The Brand Burners of Cimarron — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

32 “Bsau Black, I have heard your stone “TI stole yer child!” the cobbler con- The | Brand- Burners of Cimarron. “You daughter, sir?” and much of it is false. tinued, winking furiously to keep the “Yes, dear. You were stolen from me “That part relating to your dying pard | tears from his single eye. ‘“‘ Yas, I did et,| long ago,’ and the father briefly ex- and his confession is wholly untrue, for | Major Duncan! ” plained. you were Barmillo’s only ally!” * You stole my child! ” The girl’s eyes opened wide with won- “ *Tis false! I—”’ “Oh, bagonets! Major, don’t look at| der. A faint suspicion of the truth had “Stay! Denials are useless! I have sifted every clue, from beginning to end, and I know your part in the gambler’s desperate play! “Now, point out to Major Duncan his | daughter—if she is here! ”’ “Well, she is here!” retorted Black, moistening his parched lips, and he point- ed to Ruby Ranger. The major started eagerly. Then his glance followed the pointing finger, and a faint trace of disappointment or annoy- ance flitted across his face. “Major Duncan, if you will examine her right arm, | | | ' | | you will find above the | elbow a small design pricked in India | ink, which you will doubtless recognize.” Black spoke confidently, and there was a triumphant gleam in his eyes. Noting it, Goldspur smiled ‘coldly and nodded, saying: “ Miss Ranger, bare you arm, please! ” Although quite pale, Ruby obeyed in a firm and resolute manner, rolling back her sleeve until the marking could be plainly seen. The major started sharply and his face grew white. “Tt is the design!” he declared in a tremulous voice. ‘“ A redticed fac simile of the Ten-Bar brand, placed there, child, when you were an infant! “Ruby, you are my daughter! ” “ Major Duncan, I am not your daugh- ter! ”’ Clearly and firmly came the words from the lips of the beautiful girl—an oath and a snarl of fury and disgust from Esau Black! “ Not a word—not a sound, or I’ll blow out your brains! ” Goldspur warned, jam- ming a pistol muzzle against the rascal’s head. Duncan started back, aghast. “ Not my daughter! ” he gasped. “ Girl, what do you mean?” “Precisely what I say, sir! Do not blame me for the imposture that has been attempted by that man, Esau Black! “My name is really Ruby Ranger. My mother married Black when 1 was a babe, There was a child stolen and brought home by Black when I was about six years old, but it disappeared. “ That child bore just such a mark upon its arm, and, in spite of my mother’s ear- nest protest, this imitation was placed upon mine. “ But we deceived Black. In private we were mother and daughter; before him I was simply a bound girl, Then my mother died, and when we started from Denver I rebelled against my step-fath- er’s authority, only to find myself help- less, for he held papers binding me to him until I was eighteen years of age. “That, sir, is the truth, and I appeal to you to protect me, for in his rage Esau Black will kill me.” “T will protect you!” the major de- clared, in an impassioned voice. ‘ You shall be my daughter now and evermore! “You could have deceived me, Ruby Ranger, and your truth and honor shall me so! I on’y tuk her fr’m Black! Mine was dead—jest her age, an’ I c’u’dn’t help et! ”’ Dunean stared incredulously at the groveling cobbler, Then, in a flash, ' something of the truth dawned on him, and he sharply cried: “Good heavens, man! Do you mean—” “ Ther real Ruby’s on yer arm thar, an’ ef ye don’t believe look fer ther mark.” Quickly Major Duncan ripped open the sleeve, and exposed Polly’s shapely arm. Then a cry of joy burst from his lips, and he strained the unconscious girl to his breast, for imprinted in the pink and white flesh was the tiny Ten-Bar brand, and the lost was found! CHAPTER XLI. THE PLUNGE TO DEATH. Let us return now to the moment when Lightfoot dismounted to scan the scene of the struggle pointed out by Goldspur. ‘All could see there had been a desperate encounter in the little glade, and all wait- ed most anxiously for the skilled trail- er’s report. Soon it was ready. Four men were in waiting here, am- bushed, and roped the major. “He was taken by surprise, but strug- gled desperately, and one or more shots were fired, for here is the mark of a bul- let on the bole of this sapling. “ But the odds were too great; he was overpowered and taken to that point in the timber yonder, where the horses were in waiting. “From there the trail is plain and may be readily followed.” Thus spoke Lightfoot, and Goldspur nodded affirmation, for the trailer’s re- port, he knew, was absolutely correct. Then both men quickly remounted >; but before the cavalcade could again set for- ward, Pawnee Bill and his posse dashed into view not a hundred yards away, and in a moment the force was reunited. Detailing two of the men fo look after the captives and the wounded, the officers combined their forces, started forward at a gallop, and in a few minutes reached the vicinity of the old house. From the coverts along the creek, the outlaws could be seen passing in and out of the house, and a plan of action was quickly arranged. Goldspur, Lightfoot, Jack Rabbit and Gimps were to enter the house by way of the old elm and the attic window, un- der cover of the rifles of the force. If en- trance was effected without an alarm, Pawnee and his men were to creep up, surround the house and force the door, while the detective and his men charged the outlaws from above. Thus, the cap- tives would be saved, while Spanish John, caught between two fires, would surely be captured or slain. The signals were quickly agreed upon, and Goldspur and his daring pards crept away ,and gained the interior of the old SS flashed upon her during that colloquy be- tween Duncan and Ruby Ranger—a sus- picion that was vitally strengthened by the made a certainty by Peggs’s avowal; yet, there was much that she did not under- stand. “And poor Poppy—am I to leave him?” she asked, with a sigh. “Not unless you wish it, my dear child, Zebulon Peggs has my lasting gratitude for taking you away from that scamp of a Black. Although in one sense a crime, yet it was an act that did credit to his humanity. Yes, he and his wife shall go with us, if you like.” “That’s real good of you, Papa Duncan, And then, there’s Luke,” ** Yes,” “and Polly slipped out of the major’s arms and ran to her lover, whose white, tensely-drawn face she that mo- ment espied., “ Well! Bless my soul!” the major gasped, and then Polly, dragging Luke by the hand, confronted him. “You see, Papa Duncan, it’s just like this: If I go with you, Luke goes, too! “Luke and I have been married over a month!” “Hoh, ’eavens! Poppy do you ’ear mi gasped Mommy. “ Dear ’art, who’d a—’’ The door was flung open at that junc- ture, and Spanish John stepped into the room. At sight of the detective and his followers, the villain started, and his hands dropped quickly to his weapons. Before he could draw, however, a sharp, wolfish snarl came from Esau Black, and he flung himself upon the gambler. Then followed a furious struggle, and ere a hand could be lifted to separate the two men they had whirled through the doorway of the east room, followed by. the detective and his aids. The old floor creaked and groaned; then both men fell heavily; a section gave way, and then shot downward. At the same moment a pistol cracked somewhere below. “Come, pards!” Goldspur cried. ‘‘ Paw-~ nee is at hand—we have work to do!” Followed by Lightfoot and Jack Rabbit, the detective hurriedly crossed the middle room, and ran to the stairway. Gimps attempted to join in the rush, but a firm hand gripped his collar, and he found himself confronted by the major. “ Let loose, Nate, ole boy!” the urchin yelled, striving to slip out of his coat. ‘““Men are wanted down thar!” “Not much, my lad! You're going to stay here till I teach you manners! “Know ye, you are my nephew—my only sister’s child, and I’ve taken you in hand—for keeps!” The outlaws below stairs were caught like rats in a trap, but fought viciously. A dozen shots rang out—Rubert Belmont fell, mortally wounded—Jack Rabbit with house, as we have seen. a ball through his shoulder—and th not go unrewarded.” 5 st “« struggle was ended. The four outlaws A spasm of pain contracted the grim, surrendered. old face. Then Duncan drew a hand across his brow and slowly turned to the detective. “So the trail ends, Goldspur! ” he said sadly. “‘I thank God that, while my child seems wholly lost, the search has not been without a good result, for it is worth much to wrest this poor girl from that vampi.’e’s clutch.” “True, major, but don’t lose hope, yet. This has been only a snarl in the tangled skein. There’s just a chance yet.” “ Thet’s right—thet’s right! An’ oh! I humbly implores fergiveness! ” uttered a choking voice, and Zebulon Peggs, white- faced and trembling, pushed past the de- tective and fell on his knees befére the major, Of course, in the intense excitement of the moment, the participants in that strange scene on the second floor of the old ranch house wholly forgot the detec- tive’s warning, and there was more or less confusion, Indeed, Goldspur himself so far for- got the presence of Spanish John and the outlaws below as to utter an ejaculation of pleased surprise at the denouement, which he had but dimly foreseen. Polly, as we must continue to call Ruby Dunean, recovered in a moment, and blushed rosily when she found herself in the major’s arms. “Don’t be frightened, little girl! You are my daughter,” Duncan explained, with beaming eyes. Then a glance into the east room dis- covered a terrible sight. The fall of Spanish John and his foe through the floor had been a veritable plunge to death, for the deadly serpents lurking there had stung them repeatedly, and both were dead when taken out. With the battle at the corral and the skirmish at the old ranch house, the pow- er of the brand-burners was broken;' through the box of letters taken from the burning cabin, “ Captain Brand’s ” agents and “outside men ” were also apprehend- ed and convicted, and thus was one of the most dangerous bands that ever inf fair Oklahoma destroyed. THE END, ; marking on the latter’s arm, and} * sy : wt Ae 4 : ; , SNE Re ME Re EME OMe ete tne ‘comick 00} ‘S.com 4 " are. A ig 453 aS 4 : 7 45. wh : Rat 8 x <# Js \¥ ‘ oy a } ie os ne se pares a or : — Fe Dy < Hacvedttid rire err. a area St aaa i a Cone bho ae Aah Zo dab