Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 629 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

all - SW ~~ * 8 fessed his guilt, He could not believe that any human being would sacrifice his honor and liberty in order to save the father of his affi- anced bride from ignominy. It vexed him that she should still cling to the self-confessed thief, For some time both were silent. Finally she looked straight into his face, and said: ‘* Papa, something causes me to believe that the real robber wili yet be captured and your name and the other’s will be cleared of the black stain.” ‘*T would it might be so,” he said, gravely. ** Tone, you must know that I thought a great deal of Philip Howard; you must know that his confession was a great shock to me; but you cannot blame me for thinking he spoke the truth. Hecame forward and saved me from rison, which shows that he had some manhood eft, but I cannot believe that he was innocent and thus sacrificed himself,” ‘‘T am certain time will prove that I am right,” firmly declared the noble girl who would not believe in her lover’s guilt, ‘* You must re- member, papa, that the majority of the people in Burnton still believe you guilty, despite Philip’s story, and for that reason we have left our home and come to this wild land. Even the bank officials doubted your honesty, and you me your position after Philip had escaped from jail, ‘*There is no need to remind me of these things,” muttered Owen Wilson, hoarsely. ‘I have thought of them till I am sick at heart. But for you, little one, I should have been driven to suicide ere this,” Then he again relapsed into silence, and red out of the window atthe varying scenery. he rest of the ride was made without much conversation. Both father and daughter seem- ed busy with their thoughts. It was near noon when the stage rolled into Jacktown. The usual crowd was not gathered in front of the Silver Bell Hotel to witness the arrival of the hearse, but as [one descended, she heard the sound of excited voices within. Mr. Wilson paused to look after the luggage, but lone ascended the steps and sl the building. She saw two doors, leading to the rigbt and left. Ahead of her was a flight of stairs by which the upper portion of the build- ing was reached. The door to the left was wide oven, and without pausing to think of her posi- tion, she glanced into the room. A startling sight met her gaze, A throng of men were crowding forward toward a common center, those in the rear try- ing to peer over the heads of those in front. - she stood there, the circle of human beings parted, and she saw two men fighting. A gasp- ing cry broke from her lips as her eyes rested on the face of one of the combatants. At that in- stant the man she was gazing at knocked his foe off his feet; then the circle closed up and there was a wild cheer, ** Heavens!” she gasped. ‘‘I must be de- ceived!” But at that moment the cheering crowd lifted the victor upon their shoulders, and then Violet Vane saw the girl in the doorway. A cry of amazement and recognition burst from the Vel- vet Sport’s lips, Their eyes met, and sick at heart, she sobbed: ‘* Merciful God! CHAPTER X. OLD-TIME LOVERS MEET, For an instant Ione’s strength came near en- tirely deserting her, and she was obliged to clutch at the side of the doorway for support. One hand she pressed to her heaving bosom, while ber breath came and went in short gasps, The victorious Sport was scarcely less moved. The ery which broke from his lips caused the larger portion of the crowd to look wonderingly at him and then follow his gaze to the girl in the doorway. Exclamations of surprise broke from the lips of the rough men, : Ione swiftly recovered her self-control, and moved from the open doorway. ** Jeehocus! er feemale!” cried Erastus Wagg. **An’ a smashin’ han’sum one, too,” observed Judge Blowbugle. Stranger in town. Must be ther stage’s in. We hain’t notissed it ’cause our *tention waz tooken in hyer. Heer goes fur ernuther look at thet gal.” And the judge made a break for the door. In an instant the Velvet Sport and his great victory were forgotten. A handsome woman had more attractions for the average citizen of Jacktown tban had the best man who ever stood on two feet, and the entire crowd followed Judge Blowbugle’s example. Violet Vane suddenly found himself on his feet, quite deserted by his late admirers, But It is Philip Howard!” i Violet Vane. —oo nothing could have happened just then that | best manin this hyer camp, an’ I’m willin’ ter would have given him more satisfaction, At that moment he had no heart for applause or admiration. He had just seen the girl whom he loved better than life or honor, although a few bet my clothes cl’are down ter my nose-wipe, which is er piece 0’ my last bD’iled shurrut, thet he kin walk all over ther duffers o’ Jasper. Thet’s ther kind o’ stuff I am built outer, an’ my minutes before be supposed her more than ; name’s Wagg!” elgnionn hundred miles away. as it she? ; Suddenly he was seized bya doubt. Might he In a moment Vane was surrounded by an ad- miring throng. ‘*Give ther boys er leetle speech,” advised not have been deceived by a close resemblance? | Judge Blowbugle at the little man’s elbow. Why should Ione be there, so many miles from home? He must see the girl again, To the door he hurried and was soon peering | over the heads of those who had poured out abead of him. Ione had gone back down the steps to meet her father, and Vane obtained a square look at her face as she paused by Mr, ilson’s side. ‘* Yes,” he muttered, his heart givin throb of mingled joy and pain, “it is she} father is with her, I was not deceived,” Then he thought of the position in which she had seen him, How much of the disgraceful fist fight had she witnessed? He hoped that she had seen none of it. As he stood there staring at her, both Mr. Wilson and Ione started to ascend the steps, the crowd parting to make way for them, Teddy Dunn, an employee of Dandy Dirk’s, pressed forward to meet them. Violet Vane turned swiftly away and hurried back into the saloon, He had no desire to meet Owen Wilson and his daughter face to face just then. He must have time to regain his com- posure, Dandy Dirk’s friends had assisted the unfor- ftunate man from the room, which was now nearly deserted. Vane flung himself into a chair in one corner in such a position that no one could enter or leave the room unless he saw them. ‘* Heavens!” he muttered. ‘I little expected to see her here! I would have been less sur- prised had I felt the hand of an officer on my shoulder, for I am constantly on the watch for them. What can have brought Owen Wilson and Ione to the West? I cannot imagine, ‘‘T hope she did not see me engaged in the fight with that dark-faced scoundrel. I have led a reckless life since my friends aided me to escape from jail, but I have had an object in view—to hunt down the real robber of the Burnton Bank. My friends gave me some clews, which added to those I had picked up ere I put myself in Owen Wilson’s shoes, whom I knew to be as innocent as myself, gave mea starter for doing some detective work. I cannot say that I have made a brilliant success of that work, for during the last five or six months I have been quite at sea, My man vanished like a phantom, and since then I have wandered from place to pinoes frequenting the dens in which I fancied he would be the most liable to spend his time. In those places I have played cards, and my old skill ma luck have stood by me. Almost always I have been the winner, and with the money [ have also acquired the name of Velvet Sport—a card-sharp—gambler! What would she think of that?” A low, unpleasant laugh caraped his lips and his face wore a disagreeable look for an instant. ‘‘Hate has driven me where I am,” he con- tinued. ‘‘ When my name is cleared of the stain upon it, I will leave this life behind. I voluntarily placed myself in the shoes of a self- confessed thief, but I did it for her dear sake, She was nearly heartbroken at the great trouble which had so suddenly come upon her. I had sworn that I would sacrifice my life for her happiness, and when the time came, I sacrificed more than life. I knew that Owen Wilson would stand trial and go to prison, from which he might never be released, I believed that there was a chance for me to relieve Mr. Wilson from his unpleasant situation and possibly es- cape to hunt down the real criminal, The re- sult proved that I was not far from right, ‘* But Ione is here in this camp. She has seen me and was strangely moved. I will not waste much time ere I find occasion to speak with her. How will she meet me?’ The crowd came filing back into the room, discussing the new arrivals. Violet Vane heard the rough fellows praising the beauty of the girl. One cried: ‘*She’s. er daisy, pards; an’ ef she’s goin’ ter stop in this hyer camp, Jacktown’ll hev’ er queen as’ll knock the spots offen ther one Jasper stole.” The camp-tramp espied Vane iu the corner, and uttered a whoop. ‘*Thar he is, feller-critters,” cried Erastus, pointing toward the Velvet Sport, ‘‘ thar’s ther sweet-scented mounting posy as knocks ther seeds outer yer common tea-roses! Thar’s ther a great Her | | : ‘* Gentlemen,” said Vane, loud enough for every one to hear, ‘‘l am in no mood to make a speech just pow, but will put a double X in the barkeep’s hands, for you to celebrate the occasion,” and Vane, tucking a twenty ee bill into the barkeeper’s hand, made bis exit from the room, Half an bour later he was knocking at the door of the room which Owen Wilson and his daughter had secured, bis heart in his mouth. There was a light, nervous step beyond, then the door was opened, and lone stood before him! ‘‘T have been expecting you,” she said, sim- ply. ‘*Come in a moment,” She did not offer her hand: there was no warmth in her greeting; nothing but cold civil- ity. He was chilled to the heart, ‘‘Tone!” he breathed hoarsely, and then to have saved his life he could say no more. He knew not to what a fearful tension her nerves were strained; he knew not how she was battling to control herself; be saw only her cold, calm manner, and white, bloodless face. Like one dazed, he staggered into the room. She placed a chair, and motioned for him to be seated, but he shook his head, and remained standing. Owen Wilson was not present, ‘‘ You wish to speak with me, Mr. Howard?” she asked, ‘*T came to see you,” he murmured, scarcely knowing what he said. ‘‘I thought—perhaps ou— Then he stopped helplessly. He could not tell her that he had hoped she might receive him differently. ‘‘ Ts there anvthing in particular of which you wish to speak?” | He shook his head, staring doubtingly at her. Was this Ione—Ais [one—the warm-heartea, im- pulsive girl he had known ere fate had torn them apart? Finally he managed to ask: ‘* Why are you here?” ‘‘Tcame with my father, who intends mak- ing investments in the West,” she replied. ‘* We could stay in Burnton no longer, where our for- mer friends did not recognize us,” He started. ‘Did not recognize you?’ he exclaimed, ‘What do you mean?” ‘‘T mean that we are social outcasts.” ‘‘ But, surely, there can be no one who dares to still believe your father guilty?” ‘‘ There is, however,” He uttered an _ exclamation of anger, although his heart leaped at the thought that some one believed him innocent of crime, ‘‘ The short-sighted fools!” he cried. But then he remembered how coldly she met him, and a maddening thought flashed like fire in his brain. ‘* But you, lone—surely you do not believe me guilty?” She shook her head. ‘¢Nc—and yet you are not the man I once thought. The scene which I witnessed to-day sickened my very heart.” He recoiled asif struck a heavy blow. She had seen what be feared, As soon as he could gain his self-control, he said: ‘¢ Tone, this is a wild country, and a man must defend himself.” ‘‘Is tbat your excuse for indulging in a bar- room brawl with a score of howling human beings laughing and cheering around you as they might around fighting dogs? erciful heavens! .{t will be a long time ere I forget that sight!” His pride was touched to the quick, ‘* Tone, you have misjudged me,” he asserted, quietly, ‘‘ When you consider all that I have done, and the fact that I am: constantly forced to fight my way in this almost hopeless hunt for the Burnton bank robber, you will change your mind, Just now it is better for us to part. Good-day.” The next moment he was gone. ‘Great God! How she has changed!” he oaned, as he descended the stairs, ‘* Has her eart turned to stone?” And within her room, Ione bad flung herself upon the bed and burst into a flood of tears. ‘‘Oh, Philip! Philip! Philip!” she wailed, é . - é b ) - - ; f . “ aa —é! + apoE Das ‘e) ne a Eg? ? eT ‘ p % ~_ ' ‘ 4 Beas”