Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 506 — page 29: what you’re looking at

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Uncle Honest. 29 pressed forward to utter them. One person did not. This was Knifebelt. The boy was in a nic, To gain his liberty he had told Uncle onest a long story which had no basis of fact. He had accused Joseph of being a forger, a bank-robber and murderer; but it was wholly a concoction of his own mind. He was now ina panic, for he feared that others might have heard his specious fiction, ‘I think one more explanation is in order,” observed Joseph, anon, addressing Storm Rider. ‘You have been strangely devoted to our in- terests, without cause visible to me, and you promised an explanation in due time. I think that time has arrived,” ‘You are right,” the aeronaut replied; ‘‘it bas come, and I will speak out. In few words, am your mother’s brother. My name is Hen- dricks, This announcement can convey but little to your minds, for only Joseph ever saw me in the past, and be was an infant at the time. I was a wild young man, though never crimi- nal; and I deserted Ef home and friends long years ago. I wandered all over the world; was a dabbler in all things, and, too, worthless at all. I never knew—I confess it with shame— what had occurred at home until I met you, Joseph, and Vashti. WhenI learned that you were my nephew and niece I was stricken with remorse to think how I had neglected my own, and I made a silent vow not to divulge my identity until I had set you right with the world, “There is one thing more,” Storm Rider added. ‘‘If your parents were alive they might recognize ‘Uncle Honest." His name is not Outerbridge at all. He was named David Mar- ron, and remained so until his early manhood, He was a suitor for your mother’s hand, Joseph, but was beaten in the race by your father, ) then promptly left town, en your father inherited his property it was on condition that he changed his name from Maurice Rodrickton to Orme. He did so, and that is why Uncle Honest did not at first recognize you, when you Speee here, as the children of his successful rival. “Wal, I don’t see but all the kinks are straightened out now,” observed Yank, geni- ally. ‘‘ All that remains ter be done is fur us ter descend on Eliakim an’ his precious son. I hate that atrocious insex like the mischief. He didn’t have no more feelin’ fur Peter an’ Aaron than he would hev fur'a dog, an’ I consait jedgment ought ter fall on him, an’ will. The wicked only prosper fur a season, The Leather-Jackets was all red-handed wretches, but I’m down on Isaac the wu’st, by hurley!” ‘We will soon bave him,” replied Morse ‘and [ think I bave evidence enough to send him to the gallows.” ‘Don’t speak too loud, Mister Detective. You'll obsarve that Peggy an’ Vashti, an’ Joseph an’ the doctor, are havin’ a four-sided confab. Jedgin’ by their looks, their minds don’t run on melancholy subjicks. Say, Morse, it wouldn’t s’prise me an artom ef they come ter some sort of an onderstandin’. Young folks beat all crea- tion at makin’ trades. A boy an’ gal who don’t know a hoe from a knittin’-needle will swap hearts like old stagers, an’ they never ask money ter boot. Some on ‘em find in the eend that they got egregiously cheated, though. Matri- mony is a mortal bad complaint; I’d ruther hev newrolgy the wu’st way, fur it seldom kills its victims, an’ matrimony is invariably fatal!” CHAPTER XXXVIII, THE FINAL BLOW, WuHeEn Isaac took Uncle Honest home, the Jat- ter lay down and at once fell asleep. It was not natural slumber, but a strange languor was upon both his body and mind, He slept, and was unconscious for hours. When he awoke his mind was clear and recol- lection vivid. He remembered the scene at the City Hall, and how Aaron had died; and a tremor passed over his whole person. The career of this wretched old man had been one of almost constant crime, and he had reared: his sons in the same atmosphere, finding them apt ip but he was as much surprised and shocked to know of the treachery of Peter and Aaron as though they had been reared in an exemplary manner, With him, as with most parents, the old rule held good—the child that is all eae eeable and revolting to un- prejudiced minds, is marvelously bright and ies in the sight of the deluded beings e owes his existence, Uncle Honest suffered as he lay upon the couch, but he found comfort in the oft-repeated assertion: ‘*Tsaac still lives!—Isaac is left! He will be true to me; he will never desert me. My brave ber, Isaac; my first-born. Isaac is left!” me and again the old man muttered thus, but he finally arose and lit the lamp. He saw that morning was not far distant. king out of the window, he saw a light burning at City Hall; all 4 tae quiet there. Eliakim no longer felt like sleeping, and he sat down and fell into thought. Aaron and Peter were in his whom mind—try to banish them as he might, he could not forget them. He tried to think of them harshly, but since he had discovered Aaron’s duplicity, the frankness of Peter appealed to him OEE 3 A vague feeling of uneasiness—a premonition of more trouble to come—was upon him, Two of his sons were dead, and matters were in a very unsatisfactory state around Hornets’ Nest. Would other blows fall? ‘Tf the worst comes,” he muttered, ‘* there is the five thousand dollars under the floor. That will take [saac and me to Denver, and leave a good bit over; and at Denver I have money in plenty.” Thoughts of the five thousand dollars in the bag made him anxious to look at it; to make sure it was still there; and hearose and pried up the loose board as he had done when Isaac and Aaron were there. He looked down into the cavity, and then his face grew pallid and his eyes assumed a wild, startled appearance, The bag of money was gone ! Uncle Honest gasped for breath, and _per- spiration started out on his forehead. Gone! And only he and Isaac had known of the hidden treasure! Suddenly he caught sight of a small, folded paper—the only thing now in the cavity —and he caught it up and unfolded it. There was writing on one side, and he hurriedly read as follows: ‘“Honorep FaTHER:—I have discovered that there are strange men in and about Hornets’ Nest, and I do not fail to read the sigus of the times. Our reign is over. The ill luck of the last few days is growing ominous. I infer that our enemies have rallied a large force to their aid. Rats will desert a sinkiug “3 ‘tis said, and Iam going to look out for myself while I can. I have taken the five thou- sand dollars kept here by you. This shall be my share of the estate. If you are not captured before you find this, I advise you to skip out and go to safer quarters. pture means something unpleasant. lt is probable that you will never see me again. By morning I shal good luck. Isaac OUTERBRIDGE.”’ The paper fell from Uncle Honest’s hands, and his face was ghostly. ‘* Robbed!” he gas almost mad with dis- oo, and terror. ‘* Robbed, and by Isaac!” he blow was a staggering one, and its full force was imprinted upon his mind. What bad owe before had been nothing compared to that. he last of his sons has robbed him; bad desert- ed him when peril was abroad; and had an- nounced his work ina note every line of which was cold and heartless in the extreme. An enemy might have pitied the fallen man then. “Oh! Peter, Peter!” he cried, shrilly, ‘‘ why was [so mad? Aaron lied tome and deceived me; and Isaac has robbed me; and you were the only one who had a spark of manhood. You came to me frankly, with truth on your lips, and you were murdered by my orders! Ob! my boy, my murdered boy! Way couldn’t [ pick the grain from the chaff? hy was I so mad?” He swayed weakly to and fro, putting out his hands blindly. ‘‘Tsaac, too! Isaac, too!” he moaned; and with these words upon his lips he fell forward unconscious. There was another lapse of time, and then consciousness returned to the downfallen ‘** Peacemaker.” Daylight was in the room, Uncle Honest lay upon the couch, and the mur- mur of voices was audible near him, He listen- ed mechanically, his eyes still closed. ‘** Yes,” said a voice, which, really, was that of Morse, the detective, ‘‘ it is all over with Isaac Outerbridge. It seems that he tried to carry out the plan mentioned in the letter. He tied the money-bag to his belt, and managed to sneak past our guards. Then he went to the horses and selected the fastest—a vicious young brute, full of lifeand hard to manage. When Isaac saddled him he did not buckle the girth tightl enough. Probably the saddle turned as he mount- ed; at any rate, the horse ran away, and as Isaac had been thrown, and his foot was caught fastin the stirrup, he was dragged along the ground as the horse galloped madly away. We found the horse half an hour ag, with the man still entangled in the stirrup. Isaac was quite dead, and so perished the last of the Leather- Jackets!” ‘“* Isaac, too! Isaac, too!” The words broke hoarsely from Uncle Honest’s oo He tried to rise, but was as weak asa child, e fell back nel pleesty ** All gone!” he added, faintly. ‘Isaac was the last, and he robbed me! Now am I sorely stricken. Oh, Peter, Peter! why did [ turn against youf All the others were false, but you—told—the—truth !” Doctor Mark’s finger touched the old man’s wrist, but Eliakim knew it not. ‘The end is near!” Hartley gravely observed, ** Yes,” muttered Uncle Honest, shaking as though with ague: “ they are my three boys— Isaac, Aaron and Peter; good old Scriptural names. They are the Leather-Jackets, and Iam the Peacemaker of—” The faint voice died away; one more shiver | be many miles away. I wish you }. passed over his form, and then he lay quite still. Uncle Honest was only a memory, There was no further fighting at Hornets’ Nest. Bitter, indeed, were the people for a while, and Mrs. Charity Potter made herself spokeswoman; but when the town treasury was looked to, the loudest talker there was dumb. It did not take long to show how the people had been robbed during the Leather-Jacket monopoly. Uncle Honest was buried by Peter’s side, but the treachery of Aaron and Isaac was not for- gotten. Their graves were made in & remote canyon. As Cyrus Graham was to leave town with the | rescue-party, he demanded the money received for his *‘ confiscated” property. He obtained it, and then the last dollar was gone from the treasury. The boy, Knifebelt, wisely ran away. He feared arrest for pushing Joseph from the bal- loon, He and the Ormes had been going in company, but the boy tried to steal it and go alone. As it , Joseph managed to gain a hold, but Knifebelt flung him out. This was on the occasion when Doctor Mark first saw the Ormes. When Morse’s party left the village they were accompanied by Doctor Mark, Yank, the Gra- hams, Joseph, Vashti, Peggy and Storm Rider. Several prisoners were taken along, but with them we need feel no interest. ‘** Good-by, Hornets’ Nest!” quoth Yank, look- ing back. ‘I consait none on us ever want ter seé your egregious shanties ag’in, though thar’s no great loss without some gain. The doctor loses his patients here, but I notice he’s mortal attentive ter Vashti; while ef Peggy’s smiles don’t cure Joseph, ’'m atrociously mistook. The Yellowbirds are modest, an’ I don’t want ter set up as a prophet, but I shouldn’t be anartom s’prised ef su’thin’ happened!” eee nea, 4 did happen, inside of a_ year. Joseph and PRRY were married, and settled in the East with ** Storm Rider,” no longer a wan- derer, near them; and when Hartley settled in a brisk Colorado town he convinced Vasbti that he, as a doctor, needed a wife. He found one, and Vashti isa living proof, The Ormes found no trouble in settling their affairs at their old home, and regaining their property. Cyrus Graham and his wife are in the same town where Peggy lives. They love her like an own daughter, and find happiness in seeing that she is perfectly happy. Knifebelt’s whereabouts are unknown. ‘Gunnison Alf” and “ Firefly Nell” were found never to have existed. Detective Morse succeeded in convicting his prisoners, and he received due credit. Some. months after the events of this story, Yank Yellowbird. who continued his roving life, was passing near Hornets’ Nest, accom- panied by his dog. He turned out of his course to — view the place, but he was not prepared for the exact state of affairs. Hornets’ Nest wasaruin, It had been swept by a fire, and nota building bad escaped total, or partial, destruction. , t blackened remains, but found no living thing there. Judgment had come to the deluded in- habitants, and the town was swept from exist- ence, Moses was whining uneasily, and his master was glad to leave the valley for the purer air of the h There was the abode of Nature which the mountaineer liked so well, THE END, . DIME DIALOGUES AND SPEAKERS FOR SCHOOL EXHIBITIONS AND HOME ENTERTAINMENTS. Dialogues, Nos, 1 to 44 inclusive, 15 to % popu- ar dialogues and dramas in each book. Each vol- ume 100 pages 12mo. Speakers, Nos. 1 to % inclusive. Each speaker 100 pages 12mo, containing from 50 to 75 pieces, YOUNG PEOPLE'S SERIES, Dime Book of Winter Sports. Dime Book of Summer Athletic Sports, ‘ Dime Gents’ Letter Writer. Dime Book of oo Dime Book of Verses. Dime Book of Dreams. Dime Fortune Teller, Dime Ladies’ Letter Writer. Dime Lovers’ Casket. Dime Ball-Room Com on. Dime Book of 100 Games, Dime Chess Instructor. Dime Book of Beauty For sale by all newsdealers, or sent, post-paid, on receipt ef price—ten cents, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Pustisners, 98 Willlam Street, New York, He passed through the © Eomicsvooks