Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 560 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

‘3 TT ing : és | : May ac laug be Sna “se te the' 7" “ 46 st 46 7) bra’ 74 Trem Toat cs he v cha Siot Vi saw and — sé full oi ~ ie . + 7 ‘(Yee ies © af bey ean find a way, for your horse is in ere the valley, and your e and bridle not far ; anyon Imow!! eR te : i> s, - 3 ean er : ” ”” : BLO i HART ne thd 6 *) ‘pS so sc? t “—) Ba aA Awe s ron 5 ; _ tp . en oe RS s Ae ed cee? x j 12 ‘ é watched?” be asked, Fie t0 prevent my escape.” Maes. v_- eause us both trouble.” _ for I do so love to be with you.” ge * ‘ Yeen!) Oy yr 2 Piper.” * Eo -content to rema 4 “a ‘ : v 4 a ; > ~<— 4 ; f PF i etene th Seah: tr | a . . 4 * ’ ’ G “To r ¥ Ye inh gt. + oul & hak. | » , * i } ; . , . Pawnee Pee , er A ° . i) P rr ; ~i* - . = y af ‘ 4 - Bill, the f - : torture heaped upon the unfortunate Evil Eyes, and over and again wished that he had allowed him to escape when he was running off with May Flower. But Evil Eyes smiled through all his torture. Not a cry was wrung from his lips, and hig ‘face wore a defiant smile until his worst ene- mies in the tribe admired his wonderful pluck and pronounced him a great chief. At length even Indian human nature could stand no more, and with the same defiant smile upon his lips, the life of the brave chief left the body. his death song being chanted to the last reath. Then Gordon Lillie turned away and went to his tepee. He had food for thought. He had not made the slightest effort to escape thus far, in the weeks that he had been in the Sioux village. Perhaps it was the presence of May Flower ‘that prevented his thoughts from turning upon an attempt to escape, and he had seemed almost contented with his lot. But the cruelty of the Sioux, their torture of Snake Eyes, and the words of warning that the chief bad given him, set him to thinking, The Pawnees were the friends of the white eople, and a raid upon their village by Evil pirit and a large band of warriors meanta re- treat through the pale-face settlements, with murder and ruin to follow in their path. It was his duty to warn the friendly Pawnees, and it was his duty to warn the settlement. He must not longer remain in the Sioux vil- lage, but be at work. hen his thoughts turned upon another fair face, one fairer than was May Flower’s. He had not forgotten Ruby Rolston, and his determination to clear up the cloud that hung ‘ over him. She had won his boyish love, and it was not an easy matter to drive her from his thoughts. ‘*T will make my escape from here, and [ll set about a plot to do so at once,” he said firmly, and that day he began to plot and plan to carry out his determination. 4 CHAPTER XTX. . THE PRISONER’S PLOT, THAT Gordon Lillie was nothing more than a prisoner he had not doubted; but when he began to watch his watchers, he quickly discovered that he was under the closest scrutiny in every amove that he made. Before he had decided to escape without longer delay, he was hardly conscious that the young braves whom he met at all points in his wander- ings, were really watching him. ~ Now he was sure of it. He had met May Flower at the spring several ‘times, but be bad not supposed that it was known, until the day after the death of the renegade Sioux chief it was proven to him, He met a mounted brave down the valley, and watching his movements saw that he was following him Arriving at the spring he saw that the brave moved toa position between him and the exit from the valley, as though to head him off should he attempt to escape by any of the passes, Soon after his arrival there, May Flower ‘came and threw herself down near the log upon which he was seated. | ’ She was happy in being near him, and was n silent until be spoke, **May Flower, do you know that we are os se No,” “I¢is true, and if you will be on the watch you will discover it.” > “T will keep my eyes open in future.” ‘* The braves whom you must meet in coming here, are spies upon us. ease} ‘“f should not wonder if they were.” “T think that they are keeping an eye on me Yes, and to te father that we meet here,” — haha ey | “Then let us not doso my do as you And I lad to have you with me, May; this wild life does not suit me.” do you not leave it, then?” + ti { pe.” “IT can’ get your weapons for you, and leave ; >» ‘ We if Fk of vu $s ' de . pt ee" a OM. Paina eke Ar : 4 ree + tet Oa hp eA: ATA | a ‘ 4 Oo fi) We P are ~ail {o", v, A\p: rb Ye a at OS sagt Tan Ye Pr hi > nr) Ae as i ore fh” wtp tate ee iJ ; i: ~~) ; 7 i | Dy ‘ ’ ¥ 7 a > 7x: "al ; 7 ‘ ss Ay? - aS t 4 ; ae : Pi os : EES PE, Ea Ee ee ce \ / pee er ae “ é o_o Ow . - ‘ask, Lillie, but it is hard, poet near the horses, and noted A osha eae Se o * : .@ ; : +. Ne ae * we 7 se) id t t Cay bake them in your tepee, with a bag of food, and you can paint your face and go anywhere at night, while if you are spoken to, you know enough Sioux to reply.’” ‘But itisno easy task to get by the guards in the passes, “There is only one at each pass, and coming from the village he would not suspect you, and you would have the advantage; but beyond, in the foot-bills, my father keeps a number of In- on scouts, and you must be careful to avoid them, ** When will you go, Lillie?” He was almost miffed at the coo] manner that she received bis plans of escape in, and said; “Two nights from now.” ** Very well, I will meet you at this spring two hours efter nightfall,” ‘* You, May Flower?” 4“ Yes.” ** But you must take no risks.” ‘*] will take the same that you do,” ** But why?’ . **{T am going with you.” **May Flower!” “Tt is true.” ** No, no, you cannot mean it.” ‘** But I do.” **'You would desert your father?” “Yes, I would desert any one for you, for I love you, Lillie,” Gordon Lillie. was wholly taken aback, He was under a man’s age, though certainly a man in looks, actions and nerve. i He did not love May Flower, much as he liked er. Her love for him worried him, and he hardly knew what to say ordo. eRe some moments he made no reply, but then said: ¢ ‘* Why, May Flower, you would be unhappy away from your father.” ‘Not with you, Lillie.” ““T have no home, no place to go, no money, and will have to go to the mining-camps and dig for gold.” ° ** Gold!” she said, quickly. > 6G Yes.” ' ‘‘My father says that gold will buy every happiness.” t . “It will buy many.” | ‘* And you want gold?” ‘Yes, | wish to make a fortune.” ‘What would you do with gold?” ‘‘[ wish a large sum to take back to one per- son and give it to him, * » - | ‘*T wane gold to buy me a home and live in comfort.” ~~ * Lillie,” ‘Yes, May Flower.” * ‘* T have a secret I have not told my father. ‘**Take me with you, and I will tell you the secret,” e “Ah, May Flower, I do not see how I can take you with me.” | ‘Tam going.” ! | ** You must not do so, May.” ‘* { will, for I love you, and I will go with you far from bere. ‘* When we have gone I will tell you my secret and then you will be happy. ‘Two nights from now I will be ready, and we will meet here.” » Yes,” he said, mechanically, and May arose and walked away. | Gordon was in a quandary, | He did not know what to do, for he could not take the girl with him, At last he said: ‘ ‘* No, she must remain here, for I cannot take er, } ‘*T will go alone. iff ‘* But what can this secret be she speaks of? “She started so when U spoke of gold, and she certainly wears large bands of it. ‘**] wonder if there can bea mine in these mountains, and she knows of it. ‘* Well, all I can dois to depart alone, and I will do so this very night. ‘After [ have gone she won’t care, and she again, for it might;| will soon forget me. ‘Now to return to my tepeo and get ready.” He retraced his way to the village, noticing that he was still watched, and de hy the herd of horses belonging to Evil Spirit, he no- ticed Black Ben feeding among them, | “You have had a good rest, old horse, so will be ready for a journey, I guess,” he said, as he ssed his saddle, . ridle and other traps under ashelter in a clump of timber along with those of the chief, é Spe Sei, Beitr to his tepee, Gordon Lillie was glad to find his rifle and revolvers already ‘ * yal t . A sates tee eA: I - ‘ : A - BAR RA. ETS Te Jan ; Se arty we es a - | e's OR ot Ce PM Sete Pay 7) Faw DAP its 18 poet < rairie Shadow upon his knees, _ Gordon | White Buffalo. | wT af * 4 ts, at ae a: f * | Tia ee Ag *¥ cy Y, nee ty 4 le 4 iff by ‘ ro? - + pee : 74 > mA ‘S| ; —-_ ? ‘ a! ; a © ad - a “ote * - ns Dray MS ee ; i iy Pe 4 ‘ ” te .e . ' un -. 4) eat | : ® Adin te. > er ” A tee | pa 3 5 eres That they were there proved that May Flow was in earnest. ; He had also found some provisions which sho had placed there for him, and some paint with which to daub his face, He was accustomed to eat his meals with Evil Spirit, Black Beard, and May Flower, so when he went to his supper the young girl gave him a quiet look which he understood. 4 After a while she found a chance to say to him: , **T will get more food to-morrow. ** No one suspects you, and the guard does not watch you at night.” } His conscience smote him as he thought of her disappointment when she would find him gone on the morrow, but he felt that he was doing his duty, and so steeled his heart against any ten- derness, He realized fully all the dangers he would have to face, that a false step would be fatal to him; but be had made up his mind, and if death would be the end he would not shrink from it, for he saw,now that the renegade chief had warned him, that Evil Spirit and his warriors were getting ready for a raid. ‘“‘T will warn the Pawnees and the settlers,” he said to himself, ‘f and if I do it will repay me for all }) may bave to suffer, : Fortunately for Gordon Lillie the night came on raining, and he was glad to see the red-skins were driven to their tepees at an early hour, CHAPTER XX. THE VENTURE. WHeEn in his tepee Gordon Lillie looked tc his weapons, There was light enough, from’ the blazing campfire without, for him to see how to put his rifle and revolver in good condition and load them. ‘ Then he looked at the provisions which May Flower had left for him, and saw that there was sufficient to last him a couple of days, When he felt assured that the = was in deep repose, he prepared to start upon his peri- lous venture. | | He was glad to see that the rain had fire almost out, and rope a blanket about his weapons, and envelopirg himself in a huge buffalo-robe, be crept cut of his tepee, He made his way down to the river-bank, and, followed it to the spot where the Evil Spirit’s horses were. : ‘The animals were grou ed together, standing with heads bent in the pelting rain, A low call brought Black Ben to him, and he led the animal to the shelter where the saddles anil bridles were. He soon had Black Ben saddled, for it was easy work to pick out his belongings among the others, and mounting he rode away toward a seh 48 pass, which he knew was seldom used. ! He had slung his rifle at his back, under the buffalo-robe, and had his pistols in his belt ready for use. He nerved himself for what was before him, and he was determined to meet it boldly. The rain still came down heavily; but the buffalo-robe over his shoulders, for he kad cuta hole in the center and thrust his head through, wrotected him thoroughly, for it was a very arge one. mie 4 : a7 ery \@. a . , p- . —_o FOS) ties a ] 4 we } en me 7 — ~ W., . ut the | Bes \ Ad rT Up to the pass he went, for he had twice been ; there before with May Flower. There was a wickyup he knew at the su under which the Indian sentinels found shelter, and here he knew he would find the guard, He did not wish to shoot him, for the shot would alarm the village half a mile away, and he knew not the country beyond, so he could not | ride rapidly and might be overtaken, “Pll not fire unless I have to,” be said. * Arriving at the rocky pass) be saw, by a’ flickering fire, the litdle brush shelter end the red-skin guard seated under it, his bead bowed Gordon knew that he did not dare trust to his being sound asleep, and so he rode up boldly to take his chances. ee ee The Indian was up in an jnstant when he heard the hoof-fall, but seemed relieved when he saw a horseman, approaching from the valley. “Who is it?’ he said,in a loud voice; and Gordon, in bis best Sioux, replied, giving the name of a young brave: : “ Talla-ha-ta-ka,”* | “Where goes the White Buffalo?” asked the sentinel. — ley thy had now reached the side of the In J . ; +7 a ee ' ‘* : ia fy : oo iar! . } on ie m J anak + < oi Ete ie de aba tepit Iq te tp ede ah, , va! 4 A, ta et rit ‘ ' hy «ha . a, >?0, 1 el ) ‘ ' | 1 Wrey ; i, ‘ : 4 wa tat > L 4 te : mee a nn i - _s ay! ? 4 ’ t)