Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1116 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

: ) a < ~—- a rt ty . ln a ee ae . _—— — >. > a : - - -, a = ‘< I does.” “Then you go and find him, my man, and Pil pay you most liberally,” said the general. The scout simply walked toward the general a couple of paces, and said quietly: ‘* Lester Langdon the Cowboy is before you, @eneral Earl.” With his words he removed his white beard and hair, and instantly was the handsome, resolute face of the young Cowboy revealed. A cry of amazement broke from the lips of all present, while Rollo Willoughby turned to the prisoner and said: ‘* Now, sir, you are face to face with the one you sought to murder and rob.” A groan was the only answer of the wretched man. CHAPTER XIX. CAUGHT IN THE TOILS, THE few days following the most startling denouement, regarding the villainy of the supposed Engliso brothers, and the murdering of kis wife by Loyd Langdon, the greatest excitement prevailed in the fort. And the metamorphosis of Old Hickory into Lester Langdon the Cowboy, was another cause for wild gossip, and the youth became the lion of the fort. His commission, which the general had not destroyed, or even reported, on account of there being but a mail once or twice a month, was restored to him in full honor, and fellow- sbip was extended to him by all. The ladies, the wives and daughters of the officers at the fort, intended getting up a dance in honor of the brave young lieutenant; but this he begged they would not do, as he had just learned of the death of his father, who bad been very dear to him, Obtaining leave of absence for an indefinite period, #8 soon as he had given his testimony against both Loyd Langdon and Brandt Bur- neti, Lester left the fort to go East and see about his inheritance. Arriving at bis old home, which had been his birthplace, he found that his uncle was liv- ing there in grand style, and to gain an idea how evil he was at heart, he introduced him- self as a secret messenger from his son, Loyd Lavgidon. “ ‘Ab yes, you are doubly welcome; but where is the boy?’ ‘*In Texas, sir, at Fort Advance.”’ ‘*Tndeed! and he sends me news by you, doubtless?’ said the wily lawyer. ‘‘ Yes, sir, be found his cousin, and having an opportunity to accuse him, with every ap- pearance of guilt, of committing murder, he did so, and the result was, as the boy was a soldier he was sentenced to be at once shot,” “By Heaven! but Loyd worked well.” “ He did indeed, sir.” ‘* Sent he no letter by you?’ ‘Letters are compromising, you know, Judge Langdon; we were together there, and as he asked me to be his ally, of course he got me to come on and report to yuu.” ‘“Well, 1 am glad to see you, my young friend; but do you know [I think you look devilish like my son Loyd.” ‘‘T should do so, for I am his cousin,” was the cool reply. ‘¢ You his cousin; you don’t mean that there is another son of Carter Langdon, of whom I have not heard?” - ‘‘Qh, no. He had but one son,” ‘* Lester.” ‘Yos,” “The one who was shot you say?’ “The one who was sentenced to death, but escaped—” ** Escaped!” ‘Yes, Judge Langdon.” ‘Then Loyd is—”’ “in prison, and I, Lester Langdon, hold you jn my power.” In spite of his civilian’s suit of clothes, Lester Langdon drew a revolver from beneath his coat with startling quickness, and, as it govered the dishonorable lawyer, he gave a startled cry and sunk back in his chair, mut. tering: “You are Lester, for I see it now.” “Yes, you miserable old rogue, I am Lester Langdon, come to claim my own,” ‘* lam executor, and—’” ‘You sball be so no longer; give it up vol- untarily, or the jaw shall—” ‘*No, no, I will resign my charge into whosever hands you command me, only spare me exposure,” ‘*'Tben to-morrow be ready to do as I wish, for I shall call with two of my fathers triends as [am not of age yet.” **] will, I will.” ‘* And you had better then go from here to hide your dishonored head, for ere long the story of your son’s villainy, and yours will be known—” ‘‘Spare me! spare me! Yes, I will go far away and hide from those who have known me, ‘‘Ob! that I bad not listened to the tempta- tions of that vile boy,” and in utter despair the man buried his face in his bands and groaned aloud, while Lester Langdon turned, and without another word left the room and the mansion. But, true to his promise, the next day he called with a lawyer, and two old friends of his late father, and the transfer of executor- ship was made from Dersey Langdon into their hands, and an hour after the dishonorable uncle and his nephew parted, the former to seek a new home where the brand of guilt upon him was not read by every eye that met his own. CHAPTER XX. PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT. Ir had been the intention of Lester Lang- don to immediately keep his pledge to the dy- ing mother, Leone, and care for the daughter by sending her to boarding-school; but know- ing that the affair regarding himself would gain publicity, and that it might be taken to the ears of the young girl, if in a large city, he determined to let her remain where her mo- ther had left her, as it was in a frontier settle- ment in Colorado, where she would never be likely to hear of the affair. At any rate he determined to visit her and tell her of the death of her mother and father, for he expected that Loyd Langdon had al- ready been executed, and let her believe they had died of fever while traveling south, But just as he was about to start for Colo- rado, there came news of an Indian uprising upon the Texas border, and attacks having even been made upon Fort Advance by the red-skins, and post haste he started to rejoin his command. Taking advantage, upon bis arrival in Texas, of a Government wagon train going toward the Rio Grande, he went with if, and arriving at the nearest point that it went to Fort Ad- vance, he determined to start alone, although urged not to do so by all of his comrades. But he knew the country well, was mounted upon a superb horse he had bought, with an- other he used as a pack animal, and felt confi- dent he could get through all right, especially as he had purchased a repeating rifle, and was otherwise thoroughly ar:ned and ¢ quipped. Remaining at the last camp, while the train went on, he gave his horses the advantage of a day’s rest, and at night started to ride the thirty miles to the fort, preferring to ride in the darkness, as the Indians were known to be roving about in all directions. The animal be rode was noted for speed and bottom, but unused to prairie life, as was also the other one, which trotted along behind as faithful as a dog; butshould it come to a race he felt that he could depend upon them to dis- tance all pursuing Indian ponies. He had ridden some ten miles when he saw the glimmer of a light ahead. This caused him to halt and peer cautiously in advance, Again he saw it in the darkness, and his quick eye detected the cause, ~*~ mf **A man lighting a pipe, or cigar,” he mut- tered, ‘An Indian would not do that; but I must be cautious,” he added, Knowing, if he took one horse from the other, the one left would neigh for his mate, he dismounted and lariated them both out to feed, while he advanced cautiously on foot, A walk of a couple of bundred yards showed him through the intense darkness ahead a clump of timber, and the sound of voices dis- tinctly reached his ears, Throwing himself upon the grass he crept nearer and nearer until he could hear every word distinctly. And what he heard caused him to tremble with excitement, A white man was speaking in English, and after every few sentences, his words would be repeated by an interpeter in the Comanche tongue. And what the white man said was to urge the red-skins to join him in an attack upon Fort Advance before dawn. He told them that they could easily take the place, as he, baving been a soldier there, knew a log in the stockade tbat had been sawed off even with the earth, and was on secret hinges, it having been done by the soldiers to slip out through at night, and go over to the eutler’s at the post, a few hundred yards away, and get whisky. He also explained that trees grew inside the fort near this secret gate, and five hundred warriors could creep throvgh and hide, until ready to make the attack, and that as there were but half that number of soldiers there, and they would be taken by surprise, a victory would be easy and the spoils great. Without waiting to hear more Lester Langy don crept away from the spot, reached his horses, mounted, and making a wide circuit around the motte, in which he knew was a large foree of Indians encamped, he at last came in sight of the fort lights. Suddenly up from the grass ahead of him sprung a horse and rider, and two shots were fired in rapid succession. But the shot of the youth proved that he had not lost his unerring aim, during his stay in civilization, for the one he fired at fell dead, while his horse galloped cff over the prairie, ‘An Indian sentinel, and Pll carry his scalp to the general,” said the young cfficer, as he dismounted and took the hideous trophy, after which he again rode on rapidly until balted by the sentinel, ‘A friend,” he answered, Being ordered to dismount, and advance and give the countersign, be replied: ‘‘T am Lieutenant Langdon, and I return with important news for General Earl,” he an- swered, ‘‘Bravo, Langdon! is that you? and who is with you?’ cried a cheery voice, which the youth recognized, ‘‘T am alone, Captain Willoughby,” and rid- — ing forward his hand was warmly grasped by that cfiicer, who was just going bis rounds of inspection, Instantly he told what he had overheard, and while he went to notify the general, the captain went in search of the secret exit through the stockade, and by showing that he knew of its existence, got a soldier to offer to show it to bim. Having found the place he at once sought - General Earl, who had just decided to take Lester Langdon’s advice to allow the red-skings to enter the fort secretly, and then open on them, having the heavy guns turned on the spot to greet them with, ‘‘It is a good plan, general,” said the cap- tain, and at once preparations were made te surprise those who sought to surprise, — a em ee ee ee a ee ee CHAPTER XXI. } A DOUBLE SURPRISE. THE fort was dark and seemed in deep re- pose to the half-thousand Comanche warriors, who having left their ponies a mile back upom | - Vee a . ee pane yescbiie —S =COMiICc -bo Oe CO m