Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 982: "The Girl Storm-Pilot" — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

——_ A ee II eR De — — —~-- = — — a =X -_- - —~s ee eee oe ————— er a | e . ° LA TT mut get excited, Eva,” he said, simply. is going to be a stormy night—just such a tempest as it was on the night of Woland’s wreck,” Snatching the glass from his hand without re- plyinz, she looked eagerly over the distant scene, ** It was further to the Jeft, Eva,” he ventured as the glass became stationary in her hold, was almost iu the range of Sharp-face Rock that I thought I saw the vessel,” But, bis words fell upon inattentive ears, for 2d gaze became,fixed upon quite a different object. e wondered what held her attention so close- ly, and was about to speak again, when she started back with a lowcry, and the glass would have fallen to the floor had he not caught it, Her countenance was colorless, while her breath came in gasps. ** Whatis the trouble, Eva? Are you ill?” he criedin alarm, ‘‘I will ring for a servant.” **No—no, Alan! Itis passing away. I shall soon feel better. It was only a fainting spell. You know I am subject to them.” Even if he didn’t he was careful not to contra- dict her, so he silently waited for her to re- cover. Shortly she declared she was better, and the color began to return to her face, Anxious to know what had caused her sudden indisposition, he took up the giass again to scan more closely the sea view, ‘*Do you see her—in the boat?” Mrs. Royston asked, quickly, Royston had for the first time seen the boat with its solitary occupant, He looked surprised, and as her form was brought into plain view by the power of the lens, he thought he bad never gazed upon a fairer image. The excitement of her situation, of course, lent her an added interest, **'W ho is she?” asked bis wife in a low tone. “Old Neptune’s daughter. But, why under the sun is she out there? And she seems to be putting out to sea in the face of the storm, It is madness! She will be lost!” ** Olid Neptune’s daughter!” catching only his first words. ‘' You speak in riddies. It must be the Spirit of the Surf of whom [ have heard the servants speak.” ** Nonsense, Eva!” she is none other than Old Neptune's daughter, You have heard of the old sea dog, Whitehead, who came to St. Julian’s a few years since with such a_ beautiful daughter.” ** Oh, yes,” and a great load seemed lifted from her mind. ‘‘How much sheresembles one whom I used to know, Let me see the—” Hearing a light footstep she turned to meet the gaze of a beautiful maiden of perhaps twenty, coming into the room. ‘* Forgive me if I intrude,” she said in a soft, musical tone, ‘‘and I will retire at once, I was solonely. Mr, Morland and Acton promised to return before this time.” **So they did, and I had quite forgotten them, Butcome in, Lena, Alan and I were watching the sea; we have such a fine view from this win- dow. There is a boat, too, tossed on the angry waters, with only a girlin it, who seems to be rowing further and further from the shore, It excited me fearfully, and I came near fainting away.” ‘* Yes; come in, Lena,” said Royston, who al- ways felt safe in seconding what his wife had gaid, ‘‘ Perhaps you would like to take the glass?” ‘*] thank you, uncle. I always did like to watch the sea in a storm, ou are very kind.” : Lena Riverton was the child of his only sis- ter, of whom he had been very fond, so when his wife had suggested that she should visit them often, he was only too glad to acquiesce. ‘The truth was, Mrs, Royston had a scheme iu mind, which was that Acton should marry her. Everything seemed to be working in favor of her purpose, and his as well, until Wilfred Mor- jJand unexpectedly came to Cliff wood. He was a stranger to all in St. Julian, and, singularly enough, inquired for Walter Ham- mond, hen told tbat the latter had been dead for many years, he was much distressed, and asked if he had left any cbildren. ‘**One son,” said Mrs, Royston, who could re- main silent no longer, ‘and I am bis mother, Any message you havel am ready to receive, Dean, my son, is away from home,’ To her astonishment he replied, coolly: ‘*) bave an important message to deliver, but with your permission I will wait until your gon returns.” She could do no better than to conceal her repeated bis wife, “It | The Girl Storm-Pilot. anger, and as graciously as possible submit to his request, though from that moment she chose to consider him her enemy. For what reason she could not tell, but she felt that bis coming boded the present occupants of Cliffwood no good. This feeling was greatly heightened when she discovered that be had found favor above Acton in the esteem of Lena. More than that, she dreaded, ay, hated him. Strange, too, into the good graces of her husband he had won his way. But we digress, Mechanically Lena took the glass from her uncle and carele-sly began to survey the sea- bound horizon. Then she allowed her gaze to wander slowly down the rock-girt coast, until as if spellbound ber band did not move—her gaze became riveted upon a startling tableau. The actors were Wilfred Morland and Acton Marble in the scene we have described. The former had taken the pistol forced upon him, and the two were dofiantiy facing each other, waiting for the cry of the whippowil to end the terrible suspense, 4s With wonderful presence of mind, Lena River- ton maintained her self-possession, while she gazed asif in a dream upon the fateful.scene, her heart seeming to cease its beating, her breath to come in quick, faint gasps. She saw, she thought, only of Wilfred Mor- land’s peril. Until that moment, until seeing him stand there ia such deadly danger, she had not known bow deeply she loved him. She wanted to cry ont—to call him away, But she was powerless. Mute and motio less she watched them, The suspense to them was lost beside the agony she endured. Then the blaze from Acton Marble’s pistol flashed on the air, and his victim fell! She uttered a sharp cry and reeled backward as if she would fall. *‘Isn’t she reckless?” said Mrs, Royst.n, mis- taking the cause of her emotion, ‘‘ lt nade me shiver tolook at ber, I fear, my dear child, it will be too much for your nerves, Come, let’s leave Alan to watch her,” ‘*In a moment please, auntie,” said Lena witb a calmness that surprised herself. ‘*1 want to watch her a minute longer.” When she turned back the glass to the fatal scene, Acton Marble wasin the act of dragging the body of his victim to the water’s edge. Thevu Walf Ranger appeared upon the shore; and the twain went away together. No need for her to gaze longer. The shadows of night too, were fast shutting out the view. She handed the glass to her uncle and silently left the room. **T knew it would be too much for her nerves,” exclaimed Mrs, Royston. ‘‘ You might have known better.” He made no reply as usual, Finding it was too dark to continue their watch he laid the glass down. CHAPTER V. WILD WORK! LENA went out from the presence of Alan Royston and his wife in a dazed sort of way, he terrible scene upon the beach had un- nerved her, Was Wilfred Morland dead? She felt that Acton Marble was his murderer, What shoulu she do? What could she do? She longed to speak to some one—to unburden her mind, To whom? At first she thought of her uncle; but a mo- ment’s consideration showed her the folly of such & course, Within a few days she had discovered much which startled her as to the relative positions of those whom she had heretofore considered her friends, She was a brave girl, however, and she was not long in deciding upon her course of action. She would go to the shore herself and know if there was bope for ber lover! Having come to this decision, she knew no time must be lost, Night and storm were fast coming on, but she thonght not of that. The tide was rapidly rising, and she feared she would be too late to save him, Flying to her room, she hastily donned a heavy cloak and hood, not only to protect her- self from the incleme icy of the weather, but to disguise her identity somewhat. Knowing that she might need aid to effect her purpose, she next sought one of the men. servants,a burly negro who answered tc the name of Robin Hood without possessing any of the mythical hero’s prowess, , She knew she could depend upon his assist- ance, She found him dozing in the corner of the old kitchen while Dinah was bringing in the wood with which to cook the evening meal, ‘¢ Tuk byur, Missus Lena, w’ot fo’ yo’ trubble dis chile, be so comf’ble like? Bundle ou’ in dis hurrycom! Yo’ mus’ be cl’an daft. Ise reckon dis darky hed lanned to be tired all ou’ o’ breff,” ‘But you must go, Robin—quick, before Dinah comes back. It isa matter of life and death, Come! here is your hat and coat. Put them on and follow me, please.” ‘** OQ’ coorse, ef yo’say so, missus. I does enny- ting fer yo’, though I can’t fer my brack soul see w'ot yo’ wanto’ wife and breff,” saying which he followed her out of the bouse, The wind was now blowing a gale and the rain had begun to fall. It was so dark that they could not see the shore, though the sullen roar of the breakers was borne in a deafening tumult to tbeir ears. ‘Dis gwine fer to bea dreffel night, missus. Yo’ s’prise me a ’pearin’ ou’ in de breff o’ sich a hurrycom,” Lena led the way with increased speed toward the shore, The boom of the signal-gun and the regular peals of Woland’s bel! fell unheeded upon her ears, Ose question filled her mind: ** Wonld she be in time to save him?” ** W hoadar!” panted old Robin, as with diffi- culty he kept by the side of bis young mistress; ‘*vo’ bein orful burzvah and no mistook, How de wind do hooter. lcl’an t’ink de ruf o’ my head am blowed off! Missus, wharbeyo’ go?” Giving no heed to his incoherent utterances Lena rusbed on faster than ever, unti! at last the scene of the duel between Acton Marble and Wilfred Morland was reached, The spot was marked too vividly in ber mind to have missed it, In a moment she had gained the little cove between the rocks, where Marble bad dragged the body of his victim. None too soon had she come! ; The water already laved his unconscious orm, ‘* Dead! dead!” she moaned, as she gazed into his upturned face with its closed eyes and death- ly pallor. Then unmindful of the tide creeping over him she knelt beside him. ***For’ de Lor’ I’m s’prised !” gasped old Robin, with chattering teeth and shivering form. ** Here, Robin, help me bear him away from the water.” . ‘* Lor’ sakes, honey, stan’ ’side an’ let me do it lone.” With little apparent effort Robin lifted the insensible man in his arms and bore him to the nsward, where he carefully laid him down, “1 tink he lives, missus, Him buzzum tick like old mars’er’s watch !” ‘* Lives!” cried Lena, joyously, and again she bent over him. ‘* His heart does beat, but, oh, so faintly Robin! And see! he bas received a terrible wound. We must not let him lie here in the heen Ob; Will! I pray your life may be ‘* Shall I carry ’im up to de ol’ plantation, missus?” ** No—no, Robin! not there, Anywhere else out of the storm,” He looked surprised. ‘* Golly, missus, jess es yo’ say. S’pose we ee vim up to old Necktune’s? Dats nearer, su ‘‘ [think that will do,” replied Lena, doubt- fully, ** Let me help you, Robin.” ‘“*Go ‘long dar! Tink dis chile no sprawl ennyway! Me tote ’im.” Robin lifted the wounded man in his strong arms with seeming ease, and followed closely by Lena, he bore him away. After passing through a narrow strip of woods they came in sight of a fisherman's hovel, in the door of which was standing a small-sized, grizzly-bearded man, gazing earnestly out into the storm. ‘*See!l” cried Robin, as they drew near to the dwelling, ‘‘ Old Necktune dun’ waitin’ fo’ us!” ° He was evidently watching for some one, but not for them. He did nct see them until they were close to his door, and then he started with rise. ** What has happened?” he asked, with a look of anxiety as he saw Robin’s burden, cComicboo