Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 197 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

——— ee —s —_ eS while her eyes were riveted upon the coming phantom-like steed and rider. No, not a sound did she hear, not the ring of iron, or heavy stroke of a hoof; the strange animal was coming silently and swiftly on. Once more, with renewed terrer, Bessie rode on, almost reeling from her seat as she felt that she was being pursued by creatures of a super- natural nature, and at last she became so un- nerved that her horse took his own course, and unguided by her, fled down hillside, through valley, and over level plateaus at his own free will. But as he ran each moment his speed de- creased, and the maiden felt that ere long he would fail her. And what then? Alone in those wild solitudes with a being she felt assured was not of the earth, what would be her fate? She feared she would gomad with'terror, for already there was an icy chill at her heart, and her brain was on fire. Another glance behind her she gave, just as her horse staggered out of the waters of a shal- low creek, and then she felt herself falling, and down upon the soft sward went steed and rider, and behind them came silently on the Spirit of the Canyon. One piercing shriek broke from Bessie’s lips and she knew no more, * CHAPTER IX. JUST IN TIME. WHEN Little Grit turned back from his run on the express route, he suddenly gave a series of wild yells, repeating them so rapidly, and so changing his voice, that one who heard them would have believed half a score of men were coming. And so the two outlaws that were pillaging the cabin of the man they had hanged did be- lieve, for they hastily took their departure, and were mounting their horses, just as the two who had pursued Bessie Benton rode up. **They has wind o’ our doin’s, pards, so we’d better levant,” said one, and as the yells now resounded nearer, and there came the echoes back from a cliff not far away, they departed in haste, each man carrying with him a led horse from the station. But hardly had they disappeared in the spruce thicket, when Little Grit dashed up to the cabin, having been watching their de- re. “Thank goodness they did not overtake Bes- sie, for she’ll soon reach Rocky Glen and the boys will make it hot for the outlaws. Now to see if it was imagination on my part,” and the youth entered the cabin and walked straight up to the suspended form of Dan Benton, the stock-tender. Pressing his head against his breast he listened for an instant, and then said quickly: **T was right: he lives !” Quickly he cut the stock-tender down, un- bound his hands from behind his back, and commenced rubbing him to create circulation. But life seemed hard to bring back, and no sign of returning consciousness was visible. But the youth did not despair, and pouring a few drops of water into the mouth at a time, and bathing and rubbing the swollen neck un- tiringly, he was at last rejoiced to see the breast heave, and the eyes open, while in hoarse tones the stock-tender said: ‘Devils, you may kill me, but you shall not have my gold.” *“‘Mr. Benton, your enemies have gone, and Tam here, so have no dread,” said Little Grit kindly. . The eyes opened again and turned slowly upon the speaker, and then beamed with recog- nition, while with an effort the man said: ‘‘What, Wild Rider, you here?” **' Yes, I came up and found you in trouble, and so sailed in.” “ But there were a number of men.” “Well, they have all gone now, and Bessie has ridden to Rocky Glen to carry the news to Little Grit, the Wild | Rider the ae that the Boy Bandit’s gang is tap- ping the stations and stealing the stock.” ‘* Bessie is a good, brave girl; but how is it I find you here, Wild Rider?” “Jockey Jack started with my express sachel, and came back dead in his saddle, and I am viding his trip, though I’m an hour be- hind time now, so will leave you, if you are all right again.” “Oh! I'm all right; see, I can sit up,” and with an effort he arose to his feet. He was a fine-looking man, with long beard and hair, and dressed in a miner’s suit of red shirt, black pants, top boots and sombrero. His face was strangely sad, but intelligent, and one seeing that he was a man of refinement and education, would wonder why he had sought that wild land, and heid the position of stock-tender to the Pony Express Company. ‘Boy, I owe you my life, for you saved me from death, and it is no idle boast for me to say that if necessary I would give it up to serve you; 1am a man of a few words, but I feel deeply, and Dan Benton will not forget this night.” ‘They strung you up because you would not tell where your gold was hidden; they must think the company pays stock-tenders a high salary,” said Little Grit, ‘‘ to suspect that you could get rich here.” Dan Benton gave a piercing look into the boy’s face, and a strange expression hovered about his mouth, but he said quietly: “They did not get gold, that is certain; but do not let me detain you, Little Grit, for I know how you love to be punctual. **T will remain here until Bessie returns with the boys, but don’t you be rash and meet poor Jockey Jack’s fate.” ‘*T’ll be careful; there’s some stiffs to show the boys when they come,” and pointing to the dead outlaws he had slain, Little Grit with a light laugh left the cabin, and once more throwing himself into the saddle, darted away at the full speed of his noble horse, leaving Dan Benton standing before his door gazing earnestly after him, CHAPTER X. THE AMBUSHED. REFRESHED by his rest at the cabin, Flash sped swiftly along over the stretch of level plain, that the trail led over after leaving Dan Benton’s station, and at last went over a rise in the prairie that would have given his rider a view of the next halting-place, had it been visible, But a disappointed neigh from Flash, and an exclamation of surprise from Little Grit came in chorus, as instead of the cabin with its stockade wall surrounding it, but a heap of smoldering ruins was visible. ‘‘They have been here too, and poor Mus- tang Pete has doubtless been killed; yes, there he lies,” and drawing rein Little Grit, sprung to the ground and bent over a human form that lay motionless in his path. It was a man clad half in buckskin, half in Mexican costume, and the moonlight showed several bullet wounds in his head, while a pis- tol was clasped with a death-gripe in his hand, showing that he had not died tamely. ‘Yes, it is Mustang Pete, and they have run the horses off, so Flash, old boy, you will have to make fifteen miles more, and over bad country too,” and Little Grit patted his horse affectionately; but a sudden start of the ani- mal caused him to be on his guard at once, and instantly he was in his saddle, his revolver in hand. This sudden move saved his life; for there came a flash from behind a part of the stock- ade that had not been burned, and a bullet whistled uncomfortably near. ‘‘Coward! that’s your game is it? Come out from your shelter and fight me like a man,” cried Little Grit, and, as he spoke again over the stockade appeared a dark object and once more came the flash and report of a rifle. But that instanf bad been enough for the quick eye of the youth, whose revolver also rung fortb, the two reports sounding as one, and a cry of pain following quickly. But the cry came not from Little Grit, who spurred forward, unhurt by the bullet of his foe, to suddenly go down to the earth, as his noble horse staggered and fell, the shot having struck him instead of his rider. ‘*Curse you! I knew I had not missed you,” cried a hoarse voice, and a man sprung from behind the stockade and rushed toward the prostrate youth. But as he bent above his supposed victim a revolver was suddenly thrust into his face and he heard the unwelcome words: “You did miss me, you accursed assassin, so up with your hands!” Up went one hand quickly above the head of the man, and again came the stern order: ‘*' The other hand, sir!” ‘“‘Pard, I can’t do it; yer broke it with yer shot,” came the whining response. “Then I did not miss you, I am glad to see,” and still covering the outlaw, Wild Rider arose from where he lay on his back and con- fronted the new frightened prisoner, who eried out suddenly: ‘Lordy! you is ther Wild Rider!” “Yes, so men call me; why did you seek my life?’ “Didn't seek yer life, pard, but ther life o’ Jockey Jack, should he escape ther lads back on ther trail.” ‘“‘ He did not escape them, but J did.” “ But this hain’t your run, Wild Rider.” “Yes it is for tonight; so you wanted te rob the express, did you?’ “Ther captain told me to lay for him.” ‘*Captain who?’ ‘‘Captain Firebrand,” “The Boy Bandit?’ ‘‘That’s ther rooster. Lordy! but my arm do hurt,” and the man winced with pain. ‘You should have been saved suffering by a bullet through your heart.” ‘* Now, pard, don’t talk thet way.” “Tl act, not talk, sir; now tell me, where is Mustang Pete?’ “Gone.” “Where?” *‘ Cashed in his checks.” “ You killed him?’ ‘‘Oh, no, not me, fer I are too tenderfooted, pard, ter hurt anybody. . “So you just proved by firing twice at me. Who killed bim?’ ‘Ther boys.” ‘Some of your men?’ ** Yas, leetle pard.” ‘‘And burned the station and ran off the stock?’ “ Gospil, pard.” ‘“‘And you were left here to await the Rider?’ “Yer has it down fine.” “Well, yeu've been caught im your own trap, but as I’ve left my mark on youl will not kill you as you deserve.” “T are bleeding free, pard.” ** 1 don’t wish you to bleed to death; here, let me see your wound.” The youth drew the sleeve from the arm, the man groaning with pain, and saw that the bullet had cut an ugly wound in the flesh just below the shoulder, and that the bone was broken. ‘*] will bandage your arm, and then you can hasten to your stronghold, and let your comrades care for you; where is your horse?’ ‘Over in the timber, pard.” ‘*Ts he a good animal?’ “‘ He are for a fact.” ‘‘ Then I shall take bim and continue on my run.” ‘‘Lordy, pard, what is yer goin’ ter give me?” “ Your life.” *“T’ankee; I’m obleeged to yer; cause ter grumble.” “Tam glad you are pleased,” and having bound up the wounded arm he continued: *“Now come and show me where your horse I has no GOMUEDOOGKS (eo)