Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 755 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

-———— . lev ae _—7 ee eae . _ ia”. 77 o4 . ei — at Sek oO oO a 14 Gold-Dust Dan’s Oath. [i ctmenesmenientine’ —— lected, and the full peril of her situation dawned upon her, Alone and afoot in the Black Hills—in a re- gion overrun by hostile red-skins and lawless white mea! The situation was indeed grave, and as the bitter black truth forced itself upon her, Media paused, and for a brief space seemed half-determined to return to the Gulch. ‘Tne perils ahead can be no greater than the danger in Gold Gulch,” she decided, after a mo- ment, with a firm es paren of her red lips. ‘* Tue worst of it all is, [am afoot. Had I Hur- ricane, J] should have no fears, But if it comes to the worst, I have my weapons, and shall use them.” So, with a resolute face she resumed her flight, and for over an hour pushed on at a rapid walk, Then, on the crest of a rise she turned and looked back, A startled cry escaped her. A half-mile below, coming up the trail at a steady, easy run, were three men—the trailers sent out by Sleek Sid. As Media halted, the trio hastily sought cover in the undergrowth and behind the numerous bowlders scattered along the wayside, ‘‘It is as I feared!” the girl cried, and a hunt- ed lonk came into her blue eyes, ‘* Now, what shall [ do?” Even as that question presented itself, Media turned and walked slowly on, wisely checking an impulse to run until the crest of the bhi vailed her movements from the trio of trailers, Then down the sharp slope with the speed of a deer she darted, at the foot instinctively turn- ing from the trail into a winding gorge, adown which tumbled a noisy, brawling stream, On and on she sped, until a break in the south wall of the gorge opened to view a beautiful ‘* pocket "—a grassy glade dotted with flowers and hemmed in with broken, craggy walls so densely covered with vines as to resemble huge banks of foliage. And near the center of this pocket was a lone ave, above which a heavy white cross reared its head, for here it was that Gold-Dust Dan had come at Old Calamity’s request the night before, Tae glade invited entrance, for the masses of vines suggested concealment, and with a single backward glance, Media nimbly sprung from stone to stone across the shallow stream aud hurried over the grassy level. Beside that lone grave she hesitated, then paused, The flowers blooming upon the narrow mound, and its neat, well-kept appearance, be- trayed the care of a loving hand, Media raised ' her eyes to the inscription painted on the cross, Her face grew ghastly white. “Itis Jack! Itis my brother!” she moaned, and with a low, wailing cry, she reeled forward and fell senseless across the mound. ‘*Thar’s ther critter, shure enough, pards! —cross thar in Dead Man’s Pocket! An’ f’m ther looks ov things, I reckon et won’t be avy great shakes ter kaptivate her, uther! Come on, an’ we'll finish up a mighty good day’s work,” And one after another Sleek Sid’s traflers leaped across the little stream and hurried to- ward the Jone grave, eager to capture Media Bradlaw and claim the reward named by the Mayor of Gold Gulch that morning. The hapless girl lay just as she had fallen, look- ing more dead than alive, ber face gleaming cold and white in the rays of the morning sun, ** She isswoonded, by thunder!” exclaimed the foremost of the trio of roughs, peering sharply at that set, white face, ‘‘ Bring up some water, Benjy. Et’s a good seven miles ter ther lone cabin, an’ I’ve no mind ter tote her thar!” ‘*Nary a tote, Boss Bill,” chuckled the rascal addressed. ‘‘ But et’3a heap sight quicker ter get her down ter ther drink than ter fetch ther drink up terher. Jest lay a-holt, an’ away we ! ‘* Halt! don’t touch that girl, you miserable scoundrels!” The words rung out in a voice as clear as the peal of a bugle, and with one accord the trio of trailers sprung to their fees and drew their wea- ns, Simultaneously, a ery of alarm broke from the lips of each, Out from the apparently solid wall back of that mass of s vlog vines rode Roving Ruth on her snow-white , closely followed by eight cowled black riders. ‘* Drop your weapons and up with your hands!” sternly ordered the beautiful mystery, as each of her dread riders leveled his rifle, 7 A howl of terror went up from the three roughs, for asingle backward glance had veri- | hoarsely, ‘‘ We’ve run our necks into a noose, fied the woman’s words, Four black horsemeu had appeared at the entrance to the pocket. ‘Order your imps not ter shoot, m’am, fer we does cave!” uttered Boss Bill, ‘* Tt is well,” Roving Ruth returned, and then ata word from ber four of the men rode for- ward and dismounted, to disarm and bind the rougbs, while a fifth lifted Media Bradlaw in kis arms and bore her back of that network of vines from bebind which the party had so sud- denly emerged, Here was the yawning mouth of a huge cay- ern, aud leaving her faithful followers to se- cure the entrapped roughs, Roving Ruth dis- mounted and led the way into a curtained recess of the cave, ¢ There Media was placed upon a couch of skins, and under the kindly care of the beautiful mys- tery soon returned to consciousness, ‘* Be not alarmed, for lama friend,” uttered Roving Ruth, as the blue eyes of the girl sud- deuly opened and fixed upon her face in a won- dering stare, ‘‘ You are Media Bradlaw, and it is your brother who is buried out there. The men who killed him also seek your life, but you are safe here,” ‘* And you—who are you?” Media asked, chok- ing back a sob as she rose to ber feet. he woman laughed oddly, and with ker hands pushed back her long white hair, ‘*T am known as Roving Ruth,” she replied. ‘* But you are his sister, and should know all,” “Listen: My name is Ruth Gordon, For five years I lived in the hills with my father, who was a bermit miner. Then came John Bradlaw and two friends, and they, too, discov- ered gold, and for two years secretly worked their mines, John and I met and became en- gaged, but a week before the day we were to be married, he was slain by Flush Frank, a tool of the Rapid City banker, Jake Rose, who is none other than the renegade chief, Red Panther, Oa the same day, my father, Kenneth Gordon, was shot down by the same evil band, and I was left utterly alone and helpless, Some say I went mad, and perbaps I did, But I had gold— gold in plenty, and I lived and plotted for ven- geance, I have haunted the guilty wretches, sparing nothing to secure the full proofs of their guilt, for I have sworn that every man of them shall hang. With gold I hired good men and true, and now am at last on the eve of complete success, “This cavern is one of our stopping-places, and here we came last night. I saw you enter the glade, and heard your words upon discover- ing poor Jack’s grave, A lookout reported that you were pursued, and my meu laid a trap for the wretches, and they are now in custody, ‘*Such, iv brief, is the outline of our present positions, but I would like, Media Bradlaw, to hear your story. As the sister of my dead lover, you are near and dear to me, and if there is auzht I can do for you, it sball be done,” With a look far more eloquent than words, Media expressed her thanks, then sunk down upon the edge of the couch, and in a voice bruken and faltering, told her story. Leaving the two girls thus strangely brought together, we sball now turn toa more stirring scene, CHAPTER XIII. CONCLUSION, For a full minute after that hoarse command from Red Panther rung out, Gold-Dust Dan neither moved nor uttered a word, That both himself and Reckless Roy were face to face with death, he could not doubt; yet his iron nerve did not frail him, ‘* Your demand seems most reasonable, Jacob Rose, but I shall have to refuse to comply with it,” he smilingly exclaimed, ‘Our circum- stances are undergoing such a decided change that it would be a waste of time for me to yield, ‘*May Task you totakea look at the lower trail?” ; | Even as the detective spoke, a startling change swept over the renegade chief, and a fierce oath came from between his clinched teeth. ‘““By Heavens! it is Roving Ruth and her band of Black Bravos!” he ejaculated. “Exactly!” blandly assented Dan. ‘ And now, my good sir, just glance at the upper trail!” Tbere, indeed, the lead of Old the Regulators! Aud at the same moment, the bewildered crowd awakened from its stupefied inaction and with a mighty roar surged toward the da ber = ntent on his capture or death, ‘* Fall back, boys!” ordered Red Panther just entering the camp under alamity and Big Davy, were / and must trust our heels to escape!” But even retreat was cut off, for forth from the very covert from which Red Panther and his band had appeared a moment before, now spurred a horseman in the uniform of a captain of the United States Army, closely followed by a strong detachment of cavalry!” ‘* Halt! Throw down your arms and sur- render, every man of you!” commanded the cavalry captain, in a ringing voice, ‘‘ Resist, and we'll cut you down as we would ravening wolves!” “It’s Captain Maxwell’s blue-coats—curse them! I thought we’d slipped them hours ago!” gritted one of the renegade clan, spurring along- side his chief ever as hiscomrades dropped their weapons in token of submission, ‘‘ Quick, Jake! —we’re hemmed in and that balloon is our only chance!” | Though almost speechless with terror, Red Panther was Acie to seize upon the faint hope suggested, and with his daring follower sprung from the saddle into the car attached to the swaying, tugging balloon, A frantic yell from Professor Flyer—a mighty shout from the crowd, and then the balloon shot pe Sari with the two men, followed by a storm of lead. A thousand feet straight up, then away to the northwest it swept, in the grasp of a stron current; on and oo, till if became a mere spat in the hazy distance, ‘‘Gentlemen, the gas is escaping, and in ten minutes the car will touch the earth!” suddenly cried Professor Fiyer, shutting bis powerful glass witb a snap and turning to the excited crowd, ‘‘Who will go with me to recover m property and learn the fate of those two men? ‘‘Here!” exclaimed Roving Ruth, quittin Media Bradlaw’s side and riding forward. ‘“ would know Red Panther’s fate!” ‘** T will send three of my men,” Captain Max- Mos i Seal ‘*T, too, must learn the outlaw’s end, ‘* And three of the Regulators shall go,” added Reckless Roy, while many of the miners set up a shout and burried away to secure horses to join in the search, Ten minutes later a strong party galloped out of the camp by way of the upper trail, Not until the next day did they return, and then their report was one to send a thrill of re- lief through every honest man in Gold Gulch. Red Panther had perished—bad been dashed to pieces by the sudden collapse of the balloon, f his reckless companion not a trace had been found, ‘‘T am ready to return and make my report,” said Captain Maxwell, when his lieutenant had finished. ‘'Our orders were to stick to the trail till we’d captured or wiped out that scourge. He is dead, and his men are captives, so our work is done. ‘‘ Reckless Roy, you have my thanks for send- ing a courier wit? the timely information leading to this happy result.” Upon her return to Gold Gulch, Roving Ruth at once sought out Media Bradlaw and delivered into her hands the counterpart of the casket held by thegirl, It had been found upon the mangled corpse of Red Panther! In due course, the caskets were opened, and the secret of the buried treasure was solved. Contrary to all expectation, both Flush Frank and Rocky Randall made full confession when brought to trial, and so Media Bradlaw was enabled to recover her dead brother’s property, the Gold Guich mines, Both of the desperadoes were hanged, Diligent search was made for Sleek Sid and Landlord Jerry, but neither was found, Learning that they were likely to be wanted ata rope end, both had made good their escape. © er mission in Gold Gulch accomplished, Roving Ruth rode away at the head of the Black Bravos, with the promise to return from time to time, Reckless Roy and Idaho both recovered from their wounds, and for some time thereafter made Gold Gulch their headquarters, as did Old Calamity, Big Davy and the Regulators, And Gold-Dust Dan? His oath to the dying immigrant fulfilled, the young knight-errant was ready fora fresh ad- venture, and one day mounted bis horse, the matchless Prince, and rode away toward Dead- wood, to try a joust with a particularly auda- cious road-agent who bad recently made his a pearance on the trails entering the Black metropolis. THE END. o jee) com (Ss (E : oi S a he al” Ss —"\ '