Yellowstone Jack: Trappers of the Enchanted Ground — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

42 crouched beside him, never once removing his eyes from the pale face through those long, weary hours. It was broad day in the outer world, though within the rocky den a light was _ still necessary, since the bottom of the - canyon was never reached by the sun’s rays, when Frank Maynard awoke to con- sciousness. __ “Where am I, what has REPDOUES Ai he murmured faintly, striving in vain to arise from the rude couch of leaves. | ‘You're in good han’s, I reckon, an’ ‘I git along all right, if so be you bey orders an’ take things easy,” promptly replied _ the stranger, appearing far more like a sane man than when he had last spoken. -*T was falling—I had been shot—yes! I sse it all now !” and Maynard shuddered convulsively. ‘We were dashed down from the ledge ; down a horrible depth! ye she, Minnie, was she—did you find er— “T only found you, swingin’ ‘twixt heaven an’ earth on a pine branch. | don’t reckon thar was any one else. You'ra all mixed up in the mind, Irecixon —an’ leetle wonder a’ter sech a fail as that! But thar, [ most forgot. Stranger, ony fer me, you'd ’a’ died out eaten You was bleedin’ fast, you couldn't ’a’ lived a hour longer on’y I got you down, brung you hyar an’ dectored up your hurts. You wouldn’t he to me, now, would ye P” “JT have nothingto conceal, why should I tell you a lie ?” | ‘“Norlaugh atme? They all do that, —they think it fine fun to he an’ laugh at me, ‘cause they think ’'m erazy. but I ain’t ; sometimes I ’most wish ‘t I was, then mebbe Lmightfergit. But I cain’t —lI kin see everythin’ that happened jest’s plain now as that black day. Thar, don’t look at me so dub ous like,” and a threatening glow began to fill the great eyes. ‘‘ What is it you want ? It hurts me to speak. I am sore and aching all over,” replied Frank, pettishly. “Tell mo whar he is—Zenas Kalloch ?” “{ never heard the name before; I know no man who goes by that name,” replied Maynard, after a moment’s thought. YELLOWSTONE JACK. an’ day, never restin’ or sleepin’ or eatin’. uf Then don’t tell me that, a’ter I’ve reckon= _ ri ed somuch on what you'd say when you woke up. Mabbe he’s fooled you, too, “4 with his soft tongue; mebbe you think he’s your frind. An’ yit you’ve got a sood face, it’s like an honest man’s face. - You cain’t know what a wicked devil he / is—but I'll tell ye. My brain’s clear now, © I kin see it all, jestas it came about. “Twas married, Mary an’ me, an’ we © was so happy—tell he came. He was | better looking than me, an’ hed moro ~ bock-l’arnin’. Woe all liked him, An” then—why don’t ye laugh, stranger? Ain’t it funto see a big cuss like me wi’ tears in his eyes? But thar, I cain’t- help it! Whenever I think o’ that time, ne 7 when we was all so happy an’ contented, it makes a baby o’ me. 7 N A “He stole her away from me,’ con- ~— tinued the man, ina harsh, strained voice, __ ‘“ Her an’ the babby. I know that much; ~ iH then somethin’ went crack in my head. When I woke up, I was shut up ina ~ big stone house, an’ they said 1 was crazy. But I knowed they lied, ’twas some 0’ his doin’s, to keep me from tearin’ his black heart out. Iwaitedalongtimefer him, but he didn’t come. Then Isetthe house on fire an’ run away. I hed a © dream that night, an’ the good Lord told me he was up hyar in these parts. Icain’t find him, though I’ve been lookin’ ever sence. But you'll tell mewhar heis, you — won't try to hide him from me, now I’ve told you what a black heart he’s gotr” and the harsh voice softened and an Im- — ploring look rested upon the rugged \ features. , a “Til knew, I would tell you gladly; — but I don’t. [never metany suchman—" | began Maynard. - “You're lyin’ to me—I kin see it in your eyes! Tell me the truth, or I'll tear — you limb from limb!” cried the madman, his eyes glittering viciously. | “Who dares raise an angry voice inmy dominions ?” cried a sharp voice, as tho leafy screen rustled and a human figure — stepped into the den. : It was the weird woman, the witch of the Boiling Spring. She stood peas upon her long staff, her thorn-covere | head flung proudly back, an insane firein — wee * ® 2a oa one “Don’t say that, don’t, stranger! I| her eyes. tell ye Lain’térazy. I’m on’y Jet Cowles. ‘Who air you?” muttered Cowles, Jest think how long I’ve hunted for him ! passing a hand across his forehead witha —a lifetime—fer years an’ years, night | puzzled ai. ah. cComilcbooks.com rF