Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 727 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

14 Headlight Harry’s Siren. rushed through the opening with triumphant shouts, To their surprise, the great ball-like cavern was quite empty! Evidently the entire gang was ma outside, in readiness to repulse an expected attack from bslow. Even as the avengers crossed the cavern, a number of out- laws, alarmed by the explosion, suddenly ap- peared at the entrance. They were met by a rattling volley that laid half their number Jow, while the remainder in- stantly turned and fled to rejoin the main body, ensconced a short distance down the mountain- side. Close at their heels followed the avengers, charging fiercely upon the bewildered enemy, firing as they went. As Mad Madge’s band, surprised but still un- daunted, turned to resist this unexpected at- tack, the detachment of trailers left further down the hillside, who had eagerly awaited this opportunity for action, made a sudden and im- petuous assault from the rear, Then ensued a scene of wild confusion, The sharp explosion of firearms mingled with the loud sbouts of excited combatants, The con- flict, though fierce, was of but brief duration, Hemmed in on both sides by ap irresistible foe, their numbers rapidly depleted by the endless storm of lead poured in upon them, the out- laws, after a short and ineffectual show of re- sistance, suddenly broke ranks and precipitately fled. The rout was complete, Like sheep they scattered in every direction, with the merciless avengers in hot pursuit, slooting them down without quarter. Headlight Harry, in the mean time, finding victory assured, sought the interior of the cav- ern in search of Ruth Sharon. He was joined by Roy Noble, who bad‘a similar purpose in view. The fair objects of their search were speedily discovered, none the worse for their trying experience; and the meeting between the lovers, as may well be imagined, was both ten- der and affecting. Returning to the exterior of the cavern, they sought a position that commanded a view of the hillside below, and there awaited the return of the victorious outlaw-hunters. The sounds of conflict were constantly becoming fainter; evi- dently those of the band not slain outright had by this time been pretty thoroughly dispersed, As Headlight Harry surveyed the field of car- nage, his mind reverted to the fair girl leader of the ill-starred victims. Had Mad Madge suc- ceeded in making her escape? or was hers one of the numerous ghastly corpses that strewed the the mountain-side? Even as he questioned himself thus, a series of pistol-shots sounded in close proximity, and the next moment a slender, graceful form burst into view. It was Mad Madge, the Outlaw Queen! Fleeing like a deer, she was bout to pass the lit- tle group, when suddenly she tripped and fell heavily at the very feet of the engineer, even as her pursuers appeared only a few yards behind. Instantly Headhght Harry comprehended the situation, and, obeying a sudden impulse, he bounded forward, ‘* That way—that way, my lads! After bim! Run the rascal to earth!” and he pointed toward a neighboring thicket as he spoke. - The trick worked like a charm, for, as Madge lay prone upon the earth, she was invisible to the pursuers; and the latter vanished as quick] as they came, quite unconscious of the engineef's clever ruse, When Headlight Harry turned again to the Outlaw Queen, it was to find she had already struggled to her feet,and was regarding him intently. With garments soiled and torn, hair disheveled, and flying in the morning breeze— with face pale as death, scratched and bleeding from contact with thorns and brambles, and the wild light of fear and madness shining in her eyes—Mad Madge presented a spectacle of grief and woe at which all stood aghast. ‘“*Why did you do that? Why did you turn those bloodhounds from their prey?’ she de- manded, in low, thrillingly earnest tones, ‘*To save your life, of course,” was the en- a" response. ‘‘Those men undoubtedly new not your sex, mistaking you for one of our followers, and would have killed you but or my timely interference.” ‘* You are, indeed, magnauimous, to intercede in my behalf, especially after what I have done to you and yours,” and the Queen’s pale face clearly indicated ber surprise. ‘Let bygones be bygones, as the expression runs, Since your schemes have come to naught I can easily afford to forgive your intentions,” for in Headlight Harry’s heart there remained nothing of resentment, only sympathy for this poor, misguided girl, whose grief for a beloved parent really had crazed her brain, and who, he believed, was quite irresponsible for her nu- merous questionable actions and crimes. ‘‘T am glad to know that you bear me no malice for the past. It would be hard, indeed, to die knowing that I bore the hatred and con- tempt of the one [ love so dearly,” ? Die?” echoed Headlight Harry, struck by the girl’s peculiar tones, ‘** Yes, die! Do you not see this?” and Madge smiled bitterly as ‘she indicated what all had failed to observe before—a ragged rent in her jacket, just below the beart, through which a tiny stream of blood was trickling. ‘*My God! You are wounded!” and Head- light Harry sprung forward, only to be waved back by the Outlaw Queen, ‘“Yes, I’ve got my death,” she said, with strange calmness. ‘* Your interference in my behalf was made too late to save me from the speeding bullet, I shall be with you but a short time longer. But, what matters it? My band is annibilated, my schemes for vengeance are nipped in the bud, and, should I live, it would be only to be hounded to death as an outlaw, as my father was before me, Is it not fitting that, with the death of my cherished hopes, the name of a Madge should, too, live only as a mem- ory The girl was rapidly growing weaker, She staggered and would have fallen, had not the Vigilant engineer leaped forward and caught her in bis arms, Kneeling upon the green sward, he gently pillowed the head of the dying Queen upon his knee, and as she looked up into his bandsome, earnest face, there was a look of peace and happiness upon her own. ‘*] am dying—it is but a question of afew moments, now,” she murmured. ‘‘ And before I leave this world forever, there is one thing more I wish to say, The girl you love—Ruth Sharon! Is shenot here? Then bid her come nearer, for what I have to say is for her ears, as well as yours, ‘* Listen! I have wronged both of youtdeeply, I know; not so much in evil actually performed as in that contemplated. I[t was for love of you, Headlight Harry, that I was led to lift my hand against a pure and innocent maiden, I know not why I did it, I was mad—mad with love for you! My passion got vhe better of my reason, God knows what my insane spirit migbt bave led me to had not my plans been interrupted as they were. But now, allis over! You are hap- pily reunited. Cannot you grant a dyin woman’s request, and assure her of your fu forgiveness?’ ‘“ Indeed, I bave already assured you that you are fully and freely forgiven,” declared the en- gineer, seriously. ‘‘ And I am sure that Ruth is equally ready to accord pardon for whatever in- tentions you may bave had against her.” It was only through a storm of sobs and tears that Ruth could signify her acquiescence, being too deeply affected for coLerent speech, ‘The knowledge of your forgiveness will ren- der death much easier to bear,” exclaimed Mad Madge, faintly. ‘* I know you love each other truly, May God bless you! and may your lives be as peaceful and happy as mine has been von ge and miserable, is my dying wisb, Good- y The Outlaw Queen ceased speaking; her Mf closed, and she lay as peacefully as a sleeping child in the arms of Headlight Harry. It was Sept when the graceful form grew cold and rigid, and the impulsive heart ceased to beat, that the awe-stricken watchers realized that Mad Madge was dead! Dead! Lying there in the lonely forest, in the arms of the man she had loved so madl , and yet so hopelessly, with her once powerful band scattered to the winds—lying there with upturn- ed face, kissed by the morning sun, wearing an angelic smile of happiness and peace! 1 Who could realize that this beautiful form of mortal clay was all that remained of the fair and ac- complished girl, once the village pride, whose insane desire to avenge her father’s wrongs had led her to a life of violence and crime, the end of which was so highly disastrous to herself? And now within the village churchyard she sleeps, beside the wayward father in avenging whose death she met her own; while ever in the memory of all lives the name of the beautiful being whose brief but brilliant career caused such a reign of terror in their midst—Mad Madge, the Outlaw Queen! THE END, Beadle's Dime Library. BY WILLIAM R. EYSTER, 634 Old Handeart’s Big Dump. 622 The All Around Sports, 603 Desert Alf, the Man With the Cougar. 590 Gentle Jack, the High Roller from Humbug. 578 Seven Shot Steve, the Sport with a Smile. 568 The Dude Detective. 558 Hurrah Harry, the High Horse from Halcyon. 549 Belshazzar Brick, the Bailiff of Blue Blazes. 583 Oregon, the Sport With aScar, 525 Fresh Frank, the Derringer Daisy. 508 The Dude from Denver. 478 Pinnacle Pete; or, The Fool from Way Back, 459 ros a) Sunshine, the Man of Three Lives. 429 Hair Trigger Tom of Red Bend, 402 Snapshot Sam; or, The Angels’ Plat Racket. 396 The Piper Detective; or, The Gilt Edge Gang. 3875 Royal George, the Taree in One. 356 Three Handsome Sports; or, The Combination, 344 Double Shot Dave of the Left Hand. 333 Derringer Dick, the Man with the Drop. 800 A Sport in Spectacles; or, Bad Time at Bunco, 268 Magic Mike, the Man of Frills. 229 Captain Cutsleeve; or, The Little Sport. 214 The Two Cool Sports; or, Gertie of the Gulch, 192 The Lightning Sport. 182 Hands Up; or, The Knights of the Canyon. 160 Soft Hand, Sharp: or, Fhe Man with the Sand. 145 Pistol Pards; or, ThesSilent.Sport from Cinnabar, BY CAPT. FRED. WHITTAKER. 614 The Showman Detective; or, The Mad Magician. 609 The Texas Tramp; or, Solid Saul, 445 Journeyman John, the Champion, 412 Larry Locke, the Man of fron, 405 Old Pop Hicks, Showman, $78 Joh Armstrong, Mechanic, 326 Tne Whitest Man in the Mines, 310 The Marshal of Satanstown; or, The League, 303 Top-Notch Tom, the Cowboy Outlaw. 295 Old Cross-Eye, the Maverick-Hunter. 200 The Lost Corvette: or, Blakeley’s Last Cruise. 284 The Three Frigates; or, Old Ironsides’ Revenge, 277 The Saucy Jane, Privateer. 272 Seth Slocum, Railroad Surveyor. 265 Old Double-Sword; or, Pilots and Pirates. 253 A Yankee Cossack; or,The Queen of the Nibilists, 247 Alligator Ike; or, The Secret of the Everglade, 242 The Fog Devil; or, The Skipper of the Flash. 230 The Fiving Dutchman of 1580, 29} ‘Lhe Mad Hussars; or, The O’s and the Mac’s, 215 Parson Jim, King of the Cowboys. 211 Colonel Plunger; or, The Unknown Sport, 206 One Eye. the Cannoneer. 198 The Man in Red; or, The Ghost of the Old Guard, 187 The Death’s Head Cuirassiers, 174 The Phantom Knights. 159 Red Rudiger, the Archer. 132 Nemo, King of the pong 2 115 The Severed Head; or, The Castle Coucy Secret, 108 The Duke of Diamonas. 98 The Rock Rider; or, The Spirit of the Sierra, 9 Double Death; or, The Spy of Wyoming. 69 The Irish Captain. A Tale of Fontenoy. 65 The Red Rajah; or, The Scourge of the Indies. 89 The Russian Spy; or, The Starry Cross Brothers, MISCELLANEOUS, 566 The Dauntless Detec:ive; or, The Daughter Avenger. By Tom W. King. 542 The Ocean Drift; or, The Fight for Two Lives, By A, F. Holt. 534 Green Mountain Joe; or, The Counterfeiter’s Cave. By Marmaduke Dey, 518 er! bs Richard, the Thoroughbred. By J. W. sbon 410 Sarah Brown, Detective. By K. F. Hill. 366 The Telegraph Detective. By George H. Morse, 853 Bart Brennan; or, The King of Straight Flush, By John Cuthbert. 850 Flash Falcon, Society Detective. By W. J. Cobb. 812 Kinkfoot Kar], tbe Mountain Scourge. By Mor- ris Redwing. 275 The Smuggler Cutter. By J. D, Conroy. 261 Black Sam, the Prairie Thunderbolt, By Col, Jo Yards. 190 The Three Guardsmen. By Alexander Dumas, 179 Conrad, the Convict. By Prof. Gildersleeve, 166 Owlet, the Robber Prince. By 8. R. Urban, 158 The Doomed Dozen. By Dr. nk Powell, 152 Captain Lronnerve, the Counterfeiter Chief. 146 The Doctor Detective. By George Lemuel. 144 The Hunchback of Notre Dame. By Victor Hugo | 140 The Three Spaniards. By Geo, Walker. 133 Rody the Rover. By William Carieton. 110 The Silent Rifleman. By H. W. Herbert. 102 The Masked Band. By George L, Aiken. 78 The Mysterious Spy. By Arthur M. Grainger. 76 The Queen’s Musketeers. By George Albany. ¥§ 68 The Fighting Trapper. By Capt. J. F.C. Adams, 60 Wide Awake, the Robber King. By F, Dumont, 32 B’hoys of Yale; or, The Scrapes of Collegians, 11 Midshipman Easy. By Captain Marryatt. 10 Vidoeq, the French Police Spy. By himself, 9 Handy Andy. By Samuel Lover. 6 Wildcat Bob. By Edward L. Wheeler. A new issue every Wednesday, Beadle’s Dime Library is for sale by all Newsdealers, ten cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of twelve cents each. BEADLE & ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William street, New York,