Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 485 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

4 bride of one of them, she doubtless cares not which, and—to accomplish my destruction.” Inez gazed at the speaker with renewed inter- est in the midst of her terror. ‘* You, too!” she murmured. ‘‘Is your fate, then, so inextricably blended with mine?” He gravely bowed his head, and then extend- ed his hand. ‘*Ttiseven so! Lady, I would be your cham- pion to the end, whatever that may be. Is ita compact? Ifso, give me your fair hand upon it.” She seemed to hesitate. ‘* Perhaps I cannot blame you,” said the de- tective, mournfully. ‘‘ This hand, in which I ask you to place your own, is not unstained with blood, though never yet—Il swear it!—save in self-defense or in a righteous cause.” With a sudden impulse, she placed her hand in his. He reverently raised it to his lips, while turn- ing his eyes aloft, at the same time murmuring an invocation under his breath, and both felt that a solemn compact had been sealed. ‘* Tt is well,” said the detective, with intense thankfulness. ‘* Inez Delorme, come what may, you are from this hour not alone in the troubles that seem thickening around you—Rowlock Ensco is henceforth your adviser, your friend and your champion to the bitter end!” ‘*] gratefully accept you as such, sir,” answer- ed the young girl, fervently. ‘' And may Proy- idence speed the virtuous, the weak and the wronged in whatever trials Fate may have in store for us!” ‘‘Amen! Now a few questions more will elicit the more important elements of your past history.” ‘* Put them to me,” ** How long did the twins remain with your grandfather? ‘‘ Until their twentieth year.” ‘* What was their behavior?” ‘‘ That of unconscionable ingrates! Iniquity is ingrained in their natures, They were wild, cruel and lawless from the first, They repeat- edly forged my grandfather’s signature to checks for inconsiderable amounts, besides ila te, criminal practices of a much graver sort, an were as often forgiven—perforce you might al- most say. For they resemble each other so ex- actly—a slight birth-mark on Juan’s left cheek being almost the sole distinction between them —as to nearly defy the bringing home of any misdemeanor to them separately, and they were shrewd enough to attempt no considerable mis- chief in unison.” ‘* That tell-tale birth-mark—the crimson pon- lard—on the elder’s cheek, how well do I know it! Here a cheery call from Mingo, at the bow, 2 hei them that the Seamew was at last in sight. tr the growing light of the new day, they could see her rocking gently at her anchorage in the quiet waters under the lee of the Fort Wads- worth water-battery, a little to the south of the Clifton, or lower Staten Island Ferry landing. CHAPTER III, THE TREASURE-CHEST. But, as considerable tacking and rough sail- ing were still necessary before reaching the yacht, the Harbor Detective resumed his inter- rogations, ‘‘ What, may I ask, was the cause of the young men’s final dismissal from your grand- father’s household, Miss Delorme?”’ Inez colored furiously, as if under a particu- larly exasperating recollection. ‘*They dismissed themselves—fled under the cover of night, like the ignomiuious felons that they were—or it would have been the worse for them. Otherwise, grandpapa would have prose- cuted them mercilessly—they had at last over- leaped the bounds of his forgiveness!” ** And the cause?” ‘“‘There was more than one. Even at that age, they had become associated with organized bands of river thieves and other desperate char- acters—much the same class as their money and fearlessness now enable them to enlist in their service, More than this, grandpapa discovered that they had been constantly in secret com- munication with their infamous mother.” ‘** To what end?” ‘‘ Ab! can you not guess? To gain possession of tbe jewel-chest at any cost. It was my grandfather’s timely detection of a plot, on the part of Juan and Vasco, doubtless with the connivance of outside confederates, to murder him in his bed, in order to get at the stron room containing the treasure, that terrified an confused them at last. In fact, every member of the household, with the single exception of my = self (1 was marked as achief part of the ty, it seemed) was to be assassinated in cold blood.” : ** Monstrous! No wonder they fled on the ex- posure of such a plot,” _ “Yet there was something that my d- father found yet more unpardonable. The ex- posure was indirectly brought about by—” _ She hesitated, and the detective, whose eyes were thoughtfully lowered, could not see the Rowlock, the Harbor Dete —_——— ee —————— Se TT IT blush of indignant shame that was mantling the pure face. ‘* By what?” he asked. ‘“By—by an indignity offered to me by Vasco. Though but thirtéen, I—I had the appearance of being much older, and—and—” ‘The scoundrel! Say no more of it, Qh, how can you forgive my want of tact—my brutal inconsiderateness?” She made a disclaiming gesture, and quickly recovered ber composure, — ‘** Then,” continued the detective, after a long pause, ** you had no further trouble with the rascally pair until their recent reappearance in New York?” ‘*No; nor so much as any knowledge of them. Indeed, my grandfather had begun to hope that the senora and her sons had given over all de- signs upon the treasure, and decided to leavo him in peace. But the first of the recent at- tempts to break into our house, and get at the strong room, opened his eyes rudely enough to the false security into which he had lulled him- self. Threatening anonymous letters, in one or another of the brothers’ handwriting, followed, and these were succeeded by the two other house- breaking attempts, of which you are doubtless aware.” The detective nodded. ‘*You know my grandfather’s old-fashioned prejudice against banks and similar institu- tions,” resumed Inez. ‘‘ After these last at- tempts upon the treasure, I became so alarmed for his safety that [renewed my oft-repeated entreaties that he would place the dangerous fascination forever beyond the cupidity of those cunning, powerful, and persistent foes by con- signing it to the robber-proof vaults of a safe deposit vaginal But, no; he would not hear of it. It was then, however, that he consented to allay my fears by advancing the Quixotic scheme—an idea, for all the world, of just such an impracticable, dear, darling old sea rover as he is—of which our present perilous harbor ex- pedition is one of the primary steps. Accom- panied by you and me, together with such of his old yachting crew as have been in his pay for years, and what other seamen might be demand- ed, he would carry the treasure far away in the old Seamew to a lone island bank that he knew of in the Caribbean sea, There he would bury it in a secret spot with his own hands. And there it should remain undisturbed forever, or untilits rightful owners—the unfortunate Cen- tral American families who had contributed their precious heirlooms to s the political revolution in which Genera] Martez so fatally failed, doubtless involving them in his ruin— should present and make good to him their just demands for a restoration of the property.” Still,” said the detective, ‘‘ the incorruptible integrity of the old gentleman in regarding him- self as‘merely the responsible custodian of sucha treasure, sO immense in value, so vague as to its real ownership, more than condones the Quixot- ism of this scheme of his for its safe-keeping.” Inez adored her grandfather, and she cast a grateful look at the detective for these kindly words, It was near sunrise, and they were rapidly approaching the Seamew at her quiet anchor- age, ‘** How beautiful she looks—just like ‘a thing of life,’ and yet so ful and secure!” ex- claimed the young girl. ‘‘ Ah, surely no mis- fortune can have come to any of her inmates! And yet it seems odd that neither grandpapa nor one of his men is on the lookout for our com- in av Rat Ensco was of a like mind was quite evi- dent, for he had suddenly grown thoughtful and grave, ‘* Kase her off, Mingo!” was his order as they were laying alongside. ‘*There!” and down came the Scud’s sail with a run. ‘‘ Remain wuere you are, Miss Delorme,” But, nautically expert as she was, Inez had lightly followed him and the negro up over the yacht’s side a moment later. It was only to encounter them, reeling back out of the cabin entrance, with looks. of horror in their faces, “Stop, Miss Delorme, you must not go in there!” cried Ensco, in a strangely changed, hoarse voice, and he made a spring to intercept her, “It is not fit—something has happened. Really—” But she had evaded him, and wasalready at the open cabin door. Then her shriek rung abroad, and, with wide- staring eyes fixed upon a ghastly scene, she would have fallen but for the detective’s sup- porting arm. ‘‘ Something ” bad, indeed, happened. The cabin interior was jiterally wrecked, and eepey the recent scene of a murderous struz- gle. The insensible form of Captain Marston lay behind the overturned chart-table, the venerable face streaked with blood, the bald head crushed in by repeated blows, doubtless from a heavy chair, whose shivered fragments were strewn over the body, Just inside the door lay the captain’s faithful steward, Mala, an old Sandwich Islander, his head and face beaten to a jelly. eS \ ctive. ne ee The dead body of Hamraond, the yacht’s sec- ond officer, a life-long serviter and friend of the owner, was Outside near the foot of the short companionway, mercilessly stabbed, a frown on the face, a broken canstan bar in the knotted hands, Blood aid Gonfusion everywhere, doubtless the relics of a murderous midnight strife, in which crime had triumphed. And of robbery as well! The small iron safe, directly behind where the old captain lay, open, its massive door, with the combination lock, blown from-its hinges—the interior empty, the treasure-chest gone! A single glance had betrayed these ghastly particulars. Then, followed by Mingo, the detective had lost not a moment in bearing the swooning Inez back to the open air of the deck. Tais move had hardly been effected before there was a cheery hail from the yacht’s boat that was approaching from the shore. In it were John Dago, the Seamew’s chief officer, with two seamen at the oars, all of them old and trusted hands, Wholly unsuspicious of the tragic event, as was evident at a glance, they made the boat fast and lightly leaped over the side, when the fainting girl and the appalled looks of the two men were their first hint of what was in store for them. In a moment Dago had taken in the awful scene, and joined the be on deck, leaving his companions, half-paralyzed with horror, below. ‘Merciful Heaven!” he rasped, as soon as he could find speech, ‘‘I seeit all now. This comes of hiring those suspicious-looking new hands, that I was so dead against, though Captain Mar- ston wouldn’t listen to a delay that better ones might be looked up. They’re at the bottom of this work—lI’d swear to ic!—especially the slim chap as shipped for bo’sen’s mate,” The detective caught at the words. ** What was he like?” was his swift demand. ‘* Young, supple an’ handsome, black eyes, black mustache, curling black hair, gentlemanly an’ soft-spoken, too, barrin’ a treacherous, skulk- ing look, and with a little red birth-mark, some- thing like an arrer, on his left cheek, that he seemed precious anxious to hide.” Inez had reopened her horrified eyes, and overheard the characteristic description, ‘Juan Martez—the elder of tke accursed twins!” she shricked, springing cut of the detec- tive’s support, and wildly clinching her hands. ‘*Oh, misery, misery! Vasco’s boast was not: an idle one!” Here one of the sailors came running up the companionway, ne out that Captain Mar- ston was still alive and partly conscious. Ensco was the first to re-enter the cabin, hav- ing resolutely intercepted Inez’s frantic rush to precede him, As he strode over to where the old captain was supported by the sailor who had remained. there, something glittering caught his attention on the floor. it was a sapphire ring, set round with bril- liants, which he succeeded in securing without being perceived. The terribly wounded gentleman, who was. obviously near his last extremity, made a sign of recognition, and then by an effort he Jaid his hand tenderly upon the head of the young girl, who had sunk, voiceless in her unguish, in @ kneeling attitute at his side. — ‘* Ensco,” he gasped, “‘she is under your pro- tection now. You—you will accept the trust?” ‘‘ With my life!” was the stern response. ‘‘The treasure gone—the accursed twins and their sorceress-dam victorious at last—but you will keep up the quest, the defense, the revenge, Ensco—you will not falter?” ‘Not while life remains to me!” and the de- tective solemnly raised his hand. ‘Itis an oath —an oath in heaven!” ‘Ha! Good, excellent! Oh, Ensco!” the dy- ing man suddenly raised himself, throwing his limp arms around the detective’s neck, ‘‘ Quick, ere it be too late! There is a secret—the fate of my daughter, Nessie’s mother, and of George Delorme, her husband—” ‘*Speak, grandpapa, speak at last!” cried Inez, wildly. ‘‘ My parents—are they alive or dead?” The glazing eyes glared at her. ‘‘ Alive, perhaps,” came in a husky whisper, ‘‘but, better dead, far better!” “Say not so! Tell me where they are! Oh, grandpape; as you stand in this extremity, speak! But further speech was impossible. _There was gush of blood from the old man’s lips, an inarticulate cry, that sounded like ‘‘Land ho! land at last!” and then, as the young girl’s despairing wail went forth, he was gone! °—e——_-_—_—_—_—_-—- CHAPTER IV, A FORTNIGHT LATER, At dusk of a fine day, a fortnight after the tragedy of the yacht mew, Inez Delorme stood in the drawing-room facing the river of the old Marston residence, Her bat was on, and she was about to step | fa > out into the CO nic sl * * 4 , _ j ; F wy —_ —_~ \ l | <= a * = _ d d | ‘ } 7 : -_ : = a “¢ a * d r ~ } al * ~ a & = _- 2 : -_ Oh 7 re - ee. :