Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 28 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

Gunn — a they call Miss Stella!’’ replied Walt, not at all admir- ing the major. “Well, then hand it over to me, and I'll see she gets it.’ But Walt shook his head. It occurred to him that it might not be advisable to betray the whereabouts of Buffalo Ben. ‘*No; I must see the young lady in person,” was the reply. i “Hey? what?” The officer didn‘t appear to quite credit his hearing. ‘“‘ You won't trust the message with me?” ‘*No; I must give it to the one it’s intended for.” “Then, get ong with you; you can’t see her. > Brayeon was sbout to turn away, when a slight rayton was abou m away, when a . — figure flitted out from the hail, and was at his side. ‘What isit? Why do you seek me?” she demand- ed, breathlessly. Walt glanced around. The major was striding “5 close; a time was giver him to whisper: alo Ben is dying. ced Maude’s shanty beyond Metropolitan Saloon.” Then he hurried o toward the hillside, bound toward the cave. Stella turned and flew into the hotel, with a very deathly-white face. Scarcely two minutes elapsed ere she came forth, and sped down the street, wearing a hat and water- proof. “Tl follow her!’’ said the major, with an oath, **and learn what’s the rumpus!” CHAPTER XV. BRINGING MATTERS TO A CLOSE. WRESTLING WALT strode swiftly through the town and ascended the steep eastern hillside, which would have been enveloped in Stygian gloom, but for the a brightly from many a miner’s tent or s ty. The ascent of the hill was no easy matter. It was rough and rocky, and in places covered with patches of briers. But Drayton kept on determinedly, and his ef- forts were at last rewarded by reaching the entrance of the cavern. All was dark and silent within. In the @-way was a dead body. Drayton started violently, as he stumbled over it. ‘*By Heaven! what has mot earn ?’’ he ejaculated, striking a match, and ho it to the prostrate man’s face. ‘* AsI’m a live sucker, it’s St. Elmo!” It was indeed the professional wrestler, lying just where a bullet from the revolver of Lightning Luke had reached him. He was quite dead, and growing stiff, as he lay there. " By thunder!’’ Drayton muttered, ‘this smells suspiciously that there’s been trouble here,” e stood for a moment, undecided whether to en- ter the black cavern or not. Might not Luke and Belle have been overpowered, and might not the seeey be lying in wait for him, ready to salivate m These were the thoughts that flashed across the wrestler’s mind, but he was no coward, and a mo- ment later he advanced into the cavern. ‘Hello! Luke, are you there?” he called; then he oe for a reply. ‘ - aw ere was a cry from the darkness, n came the voiee at the big-hearted hunter: “ Hello yerself! Be that you, Wrestler?”’ ““Reckon’s me,” replied Walt. ‘‘Come out; what ‘ye doin’ back there in the gloom, like a pair of fright- ened sheep?” ‘Bin hevin’ a funeral, round these diggin’s,”’ re- ed the hunter, coming forward, Belle ony P him. “Salivated two prowlers, a bit ago; hed a notion to plug you, out yonder match, but thort I'd best wait an ‘Thoughtful of you!" replied Walt, sarcasti > “‘Isee you've put the light of eternity through St. Elmo, out yonder, in approved style.” ‘*St. Elmo? War et the feller we hitched ter the fat Ral, w’at I keeled over?” “The same. He’s deader ’an a door nail.,”’ ‘**Seore one pint fer Ransom, then,’’ chuckled the hunter; ‘‘also another, in ther bargain, fer I opine tafe find another lifeless corpuss, some’ere’s "bout ther dark, hyer.”’ ‘‘ Let’s have a light and investigate, then. Who kicked the fire out—you?” ‘Shouldn't wonder! Too much glim war thare, so I doused it, tharby preventin’ ther enemy frum shov- in’ their pepper too free.” By groping around Walt found and succeeded in lig a resinous pine knot, the flame of which dis- tinctly lit up the cavern from one end to the other. little way off from where the trio were stan ae = form of a woman, outstretched upon the It took but a glance to recognize the former cap- tress of Belle, the ugly and repulsive Silver Sal. She had run her race, and now lay silent in death. is Silver Sal!’ exclaimed e es my | as her mind reverted to the many bea she had re- Ceived at the bad creature’s hands. “She is dead, and though she was cruel and merciless to me, I , When you ‘lit the to have mercy on her soul.” ’ 2Hen she turned to Drayton. tion” brother; did you find him?” was the ques- se put, and her fair hand clasped his arm, “Yes, miss, I found Buffal " ; o Ben,” was the wres- oe P hesitating reply, “‘ but it was in battle, in which I volunteered to take a part. He fell, ust when we eae wre the enemy, and is now very low, ee te of Masked Maude the fortune-teller, a 6w doors from the Metropolitan saloon. I have come to take you to him.” © grew very pale. Many girls would have _ly occupied b Buffalo Ben. ——— —_—-— fainted trolled her emotion; and then followed Drayton and | a eaige Luke from the cave. hey descended the hillside to the shanty former- Silver Sal; here some wraps were wa secured for Belle, and then they hurried on. Walt had communicated his fears to Ransom; con- peaen ey both men were eager to reach the death- of the scout, where their services might be need- ed any moment, And ere long they were knocking at the door of the fortune-teller’s abode, and were quietly admitted by Masked Maude, in person Belle ran quickly to the bedside of the dying scout, and kneeling by side, burst into a passionate fit of weeping. Just opposite her was Stella, stroking back the outh’s r, and sobbing as if her heart would reak, Atthe foot of the bed stood a grave, clerical- look gentleman, the army surgeon of the com- mand then stationed in Deadwood. Calamity occupied a position at the head of the bed, and was silent. “What change has there been? how is he, poor fellow?’ asked Drayton, in a whisper, tears coming into his eyes as he glanced at the pale, pained face on the pillows, wreathed in its semi-framework of soft golden hair. “You can see for yourself,” replied the masked fortune-teller, in a low tone. ‘“‘He has lain as he lies now ever since I came. Surely there is every indication that he is dying. Calamity summoned the surgeon; he says the case is bad, but does not pronounce it hopeless.” Both Walt and Ransom went and knelt by the bed- side. The wrestler took the youth's hand in his and pressed it gently. “Who do you want to see, Ben?’’ he asked, tender- ly. ‘Is there any one 7a want to come?” Only two!” replied Jerome, in a searcely audible tone—“ only two.” **And they are—”’ ‘* Belle and Stella!”’ “Then take comfort, for both are here. Rise, la- dies, that he may see you.” Both the girls rose to their feet, and bent over the one whom of all others they loved the best. Ben seemed to recognize them both, for an expression of radiant jo hted up his pale face, and he with an Sg he hee _ to deig 3 “Tam so g ” he gasped; then came a great volume of clotted bl from between his lips, and he sunk back in exhaustion. As he did so one of the sleeves of his hunting-shirt was pushed above to the shoulder, and on the arm a name was indelibly tattooed. Luke Ransom was the only one to see this name, but it was a startling discovery to him. The name was Benjamin Wadsworth! Here, then, was one of the children of the murdered Elvira Wadsworth— one of the rightful heirs to the immense property of Aaron Wadsworth, the fiend-father! His first action was to call the surgeon to one side, and hold a short consultation. Be ae ee “ ,at ” was rave - sinking very fast.”’ ~ ? “Yas, that’s plain; but, doctor, you must raise a a must, 1 tell ye. at amount o’ spondu- lics . cause you to put yer best fut for’ard, in this ease 7 The surgeon started, then smiled. ‘“ Well,” he said, reflectively, ‘“‘now that you've asked me a fair question, I'll give youa fair answer. One thousand dollars worth of a adminis- tered remedies would place the boy in his saddle within a week!”’ Luke would have knocked the man down at an- other time; but now he felt that Buffalo Ben must recover, at all hazards, no matter the cost. ““Go ahead, then,’’ he said, simply. ‘‘As soon as he is ready for the saddle, your fee shall be ready for you.” é surgeon accepted with alacrity. A thousand dollars was not to be made every forty-eight hours, and he was tive he could raise this case. He ordered all away from the bedside, then mixed medicines every few moments, and poured them be- tween Ben’s lips, watching their effect, narrowly. In the meantime Luke and Drayton kept watch of the exterior surroundi of the cabin, for they were fearful that Major Fawdon would lead a posse of the Regulators down in search of Buffalo Ben. But, morning dawned, and its rosy sunlight bath- ed the mountain tops in crimson and gold; yet no a go 2 ang own, t TE wrng ng and the others at the shant ht- ning Luke set off up the gulch for a stroll, Vite hal an object in view, however, and it became manifest eae 8 he ran accidentally across J. Aaron Wads- worth. “Hello!” the scheming millionaire exclaimed, at once recognizing the hunter. ‘“* You in Deadwood yet?” I was in hopes I had seen the last of you.” “Ye don’t say so!” Ransom replied evidently amazed. ‘‘ Waal, ye hain’t seen * ee last o’ m that’s darned certain. I war jest lookin’ ye up. were re ter cum along wi’ me.’ e ere to?” ‘‘No matter whar; jest foller me, that’s all. I’ve got som thin’ ter show pa Northwesterners he did not’ knuw oEee op nets orthwesterner; he not know what tra ight have been laid for him. ome **T won’t go!” he declared. “ You wish to waylay and murder me!” *Oh! no. I don’t wish terdo an o’ the kind. I have found the children of Elvira Wadsworth. = me your weapons, if you have any, and come ong. “He is but the lovely sister of Buffalo Ben con- “*T have none, Iam unarmed.”’ “You lie! You have a revolver there in your hip pocket. Give et ter me quick!” The millionaire handed it over, with a dark scowl. Somehow he felt himself completely in this hunter’s wer. And, too, he could not afford to be obstinate or he was eager to learn if really these so-called children of Elvira Wadsworth were her children. There was a way to prove their identity that he knew of, that he “4 Ransom to be ignorant of. ‘Lead on,”’ he said. ‘I’m all impatience to see these progeny of mine,’’ with a sarcasticlaugh. ‘‘I —— they look like their villainous father, eh?’’ vo; like their murdered mother, I should say— light of complexion and hair.”’ i Yes, that corresponds somewhat with their mother’s description. But go ahead, and give usa look at them!” Ransom led the way back toward the shanty of Masked Maude. There was a steely glitter in his eyes, which, if it had been observed by J. Aaron Wads- worth, might have caused that gentleman a feeling of uneasiness. The shanty gained, Luke opened the door and en- tered, Wadsworth close at his heels. - Inside, the hunter turned upon him. **'You will permit meto bind your hands,” he said; and he did the job neatly, before the millicnaire was scarce aware of it. Buffalo Ben was sitting bolstered up on the bed, with more color in his cheeks, and a greater portion of life than he had possessed when Luke had gone forth. Belle sat by his side, with his hands in hers, and as they were thus near to each other, you saw the t resemblance between them. ‘There, Aaron Wadsworth!” Ransom said, point- ing to the twain, ‘‘are your children, whom you hired Bill Burk to murder, sixteen years ago, along with their mother—your lawfully wedded wife. Ha! I see you recognize ‘em; ye see in them a great re- semblance to her whom you hounded down to death!”’ The man of millions said nothing; only stood and stared with dilated eyes at the youth and maiden, who, knowing nothing of the matter, were at a loss to comprehend the situation. His face was deathly white, and his form trembled like a shaken reed. **Ha! ha!” the hunter continued, “see the fiend tremble. He knows an’ fears w'at’s comin’. My friends, et ar’ my ter tell ye a short story an’ ter you two, Miss lie an’ Buffaler Ben, et ar’ of special interest. ‘Sixteen years ago, last winter, my old dad, Zeke Ransom, was over at Yocum, in Montana Territory, when he met a female wi’ two little babes in her arms, who appealed ter him fer protection, sayin’ as she war pursued by enemies, an’ knew not w’ich way ter turn. So, what should Ole Zeke do but tote them along home wi’ him, way out in the wilderness, beyond Twenty-Mile Stretch. While the woman was there, a day or so, as nigh as I kin judge, she writ this ’ere document,” and here the hunter produced the —— on which Elvira Wadsworth had left her confession—‘‘an’ my ole dad buried it in a cache o’ peltries I had nigh the cabin. “In the followin’ Se I returned from a trap- in’ expedition, an’ found my dad’s body layin’ a ew rods only from the cabin, whar he had n shot down, an’in the open doorway o’ the same isolate home o’ my boyhood, I also found the corpse o’ a woman. “Side by side I buried "em, and when goin’ ter get = 3 pelts out o’ ther cache I found this dockyment, which war explanation, in a measure!” Here he sto , and all eyes involuntarily turned upon Aaron Wadsworth, for every person present felt that he was connected with crime, though none knew how closely. After a little pause, Ransom continued, his eyes Buea elternately upon the millionaire and alo n “I took the paper, and after long and hard study managed to decipher ets contents, fer et ar’, as ye see, written on terbaccy paper, wi’ a piece o’ plum- o. What I read there, my friends, fired me with a determination ter hunt down the man whose hand war at the bottom o’ this foul assassination, an’ ne tho’ I was, I set out on the trail, to avenge the deat o’ my only livin nt, “Since then have roamed about the world, and met with many adventures, but feelin’ all the time I should some day meet the real murderer of my fa- ther—the human devil whose hands were dyed deep in the blood of his own wife. “And so it has turned out. I have encountered my game, at last, and vengeance mine, ‘But first, let me read ter you the dockyment I found in my peltry cache—thet will explain things better’n I can.” Then, after clearing his throat, Lightning Luke read from the confession. - CHAPTER XVI. THE TELL-TALE DOCUMENT—CONCLUSION.’ “To whom it may concern: “This is the life peer of Elvira Leamington Wadsworth. To begin with, over two years ago, I in secret wedded Aaron Wadsworth, a young mil- lionaire, whose vast estates joined those of my fa- ther’s. He professed to love me, and I imagined I loved him, in return. But I see now that it was a mad seeeiigp aa cima’ ‘We were secretly married at pro e not ae to make ee nuptials public, for a year, dur- ing which time he said he hoped to effect a reconcil- iation of a deadly feud that existed between my family and his. t for nine months we were se- cretly together, much of the time; he made me cost- ly presents and we were — least, I was. “But, when my twin babes were bern it all EOE NO KS (E eom