Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 467 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

* . c q {eyed te a oe * wt) For some minutes she still sat where Disco Dan had placed her, weeping silently and trem- bling with excitement and fear. Now that her friend was gone, she dreaded each moment to hear the hated voice of Barton Barker again. Him she feared, and well she might. A villain was he, of the deepest dye. But the excitement in The Den was running high, and the “saint” had seemingly forgotten the girl for the time being. if the people of Domino had indeed laid hands upon the true Midnight Dan, they could well congratulate themselves, for few there were who had not suffered loss at bis hands, Shipments of gold to market, no matter how secretly made, were sure to be known to the highwayman; and it was very seldom that he failed to ‘* collect toll.” That there was a traitor in the camp, seemed self-evident, and now that traitor was believed to be Red-eye Jim. Discussing these points, and everybody talking at once, made of the saloon a perfect bedlam. When it became a little more quiet, or at least sufficiently so for her to make herself heard, then the blind girl rose to her feet and said: ‘*Gentlemen, pray give me your attention for a moment.” : In an instant every voice was stilled, and then the girl went on: ‘“ As you can see, lam blind. I am perfectly helpless. Is there not some one here who will conduct me to a place of safety? to some place where [ will be near some one of my own sex?” ‘“‘In course there is!” Ben Bantam quickly exclaimed. He and Billy Barber, together with three or four others of those who had rescued Disco Dan from his immediate danger, were standing near the girl, and they still had their revolvers in hand. ‘* Don’t you be too previous, my good fellow,” said Barton Barker, as he stepped forward: “this young lady is under my protection, and J will take care of her,” ‘‘Oh! do not Ict him come near me! T am afraid of him!” the girl eried, as she drew back in affright. ‘‘Donot let him touch me again. Oh! if my sister were only here!” And sinking upon her chair again, the unfortunate girl sobbed aloud. “Stand back, Bart Barker!” Ben Bantam ordered, as he brought his revolver up, * you have done enough for th’ lady as it are. You've forfeited all right to be her protector, by bringin’ her here. Why didn’t ye take her to th’ house of some one of us men who’s got wives? Jest answer that! No, sir! This girl is goin’ to my house, an’ my wife will be th’ one to take eare of her.” ‘* Yes, yes!” the girl cried; ‘‘ take me to your ood wife, sir!” “That I will, never fear,” Ben responded de- cisively. And then he added: ‘* But what about your sister? Where is she? Is she dead?’ ‘Alas! { do not know,” the girlreplied. ‘‘ But I must tell you my story, and then I hope some of you will go forth and search for her.” *‘ D’ye mean ter say she’s lost near heur?” in- quired Billy Barber. . tf it cannot be far from here where she ** Fell? ly asked. ‘“‘T will tell you. Sheand I set out this morn- ing to come to this town. We started from a place called Bullion City—” ‘‘Over twenty miles!” some one exclaimed. “Tt was a long, long walk,” the girl said with a sigh. : ‘As night came on,” she continued, “ my sis- ter told me we were near our destination, and a short time later she said she could see the town. ‘‘We were then high up on the side of the mountain, and in a place where the trail was so narrow that we could not walk side DY side, ‘My sister walked behind me there, with her hand upon my shoulder, and all the time caution- ing me to keep close to the wall on my left, ded me by saying ‘ step, step, step.” “Thus we advanced for some time very slowly. " My sister was describing to me what she could see, at moments when it was not necessary for her to caution my every step; and she was just counting the habitations of this town, when of a sudden she gave a scream, let go her hold on my shoulder, and then I heard her falling down, down.” Here the poor girl began to cry again. Where did she fall from?” Ben quick- Disco Dan, the Daisy Dude. ** An’ couldn’t ye hear her after that?” Ben Bantam asked. ‘* No,” was the answer, as soon as the girl could command her voice; ‘‘I could not hear a sound, ‘* When she fell, I could hear her crashing through the vines and bushes for an instant, and then all was still. Oh! so still! ‘“T called her name again and again, but no answer came to me, and I was alone. ‘* Then I was blind indeed!” ‘** An’ what was it that skart yer sister an’ made her fall?” asked Billy Barber. ‘*I do not know. I listened attentively, but I could not hear a sound save the barking of a dog, and that was no doubt here in the to'yvn. It must have been something she saw. ‘* When I found that I was indeed left alone, I knew not what to do. I was afraid to move for fear of falling, and I knew not what danger Was near. “I stood still for some time, hoping against hope that I would hear my sister call me, but I heard her not. ‘* Edith—that was my sister’s name, had so far described my surroundings that I had a pretty good idea of them, and at last I resolved to try to reach here and ask your help. ‘‘ Just before Edith fell, she had told me that the sun was about half an hour high; so when I — to come here it must have been almost ark, “It was a slow and tedious journey for me, for | had to feel my way inch by inch. ‘‘ At first I was guided by the barking dog I mentioned, and later by other sounds which reached me from time to time. ‘* At last, after what seemed to me to have been hours and hours, [ reached a place where { heard voices, and then I stopped and called for help. ‘*In a moment, then, the person who brought me here came to me, and | asked him to lead me to a place of safety. He promised to do so, and brought me here. The rest you all know.” **And did I not keep my word?” the ‘‘ saint” demanded. “Yes, I trust that I am, now,” was the cut- ting answer from the blind girl, ‘since I have found other protectors than you.” ‘* Ha, ha, ha!” the ‘“‘saint” laughed, ‘‘ Why, you talk like an angel! A girl who is found tramping from camp to camp in a wild land like this, and—” “See here, Saint!” cried Ben Bantam, in hot anger, ‘“‘ you had better close yer head an’ say less, now I warn ye. This gal has asked me for to protect her, an’ ’'m goin’ ter do it. You hear me! An’ I’m goin’ ter protect her from insult as well as frominjury. That’s th’ sort of a bumblebee J am.” Ben was fully aroused, and the lion in his na- ture was plainly seen. Nor was he alone, for Billy Barber and several others still backed him. Seeing that he was at a great disadvantage, the ‘‘saint” pulled in his horns—so to speak— with as good grace as possible, and drew back. ‘*Oh! take her, Ben, take her! I don’t want her «nm my hands so bad that I’m going to fight for her; not much! I brought her here with the intention of having Barleycorn give her the best room he’s got, while 1 got up a party to go and hunt for her sister. ou see she told me her story, or that much of it, at least, as soon as I found her. ‘* Since she is so infernal dignified and touchy, though, ’m done with her,” ‘That’s all right,” said Ben, “if it was true; but I don’t believe it. ‘‘Come, miss,” he added, taking the girl’s hand; “ pick up your box, an’ we'll go.” ‘But, my sister,” said the girl, as she rose to geo, ‘* Will not some one go and look for her? Can you not tell by my description where it was she fell?” ‘*- Yes, we know jest about whar it was.” Ben answered; ‘‘an’ as soon as I take you to my house, wé fellers will go right off to find her. Come on.” And leading the girl by the hand he started toward the door. But just at that moment appeared a new actor—or to put it more correctly, actress—up- on the stage. Another girl—the very counterpart of the blind girl, except that her eyes were wide open and flashing—suddenly entered the door, exclaiming: a Tell me, gentlemen; have you seen my sister—a poor blind girl?’ She—” She got no further. ‘Oh! Edith, Edith” the blind girl cried. And she sprung forward toward where she had heard the welcome voice. =, eee ‘* Are you not in a place of safety?” | 9° . ** Oh! Bessie !” In an instant the two girls were clasped in each other’s arms, For several moments they stood thus, whis- pering words of endearment, and then the one named Edith asked aloud: “How did you ever find your way here, Bessie?” ‘“T had to feel my way, sister,” the blind gir] replied: “or at least i did until I came where | heard voices, and then I called for help and was brought here.” ‘* And who was it brought you here? Tell me, at once, so that | may thank him!” ‘* He does not deserve thanks, Edith.” ‘‘ Not deserve thanks! How can you say that?” **Because he has forfeited all claim to my gratitude by his gross rudeness.” ‘*Indeed?” and Edith’s eyes flashed fire as she glanced at those around her; and, in- stinctively it would seem, they rested for a moment upon Barton Barker, ‘* But,” she quickly added, ‘‘we can freely forgive his offense, in our great joy at finding each other.” The “‘saint’s” eyes had dropped when ove 4 met those of the girl, and for a moment a flas of shame mounted to his face. ‘** But, tell me, sister,” the blind girl quickly interrogated; ‘‘ what was it caused you to fall? and how did you escape? I feared that you were dead.” ‘* What caused me to fall, Bessie, was nothing more nor less than a huge snake, which thrust its ugly head out from a crevice of the rocks right into my face, as we were passing along. “The sight of the hideous thing frightened me so, coming so suddenly and so unexpected- ly, that involuntarily I let go of your shoulder and sprung back a step, and in doing so I missed my footing and fell over the edge of the narrow trail and down into the gorge. ‘*T must have struck my head, for I remem- ber nothing save the sensation of falling. “When I came to, I found myself lying ina clump of bushes, unhurt; and after callin several times for you, and getting no reply, started here to get assistance to find you. ‘“ But, thank Heaven! you are safe!” CHAPTER X. THE ORPHAN’S STORY. THE sisters looked very much alike. So much so,in truth, that any one would have taken them to be just what they were—-twins. And beautiful girls they were. They appeared to be about sixteen years of age, and were certainly not more than eighteen. Their features were clear cut and regular their complexions were beautifully clear, an their hair was like sunshine itself. The only difference that could be readily seen, was that one was blind. The eyes of the other were like two stars, so bright and flashing were they. ‘Well, ladies,” said Ben Bantam, ‘come: I will conduct ye to my house, an’ my wife will see to it that ye’re cared for an’ made comfort- able, ye kin jest bet!” ** Yes, sister,” the blind girl immediately ex- lained; “this man, I wish I could see him! 1as been my protector, and he was just starting to conduct me to his house when you came in.” ‘I thank you, sir, with all my heart!” Edith ~Saee ‘**'We will accept your offer, thank- ully, ‘* Before we go, however, I would. like to tell our story here, so that all may know who and what we are, and why we are here in this wild country. ‘‘ Are you all willing to have me do so?” ee Yes y? ‘* Certainly!” ‘‘ By all means, miss!” These and a hundred other exclamations of similar import were instantly heard. ‘‘ My sister and I are twins,” the young lady began, ‘‘and we came out here from Ohio. ‘“We are searching for our father, or for proof of his death, if he be dead. ** He came out here about fifteen years ago, when we were very small. ‘His name was Barton Baker.” At hearing that name, Barton Barker, the “‘saint,” was seen to turn deathly pale, and he grasped the bar for support. The quick eyes of Edith Baker saw this, and she asked: ‘Did you know Barton Baker, sir?” ‘‘N-no,” the ‘‘ saint” answered, ‘*] did not.” ‘“T thought perhaps you had known him, as you started when I spoke his name.” ‘No, I never heard of him. I started—if I comicboo