Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 121 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

¢ > ° Ta OTs res Couss —es ri ats 14 longingly, for if the idol were, as it ap d of solid gold, he knew that it was w no in- a fortune. t White Fawn pape him. “‘The pale-face must submit to have his eyes blindfolded,” she said, ‘‘ before going further.” ** Allright. Anything to suit,” Jack assented allowing her to proceed. “You've got it all your own way.” White Fawn ban his eyes so that he could not see; then seizing him by the arm led him forward. For several steps ee ee and then, after a moment’s pause, began to de- scend a stone stair-case. This was to Jack’s utter amazement for he bed sie ee the kind while on the plateau top, and w that it must have com- menced from there. Down, step after step they went, seemingly into one Sea = the erm me then, after a space of five or ten minu e p ecending, and White acs Bi Taek t what he calculated was a pasmeewey. resently emerged from the passage _—- =< de- ough The into w was evidently a large eubterranean chamber, judging by the loud echo of their footsteps. Here they paused and the bandage was re- moved from Jack’s eyes. What he beheld on looking around was in some degree a foretaste of what he had sus- pected. The heart of Mount Rosa was a gold mine, and be now stood within it. The cavern was a huge affair, and had evi- dently in some distant day been the bed of a volcano, as the rocky sides ani the lofty rugged ceiling had left indications of former lava secre- tions. The floor or bottom of the cavern was sandy and rugged in spots, and covered an area of ten or twelve acres. At the further side men were engaged in dig- ging with pick and shovel—men in top-boots, co es F pants and woolen shirts, who wore black masks, slouch hats, and were armed the teeth. Other portions of the mammoth volcanic cave were used as camping spots, evidently, for there were fire-cranes, skin-couches, rude tables and stools, and the general paraphernalia of a camp. The only light afforded was by a large jet of fire that Samed up in the center of the cavern emanating apparently from a vein of natura gas. In former days this had nodoubt been the rch that had supplied the fire to the internal mountain eruption. The e-face is in the Spirit Land of the White Fawn!” the Indian girl said, waving her jand. ‘‘ He isin the great pred tng rae of Mount Rosa. Look at me, Captain Mayburn; dost think you have ever seen me before Jack Mayburn did gaze into her face, search- ingly, but finally shook his head in a pugzled ,» L reckon not. There is something familiar in your face, but I cannot recall the place I have ever seen you,” he replied, - ‘‘Then your memory must be sadly at fault. But, let me tell you, you need not be ashamed of your bride, for as aristocratic blood flows in my veins asin yours. No Indian am I, nor a ee as you probably have guessed, and when first set my eyes on you, Iresolved to you, for you are the only man my heart has ever warmed toward—the only man I would na Look sharp! do you not know me?—I am Kvelyn Howard, the general’s daughter |” We left Rosebud Rob and Cinnamon Chip still climbing up the mountain. The ascent was tiresome, and often they were obliged to pause and rest. ' _ In one of these pauses, a man came suddenly from the bushes and confronted them. It took but a glance on the part of either of the adventurers to recognize him as General Howard, of Bummer’s Bend! ‘* Hello!” Rosebud ejaculated. ‘‘ Who have we here?—General Howard, as I live!” ‘* Yes, it is I,” the officer said, coming nearer. ‘“‘T saw you coming up the mountain, and wait- ed for you. What brings you here?” ‘Well, that’s rather a difficult question to answer,” the Sport replied. ‘I should define the case asa dose of curiosity, adulterated with a few grains of adventurous spirit, and a natural desire to harvest gold shekels.” ‘You think this ghost business is but a blind to cover the secret of a gold-mine, then?’ _ ‘Well, yes—I opine that’s about the size of it. What, may I ask, brings you so far from the fort?” ‘‘ Several causes. I have come here in pur- Cinnamon Chip. ——- ae coh. | cong Rich nema eslterraeteting sapeiagen hs lipion —---——s 2 ‘ suit of the heartless woman fiend whom]! have cuic Lefore ther grand jury is ter decice whether all along called my daughter.” Rosebud gave vent to a little whistle of sur- ise. ms She has come here, then?” “Yes. I have trailed her and her confederate, my nephew, to the edge of this lake, and there lost track of them. here they have flown to is a mystery I have as yet been unable to solve.” ‘‘ Perhaps they are some of the ghost! paritions that haunt this vicinity,” the ee ee ap- port hat they are in some way connected with the mystery of this Mount Ross, I have no doubt,” the general averred. ‘Since I have had my eyes opened, I have learned that many ae and nights when I have supposed Evelyn to be safely housed within the fort, she has been absent, unknown tome. AsI have traced her here, I have no doubt that the wayward child is into deeper villainy than that of which she has been detected.” “From what you say, I should infer that she is not your own childf’ Rosebud Rob half ueried, ‘* No, she is not my own child, although I have reared her from early childhood as such, I adopted her from an old hunter who had more little ones than he was able to support.” ‘‘ Then you have no child of your own, eh?’ " yi trust so, my friend, although I have no definite proof of it. Years ago, I was separ- ated from my wife by foul stories that were circulated against me by an old enemy, who had been my rival in love affairs, previous to my marriage. Unfortunately my wife believed the lies, and with our child, then an infant, left my home, and I never could get certain trace of her, thereafter, although there came a vague rumor, once, that she had married an old trap- per, up in the Nor’-west. Of this I could not earn for a certainty, and I have ever regarded my wife as dead. t a few days ago I saw a face in Bummer’s Bend that was a duplicate of that of my lost wife, and the sight of it filled me with the belief thatin it I saw the face of my child, Nor am I convinced that I am mis- en yet. ‘‘ Who was the person, may I inquire, whose appearance so impressed you?” the Sport asked, with interest. ) “She is the same young woman who is your companion, he innamon Chip, I believe she is called,” the general said, pointing to the Girl Guide. Chip gave vent to a little exclamation of S ° Vou believe me your daughter, sir?’ she ejaculated, her face flushing with pleasure. ‘‘T candidly do, although you are a wild, un- trained blossom, grown up in a desert wild,” the general said, calmly. ‘‘ Your features bear a striking resemblance to those of my long-lost wife, and something seems to tell me that I am not amiss in my belief that you are my little Eva, who was ruthlessly snatched from my seventeen years ago.” ’ “ Waal, now, this gets me, like a brick, biamed if it don’t!” the Girl Guide exclaimed. ‘I calcu- late you be the same snoozer who visited me in the prairie camp, a couple of nights ago, then?” ‘‘T am the same.” “T tho’t so. S’posin’ I am your darter—are ye goin’ ter hitch onter me as relations, install me as queen 0’ aces at the fort, an’ b’ist out thet other gal who’s been fillin the gap?’ ‘Of course. If your identity can be proven, as my daughter, you shall be rec as such by me, with a joyful heart,” the general replied, earnestly. ‘Well, I propose we drum up the affair, at once!” Chip said, with a smiling face. ‘‘I ain’t no objections ter claimin’ you as a parent, ‘cause I’ve allus reckoned I were from purty fine stock, an’ that would go ter prove the con- clusion. But thar’s one thing, which ef I’m made out yer daughter, thet ye’ve got to prom- ise, afore Dll recogy yer claims.” 3 “T presume so,” the general said, smiling. ‘* Name it, please.” ; ‘Well, ye’ve got ter agree ter take in ther Sport, here, too. You see we collided up at the Bend, and yoked up as sorter pards in this trip, an’ Dll allow ef I go over to ther fort to queen it, Rosey, here, must king it, ter make things balance. Thar’s no tellin’, you know, if thin jibe karect, but what we may eventually yoke up fer good. . ! ‘‘ See here, I reckon you’re rushing things a little,” Rosebud Rob demurred, smiling. ‘‘ You’d better make the the bargain before you make the announcement, hadn’t you?” “Oh! Pll manage that, y- Ther present / i a ' | — a | you are to be taken in along wi’ me by the gen- eral, if so be I’m his darter!” ‘*Of course!” General Howard decided. ‘If you are pards now, I shall not sige your compact. As to your identity, I remember tl...‘ when our little Eva was born, she had a smu) black mole upon her right shoulder—the oul) mark, by the way, that we could find. Perhaj* ou can tell if you have the only clew that thei. to coaahage | you by.” ‘“‘T have the mole upon the right shoulder, ar«' Ialso think have another and stronger clew,” Pa aa ‘“‘ Among effects left at the deali: of the man I always supposed to be my fathicr, was a small likeness which must have been mother’s, when she was a little girl of ten «1 twelve years. Perhaps if you knew her whic, she was ture,” ‘“‘ Ah! where is the picture? I knew her fr ss, early childhood, and no doubt the picture iv .! my poor lost wife!” the general cried, excited: . ‘I have not the picture here, but i can get it when we return to the Bend,” Chip replied. *'! trust and hope that it will prove ‘the missii link. Anyhow, until the proof is established, shall count you my father, and am sure I ci. fill the plage of the scheming woman who k:.s — occupied a false position so’ long, as your daughter.” : Considerable time had _ been spent in the coi:- versation, and Rosebud Rob now suggested that it was time to move on,so the ascent of the mountain was renewed. The general was Jame and illy fit to climb, but the Sport and Chip assisted him, and thereby relieved him in a great measure. At last the journey was finished, and they stood on the top of Mount Rosa, far, far above the level of the Arizonian plains. Not alone, however, for Old Hardpan had ¢1- rived ahead of them, and Wild Bill Mari::, Fritz, Jerusalem, and Pigtail Pete soon mu. their ap ce from the mountain side. ‘‘ Now, here we are, all except Captain Ma~- burn. What has become of him?’ Rosebi d asked, when all had gathered in the ruined ten.- ple, and were taking a general survey of the sil- uation, and the golden idol. ‘‘Oh! he'll be along, no doubt, directly,” Wild Bill said, peesbesie Jey a8 ‘“He may have mace some discovery that has detained him.” ‘‘ Very true, and we may as well prepare to make ourselves at home here, until he comes, as there don’t seem to be anything else to do.” Accordingly they did prepare to make them- selves at home. A meal was made outof such edibles as had been brought along, and eaten with relish, for the ascent of the mountain had whetted the ap- petites of all. After they had finished eating, and were in the midst of a consultation, all heard a footstep, and looked around to behold a man standing near one of the huge pillars, and that man none other than Dandy Dell Guthrie, the general’s nephew. exclamation of surprise burst from the lips of the adventurers, and weapons were quick- ly drawn. ‘‘-You may as well putup your tools!” he said, ‘“T donot come as an enemy but as a friend, and as a betrayer of the secrets of this mount- ain. If you will listen I will briefly explain. “The mountain, here, is a spent voleano. An ancient tribe of Indians built a temple upon the top, here. A few years ago a paying gold-mine was discovered down in the bosom of the hill. For over a year this mine has been in the pos- session of myself and the gercral’s daughter, Evelyn. We have hired trusty men to work it, and also to work the ghost business, which I may as well tell you, has been manufactured by the aid of a cleverly contrived magic lantern and ghostly slides. All this time I have been promised that Evelyn Howard would become my wife, but to-day she has captured your, leader, Mayburn, and unless prevented will’ compel him to marry her, before the hour is over. We have had a quarrel, which has in- duced me to come and betray the secret of the' mine, on condition that you will permit me to go my way, unmolested.” +: t is not for us to say!” declared Rcse- bud Rob. ‘‘General Howard is the man you have to look to for mercy.” ‘Tf you will go and never show your villain- ous face in this t of the country, again, I withdraw any clectiona to your departure,” the general said, gravely. . Which I cheerfully promise to do,” Guthrie answered. ‘‘Come! If you wish to save your captain from a forced marriage with a femals com you might recognize the pix — h, JOOKS COM