Beadle's Dime Library No. 388: The Giant Buccaneer — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

the hands of the naval authorities, only placed with us for safe keeping until it is de- cided what to do with you.” ‘* Hang me, as I am a pirate,” ‘No, you'll escape the gallows; but I think you will spend your life in prison,”’ «Tt may be.” ‘“ Have you any weapons about you?” BY gk Olea: ‘‘Please give them up,” and the keeper held forth his hand. Drawing from the folds of her dress a pis- tol. she handed it to him. Then she took from her bosom a jewel- hilted dagger, and gave that up also. ‘* Are these all?” “Do you think Iam an armory, to carry more weapons?” ‘‘T would like to feel sure that you have no more.” ‘Then search me.” ‘‘No, I will not do that, but take your word.” ‘Thank you. ‘« Now let me be placed in my cell for Lam weary, body and soul,” and for the first time her voice quivered. She was led away to the same cell that her pirate husband had occupied, and left, the night she had so boldly rescued him. t was not an uncomfortable place, though upon it was the chill that hangs over all cells. The keeper ealled a woman servant, who had grown gray and bent in those prison walls, and bade her look to the comfort of the beautiful, but dangerous prisoner. ‘*T will,” said the woman, whose face and heart had grown as hard as the stone walls, from her long association with criminals and their miseries. Into the cell Rita walked, and glanced about her. An easy-chair was placed in it, the cot bed was not a bad one, a table was also given her and without, in the corridor, alamp gave her light. “Dismissing the woman, she threw herself upon the bed and for a long time shook with emotion. For a long time she seemed to suffer fear- ful anguish. Then she conquered her emotion, and be- came perfectly calm, Undressing herself, she lay down, and seemingly forced herself to sleep. With the morning sunrise she awoke, and Nance, the old white-haired servant, appear- ed with a good breakfast. With an effort she ate, and then was again alone. At noon Nance appeared again with her dinner. Of this Rita ate heartily, and chatted with the old woman, asking her all manner of questions. Taking several gold-pieces from her purse, she handed them to her, “No, I take only my wages for serving prisoners,” ‘But you will let me pay you for your kindness?” ‘‘ No, kindness should never be paid for, and my work I get my money for every month,” was the cold reply. The Smuggler Queen eyed the woman closely, and she saw that no amount of gold would tempt her to betray her trust. After a while she asked: ‘ Are you allowed to go out of the prison at will?” “Yes, but 1 never ask it, for I have noth- ing to carry me outside. “This carcel is my home, my world.” ‘‘But I wish you to go for me,” ‘Send a messenger.” ‘No, I wish to make some purchases at the shops, and I would like, if you can get off after supper, 1f you would go out for me.” ‘‘T will do that,” answered the old wom- an, who, like her sex, Was not proof against the opportunity of “shopping,” even for another, , “Well, after you bring my supper, come ready to go out, and I will give you the money, as | need a number of things.” “Thad better go this afternoon.” “No, I have not got my list ready; but to-night you can go, and if you are detained late, you can keep the things and bring them to me in the morning.” — —— —— ad * ¥ ‘The Giant Buccaneer. ‘*T will have to do that, as, after night, no one comes in here.” “You will have to get permission, I sup- pose?” ‘* Yes, a written line to pass the guard; but the chief will give that to me when | tell him what I want.” ‘All right; [| will make up my list this afternoon, and have it ready for you, thank you,” and a sweet smile of the beauti- ful smuggler, even touched the stony heart of the old mince who took up her tray and departed, happy at the thought of her | intended shopping excursion. CHAPTER XXXIX. A WOMAN'S BOLD ACT. ALL that afternoon, the Smuggler Queen paced her cell, her brow clouded, her lips set firm. Her thoughts were evidently busy with some bold scheme, and she seemed to be anxiously awaiting the hour for the coming of the old servant with her supper. Since the hanging of her husband, the face of the Smuggler Queen had grown haggard; but it did not mar its beauty, and the light that dwelt there, in her hope for revenge, seemed to keep up the flush and excitement. At last the shadows, ever in the cell, be- gan to deepen into blackness. Then the lamp in the corridor was lighted, and the step of the woman was heard ap- proaching. Nerving herself to what was before her, the Smuggler Queen threw herself upon her bed and pretended to be asleep. The woman had the key, set her tray of dishes down and unlocked the door. Then she entered, locking the door after her, as was her wont. The Smuggler Queen still appeared to be asleep. ‘‘Lady, awake, for I have your supper here,’) she said, in her peculiar voice, which was strangely squeaky. With a start the woman sat up, rubbed her | eyes, and asked with a yawn: ‘Ts it supper-time?”’ “Yes, and I have brought you your sup- per.” ‘Thank you.” Nance bustled about to arrange it on the table, trying to attract attention to her being dressed up, for what woman does not wish to make another admire her clothes? Rita saw this, and said pleasantly “s ne you are all dressed up.” sé Tes,” ' ‘* And how nice you look in that dress and pretty bonnet.” ‘Thank you; but I don’t wear them of- ten.” ** Are you going out on a frolic?” “Oh, no; but don’t you remember you asked me to go out and make some purchases for you?” ‘*Ah, yes; I had forgotten, and it was very kind of you to remember it. ‘‘ Here is the list and the money in my purse; but did you get leave?” ‘Oh, yes; here is my pass.” _ She handed a slip of paper upon which was written: ‘** Pass bearer (employee Nance) out of gate and return. Nowanpn, Chief.” ‘Yes, this is very nice; but let me exam- ine that bonnet, for it is a pretty one.” It was of the style then worn, coming far over the face, and covered with ribbons. The Smuggler Queen gently took it off, looked at it with seeming admiration, and then said gently: : ‘* Let me put it on for you.” Nance yielded without a word. and appar- ently arranging it from behind, the small, shapely, yet sinewy hands suddenly grasped the throat of the woman in a vise-like grip, that could not be shaken off, and prevented all outcry. | With wonderful tenacity they clung to the shriveled throat of the old woman, who struggled hard, but could not throw off the grasp upon her. She breathed heavily for a while, then her arms fell powerless to her side, and she sunk unconscious upon the floor. Raising her with wonderful ease, the Smuggler Queen placed her upon the bed. Then she hastily disrobed her of her outer clothing, neayy shoes and bonnet, and slipped them on herself. a SS OC Or .O eee UU UEEEEEEEE EEE 21 Next she drew from her bosom a dagger with a keen edge, and the gray hair was sev- ered from the head, and quickly placed over her own forehead. The pass was next secured, and the purse of gold was left on the table for the old wo- man, with a note which the Smuggler Queen had already written for her, telling her to forgive her unkind act, but that her life was dear to her. Rubbing some dark powder over her face, and then unlocking the door, the Smuggler Queen stepped out into the corridor and pro- ceeded with a step that was an exact imita- tion of the old woman’s, toward the outer part of the jail. Her form was bent at the same incline that Nance walked, and she passed slowly on. “Well, old Nance, you are rigged out as I haven't seen you in a month ot Sundays,’ said an under keeper who was on duty in the outer corridor. ‘* What business is it of yours, man? ‘*] pay for my own clothes,” was the surly answer, in a perfect imitation of the voice éf the old woman she impersonated. ‘*Well, Nance, which way?” asked the guard at the door leading into the court. ‘‘T have the papers, man,” came the an- swer, and she held it up to view. ‘‘All right, Nance; but don’t you stay out. late, skylarking with the boys,” laughed the guard. Crossing the plaza, or court, the disguised Smuggler Queen halted before the last guard, an officer who stood at the carcel entrance, out upon the danquette. He read her pass in silence, and simnly nodded, and she was without the prison walls, “Free! free! Can I believe it, and so soon?” she said, in an undertone, and then turning the nearest corner, she walked along at a rapid pace. At last, coming to a part of the banquett that was overhung by orange trees, causing it to be very dark beneath, she kicked off the large shoes, which she had drawn on over her own, and hastily drew the dress over her head, Next came the bonnet, which she replaced by her own hat, which she carried, and roll- ing them into a bundle, she tossed them over the wall into a garden. Then she hastened on her way, turning one corner after another, until at last she reached Chartres street. A short walk down this brought her to the shop of Rudolpho, the money-lender. Bono saw her enter hastily, and advanced to meet her. | ‘‘It is necessary that I see your master at once, and I do not desire to be seen by any one else than yourself in the shop,” she said. “The Don is out, lady; but come into this little room and await his coming, please,’” said Bono, pleasantly, struck by her great. beauty. “Thank you,” and the Smuggler Queen sunk into a seat, and, as the door closed upon the boy, said earnestly: ‘* Now, 1 am safe, and I can begin my work. of revenge against that accursed mid- shipman, whose hands are stained with the blood of my father and my husband.” CHAPTER XL. DON RUDOLPHO’S GAME TO WIN. NEVER in his life did Don Rudolpho fee} more utterly beaten than he did upon discov- ering that his plot, or rather Chester Gran- ger’s plot, which he was using had miscar- ried, and that Rita, the Smuggler Queen, had escaped without his aid, ith bitterness in his breast he entered the shop, and passed rapidly on into his sanc- tum, ‘* A lady to see you, senor,” said Bono, rf: a t want to see her.” e’s beautiful, senor, and seemed anx- ious not to be seen, so I showed her into the ante-room,” This caught the attention of the money- lender. Could it be the Smuggler Queen’ She had escaped, and what was more nat- ural than that she should come to him to aid her? ‘Show her in at once!” he said, earnestly. Purposely he turned his back when she entered, that Bono might not see any meet- es Eomicbooks'