Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 283 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

——— —- ~~ ees. errr ts tr —— ee —i Irenance of a vow. You conspired with Jasper Tes to take my life.” “You! Do notdeny it. He took an ‘oath by all the holy saints that you pro —to ‘ put me under the sod '—those were the words. Oh, Marian, I loved you dearly, bad man as Iam. But vou shall be mine, and when we are married I will humble your proud head as low in the dust as you would have laid mine.” “Stop! You say that Jasper Verton swore that IT pegaceen your murder.” * He swore it on the holy saints.” ‘Dare you set him before my face?" dare.”’ “Then let it be done. Wrom this, indeed, I will clear myself, whatever may be my after fate." Twill call him,” He went to the door and called Verton. He came in with a hesitating step, and bis hand in the bosom of his coat. He looked at the ground, for he feared to face the eyes of Marian. “ Jasper Verton,” she said, *‘ look at me.”’ “What do you want?" he said, without raising his head, ‘I can hear you." “Tam accused of a hideous crime of which you know Iam not guilty. Dare you face me and say tuat lie is trues" ““ “*T dare. “Then look me in the face and say it. sed to him my murder you do, I will marry this man without a murmur," | ; If she had studied for years for a test which he could not bear, she could never have chosen a stronger one. If she had asked him to swear upon the Bible that his story was true, he would have done it. If ghe had called the most horrible impre- cations on his head if he spoke false, he would have uttered the oath. But to say the words which would bind her to another—he could not do it! He re- mained with bowed head, and that stealthy hand still in the bosom of his ecat, ~ t means this?’’ cried Coprad, “Have you lied to me, Verton?” loved me!” cried Marian, “Another?” cried Conrad, death!” ' The hand of Verton sprang from his bosom at the word, and two pistols were leveled. Conrad's aim was true, and Jasper Verton, shot through the head, bounded into the air and fell dead. Marian ran to lift his head, but he was gone, mig | am sorry Ispoke. Oh, Conrad, what have you done? , ‘I have killed a vile traitor. Touch him not. I am glad you are absolved from this stigma, my dar- ling. Tam your lover again, But, haying sent for the priest, the marriage shall go on,” ‘It shall not," she said. “Tt shall.’’ ' She laid a hand upon the forehead of the dead man, “I swear, by the blood you have shed so unpity- ingly, that i will die.sooner than be your wife, Con- rad Vesey!" “Then m 40 ped must be carried out. TI have sent for Father Sala. You know him well enoughto he sure that po protestations on-your part will move him in any way. He will marry us, be assured, Ho, there! come in, some of you." Several of the men who had heard thé pistols and come to the door, but had not dared to enter, obeyed dhe suiminons, . “What has he done?" asked one, ** He attempted my life, and was a traitor to the band,” said Conrad, “I will prove it in the next council, Take him out and bury him, Whatever -wealth he possessed will be divided.” The men took up the body and carried it out. “* Be at four o’clock. At that time you will ne married,” the brigand chief said, and followed the men. Calling the band together, he told them to march for their old camp atthattime, Hae eppointed.s new lieutenant in the place of Verton, and sat down to wait for the coming of Gaspard and the priest, They were on hand half an hour before time, and cime at once to the captain, The priest was a tall, aanvage looking fellow, with a sensual face, He greeted Conrad with a light laugh, ill becoming his priestly office, / “IT cannot speak to yqu now, Father Sala. LImust #t the menin motion. Gaspard, go to Lieutenant turtle and tell him to march at once.” The freebooters rode into the defile and were seen romore. Atthe same time the leader turned into the marquee, followed by the priest and Gaspard. Marian rose at their entrance, pale as death, “You do not mean to carry out your hideous threat?’ she said, ‘e ‘**IT mean to marry you. That is pate th for me. ‘Do not so desecrate your priestly_office, Father Sala. Ido not wish to marry him. Surely you will not be a party to this business,” , “You are angry now,” said the priest, ‘“* And you are foolish, I am under the orders of Captain esey. Conrad seized her hand. “Go on with the cere- | ammony, priest.” in that desperate moment, she snatched a knife from his belt and struck at him. But Heaven pre- served her from that crime. The point of the wea- pon struck the»hilt of his breast-knife and off. Before she could re in his arms, pinioning her ds to her sides. ** Now, Sala. Goan. I will hold her.” She was crying out in frantic aceents for mercy, when the rattle of in the valley below broke upon their ears, It was followed by another volley, and then succeeded the sound of a general combat. ‘ | from their saddles, they gave chase. None of t dared to fire, for fear they might injure Maid | If \ esis? Conrad released the CODE te ee and darted from the room. In a moment he was in the saddle and dashing down the path. As he came into the open plain he com- prehended all. The * Trapping Brigade" had been met by Ben Miffin and was now engaged in combat with his men, He saw that his bandits were beaten and flying in every direction, and that Dan, Miffin, Jau, and three other horsemen had separated them- selves from the rest and were coming down toward him ata gallop, He turned back, and reached the spot where Marian stood. ** Run for your life, Sala. Upthe mountain, know the passes well. The ‘ fede. 4 has —_ and my men are scattered winds,” You ‘Brigade " the four He leaped from the saddle and caught Marian in | his arom. She struggled, but she was powerless in his grasp. Just as he began the ascent, the three | friends came into the pass and saw him. rez en eT Marian. Ben did not run so fasf as the others and kept his rifle ready. The pursued reached a place so Beit cae he was forced to put Marian up first, Before he had taken a step to follow, a rifle cracked, Conrad Vesey threw up his hands, and uttering a terrible ery, fell into the canyon by the side of Which he had pursued his flight. Tae stream below re- ceived his body, and bore it away. ‘His bullet was “TI told him 8o,"" muttered Ben, run long ago, an’ now he's go® it.” They found Marian panting on the rock above. Dan her tenderly and carried her down to the camp. The combat in the valley was over and the Prairie Rangers existed only in name, The Trap: ping. Brigade had fully revenged the slaughter of many au innocent. They released Jeff Rooter and Indian Joe, who had been placed upon mules, though wounded. They were well cared for. In a few days Dan set out on | his return, It is always easy, ina pe | brigade, | to find members who are sick of the fairly Commenced, and seven men besid ‘He proposed the murder himself, and said he , v Fs z es Jan and | 400°TIS Bur a Lrerux Fapep nt ‘*‘ Fool! Take ating lanced | t the blow he had her e before itis Ben rode back with them ‘to the forts, upon the romise of a large sum of ayner from Dan, Jeff ter received payment for what he had done, and remained with the brigade. Joe did the same. Ben Miffin went on to St. Louis. Dan waited long enone to have a suitable outfit made for Marian, and they were married, He had no one to interfere in his choice of a wife. A few friends were wit- nesses of the bridal. Ben stood near the door nudg- ing Jan from time to time, to ask if ‘‘ Maid Marian wa'n’t astunner."" And Jan would answer, “ Yaw."’ That night the two got gloriously drunk in the beer saloon of ‘‘Yawcob Post," one of Jan’s old friends. In a day or two the hunters wearied of the city, and with a general good-by to their friends went back to the Black Hills. 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