Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 970 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

— 10 He rose, took five of the cards from the others, selecting them carefully, and with hammer and tacks nailed them to the wall ina row. ‘*They were the ace of diamonds and four queens, the latter combination being of four ‘suits,’ one card of each, ‘* This done, he laughed loudly. ‘**That’s a better poker ‘‘ hand” than I’ve held to-night,’ he declared, ‘but it didn’t win!’ ‘¢ The curiosity of my sisters was aroused, and they asked for an explanation. Prudence made him hesitate for awhile, but it was overbalanced by the courage of whisky. ‘**T have a friend, Captain John Twiss,’ he said, ‘who did up a poker-player as he was about to win on that *‘ hand,” ‘Twiss was not in the game, but his friend was against him who held those cards. Just before, or after, the holder was about to show them, Twiss stabbed him in the back. The man he killed was Hiram Bentley!” In a hard voice, Parson Joe asked: ** Why did he do it?” **T ony know that Bentley was in his way. And you really are his son.” ‘‘Tam! Yes; the son of a man who was foully slain; who was robbed of life without a moment for preparation; who was struck in the back as only the vilest and most cowardly of men would strike.” ‘¢ And don’t you know the cause?” { do not.” ‘* Strange!” ** Until very lately I knew no more than that my father was dead, but when I learned that he had perished by violence and that his death had never been avenged, I took up the trail, resolved to learn all,if I could, and then punish the man, or men, who had done the deed. Convinced, by my meager information, that I must look among the sporting fraternity, I became a so-called ‘sport’ myself, and have led the life tirelessly. Yet I never could quite go the pace, and some of the ees, | have suspected that I was not what I seemed, but I think no clew to my pur- pose has ever leaked out.” Parson Joe spoke musingly, as if reviewing the past merely for his own satisfaction, but suddenly aroused, ‘* Surely,” he added, ‘‘ you must have gained some inkling to the motive of the crime?” “*T did not, If Glass knew, he did not tell, Possibly he did know; I can’t say; but he told what he did simply because liquor had made him reckless, and seemed to make a clean breast of all, Dorcas questioned him closely, and she had great influence over him, but he told noth- ing definite.” ‘* Well, what I have learned of you is of great value, and I hope much from it, I know now who the destroyer was; the next step is to learn the motive. After that—revenge !” ‘*Surely, you won’t usurp the p of law?” cried Matilda, in dismay. ‘* You won’t take the matter of revenge into your own hands?” ** Who knows?” _ Making the reply deeply, somberly, Parson Joe abruptly rose. He walked to the door, and then turned, ** Madam,” he added, ‘‘I am working in a cause where I cannot show delicate treatment to scoundrels, Just what I do will depend upon what I have chance to do,” So saying he walked out, and his expression indicated that he meant all he suggested. He rejoined Ahoy Abe and Tim, If he had talked frankly to the former, it would have been bet- ter for himthen, for the Dock Sharp had not told all that he saw on board the Brown Bet af- ter Elise’s adventure. Mutual explanation would have advanced the case rapidly, but Par- son Joe had been thrown into a gloomy mood and did not feel confidential. ; Despite this reserve, he was friendly toward his companions, Tim they soon left, and, short- ly after, Joe and Abe separated, ** I'll soon see you again,” remarked the sport, and then he left his ally. ‘‘f kinder hate ter have him go,” muttered Abe, as he watched the other out of sight. ‘I take an interest in him, an’ I’d sort of like ter stick by him. The night is still young; why couldn’t we have putitin by doin’ some work? There’s nothin’ stirs up sluggish blood like right- down solid work. body gathers barnacles ea the perspiration is lavin’ his Choctaw row. The Sh was wandering on as he indulged in these philosophical thoughts, and it sud- denly occurred to him that he was nearing the place where he had last seen the schooner Brown Bet. — ee Le eee me em Eo ———SSSSSsSeSesSsSseesSeseeesE He decided to have another look at the scene, and took steps accordingly. . The Brown Bet still lay in the dock, a fact which he had not wholly expected. Donbting Captain Twiss as he did he had all along felt a suspicion that the mariner would get under way and leave New York, but there the schooner was, surely. Either Twiss had not tried to drown Elise, or he thought his secret safe, There was no sign of life on the craft. It rocked lazily in its place, but might have been wholly deserted, as far as outward signs went. Abe cautiously approached by means of a de- tour which took him to the place without much danger of his being seen by any one on the schooner. Then he sat down with his back toa box and looked and meditated. He did not pay much attention to anything back of him, but believed he was fairly alert until, happening to look to one side, he was sur- prised to see a man standing on the pier within a few feet of him, ‘*Old Grasshopper!” Abe breathed, rather than spoke, the name. The discovery was a surprise, What was the mysterious ‘longshoreman doing there? It was impossible for one who knew him well to be mistaken in his identity. Nature had put dis- tinctive marke upon the man, which made his figure recognizable whenever its outlines could be traced. The Dock Sharp, sitting quietly in the shadow of the box, was out of sight and enabled to watch everything. He saw that Old Grass- hopper was looking fixedly at the schoorfer,*and the fact tended to arouse all of Abe’s interest. ‘** Ts the feller saint or sinner?” the latter won- dered, ‘‘How much, an’ how little, does he know? Kin he tell all these secrets ef he would?” The ‘longshoreman’s long survey was done at last, and he turned and walked along the pier to the street. Abe did not stir. He hada vague idea that more was to follow, and evenif the man was about to leave, he did not think he would be rewarded for following. As well remain there and see the matter out. Old Grasshopper crossed® the street and dis- appeared in a bouse on the opposite side, but his absence was but temporary. He reappeared, and with him came a second man, They bore some burden which was large but did not tax their strength greatly. With this they came again to the pier, walking down boldly, yet without undue noise, As they drew near to the watcher he discovered more, and enouch to startle him. The burden they bere was a box, and it was in the form of a coffin! | CHAPTER XII, STRANGE EVENTS ON THE SCHOONER, AHOY ABE felt a peculiar sensation as if his nerves had been suddenly charged with elec- tricity; a feeling commonly . denominated ** creepy.” That the box was a genuine coffin he did not doubt, but what figure did it cut? Plainly, if it then had any occupant, the latter must be of light weight. More likely it was vacant. Was un Occupant to be found on the schooner? He thought of Elise’s narrow escape from death ; of the peril which, he suspected, had been deliberately forced upon ber by Captain Twiss, Had another, more successful, attempt been made to end her life? He had not thought to see Old Grasshopper appear as an ally of the skipper of the Brown Bet, but tiiere was no such thing as placing the ‘longshorewan positively for good or evil. Quietly the coffin-bearers advanced. to the schooner, and by means of the gang-plank, walked upon her deck. At this point their manner became so cautious that Abe’s fears for Elise began to abate. But what meant the strange proceeding? After a little delay the coffin was set down, and its late bearers went to one side, Dark asit was, Abe made cut that they had gone below, and a reckless resolution came to him, He determined to seek the vessel’s deck and see and bear all that occurred. ‘*Ef Old Grasshopper is up ter mischief, an’ goin’ ter git ketched, I guess 1 kind stand the riffle as well as him, but ef thar ain’t any war, why, lll be safe, anyhow.” Abe did not half believe in his theory, but he did £0 on board the Brown Bet at once. He could not, when he arrived there, understand the silence which was over the craft. One would suppose, after the scare Twiss had received when the skeletons were introduced there, that he would guard the place well. Despite that, outsiders now had free run 0 the deck, if not of the whole craft. Going near to the box, the Sharp found that it was a genuine coffin in all respects. dim glitter at one point gave him an idea, and he struck a match, On the coffin there was a silver plate, duly in-- scribed. He read with eager interest: *JOHN TWISS, CAPTAIN OF THE SCHOONER BrROwN BET, Died July 27, 1888, Gong But Not ForRGOoTTEN!”’ Abe had a fresh surprise. The inscription held a world of meaning. It declared that Twiss ‘‘died July 27, 1888,” yet it was then only July 20 of that year. The specified date was still a week away. Was there a distinct and ominous threat in the line? The final words, too, were suggestive. ‘‘Gone but not forgotten!” Some one, itseemed, would remember the skipper. But would it be with kind- ness? Abe did not think so, and for his safety, if not forany otber reason, he was glad he was not John Twiss. Old Grasshopper appeared in a new light, and as the mariner’s enemy, if Abe did not err. His match had died out, and he, suddenly aroused and determined to have a view of the cabin. Advancing cautiously, he looked down, Old Grassbopper and another man were there, but nobody was visible who seemed to belong to the schooner. This fact made the mystery deeper, John Twiss might have learned that he was in peril, but be was a brave man, and hardly the one to abandon his craft without an effort to get it away. The ’longshoreman looked disappointed and angry. ‘“‘T don’t understand this,” Abe heard bim say. ‘*She may have gone ashore with Twiss,” ‘‘The sailor said she was here,” ‘* But that was some time ago.” ‘*Can Twiss have spirited her away?” ‘* Looks that way.” Old Grasshopper clinched his rough band. ‘“‘Tf lam foiled, there will be dark work be- fore another day. 1 have played a patient game; I have worked in the dark and hung to plans long since laid, and it’s man’s way to staid by his plots; but if the current is running against me, I will show the power which is mine, But you don’t understand, of course— Enough! Make one more search, and we will abide by it!” The speaker turned away impatiently, and he and his companion began the work. Abe did not venture to descend, but kept his place above and awaited the result. He did not have long to wait for develop- ments; a cry sounded, and before he could locate: it fully two persons burriedly came in to to@ main cabin—staggered would, perhaps, be the better word, for one was supporting the other and their movements were uneven, It was Old Grasshopper and—Elise! The girl fell upon ber knees at the ’longshore- man’s feet. ‘Spare me! spare me!” she implored, holding up her clasped bands to bim. It was a picture which thrilled Ahoy Abe. The girl, dressed in white and witb her hair flow- ing loose, bad never been more beautiful, while the sorrow and alarm pictured in her face bad due effect. A strong contrast she was to the deformed man before her, and if she never had seen him before it was no wonder, if she was taken by surprise, that she was alarmed. ‘© Be calm!” he directed, ‘‘ Spare me! spare me!” she repeated. ‘‘Child, be at ease; no harm sball come to ou.” ‘* Let me go; let—” ‘* You shall go, and away from have come to take you,” ‘* What new plot bas Jobn Twiss formed?” ‘*T know not the plots of the man,” Old Grass- hopper replied, bis rough face darkening with the blood which passion flushed to the surface. ‘‘My work is not bis work, and I thank Provi- dence for it,” ‘‘ Will you take me where he cannot find me?” the girl cried, hope flashing to her face. * Xes, this place, I ‘‘Then may Heaven bless you!” ‘Tis your blessing I want, child.” ‘‘ You shall have it, a thousand times!” ‘‘Come!” he added, lifting her to her feet, ‘‘Come with me and you shall not regret it, An honest heart beats in the gnarled frame - at 225 —_ 2. 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