Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 551 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

fuland anxious. The suspense was not pleasant, and with so much at stake, he was eager to know the verdict, ‘¢ Well sir?” he returned. ‘¢T have considered your plan, and find much in it of which I disapprove,” Brackett declared. ‘* What?” ‘¢ You will never succeed in a ‘ hurrah’ cam- paign,” ‘* Why not?” ‘‘What particular qualification do you pos- sess for the office of mayor?’ ‘‘ A desire to ‘ get there,’ and that is all any man can boast of.” ‘* Not badly put; but you must be aware that certain men can so enthuse voters that they carry the people like a tornado, Is it so with ou? wi The ‘ Reds’ are solid, back of me.” “Ts that all?” ‘et Yes,” ‘*Then the majority is against you.” ‘* Tt is; and it is this majority that I wish to break with your influence.” ‘* Are you aware that Mayor Nicholson has another rival?” ** No. Who is it?” ‘* Colonel Yoke Norman. He is bound torun. Do you see what this will do for you?” +e No.” ‘** Nicholson and Norman will divide the votes of the ‘Blacks,’ and when this is done, the ‘Reds’ can carry a plurality.” ‘‘ With your influence [ can win!” declared Bradley, with emphasis. ‘* You will not need it.” ‘¢ But I had rather have it,” was the quick re- ply. ‘'{f want you tocome out boldly for me, tell your friends that [ am the best man for mayor there is out, and throw your influence pe for me.” ‘** Beyond question, this would result in con- solidating the forces of Nicholson and Norman,” ** We will run the risk.” *“‘How do you know we will?’ sharply de- manded Brackett. sé Eh Q” ‘‘Having considered the matter fully,” the judge calmly replied, ‘‘ I have determined not to swerve from my old resolution to let politics alone. It is a black and muddy pool, at the coeryee politics run, and I want none of the af- ‘* Do you decline to aid me, sir?” cried Nathan, angrily. «Do you know th Ity?” ‘** Do you know the pena **'W hat is it?” er oe ‘ The free spreading of your secret, If I can- not make you useful, I will tell the story of Saint Ledair to the wide world. You know what that means—deep disgrace to you. I am no angel, sir; my interests are more to me than yours. Refuse to be my ally and I will ruin you! So CHAPTER XX, THE DECLARATION OF WAR. THE unavoidable moment had come, but it i not appear to affect Abram Brackett in the east. ‘* We may as well understand each other,” he quietly returned. ‘‘ When you came to me the other day, you took me by surprise, and I was weak enough to delay making a decisive answer. This was not because I thought for a moment of yielding to your demands, but because I wished to consider how I could save Alice from learning ill news.” “* She shall hear it if you persist in refusal!” hotly asserted the * Red.” ** How do you know she will?” ** Simply because I shall tell her.” ‘** You will not be allowed to enter this house.” ‘‘ Then I will see her outside,” The judge smiled coldly, *“f doubt it, sir. Let that be as it may, I shall make no terms with you. I will not be- come a demagogue in any politician’s cause, least of all, in that of a scoundrel like you!” ‘** Beware!” hissed Nathan, pale with anger. “You observe that I know you as you are. But we will not discuss that. ou have chal- Jenged me to battle, sir. You have come to me with a request bolstered up with a threat, there- by practically declaring war upon me, laccept your challenge, Mr, Bradley; you can go onand do your worst,” ‘IT shall tell your secret to the first man I meet after leaving this house!” ‘** Do, so, if you wish,” ‘* Brackett, you are mad! You do not want Alice to hear of this matter.” ** Tf she does hear, she will have the consola- tion of knowing that the scandal-monger has met his deserts. fs i: a a Oe r es a prophecy. you make war upon me, I shall crush you!” rt ‘** How?” “‘T shall find means. One thing is already at hand; lL hold the set of resolutions introduced by the Reds in council, when they threatened rT LLL LLL CC - —EE - ow = * Garry Ke an. that, if their wishes were disregarded, they would place their candidate for the mayoralty in office by means of revolver and knife. Asan officer of law, I can at any time proceed against you for threats of violence and inciting others to riot, You are the leader of the Reds; there would be no trouble in proving the charges.” The judge spoke slowly, and with icy com- posure. There was no evidence of anger or anxiety in his manner, but there was an im- placable determination which made Nathan feel ill at ease. Brackett was powerful, and his visitor regarded him as merciless, all of which was bad for the schemer, but his own will was not weak, He faced his companion firmly. ‘At the worst, such a charge would carry with it only a light sentence.” ‘‘Is there no more to be charged against you?” sc No,” ‘** Are you sure?” pie ha ‘I do not share your confidence. If you had your just deserts you would already be in prison, and you may rely upon me to use every effort to ut you there—to stay. Your character is bad, athan Bradley. A jury would not deal lightly with one whose record here had been so dubious and devious. As for your past, I will lay it open, if you molest me, though it cost me a year of time and thousands of dollars!” ** Would that do Alice any good?” e Do not trouble yourself about Miss Brack- ett.” ‘Judge, will you allow your name to be rat bt ag the mud in this way?” o! “You can only prevent it by agreeing to my demand.” ‘**{ defy you—do your worst! You have your answer now, and I decline to talk longer. You will oblige me by leaving my house!” ; ** You will yet be sorry—” Brackett pointed to the door. **Go!” he sternly ordered. Nathan arose, his face changing color, He dared not defy the order, for he bad an unpleas- ant conviction that the servants would be sum- moned to eject him forclbly, but he was full of rage and disappointment. Ever sincé the judge had asked for delay, he had flattered himself that victory awaited him, and the blow fell much heavier than it would have done had it ra at the start. Bitter, indeed, was the re- sult. rT tent | 9D . a shall hear from me again The first unfinished sentence was from Nathan; the stern command from Brackett. ‘*T will bave revenge!” uttered the visitor, in a husky voice, but he turned toward the door as he spoke. He dared not remain longer. When be reached the hall he turned and look- ed back. The Iron Judge stood like a statue, but his hand was still extended, pointing an order that the unwelcome caller go at once, It was no dramatic striving for effect, but a silent command toa man he would not degrade him- self by addressing further. | Nathan went, and the front door closed after him with a bang. It was like the first gun of the coming battle, and the hour was full of threatening import. Between the two men there could be no further parleying. Abram Brackett was not the person to go back on a resolution once formed, and he was ready to fight the foe to the end. He would have ample chance to doso, Nathan Bradley went out of thedoor with vindictive rage as bis all-possessing passion, and he had the will to do any dark deed, even to murder. e did not pause near the house. With long henge steps he moved toward the west, and in a ew minutes be was threading the devious paths between the shanties of the Reds. Straight to his own hut he went, aud, as he entered the door, he was greeted by a hearty salutation from Thad Johnson. That hard citizen was busy with pipe and whisky-bottle, and appeared to have wooed one of the twain too ardently. ‘*Hyar we be, pard!” he exclaimed. ‘‘ Does the conquerin’ hero come, or don’t he come?” Mr. Johnson regarded this as a very witty and happy greeting, and he feltsure he was about to hear ¢ news, but the result shocked him. ‘* Silence, you infernal fool, or ll break your head ” growled Nathan, glad to have chance at last to vent his Thaddeus, ‘*‘ you don’t spite. ‘**Great Scott!” gas mean you hev failed?” Nathan hurled bis bat into the corner, kicked over a stool and sat down witha bang. ** The devil is to pay!” he announced. ** Did Brackett trifle with ye?” “Trifle! trifle! Isthat what you call it? He told me that if. I did not get out of the house, he would call his servants and have me thrown out, Jobnson held up both hands in horror, ‘‘ Wal, I never!” be groaned, * Thad, I am undcne.” The coarser ruffian braced up and banged the table with his big fist, | rc ; *“Don’t you be cast down!” he advised. ‘‘ Ef the jedge ain’t for us, he’s ag’in’ us, an’ we've got the Reds at our back, We’ll make the jedge git right down on bis knees an’ weep. Yes, an’ what is more, we'll carry the city election, any- how.” “ Tt isn’t that I think of.” ** What, then?’ **Tt is Alice.” “Ah! Um! Thatis bad!” ‘“ All hope is now gone of inducing Brackett to give his consent to my marriage with his irl.” ” Johnson ran his hand into his scraggly beard and scratched his chin meditatively. ‘* That’s a fack,” he agreed. ‘“Thad, I feel all cut up. I really like the irl.” ar SodoI. You can’t be blamed an artom,” “Pm hit hard.” ‘“* Will ye give up?” ‘* Give apr What in the world are you think- ing of? Do you suppose I will let such a small thing run me off the track? Brackett hates me like sin, and Alice probably would if she knew me well enough; but that don’t mean defeat for me. Ob! Iam sure of her in the end, but I must resort to severe measures.” ‘* Have you a plan in mind?” “Yes, She must elope with Garry Kean!” “ec Eh?’ ** Seem to elope,” Nathan amended. ‘* Hope- ful asI was of a favorable answer from the judge, I have not forgotten to plan for the future. You know there is to be a so-called ma uerade ball at the mayor’s, a week hence.” ‘ es, a “Tt will be a big blow-out, and all the notable people will be there. They—” ‘* All but you’n me, Nate.” **T shall be there.” ‘* What! have you an invite?” ‘“* Have I? They would as soon invite the Evil One. The mn 2 operon. a goodies of Jack’s Delight don’t take any stock in me, No; I am not invited, but I shall be there. Trust me for that; [I am no slouch, if Ido wear my hair short, But to resume. Abram Brackett will be there, grim, orgs and ugly—a veritable kill-joy. Divine Mrs, Brackett will be there, beautiful, radiant, happy, full of schemes to further her personal aims and kill off her rivals —a veritable Cesar. Alice will be there, the fairest of them all, sitting by like a fair, deli- cate flower, drinking in the music and wishing her blind eyes could see—a veritable fai ueen, J shall be, too! I shall be there wit my little plots—a veritable Mephistopheles. Tl lay Iago to Mrs, Brackett’s Cesar, This will be mixing Shakespeare somewhat, but what's the odds as long as we’re wre: ‘‘Go it, Nate; nothin’ would make the big- bugs sicker than ter hev a Red git the drop on ’em in serciety!” cried Thad, in great glee. ‘““T'j] raise what-you-may-call-it with them!” Bradley asserted, viciously. ‘* But how’ll that help you with Alice?” ‘She and Tllelope, but throw the blame on Kean,” “* How?” “There will be a hard game to play, but Alice will seem to get an invitation from Kean to skip out and marry him. She will marry me, instead. Being blind, she will not discover the cheat until 1t’s late.” ** Hoorah! your’e a corker!” Johnson agreed. “‘Itis among the things possible that Garry Kean will get his neck into a confounded fix. Alice and I shall disappear, and the idea will be left in Brackett’s mind that Kean has taken her away. Ha! ha! fancy bow the walls of Rome will totter around the play-actor.” ‘* Ha! ha!” echoed Jcbnson. _ My boy, when I’m mayor of this city, Alice will be my wife.” ‘Thar will be one obstacle ter your plan.” ** What one?’ ** Electa Parsons.” “You never spoke truer. counts for but little as an obstacle to my success in comparison with that bony female, Electa is a corker! She is devoted to Alice; she is watchful; and she is as shrewd as she is homely, which is saying a good deal, I should have but little hope of success if Electa was to have a chance to swing herself around free on the oc- casion of the masquerade ball. She must be silenced!” ‘How?’ | “Never fear; Ill find a way.” * You won’t hurt her, will ye?” “What do you care?” “Ter tell the truth,” answered Thad, a dull. sparkle creeping into his whisky-reddened eyes, ‘**T hev a fancy fur Miss Parsons, myself,” ‘What! that bag of bones?” ‘“ She’s got brains an’ sand.” ‘‘ She’s got temper enough to make a busband Even Brackett — wish he had been born a barn-yard fowl, if she got down on him. However, that is your af- — fair; not mine, If you want to pl apes into matrimony, go in, Thaddeus. But don’t © hurry; don’t go wooing the young and charm- ing ladv until after the ball. Great events are on the books; let courting go for now, Wait until after the ball!” ie EComicbooks = i Gee an] x ’, , «e i : oy ¢ © al \ ae i= > ‘2. rif iF ’ ¥ gl con x 4 Ld <1