Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1089 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

ee te —— — Oe ~~ oF wir 5 ri ad a . : 7 Pay 4, 4 Mustang Merle’s Fight for Life. Don Ignace crossed himself solemnly. ‘* They sometimes lie even on the devil,” he said. ‘'I am not as black as I’ve been painted.” ‘* But [ dare not trust you.” Don Ignace turued and called to the man who had deserted him. The echo of ais words was the only sound that reached his ears: but footfalls were soon heard, and the deserter came sneaking back, His face bad not yet regained its natural color, and he shook like a leaf. ‘Take charge of the lady,” said Don Ignace, pointing at Olive. “She won’t let me touch her, The girl straightened and threw up the dag- ger. ‘You adyance at your peril,” she said, un- dauntedly, The minion stopped and looked back at his master, ; ** Worward!” cried Don Ignace, angrily. Once more the man took a step toward Olive, but the menace of the blade was too much for him. ** Fool and coward!” suddenly roared the Mex- ican, and leaping forward he caught the girl’s arm as it descended and held it in mid-air, Olive writhed and attempted to break from his grasp, but he held ber firm. ** You need a friend, and you must trust Don Ignace,” he said. ‘‘He hates every bone in Captain Silver Belt’s body,” nd Olive went down over the stones with his hand at her wrist, CHAPTER XVII. RED HAWK ROBS A ROBBER. CAPTAIN SILVER. BELT soon discovered that taking the ranch by assault was apt to prove a difficult job. He found that the faithful defenders of the lace were men who bad promised to stand by ustang Merle through thick and thin, and that if he wanted to carry out his designs, he would have a bard battle before him, Not content with baving charged down upon the buildings, be resolved to fire the long grass that grew in one of the pastures near the ranch- ‘house, but in this he was sre dmg tn fora well-directed volley drove off firers with some loss, and he fell back for consultation with his officers. This afforded Mustang Merle and his men a breathing spell, daring which the young rancher opened the door leading to the underground cor- ridors where he had left Olive, and ran down the main one, When he reached the spot where he expected to find his cousin, he found it untenanted, and for a moment he stood bewildered in the pas- sage. Suddenly be heard sy | behind him, and another person came toward bim, Merle drew his revolver and waited. When the other one came up he was discov- ered to be Fred Fuller, who had followed the Boy Rancher to the place, in bopes of ig erager Olive from Captain Silver Belt and his min- ions, ‘*She is not here,” said Merle, waving bis sot at the nakedness of the subterranean cham- r’. ‘‘ In Heaven’s name, what has become of her?” ‘*We must search the place,” and the two started off with a hght, moving on and on until they reached the room where the young girl bad touched the button in tke wal), disclosing the chamber whe.e she encountered Don Ignace and his companion, The mystery had grown too deep for even the young ranch king. At this juncture sounds of heavy fighting were heard in the cavern, and Merle went back. ‘*Leave me here,” said Fred, ‘I will not give up vet. Go back and, if you can, beat off the bandit of the border. I ‘will find Olive if she is to ba found at al).” Once more the youth went to work examining évery part of the room, and subjecting the very walls to a close inspection. He was on the act of quitting the s the iron button which had attracted his eye, In a moment he was at the wall, and a sharp blow caused the concealed door to open. Fred found himself in the new chamber, but all was dark. With a match in bis hand ae went on, looking in every direction, and at last stood on the verge of a pit, around which the narrow trail t, when live met seemed to lead, Here the very walls seemed to convey to his ears every of the battle raging elsewhere. Fred stood against the wall and listened, won- dering at the singular effects of the sounds, He heard the reports of the Winchesters of the combatants, heard, too, the cheers of the ranchers as the baudits were momentarily driven off, and at last all grew still. Had the battle ended? The young man moved from the wall and re- sumed his journey. Presently he thought he heard voices and stopped, **Some one is near me,” he said to himself, ‘fam not alone underground,” All at once there came into view a man who carried a torch in his band, Fred Fuller raised his revolver and waited. But tbe man, whose face was dark, stopped, aud the youth did not fire, ‘*It’s the queerest thing in the world if it is true,” he beard the man say in audible tones. ‘*The powder may not be good any longer, it seems to have been in place so long, but some one laid-a train in this old mine years and years ago, and long before Mustang Merle took pos- session of the ranch. I wonder if it would go off if one were to touch a match to it? Captain Dou and his young charge have escaped, and I have been commanded to apply the match.” These words thrilled Fred Faller, As yet he had not been discovered by the speaker though he was standing close to him, but every moment was dangerous. He saw the man take a piece of paper from his pocket. Rolling it up, he threw it on the ground and stooped with the torch. ‘* He is going to fire the old train he has dis- covered,” cried the youth, “If it ignites, all is lost and the mine may be blown up, The next moment Fred sprung forward and the man with the light was informed of his pres- ence by the command he issued, ‘* Hands up!” cried Fred, In an instant the man straightened with a sharp cry and the two stood face to face, The face of the stranger was white and red by turns. He stood like a statue before Olive’s friend, | Fred continued to advance and in a second een in front of him with the pistol in his very ace, ** Who are you?” demanded the youth, **The man left behind,” was the answer, ac- Mes by a smile, ‘* Why are you here?’ ** Couldn’t you see?” ‘* You were in the act of firing the train?” ** Perbaps,” ‘** You were serving some one.” ‘+ My master.” ‘* Captain Silver Belt?” ** Don Ignace!” Fred started at the name,” This man was not Captain Silver Belt’s follower, but the slave of the man with the golden sash. ** Show me the way out. by the way you came in,” said the young man, ‘That would be betraying Don Ignace.” ‘* No matter who is betrayed; you must show the way or you will remain here for all time.” Fred had the fellow at the mercy of his revol- ver and he was not disposed to be lenient, For balf a second the bandit stood undecided; he was looking into Fred’s face as if to gauge his temper when, seeing as it were that he was not to be trifled with, be started forward with a wi, The two walked some distance, the bandit in the advance, when all at once a breath of air touched the youth’s cheeks, ‘* Here we are,” said Don’ Ignace’s man, ** Yonder is the ranch and you can see the trees between you and the sky.” This was true, as a glance told Fred, but he did not look at them long, ** Olive fell into the hands of Don Ignace?” he asked, A smile was the sole reply. ** You know whither she has been taken?” No. answer, ‘* Though to a certain degree I owe my life to your master, | am under no obligations to his slave,” Fred went on, ‘‘I will take your life where you stand if you do not at once reveal the whereabouts of Olive Oram and her captor.” The bandit was inclined to smile at this, for he leaned forward and looked Fred in the face. But he saw no mercy there; only the cool eyes of the youth who, having known Olive for years, had become her lover. é “The truth!” cried Fred, determinedly. **T don’t know as I ought tokeepit bac. Don Ignace has never been the best of friends to me, though I bave followed him like a fool, I have J AD vie fhe ati been his slave, as you say, for there is something: attractive about him, and I could not help serving him, though I never gave him any love. Thev are over yonder, but how far away I can- not tell you.” The hand of the bandit poiuted toward some hills just visible under the stars, ** ls Don-Ignace mounted?” ** He is,” The beart of Fred Fuller for a moment sunk within him, ‘**T can go back to the stables if they have not fallen into the hands of Captain Silver Belt and get a horse,” ‘*That would consume time; and, besides, Cap- tain Silver Belt may have captured the ranch.” ‘¢ But one cannot think of overtaking Don Ig- nace without a horse.” The revolver dropped at Fred Fuller’s side and he turned away, “Your master is tu be followed to the end,” he satd, with a parting look at the man, ‘* He is to be dogged until he gives up his captive.” ‘¢ You may find your hands full, young man.” Fred assured the bandit that be bad counted all the dangers and was not daunted by them. In a moment they had separated, and he was br toward the ranch, All was now strange- ly still. vit the battle was over, it was difficult to tell who had gained the day, Fred reached a certain spot near the buildings: when a long figure sprung into view, and in a second he was covered by a rifle from which he recoiled with a cry. ‘¢ Come on, or drop where you are, with one of Doctor Bundy’s pills in your anatomy!” Fred bounded on with an exclamation of Oo 7 af What, you?” shouted the old Yankee, drop- ping the rifle and catching the youth’s band, ‘ We are having a singular breathing-spell, but eee no tellin’ how long it will last. What’s u Pred burriedly told the story of Olive’s disap- pearance, when Old Joe broke in: ‘The gal’s safe enough!” ‘* Safe?” echoed the youth, ‘‘ Olive safe?” ‘‘She’s yonder at the house, Red Hawk unced upon Don Ignace like a wolf, and he had to give her ap. It was the red’s way, you know, and when he eame back from a little spy- ing trip and showed up with the yaller-sashed rascal, we all nearly looked our eyes out.” ‘Good for Red Hawk!” cried Fred, ‘ But how has the fight gone?” | ‘* Tt’s with us, so far. ting ‘ready for the next move,” ‘*There will be more fighting?’ ** More deviltry, I guess, e gave them sev- eral good volleys, and tumbled some from their saddles, but this is the last battle, and if Captain Silver Belt fails to-night, he fails forever.” Joe Bundy and Fred went toward the house, and in a minute stood in the presence of Olive. . Near by, tied with cords, Don Ignace leaned against the wall, looking crestfallen and humili- ated, now and then glancing at Olive, but for the most part bestowing his glances upon the young Indian who bad baffled him, ‘*'W hat are you going to do with him?” asked Fred, turning to Merle, ‘The battle will determine his fate,” was the reply, and at that moment everybody sprung forward, for something had fallen against the door, and Mustang Merle, looking out, beheld the dead body of a bandit lying on the porch. Lights were carried out, and all looked down into the face of the dead man, while not a single person spoke, CHAPTER XVIII. THE BANDIT’S LAST SHOT, | THE fall of the bandit against the door of the ranch was a mystery that seemed to hold all spellbound in its presence. Mustang Merle discovered at last that in one of the clinched hands of the dead was a bit of aper. Ri he fingers were pried apart and the paper secured, “This man had turned against his chief,” ex- plained the young rancher, looking up. “ He was followed to the house and killed before he could deliver what he held in bis hand.” ‘* A traitor?” echoed Joe Bundy. “I thought Captain Silver Belt’s men were all true.” ““That is Dick Salvo, a man who never served anyone faithfully. I once dismissed him from ry eo rey for cowardice, and would hav killed him if he had not disappeared.” =? Te. . ar) Lee a © Oo The foe have pulled off for repairs, and are over yonder somewhar get- 1NICDOOKS.CO . P - ” ¥ é » i i | in le ee hl) oe + a . - of ied S i. Ree eS SOO +m he Ly) fee \h | =