Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 66 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

' hissed the colporteur, ‘‘ and the man who wrong- ed me is—Captain Hardin.” ‘‘ { do not believe it,” said Ned, fiercely. ‘‘ No man dare look in James Hardin’s face and call him a villain.” ‘‘But I tell you that it is true,” replied the other, in a hoarse voice. “It is true as Bosper, and I have sworn. never to rest until his head is brought as low as mine; and if one of those whom I have chosen to aid me dares to rebel, if he were of my own blood, I would kill him. Now you understand why I hate James Hardin, and why I will follow him to the death.” ** What do you intend to do?” ““To make his life a burden to him, as mine has been to me, Heap sorrow upon sorrow, misery upon misery, until he will pray for death. To rob him of all he holds dear upon earth, little by little, and you shall aid me.” “Never!” replied Ned, boldly. ‘* Until this hour I never knew your heart, and I fling to the winds your vile oaths. I am no longer one of your men, and [ defy you to do your worst.” The colporteur thrust his hand into his bosom, and the bright barrel of a pistol showed for a moment; but Ned was as prompt as he, and a weapon gleamed in his hand. ‘‘ This is child’s play, captain,” said he. ‘‘ You will have to mark out a fresh trail, now that “T have loved and trusted you,” was the re- ply, ‘‘and you turn against me for the sake of a manI hate. Ned Clayton, you will live to re- re this hour, bitterly, bitterly. There, let here be a truce between us. t up your weapon, for I promise not to harm you to- ht.’ md replaced his pistol, for it was evident that the man meant just what he said. ‘*T trust you,” he said; *‘ but be so good as to bear in mind that I am as quick on the trigger as you are, and quite as ready to call in the aid of powder and ball. Now then, explain your- self.” ‘“‘The explanation must come from you,” re- plied the colporteur. ‘‘ You were sent here upon an errand in the interest of the band, I ask ane now if P bre intend to do your duty?’ ** Not if my duty points to the destruction of this good family,” replied Ned, boldly. ‘You know the penalty of disobediance,” ‘You must catch a fox before you skin him,” was the laughing reply. ‘‘ Let me tell you that I have friends more powerful than you ever were, and can trust them. As for you—all your teachings, from first to last, have been evil; I have struggled against them, but for years they have held me, [ throw off forever the unholy bargain, and will lead a new life.” “Turn preacher, eh?’ sneered the colporteur. “You will make a capital one, upon my word. Do you know that if you persist in this, your doom is sealed?” ‘**T will take my chances of life or death. All Task of you is to let me alone in the life which Ihave marked out for myself, and I give you my word that I will never trouble you. ill you do this?’ *‘I make no terms with you, yo traitor,” replied the other, Hereely ‘ There—Il have said I need to say upon the subject; but be sure of this—you have not a week to live.” ** You must leave this house in the morning, and never let me see * pos here again,” cried N **Do you understand that?’ “‘T shall leave it when I see fit,” was the re- ply. ‘I do not believe that you are coward enough to betray me to my enemies after I have put faith in you.” ‘* As long as you keep quiet, do not attempt to communicate with your men, or in any way be- tray this family, you are welcome to stay; but ou must remain under my eye ail the e. Them an laughed—a low, fierce, laugh, which had a world of meaning in it, and swinging pamber, ptep d ip you have me to deal with.” 99 open the door of his own c and closed the door behind was a bolt upon the door, and this Ned shot into the socket before he lay down. to rest. | He remained awake until he was satisfied that the colporteur had re and then dropped asleep. The man in the next room remained quiet for about an hour, and then arose and lis- tened at the door. The deep breathing of the young man con- vinced him that the boy was asleep, and putting off his shoes, he stole cautiously to the door which opened into the hall, and looked out. “T would cut that young traitor’s throat from ear to ear if I could t.at him,” he muttered, ‘‘Ten thousand fiends! To think that he should turn l me, of all men! I wonder if he has roped in Jack? Two of my best men gone, Single Hand. 7 NN if he has, and at a moment when I need them worst. . Now for business.” His eyes had not been idle during the day, and he knew the sleeping-apartment of every per- son in the house. Just as he crossed the hall, he saw a glimmering light at the other end, ap- proaching the place where he stood, and had just time to see that it was Lillian, alone, and carry- ing a lighted lamp in her hand, tefore he _ hur- ried into aroom on the right, which he knew was occupied by the girl. He had just time to conceal himself behind a closet-door, when she came in, humming a mer- ry song, and placing the lamp upon a table, be- gan to take down and comb her beautiful hair, before retiring. There was something in the in- nocent grace of this sweet child which held him ll-bound, and he hesitated long before he p Roh carry out his design; but all chance of re- treat was cut off when she approached the closet for some article which it contained. This was his opportunity. He seized her so suddenly, that before she had time to utter a cry she lay helpless in his strong grasp, with a ge pointed at her head. ** Beware!” he hissed; ‘‘the least outery will be your death, and the death of any who comes to your aid.” ily would not have heeded the first part of the threat, but she feared for the safety of those she loved, and while she hesitated, a gag was thrust into her mouth which put it out of her wer to cry out if she had been so inclined. er hands were tightly bound behind her, and the villain arose with a triumphant look upon his face. ‘*So far, good,” he muttered. ‘‘ This is but the beginning of my vengeance. I will wring their hearts as they have tortured mine.” He stopped and listened. The house was now still as death, and he looked quickly about the chamber. It was upon the ground floor, open- ing toward the prairie, and was lighted by two large windows, one of which was open. He stepped to the window and looked out across the prairie, his lips moving in a strange, hurried way,asif in invocation. His hands opened and closed convulsively, and the foam showed itself upon his thin lips. “This girl is her mother in miniature,” he muttered. ‘‘They love her beyond any thing on earth. I know that from what they said to Ned Clayton when he brought her home, and I could not aim a blow more directly at their hearts.” He pushed the window a little higher up, and as it rattled slightly, he stooped quickly an shrunk out of sight in the shadow of the wall and waited to see if the noise had awakene any one. Not asound was heard, and he lifted Li phy his arms and stepped outof the window. He hardly done so, when twomenappeared from. behind the horse corral, one of them lead- Ing & spare horse. ‘I’ve got the girl, my lads,” he whispered, ‘t Here, fake her, Bennett.” The man addressed, who was one of those who had been playing cards with Pedro that morn- ing, raised the girl in hisarms. As he did so, the gag fell from her mouth, and she uttered shriek after shriek, which rung out in the silent night. The cursed cat!’ screamed the colporteur, snatching the bridle of the led horse and spring- ing into thesaddle, ‘‘ Ride for your lives, men ride! Stop her squawking, Bennett; your hand is broad enough.’ Even as he spoke they darted away, the hand of the outlaw pressed hard upon the mouth and nostrils of their fair prisoner. Lights flashed in various parts of the house, and in an incredibly short space of time they heard the rapid beat of hoofs in close pursuit. “* By all the devils, they are after us!” shriek- od the colporteur. ‘“ Whip and spur! whip and spur | Use your bowies if the spurs are not eno They rode hard; but they could, make out that the pursuers were gaining rapidly, for they were admirably mounted. The eolporteur bent his head a moment and listened intently. ‘‘Only two. of them, and one is leaving the other | > he said. “My dear tread, whoever you are, be careful that you do no de too fast, for it may bring you into trouble. nnett, if we have, to. fight, ride on with the irl, and remember that I would sooner they ound her dead than alive. If you can not a Bey you know what to do.” 4 dashed on together for some distance, and one of the pursuing horsemen gained rapid- ly upon them. ‘* Ride on, Joel,” said the colporteur. ‘‘ You know where to take her. Follow me, Davidson.” He wheeled and rode back, and soon found himself face to face with Ned Clayton, riding the black mustang which he had tamed. With- out exchanging a word, both leveled their wea- pons and fired. CHAPTER VIL. A STRUGGLE FOR LIFE. Boru were adepts in the use of the pistol, and only an accident saved the life of the colporteur. His horse stumbled and fell upon his knees, as ho pulled the trigger, and his bullet flew wide of the mark, while that of Ned Clayton passed over the spot where his head was a moment be- fore. Unfortunately for Davidson, he was in the line of the bullet and was shot through the throat, and fell to the earth with an inarticulate cry of pain. The quick band of the colporteur brought his horse to his feet, but not in time to avoid the rush of Ned Clayton. There was but one way, and dropping his rein, he caught the young man by the shoulders, and, as the horses rushed on, both men fell from the saddle, locked in a close grapple. ** Devil!” hissed the colporteur, “‘ we will try our strength.” ‘‘l am yon man!” replied Ned. ‘‘ Coward, must you strike at a weak girl? I will teach you a lesson.” Neither spoke after that, and a desperate strug- gle began. Twice had Ned Clayton freed one and long enough to dash it into the face of his antagonist, which was quickly bathed in blood, but he was a determined villain, and these blows only seemed to arouse the innate ferocity of his nature. Again Ned freed his hand, but, instead of striking, grasped his enemy by the throat and closed his strong hand with a fierce ene a gripe which could not be shaken off. e scoundrel would have drawn a knife, but his strength was fast leaving him and he could only make feeble clutches at the iron hand upon his throat. mtg thing grew dark about him, a mist swam before his eyes, when he heard the beat of hoofs, and $e ge Hardin rode up. + pant a don’t kill hi eagerly. ‘*We ma yet. ‘ Jump down and tie him, then,” replied Ned. ‘‘This is no baby I am holding, but a deadly enemy.” Captain Hardin had tied up many prisoners. in his day, and his work was quickly and artisti- cally done. ‘That will do, captain. Now help me to lay him in the shadow of the bushes, and we will follow the other, who has carried Lilly away.” While speaking he had knotted a handker- chief about. the blade of a bowie, forming a gag of the handle which he thrust into the mouth of the colporteur and tied at the back of his head. This done, he sprung up and assist- ed the captain -n laying their prisoner under ie ita te hould ha al t would be ‘If a jaguar sho n along, it wo a good thing for the world,” he seid. ‘‘ Mount and away, captain. I am afraid this fight has given the other too much start.” ‘‘| thought there’ were three?’ said the cap- tai in. Ned pointed to the form of Davidson stretch- ed upon the prairie, but said not a word, and turning their horses’ heads in the direction taken by Bennett, they rode on for some miles at the top of their and never slackened until they reached the edge of a gloomy chaparral, many miles in extent, “I feared this, captain,” said Ned, drawin bridle. ‘‘ The wretch has taken to the chapar- raland to follow him into it now would be worse than madness. Besides, he has friends ny far away, and we must ride hard to escape em.” “ But my daughter, Ned; my dar ing. Lilly. Must I ad her in the power of these ns?” ‘They won’t dare to her, for the simile reason that we have their captain in our We had better ride back and secure him.” ‘** Do you.mean the colporteur?’ ‘No more a _colporteur ‘than I am, although he played the part well. is nO more nor Jess than the celebrated Tom Duke, the worst horse- thief on the Texan plains. I told you before that my com ons were bad ones, captain: | did not dare to tell you how bad.” sd Do you know their haunt in the chapar- ‘Tam sorry to say that I do not, captain. I — have had little to do with their marauding ex- itions, although I have always jo ad in eir Indian fights. The captain has kept their real business from me as much as' ible; and jt was only the other day, in a fit of desperation, EGomicbooks com