Beadle's Dime Library No. 199 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

> a CHAPTER IV. OFF ON THE TRAIL. “THANK Heaven!” exclaimed as she read again the telegram she received ; ‘“my prayers are answered. we great, tall, overgrown baby is coming to see bis old grand- mother. Mary, we must turn the house inside out, and kill the fatted calf. Hear what the ndmother, boy says: ‘Hearty as a buck. Be home on 11:30 train. You need not meet me. Will take @ hack.’” ° Both ladies now entered the mansion, and proceeded to their labor of love; the elder childishly changing the arrangements of the younger to-suit her own taste, without a word of remonstrance, and both overjoyed at the antici- pated arrival of the young man, who, it was plain to be seen, was greatly beloved. In the midst of the hurried preparations Mrs. McClellan suddenly turned around an exclaimed: ‘** Mother, where is Allecha? ‘*T think she is gathering flowers in the old apple-orchard.” ‘““Won’t you please call her? She will be overjoyed at the news.” | “*Bless her heart! so she will; and she would have been provoked if we had not thought of telling her.” And the old lady went out with as light a step as that of a young girl, and in a few moments returned. -* Did she answer, mother?” ‘Yes; she will be here in a minute. She has some beautiful flowers which will improve the wT, of the table very much.” As'the dld one spoke, a girl of some fourteen rs, and of striking beauty, came running — he'dining-room, her cheeks aglow with ex- ercise, ; Wavy ringlets of flaxen hue, that in certain shades seemed to reads'of gold, flowed free and-abundant over her shoulders, and to her waist. “Her skin was fair and her form light and graceful. Her movements were like those of a fawn, and her light blue eyes were filled with @ questioning surprise as she observed the exc a oo eg joy ous faces of her mother smilé,“* George is coming home.. We have hac a telegram, and he will be heré shortly. Please ye ep to arrange those flowers.” “Good! Good!” burst from the lips of the maiden. ‘'I never was so glad in my life. andma, I think it was real mean in you not to tell me ‘what you wanted.” And, with a face, the girl walked around the room gleefully. . **T was afraid you would break your neck ru ‘against an apple-tree, or else that you would throw down the flowers and dance upon them. Have you seen Allie and Charley?’ ‘“*T haven’t seen them since about nine o’clock this morning, for the very reason that young Sheppy came along with his team and invited them to go on a fishing excursion. It is useless to tell you that they went, for you know, grandma, they would both of them rather sit pt an old raft and pull up hornpouts, or wade along shore and troll for pickerel, than go to a ed pienic. Ob, what a surprise it will be for the little scamps to find brother George at home again!” Singing merrily, Allecha McClellan ran through the hall to the porch and gazed down the street in impatient expectation. Soon the rattle of wheels drew the attention of the ladies, and both rushed out upon the ve- Now, ‘randa as & hack drew up at the gate. ‘The driver alighted, opened the door, and a young man sprung quickly to the sidewalk and glanced toward the house, his face beaming with boyish pleasure. He was tall, soot ge ae symmetrically built, and, although but eighteen years of age, finely developed, and with a physique that would any- where attract attention. That he was agile, and full of fire and vim, was plain to be seen in every movement, In hair, eyes, features and complexion the re- semblance een bim and Allecha was 80 rrp cet as at once to proclaim them brother and sister. ‘He carried a slender gold headed cane and was attired in the hight of the prevailing fashion ~—some would say even flashily; a heavy golden chain was attached to a watch of the same precious metal, while a diamond of moderate size and rare brilliancy glittered from the knotted scarf at his throat. A few brisk paces brought the youth to the steps where the ladies awaited him. | ' “Mother! Grandmother! Iam overjoyed to see you both, and I ve indeed to cross once more the threshold of the old home.” ‘‘George,” said his mother, as the trio passed into Bo eee adit cannot imagine how pleased and re in mind we are to have hearts that you — come back when your ow well and hearty you are g, too!” | “You great big baby,” said the little old lady lookin at te tall sreeietmccdne seeming but a child in stature compared with him—‘‘ m ° ‘* Allecha,” said the former, with a loving have actually been pining away with the deep concern [ have had, thinking Y ontetss perhaps never see you again.” ‘“* Pining away is !’ he returned, with a pleasant laugh. ‘‘ Why, grandmother, you never were larger than some girls of a dozen years. We'll have to attend to this thing; for, if you have pined away on my unworthy account dur- ing my short atsence, | am thinking if I should be away a yea or two on a stretch, there would not be much left of you.” Both the ladies joined in the laugh with which he said this, but the grandmother retorted: ! “There are sometimes very powerful medi- cines inclosed in small packages. But don’t say that you are going away to be gone so long again, George; or you will dash cold water on all our happiness now.” “When you talk about medicine, grandmo- ther, you interest me. I have learned much in reg2rd to the herbal remedies of the northern woods since I saw you last. Don’t fret, how- ever, about my going away again, but wait un- — time comes. By the way, where is Alle- Cc ‘In the garden, George; she has gone to get some fruit fer you. She has been dancing and laughing ever since she heard you were com- ing.” ‘At this moment, with a cry of joy, Allecha sprung from the broad stone step into her bro- ther’s arms. “Oh, George!’’ she exclaimed, “‘ you will not. again, will you? ome ever so long, stay away from us so lon You are going to remain at this time, are you not?” ‘*} promise myself jolly timés with you all Allecha,” was the reply. ‘‘We must go an make aunt Katharine a visit, and the little ones— my favorites, Georgie and Frank. I have pres- ents for you and them in my trunks, which are still. at the depot. But, 1 say, miother, I’m as hun as a wolf, and without any ceremony will seat myself for dinner,” During the latter portion of George McClel- lan’s remarks, he was putting a towel to good use after a face bath, and did mot notice the deathly pallor that overspread the faces of those who were so lovingly watching his every movement. Their emotions were too agonizing for any expression in speech. ) Seating himself at the table, George helped the ladies to the viands before him, they striv- ing all the while, by movement and expression, to throw off the oppressive eageg bts which the remarks of their loved one had brought for- ward, . The hunger consequent upon the long jour- ney prevented the young man from noticing the sudden change in the looks and actions of his relatives; for he proceeded to partake of the ‘tempting variety of food before him, with a gusto born of health and hunger, and without allowing himself to keep up a conversation to the discomfort of his digestion, or interference with his appetite. His grandmother, mother and sister went on toinform him of many trivial circumstances that had occurred during his absence, which called for noreply from him; and they kept up a pretense of eat ng though their feelings and thoughts prevented its being more than that. Having satisfied his stomach, George noticed that the ladies, judging from the contents of their plates had eaten nothing, and he asked in surprise, as he placed his napkin in its ring: ‘Had you been to dinner before | arrived, good le?” dey: ‘*No, George,” was the hesitating reply. “Then, why do you not eat something? I hope my coming has not taken away every one’s appetite.” Turning around in his chair, the young man glanced uneasily at each one in their turn, and saw the change in every countenance before him. ‘* What has come over you all? Why do you look so strangely?” he continued. ‘We have bad news for you, George—terri- ble news,” said his mother, her lips veges and the tears starting to her eyes; while the ol lady hid her face, and Allecha bent her head, weeping spasmodically. “ We have news that we dread to tell you, but it must he told.” ‘What is it you have to disclose that has such a Ogg eg goer upon you all? What is it, mother?’ As he spoke a shadow passed over his hitherto joyous face. : ‘Your aunt Katharine—” A — sob prevented Mrs. McClellan from proceeding er et her? Is she ill?” is—dead George McClellan sprung to his feet, intense amazement and poignant grief bordering on anguish stamped on his face, is mother continued: “She had a baby—little Stella—that you never saw. She is dead, too. And Georgie and Frank—both have gone! They are , my son—all dead!” - George McClellan d the back of the chair upon which be had a moment previous been seated, and the wood-work cracked in his grasp; while bis fair face, as the terrible facts were proclaimed by his mother with trembling Diamotid Dick, the Dandy from Denver. —— lips and ghastly features—she sinking to the floor in a dead faint when she had uttered them. —became so contorted and darkened that his grandmother covered her eyes with her hands, as she moved to the assistance of her daughter, ‘George Holbrook is a devil! You need not. explain, Allecha—you are not equal to the task. Open that door, and let the fresh air of Heaven blow in upon us, Holbrook killed his wife—I know it—if not outright, at least by slow tor- ture. He and that vile adventuress whom he brought into bis family have caused the deaths of all. My God! I can bardly believe it. And yet | knew that some dread calamity bung over aunt Katharine and the children from the mo- ment that Lucile Luzerne crossed their thresh- old. But Vll avenge her, I swear it! Ven- geance lll have, though I should have to search the world for the guilty pair.” Thus spoke George McClellan, with clinched fists and flashing eyes, and features convulsed with fury and anguish. Then, turning to where the aged woman bent over his mother, he took the latter in bis strong arms, and car- ried her into an adjoining chamber, where he laid her gently upon a couch, , A moment after, Mrs. McClellan opened her eyes and gazed up into those of her son, a heavy moan breaking from her lips. ““Mother, where is that scoundrel Holbrook? Do you not. believe that be and that Luzerne woman, of whom I was from the first_so suspi- cious, have dealt foully with aunt Katharine and the children?” ‘Yes; we think they did. But we bave no proof of it. Your brothers Charley and Allie followed them as far as Chicago, but there lost. all trace of them, and returned home,” ‘*And my aunt, and her little ones are all dead?” * » His voice was cold, steely, unnatural, and murderously merciless. | ‘* They all died within three weeks time.” ‘‘ And you failed to write me the facts of the case—you only mentioned that my aunt was il, Why was that?’ ‘‘*That was when the babe was born. We did not know your address later, and so were unable to let you know what followed,” ‘You are right, mother, What was I think- ing about? d Lucile Luzerne nurse: my aunt?’ sé Yes, George.” “Holbrook, 1 suppose, insisted that she should remain to the last?” . ** He did.” . ‘* Merciful Heaven! they seem to waste gradually away?” ‘They grew — and thin, and Katharine noticed it; but she was too weak and helpless herself to understand or be suspicious, or if otherwise, she was afraid to send for your grandmother, or myself. She said something of the kind before she became insane with grief at the death of her little ones, and the de- sertion of her husband,” ** Which died first, mother?’ “Georgie, then Frankie, and then the bahe or Katharine passed away only a week ‘*Great God! Mother, I tell you I am con- vinced that my aunt was tortured to death! Yes, tortured a thousand times worse than if she had been burnt et the stake by a slow fire. I be- lieve, too, that the children were poisoned.” As George McClelJan said this, he grasped a hand of bis mother and of his grandmother, while his sister clung to him, weeping. ‘* Listen!” he said, ** and don’t attempt to de- tainme. I’m off tothe West. Tell my father and the boys. I cannot wait to see them; but if they ever see me alive they will know that aunt Katharine and her babes are avenged. You will all know that George Holbrook has gone to his account if you ever clasp my hands again. sissing each in turn, while they strove to hold him back, he clutched bis bat and, regard- less of their cries and remonstrances, rushed like a madman out from his childhood’s home, and down the street to the depot, justin time to re-check his baggage and board the train for Suspension Bridge, as James McClellan bounded hatless into the depot, too late to see his son and prevail es him to return, and leave ven- geance to a Higher Power. Months passed, when, after having traveled thousands of miles back and forth, Geo Mc- Clellan registered at the Cosmopolitan Hotel, Denver, Colorado; and here the espionage of a eertain man deepened his suspicions,'and the letters written by this spy opened out the trai] toward the haunts of George Holbrook. One week after examining these letters in Denver, our young friend entered Placer Palace, Big Medicine City, New Mexico, where we have seen christened by Jim Jams, DIAMOND DICK. CHAPTER V. THE DUELLO, ' No sooner had Pueblo Pete struck the floor than, quick as a flash of tning, Diamond Dick drew a revolver in each hand, while his voice rung clear as a bell: (E JOO <€om f ~~ And the children—did ; Ss GO 6066 & ae www