Beadle's Dime Library, No. 142 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

er ; f “ ‘ +3 6’ , is ; fe 's _ serpent either side, to grasp one alternative to escape instant death, and that was to obey. He was a man who took desperate chances with his life; but here he knew there was no chance to take, it was certain death to refuse. Did he obey, the Man of the Iron Face would only held him as a prisoner, and he had been in durance vile often ‘ ‘ ad me) * Pitta “ay -?_ > ¢ vefore, and been taken car2 . of by his namesake, Satan, so he said in anin- | different tone: ‘“You speak the truth, pard:; you have the wih on me, so up go my hands.” e held them above his head as he spoke, but his quick eye was ready to take the slightest advantage, should Iron Face lower his rifle, for he knew that few men could draw and fire a revolver as quickly as he could, But though nothing could be seen behind that iron face to indicate that its owner suspected | | Dick. Devil Dick of treachery, it is certain that he was suspected, for Iron Face walked straight toward his prisoner, his rifle still pointed at his heart, and only stopped when the muzzle pressed his breast. ‘Now, sir, I will clip the Tiger’s claws,” said the Man of the Iron Face, at the same time re- lieving Dick Harwood of the revolvers and knife in his belt, and placing them in his own, age done this, he dropped his rifle, and seizing the uplifted hands in both his own, in spite of the great strength of the bandit lieu- tenant, he bent them down, as a mun would a child’s, and forcing them behind him, a sudden click, click was heard. ‘*Curses upon you! you have irened me,” cried Dick Harwood, turning pale. ‘True, you have a pair of bracelets on that I carried for other wrists, but they will serve in this case very well; now, sir, I wish to aid you to mount.” Iron Face led the way to where the prisoner’s horse was feeding, while Violet, to whom not a word had been spoken, and who stood like one awakening from a hideous nightmare, gazed on in silence. With an exhibition of his wonderful strength Iron Face placed his prisoner in the saddle, and then, with rawhide thongs, quickly tied his feet beneath his horse, atter which he turned to Violet, and said, pleasantly: _ “Now, Miss Vassar, it will give me pleasure to escort you back to camp.” “Oh, sir, what do I not owe to you?” she cried, and with her words came a flood of tears, as she grasped the hand of Iron Face. **] owe more to you, Miss Vassar, for through ti courage in taking this long ride, I have been enabled to run to earth a man whom I have suspected as a villain since I first met him with your train; but come, danger may yet lie before us, so I would not tarry here.” Roused by his words, Violet dried her eyes, and was lifted in his strong arms and placed in - her saddle, after which Iron Face secured the steed of Dick Harwood with his lariat, and the three turned their horses’ heads campward, the Scout and the maiden riding side by side, and ‘the animal, with his bound master, trotting along behind, As if forgetting the scene he had just passed through, the Man of the Iron Face began to en- tertain Violet with stories of the border, and so brilliant a talker did she find him, so soft and winning was his voice, and about him hung such amystery, that the maiden became more and more interested in him, and felt in her heart that she would give much to see what lay be- neath that iron face. But, as they rode along Violet noticed that _ ‘the Man of the Iron Face cast frequent glances around them, and that he had some cause of alarm she knew and was convinced when he said: : Come, let us urge our horses on, Miss Vas- ‘*Is there an enemy in sight, sir?’ she asked, somewhat anxiously. “Yes,” was the short reply, and it caused both Violetand Dick Harwood to glance behind. _ What they saw blanched both faces, and Devil Diek called out in thrilling tones: “ An enemy, yes! the prairie is on fire !” By common consent the three horses now bounded forward, for suddenly around the ridge of hills, or rather through a vale-like opening that divided it, came a towering col- umn of flame and smoke, like some huge, fiery across the prairie. rushin ‘The wind is behind us, and blowing strong; -we must ride for it,” said the Man of the Tron | pace Cee and leaning over he grasped Vio- let’s bridle-rein, and away sped the three horses, Violet, as pale as death, for her mind was full of the stories of prairie fires, was still calm and kept her presence of mind, though she felt that she would undergo any danger, could she but see the peggy on the face beneath that iron mask. ‘If I could only see his face I would read what is to be our fate; but now I have little hope, for, fast as my horse is, yonder roaring flames come faster,” she murmured, and an- other glance behind showed her that the fire had reached the prairie this side of the ridge, and was now extending its flaming legions on e whole prairie in its burning emprace, ey ; . , i x > : ‘ ‘ ee | ” Fj a ry a? on te us Crimson. From the torrents of fire rolling irresistibly on, she looked at the face of the prisoner, and her eyes met his gaze. His face was pale, yet upon his lip was an ex- pression of recklessness, and seeing her look he said sneeringly: ‘* Well, sweet Violet, had you accepted my offer, your fair form would escape yonder de- vouring flame, for I tell you there is no hope for you, or any of us.” ““And I tell rou, sir, that you lie,” was the calm retort of the Man of the [ron Face. ‘‘Ha! you fling the lie in the teeth of a prisoner; it is nt tn ih ‘It is not as cowardly as your conduct to an innocent girl you held in your power, and I re- peat, when now you would take from her all nope, that you lie, for there is hope for her.” ‘* Wherein lies it?’ insolently responded Devil «In flight.” ‘* We are now going as fast as our horses can carry us, and yonder flames are overtaking us rapidly—see! my horse is failing now.” ‘*T said not there was hope for you.” The words and manner of the Scout drew the eyes of the prisoner and of Violet upon him, for what could his strange reply mean/ And even Devil Dick felt a tremor of horror, as he asked: ‘‘ What mean you?’ ‘“‘That your horse is failing rapidly; see, he stumbles now.” ‘*And would you leave me here in irons to die a death so fearful?” cried the now thorough ty frightened outlaw. ‘** I cannot save you, but I will not be unmer- ciful,” and Iron Face dropped back alongside the straining horse ridden by his prisoner, and re- leased the lariat from his bit, and then, taking a key from his ket, he removed the iron handcuffs from his wrists, saying quietly: ‘* | would perhaps be merciful to put a bullet any your brain, and doubtless, if you es- cape, I will regret not doing so; but you are free; go where you please.” But though freed of his irons the outlaw felt no desire to part company at such a time, and with lash and spur urged on his struggling steed. But to no purpose; the noble animal had taxed his strength too far, and was totterin badly at every bound, while the blood vccattied from his nostrils. A few more bounds and down he went, and the Man of the lron Face half drew up his horse, as though in mercy ; but a cry from Vio- let recalled his attention to her, and he saw that her steed, too, must soon go down, and then the outlaw was left to his fate, standing in the path of the howling, roaring, crackling flames like one gone mad with fright. One glance behind and they saw him stand- ing thus, his hands over his face, as though to shut out the sight of death in its most hideous form, and then they sped on; but alas! weak- ened from abject fear, the high-strung anima! ridden by Violet was swaying wildly, and the Man of the Iron Face saw that he, too, must go down, and the look on the maiden’s face showed that she, too, realized the awful truth in all its horror, CHAPTER XXII. THE FIRE KING. ‘On my poor, poor Turi,” cried Violet Vas- sar, forgetting herself, in her sorrow for her nobly-struggling but failing horse, and turning to the man of the Iron Face, as he rode by her side, she continued: “Tt seems so cruel to urge him with the whip, when he is doing his best for me.” ‘*The brute creation must ever suffer for the human, Miss Vassar,” was the calm reply, and be added, as Turk again swayed badly: * Pardon me, but you must let me save you now.” Leaning over as he spoke he passed his arm around her slender waist, and, with a skillful movement, seated her behind him, paying no attention to her sudden exclamation of surprise at the unexpected act. Released of his burden Turk in made an effort for life, for behind him came the Fire Hing, and he knew his danger as thoroughly as did his mistress know hers, But once having decided that in the speed of Whirlwind only was there hope, Iron Face gave the noble beast rein, and even with his ex- tra weight he sprung forward in a way that proved he deserved the name he bore, for Turk was at once dropped behind and left to his fate. ‘My poor, poor Turk,” moaned Violet, as she glanced back and saw the terror-crazed animal struggling on still, neighing wildly, and yet sure y being overtaken by the fire, the warmth of which the maiden could now feel upon her fair cheek. Lost in astonishment at the wonderful strength, endurance and speed of Whirlwind, Violet momentarily forgot her own danger, un- til recalled to it, by a louder roar and fiercer crackling than before, as the flames struck a richer growth of grass, and once more her eyes were turned behind her and a moan escaped her lips, for nowhere was poor Turk visible, | — But would not her fate be as awful? she thought, as before them it seemed there was no safety, and behind them came the fiery gale, eunine steadily, in spite of Whirlwind’s great ed. Nearer and nearer came the fire, but no word came from the man that haa proven her pre- server, excepting an occasional encouragemen to his horse. ‘*On, Whirlwind, old fellow: you are doing nobly, my king of steeds, but keep it up, for all depends upon you.” And, as though determined to show his mas- ter that he new all that depended upon him, the splendid animal bounded forward with in- creased speed, for, he had felt no cruel lash upon him, as he understood what was expected of him, and was doing his best. And nearer and nearer came the fire, until its heat grew almost painful, and, with a glance ahead, Violet Vassar gave herself up for lost, and in her horror was about to cry to the silent man to speak one word to her ere they were in- ulfed in the flames; but, with the cry upon her ips, Whirlwind suddenly paused and quickly turned to the left. ‘* Great God! he has failed us!” she cried. ‘*Not so, here is a divide, and we are safe,” was the stern response, and down the stee oathway into the ravine scrambled the splendi norse, and crouching down against the over- hanging banks the man, the maiden and the horse awaited the passing of the Fire King. A moment more and above their heads swept the sea of fame, roaring like the waves lashed into storm, and sending down into the divide a heat that would have been unbearable had not Iron Face quickly enveloped Violet in his sera pe, and then thrown a blanket over Whirl- wind, and also protected his own head, for the iron face he wore would have been unendurable if exposed to the furnace-like air. A short while they crouched thus, and then the heat grew less intense, the Fire King had broken at the divide, and then gone scurrying away up its course, driven by the wind, which had suddenly changed. And out of the oven-like place came the two human beings and the brute, the latter panting hard after his superb effort, and the man’s face hidden, the maiden’s white, earnest, and her form trembling. And around the neck of the noble horse Violet threw her arms, while she cried, in half-sobbing tones: ‘* Beautiful, noble Whirlwind, you have saved us.’ ‘True, Miss Vassar, no other horse on these plains could have done what Whirlwind did, and had this divide been an eighth of a mile further away we should have perished.” The girl shuddered, and said almost in a whis- e. a As he has done.” ‘‘ A fitting fate for one so vile; but my pity is for the dumb brutes, not for that man,” was the stern reply. ‘True, they were more merciful; but, sir, what do I not owe you for all you have done for me, and what danger have | not led you into from my silly whim for a ride this morn- ing?’ ‘fam glad that it is as it is, Miss Vassar; but come, we must back to camp, for your friends will be most anxious regarding you; come, Whirlwind, old fellow, stir yourself once more,” and as the horse gave a low neigh, Iron Face raised Violet toa seat behind the saddle, and mounting, by an agile spring, he gave his horse the rein, and away, at a swinging Op, Whirlwind set off over the prairie for the en- campment in the motte, where an hour after thev arrived in safety, and relieved the grief of Major Malcolm and the others, for, not seein the maiden behind the Scout, they had alm given her up as lost, believing her either eon tured by the Prairie Tigers or destroyed by the Fire King. CHAPTER XXIII. UNDER A CLOUD. AFTER the warm preetings were over, and the Man of the lron Face and Whirlwind had been extolled most highly, Ross Elliott ste my forward to offer his congratulations to Vio et; but it was evident that the treachery of Dick Harwood cast its shadow on this other stran- ger, who had so mysteriously joined the train, and several cast scowling glances at the young man, who seemed intuitively to feel that he was an Object of suspicion, for he shrunk back from observation as quickly as gee ‘* He looks kinder squar’, pards, but yer can’t tell much by faces now, an’ he mout be a leetle off o’ ther trail o’ honesty; hain’t I right, Rifle?” — and Skeleton Sam, who had been appealed to by a number of the emigrants for his opinion of Ro:s Elliott, turned to Rattling Rifle, who answered in his slow way: ‘“‘T guesses you is, pard, an’ ther youngster mout be a Tiger, for who'd ’a’ suspected thet t’other feller o’ bein’ Devil Dick o’ ther Ti 23 ** Not a one, an’ a Gospil sharp e’u’d only hev seen goodness creepin’ out o’ his face; but, ards, whut a howlin’ hyena in s’arch o’ human Sones th:t Irom Face critter be; I*declar’ to JOO G S = €om « ’ - % + ° he ‘‘ “A ’ . - . * 2 e* *