Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 899 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

— - a rs e- « - —~ . . 8 | er Fe Basement Bert. Pearl Montressor to the house, and had feared severe reproof from her mistress, Such being the case she bad determined not to mention the adventuress or her work, and this resolution eolored her replies to Andrew. ** Have I had co r itierd ?” Moss asked, ‘‘Have you? Well, you’s ought ter know.” ‘*] mean, when I was away. ‘Oh! Guess not; ain’t seen anybody.” ‘* Nobody been in my room, eh?” “3 on seen anybody,” was the unblushing rer That’s all.” Kate retreated, and Andrew looked solemnly at the gentleman from Yalobusha county. *t What do you think now?” ‘* Of course, somebody has been heah.” os The servant don’t know of it, "7 0.’ The J side spoke cavdecisialy: and pulled at his big gray beard as if to extract ideas from his temple of i ain ‘* Ts this a regular New York style?” he added. **T reckon,” Andrew did not ‘‘reckon” anything of the kind, but was eager to hold on to that money, “There are a good many rich men in this city,” pursued Hackland, ‘‘and I often read in bs ee ers about their ‘doing a good deal of with their money. I suppose a New York eviiliouaire spends moah money ina day than a Yalobusha county man does in a week, Now, it wouldn’t surprise me if some rich man had given you this, just out of pure good-will,” Mr. Moss brightened up wonderfully. No other theory could have been more agreeable to “T reckon that’s it,” he agreed. ‘¢ But how did he get in heah?” “Oh! there are a hundred ways, We needn’t discuss that. The main point is that I’ve got the money, an’ I sha’n’t go back to Horry county so very poor, afterall, This will make up for whatI give my wife to gitred of her, though not for what she prodigally wasted. But some otbah millionaire may make me anothah pres- ent. Aadrew’s spirits rose even higher, and he at- tempted to dance a jig, but long service on his Saea had stiffened his joints until they were not fit for such work. You feel right smart,” observed the Judge, “but T can’t join you. My mind ain’t that way. of What’s the mattah?”’ “You have alarmed me about the matri- monial bureaus, and | almost wish I hadn’t en- gaged a wife,” the Judge confessed, Oh! I reckon you'll come outall right. Yes, yes; | reckon you will.” Andrew spoke mechanically, for his mind was on his money, not on Hack nd’s matrimonial venture, To keep that money now became an absorbing passion, and he was afraid the Judge would go and spread the secret. This must be prevented, but how? He had but little faith in same having sampled them to his sorrow in he past, and wished to bind Hackland to him more closely. But how could do it? Suddenly he had the idea, ‘‘ Judge,” He remarked, abruptly, ‘I’m no hog, an’ | want you to shise in my good luck, Heah are two ten- dollab notes; take them as a present from me,” ‘* Well, now, sah, that’s a right smart gift!” the J udge declared, ‘* But [ have no claim on the money, sah.” ‘* Never mind, sah;takeit, That's my wish.” Hackland refused no longer, If money was so plentiful in New York that strangers were made recipients of it to sah an extent, why shouldn’t he share inthe shower? He put the money in his pocket, and after a short conversa- tion, left the man from Horry county, and started back to learn how Mrs, Sigers Long was progressing, Again Andrew took out the money and looked at it. He gloated over it as he never had loated over “the dollars gained by hard work v South Carolina; but his losses at the hands of his faithless wife had made wounds which only money could heal. Over a thousand dol- lars at one stroke! The healing process was begun. Anon, he had an ikea, Being an observing man, he had noticed that his big sot hat was not the style affected in New York, and he had cast many admiring glances at the tall, black, shining head-gear which was so popular with well-dressed men, He determined to have a tall hat at once, T two of the ten-dollar bills he went out, found a hat store on Sixth avenue and entered. The many hats in the upright cases, and the long rows of boxes in the rear of the store, dasz- zled him, but he made known his wishes to the clerk, selected the coveted article, and handed over one of the bills. It was taken to the cashier’s desk, but the clerk soon returned, ‘* Bee pardon for keeping you waiting, sir, but we te short of change, and shall have to senda boy out for small bills, Your own will remain at the desk, and we will delay you but a mo- ment,” ‘¢ That’s all right, sah,” returned Andrew, The boy went out, but returned in Jess than a minute. At his heels came a big, blue-coated officer. The clerk nodded to Mr. Moss, and the oliceman walked up to him, ‘Vou ki kin go wid me, cully!” he remarked, BIL fT i “Eh? What's that?” ‘* You’re my prisoner!” ‘‘Gineral Jackson! What for?’ ‘¢ Shovin’ the queer.” ‘Doin’ what?” ‘Oh, come, now! don’ tdo the innocent dodge, Jest take your medicine an’ not kick, fer you’s ain't init; all gents who handles de ‘stuff? is bound ter git throwed by it sooner or later. Your time’s come. March along, cully!” He put a big hand on Andrew’s arm and con- tracted the fingers until the bone of that good Horry county arm seemed to be in danger. ‘*Let me go!” Moss cried. “I ain’t done anything. Idon’t understand a word you say. W hat does he mean?” This inquiry was made of the clerk, who con- descended to reply in English: ‘¢ Your bill was counterfeit,” ** Counterfeit!” gasped Andrew, ‘* Dead counterfeit,” The Southerner was dumfounded. His vision of wealth faded away, and he felt poorer by a thousand dollars. He tried to rally, however, and sadly observed: ‘“‘Tll make it all right. Give me that one back, an’— The policeman uttered an indignant snort. “Wot yer given us?” he demanded. !' Guess you’s think we’re a lot 0’ greenies here, but we ain’t built dat way. Like ter get de stuff back an’ sneak out of it, wouldn’t ye? [Jl have you’s know no man kin shove de queer on my beat an’ then crawl out, Come on, cully.” ‘* You ain’t goin’ ter arrest me?” ‘* [’ve done it already.” ‘* But lll give this gentleman a good bill—” ‘De bloke is an old hand!” quoth the blue- coat, with a wise shake of hishead, ‘‘ He’smade up like an old farmer, and acts de innocent well, but it won’t go. Come’long before I snap you out ave yer shoes!” Andrew was in a profuse perspiration, but that and all his pleas for mercy were alike un- availing. The cashier bad at once discovered the bill to becounterfeit, and the employees of the store were just as sure as the policeman that they had nabbed a ou handler of bogus money. The unhappy man was taken away, and at once Popes md to Police Headquarters. On the way he had time to meditate, but was not sagacious enough to solve the mystery. That the money was fe Sine seemed certain, but how or why it had been placed in his valise he did not know, When they arrived at Mulberry street the grim front of the legal building struck further dread to his. heart, and the two big officers on duty inside the door served to complete his downfall, That he ever again would be a free man he did not dare to. expect; he left hope behind when he passed the grim entrance; and he was marched along to meet the chief inspector ina state bordering on collapse, The star of happi- ness shone not for Horry county. CHAPTER IX. A STRUGGLE OF MIND AND MUSCLE. BASEMENT BERT saw that Pearl was almost choking with anger, and, disregarding the odds against her, she made,an effort to drive Mere- dith Warland out of the house by banging the door against him, Her impotent fury made Bert smile, but no one heeded him; the principal actors in the scene were too much in earnest to take notice of him. ‘*You struggle in vain,” observed Meredith, coldly. ‘‘You may as well lead the way to Adrea,” *t She is not here, and I don’t know where she is. She has left me,” Pearl asserted, ** You speak falsely, and I know it.” ' §* How?” ‘* Were she once clear of you she would go Here’ sa good bill, . home, oe A ERS Es power that keeps her os tween happiness and ruin is the fiendish ancy you have gained over her. Pearl tressor—or Minnie Beaumont, or whatever yor" call yourself—you may as well bow to this fac Your day is over, and you must give Adrea up: N Will you do it at once, quietly, or do you covet * arrest for abducting ber?” ‘** 1 say she is not here!” Their voices unconsciously had been raised to a high pitch, and at this moment the parlor door opened and a young woman came out with a wondering expression on her face. ‘* What is the matter, Pearl? What—” She stopped short at sight of Meredith, and her manner became confused and frightened. “Tt is I, Adrea,” he remarked, gravely. ‘Why couldn’t. you stay where you belonged?’ demanded Pearl, bitterly. “1-1 didn’t know who was here,” faltered Adrea, ‘* Well, you’ve found out,” . Adrea,” cried Warland, ‘‘I want to talk with you, I’ve been searching a long time, and now, thank fortune, I see you again. Let me talk with you, sister; let me tell you how deeply I feel your desertion, and want you back again,” ** Go in there!” Pearl was'in a sullen rage, She would have ejected Meredith at once if she had been able; as she was not, she realized that the easiest way was to grant the interview. The open door was a source of danger, for if a patrolman came along, he might desire to know the meaning of the scene in the hall, Warland turned to Bert Lincoln, who had be- n to fear that he would be left out of the new eal, and remarked: “You will keep me company.” ** Allright, gineral; I'd sorter likea seat nigh by, [ admit, » Bert quickly agreed, Pearl closed the door wit a bang, and all went to the parlor. The woman’s face bore the same look of sullen rage, and it was plain that she only awaited a chance to show her claws de- cisively. The parlor bad no other occupant, and the quartette sat duwn, ‘* Adrea,” began Meredith, at once, ‘*T am here to ask you to go home with me,” ‘*T can’t go,” was the ready reply. ‘* Have you no regard for your brother?” *¢ For you I have all posssible regard, for you have been a good brother to me; but you know how I feel about father, He asked’ Pearl to marry him, and then backed out of the engage ment, I believea woman's heart should not trifled with thus—” ‘¢ You know his reasons; you know what he learned about—about Miss Montressor.” ‘‘T know what he charged against her, but I will not believe it, I have known her well for oe 95 and feel sure she is a true and noble man,”’ ‘Pearl blinked solemnly on hearing this bigh praise, and looked very demure, but could not avoid a sly glance of triumph at Warland, ‘‘ Be that as it may,is not your place with your relatives—” ‘*T will not return to Captain Warland.” ‘‘? do not ask that. Go with me, and I will make you a home independent of every one else, You shall have rooms, where no one will intrude upon you, and I will pay all your ex- penses, isten and heed what I say! Iam your brother, and no one has your wel bene more sincerely at heart, Will you go wit me?” ‘* No,” was the unhesitating reply. ‘You've got your answer; how do you like it?’ demanded Pearl, rudely. ‘*T am addressing my sister, madam,”’ ‘You are in my house, and you needn’t put on lugs. Give me no more airs, or Ill biff you in the face!” ‘¢ Adrea,” exclaimed Meredith, ‘‘do you hear this coarse, unwomanly language? an you hear it, and still believe in her?” : ‘© Youn irritate Pearl.” ‘¢ And does not she irritate me? Is it nothing that she has lured my only sister away? Adrea look back to our childhood; remember our de mother, who cared for us both so tenderly; re- member the happ py days of old. Adrea, you and I are our mother’s on y children, Must we be separated forever?” he app°al was earnestly made, and it affect- ed Adrea. She was headstrong, but not evil. The fears of her friends that she already had taken lessons in evil-doing of Pearl were un- founded, and she still remained ignorant of that woman’s evil life; but Pear! saw that, with her confidence, and quickness of mind, she. ae would make a rare companion i in wrong-doing if