Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 886 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

th, rh - Baylor, but he her. All his own appealin murder, Sherman’s disappearance and Stokes’s accusation of the young man, Justin could re- strain himself no longer, **He never did it!” he cried, ‘* Ethan Sher- man never committed murder!” Of course the others were surprised at these almost fiercely spoken words, but when they questioned him concerning Sherman he refused to saya word, It was apparent to them all, however, that Ethan Sherman and Justin Jack- wood were not strangers. Disaster faithfully related the startling events which followed Junardo’smurder, Theold man had watched and waited near the spot where the mysterious man had disappeared with Junardo’s body, and at daybreak had explored the ground faithfully, but his search was fruitless. He found no trace of the white-headed strauger or of Junardo’s corpse. Following the ravine, he had reached and assed the waterfall while the three miners had een in the cavern beneath, After Disaster had related his adventures, Cobb told him of the incomprehensible things which had occurred since they had occupied the cabin in Dismal Gorge, Jackwood did not at- tempt to improve the story in any way, al- though he might have done so, The young man seemed strangely affected since learning of Ethan Sherman’s presence in that wild re- on, e'That day the three miners took out less gold than they had any day previously. Disaster re- mained with them, stating that he was not yet gency to give up the search for the Lost Gold Cave, They were all sleeping soundly that night ‘when a heavy knock on the door aroused them, They sat up, grasping their weapons, and Jack- wood demanded: ‘¢ Who is there?” For a moment there was no reply, then a deep ‘voice cried: ‘*Beware! Leave this place at once, or you will meet the fate of those who came before youl Jt means death to remain !” Then there was a sound of swiftly retreating footsteps, For several momerts the four startled men were silent, then Old Disaster exclaimed: ** Ghost o’ ole Goliath! You may riddle my ole carkiss wi’ grape an’ canister ef thet warn’t ther voice o’ Flavus pear! Can’t deceive me -—that war the man!” } CHAPTER JV, * SHERMAN’S ADVENTURES. ETHAN SHERMAN was a dream-walker—a real somnambulist. He was not often troubled by walking in his sleep, but after any great excite- ment hs was pretty sure to do soif he slept be- fore his nerves were calmed, _ As he sat beside the camp-fire gazing at the ‘face which his fancy pictured within the flames, he gradually and unconsciously became excited. So real did the face of fancy seem that, once or twice, he whispered the name of the dear one for whom he had vainly searched so long. Shermav was a native of Illinois. 5 St. Orme and Ethan Sherman had been playmates as children, and at the ages of seventeen and nineteen had become pledged lovers, | As soon as he was hisown man, Sherman had started out to make a fortune, pledging himself to soon return and marry the girl whom he loved. But while he was aivay there came along a handsome middle-aged man who fan- cied the beautiful girl and asked her parents’ consent to win her love if possible, ica ant Baylor was apparently wealthy, and Minos St. Orme was poor, As a result the mercenary father attempted to compel the girl to accept the wealthy suitor, who stated that he was a ‘widower and had a daughter nearly as old as Amy herself. But the girl was true to her first love and would have nothing to say to her suitor. _ Baylor finally induced the St, Ormes to go West. For some time Amy’s father had inter- cepted and destroyed the correspondence be- tween his daughter and her absent lover, and when Sherman returned to Illinois he was _- amazed to learn that Amy and her parents had movedaway. fd From information which he obtained the young man learned that Amy had another suit- or in the person of a wealthy man. He did not know that she had repeatedly repulsed Marshal did know that for many long, “weary weeks he had not received a letter from epistles had re- Not knowing what to mained oo nerds e than half-inclined to believe her think, mo: a... = OE , wo . ’ . _erKt > PS oe Get a or te. ya oe 4 “ bm “ ‘ a G-) de} a ~~, +s Tt... : 2" : pian eh « A ee se Ts... bs SAY 4, + w Wheto) . * ve eh « "ae a. oe FS ° 7 2 ——E _— a Old Disaster, the Border Nomad. false, yet hating himself for doubting her an instant, the perplexed lover had suffered intense tortures, But he little knew how much Amy had suffered while troubled by the same doubts and fears, Sherman succeeded in following the St. Ormes to the place where they joined a wagon- train bound for the Black Hills, Pursuing his investigations he learned that the train had been attacked by Indians in Red Canyon, that treacherous gateway to the Hills, and it was supposed that every perscn in the train had been slaughtered. At first Ethan was nearly prostrated by the terrible intelligence, but he finally resolved to discover if in truth his betrothed had been mur- dered by the red fiends, For several months he had been searching for her, but everything seemed to confirm the belief that Amy had, in- deed, perished with the other unfortunates, The young man had joined Old Disaster in the search for the Lost Gold Cave, vaguely hoping that by so doing he might learn something con- cerning the lost one, As Ethan sat beside the camp -fire, his thoughts dwelt upon the sad fate which Amy St. Orme had undoubtedly met, and his nerves were somewhat shaken. When he lay down to sleep, the face of his darling seemed still before him, and for a long time he could not close his eyes in slumber, When he finally did fall asleep, he was in the condition to induce one of his somnambulistic spells, Some time in the night he fancied that he felt a touch upon his shoulder, and he seemed to awaken. ‘To his amazement and joy he saw Amy St. Orme bending over him! He came near uttering a cry of delight, when she pressed a finger to her lips and motioned him to arise and follow her, ithout a moment’s hesitation he complied. The phantom--if such it was—appeared to glide along without touching the ground, and swiftly Ethan followed. Away from the camp- fire it led him, away through the pines, among which the wind seemed making sad but strange- ly soothing music. Sherman did his best to overtake his guide, but it continued to keep in advance. He’ did not doubt for an instant that it was Amy. it was not, to him, dark beneath the sighin oe A. glorious light seemingly envelop he form, and the pathway which his feet tro was smooth and even. Iie tried to cail, but his tongue refused to move. He reached the edge of the pines, but the pbantom form fled onward before him and he still pursued. He could not judge the dis- tance he had, in reality, traveled in his sleep, when, suddenly, a chorus of wild yells and a ringing report awakened him, He stared around in amazement. By the uncertain light of the moon, which was plung- ing through a mass of ragged clouds, he saw the rocky, scrub-covered hillside on his left, but on the right the hights were hidden by shadows. At that instant he could not imagine where he was nor how he'came there. But he was given little time for speculation. Again the wild yells came to his ears. He knew the sounds, and a shiver ran over him, ‘* Indians!” he exclaimed, ‘' Disaster—Junar- do—trouble!” With these exclamations, he turned and hur- ried toward the spot from whence came the sounds. He had just reached the edge of the pines when a man came dashing toward him and passed within a few feet, As this person left the timber, Ethan saw that it was Mlavus Stokes! ‘‘What can have happened?’ thought the young man. ‘‘I have half a mind to call to him, yetsomething restrainsme. I have never liked that man. I believe I will follow him,” ' Without pausing to consider why he was do- ing so, the sleep-walker stole away in the foot- steps of the fleeing Stokes. Sherman was not an expert tracker, but, for a time, he succeeded remarkably wellin keeping Stokes in view. Once or twice the fleeing man paused and listened. The sounds of combat had ceased, and a profound silence brooded over the hills, bro- ken only by the distant cry of some night-prowl- ing anima : 7 ach time he paused Ethan heard Stokes mut- ter some indistinct words; then he turned and hurried onward again. Feeling decidedly mys- tified, the young fellow still pursued the man who had accused him of murdering the unfor- tunate Junardo, Onward through the night flitted pursued and pursuer. Gradually Stokes climbed a somewhat difficult ascent and Sherman not far behind him, But, when the top was reached, much to , 1 ~ , - ‘<8 - ” . 2) i an . - 7 ol - a . . : —— {than’s surprise, nothing could be seen of the man ! Upon investigating, Ethan discovered that there were several ways for Stokes to have eluded him, providing he had known that he was followed. While standing there, in his doubt as. to the course now to take, he fancied that he heard a sharp whistle some distance away beyond a_ dense piece of scrub-trees. He at once decided that Stokes had gone that way and hurried for- ward, again in pursuit, But to no purpose; during the night he did not see Flavus Stokes again, After a time, how- ever, Sherman discovered that he had lost his bearings and knew not which way to turn to re- trace his steps. He was indeed lost! A startling situation, indeed! Lost in the heart of a country swarming with hostile In- dians! But Ethan took his misfortune coolly, resolv- ing to find his way back to where the four golc- hunters had camped amid the pines, if such a thing were possible. Morning came and still the young man had not accomplished his object. Shortly after sun- rise he stood on the brink of a deep, narrow ra- vine. As he paused there for an instant the sound of a sweet voice in song floated upward from out cf the gloomy depths! Both amazed and excited, he bent forward and listened, ° tagerly his ears drank in the exquisite melody of that voice! The sound of angels’ harps SORae not have been sweeter to his famishing soul, Hoe knew the song—he knew the voice! and in a wild ecstasy of uncontrollable joy ha cried: ‘‘God be praised! It is she—my darling Amy!” CHAPTER VI. FACING A TERRIBLE DOOM, SUDDENLY the singing ceased. Dropping upon his knees on the very brink of the ravine, Ethan gazed searchingly into the gloomy depths. He could discern nothing but rocks, shrubs and grim shadows. ‘*She is down there!” he exclaimed, joyously. **T have found her! She is alive!” He listened, with his heart beating tumultu- ously, hoping to hear that loved voice again. Switftly the seconds sped, but no further sound came from below. Slowly the look of joy on | his face gave place to one of mingled suspense and disappointment, Suddenly he shouted: ‘Amy! Amy! Amy!” His onl¥ answer was a far-away echo which repeated the name with a despairing, sorrowful . accent, it seemed to the almost distracted young _ man. | ‘Great heavens!” he groaned, ‘‘ Was I de- ceived? Did I not hear her voice? Am I going mad?” Again he listened. He peered down into the gloom, Far,far down he could see the little stream which ran along the bottom of the — ravine, but he perceived no living thing in the dismal depths. ‘* Amy!” heshouted again, ‘* FerGod’s sake, — answer me! Itis I, Ethan Sherman!”’ No reply, save that of the mocking echoes) ‘‘ Was it a spirit?” he whispered. ‘‘ Did I hear the voice of one who is dea forever?’ For fully five minutes he knelt there, pecring | downward, His heart, which so sbort a time before had been filled with joy, now felt like a stone in his breast. Finally he sunk down upon the brink of the gorge, feeling utterly crushed and hopeless. —- ‘‘She is dead!” he moaned. “It is use- less for me to longer hope. I remember now that she came to me last night and Jed me away fromtbecamp. It was her spirit! It was her spirit which I heard singing downthere, There is nothing to cause me to wisk for a longer life, What is there for me to live for now? Nothing, nothing!” He started up and again gazed down into the ravine. ‘It would mean death to fall from this place,” | he breathed. ‘* Death! rors for me! But I am not. how such a thing can be is beyond m explain. I have thoroughly scour The word has no ter- ‘these hills and have found no trace of her or her parents, — It appears that they surely perished in the Cans on butchery.” | ee After a few moments he sprung to his feet, — shi « ‘ ne oe.” exclaiming: ‘‘T am going down there! Whoknows what and lost to me © / If I were sure that she is dead! She may be living, although ower TO | . hi d ms “A ret A | j 1