Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 259 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

22 Asjhbe passed through the hall the light shone trpon his face, showing that it was livid. Swiftly he waiked toward tbe arbor in the garden, where he had appoiated to meet Mon- \ sieur Erricson at ten o'clock. This arbor was in one end of the beautiful grounds surrounding the elegant bouse which the colonel had rented, and near it, in the wall, was an iron gate leading out into an unfre- quented street. Monsieur Erricson, the colonel was aware, knew the arbor well, and the way into the street, and hence he had appointed the place as a rendezvous, in his desire to have the man meet him there, little thinking how strange it seemed for him to make such an appointment with one who was suing for bis daughter’s band. “Yes, I willend my misery this night, and save my poor child the wretched life she would Jead as his wife. “It will be but a sudden, quick blow, and all , ‘will be over,and I can leave him where he falls until he is discovered. “Tf have a horror of taking human life, but it must be done to save Maud and myself. “They will think that some footpad dogged his footsteps to this place, when he was coming to visit us, and killed him for his money, go I must be careful to take his purse and jewelry. ** No, L will never be suspected, and L will be safe, for I will drive down to his hotel to-night, Pretend to wait for his coming, and search his room for that paper. ‘Once itisin my hands I am safe, and I'll not regret this A deed.” mused the colonel, as he stood in the sha- ‘ dow of the arbor, awaiting the coming of his victim. Presently he saw a form approaching, and firmly grasped his knife. But as the form approached nearer, the stars gave light sufficient for him to see that it was _ not the one whom he bad expected to meet, i The man was smaller, and walked with a quick, firm step. ‘Curses! he has sent a messenger, and I am _ £oiled,” hissed the colonel through his set teetb. An instant more and the man halted at the entrance to the arbor, and called out: 35 * Colonel Brandt!” | “Yes, sir, lam here,” and the colonel step- | ped into the starlight. , “You are here, sir, I believe, to meet Mon- | sieur Erricson?” ue . or I am.” “He will not come, you may be sure, for he Suspects your plot against him, and will send a ; reap p * ‘*Willsend? Are you not that messenger?” | “Tam not, sir.” “And what do you mean by saying that he ; suspects ae plot against him?’ sternly de- ; manded Colonel Brandt, though he trembled ‘I am no man to waste words, colonel, and I mean what I say. “You poomee to meet Monsieur Erricson here and kill him; but I have come to prevent your doing so.” : “Sirl you are—” **Now keep calm, colonel, and hear me, - “*I saved you last night from a villain’s : clutches at the Palace of Chance, and I intend ‘to save you from yourself to-night.” be “‘Great God! you are Palafox the Pirate, for in TI see now that you are the one who befriended me last night.” Yes, lam he whom men call the Sea Fox, colonel; but, pirate though I am, I wish to be your friend, and I tell you to trust implicitly in me and I will help you out of your scrape.” hy ‘‘Ha! you know that I am in trouble then?” “ “Yes, I know all.” ve ** Alli?” gasped the remorse-haunted man, me | ** Yes, Lam aware of the sins which your love Of gambling bas led you to commit, and I ask hay you to trust me.” ie ‘I will, by the Lord Harry, for your voice . ton * . has the ring of a true man in it.” . “Your sangha, I believe, is sought by this - Frenchman, I may ask, now that we under- ms stand each other?” f° _4* And you are forced to give your consent?” “Tam. x “* And her answer?” > «fhe accepts his offer.” pt “*So be it. a4, “* Poor girl, I pity her.” “Wait until you see that she needs yous pity, _ eolonel; but now let me ask you to kindly in- form me when the day is set for the marriage.” Bi “YT will; but where can I find you?” ** Address Captain Fox, at the address on this card; but see, there comes the messenger from your expectant son-in-law.” “Your eyes are better than mine, if you see My eyes are accustomed to looking for dan- ger t remember, tell the messenger your hter accepts, and ask Monsieur Erricson to breakfast with you. “* Now I must be off, but you have my ad- — . Cs? | re . a” Ss wr?) °z j= dress,” and Captain Palafox glided away in the darkness just as Colonel Brandt caught sight of form approaching, and muttered: | | —- rr ee th sssssteeeheeeereree ~ Cutlass and Cross. ———— — - ——_ * He is right, for that is not Erricson.” Stepping out of the arbor the colonel con- fronted. the man, who stopped shors a yard away, and said: ‘* We meet again, Colonel Brandt?” **Ha! you are that accursed card cheat who swindled me last night?’ ‘*Be kind enough, colonel, not to use harsh terms, for lam the representative of Monsieur Enrique Erricson.” ‘‘Curse him! what message did he send by you to me?” ‘* He said that you would send either yes or no by me,” ‘*Tell him yes, and bid him dine with me to- morrow afrernoon.” ** All right, colonel, and take the advice of a man who isupin the ways of the world and never play cards with a stranger.” * Begone, sir!” cried the colonel in angry tones, and he felt tempted to vent bis ire upon the man before bim. But that individual at once retreated, seeming to fear just such an intention on the part ef the colonel. Having seen the messenger depart, Colonel Brandt returned to his room, put away his un- used weapons, and again joined his guests in the pa, a feeling of relief in bis heart that he ad not been forced to kill the man who held him in his power, and wondering at the strange in- teneet which Palafox the Pirate had taken in sim, CHAPTER XLLI. MAUD ACTS HYSTERICALLY. PROMPTLY at the appointed hour, Monsieur Erricson alighted from his carriage before the Brandt Mansion and was ushered by the negro butler into the parlor. ‘* Master will be down in a minute, sir,” said the butler, and the visitor threw himself into an easy-chair and glanced about him. Presently a step was heard descending the stairs and Colonel Brandt entered the room. He bowed coldly, and did not take the hand extended to him, while he said: “* Monsieur, there is need of apparent friend- ship between us only in the presence of others,” ** As you please, colonel; but as your invited guest I expected a more cordial welcome.” “You are not welcome, sir, and your holding me in your power as you do alone causes me to tolerate you.” ‘* Well, I will not quarrel with you, colonel; but did Il understand my messenger aright when he said you sent the word yes to me?” **'You did.” “Then Miss Brandt accepts my offer?’ ** She does.” “Tam abappy man,” and the eyes of the Frenchman glittered with joy and triumpb. ‘* And [am a wretched one, and poor Maud will live a life of wretchedness.”” ‘*Oh, no, for I love her and sball make her happy ut may I ask if you had to urge her accept- ance of my offer upon her?” ac No.” “She required no urging ‘Strange to say she accepted you at once,” **' Then she must-love me.” ‘Who can tell what is within a woman’s heart? But she will soon be down and then you co arrange the day when you wish to marry er ” .“* Lhope it will be soon.” , ‘The sooner the better for me, as I wish this misery over, for I suppose you will keep your word made to me?” “*T will,” ** And give me the paper you hold of mine, and cancel all debts IT owe you?” ** Enough, for I shall be satisfied; but here comes Maud,” There was a rustle of silk along the hall, and Maud swept into the parlors. There was not the slightest embarrassment in her manner as she advanced toward Monsieur Erricson and said in ber low, soft way: | “‘Tam glad to see you, Monsieur Erricson, and I thank you for the honor done me in the offer of your hand,” *‘And mademoiselle honors me by accept- ing?’ said the man. ** Yes, monsieur.” , “‘T feel deeply your kindness, mademoiselle, and can only prove by actions, not words, my appreciation of your extreme g ess,” aud bowed and asked quietly: ** Does Monsieur Erricson expect me to set an early day for the marriage” ‘* An, mademoiselle, I would be but only too happy, for I desire to extend my travels into the Northern country and so happy would I be for arte sweet compavionsbip.” ‘* Let us say then one month from to-day. “Ts that agreeable to you, father?’ asked Mand iu the coolest manner imaginable. “* Yes, my child, for your appointment of a day will suit me,” assured the colonel, utterly amazed at the seeming anxiety of bis daughter to marry the man whom he knew to be such a consummate villain. * And you, monsieur?” —— -_— Se ee ‘‘ Your pleasure is mine, Mademoiselle Brandt,” responded the accepted suitor, instantly dismissing the subject, Maud turned the conversation adroitly, and soon after they went to dinner, The meal passed off pleasantly, the colonel being forced into laughter by the sallies of Maud and Monsieur Erricson, neither of whom ever a aang ban to better advantage. At last the visitor took his leave and the colonel escorted him out upon the piazza. “It is all arranged now, colonel, and Iam a happy man,” he said, ‘*And I suppose you will give me the paper you hold of mine to-morrow?” * Oh, no, g4 dear colonel, for there is many a ap *twixt the cup and the lip, you know.” ‘** Do you not intend to return that paper?” ‘‘Oh, yes, when Miss Maud Brandt becomes Mrs. Erricson, the paper is yours, and your debts are canceled; but not before,” The colonel uttered a smothered oath, and his visitor said: * Do not fret, for Iam the one to be hurt, as to-night I would have been in my grave, had I been so silly as to have kept that appointment with Fours ‘* What do you mean, sir?” ** Ah, colonel, your very innocence proves you to be young in crime, whatever you may be as a gambler. ‘‘Why, your appointment of a rendezvous with mein that arbor in your garden, told me that you intended to murder me.” Ti Sir! ” “Don’t get tragic, for 1 knew well your in- tention, so I sent another target for you to practice on, while I remained in my room, ‘‘ No, colonel, you are not an adept in such matters, for if you were, you could have readily gotten rid of me before. ‘‘But I know your little game now, and I shall keep my eyes open and thwart you, no matter how snake-like you may strike, ‘“*Good-night, my dear colonel, and pleasant dreams,” The man laugbed lightly, sprung into his car- riage, which just then drove around to the door, and departed leaving his host in no enviable frame of mind. CHAPTER XLII, TWO SCHOONERS SET SAIL. THERE was certainly some mystery in the very remarkable manner in which Captain Palafox was appearing in the city of New Orleans, and happening in just in the nick of time when he was needed. We left him in the Devil Fish, after his meet- ing with the Lady Maud, heading in chase of the Ghoul of the Sea, and next he turns up in New Orleans in the Palace of Chance. To account for this the reader must be made accquainted with the fact that the Devil Fish went hotly in chase of the Gboul of the Sea, and learned off the Balize, that a vessel answer- ing the description of the pirate craft had gone on up the river, Following suit, Captain Palafox had run up the United States flag, and brought to every vessel he met, and asked regarding the pirate schooner. To his surprise no such vessel had been seen by any of those he met. Returning to the mouth of the river, he asked again of the fishermen, who had told bim they had seen the schooner pass up the stream, and one and all of them asserted that the craft had certainly gone up toward the city. They also described the outla'y vessel in such a way that he felt that they bad certainly seen the pirate, So up the river he went, again hailing all out- ward bound craft, and asking about the schooner. . Several had seen various vessels going up, but the craft that none answering the description of floated the Cutlass and Cross flag. ‘She has certainly gone up the river, but not in ber regular rig,” said Captain Palafox to his first officer. ‘‘ Doubtless, sir, and if we follow her, we had better disguise our vessel, too, for she wiil be recognized,” answered the officer. “ Certainly, and we will run close inshore, and set to work atit.” The helmsman, in obedience to an order, ran the schooner close inshore, and the crew were set to work eneising her, until under their nimble fingers, she soon presented the appear- ance of an honest coaster, for her guns were sent down into the hold, where four-fifths of her crew followed them, and the schooner was meta- morphosed into a brig. Thus disguised, Captain Palafox ran his ves- ae on up the river and dropped anchor below the city. He knew New Orleans well, and at once went ashore to see some of former agents th who had ar lg of his booty for him when he was flying the free rover flag, By inquiries, he soon learned that the Ghoul of the Sea was in town, and likely to remain for some little time, He accordingly brought all of his men ashore ie wy Eomicbooks ‘ a iuig = ee —