Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 913 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

; %. Ma tr. , 8, ree —— ---— Not long after- eee ee trator, with full power to act, ward, the elder brother died, ‘‘As the entire fortune left behind was in money, I had to give bonds ina large sum when the money was paid over tome, I had a great deal of trouble to get responsible men whom the Orphan’s Court would accept to go on my bond, 1 succeeded, though, and havesince held the mon- ey. The heiress’s father broke jail, and 1 had no clew to work upon except that in bis cell was found a scrap of paper bearing your name, I[ re- membered of having heard Lawyer Black men- tion the name, and, going to him, he gave me your address, and presumed, I could gain some information of you. 1 am verybusy with my ractice, and want to get this matter off my ands as soon as possible.” * **But you haven’t mentioned any nomes,” Mrs. Darrel reminded, . it is you wish to find?” ‘True enough, The name is Sefton.” ** Sefton!” Mrs. Darrel started and glanced at Roger, upon whose face there was an uninterpretable expression, ‘* Yes, ma’am—Joel Sefton!” the lawyer said. ** And the daughter’s name?” ** Sadie.” Mrs. Darrel leaned back in her chair and drew a long breath of surprise. Here was an astonishing revelation, to be sure! Sadie Sefton, whom she had snubbed and de- spised because she was poor, was, after all, an heiress! The haughty mistress of Darrel Manor dare not give a second glance toward her son, for she felt that he would return asmuile of exultance and triumph. ‘*Tt appears you do know the young lady?” Lawyer Coburn observed, stroking bis long side- whiskers, ‘* Yes, indeed,” Mrs. Darrel replied. ‘‘ Sadie isa model young lady, and has lived alone in her cottage a short distance from here ever since her father mysteriously disappeared, two yearsago. Tbat is, until last night, whea she also mysteriously disappeared,” ‘*Indeed! How is that?” ‘* Well, you see,’ and the lady smiled compla- cently, *‘ her disappearance has caused a lively sensation in the neighborhood, The theory is that she wandered out in last night’s storm, and, becoming bewildereu, fell over the cliff into the ocean,and was washed outtosea. Thisis the gen- eral belief. There aretwo persons, however,who know better.” ‘** Ab! Whoare they?” ‘* Myself and my son here.” ‘‘Tndeed? But, pardon me, if I fail to under- stand.” ‘¢ Well, you see, it’s a little family secret, and we have not seen fit to disabuse the neighbors of their opinion for the present. You see, their ie a will bo all the better by and by. ButI will explain: Mis: Sefton is engaged to my son, and has left for New York to secure her wed- ding trousseau.” ‘*[ndeed? This isa surprise. return?” ‘‘Wedo not anticipate her return until two days before the wedding-day—which is fixed for two weeks hence,” ‘‘Humt Well, really, this is disappointing. Tcanill afford to wait that length of time, and as for another trip here immediately, that will also inconvenience me.” ‘* Perhaps that can be arranged, Miss Sefton can meet you in Washington on her return.” ‘*But I shall not be there for possibly two months, having an Eastern estate to settle up. “‘How large is the sum of Miss Sefton’s in- heritunce, sir?’ Roger asked, speaking for the fir«t time, . ‘* Thirteen thousand dollars.” **[ infer from what you have said, that you brought the amount with you to settle with her here?” <P did,” ‘Then cannot some arrangement be made, so that the money can be left in trust for her? My When will she ‘mother and I jointly own this estate, valued at fifteen thousand dollars, and hesides have a bank-account of seventy-five thousand dollars, if ron like, you can deposit the money with us, and we will give youa joint receipt of trust, so that the money would be safe for Miss Sefton on her return,” Coburn shook his head gravely. **That would be a very unbusiness-like way of doing business,” he answered, ‘* [ see no other way than that I shall have to return home, and your affienced will have to wait until I can get an opportunity to see her in person,” ii t Keith, the Revenu ye é ‘ ‘ ‘ * ‘ « © ’ - . * “ 4 ee . : “ . ‘2 - * a « 7 ; : ; ” . - ‘ . ait : » . « ¥ } 4 ; i j . ab ‘ vaabd Tp a fr f —7 ‘ a » “a > 4» ad ~~ ror > rs 4 calf LP ioe ay Cl) aed 7 u * . , : ee A ‘ : : * o F 2 - - aad . ey uh as " ot M4 , -- ; ‘ , ei . * veh, * . . 7 : ° 4 -4 7 4 “ . - 4 ' ax" “ ‘ 4 re. ' ve “», i* « 7 «}* » ~ ** Could you wait here a couple of days?” ** Well, yes, in an emergency I think I could possibly spare that time, But why?” ‘*T’ve an idea Miss Sefton expected to spend a day or two with an acquaintance in Philadel- phia, lcould perhaps reach her there by tele- graph, and have her return home at once,” ‘*Very well. If you can do that I will wait, as I want to get the business off atonce. My bonudsmen are also equally anxious.to be re- leased. So if an early settlement can be ar- rived at, so much the better.” ** All right. Il'll saddle my horse, ride to the nearest telegraph station, and send a dispatch. In the mean time you must accept of the hospi- tality of Darrel Manor, and make yourself at home, for the accommodations at S—— are of a very inferior character, and [ could not think ‘‘ How am | to know whom | of allowing you to go there.” The attorney expressed his thanks for the hospitable offer, and accepted an invitation to breakfast. Immediately after the meal was over, Mr. Coburn was shown into the parlor and left to amuse himself, while in another room, Roger anil his scheming mother held an earnest con- sultation, Later on Roger mounted his horse, and rode rapidly away from the Manor. He did not bead toward the nearest telegraph stution, however, but toward the distant forest- crowned hills, amid whose fustnesses the head- quarters of the Moonshiners’ League was lo- cated, ** Sadie Sefton must be mine, now!” he mut- tered, ‘‘'There shall be no tomfoolery about it, either! That thirteen thousand dollars must not be lost, and it sha’n’t be, not even if—” He left the sentence unfinished, but there was a wicked gleam in his eyes that spoke volumes. CHAPTER IX, BUM BLINKER’S CALL, Mrs, DARREL, some two hours after her son’s departure, was seated in the parlor, making herself agreeable to the Washingt n attorney, when a kitchen domestic, on whose florid coun- tenance ‘*cook” was plainly written, bolted abruptly into the room, with arms akimbo, and eyes flashing with anger. ‘- Tf ye pl’aze, mum,” she cried, ‘‘ it’s mesilf as is wishin’ yez to come to the kitchen, to oncet!” ** What is the matter, Bridget?’ her mistress demanded. ‘Shure, an’ it’s enough’s the matter, so it is! There be a spalpeen av a tramp in the kitchen, a-makin’ himself as free as a lord, an’ shure he says he won't go out ontil he has an intervoo wid yersilf!” ‘* We'll see about that!” Mrs. Darrel decided. ‘‘Excuse me, Mr. Coburn, while I see what is gone wrong.” ‘* Certainly! certainly!” the lawyer replied, ‘‘ A mighty fine woman,” he added to himself, after she had gone ‘‘If [ wasa marrying man, I should feel inclined to think twice before As ri further than the charming Mrs, Dar- re}! He tipped back in his easy-chair, and in- dulged in pleasant thoughts of the mistress of the Manor, when a paper floated down into his lap. From what source it came he had no means of knowing, for, on looking sharply around, he could detect no other human presence in the room than himself, Not without a deal of ‘curiosity, he examined the paper, and found it to be the fly-leaf of a book, upon whith was written in pencil: * Pay no money to the Darrels under any circum- stances! I believe Sadie to be a prisover and in their power, At any rate, she has not zone to New York. Beon your guard that you are not robbed, Will see you later. ‘Kit Keira, Detic/ive /” Mr. Coburn could scarce repress an exclama- tion as he read the note. ‘‘ Kit Keith here ?” he mused, for the young Revenue Retriever was well known to him by reputation, ‘*‘ What in the world is he doing here, and whereishe?’? He arose and looked behind every article of furniture that could hide the author of the note from view, but all in vain, He was the only occupant of the room. Here was certainly a rig niger. £ At least it was a mystery to him, and he sat down to ru- minate over it. Meanwhile, let us follow Mrs, Darrel, When, accompanied by Bridget, she reached ** Well, you’re not likely to in another m : Z +" 4 EA -) i ad @ ia*, mi ig he ca << F 7 aa e Spotter. { | the kitchen, she saw a specimen of the unmis- takable tramp species, seated upon a work- table, engaged in munching away at one of Bridget’s freshly-baked pies, and, judging by his coatented expression, it suited his appetite to @ nicety. The fellow was none other than Bum Blinker, whom Kit Keith had met in Washington—the same individual, but now, if anything, dirtier, more ragged and dissipated in appearance than then, As Mrs. Darrel entered the kitchen, he looFed up, and nodded familiarly, ‘* Howdy do, Matilca?’ he saluted, ‘‘ Glad ter see you! Lookin’ jest as hale and hearty as ever, I perceive,” ‘*Sir! what do you mean by entering my house and conducting yourself in this manner?” Mrs, Darrel angrily demanded, turning white and red by turns, ‘“* Your house?’ chuckled Blinker, taking an- other nip at the pie, ‘‘ Who said it was your house?” ‘* | said it was my house, sir, and I want you to yet outof it instantly, or I’ll call for assistance to put you out,” ‘* Better not, Til. You know I’m a bad man, and I carrya pop. Set down and make your- self sociable, or it’ll be the worse for you!” His toae, as well as his words, implied a threat, and she knew it, evidently, for she turned to the domestic. ‘*Bridget, you can run up-stairs and see the chambermaid a few minutes,” she sug- gested, Bridget accordingly left the room, and then Mrs, Darrel turned upon the cool intruder, fiercely. ‘* Now, sir, be good enough to explain what brings you here!” she cried, fury stamped on every feature. ‘* Ob, several various things,’ the tramp an- swered, good-aaturedly, ‘‘One thing, [ had a kind of a hankerin’ to see the old place again. Then, too, my wardrobe was gettin’ depleted, my stomach empty, as well as my bank acccunt, and so methought I’d wander back again. Ain’t yer glad to see me, Til? Ain’t ye got a couple o fatted calves ye’r’ goin’ to kill, on account ’ the prodigal’s return?” Mrs. Darrel’s eyes now fairly blazed with assion. ‘¢ Joel Sefton!” she cried, ‘‘ I thought I paid you to Jeave this part of the country and never return?” ‘Sh! not that name!” he said, with a serio- comic gesture. ‘‘ Joel Sefton lies buried in the lock-up of a distant city. You are now in the presence of Bum Blinker, Esq., gentleman of eisure |” ‘* Yes, I know you’ve been in jail,” she hissed, ‘‘ond if I’d known it while you were there, you'd never got out!” ‘* Humph!” and Blinker looked disgusted ; ‘* no ail strong enough to hold me! Love laughs at ocksmiths, they say, and you know I worship you, or atleast [ do your money—which is all thesame. Howsomever, notwithstanding, never- theless, that’s neither heer northere, One thing that brought me back to these parts war to see my gal, Sadie!” ** You'll never see ler!” Mrs. Darrel said, tri- umph in her tone, ‘‘She was drowned during the storm last night!” Blinker put one finger to his left eye, and drew down the lower lid. / .*D’ye see any green thar?’ he chuckled, ‘* Waal, I reckon not, Matilda—nary green, you bet! I’ve beerd them theories, but they don’t go down my gullet. Thar’s one person knows whar my Sadie is, and he’s got to produce her, or ['ll make erow-fodder out of him, He’s yer stuck-up son!” ‘*‘ Roger knows nothing about your girl!” Mrs, Darr? cried, haughtily. ‘Ob, dowt he? Waal, jest wait till I get hold of him, and you'll find out.” ‘You scoundrej! Dare you threaten my son in my presen e? Leave the house, sir, or it will be the worse for you!” “Git out! Who’safraid of you ? I won't go till I git good and ready!” Blinker declared. may be the worse for you, instead of me!” cried: ‘* You came here ex ting to get money?” © “You bet!” replie Blinker emphatically, : * You couldn’t have hit the nail stra ‘hter on the bead if you had tried, Money is the very jewel I’m after, for, pon honor, I haven’t seen the shadow of a red centina mo is t ; } . ‘ . ' ‘ My ha 8 | an i ’ 7 6 a a oth 5 Ve ‘ av 9 “You'd better act a leetle more perlite, or it — Mrs, Darrel winced at this, and then her face grew dark with passion once more, as she spans Nie oe We) i oe a iy, ' > * 4 Ail 4 a oh wv * . a Pies . h 7 * V oS Ki.¢ Er rR >= = tl U ) ns , , : Seve . Ape ; the Mel, |