Beadle's Dime Library No. 341 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

ee tee oo NE —— a ee ge Oe | ) Sa . a . —— —~ = ‘ ¢ \ ~e a ee Se ne, _ ——— 7 - ad = an hee So ee . ee ee — ee a ee ee —_— ee oa — = ’ murry her off to Louis Vale, a her equal in wealth, society an worthy of her.” I’rank Shields’s fine face turned very pale at this, but he said calmly: ‘Mr. Hayward, your daughter will never be the wife of Louis Vale.” ‘“‘Ha! is this a threat? I shall have to warn Vale that an assassin is on his track.” ‘* Father!” cried Helen, indignantly; but her emotion was too great for her to say more, and raising his hat politely, Frank Shields walked away. CHAPTER X. ASSASSINS AT WORK. ‘‘Say, my man, you look as though the world had gone rough with you.” The speaker was a handsome young man, attired in the fashionable suit of a rng meme d student, and carried a cane in his hand, while he wore a watch and a diamond ring. Hie was strolling along the shore, in a crove not far from the Hayward mansion, and came suddenly upon a seaman, with iron-gray hair and beard, and whose ragged attire did look as though fortune had avoid- ed him. ‘Truth, your honor, luck is ag’in’ me,” oung man every way ‘answered the sailor, saluting politely. ‘* Well, I can tell you how you can make the price of a meal.” ‘* For Heaven's sake tell me, young gentle- man,” eagerly said the old seaman. “Do you see that handsome house, yon- der?” ‘*Oh, yes, for my eyes are good yet, if I have logged nearly fifty years in the voyage of life.” ‘‘Well, do you see that rustic arbor at this end of the grounds?” sé if do.”’ ‘**In that arbor is a lady.” ‘‘There must be a lover near, then, sir?” ‘‘There is; he is with her.” ‘* I see.” “1 wish to see him.” ~~ 28, or. ‘You wait here until you see him leave the grounds by that gate, and then tell him that a fellow-studeut of his has fallen at the Crag and lamed himself a little, and wishes him to come and help him home.”’ ‘Yes, sir; but will it not be better for us to go at once to his aid?” ‘“My, man, there is no student there.” “Oh, I see,” said the sailor, with a sly wink. ‘*T wish to meet him there.” “Oh, ho! a rival, | guess?” ** Just that. ‘‘Perhaps you would like to make enough money to keep you a year or so?” ‘* Would a sailor refuse his grog, sir?” ‘*But you will have to work for it.” ‘‘T am not afraid of work, sir.”’ ‘« Are you particular as to the kind ofwork you do?”’ “It depends upon the price.” “Ah! you are ready to do any work ac- cording to the pay?” “é ] am.” ~ gt Rae it is to use a knife?” “Kai e or powder, it is all the same to me. ‘* T see that you are just my man.” “T am, if there is money to be made, young gentleman.” ‘* Are you a drinking man?” “T take my grog when I want if.” ‘‘But when the grog’s in the wit’s out, and a man may talk under such circumstances.” **T never talk, sir, and I never let grog get the upper hand.” ‘Do you know the Crag above here at the shore?” ‘What they call the Point 0’ Rocks?” * Yes.” t “| know the spot.” ** Do you live here?” ‘*No, sir, only ashore and out of a berth.” “Very well, | want you to serve me and I ‘will pay you.” ** What is to be done?” **Can you use a pistol?” “| have done so.” ‘‘Are you afraid to do so again?” “ Not if I am paid for it.” ‘** What is a life worth to you?” ‘What is the risk I run to take it?” was the cool question of the old sailor. ‘* None, whatever,” * ——————_————— The Sea Desperado. ‘«Then I might do the work cheap.” ‘What do you call cheap?” ‘‘Say several hundred.” “‘T will give you two hundred and fifty dollars. ”’ “Tl do it.” ‘Then it is a bargain, and I wish you to wait the coming of the gentleman from yon- der garden.” ce Tes.” “Tell him that a student who has hurt himself at the Crag wishes him to come there for him.” ‘*T hear you.” ‘“‘Then you follow him, come upon us ‘‘ Have you a weapon for the work?” from his pocket a handsome weapon of the old-time dueling class. upon it the following: “TO MY SON, FRANK SHIELDS. MAY IT SERVE HIM AS WELL AS IT HAS HIS FATHER.” ‘*This is a pretty weapon,” said the sailor. to you willingly for the work I wish done. pay you the balance. ss send Frank Shields there, and to follow lim.” ‘“‘T will do so, sir,” was the reply of the sailor, who quictly took up his position.to await the coming of Frank Shields, who lit- tle dreamed of the plot against his life. A few moments only had the sailor to wait, and then Frank Shields came out of the garden gate and wended his steps at a quick pace along the pathway leading to the little grove. As he approached, the sailor stepped out into the pathway and confronted the young student, whose face was very pale and eyes flashing. CHAPTER XI. THE STUDENTS TREACHERY. As Frank Shields left the garden of Hor- ace Hayward, after the unpleasant scene be- tween that gentleman and himself, he caught ig of the old sailor halting by the way- side. The young student was in no enviable mood, as may be supposed, and was walking along briskly, lost in his own angry reflec- deserving of charity. As the sailor addressed him, Frank said quickly: “‘ Here, my man, this may help you a lit- tle,” and he placed in his hand a small piece of silver. student from the University?” ‘*T am.” ‘Could you tell me how I could find Mr, Shields?” ‘*T am Frank Shields.” “Then you are the one I seek, sir.” ‘*Indeed! how can I serve you, my man?” “One of your fellow students, sir, has fallen at the Point o’ Rocks above here, and sprained his ankle, and wants you to come there for him,” ‘*Certainly, I will go; but who is it?” ‘‘He gave me his name, sir, but I have for- gotten it.” ‘Well, it does not matter, so long as he sent for me. - ‘*T will go at once, and you can make a poor fellow.” along the coast, and soon arrived at the Rocks. the spot well, having often extended his in company with Helen Hayward. few pennies by hastening on to the Univer- | sity and having them send a vehicle for the | pers, and I wish to settle now a question | | | ; ‘Yes, and should do good work; now, | Shields to fight him; but the pluc here is a roll of bills which I just drew from | poor student was well known, while he was the bank for my own use, but which I pay | a dead shot and skilléd swordsman, his wea- 7 $$$ ee | As he approached he saw no one, and so valled out: ‘* Halloo!” “Ay, ay! this way!” answered a voice up a small glen, and following the sound of the call, Frank Shields the next instant came upon Louis Vale seated upon a rock, and ap- parently nursing a wounded foot. ‘“‘Ah! it is you, Shields?” he said, with something of a sneer. ‘“Yes, and I did not expect to find you here, Vale: but as you seem to have suffered 1 will gladly do what I can for you,” was the reply of Frank Shields. The two had not spoken of late, for Louis while we are talking, and shoot him down.” | Vale had snubbed the poor student ever since he had taken the honors of the class away for the hand of Nursing that hatred, and fearful of losing both the maiden and her money, for his It was silver-mounted and had engraved | father had recently written him that he was in financial difficulties, Louis Vale determin- ed to get rid of the man who stood in his way. He did not wish to commit murder him- self, and the thought struck him that the sailor would prove a willing tool. He had thought of challenging Frank of the | pons being the most valuable property he | ' ' ' | | | word that y ‘When you have finished your task I will | possessed, and which he had reserved from his fortunes, wrecked by guardians who had ‘*Now I go to the Crag, and I expect you | proven false. ‘*T am glad to see you, Shields, for I wish- ed to meet you and have a talk with you,” said Louis Vale, as his fellow-student came to his side. ‘‘Let me first see about your injury, and the carriage I hope will soon be here—”’ ‘‘Ha! did you send for a vehicle?” quickly asked Louis Vale. “Yes. ‘By whom?” ‘By the and Vale frowned. Roor old sailor who brought me yo had fallen and hurt yourself.” Louis Vale gave a sigh of relief, and re- sponded: ** Now, Shields, never mind my ankle, for that is not the worst injury I have received.” ‘“Indeed! I am real look very pale.” ‘“The other injury,” the designing student went on, ‘‘is in my heart, and you have in- flicted it.” Frank Shields now saw the drift of his fel- low-student’s words, and answered coldly: ‘“‘Well, Vale, we both strove for a prize and I won it. “Had you been the winner I would have y sorry, and you do tions; but his was a nature ever ready to aid | felt no ill-will against you, though I frankly one in distress, and the sailor appeared to ; admit, from what I know of your character, him, from his seedy dress and mien to be one_ 1 would have given full pity to the lady.” ‘‘Ah! that is your tone, sir?” ‘There is no need of my being double- faced, Vale, for it is not in my nature so to be. 99 : ‘‘Tam glad to hear you speak out, for it breaks the ice for me to say what I wish to “| thank your honor, sir; but are you a) you.” ‘* Better select another time, Vale, when you are not suffering.” ‘To Satan with my suffering! See! it was a trick to get you here, fer 1 am not in the least hurt,” and the handsome young hypocrite sprung to his feet. ‘You are certainly a baser man than I supposed you to be, Mr. Vale, and I am sur- prised that you felt it necessary to descend to trickery to gain an interview of any kind with me,” and Frank Shields showed plainly in his face the contempt he felt for the man before him. CHAPTER XII. THE OLD SAILOR’S DOUBLE PLOT. ‘“Wew., Shields, 1 wished to meet you © where there were no witnesses or eavesdrop- between us,” said Louis Vale, in his sinister So saying, Frank Shields hastened on’ way. ‘‘There is no question between us, Vale, Crag, or, as many called it, the Point of | that I can see.” ‘‘There is, for you have taken from me It was a desolate place, with no habitation every prize since we have been in the Uni- within a quarter of a mile; but Frank knew _ versity together.” ‘‘ That is beeause I have spent my time in walks thither, and several times walked there study, when you have been carousing,” was (EC) the cool rejoinder. Eboo com “Ss ‘* Yes, here is his own pistol, which a gun- | from him, and hated him after finding that , smith who has just repaired it for him asked | he was his successfnl rival me to deliver to him,” and the student took | Helen Hayward. : pe