Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 999 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

~ ~“ . — | } : ee EE —— * Wha-at!” “* Well "—<esperately—"' I'd rather some acci- dent had happened him, than think him a liar and trickster! They're looking for him now— and the other fellow too,” **'W ho are?” “*Government agents,” “ But they can do nothing to him—can they? He was acquitted by the court-martial, and you said yourscif that he should have been re- warded.” sada 0, they can’t do anything in icular, admitted Jack, ** but, they can » Baader him from doing anything, by watching his movements, It is true he was acquitted of being a spy, butsome- thing suspicious seems to be cropping up about him, all the time.” ‘* And you—what do you think?” . “Well I don’t know what tothink. Allen’s confidence in him, even yet, makes me feel more certain than I otherwise wouid, tbat he is all right and will turn up agaiv.” ‘That is some consolation for Nettie, at all events,” commented Miss Ludlow, and straight- way went off to,comfort her young relative, tters continued in this shape, until the spring of 1815, when a confidential communi- cation was received from the English Admiral- ty, stating that Lieutenant Geoffrey Gerard had sailed in the Arethusa on tbe special ser- vice he had mentioned, namely, the detection of the suspected English privateer in piratical acts, and further that the Government would be glad to reciprocate any favors shown that officer, at the same time pointing out that be had been engaged in an enterprise which should caus °!] civilized nations to respect him. ‘Tous dilatory communication, which came by & storm-beaten neutral, cau the sale of the beautiful lugger, and Sambo (which was the nickname given the mulatto, and the only Nuuwe by which he was known, except its ab- breviation, Sam), received a handsome sum of money, Previous to the sale of the lugger, Sam had haunted the residence of the Ludlows for infor- mation of Lang, believing, apparently, that they would be the first to hear from the nfiss- ing man, but on receiving bis sbare of the prize-money, purchased a fisbing-boat, and, With a youth whom he engaged to assist him, Svent his time cruising along the coast, and in Visiting such vessels as he came across, Sam was a fine-looking, intelligent fellow, and before the arrival of the official confirmation of Lang’s story had become well known, and liked, at the Ludlow residence—especially by the younger ladies. When the lugger was sold, and the fishing-boat bought, it was noticed that, although after every cruise, long or short, Sam invariably visited the Ludlow residence, be no longer inquired about Lang, but seemed anxious to see either of the younger ladies, insteal. This state of affairs continued until near the end of May, 1813, when, noticing the depressed irits of her niece—and not altogether unsus- og of the cause—Mrs, Ludlow gavea large ~ it will revive dear Nettie’s spirits,” she ex- plained, and, like a dutiful husband, that was sufficient for Mr, Ludiow—the ‘ketbook was produced and the invitations delivered. The night of the party—Mrs, Ludlow would have called it a soirée, but Mr, Ludlow wouldn't have it—the Pine street house was crowded, every invitation, appa ently, having been ac- a ore though that was hardly expected. Like American crowds, the guests accepted the situation—that is, the discomforts of the crush— good-humoredly, and were,in fact, extracting & great deal of amusement out of it, when there came a series of announcements that astonished all, and delighted a few. It ran something after this fashion: ** Captain Lawrence !”—exclamations of aston- ishment and pleasure. , ‘Lieutenant Shubrick!”—ditto, but more of pleasure, together with a cry of delight from the vicinity of Miss Ludlow. ** Lieutenant Ludlow !”—ameazed silence, With the announcement of the last uninvited guest, Jack Lang entered the spaci:us parlors of the pore whose name he now, apparently, claimed as his own! Jn the right of this man of many names walked the famous captain—the American Nel- son—and on his left the equally famous (in his way) Fighting Jack Sbubrick) CHAPTER XVi. A MARVELOUS TALE, A LOW cry, partly surprise and 8) was the only sound that broke the amazed 2 ae 8 ; ‘whom we have known as Jack Lang The Man of Many Names. ee which greeted the a nce of Jack Lang (as Lieutenant Ludlow), in the Ludlow parlors, Mr. Ludlow, who bad come forward at the first announcement, delighted to meet the fam- ous captain, stood in the center of his wondering guests, gazing in amazement at the three officers for fully a minute, Lawrence and Shubrick were —? but Lang (as we will continue to call him), looked rather grave and somewhat pale—as if from ill- ness, *‘Lieutenant-commander Allen!” came an- other unexpected announcement, just as Mr. Ludlow seemed to be about to speak, and with it entered the fourth uninvited guest, Not too late for the denouement, I hope!” exclaimed the last comer, as he entered. Allen was well known to the Ludlows, as well as to most of the people present, and his words broke the spell which seemed to have fallen up- on them, **] do not understand you! What do you mean?’ asked Mr. Ludlow, advancing toward the group of officers, ‘*Ab! I am then in time—and in time, too, to snatch the honors from my usually too quick- witted friends,” returned Allen, grasping the situation and enjoying it to the fullest, centinu- ‘Usually, these gentlemen (indicating Law- rence and Shubrick), are too quick for such slow fellows as myself, but this time it is the tortoise and the hare, ‘Mr. Ludlow, I have the honor and the pleasure of introducivg to you this gentleman, more than suspected of being Lord Geoffrey Gerard, and who turns up, smiling and unconquered fas your own nephew—John Luidiow Lang!” A shriek now sta'tied the company, and those who turned quickly were in time to see Mrs, Ludlow fali fainting in the arms of her daughter. This ap to arouse her hitberto bewil- dered-looking husband, who, seeing that his wife was being cared for, advanced with outstretched hands toward Ling, exclaiming: + You are her picture! No wonder I liked ou!’ That settled the party, There was no need of informing the astonished guests that they were in the way, and in five minutes all had departed —except the naval officers, The latter remained —they formed part of the story which the hero of the occasion told as soon as the last guest had departed. : ‘ As long as I can remember,” he n, ‘* my identity—my real name—my birthplace and parentage— has been. or was until quite recently, amystery tome, Sometimes 1 was known as Jack Laing, again as Geoffrey Gerard. ‘** When two or three years of age, I was found on a waterlogged wreck of an American ship by the sailor Doubledick, himself the sole survivor of a boat’s crew from a vessel which had found- ered many days previous to his sighting the vessel I was in, ‘‘ Except a dog and myself, there was nothing alive on board the ship, but from her appear- ance, Dick was inclined to think that, had he been a few hours earlier he would have found one Other, whom he judged to have been my nurse, alive, She was dead, however, and in her fingers was the pencil with which she had written on a scrap of paper ‘ Master Jack Lang,’ This, which was pinned to my dress, and the fact that I was in the cabin, caused Dick to look upon me as being of some consequence, as it did the captain of an English man-o’-war, who took us, and the dog, off next day. ‘This English captain seemed struck by my appearance, and with reason, for jas it jafterward turned out, | bore a wonderfully strong resem- ce to his own son, ‘‘A strange man, was Captain Gerard. He hal just succeeded to a title, and was on his way home when [ was found. Onarriving in Eng- land, he was relieved from duty, and having placed ms temporarily in some institution, he went home, ‘“* Having married for money, and been disap- pointed in that, as well as in other respects, whatever love Captain Gerard hed for his wife died soon after his marriage, while she, finding it was her fortune, and not herself, her husband was in love with, quickly lost all respect, as well as love for him; so, their life was not a happy one, ‘‘I must pass over a great deal of the story of my early life—it would take too long t+ relate it, but the first quarrel after his succession to the title, brought me on the scene, as the instrument of Lord Gerard’s revenge, for he allowed his wife to believe—in fact, caused her to believe— is that I was his son by a former secret alliance of some kind, and my extraordinary resemblance to her son, (who was a thorough Gerard in all the aistinguishing features of the fawily,) ¢sist- ed in tuis deception, ‘‘ As we grew older, the resemblance betwern young Ge ffrey Gerard and -myselt increas+d ratber than diminished, until it wes almost impossible to distinguish one from the other, especially when I chose to alter my voice, which was much stronger shan his, and the only ob- servable difference between us. This pleased Lord Gerard greatly, because it wo ried his wife, ** Although he had abandoned his shes Captain Gerard had not resigned his commis- sion on succeeding to the title, and as years rae by rose by seniority to the rank of ad- miral, “‘This gave him considerable influence, and when, at an early day, young Geoff and mvsrelf were appointed midshipmen, we were push-1d along rapidly. ‘* At eighteen, both of us were made lieutea- ant:—and then | obtained leave of absence, and a ag extended one, too, “We bad been consulting, Geoff and I, and came to the conclusion that it was time to set- tle all doubts as to who and what I was, but it was easier said than done, for, when I returned home, the old lord laughed in my face, and in- formed me that I was whoever he might choose to make me, ‘*He was wrong there, however, for I had learned all that Doubledick knew, and was cer- tain that I was either Jack Lang or Geoffrey Gerard—for it was often hinted thet Lrd Gerard bad, during our childhood, substituted one for the otber, ly chanzing theclothing which we wore, during his wife's absence,” ‘*When and how did you learn the truth?” asked Mr. Ludlow, impatiently, ‘‘Only afew m ntbs ago, when, on boarding the Storm King, 1 met an old confidential ser- vant of Lord Gerard’s, who hada package ad- dressed to Geoffrey G'rard. The package con- tained my mother’s warri»ge-certificate and a transcript of the record of my birth, which Captain Gerard had found in a letter on the person of the dead nurse, addressed to you. **My extraordinary resemblance to his own child, and a desire to revenge himself upon his unfortunate wife, caused him to suppress the papers until he was dying, and then, baving beard of the death of Geoffrey (with whom I had secretly undertaken a desperate enter; rise}, he attempted to make amends for the injus- tice done me, by declaring I was the real heir, although the papers sent me proved I was not.” ‘* And what happened to delay you, Ja— Mr. Ludlow? How was it you did not come here on going ashore at New London?” Nettie commenced very timidly, blushing at: the sound of her own voice, but, gathering c: ur- ageas she proceeded, finished quite bold] y—under the circumstances. **That was one result of Lord Gerard’s ill- judged attempt to substitute me for the real heir. ‘On going ashore with Doubledick, I was accosted by a stranger, who declared be had something of importance to say to me, et the same time informing me that he had b ena passenger by theStorm King. That was enough tosecure my attention, and we walked through the town to an out-of-the-way inn, on the post “ Another stranger entered immediately after- ward, and got into conversation with Dick, which is nevera difficult task if you only furnish the ‘** Meantime, I was listening to the first stran- ger, who informed me that he w:s an agent of the English Government, sent to look after me, and hinting that information had revched Eng- land that I was turni:g traitor to thet country, inquired when Livtended to return send assume the title, and if I wished any assist nce. ‘*This caused me to lose my t-mper, I re- plied—very warmly, I fear—that I cid net in- tend to return at all, but the fellow tock mv abuse so good-neturedly that I could not refuse his request to join him in a glass of wine—‘ to drown bis disappointment,’ as he sai, but, as it turned out, to drug myself, for when J recovered my senses, 1 was on board an English man-o’- war, and there I remained until yesterday, wl.en Dick discovered Sam hovering about tbe ship in a sail-boat, and last night we escaped.” ‘*How did they treat you!” asked Mr, Lud- Ww. ‘* Kindly enough, but it was that sort of kind- ness extended toa less lunatic, or a willful child—it being generally that my