Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 23 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

| y “ ~ saddle on to the piazza, where he lay doubled up ina heap, at the feet of the planter and 1i8 family. “ What on earth is the matter? Are you practicing for the cireus ?” asked Mr. Delorme. in wonder, “ Och, may the saints purtect us!” groaned Mahoney, erossing himself, as he scrambled to his feet. “The red haythen are on us again, yer honor! Sure a hundred of ’em were close at my heels! Look, there they are {” And the brave overseer darted into the house, for an Indian, splendidly dressed, and mounted upon a magnificent horse of snowy white, was seen riding leisurely up the avenue that led to the house. “Tt is Lagona—he who saved me from the torturing Lipans!” eried Stella. “Yes, aud asked for you as his reward! He is bold indeed to come here, when he most likely was the leader of the band who gave us such trouble the other night!” eaid Mr. De- lorme, while a shadow came athwart his face. “You surely will not harm bim, father ? said Stella, anxiously. “ Remember that but for him I had died a terrible death!” “If he comes alone, he shall not be harmed. But Mahoney said there were a hundred,” said Mr. Delorine. “One magnified by fear into a hundred, I expect,” said Stella. ‘Mahoney talks too much about what he has done, to be a ver brave man. We know Major McCullough to be the bravest of the brave, yet you can searcely ever draw him on to speak of his own adventures.” “What a noble-looking fellow he is—I never saw a man so handsome!” said Mrs. Delorme, gazing at the Apollonian form of the young chief with undisguised admiration. The young chief reined up his horse before the piazza, and leaping to the ground, with his bow and quiver at his back, and lance in his hand, he walked boldly forward, and look- ing the planter in the eye, said: “ IT am Lagona !” “T know you,” said Mr. Delorme. what have you come ?” “To live in your great wigwam—to learn the speaking parer of the pale faces, to learn how to work as they do! Iam tired of hunt- ing and of war!” replied the young chief, ear- nestly. * Your wish sounds good, but I doubt your will!” said the planter. ‘ Were you not here with a band to attack me and burn my build- ings, a few days ago ?” * Lagona would not lie to save his life. He was here! We came to carry off the daughter of the pale-faced chief. But he is sorry for it, and will not try again.” “ How may I know that?” asked the plant- er, who was a man, and eovld not but be pleased with the honest candor of the fearless chief. “~ pass my word. I do not know how to ie? “ How may I feel assured that you do not seek an entrance into my house with a design to admit your murderous band when I am asleep ?”’ “ Lagona is not a coward. The house and all that the pale-faced chief owns is as safe while Lagona is here, as if the Great Spirit, robed in the garments of the Sun, stood guard over it! If the pale-faced chief reads treach- ery in the face of Lagona, let him kill him, not as a warrior, but as a dog.” “Tf I let you live with me and work with my men, will you promise not to try to stea! my daughter?” “ Lagona will promise. He will look upon her as he does upon the stars which are very beautiful, but a great way off.” “Yours wastrange request, end it 18 1m- ecadert in me to grart it, but I will trust » pa,” said Mr. Dieliceoe after a moments’ hesitation. And he called a servant and bade bim take care of Lagona’s horse. ‘Take these and keep them until I ask for them.” said Lagona, handing his knife, hat- chet, lance, bow and arrows. to the planter. “This looks well,” said Mr. Delorme; “I really believe now that Lagona is in earnest !” “T am not a child,” said the Comanche, quietly. “I only say what I mean !” “T make you welcome to my house—you have courage, and honor goes hand in hand with that! You shall study the arts we know, and my daughter shall be one of your teach- ers,” said Delorme, carried away by the nobler impulses of his nature. “ For The | Red Warrior. “Tam not strong enough to learn of her-— | 7 “Yes, sir, very—and she will be hie beim —_ Se ee ee let me learn of those whom I do not love,” | eas!” said Lagona, who had but once glanced at her | duriug this conversation, And then, though | the red blood darkened his cheek, he saw no | sympathetic glow in hers, “You are a noble fellow—your confidence in me shall not be misplaced. Come with me,” said the planter, leading the way into the house. Seareely had he and Lagona entered, when by another avenuc, Mr. Mahoney, eame out. “Jabersa—the master will be murthered en- tirely!” said be. “ He’s in there aforeninst the side-board, wid the brandy in his band! I saw him offer the red nager a drink, and he wouldn’t take it, and said fire-wather was bad !” “ And he spoke the truth. Ie shows more sense than some white men in his refusal.” said Stella. “That's thrae so far as it goes, me lady— but d’ye see, weren't it for the knowledge o’ the bit o’ comfort there’s in a sthray glass now an’ then, divil the bit would we white men take it!” “ Take your lessons from this Indian, and beware how you offend him, then |” said Stelia. “Ts he goin’ to live wid the master?” “ Yes, ue is.” “Och—mil-dieul! It’s time that Patriek Mahoney asked for his walkin’-papers, or he'll be less a scalp to hw head one o’ these five mornings !” “Do not fear—I ean influence him, and you shzll be in no danger, always provided you do not affront him!” “ Faith, lady, I'll be as careful aa if [ was travelin’ over a road paved wid eggs, when I’m in his company !” “Do so, and you are safe.” ‘Thank ye, lady ! While I’m under the pro- tection of yer innocence and beauty, Pm, aa safe ac if the angels gave me one of their wings for a counterpaue. I'm the better certinted, cow, and wishing you pleasant dranes ane no distucsbanee I'll bid ye an early good-nig? t.’ The overseer now betcok nimself to his own quarters, evidently liking to inareeo4, so fax ea he could, the distance between hima and. hir dread, the chief of the Comanches, Stella and Mrs. Delorme, laughing at hit eagerness to leave the loeality, entered thé house, where we will leave them, while we turr our attention to another quarter. CHAPTER XIII. Paul Malerson, with a pocket fuli of that ar- tical which only is needed to establish one’s gentility in our model Republie, had amived, registered his name, aud just been ushered into |. the best room of the best hotel in Galveston, when a servant announced a “ gontlemar” who wished to see him on’ partienlar bus:ness. And at the same time the servant permitted Captain Jack Malerson to enter the room. “ Ah, Paul, how are you? Been expesting you for some time. &o has Ada—told her you'd be here soon—said I'd look out for you, and here I am!” cried the captain, as he) eam | in. “I’m much obliged to you for your unno- cessary care, sir—! almost feel old enough to take care of myself—the more especially thet I have never until now, known anything of pa- rental care!” said Paul, stiflly. “No fault of mine, lad—no fault wf mine. as you will learn brane But it was ne- cessary that I should see you thé momens you arrived, for I have been working for you, peck- ing your cards all night to play a winning game—d’ye hear?” | “ T hear sir, but I do not understand.” “No? Then [ll explain. You sae, i knew you loved little Ada, who is a trump of a girl, and loves you harder than a mu'‘e can kick, and as I had a diamond ring worth s coo! thousand that I didn’t care, much for, 29 I took it to her and told her you sent it! Didn’t i do it up brown? You're all right in her beoke now !”" “ Yes—just at the time when I want to be out of them. I came down here on purpose to break off with her!” “Whew! What does this mean ?” “My aunt has arranged matters so that it will be to my interest to marry Stella’ De- lorme.” . “ What, the old planter’s daughter rT Yes.” “ He is rich, I suppose ?” ‘Got much by him in hard caeh, jewelry, plate, and the likes of that?” “ Yes, sir, ayreat deal ; but why do you ask that ?” “Oh, for ro very particular reason, only } was thinking of your interest, d’ye see? } don't want to see you tangle yourself im any eyains but golden ones. A man isa foo! if he doer, co\-a-deysi But we'l, have time to think of this matter and talk it over before you go to the country again.” Meantime, when you call on Ada, don’t let on but that you sant ber the diamond. And if yeu get short ¢’ dimes, come to me at the Arcade and ask for more, and you'll find 'em all ready for rou!” “Thank you, sir~if I need them Pll call.” And with this anderstanding, Mr, Jack Mal- ereon left his son's room, « Here's the captain, once more! . Long life ard rich deals to his hand!” was the ery of Gndv Spier, the lieutenant of Malersons’ geng, whew Jack, returning from his,recent Tints entered the room, or rather den of smoke tac. whisky fumes, which they occupied ja aeeddl-quarters. They were a hard-looking set of customers, Men of nearly every uation and hue except bleck, for they were murderers and thieves of a class too gént/emanly, to be found assogiating with “niggers.” Some were dressed in the veual black-leg style, as fanecifully as. they gould atford—others rough enongh to suit the most romantic maiden’s idea of a ruffian or a cut-throat. «* Well, lads,” said Malerson, as he entered, “ Ain’t you almost fired of doing nothing ?” “ That we are, captain !” said Sandy Spicer, whose red hair and cholerie face indicated a peppery nature. ‘ My sword, to use the lan- guage of the immortal poet, ‘tho’ true and trust7, for want, of use is growing ruety.’ (!) Vor sword read bowie-knife, and you'll be O. X. Have you anything ahead, Captain Mater- con ?” “Yes—a big haul, if we manage it right. There’: a chap up country who is ag rich asa ‘bank or more so-—got lots of money and plate hovrees. on hand, and any quantity of niggers and I mean to take the whole band, dis- guived as Indians, acd clean him, out! He’s got e daughter as pretty as all out-doors, and ahé ehall be mine—his wile isn’t bad-lookin’. I guese (‘ll let you draw lets for her., Once ri have out my heart out for her, but that time has gone by !” ¢ The gang received this announcement with ehoere. ‘When are we to start? I hunger for a;- tion, . My heart's in arms and eager for the try, ds the fellow said, when he smelt. the eels a cockin’ |’ oried the poetic Mr. Spicer. “ Soon as we can—stay in all of you, I've » little errand to do, and then [’ll be back and lay ray plans... And 1aind, boys, no, drinking now—we can make a big haul if we keep ac- ber and work the game up right 1” pas “ We'll be a sober as expectant aeirs; before | the'will is read!” said Mr, Spicer, “Paul is here,” seid Cap‘eim Jack Malerson, th Ada McAlphin, as he entered her room a short’time after he left his mea, * Hs has come here to’ break off with you!” “Then he has eome to die!” said Adc while her fine eyes flashed angrily. “Not so fast, my beauty—not’ so fast. .i eame to’ caution you about that very eae, | for I know the grit that is in you, ana zone 1 stick at nothing if you're onee roused! am going to fix matters in a better way.' Pll put a girl out of his way, if you'll be easy with im !”" “Will you—oh, bless you, will you ?” cried Ada, clasping his hands. “ Yee, girl, yes. 1 will fix her so that he'd as soon marry a Comanche squaw as her !” “Oh, how shall | trust you?” “ You'll trust mé because I’m his father, ar d I like you wel’ enough to want you for a daughter.” “T will trust you!” said she. “Thet's right. But mow Ada, don't you tell lim of this second visit, though he knows of the first; and whatever you may hear aboot the Delormes, keep it to yourself.” , “T promise that. But is the girl whom he wishes to marry a Delorme?”) .. “ Yes, her name is Stella Delorme—but 1 dare uot stay here louger, for I expect Paul Gomicbooks (E(@)