Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 144 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

16 sheriff once more turned toward him, though it was plain that not the remotest suspicion of the truth entered his mind. “How did you stumble upon them, Harry? Did they shoot the dogs? You killed that fel- low?” ‘Tt was the yelping of the hounds that first aroused my suspicions of the truth,” said Dainty Lance, speaking slowly, afraid alike lest he should say too much or too little. ‘From the sounds I knew that they must be near, and so | struck across to cut them off. I came up too late to save the dogs, but catching a glim of the three fugitives gust as they started re- sume their flight, I fired at them, and this one fell. The others darted into the timber, but I never gave them another thought, for in the one scream of agony that this—that the person I shot, uttered as she fell—” ‘* She!” interrupted the sheriff, incredulously. . i Yes—a woman in disguise—and I murdered er! There was no feigning in the groan of bitter remorse that accompanied this speech, for at that moment Dainty Lance did indeed feel that the death of poor, misguided Myrtle Fair rested upon his soul. Nor were the man-hunters unaffected. They could have looked upon the death of a score of men such as those they had believed themselves hunting down, but this was different. A woman —young and beautiful, as the clear moonbeams showed—that was a very different matter. They gathered around in awe-stricken silence, and even Abe Tinker, believing as he did that Decoy Duck had been a k's to the treachery which had annihilated the band, felt his eyes owing dim and a large lump swelling larger in his throat as he gazed down upon the in- animate form of his once idolized young mis- tress, Doubtless it was well for Dainty Lance that the suspicious old bank-robber was so wholly taken up with the mournful spectacle, else the eyes of hatred and vengeance might have recti- ed the mistake made by the sheriff. And once let the question be raised, and the difference in the dress worn by Dainty Lance from that of the genuine Harry Ballou, must soon reveal the startling truth. Life is sweet to one still young and active, and despite his remorse over the sad fate of Decoy Duck, these thoughts occurred to Lance, and he noiselessly edged away from the crowd, avoiding all appearance of flight, but soon reach- me darkness which surrounded the glade. t that instant, a dark form arose before bir 1, and a low voice uttered cautiously: ‘* Don’t start or utter a word, but hear me. I am a friend, and would serve you.” Dainty Lance, despite the gloom, managed to recognize the speaker—none other than the young man whom he had so recently been per- sonating—Harry Ballow! “‘{ heard how they mistook you for me, out yonder, andso I lay low. I—and my father— owe you a debt greater than we can ever hope to repay in this life. Yousent us that iene er 2 and thus saved us from ruin, for such a bo d assault would surely have succeeded had we not been forewarned in time. ‘*Tt was in hopes of doing you a service that I joined in the pursuit. I left them when they set the bloodhounds at work, but followed the baying, resolved to defend your life, if it need be, with my own. I came here—I heard them mistake you for me, and so watched for a chance to speak to you without any one else hearing my wo ‘*T will carry on the part you horse is me a few rods away. save yourself. And wherever you go, you will have our prayers for your safety, and future well-being.” It was impossible for Dainty Lance to doubt the truth or sincerity of the young man while these words were being uttered. Each sentence carried conviction with it. And when Harry ceased speaking the hands of the two youths met in a warm and fervent pressure. “Tf you heard—you must know who it was that died out yonder,” muttered Dainty Lance, a choking sensation in his throat rendering his words indistinct. ‘‘She shot herself, because she would not be a hindrance to my ht. I could not prevent her, she did it so sudden- 4 I shoul like to remember that—that her ee Take it and “Ip you my word of honor that all re- spect be shown her remains. They shall have Christian burial, and the spot where they rest, so marked that you can find it, if ever you come into these parts again.” ‘‘Sometime I will thank you for this—I can- not now,” said Dainty Lance spooks with | 388 Nep Wyxpr. By Texas Jack.............)... My l difficulty. ‘‘Her name was e—that will be enough.” “The stone shall beso marked, But come. There is danger in lingering here. Let me show ou where my horse is hidden. You must ride ast and far. I will keep this band off the right track, but there are others scouring the country. God grant you may escape them as easily!’ In silence Dainty Lane followed his generous ‘‘double” and soon stoud beside the horse al- luded to. At the same moment he heard the cautious signal that told him Hardy Zeph was close at hand and ready to aid him in case of need. Telling Harry Ballou as much, they parted, after one more fervent hand-clasp; then Lance hastened to rejoin Zeph. The boy trapper had succeeded in stealing one horse, and would have secured more, had he not been alarmed by the baying of the _blood- hounds. Divining the truth, he made all haste along the back-trail, arriving just as Harry Ballou made over the horse. Proceeding cautious) y until beyond all danger of being heard by the enemy, the fugitives made the most of the remaining hours of night, and just as the sun arose they reached a small but unusually snug cave, where, as they had taken ood care to sborougnny break their trail, they elt that they could lie in safety until the worst of the storm blew over. Nor were they mistaken. A week passed, neither saw nor heard any- during which the thing of a human being besides each other, save when Zeph ventured forth in the night time for the purpose of securing food. At the end of that time, they left their re- treat, and by riding hard all night, were out of the country before day dawned. Resting ina secure covert all that day, the succeeding night carried them safely out of the State. ‘* We are outlawed there,” said Dainty Lance looking back across the river. ‘‘ We were led into crime through my folly in playing with edged tools. But, thank God! there is plenty of room for us all, between here and sunset!” “Ef thar ain’t, we kin make it, I reckon,” laughed Hardy Zeph. Only a few words are needed in conclusion. Harry Ballou was finally married to Rose Harvey, and admitted as a full partner into the bank which was so nearly robbed by Hammer Fair and his gang. That personage, with Abe Tinker and the two others, were tried, found guilty, and sentenced to hard labor for life. The unfortunate ‘‘ Decoy Duck” was buried as Harry promised, in consecrated ground, with ‘‘ MyRTLE ” on her tombstone. Harry and his wife often wondered who peer Lance really was, but it was years be- fore they solved the mystery. In due time, the reader may be made as wise as they. THE END. Beadle's Half-Dime Liarary. 1 Deapwoop Dick. By Edward L. Wheeler.... 2 YELLOWSTONE JACK. B Sige! Tea sear Jr.. 8 Kansas Kina. By Buffalo Bill 4 THe Wiip-Horse Hunters. Mayne Reid...... 5 VAGABOND Joz. By Oll Coomes..... .... .... 6 Brut Brppon, Trapper. By Edward 8. Ellis.. 7 Tue Fiymne Yankee, By Col. Ingraham...... 8 Sera Jones. By Edward S. Ellis ...... oueet 9 Tue ADVENTURES OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN..... 10 Nat Topp. By Edward 8. oe ark lee, 11 Tue Two Derecrives. By Albert W. Aiken.. 19 Gturrven’s TRAVEES. .. 6 00. cee cet eee nds 13 THe Doms Spy. By Oll Comes................ ee TI. on o%. 20 wins bd bree Magne ced eet ar eds 15 Tue Sea Cat. By Capt. Frederick Whittaker.. 16 ROBINSON CRUSORB..... .....- «.-++>- bi oo? 17 Ratpa Roy. By Col Prentiss Ingraham, ... 19 Toe Puantom Spy. By Buffalo Bill... ... ... 20 THe Dovsite Daacers. By Ed. L. Wheeler... 21 Frontier ANGEL. By Edward 8. Ellis........ 2 Tue Sea SERPENT. 23 Nick o’ THe NIGHT. “ee © @eweewmeeeneee@eeee SSSTS Dumas Paar. By Capt. F. Whittaker.... ARING RaLpH Rockwoop. By H. 8t. George Bos Woo.tr. By Edward L. Wheeler ....... OCEAN ‘ O Capt. J. F. C, Adams....... ward L. Wheeler.......... rank 8 5 TTESTLTSETTSSTT SETS SS i LT EEE eet —Eee sss SF — -—— - S— OT OT Oe ree meee ee es = --- —- oe SS ee Dainty Lance, the Boy Sport. 89 DeatH-F ace, THE DETECTIVE. By E. L. Wheeler | - 40 Rovine Ben. By John J. Mars Pennie cake 41 Lasso JACK. ty O8 Commeee occ SEL 42 Tur PHanrom Miner. By Ed. L. Wheeler..... 5c 43 Dick Daruina. _By Capt. Frederick Whittaker 5c 44 RaTTLING RUBE. 7 arry St. George doh 45 O_p AVALANCHE. By Edward L. eeler.... 46 Guass-Eye. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams ...... 47 NIGHTINGALE Nat. By T. C. Harbaugh... ... 48 Buack Jonn, THE Roap-AGEnT. J. E. Badger, Jr 5c 49 Omana OLL. By Edward L. Wheeler........:..° 50 Burt Bunker. By Charles E. Lasalle.......... 51 Tue Boy Riries. By Archie C, lron........... 5¢ 52 Toe Wuire Burrato. By Charles BE. Lasalle,,, de 53 Jim Biupsor, Jr. By Edward L. Wheeler..... cr OED 54 Nep Haze, By Capt. J. F. C. Adams.... .... dc 55 Deapiy-Eye. By Buffalo Bill................... Be 56 Nick WHIFFLES’s Per. By J. F. C. Adams,.... 5c 57 Deapwoop Dick’s Eacuirs. By E. L. Wheeler... 5c 58 THe Borper Kine. By Oll Coomes.........--. 5c 59 OLD Hickory. By Harry St. George..... .... be 60 THe WHITE INDIAN. J. F, C. Adams....... 5c 61 BuckHoRN Bru. By Edward L. Wheeler ..... 5c 62 Tue SHapow Surp. By Col. P. Ingraham...... 5c 63 Tue Rep BROTHERHOOD. By W. f Hamilton . 5c 64 Danpy Jack. By T. C. Harbaugh.............. 5c 65 Hurricane Buu. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr ..... be 66 SincLE Hanp. By W. J. Hamilton........,.... 5e 67 PATENT-LEATHER JoE. By Philip 8. Warne... 5c 68 THe BorpeR Rosin Hoop. B alo Bill... 5c 69 Gop Ririte. By Edward L. SOA Se be 70 Outp Zrp’s CaBin. By J. F. C. Adams.......... Be 71 DetawarReE Dick. By O]l Coomes,.......... vos. BC 72 Map Tom Western. By W. J. Hamilton....... 73 Deapwoop Dick on Deck. E. L. Wheeler.... 74 Hawkeye Harry. By Oll Coomes............ 75 Tue Boy Duruist. By Col. Ingraham......... 76 Ane Cout, THE Crow KiLuerR. By A. W. Aiken 77 Corpuroy CuHarue. By Edward L. Wheeler.. 78 Buuz Dick. By Captain Mayne Reid..... . 79 Sot Gincer, THE Giant TRAPPER. A.W. A 80 Rosenup Ros. By Edward L. Wheeler ... ; 81 LiGHTNING JOE. 4 Captain J. F.C. Adams, ... 82 Kir Hareroot. By T. C. Harbaugh 838 RotLo, THE Boy Ranoer. By Oll Coomes.... 84 Ipy_, THE Grrt Miner. By Ed. L. Wheeler .. 85 Buck BuckramM. By Captain J. F.C. Adama... 86 Danpy Rock. By G. Waldo Browne os 87 Tue LanpD Prrates. By Capt. Mayne Reid..... 88 PHoro@raPpH Pur. By Edward L. Wheeler.... 89 IsLAND Jim. By agg ey te ee 90 Tue Dreap Riper. By G. Waldo Browne. ... 91 Tre CAPTAIN oF THE CLUB. By Bracebridge Wey eee ik MALO Me Wwe ee Be 92 CANADA CHET. By Edward L. Wheeler........ Be 93 THe Boy MINERS. Edward S. Ellis... ..... 5c 94 Mipnicut Jack. By T. C. Harbaugh... ....,. 5e 95 THe Rrvau Rovers. By Lieut. Col. Hazeltine. 5c 96 Watcu-Eyve. By Edward L. Wheeler... ..... 5c 97 Toe OvuTLaw Brotuers. By J. T. Marshall... 5c 98 Rosin Hoop. By Prof. Stewart Gildersleeve... 5c 99 Toe TiceR or Taos. By George W. Browne... 5c 100 Deapwoop Dick IN LEADVILLE. By Wheeler. 5c 101 Jack HARKAWAY IN NEw YORE. y Brace- bridge Hemyng..... arse. eo ee Be 102 Dick Drap-Eye. y Col. Prentiss Ingraham... 5c 103 Tae Lion or THE SEA. By Col. Delle Sara... 5c 104 Deapwoop Dick's Devicr. By Ed. L. Wheeler. 5c 105 OLD Ruse, THE Hunter. B a) H. Holmes . 5c 106 OLD Frosty, THE Guipgk. By T.C. Harbaugh... 5c 107 One-Eyep Sm. By J. L. Bowen............... Be 108 Dartne Davy. By Harry St. George..... .... 5c 109 DgEapwoop Dick aS DETECTIVE. Wheeler 5c 110 THe BLACK STEED OF THE PRAIRIES. By Bowen 111 Tae Sea-Devi. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham,. 5« 112 THe Map Hunter. By Burton Saxe.......... 113 Jack Hoytx. By Edward L. Wheeler.... . . 114 THe BLack SCHOONER. 2 r Starbuck... 115 Toe Map Mover. By G. te) 116 Tae Hussar CapTain. By Col. P. ae og 117 Gitt-EpGep Dick. By Edward L. eeler, .. 118 Tae Boy Detective. By Charles Morris... .. 119 Mustane Sam. By Jos. E. Sain og! oh, re 120 Toe BranpED Hanpv. By Fra Dumont..... 121 Cosvamon Cure. By Edward L. Wheeler...... 122 Pam Harpy, THe Boss Boy. By Chas. Morris. 128 Kiowa Cuartey. By T. C. Harbaugh........, 124 Trepy, THE TEXAN. George Gleason...... a Bonanza Brut, Miner. By E. L. Wheeler..... 26 Picayune Perr. By Chas. Morris............. 127 Wiip-Fire. By Frank Dumont......... ..... 128 THe Youne Privatrer. By H Cavendish . 129 Deapwoopd Dick’s DourLte, By K L. Wheeler. 180 Derective Dick. By Charles Morris.. ...... 131 THe GoLpEN HAND. By G. W. Browne....... 182 THe Huntrep Hunter. By Edward 8S. Ellis... 138 Boss Bos. By Edward L. Wheeler. ........- 134 Sure-SHor SeTu a Oll Coomes.........+++: 185 CAPTAIN PavL. By . D. Clark 136 Niaut-Hawk Kir. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr..... 137 THe Hetpiess Hanp. By Capt. payee Saas 1388 BironpE Bru. By Edward L. Wheeler....... 139 Juper Lyxcn, Jr. By T.C. Harbaugh....,.. 140 Brive Buazes. By Frank Dumont... ........ 141 Soump Sam. By Edward L. Wheeler ........ 142 Hanpsome Harry. By Charles Morris....... 143 Scar-Face Savi. By Oll Coomes............ 144 Darnry Lance, THe Boy Sport. By ey 145 Caprars Ferret; oR, Boss Bos’s oR. ._ By Edward L. Wheeler. Read Tae BorDER SN I ied. OT 5... o o0' arden cece HiIcKORY Harry: on, THE Tra or Firm By Harry St. George. Ready May 18th....... A new issue every week. Beadle’s Half-Dime Library is for sale b all Newsdealers, five cents copy, or sent mail on receipt of six cents each. BEADLE & Abams Publishers, 98 William Street, N. Y. “+ #000 @ #88? © Be E. By ECOmMmIicDoo (E “S