The Banner Weekly: 'The Captain's Enemy' — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

¢ ; < > ' ANT a : 4 5®& | r } -— ‘ : . aX \ ; rT Ye ; 7 AG iS Sd - i” toare. ‘ ¥ a . OF Pl , eae ‘ 5 ~ , rd . ; " —_ 7 - A> » - »* + 7 . - ~wr — ¥ TF ' aft Ss ™~ = , OO ty C- —_— e wer | _-_ en ee atm - e ” % a —_— . ——— «oT el i Se —————— mat fmm S &. steal -_ -— =. cm. - Pe = Arriving at the hotel, they found Zulita and Lazuli anxiously awaiting them, for they had - been teld of the duel. The next day when Harman made inquiries at the hotel, he found that Don Leon Lafonte had de ,; Zone no one knew whither, and soon after Dunbar Kennon, his lovely bride and Paul, went on board the packet ont i farewells were said to Lazuli and her husband, who were to make New Orleans their home, and the voy- age was begun which must take the gallant young sailor to Cloudlands, when the truth must be made known to Valerie Rossmore that the man she so m loved and had hoped to wed, was the h of another. CHAPTER XLV. THE RETURN TO CLOUDLANDS. DUNBAR KENNON reached his home just after the doctor had told Valerie Rossmore to have a talk with Captain Kennon upon all that he de- sired done after his death, as his life was fast oe Saeed the physician had said, will ew more days, : — the end. With a sigh Valerie had expressed the wish: ** Oh, that Dunbar were only here!” And almost following the utterance of the words, there was heard the roll of an approach- ing vehicle, a carriage drew up at the door, and in the one who sprung out Valerie Rossmore re- cognized in the moonlight, the one for whose presence she bad just lo > With a ery of joy she sprung toward him and then for she saw him turn and aid some one else to t, while Paul, who had from the box, where he had been seated with the driver, held the door open for the sec- ond to get out of the vehicle. Offering his arm to the one whom he had aid- ed to alight, Dunbar Kennon ascended the steps to the piazza, while Valerie saw that his com- on was &@ woman, i t of who that woman could Odi Risch? Seveaiied Taees Meeespem dilate ‘Ob, Ww am to see you a Only ioaate | I longed to ha h now to have you here, for your father—” ‘f , Valerie, tell me of my father?” “He can last but a short w ,” and Valerie seemed hurt at the manner in which she had been met by the heir of Cioudlands. ‘* My dear Valerie, I am indeed glad to get home once more: but let me present ou the Sefiora Zulita, and beg that you will show her to her room, while you come into the library, for I have something important to tell you.” His manner was kind and yet restrained, and Valerie knew not what to think. — Who was this Sefiora Zulita? __ She was deeply vailed, and had spoken no word, merely bowing at her introduction to ber. With no suspicion of the truth Valerie said: ** No, no, not in the library,for your father is there, as he has refused to take to his bed. ‘* We will go into the parlor, and then J must break the news of your coming to him. *" Well, Paul, | am glad to see you home n. *“And I love you, Missy Valerie,” replied ange as he Seared the little hand exteniied to m, ** Only the grasp of Dunbar’s band—no kiss, no fond word,” murmured Valerie, asskhe turned and bade Zulita accompany her up-stairs, at the same time telling Dunbar she would join him in the parlor in a moment, Too well bred to ask Zulita a question as to who she was, Valerie ushered her into a lovely chamber, bade her make herself comfortable and said that she would send her maid to look after her wants, “TI will order supper, Sefiora Zulita, and will come for you when it is ready,” she said, as she left the room, | Zalita had merely bowed her thanks, hardly Aa the door closed win hea s the door c she dro into an easy- servis and said: ms re! ** Poor, poor girl! ** Now will come her sorrow indeed. ‘*] am sorry now, when I look upon her beau- tiful face, that be ever came across my path. **No! no! no! I will not say that, for it was his destiny and mine to meet. ** But she is so lovely, and I feel for her in the sorrow that must be hers.” In the month which had passed since Zulita had been the bride of Dunbar Kennon, he bad taught her much of the world into which he was going totake her. There had been a numer of passengers on the packet, and courted and admired by one and all of them, the beautiful young wife had begun to feel her power. Arriving at New York, Dunbar Kennon had taken a carriage and hastened on to Cloudlands, and across its threshold he had brought a bride, were dwelt one whom he was solemnly pledged wed. | It was a startling situation for him to face and a bitter awakening to the truth he feared that it would be for Valerie Rossmore, Going into the parlor, he stood awaiting her return. He had schooled Zulita to tell her nothing, to leave all to him. Valerie had told him that his father was dy- ing. only a few steps away from him. he had told him that the end was near. It was indeed a thrilling situation in which he found himself. Paul had hastened away to the servants’ hall, and was to remain dumb until the terrible truth beeame known, He pitied bis master, and he felt for poor Valerie. In the parlor, with the t of the lamp shin- ing full upon him, Dunbar Kennon awaited the dread ordeal through which he must pass. He was very pale, and yet pertecty calm. He had made up his mind to tell the truth, in so far as he did not compromise Zulita, He would never unfold her story to the gaze of a highs and bring the finger of scorn upon her. he story he would tell might have a founda- tion of truth, but if would not be a stain upon the beautiful woman who had become his bride, the fugitive Queen of the Island Rovers of the Caribbean. Paul had been sworn to secrecy, and Zulita been schooled in just what he would ay an oo she must corroborate when called upon to do so. Stern and resolute he waited, his thoughts up- on the grief he must bestow upon Valerie, and his heart with his dying father. Then, in spite of himself, Dunbar Kennon started, as he heard the rustle of a dress de- scending the broad stairs, A moment more and Valerie Rossmore had entered the parlor. (To be continued—commenced in No, 264.) = —_—_— THe strange word that is spelled differently everywhere it is printed, and that describes a tribe of Indians just removed from Canada to Alaska, is really ‘‘ Metlakahtla.” The Met- lakahtlans are a band of the Tsimsheans, or savages of the west coast of British America. A missionary named William Duncan found them in a savage and cannibalistic state, and not only converted them to Christianity, but taught them to work, so that after a quarter of a century of his guidance they had established a Village,a church, several stores and work- shops, a trading schooner, a fire and police de- partment, and many other of the institutions of civilization. They were more than self-support- ing. Duncan refused the bishopric years ago, but more recently the Church of England sent a bishop to Metlakahtla, who proved a firebrand in the community, He punched one or two na- tives, and went about with a asif afraid of his life. He insisted upon being called *‘ my lord,” and the people, not liking any of this, re- belled when he sought to preémpt a part of their land for Church uses. Neither the Church nor the Government took compassion on the In- dians, and they left their village and came un- der our flag in Alaska, the nearest point of which is only a few miles from where they were. MISSING SHIPS. BY BERTHA BERTON, "Ships at sea! will they e’er come back ? Ever come back ta this world to me? I s-nt them forth on an unknown track, Over a rougb and stormy sea. It was long ago that they went away— And heavy-ladeno with trea-ure rare; I have watched and waited form a day When the skies were dark, when the skies were fair. Ships at sea! they were ventures all— Some, seot fortn with a reckless band. Some, with Faith, and an earnest prayer, Wreck’'d, perchance, when in sight of land. And yet, Hope babys i some coming day * May loom in the distance—a snowy sail; And of ali the ships that I sent away One may be spared that has weather’d the gale, The Sons of Thunder; THE RIVALS OF RUBY VALLEY. A Romance of Nevada. BY LEON LEWIS, AUTHOR OF “THE WATER GHOUL,” “ DARE- DEATH DICK,” ‘‘ THE COWBOY COURIERS,” ‘* THE RANCHER’S FOUR MILLIONS,” ETC, CHAPTER XLV, w Sey eal aie oumtaed Nim Coggl ITH what wondering c ty es thus turned his back u is passenger and = bed * greater As he reached the trail to which his tempter had allu2sd he found himself intercepted by a man on horseback, who was evidently awaiting his yee, ‘* Hello, Nim,” greeted thishorseman, ‘‘ Those clothes fit you nicely, and that wig is as fancy as your beard; but you can’t hide your manly beauty from me / Nim drew rein abruptly. A first-class earthquake would have surprised him considerably less than did this bantering observation. W hat could he do? Deny his identity? or quarrel with the stran- ger on general principles? ‘*‘ Who the deuce hare you?’ he demanded. ** And ‘ow did you know I’m Nim Coggles?” ‘*‘]T saw you changing your skin yonder, near your burning stage,” explained the horseman. ‘‘In fact, was near enough to overhear the edifying remarks with which this change was accompanied.” The horseman was indeed the concealed watch- er of whom we have spoken, After witnessing the scene we have described he had glided away just ahead of Nim until both were beyond the hearing of tain Dash. ‘* Well, that beats me,” muttered Nim, hardly knowing whether to treat the matter lightly or seriously. ‘*‘ Your voice reminds me of Cal Stevens, but. your face is not Cal’s bya long chalk! Wil) you tell me who you are?” “Ph if you will, Nim, since nobody’s looking. " Hit’s a bargain!” Nim took off his false beard and wig, and the horseman followed his example, ‘*Cal Stevens, true’s preaching!” exclaimed Nim, in a guarded tone, with a keen glance around, ‘‘ But whatare you doing in that dis- guise, Cal?” ‘‘Just about what you’re doing in yours, Nim,’ answered Cal Stevens, who was another weil-known and popular stage-driver, and who had long been Nim’s most intimate companivun. ‘‘In a word, just what has happened to you — Nim, happened to me a week ago yes- te sf What! you were held up by Captain Dash?” **T was!” ‘* And—and your passenger captured?’ ** Just so, Nim.” | ‘* And you were bribed to leave Hamerica?”’ ‘* Just like you, Nim.” Coggles looked asif a rattlesnake had sound- ed an alarm beside him, ‘* The only difference in the two cases,” added Cal Stevens, as he resumed his wig and false beard, ‘*‘ is that my passenger wasa lady |” ‘* A lady, Cal?” ‘ ‘Yes, Nim, And another curious fact is that the lady was Mrs. Hatton, the wife of the ween a4 who had come on from the East to join m! Again Nim Coygles looked as if a thrill of terror had traversed his eptire body. ** Let’s get out of this,” he pro , hervous- ly. ‘* Hi want to talk with you.’ He resumed progress quietly, ae the wig and beard he had assumed, and Cal Stevens followed his example. riding beside him. Nothing more was said until they were at least a hundred rods from the scene of the sup- posed colonel’s capture and at a sheltered and retired spot which afforded them the sense of security they needed. ‘Yes, I’ve been through this mill ahead of ou,” then said Cal Stevens, as he slipped to he ground. ‘* Dash and his men stop me on the Elko road and took Mrs. Hatton prisoner, Then Dash bad with me about suth an interview as he has just had with you, offering me a thou- sand dollars to go to the Sandwich Islands and be gone a year.” ‘* And you haccepted ?” Galt ‘*T didn’t dare do otherwise. I think the vil- lain would have murdered me on the spotif I had refused. But my resolution was taken to remain hereabouts and spot them. With a new suit of clothes, and a new wig and beard, I uietly took possession of a mining-shanty, in a deserted mine of the Humboldt Range, and have been watching ever since tosee what would be the next link in the chain.” ‘*Of course you were missed, Cal,” observed Coggles, as he also dismounted. ‘* Your horses were found making their way homeward with- out a driver, and a dozen rumors arose as to what had become of you. Some hinted ata sun- stroke which had caused you to wander off to parts unknown. Others declared that you had taken a sudden notion to go East or West, while another report had it that you had suddenly been taken ill and been obliged to stop off at a farm-house.”’ ‘* All of which is gammon,’ avowed Cal. ‘‘ As you can see with half an eye, Nim, there is some d scheme on foot against Colonel] Hat- ton and his wife, who are now both prisoners. Have you any idea wbo these rascals are?” * i can wre rt ss that they’re some o’ them b awmons who've n raising the Old Scratch so long on Franklin Lake,” re- phed Nim, oy de you notice that snake ring, with di’min’ heyes, on the finger o’ Cap Dash?” ‘‘ Yes, I noticed it—his hands, too. They’re as plump and soft as the hands of a cone f That chap don’t drive stage for a living, as I knows of, orridea broncho. What an idea, to burn that stage! Tocause everything to disappear, both man and thing! It’s as much as to say that they mean to wipe ont all record of to- day’s trip. I think they’d have killed you, if you hadn’t agreed to go away, Nim!” ‘‘ No doubt, Cal. I saw it in the heyes o’ that smooth, palavering devil. I’m so for the colonel! They mean to be rough on him!” ‘‘That’s clear enough,” returned Cal, as his troubled glance settled in the direction of the scene of Bert Tabor’s captivity. ‘‘ 1 wouldn’t be in the colonel’s place, pard, for all the gold and silver in the world!” ‘* Nor Hi, Cal,” said Nim, CHAPTER XLVI. THEIR PLAN OF ACTION, THE thoughts of the two stage-drivers lin- gered upon the situation of the prisoner, as was natural. ‘*Pity such a man as Colonel ’Atton should be murdered by them Mawmons,” resumed Nim, a pause. | ‘* And whata shame it’d be for us to go back on him, pard!” returned Cal Stevens. ‘* You've no intention of taking that voyage across the ocean, I ong Poor of ‘* Not the least, Cal. ‘Ave you?” ‘* No more’n | intend to emigrate to the Cazi- nibal Islands!” ** [t looks to me, you see, Cal, as if it were our bounden duty to remain ‘ere until the colonel’s out of the clutches of his henemies, if that day’s ever booked to come,” added Nim, earnestly. ‘*T agree with you, Nim. But you'll need to dieser: the clothes and the disguises furnished by Cap’n Dash, as I’ve done. He’d know ’em at sight. We must fit up all new. Take a drink from this flask, while we reflect a little as to our best course, and then tell me what we're to do,” ‘* Hi don’t need to chaw on this question as long as it takes to say scat /” was Nim’s rejoin- der, as he proceeded to do justice to the liqnid refreshment offered bim. ‘‘ You know where the Ruby Cave is, a mile south and west of the Gentile camp?” ‘‘T ought to, pard. I’ve spent many a day there, looking for rubies.” ‘The same ’ere. You must remember that there are places in the rear of thatcavern where beverything isaslightand clean and pleasant as any room at a hotel,” — Cal Stevens assented. ‘*Tve t many a night there,” he said. ‘* Hi, too! It's jest the place we want for our boarding-house for the next few days. We shall be near the Gentile camp and r all that’s said about the colonel’s disa nce. Possibly, too, we may be able todo something for the colonel’s rescue.” ‘* Of course, pard, and have help at hand in case we should need it. It’s fully agreed, then? We'll hide in the Ruby Cave?” ‘** Yes,” returned Nim. ‘* We'll remain dis- guised, but it a in wigs and beards of our own selection, ell go to Helko during the night, sence this ’oss must be left there for Leavitt, as ordered,to keep them Mawms in hignorance of the fact that we’ve concluded to remain in Hamerica.”’ ‘*And oncein town, we can of course get a complete outfit of hair and war-paint,” suggest- ed Cal, ‘* Let’s mount and be off.” The two men mounted, but Nim Coggles hesi- tated so long to stir that Cal Stevens bestowed a more critical glance u him. ‘* You're not afraid of being seen, I hope?” he said, indicating witha wave of the hand the darkness which was deep-ning around them. ‘*No, Cal. Hit’s another idee than that!” “Out with it, then. This ought to be an hour for confidence and plain speaking, pard,” declared Stevens. | ‘Hand for plain hacting, too, old boy,” avowed oe Copgles, as he tore = his <ey beard and wig. a sprung to the groun ding rhe under his heel. ‘Some’ow I eel with them things on as if I weresomebody’s strange-looking and strayed cuss! Mind’s made up, Cal—fully! I’ve lived all these years ’thout bein grees sneaking, prowling, double- headed and nameless pig in a poke, and I’m too hold to begin now!” ‘* You mean, then—” **T mean that Nim Coggles has never been ashamed o’ his figgerhead,” growled the veteran driver, ‘“‘ and that be hintends to stick to it jest as long as he sticks to bhanything!” ‘* Good!” commented Cal Stevens, as he re- moved his false hair and threw it into the ad- jacent bushes. ‘If your mind’s made up not to go into hiding, 'm quite ready to take that course with you. Here we are, then,in our proper harness. What's the next thing to hitch to? “Why, we'll go to the Gentile camp, as straight as these ‘osses can carry us, and let the yer’ now what has ‘appened to the colonel.” e suggestion went straight to the heart and brain of Cal Stevens. ** Let’s do **T’'m with you,” be declared. what we can,” **'To begin with, you must be able to lead the way out of these woods,” suggested Nim, ‘If sO, the sooner you set up in that line the bet- ter. ‘* Follow me, then.” The couple were soon making for the old emigrant stage road—Cal leading the way—al- though this course took them very near the spot where Nim’s long interview with Captain Dash bad taken place, and where the captors of the colonel were still busy. But suddenly Nim halted. ** See anything ’spicious?”’ asked Cal Stevens, hurriedly. ‘‘ Is anything wrong?” ‘+ Well—yves,” answered Nim, slowly. ‘*‘ We ought to peep in on these villains and see what they propose doing with Colonel ‘Atton!” “It’s risky business, Nim,” returned Cal, **butif you choose to take your chances—” ‘‘Come on, then. I’m willing to take a very considerable risk to give them‘ Sons of Thunder’ a set-back.” ~- The couple changed their course sufficiently to make it conform to their new intentions, and went on some time in silence. ** You alluded to my being familiar with this neighborhood,” at length resumed Cal. ** You’d think | ought to know a thing or twoif you knew what tramping I’ve done during the past week in these mountains. The wandering Jew is anchored fast by comparison!” ** What a thicket we're in now, Cal!” mutter- ed Nim, ‘‘ Must be getting near the Mawms, 9 “Yes. [I’m going to leave you here, Nim, in charge of the horses,” said Cal, as he slipped to the ground. ‘“* Wait here for me!” And Cal glided away swiftly in the direction of the glare on the sky, which pointed out the whereabouts of Captain Dash and his men, CHAPTER XLVITI. BERT AND HIS CAPTORS. In the mean time how had Bert Tabor fared in the réle he had so daringly assumed? As we have intimated, night was at hand at the moment of his capture, and this circum- stance was nota little in his favor, the gather- ing shadows keeping out of sight the actual dif- ferences and contrasts his aspect really present- ed to that of the man for whom he had been taken, Curiously enough, Bert was really favored by the light of the fire which had been kindled to burn the stage-coach. The glare and glow of its beams, as it fell up- on his powdered eyebrows and painted face caused him to present that ghastly and wa appearance which his captors were prepared to find in the real colonel. No suspicion of the truth in the case seems to have occurred to any of the outlaws, not even _ the couple who were so closely guarding m, Not a word was addressed to him until Nim Coggles had been got rid of in the manner re- lated, and Captain Dash had given some atten- ti