The Brand Burners of Cimarron — page 29: what you’re looking at

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- de) iy = + oN? Si > ee ? * «% ¥ ied 7 * mo fears, for I was again captured, and car- ried direct to Captain Brand’s rendezvous, “Otkrers were there in captivity, too— the major and the girls, but little pard struck the trail, hung to it, and made a clean delivery. “The den is near, and we must arrange our force with care and attack at onrs, for they are moving heaven and earth to clean up the herd and get away. “No guards are set, I think, and we » may move freely, if quietly, and make a clean sweep.” Continuing, Goldspur briefly described the corral and the cabin, and the force of outlaws to be met, and planned the advance. Then the men dismounted, secured their horses, and looked to their weapons, A few minutes later they moved away in two divisions, and shortly after sunrise a single rifle shot announced the attack. CHAPTER XXXIII. THE SHADE OF ESAU BLACK. During his enforced seclusion the day | preceding his flight from Tiptop, Zebulon Peggs succeeded in establishing tempor- ary peace with Mommy. Captain Brand’s message had thoroughly frightened the . wily cobbler, and his unwonted humility had much to do in conciliating the good woman. Seated in the cart, just after nightfall, as we have seen, they drove rapidly away from the little town, over a road that had become familiar to the veteran, and in due course reached the clearing sur- rounding the old ranch house. The air was heavy with smoke. Off to the west and to the south, flames were greedily sweeping the dead grass from the timber; but the creek, with its dreary stretches of sand, had proved an effectual fire-guard for the gloomy old pile and the woods on the east. For a moment, the veteran hasitated, as he scanned those distant lines of fire. Then, reflection told him the danger was past, and he got out of the cart and hitched the mule. : “Hyar we arire, Mommy,” he an- nouncer. ‘“ Let me help ye out, now, an’ we'll go right up ter ther house.” “Hoh, dear! Peggs, Hi believe hit’s the ’a’nted ’ouse!” “*Ha’nted house!’ Bagonets an’ bul- lets! Woman, ye’ll drive me mad with yer tom-fool’ry! MHa’nts, indeed! I’m game fer them critters, ye kin bet! So let ’em come, Hurry, now, cle woman— git down.” “* Hold woman’ hag’in! Peggs, ye’re ha ’ardened creetur.’ Hi submit—Hi submit!” Mommy sighed deeply, and with her -husband’s assistance got out of the cart, Then both loaded themselves with par- cels, and approached the house. Much to the surprise of the veteran, he found the door ajar. He was sure that Hoh, Poppy But, he had closed it when quitting the house on his preceding visit, and he recalled instructions he had given Ruby to keep it closed. ; “Lawd! Bt’s jest like a gal ter fergit et, tho’, fer ‘out o’ sight is out o’ mind,’ with all o’ them, an’ I don’t reckon Ruby is ary deception. “But I hopes no harm hes come ter her, pore critter Alone an’ mighty nigh friendless, she’s shore ter be pitied.” ‘* In the house, Peggs closed the door and lighted a lantern, then slowly led the way into the west room, and up the stairs. Not until they had gained the eastern room on the second oor was anything of an alarming nature seen. Then a metallic gleam in a gloomy corner caught the veteran’s eye, and a turn of the lan- tern revealed the old musket barrel. Peggs recognized the fragment at a glance, and his face paled’ with sudden terror. : and the rusty bayonet added its moiety of evidence. — i Good Lawd! Thar’s bin trouble A second turn of the lantern, ‘ i o- ra -. ' The Brand-Burners of Cimarron. Thoroughly scared, Mrs. Peggs meekly put down her bundles and obeyed. Then the cobbler stepped under the open trap, and called: “ Ruby! Oh, Ruhy! I—I s-say—Ruby!”’ No answer save a hollow echo came from the empty loft, but in the ears of the frightened pair it sounded like the wail of a dying soul, and Mommy dropped the lantern and grabbed the veteran. “’*Ravens! Hit’s ’a’nts, sure henough!” she whimpered. ‘“Ha’nts! ther—ther—Dangnation, wo- man! Let me loose, cain’t ye? Et’s Ruby —Ruby murdered!” “Hoh, hit’s ’a’nts, Hi know; Poppy!” Beside himself with fear and fury, Peges resolutely tore himself loose. Swinging the lantern over his arm, he awkwardly climbed into the loft. “Come on,” he yelled, holding the lant- ern so Mommy could see to ascend. “Come up, Missus Peggs, an’ be quick about it!” Thus urged, and spurred on by her fears, the poor woman quickly scrambled up the ladder and into the garret. “ Now, you keep close ter me, but han’s off,’ the veteran advised. “I’m goin’ ter inwestigate, This is whar I brought Ruby. But su’thin’ hes happened, an’ I’m fearin’ ther gal’s hurt.” Slowly, then, they searched the loft. It was deserted, but showed signs of re- cent occupancy. The window im the gable was open, and a branch of the elm could be heard gently chafing the stout log wall. The search was ended in a moment. Peggs put down the lantern, and mopped his face nervously. He was both puzzled and alarmed. Mommy, however, was fast recovering from her fright, and she looked at her husband curiously. “So you brought Ruby ’ere?” she ven- tured, after some minutes of silence. “ To\ this old ghost-ridden den!” ‘“T thought et was safe,” the veteran protested. ‘‘An’ I knowed she wasn’t safe in Tiptop.”’ “Wy didn’t ye bring me with ’er— yes, han’ Polly too?” “I dassen’t.” “* Dassen’t?”’ “«Ther pen’—‘ Peggs in ther pen, the veteran reminded. “Hoh, blow yer bloomin’ pen, Zeb Peggs! Hanswer my question!” “T was afear’d hof ther conwict busi- ness, Mommy. Didn’t I tell ye?” “Conwict! You’re wuss nor ha con- wict, Zebulon Peggs! You brung that pore chile to ’er death, so you did!” ‘The cobbler sank limply on the impro- vised couch. “Don’t say thet, Mommy—don’t!” he implored, tremulously. “Good God! Id ’o’ died afore I’d ’a’ seen a hair o’ her purty head teched—so I w’u’d, now!” “ Well, tell me the truth, Poppy.” “Mommy, I cain’t! I’ve told ye all I durst. I brung ther gal hyar, an’ left her comfortable. But she’s gone. Spanish John or his gang found her, an’ carried her off. Thar’s bin a terrible tussle.” “ Han’ Polly?” Peggs groaned and hung his head. Sitting there, dejected and unhappy, the past years of his life seemed to float be- fore him. Out of this mental review, cer-" iain events rose with such vivid distinct- ness that he shuddered violently. Then his hands clenched, his face flushed, and in his eye appeared a peculiar glow. In another minute, he had risen, and Mommy started back with a slight cry. The man seemed transfigured. “Tm glad of et!” he told himself, aloud. “Glad hof—hof—w’ot, Peggs?” “Thet I'm an unconwicted conwict, woman! I did et, an’ I’d do et agin. Bagonets—yas! and I’ll be revenged. ““ Revenged ?” , “On Spanish John. He killed my Tom! He stole ther gals! I will slarter him!” | Pe . 7 Mommy uttered a faint cry of remon- Hoh, >»? > ‘ 7 ar) _ ee ‘ a Pe “W’y, Zebulon Peggs! You, who ’ave up’eld the law!—you talk hof murder!” “ Drat ther law! I’m done upholdin’ of et. I’m gettin’ desp’rit, I am, an’ ther law kin go ter blazes!” “ Now, Poppy—” “Don’t wheedle, woman! We got no time ter argiement. Hold thet lantern till I bring up ther passels.”’ The veteran’s grim face forbade pro- | test or plea, and she silently picked up’ the lantern and held it beside the hatch- way while he descended and tossed up the packages. Then Peggs took the light, and left the house, to secret the cart and the mule im a draw near the clearing. The veteran was absent’ some little time. On his return, the window in the gable was closed, and both crouched down in moody silence to await the coming. of day. The lantern, hanging on a nail in a raf- ter, shed a pale and dismal light over the old attic. Thus, an hour passed. Then a peculiar sound started the pair—a long-drawm mournful cry, which rang. weirdly through the old house. Mommy shivered, and grew pale. Con- vulsively, she grasped the veteran’s arm, “"Sh!” warned Peggs, himself trem- bling. ‘“‘ Don’t speak!” - Again came the cry, now accompanied with stealthy steps. as “’Kaven save us!’ whimpered Mom- my. “ We're ’a’nted!” Ere the veteran could speak, a ghastly face rose slowly threugh the open trap, and the staring eyes gleamed balefully at the pair. For a full minute that terrible visage remained, then suddenly vanished. Peggs shuddered, and attempted to rise; but his strength failed him, and he saimk limply on the couch, moaning: “Good Lawd! I’m lost! ’Twas ther shade of Esau Black! ” ‘ CHAPTER XXXTV. BiuuMONT APPEARS, Utterly cowed by that momentary glimpse of the apparition, both the cob- bler and his wife hid their heads under & blanket, and shivered with dread. How long they remained thus, neither could have told. Before either had pluck- ed up courage to peer forth, a firm step sounded in the room beneath them, an@ pg heard some one ascending the lad- er. This brought Peggs to his senses. He cautiously put down the blanket, and waiched the hatchway. Then the head and shoulders of a mam appeared. At sight of the cobbler, the in- truder started and exclaimed: “Hallo! hallo! Is it you, Peggs?” “Ye know et, Rupert Belmont. But you stay right thar. I aint no ways glad’ ter see ye!” | “T suppose not. to see you!” And the rancher deftly swung himself into the loft. “The fact is, Spanish John and I have parted company, and, now that you are here, I desire to talk with you,” he re- sumed, advancing, despite the rusty pis- tol the veteran flourished. “Just put that thing up, will you? I shall not harm you. “Ah, Mrs. Peggs, too! dame, I beg your pardon.” ommy had ust put down that portion of the blanket hiding her face. She nod- ed_ stiffly in response to the rancher’s words, but said nothing. However, I am glaw& Indeed, ma- Zz “Peggs, you and I must be friends,’” . Belmont continued. “I have never harm- ed you.” ‘Same ole story, Rupert. go! Thar’s thet matter o’ Tom’s death agin ye.” | “T had no hand in that crime, Peggs.”” “T swore to the truth, as I believed. ‘Tom was the agressor. “But ye swore Spanish John « Te ts phat Dosw: Pasar wie ‘ or . oe But et don’t —