Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 90 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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{ | ; ' The Dread Rider. 17 — a, for one, defy the whole of Chesterville, as far as that is concerned.” ‘ But what do you propose, Dick? We have got to act at once, or it will be too late, Oh, I cannot help shuddering now as I think of that fearful demon!” ‘‘What do I propose? Why, to get out of this as quick as possible.” ‘‘But my property? You must remember I cannot take this with me. And our gold?” ‘¢ Property be hanged! Do you weigh it be- side your life? But this is no time to talk of that.” “Then we must flee again, wandering out- casts! But if I escape this, you will find me, henceforth, a different man.” ‘You can do as you please in the future; thatis immaterial to me, But I warn you, if you go toward the States, don’t stop this side of the Mississippi.” ‘Never fear for that, Dick. But hadn’t we better keep together?” “Why so? Hach man for himself in times like this. It will be better for us to separate though we part to never meet again.” “*T suppose you are right, Dick; but some- how, my courage is all gone.” “Brace up, Tom! brace up! be out of this, safe and sound.” **T wish I could think so,” the other said, sadly. ‘Your chance is as good as mine, and mine is as good as any,” replies his companion, en- couragingly. ‘* Mark my word, I shall escape; and I see no earthly reason why you shouldn’t, But it is time wé were moving. While all is quiet, we must away. I agreed to meet the boys at the chaparral, and it is time I was there.” “Then you are going to have an escort to protect you?” asks the other, almost reproach- fully. “An escort?” laitghs the other; “no, unless you consider a woman such. But Bessie Ray- mun is going with me.” ‘Bessie Raymun going with youl” echoes Tom, incredulously. The outlaw laughs. ** But has she consented?” Again the masked man laughs. “Do you think I would stop for that? No. But the boys’ll have her ready for me.” ‘‘Then you are going to take her. But why is it you must always have a woman mixed up in your affairs? She will be a hindrance in your flight. And remember, too, colonel, this is the third time. Beware.” ‘Though it costs me my life, I will never leave Chesterville without taking her with me, There is one who shall never have her to gloat over in triumph.” “Well, colonel, do as you please; but as for me, I’ll have no woman to bother with.” “ AN] right,” assents the outlaw. “Come! I suppose you will take your horse. [shall take the one belonging to Curt Dash. Ha! won't the Regulator be mad when he misses it?’ And once more the bandit laughs, as if the thought is humorous. Silently the twain seek the door, and as silentty glide out into the night. Under the silvery beams of the clear full moon, it is nearly as light asday. Swiftly they make for ‘the stable, adjoining the “Home.” But, sud- denly, a low, discordant laugh checks them in their course, Good Heaven! the very fiend from whom they are hoping to escape, the insatiable aven- ger who is hunting them to death, stands in their path, Paralyzed with terror, they are powerless to move or speak; but with blanched faces and trembling limbs gaze upon the fearful being— their fate! Both know that one is doomed! and each feels he is the one. We shall soon CHAPTER XXITIT A STARTLING DISCOVERY, THE rider, as if enjoying the situation, slowly raises his fatal weapon! Then, the piercing eyes select their victim, the livid scar presses the rifle-stock, the nervous fingers clutch the trigger, and a sharp report tells the rest. A mocking laugh, and the demon is gone. “Thank God! I have escaped once more! ‘“@xclaims the outlaw.” But, I would not un- dergo that again for worlds, Still I must not forget that he is close on my track! He is on the right trail now! Ralph and I are alone! But before the rising of to-morrow’s sun, we will be leagues and leagues from here! Ina foreign land beyond the ocean, we shall be safe, safe.” As soon as possible the outlaw leads from the stable Curt Dash’s powerful dark-bay gelding, the fleetest horse in all Shelby, save Vall Deck- ers blood-bay, now worn with hard riding, and the roan steed of the phantom Dead Duel- ist. ‘‘Good-by, Prairie Home!” he murmurs, as he springs into the saddle. ‘*Good-by, Ches- terville! good-by, forever! Though my stay has been brief, and filled with painful experi- ences, I hate toleave you. But with me goes your fairest light, and, perhaps, your darkest shadow.” The bandit rides away, his keen vision glanc- ing in every direction, fearing, he hardly knows what. Soon he pauses near the edge of the chapar- ral, but not a single living object is to be seen —not a sound is heard. “IT must be too late,” he mutters. ‘* They have certainly come, ere this. Hal! a rifle- shot! Another! and another! By heavens! something is wrong! The boys are in trouble!” Shouts and shrieks are heard. They come from the direction of Col. Raymun’s hacienda, Without hesitation, the outlaw gallops mad- ly on toward the hue and ery of battle. That the reader may better understand the situation, we beg permission to go back into the past to the time when the scene in our last chapter was occurring. Then, a party of men riding from the west paused by the edge of Chester chaparral. A man stealing through the tangled brush growth saw them as they drew rein. The horsemen were Black Wayne’s outlaws; the other, Gil Rey. “Egad! thar’s some deviltry afoot!” solilo- quized the Regulator. Then, he cautiously crept forward near enough to hear some re- marks, which told him their business and des- tination. Soon he was hurrying to the settlement, and rallying the Rangers from their homes. Outside the grove in front of Colonel Ray- mun’s hacienda the foes met. As the outlaw leader nears the place already specified he finds that his worst fears are real- ized. His followers attempting the forcible abduction of Bessie Raymun have brought the Regulators and it seems the whole of Chester- ville down upon them. Kverywhere the con- flict seems raging. ‘This is a pretty go!” he hisses between his clenched teeth. ‘‘I have a mind to let the fools fight it out themselves. They are noth- ing tome now! But stay! I must have her!” With the words, he rides on a few rods, and reaches the border of the grove. Then, almost undecided which way to turn he slackens the pace of his horse to a walk. Under the shade of the trees, it is quite dark—so dark that he does not see the form of a man crouching near the trunk of a tree but a few feet distant, as if waiting his coming. : ‘‘ By heavens! the boys have got their hands full! If I would get her, I musi work ere it is too late!” he cries, striking his rowels deep in- to the sides of his spirited animal. A snort of terror, and the high-mettled steed bounds forward; when, suddenly, a grasp up- on the bridle almost hurls the horse back upon his haunches. Quick as lightning almost, the assailant draws a pistol, and leveling it at the other, fires. But by a sudden movement of his head, the horse receives the fatal charge instead of its rider; and, with a shrill cry of pain, falls for- ward, in the throes of death. aa Dexterously freeing his feet from the stir- rups, the masked outlaw springs to the earth unhurt. Then the two men close in fierce, deadly combat, each knowing his life is at stake. The two men are evenly matched; so evenly in fact that it seems for atime as if neither will succumb. To and fro, back and forth, they struggle in the darkness. Once we saw the outlaw at a disadvantage, but now he has gain- ed more than he had lost; he is avove! he is about dealing the fatal blow when he is burled back. A quick blow follows, and with quiver- ing limbs, a man falls prone upon the ground; and in a moment the victor staggers to bis feet. We recognize Curt Dash, the Regulator chief, ’ Hearing some one passing, just as he regains his feet, Curt hails him; and a moment later nalf a dozen Regulators have gathered around the place. ‘“What’s the trouble, cap’en?’ asks the fore- most, none other than Gil Rey. ‘* You look about bu’sted!” ‘Nothing, Gil,” answers the chief; “ only I have just had a tussle with the masked outlaw, aad he came near getting the best of me,” ‘Had a scrimmage with Black Wayne! What! thet him?’ cries the Regulator, as he catches sight of the outlaw’s prostrate form. ‘Yes; but I do not think he is dead, and you had better eecure him before he recovers,” “T reckon so, too, cap’en. But fust, ’m goin’ to take the old chap’s vail off. I’m mighty curious to know how he looks.’’ Suiting the action to his words, the moun- taineer tears off the outlaw’s mask, when the surprised crowd gaze upon the white, wpturned» face of Vall Deckers! CHAPTER XXIV. THE CHIEF VICTIM OF ALL “Tr is as I have long thought—Vall Deckors, the Regulator, and Black Wayne, the masked outlaw, are one and the same person.” It was Colonel Raymun who uttered the speech, as he joined the excited group. ‘“T, too, have long expected it,” supplements Curt Dash; but having no proof dared not give it utterance.” ‘¢What is it? Who is it?’ cries a voice from the rear of the group. : Some one answers— ) ‘Tis Brad Wayne, the masked outlaw,” “ Lynch him!” ' ‘Shoot him!” ‘Rope him!” These are the cries taken up by the excited crowd, as they realize that their dreaded foe, ‘ the outlaw leader of Shelby county, is at last — in their power. In their wild excitement, none think or care that he is a human being; but one and all demand the justice, which has been so long deferred. As if realizing’ his peril, the bandit suddenly shows signs of returning consciousness, and soon rallies, starting half-way to his feet, with a scared, haggard look. It is with the greatest difficulty that Curt Dash, aided by Colonel Raymun and Gil Rey, can keep the infuriated mob from tearing him limb from limb. “ Back there, men!” commands the Regulator chief ;“‘ justice shall be done at the proper time.” Awed by their leader’s voice, the Ranger’s shrink back, and the outlaw breathes more freely. “Where is Colonel Raymun?” The question comes in a quick, abrupt way from a man who had joined the group. “His daughter cannot be found! She is gone!” “Bessie gone!” cries the father, in an anxious, agonizing tone. The outlaws had been beaten, and, all had supposed, completely routed before they had done any harm. Three of their number had been slain, and the others had fled, as Gil Rey said, “like mountain sheep.” But they had accomplished their object, though it was learned only too late, é eoim \ , ehbooks.com