The Half Dime Library, No. 1042 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

ey ae A a) : i é a while her eyes were riveted upon the coming phantom-like steed and rider. No, not a sound did she hear, not the ring of iron, or heavy stroke of a hoof; the strange animal was coming silently and swiftly on. Once more, with renewed terror, Bessie rode on, almost reeling from her seat as she fet that she was being pursued by creatures of a super- natural nature, and at last she became so un- nerved that her horse took his own course, and unguided by her, fled down hillside, through valley, aud over level plateaus at his own free — will, But as he ran each moment his speed de- creased, and the maiden felt that ere long he would fail her. And what then? Alone in those wild solitudes with a being she felt assured was /not of the earth, what woukdl be her fate? She feared she would gomad with terror, for icaay there was an icy chill at her heart, ‘and her brain was on fire. Auwother glance behind her she gave, just as her horse staggered out of the waters of a shal- low creek, and then she felt herself falling, and dewn upon the soft sward went steed and rider, and behind them came silently on the Spirit of the Canyon. One piercing shriek broke from Bessie’s lips and she knew no more. CHAPTER IX. JUST IN TIME, WHEN Little Grit turned back from his run on the express route, he suddenly gave a series of wild yells, repeating them so rapidly, and so changing his voice, that one who heard them would have believed half a score of men were coming. And so the two outlaws that were pillaging the cabin of the man they had hanged did be- lieve, for they hastily took their departure, and were mounting their horses, just as the two who had pursued Bessie Benton rode up. ‘* They has wind o’ our doin’s, pards, so we’d better levant,” said one, and as the yells now resounded hearer, and there came the echoes back from a cliff not far away, they departed in haste, each man carrying with him a led horse from the station. “ But hardly had they disappeared in‘ the spruce thicket, when Little Grit dashed up to the cabin, having been watching their de- parture. “Thank goodness they did not overtake Bes- sie, for she’ll soon reach Rocky Glen and the boys will make it hot for the outlaws. Now to see if it was imagination oggify part,” and the youth entered the cabin and walked straight up to the suspended form of Dan Benton, the stock-tender. Pressing his head against his breast he listened for an instant, and then said quickly: **T was right: helives !” Quickly he cut the stock-tender down, un- bound his bands from behind his back, and commenced rubbing him to create circulation. But life seemed hard to bring back, and no ! ie of returning consciousness was visible. a t the youth did not despair, and pouring a few drops of water into the mouth at a time, and bathing and rubbing the swollen neck un- tiringly, he was at last rejoiced te see the breast heave, and the eyes open, while in hoarse tones the stock-tender said: ‘Devils, you may kill me, but you_shall not have my gold.” ‘Mr. Benton, your enemies have gone, and Iam here, so have no dread,” said Little Grit kindly. The eyes opened again and turned slowly upon the speaker, and then beamed with recog- nition, while with an effort the man said: “What, Wild Rider, you here?’ * Yes, I came up and found you in trouble, and so sailed in,” i : _. But there were a number of men.” hed ridden to ie Glen to carry oe news to “Well, they have all gone now, and Bessie i, ea ; x) a" - i ? . 5 > bs * i, . “4 i> " - : : 4 4 ‘ » - ‘ oe Any F > . » Bf eis sh 4 » wee 5 dak « a é f © r ’ * * the judge, that the ace Bandit’s gang is tap- ping the stations and stealing the stock.” ‘* Bessie is a good, brave girl; but how is it I find you here, Wild Rider?” ‘‘ Jockey Jack started with my express sachel, and came back dead in his saddle, and rung forth, the two reports sounding as on a6 and a cry of pain following quickly. ra But the cry came not from Little Grit, wh spurred forward, unhurt by the bullet of Ba foe, to suddenly go down to the earth, as ] noble horse staggered and fell, the shot havi I am riding his trip, though I’m an hour be- | struck him instead of his rider. hind time now, so will leave you, if you are all right again.” “Oh! I'm allright; see, I can sit up,” and with an effort he arose to his feet. He was a fine-looking man, with long beard and bair, and dressed in a miner’s suit of red shirt, black pants, top boots and sombrero. His face was strangely sad, but intelligent, and one seeing that he was a man of refinement and education, would wonder why he had sought that wild land, and heid the position of stock-tender to the Pony Express Company. “Boy, I owe you my life, for you saved me from death, and it is no idle boast for me to say that if necessary I would give it up to serve you; [am a man of a few words, but I feel deeply, and Dan Benton will not forget this night.” ‘They strung you up because you would not tell where your gold was hidden; they must think the company pays stock-tenders a high salary,” said Little Grit, “‘ to suspect that you could get rich here.” Dan Benton gave a piercing look into the boy’s face, and a strange expression hovered about his mouth, but he said quietly: “They did not get gold, that is certain; but do not let me detain you, Little Grit, for I know how you love to be punctual. ‘*T will remain here until Bessie returns with the boys, but don’t you be rash and meet poor Jockey Jack’s fate.” ‘*l’ll be careful; there’s some stiffs to show the boys when they come,” and pointing to the dead outlaws he had slain, Little Grit with a light laugh left the cabin, and once more throwing himself into the saddle, darted away at the full speed of his noble horse, leaving Dan Benton standing before his door gazing earnestly after him, CHAPTER X. THE AMBUSHED, REFRESHED by his rest at the cabin, Flash sped swiftly along over the stretch of level plain, that the trail led over after leaving Dan Benton’s station, and at last went over a rise in the prairie that would have given his rider a view of the next halting-place, had it been visible. Buti appointed neigh from Flash, and an exclamation of surprise from Little Grit came in chorus, as instead of the cabin with its stockade wall surrounding it, but a heap of smoldering ruins was visible. ‘*They have been here too, and poor Mus- tang Pete has doubtless been killed; yes, there he lies,” and drawing rein Little Grit, sprung to the ground and bent over a human form that lay motionless in bis path. It was a man clad half in buckskin, half in Mexican costume, and the moonlight showed several bullet wounds in his head, while a pis- tol was clasped with a death-gripe in his hand, showing that he had not died tamely. ‘‘'Yes, it is Mustang Pete, and they have run the horses off, so Flash, old boy, you will have to make fifteen miles more, and over bad country too,” and Little Grit patted his horse affectionately; but a sudden start of the ani- mal caused him to be on his guard at once, and instantly he was in his saddle, his revolver in hand. This sudden move saved his life; for there came a flash from behind a part of the stock- ade that had not been burned, and a bullet whistled uncomfortably near. “Coward! that’s your game is it? Come out from your shelter and fight me like a man,” cried Little Grit, and, as he spoke again over the stockade appeared a dark object and once more came the flash and report of a rifle. But that instant had been enough for the quick eye of the youth, whose revolver also - | . 43 - Ste we) Bot + ‘, ca te I ‘*Curse you! I knew I had not missed you s _ cried a hoarse voice, and a man sprung fro f | behind the stockade and rushed toward ti a prostrate youth. v But as he bent above his supposed victim) r revolver was suddenly thrust into his face a he heard the unwelcome words: * You did miss me, you accursed assassin. up with your hands!” Up went one hand quickly above the hel of the man, and again came the stern order: ‘*The other hand, sir!” “ Pard, I can’t do it; yer broke it with shot,” came the whining response. “Then I did not miss you, I am glad see,” and still covering the outlaw, Wild Rit arose from where he lay on his back and 4 te fronted the now frightened prisoner, who cr out suddenly: ‘Lordy! you is ther Wild Rider!” Ww! ‘Yes, so men call me; why did you s¢ye my life?’ ‘*Didn’t seek yer life, pard, but ther lif Jockey Jack, should he escape ther lads bgye on ther trail.” ‘* He did not escape them, but J did,” ou “But this hain’t your run, Wild Rider,” /@2 “Yes it is for tonight; so you wantedSP! wt rob the express, did you?” is “Ther captain told me to lay for him.” Sai ‘* Captain who?’ wh ‘“Captain Firebrand.” oe. “The Boy Bandit?” SIP, “That’s ther rooster. Lordy! but my 47° do hurt,” and the man winced with pain. 4 ‘You should have been saved suffering DOUS bullet through your heart.” Fis ‘Now, pard, don't talk’ thet way.” ‘ Vi act, not talk, sir; now tell me, widar is Mustang Pete?’ ou ** Gone,” or ‘¢ Where?” | V *‘ Cashed in his checks,” ejo “ You killed him?’ abl ‘‘Oh, no, not me, fer I are too tenderfo#@*¢ pard, ter hurt anybody.” or | **So you just proved by firing twice at hi Who killed him?” “Ther boys.” ae ‘Some of your men?” Hb un “Yas, leetle pard.” ‘‘And burned the station and ran off ‘rou stock?” ho “‘ Gospil, pard.” eig] ‘‘And you were left here to await Ur Rider?” ent “Yer has it down fine.” ight “Well, yeu've beeu caught in your [PFU trap, but as Pve left my mark on you Pridl not kill you as you deserve,” f th ““T are bleeding free, pard.” der ‘7 don’t wish you to bleed to death; nae let me see your wound.” The youth drew the sleeve from the P°Ck the man groaning with pain, and saw tha? °" bullet had cut an ugly wound in the flesbs/anc below the shoulder, and that the bon is hi broken, ‘‘] will bandage your arm, and the an v can hasten to your stronghold, and let hin comrades care for you; where is your h y ‘* Over in the timber, pard.” ng : ‘‘Ts he a good animal?’ yon “He are for a fact.” ame, ‘‘'Then I shall take him and continue of® T® ” 100fs a Pre: ‘*Lordy, pard, what is ver goin’, ee tr the “* Your life.” orw “Mankee; I’m obleeged to yer; I mae cause ter grumble.” ‘Tam glad you are pleased,” and bound up the wounded arm he coy “Now come and show me where your bay a7) But, rs y rf A el . nis! os MGRNEROCRS com.