Beadle's Dime Library No. 395 — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

: ? ¢ - ‘ube: it a ae mas! . 7 Se EY Deadly | ‘ ee A, ; - - Aim, the Duke of Derringers. “al 29 guise; that the “invalid” whom Kyte Darley so carefully assisted on d, introducing him as ‘‘ Wilfred Bangs,” was none other than Marcia Wellspring in male clothing, with face whitened and brows blackened, to match her false hair. This conclusion was partly reached by the words he had caught from Brack, from ambush, artly from what he had heard and seen on eich the Superb, although at the time he had failed to comprehend the truth, throngh his complete ignorance of Marcia Wellspring and her marvelous likenes; to Portia. It was at her door that Kyte Darley had paus- ed for an instant after answering the signal from shore. She it must be who had struck up his arm and shoved him forward when he sought to rescue Portia. In these mutual confidences the rest of the night passed, and then by the light of day Duke Barringer strove to settle on their precise where- abouts. <A little to his dismay he saw that they were far from the river-bank; how far he had no means of knowing. But before long his quick wits cleared away the clouds. He recalled the lay of the ground above Paul- let’s Landing, and knew now that this road, while leaving the river, was still carrying them in the proper direction. A long, broad bend in the river was thus cut off. ‘‘Tt may be—-thanks to the glorious slowness of the Superb—that we can even yet intercept her!” he laughed, lightly. ‘‘ T never wish to see that boat again!” shiver- ed Portia, moving a little nearer her protector. ‘‘ Those terrible wretches!” ‘J think I can persuade them to keep the e,” smiled Barringer, but with a red light eaping into his momentarily averted eyes. ‘“Only for poor father, I would rather wait a week for another boat!” And thereupon Duke set about the pleasant task of consolation. If part of the plot was built on lies, why not the whole structure? For his part, he felt positive that Mr. Wellspring was not ill, had not been ill at all! And ere long Portia came to believe just as Duke did. It was a wonderfully pleasant ride, all things considered, and it was a ride that deserves a full er description than can be afforded here. It would be a bright oasis in a desert; a sunny leaf in this sin-burdened record, but it must be turn- ed over rapidly. The ride was not without its adventures. Twice they met men who respectfully greeted Portia as her cousin! And at the little cabin where they were forced to stop for supper, again she was addressed as Marcia Wellspring, and curiously questioned as to her destination, while of course the Duke of Derringers came in for his full share of curiosity. Deftly he parried this, and by the same skill he learned much concerning the lay of the ground before them, which stood them in good stead when their journey was once more renew- ed. For renewed it was, though they were hos- pitably solicited to remain for the night. Duke was inwardly willing enough, but Portia, despite the arguments he had used with such effect that day, was eager to go on without delay until a point could be reached from whence they might catch the first upward-bound boat. And, though the journey would be shortened in hours, it would still be just as many miles to be passed in close company, so Duke was quite con- tent to agree with her baste, after all. The old adage of the more haste, the less d, was exemplified in their case, however, for in the darkness one of their jaded animals lamed itself by stepping into a hole, shortly af- terward giving completely out. When this fact was proven beyond the shade of a doubt, Barringer turned the crippled beast loose, stripped off the harness and folded the blankets into a rude pillion, then mounted the sound horse. Portia was seated behind him, one arm gently clasping his round waist, her tender cheek touching his shoulder at times. And so they journeyed on through the second night, mile after mile. ruly, it was not such an unpleasant trip, all things considered! Duke was positive of this. He even went so far as to declare that he had never enjoyed himself a tenth part as much in all his life before! And as he turned his head to confidentially utter this assertion, the stars gave light enough to betray the soft blush that suffused the smooth cheeks beneath his gaze. Well, the day dawned at last, and with a faint sigh of which he was hardly conscious, Duke declared that they were again drawing near the river. Portia was delighted with the information, and her anxiety deepened again. So much time lost! If it should be true, about her father! If they were forced to wait long for another boat! ‘Not long—see!” and with a degree of re- luctance which he would not even admit in his own heart, Duke pointed far away down the river toa dim line of smoke that lay along the tree-tops. ‘‘A boatis coming, now. It will be abreast us before noon. It will stop at our sig- nal, and then—” Again a faint sigh parted his lips. Portia ny ra shyly into his darkly handsome face, er li ~ EEE EE En ae me Se ee parting te speak. But her eyes drooped | the schemers would be bold and original sae and the words came not as his gaze suddenly to follow a line like this; to actually charge t dropped to her face. After all, perhaps it was just as well. Her vivid blush spoke quite as plainly as her tongue would have done; perhaps even plainer. That smoke was the same signal that warned the passengers of the Superb to hasten up their arrangements for the duel between Kyte Dar- ley and Rufus Cramp. It was the smoke that led Duke Barringer to leave the high road and cut across lots to make sure of time enough to signal for a landing. And that smoke it was that led bim straight to the spot where the two rogues were preparing to takeeach other’s lives, not for money or injured honor, but for the love of Marcia Wellspring! And as he heard the sound of voices, Duke slipped from his horse, and ran on in advance to make his dramatic appearance. And fear- ing, she hardly knew what, for him, Portia Wellspring hastily followed after. CHAPTER XIX. A QUESTION OF IDENTITY. ‘“ Who is taking my name in vain? Who calls on Portia Wellspring?” Clear and distinct came the voice, musical in tones, with i a trace of coquetry about it. And deftly slipping through the undergrowth, | shaken audacity. passing the line of surprised and bewildered He knew that the Duke of Derringers could men, the Miss Wellspring whom they had rowed | not be caught off his guard enough to afford from the sunken Superb, entered the little clear | him even a snap shot with the weapen that still space, stopping short as though amazed at what | hung by his side. He knew that the slightest met her eyes. | movement might bring an ounce of lead crash- Little wonder! ing through his brain, but by the time that Rufus Cramp, half-lying, half-crouching on | Portia Wellspring started forward to confront the ground, a pistol by his side, shivering all] | the impostor, he was prepared to run this risk. over with superstitious horror, one quivering | He purposely uttered an exclamation that as- hand pointing toward the pale, beautiful face | sured him the Duke of Derringers must see his from which he shrunk, yet from which he was | action, then suffered the pistol to drop from his unable to avert his widely-dilated eyes. hand upon the ground. rightful heiress with the very crime they were working against her. Even more completely was Portia taken aback, though righteous indignation quickly came to her assistance. Pale as death, but with her eyes glowing, she moved forward and confronted her cousin. ‘‘T am Portia Wellspring. You are my cousin Marcia, the daughter of my uncle, Remus Well- spring. I know this by * bead startling resem- blance to myself, in face, figure and even voice. I have been warned against you, as being wicked and wholly without principle, but never did I think to see those warnings so fully verified as now! Impostor!” During this sharp interchange, Kyte Darley was doing some rapid thinking. When he saw and recognized both Duke Barringer and Portia Wellspring, both of whom he had counted as dead and food for fishes, the blood seemed to turn to ice in his veins. And when Rufus Cramp —the miserable cur—gave way to superstitious fears and gasped out the name of the heiress, he felt that all was lost beyond recovery. But the bold diversion made by Marcia, the admirable tact she displayed in at once placing the enemy on the defensive, in a measure restored his a a eee K Darley, every trace of color driven from ‘* Marcia—my love!” he cried, starting for- his face, but which might have been a mask of | ward a pace, both hands extended toward Por- marble for all the emotion to be read therein, | tia, his handsome face alae SE mingled surprise and deep devotion. here, so far from home?” A short, mocking laugh ae the red lips of the beautiful impostor as Portia shrunk involun- tarily away from the gambler. ‘* Have you carefully counted the cost, Marcia? Are you prepared to sacrifice your lover, as vrell as your cousin, for the sake of the Well- spring millions? Bah!” with sudden anger, with withering contempt. ‘‘ You beautiful wretch! ‘You shameless impostor!” facing the man who held him under a derringer muzzle, Only the fact of his black eyes being riveted on the face of the woman who stood just beyond the Duke of Derringers, instead of on the man who had him covered, told how greatly shaken his nerves were in reality. Miss Wellspring gazed from one face to an- other with a growing trouble in her lovely face. Her red lips faded just a thought. The pupils of her great brown eyes shrunk a little, and her voice was less full and steady as she mur- ow came you ’ mured: ‘“What, Marcia! not one word for me?” ay °° ry does it all mean? Oh! it cannot be! | brokenly uttered Darley, never in all his life = Say that you are not quarreling—that you have | playing a desperate card so perfectly. ‘* Not—” Peg not shot each other on my account!” ‘*Touch her, you cur!” grated the Duke of © The Duke of Derringers laughed, cold and dis- | Derringers, a single leap ing him between agreeably, crying: the peibler and the bewildered girl. ‘Dare to her ‘‘A miracle! Wilfred Bangs restored to per- | lay but the tip of a finger on this angel, and [lt 3 fect health, and metamorphosed into a woman! | send you howling home to Tophet!” Ng Your humble servant, Miss Marcia Well- ‘* Hold back! Fair play! t the ladies set~ na spring!” tle it between them!” came from different points ex - Witha start and a stare the woman turned to- | around the central group. Bi ward the speaker, one hand slowly passing across ‘‘There is nothing to settle,” haughtily ex- her eyes as though to clear her vision. A puz- | claimed the impostor, as she drew up her perfect ee zled light shone in her great brown orbs. But | figure with an air of scorn. ‘‘I cannot give iar for an instant. that bold creature in charge, because the same e shrunk back just a trifle, a look of fear | blood runs in both our veins. Icanonly chari- coming into her face. It rung out in her voice, | tably hope that she has suddenly been overtaken Ag ie though mingling with defiance and hatred. by insanity! Surely no sane woman would ‘*That man! Arrest him! He tried to mur- | have the audacity to attempt such a barefaced © FS der me! He sought to cast me overboard, | imposition, right in the face of those who have a) and—” known me as a fellow passenger allthe way She seemed for the first time to see her double, | from New Orleans!” 1 Aa and in her surprise to forget all else. She ‘‘ And Wilfred Bangs, Miss Marcia?” asked started forward with a little cry, her hands ex- | Barringer, with a laugh. as tended, her lovely face filling with, wonder and ‘* As for you,” one slender finger pointing her — ae delight. words, ‘‘I charge you with attempted murder, ‘“Marcia! my dear cousin! How came you | night before last! I charge you with trying to * here?” cast me over the guards into the river! With (a ‘‘ You are Marcia, J am Portia Wellspring!” | shooting these two friends who interfered to ~ ee) impulsively cried the girl-woman who had borne | save my life! Gentlemen!” she added, impetu- the Duke of Derringers company to the spot, a | ously, glancing swiftly around the startled, be- inte flush of hot indignation completing the marvel- | wildered faces, ‘‘ is there no one present man Ane ous resemblance, enough to arrest that merciless villain?” ioe ‘‘ As T stand ready to take oath, andto prove| ‘' Duke, J want you!” ’ ge ae against all who dare deny!” coldly yet resolutely | A short, stoutly-built man pressed his Mee § foie cried the gentleman sport, the weapon left free | into the circle, a hard, resolute expression on h aA > by the collapse of Rufus reer’ sweeping the | florid face, a cocked revolver in one hand and startled circle, even while with the other he held | the other grasping a pair of handcuffs, a Kyte Darley harmless. Martin Tullar, chief of police,had run his t was a bold game, well-nigh desperate, but | prey down at last! ached the stakes were far too great to be given up ‘Portia! my darling child!” cried a shrill, | ae without straining every nerve to win, And the | quaveiing voice at almost the same instant, and. ose woman who had so daringly taken the place of | Mrs. Magill rushed through the bushes, a glad ye & the rightful heiress, was not yet conquered, ‘*T don’t understand—what do you mean?” she murmured, shrinking timidly back from her double, only to as quickly recover and assume the offensive. ‘‘How dare you, Marcia! Are you indeed as evil-minded as they sought to make us believe? Ha! I see! ou are in league with that miserable wretch who tried to murder me! Perhaps that murder was but part of a cunning plot—a daring scheme to bring you forward as me! To lay claim to the Wellspring millions!” Even the Duke of Derringers was amazed and not a little startled by this flight of daring on the part of one whom he believed would be over- whelmed with confusion and fear at the first sight of Portia’s face, Least of all did he think any of | of Marcia Wellspring. ‘* Aunt Honor! end, for surely her loving guardian and life- long companion would have no difliculty cognizing the real from the false. ‘*Aunt Honor!” echoed Marcia, layin every point for all they were worth. ‘ i thar: am so trying to rob me of my very name! She says she is your Portia! She—Marcia!” In open-eyed and open-mouthed dismay the not be two Portias before her! And she waking herself—and screamed aloud with pain. e Hardl JOO im (E AO (eo) Inv Nt > i net he, 4 j r - ' rs ‘ - ‘ f e. TP Pea ‘S. i> oe | : - ” dw : 2 ? ‘5 ~" os > . » - : Surely she was dreaming! Surely there rt | Thank Heaven!” cried Por- be tia, feeling that at last her trials must be at an” ery trembling upon her lips as she caught sight — Ss " 4, ty ‘ ort. , a , in Te- eS ; ES ie) ah a ry “ a ae glad! Send that awful creature away! She is « =? - \S 4 a % > al ¥ 4 r old lady gazed from one face to the other, = + ‘a ly pinched her own arm in the vagffe idea of i = SS y less amazed was the Duke of Derrin; i | a