Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 851 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

& - terruption was agreeable. fe fae >? oe "J a et Ff a A “sat . A a. at . . - 4 ra a a 4} ed ala + Atel Te aT, Ao - . 4 . “ ‘- : pl <a 7 | ee and I’d advise you to lay in a stock of it while you have the chance. You will have a iong ride to make, and there’s no stopping places along the route.” It was a.i well enough to tell her to take it easy, but she felt like raging, and if she did not do it, it was because, on the instant, she decided on her course, and was able to summon the nerve to keep to it. Some little talk there was, and then, see- ing her so calm, the woman brought out the provisions which were to serve as a meal, and the three did ample justice to them, ‘* No use for you to try to give us the slip, for there’s a good man on the watch down the trai., and another on above. ‘Till you try to cut up monkey-shines we won’t bother tying you up, and if you want to you can lie down and rest till dark. It’s not far off now, and when it comes we will move.” The advice was good, and Stella availed herself of the offered privilege. Though she expected to do no more than rest her wearied limbs she had hardly closed her eyes when she fell into atroubled sleep which lasted until she was awakened by a hand on her shoulder. Then, it was up and away. Several horses were at the door of the dug-out, ‘*Without even giving her a chance to break away, her guide assisted her into the saddle, ard*then mounted himself, The old woman scrambled up on another horse with- out any assistance, and the trio set out, up the canyon, | Stella asked but few questions. The curt refusal of answers stopped off the flood that might have been expected. It was enough to know she was a prisoner; and though promised gentle treatment so long as she made no effort at resistance or escape, she knew well what that might amount to. What it all meant was a mystery. So far as she was aware all the world might know whatever concerned the life and death of Harold Stone, yet if this capture was not on account of her quest for him, or his remains, what could it mean? There seemed to be but one course open to her. She must wait in patience to find out. Some time, perhaps, she might learn much more than she had ever dreamed of. But the journey was fated to meet with an icterruption. Suddenly, and from no great distance, there came a short, sharp warning and command: ‘*Stiddy, thar, an’ han’sup! Cap’n Brand wants ter know w’ot’s goin’ on hyer.” CHAPTER VIL. | THE VAINNESS OF CAPTAIN BRAND’S WORE. STEVE Bravery, Stella’s guide, halted promptly enough at the challenge. The drop was on him, and Captain Brand had the reputation of shooting quickly when his orders were not obeyed. Stella hardly knew whether or no the in- It seemed to her, somehow, that her purse was doomed. Once, in some miraculous way, it had escaped from é M 9 ‘’ 4 ; LIN 4 . 7 ale 7 o* WA ; the outlaws, and so far Bradley ha 7y a : . > “ . * « '__ in the case. showed no designs against it, but now it would a ole have to go. _ Still, it was likely that when they were robbed the road-agents would turn them - loose, and she thought they would be will- to set her face in the direction of the Flat, and perhaps hold Bradley and the Woman. there until she had obtained a fair tart. To Bradley there was no redeeming feature He knew more about the gang, \ and they had an unpleasant way of putting ' their fingers into other people's pies, and ex- -_ .- <= * sal ~~ ‘ ¢ J 3 ate a ef rt oem > ‘ ; 5eht ae ott ati 7 - { Lg * all the plums, and then acting harshly if there was any cutting up rough about it. In sullen silence he awaited what ‘was to come, ae) a ‘7 [3% , aft, Pm A ~ “7° i a > . c - - ‘eu , > « 7S, - . a, “ m I ih — o * i * Cen ay : . 4 ole ‘s . -* rue ” ‘ - te* ; Pe The Tie-To Sport. The outlaw came out from the trail-side, and their weapons pointed in the same direction. ‘*Speak up, man, an’ let us know what you war doin’ hyer with that thar young lady in tow. Looks like ez though thar war some kind ov a game up thet Cap’n Brand wants ter take a han’in, Tell ther truth, er face ther devil.” ‘No game is there, at all. She wanted to find a man, and I agreed to bring herto him. V’m taking her there now, and that’s all there is about it,” ‘* And the man. for him.” ‘*And a mighty queer man.” ‘** His name,” ‘Don’t know that his name counts much. He might kick if I was to begin to sling it around. loose, up hyer.” ‘* You'll find that it counts a heap ef you don’t tell it mighty sudden, Thar won't be another time ov askin’,” ‘* Adam Druyer, then, if you must know it. What she wants of him you mustask her yourself. 1 don’t know.” ‘*Is this hyera true bill, voung lady?’ asked the road-agent, turning sharply to Stella, who had been listening without giving the lvast sign of concern. “True as farasit goes. I started under his guidance, with the expectation of being led to the man he names but since then I[ have doubted whether he had any such in- tention at all.” ‘*Has he treated you badly?” ‘*Not beyond a few threats which were enough to make me very careful how I acted for fear worse should come.” **Glad tohearit. Itsavesa hangin’ match, Now, Mister Man, you hev finished your con- track, an’ brought ther young lady jest ez far ez she wants ter go. You continner ter keep yer han’s up, an’ take ther back track, ter wunst. Tl tend ter ther rest.” ‘“‘ Thank you for dismissing my false guide, but would it not do just as well if you were to allow me to take the back track, and keep him here until I was fairly on the way?” Stella’s interruption was useless. The out- law coldly answered: ‘*Scassly. That may come later on, but jest now you’ve come so furit’d bea dog- goned shame ef you war disserp’inted.” ‘‘Tt seems to me] am bound to be that, anyway,” she answered, coldly watching the retreating figure of Steve Bradley, who had wasted no words, and was riding away with i ee holding the reins high over his ead. ‘*P’rhaps not. This hyer lady hed better be a-movin’ “long in ther same d’reckshun ef she wants ter go at all, an’ then we'll con- sider,” The woman wanted no urging. From the moment of the appearance of the road-agent she seemed to shun observation as much as possible, and if she had not started with her companion in the abduction it was because she was afraid she might not be included in the arrangement. She went away without a single backward glance. ** An’ now, leetle woman, they done the'r work upa heap-sight better than they fig- eredon. You war loekin’ fur Adam Druyer. ’m ther chap; what’s wanted?” ‘‘Is there a threat behind that, if I do not go on and reveal my business? You can scarcely expect me to believe that you are the man for whom I am searching.” ‘““ Jest ez yer hez it. But ef thar’s ary other man sez he’s ther Adam Druyer thet prospected ’round hyer with one Harold Stone, in times ez are gone by, thet same are a liar an’ a hoss-thief. I’m guessin’ thet you be ther darter ov my ole side-pard, an’ I’m a givin’ yer a straight tip on ther dead level, Ef I’ve mistook, all I got ter do are ter swear yerin an’ let yer go. Furary other body I ain’t got a word ter say regardin’ them things,” It’s a queer place to look a ‘ ~- “> verte a « - e +e “ay ah ‘ : “Tam the daughter of the Harold Stone you mention, but I cannot yet believe you are the man I wanted to find.” ‘*Play you do, though, an’ open out. Yer cain’t do yerself ary damidge, an’ ef it’s ther truth I’m tellin’ yer it may bea heap good thing ter do.” ‘But Adam Druyer was—was—’ Prudence forbade her to finish the sen- tence as she had intended when she began it. If this was the Druyer she wanted he might well take exception to what she had begun to say. Captain Brand, however, finished the sen- tence for her, and he did it with a harsh laugh. ‘Was an honest man, you war goin’ ter ‘ An’ he talked like a book. That war ther old Adam, sure enuf, an’ yit I’m ther same pusson. Don’t ax questions why it are so, but just knuckle down ter biz. I ain't much time ter waste, an’ ef yer don't git w’ot yer want now thar’s no tellin’ ef yer ever gits it. The life we live are mighty onsart’in.”’ ‘If you are the Adam Druyer I sought to meet then you are in disguise, and afraid to trust yourself with me under your own colors, Why should I show more confidence?” ‘Bless yer soul, honey, what’s that to do with your affairs?) Nex’ time yer sees me T’ll be sum’un’ else, It’s a part ov ther trade. I ain’t like ter do yer ary harm, an’ I may do yer good. Ef yer won't run yer chainces better wagon back ter town an’ call ther deal off.” ‘There is truth in what you say, and be- cause it can make matters no worse I will take you at your word and believe you are the old-time pard of my father. It does not seem it should be hard for you to guess what I would ask. ‘‘Can there be a chance that Harold Stone still lives? If not, how did he die, and where was he buried? ‘There is more than revenge or sentiment in these questions, though there is enough of both,” .‘* Now ye’r’ a-gittin’ ter bedrock. An’ it’s jest ez well you don’t ax them things too free ’round Sinners’ Flat. Yer may hev another visit frum Steve Bradley. ain’t shore thet Stone are dead, but it looks mighty likely; an’ ef he’s gone up ther flume it stan’s ter reason thet ther man what holds ther Fair Dove Mine started him on his journey. Mebbe you have heered ov Morris Howe?” ‘*] have heard the name, and that he owns property that was my father’s by right of discovery and work; but I have heard little more. ‘Teli me something of him, and why you fancy he is guilty of such a thing as a murder.” “You kep’ me so long a-chinnin’ thet [ ‘ain’t ez much time ez I'd like fer explainin’, an’ I'll hev ter make it short an’ solid.” He stopped for a moment as though he was seeking to arrange what hehadtosay, Then, in a low tone, he went on: ‘When aman hez a good thing ov it an’ steps out suddint an’ onbeknowns, an’ an+ other man drops inter bis shoes ‘thout hevin’ ter say whar or how, out byer we spect ef we do keep dark. Ef I hed bin hyer you bet thar would 'a’ bin questions axed; but by ther time I got back it war late in the day, an’ I war kinder oncertain ef I'd git justiss in a court. I bin a-loakin ‘round a leetle on me own hook, an’ mebbe I struck s’uthin’ “z hez a bearin’. Youseen me git it frum Meg Brandon. It looks all straight an’ sim B54 i an’ shows thet ther mortgidge ez Howe all paid off, slick an’ clean.” As he spoke he brought out the very paper he had succeeded in forcing from the proprietress of the Gates of Glory when the stage was held up. ‘‘®z she said, I cain’t do much with this; } | Da AP eee es oe : “—_ >’ ee eld on ther find war Ae _- : mi i ie a athe v PBe v comicbooks.com > a re