Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 136 — page 1: what you’re looking at

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

— a > 4 = : * : ng ue il CL i} i Hi Wi Hi Hl } AMARA a Et a cSorvrk i i Gutter & ce «eww iy i alle iy "y iN} it Tet Who LRAT TP Mh Kt tke it Ht | vi im _ ee re ee ENTERED AT THE Post Orrice aT New York, N. ¥., at SeconD Cass Marl RATES. Week. BY FRANCIS JOHNSON, AUTHOR OF “THE GOLD GUIDE,” “‘ THE DEATH TRACK,” ‘‘ ALAPAHA,” ‘‘ ASSOWAUM,” — “THE BUSH RANGER.” ETO, OHAPTER LU. THE ARRESTED CONVICT. Tue brief twilight, of Australia was fast deepening into murky night. From the dis- tant forest of lofty gum-trees could be faintly heard the:shrill notes of the various wild birds, as they hastened to their nocturnal resting- places high up amid the waving branches, the startling laugh of the jackass-bird, and the wild ery of the kangaroo. Mingled with these discordant, sounds were the more familiar ones of the lowing of kine, the bellowing of the oxen,and occasionally the sharp crack of the stock-driver’s huge whip, as he drove the cattle into the _ in- closure. At this time a strange scene was being enacted in the somewhat rude, buf exceedingly comfortable dwelling of one of the better class of settlers— men who had voluntarily left all the refinements of civilization to seek a free home beneath the brilliant constellation of the South- ern Cross. A gentlemanly persen— known. to the residents of the house by the name of M’Donald—who was a great favorite in the fam- ily, to whom he had ren- | dered a most important _, \ service, was suddenly de- nounced as an eacaped convict, by Lieutenant Walker of the Colonial police force, after that officer had managed, by a skillful stratagem, to place Irons on M’Donald’s wrists. Besides Mr. Powell, the owner of the dwelling, and his wife, two beauti- ful and highly-accomplish- ed young ladies—their daughters—were present, Both Mr. M’Donald and Lieutenant Walker were men of far more than or- dinary muscular strength, and a conflict between them would probably have 3.47; << “ity ° . YA EEE Li; att) \ A a . N YZ Yoe-it Published Every chcadle Ff Adams, Piblishers, 98 WILLIAM STREET, N. Y., June 1, 1881, —_s been. fatal. to one of them, The possibility of successful resistance had, however, been frus- trated by the ingenious device of the Lieuten- ant of Police. Sarah, the eldest daughter, had evidently feelings of a more tender and sympathetic nature than mere friendship for M’Donald, on whom her gaze had been earnestly and admir- ingly fixed at the very moment that the officer proclaimed him to be a malefactor of the worst description, and who had but recently escaped from prison. M’Donald’s arrest produced dismay and con- fusion in Mr. Powell’s quiet family circle. If an apparition had appeared before them out of the ground, they could not have been more frightened than they were at the discovery of the real character of that man who had gained a place in all their affections. Sarah’s fainting fit drew the attention of the family toward her; and M’Donald bimself, on seeing the poor girl fall to the ground, made an unconscious movement, as if to hasten to her N, iilay TM? G23 | AIT 4Hh= All ) hy a \} iif What) ; \ WAH aah | | a vAR " en o_o — THE NEXT INSTANT KUYUNKO FELL DEAD TO THE GROUND, ay . \ ¢ . 4 “se, wr ri ie : 7 atiriti) i - ‘ ~~" aso = yA aul = [p Ue 477 ce " fi i nn Wi. = ed , / J Vay ; se ny} uf g) hi yey \\\ f val {i C a Ss ~ S —— yi ihe mae , Soca bs wii ohn \ Sa | * aa pt had RD | 87 assistance; but he quickly collected himself, let his arms fall, and said to Walker, in a low voice: ‘Take me away!” This, however, was easier said than done; and, Walker, alarmed by Sarah's last words, scarcely knew how to act; he was sorely puz- zled what to do with the prisoner. While standing irresolute, Mr. Bale, who bad been a frightened spectator of this scene, walked up to him, and laying bis broad hand upon hie shoul- der, said to bim in an earnest tone of voice: “Mr. Walker, I—I do not know ‘whether you have aright to apprehend this man here. It is possible—nay, likely—that you have a warrant, without which you would not venture to lay bands upon an Englishman, under the hospitable roof of an Australian squatter; but I think we are also entitled to ask what proofs you possess, Mr. M’Donald—zounds, man! at least tell us yourself whether you are the person he takes you to be, or if what’ he states be correct! Should it be nothing more’ than a mere suspicion, Vll be hanged if he shall take you away in that fashion, like a eommon criminal, with his blacks! You be- haved like a man the other day, and perhaps saved my life. You even deliv- ered this young lady, for whom we would all will- ingly lay down our lives, out of the bands of those worthless blacks; and I think these grounds are quite sufficient to justify our taking your part,” **Stop, sir!” said Walk- er, Whom these words re- called to bimself, and he boldly and sternly strode toward the honest stock- keeper. “I am engaged in the service of Her Majesty, to apprebend, wherever I can find them, the tush rangers who in- fest the Jand; and I have the warrant against’ Jack Loudon, alid@s) M’Donald. He may deny that he is the man; and T shall pro~ duce the proofse—at least, such proofs as fully em- power me to take him away, and give bim up to the courts of justice, which may then decide whetber I have exceeded my duty and deserve punishment. To them I will submit; but I shall resist by force any violent interference with my proceedings. The consequence be upon the heads of any who venture to obstruct me in the execution of my duty,’’ ’ ” f i Eomicboo CSG (0)