Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 70 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

a 10 Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. —- + en ce CU desperately jammed his right down into the in- side pocket, beneath his left shoulder. There were several articles here, but certain of th right one, he caught the stiff brown paper, and attempted to untie the bundle. As is always the case at such times, the knot was SO spree Bey that this was found impos- sible, and he began to get mad. “I might be sure of that,” he growled, as he gee! yet med his finger through the paper; ‘“ but Pll get it somehow.” He soon succeeded in securing a pinch of it, which he brought out, and then, as he passed the stick over to the other hand, he managed quite dextrously to sow it all over the meat. ‘* So far so good,” he concluded, quite satisfied with his success; ‘‘ two or three exploits like that and every _— will be put in = Looking up, he saw the reproachful k eyes of Helena Fullerton fixed upon him, mutely ehhe cy, against this dark ae but the divid most concerned seemed sublimely in- different to what was going on around them, in the culinary line. ‘““ Here she goes again,” muttered the hero, as he made another plunge into his pocket, and se- cured some more between hls thumb and finger. This he transferred to his left hand, so as to make the affair appear more natural, but, in at- tempting to scatter it over the nearly-broiled rap Sos missed it altogether, and flung it into e fire. Helena Fullerton, who was watching her cous- in with an eager intensity, saw this miscarriage, and she observed another thing that escaped the eye of her cousin. One of the Indians saw the same thing, and looked inquiringly at the vexed white man, as if he would like to know the meaning of sucha performance. But Fitzsimmons failed to note this, so intent was he on getting through with the performance as soon as possible. It was not long, therefore, before he made an- other hes of the mineral, taking which in his right hand, he easily managed to fhing it over the meat. ‘Once more I think will finish that.” In his eagerness to perform his self-allotted task, Percy had scorched his hands and face so that they smarted not a little. **T do believe my nose is as thoroughly roast- ed as that mutton,” he growled, pausing a mo- ment to rub his nasal protuberance; ‘‘ but I must go her once more.” By this time he had worked down so deep in his pocket, that it was a matter of no small diffi- culty to fish up what he wished. He succeeded at last, however, and grabbed half a handful of the white powder, which he took out and delib- erately scattered over the meat, as though he ‘were seasoning it with salt. “By Jove!” he exclaimed to himself. “I think that job is about as complete as it can well be.” When this was done, so was the meat, and CHAPTER VIL. SWALLOWING HIS OWN MEDICINE. SucH beyond a doubt was the purpose of the Sioux, who, having severed quite a goodly- sized piece of meat from the main portion, ad- vanced to where the two prisoners sat, and handed it to Fitzsimmons. ‘‘Much eat—good.” ‘No, I thank you,” replied the young man, pith Fis gid and waving the donor away. “‘[’m dieting myself j now, and have for- sworn mutton and lamb.” Instead of passing on and offering the food to the lady, the Indian stood still, and repeated: ** Much eat—good.” ‘Is he the fellow that watched me?” asked Percy, in a side-whisper to Helena. She nod- ded in the affirmative, and he began to suspect that he had gotten himself in an embarrassing position. ‘‘Haven’t I told you I didn’t wish it?’ re- plied Fitzsimmons, quite excitedly. ‘‘It isn’t gentlemanly or polite to urge a fellow to drink, after he has signed the pledge.” “You eat—me kill.” has command was Bog regia in unmistakable guage, accompani an expressive grasp- ing of the handle of his knife, that protruded from his belt, and there was an evil gleam of the eye at the same time. ‘* But I can not eat when I ain’t hungry.” “You eat—me kill.” ‘‘Heavens! is there no escape from this?” wailed the terrified Fitzsimmons, looking plead- ingly to his cousin. ‘‘Can’t you help me? elena was terribly agitated and did not re- fuse the appeal, so piteously made: ‘““Why do you urge him to eat, when he doesn’t wish to do so?” she asked, stepping up in front of the savage. ‘* Throw the meat aside, and get more.” ‘Tell him I was always a stubborn boy, and nobody tried to drive me to do any thing, be- cause it wasn’t any use.” , ‘*Put powder on meat—me see—he eat—den Injin eat,” added the savage, whose deadly earn- rt was not to be mistaken. ‘* He eat—me ‘‘T do not see what I can do for you, Percy,” she said, utterly miserable at the turn affairs had taken. “Why, let me have your pistol, and J’ll do something,” and as he made this demand, he ree toward her, as if to take the weapon; but his master interposed, and drawing his knife from the girdle, uttered his command once more. By this time the other two Indians had gather- ed around, and were deeply-interested specta- tors, *: doubt fully understanding what it all meant. Helena was so terribly agitated, that she turned her head and walked a few steps away, unable to look upon the scene. Poor Fitzsimmons was in an agony of terror— for he could see no escape—it being merely a The meat was of goodly size, and neyer did Percy Fitzsimmons use his molars as he did on the present occesion. In an incredibly short time, he had swallowed the last morsel and clamored for more. ‘*T haven’t half enough,” he called out, “ give me another piece—quick, before I starve.” None of the Sioux moved—seeming to think he had eaten enough for an ordinary meal. ‘*‘Helena! Helena! as you love me, give me a piece of meat and be quick!” he called to his cousin. As the girl had no knife in her possession, she picked up the entire piece, that was burned in some parts to a crisp, and hastily carried it to the gourmand. She latter seized it with both hands, and re- sumed his gastronomic performances like a famished man. Never had aay Fitzsimmons eaten such a meal as he now threw himself a of. It was immense, and swelled him u ea frog. But there is a limit to all at length he reached that point when it was ab- solutely impossible to swallow another mouth- ful, and it required no little effort to keep down the usual freight with which he had already charged his stomach. There was no question but what the Indians So, pore the nature of the trick their prisoner a re iige ise and so they compelled the ae sician to take his own medicine, and then watch- ed the result. Rising from the log it really seemed to Percy as if he could not contain all that he had eaten, but, as the occasion was an unusual one, so his ge was exceptional in the present instance. eeling that it was very probable that the re- sults would be fatal, he walked over to where his cousin was standing dejected and weeping. ‘“Well, Helena,” he said, in the most dolorous voice, ‘it’s alldown. I’ve done it.” ‘*Did you eat all the meat?” she asked, en- deavoring to rouse herself. ‘By Jove! no; but I have masticated and swallowed more food than I ever did at a single sitting in my life. I’m chock full of poison.” She looked at him with a sort of terror, and asked, falteringly: ** How soon will—that is—how soon will you begin to feel it?’ ** Pretty soon—right away, I believe—I think I can detect a sickness of the stomach gradually coming on this minute.” “Then, Perey, spend your last moments solemnly. Have you any messages to send to your friends at Philadelphia?” ‘*T have lots of them—so many that there ons any use of trying; but I will bid you good- y things, and ‘‘ No, no, no,” she replied, impetuously ; ‘‘ not yet—sit down by yourself, I will watch by you, and do everything that I can for you, but it is too soon to bid you -by.” ** But,” continu Fi ons, showing a curious emotion, ‘‘I must tell you, Helena, that one of the Sioux approached with the remark: | choice of deaths. I deeply—deeply love you.” “ Much good—t’ink.” The cold perspiration stood upon him, and he | _ ‘‘ Of course; we are cousins and have py “T am sure you will find it so,” said Fitzsim- | fell almost paralyzed. When he recalled what | thought a great deal of each other from child- mons, rising to bis feet and handing it over to While the red-skin was giving the meat the last touches, Percy rejoined his cousin upon the fallen tree. “ Didn’t I do the thing nicely?” he asked, tri- umphantly, as though he accomplished a most meritorious act. he had done to the meat that was held out so in- vitingly before him, he turned his look aside with a shudder, and resolved that he wouldn’t touch it. But when he looked up, there stood the paint- ed savage, as inexorable as Fate, and it was pretty plain that he had reached the extremity of endurance, and would resort to the knife, if hood. I know that, Percy.” ‘‘ But I mean to tell you that I love you more than that—that no one else has ever dared to feel the peculiar tenderness toward you that I hold this minute, and if Iam not mistaken this, dear Helena, is not altogether unreciprocated. In the words of the laureate: ‘If by signs my heart can tell, acen, I have watched thee daily, ‘‘T am sorry to say you did,” she answered, in | there was Jonger hesitation. a very sad voice. Suddenly he remembered that he had read or think thou lovest me well. ‘‘- You will feel different when you see those | heard, that an overdose of arsenic’ failed of “Tell me, dearest Helena, let me hear the three red-skins stretched out upon the ground and giving up the ghost one after the other—” ti 5h! ercy!” she plead, raising her hand, as if to shut out the dreadful sight. He was enjoying his triumph, when she sud- denly looked up. ‘* "You made one t oversight.” ‘‘ What was that?’ he asked, quickly. causing death—while only a small portion was needed to accomplish the ag are Although little versed in xicology it came to him like inspiration that if he should eat a large quantity of meat, although certain of dis- tressing sickness for a time, there was more chance of life than in braving the ‘‘ cold steel” of his master. sweet avowal before I take my departure,” It would be hard to imagine a more embar- rassing situation than that of Helena Fullerton. It was impossible to misunderstand her co although she strove to his approach, an she knew not what reply to make. had not a particle of love for him—such as was that of which he spoke—for her whole soul was ‘You didn’t watch the Indians themselves.” | ‘Well, since you insist upon it,” said he, | wrapped up in that of the noble Ned Hosmer. “By Jove! After I got started I forgot that, | reaching out and taking the food, ‘‘I shall have And yet, above all things, she was 4nxlous to but none of them noticed me, did they to oblige you, I suppose.”’ avoid wounding the feelings of her cousin. She “That one that took the meat from you The next moment, Fitzsimmons was devour- | felt as though she would do an hing almost, never took his eyes from you during the last ing the meat, as though he were a contestant | that could divert his mind from the painful sub- fifteen minutes. He saw you fail once, when ou tried to throw the poison in with your left hand: and saw each effort afterward.” ‘* Ts it possible?” “Yes; and his icions have been on the alert ever since. He knows you were trying to play some trick. I coughed once or twice to warn youj but you would not look, and, if you had, I do not suppose you would have stopped. But here he comes to offer you the first piece of meat,” for the championship, while the three spectators watched his motions with no little interest, the maiden standing off, with her back toward him, unable to look upon the scene. It is hard to understand the emotions of a man who is doing his utmost to swallow enough poison to render it powerless—who knows and yet is uncertain of the precise moment, that there is a time, when he has just the = quan- tity in his system to insure certain death, and is striving, with all his ability, to pass that point. ject, and yet she was sorely at her wits’ end, Silent a moment, she was compelled to make answer to that earnest question, shown more in the eager, questioning look in the words themselves. : ‘‘Dear Percy, this is no time for such ques- tions. If you feel that death is so near, your thoughts should be centered on that alone. ‘Dis- miss all else from your mind.” “T intend to do that in a few minutes; but you cannot imagine how deeply, truly, fondly—” COMMIUCELOO) cS (Elo) |