Beadle's Dime Library No. 237 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXVIII. ON THE CLIFF AND AT THE MISSION. At daybreak, the following morning, three men left the village and walked rapidly toward the south. They were Max, Alcalde Jones and Tim Foley. | “Tt isa pity that we did not succeed any bet- ter last night,” said the cavalier. ‘““Ef we had be’n south-sayers, so that we could hev pierced ther dark ess with our eagle eyes, we might hev gobbled up ther schooner, boot an’ saddle,” added the alcalde. ‘‘T fear that would not have put us in posses- are of the Black League’s secret,” Max re- lied. ar I'd hev rigged up a rack, an’ tore em limb from limb in ther boodwah of jestice,” said Jones. ‘I'd hev pried the’r jaws apart!” Max knew bis threats were not sincere enough to be argued, and he became silent as they near- ed the beacon-cliff. Tim Foley had come to them with the story of a fight on the cliff, and they were on their way to investigate the matter. As Max had not suspected that he was pursued, he could not imagine who had lighted the signal after he left and so fallen victim to Barstow’s wrath. The latter had returned to bis house an hour after Max took up his post there as a watcher, and the remainder of the night had passed quietly. } Daybreak, we will remark parenthetically, found the Water Witch, with Turner and the remainder of the crew on board, well down the coast and out of sight of Nuevo Madrid. Foley led the way up the rough ground, and the trio soon reached the top of the cliff. All was silent there, and at first sight the place seemed deserted; but Tim, who was still in ad- vance, suddenly paused as he passed a good- sized bowlder, ana pointed with a shaking fin- er. an Begorra, it is jest about as I told. yez, an’ I advoise yez to moind yer nerves. Look a-there, will yez?” By this time the other men were at hand, but the cavalier, who was in advance, suddenly aused at Tim’s side. No wonder the Irishman ad shown excitement. Long-Haired Max saw a headless body, and in its band was the signal-light of the Black League! ‘* Durnation wildeats!” cried the alcalde, as he made baste to join them; *‘do you see a ghost, or what’s ther cause o’ this hyar statoo business? Your narve er a leetle unstrung, I reckon, but I— Great Pomrey!” His honor paused and elevated both hands, and a silence fell upon the trio. The sight before them was indeed startling. Seated with his back to the rock was what bad once been a human being, and it was still intact, clothing and all, except for the fact that its head was gone ! This strange object, sitting there silent and grim, held in one hand the lantern which Max bad used the previous night, and what was more, held it well forward as though still signaling to the schooner. ‘‘In Heaven’s name!” cried the cavalier, ‘“what have we here? A headless man, with the beacon light in his hand. Butwho was he?’ ‘‘Wan av dhe men yez set to watch, sure,” said Tim. ‘‘T have once told you they both returned to the village with me,” said Max, impatiently. ‘‘ Durnation wildcats, I reckon it are a joke,” said the alcalde, slowly. Max conquered bis feelings and approached the object. There was no joke about it, man had been beheaded, and it was by means of a supporting stone and some cords that he was enabled to hold the light in his lifeless and. ‘* We will look about fur clews,” said Jones, suddenly. ‘‘Sech a thing never happened in my jurisprudence afore, an’ I must sift ther affair to ther bottom.” The three scattered for the search, but only a few moments had passed when a shout caused Tim and the alcalde to cease their work. ‘‘Took this way,” said Long-Haired Max. “The Black Leaguers have indeed left one clew!” ‘‘Howly Pater!” cried Tim, as he saw that the cavalier held in his hands a human bead. It was a horrible state of affairs, and not one of the men retained his composure. Max, how- ever, spoke calmly as the others neared bim. ‘The mystery deepens,” be said, thought- fully. ‘‘Tbis is the bead of Buck Eagan, and it undoubtedly belongs on the body, but I cannot understand— Ha! I have an idea. Last night | fought and whipped Eagan; he may have dogged me here and so fell into the trap. Yes, I seeit all. He started the signal light, after I left, and when Barstow came upon him he thought he was a traitor. But, why was his body left here? Barstow must have been mad.” ‘He niver did a -better dade, ’'m thinkin’,” said Tim, ‘‘an’ I’m only sorry he is not here be- side his shipmate.” “Hole on, thar, hole on!” said the alcalde, suddenly. ‘‘Somebody’s comin’. Get inter ambush on ther jump!” Ss ——— Long-Haired Max. rs ee eee — The man he had seen had disappeared behind a rock which lay in his path, but Max had sufficient faith in Jones’s judgment so that he hurriedly replaced Eagan’s head where he bad a it and they sought a refuge near at and, They had but a minute to wait, and then Colonel Barstow appeared on the scene. He looked worried, anxious and paler than usual, but his face cleared as he saw Eagan’s body as he had left it, He wasted ro time, but, seizing it by the arms, dragged it to the verge of the cliff and cast it over, lantern and all, and when the head had been cast in the same direction, be seemed to breathe much freer. Next, he proceeded to brush earth over what blood was visible and _ no sign of his crime remained on the cliff. He, however, did not delay, but at once dis- appeared from the scene. ‘* Wal, durnation wildcats!” said his honor, “this hyar is aremarkable a’fair. What’s that taar fur?” ‘**He regrets having left the body as he did,” said Max, ‘‘and will now destroy all evidence of his crime. Undoubtedly, be bas started for the foot of the cliff where he will sink the body in the water.” ‘Let him sink it!” said Jones, rubbing his hands. ‘I reckon as how we hey got evidence enough this ’ere proximo ter hang ther critter. True, Buck Hagan desarved all he got, but Pll show Mister Barstow that he can’t gillitinize 2 ee in my jowrisprudence arter ther fashion o’ Robespierre when he cut off Lucretia Borgia’s head!” ‘** Your idea is a good one,” said Max, “ and whenever we get ready to crush Barstow, this affair will be enough.” Watching from the top of the cliff, they saw him sink the remains of Eagan in the water which lapped the base of the rock, and then he believed himself safe, The skrewdest of criminals at times commit acts of folly, and it was that which caused the colonel to fix the body of Eagan as he did, out of mere bravado. He had killed bim believing that be was a traitor, and that it was he who had Jured the schooner inside the outer bs>: and in the excitement of his triumph he thought it would be a brilliant idea to show his foes their ally thus decapitated. Awakening in the morning, however, he found his views entirely changed, and he had hastened to the cliff to obliterate all signs of his crime; but he had come too late; his enemies had proof enough to bang him. After concealing the body he did not tarry near the spot but hastened back to bis house. Even the vengeance he had taken on a traitor, as he believed, did not make amends for the misfortunes of the previous night. He was ositive that some of the people of Nuevo adrid must have seen the schooner’s lights, and, at the very least, it would make talk. That was bad enough, but he had other woes. His plans with Donna Inez had failed most lamentably. He had hoped by having her visit the jail to impress on her mind the borrors of such life, to make her believe her father guilty, and then to appear himself, when she was at- —— by his three ruffians, and figure as a ero. So far as the last part of his plan was con- cerned, there had been a most complete failure, and he must now account to Donna Inez for his absence by some ingenious falsehood. After breakfast he spent an hour in improv- ing his personal appearance and then walked toward the casa, hiding the uneasiness be could not avoid feeling under a mask of coldness and hauteur which be had always found very ef- fective among his dependents. In passing the ruined mission, he was ob- served by two men who were not at all awed— Long-Haired Max and Alcalde Jones. ‘““Ther durnation critter is goin’ ter Don Rimon’s,” said Jones. ** He goes thar more nor is nec’ssary, an’ I’m thinkin’ I ought ter warn them in a jodicial capacity not ter trust or harbor him,” ‘Wait a little, my friend,” said Max quietly. Our pen is about ripe, and when we spring it, the infernal wretch will find his own schemes nipped in the bud.” ‘*T shall glory in his disapp’intment, fur it will be ther bridle tower 0’ virtue an’ etcetry round hyar. Rake up all ther evidence you kin, my boyee, an’ when we bring him ter ther cli- max he shall be as broke up as was Richard I, arter ther battle o’ Waterloo, when he said, ‘My kingdom fur a hoss!’ I don’t want sech durnation critters in my jewrisprudence an’ I won’t hev ’em.” ‘‘ His day is short,” said Max, somberly. “I have a father’s blood to avenge, and if I delay it is only to strike surely.” ; ‘‘ Right you be, tera fine p’int. His flag must come down. I won’t bev him in Nuevo Madrid next ‘lection day, anyhow.” ; ‘The naive confession caused Max to smile, for he still remembered the alcalde’s account of Barstow’s opposition to his re-election to the office of ‘‘alcalde and mayor;” but as the colonel went on, Max aroused. y= 21 ‘* We are here on business,.you know, and the time is flying. Let us explore the ruin,” ** Wade in, my boyee, an’ when you ketch a ghost I'll double-iron him. Durned ef I don’t commit ther bull passel on ’em for vagrancy!” ‘** You are skeptical,” said Max. ** No, I ain’t; not an oita; but I hain’t no faith. Hows’ever, hyar goes ” In truth, the alealdea was without faith, Mex, remembering what he had seen about the o: mission, had proceeded by a course of reasoning to establish a connection between the ruin and the Bleck Lee gue. Barstow was the ally, or leader, of the mys- terious band, and as the mission was near’ his house, and said to be haunted, what was more natural than that it should be used as some sort of a rendezvous or cache? Of course some one bad an object in playing goat, and it looked very hkely to Long-Haired ax that if Barstow was making a secret use cf the place he should try to frighten off the super- stitious Mexieans in just that way, Consequently the alcalde and himself had come with pick-ax and hammer to sound and explore the place, to look for secret rooms and other suspicious pleces. ee — three hours they had found notbing, though both had labored faithfully. It was Max a first ceased work, ‘* We may as well adjeurn, alcalde,” he saiv, “fer our single arms and «ur present tools will ne er accomplish the work.” Mr, Jones dropped upon a broken pillar with a reverberating sigh, ‘* My single arm is growin’ mighty weak,” ke said, frankly. ‘‘I ain’t in practice asa grave- digger, though I’m perlite enough ter say ter you I like ther business right well. It’s irrita- ting to ther muscles an’ has a tendency ter he a appetizer, but I think my calling is not this one. ‘These heavy pillars and foundation-s‘ones need not less than four men, and the in-failen parts are in hopeless confusion,” said Max. “Thar is still business in yer eye. Do you mean ter «xecrate ther place? ‘Tl certainly do, alealde. I am convinced that this old mission holds secrets well worth knowing. Do you believe in the ghosts?—do you believe spirits really return to earth? The idea is rubbish, and yet [ saw the white-robed monk and his female victim. What is the natu- ralconclusion? Why, simply that this place hes a secret, and its nature l am resolved to know.” ** Now, look-a-hyar, my boyee, let me ax 1 question, Don’t be skeered—I'm not byar in on officious capacity. Did you, or did you not, on ther night when you see’d these ghosts, h’ist more liquid p’ison than was abnormally good fur you? Wasn’t you ther victim o’ u optical confusion?” Mr. Jones asked the question solemnly, but as Max wasable to assert that he had not indulged at all, the theory fell to the ground and they walked back to the village, tired and bafiled. CHAPTER XXIX, MISS LINGARD AT THE MISSION, Bars7ow’s visit to Casa Victoria that day was outwardly to see Don Ramon and Donna Inez, but he really bad another reason and luck favored bim. Entering the house, the first person he saw was Miss Lingard. Of late, the governess had been successful in avoiding him, but this time fate was against her and they met face to face. She would have passed on with a cold nod, but he put out his hand to stop her. ‘ e Wait,” he said, “I have something to say o you. She paused, the color retreating from her face, but even that and the pitiful look of mental agony made no impression on him. * You have taken a'¢ deal of trouble to kee ly, M but you need not struggle against fate. I told you, years ago, that 1 was your master and I mean to convince you.” ‘* What do you want?” she asked, huskily, “‘T want you to save yourself, It is a smal] matter to me, but if means a good deal to you. What if I were to shout your secret here?’ ‘Oh mercy, have mercy!” she whispered. ‘*They may hear you,” “Aba! so you do not wish it? Of course you do not, and in that you are sensible. Well, I am disposed to be merciful. I will leave you in your paradise, but such magnanimity deserves a reward. Meet meat the ruined mission, an hour after dark, this evening, and I will speak lainly.” ‘TI dare not do it,” ‘Bah! you are very timid. There is nothing to fear. willswear that I won’t harm you or allow any one else to do so, but I mu:t see you there. Will you come? Pe er: quickly, for I hear Don Ramon’s steps. Is it yes or no?” ‘* Yes,” she said, huskily. ‘Good. Don’t forget; don’t dare to for- get!” , The parting menace was spoken while she was in rapid retreat, and then, while Barstow went to seek Don Ramon with a bland smile, she es- ! a Evidently it was barren soil, for at the end of out of my way, of late,” he said, insolent- . ,OO m Ss) (C (E(o) (E()