Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 229 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

Crimson Kate, the Girl Trailer. | 3 form, and his bridle and saddle were of a mili- tary pattern, “‘Good-evening, young sir; do I address the owner of this ranch?’ he asked politely, with a half military salute. **'You do, sir.” ** Rather youthful for a ranchero so far from the settlements.” “‘T am old enough to take care of myself,” was the significant reply. “You look it; but in me you see only a friend, and I wish to make a purchase of you.” ** What do you wish, sir?” “To buy three of your best horses, or rather exchange ours for yours,” “You are not te then?” ** No, I have two comrades who have ridden on; our horses are good ones, only tired with a hard ride, and I will give you boot.” “lt is getting late, sir, and you better get your comrades and remain here all night, and in the morning we can trade, if your horses are not sufficiently restell to travel.” “No, we are in a hurry to press on, as J bear dispatches,” was the reply the horse- man. * All right, sir; you are from Fort Advance, I. suppose?” ‘‘Yes, and going to the River Post.” *‘ You are a long way off the trail then.” “I know the way, young man, so come let me have your horses, and I will bring you mine back,” ‘‘No, I will go with you ‘ind lead my ponies and drive your animals back,” said the Cowboy firmly. ‘You seem to doubt me, boy?’ said the man angrily. *“T do,” and with the words a revolver covered the heart of the horseman. He turned pale and asked quickly: ‘‘ What the devil do you mean?” ‘1 mean that [have the drop on you, and shall fire if you do not do as I order,” and the man saw that the youth meant every word he uttered. ‘Curse you, boy, you shall rue this,” he hissed forth. ‘It is to be seen whether [ will or not; now, sir, up with your hands while I take your arms.” ‘‘ A robber, by Heaven!” “ Obey me, or—” Up went the hands, and stepping up to the man the youth removed the revolvers from his belt and the carbine from his saddle. ‘‘ Now, sir, V’ll trouble you to dismount.” In angry silence the horseman obeyed. ‘Here, Chief!” At the call of his young master the huge dog came bounding out of the kitchen. ‘‘T have a prisoner here for you to watch, Chief, while I go and make the acquaintance of hiscomrades. Hold out your hands, sir.” The man hesitated, and for an instant seemed about to spring upon the youth; but the re- volver covered him, and Chief gave a savage growl that prevented his half-formed plan, and sullenly he beld forth his hands, “Watch him now, Chief,” said the youth, as he took a lariat and securely tied. the hands of his prisoner, and then bound his feet. ‘‘ Now, Chief, keep your eye upon him,” and then turning again to the man, he continued: ‘Tf I have done wrong, sir, I will give you half a dozen ponies as a peace-offering; but I believe I am doing right, and at any rate shall soon know, and until I returnI warn you not to move from that bench as Chief will spring at your throat.” The man glared wildly at the youth, and seontéd to dread the brute even more, but made no reply as he sunk down upon the bench, his face white and lips quivering with fear and suppressed rage combined. The youth at once mounted the horse of the soldier and rode quietly away in the gathering gloom. Arriving at the edge of the timber he saw two forms far out upon the prairie, awaiting evidently the return of the messenger, $ He rode slowly, because he cared not to be recognized as other than the one expected, and the darkness aiding him he got within a few paces of the two persons seated upon their horses before they saw that it was not the soldier returning. Instantly one of them attempted to drop his hand upon a weapon, but the youth’s revolver already covered him, as he said sternly: ‘** Hold! or you are a dead man.” CHAPTER IV. THE COWBOY PLAYS A LONE H ND. It was evident that the Cowboy held the ad- vantage, for one of the two he faced in the gathering darkness was a woman, and her hands held not the reins, but were bound be- hind her, while a lariat led from the neck of her horse to that of the other animal, which precluded the possibility of escape. The revolver of the youth covered the man, whose hand was arrested as he was about to draw a weapon. Had the Cowboy been in any doubt before that he was playing a wrong hand, the words that sprung to the captive’s lips at his coming dispelled that doubt, for she cried pleadingly: **Oh, sir, save me from this wretch!” The voice was soft and sweet, in spite of the distress in its tone, and the Cowboy an- swered promptly: “I came here, miss, for that purpose, so have no fear. ‘* Now, sir,” and he turned to the horseman, **yvou will give me those weapons you wear.” He rode close up: to him as he spoke, when the man, with the rapidity of lightning drew a revolver and fired full in his face, The flash blinded the youth momentarily but the ball sped by his temple, and then came his turn, and with the report of his revolver the man fell from his saddle. Still half blinded by the flash in his eyes, the youth was unable to rally for an instant, and then beheld two horses, firmly fastened together, flying away over the prairie, alarmed by the shots, and the falling of the man from his saddle. Upon the prairie, writhing in the agonies of death, lay the man he had slain; but of him he did not think, but taking his canteen he dashed water into his eyes, and then sped away in pursuit, crying: ‘* Come, Red-skin, you must see for both of us, and show your speed to boot.” And the little bay pony did show his speed, for be began to gain upon the flying horses, that in their flight had forgotten their great fatigue. A run of a mile and Red-skin was in a few lengths of them, and the Cowboy was whirling his lasso’ to throw it. The next instant it left his hand, settled ‘down over the head of the riderless horse and the two were PRIRIE RS, while the youth said cheerily: | ‘‘ Have no fear now, miss, for you are safe.” In her joy at her escape from some fearful fate, the maiden could make no reply and burst into tears, Quickly the Cowboy unbound the rope from her wrists, and turned the horses back toward the timber, he riding close to the side of the fair captive, who after a few minutes said earnestly, having, with an effort controlled ber emotion: “Oh, sir, you do not know how greatly you have served me; but did you kill that man?” ‘*T fired to do so, miss,” “*T feared he had shot you.” ‘He didn’t miss me the hundredth part of an inch, and the powder burnt my eyes a little, or 1 should have followed you sooner. “ But don’t think of it, for I will take you to my ranch to-night and to-morrow carry you to your friends.” ‘Oh, thank you, sir, and my father will be most grateful, as I am all he has to love, “‘ My father is General Earl, the commander of Fort Advance,” ‘Indeed! I have often heard of him, and ‘ a a am glad to have served his daughter. My name is Lester Langdon, and I am but a poor Cow- boy.” ‘*You are a brave one, and—a gentleman, be your calling what it may,” was the frank response. By this time they bad reached the ranch, and dismounting, the Cowboy aided \he maiden to the ground, and seeing her start, as her eyes fell upon the prisoner, who sat like a statue, with Chief watching him as a cat would a mouse, he said: ‘‘Have no fear, Miss Earl, for I have clipped that tiger’s claws.” “Yes, but it’s a long lane that has no turn- ing, boy,” was the sullen response. ‘*'You'll drop off at the end of a rope before you get to the turn, or I’m mistaken, sir; | ut come in, miss, and I'll strike a light and give you some supper. “You must excuse my humble home, for I am all alone, and only a few hours ago buried my best friend, who died suddenly.” » He led the maiden into the cabin, and light- ing a candle, bade her make herself at home, while he glanced furtively at her. : He was struck by the beauty of her face, and the grace of her form, clad in its dark riding-habit, and wondered what could one so beautiful have in commofi with the wretches from whose power he had taken her. s But why she was at their mercy she had not told him, and he would not ask her, and went outside to maka his prisoner more secure, . CHAPTER V. THE BOY LIEUTENANT. ALTHOUGH the Cowboy had not been ten minutes in the cabin, when he returned he started with surprise, for his prisoner was not to be seen, Chief was nowhere visible either, but at his call, came bounding out of the cabin wagging his tail. ‘*Chief! Chief! you have let that man es- cape. “Oh, you wicked dog.” ~ > Chief’s tail dropped, for it was evident that he had expected praise and not a scolding. ‘‘T see how it is; when I came back you thought you were relieved from duty, and in some way that rascal freed himself and es- caped. ‘* And he has taken hig own horse and arms, which [ foolishly left on the bench. “Come, Chief, strike his trail, and I'll see what Red-skin can do,” | The dog sniffed around, as if anxious to re- gain favor in his young master’s eyes, and started off at a run, while, throwing himself in the saddle the youth followed at the topmost speed of his pony. But the trail, followed by the dog, led in among thé ponies and cattle loose on the prai- rie, and then even Chief’s instinct could follow it no further, and reluctantly the Cowboy turned back toward the ranch, muttering: “IT shall have to look sharp, or that villain will be in at the turn of the Jane he spoke of. *“ Now to see his comrade.” He bore away to the spot where he had shot the other horseman and found him lying upon the prairie, his hands clutched in the long grass, and dead. . Raising him in his strong arms, he bore him to a small ravine and tossed him into it, throw- ing in upon the body brush and earth to cover it. Then he rode back to the ranch and having lariated Red-skin and the maiden’s horse out near by, turned the other loose to join the herd, and entered his cabin to find Lilian Earl some- what alarmed by his long absence, yet, with © right good-will preparing supper. ‘“-You see I am taking you at your word and making myself at home, sir,” she said, with a smile while the color came back into her pale face. ‘Thank you, miss, and I know I will never have eaten a supper that tasted half so good,” he said, with modest gallantry. Eomicbooks.