Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 106 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

i ee ee - - ee ———————— ——— . —— that the result is exactiy as I anticipated. For (juite a long time you have succeeded in escap- ing me, but there’s an old adage, you know about the pitcher and the well, You have tried it once too often, and us a natural consequence i have had the extreme pleasure of laying you by the heels.” ; _“*T may be able to return the compliment one of these days!” O’Brien replied, ‘* and until that time I shall consider myself your debtor, but I shall know how to take you next time. I fancied that you were a gentleman and a man of honor, but now I see that I was deceived: you are nothing but a common thief-taker, a coward and sneak—a disgrace to the uniform you wear,” ‘‘Hard words break no bones)” the captain observed, sententiously. ** Oh, 1 know that I am wasting breath on you!” O’Brien retorted, in scorn. ‘It is luck for the English government, though, that such rvecreant Irishmen as you exist, or otherwise it would have to look far and wide among its na- tive-born officers to find tools to do its dirty work. You are fitly chosen.” ‘*You have plainly mistaken your vocation, Mr. Shamus O’Brien,” Burke remarked, with deliberate coolness. ‘‘ Instead of a patriot you should have been a fishwife. Fallin, men!” The prisoner was conveyed directly to the residence of the old lawyer. Underneath the main part of the hall were some old vaults that in ancient times were constructed especially for dungeons. No doubt many an unhappy prison- er, captive to the chief of an ancient Irish Sept, had worn out his life within the cold con- fines of these old gray walls, cursing the unhap- py fate that had confined him to these dungeons drear. The captain in person had selected one of the cells—for the underground rooms were cells, to all intents and purposes—and he eye it for the reception of the prisoner. long time be- fore this had been done, for Burke had been on O’Brien’s track ever since the news had reached him that the proscribed man had dared to re- turn to Ireland. And now, at last, the desperate and deter- mined master of ‘‘ Twelve Pins” had succeeded in the purpose upon which he had set his heart: Shamus O’Brien was completely in his power. O’Neal Hall had been selected by the captain as being the safest place to hold the prisoner there was in the neighborhood. ot that Burke was very much apprehensive of an at- tempt at a rescue; still, he deemed it wise to take all the to on in his power. If report spoke true O’Brien had once been the leading spirit of a secret order of United Irishmen, whose object it was to redress the wrongs which the ‘‘ Saxons” had inflicted upon the Emerald Isle, either peaceably at the polls or openly by force of arms, if the time ever came when it seemed possible for Ireland to successfully make head against England’s power in the open fields of war. | att Whether this organization was broken up long ago, when O’Brien was forced to fly from the country, or still existed, more or less strong, wasamystery. The government spies and in- formers—for England’s secret-service depart- ment in Ireland is far larger and more com- plete than the world imagines—declared that it did; but the declarations of these worthies, ex- perience long since has decided, must be taken with a great deal of caution, for it is the secret- service spy’s business to discover ar and conspiracies, but, if he is unable so to do, in nine cases out of ten he will invent a satisfactory ex- cuse or otherwise his trade and reputation will suffer. : If the secret order still existed, and was in active operation, the capture of one of the prin- cipal leaders might be incentive —e to in- duce a determined effort to release him, par- ticularly if the place where he was held in con- finement was not strong or ably guarded, Burke had not a very large force at his com- mand, for he had been obliged to send off squads here and there to protect the process-servers, who, for the last few days, had been extremely busy serving their notices of ejectment, so that he had barely ten men left, and those ten not particularly good men either. ' But, O’Neal Hall was as strong as any build- ing in the county, and Burke felt confident that, in the case of an attack, he and his ten men could easily hold it against a host. The captain speculated upon the chances of an attack, though, as an extremely remote prob- ability, for in his opinion there wasn’t the slightest danger of such a thing, although he knew as well as any man living that the pea- sants of the district were hot-headed, violent and dangerous men when roused to action. Safe in the underground apartment O’Brien ras put, and, for the first time in many months, “esmond Burke breathed freely. Atlast he saw . cuance to escape from the difficulties which ior so long a time had encompassed him! The report spread rapidly throughout the county that Shamus O’Brien had been taken, and great were the sorrow and anger of the people at large. In their eyes Shamus was a nero worthy to rank by the side of the men of 08, the mertyra whose nemes stand en high on the golden roll of the bold, brave hearts who risked life and all, that their country might be free. Loud and deep were the curses heaped upon the head of the false Irishman, Desmond Burke, who had so cunningly entrapped the proscribed man. ‘‘A bad bed Captain Burke was making for himself to lay on, some day!” one and all de- clared. Probably the most sorrowful heart of all was the Goose-girl, for she blamed herself most bit- terly as being the cause of O’Brien’s capture, and in the indignation of her heart she cried out that she would be revenged on Desmond Burke if harm came to O’Brien. Of course at such a threat the captain laugh- ed, when information of it reached him. He had too many strong men who were his bitter enemies, eager to do him harm in this world, to fear the malice of a helpless girl. It was on the evening succeeding the one up- on which O’Brien had been captured, and the Goose-girl and the old woman who lived with her, sat together debating the chances of Shamus’s escape, for, with that subtie tele- graphy, so difficult to comprehend, word was already flying around the country that the boys” had made up their minds to make a bold push and rescuc O’Brien trum the hands of his captors, Who started the rumor--who was to head the expedition, no cne knew, yet the belief was strong that the attempt would be a success, and that, despite the strength of O’Neal Hall and the force under Desmond Burke’s command, that was guarding the prisoner so closely, O’Brien would be restored to liberty. A knock at the door interrupted the conver- sation between the two; the Goose-girl rose to answer the summons, and was astonished upon gape thatit was Lieutenant Smithers who ad knocked, ‘‘Aw, good-evening, Miss Sheelan!” he ex- claimed, with a ver, polite bow. ‘I thought that I would give myself the pleasure of calling upon you this evening, in order to see if vou had completely recovered from the fright under which you labored Jast night.” Smithers had doffed his uniform, was in plain clothes, but got up regardless of expense. Kitty was astonished, for she had never spoken two words to the man in all her life. ‘Thank you kindly, sir; [am quite well, al- ona not so aisy in my mind as I would like to be.’ “TI do not doubt it, in the least!” Smithers hastened to say, evidently anxious to make a favorable impression. ‘* Perhaps if you will perme me to wali in for a few minutes, I may able to offer you a litle advice that may be of service to you.” Kitty was now doubly astonished, for she couldn’t imagine what on earth the man could poses have to say to her, but with that in- rn courtesy so natural to the sons and daugh- ters of Erin, she stepped aside from the door- way and invited him to enter. ‘* Come in, sir, and welcome,” she said. Smithers walked into the cottage, and as he did so the old woman got up and made him a profound courtesy. e lieutenant, although an English officer, was very well liked in the district. His odd, eccentric ways rather ap- pealed to Pat’s love of fun; and then, too, being an Englishman, it was only natural that he should wear the red-coat, for of course a man ought to stand up for hisown country; but for Desmond Burke the peasantry had no word bitter enough. ‘*You’re heartily welkim, yer honor,” said the old dame. The lieutenant honored the old woman with a profound bow, which delighted her greatly Probably one of the secrets of Smithers’s popu- larity was that hc was universally courteous to all, both high and low. As the lieutenant often remarked, “ Thero isn’t any deuced beggar in the country, you know, that is going to be any more civilthanIam. I'll be hanged if I’m go- ing to be outdone in politeness by any of these ragged fellows.” ut, although the lieutenant was extremely gracious to the old woman, yet it was quite evi- dent that her presence acted as a restraint upon him, for when the Goose-girl asked bim to be seated, he hesitated for a moment and looked at the dame before he complied. The old woman, with the natural acuteness of her race, understood from his manner that he wished to be alone with the girl, and think- ing he might have something important to com- municate, she excused herself and withdrew, retiring up-stairs. Smithers was a pretty cool fellow, generally, but on the present occasion he was somewhat embarrassed. CHAPTER XTX. A DOUBLE SURPRISE. Tr lieutenant had seated himself by the side of the table that stood in the center of the apart- ment, with his back to the door, and Kitty sat down upon the o ‘gee side of the table. As we have said, Smithers was about as cool and “cheeky,” ta use the slang of the London 5 13 —— streets, as mortal man could weil be, but for once in his life he was in doubt how to proceed. The girl sat as quiet as a mouse, waiting for him to begin, wonder shining in her great gray- blue eyes, and Smithers, gazing earnestly ut her, vainly striving to find the easiest way to say what he had to communicate, saw that common report was not far from the truth when it declared that the Goose-girl was about as pretty a maid as all Connemara could boast. he thought passing through his mind suu- denly found expression in words. | ‘*By Jove! Miss Sheelan, do you know that you are a deuced pretty girl?’ he exclaimed, abruptly. Kitty laughed and blushed; she was not of- fended, for the speaker’s manner was entirely respectful. It wasas if he had suddenly mace the discovery and was unable to conceal his amazement! ‘*| hope, you know, that you won’t feel of- fended at my awkward way of speaking. J carn’t help it, you know; I suppose that I was born that way.” ‘‘l am afraid, sir, that since you have been in Ireland you have been after kissing the blarney stone,” she observed, archly. ‘Oh, no; no flattery, upon my honor.” ‘* It’s aisy to say that, sir, but it won’t be in my conscience to believe you.” ‘*Ohb, it is the truth; upon my soul it is!” the lieutenant protested. ‘ Why, I have heard ever so many fellows say so!’ Again the girl laughed and blushed, for Smithers had a very grave and earnest way with him, ‘*Butitis the truth,” he repeated. ‘‘There carn’t be any doubt about that, you know, for what every one says must be true.” ‘* It’s joking ye are!” ‘Ob, no, upon my honor; I give you my word I never was more serious in the whole course of my life; and in fact, Miss Sheelan, J am so impressed with your appearance—your numerous good qualities and all that sort of — i i <ste-s-nnte-saagemes-iesueen we — ll thing, you know, that I have taken the liberty to call upon you to-night to solicit the pleasurv of becoming better acquainted with you.” The lieutenant was as grave as a judge, and Katy stared in greater amazement than before. At first the idea came to her that this was all uv joke on the part of the English officer and he had called for the express Pe ae of makiny game of her. Smithers had done so many ec- centric things since he had come into Connc-. mara that the folks generally would not he as- tonished at almost any odd act upon his part. The girl would have been quick to resent suc}: a remark, upon the part of almost any one o:- cupying a station so far above her own, as a1) insult, but the manner of Smithers rendered i‘ impossible for her to take it in that way. He was either in dead earnest or else jesting, ar: for the life of her the bewildered girl couldn’. tell which. ‘*You are a most charming young lady,” bc continued, finding that the girl hesitated to . In fact, the finest young lady that ? have had the pleasure of becoming acquainte: with for a very great period of time. I am aware that this sort of thing is rather sudden— it sort of takes you by surprise, but this is a fast age, you know—the age of miracles, in fact, and what wouldn’t have been just the cheese, you know—excuse the expression—a few years ago, is all right now.” ‘“‘But I don’t understand you, sir,” the girl said, in confusion. The idea of this wealthy Englishman, as ~mithers was known to be, ¢xpressing admira- tion for her, and in such a respectful manner, why, it fairly astounded her. ‘*By Jove! is it possible that I have not suc- ceeded in making myself understood?’ Smith- ers exclaimed, amazed. ‘But I suppose that it isso deuced sudden it sort of stuns you, you know, and all that sort of thing. I ought to bave taken more time, but I’m such a deuced impulsive fellow, you know. I carn’t help it, by Jove! I always was that way, born so, you know. But you see, Miss Sheelan, you are such a regular first-chop girl that you bave made a deep impression upon me.. I think that you are the most charming young lady I have ever seen, and J made up my mind that, if a fellow wanted a nice little wife, he might go further aod fare much worse than by taking such a gir! as you are, Miss Sheelan.” he girl fairly cavght ber breath in amaze- ment; she could hardly believe that she had heard aright. What! was it possible that thi wealthy English gentleman was seriously ix earnest in what he said? The lieutenant was quick to read the meaning of the expression of doubt and distrust that e)- red upon the girl’s face, and he at once €p- plied himseif to remove this impressior. “Oh, Iam in earnest, upon my void I er!” he exclaimed. ‘‘ Never was more seriovs in the whole course of my naturalexistence. Ycurze my the kind of girl that I have been locking or for a deuced long time, and now thkrt I have fourd you I intend to make yon Mrs. Plantagenet Smithers as soon as I can get those charming red lips of yours to consent ’ 1h, TKS, sir, it’s joking ve gre!” EOMiIcboOoksS CO