Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 104 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

ce — a a a - — , © = “* After this she disappeared mysteriously, and a body found in the river was Teeectt By her pach to be hers; but it seems she was not ead, though anxious to be thonght so, and;had gone far away to live, where she would never- more hear the name of her cruel husband, whom she loved with all her heart, in spite of what he had done, “‘ Before she went, however, she was impelled by some strange impulse, to write a full confes- sion of her secret marriage, giving the name of the priest who had united them, and the church in which the ceremony was performed ; also she made known the attempt on her life by her hus- Pads and his having killed her sister. ‘This confession she. deposited in the city bank, to be kept until called for, and with her name upon it, and there it lies to this day, but will be demanded at the trial, as she holds the receipt for it, given to her by the gentleman who was cashier at that time. She says the knife with which the murder was committed still stained with blood, and with the name of 1 Abercrombie upon it, as also a handker- chief, also stained and bearing his name upon it, are rolled up in the confession, while the man who accompanied her husband on that fatal night, and who has been paid a salary of hush money, each year by the murderer, is in the and she can produce him at the trial.” “But why does this wife return at this late day, after all this time that has passed, to make charges against a man whom she would not in- form against because she loved him?” asked Mon- tezuma, with Sponrent interest. “She says she was visited by a man, who sought her in her northern home, where, as a school-teacher, she had lived all these years, and that he told her she must not die with this sin upon her soul, of hiding a murderer from the law, and who made known to her that he was uainted with the facts of her secret, mar e and knew the confederate of Rosal Abercrombie in the crime.” _“* But, who was this person that so interested himself in a murder committed nearly two-score years ago?” Ah! there is the myste some implacable foe of Rosal now that he has persuaded the woman to make known her story, has disappeared from view, leaving a polite note to the State’s Attorney, that, as he has hunted Rosal Abercrombie to his ‘oa he will leave him to the clutches of the Ww “He knows how to hate,” calmly remarked Montezuma. “He does, indeed, senor; but, poor Mrs. Aber- erombie, she is broken-h , asis Brainard, too, for she is now known to beno wife, and her son is illegitimate, while Rosal Abercrombie without doubt, die on the gallows.” Montezuma arose and took a quick turn across the room; his brow clouded but the next. in- stant, with a smiling face, he turned upon An- drea Angelos. Senor, I cashed the craft of Ellis Monette upon Abercrombie, Sebastian & Company, ust before he left my yacht to board the English packet-ship: it is payable on demand, for one- ird of a million of dollars.” An Angelos started; but he said, guenly I am sorry, senor, to cause them distress for that amount, drawn from their bank, will hurt them, I am gonfident." “éc y are a very ric Senor ey Ae , » SOB, ve they ines Tach rationed of late—I already hold their notes for nearly a quarter ion, and—” elos.” “ Go on, Mr. And the different stock with which, at your command, I have lately flooded the markets, has caused them to lose fearfully, as they were invested largely, and had to sell at a very great loss. In fact, or Montezuma, Abercrombie & rr ay. Are in a bad way, a very bad eae drea Angelos shook his head sor- “You are a good man, Angelos. Once this yo ’ senor; he was bercrombie, who, very firm nearly ruin i you hold no Pavan e.” Ba SO: ABBR te ‘And you saved me, Senor Montezuma, for I have the & million you loaned me ready for you. 2 owe not adollar, and am doing an immense “Tam glad of it, elos. The money [I let you have, divide Gua, and keep on Aapoeit or your two children. (No thanks, for I detest thanks; now let us return to Abercrombie & “You think it would embarrass i eed Oe ideale “Tt wo senor, and they are in tress now—the senior of the firm in fail’ tO he tried for his life, and his son, provén illegiti- mate, almost on the verge of suicide—” e bas no family, or heart- but he is financially ruined.” PP Se, ‘** How about his wife’s estates?” ‘** All mortgaged,” “ And the Abercrombie property “ Mortgaged for the last dollar. Montezuma again strode across the roem and back. “Senor Angelos, I forgot to tell you that I nr ee _— —— _ Montezuma, the Merciless. left your dear wife and children well. I return in two days to the shore, and, in the meantime, I wish you to go to Havana immediately for me upon important business—that is, to get..rid of a number of Spanish bonds that Lhold—Valik will give them to you: you can go at once?” “Yes, senor, within the hour, ‘* Montezuma touched a gold bell, and Valik EN Carr on board of the Launcelot the pack- age of Spanish bonds for the Senor Angelos, and place them within the ship’s safe, giving the key to this gentleman when he arrives. ‘Say to the captain that I wish him to sail immediately, under the orders of the Senor An- drea Angelos: and, Valik, carry this to my slave Mourkah, and say to him that he must de- liver it to the BPD EE address,” Valik bowed, and rising, Montezuma took from the iron safe the package of bonds, and a long rosewood box, inlaid with gold and silver, and handed them to the Nubian, who immedi- ately disappeared. 7 Now, senor, farewell; I will return as soon as I can—if not seized.” ‘‘Ha! I had forgotten—I nearly sent, you into the lion’s den, for I forgot that you, were € I will change your course to Vera Cruz. Dispose of the bonds there—” ‘* And your Mourkah, and his commission?” “*T will at once send Mezrak to bring, bim hither,” and Montezuma dispatched the messen- ger to the Launcelot after Mourkah, while An- rea Angelos took his leave, glad that he did not have to risk going to Havana for the man he now loved as a brother, though he would have done so, if necessary. In half an, hour returned with his fel- low-slave, bearing the rosewood box. “* Mourkahb, §0 to the Zulah and bid the captain run southward, putting into Havana, in. dis- tress ; do you hear?” Mourkah bowed low, yet uttered no word. ‘While there, see that this box is given to the address upon it—then return and report to é. The slave again bowed low. ‘* And say to the captain to keep ont of. sight of the sisi and return to this port as soon as e. ourkah bent down to the floor, took the box agpin aud depa | ing down the river, a few miles astern of t uncelot, while Valea ane Had returned, was senton another errand by his master—to order _Mr. Mercer, the cashier of Andrea Angelos, to o draw the draft of Ellis Monette at once from the house of Abercrombie, Sebastian &.Com- pany. An hour after, Wilber Sebastian entered. the deeply. eAnd Abercrombie, have you seen him, my sone Sebastian?” asked Montezuma, as he enter- ‘No, senor; it is not. for him that I would ak—at least individually—but of our firm. or, if we cannot effect a loan within the hour we are beggars.” “My dear Sebastian, you seem really in dis- ‘‘T-am in despair, and I have come to yon, se- nor, trusting in your well-known generosity to aid us. e only need a cash loan to tide us over for a few months, and het speculations we have. entered upon will place us ahead again. We just cashed a draft upon us—one of that accursed Englishman’s—for a third of a million dollars, when we expected to have the use of the money for years—that is what has brought us to the brink of ruin, for.we have now only a Wilber Sebastian, spol | Vilber tian spoke earnestly, and yet, the smile never left the face of } ait Alan d | “Well why do you not go and borrow, Se- ian we Senor, I have come to you to ask a loan of ou.” * For how much?” ‘ Two-millions will clear us,” said Wilber Se- bastian, hesitatingly. “Why, certainly, you must not be ruined for a small sum like that, .Go to Andrea Ange- and tell him to let you have the money. ell him, for you must see him personally, that Wal o Bebastian ’s heart too full for bh b s heart w or bi to speak. He merely seized Mor ds, pressed them hard and bounded away. In fifteen minutes he was at the elegant bank- ing-house of the Cuban. I would see Mr. Angelos,” he said, hastily, ‘“Mr. Angelos has left town for a week or two, sir.” “ ne 1” “Yes, sir: he left a short. while since,” ‘Then, Mr. Mercer, I shall have to appeal to you. The Benor Montezuma sent me to you with p on to borrow two millions of— ‘Tam very sorry, Mr. Sebastian. If gelos were here there would be no trouble. He attends personally to,all of the Senor Montezu- | ’S1 matters. * Wilber Sebastian, groaned; but he said again: rted. alf an hour after the Zulah was slowly rps a pant gain nt home of Montezuma. He was pale and haggard, and had evidently been drinking : did was Mr. An- | 23 *‘ An order from the Senor Montezuma would get me the money, I suppose?” **His check would, certainly, sir.” Captain Sebastian rushed away like a mad- man, sprung into a cabriolet and was soon put out at Montezuma’s door. ‘“T wish to see the senor, good Valik.” “* He sleeps, sir.” ‘“Then wake him, please, and say who it, is that wishes to.see him: say it is most urgent,” ‘* Senor, it is impossible; he will never be dis- turbed,” was the polite rejoinder. **But I must and will see him. I will seek him myself,” said the, balf-crazed man, ut Valik’s tall form confronted him. “*T would forfeit my life, six, to disturb. him.” Mes ae aside, slave! J will face him, for I must.” ‘“*Senor, I will drive my dagger to your heart if you attempt to cross this threshold,” ‘ilber Sebastian knew that Valik would be as good as his word, and he shrunk back. ) ae y, food Valik, if I do not see your master within five minutes I am ruined utterly—our firm is ruined. Now, do let me go and awaken him, and I will protect you from his anger.” ‘No; I must obey my. master’s orders, if life iret at stake, sir. I am sorry, but so it must With bitter imprecations Wilber Sebastian turned from the door and drove back to th banking house of his firm; but he stopped a sguare off, as a crowd caught his eye. e looked at his wateh—it was ae half an hour before bank-hours closed, and the cr>wd in front of Abercrombie, Sebastian & Com- pany’s doors momentarily increased, and some gesticulated, wildly. “They haye presented drafts and checks ee - have no money to pay! J am ruine The words came from his inmost soul; then a bright light flashed in bis eyes, and he bade the cocher drive at once to his home, where he had moved after the sale of Mildred’s mansion to tezuma. ere he gathered together what things he could, pnd again springing into. tlge cabriolet drove furiously away, down a street leading to bar Nt while he muttered between his teeth: ‘Those jewels I must and shall bave. od DRY are worth a i fan bg ve them up—or—in my fre sha er or | know they belonged to that accursed mu: tineer.. She forgets that I saw him with them, rears ago. “Yes, my lovely wife, his jewels, given to you, and when and how, God Rohe know shall yet keep the wolf from my door.” The gleam of fury in the eyés of Wilber Se- bastian was proof enough that. he meant what he said—Mildred was in danger, F CHAPTER XXVUL. ** AS YE SOW, SO SHALL YE REAP.” WHEN Monte awoke, late in the after- noon, he learned from Valik what had occurred between. him and Wilber Sebastian. ** It is useless to tell you, Valik, that you did right, for mit know my orders must always be obeyed. ow have the carriage called, and be | to accompany me. I return this after- noon to the rag eau.” ia aravhnttie es as not surprised ; ing bis master as it should be with im: so the othe turnout was soon at the door, and an- vehicle in attendance for Valik and Mez for Montezuma never made a journey without the two invaluable servants. Upon, the way to the river, Montezuma stop- ped trom him beard of the failure of the fit an 1 heard of the failure of the Abercrombie & Co. From .there he @drove to the carcel, and was ushered into the cell where was confined Abercrombie. “This is an unfortunate affair, Mr. Aber- crombie,” he said, quietly. “Tt is a crushing stroke, Senor Monteztma, and I am financially ruined, too; I will die on _the gallows, and leave my wife and son beg- Po said the unhappy man. “It is said that she that was Helen Brainard is not your wife, You are indeed a sufferer, sir “Yes Tam doomed; but oh! if I knew who had thus tracked me to ruin, I would be happy, could I have but a moment for revenge. ntezuma’s hands, | « Lhave long known that some secret enemy was at Work aoatiat me. I knew it through— through—a friend of mine, who has now proven false; but T believed all would remain hidden. “T tell you, Senor Montezuma, I am doomed.” “ And your—Mrs. Abercrombie?” “She is broken-hearted, while poor Brainard is crushed by the stain Ts him. Oh! senor, I have wrecked my own life as well as the lives of her whom I loved and my son.” “You do not deny your guilt then, Mr. Aber- crombie?” “T dare not—I cannot,” groaned the poor man. ‘Montezuma made no reply, but bidding the prisoner farewell, and telling him that he would see him again, he returned to his carriage and EOMMICLOOOKS * (E(@) ee > a eaeatientie ne ER