Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 727 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

- Headlight Harry, quickly. stated, your leave,’ and the courtship question is settled then and there. Our case is very similar, save that the position of man and maid are exactly reversed. However, as this is leap-year, I sup- pose you are entitled to all the privileges apper- taining thereto.” A flush of annoyance suffused the cheeks of the Outlaw Queen, and she frowned asif in anger. Evidently such apparent levity on the part of her guest had scarcely been anticipated. ** Spare your sarcasm, I plead,” she cried, and there was the slightest perceptible tremor in her voice. ‘‘ This is, indeed, a serious subject to me, and I fail to see why you should view it in so ludi- crous a light. Perhaps you may entertain some doubt of my sincerity in the matter, in which case I hasten to assure you that I never was more thoroughly in earnest,” ** Indeed, if I have indulged in undue levity, I most humbly crave forgiveness,” Headlight Harry hastened to say. ‘“‘It is true that I en- tertained doubts of your sincerity, viewing the affair as a buge joke; but since you so earnestly assert otherwise, [ will endeavor to meet your proposal with proper seriousness.” ‘* Yes,” eagerly. ‘Tt is, indeed, flattering to the vanity of a homely, good-for-nothing rascal like myself to know that he possesses the affection of one so highly blessed with personal charms; and espe- cially so, to hear the pleasing intelligence from the fair lady’s own lips. Well might any map, no matter how exalted his station, be proud to possess so beautiful a being for his wife; and yet—” sé And yet—?” **Much though I appreciate the honor, cir- cumsances oblige me to most emphatically de- cline,” | A look of surprise, disappointment, indigna- tion swept over the face of the Outlaw Queen, as these words, so cold and deliberately uttered, fell from the ergineer’s lips, ‘What! Do you, then, scorn my love? Are you so superior to other men that you can afford to reject what others would risk every- thing to obtain? Surely you value yourself most highly, Headlight Harry!” she exclaimed, bitterly. ** You misunderstand me, I fear, Personally, I repeat, you are well worthy of any man, while, as for my humble self, I feel as much inferior to you in point of good looks and intellect as the tiniest twinkling star is to the glorious God of Day. However, there are material reasons why iT winet decline to look with favor upon your proposition; and the same shall be speedily elucidated, with your kind permission,” ‘* Please proceed; for lam ready and anxious hear.” “Well, to commence with, the conditions imposed by you as the price of your hand are decidedly objectionable, Your husband-to-be must join in your career of outlawry, abandon- ing bis former humdrum but honest life for the d, crime-stained existence of a mountain bandit, and eventually bringing up at the end of the bangman’s rope, Oh, no! Such a life is altogether too rapid for an easy, slow-going chap like myself; therefore, I must respectfully decline.” - ‘*So, then, you have no sympathy with my cause—no love, no pity, no desire to aid a poor, helpless woman, who is striving with all her wer to avenge a fearful wrong! The fact hat I am engaged in the fulfillment of a solemn duty rises like an insurmountable barrier between us. But I will not be deterred from my set purpose, Strong though is my affection for you, it pales before the filial love I bear to my poor father;so do not, 1 beseech you, seek to swerve me from my work of vengeance,” **Such is not my intention, tru'y,” declared ou are mis- taken if you suppose that the mere fact of your being engaged in this strange scheme is what ag eg me from reciprocating your affections, [can but admire the devotion that has led you to so great a self-sacrifice, questionable though your methods may be,” “Then you mean—” ‘*Simply that for another reason as yet un- I give that reason, or can you not guess it with- ~ out?” Mad Madge gave a sudden start, and a gleam of intelligence lighted her eyes, **You—you are not already married?” she “Not fairly within the matrimonial state, yet very near the threshold. I have been en- . gaged or some time to a most worthy young far y, and the wedding is already set for a not distant day.” . can never give you my love. Shall. . “my apr " - a ** Ah, indeed!” ‘*This, you see, is a very conclusive reason ale eeagai for a moment entertain your pro- posal. ‘* Engagements are easily broken,” remarked Mad Madge, sententiously. ‘By unprincipled people, yes. Surely, you would not desire me to break mine?” exclaimed Headlight Harry, in surprise, ‘** Did [ask you to?” ‘*Not directiy; but your words implied as much,” With an impatient gesture the Queen sudden- ly arose, and again paced to and fro over the stony floor, What wild thoughts were strug- gling in ber excited brain? Atlength she paused before the engineer, and her beautiful face gave no symptom of unusual emotion as she again ad- dressed him, **So, then, my place in your affections is fore- stalled by another. The young lady is to be congratulated upon her good fortune in securing the love of so worthy a man. I suppose she must be very beautiful—even more beautiful than 1?” ‘*On the contrary, while by no means bad- looking, yet. she might not be considered a beauty by good judges of female loveliness,” Headlight Harry frankly admitted, ‘' Com- pared with you, she is like the modest, unassum- ing violet beside the proud and queenly rose.” ‘* And yet you prefer ber to me?” “Why not? Beauty is but ‘skin-ceep, you know, J love my wife that is to be, not: o much for her charms of person as for the many wo- manly attributes that she possesses, She is in- telligent, industrious, affectionate and true— what more does an ordinary, every-day work- ingman like myself require?” ‘** Well, there is nothing like being satisfied, I suppose,” said the Outlaw Queen, with what was very like a sneer, ‘But there’s really no accountiug for some men’s tastes, I should like to see this womanly paragon of whom you boast. Pray tell me, what is her name, and where is her abiding-place?” Even as Headlight Harry was unhesitatingly about to reply to this question, he chanced to catch the devilish gleam tbat for an instant seemed to dance like some subtle demon in Mad Madge’s eyes. Instinctively warned thereby, he was immediately on bis guard. ‘*Come—come! Can you not tell me?’ urged the girl, noting bis hesitation, and but illy con- cealing her own impatience to obtain the desired information, ‘‘Surely, there can be no secret about the identity of your inamorata !” **Since there cau be no couceivable use for furtber associating the young lady with this un- fortunate affair, J must politely but firmly de- cline to enligbten you on that point,” the en- gineer resolutely declared, At these words, conveying no doubt of the speaker’s determination, Mad Madge tbrew off the mask of calmness and indifference, and once more allowed her pent-up passions full play. Oita. ha, ha!” she laughed, wildly. ‘“‘So you are suddenly suspicious, eh? With very good reason, too, I assure you. But, do not for an in- stant suppose that you can thwart my purpose by refusing to answer me, I will seek out this Innocent little maid of whom you are so boast- fully proud—I will seek her out, 1 say, and then, Headlight Harry, beware !” The engineer’s beart gave a sudden bound, while his bronzed face turned pale, at this ominous speech of the angry Outlaw Queen. Was it possible that, in ber madness, she con- templated harm to his betrothed ?” > by should you desire to search her out? What do you mean, anyhow?” he impatiently demanded, ** What do I mean?” echoed Madge, with an- other imsane laugh. ‘‘ You sball learn in due time what 1 mean Headlight Harry! You shall know by just what means I propose to enforce compliance with my wishes, For I do intend to carry my point, despite your strenuous objec- tions, and it is only a question of time when I shall be successful, I offered you my love and you rejected it—laughed my proposition to scorn, because, as you said, the fact of your en- agement to another rendered an acceptance impossible, Such being the case, the removal of this other from the way will result in destroying the chief obstacle between us, will it not?” ‘‘In Heaven’s name, woman, tell me what you mean! What madness are you about to at- tempt?” cried the engineer, in desperation, ‘*Ha, ba! You seem to bave awakened a sudden interest in the subject. I fancy I have reached your most vulnerable point. Unfor- tunately, lam not prepared to enlighten your Headlight Harry’s Siren, — A —_—— —$ $$ LT a EE TTT LT LL * 2 Ma ¥ : ‘ ; - “a , 4 : ~~ te ens ‘ ry r anxious mind as to the exact detailsof my plans; that must be left for your imagination to supply, at least for the present. And now I am obliged to bring this interview to a close, for, owing to your refractory spirit, I have of necessity spent considerable time bere that should bave been devoted to vther er When I see you again, [ trust it will be to find you more recon- ciled to the situation,” ‘* Never!” declared Headlight Harry, em- phatically. ‘I have already given you my an- swer, and no empty threats on your part can induce me to cbauge it, Sco you bad better turn me loose, and end this farce without further un- necessary palaver.” Mad Madge only smiled: grimly. ‘*You shall soon see whether or not my threats are empty ones,” she cried, ‘‘ Beware bow you incur the wrath of Mad Madge, lest, when you know the truth, it will be to sue on bended knees for the love you have so ruthlessly spurned, I have you in my power, Headlight Harry, and in this mountain cavern you sball remain a close prisoner, with no hope of escape to the outside world until you are ready to listen to reason, I will send my men to change your quarters from this, my private apartment, to another better adapted for a captive’s cell, where you can repent of your perverseness at leisure, Ha, ha, ba! You see I am determined to break your proud spirit, Headlight Harry, may the effort cost what it will!” With this taunting speech Mad Madge glided from the room, ber weird, mocking laugh float- ing back to the earsof the young engineer as she abruptly disappeared from view. CHAPTER IX. IN THE TOILS, THE strange abduction of Headlight Harry had created a decided sensation in Richville, where he was a universal favorite. Rufe Ruffle’s story, giving minute particulars of the mysteri- ous affair, was eagerly listened to and repeated fromm mouth to mouth; while the newspapers devoted considerable space to the occurrence, characterizing it as a most remarkable link in the chain of stirring events that were just then setting the entire community agog with excite- ment, And, while the engineer’s strange and unac- countable absence was generaly lamented, there was one amid that citytul of people who viewed the startling event with far more than the usual interest, not to say anxiety. That. one, it is needless to say, was pretty Ruth Sharon, the be- trothed bride of the missing youth, In a modest, vine-covered little cottage, not far from the Richbville Station, nestling cozily against the side of a grassy slope, overlooking the railroad and its numerous trains clattering noisily by—there dwelt the maid who bad won Headlight Harry’s affections, and who, in that young man’s mind at least, was the embodiment of all that-was good and true in woman, _. A trim, graceful little body, with a decidedly pretty face, cheeks rosy red end lips like ripened cherries; wavy, nut-brown hair hanging in graceful ringlets, and eyes of the same color fairly sparkling with merriment; such in brief, was dainty Ruth Sbaron, the flagman’s daugh- ter. Living here alone with her crippled father, performing the multifarious housevold duties that had devolved upon ber since ber mother’s death, several years before, and consequently deprived of many of the pleasures so tempting to the youth of her sex, hers was a position that few girls would have envied, However, Ruth was perfectly contented in her humble home, finding pleasure both in administering to her father’s comfort, and in the pursuit of her every- day duties, And now, possessed of the steadfast love of Headlight Harry, it was to find new en- joyment in anticipating the not far distant day when they would begin the new life of matrimo- nial blessdness, no more to be separated on earth, ; But alas! bow rudely was this dream of bliss awakened by the cruel circumstances that now suddenly threatened the happiness of this Joving pair, Headlight Harry had been spirited away in a most mysterious manner, while the bride- elect was plunged from the beight of joy and hope to the depths of grief and despair. t was late on the second evening after the o engineer’s abduction, and most good people | were wrapt in peaceful slumber; but from the windows of Seth Sharon’s bumble dwelling a cheerful light still gleamed, telling that some of its occupants were astir despite the lateness of the bour. s Within her cozy little sitting-room that was her especial pride, the flagman’s daughter sat "