Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 240 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiator. building, to re-enter it again by way of the hall and make his way toward the boxes. : ‘¢Tt must be she that is so jealously guarded in the first private box,” he muttered, since it is announced that the marriage is to take place to- night. And, if such is the case, I’ve a notion that the Mormon Prophet will lose his prospec- tive bride!” A walk up the hallway brought him to the door opening into the box occupied by Pietro and Bertie Bird. This door was not entirely closed, and Carli- son was enabled to get a partial view of them and note the fact that the attention of both was directed to the battle going on in the ring be- low, the dwarf at the moment being in the act of rpeee ne. ‘Och! shure the Don will be afther gettin’ tha divil!” he was saying, evidently addressing Miss Bertie. ‘ He bea good ’un wid the sword, it is true, but divil a wan has he iver tackled of the loikes of his prisent antagonist.” ‘* Would to Heaven that he gets punished, the brute!” Bertie replied, indignantly. ‘*Oech! sorry’s the bastin’ you’d be afther get- tin’ did he hear you say thim words. If the loikes of him gets kilt, I suppose you'll be mar- ryin’ the loikes of mesilf, me darlint, and es- eapin’ from this big-family city?” “Oh! undoubtedly!” was the sarcastic reply. ** You are such an improvement on the other ruffian, that I almost fancy [ see myself getting ready to elope with you.” “*In that case, ’d better prevent such rash- ness, as you can escape without all that sacri- fice!” Carlison cried, in a low tone, as hestepped quickly into the box and presented a cocked re- volver at Pietro’s head. ‘‘ Miss Bird, I have come to rescue you from this living tomb and restore you to your rightful position. Will you go with me?” ** No, she won’t do a wan av the loikes, sur!” Pietro protested, frightened and belligerent at the same time. “Shut up, or I’ doctor your eye with a lead pill if you raise any disturbance. Keep your mouth shut and I'll not hurt you. Will you fly from this place with me, Miss Bird?” **Oh! no! no!” Bertie gasped, shrinking away. **T do not know you—you are a stranger to me! I cannot go with you.’ “* Nonsense! let not such a ying 3 hinder you. Life-long misery stares you in the face, unless you improve this opportunity and escape to a fae where I can explain the mission that rings me here in search of you. If you delay, you are lost, for the marriage ceremony is an- eo to take place immediately after the uel. ‘*But how do I know you are speaking the truth! How dol know but what you are trying to lure me into some terrible trap?” Bertie de- manded, suspiciously. ‘“You have my word of honor as a gentle- man, dear lady, that I mean well for you.” Bertie was silent for a moment, her eyes at- tracted to the scene in the ring below, where the antagonists were doing some ah fencing neither one of them appearing to have gained an advantage over the other. ‘*How would we escape without danger of being retaken?’ she finally asked, turning to Carlison. +‘ This bloodhound of the Don will give us trouble.” ‘‘Not the least whatever. Ho will go right along with us until we are safe out of hearing, then we'll send back word by him tothe Don to the effect that ‘ there’s many a slip ’twixt the cup and the lip.’ Come, sir, rise and proceed quietly a few few paces in advance of us, or I'll kill you quicker than scat, and escape with Miss in the bargain!” ' “Holy murther!” Pietro exclaimed, as he arose, with evident unwillingness; “ d’ye think tha loikes ay me a fool? I’ll be dacent, av course I will!” ‘* See that vou are!” Carlison said, warningly. “‘Come, Miss Bird—now’s our time, before we are discovered.” With evident reluctance Bertie obeyed, fol- lowing Carlison; and the trio hurried down the hall and out into the night. _ the door Carlison faced Pietro about, and said: “Now, sir, the likeliest thing you can do is get back to the place you started from—the x—in the eet and quietest manner you know how. I shall listen bere at the door until I hear you safely there. If you try any funny usiness, you’re a dead man.” Pietro uttered a grunt, and made haste to obey. He was an arrant coward at heart when it came to his own safety, and was glad to es- cape thus easily. ——+——_—+ . Carlison watched him until he disappeared, then he turned quickly to Bertie, who stood near by. ‘*Come!” he exclaimed; ‘‘ we must run for it now, ere the Irishman raises the alarm and the Mormons give chase; and he seized her arm and pulled her swiftly along. ‘Where are you going to take me?” Bertie gasped, many misgivings for her safety assail- ing her. | f To a safe retreat I to-day dis¢overed within the confines of this gulch. e cannot leave by either secret pass to-night, for the reason that both passes are doubly guarded. Do not fear— we shall safely elude the pursuit, if pursuit is made,” How true this was, whether to believe it or not, poor Bertie did not know. She had started forth with him, and must follow his guidance until it was too late or until he had proven him- self her friend. As fast as was possible he hurried her along, and in due time they came to the chaparral thicket, which filled up the upper end of the gulch and made it almost impassable. Into this jungle Carlison led the way. So thick was the growth that it was impossi- ble to make rapid progress, but finally they came to asort of opening or glade, where the roar of falling water reached their ears, In front of them was a waterfall of consider- able width and hight, pouring down from over a rocky ledge on the mountain side into a deep basin, from which it escaped by way of the channel that ran down through the length of the locked valley. Directly across the receiving basin of the waterfall was a fallen tree. It was a large, long pine, that had evidently been down some years, and one end of it was hidden from view under the falls, as Bertie could see, dark as it was. Carlison immediately drew an immense oe blanket from under a rock near at hand. ‘Our snug retreat for the present is behind those falls,” he said, ‘‘and to reach it I shall have to carry you across that log in under the falls. To accomplish it, I shall have to raise te in my arms, and we shall have to have the lanket, which I bronght with me from the East, over our heads, to save getting wet. It will take but a second to pass through the sheet of water, when we once get to it, so don’t be afraid.” He raised the bewildered girl in his strong arms, and then pulled the huge waterproof over their heads and wrapped it around them. Then stepping upon the log, in a few moments nem Ned with his charge in under the alls. As he had told Bertie, it took but a second to dart through the thin sheet of water, but it was an awful second to the terrified girl. Carlison set her on her feet and threw off the blanket which had shielded them. All was Stygian gloom, but after fumbling around a moment, Carlison lit a ma‘ch, and then a pine knot, which he thrust into a crevice in the rocky wall at one side. Now that the scene was illuminated, Bertie could see that they were in the mouth of a large cave, that yawned just beneath the falls. It had evidently been washed out by water at some remote period, and ran back into the mountain for a considerable distance. There was no furniture whatever, proving that the place had net been used as a resort. ‘‘ Well, how do you like the looks of the re- treat? Do you imagine they will find us here?” Carlison asked, a smile br Ah Yee face. ** Not unless Juan Cordiz or the bloodhounds trail us,” she replied, ‘* How git ve I tostay here, sir?’ ** Until I can make satisfactory arrangements to leave the town,” was the reply. ‘ [ reckon we are safe from Mormon vengeance, and I shall not make a move until I can make a sure ‘* But what do you intend to do with me, sir, after you make this sure move you speak of?” Bertie demanded, facing him, and gazing at him inquiringly. : “Well, that depends somewhat upon circum- stances,” he replied, with a mocking coolness of demeanor that made the blood chill in her veins; ‘‘it depends altogether on circumstances, my dear. If you agree to marry me when we get once into civilized parts, we shall go immediate- ly East, to take possession of an immense for- tune that has fell jointly to you and me by the re- cent death of your uncle. Instead of becomin the fifth or sixth wife of a Mormon, you m become the first wife of a gentleman—that’s me, Arthur:Carlison, Esquire. nows of the place, | CHAPTER IX. WHO THE VICTOR WAS. Let us return to the ring in the amphitheater. For nearly half an hour had the two gladia- tors confronted each other and fenced in a wa that indicated their thorough acquaintance wit the sword exercise. Fora time it locked as if they were too well matched for anything but a draw duel. ° But to an observing outsider it would have become a parent that the Don was getting out of. A wind,” but Kit appeared just as fresh as when he commenced, and if anything, more agile and limber. ‘‘ Come! come!” he said, as he perceived that the spectators were growing impatient for a break in the monotony, ‘‘are you not going to fulfill your promise to the people? They are getting tired of having to waitso long to see ou kill me, as you declared your intention te ”? ‘‘ Never fear! Dll kill you yet!” the Prophet growled, savagely, as he made a fierce lunge. ac You G—?? He never finished the utterance, at least not at that juncture, for Cyclone parried his blow with a powerful stroke which wrenched the Don’s weapon from his grasp and sent it flying ernshios across the ring, leaving him defense- ess. The next instant he received a crack oknence his bead from the flat of Kit’s sword that - bled him upon his back with surprising quick- ness. Placing his foot on the Don’s breast, Cyclone Kit held his sword ready to finish the job before him. A thunder of applause broke from the audi- ence. They had of one accord expected a dif- ferent termination; they were astonished at the rowess of this Ganti e stranger; they could ut give vent to their admiration of his won- derful skill. ‘“Merey!” Don Juan gasped, glaring up into the face of his antagonist. ‘‘Ha! you beg for prs 4 do you?” Kit re- plied. ‘Do you think you have got enough?” ‘‘T should not beg for quarter if I did not,” was the gruff reply. ‘‘ Well, sir, when I have your promise that I can remain at liberty in be town as long as I please, unmolested, and come and go when I please, you can reasonably consider that I shall spare your life, for the present. Otherwise, you can rise and grasp your sword, and believe I shall not let up on you so easily, a second time. What say you—if freedom of the town?’ ‘‘ No—never!” Cordiz gritted, struggling to get up—but he might as well bave made no effort at all, because the foot of the Gentile ladiator held him firmly down, until he ceased is a when Kit stepped to one side, and allowed him to arise. ‘‘ Now, sir!” he cried, ‘‘ get your sword, and come atme. Itis either you orl, now! This is no country subject to monarchy—I allow there ain’t no locked kingdoms where a fellow hasn’t the 2 pers 20, if he chooses—and, there- fore, we shall see whether I haven’t the right to stay here in Gold-F lake!” ‘Yes, we will see!” Juan roared, ee his blade. ‘‘ I’m ruler of this town, and when say aman cannot stay er depart, I reckom my word is law.” With acry of rage, he rushed forward, and steel once more met steel, with rapid rmging clashes. Thrust, parry, feint; there was now no cbild’s lay about the skilled and scientific fencing. ead ene were — ame. er evident] tent upon layin er ou The spectatve te rm th feverish interest —their whole minds and souls seeming to be centered in the scene below them. ‘Clash! clash! clash! Then a cry of mortal pain, as Juan Cordiz staggered back, while at the same moment Cy- clone Kit drew his weapon from :the Mormon’s breast, and with a wave of his hand, as the Don fell to the ground, Cyclone Kit turned and strode from the ring and out of the ampbi- theater, his sword ready for use upon any one who should presume to blockade his way. .- There were no cheers, this time, until the gladiator was gone; then a feeble applause went up, but quickly died out. Don Juan still lay where he had fallen, and it looked quite evident that Gold-Flake had lost, or was about to lose its Prophet and ruler. The sensation day in Gold-Flake had fairly eter the morning after the gladiatorial con-. t. | OOo) com CS (E spare you, am I to have the ~ (E(0)