Beadle's Dime Library No. 415 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

. be V é r . > ‘ > es * od 4 ff ad a ‘ Las a ‘ y “ \ Te et fa oe | . . = er oe tost ia starting down the hills. Barbara knew they would be worrying about her at Coast Castle. The horses abandoned by the kidnappers were appropriated, the Mexicans having undoubtedly stolea them. In any case, they deserved to lose them, Nothing of importance occurred going down the mountain, but Barbara thought she bad never bad two more courteous or devoted com. panions. Both were attentive to her comfort, and Red Jaguar was not a particle behind an | experienced courtier in lofty respect to her as a woman, As for Frazer, she could not look at him with- Out emotion. He, as much as Red Jaguar, had saved her, as she thought. The chief did not ex- plain how he had chanced to be on the top of Porcupine Ridge, but had stated that only for the revolver-shots his attention would not have been drawn to the runaway horse and bis rider, Thus had the Fire-Eater in turn saved her 1 ife. The Fire-Eater! Barbara resented the name with a glow of indignation. Why should sucha polite, courteous man be called thus? True, he had wen the sobriquet by getting into numerous «quarrels with people in and around Clifftown, and had a habit of ae every one who offended him to fight a duel; but Miss Nettle- ton easily found an explanation of this fact— Mr. Frazer was eccentric. There is a vast difference between eccentricity and quarrelsomeness. At least so thought Miss Nettleton. W hen Shaker’s Timber was passed Red Jaguar paused, ‘** We part here,” he said. “Here?” echoed Barbara, ‘‘ No, indeed; you wiust ge with me to Coast Castle.” ‘** Daughter, I thank you,” was the steady re- ply, ‘‘ but my way is elsewhere. You are now safe from your enemies, and you have one pro- tector left—a stout one at that.” ‘‘But I want my father to thank you.” ‘*Can I be better rewarded?” asked tho chief, with a grave smile. ‘* Would the words of Not- tleton be more pleasant to my ear than tho anusical voice of his daughter? Say no mora, ‘but remember tnat the Indian is grateful.” Barbara gave him her hand, and he bowed -over it with lofty grace. Next he bade Frazer farewell, surrendered the horse he rode, and strode away on foot with a mixture of kingly dignity and panther-like suppleness. ‘A strange—a noble man!” murmured Bar- bara. Frazer started and seemed to arouse from deep thought. ‘‘He is an Indian, yet a remarkable one for these degenerate times,” he replied. Had he spoken all that was in his mind he “would have said: . ** Rod Jaguar is pleased with you, but will never be the friend of your family. If my suspicions sare correct, he will yet set Coast Castle in an uproar; were he less noble, I should expect him to make it a house of mourning.” Their meditations were interrupted by the -sound of a horse’s hoofs on the hard turf, and, looking up, they saw Paul Nettleton oping toward them, His face was white and: angry, -and the glance he shot at Hot Heart seemed al- most murderous. ‘‘In the fiend’s name!” he cried, ‘‘ what does this mean? Barbara, bave you lost all senso of -self- t” There had been a slumbering fire in the girl’s eyes, for his manner of advance had foretold trouble, and it now leaped to a flame, as it were. ‘“Sir{” she cried, with a manner which would have checked a man less headlong of character. But Paul bitterly continued: ‘Yon are a Nettleton and here I find you in ~eompany with a low brawler, while an Inuian is _just sneaking away. Fine companions for Com- modore Nettleton’s daugbter!” “Paul Nettleton,” she answered, in a concen- trated voice, “tit seems impossible to me that any man can be guilty of criminal foliy like yours. [am your sister, yet you are not man enough to ask for an explanation. Instead, you make a charge that is dastardly.” ‘You can make your explanation to Commo- -dore Nettleton. As for this fellow—this Fire- Eater—I am tempted to flog him on the spot!” ‘I once heard of a man named Adam,” re- plied Frazer, in a drawling voice, ‘‘ who brought ‘a heap of trouble upon himself by yielding to temptation. He ate an apple, but you may find a whole tree stuck in your throat if you kee on. Bunt we need have no trouble; if you wi -step aside, Pll say a word to you in private which may possibly blunt the hair-edge of your ssion.”. ‘*T will not step aside.” As Paul thus spoke he raised his whip and -started his horse for» ard. His intentions were not to be mistaken, but “Prazer spoke with a change of voice which com- ananded obedience. ‘Stop! Give me a chance to say one word; wthat which I would have said in private. Let mme ask, how is George Temple Bennett?” tim of 7 en Hot Heart, the Dete —— ee en = - ” <2 The whip fell to Paul’s side. His face grew pale, and he stared at Hot Heart like one who sees a ghost. ‘**You would have it,’ the Fire-Eater care- lessly added, ‘* and now you have a good reason why you should notflog me. Of course the flog- ging would be a trivial affair, but it’s best done elsewhere than in a lady’s presence.” Paul did not reply. He was still looking at Hot Heart with that dumfounded, frightened expression, and all his desire for a fight seemed gone, Barbara was too much moved to analyze his expression, or to do more than vaguely wonder at his sudden silence, but she turned to her rescuer and quickly said: ‘** Let us ride on, Mr. Frazer.” They went without any remonstrance from Paul, leaving him sitting on his horse almost like one turned to stone. He watched until they disappeared over the crest of the ridge, and then brushed from his forehead perspiration not brought there by the temperature. “Death and destruction!” he muttered, ‘is this man a human being or not? How did he know— May the fiends seize him! he is more dangerous than I thought. He knows about Bennett, and I now believe he knows how Bill Peters died. He is a veritable demon, and my neck is in danger!” Again he brushed his hand nervously across his face. ‘* Tlow Gid he learn my secret?’ he continued. ““Canitbe— But Mey! speculate? Itis enough that I know he is as deadly to me as the hang- man, himself, and I must guard my life. It is strike or be struck, and Frazer Hot Heart shall die if there is any way to kill him.” In the mean whilo the Fire-Eater and Barbara rode on until the entrance to Coast Castle was reached. Hore they parted, and Hot Heart went slowly toward his own quarters. He looked back toward where Paul had been left, and saw the latter coming slowly down the hil. Frazer contracted his forehead in a grave frown, ‘*T am sorry that I was obliged to speak out, but the fool would have annoyed Miss Nettle- ton stijl further. I couldn’t stand that. I sup- pose he will be thirsting for my blood now and between him and Villegas tho Bush-Wolf and others, | may have awarmtime. 1'm sorry I had to turn Paul against me—and yet I jour- neyed hundreds of miles to see him hcre and be avenged on him. Ah! Barbara, how your face bas changed the current of my thoughts and intentions!” In a far different frame cf mind was Paul going home. gy tds | geemed to be going against him, After he had belioved himself ridof Philip Warburton his father suddenly changed his mind, and the hated overseer was toremain. The commodore gave no reason for this, and rather resented his son’s inquiries, Furthermore, Leona barely spoke to him since the scene in the garden, and he certainly had offended Barbara, ‘*Curse it! luck seems to be going dead against me; the whole world has evideotly con- spired to ruinme. But they’ll find me a hard fighter, Egad! I'll win some of these games or turn Coast Castle and vicinity into a howling wilderness!” Itis mood was not improved when he arrived home and found that Barbara had told her story to Commodore Nick and sottled his position past change. He loved bis daughter, and the danger she had been in startled him. She had told all except that she had seen Villegas, and her father was loud in his praises of Hot Leart. “I’ve been foolishly prejudiced against that chap,” he acknowledged, ‘but I’m a man who knows how to undo a wrong. [c’s a heart of oak, by Neptune! and ke will find cld Nick Nettleton ain’t ungrateful.” And the ex-mariner’s vehemence showed Paul the folly of talking against his views. Indeed, the younger man thought himself lucky not to be severely reprimanded for what he had said to Barbara, but Commodore Nick was sore- hearted as well asindignant. Was this the son for whose home-coming ke had lonved? ‘**l’ve made a mistake to let him travel so long,” he thought. ‘I ought to have put him aboard my vessel and mado him toe tie mark like a common sailor.” Unfortunately for Barbara her efforts to stop the reports spread by Don Esteban in his cups had not been made soon enough to prevent the rumor reaching Coast Castle. Late in the after- noon the commodore told her what he had aig and gravely asked if there was any truth in it. , ‘Certainly not,” she replied. ‘TI do not say that I shall never marry Senor Villegas, but there is no engagement now.” ‘Bab, do you really think of marrying him?” Commodore Nick’s face was very grave. ‘* T did not say so.” ** But you intimated it.” ‘Oh, no; I said I did not say I would never marry him.” “Tm afraid Villegas ain’t just the man for you or any other woman who wants _—— oe ae tive Spy. s — mt ae ee ee = eE~w-2 17 to be happy. He who talks of respectable women in his cups ain’t a man to tie to.” ‘* Have no fear for me father; no man has se- cured your daughter yet,” Barbara replied, with assumed lightness, and she kissed him and left the room, But, once alone, her face grew dark and sad. ‘*I] wish I could refuse the Mexican as easily as father thinks I can, but he holds a sword over my head. I am the most wretched of women, and the very sight of Villegas is hate- fultome. But I dare not refuse him!” CHAPTER XXL SOMETHING IS MISSING, Tue following morning there would have been a silent pay? at breakfast had not Leona, in a spirit of mischief, persisted in forcing Mr. Haz- litt into conversation. The taciturn professor was proof against the charm of beauty, and as reluctant to talk with a pretty girl as with any one else, but when Leona set out to make him talk, he was powerless, Brief as he might tr she had such a flood o he had to talk. Perhaps, too, he was more sociable than usual on this occasion, and his wel]-chosen language showed what he could do when he tried. Continuing her persecution, sbe kept bim after breakfast, simply because she suspected that he and Paul wished to go to the east room and hold one of their mysterious ‘‘seances,” to use her own expression. Paul went away alone, but in a few minutes quick steps were heard in the hall, and he re- entered the room.in a manner which made all look at him, They were startled to see how pale his face was, ‘Beard o’ Neptune!” cried the commodore, ‘“‘ what’s the matter? Have you seen a ghost?” **}’ve been robbed!” Paul hoarsely replied. % Robbed?” ‘*Sharks and mermaids! What's gene?” ** Something of value.” His gaze wandered to Hazlitt as he spoke, and the professor hastily arose, i ‘** You don’t mean that—that—” ** Yes: it’s gone!” Still Paul spoke hoarsely, but every ene looked to make his answers, questions at hand that at Professor Hazhtt. The little old man had > dropped heavily into a chair, and his face was the picture of dismay. sprung up, darted forward and seized Paul's — “an o = n ‘** No! no!” he cried; ‘* you don’t mean it: can’t mean it. You are only joking. Tell you don’t mean it!” og te He ke beseechingly, his face wor strangely, bis eyes wild and terrified; and 7 had been at stake. ; “TI wish it was a joke, but ‘tis not. It ia one!” **Oh! ch! oh!” The professor almost wailed the exclamations, and then ke actually beat his open hands upon his head as though it had been a drum. 1 ‘*lam ruined!” be cried, ‘‘My last hope in life is gone. Ob! let me die! Send for help at once, and have the thief ar- rested. Ot! my soul, I am a ruined man!” ‘* Beard o’ Neptune!” Commodore N me ; 2 -- not have shown more emotion if his own life ~ i - ‘ >. 2 a vr ¥ # ee P ; Mr" . : . + é . = ’ » .* a rr em ee ws om. * yal ‘ ry a Suddenly, however, be a oy 3 ' ff eet ee, %, . id - | - ane | o Sa t — re. se : a - , EP “a4 ef ; - ~y * e : ts * + ~~ 7” : , s ’ a , eke : Call the police! es ; ick uttered the words in stupe-_ * fied wonder, He had not imagined the little pro-_ a th * oe woe te Y 7 ne » fessor capable of any emotion, and here he was almost insane about—about what? Here wa the mystery. Both be and Paul were deep in ey the gulf of despair, and nobody but theyknew = what the matter was, ‘* Yes,” said Paul correct, professor. at once. Ha! I remember that there is a San Francisco detective at Clifftown. We will have him up here at once; Tim shall go him at full speed.” a> The young man’s hand was almost on bell, but the commodore suddenly sprung for- ward and stopped him. **Tiold up a bit!’ he commanded. other kind of land-shar 1 what all this row is about. What is stole?” Silence followed his question. Neither Paul nor the professor me 6 ‘** Did ye hear me?” he grimly ask 2d. “*T heard yeu, father,” Paul answered, “ but I am unable to answer at present. Important reasons render it necessary that the matter kept as secret as possible, and I shall not con- fide in the detective.” ‘“*Tle’s mighty likely to take a case when he > 1 x. ie i don’t know what he is working for.” ‘** We must arrange it somehow.” | ‘Is it a part of the Pernician, and Cartila- gion, scheme to uproot Columbus and Ameri- quickly: “‘your idea is re We must have an officer _ PF ‘| ; Lad you go to sending for any detectives, or any — wont to know “05 5 oe d iT. “s&s ‘an, i. = Re - oa bead + . the a at | + ae é * ca?” "aa ‘‘ Something of that sort.” eee” ‘* And you refuse to tell me what?” — eee, Paul hesitated. He knew that Commodore Nick was angry, and it was natural that he — | nr yenen But it was necessary to pacify hin, — ; if possible, ot. ae GOME S - ( i 2" \ . 45> . 4 on - , : ; ‘2 \ o