Beadle's Dime Library, No. 198 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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20 The Skeleton Schooner. eame there to live, and I remember he had a daughter. “Well, I am lucky to have saved you.” ‘¢ Yes, you did save me from a fearful death, and I owe you my life, sir, and never will I forget that itis a debt that I cannot repay,” she said, with feeling. ‘“Nonsense; half the world owes the other half their lives. ‘* But I will row you home.” ‘* May I ask the name of my brave preserv- er?’ she said, modestly. ‘‘T am Mark Mortimer, junior, and [ live at The Everglades plantation, three leagues up the coast,” was the reply. Then he continued: ‘‘ Now I recall it, I have heard of you, for the fishermen call you the Lady of the La- goon.” CHAPTER XXXVII. A MASKED VISITOR. THE time that I now ask my reader to ac- company me to the cabin home of Juan Gito was the day previous to the attempt to kidnap Ma- bel Mortimer. Upon the piazza of the little cabin sat Bessie, the pretty daughter of the fisherman, dressed in pure white and looking thoroughly the lady, in spite of dwelling upon a lagoon, and being the daughter of a toiler of the sea. Spying a small boat coming toward the little basin, where the vessels belonging to Gito were kept, Bessie kept her eye upon it until it landed. A close inspection proved to her that the boat was evidently in disguise, for a kind of canvas covering, painted black, concealed its color and in a great part its shape, and yet the disguise would not be detected at fifty yards distant. There was but one person in the boat, and he held the oars, and sprung ashore when it landed. - Then, to Bessie’s surprise, she saw that he was closely masked. — Calling to her father, she told him of the strange visitor. Juan Gito was engaged within doors in studying a map, and coming out upon the pi- azza, he said, as soon as his eyes fell upon the stranger: * Caramba! who is he?’ ‘One who is afraid to show his face, father, at any rate,” returned Bessie, renewing her embroidery, which the sight of: the masked visitor had interrupted. ‘* Well, we shall soon see. “You step inside, Bessie, and command him, be he a foe.” The maiden went into the cabin, took up a gun, and going to a window, stood where she could command a full view of the piazza. The next instant the strange visitor arrived at the steps. He was a heavily-built man, clothed in black, and a satin mask covered his face, neck and beard completely. “You are Juan Gito?’ he said, in a deep voice. “That is what I am called,” replied the Spaniard. ** Are you alone?” ‘No, for I have a friend near.” \ ** T wish to see you alone.” ‘* What is your business with me?” ** You love gold?” ** Only fools do not.” “You wish to make a snug pile for your- self?” * Certainly, if I can make it honestly.” The masked visitor laughed rudely, and said: * Juan Gito, you speak the word honestly as though it blistered your tongue. ‘But I have gold for you, if you care to make it.” ‘What am I to do?” ** Tf you are alone I will tell you.” Juan Gito glanced quickly toward the window where stood Bessie, gun in hand, concealed by the curtain, and then gave a decided wink at his visitor, while he said in a loud voice: ‘* Look you, stranger, because I live here on this lagoon, they tell strange stories of me, and you may be one who believes them, and have come here to tempt me with gold to do some act of deviltry. ** My answer to you is that I will accompany _ you to your boat, and if you are not out of range within five minutes, the consequences must rest upon your head, * Come, sir.” The stranger turned without a word, mutter- ing: “*T guess I am mistaken in my man.” ‘7 know you are, sir,” returned the fisher- man, sternly, and as they moved away out of earshot, he continued in a low tone: ** Now name your terms and work, and lose no time.” ‘*‘T want some men you can trust for a delicate work,” said the other, witbout turning his head, as he walked along. ** What is the work?” “To kidnap Miss Mabel Mortimer, and put her to death,” “< Ho! ? “*T mean it.” “She is a good girl.” “Then she should die young, according to Scripture; but she must be kidnapped, and at night drowned, and ber body placed upon the beach near her home.” “This is nasty work.” “IT am ready to pay for it.” ** How much?’ **T’ll give you one thousand dollars, and you can pay them what you please.” “ Make it two thousand.” **T cannot.” “Then I cannot do the work.” “Two thousand it is then.” ‘Another thing, why not keep her away and not kill her.” ‘She must die.” “You know best; but when do you wish it done?’ ** At once,” “And her death appear as accidental drowning?’ “Yes; for you can let her boat be near her on the beach, and capsized.” “Yes. Now give me the money.” **T have but a thousand now. The balance I will give you when the work is done.” ‘Who are you?” ‘*That does not interest you.” ‘Then how am I to know whether to take your word?” “You must take it.” “No, I don’t kill on credit.” “Tt is all I can do now.” “You wear a ring there I will hold as security.” The masked visitor drew the elegant solitaire from his finger with a sigh, and handed it to him with the remark: ‘‘Now, if you fail to do the work I will kill you.” Juan Gito laughed, but said: “T will not fail you. ** Now go!” The visitor sprung into his boat and rowed away, and returning to the cabin, where Bes- sie sat awaiting him, Juan said: “My child, that is a very bad man, and I gave him to understand that Juan Gito was not one of his stripe.” ‘‘There was something in his voice, father, which led me to believe we knew him; but I could not trace who he was, and I am glad you acted as you did,” she replied, with little thought that she was being deceived. CHAPTER XXXVITI. A STRANGE COMPACT. In one of the best of the sumptuous rooms of The Everglades mansion devoted to the use of guests sat Frank Forrester, upon the night following the delivery of the letter to Percy Wyndham by the quadroon, Fidele. The brow of the yachtsman was unclouded, as usual, as he sat gazing out upon the starlit waters; but the lamplight shining full in his face failed to reveal the pleasant smile which seemed habitual to him. Presently there came a knock at the door, and rising, Mr. Forrester opened it. It was Mark Mortimer who entered, and he wore a troubled look upon his handsome though sinister and dissipated face. ‘Well, Mark, what news?” and the smile came back to Mr. Forrester’s lips. “None, and I am in ill-humor,” petulantly said the young man. : ‘Why so, my friend?” ** Well, for various reasons.” ‘You should never allow yourself to be fretted at anything. “At best, our lives are very short, and worry and care only sLorten them. _ “Take the world as you find it and use it as you can.” \ “That is all very fine, Forrester, toa man like you, who has nothing to worry him.” ‘* And excepting the death of your father— still unavenged by the way—you should have nothing to worry you, for you have an elegant home, plenty of slaves, a large income from your estate, and fine prospects.” ** You little know of what you are talking, Forrester. “‘I am in sore trouble, and soon it will be known.” “What can I do for you?” ‘*T’)l tell you just how I am situated.” *‘ And I shall listen with pleasure, for to see you moody makes me blue.” ‘* Well, to begin, I am fearfully in debt,” “Is that all?’ *‘No, for I owe much more than the ten thousand you hold my notes for.” ‘* You have been extravagant.” “The fact is, my father helped me out of trouble frequently, but he always charged it to my sbare of the property, and the fact is I got all that was due me, taking it in money, and his will leaves to Mabel, my sister, the en- tire estate, negroes and all, andI am a pauper. ** Now you know what it is that troubles me.”’ ** Does your sister know this?’ ‘* No, she thinks that we share it together,” ** That is good.” “ But she must soon know the truth, as the will gives all to her at sixteen, and she is nearly that now.” ‘“*In case of her death, who would get it?” | **T would.” “‘Ah! but can you not prevail upon her to allow you to manage for her, until you can ro- cuperate your losses out of ber money?” ‘‘My father appointed Mr. Massey, Merton Massey, her guardian, and yet, strange to say, put it in his will that if she married without my consent her property should go—” ‘To you of course?” “No, to charity.” ‘Ah !? “Yes, my father wanted her to marry old Massey’s son, Morgan Massey, and so did I, for he is a fine fellow and rich, and to force it upon her, in case of his death, he left his will in that way, knowing my desire was the same as his for a husband for her.” ‘* But will she refuse to marry him?” ““T expect so, though I do not know.” “She has shown no love for Mr. Morgan Massey then?’ ‘She likes him, and he loves her.” ‘‘ But does she love any one else?” **T am not sure.” ‘You think so?’ “Yes, Forrester, humiliating as it is for me to confess it, I fear she is interested in that ac- cursed murderer, Percy Wyndham.” ‘* And is he interested in the sister of that accursed murderer, Mark Mortimer?’ ‘“What do you mean, sir?’ ‘‘Simply, that as you got the benefit of hav- ing fought a fair duel with Captain Wynd- ham, give him like credit in his meeting with your father, and do not call him by such a barsh name as murderer.” Mark Mortimer winced under the rebuke, but said with sarcasm: “Tt is strange that you take up for the boy.” “IT believe in justice even to an enemy, though I am not saint enough to always act as I believe. ‘‘ But, speaking of your idea regarding your sister's liking for Mr. Wyndham, have you any proof?” ‘‘ None, other than that she will not allow me to speak against him before her.” ‘That is natural, for though he took her fa- ther’s life, he saved hers: but I bave some bet- ter proof than that, I think,” - ‘** Indeed! tell it me.” ; “The night I returned from my last cruise, I saw your sister’s maid leave the mansion in a suspicious way, and go down to the boat land- ing. ‘*T followed and watched her, and saw her enter a light boat and row up the coast to- ward Lakelands.” ‘‘The deuce you did?” cried Mark Mortimer angrily. “Yes, and I hailed the yacht, and sent a trusty man to watch her.” “ Well?” “ But it was not well.” ‘Quick! tell me the result.” ‘*The girl returned in about two hours, and passed by me to go into the house, EGomicbooks (e{o) ee