Beadle's Dime Library No. 103 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

—_—___————_ -~--— “It was kind of him.” ‘*No, he remembers your service to his daugh- ter; but that does not weigh with the other officers of the Isabella, and you must remain concealed while we are in port.” “If captured, you intended demanding us of the Mexicans?” ‘** Yes, senor, and they would be glad to give you up, believing you to be pirates. ‘*T landed and came at once to see if aught could be ascertained regarding you, and learned that you had not put into Vera Cruz; but five minutes after I saw you in the hotel plaza. I am glad others did not see you too; how are you registered ?”’ 4 As Don Merlino, ranchero of Corpus Chris- ti. ** Bueno! and your disguise beaus you out; but your face and form once seen, senor, are not soon forgotten, and you must have a care; also, you have enemies here, for you know it has been published that you were one of the lieutenants of Freelance the Buccaneer—the paper you have there says as much—and your chief was not popular*with the present Mexican Government. I hee much discussed by citizens, and you w here, be taken as a traitor to Mex your doom is sealed; better leave soc d States,” and the noble-hearted Cubs “A glass of wine together, and believe me ever your friend. ‘To the noble Senorita De Silva, py homage—I owe her more than thanks; 6 these days I trust we may meet again.” ie ot ? A toast to the future was drank in a fuil | a bumper, and the two men, so strangely met, parted, to meet again—when, and where?” For some days Don Merlino, ranchero, from Corpus Christi, did not leave his rooms at the hotel, but then he learned from Boots, the ser- vant in attendance on him, thatthe Isabella had sailed, as had also two other Spanish cruisers, that had touched at Vera Cruz in search of the daring mutineers. Boots also obtained for Merle the papers, as they arrived from the United States and Hava- na, and by these he saw how he was looked up- on at home and abroad. He also learned that Wilber Sebastian had been ordered back to the United States. ‘“‘Now is my time: Boots, when does the next packet sail for New Orleans?” Boots was not certain, but would find out. ‘To-morrow, senor, at turn of tide, which will be at noon,” was his report. ‘** Very well, thank you,” and seeing that it was getting late in the evening, Merle concluded he would go down to the public cafe for a glass of wine and cigar before retiring. As he crossed the hotel plaza, he saw a man | Merle had lost every peso he had—five thousand b whom he remembered having seen before, the | day of his arrival in Vera Cruz, and who had then seemed to regard him attentively. Entering the cafe he ordered a bottle of wine and some cigars, and seated himself at a table to enjoy them. The man, whom he had before observed, came — leisurely into the saloon, and joined an officer in gorgeous uniform at another table. ‘Waiter, who are those gentlemen, at the table opposite?” quietly asked Merle. ‘* The one in uniform, senor, is the Major Vis- : tal Guarena, the adjutaut of the Castle San — Juan de Uloa !” ** And the other?” “The caballero? Heis Don Felipe Cosala.” ‘* His business?” ‘‘A monte-player; caramba ! senor, he is call- ed the Prince of Monte--his luck never fails him.” Merle gazed beneath his brows at the two men, impelled by some strange motive to read their faces, The one, whom he was confident was watching him, and whom the waiter had called Don Fe- lipe Cosala, the Monte Prince, was a large man for a Mexican, if Mexican he was. He was fully six feet in hight, broad-shoulder- ed, well-dressed as a Mexican gentleman, and had black hair and eyes, and a face that was > dark as an Indian’s: it wasa face that Merle did not like, and which he felt he had somewhere seen before, when, or where he could not recall; " me 2 a face to be feared by men and women e. The other was a young officer, with long black hair, a restless eye, and dissipated face—other- wise he would have been handsome. He was teow Port yi in uniform, and his rank was that of a major of Mexican artillery. For some moments the two talked together in a low tone and then the gambler arose and left the saloon, not even noticing Merle as he ssed out. ‘* Major Vistal Guarena’s compliments senor, and begs you will join him in a bottle of wine,” and the waiter who had been in attendance upon the officer stood before Merle. It was his first thought to decline: but some ee Oe ——Ee impulse he could not understand bade him ac- | cept, and he arose and crossed to the table where sat the officer, who bowed crane and said: “IT am Vistal Guarena, Major of Artillery, senor, and I beg, as a stranger in our city, that | you join me in a bottle of wine. the honor of addressing?” Whom have I ‘was feared by every one who knew him. “Don Leon Merlino, a ranchero, senor,” quietly responded Merle, seating himself at the table After awhile the two arose, having eT ele a very friendly chat together, and the Mexican said, carelessly: ‘* Must you leave me, senor, or will you ac- | drew nearer the table. company me to throw luck in my favor?” ** Whither?’ ‘“'To a monte saloon. I have lost heavily of late, maledictions upon my luck.” Merle consented, and arm in arm the two | entered one of those Mexican gambling-halls, so | ge ped found in that sunny land. The room was passably well filled; but all present were too busy in tempting the little god of Fortune, to particularly notice their entrance, though several bowed to the Mexican, and Merle overheard one remark: ‘** Vistal Guarena lost ten thousand pesos last Ye yeti prince will get his last dollar.” moment after the two stood by a table be- fore which sat the man whom Merle had seen in the cafe—Felipe Cosala He nodded to went on with his game. ‘That is our prince of gamblers, senor—luck Guarena, glanced at Merle, and- | , never fails him, as | know tomy cost, for I have | tried hard to break it without success; do you lay? | | —— sum of thirty thousand pesos, and was willing to risk again, upon the turn of a card, five times that amount? Such was the question of many, and Major Guarena, who had been seen with him, was asked by numbers who was his friend. But he knew not, and with painful interest he There was now just the shadow of a tremor in the hands of the Monte Prince as he shuffled the cards; but his face was calm, his eyes burn- ing. As for Merle, he quietly lighted a cigar, and offered one to the gambler, who refused it; then he turned to the Mexican officer: ‘Will you smoke, Major Guarena?” ‘No. Iam too anxiously watching the re- sult of this princely game to be played, for I suppose you will play, Cosala?’ ‘Of course! e stake is one hundred and fifty thousand pesos, senor, I believe?” ** Yes; more if you like.” ‘* Would oblige you if I could, but I can han- dle just that sum, with a little over for a nest- egg, if I lose; the bank, here, will back me for what [ have not on my table. ‘*What collateral do you offer, for of course you carry not a fortune like that with you?’ Merle placed his hand in the breast of his jacket, and, after a moment tossed upon the ‘Tt depends upon my humor, senor,” was the | table what appeared, at first, to be a handful quiet response. “ Perhaps you may conquer the prince, you to try. were es from his pocket Merle laid them ed up with a gleam in his jlone with me?” “The stake is 1é play for.” ‘* Make it what ye ‘ **One thousand pesos, “*T am satisfied,” was ¥ and the game began. . Don Felipe won; but Merle and again x" ‘You are playing against oné | ame fails, senor,” said Don Felipe, witl smile. rejoinder, 2 stake, men call him the rejoinder. All around the table started; Felipe Cosale onte Prince,” was ted to see Merle fall dead in his is bold words; but Don Cosala only and the game progressed steadily until They e tracks for smiled in all. ‘“‘The senor is satisfied, I hope?’ said Don | deep vate with a revengeful sneer. ‘**Oh, no, I stake this against the sum I have lost and its equal.” s he e Merle took from his finger the gold band, with its solitaire diamond—that which he had taken from the treasure-box of the sehooner, and which had been often worn by Freelance the Buccaneer. The eyes of the Monte Prince sparkled; they were the only feature of his face that ever showed any feeling; otherwise the man’s face seemed cast in bronze. ‘* It is worth more than that sum, senor,” said Don Felipe, glancing at the splendid stone. ‘* At what do you value it? ‘“‘ Twenty-five thousand pesos.” “We will play for that sum—the ring against the twenty-five thousand pesos.” CHAPTER XXVIII. UNMASKED, WHEN Merle, or Don Merlino, as he was call- ed in Vera Cruz, coolly said, in answer to the remark of the Monte Prince, that he would play for the value of the ring, twenty-five thou- sand pesos, his words crea the greatest ex- citement in the saloon, or hall, and the players scattered about, left their games to watch the fortune of the young stranger. The Monte Prince at once put the value of the ring upon the table, and the game began and ended—Merle had again lost. But his face did not change color; be even smiled, and said: ; ‘** Your name is certainly deserved, senor; will you play again?” ‘For what stake?” *‘ Any amount you desire to name,” was the cool rejoinder. “Ha! that sounds well; you are plucky and have plenty of nerve,” declared the gambler. ‘*T ask for no personal comments. Will you Play again?’ ; - swarthy face darkened, and he answered slowly: “I will play you a game of cards for any stake you desire.” ‘‘Agreed. You have there my ring and five thdusand pesos, won from me—value, thirty thousand ; suppose we make it five times that sum. Every man drew his breath; the amount was fabulous to be gambled for. Who was this stranger who had just lost the | A. ‘IT am playing against a professional ga mbler e Ca f j of sparks. But it took the shape of a diamond necklace and ruby anchor—treasures already seen by the y,” was the calm reply and taking | reader. Each stone was of immense size and without a flaw, and the eyes of the Monte Prince spark- led like fire as he took them in his hand. ‘* Ts it your intention to separate these, senor?” ‘**No, I play them jones all you are wortiln” ‘Their value is far beyond—” ** It matters not; if you win, it is your game; if you lose, you have lost a fortune,” was the calm reply. The Monte Prince simply bowed, and the game commenced, Merle perfectly cool, in fact ‘in- different, and his antagonist in the game of chance growing more nervous as it progressed. At length the game ended, and a wild shout ste tee the spectators—the Monte Prince d lost ! | But Merle dra im at ast of his jacket not his winnings toward eed and iron force. followed a shriek of pain, and the ince would have sprung from his seat; ht hand was pinioned to the table by de oe knife thrust through it, and wood. the fo warthy face of the Monte Prince was the g muzzle of a small pistol held in the he erle, while his deep voice com- manded 5s ‘*Senors, an is a trickster, as I will prove to you Guarena, will you kind] take from the ve, which my knife hol on the table, th ards secreted there?” But the Mexic er never moved, anda breathless silence pon all present, while the eyes of the Mon 2 glared like a tiger’s, nits own blood, ask, senor?’ and ® Mexican officer, , making nosign and the pinioned har “Do you fear to Merle’s eyes flashed v who yet stood silent ¢ of compliance with the “Senor Vistal Guare and unworthy of your in deep, stern tones, - at, senor? By t poe your words,” shoutec ously. ‘““At any time and plac stand aside and let some bra quest. Will you, senor? The person addressed was a some, well-attired, and eviden Without a word he step as directed, the Monte Prince move, for he knew that the driven a knife through his hand as Nebo 4 send a bullet through he loved life. From the sleeve of the ble Mexican took outa pack of cards to the one with which the game had I ‘* Senors, you see how he has chea have played with him? ‘Tn the last game I watched him for him to deceive me, and I won. ‘Now, sir,” and he turned to th Prince, “ do you see any one among th with whom you have ever played?” ‘Does that concern you?” asked D foaming with pain and fury. ‘*‘So much that I will send a bullet your brain if you do not answer,” was reply. <4 Yes. ” ‘Call each one by name.” With a muttered malediction the obeyed, and a score of those present ‘% gled out. **Name the amount won from tha , EGoOmiie are a coward, n,” said Merle, yin, you shall exican officer, desire; now do as I re- man, band- ntleman. and did once, and his hand again went into the stantly it was drawn forth, and there was a of hght in it as it descended with light-, ,JOoOKS.EO | ALA