Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 100 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

eccrine mri ee LL LLL! LAMA LE LY A ee — ‘ fires on the surroundin ‘“Tt matters not just now. her, until I see fit to let you. You cannot see Both she and you are in my power, and it sv‘ts me to keep you apart, at present!” ‘Why this contrary move?’ he demanded. ‘‘T paid you well to *ecure her, and bring her here, did I not?” “Yes, but honor is not one of the ingredients of my kind, and . may cause you to pay a dou- ble sum for your own and her liberty. Or I may take the girl for myself!” “Curse you!’ Gardner cried, in a rage. “You are a traitor to your friends, as well ret to play me this as your foes. But, watch you well—Ill even with youift you inten sort of a game,” Lady Belle Farnsworth, after Hawk left her, gan makin» an investigation of the premises, for the bandit had promised her the rae a o she en in the castle four days ere she had learned every crook and cranny thereto, from his camp, and she meant to enjoy it. had not op Fo bottom. er own room was furnished with a table, stools and a bed all of skins stretched upon rude frames, and this was all, except the doors were so arranged that she could fasten herself in, if she chose. As soon as she found out concerning Jessie Heath’s arrival, the kind-hearted English girl went aud made friends with the American, and used her utmost power to cheer Jessie out of her mourning for her lost mother. A couple of days served to dispel Jessie’s grief, to some extent, and the two girls became reat friends. Together they roamed through the old castle; through its quaint hallways, and ancient rooms, from bottom to turret, whil- ing away their time, and watching for an op- portunity to escape. It was a strange, monotonous sort of life, this of the bandits of Camp Hawk. They had a few amusements, and were as arule of the most brutal type of ruffians. But they made no of- fer to molest either Jessie or Lady Belle, doubt- less having been warned not to by Hawk. But though the fair prisoners looked eagerly for some chance to escape, the days rolled by ‘and none came. They took their meals in Lady Belle’s room, and slept there. The food was mainly corn- dodgers and roast meat, but it proved very pal- atable. In the course of their rambles, they came across an odd character to whom they took an instant liking. He was an old Indian, who guarded one of the turrets, where the girls were wont to climb in order to get a view of the surrounding moun- tain scenery. At first he was gruff and uncommuuicative, but after awhile they succeeded in winning him out of bis guard, and getting him to talk. Finding that they appeared to like him, he became communicative, even going so far as to tell them the history of Castle Hawk. ‘Tt is many years,” he said, in tolerable Eng- lish, ‘‘since the Raven came hither. He was then young, and strong and a great brave of the Aztec tribe. He had a squaw, and two ppooses as handsome as the growing maple. ut his people, who were a great race in the Far South-west, banished the Raven from the tribe, because he would not sacrifice a beauti- ful pale-face maiden, at the altar, and hunted him away from their land. The Raven wasa great warrior, and rallied around him fifty warriors, and came hither. Raven ordered the lateau made, and he was obeyed. He ordered he castle built, and it was done. He ordered the road dug up the mountain-side and that too was done. All this took many years, but the warriors found both time to work and hunt,and were happy. Raven was happy with his squaw and young sons, Eon, and built great peaks. ‘“ When not upon the hunt, his warriors work- , 8d in the rock of the mountain, piercing deep ‘ into the bowels, to make secret passages. ‘‘ At last came the terrible scourge, and one by one Raven’s warriors dropped off from a disease that seemed incurable. One by one he laid them away in the depths of the passages their own hands had made, until all, including Raven’s squaw and sons were sleeping the sleep of peace at the feet of the Great Manitou. Then Raven alone was spared, and left by himself in his village in the mountain. He never tried to rally another band around him, but became a hermit, until the bandit chief came and robbed the Raven of his peaceful home, and turned if into a robbers’ stronghold. Raven’s life was spared, but he was placed kere in the turret of | | Deadwood Dick in Leadville. his own wigwam, to watch until the Great Manitou shall call him.” ‘Then you bear the bandit chief no love?’ Lady Belle questioned, eagerly. ‘The Raven hates the ‘bandit more than the cougar hates the trapper. But his hands are old, and his body lame, and he cannot fight.” ‘* Poor Raven! Would you not like to leave the castle, and go to the villages of the pale- face, where you could get work, and have a better home, than here?” : ‘“The Raven would like to go, but he has no where to go—no home—no friends.” ‘* Let him not fear. If he will escape from the castle, and take us with him, we will guide him to the pale-face city, and give him mone to buy a ca in, weapons and ammunition. Wi you go?’ ‘The Raven will think. He knows of many secret ways out of the castle, and he mebbe take pale-face girls, and go. He think much hard about it, and if he go, he come for pale- face girls an’ take ’em along.” So the girls went back to their room, refreshed with a stronger hope of escape. This wasthe third day of Jessie’s stay in the castle, and the fourth of Lady Belle’s. That evening as they were sitting alone in their room, after lamp-light, the door was sud- denly thrown open, and a man stepped quickly into the room and closed it after him. Jessie uttered a little cry of alarm, for she recognized the well-known form and evil face of Ralph Gardner. “Sh! he said, in a low tone; ‘‘ keep still, or you will attract attention. If I were caught here it would be my death.” ‘‘Then why are you here?’ Jessie demanded, coldly. ‘‘To rescue you young ladies from the power of this wretch, Hawk. I have been days in working to reach you!” Gardner said. ‘1 have at last triumphed, and can effect your escape.” ‘‘How kind you are, Ralph Gardner. But, do you think that you can deceive me? No, indeed! You are a hypocrite—a base schemer —a murderer. Were! tostay here until dooms- day, I would never accept rescue at your hands.” “Why, my dear Miss Heath, I am surprised. You speak in riddles.” ‘“ Then, I will speak even plainer!” Jessie re- plied, scornfully. ‘‘I will say even more, if your comprehension is so poor. I can see through your whole scheme, as though I were reading it from a book. It was you, who hired Captain Hawk to murder my poor mother, and bring me here. Now you have come, pretend- ing that you have gained an unobserved en- trance, and you propose that if I will marry you, you will take me away from here. Other- wise, you will leave me here, in the power of Captain Hawk. Do so. I would rather live here until I died, than to leave here with you!” A demoniae scowl came upon Ralph Gard- ner’s face, ‘“Cuse you;” he said, savagely, “‘ you are pretty shrewd at guessing, for you hit the case exactly. I hired Hawk to bring you here, an now you have your choice between marrying me and leaving here, or marrying him, and staying. Which will you do?’ ‘“T will do neither!” Jessie replied, firmly. ‘‘T defy you and your power. Do your worst, for I would take my own life, rather than to marry you.” ‘‘ We shall see. I will leave you here to the tender mercies of Captain Hawk, and not re- turn fora month. By the end of that time I believe you will be ready to accept me.” And with a bow, and a devilish smile, Ralph Gardner left the room. Captain Hawk, in the meantime was riding alone, toward Leadville, at full tilt, upon his handsome horse. A fine equestrian was this bandit chief, but merciless upon a horse, for he used the spur and whip savagely. On arrival at the outskirts of Leadville’s bustling city, he drew reins and dismounting, secured his horse in a grove of chaparral, to a stout sapling. He then removed the mask from his face, and walked boldly into the town. Few if any had ever seen him without his mask, and he had no fear of being recognized. Making his way to the Tontine restaurant and hotel, he ordered a waiter to show him to the rooms of the Farnsworths, and, was conse- quently shown into the parlor of their suit. _ My Lady Farnsworth was sitting by the win- dow, but arose haughtily, as she beheld a stran- ger standing boldly in her presence. lart<, 1? »* - > I beg your pardon, my lad _— ————- = a | | | | ! said, bowing low, ‘‘but I could not resist the temptation of calling upon you, believing that you would know me, but it would seem that you do not,” ‘‘ No, sir, Ido not know you. How should I, when you are a total stranger to me, and ina _ strange place?’ her ladyship replied. ‘‘ I was not always strange to you, Barbara, There was once a time when Byron Stansol was a dear friend to you—a friend that was a lover, but you refused him for a title.” ‘‘ Byron Stansol!” Lady Farnsworth echoed— ‘‘you, Byron Stansol] ?” ‘The same, dear Barbara, although I have never carried sail under that name, since I left England. Here in America, I am known as Captain Harriot Hawk, the bandit!” ‘** Merciful heaven, you are not that monster?’ ‘* The same, if a monster you choose to call me. lam known as Harriot Hawk, here, and asabadman. I have your daughter in m possession, and I have come to make terms wit ou for her restoration.” ‘* What terms do you demand, sir?” “T have not manly decided. One hundred thousand pounds might possibly do for the | present.” ‘‘ Are you mad, Byron Stansol? I have not so much money in the world. Nor would I give it to you, if 1 had.” ‘So? Well, I am not a hard man to please and we can talk up another plan. For instance, you marry me and take me back to England as some great lord you have met during your tra- vels. Your title and social position will enable you to do this. I have plenty of filthy lucre, and we can cut a great swell in London, and I flatter myself, my title and shrewdness will get me into the Queen’s favor, after which I am all hunki-dori!” : “Stop!” Lady Farnsworth said, deprecating- ly. ‘1 would not marry you were you a king!” ‘Not even to save the life of your daughter, Barbara?” ‘No, not even to do that. I shall never marry again!” ‘‘Probably not, unless you marry me, for I shall kill you, if you refuse.” ‘* Monster!” ‘* Ay, call me all the pet names you like, for I deserve them all!” Captain Hawk said, with agrin. ‘I am a demon when you arouse me. I have no fear of God or man. My hand has been stained with blood many times, and I am not afraid to stain it again.” ‘Nor am I afraid of you!” Lady Farnsworth replied bravely, and making a sudden move she drew a cocked revolver from her skirt’s folds, and leveled it at the bandit’s heart. So sudden and rapidly did she act, that Hawk had no time to draw his own weapons ere he was ‘ covered.’ _ ‘Now dare to make a single hostile move and I will shoot you!” Lady Farnsworth said. “Furies seize you!” he gasped, hoarsely wincing under the aim of the revolver, ‘* Wha do you mean?” ‘*T mean that if you move an inch, I will put every one of the seven bullets in this revolver into your body!” Lady Barbara replied, tri- umphantly. ‘‘ You are my prisoner, Captain Hawk, and | shall see that you are dealt with, as men of your type deserve.” ‘‘Pshaw, you would not shoot me, Barbara!” the bandit said, trying to force a smile. ‘‘ You are only trying to intimidate me by playing a practical joke.” ‘‘Try me!” Lady Farnsworth replied, a steely glitter in hereyes. ‘I have every confidence that it will prove a serious joke to you.” ‘‘Curse you! curse you! What do you in- tend to do?” Hawk demanded, his face grow- ing white and flushed by turns. ‘You are not going to give me pp?” ‘That is precisely what 1 am going to do,” the heroic woman replied, keeping a revolver still wpon a level with his heart, and touching a call-bell with her other hand. ‘* You are a prize I do not value, and I shall make a present of you to the public!” “But, stop! listen to reason!” Hawk cried, owing nervous. “If you give meup, and I o not return to the stronghold, my men will cut your en barre head off. Those were my orders when I left camp!” ‘‘A clever lie, Byron Stansol, but it will avail you nothing. You would not give such an or- der, as you value your prize too much, and you knew not what delay might detain you. You are too shrewd a schemer for that!” A horrible oath escaped the ruffian’s lips, when he saw that he was foiled at every turn. He was tempted to reach for his own weapon rder the daring woman on the spot, bak waste +i nGOnmn JOOKSEOM ©