Beadle's Dime Library No. 111 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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ave,” said Mr. Drammond, looking, TWewlet fuil in the eye. ‘Offer but to lay a finger on me, and [Cll thrash you until you are as weak as yon were when my son fished your worthless careass Up out of the ocean, 1 am somewhat your senor in years, but Lam strong enough to thrash you atany and all times. lam neta weak and helpless girl, and shall not point a re volver at you to make you run like a thief and a cownrd,” ‘“ Mr. Drummond, I will make you rue every word you utter, 1 know now the cause of your anger; but, mark me, sir, | do not fear you.” * Seoun-Jrel—you are paid—now Jeave this room, and be quick about it, or 1 will kick you out.” “One word before you commence kicking, Mr. Drummond! You eall me a seoundrel. 1 elaim no very high seat in the cirele of morali- ity, but 1 never was a smuggler, a convicted sentenced smugyler, nor yet a murderer!” Mr Drummond had risen from his seat and advanced toward Ilewlet before these words were spoken, With the intention of actually asing furce to eject him from the counting- ‘oum. But now, he turned as pale as the unblotted aper on the table before him, and staggered Cuek into iris seat as if he had been stricken down by a strong hand. “What do you mean, man? What do you mean ?” he gasped. ‘Thomas Drummond knows well what I menn, Jt he deca not, Thomas Dunbarton ~ Joes!” saul Hewlet, with a triumphant sneer. “Tt is false! Thomas Dunbudon is dead! fle was drowned on the English const long ayo!” sried Mre Drummond, spr.nging to his feet and staring at Hewlet with glaring eyes. “Oh, no—ob, nu!” said Lewlet, in a eold, mocking tone. ‘ After be had slain the Earl of Delorine he escaped to—" *Man—man or devil—bush! Even walls have ears! lush!" cried Mr Drummond, ina hoarse whisper, as he sank back into his seat, trembling and quivering as with a fearful ague. Lewlet made vo reply, but resented himself, and smiling more like a devil than a man, wait- ed for Drummond to epenk. Mr. Drummond sat for a time, speechless, pale, and shivering. Then he rose and went to ‘a closet, where bottles and glasses stood on a shelf. He poured outa tumbler nearly full of liquor, and drank it off. Then he returned to his seat. And as the liquor somewhat strength- ened his nerves, he eaid, looking new almost timidly at the man whom he hud just Leen threntening : “You have in some way, Captain Hewlet, anace an eecret which J] had beheved forever uried in my own breast !” “TD have!” said Hewlet, coolly, while a smile of triumph lighted up his dark k atures. “And | suppose you consider that you hold me in your power!” “] hnow tear Ido!” “ Villuin—one word aloud, one whisper, and Ill blow you and your eceret into eternity 1” and Mr. Drummond raised a lurge dueling- pistol which he had procured when he went to the elvset, and full cocked, leveled it at Hew- let's head. The latter turned as white as snow, and did not move, “Down on your knees, wretch, and swear that you will never betray the sceret you have got possession of, or I will put my finger on the tiigyer snd scatter your brains over the room,” coulinued the merchant, sternly and firmly, “IT shall not hesitate; this is a matter of life or death with me!” “If you kill me, your secret will surely be exposed,” said Llewlet, in a low, firm tone. “A written statement, with proofs, is in other hands, sealed, and if I do not return, or barm happens to me, the seal will be broken and you will be exposed, arrested, and sent to England to meet your dvom |” “QO myGol! am I in that villain's power!” groaned Mr. Drummond, as he lowered the pis- tol, and again sunk into his seat. “Ithink you are, Mr. Drummond; but you need not despair. Jam disposed to treat you kindly, notwithstanding the manner in which you have chosen to insult and terrify me. J think if you will listen Ones the secret may be kept, and we can still remain on amicable pe ” said Hewlet, in a low and plausible tone of voice. ‘ Mr. Drummond rose, and going to the closet, ut away his pistol, and again drank a 5 ate ing glass. Then he returned to hie seat, an scarcely raising his eyes, said : The Smuggler Captain, A et ee eee AA SEEN tava adept a “T suppose by what you Inst said, that you | “Sartin, sartiIn. But how a man ean feel lay a price upon your sveret.”’ ; “1 do,” replied Lewlet, cool now in tone and manner. “Name the sum. I will pay it, if you will solemnly swear never to reveal what you know,” said Mr. Drammond, nervously. “Your gold will not bay my silence, sir!” said Iewlet. “ My price is the hand of the lady known to the world a8 Miss Rosalette Drum- mond, but who really is—” “* Hush, bush, for fomabid sake! Wallshave ears, 1 say !” whispered Mr. Drummond, hoarse- ly. “ Breathe not that name,” “Very well, sir; 1 will not. Let Rosalette Drummond, as Rosalette Drummond, become my wife, and your sceret is safe.” “ Man, she fears and hates you !” “] do not fear, but I de love her!” “Would vou wed an unwilling bride?” “ Yes, if ] could not obtain her willingly.” The cold swent came out and stood in vreat drops on Mr. Drummond's brow. Ilis agony was pitiful to look upon, but in Mewlet’s base heart there was ho pily. ‘Give me time to ecunsider how to act,” sai: the merchant at last. “Certainly. 1am not disposed to push mat- ters unkindly at present. But as a condition, | shall insist upon being allowed to visit you in your cottage in the Pines on terms of apparent friendship, so that if possible I may erase the dislike whieh Miss Rosalette has toward me.” “T shall not close my doors to you, but I ean- not force her to endure your presence, or make her leave her chamber, if she chooses to remain there when you visit me.” “ Well, 1 shail not insist npon that at present. Tt will suit my purpose that gle sees that you and myself are on a friendly footing; and I in. sist that she be not informed otherwise by you. On these conditions, | will remain silent for a time, in hope that time may soften her feelings toward me. At the same time, let me assure you not to think for a moment that anything done to put me out of the way will save you, It will only hasten your inevitable doom, Ladd you exeented your mad threat and slain me, the marshal of this district would have known who and what you were, and of the reward yet hang- ing over your head, almost as svon as my death wns noised abroad. And the same result would follow were I missing, so that my friends could not find me. And now, Mr. Drummond, if you are through with me for the day, 1 will returu to my room. I will not disturb you again until you have had plenty of time to regain your usual equilibrium of wind, buc to-morrow even- ing | shall be very happy tw take tea with you at the cottage in the Pines.” Mr. Drummond heard all that Hewlet said, but made no reply, and the latter stepped to the door, vulocked it, and went back 10 the tavern, where he called for another punch, which he drank rather as a sedative than as a stimulant, for he was triumphant now in all his villainy. “Is Mr. Drummond wantin’ to build you an- other vessel, Cap'n?” asked Nehemiah, as he handed the punch to Hewlet. “No. He would if I desired it. I don't want yuu to mention it to any one—in fact, you must not—but the truth is, he wants me to go into partnership with him, so as to take the weight of business altogether off his hands.” “Do tell! Why, what a chance ’twould be!" said Nehemiah, in wonder. “ Yes, it would bea very good chance. And I will tell you the rest, if you'll keep it a ae- cret.” “ Of course I will,” said the Jandlord. “] won't even tell my wife of it.” “ Well, he wants me to marry his daughter. I would, if I could only forget your Betsy.” And Hewlet drank off his liquor, and sighed loudly. 6“ Bete was darned fool not to have yeu,” said the landlord, as he poured hut a glass half full of brandy and drank it down. “ And so Mr. Drummond wants you to hitch on to Miss Ro- salette ?” “Yes; that was what he wanted to see me for. She is rather a nice girl.” “ Yes, slie is that. Nota bit proud or stuck up, and when he dies she'll have a mint of money. It isn’t many men that would wait to be asked a second time to have such a girl— they’d jump at the chance, like a mack’rel at a bit o’ fresh clam, on the Fishin’ Banks. You'll bave her, won’t you, Cap’n ?” “J don’t know,” said Howlet, with another sigh. “I must try to forest my old love before I think of a new one. Make me an egg-nog, Mr. Hunt. I feel heavy-hearted.” _ ——-— heavy-hearted with such offers before him, is more'n I ean comprehend,” said Mr. ]lunt, as he proceeded to prepare the egg-nog in his usual 0 ‘iberate and scientific manner, CHAPTER XLIV. Poor Betsy passed a wretched day in her new quarters. Jler mind was agitated with fears for the safety of her husband, and when the land- lady brought her in dinner, somewhere about two or three o'clock, her conversation was of a character to disgust aud shock her listener, for Betsy had not yet learned the impuritics and obscenities of city life—or, at least of such city life as this woman represented. She felta relief when the woman went away and Jeft her alone; and when she came with lamps in the evening, and asked her if she wish- ed ten, she told her that she dnd not, but in- tended to retire early, if Mr. Barnard did not cule. * Oh, he'll be here ; you needn't fear but what he'll be here,’ said the woman, with a hideon- leer, intended, doubtless, fur a smile, as she left the room. Betsy paced her room for an hour or more, and then she heard a gentle knock at the door. Supposing it to be Barnard, who bad promised to call, if he heard any news from her husband, she hastened to open the dvor, To her surprise she saw the very clergyman who had, as she suppored, married her to Hewlet, Ile was dressed in a black suit, wore a white cravat, had long black hair, and wore gold-mounted spec- tacles. “ How do you do, sir?” she said, as she re- speetfally handed himachair, “1 suppose Mr. Barnard told you where | was” “ Yes, Mrs. Hewlet; he represented to me that you were in deep trouble,” replied the clergyman, in a subdued tone, “Therefore I thought it my duty to tender to yeu all the con- solation in my power.” “Tthank you for your kindness, sir, I am indeed very wretched—not knowing where my husband is, or in what peril he may be.” “Affliction is often sent urto us for our good,” continued the clergyman. ‘ Aud it is our duty to bear it with meckuess aml without complaint. You expected Mr. Barnard here this evening, did yeu not?” “ Yes, sir; thatis, if he had any news from my husband.” | “ Mr. Barnard seems to be a very fine man.” “1 suppose he is, sir—I know but li tle about him. He is my husband's friend,” sail Betsy. “Mr. Barnard praises you very highly; he thinks you are the most beautiful woman in the world.’ “1 am sure I do not deserve snch a flattering opinion at his hands,” rey lied Betsy, rather sur- prised at such a remark from a clergyman, “] think that he will not feel very bad if your husband never comes back,” continued the gen- tleman, “fam sure, sir, that I do not understand your meaning,” said Betsy, still more surprised, “Only this, my ehnnning Betsy, that Llew- let, your pretended husband, docen’t care a red cent for you, and has deserted you; while 1 worship and love you, and will take a great deal better care of you than be ever did or could,” eried Barnard, throwing off his epeetucles, false hair, and white neckcloth, and showing who he indeed was, Betsy did not faint or go into hysterics. She was too much borrified for that. She seemed to realize In a moment how she had been treated, and what she was; fur she now knew that Bar- vard had officiated as the clergyman in her warriave with Hewlet, “ Deserted? Did you say deserted?” she asked siowly, as if awakening from a dream, eft ¢s. Lewlet got tired of you, and deserted you. Lis Woes of having killed aman was asham, and had you washed the paint off his fee, you would svon have seen that he wasn't hurt ” * Where is He now?” “TI don’t know—probably with his real wife, whom he has snidly neglected on your aceount, my charming Miss Hunt; for it is needless to call you Mrs. Lewlet any longer,” replied Lar- nard eee : Betsy rose and went into the bedroom. She returned in & moment with her Lonnet and shawl on. “What are yen going to do, Miss Betsy %” asked Barnard, with a quiet smile on his face, “Tam going hqme!” she said in a determined voice—her eyes rigidly cold, and her face as pale as snow. comicbooks:co