Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 229 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

- Crimson Kate, The Girl Trailer. | Rs - ol . ; » 7) “ j . \ . * 4 . ——*, ‘* See, sir, I lower my weapon, and you have me on equal terms,” | ‘And I say I will not take you, and shall go back to my camp for fear some of the men may come here and discover you, and in that case nothing can save you.” ‘¢T would fight your whole force, sir, before I go back to be shot, for 1 am determined not to be taken until I prove that I am innocent of the charge against me.” ‘¢Do so, and I will be the first to extend a helping hand.” “Thank you, Captan Willoughby; now let us part, for I would not have your men be- lieve you derelict in your duty.” “There is a motive in my actions, indepen- dent of my belief in your innocence, Langdon, that sways me stronger than duty just now,” The Cowboy looked at the officer in surprise, and seemingly reading his thoughts asked quickly: ¢ 8 “Tell me, Captain Willoughby, did Miss Ear] suffer for her noble act toward me?” . The officer flushed and answered: ** Oh, no; andall the right-minded will up- hold her in it, ‘‘Good-by, Langdon, and may you one day prove the charges against you utterly false; but you have a hard duty to perform in doing so, as young Algernon certainly had no motive for his accusation.” The Cowboy made no reply and Captain Willoughby, with a wave of his hand in fare- well, left the cabin, and Lester Langdon was alone in his desolate home, from which he now felt he must be an exile, for he knew that day and night those who heard of his escape would be upon his trail. CHAPTER XT. THE TABLES TURNED. In spite of the near presence of the troopers whom he knew to be upon his trail, Lester Langdon was determined not to be driven from his home until he was prepared to go. His mustangs and cattle he had placed in the care of a neighboring ranchero, dwelling some thirty miles away, and it had been his inten- tion to return to his cabin and pack up what things of Don Bartolo'’s and of his own, that were valuable, and remove them to the fort; but ere he could do this, the arrival of the two Englishmen caused bis arrest and trial, and now he had come there to cache them, so that they would remain in safety until he wanted them, which would be when he cleared himself of the charge against him of murder, Determined not to be caught in the cabin, should any one come, he placed Red-skin, sad- died and lariated out to feed in a small ravine a hundred yards away, while he laid down upon his blanket within sight of the ranch, He was suddenly awakened by a heavy tread and beheld a horseman pass near bim, it was evident that the stranger was anx- ious to be most cautious, for he halted his horse every few steps and paused for awhile. lt was dark, and the Cowboy was concealed beneath the shadow of the trees, and he lay motionless, gazing upon the .horseman, who soon dismounted, and hitching his horse, moved cautiously toward the cabin, Step by step, hesitating at each one, he ap- proached, until he passed around the corner. Instantly the Cowboy was upon his feet, and within a moment’s time stood at the corner of the cabin. , The stranger stood at the door, and had eyvi- dently knocked, for the Cowboy heard him y: ‘* Wake up, pard, for I’m an old friend.” The voice was disguised, and yet the youth recognized the speaker, and as noiselessly asa panther he glided forward and placed his re- volver against the man’s head, while he said sternly: ‘“ Brandt Burnett, I want you.” The muzzle pressed against the back of the man’s head, and the hand of the youth clutched the revolver he held, and with which he in- er LE tended to shoot the Cowboy when he opened the door. He dared not move for he knew it would be his instant death, and he merely uttered a say- age curse, ‘Release this weapon, sir.” He quietly let it go, and the Cowboy placed it in bis own belt, Then he took from him with his right hand while his left still held the revolver against his head, his other arms, “ Put your hands behind you, sir.” The man obeyed. Then the Cowboy took from his own pocket the very handeuffs which he had worn, and which he had brought with him, and clasped them on the prisoner, who muttered: “You go well fixed, boy.” ‘*Yes, and I have a rope convenient, but guess I’ll make you the guest of General Earl.” ‘‘ General Earl! what the devil do you know of him?” cried the man, in alarm, “Oh! I know you, Brandt Burnett, in spite of your disguise, and 1 owe you one for es- caping from me the other night; but General Earl wants you more than I do, and he shall have you.” ‘““T am not the.one you think I am,” was the sullen reply. “Oh, yes you are; but come into my par- lor, my friend,” and the Cowboy led the pris- oner into the cabin, and striking a light secure- ly bound him, Then he went over to a chest in the corner, and taking out some clothing, a false wig and beard, put them on and left the cabin. He went directly to the horse ridden there by Brandt Burnett, mounted, and making a circle out of the timber approached the camp of the soldiers, and was halted by the sentinel. “Ts this a military camp?’ he asked, inno- cently. ‘“‘ Yes, who are you?” ‘‘T am a scout from the upper parts, and I would like to see your commanding officer,” was the reply. Captain Willoughby had heard the sentinel’s challenge and what followed, and rising from his blanket came forward. ‘Well, my man, you wish to see me?” he asked, ‘Yes, sir,’? and in a low tone he continued: ‘‘T am Langdon, the Cowboy, and wish you to come with me to my cabin, for I have a prisoner for you.” The captain started, for the disguise of the youth was so thorough he had failed to recog- nize him. ‘ But he said aloud: ‘Well, my man, if you can give me any important news I will accompany you.”’ ‘‘ Better not go alone, sir,” whispered the sergeant, coming forward. ‘‘Oh, I have no fear.” ‘“‘] don’t recognize him, cap’n, as any scout I know,” said Moccasin Mike in a low tone, ‘‘Never mind, I will trust him,” and the captain walked away with the disguised Cow- boy, who had dismounted and was leading Burnett’s horse behind him. a CHAPTER XII. A SUBSTITUTE. MAKING a circuit of the timber motte, the Cowboy led the captain directly to his cabin, neither speaking a word until they drew near it, when the latter asked: ‘Well, Langdon, what means this masque- rade?” ‘Had I gone to your camp without disguise all would have known me. ‘‘A man, the one who kidnapped Miss Earl, came to my cabin awhile since to kill me; I was too quick for him, and I would be glad to have you take him to Miss Earl from me,” ‘With pleasure, and his life will not be worth a cent when the general lays his hand upon him; but they will know that I have seen you,” ‘““No, I will send a sealed letter, and in my disguise you know me only as Yankee Sam, a v f scout from the upper parts whom I resemble — in my disguise.” “And the prisoner?” ‘Ts in my cabin.”’ : ‘““T hope you bound him firmly.” “JT did, remembering his escape once be- . fore.” They entered the cabin together and by the light of the candle they saw Brandt Burnett, bound as the Cowboy had left him, Taking paper and an envelope the youth wrote with a pencil as follows: ‘* Miss EaARL:— ‘*In return for your kindness I send you the man you have so much cause to dread, and who escaped from me the night I rescued you from his power. ‘‘He visited my cabin to-night, whither I had come to ap up some articles of value, as being an outcast, oner just as he was trying to inveigle me out to kill me, _ ROO WIDE that Captain Willoughby and his ) troopers, who were on my trail, are encamped near, I disguised myself, sought the captain, and into his hands give the prisoner with this letter to you, ‘‘Brandt Burnett goes to you with the same hand- cuffs on-that you took from my wrists, and I ho he will be in some part a substitute for your thank- ful friend, known to the troopers as * Yankee Sam,’ but whom you know now as the unfortunate Cow- boy, and outcast, Lester LANGDON,” ‘You can read the letter to-morrow, and then seal it, so you will know what I have written,” said the youth in a low tone, and then aloud he continued: “Captain Willoughby, I give into your hands this prisoner, whom you will doubtless recognize, and whom General Earl is anxious to have in his power,” | “Well, sir, I recognize you as the deserter, who with an ally, kidnapped Miss Earl, and I am glad to get my clutches upon you,” sternly said the officer; but the prisoner made no audible reply, only uttered something like a smothered oath at the predicament his desire of revenge against the Cowboy had gotten him into, Turning to address the youth the captain found that he had left the cabin, and going to the door could not find hin. Placing a small silver bugle to his lips he gave a call, and instantly it was answered from the camp, while half the troopers came at a run, and the others remained to saddle up the horses and follow, as all believed théir cap- tainin danger. Moccasin Mike was the first to arrive, and cried out, as he caught sight of the officer; “He played yer false, then, cap’n?’ ‘“No, Mike, he gave me a valuable prisoner whom he had captured‘;.one the general wilh be as glad to see as though we had brought back the Cowboy. “‘Come, sergeant, break camp, and we'll march, for it is after midnight, and we can make a long halt at noon.” Two of the men then took the prisoner in charge; but as his horse could nowhere be found, they mounted him behind a trooper, and the party set off for the fort. It was just at sunset when they arrived, and as they rode into the plaza, all expected the prisoner was the unfortunate Cowboy, until ‘they caught sight of him, and then a yell of joy went up at the capture of the man, for bis’ disguise having been removed, the sinister, cruel face of Brandt Burnett was revealed in all its wickedness, Straight to the general went Captain Wil- loughby, and Lilian being sent for, the letter was delivered to her in the presence of her fa- ther, and was read aloud. ‘By Heaven! had I the power, I would pardon the boy for the capture of that wretch, who shall be quickly court-martialed, and as a deserter and kidnapper will suffer death. ‘The boy was near you then, Willoughby, while you were looking for him?’’ said the gen- eral. ‘¢- Yes, sir, so it seems.” ‘‘ And you did not penetrate his disguise?” ‘‘It was at night, sir, and he called himself Yankee Sam, a scout I had heard of,” was the evasive reply of the young officer, and seeing his face color at the prevarication, Lilian felt IOO Eomic CS have no home now, and I made him pris- , * ' ‘ co 7 P