Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 259 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

—- is not of much account; but the crew are in her now, cruising about in wait for smuggled cargoes.” ‘“To what does all this tend?” “ T am going on to explain, sir.” ** And Iam anxious to know whether you in- tend to do as I ask.” ‘* Well, captain, I wish to make you the fol- lowing proposal.” ** | will hear it.” ‘Let me go on to the retreat and get the money due me, “Then I will find out just where the smug- | gied cargo is to be brought in, and at once cowe and let you know, so that you can go there with a force large enough to take the whole band and their vessels.” ‘“* How many men are there in the band?” ‘Thirteen, now that you captured some of them.” ** And these are the Sea Owls?” ** Yes, captain, under Restel.” Cutlass and.Crogs. 19 **Tf I do not, V’ll come in search of you with a rope in my band,” | * You'll not have to stretch my neck, young ' captain, whatever you do for the others. ** Good-by, sir, and good luck to you,” and _the man touched his tarpaulin politely as Ir- | ving rode away, and then turning to look at bis bird broiling upon the coals, found it burned to a crisp. CHAPTER XXXIV. | THE MEETING IN THE LIBRARY. COLONEL BRANDT bad certainly had another severe lesson, against bis mad infatuation for gambling, and he walked home mentally vow- ing that he had touched bis last card and made his last bet. How the jewels, which he had pledged to a loan broker, came into the hands of the man | he believed to be a Frenchman, he could not | imagine. ‘That fellow reminds me of some one I have ‘It would be a valuable capture to get that | known well; but who, | cannot tell. old villain and bis entire crew.” “ Yes, sir, with his vessels and booty too; but he isin league with the Ghoul of the Sea, as I told you, for he sells the sea plunder for the pirate, and the lady you captured, you know, was Captain Restel’s daughter.” “ A smuggler’s daughter aud a pirate’s wife,” said Irving with a sneer, ** Yes, captain, but she’s a good woman for all that. ‘* But what do you think of my plot?” ‘* You will pilot me to the haunt when you know that the men are all there?” “‘ Yes, sir.” “ How will you get away?” ‘¢ When do you expect this vessel in with her smuggled cargo?” ‘‘ Within two niontbs, sir.” “That is a long time.” “You see, captain, that she just sailed, for you got the booty of her last trip in, and she cruises off the Balize, Pensacola and Mobile to meet vessels there bound to those places at certain times, and that have on board bales of a goods for her.” “ Well, my man, you propose to await the return of this craft with her smuggled goods and then pilot me there?” “Yes, captain, for a consideration,” ** Of course you mean for gold?” “Tam nota rich man, young captain.” ‘* What is your price?” . ‘* Tf I deliver the Sea Owls—” ‘* With their captain.” ‘¢ Yes, with their captain, vessels, and their booty into your power, | want one thousand dollars.” “* And a pardon?” ‘‘T am not particular as to that, for I shall live where | am not suspected of needing a par- don.” ‘© Well, you shall have the money.” “Then it is a bargain, captain, so tell me where I cnn see you at any time.” “T will be in New Orleans, where my father now has a home, or cruising on my lugger.” “Don’t go cruising after a few weeks, cap- tain, but be on band,” ‘d will,” ‘And if I can't get off to give you any news, how can I let you know?” ‘‘Go to Brandt Plantation and tell the over- seer you halve a letter to send to me by Burke, for he is a negro you can trust.” ‘Dll do it, sir; but now let me give you a piece of advice.” ‘Well, [am always open to advice,” “Don’t stay in these waters with your lugger for the smugglers know what she can do an want her back, and they are shadowing her, you may be certain.” ‘Thank you.” ““T saw you run in, and I tell you not to stay in the harbor to-night.” “T thought you said the band were off on a cruise.” ‘They are, but they may be here, there, any- here, and they'll try hard to get back their old Sea Owl, now that you have fitted her up so fine and armed her, not to speak of the extra spars and rags you put on her, which makes ber sail like a witch. ‘‘Now, captain, take my advice, and if you have to stay at the plantation a few days, gn to sea at night, for sailing, nothing can catch you. ‘* And don’t you forget to keep a lookout by day, when you are in the harbor, for a strange sail might run in on you and then good-by lug- er,” “‘{ believe you are honest, my man, and I thank you.” “Tm honest, sir, if it serves my ends best to be honest, and just now it does, for Pll make something by my honesty, while it looks as though there would be neck-stretching soon for the outlaws along this coast, as they are getting too troublesome. “You are right; but now I will leave you, and I shall expect to hear from you within the given time.” . _ You shall, sir.” NE ee eee eee ee eee | ** fle certainly is French, for be speaks the language perfectly, while bis English accent is decidedly French, | “ Who ean he be, I wonder? “ He is a villain, that is certain, for he con- fessed himself an adventurer, and they live by their wits off of other people. “Well, whatever he is, | hardly think he can be i Hg than I am after my sins of the past week, ‘* fT am in his power, that is certain, and he is | my master, ‘** But he has given me the money to pay Ir- | ving and will return the jewels, so lam square ; | with all the world again excepting him. ‘*] will ask for leave, which I am entitled } ” Ya in some way I must get even with im * But how?” He had now arrived at home, and, to his sur- prise, found a bright light burning in the library. The fact was Maud bad begun to feel anxious about her father of late, and she was determined to remain up and see him when he came home. He had looked pale and worried and seemed to avoid her; but that she thought might be on account of the lost jewels. His friend, Monsieur Enrique Erricson, she had not particularly liked, but she had to admit that he was a very distingque looking man, extremely courtly and entertaining. Maud herself bad grieved over the death of her friend, Miss Defoe, an old schoolmate, and then the loss of her diamonds bad hurt her deeply. But she tried to keep up a stout beart and banish little heart-aches as she had done in the past, for upon her heart had fallen a shadow that would not rise when Bradford Carr, the one honest love of her life, had left her so mys- teriously. W bile sitting up, book in hand, buat thinking rather than reading, a quick step had re- sounded in the hall, and to her joy her brother, Irving, entered. The two greeted each other most affectionate- ly, and Irving was just about to give bis sister a narrative of bis cruise when in came their father. The colonel started, but remembering that he had the money to clear himself he kissed Maud and warmly welcomed Irving, saying to him: “Well, my boy, I am delighted to see von back, for Tl was becoming anxious at your long stay.” 2 I have had an eventful cruise, father, and after arriving at the plantation stayed two days, when I ran up to Mobile for supplies and thence here,” and Irving told of his meeting with the Ghoul of the Sea and release by bim. “That convinces me more than ever, my son, that the pirate is your old tutor, for he had not the heart to harm you.” ‘Tt does not convince me, father, that he is.” ‘You are stubborn, I A 2 ‘*‘ And Ialso, father, for I still cling to the hope that it is not Bradford Carr that has raised the Cutlass and Cross flag,” said Maud. “But why should a pirate take the name of Bradford Carr?’ “That I am anxious to find out, father,” an- swered Irving, and then he told bow he had met an armed vessel and sent ber in chase of the Ghoul of the Sea. **Was it un American cruiser, my son?’ “She had the Stars and Stripes at her peak, father,” was the evasive reply. But Irving did not tell that be knew the schooner Devil Fish, commanded by the Sea Fox; brt he made known his meeting the smugeles in the forest, and what he hoped to accomplish through him. ‘And I believe you will, my son, and my word for it, the Government will make you an oflicer in the navy for your good work, for it will owe it to you: but let me tell you that I received the money for the yacbt, and have it now for you, as also the amount of the prize sale, which I took the liberty of getting for you, when I found the man wished to keep the goods at a round figure,” “I thank you, father, and I meant to ask you to see to that also for me.” ‘** Here are the accounts, and there the money ,, you will find them correct,” and Colonel Brandt tossed the money upon the table with the air of a man who was doing some good deed. Maud gave a sigh of relief, for it seemed to assure her that the possession of money had not caused her father to break bis pledge, * You dear, good papa,” she said, as she bent over behind bis chair, and kissed bim. The man’s face flushed and then paled, for he felt his guilt deeply; but he said quickly: “a aoe the money with me, Lrving, after your sister was so unfortunate as to lose her casket of jewels,” ** Lose her jewels? “Why certainly, sis, you have not lost all those beautful things?’ cried Lrving, in amaze- ment, ‘Yes, brother, even to the pretty ring you gave me for my graduating present. ““T foolishly left the casket open, and one night when I was away, at the bedside of Clara Defoe, they were stolen,” and the tears came into Maud’s beautiful eyes. ‘You have no suspicion of the thief?’ ‘No, Irving; but father bas seen the proper officials about them, and I hope they may be recovered.” ‘‘ And I would tell you, Mand, that you have a a who is doing all that be can to find the thief,’ ** And who is it father, that is so kind?’ ‘‘ Tt is Mousieur Erricson, the French gentle- man who dined with me, you remember,’ ‘Yes; but he is your friend, sir, not mine,”” * Well, he was deeply touched by your loss and told me that in France be had been chief © the secret service under the king, and bad a talent for detective work. ‘* He further said that be would at once start out to find the thief, and he went to the officers who had been on the trail, and questioned them most thoroughly. “Then he started off, he said on a clew, and promised to report in the morning.” “He certainly is most kind, sir. ‘* He bas taken a great interest in you, Maud.” | ‘“* Well, if be finds the jewels we'll take a deep interest in him. ** Won’t we, sis?” ‘* Yes, Irving, I certainly shall think most kindly of bim.’ ‘Who is he, father?’ asked Irving. ‘‘A French gentleman of wealth, traveling for pleasure, and a most clever fellow.” ‘‘He reminds me of one whose memory is despicable to me, and for that reason Ido not like him, though it is hard to judge a man from his resemblance to a villain,” said Maud. “Come, my children, it is long after mid- night, and the trio separated for the night, Maud rejoicing that her suspicions regarding ber father havin broken bis pledge seemed wholly unfound and the colonel was bappy that. be had esca from the net that encircled him for at least the — present, while Irving soon slept the sleep of one who casts care and sorrow from bim at will, CHAPTER XXXV. THE STOLEN JEWELS. ‘ AFTER their late hour of retiring, it was late the next morning when Colone) Brandt and bis two children assembled at the breakfast-table, Then Maud made known ber intention of bringing a visitor to the bouse, in the person of a ‘patie girl whom Madam Chotard had at ber school, and was anxious to have her meet some acquaintances, she being the daughter of a rick sea-captain who bad left herin the charge of | f 4 . the madam. ‘T will drive down to the school for ber this — morning, father, and I know you will like her,” said Maud, Irving: * And you will fall in love with ber, brother.” ‘* What is her name, sis?” 4 “Myrtle.” Irving started, and buried bis face in his cup of coffee, while he thought: “Well, that caps the climax, for it is my Myrtle, as there is no other at the school. “ Well, well, I guess I will like ber, as sis says, | After breakfast Maud ordered the carriage and drove down to the school, the colonel re- maining at home, as be confidently expected his French friend Erricson, while Irving had not the slightest idea of going there was a prospect of My rtle coming to the house, After the absence of an hour Maud returned, and with ber was Myrtle, the daughter of Cap- tain Palafox. Colonel Brandt gave the beautiful young girl a warm welcome, and Irving greeted her with a sober face, but with a sly wink of the eye that was furthest from bis sister, and said bluntly: “Sis Maud says that you and I bave got tobe good friends, Miss Myrtle, and I intend we shall be, ‘for I like you to begin with,” Myrtle blushed, but before more could be — said the butler entered with a card, : ‘‘ Monsieur Enrique Erricson,” said the colonel aloud, and then he added: (EO) AMCELOCIO) (C we must retire,” said the cpanel and while she continued, addressing — \ down-town, while | —" — ae J ' is Ss { - ‘ *