Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 743 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

———_— oe 0 “Do you think I'll die, miss?” he asked most anxiously, as Ruth stepped to his side. ‘* The doctor says you have a very serious wound,” she answered evasively. ‘* But what do you think, miss?” = Well, I always believe in hoping for the ? ‘‘T see that you believe I am downed; but 1 don’t give up yet, and 1 wish you to ask the doc- tor just what he thinks of my case.” oe It well.” ** Have him come here now, and examine my wound again, and ask him just what he thinks,” **Do you wish to know the truth?” éé ] do,” ‘Then I will ask him.” The doctor was sent for, and at the request of Ruth, gave the wounded man a critical exam- ination. ‘* Well, doctor?” asked the man, as his face grew whiter. ‘*T am sorry to say that you must die.” ** How long can I last?” “ Perhaps through the night, and maybe you may go in a couple of hours.” ‘* You are sure?” ** Perfectly, though it pains me to tell you go, my brave fellow.” ‘e There is nothing that can be done to save me ‘** No power could save you now, my friend.” The man’s face decpened in pallor and gloom, and he closed his eyes as though in sleep. But Ruth Redmond saw two tears creep out from beneath the lids, and Jaying her hand - se gm his forehead, she said in a low, ten- er voice: ‘Is there anything I can do for you, my poor friend?” The eyes opened, and meeting hers, the man shuddered. But he said quickly and firmly: *‘'Yes; have them move this cot to where I will be alone, where I can say something to you, that others must not hear.” ** If you wish it, I will have you moved.” **I do wish it, and lose no time, for it seems to me I can already feel the shadows creeping over me, The rude cot was raised by the men whom Ruth called, and the wounded cowboy was borne into another room, the sitting-rvom of the house, **No one can hear what I have to say to you now?” he asked anxiously. ** No, but unless you wish, do not tell me any- thing you might regret, should you recover,” ‘Y cannot recover. I feel now that I am dy- ing, and I wish to make you my confessor, for you are most deeply interested in what I have to say. Get pen, ink and paper, and write down what I say to you.” In silence Ruth Redmond obeyed the com- mand of the dying cowboy. CHAPTER XII. THE COWBOY’S CONFESSION, “No one can hear?’ asked the dying cow- boy, and the same anxious look passed over his face which Ruth Redmond had seen there when e asked if it was a certainty that he would e, ** No one is near.” ‘* And you are sure [ cannot live?” **'You beard the doctor’s report,” ‘You see, miss, I know that if I was dying and the boys heard what I have to tell you, they’d take me out and hang me,” ‘* Ts it so bad as that?” “Tt is worse,” ** Worse?” **'You see I’d deserve it,” ““Ah! but you wish to ease your conscience a by telling of some sin you have been guilty o ‘That is partly it, miss, and partly to help ou. ‘**T'o help me?” a Yes, miss,” ‘* How can you do that?” “Well, miss, I'l] tell you what I have to say, for I seem to be growing weaker fast, ‘But you'll ri 3 my secret?” “I will faithfully do so,” ‘You know who [ am, do you not?” ‘‘] remember that you came here some six weeks ago and remained with my cowboys all night, and they knew yeu.” ‘*My name is Ralph Ross, miss, but the boys mt me Roper Ross, because I bandle a lariat so ell. 7) ” “TIT am a cowboy on Thomas Harris’s ranch, Buck Taylor’s Boys. gh don’t know that I am living a double ife. ‘** A double life?” ‘** Yes, miss, for | had as a boyhood friend a man who got me into all kinds of deviltry, and I had to at last run away to keep out of prison, perhaps worse, while he remained at home and no ove suspected him of being guilty with me, 7 fact the one who started me upon the evil life ed, ‘‘Then he married the girl I loved with all my soul, and who I believe loved me. ‘‘Sbe had money and he squandered it, and deserted her then, for he too had gotten into trouble that forced him to leave. ‘‘He turned up in Texas as a gambler, and became a man to be feared by all, for he was a skillful card-sharp, and a dead shot as well, while he certainly had wonderful pluck, ‘*He ranged through the camps alone, and became a skillful scout, and one day he shot a a man in a quarrel, who asked him to do an act of justice for him, ‘* He was in search of the heiress of a certain mine in New Mexico, and had been sent out by one who was part owner with her, to find her, ‘* The man promised to do so, and an ill wind blew her his way, for she was then coming to Texas to settle. ‘* He saved the wagon train from massacre, and—” ‘*See here, Ralph Ross, you are telling of scenes in my own life,” said Ruth Redmond, hoarsely. ‘‘- Yes, that is why I am telling you, that you may know all.” ‘*T will listen to all you have to say, but [ do not believe anything you can tell can deal me a more cruel blow than what I have had to ffer.” ‘*T will tell you the truth, so that, as you have suffered in the past, you can protect yourself in the future,” ‘** In the future?” a **From whom?” ‘* From the man whom you married, and who then deserted you, after he had squandered your money.” ** He is dead.” ** He is not dead,” ‘*My God! do you know this?” **T do,” 9 a me all that you know,” she said, erly. ** He deserted you as he did his first wife—” ‘*One moment!” ** Yes, miss,” ‘Is that poor girl alive?” and Ruth Red- mond’s eyes blazed as she asked the question, and her voice quivered. ‘* ‘Yes, or she was half a year ago,” ‘* Her name?” ‘* She is known by her maiden name now—it was Ella Glenn!” ‘* Her home?” “Is in G——, Pennsylvania,” Ruth Redmond wrote the name and address down, and then said, sternly: ‘*T am ready to hear all you can tell now.” Her face was deathly white, and her mouth wore a look of stern resolve, ‘*T am sorry to give you pain, miss, but it is to protect you in the future,’ “You say that he is not dead?” ‘No, he made the acquaintance of a young Mexican gentleman, gO0ing to college in the States, saved his life and accompanied him to exico, “The Mexican lived with his fatber and sis- ter, and both warmly welcomed the stranger. ‘“* Well, the ridges. won at cards large sums from the father and son, and tried to force the girl to become his wife. “Trouble followed and he killed the young ombaisie in a due] and was forced to fly for his ife, ‘* He became a leader of Mexican outlaws, and kidnapped the Mexican girl, who was rescued by an Officer of the United States Army, who after- ward married her, 40nd they now dwell far to the northward of here on their ranch, having one child, a daughter.” ‘* Their name?” ‘‘Hassan, Heis known as Captain Ed Has- san the Ranchero of Soldier’s Retreat Ranch. ‘‘ His wife was Senorita Marion Inglis and his daughter is Belle Hassan,” These names Ruth Redmond also wrote down, and then asked for the exact locality of the Has- =p Ranch, and the dying man described its situ- ation. '**And heis an outlaw, or leader of outlaws, you say, now in Mexico, this man who has led a such a life of crime?” said Ruth Redmond in a low tone. ‘*No, he was an outlaw leader for some time in Mexico, but the army drove him out and he is now in Texas,” ‘* In Texas?” and Ruth Redmond sprung to her feet, her eyes blazing,her bosom heaving from the emotion that.now seemed to overwhelm her, CHAPTER XIII, HER VOW. ‘Do you mean that Richard Drummond, once my husband as I believed, is in Texas now?” asked Ruth, in a voice quivering with earnestness and. passion commingled. ‘Yes, miss, Devil Dick, as he is known to Tex- ans, is now in Texas,” , ‘* After all he has done he has dared to come here, to the State in which I live?” ‘He has.” **T can not believe it possible.” ‘‘ As I said, miss, that whatever his life might be for evil, be is a brave man, and when he has an aim to accomplish he will take any risk.” ‘‘ And what is his aim to accomplish now?” ‘‘That is what I wish to confess to you, miss.” ‘* Pray tell me all.” ‘* You see I tried to live an honest life, after L eame to Texas. “T got a place with Ranchero Tom Harris, and I fell in love with his daughter, Bessie. ‘¢ She loved me too, for no one knew meas IL bad been, as I was forced to become under @ spell of fear, ‘¢ And I don’t want poor Bessie to believe me other than good and true, that I died. like a brave man.” . ‘She shall never know to the contrary, if you are indeed the bad mau you claim to be.” ‘*T am all I say Iam, miss; but Bessie must never know, ‘‘ Bury me in some quiet spot, miss, and Bessie will come to my grave, I know, for she loves me, ‘* But now let me tell you how bad I am, and that I wish to save you, ‘* One night a man came to my cowboy cabin, and I gave him shelter. ‘‘He appeared like an old man, for he had long gray hair and beard, and, said he was a hunter, ‘*T gave him shelter and food, and as we sat talking together that night before the log fire, he suddenly called me by name and said that he had a surprise for me. ‘Then he drew off his false beard and gray wig, and I recognized my boyhood friend, the one who had brought ruin upon my life, bad stolen from me my bride that was to have been, r Ella Glenn.” ‘‘Tt was Richard Drummond?” ‘¢ Yes, miss, Devil Dick.” ‘6 Well?” ‘*He told me then all about his wanderings and life, for he seemed to have no fear of me, and said that he had come to Texas to make a fortune. ‘* More, he told me that I must help him, and if - did, I should receive a handsome sum in old. ar If I refused, he would make known the sins of my early life and see that the Texas Vigilan- tes swung me up.” ‘‘ Of course you were in his power?” sé I was.” ‘¢ And yielded?” : ‘*T unfortutately did do so, and it has brought this misery upon me now.” ‘¢ What was he then?” ‘“ A renegade!” ‘‘ How do you mean?” ‘He had allied bimself to the Comanches.” ‘‘ Ab! had turned against his own pecple?” ‘Yes, miss, he bad become chief, too, of the tribe, and had unlimited power over the red- skins, ‘‘ Ae came then to see me to force me to aid him in plans of deviltry he had in view.” ‘‘ Against his own race?” oa Yes, miss,” ‘‘ What were they?” ‘¢ Well, he wished to have me play the part of , ig P And you refused?” ‘‘ Alas! I was forced to consent.” ** You, too, played renegade?” “T did what he commanded me to do,” ‘* For fear of your life?” ** Yes, miss.” ** And what did you do?” ‘“T became Devil Dick’s spy, and planned & raid that he was to make upon the settlements. I, oo * ‘ _F K ‘ te. a ee <s.com. « + ns : 7 o - a ee * - ~ “4 ‘ef rl 7“ 4 : =) « ‘ = Be eae a _~ - . ai < . ” ’ a re "