Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 66 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 Beadle’s Half-Dime ____ as — Library. “4 ‘*T asked you what you thought of the colpor- ur?” ‘‘A hypocrite!” replied Ned. ‘A wolf in sheep’s clothing. Better trust the most treach- erous Mexican on earth than that man.” ‘** Youonly speak my own thoughts, Ned. Pe- dro Gonzalez, I have no further need of your services, as Mr. Edward Clayton will act as my overseer. You can go.” ‘**{ am to be superseded by this cursed Ameri- can there?” hissed Pedro. ‘You heard what I said? You have already taken up a month’s pay in advance, but that you may not go out penniless there are two doubloons. Let us part good friends, but your associates are bad, and I will have no man about me whom I cannot trust.” | “IT will have your heart’s blood for this, young sir,” hissed Pedro, coming close to Ned. * Bear that in mind.”’ ‘* Pshaw,” replied Ned. | or [ will help you.” i Lut the Mexican planted himself in the road and heaped a torrent of invective upon the young man, who stood it for some moments calmly. ‘*Once for all,” he said Y vada f “will you get out of my road? Ha! Take that! Pick up, gers}; Oa nc ro was lying in the dust, looking u out of a very bIAgK é e. He had mince eataton the musclar power of Ned Clayton, and a Mexi- can has a great respect for muscle. Again he rushed in, and was once more deposited upon mother earth. When he arose this time it was with a knife in his hand. Captain Hardindrew a pistol, but there was no need to use it, for Ned rushed in, wrenched the knife from the Mexi- can’s hand, and snatching up a riding-whip, be- labored him until he yelled for mercy. ‘There, greaser, take care how you draw a ‘knife on me again, for the next time it won’t be a whip I use. Very sorry that this thing has hap ned, captain.” | “Look you, Pedro,” said Hardin, “TI give you prairie law: three days’ run, and if r that we find you in this section, you know what to expect. Now ge; don’t waste time.” ne of his Mexican friends brought out his horse, and Pedro mounted, and the maleyolent look upon his face promised revenge if it was ever in his power. The rest rode away down the road, and soon came in sight of Hardin’s Ranch. It stood upon the river in the midst of a beautiful country and every thing showed signs of thrifty husbandry. The long, low, rambling buildings with white walls gleaming amid the trees; the rare southern plants, and the rroups of black servants, were peculiar charac- eristics of the Texan ranchero of wee pa hy if no “‘ Get out of my way - -_— -- a ow a - _ - “That is my home,” said Lillian, beautiful, Ned?’ ‘Tt is, indeed,” replied the young horse- tamer. ‘‘To a homeless outcast, one who lived a wandering life, and can not even reme:n- ber his father’s face, such a home as that would bea dream of Arcadia.” ‘*Tt is to be your home,” said Lillian, warmly. ‘‘Did you not hear me say that you are,never to leave us, sir? And do you dare rebel thus early in the day?’ My daughter is right, my dear Ned,” said the captain. ‘I never had a son, and if I can supply a parent’s place to you I shall be ha py. And as for my wife—run in and see her, Lilly, sd The girl sprung. from the saddle and ran junto the hall and they heard a glad cry of joy from within. - *T can’t see your wife now,” said Ned, hur- riedly. ‘*She loves her daughter so. well that she will be inclined to give me ter credit than I deserve for my share in y’s busi- mess.” a “Not a bit of it. My wife is an angel, my | boy, far better than a rough old ranger deserves, b ‘t [hope my great love for her is something. Boy, you know where to go. Pomp, come here ) and take this gentleman’s horse, and remember, sir, that you are to obey him in every thing as you obey me.” " “Ki!” said the Negro, taking the bridle. “I hear ye, marse, but Ise so tickled ‘cause you tink we niggas cam bey any one same as we does you. 1!” : “Get out, you sooty imp,” said the captain, striding into the hall. ‘Come along, Ned; make yourself at agg ' sitting: | As they came into a long, low -roem, & | lady wh was sitting upon a low chair fond- ling her daughter’s golden hair, arose and came. ’ toward them. | “You have saved my daughter's life, sir— She stopped suddenly and stooping, kissed ~ et — ee him fondly. Ned Clayton started and the tears rushed into his eyes. Remember that he had said that he had passed a lonely boyhood with- out a mother’s love to help him, and that he was a young man of strong affections. He tried to speak, and dashed his hand across his eyes to clear them. ‘IT can’t stand this, madam. If you only knew whai.a life [ have led you would not kiss me; but if you will aid me, by the help of God I will redeem all that.” “Do you think I cannot read your face, dear boy?” she said. ‘ You need companionship— | friends, who will aid you in the right, and you shall have them, Thank you for bringing him, James; I have two children now.” She led him to a seat beside her upon a sofa and began to talk with him kindly, and draw from him something of his past life. An out- cast boy, he had been picked up in the streets of New Orleans by a man whom he did not name —a person Of rare ability, but whom excess and assion had led astray. The man had made im a companion and treated him as a son, but through it all, the good in the boy’s nature had rebelled against him and his life. ‘* And, madam,” said Ned, ‘if I am not whol- ly bad, it is not his fault. I think in_his wild way he loved me. There was no wish I could express which he would not gratify. And he is a man, too; reckless of his life, brave to des- peration and the handsomest man I ever saw.”’ ** How like Duke Elwood, James!” said Mrs. Hardin, ‘I wonder where he is now?” ‘*No matter,” replied thefeaptain. “It is bet- ter that we should never meet, for, of all men, I would not stand opposed to him. I have made Edwin my overseer, Mar t, and he takes charge to-morrow, Pedro has been dismissed.” “Nod dismissed him,” said Lilly, with a sly laugh; at which Ned hung his head and looked icularly foolish. ‘The wild life will crop out, Mrs. Hardin,” he said. ‘‘The man behaved very badly, and so—” ‘‘He gave him a dreadful flogging right be- foreme. But Lliked it; I always likea fuss, you know, mother dear, and Ned looked so maak and manly when he was flogging that rascal. Oh, it was good /” ‘ Lill {”? ‘Yes, I do like it—I do—I do! And then when I was hiding in that hole in the rocks, and Ned and Jack—you don’t know Jack, yet, but he is a dear good fellow, and must be in the rangers—were fighting the Indians, if I had only had a gun I would have fought too,” **T don’t know what to do with this child,” said Mrs. Hardin. ‘You have infected her, James.” ‘*Oh, it is brave to be a man and fight!” cried Lilly, clenching ber hand. ‘‘ I envy the rangers every time I see them go out upon the trail and wink: to be with them, ever so 38) ip Oe i “Tt is not good to encourage this evil disposi- tion in your child, madam,” said the sm g voice of the colporteur at the door. ‘“ Verily she taketh delight in blood.” “Tf you will be so kind as to go back to the dining-room, I will see you directly,” said Har- din, pointedly. ‘ At present I am engh ed.” The man went back with a strange look upon his face, ‘‘Now mark what I say,” said Mrs, page excitedly. ‘‘That is a bad man and Ido no believe he.is a colporteur at all.” ; ‘*Ned and myself have a that he is not of the right sort,” replied the oy “Tf he turns out. badly let. him look out for the rangers, thatisall, I will go and talk to him.” CHAPTER VL. THE DISGUISED OUTLAW. THE evening, was d pleasantly enough at seca * Ranch. Mi colporteur ‘Tad. retired early, ing them to along chapter tro the bid Teeent whick he read with a drawl- ing, sanctimonious air which was trying. From time to time he looked hard at Ned but the f man seemed to avoid his glance, and stu- iously looked in another direction. It was quite late when Captain Hardin took a lamp and lighted his new overseer to his room, which was a@ very. hey one in the south-west angle of the building; the furniture was with a neatness which ke feminine care and taste. “Now make yourself at home, my boy,” said Hardin, as he put the lamp on a table. “I don’t care what you have been or what you have done if you only mean to do right now; but, it will be hard to make me believe you have ever done any thing very bad.” ee ee ee ee _ “You are too kind to me,” said Ned, in a chok- ing voice. ‘‘Do you know that | could die for you and yours?” ‘There, Ned, say no more about it. I wish you good rest and pleasant dreams.” His step had scarcely ceased to sound — the passage when a door which communicatec with the next room was pushed gently open and the colporteur came into the room, and closing the door dropped into a chair and laughed in a wen nay silent way, seeming to enjoy himself ugely. eT is as good as a play, Ned; upon my word it is,’ he whispered. ‘‘I would not have lost the chance for a thousand dollars. How did I do it?” ‘* You overdid it,” replied the youn man, in e a dogged tone, seating himself upon the edge of the bed. ‘‘ Now, I want to know what you are doing here?” “1 thought it was plain enough for your com- prehension,” replied the other, ceasing to laugh at once. ‘‘I thought you knew me and was aware that I trust no man too far, or too long. I knew that you went into this work unwilling- ly and wished to satisfy myself that you could be trusted.” ‘* Are you satisfied?” replied Ned, in the same sullen tone. ‘* Listen to me, you young hound,” hissed the colporteur, coming read suddenly and grasp- ing the boy by the arm. ‘‘ Have you nothing to any, me for? have I ever wronged you in any wa ‘‘I know what you mean,” replied the boy.. ‘** You,took me out of the —_ and made what. ou call aman of me. But, in what a school ve I been taught! Tolie in ambush—to steal into the affections of those whom you design to make your victims—to act as your stool-pigeon —it makes me half mad when I think of it! ‘You are bound to me by an oath which you dare not break, Ned Clayton! Enough of talk; I sent you here with an object in view. Have you done what I told you ‘*T am already upon a familiar footing in this family, but, as I live, I will not betray them.” ‘You don’t know what you’re saying, Ned,” said the colporteur, quietly, ‘If you persist in that itis my duty to see that you are placed be- yond the possibility of doing us a wrong. | think you would do well to reflect calmly upon what you have said.” ~**T have made u may soln fully,” replied young Clayton. ‘' You talk of dooming me to death, do you? How would it answer if I gave you up to Captain Hardin and his rangers, tell- ing him who and what you are?” e man shivered slightly, and a look of fear crossed his face for a moment but passed away apr § ‘‘Bah! what a foollam getting to bein m old age,” said the colporteur, laughing. ‘ know hi too well to think that you would take an unfair advantage of any man, much less of one who has been your friend. Now listen to me. Suppose yourself in the place of a man who is young, rich and honored. Suppose that this man has.a friend who owes much to him and in whom hé puts implicit faith, and that friend be- trays him in the most dastardly manner and up. on a point of the most tender kind. What would that false friend deserve?” ‘‘ Death—but in a fair fight, man to man,” re- plied Ned. ‘« But, sup that he, sneaking behind the plea that he is not a duelist, refuses the satisfac- tion due a gentleman, and having put it out of the power of his former friend ever to hold up his head again, marries the woman that man has chosen, and laughs at the poor wretch when he writhes in agony. What is such a man as that?” ‘‘ A villain, if the tale is true.” ‘“‘ Years pass. and each has lost track of the — other, when the raced man comes to Texas, He is an outlaw—the hand of every man is against him, and he hopes in this new land to finda home. He has long ago ceased to be hon- est; his is the old law: ‘They shall take who have the power, And they shall keep who can. He breaks the unwritten law of Texas, and a band of men are org to hunt him down. Who is at their head? This same false friend who has so wronged him. He is rich; the wo- man who was to have married his friend loves him, and the friendless outcast sees her still young and beautiful—all the devils in hell! ] shall go mad. : ‘‘Be careful; you are talking too loud and they will hear you.” ‘“T am the man so hounded and perscented,” Ebooks com