Beadle's New York Dime Library, Vol. XVIII, No. 232 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

Iam master of to induce him to issue the letters testamentary, which, once placed in your hands, will give you command of all the ver- sonal property le!t by your excellent brother.” “Do you anticipate a refusal on bis part?” ‘‘T have fears of it; be is extremely careful, as he is ob'iged to be in such matters.” ‘‘ Would a liberal fee belp matters in that direction?” Lawyer Galnaith shook his head. His dusky face was tortured by anxiety, and the looks which he bent on the r, rescued youth showed that he was an honest, kind- hearted fellow. ‘‘De gracious gorry Heben, masser! but I tought it was de last of you,” said the Afri- can, with a great sigh of relief. Marvin rose to the sitting position and leaned against a tree. ‘“‘It was you who saved me,” said he, faint- ‘*1¢6 would ruin our case completaly; it would | ly, casting a grateful look upon bis sable friend. rouse suspicion on his part at once, and we would have an infernal time before he would help us out, fuse to issue the letters until the body is pro- duced.” “ He must be a queer customer.” “In that respect he is. You may depend | afire. It would be just like bim to re- | smoke, | ** How did you know I was in there?” “‘T war gwine ‘long de road, when I see’d de I used to lib in dis house, so I war in- terested. I wondered how it got afire. When I see’d de brush an’ sticks piled up ag’in’ de winders I knowed dat some one had sot it De house warn't ob much ‘count, which upon me to do everything that is possible to be | am why me an’ Dinah an’ de childer moved done. and get back as soon as youcan. Come straight to my office and let me know how you have succeeded.,’’ ‘‘And by that time you may have some- thing interesting to tell ms.” * Most likely I shall,” _A few mioutes after, Ward Hildreth left the | office of the scheming Jawyer, and in the morn- | Go to New York to-morrow morning | out.” ‘‘ Whom does it belong to?” ‘Jake Calkins, who libs up beyont in dat house, I guéss he am goned away,” said the African, looking in that direction, ‘‘or be would be down yar 'o l’arn "bout it. He'll be mighty mad, for he am de stingiest man in dese parts,” ‘*But you haven't told me how you came to ing, in accordance with his promise, started for | rescue me.” the metropolis, Everything seemed t> be working promising- ly and the villain was in high expectation. But neither he nor lawyer Galnaith dreamed what a day was to bring forth. CHAPTER XXIV. | ROTARY HASTINGS. DonaLp Marvin wes sleeping soundly, when _be was suddenly awakened by a feeling of suf- tion, A _. He had lain down in the cabin by the way- side for a brief rest, and awoke to find himself enveloped in such dense smoke, that be was obliged to gasp for breath, | His senses came to him on the instant, and he leaped up with a shout of terror, : e cabin was one mass of fire, above, around and on every hand. : Tostinctively be sprung for the door through which he had entered a brief while before, When he attempted to pull it inward it ro- sisted bis utmost efforts. He struggled desperately, but it scarcely yielded. | ; Strangling and terrified, he dashed for one window after another. There were only two, and each was too nar- w for his body, and he was fastened as se- curely within as though he had been chained in the rock-bound prison of Chillon. He realized on the instant that some one had done this, and his instinct told him it must have been the conspirators. His situation was of the most appalling na- ture. He shouted and shrieked like a madman, bing hither and thither across the narrow ‘space, clutching the sides of the windows with the strength of desperation, Allin vain, 3 | ‘Then feeling that the door was the most vul- nerable point, he concentrated his energies on that. } r began te take possession of his soul, for the fire burned with frightful rapidity. The cabin was as combustible as if made of timber; the heat was terrible, _ “My God! mast I die this awful death?’ he ; ied, recoiling from a serpent of flame which seemed to be hissing at his face in mockery. , At that supreme moment he heard several tremendous thumps upon the door, as though a battering-ram was directed against it. _ They became more terrific, until the whole structure trembled bereath the sbock. Suddenly the door shot inward, burst from its fastenings as though stricken by the solid shot from a ecolumbiad. | - Donald Marvin struggled for the opening ‘‘Why, I war standin’ off dar lookin’ on, | when I heerd a yell from some one inside, I | tought if war a dog, but I l’arned berry quick dat it wara pusson, You’d better belebe I moved quick den.” *T heard the blows against the door, but thought they were too late.” ‘* Dem’s what done it!” The negro looked down at his boots, which were of enormous proportions, “Number sebenteens. Made in Freehold on a last dat I bewed out for myself. Cakerlate I kin stave in de side ob any house wid ’em when I puts full steam on,” Dovald Marvin rapidly recovered, and with slight assistance from his friend rose to his feet, “Tell me your name, please,” **Rotary Hastings.” “ Well, Rotary, under Heaven you havo saved my life. I must insist that you accept a _ little testimonial.” “Oh, boss, I can’t do dat!” , Even while the negro uttered the protest he fixed his big eyes wistfully on the pocketbook which Donald had drawn forth. | ‘‘ How many children have you, Rotary?” ‘‘Thirteen; but,” he added, with a sigh, ‘ we’s bad bad luck.” ** How is that,” * We lost seben afore dey had a chance to : up.” “That was too bad. But here is a little something for the benefit of the little ones, not forgetting yourself and wife.” As the reader well knows, Donald Marvin was a poor man, who could ill afford anything in the way of luxury, but he bad a heart, and never did a thing with more pleasure than he Landed twenty dollars to the honest African who had rescued bim from a most dreadful death. By this time, Donald was pretty well him- self again. Most providentially he had not been harmed, though his lungs smarted and pained from the smcke be had inhaled. Tbe fire was, in fact, of little account and the ascending vapor was most likely supposed to be caused by one of the smal! conflsgrations which occur every summer in the Pines. It bad not attracted the attention even of Mrs, Calkins, whose house was but a ehort dis- tance away. _No one was seen approaching from any di- rection, ‘‘ Rotary,” said Donald, ‘‘when I went in there and lay down the door was not entirely closed.” “Dat’s so; some onprincipled swindler hab done it, Ef I knowed who I’d pitched him in dar among de fire, but he’ll cotch enough fire through which the smoke and flame were pour- | in de last day, when de Lord calls him to ac- ing, but he was too much exhausted, and sunk _ swooning to the floor. = his time had aot yet come. ' = huge form dashed into the swirl of smoke ame, caught him up from the floor, and Sounded ont again into the open air. , ~ Now that he bad a chance to gain a breath _@f the revivifying air, tho yourz man speedily revived As be opened bis eyes be saw a huge negro standing over him, count,” “No doubt of that; did you see any one be- fore you caught sight of the burning cabin?” “No ove at al',” replied Rotary Hastings, adding after a pause. ‘all dat I see’d wara couple ob cows down by de road; don’t t’ink dey done’d it.” He grinned hugely at his own humor and Donald could not belp smiling in sympathy. The African seemed so happy over the un- expected wealth which bad been placed in his —_————— rp hands, that he carefully stowed it away in his tobacco box and made as if to go. Young Marvin bade him a pleasant good- day, repeating his thanks, when be recalled that Orson Oxx had said to him tbat very fre- quently the most usefol information of the detective frequently comes to him through accident. And that, furthermore, every possible rource of information, however insignificant, must be seized upon. “Hold on, Rotary!” he called. “ You say Jake Calkins lives up yonder in that house?” “Yes, sah, he does.” ‘When bave you been there last?” “T went dar airly dis mornin’ te get my wages, but Mrs. Calkins said dat Juke had goned to New York and I would tab to wait till he comed back; I forgot dat when I spoke awhile ago ’bout his not being at home.” — “ Have they any strangers at the house?” ‘No, but dey did hab.” “Who were they.” “A couple ob ladies, but dey am gone,”- ‘How do you know that?” “T seen Jake take ’em away yesterday.” “Do you know where he took them?” ““T aint suab, but I t'ink he took ’em to his brother Mart, who libs toward Freebold, Leastways he wen’t dat way and dey are cronies; would you like to go dar?” “T would, indeed.” ‘All right; come ‘long; I'll shew yon de way.” CHAPTER XXV. A TERRIBLE AWAKENING. ConA HipRETH and ber cousin Eva were sitting in the humble apartment, assigned to their use, in the home of Mart Calkins, in the ‘**Pines,”’ between the village of Farmingdale and the town of Freebold. The room was up stairs, and though it had abominably low ceilings, small windows, rag carpets and the plainest and most old-fashioned kind of furniture, yet it was scrupulously clean and quite comfortable, “T can well understand why no one would dream of our being here,” said Eva with a smile, after surveying the room. “What is the reason?” asked Cora, as the two sat facing each otber by the window, acress which a piece of blue netting had been stretched to keep out the mosquitoes. ‘Tt is the last place in the world that would be selected as a summer resort; but how long do you think we shall have to stay here, Cora?” ‘Not more than three or four days; you have asked that question a good many times, my cousin.” “T may as well confess to you that my situation is anything but pleasant.” “T have no doubt of that.” “‘T cannot understand why uncle Ward can go direct to Philadelphia, while we two, who had nothing at all to do with his trouble, are forced into hiding among the pine barrens of New Jersey. Now, if the situations were reversed, it would ssaem more in accordance with common sense and reason.” _ ‘‘T know that there were many things that your father saw in bis brother which bore a curious look, but your father held bim in such loving friendship that he did that which was fir the best, without calling in question the motives of my parent.” This was the most vulnerable point in Eva’s armor, as Cora well knew. : The memory of ber father was held in such reverential remembrance by the daughter that she allowed it to sway her judgment. Had it been otherwise, she never would have consented to make this journey, which was s0 much like a criminal fleeing from jus- tice, that her soul rebelled again and again. “You know,” said Eva, her heart touched, “that there is no sacrifice I would not make for you and your father,” ‘‘T have beard you say that a number of times, and yet you seem to regret a very trifling sacrifice, from the continual manner in which you harp on it.” ‘‘That is only because we are doing that which seems unreasonable, If Ican be made to see that it is necessary and proper, I shall not complain.” ‘You ought to know that father would not ask it unless there was good reason for doing so. Should he be arrested, he will send for us ‘at once,” “Ts he not in much greater danger in Phila- Ebooks €om (E(0)