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Show ‘ < A \ feya cKO \ TI) De. i: ) ‘ | . ae A —_ r ose be £ rn \ H \ a Mh if on ei Aw ; = i) — AL Jou mal of Current Ne ws, Literature, CPs , = TWD SSS Art and Science for the Western Household. 3 ” Vol 1.” WoO. A MUSICAL BY ELIZABETH 13. Salt INSTRUMENT. BARRETT BROWNING. What was he doing, the great god Pan, Down in the reeds by the river ? Spreading ruin and scattering ban, Splashing and paddling with hoofs of a goat, And breaking the golden lilies afloat With the dragon-fly-on the river, lake For, his mother having died in his infancy, he had lavished the whole wealth of his boyish affections upon his remaining parent, and the blow was a heavy one indeed. He was aroused from his mournful revery by a summons from Mr. Grimshaw, requesting his presence in the latter’s study. We will precede him there. The limpid water turbidly ran, And the broken lilies a dying lay, And the dragon-fly had fled away, Ere he brought it out of the river. High on the shore sat the great god Pan, While turbidly flowed the river, And hacked and hewed as a great god can With his hard bleak steel at the patient reed, Till there was not a sign of the leaf indeed To prove it fresh from the river. He cut it short, did the great god Pan, _ (How tall.it stood in the river !) Then drew the pith, like the heart of a man, Steadily from the outside ring, And notched the poor, dry, empty thing In holes as he sat by the river. “This is the way,’’ laughed the great god Pan, the river,) began could succed.”’ to a hole in the reed, river. th a a [Written for the Western Weekly. ] Foiled by Fate: ca BY his son, George, a young man some eight years Richard Fortune. ee senior senior. were visible On any much as it might?” “No, replied the father, “It prevented the discovery of has only my last ven- ture, and postponed the crash for a few “Andis there no way by which the crash may be averted?” asked George. “T can see none,”’ replied his father. “My own private resources are exhausted, every cent of the firms funds, property and credit are sunk, and I have given forged mortgages of all the property entrusted to me by Arden for his son. Nothing. remains but Arden’s private deposits at the bank, and that, of course, is out of my reach, and that alone might save us.” “But, father,” said George, “could you not explain to Richard the condition of affairs, and persuade him to sanction the use of those deposits in order to tide us over the crisis?”’ “You forget, George, that such an explanation would involve a discovery of the forged mortgages and other transof themselves would re- sult in ruin and disgrace for you and I.”’ “But by the provisions of the will you were made Richard’s Guardian and sole I. THE HERO AND THE VILLAIN. Charles Arden, faces traces of the violent grief they had exhibited at Mr. Arden’s funeral only the day before. “Well, dad,” said young Grimshaw, a tall, angular, red-headed, freckled-faced, small-eyed, and altogether unpreposcessing specimen of humanity,“the old ran’s hasty departure didn’t help us, then, as actions, which CHAPTER Arden’s | neither of their weeks longer at the most.”’ Sweet, sweet, sweet, O Pan, Piercing sweet by the river! Blinding sweet, O great god Pan The sun on the hill forgot to die, And the lilies revived, and the dragon fly Came back to dream on the river. | Richard At opposite sides of a table which was deeply strewn with papers, sat Mr. Arden’s life-long friend and partner, Robert Grimshaw, in consultation with member of the executor of the estate. Why not appro- firm of Arden & Grimshaw, was dead, priate——”’ “T dare not do it,”’ broke in his father, and, to his credit be it said, all Ardenimpatiently. “If he were only out of town was sorry for it. Ardentown is situated on the banks of the way for a few months all would be a small but navigable river which well. But he will. not return to Princeempties its waters into the famous town, so he says, and it would not do to force him. But stay! He intimated a Barnegatt bay on the New Jersey coast. The town itself is about seven miles desire to go to sea. If we could only + from the coast, and is surrounded on all sides by pine forests, which stretch away for miles and miles on every hand. Large tracts of the timber were owned -by the firm of Arden & Grimshaw, and, converted into lumber and _ charcoal, manage to send the coast !’’ him on a voyage down skipper is Bill Skewes, and——by heaven! a thought strikes me! Why not send Ric’ ard in her and pay Skewes, who is every inch a rascal, to scuttle her? If Richard escapes, his money at least along the Atlantic coast. Mr. Arden’s demise had been so sud- will be at your. disposal during his ab- den and unexpected that his only child, who Princetown, was studying had reached his twenty years of age, with an honest, intellectual face, and at the f goes to the bottom with at ‘the old tub—so much the better. father’s _ “But what a risk to run!” exclaimed ' Richard Arden was a tall, manly young fellow, about sence, and if he law side only to find him dead. the father, leaning ovér the table. “If it should ever be discovered?” “That for the risk!” cried George, snapping his fingers. “She will be time our story opens was sitting in an ‘manned by Skewes with a crew of his apartment in Mr. Grimshaw’s house, his own picking. And to allay all suspicion, head bowed upon a table, a prey to the. I will sail with her as far as the Inlet, AS first real sorrow of his life. pilot December boat to Arden- “Well,” returned the father, “let it be as you say, George, as it is the only way. But if your plan fails?” “Better take any risk,” replied George, “than sit idly down and perish without an effort. Besides, it is the only chance —that or the penitentiary. And now send for Richard.” * * a * When Richard entered the study he found the elder Grimshaw at the table with a handkerchief pressed to his face. He arose, and leading Richard to achair near the table, said: “Sit down, my dear boy, and pardon my weakness. Your face recalls the sad occurrence which robbed me of my best friend—your father.” “T thank you sir, for your sympathy,” said Richard, taking the offered chair. “And now,” said Mr. Grimshaw, aftera short silence, during which he had been busily engaged in squeezing a little water into his eyes, “let us proceed with the business for which I requested your attendance. Your poor father’s last wishes were that you should continue your S225 = 1888. a more villainous looking his life, but who, George personage in assured him, was much better than his appearance indicated. Waiting a favorable opportunity, George left Richard leaning idly over the rail, and approaching Skewes, the captain, who was aft superintending some alteration said: “Captain, can in the you running spare I have minutes in the cabin? of importance to say to you.” me gear, a few something . er Year “Murder,” said George, “I did not mean that. But he must take his chances, and if anything should happen—” “All right!” said Skewes doggedly. “All I say is, if you want anything of that kind done, do it. yourself.” “Well, well,” said George, “we won’t quarrel. And now I mustgo. I depend upon you Skewes.” ., “Aye, aye, sir;” replied Skewes, and the two then returned on deck. ‘Some hours later the captain went to imate, and asked “Aye, aye, sir;” replied Skewes, “I'll Sandy Gibbons, the him to come bélow. be down in a jiffy. sir.” “Aye, aye, sir,” replied Sandy, touchGeorge went below to the cabin, and in a short time Skewes entered and sat ing his cap, and the two men went. below to the cabin where George Grimshaw down, eyeing him. “Now Skewes.” said George, “I sup- had held his interview with the captain. pose I need not tell you that the old Skewes produced‘a large black: bottle Vulture is not expected to make many and a couple of glasses, and placing them on the table seated himself-oppomore voyages.” | ghee Eales Fete. Skewes simply replied with a-wink site Sandy. “Sandy,” said Skewes as he Slled the anda hideoussmile. “The fact is,’ continued George, glasses from the bottle, “take somesb ot “that the old tub is about used up. She thing?” will never be fit for another trip, and if}. “T will,” said Sandy, raising the glass she should go down ina storm with a to his lips. “Here’s luck. A safe voyvaluable cargo, the loss would be consid- age and a quicx return.” Sa erable, to say nothing of the danger to|. “Do it again,’ said Skewes as he filled studies at Princetown without delay. But the crew, as well. But if she should the glasses again. degen ie 5 : I have noticed how his death has preyed “T will,” said Sandy, and for the secspring a leak and founder some calm upon your spirits, and can but. believe night, when all was in readiness, the ond time the glasses were drained. that a change of air and scene would be crew could easily escape in the boat, “Now Sandy, my lad,” said Skewes,. beneficial, if not absolutely necessary to and the insurance on her would realize drawing the back of his hand across his your health and happiness. More than several thousand dollars for the firm. If; mouth, “I know you to be a good, square that, nothing could be of more service I could find a good, ‘trusty man to un- man, and not one to blab all you find to you,as you will soon be obliged to dertake the job, the price would be no} out. You and me have been in some: take an active part in the affairs of the object—you understand?” queer scrapes afore this, afloat’ and firm, than a practical knowledge of the “What will you pay for the job?”asked ashore, and you never went back on me business, gained from a personal super- Skewes, laconically. yet. I’ve got a job now that I want you intendence of some part of it. I am, “Well, if you wish to do it, I'll pay a to help me with. There’s plenty of. therefore, about to suggest that, as the thousand dollars,” replied George. boodle in it and no risk. Now, what Vulture sails on Wednesday with lumber “When do’ you want it done?” asked d’ye say?” that you sail with her in charge of her Skewes. “Spit it oui,” ejaculated Sandy. cargo. Now, should the idea suit you, |. “The sooner the better,” said George, “Take another drink,” urged the capGeorge ‘will accompany you down the “after you get through the Inlet. Only tain.. “It won’t hurt you.” | bay. What do you say?” you must put me ashore somewhere _ “T will,” said Sandy, and: again the “Thank you, sir,” replied Richard tirst; and, mind, you are to do it your- glasses were filled and emptied. warmly. “Lalways loved the sea, and I self—alone.” “Now, all there is of it,” said the capfeel now that anything will-be more bear- |, “Aye, aye, but why don’t you stay tain, “is this. The old Vulture is going able than inaction, and I accept your aboard with the rest of us, and take to to her last port this trip,and you and kind offer gratefully.” | the boats. There’ll be no danger, and me are going tosend her there. See?” “Tam glad you like the plan,” said besides it will look better if you are “Oh,” exclaimed Sandy,and then he Mr. Grimshaw, rising, “and now you had aboard when she goes down. See?” imitated the act of boring-a hole in the better begin to’ pack up atonee. You “There is something in that,” said floor of the cabin. may be short of funds, and if so, draw George, “and then if I see her go down, “That’s it,” said the c1)tain as Sandy on me for any amount you may I’ll be sure you have earned your completed his pantomim». | need.” money.” | “What's the boodle?”’ asked Sandy. “Thank you again,” replied Richard, “Just so,” assented Skewes. “What d’ye say toa couple of hungoing to the door, “but I believe I am “Now,” said George rising, ‘where dred for your share?” asked the captain well supplied at present.” So saying he do you think you can manage with a captivating leer. left the apartment, followed by George, it?” “Anybody else in it?”. asked Sandy. who hurried off to make arrangements “Tet’s see,” replied Skewes. ‘We can “Me and you and young Grimshaw,” with skipper Skewes for the voyage of run herouta hundred miles by Friday replied the captain, “and mums the the Vulture, and her cargoof lumber. night. That’ll be nigh enough. By word. We gits our money and we asks CHAPTER II. A CONSPIRACY AND A CHARACTER. “The very. thing ! “cried George. “The | Vulture sails on Wednesday with a cargo | George Grimshaw, after mature deliboflumber. She is heavily insured. The eration,.had, decided not to broach the formed the principal article of the firm’s trade, and was sent in their own vessels (small coasters) to points all Richard, Utah, and return by the town.” K He tore outa reed, the great god Pan, From the deep, cool bed of the river. (Laughed while he sat by “The only way, since gods To make sweet music, they Then, dropping his mouth He blew in power by the Cuy, starting on the job tonight I can let day- light into her by Friday midnight, an’ if the weather holds fair, I’ll do it then.” “Splendid, Skewes; I knew I had not no questions.” . “Ugly job,” said Sandy shaking his head. “Something go wrong—man lost —questions— and then the devil to mistaken my man,” said George starting pay.” “Nonsense,” growled the captain. We'll subject of scuttling the Vulture to for the door. “J leave it all in your) see the boats all ready tomorrow night, Skewes until they were together in the hands.” “Go slow, sir.’ said Skewes, “one and serve out an extra round of grog, doomed vessel, where no prying eyes or thing more. Is young Arden in the and send all hands below. Do ‘part of ears could reach them. the work tonight, and then about mid: He knew his man, and had no fear that game?” “No, no;” replied George hastily. “He night, Friday, when all’s quiet, let in Skewes wculd refuse to assist him, provided the consideration for his services must know nothing, or the whole thing the water, take to the boats and let her was large enough, and George was pre- will be spoiled. And Skewes,” he con- go to blazes. Take another drink?” ‘tinued, coming closer to the captain and “T will,” said Sandy. pared to pay a good price for the job. “And if anything should happen we So, on Wednesday ‘morning the Vul- lowering his voice, “It would be worth ture stood down the river with Richard another thousand to you if he went are twoto one, and can outswear the devil on a pinch.” Arden and George Grimshaw on her down with the Vulture.” “That’s so,” assented Sandy, whose deck. “What?” exclaimed Skewes recoiling, Richard had been personally intro- “No, no, my hearty. I’lll sink the old eyes by this time had began to assume duced to the worthy captain, Skewes, Vulture if you please, but murder is an unwarranted brilliancy and whose face was getting redder and redder at me than whom he thought he had never seen out of my line.” |