Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 899 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 Basement Bert. thinkin’ seriously of takin’ a wife from such a place?” ‘* Yes,” admitted the Judge, faintly. ** Don’t do it!” Hackland was silent. ** Pause,” added Andrew, solemnly, ‘‘ before it’s too late!” ‘* I ain't sure but it’s too late now.” ‘* You don’t say so!” ** The fact is,” explained the Judge, nervous- ly, ‘‘ I’ve paid a deposit down for the woman.” Mr, Moss rolled his eyes upward. ‘* Unhappy man! you are undone!” he de- clared. Lhe dignified gentleman from Yalobusha county wiped away the perspiration which had strangely beaded his forehead. ‘Perhaps she is all right,” he suggested, feebly. ‘* Don’t you b’lieve it, sah! I’ve been to New York twice, an’ what I don’t know about the lace ain’t worth knowin’, Same as to the girls eah,too, The bureau man says all. the girls come thers to get husbands. Now, what can you expect of people who marry that way? It ain’t right; it’s iniquitous; but all the girls heah do it, an’ they’re all swindlers. Back out o’ your bargain, Judge!” ‘* He can’t,” hoarsely remarked the taciturn man who was dog-bitten. **1’m afraid that’s so,” Hackland agreed. ‘I gave her money to bind the bargain, and the en- gagement was made in the presence of witnesses. She said she could trust me, for the laws of New York were framed so that a man could be arrest- ed anywhere, brought back heah, made to marry the woman he had jilted, or go to prison for twenty yeahs.” ** Nothin’ is too bad for this place; I presume that’s the law.” ‘*) wish I were back in Yalobusha county,” the Judge admitted, nervously, ‘** You had better bein your coffin than mar- ried to a matrimonial bureau woman.” This statement was most lugubriously made, and though it sprung from pure sympathy, had the effect of scaring out of the Judge what little courage he posseased. It left him about par- alyzed with fright. CHAPTER VI. OLD FOES MEET, WHEN Basement Bert reached the cobbler shop he found only Ches Day present. The cob- bler who employed them had seized upon a lull in business to go off and enjoy himself, ‘* You’re jest in time, Bert,” Ches declared. ** Her what?” ** I’ve got leave ter shut up the shop at dark, an’ I’ve got a job fer both on us. You know what the Richelieu Rifle Club is, don’t yer?” ‘** I’ve heerd of it,” ‘“‘They give an entertainment this evenin’. Their grand annual shooting-match comes off a little later, an’ this entertainment is ter get folks interested in them an’ make the shoot a success. Lot’s o’ milit’ry men is invited,” ** We ain’t sojers.” ‘* No, but ve got a chance fer you an’ me ter be waiters,” **{ ain’t a beer-carrier,” ‘*'Nor me, an’ that ain’t w’ot we’re ter do. Gineral errand-boys, was w’ot the feller who hired us called it, ‘We're ter be on hand, all dressed up in uniforms which the Rifle Club fur- nish, an’ ef anybody wants us ter run an er- rand, why, there we be,ready ter doit. Mebbe nobody will want us, an’ we sh’a’n’t need ter do a thing, but we git our pay jest the same. Jim- iny! but you ought ter see the uniforms, with the bright buttons!” ‘1 ain’t much mashed on jim-cracks an’ fur- belows,” Bert sturdily replied, “* but gold, silver an’ paper-money I never was teached ter de- spise, an’ ef you’ve duly ’vestigated this scheme, Ches, why, l’m with you,” ' Thusit was that, at the proper hour, the two boys presented themselves at the rooms of the Richelieu Rifle Club, and were duly appareled in the uniforms which had so excited the won- der and admiration of Bert’s friend. They bad been selected because they were considered about the right size to fit the uniforms, and vice versa; and even practical Bert could not despise their appearance when 60 neatly clothed. The quarters of the Rifle Club consisted of one large and two small rooms, and a hall which they used or rented to others, as occasion de- manded and permitted. On this evening there were to be stage-exercises by selected talent, but of brief order, as the main point was to have opportunity favorably to impress the in- _ vited guests, The latter began to arrive, and, after being a by a committee, were given seats in the all, Bert stood near the reception committee, by order, ready to make himself useful, and heard a bewildering announcement of military titles as generals, colonels, majors and minor lights arrived, In none of these was he greatly interested for some time, but he finally caught sight of one man whose appearance attracted and held his attention. He was a man of fifty years, with bushy side-whiskers and’a figure of military mold; but it was not this that interested Bert— it was a familiarity about the gentleman which he could not account for or understand. The gentleman advanced toward the com- mittee uader the escort of a ponderous German rifleman, ‘* Captain Mark Warland!” was the announce- ment, Warland! Basement Bert knew in a moment why the captain’s face was so familiar; he bore as strong a resemblance to Meredith Warland as was possible when their respective ages were considered, ‘* Father an’ son, Ill bet good money!” thought the cobbler, ‘‘In some way I must find out where the fam’ly lives; | may want ter see Meredith some time,” The captain said a few formal things in a very dignified way, and then was escorted to a seat. Just then Bert was sent on his first er- rand. When he returned, there was a lull in the arrivals, indicating that nearly all had reached the place. Warland was still in his seat, Bert’s gaze wandered over the crowd fora while, and then again became fixed. Above a tall hat rose a huge white feather, and under the hat wasa woman. Bert whistled softly. ‘** Pearl Montressor!” he muttered, The discovery was striking, Pearl was ac- cused of decoying Meredith’s sister away, to make a sharper of her, and if Bert’s theory as to Captain Warland was correct, the woman ani Adrea’s father were within ten yards of each other. “Wal, now, this is peculiar,” the cobbler commented, ‘‘an’ it wouldn’t s’prise me ef there was a small cyclone here, yet. Who’s with Pearl?” He looked, but failed to recognize any of them. Two couples were together; flashy, over- dressed people, who were no great ornament to the company. Having already seen something of Pearl’s audacity, Bert suspected she had in- sisted upon taking risks which her partners in crime would not venture upon. Matters remained unchanged until the brief stage performance was over, Then the guests bestirred themselves, and, though some went home, the majority went to the Rifle Club’s apartments, Bert kept watch of Captain War- land, and finally made a bold push and ap- proached him, ' ‘* Beg pardon, sir,” he began, ‘‘but may I speak ter you?” ‘* Certainly, my boy,” was the affable reply, ** Do you know one Meredith Warland?” ‘“*T ought to; he is my son,” ** He lives—” Bert paused, and the old gentleman cious- ly observed that Meredith lived with ‘him, and gave the street and number. The boy flashed another look at Pearl Montressor, She was talking vivaciously with her friends, and he felt sure that, if she and the captain knew each ones: by sight, neither had yet discovered the other, ‘*] b’lieve,” continued Bert, lowering his voice, ‘‘that you hey a daughter named Adrea—” ' ** What?” Captain Warland flung out the word like a shot, aud his expression of calm dignity gave place to an angry glare. It seemed as if he were trying to transfix the boy with that glare, and the former began to realize that he had made some mistake. **T kin help you ter find ber—” ‘* Who asked you to help?” ‘* Nobody, sir; but I thought—” ‘You had no business to think, Don’t you do it again; it will bring you into trouble. And don’t you again refer to the young woman you have mentioned. She’s no daughter of mine,” ‘* Beg yer pardon, then, I meant no harm, but as she is Meredith’s sister, I s’posed she’s mony, daughter and you would want ter find er oy don’t know how you have zained know- ledge of me and my affairs, but this I will say: Adrea Warland has chosen her own path and er i EL LL LL LLL will have to walk it; I have cast her off forever.. If you have more to say, go to those who want: to hear it.” Before Bert could say more the captain left him, his emphatic manner showing that he meant all he had said. ‘Wal, now, I guess I ain’tin it!’ the cobbler soliloguized, ‘*'That bold warrior will bite my ears off ef I say any more on that subjick, an’ my lips is sealed, as’twere. I was goin’ ter tell him that Pearl, dear girl, was here, but I never punch a cross bear with a stick twice. Our war- rior kin sailon— Hullo!” The boy had mechanically watched Warland as he moved away, and thus became witness to a striking scene, The workings of chance sometimes seem like the malevolent design of some secret power, It was sowhen Warland and Pearl, moving around among the other guests who went to make up the crowd, neared each other and finally came face to face, Discovery was simultaneous, and each stopped as short as if from the effects ofa blow. Face to face they looked one another in the eyes, while Basement Bert read much in their expressions. Surprise was on both hands, but the captain be- trayed anzer and disgust. For several seconds the scrutiny was kept up; then Warland turned and walked away without a word or sign of recognition. Bert expected to see the woman’s face lighttup with vindictive triumph, but, instead, she looked after the captain very soberly. ‘* She’s afraid of him!” the cobbler decided, For awhile Pearl hesitated; then she suddenly turned and sought her companions of the eve- ning, They spoke together earnestly, and Pearl, at least, was excited. She made frequent gestures toward Warland, who had walked into the deserted hall, and, standing at the rear, was looking down over the rows of seats. Pearl was good-looking, and could act the lady when she tried, but she belonged to the ‘*hammer-and-tongs” class of women who are very emphatic in their ways when not under re- straint, and Bert read her well now as she made her sweeping, belligerent gestures. Finally, she and both the men moved toward the hall, where Warland still stood with his face. turned away, in deep thought, | _ ** Mischief afoot!” Bert exclaimed. ‘‘ What’re they goin’ ter do ter the cap’n? Guess Ill take a hand in the game!” CHAPTER VII? THE SLUNG-SHOT. CONVINCED that the woman and her allies in- tended harm to Captain Warland, Basement Bert moved quickly toward the hall, but ina way as quiet as that of the plotters, He had not misjudged Pearl. There was good’ reason why she should hold Mark Warland in doubt, and, meeting him there, she conceived the idea that he was present as herenemy. She would have left the club-rooms without delay, but believed that she was watched, and that her departure would bs opposed. n all of these conclusions she was wholly wrong, but guilt had conjured up phantom. fears. Fearing arrest she had determined to make a bold stroke for liberty, and thought the first thing to be done was to dispose of Warland. With the Jeader of the opposition out of the- way, escape might be possible, The schemers were ahead of Basement Bert, and he saw them bearing down upon Warland: might have made more noise, cautiously. The eep thought. for he was in tween him and his coveted victim. Up went his hand, and he swung the missile- to deal the blow, It was the chance for which Basement Bert had waited, and he gave an agile leap forward. A sharp push spoiled the ruffian’s aim, but was too late to check the blow, from its wielder’s hand and struck the floor with -force which sent a hollow reverberation through the almost empty hall. Captain Warland gave a great start, turned quickly and saw the group before him. Bert quietly picked up the slung-shot. “You kin thank me,” he remarked, “that. your head is all in one piece,” The soldier looked at the missile, and further’ words were unnecessary to explain the situation... “So you would add murder to your other” crimes!” he exclaimed, addressing Pearl. She. was silent, and he added: One of Pearl’s: allies produced a small slung-shot from his. ket and cut down the intervening distance. Down came the: slung-shot, but, failing to find its victim, slipped: | . — mgt - ee ee