Beadle's Dime Library No. 162 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

at * 4 > ” Clarice Bond walked over and peeped at the little infant, and then, witha -by to Mrs. pa thoog left the cabin, followed by the young sailor. For some distance she ps ae up the hill in silence, and then halting, said abruptly, while she gazed straight into the face of her com- panion: ‘Carl Carter, you once said that you would serve me well if I asked it.” ‘And I meant it, for did you not save me from prison by swearing an alibi for me when you knew I was guilty of smuggling, and more, did you not nurse my wife day and night through long weeks of illness? Ob, yes, you have ois to say the word and I will do what you ask, ‘Suppose it were a life in the way?” The man started, but answered, promptly: ‘‘T like not blood-letting, for I hate memo- ries; but I have been forced to kill in self-de- fense, and if it was to serve you { would do it again.” ‘‘T know it, Carl, as I know well that you are the secret leader of the smuggler band on this coast; but I swore to the contrary, for your young wife’s sake. ‘* But I do not ask yor to take life, only to do something for me that will require your boldness and tact.” ‘Tam ready, Mrs. Bond,” was the quick re- sponse, “ You know Judge Townzend?” ‘* Well.” ‘¢ And the Hall?” ‘‘ Perfectly, for I worked there, when a small boy, with my father.” ‘I wish you to go there and ask him to visit the village with you, to draw up papers fora dying man.” ‘But, will he do it?” ‘‘ His god is gold, and here it is for you to of- fer to pay him in advance,” ‘* Well?” ‘ At some point of the road have one of your men, whom you can trust, thoroughly, to halt you both, and then you lay hold of the judge and bind him,” ‘‘T am listening.” ‘‘Carry him to your secret rendezvous, and keep him there until you hear from me,” ‘““T will doso; but he knows me, and would not go with me, so I will send Maddocks for him, and I will waylay them on the road.” “Tt is just as well; itis not yet one o’clock, and you can get there by two, at furthest,” ‘*T will go at once.” “ And I will pay you and Maddocks well.” ‘‘ Not me; but you may give Maddocks a few gold pieces,” ‘Very well; now be off, and I may call for your prisoner before daylight; if not, to-mor- row night, certain! Wy. “* ? will be rea y for you when wanted, Mrs, nd. So saying, the young smuggler turned away, and Clarice Bond, after watching his de form for a moment, kept on up hillside into the highway, and reaching the gate leading into the grou of the Gregory mansion, entered, and crept to a hiding-p in the shrubbery ws rere bounding out fro d came ou m under the ik ab rushed up to her; but a low onl caused him to “cp short and become ae with her, he evidently knowing her w bs yang | him by the collar she led him away further into the eee and sought shelter in a rustic arbor, where she sat down to wait, still holding the oe ey Watching, soon after saw a vehicle drive up the gravel way and halt at the door. A man dismounted and sounded the heavy knoeieet AP after a short delay the door was open There was a parley for a few moments, and she could not hear the words, while she watched the dog and kept him still; two forms got into the vehicle, which at once rolled away from the mansion, ‘‘He has bitten at the golden bait, and has : that man would sell his soul for gold. ‘‘ Now I am ready to do my work, as soon as all is still once more,” and there was a stran threatening ring in her tone, as if she had de- termined upon some desperate deed. CHAPTER XIV. A LIFE TO SAVE HONOR. For nearly half an hour after the vehicle sam away from the Hall, Clarice Bond sat in silence. She had released her grasp upon the dog, and he had gone off somewhere, evidently fearing no harm from her to the inmates of the man- sion, or the disappearance of the family plate at her hands. At last she arose and drawing a long breath, as though to nerve her for her work, she crept from tree to tree to the mansion, and at last reached the piazza. As noiseless as a cat in her movements, she ascended to the door and after waiting an in- stant, as if wholly familiar with the mansion’s secrets, she touched a spring, made in the form The Mad Mariner. eee of some ornamental work, and the panel over the door knob flew open. Reaching her hand within she gently unlocked the door, drew back the bolt, and softly entered, Closing the door and the panel behind her she moved across the hall toward the broad stair- |. way, her way dimly lighted by the moonlight streaming in through the glass over the front door. Softly up the stairs she crept, and gaining the second floor went to a door on the right. It was closed, but she softly turned the knob, and it opened. ES God it was not locked,” she mut- tered. There was a taper burning in the promaee, and its light revealed that it was a large, luxu- riously furnished bedroom. : But the bed was empty, though evidently it had been slept in. Across the room was a door that was partly closed, and to this the woman made her way. She gave it a gentle shove, and itc ed, and instantly she was still as a statue. But the noise had evidently disturbed no one, and another push opened it far enough for the woman to pass through; but the creaking sound caused a movement of some kind in the other room. Instantly she stood back in the shadows, and her arm was withdrawn from her bosom and held a knife. But no other sound was heard and the woman passed through a narrow dressing-room, for such it seemed to be, and another door ajar was before her. ‘ This is her room,” she muttered. Quietly she thrust her head within and gazed around her. There was no taper burning in the room, but the sponesiay4 came through the open windows and distinc y were that it was a bed-cham- ber, and that the bed held an occupant, A moment the woman gazed at the one in the bed and then slowly retreated to the first room. Taking from her bosom the root she had brought from home with her, she held it over the taper until one end was lighted, burning like a coal, without a blaze. Putting ber kerchief to her nose, to avoid in- haling the odor, for the burning root emitted a peculiar, pleasant perfume, she returned to the second chamber and cautiously entered. Placing the burning root oeee a fancy bracket of bronze, where it would ignite noth- i»g and cause fire, she stepped toward the bed and gazed dn instant at the sleeper, still holding her handkerchief to her face, It was Grace, the wife of Judge Townsend and haughty half-sister of Duke, the disown son. She was sleeping soundly, and, as the fumes of the burning wood reached her nostrils, she began to breathe erg instant only did Clarice Bond stand there, and then she turned softly and glided out of the room. Crossing the front chamber, which Judge Townsend’s love of gold had caused him to va- eate a half an hour before, she regained the hall, descended the stairs quietly, opened the door, closed it, and with her hand through the secret el relocked it. As she stepped out into the moonlight the dog rej dined her. ‘ Ah, Lion, you would not greet me thus if you knew what I had done. “ And if you had the power of h, you could tell on me,” she said, grimly, as she diag on her way down the gravel drive lead- n the gate. Walking riskly, she soon reached her home and softiy en the room where she had left ber son 8 pan But the e of the te his strong consti- tution and we nome had © thrown off the room, his head bent, and hands clasped behind him. “Well, mother? I thought you had retired,” he said, yo fy ‘‘It is well, my son, for the stain upon your birth and name need never be known now,” she said, fiercely. : “Good God! what do you mean?” he gasped, struck by her white face and strange manner. ‘Sit down, and you shall hear all, and then you must act, as I have done,” she answered, calmly; and then she added: “To save your honor, Duke Gregory, lives must be taken, and foes ‘be removed from your pat ” CHAPTER XV. A WOMAN'S PLOT. “‘ MoTHER, in Heaven’s name what have you done?” cried Duke Gregory, as he sunk down on the lounge, and she drew a chair up in front of him, and seated herself. “I have done that, Duke, my son, which will save you from the dishonor that wretch Neil ae igh tried to heap upon you through hatred me. 0 ** And what have you done?” **T have saved you.” “ How?” “Do you think that I, your mother, who 7 ended one life that you mightreap your just re- Ww. ‘*Mother! woman! do I understand u ht?” he cried, in a tone of horror, SEY tt to his feet. ‘Yes, 1 poisoned the boy twin of Neil Greg- ory, and put you in his place,” was the un- flinching ary ‘“‘God in heaven have mercy upon you,” groaned the stricken son. ‘“T need no mercy, Duke Gregory, end I care for no pity; that man, your father, turned me from a pure woman into a fiend, thirsting for al “T bided my time, and the moment came when I had it, for his child died by my hand, and you, I believed, hoped, would be the one to have the rights he denied you. “In his last hour he was determined to be revenged on me, and he told Leroy Townsend and his daughter Grace, all that I had made known to him, and more, he wrote you a letter telling you of your dishonor, and has left a de- mand that it shall be giveu to the public. “Shall he lie in his grave, th you, Duke Gregory, and rest there, leaving such a damna~ ble work to be done? ‘“‘Oh, no! not while I live to thwart it.” “ Again I ask, what have you done?” and the man could whist , ‘‘T first plotted to get Leroy Townsend into your power.” ; “My power? « Yes. 9 “What mean you?” “Your ship lies at anchor in the basin?’ te Y es. ” “You are her commander?” | <é Yes.” 5 There are none to dispute your word on ‘“ No.” ‘Pirates are hung at the yard-arm when taken?” ““c Yes,” ‘Without trial?’ r uently.” ) , there are known to be smugglers and pirates on this coast, and if you capture one and carry him on your vessel you have a right to hang him?’ “But who is this pirate?” ** Judge Leroy Townsend.” ae young officer started, but said in a low. ne: ‘** | do not get your marine ‘“‘T know a smuggler dwelling on this coast, whom, two hours ago, I sent to the Hall under retense of being a messenger to get Judge ownsend to visit the village, two leagues away, to draw up a will for a dying stranger at the tavern.” | ‘‘Oh, mother! mother!” Unheeding his cry, she went on: ‘“My plan worked well, for I gave my man ld to offer the judge in advance, and if is his dol, and he was taken in a vehicle along the highway, seized suddenly, and is now in a se- cret retreat prraiting ee to go on board your vessel, carry him with you, and when at sea to hang him at the yard-arm, “‘ His death buries this secret of your birth and you, as the heir, will save your or an inherit your estates after all, for I know where the will is kept, for it was not to be ree ay? Pa , and still remains in keep- ing 3 Leroy Townsend. 7 ’ aprineng to his feet, and rapidly Lag | to and fro, ace livid, his lips set, and whole form quivering with emotion. ‘‘ Self-preservation is Nature’s first law, Duke ry,” she said, in a firm tone. “ : but I cannot do it.” “Then disgrace falls upon you in the eyes of your fellow-men.” ‘‘T know it, I knew it, alas!” “Not one act of yours has caused this ern ig punishment to fall upon you; but one act yours can save you,” “But, my poor mother, my sister Grace knows this fearful secret, and ' a enipce — than J Edge Townsend.” ‘Your sister Grace will never appear a you unless before the throne of Gea.” wkd the woman, impressively. , The man started and turned toward bé@r, and his eyes asked the question of what she meant. “T mean, Duke, t she is dead.” “ Dead !” sé Yes.” ‘‘ And when did she die?’ “ To-night.” “By your hand?” and he trembled with hor- ror. “By my hand, for I caused her to sink pee fully into a rapturous sleep, which en in eath. “T will tell you, my son: my father, in one of his voyages to India, brought home some drugs, poisons and barks, the uses of which he learned from a native medicine-man. ‘These were among his effects, and he had explained their use to me. One of these was a root which, when ted at one end, emits an odor that is delicious to the EOmicbooks she is even more (E(0)