Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 705 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

ee. . ee ee 4 > « — * >? 2-7 Na : ie ea tien " ia Ur eae \ 4% ~~ 10 from starvin’, I’d’a’ been able to paid it next pay-day but for this cut-down and strike.” The miners kLalted promptly and gathered around Royal. ‘* Hooray fer Norman!” bellowed one. The crowd gave a hoarse shout. Royal bowed calmly, but within his bosom bis heart was thumping heavily. ‘**T thank you, gentlemen,” he said, as soon as he could command his voice. ‘‘I see Iam not misunderstood, and I assure you you have my sympathy in this time of trouble. I hope and I firmly believe it will all end well if you are not too hasty in your acts, Mr. Duke and Mr. Darke will be forced to come to terms and do you justice. But if you commit some lawless act, you will simply injure yourselves,” **Wecan’t live on wind while they are comin’ to terms,” growled a fellow well concealed in the midst of the crowd. ‘* Nor need you, if you are discreet, for it will not be long before you are all back at work in the mines, I hear some of you have threatened to wipe out the town. Nothing could be more foolish, for you would only destroy your own chance of employment. Go slow and sure,” **Thet’s good advice, pards,” commented one large man, who was not as intoxicated as many of his companions, ‘*Let’s go take a drink all round on it,” shouted another. ‘That is the unwisest thing you can do,” boldly asserted young Norman, ‘“ If you drink enough to become partially intoxicated, you are almost sure to commit some act for which you will be sorry in the future, At the same time oe are drinking up the money you need to ridge over this crisis, Take my advice and let liquor alone.” ‘*Thet’s good advice,” mumbled a tipsy fel- low in the front rank, ‘‘ Better let ther stuff erlone—hic—if you don’t want ter hev big head ter-morrer. Jush foller my ’zample,.” ‘* We'd all be dead drunk before night,” This caused a faint laugh, and at thismoment Fritz came puffing and blowing upon the scene. *'V’at you means by dose actions?” he squawk- ed, swinging his clinched fists wildly in the air. **'V’y you shase dot girls, I vants to ogsplain? You scares uf her der senses oudt. If 1 catches you doin’ dot some more I vill lick der crowdt or pu’st mein galiluses! Dot vas der kint ufa hairbins this shickens vas, I pelieve! Yaw, I ess so.” ‘*Oh, go soak your head!” cried a derisive voice. Fritz fairly danced with rage. ** V’ere vas der cus-tomers v’at mages dot re- marks?” he bowled. ‘‘ Sbust show der sons uf a guns dot dared vag his shawin dot kintuf a manner! Sbust trot him oud here und see me knock uf him der packins oudt! Oh, Shimminy Jew’'sharps! don’d I[ ache to baralyze somepodys mitacrack vrom one uf dose sledge-bammer vists’s v’at I hef hicht on der end uf mein arms!” ‘*Get out, you little runt of a Dutchman, be- fore you get hurt!” ‘** Dot vas der same vellers! Oh, v’ere he vas? I pets you zwi tollars he don’d dare show his mugs! If he dit ’d plack uf him der two eyes so quick as never vas. 1 vos der poy v’at knockt uf Shon Sullimans der under shaw off, Oh, gome oudt und see me von leedle v’ile!” A big fellow pushed his way through the crowd. ‘* Let me get my fins on that Dutch cock,” he said. ‘‘1l will shake him out of his clothes in about three seconds,” “Vas you der man v’at makes dot talk?’ asked Fritz. ** Bet yer life I am.” ** Gread Scotts!” The boasting Dutchman instantly turned and run as if for his life, while he shcuted over his shoulder: ‘**Ogscuse me! I haf some peesness v’at de- mands some attentions at vonce.” And he did not balt until he bad dashed through the open door of the City Hotel and dis- appeared. birty minutes later a man came out of the hotel and paused an instant on the steps. He was dressed in a plain suit of clothes and wore a wide-brimmed hat pulled well down over his eyes, which were dark and piercing. He was somewhat below medium height, but was com- pact and supple in build, every movement telling the experienced eye of an unexpected alert- ness and power possessed by the man, It was Violet Vane, minus disguise of any kind. « For the space of nearly five minutes he stood 7% - — : ae Te mete a ae par ox a aT.) for ; ’ - — . Tee %*- = 4 - a 7 ‘ P . Violet Vane’s Vow. on the hotel steps glancing sharply in all direc- tions from beneath the wide brim of the bat he wore, The mob of strikers bad vanished and there were few people on the street. ‘*] see nothing of the spies who have dogged me all day,” muttered Vane; ‘‘ yet I feel sure they are still on the watch, They think they have penetrated my disguise, still they are in doubt. If I can keep them puzzled a short time longer I shall be able to play my last card and keep my vow to the dead.’ As he stood there, Royal Norman came walk- ing slowly along the street, his face wearing a moody expression. ‘*T wonder if he will recognize me?’ muttered the man on the steps. ‘If he does, J shall think it possible the others have penetrated the char- acter which I have attempted to personate. I will speak to him,” He walked slowly down the steps and arrived at the street just as Royal was passing. ‘* Excuse me, sir,” said “Vane, politely; ‘* but do you know a person in town by the name of Frank Fenton?’ toyal cast a sharp look at the questioner, and replied: ‘*I do not.” Then he.bowed his head and passed on in the same thoughtful attitude. ‘* He did not drop,” smiled Vane; ‘‘ and he is as sharp as the best of them, The trick is still good,” He watcbed Royal’s retreating form a few seconds, and then turned in the other direction, murmuring: ‘** Now I must basten to meet my darling girl —poor fatherless child! How she escaped from the clutches of her father’s vile assassins is a mystery to me; but she is free, and to keep my pledge to the dead I have only to see that the murderers do not escape their just dues, ‘* But why is Ione friendly with that ex-rob- ber lieutenant, Fenton? That is a mystery to me, Once lI believed she had played me false, but I finally found I had been cunningly de- ceived. I have no desire to be hasty in this case. [ can well understand why she should choose to keep her face corcealed, for sbe must stand in some fear of the dastards who have been her captors, ‘** But I will soon see her and learn the truth, She penetrated my disguise and sent me a mes~- sage asking me to call at the cottage down by the big pine. She will be there to welcome me withopen arms, I must hasten to her.” Swiftly he walked down the street, bis step being light and springy and his blood running warm in his veins. In a short time he was knocking at a cottaze door near the outskirts of the town, After a few seconds the door swung softly open, and when he had entered, it closed behind him, The room was in semi-darkness, for the heavy curtains were drawn. But he saw a fig- ure before him—the supple, graceful form of a female whose face was hidden by a vail. With a glad cry, he leaped forward and clasped her in his arms, ‘* My little darling—thank God!” He brushed away tbe vail and kissed her fair- ly on the lips. Then he.reeled back with an ex- Clamation of horror. The woman was not [one, but one he. had known in the past as Ada, the Outlaw Queen! CHAPTER XI. A WOMAN’S LOVE AND A MAN’S SCORN, VIOLET VANE threw up onearm in a guard- ing attitude and shrunk back as if he had touched an evil spirit, his face marked by an ex- pression of repulsion, although the woman be- fore him was a handsome one, ** You—you /” he gasped, She did not speak, but with a movement of her left hand she turned up the flame of a light- ed lamp and stood before him in the blaze of light, truly a queenly beauty. “ You !” he repeated, bis repugnance revealed in his voice as well as his face, He passed bis hand across*his lips asif to wipe away her touch, She saw the move and a bit of color faded from her face. But she loved the man with a love that might turn to the most savage batred, ** Yes,” she murmured softly, appealingly, her voice trembling a little. ‘‘ It is I. You bave not forgotten me?” ‘Forgotten you! Nol! possible!” She caught her breath with a little sob that was a wonderful counterfeit if it was not gen- uine, **T—I feared you had,” Such a thing is im- ** And I wish to God 1 might!” Her eyes were tifted till they met bis dark orbs—her eyes of melting blue. For a single instant she kept them thus, then they fell, her hands were clasped, her shoulders drooped, her entire attitude was one of dejection and de- spalr, re I—had—hoped— But what right had I to hope?” pressing her white fingers fiercely to- gether till the warm red blood showed through the clear thin skin, ‘‘ You know bow madly I loved you, yet—” ‘* Stop!” he commanded, harsbly. come here to listen to such talk!” ‘* And I bad no thought of making such talk. The words stole unbidden from my lips. When I am with you I forget my womanhood-—lI for- get everything but my mad passion! Why was woman made to love? And so hopelessly—so hopelessly |” Her fair face fell in ber hands and her yellow hair suddenly dropped silently down about her shoulders in a mass of pure gold. Not many men could hava resisted the temptation to clasp that perfect figure in bis arms and speak sooth- ing words into tke shell-like ear that faintly showed amid the sunny strands; but Vuolet Vane bad once felt the seductive influence of the beautiful enc bantress’s fascinations and his pulses were not quickened by a tbrill, ‘‘Where is lone Wilson?’ he demanded, coldly. She lifted her head a bit, but did not look up. ‘* Why do you ask me?” ‘‘'The note said I should find her here.” ‘¢ And I wrote the note.” confessed Ada, ** Impossible!” he ejaculatec, in amazement. ** Tt is true.” ‘‘ But the writing—” ‘‘ Was an excellent counterfeit of hers, I have not studied her handwriting for nothing.” ‘‘ Then she is not here?” “< No.” He turned toward the door, ‘“* Hold!” she cried, springing forward with a hand outstretched, ‘* You mnst not go till you have listened to me—you must not! It will be suicide on your part, for 1 would warn you of a terrible danger that threatens you.” He paused and cast a Jook at her over bis shoulder. ‘*T am not trying to deceive you,” she earn- estly declared. ‘“‘If you bave a care for your- self or the girl you love, listen to me!” Vane turned and faced her, saying calmly: ‘Go on and be brief, 1 have no time to fool away.” ‘Come back and sit down,” entreated the siren. ‘‘ I cannot talk while you are standing.” She made a motion toward an easy arm-chair, and after a moment of hesitation, be walked to- ward it, ‘¢T shall stand no folly. If you have anything to say, say it lively.” She sunk into a chair facing him. ‘*T hardly know how to begin, I know your missior in Damascus, You made a vow beside the dead—” ‘¢ A vow I shall keep.” ‘Perhaps. But your enemies know of that vow, and they have swcern to slay you.” He flung out bis band with a contemptuous langh, ‘““Two of the dastardly gang have paid the penalty of their crime; the others will follow, You will be the last, Captain Flash!” The woman turned very white and trembled in every limb. But only for a moment, Her color came back and she laughed carelessly, ‘*So you weuld slay a woman?” ‘‘ No; I will bring her to justice.” ‘‘T am not responsible for Owen Wilson’s death,” ‘‘ You are! You led the Serpent Six,” ‘* But I did not strike him. He fought like a tiger and one of the men was forced to give him the knife in self-defense.” ‘‘ But for you those men would not have heen there. You were at the bottom of itall, Your ‘*T did not brain concocted the foul plot for kidnapping a - poor girl from her sick father’s side and you led the evil band that carried out your scheme, It was a blow at me.” ‘*T loved you so!” ‘* You loved me! Was that a loving act? If so, I choose your hatred. It was a blow at my heart,” | ‘** But you do not understand. I could not re- main idle and let you marry her. She never really and truly loved you—she does not know what love is, Had you married her, you would have obtained a fickle child who did not know her own—” ‘*That is enough!” he commanded, frigidly. - * . —- bd ad Sars . ean _— ad r-