Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 982: "The Girl Storm-Pilot" — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

—— EEE el —= “ e mings - - - Safe qqetdy ae ee . ‘ CHAPTER VII. WALF RANGER’S CHALLENGE, WaALF RANGER was the first to speak. ‘¢‘ Pardon me, gentlemen—” ** Hew down the dog!” cried Gilroy, brandish- ing his cutlass and preparing to spring upon the strange comer, ‘*‘No honest man would be sneaking in where he is not wanted.” ‘*Or course he was listening!” exclaimed Mark Wildbell drawing his own blade. Redlaw and Ambushade were impatient for the fray to begin. It looked as though the stranger had fallen in- to a perilous trap. If he was alarmed he did not betray the weak- ness. He held a strip of board perhaps four feet long in his hands; otherwise he showed no weapon. of defense, He had taken one step backward so that he stood near the wall, thus keeping his foes in front. Acton Marble was a silent and motionless spectator: He carried the pistol he had used in the duel with Wilfred Morland. He had been taken too much by surprise, however, to think of using it. His stock of courage was not enough to boast of, Somehow Gilroy and his gang hesitated about attacking their unwelcome guest, A dangerous light gleamed in his clear gray eyes, Plainly he was no mean foe, though, unarmed, of course he could stand no show with them, ‘‘T am sorry for this scene,” he said, coolly, **but upon my honor, gentlemen, I did not dream you were here, and my entrance into this room was as unexpected to me as to you,” “‘ Pray, what were you prowling through the building for, anyway?’ growled Gilroy. “I had supposed it was a sacred place not to be broken into by euch as you,” Ranger did not even wince at the insulting speech. : . “It was my misfortune,” he said, calmly, ‘‘ to be caught out in the storm and what more natu- ral than that I should seek shelter here? ‘As I could not find the door below, I groped my way up the stairs, and while trying to find a corner where I could rest until morn- ing, the floor gave way beneath me and here I[ am. ** With your kind permission I will gladly leave you.’ ** Not so fast,” gritted the outlaw chief. ‘‘I reckon you will have to get our permission be- fore you go.” ‘“‘Prithee, old man!” cried Acton Marble, speaking for tbe first time, ‘“how came you here when I supposed you were drowned?’ ‘‘T learned to swim when I was quite young, my friend,” arble uttered an oath, ’ ‘* By the way,” continued the imperturbable man, ‘you may have noticed that Woland’s bell has lost its tongue !” Yor the first time they realized that the bell was silent, As they listened in vain for its clangor, their faces grew dark and fierce oaths fell from their lips, Trembling with rage, Gilroy cried: ‘* 'W hat shail we do with the dog?” ‘*Hew him down!” anrywered Mark Wildbell. ‘¢ But mayhap he ain’t so bad as he seems,” ventured Ambushade, ‘* Sides, I don’t like the looks of his eye,” ‘Settle it the old way, and let the majority rule,” said Redlaw, ‘* Tet the Cap prepare the slips, then,” assent- ed Gilroy, : ‘“*f trust you will bear with usa few minutes, for we want to deal fair with you,” speaking tu Ranger, ; “Oh, certainly,” he smiled, ‘“*T am one of the most accommodating fellows you ever met,” ’ Marble quickly tore a piece of blank paper into five strips, and each man was given one, upon which he wrote what he thought was best to do with the intruder. When they had finished, Gilroy took the slips to read aloud the messages they bore, The first favored giving the stranger bis free- dom; the second, letting him go upon condition he swear eternal secrecy; the fourth advised confinement at least until they could carry out their plans, The other two, by coincidence or intention, read alike: ** Dead men tell no tales.” “‘ That settles it,” declared Gilroy, asif satis- fied with the decision, ‘‘ Now, sirrah, will you aw Or -'v0IP® OE OO SY TT OOO rl i a rr" aes DN give yourself up, or shall we be obliged to over- power you?” ‘‘In the little town where I was born,” said Walf Ranger, with provoking coolness, ‘* it was always customary to capture the culprit before passing sentence upon him,” W hile speaking he drew slowly forth from the folds of his cloak a gleaming Damascus blade! The outlaws stood as if spellbound, ‘‘f see you prefer these to firearms,” he con- tinued, ‘* When I was a boy [ practiced fenc- ing with a wooden sword. But this one isn’t wood, and it bas drawn blood from the best swordsman in the Old World, Do you care to run a tilt?” A stillness so deathlike followed this quiet, bold challenge that the falling of a feather, 16 seemed, might have been heard, In the sickly glare of the solitary lamp the countenance of Walf Ranger could not be piaia- ly seen, though the eyes flashed forth from be- neath the slouched rim of his hat with an omi- nous fire, He seemed like a man bearing the weight of many years, for his turm was bowed and his long, flowing beard was snow-white. But he stood there as immovable as if hewn from stone, ‘* Stand aside, boys,” said Gilroy, hoarsely. ‘‘T'll take some of the conceit from the dog. He’}l find that 1 am no novice with the sword,” ** You will kindly allow me to remove my gt said Ranger in that cool, provoking tone of his, ** Yes,” snapped the wrecker: *‘ and rest as- sured you will never put it on again.” The other offered no reply as he quickly re- moved the garment, showing a strongly built frame, clad in a close-fitting woolen jacket which allowed him free use of his arms, Singular enough, too, his form no longer seemed bent, but erect as Gilroy’s own, Acton Marble wondered at this more than the latter, who was impatient to have the af- fair over, ‘* Ready ?” he hissed, = ** Ready,” declared Ranger, The next moment the sharp clash of their swords rung through the old building. Gilroy was sligbtly the taller of the two, and he had a little eae in the length of arm; but these were more than overbalanced by his adversary’s superior coolness, With full confidence in his skill he thought to make quick work of the contest by a bold onset. Ranger proved himself too wary and expert to be caught off his guard, Dextrously catch- ing the wrecker’s weapon upon his own he bore quickly downward till with a sudden wrench he wrested it from his hold, As it went flying acrossthe room with a sharp, hissing sound, the outlaw gasped: ** Don’t strike—spare me!” ‘‘T never touch an unarmed man,” replied Ranger. ‘‘ Wouldst try again?’ “Wiresand furies—yes! You won’t find me napping this time either,” Rediaw quickly brought him his sword, After examining it to see that it was still in good trim he announced himself in readiness for the renewal of battle, He acted more cautiously this time. He was beginning to think he had caught a Tartar. Walf Ranger acted simply upon the defensive, meeting and parrying his thrusts with apparent carelessness, though theother tound it umpossi- ble to get within his *‘ guard,” Gilroy played low loping that the other would leavs his forearm or front exposed, Then bis fancied opportuuity came, when with all the force bho could muster Le sent his blade straight out from the shoulder, Quick as the flash itself Walf Ranger met the weapon midway with Lis own ringing blade, turning the flyieg sword aside, with the move- ment dealing the wrecker a stinging blow upon hisswordeurm, Before bhecould recover from the effects of the shock the sharp point of the other's weapon pricked his bosom, For the taird time Gilroy bad been at the mercy of his foe and been spared. Foaming now like an enraged tiger he Jost the last atom of control, rashing upon his opponent lke a madman, Walf Ranger’s lips were seen to compress as he saw that it was time for him toact in earnest, Parrying Gilroy’s furious thrust, though not escaping a slight flesh wound, his slender blade seemed to coil itself around the other’s more clumsy weapon, A quick, downward movement and Gilroy’s sword snapped in twain! —— As the sharp crash rung out, Walf Ranger’s arm shot forward, and with his sword-point fixed upon the wrecker’s breast he cried: ‘* Surrender now, or the worst’s your own The outlaw’s face was as white as marble as he gasped: ‘** IT surrender!” ‘‘ Very weil,” ssid Ranger, lowering his wea- pon, when Gilroy gladly beat a retreat, The others were amazed, and for a time no one spoke, Gilroy broke the silence, and his voice was hoarse with passion. ‘‘Cowards! dare ye not strike a blow, that ye stand there like sticks? Hew down the dog for your lives!” They needed no second bidding. As the treacherous words trembled upon bis leader’s lips, Mark Wildbell rushed upon his chief’s victor. Redlaw and Ambushade quickly sprung to his assistance. Though taken somewhat by surprise, Walf Ranger deftly turned aside the nervous blow of Wildbell, and the combat waxed hot. The outlaw was of gigantic frame without being clumsy, but he had sprung into the fray excitedly and played wildly. His adversary was not loag in finding his op- portunity of sending the giant out of the field. As Wildbell fell with a stinging blow, the sword of Kedlaw piercéd Ranger’s side, and he felt the blood gush forth in a stream. Bat the blow cost the desperado his life. Before he could put himself on the defensive, his advereury had given him his death-wound. With a gromn the wrecker reeled backward, anithe sword falling from his grasp he sunk beside his stricken companion. Perhaps the overthrow of the others un- nerved Ambushade’s.arm, for in the twinkling of an eye he felt his sword wrenched from him and sent hurtling across.the room to the further corner, Then, as the sharp point of Walf Ranger’s in- vincible blade touched his body, he cried for quarter. The conqueror smiled grimly, 4 disdain to draw the blood of a coward,” he said, ‘* Are you doue with me now?” sharpl int- ing his reeking sword toward Gilroy, ati he outlaw’s reply was a volley of curses. ‘*T do not wait for an answer from such as you /” advancing upon the other, ‘! J—” ‘* Hold!” exclaimed the cowering wretch, ‘* Man or demon, I have done with you.” ~ And T can go in peace?” ‘And you?” turning to Acton Marble, who had remained a silent and inactive spectator. ‘* Have no part in this quarrel.” “¢ Then open the door for me,” Marble looked to Gilroy inquiringly. ‘‘ Let the dog go. We'll settle with him for this night’s work at another time.” Glad to be rid of the strange man’s presence, Marble opened the door. While he was doing this Walf Ranger put on his he pe, and was ready to step out into the night. ‘** Tam sorry for the work I have done but you drove me—” ‘* Bah! you will hear from me again. life shall pay for this hour’s work!” ‘* Set your price and time,” said the imper- turbable man as he disappeared into the dark- nese. "7 Your CHAPTER VIIL. BEATEN IN HIS OWN GAME, LENA RIVERTON started up with alarm at the startling announcement made by Old Nep- tune at the close of Chapter V. His words were confirmed by the crackling of the flames and the lurid glare they threw into the room, The ‘Bly !? he repeated. house noust burn!” ‘‘ How can we move Mr, Morland?” she cried, wildly. ‘* Can’t the flames be checked?” The old fisherman wrung his hands crying like a child, Lena saw that he was belpless, os Go, Robin! quick! See if nothing tan be done ** Lose no time. He had already started toward the door, and before she had finished speaking he had reached the scene of the fire, The shed connecting the barn with the house was in a light blaze, and the flames had already 7 upon the latter building in several places. choo ‘ TO lg tele el ieee ee &