Beadle's Dime Library No. 388: The Giant Buccaneer — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

~— vr a a « ——— en da +s = as 26 on the shore watching it, and dar ‘Sip acd aaner wat cel not go near him, for I knew his intention was to swim out to it as soon as it was dark. ‘‘This he did, and I expected. him to re- turn with the crew of that armed vessel and rescue you and I. ‘He could have done so, oh! how easily; but no; he turned against me in my deform- ity, and deserted us both, while he went his way in joy at his escape. ‘* Next you were taken from me, and what I suffered none can ever know. ‘At last | found an opportunity to escape, and gladly I did so. ‘*[ had jewels hidden away through all, and they served me well. ‘But people turned away from me in dis- gust, and for what J had in gems they sought my life. “Thus it was that I became a dweller upon the Haunted Island. ‘‘Thus it was that I became wicked heart- ed, and loved crime. “ At last you came to me, and I was again happy. ‘* Now I go to thé city, for I believe that I will find there none other than y our father, the man who so cruelly deserted us.’ *‘And if you do, mother?” ‘‘Ah! what a revenge I will have!” she said, almost joyously. ‘‘T cannot blame you, mother. “You dare not, after all that 1 have gone through. ‘‘Now, Perdido, my son, so well worthy of your sinful mother, you know just who you are, and the story of your mother’s life. “What your father is, and has been since his cruel desertion of us on that South Sea Island, we are to find out, and then, woe be unto him!” CHAPTER XLVILI. A DOUBLE REVENGE. New ORLEANS was kept in a perfect fer- ment of excitement, by the startling incidents happening in its midsi daily. The escape of the Smuggler Queen became noised through the town, and its daring filled all with surprise. Then the attempted rescue of her, by those professing to be marine officers, leaked out, and there was another topic for the gossips to discuss. The capture of the Lady Maud also became known, and then her sudden coming back, with the quick departure of the schooner Sea Fox, a strange crew and a giant leader upon her decks. But back to her anchorage appeared the Sea Fox with the dawn. Her decks were blood-stained, her hold was filled with wounded men and prisoners, and the story of the strange attempt to cap- ture her, and the thwarting of it by the gal- lant Sea Fox himself, flew like wildfire through the city. Of course Don Rudolpho was among the first to learn the latter startling tidings. He sat in his private office thinking the matter over attentively. “Well, I’m sorry the giant was wiped out, for I could have used him some day, per- haps. ‘* As for Merida, he has done well and is off, and I don’t doubt but that he will leave that wretch, Perdido, on the Death Island, and that will end him. ‘*Chester Granger is gone, and that takes out of my way 4 dangerous rival; but then I need not have feared him, with Rita in my power, as she certainly is, for no sound can reach the outer world from those rooms, and unless she becomes my wife they shall be her tomb, for once I close those iron doors, she is in asafer spot than were she in the carcel. “But she will marry me, when I have got- ten her foes into her power; ouly I must go carefully, for that Sea Fox is on my track, ‘‘ How he could have discovered the game of that Giant Buccaneer, I do not under- stand. ‘‘But he did do it, that is certain; and, as he is dangerous, my first duty must be to close his term of life. ‘“‘Then to get hold of the Brandts, and next to make Rita my bride, and seek a home far from here.” So mused the during, cunning, cruel Don the, Giant Giant Buccaneer. ' She ratsed her vail and the face of the woman Piddcloke tha taoner Mader, the money-lender, and after his musings he walked out to lay his plans for the death of the Sea Fox. But days passed away and he still lived, and then back to New Orleans came Irving Brandt, on the Sea Owl, he having decided to at once go out cruising along the coast in his vessel, as suspicious crafts had been seen of late in Mississippi § Sourd, and of course he connected the escape of the Smuggler Queen with them, and believed that she was getting ready to strike a blow at him thr ough those he loved. After a consultation with Commandant | Nazro and Captain Palafox, it was decided | that the Sea Owl and Sea Fox should both start together, beating around the whole Gulf coast for suspicious vessels, and, to the deep chagrin of the money- lender, his intended victims suddenly disappeared. | ‘‘T had the plans all ready to kill the Sea Fox, and to get the boy into my power, so as to take him before the Smuggler Queen, and their departure has foiled me, ” he muttered. ‘“ A lady to see you, senor,” said Bono. “Who is she?” ** Don’t know, senor, for she is vailed.” ‘Well dressed?” ‘*Yes, senor. ‘* Show her in.’ The next moment a woman entered the sanctum of the money-lender, ‘* Don Rudolpho, I believe?” she said, in a low tone, ‘“Yes, senora.’ ‘A money- Nehde?" I have heard?” ‘“Yes, senora; but may I ask who it is I have the honor of addressing?” ‘It is not necessary for you to know, sen- ; but I have called on business.” “Ah! Lamat your service, senora.” ‘You make large loans, I am told?” “Yes.” ‘*T need a large sum,” * How much?” ** Call it a hundred thousand dollars.” ‘‘That is a large sum.’ “Then you cannot lend so much?” ‘Oh, yes, far more, if you need it, and the security is good.” “Tt is in gems.’ ‘* They are alwys good.”’ ‘‘T shall need it for several years,” **It matters not how long.” “You must be avery rich man, Don Ru- dolpho, to allow a nigel ‘ed thousand dollars in cash to go out of use for years” ‘*T will be getting interest on it of course,” ‘* Yet others will want loans,” ‘*T have the money to accommodate them.” ‘*You are indeed a wealthy man.” ‘Have you the gems with you, lady?” ** Yes; they are in this bag.” He poured the contents of the little sachel upon the table, and after glancing over the rene trinkets spread out before his gaze, sai ‘‘Here is ample security, and the wealth of a pirate. “In fact, they look like pirate plunder.” ** What they look like you have nothing to do with, Don Rudolpho; your business is to hand me the money, but first I must ask you for a glass of wine, for I am faint.” aa wine was ‘brought, and the woman sail ‘* You will join me, of course?” ide poured out two glasses, and then she said: ‘© Will you draw my chair nearer, for I am sl really ill.” As he did so she quickly poured a liquid from a small bottle into his glass of wine. Then she said, a3 she took her glass: “You will pardon me if I turn my face when | drink it, for [do not wish to be re- cognized?” ‘Certainly, lady,” and as she turned her face away and raised her vail, he poured the glass of wine into his sleeve, while he smack- ed his lips, and said: p “That is delicious wine, lady, as you will nd. ” “Yes,” she said, absently, and as she spoke some object in her grasp caught his eye in a mirror, and he started. Then turning to him she said, hoarsely: \ “ Rudolph Don, we are quits at last !” ‘“Oh, God! who are you?” he gasped. “The wine you just drank was poisoned, and within five minutes you will be dead. | “*See, now do you know who I am?” was revealed. The man staggered back from her, perfect- ly livid, while she said; “You are ric bh, immensely rich, for your own words confessed it, and I, as your wife, whom ycu deserted on that island in the South Seas, will get it all, for I have tracked you at last. ‘* But ere you die, Rudolph Don, you shall see your son, whom you also deser ted. ‘** Here, Perdido!’ ; She stepped to the door, and Perdido enter- ed from the shop. “‘Great God!” again gasped the money- lender. Then he stretched forth his hands, like a man grasping at objects in the air, and, tot- tering forward, fell upon the floor. “fe is dead, and I am avenged. “Now we will return to our inn, my son, and lay claim to his vast wealth.’ In silence they glided from the room and out of the shop. But hardly had the door closed upon the tattooed woman and her scarcely less wicked son, When the money-lender sprung to his feet. He was livid, but had an evil light in his eyes. “ Great God! they have tracked me. ‘But it was an inspiration of mine not to drink that wine, and then to pretend to be poisoned. ‘‘She thinks me dead, and it is better so.’ CHAPTER XLVOt. BONO, THE MONEY-LENDER’S CLERK. Don Rupo.prno, the money-lender, fully ie the fact that he had been brou oht to ba tie was overjoyed at having escaped the poison intended for him by his revengeful, but cruelly-used wife; but be knew that he dared not remain longer in the city. If he did, she would expose him as he wag, and Perdido knew him as he really was, be the danger to them what it might. No, there was but one course open to him, and that was to fly. That he had no time to lose he well knew. The Don had considerable booty in his shop, that would bring a round sum; but to save that was not to be thought of then He had gold in hissecret vault, and a large quantity of precious gems. These he could secure to take with him. He also had in the banks quite a large sum, which he must draw out at once. Calling Bono, he wrote drafts for the amounts on each bank, and said: ‘Get this money and return with it in all haste, for I have a large Joan to make.” **T will find you here, senor?” ‘Yes; but should I not be, await me here.” ‘* Yes, senor,” and Bono departed with the drafts, while Don Rudolpho said to him- se ‘‘ Now to go and see the fair Queen of the Smugglers, for she shall share my lot, be it what it may, and I will not go alone, ‘But just let me dispatch a clerk to char- ter me a coaster in which to sail to San Augustine, for that will be my first port to make.” The clerk was called and dispatched with orders, and then the money lender touched the spring in the wall, the secret panel flew open, and he disappeared within. But the panel did not close tightly behind him, for a draught of wind blew the end of: the table-cover near it into the open space, and there it held, while Don Rudolpho went on up the secret stairs pot knowing the tell- tale crack he had left behind him. Half an hour after Bono returned, a leather sachel full of bank-notes in his hand, and the room being unoccupied, the first thing his keen eyes lighted upon was the secret panel held slightly ajar. Having made this discovery, Bono deter- rained to make more. He was of an inquiring turn of mind, and had courage to back up bis curiosity. In fact there was something peculiar about the boy, and this circumstance the Don had often noted. He was a handsome lad of sixteen, well built, and as quick as a flash in his move- ments. He had come one morning to the money- \ com Cc .OOKS. f ’ sy et pe /