Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 416 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

: - * —_————— ee ee ee 0 . —— . + ee > =—_—~ Sa , 2 , y a —_ <= ~~ much I did expect. -_ eontumely if I bore on my forehead the vA We Lal . —— eS ae See ae Re ee Me SO oS BR es See ee er Ome Ca Qe ee ee ee eee - ~ , - 7 4 ‘ . t * — "Kd __- Pll be with you in ‘~ _ ‘¢ _ of Mandan.” all here, insisting on my bearing him company you to find my cousin, Alva Pennington, and a 4 ~y ue mee the professor, as the young lady turn ‘ et fex" ‘. Con -b I anticipated more or less nce old sores, but her wishes, fax A G* & - + . ° am * SF Se ry * 2 th ae ? Bey. “Miss Pennington, for the last time, I have the honor to bi es _ evening!” flew off i - ¢ausing Professor King Smith to resume his per- # ° . ei * ve fronted him, the key to the door still in ber hand. _ thief with a rope around my neck!” was the - gullen retort. La look at the simple and ordinary precautions promise?” Nas ey with ludicrous celerity. ae -voice deep 7 * ing the couple,trying in vain to extract the full ? £. * ‘ Wee Somes t ~ Tie < > ¥ ed. might trust him. I will go with him, but unless contract calls for,” was the dogged res “T came here greatly against my own ee f fe. making—not that I looked forward to an vig eeneary reward, or anything more substantial A oeetp and distinct sounded her voice, leaving nott had stood in open-mouthed astonishment watch- 12 trust you, when once your solemn word is pledg- ut your cousin—he is a drunkard, a a babbling fool! Let him give a thousand pledges, and before a week could pass, he would ousk themevery one! No; either you go with mealone, or you gonot atall. Take your choice. It is my final offer.” Once more Medea hesitated, but not for long. Turning the key in the lock and then withdraw- ing it, she passed over to a side door which opened into the office, where she beheld the landlord sleepily puffing away at a huge pipe. The noise attracted his attention and at a sig- nal from the white hand, he dropped his pipe and came forward. Medea stepped aside to permit his entrance, then closed the door behind him before sae spoke. *‘ Are you acquainted with this gentleman?” she asked, indicating the professor by a wave’of the hand. ‘‘ Waal, kinder so-so,” was the deliberate re- nse. ‘‘What manner of personishe? What sort of reputation does he bear? Can one place any dependence in what he says?” ‘Tf never knowed any partic’lar harm come of him. An’ I guess he kin tell the truth without $$ —— gambler d strainin’ to hurt, onless it’s in a game o’ keerds, But we all do it then, ef we kin.” ‘‘ He says his name is Professor King Smith, **T never hearn him called only Fatty Smith. An’ perfessor, too? Waal, I don’t know what of, onless it’s keerds!” The landlord laughed softly, nodding his shag- gy head in full appreciation of his own wit, while the professor scowled. _ “Thank you, Mr. Dickson,” and Medea smiled sweetly. ‘* This gentleman has brought me im- portant information, but as he refuses to tell me alone to the place where his principal awaits us I naturally wished to learn whether or no l return here in two hours from now, I beg of ll him what has occurred, and with whom I left your house, Will you do this?” oe Yin! Or Dll go long myself—” i: but I must go alone, else your kind offer would be most gratefully accepted. Mr. Smith, I will run i ternpin and put on my things. ve minutes.” CHAPTER XIV. LLOYD PENNINGTON’S WIFE. ‘‘ Suppose I don’t choose to waste any further time on your fanciful caprices?” surlily uttered toward him with her last sentence, “What do you mean sir?” demanded Medea, her cheeks flushing at this rude address. ‘That I have already done more than my nse. esires, in in raking open ded to a belief that ou a service, gave me the I would be rendering felt that you would be necessary courage. grateful in proportion to the sacrifice [ was your thanks and warm gratitude; but that “Instead, what has been my reward thus far? Scorn and suspicion, insults without number! ‘You could not have treated me with greater lazing d of thief and blackmailer! You might nave shown more consideration for a convicted you a most respectful goed- He bowed so profoundly that the strain was great, and with a tearing sound, a button of bis tight-fitting coat, the catastrophe ale and resolute, Medea Pennington con- slightest room for doubt. ‘‘In plain words, sir, you refuse to fulfill your “‘T did not promise to let you lead me like a ‘“‘Tf your motives were honest, you would not which I have taken, in any such light as that.” Until now, the rather slow-witted landlord 4 meaning from one speech before another fell to confuse him; but now he seemed to strike bot- tom, and with his sturdy body supported on widely separated feet, he shook one hairy fist e flaming nose of the professor, his and menacing as he spoke: ‘* Look yer, Fatty Smith. Noneo’ your epee cer You axed this young lady go some’rs with ye. You kep’ up a-coaxin he said she’d go. Now you kick over the fer to ontel aces ~ hs ee? - 4. gd rs Monte Ji _— = —_ rr an’ want to back out. That ain’t white. You cain’t come none o’ your monkeyin’ over any 0’ my boarders, Ef the leddy still wants to go, go you've got to, ef I hev to ram you chuck up to the nozzle in a keg of giant powder, p’int you in the kerect direction, an’ then tetch the hull business off with that red-hot head-light o’ yourn! Now ye got it, straight /” Honest Giles Dickson emphasized his speech with a couple of solemn nods, then drew his sturdy form erect, with a shy glance toward his lady boarder, as though wishing to note the effect produced by his unusual eloquence, ** A thousand thanks, Mr. Dickson!” exclaimed Medea, too polite, even in her present excited state to disappoint the well-meaning fellow, ‘‘I know that you would put your threats into exe- m, the Black Sheep of Bismarck. | | | cution without a moment’s hesitation, but I | hardly think Mr. Smith will prove so obstinate.” ‘But if I still decline your delightful com- pany, on those terms, Miss Pennington?” sneered the professor. ‘*Tn that case, I will ask Mr. Dickson to detain ce you while I bring my cousin and make known | to him all that you have told me. He isa part- ner in my quest, and doubtless will know better gv to deal with a man of your description than O,. For a brief space the professor hesitated, glancing from one to the other, but then came a complete alteration of both tone and manner. ‘You shall have your own way in this affair, Miss Pennington, though I still believe you will deeply regret your obstinacy in seeking to dis- cover this man.” ** You will take me to the house of your prin- cipal?” ‘Yes. My refusal but now, was only made in hopes of scaring you from your purpose, I had no other motive.” ‘* Death alone can prevent me from carrying out that purpose!” was the grave response as Medea unlocked the door and hastened up to her chamber, ‘* Look yer, Fatty Smith,” said Honest Giles, blinking like some solemn ow] as he stood before the professor, a oo in readiness to inter- cept him should he attempt to fleo. ‘‘I don’t know what sort 0’ game it is you’re playin’, but I do know this much: Ef the young leddy ain’t back here inside o’ two hours, as she said, ll take your trail and never stop to sleep or rest onto it ontel I’ve run it clean down to bed-rock. When I git thar, ef they’s any smell o’ your fingers in the pie, lll set down onto ye like the crack o’ doom!” A trifle mixed in the ,;metaphors, perhaps, but none who heard him could doubt the complete earnestness of Honest Giles, What he threat- ened would be performed, Professor King Smith only shrugged his fat shoulders, for already the returning footsteps of Medea Pennington were to be heard swiftly fly- ing down the stairs, and with his hat beneath his arm, he opened the door and joined her in the passage, smiling faintly at her words: ‘*In two hours from now, Mr. Dickson—re- member!” ‘* Or ll know the reason why!” cried Honest Giles, as she passed on without pausing for a reply. K As I fear you don’t trust me sufficiently to care for the assistance of my arm, Miss Penning- ton, I will not make the offer,” said the pro- fessor, as they left the hotel. “*T require no assistance, thank you. I am only anxious to reach the building where you say A sister is waiting for our coming,” hur- riedly replied the maiden. Which more than i I have only one request: do not blame me if this visit brings you troub'e instead of Joy. I have tried my best to dissuade you.” edea Pennington made no reply. That eg will soon discover is nothing the simple truth, doubt me as you from the darkness. ‘‘I will strike a light and then you can see where you are.” The uncertain flickering of a match was fol- lowed by a flood of light fiom a large oil lamp, and Medea Pennington drew a swift breath of surprise as she glanced around her. ough small, the apartment was richly, al- most gorgeously fitted up, seeming strangely out of place in that then rough, new Sceder town. he walls and ceiling were hung with ric! , cream-colored damask. The floor was cover «i with a velvet carpet, with pile so soft and thic!: that one sunk in it as through a layer of luxuri- ant moss. The furniture—that of a sleeping and sitting-room combined—glittered with gild- ing and inlaid work, rare and costly. On the walls hung pictures, on hand-carved brackets marble statuettes; in one word, every- thing seemed as rich and costly as money could procure. Under any different circumstances, Medea’s surprise would have been still greater, but now she only took one swift, comprehensive glance at her surroundings, then turned her gaze upon the woman who stood before her, closely scan- ning her. And bere a still greater surprise awaited the maiden. She had expected to meet a woman past the prime of her beauty, if not completely broken down by the terrible wrongs she had been called on to endure, according to the tale told by the fat little professor. Instead— A woman of tall and regal figure, beside whom she--herself above the medium hight of the softer sex—appeared to be but a half-grown child, At least six feet in hight, and yet with a form so perfectiy proportioned in its superb curves and contours, he: unusual altitude wes only remarked when taken in comparison with another. Her complexion was almost Spanish in its duskiness, yet seemed absolutely without fiaw or imperfection—soft, clear, creamy. Her hair was of a lustrous blue-black, so seldom seen in all its perfection; silken instead of the usual coarse texture which goes with this color. It was arranged in a _ peculiar diadem-shaped coiffure, richly sprinkled with gleaming jewels for the most part rubies, gleaming like drops of translucent blood. Around her peg throat hung a necklace of the same jewels, a diamond- studded cross resting just where her bosom be-. gan to swell. Upon her white fingers also shone precious stones, and here and there, as though carelessly dropping, brilliants sparkled in the folds of her ee dress, corn-colored satin, heavily draped with black lace. So brilliant was this unexpected vision, that Medea Pennington was literally dazzled, start- ing back and raising one hand to shield her eyes, coming as she had from the blackness which reigned outside that cloudy night. smile curved the rich, red lips, and a musi- eal voice broke the silence: ‘““You have nothing to fear from me, Miss Pennington.” ‘*T am not afraid,” was the quick response. “That I can swear to!” broke in the voice of the fat little professor, with a short, disagree- able laugh. ‘‘ Miss Pennington is proof against any weak sentiment like that, as I can trutb- “peat A bear witness. A tiger is a coward beside er! ‘‘Brother King!” ejaculated the gorgeously- robed woman. ‘*Sister Helen!” echoed the little professor, his bosom swellirg out until it seemed a miracle that his remaining buttons did not fly off like exploding torpedoes. ‘* Allow me to finish, if you please. I believe you sent me to bring this young lady here?” ‘* Of course I did; and I thank you for having succeeded.” ‘* Well, that’s one consolation anyway!” he gurgled, with a mock bow. ‘* Never mind; I’m und had been gone over so often, thut she | meek as a lamb, I never complain—I’m not ad nothing further to say. complaining now—but Ido say this: if ever I Also in silence, the fat professor led the way | run another errand for you of this description, rapidly through the town, choosing the darkest | I pray that I may trip up on the first step t take and most deserted ways, as though anxious to | and break my neck into ten thousand pieces— avoid all observation. so there |” Medea noticed this fact, but she said nothi ‘* Miss Pennington,” and he swiftly turned to- only keeping one hand on the butt of a loaded | ward her, ‘‘I prefer not to remain here during revolver, with which she had taken the precau- | your conversation with my sister. You prom- tion to arm herself, while donning her street- | ised to return to the hotel inside of two hours, ments. With it she was prepared to defend | I will return in an hour and a half, If I am herself against treachery, should any be in-| needed before the expiration of that time, a light tended. shown for an instant through this doorway will ‘‘ This is the place!” muttered Smith at last, as | suffice. Good-evening, ma’am!” they came to a small, one-story building, retired | | With a short, stiff bow, he turned and left the in its location, on the outskirts of Bismarck, not | house many rods from the river’s edge. He ra at the door, and the barrier was almost immediately opened, a soft voice de- manding: ‘* Ts that you, brother? Has she come?” ‘‘ Yes, she is here. Will you enter, Miss Pen- nington?”’ ere was no light within the building, but Medea did not hesitate. She had come too far to beat a retreat at this late hour, and still ing her pistol, she advanced. A soft hand closed fo drew her inside, the "gras following, shut- ting the door behind him, ‘Wait one moment!” added that musical voice ' of the Nile, A low, musical laugh came from the woman at this abrupt departure, and she said, with a trace of sadness: **’You must pardon him, Miss Pennington, if you find him a trifle unceremonious. He isa dear, good brother, who has suffered much on my account, and it is like poison to him to have manner.” She placed a chair for Medea, herself sinkin upon a soft couch, very unlike one whose hear upon her arm, and gently | was breaking under shameful wrongs. Instead, she looked like a tigress in good-humor; like a modern representation of the voluptuous queen. the black past referred to in the mos. remote { . comicbooks — EO * 3 ‘