Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 416 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

Sa ome ‘Monte Jim, the Black Shee A al J Oe a . 4 2 \y . : = F of Bismarck, — So: 25 wealth his avarice , and as he was now ‘the leading partner in the firm, he had ample opportunities given him by which he could readily defraud his brother. Little by little, so guardedly that the most searching examina- tion could detect nothing of his frauds, he pushed Craig Pennington still nearer the brink of ruin. At the same time, though it seemed that his own losses were still greater, he was storing up wealth like a miser. ‘*That is sufficient. I cannot tell you all, as it came about. I was heartsick when I first heard it—l am heartsick now that I attempt to convey the same to you. ‘‘Enough that all unsuspecting the truth, Craig Pennington was ruined by his own bro- ther, and when the crash came, it proved more than he could bear, He surrendered everything to his creditors, took to his bed, and never left it in life. **Men said that Stephen Pennington acted most nobly, assuming far more than his share of the losses. The misfortunes which over- whelmed the firm were generally attributed to the rashness of Craig Pennington, and when the business was finally settled up, there were scores of rich men who insisted on re-establishing my father in business, “*Then the time came when death laid its hand heavily on him, and when he became con- vinced that his last earthly hope was gone, he called me to his bedside, and confessed all his crimes, making me swear to make what resti- tution was possible. ‘*He admitted the forgeries, and gave his reasons for fixing on you, Lloyd Pennington, in »yreference to any other, as the scapegoat. He elieved you suspected something of his evil practices, and that you were on the point of de- nouncing him to your father. He saw only the one way of saving himself, and he took it with- out leaving you a single loop-hole to escapes ‘* Now, as he lay dying, he wished to make what amends lay in his power. No person, out- side of the family, knew why you so suddenly fled from home. Noone even suspected that you did sounder acloud, Therefore it would not be necessary to publish his crime to the world, unless you should insist on doing so, as part recompense for the unmerited punishment you had been forced to bear, Then, and then only, I was to give to the public a full, written confession of his past crimes, If you did not insist on this, I was to surrender into your hands all the property of which he died possessed, ¥ unless—” Here her voice faltered, and her eyes sunk to the floor. Alva Pennington fidgeted uneasily on his chair, trying tocatch the eye of Monte Jim, wuo persistently avoided his gaze, looking stead- ily at the reddening countenance of the maiden, his eyes glittering vividly. ‘‘ Te made a will I suppose?” he uttered, at lenzth, as Medea still maintained silence. ** You dont happen to have a copy of that with “you, of course?” Medea suddenly lifted her head, gazing fully into his glowing eyes, her face turning very pale, though her voice was firm and even as she spoke again: ) ‘‘T have a copy of the portions which more nearly concern you, ennington. I will let you see them, when I have finished what I have to say.” | “‘T only thought a glance at that would spare you from uttering words that may be hard to speak,” he said, quietly. ‘Tt is all hard enough, Heaven knows!” with a bitterness that she had not yet exhibited. ‘‘But there is no alternative left me, I swore to carry out his wishes, and I will do so with- out evasion or false shame, ! ‘‘In that will, my father left his entire for- tune to you, provided you would accept my hand in marriage. If you refused to do this, ou were to receive one-half the money, and he other moiety was to become mine, That there might be no possible chance for misunder- standing, I was to put the question plainly to you—and I obey his wishes, thus: ‘Lloyd Pennington, will you marry me?” As she uttered these words Medea rose from her chair and took a step toward Monte Jim, holding out One hand, looking straight into his glowing eyes. Her voice was calm, her fea- tures composed, though as pale as death it- If self. Through all this, Will Rice had listened with a breathless interest that rg be imagined, after his ardent confession of love, only a few hours earlier in the same evening, but now, as he saw Monte Jim grasp the proffered hand, be could bear no more, but caught up his hat and hastily rushed from the room. Alva Pennington, fairly ghastly in his great fear lest his new-found brother should prove too weak to resist the temptation thus deliberately placed before him, sat in agony, waiting for the end. Monte Jim clasped the white hand in both of his own, looking keenly into the lustrous eyes which were raised to meet his. And when he spoke there was a perceptible tremor in his voice: ‘Suppose I were to say the whole world con- tains no gift one half so precious to me as this little hand, Medea?” ‘* It is yours for life, if you care to claim it, Lloyd,” was the low reply. ‘‘I make the offer. It is for you to accept or decline, It is a poor reward for all you have suffered in these long years through the crime of my father.” As she ceased acer hg there was utter silence for a few moments. Monte Jim gazed into those lustrous eyes as though unable to break the spell; but not for long. Then, releasing the hand he held, he stepped back a pace and put both hands behind him, as though the better to | resist temptation. me eee SaSSammamaoams wv vw “_—_ a eee ee SF rrr A a eee ee SS ——-_..0€—@—€—@—80oO ooo ———— EO ec + ‘** My dear child, it is a priceless treasure you are offering me, and if I were a better man, or a greater scoundrel, I would hold you to that pledge. It would be little short of heaven— your love !” She made no reply, but shrunk back a little, as though alarmed by the intense earnestness with which he spoke. : Monte Jim saw this, and his mood seemed in- stantly to change, a light laugh breaking from his lips as he said: . neg for me, I must respectfully decline the honor. Iam already a married man—have a wife, and the good Lord only knows how many little olive branches! They would serious- ly object. You would rather not, and Alva, here, would surely blow out what few brains he has if I married you, for, unless all signs lie, the poor devil is over head and ears in love with my charming cousin! ‘* As for the wrongs which your father may or may not have done me in the past, we'll call that square, for the sake of his lovely daughter, who has so bravely tried to make what amends lay in her power. Of one thing you can rest assured: I will never reproach either him or you with the past. ‘**As for the fortune, you must give me two days in which to weigh the matter. Then I will come to you with my decision.” He moved forward and took both her hands in his, stooping until his lips touched her fore- head vely, reverently. « Ajiow me—as a cousin, only!” he muttered, as she seemed to shrink from the caress, ‘‘ And now, pyeine, bo You must seek some rest. May the angels guard you!” and, dropping her hands Monte Jim turned and hastily left the room. CHAPTER XXVII. CURLY KAINE ON THE WAR-PATH. It was not long after that hurried exit, that Alva Pennington also parted with Medea for that night, and went out in quest of Monte Jim toward whom he felt, just then, very grateful and brother-like indeed. But he found him naught, either around the hotel or about town, as far as he cared to carry his quest on that night. In the morning the handsome card-sharp was still among the miss- ing, and when that day passed and night again fell over Bismarck without his being able to find Monte Jim, Alva Pennington began to row aapery, indeed. He almost believed that is newly-discovered brother had been way- laid and assassinated by some of his numerous enemies, who had cunningly disposed of his per and removed all other traces of their me, Hoping almost against hope, he again made the rounds of the town, dropping into the prin- oe sporting-places, one after another, but as often failing to discover the object of his per- sistent search. At length, weary from his constant tramping, Alva Pennington took a chair in a corner of one of the saloons, ordering liquor and a cigar, sipping the’ one and puffing slowly at the other, as he leaned an elbow on the littlo round table, puzzling his brain with wild conjectures concern- ing Monte Jim. ‘or a time he kept a close watch on the door, an expectant light coming into his eyes with each movement of the latticed screens which swung in the passageway, but at length he ceased to notice the men who passed in and out, his busy brain building castles in the air, busy planning his future life, in which Medea Pen- nington and her fortune played a most promi- nent part. Thus it was that he was not immediately aware of the entrance of Curly Kaine, self-styled King of Bismarck. The gambler entered the saloon with a swift stride, halting the moment he had passed the screens, his black eyes roving swiftly over the occupants, as though searching for some par- ticular person whom he had reasons for believ- ing would be present. o those who knew him best, it was readily seen that the King of Bismarck was on the war- ath and meant evil to some one, should a meet- ing chance to take place, He had been drinking heavily ever since the row at the Clipper Shades, though the only perceptible effects of the strong liquor was a peculiar redness of his eyes and an almost rye Cec which took possession of his face. is wa speech was not affected in the least, while his nerves seemed to increase in steadiness and was steady and lithe as ever. His | of his insulting a lady on the | __- - ro the more poison he poured down his roat, The saloon was crowded. Men were gathered before the bar, talking, laughing, cursing; oth- ers were seated at the small round tables, play- ing cards; but on the appearance of Sor y “a Kaine, an instant silence fell over all, while an uneasy look came into more than one face, un- til it was made clear who the King of Bismarck was seeking—or at least on whose devoted lead his present spite was about to fall. - This sudden silence aroused Alva Pennington from his musings, and he glanced around him with a lazy curiosity, little dreaming how near- ly it concerned himself, even when he recog- nized Curly Kaine in the tall, athletic figure moving toward him with an insvlent swagger. Not until the King of Bismarck passed the last row of tables and stilladvanced, did Alva Pen- a se begin to realize the truth. 2 e had seen a good deal of what is called © pe ‘‘ life,” in the fast circles of large cities. He knew ata glance that the faro-dealer had been > drinking heavily, though his face was so white, _ and his motions so steady. He knew, too, that such men are, asa rule, the most dangerousto cross when the devil in their nature is fully — awakened. He saw that Curly Kaine meantmis- — chief, but his square jaws only set themselyesa little firmer, and he drew his feet more beneath his body, ready for sudden action should he be — be called upon. as Whatever his other faults, Alva Pennington was no physical coward, and was well able to — hold his own in acommon crowd. And, though’ — he would have preferred being somewhere else, — just then, it was not because he feared Curl aine. oe The gambler halted just without arm’s-length from the young man, his silk hat tipped for- ward on his head, so that he had to “ look down his nose” in order to see Pennington. It was a — uliarly irritating attitude, and well matched — by the insolent tone in which he called: +356 ‘*Hello, youngster! where’s your dry nurse this evening?” f qi Men forgot their ae threw up their cards, © rf ceased their wordy disputes, baving eyes, — thoughts only for the ‘‘ show” which all firmly — believed was on the point of coming off. The only doubt was as to whether this “ tenderfoot”® would show “sand” or take water off band. At the same time there was a silent haste to _ get their own precious persons ‘‘ out of line” — with the two men on whom all eyes were turned — before cold lead should begin to fly. ae Alva Pennington saw ail this, and > enough divined its meaning; but he saw, too, — that Curly Kaine kept both hands buried to the — wrists in the side pockets of his light sack coat, and believed that the athlete trusted to his greater weight and size to overawing him, ¥ Outwardly cool as ice, he glanced up at the — gambler, eying him as one might some na Nie curiosity, but making no reply to the ins 7 address, aft a A redder gleam came into the eyes of King of Bismarck, but then an insolent laugh fell from his lips. “ca ee ‘** Poor little devil! Too bad scared at the — sound of a man’s voice, to answer a simple ques- — tion like that! Say, you J” *¢ ‘* Are you addressing me, or simply makin; an assof yourself for the benefit of the company in general?” coolly asked Pennington, taking v his glass and sipping the liquor it stil] contain his blue eyes mildly beaming on his adversary. A little murmur of wonder and admiration ran around the group of spectators at this hibition of nerve in chaffing the man whem the bravest among them all feared; and Ty Kaine himself seemed taken aback hy the co retort. Not for long, however. Then he spok again: Oe ‘‘T was addressing you. I asked where | had hidden’ your dry-nurse, Monte Jim, as the animal calls himself. I’m out looking for him. and I mean business, chuck-up!” tah oey ‘‘Why do youcome to me, if you seek an- other?’ neat ‘* Because I know you're too big a cowar venture very far from the fellow wko has take you under his wing, Some of hisgang arehere and I know he is not far away. Ten to one hi dedred under a table when he saw me ccomi “If you suspected anything like Mcnte Ji was within a mile of you, you’d break your neck with your heels, trying to fnd yeur hole before his boot-leather cculd overtake you. | Talk is cheap, but I’m ready to bet n'y pile : you dare not repeat those words, face to face with a man—and Monte Jim is one, just as sure — as you are not!” boldly cried Pennington, 2 om gain Curly Kaine was plainly taken aback, — He expected more then a simple retortin words, ae ‘when he uttered that degrading epithet, yet there was nota trace of anything like fear in the © face or tones of the young man, who still sat easily in his chair. wee od A week ago, Curly Kaine would not have hesitated a moment in shooting down a man who would have dared utter such words to h but the events of the past few days—-the story in, and his ex- aa by Monte Jim when he attempted fx ealing—had awakened popular indignation, — Comic “O °