Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 525 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

— D ne’ - » ayers into every true soul—* Annie They were at once dispatched by Major Lo- | ring upon a scouting expedition to discover all that could be found out about the movements | of the Comanches, and the raids of the Cowboy Pirates, They were gone for sever.| weeks and then returned to the fort and mado their report, They felt assured, so they told the major, that the Comanches bad been urged upon the war- paf® once more by San Cruz the Cowvoy Pirate Chief, who intended to tare advantag: of the Indian war to once more strike at the rich ranches in Texas. ‘“ Weare further convine d, major, that the | old game is being playeu Once more, of Laving sples among the cowbvys ou the ranches, and we will have to bunt them out, ‘* As this is a most important matter, for the Cowboy Pirates can do a vast deal of damage, if their raids are nob put an end to, Will and myself, with our red and black pards, will take the matter in hand and we hope to render a good report,” . ‘““T have every confidence that you will, Powell, andif you need troops only send for them, for Dana is most anxious to get off on another expedition with you, so that he can add new laurels to his fame,” replied the major, and the scouts set off on their return to their ranch to get their two allies, Red Wolf and Scraps, and make ready for their perilous work of trail- ing the Cowboy Pirates to the bitter end. CHAPTER XXII. UNFORGOTTEN. As both Night Hawk and Broncho Bill well understood the full danger of their undertaking against the outlaws of the frontier, they wished to go in every way prepared for all emergencies which might occur, Their rifles and revolvers needed overhauling, and their saddles and bridles could be bettered by some additions and mending. Then they wished a bountiful supply of am- munition of all kinds, and a completely new out- fit for camp life, with boots and clothing for themselves, and their red and black com- panions., To get all these they had to go to the nearest city, and so they set off at once for San Antonio. They had made their purchases and were waiting for them to be gotten all ready for them, which would take until the morrow, and so Broncho Bill suggested that they should at- tend the theater that night, as there was an operatic company in town, Night Hawk was only too willing, and secur- ing good seats the Buckskin* Brothers settled themselves to enjoying the performance, The curtain rose, and the performance began, But when the ‘‘star” made her appearance all eyes were upon her, for she won hearts by her beauty of face and form ere she had opened ber mouth to sing a note. Her beauty was simply enitrAReing. for every feature was perfection, and with large, deer- 8 eyes she possessed a wealth of red-gold ir. ‘‘Where have I seen her before?’ asked Peoecne Bill, in a whisper of Night Hawk, who responded: ‘*T was just asking myself that question—but hark!” She had begun to sing, and with the first notes that fell from her lips there was a silence like death in that house, There were rough men there, many of them wild frontiersmen, and people of all conditions and classes. But she captured every heart, as she had won their admiration, when her superb voice in sweetest accents through the crowded house, ‘‘T have seen her before,” said Night Hawk, almost aloud, and Broncho Bill responded ; _ * And so have I.” Then the singing ended, and the sound of ap- 5 -___ plause that followed fairly shook the building. ~ Again and again she bowel, smiling sweetly at fer admirers, and evidently proud of her “Friamph, but the audience would not be stilled— | they fairly commanded an encore, | . n response the orchestra again struck up, ing forward the beautiful woman be- . B a “at | rar tha touching ballad which finds its way : Laurie.” ardly had she sung the first line when in ? A aX, » ; y ’ . ° 4 a. . “tae W: _— = 7L in j i, OY ; as 2 ee ere a ‘te » 4 ‘ But ™ ‘ati '* 4 ‘ - 4 4 baal tones came from the lips of Night Rs TRS 0) heel ee Brothers in Buckskin. At last the song ended, and amid the thunders tla. tollowed, the shouts of the wild element present, aud the bravos, Night Hawk eagerly grasped the arm of his brother, while he said excitedly: * Matis the woman, Will!” ‘What woman, George?’ **'The one L told you ot,” ‘* George, uave you been drinking?” ‘ Wiil, do you bot remember that I told you how I overheard a woman sing, in the next : wom to mine, when l was at the hotel in New fork? ‘** Yos, [remember now,” * Tot is she.” ‘* Gut you did not see her.” ‘* No, but I heard her, and I could never mis- take that voice.” ‘* You are right, you could not,” ** But you may recall that I told you she sung a verse of Annie Laurie?” ‘* 1 do; it all comes back to me now, though it was quite a long time ago, ‘‘T remember the conversation, too, as you repeated it to me.” ‘* Well, Will, that is the woman.” ‘‘ You think there can be no doubt?” ‘** None.” ‘* Her name, if I remember, was Clio!” ‘‘ Yes, and see her on this programme.” ‘* It is Mademoiselle Neoneind. ‘*T do believe you are right, George.” ‘*T know [ am.” aes in the language of the borderman I ask: ‘* What are you going te do about it?” ** What nad do, Will?” sé 1 don’t see,” ** Nor I.” ‘‘T wish we could meet her, for she has fairly captivated me.” ‘She is very charming, but it would not do to send in my name, and then tell her I would like to make her anaes because I was an eavesdropper once to her conversation with her husband.” ‘No, for again in border parlance, George you might get fixed; but why is it that both of us seem to think that we have seen her before?” Wil?’ +6 Yes.” ‘*T have an idea,” ‘* Don’t let it escape, George.” ‘*It may bea foolish one; but somehow I con- nect her with the miniature which Scraps gave us to send back to that lady who jilted his master.” ‘* You've struck the trail dead sure, ‘* That’s the woman,” ** Don’t be too sure,” ‘** ‘Your story was that she had married a man who was a wretch, and she said she would go her own way. ‘‘That lady married another and_ nearly broke the young ranchero’s heart, and—” i a i tell you how we can find out.” es ‘‘Do you remember the writing on the backs of those letters?” ‘Well, that is going pretty far back, but I think it was a large, beautifu: hand.” ‘* Yes, we remarked it at the time.” se Well” ‘*Do you remember that beautiful Mexican bird inc saw for sale to-day at the hotel?” *° Yes. ‘)]l1 buy that bird, and send it to her asa token of our admiration for her singing.” ‘*She may send it back.” : “ Hardly; but if she accepts it she will douht- less write a note, and we'll get a look at her handwriting.” ‘Brother George, you should have been a ier. “We'll do it.” But if she is the same, what then?” This seemed a poser; but, at any rate, the two -brothers decided to send the bird. They remained through the performance, more than ever enchanted, and when it was over, looked up the owner of the bird, bought it with ites exctulets cage, ane bee em it, with a mans ring their compliments and na to room of the beautiful singer, ne ’ gn PP om , oiselle Cleonatra accepts. man with the v apropos and 7 by the Messrs, Powell . See, early depart th ing d rogreta that her " ure in e mo pr 5 faving the pleasure of meeting em personally,” This was what the note said. In a short while the servant returned with a ‘ ie But Night Hawk said, more emphatically than was his wont: ‘*Tt is the same aandwriting!” ‘It is the woman you overheard sing in the New York hotel. Tie one who jilted the young ranchero and Mademoiselle Cleopatra is one in ae same, that is certain,” responded Bron- cho lil. CHAPTER XXIII. STRANGELY MET. THE next morning, strange to say, the two scouts slept late, Perhaps it was because there was nothing to be done, as it was the Sabbath, and it might be on account of the very comfortable beds they had. When they awoke they went down to break- fast, and knowing the landlord, they asked him about the departure of his fair guest, Mademoi- selle Cleopatra, and at what hour she had de- parted, for they felt a deep interest in the beau- tiful woman from the secrets that they knew she carried through life. ‘The company departed last night after the performance, but Mademoiselle Cleopatra re- mained over until this morning, When she de- parted upon what I think a very perilous under- taking.” So replied the landlord, and his words at once deeply interested the two scouts. ‘“Indeed! What peril can possibly threaten. her?” asked Night Hawk. ‘‘The truth is, she went off on the border somewhere.” ‘‘On the border?’ ‘6 en ‘¢ And not with her company?’ ‘‘No, the company went on to Galveston, where they are to lay off a week, until the re~ turn of the star,” ‘* And the star has gone to the border?” asked Broncho Bill, also deeply interested, sé Yes.” ‘* What border?” ‘Over toward the Rio Grande somewhere.” ‘* My heavens! at such a time?” ‘* She would risk it.” ‘*The country is full of Indians!” “Tl urged against it, gentlemen.” ‘*And the Cowboy Pirates are also threaten- ing raids.” ‘** 1 so told the lady.” ‘** But who did she go with?” “Tf I had only known that you were coming, Powell, you and your brother, I would have gotten her to consult you. ‘But I did not, and so I asked Joe Farris to find me a good guide and an escort of two men besides for her. i And he did?” es. ‘“ Who was it?” ‘Harry Otis is the guide.” ‘* And the others?” ‘Two Rio Grande men, whose names I do not- know, but whom I have often seen.” ‘- Only the three went with her, you say?” ‘* The three men, and then there was her maid, a French gin, and two large, ferocious dogs, which the oF had a fancy to carry with her, ‘‘ My! but they are ugly brutes.” ‘* How did they go?” ‘The lady and her maid in an ambulance which one of the men drove, and the guide and other fellow on horseback. Ci ‘““Then there were two saddle-horses for the lady and her maid, should they wish to ride.” _ ‘““T cannot understand it,” said Night Hawk. “ Ah! but she went in good style and paid for all she got. “The ambulance is to be the tent for herself and maid at night, and with those two dogs under it there will be no danger to her. ‘‘Otis is a splendid cook, and she carried along all of the provisions needed.” “Bat what took her tothe frontier?” asked Broncho Bill. ‘Well, she told me she was golng to seek the grave of one who was very dear to her,” The two scouts looked at each other, but said nothing, and the landlord continued; hi” ‘*She told me that the one whose ve she was going to had been killed by the Indians, | and she wished to find out about it.” ‘‘ But bow was she to find out?” , “She had a letter from some one who lived at a ranch—the place was called Ran &. ‘ beaks wicked she was going: there to fi out what she wished to know,” _— 7 “ She left early this morning you say™ “Yes, at ” should not have permitted ; :