Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 886 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

¥ ~. Old Disaster, the Border Nomad. away with a twinkle of heels. Finally it passed him and galloped back toward the defile. | ‘*Go it!” growled the young miner, in disgust, *‘T won’tspend my time in chasing you. Just now I’m hungry enough to eat anything. I must fiad game of some kind.” He continued onward. After a time he succeeded in securing some small game, and soon built a fire and cooked it, When he had appeased his hunger he turned to retrace his steps to Dismal Gorge, Slowly the day slipped by, and after a time Jackwood was forced to acknowledge that for ~ once in his life he had lost his way, Night came, ; The young miner was still hin ae aimlessly onward, completely at fault which way to turn. That night he camped alone ina secluded spot. Early the following morning he again started in search of the ravine where his companions were. ‘¢‘T reckon I can find that place after a time,” he mused, ‘‘I never got shifted so betore, It was all caused by that boy and the white horse, Can it be that that lad is my evil genius?” The forenoon was well advanced when he finally reached a locality that was familiar, He then hastened forward and was soon descending into Dismal Gorge, *“*T shall get along in time for dinner,” he laughed, ‘Sand I’m mighty Bangry, too. f it was not for that I might hesitate about return- ing until Ethan Sherman left, for he is probably there Jackwood’s amazement when he came in sight of the faintly-smoking ruins on the spot where the cabin stood the day before can better be ini- ined than described. He stopped and stared at the blackened embers in astonishment. ‘‘ What in the name of sin does this mean?” he ejaculated. He passed his hand over his eyes as if to brush away the surprising vision, but when he looked again the black ruinswers still there and a faint mass of thin blue smoke was rising slowly into the air, ** Well, ll be shot!” burst from his lips. Then he advanced a few steps and paused again. He glanced around, reenely searching for some token that would exp ® amazing vision. He saw nothing but the same narrow ravine, the deserted sluices, and the remains of the destroyed hut. ‘* Burned out! This gets me! What has hap- pened here while I have been away from the ee Whereare my pards? Old Disaster and than Sherman should be here, too. Indians! That must not be it,” He examined everything critically, — ‘* Tf it is the work of the reds, then the boys got away, for there isn’t a body here,” Perhaps the red-skins had been beaten off and the survivors had buried whoever was killed, He thought of that and began to look for new- made graves, but found nothing. **Tf Indians have been here, they have not ac- complished much save to destroy the hut,” was his mental decision. ‘*‘ There are no mutilated es, no graves, and—”’ P A sudden terrible thought came to him. Whatif they had all perished within the burn- ing. cabin? Swiftly he rushed toward the ruins. or thirty minutes he inspected the smolder- ing remains of the old hut, and finally decided that his fears had been groundless, Then he sat down to consider what move it was best to make next. **I wonder where Stone and Cobb have gone?” he asked himself. ‘‘ They may be some- where in this vicinity, and they probably have my share of the gold with them. I must find them, but which way shall I turn?” — This wasa r. For ten minutes he thought over the situa- tion, then he arose, decided on making his way up theravine. He would go to the poh where Sherman fancied he had heard Amy St. Orme’g voice. - Jackwood walked slowly along with his head bowed until he was aroused by the sound of voices at a di amazement 54W S@Veral masked men standing near the waterfall. He knew instantly that they were not his friends, and swiftly he leaped behind a bowlder near at hand. Fortunately the YOUng miner had not been vec The men Were go excited about something that none Of them had observed him. He peered forth from his place of conceal- ment to his amazeMent, saw in the midst of the rine men the boy, tee Sasb. One 0 men was gin front of the culating and earn } Sts ” exclairsed J ackwood; he en under- 7 i % ‘ < fo. Shee. ( . : : MJ hc Ts 4 Es 0 | Sis > my + ‘ ‘ aad % e \ Nise ve, Se © his alesis Ov < ; 7 at <s - + ‘ gf ’ = ze om, ly es oo ate Poe ee eee = stance. He looked up, and to his. stand theeboy’s remark concerning ‘ the men.’ That is the very gang that has been open the secret mine somewhere near this spot, an if Iam not dreadfully mistaken, there is an en- trance to that mine in the vicinity of yonder waterfall.” He listened, but could not understand what the men were saying. However, he ascertained that the man who was talking to the boy was accusing him of something. The boy replied defiantly. Hot words followed, and then the man struck the lad a sharp blow with his open hand, The boy was staggered and fell upon bis knees, putting up his hands as it to protect his face trom a repetition of the brutal blow. Then be sprung to his feet, and lis shrilly-spoken words came to Jackwood’s ears: ‘** You are no father of mine!” Tbe man laughed harshly, andagainadvanced toward the shrinking lad. ‘* It is time for the to take a hand in that little game,” observed Jackwood, as he arose and swiftly advanced toward the throng. “i ret no claim to you, you “Tittle brat!” snarled the brutal man, ‘*But you have always said you were my fa- ther,” came slowly fron: the boy’s lips, ‘‘Well, I deny it now. Your parents are dead. You were left in my care by your father at his death.” “‘Then don’t you dare ever lift your hand against me again!” cried the lad. A repetition of the cruel laugh came from the man’s lips,and he advanced threateningly to- ward Scarlet Sash. ** Hold!” came sharply from tke lips of Justin Jackwood, as he confronted the masked man, his cocked rifle covering the threatening individual’s breast. ‘* Don’t you dare to lay your hand on this boy again!” An astonished oath eame from beneath the mask, ‘* Who in sin’sname are you?” demanded the startled man, as he recoiled a step. ** My name is Jackwood,” was the cool reply; ‘‘and I am here to see fair play.” Once more the man laughed. ‘** You're a jack-mule,” he sneered; ‘‘ and you have stuck your nose into the fire this time. Then the rifle was thrust aside and Jackwood received a heavy blow on the back of the head, walk penser him at full length upon the ground. CHAPTER XVI, WITHIN THE GREAT CAVE. GUIDED by the girl, the two miners and Ethan Sherman made their way into the her- mit’s cave. Reaching the round chamber, they found the few remaining brands of a fire within the natu- ral fire-place. The girl procured a light, amd the men gazed around them in surprise, They noted the few rude pieces of furniture which the cavern con- tained, and Sherman’s sharp eyes espied a dark form reclining on the fur-covered couch, | ‘* Who is that?” he asked, Then the light fell full upon Junardo’s face, and Sherman fancied that he recognized the man, despite the absence of the false beard which the unfortunate had worn. __ , Great heavens!” cried the young man, ‘‘ Can it be Junardo? They told me he was dead— murdered |” ‘* I still live!” said the bollow voice of Albion Junardo, *‘My worst, most deadly foe has had his fingers at my throat and driven his knife into my bosom, but I still live,” Sherman was amazed and delighted. He sprung to the side of the cot, exclaiming: ‘They said that I did it—I was accused of murdering you!” ‘You are not my foe,” said the wounded man slowly, ‘‘but my deadl enemy was in that camp that night, and I knew him not until I awoke with his fingers fastened on my throat. Then I knew hin, but I was helpless in his mur- derous grasp. strength left me: I could not breathe; he struck me witha knife; I knew no more,” ** Who did it?” demanded Sherman, ‘* Braman Arcly.’ ‘Braman Arcly?”’ repeated Ethan, puzzled. ‘‘ Yes; that is his true name, He called him- self Flavus Stokes.” . ** Ah!” Sherman was surprised, yet more than once had he suspected that Stokes had committed the red deed that fateful night. Stokes had been left on guard. He told Old Disaster that he fel] asleep, but in truth he did not sleep a minute during the entire night. | | ay 2. Oe ee considerab] - < 7 > - - f bone » ,* J ‘ : " . ae? . ‘ . oy ge j ' » § " = > 4 r . ° . < , FS el ol A <<" » < me ee ee Yt Tt & ~ rire an i» =e ws a | - 4 He had seen Sherman leave the camp, and finding the young man’s knife where he bad lain, he improved the opportunity to dispose of his foe and at the same time make it appear that Sherman did the crime. ** The villain failed in his work,” said Junar- do, with an effort. ‘‘ I skallyet wreak vengeance upon him! He sha!) not eseape me! ‘‘How [ came within this cavern I cannot tell. Only a short time ago I became conscious. of my surroundings. [am much in debt to the friend or friends who breugkt me here and. nursed me back to life,” Sheriaan sat down beside the couch and told _ the wounded man a portion of his adventures, Amy told Junardo how he came to be within. the cave, and learned that her father had been absent from the chamber since the wounded man’s return to censciousness and reason, ‘He is searching for me!” she cried, ‘‘ He has missed me! Oh, may Providence cause his swift return!” ‘* Amen!’ said Sherman, softly. Amy’s prayer was soon answereé, for in less. than thirty minutes the white-bearded hermit stood within the cavern. He started back in. amazement on seeing the strangers in his under- ground home, ‘*Who are tzese?’ he demanded, in a vets voice. ‘‘How dare they invade my sac home?” For an instant the fire of a madman was in. his eyes, Amy darted swiftly forward and laid one soft: white hand on his arm, ** They are friends, father. They rescued me: from the hands of the terrible red-men wha’ were carrying me from you forever.” He folded her tenderly in kis arms, and placed a kiss upon her forehead, ‘Saved my daughter from the red demons? I missed you, dear, and have searched for you.. Were you a captive in their blood-stained! - hands? ‘*Incdeed, I was, father, and terrible might; have been my fate had not these brave min: rescued me and slain my captors,” The hermit turned toward his visitors, ** You are welcome, gentlemen; and I have to thank you for saving my child from the hands. of those inhuman fiends, She is—” But there he paused. His eyes fell upon the form of Ethan Sherman, and a strange light. came into their dark depths. He faltered, half- shrunk away, then strode forward astep, point- ing toward the young man, ‘ You here?” he said, speaking in a low yet: piercing tone. ‘* Where is your knife?” Ere Sherman could reply, the strange man continued: ‘* It is here!” Then he held up the knife which he had re-~ moved from Junardo’s breast, ‘You do not shrink back; you do not even turn pale,” added the hermit; ‘‘ yet this knife. was taken from the breast of one who was near- ly dead—murdered!” ‘* He did not sheathe it there.” The words came from Junardo’s lips, and for’ the first time the whits-bearded man noticed that his patient was not only conscious but rational, ‘* it was my most deadly foe who struck me. with that knife,” declared ‘Junardo, ‘In no wey is this young man guilty.” he hermit dropped the knife, and stepped toward Sherman with his right hand out-. stretched. ‘Thank Heaven! that doubt is removed from aa mind,” he said. - hey cespee hands heartily, and Amy’s eyes beamed with joy, for she now knew that her: _ father would not stand between her and Ethan Sherman. Ethan introduced Minos St, Orme—which was the hermit’s true name—to the miners, Stone and Cobb. An hour was spent in conversation, then the’ hermit arose and bade his three visitors follow him, He took a light and led them Blnng @ nar- row passage which seemed to penetrate far into the carth. seve difficult . places, and finally St, Orme set down the light, saying softly: | ‘* Follow One of you keep near enough to touch me,” Make as fittle rofed as possible, and repress an outcry at anything which you may see.” ‘ Silently he led them onward for a short dis-- tance, and when they paused they found them- selves g downward through an opening’ — y more than large enough to allow’ the passage of a man,