Beadle's Dime Library No. 237 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXV., HOW BUCK EAGAN SUCCEEDED. Ever since his capture, so far as Long-Haired Max, Alcalde Jones or the Victorias knew, Eduardo Castro had preserved an utter silence, Certainly, he had never spoken before any of them, and the soldiers said it was always the same, When Inez Victoria was ushered into the cell, as before related, she had a view of a human figure which crouched in one corner of the cell, which was entirely empty except for a rude bed, looking more like a brute in its den than like a man, Yet, in spite of the fact that his face was hid- den, and that the light was poor, she recognized Castro. The iron door clanged to with a dismal sound, but the prisoner did not stir. Inez felt her heart begin to throb with strange rapidity. Never before had she been in such a dismal place, and she did not wonder that her cousin, thus con- fined, bad grown so sullen and discouraged. Her heart became filled with pity. Poor Eduario; whatever his faults, he was her cousin. Once, he had been her playmate, and time bad not effaced all the bright scenes be- fore his dissipation Jed him on down the fatal road where sin and folly are the beacon lights. She advanced and laid her hand on Lis shoul- der. ** Eduardo!” f The single word did what it was said persua- siens and threats bad up to that time been powerless to do; it brought the prisoner to his feet at one bound. — All his old comeliness and neatness seemed to have vanished. He looked old, haggard and miserable. “You bere!” ha ejaculated. “Yes, Eduardo, I am bere. At last I am able to assure youof my sympathy—to tell you that—” He put out his hand to stop her, and then sat down on the floor, dropped his head on his knees, and seemed to say by. so significant a movement that he would say no more. She saw too that some sort of manacles held his wrists. She called him by name and he did not an- swer. She spoke again, but be remained silent. She made an affecting plea, and he did not stir a rouscle, so far as she could see. Her pity began to give way to anger, but as she remembered for what she was working, she kept steadily on, reminding bim of the bright years of the past, and trying in every way to touch him, Plainly, he was not at all affected, for when he raised his head, after a while, he looked very composed and spoke coldly. * Caramba ! you are determined to worry me to death or accomplish your purpose. ell, what is it? You did not come here because of love or pity for me; you have some other mo- tive. What is it?” His brusqueness was not at all promising, but Inez was not ina position where she could af- ford to be particular. / “*T wish to speak of this crime of which you are accused,” ‘¢ Crime?” he repeated, flercely. ‘“‘ And isita crime to attempt to restore to Mexico what was wrested from her by an invader’s bayo- nets? Since when did patriotism become a crime?” , ‘*Porgive me, Eduardo, forgive me!” said Denna Inez, almost weeping. ‘‘ Why will you be so cruel, when I am your friend?” “Letit pass. Speak on!” he said, with the same brusqueness. ‘‘ Eduardo, you are, de must be, innocent!” “T bave done that of which they accuse me. If that be guilt, I am not innocent,” ‘‘T am sorry for you, Eduardo,” “Bah! I tell you it was not for my sake you came, Iam no fool, For what reason, then, did you come? Have these devils of Americans planted their foot on the haughty neck of my potent uncle?” His manner convinced Inez that mild words were indeed thrown away on him, If she talked at all, it must be in a business-like way. ** My father is accused,” she said. 7 Naturally.” , Let be is innocent!” she cried, excitedly. |, AS innocent as I am, and just as guilty.” ‘ FE.luardo, he was not concerned in this plot!” Pardon me, but he was, and the papers those dogs stole from me will prove it. 1 don’t care a fig for ae uncle; I wish these Americans had the habit of using the block and ax; but I would like to tear those soldiers limb from limb, every one of them!” The pri-vner wound up witha torrentof abuse which may well go unrecorded, but, taken to- gether with his terrible looks, made a whole be- fore which Donna Inez cowered. Was it indeed her old play mate? **Eduardo!—oh, my cousin!” she faintly mur- mured, ** Well, you want to know of Don Ramon Vic- toria. What of him?” * You said he was guilty; oh! take back those words; take them back!” \ Donna Inezsunk on her knees and lifted her Long-Haired M Ee clasped bands, and for the first time Castro showed some s gns of emotion. “‘Talmost wish I could comfort you, for you haveulways helped me, but what can I do. Don Ramon has been with us from the start, he bas been the brains of the project while I have been the hands, He planned; 1 executed. Had the work not been nipped in the bud, be would have been a leader in the field. All this I tell you because the accursed soldiers bave irrefragable proof. I can do nothing; I cannot even save myself,” This declaration, made in the most solemn of tones, fellon Donna Inez with crushing force, and for a moment she believed what he said; but as she remembered that from her childhood, even before the war which gave California to the United States, sbe bad beard her father ex- press his admiration for the northern country, she wavered no longer. ‘‘ Tt is false, false!” she cried. Eduardo shrugged his shoulders, **Then I need say no more,” he observed, and seating himself against the wall, he took up his old position and remained deaf or heedless to her words, Everything that she could say was said, but he seemed incapable of being touched, and she had to abandon the attempt at last. Going to the door, she found it locked; she beat upon it to call the guard and received no attention. At the end of ten minutes she grew alarmed and besought Eduardo’s aid. He did not stira muscle. The situation was too much for her composure and she burst into tears, and it was thus that the bribed soldier found her, He made a profound oe and seemed so sincerely disturbed that she almost forgave him, ‘ Wheres is Colonel Barstow?” she asked, _“ That is jast what | want to know,” he said, pulling his mustache viciously. And be told the truth. According tothe pre- arranged plan, the colonel should at that mo- ment have been Jocked in a cell, but as he had not 8 iN to fulfill his part of the contract, his tool was wholly at fault. As the reader already knows, it was the sud- den appearance of the Water Witch off the coast which had called the colonel away and dis- ‘arranged all his plans. “What do you mean? Donna Inez asked. ‘* Ther kurnel has vanished som’ers,” the man replied. ‘'He said he would step ont fur a breath o’ fresh air while you were busy an’ he ain’t showed up sence.” ‘* Where can he bave gone?” “Tl be durned ef lain’t afeerd summit is wrong,” tle fellow said. He told the truth, for he could in no other way account for Barstow’s disappearance, buta little thought convinced Donna Inez that she had sustained no great loss, She did not fear to walk to Casa Victoria alone, and the coloncl’s company was far from agreeable, Leaving the hotel, she walked rapidly through the village. Few people were abroad, and such as she did meet made no move to address her. She soon left the villace behind and was near- ing her home when three men sprung from be- hind a rock and seized her before she could flee. Even in the darkness, she saw that they were rough, brutal-looking fellows and she would have cried for help, but they were as quick-wit- ted as she, and a large hand closed over her mouth, ‘*Quiet and easy, querida mia!” one of them cried, withalaugh. ‘Pretty girls neverscream; *tis the ugly ones who act ugly!” The amateur philosopber bad scarcely utter- ed the Jast words before he went forward with one or two quick steps and then dropped in the road; a movement in which he wasimitated by the man who held the young lady, who was thus left free. She, however, did not attempt to flee. She had seen the cause of the confusion among her enemies in the pape of a young man whe bad dropped two of them by swift, accurate blows, and his voice rung out clearly: “This way, Donna Inez; come to my side and I will protect you!” Even then she recognized the firm, steady voice, and obeying the direction fonnd her hand clasped by that of Long Haired Max. “Have no fear; I will protect you!” he again said. No further time was allowed for words, for tho third ruffian, with a bow! of rage, sprung forward as though to demolish the cavalier, ‘Aha! how is this, Buck Eagan?’ langhed the younger man, as he parned a furious blow. ‘‘lcomeup like a ghost atthe banquet, don’t 1?—and you go down!” At the last word Buck did go down, heavily bit, and with a tremendous shock. By this time one of the first men was up, but another blow leveled him to stay; and when Eagan arose he was salute! with a profusion of those blows which batter without stanning. Clearly, Long-Haired Max essed a terri- ble fist, for two of the trio Jay like legs, but it was his fancy to mark Bock thoroughly, This he did, and when he finally knocked bim down again, the fellow remained, and ina most damaged condition. 19 ee ae ae ee CHAPTER XXVIL. BARSTOW’S TROUBLES. NATURALLY, the pugilistic encounter had been trying to Donna Inez, but she had not once thought of fleeing. She came of a brave race and her heritage asserted itself even then, and she was filled with admiration for the brave man who bad dared odds for her sake and so neatly disposed of the three ruffians. When the last man was down Long-Haired Max turned to her, lifted his hat and spoke as pleasantly as though nothing unusual bad oc- curred, “T think we may now go on our way unme- lested,” he observed. ‘Let us go atonce, Those fellows may re- cover their consciousness.” “Hardly, for I hit them to stay, but you will be safer inside Casa Victoria.” “T have again to thank you for your ppt! and your championship,” said Donna Inez wit emotion. ‘I fear the payment is but slight, but my carnest gratitude is yours.” “*It is enough to pay a far greater debt, but { only did my duty, Luckily, I happened along just in time, and it was rather a pleasure to get a chance at those fellows. One of them, at least, is no friend of mine.” ‘*Did you know them?” “One was Buck Eagan.” ‘Eagan?’ she repeated with a start. a Yes.” “‘Ten’t he a servant of Colonel Barstow ?” “The very same, Donna Inez.” Max hoped the conversation would lead to a better understanding between them, but the lady did not speak until they reached the en- trance to the Victoria grounds, Then she aroused with a start, “IT shall be glad to see you at the casa, at any time, Mr. Baldwin,” she said. ‘‘ You have been my champion on several occasions and the Vic- torias never forget.” He thanked her, but with less warmth than he would have used had she contided her thoughts after nee that Buck Eagan was among the late assailants. Somehow, even when they were the kindest, Donna Inez and her father threw a barrier o pride, dignity or something else in bis path. Mad he been in- vited to the hsuse on this occasion, it is likely be would have abandoned his resolution not to make them confidants in his war against Colonel Barstow. Still, the invitation was not given, and ho bade her good-night and hastened toward the village, **] can’t understand this night’s work exaotlv, and I am impressed by the belief that Barstow’s slans have gone wrong,” he said, ‘As near as I can judge, it was a scheme by which the plot- ter hoped to strengthen his hold upon Inez. But how? She went to the jail to see Castro. What was the object? That’s what 1 don’t seo yet, but Barstow bad one. Could he have in- tended that Buck Eagan should abduct her? If so, it is well I followed her from the jail.” bile thus reflecting, Max was burryiug back to the villa-e, but he suddenly paused. He had reached the top of a hill, and, chanc-~ ing to look out over the water, he saw some- thing which at orce interested him. “The Water Witch, by Judas!” he muttered. Sure enough the twin lights of the mysterious schooner were visible—not plainly, as from the shore, but sufficiently so to make him positive in the matter. One moment he looked, and then, breaking into a run, he started at full speed for the water’s edge, — ~---—~---+--- —- In the meanwhile, let us follow Colonel Bar- stow, whom we left just as be had launched his boat and begun pulling furiously toward the schooner, The ex-officer was a man of many plots, and he hoped to become ra Bn rich and very powerful befcre many weeks, but he was well aware that all his plans would be thrown into chaos if the secrets of the Black League were made public. Although be was controlling Lieutenant Mel- Jough, he had no taste for military matters. So long as he prospered pecuniarily, he did not. care who ruled California; and even had he cared, he would not bave engaged in a treason- able enterprise. As Long Haired Max had said to him, his title of colonel had not been won on the battle-field ; he had always blessed the lacky chance which gave him a good position at the rear, when other men were walking amid bullets; and pow he was willing to stand back and let other men do the fighting, Before money and power, he was willing to bow the knee, and his whole future depended on keeping the secret of (he schooner from the world at large. No pirate ever indulged in more profane Jan- guage than he as be pulled toward the Water Witch. His wrath fell heavily on the schoener's, crew, for they were not only endangering their common secret, but he bad been called away from Donna Inez. He had rowed over nearly half of his course, —- _ comicboo cS (EC)