Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1063 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

¥ , a ae = x mo F — . . 4 > A ee eee - _—F - o- _~>—w + ee _ . = fight. We all struggled with the savageness of madmen, but we were trapped and doomed, [| saw itfrom the first. Seba and I fought side by side, and in the fiercest of the struggle he cried out thatit was all up with us. Thenl saw him fall! ‘‘T was wounded in three places, and I know I must have been crazed, How I ever escaped is a mystery to me, and it must always remain so, I must have got away in the darkness some way—but how?” ‘‘ For a time my memory wasclouded. When I came to myself, [ was in a small Arizona camp. The people did not seem to know much about me, except that I had wandered into town one day and had not been able to tell where I came from or where [I wanted to go. I had found work and managed to live along. ‘‘ But the greatest horror came to me when [ learned that a year had elapsed since the terrible fight with the red-skins, At first I could not believe it—I would not! I thought the people of the camp must have made some mistake in the year. And still there was a consciousness that I had been for a long time in a dazed and almost trance-like condition. ‘‘ Then I was seized by a wild desire to go to her at once. [ could not remain to toil in the mines. I must see her—Anice, my promised wife. As soon as possible, I s‘arted, ““T was a long time working my way back to Illinois, but I did so after awhile, Only to find Anice’s mother was dead, and my little one was gone, no one knew where, As you may imagine, ill, I was nearly crazed,” The narrator seemed unable to remain quiet any longer, so he leaped to his feet and paced back and forth. Wild Bill remained on the rock, watching the youth and waiting for him to resume, CHAPTER X. THE BLACK WITCH APPEARS, For several minutes the youth strode back and forth, Having worked off his excitement in a measure, he came back to his seat near the Pistol =e, ‘*Well, Pard Ned,” said Bill, kindly, ‘‘ you did have a powerful hard row to hoe, [’m mightily interested in your yarn, so go ahead with the narration.” ** There is not much more to tell, Bill. I set myself to trace her, but it was the hardest task of my life. Still 1 was successful in a measure -—-perhaps wholly so. I have never been quite satisfied, though, ‘* She bad left her old home quiet’: and gone West. bins she did so is a my-tery, but I sometimes think she may have been searching for me. Be that as it may, I followed slowly on the trail till she joined what was known as the Mansfield wagon-train.” Bill nodded. ‘lve heard of it.” “Then you probably know the train was bound for some point in Wyoming. Some have said that train was bound for these Hills, but I do not know about that.” “lt may have been.” ‘Well, she joined that train. Now, no liv- ing being that I bave ever found can tell what became of the train, It started out all right, although it seems singular there should have been so much secrecy about its destination. But what was the fate of the train?” ‘You are askin’ me too mucb, pard.” ‘*T have sometimes thought it was bound for Utah, but that does not seem possible.” Wild Bill shook his head decidedly. ‘Don’t get that into your noddle, lad. It was not bound for the Mormon settlements. Everything points against that. The train headed for Wyoming, but what part of the Territory it started for is something I am una- ble to tell.” } Do you think it was destroyed by Indians?” ' **] reckon,” ‘It certainly looks that way, still I have not even up hope. Anice was with that train, I hink—in fact, 1 am almost positive. I have hoped to find the members of the train living somewhere in a quiet little settlement that is shut out from the world.” vO) Bill arose and stood by Nervy Ned’s side, rest- ing a hand on the youth’s shoulder. ‘*I do not want to discourage you,” said the Pistol ary Ae “ but Lam afraid there is little left for you to base your hopes on, my lad.” > aati his pend . re ve t so for some time,” be con- fessed, ‘* Still, £ am on tbesearch, It was that amore than the desire for gold that brought me -. Wild Bill’s Weird Foe. 9 into these Hills, I did not know but the train was bound for the Hills, and I fancied I might learn something of it. ‘* Now, when I say the moanings of that gorge down there often sound like Anice Aldrich’s voice, you can understand why it works upon me, ** Yes, I understand it.” ‘* Bill,” and Ned spoke soberly, ‘‘ I do not think I shall ever go away from here.” | So?’ ** Yes.” ‘** What do you mean to stay here for?” ** So 1 may be near that gorge!” Those words affected Wild Bill more than he showed, ‘* Lad,” he said, after a little silence, ‘‘ you mustn’t allow your fancy to get such a hold on ou, hee Do you think it is all fancy?” “*Tt must be.” ‘* Well, perhaps; but it does sound like her. And when I beard it crying ‘ Bert, Bert, Bert,’ I felt certain it must be her.” **Still you say you do not believe in spirits. Oh, come now, Ned! own up that you are in- clined to put a little stock in spooks,” ‘*T never bave, Bill, but that gorge has exer- cised a strange influence over me—it has almost, if not quite, changed me. If there is sucha thing. as spirits, perhaps Anice haunts that Gulch! Perhaps the train was destroyed near here—maybe she met her death down there!” Ned little knew how his words and manner worked on the scout, Bill was impressed with the belief that the truth was struck at last. Moaning Gulch was haunted by the spirits of the murdered emigrants who had belonged to the Mansfield train! Bill also arose to bis feet and paced back and forth for a while. Finally, be paused and said: ‘*T wish to think this matter over, Ned. Leave me on guard, while you go into the cabin and get some sleep,” “ Bill, I cannot sleep, after telling this story.” ** Well, then, I will give you time to get over it, while I will go in and sleep, You must call me at midnight, and 1 will take your place, You will?” “ Yes. ”? Bill beld out his hand, and the youth grasped it. Then, without saying more, t ey parted. Tbe Pistol King went into the cabin and lay down beside his comrades, He was a man who seemed able to command sleep at his will, and he was soon slumbering. Near the bour of midnight, Bill awoke and arose, He had set his mind on awaking at that time, and it was not necessary for bim to be aroused, He got up and quietly left the cabin, Walking down toward the bowlders, Bill saw the young man still sitting there in the moon- light. Ned did not stir at the sound of the other’s approach, and be was not aware of the —_ presence till Bill’s hand fell on bis shoul- er, “You are not fit for a guard,” said the big man, but be did not speak unkindly. ‘Go in the cabin, lad, and try to get some sleep.” Ned arose, without a word, and walked toward the cabin. Bill watched till the young man had disa red, then be turned away, muttering: * He is all broken up, and I do not wonder at it. Poor boy! be has had hard luck! ‘** His story bas set me to thinking. Is it al- ways the wind that makes the borrible shrieking down in Moaning Gulch? Sometimes I bave heard them when there did not seem to bea breath of air stirring. Is it not the spirits of the dead that make those sounds?” . Bill was more than half-inclined to believe that, and it was not strange be should. There was everything about the uncanny gorge to make a superstitious man think it was haunted. ‘* And the figure I saw there this night,” he went on, muttering aloud, ‘‘Tbat must have been a spirit, There was only one way I could have proved to the contrary, and that was by trying a shot at it, J almost wish I bad. ‘*it may have been as the boy is inclined to think—the train was bound for the Hills. Par- haps they reached the Hills, and then they all met their doom. Whocan tell? Possibly some of them sought refuge down in tkat black gorge and were butchered there, That would explain why the place should be baunted, ‘By heavens! it te not impossible I have looked on the spirit of Anice Aldrich! That may have been her whom I saw this nigbt, and sbe may have been warning me asa favor.” Then be laughed, shortly. ‘‘ A favor from a spirit! That seems a little odd, Well, I shall not fancy hanging around that place after this, There is too much spook- EE . a ee [Sts LL renee ae ishness about it to suit my style, It has fasci- nated me, but I must keep away. ** But who or what is the black-faced creature of which I dreamed, and which I saw at the window? That is another riddle. I feel as if that creature is my deadly foe, vet I know not why it should be so. Can it be she—for it was a woman—is in any way connected with this wild Gulch?” He walked to and fro, his bands behind him, his eyes keeping watch of everything. The moon was slipping down the western sky, and it would soon be hidden behind the pine-fringed crest, After a time, Bill sat down on the bowlder, resting his chin on his hands, and staring down toward the black mouth of Moaning Gulch. As he sat there, the grim place began to exert its singular fascination over him. He felt a long- ing to go down there again and listen to the wind. But Bill was on duty as guard, and he was not a man to desert his duty. ‘*The only way for me to get beyond the allurement of that place is to get out of these Hills,” he thought. ‘‘ As long as [remain where I can do so without much trouble, I fsball have the desire to go down there and hear the wind moan and howl, ‘‘ But shall I ever get out of these Hills? The spook said I should die here, and, if it was really & spook, she probably bad ber informa- tion from headquarters, ell, if I am to be snuffed out, so mote it be, I will die game, and that is a settled thing.” He sat there for some little time, without looking around, At length, he began to feel the same as he did down in the Gulch when the white-robed figure was near. It was a strange sensation, and it crept over him bit by bit. He shivered and started to look around, Directly behind him, only a short distance away, was a figure, It was not the same as he bad seen down in the Gulch, but it was the one who had visited him in his dreams, and who had looked in at the cabin window, From head to feet it was dressed in black, and its face and hands were also black, It was the Black Witch! This creature stood rigid as a statue, gazing straight at Wild Bill, who, for a brief space, was frozen to the bowlder,. There was something terrifying about the black figure. Bill was a brave man, but he felt his flesh creep. Savagely flinging off the spell, be arose to his feet, demanding: ‘‘ Who are you, and what do you want?” The, Witch lifted one dark hand, her eyes glowivg balefully. “T am your foe, Jim Hikok, and I want your blood!” she answered, ber voice being cold and harsh, ‘* Well, I swear you are frank!” confessed Bill ‘* You are my foe, perhaps, but I do not know why you should be that.” “Tt is not for you to know, to die?” | ‘‘] guess not, madam; at least, I have no particular hanke coil.” ** You cannot escape!” “Ts that so?” ‘‘It is; you have come into these Hills to die!” “That is pleasant information, but ] must question your authority. Show us your papers: for that,” Bill advanced toward her, but she instantly commanded: Are you ready ‘** Back! Ap h me at your peril!” | ‘All right,” was the grim retort; “here I come,” But, as he darted toward her, she wheeled and fled with remarkable swiftoess,” “Stop!” cried Bill—“‘ stop, or I shoot!” A taunting laugh was flung back at bim. Bill drew a revolver as he pursued, cocking it, Once more be commanded ber to halt, but she paid no beed, Then he lifted the revolver. But he did not fire. ‘No, I can’t shoot down a fleeing woman,” he muttered. ‘‘ 1 must overtake ber.” He thrust the weapon into his belt and darted forward at renewed speed, f The Black Witch was remarkably swift of foot, but Bill was “no slouch” of a runner, He was soon gaining on her. ‘*T wil] have you ina minute,” be thought. But he was not destined to capture her. The woman cast a look over he sboulder and saw the pursuing man was close at her heels, Ea for a little she darted forward more swift COMICDOOKS ™ : | aks ring to shuffle off the mortal | Suddenly she “plunged into the shadows by | o -_ -