Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 289 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

Flush Fred’s Full Hand. 19 ———_—_—— a LT _ ~ ee CHAPTER XXVI,. “We can't stand that!” exclaimed Hexamer. | have no right to ask the question, It was Mr. Hen- AN IMPORTANT INTERVIEW. “When it came to dividing your half with me, you | ning.” FreD HENNING, after the question of Kate Helms- | would have only a fourth left, and that would be “That fellow! A common gambler and swindler?! ley’s disappearance had been settled by her re- | worth nething to you. It must be all or none, and | Of course he is mean enough to be aspy. So you covery, busied himself in a quiet search for Jonas | we have no time to lose in striking for all.” take his word in preference to mine?” “I do,” coldly replied Mr. Delarosse, : The case hai become desperate, but the young He had hoped to engage the assistance of Saul | this very thing. is plain from what you say that | man was disposed to brazen it out. | ‘* But what can we dv?’’ demanded Paul. | | Stiner in that quest, but had been unable to do so. | his will is now in your favor, or that he has made “Tf I was not at Martigny, where was I?” Hexamer, aided by Dennis Malone and a reliable man of the vicinity. **T have oneany. been at work, looking ahead to He met the swamp sucker once by accident, and | none, In either case you are the heirasthe matter The answer came quickly and with stunning found him deaf to all entreaties and offersof reward. | stands. Before he can make a change in the situa- | force, Saul told him that he would have been willing, for ‘‘You went to meet Jona: Hexamer, the man who tion he must be put out of the reach of pens and Frei’s sake, to aid in the search for the missing | had decoyed away aud captured Miss Helmsley, and ink and paper—out of the way of making a will,” girl; but she was found, and he could do nothing A dont gl poste A whispered Paul. | you eavecses with his aid to make that young lady u., of the world.’ } your wife.’ | more. It was none of his business, and he did not | want to mix in any such matters. He and his father | ** Would you kill him?” Paul was crushed. had reasons that were satisfactory to them for wish- | “I mean to kill lim, to speak plainly, and that His uncle's statement was so direct and positive, ing to ke»p to themselves, and they meant to do so, | right away.” , that it was hard to believe that he was drawing in- ush Fred’s search, carefully as it was carried | t may be said for Paul, as a fact slightly to his | ferences,instead of giving facts of which he had on, did not promise success. | credit, that he was evidently shocked by this propo- | actual knowledze. ; He and his allies could hear nothing more of | sition when it was presented to him so sharply. ' ** What was your object in that?” demanded Mr. Jonas Hexamer, nor could they find the faintest But he soon ‘got over that feeling, and his face Delarosse. trace of him. brightened at the prospect that was opened up to It is said that an honest confession is good for the They were driven to the conclusion that their only | him. soul. <A forced confession may also sometimes ben- chance would be to make a raid on the island in the “If the old man was dead,” said he, “thatis, if | efit the offender, though not really a solace to his swamp, in the hope of finding him there. he was out of the way, I would come into everything | soul. But that would mean a fight, with more or less | without any question, That would make a sure There was nothing left to Paul Delarosse but to bloodshed, and General Brayham insisted upon | thing of the business.” confess what he »pparently could not help confess- having legal authority for the undertaking. “And it is the only way to make a sure thing,” | ing, and to throw himself ov the mercy of the court. Kate H-lmsley copenes it, too, as she had prom- | responded Hexamer. ‘ When the girl got away I He burst into tears; but Leon Delarosse had seen ised that no harm should come to those who had be- | knew that it would come to this.” his tears before, and was not moved by them. friended her there, and her wish had great weight ‘But how can it be done, and who will do it?” ‘*T've had very hard lines,’*’he moaned. “Ihave with Fred Henning. “I have been at work, as I told you. You needn't | tried to do well, but ever since I have been here I | There was one person at Gravelly Bayou, how- | think that I would trust you to do the job. You are | haven't seemed to suit you, and you were getting * ever, who knew where Hexamer could be found, | vicious enough, no doubt; but you haven't got the | more and more set against me. Then I heard that and who was in communication with him, nerve or the brains. I have been getting the Moc- That person was, of course, Paul Delarosse, and | casins in training for a grand strike, and they are he was the last person who would have consented | about ripe for it. Besides promising them money in to betray the hunted man. plenty, Lhave made them believe that Leon Dela- They met—by no means frequently, as Paul had | rosse means to make a raid on the island and run reason to fear that he might be watched—not at the | the blacks over into the market. Frenchman’s cabin across the bayou, but at a glade ‘One of the smartest of them has been working in the forest—a rendezvous which might be con- | around the Gravelly Bayou niggers, and has got sidered quite safe in the daytime, and which they | three of them where we want them, They will join were sure nobody would happen on at night. my Moccasins when the blow is struck.” Thither went Paul Delarosse one dark night, “When will that be?’ inquired Paul, taking a roundabout course to reach it, and stop- “Right soon, You've got such a tell-tale face ey ———— SS Gee _ Miss Helmsley was coming here, and I was teld— a that is, I had reason to believe—that you would be lixely to adopt her and send me to the wall.” “Who told you so?” | ‘‘Hexamer. He said that it was a sure thing, and ‘Sal that my only chance was to marry her. He said that she would be glad to marry me, and that he would arrange it so that there would be no trouble, and then you would think more of me for her sake, | and it would be the best thing for all concerned. ary But I assure you, sir, that I never knew that she was ee anywhere about here until he sent me word that she | teense ping every now and then to look back and make | that it won't do for you to know too much, Right | was ready to marry me.” | , sure that he was not followed. soon you may expect the blow to fall, like a thun- ‘Really? replied Mr. Delarosse, with a fine sar- 2 The meeting was evidently by appointment, as he | derbolt out of a clear sky, and there will be weeping castic reflection on the query—“ not even when we ‘ts found Jonas Hexamer impatiently awaiting him in | and wailing at Gravelly Bayou. My greatest trouble | were all searching for her, and you were pretend- << ae ing to join in the search?” aoa Paul had put his footin it by opening his mouth. once too often. “You are late, my boy,” was Hexamer's greeting, | and we can’t afford to destroy our own property— ¥. ~ “I would prefer not to hear anything more from at , oa%s ss accompanied by an oath. ‘ What kept you?” eh, Paul?” ** Nothing kept me. I started early enough, but **\Vhat shall I do?’’ had to be very careful how I came here, as some- * You may make a sham fight if you want to, or eee you on that subject,”’ continued the old gentleman. “It is enough to know that you conspired with a get frightened out of your witsif you choose. The scoundrel for a rascally purpose, and you veed not body might be dogging my heels in the hope of Moceasins know you, and you won't get hurt.” } the glade. will be to keep the scamps from burning the house, | finding you.” | | i | “Has itcometothat? They are getting a littie ‘IT will rely upon you, then, to settle the busi- | stretch your conscience any further. You have laid —. too sharp over there, if you speak the truth.” ness.” | yourself liable to a criminal charge, which 1 do not fe “Of course I speak the truth. You don’tknow |} ‘You maydo that. Iam going to lead trumps fab ct to press; but I will know how to treat you ~se how I am worried in one way and another.”’ right along. Good-night, and try to keep a cool | ereafter. As for my estate, which you have sup- Sa “I think I have the worst end of the row, but we | head and make as little bother as possible.’ posed would be yours—”’ 344 ought tobe able to stand it, as there’s rich diggings Paul glided away, and Jonas Hexamer sighed as | “You don’t mean to cut me off!” imploringly == © broke in Paul. ‘ You won’t be hard on your own “Bad news, every bit of it. Thatgirlis there yet, “If the boy was the right sort,’’ he muttered, “it | flesh and blood.” and the old man is all taken up with her. You | would Le ever so much easier for me.” “You are not a bit like your father, young man. : would think she was his own daughter, by the way He and I did not get along well together; but TIT he pets her and hangs about her. Whydid you CHAPTER XXVIII. never knew him to tell a lie or to be guilty of a -. ever let her go?’’ ; ; LEON DELAROSSE SPEAKS PLAINLY. mean action. I donot know from whom you cen od “Why did [let her go?” angrily demanded Hexa- THE next morning Paul Delarosse was filled with | have inherited your rascally qualities. I shall pro- | io mer, *‘ why did / let ber go? Are you crazy, youn a feeling of exultation which he could not repress. | vide for what you cali my own flesh and blood in my — man? Don’t you know that somebody on that isl- He was not accustomed to concealing emotions of | own bg [ have not yet determined what that - aa and played me false and turned ber loose? Ain’t | that sort, and the immediate prospect of coming | way will be; but, if you want any further favors _ into possession of the Gravelly Bayou estate, with all that the possession implied, took entire control of his thoughts. from me, there is one thing you must do at the : start.” baad * What is that, sir?’ humbly inquired Paul. that the way she told the story, herself? I only wish she would give the name of the nigger who carried her over the water. Why did / turn her loose, indeed !”" His elation was manifest in his tone and his ‘Ihave no doubt that you are still in commu i- i “TI didn’t mean that,” grumbled Paul. “ Butitis | manner—so much 80 that it attracted the attention | cation with that acarsiedl, Hexamer, and you must ries. a great ity that she wasn't kept more securely.” of Fred Henning and Dennis Malone, who watched | put us in the way of arresting him and bringing him ‘A ‘So itis. But there's no use crying over spilt | him me ay F to justice. Ido not piel ame that you are any too milk, And it was no fault of miue, I did the best I “ Jist tumble to the shtyle av young Black an’ | good to betray your confederate, and you must do rr could, and thought I hada sure thing. Idon't know | Crusty,” said the Irishman. “It’s a high head he | this very soon.’ " > (aan to this hour who it was that went back on me, | carries this mornin’. Don't he luk as if he shmelt ‘*T will do the best I can, sir.” 'S, ta “You must do that very thing, and whenitisdone = I will decide what I shall do for you. But I have no ot x hesitation in saying that your expectations will no - ae longer be what they were. You may fo now.” bead. y= He went. In fact he sneaked out of the room like == a whipped hound, and hastened to get away from — | for both of us. What's the news?” he looked after him. | @very cuss on the island denies it, and I can't | a mouse, though?” afford to have a fuss with them. It was a good job “IT would judge that he smells something sweeter badly spoiled, and you now see that I was rightin | than that,” answered Fred, ‘He looks as if he trying to put it through.” fancies that he has struck it rich somewhere or ‘** About the girl?’’ queried Paul. | somehow. But, if any good-luck has happened to | “‘ About the girl, of course. I knew that if she him, if has not been in this house, as I have good ee ee — ever struck this country, and Leon Delarosse set his | reason to know. I would give a pretty to know | the sight cf everybody. core, eyes on her, he would everlastingly freeze to her, | what has come over him.”’ His exultation and elation were all gone,and in | for her mother’s sake. I knew, too. that you were Paul was doubtless at that moment congratulating | their place was bitter hatred of his uncle and every- ~ ae not a bil the sort of chap to get on with him. You | himself upon being able soon to expel both of them | body in that house. ‘ees | have ap fewer winning ways to workinto the favor | from the mansion, With his hatred was mingled an intens* and al-e of such aman than any Tean think of. Then, He already felt his position to be so secure that he | most insane desire for revenge on all the causes and rime favorite, the chances are that he would be | But his elation was destined to be followed bya | He had promised to betray Jones Hexamer: but ~—— just queer enough to give you the cold cut, and let | period of depression. had no intention of keeping his promise while he re er into all his property.” The time for a change arrived when his uncle in- | could evade its performance. ay “fa “Tt would be quecr indeed if he should shut out | vited him into his private room for a little conver- He would put off that job as long ashe could, ex- his own flesh and blood.” sation. pecting something to happen very shortly that Jonax Hexamer laughed, As Paul seated himself there, he knew that his | would change the situation completly. i ee _,“*His own flesh and blood’ is good,” ‘said he— | nerves were about to undergo a strain, and braced . As Napoleon wished for night or Rlucher,so did e “it is very good. But we will let it pass, if that | himself for the ordeal. Paul Delarosse wish for Jonas Hexamer and his ~~ | sort of talk pleases you. If{ could have married | ‘* You will remember. Paul,” Mr, Delarosse began, | Moccasins. aS ' ate to the girl, it would have been all right. The | “that I asked you a while ago where you were the | Hewas not the only one who wasexercisedonthat — i esh and blood business and the old sweetheart | night that Miss Helmsley came here.’ subject. ' .4 Cas arrangement would have caught him for all he was “Yes, sir, and I told you,’ answered Paul, who iP he had heard the report that Zeke Tibbles — worth. could guess at what was coming. brought to Mr. Delarosse that evening, he would ss Clearly there was no sentiment in the composition “Have the kindness to repeat the statement | have had better reason for confidence in the near ‘ of Jonas Hexamer. ! which you then made to me.” future. Sa. “But she slipped through my fingers, and all the fat isin the fire. How does it look to you now? Who is ahead—you or she? Unless I’m greatly mis- ““ What is the matter with you?” testilydemanded — “There's raally suthin’ goin’ to happen abaout the young man. ‘Why should you pick out that here, and that purty sudden,” was the formidable night, of all the nights when I have been away, to | communication that the overseer made tothe pro- prietor of the plantation. taken, the girl is at the top of the heap when he got to disliking you, and had her for a | did not hesiiate to show his dislike for them. witnesses of his humiliation. (ars question me about it again and pce e | Paul mournfully admit that the fact was cor- “I have a sufficient reason. Please repeat that | “ Anvthing new?” inquired Mr. Delarosse, sudden- Ae . T suppose there is no chance for you to make up ‘IT told you that I went in to Martigny, tolook up | “There yew’ve got me ag’in. It’s jest the old nk " to her and ped her,”’ suggested Hexamer. | a clew.” | thing; but it has worked up until it looks asifit ® “Not the fain shalow of a chance. She looks ‘* Just so. But you were not at Martigny that _ bad come toa head. There's tew of the eee ae at me as she would look at a snake.” night.” | Caleb an’ Nero, that have got some cevilment afoot, Da J Snakes have a way of making people look at | “What right have you to say that, sir? Do you | assart'inas Istand here. They as much as told = them like that. It must b? your style that makes _ know that you are accusing me of a falsehood?" | meso a bit ago.” } ,' her dis you, as I have carefully kept yourname | ‘Yes, and my lah is unquestionable. I took | Leon Delarosse had not a drop of coward bloodin _ Out of the business.” | to cause care OCU Ie 10 be made at Mar- | his veins,and though he was getting on inyears, . you say; but you must have let something | tigny, and ascertained beyond a doubt that you he was aman of quick and decisive action, eA? slip that she could take hold of. They suspect me, _ were not there.” “We must take those men and tiethemandshut ~~ among them there, especially that meddlesome | _ This was quite plain and pointed, but Paul was | them up,” said he. “ We willthusputastoptotheir = He . The old man has taken to treating me dis to show fight. ' schemes and force the truth from them. e must. re: ‘ very coldly, and has not had a pleasant word tosay _ *‘ Perhaps you consider that a fair and decent do it at once.” | aes )me since she came. He has more than hinted way of treating me,” he said. ‘‘ Who made those He called Fred Henning and Dennis Malone.and that he was likely to divide his property between me inquiries?” the four men armed themselves and went tothe =~ a ae Shas gia i “Thave no objection to telling you, though you negro-quarters, <9 a rea S . ee «Vn *. : ’ 4 snd is P, Pe a) “—. ' “e. a, 4 | a, . + \ ——e* . = + « ; Md bd ° : a Be ' : * . : ; * 2 nd aty ; Ge AO a | Te Se 2 Sa A GOMIGHDOCKS:. com * _ ‘ be ’ “ = , ’ e 70 * ’ aL -_ 4 . — ee a Lt E - t z - _. Py * » t ™ s 4 > F -.. rt q . . ‘ " 7 ae . si — ae ee : e- eT , : om j eel” et ye Zz ee | pi ak oe . “ a | be : ‘ Ps 4, ab we ‘ ‘ ee ~~. th. ~~ ’ ‘ ia - oe = , 7 ol