Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 222 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

—_—— ee ‘‘Until then I will give him the benefit of the doubt.” ‘““ And I too will go on his trail; in talking with bim I have learned where he has been, and there will I go. ‘Also, I will telegraph East and find out who and what he was there. ‘Have youa good guide Ican have to go with me, for I am no prairie-man you know?” _ Yes, though had you not better wait Jack’s return?” “No, there is no time to wait; I will start this afternoon.” ‘‘Well, L.hate for you to go, but 1 suppose itis best, and I will send Lone Star Harry with you, and he is a fine guide, and brave as a lion. * ] will call him.” As Mr. Balfour left the room he thought he heard a retreating footstep, but paid no atten- tion td it, and soon returned. with Lone Star Harry, his second herder, and a dashing young Texan of twertty-five. A short conversation followed, and it was agreed that Roy Brandt and his guide were to start upon the trail as soon as dinner was Over. Shortly after the meal was announced and there was a familiar face absent from the table. Where is Arleigh, my child?’ asked her father. ‘‘He rode away for an afternoon hunt a short while since, father,” was the reply of the maiden, and both the gentlemen exchanged looks that showed plainly they saw how seem- ingly wretched Edith was when away from the man who had caught her in the toils of his fas- cinations. CHAPTER X. BROUGHT TO BAY. “T CALL a halt!” sung out Lone Star Harry, as he suddenly drew his horse back, and with an impatieot exclamation that caused Roy Brandt to also draw rein, and ask: ** Well, guide, what is it?” ‘‘T am a consarned fool.” Not inclining to agree to this, Roy Brandt did not contradict the statement, and Lone Star Harry went on: ‘‘Pard, I have left my ammunition behind.” “Indeed!” “True as gospil, and I don’t do such things nuther; do you see yonder clump of timbers abead?” ‘é Yes.” ‘* It’s just five mile from here, so you keep right on there, while I go back. “Mind you, don’t leave the timber, for you might get lost, and there’s whar Ill look for yer,” ‘T will wait for you there.” “Tt will be nigh on to night afore I return, for it’s a jump of twenty-five miles to the ranch aud back, so you might build a fire, make up a camp, and we’ll stay there all night. ‘‘Tuere is some game round, and you might knock over something for supper.” “Tl try, guide, but I am a poor shot, yet, under your teachings hope to become an expert soon.”’ ‘Well, do the best you can and Ill not spare spur.” Back on the trail dashed Lone Star Harry at arapid gallop, and straight on to the timber rode Roy Brandt. Unsuspecting danger, though he knew he was in a land of danger, and with his thoughts bent on his mission he rode into the timber and dismounted. It was a ‘‘ prairie island,” such as often dot the plains of the far South-west, and he saw that it would be a pleasant camping-place, so set to work to make an impromptu camp, “Well, Mr. Brandt, we are well met.” With a slight start Roy Brandt turned to be- hold before him the elegant form and smiling face of Allan Arleigh. ‘T learned from Miss Balfour that you were ’ sy Sravo port. Saal = - = far from the ranch,” said Roy a striving hard to conceal his antipathy for ‘the man. ‘““Oh yes, out here in Texas an afternoon gallop of thirty or forty miles is nothing; and I have found my game, too.” ** Indeed !” ‘‘- Yes indeed,” and there was something in the tone of the mam that attracted the atten- tion more particularly, of Roy Brandt. “May I ask what your game is?” ‘A man.” ‘‘What! have you met red-skins?” sé No.” ‘‘Some prowling desperado, perhaps, that I have heard haunt these prairies to rob and murder.” ‘Yes, one who is prowling now to the towns below torob me of my character,” was the significant and sinister reply. ‘* Ah! I cannot further misunderstand you, sir,’ was Brandt’s cool reply. ‘Tt would be useless to attempt i, sir, for I know you.” ‘‘Then you know, Allan Arleigh, that I am not one of your stripe.” ‘‘That is good indeed; but I heard your con- versation with Mr. Balfour in his room.” ‘¢ And found true the old saying that eaves- droppers bear no good of themselves.” ‘*Yes, and hearing this, I came out on my hunt, for I well knew the trail that Lone Star Harry would bring you; may I ask why he returned?” ‘‘ After his ammunition, which he had for- gotten.” ‘It is better so, for Irun no risk.” “T confess I do not understand you, sir.” 1 will explain. ‘‘- You seek to find proofs against me ges I am a gambler?’ ‘‘ And worse?” 6é Y es. ”? ‘‘ A murderer and all that is vile.” “You are complimentary, Mr. Brandt.” ‘‘T mean just what I say.” ‘Well, if you went on your spying trail against my character, you would find that I[ am just what I am represented to be,” ‘Ha! you confess it?’ said Roy Brandt, quickly. “Why deny it?’ ‘‘'You are indeed a brazen-faced villain, and IT am glad that we have thus met,” ‘‘And soam IL. ‘‘ It was here that I brought sweet Edith to pass the night, after I rescued her from herself and her body from being torn by the pack of wolves. ‘‘Over there, see, is her shelter of that night, which | built for her, and here, as rivals for her hand, for I know you love her, and came here hoping to marry her, let us see which one of us shall win the game for life and death.” ‘*How mean you, Allan Arleigh? for I con- fess I am ignorant of your gambling terms and Texas ways.” ‘* Vil reduce it to such plain words you can- not fail to understand.” ‘‘Do so, please.”’ ‘Well, you are armed, and I suppose can use a pistol,” , ‘“‘T am not very well accustomed to fire- arms,” ‘‘ Perhaps you would prefer a knife then, as I see you wear one in your belt?” ‘‘T still less am acquainted with its use; but proceed, pray.” ‘Then I shall have the advantage, unless accident fayors you, as is frequently the case. ‘*T am a dead shot, Mr, Brandt, and cannot withdraw from my intention because you are ignorant of the use of the weapons you wear, so I demand a meeting with you to settle this little difference between us.”’ * As you please.” ‘‘ You certainly have pluck, sir.” “* And another quality which you have not.” _ Name it, please.” “Honor.” | ‘Bab! what is honor? a “Mine got tarnished long ago, and I am happier since.” ‘‘I do not doubt it; but name your terms,” was the impatient reply. “We will take our stands, sir, you at that tree, and I at this, and together march toward each other, firing as we advance, and the sur- vivor wins Edith Balfour.” “‘t have no clatm upon Miss Balfour, sir; but with the hope of saving her from you, a scoundrel, | agree to your terms and meet you,” was Roy Brant’s firm reply. ‘CHAPTER XI, DARK DEEDS, *‘ THERE is your tree, sir,” and Allan Arleigh, pointed to a large tree some fifty paces away. ‘We step out from behind our respective trees at the word, and advance firing, I be- lieve,” said Roy Brandt, quietly. “Yes, sir.” Without hesitation, or dread of his foe Roy Brandt walked away? With no treachery in bis heart be could not believe it would be shown in another, when that other was a dead shot; and he had con- fessed himself an amateur with weapons. But as he walked away dark thoughts flashed through the brain of Allan Arleigh. ‘That man is not the verdant youth he would pretend he is,’ he muttered. ‘‘ He is as cool as I am, and bas a nerve of iron. ‘‘T believe he is a dead shot, and though I shall kill him, I cannot afford to take any chances, for I may fall too. ‘No, I will save all exposure, for what does it matter how I kfill, him, so I rid myself of him.” He quickly raised and leveled his revolver upon the unsuspecting Ruy, now some thirty paces distant, and took deliberate aim. Then his finger touched the trigger, the flash and report followed, and without a word or groan Roy Brandt sunk to the earth in a heap. ‘‘ A good shot, and that ends it,” muttered Allan Arleigh, as he walked forward to where his victim lay. ‘‘A handsome watch and chain, yes, and diamond studs, too, and a costly set of sleeve- buttons; ail valuable, and, as I wen the game the stakes are mine. ‘“‘Hal a well-filled pocket-book too; one, three, seven hundred dollars, and some odd change. “Well, I was getting a little short in funds, as I have been losing a' great deal of time of late. ‘‘ Now to wait for the coming of that Lone Star Harry. ‘‘No, I believe I will leave this timber and return to the ranch so as not to meet him, and none will suspect me.” He mounted his horse, which awaited him over in the thicker brushwood and rode away. But hardly had he gotten a mile from the timber, when be suddenly drew rein. ‘‘Am I a fool?” he muttered, ‘‘Why, that Lone Star Harry could follow my trail and easily prove who killed Roy Brandt. ‘‘No, I'l not be so silly, but wait and end the days of that cowboy too, and then my tracks will be covered up, as it may be days before the bodies are found.” He returned to the timber, glanced casually at the prostrate form of the man he had shoi down, and concealing his horse once more Jay down upon the grass to patiently await the coming of his other victim. How long he waited he knew not, for he went to sleep as peacefully as though his heart held in it no red crime, and was only awak- ened by the falling of hoofs upon the prairie. The sun was near its setting, for it was touching the western horizon, and he started at the lateness of the hour while he muttered: ‘‘ Well, taking life serves as a narcotic for me: yes, there comes Lone Star Harry. ~ ‘Weill, Iam no assassin, so shall not shoot him down without warning. reo oub huntiog, yet did not expect to find you so } ‘GOmiGc JOCKS GoM