Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 1102 — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

30 ———— eee ee find the girl at home,” he murmured as he ap- proached the old dwelling, He was destined to have his wish gratified, The Stranger Sharp. $e ——$—$ ——»- “If you shuuld succeed in rescuing the girl from the bands of the road-agents the alcalde may be willing to give her to you,” the Indian for when he arrived within a dozen yards of the | girl suggested. cave the Indian girl made her appearance. ‘You want to see me?’ she asked in her ab- | with him—in fact, I should not care to, rupt way. ‘*] bave not made any bargain of that sort I don’t | want to buy the girl with a service any more | Yes, that was the object which brought me | than I would with money, here,” the sport replied. ‘** But there is another side to this question: | ter of course obliterating all traces of the horses’ ' hoofs in a short time, | They followed the creek fora good two miles | until they came to its head-waters amid a rocky | region, | Al) the details had been carefully planned. When the time came for them to leave the | stream the horses’ hoofs were muffled in pads | made by wrapping pieces of skin around them ‘*] want to talk to you on a little matter of | these Bloodsuckers have attacked me; I owe | so that when the steed again took to the land business, ‘* About the carrying off of this girl?” | them a grudge, and I always make it a point to | pay off old scores of this kind as soon as I can,” ‘* You have guessed rightly,” the sport replied, | And then the sport related bis suspicion in re- betraying no surprise at the shrewdness of the | gard to the Mexican chief of police. Indian maid. ‘* Well, Iam ready to hear what you have to say,” she remarked, seating herself upon a con- venient bowlder. ‘* Is it safe to speak?” the Fresh asked, casting | a searching glance around. | nounced, ‘‘Tt is likely that your guess is correct,” tbe Indian girl remarked, **T know this Santilla, and he is a snake! I would not place the least trust in him, | their hoofs left no marks upon the soil. | Tuis was why the trackers were baffled, | In a secluded nook high up amid a rocky | range was an old shanty which had been con- structed by some hunter who bad made the place bis headquarters while in search of game, In this old house the girl was put. We have neglected to say that the two white ‘‘] have come to secure your aid,” Blake an- | men did not goon up the stream with te red- ‘*T want your assistance, for you | skins and their captive, but they went down the ‘© Oh, yes; no living soul is near; speak with- | know every foot of the country for miles around, | river until they came to a point where the well- 'and if you will come with me I think the Blake followed the example of the girl, and | chances are good, we can hunt these rascal¢| they were unable to reach it without leaving out fear.” sat upon a rock. ‘You know all the ** Yes, the men of else,” she replied. * And if hills when the searching parties were trying to hit off the trail.” ticulars of the case?” anta Fe talk of nothing ‘* Yes, I was after game, and it made me | tive laugh to see how like a set of blundering tender- feet the white men set about the business,” ‘‘ Well, they did not go at the job as if they understood much about it,” the sport admitted. ‘*T should say not,” the girl remarked, con- temptuously. ‘**The fools ran here and there, and every- where! If the trail had been perfectly plain and distinct, the idiots would have covered it ‘“‘ Yes, I know that, but as the men were wild with excitement, it was not possible to do any- thing with them,” ‘Why do you take any interest in the matter —what is it to you?’ the girl demanded, ab- ruptly. “Well, as wou were shrewd enough to guess that I had come to see you in regard to this affair, you a to be shrewd enough to imag- ine why I bother myself aboutit.” ‘‘You are in love with this beauty, I sup- pose,” she exclaimed, her proud lips curling in contempt, ‘* Yes, that is about the size of it, and it is an odd fact, too, for I am not the kind of man who is inclined to yield to the tender passion,” the sport remarked in a thougbtful way. ‘¢ And does she care for you?” ‘‘ Well—yes, I think she does, I am not the kind of man, you understand, who is in the habit to do much boasting about a matter of this kind, but since you put the question plainly, I am going to answer it. I will tell you why I think so, and then you will know as much about the matter as I do. Then Blake related how the beautiful Isabelle had sought fhim, disguised, for the purpose of giving warning that danger threatened. The Indian girl listened attentively and when omg came to the end of bis tale she nodded and said: ‘6 Yes, there is little doubt that she is in love with you or else she never would have acted in that way.” ‘¢That is what I reckoned and so I made bold to speak to the alcalde about the matter.” ‘“* And was he not angry?’ she demanded. ‘‘ He is a proud, stern old man, and regards his girl as the apple of his eye.” ‘* He did not take it in good part, and, in fact, he committed the blunder of trying to choke se =a out of me,” the Fresh replied with a augh. ‘* But, of course, ata game of that kind, the alcalde was no match for me, as he speedily discovered. I put him on his back and oS a there until he agreed to behave him- self. | ‘“‘ After such an occurrence I should think he would be more apt to regard you as an enemy than a friend.” ‘Of course the experience wasn’t pleasant, but his respect for me undoubtedly increased, Still, I don’t suppose the little affair made him ¢ bit more willing to receive me as a son-in- **T should think not,” the Indian girl observed in a thoughtfal way, “This loye-making is rather out of my line, anyway,” the sport explained. | “There is an old proverb, unlucky at cards, lucky in’ Tove, and vice versa; my experience is that there is a’ deal of truth in it, I have always been very lucky ‘at cards, and very unlucky in love affairs, I have managed to win some nice girls but was never able to keep them long, and it may be possible that I am making a mistake in going after this ons,, but as I hav got started I am not of nica turn back, for that is not the kind man I am. | ** T feel sure of ea ee have a will of iron!” the 9 rl dec! : “Well, I generally stick to a thing pretty tightly if I get fairly started.” } } 4944 _—S as | : - ‘ ; id OW. ADS ts re %? cites iS / od Vee .e feet: pits Ar Ait ue le. . ae i! * yer “A : f o ‘ a + yr? down,” ‘* T will go with you!” the red maiden declared. ‘‘ And do allI can toaid in the rescue of the girl—not for her sake though, but for yours, mistake not, I saw you up in the | for she has always looked upon me witb scorn- ful eyes. That is due to her father though principally, 1 suppose,” the girl added, reflec- dregs of creation, and if he had his way. we would be hunted off the face of the earth.” “Tf you assis to rescue bis girl though his gratitude undoubtedly,-will, be great.” ‘‘ Bah! I core not for it!” the Indian girl ex- claimed, scornfully. ‘* What can he do for me, either for good or evil? Nothing! If I go, 1 go on your account! You took my part when the white men were howling for my blood, and while I live I will never forget it.” ‘‘ Oh, that is allright!” Blake declared. ‘t You squared that account when you saved me from the assassin who sought my life.” ‘‘ No, no! Ido not consider that the debt is paid yet!” she protested, ‘‘ Well, I do; and if you aid me in this matter lied. ‘*T will, and can aid you,” Lute Winnemucca declared, ‘* Have youa clew?” ‘Yes, a wounded ruffian is now in my power and has agreed to reveal the secret of the mys- terious band to me, In fact he commenced the tale, but fainted before be made much progress, As soon as he recovers strength he wil speak, and then I think it will be an easy matter to track the outlaws to their hiding-place.” ‘‘ A lucky chance!” the Fresh declared, ‘* Is there not to be another scouting expedi- tion this afternoon?” ) ‘* Yes, but I doubt its success.” ‘¢ When you return from the search I will meet ou in Santa Fe, and then I may have news of mportance for you.” ‘*Thanks! Do not fail, and afterward ask what you will of me!” Blake exclaimed, as he took his departure. “‘ All Task is yourself, and that treasure the alcalde’s daughter has won!” the Indian muttered sadly to herself after the sport gone, irl ad CHAPTER XLII. A REVELATION, AND now we will follow the fortunes of the girl, In the foot-hills the two men who seemed to be white, overtook their dusky companions with their fair burden, . The screams of the girl had been stopped in the most unceremonious manner, The rider, in whose strong arms she was clasped, had drawn his knife and clapped it to her throat so close that the keen point actually broke the skin, ‘o. Squaw yell—die!” he exclaimed, and from t was In the wer of a red-skin, . And she knew enough of these brutal red-men to understand that they would. not hesitate to kill ber on the instant if they thought their in- terests could te served by so doing. Besides, now that the first alarm was over, common sense came to her aid. To scream aloud, and by so doing anger her | captors, would: not help ber position in the least, | On the contrary, if she was docile and obedi-— ent, she might expect far better treatment than she would receive by being ugly. She had got the idea into her head that she was being carried away for the purpose of ex- torting a ransom, for she had -heard of such things being done, and so she was not so uneasy in ber mind as she might have been under the circumstan | the party turned and h Grande. In the river they walked their horses up the stream until they came to where a small creek came into the river from the west; up this mud- dy creek they went, the flowing watersas a mat- straight for the Rio i | ly. He has always regarded us red-skins as the, | I will be under obligations to you,” the sport re- guttural tone Isabelle comprehended that she ces, : After the two white men es the red bucks : ad 2 : > Py. 44" : i> 4 bone “a s in ae > iin, Oe appetite “ae oot * : + ¢ trodden trail came so close to the bank that | any tell-tale marks. | And on the trail itself their hoof-prints were | lost amid a hundred others. The girl was placed in the cabin and the door securely fastened, the red-skins taking up their quarters just outside, and while one slept the other watched, so she was never without a vigi-~ lant guard. At sunset some dried meat with crackers and a tin cup of water was furnished her, She ate the scanty provision, for she reasoned that. she might bave need «f all ber strength, not knowing what was in store for her. Some hours after darkness set in, about ten o'clock as near as he could judge, she began to feel her eyes grow heavy. There was a rude bunk, composed of pine boughs and skins, in one corner of the apartment, and she thought she would get some rest, Through the large open space in the roof the moonbeams shone so that there was ample light. for her to distinguish the objects around her, But just as she approached the bunk, with in- tention of lying down, the sound of conversa- tion without attracted her attention, and then heavy footsteps approached the door. The fastenings were remuved and the chief of the Bloodsuckers entered. ‘* Well, how do you get on?” he asked. The outlaw was not as careful to disguise his voice this time as he bad been on the previous occasion when she had heard it, and the quick ears of the girl recognized familiar tones, ** Great heavens! can it be possible?” she cried, so surprised by the discovery that she forgot her caution. ‘¢ What is possible?” he asked, amazed, “That you are—” and then too late the reflec- tion came that she was acting heey in al- lowing the man to know that she had discover- ed who and what he was, ‘* Aha, your sbarp wits have discovered me then?” The girl knew notrwhat to say. “No use to attempt to conceal the truth; I see you have penetrated my disguise, but it makes no difference now,” and then with an im- patient movement he removed his mask, wig and flowing beard, and the face of Miguel San- tilla, the chief of police of Santa Fe, stood re- vealed, “T have been playing a bold game for the last year and this stroke caps the climax,” he continued. ‘*T made up my mind to make you mine the first time I looked upon your face. I would gladly have won you openly. and if I had suc- ceeded, your father’s wealth would have en- abled me to give up my life of crime, but I soon saw that there wasn’t any chance for me, and then too I read in your eyes the secret that you had allowed yourself to become fascinated by this miserable adventurer, end then I made up my mind thatif I had to yield to him would contrive to secure a good slice of your father’s wealth in exchange and by this little operation I think I shall succeed in that design. “Tt was ly my advice that this Eastern trip was undertaken,” ‘‘T suspected that you had a hand in the mat- ter!” exclaimed the girl, indignantly. ‘‘ And although I made no objection to the trip it was my intention, the moment 1 was free to do 80, to discontinue the journey and return in disguise to Santa Fe.” ‘‘ Well, you are safely caged for the present, and after I get the twenty thousand dollars ransom which I have demanded. of your father, you can marry this cursed Blake if you so de- sire. I, in another land, can find as fair a wo- man to enjoy my fortune.” Two sbots fired in rapid succession interrupt- ed the speaker at this point. ‘* Aha! are we surprised?” the Mexican cried, drawing his revolvers and rushing to the door but before he reached it, there was the sound of another shot, bade The door swung violently and Spanish Jobn, the keeper of the Golden Monte Palace, clutching in his hand the disguises which in his agony he had torn from his face, fell heavily into the apartment, A glance through the open doorway revealed ‘ a <9 rey