Beadle's Dime Library, No. 142 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

ff — and to know why he thus shields himself from the — of his fellow-men.” ‘¢ And so would I; but it would be a bold man . that would pry into his secret; but see, our foes are returning, andI have been foolish enough to let poor Violet go out upon the prairie,” and Major Malcolm pointed to a distant rise, over which a body of horsemen were coming at a rapid gallop, and heading directly toward the motte. CHAPTER XX, FRIENDS OR FOES? Aout the same time that Fancy Frank and Major Malcolm discovered the horsemen com- ing over the divide, they were seen by the train guards, and a general cry of alarm rung out; but the guide, at a second glance, saw that they were in uniform, and said quietly: **T think they are cavalry, major.” ** Yes, that is evident, and they are welcome guests, I can assure you, for now our troubles are over, and—” ‘Hold! not so fast, major; ho! men, all! ready along the line, and fire on those devils if they come nearer, for it is a ruse of the Mad Colonel.” To say that the ringing words of Fancy Frank caused intense excitement, would be putting it mildly, for all in the motte, except- ing the guide, saw but a squadron of cavalry coming toward them. But Fancy Frank seemed in earnest, and a whistle calling Ebony to his side he sprung upon him and rode out to meet the apparent troopers, who were now not a quarter of a mile distant, and still coming on at a rapid gallop, their jingling spurs and rattling sabers making merry accompaniment to the hoof-falls ef their steeds. Every eye was now upon the man who had made such a bold charge against the coming horsemen, and all waited breathlessly as he dashed toward them, and suddenly halting threw up his hands, as though to check their advance. Then they heard his voice ring out clear and ‘* Ho! the motte; be ready, for these are foes,” Suddenly to the rightabout he wheeled, and sped like the wind back to the motte, into which he dashed several hundred yards in ad- vance of the men he had denounced foes. ‘** Major Malcolm, those are Tigers, disguised as cavalry; give it to them, boys!” cried the guide, and leaping his horse over the barricade, e sprung to the ground, and throwing his rifle forward was about to touch the trigger, when the major seized his arm. ** For Heaven’s sake, Powell, do not be rash, for I believe you are mistaken,” ** No, there is no mistake; I saw faces there that I know, and if we do not open upon them, they will dash right in; see, all those in the rear are red-skins,” and as the guide spoke he pulled the trigger, and down to the ground went a rider, while the line wavered, as though taken by surprise, and came to a sudden halt, while a stern voice called out: ‘* What means this murderous fire upon Uni- ted States soldiers? Hold! I command you.” ‘“*Ha! I told you, Powell, you were too hasty,” cried the major. The guide returned no reply to the major, but answered ; ‘““Ha! ha! ha! my cunning colonel, you thought to play a clever trick; but [ know yon, and shall treat you like the murderer you are, if you come nearer with your red pack.” here was a silence of a few moments, and the commanding officer was sewn in earnest con- sultation with some of his officers; then he an- swered in the same deep, stern tones: ‘* Emigrants, that man is entrapping you into trouble; we are from the river tort, and were sent to your aid by a friendly Indian; beware, before you fire upon us.” ‘*T told you so, Powell; I fear you have made a mistake,” said the major, anxiously. ‘*T have made no mistake, sir; what think you, Skeleton Sam?” asked the guide, turning to that individual, who had come up a moment before, accompanied by Rattling Rifle. “T guesses yer is right, pard; them don’t look like reg’lar sojers,” was the answer. “And you, Rattling Rifle?’ asked Fancy Frank. ‘*We kin git along comfortable like without comp’ny jist now, pard,” was the laconic re- ly. r This was enough for Frank Powell, and he again called out: ‘*Go back to the fort and say we don’t need aid; wecan take care of ourselves, and if you doubt it, my dear colonel, try us.” ‘‘ Vis, jist try us on, an’ yer’ll find we'll fir as ef we was made for yer; I is sp’ilin’ fer a row, an’ when they turn me loose I are a howlin’ rer fire lookin’ fer dry apd yelled Skele- Sam, and he added, as he glanced at Rat- i ifle: | rs I has a twin baby-brother heur thet is sed lightnin’ looking fer somethin’ to strike, ile him.” ot TS tention, squadron! forward—” + a 79 5 * Captain Crimson. But what more was said by the supposed cav- alry oémmander, was drowned by the stern order of Fancy Frank: ** Ready, all! aim well! fire!” A line of flame shot forth from the timber, just as the horsemen moved forward, and the result was deadly, for, when the smoke drifted away, there was one thing very evident—the squadron was in full flight, excepting several comrades and a half-dozen horses left on the prairie, dead or dying. As they fled, Fancy Frank again called the black horse of Wildbird to his side and was soon out upon the field examining the dead, one of whom he took up in his arms, and carrying him back to the motte, threw him down before the major, saying, quietly: SN | ‘* Well, sir, paint and a uniform cannot make | an Indian a white man.” ‘*Powell, again we owe you our lives, for, but for you, Death would now be stalking boldly through this encampment,” and the major grasped Fancy Frank’s hand, warmly, while Maud Malcolm glided forward and said, ear- nestly: ‘*And I, too, thank you, Dr. Powell,” and then, with a glance of alarm, she continued: ‘* But, has not Violet returned?” ‘‘Not yet, lam sorry to say,” answered the guide. ‘‘Oh, how wrong in me to let her go, for, alas! she may be forever lost to us,” almost groaned the major— ‘Ha! who is it comes yonder, Powell?” and the eyes of all, at his words, were turned far out upon the prairie. ‘*It is the Mam of the Lron Face, and—” ‘** And what?” The question broke from several lips as the guide paused; but, with aa effort at indiffer- ence, he continued; ‘* And he is alone.’ ‘*Pard, thar’s somethin’ ahind him,” said Skeleton Sam. All looked at the speaker, and then again at the coming horseman, and then beyond him, and every face blanched, while Fancy Frank, in a hoarse whisper, gave vent to the cause: ‘* Great God! the prairie is on fire.” CHAPTER XXI, THE BANDIT LOVER. To look upon the faces of Dick Harwood and Violet Vassar, when they rode forth from the motte, for a gallop over the prairie, one would not believe that either of them had a care in the world. Their horses seemed to feel like going rapidly, and pulled on their bits with a will, and a league had been gone over before Violet seemed to re- member her uncle’s warning. But it was from no love-sick sentiment, of be- ing uneonscious of all else in the society of Dick Harwood, for though she admired the young man immensely, thought him very handsome, the best of company, and they had sung duets together night after night in camp, she yet seemed a little shy of his becoming more to her than he was. A natural flirt, she was willing to lure him on, for, unhurt herself, she did not have thought of the bitterness of heart she might cause him, should she cast him aside when he should offer himself, for, with a woman’s in- tuitive knowledge of such things, she was con- fident that he intended to lay his heart and hand at her feet. After pees 2 along until the motte was lost m8 of, and the prairie began to become more rolling, until it merged into the foot-bills of a lofty ridge of wooded land, Violet bethougbt her that it was very unwise for her to go thus far from the camp, ially after the dangers of the past night, and her uncle’s request; but then Dick Harwood had told her that the Tigers and Indians had certainly departed, and ’ he wished her to go to a canyon he knew of, | my admiration of your very | a _ _ — Violet gavea joyous, ringing leugh, and an- swered lightly: ‘*Why, Mr. Harwood, it is worth the ride here to hear such a pretty speech, even if this canyon were as desolate as the desert.” ‘*T speak but the truth, Violet; you are the one who must guide my future vestiny.” ‘‘Must is a strong word to use, Mr. Har- wood,” she answered, in a tone of slight pique. ‘* T mean it, Violet, for with you my life will be one of bliss, and without you, only sorrow will be mine.” ‘* And wedded to one I did not love would make my life wretched, Mr. Harwood, so which must it be, your unhappiness, or mine?’ ‘You imply that you do not love me,” he said, quickly, and his face flushed with anger. ‘You read aright, sir; Ido not love you.” ‘“*Ha! can this be?” and his tone had a dis- agreeable ring in it. Nettled at his manner, she answered: ‘‘If your vanity has allowed you to consider ne tenor voice enjoyment of your brilliant conversations! —— and pleasure in your society, as love or you, then you must condemn your own con- ceit, and I must bridle my tongue and vail my eyes in future, lest every word and look be mis- understood.” | implore | t | you now, my ‘* And yet you have led me to believe that you loved me,” he said. ‘Your conceit led you astray, sir; but come, [have as many flowers as I can carry, so let us return to caps A and once out of this canyon, Mr. Harwood, let us forget the thorns and re- mnember only the roses.” ‘** Violet Vassar, you have trifled with a heart that has — imaged upon it, and I beg, and [ that you listen to my love,” and he eraeped her hand. | ‘* You have my answer, Mr. Harwood; release my hand, please,” she said, haughtily. “Never! I have offered you my love, and for ou my whole life was to know a or for I ave money enough to live on, and far from here I was to dwell with you as my wife—” ‘“‘A one-sided arrangement certainly, sir,” she said, with biting sarcasm. “And a one-sided arrangement it shall re- main, Violet Vassar, for where Dick Harwood makes up his mind to possess anything he gets it, cost what it may.” ‘“Do you threaten a woman, sir?” she asked, still keeping a fearless flash in her beautiful eyes, though her heart fluttered with terror, for his face had lost its winning smile, and a cruel look of reckless determination marred the beauty of his features. “IT ask you to go with me and become my wife,” he said. ** And I say never!” ‘Then you shall become what I choose to make you,” he said, savagely. ‘‘Coward! you dare not carry out your threat.” ‘* Violet Vassar, you are mistaken, for I am not what I am believed in your camp to be.” ‘*TIn Heaven’s name, who are you?” ; ‘“‘T will tell you in a word; I came West to become a ranchere; but I cheated ina game of cards, was detected, and killed my accuser, and public opinion, a merciless tyrant, drove me for safety to ally myself with a band of outlaws, of which I am now second in command, an known as Devil Dick, and my chief is known as the Mad Colonel.” She stood like a statue of marble while he coolly told his story of crime, and though her hps parted, she said no word, and he went on, atter a short pause: ‘**T joined your train to lead it to destruction, but I saw you, and I loved you, and now swear to give up my evil life and go with you far from here, if you will be my wife; what say beautiful Violet?” ‘*Sooner would I die by my own hand,” broke which was filled with the most beautiful of | from her white lips. wild flowers, and, confident in the speed of the | ‘But you know that I have the power to blooded mare she rode, and which she knew make you obey me?” came of good racing-stock, she had been enticed on and on, until at last with real alarm she drew rein, exclaiming: ‘*Oh, Mr. Harwoo , we must be a dozen miles from camp.” ‘‘ And what are a dozen miles, to our horses at least, Miss Violet? But see, yonder canyon is the one [ seek,” and he paiebed: to a break in the ridge, about a quarter of a mile distant. ‘‘Well, so far, and no further,” she said gayly, and within five minutes more they had entered the canyon. Dick Harwood had spoken the truth, for the gides of the canyon were filled with lovely flow- ers, and springing to the ground unaided, Violet soon had her hands filled with sensitive roses, indigo plants, and numerous other wild speci- mens, that enraptured her with their beauty. Presently Dick Harwood approached her, with & sensitive rose in his hand, and pointing to its leaves, that close at the human touch, he said, earnestly: — ‘* Violet, such power have you over my heart, for it feels your touch, your every look, and in my eyes, you, my Violet of the sunny South are far more beautiful, than the most gorgeous flower that blossoms on these prairies.” ‘* Never!” and the beautiful eyes burned defi- antly. ‘‘You put on a bold face, fair girl, for one at the mercy of a wicked man, who fears neither man or the devil.” ‘‘Never shall your touch pollute me, even though your crimes have won you the name of Devil Dick,” she said, scornfully. ‘* And who will prevent?” ** T will.” ; The two words, spoken in a deep, stern veice, brought a glad cry from the lips of Violet Vas- sar, and a smothered oath from Devil Dick, who wheeled quickly, his hand upon his re- volver butt, to discover, standing in the mouth of a ravine, not ten feet distant, a tall form, with rifle leveled at his heart. | It was the Man of the Iron Face, and bis man- ner and words were ominous, for be said: “IT have the drop on you, pard, so throw up your hands, or I fire.” CHAPTER XXII. CHASED BY DEATH. At the stern order of the Man of the Iron Face, for Dick Harwood to ‘“‘throw u hands,” that personage saw that there wi but JOO com (C bis ‘S.€O ’ * ‘ er" - al ~~ * a yy