Beadle's Dime Library No. 364 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

~ | r Halting his men in the grand drive before the steps, Lieutenant Maynard ascended to the iazza and Doctor Brandon advanced to meet im. He was a man across the threshold of fifty, tall, dignified and stern-looking; but his man- ners were courteous, though cold in bearing. ‘“As an officer of the navy, sir, you are wel- come—ah! I recognize you now as Lieutenant Maynard, a friend of my son. You are indeed welcome, sir,” and Doctor Brandon grasped the hand of the handsome young lieutenant, who bowed and presented Midshipman Lauderdale, hardly knowing what to say, as the sad duty he had to perform fell hard upon him. The doctor then introduced the officers to Joyce, who was very pale, but calm, for she but too well knew why they had come. ‘I have come, Doctor Brandon, to see your son; is he here?” ‘* Why, bless me, no! somewhere,” ‘He has not returned home, then?” ** No, sir; nor do I expect him for some time, from his lest letter.” ** Doctor Brandon, you have not then heard of a sad affair that happened on his vessel when at Norfolk, six weeks ago?” “T have not, sir; but, tell me, has harm be- fallen my brave boy?” “It is my misfortune, sir, to tell you that your son forced a superior officer, the senior lieuten. ant of his ship, to fight him a duel, and it was fatal to his antagonist.” ‘* Great God! if Noel has done this, he has had just cause, much as it is to be deplored,” cried the doctor, turning pale. ‘*Tt was admitted, sir, that Mr. Brandon was persecuted bitterly by his superiors, for his ca tain sided with the senior officer, but that did not excuse his act, and he was quickly tried and dismissed from the navy.” ‘*Heavens! disgraced! my son utterly dis- graced, then indeed has he erred.” ‘*T would, sir, that this was all, and that the affair, sad as it is, rested there; but I have come here, sir, to arrest Mr. Brandon on a charge far more criminal, for, after leaving his ship at New York, he went to the hotel where his cap- tain stopped, and that right left for his home by the midnight stage, while the following morning Captain Marsden was found dead in his bed, robbed of a large sum of money, and your son’s cloak and weapons in the room and lood-stained. ‘These pointed to him as the murderer, es- pecially after the part Captain Marsden had taken against him, and I was dispatched in the Scorpion to arrest Mr. Brandon and carry him back to New York in irons,” Doctor Brandon was a strong man, and he clutched the piazza rail as he listened to the terrible story, and stood like a statue, uttering no word, but with a face like marble, while Joyce dropped into a seat and buried her face in her hands. **Tt cuts me to the heart to bring this news to you, Doctor Brandon; but I can but do my duty,” said Lieutenant Maynard, as the doctor still remained silent. ; ‘‘T do not censure you, sir,” he said with an effort, and then continued: ** Appearances are certainly black against my son; but I cannot believe him guilty of murder and robbery. ‘* He was wild, yes, and extravagant, but not a robber and an assassin; but until he clears up this mystery, he is no son of mine, and were he here in my home, this instant would I deliver him up to you for trial.” ‘¢ Then he really is not here?’ ‘¢ He is not, sir; well, Mandrake, what is it?” and Doctor Brandon turned to a servant who just then appeared. oT. a letter, sir, sent over from the village in great haste,” said the servant, ‘*Noel’s writing!” cried Doctor Brandon ex- citedly, and he hastily broke the seal and glanced at the contents. “‘T will read aloud what he says, sir,” and Doctor Brandon read the letter, Joyce eagerly bending forward to hear its coutents, It ran as follows: “ WaTHerR:—l have to make known to you that m career of usefulness as an officer of the navy is end- ed, for, goaded on by insult from _ superior offi- cer, i forced him to give me satisfaction, and he fell under my fire in a duel. “Twas still hounded by my captain, and the re- sult was my dismissal in disgrace from the navy. ‘*T started home, and arriving in the packet from Boston, left in a wagon, driven by Silly Sam of this viliage, to drive tothe Hall; but we were ambushed by river rovers, fired upon, and Sam and myself are both wounded, while we owe our escape to Madcap Madge, the Kennebec Maid, who,fpassing near, came to our rescue, “T returned to the village, and am under the doc- tor’s care, my wound being severe, though not seri- ous, He is off on a cruise welcome a disgraced son home; but if you do, I shall be glad to come when I am able to do so, orto see you here; but if not, leave my letter unanswered, and I will endeavor to atone in your eyes by making & reputation for myself that you will be proud of, ** Awaiting, . * Your affectionate son, ** Nort Branpon,”’ i The Sea Fugitive. ‘** This letter, sir, shows that he was driven to the duel, but it says nothing of the fearful af- ter charge you make against him.” pees Doctor Brandon; he would hardly speak of that, and—” ‘“The post has come, sir,” and Mandrake placed in his master’s hands the little mail-bag sent over once a week from the village. With a hand that trembled, Doctor Brandon opened it, and his eyes fell upon a letter in the handwriting of his son, Hastily he broke the seal and read aloud: “ FaTHEeR:—After mailing my letter to you last night, | was horrified to learn that | am accused of a most diabolical crime—none other than having ple and robbed my former captain at his 10te “Tam guiltless of the crime, but if I am taken in irons in the cutter sent for me, I will be tried and sentenced to the yard-arm, with no power to prove that Iam not guilty. ‘**Free, I can prove my innocence—and I will; and not caring to be hanged, 1 make my escape to-night, and place myself beyond the clutches of the merci- less law. **UntilI can prove that I am guiltless, you need not expect again to hear of your * Unfortunate son, * NoEL BRANDON.” ‘**In Heaven’s name, how did he learn of my coming?” cried Lieutenant Maynard, when the doctor had finished reading the letter. ‘*Tam sure [ do not know, sir; but I cannot believe him guilty, and am glad that he has es- caped, if by so doing he can prove his innocence ; but if he is guilty, then may he suffer the full penalty of his crime,” was the stern rejoinder. ‘‘ Tt is several leagues to the village, sir?’ sud- denly asked Lieutenant Maynard. ** 16 ig, sir.” ‘* With this breeze, I could reach there almost as soon by returning to the cutter and running around?” **You could, sir; but if you desire convey- ances thither, I will furnish you with them.” “Thank you, no, Doctor Brandon, I would not ask you to raise hand to aid in the capture of your son, for I go to the village to endeavor to find him. ‘This has been a painful mission to me, sir, and for the sake of all, as well as the service, I hope Mr. Brandon can clear himself of the charge against him ‘*Good-morning,” and Lieutenant Maynard raised his cap, as he turned toward Joyce. ‘“* Hey, gentlemen, have you breakfasted?” ask- ed the doctor with cold courtesy. “Yes, thank you, sir, before we left the vessel.” The doctor bowed, and the sailors marched away, while Doctor Brandon said sadly: **Now to go and tell my wife of what our poor boy is accused.” Like one in a dream he entered the house, and Joyce remained upon the piazza, a triumphant smile upon her lips, as she glanced through a sea-glass and saw Madge pacing up and down upon the shore where the boats were drawn up. ‘** That strange girl saved him last night, and she will not allow him to be taken now; but I can reach the village on horseback long before the cutter, and I will ride over to see if there is any trace left of Noel’s whereabouts, for I do not believe him guilty, and he must not be taken.” Ten minutes after, mounted upon a spirited horse, and followed by a servant, Joyce Bran- don was dashing ya the highway at a rapid pace, on her way to the village, while her par- ents, in deepest grief mourned over the degra- dation that had come upon them through their idolized son, CHAPTER IX, THE SEARCH. WueEn Joyce Brandon rode into the little vil- lage, followed by a servant, their horses were white with foam, She went directly to the Flag Ship Inn, and Captain Buntline gallantly aided her to alight, while her servant led the horses back to the stable. ‘“You have come to see your brother, Miss Joyce?” said Captain Buntline, who, knew the maiden well, for often in her rides and drives, alone and with her parents and brother, she had stopned at the Flag Ship to rest. ‘‘Yoe, Captain Buntline, I have come to see him,” was the reply. ‘‘T am sorry to say he is not here, miss.” ‘‘Not here? Then where is he?’ asked Joyce, in well-feigned surprise. The host shrugged his shoulders and answer- “ Ale occupied that little parlor last night, for T had a cot put up there for him and made him as comfortable as I could under the circum- T know not whether you and my mother care to | stances, for he was suffering from his wound; but this morning I dropped in and found him gone, to my great surprise. ‘“* It is mail-dlay, Miss Joyce, and I took from on} are this letter, which you are at liberty to read, for it tells me simply that he learns that he is to be arrested for a crime he did not com- mit, and not caring to dance a jig at the end of a rope, he takes himself off to safe quarters, and. a me to keep his baggage until he calls or it. ‘** This I will do.” Joyce read the letter through, and then said: ‘*'This is a surprise, sir; but I am aware of the charge against my brother, and am glad that he has escaped; but can you not tell me how he did so?” ‘** It is the deepest myster don, for he was wounded, hisleg was bandayed, and he could not walk. ‘*He did not leave the inn by the front or back doors, for they were locked; but that win- dow was up; and I feel that he departed by the garden and then took a boat.” “Then you think he has made his escape, sure?” ‘‘Tamcertain of it, for those who aided him did not intend that he should be captured.” ‘* He had aid, then?” ‘* Assuredly, for he could not go alone, wound- ed as he was; and besides, he did not take any of my boats.” ‘Well, Captain Buntline, in an hour or so the United States cutter-of-wer, Scorpion, will anchor off the village, and her officers have come after my brother, and if you can aid in covering up his tracks, do so, for he must not be taken, as he is, I am sure, not guilty as charged. “You may need some gold to aid you, so here is my purse, and if more is required, in some way send me word, and you shall have it. ‘*T came here to see if it were possible to find my brother, but I am confident that you do not know where he is, and that he is well hidden; but, in case you can keep the enemy off his track, do so, and call upon me for what money you may need.” ‘I will do so, Miss Brandon, rest assured, and if I have to spend gold, it will be then time to ask it back from you: but keep your purse, and believe that I will throw the law hounds off his track if I can, for the leftenant has always been a good friend and patron of mine, and | do not aed he would do aught that was mean and wicked— See! there comes the cutter now,” and the landlord pointed out of the window the little vessel, crowding on all sail in her run up to the village. ‘*Are you sure none of the villagers know where my brother is?’ asked Joyce, feeling her way. ae Not one of them, for I have been the rounds. “T thought Silly Sam must know, but he was so surprised at kearing that the leftenant had gone, that I knew it was not feigned, while the poor fellow was wounded, and kept his bed all night, so Saunders the cartman says.” oyce felt relieved, for she knew that Madge had worked well and secretly, and as she had not even told her where Noel was in hiding, she felt certain she would not trust the secret to others. Standing in the window, Joyce watched the eutter run in to an anchorage, and then, with the gas which Captain Buntline bad bought her, beheld Madcap Madge come over the side into the boat that put ashore. ‘‘Captain Puntline, I see the girl in that boat who is known as Madge, the Kennebec Maid, and I wish to speak with her in my recom, so please send her here.” ‘*T will do so, Miss Joyce; but what a remark- able A a she is!” ‘She is indeed, and there seems some mystery overhanging her that no one can fathom.’ ‘* No one knows aught about her father, miss, other than that he is the skipper of a coaster, i ig those who do not like him say is a smug- er. : ‘He came to the coast years ago, some ay from the South, as he brought two negroes wit him, and there he lives. “He is an cducated man, and has taught his daughter more learning than she could get in schools hereabout, while she knows how to handle any craft, and can pilot a line-o’-battle ship along this coast in any weather and the darkest night. ‘*You see the cutter bas her for a pilot; but who she is, or more about her, I cannot dis- cover, though I gave the negro, Philip, a gold eagle once to tell me what he knew, and when he got through I found out nothing that I did not already know about them. ‘‘ They are a strange four, Miss Brandon, but Ill tell the girl to come to you soon, and I see her coming up the street now.” As the landlord entered his tap-room, Lieu- — tenant Maynard and Midshipman Lauderdale came into the inn, and the former called the host aside and held an earnest conversation with him, Captain Buntline explained that he had bag the young sailor as his guest, and then tol of his mysterious disappearance, after which he knew no more, : ' Lieutenant Maynard then spread his men through the village and began a thorough search of the place and its surroundings, while he went through the inn, ‘*This room is occupied by a lady, sir,” said the host, as they came to the chamber in which was Joyce Brandon. ‘‘T regret the work I am forced to do, sir; bu& to me, Miss Bran- | ee Qe eee = =—s -ses--= > —— | : « GOmicsoo S oh 7 =~ _ =~ i ) AE. a a Es ~