Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 322 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

' 8 copying in the office to-night, at the request of my employer, and it was when I brought the papers to him, that he might give them to Mr, Montgomery early in the morning, that I made the dreadful discovery which you see, * Don’t you smell chloroform? The miscreant -—_ mm ee + ee administered the drug to the poor girl, and then | placed her where she is, You will find no cblo- roform about me; and I can prove, by the evi- dence of Miss Norrington berself, that Rodney Reed struck me senseless, as I have just told you, causing this wound upon my head,” “| should be greatly relieved, could [ believe oer story, Coleman,” said Brackett: ‘for I do ate to think that such a min as you have al- ways appeared to be, should be so infamous a scoundrel; but the evidence is too strong. Be- sides, you are the perfect picture of guilf.” Clarence was silent for a moment, Then, glancing at Nora, he said: ‘For mercy’s sake gentlemen, bave Miss Nor- rington removed from this horrible room! If “om should recover, this would be the death of er. ‘*Thnat’s a game of his,” said Brackett, ‘** to get us to move the young lady, and in that way give him a chance to oe Keep your posi- op, Brown! Here,”—calling to the servants —*take your mistress to her own room, in- stantly! You seem frightened out of your senses, and no wonder.” Having released Nora, and given her in charge to the negro woman, Brown returned to the as- sistance of his companion; Clarence having kept his gaze upon the idol of his heart, while she was witbin view, Would he ever see her egain? Never! Came the answer, thoughts. Could it be that Nora Norrington believed him to be the murderer of her father? Such were some of the thoughts that came into the young man’s mind. Then were heard the mad shouts and yells of a mob of men, as they rushed down the river, coming from the city. A groan of agony and despair came from the lips of Clarence Coleman. He knew that there was no mercy in that crowd—knew that he was doomed to die an ignominious death! Should he die thus, knowing that he was the victin: of the dastardly assassin, Rodney Reed? Should he tamely submit to have a rope tied around his neck, and be hanged like a dog—he, who bad never wronged any man? Should such a miscreant as Reed escape, to darken further the life of Nora Norrington, for whom, doubtless, the crime had been commit- ted? This last thought was maddening, and caused him to brace himself for what was before him. It nerved bis strong frame to the strength of several men, giviog bim a determination to fight for his life; and to vindicate the justice of Heaven, by bringing tho real assassin to retribu- tion—to death by the rope—that death which now stared him in the face. All this came to him in an instant, as the fierce and vengeful yells, and the cries for blood, came from the mad mob, made up of the worst aera of the Alamo City, and filled the bt air. ll respectable people bad long been in their beds, unless obliged to be up through the illness of others; and those who rushed toward the Norrington Mansion, were the night frequenters of the all-night bars of San Antonio. “‘No mercy from that mob!” Such was the soliloquy of Clarencs Coleman, as he gathered his strength to battle for life, that he might have time and opportunity to prove his innocence, and to bring the fiend in man’s shape to the death bis crime merited. He sprung forward like an enraged panther, clutchbi the revolver of Brackett by the barrel. renching the weapon free, he felled the astonished ranchero senseless beside the corpse of Norman Norrington, and then, quick as thought, another blow was delivered, knock- ing Brown senseless also. rusting the pistol of Brown into bis belt, and holding Brackett’s with bis own Colt’s army “six” in his left band, Clarence drew bis bowie from the breast of tbe corpse, and raising the blade on high, cried out: ‘‘Here, over the murdered body of my employer, the father of the maiden whom I love more than life, I swear that this blade—my bowie blade, used by the murderer to place his crime at my door—shall be buried in the heart of the assassin, Rodney eed! Heaven help me to keep my oath!” In derisive answer and mockery, as it ap- came the cry for bis blood, from the mob now close at band. in bis own CHAPTER IX, GONE FROM THEIR GAZE. THRUSTING the knife, still freshly stained with the blood of Norman Norrington, into its sheath, Clarence Coleman, with a cocked revol- ver in each hand, darted into the parlor, and * thence up the stairs. The Crimson Coyotes. The negroes had run, like frightened sheep, when they saw the young man koock the ranch- eroes down with the pistol. Clarence knew not that there would be ever again an cpportunity for him to see Nora. Like a madman be mounted the stairs. He knew the location of the young girl’s apartments, and into it he sprung, crying out to the servants: ‘Don’t be afraid of me! You know that I did not kill your master, Tell Miss Nora, that I bave come to bid her farewell! “Tell ber, that Rodney Reed murdered her father—that he stole my knife to doit with, and thus throw suspicion upon me! Tell ber, I shall live but for ber, and for revenge. ‘Til prove my innocence, and bring Reed to the rope, LIscear it, by my love for Nora, and my hopes of Heaven! Your young mistress is my promised wife, **Oh, my darling, this is more than I can bear! But, I will bear it. Dll keep my oath, and will not falter for a momeot in the per- formance of it.” The last sentences were spoken, as be folded the still senseless maiden in his arms, and pressed his lips upon ber brow, ‘‘Heaven strengthen you, Nora Norrington, to bear the terrible cross that has been thrust upon you! Farewell, my darling, my life!” ‘*Run, Mars’ Coleman! Run! Dey is comin’ arter yer, jist a-kitin’". I koows yer didn’t kill ole mars’!” Thus cried out the old black cook, pushin Clarence from the chamber, after be bh placed Nora back upon her pillow. But Clarence had lingered too long. Up the stairs dashed the mad mob, doubly furious from what they bad witnessed in the library. ‘* Back, I tell you! Don’t crowd an innocent and desperate man. Seek Rodney Reed for your victiin. He is the assassin!” With these words, yelled in defiance, the young man dasbed through a side window, out on the roof of the veranda, ran along the same to the front of the dwelling, and then sprung to the ground alongside of the horses of Brown and Brackett, the rancheroes., One of these he mounted, the animal, at his wild yell, darting at terrific speed through the mesquites; into, and down: the river road, to- ward Mission San Jose, The mad mob, with howls of baffled rage, ran hack, down the stairway, and wut upon the veranda; just in time to see Clarence Coleman, their intended victim, speeding off down the river. They dashed madly, here and there, shouting for horses, to go in pursuit; but, be- fore the animals of the old banker were equip- ped, the fugitive bad a fair start, with a good chance to evade his pursuers, One there was, however, in that crowd of de- termined rancberoes, who, without seeming to do so, bindered their departure as much as was possible, without betraying his object. Tois man was no other than Rodney Reed, the assassin, who feared, if Clarence sbould be caught, and the lynchers gave him suffivient time, he would so i:npress them by his asser- tions of innocence, as to put their suspicions on the right trail. Red Reed had met ona of the negroes, who had been seut to arouse the citizens, when be was on bis way to his club-room; and, realizing that it would be of no benefit to bim then to join his card-playing companions, be ran back to the bar-rooms, making himself conspicuous by bis eo ‘Rally, men, and avenge Norman Norring- ton! Clarence Coleman bas murdered the old banker!” But, though the miscreant wished the innocent man to escape for the present, not for an instant did he lose sight of the means for Coleman’s being made way witb, by tools whom he had already selected, and upon whom he could de- apo Not only so, but be deemed it necessary or bis safety, that Clarence should be captured before be could have an opportunity of com- municating with Nora Norrington, To Reed's great relief, be perceived three Mexicans in the yelling crowd, whom he knew to be associates of Pedro Pernales, the cur- throat who was in his employ. With these men he exchanged signals, and gave them di- rections, unnoticed by others, offering them five bundred dollars each to basten after the fugi- tive, and secure bim, unkuown to the others. The three Greasers were directed to seek the jacal of Pedro Pernales at once, as be could fur- nish them with horses, and whatever else they needed, After their departure, Red Reed felt com- paratively secure. The mob had been so boisterous, that but few of the words yelled 7 Clarence, as he made his escape, had been heard; and the ex- cited men paid no attention to Reed, probably not having caught his name. After the mounted lynchers had left, the others became somewhat calmed. They pro- ceeded to the room where the corpse lay, and inspected everything connected wih the assas- sination, The one fear now, of Rodney Reed, was in . a ee Tee ee behead ee connection with Brown and Brackett, the rancheroes. He feared that, in some way, Clarence Cole- man might have excited the suspicions of these two men against himself; by explaining his own presence in the bouse, and accusing him, Reed, of the murder. Ip fact, the assassin was beginning to feel the tortures of bis guilty conscience, strange though it must seem; for the possession of such an in- werd monitor seemed to be a thing impossible with such a monster. He realized that he would, now, be in con- stant torture, He feared to hear any one speak, lest the words might tend to accuse him of the crime; or even, that some one might suggest the pos- sibility of Coleman being innocent, One thing favorable to the latter, as Rodney Reed well knew, was the fact that Clarence bad always been respected greatly, as an honorable and honest man, who was in no way given to dissipation—not ever having been known to drink, or play at cards, Another thing greatly worried Reed, which was the flask of brandy, of wi ich we have be- fore spoken, and which be felt bad probably been left by him in the room of the murder; and, when he now entered it, he cast keen glances around the apartment, in an endeavor to discover it, and steal it away—thus remov- ing a great load from bis mind, in that con- nection. But he could see nothing of it, and finally came to the conclusion that be must have dropped it from bis pocket, while threading the undergrowth, up through the river-bottom, after escaping from the scene of the murder, But even if this were true, it must be found by him, and destroyed, before he could have mes tet of mind, hen Brown and Brackett were brought back to consciousness, they remained for some time in a semi-dazed state; for Coleman bad dealt, to each of them, a terrific blow. Soon, however, they both recovered suffi- ciently to realiza the near past; and they sat, and gazed at the corpse of Norman Norrington, Their beads were bruised and bleeding, and they were furious when they learned of the es- cape of the assassin; or, ratber, the man whom they believed to be the old banker’s murderer. As a matter of course they were plied with pumerons questions by such of the mob as had remained in and about the bouse. Upon perceiving that the knife was gone from the breast of the murdered man, they became more confident of the guilt of Coleman tban before; indeed, they bad not the slightest doubt as to his being the assassin, and they me..tioned the fact that they could both swear that the bowie—which had been the weapon used by the murderer—belonged to Clarence Coleman; in fact, that the name of the young man was plainly engraved upon it. They drew attention also to the stone with the stains of blood upon it, which was clutched in the death-grip of tbe old banker, explaining that Norrington had evidently striven to defend bimself with this missile aod that be had struck Coleman, causing a wound upon the bead of the latter which bad bled profusely. They also mentioned the circumstance of the hands of the accused being stained with blood, and that they were satisfied he was the assassin; although, they admitted be bad protested in the most solemn way bis innocence and avowed his determination to bring the guilty man to the gallows, They stated as well that Clarence Coleman had solemnly affirmed that Rodney Reed was the murderer of their employer; but then, it was perfectly natural that be should accuse some one, and he bad fixed upou his fellow-clerk for that purpose. But, fortunately for Reed, it appeared that he bad been in the city at ibe time the dastardly deed was committed. so every man in the crowd laughed to scorn the accusation, and the mis- creant breathed freely for the time, Consequently there was no doubt in the mind of any as to the guilt of the unfortunate youn man, and all hoped most sincerely that he waaid be captured. The dead banker was left as he lay, to await the action of the coroner in the morning, a number of the disappointed lynchers remaining on guard, and a medical man having been sum- moned to attend to Miss Norrington, Red Reed, as soon as he could steal away, lost no time in doing so, repairing in great haste to the jacal of his worthy pard, Pedro Pernales. CHAPTER X. THE NEMESIS, A STONE'S throw in distance from the sight of the old Cock Pit, and between the same and the Military Plaza. in San Axtonio, was a long, one-storied adobe building. Its walls projected above the flat roof some twv and a balf feet; but were pierced on a level with the roof, at regular intervals, to allow water-spouts to be thrust out. These threw off a stream of water beyond the narrow sidewalk, inside, the large rooms, which «extended the | breadth of this building, wera furnished in a JOO Gomme cS (Elo) ‘ a