Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 105 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

ne a - s—sSSseccunNnw _ - _ for ’ Still, if any man can tame such a shrew, he can!’ ‘*T know that there is nothing too evil for you to do—but why maintain this hollow mystery? ‘You are Frank Blackwood. Nothing can make me believe different—” ‘“Not even the evidence of your own eye- sight?” he sneered, turning his back to his men and raising the heavy cow! that until now had concealed his features. The clear moonlight streamed through the window and fell athwart his face—the same dark, handsome features which he had briefly revealed to Rachel Trowbridge on the night of her strange wedding. Agnes Gill stared at him in mute amazement. Until now she had firmly believed this man to be her rightful husband. Captain Moonshine laughed mockingly as he lowered his mask, then turned to one of his men, bidding him catch up one of the horses from the corral, and prepare it for the lady. This was quickly done, and placing her in charge of three men, Captain Moonshine bade them hasten with her to the retreat, taking care to avoid all observation. Then he leaped into the saddle, crying aloud: ‘‘ Now for my own bonny bride!” and plying spurs, he led the remainder of his force at a ra- pid pace over the prairies. CHAPTER XXVI. A STRANGE KNIGHT TO THE RESCUE. SCARCELY hud Wilder cleared the house, than Ruth Crabtree recovered from her brief swoon, and made a desperate effort to escape from _his grasp. At one time, and not so many days since, to be clasped in his arms seemed little short of heaven to her, but now she shuddered and turned deathly sick at the mere contact. Her ideal was shattered. She knew bim for a murderer—she believed that his ruthless hand had slain both her mother and her brother. The one she had seen fall helpless beneath that crucl blow; the other she saw just before the ruffian dashed down the lamp, and he, too, lay as one dead. ‘* Be quiet, unless you wish me to use still harsher measures,” he growled in astern, ugly voice, as his arm was contracted until it seemed as though the iron muscles would crush in her bones. ‘‘You’ve given me trouble enough. Don’t provoke me further, or it’ll be the worse ou.” is true nature was revealed now. He no longer kept up the mockery of a lover’s role. And Ruth preferred this undisguised brutality to the former treatment. at revived the dead past too aynintre’ f Her struggles ceased, simply because his brute strength had temporarily paralyzed her, but the Crabtree spirit was now fairly awakened within her breast, and she was resolved to fight to the bitter end rather than let him triamph in his dastardly schemes. : Rapidly as possible with his burden, Wilder ressed on to the grove where his horse was hid- ae: along with a led animal which he had pro- vided for Ruth in case his bold attempt at ab- duction should prove successful. This was equipped with a man’s saddle, the better to avert suspicion if his coming should be noticed, but that mattered not. By turning the right stirrup over the seat, letting it hang thus shortened down the other side, the difficulty was remedied. It would not be the first time Ruth had used a like substitute for a side-sad- dle. ? ‘“‘ Now girl, listen to me for a few_ minutes, and pay attention to my words,” said the des- perado, bluntly. ‘‘I have taken too much trouble and run too much risk to be foiled now. You have often sworn that your heart was wholly mine—” ‘‘That was when I deemed you an honest, true-hearted man, and all worthy of my love, interposed Ruth, her voice strangely calm an steady. ‘itis different now. I know you for an essassin—my mother and brother are dead, slain by you—’ ‘“*- You are the only one that will ever know it then,” said Wilder, with a ferocious laugh that fairly curdled her blood. “ Fire leaves no trail —look back and tell me what you see!” Mechanically the poor girl turned her bead and glanced back toward the house where she had spent so many happy days. She could see the red flames beginning to show themselves through the windows and the open door. The building had taken fire from the shattered lamp as Wild- er intended. Ashe hinted, the devouring flames would soon lick up the significant evidence of his horrible crimes. The Vigilantes were far away and riding hard in another direction. Be- fore the glow could alarm them—before they could ride back—all would be over. The bones of her dear ones might be found, and all would believe that she, too, had perished in the flames. She realized the horrible truth, and her over- tasked spirit gave way. ow, gasping moan arted her lips and but for the ready arm of the Roasiete, she would have fallen prone upon the ground. ane A short, chilling laugh parted his lips. He was well satisfied with the turn matters had taken. He had seen that his victim meant mis- Dan Brown of Denver. chief, and he had dealt her this cruel blow as the surest means of crushing her rising spir- it. Steadying her form upon the neck of his horse, he leaped into the saddle and rode away at a rapid trot, the free horse following its mate without any compulsion. Wilder did not head toward the retreat of the outlaws. He had undertaken this venture without the knowledge of Captain Moonshine, for he believed that worthy would forbid him if the truth was known, as being dangerous to the welfare of the band. Neither did he know aught of the work the road-agent chief had cut out for that same night. He had obeyed orders in capturing and forever silencing the bold detective pointed out to him by Frank Blackwood, had returned and report- ed the deed done, then rode away on his own concerns, lying low until his plans were per- fected, lest Captain Moonshine should give him work to do which would conflict with his own schemes. It was his intention to bear Ruth far away from that section, and only return after he had tired of her, to complete his vengeance upon all those yet living against whom he had sworn the death hunt. The rapid motion of the horse through the cool night air served to revive the fainting maiden, and as soon as her consciousness had re- turned fully, Wilder drew rein. ** Now I will finish what I started to tell vou back yonder in the grove where your dear father scourged and then hung me,” he said with a savage bitterness in his tones, “ It is no use for you to fight against fate. You are mine your own solemn pledge. We are only com- p eos] to-night the little bridal tour we began a wee 0. If you are wise, you will make the best of what cannot be hel Go with me you must, and unless you consent to ride alone, without making any attempt at escape, then I must carry you in my arms.” ‘I will ride alone,” murmured the poor girl, shrinking from him with a sensation of unspeak- able loathing. He saw this—felt her shrink away from him —and the devilish passions burst forth afresh. With a short, fierce laugh, he bent his head and pressed his hot lips to hers. _ She te Ae desperate] y and partially free- ing herself, uttered a wild, appealing cry for help. Wilder laughed, sneeringly, for he felt that they were alone upon the wide prairie, that no human ear could hear that piteous cry—but then a fierce curse took the place of his diaboli- cal merriment, Clear and menacing there came an answering cry—the shout ofa bold man—and immediately after he could hear the rapid clatter of iron- shod hoofs upon the hard earth. _He glanced backward—he saw a horseman riding swiftly toward him, along his trail. He knew that Ruth’s cry had been heard and un- derstood, that at least one man was speeding to her aid. How many more there was coming behind, he could only surmise. There was no time now for changing horses. To make the attempt would give the stranger ae time to overtake him, even should Ruth make no resistance, But this she was doing. The cheering shout had reached her ears, and nerved by that hope, she struggled desperately to fling herself to the ground, even at the risk of broken bones or of being beaten down by the hoofs of the startled horses. _Uttering a fierce, snarling curse, Wilder raised his clenched fist and dealt her a cruel blow full in the face. It was effectual. With one moan- ing ery, the poor girl hung helplessly upon his arm. A Me ht shout came from behind. The stranger had noted that dastardly act by the clear moonlight, and plying his now bloody spurs, he thundered on in pursuit. Wilder knew that unless he abandoned his senseless victim, it would result in a chase for life or death, but had the risk been double what it was, he would never have consented to throw away the cream of his deeply meditated re- venge. ‘Let the bold fool look to himself! he mut- tered darkly, casting a backward glance over his shoulder at the rapidly oncoming horseman. “The first he knows he'll find himself running against a snag.” The stranger apparently felt no fear of this. He urged on his horse with both voice and spurs, riding like one born to the pig-skin. He was getting more out of the animal than one out of a hundred riders could. The creature was a good one, but had been ridden long and hard before this mad race Beene. In less skillful hands, it would have fallen hopelessly in the rear ere a mile had been traversed. "Instead, encouraged and aided by its rider, the noble creature was a little more than holding its own, creeping up nearer the fugitive, inch by inch, foot by fogt. — Wilder realized this significant fact, and he knew that each minute which passed would make the matter worse. His mount wasa good one, but it carried full one hundred pounds of dead weight, and this must soon tell in sucha stern race, Had he only been able to place ‘> a a ee eee nnn nn nnn nn LLL LLL LT LL cts tama Sp Ruth upon the other horse and fasten her firm- ly in the saddle, then all would have been well. There was one chance left him. Even while burdened with the senseless maiden, he believed he could shift from one horse to the other in safety, without materially slackening his speed. If so, he might yet shake off this bold pursuer. Had he been alone, he would have turned and faced the stranger, for he was no coward. As it was, he showed his teeth like a reluctantly retreating tiger, half-tempted to turn and meet his pursuer at the pistol muzzle. His fear thot Ruth might receive a bullet intended for himself was all that hindered him from doing so. Thus the chase swept on over the dry, level — for mile after mile, the pursuer slowly essening the intervening distance by bis superb skill in handling his jaded horse, until there was not more than one hundred yards separating the chaser and eg Wilder saw that it was high time for him to An his plan of changing horses into operation. he stranger was now within pistol range, and Once astride ursuit. ar the might open fire at any moment. the free horse, he could laugh at all The animal was running easily, by freshest and fastest of the three. Promptly obedient to the whistle of its mas- ter, the horse edged alongside its mate, and Wilder freed his feet from the stirrups, shifting Ruth to his left arm, preparatory to putting the perilous plan into operation. But other ears had heard that whistle, and as the stranger saw the two horses drawing to- gether, he readily divined the truth. Quick as thought his right hand was raised and the re- volver held in it spoke out sharply. The one shot was enough. With a loud snort of pain, the free horse plunged forward upon its head, one leg paralyzed if not broken by the bullet. And in falling, its feet became entangled witb those of the horse bestrode by Wilder. In vain the creature tried to keep from falling. Plung- ing Shay forward it fell headlong to the ound. Wilder alighted upon his feet, like a cat, but the event was so unexpected that the weight of Ruth destroyed his balance, and he also came to the ground with stunnin force. With an exultant shout the stranger thunder- ed on, leaping to the ground without trying to check his horse, for he knew that such a pause would be fatal. The desperado had already regained his feet and was drawing arevolver. As the stranger alighted before him, he raised the weapon. At the same moment the wide hat flew off, and the bright moonlight fell fairly athwart the face of his antagonist. What he saw there disturbed his aim. The pistol exploded, but the missile hissed harmlessly past the ear of its intended victim. ‘God of mercy! who are you?” he gasped in a tone of horror, reeling and staggering back as though drunk. “Dan Brown of Denver, at your service!” laughed the man as he leaped forward and grappled with the desperado. | CHAPTER XXVII. THE CLOUD OF MYSTERY BREAKING AWAY. WILDER seemed fairly stupefied and made scarcely any resistance. The sight of that pale, handsome face was more terrible to him than an army of bloodthirsty enemies, for only two nights ago, he had with his own hands killed the man to whom it belonged. He had driven his keen knife home until] he felt its haft grate against his ribs over his heart. And not onl that, but in order that there might be no possi- ble doubt, with that same blood-dripping blade he had deliberately severed the detective’s head from its trunk, ending by hurling them both down into the black depth of Devil's Gulch, And yet—here was the same man boldly con- fronting him, a cold smile upon his stern lips, an avenging glow in his eyes, his head upon his shoulders! Was it a ghost? Could the dead come back to wreak vengeance upon their destroyers? It was these horrible thoughts that unnerved the desperado and left him but a ap Ace in the hands of the detective, who sough" to cap- ture, not kill. A _ brief ae -e then Dan Brown of Denver arose alone, while Wilder lay upon his back, handcuffs upon his wrists and a superstitious fear filling his staring eyes. The detective turned quickly to where Ruth Crabtree lay, still senseless, the moonlight fall- ing upon her face, white as snow save for the discolored bruise which marked the brutal blow. delivered by the outlaw. The glad cry was frozen upon his lips, and the detective started back as though he, too, had une tedly looked upon a ghost, “Not Rachel—not Miss Trowbridge!” he gasped, passing one hand mechanically across is brow as though to clear away the mist of error. “ Who is this?’ he demanded, turning fiercely upon theoutlaw. ‘‘ Youstole her away from that house—from where Miss Trowbridge was stopping!” Brief as had been the period since his fall, Wilder had in a great measure recovered from his superstitious terror. The actions of the de tective were too huran for him to be a spirit, IJOO : comic S:cO