Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 786 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

ne 6 ’ <_< n = a a ™ . . a iv “Fr : - ~~ ewes -—@ ~—e- ~~ — ae -e°---s ad = “« Lone Hand Joe. of the guards from the wall; and, when he still attempted to go on, ne discovered that the way was blocked. One of the outlaws stood in the opening itself. He hastened back to the corral, thinking he might be able to persuade the girl to release the ' old man, **T cannot go without him!” he said, ‘‘I will stay bere and die first! It’s my fault that he’s not with me now!” | She had felt sure he would return in a mo- ment, andin the short interval of his absence had slipped a bridle on the horse selected. ** Don’t fear for your friend!” was her assur- ing whisper, ‘‘I promise to look after him. But you must go, e must not be seen talking here. Go! Go/” and she pushed him toward the animal, He heard the outlaw rushing down the incline in their direction, and he knew that he could do nothing else. So he slipped to the back of the horse, and gave it the rein, He could not help Old Joe, now, bitterly as he regretted his in- ability. If he stayed be would be retaken; and if he went, there would beachance to return and assist the old man, There seemed nothing _@lse to do; and she assured him he need have no fear for his friend’s safety. CHAPTER VI. BORNE BY THE SPOOK STEED, SIDNEY’s thoughts were not of the most reas- suring character as he turned the horse’s head toward the corral gate. The very fact that he was sitting astride; of the queer animal whose incomprehensible actions had been wit- nessed by Old Joe did not tend to serenity of mind, Sidney had little of the superstition of the old borderman, and would not have ac- knowledged that he had any; but for all that he was possessed by a feeling of indefinable fear, He remembered that Irene Romero selected the animal, because he was fast, she said—and for another reason, which she did not ut into words, What was that other reason? as the horse likely to play him some trick? Surely, it could vot vanish from beneath him and Jeave him sprawling on the prairie!—though Old Joe had said ‘that he had seen it disappear, as ifalamp had been blown out. That was certainly an unaccountable thing. He could feel ite warm body beneath him, and the play of its muscles as it bounded for- ward, If it was not a real horse, it was enough like one. But, of course it wasa real horse!. Was he not at that moment gripping it with his legs, and was it not.carrying him speedily away from ' all danger? With the corral bebind him and the open prairie before, Sidney began to breathe freer, and ventured to reach forward and stroke the horse’s neck, The coat shone with that dull glow of which Old Joe had spoken, but it was unmistakably bair which Sidney’s hand touched. There was apparently nothing on it—no phos- prarues or anything of the kind, to give it the igbt, and cnet f could only wonder amazedly at what he beheld, His thoughts were not all for the horse. He was thinking also of Lone Hand and of Irene Romero. He relentlessly chided himself for his seeming abandonment of his friend, He had not meant to abandon him; and attempted to frame an excuse for what he haddone, He would have released Old Joe, but for that cry from the girl. That bad caused him to lose bis ead; and after occurrences had prevented bis return, But he could’scarcely make himself be- lieve that time was not given himin which to cut Joe’s bonds. It was not pleasant to dwell on this, and he turned to the girl. Perhaps be did not at the time realize it, but he was already greatly enamored of her, and likely to become more so if giveo many opportunities of seeing her, He thought sbe was the bandsomest woman he bad ever bebeld; and it delighted him to re- call the gracefulness of her carriage, the queen- ly poise of her eon and the beauty of her ex- pressive face. He had seen that she had a tem- rand will of her own, but that only caused im to admire her the more, He recalled ber promise to aid Old Joe. That must have been what her words meant. Per- haps she had already fulfilled this promise, and his old pard was even now at liberty? The i. was inspiriting. he train of thought was interrupted by the horse, which shied violently at some object, It was very like a horse to do that, Very likea real horse! But Sidney, now that his attention was again directed to the animal, was made aware t the singular phosphorescent glow had wholly disappeared! He could not under- stand it, and looked at the animal beneath him witb a thrill of fear. Involuntarily the words of asong, just be- coming popular at that time, crossed his mind: ‘* Where was Moses when the light went out?” Moses was on the back of the animal, without doubt; but he wasnotin a pleasant mental state, He was even inclined to throw himself from the strange creature and trust to his own legs for future safety. Before he had time to form a theory, ora plan of action, he noticed that the glow was re- turning, It was very faint at first, but became brightar and brighter until the former dull yel- lowish cust was resumed, This was as mysterious as the disappearance of the light, and Sidney’s teeth fairly chattered as he witnessed it. e straightened himself with an effort, and became aware that his face and person were bathed in a profuse perspira- tion. ‘‘Ugh!” and he shivered, ‘‘That makes me feel decidedly creepy. I wonder, now, what caused that?’ It was an unanswerable question, Sidney had turned the animal in the direction of Good Cheer Ranch; and, as they were bowl- ing along at an excellent gait, he did not throw himself from the horse’s back. Whatever strange mystery surrounded it, it had carried him well so far; and he trusted it still further, Once he thought he heard the clatter of hoofs behind him, some distance away, and drew rein a moment to listen. But the sounds had died out, and he went on again, With the exception of what has been noted nothing of a startling character was developed throughout the ride; and in due season he drew near the ranch buildin It had been a long trip, and he had forced the horse to its best x A number of the cowboys bad just returned from an unsuccessful search for the cattle which had been gobbled by the rustlers—a search in which they had also spent much time in looking for their strangely-absent employer, They were gathered near one of the corrals, not having put away their horses, and were conversing with the other cowboys, who had likewise come in late and had not yet dismounted, Sidney could see them, dimly-outlined, as they stood and sat there, but he could not see the startled looks with which they were viewing his advance, These men had heard of the spectral steed of Prairie Gibraltar, and some of them averred they had seen it. As the glowing animal continued its approach —it being plainly visible, though toe form of its rider seemed the mereat outline of a man—the alarm of the cowboys increased, At length their superstition would permit them to face it no longer. With inarticulate cries they turned in flizht—those who were dismounted scrambled wildly for the backs of their horses, Sidney saw this movement, and at the same moment was made aware of its cause. But the knowledge came too late to stop the stampede. He shouted loudly to the men, trying to tell them who he was, and endeavoring to assure them that their fears were needless, His shouts and ig. ey only made the matter worse. heir flight degenerated into a panic, ion which terror was the controlling impulse. In vain Sid- ney shouted totbem. They would not stop to hearken to his words, ‘Knowing the apped of the animal he rode, hé dasbed in pursuit, hoping to overtake some of them and make them understand that they were acting very silly. This chase increased their fright; and, plying quirt and spur, they urged their ponies into a headlong run. Seeing be could do notbing, Sidney drew in with a sarcastic laugh, forgetting that only a short time before he had been almost as badly frightened and that his nerves had not wholly recovered their steadiness, __. ‘* The fools!” he exclaimed, turning again to- ward the ranch house, ‘* They’re running like wild jack-rabbits! If they had only stood their ground a minute, they would have learned the truth, . There was now not a cowboy on the place, and only a few ponies, He turned the horse in- to the corral and went into the house, not know- ing what else to do, Some of the cowboys might return after a time; and, when he had explained to them how foolish had been their fright, he could send them to look up their comrades, He was greatly vexed at what had occurred, for he bad counted on the aid those men could render. His plans were al] matured. He meant to take his men and rescne Old Connetty, if it was found he had not been released. Now, he -_—-_ooO ee ** The fools!” be again exclaimed, getting up and striding nervously across the room, ‘‘ Their silliness may bring about Old Joe’s death!” CHAPTER VII. “THE COMMITTEE OF ONB,” _‘*Wuy couldn’t tne boy bev eut me loose while he was at it?” Old Connetty grumbled, as he strained fruitlessly at bis bonds, after Sidney leaped up and disappeared. ‘‘ He goes plum wild after a bit of calico, that boy does; an’ fer- gits the old friend that’s stood by him this many a day. There was something of bitterness in the words, showing that the old nomad was hurt by this abandonment. He had heard the seream of the girl, and knew that was why Sidney had sped so quickly away. But he recalled this selfish thought as soon as be had expressed it; and, as the sounds from the outside revealed that a chase and pursuit was in progress, he sincerely wished that what- ever else Sidney might be able to do, he might succeed in aiding Irene. ‘*T reckon she’s bevin’ a tolerable hard row to hoe in this den o’ serpents,” Connetty comment- ed, giving over his vain struggle, when he saw he could not free himself, ‘‘She needs a friend hyer o’ the right stripe, but I calc’late she'll not find one ina hurry. Even that mis’able old dad 0’ bers whups her sometimes, the feller said. He wouldn’t darst to do it, if Old Joe wus around!” He could gather little of what was happening outside, but that little gave him hope. A few words spoken to him from an excited desperado showed that some horseman had dashed out of the corral, and he thought it must refer to Sidney, ‘**Go it, boy!” was his exultant exclamation. “‘T’m with ye in spirit, if I hain’t in body!” All of the awakened outlaws had streamed from the interior after Ben and Sidney, leaving Old Lone Hand alone. Even the one guard was not then at the entrance, though he stationed himself there ina short time, The sentinels were on the walls, of course; for, as Irene had stated, it was strictly against orders for them to abandon their posts, Joe strained again at his bonds in another desperate effort to release himself, but he only succeeded in cutting bimself cruelly and pain- fully. After a Jong time, as it seemed to him, be heard a light footstep at his side, and, staring up into the darkness, made out the form of Irene Romero. ‘* Hush!” she said, and her fingers were lifted, warvingly. ‘‘l’vecometogive vou your liberty, I promised him I would, but if we succeed, we must be very quiet.” ‘*'Then the boy got away?” ‘Yes; but you mustn’t ask me any questions, We may be overheard, if we talk. He gotaway on a good horse, and is far from here by now,” The words were the merest whispers, Connetty expressed his satisfaction by a grunt of approval. ‘‘T have prepared a horse for you,” she whis- pered, kneeling down and cutting nis bonds with a penknife. ‘* He isina bunch of willows just below the corral, I think you can find him without any trouble, I tied him there. He is saddled and bridled.” She was sawing at the cords as she spoke, and Old Joe gave another grunt of satisfaction as he felt them slip from his wrists. Fg ‘You're a blessed good girl!” was bis hearty remark, though in a tone alinost as low as hers, lifting one of his cramped bands and giving her bowed head a fatherly pat. ‘If ever I can help ou, count on Old Joe! Tm powerful glad the how got away! I ‘low he'll go straight to the ranch and rustle out the cowboys,” ‘You must not let them attack this place!” she urged, ‘*{ forgot to make him promise that, before he went. I was almost too excited, doa to think, But you will not let them come ere?’ ‘** ll whup the fu’st man that p’ints his nose this way, if you say fer me to!” his jubilance in- creasing, as he felt the cords give on his ankles, ‘*T want to try to get father to leave this place, but if these men should come to attack him, mayhe he couldn’t do that, you know. You understand?” “T think I understand; and while I can’t say that I admire your par, [ll reecollect what you’ve said.” ‘¢ He might be killed or captnred, you know, and then he couldn't leave!” speaking eager) and earnestly, ‘There, you’re free, on’t. forget where the horse is tied. Tl show you the way out. You can’t go out the main way, could do nothing, : i | rs: | , ¢* . 2 . 1 se ; t P *") arte ‘ / oe : 3 i . Y 4. * ' 7 : . Pa " f 2 . . . : " ae , : . : ; d Ls r Y As. : : . = e\) ‘ | | @ \ ) > Z ( 7 } pel —_—