Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 24 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 if was only by a sharp word that his master | The man was of ma could urge him on. ! “You are tired, old fellow—we will not try to find ag to-night, but rest. Come, we wi turn up this little glen, for there must be good grass for you.” Rich ss was found in the glen, and a nice place for the scout to pass the night; so he las- Beadle’s Half-Dime estic presence, tall, well _ formed, and with a noble, dignified face, with _ mustache and whiskers, streaked with gray: | eg- He was dressed in buck-skin jacket an gins, wore top-boots and a slouch hat, while a | repeating rifle of recent manufacture was slung soed his steed out to feed, spread his blankets — beneath a tree, and was soon fast asleep. The light of day awoke him, and he sprung to his feet. , As he did so he heard the sound of hoofs ap- proaching. . ‘ At once he sought shelter, and a moment after a horseman passed the mouth of the glen. . The scout was about to hail him; but he | checked himself, and muttered: ‘‘ Where can he be going! I will follow and see.” is horse was soon saddled, and mounting, he rode quickly on in the trail of the horseman who had just The trail led into the dark gorge—the tracks were fresh—and the scout noticed another cir- ' | ' | cumstance that surprised him greatly—there — were numerous other tracks leading into the | | gorge. What could all this mean? He was determin- | the maiden spoke in a tone of touching re- ed to find out, cost what it might. ing a Safe distance behind the horseman he followed slowly. ' and saw him shot down—the one who by a strap to his back, and a pair of revolvers and knife were in his belt. “Who can he be? The owner of in, that is certain; but what is he these wilds? ‘‘ He does not look like a criminal hiding from his fellow-men—ha! he must in some way connected with that maiden— Whom have we here?’ and the scout turned as he heard the rapid fall of hoofs. onder cab- oing here in —_ — me ee ee —_—_——___ — a. gu - — -_ - — Library. Turning he beheld with surprise the snow-— white mustang and his fair rider approaching. ‘“The Girl Guide here? I thought she was in camp.” The next instant the white mustang halted by his side and the young girl sprung to the ground, her face male and anxious, as she mate ‘Ah, sir, is he dead?” ‘No, he is merely stunned—he is not seriously wounded—he will soon recover.” ‘Did you raise your hand against him?’ and proach. ‘* Upon my word, no—I was on the hill rand id the At length the gorge spread into an open, lovely | deed shall not escape, I promise you; he knows ch Feat or not that any one saw him fire the shot.” valley with a stream of water in the center. Going up the valley was the horseman he was | trailing, and not very far in advance. “Should | he sti look around he would discover that his ste were dogged, so the seout turned to the right and rode up the hillside. After a few moments’ rough climbing he gained a point that commanded a full view of the valley. To his surprise, under the shadow and shelter of the mountain at the se end of the valley he beheld a small cabin of os. The scout had his field-glass with him and turned it upon the spot. “What! a home in the Yellowstone Valley? Wonders will never cease—this is indeed a land of mystery!” he muttered. Then he turned his again upon the horse- man, and saw him ride into a small clump of timber, growing upon the bank of the stream, and which had concealed his approach from any one that might be at the cabin. «> ‘Hardl in the thicket, when, turning his glass again upon the cabin, Diamond Dirk saw a horse and rider leave the shelter of the mountain and ride slowly down the valley. , He watched him re A felt. certain that he had never seen him he be? | Slowly the stranger came down the valley trail and had passed the thicket, when from the foliage came a white puff of smoke. The horseman threw his arms into the air, his horse bounded forward and the ‘rider fell heavily to the ground. ** Good ! what can that mean?’ cried the scout. As he spoke a man darted from the thicket and bent over the fallen one. It was the man whom the scout had trailed. A moment he remained by the side of the rostrate form—then, as the frightened, rider- ess steed rushed past him on his way back to the cabin, he sprung to-his feet and disappeared in the thicket. | The next instant he rea mounted, and with mad speed urged horse down the val- ley. Wie beuut-naée no effort to stop him ashe wheeled into the gorge—he simply mounted his own steed, as soon as the horseman had aud oped rapidly toward the motionless form by the ket. As he rode along a strange look rested wpo the face of Diamond Dirk—he had reco in the man who fired the shot from the thicket, none other than Lord Gilbert, Ear! of Lochiel. CHAPTER XXIII. DIAMOND DIRK’S DISCOVERY. A SWEEPING op soon brought Diamond Dirk to the where lay the man who had been so y fired upon by Lord Gilbert. the ground he knelt beside him, at believed he was dead—the blood oozing from a wound in the back of the head: yeta closer examination pores that the bullet had not broken the , but had on the bone, and runing half around the head had cut | out of the scalp and passed on in its flight. + pee the horseman concealed himself | | | ern wi ‘‘lam so glad yours was not the hand that did the deed—are you certain he is not seriously continue to follow him, and the man hurt? ‘Yes, he is even now recovering and will soon be all right; but how is it. I find you here?” ‘*T came hither instead of going to your cam —your wounded friend is now at my cabin, an Py see Markham returned last night in search of you.” ; * In search of me?” ‘Yes, he did not like leaving you at the cav- the madman; but he could do nothi else, loaded down as he was with your woundec friend, and as soon as he brought him to our cabin he went back for you; but tell me, what of the madman?” ‘*T was forced to fire upon him; but I did not do so until I felt that he would kill me. He lived some time and told me the story of his | life.” fore—who could | ** Poor fellow! but where can your friend ‘* He has doubtless missed the way. When I c your—father, is it?” ‘Yes, he is my father; he is all that I have in the world to love.” ‘* See; he is recovering now. Speak to him.” ‘‘Father—my father—thank you are better!” The soft words aroused the mim; he opened | his eyes, sat up, and then drew the maiden to- ; | ward him, while he muttered: ‘“* Did my horse fall with me, or was I fired upon, daughter?’ “ Where have I seen that face and heard that voice before?’ murmured the scout, while the maiden said: ‘You were fired upon, father; some enemy would have slain you; your horse came back to the cabin, and, alarmed for your safety, I sought you, to find this noble scout by your syle. He saw your would-be assassin fly.” The man turned his upon Diamond Dirk, and held forth his hand: **Comrade, I am thankful to you. Come, let us to the cabin.” ‘ _ The scout aided the wounded man to rise, and insisted upon it that he should mount his horse. Ina -, moments they arrived at the cabin— a stout log building, with two fair-sized rooms in it, and pleasantly situated beneath an over- spur of mountain, and upon the grassy bank of a pretty stream. and a fowl-house, and to the rise of the scout he beheld a number of fine chickens stalk- g about, while cattle fed upon the rich grass of the valley. ‘“ This is indeed a surprise; tlement in the Yellowstone,” said Diamond Dirk. ‘Here have I lived for gar ag and until my daughter returned last night with your wound ever been here. We have lived in peace contentment away from the world,” and man spoke with considerable sadness in his : _and turned upon the face of his brother. “ And in all those years you have never seen | _ shade of ashen other human beings than yourselves?” a ——————— — settlement for provisions and ammunition, but that is all.” Upon entering the cabin Diamond Dirk found Burt Belford comfortably located in a bed of buffalo-robes, anil after greeting him, he at once set to work to dress the wound of the set tler, while the 1naiden began to prepare break- fast for her guests—the first duty of the kind she had ever performed for strangers. After a hearty meal, for he confessed to being very hargry, the scout said he would at once look up Captain Markham, who he feared had gotten lost, and after finding him would go tu the cavern and bury the giant madman. ‘‘Then strike camp and come here with your friends—we have ample food,” said the hospt- table settler. ‘ “T will, sir—thank you; we may arrive by evening; now I would like a few words with you, settler.” The two walked apart, and the scout told the settler what he had iearned from the madman regarding the death of Powder Bob, and that it was the same one who had attempted his life! “ Strange—l know of no enemy that I have— he doubtless mistook me for some one else; but, there is a mystery in all this that must be solved —when you come back, then we will find out why he attempted my life.” ounting his horse, Diamond Dirk rode rap- idly away from the peaceful valley. s he turned into the trail leading to camp he saw a riderless steed before him. It was the horse of Leo Markham. But the rider was not far away—he was kneel- ing upon the ground; and bending over a con- fused heap of humanity. Rapidly the scout dashed forwayd, and beheld a strange sight—the animal ridden by Lord Gil- bert was lying dead amid a heap of stenes—the object over which Leo Markham was bending _ was the crushed and bleeding form of the Ear] of Lochiel. 7 CHAPTER XXIV. FACE TO FACE, . His horse has fallen with him, doubtless—the animal’s neck is broken, the rider | fear will die; I found them thus,” explained Leo Markham as Diamond Dirk rode up. ‘* He is not dead; but he is seriously burt; re- main by him while I ride to camp.” Away darted the scout, and Leo Markham was alone with the wounded, perhaps dying man, and a look of _ concern was upon his face, for he had learned to greatly like the En- gl an. The young soldier had, as the scout had feared, lost his way, and had just found the trail lead- ing to camp, when he came upon the fallen steed and rider. eS of the cabin were outbuildings—a stable © ; ' : Like the very wind Diamond Dirk sped on, and, reaching the encampment, his orders were ven. e Pete and two of his comrades were di- rected to go to the madman’s cavern, bury the: giant form, and then come on to the valley. ** You will strike our trail leading tothe cavern, and can then follow my trail back to the settler’s valley, Pete; now, Pompey, around, pack up and come along whom I will leave to guide you. we will at once ride on and the cabin as quickly as possible.” with Buster, Mr. Vernon, Accompanied by the remaining frontiersmen, - istresced and Jules Vernon, who seemed deeply d at the misfortune that had befallen Lord Gil- bert, the scout spurred rapidly away and soon reached the spot where Leo Markham awaited by the side of the yet unconscious man. A litter was quickly made and the wounded nobleman gently placed thereon. en the party moved at a brisk walk in the direction of the cabin in the valley. It was a long, tiresome walk, but they at length arrived, and the settler and his daughter met them infront of the cabin : As the eyes of the settler fell upon the white face of Lord Gilbert, he sprung forward and bent a searching look at him. | ‘Good God! Itis my brother Gilbert? Like a drunken man he tottered back and I knew of no set- | would have fallen had not the scout caught him. Your brother, father?’ sé “Yes, Ada; my brother—the only brother I had, and who was my father’s favorite. Four- teen years ago I parted from him in far-away friend, no other human beings have India. To-day, we mieet in the wilds of Ameri- and ca, and, oh God! how terrible to meet thus, But the he must not die—see! he yet lives and—” | As the settler spoke, the eyes slowly opened, Then over the face of Lord Gilbert stole a pallor. The eyes stared and the ‘Oh, yes—twice a year I go to the nearest | lips murmured unintelligible words, €om ,OO (E bb and Jake fly . ‘tt Lord Gilbert to <5) (E(0)