Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 982: "The Girl Storm-Pilot" — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

ett” ee gh 4 = — oe ; = s - ~- . = - a <<, » he -@ , ‘ > . a ainsy ” A eo You and I, my dear son, alone are left of the old ship.” Leaving the castaways adrift upon the track- less sea, we will return to St. Julian—to Cliff- w Lena Riverton’s disappearance was a heavy blow to all there, though it fell with varying ef- fect. Acton Marble, at the very moment of his tri- | umph, was paralyzed by the thought of his terrible mistake, He knew only too well that she would never return, Natures like his, how- ever, do not long bow to such grief, He had succeeded in the main. His mother was more uneasy. The object of her fears still lived. Her scheming brain was soon devising a plan whereby she could be re- moved. Alan Royston was nearly frantic. Day after day he paced his floor, refusing to see any one, He had done all that he could to find some trace of her in vain. Old Robin Hood, the next morning as soon as it was found that she was missing, stole down to Uncle Neptune’s to tell her that she had better return to Cliff wood at once, His ae rs may be imagined when they bake him she had left to go home the evening be- ore! ‘Fore de Lor’ den I’se done kilt her!” he moaned. ‘‘ She axed me fer ter cum down wid her, when I—dis great, brack, good-fer-notbin’ nigger—says I’se dat tired my pore legs drop short off ef I move ’em; an’ I’se only dat lazy!” They tried to comfort him by saying that she would soon return; but when the day passed and others succeeded it ‘without bringing her, they too w anxious, ilfred Morland’s agony was keen, and he chafed at his helplessness, yet his recovery was rapid, and at the end of a month he was able to move about with considerable ease, | He had been out of the house but a little— never far fromit. He was not prepared to meet Acton Marble yet. To his surprise he discovered the latter several times in the vicinity of the old fisherman’s, and once he had ventured to come to the house on some trivial excuse, At first, Wilfred thought the villain was look- ing for him, having learned from old Robin, perhaps, that he was living there. Then a sus- Sy more startling began to dawn upon his mind, He was in search of Nyda! There was no longer any doubt of that when, one afternoon near sunset, he called at the house, and asked her to goto Cliffwood with him, ‘My mother wishes to see you,” he said in ex- planation, ‘ It isin regard to Lena,” he added as she hesitated. ** Has she been heard from at last?” cried the a ay girl, ‘“* Yes; she is at Cliffwood and joins her en- treaty with my mother that you come at once,” Nyda’s first thought.was to refuse the sum- mons, but she hesitated, and to hesitate says an adage is fatal. The man seemed honest, Her father was away from home, but she reasoned that she would not be gone long, “T will go," she answered, “‘ but my stay muét be brief,” ‘‘ Then we will start at once,” he urged, try- ing hard to conceal his exultation, he quickly donned her hood, and throwing a light shawl over her shoulders, started with him, Wilfred Morland had not known of this in- terview, but from the small window where he was sitting he saw her going away from the house in company with a man. He failed to as ge the latter and wondered who it could be, It seemed the] more strange to him as Nyda was not in the habit of leaving her home unless in the company of her father, She had grown very dear to him during the time he had been there, and he dreaded for the end to come when.he must go away, He had fancied that he loved Lena Riverton, but be awoke now to the realization of having found the ideal of his heart. He could not deny that he loved the fisherman’s lovely daughter. Ay, there was another mystery! She seemed so much above her present surroundings that he fell to wondering if Old Neptune Whitehead had always lived in this humble sphere of life. Once he had ventured to broach the subject, when he met with sucharebuff that he never cared to mention it again, They had been wey kind to him, and he knew that he owed his life to their faithful care—to them and Lena Riverton. The Girl Storm-Pilot. eee What had become of her? What did her long- continued disappearance mean? In the midst of his reflections so mixed with joy and sorrow, his host returned. ‘‘Thereis a strange ship in the harbor,” he said, as soon as entering the house, ‘‘ They bear startling news, too. The Sea Jewel was lost at sea and every sou! on board perished! ‘‘ Where is Nyda? 1 came home to tell her this. But I must go down to the shore to learn the truth of the case. Oh, God! if it should prove true!” Never since the night he had set fire to his own house to guide the ill-fated ship into port had he seemed so excited. ‘* Nyda gone?” he cried, when Wilfred told of her absence, ‘* And you do not even know with whom?” **No: but here comes old Robin. He seems terribly excited, too.” **Oh, Massa Whitefoot! ‘as ’ou don’ heerd de news? Woland de debbil ’as cum’ bat tu St. Julian!’ ‘* What do you mean?” asked Morland. The old fisherman was too excited to speak, ** De new ship tole it,” ** Have you seen anything of Nyda?” ‘More de. Lor’ furgib dis brack, good-fer- nothin’ nigger, dat’s w’ot I cum’ fer to tell yo’! Den I hear o’ dis Woland—” ‘*But, what of Nyda?’ oy at Woodcliff! An’ frum de high talk— ‘* Nyda at Cliffwood?” cried the old man, wildly. “*‘WhatshallI do? I must go there at once!” ** Nay,” protested Wilfred, quickly, seeing that the other was too much bewildered to act with any decision. ‘‘ Let me go! Isee now; it was that wretch, Acton Marble, who came for her. I wasblind. But, itis not toolate. Be calm; 1 will see that no harm befalls her.”’ “ff you will, [ am too nervous to act, It has been too much for me,” Wilfred lost no time in starting for Cliff wood, and old Robin accompanied him, As they reached the mansion loud and angry voices were heard within, The clear, ringing tone of Nyda Whitehead was heard: ‘*Stand aside, Mr. Marble, and let me go home!” she commanded, ‘‘Not so fast, my fisher-maid!” exclaimed the harsh voice of Acton Marble, Morland stopped to hearno more. He sprung up the steps and opened the door without cere- mony, to enter upon a scene af startling inter- t - est, Bie sight of him Marble started back as if ot. Mrs, Royston turned pale and looked wildly around, ‘Will, save me!” implored Nyda, springing to his side, ‘* Never fear!” he answered. dare not harm your father,” “What means this?’ demanded Marble, re- ee his speech, ‘‘I had supposed you were ‘* Then I am happy to gt you. I hope you see your mistake now, Even the billet of an assassin does not rag find its victim, have been spared, Acton Marble, as you shall learn to your cost, ‘“*This young lady will return to her home with me,” ‘*She may go, but you do not until I know the meaning of this. Stop, dastard,” and he drew a pistol to level it at the other’s head. Nyda sbrieked and threw herself in front of her preserver, *« Spare him!” she cried, “Do not fear, my darling,” he said, calmly. ‘‘T do not fear—” Great confusion was heard at the door then, and the sound as of many footsteps, and ere the little group had recovered from their surprise the door was flung open and a considerable com- pany crowded into the room. At the head of the party was Dean Hammond and Lena Riverton, arm in arm! Behind them came his father, with an un- known lady beside him, whose countenance was radiant with joy. | Next came four stalwart seamen, bearing in ene = the form of the wounded wrecker, y ** These wretches CHAPTER XVII. CONCLUSION, Mrs. Royston, with a shard cry of terror, swooned, while Acton Marble staggered to the wall, where he remained bless, Alan Royston, having héard the confusion, entered the apartment. 15 Old Robin stood in the hall with chattering teeth and an anxious, scared look upon his dark, honest face. ** Uncle Alan,” said Dean Hammond, turning to him, ‘‘ you will pardon us for this seeming intrusion, but events have taken a singular turn, and the crisis has come as sudden to us as to you. ‘* What does it mean, Dean? We supposed you were dead,” | ‘* We have been into the valley of death, but, thanks to a kind Providence, we have been spared,” He would have said more had not the other caught Lena in his arms, murmuring bis joy at her safe return. In a moment Dean continued: ‘Uncle Alan, [ trust you need no introduc- tion to father, who comes back to us after these many years asonefrom the grave. My mother, too, Uncle Alan, whom I think you never met,” It would be difficult to describe that meeting in which joy and surprise were so straugely mingled, ‘‘ Curses upon you!” growled Acton. Marble. ‘* What farce is this? Has the sea thrown up its offal? But, I realize that I am not wanted in such precious company, so you will excuse me,” and he started towa:d the door. ‘* Not yet!” replied Dean Hammond. “ You have not learned all there is for you to hear. Your father lies there, He would speak to you ere he dies, and his span of lifeis almost ended.” ‘* Yes, Acton, my son,” said the low voice of the feeble man, who was suffering the keenest agony, ** my life has been spared to meet you once more, I haveprayed for this that I might, with my dying breath, beseech you to turn from your evil ways. ‘** All these years have I kept my secret from ou, but it is known at last, I su it is est so, And your mother, I would speak to her, too, ** Acton, you do not despise your misguided father?” Like one in a dream the other stood beside him, Then as hesaw the tears coursing down the pallid cheeks of his dying parent he bent ‘| over him, his hardened nature softened, and these murmured words upon his Lips: ‘* Father, I never thought of this,” By this time Mrs, Royston bad recovered, and starting up, she gazed wildly upon the lookers- on, who seemed to her like so many specters. ‘* Eunice,” said the fair woman beside Walter Hammond, ‘‘ do you remember me after—” **T remember no one!” exclaimed the baffled schemer, ‘‘ I suppose you’reglad over my mis- fortune, I—” But no one heeded her words further. Walter Hammond had swiftly advanced to Nyda’s side, crying: ‘* My daughter—my long-lost daughter! You have not forgotten your father, Nyda,” ; Ry reply she sprung into his arms with a joy- cry. The explanations that followed necessary for the reader to know may be more briefly told in our own words. On the morning of the last night described at sea the castaways discovered a sail, and as the ship was bearing directly down upon them they were soon picked up, They were happy to find on this vessel Lena Riverton and those in her boat, they having been rescued the morning following the fate of the Sea Jewel, Their boat, however, was lost. Gilroy was still alive, and when he met Walter Hammond he confessed his crimes and expressed a desire that he might return to St, Julian. He declared that Mrs. Royston was an im- postor. She was his wife, and Acton Marble was hisson. They had parted within six months after marriage. She bad been anintimate friend of,and came to Cliffwood as,Evanan Noble Hammond to getthe property. He had known that she was there, but for his son’s sake had remained silent, : oi had not recognized in Walf Ranger his old riva Walter Hammond bad known a checkered life. After his fatal meeting with Edgar he was forced to flee to the Continent, his wife, of course being obli to remain behind. n after their son was born, but when the child was less than a year old be was supposed to have lost his life through the carelessness of we nurse, who had taken him down to the sea- ore, This was really the work of Eunice Marble. comicpoo Ly et i a J : Va e . : - ry + ‘