Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 708 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

m4 ~ ay - Light-heart Lute’s Legacy. “Doubtless you remember the last time he left here to go to town? So do we, though, at the time, we little suspected that he was paying his last visit to our table! ** He bet freely, as he always did, but that was nothing odd, for, as I said before, Adam Elton played recklessly, But we noted another thing, which was contrary to his usual custom, his heavy drinking! “‘T gave him a hint—even I had no right to do more—but it produced no effect, If any- thing, he drank all the harder, and when his dust played out, he asked for loan after loan, un- til his heavy betting finally won the lay-out to his lonesome self, all other players preferring to look on and enjoy the sport. Then—but why draw it out any longer? ** We won everything, then tried to close the game, but he begged for just one more deal, He swore that he had a valuable home—this wretched place, forsooth! He yowed that he owned a bonanza worth millions if properly worked, and—well, we dealt again! Simply to soothe the poor fellow, you understand! We took that bill of sale, which you will see covers both this home and his secret bonanza, We had no idea of keeping it, partly because neither of us believed his wild romances, but mainly be- cause we really pitied the poor fellow! Think of it, will you?” with a short, hard laugh, ** Actually pitied him, while, all the time, he was planning to elope with my young sister— and still more!” **Do you really expect me to believe all this bosh?” scornfally interposed Grace Elton. “You can’t help it, when I show you the damning proofs!” was the fierce reply, one hand slipping into her bosom, coming forth with a folded piece of paper. ‘‘ We found this in my sister’s chamber, the next morning—but my sister was gone! And—so was that honorable gentleman, Adam Elton!” She thrust the paper into that reluctant hand, turning it so Grace could see the signature— that of her absent father, real or admirably counterfeited. And, almost unconsciously, Grace read the lines traced thereon, beginning withous date or address; “When you read this, we will be safely out of reach, and long before you can catch up. Laura will be my wife! She has helped herself to a few of the dollars you won from me—call it even, and bear the loss as best you can, is my last advice, ‘* You have my home, my bonanza, my little girl— everything! Treat her as near white as you know how, if you hope to live and prosper! ‘Tell her to forget and forgive, if she can! I loved her, but—I love Laura a thousand times more dearly! She is my life, my soul, all the world to me from this hour, until death tears us apart! ‘‘When you go to claim your new rights, give the note inclosed to Grace. ‘Tell her that it is the last word she will ever hear or receive gas the one who has tried to be a father to her until now. | “Apam Z. Evton.” ae keenly, Mrs. Sihaw placed a second bit of paper into the girl’s band the instant her dazed eyes reached that signature. ‘This is the note he speaks of. Read it! And while reading, remember that tbey took with them every dollar we could call our own! Robbed us of our all! Left us beggars—save this miserable hut, this fabulous bonanza, and— your sweet self, my angel!” ‘*Grace:-—When this reaches you, I will be far away. never more to return, [ go with the one wo- man who makes all the world to me. now! ‘*Tell your new friends all Share our golden secret with them, and they will treat you squarely. Settle up, then go back to our old home, to begin a new life. Forget me—and forgive! “Once Your FaTHER.”’ For a moment Grace sat like one in a trance, staring at those horrib'e words, but then, with a desperate effort she rallied, springing to her feet with a choking cry, tearing that lying paper to bits, and dashing the pieces into tbe woman’s face as she sprung toward her with angry hands, : ‘Tis alie! Allalie, you cowardly schemers!” Grace panted, whipping forth a revolver and covering Mrs, Shaw, as she added: ‘ Where is my father? Tell me—or die!” CHAPTER VII. A CHOICE OF EVILS, THIS was no empty threat. Driven to des- peration by those pitiless taunts, by those re- oo insults, by that awful fear that karm had fallen her father through the machinations of this evil pair, Grace Elton fully meant every word that crossed ber lips just then, Mrs. Shaw stopped short in her rush as that re nee muzzle rose to the level of her face, ost touching it in that first second. The flush of rage , ed a bit, but it was to give ' ' lace to an ugly, sneering smile, rather than a ook of fear, Huck Shaw gave vent to an inarticulate cry, and fearing lest he should make a rush to inter- fere,Grace sprung back toward the chamber door, still holding the woman under cover with her weapen., ‘‘Speak!” she repeated, sternly, her eyes glowing. ‘* Confess, or I'll shoot you like—” The chamber door flew open behind her, anda blanket was cast over her head and brought down to her middle, strong hands forcing ber arms downward with that same swift motion, while a hoarse voice growled; ** Duck an’ dodge, or—” The revolver dropped from the fingers of the thoroughly surprised maiden, striking the floor at her feet, but without exploding. Mrs. Shaw laughed, mockingly, betraying neither surprise nor gratitude, Instead, there was a touch of anger in her tones as she spoke, ‘“*Who asked you to chip, cully? Will you never learn to—” **Cheese it!” growled Huck Shaw, pushing forward to where the new-comer was finding it no easy task to keep those muffling folds about his captive, without using more force than even an evil man likes to show toward a young and beautiful maiden, ‘' Le’ me run this, pardner, an’ you—git back whar you come from!” ith the blanket covering her to the waist, where the ends were twisted almost into a knot, yor Grace was pretty effectually hampered. he did all she could to bréak away. She tried to shriek aloud, but her voice was nearly smoth ered by those folds. Twice already she had tripped, kept from falling only by her agility, since her unseen assailant had all he could do in those first moments to keep his grip on that muffler, There was a vast difference when Huck Shaw assumed control, and the poor girl quickly realized as much. Whether he was so much more powerful than the other, or because he was less fearful of calling those muscular powers into play, Grace felt little more than a child in his savage grasp. With a quick jerk and twist, Shaw tripped her feet ana laid her on the floor, using his legs to keep her quiet while freeing one hand to fumble in his pocket for a stout cord, Wrapping this about her body, inclosing the ends of the blanket, Huck quickly knotted the thong, thus rendering it impossible for Grace to fling aside the blinder when his savage grip was removed. The second man grated forth a low warning, but Shaw acknowledged it only with a curt nod, though his wife was more free with her tongue. *“?Tisn’t your chip, cully! Huck knows what he’s tackling, and needs none of your extra lip, You sabe ?” ‘*Thar’s bina heap sight too dug-gun much lip wasted a’ready, to my notion!” growled the hbu- man bull-dog, flashing a scowling glance from one face to the other, then stooping to lift the hampered figure in his sturdy arms, ‘Git yer clapper-clawin’ over afore I come back, or thar’ll be two o’ ye to sabe !” me Grace struggled at that movement, but her vain fight against captivity bad greatly reduced her strength, and those heavy folds were shutting out the air so entirely tbat she was aJready be- ginning to grow faint. “Quit yer kickin’, pritty!” growled Huck Shaw, as he bore her over the threshold and inte the outer air, ‘‘] hain’t gwine fer to hurtye, to speak of. I’m jest savin’ ye from heap sight wuss, Fer Roxy Ann is a holy terror when she gits her mad way up—an’ you was stirrin’ of her up mighty piert—yaas ye was, now, honey ” It was evident that the ruffian had little dread of Adam Elton’s speedy home-coming, since he did not even take the precaution to cast so much as a single glance along the town trail, but strode briskly away from the little cabin, mak- , ing his way with the precision of one whose course bas been laid out in advance, Poor Grace was hardly conscious of this, she was not insensible, but ber brain seemed spin- ning like a top, and the heatas of a furnace seemed to envelop her, The burly ruffian bore his helpless burden along toward the rising ground, turning a pile of massive rocks which shut bim off from sight of the cabin, bringing him to a not very extensive tract of stunted timber, the trees scattered among the bowlders, many of which were hid- den beneath wild grape and other vines, Pressing cn until he stood in the shadow cast by a formidable cliff, Huck Shaw lowered his burden to the ground, resting a beavy foot on a fold of the blanket as a precaution against em a — eee SO 0 © I 0 —_ ——————— any attempt to escape, while he gazed keenly, suspiciously around, ** Nobody—bow could thar: be, ye dug-gua fool critter?’ snarling at bimself viciously, for wasting time in taking such needless precau- tions. Again lifting his captive, be hastened along the face of the cliff for a short distance, then pushed aside a mass of hanging vines, laying bare an irregular opening in the rock, into which he plunged with his burden. Groping his way through the utter darkness which reigned when that leafy curtain fell, using his feet in lack of bis bands, Huck Sbaw soon reached the point he had in mind—a pile of min- gled leaves and dried grass, upon which he placed Grace Elton, ‘* Reckon yea like a weenty snift o’ fresh air, honey,” be chuckled, while feeling for and cut- ting the stout thong that held the blanket in place, ‘Suck in yer fill, pritty, but don’t think ye kin make a sneak on the ole man in the dark —<on't ye think it, now!” He loosened the muffler, without entirely re- moving it, then moved away through the dark, only the slow sbuffling of his heavy feet betray- ing his progress. A few moments later there came the dull glow of an igniting match, after which the aarkness was partially dissipated by the rays streaming from a small! lantern. By its light, Huck Shaw for the first time seemed to realize how nearly he had smothered his precious prize by his precautions, and in bis evident anxiety for her safety, he quickly brought about her restoration. That loathsome touch proved more effectual than if he had been armed with a dozen restora- tives! ‘ Don’t~-touch me, sir!’ panted Grace, shrink- ing away, weak but still far from broken in spirit. ‘‘ You coward!) You vileslanderer!” ‘¢ An go-fo’th. sc on. likewise, moreover, to be continued wbeu we kin ketch ‘nother breath!” coarsely chuckled the ruffian, rubbing his hands together in grim glee. ‘* Talk ’bout smotherin’ uwoman,; Thar’s on’y one way,an’ that’s to tie up her clapper fer an hour or so!” Grace sprung to her feet in the wild bope of escape, but her brain fell to reeling, and as she staggered blindly, Huck Sbaw quickly caught and reduced her to captivity, using the severed thong to bind her arms and ber ankles, “Thar!” he grimly ejaculated, when so much was accomplished, standing with feet far apart hands on his hips, in front of his prisoner ‘ Ef yereckon that’s tough, who’s to blame but pritty, her own self?” ‘*You miserable cur!’ panted the girl, bit- wt ‘‘ Hard words don’t bu’st no bones, honey, nur even take the bark off, when ye sling ’em ata ole stager like your uncle Fuller. but—ef you bain’t the plum’ idjiot Roxy Ann cailed ye, back yen’ way, you'll bridle that tongue an button them lips ontel ye kin make out how mighty much better it’d be fer ye to make a frind then ainemy. Fer you'll fee) the need o’ the one, heap sight more’n you'll find the lack o’ t’other, an’ [I’m reelin’ it off straight as a string, Gracie, gal!” “A friend—you?” ‘‘ Waal, thar’s curiouser ings come to pass then even so much,” deliberately added Shaw squatting on his heels, elbows on knees and chin supported by his joined palms, ‘“[ kin pan out big in the fri’ndly line, ef ye come at me jest the right way. I kin make what little life’s left ye a red-hot bell on airth, Grace Elton!” ‘There must be a hell—or such demons as you—and that vile hag—would never have been created!” ** Meanin’ ee Ann? Good enough!” with a ' e. ‘*T'll tell my lady, jest to see her show them pritty tusheso’hern, It’ll be better’n a pinny-pinny-poppy-show! An’— but that hain’t business, Grace Elton,” his tone and manner abruptly changing. ~ ‘““Mebbe ye reckon we was givin’ ye empty wind, back thar? Ef so, you never made a wider mistake in all yer life! "Twas business— clean, sharp business, I tell ye! “Roxy Ann told ye never a bit more’n the simple truth, an’—” ‘You are lying now, as that hag, your wife lied then!” flashed the maiden, her spirit still unconquered. ‘I refuse to listen, and—” ‘Then Dll make ye, Grace Elton,” with a vicious nod. ‘Ill gag them dainty jaws © yours, an’ prop yer ears open with a stick, ef I can’t come at ye no milder. Shell I do it?” “You vile brnte!” Swift as thought one hand closed upon her malicious chuck \ , _- all ee iecbooks