Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 519 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

ge **Red Robin!” ane cried sharply, springing e back astep. ‘‘ Die: Thrusting a revolver almost against his red breast, she fired! CHAPTER VIII. IN THE OUTLAWS’ CAMP. WHEN Sylva Blair again became conscious, she found herself in an unfamiliar place. She was lying upon a bed in a small room, and close by the bedside was a small window, through which she could catch a glimpse of one or two log cabins, with steep, perpendicular bluffs and tall mountain peaks in the back- ground. A single glance showed her that the room in which she was lying was neat and cosey, every- thing being neatly and tastefully arranged, lainly showing the touches of a woman’s hand. The rough walls of the room were completely hidden by dark, grayish curtains; upon the floor was @ carpet, and neat white curtains were looped back from the windows. The furniture of the room was stained a dark walnut color, Upon a small center-table were a few books anda guitar. Against one of the walls hun some book-shelves well-filled with books, an upon the walls were several oil-paintings. Near a window sat an easel, upon which was a half- finished picture. Sylva was alone in the room, She gazed around her in astonishment. Where was she? What had happened? She pressed her hand to her bewildered head, striving to collect her scattered senses. Finally everything came back to her—the road-agents’ attack upon the stage—her father’s failure to meet her at Bowlder Bar—the horrible dream and still more horrible awakening. After that all was a blank, for she could remember noth- ing. She realized that she must have been chloro- formed, kidnapped and brought to the place where she now was. But for what reason? She remembered the ominous, half-hesitating words of Howard just before the road-agent’s attack upon the stage. Could it be that, as he feared, there was indeed something wrong about her father’s desire for her to come to Bowlder ' Bar? Could it be? And what would become of her now? She was undoubtedly in villainous hands, far from friends and aid. She could not nape to be rescued, unless—unless— he door softly opened, and a rare vision of beauty entered. A young girl, of perhaps seven- teen or eighteen years, came quietly into the room. She was clothed in a handsome short dress of some costly material. A few jewels flashed upon her person. But the face was one to catch the eye of the spectator and hold him entranced. Her complexion was indescribable 44 any of the terms *’ soft,” “creamy,” ‘* peach- like,” etc., so commonly used. It was simply exquisite! The sweet red lips of her small mouth were enough to tempt any man to rash- ness. In fact, every feature of her face was perfect. She appeared gentle and lovable, yet there was something shining in those black ~ which told that she could hate as well as ove. Sylva uttered a little cry of surprise as she beheld this beautiful stranger. The captive girl’s surroundings had told her that a lady of refine- ment at least dwelt there, but she had little ex- pected to meet such a beautiful person as she now beheld. The stranger uttered a little cry of surprise and pleasure as she beheld Sylva. ‘¢Oh, so you have awakened!” she cried. ‘‘ I am so glad!” , She advanced quickly to Sylva’s side, her face expressing her pleasure at seeing the captive had recovered from the effects of the drug. ‘“Where am I?” cried § lva, in a dazed manner, sitting UP On the bed. “ Who are ou? ‘Now don’t be alarmed, dear friend,” said the girl, ‘“‘for, I assure you, you are in no danger. My name is Inez, and am your friend. I am sometimes called Wild Inez by the men,” ‘‘The men—what men? Ob, tellme! Where am I—where am I?” After a moment’s hesitation, Wild Inez spoke swiftly, firmly, yet with a tender light of sym- Pe in her dark eyes, ‘You are in an outlaw’s retreat—that of him known as Captain Mystery. But do not be alarmed, for, a repeat, you are in nO danger— you will not be harmed. I have Captain Mys- tery's word for that, and he never breaks his word with me,” But Sylva sunk back with a cry of despair, helplessly wringing her hands, It was no more Captain Mystery. than she had expected, yet the blow fell no less hard for that. There was a look of tender sympathy upon Inez’s face as she knelt beside the bed, trying to comfort the unhappy girl. But Sylva, poreen f heeding her, only wrung her hands, and sobbed: ‘*Oh, father! father! where are you? Where are you?” It was nearly an hour before she became quiet, and during that time, Inez remained by her side, doing her best to comfort her. Finally Sylva turned to her, and said: ‘* Even though I find you here among out- laws, your face tells me that you are not bad. You have said that you are my friend, and I more than half believe your words, But tell me, why was I brought here?” ‘*T can tell you all that I know, in a few words,” was the reply. ‘Captain Mystery caused you to be taken prisoner and brought to this place. He sent a note to me, commending you tomy care. He said that in days gone by, your father cheated him out of ten thousand dollars, and declared that he should hold you prisoner until Henry Blair paid every cent of that money, with interest. vou will then be re- leased.” ‘* My father—do you know aught of him?” ‘* No, nothing, only what I have learned from the captain. But don’t you want food? You must be hungry.” ‘No, I want nothing now. I must think.” She again lay down upon the bed and turned her face toward the wall. She could catch an occasional glimpse of some of the outlaws as they passed the window; but she paid no atten- tion to them, only lay there thinking—thinking. Wild Inez sat by the bedside, quietly watch- ing her, never speaking or attempting to arouse her from the reverie into which she had fallen. Finally Sylva turned to the strange girl. ‘What time is it?’ sheasked. ‘‘ How long was I unconscious?” “Tt is late in the morning. You partially aroused when you were first brought here, and were at once given something to make you on ‘But how came you here?” asked Sylva, wonderingly. ‘‘ Surely you have nothing in com- mon with these outlaws? You are far above such creatures as they.” A soft blush stole over Wild Inez’s face. ‘Tam here—well, I can’t—I can’t explain!” she stammered., ‘* Ah, I see. Your lovershould be somewhere else. This is hardly the place for him among these outlaws.” ‘“‘ Where he goes, there will I follow, if it is to death!” cried ae ‘*T admire your loyalty, but am sorry that he should lead you here. Who are you, in truth?” ‘*T do not know,” was the sad reply. ‘ Until my fifteenth year I lived with a man named De Lorm. I supposed that I was his daughter, and was treated as such; but upon his death-bed he told me that he bad taken me from an alms- house in Philadelphia, and that he had not the slightest knowledge of who my parents were. He was a business man, but died insolvent. and thus I was turned out upon the world, a home- less wanderer. My wanderings have brought me here.” ‘* And your lover—” “Is Captain Mystery!” Sylva shrunk back in surprise. ‘*No! no! Not that monster—not the outlaw chief! It cannot be!” ‘* He is no monster,” replied Inez, spiritedly, ‘* True, he is an outlaw; but how came he such? His bitter enemies, whom he never wronged in the least, but who are determined to hound him down to ruin and death, drove him to what he is. He would be an honest man, and live as others do if they would let him alone.” ** Who are his enemies?” “Tdo not know. In fact, I know nothing about it only what his lips have told me,” ‘He may have deceived you,” said Sylva, and she regretted the words the moment she had ‘| spoken them. A strange, burning light flashed into Wild Inez’s eyes, and she cried sharply: ‘Silence! Do not dare to speak thus of him!” Then, as she saw Sylva shrink from her, her whole manner changed, and holding out one slender white hand, she said, softly: ‘‘ Forgive me! forgive me! 8, 0ke too sharply. It was wrong for me to do so, but your words—” ‘“*T should not have spoken them.” And Sylva took the outstretched hand. ‘Forget that I was unkind enough to do so, You said that you were mv friend, and [ feel that you are. I will be careful hereafter, and not say rude things,” The two girls clasped hands warmly, and from that moment they became firm friends, **Do you see Captain Mystery often?” asked yiva. **No, not often. He is away the greater part of the time. He seldom remains here more than a few hours at a time.” ‘How does he look—is he handsome?” with womanly curiosity. ‘* I don’t know,” was the reply. ‘“‘ Inever saw his face !” For a moment Sylva was speechless with as- tonishment. She could scarcely comprehend the meaning of the strange girl’s words. In love with a man whose face she never saw! Ridicu- lous! Finally she stammered out: ‘‘ What—never saw his face! What do you mean ?” Inez uttered a merry little laugh. ‘* Just what I said—I have never seen Captain Mystery’s face. Yet I know full well how he looks. I have pictured his face in my mind a hundred times—gay, handsome, and dashing! Romantic, isn’t it?’ Sylva could not join her companion’s laugh, although she tried for appearance’s sake. She at once realized the terrible error that the girl had fallen into. Wildly infatuated with the outlaw, whose face she never saw, having pictured him in her mind as being a handsome, dashing hero, Inez would listen to no word against him. Sylva realized that it would be useless to reason with her, at that time, at least. Sylva now arose, with a little of her new- found friend’s assistance, for she was still weak, and her head felt strange. Inez soon brought her some food, of which she partook sparingly. However, she felt better when she had eaten. As soon as she was strong enough, Sylva walked to the door of the cabin and looked out. She saw that the outlaws’ camp was situated in a deep ‘‘sink,” or “basin,” surrounded on all sides by almost, if not quite, rpendicular bluffs, or precipices, making it almost an im- age a for — one to enter the camp, save y the tunnel which ran directly through the mountain, as Inez informed her. This passage was carefully guarded at both ends. There were six of the outlaws’ cabins, and two large buildings whieh served as stables for the horses when it became necessary to put them undercover. They were now turned loose in the basin. Some of the outlaws were moving about; others were sitting in small groups near some of the cabins, talking, Jaughing, smoking and play- ing cards. Sylva looked upon the strange scene for a few moments, then turned back into the cabin. ‘‘ Inez,” she said, quietly, ‘“‘I must escape from here.” But the girl shook her head. ‘Tt is impossible,” she declared. “But I must do it,” persisted Sylva, “TI fear something has happened to father, for he failed to meet me upon my arrival at Bowlder Bar,” and she told Inez her story, which the reader already knows, She said nothing more to Inez about escaping, for she saw that the girl considered such a thing impossible. Nevertheless, she made u her mind to make an attempt to escape, an that at the first opportunity. The day dragged by slowly enough to Sylva, although Inez did her best to amuse the captive girl. She showed Sylva the really meritorious pictures she had painted, and the books, which she said Captain Mystery had secured for her. She sung, and played upon her guitar, and Sylva declared that she had never heard a sweeter voice. It was late in the afternoon when Sylva again went to the cabin door and looked out upon the cutlaws’ camp. She lifted her eyes to the tall mountain-peaks which were flooded with golden light, As she did so, she caught a glimpse of what seemed to be a familiar-looking figure that made a quick signal, then disap- peared. She caught but a momentary glimpse of the form, but that was enough to cause a wild hope to leap up in her breast. However, she calmly turned back into the cabin, not men- tioning what she had seen to Inez. Night came at last. Inez lighted a lamp and drew the curtains, Barely had she done so when the door opened, and Captain Mystery stepped into the room! CHAPTER IX. SEARCHING FOR SYLVA. WITH 2 hoarse cry, Red Robin staggered back, as Faro Kate fired that shot straight at his red at = mg tee - ‘