Beadle's Dime Library No. 395 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

a é CP mS terme ae = “F . — ~~ ITP OP ty . - ane ‘a md ' aaa, _ we } ' : * iy : " , 4 rd . . = om ~~ Deadly Aim, the Duke of Derringers. “) 7 s . ; 3 ‘‘Something of the sort may happen—who knows? Life is mighty uncertain—especially when there is so much money at stake,” softly muttered Kyte, his big eyes partially closed, his red lips parting over his white, even teeth with a cruel smile. Rufus Cramp shivered a little and his face blanched as he cast a quick, nervous glance over his shoulder as though fearing to detect some signs of aneavesdropper. Yet he muttered be- twixt his teeth: ‘That is all the chance we have left, it ap- ears.” ‘¢ We may depend on your improving the hint, of course?” laughed Darley, with covert mali- | ciousness. “Tf all else fails, why not?’ desperately, | though his lips were blanched with the utterance, | With five mil- | ** That, or provide a substitute. lions at stake, what is a single life?” ‘‘There is no possible chance for an error? | Marcia Wellspring is positively the next-of-kin, should aught happen to cut Miss Portia off in the flower of her youth and loveliness?” purred Darley, turning to the old lawyer. Silas Cramp nodded, but there was a pecu- liar smile flickering about his thin lips. | | | ‘He has sent for her, then?’ sharply inter- posed Darley. ““T promised to £0 by the first packet. I feared he would wish to telegraph, but he firmly believes he will recover, and wished to avoid terrifying Portia more than was absolutely necessary.” ‘What part are we to play?” - “Rufus must take my place and carry word to the girl. I will invent some satisfactory ex- cuse, or else keep out of his sight. I know that the end is near—I firmly believe he will not out- last this night—but I feel I can do more good here, watching our interests.” ‘‘Steam is rapid, but lightning can give it odds and a beating. If he should die, that pre- cious banker would send a message over the wires to the custodian of that blessed will. He would inform the girl, and if not preventing her journey, would bear her company, most likely.” ‘Tf so, doubtless they would send word by what steamer they were coming. Il canarrange so much, at least,” was the equabjJe response. ‘“*T will send a dispatch to you, to await the boat, far enough ahead for you to stop off and catch their vessel. Of course, if this should If | happen, we will have to alter our plans once Kyte saw, he failed to read its meaning aright, ; more.” for with an airy wave of his white hand he purred: “The gift of prophecy is upon me to-day! Grief, or some more potent agent, will surely send the fair Portia in chase of her father’s ghost. in the Wellspring millions for an old-fashioned copper, and choke myself to death swallowing the coin!” ** And the millions would all fall to Marcia!” cried Rufus, his eyes aglow, his face flushing vividly, avarice and love mingling curiously in his features. Silas Cramp laughed harshly, bitterly, then sneered: ‘*Bah! and you both pride yourselves on be- ing shrewd, far-seeing men of the world! You have more than once found fault with my ways, and thought, if you dared not quite say as much, me old-fogyish in my ways of working for this fortune!” ‘‘ What do you mean?’ muttered Rufus, his face paling suddenly. “That you are totally ignorant of the real character of Romulus Wellspring. That though Remus Wellspring had left a thousand children instead of one, and each and all should survive Portia, never a penny of their uncle’s millions would fall to them!” ‘* You mean—” ‘That I know, * pee as surely as though my own eyes had read the will, full and careful pro- vision is made against just such a contingency. If I had drawn up the paper myself, I could be no more certain that Romulus Wellspring has cut off all chance of Marcia’s ever inheriting a dollar of his store. If Portia should die before she has issue, be sure the millions will go to some charity, or to found an institution of some de- scription.” a. oo the foul fiend make his bed this very ni ‘Amen to that,” nodded Kyte, still placid and smooth as ever, at least to all outw seeming. ‘‘Then we must fall back on the old plan of ringing in a cold will.” | ‘* And that is the best you can offer?’ demand- ed Silas Cramp, with his harsh, unpleasant laugh, that was worse than a sneer for irrita- tion. ‘“‘ Unless you can do better, my dear sir,” pur- red Darley. ** And you, Rufus? Gota word tosay?” _ A growl,instead. Rufus was not blessed with very brilliant wits, and now what brain he had was completely befogged by this sudden upset- bp their carefully laid plans. _ Something liks anger flashed into the yellow- ish wn as Silas faced him, speaking rapidly: ‘If you had not played the miserable ass back yonder! If you had worked your cards aright, and made the most of your chances—if you had even been content to permit them to play of their own accord, even! We might now be uietly watching this old muoney-bags drift away rom earth without a single care for the fu- ture!” ‘Tt can’t be helped now, so what’s the use of harping on that worn string all the time?” sour- lv muttered his hopeful son. ‘“ And not content with ruining the brightest prospect mortal man ever had, you must goand entangle yourself with that penniless wench— with Marcia Wellspring, of all the girls in the world! Bah! Sometimes I am sorely tempted to doubt your really being son of mine!” ““Only since—how long since mother died?” sneered Rufus, and irreverent, brutal as the hint was, the bolt struck home. Silas Ianghed faintly, and a tiny flush tinged his withered cheek. With a wry grimace he re- plied: “IT was wishing your past might be lived over, but if that would entail mine— Never mind. To business: ‘*Romulus Wellspring still trusts me, else he would have chosen some other messenger to send for his daughter.” If she lives a month, l’ll sell my stake | eee ee Cee eee Kyte Darley shrugged his shoulders, murmur- ing: ‘*Then you have plans? Really, you surprise me, dear sir! I thought them all knocked into oblivion.” Silas Cramp chuckled softly. A thorough- paced rascal, he felt proud of his cunning and foresight, and it pleased him to think that but for him all would be lost, “You look to me, then? You admit that you know not which way to turn? It is the old fogy who must bring success out of defeat, is it?” “That, and more, if you want,” coolly re- turned Darley. ‘‘ You plan and we'll work. Only tell us plainly just what we are to do.” * Draw closer, then,” nodded Silas, showing his yellow fangs. “What I’ve got to say, not even these walls may catch.” There was something in his face, his eyes, his voice, that caused Rufus to turn a sickly white, end even opened the sleepy-appearing eyes of Kyte Darley. They drew nearer, as requested, and then in low, muttering tones, Silas Cramp made known to them his amended scheme for a per the Wellspring millions. Rapidly as he whispered, the revelation took considerable time, but from the manner in which the eyes of his hearers sparkled, from the swift and varying changes which passed over their countenances, it was plain enough neither of the younger men found the time wasted. _ “Tt will work! It must work!” at length ex- claimed Rufus, rising. ‘* Do your part well, and steer clear of liquor. Go and make sure of a berth at once. Beon the watch for me. If there is any change, I will bring’ you word. I must go back to Wellspring now. Together they left the office, and passed into the open air. CHAPTER II. REVIEWING THE FORCES. Just as the last echoes of the War for Inde- pendence were dying away, the wife of a petty merchant and modest ship-owner presented her lord and master with twin sons, Jonas Well- spring was by no nitans superstitious, nor did he place any faith in the old adage of ‘*Give a dog a bad name, etc.” But being decidedly original himself, he thought he could afford to plagiarize a little from ancient history for the sake of giving his double-blessing names which could not possibly be confounded with those of Tom, Dick or Harry. It would be equivalent to taking out a patent or a copyright for them, and in that sleepy, groove-running community there would be fitt e fear of even a verbal in- fringement. The good wife ab oa never heard the names before, not being addicted to reading save on the Sabbath Day, and then only in sa- cred history. The names struck her ear, and her consent was cheerfully given. Thus it came about that the twin sons and heirs of the Bos- ton merchant and ship-owner were named Rom- ulus and Remus, after the famous wolf-nurs- lings of Ancient Rome. The troublous times, calling for boldness and caution, for audacity and secrecy, for swift thought and many shrewd expedients to save one’s head and pene at the same time, may have had something to do in molding the dispo- sitions of the twins, for certain it is that they were children whom one could not measure with the customary standard for their age. Shrewd, quick-witted, all alive, fertile of expe- dient. Bold and aggressive, humble and meek, ready with a blow if a word would not suffice to gain the desired end. If driven from one posi- tion, always having another ready for occupa- tion, and in extremely critical situations not shrinking from a lie, but ever making it sound more like truth than truth itself. Even as children the twins astonished and de- lighted their worthy si peed As youths they knew more about the “ tricks of e” than he 7 AE > wounds raw and rankling. And then, the had ever learned, and were quite as capable as they were willing to relieve him of all business cares. Long before the first down of manhood began to sprout on their rosy cheeks, Jonas Wellspring overcame the novelty of acting on their advice, and father though he was, in priv- acy he was not too proud to admit that in so doing he had acted wisely. Thus it was that the first foundation for the future Wellspring millions was laid. Like all brothers, Romulus and Remus had occasional quarrels, more than once descending” | to blows and spiteful hair-pulling, but it was ~~ not util after their parents had been laid in the grave that the twins bade fair to resemble their — namesakes of the Seven Hills in more than their names, Pe The business had prospered marvelously, and — when Jonas Wellspring followed his good wife to the churchyard, he had long been accounted a very wealthy man, for that period. Dying,. _ he besought his sons to keep the old firm alive — in factas in name. Together they might defy — all competition; divided, they would certainly become rivals, if not enemies. 2) ae This was good advice, and for some time it was scrupulously followed by the brothers, If — anything, the fraternal bonds grew stronger and — closer when the time came for them toturn their _ thoughts toward love and marriage, for while their eyes turned in the same direction, each one coveted only what the other simply respected. | v Helen and Ellen Massey were twins, a few — years younger than the Wellspring brothers. | Like them, they were marvelously alike in every physical respect; so much so that only the eyes | of true love could have distinguished one from the other, at all times. Twins proverbially re- semble each other, but in these two instances —and the fact is important as bearing on events yet to be recorded—but seldom if ever — was there a stronger likeness than this between Helen and Ellen, though that existing between Romulus and Remus was quite asremarkavle. Romulus loved Helen, and Remus was in- fatuated with Ellen. Their wooing prospered, as did everything to which they devoted their ‘}y> minds and energies. They were married at the same time, and began housekeeping beneath the same roof. : Se Possibly that was their first serious mistake, for the honeymoon had scarcely waned before. fe, the sisters began to quarrel. If the brothers > ,_ were not saints, neither were their wives angels, and though twins are poetically pictured as but __ one soul with two bodies, such isnot alwaysthe _ Helen was really a kind, generous, truthful, if rather hasty-tempered woman, while Ellen was almost opposite in all respects save temper, mentally considered. And so, from quarreling — with each other, the wives soon embroiled their husbands. 7 flee They separated, each taking a house for him- _ PH self, but the mischief grew instead oflessened, __ and before their first children could run alone ‘a 3 the firm of Wellspring & Sons passed out of ex- anale istence and twin rivals sprung out of theruins. For years both prospered, but inthe endthe —_ rediction of old Wellspring was reali Ob. east in part. If Romulus kept steadily stri aa toward the goal of millions, Remus began to. m slip backward, At any time a helping hand from his brother would have checked and turn- ed his face cnce more toward fortune, bu&é Remus would not ask nor Romulus offer that help. They were enemies with all that word implies. They never spoke to each other when chance or business brought them face to face, se = each day only widened the breach between em, LA "i ie De Naturally each wife sided with her h r+ Pag Ad and as invariably happens under such ei stances, feminine tongues kept the anticipated crash came to the weaker vessel, mainly brought about, it must be admitted, by desperate efforts to check the upward course of — his more favored brother. oon This might have proved a blessing in @ <x only for the luckless tongue of woman. ae lus was actually on his way to visit his fallen brother, to lend him a helping hand, when an Welle of gossip choned to ee rs Ellen ellspring was openly accusing ruining = his brother, even going so far as to charge bit Tun ye stooping to perjury, if not actual theftand __ orgery. . ae Fiery tempered, Romulus We ed and then turned back. Stung yy ee tongue, he bent his every energy tocompleting __ the ruin of his twin brother, never restin; tS Se, Remus Wellspring, almost penniless, sh in mind and y, abandoned the ruins and fled, — no one could positively say whither. face Then, when those he regarded as his bitterest enemies could by niin esas be directly bene. fited by his lberality, Romulus Wellspring opened his purse and scrupulously dis every remaining obligation, openly that the name he bore should never ring li do y a wo . remaining. a a For years all went well with Romulusinhis _ business affairs. Allthat he touched seemedto prosper and turn into gold, until he became he com S (E .OOKS:.cOMm >