Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1041 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

b | * ’ ' a: | 4 me : ae al —ss_ a, as ~ = - . - a lent e's. i ’ ~S — 12 will have a sudden termination, Itis pretty sure to end at the end of a rope.” . Black Phenix seemed surprised, but in a mo- tent he .laughed again, apparently not dis- pleased, despite the stinging words of the daunt- Jess girl. ‘A regular little spitfire, eh? Well, I must confess yon areabeauty! Caramba! If I bad not chosen the other— But I have, and | will \not change. I fancy you have too much spirit ‘for me, anyway. I have not the time to waste ‘in breaking the spirit of a beautiful girl. One of my men made the bung ing mistake of bring- ing you here, and now he will bave to look atter you. Ihave nodesire to get my eyes scratebed out.” “Which shows what a brave man you are!” came scornfully from: Nell’s lips, ‘* You have changed your business—taken to stealing girls instead of cattle.” ‘* Well, itis a slight departure from my vsual line of work, I will confess; but this time it is more for revenge and for love than for gain. I have an old score against Cy Robinson, and i am in love with his daughter. 1 can get revenge on him and secure his daughter at the same time, thus popping over two birds ata single shot.” ‘Cy Robinson will see that your neck is stretched for this black work!” ‘“‘He will discover he has tackled the biggest job of his life. There are lots of them who have tried to stretch my neck, but it is not an inch longer to-day than when the Black Phenix was first heard of, four years ago.” *‘ Braggart!” “Thanks for the compliment! You have a sharp tongue, senorita, and there is danger you may injure yourself with it. I should advise i to have a care. A woman never knows ow to handle a dangerous weapon.” ‘‘if I had a pistol at this moment—” “ You would make a fool of yourself, alma mia.” (My dear.) “TT would end the career of the dastard who bas caused so much trouble!” ‘* Then it is fortunate for me you have no pis- tol. I have no desire to pass over the dead range. But, I baven’t time to waste in talk. I came to get a glimpse at my is, eg birds, and my desire has been gratified. Now I will take myself away.” SS ie a good riddance it will be!” flashed ell. At this Black Phenix laughed once more. ‘You are very bold now, little one, but you will sing a different song by and by. All the same, lam free to confess I admire your spirit. W bile you remain with me, you shall be treated well, but I can make no promises for the time when ycu will fall into the hands of Whisky Jim. I should advise you to improve the pres- ent, and take no thought of the guture. Eat, drink, sleep, and be prepared for a long jour- ney. Within three days we may be on our way to Mexico. I hope to complete my revengs in that time. ** Buenos dios, senoritas !” With a sweeping bow, bh turned and left them, disappearing into the darkness, **Ob, Nellie!” gasped Nina, as soon as the chief had disappeared. ‘*‘ How could you talk to him in that way?” ** Ho, that was nothing!” declared the plucky miss. ‘*‘Do you suppose [ am afraid of Pablo ~Pajario?” : ** Pablo Pajario! What do you meau?” ** Didn’t you recognize his voice?” ‘* No, the hood muffled it,” *T made an allowauce for that. I confess the hood did muffle it so it sounded somewhat strange, but if that man was not Pablo Pajario lam wretchedly mistuken!” ‘Hush! Here be comes again!” But, it was not thechief, Another one of the band approached and threw some wood upon the fite. While he was doing this, he did not even look at the girls, but they heard bim dis- tinctly say: ‘* Keep up courage; you shall be saved! Iam your friend !” CHAPTER XIV, A RESTLESS RANCHMAN, AS he darted out from the base of that steep slope, hearing the increasing roar above, Cow- boy Chris understood what it meant, and he _ fully comprehended the peril they were in, _ Already his horse bad dashed from the dan- erous vicinity, and, catching Fred Anthrop by he arm, the young cattleman burried him for- ward, shouting: qfet irs ‘Run, run! Run for life !” SSS... ceer~ | Cowboy Chris to the Fore, of the outlaw, whom he understood to be in peril, although even then he could not comprehend the nature of the danger which menaced them, But Chris kvew there was not a second to be lost, and he never relaxed his grip on Fred’s arm for an instant, Above that rushing roar they both heard the last wild ery of the wounded ontlaw, as the miserable wretch stumbled and fell on bis knees, and, although the sound smote to their hearts, they could do nothing for the sinful man, whose crimes it seemed were to be avenged by a wrath- ful God, As the mass of earth and stone came pouring into the valley they were barely beyond the monster’s death-clutch. Even then they were overwhelmed by a cloud of dust and flying debris. Huge bowlders bounded past them, and something caught them up and dashed them to the ground, They struggled up and ran on again, but the peril was past almost in the twinkling of an eye. Panting and breathless, they finally came toa halr, ‘¢ Well,” gasped Chris, *‘ that was what I call a tight squeeze. We escaped by the skin of our teeth,” ‘* But that poor devil—the wounded outlaw—” ‘** Ts dead and buried.” Fred shuddered, ‘‘1t is horrible!” he cried, save him!” ‘* No; we barely had time to save ourselves. As it is, we may thank our lucky stars the slide was asmall one, Had it been a regular moun- tain avalanche, it is doubtful if our friends would have ever known our fate.” ** But what started it?” “That is a mystery no one will ever explain, It is probable it started of its own accord, as such slides usually do,” ‘* And Mr. Welland—where is he? Can it be he is buried under that mass of earth?” ‘*T reckon not.. He started to get away even before we did. He must have escaped.” Fred shouted the deranged man’s name, and far away in the darkness a wild laugh rung out —a laugh that sounded weird and strange, and gradually sunk to silence, as if dying out in the distance. ‘*That was his voice, better try to find him?” ‘‘ My horse isin that direction, So we may as well move that way. The chances are we shall find neither man nor beast. If we do not find the horse, we shall have a good tramp before us in getting to the ranch,” However, the horse was soon found, and he allowed bis master to easily catch him, Then the two young men held a consultation, finally deciding the wisest thing they could do would be tostart for the ranch, There was lit- tle hope of finding Redney Welland in the dark- ness, and they might run against the outlaws again. ‘“We must get some sleep, too,” said Chris; ‘‘ for there will be another hard day’s work be- fore us in the morning.” “Sleep!” echoed’ Fred, ‘ You may talk of sleep; but it is something I shall kuow nothing of this night.” ‘You think so now; but you will snooze off when we get settled down at the ranch, It is your duty to sleep if you want to hold out for the rest. of the bunt,” So, mounted on one horse, they turned toward the ranch. The animal had been overworked that day, and it was near midnight before they reached their destination. Cy Robinson had not retired, and the barking of his dogs brought him to the door to learn the cause. ‘* Ah, boys!” he cried; ‘you have come at last. But, where is the other horse?’ Chris explained, and the rancher listened ea- gerly to the story. ¢ ‘* By Heavens!” he cried, striking his hands together; ‘‘ I believe the retreat of the dastardly gang is somewhere amid those hills!” ‘1 think so myself,” acknowledged Chris, ‘‘ Well, to-morrow we will give the section such a scouring as itnever had before, Itis a pity you lost that outlaw! If 1 bad been able to get - hin, I would have wrung the truth from his lips, One of the men about the place came forward and led Chris’s horse away, and tbe pards fol- lowed Cy Robinson into the ranch, ‘*T could not think of trying to sleep till you came in,” be explained, cap sleep at all to-night. I want to be moving all the time. Boys, if we are not more fortunate a3 Fak than we were to-day, I shall go mad! * We could not He escaped. Had we ‘ 6 :'. ~ , + . ‘ gus ¢ - i ton u “es * ; 7% ye da a a Ry ah al y - “3% We ‘ ¥ , f, : .. - . a ~ : 5 ~¥y ; 7) - “4 " 4 * ' - - » ee z Me Py “+ | ee Ka . f iv hes > — ! ree , bi ye » re Ss | - — ‘“*T almost doubt if I’ a - vs 44 4 she, ot s 4____. He looked as if he spoke the truth, for his cheeks were sunken, his face flushed and his eyes red as coals, Round-up Rube came in, and for some time the four sat discussing the situation and laying plans for the morrow. While they were thus occupied, Pete, the darky, appeared, his face wearing one of the most woebegone expressions imaginable, ‘‘Ob, dar yo’ am, Masser Chris!” he exclaim- ed, ‘*An’ dar’s Masser Fred, but 1 don’ see nuffin’ ob my pore lit!’ missy. Oh, de good Lawd sabe an’ bless us! but dis am a terriful time fo’ ,suah! Haiu’t plinked de banjer once dis hoel bressed day, an’ dat’s suffin’ ’tain’t happen befo’ fer y’ars. I jes’ completely kum- frusticated—yes, I is!” The faithful fellow was indeed a sad-appearing sed o, as he wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, ‘* Nebber fought I'd com’ ter see dis yar sor- rerful time w’en I tole de ole missus dat I’d look arter de lit? missy. Nebber fought de time’d com’ w’en I didn’t keep my wo’d. If lit’l’ missy’s nebber foun’, I’s jes’ gwine ter ker- mit screwicide—I is, fo’ a sollum fac’! I jes’ cayn’t stan’ diz sollumcolly feelin’ ob lassera- tion; dat’s w’at’s de mattah wid me.” Cy Robinson finally bade the others good- night and ascended to his room, but, as he said, with vo hopes of sleeping. Still, if he could get some rest, be would be better prepared for the work of the coming day. But there was no rest for the rancher that night. Within his room he found a slip of paper attached to a stone, the latter having appar- ently been tossed in at the open window, **Ten to one it is a demand for ransom-money from the Black Phenix!” he exclaimed. But it was not. The paper was covered with writing, but the letters were shaky and uncer- tain, as if made by a very old person, It was with great difficulty the rancher deciphered the following: ‘**Cyrus ROBINSON:— ‘The Yellow Witch is back. She can reveal the past and look into the future. Come to her at once. Come alone, and she will tell you of your child. “OLp Maa.” For a long time Cy Robinson sat with the paper in his band, staring steadily at the strag- gling and ill-shaped letters, his face wearing a look of uncertainty. He seemed like a man puzzling over an intricate problem. At length he sprung up and began pacing the floor, crushing the paper in bis band. ‘““S5 Old Mag is back,” he muttered... “ At least, the paper says so, but, what am I to think of it? Has the Yellow Witch really returned to her hut in the hills, or is this a trick of some kind? By gracious! [remember hearing one of the men speak of seeing a smoke risin from her chimney. I reckon she is really bac again, ‘‘ There is a mystery about that old woman—a mystery no one bas been able to solve. Why she should occupy that lonely hut, and how she manages to live, is the mystery. Twice before this has she disappeared, seo 4 to return aftera time. Where she goes or why she goes no one can say. There is no doubt but she is a crazy woman, but ] know she is perfectly harmless.” For several minutes he strode back and forth in silence, but he soon broke out again, ‘‘This may be a trick—a snare to entrap me, It is possible this slip of paper never came from the old fortune-teller, Let me look at it again, I have seen the old woman’s writing once be- fore,” He again carefully examined the paper and what was written on it. ‘*T believe the writing is the same as that I saw before. Ido not believe in these foolish old fortune-tellers; and yet, Old Mag once told Nina some things about the past which J thought were only kbown to me and one other—and that other is dead. How sbe knew of those things I cannot imagine. She nearly frightened Nina to death with thestory, but I deceived the child by assuring her it was all false, I would not have her know the truth—the bitter black truth—for the world! I have hoped the past was dead and buried, “Tf I really thought this old witch ‘could tell me anything of my child, I would not sleep tall I bad seen her, Itis a good twenty miles, but with a fresh horse, I could get there, hear what she had totell and return before morning, “T believe 1 will go!” He could not shake off the sudden desire which seized upon him, ‘If itis a trap, I walk into it with mrevolver » inmy hand, I do not fear one old woman.” He soon stole cautiously down the stairs and : _- -s Pe ee ih - ’ = ' ad J 1a é . ve - oJ S| iubep’y fee Bea . Pic tat one he aoe 7 a ? J « Fe * AES i) Gorell oF comic { J v ‘ tat . nl ; ~ ss b> ta” S é % ‘ i, 4 a Pe ot => f om i 7 ‘a e , ‘ F ae * . Pi %& s 4 f ied, ' ¥ eer er + oF sige: