Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 418 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

18 RE ep ee ee a ewe ~ -_—-—- out of the way whom he believed stood in his path to his successful suit for her hand. From regarding him with kindness, and not sisterly love, she was beginning to detest him, and he was making of her a dangerous enemy. So how to thwart him in his intention to re- move Manton Moncrief from his way, was what worried her brain. ‘*] will do it if, as alast resort, I have tomake him suffer deeply,” she said, as she sat in the library after dinner. The major had gone up into the town after dinner, her father had retired to his room for his usual rest, and Mrs. White was in her cham- ber with one of her sick headaches, so that Sibyl was alone. Suddenly she started, for a quick step along a _——_——- ~—-—ve- —— — The Sea Siren. ** Yes, and moreif you wish me to do it.” # will one day make you beg for mercy from me. ‘* A queer thing to say to the woman you ask to marry you.” ** Sibyl!” * Well?” ‘*T love you, and the thought of loving you drives me to madness. ‘* Forget all that I have said, and forgive!” ‘**'You plead in vain.” ‘* Be my wife, or at least pledge your word to me that one day, when I oom won fame and riches, that you will be, and I will go away at once and begin to carve out a name that you will be proud of. ‘** Will vou promise me this, Sibyl?” ** And that is?” 7 t have another charge to make against ou. ** Well?” ** Tt will not sound well against the captain of a privateer, flying the American flag.” ‘What is your charge, I ask you?” ‘Tt will cause your arrest mat § trial, and upon your conviction you will doubtless swing at the yard-arm of Lieutenant Moncrief’s vessel.” ‘* In Satan’s name what do you mean?” and his face became pallid, for he was convinced that .- am had found out something else against im. ‘* What about the three men you hired, to do some red work you feared to attempt?’ The question seemed to fairly stagger him, ‘ie the hall had ushered into the library a visitor He had spoken with impassioned earnestness, | and he said hoarsely: whom she certainly had not expected to see. and eagerly awaited her reply. ‘* What do you mean?” That visitor was Hugh Bronx. It came, cold, cutting and merciless. ** Just what I say, sir.” He had met the negro butler out in the ‘*‘Never! Never would I marry you, Hugh ‘‘ Three men?” grounds, and learned just how the field was | Bronx, for I know you to be as treacherous as a ~~ +o” clear for his seeing Sibyl alone, Black Ben not | snake and an assassin!” ‘* When?” =% eR aT, PR ee OS = dreaming that he was paving the way for an unwelcome visitor. ‘You here, Hugh Bronx?’ and Sibyl arose ate aoe ‘*T am here, Sibyl, and to see you,” was the answer, as he came forward, ‘You should have given your name to the servant, sir.” ‘*The servant told me I would find you here, alone, so I came in, for I wished to speak to rised that you should dare cross the threshold of this home, after your conduct last night, which was so ungentlemanly.” ‘You call my accusation against Moncrief CHAPTER XXXV. THREATS. Hues Bronx shrunk back before the blazing eyes and words of Sibyl Hurst, and his whole form quivered as he asked in a hoarse voice: ‘** Do you call me an assassin?” ¢é Yes. ?? “No, no, I am no assassin,” and he almost groaned the words. ‘You are.” ‘** You cannot prove it,” he said quickly. ** T can.” ** Do so,” and he spoke defiantly. ‘“ My own eyes saw you strike Officer Vesey to * Last night.” oy : ay nothing about any three men.” ‘**T do. ‘What about them?” ‘*] know that they were hired by a manin a storm-coat and hat, and gold was paid them to kidnap Lieutenant Moncrief, and failing to do this they were to kill him. ‘* They tried to do their work well, and would have succeeded, but for the fact that I asked Captain Bainbridge to follow Moncrief when he left the mansion. ‘* He did so, and came upon Manton Moncrief, unarmed, wounded as he was, confronted by the three hirelings, who would have killed him, ungentlemanly?”’ he said, with almost savage | the deck.” for he was not a man to submit without a aK earnestness. He gave a si gh of relief and asked: struggle. HY Ate I think you Ss hada to make him outa traitor 1 woe all?’ a — ow si acts promptly — ’ : 77 : : YF ' tj Phat vod gore foiled, for his own story eS werk cube ed conned oa boua the Brimstone, ; proved how base were your charges against a ** Ts it not enough to murder a man?” where they now are,” A man to whom you owe your life.” “T did not intend to kill him, but the blow ‘** What have I to do with all this?’ : ** And you believe his word against mine?” proved fatal.” “You were the man who hired them for their ee ** Assuredly, even were there not other proof ‘* He was your first officer and you had noright | red work.” . of his innocence.” to strike him.” ‘“* It is false!” = “ a other proof?” Ne must keep my discipline on board my ves- . : is the truth.” aed rat HS (Xa is crew. sel,” O man can prove this against me. ¥ 4 ye ‘‘ Bah! you are not fit to command men, for ** A woman wn? rr t ‘*Oh! they are to be believed, for all would | you cannot command yourself.” ** Never!” y not lie in such a case, while his capture of the ‘‘He disobeyed my orders,” he said, wincing ‘Oh, yes.” ij barque, which you were forced to run off and | under her words. ** Who is she?” ; leave, and his capture of the British schooner- ‘*}Ie was sacrificed because you were angry “‘T saw you land last night, for I went out . wate all show that he is loyal to the cause of ber Fpl os se he ounds, ber —— tn ar oe ie merica, ** He was not. oud, when you e of your , a ‘You talk well to prove the innocence of the ‘*T say yes, for you saw my signal of farewell | men, and they had not met you on the ina, as i man Fon love,” he said with a sneer. to you, and you would not acknowledge it. upon. me , ‘* Will you do me the favor to answer me a ‘** Poor Vesey saw it and did so, and his life **T heard your voice, Hugh Bronx, and I will - question, Hugh Bronx?” she retorted quickly. was the forfeit.” swear to it.’ P. “Tf I can. ‘* How knew you of this?” ‘‘It is not true, for [I was on board my ves- mews? ‘‘ Have you made up your mind to kill Lieu- “T saw it.” sel.” f y wag rm a in your duel with him at sun- re bat have — eyes.” usa were wep. at dpe the reve you “js + se y ears, too. and when you r your v can be i The question came so unexpectedly that the ‘What do you mean?” proven.” - man flushed and paled by turns, and Sibyl ‘* Never mind, but answer me if you intend to ‘*T say I am falsely accused.” if laughed lightly. meet Lieutenant Moncrief to-night?” ‘*So was Manton Moncrief, and yet you were: r ‘** How knew you this?” he asked hoarsely. yee URS merciless in your hate of him, and I will be the. ee ‘* Tt matters not.” ‘You will not, for my sake, break this meet- | same toward you, so give up this duel, find He ey ** Ah! I know now.” ing?” ; what excuse you may, or I will tell Major a | “* Well?” ‘If you will promise to be my wife, I will.” White all and let him report you as unworthy ike; ** He has told you.” ‘* T shall make no such promise.” : to command a vessel bearing the flag of our onl * Who?” ‘*Then [ will make no promises to you, Sibyl | country.” + ** Moncrief.” Hurst.” The man seemed impressed by her words and te toner perpeten en.” ; tS refuse!” --* ae a a = thought. ~ e O. en he said slowly: : elie ‘*T say no.” ‘‘Then I shall see that you do not fight this ‘“* Sibyl, | am not guilty of this charge, but it ee “He was afraid to meet me, although he ac- | duel.” would ruin me to have you bring it against me, oo}. cepted my challenge, so came to you, knowing He laughed. and I yield to your demand.” | iA you would prevent it if in your power.” **Do you doubt me?” ‘* And you will not fight this duel?” cy “You do not know the man you have chal- sip es “No” ae. a to say this of him.” ‘You think I cannot do so?” “s n your oath?” a “Tt is true.” ‘“*T know it.” ‘ Yes.” — **T say it is not.” ‘*T can m one way.” ** How will you get out of it?” % ‘““Will you swear that it is not true, Sibyl “How?” ‘**T will go to the place of meeting, tell Lieu- Be - Hurst?” “*] will go to Major White and have him ac- | tenant. Moncrief that I do not helieve: him guilty Bt ty ** Yes, a thousand times yes, Hugh Bronx.” company me to the captain of the port, and I | of treachery, and retract my challenge.” a “‘Then he sent Bainbridge to you, which is | will openly charge you with the murder of poor ‘* Hugh Bronx, I thank you for this, from my ie about the same.” Officer Vesey and demand your arrest.” heart, I do.” | hy of in you are wrong. The man laughed again, A vicious light flashed in the man’s eyes as ae: *“‘ As you seem to wish my word indorsed by ** You doubt my power to have this done?” she uttered the words, for they but increased his omy oath, I will swear that you are wholly ‘ wines one.” ears er e, ea nf — quietly a eer wrong. y so -by, Sibyl, but remember my threat ear: a ‘ies You could get it from no other source.” ‘“* Because I visited the port captain, reported | that one day spot ale be my wife,” % *,. <e Vina W% a my cruise, and told him of my killing my yee she could reply he turned and strode from ae om whence officer, 6 room, oe ** That is none of your business.” ‘** Hie heard my story, told me that he was sur- ~ “Ah! you defy me?” prised that [ would go to sea with such a set of CHAPTER XXXVL P **Of course, for what are you, to be defied?” wild, untrained men, and acquitted me of wrong- OK *You will rue the day that you throw insults | doing in the matter. +30. BERTONE. ar. in “Y teeth, Sibyl Hurst.” ‘Here is his PORES and Hugh Bronx Torr sun wes near its setting, when a boat Le; Me = nae fear Feil threats.” dy paper from his pocket and handed it to Rete. away ee $e side = the Hap = vat el ae reaten not idly. ibyl. rimstone, and hea up the river toward a 53 **T care not how you threaten, I defy you.” She saw that it bore the official seal of the | wooded point of land. y eT **{ came not here to quarrel with you,” he said rt, and was signed by the captain of the port In it, besides the oarsmen and a coxswain, > patiently. imself, and glancing at it she read there that it | were Lieutenant Moncrief, Captain Bainbridge, AK ‘* What then came you for?” exonerated Captain Hugh Bronx of all blame | and Surgeon Bennett. ae ‘To ask you again to become my wife?” in the killing of his mutinous first officer. | Upon the sent near the surgeon was his box ‘e Sibyl laughed, a ringing, musical laugh, and ‘You gained this by a falsehood, Hugh | of surgical instruments, and a hand litter rolled '___-yet there was a mocking sound in it that caused | Bronx, for you did not tell the truth; but it | up was in the boat, which showed that the worst . haa ‘man to grit his teeth with rage. protects you I suppose,” she said in a disap- | had been prepared for, my 1: ** You refuse again to be my wife?” inted way. | Near Captain Bainbridge was a box of that i, e ‘“*T would rather be the wife of the lowest sea- man on board your vessel.” ae “Ha! dare you say this to me?” ? « Ti id / f 4 , | y ss Rae Ee aidan Nie a 3 7 eECOMleEVOOKS (Eloy Bie in y ‘Put it to the test if you think otherwise, | ominous pattern that denoted it as a receptacle a fair tage | for dueling pistols, and a pair of rapiers, osely ** No, I will put something else to the test.” wrapped up were held across his lap. t _. ea A a eT