Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 999 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

-—— ee ~2 a 12 The Man of Many Names, ™“~ Se Elta en eee eh Se EE CHAPTER XV. LANG AND DOUBLEDICK DISAPPEAR, IMMEDIATELY after leaving the cabin of the Storm King, Lang returned to tue frigate United States, where, having briefly reported the condition of the former vessel, he in- quired: ‘‘Is it still your intention to return to New York to-day, sir?” **As so.m as we have done what we can for that vessel,” replied Allun, **Glad tohear it! I wish to meet the com- modore as soon as possible,” The commander looked a little curious on hearing this; but made no comment, nor did Lang coffer any explanation. ** tie looks rather excited—more so than I’ve evor seen him before,” thougut Allen, as the other went below, ‘I wonder what happened to upset him?” In a sbort time the first cutter returned to the frigate for the carpenter, and with it came Shubrick and Canning, and tne latter’s assist- ant. Thev, A'len’s curiosity was satisfied— more than satislied, for he felt rather uneasy re- garding the lotter, ‘** Lord Geoffrey Gerard is bad enough,” he observed, *‘but this sealed packet— Well, I hope it’s all right, for Lang, or Gerard, or what- ever his name 1s—lI like him, and owe my life to m. **So do I like him, and should hate to think him such an unmitigated liir, as thig would seem to make him out,” retarne | Shubrick. ‘** Not necessarily a liar at all. Hemay have abandoned his English connections, to cast his lot with us. His story—as much as te has told of it—suggests and supports that idea.” “What! Give up an English lordship, for the privilege of becoming a plain American citizen?” “Just so! He is exactly the kind of a man who would do it. Tne Revolution furnished ow cf cases where, by casting tbeir lot with he’ sunky fortunes of the Americans, men were account d to havecommitted financial and social suicide—ia Eogland.” Tne big lieutenant shook his head doubtfully, but said nothing against this, feeling that Allen was uttering what he hoped, rather than what he believed. H ivi.g rigged a jury-mast, and made such repairs a3 were necessary and possible on the Storm King, the carpenter on the United States, ad those assisting him, returned at noon to tveir vessel, and, then, life wildfire, the uows fi w through the frigate that Lang had b-en recugnized as an English lord. Except to tae commander, Sbvubrick had mot menti-ved anything of the scene he had witnessed in the cabin of the Storm King, nor had Canning, and the latter’s assistant, (for reasons of his own,) bad also remained silent, but by t»e time the boatswain piped to dinner, every officer and seaman on board the frigate bad be rd a more or less exaggerated ac- count of Lang’s recognition by the dying pas- senger. Being volunteers, Allen made a point of hay- ing Shubrick and Lung dine with him every day, wolie the other officers took turns in doing 's0—~as i3 usual on board ships-of-war, Oo ais particular day, Doctor Canning and a newly appointe !, and tuerefore the less cheeky midshipman, were the officers who completed the commander's party. Except chat he was rather thoughtful, Lang's demeanor was unchanged by the events of the morotug, aud Wien, on his entering the cabin, Sbubrick offered him the key of the dead pasren.«r’s valise, he smilingly declined it, say- ing: “N —f you will guard that, and the bag, untit « «noponit before Commodore Decatur, I shutl est-e.n it a great favor.” / “Oa, certaialy!”’ returned Shubrick, as promptly us if he were nut mentally asking: ** W oa the mischief does this mean?” Nothing farther was said, or reference in any form made, to the subject of tue dead passen- ger, or bis recognition of oy What had roe was dire‘tly between Sbhubrick and ang, and until the latter chose to speak, Allen would not refer to the matter. As Liug did not mention, or even hint at, what nad happened during the morning, the dinver ws disposed of, and the party dispersed, without reference being made to the subject Paemee in the mind of each, t the ward-room miess-tuble there was less Yeserve, and the subject was discussed, though Tather guardedly, while at the midshipmen’s mess, and in the forecastle, where reserve would be looked upon as a species of insanity, and where no person or thing is free from the frankest kind of criticism, ‘‘ Lord Geoffrey Gerard * was a most interesting subject of con- versation, After dinner, everything being in readiness, Allen sent word to the commander of the Storm King that, if desired, he would convoy that craft to N ew London—the nearest port where she could be properly repaired. The cffer was promptly accepted, and both vessels were quickly under way the fast-sailing frigate under working canvas only, in order that she might remain within reach of her crip- pled consort, New London was made next morning, and here Lang left the United States, to go by land to New York, ‘* There is no telling what may bappen to de- lay your arrival in New York, and it is of the greatest importance—at least, to me—that I should get there as soon as possible,” he said to Allen, immediately after breakfast, while the vessels were still approaching New London. **T received, as you bave doubtiess heard, a package from the passenger who died yesterday on the Storm King, and believe it to be of im- portance to myself, as well as to others,” Lang explained, in response to the inquiring look caJled forth by his previous declaration, a And you wish to go to New York in order ‘*Open the package in the presence of Com- modore Decatur, and to confer with him regard- ins its contents, ‘*]¢ i was certain that the package contains what I believe it does,” continued Lang, after a short pause, ‘there would not be any necessity of going to New York, but as I may be mis- taken, I do not wish to open it until in the pres- ence of the commodore,” Greatly pleased to find his faith in Lang’s honest intentions thus confirmed-—so be looked upon the latter’s statement--Allen gladly con- oC to the proposed trip overland to New ork, ** You are right!” he declared. ‘*‘ Wemay yet fallin with that British brig, or be delayed by adverse winds, and thus you wauld lose valu- able time, I willsend you ashore in the gig, as soon as weare off the port, and you can then engage a post-chaise, or a fast horse, to carry you the rest of the distance to New York.” ‘‘Thank you. I'll go and prepare for the the journey,” returned Lang, and calling Double- saith who was on deck but off watch, went be- Ow. The proposed arrangement was carried out— at least as far as Lang’s going ashore was con- cerned—and when ths cutter landed him, he directed the coxswain to await the return of Doubledick, who was to accompany him (carry- ing his valise) as far as the inn, where he ex- acted to engage means of tiansportation to ew York, . At the expiration of an hour; the coxswain ate impatient, and dispatched one of the t’s crew to hunt up Doubledick, but after a half-hour’s search, the man returned without having been able to find any trace of the sea- man. : ‘‘ He ain’t in the inn where tae coach stops, nor ain’t been there,” reported the searcher, adding: ‘* 1) oked for him in all the public houses but neither him nor the lord was seen in any of them,” With this suspicious information tbe gig re- turned to the frigate, and, try as he might, ioe could not conceal his annoyanceon receiv- g it, The cutter was lowered, and a se t with a half-dozen marines sent to scour the town for Doubledick (for Allen would not admit, even to himself, that he felt any uneasiness regarding Lang, or that he would be glad to know that the latter had gone in the direction of New York), but the second search was as fruitless as the first, ‘The two of them went straight up the main street, after landing, and right through the town—as far as anybody knows,” reported the sergeant, Pay d’ye know that?’ sharply demanded llen, ‘*7—] don’t know it, of course—” ‘*Then, be careful that you don’t say it!” sternly ordered the commander; and angry and uneasy, he retired to his cabin, hoping Doubledick would yet turn up, but noon came and passed without any news from tbe missing man, and after dinner \the order to ret under way was reluctantly given. Proceeding slowly, and keeping a sharp Jook- " «* < - Cs . s - = WW + ‘ a” \w _ * ‘ ~ * m2 7.“ out for the English brig, the Argus did not reach her anchorage alongside tae United States until the morning of the third day after Lang had started overland for New York, Decatur and Allen exchanged inquiring glances when they met on the quarter-deck of the frigate. . ‘* Well, what d’ye think of him, now?” asked the former. ‘Lang?! He’s a mystery in some respects, sir, or rather was, for I suppose he explained it all to fe on arriving here?’ llen spoke cheerfully, feeling no little relief on hearing the question, which indicated that the commodore was aware of what had occurred on board the Storm King, but was completely upset when Decatur, in response to the last re- mark, said: ‘** No; he has not explained it all to me, for the very good reason that he has not been here.” ‘*Then, how did you learn—or, do you know that Lang started overland—” ‘‘T know all about it,” interrupted the com- modore. ‘‘I know all about his being recognized by a dying passenger as Lord Geoffrey Gerard, but I do not know, nor can understand, why you allowed him to leave—especially with that: package,” There was a tingeof censure in Decatur’s tone, and Allen showed that he felt it, but feeling, too, that he was not altogether hlameless, briefly ex- plained the circumstances attending Lang’s de- parture and Dick’s disappearance, ‘*Sol Master and man have disappeared, eh? Well, I must notify the autborities about the latter they ere already after the former.” ‘Then, bow did you learn of his leaving the ship at New London?” asked Allen, astonished to find bis superior so well informed, under the circumstances, ‘* Through a letter sent me from New London by a sneaking cur, who thought to gain favor by notifying me of the fact, and of a conversa- tion he had overheard some time ago between Canning and that man Doubledick, e want no eavesidroppers, Allen. Get rid of the fellow as goon as possible! He is Canning’s assistant,” That was the surgeon’s mate’s reward, and to close with him, we may say that, within a week, the fellow wasoffering his services and knowledge of American naval affairs, to the commander of the English squadron! CHAPTER XVI. * UNEXPECTED GUESTS, In official circles, Lang’s disappearance cre- ated considerable comment, as it did among the friends and relatives of the Ludlows, who had met the dashing privateersman, “It’sa great pity! He was a fine, gentleman- ly young fellow, and I liked him very mucb,” Mr. Ludlow declared, when Shubrick informed him of Lang’s disappearance at New London. “And an Eagiish lord, too!” he continued when Shubrick (who was all but openly engagd to Miss Ludluw) had been forced to tell the whole story. ‘* Well, it’s lucky he was found out before Nettie and he became too much in- terested in each other!” ‘Why, some people would consider him a ‘catch ’ notwithstanding the war!” ‘‘ Well, were nt that kind of people!” promptly and emphatically declared the pat- riotic old gentleman, ‘‘ War or no war, we want none of ’em,” he continued, speaking rather bitterly, ‘‘ We've had one dose of nobility in this family, and I lost a sister by it — broken-hearted. Plain American citizens are good enough for the rest of us. Shubrick made no comment, He had heard somethiag of the story from Miss Ludlow, and while not blaming the old gentleman for the feeling he bore against foreign noblemen, was by no means certain that Lang’s real charac- ter had been ‘* found out in time,” He was confirmed in this suspicion when alone with Miss Ludlow later in the evening. “Do you really believe Mr, Laug, or Lord Gerard,r iaway, Jack?’ she asked, “Tt looks very much like it, especially as his man, Dick, disappeared at the same time, Still, he was a strange f-llow, and may turn up trumps after all. I certainly hope so, for I’ve liked bim from the beginning.” “You are a real good fellow, Jack!” declared Miss Ludlow, emphasizing the statement in a way which was certainly agreeable to “‘ Jack,” though it might have looked surprising to her friends and relatives, “Poor Nettie feels terribly about him,” she continued, ‘‘and is sure something—some acci- dent has happened him,” ‘I'm afraid not.” . a > ¥ 7 aeoet ~) Ps * OOKS.COM. ‘ - re ee i i ns i on .* ”