Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 517 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

—— 4 § | Jim Gladden’s Deputy. I accompanied by Harry and his men, he id so. As he laid it on the table before the judge, it seemed fairly to stick to his fingers. Then, wringing his hands, he tottered from the room. But when he held in his arms the girl for whom he was making so painful a sacrifice, her love repaid him. ur CHAPTER XIII. THE PARTING. “THAT anti-pork ‘atin’ dude?” cried Tom Murphy, when Harry laid his scheme before him and Dick. ‘* Be the sowl o’ me fut, av we couldn’t git the shtairt o’ yan spalpeen, it ’u’d be toime we'd dis- band.” ‘¢ Jist you don’t worry,” was Dick’s assurance. We'll fx him. You git de gal ready; an’ we'll be up de road wid de hosses,” ‘We must act all alone,” said Harry. ‘* That slippery fellow has so won on the boys, that I should be afraid to approach one of them.” ‘¢ We don’t want none o’ dem!” said Dick. “ Faith, phwat fur would we have the loikes o’ them shtanding about in the way?’ demanded Tom. ‘Tt is all arranged, then,” said Harry. ‘* You are sure about the horses?” ‘‘ Dah’s de bronchos what we~uns own. Dey’s good fur legs wid anyfin’ in dis hyar camp.” ‘¢Tt}s wan more we're wantin’ fur the gurrul. Faith, we'll take Jim Gladden’s, avin’ him wor- rud that it’s only borried.” ‘‘That will give us the very best horse in the camy,” observed Harry. . ‘* An’ av he catches us,” suggested Tom, as if this were a consideration worth entertaining, ‘¢we won’t hang fur horse-st’alin’!” ‘‘No fear but Jim would take it all in good rt,” admitted Harry. ‘‘If we could make im believe as we do about this villain, he would be with us.” “Take no risks,” said Tom. anything to do, do it yerselves.” “‘ Well, then, set about your part at once,” The boys separated, Harry going directly .to old Abraham’s. He found a miserable household; and when he had almost dragged Miriam from the clinging arms of the old people, she was nearly fainting with excess of emotion. He supported her sobbing in his arms, as if she were his sister. In that supreme moment neither thought of disguising their mutual affection; and in the chivalrous tenderness of our hero the old people saw nothing to reprehend, Put out the light,” said Harry. must see us leave the house.” As Abraham blew out the candle, Rebecca ut- tered a great cry of heart anguish, and clutched convulsively at the girl who had replaced in her heart her own child of long ago. ‘* Ab, Gott! Gott!” she cried. ‘‘ We are losing ou! I did not know it vas like dis. Miriam! iriam!” ‘‘ Manama! mamma)!” cried the girl, clasping the old woman in the darkness, ‘‘T shall die!” sobbed Rebecca. ‘‘ Abraham, can ve not keep her with us, and appeal to his erosity ?”’ ‘The generosity of the wolf!” returned Abra- ham, fiercely. ‘‘ Has he not killed vone al- reaty?” Miciam shivered. She had before heard such allusions as this, not understanding them. She had never asked an explanation. But even old Abraham, when it came to the —_ of actually or a his cherished child another, clung to her, rocking to and fro with her, asa mother might grieve over her dead baby. As soon as rs me ne een ¥p to break in u their pain, Harry interposed: Fe Think of Miriam. She will need all of her ” ‘* Av yez have ‘*No one strength. “You are right,” admitted the old man. ‘‘ Take her! take her, my son!” And he put the sobbing girl into the deputy’s He knew that words were useless. The firm clasp of his strong arms, in silence, would im- part a sense of dependence and security. The girl’s thoughts would turn to him; and so, grad- ually, she would become calm and hopeful. Youth ever looks forward to the brighter morrow. When she was calmed somewhat, he asked: ‘* Miriam, you do not fear to trust yourself so entirely to my guidance?” ‘* Ah, no!” she sighed. The ecstasy of love was already softening the pain of separation from those other claimants who henceforth were to stand second in her af- fection. Such is the course of nature. Not that she loved them less, but that she Joved him more, ‘* You are ready?” ‘* Yes, kint shentleman.” ‘* Come, then.” He rose and slung across his shoulder the sad- dle-bags which contained the slender stock of necessary clothing which she was to take with her. Then, while she clung to his arm, he led her out of her home into the darkness of the bound- less outer world. Hugging close to him, she stepped as lightly asa fairy. But she shivered with dread as she felt the chill night air. Before the door closed between her and those she loved, she threw two silent kisses in their di- rection, whispering: ‘*Good-by, my dear papa! Good-by, my dear mamma! Gott keep you both—and your poor Miriam!” Then she was a fugitive, indeed, with nowhere to call her home. With infinite caution Harry piloted the timid girl, shrinking and quivering at every sound at every fancied shadow, out of the camp, unti he gained the rendezvous. ‘* All right, boys?” he whispered, with a thrill of elation. ‘* Dah hain’t been a sound,” was Dick’s assur- ance. ‘*Then let’s get out of this instanter!” ‘‘'You an’ Miss Miriam takes de best hosses, Hyeah’s Jim Gladden’s, Ef we has torun fur it, it’s more ’portant dat you two gits away dan me ’n’ Tom.” ‘‘Did you get Miriam’s side-saddle?” asked Harry, with sudden anxiety. ‘1 forgot to men- tion that.” ‘* We didn’t furgit it,” assured Dick, taking pride to himself. ‘‘ But how did you get it out of the stable, al- most under the noses of the boys going in and out of the Terpsichorean Hall?” ** Dis chile hain’t been chick’n-huntin’ all dese years fur nuffia’!” chuckled Dick. ‘ Jist you t’'ank de Lo’d fur de saddle, an’ ax no ques- tions!” ‘‘Tll remember you, Dick,” said our hero, gratefully. Lifting the place in her sa ** You are not **.Oh, no.” ‘*The horse is so much larger than you are used to.” ‘*T can manage him.” His arm yet lingered about her waist. She had not withdrawn hers from his neck. In the darkness of the chaparral no one could see them. Tom and Dick were busy mounting. The girl’s face bent close over that of her lover, to catch and respond to his whispers. She thought of what he was risking for her sake. This was no trifling escapade. There might be blood spilled along the trail upon which they were setting out. Suppose he were killed? All the malignity of the enemy she dreaded would be directed against him. She had not thought of that until now. ‘* Hahree,” she whispered, with her lips close to his ear. , ‘* Yes, darling!” he breathed, so low that none could catch the tender sound. He trembling with eager ecstasy. She sighing e in his arms, he set her in e. afraid?” he asked. ‘‘ After you had saved me from those ruffians? — Can I ever forget it? Never!” ‘* Ready?” called Tom, cautiously. ‘* Now and forever!” whispered ‘* Forever,” breathed the girl in return, Their lips met once more, and then she sat erect. Harry swung into the saddle. ‘* Ready,” be responded to Tom. ‘* Not quite!” said a voice in the darkness. And a shadow rose in their path, asif out of the ground. CHAPTER XIV. THE HONOR OF THE CAMP. Miriam uttered a low cry of terror, and reined her horse toward her lover. On either band, where his pards were, Harry | heard the ominous click of hastily-drawn re- volvers. His own weapon was in his hand as soon as theirs. ‘‘Stand aside!” he cried, in a low, hoarse voice. ‘‘Out of our path, or I will shoot you down!” ‘* No you won't!” declared a well-known voice. ‘Jim! Is that you?” ‘* Tt ain’t anybody else.” ‘“Don’t interfere with us. I can’t explain to ou now; but will when I can do so safely. his is all right. I will satisfy you that it is in a few days. You know that you can trust me.” ‘*T thought I could!” said Jim, with bitter significance, ‘* Have I ever failed you?” ‘* Never before.” ‘* Well, then?” ‘“What did I say when I made you my deputy?’ ‘*T don’t know just what you mean.” ‘T said that I wanted men that wouldn’t be the fu’st to break the law they were sworn to uphold,” ‘‘But this is different, Jim. Such a case might never happen again—” **Tt won’t happen once!—not while I’m alive!’’ interrupted Gladden, with an emphasis that made his deputy’s heart quail. For a moment he was at a loss for a reply, ae how much depended upon what he said next. Jim Gladden went on: ‘¢ This is the fust warrant that wasever served in this hyar camp. It’s 1% ape through, make or break—you kin bet yer life on that!” ‘¢ Jim,” said Harry, huskily, will you listen to me while I explain?’ ‘‘-You can’t explain away one thing.” ** And what is that?” ‘“‘The honor o’ this byar camp! Thar’s a mighty sight o’ crooked business about the law. Them as has the makin’ of it, an’ them as has the ata ve! of it out, is only men, an’ some of ’em mighty slippery cusses, at that. Waal, I ‘low one thing’s signed an’ sealed. The fu’stdeal at Paddy’s Flat, with Jim Gladden at the box, is goin’ fur to be squar’!” Harry was ina dilemma. He could not even state the facts in the hearing of the girl most deeply concerned. Su ca he leaped from his horse, ‘Step this way, Jim,” he said. ‘‘ I'll tell you everything; and you shall judge.” He heard tremulously. He thought he heard her breathe his name—that sweet ‘‘Hahree!” which fell from her lips as from none others. Once on the ground, he became conscious of the vicinity of others, and surmised that they _ were surrounded by the whole posse, with Jim at their head. And this was the fact. Tom and Dick had not been so sharp as they flattered themselves, tiful Jewess, Jim Gladden had surmised that coming of a father upon the scene just at ee py might not be very welcome to over. arry. ¢ the girl he loved draw her breath | A . aA y Knowing—or at least suspecting—the relations * aa which existed between his deputy and the peer fp the ws the ‘‘He’s got somethin’ brewing—that’s flat!” — arms, She was almost at the point of swooning. , / : said Jim to himself, reflecting upon Harry’s ad ‘ ‘‘Go into the store and leave her with me a a, ‘*] had not thought until now,” she said, <s moment,” ordered Harry. **She cannot go out | ‘‘ This teste may never return to us.” manner since he had received the summons, zy | >» © until she is more calm.” “Well, well?” With this start, it didnot take the marsha) —| de The old people obeyed him. Old Abraham led | Her face dropped lower, until, accepting this | long to arrive at the probability of collusion be- yi f . iy ssed her | tween old Abraham and the boy f who had server his wife with a tenderness that their mutual | mute commission of herself to him, be » nex grief augmented. lips again and again. him so faithfully in the past. | Le ane ‘¢ Ve shall not know the actual moment of her ‘* Whatever happens,” she said, brokenly, ‘* That ole coon’s a-layin’ low. That’s what’ going from us,” he said. ‘* you—will know that—from the first—” the matter with him!” he declared. ‘‘ The jedg ie “aha Then, in the darkness, clinging to each other, ‘* We have always loved each other?” ‘lows to hev him by the purse-strings; but,ef Ty) they waited “Yes! yes!” any on readin’ signs, the ole bloke set a sat down on a settle next the wall, and| ‘Thank God!” he breathed. ‘I loved you | by the leetle gal. 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