Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 13 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

Hurricane; ‘“‘and count me one in case of trouble. But, let me tell you the news. I met Noisy Nat a few minutes ago. He war over this way scoutin’— lookin’ after that same smoke. He says the train’s all right, and ‘ll reach the river to-morry. They had some trouble; their mules strayed off, and they had to hunt two days for’em. They’re encamped now *bout two miles from here. So now, Harry, as the train’s all right, and we've nothin’ partic’ler to do, we might see *bout this love affair of your’n. I'm not much on makin’ love myself, but many’s the chap I’ve backed in sich diffikilt scrapes. Love never did run smooth, even on the border. But I'll bet thar’s some devilish mean work *bout that girl Dora rin- nin’ off from you. She never done it of her own free will, no sir’ec! she’s too much of an angel to be so mean. Many’s the chat Ive had with her: and I swear, lad, it’s music to listen to the rattle of her tongue, and that of her little sister Dolly, as the other girl is called. Whenever I feel down in the mouth, I o there jist to hear them angels talk and sing; tien feel better. And it’s not O/d Hurricane with them, Harry; it’s Uncle Hurricane; and I'm jist fool enough to think, lad, that they were alers pleased to see me come, Dolly’s got a lover, too—a hunter-boy, and friend of mine. He's called the Boy Ranger, tho’ his name is Ransom Kendall, and a braver boy never set a trap nor drew bead on a red-skin. But then, it’s no use talkin’, Harry. Dolly and Dora’s not Ole Abel Mobile's darters. J can tell kith and kin at sight.” “Then you have been about their place frequently?” said Harry. “Many’s the time, lad; but T alers thought the men were rascals. They've give me several hints to keep away from their premises, but the girls beg me to come back and tell ‘em»stories; and I sw’ar, boy, I'd walk through fire to hear the music of them girl's tongues, But you remember that smoke I went to see about? Well, thar’s a pack of Ingins camped there, and Abel Mobile and that Thoms had been | there visitin’ with em, and I know thar’s deviltry on | foot, for the reds are in war-paint.”’ | Harry made no reply. e became silent and thouchtful. He was thinking how he could bring about an interview with Dora. Old Hurricane read his thoughts and said: ‘Leave it all to me, lad, and before another sun rises you shall see your Dora. Come, let’s be movin’, | for if you'll look hereaways, you'll see the figure of | a lopin’ red-skin skulkin’ among the undergrowth.” CHAPTER X. THE BOY RANGER AND THE HOT TRAIL. Ir was night, but the es round moon was up, its silvery beams making checkers of light and shadow | beneath a great spreading oak, where, to and fro, a figure paced in silent restiessness, The figure was that of a man, but the moonbeams falline upon his face told he was a boy in years. He was dressed in the garb of a hunter, and in his belt | was a knife and brace of pistols, while against the trunk of a tree under which he waited, leaned a hand- | some riffe. As the moments stole on, the lithe figure of a fe- male glided from the dense shadows of the under- growth, and approached the impatient youth. The young hunter clasped the figure in his arms; and as he pushed back the shawl that was thrown hood-like over her head, he gazed into the rosy, dim- sled face and dark lustrous eyes of Dolly Mobile, his rothed. - + : ee Stil true to me as ever, my darling little girl,” | the impulsive youth said, imprinting a kiss on her fair brow. “Why shouldn't I be, Ransom?” she said, in a soft, | flute-like tone, . her little dimpled hand stole slyly into his hard palm, “Oh, they ies women are fickle,” he replied. **Some may be; just like the men; but not I, Ran- 9 m. “IT thank Heaven for it, Dolly,” he replied, joy- fully, “for you are I have in this worid to love, and? I hope your father has consented to allow me to visit you at his house.” ‘“‘No, he is obstinate—more so than ever; and to- day I have been very miserable, indeed, and yet I have Cece ha ae ‘Why so, Dolly: of ate been “miigaFable to learn that Abel Mobile is not my father, and happy, too, to know that lam not the child of such a bad and wicked man.” “Bad and wicked!” repeated Ransom; “I did not think he was worse than the usual border settler. All are more or less reckless and rough. “T know it, Ransom, but most of them an honest heart, and this Abel Mobile does not, He is leagued with the outlaws of the Dispute, and he has actually sold poor Dora to Cale Thoms, of Spain, and has received gold for her. She is to be taken away to-morrow.” “Great Heaven! is this possible? Are you not mistaken, Dolly?” “T am not, Ransom; and you are to hear the worst yet: there was &man named Jack Hupp here yesterday, to buy me. “Oh, God!’ groaned the young ranger; “ Abel Mobile must be a human monster! But tell me, Dolly, what was the result of the interview of Hupp bile?” we eetho bargain was not closed. ey stood on a érence of a few dollars. But p was to be soon, and then, Ransom, I fear result will o ? . iinen Mobile is neither your father, nor Dora’s?” ‘‘No. Dora is the child of his wife’s sister, and I am the child of his first wife, who was a widow when he married her; so he is only a stepfather, and a cruel one, too. When we moved from Montrose bere, he pped Dora and brought her along; Lue Dumb Spy. and don’t you think, Ransom, she was to have been married a week afterward to a young man of whom she talks a great deal.” ‘‘ And why has she never attempted to escape?” “She is afraid to. She is watched and threatened with all kinds of punishments. Besides, she has given up in despair of ever meeting her lover again,”’ “This is a hundred-fold worse than I could ever have dreamed of Abel Mobile. Speculating in hu- man lives—selling innocent girls to brutal robbers! Dolly, you and Dora both must go with me—yon must be saved from these _ viilains’ power. I wiil take you to the settlement, about fifty miles north of here. There you will find friends and safety. You must go, Dolly; I will listen to no protest.” * Bub if 1 should consent, and we be caught in our flight—oh, Ransom! I shudder to think what the for- feit will be.” “Once clear of these hills, Dolly, and I defy the ower of Abel Mobile to get us. My horse is near ere, and you and Dora can ride, and I will walk and lead the way.” : Bilin, you forget Mobile’s hounds, Ransom,” she said. “IT care not for them. I can manage them, Dolly; so go now, and state the matter to Dora, and tell her to come with you at once.” ““Oh, Ransom! Ransom!’ Dolly cried, hesitating between a sense of right and wrong; “ this is a dan- gerous, and, I fear, an imprudent step for me to take, is it not, Ransom?”’ ‘*No, Dolly, itis a step that duty necessitates, for if you remain here, your young life, now so free and innocent, will be brought to shame anc Do not be afraid of being caught, though . friend Hurricane was here now—”’ “Then, Ransom, our chances of escape would be ood,”’ interrupted Dolly; “yes, I do wish Uncle urricane would happen along—” “Tm right here, my dear youngsters, and have been for the last half-hour.” The lovers started at the sound of the voice, but when eee recognized it as that of the object of their wishes, Old Hurricane, their fears turned to Joys and the next moment the old hunter and Harry Dudley stepped from the shadows of the undergrowth be- fore them. “Oh, thank Heaven!” cried Dolly. “Your coming has been just in the right hour, this time, Hurricane,” said Ransom. ‘**I presume so, youngster,”’ said the old hunter. “This chap is my friend, Harry Dudley.” “Harry Dudley!” cried Dolly; “that is his name —the name of Dora's lover!” **Pardon me, Miss Dolly,” said Dudley, apologeti- cally; “but we have had the extreme impudence ering var old to permit ourselves to be Atala pn to your in- terview. Ihave heard your story about Dora. Now, while Abel Mobile and his companions are ean’ in a drunken spree, pray, will you not see Dora an tell her Harry Dudley awaits an interview with her? Tell her I discovered her whereabouts by accident, and am here to save her.”’ Wild with excitement and joy, Dolly fluttered away into the shadows toward the cabins, eager to deliver her message to Dora. The trio, waiting under the oak, planned the course for their flight h the maidens, and it was at once decided to seek the camp of the claim-stakers, until something further was determined upon, *'The minutes wore by. It was nearly time forthe maidens’ coming, when a silence that was unnatural in its ihtensity settled over the premises. This was suddenly succeeded by the shrieks of female voices cope for help, mingled with fierce, brutal execra- tions. Full well the trio under the oak knew its meaning. Aue maidens had been captured in their attempted izht. “Great God, Hurricane, they must be rescued!” cried Dudley, almost frantic. “Yes, if we have to take them dead,”’ added the Boy Ranger. ; * Take it cool, lads. We'll not leave these diggin’s without *em . Come, let’s mosey right into the cabin afore they harm them,” Noiselessly the three glided from under the oak and approached the cabin of Abel Mobile. At the door they paused. They heard the weeping and sobbing of the maidens and threats and execra- tions of Mobile. “Stay right here, boys, till I call you,” said Old Hurricane; then turning, he pushed the door open and strode unceremoniously into the room, “What the cats is upin here?’ he exclaimed, in his usual stormy tone, as he planted himself in the middle of the floor, and gazing about in well-affect- ed wonder, took in the situation, He saw the maidens locked in each other’s em- brace, seated on a bench in one corner, Abel Mobile stood near them with the shawls which he had just torn from the girls’ shoulders, laying on his arm, while Cale Thoms and another man, whom the hun- ter recognized as the notorious Jack Hupp, sat on the Cppontte side of the room with a drunken leer on their besotted, bloated features. At sight of Old Hurricane, who had swept like a tornado into the cabin, Mobile ceased his cursing, and turning, confronted the intruder with a reign frown; but, when he saw who it was before him, features assumed a different expression. “Ho, Hurricane, ole friend,’ he exclaimed, with well-affected pleasure on meeting him; “be seated, ‘Taeclar’ T though afire, I heard “T declar ought the house was afire sich a noise in here,” replied the hunter, declining the proffered seat, “‘ and so I jist drapped in to ‘quire into the matter.” “Oh, it’s all right now, Hurricane; I war’ jist lec- turin’ them runaway gals; devilish impident little 9 tigers to go lopin’ around through the woods arter night—away from their paternal roof.” The maidens having calmed their emotions and dis- covered who the intruder was, sprung across the Sees to his side, and clasping him by the hands, cried out: “Oh, Uncle Hurricane! save us from those bad, wicked men!”’ “* Now, I'll sw’ar to goodness if this don’t beat me!” exclaimed the hunter, with well-feigned surprise; **two little angels flutterin’ at my side, and beggin’ me to save em. What's it mean, Abel?” Mobile started with an oath and vindictive look to- ward the maidens, but the old hunter interposed his hand, saying: “ Hold on, Abel, hold on; let’s have an explanation of Se Stand back, Abel; an explanation is wanted.” “fe has sold me to that drunken robber!” cried Dora, flashing a wild, terrified look upon Thoms, “Oh, I pray you will save us, Uncle Hurricane!” “S50, ho!” exclaimed the old hunter, in a thunder- ous tone, “ then this is an avction-room, eh? Here's where sich angels as these are bought and sold. eh? Shades of the Patriarchs! .An auction-room! Well, I'll take both of these little buds, and go a coo thousand better than the best. Now look s men; who bids higher? Going, going, going.” The voice of the giant hunter sounded like that of a trumpet, yet there was that in its intonations that inspi the hearts of those two fair girls nestling at his side with hope, while it seemed to strike awe to the cowardly hearts of the outlaws, “Let him pay his thousand better and take them Mobile,” said Thoms, with a significant wink which the old hunter saw and interpreted. ““No; I can’t pay the cash down to-night, gentle. men,” said the hunter, “but I'll give good security; rll give you Ransom Kendall, the Boy Ranger, an Harry Dudley, claim-stakers, Both are choice fel- lers—good as gold itself,” ‘You're inclined to jest, Hurricane,” said Mobile, endeavoring to smooth matters over. “No; I'm in downright earnest—I am; by the gods of Te a eatin ‘ Then,” said Mobile, heating up with rage, “ yo will leave here at once.” wi i “Well, the girls will have to go with me.” “They shall not!” hissed the” infuriated outlaw springing forward like a tiger to seize the girls. But one blow from the open hand of Hurricane sent the villain waltzing to the other side of the room ina twinkling. “Run out, gals, the boys are waitin’ fur you at the’ door,” said the hunter, dnd as the maidens hastened to obey his injunction, he braced himself against the wall to meet the attack of Mobile and his compan- ions, who had now rushed to his—Mobile’s—assist- ance. Swift as the lightning's flash the giant plied his fists among the villains, and for a moment a wild confusion reigned, Blows, falling bodies thumping on the floor, yelis and execrations filled the air. The desperation with which the outlaws concen. trated all their strength in the effort to overpower the Colossus, proved their own final defeat, for, as they rushed madly upon him, he eluded their grasps and knocked them right and left, and in less faou a minute he had all three of them floored. Then springing across the floor, he blew out the light and glided from the room. “Away, youngsters!” he exclaimed, to the four young people who stood near, almost unconscious of what was going on around them, so deeply were they plunged iuto the silent raptures of love; “ away, youngsters, and I'll cover your retreat.” The young people at once hurried away in the direction of the point where Ransom left his horse, While Old Hurricane remained at the door of the cabin listening to the confusion within, his whole frame fairly convulsed with suppressed laughter. The outlaws, not Enowing he had escaped from the room, had got to fighting among themselves, each one supposing the other was the hunter, But they soon discovered their ludicrous mistake; then, as they came charging from the cabin, Old Hurricane beat a h retreat around an angle of the b and stop to listen, “They've escaped, Mobile, be se! escaped,” he heard Thoms exclaim; “but, get out your blood- pt Be "Sn trail ear Fey: Yatra what we ca em urry, Mo urry; bring out your hounds while the trail is fresh!" 7 CHAPTER XI THE WRONG BODY. OLp Hurricane shuddered when he heard the deep bay of the bloodhounds as their brutal master brought them from the kennel. As near as he could judge by the sound, there were four of the dogs, and the number he knew was sufficient to endan the lives of the young fugitives. Even if the outlaw did not turn them loose upon the trail, they would lead them so fast that the fugitives would soon be o taken. “Something must be done at once to avert eo r ask im e and pondered over it. He knew there would be but little chance of throwing the hounds off the trail when once upon it, and so he concluded to rejoin the fugi- tives, put-them on their- guard and prepare for the He turned and moved away into the thicket north of Mobile’s cabin, ho to intercept his friends { a circuitous route ping to oak where we first an Ransom and Dolly. | : Before he had reached the tree, however, the pro- longed blast of a horn rung in notes out up- on the air. The sound emanaz om the rear of Mobile’s cabin, its import. was at once made manifest to the old borderman when he heard it an- ,OO cS (c eGom (E(0)