Beadle's Dime Library No. 415 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

a For years Paul had been a wanderer, and though he had confined his operations to the Americas, he had done a vast amount of travel- mg and exploring in the six years following his tventy-lirst birthday. At last he had returned to his father's roof, nud it was understood that he would travel no rnore. A double object had brought him home. ‘bree days from the time he arrived, and twenty four bours later than the scene of the previous chapter, Barbara Nettleton was to be- come Mrs. Palinaer Hague, by marrying the owner of a neighboring ranch. Moreover, it was said that Paul would soon marry. One of the inmates of Coast Castle was Leona Erwin, an orphan girl who had all her life been the commodore’s ward. Having been reared with Barbara she was like a daughter of the house, and it was thought she would become so in reality by marrying Paul. It had been the old commodore’s pet ambitien that they should marry, and he had betrothed them ten years before. Neither had ever shown a disposition to re- treat from the childish bargain, and it was said they would marry within six months, Such was Paul Nettleton, and such were his friends and surroundings; but one might well inquire in wonder why he had that night stained his hands with the blood of a fellow- creature, and that, too, one who had served him faithfully as a servant for years, Commodore Nettleton had himself selected Peters as his son’s attendant because he knew he bad a heart of oak, and Peters had been always faithful. Then why had he been so foully slain by the man who owed him even life? Yes, life; for more than once the arm of stout Bill Peters had interposed to save the younger man from hu- man and brute foes. And in the end his reward had been an assas- sin’s bullet and a nameless grave in the old con- vent, But why had he been murdered? It was a secret from allexcept Paul Nettleton, and he desired the secret to remain forever in the grave of the man who had never done him any wrong, yet whom he had sent out of life suddenly, cruelly, and without preparation for the great change. Paul went home, retired, and slept well. In the morning he met the family at break- fast, the party including the commodore, Bar- bara, Miss Erwin and himself, The senior Nettleton was sixty-five years old, of medium hight but very stoutly built, and he looked as he acted, like a bluff, hearty old sea- dog, but his heart was one of the kindest. arbara and Leona differed greai:ly in ap- pearance. The former was a blonde, tall, dig- nified, and queenly in her ways; the latter was a little maiden, quick of speech and motion, and a brunette in the full sense of the word. ** Well, my boy,” said the commodore, when greetings were over, ‘*‘ did your servant come to anchor last night?” ** No,” calmly answered Paul. ‘I waited for him by Nigger Arm, but he did not appear. Probably missed the boat for Clifftown.” ‘*T wouldn’t have thought it of Peters, but when a man has been six years from sea, he ain’t the same old timber. Who are the letters for, Bub?” A servant had brought in severe], and handed them to Barbara. ‘Two for you and one for Paul. Leona and T are slighted.” She pa.sed the letters over as she spoke, and Paul promptly opened his own. It was brief and soon read. He looked up with a smile. ‘*T am to have a visitor to-day/” ‘¢ Indeed!” said his sister, with some surprise, “*May [ask who?” ‘Certainly. It is Professor Hazlitt.” ‘* And who the deuce is he ?” the commodore asked. ‘‘A very learned man; a friend of mine whom [ invited some time ago to visit me here, I did not expect him so soon; I trust he will not be in the way.” ‘‘ Not in he least, my boy; the more we have at the wedding to-night—don’t blush, Bab—the better. But if he’s any gay young blade who will go makingJove to my second daughter, I shall give him but a cold welcome to Coast Castle. ‘*Perhaps I can welcome him so he will be consoled!” retorted Leona. ‘* Rest easy, all of you,” interrupted Paul. ** Professor Hazlitt is sixty years old, and a hus- band already.” “Zounds! I didn’t suspect you chose such to see it. A pro- cronies, my boy, but Pm a oes he preach?” fessor, eh? What ‘ism’ ‘* All that relate to 1 : ** Does he know a belaying-pin from a main- ‘¢T believe he’s quite a sailor.” “Then let him come—by Neptune! let him come. The more the merrier, and I’ll show him how old Nick Nettleton marries off his daugh- ters. Oh! ivll be a big blow-out to-night. Everybody will be here, and—” "= . 4 : -- . n a oe | a) 4 ** All except the Hermit,” interrupted Leona. ‘* Just so. He’s not invited, and I won’t have him invited, either.” ‘*Who in the world is the Hermit?” asked Paul, his attention arrested by the peculiar name, ‘* The chap who owns the old convent.” ‘Ab! But that don’t enlighten me. It never before occurred to me that the convent had an owner. Where does he live?—at the vil- lage?” ‘* You haven’t got posted yet, my boy. Live in the village? Not much! Mr. Frazer Hot Heart, as he calls himself, lives on his princely estate; be lives in the convent—a queer chap with a queer name.” Paul Nettleton dropped his fork. The information would in any case have sur- prised him, for to think of the convent in its present condition as a place of abode seemed wild in the extreme; but it was something more than surprise which suddenly made his grasp a nerveless one. Dismay and terror assailed him at the com- modore’s startling revelation, If any one lived in the old convent, he had been, if at home, near cnough to hear the shot which had taken Bill Peters so rudely out of the way! lt was well for Paul that his face betrayed little of his thought:, and that nobody thought to glance at him. As good control as be had over his face, he would have betrayed some- thing more than surprise. Perhaps tuere had been an eye-witness to his crime! ‘* Kinder surprises you, don’t it?” added the commodore, looking only at his food. ‘* Hardly thought to find a human being dwelling in them old ruins, did you? Well, nobody but a lunatic would, and that’s just what sort of a craft this Hot Heart is—as rakish-looking as a pirate and as full of the devil as a swivel-gun.” ‘* Crazy?’ **In my opinion he is merely eccentric,” re- marked Miss Barbara, with more firmness than seemed necessary. ‘* He’s so blamed eccentric that he’d get a rope’s end every day, if he was aboard ship!” the commodore retorted. ‘** Do let me explain, or Paul will never get an explanation,’ put in Leona, merrily. ‘‘ This Mr. Hot Heart is a charming young man of about your age, Paul; a tall, strong, hands»me fellow, of gallant, dashing manners. He rides a horse like a Centaur; is brave as a lion, and al- ways ready ‘to fight in a good cause. In a word, had he lived in the Middle Ages, he would wee been a veritable knight of the ungloved and. ** More likely, he’d got quartered, or broken on the wheel, for his knight-errant business. In plain words, my boy, he is a gentleman pirate who has purcbased a small strip of land on the south side of our ranch. Said strip includes the ruined convent, and you may rake me fore-and- aft if he don’t live there, all alone,a real Hermit —so he is called Hot Heart the Hermit.” ‘*That’s a queer taste,” ‘Well, he’s queer. He’s now been there about a month, and during that time he has had fights with several different men. Indeed, he’s so con- founded mettlesome that he’s got the nickname of ‘ The Fire-Kater’—always ready to take up any man who deserves a black eye.” ‘* What brought him here?” ‘*Give it up; nobody knows but himself.” ‘** Where did he come from?” ‘* Nobody knows that. I’ve never had a word with him, and don’t want to. I’ve been in many a fight, but only when forced to it, and I don’t take to such powder-kegs as he. All the high- toned people give him the cold shoulder, and he just stays in the ruins and lives like a hermit. aa us drop the Fire-Eater; [ don’t like the su * The old commodore’s wishes were respected, but Paul could not govern his thoughts. They dwelt persistently upon the strange occupant of the ruins. He already feared the strange man. What if this Hermit had been a witness to the shooting of Bill Peters? Paul’s blood actually seemed to grow cold at the thought. Paul finished his breakfast in a most unenvi- able frame of mind, and then lighted a cigar and left the house, He had intended to go at once to the old con- vent and make another effort to find his lost re- volver, but would it not be madness to go there and search? He was now between two foes, He bad intended to complete the removal of everything which would betray the fact thata ve been dug there; and now he was afraid tell-tale signs still existed, but dared not to remove them. While he was still considering the situation he saw a galloping, ridden horse approaching the house. It came from the direction of the ruins, and though there was a more likely construction to put on the case, he was seized with a deadly fear that this might be the Fire-Eater, coming to accuse him of murder. The thought made him tremble like a leaf. Hot Heart, the Detective Spy. _ rh eee vO RR Ne eee ee CHAPTER IL THE FIRE-EATER. THE horsemen came nearer and clattered up to the house. He proved not in the least to an- swer the description of Mr, Frazer Hot Heart, and Paul forced himself to be calm as the rider neared him. The new-comer spoke quickly: ‘* Beg pardon, but ain’t this Mr, Paul Nettle- ton?” sé 7? *“‘T’'m from Clifftown, an’ I'm sent to ask if a man named Peters—a sort of sailor-looking chap —came here last night?’ Paul breathed more freely. He had anticipa- ted this question days before, and was ready to answer it. As it did not oply that Hot Heart had nterfered with what did not concern him, Nettleton was able to answer calmly: ‘* No, Peters did not come. He is my servant, who was to joiz me last night, but as he was de- layed, he will probably come to-day.” ‘* But, Mr. Nettleton, he came to Clifftown.” ‘“* He did?’ ** Yes: and hired a boat of Jeffrey to sail across Nigger Arm during the evening,” ‘*That’s odd; I hayven’t seen him.” ‘‘That ain't all either. The boat drifted back to Clifftown, bottom side up, and there is every reason to believe she got upset.” ‘*Ha! is that so? By Jove! I’m afraid harm has come to Peters: I really am ” “You may well fear it. Ef you bave caught onto things around here, you must know that the wind 'most always blows stiff across Nigger Arm. Well, last night it was sweepin’ along sharp, and old Jeffrey, he warned Peters not to try.to make the trip. Told him be’d get upset, sure, but your man would cross, an’ off he went.” ‘** And the boat drifted back vacant?” ** Just so; an’ wrong side up.” ** By Jove! this looks bad. Yousee, I waited for Peters on the shore, for I expected him. but not a sight did I «et of him or the boat. Wait! —let me inform my father!” Paul was ready to do some fine acting, and he hurried away and poured out bis litile story impetuously. he old commodore heard in silence, and then shook his head slowly. ‘*{ don’t believe you need worry about Bill Peters. He ain’t the lad to be drownded after sailing the salt sea balf his life. Maybe he didn’t go out in the boat after all, and even if he did, I'd risk him to swim Nigger Arm in any wind we've had lately.” ‘*But a sail may have knocked him senseless when the boat overset, or—” : ‘** I don't think it. here’s the messenger?” ‘* Outside. ’ *€T'll see him.” ‘‘ He believes Peters is dead.” ' ‘* Well, don’t you be in a rush to get that old sea-dog into his grave. I'll bet he’s all mght. Lord bless you, could Bill Peters be drownded in Nigger Arm when he's Pacific, year in and out, an Not much!” ‘* But it looks like it.” , { ‘* Nonsense! You ought to know Peters bet- er. And the commodore burried out to see the messenger from Clifftown. He heard the story in full, and learned that every one at the village never got ketched? believed the missing man drowned, but his own faith did not waver for a moment. He had known Bill Peters for nearly a score of years, and laughed at the idea of his bein drowned in Nigger Arm after defying the broa ocean for so long. Paul heard this with a dar} frown. It was a vital matter to him that his trick about the boat should work well, and when outsiders did be- lieve, here was his own father casting doubts upon it, the yo man asked. **] don’t account for it; it ain’t necessary. Bill Peters can care for himself. My man, just an, ou go back to town and tell them folks there — hat Peters is all right. He'll yet show up and prove what I say; on’t you worry about him /” And the messenger went away with this scant reward for his trouble. Paul tuen endeavored to change the old com- modore’s views, which threatened to make seri- ous trouble for him, but might as well have wrestled with the winds of the ocean. The senior Nettleton would persist in treating it as a minor matter, and in declaring that the missing man would yet make his ae all right. ‘‘He never got drownded in Nigger Arm!” was the stubborn ultimatam, which put Paul in a most unenviable mood. About an hour later De TORE man was called to the window by Leona Erwin. ‘** Look!” she said, ‘‘and you may see the re- — nowned Hot Heart the Hermit!” Paul obeyed, but, as the road was some dis- . tance from the house, he saw little more than a wild-looking young man wit sor SA hair, who went tearing along on lack horse as though pursued by a horde of invisible demons, or something equally dangerous. Eomichoo cS 3 layed tag with the ‘* How else can you account for his absence?” — -