Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 197 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

14 Little Grit, the Wild Rider. She was pacing the floor to and fro, with nervous step, and her darkly bronzed face was glouded with thoughts of no pleasant nature, while she clinched her little hands together spasmodically. The cabin contained two rooms, was stoutly built, and not uncomfortably furnished, and upon the wall, each side of the door, bung arms ready for instant use. Presently there came the ring of iron against rock without, and the woman started, while the next moment a man of commanding form, but with face closely masked, entered the cabin. He was dressed in buckskin, wore moccasins upon his feet, and a wildcat skin cap, and was armed with a belt of revolvers and a long knife. ** Well, Clotilde, my visit seems unexpected to you,” he said in a deep voice. ‘*No, you are welcome, as you know, al- though a storm must follow your coming,” re- plied the woman. ‘And why? are you jealous already of the fair maiden you so cleverly captured?” ‘| was jealous; I am not now.” “Once jealous with a woman, is always jealous; why have you changed, may I ask?” ‘There is no one to excite my jealousy,” was the calm reply, but it startled the man into the cry: ; ‘‘ Great God! have you killed her?” **T am not so fond of taking life even after my contact with you, as to kill one that can be otherwise removed from your path,” and there was a sneer in the woman's tone. ‘You have gotten rid of this girl, then?” sé Yes. ? ‘‘Tlow?” and the man’s voice trembled with passion. ‘*] simply released her for ransom.” “Yor ransom! what mean you, Clotilde?” **T captured the girl, and finding her very beautiful and knowing that she would win you from me, for, in spite of what you are, I love you, I asked for her ten thousand dollars in gold-dust, and it was paid.” ‘* By whom?’ ‘* Her father.” ‘Ha! then you found his mine?” ‘No, he sent me the gold and I gave the girl into the charge of the one who brought it.” ** And who was that?” ** Little Grit.” ** Curses! had you that boy in your power and allowed him to escape?” ce Yes.”’ ** Beware, Clotilde, fur you may go too far; the girl’s going I pardon you for, as I get the gold for her, and I can easily get her into my _ power again; but don’t try me beyond endur- ance.” “The girl you cannot get, for ere this she _ has left with the man sheis to marry.” The man sprung forward and seized the wo- man’s shoulder with a grasp that made her cry out with pain, while he hissed forth: ‘‘ Clotilde, I give you forty-eight hours to return that girl to me, or place her father in my power, for with him, I can bring her back if she has gone t) the end of the earth.” “Tf I refuse?” “Then your punishment for thwarting me shall be worse than death.” The woman turned deadly pale, but, after a moment’s thought, said: “*T will obey.” “ Enough, and beware of how you trifle with me inthe future, for if | get Daniel Benton in- to my power, I will be worth millions, or he shall die, if he gives not up the secret of his mine.” “I will obey,” repeated the woman, and, as the man turned from the cabin he continued: **Remember, I want both the father and daughter, and if she is married I will make her a widow and then marry her.” The woman’s eyes flashed dangerously, but she looked up and asked quietly: sé And ]?” ‘‘Shall go the way of her husband, so as to make the marriage binding; now go!” The man strode from the cabin, and ten minutes after the woman was riding down the mountain side, mounted upon her white horse, and at her back came half ascore of villainous- looking men, armed to the teeth. CHAPTER XXIV. THE FATAL LETTERS. WHEN Little Grit heard the wailing cry, and his name called in pleading tones, he rushed out of Colonel Hewlett’s room, to discover Bessie Benton lying unconscious upon a bench, and Judge Hunter supporting her, while near by stood a tall, handsome young man, dressed asa Pony Express Rider, and gazing upon the maiden with anxious look. Early that morning Little Grit and Bessie had come on to the Riders’ Rest together, and were to. be joined there soon after by -Daniel Benton, when they were to at once depart from that portion of the country, the stock- tender carrying his treasure with him on a pack horse. When summoned to the room of Colonel Hewlett, Little Grit had left Bessie out on the porch, and he was greatly startled to find her in a swoon, and feared some fearful calamity had befallen her. **In God’s name! what is it?” he asked. ‘‘Ahb, my boy, there has been devilish work done, and poor Bessie heard this voung gentle- man tell me of it,” and Judge Hunter nodded toward the Pony Rider, whom none seemed to know, and who, seeing Little Grit’s anxiety, said; ‘Permit me to explain: Iam the Pony Ri- der who has taken your place, sir, if you are the Wild Rider, as I believe, and when I ar- rived at Dan Benton’s station, I found the door closed, the stock gone, and two letters tacked upon the post. ‘I came right on here, and gave the letters to this gentleman, Judge Hunter, and he read them aloud, and this young lady overheard them.” ‘And where are the letters?’ asked Little Grit, calmly, while Helen had Bessie borne into her room, ‘Here they are, my boy,” and the judge handed Little Grit a’sheet of paper on which was seme writing in a bold hand, and another piece folded, and addressed to Bessie Benton. *‘T took the liberty of reading them, Wild Rider, not knowing what ill-tidings they might contain.” ‘You, did right, judge,” and aloud Little Grit read the unfolded sheet first. It was as follows: *A PLACARD. ‘TO LITTLE GRIT, THE WILD RIDER. “* WHEREAS you did not at once follow the advice iven you by the Spirit of the Canyon, and depart rom this wild land with her you love, and her fa- ther, Fate has been hot on your footsteps, and taken from this world Daniel Benton, who loved his gold more than his life, and whose grave shall be as unfindable as the treasure he refuses to give up. “If you would save your life, and the life of her you love, go, and at once, from this land, or, ever upon your trail will be GoLp PLUME, “Toe Boy Banpit.”’ ‘That are plain talk, leetle pard,” said Trumps, who was standing near; but Little Grit made no reply and opened the letter, which was addressed to Bessie Benton, and was as follows: “My Poor CaILy: ** When your eyes read these lines, I will be dead, for my time has come, and nf foes show no mercy, and will slay me because I will not divulge the secret of where my gold is buried. “That secret, Wild Rider,the noble youth to whom you must now look for protection, knows, and he will give you the gold your father leaves you. ‘More, I cannot now write to you, and only the mercy of a woman permits me to write these few lines, and that woman is the Spirit of the Canyon. ‘“*Death stares me in the face, and with my last breath I bid you farewell, and ask God to bless you and the one you love, forever. * Your dying father, ** DANIEL BENTON.”’ When Little Grit ceased reading, with stern lip and flashing ey3, be glanced up and saw | Colonel Hewlett gazing fixedly at him, and said: ‘*Colonel Hewlett, if you will allow me to retract my decision, sir, I shall do so and ac- cept your very kind offer, for [ remain here now, as there is work for me to do,” *‘Willingly, sir, but you will be in deadly danger at all times.” **T will risk that, sir.” ‘*Then the commission is yours, sir.” “Thank you, sir; now you are to ride my run, I believe?’ and Little Grit turned to the new Pony Rider, who answered, pleasantly: ‘I was ordered here for that purpose,” ‘** It is one of fearful danger,” ‘So be it, like you I will take the chances,” was the indifferent reply, while Trumps step- ping forward, said, as he gazed fixedly into the Pony Rider’s face: ‘*’Pears ter me, we hes met afore, pard, for if I mistakes not, you is ther youth as is known as Buffalo Bill, south o’ here?’ “What! Buffalo Bill the Boy Guide, Scout and Hunter?’ asked Judge Hunter, while all present crowded nearer, having oftem heard the name in connection with many a thrilling story of life on the plains. “ Yes, Iam Buffalo Bill, now Pony Bxpress Rider,” was the modest reply, while Trumps shouted: ‘‘Give us yer hand, pard, fer I knows yer now, an’ yer is chained lightnin’ on a jamboree an’ no mistake, ‘Wild Rider and Buffalo Bill, a pair o’ twins thet will make this country howl; look out for ’em, gerloots, an’ ef Gold Plume don’t take in his horns afore long, he’ll get’em sawed off. : ‘** Come one, come all, an’ let’s drink ter ther lads, for they is white clean through, an’ grit to ther jaw-bone,” and Trumps led the way to the bar, eagerly followed by the thirsty ones of the crowd, while Little Grit turned to the host of the Riders’ Rest; and said: | “‘Judge Hunter, {I bave often heard you speak of your daughter, whum you lost years ago, and I ask you to love in her place Bessie Benton, and be as a father to her.” ‘*My boy, with my whole heart, I will be a father to her, and to you too, and here shall be your home,” and the judge spoke feelingly, while Colonel Hewlett said: ‘““My friends, this young gentleman is no longer Little Grit the Wild Rider of the Pony Express, but Lieutenant Hewlett Lamdell of my staff, and Chief of Scouts, and his duty shall be to free this border of the outlaws who infest it,” ‘* And I will do that duty, or die in the at- tempt; J mean it,” said Hewlett Lamdell firmly. [Thus ends the career of Little Grit, the Wild Rider; but, should my kind reader desire to follow him as an officer of the army, ard_ know of the daring exploits of Buffalo Bill as Pony Express Rider, and the coreer ef other personages who bave figured in my romance of the Far West, he will find it in GOLD PLUME, THE Boy BaAnoir; OR, THe Kip GLovE GAMBLER. | THE END. | THE 1 Latta Rooxu. By Thomas Moore... ........ 10e 2 Don Juan. By Lord Byron................045 20c 3 Parapisge Lost. By John Milton............. 10¢ 4 Tue Lapy or THE Lake. By Sir Walter Scott. 10c 5 Luctte. By Owen Meredith.................. 10¢ 6 UNDINE; or, THE Water-Sprritr. From the German of Friederich De La Motte Fouque.. 10c For sale by all newsdealers, or sent, postage paid on receipt of twelve cents for single num double numbers twenty-four cents. ADAMS, VICTOR & Cog Publishers, 98 William Gomi ( a 6) (6) (6) Z S ——— + | f f| 1