Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 513 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

- ~ SP oer ee” a ET LP PO eT x ord aa Bg E — = eae « Texas Tartar. them on, an’ he went on so slow an’ careful I never could say just who he was. Eve knowed, though.” ‘* But vy should he go tisguised?” ‘He diin’t want n ibody ter know he was courtin’ Eve. Whoever he was, he thought he was too good ter marry Grizzly George’s daugh- ter. He never intended to; be was only flirtin’ with her, an’ she found it out fore the end come, She come ter doubt him, an’ she talked reproachful ter him; an’sbe said the young lady o’ Westerley house stood between her an’ him, I heerd her say it.” Norma drew a deep, quivering breath. The testimony thus far was all against Robert Kendall in appearance, and it looked as though the trip would merely give the death-blow to her hopes. Albia pressed her hand in silent sympathy. ‘*It seems to have been a queer go, Jenkins,” observed Levi, airily. ‘* Ah! the poor girl was foolish,” replied the woman, wiping her eyes, ‘*There was never a better girl than Eve, but when a man she got ter love began ter trifle with her feelin’s, she was all at sea. She hadn’t that idee o’ the world she ought ter had.” ** Why did they meet at ycur house, Jenkins?” ‘OT was safer so; at least, fur him, I have an idee they never come thar until he decided ter abandon her. Before, they used ter wander long the lake-shore. How she found out he was in league with the snugslers [ don’t know, nor who they was: but it stirred up a row.” ‘*TIn vot vay, Meesis Shenkins?” ‘*She was ’way down on ’em, an’ she accused him o’ bein’ a desperate rascal, fur he was all fair an’ open ter most people. 1 do b’lieve she would ’a’ throwed bim over after that, anyhow, but it came to an end.” ‘*She must have been clean spooney to com- mit suicide for bim,” quoth Levi. ‘‘ Did she commit suicide ? Jenkins, oe Eh a”? ** Did she? I say.” ** Mine kracious!” exclaimed Jacob, ‘‘ vat you mean now?” ‘* T spoke plaiz.” ** Of course she suicided,” declared Levi, ‘** She left von ledder sayin’ so,” added Jacob, ‘**T ain’t sayin’ nothin’,” announced the wit- ness, tossiug her head. ‘** Meesis Shenkins?” “Wal?” ** Kef dot girl did not suicide, vot vas it?” ‘* There is other ways ter die.” ‘*Come, Jenkins; speak out,” requested Levi, less flippantly than usual. ‘*T can’t say what I don’t know.” ‘* You suspect something.” ‘* That’s true.” ‘¢ What is it?” The witness looked all around, as if to make sure no other person heard, and then replied: ‘What I think ain’t what I know, an’ this must be a dead secret, but one thing I will say, gents. Ef I had a lover who hated mean’ want- ed ter git red of me; an’ I stood in the way 0’ his marryin’ another gal who was rich; au’ [ had found out be was in cahoots with men hunt- ed by the law; an’ we had had a quarrel, I wouldn’t give much fur my life ef he tooka fancy ter kill me!” Norma had leaned forward, listening breath- lessly, but, though Mrs. Jenkins had plainly stated that she was only advancing a theory, the words fell with cruel force, and the girl sunk back iato her chair, almost overwhelmed. Here was a terrible theory never advanced even by the officers of law. Jacob Ilbrabam’s voice arose reprovingly. ‘Nonsense, Meesis Shenkins, nonsense. Der gir] lef’ a note saying she vas going to gommit suicide, an’ dot must have peen it. ‘*T bope so, gents.” ‘““Did they quarrel in your house, Jenkins?” asked Levi. ‘‘ They did, that, but I heard no threats.” “‘Tf you heard them talk, how does it happen you didn’t recognize the cove’s voice?” ‘‘T had no good show. He was sly an’ secret an’ disguised his voice as well as his face, an’ I never spoke wit Kendall nor any 0’ the other big-bugs byar, anyhow. I don’t kaow tkem nor don’t want ter. Sometimes I'd think 1 would go on an’ gita clew to who he was, but he paid me wal, an’ he had said ter me: ‘ Ef you try ter pry inter my affairs, I'll not only take my custom from you, but I'll make this region too hot ter hold ye!” ‘‘ Desperate bloke, eh?’ quoth Levi. “The gal hae him cornered,” ‘¢ Meesis Shenkins,” added Jacob, ‘‘ ve vould like to know shust who dot man vas. Haf you ro more broof? We vant all the glue we can it.” “T ain’t got no more clews. I’ve tol’ ca how Eve kep’ sayin’ the ‘young mistress o’ Weeter- ley house’ was in her way. Mebbe that would apply as wal ter Dave or Ed Westerley, as ter endall, ‘“ Mine kracious! no—no, no! der Vesterley poys are not off dot sort.” ‘I don’t pretend ter oe ‘¢ Tf we could find the blonde wig and beard, asked Mrs, f . . : we might get a clew,” remarked Levi, musing- ‘*T know who sold ’em.” ‘* How’s that, Jenkins?” ‘‘ Amos Nash, the travelin’ peddler, was the man—leastways, he told me on one 0’ his trips, when he was byar, that he’d got an order for sech things, an’ was goin’ ter fill it when he went south, an’ send the things up bere by Ex- press; I reckon he did, too, for it was only a little later that the blonde man an’ Eve begun comin’ ter my house.” ‘* Who gave the order to Nash?” ‘* He wouldn't tell—said he had sworn ter keep it secret. He wouldn’t mentioned it, any- how, only he was pretty well primed with ben- zine, Amos was. He told that much, an’ then he was sharp enough ter keep his mouth closed.” | ‘Where is Nash, now?” ‘* Whar is last week’s thunder-cloud? Nash is a peramberlatin’ tramper, an’ he may be in Kansas or Idaho now, or anywhar between, It’s probable he may come hyar agin sometime, but I don’t know when.” Mrs. Jenkins’s story was told. She was questioned further, but nothing of importance was developed. Jacob evidently gave it up at i ; 2 . ‘* Perdition!” he cried, angrily. the luck! Hang the women!” ‘** My poor soon, Levi, it vas too bad!” groaned Jacob, dolorously. ‘+ Ain’t I good enough to go home with her?’ demanded the son, dramatically. *“ You vas too goot, my poy!” ‘<Tt’s because she is a woman. Did you ever know one of them to have gratitude? Never! The fellers a)l said so at college, and Joe Lewis- son used to quoth the poet, Buckley, thus: *** Trust not a woman even when she's dead!” ‘* You deserved petter, my son, but I bope it vill not last. Mine kracious! vot will ve do eef Mees Vesterley not get petter minded? How apout der dress we gave Vidder Shen- kins?” Jacob wrung his hands, and Levi ran his fin- gers fiercely through bis hair. ‘*Norma shall marr dress!” he declared. ‘* Hear me swear it, oh! ye thunderbolts cf Mars! By Jove! governor, the fellers at college would have the laugh on me awfully if they knew of this!” ‘*We vill be paid for dot dress!” Jacob as- ' serted, still wringing bis hands, Unconscious of the storm raging in the Il- last, and he proceeded to close the bargain in | braham dwelling, Norma and Albia hurried regard to the matter of sewing and let her go. | homeward, They had hoped not to see any one: She went in a very contented mood, seeming to be greatly pleased by the favorable turn of her fortunes. The [lbrahams joined Norma and Albia in the office, It needed only one glance at Miss West- ley’s face to show that she was terrbly disheart- ened, but the old man smiled blandly, ** You haf heard all?’ he asked. ““ Yes,” ‘* Sheer oop, Mees Vesterley !” ‘** How can [ do so on such evidence?” “Pear in mind dot we have only glues. Vot der Vidow Shenkins soospects is not to der point, for she knows not'tings, as she confess. Now, we huf der bits off eevidence, and ve must work on dem some more,” ‘* Perhaps it would be as well to drop it all. Robert Kendall is innocent, but what we have heard will never aid to prove it. Her story amounts to nothing, There is nothing more deceptive than appearances, and wise persons will never rely upon them,” Norma spoke earnestly, but not with the force of conviction. She wasdiscouraged, and all her efforts were devoted to an attempt to convince the Ilbrahams; to influence them so they would not believe Robert Kendall guilty. Old Jacob bowes submissively. “Dot vas very truly said,” he returned. ** Dose facts off circumstanzhel eevidence vas rot facts any petter as fiction. Let us take no no- tice off dem, but look for somet’ings more reli- able, How apout der package sent by Express, mit der vig and false beard in it?” ‘* What do you mean?” ‘* Maybe we finds out who got dem, by inquir- ing at der stage-office.” “*That is not likely. Express packages are not numerous here, but enough come so that no package can be traced with certainty, I think.” ‘**Tt veel do no harm to try.” ** Certainly not.” ‘** We vill leave that to my son, Levi.” ‘Til investigate,” Levi promised, as he thrust one end of his slender mustache further up in the air. Norma arose. *“*T am very much obliged to you, gentlemen, for your kindness,” she said, ‘‘and I may decide to act upen the knowledge 1 have gained. For now, however, my only thought is of getting home. I feel far from well.” ‘*My son, Levi, vill accompany you, ladies.” ‘* With great pleasure,” Levi agreed, doubling himself up in a profound bow. ‘Thank you,” Norma answered, ‘‘ but we will not trouble you. We have core on a secret errand; with your permission, we will have it remain secret and go home alone.” CHAPTER XXIX. HOW ABOUT THE WESTERLEYS? THe Ilbrahams became suddenly downcast, Jacob glanced doubtfully at his hopeful son, and Levi poked the favorite end of his mustache as fiercely upward as if be held the wheel of a ship and was trying te keep the craft off the rocks, Plainly, there was a hitch in their arrange- ments, “You forget dere are lawless men about, Mees Vesterley,” urged Ilbraham, senior. ** We are not afraid.” ‘* But der hour ees late.” ** We have not far to go.” : Norma answered almost peremptorily, and Levi quietly opened the door and remarked: ‘It isn’t far to go, You will be quite safe, Miss Westerly, though I would have been charmed to escort you. Pray rest as easy as you can, and remember that we are ready, at any time, to do our utmost in your behalf.” Very politely he saw her out, and crestfallen Jacob managed to mutter a few polite words, but when the door was q@osed, Levi flung his hat into the furthest eorner of the room and stamped violently on the floor. | Cr a eS ee ee — on * + go Sul oa? ‘ a Se $s = eae, . : . a 72 ee SE Se Pe _ , a bre a¥ during the journey, but it was not so to be.. They were passing a long, rude shanty, which had been used for a carpenter’s shop, when a. man suddenly rushed out and stopped their way. His abrupt appearance startled them for a mo- ment, but they grew calmer as they recognized Tabor, the Government cflicer, He, however, seemed to be anything but. calm. ‘ Did you meet any one back there?” he asked, abruptly. Norma had no trouble in making reply. ‘* No, sir.” ‘* Are you sure?” “ Certainly.” ‘‘No men, whatever?” ‘* Not a person, male or female.” ‘Its strange, very strange!” declared Tabor,,. with an air of great perplexity. The young ladies had no elew to his troubles, and they had started to go on when he spoke again. ‘Wait one moment. Are you going home?” 29 Yes.” *“* Will you tell Captain Grandford to come: here immediately?” Norma hesitated. She had wished to keep. secret the fact that they bad been out, and tbe course proposed by Tabor would lead to the be-- trayal of a part of their own secret, while the- rest would certainly be in danger from in- quiries. ‘It is only a short distance to the house— you can easily see my uncle, yourself,” she re- turned. ‘But I want to remain bere. Iam on track of the smugglers. I know that one of them met two persons in this shop—beyond doubt: the last two were allies who pass here as respect- able men—and I want to nab them. them to come out, but they gave me the slip somehow. The shop is now empty. If you will tell Grandford, I stay here and watch until the —— comes,” he Government cffice spoke in a way almost - spark of © pa carey ian ge had not forgotten his charges” appealing, but he failed to awaken a against bert, and she would gladly kave shown her contempt for the man if she against Kendall. It occurred to her, however, that if there was. any truth in his last statement she might be standing in her lover's way, and liable to block any attempt to run down the smugglers, **T will tell Captain Grandford, as you wish,” she promised ‘* Good! good! Thank you, and now—excuse » me!” The officer took a few quick steps, reached a . rock and i a behind it, “Tl wate voice. ‘* Tell Grandford just where to find me. There’s a lot of boards and stuff in the shop, and the smuggler and his allies may be inside now. Tul keep up the watch. Pray don’t lose time, — ladies!” The girls moved on, though Norma felt a sin- - he had become in- . lar reluctance to go. , rested inthe drama. Perbaps, if the unknown men whom Tabor had mentioned could be cap- - tured, the innocence of Robert Kendall would be proved. Norma had rather remain than go, unsuitable as the eccupation would have been. Their homeward on soon tchiatcenal from the front to rear. As they reached the latter point beth instinc- - tively glanced ulong the back of the structure, and then they came to a simultaneous halt, The arene was not one without life—instead, some - oO ject was projecting beyond the line of the wall, like the head and shoulders of an animal emerg- - ga ak its den, likeness was striking, for in this case the | ‘= cor MNIGDOOKS (E ‘* Fiend seize- me or pay for that: I thought: I bad them cornered here, and I watched for ad not. been afraid of making him more vindictive - from here,” he added, in a low - path made a curve at that - int, passing directly around the end of the | lor low shanty, and their range of view was — - : ele eee : sv"?