Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 289 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXX. DENNIS MALONE’S CLOSE CALL. Tre last blow that was struck by the leader of the Moccasins was the worst and the most effective of their efforts, and the conflict was soon over. _ It had, indeed, occupied but a brief space of time, as it was short and sharp, though not decisive. The decisive moment came Cirectly after Mr. De- larosse was struck down, Then several white men came galloping over the lawn, shouting as they urged their horses teward the house . They were men from Poindexter’s and Moriceau’s lantations, who had received the message sent by eon Delarosse, and had been prompt to hasten to his aid. At the sound of their shouts the remaining ne- groes hurried out of the house, and made the best of their way to the woods, But the new-comers, directed by Saul Stiner, over- hauled and captured more than one of them before they could make good their escape. ; Leon Delarosse was care‘ully carried into his own room, and the nearest physician was sent for in hot haste. . The question then arose, what had hecome of Den- nis Malone, who had not been seen since the strug- gle began. Zeke Tibbles was also missing from the house, though he had been there at the moment of the at- tack. The cause of the'r absence was not ascertained until matters about the mansion had measurably settled down. Dennis Malone had gone out on picket; but he seemed to consider that his duty required him to - * Y J ' Flush Fred’s Full Hand. . EE LL EEE EE LLL LT LT the head of the negro, shattering the stock, and knocking him down, f As the man strove to rise, he struck him again with the broken weapon. A cry from Kitty turned his attention in another direction, The negro he had fired at had been mere'y stunned for an instant, Gaining hi; feet at that critical moment, he sprung upon the white man with his knife. Dennis turned at Kitty’s cry, and received the blow of the knife on his shoulder. Again he raised the barrel of his rifle; but his antagonist grappled with him before he could strike. As Dennis had been badly wounded, and was al- ready weakened by the loss of blood, he stood little chance in that struggle. “Run, Kitty! Run!” he cried, with his failing breath. But Zeke Tibbles, coming on with long strides, like a panther leaping to the defense of its young, had already reached the spot. Placing his pistol directly a ainst the head of the negro who was struggling with Dennis, he fired, and Caleb was no longer of any value to any earthly master. Nero, whose hard head had successfully with- stood the lrishman’s furious blows, jumped up and ran away, followed by a bullet from the overseer that made him limp. Dennis, losing consciousness, had dropped upon the ground, and Kitty, throwing herself down at bis side burst into an agony of tears. “Ob, father, he is murdered!’ she sobbed, “ He to save me, and he fought so bravely. was fichtin If he is dead, it will kill me!” | yourself on that score,” replied Fred. ‘that Jonas Hexamer and those black people were trying to capture me again? If I have brought this trouble upon dear Mr. Delarosse and the rest ef bree shall never forgive myself for haviug ex- ster _ 7 “I believe that you have no cause to reproach “Tt seems to me, from the best light I can get on the matter. that this blow was struck at Mr. Delarosse, personally. I | judge that Hexamer was determined to kill him. and that the attack was made for that purpose. What is the reason of his spite against the old gen- tleman is more than I can imagine; but he must hate him with a deadly hatred, and it looks as if he had struck, a while ago. through you at Mr. Dela- rosse. This time he struck directly at the o.d gen- tleman.”’ ‘*] would rather that he should strike throurh me at Mr. Delarosse,’’ said Kate, ‘“*than through Mr. Delarosse at me.” *“ Well, we can’t always manage such things to suit ourselves, and I must confess that there are some points in this game that are not yet clear to me. But there is one thing Iam sure cf, and thatis that you ladies bad better stay where you are until we get the muss in the house cleaned up. Then you may come and see the old gentleman and do all you can for him.” The ‘‘muss *’ of which Fred spoke was the bodies of the slain negroes, and various pools and splotches of blood, which made the mansion look like a slaughter-house. He got through with the sickening task as speedi- ly as possible, with the help of Zeke Tibbles and the servants, General Prayham having been compelled to take to his bed, and Saul Stiner having gone ~~ watch particular] the house in which Kitty Tibbles “I hope he ain’t bad hurt."’ answered the over- | away with Satan as soon as the conflict was ended. lived with her father. seer. ** Bea woman, Kitty. Stand what yew have The neighbors were profuse in offers of assistance, It might have been noticed that he always quick- | ter stand, and dew the best yew kin. Call some of | and afew of them remained at Gravelly Bayou to ; ened his pace at the part of his round that brought | the niggers from the quarters, and git him inside. | help take care of the wounded; but of course they ci him in that direction, and it must be confessed | I must run up to the haouse and help the folks | could not be expected to act as scavengers, Shes that his round did not extend very far beyond that | there.” As soon as Dr. Addis had done what he con!'d for | quarter. But when he reached the house the fight was over. | Leon Delarosse, he was taken to the overscer’s cot- : Once when he neared the cottage he saw Kitty The men from the neighboring plantations had | tage to inspect the condition of Dennis Malone. i eal standing in front of it. arrived, and the Moccasins, or as many of them as e found Dennis in need of surgical care, but was ee She had doubtless seen him several times, and | were able to do so, had decamped., soon able to report that his wounds were not fata), Sq at last she ventured out to have a word with him. As soon as possible Zeke Tibbles told Fred Hen- | nor could they be considered dangerous, except we Dennis hastened to her, but only to let her know | ning of what had happened to his friend, and Fred | under very unfavorable conditions. neg that that was no time for love-making. hastened to the cottage with him. ‘* Fortunately no vital organ has been touched,”’ a “Och. wirra, wirra, Kitty me darlint!’’ he ex- Kitty had displayed praiswortly energy and nerve | said he, ‘‘and the hole through the body and the vn claimed, “ phwativer be’s you doin’ out here anny- | in caring for the wounded man, having half-per- | cut on the shoulder will heal in good time, with at how?” suaded and half-forced the frightened negroes to | proper attention. Youth and a good constitution e,* Kitty answered that she fancied that he wanted a him into her father’s house. will pull this patient ght gs though it may be fe | to see her, and had stepped out to speak to him. When he was laid on a be4, the sight of the blood | quite a while before he will be able to leave this eS “But it’s in the house yez must be, alannah, shut | and his unconscious condition overeame her, and | bed.” oe up as tight as a drum, beca’se there's goin’ to be the | she was as helpless as he was in the hands ef the When the physician had dressed his wounds and » 5 dfvil to pay on this plantation the night.” servants, gone away, Dennis beckoned to to come . ia Kitty, whose father was up at the mansion, wanted Flush Fred hastily opened his friend’s clothes, | nearer, and whispered to him: maar to know what was the matter, and Dennistold her | and discovered that he had a serious pistol-shot “Tt’s the lucky b’ye that I am, Fred. This is the F “ briefly but plainiv. wound in his side, as well as a bad cut on the shoul- | best thing as could ha’ happened me.” ree “So yez see, Kitty dear, yez must git into the | der, “Why sof” Age house, an’ lock up yer swate self, an’ kape out av After stopping the flow of blood as well as he “T’ll be here wid Kitty. They won't dare to move en tae the way whin the fightin’ begins.” could, he poured some brandy down the throat of | me—will they?” bao, * But who will take care of me, Dennis, if the | the wounded man, who soon recovered conscious: “No. I will speak to Dr. Addis, and get him to eet fightin’ comes over here?”’ ness. give strict orders that you are not to stir from ee ‘It won't come over here, an’ it’s mesilf will look ** Where's Kitty?’ were the first words he uttered. | here.” * xk afther yez wid all the eyes I've got. Run in now, Kitty, who had come out of her swoon, hastened “Yez tumble to me racket, thin. It's a jewel yez ' + darlint; fur I must go an’ watch fur the inimy.” to show herself to him. are, Fred, an’ I'm glad I shtuck to yez.” taoH Dennis started on his rounds, but Kitty did not go ** You are badly hurt, my boy,”’ said Fred. As soon as the house was = in a decent condi- td ih ee into the house immediately. “But I’ve learned somethin’,”’ faintly answered | tion, Fred Henning went in to see Mr. Delarosse, as oe Tok Her father had not told her that there was any- | Dennis. the old gentleman had sent for him. . eae thing wrong, and she had not witnessed any unusual ** What is that?” He found the wounded man very weak, but pass- ‘ai commotion or excitement about the place, and she ‘One naygur is harder to kill than half a dozen | ably free from pain, with a clear head, and witha she Ty was not sure that her lover was not trying to “run | Irishmen,” due sense of his impending fate and of all his re- ot oe a rig’’ on her. spensibilities. ; r re Ke Consequently she suffered her curiosity to over- CHAPTER XXXL. He first asked abcut Dennis Malone, and expressed BAe rule her discretion, and remained out-of-doors, AFTER THE BATTLE. his thankfulness when he was informed t th Away watching the receding figure of Dennis until it was | Tue account of stock taken after the battle of | young Irishman was doing finely and likely soon to rae. lost in the darkness. Gravelly Bayou showed a serious array of casual | get well of his wounds. fom yh When the shots and yells of the attacking Mocca- | ties on both sides. “But you must not talk much, Mr. Delarosse,”” me 4° sins startled the plantation, Kitty knew at once that If the assailants had been properly led, and had | said Fred. “ Dr. Addis was particular in giving that aa oy she had not been deceived, and started to run into | kept together, and had been fairly well armed, not a | order.”’ ogee the house. white man would have been left alive at the Dela- “T won't talk much. I know what I can stand as S25 But there was a formidable obstacle.in the'way. rosse mansion. well as the doctor does. But thereisonethingthat = = Caleb and Nero, the two bad negroes regs en 4 to| As it was, it had been touch and go with them, | I want to speak to you about. That nephew ofmine — the plantation who were with the assailants, an | and they had suffered severely. —I understand that he cut a good figure in the | 14 object of their own to serve in Joining the Mocca- Four of the negroes were dead in the house, one at | fight.” yas sins, besides the general purpose in which they co- | the foot of the steps that led up to the back porch, ‘How did you hear that, sir?” heey operated with the others. and one near Zeke Tibbles’s cottage. “General Brayham told me thathesawPauldown ~— They wanted to work out a special spite against One who had been captured, pretty badly wound- | stairs in the thick of it. handling bis revolverlikea Zeke Tibbles. ed, proved to be Jim, the young man who had belped | man, and the general admitted that he was Pe ae With that end in view, they did not accompany | Kate Helmsley to escape from the island. as he had not expected that of him.” ey the others in the rush upon the house, but took a| Another, slightly wounded in the leg, was Nero, | Fred said noth ng. erty: straight course to the overseer's cottage. one of the plantation rebels. “T had bim in here a while ago.” continued the = They reached it in time to find Kitty outside, and Saul Stiner was the only one of the white men who | old gentleman, ‘“‘and complimented him onhiscon- * to cut off her retreat. had not got a scratch. duct. He was quite modest about it, only saying Nothing could have suited them better. General Brayham had received a flesh wound and | that he had tried to do his best.” ! _ Inno way could se A strike the oversecr so effec- | a few contusions, and Fred Henning’s left shoulder Fred had been emg the matter, and had oe ero h his daughter. bad been scratched by Paul Delarosse’s bullet. come to the conclusion that it was best to speak = Zeke Tibbles heard her shriek when she found her- But the wounds which Leon Delarosse had re- pla‘nly. . +, ee self confronted by the two black men who had be- | ceived were the most severe and serious. “Tt was as well that he should be modest,” said ‘ros come fiends. Jonas Hexamer had struck with the intention of | Fred. “I suppose you want the truth, Mr. Dela~ He had just then rushed from the fro.t to the | making asure thing of the object of the atiack, as | rosse.” i oe back — to meet the attack in that quarter, far as he was concerned, “Of courseI do. Thatis whatIalwaysexpectto A Moccasin who had just mounts! the porch When Doctor Addis arrived and examined the old | get from + att goa is?! oom aimed a furious blow at him with o club as that | gentleman’s wounds, he shook his head sadly. “That is what you will get, asfar as I knowit,” ir shriek rung in his ears. The assassin’s knife at one thrust had penetrated | said Fred. and he turned bis leftshouldertoward the stepping aside to dodge the blow, the | his hing, and the other stab was nearly as bad. bed. ‘Do you see this hole in my coat?” + NS overseer pistol in the face of bis assailant, | The opinion of the bape y as privately ex- ** Yes,” 27 ee and the man tumbled backward down the steps. ressed to General Brayham and Fred Fiedning, was “There is a wound under it, but @ slight.ome— | At the same instant Zeke Tibbles leaped to the | by no means encouraging. ide gr rorth speaking of. Itwasmadebyabullet ground, and ran to the aid of his daughter. “If Mr. Delarogsse were a younger and stronger | from the pistol which your nephew was handling so But Dennis Malone was there before him. man,” said he, “there might be some hope for him; | manfully.” —- in - e The Irishman was ret toward the cottage | but at his time of life those wounds may be expected “What! Do you mean to say that he shot at ~~ when he was startled by the sudden outburst of | to killhim. Under favorable conditions of weather | you?” nt aie shoeting and yelling. and care he may cling to life a week or so, or he ‘*T mean to say that he fired but two a ie a Above all that horrid concert. of hideous noises he | may drop off very shortly. I would not engage to keep at that time the man at whom he said he was firing heard Kitty’s cry, and he ran like a deer to the spot | him in this world for any specified length of time.” | wasdown. One of his bullets struck the wallclose { where he had left her. Leon Delarosse invisted upon being informed of | to my head, and the other made this hole in my | He saw her struggling in the grasp of a big negro, | what he had to expect, and the physician was | coat. He was handling his revolver so badly that ies w another was rapidly approac them. obliged to give him substantially the same opinion | felt competled to knock him down and takeitaway g rifle as he ran, Dennis halted just | which he had given the others. from him. If I had not been delayedinthat way,[ — long enough tob it to his shoulder and fire at the a you have any affairs that you want to put in | could have come to grr’ help sooner Tas: 3) oe man who was g. order,” said Doctor Addis, *t‘you had better attend | Did he tell you about that?” ‘ean gh eS discharged weapon by the barrel, he | to them while you can.” “Not he. He took my compliment as if he de- | sae then rushed upon the other. **Very well,’ answered tbe old gentleman, ‘I | served it. That will do, He . I thoughtIsaw The fellow at whom he fired had dro and his | will try to neg posing thee I ought to do.” a glimmer of light for the lad; butitisoutnow.” comrade, + bape the shot and the fall, loosed F yay her sad news to Mrs. Bray- ‘Tam I should have been the one to eng his hold of Kity, turned to face his foe with a | ham and Kate Helmsley, who had been directed put it out, sir; but the truth ought to be told.” *)atel leveled pistol. remain a while puget inthe room where they had “Tunderstand it. I know something more about _ By! Dennis reached him, he fired. taken refuge, as it was feared that the shocking | him, Fred, ee I have not told you yet.” | ee ees ») ; Irishman was staggered by the shot, but hesi- | sights then visible about the houre would be too “Don't tell it now, sir. You havetalkedtoo = = ara eh , only a@ second, much for their nerves. | much. I send Miss Helms'ey intosit with you, A i. ake brought down his rifle with crushing force on | “Do you suppose, Mr, Sancing, - inquired Kate, | with instructions to keep you quiet.” ed cat at) Da -: ; Qt 4 Po, is RA ¥ a Pe al ? y Tic rs oe * ~~ - a | A ae al a 2 7" i OT RE er aee oe Sate eM ical, AY ot Rea aL a COMMGIOOKS COM