Beadle's Dime Library, No. 139 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

“One minute: you have proven yourself a blackmailer, as well as a murderer of the worst kind, and wo save Ross Vashti I came to warn you that I would go tothe king with my story, if you made another threatening demand for money. “ Say that you will not, and your secret is safe.” ‘No, I prefer to know that my secret is for- ever safe, and the same time I must have money, and will have it.” ‘You refuse my advice?” rt) I do.” “Then do your worst, for I do not fear you.” Again the man hesitated, for the youth’s manner was utterly fearless, though he must know that Tudor Vashti had sent his valet away simply to have him wholly in his power. After a slight pause he suddenly sprang for- ward and grasped the youth by the shoulder with a gripe of iron, and murderous intent was in his eyes; but ere he could clutch the slender throat the youth cried: ° ‘“‘Unhand me, for I have officers awaiting me.” Tudor Vashti checked his impulse, and the youth continued: **Go to that window, draw aside the curtain and you will see a vehicle, in which are three officers of the law; if I return not by two o’clock, and it is pow a quarter of an hour to that time, they break into this house, and will: seize you, fora written statement I sealed and placed in their hands to open should harm be- fall me.” The manner of the youth carried convic- tion with his words, and Tudor Vasbti quickly released him, and became livid with fear; but, like a drowning man catching at a straw, he cried: “Your story none would believe, for you are but an unknown youth.” , A peculiar smile crossed the face of the stranger, and, after an instant, he said: “Tudor Vashti, I intended not to reveal to you who I was; but to keep you in check I will do so, and if you will let Ross Vashti alone I will not betray the secret, which I have kept locked in my heart for five long years; but if you demand of him another cent, the king shall know all. ‘‘ Why I kept that fearful secret, which: has been like a hideous nightmare in my heart ever since that fatal day, I know not, and could never explain to myself; but I saw you com- mit the deed, for I sat in a niche of the castle, sketching the land view, and I witnessed all. “T was but a child then of twelve, but I told no one of the fearful story, and I do not care now to do so, unless you force me to it; if you do, I have fortified myself with the name and home of the murdered maiden, and know all.” “ But no one will believe you.” ‘‘Perhaps not, believing me to be an un- known French youth; but, as Lady Lois Vashti, of Sealands, they will.” The durk wig and mustache were taken off suddenly, and with a cry of horror Tudor Vashti started back and gazed upon the daring woman. , But again catching at a straw, the man said: “ Lady Lois, you are in my rooms, and my valet sball return and find you here, and then your fair reputation is forever gone.” “You fo tbat I am accompanied by four king’s officers, sir,” was the haughty response, and Tudor Vashti saw that he was indeed beaten at bis own game, and said bumbly: “ T submit; pies a me and I obey.” “You know what I demand of you, and see that you disregard not my wishes; good-night, Captain Vashti; I wish you a pleasant break: fast with Fi lieutenant,” and resuming her disguise, Lady Lois left the room and the house, and entering the carriage, where three men sat awaiting her return, she said: ‘Drive to the inn and I will pay you for your services, which I am glad to say were not needed.” CHAPTER XXIX. THE JEW’S LITTLE GAME. Ir was with a black face, and fierce humor, that Captain Tudor Vashti drove up to the home of Enoch Shylock, the evening after his interview with Lady Lois, and demanded to see the Jew. Seated in his easy-chair, a table with his ledgers and account books before him, Enoch received the young officer with a calm and Fire-Eye, the Sea Hyena. me were ee ee pleasant mien that by no means poured oil on tbe troubled waters of the spendthrift’s soul, for he cried fiercely: “Curse your smiling face, when I am in such a pumor, Jew.” ‘Tt is bard, I know, Captain Vashti, to have to pay out your money to redeem your note, when you could get rid of it so much more pleasantly by gambling it away.” “ But I have no money to pay you.” Up went the arched eyebrows, as if in great surprise, and the Jew asked: ‘*‘ Have you not come to redeem your notes.” “ce No!” ‘‘ Ah! some other business then, for I remem- ber they are not due until to-morrow.” ‘“ My business is that the note must remain over,” flatly said the officer. ‘Impossible, Captain Vashti.” ‘*Tt is not impossible, Jew.” ae It is.” ee Why?’ “They are in other hands.” “They must be taken up.” ‘Give me the money to do so.” *T have it not, Jew.” ‘Then they must go to protest.” ‘Take them up yourself.” “Thave not the amount I care to invest in them.”’ ‘* You must.” ‘‘That is a strong word, captain, from a beggar.” | “Sir!” ‘Yes, from a beggar to one he asks a favor of,” ‘Oh, curses on you, Jew Shylock, you know you have the money and can take them up.” “‘T must have security.” ‘*T have none to give, ‘Then they go to protest.” ‘Damnation! would you ruin me?’ **Go to Ross Vashti and get money.” ‘* He will give me nothing. “Try him,” “*T have tried him.” “Try him again.” “Fool! I have bled him of thirty thousand pounds since I gave you the notes,” ‘‘ Ah! then you bave money.” ‘*] bave not, for 1 lost it all in play.” “You should give up that evil habit, Cap- tain Vashti.” ‘‘T will pledge myself to do so, if you will take up those notes,” ‘‘ What interest is it to me whether you gamble or not? your vices are nothing to me,” was the cold response. ‘‘ Ah! I forgot, you are a human vampite to live off of other men,” “It is the way of the world, my Christian captain; one balf of the world steals from the other half; some do it on the high seas, and itis called piracy, others break into our bomes and it is termed burglary, others still trade on the necessity of others and we call it business, while many thrive, under the cloak of the church and honesty, by swindling their neigh- bors, and it is called speculation; I tell you, Tudor Vashti, I am no greater sinner than my brother merchants,” “ Hush your accursed moralizing and help me,” “T cannot, for you will not help yourself; I lift your head above water, and you make no effort to keep from sinking again.” “Oh, what shall I do?” **T seldom give advice.” “Do so this time, good Enoch, for if those notes go to protest, they reach the hands of Ross Vashti, and my forgery will be known, and I am ruined.” ‘You should not have committed forgery.” ‘You tempted;me.” *“You should have resisted.” ‘**Don’t preach to me, Jew, for you know how I was situated, but tell me how to extri- cate myself.” ‘* Advice is a commodity that has a market- able value in law.” ‘‘You mean I must pay for it?’ ‘ce Yes. ” “Some other trap to lead me into, Pll war- rant,” ‘*- You can decline as you please.” “Well, what is it?” ‘*T must have twenty per cent, if you get the money.” ** Of course you must rob me.” ** No, I save you from ruin.” You shall have it, only help me out.” “* Go to the king.” *‘T have thought of that, and was going to do so, telling him I had been reckless and throwing myself on his clemency; but a young man I had befriended years ago, and whom I meet at the club, came to me and told me se- cretly that he was one of the king’s detectives, in fact the chief of the force of spies, and told me he had received orders to dog my steps, and that his men were watching me, and bad se- cretly my every action to their master, and that his majesty bad muttered sotto voce ; *** He is nearing the end of his rope, in spite of all I have done.’ ‘“Now, Jew, you see I dare not approach him.” ‘*No, it would not be wise.” ** Besides, I received an order this day to sail to-morrow night in my new vessel, if ready, and pursue that accursed pirate that is spread- ing terror along the coast.” “Yes, the city is wild with rumors regard- ing him; by the way, did you ever capture your deserter?” “You mean Brandt Greyhurst?” “cc Yes.” ‘“* No, although the king trebled the reward offered,” ** No one has seen him?’ No; why do you ask?’ ‘*] saw him the other night.” ** You !” exclaimed the officer. c Yes. ” ** Where?’ ‘In Portsmoutb.” “Why did you not arrest him, Jew?” ‘“‘T am not a king’s officer,” was the cold re- sponse. ** Nonsense; why did you not call aid?? “T did not care to.” Would you protect a deserter?’ **T am protecting a forger, sir.” Captain Vashti winced under this shot, and cowed his companion by saying: “You did wrong, Jew, to allow him to es- cape.” an I am the best judge of my own actions, sir. “It was in Portsmouth you saw him, you say?’ “ Yes. ” “Where?” “ At the inn.” “ What was he doing there?” “Talking to me,” ‘“You know that it was Brandt Greyhurst?” ‘ Yes.” “What did he say to you?’ “ That is my business, sir.” “By Heaven! you are protecting a felon from justice, and are liable for it.” * Yes, if the king found it out.” ‘He shall, for I will tell him, sir—unless you doas I wish,” “You will hardly tell on yourself.” “* Myself! what do you mean?” “Why will you tell the king I am protecting a forger—yourself?” **Curse you, Jew, I meant Brandt Grey- hurst.” Ah had ~ ; “Devil take that ah of your’s; it means more than a whole sentence of most men, and maddens me.” ‘“You are easily upset, my Christian cap- tain; but bave you any idea who this pirate eh io?” ao “Think!” ‘““T have no idea.” ‘*T have.” * Who?” “The deserter.” ‘‘ Brandt Greyhurst?” ac Yes. ” “ By the Holy Neptune! I believe you are right, for he has only appeared on the ccast the past six weeks, and his craft is reported as one of those fleet channel traders, so often used by smugglers, but larger and of trimmer build than the usual run of those vessels; what pn aki s ie » spaiing Midshipman Greyhurst, though, ew ‘ ae went down to Portsmouth to look at a et of goods m nt reported were Vv fine and that I att ay epee” ‘sear “Smuggled doubtless?” sneered the captain. ur never ask a man where he gets his goods, ‘ “No need in that case; but go on, please.” “They were shown me by a man I bad for- merly had dealings with, and I had just con- cluded a bargain with him, when upon open- ae (E(@) COMMUNIC OOO KS @ aA. f