Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 209 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

8 counts, and we are getting rich. Even if I should realize on my contracts now, lumping - the good and bad together, we would have quite a fortune.” ‘* [suppose we would, if there should not come acrash, or a crisis, or something of that sort, But we must not borrow trouble for the future, as jong as we can borrow money for the pres- ent. When Isee you now, dear Rose, so bright und actve and buoyant, my thoughts go back to the day, three years ago, when I found you lying on the alkali plain, by the side of the stage route.” ‘* Yes, auntie, and you saved my life. I was worn out, exhausted, famished, and had lain down there to_die, wishing for nothing but a speedy death, You made them lift me into tke stage, and you fed me, nursed me, and brought me here, and ever since then you have taken care of me, and I owe you everything.” ‘““Your presence and your love bave more than paid me for tbat, dear child. You have been all the world toalonely woman. Besides, it is you who have made our fortune, if itis a fortune.” ** Did not you furnish the capital, auntie?” “That is a small matter. You have fur- nished the brains and the enterprise and the energy. The ambition to get rich, Rose, is better than no az bition, and it has given you life and strengtb. But when you are really rich, what do you expect to do with your money ?” ‘Do with it? Do you not know what I want, what I mean todo with it? Money is power. When I have enougi of that power—as much as 1 believe will suffice for the purposc—I mean to use it to crush Pedro Rosalba.” ‘** To crush him!” ex laimed Mrs. Outram. ** Yes, to crush bim, to destroy kim. I do | > eee, ee a not yet know whatitis that I s»all do; but I mean to ruin him, to crush him as a man would crush a poisonous snake!” | Rose had risen to her feet in her excitement, and her face was flushed, filed with the bitter sorrow of the past and the fierce intent of the future, **My poor child!” muttered the old lady. ** She has not forgotten her sorrow, and a new passion has seized ber. Do you mean what you say, Rose?’ ** I do, most solemnly.” . . But Pedro Rosalba is your mother’s hus- and. ‘‘He murdered my lover, and I have good cause to suspect bim of having murdered my futher!’ Mrs. Outram bent over her embroidery, and ’ Rose, sinking into a chair, covered her face with her hands, and for a few momeuts neither of them spoke. ‘* What we have just been speaking of,’’ said ', raising her head, ‘‘ reminds me of a fright that I had this mornirg.” “A fright, my dear? ; “ Yes—a terrible fright. I thought that I saw my cousin, Manuel Vincente, on the street near the Mining Exchange.” ** Mercy on us!” ‘‘T am not sure that it was he; but the thought erve me such a fright that I trembled im every imb, and was scarcely able to stand. I man- aged to get into Hornby’s office, and there I dropped into a chair, and looked over the tape as it passed through the ticker, at the samo time keeping a sly watch at the window, to see if be should pass, But I saw nothing more of that man.” ‘Even if it was he, Rose, hé cannot have recognized you under that vail.” ‘*1 do not know. Some people know a girl ‘by her form and movement. I have worn that vail so long, covering my face from all men, as if I were a Turk, because of my fear of Pedro Rosalba and his agents; but above all I have feared Manuel Vincente. If he should suspect, that would be enough for bim, and he would pursue me like a bloodhound,” Mrs. Outram soothed and cheered ber young friend, telling ber that she was a woman of busines<, and of too strong and active a mind to allow idle fears and mere imaginings to take possession of ber and overcome her self-control, and Rose gradually shook off the dread that bad seized her. **Now, my dear,” said the old lady, ‘you will do mea great favor if you wil take this | bottle around to the druggist’s, and have the prescription duplicated. IL believe it has done me a great deal of good.” Rose donned her bat and vail, and went out wi-h the bottle, glad of a chauce to oblige ber good and loving friend, Fifteen minutes bad not elapsed, when she returned in a hurry, let herself into. the house with her latch-key, ranup-stairs, and re-entered the room, breathless and trembling. “Rose! Rose! what is the matter?’ asked | Mrs. Outram, seeing how pale and startled she | was, ‘*Tt is he,’ answered Rose. ‘‘I saw him again as [came out of the drugstore, and again 1 was frightened. I walked rapidly teward home, and he followed me rapidly. Then I ran to the house.” ** Are you sure it was he, Rose?” ———— Buck Farley, the Bonan ‘*T saw bis face and recognized him at once, Hark! there he is!” The door bell rung below, and directly a man’s voice was heard, inquiring for ‘‘ Miss Rosina,” ‘**Run into the i!cove, Rose,” said Mrs. Ou- tram, ‘‘and I will give orders that he shall not be admitted.” The girl hastened to conceal herself; but Mrs. Outram was not quick enough in giving her orders, as the unwelcome visitor followed the housemaid up-stairs, and presented bimself to her before she could close the door, He was a tall and well-dressed young man; but bis dark complexion, low brows, and coarse features, inspired her with a feeling of repul- sion. _ “‘T wish to sce the lady whose name is Rosina,” he said, ‘*There is no such person here,” grufily re- plied Mrs, Outram, with a reckless disregard of truth, ‘“‘IT saw her enter this house, and I am sure that this is her room, aud I wish to see ber.” ‘“* There is no person here who wishes to see you,” said Mrs, Outram. ** That is not to the point,” he replied, with a sneer. ‘“‘I believe that tkere is a person bere whom I wish to see, and Il: propose to walk in and look for her.” He stepped forward as he spoke; Lut Mrs. Outram suddenly snatched a loaded revo:ver from a table near the door, cocked it, and pre- sented it at kim, ‘* Tf you take another step toward this room,” she said, ** I will shoot you down!” She was as pale as death, but her face was full of determinat on. He might have seen such a look in some wild animal which a hun- ter had threatened to deprive of its cub. He halted instantly. ‘“My name is Manuel Vincente,” he said. **T have reason to believe that the lady who is known as Rosina is my cousin, Rose Rosalba. I have a right to see her.” ‘You have no right to see any person in this room,” replied Mrs. Outram, ‘‘Go away from this door, and leave this house immediately, or, as surely as tbere isa God who guards the in- nocent, I will kill you where you stand!” There could be no doubt that the woman meant what she said. Manuel Vincente tried to call up his accustomed sneer; but his face spoke only of beffled malice. ‘*] cannot find it in my heart to refuse such a polite request from a lady,” he said. “I will g9, as you insist upon it; but you coh assure my fair cousin that I will interview her else- where.” As he turned away, Mrs. Outram closed the door, and locked and bolted it. Then she sunk into a chair, trembling with excitement. Rose came out from the alcove, listened at the door as the intruder passed down stairs, and watched him as he walked up the street, ‘*My poor auntie!” she said. ‘“‘Itisa shame that,you should have bad such a task as that. 1 would bave taken it on my own hands, if I had known what was needed.” ** Never mind me, my dear. I feel better for it, now that it is over—more like a woman—or more like a man, I would surely have shot him, Rose, if hejhad tried to enter this room,” ‘*T believe you would, auntie. And now, my dear, I must put you to another test of your love, It is impossible for me to remain here in hourly fear of that man. We mast leave San Francisco at once.” : gers well, my child. Where shall we go ) ‘Far from here—to the other side of the continent.” _ ** Mercy on us! What a journey!” ‘* But you will be delighted with New York, auntie dear. It is so long since you have been at the East, and there is so much to see there. I am sure you will be delighted.” “Will I? I will be delighted if you are safe and contented.” “Then we shall pack up immediately. We will take the firs; train in the morning. We will go to a hotel to-night. I cannot remain in this house a minute longer than is necessary.” ** But your business, my child?” ‘*T can easily arrange that. I shall leave a note for Hornby, and I can stop at Sacramento and cash my check.” ** Let us pack our trunks, Rose.” CHAPTER X. THE SMASH IN NEW OPHIR. THe hour that saw Rosina and Mrs. Outram busily employed in preparing for their flight from San Francisco, found Buck Farley, many miles to the northward, seated in conversation with his partner, John Warne. ‘Now, my friend and partner,” said he, ‘‘ the time bas come to close in on Pedro Rosalba’s cash.’ . **Has he swallowed all he can hold?’ asked Mr. Warne, ‘* He isin as deep as he can go. He bas invested in New Ophir all the money he could raise. He now owns more thaa half of that precious stock, and boasts that he holde the controlling interest. At the next election for directors he za Prince. expects to pul hisown menin. Then heintends to freeze out the other stockholders in the usual way, and to become the sole owner of the biggest bonanza that bas yet been brought to light.’ “The uncertainty of mining speculations is amazing,” remarked Mr. Warne. ‘As Pedro Rosalba will soon learn to his sorrow. I shall start to the East in the morn- ing. You had better write to Brenham, in San Francisco, telling him to be reedy to throw on the market all the stock in his bands, as soon as 1 notify him by telegraph from New York. I will flood the Hastern market at the same time, and then there will be notbing left to do but to erect a tombstone to the memory of New Ophir.” ‘‘Its backbone will be broken effectually, no doubt. How much will the operation cost us, Farley?” * Cost us? It will be money in our pockets, to say nothing of other considerations. We shall easily clear fifty thousand after paying all — expenses,” ** People will talk about salted mines and sharp practice,” **Letthem talk. Men whocre worth millions are never touched by talk.” John Warne rested his head on his band, absorbed in re flection. ‘*‘What are you thinking of?’ asked his partner. ‘Wait a moment, Farley. The ought not to si ffer with the guilty.” ‘The innocent? Who are the innocent?” “Brenham tells me there is a pretty large block of New Ophir which he bas not been able to get hold of. He does not know who holds it at present, but is sure that it is not in the hands of Rosalba.” **Te)l him to find cut who holds it, and tele- graph meut New York. We will see that the owner or owners, if they are really not con- nected with Rosalba, shall not suffer,” “That will make everthing clear, my boy, and you may sit down on New Opbir as soon as you please.” innocent Buck Farley was delayed in his journey to New York, On the morning of bis arrival the receiving taller of the Exchange Nationa) Bank in that city was confronted by a new customer, his customer was a lady, graceful in form, and elegantly dressed, whose face was con- cealed by a heavy black vail. ‘*T wish to open an account,” she said, as she laid down a slip of paper and a roll of bills, ‘In what name?” asked the teller. ** Rosina.” * Rosina who?” ‘Simply Rosina.” The teller stared at her almost pupoliely, Her thick vail and the singularity of the name she gave made him wonder whether she might not be a swindler or an insane person, ‘*We have never opened an account in that style,” be said. ‘“‘I do not think it can be allowed. You must give your full name.” That is my business name and style,” she replied. “I have no other.” he teller requested her to step in and speak to the cashier, to whom she carned ber slip and her roll of bills, making the same proposition she had made to the teller and receiving sub- stantially the same reply. *] have been transacting business in San Francisco for along time,” she said, ‘‘ specula- ting in mining sbares, and quite successtully. I have transferred my business to New York, and the account I propose to open with you is not a very small one.’ The cashier looked at the slip and the roll of bills, and was visibly impressed by the inspec- tion. ‘*T have done business in San Francisco,” she continued, *‘ for reasons of my ewn, under the pame of Rosina, and no objection has been wade toit. In fact, I would not be recognized under any othername. If you will telegraph there, to the bank in which | kept my account, you wil] Jearn that I am a reliable business woman,” ‘*T will do so at once,” said the cashier. ‘‘In the mean time you may make a special deposit, if you choose todo so. Call bere this afternoon, before the bank closes, and I hope that every- thing will prove satisfactory.” At the appointed hour Rosina called at the bank, accepted the apologies of the cashier, re- ceived her bank book, and bastened up town to the botel at which she and Mrs. Outram were stopping. ‘*] have opened an eccount at last. auntie,” she said, as she entered the room where the oid lady was oceupied with her everlasting em- broidery. ‘These New York people seem to be terribly fussy and particular. 1 cou!d hard- ly have had more trouble if I bad wanted to borrow ¢s much money as I deposited.” ‘Well, my dear child, it seems that all busi- ness is bother, and you must expect to bave plenty of worry. Here is a telegram for you that bas just been brought up.” Rosina raised ber vail, and tore open the en- velope. Gomichbooks Cc Econ