Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 820 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

‘\ ~ i y > ’ -_ } se -—=—- == = ~ = . . ae “as # ~ ‘ . a) na - ¢ 47 i * m » <. - 4 ‘ "=" Pr & * te) . , Ts _ ’ ve 2 i : J ’ 4% atl i gia belt ‘ ‘ ave a soft chuckle of satisfaction when he | At that moment, the dark figure of a four- ound it could be raised. Making as little footed animal came swiftly toward them. noise as possible, he slowly lifted it. | ‘‘It’s one of those infernal dogs!” whis- 2 A minute later he wasable to sweep aside | pered the man. ‘‘ He will betray us.” * the curtain and look into the chamber. | ‘The dog growled, but Ivy spoke softly to Ivy Grant was sleeping on a bed, near the | him, and he was silenced, He came up and head of which the lamp was burning. There | rubbed his head against her, sniffing sus- was a smile on her wasted face, and she | piciously at her companion, while she patted seemed to be dreaming pleasant things. his head with a gloved hand. The man stepped into the room and closed |! Supporting her with his arm, Carter 4 the window as noiselessly as he had opened | Wayne—he had confessed that was his name it, a breath of relief coming from his lips | —urged her toward the little hollow where rm when he was fairly inside, and the curtain | his horse was picketed. guarded the window once more. They were some distance from the ranch ne For some moments he stood regarding the | when Ivy suddenly halted. ¢ sleeping girl, and then he advanced cau- ‘*Oh, Carter!’ she sobbed. ‘‘ Must I go tiously to the bed, on the side of which he | away without seeing my dear sister again? sat, covering Ivy’s mouth with one hand. She has been so kind and good to me!" The girl awoke with a start, and would ‘‘It is impossible for you to see her again, have screamed but for the hand over her | darling,” he firmly replied. lips. ‘Tt seems as if | am doing something ‘‘ Be still, Ivy, dear!” he cautioned, wicked in deserting her like this.” is I, You need have no fear of me.” ‘‘Nonsense, This is the only way you can She lifted a hand and gently removed his | get away. She has threatened to shoot me palm from her lips. on sight. If she were to-see us now, she ‘Tt is ee you, Carter?” she whispered, | would ruin everything.” joy expressed on her pale face. ‘‘She has told me many times that you “Truly, darling!” he assured. were a Villain.” ‘é It ‘* Your . sister warned me never to attempt to see you ‘‘T have not a doubt but she honestly i again, but shouldn't a husband see _ his ae so, for fate has made me look bad _ to wife?” er.” . She sat up and put her arms about his ‘* But, you—you did not tell me the truth neck. once.” . “You are my husband, and you really’| ‘‘Wehave no time to talk of that now. % love me?” , | know I promised to marry you; but haven’t “Do you doubt me?” I kept my word? All you can say is that I “No, no! I'll never doubt you again! I/| delayed the marriage.” + was just dreaming of you, andI thought; ‘‘And that delay nearly killed me, dear you were going to take me far away to some ! Carter. You cannot know how much I have happy land—some sunny land where my | suffered. Still, you came back to me at 4 »00r lungs could heal. Sometimes, Carter, | last, and I ought to be satisfied—I am satis- have thought I should die without ever ! fied!” seeing you again; but now you have return- ‘*'Then come on,” ed to me, it seems that I shall get well.” he She offered no further objection, and they ‘Of course you will. If you are ready to | soon reached the horse. He assisted her go, we will start for that sunny land this | upon the animal’s back, and then he also fi night.” | climbed up. - She'could scarcely repress a cry of joy. ‘‘Sunrise will see us many miles from . “Do you really mean that?” she eagerly | here,” declared Carter Wayne. ‘* Nobby | asked. ‘‘ Shall we go far, far away?” Nat is not liable to ever return to Lone Star a ‘Yes, dear.” Ranch. They will have to catch their nesters j *‘How can we? How did you get into | without my aid.” . * this room? Ido not understand it. I was As they rode slowly up out of the hollow, x dreaming you were here, and then I awoke | a little cry broke from Ivy’s lips. to find my dream true.” ‘* Look!” she whispered, grasping his arm ‘*Don’t ask questions now. Our only | —‘‘look! The ranch! the ranch!” PY thought must be to get out and away with. | He looked and saw the red glare of flames out being discovered. Remember I am!in the window by which he had entered your husband. Get up quickly ahd dress.” | Ivy’s room. He knew his fire-box, which he 4. She only hesitated a moment, and then, | had concealed amid the curtains, had done with nervous haste, she began to don her clothes. While she was doing this, he tried the two doors of the chamber, finding both were locked on the inside. ‘By which of these shall we go out?” he asked. ‘‘ Wither,” she replied. ‘‘ But the one to our right is the handiest to the stairs,” It did not take her long to dress, for he was constantly urging ‘her to hasten. She did not see him stoop and put something amid the lace curtains of the windows just where they touched the floor—something that made the faintest whirling sound the moment.he pressed a tiny button. She did not even hear the whisper-like whirr. ‘There is no time for doing up your hair, dear,” he said. ‘*That can be done after we get faraway. Take your warm. at Ning a for the night air is a trifle C y. ”» She obeyed him as if she were a child. _.. In a few moments they were ready to leave the chamber. tad | “The moment we are outside, I will lead on the morrow. eurs, and lights were seen darting swiftly about. ' Just then, outlined against the sky, a horse and rider appeared on the crest of the ridge to their right. For a moment the horse paused, and then a ery broke from the rider’s lips. ee __ e Ranch. ‘That was Gertrude!” exclaimed Ivy. Wayne, and if they overtake us, she will tear you from me.”’ ‘“Then let’s hurry!” she panted. ‘* Let’s ride as fast as we can! It would kill me if we were parted now—yes, darling, it would kill me!” ee Sa eee eer ic the way,” he said; ‘but you must get us 4 out.” CHAPTER XIII. -_ Taking his hand, she led the way through OLD BILLY ON HAND. the darkness of the passage and down the | Tuclouds were parting to allow the moon- ~~ stairs. The door was silently unfastened, | light to sift through when Carter Wayne i gnd then they were in the outer air, drew rein and listened, hems . eee f ~— 4 ef 2 . * et, Te ae, : rn > vy : ‘ 7 o™ Te Rey + en i Sie he Pig Sy. aug jal eA , : ‘> eS is 7 : 5 ee = Aaa ee Nobby Nat, the Tenderfoot Detective. i eet ey 11 re 8 Rf a DER ee ‘What is it, dear?” asked Ivy, clinging to him. ‘Can't you hear it?” he asked. Through the night came a mournful how} that was full of sad music. “Ts it a dog?” * Yes—a bloodhound! Is there such #& creature amid the dogs of the ranch?” ‘* Yes; one of the dogs is part Siberian.” “Then,” grated Wayne, “that dog is on our trail! We are being run down with a bloodhound!” He took out his revolvers and examined them by the sifted moonlight, his manner. showing his resolve. Ivy clung to the man in whom she had placed so much confidence, trembling and silent. They rode on again, the sound of the dog’s baying growing plainer with each moment, Finally they came to a place where Wayne drew rein, sitting silently looking back along the course they had come, a revolver in his hand. Nearer and nearer ‘approached the baying hound, the music of his voice ringing through the night, Ina short time a dark figure appeared and ,came bounding toward them, giving voice madly. The man lifted his revolver, his nerves. perfectly steady, and a burst of flame broke from the muzzle of the weapon. Ohce, twice, three times he fired—and still the dog came on. With another leap, he would reach them, ‘ Then came the fourth shot. Up into the air sprung the dog, but he fell short of his prey, striking the ground with a sodden sound. He did not rise, the last bullet had passed through his heart! With remarkable coolness, Carter Wayne cast out the old shells from his revolver and replaced them with good ones, after whieh he said: - ‘“We will goon now, The cowboys can- not be far away, but they will not have the hound to guide them on the trail. Ivy was still silent, : Away went the doubly burdened horse, its master selecting a new course. He knew he must throw the cattlemen from the scent. before dawn, for they would surely run him down if he did not, | Again the black clouds drifted over the face of the moon, and a slight dash of rain came down, Carter Wayne laughed, ‘“This will cover the trail,” he said. its work, and his heart leaped with joy at | “There is no fear of further pursuit,” the thought that Cross Bar would lie in ashes | The rain stopped and the heavy clouds | drifted down the sky. One by one, the I A moment later the animal ly tinged with red. hut. | § ‘ 7 cn . f ¢ 4 f kee -. | aa ett rt PA t , ss mn .- 4 > __ is = | ra <9 tr aD . a ry ov ; * & + ie had 12, a 4 iw" J ; * ; C | / Cone gree Pe SARA is asthe ot a Tass: yh BPO A ae, ed Sas Then there was a sudden commotion silver stars peered tremblingly through a sea at the ranch, Faint shouts came to their of purple haze, and the sweet breath of the great plain softly touched the fugitives’ cheeks. A shower was a rare thing in that “ Itisa fire, but they have discovered it,” he | locality at that time of the year, being no explained, ‘They will easily extinguish it.” | more than a faint dash of moisture when it did come, but it was enough to make the world seem fresher and purer. Soon the east took on a slender streak of rray, whieh slowly broadened and was final- Then great shafts was dashing madly down toward Cross Bar: sprung up into the sky like lances of steel. The dome of heaven was emblazoned with ) many glowing colors, and then the sun push- | ‘‘T think you are right,” confessed Carter | ed up into view. : ‘She will discover you are gone, | The night was past. They entered some broken hills, and down in 2 wooded valley they came upon an old Indian to the door. ‘* Hello, Prince!” ‘‘How!” grunted the half-breed. ‘* Will you do me a favor—for money?” ‘You . bet!” ‘Prince will do anything for money.” Wayne's shouts brought a half-blood _ was the prompt reply, — —* Wayne dismounted, assisting Ivy to the | ground, ip + apres rie ‘ ~~ iw | \ / ww EX : Gta The poor girl was so exhausted _ she could not stand, and he was forced to wf A % . a 7 : 4, ~~ f “ i Xor) ‘ ¥ f "ss j AY) i 5