Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 506 — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

. ok SP ae ae a on Nat > “8 —— Uncle Honest. ** Show the criminal!” he stolidly command- The solid front broke away, and a single man was revealed, bound, bruised, and bloody, It was Aaron Outerbridge ! It needed no magician to understand ‘the truth. Not only did Aaron bear signs of a des- perate struggle, but his pele, set, scowling face told a Bory of its own. et Eliakim could not believe. e had grown pale, and his hands were thrown up unconsciously, but after one long, silent, horrified look, he turned to Isaac. **No, no; you don’t mean it—you can’t mean it. Tell me you are only jesting,” he imploring- ly uttered. ‘*T tell you that the wretch who got the Ormes away and hid them—who turned traitor to us—stands there!” Unmoved as a stone, Isaac pointed to his younger brother, ‘* He!” gasped Uncle Honest; “‘ he did it!” **T suspected him from the first,” said Isaac, coldly. ‘‘I had seen his silly fancy for the Orme girl, and I drew my own conclusions, I watched, but until to-night I gotno proof. Two hours ago I and some of my men secretly fol- lowed him to the hills; we traced him to his den; we entered the cave which we saw him enter, and there we found the whole lot. There was a fight, and the three men who had been acting as jailers to the Ormes were killed, but I took good care that their chisf was captured alive. You see him there! No wonder we have been baffled until now, when the foe was in our own camp; but the Ormes are again our prison- ers, and there stands the traitor who took them trom us)”, Again he pointed to Aaron, and not the least pity was perceptible in his iron face. ncle Honest was trembling like a leaf, *“Aaron, too,” he muttered, hoarsely; ** Aaron, too! The second branch fallsfrom the tree. Peter is dead, and Aaron is a traitor! And such a traitor! Ob! Peter was an angel of light compared to this wretch! Peter defied me, but he came to me like a man; he was truth itself. But this villain—this false son of mine— his heart was a pit of treachery. He was sly, and hid his lightest feeling; he acted the part of a traitor, and then talked loyally to me; he swore to be always true to me, but his heart was black with deceit. Oh, wretch, wretch!” The old man’s husky voice did not rise above its ordinary pitch, and there was more of pathos than anger init. He was a villain; he was all that was evil; but one human feeling had been strong within him. He had put love and pride in his sons, and now he was stricken in his only vulnerable part, and bitterly stricken, too. Thus far Aaron had heard in silence. His gaze had wandered from his father to Isaac and back again, as each, in turn, became the speaker, and his face never changed, never lost its firm- ness and unwavering coolness; but there were some who saw that his once strong liinbs shook as though all muscle was gone from them. He broke his silence at last, and his voice was hoarse and rattling. “T haven’t any excuse tomake; I have played my game and lost, I hired men to take the Ormes out of prison and keep them in the cave —itisalltrue. I did it because I had a liking for Vashti, and I knew you would never con- sent. Why should I come to you with vain talk? I’vebeen my own man legally, as well as in fact, for years. Hadn’tI a right to get my choice, if I could? I tried it und failed; that’s all there is to it.” He paused and directed his gaze to Isaac’s dark, stern, scowling face, and then added: ‘IT am truly grateful for the brotherly kind- ness I have received from the man who was my playmate in my childhood! I am grateful to the brother who was not willing I should have any sy gary in life; who followed my foot- steps like a dog; who spied upon me until my secret was learned; and then set his ruffians upon me like butchers upon a fettered ox. If I had my hands free I could point to the wounds he caused me to receive; as it is, I will let them speak for themselves. They are speaking to me in trumpet tones, and the note they sound is— Death P More and more Aaron wavered upon his feet as he spoke, but indomitable resolution carried him through. Scarcely bad the last words passed his lips, however, before he tottered, took one blind step, and then fell with a crash to the floor. Uncle Honest uttered a cry and made a for- ward movement, as though to go to the fallen man, but Isaac laid a restraining hand upon his arm. “No!” he said, sternly; “‘menials are good enough to care for the traitor. He will soon re- cover, and I am proud of having given bim the hurts which have drawn the bad blood from his body !” There was no surgeon in the party, but none was needed there. Eph Hickman, the first man to bend over the fallen Leather-Jacket, quickly arose again. ** Aaron is dead!” hesaid, simply. Eliakim Outerbridge started back, and would bave fallen bad it not been for Isaac’s sustain- ing arm. The last of the brothers remained unmoved, ‘*Take the body away,” he said, coldly, ad- dressing Hickman, “‘and let it be buried to- morrow beside Peter.” Then turning to those who had the Ormes in charge, he added: ** Put them in the cells!” Uncle Honest was brushing his hands across his face in a strange way. He could not see distinctly, and had a vague idea that some sort of vail covered his eyes, ** Aaron, too! Aaron, too!” he muttered. ** Arouse!” directed Isaac, phlegmatically. ** Why do you mourn for a traitor?” “True, true! He was false to me—false to his father!” ‘“* And to me!” added Isaac. ‘*'Yes, yes; he lied to me. He was worse than Peter. Peter was frank, and he never de- ceived me; he came to me like a man; but Aaron lied. He was doukle-faced; he was evil at heart.” ““Think of him no more,” Isaac impatiently answered. ‘* But he was my son; bad as he was, he was my son!” persisted the miserable old mun. ** A pretty son he was! You do me wrong to speak of him in my presence. Did J ever de- ceive you? Did J ever havea selfish thought in connection with you? Did I ever fail to do my duty fully to you as a son and an officer?” ‘** Ab! no, no!” cried Eliakim; ‘‘ my good son, Isaac! Always devoted—always true. You will not desert me, Isaac—say that you will not! “You talk folly, father, but I will say it if you wish. i will never desert you; never turn against you. f{ should be but a wretched apology forasonif I did. Rely uponme! Be calm, father; be calm. All is well; there is not a particle of trouble.” is powerful arm was around the old man’s waist, and the aid was filial of aspect, but even then the son’s face bore its old stolid ex- pression. ‘“* Yes, yes; all is well,” Uncle Honest agreed. **Aaron and Peter were traitors, but you are still left. I know the good son at, last.” Tsaac! —that is the name; a good old Scriptural name!” It was plain that the speaker had received a severe shock, aad Issaac hesitated for a moment, Then he turned to his men and said that he would take his father bome, returning as soon as be had done so. Uncle Honest did not ob- ject, and they left the court-room with the strong arm of the one supporting the now- weakened body of tbe other, while Eliakim still muttered in his broken way. The Outerbridge power was fast declining. CHAPTER XXXVII. ONE STEP NEARER THE END, DETECTIVE Morse laid his hand upon his companion’s shoulder, ‘**T don’t think we need to stay here any longer,” he said, in a whisper. ‘You're right,” the mountaineer replied; ‘* let’s go back ter the rest o’ our crowd, an’ the sooner the better. We've seen sights o’ interest in hyar, an’ it shows plainer than ever the need o’ Fores action. Come on!” hey retraced their steps through the dark area of the store-room, crawled out of the little opening, and then hurried from the village. Arriving at the place where they had left Doc- tor Mark and the rest of their party, they saw with momentary concern that more men were present than when they had gone away, but the explanation was highly satisfactory. einforcements had arrived from Snakefoot Pass, and they now bad a force which made their future look much brighter. ‘“*Ef we work it right we’ve got the "hull busi- ness right in our own bands!” declared Yank, confidently. ‘‘ Jest let us git the pris’ners back, an’ we needn’t be afeerd ter knock elbows with all this egregious village. We won’t run away, as we planned, but we’ll stan’ our ground like [ve heerd my gran’father say he did at Bunker Hill—though now I think on’t, I b’lieve he was surrounded by the inemy so he couldn’t run, No time was lost in moving forward. The Ormes were at the City Hall, and there was no knowing how long they would be allowed to re- main there. Isaac, the last of the Leather- Jacket brothers, was a dangerous man. He was only safe when watched. The advance was quietly made, and without encounter. On arriving at the rear of the City Hall it was seen that some of Isaac’s men, who did not seem to be needed for the night, were wandering away, and Morse suggested that the rescue party take possession of the store-room, and remain there until the most favorable moment for attack. They would thus have the Ormes and Gra- hams under their eyes, and no tricks could be played upon them, {saac had returned, and he soon held a con- versation with Hickman, within plain hearing of Morse and his men, Leatber-Jacket stated that he was about worn out, and would treat himself to a luxury he had not had for some time—a full night’s rest at home. The City Hall and the prisoners he would leave in charge of Hickman, with eight men to aid him. This arrangement was carried into effect, and Isaac went away. The would-be rescuers consulted. Yank ad- vised that Isaac and Uncle Honest be seized first of all, but Morse had a different plan. He detailed four men to watch the Outerbridge house, and see that no one left it, and decided to defer action there until early morning. As to the City Hall, they would wait until the guards ah sleepy, and then pounce upon them. ith the force now at his back Morse knew he could intimidate the whole village if, at sunrise, he had all the leaders, as well as the chief fighting men in bis power. Hickman and his companions rested in false security. Notasuspicion entered their minds that enemies were near the village, much less that they were massed in the City Hall, itself. The prisoners were equally ignorant. They sorrowfully submitted to ¢heir hard lot, without a gleam of hope to keep them up. ircumstances delayed the attack longer than had been expected. The guards played cards until two o’clock, and it was an hour later when they became sufficiently sleepy to suit ve directions for the attack. They wished to make it as swift and quiet as possible, and they moved accordingly. Some of the men crawled out at the rear and went around to enter at the front door. Positions were duly taken, and still the guards remained unsuspicious of the danger. The signal was given, and the rescue-party entered the court-room on two sides at once. Hickman was the first to see the danger. He started up with a warning cry, and his comrades sprung to their feet. They were too late for successful resistance; the assailants Jeaped upon them, and the guards were beaten down by the force of numbers. Not a shot was fired. They would have been glad to use their weapons, but no chance was given. Ina very short time all were overpowered, and a supply of cords in the room was used to bind them, The triumph was complete. Storm Rider seized the first chance to go to the prisoners, and Yank and Doctor Mark kept him company. Slight as the sounds of strife had been all the captives bad been aroused, and they were ready for the relief which came. Vashti and Peggy embraced, and there was a general shaking of hands. *¢ Joseph looks sort o’ dazed,” observed Never- miss, smiling, ‘‘but we'll try ter show him the hull egregious mess is goin’ ter be straightened out, ‘*You never spoke truer,” fervently replied Storm Rider, ‘* Cheer ete Joseph; I have the best of news for you. When I was last at Snakefoot Pass I found a letter awaiting me, and its contents clears away every cloud. Horace Ashwood is dead, and his charge has been withdrawn!” Joseph started back. At first he seemed un- able to credit what he heard, but a look of joy flashed to his face suddenly. He turned to his sister. **Vashti!” he exclaimed; Vashti?” ** All may as well know the facts now,” add- ed the aeronaut. ‘I give my word that your persecution is over, and you have friends here true and good enough to be in your confidence, Hear me, all who will: ‘*Some months ago Joseph left his home in an Eastern State and started for Europe on busi- ness, A few days later came the story that the ocean steamer was lost with allon board, This was enough to arouse a fiendish plot in the mind of Horace Ashwood, He was a relative, and, as far as was known, heir to the Orme property which now seemed to be held only by Vashbti, ‘He laid his plans to have her declared in- saue. I need scarcely say the charge was utter- ly false; but you know what money will do in these days, and others, and voluminous evidence was pre- sented, which seemed to prove all that he al- leged. At the crisis Joseph reappeared. i vessel had been wrecked, but he was among the saved. He began a fight for Vashti, but it was utterly hopeless—Horace Ashwood had the case well in hand, and an asylum stared her in the face. : ‘* As a last resort Joseph took his sister and fled. Ashwood made a charge that Joseph bad tried to murder him, and pursuit was made. The race was long and hot; it went on through many. States and Territories. There was no peace for the Ormes; they were driven along as wolves drive their prey, and whenever their story was known, all who heard it turned against them. ‘* They were in this wood when I found them, took them in my balloon, and chance drove us here. I gained their confidence and they told me all; but bitter experience had warned them to trust no one else. At last, however, Horace Ashwood had died, and before his guilty life went out, he madea full confession of his crimes. There is now no fear for Vashti, or for Joseph.” The aeronant ceased. Congratulations were in order, and many ‘do you _ hear, Ashwood found villainous doctors, | GoOmMleboo — ‘S: