Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 387 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 = ‘Yer see Warpath Will hev got ther irons on him, and I belongs ter ther band thet hes him; but he hev befriended me in ther past, and Vll not desart him now. ‘*But yer see, though ther eap’n give yer brother here his pledge, and will stick to it, ther men don’t like it, and some of ’em is goin’ ter make a raid on yer camp to-night, fer they knows they kin sell miss at a good sum up at Salt Lake, and ther booty o’ yer outfit here will be worth suthin’, sol jist detarmined ter skip over, arter talkin’ ther matter over with War- path Will, and tell yer ter mount yer horses and git along jist so quick as ever yer can, “I hopes yer understand me, miss, you and ther young pard?” They did understand him but too well, and that it meant nothing more than a midnight flight on horseback, for they could not carry their teams. ‘* Brother, what is to be done?’ asked Cleone sadly. “Go,” was the simple reply. ** But mother?” **She will ride your horse, and I will pack another animal with all we can carry. **Come, we must lose no time,” and turning to Pistol Pete Guy continued: ‘“‘It is very kind of you, sir, to come and warn us,” ‘*Yas, but I did it fer Warpath, and w’u’d git my neck inter a noose ef it were known what I hes done. ‘* Yer see I wereappointed his guard ter-night, but I slipped off ter tell ye.” ‘* And we are indeed most thankful to you,” answered Guy, slipping into the man’s hand a bank bill. Pistol Pete made no acknowledgment of the ift, but set to work to get the horses, while leone aided her mother to get ready and Guy made up the pack for the led animal. In a very few moments all was in readiness for the start, and Pistol Pete having gone, Guy placed himself in the lead with the pack borse, and Cleone and her mother followed, riding side by side, As they rode away into the gloom the sound of hoofs was heard back in the valley, and the voices of men in loud angry tones, above which eame the cry: ‘They have gone!” ‘* Come, we must push on, mother, if you can stand it, though they cannot follow cur trail to- night, and we will thus have five hours’ start, and that will save us,” said Guy hopefully. It was evidently an effort for Mrs. Marsden to ride, but she did so without a murmur—and thus the flight was continued through the moun- tains, Guy unerringly leading the way by the trail which be had taken months before, At daylight they halted for breakfast and rest for half an hour, and with a great effort, Mrs, Marsden again mounted for the flight, Thus the morning passed, and another halt was made in the afternoon, Cleone had observed Guy pass several nice spots, where would have been a good camping- ground, and wondered why he did so. At last he turned into a canyon that was wild in the extreme, and the bed of it was but a shallow stream. Up the bed they went for half a mile, the recipitous sides of the canyon rising far above hem, and suddenly came to the end against a massive wall of rock, A tree grew here, its branches towering above the top of the cliff, and its base washed by the rivulet. ‘Mother, on my way out I camped here for two days, and climbing that tree 1 found a de- serted cabin back on the hill. ‘* Now I can plainly see that you are not able to go further without a good rest, so I will now go up the tree with my lariats, and pull you up after me, and Cleone too, and leave youin the cabin while I go after father. ‘“‘The stream-bed will leave no trail of our having come up here, and I will take the horses on with me, so that, if we are followed, they will keep on after their trail, and you and sis will be perfectly safe until my return, which will be in a couple of days at furthest.” Mrs, Marsden’s lips quivered, but she answer- ed bravely: ‘* My son, whatever you do, I know that it is for the best.” ‘* Yes, Guy, and let us lose no time; but can ou draw us up to the cliff?” asked Cleone, look- ing up at the dizzy bight. ‘Easily, for whoever dwelt in the cabin made a windlass at the top for drawing up game and wood, and I can use It.” Taking the several lariats he made them into Warpath Will, the Traitor Guide. a line, and tying one end about his waist, began to climb the tree. It wasa long and hard struggle, but at last he reached a limb along which he walked and stepped out upon the cliff. There was an old windlass and a roller over the limb of the tree, which would prevent the rope from wearing. aking one end of the lariat fast, Guy called down to his sister that all was ready, and Cle- one, having taken the pack from the led horse, made it fast to the lariat. It went up easily, and the end was thrown back, and Cleone made a swing for her mother to sit in, and which she could not fall out of should she lose her nerve. Then Guy began to turn the windlass and up into the air went the invalid, Cleone encourag- ing her by cheering words, She had nearly reached the top, in fact was up to the limb, when suddenly Guy glanced up and beheld an Indian almost upon him. To let go the windlass would be to kill his ane by a rapid descent of over a hundred eet, Therewas no way of making it fast, and no time; but the boy did not lose his nerve for an instant, and his revolver was at a level and his finger on the trigger in a second of time, CHAPTER IX, - THE DESERTED CABIN. NEVER in his life had Guy Marsden been in a more critical position, and never did he expect to be again, than when he stood there, his mother’s, his sister’s and his own life in his hands, with the huge warrior rushing upon him with uplifted tomahawk. Hampered as be was by the windlass, which held his mother between life and death, and with the bounding red-skin almost upon him, the youth did not lose his iron nerve, but took a rapid and deadly aim, and fired. “Take that, red-skin, and welcome,” cried Guy as he touched the trigger firmly. With the report the warrior gave a spring into the air, and a stifled war-cry issued from his lips as he fell his length upon the rocky ground, his tomabawk striking witbin a few inches of Guy’s foot. **Ob, mother!” the boy cried, as he saw that his mother’s head had drooped forward. Catching hold of the rope he made his way to the edge of the cliff and drew his mother upon it, after which he lowered the end rapidly for his sister. Cleone had heard the shot, and was in an agony of suspense; but the rope coming down reassured her, and in a short while she too stood upon the cliff. . ‘‘ Come, sis, we must now revive mother, for she has fainted,” cried Guy, and he soon spread her couch for her by the side of the little cabin, which seemed to have long been deserted. ‘hen Mrs. Marsden was gently placed upon it, and soon returned to consciousness, though she seemed very feeble. Guy then built a fire in the cabin, put things to rights, piled up plenty of wood at hand for his sister, and unpacked the bundle he had brought, so as to make his mother as comfort- able as possible. He had killed some game as they came along, and tbis was dressed for cooking, and a rifle and revolvers left for Cleone’s use, - Then he took the body of the red-skin and lowered it rapidly to the canyon below, telling Cleone he would dispose of it on his way. Bidding his mother and sister a hasty fare- well, and promising to return soon with his father, be went down the rope to the canyon, and Cleone pulled it up after him and watched bis departure, her eves full of tears. “Hurry back, Guy, for you know,” she called out, and be understood her well, that their mother could not last long. Throwing the dead warrior across the back of the led animal, Guy mounted his own horse and set off at a quick trot. The other animals followed, and Cleone saw them disappear from sight with a sigh that was wrung from her heart at her perilous and sad situation. Coming to the stream that wound through the valley, and having to cross it, Guy gave the dead warrior a watery burial by throwing him from the back of the horse, and then press- ed on more rapidly. Having had arest of two hours the horses were able to keep upa steady and swift gait, and until far into the night Guy kept them at Then he sought a camping-place, and was soon fast asleep, utterly worn out as he with his loss of rest and hard work, The animal had good grazing, and seemed ready to start, when dawn came, and once more Guy pushed on, halting after a couple of hours for breakfast. Changing from one horse tothe other every rt he was able to keep up a good speed, and id so. Soon objects began to have a more familiar 1 look to him, and he knew that Lost Hope City was not far distant, At last the mining-camp came in view; but not a sign of life was visible, and, as Guy drew nearer he discovered to his utter amaze- ment that the place was utterly deserted. He drew rein in his astonishment and looked about him. It certainly was Lost Hope City, but where were its miners? In dismay he pushed on once more, and did not draw rein until he dashed up to the door of his own cabin, To his horror it too wore a deserted look. There was the ‘‘ mansion” half finished, and his father could not be seen. [t seemed as though the place had not held an occupant for days. Springing from his horse Guy ran off to- ward the mine at full speed. It too was deserted, he discovered, as he stood panting before it. Again he returned to the cabin, and his ex- perienced eyes told him tbat there had been no fresh trail made to the mine for days. Arriving at the cabin, his eyes fell upon blood upon the rocks in front of the door. It was dried up, but still was blood, Seizing a stone, he broke the padlock and entered the cabin. ° At first all seeemed there as he had left it; but soon he discovered that the secret recesses. of the cabin had been robbed. The boy fairly staggered under this shock and groaned: ' ‘‘The miners have Weserted their worthless claims near Lost Hope City, and have gone; but some of them, my father’s foes, bave come here before leaving, and perhaps killed, but certainly robbed him.” After a few moments the poor boy gained his: self-control again, and then made a thorough search of the place. At last be said slowly: ‘Tf father had gone from here of his own free will, he would have left me some sign in the secret biding-place we have. ‘* He has not done so, his papers are gone, his gold is gone, and I almost fear that he has been murdered. ‘+ Tt will kill poor mother to know this; but I must return at once and bring her here, and then, if father is dead, do what I can to work the mine—if she lives. ‘‘Ah me! this is a bitter, bitter blow; but Heaven grant that it does not fall heavier upon me still,” With this, Guy Marsden, his face pale and quivering, mounted bis horse, and leading the others, started upon his return to the spot where he had left his dying mother and sister. It was sunset as he left the cabin, and night. had fallen before he reached Lost Hope City, and he gave an involuntary shudder at riding through the deserted town. ‘‘ There have been so many poor miners mur- dered there, and the place was so wicked, I al- most feel as though I should see ghosts in the streets,” he muttered, as Le rode into the de- serted samp And, as he spoke, there suddenly broke out. upon the still night-air a burst of most fiendish laughter which seemingly turned his heart toice with dread. | CHAPTER X, THE RETURN. Guy MARSDEN was not of a superstitious na- ture; but he was young, and bis past experience among the miners had led him to regard the su- pernatural as not improbable. His father had kept him at his studies, teach- ing him at night in their little camp, and en- deavored to do away witb all the harm the miners’ stories might implant in him, and with considerable success, Still the youth held an idea that there might. be such a thing as the spirit of the dead prowl- ing the earth, and, impressed by all that had occurred during the past few days, he took this view of the matter, and set his horses to flight. Tbrough the deserted mining-camp they went at full speed, the hoofs of the horses awakinz: = aoe es "(DOOKS. ¢ - . / / » a eS | a. a = ~ Z j : ee . > a 1 = > ets My. x - me! Re > oT ee Ie ¥ yt » 1S se, ; oy Sig pe 2 4 . oe “ua a oe 7 * + ~ . * — *) & aa &