Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 222 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

_— Grit, the Bravo Sport. | 4 “T do not ask that, my child. Roy Brandt is no ranchero. **He is handsome, very rich, and an elegant gentleman.” ‘Granted, but I do not love him.” ‘** You always liked him.” * Like is not love, sir.” ‘You would grow more and more attached to him,’ : “I tell you, father, [ love this gambler as VO! eall him.” ‘‘ But, Edith, my dear girl, you are already bound to Roy Brandt’” The maiden sprung to her feet at the words and gazed upon her father with white face and flashing eyes, CHAPTER VILLI. THE SECRET DIVULGED. For full a moment Edith Balfour stood gazing into the face of her parent, and then she said, in a kindly tone: ‘‘ My poor papa, have you lost your senses?’ ‘*No, I am sane,” ‘‘Then what do you mean?” ‘‘ Just what I say.” “Say it over again, please.” ‘*T repeat it, you are bound to Roy Brandt.” ‘* By what ties, pray?’ ‘‘My pledged word.” ** Your word, father?’ ‘* Yes, Edith, and more—my signature.” ‘* This really grows interesting, father.” ‘* Intensely so to me, my child,” ‘‘Roy Brandt has then written to yow for my hand without consulting me?” she said, with a sneer, ‘‘ No, Edith, he has done nothing of the kind.”’ ‘““Telegraphed for the honor of my hand, then, perbaps?’. ‘“No, Edith, and I pray you drop your scornful tone, and I will tell you all.” ‘‘ And I will listen with rapt attention, sir.” * You know my failure left me a poor man?” “Yes, father.” ‘So poor that all I had left after being sold out was your piano and a few traps that were not taken.” ‘‘T remember, father.” ‘‘Of your money, which I had laid aside for you as a graduating gift, | had a thousand dol- lars; but Roy Brandt came to me, offered to indorse my notes for me to resume business again—” ‘‘ That was noble of him,” ‘Indeed it was; but I refused his noble offer and told him I was going to Texas to es- tablish a little home. ‘‘ Instantly he said he wished to start a cat- tle ranch here, and had fifteen thousand dollars to put in with me. “T told him I had no money to invest, other than a thousand dollars, and he replied he would have to pay an agent to start his ranch, so proposed that I put my money with his, and to make it equal, I was to give my full time and attention to the business.” ‘‘ Well, father?’ ‘‘] refused, for I had no security to offer, and be told me that he loved you, and always had done so, yet knew not whether you cared for him or not.” ‘‘Ah! he was not then conceited enough to think that I did.” ‘‘No, he only hoped so, and said if I would pledge my consent for him to have your hand it would be security enough.” ‘§ Ah!” “Yes, my child; now you know the secret.” ‘‘ And you gave this pledge, father?” ‘Yes, we drew up a partnership contract, ‘and I signed it, giving my consent to your marriage with Roy Brandt, as security for the fifteen thousand he placed in my hands,” ‘¢ And this holds good on your part?” “Yes, Edith.” ‘‘You own half of this ranch, and half the cattle and horses upon it?’ ‘Yes, Edith.” “‘Then give all to Roy Brandt, and, as it is worth now three times his investment he can- not complain.” ‘* But, Edith—” / ‘Then take the twenty-five thousand dol- lars in this bank-book reserved for me and start another ranch, father.” ‘But my contract, Edith, my pledged word?” ‘‘T decline to be an object of barter and sale, sir.” ‘* But Roy will never forgive me.” ‘*T, not you are to blame, sir.” ‘No, no,” ‘Then blame the result of circumstances, for had I not met Allan Arleigh, I would have married Roy Brandt doubtless. ‘‘As it is, knowing that I love another, if I know Roy Brandt rightly, he will release me gladly from the bond you gave to him,” “T dare not ask it.” **T shall,” ‘* But Edith, I forbid you becoming the wife of this gambler.” ‘Father, my hand goes with my heart; I love Allan Arleigh and I shall marry him, for he has asked me to become his wife.” ‘¢ Heaven forbid!” ‘‘T take my happiness in my own hand, and I will bear the consequences, father, be they what they may, so let no shadow fall between us, as my only sorrow will be in giving you up.” She threw her kissed him, But his heart was too full to make reply, and just then through the open window they beheld three horsemen approaching. “Tt is Roy Brandt, and the two herders you sent for him and his baggage, father,” said Edith calmly. “My God! what a presentiment of evil rushes upon me,” was the groaning response of the sorrowing ranchero. arms around his neck and CHAPTER JX, THE RIVALS. Roy BRANDT, grown more manly. dignified and handsome, in the two years and a half that had passed since he became the head of his late father’s firm, found a warm welcome from Edith and her father. And Allan Arleigh, without the shadow of jealousy, extended to him a cordial greeting to Texas. | é As to who he was Allan Arleigh did not know, other than that he was the partner of Mr. Balfour in the ranch: but he could not but admit as he gazed into his frank, noble face, that he would have been a dangerous rival, had Edith seen him a few months back and not remembered him, as she told him, only as a youth, And this thought the maiden also had: yet she was draws to Allan Arleigh by a fasdi- nation she could not resist, and no power on earth she was determined should take her from him. As for Roy Brandt he was very happy, it seemed, enjoyed the sumptuous meal set be- fore him, sung duets with Edith, and retired for the night in an apparently happy mood. But on his heart had fallen a shadow, and with the rising of the sun it deepened mto gloom. The reason of this was, man of the world that he had been, in spite of his youth, he saw that Edith Balfour loved Allan Arleigh. That it was natural for her to regard highly the man who had saved her life, for Roy Brandt had heard the story of that rescue on the moonlit prairie, he could not gainsay. But somehow it came to him that it was a species of fascination she felt for the man and not real love, at least not such love as he would have cared for ber to feel for him. Then, at breakfast, he studied the face of Allan Arleigh. And what he saw there he did not like. It was certainly handsome, almost womanly in its beauty: but then there were certain ee ————— Sse tL LLL ee eee ee ae— lines there that age had not made, yet were certainly the footprints of dissipation. The eyes, ever restless, he saw were not truthful in their glance, but seemed ever anx- ious to hide the feelings of the heart and thoughts of the brain, The form was elegant, and the man grace. ful: but the strength seemed lion-like, and the grace, the swaying motions of the serpent, ‘That is a bold, bad man at heart, what- ever may be his actions,” said Roy Brandt to himself, when he had finished the study of Allan Arleigh’s face and character. And Edith? When she had the two men face to face be- fore her, she could not but admit in her heart, that there dwelt that in the eyes of Roy Brandt which she could not find in Allan Ar- leigh’s. Yet, with a sigh she held to her purpose, for she was under the charm of the serpent. The third day after his arrival Mr. Balfour called Roy Brandt into his room and laid be- fore him the full statement of bis investments and profits since he had been in Texas. ‘‘T’sent you the check from Galveston for your share of twenty-five thousand, which was half the cash received, as you see by my books, Brandt, and my part I placed in bank subject to Edith’s order. ‘‘Now the place, that is ranch, cattle and horses, is worth more than fifty thousand, and my share of this I wish to transfer to you.” ‘Why so, Mr. Balfour?’ asked Roy Brandt in surprise, “Tll tell you,” was the answer in an em- barrassed way. ‘The truth is, Brandt, I made a contract with you that I am not able to keep. ‘‘With your money and my time, with what little 1 invested, I have done splendidly: but I want you to take all, excepting what I bave given Edith.” ‘IT shall do no such thing, Mr. Balfour; and let me tell you now that I understand fully the position in which you are placed. ‘‘T was glad to invest my money here, and you have trebled it, and more; but I never ex- pected to hold you to a contract that would be distasteful to Edith. ‘‘That I love her, I still frankly admit; but I would not marry her for worlds without her — love. ‘“No, Mr. Balfour, I am tired of city life, I love the solitude of the prairies, and hereI will remain, and we will work together, for I see plainly we are both to lose Edith Balfour,” ‘* Alas! it is true! but, Roy, you are a man above all other men I have met, and God knows I would be happy in seeing Edith your wife,” “It is not so destined, sir,” was the sad reply. ; “No, for that man has fairly fascinated er. ‘Tf she loves him and he returns that love, so let it be.” ‘* No, for believe him to be a villain.” Instantly Roy Brandt was upon his feet. ** Ha! say you so?” “do.” ‘My own conclusion, for Iam seldom wrong in reading a. face.” ‘““I have had proof, for I was warned by Jack Harding, my chief herdsman, against him, and I set him on his trail. ‘Jack was gone several weeks, and return- ing made a bad report.” ‘What was it, sir?’ “That the man was known in the border towns as a gambler, rowe and desperate fel- low generally.” ‘¢By heaven! he shall not marry ber then,” “They say he is ever successful at cards, has killed a number of men in cold blood, is a fearless prairie-man, and some even hint that he is leader of the Bravos of the Chaparral.” ‘‘By Heaven! I will at once—” ‘‘Hold! be not rash, for Harding has gone again to bring me Arleigh’s accusers as proof, that I may face him with them, ,O0O (ECON NAICS CS