Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 551 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

: | i See Gee aie #,.* <i? “ 4 it -. ’ k seal or . ~ ja, . . a vee -e ‘ a é pany ~ Garry Kean. 5 * E He noticed that Alice was pale and trembling and his stern face softened. ‘‘Child,” he said, gently, ‘‘ 1 hope you are not afraid of me. I think no ill of you.’ ‘** You are angry!” she exclaimed, ‘* Sorely troubled, if you will.” ‘‘T am sorry that I—” She hesitated, stopped, and he finished the sentence. , ‘That you are acquainted with that man, Yet, Alice, I feel sure you should not be blamed, You are but eighteen years old; a child at heart and a child of misfortune, Your sightless eyes connot be ex; ected to see into another’s heart. That man is world-wise and crafty, and he has used a villain’s arts to win your heart—” ‘* No, no; don’t say that!” the girl cried, hur- riedly. ‘* Do you defend him?” ‘*T do, for he is worthy of my esteem.” * Alice!” She put out her hands imploringly. ** Don’t blame me,” ** Blame you! Have I done that, child?” “You have, in your beart!” **T swear that you are wrong, Alice. I would trust you—believe in you—against the evidence of all the rest of the world, and of my own eyes. No, no; I do not blame you in tke least; but I do blame the scoundrel—” ** Father !” ‘* Well, well, child, I will be—patient.” There was more in bis mind than he made known. He was ina pitiful state of doubt, un- certainty and mental pain, but he was deter- mined to investigate carefully and patiently. If Garry Kean was blameless be should not be blamed, but if root he should be crushed if it was in the judge’s power—and he did not see how the actor could be otherwise than guilty. Alice was uervous and frightened, and her slender hands moved restlessly about and around each other. She was like a fluttering, frightened bird, and even more helpless. “f have a confession to make,” she said, in a very low voice. “Go on, my child.” ‘‘T have known Mr. Lawrence for a long time.” ‘* Not before the—the actors came here?” ‘*Oh! no; not so Jong as that; but nearly ever ‘since he was injured.” The Iron Judge frowned. ‘* How did it come about?” **] called at Mrs. Warren’s, where he lay wounded and ill, and she said she was wholiy tired out caring for bim; and he was very ner- vous and wanted some one with him, to talk with him. Sbe had watched the night before, because English John could not be there, and as it was already noon, she needed sleep,” ‘*Go on!” ** So I—I told her I would go in and sit with him.” ** Well?” ‘** He was not so very ill, then, and would have been up and around had not the doctor’s orders been peremptory that he shoultl keep in bed; so there he lay and tried to read, but found it very dull, I went in and sat with him while Mrs. Warren slept.” The speaker paused forareply. Brackett’s teeth were firmly closed, but be made an effort to open them and speak naturally, **Go on, Alice!” ‘Was that wrong?” . **No; but I ow you will never do so again.” The blind girl sighed, hesitated, and then continued: “I sat with him that day, and he was so grateful that I welt again. I went every day for a week, and we talked together. On the eighth day he was able for tbe first time to sit up, and when I saw how improved he was, I went there no more,” ** You did not tell me of this.” ‘* No, because, not ten minutes after I came bome the first time, I heard you speak ve harshly of him, You gave no reasons, and thought you were wrong. Perhaps I ought not to have gone again, but I pitied him in his affliction—I knew what affliction was!” The judge clinched his hands like one who is suffering physical pain. ‘* Proceed!” he directed. “The next time I saw him we met by chance outside the village, and walked together for half an hour.” ‘** More than once?” ‘* Several times,” she admitted. ‘* Well?” ‘* As for to-day,” Alice resumed, with sudden increase of voice, “‘the charge against Mr. Lawrence is infamous. He hired a team in the village, and as he chanced to overtake me—it was only chance—I went to ride with him.” ‘* Where was Electa?” **She went to walk with me, but waited while I went to ride.” ‘* Did she advise you to go?” ‘* She advised against it.” ‘* Has she known of your other meetings with the ae ae soe @ never suspec them. Don’t blatze Electa,” e “They basely accused him of stealing the | team. e hired it, and then the man—it was Aaron Barney—went to the sheriff and said Mr. Lawrence had stolen it. He must have hated Mr. Lawrence.” Brackett shook his head gloomily. ‘We were returning when the sheriff first saw us. We, went as far as the road to the American Mine, and then turned back. Does that look as though the team was stolen? Do horse-thieves return with their plunder?’ The girl spoke warmly, but the expression of deep gloom did not leave Judge Brackett’s face. “It is plain that you have a friendly feeling for Lawrence,” ** 1 have, sir!” was the quick, frank reply, The judge suspected that friendship had ripened into love, and longed to ask the ques- tion, but dared not. To him Alice seemed only a child, and the remark from any one that she bad a woman’s love for Garry Kean would have seemed nothing short sacrilege. ‘*T will now see Lawrence!” he announced, CHAPTER V. TWO MEN UPON THE *RACK, THE judge’s voice unconsciously grew stern, oe a frightened expression appeared on Alice’s ace, ‘** What shall you say to him?” she asked. **T don’t know,” **'You must not blame him!” ‘* Must not, Alice?” ‘Oh! father, father! don’t break my heart!” She had been standing with her hand in his, and at the last words she threw her arms around his neck and broke into tears. If Abram Brackett desired an answer to the question he had not dared to ask, be had it then. He knew that she cared for Hubert Lawrence, and it was | | ! | | when too hard pressed, turns against the op pressors.” ‘*So it seems, ‘The Man with Backbone,’ I hear you called here. Where is your home?” ‘** In the East.” ‘*Ts your real name Hubert Lawrence?” ‘You must excuse me from answering, lL have a home, and honorable relatives; and I have never done aught to bring discredit upon the family name; but while I am under arrest as a horse-thief, | must decline to make any statements which will carry my unmerited dis- grace to the eyes of those who know me well.” The Iron Judge smiled skeptically. He had heard talk like this before, and afterward learned that the speakers were old in villainy. ‘You propose, then, to meet this charge without summoning friends to certify to your character?” ‘*T do, ‘‘ Suppose you fail to prove your innocence?” ‘“T shall prove it—how, I can’t say, for no one heard me bargain with Aaron Barney for the team. I can prove, however, that I drove away openly, and that I was on my way back to the town when arrested.” The judge leaned back in his chair and fixed a keen gaze upon bis companion. ; ‘* My daughter accompanied you on this ride, I believe.” ‘Yes, sir.” Garry Kean met Brackett’s gaze frankly, but there was not either defiance or impudence in his manner. On the contrary, there was all requisite respect—and a trace of anxiety. “T was not aware until to-day that she knew you,” pursued the judge, a harder reflection creeping into his voice. ‘* Circumstances threw us together, sir.” ‘“‘T should say so, Pray, what circumstance certain that she did not suffer more than he did | caused you to keep me ignorant of the acquain- then. up in her, and it was a hard blow to know that All his love and all bis hopes were bound | tance?’ she cared for such a man as he believed the actor | to be. ; Controlling himself with a great effort he soothed her until she grew calmer, and then, saying a few words to reassure her, sent her away. He was reedy for Garry Kean, but had to pause to collect his wits and calmness. He was no longer an ‘‘ iron” judge; he was so weak that an enemy might have pitied him, He took time to grow self-possessed before sending for Kean, and when that young man entered he saw no signs of emotion. As Brackett looked on the bench, trying criminals, so looked he then. He was calm, stern, grim, almost forbidding. He pointed to a chair. ‘** Sit down,” he curtly directed. The younger man bowed and silently obeyed. ‘*Itis not my custom to hear cases before they are brought before me in due form,” pur- sued the Iron Judge, ** but I will listen to you if you will talk. What about this horse and car- riage alleged to have been stolen?” **The outfit was hired, not stolen, sir,” was the respectful reply. ‘* Does the owner agree with you?” “* He does not.” ** How do you account for this discrepancy?” ** Obviously, there is a plot against me.” ‘* On the part of the owner of the horse?” “There is some one back of him. I have enemies here, and they have planned to get me into trouble,” ‘* What enemies?” ‘*Those made when I necessarily punished a villain for speaking falsely about me. I made my first enemy when I struck a man who mo- lested a lady-member of Hereford’s theatrical company. From these enemies come the out- rageous statement that I had conspired with said lady toextort money from the man, I met this lie by chastising a person who dared fling it in my face—hence, I infer, t' is trouble.” ‘* You seem to get into a good deal of trouble.” * You are right.” ** Will Hereford and your fellow-actors come to your rescue?” ‘* I suppose they are now in California.” **'W bat do you intend to do?” ‘*Clear myself and punish my enemies!” “Tt strikes me you have done about enough ‘punishing.’ You struck a man who tried to make the acquaintance of an actress, and got the wound which put you in bed for a fortnight. Then you chastised another man who offended you, and, according to your theory, this arrest is the result. Would you not do well to quit ‘ punishing’ men, and keep the peace?” ‘* And submit to insult?’ asked Garry Kean, his face flushing. ‘* Prudence is sometimes better than cour- e.” ‘*Be that as it may, there is a limit to endu- rance. My first breach of the peace, if you in- sist upon the term, was to savea lady froma brute; my second was to give a Jesson to a man who had slandered me foully. 1t is probable that if Iam similarly placed again, when I secure ay liberty, I shall do precisely as I did be- ore “You seem to be a fire-eater.” ‘** Excuse me, sir; I am merely a man who, ne — — thought I had a prejudice against you— ‘‘Well, I hardly know,” responded Kean with some embarrassment, ‘' We did not meet—” ‘* You did not come to this house?” ‘+ No, sir.” *‘What was yourreason? Did you think I should not be glad to receive you?” ‘‘T thought very likely you hada prejudice against me, sir, but—” ** Why should you think that?” ‘*T have been the victim of circumstances and enemies since I came here, which have made my career unfortunate—” ‘‘Enough, sir; you have admitted what [ wished!” severely yore ee the Iron Judge. ‘* Since you came to Jack’s Delight you have been involved in numerous broils, and, be the causes what they may, bave committed numer- ous breaches of the peace. You confess KK you ait, sir, wait! Hear me out!” The speaker had sternly checked Garry Kean’s attempt to defend himself, and he steadi- ly continued: ‘* My daughter, sir, is not only sadly afflicted, but she is a child in years. Despite this you have made her acquaintance secretly, continued it secretly, pitting your worldly wisdom against her inexperience, and you admit that you be- lieved I would not approve of this intimacy if I knew of it. What have you to say in defense of such—such conduct?” ‘* Atrocious conduct,” he had nearly said, but he checked the impulse by a strong effort. | The Man with Backbone was flushed and wor- ried. Physical courage went for but little then, and he was being Severely tried. ‘‘Tam not sure that I can make a defense which will satisfy you,” be answered; ‘but I will say this: I found Miss Brackett a pleasant acquaintance, and a most estimable young lady. As to my own conduct, I will leave it to her if I have ever failed in my duty asa gentleman. Last of all, while well aware that many persons here were prejudiced against me, | had hoped to end by convincing you that I was worthy of your respect.” ; ‘*In order to do this, you kept up a secret acquaintance with my daughter, an afflicted child!” ‘Pardon me, sir, but the future would have vindicated me,” ‘* How?" ‘‘ Under the circumstances, I cannot state,” Brackett assumed his severest demeanor. ‘‘ During my term of office as a judge I have had a good many persons brought before me. Naturally, when a criminal gets into the grasp of the law, he seeks to find a way out, and the excuses made, and defenses offered, are varied and many. Some of them are wonderfully in- genious, while many that are clumsy command ° notice because they are so earnest; but I must say that I never beard a more gauze-like, weak- er defense than yours!” ‘Probably because, unllke criminals, I will not lie.” ‘ ‘‘T have a proposition to make to you.” “Yes, sir.” ; The judze moved restlessly in his chair. A close observer would have said that he had wn old in the last few hours, Certainly. Fin countenance bore a haggard look not natural to it. be GOmicboo < b te! MY : > . (E(0) ( 7 ,