Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 32 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

ee ee + * = i — = — 8 Eeadle,s Half-Dime Library. bracing herself firmly inthesaddle In another instant, she had seized him about the waist, raised him high over her head by the power of her arms, and deposited him upon the back of the wild stallion! A wild, unearthly yell of applause went up from the stentorian throats of the pursuers. Ruffians and cut-throats though they were, they could not but admire and cheer the ac- complisher of this astounding act, and Cap’n Bob Woolf was among the loudest who shouted the ‘‘ bravo!” Burnett, at any other time, would have flushed with shame, at thus being so handled by a young woman, but now he could but give her a grateful glance, for he was forced to cling tenaciously to the stallion’s mane, as the beast darted away like a streak of lightning, Nell’s horse, too, now seemed to have won new strength, for it dashed forward viciously, keeping alongside the stallion, while the third animal brought up the rear. Still the outlaws pressed on. They were as eager and as determined as ever. Not sixty yards now intervened between the pursued and the pursuer. ‘Ye may’s well s’render!” shouted Cap’n Bob, with a wild laugh, “fur we’re sure ter overhaul ye, sooner or later!” “‘Cateh your game, before you brag over it, Bob Woolf!” retorted Hurricane Nell, sharp- ly. “When TJ surrender to you, look out for the world to come to an end!” On—on—on—and still the ruffians gained, inch by inch, and foot by foot. They were sure to win, unless something like a miracle happened in the fugitives’ favor, At last Hurricane Nell took up her rifle, a wild fire in her eyes, and turned her face to- ward the outlaws. “‘'You’d better keep back, Bob Woolf, if you don’t want to taste cold lead. Enough of a race is enough. Too much, I won’t stand,” she eried. . “Blaze away, gal, ef ye wanter!” replied the ruffian, flinging himself, Indian fashion, upon the animal’s side, his gang at once fol- lowing suit. ‘* Ye kent do much damage, now, I jedge.” Even as he spoke, though, the border beauty brought her rifle to her shoulder, there was @ bright flash, a wild, piteous shriek, and Cap’n Bob’s horse dropped in its tracks—dead/ The bullét had pierced the brain. Asa matter of course, the border chief being close hugged ‘against the poor beasts left side, and the ani- mal falling on that same side, Cap’n Bob was at once hopelessly imprisoned, aside from be- ing nearly crushed, by the weight upon him. “*Help! help!” he shrieked, in an agonized voice—* help!” . In an instant his followers had surrounded him, and dismounted, to roll off the dead body, As they did so, Hurricane Nell suddenly wheeled her own horse abruptly about, and spurred him fiercely back, right amongst the animals of the outlaws, at the same time dis- charging rapidly, all the chambers of her re- volvers into their midst! With wild, frightened screams, they rushed off over the plains, It had been the daring girl’s plan to effect this stampede, and she had succeeded, admirably, and ere the astounded outlaws could recover their scattered senses, ' their girl foe was speeding away in the direc- tion taken by youug Burnett, firing as she went, Once, twice, and thrice she brought her little rifle up to her shoulder, and each time there was a flash, a sharp crack, and a dead shot brought its victim to the earth. Ere the discomfited ruftians could themselves of their horses, Hurricane Nell and Cecil were miles away. Seeing that further pursuit was useless, the bruised Captain Bob declared their defeat, and an hour later, after burying the three dead outlaws, the main band set off back toward the rendezvous, while the chief turned his norse’s head in the direction of Dwight’s. Neli and Burnett journeyed by slow toward the mining settlement, which they reached late on the following day, Just above Hon. Felix Grover’s mansion Hurricane Nell drew rein. “T guess I won’t go any further with you, Mr. Burnett,” she said, in answer to his inquir- ing glance. ‘“‘ There are ruffians up there at the tavern, constantly on the watch, who would not hesitate to shoot me, at sight.” “‘Very well,” he answered, taking out his wallet, “then I will pay you now. How much are your charges, for the trip?’ “TI generally charge ten dollars, sir, but— but—Il’ll say five to you!” “You are cheap,” Cecil answered, with just a touch of sarcasm. ‘Here, dear lady, is what I deem a just remuneration for your ser- vices;” and he forthwith laid two crisp fifty- dollar notes into her hands, “Oh! sir, I cannot accept of so much, in- deed!” cried the beautiful girl, endeavoring to force the bills back upon him, ‘‘ You are too generous. That is more money than the best of guides get, for longer trips.” “No matter,” he said, with a smile, restor- ing his wallet to an inner pocket. ‘' You are the best, I'll wager, that there is in the terri- tory. Keep them, lady, then, as a gift of friendship, from me,” “‘T shall never forget your kindness, sir,” re- plied she, turning her head aside, to conceal the involuntary tears that sprung into her hazel eyes. “I am not used to gifts. My whole life, especially of late years, has been among those who were my enemies—among those who neither tendered me a gift of re- membrance, or even a kind word.” **Then you have no friends?” “* None—save yourself, Luke Rice, and one other.” * And that other—?’ “Ts a kind gentleman, who once rescued me from the outlaws. Since that, he has proven himself my friend in several ways.” “He is the one I saw at the edge of the grove, several mornings ago, ere we started on this trip?’ “The same.” A cloud overspread Cecil’s brow. “Will you not tell me where you reside, Miss Nellie,” he asked, tenderly taking her hand, and raising it to his lips, as he had seen that other fellow do, ‘‘so that I can come and see you?” “No!” she replied, hurriedly, half-yearning- ly, as she disengaged her hand. ‘‘ You shouid not kiss my hand, Mr. Burnett. It is an un- gentlemanly act; beside, that hand is stained ‘with blood!” ' And without another word, she wheeled her horse, abruptly, and spurred away. CHAPTER IX, CAPTAIN WOODOHUCE, WEEKS passed away. Cecil Burnett still lingered at Dwight’s. The greater share of his time he spent in roaming over the surrounding country, either on the back of the big roan, whom he had christened Hurricane, after our heroine, or on foot, always accompanied by a new rifle which he had recently purchased, and otherwise well armed with revolvers and knife, Cap’n Bob had returned to the settlement, but, strange to say, he neither molested or no- ticed the young lawyer, who was also careful not to again excite his enmity. The tide of emigration to Dwight’s was con- stantly increasing, for the rich claims were yielding immense quantities of dust, quartz and nuggets to the miners. Jonas was reaping a bountiful harvest out of his tavern, and was consequently a most joyous personage of importance, Two weeks had now gone by since the Phila- delphian had returned from his journey to the cabin in Cherry Valley, and it was the first of July. Since his strange parting with Hurricane Nell he had neither seen or heard aught of her, He had inquired and searched repeatedly for her place of abode, but no one knew where it was, and he failed to discover it. One day he came face to face with Aubrey Lee, the man whom he remembered of seeing once upon the grove’s edge, and whom the guide had said was her friend. **Do you know where Hurricane Nell lives?” Cecil asked, abruptly. Lee stared at him curiously a moment, then dropped his eyes. ‘““No!” he replied. ‘I never heard of such a person!” ‘* You lie!” cried the lawyer, impetuously. “IT saw you kiss her hand once upon the edge of yonder grove in the valley!” “Curse you! I'll pummel you for that!” hissed the clerk, dealing Burnett a stinging blow upon the cheek, ‘‘ Ill learn you who to call a liar!” “You are a liar?’ retorted Cecil, springing upon him like a tiger, whereupon they clinched. Fights and knock-downs at Dwight’s were common attractions, but the announcement that the Bruiser, as Cecil was called, and Au- brey Lee were’ at it, soon brought a swarm of loafers and miners to the spot. A pair of men never fought with more earnestness than did Cecil and the clerk. Over and over they rolled, looked in a dead- ly embrace, and puffing and panting like por- poises. At last, by a mighty effort, the Phila- delphian wrenched himself from Lee’s em- brace and sprung to his feet, blood streaming from a vicious bite in his neck. ** Fight it out with knives!” yelled the surg- ing crowd. “No!” shouted Burnett, ‘‘ J’m satisfied with my fists.” “* Coward!” ground. “Tl make you an example as soon as I’m done with this puppy,” calmly answered the oung athlete as he turned to meet Lee, who ad also gained his feet, and was rushing upon bim with a dagger in his clutch, With a cool, but powerful and precise blow of his left arm, Cecil parried the thrust of his assailant, and then with his right gave him a knuckle-winder* between the eyes that would have felled an ox. Aubrey Lee went down in a quivering heap. ‘Now!’ cried Burnett, turning and coolly scanning the collection of rough and grizzly faces around him, ‘‘ where is the loafer who dares to cry coward. I am ready to accom- modate him!” ** An’ here he is!” shouted a burly ruffian, making his way boldly through the crowd. It was Cap’n Bob Woolf! ‘Very well, sir!” replied Cecil without a show of trepidation, “I would just as soon whip you as any other man in the crowd—and a little rather. Remember, however, you are to use no weapons but your knuckles, Iam averse to using steel or lead!” ‘‘Ha!l ha! hear ’im squeal, boyees! He dassen’t pull a bowie + laughed Woolf, app? significantly to men, @ number 0 i were in the crowd, ‘ He’s a chicken- hearted flunkey!’ ‘“Retract your words, curse youl” hissed Burnett, stepping close up in his insulter’s front. ‘‘I won’t!” grinned the outlaw, leering up into his enemy’s face, But it was a sorry leer for him! The next instant, and as quick as the light- ning flash, the fist of the trained boxer was thrust heavily against his eye and forehead. For the second time within the month the border captain fell senseless to the earth from the blow of the young lawyer. In an instant there was an angry cry among the followers of Cap’n Bob, and a dozen of them sprung fiercely toward Cecil. hooted a voice in the back- ‘¢ Back!” he yelled, drawing & revolver in. each hand, and firing into the ruffians’ midst— “Tf you would ng die, keep back)” “Ay! by ther everlastin’ Pellerkans o’ ther Perciffic, keep back! By ther North Amery- *A miner's phrase for a blow, JOO co GOMEE