Beadle's Dime Library No. 237 — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

ee eee a a | with . my house.” — mh 28 hospitable treatment from Don Ramon and bis daughter, but both of them seemed ill at ease. They talked witb less animation than usual, and the don in particular seemed moody and rest- less, but if Mellough noticed the fact he made no sign. He ate and drank with his usual good appe- tite, and then excused himself and went to his own room. Father and daughter looked at each other loomy faces ‘‘ The banging sword must now fall,” said the former, buskily. **He may not discover it until to-morrow,” said Donna Inez, like one who catches at a straw. ‘‘That is but delaying the inevitable, Sooner er later he will discover that the papers have been tampered with, and the guilt will be clearly fixed. Inez, my child, I have made a fatal mistake, Already I see the disgrace that awaits me. Mellough’s statement will heap dis- a upon disgrace. It would have been far tter had 1 submitted to my lot and relied on my assertion that the documents were forger- Now, by tampering with them, I have tacitly admitted my guilt.” Don Ramon’s voice was husky and his face worked strangely. Pride, dignity and firmness bad given place to fear, misery and weakness. “Tne acid may not have taken effect,” Inez suggested. “It is a useless hope. Colonel Barstow as- sured me he knew its power well. Yes, the deed is done, and ia place of the compromising papers, Mellough has now only blank docu- meots, All this would be well enough, did he not know their character. As itis, lam ruined and disgraced!” Victoria abruptly arose and began pacing the room, but Donna Inez went to his side and placed her arm about his neck. “Be brave, my father,” she said, “‘ for are we not left to each other?” ““ How long will it be so?” be gloomily asked. ‘Tt may be I shall be torn from you and im- prisoned. In Mexico, my crime would be my ruin. Mellough can say, ‘This man bas con- spired against the government: he has destroy- ed the proofs of his guilt.’ Is not that enough to condemn me?” ‘They can not prove that you destroyed the proof.” ‘‘It makes no difference, since if was done in _————a a ee ——————— ————— ee At this moment Colonel Barstow was an- nounced, and be soon entered, calm, smiling and | wholly at bis ease. | He greeted them as usual and then looked keenly at their faces. ‘“You seem gloomy,” he said. ‘I trust that | nothing unfavorable bas occurred. What of the papers?” have used the acid,” said Don Ramon, gloomily. ** Good! and you are no longer in eco'onel, with a look of joy. “ you, Don Ramon.” ‘You ferget that Mellough has read them.” “What of that? His proof is gone.” ‘His word will condemn me.” ‘‘Not at all, my dearsenor. He will not dare to mention the fact. Should he do so, he will only bring blame upon himself. He left his papers openly in his room, to-day, while he went away, did he not? Very good; he will not dare to confess such carelessness as that. It would be his own ruin.” This was a view of the case which neither of the Victorias bad before taken, but it was so convincing that their faces brightened per- Then the writing has disappeared, in danger,” said the congratulate ‘ceptibly. Evidently, the lieutenant had made himself liable to censure, and it might be he would hide their work to conceal his own folly. ‘Rely on me,” continued Barstow, who had not failed to see their change of countenance, “and all will be well. Of course, none of us | like the work, but your future must not be . ruined by forged papers. You have a> daughter.” The cunning words at once softened and bardened Don Ramon’s heart. He remembered the brilliant career he had planned for Donna | Inez, for whom alone he lived, and for a. while he felt that the sacrifice was not in vain. | As deeply as he would be pained at a flawin | bis own honorable record, the prosperity of Inez arose superior to all, | ‘You may be right,” he said. “Rest assured I am, and let your conscience be easy. [I never vet advised a man to doa wrong act, and it is but justice to overthrow what is false. You are right in destroying the pers.” par We owe our safety to you, colonel.” ‘‘ Partially, I admit.’ ‘“We have carried out your ideas to reach ‘this result. Believe me) sir, lam deeply grate- | 1.7? “My heart has been in the work,” said the plotter, bowing low. At this moment the door was flung open, and | ‘Lieutenant Mellough appeared to view. Ha looked flushed and angry, and in one band he held seyeral papers which had an ominous look. Long-Haired Max. Don Ramon and his daughter lost color. They own read in the lieutenant’s excited face the act that he had discovered the tampering with his cherished documents. He stood for a moment as though striving to regain his calmness, and then, leveling his finger at Victoria, exclaimed: ‘**T have discovered your perfidy, sir!” Instantly the bead of the don was thrown back in the air, and his eyes flashed angrily. For a moment he forgot everything except the fact that this man had dared to apply an offen- sive word to him—a Victoria. ‘* My perfidy! Whatdo you mean, sir?” ‘‘ Simply that you have proved your guilt in this conspiracy business by committing a crime. At last I know the boasted hospitality of a Spaniard—” Two forward strides the don made, while his impressive form seemed to arise to still greater stature, and be towered above the little lieu- tenant like a veritable giant. ‘*Silence!” be thundered. ‘‘I will not be in- sulted in my own house. Dare to cast another slur upon the race to which I b long and I will throw you from the window. Whatever you have to say, speak plainly, and at once. The verdict will come later, but never from your hands. Do not confound your identity with that of your superiors!” Looking at the two men, and hearing Don Ramon speak, one would have expected to see Mellough sink into nothingness, but, instead, he grew red with indignation, his scanty side- whiskers seemed to quiver with anger, and he waved one hand tragically. ‘* Whatever I seem in your eyes, I am an offi- cer of the United States army, and my country shall be allowed to choose between us. When ou are behind prison bars, you may wish you ad been les3 insolent.” ‘‘ Insolent!—to you ?” Don Ramon made a disdainful gesture, which seut Mellough’s fury up to the boiling piteh, The Spaniard’s manner seemed to say, ‘¢Can one be insolent to the worm which crawls across bis path?” Donna Inez, however, saw that her father had entirely forgotten their danger, and alarmed at his rashness, she went to his side, laid her hand his arm, and whispered so that only he could ear: ‘*‘ Be calm, my father; you will make our situ- ation worse.” It was enough. Don Ramon remembered where he stood, and, crushing back his pride, lowly said: je i have been hasty, and I beg your pardon, sir. Will you be seated and explain what you mean?” ‘‘] wil) explain, but I will not be seated,” said Mellough, shrilly. ‘‘ Your house is no longer a proper place for me to rest, for you have betrayed every claim of hospitality and honor.” Don Ramon became very white, but by a great effort he restrained his anger. “Explain,” be briefly said. *“You have managed to destroy the value of these papers—you have poured something upon them which has extracted the ink,” ** What papers are they?” Mellough stamped bis foot. ‘*Let us have no child’s play. As you well know, they are those relating to the conspiracy. You have practically destroyed them, and, by my life, I will make you suffer for it.” CHAPTER XXXIX. THE PLOT MADE PLAIN. At this moment Barstow arose and moved forward. ‘““My dear lieutenant,” be began, persua- sively; but Mellough darted a furious look at him. ‘© Sit down; I wlll attend to you directly,” he said, savagely. ‘Don Ramon Victoria, I acci- dentally left these papers in iny room this even- ing. They contained the notes of the conspira- tors and their names. You have managed to extract the ink from them, What have you to say in defense?” *: Nothing, sir,” was the calm reply. ‘Oh, it is nothing, is it? Well, I will make you say something. Your crime will be | stated to the highest officials of the United States.” ** By whom?” es myself,” 2 Will it be safe for you?” ** Safe?” ‘Yes, sir. A man who leaves such papers scattered about had better hold his tongue if harm ¢omes to them. The weight of anger will fall on your own head.” Mellough smiled disagreeably. ‘So it is on that fact that yourely? My dear sir, J am in no way compromised, while you have committed a blunder as well as a crime. The papers you destroyed were in no way valuable; they were merely copies which I had made to send to San Francisco, The originals still exist, the proof against you is irrefragable, and now, by my life, Pl push the casa to the wall!” Mellough swung the papers over his head in ——— a . oe —— high glee, looking like a triumphant farm-yard rooster, while the Victorias showed consterna- tion, confusion and doubt. ‘‘Your crime,” continued tbe lieutenant, as no one spoke, ‘‘ remains just as large and | shall make the most of it.” Once more Barstow arose. ay My dear sir,” he said, ‘‘I beg that you will—” ‘“Ah! so you have a word to say,” inter- rupted Mellough, with a sneer. ‘‘I am glad you are here, for I do not forget that you are an accomplice. I shall have two men to name in my report, one of whom is an ex-colonel— yourself!’ ‘*Do you dare—” began Barstow, hotly. **T dare to say there is an infamous plot against me, You have lied openly and dis- gracefully. It was you who decoyed me into this trap. You very well know that I would never bave taken up my residence under this roof but for you. A lie brought me here, You said Senorita Victoria was your promised wife, From that moment dates the plot formed by you and Victoria, I was decoyed here so that you could destroy the proof which you knew would ruin Don Ramon if made public!” ‘‘T solemnly declare—” again began Barstow, but once more be was interrupted. ‘‘Declare nothing,” said Mellough, violently. ‘‘You cannot turn justice from its course. shall say to my superiors, ‘Ramon Victoria is guilty of conspiring against the United States government, and of trying to destroy important pepere’ Further than that, I shall say, ‘ James arstow is guilty of aiding Victoria to destroy these papers; and I believe be, too, is a conspira- tor.’ These statements will ruin you both; you will be thrown into prison, disgraced, dis- honored,” Barstow’s face was gloomy, but he folded his arms with an air of dignity. **T am an old soldier; my country will not forget that,” he said. ** Bah! Dll bet a year’s pay you will be strip- ped of your wealth an anished from the = tae. | stab shot like a dog.” Don Ramon moved excitedly forward. ‘* Colonel Barstow is no traitor; I can swear to it,” he said. ‘ At least, he has conspired with you.” For a moment the Spaniard besitated, ‘‘He has not,” be then said, firmly. ‘‘Let me test the matter. He made a state- ment at the beginning of this case which sub- sequent events do notseemtoprove. He stated ia a Inez was bis promised wife. Is that rue The critical moment in the plot had come, and Barstow and Mellough looked at Don Ra- mon with eagerness they could not wholly con- ceal, The case bad been carefully and skill- fully worked up a point where Victoria must surely be saying to himself, *‘ It is for me that my neighbor is about to suffer; his devotion to my interests has led bim into trouble,” and the plotters counted on the don’s well-known lofty sentiments of bonor and generosity to force him on to the proper point. In so doing, they did not, however, remem- ber that above all things earthly arose his love for his daughter. His own interests he would gladly have periled to save Barstow, but, even in that critical moment, he remembered the vague doubts he had at times felt in regard to § the colonel. Was it safe to formally declare an engage- ment between the two? While he hesitated, Donna Inez moved for- ward. She bad been stirred to such a pitch of nervousness by this remarkable scene that she Nt not in a mood to count the cost of any- ing. ‘Tt is true!” she firmly said, in reply to Mel- lough’s question. Barstow breathed freer, but there was still a step to be taken. ‘* Prove it!” cried the lieutenant. “Is not my word sufficient proof?” Cemanded the girl, haugbtily. “Ido not dispute it, but there is one thing which will settle all questions. I havea chaplain among my men; let me send for him to marry you two and I will no longer say there is a plot!” The decisive moment bad come, Barstow was spciing at father and daughter with burning eyes. What would they say to such a proposal? Both started, and Don Ramon opened his lips to speak, but though bis lips moved his voice was not heard. Donna Inez, however, uttered a faint cry. ** Not that! not that!” she gasped. “JT thought the announcement a sham,” sneered the lieutenant. Once more Barstow strode to the front. “Sir,” he said, ‘I resent_ this interference vie our private affairs. You are going too ar ‘*T made no demands,” said Mellough, coolly; “T only give you a choice of two paths, ones your decision depends my Own course. y sensitive nature is in arms against my gen- erosity. Prove to me that I have misjudged ou and I will throw every compromising paper n the fire. The hospitality I have received in . SGOMIEHoo Cc Ss) com