Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 289 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

@ > ~-— o-- and the stout young ne the water as soon as darkness bad settled down upon the swamp, taking a direction different from that by which Hexamer had always ar- rived. When she was set down upon ground whicb, if not entirely solid, might at least be consider- ed as a part of the main land, her joy was so great fhat she burst into tears, and black Jim was quite overcome by her emotion. ** Don’t take on so, missy,” he begged. “ Come | right along wid me, an’ step keerful, ’case dey’s lots 0’ boles an’ mushy places 'bout yar.” He led her gently vl on, until they were quite out of sight of the isl- and and the lagoon. ‘You kino git along now, missy, if you ain’t | “Dar ain't novoffin’ to be! afeard,” said he. skeered at, an’ all you’s got to do is to walk straight along dat way, lookin’ neider to de right nor to de leff, an’ you’s shuah to strike de road tol’able soon, an’ den you's all right. I[ muss run right away now, so’s to be ober dar w’en de w’ite man shows up.” Before she could speak her thanks he vanished, | as if he were a piece of the darkness. The directions which he had given Kate seemed to be easy enough, and she doubtless | supposed that she would have no difficulty in followiag them, It was only necessary to walk forward fear- lessly, and to keep a given course. But when she found herself alone the dark- | ness overwhelmed her, and the somber shadows | me?’ -of the swamp settled upon her beart. She had said that she would be satisfied to be left alonein the forest; but the realization of that position was terrible. A few steps she made in the direction that had been pointed out to her, and then she halt- ed, staring about irrcsolutely. Already she was afraid that she had missed tbe course she was to take. Then she heard voices, and, of course, they startled her. Could it be that Jonas Hexamer was just then coming to the island with a comrade? If so, would they not be sure to find her and ag 73 her? o; it was not Hexamer. She was sure that one of the voices was that of a woman, and in the other she recognized the brozue of an Irishman, Kate looked in the direction of the sounds, and there she saw them. Yes; there were two of them—a man anda woman, and the woman was pointing toward her. What could they be doing there, afar in the forest at night, and at the edge of that fearful ‘swamp? Sne did not stop to argue that question. — it was enough that they were human beings, and of course they would befriend her in her distress, With a joyfulery she advanced toward them, holding out her hands. The woman shrieked, and dropped help- lessly upon the ground, CHAPTER XXITI. ““PWAS KITTY AS FOUND HER.” ‘ Tory take me for a ghost,” muttered Kate, as she stopped short. There could be no question of thaf, as the man was on his knees by the side of his com- panion, wildly waving his hands toward her, and jabbering a strange mixture of prayers and oaths, Kate was obliged to admit that she might well be mistaken for a ghost. Her dress, the same she had worn on the Sabine, was nearly white, and had been badly stained by travel and use; but it was fortun- ately of material thut would wash, and Dinab’s care had kept ber presentable. It was quite natural that ber light dress should produce a queer effect upon people who suddenly caught sight of ber after dark in that dismal locality. But she knew that she was not a ghost, and that She could not afford to lose any chances, “Tt is all right,” she exclaimed, as she again hastened forward. “I am nota ghost. I am ak a Woman, and in trouble.” er voice restored Dennis Malone to his senses at once, Although not without his superstitions, he was usually a brave and cool-headed young man, and it was Kitty’s terror that had been contagious and upset him for the moment. “Ts it alive yez are, thin?” cried Dennis as he jumped to his feet. “ Faix an’ I’m glad to hear that same, an’ to bave it from yer own lips, so I’m sure it’s no lie. Plaze to come right on, mim, an’ help me wid this darlint, becase I’m afraid she’s kilt intoirely.” Kate Helmsley bastened to him, and took Kitty’s head in her arms. “What a pretty girl!” she exclaimed. “She has fainted ; but we will soon bring ber out of ‘that. Aud so they did, and Kitty smiied when she opened her eyes and saw Kate’s sweet face ending over her, “Tt wasn’t a ghost at all, at all, Kitty dear,” 4 carried ber across | Kate. ut firmly a little further | eee ee ree cil eee Oe ee eee lt—Oae—~”rt—OS OO CC Ol is Flush Fred’s Full Hand. said Dennis. “It was jist this shwate young | leddy; but who w'u’d iver have looked to find | om angel out here—barrin’ yersilf, me dar- | int?” | Kitty bad got up, and was staring at Kate with wonder and admiration. ‘‘But who air yew, miss?’ she demanded, | ‘ And haow did yew ever get lost aout here?” ‘*T have been very unfortunate,” answered | ‘*T have just escaped from the power of | a man who had promised to take me to my | friends. Instead of doing so, be captured me, | and bas kept me concealed fora long timein a horrible place in the swamp. This may sound like a strange story to you; but—” “Tt’s ber!’ shouted Dennis, jumping up and clapping his hands. ‘* What do you mean, sir?” inquired Kate, as if she thought he bad gone crazy. ** It’s her, Kitty dear. find this time—the saints be praised!—and it'll be the buildin’ av us up, as sure as yer shtandin’ | there.” ** What do you mean, Dennis?’ ‘Is ita Yankee yez are, an’ no good at guess- in’? Sure, Kitty, an’ this is the young leddy | that Fred Henning an’ all the rest av us has | been lookin’ for day an’ night this long time. It’s Miss Helmsley !” | “ Haow smart yew air!” exclaimed Kitty. ‘IT dew believe yew’re right.” | ‘‘My name is Helmsley—tbere is no doubt of that,” said the young lady. ‘* You speak of | Mr. Henning. Has he, then, been looking for | **[ should say lookin’,” responded Dennis. | ‘* There’s not a fut of ground in these parts but | phwat he’s been over, ixciptin’, av coorse, the | very spot where they’d hid yez.” ‘*Ts be near here now?’ ‘Sure an’ it’s not far, mim. He’s jist over at | Gravelly Bayou, at Misther Delarosse’s place, | where we kem from a bit ago, an’ where we're | goin’ back to as fast as our feet ’ll take us.” This was easier to say than to do; but the | Irishman had better luck in retaraie to Gravelly Bayou than in getting away from there, Perhaps the double responsibility braced him up; or it may have been that he was no longer distracted by the duty of caressing Kitty. He chose his course with but little hesitation, and led the way boldly, followed by the two girls hand in band. Sooner than he could have expected he struck the road that led to the bayou, and then he knew where he was, It was not a difficult task to find the skiff, left it. When he invited the girls to enter it, Kitty was struck by a spasm of fear at the thougat of her return to her father. ‘* He will jest scalp me, Dennis,” said she. ** He will want to know what I’ve been dewin’ aout in the woods with yew at this time o’ night, and oh! what shall I tell him?’ ‘““What were you doing?’ inquired Kate Helmsley. “Tell me all about it, and perhaps I can suggest something.” ** We was jist runnin’ away to git marri’d,” answered Dennis, ‘‘an’ we got lost in the wuds. But there’s nothin’ to be frightened at, Kitty, dear. It’s the best thing that could ha’ bap- ened to us, and, as I tould yez a bit ago, it'll be the buildin’ av us up. Jist Pave me alone to put the comether on the ould gintleman, an’ niver fear but pbwat I'll shwayten bim.” ‘But what will you say, Dennis?” **Kape a shtiff upper lip, me darlint, an’ lave it all to me, an’ Ill bring it out as straight as a gun-bar'l,.” | When they reached the Gravelly Bayou man- sion, tert all the inmates were gathered on the broad front porcb. | Leon Delarosse was there, with General Brayham and bis wife. Fred Henning and Arthur Helmsley; but Paul Delarosss was not visible in the group. Kitty Tibbles had of course been missed by her father; but he had made no disturbance about it, Connecting her disappearance with that of Dennis Malone, be was Yankee enough to make a good guess at what had Lecome of her, and he had organized a quiet search on bis own ac- count, which had thus far been productive of no results. It was doubtless surprising to the group on the porch to see three persons—a man and two women—approaching the house from the direc- tion of the bayou. Dennis and Kitty they might guess at; but who could the third woman be? The Irishman settled the question for them in a characteristic and sensational style, throw- ing up his hat, and giving throat to a hearty ail. “ Whirroo!” beshouted, “* Whoop! Whirroo! W *ve found her, me b’yes! We've got Miss H-Imsley! "Twas Kitty as found ber, an’ she’s alive an’ well an’ all right, and the saints be praised for that same!” Fred Henning and Artbur Helmsley ran down the steps—and the next moment was clasped in the arms of her brother. | the others,” ee | tas'e if, as she felt that she needed nerve, We've made a blessid | | | j which was concealed in the bushes where he hed there at the edge of the swam a ——_—— eee 17 It was true. She was there, alive and safe, and Flush Fred hastened to add bis congratula- tions to those of bis friend. “If you knew,” said Arthur, ‘‘ how Fred and the rest of us bave sought for you—” ‘““] have beard of it,” quickly responded Kate, ‘‘and I am deeply grateful to you and all She gave Fred her hand, ani permitted him to hold it and lead her up to the porch, There she was warmly welcomed by Leon Delarosse and the Brayhams, and refreshments were brought out and pressed upon her and tho.e who had escorted her to the house, Dennis helped himself freely to the wine, as he wanted to oil his tongue for the task before it. Kitty permitted herself to be persuaded to Leon Delarosse seated himself near Kate, and waited upon her in a fatherly fashion. *l am more than glad to receive you here, my dear child,” said he, ‘‘and my joy at your safety is greater than I can express to you. Your motber was a very dear friend of mine in my younger days, and that her daugbter should disappear so strangely in this neighborhood was a great grief tome. Your friends bave searched for you with. unwearying ardor end patience, doing everything that love and skill could sug- gest, and striving to bear up against all dis- couragements. When they had nearly Jost hope, you suddenly appear among us, as if a special providence bad brougbt you, and now we must beg you to solve the mystery of your loss and your recovery.” “That’s where I come in,” briskly spoke up Dennis. ‘‘Kitty was the special providence. 'Twas Kitty that found her, as I tould yez, an’ where did yez think we kem across ber, Fred?” “That is too hard a conundrum for me, Den- nis. ‘Yez know the shpot we wint to, where the swamp sucker found the locket? "Twas rot far from that place that we kcm across Miss Helms- ley. "Tis nigh the shwamp, yez kuow, an’ I wanted to turn back, beca’se I'd seen enough o’ thim shnakes an’ things afore. But Kitty kep’ leadin’ me straight on, wid her finger p’intin’ ahead. Thin I looked the way she p'inted, an’ sure enough there sbtood the young leddy, as much like a ghost as anythin’ mortal c’u'd be— the saints presarve us!” **You were remarkably fortunate to find . her,” said General Brayhem. ‘It is nothin less than wonderful. But, begad, sir, 1 woul like to know what you end Kitty Tibbles were © doing out there in the woods, at theedge ofthe — swamp, after dark.” “That is what I want to krow, too,” said a harsh voice with an evident Yankee twang. All looked around as the form of Zeke Tibbies loomed up onthe porch, CHAPTER XXIV. ear! DENNIS CRAWLS OUT OF IT. by THE appearance of the overseer puta decided damper upon the spirits of the pe ‘e Nes As the news of the arrival of Kate Helmsley and her companions spread rapidly about the lantation, it had soon reeched his ears, and he ad hastened to make a personal inspectionof the wanderers, getting to the porchintime to hear the latter part of Dennis’s story. Beet He had taken a lively interest with the others in the search for Miss Helmsley; but be was __ agitated just then by the return of bisdaugh- - rather than by tbe discovery of the young ady. rie The others could not help suspecting the re state of the case, but were ready tosympathize _ with the lovers. > ei Kitty Tibbles turned pale, but was reassured by the friendly grasp of Kate, whosat at ber side. Sere As for Dennis, he was not in the least degree dismayed, but pe en ak on, witheut seeming , to notice the presence of the overseer. ae “That's jist phwat I was aftber tellin’ yez, pineral,” said be. “It’s the quarest thing intoirely to thim as don’t undbershtend it; but it’s a fact, well known in the ould counthry, that there’s folks as have the pover av findin? things that’s lost. It’s called the findin’ eye,an’ it's mostly purty bob as bas it, “> eee ‘‘Whin we was lookin’ for this young leddy, an’ not gittin’ as much es a trace of ber ies shtruck me that Miss Tibbles bed the findin’ a eye, an’ I watched her, an’ got acquainted wid” her, an’ looked at ber close in all sorts of lights, Didn’t I, Fred?” . ie “IT have no doubt that you did, Dennis.” | | An’ there it was! J was sure thet she had the findin’ eye, an’ was such a prize to go te waste whin Miss Helone w was to be fcund? — . a t + ; >» aoe « <4 Lora « Not while Dennis Malone was to the fore, en M eg | tould oan Tibb es abo t ah talked to er eg’in and ag’in, an’ at Jest rehuaded her to go off wid me an’ find the y oung leddy. ‘*We wint, an’ whin the power kem over ae she led me right on, niver turnin’ to the right th nor to the left, but all the time p’intin’ s aT, abead, until we saw Miss Helmsley sbtangin’ nF er 2 Oe es ‘* That is true,” said Kate, deiarditadl ar Sith. comicbooks.cor . —_ eq = @ | »*