Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1064 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

hy ~» : Pi # ‘ * a - 6 This confusion lasted for some minutes, until an authoritative voice demanded: ** Whbat’s the meaning of all this row?” It was Jackson Dunbarge, The crowd fell back to make way for him, and he pushed through to the front. ‘‘Great heavens!” he cried, when his sight fell upon the coffin and its beautiful occupant, ‘* What means this?” * That’s what we all wants ter know,” an- swered Hard-pan Smith. ‘‘ Ther thing kem driftin’ down ther creek, an’ we fished it out an’ hyar it be. It’s ther durndest mystery 1 ever see: be howliu’ coyotes if it ain't!” ‘* And itis one that must be explained,” the mine manager cried, ‘‘ Here is a something that cannot be allowed to pass unnoticed— heavens, no! Let me see, how far has it been ssible for it to drift down the creek? Certain- y not beyond the Crow Falls.” ** An’ that’s a good score 0’ miles away,” de- clared one, ‘It ain’t likely it have been put in t’other side o’ Hardscrabble Diggin’s,” ‘You areright. It is hardly probable that it would come through that camp without being geen. That’s a dozen miles away, however.” **Ten to one it bev been put afloat at Cheyenne Crossin’,” was suggested, “TI agree with you,” Dunbarge declared. “That is seven miles away, and the creek is as smooth as glass all the way here, That’s the spot, and you may depend on itas the fact. But, who put it in? Who is this dead girl? What crime is back of it? Men, this camp must settle these questions,” At that moment a groan was heard, and a man staggered forward and fell full length across the open coffin, in a dead swoon. ‘*Thunderation!” cried the mine manager, **it is McDonald! He bas recognized the body, sure! When he comes to we shall learn some- thing about the girl. Lift him, end lay him out here on thé boards.” CHAPTER VIII, EXCITEMENT UNSURPASSED, Hapwoop McDONALD was a young man of a Ry, He was tall, well-formed, and not at all bad-looking. He bad come to Satan’s De- light some weeks prior to the time of this event, and had asked for work at the Gold Drop Mine, Dunbarge, impressed with his appearance, and having need of a man, offered him the place of time-keeper, and the offer was readily taken. The young man took hold immediately and soon proved his worth. He was steady and at- tended strictly to business, and Dunbarge had come to think well of him. He had téld little about himself up to this time, except that he was from Cheyenne. He had had some experi- ence at ages. was an excellent penman and bookkeeper, and educated, Making friends rapidly, he was well-liked by everybody at the camp. He was a boarder at the new hotel, but of late bad been spending gome of his evenings at the manager’s home, it being considered that the manager’s daughter was the attraction. He was quickly taken up from where he had fallen, and laid on the floor of the piazza, while willing bauds lent aid toward bringing him out of bis faint. If possible, the excitement was greater than ever, now. Everybody wanted to be near ' enough to hear what the young man would say when he revived. The whole population of the camp seemed to be on hand, waiting now in almost breathless suspense, Ere long the swoon passed, and for some sec- onds after opening his eyes, McDonald stared about bim in a confused way, as though unable to collect his thoughts, Suddenly it came to him, and with a bound he was upon his feet. Dunbarge’s ready hand Sea him. He seemed dizzy and weak, at t. ‘* What was it?’ he asked, ‘‘ What was it, Mr. Dunbarge? Was.it a@ dream? What ba pened tome? It can’t be true that [ saw her in acoffin— My God! No,no! Tell meit wasa dream—”’, It was no use. It had all come back to him again, and the crowd was proof that be had not been Seeing His eyes sought the coffin on his gaze fell upon it his voice failed Torusting aside the men around him, he drop- pen upon his knees beside the coffin, raining isses upon the dead face of the beautiful girl, at the same time weeping like a child, The rough crowd was struck,to respectful, _ pitying silence, Book moments passed, and the mine manager Dandy Dick Decoyed., laid his hand upon the stricken young man’s sboulder. ‘* There, there, McDonald,” he spoke kindly, ‘don’t take on so. Brace up and tell us who this young woman was, and we must strive to solve the mystery.” The young man partly raised himself, but it was not to explain anything—at least not yet. Lifting his hand toward heaven, he cried in choking voice: ‘*Hear me, ye heavens! The man who has done me this wrong shall die, if 1am spared to hunt him down! J swear it!” He rose to his feet then, forcing himself to calmness enough to enable him to speak, ‘*Who has wronged you?” Vunbarge had al- ready asked, ‘* Who but my hated rival!” was the fierce reply. ‘‘He was capable of such work as this, and he only.” ‘* And this young woman?” ‘* Is she who was to have been my bride. who—” Voice failed him, and he bent his head, gazing at the fair form in the coffin at his feet. Suddenly, with a cry, he bent down and took something from a hand of the dead—something which no one else had yet observed. It was a folded piece of paper, and as hespread it out, writing was seen on one side of it. This he read, a great sob breaking from his breast as he ended, followed instantly by a vengeful imprecation, ‘* What is on the paper?” asked Dunbarge. ‘‘Read it and know,” was the answer, as McDonald gave it into his hand. ‘*Give it to us out erloud!” was the demand, **'Yas! loud!” Dunbarge complied, after a brief glance at the wording of the missive, The note was brief, and read as follows: She Let’s hear it! Read er out, boss! Out ‘* BELOVED MCDONALD:— “Here is your darling Myra. She would not be mine in life, and as I have no use for her in death, you are welcome to her. Happening to know where you are, I send her to you, hoping that you will ap- preciate my good will.” There was no signature, “Ob! Ther intarnal skunk!” ‘Ther wuss than Apache hyena!” ‘* He desarves bein’ burnt at the stake!” A bundred cries such as these rent the evening air, ‘* Who is this inhuman fiend—this worse than devil?” demanded Dunbarge, ‘* His name is Steelforth—tf that is his name,’ answered McDonald; ** Wardman Steelforth, as he calls himself,” **And where does he belong? Come, tell us your story, and if he is guilty, as you think, this camp, to a man, will help you in hunting bim down,” ‘ A loud shout of approval greeted that prom- ise. Had Wardman Steelforth appeared there at the moment, ,he would probably have been severely dealt with, for the crowd was wild. ‘* My simple story is soon told,” spoke McDon- ald, ‘* This dead girl was the only child of a widow who lives at a camp not many miles from Cheyenne. Her name was Myra Pratley. I was employed at that place, fell in love with the young lady, and she promised to marry me, But about that time Steelforth put in his ap- nce, \ “Ther wolf!” ‘Through him I lost my place at the mine, Through bim I was accused, falsely, of robbery, and had to leave the camp, Through him the mind of this dead girl’s mother was poisoned against me, and she forbade Myra ever to speak to me again. Steelforth seemed rich, wormed his way into the widow’s graces, and I was an outeast all around—all around save in the affec- tions of this poor girl. Sbe was true to me to theend, I can be sure of that.” His choking voice made him pause. ‘*I bung around the camp for several days, never daring to be seen,” he resumed, ‘‘ baving occasional stolen interviews with Myra, Finally I was detected, and had to fly for my life, so bitter was the feeling which that villain had aruoused against me. But I bad the sacred promise of her I loved that she would remain steadfastly true to me, She believed in me, if no one else did, and promised to come to me whenever I bad found a situation and was able to send for her.” Again he was obliged to stop, his words being hardly intelligible, ‘**T was looking forward to that happy dav,” he went on. ‘* After next pay, Mr. Dunbarge, I intended telling you my story, and if you be- lieved me and trusted me, then I was going to mer | | Sas Ok By @ « Ars j — 2 aw” \ P \ | Fe Se ee Oye) OY a > > Ll ~ > 4 4 “ P wr 7 ne . ee = send for Myra to come to me here. But, now,, my hope is dead—dead—” He could proceed no further, and with an- other great cry, fell upon the coffin, kissing the dead face again and again. ‘‘This is something terrible,” declared Dum- barge, thoroughly shocked, ‘* The note proves the manner of man this Steelforth must be. Men of Satan’s Delight, 1t is for us to investi- gate, and if we find that what McDonald says is all true, and I for one do not doubt it, then this fiend ought to be burned alive, almost.” Shouts of approval greeted what he said, and suggestions, questions and comments flew thick and fast, Night was coming on, by this time, but it was heeded not, Nothing could draw attention away from the center of interest—the body of the dead girl and the one lone mourner, The minutes were passing, and presently, Dun- barge, turning away from those with whom he bad been exchanging some words, was about to speak to McDonald again, when at that instant an almost scream came from the young man’s. lips, Ki She lives! She lives! /” Such was the cry he uttered, and catching the fair form out of the coffin, he rose with it in bis- arms, ‘‘ Are you sure of that?’ inquired Dunbarge,. greatly excited. ‘* You must be mistaken—” ‘‘No! No! Thereisno mistake about it!” was the glad ery. ‘“‘Ilsaw her eyes move! Make- room, and let me carry her into the house!” The bar-room was nearest, and the door being open, McDonald carried the body in there, the crowd readily making way for him, and Dun- barge was close behind, Light was quickly had, and when the body had n laid on a table at the rear end of the- room, McDonald, Dunbarge and otbers bent over it, to watch for further proof of what Mc- Donald had asserted. Presently that proof was given. There was: a fluttering of the eyelids, the lips parted, and Myra Pratley was alive! The rough handling her lover had given her, in his eager haste to get her out of the coffin, bad undoubtedly hast- ened her resuscitation, CHAPTER IX, SOMETHING SURPRISING. Wuen Craig Morgan, or ‘Devil Duval,” turned away, after giving orders to his men to see to it that Dandy Dick and Barney O’Linn did not escape, for turn away he did as soon as: the words were uttered, Darrel called after him: ** (f escape we do, Craig Morgan, it will be bad for you. It is war to the death between you and me, and your ouly way to insure your safety is: to kill me while you have, me ip your power. But we do not despair. “You escaped from us twice when escape looked impossible, and we may get away from you now,” ‘Ha, ha, ba!” was the taunting laugb. ‘“‘ Es- cape iffyoucan! You have no silly woman to aid you, asIT had, Ha, ha, ha! I am a ladies’ man, Dick Darrel. 1 baveta winning way about me, you know, Why, even your wife was never so happy as when in my loving embrace— Ha, ha,*ha, ha/ Oh, you may tug at ‘your bonds,, but it is no use; you can’t get away or get a me.’ Again rung out his cruel, hateful laugh, and) he disappeared, andy Dick had exerted every effort to burst his bonds, but without avail, secured, Could he have got at the throat of his enemy then and there, nothing but death would have ended bis grip. It was indeed war to the death between these two. The wrongs Dick Darrel had suffered at the bands of this inhuman wretch were too great for anything but death to settle, Dick ceased his struggles with a sigh, ‘Tf not now, thank God there is a hereafter,” he murmured, ‘“That same there is, sor,” echoed Barney, ‘““an’ divil an escape is there from it, aythur,. begob.” The men around laughed and jeered at them tauntingly. “Tf there is such a thing,” cried the “ Right: Bower,” ‘‘ you will find out all about it first, anyhow, ou bave heard the verdict.” “Vis: an’ would that Oi could get me two hands atthe t?roat av ye this minute,” cri Barney. ‘‘ Av Oi wouldn’t choke the vile loife- out av ye, begorra but Oi’m a shame to the mother that bore me, so Oi am!” ‘‘ Words are idle, now, Barney,” spoke Dick, “ We have done our best, but have lost.” He was too well - eee ee eee : 7 ’ 1 ; ’ . be We ‘ Gc _ 7 . _ = + 7