Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 128 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

to be led to the garote for a plot to go to Spain and assassinate the Spanish monarch and then raise a couspiracy that would wrest the ‘‘ ever- faithful isic” from the Spaniard, and place it under the control of himself, for Conrado Cos- tello’s ambition aimed high. Flying to New Orleans, the young Cuban had skillfully disguised himself as a priest, who had d the meridian of life, and, as his friend, ictor, believed and hoped, had settled down to at least a quiet life; but the wily conspirator had no such idea, and through all was plotting for power once more, that he might yet return to Boston and claim Mabel De Lisle as his bride, ee he well knew her brother, knowing at last his true character, would never consent to her union with one so vile. When, therefore, [van the Hunchback let him into the plan he had of carrying off Edna, will- ingly did the peppers priest consent to aid him, at the same time laying a plan to carry out bis own ends, which will soon be disclosed, and thus a 3 turn the tables of villainy upon Don van. Thwarted in his design of carrying Edna off, Don Ivan was content in serbdinas bloat for he knew that the angry populace meant both him- self and the patre bodily harm, and he was very thankful for the timely arrival on the scene of M. Noel Valverde; but his consterna- tion at finding the caravel in motion, and him- self a prisoner in his own cabin, words cannot rtray. Heraved and cursed fearfully, call- ng upon every saint in the calendar to bring down anathemas upon the head of the man who had so cleverly tricked him. After an hour had passed, and the washing waves without proved that the vessel was dash- ing swiftly along, the companionway was sud- denly opened, and there entered a dark, hand- some young man with a sinister expression of countenance and a well-knit form. He was dressed in a black cloth uniform, trimmed with gold lace, and in his sword-belt was a pistol, the companion to one he held in his hand. : ‘“* Well, sefior, who are you?” and the Hunch- back turned fiercely upon the visitor, while Noel Valverde, who had been quietly seated upon a divan, —— watching the ravings of Don Ivan, arose and faced him, “T am Conrado Costello, sefior.” ‘* Ha! the Cuban conspirator?” almostshrieked Don Ivan. ** Yes, seflor, and we last met undermy name of the Padre Bonito,” was the smiling reply. ** Devil, I will have your life for this!” and the Hunchback, drawing his shortsword, sprung forward; but the ringing command of Conrado Costello stopped him. ‘*Hold! a score of guns cover your heart, sefior.” The Hunchback glanced up the companion- _ Way, and his eyes fell upon the gleaming bar- rels aimed at him. With an angry growl he lowered his weapon, and said, in surly tones: ‘* What is your will with me, accursed traitor that you are? ‘* It is to possess this beautiful vessel, which I —— * reer ee | for hepa pee Ivan.” a ou rob me of my vessel, d ofa Cuban?” ® Bias! te ‘Ab, no; | exchange fairly—give you your freedom for your vessel,” wo iho coskaeel , ‘**Oh, curse you, padre, conspirator or devil, whatever you be!” yelled the Hunchback, al- most beside himself with rage. ‘Whichever suits your honor, Don Ivan, you may call me; but listen, my esteemed friend: learning of your evil designs of revenge against the daughter of Don Henrico Enderos—” ‘* What! can this be true, that Don Ivan held feelings of revenge against the senorita Edna Enderos?” asked Noel Valverde, with surprise. ‘*No; do not believe him, monsieur; it is a of his vile plot against me to make you ink so,’”’ declared the Hunchback, quickly. But Conrado Costello smiled, and then con- tinued: ** Knowing that you intended, on account of your revengeful feelings against the father, a sad fate for the daughter, I determined to turn it to my account, so looked upa crew where l knew just such men as I wanted could be found, and, boarding your beautiful vessel, took pos- session of it. ‘“‘Vailing, through that giant-nerved courtier who opposed us, in getting the Seforita Edna imto my power, I thereby lost the ransom [ in- tended to ask her father for her, and which would have been heavy, I assure you—” ‘‘Curses rest on you!’ growled the Hunch- back, and the Cuban bowed and smiled, as though to a compliment, while, turning to Noel Valverde, he continued: ‘And, monsieur, as for the freedom of our Hunchback friend here I was to claim this ves- sel, and thirty thousand pesos as a ransom for the Sefiorita Edna. I also arranged to draw upon you liberally, and for this purpose lured your sweet sister into a tra old!” But the cry was unheeded, for Noel Valverde was upon him with the quickness of a flash of light, and, seizing him by the throat, hurled him upon the velvet carpet, while he cried: “ Villain, for that act thou shalt die!” The Chevalier Corsair. eee eer ee ne eEnEstnEnEEnEEEaEEEEEEEE ‘¢ Sefior, shall we shoot him down?” The voice came from above, and momentarily checked the enraged creole, who had so quickly mastered his captor. z ‘You hear, Monsieur Valverde; my lieuten- ant asks shall it be your life or mine?” ‘*Sefor, you are in his power, for a dozen guns cover you,” cried Don Ivan, quickly. Still the creole stood, his foot upon Conrado Costello’s breast and his sword in his hand, as though to strike. ‘* Shall we fire, sefor?’ again came from the deck. ‘‘No, Merida; gold is worth more than blood,” was the cool response, and to Noel Val- verde he resumed: ‘*'You see Il spare your life, M. Noel, so take off your foot, and hear the remainder of my story, for your sister is safe, I pledge you.” The young creole silently obeyed, and rising to his feet, as though naught had occurred to anger him, the conspirator continued: ‘As I said, M. Noel, knowing that you would give arich ransom for the safe return of your sister, [lured her from her home through an accomplice; but a lucky accident, as I look on it now, placing you in my power, I sent word to have Mademoiselle Valverde returned to her home and hold you for ransom.” ‘*Can I believe you?” asked M, Noel, sternly. ‘1 swear it.” ‘*And upon my paying ransom money you will release me?” ‘* When we reach the Balize I will set you both on board a lugger running back to the city; thatis, upon your draft for thirty thou- sand dollars upon your banker in vana, where I hear you have large interests, you are free, and this vessel being Don Ivan’s ransom he can go with you.” ‘He can go his way, and I will go mine,” haughtily replied the creole; and then he added: ‘*Of course my slave is to accompany me?” ‘* Oh, sefior, what a black devil that is you have with you! It took a dozen men to subdue him, when he suspected treachery, and two of them will never breathe their Pater-nosters more, for he drove that wicked knife of bis into their hearts. I will buy him from you, if you will a a him.” = ‘*No, L will not sell bim for any sum, poor fellow; but I suppose I can go on deck?” " Upon your parole not to attempt to es- cape. eT give it,” and he ascended the gangway, the Hunchback nowy following, for Conrado Costello said, sneeringly: ‘A little fresh air might benefit you, too, sefor, and your parole 1 do not ask, as it is not likely you’d keep it if you gave it, and I do not fear you will run off with the vessel.” With a muttered curse the Hunchback as- cended to the deck, and stood near M. Noel, who was moodily gazing at the dark shores, as the fleet vessel, with three-score men upon her decks, was dashing swiftly along down the murky waters of the Mississippi. CHAPTER XXVIL. A MEMORY OF THE PAST. TRUE to his promise, Conrado Costello sig- naled a coasting lugger, upon arriving at Ba- lize, and Noel Valverde, having given draft for the amount of ransom demanded, went on board, accompanied by Jocko, and slowly fol- lowed by Don Ivan, muttering bitter impreca- tions upon the head of the n, who had caught him so cleverly in bis own trap. Conscious now that Don Ivan was reall guilty, aud convinced_that the threat, whic had caused Jocko to spring Leg him from the tree, was really meant, M. Noel held no further converse with the revengeful Hunchback, who, in turn, seemed deeply hurt, for the service ren- dered him by the young creole, as well as his not having insulted him nor shunned him on ac- count of his deformity, had made an impres- sion won the wretched being, and caused him to feel for both M. Valverde and his beautiful sister a feeling of respect and affection—such as an ijl-used dog might feel for one who treated him with kindness, where all others bestowed a gh ey cps o the skipper of the lugger, who gazed with holy horror upon the Hunchback and dwarf, who had become his passengers, M. Noel offered a large sum if he would crowd on all sail and make the city as soon as ible. The money caused the smali crew to spring nimbly to work, and away dashed the really swift craft back into the murky river, while the graceful cara- vel sped away, driven on like a race-horse over the blue waters of the Gulf, her three huge la- teen sails and rakish look causing the honest coasters to run inshore, not liking her foreign air and piratical appearance, With a fair breeze the lugger plowed up the sluggish stream, and in good time drop an- chor in front of the city, when a boat put the unwelcome passengers ashore, for the sailors did not like the looks of Don Ivan and Jocko, and were delighted at their departure. ‘Here, Don Ivan Enderos, we part, and for- ever I hope; but let me say now, and as a warn- ing, that though I know nothing of your cause er ES EE 15 for revenge against Don Henricoand bis daugh- ter, if harm befall either of them, through your i agency, I will visit such a retribution upon you as will cause you to wish you never were born.” The lips of Don Ivan trembled, and moved, as though to reply, but the creole moved quickly away, Jocko at his heels, and, with a sigh, the Hunchback soon after walked in the direction of the cabaret of Pierre Jacot, where, at the suggestion of the supposed padre he had taken up his lodgings. In the mean time M. Noel walked rapidly homeward, and, upon arriving, asked the negro concierge who opened the portal at his coming: ‘* Where is my sister, Carlo?” ‘In her room, monsieur,” was the answer, which brought a sigh of relief to the brother, who just then catching sight of Terese, the quadroon maid of the Mademoiselle Manine, he called to her: ‘‘Here, Terese; has my sister been away from home?” ‘* Only to drive, sir.” ‘** And not alone?” ‘*‘ Not alone, monsieur,” was the answer, with ready lie, for Terese knew of the visit of her mistress the night before, though she did not know where she had gone. ‘* And she is well, Terese?” ‘Yes, monsieur; only fretted that yon re- mained away without giving her word: but the coachman told her you had gone to your plan- tation down the river, and she felt that it was all right.” ‘* Yes, I have been down the river,” and M. Noel went on to Manine’s rooms. Each greeted the other re yet with a certain con- straint, for both felt that they had a secret to conceal, as the brother was determined not to alarm his sister by a narrative of what had hap- pened, now that it was all over; but he ques- tioned her closely, and finding that she had nothing to tell him, became convinced that the plan of Conrado Costello bad miscarried, or that be had merely told him of a plot against Manine to make him the more readily pay the large ransom demanded for himself, Still anxious regarding Edna. Enderos, he soon after arranged his toilet and departed for the home of Don Henrico, the faithful Jocko at his heels. Arriving at the mansion Jacques informed him that the Seforita Edna was alone in the parlor; and there he found her, a little nervous from the sbock she bad received, but as bril- liantly beautiful as ever. In her warm-hearted way she welcomed the young creole, for between the two bonds of love were slowly but surely being riveted, and with rapt interest he listened to her story; but by no word did she betray who was her kidnap- per, and M. Noel said: ‘* You forgot to tell me that the one I met here—Don van Enderos—was your kidnap- r i Her face flushed, but she frankly responded: **] will not deny it, though lam ata loss to know how you possess the information. Don Ivan it was who took me from my home; yet I can only say in explanation that it is froma feeling of revenge against my father, whose love for me made the Hunchback strike through me. ‘‘And you do not know whom your gallant preserver was?” Edna looked worried at the last question, but at lengih said: “Yes, and I will tell you, M. Noel, though I have not told my father. Do you remember my telling you of our adventure on'the Sound some time ago, when our vessel was overhauled by a fleet schooner, and a prisoner of State taken from her by a daring young man, whose Da ead hed brought on a scene of blood- s ‘Yes; he was a wealthy young Bostonian and his act caused a decree of outlawry against him, and now I recall the name—Conraco Cos- tello, the Cuban conspirator, was. the man he saved.” ‘* Yes; well, it was that man who came to my rescue. Now he is known as Belmont, the Buc- caneer.” : Noel Valverde sprung to his feet excitedly, and cried: ‘‘Ay, and the Chevalier Corsair, too, from his humane acts! And that man is in this city, mademoiselle?” ‘* He is, or was.” “With a high a upon his head, dead or alive! It was bold of him.” ‘‘ He seems utterly fearless of consequences and in spite of the brand upon him, I cannot bu admire him; but it was a shock and a surprise to me, when in my preserver I reeognized the young man who daringly boarded our vessel on Long Island Sound, and bas since won a name so famous, though linked*with crime.” ‘It is a secret, mademoiselle, though cruel cir- cumstances, not intention, made him what he is, but be he what he may, 1 thank him for the service be has rendered you,” and M. Noel seemed inclined to say more, and of a more tender nature; but Jacques mareihe by en- tering with a card, which Edna read aloud: 0)(6)(6) ‘om (€ ‘Ss TY Y (E() —— ee Se a ee ee “ er eee ewe 3