Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 222 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

, & ter for all of them in that lonely ranch, had Allan Arleigh never darkened its door. But into the nest the serpent entered, and hence my story is told, kind reader. CHAPTER VI. THE SERPENT AND THE DOVE, From the day that Allan Arleigh crossed the thresbold of the Prairie Rest Ranch it was evident that he became more and more interested in Edith Balfour, And she, poor girl, saved from death by his hand, fascinated in his presence, was drawn to him by a power she could not resist. Her father watched the two with a jealous eye, for he saw the harm that adventure had done, and he could not forget his pledge to Roy Brandt. True, it was not his fault, yet he felt to blame in the matter. Of that pledge, of herself as security, Edith knew nothing, and was free to act to suit her- .self, or love where her heart dictated. Who Allan Arleigh was, other than that he came from the North she did not know. He spoke to her of his mother, his father, and a twin brother. The former had been long dead, and his fath- er, meeting with misfortune, had gone from his home, none knew where. His brother Edwin was in the service of his country, while he was a wanderer. Yes he had money, had evidently been well educated, and why, without cause, he had sought to roam the wild prairies and mountains of Texas like an Indian, neither Edith or her father could understand. One day he had gone to the nearest settle- ment with Mr. Balfour, when one of Edith’s admirers, jealous of the service rendered her by an unknown wanderer, saw fit to speak of him slightingly. Floyd Balfour and Allan Arleigh, had en- tered the saloon together, to take a drink be- fore starting on their long ride back to the ranch, and it was evident that the insulter meant his words to be beard. The face of Allan Arleigh flushed slightly, but the touch of Floyd Balfour on his arm re- strained his movement to advance upon his enemy, and he coolly raised the glass to his lips, when there came a sharp report, and instantly the glass was shivered to atoms in his hand, while the voice of the one vho fired the shot was heard crying: “*That is my hint that you had better levant out of Texas, you accursed adventurer.” Allan Arleigh was as cool as an icicle, wiped the piece of glass from his face with his silk handkerchief, and turning to his foe said with a strange smile upon his face: “‘T never take hints, Benson Brett, and as I like Texas I shall not be driven from it by you or any of the gang at your back.” ‘*Won’t you?’ Then you shall stay here for- ever, as [’ll kill you. | ‘Stand aside, Mr. Balfour!” They were the last words he ever uttered, for with the quickness of a flash Allan Arleigh drew a revolver and sent’a bullet through his brain, All was intense excitement, and a * pard ” of Benson Brett at once returned the shot, the bullet striking the arm of Allan Arleigh, and the shock knocking the revolver he held from his hand. But as quickly as before another weapon was _ drawn with the left hand, leveled and fired, and a second enemy dropped dead in his tracks, while Allan Arleigh, with one arm hanging limp by his side, and the same strange smile upon his unmoved face, said in calm tones: “‘Gentlemen, keep the fandango up if so you feel inclined.” But no one seemed so inclined, and Floyd Balfour, who with the others had had no time to interfere, quickly drew Allan Arleigh away. But at the door he half turned and said pleasantly: ‘*Tf ‘those two men were poor, I will bury -them at my own expense.” Grit, the Bravo Spo —— eee ee er Instantly the rough crowd, recognizing true grit anda generous heart in the man, gave him a cheer, and politely raising his hat he left the saloon with Mr. Balfour, who led him to the surgeon of the Post, for it was an army station, to have his wound dressed. With a cigar between his lips Allan Arleigh had the ball extracted, without a wince or a groan, and mounting his horse rode out to Prairie Rest Ranch with his host, where Edith heard the story, which was calculated to make her lover more of a hero than ever in her ro- mantic brain. And this circumstance Floyd Balfour saw, and determined to act promptly. He liked Allan Arleigh, and yet there was something about him which caused him to fear and doubt him; but he had given his pledge to Roy Brandt, and he would keep it, come what might. With this determination he sat down and wrote to Roy Brandt in Boston, bidding him hasten the visit he proposed to make, and come at once to Texas, as urgent necessity required it. This letter was sent by a herder to the near- est mail route, and then Floyd Balfour felt that he had done all that he could do for the present. Thus was the serpent left alone to charm the dove. CHAPTER VII. A SPY’S DISCOVERY. ‘‘ EpITH, let me speak with you,” and Floyd Balfour called his daughter from the Mexican hammock in which she was lying, lazily swung to and fro by Allan Arleigh, who sat in an easy-chair by her side, reading aloud. “Pardon me, Allan,” she said, in a low tone, and springing to her feet, joined her fa- ther upon the piazza. Ata glance she saw that his face wore a troubled look, and he led the way into his own room. “Sit down, my child, for I have something important to say to you.” Quietly she seated herself, dreading what was coming, yet hoping that the ice of reserve would be broken, for she wished also to speak to her father upon a matter very near her heart. “Edith, itis two years and a half since I came to Texas,” he began. ‘Yes, father, and I believe you have done well,” she replied, not hardly knowing what answer to return. ‘‘Excellently well, my child, for Iam now worth a cool twenty-five thousand dollars, which I have laid up in bank, subject to your order.” ‘‘My order, papa?” she asked ia surprise. sé ‘Yes. 9 ‘* Why to my order?’ “It is to be your dowry, though of course when I die you inherit all I leave.” “Papa, don’t speak of dying,” she said, with tears in her eyes. “You are only forty-nine, and will live to see—my grandchildren,” she said, with a blush and a laugh. ‘‘T hope so, my child; but here is the bank- book, and it calls for twenty-five thousand dol- lars, subject to your order. ‘‘The stock and ranch I own, you know, but in partnership with another.” “Roy Brandt?’ gt fe ‘‘ My old beau,” she said, laughingly. ‘Your lover still.” ‘“What do you mean, papa?” she quickly asked. ‘¢T mean that he loves you.” ‘No, no, for I have not seen him for three years; I was then but fourteen, and he was not of age.” “Tt matters not; he loves you.” “ How know you this, papa?’ asked Edith, thoughtfully. “From his own lips.” “Why, papa!” ““T tell you the truth, Edith.” “‘'No, no.” OEE eee aa a ‘“‘Yes, and he wishes you to become his wife.” ‘No! no! no!” ‘* Edith!” ‘“ Papa!” “Do not act hastily; I tell you that Roy Brandt loves you, asks of me your hand, and will be here to-morrow, for I have sent Pedro to the post with horses for him.” ‘‘ Father,” and the girl’s face flushed and paled by turns, “ My child, what ails you?’ ‘I do not love Roy Brandt.” ** Nonsense.” ‘‘No, my love is no nonsense, sir,” **'You do not know what love is.” ‘‘'Yes, I do, for I now love with all my heart.” ‘*Oh, God!” “Father! Father! what is the matter?” and Edith bent over him as he buried his face in his hands. “Whom do you love?” he asked, hoarsely,. * Allan Arleigh.” ‘‘T feared it; fool that I was not to sooner end this matter.” ‘‘ Father!” and her eyes flashed. ‘‘ Edith, the man you love saved your life; I brought him here to my home, and he has won from me my child.” “‘ Has he done wrong in that, sir?” ot You.” “‘ How, pray?’ ‘‘He is unworthy of you.”’ ‘‘Father, not one word will I hear against Allan Arleigh,” said the maiden with spirit. ** Hold! listen to me. ‘‘T trusted you and I trusted him; but at last, seeing that you were becoming interested in him, and that he had remained here ncw for months, I sent a faithful spy, Jack Hard- ing, my chief herder, to find out all he could regarding Arleigh.” ‘‘ Well, sir, what says your spy?” she asked, with scorn in her tone. ‘‘You know that Arleigh frequently takes long hunts alone?’ ‘Yes, father.” ‘‘Sometimes he is gone several days?” ‘On one occasion, sir, he remained away a week.” ‘Yes, and said he was hunting in the foot- hills,” ‘Of course he told the truth.” ‘* He did not.” ‘*He would be a dangerous man to tell that to, father.” ‘““] believe you; ay, I know that he would, for his hand is ever ready to commit a red deed.” . ‘“« Father!” ‘* Edith, you shall hear me. ‘‘ Jack Harding trailed him to town, and there be found he was known as the Diamond Sport.” ‘‘ A sport?” “Yes, Edith, as the most successful gambler in Texas.”’ ‘* This is an infamous falsehood.” ‘*Then tell me, as he says he had no fortune left him, and certainly does not work, how gets he the money he spends in handsome }:r - sents for you?” “T do not ask Mr. Arleigh regarding his i.- nancial resources.”’ ‘There is no need for it, for I know; he is a gambler, Edith.” ‘‘T do not believe it, father.” ‘‘ He is worse, for he has taken life in several cases where there was no cause for it.” ‘‘ With Benson Brett and his comrade for instance?” ‘In those cases it was self-defense, but I can give you Jack Harding as proof.” ‘“‘T like Jack Harding, sir, or did until now; but since he has seen fit to play the spy upon my movements, I hate him.” ‘You are unreasonable, Edith.” ‘No, father, Iam just, because I will not turn against the man to whom I owe my life to marry some of these wild border rancheros.” JOO LAL (ECO) ALICE <SGO | |