Beadle's Dime Library, No. 139 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

ad “dp ¢ tal * suicide,” _ Fire-Eye, the Sea Hyena. 5 “The. efter, f death hangs all wh e penalty of dea over who know it, Me it is divulged.” ‘* Bah!” was the contemptuous exclamation. ‘*Oh, sir, I know that in your calling you face death almost daily: but you do not face the death that awaits those who know this secret, should one of their number prove false and betray it, “T tell you, those who held power were de- termined that this wild freak of their king should not go abroad, and the law of death was passed as a penalty against all who knew it, should any one betray it, and that doom is, to die in a dungeon of the Tower by torture.” The young sailor, brave and reckless as he was, shuddered at the words of the Jew, and again a silence fell between them for amoment, until Tudor Vashti suddenly broke it by ask- in g: ‘‘ How knew you this secret, Jew?” **T will tell you; I had, and still have impor- tant dealings with Ross Vashti, and after some of our transactions, he sent me a roll of impor- tant papers, to keep for him as he was pion 4 to his new country estate of Sealands, whic you know he robbed the Greyhurst family of. **By mistake, he inclosed among them a small package, which he had intended de- ‘positing in the bank for safety, until his safe was ready at his villa, and there were tho let- ters that had between Infelice and the king, and himself and the king, mak- ing known the whole story of the wedding, separation, discovery nalty of betraya and your birth, and the fact that Ross Vashti was to claim you as his son.” ‘‘ And you read these secret papers?” sneered the sailor. “Of course; I saw that they were private and I skillfully broke the seal, read them, an then told Ross Vashti, when he came to me in dire alarm, that they had not been opened, and after a close examination of them, he be- lieved me,” +‘ Well, to what does all this tend?” impatient- ly asked Tudor Vashti. ** You are in need of money, I believe?” ** You know that I am,” ‘*T will give it to you.” Tudor Vashti looked up in surprise, and said: ** Yes; for usurious interest.” ** No; on fair terms.” ** What!” “*T mean it.” **But you need security.” ‘*Only some names.” ‘What names?” “* Yours and one other.” 4é hose?’ “Your father’s.” “* The king’s?” “ Ah, I forgot; no: Ross Vashti’s.” “* He will see me in Hades first.” ** Don’t ask him.” ** What mean you?” * Write it for him.” ** Ha! you dare insult me by such a pro- ‘nay teed and the young sailor was again on his eet “Oh, no; I merely. tell you to do what you have done before.” : 7 Tudor Vashti turned livid at this bold charge and remained silent, while Enoch Shylock said: “T have in my iron box there, Tudor Vashti, a draft drawn in your favor by Ross Vashti, and which was cashed for you before you sailed to the Americas, by his bankers; your notes to me, on which you got money, aided in taking up that draft before maturi ‘so, you left the money tm the bands of one of your friends, who gambled a part of it away and in despair ¢ame to me to raise the amount desired upon certain personal valuables of his own. “They were not worth half the money, and subject to fainting attacks, in his alarm, he fainted away in my office, and a little ae kept him from returning to consciousness un I had examined his papers, and [ found on him the letter, stating you inclosed the money to take up a certain draft, “He bad not suspected you, but I did, and when he revived, I told him if he would call on the morrow I would arrange the loan for him. “‘I then went and took up the fo draft and [hold it against you, and when he'came I loaned him the money on his valuables, and I say ig you know the result?” > *I heard from home that he had committed ‘* He did; intoxicated by the p ion of so large asum, he tried to double it, lost it at be om Mung table, and drove a knife to his eart. ** And you have that draft?” said the young sailor in a low tone. ‘JT have; and I will cash another for you of a like kind,” was the cool ‘¢You wish me to a ‘« What matters it a ge will CHO rs iS, b no, you can e up the paper, wi what you er at the gamin table. " on the gaming table! it has been my Tuin already, for I have lost my fortune by it.” mse. in commit forgery?’ “ : , ‘ ' “i * =. % ' : d to do’ J sa ma a rm ee “4 = a “Try again,” was the laconic remark. “Would you lure me on to still greater ruin?’ we Yes.” **How have I wronged you, Jew?” ‘You have not wronged me; I wish you to be in trouble that I may servo you; now do you wish to pay those notes I hold -“*T have no money.” **T will let you have it.” ** Again [ ask for what?” ‘*Simply on your name hand for the sum you desi ment of Ross Vashti.” ‘But [ tell you he will put hisname to no paper of mine, and besides, I do not wish him to know I need money.” at Jew laughed, a low, sinister laugh, and said: “Tt is as I thought, Captain Tudor Vashti the notes I hold of yours for ten thousand unds, now about due, have on them the forged indorsement of Ross Vashti.” Again Tudor Vashti became livid, for he saw that the Jew had overmatched bim in cunning; but after a few seconds of thought he said: ‘*T may as well admit ft; the draft you hold would condemn me without the notes, and [ frankly confess to you, Jew, that the indorse- ment is ungenuine, and it was the fear of hav- ing you present them to the man I then believed my father, that brought me back to England thout orders,” “Well, write new notes, say at the same length of time, to cover the sum I gave you on them, with what JI lost on the personal effects of your suicidal friend, and the amount I paid to take up the draft, with what other money ou may wish, and I will cash them for you, ess twenty per cent.” ‘- You are generous,” was the sneering reply. *'Yes, for [should have charged you forty, as I did before.” ** And I must indorse by Ross Vashti.” “Of course, otherwise your note would be worthless, for I hold mortgages on all you own, “ You have some deep motive in this?” “ What is it?” **T prefer to let time develop; what amount will you make the note?” ** ‘Twelve thousand pounds for three months, for I need a thousand to see me through my stay here in London.” * Write the note!” was the stern command, and the Jew handed the sailor a pen. In a bold hand he wrote the note and signed say your note of re, and the indorse- ** Now indorse it!” In a skillful manner he forged the signature of Ross Vashti, though his hand trembled a little as he did so, “Now here are your old notes, Tudor Vashti,” and the Jew handed them to him. ‘* And the draft that I gave poor Vincent the money to take up?” ‘“*T shall keep that.” The eyes of the sailor flashed, but he said nothing, and taking out of his iron box a roll of crisp bank bills he counted out the amount due wie young officer and handed them to him, with e . remark; “This should last you some time, Vashti, but Sy fool | and his money are soon parted, you ow. **No comments, Jew,” and as the officer leant forward to take up the bank bills, he saw his own notes, and the draft, within reach of his grasp, and seized with a sudden desire to destroy all proof of his dishonor, he sudden] them, and as quickly drew from his breast a dagger and held it above the heart of the Jew, cryin savagely: ‘Hold, Jew! or you shall die, for I am a des- perate man, and I will have these proofs of my guilt, and your money you can keep, thou you have robbed me of a far larger sum by your usurious interest.” Enoch Shylock knew that he had to deal with a desperate ,man, and he was aware that the slightest movement would cost -him his life, so he moved not an atom, but from his lips came an exclamation of alarm, and almost instantly it was answered by the words, in a firm but musical voice: Sir, you are in my power, not my father in ours, With a startled Sp I pi Vasbti turned to behold behind him, half concealed by a heavy velvet curtain, the slender form and lovely face of Adina, the Jewess, and in her hand she held firmly a revolver leveled at him, and her look and attitude told him that he was indeed at her mercy. o he. CHAPTER VIII. STRANGELY MET. Tr was a striking tableau for a and. moment, one which was full of danger to both Tudor Vashti and the Jew, for the face of the former had lost its nobleness and was frenzied with arp determination, and he still held his knife threateningly, and as though determined to strike, and dare the shot of the maiden, or to test her nerve to fire and save her father. But Enoch Shylock knew well the girl’s na- ture, and he said, calmly: “ Lower your weapon, Adina, for the captain had perhaps cause to attempt my life, and caught me unawares; but he will not make the attempt again any more than will I be taken at disadvantage; you are a, brave girl, and I owe you my life.” Instantly the maiden lowered her weapon, and as quickly the arm of Tudor Vashti drop- ped to Iris side, while he said, earnestly: ‘You are indeed a brave girl, and worthy the love and esteem of any man, and warmly do I thank you for preventing my adding another sin to the catalogue on my pame.” Adina smiled, and in the smile there was a look of forgiveness; but without a word she lowered the curtain and was lost to sight, while the Jew said coldly: ‘There is your money, sir, and I warn you, royal-blooded though you be, not to betray the secret you have this night heard from my lips,” ‘*fam not anxious to make known my own shame, Jew, for as the marriage between my royal father and unfortunate mother was an- nulled, hay me th am a child of shame; so ba it, I have this night proven myself a mamef dishonor by forging the name of him I believed my parent; good-night, Jew,” and the officer turned away, and his host quietly and without a word conducted him to the outer door. With his money in an inner pocket, and his cloak folded around him closely, he wended his way rapidly through the wretched thor- oughfare, avoiding as much as possible the crowd of half-drunken loungers here and there grouped in the street, and unheeding, as was his wisest course, the ribald jests and abuse heaped upon him for being better dressed than were the denizens of that low quarter. Hours had gv while he was in Shylock’s house, and it was getting late, but still he seemed to shun the better streets, until he left the Jews’ quarter, near Monmouth street, when he turned into an alley, dimly lighted that led to a more fashionable thoroughfare. But hardly had he gone ten paces, when out from a shadowed doorway there sprung three men, and in an instant he wasin their rough rude grasp, and that their intention seem both murder and robbery was evident. Tudor Vashti was a man of strength above the average, and as quick and agile as a panther; but unsuspecting attack, he had been seized, and his arms pinioned before ‘he could offer resistance, while a hoarse voice cried: %y “Knife bim, Tom, while Jack and I hold him, and we'll be even for the forty blows o’ the cat he put on our bare backs,” In an instant he knew the three men, as de- serters from his vessel the night before, and desperate fellows whom he had punished severe- ly for misdemeanors during the last cruise, and he knew well that his steps had been dogge and that they would kill him for revenge, an rob him for grog money, and knowing how helpless was a struggle, he raised his voice in one loud, ringing ad “Help, here!” Just as the cry left his lips a form passed the head of the alley, and like-an arrow darted to the rescue, and, ere the assailants of the officer could turn to meet the attack of the man who had so Heese answered the call, two of them had been felled to the earth, and the third was in the grasp of one who was his master. “My brave fellow I owe you my life; let me help vou with that villain, and then I'll deliver the three to the guard to send on board my ship, from which they deserted,” and, as Tudor Vashti spoke he felled the third man to = vement, just 2 ve of ae city guardians of the ce ran up e spo ” Officers, my véssel, His Majesty’s yacht Lance, and they dogged my steps to waylay me, so bear them to the St. James water stairs, and give them over to the coxswain of my boat that awaits me there,” ; ‘Pardon me, sir, but you are—” ' os lees Tudor Vashti.” “Allright, sir; we will obey you,” said the man politely, and the three seamen were uickly ironed and arose to their fee sullen quickly ironed and heir feet in sull silence at the orders of the night guard, while the officer asked teh ‘Where is the gentleman who came to my rescue so nobly?” “He wal away, sir, as we came up, and turned the corner to the left,” answered one of the guard. 6 must see and thank him; here, take this and drink my health, and do not let these three devils escape you,” and so saying Tudor Vasbti started rapidly away, in pursuit of the stranger who had so fearlessly answered his ery for help, and did such good service after his a to slip modestly away as though to avoi 8. Swiftly disappearing in the distance he re- cognized the tall ¢ agile forma, and walking rapid- ty, he, after a while came near enough to lm: = : “Hold, eomrade, for I would have a word with you,” he cried. The stranger glanced back, and by the light miicboo! 1 an es : pur Ss th eet these three men are deserters from _ S:Com