Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 105 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

24. —_- . - ~— oe we + - mm ae ee ee ee tenance from changing. knew that his life nar by a frail thread. ‘You forget one little thing,” he said, his voice as firm as though he was wholly at his ecso. ‘* When the Vigilantes do return, they ceu’t help but know that you killed me. And there are three members ot the family with the bend. How long would it be before they spread ths news of your treachery to the four winds? Aid then—you know what would follow.” “i know that were I to set you free, you would Jie my life away in revenge,” sullenly replied David, lowering the weapon. ‘You know no such thing. By setting me free, you prove yourself a true brother, and as such you shall be reported.” David made no reply, but satin moody silence, and Wilder was content to let him remain thus while he keenly watched the working of the lad’s countenance. He felt that there could be but one decision. Life is very dear to one so young, and David kvew only too well what sud- den punishment was meted out by “the fam- ily” toarecreant member. It was a bitter pill he was being forced to swallow, but Wilder felt that gulped down it would be in the end. Nor was he mistaken. After a long silence, David spoke: ‘‘If I set you free, will you swear to go away | and never molest us—at least Ruth—again?’ ‘‘ After the manner in which she treated me, I am not likely to bother her again,” replied Wilder, with a short, hard laugh. “ You know how it was. We loved each other. We were engaged to be married, and only waited for your father’s consent. That he refused to give without rhyme or reason. We eudured this for a time, but then Ruth consented to elope with me. ‘* We made the attempt, and it ended. I was assaulted, and ou know how cause I used ee —-- At that inatant he weapons in defense of my life, I was tried by | a mock court andsentenced. Life for life, I was | ready to pay. Had they only killed me, it would | not have been so bad. But they tied me up and | flogged me like a dog! And then they strung | me up by the neck. “Of course I didn’t die, I was cut down and | restored to life. now. lLonly mention these things to show how much [underwent for love of your sister. And how did she repay me? By throwing me once more into the power of my bitterest enemies! Who did it, does not matter | Deep as my love was, it cannot survive such a> blow. tL never want to see her again. ond get transferred to Idaho. None of you will ever be troubled by me again. Is this satisfac- vory ?”’ ‘if you are speaking the truth, yes. But mind, if youare lying just in order to gain your treedom, I swear that I will have you hunted (own to death if it costs my own life!” As he spoke, David cut the bonds that con- fined Wilder, then unfastened the door. As he The mo- | mont Iam free I will hasten to see the captain did so, the treacherous rufflan caught up a chair | an‘ dealt the lad a terrible blow upon the head, felling him to the floor like a dead man, With a fierce laugh Wilder deprived the sense- less lad of his weapons, then snatched up the lamp and ran hastily up-stairs. He knew that the women had not yet fallen asleep, and felt sure they had heard the fall of David below, for he could now hear their ex- cited voices. He burst in upon them like the personification of evil, laughing sardonically as they shrunk back from his approach, ‘“Come, Ruth, my dainty darling, the clergy- man awaits us to put the seal upon our bliss—” Mrs. Crabtree sprung between with an appeal- ing ery, but be remorselessly felled her with the butt of his pistol, then his strong right arm closed around the trembling form of the half- fainting maiden. He bore Ruth down-stairs, then hurled the lamp to the floor, pausing long enough to see that the spilled oil had Veae tiven the blazing wick. With a diabolical laugh he left the house and bore his senseless prey toward the grove. CHAPTER XXV MARAUDING MUONSHINERS. AT the same hour and minute that Wilder left the grove in his stealthy advance upon the Crab- tree ranch, a force composed of nearly a score well armed and mounted men were trotting rap- idly over the prairie, following a course that would, if continued half an hour longer, carry them to Jack Gill’s ranch. Bech rider was shrouded in a heavy black cloak that reached the knee. Each head and face was biddep under a sable, cowl-like hood. Thus attired no one residing in that portion of Colorado could have doubted their identity. ‘Thev were a portion of Captain Moonshine’s no- tcrious band of road-agents, out on a raid. ‘ihey were led by the doughty captain in per- son. The work be had in view was too impor- tant to be intrusted to other hands than his own. He drew rein sharply, and his men followed suit. “The time has eeome when you must under- stand the work before yon,” he said, in clear. ikive tomes ag the maske| horsemen gathered Closer »ruuud him “1 did not mention it be- 3 Stet yr A wa Nee ener ne — -— == ing of this reasoning, and en a Dan Brown of Denver. —_—— Eee fore, because the business is too important to run any unnecessary risk. Ido not accuse any particular person of treachery, because I am at a loss to imagine who can be the traitor, but there must be some one among us who is trying to play a double game. On no other supposition can our wany recent failures be accounted for. ‘*T don’t need to remind you of what the laws of our family say—death to all traitors! But we are none of us safe while the false rascal is in our midst. Each one of us must constitute himself a detective and act as a spy upon his mates until the guilty one is discovered.’ A deep, hoarse. murmur ran around the group, and flashing eyes were visible through the slits in the black masks as each man glared sus- piciously around upon his fellows. Captain Moonshine appeared contented with the impression he had created, and resumed in an altered tone: ‘For this reason I have kept our real busi- ness of to-night from you all, until there would be no possible chance for a false member to be- tray our plans. I don’t believe the traitor is among us at present. I have carefully selected you as the best and most trustworthy members of the family.” A low, united murmur of satisfaction told how this complimentary speech pleased the masked outlaws. ‘* Grizzly, you will select six men to bear you company. You will ride at speed for the ranch of Thomas Munro. He belongs to the Moa lantes, and you must manage matters so that he will send up the rocket-signal for the blood- hounds to assemble. How you do it, I care not. Break into the corrals and stampede his horses. Set his stacks on fire—do anything save hinder his sending up the signal for help. That must come, even though you have to butcher him and send the fireworks to the sky yourself!” ‘That done, what then?’ coolly asked the burly outlaw. “Take care of yourself. Scatter and break trail as best you can, and return to the new re- treat. Bo sure that you leave no sign behind you that can be read. You understand me?’ Grizzly grunted assent, and began selecting the men whom he wished to bear him company. He did not like to act blindfold, but he knew Captain Moonshine too well to ask for further enlightenment, No more was said until after the seven out- laws had ridden rapidly away in the direction of the Munro ranch then Captain Moonshine bade the remainder of the band follow him, riding slowly toward the house of Jack Gill. When within half a mile of the ranch, Cap- tain Moonshine once more drew rein, and ad- dressed his followers: ‘We bave time now to fully understand what is before us. Grizzly and his men will cause Munro to send up the signal for the Vigi- lantes to gather to his aid. It is a rule with each ranch-owner to have at least one pair of eyes on the look-out for the signal, both day and nigbt, and they are all bound by oath to im- mediately respond to the call. Noah Crabtree is the chief, Jack Gill the lieutenant of the com- pany, and only sudden death could keep them from riding to the rescue. And they are the two whom we are most interested in to-night. ‘You all know that Frank Blackw is a member of the family, and one of the most valuable. You are all sworn to obey him even as you are me. He has done us many good offices, and rarely demands a service in return, but now he does, **T don’t fairly understand the matter myself, but somehow this new wife of old Jack Gill has got hold of some dangerous secrets—dangerous alike to Blackwood and to the family, so I understand—and must be put out of the way. Frank don’t want her killed. She was an old flame of his, in the days gone by, I shrewdly suspect, and she still holds a tender spot in his heart. Any way, he wants her carried away to the retreat, where he 2an deal with ber him- eel! as the case demands, ‘That is one part of our work; the other more nearly concerns myself. You remember my marrying Miss Rachel Trowbridge? For reasons of my own, I have been lenient with the way- ward beauty thus long, but now I mean to as- sert my rights. The signal from Tom Munro’s will call away the men froin both ranches, and thus leave the coast clear for us, Then we will swoop down and carry off the dainty birds.” ‘Of course you know best, captain,” said one of the cowled riders, ‘* but it seems to me that we could kill two birds with one stone. The Vigilantes have sworn bitter war against us, and it was through them that we lost those stout lads in Grenada. We are strong enouch to car- ry, both places, and make it necessary for the igilantes to elect two more officers.” “The country is hot enough without that, Vampire. Every man in the State would take the trail after ue. No, my plan is the best, because, if it succeeds we will hold two good hostages. I will see that thev get word that the lives of our fair captives cepend upon their actions— that if we are pressed too hard, they will find only the bodies of those they would rescue.” Even the sanguinary Mer. x saw the cun- ounting from ~ eben Bo we ae me eo - —$—$—$—$—$— | are takimg all this trouble om his account.. (E(0) “ ct A RL oe o “4 their horses, the outlaws composed themselves to await the rocket-signal. Captain Moonshine left them upon the prairie swell and stole forward upon foot, crawling as stealthily as an Indian o. the scent of sealps, and only pausing when saf_iy in the dense sha- dows cast by a corner of a corral fence, from whence he could observe all that might trans- pire around the building. He was not kept long in suspense. Grizzly and his men had ridden fast and performed their duty to the very letter. The brilliant rockets soared high in the air, and that the signal had been seen by the look- out, Captain Moonshine was speedily given evi- dence, He heard a sharp exclamation from among the corrals, and then excited voices. Crouching still lower hesaw the herders as they hastened to the door of the house and knocked loudly to awaken Jack Gill. He saw the door open, and the lientenant, only half dressed but fully armed, emerge, de- manding the cause of the disturbance. ‘Three rockets from Tom Munro’s, boss,” was the reply. — k after the horses—I’ll be there in a minute.” ‘ Jack Gill was as d as his word, and Cap- tain Moonshine chuckled with a fiendish glee as he watched the entire party leap into the saddle and ride swiftly away to the rescue. This was more than he had dared hope. He believed that at least one man would be left behind as a guard. Crawling away until safe from observation of the sole inmate of the ranch, Captain Moon- shine then ran to where his men were awaiting his coming. ** All works well!” he cried, exultantly. ‘*‘ The woman is left alone, and we’ve only got to pick her up. Come!” Some of the men seemed less pleased. True bull-dogs, thev were not averse to.a little fight- ing, particularly when the odds were in their favor. Captain Moonshine led the way leisurely, not caring toreach the ranch too soon. It might be that Jack Gill had arranged some means by which his wife could signal bim in case of need. Knowing that only a feeble woman opposed la he rode straight up to the door and rapped oudly. = What's wanting?” demanded a clear, sharp voice, that of a woman beyond doubt, but be- traying no trace of feminine fear and trem- ng. “Open the door and save us the trouble of breaking it down!” sternly replied Captain Moonshine, ‘‘We want you, and the less trou- ble you give, the better for your health!” A prompt response was given, but not in words. Two shots were fired in quick succes- sion through a small loop-holein the door. One of the outlaws fell from his horse. dead ere his body touched the ground. A second uttered a fierce curse of angry pain as bis right arm swung helpless at his side. Captain Moonshine touched his horse with the spur and leaped aside. The bullet which had lodged in the brain of Vampire had cut its way through his cowl, Ey grazing his throat. **Dismount and burst open the doors or win- dows!” he cried, angrily, setting the example himself. ‘‘ Capture her—the man dies who harms her seriously!” It was well that his influence was all-power- ful, well for the brave woman that these words had been spoken. The outlaws were fearfully enraged by this unexpected and fatal resistance. Agnes Gill would bave been murdered the mo- ment she fell into their hands, had it not been for the stern command of Captain Moonshine. Attacking upon every side, the outlaws quick- ly forced an entrance, and flung themselves up- on the desperate woman, who fought them to the bitter end. Though no more of the road- agents fell, several were wounded in the last sirugele. ‘* Lucky for you that I was here, woman,” cried Captain Moonshine, as her hands were bound behind her. ‘* My men would have toin you limb from Jimb—” “Better that_than falling into your power alive—Frank Blackwood!” she retorted, her voice full of bitter scorn. The outlaw chief started back and stared at her for a moment in surprise, then laughed shortly. ae you think I am Frank Blackwood, do ou “I know it! This world is not wide enough to hold two such dastardly scoundrels,” was the dauntless reply. ‘You are complimentary. I am pleased to be mistaken for an honest man,” he said, mock- ingly. ‘Heaven help the wicked if you call Frank Blackwood honest! A thief, a murderer—all that is foul and evil and despicable! And to cap all, the leader of a gang of midnight ma- rauders, the notorious Captain Moonshine!” ‘Your tongue is sharp, lady,” laughed the ebief, mockirely. “I don’t envy Frerk bis ec- qnisitien—for you may rs well be teld that we nicvoeo EO SI «\¥ ' ——_ “ enaf J 4