Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 88 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

qq = } int, and did not need more than ordinary coaxing engage in a pitched battle. With wild howls they now sprung forward, firing as they came. The shots detonated thick and fast; yells of human agony were heard; missiles were hurled promiscu- ously through the air, and there was the accompa- nying crashing of bottles and cheap mirrors. Bully Ike went down from a club-blow upon the forehead in the first of the battle. But sebud Rob, Bess, and John Mason fought like tigers caged in their lairs; but Rosebud Rob soon staggered and OT sai Baltimore Bess saw him, and a gasp of horror es- gaped her lips—a strange whiteness crept over her ace, “ Fight them off until I can get him out, Mason!” she whispered, in the miner’s ear. “I fear that the devils have done for the Sport!” The words seeming toinspire the miner with re- newed strength and courage. He seized the stout ost of a shattered chair, swung it aloft, and sprung orward in the face of half-a-dozen men as brawny as himself. Swish! the ponderous weapon hissed through the air, and dropped the foremost tough like a log, while in alarm the remaining five retreated, step by step, until they were forced back into the gambling-room, He ason — slammed shut and barred the door, thus temporarily imprisoning his foes. He then turned in time to see Baltimore Bess leav- ing the room, noe lag 4 the inanimate form of the Sportin her arms as if it had been a light rifle she were oe Dragging the senseless bummer out into the gulch, John Mason set off toward his own home, for he was severely wounded in several places, and was growing weak from loss of blood. Baltimore Bess, in the meantime, carried the Sport from the saloon, and to the house of the lady with whom she boarded. Not one woman of a thousand could have accomplished the feat, but she did, with seeming ease, : The widow stood in the door as the dare-devil ap- proached with her burden. ‘Why, Bess, what is the matter?’ she exclaimed in horror end amazement. ‘*Who have you there? Meroey, how could you ever lift such a heavy man?”’ ** Pooh!” Bass gasped, “‘let mein, Thisis the Sport, of whom I’ve often told you. He’s often been m ner inarow, and now that he’s got plugged, Pm goin’ to take care of him.” Mrs. Lyoniel readily acquiesced. She was an earnest friend to Bess, and was eager to please her, Bess bore the Sport up-stairs to her own room, as every other apartment in the widow’s shanty was occupied by boarders. Among them was a young physician, and while Bess and the widow retired, he was left to make an examination of the Sport’s injuries. A half-hour of anxious suspense it was to the girl before the physician came down to the parlor, where she was seated, attired, not now in her male suit, but in a neatly- fitting dress more suiting to her sex. Her hair was combed back from her forehead, and relieved by a pretty bow of ribbon. Scarcely the same person did she look; in her own attire the dare-devil was lost. There was an eager, anxious look in her eyes, though, as the doctor entered, and she half arose from her seat, the words of inquiry trembling upon her lips: ‘* Mr, Mapleton—is he badly hurt?” ‘‘ Not dangerously, I guess,’’ was the reply. ‘‘The -pullet tore a passage not far from his heart, but I have extracted it safely, and all that is required now is for him to lay in bed a day or 80, for his is the flesh that quickly mends. How was it that you escaped unhurt, Miss Bessie ?”’ : ** You have asked me more than I can tell you, Mr. Rosefeld. The bullets buzzed around me like angry hornets, but none of them stung me, except one, which kissed my arm. But as it did not draw the blood, it is of no account. Could Isee Mr. Maple- ton?’ “ Certainly. There could be no harm in it, unless he were to get excited, which might not aid his re- covery.” Baltimore Bess hastened up stairs and into the room of the sick man. The Sport was bolstered up in bed, and although there was a pale streak about his lips, he appeared own cheerful self. Hestarted as Bess came In, He had never seen her in feminine attire before, nor known how wondrously pretty she could be as a woman, There was a dazzling expression in her eyes now, and a tempting flush to her cheek that he had never marked before. She glided forward to the bedside, her old peculiar smile coming to her relief—the smile she had only for those who possessed her friendship. ‘Tam so glad you are not dangerously hurt,” she said, taking his hand between her own. ‘Do you know I never fought so desperately before as I did to-night? I was just in the right mood for a pitched battle with somebody,” and she gave vent to her old reckless laugh. “ Bess, you are a strange girl—or rather a wo- man,” Rosebud Rob. said, gazing thoughtfully into her face. ‘Why did you bring me here—why not have taken me to my hotel, or to”— “ Mason's!” she interrupted—*“ no, never there! TI wanted you here, where could see that you were cared for. Is not that enough for you to know at present?” “ Well, yes, I suppose it will have to do,’ he re- plied, with a faint Prnile. ‘‘T shall try, however, to get well very soon. The work of that Diablo must be attended to as soon as possible. . “Then you would not even thank me for bringing Photograph Phil. you here?” she said, looking away to hide the tears that sprung to her eyes. ‘*Most assuredly I thank you,” he replied; ‘I should be a brute if I didn’t. And I am also glad you brought me here, if it will in any way add to your happiness. There, brush away those jealous tears, Bess; you are getting out of your old sorts. I Shall be wishing directly, that Miss Grey was any- where else than in Cascade City.”’ “I wish it already, Mr, Mapleton,” was the reply, in a choked voice. “ Please don’t think me a fool, or vindictive, but I cannot think of that girl without a pang of—” ** Jealousy,” he said, finishing for her. ‘‘Own the truth, Bess—is that not it?” “Yes, if you wish, Iam weak for telling you so, but I cannot help it,’’ was the reply. She still kept her face averted, Put he could judge by the tremor which passed over her form that she was greatly agitated. ‘** Bess,”’ he said, reaching and taking her hand and raising it to his lips, even though the effort cost him pain, “‘ you are very good and kind, and I think I can comprehend something of your feelings, for woman has been one of the studies of my life. Leave me now, and return when you are calmer, and, above all, entertain no thoughts of jealousy against that pure-minded, innocent girl in the care of John Mason,’’ She arose from the chair by the bedsice, and turn- ed her gaze upon him—a look that startled him, it was so pregnant of thankful gratification. And then, before he could check her, she had bent and kissed him softly upon the forehead—turned and glided from the room. While the Sport lay upon his bed, a puzzled ex- pression came upon his face—a knitting fogmthad of the brows that denoted perplexity. His spirit chafed in this confinement. e longed to be out and abroad, It was the only time in his eventful life that he remembered of being unable to go or come at will, unrestrained by sickness, He was also aware that he was needed by the town, for they were all looking upon him to recover the stolen bullion, and bring the desperado, Diablo, to justice. ut there was no use of wrestling with impossibil- ities, and knowing this, he summarily dismissed all thoughts from his mind, as he had acquired the habit of doing, and sought rest in slumber. How long he had slept he knew not, but he was awakened by an almost imperceptible touch upon the arm. Opening his eyes, he saw a man’s figure standing beside the bed—a figure wrapped in a long black cloak, with a mask upon the face. He was startled at first, for it was something to him, unexpected. But when he saw that the gen- tleman of the night carried no weapons, visible, his curiosity became greater. “Well?” he finally interrogated, “ what will you have and have it sweetened? Seems tome you've been taking a mighty sight of liberty in entering my bed-chamber.”’ “Sh!” the other whispered, raising a finger, warn- ingly. ‘Not so loud, or you will disturb the house, and Iam sure you wouldn't wish to get a friend into trouble.”’ ‘**A friend?’’ *Yes—a friend, in disguise. I shall have to com- municate to you my intelligence, in a low tone, as no doubt ears are eagerly listening to hear what I tell you. Several times I have been upon the point of telling you, but my motives have been interpreted by unseen enemies, and I have been warned by a hiss, to desist. Therefore, my coming here to-night is secret,”’ “Well, [am prepared to hear what you have to say,’’ the Sport replied, although he was at loss to com ehenhd the nature of the revelation. ‘TL have not much to say, and therefore can say itin a very few words,” the masked visitor said. ‘“C have come to warn you that the desperado, Dia- blo, is seeking your life. He evidently hates you, and will endeavor to settle accounts with you, while you are lying here in bed. Therefore, let me ad- vise you to keep your revolvers handy, and do most of your sleeping in the daytime,” * Who are you?’ Rosebud Rub asked, his curiosity now fully awakened. “Who Iam itis best you should not know,” was the reply. ‘It is enough for you to know that I last night was forced to become a member of Dia» blo’s band, in preference to death. After a frightful initiation, I was sent out again upon your trail—to hunt you to death. You see how faithfully I am obeying the orders of the chief. By my soul, they shall find mea coal of fire in their hands, before they get through with me, that will scorch and burn them at every touch. Heed my warning, and be watchful, lest they surprise you!” Then turning, the masked forewarner stole softly from the room, and descended the stairs, which were dark, the lights having all been put out for the night; the occupants had retired, hours before. a eg opening the door, he stepped out into the night. All was dark, the moon being in under a cloud; and the guich was _ nearly deserted by people, a few drunken stragglers being the only ones abroad. No, not the only ones, for as the masked man stepped out into the open air, three others quickly surrounded him, they all being masked like himself, and wearing long, gown-like cloaxs, “ Sh!’ one said, as the disghised prowler leaped back and drew a stout lignum-vitee club from under his covering; nor did lie wait for a conclusion of the warning, but springing forward like a panther, he laid out the Arst two at a stroke, ee 9 a —_——— -— The other gent of the night evidently had no aspi- rations to share the others’ fate, and turning, he bolted for dear life. Photograph Phil—for it was he who had visited Rosebud Rob—gave vent to a low laugh, as he watched his Infernal Brother dash away into the darkness, * Too much of a good thing was not to his taste,”’ the young Sleuth muttered. ‘* Now, then, let’s see who these fine birds look like with their masks ff, and then I'll lay low, for the old reprobate, Diablo, will soon replace his spies. Hope I've not killed the rascals, as much as they deserve death!’ Producing a small-sized pocket bull’s-eye lantern he knelt beside the two men whom his club hac felled senseless to the earth. Shoving back the slide, a tiny bar of light shot out into the night, which he threw full into the faces of the two outlaws after removing their masks. Their faces were smooth, and he could not remem- ber ever having seen them before, but upon their foreheads was a mark which could never be erased— a burnt disfigurement of letters which formed into a. single livid word—‘ Diablo.” ‘* Ha! ha! as I thought! they were shadows set to watch upon my trail. Let me see: their pulses beat. and they live. Shall I not finish’em up and done bind and leave them here for the Vigilantes to string up. He soon had them fixed to suit his notion; then, rising to his feet, he removed his mask, and strode down into the center of the gulch. All of a sudden the moon burst out from its con- cealment, and flooded mother Earth with an unsur- passed brilliancy of mellow light. Photograph Phil started forward, now, with a half’ exclamation. The girl, Millicent Vere, had been crossing his path afew steps away, when the moon he forth, but started to run when she saw him so close It required but a few flying leaps to overtake her, which - did, and placing a hand upon her shoulder, wheeled her about facing him. ‘*Don't be in a hurry, please,’ he said, in an au- thoritative tone, ‘As a guardian of the night, I have a right tointerview all those abroad after the midnight hour, Where have you been?” ‘None of your business, sir! Release me, or T shall cry for help!’ the girl gasped, endeavoring to break from his grasp. ‘* In which case I shall choke blazes out of you,” Phil assured. ‘See here: I don’t want no fussiness out of you, but plain, straight answers to my ques- tions. You're too pretty a girl to hurt for ordinary trifles, but you must “gong up, or I shall hurt you, undoubtedly. Now, then, what fetches you out so. late at night?”’ “Tt matters not to you, sir!’ the girl replied, haughtily. ‘* Your insolence is unpardonable.” ‘** Maybe you don’t recognize me?”’ ‘*Yes—I do not often forget faces.”’ _ Well, you haven't answered my last question, ret.’ ‘* Nor do Lintend to, more than to say that I was not out for any evil purpose.”’ ‘*IT doubt the truth of that statement, miss, for few women are out for any good after midni, rht. However, let that question give way to another, heen do you know of Diablo and his Infernal and?’’ . The eyes of the Boy Sleuth were fixed upon her face in a searching gaze—he expected to mark some change, but there was none. The face was passive and white; the eyes lustrous and jetty—indignant, in their expression. ‘IT know nothing of the parties you mention—why should 1?” “You do know all about them!” Phil asserted, sternly. ‘* You dropped a a at my feet, the other night, bearing a skull and cross-bones, That admitted me into the Temple of Bacchus, and I was made a member of the so-styled Infernal Forty!” A dilation of Millicent Vere’s eyes was the only answer. ‘*T have tothank you for the pain I endured dur- ing that accursed initiation, and since. Girl, do you pas what you are?—a thief, an outlaw, and a mur- derer. ‘“No! no! God help me, not so bad as that!’ she gasped, the moonlight reflecting a paler shade upon her face. ‘You tell what is untrue. ing—nothing.”’ “Hush! do not perjure your soul by more lying!” warned the young Sleuth. ‘Do you know that I could have you strung up for complicity in that bank robbery, and the murder of poor Mark Man- ners and Caruthers?” The girl put up her hand, as if to ward off a blow —staggered back, with a gasp. ** Devil! who are you?” ‘‘One who knows all,’ Photograph Phil replied. ‘*T have all power over you, and you must assist y?? me! ** How?” tone now. . . “By obeying me, and bulldozing that cuss, Di- ablo. What obligations bind you to his service?’ She hesitated. ‘*Tell me. It will be your own salvation to make a clean breast of it.”’ “T am under no sworn obligations to the chief except that it has been to my interest to serve him,” was the reply. ** Since you have asked me I will tell you that my brother was a member of Diablo’s band—unbeknow~, mind you, to my mother, who is old and infirm. My brother did not wish to worry her. At last, my brother was doomed to die, by drawing lots against &@ new member, and I was sent for, aud he entreated me to promise that I would Eomicbooks Cc I know noth- with it? No, I'll be more merciful than that—Pll (' There was a tith of eagerness in her, col