Beadle's Dime Library No. 415 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

-_i a _—— ' “< 0 ya re oe . ’ . geen ya ‘ s! ——, > -" i. al Ie = re . tea and aimed dead against time for me to set my ians nicians and Cartila Chris Columbus, it’s high foot down.” ‘‘Then there shall be no book, But are you sure Loyola is trustworthy?” ‘*Sure? Of course I be. She’s served me for years, and is perfectly square.” ‘**T wish I knew what tribe she belongs to.” ** Ask her” The commodore spoke curtly, and Paul fell into thought. The entrance of Barbara and Leona prevented further private conversation, but after Commodore Nick retired, he lay and meditated long on the singular conduct of bis son. There were, to use his expression, ‘‘ goings- on at Coast Castle which would drive a first- class navigator out ef bis right mind,” and with his trad. aversion to mystery, it annoyed him a good deal. . hortly after breakfast the next morning, a aaa es Barbaraanote, Sbe opened it and ead: ‘Miss Netrteton:—I am told that Esteban Ville- as has boasted in his cups that he has made a con- quest of your heart, and b come your accepted lover. on’t want to interfere where I am not wanted, but if this is false, and you say the word, I shall take great pleasure in going over and flogging said Villegas. Your obedient servant, ** FRAZER.” Barbara’s face flushed with shame, and then grew white with anger. She was cut to the heart, Tu be talked of familiarly and boast- ingly by men over liquor, was an insult which her high spirit could not tamely brook. Without a moment’s hesitation she ordered her horse, prepared for the ride, and in a few moments was galloping away toward the south. ‘Tim Welch had asked if he should accompany rh She had curtly replied that she would go alone. Her horse found her a merciless rider that day, and it was only a few minutes later when she arrived at the ruined convent. She then sprung to the ground, unceremoniously entered Convent Rest, and went up the winding stairs. Reaching the top, she saw the Fire-Fater seated in bis easy-chair, but at sight of her he quickly arose, an expression of surprise on his handsome face, He expected nobody there less than the im- perious lady of Coast Castle. CHAPTER XVIII. TROUBLE BY THE WAY. Tue Fire-Eater was at a loss for words only amoment. Then he courteously said: ‘*T am pleased to see you, Miss Nettleton. Will i accept this chair?” Thank you, Mr. Frazer; Iam here to stop only a moment. I have received a note from you.” ‘*T wrote one, Miss Nettleton.” ** Allow me to ask the source from which you received your information.” ‘** Tt was common talk at Clifftown, last night, and Dr. Marden and Mr. Archer were among bo who heard Don Esteban say what he ** What did he say?” imperiously demanded Miss Nettleton. “So far as I know, nothing worse than I stated in my note. He was drinking—had drank too much—and boasted that he had ‘ caught your heart on the rebound,’ as he expressed it; and had become engaged to you since Palmer Hague’s death.” ‘There can be no doubt of the truth of this story?” “ believe Marden and Archer to be reliable men,’ ‘They are, no doubt. Thank ow for your information, Mr. Frazer; thank you very much.” She turned away, but Frazer spoke quickly. **One moment Miss Nettleton. Do you ac- cept the offer I made in my letter? ‘Shall I visit Villegas?” **T will v’sit him myself!” ‘*Pardon me, but doesn’t he need a man’s ' hand to deal with him.” | ‘‘ He will find mine sufficient.” The Fire-Eater looked seriously troubled. ‘* Excuse me, but should you not have a male attendant? If you do not care to take me, your brother—” _ “Thank you for the suggestion, Mr. Frazer, but I will go alone. Believe me, I am not un- grateful for your kind offer, but I must not connect you with the trouble. Thank you very much, and -day!” | a She turn es A te Sy aeirs, peecnes her orse, sprung e saddle and gallo awa toward Don Estecban’s without gee at the window where Frazer stood looking after her. His face was troubled and well it might be. Fire-eater though he might be. his coolness never deserted him, while he saw that Barbara’s was completely gone. ‘“‘T don’t like this,” he said, aloud, ‘and I’m afraid she will get into trouble. What a rash thing for her todo! Outwardly as calm and cold as ice, her heart is as inipulsive as that of a child; a contradictory sort of nature, yet a— charming one. And she is going to Don Este- A - | Hot H . ee ——$—— =--—- — ban’s! I don’t like this; shoot me if I do! I believe I will saddle Jack Jet and ride slowly after her. I may be needed. Rash Barbara! I know not what will happen you!” Miss Nettleton was speeding toward Villegas’s ata hard gallop. She never turned her head as she rode, but always kept her gaze fixed on the Mexican’s villa, and her face was set and white, with the shadow of an impending storm in her great dusky eyes. Don Esteban was not likely to enjoy her visit. He was sitting alone with a wet cloth tied around bis head. He knew the meaning of the miserable pain he sought to allay; more than once he had felt that pain, and only when he had indulged too freely in liquor a little before. On the previous evening he had been intoxi- cated, e was not sorry for it, for he thought he had enjoyed the evening, but the headache which remained was villainous. Without any warning Miss Nettleton entered the room, He stared at her blankly. He was well aware that with bis head-ban- dage, disheveled hair, bloodshot eyes and gen- eral woehbegone expression he was not a captiva- ting object, and a slight flush came to his cheeks as he rose. ‘*Sit down, sir!” said Miss Nettleton, im- periously. ‘‘I want to talk with you.” “* Certainly—I shall be pleased, Lut first, my toilet—” Ne was stammering along, but she inter- rupted, ‘*Remain where you are, sir. My business can soon be done, and I prefer to talk with you as you are. It shows me that what I have heard about you is true.” Hot-tempered and aggressive as Villegas naturally was, he cowered now like a criminal in the dock. ‘* What have you heard?’ he muttered. ‘That you have been talking about me in your cups,” ** Caramba ! ** Who says it?” ‘“Some of the best men of Clifftown.” ‘aah When did I-~—was I alleged to have done i ‘* Last night.” The Mexican made a despondent gesture. He felt that Miss Nettleton was sure of her position, and that denial would be useless. ‘I drank too much last night,” he said, hum- *tis a lie!” he cried. bly. f And then went and made my name the sub- ject of your conversation among other drunk- ards!” retorted the girl, towering before him with righteous indignation. ‘* Madre de Dios! what did I say?” ‘“*Tbat you had caught my heart on the re- bound, and become engaged to me before Hague was in his grave.” ‘*Oh! oh! Iwasa fool!” ‘‘’‘You were a cowardly scoundrel, but the mischief is done. There now remains but one course. You must publicly deny all that you have said,” + Deny it?” ce Yes. 9 ‘** But it’s true.” **'You will deny it, or from this hour the doors of Coast Castle are forever closed against you, and I will never again speak to you! Don Esteban’s face flushed angrily. It was seldom he was so long cowed as on the present occasion, end though her vehement words had been to him like a lash to a cur for a while, he now recovered his usual manner and sharply re- torted: ‘* Carajo! don’t you be too sure, my lady! Have you forgotten why you practically pro- mised to marry me, at no distant day? "Twas not love that moved you, but something more tent—fear! Have you forgotten the secret I old like a sword over your proud head?” ‘TI have forgotten nothing,” was the steady reply; ‘‘ but even your threat cannot change my purpose, You will lose nothing by deny- ing your drunken boast: I shall lose all if it is not denied. As for your threat, it falls pow- erless. If need be, I can settle your claim and the secret with one movement!” She oat btadaci a revolver with an untrem- bling hand, ‘* Madre de Dios !” Villegas uttered the words mechanically. What of the secret now?” she added. He gnawed his lip fiercely. r Do you renounce my claim wpon you?” I renounce nothing. I simply ask you to retract your boast, in the presence of the men who heard it made.” Don Esteban brightened, He did not like to deny the report that he was en to the young lady, for it might operate against him, but while he held the secret over her head he surely need have no great fear. And it was easier to undo his mistake now than after trou- ble had been made. ‘If [ make every thing all right, will you continue to receive me at Coast Castle, as be- fore?” 4a Yos.” The promise came hard, for Barbara hated art, the Detective Spy. the sight of his face, but she remembered the 15 secret again. That made her helpless, strug- gle asshe might, She was in this man’s power, and he was pitiless. This she knew from pre- vious experience. ‘‘All right,” he answered, promptly. “Til go to the village, acknowledge that I was drunk, and that all my rambling talk was nonsense, I'll deny, point-blank, what I said to them about you. And, now you are here won’t you sit down until | have put myself in better trim and—” ** Thank you,” was the cold reply; “I will ' go at once.’ — Sbe turned away, and as she did so a whip slipped from under her outer garmentstothe | floor. 4 A quick change flashed over Don Esteban’s face; he understood why that article had been brought. Had he refused to comply with her “ request, the lash would have been laid upon his face with all the strength of a wronged > and indignant woman’s arm. “ie For a momen‘ he was staggered; then he stepped forward, bent, bowed, and handed it to her without a word. Their eyes niet. “ae It was a curious situation, and a columu would not suffice to tell all that wasintheir minds. Barbara read the fact that he com- | prehended why the whip was there, but her ne: composure remained equal to his own. yd ‘** Thank you!” it With these calmly spoken words she received the whip, and then went deliberately fromthe room and the house. Another minute and she was riding homeward. ie Once away her conscience began to smite her as it bad done when she rode to save Frazer; not that she bad done what oughtnot = | to have been done, but because she hud cer- | tainly usurped the position of a man, Sai ‘‘What a madcap I am!” she said, witha ¢«- sigh. ‘‘I am always doing something to be — ashamed of. I hope nobody will hear of thisday’s _ work. I try to be calm and dignified, but some wild impulse is always getting the better — of my good resolutions, and then | goanddo ~~ the maddest thing imaginable. I don’t know why I am so rude. Really. [am as much of a fire-eater as Mr. Frazer. Frazer! Why does his face come so persistently before me?” ~ ie She devoted her time to considering this point, and rode on in such an absent-minded — way that she forgot ali that was transpiring around her. J 1 ketal Sbe was rudely brought back to the present and real side of life. She was \ Se > at how 4 f —_~ 4 "cto ‘« + « "he Leas ssing a line of bushes which bordered the road, when her borse = came to a sudden stop, 7. ee She raised her bead quickly, -, Posie Two men stood in the road, and one hadthe horse by the rein. She recognized them at once as two vagabond Mexicans she bad seen — es about the place, and one she knew tobe named = Lopez. He had been detected in a theft at Coast Castle, and summarily dealt with by Tim Welch at the commodore’s order, , ae A feeling of uneasiness swept over the girl. Tae Tbe men were at all times to be feared,and the fact that they had thus stopped herin the road, together with the expression on their ~~ faces, positively alarmed her. ae “What do you want?” she cried. “Stand — back, and leave me alone.” oe “Not we,” replied Lopez, with a laugh. “ Do a you suppose we will give up such a sweet prize in the moment of getting it? Caramba, nol Don’t be in a rush, senorita,” a ‘* How dare you stop me?” she said, nervously handling ber whip. in ‘IT don’t see that there is much ‘dare’ about © it. .We are two: you are one, anda woman at that. Not to waste words, sweet lady,youhave got togo with us. You are a captive, and are > going with us there.” oy eae He pointed to the high, wild hills which rose of the kind!” cried Bar- | beyond Shaker’s Timber. ‘I shall do nothin bara. ‘‘Stand out of my way, or it willbe the — worse for you.” 4% ‘‘ Wait, senorita,” added Lopez. ‘‘Let us clearly understand each other. No harm will: | be done you, but there is an old score to be as P wiped out. I’m going to get square with your — father. You may not know it, but one day { was passing his house and saw something which —_— pleased me. I thought I would take it. Lex = ‘, father saw me, called me a thief, and bad bis man drive me off the premises with a whip. — Carajo! I feel ths touch of the lash now, but I will have my revenge. You must go with us to i the mountains, there to stay unti] your father — ~F — —_ ‘ pays much money for your release.” = 4G ** He will never pay a cent.” | |e ‘“ Then we will keep you forever.” ° “Qa “You haven’t got me peur Wetiete As Barbara e she brought ber whip harp- — , ly down on her horse’s side, but the ruffians had foreseen the move. The second man sprung to _ his companion’s aid, and the bound made by the horse did not free him, ae Barbara’s eyes were a ee anger and © excitement, and she quickly @few the revolver she had shown when at Don Esteban’s. — “epi Alas! for the bold attempt, she was d GomiecbooKks:con } sod 4 7 7 ' =