Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 255 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

16 The Pirate Priest. CHAPTER XXXII, THE GAMBLER'S LITTLE GAME. WueEn Colonel Brandt went to his daughter’s room, where Ellizette told him that Maud wished to see him, it was with a very bitter conscience, He bad not only broken his pledge to her, but he bad lost to Barton Keys every dollar of the money which bad been left among the per- sonal ¢ffects of Soule Ravelle. Then, each night, hoping to win back again his Josses, he had continued playing and the result was that he had sunk deeper and deeper into the mire, It was no wonder then that he had shunned meeting his daughter, for he had involved him- self to a fearful degree. His income was a few thousands a year and a home, and this would have been more than ample but for his love of gaming. His children were both rich and the property _ left to them was believed to belong wholly to Colonel Brandt himself, and people considered that he was well able to lose largely and not feel the drain. But with no money he had played, and to Barton Keys he had given notes for nearly fifty thousand dollars, without one-fiftieth of that sum to meet them. Ob, how he cursed himself that he had not resisted temptation. With the items against Keys and Granger in Soule’s note-book, they would have been com- pelled, as gentlemen, to pay, did he demand it. But that had slipped through his fingers by cards, and hoping to grasp more he had lost all and put his name to paper that must ruin him when the crash came. He dared not tell Maud, for she could not help him, and Irving could do nothing with his property until he was of age. Haggard, cursing his ill fortune, and in bad humor with the world he went to his daugh- ter’s room. Maud saw the change at once and said — quickly: ** Father, you are not well.” ‘No, my cbild, we seem to have both had an ill turn, and it is doubtless from being upset as we were about this trial of poor Carr.’’ This seemed an excuse, and Maud grasped at it, glad to feel that it was not that he had broken bis pledge to her, and she said sadly: * Well, sir, it will soon be over, and in a few weeks we will be at home again,” * Yes, and his ghost will haunt me there.” _ Not so bad as that, father; but come, you do look really sick, so try and rally, for it will not do for a great strong man such as you are — to get down.” No, Maud, I will not be sick, and Ill try - and be more cheerful; but what do you say to a cruise in the Lady Maud, for a few days?” At any otber time Maud would have been _ delighted at the prospect; but now she remained silent, for she did not wish to be away upon the _ sea when Sunday night should come around. J would rather remain quiet for a few days, » father, and when we start for home we can go in the yacht and take a week’s cruise, and we - can ask some guest to accompany us.” ‘© Well, as you please, Maud; but that re- - minds me, I have asked Mr. Keys to visit us _ at Brandt Manor this fall,” ** Indeed, sir?” “Yes, for he is a clever fellow.” “Do you like him, fatber?”’ _ Well, I think he is one who improves upon - acquaintance.” “Tt do not exact’y like him, sir, nor his friend _ Mr. Granger either; but then it may be preju- _ dice, and, as your friend, of course he will be welcomed at the manor.” Finding that his daughter did not suspect that he had broken faith, Colonel Brandt felt | greatly relieved, and entered upon a round of _ praise regarding Barton Keys. The fact was, that that young gambler had _ again asked for the hand of Maud, and in bis | power as he was, the colonel had put him off for awhile; but, thinking the matter over he had decided upon the same plan that had worked so well with Soule Ravelle. _ That plan was to sacrifice Maud to save him- _ Not that he believed that he would be wrong- _ ing ber to any great extent, for he argued to 3 We | do not like Keys, and be may be tricky, _ and is a gambler. | But he isa favorite with all ladies, comes of an excellent family, and, as for gambling, rr eee a | I am as bad, in fact worse, for Keys wins where I lose, “Then he is, or will be rich, is handsome, gentlemanly and will doubtless make Maud a | good husband. ‘She will have to marry some man, and at first objected to Soule Ravelle; but she may have a romantic love for that poor fellow Carr, yet that will soon be over, and Keys must be her choice, for by her marrying him only can I be saved from ruin, ‘‘?’ll not press it now, for I have some time onmy I O U’s, to Keys; but as soon as Carr | is hanged, then I’ll have her decide; but Bar- ton, my fine fellow, you’ll have to pay me for your bride, I assure you.” Such was the colone}’s line of reasoning, and a very bad line it was; but he had gotten deep into the mire and he felt that he must get to the shore, no matter whose heads he stepped on to insure his own safety. Thus he left his daughter’s room feeling in far better humor than before he had entered it, while Maud, on the contrary, felt a dread of coming evil. | CHAPTER XXXIV. | WHAT MAUD BRANDT SAW BY THE LIGHT- NING'S FLASH. Tue Sunday night upon which Palafox, the | Pirate, decided to act came in dark and threat- ening, for a storm was lowering over sea aud land, The guests of the Blue Anchor all stayed in- doors and the parlors were filled with merry talkers, Maud was not there, although she bad been down in the afternoon and there were some good souls who felt sympathy for her, thinking that she was upin her room bruoding over the death of her lover. Irving Brandt was also absent from the par- lors; but then that precocious youth was generally absent from sccial gatherings and was not missed, There were a few old gamblers present who wanted to play whist, yet dared not on appearances had to be observed at least as ex- amples for the young. As for Irving Brandt, he was waiting at the rendezvous appointed with Captain Palafox, while Maud was in her room, anxious, dread- ing, hoping, but it was not of the dead Soule Ravelle that she thought, but of the lonely prisoner in his cell. Ellizette eyed her mistress wonderingly as she paced to and fro, for never before had she seen her so excited. Presently a loud peal of thunder fairly shook the old mansion, and though Maud had always reveled in the warring of the elements, now she uttered a cry of alarm and sbe. sbrunk away as though the electric current bad touched her. But quickly recovering herself, she cried: “Ob, Ellizette, I thought it was the deep boom of a cannon and it startled me so.” ‘‘ What for any cannons firing bere, missy?’ asked Ellizette. “ Well, a cruiser might be in the offing, you know,” and going to the window Maud looked out upon the darkness, The wind was howling savagely and the huge trees were bending beneath its rude blasts, while a vivid sheet of lightning showed that the waters of the sound were white witb foam and the war of the waves falling upon the shore was constant and !oud. “ Ob, will be dare face this storm!” cried Maud. ‘‘ T guess Massa Irving safe, missy, on board the yacht, for I seen him and Ross making her sbip-shape before night and dropping another anchor,” remarked Ellizette, who thought her mistress referred to her brother. Maud said nothing in response, but contin- ued to gaze out upon the storm, taking advan- tage of every flash of lightning to send her glances sweeping over the sound, ‘‘ No, no; be would not dare to face this blow to run in, bold as he is, for the channels bere are narrow and circuitous, and uno pilot would venture in,” said Maud, as after many flashes of ligbtning she failed to detect any vessel upon the storm-swept waters. Leaving the window, she paced to and fro again, her face pale and her lips set, and evi- dently striving hard to be calm. At length there came slowly from her lips the words: ‘‘ He promised, and he seems the man to account of its being the Sabbath evening and | ' mean what he said; but something tells me that if Bradford Carr is not rescued this night, he will never be saved from the gallows. After half an bour more bad passed, she again went to the window, and, drawing the curtain about ber, stood waiting impatiently for a flash of lightning. “The storm increases in fury, and I must give up all hope. “Hark! how those mad waves break upon the beach, and the wind fairly rocks this old mansion; so how can a vessel live in it? ee Ab !? The exclamation was caused by a gleam of light flashing over sea and land, and it was followed by a peal of thunder so terrific that every voice below stairs was silenced, and Ellizette uttered a piercing cry of alarm. But Maud heeded not the silence below stairs, nor the shriek of her frightened maid, for the lightning had shown her a dark object out upon the wild waters, Breathless she stood awaiting for another flash, her eyes stationed upon the sea, her whole manner that of one whose heart and soul was strung up to the highest tension. One, two, three moments passed, and then came a flash that seemed to set the earth on fire. And with it there broke from Maud’s lips the ringing words: ** There! oh, there is the vessel! The pirate has kept his word, brave, noble man tbat he is!” ‘** Lordy, missy, did the lightnin’ strike yon, and bas you gone clean crazy?” said Ellizetie in alarm, rushing to her side, , ‘Silence, girl, and leave me alone!” and, as the quadroon girl sbrunk back, hurt at the harsh words from one who never had spoken thus to ber before, Maud still remained at the window, waiting for the glare of the lightning to come again, ‘“Yes, there is his lugger, and she drives on like a phantom of the storm, “Ha! that lightning stroke seemed to descend almost upon her, ** But, no! she flies on unhurt, and heads for the inlet where be said he would Jand, “Now I am content, for, Bradford Carr, this night you will be free, and yon will owe your freedom to Palafox the pirate.” CHAPTER XXXYV. THE SEA FOX AT WORK. STANDING in the shelter of the pines, envel- oped in his storm suit, Irving Brandt watched the storm arise with some anxiety, lest it might deter the pirate from running in as he had” promised. | ‘‘ Irving bad started early for the place of rendezvous, going thitber in a small boat from Old Joe’s cabin, and, hauling it into a cove, he took up u position to wait for the comivg of Captain Palafox. As the storm burst in fury upon the waters and shore, the boy clung close to a large pine to escape its fury, but kept his eyes fixed upon tbe Sound, to detect the coming lugger the instant she hove in sight, But the tempest was a violent one, and in- creasing in fury. Irving began to fear that even the daring pirate would not risk running the channel in such a blow. As he stood there, a huge pine not far from him was shivered to atoms by the lightning, and the boy closed bis eyes to shut out the vivid glare that almost blinded him. But he did not leave his post, and was soon gazing down the Sound once more, though now be had given up almost in despair of seeing the pirate that night. “Hurrah! there he comes!” he suddenly shouted, as the lightning showed him, as it had Maud, standing at her window in the Blue Acchor, the lugger driving along almost un- der bare poles, ‘She has just sail enough set to steer by, and she’s following the channel as though it was broad daylight, ‘‘ Bravo for the man if he is a pirate.” The lugger could now be seen by the almost constant flashes driving along at a terrific speed, and literally covered with foaming seas, Through the channel she drove around a wooded point that sheltered ber, and then gliding into the inlet she ran close inshore and dropped anchor. A moment after a boat was lowered, and as it came ashore Irving met it. ‘‘Ha, my young friend, is that you?” called out the cheery voice of Captain Palafox. a Yes, sir.” Gomilecbooks,co pat este wa jai mi or