Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 346 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

xe ~- a. « Oe a oe lial . le ——_ 7 . *» —? — a a — Guerrillas. jj * = Ocean _ a ee I eS AN RNR 17 into a boat, and I will send a messenger to you with your notes at once.” ‘* What security have I that you will?” The woman was silent an instant, and then she took out of her pocket a small bag. From this she took a score of handsome diamonds. ‘‘Here are just twenty diamonds, and they are worth the value of the paper I hold. ‘‘Keep them together, and return them when your notes are returned to you, which, as I give you security, will be a day or so after the rescue, so that you need have no fear.” The planter took the gems, glanced at them with sparkling eyes, and then said: ‘* They are indeed security; but I feel that I should have money besides, for I really need gold just now.” aS woman smiled contemptuously, but said: ‘*] will give you now acouple of thou- sand; but beware that you do not gamble until after you know that the Sea Ghoul has escaped, for, if you lose, and stake those gems, I will ruin you, I swear it. cf . ay. ae you agree to my terms?” 46 0.’ ‘“Then do your duty, Planter Brandt,” and the Smuggler Queen strode from the salon, leaving the planter gambler alone with his bitter thoughts, CHAPTER XXYVI, THE COLONEL’S PLOT. COLONEL BRANDT arose, the morning af- ter his interview with the Smuggler Queen, in no good humor, as his negro valet diserned with half an eye. He was cross with himself, and with the world in general, while the few hours of restless sleep he had had did him no good. Going into the breakfast-room he found there Bradford Carr, the tutor that had been, and now the affianced of Maud, await- ing him Bradford Carr greeted him with a pleas- ant word, but received only a growl in re- sponse. | Then Maud came in, looking exquisitely lovely in her morning-robe, and, as was her wont, kissed her father affectionately. But still he kept up that gloomy manner. ‘Father, what has gone wrong with you?” asked Maud, anxiously, fearing that he had broken his pledge, and being tempted, had gambled. The colonel feared that such was in her thoughts, so he determined to come to the point at once, and said: ‘Maud, I am anxious to get hold of some business papers that once belonged to Soule Ravell>, your old lover, and who made you his heiress, and this pirate chief—” ‘‘ Barton Keys, father?” | “Yes; he alone can give me a clew to them.” ‘“Why not write and ask him about them?”’ ‘‘ I have done so, my child.” ‘** And his answer, father?” “He said flatly that he will tell you about them, as they concern you, but not me; for he insinuates, as they are marketable property, I might be tempted to dispose of them and gamble them away.” ‘‘He is most insulting, sir,” said Bradford Carr, calmly. ‘* Yes, but I consider the source,” “But are they so important, father?” ‘‘Yes, for they involve a matter of some thousands, a speculation which it seems Ravelle and Keys entered upon together, and of which no note was made among his papers, ‘It is in their names conjointly, and the Sea Ghoul says that he will sign his claim away to you, and tell you how to get the property, but to no one else.” “Then, father, if you think it worth while, I will go to the prison and see the pirate,” ‘“No! no! no! not for the world would I _ have ee go there, my child, nor would Mr, Carr, | am sure, wish it,”’ ‘Indeed 1 would not, sir,” answered the tutor. ‘‘Then drop the matter, father, as of little worth,” said Maud. ; ‘* No, that will not do, for it involves more Onn a than you have an idea; but I will tell you what 1 will do,” ‘© What, father?” “It will ask my lawyer to come here to- night, or do you expect company?’ ‘* No, father.”’ ‘*Then I will have Blackstone come here, and then get a permit from the naval com- mandant to have the Sea Ghoul brought here,” ‘*Oh, father)” ‘Do not get alarmed, my child, for he shall come under a strong guard.” ‘* Still it will be taking a great risk, Col- onel Brandt,” suggested Bradford Carr. ‘* No, for I shall send the carriage to the jail, have the pirate doubly ironed, get in with his guards, and drive out here, and no one will be the wiser.” ‘*But will he then make known the secret he holds?” “a Yes, Maud he has said that he will tell ou.” ‘Well, father, you know best; but I did not wish ever to face that wretch inhuman again,’ and Maud shuddered. ‘It will be but for a few moments, my child, and I can think of no better plan, for I will not consent to your going to the prison to see him.” This having been arranged the colonel cheered up, ate a good breakfast, and, ac- companied by Maud and Bradford Carr on horseback, rode down to the navy quarters below the city. The commandant received them cordially, heard the colonel's story, and said he would have the prisoner brought there. But the colonel urged that he did not wish it known that he was to meet Maud, and begged the commandant to dine with them and meet the pirate there, and hear what he had to say. This the commandant consented to do, and then he wrote the permit to the prison-keep- er, and invited his guests to go on board the pirate schooner sak: inspect her, she having been put in perfect order as a cruiser. ‘‘ What pretty vessel is that?” asked Maud of the commandant, glancing up the river some distance, where a rakish schooner lay at anchor, her sails neatly furled, and all about her looking the trim, fleet cruiser she was. “That is the craft that also was under sable colors, once upon a time, Miss Brandt, for she belongs to the once noted rover Pala- fox, the Sea Fox.’’ ‘‘ Indeed! I have often seen her before at a distance.” ‘* Yes, most persons wished to see her that way. Miss Brandt, a year ago; but to do the Sea Fox justice, he did much to protect our Gulf coast from other rovers, never warred against or raided upon our own people, or captured vessels vig om Dito flag, and, in the end turning honest, he became a pirate hun- ter, and we owe the capture of this very craft to him, for he it was who ran down the schooner, and then its commander, the Sea Ghoul, as you well remember, and the Government pardoned him and_ his crew, and before long he is to be sent buc- cance RUnHAg among the Bahamas, I be- lieve,” ‘Yes, I know,” quietly said Maud, while the commandant little dreamed how well she did know all about the Sea Fox, and then had his daughter Myrtle, as her protegee Pi Chotard’s boarding-school in the city. ‘When does the Sea Fox sail?” asked Bradford Carr, gazing with admiration upon the beautiful vessel. ‘‘ As soon as 1 can spare him the men, for I am using two-thirds of his crew here now; but let us return to my quarters to lunch,” and the commandant escorted his guests back to his home, and after a pleasant hour spent around the lunch-table, they took their leave, with the promise of the naval officer that he would dine with them that afternoon, and be on hand to meet the famous Ghoul of the Sea when he should be brought to the mansion to see Maud. CHAPTER XXYVIL. THE MYSTERIOUS FRIEND, WHEN the pretended sailor left the salon of the Palace of Chance, it was not as Colonel Brandt had believed and hoped, for good, for, upon reaching the street she | LLL LLL LLL LLL AL. LLL LLL LLL LL LL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LL LL a ee walked rapidly along until she came to a tavern. This she entered and ascending the stairs of a private door, disappeared in a room. A short time after a person came out of the room, a cloak about his shoulders, a slouch hat half-concealing his face, the lower part of which was hidden by a long beard. The man was of middle hight, well-dress- ed, carried a cane, and wore eye-glasses, as could be seen by the swinging lamp in the hallway. | Leaving the inn by the same private en- trance by which the disguised Smuggler Queen had entered, the man walked at a quick pace down the street, and at last came to the Palace of Chance. At the doorway he was halted by a manon duty there, who said politely: ‘No admission, monsieur, unless you are known, and | do not recall you, sir.” ‘‘Here is my card, monsieur,” said the man, speaking in excellent French, The keeper took the card and aloud: r read ‘MonsIEUR JAQuES Bouprnor. ‘* Paris, France.” ‘* Will not that admit me, monsieur?” ‘‘No, monsieur, for our rules are very strict; but if you have a friend in the city who will come with you—” ‘‘No, I have no friends; I am a stranger here; but I love to gamble, and I play large sums, so I came. ‘‘As my eard will not admit me, monsieur, will this, and say no more about it?” and the stranger slipped into the hand of the door- keeper several eagles. ‘‘Oh, monsieur! you are generous, and I cannot refuse you,” cried the delighted keep- er, hardly able to believe his good luck as he gazed at the golden eagles, ‘‘But, monsieur, if you should be ques- tioned, say that you are the friend of Don Rudolpho, for he often sends his acquaint- ances here.’’ ‘Yes, I will not compromise you, mon- sieur, and I thank you.” | With this the stranger walked on up the grand stairway into the gilded salon. The playing was at its hight, and a num- ber of aristocratic gamblers were there, bet- ting largely upon the turn of a card, But these seemed to hold no particular in- terest for the visitor, and he sauntered around the room, still wearing his cloak and slouch hat. At last he came to a table where a number were betting, and among them Colonel Brandt. He had just lost the last dollar of the mon- ey given him by the Smuggler Queen, and was about to give his due-bill to the banker for a thousand, when the stranger said: ‘‘Pardon me, colonel, but allow me to lend you what you need.” Colonel Brandt started, for there was something in the tone of the voice that struck him as familiar, and he gazed quickly at the speaker. Before him he beheld one whom he did not remember to have seen before, and said haughtily: ‘Pardon me, sir, but I do not remember to have seen you before,” ‘On the contrary, colonel, we have met before; but I have grown my beard since our last meeting, and my eyes failing me, 1 put on glasses,” Colonel Brandt turned pale, and stammer- ed forth: ‘‘My dear sir, I do remember you now; but I will not accept your most generous offer, while, if you will excuse me, Sortoris, I'll nut play any more to-night. ‘*How do we stand, by the way?” ** Just even, colonel,” answered the dealer, ‘* All right; good-night, for I will go with my old friend here,” and Colonel Brandt nervously walked away with the stranger. ‘You did not play long, sir,” said the doorkeeper, as his generous visitor passed out with Colonel Brandt. ‘* No, I met an old friend, Colonel Brandt here, and concluded not to play to-night,” and the two reached the street. - ‘* Well, colonel, with money in your pocket vou fell, and lost ail that I gave ) ou,’ said the stranrer. 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