Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 163 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

< : » ‘ - permitted to live; but, my dear girls, I ang suffering —of wounds received in'a conflict with the heinous wretches that stole our horses. I hope the other boys got back safe. 1am very low and feeble from loss of blood; and it will be some time before I will be able to be moved. I am treated here with all the kindness and tenderness that human hearts and human hands could bestow upon a stranger, but still I want one, or both of my — daughters with me. I know your presence will be ap medi- cine for me, and so come without delay. The gentle- man who brings you this will escort you here. To this man I owe my life. He and his body-guard res- cued me from death, and I trust him with all the fullness of my heart. I know you will enjoy his company, and then he has a sister here. Her name is Anita, and she is almost as pretty and charming as my Edith and Christie. Tell the boys it can’t be helped, but to keep an unceasing vigil upon all sides. I remain ours affectionately, “ “ISRAEL P. MILes.”’ Edith’s heart was all afiutter and her hand trem- bling when she concluded the letter. She was re- tin to know that her guardian lived, and yet the ate of Christie weighed upon her a terrible burden of grief. Other thoughts flashed through her mind. The man Victor Ure had come with the very same story, and he had decoyed Christie into his power. Might not this man be a villain, also? Asto this, she could not say, but as to Victvr Ure, she knew he was a villain! She looked at the Spaniard—their eyes met. He had a noble countenance—not the coun- tenance of a villain. Moreover the letter corrobo- rated this, for she knew it was a genuine letter—writ- ten by the hand of her guardian. Of this she had not a single doubt, and all knew the colonel well enough to know that the most cruel torture-rack ever devised by man could not compel him to write such a jetter in the interest of a villain. Edith, however, to make assurance doubly sure, passed the letter to her friends for examination; and all pvccuners it genuine, leaving no doubt in Edith’s mind but that the stranger was an honest man. Advancing to where the Spaniard stood with uncovered head, the maiden said: “Mr. Rossevan, I am rejoiced to hear from my dear guardian, but, oh! I have such a sad story to bear to his ears. Yesterday, aman calling himself Victor Ure, came here in great haste, saying Colonel Miles was lying in his cabin very low from the effect of wounds received in conflict with robbers, and wanted my sister Christie and Dr. Dover to come to him at once. Never suspecting oe tg 3 wrong, they mounted their horses and started. at man was Black Bonifece, and Christie is still in his pow- er.” “Ah, que desgracia /” cried De Rossevan, in his native tongue, “ your sister in the hands of Black Boniface, senorita?”’ “Yes, sir,” replied Edith, struggling hard to keep back her tears. ** Ah, Dios '” he exclaimed, shaking his head sad- ly, “it will kill the father to hear this; moreover, you will hesitate to go with me, senorita.”’ “You do not come as a decoy, nor look like a vil- lain, sir,’’ Edith replied. “ Gracias, sevorita,’ the gentleman responded, with a polite bow; “‘ your father is a most excellent gentleman, and I am desirous of his speedy recovery, and if your friends have any doubt as to my charac- ter, [am willing to remain a hostage here until any one fae you may elect can go to the colonel for roof.” pe No, sir, do not doubt you,” cried Edith, “ and I shall go with you to my guardian ”’ “It will afford me pleasure, then, to offer you a seat in my cules /,'’ Rossevan said. “Then I will prepare for the journey at once,” the maiden replied, and turning she sought her own tent to get rendy. Meanwhile, Juan de Rossevan and the emigrants engaged in conversation. “How far, Mr. de Rossevan, do you live from here?” asked Mr. Byrd. ‘‘ Perhaps thirty miles west, senor, on a tributary of the San Saba river,” responded the Spaniard. “ Have you much of a settlement over that way?” asked another. ‘No, senor; I am there alone with friends and my servants.” “7 should think Black Boniface and the Indians ’d give you hark out thar,’’ observed an old wagoner. “TT am troubled some with /adrones, senor, as might be expected.” In the course of half an hour Edith Clayton made her eEmerence ready for the journey. A look of admiration passed over the handsome, dark face of Don Rossevan, for in her traveling attire she looked never so fair and beautiful, notwithstanding the lead that had left its imprint upon her heart and ace, Taking the arm of Don Rossevan she was conduct- ed to the calesa and given a seat therein, and when her escort had taken a seat with her, the emigrants gathered around the vehicle and bid her good-by and wished her a safe and happy journey. When the ‘‘ good-byes *’ bad all been said, Edith informed Rossevan that she was ready to start when, at a signal, the footman closed the door o the calesa, mounted the box, and then the vehicle rolled away at a rapid rate, followed by the mounted Despite th od ij ion that Don Roe evan’s e good impression appearance, on well an the colonels letter, had made u the minds of the settlers, misgivings rose li t hearts as they watched the caleea cenppene in the distance. the more they talked and brooded over the matter the more unsettled and unsatisfac- tory their peace of mind became, although they had aiaple assurance that Colonel Miles was alive, and ' seize another under the 7 4 ’ . ip! oe ¢ 7 4 i ry is ¢ % ‘ notwithstanding the fact that Don Rossevan had of- fered to remain a hostage in camp until they could settle all doubts as to eharacter. But leaving the folks on the San Saba for the time being, we will follow Edith and her escort. The calesa was driven rapidly over the plain, and al- though the way was rough, the heavy spri gave the vehicle an easy, <<. motion to which Edith soon became accustomed. Little Texas, the Young Mustanger. Cee | Juan de Rossevan watched and studied the fea- | - adjured. tures of the fair young woman before him with a look of thoughtful admiration. He saw that her troubles were weighing heavily upon her young heart, and that she manifested some embarrassment which he attributed to the situation in which she now found herself; but with all the tact of which he was po , he endeavored to comfort and cheer her spirit, and to make her feel that he wasin her presence, and not she in his. He could read her young heart in her fair face and soulful eyes; and he saw that that heart was possessed of all that was ure and beautiful in woman. The man was aston- ished. His heart had been impervious to the charms of woman's face and wiles through all bis manhood yeu But there was something in Edith besides er face that he admired. It was her soul. In the course of a few hours they had forded two rivers, plung.d across a number of small ravines, wound and twisted througha long, wooded valley, and finally debouched into a broad, open plain. Here Rossevan threw open both doors of the calesa that they might enjoy the scene surrounding them, and drink in the perfumed air. An ocean of green luxuriant grass waved around them, and above this carpet of verdure thousands of wild flowers of every hue and odor thrust their modest faces and distilled their sweetness on the soft south wind. Of the prairie, of the verdure, of the flowers, Don Rossevan talked in strains of elo- quence that filled Edith’s soul with a sense of un- bounded delight. She gazed out upon the plain with a feeling of joy and admiration that she had never felt before, and as she regarded it thus, the words of her companion did more toward awakening in her heart a sense of enthusiasm, and in unfol ing the pocorn grandeur of nature, than the scene itself, or he painted the soul—not the form. “‘Nature,”’ he went on, “has not only expended with a lavish hand upon the material—the outward beauties of this grand country, but she has inspired | it with a spirit of grandeur; and that spirit—invisible soul—pervades the at mosphere until we not only see but feel the beauties of Nature. No one with a true soul can gane upon that landscape without deoling & : is sense of delight and exultation swelling within breast. One can scarcely believe that this is a land of ruins, of crime—the home of ladroves and wild men. God intended it for a Paradise, and to me it is a Paradise, a refuge, and a land of promise.”’ “Then the outlaws and Indians do not molest you?’ Edith remarked. “To some extent, senorita; they have stolen some of my horses and cattle, and killed some of my ser- | vants. Of late, however, I have seen nor heard of Black Boniface and his regulators, and I had enter- tained a hope Texas, if not from the stage of action altogether— Great God!” The last words were occasioned by the cry of * Za- drones | ladrones ! Indians ! Indians /” and the crash of firearms and wails of agony. Don Rossevan quickly put his head out to see what the matter was. A number of leaden balis tore through the top of his calesa. He saw the footman fall with a heavy thud to the ss a lifeless corpse. A yell rose on the air. The party had been attacked by a band of Apache Indians and white robbers! CHAPTER VI, HOW LITTLE TEXAS DODGED. To return to the Boy Mustanger and Christie Miles | whom we left standing in the door of the mustang- er’s cabin, face to face with the notorious Dr. Roche- ford and a band of Boniface’s regulators. The latter was as greatly surprised by the sudden ap- pearance of the boy and girl as these two young —— were startled by the presence of the former nthecabin. Not dreaming of the house being oc- cupied by any one, and seeing no light until the door was thrown wide, Little Texas found himself stum- bling blindly into danger. he had disappeared from the plains of | _ suppressed cry of borror. ‘* Smoke of the Inferno!’ exclaimed Dr. Rocheford, | in amazement. *“* Who and what have we here? Do my eyes deceive me? Is it the boy whose right hand belongsto me? Sacre! itis, by the stinging tarantula! Nab him! ah—out and after him, men!—catch them, for a double glory awaitsus!" Before the Frenchman had finished, Little Texaa, with t ce of mind the darkness and pulled Ch shadows of oak and cedar lay thick over and around the humble home of the Boy ! this darkness, in pursuit of the maiden and mus- tanger, plunged the outlaw rangers. So close were they r them that they felt sure of their capture; but with quick wit, the boy, instead of making straight for the w ed, stepped aside and pressing himself close against the side of the house, whispered words of cheer and caution to Christie. They were within arm’s reach of every outlaw that went out of the door, but the villains were so blinded by their excitement, and the sudden change from light to darkness, that they posed them by unobserved, and were soon wrang- ing in darkness and confusion out in the woods. ittle Texas laughed to himself as he heard them calling to each other, and cursing, when one would impreaulon it was the fugi tives. When assured they were all out of the build: ing, the lad whispered to Christie: “Miss Miles, we dou't want to stay out in the woods to-night, and so let's slip into the house and conceal ourselves iu the loft, They'll never mistrust - us of doin’ such a daring thing, and to-morrow wher. yar g0 mee f we'll be safe.” “T am willing to follow you, Texas,” Christie re- sponded. ie ‘‘Then we'll have to be awful quiet, Christie,” be And so they turned and entered the cabin. Little Texas climbed into the loft and let down a short. ladder, by means of which the maiden ascended also. Then Texas went down again oe some dried venison from his larder, and a couple of blankets and a robe from the pile on the floor, he: returned to Christie, and drew up the ladder, This: done, he spread the robe and invited Christie tog seat upon it; and when both had taken a position that they would, very likely, be required to keep through the nivht, he produced his cried venison, cut it into thin siie°s, and divided it with Christie And, while awaiting the return of the regulators. . they ate their meager supper. It was not long until Rocheford came in, out of wind and humor, for again had the boy thwarted him; and then, one by one, the rest of the — tors returned and resumed their places, and nipes, their oaths and ribald jests before the fire very word spoken was plainly audible to the young: people in the garret, and more than once werethe — ears of the sensitive maiden shocked, and a bitak- a to her face by the language of those ruf ians. Little Texas himself was the topic of much cos versation among the villains; but finally the dim- course turned upon Black Boniface and his visite te the emigrant camp on the San Saba; and our lasse= thrower smiled when he heard them speculating upon the ¢aptain’s probable success in p ‘a new wife among the fair ones of Colonel Miles’s col-- ony; and it was all the more pleasing and erties: to him when he realized that he had thw the regulator in his attempt to abduct Christie, and too, in the very moment of his triumph, He | the outlaw wondering who the girl could be that had entered the cabin with him—Little Texas—but they never once suspected the truth. After the outlaws had exhausted all other subjects. they laid their plans for the morrow. The firsts thing was to make another search for the Boy Mus- tanger. They had found his horse and knew that he could not be far away. As the hours wore on some of the stretched themselves upon the floor and felkasietm, | and soon all became quiet in and around the cabin, And, the noise and excitement having weg: Chris» _— t tie, overcome with fatigue, sunk into quie also; while Little Texas, pistol in hand, sat by her side and half dozing kept a watch over her. And thus the night wore on. The moon went down and through a crack in the wali Little Texas. saw the morning star sailing up in the eastern sky,. trailing after her the rosy beams of early morn. And about this time there was a stir in the room» below. Grumbling and cursing the outlaws started from their sleep. They kindled a fire upon the» hearth to light the room. They breakfastedwpo» the Young Mustanger’s supplies of venison, mes and coifee; and, although it was still dark outside, they were soon ready for departure. | The Boy Mustanger congratulated himself upom,' the prospect of soon being alone so far as the enemy were concerned. - Christie was still asleep, and the boy thoughto? . the pleasant surprise it would be to her, upon waken- ing to learn that their persecutors were gone. The youth heard the reguiators tramping about below getting ready, as he supposed, for departure. He heard some of them go out and then come back and throw something solid upon the floor. He heard - them saying something about fire. The Lumgent . odor of smoke suddenly floated up to his nostrils,” What did it mean? He stooped and peered through” a crack of the loft floor. He started back with a. The outlaws were firing — the cabin. They were building a *“‘log-heap” in titer middle of the floor. Hot smoke filled the garret. Christie coughed in her sleep. }A lurid glare burst through the entrance to the loft and the narrow cracks in the fioor. : The Boy Mustanger’s soul was filled with terror. . He awoke his companion—not to a happy sul prise; but to a scene of terror. The hot smoke ard the red flame beneath them filled her young _a dreadful fear. A shriek burst from her lips. Tite | pobbers below heard it | ‘ sprung backward into | ristie with him. The | Mustanger, and into | @ man are seen to reac , a8 would naturally be expeci- | in a fat, bearded face peer into the smoke and darhk- ness of that retreat, as the body hangs on the edpe — ~~ ’ / - . * 4 : i ain » 7s : . —_ Ps " “Wasn't that in the loft?” cried Rocheford, “| veribby believe it was, doctor,’’ replied another. ~ “Gods of Olympus! Bunty, I thought I told you | to search the loft,” said the Frenchman, ** And I thought I did,’ returned Bunty. | ‘* Saere / then search again, man!" was the order. Steps are heard crossing theroom. The hands of upward and grasp tin board at the entrance to the garret. Then a hea} appears through the opening and a pair of eyes set. of the opening. A pistol in the hand of Little Texas rings out with a du , bis body ing on the floor below with a dull, sickly thud. ‘My God! some one in the loft has killed Bunty!” —, - ee : a cry ot rage and vengeance breaks upon ease of the young friends. The fury of demons has’ bee. aroused in the breasts of ile reculators — “Poles up the tre, beys:’ Roche. -¢ is bint “air, comicboo! | a | ‘S. a ™ e ‘% am ’ er é y em P ¥ : aa \ 4 : ij , * stunning report. With a —— | the robber drops through the openi foil _ “>