the schooner until the ocean eased off a little more; but it was clear that she had leaked at many points and takeh in about all the water she could, A more hopeless condition could not be imagined. Half an hour later all were astir at the shanty. Horace Addison found himself much better off than he had anticipated. There had been ground to fear that his knee was permanently injured, but he could now step upon the corresponding foot without much pain. He would have to limp awhile, however. Both he and Wesley Carter were generally lame and sore, but they had come out of the adventure wonderfully well, all things con- sidered. foretop Ben found great responsibility rest- ing upon him as cook for so many, butit was no new work, and he prepared a treakfast as pala- table as it was limited in variety, Mrs. Vincent-Brown was late in making her appearance, but, when she did come, she report- Carona evidently nearly well again. She was sent to ask the girl out, and the latter soon ap- peared. She had a shrinking, half-frightened, air, but was not oblivious to her duty. She was quick to recognize Roger and Rob, and hastened to thank them again for what they had done the night before. To Carter she gave only the coldest bow, but, catching sight of Horace Ad- dison, she advanced with an expression of great pleasure upon her face, ‘*Oh! Mr, Addison, are you, too, spared?” she cried, with more of lightness of spirit than she had manifested at any time before, ‘*My life has been spared, child,” he re- sponded, gravely and gently. ‘*T am very giad.” Mrs. Vincent-Brown and Carter exchanged looks and smiled sneeringly. ‘“We'have come out of the storm through many perils,” Addison added, ** Yes,” Carona sighed. ‘* But, I hope, with clear consciences,” ‘Our peril and our escape should show us how dependent we are upon Providence, and how powerful it can be in our behalf.” Addison’s manner encouraged Roger in the belief that he would deal gently with the girl, and there was great relief in the idea; but the conversation was interrupted by Foretop Ben’s call to breakfast. All sat down, but a shadow was over many there. It was known that, after the meal was finished, Carona’s case must be disposed of in some way, CHAPTER VIL. INNOCENT OR GUILTY? WHEN all had satisfied their hunger, and the breakfast-party broke up, Addison spoke pri- nn to Walden, ** Will you take Mrs, Brown to walk? I want to speak with Miss Dane, and want no witnesses except friends, I will not speak before the Brown woman and Carter. Can you free me of their presence?” **T can, and will,” Roger caught eagerly at the little device, and then went to Foretop Ben. The result was that, soon after, Ben took Carter by the arm and led him away, and Rogers himself asked Mrs. Vin- cent-Brown to go to walk—both making an ex- cuse of going to see the wreck from the shore, Their captives objected, but old Ben promptly asserted his rights, as owner of the shanty, and informed them that its interior was not at their disposal for the time being. Both Carter and the Luay from New York suspected that it was a scheme to keep them from seeing the settlement of Carona’s case, but they were helpless, When remonstrances falled they went sulkily. Carona; Addison and Sky-Rocket Rob were left as the sole occupants of the shanty. The old gentleman had decided upon his course. He ho that the interview would end to Carona’s advantage, and that she would es- tablish her innocence, but, in any case, he had decided not to prosecute her if she would give up the diamonds, Rob was anxious to hear the conversation, but this he could do anywhere in the room, and he took pains to keep at a distance, and devoted his attention to repairing a fishing-net. Addison began in a roundabout way, but finally approached the subject he had at heart. * It is sad,” he remarked, ‘‘to think of so many of our fellow-voyagers gone to another world,” ** Tt is, indeed.” *“‘Asfor us who remain, we are not fixed as well as could be wished. If anything is recov- ered from the wreck, it will be nearly or quite ruined,” é‘ sé Yes,” ** I hope you lost no valuables?” ‘*My loss was not heavy. I had my mone with me, and that was about all I bad, at all. ‘*T lost a valuable diamond necklace.” Both Addison and Rob looked at Carona eagerly, but she gave no evidenceof guilt, ‘That was bad,” she observed, “Tt was a complete line of those jewels, with smaller, almost—invisible gold beads between which served to keep the diamonds in place, but were scarcely visible at a distance, Besides this a gold ornament was attached, marked with the inscription ‘W, to L.,’ upon a device of imita- tion leaves,” The old gentleman looked keenly at Carona, but she gave no evidence of ever having seen the necklace. ** Perhaps you will find it inside the schooner, yet,” she suggested. ‘** Do you think so?” ‘* There seems to be a hope, I should say.” ‘“* My theory is that some one picked it up, In fact, I think it came ashore,” ‘** Then you ought to find it.” **Possibly I shall, Quite likely, it is being worn on somebody’s neck, now.” Carona looked puzzled. **'You and I, and Wesley Carter, were the ~ ones saved,” she slowly, doubtfully return- sé Yes,” ‘* Then who could be wearing it?” ** That is just what I wish to learn. give me any suggestion?” Patient, charitable and forgiving as Morace Addison was, his voice was beginning to grow a trifle stern. He was giving the girl a chance to refer to the jewels she wore upon her neck even then—though they were invisible—but she did not explain or confess, This suggested the be- lief, even to a charitable mind, that she was guilty, and was trying to brave it out, and his faith began to fail. ““T can’t give you any help,” she answered, “but "—here a sudden terror flashed into her eyes and dismay became imprinted on her face —‘* surely you don’t suspect me?” ** Why should I suspect you?” ‘It seems by your words to lie between Mr, Carver and me, and Ido not forget the unjust accusations against me on board the Singing Sally. I was accused of taking the captain’s money—which I declare I never did.” ‘* And you don’t know where my necklace is?” ** No, sir.” ** Miss Dane,” sternly retorted the old gentle- man, “it is on your neck now!” ‘On my neck?” sc Yes.” aa Mr. Addison, you wrong me—you wrong me ‘** It was there a few hours ago; I believe it is there now!” ' Pitifully pale was the girl’s face, and her air of distress grew deeper, but she flung her hands up to her throat and fumbled there feverishly, ‘* You shall see!” she cried; ‘* I will prove my innocence. I wear a necklace, but it is one of the plainest kind, without even one diamond; and not worth ten dollars to any one—” She bad pulled at the necklace, which she could not see, and pulled so roughly that it was unclasped prematurely; and, when she found it loosened, she suddenly held it out to vindicate her cause, ! But her sudden pause in speech was that of alarm, for, as she extended her band, she and both her companions saw a string of gleaming, costly diamonds, any one of which was worth nae times the avowed total value of the neck- ace, Addison gave only one glance at the jewels; then he fixed his gaze »pon Carona’s face, Was she the most consummate of actresses, or the victim of a strange deception? If her expression was a true copy of what was in her mind she was dumfounded and terrified. Can you is ol "Cala yf vey Mt ; ' ve) hy 4 r4| we ok 900Ks.com | " p : aaa i . . =™ o 3 F : a LU a