Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 255 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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approached, and it was with fear and trembling that she walked up the steps, ‘‘ What! up so carly and out for a walk, Miss Maud? “You must be better after your two days’ hiding your face away from us all by keeping your room,” called out the landlord cheerily, and Maud’s heart gave a great bound of pleas- ure to feel that she had not been discovered in her daring adventure, ** Yes, captain, | have had a long walk; but I think I shall hide away for aday longer in the seclusion of my room,” said Maud, who felt utterly worn out with her loss of rest and all she had gone through. ‘I do not know what the young gentlemen will do, if you remain in seclusion, Miss Maud. “T fear I shall lose them, and for my sake and for the sake of my pocket, T beg that you wil! show the light of vOnE countenance during the day.” Maud laughed and hastened on to her room. At the door she met Ellizette, who cried in eager tones: **The Goo’ Lor’ be ,praised, missy, that you err t back, for I is a’most crazy.” hy, Ellizette, you really look ill,” and Maud sunk down ina chair herself almost over- come. “Tis ill, missy, for I has had to sit right here day and night, and oh me! the lies that I bas told has kept the recordin’ angel busy writin’ ’em down, for it’s been: ‘* Bllizatte, how is Miss Brandt?’ ‘** Better, sab.’ a Ellizette, will Miss Maud be down to din- ner? ‘** No, sah, she has lost her appetite.’ = ‘ Ellizette, just ask Miss Maud if she won’t see me.’ “I comes into the room and talks aloud, and then I-goes back and says: *** No, ma’m, missy won’t see anybod long as she suffers the misery in her bead she 4s now sufferin’.’ ‘** But can’t I do something for ber? «Yes, ma’m, she wants to be left alone, and she’!l soon come round,’ “Then, missy, your pa has been asking about ou often, though he always seemed glad to now that you was asleep, as I told him so, and he wouldn’t disturb you, he said, ‘* But he don’t look just well hisse’f, missy, and I guesses he sets up late at night.” ** Poor papa! well, Ellizette, you have done venir and you deserve great credit; and, as you have told stories in a good cause, I guess you'll be forgiven for them,’ ** T hopes so, missy.’ ‘Now get me undressed and I will go to bed, and you can truthfully say now that I am not well, that | walked out this morning, and felt ill upon my coming in, which is true. at what of my brother?” “Hale seen him, missy.’ * Well, if your master comes again to see me, or my brother, you can admit them; but I do | not wish to see any one else in the house.” ‘* And you sha’n’t missy, for if they didn’t get in to see you when you wasn’t here, they sha’n’t now when you is here, if you says so. ** But Vl get youacup of tea and then you just go to sleep and you'll feel better,” and Elli- zette soon had her young mistress comfor tably ensconced in bed, and was herself slumbering onaruga moment after, and snoring the snore of one who had done her duty and been relieved of care by the return of Maud. CHAPTER XXXL THE ARRIVAL OF THE LADY MAUD. It will be seen by my kind reader that Pala- fox the Pirate did not once speak of Irving Brandt to his sister, for he had no desire to let | Maud know that he had also met her brother. He bad told Irving, however, ere he knew of the capture of the Lady Maud by Conrad, his lieutenant, that he had better tel] bis sister that as the bribery plan would not work upon Dick Drosien the jailer, he would try some other But the unexpected arrival of Maud as a cap- tive, made the pirate a little anxious as to how the brother and sister could reconcile their statements to each other. Palafox had his motives for not wishing Maud to know that Irving Brandt knew him and his daughter, and hence he had asked her not to tell to any One her capture and release. He bad also told Irving to keep his secret ac- quain‘ance with him from every one, and he trusted in the wit and good sense df both to have all go right, or as he wished. After leaving the om of the Dismal For- est, Irving Brandt held.on his course, with the wind free, directly for the cabin of Old Joe the fisherman, and arrived there just as Sandy was coming back from the Blue Anchor, whither he had been with fish. ik Lor’, Master Irving, you scared me awfu by bein ris fone so long, for I thought you was er or had been picked up by the pirates “No, Sandy, I am all right as you see, but rather tired after my long cruise.” “Vd have told your father, if you hadn’t —_— ° The | Pirate Priest. asked me not to speak of seeing you; but where have you been, sir?” * Cruising along the coast, Sandy. “The fact is I hope to make a sailor of my: self some day.” ** Folks do say that you are a good one now, and our sister can sail a boat like a man,’ ere, Sandy, is a gold piece for you.” “ T have done nothing for it, sir, and I can’t take it, thank you,” ** It is for the use of the boat then,” * It belongs to Captain Joe then, and you can settle it with him.” ‘Sandy, you are too honest for this world,” laughed Ir rving, as he walked on bis way. But halting be called out: ‘* Any news, Sandy, up at the Blue Anchor?’ y “No, sir, only I heard your sister was sick, ; but there is news up at the village,” “i Indeed! what is it?” ‘* Ned Norcross, sir, was killed on the Pines road two. pights ago, ‘and they are looking for his murderer.” ‘* Ah! do they suspect any one?” ** They do say that an old woman killed him, for some one saw Ned go into the Pines just it an old strange woman had gone that wa ¢ They called the woman Meg of the Mag- nolias, and say she was a fortune-teller; but if she is she’ll know how to keep out of their way.” ‘Yes, I guess that she will, Sandy,” and Irv- ing again turned to go when the’ fisher- -boy called out “t saw your yacht this morning, Master Iry- n “ What yacht?” ** The Lady Maud,” ‘* Where did you see her?” “She rounded the point there, sir, just as I came in from fishing. ‘“‘Ah, yes, she ile been to New Orleans, Sandy; but, good-morning,” and Irving has- tened on to the inlet where the yacht lay, glad to learn of her safe return. But he got there to find bis sister had departed some time before, and Old Joe, after making all ship-shape, was just about leaving. ‘* Well, Captain oe, back again, I see.” ‘“Yes, Master Irving, and Miss Maud has gone to the Blue Anchor.” “Got through all right, 1 hope?” **Oh, yes, sir. “Well, Gaptale Joe, I have the money here I promised you, and Pll get you to run the 1 heb back to-night and anchor ber in Brandt aven for me,” ‘All right, sir; but Lady Maud paid me for my services, and gave me more than I asked.” ‘Very well, I may need you some other time, and I thank you for what you bave done; but come, Pll have to give an account of my- self the past two days, so we'll go on board the yacht and run her up to the Blue Anchor _barbor, so that I can say t went after her, and she'll be on hand if needed,” *Tt’s a good idea, Master Irving,” said the old fisherman, and ten minutes after the pretty craft, with ber young captain at the helm, and Old Joe as crew, was flying along toward .the Blue Anchor barbor, As she ran in to an anchorage Irving saw that there was some excitement going on, for all the guests were out in force, and every eye was turned upon the beautiful ‘vessel, while a cheer greeted the youth as be rowed ashore. “Ab! I have it, Captain Joe, for there stands Boss, the Brandt Manor boatman, and he has evidently just arrived and told father that some one cut the Lady Maud out,” ‘**That’s it, sir, and you can see the nigger grin as he sees you have fetched her in,” Springing ashore, Irving was greeted by his father with: ‘““My son, where did you get the Lady Maud?” “YT took Joe with me, sir, and brought her from her anchorage.” ‘‘And frightened Boss to death, for he had just arrived and told me the acht had been cut out, when we saw her standing in.” “Of course we laid it to that arch-pirate, Palafox,” said Barton Keys. “Of course you did; but that arch-pirate is not guilty of balf the charges laid at bis door. “ But I was the pirate this time, and I think we can have many a pleasant sail in the Lady Maud before the season is over, ‘‘Now you must excuse me, for I am as hungry as a wolf,” and telling "Boss to go on board the yacht and take charge, Irving has- tened on to the Blue Anchor, and, after a sub- Stantial breakfast, sought his sister’s room, CHAPTER ER XXXII. DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND. It took several knocks to arouse Ellizette from her sound sleep; but sbe at last appeared at the door with the look of one who had been wide awake, but was prevented, from some _ cause, from coming promptly to the door. / Oh, it’s you, Marse Irving?” she cried, . ‘Yes, El Ellizette, and I wish to see my sister! I thought ou were all dead in the room; hs must ¢ have sa sound asleep.” Pirate Priest. CDS _— —— 2: pepeak cF'eeeing 760; bah where} 72h aprebtipdl weae latina cmt of ANE no, sah; I were leaning out of the win- dow closing the blinds, and didn’t hear you knock. But missy’s asleep, sab.” ‘Then I will vot disturb her. **No, I am awake, E Matte. Wait, Irving, and I will see you,” called out Maud from her bedroom, Irving threw himself into a chair, while Elli- zette bastened away to help her mistress make her toilet. In a very few moments Maud came in, dressed a morning wrapper that was most becoming o her, She was pale, but her rest bad refreshed her, and she gree ted her brother affectionately, while she said: “Well, Irving, I am back again, and no one knew of my absence.” “That is lucky, sis, and you are a brave girl. But there is no need of asking you if you got the money, for I know that you did.” “Yes, ” got sufficient, with what I had, to answer all purposes. But I see that the Lady Maud is in the harbor.” ‘*Yes, I went to the inlet and, finding Old Joe, determined to run the yacht ‘her e, so that I would be responsible for running off with “Tt was the best plan, brother; but what a Pate Me old woman you made of your- self! “Yes, and under other circumstances I could have had lots of f un; but I must keep — for there was a man killed over near the vill \ ieee brother! do you know aught of this eed oes, Maud, a pirate attacked me with his knife and I shot him.” ‘* But how did you know he was a pirate?’ **Oh, well, he wanted to rob me, and | call him a land- -pirate, ‘““As I was disguised as Meg of the Mag- wy Well, did you see Mr, Carr?” nolias I could do nothing, so 1 went on my “Oh, yes; and I told the jailer that, asa fortune- eller, I could see that he was not guilty.” ‘* Well?” ‘* But Dick Dresden is not the man I took him for, as he would no more take a bribe than I would,” ’ oren what is to be done, Irving, to save vim “T have an idea that it can be done.” ** But how?” ‘*Tbhat I cannot tell you, sis.” ** Irving, do not do anything rash, but wait a few days and perbaps I can aid you, ‘‘In the mean time you must see Mr, Carr in some way and give him this money, for he will need it, as father said he had but hi ittle, and this is his salary which he had not drawn. ‘* Also, Irving, 1 put a-couple of hundreds with it, and you ean tell bim it is a Joan from you, for be would not take it from me,” “1 will do as you say, sis, and [ ho to bring you news in acouple of days of Mr, Bre erca Q.” ut how can you effect it, Irving?” ‘Wait and see; but be is not going to die on a areata I promise you.” aud felt worried—for not in Irving’s secret, any more than he was io hers, she feared that he would do something rash aud get into trouble, She was already worried about his having to take the life of the footpad; but being done in his disguise of the old fortune- -teller, she did not fear that he would be detected, After meditating a moment she said: my trip, so cannot think; but I wish you to promise me that, though you will see Mr, Carr and give him the money, you will not make any move to effect his escape for at least three days. fe ‘ But, sister—” ** No, Irving; {I must have seh roniise, for in that, time | will be able to best.” ‘Well, sis, Pl do as you say,” said Irving, glad to feel that be had an excuse for not doing something to free the poor prisoner and relying wholly upon the pirate cbief as he did, but little dreaming that Maud was doing the same, m After some further conversation between the brother and sister in which it was a case of diamond cut diamond to hide the knowledge of each from the otber, Irving arose to depart, but again turned to Maud and said: ‘Sis, didn’t you say father had promised 7% not to gamble any more?” ores.” ** Do you think he will keep his pledge?” “God grant it, Irving.” ‘ke Well I hope so; but be looks so ieeeard this morning 'L fear be has been up all mig t tor itis just so that he looks when he gambles heavily,” “Ah, me! I hope all is right; but, brother, | ask father to come up and see me, please, and will have a talk with him,” and the dread came over Maud that her father bad indeed broken. his pledge to her. e@ what is” - '¢ a nd they think that Meg of the Magnolias did f “Irving, 1am completely fagged out now by — ’ EOMIcdoOo (¢ Ss) ‘ EON