Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 128 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

ee —— - o* sy ili i ita . -~ = ee —~— -_- ~ _ . — -- 22 ‘*Do you see this scar, sefiorita? It is plain enough, and youcan easily see the word—trai- tor?” and he held out his left hand, in the palm of which had been burned the letters, clear and distinct. ‘*From the hand it was to be placed on my forehead; but maddened with rage, revenge and agony, I seized the iron, struck down m torturer, cleaved my way through the guard, and, strange to say, escaped by springing upon an officer’s horse, ‘* Puttiag to sea inan open boat I was picked oP days after, more dead than alive, by the bevalier Corsair, in whom I recognized my old college friend, to whom I told my wrongs. ‘* Now, Setiorita Enderos, you know why I am what I am, for I have no land to claim as my own, no flag to protect me; only my own gies right arm, to carve out upon the broad lue seas my destiny.” The bright tears stood in the eyes of Stella Enderos, as Alvarez Navarro ceased speaking, and grasping his scarred hand she said, warm- y: ‘* You have indeed suffered, and my heart’s sympathy is yours; but answer me, you are the son of the Cuban known as Navarro, the In- surgent?”’ “Tam, lady.” ‘‘And the name of the aunt you spoke of was—” ** Jofina Juarez, sefiorita.” ‘*Sefor, let me tell you that the same blood flows in your veins as in mine, for the aunt you speak of was my mother.” To depict. the astonishment of the young Cu- ban would be impossible; but when he heard how Jofina Juarez, his young and lovely aunt, had been shipwrecked, and her life saved by a being whom all shunned, but whom she had ken kindly to, and soon after had become wife, he knew then that Stella Enderos was indeed his cousin, and the bond of friendship already welded firmly between the two became as strong as steel, and death alone could sever the links, eee ee me ee sti‘ ee CHAPTER XXXVIITI. A PLOT TO KILL. PIERRE JACOT was in his tap+room, reading the daily paper with one eye, and with the other attentively watching a sleepy waitress burnish- ing up the bottles and bar. t was just before midnight, and it was Mon- sieur Jacot’s time to snatch an hour’s rest, and the comfort of his paper, while he sipped a glass of claret, for business was always slack with him between the hours of ten and twelve; but from the time the clock in the cathedral] tolled the time of the night, until two, it was gener- ally a busy day in the cabaret, for the fre- quenters of the wine-room were none of them early risers. To all appearances Monsieur Jacot and the sleepy waiters were all that the room con- tained; but in an alcove, eurtained off, sat an- other person, whose existence seemed to have been forgotten by the cabaret-keeper. Suddenly the door swung open and in came a man in sailor garb, and with a face concealed by a heavy beard. ‘You sent for me, Monsieur Jacot,” said the en quietly, seating himself near the land- ord, ** No, monsieur ” . “Tam Pierre Louis.” ‘““Ah! then I did send for you, but how should I know you with all that bair on your face? I havea job for you, Monsieur Pierre.” ‘* Will it pay?” was the laconic response. * Yes, there is plenty of gold in it—say five hundred onzas.” ‘‘Ab! it is then the letting of blood, Monsieur Jacot?’ ‘*Tt is; will you do it?” ‘‘My knife is alittle dull from disuse, mon- sieur; but the price isa large one, and I might consider it, when | know who holds the gold, and who the victim is.” ‘* [hold the gold, Monsieur Pierre Louis, and the victim is one of my boarders, and one whom Ido not think you ever met, but whom once to meet is to remember always.” ‘**Ahl bis name?” ** He is a Spaniard, and answers to the name of Don Ivan Endero-—” ‘*There is a wealthy Spanish-American gen- tleman of that name, who dwells—” ‘*No, no, Pierre; his name is Don Henrico Enderos, and he isa prince among men, while this one is a Hunchback, and as hideous as the mask of Satan, while he is a very devil when roused, | warn you beforehand, so you may be prepared.” ‘Bah! I care little for devils, monsieur, for I never met my match in strength but once; but | you want this Hunchback killed, you say ?”’ ‘*Oh, no, Monsieur Louis, J do not want him killed; but another person desires him out of the way, and where could a better ‘you can make five hundred onzas.” ‘Tt is a large sum for you to pay, and—” ‘* You are wrong agin, my dear friend; J do not give it; only am.the banker for it, to hand it to you when your work is done; the one who : lace be | found than the grave? especially as by his death | _ the promise of a8 many more when you were dead. ee _ a ox —_——— —— -_— — ee ee or - - The — -—— -——— —_—— - —_ — — — — hevalier gives the money called on me to-day and asked me to arrange the little matter for him, and, knowing you were in hard luck, and had a little account on my books, IL sent for you, thinking you might wish to turn an honest penny.” ‘‘ Very well, give me two hundred and fifty onzas now, and the balance when the work is done, and we’ll call it square.” ‘* And when will it be done?” ‘*To-morrow! to-night! now !” ‘Very well, now is the best time, for I will let you into his room, and show you a means of escape; he is out at present, but you can conceal yourself and await his coming home, and then,” and Monsieur Jacot made a very suggestive motion, by drawing his finger across his fat throat. ‘Yes, and then; now give me the gold and show me the reom.” ‘* You have a knife?” ‘‘T am no fool, Jacot; lead the way.” Pierre Jacot called out to the girl to keep her eyes open for customers, and led the way to the ne, RY ut hardly had they disappeared when the stranger in the alcove, and whom the cabaret- keeper had wholly forgotten, came out into the tap-room, paid his score to the waitress, who was still half asleep, and went out into the street, a quiet smile upon his face. And, as he passed oul others came in, and then a stream of humanity set toward the cabaret, and upon his return down -stairs, Pierre Jacot found his patrons busy, playing dominoes and drinking claret, noyeau and ab- sinthe by the bottleful, as was their nightly custom. And, out on the pave stood the form of the man who had left the alcove, and though as silent as a statue, his eyes scanned every one closely who entered the cabaret, and a look of disappointment, as shown by the swinging lamp across the street, came over his face, as scores passed in and the one he sought came not. CHAPTER XXXIX. THE WARNING. ‘‘SpXor, I would speak with you.” The person addressed started, half threw back the folds of the heavy cloak he wore, and looked the one who addressed him straight in the face, while he said tersely: ‘Well, sir, speak!” ‘“You are Don Ivan Enderos, I believe?” “One once seeing me, or hearing me de- scribed, sir, would never fai] in recognizing at sight Don Ivan Enderos, sefor,” was the bitter ‘it is a pleasure to meet you, sefior, for I came to New Orleans to see you alone.” ‘* Ah! and have we met before?” **Never, to my knowledge.” **Had we done so, you could never forget m deformity; so I take it we have never met until to-night; how can I serve you, sir?’ “Té is the other way, sefior; [ have come to serve you.” ms As you please; it is a matter of indifference me. **But not to me, as I can prove; but first let me tell you that this very night I listened to a plot to assassinate you.” ‘*Oh, Tam used to plots of that kind; but of course [am willing to repay you for—” ‘* Don Ivan Enderos, I pardon you for the in- sult because you know not who lam; but I tell youl sawa man paid two bundred and fifty onzas, not half an hour ago, to take your life, with the promise of a like amount when he did his work, and that man is now near you, and ready for the deed.” | ** Yourself, perhaps; well, earn your money, sefior.” **Again you insult me, sefior; but I forbear for the same reason as I said before; come, lead the way to your room, I will await an instant and follow you, so as not to attract the atten- tion of the cabaret-keeper; do not enter your chamber untii I join you, and then see if I have not told you the truth.” ‘*Sefior, your words impress me with their truth; pardon my suspicion, and I will do as you wish,” and Don Ivan entered the caburet, dashed off a glass of wine at the bar, and passed on into the hallway. A. moment after the stranger entered, and taking a seat near the corridor door, watched his chance and followed the Hunchback. ‘“*T am here, sefior; now enter your room, and { will be near you.” Unhesitatingly Don Ivan obeyed, and a mo- ment after he called out: ‘*Come in, sefior.” The stranger obeyed, and saw only Don Ivan; but he heldin his hand a note, while he said, witha smile: ‘* Your assassin’s beart failed him, and he has left me this note, which I will read aloud.” It wasina large, bold hand, in Spanish, and simply beaded with the hour at woich it was written, and was as follows: *Don Ivan Exprnos: *SeRor: -‘To-night the sum of two hundred and fifty 0028 were given to me, to take your life, with ‘Pierre Jacot engaged me for the work, he being Corsair. — | will tell you where to find ' ~ mee ee the tool of some one else, whom you doubtless can recall far better thaa I. ‘* But Monsieur Jacot has mistaken his man, for though I have led no saintly life, I am not at heart bad, nor so base as to ass/ssinate even my worst enemy; yet, as Monsieur Jacot once robbed my widowed mother, now in her grave, of just two bun- dred and fifty onzas, 1 have taken from him that amount, for it will aid me in leaving the city, and carrying with me the woman I love to some other spot where I can build up a home and an honest name for myself. “Should you need confirmation of what I write, seek Mademoiselle Louisette, Cabaret Soto, and she PIERRE Lovis.”’ ‘* Well, sefior, I thank you, and also Monsieur Pierre Louis, who might have taken me un- _awares, hidden as be was in my room; to you I offer my hand in friendship.” ** Which I willingly grasp, sefior, for I am Al- | varez Navarro, the son of Navarro, the Cuban ; Insurgent,” **Ha!l say you so? Then indeed I welcome you, sefior, though ’tis said thou hast linked thy proud father’s name with that of pirate.” ‘* Alas! seflor, itis but too true that I bear the brand of infamy; but judge not until you have heard all,” said the young Cuban, sadly. hp I judge the acts of no man; it is his heart I would see; but you have had that heaped upon ou that would turn to iron the softest heart, or I have known of thy sorrows, boy.” ‘*Sefior, [thank you, and for the kind words — have spoken to me, the outcast of my name, will bring glad tidings to your heart, for I am sent by the Chevalier Corsair to tell you of thy daughter.” The Hunchback bounded to his feet, and seiz- ing the Cuban by his shoulders, said in earnest, trembling tones: ‘Boy, tell me of my child, my beautiful Stella, and i'll love thee as if thou wert my own son.” Ape 9 is even now not far away, and well, ‘** And in honor?’ The Hunchback’s voice was deep and thrill- ing as he asked the question. ‘ Ay, she isas pure as an angel!” **God, I thank Thee!” The huge head bowed for a moment, and was then raised, the face having become calm once more. ‘* Boy, that is the first prayer I have uttered since | was a little boy, and then I prayed for death; but the grim monster shunned me, as though he thought that he himself would die, to come in contact with such as I am.” a Sefior, you are too bitter; too severe against ourself,” said Alvarez, feelingly. ‘“ Ha! ha! ha! boy, you know not my bitter- ness; I have two hearts, one of flesh and blood for those I love, and those who look not on me with dread and ridicule, and one of iron, of stone, of marble, for those I hate; but tell me of my child, and tell me all, Alvarez, nephew of my sainted wife, my dead Jofina.” In a few words Alvarez Navarro told his story, of the raid upon the hacienda, which was plotted by,Manuel Hernandez, and of the carrying off of Stella and her maid, and their release by the Chevalier Corsair, and then the deviltry of her cousin in trying to force ber into a marriage with him, but how the buccaneer chief thwarted his wicked plans. ‘‘And you now have Manuel Hernandez in your power?’ asked the Hunchback, in hoarse tones. ‘Yes, sefior; Ll left bim on board the lugeer to-night.” ‘* Alvarez, Don Manuel Hernandez belongs ~ » your motber’s branch of the family, who re. mained in Spain; titled, but poor, I got for him a commissionin the army, and his gallantry won him promotion; but he was born a villain, and he will die a villain, and oh! what a death shall he not die.” ‘* No, sefior, not at your hands, for he is the prisoner of the Chevaher Corsair,” said Alvarez, lirmly. ye a will he kill him?” “Of that there is nod ubt.” ‘‘Then I must see him die, for, look at me! behold my deformed body, my hideous face and say if I, shunned of all men, wretched and a very devil, do not deserve one glimpse of heaven, for it will be joy ecstatic fo see that man die; but come, let us go at once to my daughter, for, monstrosity that I em, I love my child; so come, Alvarez, my son, and take me to her that sunlight may penetravethe dark- ness in my heart.” ‘*Willingly willl guide you thither, sefior,” and the two men left the room together. “A bottle of wine together we'll take, boy ; and you, Monsieur Pierre Jacot, serve it.’ The landlord started as he heard his name in the well-known tones of the man he believed then lying dead in his room, and his face turned pale, while with trembling hands he served a bottle of bis best wine, placing it upon the table at which the Hunchback and the Cuban had taken seats. ‘ ‘* Monsieur Jacot, let me give you a little ad- vice: never hire an assassin until you are con- vinced he has no heart.” . * Ah! why, monsieur—you are—you mean—” Stammered Jacot, and Don Ivan interrupted: GoOmicoooks (E() he AY