Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 163 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

_. -eey she called hi —— -_ —-- - = q a " f —_ ! AS - ra J tees ee we oe AS 2 . tn wee eee ee ‘ oe 0 2 ceemmee 8 ee es ee - Gatamozin! Ye gods! let our ven,;. i...co be _aeweift and terrible!’ “muwk to where the roof anno:st a ; ae eee cae a tae building CHAPTER VII, BOY INCENTITY VERSUS ROBE VENGEANCE. Thaae fxvinting and hai? suffocating, Christie sat up en her couch, confused, bewUlered aad terrifled. Little Yexcs felt the creat responsibility that he all brought upen himse.f by tusing refuge in the end determined to do his utmost to repair es Miender. as he now consiJeredit. Never waut- Sane for an expedient in the Lime of danger, he soon dati his course marked out, and stooping, he whis gered to Curistie: “Oom-<, Christio, there's an ogress from the loft— “me Ms: escap?.”’ Then upon his hands and knees the boy crept touched the floor weed pushed aside some of the long clapboards, mak- jag on openiag large enough to adinit the passage 6% lis bocy aud the ladder. The latter he eabaiaco. upon the ground. The eaves of the roof a rb = y « TO = 35 ms 2.9. —— — meets tie ue Vite ale white WA when and where they would meet again wie Lord ouly knew. However, be could not remain idle when remioded that it was Lis own adventuresuime spirit that had brought about this separauon, oud so _ he rode around into the Bead vf the valley in hopes dew from of finding her. Now and thea he stopped to listen, but all was quiet; and having reached the upper side of the valley he turned scuth and made bis way from the scene of his night's ac. venéure, Daylight at length dawned and found him still alone pushing on, he searcely knew whither, the Sun came up ina cloudilets sky. their emerald robes in the perfumed ' breath or the young day. Birds sung in glee, though | Boy Lasso-thrower. jut out | “ne not over six feet from the ground, and it was | . Ay thie ineans that the Young Mustanger proposed | we etleompt aa escape. Creeping back to Christie, he “\Joe must now be brave, and get out of this timager, Miss Miles. We've not a moment to lose, | ives. if ’'d once thought of the regulators firing I’d never bave come up here.”’ “You did what you considered for the best, Puecas,” replied the maiden, encouregingly; ** Lhave | oe jactt to find with anything you have done.’’ ~fuank you, little woman! Now come, let me) ‘$9 you out upon the roof before we are strangled.” | .ivyoing they crept back to the opening and . @%4oed out upon the low, flat roof. Texas pointed _s & fhe ladder to Christie and assisted her upon it, , dina tew moments more they stood upon the ... aad, Then the boy removed the ladder to eon- 32“) their means of escape. The flames by this time had spread so that the | regulators were driven from the room, They stood . .4atnont of the cabin, listening. They were surprised, ‘purzied by the silence in the loft. The red light éaaing throngh the door lit up their bearded faces. the building between them and the out- Jarra, Bittle Texas led Christie back into the shadows : 74 tee woods. “* Thank the good, kind Lord!”’ he exclaimed, when yeecraitted to breathe the pure, fresh air of heaven; “qoeein are we out of their clutches. The next thing . 2et _ ’ sas-mr horses, for “ed situation. ky possible, if you think you can remain here until f urn ” & @ ince a caged tiger, muttering fearful oaths. & Aboved their victims had been smothered or suffo- ithout them we will be left ina I will go and get them if such a thing ht yes, Texas, Ican stay. May Godspeed you!” > wid, ~ ifere, Christie, is one of my pistols; it may serve « .¢ a good turn, no telling,” and placing a tiny sil- + »-mounted pistol in her .hand, he crept away Rua the shadows to the opposite side of the cus.in where the horses had been left. He could now swe the reyulacors in front of the burning cabin, and Ahey appeared to be greatly exercised over the con- tuuased silence in the loft. Rocheford paced to _ e He never thought of way of the root; but «ted in the heat and smoke, weer attempting to escape b «xen while ne and his comrades stood waiting for the ows of the unkuown enemies, whoever the might le. 4.ittle Texas had succeeded in reaching Caristie’s i sxe and in getting away into the shadows with it ~ uo. derved, sone ore animal around to where the maiden “vas waiting, he assisted her into the saddle; then > aed requesting her to await his return, he set out us . ‘ t . . tse -Xsral to her, and t Aw as duis own horse, Abeut this time the flames began to eat through ithe roof of the cabin and light up the surrounding. »& seowl of bitter disappointment was upon the “faces of the outlaws. ti 1eir inhuman scheme had ‘failed in its object, and stupid as they were in their ‘blind fury, they, atlength, began to suspect some- thing of the truth—that their victims had escaped. Mocheford walked around the building. A tongue of Aiame was darting through the hole in the roof made Some Texas. Onthe ground near by lay a lad- . This told the whole story—the outlaws had again been outwitted. At this moment the roof of the cabin fell in, and from the interior of the building went upa Vesuvius of sparks, flame and smoke. ‘The vicinity was lit up for many rods with the glare of the mid-day sun, _ wud within the radius of light, seated upon a buck- icin mustang—the very animal that Black Boniface had taken from Little Texas and sold to Colonel Tifes—the astonished regulators beheld Christie isles! Both horse and rider stood gazing in wild a.axagzement and a kind of terrified fascination at the | aening building. Fora moment the outlaws stood as if rooted to »t, hut they soon recovered ey ers os of ; and toward the maiden. ristie look- -ed for Little Texas, and in her excitement and anxi- Sname, But he did not answer; he their song seemed like mockery to the heart of the Tho sol.cude might have seem- ed a paradise sweet with the incense of the wild- wood and vocal with the voic.s of Nature, and in which the young boy rode a& silvan god, had all been gold that glitters. But, alas! that wood was the ynathway o ee e ’ aed . , ad “and whoever is in that loft, we wool cock puise, ihat he was separated from Christie, and se AA ys Seton car weg. 7 ee a = fecling of relief, that she had cided her enemies, and permitted her faithful, worn mustanz to mo. 2 aiong at a leisurely walk, cropping the Lushis a: } tall zrass asit went. She trav on and ov, uv ji the sun crossed the meridian, and yet she =cenx i no nearer civilization or the abode of man than Weir che morning broke upon her. She was now growiz)r tired and hungry, but there was no rest, no foou for her. The terrors of another night would soou Lec -upon her, and the knowledge of this, added to her The tres sLook tie | _ though her first impulse was to turn and flee outlawry, the ambuseade of death, and | e who journeyed on through its silent halls was | drinking the dregs of bitter grief, breast of the Boy Mustanger burned a consuming love for the fair girl that a cruel fate had torn fr.m his protection, and now his brain grew dizzy and his heart sick as he sought her everywhere in vain. In the course of time he debouched into the open prairie. Here he paused to think, but the more he For, deep in he | studied over his situation the more confused and | troubled his mind became. So he rode on out into the | lain. He had no particular poin: in view; he let his 10rse take its own course. At noon he stopped ina valley by a little stream, watered his animal and | turned it loose to feed upon the luxuriant grass. the course of an hour be resumed his journey—still traveling on like a boat adrift at sea without a com- pass. The day was far gone whenin the distance he saw a dark body moving over the plain. It appeared to be nef ene and concealing himself in a clump of bushes—one of those prairie-islands that dot the plains of Texas—he awaited its coming. As it drew nearer he saw it was a body of horsemen and a car- riage drawn by four Worses. Itwas the escort of Don Juan de Rossevan. ‘What in the peague does it mean?" the boy mused; “it looks li that; tempest, no! making a new route—cuttin’ across the near way through this ’ere wild, ungodly land. If the Ingins and regulators only git their eyes on that outfit _they’ll swoop down upon her like a duck en a June «ras nowhere to be seen. To tarry longer would be | her m ’s head, she ycMloped away into the darkness o ctone. bug.”’ The boy’s words seemed, in a measure, prophetic, for scarcely had he spoken the last word ere the crash of es came upfrom a little ravine to the left of the party. Then from the tall grass rosea score of Apache Indians and white robbers and with a yell charged uvon the escort, firing as they went. A battle ensued. Little Texas saw one of the men on the calesa throw up his hands, reel in his seat and then fall lifeless to the earth. Another volley from the enemy and he saw the driver sink down, while the horses, frightened by the din of the conflict, started away at full speed and came plunging down the plain with fearful rapidity uncurbed by the hand of adriver. Meanwhile, the escort was engaged ina desperate struggle with the indians, Little Texas saw that the runaway team was oin ee ion with him who was inthe carriage: but as if in answer to the question, a man in brilliant attire ut his head and shoulders out of the vehicle and at- mpted to climb to the driver’s box. Then the car- riage swept past the Lasso-thrower. coach he saw the dying driver with the lines still ——— in hishand, Inside he behelda young and eautiful woman cowering with terror. This was enough. The sight of the ’s face was sufficient to rouse the spirit of inaahoae in the boy’s breast, and as a look of resolute determination flashed in his eyes he said, addressing his horse: In | fatigue and fasting, began to tellupon her youu.rs splri:. While brooding over them, a voice called to her from the woods. With a start she looked around, and saw a horse- man approaching her. He was a stranger, and, ai- some- thing stayed her flight. Then it occurred to her, all of a sudden, that she had seen the stranger beforo. He was a middle-aged man witha wertig bie face, and a red scar upon the left cheek. The man’s eneval appearance was indicative of having beca ong in thte saddle, We lifted his hat and bowed as he rode up. “Good-evening, fair stranger,”’ he said. “I ar truly astonished to find a lady riding alone in th\« lonely wood." Christie started, and a shudder ran over her fram: at the sound of the man’s voice. To her confus+:: and wern mind it was vaguely and indistinctly «a: - sociated with gtyen | of the past, but she could not tell what, nor could she recall the time au: place where she met this man. ‘Tam not here by my own free will, sir,"’ she re- lied; ‘‘I must contess lam lost. Perhaps you will e kind enough to set me aright.”’ The man looked at her as if trying to recall the past, then CADE at the horse she rode, a light of recognition passed over his face, and he said: ‘“*T declare, my little waif, I think I have met you before, havel not?” ‘* Perhaps you have,” was the maiden’s reply. “If I mistake not, Isold your father that pony you ride?” | *“Oh, yes!’ exclaimed Christie, with a sudden start, for all was clear to her now, and a shudder went to her heart; but her woman’s ready wit waa brought into play, and she continued, without be _ traying other than feelings of surprise and pleasure: ike a carriage and yet it can't be | Surely it ar’n’t a stage-coach | to pass near him, and it at once became a | Upon the | ‘*vou are Captain Seneca Lucas, the Texan trader?” ‘Iam, Miss Miles,” he said, with a smile. ‘**Oh, sir, lam very glad to meet you!” she said, @ little excitedly, though she told what was not true, but acted on the theory that the end justifies the means; ‘‘a series of great misfortunes have be- fallen us since you visited our crseig ‘** You don’t tell me!"’ exclaimed the man, looking os the maiden with a faint smile visible upon his ace. “The robbers have stolen three of our horses, and for all I know, have killed uncle Israel Miles." ‘**Indeed! Oh, that is too bad, too bad,” replied the trader; ‘but may I ask you where you are going now ?"’ “I know not wherel am going! I am fleeing from danger!” “T am not far from my ranch, Miss Miles,” tho trader said, *‘ and if you will accept of my company and hospitality I will be only too happy to escort you to my residence, and thence to your friends to- morrow.” ‘Oh, Ishall be under many obligations to you, kind sir,” Christie replied, with promptness, and just as natural as though it were inspired by the heart in- stead of the brain; ‘*‘ for I shall be only too happy to accept your very kind offer. I am hungry and fa- tigued, and would surely die were I forced to remain out in this woods and the coming night.” “Then come with me, Miss Miles,” he said. Chiistie turned her horse and rode along at the trader’s side. She conversed with all the joy, frank- ness and enthusiasm of her girlish nature, but at the - game time it was but a disguise to the most dread- “Friend or foe, Lightfoot, they shall have our | help. Come, now, m rescue, Away, the noble beast shot out over the plain upon the track of the flying team. CHAPTER VII. CHRISTIE’S FLIGHT AND ADVENTURE. CurRisTiz Mites had become so worn by constant exposure to danger, and kept under such a continual good fellow, let us to the htfoot, away!’’ and like an arrow | mental strain that she became almost insensible to | fear, and but for her resolute spirit and stro stitution for one of her tender years, she woul sunk down in utter hopelessness and ¢ was, also, another source of inspiration to the little maiden’s indomitable co and pluck; during the short time she had known Little Texas she had come to regard hho with a feeling of admiration that was stronger than mere frien p, and when she at length found herself riding alone in the dark, dreary wood—fleeinpg from the calaa of the mustanger an the followers of Black Bonifacé, her young heart cried out in its love for its lost mate; and she really lingered at times by the way in hopes tanger might find her, and net until the clatter of con- | have | despair. There | ful, torturing feeling that had ever disturbed her young heart; for she knew that the smooth-faced, silvery-tongued trader, Seneca Lucas, was Victor Ure, alias Black Boniface! Again had the man and the maid, the demon and the angel met. With the smiles and duplicity of the one had the confidence and trust of the other once been betrayed; but now all the keen instinct and strategy of woman’s nature had been called into ac- tion, aroused; and if Black Boniface,as 4 villain, was possessed of remarkable powers of deceit, de- ception and pani igpeng Christie Miles possessed, in a high degree, not only the bg opposite of him, but the tact and, skill to thwart his designs. She rode away with him because she could do no better at that time. She appeared wouderfully pleased with _ his company, and led him to believe that she placed | her, _ mind was busy with another subject. d § went back to the da _ another, an the Boy Mus- | pursuing hoofs broke upon the ear did she give up | the woods | all hopes of meeting her brave little friend, and put _ her horse to its utmost speed. 5 .anwhile, Little Texas was making his way, ra- J possible, to where Lightfoot was hitched; \adl although the discovery of proved a di- scrsion in his favor, that enabled him to reach his J. animal and mount it, he was not quick eneugh ~~ 40 elude the eyes of the sen Pgs who rushed in a . ad but he rade > . ett Vie.e the w u him; » good his escape , only te realtize, wha quickening Where she was going the maiden knew not, nor Clayton? Did she know him? did she knew what mement she might ride into the | wer of some enemy, or be hurled into some pit- all; but she rode on hoping and praying for the st. Da t dawned clear and bright, and with the os eth oe of night went the <p ram 0@ fear from tie’s heart. She assured herwelf, ' ; ' with a | ever have discovered that Captain Lucas, Victor Ure all confidence in the world in him. She talked, and laughed, and cried in just such a natural and irlish way that the man became perfec tly enraptured with But, all the time she was talking ai him, her er thoughts Fs when Captain Laos nee eone Ww egasus, and t oug soon, She remembered the Etoct this man’s presence had had upon Edith gee, and the words that had escaped her lips while still un- conscious, and the question repeated itself in her mind: ‘ What could this man possibly be to Edith id she fear him? if not, what produced the shock that felled her uncou- scious upon the floor?’ Of eourse Black Boniface had taken off the wig of black hair and the mask of long black whiskers in which he appeared as the ranger, Victor Ure. This wreught a remarkable change in the \peserenes of the man, for none but the keenest instinct would to their cam OOO) = Eom (E cS ts Gor