Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 348 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

at / et ‘Oh, yes, I remember. I dropped it from my pocket, the other day.” ‘*'What’s the meanin’ of its bein’ thar? I enly ask fur information, yer know, as I’m bound as well as you to ferret out all I kin about the crime.” ‘1 dropped it, and the wind must have blown it to where youfound it,” quietly answered Lorne, who had recovered his composure, ‘ll mention that, after you hev me ar- rested,” “IT do not really mean to have you taken up. I only said so to frighten you a little,” “Let me see, that note’s writ to a gal or woman, whose first name is Ellen, I b’lieve,” ‘*Ob, so you read the note?” “T read it—yes, as well as I could. It ap- pore to me that the person whom you writ to ad begged you to come to her, fur in the note yer refuse to go, and, worse than that, threaten to kill her.” ‘* There is no such threat,” said Lorne, looking surprised, ‘‘ Besides, I did not send the letter, after writing it.” ‘Yer say in it that, ef she attempts to come to you, after you refusin’ to go to her, that one of ou would vanish as if from the face of this arth! Lorne laughed. ‘‘ Foolish fellow,” said he, ‘‘ by that I meant that I would clear out somewhere where she eould not find me.” ‘* Was that all? Whar is she, now?” inquired Skinflint, fixing the steady gaze of his piercing gray eyes full upon the face of Lorne. The latter, however, preserved his composure, ‘* You ask me where she is? What business, pray, is that of yours?” " Nothing pertik’lar; only when [I half know a thing, I like to find out the rest.” ‘“‘T repeat, then, that this does not in ony way concern you as it is an affair of my own,” Skinflint bowed his head. ‘‘Tf I were you, I would not tell any one about finding this note. Jt cando no good,” re- joined Lorne. ‘‘Tt’s queer though, that I should bev found it by the hollow, whar that gal, Miss Danton, was killed!” And, as he spoke, he again turned his white eyes upon the young man. “T nave told you +g the note.” “True! true!” said Skinflint, nodding his head, while, for an instant a puzzled look came over his face. ‘Don’t be afraid,” said Lorne, misunderstand- ing the cause. ‘I promise you I'll not havé you arrested.” ‘*And couldn’t you do something for me,” said Skinflint—‘‘that is ef I promise to say nothing about the note?” ‘‘What do you mean?” cried Lorne, sharply. ‘*My only reason for requesting you not to —, of. finding that worthless old letter, is that it might provoke discussion, which would be annoying.” ‘* And again—” “* Again what? Goon!” ‘‘ Queer suspicions sometimes spring up, yer know, from small foundation. Now you might say the wind blowed the letter whar it was found, when t’other folks would say it was drop thar !” S Heaven!” laughed Lorne. ‘ What are you trying to make out?’ ‘‘ Well, well, responded Skinflint; ‘I won’t speak of it, then.” ** You spoke of my doing something for you. What did you mean?” “IT thougit yer might put me in the way of earnin’ an honest livin’. Facts is, I hevn’t nothin’ to do at present, an’ ef I could only git hold of money enough to buy a pritty jewel like tbis,” he added, suddenly pulling a diamond ring from Lorne’s vest pocket—‘‘I’d be a happy man.” ‘Give me that ring,” said Lorne, quickly. Skinflint, however, had stepped back, and was coolly examining the ring. _ Here,” be then said, presenting it to Lorne. “Yer kin hev it. I s’pose stolen property is snore valleble than any other.” Andas he spoke he turned his whitish-gray »eyes full upon the face of the young man. * Sir! scal! What do you mean?” “Don’t yer go fur to git in a passion. That ‘was a pooty ring, but ef I war as rich as yer- self, I don’t think I'd hev taken the trouble to stop the carriage and threaten to shoot the ~ yore lady who owned that jewel ef she refused ve it to me.” | turned pale, ’ at are you talking about?” he inquired. . “Come, now, let’s understand each other,” Fireheels: or, Old Skinflint, the Death-Shadow. said Skinflint, laugbing. ‘‘ I see’d the bull thing. The mask didn’t hide yer face enough fur me not to git a good squint atit. It all happened four days ago, and, though no one was killed this time, the news of the robbery is all over the country.” ‘* You talk like a madman,” said Lorne, with a surprise which perhaps was assumed, ‘‘ How could you know my face, even had | been there, at night, with a mask on it?’ ‘* Don’t yer remember seeing a chap rolled u in a great overcoat, in one corner of the coach?’ No one molested me, fur you all thought 1 was asleep, but sech warn’t the case. You grabbed me by the throat, and I seemed fur to wake up, but I had the look of one who had been ’toxi- cated, which I warn’t at all, but only put on, letting my head bob to one side, and seemin’ to go to sleep again. Thev you left me and went on robbin’ the frightened young lady and her negro servant woman, which was the only pas- sengers but me in the coach.” Lorne listened to these remarks with a wild, surprised look. ‘*I had a good chance to see yer face when ou was so clus to me,” continued Skinflint, ‘and it ain’t easy fur me to forgit faces.” The speaker now watched the agitated visage of the young man with an amazed look, ‘* You’s safe enough, fur all that,” he con- tinued, after a moment’s pause, ‘fur who do you suppose would believe a ragamuffin like me, ‘in’ sech a gentleman, as you, even ef | war to blab on yer, which [ kin truly say 1 bev bo in- tention of doin’. Had I been opposed to yer work, of course I’d hev told on yer, ’fore now, so yer needn’t be so terrible down in the mouth about it. I don’t know as I blamed yer for rob- bin’. It’s an easy way to git a livin’.” The two men looked at each other. ‘‘IT think you and I will agree,” said Lorne. ‘* You told me you wanted employment.” ‘“* Anything fur an honest living!” and at the word ‘ honest,’ Skinflint laughed. ‘‘ First of all, you must help me track that es- caped murderer, and arrest him,” said Lorne. ‘T’ll do that,” was the emphatic reply. CHAPTER VIII. A REVELATION. WHEN Belton entered the cave to which Skin- flint bad conducted him, he noticed that it was about fourteen feet square in area, and dimly lighted by crevices in the rocks above. On the wall hung a couple of good rifles, and, among other things he saw there, be noticed a variety of articles for male attire, such as blouses, jackets, hunting-suits, and different kinds of hats, In one corner a heap of soft skin seemed to in- vite repose, Before lying down, the youth went to the opening of the cave and looked out, By the clear light of the moon, he then beheld a spectacle, which at once roused him to action, eated on a cliff, not fifty paces off, was a slight, boyish form—evidently that of a travel- er, as a wallet was slung at his side, and he car- ried a stout stick. About twenty yards bebind him, a large, ferocious wild-cat was stealing toward him, with noiseless pace, evidently to spring upon him, and make him its victim. The boy, appar- ently in a reverie, knew notbing of the presence of this foe, and Belton comprehended that he could not enlighten him on that point, without revealing his secret retreat. Resolved to save the youth at all hazards, be descended, by means of his rope-ladder, from the cave, and, rifle in hand, advanced until he reached a favorable position for a shot. Then he fired, and bis unerring bullet passing through the head of the animal, killed it instantly, The person who had thus been saved by the timely shot of the young hunter, presently ad- vancing to thank the young man, was fully re- vealed to the latter by the light of the moon, which was at this place unobscured. Apparently, not more than seventeen years of age, he was of slight form, with a profusion of light, brown hair alling, in natural ringlets, to his shoulders. His eyes were very dark, and his face was extremely pale. It was a hand- some face, with its fine, regular features, and yet it was almost haggard in expression, while, about the mouth, young as he was, were lines ascof deep suffering. A slouched hat which the stranger had worn he had raised with one slender hand, while he extended the other toward his rescuer. | ‘‘Thanks,” he said, in a musical, boyish voice, ‘You bave saved my life.” ‘‘And glad I am I came up in time to do it,” said Belton. ‘TY did not know there were such wild-cats in ao this part of the country. I thought the only dangerous creatures hereabout were robbers.” ‘‘Not only robbers but murderers, too,” re- sponded the hunter. beard of the murder of Mr. Danton’s daughter —the sweetest gal in these parts?” And as he spoke Belton heaved a deep sigh. The stranger answered, in a hollow voice; ‘1’ have heard of it.” ‘‘'Yes, and I believe, now, thar’s devils on the: face o’ this earth, though I'used to doubt it.. ‘Probably you have: : . The man who murdered that gal must hev been — one on ’em.” ‘“How do you know it was a man?” inquired! the other, in the same hollow voice as before. Belton was a little startled by the question. ‘‘Shorely no woman could hev done it?” he- said. ‘‘ Women have done such things,” replied the: other. The hunter looked closely at the speaker. His. dark eyes gleamed coldly and steadily—his. expression was very sad, ; ‘‘How long hev you. been in these parts?”’’ inquired Belton, “Not long. I would rather you would ask: me no questions.” ‘‘ But—but— perhaps you’ve not heard thata certain young man—a bunter, was arrested on: suspicion—tbat he escaped from prison and that law officers and others are now searching fur~ him?” ‘“It is too bad, since he is not guilty! No.. I had not heard of that.” “Tt is true; but you say you know he is not. guilty! How do you know that?” ‘T said I’d rather you would ask me no ques-- tions.” “Yes, but when I tell you that J am the per- son accused of the crime, perhaps you'll excuse- me for not complying with your wishes.” The dark eyes of the stranger scintillated in the light of the moon, as he started and looked: at the speaker. ‘* You, my rescuer, accused of that murder?’ ‘‘ Alas! thar’s a fact—I am.” ‘‘'The accusation is false! I know who killed the girl!” ‘‘Then, for the Lord’s sake! go and tell the justice, and free me from the imputation!” cried: the other. At that moment half a dozen forms were seen: approaching, with Lorne at their bead. “Here he is, men! We have him, now!’ shouted the leader. And, as he spoke, he leveled a pistol at Belton, who had not yet thought of reloading his piece,. calling upon him to surrender. In a moment, however, the stranger, as quick. as a flash, raised his head from bebind the rock near which he had been seated. The position he occupied now was between Belton and the pistol, and as be stood witb bis« hat off, bis whole visage was distinctly revealed. to Lorne. No sooner did the latter see the face thus pre- sented to his gaze, than he staggered back, his- pistol dropping to the ground. The next moment, dodging among the rocks, the boy glided off, while Belton also bounded) along in another direction. The hunter finally gained hisretreat and drew up the rope-ladder, while the voices of his pur- suers yet sounded in the distance. He thought more of the person whom he had: saved from the wild-cat than he did of Lorne- and his people. The lad had said he knew whohad committed the crime, and this declaration inspired him: with a feeling of hope. The young stranger, knowing that Belton bad been falsely accused of the crime, would certsinly go to the justice and make known the truth. But the conduct of the youth bad been very strange. After Lorne, for some mysterious: reason, had been startled by the face of this lad, the latter had run away, ss though he, too, was anxious to conceal bimself! What could it mean? If he found it necessary to keep himself hid- den, what chance was there that he would ven- ture to make any revelation to the justice? ‘*T must find him and bave further conversa- tion with him,” muttered the bunter. After a restless night, be rose early and tried to partake of some of the provisions in the re- treat. While doing so he heerd the noise of a stone, thrown up among the bushes over the entrance: of Pos nth ‘ . Nitltyid eering cautiously forth, be was 8 to see Lona, the Indian girl, on the rock below, She looked carefully around ber, as if to makes — p a