Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 255 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

vr ‘*'T will see her. ‘*Here, Myrtle, you wait here and you can see Miss Brandt and not be seen. ‘‘ Now, Breslin, go to the cabin and tell the lady that the pirate chief'Palafox begs the hon- or of an immediate interview with her.” *“* Ay, ay, sir,” and the sailor disappeared in the cabin. In a minute he returned and said: ** The lady will see you, sir.” Descending into the cabin, while Myrtle watched in the shadow for a glimpse of Maud Brandt, Captain Palafox bebeld the maiden standing by the center-table, upon which one hand rested lightly. She was pale, but looked very beautiful as she stood there, awaiting with perfect calmness to face the man who was so dreaded upon the seas, and who held her fate in his bands. ‘Miss Brandt, I believe,” said the pirate, bowing with courtly grace. ‘‘T am, sir; but may I ask how it is that Iam known to you?” coldly answered Maud. ‘* Sufficient, lady, that I know you, and doing so, regret exceedingly that you have been alarmed and inconvenienced through my lieu- tenant.” ** You are Captain Palafox the—” She paused, and with a smile he said: “The pirate, Miss Brandt, the Sea Fox, or whatever you are pleased to call me.” “Tam sorry, sir, that one such as you are, should have the brand of outlaw upon him,” said Maud with real feeling, asshe gazed upon the handsome face of the man before her, ‘Tt is the fault of circumstances, lady, that I am such; but let me at once relieve your mind As telling you that you are no longer the cap- ve of a pirate, and, within the bour your ves- sel shall haven whence she suiled.” ‘*Oh, sir, you are indeed generous, and Heaven bless you,” cried Maud, who, so suddenly trans- ported from utter wretchedness to joy, com- letely broke down, and sinking into a chair she uried her face in her hands and burst into tears, CHAPTER XXIX. A PIRATE BEGS A FAVOR. “Tr is a strange prayer, Miss Brant, that comes from your lips that Heaven may bless me, a pirate,” said Palafux with some bitter- ness, when Maud had once more faced him, having subdued her emotion wholly and become calm after the burst of feeling she had shown, “Tt is a prayer, sir, that comes from my heart, when I know that you are to let me free, for, ob, so much depends upon my freedom, a life hangs upon my immediate return home, and gladly will I pledge you any ransom if you will let me go now.” ‘Lady, [ask no ransom, and I am annoyed beyond expression that my officer should have captured you, but, as the wrong has been done, T can but do all in my power to remedy it, and, to relieve your mind, I will tell you at once that the life you seek tosave shall not be taken.” “What! can it be possible that you know whom I mean?” asked Maud, in intense sur- rise, ae I know that you refer toa man now lying nudes, sentence of death not many leagues from ere, ‘Ob, sir, how do you know this?’ and Maud gazed upon the pirate with amazement. ‘“*T further know,” continued Palafox with a smile, as though enjoying her wonder, “that you have been to New Orleans to aid the escape of Mr. Bradford Carr.” Me Ob, Heaven! is it known what I have ne? “To me alone, lady, so do not alarm your- ** And why to you?” “7 bave a way of finding out certain things, Miss Brandt, that perbaps does not fall to man- d in general.” ‘I bave heard men speak of you as a wizard, and I almost half believe it,” said Maud, half in earnest, half in doubt. * Lot me tell you that you will have time to reach the Blue Anchor and regain your room at an early hour, so that any one seeing you will believe that you have only been out for a walk, _for there is a good breeze blowing out into the sound, and I will send several of my own men with you to aid Captain Joe in running the Lady Maud back to the creek from whence she - started.” “Why, sir, you bewilder me with the knowl- edge which you have of my movements.” alafox smiled and answered: “Permit me also, Miss Brandt, to tell you that you need Ns yourself no more uneasiness regarding Mr. Bradford Carr, for his safety is -assured, and I pledge you my honor, ay, a irate’s honor, that next Monday morning will reak on him a free man,” “Heaven grant it; but tell me, how is it that you are interested in the welfare of Mr. Carr?” ““Simply because I strike at the strong and aid the weak when in my power. ' “Simply because I do not believe that he is ilty, and wish to set him free that he may d out who is the criminal and foe who so nearly brought him to the gallows,” e upon the Sound returning to the }-. :, The Pirate Priest. ** And you say that he will be set free?” ‘*He will, and you will not have to use money to bribe his jailer.” ‘You are a remarkable man, Captain Pala- fox, and after what you have done for me, and pledge your honor to do for Mr. Carr, I wish it was, sir, in my power to serve you in some way,” said Maud, earnestly. 9 ‘*Tt is, Miss Brandt,” ; ‘* What! in my power to serve you?” ‘*Yes, lady, you can render mea great favor if you only will,” ‘Gladly will I do what I can.” ‘*Ttis a favor that I mast beg of you, though I dislike to ask a service now, for it seems that I wish pay for giving you your liberty.” ‘*T will not look upon it in that way, so tell me what I can do to serve you,” ‘** Miss Brandt, do not look upon me as a flat- terer when I say that the training you have had, along with your own mind and character, have made you a very brilliant woman.” Maud bowed in surprise, not knowing what was coming next. ‘* You were educated, I believe, at Madam Chotard’s in New Orleans?” Maud’s surprise increased as she answered: **T was, sir.” ‘‘It is a superior institution for the care of young ladies?” ‘Tt is so considered.” ‘Would a young girl going there, who was comparatively friendless, be treated well?’ “Indeed she would, for Madam Chotard hasa heart for all, and no one can help loving her,” and Maud spoke with enthusiasm. ‘‘T am glad to hear this, for there is one that I wish to place under her care.” You? ‘* No wonder youare astonished, Miss Brandt, that I, Palafox, the Pirate, should wish to send aught belonging to him to a place where she might learn to be a lady such as you a CHAPTER XXX. MAUD'S RETURN TO THE BLUE ANCHOR. THE beautiful, sunny-faced girl that bounded down into the cabin at the call of her father, almost took Maud Brandt’s breath away with admiration and amazement, ‘** And this is your child?’ she said, as Myrtle who had come in like a rocket, now stood demurely before her. “Yes, Miss Brandt, that is my little Myrtle, whom I wish to rear as tenderly as though she answered Palafox. ‘Come to me, you sweet little darling, and most gladly willl do all in my power to make you all that your sweet face demands that you should be,” Myrtle had gazed from the deck upon the beautiful girl, until she had almost believed her to be an angel, which she had read about, and now, when told to come to her side, she glided forward, and threw her arms about Maud’s neck, while she said, earnestly: ‘Oh, you are so beautiful!” Seating herself upon a sofa, Maud drew Myrtle down by her side, and for some time the two talked together, until the rich maiden was perfectly charmed with the pirate’s daughter, and promised that she would write Madam Cho- tard a strong letter in her behalf. ‘* Pardon me, Miss Brandt, but you must not remain longer here, for the hours are creeping by,” at last said the pirate, and Maud sprung to her feet, realizing where she was, ** Oh, yes, I cannot delay, for no one at the Blue Anchor must know that I have been Ot ** Will you let the yacht get under way at once, sir, and release Captain Joe?” Captain Palafox had left the cabin, when Maud drew Myrtle beside her upon the sofa, and given his orders, so he said: ** Your yacht is now in the mouth of the la- goon lady, and your man at his post, so we have ut to say farewell, and you can soon be off, with a fair wind to carry you to the creek in the pines in a few bours. ‘‘ My three men will go with the yacht until she is near her destination, and then return in their light boat. ** Come, Myrtle, we must be off, and when next Miss Brandt sees you, I trust it will be at Madam. Chotard’s.” ‘‘T hope so, I feel so—good-by,” and Maud kissed the girl affectionately, and then extended her hand to Palafox, while she said feelingly: ‘‘ Farewell, Captain Palafox, and may I some day meet you again, when you have be- come different from what you now are.” The chief bowed and answered: ‘* Miss Brandt, there is one favor more I have- to esk of you.” ‘* Well, sir.” “That you will not make known your visit here, and insist that Captain Joe will also re- main silent upon the subject.” “ Assuredly, sir, for I am not anxious, as ou know, to have it discovered that I have Sein away from the Blue Anchor,” and Maud went on deck with the pirate and his daugh- re, ‘* But there is one, my only child, my daugh- ter, now just verging into her teens, whom I do not wish to grow up in these gloomy wilds amid scenes that may make her other than she should Your child?” ‘*Yes, Miss Brandt, she is my child, and she was born on shipboard, and brought up more on the sea than on land. ‘‘ Her mother is dead, and I wish her under other influences, though her heart is as pure as your own, and she is so innocent of the world that she knows no wrong; but I wish her to learn of this great world of which she formsa part, humble as she is, and therefore I desire that she shall be under other influences than those with which I can surround her.” ‘Pardon me, but though she is so innocent now of the world and its wickedness, may she not, when her eyes are opened to the deeds of evil, your own life, indeed, then turn her heart against her own flesh and blood?’ ‘*T understand you, Miss Brandt, and your argument is well put; but you do not know my child, for when she knows me as I am, then will she strive to make me different, and who knows but that she may in the end triumph.” ‘* Heaven grant it; but where is this child.” ‘‘She is a dweller in the gloom of these soli- tudes when on Jand, and whev Iam at sea, she is with me; but you will not refuse the favor I ask?” and the pirate looked pleadingly into the face of Maud, who asked: ‘‘You wish me to take her then to Madam Chotard’s?” “T desire that she becomsa your protegee thers, Miss Brandt. “That you write Madam Chotard that a young friend is to come there, Myrtle Marsden by name, and that she will be brought there by her father, Captain Marsden, who is a sailor, and consequently only very seldom in port; but that he will leave with her ample funds for all of his daughter’s expenses.” ‘* And you will dare to take her there?” ‘Oh, yes, lady, why not?” ‘*'You have a price set by law upon your head.” ‘*T little care for that, lady, for I sat near you through the whole of Bradford Carr’s trial, ooking the law that outlawed me, and many who knew me, squarely in the face, and in my disguise no one knew me.” ‘Indeed are you a strange man, sir.” Palafox smiled, and said: ** When I ner Myrtle to Madam Chotard’s, if you say that I may do so, I will be only a sea-captain, and no one will suspect that the colors I then sail under hide the black flag of a pirate. ‘*But you will not refuse me, Miss Brandt?” ‘‘No, Captain Palafox, I would _ consider that I committed a great wrong, did I do so, forl would be refusing to save a young girl from a life of everlasting wretchedness,” “Thank you, oh, thank you, Miss Brandt,” and gently raising the hand of Maud, the pirate chief bent low over it, and touched his lips softly to it in token of his gratitude: Then he called out in a loud tone, as he stepped to the companionway: ** Myrtle, come here!” er. Old Joe was standing near the companion- way and the pirate seaman Breslin had the tiller, while two others stood forward ready for: the word to start. ‘Ah, Lady Maud, I am happy to see that we are getting out of our trouble,” said old oe. ‘‘ Yes, and itis a trouble, Captain Joe, that must be forgotten by us, and never spoken of to any one.’ . ‘Yes, Lady Maud, it shall be kept secret, but I cannot forget that Palafox, the Pirate, isa true man, and bas so treated you and I,” heartily answered the old fisherman. Then the order was given by Captain Palafax to get under way, and he and Myrtle went over tha side into their boat, which had been brought along. Out into the sound then glided the Lady Maud, her white sails caught the stiff breeze, and bending gracefully to it, she swept along at a pace that won the admiration of the three irates, 1 Just as the eastern skies grew gray before the pproach of dawn, the pirates shortened sail upon the yacht so that Captain Joe could handle ber more feneny and then took their departure, dropping over the stern into their towing-boat without stopping the headway of the little vessel, , Leaving them dancing in ber wake, while the were setting sail, the Lady Maud sped on, and, just as the sun left the horizon to start upon its daily voyage, Old Joe put bis tiller hard down and sent the sharp bow shoreward into an in- let. Fifteen minutes after the yacht was hidden way in the basin from whence she had started and leaving Captain Joe to look after ber, Mau started at a quick walk through tbe pines to the Blue Anchor Inn. The servants of the Blue Anchor were about their morning duties, and Captain Jake Curtis. was smoking his pipe upon the piazza, when she were a bot-house flower, and not a sea-weed,” ~ -_ EComicboo (E(o) S) ae