Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 89 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

woe te ee — - — ——- ‘* How you stare at me!” she fretted. ‘* One would think you had never seen me before,” ‘*[—I—that is, of course, I recollect you, but I can’t think where I have met you before,” stammered Jim. The girl laughed as if much amused. ‘“‘That’s very complimentry to me, Mr. Dimity,” she said, ‘‘ considering that we were playfe Jows all last year, and that you did me the honor to admire me—at least you said so.” ““Oh, yes. ITknowyou now. It was only my fun. Low are you, aud when did you come back?” asked Jim, trying to brazen it out. ** Last night; but vell me who I am?” ‘What nonsense! Old friends don’t want to joke like this. [Iixcuse me a moment. I am scarcely fis to be seen after playing ball. Tl go and fix myself up, and come round to tie front.” Without allowing her to say anything more, he kissed the tips of his fingers to her and vault- ed again over the fence. Tommy had been watching him through a hole in the woodwork. »« “* You’re a nice fellow! Where's the ball?’ he d, ““Oh! hang the ball! I’m not going to play any more,” replied Jim, ‘I see how it is,” retorted Tom, laughing. ** Directly you saw Mercedita you couldn’t think of anything else.” ‘* Mercedita!” repeated Jim, to himself. ‘““Whata pretty name! So, it appears, 1am in love with Mercedita! Well, I have no objec- tion.” ** Where has she been?” he asked, aloud. “Why, don’t you know? Whata fellow you are, Ever since you went on that tramp, you’ve lost your memory. You are always asking me the most stupid questions about places and peo- le,” “T had a good many trials and privations, that time.” “*S5 [should think! Well, Mercedita is old Mandragon’s niece. I suppose you know that.” “Ah! pshaw! What are you giving me? Toll mosomething I don’t know!” / ‘* Last year, she went to visit some relations in Cuba, where she was born, and the boys al- ways supposed that you and she were going to hitch teas, some of these days.” Jim ran into the house, and brushing bis hair, ut on his most fascinating neck-tie; after which @ visited Mr, Mandrazon’s house. Tho servant refused him admittance. ‘Mr, Mandragon, sir,” said the servant, ‘* has left orders that you are to be told that the fami- ly are not at home to you.” Jim bt his lips with vexation. In thie hall he saw the young lady leaning on her uncle’s arm. *¢ \lercedita!” he exclaimed. She gave him a cold stare and passed into the drawing-room with her relative. Jim retired in disgust and felt very mean. ‘“My dear child,” said Mr. Mandragon, to her, ‘‘my conduct may seem harsh, but I do not wish you to renew your former intimacy with that young man.” “Your wishes are always law to me, uncle,” repliod Mercedita. ‘He is bad, worthless and wicked. Only lately he perpetra ted a forgery on his father.” ‘“Indeed! What seemed strange to me was that he did not know me. There is something eculiar about him: he does not seem the same ick Dimity to me,” Mr. Mandraon started. “The same idea had occurred to me,” he said. “Tt is singular it should strike us both. There is a mystery somewhere, though it is useless to sugcest it to Dimity; he scouts the idea.” ‘What do you think, uncle?” “My darling, I cannot give my thoughts words, We must leave it to time to unravel what appears so strange and contradictory.” While this conversation took place between the lovely Mercedita and her uncle, Jim walked down to the hotel to visit his guide, philosopher and friend. ; To his surprise he met Kenas Belshazzar in the street. “This is an unexpected pleasure,” said he. “T4 me, also, Lam glad I have met you,” replied the Gipsy. Tere wos thatin his manner which showed that something of an unusual nature had oc- curred, tor he was strangely agitated. _ “ Anything gone wrong?’ inquired Jim, his heart coming into Lis throat, as he feared that they were detected. ‘Tos: [must have those jewels at once.” “Can'} you wait till night, when the house is quiet and all are asleep?” asked Jim. soon as possible,” replied Eenas. ‘How long I shall be away I don’t know, but I will commu nicate steadily with you, who must run the ma- chine by yourself during my absence.” ‘* Leave me alone?” ‘It’s unavoidable. You are well planted, now, and need not be afraid of anything.” ‘You have told me so much that you can afford to tell me a little more,” said Jim. ‘‘We ought to have no secrets from one another.” * Well, Pil trust you,” answered the Gipsy, while a nervous tremor ran through his body. ‘Ten years ago I was in Virginia City, Nevada, and had made a pile, speculating in stocks, which was easy enough in those days, if you were on the spot, and in with the ring. There was a rich fellow there, a Spanish marquis, Manuel de Garcia. His wife was very charm- ing, and I ran away with her.” x Ah, I begin to see!” exclaimed Jim. ‘We went to Los Angeles, in Lower Cali- fornia, where he found us out, I fled; he killed his wife and took a solemn oath at the old Mis- sion church there, that he would never rest till he had slain me, and I have always had an idea he would keep his word.” ** Well?” ‘* Last night I met him in the street, and he recognized me in the crowd. I slipped away, but [am uneasy. I dare not stay in the same city with el Sefior Manuel de Garcia, for that man’s presence means death to me.” y Go armed! What have you to be afraid OLS The Gipsy shivered like a leaf. ‘*Tamnot either morally or physically, a cow- ard,” he rejoined, ‘‘ yet I lose my manhood when [ think of Garcia. For ten years a blight has been on me. Nothing that I have touched has prospered with me, except this last venture of ours. I must go!” ** Whither?’ asked Jim. ‘‘T know not. Anywhere out of his way. I think Pil try one of the West India Islands for a while, ow you see why I must have money at once,” Island Jim’s resolution was soon taken. ** Wait for me at the hotel,” he ordered. * It is risky, but Vil doit for your sake.” They parted, and Jim returned to the house, to learn from the servant that Mr. Dimity was junching at Mr. Mandragon’s. He knew that Mrs. Dimity’s jewels, valued at a very large sum, were locked in the drawer of a bureau in her husband’s sleeping apartment. There was no doubt about this, because Mr. Dimity had once, in a moment of confidence, shown them to him, Being an adept in picking locks, he provided himself with a piece of wire aud ascended to the room. ‘Tle servants were all below at dinner, and Fanny had gone to school. Pulling down the curtains of t}.e windows he set to work, and in five minutes his practiced hand had succeed- ed in opening the drawer. CHAPTER VI. A GREAT SORROW. THERE were tho jewels studded with precious stones spread out before him! He clutched a handful of diamonds and put them in his pocket, and, being struck with the beauty of a tiara of emeralds and diamonds, he held it up to the light to admire it. Suddenly the door opened and Mr. Dimity strode in. He was caught in the act! There was no escape, and any attempt at concealment would have been useless. **So!” cried Mr. Dimity, more in sorrow than inanger, ‘* you are a thief as well as a forger!” “[ wanted money,” replied Jim, sullenly. ‘Do I not supply your wants in that respect liberally? What can a boy of your age want with such large sums?” ““T gamble, and the luck is always against me. Itsno use talking to me. I’m bad and I know it.” Richard,” said Mr. Dimity, mildly, ‘do you not believe that our sins on earth are punished hereafter? You have a terrible future before you. If you bring my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave, I feel that I shall be able to hover near you for good.” ‘““Wh-what do you mean?” asked Jim. ‘*[ shall be your guardian ange), and when- ever you are about to do anything wrong, I shall appear to you.” At these words Jim burst into a laugh. ‘You can’t frighten me with any ghost sto- ries,” he said. ‘‘i’m not that kind of a fellow.” Teadle’s HalfDime Library ° plies **[ cannot; the fact is I must cut and run as; ‘“?} -- — - eee No! What Iam you made me. If I hadn’t been spoilt as the pet of the family, I might have been better,” Mr. Dimity groaned in anguish of spirit. He had for some time reproached himself with this fact, and blamed his over-indulgence for all the boy's shortcomings. **f do not know what to do with you,” he said, sadly. ‘‘ Close that drawer and go, After this, l must watch you, as if I had a thief in the house. It is horribie!” ‘You are rich. When you die I suppose I'll come into your money,” replied Jim. ‘* Why can’t you give me what I want while you are alive? "* Leave me!” ordered the wretched father. Slipping the tiara into his pocket, along with the jewels he had taken, Jim quietly left his heart-broken parent. _ Mr. Dimity had neither the courage nor the inclination to punish him himself, nor to hand him over to the police, who would have done it for him. He was essentially a weak man, and his way- ward son could do what he liked with him. Jim hastened to the hotel with his }/under, which was eagerly accepted by Belshazzar. ‘“Ts this all?’ he demanded, * AllI could get,” replied Jim; ‘the old fool came up and copped me right in the act.” ‘* What did he say?” **Said I should bring his gray hairs—precious few he’s got of them—with sorrow to the grave, and he swore he’d haunt me!” ** Bosh!” ‘‘Of course itis! Anyway, I sha’n’t go home for two or three days. Ill stay here and play billiards with some of the gang who are always on the look-out for a pool. Pe haps he’ll sweeter-tempered when I come back. ‘You can doas you like,” replied Belshazzar; ‘fonly don’t throw away any chances on this rame, I shall be back after I have thrown rarcia off the scent.” ‘* Leave me to play my cards!” answered Jim, with a confident air; ‘‘I’m no slouch.” Belshazzar requested him to wait while he went out and turned the jewels into money, he being acquainted with a receiver of stolen goods, who would buy anything at a fair price and ask no questions. Island Jim amused ‘himself hy throwing dice and drinking wine, for some time, but at length he rose with a yawn, threw away |.is half- smoked cigarette and looked at his watch. “By Jove!” he remarked, ‘‘Een is long- winded! He’s been gone two hours!” Slowly the time crept on, and the afternoon slipped away, until the shades of evening fell. Still there was no sign of Belshazzar’s return. ‘**T guess,” muttered Jim, ‘that the marquis has dropped on him, and gobbled Lim up. Well, he’s no great loss,” Going down-stairs he ordered dinner, and strolied into the billiard-room, where he spent the evening, earning an honest dollar, as, he phrased it, for he was skillful with the cue and always played for money. It was past eleven o’clock, when a servant of Mr. Dimity’s came into the room. “Can I speak to you, sir?” he inquired. “Certainly! What is the matter?’ demanded Jim. “Your father, sir, was taken with a fit, end he is dangerously ill. Wehave looked ail over for you, and at last Ithought you might be wit. Mr. Belshazzar.” Turning to his friends, Jim said, ‘‘ Excuse me gentlemen; my father is taken sick suddenly— dangerous case,” He put on his hat, and after inquiring at the desk for Belshazzar, who had not been seen oi heard of, he hurried to the Heights. The clock was striking midnight as he entered the house. The chill of death seemed to hang round everything, and a solemn stillness reigned. He went at once to his father’s room, and was met on the threshold by Mr. Mandragon. The young man’s face was flushed with wine and his gait unsteady, but the awfulness of the surroundings sobered him, ‘‘ Hush!” said Mandragon; ‘‘ this is the cham ber of death!” The sobs of Fanny, inside, were distinctly au dible without. “Ts the old man dead?” asked Jim. ‘Your father died an hour ago, in a fit of apoplexy, while you, I am sorry to say, weve rioting with your boon companions.” ‘‘ How much did he die worth?” “Silence! I will not tolerate such levity at ‘“ Will you repent and lead a new life?’ urged | such a time!” replied Mr. Mandragon, “ Hithe: Mr. Dimity. ~ | quit the house or behave becomingly. I wil (COANE NO) S (E(O)