Charlie Codman's Cruise

ly; "I repeat the question, why di

n?" the old man

y, and I see you under

ter, with an uneasy glance at

ious knowledge you seem to possess of the main

urt of law," said Peter, reg

4

I say, Peter, don'

, and a sudden look of remembrance satis

e passed, and I was then but a young man. I used to see you too often about the streets of Havana not to remember that hooked nose, those gray

He had been placed at school by his father without any profitable result. On his father's death he

an whose name you remembered so well. He was poor, dependent upon his salary as a clerk, and thanks to you his wife had nothing to hope from her father.

n!" mutte

here, but two died, leaving only the second, a boy, named Charlie. I should think he migh

ked Peter,

out a year sinc

leanor? Wh

ast she has been

mine!" exclai

s a second-story room in th

4

met her fa

doesn't it seem strange that Eleanor Gray, the beautiful daughter of your Havana employer

ely, "she isn't so much better off

ll a hundred dollars her own, than if she were installed mistress of your establishment.

ut him with a

querulously, "there is no use of y

give you something to think of[48] first. Don't you see th

an; where is the danger?" Then, his voice sinking to its usual wh

uld easily believe it, but

ed, I

down. I am not so easily deceived as you may imagine. I know perfectl

exclaimed the miser, raisin

with twenty thousand, which has been accumulating ever since. Your personal expenses haven't made very large inroads upon your income,

xclaimed Peter

steal, do you? Of course there is no doubt that to your tenants, Elean

ey never shall have it,"

aw may have somethin

verything. It will be my death. Good Mr. Randall, have

state's prison," sa

nd her son—need

I tell

you w

es. How[50] much will you give

ill I g

ething. Either I reveal it to the parties interested, in which case I wouldn't give that," snapping his

y, sinking on his knees before Ran

"Why didn't you pity your employer? You

eter, in his customary phr

y, "I am well aware that you are poor,—wretch

[51] catching at this promise; "I

ed Randall, wit

iser, with the air of a m

Ten dollars to secure the peaceable possession of thirty tho

ly. "If I double the sum will it satisfy you? I—I wi

ly. "Twenty dollars! Why I wouldn't have come across the street

miser, groaning internally, and fix

ke a fuss when I

5

d Peter, in a

ill purchase my silence

rom his seat i

ars! Surely you ar

his is not a subject

It will take all I have

ure you admission to the poor-house, where, if I am not much mist

cy?" groaned Peter,

e at

sudden fit of desperation, "I won'

final determin

ered Peter, bu

Eleanor, and inform her of the good fortune which awaits her. No

as no

ey for the lawyers—she can r

r gr

here is one thing you don't seem to consider, that the law will do some

eter called him back hastily. "W

accede to

ve you fiv

ter. I wish you

eter, terrified. "I wi

ll.[54] "I believe I will call on Eleanor.

ps I will do

to be reasonable," said R

an you give me f

ter. You remember I told you Elea

es

s to her support by selling papers, and by various little

es

velled at her it mus

s

first know that I am mate of a vessel now in port, which

5

el

see, that as he is her chief support, she will soon be in difficulties? and this, with her uncertainty ab

r, rubbing his hands; "she shall yet

that you accede to

deliver the sum mentioned between them

ndall left the house. His f

e will be lucky if this is the last money I get out of him. He little thinks that I, too, have a revenge to wreak. He is not the onl