Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 899 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

| brought suit long ago. Basement Bert. -- old fogy with a son as old asIam! Do . want all t world to know it? What fuld the fastidious Warland set say if I[ ae bring a breach-of-promise suit against ‘ou ) The captain shrugged his shoulders coolly. “You dare not. Had you been willing to risk arrest on counter-charges, you would have do not fear you. How- ever, [am not here to bandy words with you; my business is with my tenant. Madam,” tothe landlady, ‘‘ you and all your people must move # out, bag and baggage.” | ~ s I will not go!” cried Pearl, almost hysteric- al >. awe will see,” , ** You broke bs promise to me after induc- ing me to say [ would marry you;” Warland made a de penning E arpemche as he remembered how Pearl had an for him; ‘‘and now you follow me and will not allow me to rest in any place in New York. Am I to be hounded by you forever?” ** Idle talk! You are free to stayin any house a one owhed by me. That you shall not fe) “Go slow!” advised Pearl, lowering her evil “pace ““I hold Adrea in the hollow of my ! The captain's face grew sad. Time was im- ressing him strongly, and he was not so ready to ‘ vi that he cauek nothing for his rebellious ug iter, **The unfortunate girl knows her father’s home always is open to her,” he answered. ‘*She will not seek it; her sympathies are with me, for she 'nowsl am a wronged wo- man,” At this point, Bert Lincoln, who stood near the hall door, heard the rustle of female oy ments outside, and, looking, saw Adrea passing, ap achigi unconscious of what was transpiring within, nnoticed by any of his companions he slip out, overtook Adrea and stopped her, “Takee a listen at the door,” he advised. **There’s that bein’ said there which may strike you forcible.” The light was dim; she did not recognize him: and she regarded him with curiosity. ** What is it?” she asked. ** Come here an’ see!” Somewhat bewiidered by his mysterious man- ner and the request, Adrea allowed herself to be led to the half-open door, One look there was enough to show her all she cared to see. She was turoing away quickly, but Bert checked r, ** Listen !” he advised, earnestly. ‘‘ Neither on ’em knows you're here. Ain’t it a good time ter find how both really stand toward you?” Adrea stayed, ** You may as well abandon your persecution of me,” Pearl was saying, ‘‘I will not bear everything, and I’ve been hounded lately until my endurance is about exhausted. Hereafter, I shall use Adrea as a shield.” ** How?” the captain asked, “Every blow aimed at me shall recoil upon her. You affect indifference, but I know you care as much for her as youeverdid. You have the sickly sentimentality of men in high life. Bah! if she were my child, I’d tell her to go to— Well, anywhere she chose!” ‘*' Yet, you claim to be her friend!” s useful to me now; I will make her more useful, When you try to make me suffer, she shall suffer instead, Captain, I will remain in this house!” ** You will not!” Warland declared. ** None of your tools can put me out,” “*Then I'll doit myself,” “You? Why, you old idiot, if you dared touch me this would be your reception!” With a quick motion she drew a handsome, oats but keen knife, and flourished it before ace, -_- + CHAPTER XV, FOUND IN PRISON, “ JupGE” HACKLAND gazed in alarm at the Servant who announced that a policeman wished tosee him, True, there had been nothing in his recent interview in the carriage to indicate that he need fear such prompt. measures, but, know- ing how miserable he had been during the drive, he had a vivid presentiment that his ‘‘ bureau” lady-love had seen his dying faith in her, sus- pected that he intended to leave New York, and intended to take measures to prevent it, are turned to~ Sigers Long, and shook his * Marewell!” he said, tragically. ‘I feel that Tam going to my doom, andI can’t be treated for it as you’ve been for hydrophobia. No vac- cination will calm an angry woman’s rage, envy you those bites, Sigers, for they can be cured, When you get back to Yalobusha county, tell them I died with fortitude!” The Judge’s trembling voice and tearful eyes belied the last insinuation, but hoarse-voiced Mr. Long hastened to reassure him as much as ble, and both went down to learn the worst. o the Judge the handsome, trim policeman looked as big as a church and as dangerous as a dynamite bomb, ** Judge Hackland?” the officer inquired, ‘* Ye—es, sah,” faltered that gentleman, ‘I come from a man claiming to be your friend, one Andrew Moss. He is in jail!” ‘You don’t say so! What for?” ‘* Shoving the queer.” ss ier what ?” s utting out bogus long-green. ** What in the world is that?” ‘* Passing counterfeit money,” impatiently explained the blue-coated guardian of the peace, Hackland’s face lighted up with joy. ‘* Thank Heaven!” he cried, ‘* Why, I thought you were his friend.” **'1 am.” ** And yet you are glad he is arrested?” ‘*'You don’t unde d— But never mind!” The Judge was very happy to know that Moss had not been incarcerated on account of Mrs. Moss, for that would forete]l his own doom, he thought; and he did not give due consideration to the other charge, ‘* He was arrested last night,” the officer ex- plained, ‘‘The morning papershavean account of it, but not under his true name; he only gave that this morning. He wants to see you.” **T'll go downat once. Poor fellow! I’m sorry for bim, and know he ain’t guilty. He’s a Southern gentleman, sah!” The policeman did not see fit to comment on this point, and, having done his errand, went away. The Judge was soon on his way to visit Moss. Singularly enough, he did not consider that there was danger for himself, 1t was clear that the money Andrew had found in the valise so strangely was the cause of all his trouble, and Hackland remembered that two of the bank-notes had been given him, but when, a lit- tle before, he ed one of them on the trades- man, he had done it so mechanically that the fact was not now recalled. He found Mr. Moss in the place of incarcera- tion, weary, hollow-eyed and sad-faced; but the visitor was greeted with true Southern politeness. ‘*T am glad to see you, sah, even though I welcome you in a grim an’ frownin’ Bastille, Ah! sah, little did 1 think when I was spendin’ the happy days of my life in Horry county that I ever would come ter this. I hae now how a man feels doomed ter perpetual confinement. Forgive my emotion, sah, but my soul is shaken within me!” Andrew wiped the tears from his eyes and leaned his head upon the wall, ‘* Cheer up, sah; you'll soon be out,” returned the Judge, pear Jars 4, ‘* If we were in South Cah’lina, or Mississippi, where law is justice, it would be all right < bontt this is New York. That meansa good deal, an’ it wouldn’t surprise me ef I never ag’in heard the birds sing, see the sun shine, or watched the cotton grow in the sunny South, Forgive this emotion, sah, for my heart is tempest-tossed, an’ it stan’s a right smart chance o’ bein broken,” ‘* How do you account for all this, sah?” ‘* My wife!” The Judge started and changed color. ** Your wife?’ **T reckon,” ** But how’—what?—who?—” ** Somebody; put that money in my vYalise, Why? Terruinme. Who? Who should it be, but my wife? 1 don’t mean she really did it herself, but ’twasher or herallies, They sneaked inter the house some way an’ put the stuff there, knowin’ I would try ter pass it an’ come ter grief, It worked, too; I was ruined by the counterfeit queer—they call money ‘ the queer,’ in New York, though why, I don’t know.” _ This alleged fact did not long occupy their time, for Andrew had something of more impor- tance to say. He had many friends in Horry county who could testify to his uprightness, and he wanted all such testimony, as well as money, to conduct his defense. He gave Hackland due directions in the case, ‘* There is one thing more,” he added. ‘I’ve told the whole truth heah, |but I can see they don’t believe me. Now, I want a good, impar- — eS ESS SSS tial detective engaged who will take the trail of’ my wife an’ hunt her down, I have been searched heah, but one thing escaped notice, an’ I was not fool enough ter mention it. I have a picture of my wife hid in the linin’ o’ my hat, an’ I want you ter take it ter the detective, Heah it is, sah!” He had removed the picture while speaking, and now passed it over to the Judge. The lat- ter looked, and then almost dropped it in his sur- prise and consternation. ‘*‘ This woman, your wife?’ he cried. ‘* Yes, sah,” ‘ Why, she’s the same one I’ve agreed to marry !” | A wild light Fs Baer in the speaker’s eyes, and he believed his hair was standing on end.. There wasa period of silence during which the two victims gazed at each other blankly; then Andrew shook his head sadly, ‘* My poah friend, you are a ruined man!” “‘Tam! I feelit;l knowit! Oh! oh!” groan- ed Mr. Hackland. ‘‘ Why did 1 evah leave Ya- lobusha county ?” ‘Strange! strange! So she is still workin” the matrimonial bureau game, an’ she’s caught ou! mu Yes; and she will be the death of me, I reckon I shall wind up right heah with you. But, see heah! If she’s your wife, how can she prosecute me for breach of promise?” ‘* My friend, I’ve been in New York ’most a. month altogether, an’ I know all about the lace. I’ve nevah asked about divorces, but } on’t doubt that she’s got one before now, an’ is a free woman. I tell you this isan awful coun- try, uF heah,” ‘© 'W hat shall I do?” ‘Well, jirst, I reckon you had bettah help me /” replied Andrew, frankly. ‘‘ You ean put the woman off for awhile— But, say: don’t you pass them two counterfeit bills t gave you,” The Judge’s face assumed a look of stony hor- ror, ** Why, I’ve passed one, already !” ** You have?” r pe Ks ‘Then you stand a right smart chance of bringin’ up right heah with me,” ‘‘] had forgot it,” groaned Hackland:; ‘TE nevah once thought of it until now. 1 ad it, supposing it was all right, and then forgot all about it. Ob! I’d give a thousand dollars if I were back in Yalobusba county !” ** Don’t go until you help me out! There ain’t. no danger fora little while, an’ I must be helped right away, or I shall spend my whole life in this gloomy Bastile, Say you won’t desert me! Say you'll see a detective for me!” ** 1 will, and I reckon I’d better see him for myself, too, or I shall never get to go back home, Yes, yes; I'll attend to it, at once,” They separated and Mr, Hackland went out but he was a most miserableman, He wanted to dodge and skulk in unfrequented places, but could follow the broad streets only. He was Rrogressiny in this fashion when a man bore own upon him, and he saw the manager of the matrimonial bureau, Mr, Norman Holmes. _ ‘** Halloa, old stock!” saluted that person, air-~ Ny: ‘you are just the man I wanted to see, y client tells me she thinks you are going to skip the tra-la-la, Now, that won’t do; you’ve promised to marry her, and the law holds you. See?” ‘* The—lady is wrong,” faltered the Judge. ‘*'That’s all right if true, but we must have proof, Come with me to her house and put up five hundred dollars as security, or I'll have you arrested at once. Whatdo you say?” CHAPTER XVI, PLAYING THE LAST CARDS, ADREA started when she saw Pear! flourish the knife before Captain Warland’s face, This was carrying matters too far, in her opinion, and ske was about to enter the room when Bage- ment Bert checked her. ‘‘Don’t be in a hurry,” he advised, ‘‘ She’s only showing off, an’ ’tain’t likely she’)l try to use the sword, She’sa great bluffer, Pearl is; but you an’ me know how innocent she is at heart,” The speaker looked slyly ‘at Adrea, but the sarcasm was lost. Adrea was listening only to what was said within the room, Captain Warland had made a disdainful ges- ture when the knife was thus flourished. ‘*Let us have no stage theatricals," he ad- vised, ‘* Actors, Indians and mummies can afford to act in an SeAeurated style, but it don’t go in real life. Put up your knife, madam!” ‘** ‘You have not promised yet.” COlr eDOOKS.coOm