Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 66 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

1 sprung in between him and the weapons raised | against his life. ‘ : ‘‘ Ned Clayton, as we were once friends, le him. Blanc ard, Evans, save his life! e is beaten; he will give up.” Single Hand saw that all was over, and heav- ing up his mighty ax, rushed headlong into the midst of the foe, who parted like water before him, and then closed in on every side. A mo- ment of wild commotion, weapons flashed blows were struck, and Single Hand lay dead in the midst of the crowd, with three dead rangers at his feet. Duke Elwood sprung back, a pistol in each hand, just as Lillian and her mother appeared in the doorway. Brought to bay, the savage nature of the man came out, and shouting a fierce defiance, he caught Lillian by the arm and laced the pistol at her head, but Coral, striking it from his hand, pushed Lillian back into the houss, and placed herself before the door. ‘Stand back, all of you!” screamed the des- rate man. ‘‘ You know me now, James Har- in. I am Duke Elwood, your own cousin, whom you robbed of all that makes life sweet. I had my revenge in my hands, and she dares to thwart me.” Even as he spoke he snatched a small dagger from Coral’s belt, and struck her a quick, fierce blow, aimed at her heart. She sunk gasping to the earth, the blood bubbling from the wound. Then placing the point of the keen weapon against | his own breast, he drove it sharply home, and with a gasping sigh, fell dead at the feet of his bleeding wife. ** Back, all of you!” she cried, in a feeble voice. ‘‘Leave me with my dead. He killed me, you say; let it be so. would rather die by his hand than live without him.” She dragged herself forward a little and look- ed down upon the dead face. There was actual- ly a smile upon it, and he looked grand in bis repose. She never moved, but spoke to that dead man in tones of loving tenderness, which went to every heart. ‘*Lie you there, my dear one, cold and dead? Wait on the border of the river, and my soul will join yours in your flight to that far-off land. oot come to me.” Lillian bent beside her, weeping as if her heart would break. ‘I loved you, sweet one,” she said, ‘‘and I died to save your life. a poor, lost wo- man, and pray for the rest of my unhappy soul. Ned Clayton, to you we owe all this, but I can- not blame you.” | ‘*T would have died to save your life,” sobbed Ned. ‘‘I never looked for this sad end. Can we not do something? You may not be so bad- ly hurt.” ‘*T shall be dead in a moment more. Lay me with my husband in this sequestered place, where no one will come to disturb our rest. Farewell. Husband, I come to you.” She threw herself upon the dead form of the man she had loved, and with the effort her life passed away. They laid this erring pair under the green turf of the little glade, and not one in the wild band but mourned for the beautiful wife of Duke Elwood. Of his past, little need be said. He was a cousin of James Hardin, who had loved Maria Lascelle before she became the wife of Hardin. Aman of rare parts, but who led a life of riot, he forged his father’s name, and at last killed a friend in a bar-room fight. After that he fled to Texas, at that time the city of refuge to all criminals; and from that time his friends had not heard of him. When he went away, he breathed fierce invectives against his cousin, by whose means he had been detected in the crime of forgery, and swore revenge when they met. James Hardin never had hated him—had giv- en his evidence most unwillingly, but this was nothing to the monomaniac, and when they met in Texas the dormant passion of the man was again aroused, and he began, through the medi- um of Ned Clayton, that train of events which terminated so tragically for him. Black Feather, trusting to his action in favor of the whites, came into the camp and asked permission to carry away the body of his father, which had been protected from mutilation by Ned Clayton, and the giant form was borneaway to be buried amid the graves of the old-time chiefs of the Comanche. The rangers, after burying the dead and searching out the con- cealed treasure of the band, directed by Jim Blanch rode back to the desolated age after sending a party under Blanchard to fin the women and care for them. The treasure which was found went far to recompense Captain Hardin for his loss, and Single Hand. before a month had passed, the family, who had been living with a friend some miles away, moved into the new house, where Ned Clayton was again domesticated, overseeing every thing. Jim Blanchard became a sub-overseer, and his pretty wife lived in the great house and was monde much of by Lillian. The rest of the women scattered to various parts, but old Jinny was found and installed in a place of trust, in the new house, where she lorified the houses of Lascelle and Hardin to er dying day. Four years passed. Ned Clayton was no longer overseer for Captain Hardin, but had a ranch of his own, further uP the valley, with Jack Evans as overseer. e has grown into a fine, robust man, with a stunning mustache and imperial, and is doted on by all the girls along the Rio Grande. But, he has been true to his first love, and this year, when the harvest was yellow and the fields groaning with riches, he took to his home a fair young bride, for whose sake he had done and suffered so much— Lillian Hardin. THE END. THE NEW YORE Fireside Library. ‘Ten Cents each; Double or Single numbers, 1 Was Sue His Wire? Mrs. Mary R. Crowell... 10c. 2 FLeernG From Love. By Harriet Irving .... 10c. 3 Dip He Love Her? Bartley T. Campbell.... 10c. 4 A STRANGE WomMAN. By Rett Winwood .... 10c. 5 NADIA, THE Russian Spy. F. Whittaker.... .. 10c. 6 Two Grris’ Lives. By Mrs. Mary R. Crowell. 10c, 7-8 Lapy AUDLEY’S SECRET. By Miss M. E. Brad- * don One Re weit - FT Oe. 9 Toe War or Hearts. Corinne Cushman ... 10c, 10 LEIGHTON GRANGE. Miss M. EF. Braddon ..... 10c. 11 THe FALSE Wipow. Mrs. J. D. Burton ...... 10¢. 12-13 Lost For Love. Miss M. E. Braddon...... 10¢. 14-15 TorLerRs oF THE Sea. By Victor Hugo..... 10c. 17-18 UncLEe Siuas. By J. S. Fanu 19-20 Deap-SeA Fruit. Miss M. E. Braddon..... 10c. 21-22 LirrLe Kate Kirpy. F. W. Robinson....., 10c. 23 Sowine THE WIND. Mrs. M R. Crowell.... 10c. 24-25 Birnps of Prey. Miss M. E. Braddon ..... 10c. 26 Tuat Boy or Norcort’s. Charles Lever . 10e. 27-28 CHARLOTTE’S INHERITANCE. By Miss M. E. Braddon Tee, Be Oe PO 10c. 29 A Grru's Heart. By Rett Winwood dane. 30-31 Rep as A Rosg 1s Sue. By Rhoda Brough- | ton .. nm San. ete 100, 32 Tue Lity or St. Erne. By Mrs. Crow ...... 10e, | 33 STRANGELY WeEp. By Mrs. J. 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