Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 420 — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

EO SEA gk Seri En 2 ‘Hiving here for some tinte, and I don’t believe that she would support her son in ar such scheme as he seems to have gone into. Mr. Gordon called on her before he left Memphis, and I have an idea that he gotsome useful points from her.” ‘“* Is she a—a lady?” ‘**T suppose she is not whaS you would cail a lady, as she owns and runs a gambling-house; but she is a good woman outside of that, and 1t seems to me that it woulddo you no harm to call and see her. * ‘‘ She would not bo likely to murder me,” ob- served Mrs. Talcott with a smile. ‘‘T don’t believe that she would be inclined to do any bodily harm to any person.” The lady was sg orga anxious to do any- thing and cverything that might allay her anxiety and bring her information concerning The Old River Sport. — ‘\) oF” CHAPTER XXXVI, THE OLD LOVE. Mrs. Ta.cotT found her children at the ho- tel, as she had been assured she would, and there was a joyful reunion, which was participated in by Colonel Bastrop and his son. When they had put her in possession of the main points of their several stories by answer- ing her eager questions, Gray Gordon and Linda Shropshire were called in and introduced to the widow. ‘** This is the gentleman,” said Gerald, ‘‘ who saved my life and has since been more than a friend tome, If it had not been for his help we would not both be here now.” ** And this,” said Eva, ‘tis Linda Shropshire, | 29 -_-—-, Holcomb on the Pacific Coast. Indeed, he was my partner, and we grew rich there together.” ‘At gambling?” feebly inquired Mrs. Tal- cott. ‘‘ Well, ma’am, speculation in mines and min- ing stocks does not go by the name of gambling, though I must admit that it requires more of a gambler’s skill and shrewdness than any other game I know of, and there is vastly more to be won or lost on what may be called the turn of a card. After all, the strong point cf the game is found in knowing when to quit, erd Eolecmb and I dropped cut in good time.” ‘* Was that the extent of the gambling?” ‘‘ There was nothing else worth mentu ning ‘‘ Did Mr. Holcomb ever speak of his past—of ” . who was a friend to me when I sorely needed a | his family?” friend. She has lost all her family, and I have | ‘‘ Quite freely, and J knew his entire history. told her that she shall go home with me, and | He felt quite sore over the manper in which his her childron, and so she was conducted by Hank | that we will take care of her.” Byers to the same house at which he had pre- viously introduced Gray Gordon. Of course she was not taken into the gam- bling rooms as Gordon had been—indeed, the es- tablishment was not in running order at that | hour—but was ushered into a handsome parlor, where Mrs. Hannafin received her alone. The two women seated themselves, and men- tally took stock of each other after the manner of women. Mrs. Talcott had a faint remembrance of the man Hannafin, but had no reason to suppose that this bearer of the name had been tangled up in her past life: while Mrs. Hannafin knew all about Mrs. Talcott, and could easily guess what had brought her there. The lady from Louisiana explained the pur- pose of her visit, telling as much of her story as she cared to tell, and tried to come as gently as possible to the real point of the matter. he had been given to understand, she said, ‘*Indeed she shall,” asserted Mrs. Talcott, ‘*and we will do our to help her to lead a pleasant and useful life. As for Mr, Gordon, I can only thank him, as I know that | can never repay him for his goodness to me and mine.” ‘If [can have your esteem,” answered Gor- don, ‘‘ with that of your son and daughter, I | shall consider myself amply repaid.” ‘* You have more than our esteem,” broke in | family had been broken up, and I never heard him regret the punishment be had inflicted on the false friend who ruined his home,” ‘Yet he must have blamed his wife for it all,” ‘He did not. Though he was greatly grieved, and wished that she might have waited to give him a chance to speak and act for himself, he did not blame her, as he knew that he had de- ceived her most shamefully. His one desire then Eva. ‘Gerald andI both love you as if we | was to become the possessor of a fortune, which were your own children, and we wish that we might never lose: you.” ‘**I can surely ask nothing better than that,” he said with a smile, | | he wished to take to his wife and children, hop- ing that she would finally forgive him.” ‘Forgive him?” exclaimed Mrs. Talcott. ‘How gladly would she have done so, if she had The next day, while Eva was out shopping for | had the chance! He secured the fortune I pre- herself and Linda, and Gerald had gone for a stroll with Lawrence Bastrop, and Colonel Bas- trop was attending to the purchase of tickets and other arrangements for the return trip, Gray Gordon and Mrs. Talcott had a long tall at the hotel, in the course of which they became that Mrs. Hannafin’s son had saved the life of | quite friendly and confidential. Eva Talcott, but had then carried her away with the view of marrying her. “Who told you that?” abruptly demanded | | cott’s adventure in Memphis, when she was res- “The man who brought me here,” answered | Mrs. Hannafin. the other, surprised at this harsh and uncom- promising tone. ‘¢ He must be a fool.” ‘¢ Possibly, though he did not seem so to me, and he told me that he had his information from . a friend of your son’s, who helped him carry my daughter to the shore, who left him there and returned to Memphis, ana to whom he had de- clared his intentions.” __ ‘Your information is all wrong, madam, Whatever Mark Hannafin’s intention may be, it is not that. If I supposed that a son of mine could so far forget himself as to think of making a daughter of yours bis wife, I would follow him and kill him, if I could stop the scheme in no other way.” ‘“Tndeed! I do not understand you.” ‘‘Do you suppose that [ would allow my son to marry the daughter of the man who killed his father?” ‘“The man who killed his father! What can you mean? ». Why, Colonel! Talcott—” “Tam not speaking of any Colonel Talcott, but of Josiah Holcomb.” “He is dead,” answered the widow, as _ her face fell. ‘‘ But his evil deed lives after him. He killed my husband, and I saw him doit, As you are the first of the race that I have had a chance to get even with, I mean to get even with you.” Mrs. Hannafin gave point to this statement by producing a silver mounted revolver. ‘‘Do you mean to murder me?’ demanded the lady from Louisiana. ‘You may call it that if you wish. Your husband murdered my husband, and was never punished for the deed.” ‘Are you sure that Mr. Holcomb killed your husband {” <a Voices were heard in tae passage leading to the parlor. , ‘ All right,” said one voice. ‘I will find the way now.” ‘“Somebody is coming, and I must make an end of you right now!” fiercely exclaimed Mrs. lon? ‘“T am sure that your bushand de- stroyed the life of James Hannafin, and that he is forever lost to me.” The door was opened quickly, and in ened the man who had been known as Colonel Rapp. He seized the belligerens Mrs. Hannafin in a loving embrace, putting a sudden stop to her warlike intentions, and spoke to her in tones that were full of affection. ““ Who is lost toyou? NotI, you may be sure, T was lost, but have found myself at last, and have come home to ycu, Clara, to begin life in.’ “fs it really you, Jim? What does this mean?” ‘‘T will explain it to you after a while, with Mark’s help. This is Mrs. Talcott, I suppose, as T heard that she was here. Madam, you will find your daughter and son at your hotel, where T left them a little while ago, and I wish you Joy of the meeting.” ‘Thank you, sir; I will go to them at once,” and Mrs, Talcott hurried away, _ TT LTT LL LT LT Oe The conversation which naturally began with the adventures of Gordon and Gerald on the other side of the river, finally reached Mrs. 'Tal- cued from a dangerous situation by the timely arrival of Mrs. Hannafin’s husband. ‘*] had known,” said Gordon, * before Gerald and I went to search for your daughter, that the man over there who called himself Colonel Kapp was Mrs. Hannafin’s husband; but I would never have supposed that she would try toavenge herself upon you for an act of which you were entirely innocent.” ‘Perhaps I was not so innocent, after all, as it was through my fault that my husband got into that difficulty. I must inform you, Mr, Gordon, that I have been twice married. M husband at that time was named Josiah Hol- comb, and he was a vler.” ‘** Indeed! [I would not have supposed—” ‘*Nor would I, if you will fe tg me for in- terrupting you. I did not know that 1 had married a gambler, and had no cause to ct it until the truth was forced upon me. My hus- band had carefully kept me in ignorance of his real occupation, and we lived happily in Cincin- nati with my two children whom you know, and who were then infants, until James Hannafin, one of my husband’s friends, came to me in a fit of spite and informed me of the wrong that had been done me. He also proved it by a let- ter of my husband’s.” **'Your husband had treated you shamefully,” observed, Gordon. ‘So I believed at the time, not reflecting, as I afterward did, that his deception had been caused by his love for me, and that he bad al- ways been a most affectionate husband and father. I had been very strictly brought up, was a church member, and was proud of my po- sition in society. Ionly thought of the d tion that had been gma * on me, and of the disgrace to me and my children if the truth should be made public. I left my husband’s house almost immediately with my children, taking care to hide where he could not find me if he should seek me.” ‘* Did he seek you?” ‘*T believe that he was too proud for that; but he of course learned who was responsible for the breaking up of his family, and I now know how he punished his false friend. I wished that he had sought and found me, as I need hardly say to you that I bitterly repented of my rash act. ‘“ What became of your husband?’ inquired Gordon. ‘* He went to California, as I was informed, and died there.” ‘* Are you sure that he died there?” The widow was startled and greatly agitated by this question, and stared at the querist as if she had received a shock that stunned her. ‘* Am I sure?” she repeated, ‘I believed that I wassure. I was told so, and my information appeared to be on good authority. No doubt had ever occurred to me. What sort of a man are you. Mr. Gordon? There is somethine strange about you, and I cannot make it out. What do you mean by asking mo such a gues- tion?” yey | ‘*T mean no harm, Mrs. Talcott, and I do not wish to make any mystery cf the matter. The plain truth is that I was acquainted with Josiah A. . a 49 4 v w. cy . : ; i 4 4 ~ $i i = . 5 Stl. ME + has tae er carmmmnnnnmnnnnnnnnnnmnnnnrennn nn ereSSlisststs = ee a ee ee es oo sume,” ‘“* He did.” ‘¢ And then he died?” ‘““ He did not die then, and to the best of my knowledge and belief he has not died since then.” ‘*Mr. Gordon!” ‘“‘T am sure that he was alive and well less than a month ago.” Mrs. Talcott’s color came and went as her agi- tation increased. ‘Do you realize what you are telling me?” she demanded. “If you are not mistaken about that, my marriage to Colonel Talcott was un- lawful.’ ‘* Perhaps it was, strictly speaking: but you were not to blame for that, and there bas Leen no harm done. Josiah Holcomb understands it all, and he would be the last. person in the world to find fault with you.” “Tt seems to me, Mr. Gerdon, that I have done him a great wrong, for which | can never sufficiently atone. When and where can ! see him, if at all?” ‘* He is very anxious to meet you, and he ccm- missioned me to make inquiries and learn whether you weuld be willing to receive him, was on my way down the river for that purpose when I met your son and daughter, and tke series of events began that brought us so near together.” ‘Now that you have seen them and me, Mr. Gorden, what will you say to him?’ | ‘*T shall tell him, if I have your permission, to visit you at your home, and I am sure that he will joyfully hasten to do so.” ‘*You have more than my permission—my earnest entreaty that you will sdd this to your other acts of kindness. But what will be done about my marriage to Colonel Teleott?” “As he is dead, that can be easily arranged, I presume. But I would advise you, until you see Mr. Holecmb or hear from him, to refrain from mentioning the matter to your children or to anyhody else.” ‘“T shall gratefully be guided by your judg- ment, Mr. Gordon.” As all bad been said upon this vital matter that needed to be said, further conversation might then have been embarrassing to both: but the difficulty was avoided by the arrival of Eva and Linda, quietly followed by Gerald and Lawrence, CHAPTER XXXVII. A REAL REUNION. THE next day the Taicotts and the Bastrops, accompanied by Linda Shropshire, sved swiftly away on their homeward journey. Gray Gordon was left behind in Memphis, and in the evening he and Colonel Crampton called at Mrs. Hannafin’s, where they made a long visit, but did not *‘ tackle” the faro game or any other game. The results of the visit, however, secmed to be quite satisfactory to those concerned, and there was a friendly parting all around. A happier femily party then the Talcotts it wonld be hard to find, and their rejoicings aver their reunion were lively enough to drive from Linda Shropshire the sad thoughts that afflicted her since her family was swept out of existence. The only drawback to their pleasure, at least in the minds of the young people, was found in the fact that they were not accompanicd by Gray Gordon, to whom Gerald had taken a ag fancy, and who was also highly admired by va. They were inclined, in a teasing*way, to find fault with their mother for not having given Mr, Gordon a sufficiently strenuous and press- GONE cS JOO!