Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 330 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

: ee >= a . ay il} ay 1? ng let | ly | Cm ad ut- be- "eC- the ires . ia, bad 2 an yet ‘ical vara rely man 1 the light -_ —- — 8 rrr ree ee rr The rain began to patter down heavily, and warned the Scarlet Scout’s fair pard that it was high time for her to be returning to camp, but she knew it must be by a roundabout way, for the enemy were undoubtedly between her and 4 habe ‘lt must be that Quick-Sbot bas gone to warn the people at our camp, or at the Cotton woods!” she said, aloud, ‘‘I don’t believe he has been captured or I should bave heard more confusion. I think I had better go to camp at all events, as it seems strangely lonesome here.” “Phen, may be you'd like a bit of company!” a mocking voice cried, and in an instant her arms were seized and beld in a firm grasp, Simultaneously there was a chorus of boarse yells in the distance, a roar of rifle-shots, and a royriad of quick flasbes both in the direction of the Cottonwoods and Daggersville, _ Both places had been attacked at once. —_— CHAPTER XIL. A FTIEND’S REVENGE. Let us follow the adventures of the Scarlet Scout for a few moments, After leaving Grit Gleason, he glided stealth- ily toward the Indian camp, his every sense on the alert, his eye gleaming sternly. The excitement of his desire to prevent an attack upon Daggersville had banished some- thing of the vengeful expressfon from his face, but enough still lingered to tell of the shock he had sustained. — As soon as he once more came within view of the fires he saw the old chief reading the mes- sage, while his dusky warriors were huddled near, awaiting his edict. The chief finished the perusal of the docu- ment, and then saying something to his war- riors, which Quick-Shot could not understand, hurried away toward the villa. “I wonder what he’s up to now?’ our hero mused, grimly. ' He left bis position, made a circuit around the camp-fires and came to a halt near a rear door of the villa, which was open. Near by was a thick hedge of syringa bushes and among these he lost no time in taking conceal ment. He was none too soon. Flat Nose and the general soon made their appearance in the doorway, whefe they halted. * Your plan is a good one!” the general said, aloud. ‘I will give instructions to the boys at once to move upon the Cot‘onwoods. You and our reds can easily carry the mining-camp!” “Fiat Nose great chief. His warriors heap big fizhters. The White Whiskers must keep his promise, though!” My word is good. When you have served me as I havesaid, you can go away loaded with junder, Let not any threats or persuasions raw you over to the other side for Til do thrice Eoiter by you than they will,” ** Flat Nose a. heard. Ha will act accord- ingly” the old cut-throat answered, with a dig- ed air, as he descended the steps and strode away. The general also descended the steps, and walked around to the front part of the grounds to order bis men to the attack. , ae ow is my time!” Quick-Shot muttered. Vengeance for Lenore, first; then Dll do what I can for the others!” He grasped a revolver in either hand, and glided from his place of concealment into the house lika a shadow. The door opened into a sort of rear store- room; then came a kitchen and a dining-room, from off of which opened a large’ hall leading to other portions of the dwelling, 1 Little Quick-Shot had gone as far as the dining-room, when he fancied he heard some one in the inky darkness, ahead of him. He naturally paused and endeavored to pene- trate the gloom with his eagle eyes, but it was a fatal action. An unseen object, as hard as rock, whizzed through the air, and struck him with stunning force upon the head, causing hb m to drop like a log. "Phen all was blank to him, except that an awful buzzing sensation held him captive, pre- cluding all possibility of simplest thought. When he regained consciousness and slowly opened bis eyes, he found the situation altogeth- er different. | As far as he could make out, he was lying up- on the prairie, a short distauce from the villa— lying on his back, so completely wound up with lariats as to be nearly unable to move a muscle, Fogg person similarly fixed was lying by si . Little Quick-Shot. Near their feet was a powerful horse, about which three men were busied. Up at Daggersville, and in the direction of the Cottonwoods, the sounds of a deadly conflict were to be heard, accompanied by an almost in- cessant flash of weapons, that lit up the dark- ness like so many hisses of lightning. The rain was falling steadily. A shudder ran through the frame of the scout- detective as b6é comprenended bis situation. He was to be ‘railroaded”—dragged furiously over prairie and through rocky gorges at the mercy of an animal furious to escape from its human freight. It was sure death in nine cases out of ten, as he wel] knew—a punishment that more than one or fellow has had to suffer on the Western rders. Who was his compagnon du voyrge? He managed to twist his bead so as to get a partial view of the party. ‘Great God! Is it you, Miss Gleason?’ he gasped, ‘You bet!” Grit responded. ‘Bat, how came you in this sad predica- ment?” ‘‘They pabbed me. Iwas lookingafter you.” ‘You should not bave done it, Are you aware what is in store for us, my poor child?” ‘Yes. The general condescended so far as to explain tome, Itis evident we will gét what some of cur friends are even now getting, only in a different way.” * Death!” és Yes,’ ‘‘lam afraid you are right. I am not so much concerned for myself, as for you; asIcan stand more hard asage. J went through this ordeal oncs before.” ‘‘ Don’t worry about me. I am not a coward, by any mea: s, and if you have to face the music I am with you, and we will meet it as best we can. ‘*'You are brave, Miss Gleason, but I would to God you were well out of this scrape!” Just then, the men evidently completed their arrangements about the borse, for two of them came and bent over the captives. They were General Gleason and the ruffian, Buck Brady, and their faces, gloating with ex- ultation, were not pleasant to contemplate. ‘*So you have recovered, eh?’ the general said, addressing Little Quick-Sbot, ‘I am glad of that. I was afraiu Brady had killed you, and you wouldn’t be able to enjoy the treat that is in store for you,” ‘ Thauk you, murderer; I am quite alive yet. If I were free, ’d not delay in making the fact forcibly known to you.” ‘* But you see you haven't as much Jiberty as you might bave. Your natural freshness, makes it imperative that you should seek other fields of sport and adventure, and so we are go- ing to give you free transportation. If you have time, while being torn along over roek and turf, for sober thought, you will see what it costs to trifle with a man of my stamp!” ‘‘Murderer though you are, I fear you not. Do your worst—l still defy you, Gideon Glea- son, and will live to see the day that I can avenge Lenore’s death!” ‘“What! Lenore’s death! Speak up, man! For God's sake what do you mean?” ‘*T mean, you vile hypocrite and assassin, that I will yet have your Reauste blood for kill. ing my bride!” Quick-Shot uttered, with ringing sternness. ‘‘Go abead! do your work. My turn will come next!” ‘* Do you dere to tell me that Lenore is dead, you young devil?” ‘‘IT have already said so, and know that for spite’s satisfaction, against me, you murdered her—you, her own father!” ‘* You lie—you lie!” fairly shrieked the man. “IT donot, Youare a cowardly assassin, and, God helping me, if Lever get free, Pll have your life in exchange for the murder of your own dangbter—you inhuman fiend!” Gleason uttered a snarling oath, ‘* You are countiug your chickens before they are hatched!” he declared triampbuntly. ‘' So far as your ever getting free is concerned, I'll guarantee that we shall néver have the pleasure of looking on either of your faces again. As for you, Miss Gertrade, 1°}1 tell the truth by ad- mitting that | would resta little easier, were you out of the way; bence I concluded to let ou keep the company of the Scarlet Scout on is voyage!” ‘*T understand why you fear me!” Grit replied. ‘It is because you bave robbed me of my pro- apc & I believe you murdered my H yee father. Ic is fear of being proven guilty of the crime, that you send me to destruction. May Az Oo ee ew eee ee ee + ee Oe ee se me we or ea er the curse of every honest man rest upon you, you detestable wretch !” The general winced under the accusation, and turned impatiently to Buck Brady. ‘‘Enough of this!” be cried. ‘‘ Apply the match!” The borse which the third man was holding by the bit, was already becoming nearly un- manageable, and when Brady applied a lighted match to his glossy coat be gave a terrified snort, and broke away, dragging the helpless buman freight behind him. For, on application of the match, he bad burst. out into a sheet of flame from head to foot. He had been saturated with kerosene oil, by — inhuman general and his equally inhuman aids! Away! away! the terrified animal plunged, leaving a sheet of weird light behind—a signal- . light to Quick-Shot’s and Grit Gleason’s horrible oom. On! on! until a swell in the prairie bid from view both horse and its victims; then the gen- eral turned to Brady and nodded his hk wig “They’re gone beyond return!” he . ‘No human being could survive being dra at. the beels of that animal, 1’ll guarantee!’ CHAPTER XIII. SATAN CLAIMS HIS OWN, Tue terrible battle—or more propery the massacre—at Daggersville, was over. Ith been brief, but of sickening import. The double at- tack had tbrown the forces under Major Greer and Old Man Ronald, respectively, into a terri- ble state of confusion, and the assailants had poured in an avalanche of molten death upon the defenders, which must have demoralized a small army. Nevertheless, either band of defenders had made a desperate struggle to attain phage 2 and had, almost to a man, fallen while still fighting. What had not been completely mowed down, bad taken to flight, with few exceptions, Old Man Ronald and the major, together with two others, of the Ronald mining sy ndi- date, named Lewis and Locke, had been rurn- bered among the missing, when a list of the dead and wounded was taken. Yet, there were those who knew that the quartette of capitalists bad been captured, ard smuggled off to Villa Voselle, where they were secret Yy held as prisoners of the victoricus: general. What was to be done with them, was a mat- ter of conjecture witb those who were in the secret, they being Buck Brady, Flat Nose and Pedro, the general’s valet. It was believed, however, that they were to be beld for ransom, or some other arrangement by which the general would come into actual possession of Daggersville, the Cottonwoods and the surrounding territory, The loss on the general’s side had been beavy, many of bis best herders having been dropped, never to rise again. Flat Nose’s band, however, had come cff near- ly whole, The morning after the battle, the dead were collected, by the general's orders, and given a rough but respectable burial, near the Co!ton- woods, and the general sent divisions «f bis — party to take charge of the Cottonwoods and Daggersville. For safety’s sake, he kept Buck Brady and Flat Nose’s gang at camp, on the lawn of Villa Voselle, for as soon asa report of the massacre ot abroad, be was sanguine that there would | . Government interference, in which case, | were it imperative, he might have to beat a re~ treat into the interior, until the affair could be arranged—as he believed it could readily be— by the agency of money anc perjury. Lenore’s remains were removed from the @innamon Bear Hotel, and buried at Villa Vo- selle, and although the general manifested some grief, it was apparent that be had become too bardeved and calloused at heart to lopg grieve. over her loss, A week passed, and no interference was of- fered from Government sources, although it was believed that the massacre wus known at heac- quarters, and plenty of time had elapsed in which an investigation could have been made, This caused the genera! and his confederates to feel more at ease, and things once more began to shape about in their usual way. Work was resumed in the mines, which were now considered Gleason’s property, as was. everything else in Daecerwrl e, He was virtually king, and the le were his minions, and as be paid them with lavish liberality and promptness, there seemed no oc- ECOMIcboo <s)