Beadle's Dime Library No. 263 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

ee Se EE v ee —.—__-—_---— = EE o veo TPS OS ee ee +--+ -- Pe — eo addin’ % irs i Ih, | | { ) : | ——— — SS ————— ie Sahni ce es SS re 5 — a te ae a ~ te neg —reearbmne: ae ee = ome ps ee, ete ele ' —————— —_— . Bolter lost little more time. Raising his j victim by bis shoulders he dragged him to the stern, listened to see that no one else was near and then cast bim into the water. |. A sullen splash followed and the body van- ished from view. Bolter did not try to trace it, but, cutting the second boat loose, ha shoved his own clear of the bar and rowed on toward San Francisco, _ Doctor Rube was left to the mercy of the waves. —--- = ae ee ae ree eee - ——— CHAPTER XIT, NOROLA, _ HawrF an hour after the doctor wag thus cast into the water, a Man was standing on the eastern shore of the same arm of the ocean and, shading his eyes with bis band as though the sun was shining, peering into the darkneas, : ‘Queer, mighty queer,” be muttered. ‘‘ Ther lL should be back afore now. What kin keep er? Et may be all right, but I hev my doubts, Norola! Norola!” | ‘The call floated off over the water, but there was no reply. T»e man began pacing to and fro on the wet sand, ever and anon glancing out into the fog. | He was a stout, middle-aged man, and one would have said he was eitbera fisherman or sailor, Whatever he was, he was sincerely anxious in regard to something. Suddenly, however, he started and bent for- ward, To bis hearing plainly came the sound of oars, and be went so near'the water’s edge that it lapped his feet. ° ** Norola!” “Coming!” answered a clear voice; and then, almost like a ghostly craft, a boat appeared in the fog and sped toward the shore. It seemed to contain but ore occupant and that a young woman, but sbe wielded the blades with strength and skill and was plainly no novice, “I thought ye'd got lost in ther fog,” the man explained, rubbing his bands, ‘‘ You've b’en an oncommon long time—” “And I’ve done a good deal of business,” father Griff,” the girl interrupted, as she ran her boat to the shore. come and look at it.” . Griff obeyed, and then startéd back. ‘*A man!” he exclaimed. * Yes—and a wet one. The water struck in. He’s unconscious, is my passenger. Let’s get him ashoro, father Griff.” _ “Men is men,” remarked the dressed; ‘an’ most on ’em is snakes i gs ‘Y have my doubts about ’em. his ’un?’, ? “Fished bim out of the deep,” answered No- rola, ‘“‘ How came he there 1 don’t know; but spa now. our duty, father Griff. Lift him erson ad- the hat’s ash ““T have my doubts—” “Certainly you have, my respected parent. Yo always did have ’em. They’re like whoo ing-cough and snakes in the boots—not be got rid of, you know. But mane man, fatber Griff, and this drowned man oes to our cabin—understand?” ~*T see I’ve get ter obey, whether orno, Ill do at, thong have my doybts—” . voice died away in an indistinct murmur, as he bent over the unconscious man m the . pot bey ‘earried him ashore, the boat was secured, and then Griff swung him over his shoulder. “Lead the way,” he directed, “ an’ tell The ; ‘that we’re comin’, I have my doubts etek ann them, but ef you say so— h! the gal is gone!” : Norola bad indeed disappeared in the dark- ness, as Griff staggered on alone With his bur- de stout and willing in reality, but from a chronic habit, muttering about his doubts at Ae th ou are a hu- e * areca of a few yards he reached a cabin stood among the rocks almost like an eagle’s nest on a crag. The door opened for aoe and he entered and laid his burden on the - 1 is » * . t, ; . Norola wag very busy with preparations for the unconscious man’s comfort, but another woman advanced to the middle of the room. She was in more than one way of remarkablo ppearance. Her dress was novel, uncouth ‘almost shapeless; her long hair was tan- a a ‘ See ees Sying at will; partially concealing a restless face and sharp, staring eyes. _ "Why do you bring the martyrs here?” she fiercely demanded, addressing Griff. “T don't,” he egy replied. ‘* You mistake bis caliber, Wild. He ain’t no martir, but adrownded man. He’s a toiler from ther sea, an’ a relic cast from ther maw O° ther great deep.” | What rubbish is this—” : “They call ita man,” was the meek reply. - he Wild stamped her foot, - Fools, all! she declared. ‘You are the ‘worst of all, Griff. Why do you bring a stran- ger to your bappy home? He is young and a coal pe and you lave a daughter. Beware, Griff—beware! The rattlesnake’s sting is po ditinty gelling aad Tengen an I on wimied “TI have a cargo here; | ee ee rene © feted at i. not more to be dreaded than the oily tongue of ; man! *.“T am aware that they’re a pernicious lot,” said Griff, meekly. ‘“‘Ef Id b’en consulted when I was borned I'd hev b’en suthin’ else, but fate is inexoramble. Ez fur this critter hyar, thar ain’ much harm in bim now, an’ [ hev my doubts ef he ever breathes ag’in.” ‘*Clear away the gossiper’s club,” said the cheery voice of Norola, ‘‘ Miss Wild, do sit down and be comfortable. Father Griff, you know your duty.” ‘* Tt’s ter put ther drownded man in bed an’ in- stilllife inter him, Is’pose, Wal, I'll doit, though I hey my doubts,” The patient was put in bed, and then Griff went to work with the zeal and skill of one who means to do hisduty and knows the means. Norola acted as assistant, while The Wild re- turned to her seat in the corner and began to braid her disheveled hair in an attempt to make a toilet. It was an hour later when the patient opened his eyes. His gaze encountered the face of No- rola, and he lay staring in mingled wonder, stupidity and amazement, The sight was un- expected and the face was bright and pretty. He raised his hand aud brushed his eyes. **T don’t understand,” he said, frowning. Why, you went in to swim, and you overdid the matter and brought up drowned,” she brisk- ly explained. He started to his elbow. ‘* Ha! where’s Ben Bolter?” he demanded. ‘* He’s bolted, forall I know. His card ain’t on ouf table. If he’s your friend, he owes you | an apology.” ‘‘ He owes me more than that, strange I was a fool to trust him, Isee; be came from Dia- mond and it was their purpose to kill me, but I'm worth ten dead men yet, Tl return to San Francisco and hunt them down, I'l lay bare their plots and have vengeance.” “ Ay, vengeance, vengeance!” cried the elder woman, as she bounded from her chair. ‘ Let loose the forked lightnings and blast the world.’ Vengeance! Ha! ha! ha!” ; Clasping her hands above her head she Jaughed shrilly, and not alittle to the patient’s surprise, but Griff moved to his side. ** Never mind her; she’s The Wild, ou know,” he explained. ‘ Better lay down an’ keep shady; I vat doubts ef sech a scene will do you any good, But the patient—the reader has already re- cognized Doctor Rube—was nutin a hurry. Ex- cept for a slight dizziness he felt as well as ever, and he set to work to drive that away. He had a huge bunch on the back of his head where Ben Bolter’s oar bad struck him, but as there was no injury to the skull he regarded it as trifling. he hurt was cared for as well as possible during which time he learned something of his situation, Griff was a fisherman and Noroila his daughter. The latter, being out in her boat, had seen a man floating in the water, buoyed up by some drift-wood, and had rescued bim in a matter-of-fact way, being no weak- armed belle of society. For all this Doctor Rube was duly grateful and, looking at Norola’s fair face, he felt a good deal of admiration, also. She had brown cheeks and her hands were none too soft, but she had a bright face, with regular features, and might ii have laid claim to beauty of a sensible ind. Having decided to remain at Griff’s cabin over night, Doctor Rube composed himself and fell asleep. He dreamed of murderers of vari- ous kinds, of people who were hunting for a fortune and none too scrupulous as to means; ues he awoke in the morning to find himself safe. Norola was preparing breakfast, The Wild sat in one corner and wound her: fingers again and again in her hair, while Griff mended a it ane was destined to bring him bis daily read, Doctor Rube arose and found himself as well as ever. Ben Bolter bad mangled bis work and abi managed to show his hand, and the doc- tor felt rather glad it was so, even while be in- ternally vowed vengeance, ; He learned more of bis present companions while he waited for breakfast, but there seemed little that was new in the lives of Griff and bis daughter. Theirs had been placid lives since the girl eould remember, but the fisherman did not hesitate to acknowledge he had once seen wilder days and mixed in wilder scenes. The woman he eccentrically called ‘‘The Wild” was one of the world’s: waifs. She had come to Griff’s cabin four years before, and in the same condition in which Rube saw her, She was shattered in intellect, but barmless, and the worthy fisherman had given her shelter and food. ““She ain’t capable o’ gratitude, Ther Wild ain't,” he explained, “‘ but I b’lieve in helpin’ a blind hoss ter corn. Ef 1 was infarm mentally, I'd be duly grateful fur help even ef I didn’t realize it.’ Before Doctor Rube had time to study on the wisdom of the last observation, The Wild came to his side and grasped his arm in her bony fin- Abe, the Hunchback Destroyer. ; oo SS —-} SS TS Se: * Havo ‘‘ Have you seen him?” she demanded. you seen Lucifer?’ ‘No, my good woman,” he gently replied, meeting ber wild glances in a manner he meant to be composing. ‘* Where can he be? No one has seen him for along time. What evil wind has blown bim away? Oh! my Lucifer, the proud, the noble and the gay! think he’s a prince in disguise, or a fallen star, or a diamond from the queen’s crown, Kind sir, have you seen Lucifer?” Eyes and voice softened, but Doctor Rube shook his head, He began to feel an interest in her case, however, and he gave bis professional attention to it, The result was not promising, for had there been a million dollars offered as the payment for her cure be would have had little hope of winning it. She seemed hopelessly deranged. Griff agreed to row bis guest down to San Francisco, and after breakfast the start was made, They left The Wild in the corner, braid- ing her bair and muttering of Lnueifer, but Norola stood in the door aud watched them away; and as Doctor Rube Jooked back he could not resist the impulse of gallantry which made him raise his hat, Daughter of humble life though she was, she was far prettier than many a money king’s child, and it was not likely the doctor would soon forget her. CHAPTER XIII. A FRESH PUZZLE. Docror RuBE reached San Francisco without further adventure, The last half of the voyage was made in silence, for when Griff ceased to be interesting, the doctor left him to bis work and dropped into thought. — was he to begin work on the Templeton case He no longer inquired of himself if he was to begin, but he was studying the waysand means. He was confident he owed the attempt on his life to Diamond. The attack had been deliber- ate; he had seen Ben Bolter at the Tuttle cabin, and he had then followed him; and there could be no room to doubt that he had been sent for that purpose. So reasoned the doctor, and all his wrath arose against Diamond and the soi-disant Leora Templeton. He remembered the latter with a twinge of pain. He bad become deeply inter- ested in her at the City of the Desert, and since then be had thought of her by day and dreamed of her by night. It is hard to stamp out such a fancy in the twinkling of an eye, and he found deep regret mingled with his wrath; but be was determined to be barsh, Tevengeful and destructive. ee Be | except the ways and means was settled by tbe time he reached the end of his water journey. There he bade Griff good-day but not fora very long time, Ben Bolter ha robbed him, but the doctor silently vowed that he would reward the fisherman well ut no dis- tant day. On reaching the city he lost no time in going to his room, and there he was soon joined by Ned Boxfield. ‘* Hallo! Esculapius is in, I see,” quoth be, ‘* Not quite so great a rush of patients as usual, I suppose.” ‘* Gibe on, villain; we'll see when your first client appears after you leave Beesinger!” re- torted Rube. ‘‘ Don’t intend to leave him; think it'll be more to my benefit to absorb the old business, My learned senior is getting to be an old man, and if he don’t shake the bottle soon the bottle will shake bim, Then lo! the humble junior will appear, and rattle around in tbe senior’s shoes. But how’s your mental condition?’ “Fair, Why?” ‘‘)'m the bearer of the olive branch. Miss Leora bids me say to ‘tbat eccentric doctor’ t»at she would be pleased to have bim call with his friend, Mr. E. Boxfield. Of course tbe jun- ior is pleased to tell you.” The doctor frowned. ** Ned, speak the truth.” “T always do.” “Is this a genuine invitation?” | ** Upon the word of honor of a junior—yes,” ‘“ And Miss Templeton has sent for me? ‘““No wonder you emphasize the last word. Yes, she is willing to forget the past and be friends, all of which is due to the junior. I mean to convince her you lack the length of cate you assumed to bave the night of the all, ‘ Doctor Rube disregarded this roundabout in- sinuction, and relapsed into thought. had he been invited to call on the counterfeit Miss Templeton? Did she intend to defy him or ask for mercy? Certainly some new phase in the case was at band, He could not avoid a start as a new idea occurred to him, The plotters bad sent an assassin to end his earthly career, and they wished to blind Boxfield to the fact that they had been concerned in the affair. The invita- tion was but a sham, but he intended to make it a means of confusing them. ‘When do we go?” he asked, suddenly. ‘Any time when the senior don’t ncod) me.” * - . 2 ee ee a < ! w eC en i - sith