Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 786 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

" ‘ ; — o 2 4 4 * \ ; ’ s - “ wt ‘ | : "if J i : . * _— ‘ ; . , Gs . “The 2 wearnestly petition again for an instant ‘the The pment of the troops, cil wae’ll trust you!” Tomlinson declared, his bet- and dfature gaining the ascendancy, “You will thingcompelled, though, to keep with the troopers, ‘flighd I must warn you that no attempt at treach- ey will be tolerated. I should not deviate from they first plans, were it vot for the peril you state Ytbis young man to be in.” a Tears of gratitude came to the eyes of the old borderman, at this concession. He cared not what Tomlinson might think of him for the present, His honesty would soon be made ap- Riad and—the thing be most sought—Phbil Sidney would be saved. He would nvt for a moment admit to himself that there could be any other outcome, Almost immediately the bugle sounded—and ‘the soldiers, gathered about the phantom horse, staggered backward in dismay! The horse started at the unaccnstomed sound, and the glow of his coat vanished. Old Joe was a wit- ness of this, and it convinced him that the cause of these disappearances was a start or fright re- ceived by the animal, The men were given no time to discuss this marvel, ‘* Boots and saddles” was the order, and in a very short time the entire body of men and horses were under way, heading at a rapid pace toward the rocky stronghold held by Mav- erick Bill. | CHAPTER XIX, CONDEMNED TO DIE. To return to Philip Sidney, still in the power of his enemies at Prairie Gibraltar. He heard the excited cries announcing the escape of Old Joe, and earnestly prayed that his friend might elude all pursuit. For himself, he knew he was in the greatest peril. He had not learned of the decree of the council, but Maverick Bill’s ominous threats made at the time Irene was ordered to her room, clearly revealed the chief’s hatred toward him, By careful listening be was able to catch the ‘sounds, made by the horses as they raced off on the prairie. It seemed to him that all of the outlaws must be chasing the old man, and there- fore he thought it a good time for Trene to re- turn to fulfill her promise. He could not believe she was at that moment a guarded prisoner. He grew more and more nervous and restless as the moments slipped by without bringing ber, ‘The delay told him that something of an un- ‘common nature was detaining her. He believed in and trusted her implicitly, and would not for a moment harbor the thought that she might be false to her professions. True love casts out every doubt; and it was ‘so intthiscase. He loved her sincerely, and felt that the reason she did not come to him at once must be because she could not. One of the pursuers straggled back after awhile, and Sidney could hear him talking with the guard ip the passage beyond, He wasspeak- ing of the chase; and his speech reveal Maverick Bill and the other outlaw were still trying to overtake Old Joe; and that their ef- fort was likely to prove a failure. 2 This was indeed good news, and was received ‘thankfully. The outlaw came into the main apartment in @ short time, and Sidney called to him, inquir- ing the meaning of the row, pretending to be ignorant of his friend’s escape. The man came forward in answer to the call, and vouchsafed the information that Old Joe had managed to wriggle out of his bonds; but that he was being enon and would surely be overhauled in a little while, | meey knew the fellow lied, for this contra- dicted the statement made to the guard. ‘‘T suppose the girl went with her father?” Sidney questioned, trying thus to learn some- thing concerning ber, and making a great ef- fort to vail his uneasiness, The outlaw laughed, ‘*Tt’d please ye, likely, if I'd tell ye she’d run off with yer pard. But she didn’t go with him, ner she didn’t go with Maverick, Sbhe’s gitting a little too tricky of late to be trusted; an’ so the old man shet her up in her' room and fixed the cage so that the bird couldn’t git away. Ef you've got any love-letters to sen to her, it'll tickle me to death to take ’em.’ This was not pl ‘Sidney’s misery to know that Irene was really held a prisoner. He pictured her sitting in the — of the rocky pocket which was known as her room, weeping hysterically ; and this picture - did not fall far short of the actual truth. - Nr oe was acqu ainted with ber father’s vin- that. } own personal safety left bim. easant news, It increased 4 , Y - - 7 i ee 7 gre Prey pare “> ~ { : wr .% A 6 os mm ences «61 . > ~ = : Lone Hand J 08. dictiveness; and she felt that the escape of Old Joe would in all probability insure the death of her lover. Yet sbe could do nothing to avert this terrible fate. Sbe passed from paroxysms of despair to moments of hopefulness, and in these latter intervals she would plead with the guard to be let go. Timeand again she attempt- ed to bribe him into compliance with her wiskes, but without avail. Aud tbus an hour wore away, bringing the return of Maverick and bis associate. | Maverick Bill was in a tempestuous rage, oc- casioned by Old Joe’s success, He feared the borderman wight intercept the troopers that were burryivg forward under Ben Stetson, and thus be able to acquaint them with the small force now at Prairie Gibraltar, This would be an unfortunate thing for the outlaws, as it would increase the confidence of their enemies and tend to make them more courageous, He was in a state of great anger, as he threw himself from bis borse in front of the entrance, and it was his intention to have Philip Sidney shot witbout delay. He felt that this would partially atone for the escape of the other pris- oner, and would likewise rid his small force of an encumbrance, It would also prevent all chance of a similar breaking away. He was prevented from. carrying this bloody plan into instant execution by a clatter of hoofs outside the corral, A few moments of confusion ensued; then a yell of delight went up from Maverick and bis few followers, when they knew that the new-comers were members of the outlaw band, I[t was a much needed reinforcement, and greatly added to the chances of a successful re- sistance, Maverick Bill welcomed his recruits effusive- ly; and, when their borses had been concealed in a series of stall-like niches, he led them into the council-room and there explained to them the nature of the peril threatening Prairie Gibraltar. The fact that these men had seen nothing and heard nothing of the troops gave color to the be- lief that the danger bad been exaggerated. Maverick Bill’s determination to stand by the stronghold was received with approval by all present, No other such safe retreat could be found anywhere on the plains, and they were loth to abandon it. : A shout from the guard in the passage, ac- companied by a wild cry from Irene, brought the council to an abrupt termination. When Maverick Bill burried out to ascertain the a. of these sounds, he found that Irene had defiantly dashed hong keeper and rushed to the point where Philip Sidney was lying. She bad a knife in her band:and before the guard could come up with her, she began sawing at Sidney’s bonds, The sight so angered Maverick that he flew at her like a madman; and, grasping her by the shoulder, hurled her heavily backward to the stone floor, So great was her excitement, how- ever, that what would have seemed a serious fall on any other occasion seemed to injure her not at all, Sbe sprung up with an inarticu- late heart-broken cry, and there was in her eyes a look that was almost of insanity. “You ungrateful hussy!” he shrieked, again seepoens on ber, a8 she arose with upliited nife. It seemed a question for a moment whether she intended to use it on herself or on him. ‘‘Stand back!” she commanded. ‘“ Stand back!” Instead of heeding the words he rushed at her, and with a blow dashed the knife from her hand, Then he seized her again and shook her mercilessly. The state of Philip Sidney’s mind during this exciting time can scarcely be imagined. Her appearance had brought him hope; which was destined to be dashed ruthlessly to the ground in an instant, A wild desire to cast off his bonds and spring tiger-like on Maverick Bill swelled within him. He writhed and groaned and strained at his cords like a lashed beast, ‘* You infernal scoundrel!” he howled, his in- dignation passing all bounds when be beheld Maverick strike the hapless girl. ‘' Untie me for a minute, and [ll teach you better manners than to hit a woman. [ll kill you for that, Maverick. So help m2 God, I will!” 4 So great was his wrath that all fear for his Had he been free, he would at that moment have fought all of the outlaws siugle-handed, Hh _‘* You keep quiet there!” Maverick ordered, with a savage Jook. “If you don’t shut your mouth, I’)] shut it with a bullet. I’m running this business jist now; and J’ll take pleasure in attendin’ to youalittlelater!”? «= >») =) ea " * a " a. 7 Lexy “At Irene was screaming hysterically and essaying vainly to free herself, Maverick Bill was a very giant in strength and he lifted her up with no gentle touch, an set ber beavily on her feet, when she had fallen a second time from a brutal push given her, ‘* Now, march out of hyer, my young lady! March! d’ye bear?” ‘*T won’t!” she vociferated, kill bim, and I won’t go!” He drew back his hand as if to strike her in the face. Sbe dodged the expected blow and darted toward Sidney; but Maverick’s arm in- terposed and held her struggling. ‘*Tf you won’t walk out, I'll carry you out!” was his barsh declaration, ‘‘ This nonsense has gone fur enougb.” He pushed her bodily toward the larger apartment, retaining a constant and firm grip on her arm. ‘** I'll settle with this young hound; and then, my lady, I'll settle with you!” “*You’re a coward!” Sidney shouted after him. ‘* No one but a coward would treat a lady that way!” The taunt stung Maverick Bill to the quick, and be halted as if strongly tempted to turn back and end the autbor of the tantalizing words then and there, Irene’s screams and struggles were probably what prevented bim from doing this. He contented himself with giv- ing Sidney a look of withering hate, and then pusbed the balf-frantic girl on before bim. Sidney could bear her moan when he could no longer see her, and this caused him to make an- other ineffectual effort to release himself. Maverick Bill came back in a short time, and laughed with fiendish glee, as he saw the young man’s writhings and bebeld his look of anguish. For further security Irene had been bound this time, a fact he took great pleasure in im- pressing on his helpless prisoner. ‘*You’re a coward!” Sidney again holdly vouchsafed. “A dirty, miserable cur! You can shoot me; and I have no doubt you will; but you can’t keep me from saying that!” Doubtless Sidney’s extreme anger kept bim from a full realization of the peril of bis posi- tion. At that moment he appeared not to care whether he lived or died, “You can talk all you want to, my young game chicken. You'd better put in full time, too, fer you won’t have many minutes in which to fling insults.” Maverick’s men were crowding about him once more; and to those the outlaw chief gave his commands. . “* Pick the dog up and take him out to the corral. Tie him there, an’ we'll sboot bia so ean of holes that a coyote wouldn’t look at im! Sidney was immediately seized by the outlaws, who lifted him and bore him from the place. He was as helpless as a child in, their hands; but in spite of this he continued to rave at them, and especially at Maverick Bill, in a peculiarly ex- asperating strain. ne heard bim as he was borne along the paanese past ber room, and her wailing rose afresh. , He shouted to ber a farewell; and would have said more, bad not one of the men rudely laid a hand on bis mouth, It required but a short time to gain the cor- ral; and against an angle of its rocky wall Sid- ney was placed in an upright posture, and there secured. At Maverick’s command tbe meu drew off; and then raised their weapons fire, only awaiting Maverick’s order to do so. But tthe order nevercame. | Instead, there arose a charging cheer, and a crash and blaze of firearms from the corral gate. ‘You mean to CHAPTER XX, DEFEAT OF THE THIEVES, _THE troopers, urged on by Old Joe, bad ar- rived in the nick of time, Though startled and somewhat panic-stricken by the suddenness and unexpectedness of this onset, Maverick Bill and his men tarned in- stantly to repel the charge. They would have had better success in this, if they bad not been caught almost unprepared. They had been hourly expecting, the troopers, but the trouble and confusion occasioned by Sidney and Irene had led them to this reckless laxity. | There were probably no braver men in the Cimarron region than Maverick Bill and the out- laws who rallied under him, and they made one of the most desperate fights onrecord. But they could not successf in the open corral. com ie. *< ly with sostrong aforce — They stoodamantully to their ; a np oid a> Se). ‘books:.co >. ee > Z « = > 3 fy. a : 4 *