Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 289 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

: } - 4 ry - . . : » , al : ——- o - — —. _— a Ss sate aw Pa — - 79 a>. # “7 - . es" « . ¢, « ~ - 7 | here?” | cf - Saul Stiner.” with Henning to tled that that gen eman should decide what should 24 In the mean time other logs had been cut, which were speedily floated into position beyond the tops Flush Fred’s Full Hand. a —- “IT do not wish him that fate. I hate him just enough to wish him well out of my way, and the of the cypresses, making a rude bridge from the ; further he is from here the better I will be pleased.” shore to the island. CHAPTER XXXVI. A REDEEMING TRAIT. THe leader gave the order to advance. and Jack Poindexter was the first man over the bridge, with Fred Henning close at hs heels. There was no opposition to their crossing, nor did they find any person to oppose them when they } reached the island. Near the shore, part'y concealed by the trunk of a fallen tree, they found the body of the black man who had been fighting them. There were three bullets in his body, and there could be no doubt that he had fought as long as he could |.ft his rifle. But where was the white man? amer? It was certain that he was there, and that Major Poindexter and his twenty meu, who had all crossed over to the island, would soon unearth him. Splotches of biood were soon found on the grass and leaves, at a little distance from where the black man lay, and from this spot extended a trail of blood that was easily followed. It led the searchers to the smaller of two huts that stood near the eastern end of the island. This was, in fact, the hut which Kate Helmsley Where was Hex- ‘had been compelled to occupy with old Dinah. The coor was open, but the interior of the hovel was quite dark. Yet, no sooner had Fred Henning thrust his head inside the door, than the report of a pistol broke the silence, and its flash lighted up the dark and dirty apartinent. By the flash Fred saw Paul Delarosse standing in front of a man who lay on the floor in a corner. He sprung upon the young man as the pistol was vainly snapped again, and wrested the weapon from his han. * You sha'n't have him!’ screamed Paul, ‘ Don’t touch him! You have shot him, and now he is dy- Ing: Leave him alone!” e struggled so flercely, screeching and scratch- ing, and biting like a young wild-cat, that Fred was onnged to call on Jack Poindexter to help subdue **T’ve a great mind to blow out the young repiile’s brains if he’s got any,” said Jack ‘No!’ exclaimed Flush Fred. ‘We ought not to hurt him. There is a redeeming trait in his charac- ter that i did not know he had. He has fought for his wounded fatber here, and we have no evidence that he t:as fought against us. in any other way, really did not think it was in him.” As muci pene as possibile was let into the cabia, and Jonas Hexamer was plainiy seen lying there, bathed in his own blood. lt was clear that he was fast losing his hold upon life; but he was bold and stubborn to the last, “You got in too late,” he said, faintly. “I will soon be beyond your reach.” A little sooner than he expected, perhaps. pany had he spoken when he gasped convulsive- ly, and his earthly career was ended. aul, who had sobered down when he perceived the uselessness of resistance, burst into tears. When his paroxysm of grief had subsided, Fred Henning proceeded to question the YOUNG spn. “1s that man whois lying there Dick Ennis? and is he your father?” ‘* He was my father; but he is dead now.” “Yes, and he deserved to die a harder death. How did aan and he happen to be here on this island ell me the truth now, if you want us to be merciful to you.” “I came here to him when I went away from Gravelly Bayeu. I knew that he would be waiting here for news. I heard what the old woman said to General Bravham, and hurried here to tell him that the game was up.” * The story sue told was true, then?’ * Don’t you know it was? We would have been safeit we hadn’t found out that David Delarosse and his son were living near here. They drepped on our game, and that was what knocked us.” “ How did you learn that they were here?” ‘* He ’—poiating at the dead man—‘‘ came upon it by accident.” “What names did they go by when they were “Don’t you know? I thought ou knew every- thing. They called themselves avid Stiner and “IT thought so,’ said Fred. ‘ But you_ have not told me why it was that we found you stillhere. [I Lthat you would get out of the country when you knew that your game was up,”’ ‘*We meant to; but he’’—pvinting at the dead man again—‘‘was taken sick and was unable to move. Yesterday was the first day he was able to t about at all, and to-day we meant to go away. But you have stopped that.”’ *Yes, we stopped it. That is all I wanted to know. You must go with us peaceably, now, and we will soon decide what we shall do with you.’ Graves were dug iv the sandy soil of the island and the bodies of the so-called Jonas Hexamer an the black refugee were hastily buried. Then the huts were fired, and by the light of their burning the party crossed the bridge of cypresses, and set out to return to their homes. The recent Paul Delarosse accompanied them quite submissively, and from Poindexter’s he went ravelly bayou, as it had been set- be done with the young reprobate. In Fred's opinion Kate Helmsley was entitled to have someth ng to say in the settlement of that question, and he rode over to Mrs. Brenner's the next morning to report the capture to the young lady and consult her concerning it. “Give him some money and send him away,’ was Kate’s prompt reply. “Then you want, according to the old saying, to eri eg ee of fire on his bead,” suggested Fred. ‘No; 1 was thinking of the old saying about build- a bridge of gold for a flying eneiny.”’ “Perhaps that will be best. His father is dead, and he is likely to come to the gallows without any help from us.”’+ , “Very well. I will do as you say.” “T have no money, and must ask you to provide ite" ‘*T can do that. Your credit is good.” ‘Tg there nothing else you wish to consult me about, Mr. Henning?” * Nothing at present, I believe.” Again he went away without saying what he | wanted to say, and feeling very much ashamed of himself. ; He gave his prisoner a sum of money and told him to go to Martigny and take passage on the first steamboat down the river. “This will take you to New Orleans,” said he, “and keep you a while after you get there. If you want to go back to Europe, you can find a chance to work your passage. Anyhow, you must work, and I advise you to try to be honest.” CHAPTER XXXVIT. FLUSH FRED'S FULL HAND, Artrr he had obeyed Kate Helmsley’s instruc- tions by building a bridge of gold for the young reprobate whom she had spoken of as a flying enemy, Flush Fred went to the overseer’s cottage to report the success cf the expedition to Dennis Malone, He found Dennis seated in the shade near the house, smoking, quite at his ease, and evidently well satisfied with himself and his surroundings, As far as his bodily condition was concerned there was no reason why he should not take up his quar- ters at the mansion; but. his spiritual or emotional wants could be better supplied where be was, and Dr. Addis had been easily persuaded to order that | he should remain there for the present. He had already received a gh y good account of the siege of the swamp island and its result, and he congratulated Fred upon having got rid of the father and son who had made so much trouble for the peo- ple of Gravelly Bayou. ‘And now, Fred,’ continued the jolly young Irishman, ‘‘whin is the heir goin’ to marry the heiress?” ‘*What do you mean?” demanded Fred, suddenly becoming stupid. ‘An’ is it phwat do I mane? Sure an’ yez know phwat I mane. Whin is Flush Fred Hennin’ goin’ to marry the lady of his love, Miss Kate Helmsley ?”’ “T don't know, Dennis. I don’s suppose that I am ever to marry her at all. She has never said that she wanted to marry me." ‘“An’ phwat w'u'd she be sayin’ that fur? Is it her place thin? I hope yez haven't gone back on her, Fred.” ‘* No, indeed.” **Phwat’s to pay, thin? It can't be that yez niver axed her.” ‘* Honestly, Dennis, I have never been able to get | bg courage to do that.”’ e Irishman looked his friend over with a puz- zled expression of countenance, and then put his wonder into words. ‘*Yez niver axed her. It’s the quarest thing intoirely. I’ve axed Kitty ag’in and ag’io, an said yis as manny times, an’ it’s only the ould mon that’s in the way. But there’s nothin’ in your way, excipt— I say, Fred, yez w’u'dn’t sthrike a cripple w'u'd yez?” “Strike a cripple? Of course not.” “Thin Imust free my mind an’ abuse yez fur as big a fool as iver stepped in shoe-leather.”’ Fred turned away abruptly. ‘* Yez ain’t goin’ off mad, | hope?” “Tam not going off mad, but I am going off. This is the second time lately that I have been called a fool, and I believe I am a fool.”’ It was evident that he did not intend to lay him- self liable to be called a fool any more, if a desperate resolve could prevent the application of that epithet. He saddled a horse and.rode to Mrs, Brenner's | 255 THE rw so as not to give his resolve time to cool, ‘““You have returned very soon,”’ said Kate, “TI hope you have had no trouble with that young fellow.” “None at all,’ he answered. ‘He was glad enough to take the money and go away.” “Ts it a business trouble, then, that has brought you back?”’ “That is what it is—a matter of business. Will you walk out with me, and let me tell you about it?” “Of course I will, though I would not have sup- posed that you would be so very particular about any mere matters of business that Mrs, Brenner could not hear of them,”’ Fred actually blushed, and Mrs, Brenner noticed it. if Kate did not. They had hardly got outside of the house when he plunged into the subject abruptly, if not boldly. ‘‘it’s about your share of the estate over yonder Miss Helmsleéy.”’ What can be the matter with it * Dear me! now?” The fact is that I don’t see my way clear to manage your share of the estate and ‘*Nothing new, my own. ‘Indeed! I had thought that you could not take care of one part without taking care of the other.” “So it would seem; but this is a peculiar case. The two parts are so tangled up, and at the same | time so separate, that they ought to be brought to- gether. I think I must give you my share.” rf Give me your share?” exclaimed Kate, in sur- se, ‘Yes, if you will take me with it.” If she blushed at this abrupt proposal, Fred Hen- pine did not see the blush, as she turned away her ead, ‘* Have you any special reason for wishing to part with so the’ valuable property?’ she mildly in- quired, “Oh, Miss Helmsley!—Kate!—don't you know that I love you?” He had done it; but the effort almost overcame m. Bluffing on a bobtail flush was nothing to that. As for she stood up for ber si and proceeded to pull him through. e mapfully, / | “*It seems to me that I have known that for some time.”’ she smilingly remarked. , “Have you? Oh, Kate!” “Why, yes. Don’t you suppose that I had eyes, as well as poor Mr. Delarosse? It would seem that I, whe was so much more deeply in'erested than he, might see what he could easily see. It is you who have been blind.”’ ‘*T have been called a coward and a fool. and now you tell me that | was blind.” ‘Indeed you were. If your eyes bad been open, you could not have failed to see that I was very— very fond of you.”’ ‘ It was not such a terrible ordeal, after all: but Fred recognized the fact that he had been merci- fully assisted, He would have embraced her at the instant; but she waved him off. ‘‘But how are we to settle the business matter that you spoke of?’ she asked. “Tf you do care for me, Kate, you will take my share of the property, and me with it.” “To make things even, then, I must give you my eet and myself, and how will the business stand then?"’ ‘Just as it ought to. Then we will be married, and will manage the estate together,” “Oh, that way! Well, Fred, as a matter of busi- ness—’ He did not allow her to make any clearly audible remarks for a while, and she went Into the business of blushing. ‘“T would have spoken to you long ago,” said Fred; *“*but | was afraid you would not listen to me, as | was what I was.’ ‘You are not of that line of life now,” she sug. gested, : . ‘*Yes: but you have dealt mea full hand, and I mean to bet on it as long as I live.” The marriage day was not fixed at that interview; but it was not long before the entire business was satisfactorily settled in the only practical manner, and Fred Henning and Kate Helmsley were made one, to match their joint estates. . Ss aeete Malone came in for a similar stock of elicity. Zeke Tibbles had carefully taken his measure while he was an invalid. and had come to the con- clusion, as he expressed it, that Dennis was “a raal good man, fur an Irishman,” He was obliged to recognize the fact that Dennis had fought bravely in defense of his daughter at | the battle of Gravelly Bayou, and the further fact that Kitty’s heart was completely in the young Irishman’s possession. He was assailed, also, by the advice and impor- -_—-_ - is no wonder tl at he yielded. So Dennis made a trip to pick up the dropped stitches of his business, and on his return kitty Tibbles became Kitty Malone, and was pleased with the change of name, as well as with the change of station, Fred Henning and his wife, as master and mis- tress of the Gravelly Bayou estate, already had the ' _ respect and esteem of their neighbors, and speedily out, | she’s | Lecame immensely popular, Old Dinah and her * baby *’ were annexed to the p “emis a lot with which they were well content CU, As for Nero, he was seut to New Orleans and sold —an operation which was at least more profitable than Jegal punishment, THE END. ee Beadle’s Dime Library. 250 Tue Rover Rivers. By Buckskin Sam. ... 251 TiaeR Dick vs. Iron DesPARD. By Warne. 252 Tue WALL StrREET ELoop. By A. W. Aiken. 953 A YANKEE Cossack By Capt. F. Whittaker. 254 Grant JAKE. By Nowton M. Curtis. PrraTeE Priest. By Col. P. Ingraham. 256 DouBLE DAN, THE DasTaRD. Buckskin Sam. 957 Deatau-TraP Dieaines. Py Jos: E. Badger, 258 Butter Heap. By ta oy Mark Wilton. ... 959 CurLAsSs AND Cross. By Col. P. Ingraham. | 260 THe Maskep Mystery. By A. P. Morris.... 2961 BLack Sam. By Colonel Jo Yards........... 262 Ficutixe Tom. By Col, T. H. Monstery...... 263 TRoN-ARMED ABE. By Capt. Mark Wilton... 264 Tue Crooked Tarer. By Buckskin Sam... 265 Op Dovuste-Sworp. By (Capt. F. Whittaker. | 266 Leoparp Luke, By Captain Mark Wilton . 267 Tue Wuitr Squaw. By Capt. Mayne Reid. | 268 Maaic Mike, By William R. Eyster... ... | 269 Toe Bayou Bravo. By Buckskin Sam_. | 270 ANDROS, THE Free Rover. By Ned Buntiline, | 271 Sronerist, or Bia Nvaget Benp. By Capt. | Mark Wilton ..... Cele Oe 272 Sern Stocum. By Captain Fred, Whittaker. | 273 Mountars Mose. By Buckskin Sam......... | 274 Fitusa FRED. B Edward Willett + | 275 Tur Smuceter Currer. Ry J. D. Conroy.. 276 Texas CHICK. Captain Mark Wilton. ... 77 Toe Saucy JANE, PRIvATEER. By Capt. Fred 278 HERCULES pe Mgt H. Holmes. 279 Tue Goip-Dracon. By Wm. H. Manning... 280 BLack-Hoss BEn. By lipS. Warne, .. 1 , 281 THE Sea Ow.. By Col. Prentiss In am, 10¢ 982 Toe MeRcILEss UpErRS, By Buckskin er, Jr. x ‘Qa _F. Whittaker, 10c Goupspur. 44 €866¢ | 983 SLEEK Sam. By Jos. EK. Badger. . 284 Toe THREE FRIGATES. By Cap 285 LignTnIna Botr. B t. Mark Wilton.. 10c¢ 286 Pistot JOHNNY: or, One in a Thousand. By Joseph E. fey Vik AS WP rT 287 Danpy Dave. By Buckskin Sam..... > We EvLectrro Pere,the Man of Fire. By A. Morris. 10c 289 F'LusH Frep’s Fut Hann. By E. Willett..... 10¢ 200 Tae Lost Cory tre. By Capt. F. Whittaker. 10c 291 HorsesHor Hank. By Capt. Mark Wilton... 10¢ 292 Moke Horner, the Boss Roustabout. By Jos. | E, Badger, Jr.....- irevss. 10S — "I A new issue every Wednesday, | Beadle’s Dime Library is for sale by all Newsdealers, ten cents per cop A AS ~% oo 9 receipt of twelve cents each. 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