Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 629 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

14 Violet Vane. masked men sprung in upon us, with cocked revolvers in their hands. They threatened to shoot me dead if an outcry was made, and said that neither would be harmed if we made no resistance. Almost before I knew what they were doing, es bound me to this chair and gagged me. ‘Then they threw a cloth over Ione’s head and carried her away.” ‘‘How long ago did this happen?” asked Vane, his flashing eyes alone revealing his ex- citement, ‘*T don’t know—it seems that if has been hours. I thought no one would ever come, and I suffered tortures indescribable. Oh, gentle- men, save my child!—save her from—” Violet Vane’s white hand closed over his lips, shutting off his appeal, and quickly, firmly, the little Sport said: ‘* We will do everything in our power, Mr. Wilson, but not an instant must be lostin use- less talk, Can you describe the two kidnap- pers?” ‘* Tcan only tell that one was taJl and one was short. Both spoke in a manner which plain- ly indicated that they were trying to disguise their voices.” ‘*One tall!” exclaimed Violet Vane, with a sudden suspicion. ‘‘ Where is Dandy Dirk?” ‘** Here,” responded ths hotel proprietor, as he pressed into the room, giving Vane a fierce glance from beneath the bandage which he still wore around his head. ‘‘ Don’t try to ring me into this foul piece of deviltry!” ‘* Where were you when the outrage took place?” ‘That is none of your business,” replied Dandy, coolly; ‘‘ but I don’t mind saying that I was with the crowd outside of the town. If I thought that you meant anything by that ques- tion, hanged if I wouldn’t give you a chance to repeat the dose of a short time ago!” Vane saw in an instant that Dandy Dirk in- tended to force him into a quarrel, for the probable purpose of delaying the pursuit of the kidnappers, and he deliberately turned his back upon the tall gambler, saying to Mr. Wil- son: ‘** Tone shall be rescued if it lies in my power. I will immediately organize a party and go in nursuit of the scoundrels who have dared to lay hands on her,” Owen Wilson sprung up. ‘1am going with you!” he cried. ‘* Do you suppose [ can remain idle while my child is in danger?” ‘* Gentlemen,” cried Violet Vane, ‘‘ you have heard of this outrage. Let every one who can procure a horse, prepare to pursue the kidnap- pers. Don’t lose time, for every second is pre- cious!” The Velvet Sport saw that Dandy Dirk’s eyes were fixed on him with a malignant stare, and for a few brief seconds he fastened his own dark, magnetic orbs full upon his foe’s, It was a battle of eyes, and the little man won. Dandy’s gaze wavered and fell, and Vane felt that the man would not dare to cross his path again that day. When he reached the hotel steps, Vane wit- nessed a scene of confusion, The fire had been gotten under control, and hearing of the kid- napping, the excited ia had made a rush for the hotel, The crowd was discussing the cause of the fire—which was destined to be forever wrapped in mystery—and the dastardly act of the two masked ruffians, who bad dared to lay hands on the bandsomest female that had ever entered the town. But a welcome sight for the Velvet Sport was Erastus Wagg, who stood in the street near by, holding both his own ancient-looking white horse and Vane’s magnificent animal, In a moment the little man was at the eccentric fellow’s side, ‘‘Hi, there, leetle pard!” cried the woolly- headed man. ‘“ Hyer’s yer hoss. I heerd ’bout ther gal-stealin’ an’ kinder thort you’d want yer Hev they kerried off ther gal fer er ** Yes, they have, Erastus,” was Vane’s reply, as he looked to his horse’s saddle-girth. ‘* But I do uot fancy they have much the start. There was only one way for them to escape from the Jtown without being observed. They could not go toward Jasper, therefore they must have gone tbe other way,” ** Ef they kerried her out 0’ town a tall.” “Il have thought of that. The place must be searched, and if we do not return ere night, the upper and lower pass must be guarded to pre- vent the kidnappers from carrying her away, should she be hidden in town and not discovered. Remain by the horses a moment longer, and I will attend to that matter.” a i a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a He moved away and was absent less than three minutes, hen he returued, he was sur- prised and delighted to see at least twenty mounted men who were ready to follow the kidnappers. Mr. Wilson was among the num- ber, mounted upon a fine horse, which he had purchased for the occasion. ‘*The matter is fixed,” cried Vane, as he vaulted into the saddle. ‘* An’ report says thet ther durned gal-stealers was seen burryin’ outer town with their prize by way o’ ther sou’west pass,” said Wagg. ‘*'Then let us be after them!” burst from the velvet dandy’s lips. ‘‘ Come on!” And with a cheer on their lips, which was answered by a shout of encouragement from those left behind, the pursuers swept out of Jacktown, CHAPTER XIX, VIOLET VANE’S DESPERATE BATTLE, ‘*PaRDS we've got ter fut it. Were clos’t onter ther critters, ur they w’u’dn’t ’a’ desarted their hosses an’ tuck round ther Devil’s Bend afoot. They mean ter give us ther clean shake over among yon hills,” The speaker was an old hunter and prospector, who had successfully trailed the kidnappers into the heart of a very wild country within a few miles o’ Jacktown, Suddenly the pursuers had come upon the kidnappers’ horses, which had been deserted by the desperate villains, who had taken to a narrow and difficult trail, which wound around a mountain-side, ‘* And must we leave our horses here?” asked the Velvet Sport. ‘* Fer sure,” was the reply. ‘* Two men must remain behind an’ guard ’em.” ‘*Oh, Moses!” groaned Erastus Wagg. ‘* An’ has a feller got ter fut it?” ‘*'Thet’s "bout ther size uv hit, unless he stays ahind an’ looks out fer ther horses.” ‘Then [ll fut it,” was the instant decision, ‘“‘T want ter be in at the wind-up o’ this hyer jubilee.” It did not take the party long to dismount and choose two of their number to guard the horses while the remainder continued in pursuit of the kidnappers. Violet Vane tried to induce Mr. Wilson to remain with the guards, but his efforts were useless, The distressed father was determined to continue with the party. The old hunter and prospector took the lead, and more than one of the party found it difficult to follow him. Violet Vane, however, seemed a bachn tely, tireless, and kept close behind the uide. ° Higher and higher went the trail, and each moment it grew more difficult, Finally the men found themselves skirting the verge of a vast abyss which was known as Pluto’s Pit. The trail led around the ‘‘rim” of the great basin, the distance across which was at least a quarter of a mile. At the right of the pursuers was the precipitous mountain wall, rising up- ward; at their left, a sheer descent of thousands of feet to the bottom of Pluto’s Pit, ‘* There they are !” The ery suddenly burst from the lips of sev- eral of the pursuers, and looking ahead, Vane saw adark figure just disappearing beyond a point of rocks, around which led a rocky path scarcely a foot in width. Like a flash he sprung past the guide, and went flying along that narrow trail at a pace which astonished the old fellow. Nor did Velvet Sport seem to slacken his pace when he reached the narrow ledge which served as a path around the point of rocks. Some of the pursuers halted aghast, expecting to see the daring and reckless fellow lose his footing and plunge to his death at the bottom of Pluto’s Pit. But, suddenly, a most unexpected thing oc- curred. As the velvet dandy leaped along the ledge, the pathway literally dropped from the mountain-side, and a great mass of earth and stones went plunging downward into the depths of the terrible abyss! A cry of horror burst from the lips of those who witnessed this catastrophe, for they expect- io Pha see Violet Vane go down witb the land- slide, ? But he did not. Before their astonished eyes the lithe figure seemed to cling to the face of the wall as a fly might have done. And as they gazed, breath- less with suspense, he swung himself forward and disappeared around therocky point. A few vines and crevices among the rocks had saved him from death. A long, gasping breath of relief came frum the spectators when Vane had vanished. ** Geelory ter Moses!” muttered the irrepres- sible Erastus, as he wiped cold dropsof persrpira- tion from his face, fer ther boyee!” ‘** But how are we to follow him?” panted Owen Wilson, who had succeeded in keeping up with the pursuers, ‘* There seems to be no way of getting beyond that point.” ‘*An’ thar ain’t none,” asserted the guide, ‘* We are left, as fur as follerin’ ther dirty kid- nappers is consarned,” ‘* And we must give up the pursuit?” **Guess thet’s ther hull bigness uv hit,” ac- knowledged the old prospector. Mr. Wilson uttered a groan and sunk down helplessly. ‘** My poor child!” he moaned, ‘* Now don’t ye go fer ter took on yet erwhile,” cried Wagg. ‘“‘Sweet Violets has got ercross ther gap, an’ he’ll press them galoots clos’t. Ye kin bet on him every time.” ‘* But what can one man do?” ‘* Kr durned heap w’en he’s er man like that leetle cuss. Give him hafe er show an’ he’] lick ther all two o’ them varmints as kerried off ther party ee ** We shell hev er chance ter see ther skunks w’en they kem roun’ on tother side uv ther basin,” announced the guide, pointing across the great sink. ‘ Right over thar the trail runs in plain view fer er right smart distance. It skirts ther edge as clos’t as this heer duz, only it’s: wider.” In a moment every eye was fixed on the point indicated, and all watched attentively. ‘‘Ther leetle man can’t be fur ahind them,” observed one of the party. ‘awd luv ye!” exclaimed the guide; “he’s right clos’t onter them! Ther only chance fer savin’ the gal ter-day is fer’im ter down both uv ther kidnappin’ imps 0’ Satan.” “ Ef he duz that I reckon Jacktown ’!l lose two uv her citizens,” remarked one of the party. ‘* Waal, it won’t be no great loss, fer ef I ain’t mighty mistooken, them fellers are Bliz- zard Ben an’ Tiger Joe—both durned skunks.” ‘* You’ve named ’em!” chimed half a dozen voices. ‘* Them hosses w’at they took wuz Dandy Dirk’s, an’ thet’d be ernuff ter hang ’em if they badn’t scooped ther gal,”’ ‘* Is there no way to get around this basin, so that we can continue the pursuit?’ anxiously asked Mr Wilson. The guide glanced at the sun, which was well down toward the western peaks, before he re- lied. pe Yes, thar’s er way,” he answered; ‘ but we'd haf ter git pritty well back toward Jack- town, an’ by ther time we got roun’ whar we c’u’d take up ther trail it ’u’d be plum’ pitch dark. We c’u’dn’t foller it then, Ef ther gal’s resky’d ter-day ther leetle man ’JI hey ter do it, an’ no mistook,” ‘Then I fear that her fate is sealed!” groaned the unhappy father. ‘* There!” shonted one of the watchers, ‘¢ Look across! There they are in plain view!” Every man saw the two abductors running along the verge of the great basin. Bothran as if well winded. Tiger Joe was a few feet in ad- vance, and Blizzard Ben followed, with the girl in his arms. : Suddenly all of the watchers uttered a cry in chorus, for at that moment young Vane ap- peared in close pursuit. The Sport was not more than six rods behind the kidnappers, and was gaining on them at every spring. Suddenly Tiger Joe wheeled and waited until Blizzard threw up bis hand and there was a puff of smoke, but Violet Vane never paused. By the time the report of the weapon reached the watchers’ ears the two men had clinched, ‘‘ Whoop!” cried Erastus. ‘*Sweet Violets will cook his hash in short order. Here’s a thousand on it!” | But Violet Vane was to have great odds to contend with, for Blizzard Ben, placing his un- couscious burden on the ground, turned back to assist his partner, ‘Great heavens! they will murder him? gasped Owen Wilson. A moment later the big ruffian was doing his utmost to aid his eompanion. Here and there lunged the three men, swaying, struggling, mad- ly fighting for life. Unable to make a move to help the Velvet Sport, the spectators beld their breath, and watched the desperate battle on the narrow trail close to the verge of Pluto’s Pit. It did not seem possible that the little man could vanquish his two foes, No sounds of this struggle reached the ears of the anxious watchers across the’'sink, but they fancied that they could almost hear the panting breathing of the three men, At times all three ‘*Thet wuza snug squeeze : . ‘ ¥! - rh © ‘ 3 , h x mt ¥ ‘ en passed him; then the fire-eater _ “a “_# y f : eB r >! - ~*~ I a aoa wr yi ‘ r "ii Dy eS * AA