Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 144 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

Dainty Lance, the Boy Sport. 15 “‘ The devil to pay an’ no to drag, and | Two shots that sounded as one, and the fero- pitch hot!’ he mut- tered. “Horses gone, an’ Abe Tinker gone with em!” Dainty Lance stared at him in speechless amazement, unable to believe the evidence of his ears. Just as Zeph before him, he could not understand why the bank-robber should desert them after such a manner, when he was almost y ignorant of the country around him. And not only that, but incumber himself with three led horses. “ It’s the truth,” added Zeph. ‘‘ He’s levant- ed, takin’ the hosses an’ leavin’ us here afoot.” “ But why ?” persisted Dainty Lance, vain] nts to see a ray of light through the mud- e. “Because he knows that you betrayed his mates to death and captivity!” came a low, solemn voice from out the gloom. Both instantly recognized the voice. The speaker was none other than Decoy Duck, who had been aroused from her slumbers by the sound of their voices. She now came forward and confronted the friends, who stood before her more like crimi- nals than honest men. ‘“‘Tam not blaming you,” she added, with a simple dignity that became her even better than her usual manner. ‘‘ You acted as you deemed right. We forced you into this sad business, and have no re to complain because you fought and defeated us with our own wea- 8. Dainty Lance muttered something, he him- self scarcely knew what, but the little hand of t= was pressed over his li ‘* The less said the soonest mended,” she spoke, quickly. ‘‘ You acted according to your ideas of rigbt. You tried your best to keep me from entering the snare, and I thank you for that. I didn’t understand it then, but I do now. ‘“‘You remember what you said about Bald being captured? That enlightened me, as it did Abe Tinker, and cleared up more than one perplexing point. For it was plain that som y had betrayed sur plans. A foolish passion made me blind to the truth, I suppose, until that speech opened my eyes. ‘* You don’t know Abe Tinker as well as I do. fle feels sure that you set the enemy upon us, and he will have revenge, even if it costs him his life. For that reason he has left us afoot. He will seek out some of our pursuers and lead them back here.” “Then the sooner we set out the better!” cried Dainty Lance, more like his usual self. ‘‘ Zeph, we trust it all to you. Is there no snug hiding- place near?’ ** Good-by, then!” uttered Decoy Duck, with a Visible struggle to choke down her growin emotion. ‘‘l am wounded and weak. I woul only prove a log on your movements. Leave me here and save yourselves—” “If I do, may I be forever scorched!” cried Lance, hotly. “It has been an unlucky busi- ness all throu h, and, though I don’t see how I could have acted otherwise, I feel like a treach- erous cur. Don’t make my remorse any sharper by urging me tu play the coward, as well.” *“ Better one should be captured than all “We kin give ’em the slip ef we don’t lose too much time a-jawin’,” said Zeph, shortly. “Your lot shall be onrs, dear Myrtle, mut- tered Lance, feeling his heart throbbing with something not far akin from love. ‘‘Come— leanon me. Lead on, Zeph!” That tender title, the first that had ever been addressed to her in earnest by Dainty Lance, broke down the resolution which Decoy Duck had formed, and as his right arm stole around her waist, a faint sob. parted her lips, and she yielded to the will of the youth whom she loved so madly—because hopelessly. If not pleased by this positive declaration, Hardy Zeph kept his dissatisfaction to himself for the time being at least, and led the way in a direction almost parallel with the road along which Abe Tinker was then hastening. Their faces were turned toward the same point of the compass, for Zeph, now that they were forced to depend upon their own powers of locomotion, knew that their only chance lay in finding some —_ hiding-place where they might lay low until the first: fury of the death-hunt had by. For this reason he was doubling back, striking for the ‘‘ cave region.” Her ad and seriously weakened. Decoy Duck, though she concealed this fact from her companions rs well as. could, pressing on with a courage that was really LK LL ET ee ——— __ __ ___ ing that her steps were beginnin that she bore het welt more aad more heavily upon his arm. Life was very sweet to him, yet, despite the fact that all his trouble had been brought upon him through the agency of Decoy Duck; Lance was resolved not to abandon her in this extrem- ity. So when her limbs suddenly gave way, and she, in a feeble voice, bade him leave her and save himself, he flatly refused. ‘* How much further is it, Zeph, to the hiding- place you have in view?” he added, turning to- ward the boy trapper. 5 ** A good dozen miles,” came the discouraging response. ‘* Then we must make a litter—” ‘Or else git a hoss fer her to ride,” interrupt- ed Zeph, a little sourly for him. ‘ It’d be pow- erful nasty travelin’ with a litter ‘long the way we've got to go to break our trail. A hoss would be best, ef she could ride.” , ** We can tie her on, or I could hold her in my arms,” said Dainty Lance; then adding, gloom- ily, ‘‘ but why mention such a thing? e have no horse—” ** That ain’t sayin’ we cain’t git one,” chuckled Zeph. ‘I know whar thar’s hosses, ef they hain’t bin pressed into sarvice to chase us, You mought be makin’ some sort o’ litter, while I go an’ see. Ef the hosses should be gone, then thar won’t be so much time lost.” **Be cautious, then. Remember that we are stran gers here and that our lives depend on you.” Zeph promised to bear the warning in mind, then stole rapidly away, while Dainty Lance set about cutting the sticks necessary to form a narrow litter. “* Better not waste the time,” answered Decoy Duck. ‘I feel that I shall never see the sun rise again. Nor am I sorry. Ali are gone—l am alone in the world!” Dainty Lance attempted to utter a few words of consolation, but a low, bitter laugh from the girl silenced him. He knew that she felt the words came only from his tongue, not from the heart, and he said no more, but bent his every energy to preparing the litter. This consumed time, since the light of the moon was shut out by the dense foliage over- head, but the job was done before anything was heard of Hardy Zeph. Just as Dainty Dalfice approached the spot where Decoy Duck was resting, a sound came to their ears that caused their blood to thrill and fairly curdle in their veins—the deep, ringing bay of a bloodhound upon a hot scent! nstinct rather than reason told them that this trail was theirs—that the enemy were hunting them surely to death. For a moment Dainty Lance was paralyzed, but then his wonted courage returned, and he raised the trembling girl in his arms despite her feeble resistance. ring her thus, he plunged through the darkness with an energy ch of yore Het hoping to soon reach some running water where he might break bis trail sufficiently to delay their terrible pursuers until a safe cov- ert could be reached. But fate seemed against them. They encoun- tered no stream, and Dainty Lance, strong though he was felt himself gradually failing be- neath the burden he bore. m _ ype me—save yourself!” murmured Decoy ack, ‘**We settled that '¥ een uestion before,” panted nce, doggedly. e will share the same fate—live or die together.” He no longer thought of escape by flight, for the regular baying of the bl ounds told him that ing two yards to his @ animals were going one. His only hope was in killing them before thc human enemy could come up, and with that forlorn hope he was seeking a favorable spot for standing at bay. Luckily this was soon found: a small. glade where the an fell upon the ground al- most as a ot Se y. ere, if the hounds were running in advance, as he believed from their rapid progress, he might be able to slay them in time to resume his flight and escape in the darkness that reigned around the glade, The delay was brief—barely long enough for the young adventurer to steady his nerves suffi- ciently to handle his pistol with certainty then | a long, dark shape glided out into the moon- consequent loss of blood, had | light, uttering its terribly oxtraordinary. But as the hours) crept along, and mile after mile was placed be-— li! them, Dainty Lance coule not hei notic- & musical note as it headed direct for the hidden fugitives, With nerves as steady and true as steel, Dainty Lance covered the hound and fired. A wild howl, and the animal fell dead, while its mate sprung over its quivering body, uncowed, yelling like a veritable fiend! i SS nen nnn = ck nn nnn nn eI same imei ——— a en ee ———— OO ———— + er or? ~ OoOrrrwwvmYm" OOOO OO SL _the unconscious sheriff, and made cious creature dropped at their feet, dead ere its body touched the ground. Loud, angry shouts came from the forest be- yond, telling the fugitives that a no less terrible enemy was near. Dainty Lance cl Decov Duck in his arms, and would have raised her up to resume their flight, but she repulsed him, crying: **Alone, you can escape; together, we must win et ve me—I pray you, save your- self! Dainty Lance uttered an impetuous refusal. ‘*Then kiss me—only once—do not refuse—no one need ever know how you sullied your hon- est lips. Kiss me!” Searce knowing what he did, Dainty Lance obeyed, pressing his cold lips to hers, wondering at the strange request. “Thank you, and God bless you!” the strange girl murmured, then slip from his arms. ‘*Remember—I loved you!” The moment these words were uttered, Decoy Duck raised her revolver, placed the muzzle be- tween her teeth, and sent a bullet crashing up through her brain! P why out a sigh or moan, she sunk down, ead! And Dainty Lance knew that she had taken her own life, that he might the more surely es- cape from his enemies. CHAPTER XV. A DEBT OF GRATITUDE CANCELED. For a few moments Dainty Lance stood like one suddenly turned to stone. He could hardly believe the evidence of his own senses. But an instant before, her lips were touching his in a clinging, passionate pressure—he could still feel the tender yet fiery touch—and now! dead— slain by her own hand, rather than live longer a clog upon bis motions! She had given her life to increase his chances of escape. In that horrible moment Dainty Lance felt like a murderer—as though his hand had held the weapon that cut short this thread of tife— and with a sobbing groan he sunk upon his knees beside the body of the suicide, raising her head and shoulders to his breast, in the wild, vain bape that she was not yet dead. True to her sex even in t dire extremity, Decoy Duck, while doing her deadiy work most thoroughly, had so arranged it that her beauty should not be marred by the death-wound she had inflicted upon herself. Death had been instantaneous, the bullet pass- ing up through the roof of her mouth, through the brain and making its exit amid the short, curling hair of her head. There was a smile upon her face, and in her half-closed eyes. She looked like one in a walk- ing dream, and though he could not help know- ing that she was dead, to Dainty Lance it seem- ed as though she was just about to speak to him. The man-hunters, h the fierce. ous of the bloodbounds and the rapid firing, fo owed by the single shot, knew that their game was run down, and strained every nerve to reach the scene. All except the owner of the bloodhounds had followed the trail.on horseback, and, sped by the confused noises, they spurred on at a reck- less pace, soon plunging through the fringe of undergrowth into the o glade. Dainty Lance bad not attempted to flee—had not given his own peril a ht since Decoy Duck fell dead at his feet—but now, as the man-hunters crashed inte the opening, al- most riding over him, he raised his head, mo- tioning them back as he sternly cried: “Hold! there has been rants ge bloodshed—” **Harry Ballou!” exclaimed the sheriff, who was foremost, and making a very natural mis- take as the clear rays of the moon fell full upon the upturned face of the ppeenee ** You here! where are the others? who is that you have there?” At the sound of those words, Dainty Lance suddenly became himself ag: in, for they told him that all might not yet be lost, should he play his cards boldly. e eagerly grasped the chance offered nin by ee reply: ree Gone—fied just a moment after I came upon em. He was interrupted by a volley of furious curses from the lips of Yack Bullock,.as that worthy bent over the dead bodies of his four- footed allies, | This explosion attracted the attention of the sheriff, and during the few moments of respite thus afforded him, Dainty Lance is a plausible account to give of the tragedy, _ He had barely thought this out when tha (E(0) (E(@) JOO AL ‘S (E