Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 393 — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

au } . st § ‘ Me i,» ‘when spoken to upon the subject, seemed - ‘. 7 - 4 tre pt ~ - + a TR - 4 ‘4 ey i WAY . r — * ay _ would most surely be J j. vat * “** alt fy oa 4, and destro f id * 30 a7 r : ar , aie t a! } The Convict Captain. “the commodore held the articles up to the view ~of all. | ‘‘ Great God! he is the assassin,” cried Preble Bainbridge. ‘*Tf these blood-stained garments, this sword, k for anything, he is, so be off at once, ainbridge, and have him arrested,” and the voice of the old sailor rung sternly, for he had ‘ at last begun to suspect Henry Harvey, where he had doubted before. Springing into the carriage, Preble Bain- bridge gave the driver an order, and the vehicle rolled rapidly away. It halted at the quarters of Henry Harvey, -and that young officer was pacing his rooms in -deep and painful reverie, ‘*Quick, Henry, I have come to save you!” cried Bainbridge. ** Save me?” ‘Yes; for you are doomed if you remain here.” ** Tn God’s name, what do you mean?” ‘Your uncle, the admiral, has just been mur- dered, and the assassin wore your cloak and gloves, and carried your hood, and all are blood- «stained. ‘You know whether -deed or not; but I feel t ou are guilty of the t you are innocent, .and I am here to save you. ‘* The commodore and eg Sage hearing that the admiral meant to change his will against you, ‘drove out there to ask him to wait, for we be- lieved you to be a victim of an enemy, but we found him dead, and those things of yours in the room. ‘*The commodore ordered me to arrest you, ‘but I wish to save you. ‘*Tf you fly, you can prove your innocence; ‘but if you remain here and are thrown in prison, you cannot, and will suffer; so go, Hen- xy, while I stay and do all to show you are not ilty. = Like aman dazed by a blow, Henry Harvey heard all, and remained gazing at Preble Bain- dridge. ‘**Come, you must go with me, for I will not sgee you sacrificed. ** Come!” He led him from the room down the stairs, ‘rushed him into the carriage, and the driver -drove swiftly to the harbor shore. There a small sail-boat was secured, and still half-dazed by the shock, Henry Harvey went -sailing off alone in the darkness, a fugitive, with the charge of a cruel murder resting upon him __-to blight’his life and his every hope of honor an \ - -of love. CHAPTER XLV, THE FALSE FRIEND. ArrTEeR the flight of Henry Harvey, Preble Bainbridge seemed outwardly a changed man, He avoided the club, kept out of et Ba He frankly admitted that he had urged the young officer to fly for his life. He saw that public opinion was so bitter against him, that it might break out into a mob him, and so he had told him to ‘place himself in safety. He did not believe that Henry Harvey was a of the murder of the admiral, and there- ore he had wished him to keep away until the real murderer was found. '. Then he could come back, and with flyin colors claim his innocence; while if he trial then, in the heat of pomon against him, he These things Preble Bainbridge did not deny _-and he said it rather defiantly, that what he had done, had been in the belief of his kindred’s in- mocence, ____ As for the inheritance he would receive by the i ine — of the admiral, at the supposed hands of ey oe, enry Harvey, be did not care, as his father ‘was worth far more, and he was his heir, * 4 ‘*.) ~ . » a *. 4 Such was said for the public ear, such was the face that Preble Bainbridge wore in public, ‘when he was before his associates and officers. hg oth Se Ss a , 4 - % ‘ ~~ » See * . wy +2 * pe, ‘ ‘ee : 4 Sey 4 J ~~ | j ite ‘ Le v' r = * > i. ~ * * . tJ Fen | * ga 4 - but he held on so to that fellow I sent there of But in secret his face was a different one, as _ the reader would have known, had he followed im to his elegant quarters in town after the ht of Henry Harvey and the burial of the old -admiral, Pacing up and down the room all alone, for he had dismissed his valet to be by himself, he _ said half aloud: ** So this is the way all this ends? *T had not expected it to turn out quite so ‘much in my favor.” “The death of the admiral I did not expect; re- } siege Harvey, that I suppose he had to kill to get away. **T am pained at this, for 1 did not wish mur- der, even to save myself. ‘If Harvey was caught and sentenced to a I fear I would come out and tell the “But love and debts will make a man do much, asI know. ** Now, I love Queen Delorme with my whole soul, and now that Harvey is out of the question with her, she will m me. ‘* But then, independent of her love, it was ne- cessary for me to have her money, ‘* Here I am, the 74" heir of my father’s vast wealth, when he knowing I would squander it, and to atone for some act of his in his youth, has secretly made his will, leaving all to charity, Se a small sum to me, ‘*He does not know that I am aware of this, but I am glad that I read the will the day he left his iron box unlocked. ‘*So be it, with Queen’s riches and Admiral Cummings’s money, for [ll get that, with Har- vey out of the way, I'll be rich as man can want, ‘But I must act soon, for I cannot much longer carry the forged paper I have held on to for a year, renewing it with other forged paper, for the agent said the last time I took it up, that he was glad to get the interest, but was surprised my father had to thus borrow money. ‘I must look to this, and my first move will be to win Queen over to a hasty marriage, and I ess the old count will be willing when I show im the forged deeds, papers, grants and other things I have, to make me seem to be worth two millions. ‘* As I must keep so glum here ng now, I will take a run up to Cloudland Castle for a few days and arrange matters while there. ‘I know that my seemingly friendly conduct toward Harvey will be appreciated by Queen, and 4 letter to her will gain me a better wei- come than she gives me generally. " ‘** Let me see: [ll drive overland.” So having decided, the false friend ordered his carriage to be ready at a certain hour the fol- lowing morning, and going to his office ashore, as port officer, and then on board his vessel, he arranged to be absent for a few weeks. Starting on time, he rolled rapidly along through the country, and in good time drove up to the door of Cloudland Castle, The count met him warmly, and said: i What terrible news this is about poor Har- vey! “Tt is indeed, sir, and it has made me pcesi- ory ill; so I came up to visit you for awhile.” “You did right, Bainbridge, for you know you are always welcome here, while Queen feels that she has wronged you, after what_ you did for Harvey, and says she will frankly admit that you are a true and noble friend.” At dinner, an hour after, Preble Bainbridge met the heiress of Cloudland Castle, and she frankly extended a welcome, spoke of his letter to her about Henry Harvey, and said she had found herself mistaken regarding her opinion of im. She was, however, very white-faced, sad- hearted, and showed dee though she bore up bravely. take my own carriage and She said she knew that Henry Harvey was! Bahamas, my master sought a safe traces of suffering, | Thus he kept on, until the third night, when a bright light loomed up on his port-bow. **CloudJand Castle! will I ever enter its hall in honor, freed of the accusations of crime now upon me?” he said to himself. The moon was now rising in beau headed directly for the Haunted Island. He passed the sentinels, and, running further out to sea, headed in for the breaks in the reefs, just as Congo had done, Standing upon the shore watching him, were Congo and the cavalry officer. The negro seemed deeply moved, as he saw the yacht head in through the reefs and said hoarsely : ‘** There is but one person other than myself that can run that channel, and I know of but one who would dare venture upon this island.” ** Who is that, Congo?” ‘*The one whom you say came here the night I ran in, is the only one I believe would dare again come alone, whoever he is, while he whom I refer to as alone knowing the channels as | do, is wee Harry Harvey, of whom you heard me § ‘ ‘* Ah, yes; but see, he comesin rapidly.” ** He does indeed, and we will do him no harm until we know who he is,” The yacht had now run in through the reef, and soon after dashed into the little basin where lay the schooner yacht, hat he saw was a surprise to Henry Harvey; but Sig could utter a word Congo appeared im. , as I live! for there is but one like you,” cried the officer springing forward. **Master Harry Harvey! grown as you are from boy to man, I know younow! I feltit was you, when you ran that channel,” and the greet- ing Was a warm one. ** You have not forgotten me then, Congo?” ‘** Forgotten the brave boy who saved my life ae those men were going to kill me as an Evil eing? “Did I not fly from them in a boat at sea, alone, at night, preferring to die thus? ‘* And you saw my boat, saw that some one was in it, too weak to man it, and inastorm you ran out, took me in your boat, and saved my life, for I was nearly dead.” ‘* And yet, after dwelling with us three years, Congo, you left us; left us just as I madea name for myself?” Fs Master Harry, I was fishing one night, and a vessel came along and picked me up. ‘‘It was a pirate craft, and the crew fought against me, saying I would bring ill-luck; but the captain stood by me, quelled the mutiny I had caused, and became my friend, ‘*T loved him devotedly for all he did; but I would have come back home, if I may so call it, but that our vessel rang a leak, we had to take to our boats, with all our vast treasure, and getting a sma/]] vessel at an island put in the hidin g-place , and he not guilty of murder, notwithstanding such | for the booty. damning appearances against him, and she never would believe it. He might have been a little wild,*but he was not bad, and if he had set those smugglers free and sent word to Duluth to fly when he was to be taken to Boston, it was because he had some | he never came, and IJ will tell. you why good reason. Preble Bainbridge agreed with her in every word, and did all he could to make her feel ees, Harvey’s misfortunes grieved him eeply. And so well did he succeed that Queen turned to him as a near and dear friend in her sorrow; and she frankly admitted that she loved the fugitive officer; but, if she believed him guilty, she would have torn him from her heart if it killed her to do so. And so matters went on at Cloudland Castle, those there little dreaming that a cloudburst was gathering that would sweep life and _ char- acter before it; but such was the case, and dark clouds were looming up rapidly over some lives. CHAPTER XLVI. THE DWELLERS ON THE ISLE. WHEN Henry Harvey, against his own wishes but ur to doso by Preble Bainbridge, left Boston he was almost broken-hearted. It seemed to him like a hideous nightmare, that he, above all others, should be accused of so many acts of wrongas he had been, and to crown all, be charged with the murder of the old man he had learned to love so well. ‘*T will yet solve it all, yes find out what it all means,” he said, as he sailed along in his lit- tle boat, which cut through the waters at a te rate. reble Bainbridge had been anxious to have Henry Harvey go on horseback through the country, to escape; but no, he would not do that, for he had some’ motive of his own in view for refusing. ' . That motive revealed{fitself as he kept on his course. By day he reached a Y acres along the coast where he could hide, and he ran in the little yacht into a nip 2 lace. But at dark he held on once more. de ! | ‘*We were wrecked upon the very same island; but he wished to kave all, so left me to guard the treasure, while he took the men away in a boat that was there. ‘* He promised to return, within a year; but I am here.” Then Congo told the whole story, up to the time of his having brought the soldier back from the grave as it were, | ‘* And he was the White Specter?” ‘‘ Yes, Master Harvey.” . £ And you are the Black Hermit of the sle ‘* Yes, sir, and I have a fortune here for you.” ** Ah! Congo, I fear it has come too late,” and Henry Harvey told the story of his life, and most deeply was the African interested in it. ‘* But let us go and meet the captain as I call him, for I left him to watch another sail that was following you a closely.” : ‘** Indeed! what was it?” ‘* A sloop, sir, and I saw but three men on board; but I have more to tell you, sir, for the captain and myself took a sail up the coast two nights ago, and there isa badly crippled pirate craft hiding away there, and it is the same I saw off this coast flying the Spanish flag.” ‘*Caspar the Corsair!” ‘* Yes, sir, I guess so.” “We will see to him afterward; but hark! your friend calls.” The rung into a boat and hastened ashore to find the soldier, to whom Congo presented Harvey. ‘**The craft has run upon a reef and is going to pieces,” said the soldier. “Come, we must save the crew,” cried Henry Harvey, and the three sprung into the boat and pulled for the wreck. Two men were rescued, Harvey springing into the sea and saving one, and Congo the other while a third had gone down, for the men had run the smack upon a sunken rock, “Curley, it is you?’ cried Henry Harvey, re- cognizing a sailor that he knew. ‘Yes, sir, and I owe you my life, lieutenant, and I intend to make a confession to you, sir, for { left you in a bad yer ‘** A confession, Curley?” com “ * JOOKS' (GE \ 4 al 4 | . } a eee te 4 ee tia