Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1116 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

} 6 \ When her father was again alone she en- ’ red his room and approached him in silence. ‘‘ What, Lilian, the alarm has aroused you too has it?’ he said. “J had not retired, father, for I was wait- ing until the discovery of Lester Langdon’s es- cane was made, to come and tell you that I set him free.” She spoke in distinct, firm tones, and in al- most horror ber father sprung to his feet and gazed upon her. ‘* You, my child, did this treacherous act in my own command?” he cried sternly. ‘‘ Father, you know from what Lester Lang- don saved me, and—” ‘*‘Trne, but that gave him no claim to be- come a murderer, and—”’ ‘‘Pather, in spite of the charge against him I cannot believe him guilty, and this prompted me the more to set him free. ‘Your sentinel, Dennis O’Rouke, was not a soldier, only voluntarily doing duty and there- fore was not a deserter.” ‘You reason like a woman, for he deserted his post of duty.” ‘‘ And you, father, reason like a soldier, for he was not an enlisted man and therefore not a deserter, and asense of honor alone could have kept him there; but the prisoner has gone and—” “TI shall send a force after him with the dawn,” **it will do not an atom of good, for they are both well mounted, and Lester Langdon is a thorough prairie-man, as you know. “They are safe, and I am here to surrender myself for punishment ” ‘Goto your room, Lilian, and know that I am very angry with you, and the garrison will laugh at me for being bullied by a child.” “They will not, sir, for there is not one bere who wished to see that boy shot. Good- wight, futher.” General Earl made no reply, and Lilian, with a sigh left the room. Then the general muttered: ‘*Evad, she’s right, for I only wanted the shadow of an excuse to save the boy for what he did for me, though I cannot believe him otherwise than guilty.” With the earliest dawn however a gallant Dragoon captain, and twelve men, rode out of the fort in pursuit of the fugitives. But, as Captain Rollo Willoughby was about to mount his horse to start, a soldier glipped into his hand a note, and said: ‘*To be read, sir, after you leave tbe fort.” It was just light enough for him to see the handwriting, and his face flushed as he sprung into his saddle and rode away, followed by his troopers. Once away from the fort and he tore open the missive. It was but a few lines, and read: “You have professed to regard me with the highest esteem, and 1 ask you to prove it by not bringing back to the fort that poor boy, whom I set free, from appreciation of the service he rendered me.”’ “* LILIAN.” ‘“By the beauty of Venus this places me be- tween two fires, Love and Duty: which shall I obey # “JT will think it over and then decide, for it is catching before banging anyhow.” CHAPTER IX. THE LOST TRAIL. When Lester Langdon left the fort he seemed as anxious to get O’Rouke beyond harm’s way as himself, and, knowing the country thoroughly, he headed for the nearest poiat where the ex-sergeant would be able to catch a train going east. The two rode rapidly until dawn, and then camped for breakfast and ashort rest, and then pressed on until noon, when a train was discovered following the trail to Shreveport, “There, sergeant, you can join yonder train going east, and will soon reach the settlements and thus go on home, and give this to the hildren as a souvenir of one you nobly served,” Crimson Kate, the Girl Tr ees ee ce a a and Lester Langdon placed a roll of bills in the hand of bis comrade. “‘Howly Mither of Moses! does yez ivtint to make a millionaire out of me altogether?’ cried the delighted Dennis, ‘‘T hope you may be; now good-by, ser- geant, and remember I’ll not forget you,” ‘* Divil a bit will I forgit you, sir, for its a gintleman you are from top to toe, ef they does say yez pizened the ould man; but good- by, sir, good-by, and may the Vargin niver forgit you, or Dinnis O’Rouke.” They grasped hands in farewell, and when the Cowboy saw the soldier join the train, he turned slowly and went on a course to the right oblique. Until sunset he followed this course, and then ascended a range of hills, and glanced over the prairie. Far away in the distance he saw a party of horsemen, and after watching them awhile he said: ‘¢ Yes, thay are troopers, and they are fol- lowing my trail; but they must camp in a few moments, and doubtless in that clump of tim- ber, as it is getting too dark for them to see. ‘¢In the morning I will watch them from here follow the trail to where I parted with the sergeant, and then they will be at a loss. ‘Tf? they go on after the train then I will ride after them and draw them in chase of me, for O Rouke shall not be caught, and I am not afraid of their horses catchin’ Red-skin, ‘Tf they follow my trail, then I can easily cover up my tracks in these bills, and they will have to return to the fort, while I—yes, I will go to the ranch, ‘¢‘ At any rate, Red-skin, we will have a good night’s rest.” | As he had predicted the party of Captain Willoughby bad to camp on the trail at dark, and made themselves as comfortable as possi- ble in a small timber motte for the night, But with the first glimmer of dawn they were ready to resume their way, and Mocca- sin Mike, the old scout and trailer, seemingly followed on after the faint trace left by the two horses of the fugitive. Upon coming to the spot where the Cowboy and sergeant had parted, the troopers came to a halt. ‘‘They hes parted comp’ny heur, cap’n, thet are a Gospil fact,” said Moccasin Mike. “ But why?” “Waal, I guess ther sargint hes gone on eastward, while ther lad hes tuk ther back track.” ‘‘T cannot understand why, Mike,” “Waal, cap’n, ther sargint were anxious ter leave Texas an’ the way he tuk are ther right trail ter do it; while ther Cowboy likes Texas an’ it don’t seem as ef he were goin’ ter leave it.” ‘* But, Moccasin Mike, how do you know which one went east, and which one the other way ?”’ ‘‘Sigus, cap’n.” ** W hat signs?” ‘Ther sergeant rid a American horse, didn’t he?’ ** ‘Yes, one of Miss Harl’s ’twas said.” “‘ Ther Cowboy rid a mustang, didn’t he?” ‘¢ Yes, his own horse,” *‘ Waal, the American horse goes thet way, and heur goes ther mustang.” ‘Then if J follow the mustang we’ll be right?” ‘Yas, cap’n, if we hain’t wrong.” . “How mean you, Mike?” asked Captain Willoughby, convinced that Moccasin Mike bad something more to say. ‘* Perhaps they mout hev changed hosses.”’ sé Ah 7 é ‘“‘Thet Cowboy is a cunnin’ one, cap'n.” ‘‘ Well, I dare not divide my force, Mike, to follow both.” ‘““Thet are so, cap’n, fer this are Injun kentry.” ‘‘Then we follow the mustang tracks.” “ As you say, cap’n, for you is boss, and heur goes.” ey ‘ |) . » ‘ ‘ ’ . es : vt aaa re oF : r Fo ‘ oo mee, ar ¥ ie P* * * »- - y ' % aller. And off on the mustang’s trail they started, and early in the afternoon reached the hills and then even Moccasin Mike’s skillful prairie- craft, and keen eyes, got at fault, for, upon the banks of a small stream, all traces enced, In vain they searched until darkness shut them in; nowhere could the lost trail be found, for most thoroughly had the Cowboy covered up his tracks. Going into camp for the night, the next morning Captain Willoughby gave orders to mount and start back to the fort, and that night they camped in a motte through the edge of which ran a small stream. In the upper exd of the timber was visible an adobe cabin. It was the home of Lester Langdon the Cows boys CHAPTER X. LOVE AND DUTY. WHEN the troopers nad encamped upon the stream, and were preparing supper, Captain Willoughby strolled up to the ranch, which had a deserted look, and that even the well-posted Moccasin Mike did not know to be the home of the very one upon whose fugitive trail they had started. ‘‘A bold ranchero to live this far from any settlement,” muttered the captain as he ap- proached the adobe cabin, and rapped upon the door, No response came, ‘‘Off herding, I guess; ah, the door is un: locked, and I will see if the place is wholly de- serted.” He pushed open the door as he spoke, and entered. Observing that the place seemed to be oc- cupied, tor there was every evidence to that effect in the rude furniture, and geueral in- terior, he was about to retrace his steps, and leave the premises unmolested, when suddenly, out of an adjoining room appeared a human form. “ Captain Wil'oughby J” ** Lester Langdon |” The names broke simultaneously from the lips of each, and the band of each dropped on a revolver. But the Cowboy was the quickest, and bis weapon covered the heart of the officer ere he could draw his revolver from bis belt, ‘Hold! you are at my mercy, Captain Willoughby, so do not force me to kill you; but I will not be taken alive.”’ ‘‘Put up your weapon, Langdon, for I have no desire to take you,” was the cool reply of Rollo Willoughby. ‘Do you mean it?” eagerly asked the youth, sé ] do.” “And yet for three days and nights you have been on my trail?’ ‘<True, my duty forced me to follow you, though’I frankly confess that I was glad you escaped.” “{ thank you, sir, for your kind wish, but am surprised you wish to have a criminal escape punishment.” There was a tone of bitterness in the youth’s words that caused the captain to hastily say: ‘*To be frank, Langdon, I do not believe you guilty, and have so stated, though I admit it is fearfully damning, the proof against you.” “From my heart I thank you for those words; but whatever your belief, your duty will force you to take me, ifin your power.” ‘Tf my men saw you, yes; but they are en. camped upon the creek, and I walked up here alone; is this your home?” “Tt is, sir.” ‘‘Strange that I should have come here, for losing your trail I was on my way back to the fort.” ‘Yes, I threw you off my trail, for I saw you when you camped the first night out, and seeing that you did not follow the sergeant, but me, I thwarted you.” . ‘¢ And most cleverly, for Moccasin Mike is a good plainsman,” The Cowboy smiled, and then replied: “<7 7 «} . yu ' : habe, wr" | wt 7 ~ » + . ; % bi ; . * va ‘ * 4 COMICDOOKS.CO =