Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 197 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

8 - Revolver Rob, tu e IRed-Handed. | began to contain significant hints and innuen- does, which were but thinly vailed. “Tt was then that I heaped coals of fire upon our head, and proved that you had one friend eft who was brave enough to stand by you through thick and thin. And how did you re- quite me?” “By spurning you from me like the treacher- ous cur that you were and are still!” cried Pet Flamsteed, with the energy of utter despera- tion, ‘I had my suspicion that you were a snake in the grass, eveu before you stood before that jury and while pretending to be defending - me—me_ whom not even a breath of doubt had been cast upon until then—you tried to cover me with shame and dishonor! But when you came and urged me to fulfill the horrible condi- tion which he—my murdered husband—had imposed upon me. then the scales fell entirely from my eyes, and I saw you for what you really were.” ‘‘Yes, you spoke plain enough then,” sail Jasper Quigley, only the deeper glow in his Sneice-Ithca eyes betraying that he felt the sting of her passionate words. ‘And plainer sti’ were the actions of your worthy father. You summoned bim—” | “And he dealt out to you the punishment your insolent threats so richly deserved.” ‘* Yes,” was the cool reply. ‘‘As I said som time ago, the doughty colonel strikes swift anil sure when his passions are fairly aroused. HH) knocked me down and pitched me headlong out at the door. I was picked up by a friend, an‘ taken home. For a week I lay senseless; for three months longer I was confined to a bed, and it was a month longer before I could leave the house. My recovery was retarded, no doubt, by the as rca os given me by a friend, that you and your father had left the city, vanished, no one seemed to know where. ‘“As soon as I was able to get abroad, I set Ney eo afoot, but without any success. You had disappeared as completely as though the earth had opened to swallow you up. Diy after day, month after month, year in and year out, I sought for you, only to chance upon a clew after I had given up all hope of r again meeting either of you in the flesh. That clew proved to be a true one, and I came here to find Aa passing as the maiden daughter of Colonel orrest Flamsteed, the heiress of a miner-mil- lionaire, and far more lovely than before. ‘*T watched my chance, and when the coast . Was clear,I put in an appearance, as you know. And now to business. ‘‘Tn all these days I have never once forgot- ten the solemn yew which I took asalad. I swore that you should be my wife, and I mean tc keep that oath, or else send pi to the gal- lows for the murder by poison of Margin Luther Wesley!” | “Itis false—but even if true, even were yor to possess the power of which you boast, [ would defy you!” was the swift retort. ‘* Bet- ter death—even such a shameful d>oath—than life coupled with such a fiend as you!” ‘You doubt my power?” asked Jasper Quig- ley, taking a note-book from his pocket and ex- tracting therefrom a foided paper. ‘“‘ Let this convince you, then. Kead!” and he held the document close before her face. Almost by instinct she took in the full pur- part of the writing, which she saw was in tho d of Ker dead husband, and for a few moments she stared at it like one petrified. But then, as Jasper Quigley made as though be would restore the damning evidence to its hid- ing place, a wild cry broke from her lips, and she sought to tear it from bis grasp. With a mocking laugh he foiled her attempt. ‘*On the day when you become my wife, then you may—” “That day will never come, villain!” she cried, fiercely. — **TIt will—it must! Refuse, and I will take you from here with irons on your limbs, to an- swer for the murder of your husband. I haye the necessary papers here. You are doomed!” and carried away by his long-pent up passions, he caught her in his arms, kissing her repeated- ly. A shriek, a at cay and the villain fell to the floor with a hollow groan! CHAPTER VI. GOLD MASK TRUMPS THE TRICK. ALmost crushed by that fierce embrace, Pet Flamsteed fell to the floor with Jasper Quigley, when that sharp report rung out, but almost as quickiy she recovered herself. The dastardly villain lay as he fell, quivering convulsively, but seemingly slain outright, his tenacious gri relaxing. The little woman freed herself and arose, casting one glance toward the open win- dow, before which still hung a filmy cloud, through which like a shadowy phantom shone a head, then staggered over tc the bed, on which she fell, more than amg Like one in a dream, she heard something fumbling at the door, and with a vague sense of danger, she fought back the deathly faint- ness which assailed her, ana rose to her feet in time tc see a strange figure leap feet oremost into the room, through the open win- Ww. A gasping cry of terror broke from her lips, eee ee for though they had never met before, she had no difficulty in recognizing the intruder, and she felt that she had been saved from one enemy only to fall into the power of another still more to be creaded. The stranger seemed to read her fears and stopped short, crossing his arms over his chest, saying in a gentle tone: “Fear not, lady. That pitiful scoundrel shall insult you no more.” ** You have killed him?” faltered Pet. **No; though it would have been nothing more than his foul conduct deserved,” was the quick response. ‘‘ No; I only creas»xd the vil- lain. He will be fit for fresh rascality in a few minutes, unless I conclude that he is safer put out of the way. I was strongly tempted to bore his brain, when you cried for help, but I do not love bloodshed—” Something in her wide-opened eyes caused him to leave the sentence unfinished, and the little woman impulsively said: ‘* And yet—” A low, mellow laugh checked her, and seem- ingly not a little amused by the confusion which overcome her as she realized the interpretation which alone could be placed upon her surprise, the stranger added: ‘‘And yet I am the ruthless, blood-drinking demon to whom men have given the title of Gold Mask—was not that what you intended saying, lady?” Low-voiced and pleasantly as he spoke, Pet Flamsteed shrunk away from him, for she had heard that this man’s mirth was far more to be dreaded than even his rage. A strange but gallant picture the noted out- law made, as he stood in the light of the can- dle, which still burned upon the table; a picture which once seen could not easily be forgotten. From head to foot he was one blaze of gold and silver lace, interspersed with numerous golden nuggets and coins of all sizes and denomi- nations. ver his face he wore a mask of beaten gold, richly chased and engraved, bear- ing a curious monogram composed of the letters G. M. Even the pigh topped boots which in- cased his feet were of a rich yellow, while the weapons in the gold-embroidered belt which encircled his trim waist, were heavily plated with the precious metal. He stood but little if any above the medium hight of man; bis form light-built, yet trim and compact, seemingly endowed with more than common strength and agility. His small hands were incased in fawn-skin gloves, smoked to a rich yellow, and elaborately worked with gold thread; in one word, he seemed one mass of the precious metal from head to foot, as he stood motionless in the candle-light. “Evil report travels far and fast, and I see that you recognize me, Iady—or rather the demon rumor has pictured me. Yet there is an old adage which says that the devil is not near so black as painted, and even Gold Mask has not entirely escaped the venomous tongue of slander. Bad enough I may be—who in all this wide world but bas some weak point which the finger of malice cannot search out?—yet I am not the utter fiend which they say. Bah!” and he interrupted himself with a short, bitter laugh, as though scorning the momentary weak- ness he had displayed, ‘* Why should I attempt to defend myself? Who will believe me? Most surely not an angel pure and stainless as your- self, lady!” Again Gold Mask abruptly checked himself, as he saw how Pet Flamsteed shrunk away from his passionate words. For an instant he was silent, then, with a low laugh, he turned away and bent over the prostrate figure of Jasper Quigley - Parting the blood-saturated hair above one temple, he pressed the tip of one finger against the'skull which had been laid bare by the bul- let tearing its way through the scalp, then arose once more. ‘“‘ The rascal is stunned, not killed. I did not think my aim had failed me, though I should not grieve very much had such been the case. By his own confession the rascal richly deserves death.” “You know him, then?” faltered the little woman. For one instant Gold Mask hesitated, then made reply: ) **So far as my knowledge goes, we never met before this, and all I know of him, was gleaned from his own admission.” Paler than ever grew the face of Pet Flam- steed, and her tones were full of a new fear as she stammered: “You heard him, then—you were listen- |. in i % Rambtibet lady, that I am Gold Mask— that is to say one who has broken every law, committed every crime in the decalogue, times without number, together with a score of others even more heinous, if that may be, created for my especia! benefit by those pure and holy ones who can afford to cast a stone at such a god- forsaken monster!” Bitterly he spoke, and with such emphasis that the poor terrified girl shrunk away with fear renewed. . (told Mask noticed this and, instantly his tones changed. As though to give her time to recover a bed ge of her shaken strength, he once more bent over the form of Jasper Quig- ley, and taking the wesponus from his person, cast them out into the night by way of the open window through which he had effected an entrance. “It is only one more sin to be recorded against Gold Mask, lady,” he resumed, lightly. “ Besides the other crimes with which I stand charged, that of eavesdropping is hardly worth mentioning.” “You heard all, then—heard that man ac- cuse me of such a monstrous crime?” faltered Pet Flamsteed. ‘Yes, and I tell you now, asI told myself while that despicable wretch was torturing you with his foul speech, that it was one tissue of lies from beginning to end,” He spoke so earnestly, so positively, that the poor girl drew a fresh stock of strength and courage from the assurance. She forgot what manner of man this was, f-r the time being seeing in him a trusting friend who still had faith in her truth and innocence, when all else on earth appeared to have forsaken her in her extremity. ‘‘As Heaven is my judge! you do me no more than justice!” she cried, her pale cheeks flushing and her eyes aglow. “I know now that I sinned in wedding a man whom I did not, could not love, but that is as far as my sin went. I was atrue and faithful wife to him, and though I loved gayety and amusements, [| was willing to give them all upif he wished, 1 begged my husband to suffer me to stay by his bedside and nurse bim when he fell sick, but he coldly sent me away. He was always cold, and so I never even dreamed that he doubted me—least of all could I think that he was even then condemning me in his heart as a—a mur- derer! With a choking sob she brought out the hor- rible word, but the bare utterance seemed to turn her faint at heart, and covering her eyes with both hands, she staggered back and would have fallen only for the swift leap and ready grasp of Gold Mask. That embrace proved the best of restoratives, and with an involuntary sbudder as she re- membered who and what was this man, Pet Flamsteed released herself. Gold Mask drew back no less quickly, and it was clear that bis pride was touched by that involuntary exhibi- tion of repugnance. ‘Pardon my daring to tcuch you, lady, even with the tip of one gloved finger,” he said, bow- ing low and speaking in a bard and mocking tcne, ‘I would not have so offended, but T feared you were falling, and acted on the im- pulse of the moment lest you should receive some injury.” The poor, half-crazed little woman murmured something, she scarcely knew what, but Gold Mask had already turned away to where Jasper Quigley still lay motionless in a pool of his own blood, and did not appear to bear her words. Bending over the senseless villain, he opened his coat and vest, searching both garments thoroughly, not only the pockets, tut the Jin- ing and each fold where a paper could by any ossible means be concealed. Not only once but repeatedly, and when he rose erect. once more, Pet Flamsteed fancied he wore an cir of deep. annoyance, though the golden mask con- cealed his face from her eyes. Standing beside the table and rapidly running his eyes over the od ge thus secured, Gold Mask suddenly uttered a low exclamation and glanced swiftly toward the little woman. She impulsively started forward with out- stretched hand, but stopped as abruptly when he drew back, making as though he would concea the document. This besitation, however, was but momentary; then he said: ‘¢ Afterall, whatmatter? You know whatan unscrupulous scoundrel he is, and it is not bard for such to deceive honest men-—or it may be a base forgery—he may have gotten it only in hopes of frightening you into making terms with him. The contemptible villain is quite capable of such a trick.” Paler and stil] more white grew the face of the poor girl as Gold Mask continued speaking so rapidly, and_he saw that he was increasing rather than allaying her fears. So, as the shortest and éasiest solution of the difficulty, he placed the paper in her hands. These trembled so violently that the paper fluttered, like a leaf in a brisk breeze, but Pet managed to see that the eontents were not what her fears surmised, and she grew more Calm. Yet at any other time or under any different circumstances, she would have been filled with horror and indignation, for the paper which she held in her hands was a warrant for her arrest, to all appearance perfectly regular and legally issued, charging her with murder, ‘A dangerous weapon in the hands of an unscrupulous rascal like that,” said Goid Mask, with a side glance at the still motionless figure of Jasper Quigley. ‘‘l am almost sorry that I wasted my lead. Such a dastard fy bet fit to v e, “And still less fit to die,” murmured Pet Flamsteed, as she followed the direction of his Eomicgbooks (EO)