Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 88 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

A! i | | | : ae - act of watching —_— Ce eee - ™ —_ = — on ossessed no beauty at all, and years of single life “a served to sour her temper as well as her looks. * Well, John Miner! is that you?’ she exclaimed, in a shrill, harsh voice. “I don’t see what keeps you out-of-doors so late every night, I hope for oodness sake you will try and mend your ways, Sohn. You know what the Good Book says about the evils of staying out late of nights. Oh, deary! it makes me sick to be always a-jawin’ of you, John Miner.”’ ‘‘Then, for Heaven’s sake! don’t everlastingly make a habit of it, Prissy. But look here, if you can possibly take your hand off from that potato- an, and see what a present I have got for you oh Miss Priscilla did look—then bounded to her feet with a feminine shriek, and away went the potatoes and pan upon the floor. vine 5 John Miner!’’ she gasped; ‘* you—you gone and tied a woman to your coat-tails!” ‘Hold on now, Prissy; don’t get off ther belt, all ter once, This young lady has been placed in our protection by the miners, and we are to keep away a passel o’ galoots who hev laid claims ter her, That’s all—so quiet yourself. ‘‘ Dew tell!” Miss Priscilla gasped, hastily picking up her potatoes and agape about, wonderfully, ‘So ye’re & regular leetle her’ine, eh, miss, like they tell us about in the novels? Laws! who'd ’a‘ thought? John Miner, do you go to the grocery and get some tea at once, for the canister is clean gone empty, and there’s nothing so strengthening to the nerves as a good cup of tea. Her’ines drink tea, don’t they, miss?’ she added, turning apologet- ically to Jennie. ‘Dear me! I clear forget I ever did know.” “T presume they do,” Jennie laughed, *‘ though mr are overrating me in calli me a heroine. hat is one of the things I never laid claim to.” Miss Priscilla would not hear to such an idea, however, and continually persisted in making Jen- nie out a real heroine, such, she would add, ‘‘as you read about in the story 8 a A plain but substantial meal of venison, oatmeal, and corn-bread, with a choice of fresh milk or tea, was soon set upon the table, and thankfully the new ward of John Mason proceeded to do justice to it for s26 was very hungry, having had nothing to ea since the day previous, when, as she related, she had paid out her last penny at a miner’s cabin fora iece of bread. The meal finished, she was shown to a snug little room, which Miss Priscilla assured her was to be her own; and after bidding the hostess good-night, the fugitive undressed and retired for the night, feeling a greater sense of safety than she had for many along week. And if in her dreams the hand- some face and form of the Spotter Sport did not rise before her, it was something else of a pleasin nature, for occasionally a happy expression flit across the fair face as it lay silent in slumber, Rosebud Rob, after leaving Jennie Grey in front of Mason’s cabin, sauntered back into the town thinking, very naturally, of the pretty waif who had been so suddenly thrust upon his hands, As he was passing the Big Lode Bank, the ay stone structure, b @ way, in the town, Mr. Mar Manners, the gentlemanly cashier and book-keeper, came out, | and clo the door after him. The rt nodied leasantly, and was on, when ners called him back, with a troubled ex- pression upon his face. ‘‘ What is it?’ Rosebud asked, returning, in some surprise, for he had never known Manners inti- mately. = Ohi I was a little worried, and wished to consult ” the clerk said, seating himself, and producin you,”’ the ’ g acase of cigars. ‘* You are well posted as to the evil element in this place, and perhaps can advise me what to do.” ‘“* Maybe I cah, if you open up your batteries, sO that I can see what you are driving at. ‘* Well, in the first place, we are kind of worried, because we have an overstock of gold on hand, which we have no immediate chance to ship, as the : chen es will not get around here in a month again. Had I not, from your several acts, learned to trust you implicitly, I should not tell you this. Per- haps you will be surprised when I tell you that there is a half a million of dollars in gold inside these Ww: in addition to the cash assets of the bank itself. Evidently the Sport was surprised, for he gave vent to a quiet whistle. ‘* All that gold never was taken out of the sands of Cascade Gulch?’ he said, interrogatively. ; Oh! no. There are two large deposits in the names of men who have recently come from other mines, besides a considerable dust. and grains from this ir on ‘** And you feel rather spookish wi’ sech a grist in the tiller, eh?’ pe gr ‘Yes, especially as men have been caught in the e bank upon several occasions of late, after dark.” ‘‘ Were they masked?” ‘Yes, and well heeled,” was the reply. ‘Diablo, the road agent’s men, no doubt. You've heard of them? sé } a4 “Well, you’re lucky then. A new g of cut- throats, you see, under a human de blo.”’ called Dia- Trying to emulate the remarkable career of the illustrious Deadwood Dick, eh?” ‘By no means. Deadwood Dick had many gen- tlemanly traits, but from what I can learn, this so- styled Diablo and his gang are human vultures and cutthroats, whose only aim is plunder and blood- shed. I’ve pricked up my ears, of late, and shall Photograph Phil. give the case of these gents some of my individual attention.”’ ‘‘Andin the meantime, do you believe our bank is in any danger?”’ **Not if you keep it guarded. How many persons know that you have so much wealth on hand?”’ ** None excepting yourself, Millicent Vere, and the officers of the ank.” **Ah! who is this Millicent Vere, of whom you speak ?”’ “Oh! she is all right--the daughter of a widow, down below bere. I have known her some time, and believe her perfectly honest, or I shouldn’t have intrusted her with so important a secret, ”’ ‘Well, maybe you did right, and maybe you didn’t!” the Sport observed, thoughtfully. ‘I wouldn't intrust such a secret with a woman, unless she were my wife, and then I should want a muzzle on her tongue,” And so saying, he sauntered away down the gulch, leaving Mark Manners sitting upon the bank steps. From that night, dated Cascade City’s history in the annals of crime. For in the early dawn of the morning the startling intelligence was heralded abroad, that a robbery had been perpetrated at the Big Lode Bank, and the watchman, Ike Caruthers, and the cashier, Mark Manners, had been killed. The news spread like wildfire, and vast crowds quickly gathered in the vicinity of the bank. Rosebud Rob had been among the first upon the spot, after the alarm was given, and he was speedily oined by half a dozen others, among whom were altimore Bess, Bully Ike, the bummer, and Photo- graph Phil The dastardly work had been committed within the bank, for Manners and the man Caruthers lay upon the counting-room floor, a bullet-hole in each of their temples telling how they had died. The place, even to the single vault, had been ran- sacked of everything of money value, and such articles as were not portable had been smashed, or damaged to a great extent. And over the kalsomined walls were written, with the devices of skull and cross-bones, the words: * This is the work of Diablo and his Infernal Forty !” ‘* That explains it,’’ Rosebud Rob said, pointing to the inscription. “It is the work of that human ghoul, Diablo. In the dead of night they have somehow contrived to surprise Manners and the guard, and murdered them in cold blood.” As he finished speaking, Baltimore Bess approach- ed, and as she caught sight of the deathly face of Manners lying upon the floor, she suddenly grew very white—gave vent to a strange, painful cry, and in a dead faint would have fallen, had it not been for Rosebud Rob, who caught her and broke her fall. ‘*What was Manners to her?’ the president of the bank asked, coming forward with a pitcher of water, which he dashed into her face. ‘*You’re given me a conundrum!” the Sport re- lied, gazing down into the pretty face of the dare- evil, and comparing it to the vision which was in his mind, of the waif, Jennie Gray. There were lines in the face of Baltimore Bess, which hid rare sorrows—there were lines there sweet and beautiful, which reminded the Sport of the maiden whom he had made John Mason’s ward. Bess soon regained her consciousness. Hers was a strong constitution, and she ever rallied quickly. Rosebud Rob assisted her to arise, and 1 the wet from her face with his handkerchief. She trembled in every limb, and was very white—shud- dered, as with horror, when her eyes for an instant wandered back to the dead face o k Manners. ‘“*Come!’’ Rosebud said, in a low tone, * you had better leave this place. Let me assist you—” ‘*No, Mr. Mapleton, thanking you all the same, I am stronger now, and can go myself and alone. I st Maden’ Mrs. Lyoniel, up the euich. and can easily go there.”’ The Sport knew that Mrs. Lyoniel was a good Christian lady, who had several months ago los her husband in a blas a horror, up at Crook City, and had come into Cascade City, with a view to . ing a few boarders. * You had best go at once, then,” he said, in his kindly but authoritative way. “If you need my as- sistance in any way, send for me. But, first, what is Mark Manners to you? Are there any directions a would leave in regard to the disposal of his 9 > A None!” she replied, a set look coming upon her pretty face—so quietly beautiful it looked now, in its unwonted pallor. ‘It was only a moment of wo- manish weakness which caused me the faint. The dead man is nothing to me.” She turned and left the bank. There was a surging crowd gathered on the out- side, but they parted, respectfully, for her to pass through, for all in the gulch city knew that she would brook no may ad nor familiarity. In the meantime, the bodies of the murdered men were taken to their are oa homes, where they were prepared for burial. Manners was an old bachelor, as nearly as could be learned, and boarded at one of the shanty hotels, but lodging within the bank. Caruthers had a wife and several small children, and lived in a little cabin further down the gulch. The affair of the murder and robbery created such oe excitement as Cascade City had never known be- ore. Men stood in knots engaged in conversation, all about the gulch, and there were many bitter curses uttered against Diablo and his gang. Rosebud Rob, ever on hand and accommodating, va superintended the arrangement of the bodies for burial, and such things as were needed, he grt chased with his own means. It was his way of do- ing a kindness. After everything was yeepenoe he went back to the bank, and had a short conversation with the directors, ; They were men-about-town who had accumulated some wealth and put it into the banking-business, Their respective fortunes were now broke, as well as those of the depositors, until the money, could be recovered. There was a meeting between the depositors and officers, and all agreed, by unanimous vote, that the Sport was the man to put upon the trail, After some thought, together with an offer of one- third the booty recaptured, Rosebud Rob signified his willingness to hunt up the perpetrators of the robbery and murder, provided sufficient time vas given him for his purpose. He then left the bank, and turned his footsteps to ward the cabin of the miner, John Mason. He had become acquainted with the Masons, and he felt comparatively at home in visiting them. And if it was a pleasure to visit them hereto- fore, why should it not be now, when the cabin was enlivened by a ray of sunshine in the bewitching, artless person of Jennie Grey. i The waif had made a deep impression upon the port, ee a me a eee et CHAPTER VI. JENNIE GREY'S STORY, As he approached the cabin he perceived Jennie sitting in the doorway, engaged in paring some wild apples, which had grown upon a tree nigh at hand. She was attired in a wrapper, which had evidently some day belonged to Miss Priscilla, and wore one of the latter’s aprons—altogether making a charm- ing picture of a rosy, happy little housewife; for she was singing cheerily, and the wild look in her eyes of the previous night had Leen replaced by an expression which was sweet to behold, She arose with a welcoming smile, and put forth her fair little hands trustingly into the Spoit’s rougher ones, as he came up to where she was standing. ** Oh! Tam so glad to see you, sir. One never for- ets a friend, I believe, in an hour of need;” and sie aughed, showing her pearly teeth to the best pOssi- ble advantage, “Thank you for the compliment ” Rob replied, leaning against the doorpost, and gazing down upon her as she resumed her seat. ‘One would suppo‘e you quite happy and contented; you sing as happily as the thrush. But then, perhaps it is your natwe to be merry under circumstances where others would be sorrowful.” ‘Please do not misjudge me, sir. I always try to be cheerful, but sometimes fail utterly. I am sure I feel very contented here, Indeed, why should ‘t I? Mr. and Miss Mason are both very kind and gi %- erous to me; and while my gratitude to them js earnest, my gratitude to you knows no bounds, Fer, but for you, my enemies would even now have ine in their possession.”’ “T trust not. Iam sure there are plenty of men in this town who would stand up for a defenseless woman.”’ “But how many are there, Mr. Mapleton, who would take a woman’s word in the face of the ple1 s- ible lies of the meek-faced ee who par: as himself off, and would hide his blackness, under t. e clerical garb? Ah, sir! butfew. In fleeing all they ay hither from Virginia I have had ample experier: e, which has taught me that a wolf may hide in sheep's clothing, and be a wolf withal.,”’ “Very truly spoken. We little know when cur best friends may, literally, display a cloven fo t. Have you seen anyt of your enemies, Misy Grey ?’ ‘No, sir; but their silence, I believe, means evi! te me. Oh, Mr. Mapleton! if you could but know haw I dread that man, Lucas Alyne, and his unseri pu lous son, Jean! A chill of horror creeps over my flesh every time I think of them.”’ * You should not entertain such feeli but should be brave, Although these men may be vil- lains, fear them not, for you have true friends~ ho will be eager enough to fight your battles, We id oe codees to telling me more about them and ye' r- se “ Certainly not, sir, for I feel that in you I cany ut implicit trust. Although I huow comyaratiy, y nothing of you, you must not teel flattered whe. tell you that I believe you a true and noble genile- man under your guise of the Sport.”’ “Thank you for your good opinion, Miss Jenrie. May I be lent the power to do more to favorit, Now, if you will tell me about yourself—”’ Certainly. Pray be seated;’’ and she made room for him in the wide doorway; nor was he loth to ac- , cept a position near this fair girl, in whom he wes becoming more and more interested. She was moc- est and refined—somehow so different fiom the women generally encountered in the mines, and bers was the warm impulsive nature of the bonny maid- ens of the South and the tropics—of those women who love intensely and hate even stronger. And she, with her artless ways, was the one out of a hundred who could particularly interest the cool, calculating Sport. ‘‘To begin with,” she said, her starry eyes gazing: away into space, “some five years ago, after the sudden death of my mother, my father found his pe cuniary circumstances greatly embarrassed, and de- termined to seek his fortune anew in the Western territories, where gold was to be found fer the dig: ging. Our grand old estate, called Lionsfold, wes threatened by the auctioneer’s hammer, u COMIC “Ss (E() poo