Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 64 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

a ‘sd ——> =e . , . r é f i sy The two had met on the boundless plains, and ‘vere together once more, hunting for the girl Estil, whose fate was as yet unknown to them. They had followed, during several days, the trail of the stam ed horses, but without mak- ing any discoveries which promised to prove of any benefit. They had even traced the herd back tothe ruined corral, from whence it had dashed southward to be followed no more by the trailers. Luke Whittles and Oregon Leon also kept out of the hunter’s sight; they, too, perhaps, if liv- i & were hunting for the young girl. night of inky darkness hung over the west Jains when the conversaticn just given tween Butler and his protege. The sound of hoofs, silent for the moment, had been a cause of much perplexity to the trailers; they had heard them quite near for several nights, in suc- cession, but were unable to discover their import. ‘** Thar the £0 agin!” Long Lige.ejaculated, after a brie ence. ‘‘ Now, don’t stir, Jack, fur they’re comin’ to’ards us at last, Pistol out boy, an’ knife ready, for heaven knows what kind o’ thing it is.” It was true as the long guide said that the un- seen horse was coming toward them. The couple sat motionless on the blankets. At last the hoofs stopped directly before Dandy Jack, and the nostrils of his steed met those of the unseen. The feelings of the boy cannot be described; he seemed to be in the presence of the supernatural, y oredning his ore, he caught the outlines of the horse before him; but he saw more than this. The strange beast had a rider. ** Injun by hokey!” suddenly ejaculated the guide, and the next moment the unknown horse started back with a snort of terror. 7 same time aloud cry rung out upon the night. It is Estil!” cried Dandy Jack, and before Butler could reply he darted after the horse, whose course could be distinguished by the pat- ter of his hoofs. ‘‘Injun, more like!” muttered the old guide, ‘* The boy is bound to keep his fingers in the fire. Now I'll have to hunt him ag’in. I guess I'll ms \ paces the young ‘uns, in this pesky ken- - Meanwhile, the boy was hee through the night after the horse, and at A rode along- side and seized the rein, With the jerk the strange horse stopped. ‘* Mercy on me!” he heard a voice exclaim. ‘*Tndian or white? tell me which!” ‘* White it is! and you are Estil!” * Jack!” ‘There was a cry of joy, and Dandy Jack Jkmew that Estil was the rider of the “ ghostly” horse. The meeting full of surprise and joy cannot be fitly described. he youthful pair had not finished their con- | peeeeenions when Long Lige came up, guided y their voices and joined in the happimess of the moment. “The herd left me almost friendless at the river!” Estil said during the narrative of her adventures since her separation from the twain. : But this noble horse stuck to me.” _ It is Little River. I feel the lazo mark on his neck!” cried Jack. "Keep still, boy, an’ let our Estil go on.” He has been my companion since that night. I guided him for a while, but he would have his own way in spite of me, and at last I concluded to leave him to his own inclinations, trustin that everything would happen for the best. have fortunately encountered no one with whom I could exchange words, But yesterday I came in sight of two men standing face to face on the plains; but before I met their gaze, I turned the orse and reached the cottonwood along the river. ‘War they white men?” asked Butler with ‘eager curiosity. I can not say; they were not near enough to permit me to distinguish them.” . ‘I’ve an idee,” the old guide answered mean- fully; but as he was not pressed for any explan- ation he did not enlarge upon his remark. y ch way is it now?” asked Dandy Jack. **To the sea-shore. I hired myself to take the gal to her mother -an’ Lige Butler keeps all his contracts, We’ve'got no wagon now; but with three good animals we oughter git along. I left the can of meat down by the Snake town; the reds hev gobbled it I guess. If they see what ou writ on it, boy, they’ll not be apt to tech it. fetched it all the way from the wagon, for I thought I maigns have use for it. The niter glis- serene in th beef to be found west o’ the Rockies.” et nl ee et a can is the best article of presarve:’ + ~ ee —E — Dandy J ack. : ne ee ee ene we oe oer ee “Preserved meat?’ echoed Estil. ‘Thet’s jest what war in thecase. It skeered Luke Whittles an’ the Injuns, Dandy Jack says. Thet’ll be a good joke on the coast.” A light laugh rippled over Estil’s lips. Shortly afterward the trio left the spot of the reunion, and pushed southward. ‘‘Hyar’s your two men, Estil, gal!” suddenly cried Long Lige reining in his steed quite early one morning before two bodies lying stiff and ghastly among the buffalo grass. in bet my gun that they ar’ the larkies what you see’d the other day standin’ face to face. They’ve had their fight out, each killed the other, jest like the Kilkenny cats.” The Oregon guide sprung from his horse, and knelt over the two bodies. ** Jest as 1 ’spected!” he suddenly cried looking up into the anxious faces regarding him. ‘“‘Some- how or other these two devils came together an’ settled their diffikilties with lead an’ steel. It war an uncommon tussle, for jest look at the ass hyarabouts. Master an’ man hev squar’d their books, an’ left no balance. Id like to hev stood off an’ seen the scrimmage. First I’d ’a’ cheered one an’ then t’other. We'll let ’em lie. The Injuns will never git to pay him back for burnin’ their town!” Leaving Oregon Leon and Luke Whittles side by side on the plain, just as they had fallen in mortal combat, the guide remounted his steed. With a last look at the men who had terror- ized their fellow-creatures in life, the trio rode from the spot. The story of that fatal encounter between the villains never be told for no human eye witnessed it. Perhaps at night the two had accidentally come together, or if they were the men whom Estil had seen standing face to face on the plains, they fought their last fight in the blessed pane of day. ut be our conjectures as they may, the dis- covery of the ies told our adventurers that a terrible justice had overtaken the men of crime. The remainder of the journey to the Pacific coast was finished without noteworthy incident, and Estil found herself in her mother’s arms once more. “T reckon you'll stay hyar, boy. “har bea pair 0’ blue eyes in these parts what fairly dance when they look at you.” | ‘* Oh, that’s all imagination, Lige.” ‘“‘ Imagination, eh? You’ve got all the sym’- toms, an’ you’re in more danger hyar than you was in old War-Bow’s village. The gal doesn’t shoot her arrers in the side; they hit higher up. Dandy Jack blushed and hung his head. So. you'll stay hyar I guess, boy,” put in the gui e, ‘Yes, sir; he is going to stay!” said a sweet voice, and Bstil appeared among the flower vines on the porch. ‘If he must see Red Jac Rabbit again, why, Mr. Butler will go back and bring the boy hither.” ‘*Sartinly Tl go!” said Long Lige. ‘Just you coax Dandy Jack to stick to the coast, gal. You've caught a tip-top fellar, an’ the other gals will all envy you when they know it. Make him promise to stay.” At that moment Dandy Jack looked up. Estil was going to speak; but his smile kept back her words, ‘*‘ Here ends the trail,” he said. to stick to the coast!” ‘* And to the purtiest gal hyar!” said Lige. THE END. “Pm going The Sunnyside Library. 1 Lattua Rooks. By Thomas Moore........... 10c. 2 Don Juan. By Lord Byron... .......+...... 20¢. 8 Parapise Lost. By John Milton......... ... 10, 4 Tue Lapy or THE LAKE. Sir Walter Scott... 10¢ 5 Lucite. By Owen Meredith .. ry 6 UNDINE, OR THE WATER-Sprrit. 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