Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 185 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

eee = a eee ee, e. — ——~- ae drew back, while she, like a young lioness, fol- lowed him up, denouncing the craven in the most bitter terms of reproach. ‘* Again you wrong me,” whined the hypo- crite; ‘‘I would save him also. ‘You love this young American—” “I do—I do! I did not know it until now. With my soul I love him! He is so braye—so noble! If you can save him, do so I implore you! See, on my bended knees I implore you to be merciful and spare him from the horri- ble fate you have described to me.” ‘So you love him? You kneel to me in supplication to spare your American champion? Had he a hundred lives I would kill him by inches because you love him! ‘You love him and that insures his speedy death. Curse him —curse him!” The scoundrel ground his teeth with fury and his face fairly turned blue with the tempes- tuous passion that her words had awakened in his black heart. But, ere she could reply, there came a hasty tramping of feet, and a second later a tall ranchero burst into the hut, and breathlessly exclaimed: “Senor, some one is in the vault with the American, for we can distinctly hear voices. We would have forced the door, only you gave strict orders not to tamper with it. Quick, senor! you have the key and we may capture the intruder.” The arch villain, without a glance at the girl, turned and dashed from the hut, closely followed by the Mexican. ** Who is it that has found a way to enter that vault?’ he growled as he sped along. ‘Could it be Sanders? No! for I have the key, and the door isstilllocked. A thousand fiends seize the whelp that has interfered with my plans! His carcass will feed the jackals in the glen. Haste there! We may be too late!” In a very short space of time he had joined the group gathered about the cell door, and in his blind haste he lost a few moments in fitting the huge iron key into the lock, then he flung open the door. When the two men rushed from the hut, Winona ran toward the door. She was alone! The old hag was not visible and the way was clear! She instantly passed out into the walled in- closure and darted into the shadow of another adobe building. Behind ‘this hut she saw an oval opening in the wall and hastily entered. Down, down the tortuous passage she sped, with one thought uppermost in her mind and that was to escape and in some way guide a rescue-party to save her lover. Even as the scoundrel urged the Mexican, in their pursuit of Jacob and the young lieuten- ant, he had suddenly remembered that he had decamped from the hut on the esplanade with- out leaving any one to look after his fair cap- tive, and had hastily instructed a ferocious looking bandit to hasten to the hut and guard the maiden; but, before he caught sight of Jacob and Powell at the lever moving the rocky barrier, bis emissary had returned in hot haste. “Why do you return?” heshouted. ‘ Did I not send you to guard the young girl—what do you mean by disobeying me?” “The girl is not in the hut—she has es- caped!” CHAPTER XI. VILLAIN ARRAYED AGAINST VILLAIN. Ir will be remembered that Harry Powell and his faithful ally, Jacob Slaushorn, made a successful exit from the Vultures’ Roost and emerged into the tangled vegetation of the len. % They ran into the rank shrubbery bending down low, dodging behind every bowlder and tree clump, until they were at a considerable distance from the secret entrance ere the bandits came into view. The Mexicans glanced in all directions and a howl of disappointment arose from the group Evil Eye, King of —- eee —— ——— — — -- ‘ EE ——— —— ——— ete eee when they failed to see the fugitives. They knew full well that the two men had not had sufficient start to escape from the glen, and consequently were lurking amid the dense foliage that arose on all sides. At a signal, the bandits separated, and, armed with the stiletto and the inevitable lasso, the cutthroats plunged into the bushes, the hiding-place of their crafty foe. Powell and the German glided from bush to bush un- til they had almost reached the outskirts of a | belt of wild cactus and broad-leafed ferns. i ‘Jacob! we will have to separate,” said Harry, in an undertone, to his _ corpulent friend. ‘“‘If we remain together we will be retaken. By separating we will divide the bandits and thus increase our chances.” ‘Yaw, dot ish ver goot, but I von’t leave you—no, sir! Istays right here mit you and fights like ter tuyvel,” stoutly averred Jacob. ‘*“My good fellow, listen to me. You es- cape if you can, and make your way to the fort. Tell the commander what you have dis- covered, and bring a rescue party if you can. Go! orit will be too late.” But Jacob remained stubborn. “Tf I goes avay you vill he killed dead,’’ de- clared the honest fellow. ‘*T will never leave the vicinity until I res- cue that beautiful girl from the bandits’ hands. You can aid me to save her by doing as I ask you. The boys will come over or scout along the river’s bank and ths aid me, should I suc- ceed in saving her and making a dash for the Texas side. Will you do asI ask you?” “Yaw!” answered Jacob, reluctantly. “I vill do it but I feel like a sneak to leave you here by dem yallow-face tuyvels. Ach! I didn’t see dot you didn’t had any coat on, and noddings but your bare arms unt chest. Here, take dis jacket unt slip it on.” All the above conversation was held while the two men were dodging here and there amid the dense vegetation and foliage. The yells of the pursuers sounded unpleasantly near as Jacob removed his Mexican jacket and gave it inco the hands of the young officer. ‘Now, goot-by, lefftenant,” said he, in a voice choking with emotion, and the two men separated. Jacob hurried away, while Powell crept into the tall weeds and began a retrograde move- ment toward the abode of the banditti. A how! of satisfaction soon after arose from the outlaws, Powell arose and peered ferth to ascertain the cause of the joyful shouts. He saw Jacob speeding away toward the outlet of the glen, but almost at the same moment he beheld a Mexican whirl a lasso and the coil went whizzing through the air. The loop set- tled down on Jacob’s shoulders and the power- ful bandit jerked on the lariat. Jacob was burled backward and another outburst of yells greeted the clever piece of work done by the lasso-thrower. Powell closed his eyes and ut- tered a quick cry of anguish. Jacob had risked life and liberty to befriend him and he now saw the poor fellow in the bands of the infa- mous cattle-thieves. Powell leaped to his feet, and, though un- armed, he had just sprung forward to assist his comrade when another series ef cries caused him to halt and to give vent to1 glad expres- sion of relief. Jacob, after falling to the earth, had severed the lasso with his sharp knife and was again in full flight, leaving the Mexicans in his wake howling like a pack of Indians squaws. Powell watched both the pursued and the pursuers until they disappeared beyond the huge rocks that acted as a portal to the glen. He had scarcely taken a dozen steps toward the cliff when the form of a female suddenly confronted him. She started back with a cry of alarm, but the next moment her eyes rested upon Powell’s face, and, a secend later, Winena was beside the young American and his arm encircled her waist. ‘My darling!” he murmured. She started from him. ) 9 ~« _——_— —~ ee we ee Cee ee ee - “Pray excuse me,” said he,” ‘‘ but 1 could not check the words that arose to my lips. Since our first meeting I have done nothing but think of you—dream of you—love you!” His tongue would say it. She noticed his excited manner, and raised her finger in a warning motion. ‘*Do not speak of love now. Do you know that we are in terrible peril? I have escaped from that den, but I will be pursued. Even as we stand here our enemies are gaining time.” ‘True, but speak one word of hope to me. I do not regret what I have undergone if | have proven my worthiness of your love.” “‘T can truthfully speak the words you long to hear, because I do love you, Harry Powell. It is not a love that springs forth inaday. I saw you first at Fort Duncan, when in com- pany with my father I visited that military post. I then treated it as the romantic passion of a school-girl, for you had not even bowed to me then. Our next meeting was but a short time ago, when you nobly rescued me from the ruffians who had taken me from home. I love you because you are noble and good and brave.” ‘“* And I love you because you are worthy of any man’s affections; a noble little woman,” protested Harry, warmly, and his lips touched hers in a sacred kiss. But what a strange place and what a strange time for love-making, the reader will exclaim! Surrounded by foes, and in the very center of the robbers’ domain; but love is ever the same— knowing no time nor place for its expression :— all places are alike to it. For a few moments the young couple stood amid the the wild vines, oblivious to the sur- roundings. Suddenly the vegetation swayed violently, and then a person dashed forward. Winona repressed the cry of fear that arose to her lips, as she beheld the countenance of the man. It was Rafael Sanders! ‘*So, so! The love-making is at an end,” sneered the renegade. ‘‘ Proud to meet you, Miss Walters, and happy to meet you, also, Harry Powell!” As the villain spoke he presented a brace of revolvers at Powell’s head, at the same time uttering a fierce whoop. The dusky faces of Mexicans appeared amid — the tall weeds, and in a trice the young couple were hemmed in by the circle of ban- dits. Powell felt the lithe form of her whom he had learned to love so devotedly, tremble and creep nearer to him for protection. It was madness to resist and endanger the life of the maiden. The cattle-thieves would not hesitate a moment to destroy both. Powell was unarmed and could offer but a slight resistance to the brutal Mexicans who now surrounded him, ‘‘ Bind him!” commanded Sanders, “If he dares to resist shoot him down like a cur. Now, Mister Harry Powell, the tables are turned at last. We are on Mexican soil and I have youin my grasp. As for you, Winona Walters—you are in my care, and when you become mine I will cease to persecute you. Mine you are to be and no power shall take — you from me.” A form appreached. Like a bird of evil. omen came the tall figure of the bandit leader. The King of the Thieves arrived upon the scene in time to hear the concluding words of San- ders. A contemptuous smile arose to the lips of the Mexican bandit and kis unnatural ey9 seemed to reflect the blood-red rays of the se\ ting sun, but a malignant look rested upon hi... swarthy features as he bent a peculiar glance , upon the young couple. ‘* So, you thought to escape me, did you, my bold American? And you, Winona—sought to leave the Vultures’ Roost? Ha! ha! ha!’ Evil Eye’s laughter sent a chill to the very soul of the beautiful girl. ‘* Yes, captain, I captured them both,”’ in- terposed Sanders, in a triumphant tone. “ You com ~ | can take the American and J will look after — JOOKSTcCOoMmM