The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1869-10-21
VOL. 65.--WHOLE No. 5,5lS.

''Atire ="
Nichols reeled as ifa bullet had en4
entered his heart. His complexion
turned livid.
"Alive ~ he repeated, in a shriIl,
cutting whisper. ''He has come back
He is in Norfolk 2"
He looked around him wildly, as if
seeking an avenue of escape.
mo, Colonel, he is not here. He
boarded us just after a calm in the
South Pacific. i saw him face to face,
heard him tell how the vessel he went
out in had been lost in cyclone, and
how he alone remained alive to tell the
tale"
'And you brought him back ?" cried
Nichols, in that shrill, incisive whis-
per, putting his livid, scared face close
to that of Sales, and fairly startling the
latter by the glance of evil meaning
that shot from his bloodshet eyes,
"You let him live-you, who will
lose by his life and gain by his death 2"
A regretful expression crossed the
face of Captain Sales.
"If did, l didn't mean to !" he ex-
| claimed. "The fact is, Colonel, L
meant TO dispose of him in the quickest
manner. | thought there was big
storm coming, SO | set him adrift in an
open boat. The storm blew over, and
Lester, am sure, made for the nearest
islands. He was in frail boat, the
poorest of the lot, and / allowed him
only small allowance of provisions"
"Then he may be alive now on one
of those Pacific islands!" circulated
Nichols. land he may be picked up
by a vessel at any time, and come
back to ruin me. | was sure he was
dead. Tell me his story as he told it
to you"
Sales complied with the order, while
Col. Nichols paced the floor with hur-
ried steps.
eyes, he must have gone back to
the island he escaped from, or to some
neighboring island,' cried Nichols,
when his confederate had concluded.
"What cursed fatality seems topur-
sue me! Sales, Lester is liable to come
back, as said before, al any time. His
return would be my ruin. / tell you,"
he added excitedIy, 81 have done
things for which he could send me to
the state prison. | should have to fly
with the officers of justice on my track,
and | should never dare return to claim
my nephew's fortune. Sales, Lester
come back ~
"And how are we going to prevent
it 2" asked Sales. "No doubt he went
back to the Land in the Sea, and was
set to idol-carvings again but he may
escape again, or a friendly ship may
rescue him, or some chance set him
free"
"But there shall not vn interrupted
Nichols, with increasing agitation.
as the Cyclone seaworthy ?"
Eyes, Colonel. She's in splendid
order. Could be got to sea atan hours
notice, if she were provisioned.
"Provision her at once. See 10 ev-
erything. She must be off within
twenty-four hours. l am going in
search of David Lester"
"What. to rescue him ?''
"No," Kissed Nichols; "to destroy
him."
He continued his walk with increas-
ing violence.
"And | will not 60 alone; Margaret
Lester and her daughter shall 60 with
me! If succeed, and Lester perishes,
his wife shall become mine. If [ fail, !"
and his eyes cleaned luridly, ''and /
arrive out there, to find that he has
been rescued, | shall hold his wife and
child as hostages, and demand my safe
ty as the price of their freedom"
Pm in with you, Colonel" said
Sales admiringly. "And what's more,
can keep every one of the crew by
being little liberal with them.n
"Then go to work Immediately
Set the men to unloading. Provision
the ship, and be sure to provide wine
and dainty stores for the woman and
girl. | will send aboard furniture for
three state-roomS, and one of my ser
wants to set them in order. The SER
want will accompany US, to cook for
and wait on the ladies. You under
stand ?''
"Yes; but how are we to get the la
dies aboard ?"
''They must be taken aboard to-
night, and we must slip out of the
Roads in the darkness that comes be-
fore daylight. You and L will go up
to Mrs. Lester's cottage soon after dark,
and gain an entrance into the house.
The rest will be easy"
This programme, with amplifications,
was resolved upon. Nichols provided
his confederate with the necessary
funds, and they separated-Sales to re-
turn to the ship, and Nichols to make
certain purchases, and to send his SER
want down to the Cyclone.
They did not meet again until eve
ming. The shadows were falling
thickly when the two steaithily enter
ed her garden, approaching the house
while keeping in the shadow of the
trees.
Mrs. Lester and Amy were in the
parlor, the windows of which were
wide open, the security of months hav-
in restored Mrs. Lester's former con-
fidence. The two men could see the
elder lady seated in her armchair, and
the young girl, dressed in white, at
the piano, upon which she was softly
playing, accompanying the instrument
with her voice.
The room was not lighted, both
mother and daughter loving the gray
J twilight shadows.
On the steps of the kitchen porch,
the colored serving-woman was sitting,
and in the garden old Nicholas Collins
| ox,l |, ny; 20 ,.-ors hnI1incr Eualxg die