Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 778 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

oe ee sn : ea oe —_—y Bee =~ - i. “anaeteiete = RO se es PE wt = | , bs le om ge wa A. Highland Harry, the Wizard remaining in the school-house with David Han- over. It was quite dark that night, and this fact made the people of Red Barall the more uneasy, for, if an attack on the place was intended, the shadows would favor the foe. With hasty footsteps Highland Harry and the committee hurried to Captain Valton’s cabin. In Harry’s little room they met. A window opened on the south side of the apartment. Over this the young rifleman drew a thin, mus- lin curtain; then he lit a candle and placed it upon a little stand around which the four seated themselves. *' Now, Harry, ice can sail in and let her out,” said Uncle Bildad, ‘* Well, for several days,” Harry began with- out any preliminary remarks, ‘‘I have been scouting in the hills a hundred miles south of here, About noon, day before yestercay, while seated in a pass eating a cold lunch, I sawa beautiful white bird high in air flying south- ward upon swift wing. I thought little of it at the time, notwithstanding I have seldom seen a white bird in the mountains. But, pn Shey ward sunset of that dayI1 was startled bya sharp “ that came from overhead. Raising my eyes I saw my white bird, or as I supposed, the same one, darting this way and that through the air pursued by a hawk. Jt was headed southward, also. Quickly raising my rifle I concluded to try ashot at the hawk, but just then the winged pirate darted down and seized the white bird. For a moment there was a struggle in mid-air, during which time the birds were almost stationary, and taking advantage of this I fired, and, with my usual good-luck senta bullet through both hawk and bird that fell dead, almost at my feet. Isaw ata glance the white bird was a pigeon—” ‘*A pigeon?” exclaimed Uncle Bildad—‘‘a white pigeon?” ‘* Yes,” the lad went on, ‘‘and stooping I picked it up, and—” Harry did not finiso the sentence. The sharp short bark of a revolver outside the cabin, and the crash of a bullet through the window-glass, ended his narrative. With a gasp the young rifleman threw up his hands, his head dropped forward, a stream of blood trailed across his face, and before a helping band could be ex- tended, he fell motionless upon the floor! ‘* My God!” cried Dalton, ‘‘ the boy has been slain—murdered |!” CHAPTER IV. THE INTERCEPTED MESSAGE, ‘‘ AN assassin! an assassin!” cried Judge Kinny, as he sprung to his feet in wildest excite- ment. ‘‘Captaim Dalton, look to the boy, and Uncle Bildad and I will give the alarm!” Out of the cabin rushed the judge and Durr, while Dalton lifted the limp form of Highland Harry from the floor and laid it upon a couch. He saw blood welling from a wound on the left side of the forehead, and without stopping to see whether life was extinct or not, he hurried from the room in search of Dr. . It wasseveral minutes before he could find the doctor, so great was the excitement Kinn and Uncle Bildad had created; but when he did, they hurried away to the captain's house, and as they entered the supposed death-chamber, they were most happily surprised to see the young rifleman sitting up on his couch, rubbing his wounded head and gazing around ‘im in bewil- derment, ‘*Thank the Lord! he lives!’ cried the cap- tain, joyfully. “*It seems so,” affirmed the doctor, ‘‘ but he is hurt, and badly, too, I fear.” **How is this, captain?” the youth asked, looking around him like one dazed; ‘‘ things are somewhat mixed upin mynoddle. Didn’tsome aee a did sh H d ‘Some one did shoot, Harry, and you got the bullet.” area dame ‘* Was it an accident or was it designed?” ** It wasa designed, cold-blooded murder, boy, to prevent you telling your secret.” “Oh, yes!” exclaimned Harry, with a start, ‘‘ I remember now; I was telling you about shoot- ing the hawk and pigeon, and some one fired through the window. I recollect now of seeing a flash and that’s all.” ‘* Your wound,” said the doctor, examining his head, ‘‘is only a scalp-wound, thank the Lord! You need apprehend notrouble. It was a glancing shot, but it takes an iron-clad head bo turn even that kind of a bullet, my boy. I don’t think the would-be assassin is as good with fire-arms as the Wizard Rifleman.” While the doctor was dressing the wound, the captain went out and informed the sorrow- LEE eee eee —— —_—_—_—_=. stricken settlers that their young scout was not dead, nor even seriously hurt; and then shouts of joy long and loud awoke the echoes around Red Bar, A few persons went into Harry’s room, among them being David Hanoverand “‘ Stony ” Boyne, both of whom warmly congratulated the youth upon his miraculous escape from death. The most careful search of the village failed to discover the would-be murderer, or any trace of him. The men on guard were all ready to make oath that no person could have passed in and out of the town unobserved, and it was their opinion that the assassin had entered _be- fore the guard was set, and that he was still in- side the lines | In the course of a couple of hours, Harry had so far mmpoinas his composure as to propose finishing his story; then the committee was called in and others dismissed, A guard was stationed outside near the win- dow, a heavy curtain hung over the opening, and seating himself, Harry said: ‘** Let’s see, where did I leave off?” . B. ou’d just taken up i ead bird when the unknown ped you with his pop,” explained Uncle Bildad. with a grin. ‘*Oh, yes!” exclaimed the lad, ‘‘ Well, I looked the bird over, andin doing so I founda tiny bit of folded paper—” ‘* By the ashes of Blackstone!” cried Judge ven 4 ‘then it was a homing pigeon!” ‘*Thatis exactly what it was,” replied Har- ry, producing the bit of paper and handing it to Kinny. It was a small affair—less than an inch square when folded, and directed on the outside in pencil to‘‘ H, Szaeurn.” When it was un- folded it was perhaps four inches square, one side being covered with rather dim writing in a very fine hand. It wasso dim, in fact, that with the aid of his glasses the judge could not readit. The captain tried it and gave it up, saying: ‘It’s Greek to me, Can you read it, Harry?” ‘*T have read it,’the youth answered, “ al- though, when I first looked at it, it was a blank ~~ of paper except the name on the outside. ut 1 mistrusted it was a secret message, and the name on it led me to believe it was the work of some villain. As soon as I saw it was a blank, I remembered what an old detective named Bandy, had once told me about secret ciphers and letters. He said milk—cow’s, mare’s, or goat’s milk—was often used for ink which was invisible until subjected to a cer- tain degree of heat, when the lines and words would appear quite gg ‘‘ Believing this such a missive I determined to test it, and lighting a fire I heated two smooth-surfaced stones to what I thought the ia degree not to burn, and laid the paper tween them. When I looked atit a few mo- ments later, lo! and behold! there it was, sure enough! The heat had brought out every line and letter. I read it with ease, and forthwith started for Red Bar in hopes of being on time to thwart the designs of the sender, I'll try and read it: (‘In Dupiicats.”’) Seguin, word from down river to effect that Raymond is on Grimm's trail anc headed for Red Bar. If you would possess Kitty you must strike at«once. Comeinforce. Disguise part as Ingins. Every evening the girl rides down river—mostly alone. Let Ingins capture her and then you rescue her from the igs TOY reds, and maybe you'll be- come her hero. She dotes on heroes, If successful, make at once for Basin. Look sharp for Highland Harry, the Wizard. A shot from him’s death. Sent first message forenoon, Bat.”’ ‘By the new Jerusalem!” ejaculated Uncle Bildad, when the boy had finished the message, ‘that’s an eye-opener, sure; but who in Hali- fax is ‘ Bat’? : oo spy in this village—an outlaw spy!” de- clared the judge. ‘* But of all in Red Bar, who has, or ever has had, a homing?pigeon about?” asked Harry. ‘* No one—not a soul—not a pigeon,” respond- ed Captain Dalton. ‘*Tf I could have got the first bird,” said , *'as well as thisone, I would have spoilt the arrangements of Mr. Bat,” “Yes, for Seguin got the first message, and you the duplicate: and the villain has carried out ‘ Bat’s’ mme well, if not quite suc- cessfully,” the aden observed; ‘‘ but, where do you nanos Seguin was, at the time?” ‘*{n Jack Hart’s stronghold. in Teton Basin, whither he was instructed to flee, with his cap- tive,” answered Harry, ‘‘ I believe now he was Rifleman. EE one of the active members of Hart’s gang when he used to visit Red Bar.” ‘“What a shame it is,’ observed Dalton, re- gretfully, ‘‘ that we did not hang him when he was within reach! But, Harry, I presume you have told Boyne nothing of this message?” ‘** Not a word, captain; he accused me of reck- less shooting and intimated that I had killed his daughter thereby. Moreover, Mr. Boyne has alwaystreated me coolly. [donotthink I have been a welcome visitor at his cabin, at any time, except by Kitty.” ‘*He got so uproarishly taken in on Seguin comin’ to see his gal that I reckon he thought he’d kick ag’inst all beaus,” suggested Uncle Bildad, with a hearty laugh. ‘** Yes, he was struck on Seguin,” affirmed the judge, ‘‘and we all thought he was some pun- ins when he fu’st sirusk the Bar. It may be his failure to win Kitty’s hand, by fair means, drove him distracted, and into the Basin, and then made up his mind to be aveuged on Red Bar by stealing our little queen Kitty. In that he may have been successful and he may not— Goa only knows.” ‘*T think,” said Harry, “* that he was success- fulto the extent of getting Kitty, be she dead or alive. In the morning I will look up their trailand I may be alle to determine her fate. If she was killed, her body will be found, unless the work of Seguin is that of revenge, in which case he may even conceal the body to torment her father and the people of Red Bar,” ‘* The infernal hound!” Uncle Bildad muttered. vengefully. ‘* You can report to the gathering in waiting at the school-house,”’ Highland Harry went on, ‘*thatI intend to start for Teton Basin in the morning, or as soon thereafter as I can make arrangements; and if Kitty is dead I will avenge her death, and if living, do al) I can to save her. If no one wishes to go with me [ will go alone,” ‘* By the shades o’ Jerroboam!” exclaimed Bildad Durr, ‘‘ how would this old kid suit you for a chum?” ‘**T could think of no better,” replied Harry. ‘‘Shake! It’s a go!” declared the old man; ‘‘together we'll invade the haunts o’ them out- laws and cut-throats!” ‘‘ That’s settled, then,” said Harry; ‘ but, friends, I presume the folks at the school-house are anxiouslyawaiting yourreturn. Youknow my secret and my purposes, and you can make just whatever report you see fit. But, one hing let me impress upon your minds, and that is, that there is a traitor and spy—my would-be assassin—in your midst this very moment! Be on your guard, and see that ‘ Bat’ sends nomore messages to the Outlaw of Teton Basin!” CHAPTER V. THE DEVIL’S TRAP. Tue scene of our story changes. Southward through Snake Canyon, one of the most sinuous and difficult defiles of the great mountains, two men are making their wig They are the Wizard Rifleman, and Uncle Bildad, the mountaineer and Red Bar settler. Three days have passed since they left Red Bar. With the fate of Kitty Boyne still a mys- tery, they are headed for the Teton Basin, ce- termined to penetrate the outlaw stronghold or diz in the attempt. Both Harry and Uncle Bildad were familiar with the windings, the open valleys, anc deep, dark and narrow gorges of Snake Canyon that stretched away almost to the base of thc central of the Three Tetons. Water could only be found at long intervals, so that the scouts were compelled to time their day’s journey accord- ingly. hie night of the third day they expected to encamp at a placein the canyon known as the Devil’s Trap, and as if was an easy day’s jour- ney they traveled more leisurely than the two days precsciyg : o far they had been compelled to use little caution, for they knew Snake Canyon was sel- dom traveled on account of its dearth of water, and its narrow, choked passages so frequently met with. Moreover, by taking this route they would be less liable to be discovered by the vigilant outlaws, as the latter would not be ex- pecting evemies bysuchatrail, So they thought atl ° The sun was about two hours’ high when the scouts emerged frors a deep, dark defile into a little, oblong valley of perhaps fifty acres in area. It was devoid of timber, except a few scattering pines along the base of the environ- ing bluffs, but covered with a growth of short, woolly grass, interspersed here and there wi punches of sage bushes. * ™ +. ; - , ; d ) ar 7 Fr . *»