Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 5 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

. Vagabond Joe. 21 visited the tent wherein Grace Manville was confined under a strong guard. He found the maiden lying upon her couch, to all appearance sleeping soundly; and with- out disturbing’ her he turned and went out. As he coula do nothing further that night, he sought his own quarters and laid himself upon his lowly bed to rest. The night passed Pe saree morning all were astir. Br and early the next eakfast wus prepared and eaten; an ample supply of venison for the intended journey was packed. Cudmore took pees of Vagabond Joe’s fine elk team, and arnessed them to the youth’s ‘‘ Yankee jump- er.” When al were ready to start, robes blankets and furs were placed in the sleigh, and then Grace Manville—weeping in despair—was oe therein, and carefully and tenderly undled up so that there was no probability of her suffering of cold. The elks were driven by a line attached to each one’s horns. Cudmore took charge of the team, and when it was announced that all were ready for departure, he drove away. It had been arranged by Ishtahaba for the sleigh to take the lead so that those following could walk in its track and trample out all evidence of its having passed along there. The journey was heavy and laborious through the timber where the snow lay piled so deep and so several hours were spent in plunging and wallowing along before the edge of the plain was reached. Here a momentary halt was made by Cud- more and party, not only to rest, but to prepare themselves for a different stage in their journey and a far different state of weather. The plain was covered with but a few inches of snow. The wind in its unrestrained had carried it away and piled it in hollows and in the timber. The course of the party now lay across the lain toward the north-west, almost in the very eth of the cutting blast. A stretch of ten miles was before them to the nearest timber: and it was with some misgivings that the band of marauders, at length, left the Lizard timber and entered the plain. Cudmore, driving the elk team, and Mes grees 3 behind the sleigh, still kept the lead as thoug he were as familiar with the country as Ishta- haba himself. On, with heads bent to the storm, the party pushed rapidly as possible, their blankets and wraps flapping in the wind about their heads, and the blinding sleet driving into their faces, The elks were perfectly docile, and as obedient as trained horses.. The storm was their own element, and they moved along as easily as though unfettered by the hand of man. The Indians kept a close earns” all sides, more through force of habitual precaution, than any fear of danger. ir however, could have been seen a mile arey, or the snow be co flying through the air in blinding clo Night came on apace, and about dusk the arty reached the timber for which they had n aiming, and halted for the night. The captured tents, which the Indians had been compelled to drag along, were at once pitched and fires were then lighted. As there was no shelter sufficient for all, those without gathered in w and hted a t, roaring bonfire, around which they kept up a dire confusion, dancing, corn Fame yelling. Grace Manville was provided with warm quarters and a soft couch; but she slept v little that night. The fate of Captain Ho was unknown to her, and having heard that he was a pri htahaba’s camp, she was risoner in afraid that he had been foully dealt with reg much as she could hear and see nothing of in the party. Early the following morning, the band was ready to renew its journey. Grace was placed in the sleigh and well bundled up, for the still had another day’s journey across a wide, bleak prairie before them. Dr, Cudmore still retained charge of the team, and when all was again ready to start, he took the lead, Owing to some mishap among the In- dians, he got several . ds the start of the , But without waiting for them to come up, he pushed on through the timber, and debouched nto the open plain. At this very instant a Strange, quavering whistle came plainly to the doctor’s ears from around a point of hazel bushes to the north, The villain stopped the team, while the elks pricked up their ears as if in alarm. Cudmore took both lines in his left turned partially around, and with his righ hand motioned to his friends to hurry up. The next instant that strange whistle again smote his ears. The elks made a sudden lunge forward, as if with affright, jerking the lines from the doctor’s hands. efore he could re- cover them the animals were swerne over the prairie in the direction whence the sound had re sng carrying the sleigh and the maiden with them. Cudmore and his Indian allies started in swift pursuit, but they might as well have pursued the wild winds, for the elks swept like lightning along the margin of the plain, yet never break- ing a long trot—the swiftest gait of the elk. Ciace anville, startled by this sudden dash, threw aside her wraps and looked out. The sharp, cold wind dashed the flying snow into her face, and almost took her breath. A cry of horror burst from her lips when she saw the trees and clumps of bushes flying past her as if upon wings. Her brain erey dizzy, and she was forced to cover her eyes to shut out the blinding rush of the forest. The elks dashed on nearly a quarter of a mile, and finally came toa halt, almost as suddenly as the had started, A voice fell upon Grace’s ears, The elks uttered a strange, peculiar sound, that startled the maiden, She uncovered her face and looked out. A figure, wrapped in a blanket, stood at the head of the elks, talking and fondling around them in a familiar manner that seemed highly agreeable to the animals. He soon came around and approached the cutter. He let his blanket drop from about his head, when Io! the boyish face of Vagabond Joe was revealed to the astonished gaze of the unfortunate maiden. ‘*'Yoop!” he exclaimed, his eyes flashing with triumph, and his heart throbbing with manl ride; ‘‘I told ’em I'd rescue you, Miss Gracef aalbec and Nineveh know my whistle.” “Oh, Joe!” cried Grace, starting up in an ec- stasy of wild delight, ‘‘ you dear, brave little fellow! Is it possible that you are the cause of all this?—that you have rescued me from Cud- more’s power again? Oh, Joe! you are a noble, fearless young hero, I declare.” “Thank you, Miss Graceful,” the youth roudly nded; ‘‘ but, don’t you forgit that Pye had a time of it. I see’d them start with you yesterday; and so I detarmined to follow and watch my chances,” ‘* Have you been in the woods all night alone, Joe?” Grace asked. “Yes, um; but that’s nothin’ when a feller’s workin’ in the cause of a Bae girl like you, Miss Graceful. You see, Baalbec and Nineveh —that’s my elks’ names—know my call as Ill bet you know a book; and I don’t b’lieve there’s Ingins enough outside of purgatory to hold ’em back when I give the call to come, Great mollyhorns! didn’t they come a-flukin’, though? Didn’t they come a-sizzin’, Miss Graceful?’ “They ran so swift that I dared not look out, Joe. In fact, I expected to be killed every mo- ment, for all had occurred so suddenly that I could not tell what it meant.” ‘Well, now,” the lad exclaimed, keeping his eyes turned in the direction of the enemy, ‘‘them red varmints are working up this wa pretty friskly, so I reckon we’d better reel off.” So saying, Joe stepped into the sleigh and seated himself by the maiden’s side. By this time Dr. Cudmore and a number of his followers were within forty rods of the fu- itives—shouting at the top of their voices for he youth and maiden to stop. * Oh, yes, smut-faces!” Joe shouted back to them, “we'll stop, you miserable, p’izen gal- thieves, we’ll stop—in course we will! and don’t you forgit it. But, hold on, Graceful; ’'m goin’ skeer ’em a little, for the fun of the thing.” He got out of the sleigh and resting his rifle across the corner of the vehicle, took deliberate aim at the advancing foe and fired. Dr. Cudmore staggered and fell; but without one word as to the result of his shot, Vagabond Joe step back into his sleigh, and speaking to his elks went speeding away over the a into the drivin stort tec e view of Ishta- haba and his followers. CHAPTER XIX, ANOTHER HEIR AT GLENDALE, A GLOOM hung over the little village of Fort Dodge. The mysterious disappearance of Myr- tle Gray had created a void in every heart there; for she was loved and, i by every one, both old and young. A week had passed since her di Peer Beaet and in this time not a single ne been heard of her. Some had suspected her. abduc- tion by vagabond Indians; but the weather had been so stormy and severe that it was impossible to institute a search among the villages of the red-skins. Mave Conrille carried the sad intelligence of the maiden’s disappearance to Glendale. He went over there in compliance with the agree- ment entered into between Mr. Newbold and Uncle Jerry. The latter was astounded by the news that Mave brought; while Irene seemed deeply af- fected by emotions of the deepest sorrow, and confessing a sister’s love for the pretty and gentle-hearted little Myrtle. _ Mave Conrille found Uncle J erry somewhat indisposed, and the news of Myrtle’s disappear- ance proved an additional shock to his feeble health that well-nigh prostrated him. He, like all others who had met Myrtle, naturally learn- ed to love her. The radiance of her sweet young soul had reached the old man’s heart; and his was strengthened by the maiden’s kind warning of there being a conspiracy plotted against him. He hadrevolved that matter over and over in his mind a hundred times; and, al- though he could not form the faintest concep- tion of whom the conspirators were, it preyed stronger upon his mind and health the more he thought of it, Since he had heard of her disappearance, however, the old man had put his wits to work; and by some reason or other—intuition un- doubtedly — her fate and the conspiracy of which she spoke seemed to have some connec- tion. But, where could the conspiracy exist? As it could not possibly be in his own household it must, of course, be in the settlement. But who were the conspirators? Among all his ac- quaintances in the village, he could fix suspicion upon no one. But while Mave Conrille was still a visitor at Glendale, Uncle Jerry took Irene aside and held a private conversation with her. ‘‘Trene,” he said, ‘‘there is some mystery connec with Myrtle Gray’s disappearance, which, in my mind, indirectly involves myself, some way or other.” ‘Why, Uncle Jerry, what makes you think so?” questioned Irene, betraying no littie agita- tion, which the old man could construe into no other emotion than fear and rise, “I hate to tell you, Irene,” he responded, “for I observe you’re of a nervous tempera- ment, and in consequence have kept the secret from you ever since Myrtle was down to visit us. But when I took her home Christmas morning, she said, when she got outof the sleigh in front of her father’s house, ‘‘ Be careful, Unele Jerry; there’s a conspiracy on foot to murder you for your wealth.’ A little cry burst from Irene’s lips, and she turned dead] e. ae she was joking,” Uncle Jerry continued ; ‘‘it ’d been just like the merry little sprite; but since she has disappeared, I’m inclined to think she was wanted: out of the way.” cy Oh, I do wonder if such can be true?” cried Irene ‘Tm afraid there’s something not altogether right, Irene,” the old man answered with a troubled look; “‘ and if the mystery that hangs around Myrtile’s absence is not revealed soon, I shall unload my heart of its burden, and tell what I know and what I think.” Irene ap greatly agitated by these re- marks, and had the old man not bent so blind in his regards for the fair girl, he might have seen the slumberous fire of a caged tigress burning in her eyes. When their interview had ended, they re- paired to the sitting-room where old Wallack was entertaining ve Conrille with those soul-stirring negro melodies of which he was master. listened awhile to the music, then conversed awhile, when Mave took his depar- ture for home, pice ieee to return soon. That night a sleigh up to Glendale and bw ne alight por baa gave their team in e care of one of Un erry’s ever read servants, and ey the hose. © - These men were Messrs. Newbold and Carew land-agents of Fort Dodge, : They were kindly received by Uncle Jerry and his niece, and after the compliments of the day had been given all round, Newbold said: ‘Well, Uncle Jerry, we have come with good news for you.” ‘Ah! indeed? has Myrtle Gray been found, Mr, Newbold?” was the old man’s first thought. ‘‘No; but another of your sisters’ children has,” replied the land-agent. « You don’t tell me, Mr, Newbold! has it turned out as you expected?” “ Exactly,” responded N ewbold, : though it cS comicboo — st _ — a €or me eee oe -