Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 121 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

— Oe ‘‘ And you tell me that you dreamed what you have just related, and that you had never eard my name or seen me, at the time of the dream sir?” “Exactly. After the dream, I was so im- pressed with its vividness, that I inquired the way to the fort, and to-day, at the races, you may imagine my astonishment to see the three characters of my dream in flesh and blood, and you one of them. On hearing your name, and that you were afflicted with gout, I was still further impressed, and finally, but a short time aot resolved to pay you a visit, and here I am The general leaned back in his chair, and breathed heavily, his eyes glaring at the Sport, in an awful manner. ‘‘T—I dare not ask you the names of this woman and man?’ he gasped, trembling. ‘‘T knew no names, in my dream, but when I saw the same faces here at the races, I took ains to inquire. Your name, I found to be General Howard. The woman’s name is Hvelyn Howard—the man is called Dandy Dell!” Rose- bud said, a 4 The general bowed his head and groaned aloud, at the announcement. Evidently he had been expecting it. After awhile he looked up, a papers we Serene upon his face. “My God! it is terrible. And to you, man, [ believe I owe my life!” he said, as if in extreme agony. ‘* Then my dream has been an actual reality?” the Sport demanded. ‘Only too true, sir. The commencement of my gout-like affliction dates back to a few days after my daughter presented me with a box of fine cigars which she had purchased in New Orleans, on her return from school. They were choice ones, and as I ama great lover of the weed, I soon had them all smoked, and request- ed Evelyn to write for some more, which she did. It was when I was midway in the first box of cigars that I felt the initial commence- ment of what I have supposed to be gout, and what the fort surgeon has assured me was rout. Since then | have smoked two more xes, and the gout has increased; and now, I am on the fourth box, and-—” ‘“‘ Accordingly, you are upon the verge of the ve!” Rosebud Rob declared. ‘‘ How many ve you smoked out of the fourth box?’ ‘Only a half dozen.” ‘“Then by pmogeing immediately, there may be some hopes of your life. But, by all means beware of what om eat, drink or smoke here- after. The lad know nothing about, but the man, Dandy Dell, is a thoroughbred villain. Only to-night I caught him and his associate, the half-breed, in the act of ing and run- ning off my horse. I dropped the half-breed on the spot, but the Dandy got off with a few bul- let wounds.” ‘* Did the rascal come here?” ‘* In this direction, sir.” ‘*Very well. I will see to his case directly. And as for you, Mr. Mapleton, if you will name a compensation for your trouble, I will gladly honor it, besides being forever indebted to you in gratitude. 7 “Ha! ha! you don’t know me, I reckon, gen- eral,” the Sport replied, laughingly. ‘‘I don’t dream such dreams for money, but for the sake of humanity. Keep your money; I don’t want it. Your gratitude will be ten times more valuable tome. And now, having done my er- rand, I will £0. % “Not unt you have promised to come ea and share the hospitality of my quarters, where you will ever be welcome,” the general said, warmly grasping Rosebud by the hand. “ Your strange revelation caused me to regard you as a modern prophet with the power of a true seer.” ‘¢T shall be happy to look in upon you, again, on my return from a trip to Mount Rosa,” Rob replied, cordially. ‘‘ And, in the meantime, look out for this daughter and nephew of yours, for they certainly mean you ill.” ‘*T will do so, you may be assured,” the gen- eral replied. And then, shaking hands again, Rosebud Rob took his departure, feeling sure that he had made at least one friend in Bummer’s Bend, in addition to saving one life. And after the Sport had gone, General How- ard sat in his chaiv, a stern expression upon his face. ‘‘T am in the light now,” he muttered, in a husky voice; ‘‘ but for the Sport I should soon be beyond human aid. Curse thee, Evelyn—curse thee, Adelbert Guthrie! Iam armed now, and methinks you shall find it out, t) your very cost!” oung owly, Cinnamon >. A startled yell it was that pealed from the Apache’s lips, and one fraught with terror. vidently the White Fawn was a creature whom he held in greatest awe, for he trembled like an aspen. ‘‘Let the White Face fear not,” the maiden made haste to say, on perceiving the chief’s horror, ‘‘ for the White Fawn comes not as a foe but as a friend, from the Happy: Hunting Grounds. She has sought for ite Face be- cause he is a mighty chief; and has many brave warriors at his command.” The chief brightened a little at aL although he still regarded the White Rider with fear. ‘*'The White Face has many warriors,” he re- plied, proudly. ‘‘ What would the Spirit Maid- en have?” ‘*Much, White Fawn is the queen of the Phantom Apaches, who hover about the an- cient Indian city of Mount Rosa. Has not White Face heard of the place?’ ‘‘Ay! White Face has seen the mountain in Spirit lake, but the Great Council Chief told him not to approach near, lest the rocks should suddenly turn into a Seale Ny, oe | of devils, who would sweep White Face from the land!” “White Face did well to heed the advice of the Great Council Chief,” the maiden replied. ** But White Fawn has come to the White Face in trouble. Strangers are about to invade the domains of the White Fawn, and steal the pre- cious gold that the Council Chief, Manitou, planted there. These strangers are several in number, and their scalps are ripe for plucking. But White Fawn’s spirit warriors want no scalps, and their thirst for blood is, for the time being, quenched. Therefore, White Fawn comes to her Apache brother of the flesh and blood, and beseeches him to take the war-path inst the pale-face strangers who would commit sac- rilege in the land of the White Fawn.” ‘* White Face has heard,” the Apache replied, ‘‘and he will do his best to please the ite Fawn. Let her point out the invaders, and m warriors shall immediately go upon the war-pat against them.” ‘Tt is well, and White Fawn is pleased. When White Face comes Sw to Spirit lake, he shall be received with honors. The pale- faces whom White Fawn would have sc - are those around the Bend. Does the ite Face know?” ** White Face knows where!” the chief replied. Then White Fawn turned her horse, and rode rapidly out of Black Hollow. CHAPTER VIII. EN ROUTE—SOME BIG COUNTS—A CAPTURE, BEFORE day-dawn on the morning succeeding the nigbt of which we have been writing, Dandy Dell met Miss Evelyn Howard near the outskirts of the town. She was mounted upon her bay mare, and was enveloped in a rubber coat. ‘*T have been looking for you,” the Dandy said, motioning for her to stop. ‘‘ Everything has gone contrary and against us,”’ ‘“What do you mean?” the general’s daughter demanded. ‘‘What ails you?’—for Guthrie’s left arm was bandaged up, he lim in one leg, and wore another bandage across his forehead. ‘‘Oh! Pve got pretty badly bruised up,” he owled. ‘‘ Lynx and I attempted to capture the spotted horse, when Rosebud Rob came sud- denly upon us with twenty or thirty men, and we had to fight for it. I dropped six, right hand running, and then got off with the damage ou see.” ‘What became of Lynx?” ‘‘ He dropped at first fire.” ‘* And you didn’t get the horse?” “Of course not. One man could not very well take it away from a score.” ‘“Not such a man as you, probably,” Miss Howard replied, with a sneer. ‘‘ What else has oapeenenn ‘Something that will Fah gh your return to the fort, I calculate,” the Dandy announced. ‘The general has got his eyes open, and don’t take any more stock in imported Havanas.” ‘The devil!” was the woman’s ejaculation. ‘‘ Yes—the cat’s entirely out of the bag,” Guthrie replied. ‘‘The Sport, Rosebud Rob has just been to see the general, and has told a strange dream he pretends to have had, the re- sult of which was that you and I were engaged in trying to poison the old man by giving him poisoned cigars.” *¢ And the old fool believes him?” ‘‘ Of course; and the hang of it is the cursed Sport described the present and future symptoms oO the case exactly as you described them to me. A low fierce curse escaped the woman’s lips. 9 Her face grew stern and almost hideous in its expression. Curse them, both!” she gritted between her clenched white teeth. ‘‘I am foiled in the one thing, but’ they shall not cheat me in the rest. Pll have old Howard’s gold, even if not by ac- tual inheritance. I'll steal it /” ‘* Bravo! You talk like a martyr! I admire your pluck, and if you want to go halves with me, I'll be with you.” ‘*Of course—but not now. We must bide our time. In the meanwhile, we must prevent the Mayburn party from reaching Mount Rosa.” ‘*How? ‘* By playing the part we so well know how to play. e must balk and foil these curiosity- seekers at every turn. Come! There is no time to be lost.” “ Right you are, for they will pull up stakes at daylight, and take the trail, having secured the services of Cinnamon Chip and Rosebud b to go with them.” **Curse you, Dell Guthrie! I ordered you not to let the Girl Guide and Mayburn meet,” ‘“‘T know you did, fair cousin, but I was un- able to obey ree mandate, inasmuch as the held a larger d of cocked sixes than I di But never fear. Wecan make them sick ere they’re half-way to Mount Rosa. Eh, ma belle Evelyn?” e can —must try!” the , daughter replied, with a Cvrce, set look in her face that boded ill to her enemies, The first streak of day-dawn in the east re- vealed an active bustle in the camp around the Bend, and by the time the sun loomed up over the horizon, like a ball of molten fire the tents had disappeared, and the saddles were filled, and pack-horses loaded with the paraphernalia. Among. those in the saddles, most conspicuous for her bright loveliness and a queer character, was Cinnamon Chip. She seemed in her ele- ment, mounted upon a fine horse which Captain Mayburn had provided for her, and her merry laugh Magra 2 clear and musical upon the bracing morning air. Of the others mounted were Captain May- burn, Old Hardpan, and the Dutchman, negro, Chinaman, and Wild Bill Marion. Rosebud Rob had not yet made his appear- ao and it was for his coming that the party wa 3 rt,” Mayburn aid, impatiently." Unless be part, ently. * ess shows up pre uick, [shall stare on.” ‘Whar fer?” Chip demanded. ‘For Mount Rosa, and the golden idol.” ‘*Then, ye'll perrigrinate wi’out me, an’ don’ e doubt ity the Girl Guide said, evidently in ead earnest. ieee hee ma * Beca’se on’t make nary an yearthly pil- primage, ,, wi’out thet fragrant Blom, ‘foo ud Rob.” Am I to be detained, on account of ‘*T re’kon ye air, ef ther old court knows her- self. Cinnamon Chip am I, right up frum ther Black Hills, an’ I do sw’ar an’ asseverate thet I won't budge a ha’r’s-breadth, ontil Rosebud ar’ wi’ ther gang. Ef ye opine ye kin find Mount Rosa ’thout me, jest sail right on, an’ I’ll anchor, nae = until my pardner shows up. What d’ye sa. y ‘Hold! yender cums ther Sport, now!” Old pan announced, pointing toward the Bend, where a horseman had just come into sight. ‘* Keerect! thet’s ther Poh arene oO’ my life, sure Forward march! strike fer ther town, an’then I'll lead off, wi’ two aces an’a pack o’ knaves!” Cinnamon Chip shouted. _ And accordingly the cavalcade swept away toward Bummer’s Bend, making rather an im- osing spectacle, as they spurred along over the evel prairie. They soon met Rosebud Rob, who wheeled his horse, and joined in with them. | Then straight up through the main street of Bummer’s Bend they dashed two abreast, and on out of the town to the northward. As soon as they left the town, Cinnamon Chi took the lead, and they pressed on into mid prairie. Even as a floor stretched out the vast expanse of prairie land before them, and with the bright, warm sunshine showering down, the scene was one most beautiful. Chip —— a short distance in advance of the rest, and thus they rode on until the sun was at its noonday hight, when a blast from Captain Mayburn’s bugle ordered a noonday halt, was made on mid-prairie long enough for a general feed of horses and men. ‘‘How many days are we from our destina- Eomilecbooks eneral’s . * (E(0)