Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 387 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

ee, ee et ee E . A ee me — - ~ =_ —ee ee ortunately Cleone was acrack shot, and of mn utterly fearless nature. She had hunted ir old Kentucky with her brother, and upon occasion had killed a bear, when he was rushing upon her, and to miss her aim was to lose her life. All along the trail coming out she had hunted big game, and was considered the kest shot in the train excepting Warpath Will the guide and her brother. She was a perfect horsewoman, and these bold accomplishments had nerved her to face danger coolly and without fear, She therefore felt equal to the task of defend- ing her mother and herself against any ordinary danger, and also of providing themselves with food, should Guy be delayed in his return. The condition of her mother, however, great- ly distressed her, for she feared the end might come but too soon. Sbe put on a cheerful face, withal, and hustled about to make everything as comfortable as she could, and the while said ‘cheerful things, prophesying that Guy would come back sooner than expected and bring her father, whose presence would readily build her mother’s strength up toa point to permit of their going at once on home, for the cabin in the hills was their only home; and they looked forward to ar- riving there with hopes of happiness they had not known elsewhere. Mrs. Marsden saw how very bard Cleone was trying to keep up a stout heart, and she did what she could to show her that she too felt that all would come well in the end; but she suffered greatly and knew that it would not be very long before she must pass away, and the thought made her very sad, to feel that she must give up life, husband and children just when fortune was smiling upon them. Tous the day passed away and night came. A fire had been built within the cabin by Cleone, and before its cheerful blaze sat mother and daughter in silence. A couch had also been made for the invalid, “) Bags loving daughter, and before very long rs. Marsden expressed a desire to rest upon it Cleone aided her to it, and then her mother said softly: **Sing to me, my child.” In her rich contralto voice Cleone sung song after song, until she saw that her mother was asleep. Then she ceased, and as she did so, the deep howl of a wolf without caused her to start and shudder. The sound awoke Mrs. Marsden, who said: **Did Guy bury the Indian he killed, Cleone?” ‘*’Yes, mother.” ‘You do not think those savage brutes snarling without could get at the body of the poor red-skin, for it makes me shudder to think of even a savage enemy being thus torn to pieces after death.” **No, mother, brother buried the body,” and going to the door Cleone fired her revolver, and the beasts went scampering away. For afew moments more a silence fell bet ween the mother and daughter, both being busy with their own thoughts, Then they both started, for the sound of hoof- falls was heard without. ** Ho, within!” called out a deep voice, as a horse came close up to the door, ‘* Well, what do you wish, and who are you?” asked Cleone, in her deepest tones, to indicate that a man was the speaker. **Is that you, Miss Cleone?” came the question, which showed that she had not deceived the one outside by her device, ‘Yes, who are you?” ‘Warpath Will, and I have come to see ou. ‘Indeed! It is the guide, mother,” cried Cleone, and she took the heavy bar down from the door. Warpath Will, in anticipation of bein admitted, had already hitched his borse, ey now stepped into the cabin, a pleasant smile up- on his face. ‘‘Oh, Mr. Hendricks, I am so glad to see you,” eried Cleone, delighted at the sight of the guide, when she remembered the sacrifice he had made for them, and, in her loneliness, glad to see one she had known, though did not par- ticularly like, while her mother also extended ber band wearily, though with seeming plea- sure. The guide’s face brightened, and he said earnestly: : ‘‘T am happy in having a welcome from you, Miss Cleone; but I have come upon an important service.” ‘‘Ah, yes! you went as a hostage to the Mormons; but how did you escape, after your noble sacrifice for us?” “*T escaped in a way that I knew lay open to me, Miss Cleone, though I did not care to use it for particular reasons, which you will under- stand when I explain them. ‘Your brother has gone, I believe, to your father’s camp after him?” “‘How did you know this?’ asked Cleone, quickly. ‘“‘From the Mormons who are spying his movements, and who also told me that you were here.” “They know this, then?’ asked Cleone, in a frightened way. ‘Yes, but they shall not harm you.” ‘“You are but one, Mr. Hendricks, and they many and merciless.” ‘‘ I will use the same means to save you that I did to escape,” ‘You have not told me how you escaped from their clutches, and touched by your noble sacrifice for us, my brother and myself had made up our minds to attempt your rescue at all hazards,” ‘‘It was most kind of you, Miss Cleone, and just like your noble brother, too; but the sacri- fice, as you are pleased to call it, which I made was not so great as you believe. ‘To explain, I will say that the band of Cap- tain Champion is not a legitimate squad of the Mormon Legion, but an offshoot that is more outlaw than anything else. ‘**The captain is known on the border as Red Champion, and though a Mormon and the foe of Gentiles, he does a good many acts that are not approved by Prophet Young and the rulers at Salt Lake City.” ‘* You seem to be well informed regarding the Red Champion and the Mormons, guide,” said Cleone, with something of ber old sarcasm toward the guide returning. ‘*T am thoroughly informed, Miss Cleone, for it is my duty to be.” ** May I ask why?” “lam at present a Mormon officer myself !” was the calm response, and the groan of Mrs. Marsden was followed by a startled cry from Cleone. CHAPTER XV, THE SPY. SEEING the effect of his strange words, upon both mother and daughter, Warpath Will hastened to say: ** Permit me to the more fully explain, Mrs. Mars- den, and Miss Cleone.”’ **I do not understand, sir, how any further ex- planation can excuse your confession, that you are a Mormon,” said Cleone haughtily. I said, at present, Miss Cleone, and I will put my- self right by making a further confession, for I see how ‘aes are horrified at my words, and I should have known better than to say what I did.” ‘‘ No excuses are necessary, sir.” * You are angry, and I do not blame you; but let me say—’’ and the guide looked nervously around the cabin, and then went to the door and listened. Then he removed the bar, drew his revolver and stepped outside. deone heard his steps going around the cabin, and the thought came to her to s wing up and bar the door; but she restrained herself and awaited his pe neither her mother or herself speaking the while. “IT must be careful, Miss Cleone, not to be over- heard, should there be an eavesdropper,” said the guide re-entering the cabin. ‘Who could be an eavesdropper in this wild land?’’ asked Cleone. ‘*A Mormon.” ‘What have you, sir, to fear from Mormons?” was the cutting query. ‘‘ Anything, everything.” was the response. Cleone eyed him fixedly, for his words implied what she could not comprehend. Aftera moment of silence he went on where he had left off, when going out of the cabin: ‘Let me say, Miss Cleone, that 1 am at present a Mormon, not from choice, but necessity.” ‘I do not see how that can be, sir.” ** You shall see, _. You are aware that there is a general feeling of ill-will existing, amounting to, I may say war, be- tween the Mormons and the Gentiles, and the former are accused of many acts of cruelty and worse, toward the latter. The Government of the United States is deter- mined to ferret out all such acts of the Mormons, and to do so employs spies. ‘‘T am one of those spies, Miss Cleone.” es You I 9 ‘Yes, [am a Government spy.”’ **‘And a Mormon?” ces Yes.” ‘You are doing that which the Bible says man cannot do.” ‘You mean serve two masters?” > do...’ ** Well, I am serving two, and one well.” ** You speak in contradictions, guide.” Warpath Will, the Traitor Guide. | 9 “The truth is, Miss Cleone, to do my duty to my Government, I was compelled to become nominally a Mormon,” *s Ah \’? ‘**T am glad that you understand me now.” “* Pray go on, sir.”’ ‘“‘In becoming, as it were, a Mormon, I gained access to scenes that otherwise I could not have been a participant in, and to do my duty as far as I was able to the Government I served, I enlisted as a spy for the Mormon Prophet, and he believes me one of his most trusted emissaries.’’ ‘Indeed! but you run fearful risks.” ‘‘True, and yet see the power it gives me, for, when I found the Mormons on your trail, under this man Champion, I told your brother to offer me as aransom for your safety, well knowing that he a anxious to get hold of me as one of his worst oes. ‘The plan worked well with Champion, but his men were determined you should not escape, and went to your camp without his knowledge. * Having a friend, Pistol Pete, in the band,I sent him to warn you to fly, and I was glad that you did so; but Captain Champion, discovering the act of his men, recalled them, and determined to hang upon your trail himself, ‘This he did, carrying me with him, and, intend- ing to take my life, be talked boldly before me of his plans, «When word came to him from his scouts, that vour brother had left you here and departed, Cap- tain Champion boldly said that Guy had gone for reinforcements at the fort, and this act of his re- leased him from his pledge, and that he should at once come here and make you a captive.”’ ‘**Me?” cried Cleone, in alarm, **My poor cbild,”’ sighed Mrs. Marsden ‘Yes, you. Miss Cleone, for he knew that he could receive for you a large price did he carry you to Salt Lake to become the wife of some rich and distin- guished Mormon, perhaps of the Prophet himself.”’ Cleone turned deadly pale, and Mrs. Marsden moaned piteously. ** Knowing his intention from his out poken words, Miss Cleone, I determined to act.”’ ‘How?’ softly said the poor girl. ‘*T determined to betray myself.” ‘* Betray yourself?” ‘Yes; that is, make myself known in my real character.”’ ‘* Your real character?’’ echoed Cleone, mechani- cally. That is, my assumed character as a Mormon, for I knew that I could thus control him.”’ ‘What did you do, sir?” ‘*T told him that he was going too far. ‘*T told him that I had my eye upon him, and was the trusted spy of Brigham Young, the Prophet, and that instead of being his foe, as he believed, I had only been playing a part to the better carry out my plans of professed friendship for the Gentiles. ‘‘He was astounded, and of course demanded proof, which I at once gave him.” ** What proof had you?’’ asked Cleone, in the same listless way. ‘‘T had this secret signet of the Prophet, and the passwords and private papers.”’ He took from an inner pocket as he spoke, a leath- er case with an official looking document in it, which he handed to Cleone, who read, written there- on: ‘* Respect a Secret Chief of Nauvoo. ‘* BRIGHAM YOUNG.” Then he took from about his neck a gold chain, to which hung a massive gold ring with a strange de- vice thereon. ‘* And this outlaw respected these?” asked Cleone. ‘* He did, and more.”’ * What more?”’ ‘ He released me et once, for fear of his life should I report him, and yet he refused to give you de ‘* Ha! did he dare lay claim to me?”’ and Cleone’s face flushed angrily and her eyes flashed fire. ‘*He did until I told him a falsehood regarding you and thus saved you.” * A falsehood?” ‘** Yes, Miss Cleone, I told him that you were my wife,” Yn an instant Cleone Marsden was upon her feet, and her words of fury were about to burst forth upon the guide, when a cry from her mother called her quickly to her side One look into that loved face and Cleone Marsden knew that the end had come—er mother was dying. CHAPTER XVI. THE DEATH IN THE CABIN. Tae horror of the young girl's situation was in- tense. Alone with a dying mother, in a wilderness, sur- rounded by foes, and with one present whom she knew not whether to trust or not, What could she do? Her first duty was to her mother, and forgetting self, she devoted herself to her with her whole heart. Mrs. Marsden had fallen hack in one of the death- like faints that sometimes came over her. But this one seemed worse than ever before, and it was very evident that she hac been overcome by the shock of what Warpath Will had said. vi Speak, mother! speak to me!” cried Cleone, en- treatingly. The eyes of the dying woman slowly opened, her lips moved, and she grasped the hand of Cleone. Then, bending her ear close Cleone heard: ~ rey 5 4 ° 900 a A a ya | ”“ N