Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 169 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

} i ee we ee cse®” The scalp belongs tome. Il go back and “wes. Tornado once showed me how they take "Sess off,” telined to laugh at his folly, Tornado Jr. ww about to return for the scalp-lock of his ‘ewhen he was startled | y the whinney of a fxew. Almost immediately afterward the gut- “emi words of some Indian language fell upon WEARATS, 3 had halted at the end of a canyon, and all w* wveo from the darkness that enshrouded it seme a horse and his rider. *wnado Jr. seemed suddenly rooted to the «8, and for several seconds he did nothing but : -icy ab the scene before him. Skis was nothing more or less than an Indian arc Rorseback—one of the red centaurs of the on West. Jie boy’s rifle was not loaded; his hasty flight ‘tem his first battle-field had kept the trusty i$ “Aypon eet. But he had twelve loads in the twiis in his belt. ?id he use them? on» & -#@ same strange impulse that had already «wevted its power got control of him again, and ‘@echero who had run from a dead Indian now Y we xed his heels to a live one, “Srer the ground as fast as his limbs could sxsw him went the little coward; but thunder- | ime behind him came the mounted Indian, fol- fm by at least forty more, like fox-hunters satu cry. | “meh a chase could not last long. Tornado _ , ..<%was pursued to the center of a treeless ; . > of ground, where, like a wolf at bay, he wx his teeth hard and whirled on his pursuers, \ Sen pressed to the wall anybody will show | “4, and Tornado Jr. was no exception. “ha Indian horses had experienced some diffi- _-rnjy begetbting over the ground which the run- a ‘at; Sad traversed with much ease; therefore, he : j #ea. moment for breathing before they came , ; ——_—— “Submit to them?” he cried. ‘The red . vievlsa would make quick work of me anyhow. Je 2 by Judas! ’ve showed the white feather ‘vr to-night. I don’t intend to budge a peg x “ethis spot—not a peg! Do you hear that, quimerst Vhat woul r feel like, going ms ) MXornado and acknowledging that I ran like ba? susrward, and didn’t improve the opportunity . aiiced me for wiping out the disgrace? Here dosed, live or die. Hurrah for the American atese brave, defiant and—shall we say it?— Oi Serdy words found the boy firmly planted owxthe ground, a revolver in each hand. He . | mer hound to a out the disgrace of flight. Ye-ecame the Indians, close together. When % vaught sight of their antagonist a yell of ttamph sought the stars, and ali at once rein * #exnxi cawn before him. ta “White boy run well,” said the burly half- | i) leader of the fiends. ‘‘ Him got good seas. Now him surrender.” & “Ss you? I guess not!” was the answer, and et “alerani second the revolver in the right hand @yee.and the chief pitched heavily over his , wees ead fF. ‘sow the left hand of the defiant boy went ae. ome amd from the death-charged chambers of #i~ gistels a volley was poured into the the v voaneco®the Indians, wucted, staggered by such courage the sav- wea fd back in confusion, and Tornado Jr. “8ea2,coolness which his recent flight did not ~twgengvaé ttaproved the breathing time by slipping ' set. certridges into the revoivers. ~“ ping out disgrace and Indians at the rm time is doing pretty well, I think,” he said _ tuw@aself. ‘“ What! are the rascals going to ooe¥: Oh, my red pigeons, I have plenty more enter compliments left!” ‘be infuriated red-skins were not going to “Die’veus a boy of seventeen. Tornado Jr. did we taow them if he thought so. “het advanced again, this time to end the pee but again the rain of death beat against | “Mubvat Aadies, “MriadoJr. bad not budged “ a peg.” Wit? compressed lips and unerring aim the mraat lad was wiping out his late disgrace. és. could not last always. eof the revolvers snapped, He tried it veo sad again, but with the same result. #76 amadcry the boy threw it away, and umaront later the other one was useless also, Deagec it.was eB > “wande a good fight anyhow!” he gritted. “Tow, reddies, come and take me.” ‘%e “be did not need such an invitation: the me ry - ° ~~ ~ . r vail | ok eee Ob! a OO ee oer e a 5 ae af e- e e ce eg ® a ” or ¥ — gk. BE ~~ ~~ ~ et ~mmacesrenchin g after Lim whens». | f a? nn Sin, Oo weormatveady upon him, ane their eager hands.| Tornado Tom. ——- - _ sooo o- eee ee oe " Bang! bang! sounded a repeating rifle on tho ward and enter a little valley well timbered and side af the nearest bill and a voice called out: ‘‘Run for your life, gallant boy. It is no disgrace now. I'll doall I can for you. Run!” ornado Jr. seemed to have confidence in the unseen speaker, and springing from the very hands of the Indians as 16 seewed he ran with all his might. And as he ran he seemed to hear the new voice still. He would have wagered his very life that his helper was a young girl. But who could it be? Since crossing the Bitter Root Mountains, he had seen but one white face—Tornado Tow’s, ‘* But, never mind,” thought the boy. “Vl discover who bas helped mo to-night.” CHAPTER IV. TRACKED HOME. Wuen he found himself among the trees again, Tornado Jr. stopped and turned his face toward the spot from whence the bullets of his preserver had come. To all outward appearance the Indians bad ceased to pursue, and he resolved to ascertain the identity of his unknown helper. ‘‘Tt was a girl’s voice, I am sure of that. But who can she be? Tornado says that we are the only white folks here. I have believed that; but now I hardly know what to think.” Thus thougut the boy as he hastered up the hill on whose side his helper had stood. He was full of eager reget which lent speed to his movements, and at last he stood where he thought his preserver had been, But no girlish figure caught his eye; no pretty face, such as he had pictured to his mind. He did not dare tocall her forthe Indians might still be in hearing; he was obliged to con- tent himself witha stillhunt. This he didin no good humor and without results. ‘*T can’t waste the whole night here,” be said at last. ‘‘I will find her some time. As she has rendered me the most important of services this country is not too great to lose her from me. I will go back to the cave and when Tornado comes Ill astonish him. Ah! how the old fellow will open his eyes and listen. A white girl in these parts? It seems a dream to me; but it is no Gream.” Tornaco Jr. turned away, and just as the first streaks of dawn were illumining the earth, he entered the mountain cave again. To his utter surprise be found it untenanted ; there were no signs that told of Tom’s return, ‘‘Not back yet? Something disastrous has happened. If f only knew where to look for my old pard! Ah! that accursed secret that brought him hither. I wish it had never had an existence.” Not knowing where to look for his friend, the boy could do nothing but wait, so throwin himself wearily down on a cot of buffalo-hides he resolved to wait and rest. But he could not keep slumber from his eye- lids, and he was soon fast asleep. Where was Tornado Tom? We left him on the grassy bank of the un- known river where he ‘hed offered his tawny hand in friendship to Injun Jack—an offer which that worthy had refused witb scorn. They were to be enemies still, and Tom cursed himself for what he termed his folly when he saw the strange man walking away. “Touch the Queen of Red Core if you dare! Thet’s what be said, er words to that effect,” growled Tom. ‘ Wal, mebbe I don’t want to touch her; but I’m guin’ tosee ber, anyhow, No harm in tekin’ a peep at the critter, I s’pose.” Did Injun Jack know that he was followed? The gaunt figure that kept persistently in his wake like a hicodbountt was Tornado Tom’s, At times the trailer lost sight of bis man; but he stuck to the trail as if by scent, and found bimself on it still when the day broke. *t He’s goin’ straight to Red Core now,” mut- tered Tornado, as the trail led him abruptly to the left. ‘Did he think thet I would go back without tryin’ to find something out arter he had more than hinted of a gal in these parts an’ in his keer? Injun, you don’t know me yet. ‘You've only glanced at the preface to-night. Wait till you pit inter the middle ov that book called ‘Tornado Tom.’ ” The old fellow did not pause until be saw the handsome figure of Injun Jack standing in bold coy against the sky on the bare summit of a bill. “The tiger ar’ nigh the den,” he murmured in great glee. ‘‘ He is lookin’ to see ef the coast ar’ car, Now he dashes fur Red Core!” The figure on the hill had sudderly dropped out — of siglt; bat Tornado saw it push down-— covered with rich green grass. ‘*Thar’s Red Core!” fell suddenly from the trailer’s lips. ‘*‘ Now whar’s the Queen cv it?” Was that little log-built shanty that graed the center of the valley the place which Injun Jack had proudly called Red Core? ‘Tom was certain of it, and yet be could not tell why. But all at once his opinion was confirmed, for he saw a young girl spring from the cabin, aml hasten toward the strange man—his foe. Tae features of Injun Jack brightened when he noticed her, and the next moment he hei! her wrists in his hands, and was looking down into her eyes. “She’s a beauty, this Red Core gall” ejacu- lated Tom in his place of concealment. “‘Jebu! what a mate she’d make for TornadoJr. Bus they mustn’t come together, for Injun an’ me ar’ enemies. Tornado Jr. kin find a wife in the States jest as purty as that gal, when he gocs back*with the rocks,” Tom had not overjudged the giri who stood before Injun Jack. She was a lovely creature—a girl whose fac) and figure did not possess a single fault. Her head, rich in Juxuriant golden hair, would nos have touched Injun Jack’s sliounlders, therefore, he could look down into her eyes. She might have been seventeen; surely sne had not passe that year. For several moments the man from Red Jom contemplated the girl before him, and wasabou to lead her back to the calin, when, at a toucl of his sleeve on her hand, she started Lack witb a light cry. ‘Where have you been?” she asked, her larga eyes swimming in astonishment, ‘** Oh,” he laughed, **‘ I swam a river,” ** Not for pleasure?” “Why not, Oiive? The rivers in this country are not wide—” ‘* But you tell me that they are the abodes : deadly quicksands, Jack, do not try to deceive me. You have been chased. There are Indians in this country. I know it because I havo seen them.” ‘* You? What! have you seen Injuns, Oliv-. Where have you been?” The face of the girl grew crimson. ** Ah! did you not pro,»xnise me that you would not leave Red Core during my absence?’ he seiil reprovingly. ‘* You have broken that prom'‘ye to the detriment, mebbe, of all my plans, Now, what did you see?” The girl hesitated, and the gripe of Injun Jack on her wrists tightened until all color left ber face. His eyes were flashing like the eyes of au offended master. * Tell me, Olive! What could you see in theso parts that you must conceal from Injun Jack? ou saw something besides Injuns? Ha! is that not so?” The Queen of Red Core hung her héad. ‘*Look up here!” he cried. ‘*No babying. aaa me the truth. It will be the best for bo of us. After awhile the girl raised her head and, af- ter trying in vain to avoid his searching 0, she told the story of Tcrnado Jr.’s rescue from the Indians. The croucher not far away heard every word, and noticed every action, ‘““So they met each other! Confound it, They'll git to makin’ love to one another an’ spile all my plans. NotifI kin helpit! That's the talk. By the jumpin’ jingo! IJ’ll stan’ be- ‘em apart tween the two young fools, an’ kee with my old arms. 1 didnt think thet the Read Core gal was sucha beauty. I wish she war somewhar around the north pole, instead cv hyar, interferin’ with my plans.” Meanwhile Olive was finishing her narration to Injun Jack, and when she concluded she ste}>- ped back for Jack had dropped her hands and she was free. ‘So thar ar’ two of them!” said the man from Red Core. ‘‘Thar may be a whole canip-full somewhere. How old was the boy?” “1 do not know. I saw him but indistinctly. He was large enough tobe seventeen, or theie- about.” “Just old enough for you, Olive, eh?” said Jack, with a lontell smile. The girl did not reply; her blue eyes drop- ae Listen to me, Queen Olive. When we hare found the big bonanza you will have plenty of time to hunt up a lover. But now you must not think of one. That boy is not here alone. I know this. I saw the man who brought him He is my enemy. Why? Because we hitber. | That boy is my bitter possess the same secret. : enemy, and yours, too, He iktryingw deprives | % —______ ———— - GVDOOKS GoM * 4 7 * oa