Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 1019) (1897 02 02)
The text was read from the page scans by machine (OCR), so it has mistakes and its columns may run together. See the pages · About this title · At the Internet Archive
Page 1
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 2
2 Burd Bayard’s Close Call. Burd Bayard’s Close Call: IN THE DEATH-NET. BY CAPT, R. M. HAWTHORNE, AUTHOR OF ‘HURRICANE GULCH,” CRUMM’S CRYPTOGRAM,” ETC. MAX CHAPTER I, THE OAPTAIN OF THE ALBATROSS. TOWARD the close of a lovely day in spring- time the schooner Albatross came to anchor in anarm of the Chesapeake, off the straggling towntof Buzzard’s Roost, on the West Shore, The tide was in, and the water where the natty vessel lay was deep enough to float an iron-clad frigate, Hardly was the splash of the forked iron as it sunk from the prow of the Albatross heard on shore when a small boat containing six men put out from the schooner’s side, Making straight for the wharf they landed, and five of them headed for the old tavern in front of which bad creaked the sign of the Golden Boar from the days of the Revolution. They entered the dingy inn, while the sixth continued up the highway, as though he had no further interest in the seamen from whom he had parted company. The five who strode into the bar-room were strangers in Buzzard’s Roost, neither the land- lord nor any of the loungers there remembering ever having seen them before. The sixth per- son was of medium size, with immense bushy whiskers covering his breast, while his sailor hat was drawn close over his eyes. He carried a large cane, which must bave been intended as a means of defense, since such an athletic young man could not have needed its aid in walking. ° Taking the broad bighway, this person strode off toward the old mansion known since colonial days as The Cedars, and which had been the home of the Havens from the days of Lord Bal- . timore. : Thts young man, the captain of the Albatross, walked so rapidly that the intervening two miles were passed sooner than he intended, for the sun was still above the horizon when he cameincight of the huge gray-stone mansion, Noticing the fact, he muttered several words, and then, turning his face toward Buzzard’s Roost, walked a balf-mile at a leisurely pace be- fore coming back in the direction of The Cedars, By this time all sunlight was gone and twi- light had settled over the earth, The sailor paused, and, leaning against the fence at the roadside, gazed off into vacancy as though lost in deep reverie, Suddenly he passed his hand over his chin, and when hedrew it away the whole luxuriant wealth of black beard followed, <a his face clear and clean as that of a girl, **] haven’t much faith in this disguise,” said the young captain, holding off the hirsute ap- pendage and surveying it. ‘I feel so awkward with ittacked on to my face that I’m sure eve one I meet suspects the truth. However, it’s growing dark—” He started like a thief in the night as he caught a heavy footstep behind him, and whirl- ing about saw a negro standing within six feet of him, too terrified to speak, “ Goll gracious! bope you'll ’scuse me,” said the darky, with chattering teeth, “but you stood so clus to de fence dat I didn’t see you till arter I see’d you, and if I had see’d yer afore I see’d. yer, why, I wouldn’t hab—dat is, see’d r yer. While this jumble was falling from the negro’s lips thesailor was holding his beard in his hand, Recalling the grotesque blunder, he turned his head,and in a twinkling the whiskers were re- stored to their place. But for that glimpse of the African the young captain ht have played the part of Dr. Jekylland Mr. Hyde with some success, but be knew be had failed, and be was aflame with chagrin as he faced the negro whom he saw moving off. ** Hold on, there!” commanded the sailor, so sharply that the other halted, though it was ap- parent he was ill at ease, **’Scuse me,” pleaded the negro, his voice still tremulous, ‘but I promised missis I wouldn't hab a do wid de debbul—so I'll bid you good-nig t and go home!” “No, you won't,” warned the young captain, stepping threateningly toward him; ‘‘ whereare you going?” —__)—$—— ee = ae ‘Tell your missis that you were stopped bya robber, and that if you hadn’t done what he told you to do, be would have killed you,” ‘* Dat’s de trouble,” returned the negro—‘‘ dat’s de wery story I hab been tellin’ her fur de last free months and a half, till I’m ’feared she be- gins to feel some doubts ob my weracity.” ‘‘Your name is Pompey and you are a ser- vant of Colonel Haven.” ‘Golly gracious! who told you dat?” demand- ed the astonished negro; ‘‘ you hit it de fu’st time, only I s’pose you know dat Colonel Haven hab been dead six months,” ‘¢ What! Colonel Haven dead?” exclaimed the sailor, starting back, ‘‘ How long ago did you say it took place?” ‘A little more dan six months, It cameon de colonel mighty suddint, jes’ while he was a- settin’ at de dinner-table and touching his glass to dat ob de missis and drinkin’ her health, I tell yer, Mr. Debbil,” added Pompey with a sniff ashe drew his hand across his eyes, ‘‘ we all miss him, fur he war a kind master,” The young man was deeply affected by the news and held his peace until the servant had overcome his emotion, Suddenly tho latter looked up in a peculiar way. ‘De colonel didn’t die right off, you know. He fell out ob his cheer onto de floor, and while dey was doin’ what dey could for him, I jumped ooto Thunderbolt and sent him flyin’ arter Dr, Hazeltine, but it warn’t no use; afore de doctor gotdar de colonel war dead, and, ” added the negro in an awed voice, “afore he died who do you s’pose comed to see him?” ‘‘ How should I know?” impatiently asked the young captain. ‘Yer gee, Pete told mo all aboutit. It war Muriel—de gal come—nobody could tell whar from—but jist like a bird out ob do sky—she flowed in—frowed her arms about her fader’s neck and kept ’em dar till he died!” ‘t And—did he—speak kindly to her?’ asked the sailor, striving hard to control his emotion. ‘‘Bress you, yes! Dey talked jist like when she war a little gal. He opened. his eyes wid Miss Muriel’s hair lyin’ on bis breast, and he didn’t see nuffin’ but her and she didn’t see no one but him, and nobody else said a word, Dey talked and cried and, jist as he died, she bad her lips to his’n.” “¢ And what then?’ asked the deeply-interested vac” 4 ‘*Wal, de gal—dat is Miss Muriel—vanished jist as she come and nobody hain’t seen nuffin’ ob her since, and don’t know whar she am gone!” “You can go now, Pompey, and here’s a dol- lar for answering my questions, Remember you are to tell no one you met me to-night, or that any one asked the questions you have an- swered, “ Jist trust me for dat,” said Pompey, deftly catching the coin tossed to him, and starting in the direction of The Cedars with the resolve to tell every one whom he encountered for the fol- lowing month the whole particulars of the inter- view. “ He’s a mighty wae chap,” mused the Afri- can, as he moved swiftly away. ‘‘ When I fu’st gee’d him, he hadn’t any whiskers, den he moved his head round and when he looked back, dar dey war! I neber seen a man’s beard grow as fast as dat. Den, when he spoke, his voice sounded like thunder till we war talkin’ ’bout Miss Muriel, and den it war as low and soft as bern, If I didn’t know dat Burd Bayard war dead, I would say dat war him come back from de sea, dough dar war a time when I war sart’in he war de debbil, Mebbe it war Bayard’s ghost!” he added with a furtive glance around, “only ghosts don’t go to slingin’ silver dollars round as dough dey don’t cost nuffin’, and I’m sure to git Taatad ag’in when I got home. Dere ain’t no use ob my tellin’ de troof for dey won't believe me and I'll hab to gib up tryin’ to be good,” —— CHAPTER IT. DOCTOR HAZELTINE. For a long time attsr the departure of the ro, the young sailor stood in a thoughtful at- titnde, holding his heavy cane in a careless grasp, and now and then drawing a long, deep sigh, —————$ | el ll CCC OE “T hardly think Pompey could have recog- nized me, though I acted like an idiot, [ dis- guised my voice, if I didn’t my face. There’s one thing certain—nature never meant me for a detective, ‘‘ { didn’t dream of Colonel Haven dropping off like that,” he continued, resunting his walk toward The Cedars, ‘*1 thought he was good for twenty years yet, Then he died with Mori- el’s arms around his neck, with the two whisper- ing words of affection to each other, I always understood the Havens to bea race that never forgave nor forgot, If the colonel relented, he was the first of his kind to do so, but the death- dew was on his brow, when be spoke the loving words, ‘‘T can never go back to the Albatross, till I learn more about this awful business, Ab! that was a dark day, four years ago, when ths storm burst over The Cedars! I felt that thes\\adow could never be lifted from that threshold again, ‘‘ Was the shadow lifted? Was all made right in that last moment® No! Too deep a wrong was done for it everto be made right this side the grave. ‘‘There is only one person besides me, outside of the family, who knows the history of the frightful sorrow which crossed the threshold that nicht and blighted all, as did tho avenging angel that smote the first-born, That person is Doctor Hazeltine, the family physician. He knows all that I do,ayv, and more, for he was present at that supreme interview between father and daughter. He can tell ma, but will he doso? Dare I trust myself in his presence? Can I preserve my incognito? Will he not spurn me from him?” As if in answer to his prayer, he observed through the gloom of the night the weil-known gig of the physician, who had ministered to the physical ailments of the neighborhood for the last two-score years, The carriage stood at the side of the road in front of a cottage, and the doctor, having come forth, was untying his horse, preparatory to driving cffon his round of visite. “Til try it,” muttered the young sailor, com- pressing his lips and walking boldly forward. “Tg this Doctor Hazeltine?” be asked, taking care to disguise bis volce. a ‘“Tt is,” was the curt reply of the physician, who continued his attention to his horse, ‘| wish to speak to you.” “T know of nothing to prevent it, sir, Let me feel your pulse.” ‘ The sailor laughed, ‘1 don’t need your professional services, I am thankfultosay. Ihave justreturned from a long voyage and wish to make some inquiries about The Cedars and its late owner.” “Tam listening.” “Then it is really true that Colonel Haven is dead ?” ‘‘ Tis; he expired more than six months ago, while celebrating at home with his wifetue feast of St, Michael, the Archangel; he was stricken with apoplexy.” “‘T trost, doctor, that you will pardongmy pointed question, Colonel Haven had a daugh- ter, Muriel, and you are aware of the trouble of four years ago. learned of their estrangze- ment, but have been told that she was with bim when he died—that the dark past was forgotten, and that he departed fully reconciled to her, Can you tell me whether such was the fact td Noctor Hazeltine drew himself up end replied in his most frigid tones: ‘ ‘You must take me for a fool t-gimagine I can be made to reveal the secr ts of“eny of my patients. Good-night, sir.” The young man canght the doctor’s arm, as he was in the act of stepping into h'* £1). ‘‘ By heavens! you shall answer me! Ihave come to you as the only one who can do 80, and you shall not refuse me!” The indignant physician turned around, and, by the aid of the moonlight, peered intently into the disguised face of the sailor. “That's it!” he exclaimed, straightoning up more scornfully than before. “‘ You spoke in your natural tones, then, and although your face bas become covered with a mighty beard since I saw you four years ago, yet I know you, Burd Bayard, and my reply to your imperti- nence is to advise you thatif you want to keep your neck out of the halter, you had better put to sea at once, and stay there! There is no call for you to come tothese parts. Things are now as they were when you left, and you can make up your mind that they will stay so forever. Good-night again!” And, stepping into his gig, without interfer- ence this time, the doctor gave the reinsa sharp
Page 3
jerk, and went off at a rattling pace down the ighwey. ‘Fool that I am!” bitterly mutered Burd Bayard, looking after the awkward vehicle, as it lumbered down the road and vwanisbei in tue gloom of the night; ‘‘ I have spoken to two per- sons since leaving Buzzard’s Roost, and both of them knew me, It would be the same if I ad- dressed a bundred—so what’s the use?” Ant, snatching off the luxuriant whiskers, he fav: t2em a spiteful fling that carried them «ver toe fence and out of sight. f¥e continued his walk in the direction of The C.dars, pausing a few minutes | :ter in front of the old mansion, whose walls, had they tongues, could have told many strange tales of what bad taken place there in the years that were gone, More than once he stopped and gazed longing- ly atthe immense structure, with its wealth of barns, out-buildings, trees, vegetation and ser- vants’ quarters, and with forests and meadow- jand stretching away until the estate inclosed an area of thousands of acres, But Bayard continued past the famous resi- dence until he had walked fully a mile, when he found himsel? opposite a large, straggling man- sion, made of bricks imported a century before from Holland* The gable end was entirely en- veloped in climbiug ivy, whose snaky vines clung to the walls as if seeking to strangle them, Contemplating this gloomy building the young sailor captain observed not the first sign of life within. Everything was as dark and silent as the tomb. ‘* That is the Haunted House,” he mused, as be rested Lis band on the ponderous gate, ‘‘ and it has been a horror for two generations, I :emem- ber that it belongs to the estate of The Cedurs, The legend is that the whole family were mur- dered within its walls, and since then the spirits of the victims havo haunted the place. I used to dread it.and hurry by when I was a child, but I am older to-night, have seen more of the world, and the Haunted House has no terrors now for me, What had brought Burd Bayard to this dismal place, of which he had no thought when landing from tke Albatross? Why had he left the regu- Jar highway, and, walking up the short, grass- grown lane, paused in front of the most forbid- ding of dwellings? Who of us, on a silent moonlight night, could wish to visit a haunted house, so dreaded by those that knew its history, that, for many years, no person could be per- suaded to occupy it, nor could servants be in- duced to till the fertile land or save the out- buildings from moldering and going toruin? — Captain Bayard bad a resistless reason for bis atep. He believed there was some unexplainable connection between the, mystery of The Cedars and that of the Haunted House, He could not even conjecture its precise nature, but a dim, shadowy belief came over him that the knowl- edge he sought in vain from Doctor Hazeltine awaited him within those gloomy walls, When the handsome young captain sought to analyze or understand his feeling on this point, he failed, but its presence and controlling force was there none the less, “‘God willing, I shall spend this nightin the Haunted House,” he said, passing through the gate, and slowly approaching the stracture; *‘and if, at the coming of daylight, I shail nei- ther see nor hear nor learn anything that can tell me aught of Muriel, and of tne shadow that has brooded over The Cedars go long, then tho Albatross shall wea Paces out on the Atlantic to-morrow morning bound for the other side of the world, and, never again shall [ set foot in my native country! Of a truth, I cannot un- derstand what strange impulse has brought me here at all to-night,” CHAPTER III, THE HAUNTED HOUSE, Tux bravest man that ever trod this footstool cannot approach a ‘t baunted house,” where he is alone and the nigbt-is calm and still, without being stirred by peculiar emotions, - Captain Bayard walked deliberately forward, purposely kicking the gravel, 80 asto make all the noise possible without seeming to wish to do so. Not until he stepped upon the rickety porch did he pause long enough to assure himself that his two loaded pistols were in place, ft “Shall I knock, or open the door without ceremony?!’ he asked himgelf; ** however, a man don’t lose anything by politeness,” tever his emotions, there was no evidence of timidity when he reached up bis hand and struck a resound » with the huge brass knocker, and then ly wail for some re- spemeo to his summons. SS i sesso sss sD See eee... Burd Bayard’s Clos ‘“ Vory well,” be grimly muttered, ‘‘if grass won't bring him down we’llsee what virtue there isin stones,” Raising the old-fashioned latch, he pressed his shoulder against the heavy door, which yielded soe than if it were the solid brick wall it- se . *-T forgot that le as a rule fasten their doors at night,” he added. after convincing him- self it was useless to expect to enter the Haunted House jin the usual way, ‘‘ but i'm resolved to et in by some means, if I have to break this old oor from its hinges,” The sailor stepped softly from the porch and took his place under a dense, spreading oak, within a rod of the house, ‘*T believe human beings are in there,” he added, after the best survey he could make with the partial aid of the moonlight; ‘‘ Ido not sea a;broken window-pane, They are blue and thin, as though they have stood the storms of a ceutury, but the house wouldn’t be in half as good condition, unless some one lived in it.” The keen eyes of thessilorcaught a suggestive fact. One gnarled branch of the buge oak, under which he was standing, extended its outer portion so close {to an upper window that an ordinarily-expert man could easily reach the latter by such help, ** Vil try it,” he muttered, ‘* for I’m on serious business to-night and do not mean to be thwarted,” It could not escape Captain Bayard that the act he was about to attempt involved great per- sonal risk, provided living persons were within the building, for he was assuming tho part of a burglar, and every court and jury in the land would hold the occupant guiltless who should shoot such an intruder dead, while forcing an entrance into a house whose door was locked against him, ‘*Pil take the responsibility,” he muttered; *T’ve been charged with graver crimes than this, and if I’m detected my countrymen will wonder that [ didn’t do worse,” Leaving his cane on the ground, and making sure his pistols were ready, he went up the tree nimbly and began feeling his way out on the limb toward the window on which he had fixed his hopes, The exuberant vegetation shut him out from the view of any one who might be peeping out from within the house, and Bayard advanced with the care and caution of an assassin stealing upon his victim, The large limb bent sligbtly under his weight, but the deflection was an advantage, inasmuch as it brought him directly opposite the win- dow. Ina few minutes he was within reach of the sash, All remained dark ani silent, and wondering whether the sash was secured in place or not he reached forward and tested it, It resisted at first, [but suddenly went up the full height, where the warped wood held it securely. ‘*Good!” be exclaimed, ‘*Now we shall see what we shall see!” Grasping the sill with both hands, he rested his knees upon it, and with his head thrust with- in the builaing, looked and listened, Profound stillness and darkness were on every nand, Neither eye nor ear could detect the first evidence that a living being was within the house. Only the faint rustling of the vegetation behind him as the night-wind gently stirred the leaves, told him that he was awake and not dreaming. Reaching one hand forward and downward, he felt the hard, bare floor, and the next minute he stepped within the Hauated House! Ay, for the first time in his life he was in the old mansion tast had borne the reputation of being haunted for a hundred years, Burd Bayard stood there, having come from the uttermost parts of the earth, a full-grown man, embrowned in face, hardened in muscle, brave, and not afraid to encounter any peril that could confront bim, whose life was made up of peril and all manner of dangers. Captain Bayard’s first act after realizing that he wasreally within the Haunted House was to make sure again that both his weapons were at instant command. One double-barreled pistol was in his hip-pocket, and the other, somewhat smaller, was ie ine bosom. Both could be snatched forth at any moment needed, The next natural move was to feel his way around the room to learn something of his sur- roundings, The result was the discovery that the apartment was ony, of everything except himeelf, Nota piece of carpet, no chair or ta 3 was on the floor and the walls were bare of pic- tures and even nails, While thus playing blind man’s buff he cars upon the only door leading outward. This readily drew back, and with the same care he had used from the first he groped his way into the broad upper hall, into which the stairs from the lower stury led, Tho young sailor found the head of the steps without difficulty, and was in tte act of de- scending, when he was startled by the unmis- takable sound of footsteps. They were faint and soft, but his keen sense of hearing, now strained to the highest tension, told him that some one was coming up the steps at the head of which he had halted, ‘Tt is a woman,” was his thought, ‘‘ and she is walking in her slippers,” The captain’s first impulse was to withdraw into the room from which he had just come, but, like a truly brave man, he decided to stay where he was, wildly hoping that the mystery that had brought him thither might be on the eve of solution, Accordingly, he pressed back against the wall and waited and listened for the issue of the strange adventure which seemed at hand. CHAPTER IV. A MEMENTO OF THE PAST, NEARER and nearer came that soft, fairy-like step, his eart fluttering with strange emotions, at the belief that some beautiful girl was ap- proaching, and in a few seconds would be with- in reach of his hand, as he stood with his back against the wall. ‘*Tf she discovers my presence,” he thought, when he knew from the sounds that she was near the head of the stairs, ‘‘ what will take place?” He,held his breath, as she glided still closer, only afraid that the tumultuous beating of his own heart would betray him, A feeling like a faint, electric shock passed through him, when a rustling, silken dress, cold and smooth, brushed his hands, and be knew that he had but to raise his arm to inclose the body of the mysterious creature in the dark- ness, But the faint footfall continued. She had passed and was moving along the hall toward the room he had left a few minutes before, In that crucial moment, he became aware of a faint, delicious perfume such as had once stolen away his senses in the Orient, and, whether it was fancy or not, he saw a dim, tremulous ligbt that served to blind, rather than to add to his power of vision, With all his faculties keyed to the highest point, he awoke to the fact that the faint, pe*- tering footfalls were heard no longer, Where the unknown had gone, he could net conjecture, He had heard no doors opened or shut, and the only sounds besides the footfalls were the ‘‘silken, sad, uncertain rustling” of ber garments as she seemed to float past, Perbaps she had —— just beyond arm's reach, where she could hear the slightest move- ment on his part. This dread held bim motion- less for several minutes, but the continued still- ness convinced him that she had vanished from the upper hall more strangely than she had en- tered it, With this beiief came back something of his old courage, which for a brief interval had de- parted, Hedetermined tocontinue his explora- tions, Accordingly, with arms outstretched, he felt bis way along the upper hall in the direction whence the unknown lady had disappeared, The floor here was likewise uncarpeted, and, despite all the care he coul:! use, he knew that every step he took could be heard by any person within the house, no matter where located, In this manner he passed several paces beyond the entrance which admitted him to the hall, when he made another singular discovery. From beneath a door on the other side of the passageway issued several pencils of light, plain- y ble to the young captain, who once more balted and listened. ‘*1'm bound to see this through,” he said te himself, as he gently struck his knuckles on the door; ‘*she must have entered here, and my curiosity about her cannot be baffled.” His experience was the same as when he an- nounced his presence by means of the heavy knocker on the outeide door. His repeated sum- mons, each time louder than before, brought ne response, and with more misgi than in the former instance, he raised the latch and shoved the door inward, As he did so, he drew back shamefacedly, for bis. ai is oie) re a ry a Ce ee >. en {ae ete ae Pa Wage ihe : ol a MF es
Page 4
— - 4 Burd Bayard’s Close Se anon RETA ag 8 Sick he saw on the instant that he had invaded the privacy of a lady’s chamber! The one basty glance cast around the apart- ment showed the lofty, old-fashioned bedstead, with its towering headboard, dark and quaintly carved; the snowy linen and coverlets; the heavy stand protected by spotless linen, fringed atthe borders; a huge trunk, chairs, pictures, dresses aud all the various paraphernalia that go to make up a lady’s wardrobe, outfit and conveniences, and which left no possible doubt of the sex of the occupant, Captain Bayard saw also thesmall lamp burn- ing in the corner, at the instant he closed the door, with the feeling that nothing could justify intrusion on his part, after discovering the un- fortunate part he had played,” ‘“‘T didn’t see her,” was his thought, ‘‘ but, whoever she is, she is ‘certainly no more of a dis- embodied spirit than I am,” A few steps further and the mystified ex- plorer found himself at the head of the stairs, thesame broad incline up which the mysterious lady had come, ** My gracious!” be muttered, as he began de- scending the steps, ‘‘ my boots make a hundred times more racket than she did.” At the bottom of the stairs, down which he guided himself by means of the smooth balus- trade, heagain caught the glimmer of light, this time coming from beneath a door on the right of theylower hall, Without hesitation the sailor shoved this open and passed into the large sitting-room of the Haunted House, It had high ceilings, bare walls, and uncarpeted floor, the only articles of furniture being several plain, high-backed chairs, and a cumbersome lounge that was drawn diagonally in front of the fireplace, as if forthe accommodation of some late visitant, Upon theahearthstone were burning several knots of wood, with a pile at oneside for replen- ishing the blaze, which threw an uncertain flick- ering light through the room. The latter faced the rear of the house,and had two windows opening out on the desolate stretch of lawn, grown over with gnarled, untrimmed trees, emothered with vines and scrubby under- wth, all forming as dreary an outlook as can e imagined. Coutaia Bayard, standing in the middle of the yoom with folded arms, took in the strange sur- roundings. ‘‘This is an adventure,” he mused; ‘‘ and I wonder that my nerves are not more unstrung than they are, Iam sure few would stand it as wellas{— Helloa!” This c yaranope p> was caused by the sight of a folded piece of paper lying just beneath the lounge, acre ime 4 startlingly familiar caused him to draw it forth and read: **$1,000 REWARD! Will be given by me for the capture of Burd Bayard, in addition to the same reward offered by the authorities of Maryland. He is believed to be in hiding somewhere in this county, awaiting a favorable opportunity to escape therefrom, “The said Burd Bayard is about twenty Sy of age, with clean shaven face, nose slight- y aquiline, dark, curling hair, dark eyes, regu- lar teeth, of winning address, and manners, about five feet ten inches in height, very active, powerful and muscular, and when last seen was dressed in black clothing of a fashionable cut, * All good citizens will aid the cause of jus- tice by helping to apprehend this criminal, pity of the crime of murder of the most shock- ng nature, The above reward will be paid by me upon his etme | to the proper authorities, to whomsoever may be entitled to the same, the entire reward awaiting the capture of the crimi- nal being two thousand dollars, ‘“Liuoyp HAVEN,” This was the handbill, embellished with star- ing capitals and exclamation points which, four years before had been posted through that and the adjoinin secu and which had sent — Bayard skulking and dodging and runni ng tro his native State, when, but for the help of a too tried friends, he would have suffered capital punishment, The young man stared at the paper for a min- ute with curious interest, and then, crumpling it in his hands, flung it into the fire. “A fugitive for the crime which God knows never 80 much as entered my thoughts!” he ex- claimed bitterly, as he watched the paper blaze and burn, ‘‘and yet I was environed in such a network that those whom I trusted told me I could not escape the gallows if caught, so I fled, believing time would make knownmy innocence eee ee and ns all things right. But the years bave come and gone, and that reward still awaits bim who capturesme, I am running my neck into the halter by coming back to the neighborhood of The Cedars, but who cares?” he suddenly de- manded in bitterness of spirit, as he looked defiantly around, ‘‘Some one bas done mean unpardonable wrong, and sooner or later the truth shall be known, I always believed Col- onel Haven knew the secret, and that it was he who tent himself to the crime, but he has gone to judgment end after all he may have been in- nocent, and some one else moved the diabolical machinery.” CHAPTER V. SPIRIT TONES, In the midst of his bitter thoughts Captain Bayard became aware of a sound overbead, as if made by a person walking back and forth, It was heavier than the steps which first caught his attention, but the noise suddenly ceased, and the same light, fairy footfalls came from the stairs, ‘* She is coming here—I shall meet her face to face,” was his thrilling thought, as he turned to- ward the door, ‘I will try to explain and ane) ogize for my rudeness,” He waited until the stranger seemed to ed reached a point just outside the entrance, when she paused, Afraid shemight escape himagain, the sailor stepped quickly forward and pushed opon the door. The light from the hearth lit up the hall, so that every object within it became distinctly visible, but not a living person was in sight! Bayard was dumfounded, and for the first time a creeping sensation passed over his body from head to foot, The inclination was strong to flee in a panic from the building, but he quickly rallied. ‘*T set out to stay here all ‘night, and I shall do it,” With the same desperate resolve that had brought him within the Haunted House he threw himself on the lounge, grimly determined that whatever should come should not frighten him from that room. He was well-armed and not afraid to face any pussible danger that might threaten him, As nearly as he could judge in his tumultuous emotions be had lain thus a half-hour, with no sound in his ears but the lonely sighing of the night-wind without aud the flicker and rustle of the blaze on the hearth. Unawareto himself, slumber was beginning to steal away his senses, and he was hovering ou the border-land of ob- livion when he caught the sound of music, so sweet, so heavenly that, fully awakened, still lay like one in a trance, fearful of suring, lest he should break the spell and check the an- gelic strains. At first they were so faint and airy that he believed they were caused by the wind, which had found a tongue among the branches and climbing ivy, but it was too gen- uinely masical to be born of any such source as that. There was a peculiar sinkin first, that suggested a wind- suspended overhead, but as he listened he: me con- vinced that it had another source—one that he dared not conjecture, The abe ne thatcame over the heart of the sailor as he listened to this faint, airy music was that of inexpressible sadness. As soon as the first soft, wavering sound resolved itseif into a voice of eigen pathos and subtlety of expression, he felt a yearning to lie quiescent antil life itself should be wooed from his body. Then, when the spirit tones were dying out, far in the air above him, tremulous on the verge of utter extinction for a moment, and as the rapt soul wasin despair, the music made’; sweep downward, like the plunge of a le . from the heights of ‘ether into the air of + ‘again, fill- ing and overpowering the sor: wiva such sweet ness that it seemed to the sr -1l-bound sailor that he was losing himself, his consciousness, his identity, his soul in the glory that throbbed to the very center of his be ng. Through all this marvelous dallying with the enchained senses Burd Bayard was sensible of a strange, unaccountable familiarity with the music. Somewhere, in the shadowy past, he had heard something of the same nature; some- where, something had stirred emotions akin to those which possessed him now. But when and where? Was it in the silent watches of the night, when, leaning over the gunwale of the Albatross, say rising at = as she glided across the moonlit Pacific, impelled by the favoring trade-wind that badd wafte:t her for weeks on her voyage, te gazed upon the ia main et glimmer of the vasty dee, ? as it amid the fruity groves of the Spice Isl- ands where the strange odors caused the senses to swoon, or was it on the dusky plains of India, when listening to the weird music of the native maidens, or when he watched tho yerfumed lamps floating down the Ganges at eventide? Or was it the dream-like memory of themotber’s lullaby that bad soothed him to rest iu his in- fancy? Was it the spirit voice of thet sainted mother, gone from earth years befi r+, come to cheer his weary soul with ‘the music of the an- els? 9 Never once was he able to detect anything bearing even a remote resemblance to words in these enrapturing strains, which seemed to be not within, though near the house, but floating, sinking, swelling, trembling, dying out far in the air above him, tantalizing the senses, as did the sirens when they lured the navigators to ruin and death, But now the music was coming closer! It grew more and more powerful, never once los- ing its ravishing, tremulous, soul- ssessing na- ture until when it seemingly h room, it stopped! As it did so, Burd Bayard sprung upright, quivering in every limb. He had solved the myseery! Memory had told him when and where that same music had enchanted him in the years gone by. Ay, he knew it! he knew it! The whole marvelous truth had burst upon him like the overwhelming avalanche, “* Muriel! Muriel! will you not come to me?” hejwailed, stretching forth his arms into the empty air. *T have returned to you from the other side of the world; let me infold you tomy heart as [ did in the past. m In his yooreiy imploring sorrow, he expect— ed bis loved and lost to rush to his embrace; but the gloom gave no token and he staggered back like a drunken man ready to sink unconscious to the floor. A new terror was at bis heart, Brave end practical as he was, he had been fearfully tried by the events of the night, and he found despite all his reasoning and self- argument, that there is none of us who has not somewhere down in his heart a chord, which if swept by the proper hand, > (ogy a ” responsive tone to the super- natur ‘‘The servant said she was not seen after the funeral of her father,” he murmured, standing with his back to the ‘fire, and looking gloomily through the open door into the darks hill be- yond, ‘Then she must be dead—goi e fr m the earth months ago—and it was her spirit floating in the air around me that answered to the earnings of my soul. Why should I stay here onger— He paused, for at that moment a slight noise at one of the windows caught his attention, and turning his head, he saw— hat? CHAPTER VI. ‘* ONE—TWO—THREE!” STANDING within the dere room in the Haunted House, with his back to the blazing wood on the hearth, Captain Burd Bayard turn- ed his glance toward one of the windows where he bad heard a slight noise, As he did go he saw a tall, shadowy form, bearing some resemblance to the human figure, but of a gigantic hight and a dim, misty ap- 5 ay suggestive of the mysterious, the ter- ri It was not in the apartment but outside, star- ing through the window at this daring intruder of the Haunted House, No sound came from it, nor could anything more than the irregular outline of the figure be distinguished. The head mere peared to be hooded, with a cloak gathered about and shrouding the shoulders, the arms = face either hid entirely from view or too moly lighted by the smoldering firo to be dis- ble. The head of this Thing was near the top of the upper sash, so that, allowing for the height of the window from the ground, it must have been far taller than the tallest human be- mh apparition, greeting in emere . the moment his nerves were ie ghly ban ao caused him to recoil with an acre pttiae ft ani me to look around for some wat of esca entered the © ——
Page 5
— _ curiosity akin to that of Doctor Hazeltine earlier iu the evening, ‘*T have heard a good deal,” said the captain, laying hishand on the pistol at his hip; ‘‘and it is now time I saw something. There it is, sure enough!” Stirring the fire with his foot, he filled the room with a brighter glow, but found when looking toward the figure that it had gained nothing more than an additional distinctness of outline, Up to this moment it was motionless, as if it were a picture of the night painted against the window-panes; but the sailor now observed something like a movement on the part of the hooded figure as if it were trying vainly to lift itsarm beneath the cloak, The vague motion continued until the right arm was freed from the strangling folds, and then the gesture be- came a warning one, consisting of a slow, wav- ing motion made by raising and lowering the arm several times, Bayard did not know, nor did he care, what meaning the apparition was seeking to convey. He felt inan ugly mood, and, but for the dread of killing some miserabla fool who was trying to play upon his fears, he would have sent the contents of his pistol into the figure. “Til give him warning,” he concluded con- scious of a deepening of his owa resentment; **and, if he don’t heed it, he must take the con- sequences and it will be his own fault.” he captein was an admirable pistol-shot, and, at that distance could plant nineteen bul- lets out of twenty intoa space an inch square, _ He knew the Thing was at his mercy. Leveling his larger weapon, be said: ° “*Pil give you just one minute to leave, and, if you don’t, ’ll put a bullettbrough you.” The form became as motionless as himself. **T give you warning,” added the captain, ‘if you yaon’t depart before I count three, lil re. All this time the arm of the sailor was extend- ed, pointing like the finger of fate straight at the apparition, which was as motionless as the weapon itself, Captain Bayard proved his deadly earnest- nes3 the next moment, ‘*One!l Two! Three!” The last word was hardly uttered, when crack went the pistol, and the jingle of glass left no doubt whither the bullet had gone. ‘The sailor looked to see an upthrowing of the arms, to hear the appalling shriek, as the shroud- ed figure threw itself, dying, to the ground; but it stood as immovable as the trunk of the oak a few paces beyond, and with the fractured win- dow-pane showing that the bullet had pierced abe glassexactly in front of where the face had n, “I hit it!” whispered Bayard to himself, “but it is unharmed! It must be that disem- bodied spirits do return to earth! This house is haunted! The crime that stained its walls was ne dreadful to allow itselfto be forgotten! The apparition was now seen to be oscillating again, butslowly sinking downward, as if about to disappear into the earth. The sailor kept bis eyes riveted onit, until the head bad passed below the line of sight, when be dashed forward and threw up tho sash, It was Rone as utterly, as though it never existed! But where, he could not guess. It had sunk downward, but below the captain’s eyes thera was nothing, so far as he could judge, that could conceal anything of that nature, ‘‘Naever was my hand steadier nor my aim tru -r,” said the sailor, “ and the Thing was hit fairly yet was not barmed.” He walked moodily back to the fire, reloading the barrel, so that he had three shots at his com- mand, and then debated with himself what was the best thing to do. he buraing embers behind him fell apart, and the wind moaned and sighed outside, but the wondrous music had long since ceased, ‘*T wonder, whether it has left for good, or will it makeanother call—” Could he believe his senses? There stood the ghostly visitant, just as he had seenit a short time before, but it was new in frontof the other window. It was swaying more violently than at the first appearance, with a waltz like movement, as i? seeking to tantalize the spectator, who began tu feel an emotion akin to genuine fear. ‘ “Diltry it again!”he muttered, bringing his weapon to a level, ‘and I'll give it the benefit of a warving the same as before,” It was one! two! three! and the bang and ingle of glass, with the certainty that the bul- Tet had sped straight to itsmark. The oscillat- i nn 8 Burd Bayard’s Close Call. ing movement lasted a minute or two and then the phantom seemed this time to float off and upward in the air, vanishing like a feather borne by a strong wind, Ceptain Bayard stood awhile, with smoking pistol in band, staring at the second window- sash, esif strving to make sure whether he was dreaming or awake, He had surely seen enough to unnerve the bravest man that ever confronted danger. He had expected, when he entered the upper win- dow of the Haunted House, to undergo some singular experiences, but ho never thought it poutine that anything like this could take place, He bad set out with the strange resolve to pene- trate the mystery of a hundred years and had been baffled at every point. At the very mo- ment when, assured in his own heart that he had solved the wonderful secret, he was confronted by a new danger which lauzhed him to scorn, It was a danger, too, which he felt bimself unequal to face. He had been met and con- quered, ‘¢*That man is @ madman who fizhts against fate,” he concladed, seizing his hat from the lounge, and shoving the half-discharged pistol back in his pocket, hen, throwing up the win- dow, be leaped ont upon the ground, and, with- out pansing to recover his heavy cane, or 80 much as to look behind him, hurried off, heed- less of the directon he was pursuing. CHAPTER VII. A STRANGE MEETING, As might be expected, when Captain Bayard left the Haunte House in such blind haste, he took the wrong course, Every step led him further from the main highvay, which he meant to follow to Buzzard’s Roost, thence to sail for some distant port, never to return to his native Jand again, Not until be found himself on the border of an extensive and deep wood, did he pause and look around him. The air had grown cooler, and something of his old assurance came back to him, ‘*T wonder where I am?” he mused, looking about and striving in vain to recognizs soma familiar landmark, ‘‘ When I was a boy, it would have been impossible to lose me within twenty miles of Buzzar’s Roost, but I believe I’m beyond soundings now, * ** However,” he added, ‘*I can’t be so far lost that 1 won’t find my way back pretty soon, I told the boys to wait for me at tha tavern, and by this time they are in such a@ condition that Pll have hard work getting them to the schoon- er, : The gloomy seafarer was walking slowly along, when he emerged into a small clearing, Jarge enough, bowever, to be lit up by the light of the moon, As he naturally paused, he ob- served that a figure on the other side had also halted, and doubtless from the same cause—'';> sight of a stranger. Vith an astonishment which perhaps may be imagined, he recognized the other as a young lady, Who was coming directly toward him. She was attired in a light, fleecy dreas, with a white shawl drawn about her shoulders and no covering for her head, The hair, fine, silken and extraordinarily luxuriant, descended far below her waist, spreading out and inclosing her figure like an Astrachan robe, while the pale and wonderfuily beauteous face startled Captain Bayard, who half suspected that one of the spirits from the Haunted House had follow- ed him into the wood, Perhaps a dozen feet separated the young persons when they recognized each other at the same moment. In a low, tremulous voice he pronounced the name: ** Muriel !” For one instant she looked at him without her slight frame, She coverea her face with her hands and seemed on the point of sinking to the earth, when he sprung forward in time to save her. He gently drew the small white hands from before the countenance and gazed at the marvel of beauty, while she, raising her eyes, tremulous with love and melting with af- fection and sorrow, asked: ee: “On, Burd! have you come back from the grave—at last—atlast?” And yet, though their lips had met hundreds of tines, and though his head, almost touched hers, he simply held her in bis arms, both weighed down by a grief such as few mortals are called upon to bear, ' “T heard you call me,” she said, ‘‘ but they 2%, fs gat antes esa et tae OO Ree Page ws! speaking, and then a strange quivering seized | eae would not let me go to you; but I watched and saw which way you went and followed you.” ‘“*And who are ‘they’ that you speak of?’ asked Captain Bayard, She shuddered as she answered: ** Don’t ask me again; [ cannot tell you.” ‘*T will not, dearest; think no more about it, but tell me why you followed my footsteps,” ‘* Because I heard you call me; why did you do so?” . ‘“*T can hardly tell; my experience in that heuse is Jike some wild dream; I thought it was your spirit that had returned to me,” ‘Tell me, Burd, where you have been all those long years since you went away,” **On that dreadful night when 1 fied likea hare before the hounds, a few friends stood by me and helped me out of the country. You know I had been on the sea before, and my sll was of great assistance to me, I got along so well that more than a year ago | was given command of the Albatross, I thought when I leftin such haste that [ never would want to- set eyes on Buzzard’s Roost egain, for 1 have no living relatives; tut tue desire to Jearn some- thing about tho people, and especially about you, led me to thrust my neck into the halter again,” ‘* And when did you come?” she asked, raising those wonderful eyes of hers and looking him straight in the face, ‘*T sailed up the Chesapeake yesterday, and anchored off Buzzard’s Roost a short time be- fore sunset, On my way, I met Foor the servant, and Dr, Hazeltine, from whom I learn- ed that Colonel Haven had been dead more than six months.” ‘* Yes,” replied Muriel, ‘‘ hedied with his arms around my neck and whispering words of love in my ear,” ** Then all was forgotten and—forgiven?” “Tam not so sure,’ she repiied with singular calmness, ‘‘A part of the time his mind wan- dered and he appeared to forget about the— trouble, and believed that he and I wereas we were before it came upon us, I strove to recall itto him, for I could not bear to have him de- part with any feeling of harshness in his beart toward me; but the years were forgotten and he called me‘ Baby Muriel,’ just as be used to do when I was a little childand he held me on his knee, He thought I had come to him for my embrace and good-night, as I always did until that trouble,” The maiden’s own seuteuces recalled so vivid- ly thatlast scene of all that she was overcome and unable to speak for some minutes, Captain Bayard still held her in his arms, and ba uttered soothing words until she became herself again. ‘‘ Forgive me, Muriel, but Tam anxious to know all, Wasthere no time during his dying moments when he mentioned tae trouble between us? Did he make no reference to me?” ‘Yes; afew seconds of light seemed to glim- mer on him and he pronounced your name, but alas! it was with no feeling of forgiveness, and I cannot help thinking that, had his mind re- mained clear, he would have spurned me also from him,” ‘*- You are wrong,” urged the captain, anxious to remove this dreadful doubt from the heart of the daughter; ‘‘ it was his affection for you that could be restrained no longer, Let no such mis- take enter your thougbts, But,” added the young man, in a sterner voice, a3 ho gently re- leased the willowy form, ‘‘as it is, I have no right to hold you insuch fondembrace, [bad hoped, in spite of Dr. Hazeltine’s hard words, that all might have been made clear to Colonel Haven before he departed, and that he had withdrawn his harsh condemnation of an inno- cent man, It hasbeen said that the last min- utes of a person’s life are sometimes divinel illuminated, that the mists clear from h vision and he is permitted to see things as they are, but Colonel Haven died with bis min clonded or—” Captain Bayard hesitated to utter tho bitter words in his soul. Herebelled against the great wrong he had suffered, but he must spare the stricken child, who stood looking at him with the same frightful calmness of face and manner she had displayed during most of this Shar interview, This unnatural quiet alarmed t lover, who resolutely forced back the hot words — struggling for utterance, Then she spoke: “* He believed you guilty; mother believed you uilty, but I never for a second suspected you; not that enough?” “No,” he replied flercely; ‘‘ what avail is that tome? You have beld the same faith always, but the insurmountable barrier remains, It is an impassable gulf!” he added, pointing to the ground between them,
Page 6
6 The sailor breathed fast and hard. With flashing eyes and heaving chest, he struck his forehead. ** Oh, God, am I always to be an Ishmael, with every man’s hand against me? Are those who have crushed me to the earth to be allowed to keep me forever in torture and disgrace? Will Heaven always withhold the avenging hand?” And he looked up at the cloudless sky, with its pale moon gazing down, as it seemed, with something like reproof at the blasphemous thoughts of the smitten man, Then, as he turned and his eyes rested on the bowed form before him, a gentler feeling stole into his heart. **Porgive if you can, Muriel, my harsh and reckless words,” She was silent a moment and then looked up, her countenance unnaturally pale and calm, and witbout a tear in the lustrous eyes, “Tf I have anything to forgive, it is forgiven, When you left me, in the night, I knew of few besides myself who did not believe your guilt. Never doubting, I resolved not to rest until the whole dark mystery was cleared up and you were justified before the world, For a year I scarcely paused; then there came another ca- lamity, whose memory makes me shudder, for it came to me—to me!” she whispered, with a wild, terrified look. ‘‘I foughtagainst it, and prayed a merciful Heaven to turn it aside, but God willed otherwise!” Captain Bayard was startled and begged her to desist. **Say no more—say no more, Too much has nlready been said! I understand your reference and want no other explanation. I can never blame you so much asin thought, The night is waning; let us leave this spot!” They walked a few minutes in silence, her arm resting in his, while she instinctively acted as the guide for him who had wandered from the right course, Captain Sayard’s lips were compressed, and a hard resolution was forming in his heart, ** We must part forever,” he said, with super- human calmness, ‘‘I have learned from your own lips that your mother holds the same be- lief that your father carried into the grave. The chasm can never be closed in this world. I shall strive to lead such a life that we shall be reunited beyond the stars. My spirit has often revolted, but that is past. The ways of Provi- dence are beyond our ken, but no murmur shall be heard from me.” Mariel Haven seemed on the point of saying something, but, with a courage which few of her sex possessed, she refrained, Reaching a nar- row path, he took the lead, with her walking close behind him, **T must bid her farewell,” he reflected, as he walked slowly forward, ‘‘ and for the last time touch my lips to hers,” Reaching the end of the path, at the border of The wood, he turned to offer his arm, Bat she had vanished! CHAPTER VIII. ‘¢y SURRENDER!?’ Captain Burp BAYARD waited several min- utes, hoping that Muriel, wrapped in deep thought, might have fallen unconsciously be- hind, but he soon became corvinced that she had fled, doubtless impelled to do so through a wish to escape the last painful parting. “She did well,” be reflected, resuming his moody walk, now that he had located himself, and knew the right course to take to reach the highway to Buzzard’s Roost, ‘‘There was no 1 for more words, The great obstacle to our union can never be removed, I took care to make no hint to her of another cause, for it would have broken her gentle heart, and I pray she may never suspect it.” Ah, but the sweet Muriel Haven had not nik es ara but she knew the truth from the it ** Well,” added the young sailor captain, rous- ing himself and looking around, ‘‘ they must be expecting me on the Albatross.” As he moved across the field, he observed that the night was nearly at an end. The dismal Haunted House loomed through the early morning mists, and it was hard, even then, to recall his remarkable experience within its walls without believing the events, were only some grisly phantasmagoria of the overwrought brain. But he resolutely shut out all eden tion of the mysteries, knowing they were beyond bis knowledge, and doubtless would always re- THAtM #O, i ixiay his thoughts on the Albatross and the duues awaiting him there, he strode rapidly for- Burd Bayard’s Close Call. ward, until he came to a familiar point where two roads met, There the first object on which his eyes rested was another of those flaming posters headed: ** $1,000 RewarRpD!” ‘* What does that mean?” be exclaimed, with a recoil of wrathful resentment, ‘‘ That was printed four years ago, It must have been Bes. A since | came to Buzzard’s Roost last nigh Assured on this point, Captain Bayard now gave bis thoughts to the personal peril tbat threatened him—a peril not only of the most serious nature, but one that was deepening every minute. He reflected that a dozen hours had passed since his meeting with Doctor Hazeltine—time sufficient for the irate physician to set the ma- chinery of the lawin motion, Pompey may have recognized him, and, though be was a friend, yet he was not bright-witted, and may have be- trayed the secret without thought of the grave consequences to him. He had no wish to stand trial when, accord- ing to every earthly possibility, he was sure of conviction and a disgraceful death. He felt it his duty to take every precaution against cap- ture, As he walked along the road, therefore, in the gray of the early morning, he was on the alert for enemies, Filled with misgiving, he came opposite to the old mansion known as The Cedars; .but, without pausing, he hurried for- ward to ve confronted by another of the ter- rible posters, with its caption, ‘1,000 Rewarp!” which had sent him skurrying out of the neigh- borhood years before, ‘* This is getting more serious than 1 suspect- ed,” he muttered, hesitating whether to take to the fields and woods again. The hand-bill seemed to grin at him like a de- mon. ‘*My foes are busy,” he added, grinding his teeth, ‘‘ but I am not yet taken.” At that instant a man leaped over the fence beside him, and stopping short with a startled glance, the captain placed his hand on the pisto at his hip, 1 But it was Pompey, the negro, whose sable face was the picture of distress, ‘‘Ob, Massa Bayard, will you forgib me?” he moaned, ready to sink to the earth. ‘*Porgive you for what?’ demanded the sailor, suspecting the cause of the negro’s emo- ion. ‘* Indeed I didn’t meanit! I didn’t t?ink ob it! Will you please forgib me?” ** How can I forgive you unless you tell me what you mean? Out with it, Pompey.” ‘“Wal, de way ob it war dis way: when 1 met you last night I wouldn’t hab knowed you, if it warn’t dat you had your whiskers off at fu’st, den you done forgot and spoke like your- self; den I knewed dat it war you, When I got home and see’d some ob de boys, [kinder forgot myself and ac’dent’ly let it drop dat I had see’d yerself. And dar war Pete—he just slid out, and | didn’t tink what ho war arter till he war gone, and I started to head him off; but he war too fur from de house fur mo $0 cotch him till I see’d him talkin’ wid Doctor Hageltine, and den I knowed it war all up. I war somad at my- self fur lettin’ out de secret dat I kicked myself all de way back to de house, I spent all night lookin’ fur yer,so dat I might tell yer, but I didn’t cotch sight ob yer till dis blessed minute, and, oh, Massa Bayard, you must run—and do you forgib me?” ‘Certainly, Pompey; you meant no wrong, aad here’s another dollar for your kindness,” The negro caught tne coin tossed to him, and his tears gave way to smiles as he turned about, muttering: “Tf anybody axes me "bout you, I'll tell him he’s a liar and frow stones at him, and don’t for- git to hurry, Masser Bayard.” Bidding the servant good-by, the sailor re- snmed his walk down the highway in the direc- tion of Buzzard’s Roost, the conviction strong upon him that be would be unable to reach the little town without trouble, “ There’s one thing certain,” he said, to him- self, ‘* it won’t do for me to keep in the main road, for there’s just where they willbe hunt- ing for me. It won’t do, either, to make my way back to the Albatross, unless I do so se- cretly, for they will be watching her, If 1 could only get word to Mate Simmons and have him drop down the bay several miles and wait till dark it would be easy enough to manage it, but it will be as bard to effect an understanding with bim as tn escape, unless | should run against one of the boys.” But the only place to meet a member of his crew was at the tavern in Buzzard’s Roost, and, to go there, would be to walk into the lion’s den. He decided, therefore, to continue down the highway a short distance further, since no persons were in sight, and then to make his way to the shore ata point below the little county town, If unable to communicate by signal with his vessel, he would wait until night and then swim out toit, It was not likely the officers of the law had as yet boarded the craft, and he would keep close enough watch to discover any such action, In the event of the officers visiting the Al- batross, of course he would také good care to give the schooner a wide berth and rely on other means to get out of the country. Accordingly, he kept his course for a quarter of a mile further, when he found himself close to a small stretch of woods, The sound of hoofs caused him to dart among the trees, where he peeped furtively out at a couple of horsemen, as they rode by on a walk. ‘They are looking for me,” was his thought, ‘© and the hunt will be a hot one.” Unfortunately the woods, as has been stated, were of moderate extent, and he had not gone far when he emerged into an open meadow, where he paused to make sure of his bearings. Standing thus, he was on the point af mov- ing forward, once more, when there was a sud- den crackling and thrashing of the wunder- rowth, and fully a dozen men, all armed with oaded guns, seemed to spring from the very earth, ‘‘ T guess you're the chap we’re looking for,” called out the leader, leveling his rifle; ‘* throw up your hands!” ‘©T surrender,” answered Bayard, seeing all hope was gone, CHAPTER Ix. COUNSELOR AND CLIENT. CAPTAIN BAYARD wondered at his own tame submission when summoned to surrender, A few minutes before he was filled with an angry resentment which would have insured a fight to the death before yielding; but at the mo- ment of the summons, a relapse came overt him, and he felt as though, having vainly bat- tled fate so long, it was useless to struggle fur- ther. He was safely lodged in the county jail at Buzzard’s Roost, and his captors received the full amount of the reward offered, the widow of Colonel Haven paying her portion with an alacrity that tien have added wormwood to the bitter cup of the prisoner could he have seen the act. When word reached Mate Simmons of what had taken place, the anchor of the Albatross was hoisted, sail spread, and the sober citizens of Buzzard’s Roost drew a breath of relief, thanking fortune that they were rid of a set of men who doubtless were pirates that had stained their hands in the blood of scores of in- nocent persons. ‘* After his flight some years ago,” said the delighted Dr. Hazeltine, while recounting the part he had taken in the capture, to the atten- tive and pleased Widow Haven, ‘‘ word came back that he had been drowned in a distant sea, But I never believed it, for you know the say- ing that the man who is born to be hanged will never be drowned, and I was sure he would turn up here again sooner or later. I kept a good lot of the colonel’s handbills to post up, whenever the wretch’s fate should lead him hither, Jus- tice is now sure to be done, for he is safe within the county jail.” ‘* When will his trial take place?” ‘¢ Court sits next week, ana I understand his trial will be among the first. There is no earth- ly doubt of the result.” ‘¢ Do you know whether he has engaged coun- sel?” ‘¢-Yes,” said the physician, frigidly; ‘ 1 am ashamed to say that my son has offered Lis ser- ” ces, And yet, despite the words of the old doctor, it was plain that no man was prouder of @ son than he was of that brilliant boy of his, who was. admitted to the bar barely three years before, and who had already made a reputation that — known from one end of the State to the other. The doctor wanted Burd Bayard hanged, and yet, if that bright youth of bis should prove smart enough to save his neck, the father, away . down in his heart, woulc be the proudest parent in all Maryland Le
Page 7
age Like a burst of sunshine came Fred Hazeltine into the gloomy cell of the despairing Burd Bay- ard. There was no resisting the contagion of the handsome fellow’s presence, He nearly tum- bled over the turnkey in his eagerness to greet the friend whom (unknown to Doctor Hazeltine) he had doue so much to help out of the country, four years before, when hounded by the officers of the law. ** How are you, Burd, my old boy?’ he ex- claimed, slapping him on the shoulder and then wringing his hand; ‘‘I was at Annapolis when [heard you werein limbo; you owe me for a horse that I rode clean to death so as to get here in time, Why don’t you tell me how you are, old fellow?” ‘God bless you!” replied Captain Bayard, with tears in his eyes, as he held up his mana- cled hands; ‘‘ 1 didn’t expect this.” ** What's the reason you didn’t? What sort of a fellow do you take me for?” Then turning to the turnkey, he tld him he wished to be left alone with his client for an hour, Vi hen the sluggish cflicial was beyond hearing, the young lawyer turned to his friend, and his cheery way said: ‘** Now to business, Your trial will be called within a fortnight, unless you want it post- poned in order to hunt up witnesses, I will spend an hour or two each day with you, and eo heart and soul to secure your acquit- tal, ** You won’t succeed,” said Captain Bayard, looking quietly in the face of hisfriend. —*#*» ** | won’t if I don’t show more pluck than you, but I’m in this business to win. Let’s run over the matter. To begin at the beginning, four years ago last month, Colonel Haven’s overse r and his wife were found murdered in their beds, The house, standing within a mile of The Cedars, was robbed of a large amount of money, the proceeds of a big tobacco sale in Baltimore, Kirke Warman, the overseer, was a barsh taskmaster, and suspicion pointed to the slaves, A careful examination of the premises, however, not only proved the innocence of the servants, but showed that the terrible crime was committed by a white man, ** It was also discovered that an attempt had been made to fire the place, for the purpose of hiding all traces of the crime, but the assassin was scared off before he could complete his work, While the investigation was under way two negroes of Colonel Haven declared they had stolen away to Buzzard’s Roost that night with- out a permit from the overseer, and were com- ing back about midnight, when they recognized your black stallion standing in front of the over- seer’s house. Witha curiosity natural in such roa: they hid themselves near, and waited to earn whatit meant, You shortly after made your appearance, mounted your horse and rode away. Ibey wereabout to resume their return to quarters, when the sight of smoke coming from the house caused them to rush in and help put out the flames, They succeeded in doing so with great difficulty. They saw nothing of the dead les, and supposed that the overseer and his wife were absent from home. “The names of these two negroes were Pom- pey and Pete, who, without thought of involv- ing you, told the story, which was afterward proven true in every particular. They said, in addition, that, while you were mounting your horse, some man whom they did not know, but who carried a heavy cane, passed and saluted you, You returned the salutation, but they did not catch the name, ‘** At the inquest, this man voluntarily came forward and asserted that what the negroes said was strictly true. He stated that the moon was shining so brightly that he recognized you be- a all possibility of mistake, His name was osiah Brigham, a resident of Buzzard’s Roost, who bad known you from childhood, and who has the reputation of being one of the most con- scientious men inthe country. He gave his tes- timony with great emotion. “The n ’ uncorroborated story, as you know, would have dove you little barm, but it was what Mr. Brigham told, confirmed by what followed. Suspicion pointed so strongly to you that you were , 1D bed at the Golden avern, There was blood on your hands and clothing, and a large sum of money in your on, Your confusion and contradictory explanations removed all doubts of guilt, exce on the part of a few of your devoted friends, among whom of course was myself. ** Colonel Haven became a volcano of wrath, because you were engaged in marriage to his daughter, He would have favored lynching you, and swore that he would spend his entire fortune in bringing you to justice. I was hope- Burd Bayard’s Close Call. 7 ful that if the trial could be delayed until the excitement calmed down, or if a change of venue could be secured, a way might open to establish your innocence despite the awful proof against you, ** But matters looked so bad that a few of us helped you to escape, Pompey being one of the number, He has managed to keep the secret through fear that, if it shouid be discovered, he would be hanged in your place. ‘** Well, ailthat was four years ago, and you got safely away, only to come back and allow yourself to be arrested. Havel given the nar- rative correctly?” ‘** Without the slightest error, conclusion, Fred?” ‘**T do not see the first ray of hope.” CHAPTER X. Mp Nie CAPTAIN BuRD BayYARD stared at the young counselor in amazement, ‘- You tell me there is not a ray of hope, and yet insist on making a fight for me? I do not understand such logic.” Fred Hazeltine made the cell ring with his merry laughter, ‘* Don’s be in such a hurry to jump to conclu- sions, I repeat what I said, that, as matters stand, I see no hope at all, but I believe we shall both see it before long. I assure you, on my honor, that I believe some way will open for clearing up this mystery, and of saving a man who is as innocent of that particalar crime as I am, ‘*T want to know, Fred, whether you believe fully, unreservedly, unshakenly, in my inno- cence,” ‘* Never bave I had a moment’s doubt, my dear fellow |” Captain Bayard extended his hand, saying in a broken voice: “That is worth a good deal. I thank you from my very soul! Your faith has renewed the prayer for life within me.” **You shall come from the furnace without the smell of fire on your garments, and then shall you be happy with Muriel Haven, the most beanteous and lovely maid in all Maryland —an angel on earth, Burd, if anything human can be angelic,” Burd Bayard shook his head, _“*Had Colonel Haven been spared to see m vindication, it might be, but he died without recalling the prohibition he uttered long be- fore,” < ‘* Did it have no condition?” “None, and with that probibition hanging over us, his daughter cap never become my wife.” Fred Hazeltine sprung up and paced rapidly back and forth across the narrow cell, A new suspicion and a new tratn of thought had taken shape in his mind, caused by the iast remark of bisfriend. But the hour had not yet come to name it, Hoe resumed his seat. *‘ Let us keep to the point, Burd. You will see that the case could not be much stronger against ou. ‘So strong, indeed, that to me it is hope- less,” What is your ‘* Not so bad as that, byany means, Now, old fellow, I want you to give me your version of that woful night. I must have everything fixed 80 clearly in my mind that there is no room for the slightest error.” “ Well,” said the prisoner, with a sigh, ‘‘my story isa brief one, On that night I rode along the road toward Buzzard’s Roost at a later hour than usual. My horse was on a slow walk, the moon was shining brightly, and at the moment I came opposite the overseer’s house I thought I heard a groan. My stallion showed some. un- easiness, and, thinking help might be needed, I dismounted‘ tied him at the gate and knocked at the door. There was no answer, and all was still, I wasabout to leave, when I decided to look further, and, lifting the latch, entered. “Everything was dark, and, though I spent some time in groping round the room, I was un- able to find a light. Icalled the name of War- man several times, but, after tumbling about for a while, [ concluded I had made a mistake and came out, believing the overseer and his wife were away from home. ““AsI remounted my horse, Josiah Brigham came along, precisely as he testified, and bade me good-evening, The negroes being in hiding, Isaw nothingof them. | galloped back to the Golden Boar, at Buzzard’s Roost, turned my oe over to the hostler, and went to bed in the ark, ‘* | felt so ill next morning that I didu’t mse, and was in bed when arrested. Then, for the first time, I noticed the blood on my hands and clothing. It musthave got there while I was groping around the room of the overseer, in the dark. You tell me there was evidence of a fear- ful struggle in the house, and blood seemed to be every where, ‘*] was astounded, perbaps more than my ac- cusers, and I have no doubt that, in the excite- menc of the moment, I deepened suspicion by my replies to many of their questions, The several hundred dollars which was found on me was my own. I often bad larger amountsthan that, and I was contemplating a trip to Philadalphia. But that, too, was a link in the chain oi evi- dence which seemed too strong fur human skill to break.” ** Now, Burd, give me your theory.” **T really have none that amounts to anything, Like many others, I supposed at first the crime was committed by negroes, The overseer and his wife were both killed by pistol] shot wounds and though no weapon was found on me, yet all saw the chance I[ had of getting rid of any such telltale evidence, and that fact, therefore, weighed nothing in my behalf. The deed muat have been done by some skillful villain who has kept his secret too well,” ‘Well, good-by; I will see you again to- morrow.” Fred Hazeltine, as he declared, had entered into this business heart and soul, and as he mounted his horse and rode away trom the jail, his mind was full of it, ‘‘ Where shall I look for the key?” he asked himself ;‘‘it must be within reach, if T only knew where to bunt forit. I will go to the house of the present overseer. Possibly he has picked up some clew, for he has lived in the house several years.” It was only a short ride to the house of Mr. Merriweather, the successor of the murdered Warman. Asthe young lawyer approached he saw the man for whom he was looking come from the house, as though he had just con- cluded his midday meal, After a few preliminary words, young Hazel- tine came to the point, ** You tell me, Mr. Merriweather, that- you have lived here about three yeare. During that time, of course, you have ransacked the place from top to bottom,” ‘*T should think so,” replied the overseer, with a grin, ‘‘ being that I have the help of nine chil- dren in doing the same thing.” *T am the counsel of Captain Burd Bayard, who is accused of the murder of your prede- cessor. He is innocent, and the real criminal is still at large. I am in search of evidence, [ want to learn whether you or any member of your family have come upon anything, no mat- ter how trifling, that has a bearing upon this business, Think hard,” **No, I believe not,” replied the overseer, taking off his hat and scratching his head, like a man in perplexity ;‘‘ but hold on! I remember now that one of my children was playing in the back yard and found a pistol, an old double- barreled one, that must have lain there a good time, for it was very rusty.” ‘* What did you do with it?” ‘““T Jaid it away on the shelf, and I guess it’s there yet,” ‘Bo kind enough to let me see it,” Mr. Marriweather was absent only a minute, when he reappeared bearing the weapon in his hand, ‘¢ There it is; it was so long ago that I had al- most forgotten it,” Fred Hazeltine’s heart gave a quick throb as he took the old pistol in hand and carefully ex- amined it, ‘‘That is the weapon which killed Mr, War- man and his wife,” said the young lawyer. ‘* Both barrels are empty. As Burd Bayard came out of the front door, the murderer passed out the rear and dropped this in his flight,” f Then, turning to the gaping overseer, he asked; ‘* Am I the only person who has made inquiry for this?” ** Yes, sir; nobody has known that I had it,” ‘* Very well; let no living person know any- thing about it, So long a time has passe that your children have forgotten it, and a word to your wife will be sufficient,” ‘“*You are welcome to the pistol, and vou needn't have any fear about that,” assured Mr, Merriweather, whose faith in the diserction of his wife evidently was unbounded, Thanking the overseer for his courtesy, Fred bade him good-day and turned his horse in the direction of Buzzard’s Roost.
Page 8
ie] **T believe Providence is directing my steps,” he sait; I am sure Burd never owned that weap v, Now that no one is watching me, I will examine it more closely.” é The pistol was small, silver-mounted, the stock elaborately carved, and, though rusty from its long exposure to the elements, the flint was in good condition, so that, when ho pulled back the claw-like hammer and pressed tho trigger, it gave out asharp spark, sufficient to ignite any powder in the pan. ** Some memento of Revolutionary days, and there’s no saying what good service it may have donsia the struggle for liberty, before prosti- tuted toits last misuse— Helloa!” On t5e finger-guard he traced three letters as distinctly as if ho had carved them there him- self, They were P, L. M,” CHAPTER XI. OLD FRIENDS, Tr need not be said that red Hazeltine was sturtled, and naturally placed a value on tho discovery just made that was lessened by a few minutes’ reflection, “*T cannot think of any person with tho initials P. L, M.,’” he said, after racking his brains over the matter; ‘‘and. after all, thoso letters may have been placed there with the intent to deceive; or if they stand for the owner’s nama, the property was stolen from him by be real criminal, But they have a value of their own nevertheless,” ho added, carefully shoving the weapon out of sight of any one whom he might encounter on the way. Hs had hardly done so when he caught sight of his fatber’s familiar gig bobbing up the road toward him. Thetwo stopped, as a matter of course, and the greeting was an affectionate one, ‘* You know the business that has brought me down from my offices at Annapolis?’ remarked the son, with a quizzical look, ‘*-Yes, I heard you were Captain Bayard’s counsel, Youhavea hard task before you, as any man must have who fights justice.” ‘We won't discuss it here, father,” re- plied Fred, with asmile, ‘‘I expect to be up home with you and mother for a few days, while pushing my investigations. I believe you conducted the post-mortem, father, four years ago?” “Pdid,” ‘* And you found a pistol-bullet in the body cf Mr. Warman, and anotber in that of his wife?” ** You are right,” ‘* What became of those bullets?” ‘* They are in my office, on the topmost shelf, behind a jar of alcohol.” ‘¢ T should like to have them,” *’ Help yourself; I won’t be home for a couple of hours, and no doubt you can find them with- out trouble,” After afew more words, father and son sepa- rated, the latter burrying t» the homo of his boyhood, wherr, a3 may be supposed, ho re- ceived a warm welcome from bis mother, phos A any appearance of expectation or ex- citement, Fred made his way to his father’s of- fie some time later. The bullets were found precisely where he ex- pected to find them, each containing a small cross cut on it, the same being the mark placed there for identification by the physician. Tho son tried the'builets in the barrels of the old pistol, and they fitted perfectly, “That settles that matter,” he said, with a sigh, ‘* there can be not tha slightest doubt that these bullets caused the death of the overseer and his wife, and were discharged from this stg Who fired the pistol? That’s the ques- ion, and until [ can fini out the identity of ‘P, L. M.,’ there is little chance of discovering the guilty one,” Fred decided to withhold all knowledge of the recovery of the pistol from his father, The old gentleman bélieved thorougblyin the guilt of the young man, and, although no man knew better how to keep a secret than he, yet there was nothing to bo gained by making him a confidant at this stage of the peculiarly delicate business. But that evening he questioned both his nts as to their knowledge of persons in the neighborhood whose Christian names be- gan witb the letter M. Such an old physician as Doctor Hazeltine possessed an intimate knowledge cf all the families for a radius of a score of miles, There were plenty whose names began with the letter ‘‘M,” but, singu- larly enough, not one could be thought of whose first initials were ‘'P, L.,” or, indeed, Burd Bayard’s Close Call. which contained either of the letters. To the others mentioned, it was impossible to attach any suspicion, As the afternoon was only partly gone, Fred decided to rido to Buzzard’s Roost and make an- other call on Captain Burd Bayard. He had concluded to visit hiscflica in Annapolis on the morrow; and, since the distance was consider- able, and ha meant to rids his own horse, with the probability of being ebsent a couple of days, he thought it wise to hold a consultation with his frienu, to whom he wished to reveal the dis- coveries nade during the day. The young man certainly had learned enough to keep his thoughts busy, and he therefore failed to note an individual who suddenly ap- peared at the roadside, where it wound through the small stretch of forest just beyond the Haunted House, Then, when he glanced at the person, he ob- served that if was the very one whom of all others he did not wish to see, It waz Muriel Haven, who stood quietly at the side of the highway, surveying him with an ex- pression that left no doubt she was waiting to speak to him, Fred hed been her playmate in childhood, and, knowing the peculiar relations between her snd his client, and the impossibility of saving anv- thing to cheer her, he hoped that she would al- low him to pass with no more than a formal salu- tation. But, as he lifted his hat, she signed him to approach, and he could not decline to draw his horse to one side, ‘ Fred, you are the very one I want to see.” ‘Tn what way can I serve you, Muriel?” ‘You area Jawyer, and since you have lived in Annapolis, I have heard how famous you havo becon e.” The young man flushed to his temples, and murmured something about the unreliability of such reports, though tho sincerity of the compliment could not fail to give him plea- sure, ** And you are bis lawyer.” *¢ Whose lawyer?’ ho asked. ‘‘ Burd Bayard’s, You wiil defend him when he is brought to trial for his life.” ‘¢ Who told you that?” he demanded, in aston- ishment, ‘*Never mind; isit true?” ‘* Yes,” he answered, ‘‘ I have engaged to de- fend him, and shall do my utmost to prove his innocence, As his friend I shall act in this case, as well as his lawyer.” ‘Tell me,” she added, stepping nearer his horse and looking upin his face; ‘‘i3 there any chance to save him?” ‘* I believe there is, though it is a slight one. If you possess any knowledge, or know of avy one who does, now is your time to let me know, for we have not an hour tolose.” ‘*T can say nothing of my own knowledge, but thera is one who can, and yet he won't.” ‘© Who is be?” ** Ho would kill mo if 1 should tell you.” Fred Hazeltine was astounded, **You can bava no cause for fear, my dear friend. If you will reveal what you know to me, you shall be protected, This is a strange state of affairs, indeed, when you dare not tell the truth:” ‘* He will know if I tell you. I would make any sacrifice for Burd; I would give my life a bunodred times over, but in this case it would do no good,” ‘* Pardon me for saying that I am a better gudae of such matters than you can possibly ‘* No, it will be useless, but I will think—I will think, ard perhaps—perhaps—” There wasan expression on the lovely counte- nance, as the girl spoke, that touched the heart of Fred Huzeltine, Her looks and her manner told such a tale of anguish, of soul-sorrow, of despairing misery, that it was a long time be- fore he could shake off the depression they caused, Asshe murmured the last words, she turned about and followed the path into the wood, while he could only gazo mournfully after her and said: ‘** Poor gir! poor gir! God pity you!” ; CHAPTER XII, AT THE HOUR OF MIDNIGHT. THE citizens of Buzzard’s Roost, who saw the Albatross make such haste down the Chesa- peake on the morning of the arrest of her un- fortunate captain, supposed that that was the last of the saucy schooner and her crew, ut they were mistaken. $$$ — Mate Simmons and his men wero not the ones to desert their master in a danger like that wh'ch had now overtaken him, and their haste in speeding down the arm of the broad bay was only arusé intended to aid in a daring scheme the mete had formed, There was vo halt on the part of the Alba- tross unt!! she was miles beyond sight of the town. Then sho slackened gail, and continued beating on and off shore until night was fully come, Although the moon wes shining brightly, there were clouds at intervals, which swept across its face, and belped the mate in his pur- ose. , A smart breezo was blowing, and it was not late in the evening, when the schooner came to anchor close inshore, and less than a mile from the wharf in front of the Golden Boar Tavern, The boat which left the side of tue Albatrcss contained ten men, all of whom leaped ashore, leaving only one to row back to the vessel, where he was received by the two seamen that remained. It looked indeed as if the Alba- trdss required an unusually large crew to navi- gate her, Having landed, the nine men proceeded to business. Several of them were familar with the antiquated town of Buzzard’s Roost, with its tumople-down buildings, its century-old church, its dilapidated schoo!-house, and rickety jail, which, however, was the most secure build- ing in the place, , The party pushed on like so many Indian scouts, until they were nigh enough to be seen by any one passing to or from the town, In- deed the party would have been discovered by the negro Pompey kad they not been quick enough to sereen themselves, before ho caught sight of the shadowy forms crouching on the ground at the side of the highway. When they were alone again, Mate Simmons gathered his men around him, and spoke in guarded tones: ‘** Boys, you all know the risk of this business, We're going t» win if there is any way under heaven to do it, but, after all, the job may prove too big for us. If we fall into the hands of tho authoriies, there isn’t one of us that will get less than ten years,” ‘*T¢ will be worse than that,” said Jack Bath- gate, ‘t How?” asked the mate. ‘‘ Judge Lynch, as sure as you're born.” **{ shouldn’t be surprised if you are right. Knowing the danger, as allof you do, I want to say that if any man prefers to withdraw, he has the right and no one shall utter a word of blame,” The mate looked expectantly round in the faces dimly visible in the gloom, but he could read no signs of faltering. There was none of that little band who did not Juve Captain Bay- ard, who had rick: his life for more than one of them, and who always Jooked after their in- terests before his own. **Come on, boys,” commanded the mate in a hopeful undertone; ‘it’s neck or nothing with u3 now,” Meanwhile Mr, Zake Purrhal, turnkey of the jail in Buzzard’s Roost, was snoring like the Seven Sleepers. He was in the middle of a somewhat disturbing dream when some one shook him roughly by the shoulder, ‘¢ What's the matter, Peggy?” he asked, sleep- ily, of his wife. ‘* Matter enough,” she replied, in a ghostly un- dertone. ‘*Gabriel has blowed lis horn, and they aro after you!” ‘“What! Who? Why?’ demanded the mysti- fied turnkey, coming suddenly to the sitting postur? and staring around bim. His first belief was that his wife bad spoken the solecin truth, for two large balls of fire that looked like the eyes of some ogre were at his bedside; but a second glanced showed they were bull’s-eye lanterns, held by two men, each of whom wore a mask over bis face, while he who was nearest the head of the bed held a pistol with the muzzle almost touching the nose of the terrified turnkey, ‘*Good heavens!” he gasped, ‘‘ what are you after? I haven’t any money in the house,” ** Keep quiet!” replied the one with the pistol, “‘and you won't get hurt; if you or your wife make any outcry, we'll send enough bullets through you both to change you into sieves,” ‘* What—what do yon want?” and the prison- keeper’s teeth chattered as he spoke, — ‘Was want what we’re going to get,” con- tinued he with the pistol, in the same terrible voice; ‘*we want the keys to the jail!” ‘*T_declare—I’m so flustered that I’ve forgot where they are—I have, as true as I live—” *“You big fool!” broke in Mr, Purrbal’s a ere ie 5 aa TT PSlne’ “ Se oes | = a
Page 9
| ~ spouse; ‘‘ don’t you remember you put the mun- der your piller, there?” , “Oh, Peggy, you’ve ruined me,” groaned the husband; ‘‘ they’ll let out all the prisoners and Pll be hanged,” “No, you won’t,” assured Mate Simmons; “we're after one prisoner only— Ah! there you are!” Tho speaker had slid his arm deftly under the pillow and withdrawn the bunch of keys, heavy and cumbersome enough to weigh several pounds, But for their hardness they might have served as a pillow for their custodian, By this time the turnkey had recovered his self-pozsession to some extent. There bad been a rescues from the jail twenty-odd yeers before, duriug his predecessor's time, and Mr. Parrhal had often boasted that he could never bs taken unawares. é child, But it was a vast relief to know thata whole- sale delivery was not intended, The glimps:s which he managed to obtain of the two men by the aid of the lantern showed they wero sailors, and he was quite sure of their identity ; they be- longed to the crew of the Albatross and had come to the rescue of their captain. oe is the number of Captain Bayaril’s cell ? ‘** Let me see,” replied the turnkey, {hought- fully, ‘“‘1’m afeard it has slipped my miand—” And now here he was as belpless os | ‘“* Well, well, ’Zekial, if you don’t beat all,” | ‘ broke in his wife; ‘‘ you told me yourse!f it was | come like a cyclone, 69,” Mr, Purrhal could only give his wifo one re- proachful look, He put his whole soul in it, but he could not trust himself to speak, “That ere big key,” said the iady, indicating the immense brass contrivance in the hand of Mate Simmons, ‘‘ unlocks the outer door; it’s sort of rusty and you’ll have to turn purty hard to makeit work, If you think you ain’t strong enough, why, Vl dress myself and help you. When you open the door you'll be face to face with a man with a musket and a pistol, andif ycu don’t look out he’ll shoot you dead,” ‘* You're very kind,” replied the sailor, smil- ing behind bis mask, ‘‘ we shall remember all \ you have said,” ' Tbs husband gave another groan. No use of pro esting or speaking, for he couldn’t do jastice to the theme, ** After you get inside and fix things with the guard, you'll take the right-hand corridor and near the other end you will see a cell with the figures ‘69’ over the top; that’s where they’ve got that murderer that’s as.sure to be bung as that my husband is scared half to death,” The callers knew the value of time ton well to waste any of it in parley. Simmons turned to his companion, who was standing quietly near the foot of the bed, and spoke as though he meant him only to hear his words, though he could not keep them from the couple in bed. ‘* Don’t leave this room till I signe! to you; if he attempts to getup or give tho alarm, don’t throw away your bullets; givo him a couple where they’ll do the moat goud,” **You can depend on me, Cap; but, what about the woman?” ‘* She has got too much gense to try anything of the kind; she seems to be a perfect lady; don’t fire on ber till you’ve given her plenty of warning. ** 1}] bear it all in mind; off with you, Cap!” Mate Simmons slipped out of the ‘room, leav- ing his companion to guard the busband and wife, while he directed the more desperate part of the business. In his haste, as he descended tha stairs, he failed to catch sight of a white faco peering outathim from a door that was opened an inch or two, It was the door leading to the room of Delia, the twelve-year-old daughter of the turnkey. Tbs plucky miss happened to be awake at the moment of. the visit of the couple into her parents’room and she overheard nearly every- ‘ting that was said. She caught enough to gein an idea of what was goingfon, Softly ris- ing, she began hastily donning her clothing, resolved to take a fand in defeating the de- fue ‘signs of the law-breakers. a CHAPTER XIII, J SHARP WORK ALL AROUND, Iv need not be said that Mate Simmons allow- ed no grass to grow under his feet. - He realizad fully the desperate nature of the business in which he and his comrades were en- gaged. eo was well aware, too, that under the most favérable circumstances, they could not pass a fourth of the distance to where they had } { Burd Bayard’s Close Call. 9 — landed from the Albatross, before the alarm would be given, Whatever might be said of the population of Buzzard’s Roost, the little town contained more than one brave descendant of the patriots who fonght in the Rev: lution, and they were always ready to respond to a call for help, Oa the outside of the turnkey’s house, Mate Simmons narrowly missed running against a Sasgant figure that appeared to be waiting for 1m, “Tt’s all right,” whispered this man; ‘no alarm yet.” ‘* What’s heen done?” asked the mate. ‘‘The sheriff is bound and gagged and so scared that ho wouldn’t dare give one squawk if his mouth wasn’t crammed with rags; have you the keys?” ** Yes—come ahead!’ , A few steps and the enormous brass contriv- ance was thrust into the lock of the heavy outer door. Mrs, Purrbel was right wben she inform- ed her visitor that the Jock was rusty, but the sailor was strong, and, putting forth a powerful wrench, he slid the bar and shoved the door inward, ‘* Helloa, Zeke, what’s up? Anything—” Further utterance on the part of the guard was shut cff by several fingers which closed with a grip of iron on his throat, while his wea- pons were torn from his possession before he could form any idea of the danger that. had ‘*Not a word or you're a dead man!” “Not a word,” thought the helpless victim ; ‘“*T don’t think there’ll be many till I get the porver to speak.” One of the men was left to guard this official, who was go well satisfied that the least demon- stration on his part would be followed by in- Loan death that he became as submissive as a amb, Tho rescuers were now within the corridor, upon which opened the cell wherein Captain Bayard was confined, Everything was going well, and Mate Simmons and his men were hope- ful of getting away with their loved leader be- for) an alarm could be given. The success of such daring schemes depends on the vim and dash with which they are pushed through to the end. None understood this bet- ter than the second cffizer of the Albatross, It need not be said that every man was fully armed, but they had been instructed not to fire & Weapon unless it should become necessary for the enccess of their plan, or should be required by self-defense, ‘‘ The old lady told me it was Room 69,” mut- tered Simmons, as ho hurried along the corri- dor, holding his lantern abovo bis bead that he might read the numbers as he burried by ; ‘‘ and I don’t think, from the way she acted, she would have dared to tell an untrath. A few minutes more and this business will be decided,” The mate was in high hope, but could he have glanced into the sleeping apartments of Turnkey Purrhal at that moment, be would ed cave been so confident thet success was at and, Delia Purrbal was given twice as much cour- age by nature as either of her parents, The sound of voices in their room reached her ears, and, es has already been shown, caused her to make a little investigation on ber own part, It took only a short time for such a bright- witted girl to learn that a party of men had se- cured possession of the jail, for the purpose of liberating Captain Bayard. ‘* And I’m going to prevent them,” she said to herself, as sho hastily donned ber clothing, It was a plucky resolution, but few grown persons could have believed there wag any hope of success; for Delia knew tbat the utmost, she could do was to ring the alarm-bell to call the neizhbors to the help of ber father, Not only was that the quickest way of bring- ing friends to their assistance, but it was the only ons within possible reach. The masked men were too vigilant to allow any one to leave the house of the turnkey ; and, to reach the rope dangling from the belfry, she would be obliged to pass through ber parents’ room, where the man in a mask, and with a pistol and light, was on guard, : “‘[P'm going to do it,” she murmured, with a whispered prayer, as she set out; ‘‘if he catches On the other side of the guard was the door opening into the hall where hung the rope from the big bellin the tower above, To reach this, she must cross the bedroom in which the guard sat, There was room to do so without tiptoe- ing in front of the frightful man, who was not likely to detect her, unless she betrayed herself by some sfip. Icseems singular, butit was a fact that the girl’s greatest misgiving was on account of her parents, They could not fail to see her ghostly figure stealing silently behind the guard, and it was more than probable they would betray her by some word, since they could hardly be ex- pected to understand at a glance her scheme for bs filing the raiders, | But there was not a moment to spare, aud the bravo girl entered upon her dangerous venture with tho same, coolness that had marked her conduct from the first, The door gave not the sligbtest sound as she drew i$ back, and, reach- ing the dainty foot into the room, she stepped silently forward. At that instant her parents saw her. were lying back on the pillows, but with their heads sufliciently elevated to look about the apartment, The mother straightened up, and was ia the very act of speaking, when her hus- band, quicker than she to recognize this phase of the business, gave her a warning pinch, But the watchful guard noticed the startled look, and observed that it was directed toward the door, through which be and the mate had entered. He turned bis gezo in that direction, A single second sooner, and everything would have been lost; but Delia bad not paused et ig hi of the action of her mother, and raising her finger threateningly , she continued forward with the same noiseless step. Thus, when the man looked at the door, she was directly bebind his chair, ‘*T wonder what’s up,” he growled, springing from his seat, and hastening forward to investi- gate for himself, This was Delia’s opportunity, and she glided into the other room and was out of sight before he could reach the opposite door and turn around, *“*T don’t seo nothing,” he muttered, after surveying his surroundings by the aid of his The two his seat and looked over the intericr, ‘‘ it strikes me that that door over there was open awhile ago, and now it’s shut as tight—great Coesar!” At thatinstant, the bell in the tower rung out clear and sharp on the still night. Some one was swinging it with a vigor and flerceness that was sure to rouse every one in Buzzard’s Roost! With an execration the sailor made a dash for the hall, but found the door fastened, A kick, however, sent that flying cff its hinges, and he burst into the hall beyond, where Delia Purrhat was ringing the bell so furiously. CHAPTER XIV. A STRANGE RESOLVE, MEANWHILE Mate Simmons had kept things moving. A few minutes brought him in front of Cell 69. His key was ready, and being thrust into the lock and sharply turned, the door swung i and the sailor stepped across the thresh- old, , : * Helloa, Cap!” he called out, holding his light above bis head, and catching sight of the mana- cledform on the bed, ‘‘ wake up! you've got visitors.” ‘¢ In the name of the seven wonders, who are you?” demanded Captain Bayard, rising on his elbow, staring atthe masked face, and failing to recognize the voice of his mate, “Don’t you know me?” chuckled the latter, deftly slipping the mask from his countenance, and holding the light so that it revealed his | pleasant features, — ‘+ Groat Heavens! Tom, what brings you here?” asked Captain Bayard, struggling to the sitting ture, ‘That's a pretty question toask! Why, we've come for you; what else could be our busi- ness?” ‘* How many men have you?” ‘There are ten of us altogether,” ‘* How did you manage to get in here?” ‘* That was easy enough; one of the boys has , the turnkey under bis eye, another bas fixed the sheriff, and another is on guard at the door of sight of me, I'll run for the rope and give it one | the jail.” or two pulls before he can shoot me,” The sly peep she cast into the room showed her the guard sitting on a chair with bis back toward her. Hislamp rested on astand at his elbow, and shed a dim light through the apart- ment, making the sitution tenfold more terrible than it could have been by the light of day, “And the Albatross?” ‘‘ She’slying a short distance below, and there’s — bay to-night. We'llhave — a brisk breeze on the 1 you far out of sight by davlight, and we can laugh at the whole State of Maryland.” ‘Has everything been fixed so that you’resure | there won’t bo any slip?” lantern, ‘‘ but,” he added, as he walked back to ~ va 4
Page 10
10 Burd Bayard’s Close Call. ‘There won’t be anywhere. Everything has worked splendidly from the first; but we haven’t any time to throw away;I’m ready to knock those irons off you,” ** Well, Tom, I can’t tell you how much I ap- reciate the devotion of yourself and the boys, ut I can’t go with you.’ Simmons almost dropped his lantern, as with a gasp and recoil he exclaimed: “é y hat?” ‘*T mean it, and you can’t change my resolu- tion.” ‘*'You arecrazy! You are not in your right mind! You must go! You shallgo! By gra- cious! Pll carry you in my arms, and we’il take you cff in spite of yourself,” and the enthusiastic mate would have executed his threat had not his superior officer sternly interposed. ** Listen, Tom! Four years ego, when I wasin danger of hanging, I sneaked out of the country. I have been re-arrested, and now I’m going to stand trial, To runoff again lookstoo much like a confession of guilt.” a But I hear they’re going to hang you, any- way. ‘* That can’t be told, for I haven’t been tried, I have good counsel and we are hopeful of vic- tory, butif I was sure of defeat, 1 would stay here and see the thing out,” , The mate took his seat on the rough couch be- side his half-reclining chief, and looked fixedly at him, ‘* 'm blessed if I understand this business, Cap; you don’t talk and act like yourself.” Burd Bayard could not help smiling at the earnestness of his devoted officer, and he made answer: ‘* Nevertheless, [ am quite sure it is I, and if I am mad, you will live long enough to see there is some method in my madness,” ‘“*T’ve # great notion to take you off in spite of yourself. After we get back in the cabin of the Fra ag we can sit down and argue the ques- on. ‘Don’t argue it, Tom; I know T have your best wishes, but my step is a deliberate one, and nothing can dissuade me,” Mate Simmons partedthis lips to make another protest, when he was startled almost out of his senses by the furious clanging of the bell in the tower over head, ‘Not another minute!” commanded Captain Bayard. ‘ Thecitizens are gathering and every- one of you will be captured. Off with you!” ‘* But—but,” stammered the mate, bewildered and uncertain what he ought to do, “I can- not—” ‘Off with you! The lives of the boys are in your bands!’ And springing from the bed, he fairly pushed his dazed visitor from the cell, despite his own hindering manacles, Before hisfriend could re- ees or form any plan he wasin the corridor with- ou ‘You are safe!” hoe called back, as the heavy door banged behind him, “‘ for even in Maryland ce dor’t hang natural-born fools,” he bell ceased itsclanging, The sailor guard- ing the turnkey and his wife had kicked in the door and intercepted Delia Purrbal, When he . saw that it was a pretty young girl who was leaping upward und frantically ringing the bell, he restrained the upraised band and recoiled in amazement, ‘* Well, you’re one of them!” he exclaimed; “but you must be tired, so you can take a rest.” ‘* Now you can shoot!” said Delia, calmly fold- her arms; ‘‘ I have aroused the citizens,” ** Shoot?’ repeated the officer, “I would as soon shoot my great-grandmother, You are a plucky girl; back with you into the room of your parents.” Delia would have hesitated, had not her mother called her sharply just then, Sbe darted through the door, and throwing herself on the bed, buried her face on the bosom of her parent and sobbed like a broken-hearted child, She had finished her work and the overwrought nerves gave way. Realizing the irremediable mischief done, the sailor extinguished his lamp and went down- atairs and outside on the jump, As hedidso, he caught sight of wal ake darting hither and thither, Despite the brief time that bad elepsed, the people had sprung from their beds and were hastening toward the juil to obey the appeal to them. But Mate Simmons was also there, with his af- frighted men gathered around him, He quickly explained the strange refusal of Captain Bayard to go with him and added: ’ ‘* We must make a run forit! Ge} back to where the boatis waiting as quickly as your legs will carry you.” He set the example and a break was made, By promptly seizing their advantage they were soon clear of the excited little town without any collision with the people. Once on the highway, they sped forward so rapidly that they safely reached the spot where the small boat was awaiting them, just at the time when something like an organized pursuit was set on foot, The moment they stepped upon the deck of the Albatross, the anchor was hoisted, sail spread and the sancy vessel headed out of the arm of the bay. A spanking breeze sent her bowling along ata merry rate, with the foam curling from her shapely prow, whileshe careened far to one side under the impulse of the wind that bore her rapidly from the scene of danger, When daylight came, she was far down the Chesapeake, and heading toward the Atlantic. The glass of the mate pointed back toward Buz- zard’s Roost which had Jong since dropped out of sight, failed to show any sail that looked like that of a pursusr, It cannot be said that Mate, or rather Captain Simmons, as he was tobe henceforth, would have felt any’alarm had such a sight met his gaze, for he had geen the speed of the Albatross tested too often to fear anything of that nature. ‘* T made a mistake, however,” he said, regret- fully, ‘‘ in not bringing Cap away in spite of him- self. He’s as sure to be hanged now as that his name is Burd Bayard.” CHAPTER XV. A LUCKY MISTAKE, W8HILE these exciting events were taking place in Buzzard’s Roost, Fred Hazeltine found himself involved in a series of adventures bardly less stirring in their nature. He was riding along on a lonely road just as night was closing in, and was approaching the old Black Bear Tavern where he meant to stay over night to resume his journey to Buzzard’s Roost at an early hour the following morning. It will be recalled that he bad started toward the State Capital with the expectation of being absent several days, and had go notified his friend Captain Bayard. The brilliant young counselor, however, changed hismind. He concluded that the important business ia the city could waitun- til the slight clue he bad struck in the shapo of the rusty pistol should be followed without in- terruption to the end, whatever that might prove to be, Thus it came about that at the moment he ought to have been riding into Annapolis, he was only afew milesfrom Buazzara’s Roos, By push- ing on, be could bave reached bis parents’ home by midnight; but his horse was tired and he thought it prudent togain a good night’s rest the better to be prepared for the arduous work before him, Inthis lonely place, there was much better prospect of such refreshment than in the atmosphere of Buzzard’s Roost, When perhapsa couple of miles from the Black Bear, Fred observed a couple of horsemen ahead of him, The sun had set and he could not gain a clear view of them, but he saw them look around more than once, as if they felt special in- terest in him. ‘*T don’t know you,” said the lawyer to himself, ‘6 and I can’t say that I’m anxious to make your acquaintance; so, unless you bold up for me, I will deprive myself of that pleasure.’ The horsemen regulated their pace, so that the distance between the parties was reduced to a bundred yards, moro or less, Then they spurred their animalsinto a more rapid walk, with the evident purpose of keeping the space about the same, Fred Hazeltine believed these men had designs against him, though it was hard to guess what they were. If they knew him, they must have been aware that he had little in the way of plun- der to tempt footpads; but, if unaware of bis identity, it would in keeping with the times, the neighborhood and the legends of thecountry, for them to murder him for booty. ‘“*T have two pistols with me,” he reflected, “though one of them is. good for nothing, since it is the rusty old weapon that hasn’t been fired for four years, There are two good loaded bar- rels in the other, however, and they will give a good account of themselves, if necessary.” There was woods on both sides of the road, and when Fred saw the two men wheel their animals and suddenly disappear emong the trees, he was sure be was ‘infor it.” He drew bis pistol and held it over the saddle in frontof him, while he kept bis eyes and ears open. Deeming it best to bring matters toan ism, without delay, he spurred! ispnimelinto a brisk Neen eee Eee gallop. A strange creeping came over him as he approached the spot where the horsemen had vanished, and he was never go sure of anything as he was that he would serveasa target for one or two shots, Happily, however, he was disappointed. No- thing broke the stillness, but thesound of hisown horse’s hoofs as he swept along on a brisk can- ter. ‘‘That’s mighty queer!” reflected Fred, when he knew he was some distance beyond the ‘‘ dan- ger point;” ‘‘ it looks as if I was mistaken about them—I don’t know about that, though,” This qualifying clause was the result of what he saw when he looked around. The horsemen werein sight again, at the same distance that they were in advance, at the time of turning in among thetrees. They and thelawyer had mere- ly changed places, Itis far more uncomfortable to have a suspect- ed enemy in the rearthan inthe frovt. Fred determined that whatever took place, the space separating them should not be lessened, His horse was pretty well worn, but he was still capable of high speed for a few miles, The rider jerked the rein sharply and the ani- mal bounded off at a pace which rapidly drew him away from theothers, Before half the in- terveniog distance to the tavern wes passed, the young man found himself unable, when be look- ed over his shoulder, to catch sight of either of his pursuers, ashe considered them. Bringing his horse toa halt fora moment, he listened, but could catch no sound of the hoofs. ‘“T shouldn’t wonder if I mistook them alto- gether,” he said, as heresumed his advance on a walk ; ‘‘ or, what is just as likely, they were try- ing to have a little sport atmy expense,” This would have been a comforting conclusion could he who formed it have convince: himself that it was correct; but, seek as much as he might, he could not free himself of a suspicion that these men had not yetabandoned their sinis- ter designs on him, Reaching the little tumble-down tavern, which had been known as‘*‘ The Black Bear ” from Re- volutionary times, Fred dismounted and turned his horse over to the puffy landlord, Peleg Mc- Fadden, while the landlady.bustled about to pre- pare him a supper. Fred found he was the only guest at the little inn, and, after smoking a cigar and chatting for awhile, be withdrew to his room to gain the night’s rest which he craved, This would have been at his command could he have freed his mind of the misgiving about the two horsemen, Hehad expected they woul: fol- low him totheinn and spend the night there, If they bad some purpose to carry out respecting him it would seem that such would be the most natural course; but, though be lay awakea long time, ke heard nothing of them, and when the sounds showed that the landlord and his wife bad retired for the night, he dismissed all fear, and floated c ff into the land of dreams, It need not be said thatbefore retiring for the night, the guest took every precaution against a nocturnal visit from the parties who had dis- turbed his thoughts, The key was turned in his lock and he placed both pistols under his pillow, where ho wassure they would be within instant reach in case of need. He was a light sleeper and was confident that the slightest disturbance would awaken aim, But, as has beenstated before, Fred Hazeltine was wearied in body and mind. His unusually long ride that day had worn upon bis body t> that extent that, when he closed his eyes, they did not open until the morning sun was shining in the small room, ‘¢ Well,” said he, as he recalled his situation, ‘+ my fears were without foundation. They must have been a couple of innocent countrymen who cant aoe a little sport with me—Halloa! bow’s that 4 ’ He noticed that the door which he had locked so carefully the night before was cr a crack, es the key which he had turned lay on the oor. ‘*T have had a visit, sure enongh,” was his patural conclusion, 23 he made a hasty -xamina- tion for other evidences, But bis watch and the moderate amount of money in his possession were undisturbed, nor were there any signs that his clothing bad been molested. **T don’t understand why any parties entering a sleeping-room should leave without carrving all the plunder possible with them, en! were I not certain that 1 locked that door 1 would be- lieve it was a dream, Itmay be the landlord has taken a look inside, though why heshould do so in that styleis a mystery.” Having donned bis garments and finished his etdac ae aes ee eS eo)
Page 11
area Burd Bayard’s Close i) SERRE Ree er or AS ablutions, he suddenly recalled the pistols under his pillow. Flinging the head-rests aside, he Ace Vea pe that one of the weapons was miss- "fie searched every part of the bed, looking under and in every possible place where the weapon might have been hidden, but it was in- visible. Ot er hands had certainly taken it from the room, All doubt on this point removed, the motives -_ action of the horsemen became clear as noon- ay. ** They were after that rusty pistol which is to form such strong evidence in unearthing the as- sassin of theoverseer and his wife, They were not the principals in the crime, but havo been em- Ve to secure the weapon, They set out to follow me to Annapolis, and have been watching me from the first, though I saw nothing of them until last night, They were instructe i to get the tell-tale evidence, if possible, without taking my life, for that would compli- cate the business unnecessarily, When they turned aside in the road, they must have been thinking of violence, but changed their minds, ‘They did a wiser thiag by sneaking into my room here in this old tavern, but they over- reached themselves,” Fred Hazeltine felt himself warranted in sit- at down in his chair and indulging in a grim smile, His visitors of the night beforé seemed to have lost sight of the probability that be carried two pistols instead of a single weapon, The rogue who slipped his hand beneath the pillow, luckily touched the wrong weapon, and never thinking that might be the case, he had quietly appropri- ated it and withdrawn, **T have lost a good pistol,” mused thelawyer, but I would rather part with a thousand such than the old rusty one they left behind,” Going below stairs, he acquainted the landlord with what had taken place. Mr. McFadden was very indignant that his house, for tho first time in its history, should be subjected to such an in- dignity. Heand his wife made careful search, and discovered without difficulty the means by which the burglars bad effected an entrance, It was no credit to their skill that they suc- ceeded; for a child could bave done as well. Robbers were the last people that were feared inthe Black Bear, and consequently the way was invitingly open to them when they chose to CHAPTER XVI. VISITED IN JAIL, Iv was hard for the authorities of the jail to understand that the prisoner, whose disgraceful doom seemed a foregone conclusion, had actually refused to pass through the door of escape when it was open to him, but the evidence was so strong that the sheriff could not avoid believing the extraordinary story, Whileitdid not affect his belief inthe guilt of the accused, it inclined him to less rigor in his confinement. The jail was strengthened, extra precautions were taken to prevent a repetition of the surprise, for there were many who believed the Albatross would return, and the irons were removed from Cap- tain Bayard’s limbs, On the day following the daring attempt at rescue, he was sitting in his cell, wondering and speculating over the probable outcome of the un- precedented situation in which he was placed, d wishing that the light-hearted, hopeful Fred an Itine would hasten his return from Anna- lis. eye was no regret on the part of the young captain because he bad refused the cffer of free- dom, Existence had reached that point with him that he wasresolved to end the suxpense one way or the other, onceand forever, He had’been a fugitive for years, and, as is often tho case with ilty criminals, his spirit had rebelled to that pb ol that be felt actual punishment itself cond. be a relief to the fearful depression of mind he had undergone so long. “Tf Muriel would have gone with me,” he mused, pacing bis narrow cell, ‘* I would have fled to some remote corner of the world, where we could have forgotten the curse of her parent, and lived and died happy in one another's love, but— ; Bt Cauiistin: ie 74 prepared to receive a call rom oung la it wan't tirakey Porrbal who hae the start Jin nestion, The fussy officer & peep a te cell as he spoke, and satisfying himself Fa t at the prisoner was ready for company, he did - not wait for an rep] “Walk ri in Pies Haven; I’ll leave you 24 alene for awhile and knock when it’s time for icy _ youto leave, ‘pression, and sometimes in the And before Burd Bayard could fairly shake himself together, the young ed stood within the cell and calmly confronted him. Had our hero been given a few minutes in which to nerve himself for this interview, he might have been able to follow the heroic course he had laid out for himself, but as it was, all such Spartan resolutions were swept to the winds, Stretching out his arms, be sprung im- pulsively forward, and murmuring the words, **Ob, Muriel! my loved! my lost, my own Muri- el!” pressed her convulsively to his heart, And where was all her self-possession and self- restraint? Scattered to nothingness by the worde, the manner and the wild embrace of him whom she loved with an affection she could never know for another, Her head sunk on his shoulder, and for several minutes their tears mingled in hot rain, while their hearts throbbed with a tempest of emotion that stirred their very souls, And as they gave way at the same moment, so was their recovery simultaneous, Lifting the queenly head from his shoulder, he gently led her to a chair, while he seated him- self in the only remaining one, the two so placed that they looked in each other’s faces while the words fell from their lips. It was she who was the first to speak, ‘*T have heard all about the strange visit of last night,” she said, with something of her old self-possession. **Do you think I did wrong in refusing to ac- cept the chance to get away?’ ‘I cannot say that you did ey 5 I can only say that I am sorry you did not take the oppor- ane i which I am afraid will never come again you,” “ Fred thinks there is hope of my innocence being established.” ‘* I trust so, but I tremble for the result.” ‘*It does look dark, as he freely admits, but there is a magnetism in hopefulness which you cannot resist. 1 wonder whether 1 am wrong in suspecting that he has secured some evidence which is valuable and which he keeps from me?” ‘*T think you are right.” There was culiar intonation in these words, which thrilied ed the captain, and he looked inquiringiy at the adored girl for an explana- tion, She smiled faintly, but did not speak the enlightening sentence. Instead of doing so, she said ina low, tremulous voice: Prat trust, Burd, you are prepared for the worst,” ‘* Prepared for the worst?” he repeated, bitter- ly. ‘* What can be worse than what [ have en- dured for the last four years. I bave determined to face my trial and toaccept unmurmuringly its verdict; but suppose my innocence should be made as clear as the noonda. y sun, it willbea great triumph, but it cannot lift the sorrow from my heart, for I am doomed to go through life without you.” **Be it so,” she said, with a spirituality of resignation, like that which beautifies the face of an angel; ‘if God, for some purpose which we cannot fathom, has willed that it shall be 80, it is not oursto complaip. I know I possess your love, and you sa mine, wholly. Our make is such that no change can evercometous, Let us each dedicate our future lives to tho service of our heavenly Father, assured a8 we are that | it will all be made right in the end, and that the time is certain to come when He will wipe away all tears from our eyes. ~** You are made of the stuff which saints are composed of, but I am not. J cannot rise to the | spiritual bights that you do.” ** You can, if you so will, with God’s help!” ** No,” he said, sorrowtully, * you are a hero- ine, and I am a coward. | sit as did the prophet atthe feet of Gamaliel, except that your utter- ances are beyond my grasp. To me you are ex- alted, not alone above other women, but above humanity.” She shook ber head pig hm Sal “Thousands more worthy than I have died for their belief in Him who died for us all; raverence not me, but the Author of the ut- terance which I can only repeat.” Burd Bayard scanned the A gestor face before him with a strange, inquiring expression, A thrill fling uestion continually formed itself un- bidden in his mind, Itwas, "Is itactually Muriel Haven or is itsome one The features and countenance are the same, but there is something in the looks, the ex- tones, which | eer not to be hers, but to belong to some one e] Despite all he could do, an awtul ee is <t 2m Hibs) RY} 2h Anata nae oe oi SU Ce ee Po ER EIS RPE garner son came over him that she was pee Ee with that wondrous voice he had heard in the Haunt- ed House, and that in some manner beyond bis: comprehension her being was interwoven with ote supernatural inhabitants of that old struc- ure, But he would not permit bimself to dwell upon the appalling subject. By a mental ef- fort he forced it behind him and faced the pres- ent. ** My fate will soon be known,” be said, com- ing back to the matter which had filled the minds of both so long, ‘‘ and Fred says he has no * doubt that the issue of my trial will be a sen- tence of death.” ‘Where, then, is there hope?” she asked, vainly trying to avert the shudder that shook her frame. ‘* You have aright to know my theory, which I am confident is theright one. He suspects the real criminals, but he does not wish them to know it. He has not enough evidence as yet to cause even their arrest. He seeks tothrow them off their guard, hoping thereby to secure the evidence that will insure justice to them and save me,’ ‘“‘T know whom he suspects, but I will leave him to tell you: he has eee part of bis infor- mation from me, and he is right—” At this juncture the turnkey rapped softly on the door as an intimation that it was time to bring the interview to an end, Muriel rose, and Burd once more took her in his arms, ‘**Good'by, my guardian angel 1" ‘* Good-by, my own Burd!” Their hps met in one long, loving pressure, and then, with the gallantry of a Crusader, he conducted her to the dovr, saluted and surren- dered her to the care of the turnkey. She had been gone Jess than fifteen minutes when Fred Hazeltine burst into the cell like so. much sunshine, with his account of all that had happened to him since bidding 'good-by to his. client, the day before. CHAPTER XVII, TO-MORROW! TO-MORROW, Tux trial of Burd Bayserd tor murder was one - ae most remarkable in the history of Mary- n Among some of the features of that ex- traordinary event was the fact that the trial did not take place until four years after the commission ‘of the crime, though there are not wanting many instances in which.the interval wag still greater. Bat some curious fascination brought the young man back to the spot, when all bope of his"arrest and Pears had vanished from the minds of the people. Burd Bayard was known to rey one in the neighborhood cf Buzzard’s Roost, where be was. born and where he spent his boyhood, His parents, who were in good circumstances, were. lost at sea, when he wasbut a child, He had received a liberal education, and, showing a predilection for the ocean, had spent a good deal of his time on it, becoming a skillful sailor before reaching his me jority. He was universally liked, for, ap to the time. of the murder of the overseer, he bad never been suspected of anything mean or unmanly. He was kind, charitable, brave and handsome, and so_ generally liked that when it became known that he and Muriel Haven, the only child of the flery Colonel Haven, were betrothed, the eee mig FH was that no better match could made, Even Colonel Haven himself, who naturally thought the world hardly | tained a0 one good enough for Muriel, free y admit- that he wes satisfied with her choice, Thus matters stood when the frightful assas- sination of the overseer took place, and Burd Bayard fled the country in the darkness, to es— cape the penalty of the crime, Without dwelling further on the particulars. of the crime, or delaying over the aoaaiciacr iy let us come to the trial itself, The is witnesses were the n abil ii The hes which they told has already boon epg ‘It omens: wh to teeth tebe ties ria ey tine ne tena -. vw ed
Page 12
rer tatiat bracts : iy PPT ters S Adilahe oz. ant oe eee : ¢ _- ee ate ~ te 4S ee " - oe ee 2 ee ee Se 12 ~ Burd Bayard’s Close Call. guish the flames and to discover the mangled bodies of the overseer and his wife. It nearly broke the heart of Pomp to give this damaging testimony, for he knew how it would affect the young captain whom he loved so well, He had persnaded Pete to agree with him ona line of evidence intended to clear Bayar’. They meant to swear they had seen three men cight feet bigh, armed with spears and hatchets, and painted like Indians, smash in the doors and commit the deed despite all they coull do to gave the lives of the overseer and his wife, but, woen Pomp found himself on the witness-stand, his courage forsook him and he dared tell noth- ing but the simple truth, This testimony, as the reader will understand, could not have convicted Burd Bayard, if it | were unsupported, since it was given by two slaves ‘‘before the war.” But, that which clinched the business was the evidence of Josiah Brigham, the White man, who met the prisoner on that eventful night. This corroborated in every particular the statements of thenegroes, Fred Hazeltine was tvo prudent to attempt to weaken the testimony of Mr. Brigham. I: car- ried the conviction of truth in itself and was given by a man whom no inducement in the world could persuade tv tell an untruth. The witness rendered his story absolutely ir- resistible by his futile effort to hide the distress its utterance cause! him, He had been an inti- mate friend of Burd’s father and could not have loved his own son more than the handsome young sea captain. When he virtually pronounced his sentence it was conscience alone that led bim to do so, There was other testimony, including that of Dr. Hazeltine, who made the post-mortem, and that «f the officer who arrested Bayard when in bed, and with the tell-tale evidenceof his crime upon him, No matter how solemn the occasion, nor how weighty the interests involved, the minds of the etators and of those concerned will react from their intense depression and find some- thing to amuse when such thiugs seem sacrilege, The tint of comedy in this tragedy appeared when it became the privilege of Fred Hazaltine to cross examine his father, . As the son looked up an‘ encountered the gaze of his parent, fixed frowvingly upon bim, just as it had been fixed not many years before when about to chastise him for some breach of discipline, he could not avoid blushing, and then, to his own dismay, in apite of ull he could do, be broke into silent but hearty Jaughter. Every one in the court-room, including the presidiog judge and Burd Bayard caught the situation and joined in the smile—the single ex- ception being Dr, Hazeltine himself, who con- tracte| his brows and looked as if he was about to step forward and taking his son by the nape of thy nek, stretch him across his knee and ad- acm -tar punishment just as in the good old tims. Fre !'s questions were unimportant, not be- cauve he was afraid to tarn the tables on his re- spected parent, now that the situation was so peculiar, but from the nature of the case, there was nothing to be gained by any series of ques- tions of the physicin, whove testimony could not extend beyond that which related to the post morten of the bodies, whose manner of ceato bal never been questioned by any one, T» the spectators who crowded the court- room, the course of Fred Hazeltine seemed sin- gularly weak. His questions to the various witoesses amounted to nothing. He seemed to handle all giogerly and refrained from any at- tempts to break them down, ‘* He knows there is no hope; heis really doing what be can, which isn’t anything at all.” Tnis was the general verjict, but there were several who knew the brilliast young counselor better, Doctur Hazeltinecould not be mistaken in reading tbe expression on the face of his son, whom he ought to understand more thoroughly than any oneelse, ‘**T tell yon,” he said that night, in discussing the matter with his wife, after Fred had gove to his room, ‘‘there’s something in the wind; I know that rascel clean through, I saw several luoks pass between him and the prisoner which no one else noticed besides the judge, and he agreed with me that the scamp is holding some- t*ing back, and when it does come it will bea Pr sid ine explosion. We'll wait till to-mor- ro® ’ . Ay, to-morrow! to-morrow |! CHAPTER XVIII. THE DAY OF DOOM, THEsscond and concluding day of the memo- rable trial consisted of more than one surr™’4e, BOK _ tance, The court-room was crowded and crammed un- til the wonder was how any one in the audience could draw a full breath, It need not be said that Muriel Haven was not present, Burd took notes of everything that passed, and this was sent to berimm diately on the con- clusion of the trial. Fred Hazeltirie added a few words, bidding her keep up cuurage even if her | friend should be pronounced guilvy. Doctor Hazeltine was allowed a seat beside the presiding judge, who was an old acqoain- The venerated physician did not tail to callat The Cedars immediately after adjourn- | ment and acquaint the widow of Colonel Haven with everything that had passed during the day. Fortunately for the doctor, his patients seeined to take a favorable turn for a few days, so that he enjoyed something in the nature or a vacation, and was able to give his attention to the all-absorbing subject. The striking feature of the closing day was the disappointment caused by Fred Hazeltine, As has been stated, the presiding judge and Doctor Hez:ltine himself were confident that he had simply masked his battery, which would be fired at the proper moment, and as likely as not knock the whole prosecution into ‘‘ asteroidal smithereens,” But there was nothing of the kind, The counsel] for the defendant cffered no evidence for his side except that he excused himself, He was permitted to take the witness-stand and repeated the story which the reader has already heard, He told itin a straightforward manner which was not without its ¢ffect, but 1t was not sufficient to shake the mouvtain of testimony against him, In that assemblage there were not half a ‘dozen men who did not sympathize with Burd, but the sympathy was that which we all feel for. him who has been led astray by temptation, mingled with wonder that any one could have suffered himself to go wrong, when there was so little cause for it. The speech of Fred Hazeltine was one of the most brilliant and powerful of his life, Even his stern old father felt a thrill of admiration, when his eloquent "sentences rung through the little building. Every eye was fixed on the young man, and no beart was untouched by his impassioned utterances. More than one juror blew his nose suspiciously, and blinked and winked so vigorously that there could be no mistaking the cause, Th) judge leaned his head on his hand and fixed his gaze admiringly on the orator, for whom he was willing to con- fess be felt a strong liking, When his splendid speech was finished, and while there was a slight rustling, and the in- evitable confusion preceding the charge of the judge, he leaned toward the impassive physician at his side, and whispered : ** Doctor, you have reason to be proud of that boy; that was a magnificent speech.” Yes, pretty fair—pretty fair!” replied the father, clearing his throat. ‘*T have listened to Webster and Clay, and I I never heard them. make a finer peroration.” ‘You're extravagant, judge,” protested the doctor, whose face could not conceal his pater- nal pride, though be would not admitit. ‘* But what does he expect to accomplish by that speech? Where is the evidence that I'supposed he had in reserve?” ‘“*T confess I am surprised, It may be said that the defense is without any g-fense at all. If the jury were called upon to pronounce their verdict this minute, they would acquit the pris- oner; but, after they have talked and consulted together, there is but one thing for them todo, and they will see it without any charge from me, [must say something, however, but it will be brief.” While the jury were out, not a person left the room, The conviction was so general that they would be absent only a short time that all were more than willing to await the verdict. After the departure of the jury, Fred Hazel- tine leaned over so that his mouth was close to the ear of the prisoner and whispered : ‘‘Thereis disappointment everywhere at the weakness of our defense; it is natural it shouid 80.” *“T am afraid you have presumed too far.” ‘Tt was the course I had determined on, after the most careful consideration, as being the ouly one that offered any prospect of winning. Let them pronounce you guilty, and let ths 2 e name the day when Vou shall be banged y the neck until vou are dead;—all that will convinces the real criminal that he js safe. He will throw aside bis cantion and I shall have a the opportunity I am waiting fer to impale him ” ‘Pray Heaven that it may be so, but, you can’t expect a man to feel very comfortable when twelve of his countrymen declare on their oaths that he is guilty of murder, and the pre- siding judge pronounces his sentence of death,” ‘*T don’t imagine the sensation is very pleas- ant, but you must cheer yourself up by the cer- tainty that you will never be hanged,” ‘*T must confess that there is a good deal of cheer in your words, but they are not sufficient to remove all misgivings,” ‘* Now, my dear boy,” said the lawyer, lower- ing his voice, and almost touching the ear of his client with his lips, ‘‘ I will tell you something that will startle you.” “© What is it?’ ‘* You must brace yourself to restrain any ex- citement you may feel at my words, You must not start, nor look around, nor show by your manner that I have uttered a word except that which would be natural under the circum- stances,” ‘Tt assure you I will not.” ‘There can be no doubt on_that point?” re- marked Fred, inguiringly. ‘*T have bad enough training during the last few years to bea able to stand anything, Let me hear what you have to say.” “Well, the man who killed Kirke Warman and his wife is in this room this very minute and is standing within twelve feet of us! He . was here yesterday and he is looking at us now!” It was hard for Bayard to prevent himself from leaping to his feet, Fred heard him breathe faster, and, fearful he would betra himself, he quietly placed his hand on his shoul- er ‘‘ Remember what | said—not a word, look or start, for he is suspicious and sees nobody in the court-room but you and me,” . **W oho is he?” ‘*T sball not tell you nis name, for you could not help frightening him by your manner. 1 don’t believe he will ever feel safe until you are hanged and out of the way. He called on me last nigbt!” Captain Bayard had his nerves under control now, and talked with as much coolness as did his counsel, ** What was his business?” “*Tt was he who hired the two men to get the pistol from me.” ‘* How did he learn you had it?” “From one of the children of the present overseer, It goes to show that, despite your ut- most care, you are liable toslir upat.any time, I cautioned the overseer and his wife, and noth- ing ever could have been obtained from them, but one of their children, unobserved by us, saw the father hand me tae pistol, I'he criminal was furtively watching me, but from sucha die- tanca that he could now tell what it was that cama into my hands,” ‘“* How did be raake out when he tried to pump out”? ‘**T don’t think he learned much, but he man- aged matters with excellent skill and had not my suspicions been fixed on him, they never could have been aroused by his words or man- ner. ‘*I don’t see why ho should have been so greatly concerned about the pistol alone?” ‘*It was not the pistol alone, His main pur- pose was to learn whether I suspected him, or rather whether I suspected any one besides you of being the murderer,” **Do you think you misled him?” “Tam confident [did so. Ofcourse my office as your counsel closed my lips as to any admis- sion of my belief in your guilt, hut you can un- derstand that it was no: very difficult to convey the impression I ought to give, without saying so in words,” ‘*Tt must cause him peculiar sensations to lis- ten to the condemnation of a man whom be knows to be innocent of a crime which he him- self committed.” ‘ ‘* His only peculiar sensations are the fear that the innocent party will not be convicted.” _‘** Why is he so suspicious when nothing has appeared to alarm him?” ‘Partly because of the guilty conscience, which will never allow him to rest, and partly because the evidence for which be knows tee been searching so industriously, has not been brought forward.” ‘“*It ought to have the opposite effect.” “Tbope it bas, but you can understand \hy he feels uneagy— ’Sh!” At this moment, there was a stir in the crowd near the door, through which the jury had re- \ : es
Page 13
_—~ Burd Bayard’s Close Call, 18 ‘tired, Little more than half an hour had passed negro known as Jingle possessed valuable knowl- since their withdrawal, and their absence was probably due to the wish toavoid unseemly haste in disposing of such a weighty matter than from. any difficulty in arriving at a conclusion, reathless silence followed the jary’s entrance, though there was not @ person in the crowded room who was not certuin of the verdict, Never- theless, there is something awful in the sound of the word ‘*GurLTy!” when pronounced by the foreman of a jury which holds the fate of a hu- man being in its hands, Such was the verdict given in the court-room of Bezzard’s Roost, where Captain Burd Bayard had just been tried on the charga of murder of he most shocking character, CHAPTER XIX. WEAVING THE WEB. CAPTAIN BURD BAYARD was remanded for sentence. It was evident that the judge expect- ed his counsel to give notice of appeal or to maKe some motion intended to prolong the time be- tween the unfortunate young man’s conviction and execution, but Fred Hazeltine remained dumb! Word was sent to Muriel within five minutes after the verdict was rendered, with a significant note from the lawyer that the end was not yet, Then having played his game so successfully, he set to work once more in earnest, On the afternoon succeeding the conviction, he held along interview with Bayard inthe jail, The lawyer was poor and his client was rich, Bayard compelled him to take a much larger check than he thought necessary, instructed him to spare not an hour or minute, but to push for- ward, regardless of money or any consideration. The sailor felt that he was standing in the shadow of the gallows, and be could not force back aner vous dread that the final effort had been post- poned too long, ‘* Ts there nove whom you can get to help you?” asked Bayard, at the close of their long consul- ' tation, ‘¢] bave tried to think of some one, but can call none to mind; I shall have to go it alone, There are plenty who would gladly give their help, but they are not of the right stamp: alert, wide-awake, quick to catci a clue, and relentless and skillful in carrying it out.” **T can think of no one,” added Captain Ba- yard, ‘‘ and shall leave you to succeed through your own efforts and the help of Heaven,” ‘*The surveillance under which I have been moving for the past week has been relaxed. Nevertheless, [am not forgotten, and I think I shall find it necessary to fix up some kind of a disguise for myself.” a! hope you will be more successful than I was, but, ‘added the sailor with great impres- siveness, ‘‘ I am convinced of one thing: the key to the secret gs must unravel to save my life is fo he found in the Haunted House and nowhere ‘**T am as sure you are right as I am that we are alive and talking eather this minute. To the Haunted House, therefore, I,go this very night.’ Ba ard shuddered, '* You are as confirmed an unbeliever in ghosta, oks and all that sort of thing as I ut I tell you, Frederick Hazeltine, that you will be called upon to pass through an experience that is enough to try the nerves of a man of ‘* Bah!” replied the young lawyer with a snap of his fingers, “‘such talk only makes me the more eager tospend a night there, [ will take a pistol, and am ready to meet Beelzebub and his whole rag : And with a few more jesting words, he was ne, eT he lawyer had fixed upon a clear line of poli- cy to follow. He was anxious to learn the mean- ing of the letters ‘‘ P. L. M.” which were in such plain sight onthe pistol. He had been unable as Ae to think orate person whom they fitted, and bus found himself baffled in one direction before he could take a step forward, But his first visit was to hisown home where he found his parents and told them he wished to venture out so fixed up that his identity would not be suspected by any one. His wishes were gratified, both the doctor and his wife lending such help that when, in the gloom of the even- ing, the young man n the direction of the Dey in House pa dug Ye friend would not have sus personality, While thus capanel, in getting ready, Fred’s - tongue was busy questioning bis father, who con- _ firmed what he bad suspected, namely, that the fs tS Sead Le a a hy SO EO Ee eee SF ee eS ES ee eae a ee ee ae ee eS ee eee ate ~ | [4 edge about the crime of four years before, But be had been ** hushed” in such an effective man- ner that there seemed no possibility of getting a to admit that be knew anything of the tra- y. on Ill fetch him!” muttered Fred, as he strode down the road, much as Captain ‘Burd Bayard had gone over, it some nights before, It need not be said that as the young man moved along the road in the gloom of the early evening, he kept his wits about him. He fancied that some one had followed him at a distance when he made his way to his father’s house, but he was notsureonthat point. | The night was darker than on the evening which brought such a memorable experience to Burd Bayard, but he could see objects quite dis- tinctly several rods away. He peered in frort and behind, often pausing and listening with the intensity of an Iroquois Indian in the camp of his enemies, ‘‘Tt won’t be safe for any one to dog my foot- steps,” he muttered, as he resumed his stealthy advance; ‘* the time for jesting is past, aud I mean business—” His heart gave a quick throb, for at that mo- ment he caught the faint but unmistakable out- lines of a man walking in the middle of the road justin front of him. Without Spee to reflect, Fred hurried seve- ral steps and called out in a suppressed voice; ** Hold on!” The man started with evident fear and faced about. As hedid so thelawyer observed that he was a negro who was carrying a large basket. ‘¢ Wh-wh-wh-a-t you want, ma-as-saf” he ask- ed in a chattering voice and with trembling knees, ‘* What’s your name!” ** Jingle,” he replied. : ‘* Answer me truthfully you will not be hurt; but if you lie to me I'll shoot you down in your tracks, What have you in that basket?” ‘* Wittles,” ‘* Where did they come from?” ‘* Da Cedars.” ** Who sent them?” “Mrs, Havens,” ‘* Where are you taking them?” : “Over dar,” and the negro pointed at the Haunted House that could located by the trees and dense vegetation by which it was sur- rounded. ‘* Ain’t you afraid to go there?” ‘“No, massa, what am dere to scare—oh, I for- got, I am orful scared to go dere.” Fred smiled to himself, The servant was evi- dently following some line of instruction which he had forgotten for the moment. «See here,” said Fred, veda his voice and stepping closer to tha African ;‘* 1 knowallabout you, Jingle, and will treat youright. You have been told to let no one know about your visits to the Haunted House—” “Golly, massa, who tole you dat?” “ Never mind; it’s enough that I know it, You are afraid to tell me what you know, but you must do it, nevertheless, or it will be the worse for you,” Convinced that the servant was thoroughly frightened, Fred clinched matters by taking an- other track. ‘*T give you my promise that whatever you tell me shall never hurt you. No matter who bas threatened, he shall not harm you in the least. Furthermore, I don’t expect you to give such information as I want without pay,” Thereu the strange-looking man, whose identity Jingle did not suspect, handed him a golden eagle. There was just enough light for the African to identify it as he held it close to his eyes and then “ hefted” itinhis hand, He fairly gasped with delight, for it was the greatest piece of good for- tune that had ever befallen him. In that moment in which J ingle realized the value of the coin placed in his dusky palm, he bounded, so to speak, from the service of his former employer to that of the munificent stranger. e transfer of his loyalty was com- ete, ““Now, Jingle, you will keep secret what passes between us.” ** Reckons I wil), boss, massa, for if I don’t I'll be killed and hung and shot.” “Jingle, do you know anything about the death of the overseer, Mr. Warman, four years ago?” ** Yes, sah,” he wh , ‘I knows all "bout ae warn’t Massa Captain Bayard dat done “‘T know that as well as you do, We will out of the road, where no ri in passing Sedge us, and talk the matter over, Now, in the first ana did you leave the plantation and start for uzzard’s Roost on that night that Pompey and Pete ran away?” ‘* Dat’s what I done, massa.” ‘Did you go with them?” e No, went alone by myself, widout any one else. The important story which Fred Hazeltine drew from Jingle, who, he was. satisfied, was speaking the truth, was that on the eventful night of the visit to Buzzard’s Roost by ger ort 3 and Pete, they did not invite him to go wit them, He overheard enough to understand their plan, and, by way of revenge for the slight, determined to give them a good scare. e followed them some time after their de- parture, intending to meet them on their return and terrify them out of their wits, On coming near Kirke Warman’s house, however, Jingle was so frightened himself lest the overseer should detect him in passing along the highway, that be climbed the fence and started to flank it by going behind the building. At the very moment he was opposite the rear of the structure he caught the sound of a pistol- shot from within, quickly followed by a second. Jingle was terrified and stood still, not knowing what to do. While he was hesitating, he saw a horseman ride up in front of the house and dis- mount, He was go far off that Jingle could not identify him, but at the moment of reining up, another man leaped out of the second-story window at the rear and started on a run toward the very spot where Jingle was standing. The negro was terrified, but it was evident from the action of the man that he was trying to avoid a meeting with the horseman in front and held no suspicion of the servant. The latter was quick-witted enough to slip behind the trunk of the nearest tree, where he made sure the other could not see him. As the white man ran, he continually glanced over his shoulder as if to assure himself he was not followed. Thus be paid more attention to what was behind than to what was in front, and Jingle needed but to use ordinary discretion to escape detection, As the stranger increased his distance from the house, he dropped down to a hurried walk. His disarranged clothing showed that he had been engaged in a violent struggle. ‘Tt was a bright, moonlight night, I believe Jingle?’ remarked Fred, when the negro had finished his striking narrative. ‘¢ De moon were shinin’ like it war de sun,” “Did you get a fair view of the man’s face?” “Tsee’d it ten times plainer dan I see yours dis berry minute.” ‘* Who was he?” The negro stood a minute as if afraid to pro- nounce the name. Fred Hazeltine leaned for- ward and said kindly: **Don’t be afraid; you shall suffer no harm for it.” The negro glanced over each shoulder and then behind him, as if fearful of being over- bea.d, Then he pointed at the Haunted House and said in a husky whisper: ‘* Daere’s where he libs, he done it!” CHAPTER XX. ‘““UREKA! I HAVE FOUND IT!” “You are right,” said Fred Hazeltine, re- pressing his emotion; ‘‘ but why have you kept this a secret? “uch testimony would have cleared poor Captain Bayard.” ; ‘*T dunno ’zactly how it was,” replied Jingle, scratching his head in a puzzled way, ‘but, somehow or other, dat man found out dat knowed sumfin’ bout what took place dat night. Maybe he heard of some words dat I let drap, for he come to me and tooken me off to one side, gib me ten dollars and said be would remember me ag’in if I only kept my mouth shet, but dat if I ever said a word, he would hot me dead, and l’ve neber said a word since den till dis night to you, and I wouldn't hab said it to you if you hadn’t treated me so nice.” Fred handed another golden coin to Jingle, adding the unnecessary caution for him to keep his secret, and then left him, Just as thenegro was moving away, he called bim back and asked how it was he ob entrance into the Haunted House, The w servant handed hima key which he said he hed carried with him for years, le added full and accurate information about the interior of the building, and the young man walked for- ward with higher hopes than be had felt since he became the of Captain Burd Bay-— } ei * sf ia ¥: ah on aaa, raks ES ee RET Beaks etl uiee ye pha 7 : As he anticipated, he found on approaching X
Page 14
ho inabanibie building that all was dark and silent os tae tomb, ‘**Many a strange secret is hidden behind those walls,” Le muttered, as he halted for a wiuute or two in front of the structure, ‘‘ but the most momentous of all shall be given up to-night,” Having decided on bis course, Fred Hazeltine was not the one to hesitate on the threshold, Softly trying the heavy front door, be found it locked. The key obtained from Jingle was then inserted, and it turned so readily as to prove that it’ had ormed the same office many times. The door swung inward without the least noise, and, with just an additional flutter of the heart, the young man entered, The door was closed with the same caution behind him and the key withdrawn. It was not locked of course, for the intruder thought it likely he would find himself in need of the means of a quick and unobstructed with- drawal. Fairly-withingthe Haunted House, Fred stood in the broad hall already described. It was dimly illuminated by a fire burning on the hearth in the large sitting-room, just as Burd Bayard found when he made his memorable call, Witbout. the least trepidation, the visitor entered the. room, and seeing how faint the light was, walked forward and stirred the smol- dering fagots on the hearth. The apartment became as lightas day, At this moment, he heard a slight noise over- head, as if some one was walking stealthily over ‘the floor, Fred stood in the attitude of listening, but the sound ceased immediately. On the mantel, rested volumes which he pro- ceeded to examine, The first was a copy of Paradise Lost, the second Book of Common Prayer, and the third a Bible, Tho last was old an yellow with age, Bending over, 80 as to allow the light to fall on the page, the lawyer turned to the record of births, marriages and deaths, Two minutes jater he straightened up with a start, and the whispered exclamation: * Hureka!l Ihave found it!” Found what? He had learned who it was that 4 owned the pistol which caused the death of Kirke Warman and his wife. The problem of tho initials, ‘‘P. L, M.” had been solved, and he eg only wouder that it had baffled’ him so nioaplte his iron nerves, Fred trembled with excitement, for the discovery could not have been more important. He was standing thus in deep thought and had just secured control of himself again, when the outer door opened and closed with a bang, and the heavy footfall in the hall showed that some man had entered bebind him, “He is going to enter,” was the thought of Fred, who deftly slipped the Bible under his coat, "and drew his pistol, for now that he was in for it, he did net mean to be caught at a disad- vantage. He was not a momenttoosoon,. Hardly was the weapon drawn, when the door was shoved open and * P, L, M.” ped into view, He re- coiled when he caught sight of the stranger (it will be remembered that Fred Hazeltine was dis- guised, and demanded: ‘¢ What does this meant? Why are “*T came ito spend the night; eat the look of things and will 1 withdraw.” ‘* A burglar, eh,caught in the act? You don’t get outof here until you givean account of your- self and I have a chance to search your clothing for stolen goods,” Fred pointed his pistol. “7? you will stand aside, you will save me the trouble of shooting, and lve got your exact range.” It takes a brave man to defy a leveled weapon only a few feet from his ‘face, and P, L. M. was not lacking in discretion. ‘*Get out, then! If I had had a suspicion, this would be the last burglary you ever com- mitted,” Frei strode toward the door, the other step- pivg arics outot his way, The lawyer kept his aded and cocked weapon in bis hand, and never once removed his eyes from the other, who was watching his opportunity, Fred believed be must have a p tol and ied dered that he did not draw it, Probab! own alertness prevented the attempt, ‘ passed out and closed the door bebind bim with- out any demonstration from the indignant occu- ag Be the Haunted House, Tue hand ered Sie ng counselor tried hard to Gintitios'ea sae ge ed step and to avoid all un- ou here?” don’t like NOE eae Bayard’s Close Call. Pek ail wan duet Gnd {Aue air and the ball nipped his ear, he did not hesitate to leap several feet from the ground and to break into a run which speedily carried him oot all danger. elieving that P. L. M. would attempt to follow him, especially if bo noticed the ab- sence of the Bible, Fred secreted himself un- der the shadow of the nearest trees and watched, Sure enough, a few moments later the figure of a man emerged from the short lane leading to the Haunted House and hurried off in the direction he supposed the burglar bad taken. Fred smiled as he witnessed the action, and, waiting until the fellow was out of sight, he started for home. He had to go only a short distance when he turned off at a fork of the road, and felt safe against encountering the in- dividual again, It was not unnatural that the young lawyer should feel in jubilant spirits. Ho was light- hearted and hopeful, and the success of the eve- ning had been unbounded, ‘*T bave found out the owner of the pistol; I have found Jingle who saw and identified the man that shot the overseer; Burd Bayard has not yet been sentenced, but it is to be called up any after to-morrow; I will see the judge to-morrow and secure a stay of proceedings on the ground of newly-discovered and im- portant evidence; another trial will bo granted, and everything— What the mischief is up now?” The last question was caused by the sound of a carriage approaching at a furious rate. It was coming from behind him, and the horse was traveling as he was not accustomed to travel, ‘Something extraordinary, sure,” concluded Fred, stepping to one side of the road to es- cape ‘being run over. ‘*My gracious! It’s fa- ther!” There could be no mistaking the old gig, which bounded and bobbed and swayed in a way that threatened to shatter it to frag- ments, ** Helloa, father! hold on!” shouted Fred, leap- ing into the road behind the vehicle, Bat he was just too late. The old physician did not hear him, or, if he did, failed to recog- niza the voice, and he kept forward with un- abated speed. Fred was fleet of foot, and he started on a run, but the bay mare was at her best pace also, and drew away so rapidly that he quickly gave over the contest, Bat he was almost overcome by the sudden dread that his mother had been taken seriously we and his father was hastening to her side, It mig! ht puzzle bim toexplain how the intelligence could have been carried so as to bring him in such haste, but his love for his mother shut out all speculation, and he hurried down the road, ee fast, and eager to reach home without delay. Every other thought was driven away for ou moment, by the dreadful anxiety for his be- loved parent, He felt that no triumph could compensate for his absence from her death- Fortunately, he had not far to travel when he dashed into the house, forgetful of his disguise, intent only on learning the truth, To his unspeakable delight, the first person on which his eyes rested was his mother, who Jaughed when she looked at the odd make-up of her only child, ‘*] am glad you have come,” she said, after he had hugged and kissed her, ‘‘for your father is anxious to see you; he has some important news.” ‘* Where is he?” ‘In his office; he turned his horse over to Jack and said he would give a thousand dollars if he could see you at once,” “He shall have that privilege without paying a cent for it.” remarked Fred, mak- ing a dash for the office, where he found his ebay more agitated than he bad seen him for “ on What? 's up, father?” “Thank Heaven!” exclaimed the old phy- sician, springing from his chair and seizing the hand of his son;‘‘ I have had an experience to- night that I shall remember aJl my life.” ‘IT saw you making for home like a crazy per- son and called to you, but you did not hear me, Tam anxious to learn what you have seen that so disturbs you.” **] went up in the mountains this evening to | attend a man who has bot a day or two to live, grtapbon re but when the re- | Convinced that he must die, be is filled with re- oman rotor? of & musket rung out on the | morse for his life and made a startling con- fession. He hanijed me that pistol, saying he stole it from you.” Fred smiled 9s he took the weapon, for he recognized it as the one that had been stolen from under his pillow when he was asleep in the old country tavern known as the Black Bear, Heo briefly related the story. ““That corresponds with what he told me, though he believes it is the pistol with which the overseer was shot and does not know of the mir- take he made. But he told me who it was that killed Kirke Warman and his wife,” Fred could not avoid touching the old gentle- man. ‘* But you have known that for four years. Of course you convinced him of his mistake and convinced him that it was Burd Bayard.” ‘*No; it was not Burd; I, like mearly every one else, was mistaken; Burd is as innocent of the crime as I am! Great heavens! suppose it had not been found out for some weeks or months! An innocent person would have been hanged!” «Flow long will this man in the mountains live father?” ‘* He will last twenty-four hours, and perhaps a little longer, but he is doomed, You must Bee him in the morning and fix this thing up.” ‘* Depend upon it I shall doso.” CHAPTER XXI. THE SECRET OF THE HAUNTED HOUS&, FreD HAzeELTINe, the brilliant counselor and devoted friend of Burd leon: did his work thoroughly and well, LHarly the following morning, he and his father, accompanied, too, by a justice of the peace, rode to the lonely hut in the mountains, back of Buzzard’s Roost, where they found Mart Spike within a few hours of his death. He was anxious to do all he could to undo the great wrong to which he had been a party, and his confession was taken down, signed and properly witnessed, so that the keenest judicial mind could pick no flaw in its wording or intent, or weaken its force, The man who hired Mart ‘Spike und a com- panion to steal the pistol from Fred Hazeltine, instructed them to secure it at all hazards, even if it was necessary to shoot him, In fact, he preferred that they should do this somewhere sale, the lonely road, for he believed that he would be thus rid of the only man whom he had to fear—a troublesomeintermeddler who seemed unwilling to let matters alone, and who was li- able to involve the real criminal in peril at any moment, While Spike and his companion had been guilty of many crimes, they were reluctant to add murder to them, and so decided upon the scheme which was afterward carried out. Spike’s companion, after receiving the reward for his services, fled the country and could not be found. The true criminal was Jed Johnson, a cousin of Kirke Warman, the murdered overseer, and he committed the crime solely for money. He had been overseer before Warman, and was 4 cruel tas , who, however, voluntarily resigned a his office and took up his residence at the S Golden Boar in Buzzard’s Roost, accom- panied by his deformed wife, who was believed to possess considerable wealth, though the couple were never blessed with children, The crime was incited by the money which Warman had in his possession, and which was secured by the miscreant, who conducted the business with such skill that, but for the work of Fred Hazeltine, suspicion never would have turned against bim, Jed Johnson married the daughter of Peter L, Morford, on th only a few miles from Buz- zard’s Roost. 6 pistol had originally belonged to Morford, coming into the possession of John- son through his wife. The most carefully-planned crime is sure to have a weak point somewhere which invariably betrays the truth to the skillful eye, The fatal oversight of Jed Johnson was in leaving the tell- tale initials on the finger-guard of the pistol with which he committed the awful deed. A year previous to the death of Colonel Haven, Jobnson and his deformed wife moved into the Haunted House. They kept their resence a secret, so that very few, if any, pens of Colonel Haven’s family, knew of the ac It is now necessary to take a backward step and return to the terrible night when Kirke fe? ip a and his wife suffered such a shocking eath It bas been told that Burd Bayard escaped
Page 15
aa —— from arrest by the narrowest possible chance, but some features of his experience remain tv be made known. Before he fled from the neighborhood, where nearly every one was hounding him to death, he remain: d for.a couple of days in concealment at The Cecars, under the care of Muriel, So at- attached were the lovers that, when he made his stealthy flight in the night, she went with him, determined to share his fate, By some means, never clearly known, Colonel Heven suspected the truth aud pursued the couple. Hecaptured his davgher, just as she was about to embark, and came within a hair of shooting Burd Bayard, He got away, however, ani the broken-hearted daughter was taken back to The Cedars, No pen can picture the terrible wrath of Colonel Haven. Proud, high-spirited, imperi- ous, and brooking no opposition to his will, be disowned his daughter, and forbade her ever to speak tohim or her mother again. Not only that, but he turned her from his home, saying he cared not whither she went, excepting that if he ever learned she had taken up with the fugitive murderer, he would shoot her dead, even if he had to follow her to the uttermost confines of the earth, The wife of Colonel Haven dared not thwart his implacable will, or allow him to know that she violated hiscommand in the least respects but she was a mother and could not shut out the love for her only child from her heart. She arranged with Jedi Johnson and his wife that Muriel should make her home with ‘them, she paying them liberally for their tenderest and most attentive care, Doctor Hazeltine also called regularly at the Haunted ‘jouse to look after the young lady, whose affliction and anguish of mind threatened to become heavier than she could bear. Her brain gave way to a partial ex- tent, but her hallucination was of a mild char- acter and kept her in the house for days and weeks at a time, Thus matters stood until, at the celebration of tho feast of Saint Michael the Archangel at The Cedars, Colonel Haven was fatally stricken with apoplexy. Prompted by an impulse which 16 would he presumptuous for us to attempt to explain, Muriel hastened to The Cedars that night, and when Colonel Haven drew his last breath, the head of his only child rested on his breast and the two murmured words of affec- tion'to each other, Then Muriel quietly returned to the Haunted House and continued the unspeakably dreary existence she had led 80 long, Meanwhile, Jed Johnson cunningly used every means at his command to confirm the belief that the old dwelling was the home of a number of departed spirits. His submissive wife was easily persuaded to act the part of the apparition, The tall, unsightly figure which appeared at the window-panes, and at which Burd Bayard vainly discharged bis pis- tol, was composed mainly of an effigy that her husband constructed, he carried it above her shoulders, and all her strange performances, ‘when critically examined, will be found to have been no more than any person could have accomplished with similar facilities at his dis- posal, The wonderful music which so entranced Burd Bayard was the voice of his beloved, who little dreamed of the identity of him held enchanted by its spell. The mother of Muriel made stolen visits to her daughter and gave her every possible attention, She was compelled to tell her, how- ever, that the prohibition of her father against her marriage to Burd Bayard was ir- revocable, and the mother assented, for, as has been shown, sho was as implicit a believer in the guilt of the young sea-captain as was the father. Mrs, Haven was about making arrange- ments to bring her child beneath her owa roof, after the death of her husband, when Burd Bayard appeared on the scene and in- augurated the events we have attempted to de- scribe, The laws of the human mind are unknown, if not unknowable, The shock caused by the arrest, trial and conviction of Bayard com- poy. restored the tone of Muriel Haven’s rain, and she passed through the ordeal like gold which is thus freed of its dross, The reader will recall that hints have been thrown ont concerning another fear which haunted Burd Bayard. It was bis dread that his beloved was not yet entirely herself men- tally. He fencied, from ber manner, that she ‘was not fully responsible for all she said and did, Burd Bayard’s Close Call. 15 and it was that fear which checked more than | bas not only been discovered, but he was kind Se eee tee a ing gt OS one utterance trenbling on his tongue, The guardian of the genile gil! was the real murderer of Kirke Warman and his wife! During the trial of Burd Bayard, the wife of Jed Jobnson died in the Haunted House, Mrs. Haven immediately removed her daughter to her own home, She saw that the deceased wo- man was given Christian burial, though as yet the “ai y was far from suspecting the whole trat When Fred Hazeltine and his friends had completed the transcription of Mart Spike’s confession, they reéntered the carriage standing at the door and set out for the residence of Judge Huntoon, who presided at the trial of Burd Bayard, They had not ridden far when the justice, who held the lines, looked back with the re- mark; ‘¢ There’s a man on horseback following us.” The others turned their heads, and Fred, who had the keenest vision, asked: ‘* Who do you suppose it is?” At that the others looked again, and Doctor | Hazeltine said: ‘**It is Jed Johnson, as sure as I live. der whether he suspects our business?’ ** No doubt of it; he is very suspicious and | seems hardly ever to have taken his eyes from | me, The individual, who just then occupied the thoughts of all, kept back as though seeking to avoid observation, but when about half the dis- tance was passed he changed bis mind. A turn in the road seemed to have given him the idea that the party were on their way to the resi- dence of Judge Huntoon, and he spurred so rapidly forward that in a few minutes he drew rein at their side, at the same moment that the justice of the peace checked the animal he was driving. He returned the salutation of all three, who saw that his face was unusually pale. Doubtless he suspected the truth. ** Well, did you get it?’ was the strange ques- tion he asked, ‘* Get what?” asked the bluff doctor. ‘*The confession of Mars Spike.” ‘“* Yes; we have it all here—every word of it,” replied the physician, ‘‘ and it proves you the greatest scoundre] in Maryland.’ ‘*There can be no doubt of that, but the county shall never be put to the expense of my trial re you going to run away?!” “Yes; in this style.” 5 And before any one could suspect the meanin of the declaration he whipped out his pistol an pointed it at his own forehead. “Spike told you the truth; I killed Kirke Warman and took his money—good-by !” The pistol was discharged, and he rolled from his saddle a dead man at the moment his startled horse broke into a gallop and dashed down the highway. I won- | CHAPTER XXII. CONCLUSION. CaPpTtaIn Burp Bayarp was filled with strange emotion as he sat in bis cell wondering why Fred Hazeltine did not put in an appear- ance. He had received a message from him that everything was going well and that he would drop in at the earliest moment, but the day was drawing to a close and nothing more was seen or heard from him. ‘Everything is going well, s0 he writes,” mused the prisoner, glancing at the note he had read several times, ‘‘ but though that meansa great deal it cannot mean enough. I may be acquitted, and I believe I shall be, but the iusu- perable obstacle to my union with Muriel re- mains. Were Colonel Haven alive to see my vindication he might withdraw that prohibition, which is meant for life; but he died without re- calling it, and now it never can be recalled. Muriel will not dare disregard that warning of her dead parent, and, no matter what comes, I shall not urge her—” Here he was at last! The same irrepressible Fred, boiling over with high spirits and hope, and scattering gloom as the sunlight drives out the shadow from the valley. “Your hand, old fellow!” was the first t- ing, as with his hat on the back of his , the foung lawyer thrust bis palm forward and gave urd a pressure of the fingers that made him wince, “ Fix up yourself to go home with me!” ‘*To go home with you!” repeated the amazed prisoner ; ‘* are you crazy?” “Pm blessed it I don’t suspect so, Your in- nocence has been est» hlished, the guilty party enough to confess before he blew out his brains; Judge Huntoon has ordered your discharge from custody, and my carriage is writing out- side to take you home, I have kept the news quiet, or all the citizens of Buzzard’s Roost would be here to give you the royal welcome you deserve.” Burd could only stare with open mouth until his friend became more composed and told the story with which the reader is familiar, ‘No words can express my gratitude,” said Bayard, sitting in his chair, too faint and weak for the moment to rise to bis feet; ‘‘ under Hea- ven my everlasting thanks are due you for your noble work. For four years I have rested un- der uw cloud darker than death: when I had given over all hope it has cleared away and I am now bathed in the sunlight of innocence, and command the respect of those who have known me from infancy. ‘**T cannot complain because I was so general- ly believed guilty, for no case could have been stronger against me, Men have been hanged many a time for misdeeds that were no more convincingly proven than was the murder of Kirke Warman by me, ‘* But, Fred,” added Captain Bayard, in a tremulous voice, ‘‘you can understand that while I feel thus, perfect happiness can never come to me,” * Why not?” rs The bar to my union with Muriel is eter- nal, ‘¢ But when every one knows that if Colonel Haven were living, he would be the first to take you by the hand and ask your pardon for bis suspicion, is that not a moral removal of the ban to your union?” But the hapless prisoner, who now began to stir himself with a view of accompanying his friend from the jail, shook his head, ‘*T have tried to persuade myself to that view, and at times almost succeeded, but Muriel is a girl with such an extremely sensitive con- science that she would not be satisfied, and it would break my heart to know that shoe con- sented to a step against her own conscience,” ‘* You are certain on that point?” There was a peculiar significance in this ques- tion which caused Burd to look we ah 3 in the face of his friend, who was standing before him, with his hands shoved deep in bis pockets. 1” ; rik you agree with me?” asked the sailor, 0,” ‘* Have you any doubts on that point?” “ None at all; in fact, I know you are right.” ‘* Then how can you jest with me?” “‘T love you too much, Burd, to trifle with your feelings: but I bave a letter in my pocket which may shed some light on the matter that troubles you so much, Here it is,” Asthe amazed Burd Bayard took the sealed envelope, his heart gave a painful thrill. He recognized the handwriting of his beloved, and he felt that the supreme moment of his life was at hand, The letter contained not a word by Muriel. The inclosure was in the handwriting of Colonel Haven and was addressed to Doctor Hazeltine, Bayard noticed, that the date was less than a year Bo ope “When the truth came out, this morning,” explained Fred Hazeltine, ‘ father sent that let- ter to Muriel with his congratulations, He said she would understand it without any ex- planation from him, and you don’t need any from me,” And this was the letter, in the handwriting of a man who had been dead more than half a year, “My Dear Doctror:—Somehow or other a strange thought has troubled me of late, I have found myself more than once struggling with the question, ‘Can it be possible, after al), that Burd Bayard did not assassinate Kirke Warman and his wife?” Iam impatient with myarlf that such a question should enter my thoughts, for never was there a clearer case in tho history of crime and criminals; but, self-disgusted as I am, I cannot drive the question from my mind, Like the ghost in the play it will not down. “T am sitting alone to-night with the so stronger upon me than ever that there isa - bility that’a fearful hive J has been done the toms man whom I once loved as my own son, am not superstitious, but it may be that there- in I see the shadow of coming events, and I ma be nearer my own end ctban mygfriends w think, “You will understand from what I have written why it is I am prompted te Pikes paper my wish that if ever in the order of Providence the innocence of Burd Bayard should be estab-
Page 16
Y 16 lished, you will convey my prayer for the for- giveness to him, in case you are living, and I am not,and say to him that my most earnest prayer is that he and Muriel may become man and wife, ‘*In case the mystery remains unsolved at -your death, you will leave this paper to your son, who will not make its contents known ex- cept the contingency I have named arises, ‘{f hope that Burd Bayard’s innocence may be proven, though I fear it will not be. How- ever, [ feel better for having put this on paper, for I have averted all possibility of any buman being suffering wrong through act of mine, ‘“* LLoyp HAVEN.” We have said that the letter contained noth- ing from the pen of Muriel Haven, That asser- tion must be quatified, At the bottom of this extraordinary missive was the following sen- tence in her well-known graceful hand: ‘* My dearest, [await your coming! M,.H.” Palermo lay shimmering in the sunlight one summer day. Never did that lovely plain, ia- closed in mountains and known as the ‘‘ Golden Shell,” look more enchanting than when, crown- ed with its wealth of tropical vegetation, the trio of surrounding lofty ridges were bathed in blue of the cloudless sky. The Marina, that re- | markable terrace, swept for a mile along the bay, and the Saracen architecture of the city was as quaint aud grim and striking as on that Easter day, March 30, 1282, when the natives | rose against Crarles of Anjou and inaugurated the great massacre which has come down in bis-~ tory under the name of the ‘ Sicilian Vespers,’ Among the shipping in the harbor was the saucy American vessel, the Albatross, on the point of hoisting sail and passing out on the broad bosom of the Mediterranean, Mate Sim- mons is now the captain, and when all is ready, a boat is descried approaching the Albatross ia haste. The lady and gentleman who are being rowed out on the water are evidently expected, for pleased looks appear on the faces of the crew, whoare thesame men that made such a sturdy effort to rescue their beloved captain when he lay in the jail at Buzzard’s Roost on a oar side of the world awaiting a shameful eath, : Itis Burd Bayard and his wife who step on deck and receive right royal welcome from his devoted friends, that are never tired of hearing from his lips the wonderful story of his rescue from the jaws of death and of his union with the beautiful and lovely Muriel Haven, whose devo- tion to him never faltered. And when the prow of the Albatross cleav the blue Mediterranean, she bears with her th couple, blessed and happy in each other’s lov, The Albatross does not hesitate to sail straig)t up the Chesapeake and drop anchor almost jpn the identical spot where she lay on that neve to-be-forgotten night, Before leaving her decT- for the last time, Burd Bayard makes over tk Capesin Simmons and his crew the entire own9 ersbip of the little vessel all love so well. et And as wife and husband step upon the wharf and shortly after start for their home at The Cedars, they are met by the dignified, happy mother, who infolds each in turn with a mur- wured *‘ God bless you, my children!” THE END, Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. BY LIEUT, A. K,. SIMS, BS9 Tom-Cat and Pardy or, The Dead Set at Silver City. 622 Tom-Cat’s Triad; or, The Affair at Tombstone, 681 Tom Cat's Terrible Task; or, The Cowboy Detective. 688 Tom-Cat’s Triumph; or, Black Dan's Great Combine. 646 Captain Cactus, the Chaparral Cock; or, Josh’s Ten Strike 568 The Dandy of Dodge; or, Rustling for Millions, B76 The Silver Sports or, Josh Peypermint’s Jubilee, 688 Saffron Sol, the Man With a Shadow 601 Happy Mansa, the Datch Videcg; or, Hot Timesat Round-Up 611 Biland Barnaele, the Detective Hercules. 646 Cowboy Gidy the Cattle-Range Detective. G57 Warbling William the Mountain Mountebank. 685 Jolly Jeremiah, the Plains Detective, 676 Stenal Sam, the Lookout Scout. 689 Billy, the Gypay Spy: or, The Mystery of Two Lives, 699 Siraple Sim, the Bronctio Buster; or, For Big Stakes. 712 The Meamerli«t Sport; or, The Mystified Detective, 788 Tolteec Tom, the Mad Prospector. 745 Kansas Jim, the Cross-Cut Detective. ees Marmaduke, the Mustanger Detective. 78 The Ruatler of Rolling Stone. 85 Lone Hand Joe the Committee of One, 01 Kent Kirby, the High-Kicker from Killbuck, 882 The Doctor Dete etive in Texas, 872 Two Showmen Detectives in Colorado, 987 The Texan Firebrand; or, Brazos Billy’s Snap.Shot 961 The Tramp’s Trump-Trick. BY WILLIAM PERRY BROWNE. 956 Brooklyn Bob's Bulge; or, Dodger Dot’s Diamond Snap. 968 The East-Side Spotter: or, Turning Down the Big Three 974 Old Sant’s Dark Deal; or, Miner Mat’s Iron Grip. | 104 Deadwood Dick's Device; or, The Double Cross Sign. BY EDWARD L. WHEELER. Deadwood Dick Novels, 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince ot the Road, 20 Deadwood Dick’s Detlance; or, Double Daggers. 28 Deadwood Dick in Disguise; or, Buffal, Ben 85 Deadwood Dick in Mis Caxtle. | 42 Deadwood Dick's Bonanza; or, The Phantom Miner. AY Deadwood Dick In Danger; or, Omana Ol), bi Deadwood Dick's Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar. 7B Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity é ine, the Heroine 77 Deadwood Dick’s Last Acts or, Corduroy Charlie. 100 Deadwood Dick in Leadville. 109 Deadwood Dick as Detective. 129 Deadwood Dick’» Double; or, The Gorgon’s Gulch Ghost. 188 Deadwood Dick’s Rome Kase; or, Blonde Bill. 149 Deadwood Dick’s Vig Strike; or, A Game of Gold, 156 Deadwood Diek of Deadwood: or, The Picked Party. 195 Deadwood Dick’a Dreams or, The Rivals of the Road, 201 Deadwood Dick’« Ward; or, The Black Hill’s Jezebel, 05 Deadwood Dick’a Doom: or, Calamity Jave’s Adventure, 217 Deadwood Dick’s« Dead Decal. | 221 Deadwood Dick’a Death-Viant. 282 Gold-Duat Dick. A Romance of Roughs and Tougbs, Bi bestreed Bes lcach een oreo an a Pati mik. 809 Deadwood Dick’s Deal; or, The Gold Brick of Oregon. B21 Deadwood Dick’sa Dozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats oot Deadweee fice. Puenta: or, Days is ae Diggings. lan Wadeadd tute Gini 405 Deadwood Dilek In Dead City. 410 Deadwood Dick’s Diamonds. 421 Deadwood Dick In New Yorks or, A “Cute Case.” 480 Deadwood Dick’s Dust; or, The Chained Hand. yor Beet wecd ek ory “a he Crimson Crescent Sign, end wooc ek r.’4, Defiance. 45% Deadwood Dick, Jrva Kull Hand, 459 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Big Round-Up. 465 Deadwood Dick Jr.’« Racket at Claim 10, rit penavess picts ore aorrels or, a Bill. rd eadwood ek, Jr.’a, Dog Detective. si Dendwood Dick, Jr., In Dendy ood, 491 Deadwood Diek, Jr.%«, Compact. 496 Deadwood Dick Jr.’s. Inherltance, 600 Dendwood Dick, dros Wigwingsa. 608 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Deliverance. 615 Deadwood Dick Jr..« Vrotegee. 622 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«, Three, 629 Vendwood Dick, Jdr.’a, Danger Dacka. 5834 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Death Hunt, 639 Deadwood Dick, Jr., tin Texaa, 614 Deadwood Pick, Jr., the Wild West Vidocg 649 Deadwooa Dick, Jr., on Hie Mettle. 5654 Deadwood Dick, Jr., In Gotham, 5661 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Boston, 667 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Philadelphia. 572 Deadwood Diek, Jr., tn Chicago. 678 Dendwood Dick. Jr., Afloat. $84 Deadwooe Dick. vr... in Denver. 690 Deadwood Dick. Jr.’«, Decree, 595 Deadwood Dick Jr., in Beelzebub’s Baain. 600 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Coney Island. 606 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’*, Leadville Lay. 612 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Petrolt. 618 Deadwood Dick. Jr. tn Cincinuatl. 624 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Nevada, 680 Deadwood Dick, Jr., In No Man’a Land, 686 Deadwood Dick, Jr., After the Queer. 642 Deadwood Dick Jr.. in Baffalo. id rong wnad iene te PRene nenene fhe Cenlinee i eadwoo ek, Jr., Among the Smugglers. 660 Deadwood Diek, Jr.’s, Lnaurance Case, 666 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Back in the Mines. 672 Deadwood Dick, dr., In Durango; or, * Gathered In.” oo ennene ules, he peeererys or, Found a Fortune, 4 Deadwoo ek, Jr.’s, Dazzle. 690 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Dollars. 695 Deadwood Hick. Jr., at Danger Divide, 700 Deadwood Pick, Jr.’*, Drop. 704 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Jack-Pot. 710 Deadwood Dick Jr., In San Francisco. 716 Deadwood Dick, JrJx Still Hunt. 722 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’« Dominoes. 728 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a Disguilac. 7B4 Dendwood Pick. Jra, Double Deal 740 Dendwood Dick Jr.’«, Deathwatch. Z47 Dendwood Vick, Jr’, Poublet. Th2 De aiwood Vick, Jr.’s, Deathblow, Z5RX Deadwood Dick, dr.’s Desperate Strait, 764 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Lone Hand. 770 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s Deteat. 776 Deadwood Vick, Jr.’#, Resurrection, 782 Deadwooa Dick. Jr.’s Dark Daya. TST Deadwood Dick dr., Defled, 792 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Double Device, 797 Deadwood Dick, Jr’.«, Desperate Venture. 802 Deadwood Pick, Jr.’#, Diamond Dice. 807 Deadwood Dick Jr.’a, Royal Flush, 12 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a Mead-off. 816 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Rival. 822 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Boom, 828 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ Scoop. 884 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’e, Proxy. 840 Deadwood Dick, Jr’a, Clutch, 845 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ pigh Horse. 852 Deadwood Dick Jr., at Devils Guich. 858 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Death-Hole Hustle. 868 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’« Bombshell, 870 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Mexico. 876 Deadwood Dick, Jr’a Decoy Duck. 882 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Silver Pocket. 891 Deadwood Dick. Jr.’«, Dead-Sure Gamo, 898 Deadwood Dick, Jr’«, Vouble Drive. 904 Vendwood Dick, Jra, Trade-Mark. 910 Deadwood Dick, Jr,, at Sip-Tep. 916 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’4 Dounble-Decker. 928 Deadwood Dick, Jr. at Dollarville. 984 Deadwood Dick, Jr.. at Flush Flats. 940 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, ears | 946 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Double Drop, 951 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Right Bower. 957 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Ten-Strtke. 965 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Gold-Dust. 971 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Oath, _ 977 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s; Death-Doom. 986 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’4, Best Card, P92 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at_Gold Dust. 998 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Big Play. 1005 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Branded, we BY CAPT. J. F. C. ADAMS. 84 Oregon Sol; or, Nick Whiffles’s Boy Spy. 46 Glasa-Eye, the Great Shot of the West. 54 Ned Hazel, the Boy Trapper. 56 Nick Whiffles’s Pet; or, In The Valley of Death. 60 The White Indian; or, The Scout of the Yeilowstone, 20 Old Zip’a Cabin; or, The Greenhorn in the Woods. 81 Lichtn Jo, the Terror of the Prairie. 85 Buck Buekram: or, Bees, the Female Trapper, 247 Old Grizzly and His Peta; or, The Wild Huntress.’ 251 Light-houss Liges or, Osceola, the Firebrand. 257 The Lost Hunters; or, The Underground Camp, 288 The Scalp King}; or, The Human Thundervolt, Burd Bayard’s Close Call. BUFFALO BILL NOVELS. BY COL. PRENTISS INGRAHAM. 1007 Ruffalo Bill’s Sure-Shota. 1000 Buffalo Bills Deeoy Boyan, z 995 Buffalo Bills Drop; or, Dead-Shot Ned , the Kansas Kid. 98S Buffalo Bill’s Lasse Throwers. 981 Buffalo BILl’s Fighting Five. 975 Buffalo Bill’s Rifle Shots, 968 Buffalo Bil’s Kush Rides or, Sure-Shot, the High-Flyer. 964 Buffalo Bill's Decoy ; or, The Arizona Crack Shot. 955 Buffalo Bill’s Mazeppa-Chase, 948 Buffalo Bills Snap-Shot 3 or, Wild Kid’s Texan Tally 942 Ruffalo Bill’s Tough Tuasle. 986 Buffalo Bil’s Boy Mascot; or, Joe Jarvis’ Hold-up. 929 Buffalo Bills Crack-shot Pard. 650 Buffalo BUI’s Boy Pard; or, Butterfly Billy. 216 Bilson BU, the Prince ot the Reins. 222 Bison BilPs Clue? or. Grit, the Bravo Sport. BY BUFFALO BILL. 55 Deadly-Eye, the Unknown Sccut, or, The Banded Brotherhood * 68 Border Robin Hood; or, The Prairie Rover. 158 Faney Frank of Colorado, or, The Trapper’s Trust. BY CAPT, ALFRED B. TAYLOR, U. 5. A. 191 Buffalo Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker. 194 Buffalo Bill’s Bets: or, The Gambler Guide. BY COL, PRENTISS INGRAHAM. 982 New York Nat’s Drop: or, Ex-Ferret Sykes’ Bold Game N York Nat and the Traitor Ferret. 920 New York Nat Trapped. 914 New York Nat's Three of a Kind. 908 New York Nat’s Double. 902 New York Nat’s in Colorado. 896 New York Nat in Gold Nugget Camp. 8SY New York Nat’s Deadly Deal, New York Nat’s Crook-Chase, S77 New York Nat’s Trump Card, S71 New York Nat and the Grave Ghouls. 865 New York Nat’a Masked Mascot. 859 New York Nat. the Gamin Detective. 858 Dick Doom’s kidnapper Knock-Out, 847 Dick Doowm’s Ten Strike. 842 Dick Doom’s Flush Hand. 772 Dick Doom’s Death-Grip; or, The Detective by Destiny, 777 Dick Doom’s Destiny; or, The River Blackleg’s Terror. 784 Dick Doom; or. the Sharps and Sharks of New York. 788 Dick Doom in Boston; or, A Man of Many Maske. 798 Dick Doom tn Chicago. 298 Dick Doom In the Wild West. _ ; 808 Dick Doom’s Clean Sweep} or, Five Links in a Clue. 808 Dick Doom’s Teath Clue, 818 Dick Doom’s Diamond Deal. 819 Dick Doom’s Girl Mascot. 829 Dick Doom’s Shadow Hunt. 885 Dick Doom’s Big Heul. P 749 Dashing Charlie; or, The Kentucky Tenderfoot’s First Trali. 756 Dashing Charlic’s Destiny; or, The Renegade’s Captivey 760 Dashing Charlie’« Pawnee Pard, 766 Dashing Charlie, the Rescuer. 497 Buck Taylor, King of the Cowboys. 787% Buck Taylor, the Comanche’s Captive. 748 Buck Taylor’ Boys; or, The Red Riders ot the Rio Grande, 5660 Pawnee BIIl, the Prairie Shadower. 718 Pawnee BU: or, Curl, the Mad Cowboy. . 719 Pawnee BUPs Pledge; or, The Cowboy's Doom, 725 Pawnee BIL; or, Daring Dick, 692 Redfern’« Curlous Case: o1, The Rival Sharpes. 69% Kedfern at Devil's Manehy or, The Sharp from Texas, 702 Redfern’s High Hand; or, Blue Jacket. 707 Redfern’s Last ‘Trail: or, The Red Sombrero Rangers, And Fitty Others. BY GEORGE 0. JENKS, 485 Git Thar Owney the Unknown, 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledge. 518 The Demon Doctor; or, Deadhold, the Kid Detective 681 Double-Curve Dan, the Pitcher Detective. 59S Flute, the Singer Detective; or, Owney ina New Role, 608 The Pitcher Detective’s Foil; or, Dan’s Double Play. 616 The Ocean Detective: or. The LastCruise ofthe Black Bear, 681 The Pitcher Detective’s Toughest Tussle. _ 786 Larry the Thoroughbred; or, Beaten on Every Side, 279 Llron Hand, the Charmed Detective 854 Uncle Sam’s Detective In Chicago. . BY HAROLD PAYNE. 848 Dan, the River Sport; or, Foiling the Frisco Sharp. 892 Bowery Ben tn Chinatown, 911 Bowery Bob, the Eaat-side Detective, 952 The Cireus Detective. 984 Scaler Sam, Detective, of Hook and Ladder 6, BY T. J. FLANAGAN, 909 Midshipman Heres whe wl Catcher. 925 » Youn ‘ow aptain. 988 The Two Sridshipmen; or, The Corsair-Chaser’s Firs$ Cruise. 949 The Three Lieutenants 959 The Mascot Middy 3 or, The Four Commanders. 966 Fighting Jack Shubrick. MFRS 972 Fighting Jack’s Middles ; or, Dandy Dick’s Dash. 999 Jack Lang, the Privateer Rover. NEW ISSUES. 1016 The Boy Bugler in Cuba; or, The Cowboy Clan On Deck. By Col. P. Ingraham. 1017 Te ective Ma‘t’« Man-Hunt} or, Downing the Des- perate Dozen. By Ned St. Meyer. 1018 Deadwood Hics, J. .’s, Big Four. By E. L. Wheeler 1019 Burd Bayard’s Close Call. By Capt. Hawthorne. 1020 Barn y Blake, the Boy Priyateer, By H. Johnstone. JUST ISSUED. 1010 Kit Bandy’s Big Six; or, The Kustlers of Jackson Basin. By O}] Coomes. ‘1011 Decdewo;d Deck. Jr.'s. Dutch Pard; or, Rooting Out the Rascals of Skeleton Gorge, By E. L, Wheeler. 1012 The Cripple’» Deat-Sura Clinch; or, Trapping the Old Fraud. By Charles Morris. | 1018 Buffalo Bil’. T. xas Team. By Col. P. Ingrabamn, 1014 Middy Ned, tke Runaway; or, Hairbreadth Escapes Afloat and Ashore. By T. J. Flanagan. 1015 The Reporter-Detective’s Big Pull. By Wm. P, rown. A New Issue Every Tuesday. The Half-Dime Library is for sale by all newsdeslers, frve gents peor copy, or sent by mail on receint oF six cents each, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 92 William Street, New York,