Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 982: "The Girl Storm-Pilot" — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

a 8 The Girl Storm-Pilot. The loss of a minute’s time would be fatal to the hopes of Robin. He did not lose it, An ax lying near at hand was quickly in his powerful grasp, woen with herculean blows he sent one post after another from the sills, Tear- ing off some boards he followed up his work so rapidly that in little more time than we have tuken in telling it, be had leveled the building to the ground. Tne flames were thus checked, and the drench- ing rain soon extinzuished the patches of fire which had caught upon the house, so that the dwelling was spared, **] s’pect dar leetle to be afeerd on, Missus Lena,” he said, as she stood in the doorway, watching him in his prompt action. **‘lam so glad, Robin, You had better come in out of the rain, hadn’t—” ‘* Law sakes! look dar!” ho gasped. ‘A ghost!” The exclamation from the startled Robin Hood was caused by the appearance of a new actor upon the scene, It was the brave girl who had piloted the Sea Jewel into port. She was drenched by the storm and nearly exhausted, _ sight of her the old fisherman became more calm, ‘* Heaven be praised, my child, that you have returned,” he murmured, ‘‘I feared lest I should never greet thee again,” ‘*[ am with you once more, dear father; and the ship, thanks to your beacon, rides safely into harbor.” ‘* And he, Nyda?” ‘Is safe, father, if he is on boord.” ‘‘ May Heaven bless thee, darling, for this night’s work, tbe noblest and bravest ever done by woman!” ** Tut—tut, father, But pray introduce me to these friends; I see that you have visitors.” ‘* Forgive me, for | quite forgot them in my joy. **This lady is Lena Riverton of Cliffwood; my daughter, Nyda, Miss Riverton, The gen- tleman | do not know; but he seems in a sorry p! * eda he greetings and exp]nnations which followed soon made them friends indeed, At last Lena knew that she must return to Cliffwood, The old man and his daughter kind- ly offered to care for Wilfred, who was sleeping quite comfortably, it seemed, Before she went, they promised to keep his presence there a secret, if, possible, ‘* Never fear but he will have good care,” said Nyda, as Lena prepared to leave, ‘I will cure bim up for you, for I am a famous doctor. Come and see us when you can. There, good- ry proce na reached Cliffwood in safety, and she fancied without having been missed from the house, It was then nearly midnight, but there was a light burning in the sitting-room, and she saw rs, Royston at the window, The latter was impatiently waiting for the Leeady of her son, who came half. an hour ater, ‘‘ Where have you been?’ she demanded, fiercely. ‘*I have had an anxious time waiting for you,” ‘‘Tmportant work has detained me, mother. Has he come?” Last ee you mean your precious brother; yee he has come, But what does it mean? | ought—” | ** Don’t say a word, mother, We have donea night's work and our triumph is near at “IT do not understand you, He has come! ‘What worse could have befallen us?” ‘He will soon go away again, mother—go to never return,” Then he told her of the secret meeting at the old mine, and the plans that were laid, not even omitting the singular appearance of Walf Ranger and the startling scenes that followed. **? donot understand who that man can be. But after all it does not matter. Men whose words are as certain as death havesworn that he shall dié, One of their number fell mortally wounded by his hand, so that their oaths are sealed with blood.” ‘7 have seen a face to-day that startled me, Acton, who is old Neptune and his daughter?’ “T do not know, nor is there any onein St, Julian for aught I have been able to learn, who does. I think they must be vagrants,” ‘* But she resembles one I knew once—a friend of mine,” - “ A coincidence merely.” ‘* T suppose so; however, I must see her,” ‘© Toen you will have to act promptiy for she is likely t» leave these parts in a few days—with the sailing of tue Sea Jewel,” ‘*Good! I shall feel easier to know that she is not here, I will confess that the sight of ber filled my miad with apprehensions, ‘* By the way, Mr. Royston is feeling uneasy about Wilfred Morland, He has not come,” ‘‘ Never will,” said Acton Marble, coldly, and she understood enough by his tone not to say more, The following day dawned clear and beautiful, with little to remind one of the stormy night which preceded it, Dean Hammond rose refreshed and invigor- ated by sleep and rest after being tossed so long upon the restless sea, His reception had been more cordial than he had expected. His mother had feigned if not felt great joy over his return and Alan Royston had given him sincerely « father’s greeting. Acton managed to meet him with a show of gladness, though the hand that he extended to his half-brother was as cold and impassionate as ice. Royston felt great anxiety over the continued absence of Wilfred Morland. Acton Marble pretended to, He watcbed Lena closely to see what effect the announcement of his disappearance would havé upon her, To his surprise and satisfaction she received the intelligence very calmly, saying that he would doubtless return soou with a satisfactory explanation. Dean met her for the first time that morning, Nor was it an iatroduction to be lightly forgot- ten by him, He had traveled much and seen many pretty faces, to return to his old home h@art-whole, there to meet his ideal of a woman, From that time Acton Marble had another rival for the affections of Lena Riverton, She gave the young wanderer a cordial greet- ing, and noted with pleasure the contrast he presented to his half-brother. But her mind was with the sufferer in the poor fisherman’s hut; and she waited impatient- ly for the time when she could fly to him, It was past midday ere the opportunity She found Wilfred conscious and more com- fortable. He was able to converse with her, and in his fervent thanks he was profuse for the heroic kindness she had rendered him, to all of which she gave her gentle veto, asking it as a favor that be should not speak of it again. ‘*Tam more than pa in knowing that you are so soon to getwellagain. You cannot know how much I dislike that wretch.” ‘‘He is a bold, unscrupulous man. But thanks to you and my fair nurse here, I shall be able to thwart his purpose as far as concerns myself, I think I see through his scheming. Ay, how I long to be well again that I may re- turn to Cliffwood. My appearance will be a surprise in more ways than one, * a the way, has Dean Hammond returned?” ‘¢- Yes; and he is such a noble-looking man, so different from Acton Marble,” ‘*Tam giad to hear it. I wish him well. I must see fim as soon as possible, but 1am not strong enough for the interview now ” It was nearly night before Lena thought of returning to Cliffwood. Unknown to her as she left the humble abode two pairs of eager eyes were watching her. They belonged to Mrs. Royston and her plot- oo termined to see Nyda she bad persuaded Acton to come with her, as near as they dared to the fisherman’s hut, hoping to get a view of the girl should sbe leave the house, She bad not the courage to meet her. The appearance of Lena at the place startled the precious pair. ‘What does it mean?” asked Mrs, Ruyston, nervously. ‘* Oh, she took a freak to visit the old hut, I suppose,” he replied coreleay: attaching no im- portance to the act, ‘‘ You know she is always running off to some out-of-the-way place. i, Pochane now that she is gone, that girl of Old Neptune's will show herself.” ‘* How nervous I am, my son. Whatif this should turn out as I fear—” ‘‘ Hist! there she comes. Look sharpif you want to see the beauty of the hovel!” _ Nyda kad stepped out into plain view and stood gazing down the coast, her right hand shading her eyes from the oblique rays of the setting sun, Her long, silken bair falling loosely over ber™ shapely shoulders, transiormed by the sunlight into threads of gold, with a countenance of rare loveline-s and f rm roitly outlined in womanly beauty, she) resented a dazzling picture to, the enruptured gaze of Acton Marble. ‘* By Jove, I did not realize—” A low ery from tis mother cut short his speech, He turned in season to see her fall to the earth in » swoon, ‘* Here's a pretty go,” exclaimed he under his breath, Fortunately for him, Nyda had not heard the cry, and in a minu'» Mrs. Royston began to show signs of returning consciousness, ‘‘ Tg sie gone?” asked the woman, slowly open- ing her eyes at Jast, ‘Yes; but confound your weakness! you came near betraying us. ‘‘f could not help it, my son. Oh, take me home,” Half an hour later they entered Cliffwood, feeling that no one had discovered their ab- sence. Nothing of interest, or at least, worthy of mention, occurred during the next tores days. Acton Marble was relieved to fiud that Walf Ranger did not re-appear, though his disappear- ance was a mystery to the wreckers. However, arrangements were carried out for the fulfillment of their plans. Now that the time was drawing so near, the Sea Jewel was going to sail on the next day, Martle grew anxious, Dean Hammond had not changed his origical plan, and only that afternoon had told bis mother that it wss imperative for him to leave on the Sea Jewel. He would return in six months, She, with a pretext of grief, urged him to take good care of himself and return as soon as possible, not to go away again. That evening was the time set for Nyda W hitehead’s abduction. There was no moon, and but a few stars, so that the night was favorable for their nefarious purpose, To see that there was no blunder in the in- famous work, Marble accompanied the con- federates he had hired for the dastardly deed. Their plan was to lie in ambush before the house until all was quiet, when they would force aun entrance into the house, hoping to capture the girl without arousing the old fisherman, Perbaps they bad been lying in wait an hour when the door was seen to open and Nyda’s fig- ure was plainly revealed to them by the light - from within. ‘““Be ready, boys,’’ whispered the nervous Marble; ‘it looks as though the bird was going to fly into your hands, ake sure work of it and tbe reward ig yours. ‘¢ 7 must keep back, for it won’t do for her to see me, Ha! she has gone back into the house,” The door was still ajar, however, and a min- ute later the maiden reappeared, and pulling her hood forward as if to conceal her counte- nance, she stepped boldly out into the night. ‘Bent on a late errand, I vow,” mutte Marble. ‘“‘Sheis coming directly toward you! Don’t fail now. Follow your instructious to the letter.” With the whispered words he silently retreat- ed a few feet to the favoring shade of a thick clump of bushes, Unconscious of the maiden o&rriedly advanced, un crash in the undergrowth startled her. Before she could understand its meaning or cry out, the desperadoes had reached her side. She felt a heavy hand placed over her mouth, and in spite of her struggies she was quickly overpowered. From his concea}ment Acton Marble wit- nessed the consummation of his scheme with a fiendish chuckle, Having captured their victim without any outcry, they speedily left the place, bearing her in their midst, When they had disappeared from sight, Mar- ble ventu to leave his hiding-place, Shaking his fist toward the old fisherman’s home he muttered, under his breath: ‘Ah, old gray-head, I have struck you a blow to-night you may never forget. My triumph is bb the danger lying in her path, til a low With the satisfaction of those unhallowed reflections he went home to Cliffwood. As the Sea Jewel was to weigh anchor at sun- rise the following morning, those at the mansion were early astir. Dean had sent his trunks down to the vessel. G DOr