Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 820 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

4 ee Hee = Le ee —— only mistake I made then was in allowing you to escape without marrying her. I ought to have forced you to do so,” Nobby Nat was silent for fA little time. The girl had lowered her hand, but the revolver hung by her side, ready for instant use. ‘‘How can I prove the truth to you?” Nat finally asked, pain expressed on _ his handsome face. ‘‘My pride at being mis- judged has kept me from you for so long, but now fate has flung us together again. When you bade me never see you again, I meant to remain away. It was not to be.” ‘What brought you to this ranch?’ This.” He took Major Blukes’s letter from his pocket and placed it on her desk. ‘‘Had I not been sent here, I should not have come. But now I am here—now I have looked on your sweet face again, Ger- tie, I cannot go away without wha AS to convince you of the terrible error which has sundered us. You are fairer than you were two years and a half ago! I see the sun shine of happiness in your golden hair, and the light of perfect love in your violet eyes! Gertrude, for Heaven’s sake do believe me when I say it is all a cruel mistake!” She was plainly touched by his appeal, for she put one hand on the back of a chair, as if to steady herself, and she was unable to utter a word, although her lips parted. Seeing he had reached her heart by his words, he started forward, his hand out- stretched to her With a great effort, she lifted the glisten- ing revolver again. . **Gol” she hoarsely commanded, feeling it were dangerous to trust herself longer, ‘* Leave me!” ‘* Not yet,” and he halted before her, his hand closing over the muzzle of the weapon, * Shoot if you will, but I trust you will listen. Knowing I was misjudged by you, I have been too proud to make an in. vestigation; but now I mean to solve this mystery. I think there must have been some other person who looked like me—who was, in fact, my perfect double. It was this individual who was known to your sister as Carter Wayne. If can find him, I “can prove my innocence,” _ She forced a bitter smile to her lips. “You still have nerve and cheek. This idea of a double is a device of your fertile brain. I take no stoek in it; Carter Wayne! You may as well give up all hope of deceiv- ing and making me your prey. As it is, the _ quicker you leave my presence the better it will be for you.” He released the revolver. **$hoot!” came calmly from his lips. ‘‘I am tired of being misjudged by one I love far dearer than life!” _. He looked squarely into the frowning mouth of the revolver, and there was not a trace of fear in his demeanor. | — ‘*T do not want your life on my hands,” - she finally said. ‘ All Lask is that you will leave me and forever stay cual 4 Up in her . chamber is one who has never forgotten you, - who can never forget you, although her lips seldom speak your nume now. You have blighted her fair young life. The only my you can in the least make amends is by 3 rying her, as you promised a hundred times.” He turned sadly away. __**T see it is useless,” he said, with a deep sigh. ‘‘ You do not believe me.” His face hardened. _ **The time will come when you will know I spoke the truth, Miss Grant. Then it may be too late. Then the world may separate “us. But, I wish you to remember that through all this bitterness—through all this. cruel misunderstanding, I love you still! Be- fore all others you are the queen of my heart! Good-by!” : dadey, 2 ah : i} ’ ey : ‘ t - , e ee. —* : ; Ms, v ies - . v3 hea - >" “4 a a) i ae Oy" TY Ss : J Pa i ‘ re | - 4 . ‘.- ~ > A ee Oe eee ae - . » . 4 — — Nobby Nat, the Tenderfoot Detective. - ee ee He turned and left the office. She stood there, listening tothe sound of retreating hoofbeats until they died out in the distance, and there was a look of ineffable sorrow in her liquid eyes. Finally, she flung herself into a chair, burying her face on, her arm, which rested on her desk, and sobbing: ‘*Oh, that 1 might believe him! If it were only true, I should love him more than ever before!” CHAPTER IV. A PROPOSAL DECLINED. THE sound of a step aroused the girl. Hastily brushing all traces of tears from her eyes, she looked around, discovering Hustler Hal, her foreman, had entered the room. ‘Well, Richards,” she said, assuming a business air, ‘‘ what is it?” The foreman was a rather handsome fellow ina rough way, but there was a dissipated look on his face. He pulled at his long mustache a moment, then said: ‘‘T came to tell about thet thar galoot as wuz just hyar,” Gert started a bit. . “What about him?” ‘‘ He’s a detective, I’ve heerd.” ‘“A detective?” ‘* Yes, Miss Grant. He’s a tenderfoot, but he’s been hired by the U. 8. A. Cattle Co. to trace out the fence-cutters. I reckon he’d best go back ter ther East ef he wants ter keep his good health, Some of ther nesters’ll be fillin’ him with lead.” ‘‘ Are you sure he has been employed by the United Cattle Co. ?” ** Dead sure.” ‘“* Well, he has undertaken a big job,”’ said Gertie Grant, her features hardening a trifle. ‘‘T have a communication here which he brought me from Major Blukes, and I reckon it is a declaration of war.”’ She tore open the letter and hastily ran her eyes over the contents, ‘‘ Just as I thought,” she exclaimed. ‘“ I am warned that the cutting of the company’s fence will produce serious trouble. Well, that is what I expect. I can tell them the trouble will be far from pleasant for them.” , At that moment there was something rather harsh about the girl’s manner, but she seemed thoroughly independent and able to take care of herself. A look of admiration leaped into the eyes of Hustler Hal and grew deeper with each moment, ‘*] “low thar are hot times comin’,” he ob- served, by way of saying something. ‘You are right,” nodded the girl owner of | Cross Bar Ranch. ‘* Shall we join the nesters?” | ‘* We shall be forced to unite with them in the struggle against this big syndicate. They need a leader,” : } ‘‘Waal, they'll be only too glad ter hev us, an’ I reckon I know who'll be ther eader.” Hustler Hal meant this to be significant, but the Girl Rancher did not seem to notice it. Finding himself defeated in that way, the cowboy took another turn. ‘‘ All ther same, it hain’t no place fer a woman, Miss Grant. It hurts an’ worries me wen I sees you doin’ ther things a man oughter ’tend ter.” ert forced a smile. ‘Don't worry about me, Richards.” ‘‘I do worry, jest ther same,” he went on, with persistence, de ined not to be baf- fled in his purpose, ‘“ I’m a plain man, Miss Grant, but I’ve got a right good bit of money laid away, I know you don't keer fer thet, but I jest mentioned it.” She turned full on him, wonder in her wide-open eyes. . ‘* What in the world are you driving at?” she asked. ' For a single moment he was abashed, and ah t ' > \ od +H ° > | r 7 . ’ p r . ‘es : 3) 4 moat 4 Cay p k + , 8 : . i. ye ’, a4 " : ry fy ! she ** : by - wf dnd 4n yt +) “hg > it: ay ° : Aly ead A ie | Al At Li . ria 4 . then he took a step forward and dropped om one knee before her, trying to clasp her hand, as he swiftly blurted: ‘*Miss Grant, I love yer—I want to make you my wife! I may not hev a wonderful education, but I reckon I’m a man from ther ground up, an’ men count in these yere parts. Don’t be ina hurry ter refuse me— don’t! I dunno how ter say the thirgs I wants ter—ther things I feel in my heart, but you must understand me! I'll pertect you an’ do this yere work you oughter hev done fer ye! I'll do anything! MHain't thar a chance—”’ She had risen to her feet and remained speechless with astonishment up to this point; but now she cut him off sharply. ‘Richards, you are making. a fool of your- self!” she exclaimed. And then, realizing: how harsh her words were, she sought to mitigate their sting. ‘“Tam nota marrying woman,”’—Shé loved to call herselfa woman, ‘‘ Why, Richards, I would not accept the hand of a king! I am free and independent, and this is the kind of a life I like. Don’t take offense, man; but if you get sentimental, I shall have to dis: one you and get another man in your place.” | He had arisen, and there was a black look on his face.” ‘‘So you refuse me?” he said, and he had suddenly dropped his cowboy dialect, speak- ing now with the correct pronunciation of x man of culture. ‘ Very well; I will not make a foolof myself. Ithought I would attempt to win you as a plain cattleman, and I have failed. ow I will confess I am not. uneducated. In fact, Miss Grant, I am fully your equal in every way.” ; Her face seemed to become set like marble, but her wonderful eyes glittered in away that told she was offended. ‘It is possible you. speak the truth,” she said, ‘‘ but you forget you are at present but one of my cowboys.’ With good reason, I might be bitterly offended by your words and. actions. You have entirely forgotten your position. However, I do not think any woman should be angry with an honest man who is sincere inan offer of heart and hand, therefore I pardon you. I trust this will set- tle this matter for good. “Tf anything new or important takes place, let me know as usual. You may go now ” He was dismissed, and she turned back to her desk, as if no other person was in the room. Fora moment the man was tempted to leap upon her and catch that perfect form in his“arms, while he’ devoured the soft red lips with kisses, but his better judgment prevented such a mad action Shaking his head, he turned and walked from the room. ‘“This does not settle it, my- proud peer he savagely muttered. ‘‘I am bound to make you mine in some way! I have plotted, planned—ay, I have stained my hands with blood for you! You need not think to escape me now!’ Git Thar Gert drew « breath of relief when she heard the door close behind the form of her foreman, and in a single moment all her composure was cast to the wind, Leaping to her feet, she hurried to fasten the door. ‘‘Gracious!”’ she gasped, thus giving ut- terance to a truly feminine ejaculation. “That fellow really frightened me! Why, he is dangerous! This is my first intimation of danger in that direction. Richards is a good man, but I shall have to handle him with gloves and still keep him in his place.” She paced up and down the little office, thinking of Nat Kirk and his visit. Her face displayed a mingling of emotions that was wonderful. In business affairs she had trained herself to carry a placid and un- readable face, but in the privacy of 0 room, her countenance could have been rea like a book. ‘He was handsomer than ever!” she final- . .6 < ‘ ~ ‘ } ar) ’ “\ ; j Pia Ae -_ 2 ' 4 . 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