Beadle's Dime Library No. 388: The Giant Buccaneer — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

— ioe — eS : aS Ife had just such a face as any sculptor or painter would model or paint for that of an assassin. He was flashily dressed, sported jewelry, and kept a bodega in the town. ‘“ Well, senor, I received your message,” he said, coolly seating himself without an in- Vitation, ‘‘So I see, and you are always prompt, Saragossa. ‘*| work quickly for you, for you pay well.”’ ‘‘And you'll have to work the better to- day, and your pay will be larger.” ‘** Buenos, senor, gracias,” and the Spaniard bowed low. ‘‘] wish to get four uniforms.” “Senor?” “‘[ wish four marine uniforms, one of a lieutenant, another of a sergeant and two of soldiers.” ‘Yes, senor, I can get them.” ‘*T need four men to put in them,” ‘*T can fill the uniforms for*you, senor.” ‘<The officer must be a man of education, refinement and nerve, and the men must be fellows who can stand under a death-trap and not flinch.” ‘*T can get them, senor.” **Do you know any man who closely re- sembles an officer at the naval quarters?” ‘* Yes, senor, there are severalin my pay who do.” ‘‘Gocd! so much the better. ‘‘T also want a vehicle with a driver who can keep his mouth shut.” ‘*T have him, senor.” ‘*T want a totally different vehicle to meet a other at a certain point I will tell you of.’ ‘* Yes, senor.” ‘You can supply all?” ‘* Yes, senor.”’ ** When?” ‘When do you wish them?” *'To-night.”’ ‘All right, Don.” *“They must be drilled together in their ’ —=work.”’ ‘* Certainly, senor.” “And their pay shall be large.” ‘Of course, ,senor, if they risk their lives.” **And I do nat wish to be known in the maitter,”’ ; “Of course not, senor; but what is the work?” “There is a prisoner in the carcel I wish ‘to get out.” ** Gold will do much, senor.” **Gold will not bribe them to let this pris- oner go.” ‘* Who is he, senor?” ‘“It is a woman.” ** Ah!” ‘“The Smuggler Queen.” “Aha! 1 see, senor.” ‘*She must be rescued to-night.” ‘* She shall be, senor.” ‘“My plan is for you to get the men I ask, secure a vehicle, one of the Government ones now being repaired at the shops, for I saw several there this morning, and put your officer and his party in it. ‘Drive to the carcel and hand to the keeper ‘this paper.” ‘Why, senor, this looks legitimate.” ‘* Read it.” Then Senor Saragossa read the document aloud, and it purported to be an order for an officer to proceed with a sergeant and two marines, and take from the carcel to the pris- on-ship, the prisoner known as Rita, the Smuggler Queen, and place her for safer keeping upon the prison-ship. ‘Find out the officer’s name you wish to assume, and send me word and I will fill it in. ‘The keeper will give you the Queen, without doubt, on this order, and drive with her to the deserted home half-way to the navy quarters. ‘Then have your second vehicle there to meet it, and I will go there and await your coming, you giving the second driver orders to allow me to enter his carriage; but I will be disguised.”’ ** All right, senor.” ‘*Now you understand, Saragossa?” ** All but the pay, senor.” ‘*You shall have a thousand each for the men.” ggg LL The Giant Buccaneer. **That is generous, senor.” ** And double that amount for yourself,” “You are kind, senor, and all shall go well.” ‘* Here is your pay now, and see that there is no failure.” ‘‘T will have no failure, senor, for the right men shall go,” and the Senor Saragossa a ready tool of the money-lender’s, took his departure, ne Fi CHAPTER XXXVII AN ASTOUNDING DISCOVERY. Aut day long Don Rudolpho was nervous. He tried in vain to plot some scheme by which he could get Chester Granger out of the way, and then make use of the Giant Buccaneer to rid him of Perdido, instead of the way his treacherous clerk wanted it. As for Captain Merida, he would play him against the Giant Buccaneer, or wc2 versa, ac- cording to which one had the deepest pocket. *‘T must play my cards well, and get all I can out of them, for 1 am getting too many irons in the fire to handle all of them with- out being burned. ‘*The fact is [am a very rich man, and I’ve got my wealthin a way that I can carry it with me at a few hours’ notice. Diamonds, rubies, emeralds and pearls are the surest investment for gold. ‘‘They pay me no interest, but my loans of gold bring me several hundred per cent. to make up for what they lose, so I am far ahead in the long run. ‘‘ Now my desire is to win the love of this beautiful woman, Rita. “If Lean win her hand, good! her love Ill try to gain afterward, and when she is my wife I'll slip quictly out of these scenes taat have known me, and seek a new home and new associations elsewhere, and no one will ever know that the millionaire gentle- man and his lovely wife were once Rudolpho the money-lender and the Smuggler Queen. ‘*Ah me! sometimes memories of the past will crowd upon me; but | must banish all such, as they are buried in the grave of for- getfulness, ‘‘T wish I could think what is best for those pirate captains, the Giant, Granger, Perdido and Merida. ‘But I cannot, for my brains is all ina whirl until I have rescued Rita, ‘Then there is time enough for them, and I will make one cut the other’s throat, as the Giant Buccaneer seems to have done with Merida and his officers. ‘But I must not worry about them to- day, for Rita is in my thoughts. ‘‘T have had the rooms she is to occupy made into a perfect dyjow home, and she can dwell there in safety, riding and driving out vailed at her pleasure, until she is my wife. ‘* But suppose she casts me off? vi Ah! this cannot be, for she will not do that. ‘* But if she does, those rooms are a jail, safer than the one she will escape from to- night, and there she shall remain until she consents to be my bride. ‘* No one will know that she is there, other than her old negress, whom I found wander- ing the streets, after her mistress went to the carcel, ‘She will be faithful, and all will be well. ‘*But no more confidential clerks for me, as I cannot risk discoveries, ‘Well, I must walk out and quiet my nerves.” So saying, Don Rudolpho was about to leave his sanctum when Bono ushered ina visitor. The money lender had expected a messen- ger from Saragossa, and had told the youth if any one came, toadmit him at once. But this caller was not a messenger from the Senor Saragossa, and more, he was one the Don cared not to see. But he was in for it, and said coldly: ‘Well, Captain Palafox, how can I serve you?” ‘You can rather serve yourself, Don Ru- dolpho, for Iam in need of no loans at usu- rious interest, nor do I wish to raise gold on jewels, or smuggled and piratical booty,” was the response of the man who had given up piracy and so well served the Govern- ment that he had been made a Gulf guard- officer. ‘““Then why seek me, senor?” impatiently asked the money-lender. ‘*To give you a piece of advice.” , ‘‘T am not asking advice, Captain Pala- ox.”’ ‘*No, but you must receive it. ‘You remember that I called upon you some time ago, and warned you in no way to commit ycurself to any scheme that might bring harm upon Colonel Brandt, or any one of his name or connection?” ‘** Yes, nor did I, nor do I expect to do so.” ‘* His yacht, the Lady Maud, was cut out from her anchorage in the lake last night, and my spies trace the crew to a place where you hire your men for your dirty work, so I call- ed to say that I am watching you, and if any harm follows the cutting out of the yacht, to aa member of the planter’s family, | shall hold you responsible, ‘*Good-day, Don Rudolpho,” and without another word the Sea Fox departed. This visit rendered the money-lender more uncomfortable, and he muttered: ‘That man is dangerous and must be got rid of— Well, Bono, what now?” ‘* The Senor Saragossa, senor.” ‘‘ Ah! what news, senor?” ‘* All works well, Don, and here is the name to fill in the blank,” said the Senor Saragossa, as he entered the room. - Good! now let there be no mistake, and, elated, the Don took his walk to calm his nerves. Several hours after, just at dark, he walk- ed rapidly down to the deserted house, the appointed rendezvous. here he found the carriage awaiting, and, after a word to the driver, he took his seat inside. An hour passed, and then came the rumble of wheels. Up dashed a vehicle the next instant, and aman, looking like a sea-officer, sprung out and said to the driver of the waiting car- riage: ‘Go and report to your master that the prisoner has escaped. ‘*Say that when the keeper went with me to the cell, he found it empty.” Don Rudolpho gasped for breath, and then said sternly, without showing himself: ‘‘ Driver! go with all speed to the bodega of the Senor Saragossa!” Away rolled the vehicle, with the money- lender inside, and nearly beside himself with rage and amazement, for the Smuggler Queen had escaped, and he had not been the one to rescue her. CHAPTER XXXVIII. IN THE CITY PRISON, As Rita, the Lady Captain, was driven be- neath the arched gateway of the carcel, her heart seemed to grow cold with dread. But she quickly threw off the feeling, and met the keeper with a defiant air and flashing eyes. Me You are the Smuggler Queen?” he said, as she stood before the scribe of the prison to be regularly entered as a prisoner. ‘‘T am so called.” ‘You have another name?” ee, ‘* What is it?” “The Lady Captain.” | “ Yes, but your Christian name?” ‘“My name is Rita.” ‘“ What else?” “Tt was Rita Restel.” “And now?’ ‘‘Ig Rita Keys.” ‘Ah! your father was the Smuggler King?” ‘*He was.” ‘*And your husband?” “Was Barton Keys,” ‘The pirate?” ry ea, ‘* Also called the Sea Ghoul?” ce Yes,” ‘Your age, please?” ‘‘ Twenty-three,” ; : ‘Your trade is that of smuggling?” ‘Yes, and piracy,” was the cool rejoinder, ‘‘T will place you in the cell occupied by your late husband.”’ ‘* Thank you.” : ‘And there you will await your trial.” ‘No trial is needed, when I acknowledge all that I am. ‘Let me be sentenced at once.” ‘*-You will have to. be tried, and you are in >» scomicbook ’