Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 682 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

that you shall 14 wife. He left me for dead, but I came back to life to hunt him to his doom, and I hope to find my child at last. If she is alive, she should be aboutas old as you.” Atthat moment Nida gave a little cry. A few rods away were the strange white horse and ghostly rider—the White Spirit. Wild Vulcan saw the figures and cried: ‘** As God is my judge, I believe that girl is my long-lost child!” CHAPTER XVI. THE ARROW IN THE, HEART, For an instant the phantom-like horse and rider remained perfectly motionless, both the animal and the girl seeming to be staring straight at Wild Vulcan and the maiden on the black steed. The faceof the unknown, although pale, looked very beautiful as revealed by the clear moonlight, Suddenly she lifted her hand warningly, and cried in a clear tone: “Fly, fly! You will be pursued!” Then the pale steed sprung away suddenly, and soon disappeared amid the bills. Vulcan uttered a groan when they had vanished. *“Oh, God!” he sighed. ‘“‘Am I never to know the truth? Many times have I tried to speak with that mysterious girl, but she always elvides me. She is one of the unsolvable riddles of the great plains. For some time I have thought that she is my lost child, but [ bave not been able to discover whether I am right or wrong. Of one thing 1 am satisfied: She is ‘in some way connected with the outlaws. That simply convinces me that there is but little doubt concerning her being my own daughter.” **T hope that it may prove so, and that you may be reunited at last,” said Nida. ‘I pray God that it may turn out thus, Something tells me that my child is not dead and I shall find her in the end. I then shall have something to live for.” ** But she said that we should be pursued.” **True; and perhaps I had better mount be- hind you, and let Tornado take us out of this vicinity as swiftly as possible.” An hour later the guard of the camp beside Pearl Lake challenged Wild Vulcan, and soon Nida was in her overjoyed father’s arms, Of course the entire camp was aroused, and great ‘was the joy of all when they learned that St. Clair had returned with the missing girl, Of all? No, there was one who, although he ap- peared as delighted as the rest, cursed; down deep within whose treacherous black heart was vindictive purpose, **God bless you, my friend!” cried Elias Errol, as his right band clasped that of the Lone Rider, while his left arm held his restored chili close to his heart. ‘‘God bless you! My heart is full and I cannot say more now. Some time—” ‘*That is enough,” asserted the prairie ranger, his face beaming with a look of deep pleasure, **T am more than repaid for all that I have done.” | Colonel Danglar came forward. “Errol, this is a great piece of fortune, I congratulate you, and also Miss Nida, who has been fortunate enough to escape from the hands of those miserable ruffians at last.” ‘** Not escaped,” corrected the maiden, calmly. ** [ was rescued by a brave, noble man, whom I shall always bonor and respect!” **Thank you, Miss Errol,” bowed Vulcan, re- moving his hat. ‘‘I simply speak the truth when I say that the pleasure of being of service to you was greater than anylI have felt for years. One look from your pure eyes would re- pay me for any danger I might encounter while performing such a pieasant duty.” As gallantly spoken as the speech of an olden knight to some fair one whom he esteemed! Yet the man knew nothing of parlor etiquette. His most familiar companions for years had been the mountains and the plains, the brooks and the wild-flowers, the stats and the sky; but he was a gentleman of nature. Suddenly Nida caught sight of Paul standing in the background, and quietly watching the scene. Ina moment she started from her father’s arms, and ran toward her silent lover with ber bands outstretched. With a glad smile on bis handsome face, he caught them both; then, with girlish impulsiveness, she kissed him, ‘Right slap on ther spot!” exclaimed Sam Krick, whom thus far she had failed to notice, **Oh, Sam!” she cried, turning her crimson face toward the guide, for she was blushing at her own ae act, ‘I am so glad to see you ave the mate to it.” A And before he comprehended what she meant she had kissed him, Probably such a, thing had not happened to the old fellow for years, and : . ‘ a- -~ oe. * ‘ bal > ro “aes ae, ae ty + whe! re 4 —— ay YA > -* é ‘~s Wild Vulcan, the Lone 4 a @ eS ass ae ~ 7 he staggered back as if struck, faintly gasping: ** Great Jonah!’ great favorite, and there was not one of them in the party but would have fought for her to the last gasp. When this was over, she approached the spot where, with some surprise, she saw her father and Paul talking together. Danglar was stand- ing a short distance away, watching everything with a poorly concealed scowl on his face. **My child,” said Mr. Errol, taking her hands, Range-Rider. Then Nida went round and shook hands with | silent. Next came some of the cowboys with every one of the cowboys, with whom she wasa | Mr. Errol and Nida. Niobrara. Sam took bis place at the head Wild Vulcan rode beside him, still moody at Occasionally Paul would gallop alongside the maiden and exchange a few words with her. Colonel Danglar fell back to the very rear and watched everything with eyes in which gleamed a look of expectancy. For more than an hour they rode thus, then, of asudden, the whip-like crack of a rifle came over the sandy waste and a small puff of smoke was seen near the foot of a small hill some dis- tance away. Paul Rickway uttered an ex- and gazing lovingly into her eyes, ‘‘God has | clamation and came near falling from the been very good to restore you to me unharmed, I promised your mother that I would surely bring you back to her, and I shall be able to keep my word, But everything—the happiness of this moment—is due entirely to our many kind friends, Why, but for Paul here I would have been drowned in this very lake! He saved my life, and it will be a long day before I forget such a service,” The youth attempted to make some protests, but the ranchman silenced him with a laugh and these words: “There, there, young man! To not attempt to excuse your act or I shall be tempted to be- lieve that you regret pulling me out of the deep water.” Colonel Danglar heard it all, and he turned away. ‘* The cursed brat holds the whip-hand now!” he hoarsely breathed. ‘*‘ But I am not beaten, by any means, Only for this beastly slip-up, the game would be mine. Oh, some one shall suffer for it!” ‘Did ye speak ter me, kernel?” inquired the guide, appearing at the man’s elbow with such suddenness that Danglar gave a slight jump and uttered an oath, ** No, I didn’t!” The ex-officer fairly snarled the words as he gave Sam a vicious glare and walked on, The old fellow stood and watched him, slowly shak- ing his head, and muttering: ““Snake, snake! 1 know it!” Some time later, the colonel saw Paul and Nida standing on the shore of the lake talking in low tones. He clinched his hands and fairly gnashed his teeth with impotent rage. Then as he stood watching the unconscious lovers, he muttered: ‘* Enjoy each other’s society while you may, for it will all have an end right soon! I am not to be forever balked. There are two persons who must die, and that young upstart is one of them. He shall die! I will put him out of my way, even if I have to wield the knife that drinks his heart’s blood! ‘** Errol isa fool! [never saw & man so easily deceived. Little he dreams who I am. Ha! ha! If he did, he would fly at ot throat like a mad-dog. And that other,” sinking bis voice toa whisper. ‘“ He is the only man on the face of the earth that I fear, and I do fear him. But be is nothing more than human, and he must go under, ‘Curse you!” shaking his fist at the back of the young man on the lake-shore. ‘‘ You are the first one. IfI could only get a word to— By Jove! they will be banging in this vicinity, and I may be able to do so before morning. From this time on I shall devote my energies to getting you out of my way. [ shall triumph in the end!” The camp was kept under double guard the remainder of the night, but nothing further oc- curred to disturb the party, and they secured a much-needed rest, hen’ the first streaks of dawn were in the sky every one was astir, and preparations were made for departure. But the guide would not leave the lake till he had made a rigid search for the body of his old friend. ** P'd like ter guv paor Ole Nick decent burry- al,” he said, as he wiped a mist out of bis eyes, ‘*He was ther truest frien’ a man. ever had, Poor boy! If lever git ter Glory, [ll be shore ter find him settin’ on one o’ ther highest cush- ioneds eats er playin’ 0’ harmonica with golden strings or suthin’ sich like,” But, although the two overturned canoes were. recovered and they cruised all over the lake, they could not find a trace of Old Nick’s body. Sam was loth to give up the hunt, but sunrise and the impatience of the party to start forced bim todo so. However, both he and Paul said that as soon as they saw Mr, Errol and Nida safely with the rest of the party, they sbould return and try to find the body and give it burial. Except for the untimely fate of Old Nick there would have been nothing to mar the bap- piness of the party that turned their backs to Pearl Lake and rode away toward the distant ore OS ta. y+ ~~ = nA Far, = - ¥ : - ., z ¥ bk P ns e - a¥ Ps a 2 a’ f rans ah a2. id Ped 8 ie ob re r 5 a | ee, Y 2 . - oes a saddle, ‘* What is it?” exclaimed one of the cowboys, ‘* T believe 1 am shot in the shoulder,” replied the youth, as he calmly measured the distance between himself and the puff of smoke. ‘That fellow is a good marksman if he selected me for a target.” ‘*There he goes!” cried Mr. Errol, asa horse and rider were seen to dash out from behind the hill. ‘* It is an Indian!” Without a word, Wild Vulcan turned his black steed and started in pursuit of the would-be assassin. ‘““It’s good-by, Johnny, fer thet red sarnip now,” observed the guide, “ But say, lad, how bad are ye hit? Ther bluod’s drappin’ off ther eends o’ yer fingers!” ‘*T will dress the wound,” said the ranchman, who had studied surgery. ‘‘ We will stop and attend to it; it 3, bee as if it might be serious,” But, when Paul’s coat was removed and his shoulder bared, it was found that, although it bled profusely, the wound was not of a serious nature. Nida, pale-faced and trembling, re- ceived this intelligence with untold relief, Suddenly, as Mr. Errol was washing the blood away, preparatory to bandaging the wound, he dropped the canteen of water and uttered’ a great cry of amazement. On the arm near the shoulder was a design pricked into the flesh with India ink—a heart pierced by an arrow, and within the heart the letters ‘‘E, K. E.” For a moment the ranchman gazed at the marks like one dazed. He seemed stunned, stupefied by the unexpected sight. Finally, he muttered, still staring at the letters encircled by the arrow-pierced heart: ‘““My God! my God!” ‘*What is it?’ asked Paul, in wondering amazement. ‘* That heart—arrow—those letters! J believe that my hand made them all, and that you are my own son |” CHAPTER XVII. BLEEDING HEARTS AND HAPPY ONES, ELIAS ERROLW’s words caused more than one of those who heard them to utter exclamations of amazement, for it seemed quite impossible that the young prairie ranger could be the ranchman’s son, And Paul? Errol’s words bad fallen upon his ears like the knell of doom. He felt no joy at the revelaticn that they brought, for his eyes roved to Nida’s face and he saw that she was as white as a corpse. She bad beard her father’s words. Could it be that her lover— brave Prairie Paul—was her own brother? The thought filled her heart with a feeling of ex- a yaa anguish such as she had never known ore, ‘*« There must be some mistake,” said the youth, hoarsely. ‘‘Ilt cannot be that I am your son, Mr, Erro},” , The rancher did not speak, His face was also very white, and his soul seemed terribly shaken by his discovery. Indeed, his emotion was so great that he had to relinquish the task of bandaging the wound toSam Krick, The old guide Jooked in the youth’s face and understood the situation. pe on ‘Keep er stiff upper lip, lad,” he said, soft] and encouragingly, as be attended to the wound, ‘“There’s prob’ly sum’ mistake sum’whar’, an’ it will all cum’ out right in ther eend.” Paul said nothing, for his tongue seemed frozen in his mouth. He saw Nida turn away with a despairing gesture, and he knew tbat ber heart was torn with pain, He would: bave bastened to her, but_a feeling of strange repulsion pre- vented, His sister! At that moment his heart was filled with rage against the bitter black fate tbat had cursed them both by making them blood relatives. But it might not be so; he would not give up hope. As he turned away after the wound was at- tended to, his’eyes encountered the triumphantly glowing officer said, with a sneering smile; ee orbs of Colonel Danglar, and the ex- t F de