Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 292 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

bh _ closely enveloped in Moke Horner, the Boss Roustabout. ‘The faithful negro, too, spoke of the many secret conferences which took place among the white portion of the rousters, prominent among whom were the two suspected of the felonious assault. He believed they were planning a surer blow, having discovered the failure of t e first, and suspecting their intended victim was secret- ly planning to bring them to the bar of justice for the crime. It was this information that led to the risky experiments which Marcus Dingeon made when Moke Horner and Purty Paddy faced each other in the fight which ended so curiously, It was his voice that so unnerved the prize figbter, and it was his living face that put the Irishman to flight. He took off his false beard, and turn- ing the green goggles so that the red light of the fire-crates shone through it, gave his pale and haggard countenance a truly ghastly ap- pearance All this, with much more for which we can find no space here, Marcus Dingeon ran over in his brain as he sat there guarded by one of the Fresh-water Sharks. The Water Witcb was still shaking from stem tc stern with each stroke of her mighty engines, proving plainly enough that she was still plow- aug her way up the swollen river, What were the ultimate intentions of Devil’s Dick? Would he be content with the rich booty he had already secured, and when a favorable point was reached, desert the vessel with his masked crew? Or would he, the more certainly to delay pursuit and lessen the number of wit- nesses against him, commit some hideous crime —scuttle or blow up the steamer? Turn whichever way he might, there was but ‘cant consolation to be gleaned. The situation was a desperate one, without a single ray of hope that he could discern. o gloomy and disagreeable were his thoughts, that Marcus Dingeon rose up in bis berth witha sound of actual pleasure.as the inner door of bis state-room was opened, to give admittance to Devil’s Dick. _ “Tell me—you have not injured her?’ he mouttered, hoarsely, his eyes glowing redly as he stared keenly into tke smooth face of the little man. ‘‘Haven’t harmed a hair of ber head, whom- ever you mean,” was the careless response, * If you've got wife or chick in yonder, they are safe enough for the present, so don’t worry,” Strange as it may appear, Marcus did not for one instant doubt the truth of the assertion, and he sunk back, his brain whirling, his blood tingling sharply through every vein. Fora few moments it seemed as though he would suffo- cate with joy. Devil’s Dick gazed at him curiously by the dim light that.came in through the open tran- som, his lips curling sardonically; but before that blinding mist passed away from before the vision of the young lawyer, the face of the no- torious desperado was cold and inscrutable as a mask of stone, “By the way, Mr. Dingeon, have you any very serious objections to taxe a little prome- nade with me?” *‘ What do you mean?” asked Marcus, doubt- ingly. e Sast what I say, of course,” was the some- what tart retort. “If I beg asa favor what I have the right to enforce, it is because I know you are a gentleman. Being sucb, I would re- gret having to force you along like some surly prisoner going tothe bar. If you decline, how- ever, that is what it will resultin. Do I make my meaning sufficiently clear for your compre- hension, my dear sir?” Marcus stared him full in the face fora few moments, striving to read there the truth, only to be completely foiled by the iron nerve of the des do. Then he said, slowly: “You have the power, as you say, and it would be worse than useless for me to think of resisting your will. I will go with you. If you mean to foully murder me, may Heav- en — down its vengeance on your guilty head!” ‘I don’t think Heaven troubles itself much about my private affairs,” laughed Devil’s Dick, with a shrug of his shoulders as he turned to the masked guard. ‘‘ Open the outer door, lad, and then you ean join your mates. I can look after this gentleman myself from this time on,” The Fresh-water Shark unbolted and opened the door of the lattice-work which opened on- to the side and linking one arm wi:h bis- prisoner, Devil Dick’s sidled through the narrow aperture and led the way toward the side ladder a few yards toward the stern from the state-room just deserted. “After you, my dear sir,” he said, slipping his arm free and motioning for the young Jawyer to ascend. ‘There’s hardly room for ‘two to abreast, and ’m not much afraid of your jumping overboard before I can follow —with your wrists so neatly ornamented!” In silence Marcus Dingeon ascended to. the hurricane-deck where he was promptly joined by the chief of the Fresh-water Shar Di- rectly before them, standing near the stern of the Water Witc a rT : 7 : 2 ‘ rf . tp ae. = aey , ws, was a tall, dark » i a heavy cloak, the collar f= oe’ es oe ee as y rae OP ae — Ae or. 4 . : te Ae Sat ieee i ie: aie EEE i EE mane = ss ST Se ga up to meet the slouched brim of his felt at ‘‘ A particular friend of mine, Mr, Dingeon,” said Devil’s Dick, with an airy wave of his hand toward the somber figure. ‘‘ He has long admired you from a distance, and now that an opportunity offers of forming your acquaint- ance, he really could not wait untilday, Gen- tlemen, know each otber!” Acting on an impulse which he could not re- sist, Marcus stepped swiftly forward and with a stroke of his manacled bands, struck off the drooping hat which sbadowed the face of the cloaked man. With an oath of angry surprise, the man jumped back, flashing forth a knife, while Devil’s Dick caught the lawyer around the body, whirling him back with a display of strengen not to be expected in one of his com- paratively slight build, a savage curse grating through his clinched teeth. ‘““What do you mean, fool? Do you want to slit your own throat?’ he angrily muttered, holding Marcus powerless. **T merely wished to see the face of the one who honored me with his admiration,” the law- yer laughed, shortly. ‘It is well for him that he took the precaution to mask his face!’ ‘* And well for you, hot-head!” coldly retort- ed Devil’s Dick, as he released his captive. ‘Had you caught a glimpse of bis face, you would ere this be exploring the muddy bottom of the Mississippi river with a hole through your brains or an artificial mouth below your chin. Partner, I leave bim with you for the present. Treat him kindly,and return him in as good order as his good sense or bad folly will permit,” Without another word he turned away and left the two men facing each otber on the deck. ‘* Marcus Dingeon,” uttered the masked man, his voice deep and hoarse, plainly disguised ; ‘‘ your life is wholly at my mercy. I can take or I canspare it, just asI elect. If you prove ourself deserving, when we separate after this interview, you will be a free man, at liberty to go and come as you cboose, You will have every article which those men took from you in the cabin, restored without price or reward.” Marcus Dingeon watched the man closely, trying to recognize his shape or the tones of his voice, but in each particular be was doomed to utter disappointment. The heavy folds of the cloak prevented the former, and the mask which covered his face, lent its aid in disguising the voice of the unknown, ‘“*You are wonderfully generous, my dear sir,” retorted the young lawyer, sarcastically, as the unknown paused as though waiting for an answer tobis opening speech. ‘‘In these degenerate days, a man seldom gives something for nothing, and highly as your worthy mate, Devil’s Dick, seems to rate you, 1 do not be- lieve you are to prove the exception to the gen- eralrule, Not to put it too plainly, you are attempting to bribe me. May I ask what it is you expect me to do in return?” The masked man hesitated for a brief space, then said: ‘*You were once a favored suitor for the hand and fortune of Miss Drusilla Ward, I be- lieve!” The young lawyer started at this wholly un- expected question, and then a suspicion flashed across his brain that made his nerves tingle and his breath to come in a short gasp. But bya desperate effort he controlled his emotions, “If you please, Sir Mask, we will not intro- duce the name of that, or any other xoung lady into our conversation,” he said, cooll na ee CR you can prove yourself an honest man, and show fair excuse for asking such an impertinent question, then I may possible answer it. As it is, I firmly decline.” A “dane hard Jaugh came from beneath the mas ‘“*You have answered the query with suf- ficient plainness, even had I needed to receive the assurance from your lips,” he retorted, ing over the studied insult without notice. **T know that you have paid close attention to Miss Ward, [ am aware that the fair lady smiled on your suit, until some compassionate friends kindly opened her eyes to your real character, showing you as the son of a guilty mother and an even less respectable father, as one who was speculating in advance on her prospective fortune; and as the husband of one wife, even whi'e you were straining every nerve to secure another and richer if not more beautiful one!” ** All of which I denounce as lies, base as the brain that conceived and the tongue that uttered them!” impetuously cried Marcus, his enforced copsposare failing him. ith an agile leap, the cloaked figure placed himself so as to face the stern of the Water Witch, thus cutting Marcus off from the side ladders without trying to pass in the face of his gleaming knife. ‘Keep your savagely. ‘I’m on my guard now against your tricks. Even if you could elude my weapons, you would soon be brought up with a roun turn by some of the Fresh-water Sharks, as position, fellow!” be muttered, Oe et ak sikkonn dale) Don’t get fr nec our Own ow ess OS at ae ug Se tx! 25 contemptuously laughed Marcus. “I would not soil my hands by touching your vile car- cass, when I know that the hangman has al- ready marked it as his own property te The masked man suddenly recovered from the temporary panic which had so suddenly gotten the better of him, and his voice was cold and hard as he added: ‘* Lies or truth, they have poisoned the mind of Horace Ward against you, and he has sworn to shoot you at sight, as he would a mad-dog. The fair lady also believes you guilty—as how could she help it, in the face of such over- whelming proofs, to say nothing of your fail- ing tu keep cope appointment? At the same time, like all silly girls who imagine them- selves in love, a few soft words from your lips would doubtless conyince her that you had been terribly wronged. For certain reasons which I need not dwell upon more pas iculaae. just now, I am determined to make this ru ture between you two a permaneis one. This can be managed by sending you to the other world, but I don’t wish to treat you that severely, if it is possible to comefto a more agreeable UDAgTSERG IG. ‘*Once more, Marcus Dingeon, I say that you can save your life and property, besides secur- ing your immediate liberty, if you will take an oath such as lam ready to prescribe to pay a visit to Miss Ward, and in my presence swear to her that all those charges are true—that you are the Jawful busband of Rose Enright.” For answer Marcus Dingeon laughed, cold and scornfully. ‘** Beware!” sternly cried the mask, in his ex- citement forgetting the precautions he had thus far taken to disguise bis natural tones. “It is your last chance for life! If you refuse to aa my offer, I swear to you by all that mankind holds holy, I will kill you without giving you time to mutter a single prayer for mercy or salvation!” “ eres the death of a man than the life of a cur!’ - Ss “If you do not value your own life, then consider the welfare of the woman whom you pretend to love, This boat is in the hands of - men who know no mercy. They are on point of taking it out of the river into a smaller stream, whichis now. high enough for her to run a score of miles faland, where there are no inbabitants save the wild beasts. There she will be run aground and destroyed. The ssengers will be bound and left to share ber ate—all save the women, Drusilla Ward will be given a chance to marry one who need not — be mentioned by name at present. If she re- — fuses worse will befall her, There is no possi- ble way for her to escape dishonor save by wedding the man I refer to, She will refuse as long as she believes you are true to her. If — you tell ber what I have prescribed her Gontage will be broken and she will yield her consent to the— Ha!” besuddenly exclaimed, graspingthe = horrified Ni bal by the arm and. pobning * tak the abrupt change of course which just then took place, ‘See for yourself! The Water Witch is leaving the river to plunge into the very heart of the overflow,” | is ? ed by strong ae Osea ou ’ il At 2 - ‘ ar o*. - a? ay! <= P; ° € ecleels * ~ 4. am on te ey. — It was indeed so. Guid skillful hands at the wheel the boat turned ¥, of the rolling current, pushing her nose up what. was ordinarily a shallow creek, but which now ran level with the Mississippi, hay- ing quite a powerful current, its waters extend- ing ar to either side half-way up the trunksof _ the trees, ; ¢ 0 One swift glance Marcus Dingeon gave this, then his ironed wrists were lifted to deal a es vicious blow at the head of the masked man, as he grated between his teeth: ol p ‘*] know you now, Gideon Gillespie! To you I owe all this—you are the demon who would ~ ruin my love!” ae hed in? A took partial effect, for the fons The stroke onl masked man dodged, kicking the feet of his — } —= rt ~ a ue > a tad Pe assailant from under him, as he fell =< cus was grasped in ate arms, borne to the rail, then released while his foe drewapistol, — and, thrusting it almost against his hb fired. { With a gasping cry the poor fellow reeled over the rail, falling With a sullen plunge into the rushing waters ¥ CHAPTER XXII. Bee! SATAN RECEIVES HIS DUES, Foy. 2 FreRceLy, remorselessly the assassin bent 3 no over the rear guards and watched for the reap- pearance of vi pistol in band, ready to 4 send another shot at bis brain the instant his —_—| head should break water. Glowing red ly ee through the holes in his mask, biseyes roved rapidly to and fro, noting each curling waveas itroseand broke after the Water Witch, with \ uj each second believing he caught aglimpseof | his rival, only to discover the error beforeeven bis keen eye and ready hand could bring the derringer to bear with certainty. Andthen,as full five minutes vege by without aught of Mareus Dingeon, his murderer turned away s the i river was left further be hind them, the new owners of the Water W. ch | put her under greatly reduced speed, barely ecie yb n a, ; vy S| wh . ve -F ~ t.4 -_ nla ~ ea! > oO ee Red