Beadle's Dime Library No. 341 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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6 ee eee her rescue, he placed his arm about her and led her slowly back toward the mansion, while she repeated, over and over again: ‘Frank, | owe you my life for the second time.” At last he asked her: ‘Do you think he meant to kill you, Helen?” She started at the question, and turning full upon him asked, in an earnest tone: “Do you know who that man was, Frank?” ‘‘T do not, I assure you.” ‘‘ Do you suspect his motive in bearing me off?” ok OB ‘* What was it?” ‘Your father is rich, and he expected a rich ransom for your restoration,” ‘‘No, Frank.” ‘* Ah! had he other motive?’ “é Yes. be | ‘‘T am at a loss to know what it could be,” ‘You have heard me speak once to you of Rupert Mortimer?” ‘The unfortunate fellow who ran through his erage and committed murder?” ‘ce “es,” ‘“‘[ remember your speaking of him to me,”’ ‘IT did, for when you asked meif I had ever loved any one, i told you that my girl- hood heart had gone out to Rupert Mortimer, and that though he had dishonored himself, Il could never forget how good and kind he had ever been to me. ‘‘ Well, Frank, that man who carried me off to night was Rupert Mortimer.” ‘‘Great Heaven! can this be true, Helen?”’ ‘It is true,” ‘They say that Mortimer turned to piracy.” _ Yes, so it is said, and so I believe, for to-night when he came to the mansion and threw aside his cloak and hat, I saw that he wore a uniform that certainly belongs not to any navy. ‘‘He asked me to fly with him, and I scorned him, and, swooning away, he bore me off. ‘‘Now, Frank, you know from whom, and from what you have saved Helen Hay- ward.” They had now reached the piazza of the mansion, and found Mr. Hayward, his wife, and several servants anxiously searching for Helen. Sezing her, and noting who it was that ac- companied her, Mr. Hayward advanced with angry face and mien, while he said, sternly: ‘‘Helen, you have alarmed your mother and myself greatly by your absence, and | regret, exceedingly, to find that you have been out walking at night with a person whom I have once refused to accept as a suitor for the hand of my daughter, and whom I now peremptorily forbid to enter my house.” ‘‘ Father, you are cruelly unjust and un- kind sap both Mr. Shields and myself, for I did not leave this house in company with him, but was kidnapped by a pirate, from whom this gentleman, whom you have insulted, has just rescued me.” ‘‘ Bah! this is some romantic nonsense on your part to curry favor for that pauper stu- dent, Helen, and I—” ‘‘ Father, how dare you speak to me thus, accusing me of stooping to falsehood and petty tricks to gain favor for a man in your eyes whose worth I do not believe you are able to appreciate?” Helen spoke with just and indignant an- rer, and her father was quite taken aback by er manner and words, for he had never seen her in a-passion before, and he wished not to arouse her still further. so he said: ‘‘Do you mean, Helen, that you were really kidnapped from your home to-night?” ‘‘T do, sir.” ‘* When?” “ Half an hour ago, sir, while I was in my sitting-room, a man entered by the piazza door and bore me off,” “Why know that—” ‘Father, when I recognized who the in- truder was and heard his words, I swooned | Shields, and the young messenger departed away and he bore me off.” ‘*He! you recognized him, then?” ‘*1 did, sir.” did you not cry for aid, as you , } Sea Desperado. —" —<— as The | | ‘*Tn Heaven's name tell me who he was _and he shall suffer for this.” | ‘** Rather, you are powerless to punish him, for the man is a pirate.” ‘“Good God! can you mean this?” and Mr. Hayward leaned against the hall door for | | support, while Mrs. Hayward uttered a | scream and sunk down into a piazza chair. seal glanced at the contents. ' ‘* I do mean it, father.” It read simply: | . What! vial that pirate who chased my Lot ime Will Mr, Frank Shields oblige Mr. Horace Hay- brig in have run into port, while the barque | ward with an interview at his office this a. M., to has gone off on a fool’s errand in search of | talk over a matter that can be arranged to the satis- him?” | faction of all concerned?” ‘“‘T do not know, sir, whether the pirate ** Kindly say to Mr. Hayward that I will who chased your brig into port, and the one ' be there before noon,” and Frank hastened who carried me off, are one and the same; | away, his heart full of joy, for the tenor of ' but I do know that the man who kidnapped | Mr. Hayward’s note certainly seemed to pre- me is now known as a buccaneer.”’ dict an acceptance of his suit for Helen’s ‘* But you say you recognized him?” hand. was in his ‘‘everyday clothes,” Frank de- parted from the University to meet at the gate a young man whom he recognized as one of Mr. Hayward’s clerks. om have a note for you, Mr. Shields,” he said. Frank looked surprised, and breaking the . ee te Oe — ‘*] did.” | ‘His heart has relented toward me,” he ‘‘Oh, Helen! do you know any pirates?” | said, as he hastened along to the rendezvous cried Mrs. Heyward, almost unnerved by all | where he was to meet Helen. she had heard, He found her awaiting him in the little ‘*Yes, mother, I am so unfortunate as to | arbor overlooking the sea, and which was have an acquaintance with one pirate, as you ; situated in one of the most secluded parts of will know when I tell you that it was Rupert | the extensive grounds surrounding the Hay- Mortimer.” ward mansion. Mrs. Hayward screamed at this, and Mr, From a gate near the arbor led a path down Hayward swore, while, as Helen sprung to | to the water, and which had been the one her mother’s side, Frank Shields took advan- | taken by Captain Morte when bearing Helen tage of the scene of excitement to beat a re- | away the night before. treat, his face burning with the insult that | ‘You see I am surveying the scene of my the father of the maiden he loved had cast | adventure and your bravery last night, upon him, Frank,” said Helen, in her low, rich tones, grasping his hand as he approached. “It is a pretty scene by day, Helen, and THR THREAT. one I have ever loved. Tue morning following the night upon| ‘“‘! often come along the path by night, in which the scenes just related transpired,’ My strolls for exercise before retiring, and Frank Shields sat alone in his humble stu- Jook toward the light in your window as a dent quarters, hard at work with his books. beacon of hope to me.” He looked happier than had been his wont ‘“Prettily said, Sir Student, but I have of late, for he felt joy at having a second | Sent for you to have a talk with you about time saved the one idol of his heart from | last night, for I was deeply hurt at father’s some dread danger. unkind words, and spoke to him about it g The insult of Mr. Hayward had cut him this morning. . deeply; but then he felt that Helen loved | ‘* What was the result, Helen? him, and that was more than half the battle He told me that he would see you to-day won. and arrange satisfactorily with you, was his. He realized fully that he was poor; but reply, and more I could not get him to say; his own heart told him that his poverty was | but I hope that he will be content to allow not criminal, and though left a fortune at | you the right which is justly yours, as we the death of his father, he had been robbed | love each other, of becoming the acknowl- of it by one he had loved and trusted, one | edged suitor for my hand.” ) that was then living in luxury while he toiled ‘‘T hope so sincerely, Helen, and I just re- . for a living. ceived this note from your father,” j He knew well that he could put the one| 5She read it and said: . | who had thus stolen his birthright behind| ‘‘ His expressions to you are as vague as his | CHAPTER IX. the bars of a prison; but he had suffered in | words were to me; but I shall hope for the best, and I wish you to feel that, come what. may, I am true to you, and when you wish toclaim me, you have but to come for me, Frank.” “God bless you, Helen, and I hope the day may not be far distant when I can do so.” | Helen was about to reply, when a quick step was heard coming along the garden walk, and the words came to her lips: ‘* Father!” | ‘‘Yes, Helen, 1 had written to have Mr. Shields come to my office to have a talk with me, but learning from my messenger that he left him coming toward my house, | hastened here expecting to meet him,” ‘* Ves, father, I sent for Mr. Shields to tell him that I hoped he would forgive your un- kind words last night to him, after his noble service to your daughter,” was Helen’s re- sponse. ‘Yes, I was unkind last night, and I hope that Mr. Shields will overlook my words, while, for his services, 1 wish to offer him a suitable reward. ‘You are pvor, young man, and find it hard struggling through peu student life, so. I have here a little sum that I wish to press upon you to accept.” ‘Mr. Hayward,” and Frank’s face flushed with anger as he spoke: ‘Tam not one, sir, to accept money for serving the woman | love, and although I am poor, very poor, I am surprised that you would insult me by the offer.” Mr. Hayward was angry; that was evi- dent, and he said hotly: ‘Oh, yes, you cast aside the few thou- sands that I offer you, hoping to get my daughter and my fortune.”’ ‘* Your daughter, sir, 1 hope to win as my wife; your money I care not for.” ‘*You shall never have her, sir, for I shalt comicbooks.com) silence, not wishing to punish the one who so richly deserved it, and manfully struck out in the world to win his own way to for- tune. A few books, a meager wardrobe, and just enough money to take him through the Uni- versity was all he had. But he was in perfect health, he stood at the head of his class, and he would soon have a profession, and then he hoped that he would be able to claim Helen as his bride. She knew him as he had been, and as he was, and she realized fully that he loved her for herself and was no fortune-seeker, Then thoughts of the past with hopes for | the future flitted through the student’s mind ' as he gat alone in his little room, Presently a knock at the door aroused him, and to his summons to enter, a boy came in, bearing a note in his hand, “Ts this Mr. Shields?” he asked. ‘Yes, my boy.” ‘‘ Here is a note was given to me to bring to you, sir.” He grasped the note and found that it was addressed in Helen's handwriting. “Ah! thank you; here is sixpence for you,” he said, eagerly, while his face flushed with pleasure. ‘The pretty lady paid me, sir; she gave me half a dollar.” ‘‘Well, keep that too; but let me see if there is an answer.” ‘‘ She said you was to say yes or no,” He broke the seal and read: *Drar FRANK: — | ‘Come to the Sea View Gate and meet me as soon as you can. Yours, HELEN.” ‘Yes, is my answer, my boy,” said Frank eee eee a... eee Airset Sa —— . ee sss lS LL delighted at his luck in getting pay at both ends of the line. Hastily putting on his best suit, for he