Beadle's Dime Library, No. 198 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

The Skeleton Schooner. v4 — Oe eee ——ss— Cee ee er ee ee ——S —— —_ es ee away, leaving Percy Wyndham standing over the dead form of Major Mark Mortimer and gazing sadly down upon it. Just then, out of the magnolia thicket dashed Duke, the faithful valet of the dead man, and Perey turned quickly at his approach. He had seen the negro before, and a glance was sufficient to show him now that his face was inflamed with rage, as he drew up his horse and sprung to the ground. Without a glance even at Percy Wyndham, Duke rushed forward and dropped upon his knees before the corpse, seizing the cold hand in both his own, and gazing fixedly at the white, upturned face, with the wound in the intellectual forehead, ‘“Oh, God! master! you are dead, as they told me, ‘But, master, Duke yet lives, and he will avenge you.” ‘‘Hound! do you dare threaten me?’ and Percy Wyndham started toward the huge uegro, his eyes flashing fire, ‘Yes, I do threaten you, Master Percy Wyndham, for having murdered my master— ha!” The negro staggered backward, and, unable to recover himself, fell, for he had received a blow in the face that he had not believed could be dealt by one like Percy Wyndham. But, springing to his feet, he uttered a yell like a wild beast attacking his prey, and draw- ing a Jong knife, rushed upon the youth, crving as he did so: “T came here to kill you, boy, and now my master shall be avenged!” Perfectly calm Percy Wyndham slipped his hand under his loose sack-coat, and it returned with a pistol, while he said, sternly: ‘Back! you black dog, or I lay you beside your master!” But the negro was fairly maddened with gricf and revenge, and sprung forward to clutch his foe, when out rung the sharp crack of a pistol, and he fell like a log by the side of his master, just as the carriage of The Ever- glades rolled up, and Mr. Massey sprung out to behold what had happened. CHAPTER XII. THE ARREST. “WELL, sir, it seems you are in a killing mood to-day!” said Mr. Massey, as he sprang from the carriage and advanced toward Percy Wyndham, who stood on the spot where he had fired, the smoking pistol still in his hand, and the huge negro writhing at his feet. ‘‘T am always in a mood, sir, to defend my Lonor and my life, as any man shall know vbo attempts to defame the one and take the otber.” ‘The negro attacked you, then?’ said Mr. Massey, feeling assured, from the manner in which Duke darted off, his face fierce with passion, tbat his love for his master might have driven him to revenge his death, and at the same time avenge himself, as he knew that his easy berth must end, and he descend to a level with the other negroes on the plantation. “He did, and I shot him.” ‘(And Major Mortimer, | judge from your words, Mr. Wyndham, defamed you?” asked Mr. Massey. ‘Mr. Massey, I am not on trial before yeu, Sir. “‘I killed Major Mortimer for what I con- sidered just cause, and as there were no sec- onds of our equals present, I may te arraigned for the act. ‘‘Tf so, I will answer before a tribunal, but not here, “That negro is not dead, I see, and he may recover, though I shot to kill, ‘‘Good-afternoon, sir,” and wheeling on his beel, Percy Wyndham mounted Uncle Toby’s white mule, which had been left for bim, and rode away, while Mr. Massey sprung to the side of the negro, who had moved and shown signs that he was not yet dead, however fatal the wound might prove. Upon reaching the mansion, Perey Wyndham at once took upon himself the management of affairs, by ordering the wife of Toby, Nance, to take charge of his mother, aided by her daugh- ter Phoebe, and to admit no one to the wing in which were the rooms of her mistress, nor permit her to leave them herself or to see any one, Then he sent a couple of negro fishermen of the plantation at once in a fleet yacht to New Orleans, with a letter to his father begging his immediate return and telling him all that had happened. Having done this, he put Uncle Toby on guard at the house, with orders, if any one came, not to admit them, unless they were officers of the law. Then he said: ‘Now, Uncle Toby, I want you to tell me all about this sad and mysterious affair.” The old negro seemed worried, for be did not wish to betray the confidence of bis mis- tress; but knowing as he did that Percy bad boldly taken upon bimself his mother’s act, and that complications might follow to put the young man in a false light, did he not know all, he answered: ‘‘Mistis told me, Mars’ Percy, ter tell mas- ter, who sent me over to The Everglades, that the major had gone to New Orleans.” ** Why did she do this?” “The lawyer what come bere, sah, from Mexico, made some kind of a rumpus, which caused mistis to tell master she had met Major Mortimer before, and he had insulted her.” “ This was strange indeed.” ‘Yes, sah; but master was going to call the major out, and mistis feared he might be kilt, so she sent me over with a note, soon as master set sail for New Orleans, asking the major to meet her at Magnolia Arbor. “Then they had a talk, which neither me or Phoebe could understand, and mistis forced the major to give her satisfaction.” ‘* This is most remarkable.”’ ‘Yes, sah; and she made him sign a paper, which I have here.” Uncle Toby handed the document, signed by Major Mortimer, to his young master, who read it over twice, and then said: “This will be useful, as it mentions not the name of his opponent, and I can appear as such, “Then, sah, they took their positions, but gal Phoebe, knowing the major was a fearful dead shot, had changed his pistol for one that wasn’t loaded.” ‘‘ And this my mother knew nothing of?” ‘Certainly not, sab, and it made her faint when she found it out. ‘* Just then you come up, sah, and you know the rest.” Percy Wyndham was silent for some time, and then asked: ‘Did my mother write the major a note to meet her at Magnolia Arbor?” ‘Yes, sah, and when you done what you did, I took it off his body, so as not to com- promise mistis.” “You are a noble friend, Uncle Toby, and from my heart I thank you,” said the youth earnestly, taking the note which the old negro handed him, and which was the same received by Major Mortimer, when he sat on his horse watching che departure of the yacht in which was Captain Wyndham. Perey Wyndham read it carefully, and put it in his pocket, after which he said: “Now, Uncle Toby, remember what I tell you.” ‘Yes, sah.” “Wait, and let me tell Phosbe also, so that there can be no mistake whatever in the mat- ter.” The mulattress was called, and for half an hour the two negroes and their young master conversed earnestly together. Then Phcebe returned to the wing, where her mistress was pacing to and fro like a tigress, and yet in a kind of dazed manner, and Unele Toby took up his position as guard on the front piazza, while Perey Wyndham sought his own room to meditate over the blow that had suddenly fallen so heavily upon the happy household. Uncle Toby had not been a great while at his post, when he saw four horsemen approach- ing. Ata glance he recognized one of them as the constable from the village some miles away, and the others as neighbors, ‘Well, Uncle Toby, it seems there is trouble at Lakelands?” said the constable cheerily as he dismounted with his companions and as- cended the broad steps of the piazza. “Yes, sah, and at The Everglades too,” re- plied Toby. “Ts your master in?” ** No, sah,” “Where is he?” ‘*Gone to New Orleans.” ‘Was he in the fishing-smack we saw going out awhile since?’ **'No, sah.” “ How did he go, then?’ ‘In his yacht, sab.” “The yacht went bours ago.” “ Yes, sah,” “Ab!” I mean your young master.” “ Mars’ Percy?’ te Yes. ” ‘He is in, sab: but you asked for master.” “True; well, tell Master Percy that Con- stable King would like to see him.” Toby called to the butler and sent him after Perey, who soon after put in an appearance, calm and courteous, as was his wont, for he said pleasantly: “ Good-afternoon, gentlemen.” “Mr. Perey, 1 am sorry, sir, but, I have a. warrant for your arrest,” said the constable, ‘“‘On what charge, sir, may I ask?’ was the cool question. ‘‘I regret to say a serious. one, sir, for it charges you with the murder of Major Mark Mortimer.” ‘Who swore out this warrant against me, Constable King?’ ‘Mr. Merton Massey.” “Very well, sir, I suppose you wish me to accompany you, or will you accept my word) to appear?’ ‘‘T am sorry I cannot, sir, but must take you to the village jail with me.” “To jail?’ and the youth started, and the paleness of his face increased. “Yes, sir.” “Very well, I will go with you; but my father is absent, and my mother in a very precarious situation, so I regret to leave ber.” “Tam sorry, sir, but I must do my duty,” said the constable, in a kindly tone. “IT know tkat, so wil! do nothing to prevent it. “T will join you in a few moments, prepared to go with you. ‘‘ Toby, set refreshments before the geéntle- men,” and turning, Percy Wyndham went to his room. But in a short time he returned, and having ordered his horse, mounted and rode away, a prisoner charged with murder, | CHAPTER XIII. SAVED BY THE DEAD. Not very many miles from the plantations of Lakelands and The Everglades, was a small and tbriving village upon the Gulf. It was upon the shores of the lake, had a good anchorage in its front, and boasted a few stores, several churches, and something under a thousand inhabitants. The inn of this village was a favorite summer resort for the wealthy citizens of New Orleans, and the young and fast planters of the neigh- borhood were wont to congregate there several times a week and indulge in gambling, drinking and other pastimes to suit their reckless humor. The head of this clique of kindred spirits was Mark Mortimer, junior, and when the news came that the father of their popular comrade had been slain there was great consternation among the bevy of young bloods. The news of the death of Major Mortimer flew like wildfire, and when it was said he had been killed by Percy Wyndham, junior, and in a duel where there were no witnesses, people binted openly that there could not have been fair play, for how could a youth like Percy kill so gallant a champion as the major, whose powers were well known. Toward evening the young planter, Percy Wyndham, was brought into the village and lodged in the jail, and soon after came Mr. Massey and bis son, who gave an account of what had happened, as to their knowledge, and it was decided to call an investigation at once before the justice, and see if there bad been anything wrong at the duel, which would cause the law to take the youth in hand and hold him for trial for murder. A fair duel was not objected to in those days; but an unfair one was worse than murder, so a hearing was called for the follow- ing day. Mr. Massey, a kind hearted man, had, un “er the influence of the first shock, and witnessing the grief of Mabel Mortimer for her father’s untimely end, at once sent for the constable to get out an order of arrest under the charge of murder. , Now he regretted having been premature, <€om Ebooks (E()