Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 551 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 » Rs xs ms 4a S. “oie -—— ——. - +. - : le “py ae ; Garry Kean. _—- a are *T have sat a- good many years upon the bench, here and at other towns,” he pursued, **and never before have I aided to baffle justice by saving acriminal from punishment, Now, however, I am going to disgrace myself.” He pressed his hand to his head wearily. mig Well, sir?” questioned Garry Kean. “‘Tf you will swear to promptly leave Idaho and never communicate with any one here, I will see that the jail doors open for you to go out before morning!’ ‘Sir?’ exclaimed the prisoner, ** Dol fail to speak plainly ” ** You speak too plainly.’ ** Well? a offer me liberty at the price of dishon- or **To you?” ** To me!” ** Dishonor!” repeated the judge, with sar- rs ‘* Since when did you become so fastidi- ous The calmness which the Man with Backbone had maintained by a strong effort had vanished, He was angry, and he took but little pains to hide the fact, ** Why do you propose this?”he asked. ** To save the Brackett name from disgrace.” ** Will this bedone if you free an accused prisoner?” ** My share in the escape will never be known, probably; evenif it is, better that than the as- sociation of my daughter’s name with yours by the lips of scandal!” “Sir, you humiliate me cruelly!” Kean ex- claimed. * “Humiliate!” echoed Brackett, sharply. ** Just Heaven! what do you think of me? Hu- miliation is a weak word—I would exchange places with the wandering cur of the street, if I could thereby save Alice from the hands of the gossips!” Perspiration had started to his forehead, and he brushed it away gore “Sir,” answered Garry Kean, mildly, ‘‘ we do not understand each other, Iam as anxious as you concerning Miss Brackett, and deeply re- gret—” ‘*Say no more!” was the peremptory inter- ru Me “Do you, or do you not, accept my offer . CHAPTER VI. AND NOW COMES A FAIR POLITICIAN, *“*T SHALL remain and face my accusers!” Garry Kean made the assertion firmly, yet in a manner so quiet that it would have favorably influenced any disinterested person. ** You disgust me,” Brackett irritably observ- *““Would you have me run away like a crimi- nal? If Igo, I eg the brand of guilé inefface- ably upon myself.” ** And escape further trouble.” **T am sorry to disappoint ou judge, but I shall remain and meet trial. If anything like a fair chance is given me, [ shall prove my in- nocence, My friends are not numerous—indeed, I think I shall have to rely solely upon English John to help me get evidence—but I trust in that Providence which does not desert the de- serving.” “Ts this your ultimatum?” “Tt is, sir.” ** And you refuse to accept liberty?” ‘** At the price of dishonor—yes!” “Bear in mind that, though I shall sit as your judge, Ishall show no partiality. If the weight of evidence is against jou, you must take the consequences.” ** T ask no favors!” was the somewhat haughty reply. ~ udge Brackett rose. ‘‘There is no need of further words!” he ob- served, icily. j He stepped toward the door to call Sheriff White, but Garry Kean checked him, *“*One moment, if you please, sir. i have in ‘your ee asserted my innocence; I have said that 1 amof good family; I have asked you to think better of me than you seem able, I do not ask for mercy—the mercy accorded crim- inals—but for justice. You have not believed me, yet I feel no ill will toward you. One word only have I toadd: The time will come, Judge Brackett, when you will know Iam innocent, and that I bave told the truth!” The elder man silently bowed. His stern face did not change; there was not even a skeptical smile to betray his lack of belief; yet his cold ‘silence had a voice of its own, and it said: ‘‘The old cry of criminals! They have seen ‘better days; they are always innocent; they could tell wonderful things if they would; they are sure to be vindicated in the end!” Abram Brackett was not rightly constituted to occupy the bench of justice and retain confi- dencein mankind. He fully intended to be just, but he had come to believe that villainy was so common that few men were without the ingre- dient to their character. He opened the door, and Sheriff White came at bis call. He motioned toward Garry Kean, “The prisoner is at your disposal, White,” _ The sheriff shrugged his shoulders, / “T thought you wouldn’t find any good in him ” Kean’s eyes flashed, but he remained silent. The sheriff touched his shoulder. ‘** Come, critter!” There was a degree of insolence in the order, and it added to the smoldering fire in the actor’s mind, That the fire did not burst forth intoa raging blaze was only due to the strong control he exercised over his passions, He would not have been so silent if he bad bad noone but bim- self to think of then, Misfortune had followed him closely since his coming to Jack’s Delight, He was desperate and angry, and felt like aveng- ing his wrongs, but, knowing well that every act would be keenly felt by Alice Brackett, he held his peace, Silently he obeyed the sheriff; with a slow, firm step he walked toward the door. At that point he paused for a moment and looked back towar.i a stern-faced master of the house. That glance was not angry or vindic- tive, but it was gifted with a voice of its owner. ‘“You will some day learn that you have wronged me,” it seemed to say. A moment more and he was gone, Brackett started as the door closed behind officer and prisoner. ‘* He takes it hard,” the judge muttered. ‘‘ It’s a pity such a man should bea villain. His gifts rightly used, would fit him for good positions. I almost feel—- Nonsense! the man is an actor, and that farewell glance was his masterpiece!” The speaker threw himself irritably into a chair, ‘**T must go to Alice, but not yet. I want to think. My child is menaced! The tongue of gossip will connect her, name with that of this fellow, and—Heaven help her!—I am afraid it ‘will not be her hardest trial. Just Heaven! why did I not suspect that fatal acquaintance!” He leaned his head upon his hand. Some sort of support seemed necessary; to him it seemed as though his brain had turned to a ball of lead. Several minutes passed. He considered vari- ous plans only to reject them all, None suited him. He who had always been so ready with ways and means to accomplish a desired end was in this case wholly at fault. Never before had he grappled with a subject so vast. The affairs of state; the conduct of the court of jus- tice; the pte when he was a lawyer, to savea client—all these were matters weighing as noth- ing in tbe light of the new problem. Alice!—Alice and her happiness! How was the end to be attained? Not then did he see bis way clear, and he finally arose with an impatient movement. *** The [ron Judge!’” he muttered, irritably. ‘*Whata misnomer! I ama man like a reed; I am weak, horribly weak!” The sound of a carriage outside caused him to look from the window. A stylish equipage was there; one that boasted two fine black horses and a uniformed knight of the reins; and in the showy carriage was a richly-dressed, handsome woman, It was no new sight to Abram Brackett. The outfit was his own; the lady was his wife. It was known at Jack’s Delight that Alice Brackett’s mother bad died in Alice’s infancy, and no one referred to the fact so often as the — Mrs. Brackett. She was only thirty- ve years of age, and, believing that she looked younger than that, she was careful not to have the inference go abroad that she was the ma- eg parent of a young lady eighteen years ) Mrs, Brackett was a distinct feature of Jack’s Delight life. She was the meteor of its ex- istence; the gorgeous luminary which all might gaze upon and admire, but only a few address, rs. Brackett knew her place, and if others did not, they were duly instructed. It was almost a daily sight to see her speeding through the vil- Jage bebind her spirited black horses and her wonderful coachman. The latter felt honored by the fact that be was in her service. Mrs. Brackett despised him, but adored his highly- English uniform, Mrs. Brackett was a “‘high-flyer.” She deep- ly regretted that she was nota star in fashion- able Kastern society, but the fact that the firma- ment in which she moved was the lowly one of Jack’s Deligat, was not allowed to crush her, She managed to cut a wide swath, as it were, and fairly radiated style. She kept abreast the times, and stood a fair chance of .getting ahead of them, She was the social delight of her set, and held its members in the hollow of her pretty hand, The poor and lowly were never heard to speak highly of Agatha Brackett, but that did not trouble her. The select world of the town— composed of atout twenty persons—adored her, and she was happy. d The Iron Judge’s face did not change at sight of her. Her return was not hailed as a happy circumstance. Possibly he was not one of those few who adored her, They lived in peace, as far as was known, but Abram Brackett was considered not a demonstrative man. He cared but little for lg a Hp style; he was rarely seen out of doors in his wife’s company. People, however, said they made a fine couple, and they certainly did, as far as looks went. Brackett stood with his hands crossed behind his back as his wife entered. He was stern and “aegis she came in like a beautiful whirl- wind, Nature had been kind to Mrs, Brackett. She was a tall, queenly brunette, with splendid black hair and rosy cheeks, If ever a queen did look like her, that queen was a magnificent-looking woman. Fashionable, tasteful garments, and diamonds, and a limited number of furbelows, bedecked Mrs. Brackett, and sbe looked like a small section of zeny ein dropped bodily in the poor, insignificant Western mining-town, ‘So you’re in, judge?” was the lady’s brisk greeting, as she deftly removed her gloves, ‘Yes, Mrs. Brackett.” ‘* { wanted to see you.” ‘Did you?” was the careless response. sé Yes.’ Mrs. Brackett dropped into a chair and smiled upon her husband. ‘* Whom do you think I have seen?” she added eagerly. ‘l have no idea,” ‘* Colonel Yoke Norman.” sé Ah !”? ‘* What do you think he said?” ‘*T have no idea.” ‘* Your indifference is provoking!” cried Mrs, Brackett, and there certainly was some reason for the reproof; he answered like a machine, and appeared scarcely to hear what she said. ‘*T beg your pardon, Mrs, Brackett,” was the courteous apology. ‘‘ Pray proceed.” ‘*Did you ever hear that Cesar was am- bitious?’ ‘* So it is said.” ‘* The colonel has contracted Czesar’s trouble.” ** Indeed !” ** Yes; but of one thing rest assured—if Colo- | nel Yoke Norman is offered any crown, he will not put it aside.” ; ‘*'What does Norman want now?” ‘* He wants a certain office, and desires my aid and yours, He wants to be mayor of this city. For the first time Abram Brackett evinced in- terest. He frowned and became more attentive; he bad not forgotten the ruling passion of the ‘* Reds,” and this news was very timely. Elijah Nicholson was Mayor of Jack’s Delight, while both Nathan Bradley and Colonel Yoke Norman aspired to succeed him. As he no doubt wished to succeed himself, it appeared that the political pot was beginning to boil in earnest. ‘Is every one crazy after the paltry office?” sharply demanded Brackett, ‘*Paltry! Is that what you call it?” ** What does it amount to?” ‘* What better position is there in town?” ‘* None,” “Yet you refused it a year ago, and told 116 only a week since that you would not take it.” ** You report me correctly. I shall never hold anv office except that of judge.” ‘* We won’t argue that old matter: as I have told you, I have another scheme, Colonel Yoke ean has asked our aid, end I have promised it. ** Indeed !” ‘Yes. I daresay Mayor Nicholson will feel hurt, but one must look out for one’s self; Long live Mayor Norman!” Mrs, Brackett swung her gloves enthusiasti- cally, and looked prettier than ever. She might have her undesirable points, but the political candidate who could count her among his ad- herents ought to be happy r ‘‘Bear in mind that he is not elected yet,” dryly replied the judge. ** Ab! but he will be!” ‘** How about Elijah Nicholson?” ‘His ship will sink. Why not? He’s been mayor for a year, why shouldn’t he give some one else a chance?” ‘* Suppose still other men aspire to the office?” ‘*Let them, if they wish. The moment we come out for Colonel Yoke Norman the matter will be settled.” ‘*Mrs. Brackett, do you remember that I have always said that T was no politician, and that under no circumstances would I take part in politics or become a partisan of any man?” The lady’s face fell. . ae that was empty talk,” she ex- imed. ‘Tt was sincere,” ** But now I wish you to help the colonel for my sake. ay, deeply regret that I am compelled to re- ‘‘But he has promised thut I shall be the leader at all official balls and dinners. You know he is a bachelor, and some lady must have the place. His house holds only servants now,” ‘Let him marry, then. for us, Mrs, Brackett, I hope you will abandon the idea for my sake, Too much of this so-called ‘ fashiona- a ? clap-trap wearies me. Please give up the idea— “IT shall not give it up,” declared the lady, ‘“fanc if you persist in your refusal] there will be trouble! Eomichbooks . | . | - ‘ar G6) 6 0 ie (E | . | ‘ - _ at, ? , i ~~