Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 560 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

So Se —_ * * 2 The Man from Mexico. ing kiss, and the next moment the man was hastening away into the town to his hotel. Gabriel Godfrey and Myra Weston had met a year before while crossing the ocean from Eu- rope, where the youpg man had been on a tour of pleasure and the maiden had been completing her education at a fashionable young ladies’ school in Paris. She was the only child of a wealthy retired merchant, and, as an only child, was the idol of his heart and heiress of all he possessed. He had gone abroad to bring his daughter home, and one night in Paris would have been the victim of an escaped lunatic’s fury, who rushed upon him, knife in hand, but for timely rescue at the hands of a stranger who secured the madman and turned him over to the police. The stranger was an American, Gabriel God- frey. The retired merchant at once felt toward him the greatest gratitude and regard, and in- sisted upon his dining with him and his daugh- . ter at the hotel next day. The invitation was accepted, and Gabriel God- frey met the beautiful heiress, Myra Weston, and, by a strange coincidence, he said he had taken passage on the same steamer that was to carry her father and herself back to America, During the voyage the trio learned to love each other, and when Godfrey visited Myra at her elegant home he asked her father for his daughter’s hand. Of the young man nothing was known other than what he told of himself. He had been left an orphan, with an inherit- ance that was given over to him when he ar- rived at the age of twenty-one, and had been ed- ucated under the care of a tutor at his home in Missouri. Fond of travel he had roamed at will, and en- joyed himself as far as his income, which he dard was ample, allowed. Mr, Weston seemed to be delighted with his prospective son-in-law, and Myra certainly idol- ized him, In a few weeks the young couple were to be married, and Gabriel Godfrey had run down to visit Myra before their wedding-day. He had seemed nervous, she thought, worried about something, and yet he had told her that it — nothing, that he never felt better in his ife, After his departure Myra went up to her room, and, throwing a wrap over her shoulders, ‘sat down in the square bay-window that looked out over the grounds, The air was not too chilly, and she seemed wrapt up in the beauty of the night. Suddenly she saw a form near the large gate- wa a cf It is Gabriel,” she said, with some surprise, and she watched him with interest. As he stood there a man approached him, and the two stepped into the shadow of a tree, and oe lose sight of them, yet knew they were ere. Suddenly she saw a flash under the tree, and then all was darkness again, ‘* He is lighting his cigar,” she said, and as a tall form stepped out from the shadow of the tree, she added: ** Ah! I know now what he is doing; Iam to have a serenade,” Gabriel Godfrey possessed a fine voice, and ‘was an expert performer on the guitar. Several times before, when he had visited Myra, he had returned from the hotel and ser- enaded her, and she seemed to feel that such was his intention now, She saw that he wore a cloak and a different hat, but they did not conceal bis form from her loving eyes—she could not be deceived in that, ‘‘ He has had a servant from the hotel bring him his guitar, and thinks he will surprise me; but I have my eye on you, sir,” and watching him she saw him creep toward the mansion, mr oo in the shadow of the ornamental trees, and at last noiselessly ascend the steps of the piazza. Then she waited for the sound of music; buf, nota note was struck on the guitar, and the voice of her lover was unheard. The moments dragged along, and Myra won- dered more and more. What did her lover mean? How was he try- ing to surprise her? Had he found her father =P ng thus entered the mansion for a talk with m She would go out into the hall and see if she heard voices in the library. As she attempted to rise, loud voices rung through the house, followed by a shot and a heavy fall. Then a quick step sounded on the piazza and a man’s form darted down the steps, dropping a lantern as he fled, and sped away inthe moon- light, to be joined by the one who waited under the tree, ; } This much Myra Weston saw, for she was un- able to move, and then, as her name was called in a loud voice, she sprung to her feet and has- tened do wn-stairs, Into the library she ran, and there, upon the floor, in his dressing-gown and slippers, as he had come from his sleeping room, lay her father, his face livid, his teeth set to keep back the groans that came to his lips, ‘Oh, father, what has happened?’ and Myra threw herself down by her father’s side, The lips parted and low, but terribly distinct came the words: ‘*My child, I am dying, and by the hand of Gabriel Godfrey, I told him to bring to me from the city a large sum of money I had there. He did so, and saw me putit in that desk to- night. ‘** | came here because I could not sleep, to get the money and werd itto my room. I opened the door; and there he stood; with slouch hat and cloak on, and a lantern, and he had the money in bis hands, ‘* My cry startled him; he turned and—shot me down and fled, and—” A gasp choked him so he could say no more, and into the room dashed a number of servants, aroused by the shot. Not another word did the dying man utter, for in half an hour he breathed his last, while over him bent his devoted daughter. ‘* He is dead,” said the doctor, who had been sent for. _* Yes,” and with a kiss upon the death-sealed lips, Myra Weston turned away and went to her room. Then she rung for her maid and said: ‘Tell Scott | wish him to go to town for me at once,” Seating herself at her desk she wrote as fol- Ows: ‘* GABRIEL GODFREY :— “A few weeks agol received an anonymous I+t- ter, telling me that you were an adventurer, < nd lived by gambling, ‘**T paid no attention to it, not even showing it to my father. ‘To-night I suffer the penalty for my trust in ou ‘‘l saw you meet a man near the gate, and with a cloak and another hat on come back to the mansion.. ‘**T heard the shot and the death-cry of my father, and ran to him. ‘He lived long enough to tell me who was his murderer, and that he had caught you robbing him. ‘*So you are known to me as you are, and I warn you never to cross my path again, or I shall send you to the gallows. ‘‘For the sake of the past, I now spare you, but never again to let my eyes rest upon the form of my father’s assassin. ‘“Myra WESTON.” ‘Pp. S,—-I will send to your address all that I have ever received from you as souvenirs and letters, and shall expect you to express to me anything of mine in your possession.” Scott carried this letter to the hotel, but brought it back with the word that Mr. Godfrey had left on the one o’clock train, going several hours sooner than he had expected. ‘* Take the letter to the depot and mail it on the train on which Mr. Godfrey was to have gone,” said Myra, and she readdressed and stamped it. Three hours after the letter was following Ga- briel Godfrey to his home, CHAPTER II, UNMASKFD AND UNWEPT, On the banks of the upper Mississippi River there stood an old house, a ruin of what had once been a fine estate; but decay had fallen upon the mansion. The outhouses were tumbling down, the fences broken and only one wing of the once handsome mansion was habitable. Up and down a room in this wing, which served as sitting-room, library and dining- room paced Gabriel Godfrey, several days after the murder of the father of Myra Weston. His brow was pale and clammy, and his manner nervous and anxious. Suddenly a knock came upon the door, and there entered a man carrying a bundle of paper in bis hand. *‘Ah, you have come at last, Lawyer Spencer,” said Gabriel, impatiently. ‘*' Yes, | came as soon as your man told me you had returned home,” ‘* Be seated and tell me what you have done.” ‘* Simply tided over until your return,” ** And now that I have returned?” ‘*Tf you have brought the money with you, then all will be well.” ‘*Tf not?” ‘¢ You will be sold out; and more—I fear the bank will press you to the wall on the paper it holds, when it is known that the indorsements are not genuine.” ‘‘Spencer, I have returned without money, for I was disappoiuted in getting what I went after. I have been going it too fast in the city, I admit, and have been unlucky at every turn, ‘**T confessed to you just how I stood, believing that you, who owed my father so much of gratitude, would help me out; but, you say you cannot.” . * No, for Iam not able to pay one-fourth of what you need, Gabriel, and even whatI could do would be at a great sacrifice to me. “*T have advanced you large sums, and I con- fess I did owe your father many favors and thus have tried to liquidate them to you.” ** Well if you cannot help me all must go: but if it could be kept off a few weeks I would pay every cent.” ** From your hopes of winning money?” ‘* No, I am to marry an heiress,” ** Ah, Gabriel, I fear—” ‘‘No lecturing me, Spencer: but say if you can keep the bounds off me for six weeks?” **Tt will be impossible, for they gave me until to-morrow to settle, and the bank then presents the notes to your indorsers,” ‘¢ And will find out the forgery?” ‘* They must.” ‘And I will go to jail?” ‘*T fear so, Gabriel.” ‘““Sam Spencer, hold these men off for ten days and [ will pay all I owe.” ‘* In God’s name, bow?” ‘**T will go East and marry at once, for—” The man checked himself suddenly, and his ~ face became livid. ‘* But, will the lady consent, and will you, if she does, do right to use her mcney?” ‘‘She will consent, and 1 will use her money only as a temporary arrangement.” ‘*T will doall that I can for you, Gabriel, for from my heart I sympathize with you. Your father took me as a poor student and made me your tutor, and through his kindness I was able to see much of the world and learn men, for he kept me constantly traveling with you, ‘T also was able to study law the while, and he gave me a start when I ceased to be your tutor, and his kindness secured me the practice I now have. ‘‘He left you rich, Gabriel, but you have squandered it all, while I have been able to lay up money, and as my wife had a little inber- itance we are well-to-do, but not rich, ‘* Still I will pay a thousand dollars more for you, to get a couple of weeks’ delay, and more time, if possible. “TY will return at once, and attend to it,” ‘‘And if you meet my messenger, whom I told to remain and wait for the mail, take him back with you and send me three hundred dollars, me : must have this sum to go East and marry with. ‘*T will have to do it, I suppose, Gabriel,” and the lawyer took his departure, leaving Gabriel Godfrey to his own meditations. An hour or more , and then came the clatter of hoofs, and glancing from the window he saw his messenger, an old man who, with his wife, were the only servants that the ruined heir kept. Soon the door opened, and the young man said, quickly: ** Did erie fk Spencer send some money by you for me, Ross?” ‘* Yes, sir, three hundred dollars,” He handed over a roll of bills and a note, Gabriel Godfrey thrust the money into his ket uncounted, and tore open the note. It was as follows: ** DEAR GABRIFL:?— **T have, by paying a few hundreds here and there, fifteen hundred in all, secured just thirty days delay. “T also send you the money asked for, and I must tell you that it cramps me to do this, but I hope it will all come right in the end. “My advice to you is to go at once and see what can be done to save yourself from the fate that seems so hard to avoid, as I now view the situatio for if I sacrificed every dollar I bave, it would no save you from prison on those forged indorsements. ste With my best wishes, ‘Yours, ** SamueL SPENCER.” Crushing the note in his hand, he threw it into the fire, and then said angry ‘¢ Well, was there any mail?” ‘‘Only this letter, sir,” and Ross left the room. Gabriel Godfrey seized the letter and broke it open. Mt was the letter of Myra Weston which had followed him home so quickly. A cry broke from his lips as he read it. ‘* T am lost, and my last card is played. “She will confess who the murderer is, | though she now seeks to shield me, and I will be hanged! ** Curses on my cruel luck! ‘‘ Ha! there comes a steamer up the river—I will take it, for I have balf an hour to get ready ig He rung for Ross, and told kim to go out and signal for the steamer to land, and ten minutes after, with gripsack in hand, he stood awaiting for the steamer to land. ‘* Be gone long, sir?’ asked Ross, ‘* T do not know—good-by,” and with a bitter laugh he sprung on the gangplank and rushed on board, A few days after, Myra Weston, seated in her own home, brooding over her father’s untimely end, and her blastod hopes, read the following from a paper she took up to try and change the current of her thoughts: ‘“'The loss of life on the ill-fated steamer Western Belle was greater than at first supposed, for the fol- lowing are the names of the dead. Then followed a list, and among the names was that of Gabriel Godfrey, with the words: “Mr. Godfrey had just gotten upon the steamer at his Sores on the Sear and it wes said that he was going East to be married. , “He was not seen after the explosion of the ' boiler, and his bodv was doubtless torn to atoms, a8 were many others.”’ ° Ss Eomichoo 2. 1