Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 702 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

> 7.” The far-away miner’s drafts still came, ‘and lhe wrote them that he, too, was buildingupa bank account, to place them beyond want for life—nay, to bring them in a handsome income independent of what he sent to them. So in a couple of years Mrs, St. John began to feel that they werericb, and urge her husband to return home and enjoy the fruits of his labor. He promised to come soon, wrote that he had a certain while yet to work, and would then place his mine in competent and honest hands, . for it would still continue to yield gold for some time to come. His. letters had told how a miner had saved his life, and what friends the two had become. In fact, ail of his letters spoke of his ‘‘ dear pard Trent Baxter,” and he hoped he could per- suade him to come home with him, Baxter had not “struck it rich,” as he had, but he had a good living from a mine, he wrote, and not a word did he say that his generosity had forced Baxter to take a share of his mine, Then there were two weeks when no letter came, and the next one was received, and in a strange hand. It was mailed from the fort where Gray St. John’s letters came from, and with trembling fingers Mrs. St. John broke the seal, fearing that ber husband was seriously ill. The moan that broke from her lips told Ethel that it was worse, and she sprung to her moth- er’s side to hear the low words: ** My God! Ethel, your father is dead!” It was long before they could read the letter, and their tears came hot and fast as they did 30. It was a kind letter, and ran as follows: **“My Dear Mrs. Sr. Jonn:— “It is with a feeling of remorse at the pain I give, that I write you the sad tidings that your devoted husband, my noble friend, is dead. ‘*T believe that he has mentioned me, Trent Bax- ter, in his letters to you, and, if so, you may know that my grief is also most poignant, for from the time I met him we were like brothers. “He helped me to become a better man, and we had planned together to soon start for the East, where he said his home was to be my home. “But I must tell you of his death, or all that I know. “IT was away at my mine, some thirty miles dis- tant from Yellow Canyon, and went to spend the Sabbath with him, as was my wont. **T arrived early in the morniog, and instead of the joyous welcome I always received, all was silence at the cabin. **But I cannot dwell upon the sad remembrance more than to say that I found my dear pard a dead man, slain by some merciless assassin, his cabia robbed, and no trace by which the murderer could be tracked. ‘I buried the dear remains decently, got together what things I could find in the cabin which I thought you and your daughter would prize, his papers and books, and then gave the alarm through the country oe =4 and capture the guilty one who had done the eed. ‘* But my efforts were useless, and at Jast I found time and calmness to write to you, one week after his death. ‘* He has often told me that I must be as a brother to you, asa father to Ethel, if harm befell him, and so I shall come to you and tell you all. * You may expect me a few weeks after the re- ception of this letter. It is needless for me to add that in your deep grief you and Miss E’hel have my deepest sym.- haces & for I mourn with you in your great loss, and lieve me ever ‘Your attached friend, ‘TRENT BAaxTER.”’ **P.S.—Permit me to add here that it may be nec- essary for you and Miss Ethel to return with me to New Mexico, at least to the vicinity of the mine, to settle up the business complications which may arise under the circumstances of your husband’s death, for he has left here certain gold which I alone know the repository of. “I will try and bring you by a way which will be less fatiguing and dangerous than the ordinary route, and I very much fear there will be no possi- mas of your avoiding the trip. ** But we will talk it all over when I arrive. ** Again, insympathy, ed eed Such was the letter received by Mrs. St. John from her husband’s “‘ devoted friend,” Several weeks after the reception Of this letter there drove up to the cottage a hack from which alighted a tall, handsome gentleman dressed in a Aiea suit of gray. e wore side whiskers of some six weeks’ growth, bis chin and upper lip being clean shaven. His hair was white as snow, and wasin curl- ing clusters about his temples and neck, He also wore gold-rimmed spectacles, carried a gold cane and looked like some well-to-do banker, rather than; <_ Blue Jacket Bill. ** MINER TRENT GAXTER, ‘© New Mexico.” for so read the card he sent in to Mrs. St. John. The reception which the visitor received from both mother and daughter was a cordial one, and little did they suspect the handsome white- haired stranger wasa wolf in sheep’s clothing, and that they were already in the coil of the serpent. CHAPTER XXVIII. TRACKED TO DOOM, Two weeks after the arrival of the man they were trailing, at the cottage of the Widow St. John, Redfern and Lariat Dick came upon the scene. The cottage was closed, and the nearest neigh- bors told them that it had been sold for cash furniture and all, by Mrs. St. John, who had gone with her daughter to live in some further west state. Did they go alone? was asked. **No; an elderly gentleman, with gray hair and gold spectacles had come for them!” was the response, Then the two trailers held a consultation, and decided that the serpent had, in truth, insnared his victims,” They made numerous inquiries, and learned that Mrs. St. John had received a letter telling her that her husband had been murdered, and then had come the white-haired gentleman for them, A livery stable was found where the carriage had been hired that took them to the depot, and there they found that ticket had been purchased for New Orleans. The two trailers found the very conductor with which the three had gone south, and reach- ing New Orleans discovered that they had stopped there for nearly two weeks. Then they had taken the steamer for Gal- veston, The trackers took the train, and arriving there followed to Sen Antonio, where they had remained some little time, waiting for a wagon- train going northward, it was said by those who knew, Then, as no train was going soon, the party started by ambulance with one wagon-load of settlers who risked going, a hunter and a guide, And upon their trail went Redfernand Lariat Dick, but days bebind them still. And one day in the timber they came upon a scene which filled them with horror, as they drew rein and threw themselves from their horses. There before them were the charred remains of the wagon and ambulance, with the skeleton forms of the eleven people who had comprised the party, several of whom were children of the settler, There they were, scattered about, the wolves fighting over their bones, and all telling the ter- rible story! ) “Comanches have done this, Lariat Dick,” said Redfern, ‘* Yes, it is their red work,” was the answer. ‘There were eleven in the party, Dick.” ** And eleven skeletons are here.” ‘* Yes, but we must be sure of his.” * Yes, here it is, and his white wig with it,” ‘*You are right, and the clothes he was de- scribed in are here almost torn to pieces,” ‘* And here are bis spectacles! At last, Red- fern, he has met bis doom,” ** Yes, but what a fearfuldoom to drag the others into, Dick,” said Redfern as he glanced at ae skeleton forms of the others of the doomed arty. pee We must bury them, Redfern.” ‘Yes, and that man far away from the others,” was the decisive reply. The sacred duty was performed, and then the friends continued on their way until they came to the place where they must part, for Lariat Dick was to return to the home of Settler Trent Baxter. ‘*T shall send my report in writing, Dick, to Colonel Rockwood, for I return to Mexico to my mother, whom I some day hope to make an American of,” ‘*I thought your parents were slain by Co- manches, Redfern, for so I heard at the fort.” **My adopted parents were, but the Lady Captain of Mexico has proven to me that she is my mother, and that I was stolen from her in early boyhood, ‘“*T avenged those I believed to be my parents, as I vowed to do, boy though I was, and now I am content to forget the past and live for the future, Dick.” _ et ™ = @ **T hope we may meet again, Redfern.” ‘* Perhaps we may, Dick, for if the settler and his daughter forgive my having been the cause of his suffering, 1 may drop in upon you some day, when Miss Ruth is your Ruth.” ‘*Tll take that as a promise, Redfern,” said Lariat Dick, as he grasped the hand of the youth, And thus they parted to meet again when Red- fern found indeed that both the settler and Ruth freely forgave him for haying hanged an honest man for Blue Jacket Bill, THE END, Beadle’s Dime Library. BY EDWARD WILLETT, 129 Mississippi Mose; or, a Strong Man's Sacrifice. 209 Buck Farley, the Bonanza Prince. | 222 Bill the Blizzard; or, Red Jack’s Crime. 248 Montana Nat, the Lion of Last Chance Camp, 274 Flush Fred, the Mississippi Sport. 289 Flush Fred’s Full Hand. 298 Logger Lem; or, Life in the Pine Woods, 808 Hemlock Hank, Tough and True. 815 Flush Fred’s Double; or, The Squatters’ League, 827 Terrapin Dick, the Wildwood Detective. 837 Old Gabe, the Mountain Tramp. 348 Dan Dillon, King of Crosscut. 368 The Canyon King; or, a Price on his Head. 483 Flush Fred, the River Sharp. BY GEORGE C. JENKS, 898 Sleepless Eye, the Pacific Detective. 432 The Giant Horseman. 507 The Drummer Detective. 526 Death-Grip, the Tenderfoot Detective, 538 Rube Rocket, the Tent Detective. 554 Mad Sharp, the Rustler. 572 Jaunty Joe, the Jockey Detective. BY PERCY B. ST. JOHN. 57 The Silent Hunter. 86 The Big Hunter; or, The Queen of the Woods, BY WM. G. PATTEN. Hustler a ee the Cowboy Sport. Old Dismal, the Range Detective. Captain Nameless, the Mountain Mystery. BY GEORGE ST. GEORGE, 296 Duncan, the Sea Diver. — 417 Tucson Tom; or, The Fire Trailers. BY NED BUNTLINE. 14 Thayendanegea,the Scourge; or, The War-Eagle, 16 The White Wizard; or, The Seminole Prophet. 18 The Sea Bandit; or, The Queen of the Isle. 23 The Red Warrior; or, The Comanche Lover. 61 Captain Seawaif, the Privateer. — ; 111 The Smuggler Captain; or, The Skipper’s Crime, 122 Saul Sabberday, the Idiot Spy. 270 Andros, the Rover; or, The Pirate’s Daughter. 361 Tombstone Dick, the Train Pilot. 517 Buffalo Bill’s First Trail. d 584 Fire Feather, the Buccaneer King. 621 The Red Privateer; or, The Midshipman Rover, MISCELLANEOUS, Wildcat Bob. By Edward L. Wheeler. Handy Andy. By Samuel Lover. 10 Vidoeq, the French, Police Spy. By himself. 11 Midshipman Easy. B Captain Marryatt. 32 B’hoys of Yale: or, The Scrapes of Collegians. 60 Wide Awake, the Robber King. By F. Dumont. 68 The Fighting Trapper. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams, 76 The Queen’s Musketeers. By George Albany. 78 The Mysterious Spy. By Arthur M. Grainger. 102 The Masked Band. By George L, Aiken. 110 The Silent Rifleman. By H. W. Herbert. 125 The Blacksmith Outlaw. By H. Ainsworth. 133 Rody the Rover. By William Carieton. 140 The Three Spaniards. By Geo. Walker. 144 The Hunchback of Notre Dame. By Victor Hugo, 146 The Doctor Detective. By George Lemuel. 152 Captain Ironnerve, the Counterfeiter Chief, 158 The Doomed Dozen. By Dr, Frank Powell, 166 Owlet, the Robber Prince. By 5S. R. Urban. 179 Conrad, the Convict. By Prof. Gildersleeve, 190 The Three Guardsmen. 4 Alexander Dumas. 261 Black Sam, the Prairie Thunderbolt. By Col. Jo Yards, 295 The Smuggler Cutter. By J. D. ey 312 Kinkfoot Karl, the Mountain Scourge. By Mor- ris Redwing. 350 Flash Falcon, Society Detective, By W. J. Cobb. 353 Bart Brennan; or, The King of Straight Flush. By John Cuthbert. | 866 The Telegraph Detective. By George H. Morse, 410 Sarah Brown, Detective. By K. F. Hill. 518 Royal Richard, the Thoroughbred. By J. W, Osbon, 534 Green Mountain Joe: or, The Counterfeiter’s Cave. By Marmaduke Dey. , 542 The Ocean Drift; or, The Tight for Two Lives, By A. F. Holt. 566 The Dauntless Detecjive: or, The Daughter Avenger. By Tom W. King. A new issue every Wednesday, Beadle’s Dime Library is for sale hy all Newsdealers, teu: cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of twelve cents each. BEADLE & AD. MS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York, ~. oro ~ = Ooo | 900 COr —— - a = -