Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 519 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 with a similar fate. While Dorne submitted to the refusal like a whipped cur, Stone was thor- oughly angered. He resolved not to give the girl up without a struggle. She was a prize worth striving for, not mentioning old Irving’s sheckels, Noone can picture Stcne’s wild an- er when, a few months later, he learned that thel Irving had married Morton Dunbar. He was furious and swore to have revenge on the young man, whom he had always hated, and who had stolen his prize from him, The very night after he learned of the marriage, he filled himself with liquor until he was insanely intoxi- cated. He quarreled with his ‘friend, Barret Dorne, stabbed him to death, and, after robbing the body, fled. It matters little where he went; he got beyond the reach of the law. ‘**He sent a message to Morton Dunbar, swearing to take vengeance. Whether this let- ter was ever received he did not know. ‘‘It was three years later when Morton Dun- bar’s little daughter was abducted. The father found a brief note, telling him that his old rival had done the deed, and thus obtained the vengeance he had sworn to have. The blow killed the mother—beautiful Ethel—and sent the father out into the world to search for his lost daughter and her abductor. It was said that over the body of his dead wife he swore to have a fearful revenge on the one who had caused all the misery, but his oath yet remains unfulfilled,” ‘But it shall be!” cried Red Robin. “ It shall be, every word!” ** Never!” was the fiercereply. ‘‘ You are at my mercy, Morton Dunbar, and I am—Faton Stone !” He tore away the mask, and for a few mo- ments the two bitter foes glared into each others eyes. Then Stone fairly hissed: ** You have sought to hunt me down, but you are now at my mercy. I shall kill you! then ay vengeance will be complete. Die, curse you ! ie | And whipping out a knife, he seized Red Robin by the throat, murder gleaming in his evil eyes! CHAPTER V. SYLVA BLAIR IS ABDUCTED. SyLva BLarrR firmly expected that her father would meet her as soon as she reached Bowlder Bar, but she was doomed to disappointment. As Howard Thorne lantly assis her to alight from the stage, she looked eagerly around for her father, but failed to see his face among the many revealed by the light of the swinging lamp, suspended above the door of the Clarion Hotel. She knew not why, but for a moment a sud- den fear seemed to seize her, and she pressed one hand to her bosom. Howard Thorne saw the white, frightened look upon her face, and said hastily: “ Are you ill, Miss Blair? You are pale and your hand trembles.” For a moment she could not reply, but, with an effort, she forced a nervous little laugh, and answered: **No, not ill. I fear, woud , that my nerves are shaken by that affair with the road-agents and that dreadful runaway, For a moment, being in a strange place, a sudden faintness seized me,” Again she glanced searchingly and anxiously around, ‘*My father—where is he? He should be here to meet me.” Again the belief that there was somethin wrong about the affair came back to Howar Thorne. He could hardly bring himself to be- lieve that Henry Blair would wish to have his daughter come to a camp so isolated as Bowlder Bar, and of such a bn character as that pac. But even if he did, it was not likely that e would allow the young girl to make the jour- ney alone through the rough country, And more suspicious than everything else was the fact that her father did not meet her as soon as she reached the camp. ‘“*Isn’t your father here?” he asked, slowly, at the same time glancing over the faces of the - speedy who had now learned of the driver's _ and were talking excitedly. ‘*‘ He should At this moment a handsome, gentlemanly- appearing man came hurriedly forward, with his right hand outstretched. ‘* Howard, my son,” he exclaimed, ‘‘ you have arrived at lat!” The young man greeted his father yernily, exch ng a few words with him. Then he turned to the girl, who was still standing beside him, a fearful, troubled look in her eyes. Captain Mystery. ‘* Miss Blair, it is evident that your father is not here at present, but he can probably be easi- ly found. Until Il can make inquiries for him, my father’s house is open to you. Shall I es- cort you there?” For a few moments the young lady hesitated ; then she said decidedly: ‘** No, [ don’t think i will 0, ou for your kindness. tS dieve I will stop ere at the hotel. If father should come for wa he would find me more quickly if I were ere. Thorne tried to persuade her to change her mind, but finding his efforts useless, he volun- teered to secure a room for her and make all necessary arrangements. When he had done this, he bade Sylva good- night and left the hotel. The moment he step- ped outside, half a dozen of the excited crowd around the stage pounced upon him and de- manded to know the facts concerning the driver’s death. He tried to shake them off and escape from their detaining hands, but the ef- fort was a failure. Then it must be acknowledged that, in order to escape from their hands as soon as possible, Howard twisted the truth somewkat. A few short sentences he uttered, the eager listeners catching only a part of what he said, but enough to form an opinion of the manner in which the driver met bis fate. ‘* Road-agent—back a piece—called a halt— driver ran through the line—was shot—pulled the stage through—died from wound.” It was well for Red Robin that Thorne did not tell the true story of the encounter with the road-agents, for the crowd would have pestered the red-breasted man with their questions. As it was, he escaped almost unnoticed. When he had uttered the few short, broken sentences given ab ve, Thorne broke away from the hands that sought to detain him, and joined his father, who was waiting for him, and they disappeared in the darkness, eanwhile Sylva Blair had ascended to her room, escorted by a servant. She found the room small and uncomfortable, the walls being rough and unplaned boards. She asked to have supper served in her room, many thanks to and soon found herself seated before a small, rough table, upon which were spread such luxu- ries as the hotel afforded. Despite the excite- ment of the past hour and the disappointment at not meeting her father, she ate heartily, and felt much refreshed. When she had finished, she threw open the window of her room, and sitting down by it gazed out into the darkness, thinking—think- ing. Beneath the window there was a sloping- roofed shed that connected the stable with the hotel. She noted this, and looked around at the dim outlines of the few huts and buildings that could be seen in the darkness, but could form no idea of the camp by what she could see, She had fallen into a drowsy, half-conscious reverie, when she was startled wide-awake by the sound of a sudden shot coming from the lower part of the hotel. Then she heard angry and excited voices loudly talking. Pressing her hand to her throbbing bosom, for she had been frightened by the sudden sounds, she listened to hear the sounds gradu- ally subside until only an indistinct murmur of voices could be heard, Still she sat there, lis- tening, listening. It was some time later when she again heard a shot. Then came another pause of a few minutes, and then once more fierce angry cries and the sounds of a struggle came to her ears, She started to her feet, listening to the com- motion below, It lasted only a short time, but it raged fiercely while it did last. When the sounds of the struggle had died away, she sunk on the rude bed, exhausted by the excitement caused by what she had so re- cently seen and heard. It seemed hours after before she fell into a troubled sleep filled with horrible dreams. Finally she dreamed that she was lying in that very room and upon the very bed upon whic.) she was lying. She remembered that she had left her window open and tried to arise and close it. But some invisible power seemed to hold her chained to the bed. Then she thought that out in the darkness a fierce-looking man was crawling slowly along the shed-roof toward her window, She tried to cry out, but an iron hand seemed gripping her tongue. Slowly the man crawied along until he came to the window; then he arose and noiselessly crawled into the room, With a cat-like tread, he advanced to- ward the bed. Nearer—nearer he came, until he stood over her. Then, suddenly he grasped her. by the throat! She seemed choking—chok- ing! She struggled fiercely, trying to cry out, and then— She awoke to find that, in truth, an iron hand was on her throat and something that gave out a sickening odor was being pressed over her mouth and nostrils. She could see nothing, for a black mist swam before her eyes. Qh! the horror of her position! She tried to cry for help, but could not utter a sound. She felt her senses reel—everything seomed going round—then she became uncon~- scious! A ugly ckuckle of satisfaction came froma villainous-looking man who held the chloro-’. formed sponge to her nostrils. ‘* Kasy ernuff,” he muttered. **Worked just as slick as slidin’ off er log. Expected she’d wake up when I war climbin’ in ther windy an’raise a squall, Blamed ef she knew er thing till I had her foul.” He lifted the unconscious girl in his arms and bore her quickly to the open window. He thrust her out, and lowering her carefully downward, called out in guarded tones: ‘* Look a little cut, pard! Hyar ye go!” “Got ’er, Jack. Let go,” came from a dark form on the shed-roof. The kidnapper obeyed, and then climbed softly out of the window himself. His companion was already half-way along the roof toward the place whére a short ladder leaned against the shed. He did not stop for the ladder, but swiftly creeping down the roof dropped to the ground. When his companion reached the ground with the girl, he was ready with the horses, and mounted upon one of them. ‘‘Pass her up, mate,” said the mounted man, in a low tone, ‘‘ This are jist ther slickest little job as I ever did hev er finger in.” The other laughed softly as he passed the girl up to his companion. Then he quickly mounted his own horse, and the two kidnappers rode around the stable into the street, The final dance in the saloon was just taking place, and the sounds of shuffling feet and lively strains of music could be plainly heard; but, for the most part, the camp seemed silent and deserted. The kidnappers turned down the street; but at this moment, the sound of rattling shots, the savage bark of a dog and wild cries of rage or terror came to their ears. They pulled < 4% alarm. ‘* Curse it! hat does thet mean?” growled one of the men, “Dunno,” replied his companion. like it came frum near ther jail. rescue is being attempted.” ‘Waal, what are we a-goin’ ter do? Ther bull blasted camp will be erwake in jist erbout a minute.” ‘Our road is by ther jail, an’ that’s ther way we must go. Cum on!” Putting their horses into a gallop, they dashed swiftly down by the jail. As they passed the little log building, two dark forms sprung out through the open door- way. One orled out to them, but they did not pause, and the bullets that came singing around their heads only caused them to urge their horses on the faster. ‘¢ Tt sounds Perhaps er CHAPTER VI, OLD BOMBSHELL TO THE RESOUR. For a few moments that deadly knife was held suspended before Red Robin’s eyes, preparatory to the stroke that should end his life. There was a beastly look of rage upon the contorted face of Faton Stone, and a devilish light burned in his black eyes. — Calmly, without even a tremor, the Reckless. gazed into the eyes of his deadly foe, expecting almost instant death at Stone’s hands, yet not making a struggle, or even, attempting to cry out. Indeed, he could not have cried out had he tried, for his bitter enemy grasped his throat with an iron grip! : But at this instant startling sounds came to the ears of the two men, causing Faton Stone to ause a moment in alarm and listen intently, Pirst came what seemed a rattling, uneven yo]. ley of pistol-shots, then wild, hoarse shouts, inter. mingled with cries of fear and the loud, bellow. in rk of a dog. Suddent the jail door was hurled open, and a anther-like form bounded in, alighting upon aton Stone and hurling him flat upon his back, the knife flying far beyond his reach. Then he felt sh teeth in the clothes at his throat! “Hold him, purp! Hang to ther measly cur!” cried a familiar voice, and Old Bombshell bound- ed through the doorway, “By ther Roman OKS =~. _ a