Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 283 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

Indian Joe. ert te ee ee 10 out, | He knows whether I kin shoot, his own Ke lf. “Here they come,” cried Maid Marian. A confused alge gr horses’ feet sounded on the mountain path, and the next moment the robbers n to troop into the valley. They raised wild shouts of triumph at the sight of the two scouts, and rushed to seize them. But Ben Miffin was not the man to be taken readily. Shouting to Jan to follow, he dashed into an and how to talk to an unsuspecting forest-maid like this. His education is superior, and he is one of those trim young fellows apt to take a woman’s eye. Now you are rather a looking fellow, Conrad, but there is a little too mueh of the corsair about you, and she has | lived long enough here to know you exactly as | you are. And you don’t think that your life is | the most enticing in the world.” ‘Is that what you called me here to say?” said Conrad. a irregular path up the mountain side, known to but few. Before the horsemen had reached the spot where they had stood, they were half- way up the steep. Here they made a stand, and their enemies, rough and savage as they were, dared not follow. ‘*Vy you no cooms oop here?’ shouted Jan. “ Yoost dry it vunce. Ve makes you veel pad off you do.” The wild band gathered at the mountain foot, Truly, as Ben had said, they were a motley group. There was hardly a nation under the sun unrepresented here. Indian, Negro, French, German, Spaniard, English, and half-breed rode reund the mountain-base, and shouted uncouth eaths at the two men perched upon the moun- tain-side, laughing at them. “Who is it?’ said Conrad, riding up at this moment. ‘‘ Jasper Verton, do you know them?” The man addressed as Jasper Verton was a ale-faced, slight youth, who looked as if he had t lately left a college. Yet he was the most deliberate villain in the band, and was the second of ‘t Will o’ the Wisp” in his villainies. ‘“*IT know them very well,” said Verton. “That scoundrel Miffin and his Dutchman. [ think it would be better not to come in my way when I attempt to finish a fellow again. He would have been a dead man only for you,” ** Marian took ss part,” “So. And when Marian takes the part of any one it is understood that they are safe, Shall we follow those rascals? They are laugh- ing at us.” ‘* Follow the devil! How old Ben Miffin would laugh to see us dismount and begin to clamber up the rocks. They would kill us off, two ata time, before we could reach them. No. Let us on about the duty we have to perform. It will be all the easier that they are not of the party.” ~ Bon Miffin gave me a message for you, Con- d Vesey,” said Marian. : “And what was it?” “Say to ‘ Will o’ the Wisp,’” he said, “ that ‘I bave a bullet run for him, and if he gives me a shot af him | mean to rub him out.” A slight paleness showed itself in the face of the listener, but was gone ina moment. ‘The rogue dares to threaten me, then? I will make him ony, for that before many days. Forward, lads. ere is much spoil in the camp of the enemy, and it is ours.” _ Marian accompanied the band, and they rode into the deserted camp. On every side they saw evidences of a hasty departure, Broken traps were scattered here and there, drinking-cups battered out of shape, pieces of lariat and straps, and a number of condemned skins of many kinds. But the birds had flitted. | “This is your werk,” said the leader in a hoarse whisper, turning to Marian. ‘* You have warned them to go away.” ; “Not I,” said Marian. “At least not since the day you saw me here,” **T believe you lie.” ae Lie hd a your pardon, Marian. I should not have that, But you annoy me beyond de- scription. I can not bear it. Now these people are gone, and who is to blame?” ‘Maid Marian generally has her own way in the end,” sneered Verton. ‘‘ Shesaid you should do these people no wrong. Conrad, a word ia ear your ear. “No. I wish to speak with him,” said Ma- rian. | ‘IT beg your pardon, Miss Marian, but what I have to say is of interest to the whole band. It will take me but a moment. Now, Conrad.” The two went aside together. Verton’s face looked like that of an Iago in conference with one of his fools, “If you r:member rightly,” said he, ‘‘ there is @ young fellow among these hunters who is a handsome pee, sui to a What if I were to: tell you that ad is for hss sake she wishes to save these peo- ple. ‘* It may be,” said Conrad, beginning to flush. nag showed him great favor when saw her ere, ‘Certainly. He knows the ways of the world ‘Not at all, Icalled you here to inform you that the girl loves this Yankee fellow. I do not think she knows her own heart yet. But I have read human nature too long and too deeply to be deceived in this. I tell you she loves him.” “If I thought that,” began Conrad, lay ing | his hand upon a knife, “as God is my judge, think I would kill her.” ‘* None of that,” said Verton. ‘‘ None of the band would see you do Maid Marian an injury. Revenge yourself upon the man, if you like, but do not touch the girl.” ‘* What is that to you?” said Conrad, fiercely, half drawing the blade. ~ ‘ Do not think to frighten me, Conrad Vesey. You ought to know me by thistime You shall not hurt the girl.” ‘‘Hurt her! As if I could! I tell you my life is bound up in bers. But why need it trouble you? Do you want her yourself?’ The sudden question startled Verton, and nearly threw him off his balance, for he was conscious of this thought when the question was put. His first slight confusion over, he turned it off with a light laugh of derision. ‘‘I! You know wellenough that Maria would murder me if I dared to look at another wo- man. I meant this for a warning, * Watch this young scoundrel well, for I believe he seeks to rob us of Maid Marian.” ‘*The bare idea is enough. He may count himself a dead man if I penetrate the camp myself and kill him. Let the men encamp here. Pick out eight or ten of the best scouts and search for the trail. I will go out alone and look for it, See that Marian does not leave the camp.” “If she will go, I do.not think I can stop her,” said Verton. ‘‘Let me speak a word with her before I go. If you find the trail, fire three guns, That will briag me back. Send Marian to me.” The girl came to him with downcast eyes. She did not know what he had to say, but partly guessed it. ‘* Marian,” be said, ‘“‘ I am the camp of these bunters. assured that I shall find it. If I do, it remains with you to say what shall be the fate of its occupants.” ‘* With me?” [ “With you. Itis a long time since I saw you first. You werea ty creature then, and I felt a tbrill ina heart ong dead to human sympathy, as I lifted you to the saddle before me and préssed you to my breast. I have seen you grow up like a flower; I have taught you, and seen your mind expand; my love has grown up with you, and I will be set at rest. You complain of the life I lead.” ** Yes, Conrad,” she said, in a subdued tone, going to look for e “*T do.” ‘‘And you have guod reason. I am willing to change this life, to sever forever from these wild associates, and go out into the world. I have wealth enough to make me welcome among men—for mney after all, is the power which moves the world.” “Ah, Conrad, if you would make this change!” * Would you gS with me?” “Yes, Conrad.” “ As my wife, I mean.” . “No, ne, no! as your sister, I love you in that way; I can never love you in any other. I will go with you to the world’s end as your sister. I will love you always, but I cannot marry you.” , @ staggered like a man half drunk and leaned against his horse for support. It was a rough awakening from along life-dream, All his hopes were scattered in a moment by those sad .words. * You d “Tl am me when a little child and made me what I am. In the midst of wickedness, and doing it your- self, you taught me nothing but that which was good and pure. All that I am I owe to you. But I cannot forget what you have been.” ‘‘T can change.” , ‘Can you blot out the past? Can you make me forget how you acquired the wealth of not love me, then?’ which you boast? Conrad, let us out to- gether, with no wealth except our hands and our brains, give up this ill-gotten booty to the poor, and make ourselves a new name on earth.” “Think what you do, Marian. This has been the hope of my life. For you I have toiled: for you I have sometimes even stained my hands with blood, This gold—what did I care for it, except that you would some time share it with me. As for the world, this life is pref+r- able, for the world so wronged me before I fi: «i to the wilderness that I swore an oath to be revenged upon it. Change your purpose; say you will be my wife.” **T can not do that.” ‘Then give me your reasons.” ‘**T have given them.” ’ , ‘“‘ Then I will add another. This airy hunter, who saved your life, and who took you out of the bands of Jeff Rooter, has a warmer place in your heart than 1 have,” ‘* At least, he never insulted me,” said Marian, angrily, ‘“Indeed, Verton was right, then.” ‘‘Verton is a villain; I have told you again and again not to trust him; he will do you some great wrong yet.” ** No fear of that.” “He will betray you; I know that he is a villain to the heart’s core. He has lied about me, it seems.” “I think not. But let us say no more of this. I swear never to rest until this dandy hunter is in my power; and when he is—” The expression of his face told the probable fate of Dan, if by any chance he fell into his enemy’shands. He flung himself into the saddle and rodeaway. At length he reached a place where a path mounted the side of the bill: there he tied his hcrse, and looking at the pistols in his belt, he saw that they were capped. His knife was in its sheath, and the hilt of a long bladed stiletto showed itself in the breast of his bunting-shirt. The path up which he climbed was an irregular one, and dangerous to unwary feet. But he had suspected the place to which the party of hunters had gone, and knew that he could approach it in this way without being seen. He had just drawn himself up to a plat- form of rock from which he had a view of the camp, when a band was laid upon his shoulder and a voice said: _‘* What do you want here?” . He started to his feet. Dan Crowley, the man he had hated from his soul, stood before him. At first his hand fell upon his knife, and then he mastered himself with an effort, “Ah. it is you, sir,” he said. ‘‘ You startled me at first.” ‘You _ have not answered my question,” re- ated Dan. ‘TI asked you what you wanted ere. **T might ask you the same,” ‘‘Certainly—you might; and I might Rive you an honest answer. But as my question came first, so be good as to answer it at once.” ““Sdeath! I have as much right here as you —a better, in fact.” “That is no answer to my question.” _ “ Then my answer is, attend to your own affairs, and let me attend to mine.” “That is speguing to the point; but, happily, [ am attending to my business. Scoundrel, I know you! Thief, robber and murderer; con- sort of Indians and horse-thieves, you are in bad hands. Surrender, you disgrace to human- ity! surrender, and thank my good nature that I did not cut you down without question,” ‘IT am glad this has come so soon,” hissed Conrad, snatching f& pistol from his belt and pong it with his thumb. In his burry, the cap fell from the tube. Before he could get ut the other pistol, Dan got in a blow with his left hand, which sent the rascal staggering. It was only for a moment, and then ney closed. If Dan Crowley had calculated upon an easy victory over Conrad Vesey, he reckoned with- out his host. The momenthe felt the grip of that strong arm about his waist, he knew there would be a fight for it. Each had got a knife out, but the knife-hand of each was inclosed in the grip of the other, and in this position they struggled for the throw. Dan, an adept in every sort of ' violent exercise in the States, rarely had met his | equal at wrestling. But Conrad was fully bis rateful to you, Conrad. You_took | match. Upand down the flat rock they tramped, their eyes gleaming, their teeth clinched, and their breathing short and quick. Neither of them saw that Ben Miffin and Jan had come down the mountain side and were interested spectators of the swage. ‘“‘T have you,” said Dan. “Wait,” said Vesey. before you wear me.” “You must win me Gomic “S (E(0) NIiGDOO