Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 901 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

* < E pee a ; > + + : ¢ 4 « +4 7 : > ‘ee ie) , “ : feeling a particle of alarm rode quietly but _ rapidly in the direction of the point in ques- tion. Before long, Belle got to a part of the mountain she had never before visited alone. There had been an expedition to the Black Rock, as it was called, the previous sum- mer, but her father and half a dozen more men were of the party. The thread of a trail she bad been following became more indistinct, and for a moment Nellie herself hesitated to advance. “T can’t go far wrong,” thought Belle to herself; ‘‘and Nellie will always bring me home, if I turn her head loose. I remember well enough the track they must be aiming for, and the top of the rock will command it. After I have made sure of what and who they are will be time enough to decide what to do next.” There is sometimes practicality no limit to the courage of a girl, especially when there is no blood in sight. The way to the Black Rock was somewhat rough, but presented no great obstacles, and it was not much over a mile from the point where she had been standing when the first glimpse of the party was obtained. Before very long she was fastening her horse a little distance from the foot of the rock, Then she gathered up her short rid- ing-skirt and leisurely climbed over the bowlders, and up the great face of the rock itself, There, carefully keeping herself screened as much as possible, she gazed down into the gorge below. As she had. expected, the party was in sight; and it only took a glimpse to verify her late suspicions. At the head rode a man in a mask, and from the descriptions heard of him she had not a doubt about its being Captain Curse, Some of the other men were masked, and some had faces so covered with bushy. whis- kers their features were unrecognizable, any- way. In the very middle of the procession rode the woman she had seen. She seemed to be bownd to the horse, with thongs also around her wrists, and a lead line from the bit of her mount to the horn of an outlaw's saddle. Evidently the men did not intend to allow her to give them any trouble. Even an attempt at escape had been carefully provided against, ‘¢ Good heavens! Who can she be?” was Belle’s first thought. ‘«That girl never lives around here, She is a lady from the groundup. Where could the villains have captured her?” Next came the question: what could be done? What could she herself do? She did not doubt but. that she knew the eneral direction in which the outlaws inten- ed to travel, so the only thing was to get back to the house as quickly as possible, and arouse her father. In less than an dozen or more men might be put on the trail. ' Yet. “ae wished now she had been less cau- tious, ‘or ‘Jess curious in the outset. Had she given the alarm at once, it might have been possible to surprise these men before they reached their fastness. Now, it might be they would stand a siege, with the advantages of position all on their side, She gave a last look, of the captive, who was now hundred yards. “ Motlicr Mary, have mercy! It is Vera Vane!” she exclaimed, clasping her hands as she turned resolutely away. Then, from the bottom of the rock, and be- tween her and her steed, a man rose Up, a rifle in his hand, exclaiming: “ Han’s up, leetle one! I reckon you're more 0’ our - meat!” noting well the face within a few Diamond Dave, the Gilt-Ed hour a —_—-—___—— —-, CHAPTER VIL. A MILLIONAIRE FROM THE RANKS, Ir it had not been for Diamond Dave, pre- parations for rescue would have gone slow. A way station on one of the trans-continen- tal r6ads is a way station and nothing else, in most cases. Means of transportation in uny other direction than along the line were at a discount. So, naturally, on first inquiry, Kent Baker felt almost hopeless, but the Gilt-Edge Shooter knew a thing cr two, and had got three hours’ sleep. He was, therefore, as fresh as a daisy, and full of resources, By daybreak three mounted men had laid the trail, decided on its general direction, and were off at a gallop toward the Fair Isabel Mine, up on the mountain. Rapidly as they rode, the morning was well under way by the time they reached John Malloy’s. The mine magnate himself was standing in the trail, some little distance from the house, and there was a troubled look on his face. He watched the men come tearing up as though their presence annoyed him, and his hands went toward his weapons. He could not guess what they wanted, but they came with an earnestness he did not like to see, When they got nearer, he recognized Kent Baker, and was somewhat reassured. News of the strike had reached him, even up there, and it was possible the surveyor had been turned back on account of it. His face cleared, and by the time the party drew up in front of him he was ready to give them a hearty welcome. Baker had no time for that, and without waiting began with his story. The track had been torn up by strikers, and then train robbers had madea raid on the sleepers, and carried offa young lady, whom they held for ransom, Twenty thousand dollars was the sum they had already demand- ed, and Mrs. Vane, the mother, was frantic, No such sumcould she raise, The bandits had struck into the mountains in this direc- tion, and the three had turned aside to ask for help, There were men working in the Fair Isabel, who could handle a Winchester, or a revolver, and no doubt knew the intricacies of the mountain path. The pursuers there- fore hoped to get help; and for any time lost the men would be amply recompensed, Malloy listened with. a stolid face, that finally took on something of a frown, ‘‘Sce here, me boys. It’sastraight sthory you’re givin me, Oi don’t doubt, an’ it’s hilp you Oi will, but Oi’d rather do it in me own toime.an’ way.” * John Malloy was on his own ground now, and a trifle excited. The brogue which he sometimes concealed, or forgot, showed it- self to an elegant advantage. Diamond Dave was looking at him with eyes which seldom failed to read a man through and through, and he did not altogether like the expression of his face, but he waited for Kent Baker to answer. ‘‘There’s no time like the present time,” responded Baker, warmly. ‘‘ Just how you give us your help is no difference, so we get it, but I don’t think any man should delay a minute to come to the rescue.” ‘‘Mebbe not, but Oi must think a little av mesilf, an’ me own family. Captain Course is me neighbor, so to sp’ake, an’ av Oi don’t take him at the advantage he'll have plinty av toime to get aven, an’ hes a b’ye that will doie thryin’ to make his teeth mate, Lit me think a bit, Sure, an’ Oi would sooner pay the twinty thousand mesilf than have him phor an inemy.” ‘‘Ransom means delay, and the breaking of her mother’s heart. 1 couldn’t stand the suspense myself,” was the quick answer. ‘It’s generous of you to offer the amount the villains demand, and if the worst came t> the worst, her mother would probably accept the accommodation, but it all sounds ge Shooter. 7 -_—————- infernally cold and calculating, and if I didn’t know better I’d swear you never were an Irishman.” ‘“ Whist, me b’ye! Sure, an’ Oij’ve bin nathuraloized. An’ Oi'm a father, an’ a moine-owner, an’ must look afther me property. Not but what Oi would be glad to take Course in, but Oi must be sure av the ind foorst before Oi issue the diclaration av war Twinty thousand wouldn't. begin to cover the intrist av the damages he could do me; an’ so far, the spalpeen has been sort av fri’ndly.” ‘“ You don’t mean to say that you refuse to nid us?” ho ly asked Kent, a flush of in- dignation on his face. ‘‘ Refuse, is it? What do yez take me for? But Oiam a mon with a daughter, an’ the conthrol av a great property, an’ av Oi wor to do anything rash it’s both moight suffer for it. Captain Course 1s always as good as his word, the divil admoire him for it, an’ she is safe asa church. Give him the totme an’ we'll bargain the loife out av him,” ‘Time! Time!” exclaimed Kent, with an impatient gesture, ‘‘T have lost too infernal much time al- ready. Do you mean to say you would see a delicate woman left amony those wretches fora moment, on the score of expediency? If you are afraid, Mr. Malloy, I shall sa nothing further, but will do what I can with the assistance of men who are, at feast, no cowards.” Diamond Dave had seen that his outfit was amply armed, but Baker never seemed to think of his tools, and flourished his arms after the fashion of a stump speaker wha means to bring down the house. The sport watched him curiously, and wondered if he knew anything about the record of John Malloy, His own hands were in the side pockets of his coat by instinct, though he had not the remotest idea of using the der- ringers which rested there, Malloy controlled himself by an effort. though his face flushed hotly. “Yo can foll’y yer own way, an’ Oil take moine, An’ it’s dollars to cints that it will be John Malloy who gets the young leddy out av the snarl. You’re mad, now, an’, av she’s yer swateheart Oi don’t blame ye; but Oi must look afther the interists all round,” ‘‘Do IT understand that you refuse to allow me to recruit from the’ men at the mine?” asked Baker, paying no attention to what the mine-manager was saying. ‘‘ Ay the men want to go, deuce a bit will Oi shtop thim; but you'll foind it’s all a. mishtake, an’ be glad to have John Malloy to do the rale work. Oi doubt not Cuptain Course warned yez,”’ : Kent Baker made no answer, but swung himself away by a twist of the rein, and the others followed him, though Diamond Dave lingered long enough to say a word or two in a low tone, ‘*He’s hardly up to the ways of Captain Curse or he would take more kindly to ad- vice. I'll-set him straight when he gets a little cooler.” Malloy nodded, and Dave went on. He was a handsome, resolute-looking fellow on horseback, and the mine-manager followed him approvingly with his eyes, ‘Looks loike a shport,” he thought to himself; ‘‘ but he carries the sinse av the outfit, an’ mebbe he'll bring thim to raygon, Av he don’t Oi’ll b’ate ye he stays wid thim to the ind. He has it in his ove.” Then, he once more looked uneasily around, and his glance fell on Pat Bandy, who was coming along as fast as the legs of his pony could carry him. ** What’s up now, yelittle whilp? Where’s Belle?” “Sure. an’ she’s gone up the spout, an’ Oi thought Oi'd be afther tillin’ av yez,” “What do ye m’ane?”’ John Malloy staggered back as though _* ‘ : : i. Via! r eG nw Tag a? se: “i tah wel hee ‘ art "a. Ll . tee - yee rane. ‘as , ENG 4 ee re a ; ia ae 1"4 “comicbooks.com