Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 229 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

- _other service.’” that she and her escort had fallen into the ‘ Crimson Kate, the Girl Trailer. “IT see you are like the rest of your sex, given to flattery; but where is your prisoner Burnett?” “‘T am sorry to say that my dog, believing my coming back relieved him from duty, al- lowed him to escape—” ‘*Escape!”? and with the word she again be- came deadly pale. ‘‘ Yes, miss, he mounted his horse and rode away, while I was lighting a candle. ‘“‘T followed him for a short distance, but Chief lost his trail, and I came back.” ‘¢ And the other?’ | ““T buried him.”’ “Would to God that it had been Brandt Burnett instead of his hireling that had died, for with that man free I shall be in constant dread of my life.” ‘ ‘* Why should he seek to harm you?” She flushed at his question, seemed annoyed, and then replied frankly: “ He was once, as I believed, an honorable man, and an accepted lover. ‘My father learning that he was a very wicked man at heart, bade me discard him, which I did. “That was four years ago, and when we were stationed in the East: but allowing his beard to grow he followed me heré, enlisted in the army, without my father or myself sus- pesting him, and at last made himself known to me and begged me to fly with him. ‘*T refused, and afraid of him, I dared not au, ho he was, and last evenmg, while taking allop on the prairie, with his hireling whom a killed, and who was my father’s orderly, I was seized, bound, and carried to the river, where Brandt Burnett joined us, and he told me that he was taking me to Mexico. “Now you know how much I owe you, sir.” ‘¢ And if I can find this Mr. Brandt Burnett, I will promise you, miss, that I will do you an- Lilian Earl glanced into the handsome, dar- ing face, and knew that he would keep his word. In a short while ‘supper was ready and the two sat down to the humble but substantial repast of coffee, corn-cakes, antelope-steaks and wild fowl. Resigning his best room to his fair guest the Cowboy set to work to prepare for the trip to Fort Advance in the morning, and when at sunrise Lilian Earl @ppeared she found the horses ready saddled, and after a _ hearty breakfast they mounted and rode away, leav- ing the cabin locked and tenantless, for Chief trotted along close to Red-skin’s heels. The sun was just setting as they drew near the fort, aud wild cheers broke from the sol- diers at sight of the maiien, for she was idol- ized by all, and as for two days and nights parties had been scouring the country in search of her, and without success, it was believed hands of some. prowling band of Indians, and the general was then organizing a force to in- vade the hills and attack the villages of the re {-skins, | With a heart too full to spéak he clasped his daughter in his arms, and then beard from her lips the strange story of her capture, and her rescue by the young Cowboy. “A cowboy, ycu say, Lilian?’ said the gen- cral, turning to the youth. ‘T should say, father, a ranchero, for Mr. Langdon now owns his ranch, the gentleman for whom he herded having died and left him his heir,” answered the maiden. “Well, sir, I owe you more thanI can ever repay, but fortunately have it in my power to . prove my appreciation, for some weeks ago the President sent me three junior lieutenant’s commissions to bestow upon deserving sol- diers of my command, and one of those I held over fortunately, and your name shall fill this blank, Mr. Langdon.” Tne face of the Cowboy fiushed proudly, and in a trembling voice-he returned his thanks. “‘Don’t thank me sir, for we are the ones 60 be thankful, not you. llr nnn nn nnn n ne eee ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— i EE . -_—_——___—_—_-_-———— “‘Now to-night I fill in your commission, and you can report for duty within the week, and that will give you time to place some one on your ranch to take care of it.” That night Lester Langdon could not sleep for joy and ‘pride. He had fled from home on account of the ill- treatment, of his step-mother; he would re- turn there an honored officer of the army, a rank won by his own exertions. CHAPTER VI. A STRANGER’S ACCUSATION. THERE was not an officer at the fort, young or old, but what envied Lieutenant Lester Langdon his good luck in rescuing the gen- eral’s beautiful daughter from her captors, and, as they gazed on the handsome young soldier, they felt that if he was only a few years older, he would be a most dangerous rival for the maiden’s love. But, as it was, Lilian was several years his senior, and having cast aside many eligible offers and distinguished officers, it seemed not likely that she would love a mere boy, al- though she owed so much to him. Several days only had Lester Langdon been at the fort, and the army tailor had just com- pleted his uniform when there arrived a couple of visitors with letters to General Earl. These introduced Mr. Loyd Algernon, an English gentleman of wealth, and his younger brother, Leon, who had come to the Texas prairies for a few months’ sport in hunt- ing. With a guide they had come alone from Austin, they said, camping and hunting by the way, and Mr. Loyd Algernon related one strange circumstance that had happened on the trail. ‘‘It was some ten days ago, general,” said Loyd Algernon, “‘that we struck a place on the river where we found good shooting, and I determined to camp for a few days. ‘““My brother here, Leon, contrary to my wish, strolled off one afternoon, got lost, and seeing a light, for darkness had come on, went to it, and found it shone from the window of a ranch. ‘Within, he saw two persons, one lying on the bed and very ill, and the other standing near and gazing upon him. ‘*He also overheard what they said, and it seems that the sick man had taken the young one into his house, cared for him and treated him well; but it was the old case of warming to life the serpent to sting you, for the youth was ambitious, and had deliberately poisoned the old man to get his property.” ‘*Shameful indeed; but did you hear as much from their words, Mister Algernon?’ asked the genera], turning to the young brother, who was a slender, handsome youth of seyen- teen apparently. — ‘Yes, General Earl; the young man told the other deiiberately that. he had poisoned him, and stood by and saw him die. ‘‘T wished to interfere, but dared nct, so mounted my horse and gave him the rein, and he carried me back to my camp.” ‘‘And where was this, you say?’ ‘(Fully seventy-five miles from tere, sir.” ‘‘T shall send andhave the young murderer arrested: your guide will be able to tell me the exact locality.” The guide was sent for and when asked re- garding the location of the ranch, said: “Tt are on a creek thet runs inter the Del Norte, sir; I has passed ther ranch afore several times, and thar is none other in ther neighbor- hood, and I knows only an old man and boy lived thar, and I thought it were father and son,” ‘‘Why did you not, on the charge of Mr. Algernon here, go and arrest the youth?” sternly said the general. “We did go thar, sir, ther following day; but ther cabin were locked up and nobody was round, though thar were a new-made grave in the timber.” ‘The grave of the old man, whom he killed and buried. “Well, he shall have a short enjoyment of the ranch his red deed has given him, for I shall send a squadron to arrest him. “‘Do you know the name of the ranchero, guide?’ “IT bas heerd him called Don Bartolo, sir.” **Don Bartolo!” The cry came from the lips of Lilian Eari, who had been an attentive listener to the story of the Englishman. “‘Don Bartolo! why that was the name of Langdon’s benefactor, Lilian, ” cried General Ear] in surprise, ** Yes, father, and his benefactor died only a short while ago. I cannot Jelieve that— Ah, here is the lieutenant now.’ “General Earl, I am ready, sir, to bear those dispatches to the Rio Grande,” and Lester Langdon entered in full uniform, and booted and spurred for a ride. “Great God!” All eyes turned upon the speaker. The cry burst involuntarily it seemed from the lips of goune Leon Algernon, who flushed and said in 4 tone of apology: “ Pardon me, general, and your pardon [I crave, Miss Earl, but I was so startled by the resemblance of the face of this officer to that of—*”? He paused, and General Earl said quickly: ‘* Whom does he resemble, may I ask, sir?” “Tt is of course only astartling resemblance; but he is the jmage of the youth I saw at the side of the dying ranchero.” At his words Lilian Earl turned pale, and the general said in a husky voice: ‘*Lieutenant Langdon, we have just been listening to a strange story, told by these gen- tlemen, of a scene witnessed by one of them some ten days ago, at the ranch of a certain Den Bartolo.” ‘“Don Bartolo, sir? That was the name of my dead benefactor. May I ask what scene it was, sir?” asked Lester Langdon quickly. “Upon what night did Don Bartolo die, Lieutenant Langdon?” “On the afternoon of the 10th, sir; just ten days ago.” “Mr. Algernon, when was it you saw the scene you relate?” “On the night of the 10th, sir.” ‘Your ranch is seventy-five miles from here, Lieutenant Langdon, I believe?’ con- tinued the general. | ** About that, sir,” ‘‘Mr, Algernon, describe the place, please.” ‘‘An adobe cabin with two rooms, with some outbuildings back of it; it is situated in the edge of a clump of timber, or motte, and near a small stream.’ ‘“So my ranch is situated, sir,” said young Langdon, ‘Lieutenant Langdon, of what illness did your benefactor die?” ‘*T fear, sir, he poisoned himself by accident, for I cannot. believe it was intentional, though circumstances point to such ag the case.” ‘‘-You were with him when he died?” *T was, sir.” $4 ) any one else eS ‘No one, sir.’ ‘* He left. you his ranch and cattle?” ** He did.” ‘Where did you meet him first?” ‘In Santa Fe, over two years ago; he found me there a poor, friendless boy, and took me home with him,” and the young officer’ S voice trembled. ‘‘'You had no il-will toward Don Bartolo?” ‘‘On the contrary, Lloved him as I would my own father, sir.” “Mr. Algernon, how was the young man dressed whom you saw?” “In buckskin leggings, boots, a jacket and slouch sombrero, and this person is the very one.” “This is a bold charge, sir.” ‘* His face and his voice I will swear to.” “May I ask in what connection, sir?” and Lester Langdon turned upon his accuser with a flashing eye. cS -“— Eomichboo GO —