Beadle's Dime Library, No. 142 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

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AL ae | 7 . 7 ‘i. - ~~ ‘ rag tc a: ae von = Fe », wete fe . ) +4 ¢ ~~ = ; & as etree _ “bo liste ~ we 14 — gauntlet; but her eyes became suddenly fixed upon a large seal ring that he wore, and she cried out eagerly: “Oh, where did you get that ring?” Quickly the ‘weal 4 was withdrawn, and touch- ing his hat, he said coldly: _ “* Miss Vassar, adieu.” As if understanding what his master wanted, Whirlwind started off at a rapid pace, just as Maud Malcolm came up, and said in a low tone: “Vi, Carter Grey stands yonder, eying you ras though he could kill you; but come, your Indian protégé has eaten everything he could lay his hands on, and wishes to see you before Ahe goes; but what makes you look so blue?” “Oh, nothing; I was only thinking.” “*And so was I, and my thoughts were, why ;does that strange man wear a mask, and why does he suddenly ride away, as soon as he sees the troopers coming?” ** Neither question can I answer, Maud.” ** Well, I hope he is not hiding a guilty face ‘beneath his iron mask.” “Never! I feel that Ae never could, never will be a criminal, Maud,” Véolet answered, warmly; but suddenly changing her tone, she added lightly: *‘But come, the troopers will soon be here, and we may find some handsome young officer to flirt with, for, lixe you, Maudie dear, *** I love the military,’ and the beautiful girl sung a few words of that popular ballad, in a rich soprano voice, that made a bird in a tree overhead stop his trilling n. As they reached their own camp, the cavalry squadron dashed up, and Maud pointed to the - young and certainly very handsome officer in gommand, and said gayly: “Vi, there’s your victim,” and the two young girls ran into their tent to make themselves more presentable in the eyes of the gallants who wore the brass buttons, and had come to protect them from further danger at the hands of the red-skins and outlaws that had _ «caused them all so much anxiety. rs was greeted with The coming of the troo took its flight from hearty cheers, and drea ‘the hearts of the bold pioneers into the Western wilds, and around the camp-fires that night _ their dangers and hardships in the past were forgotten, and bright hopes filled every heart; but alas! what human eye can peer into the dim and misty future? CHAPTER XXV. THE RUINED STOCKADE. . Tue ruined stockade, the rendezvous ap- | wen by the Black Specter, where Fancy was to meet her, was simply the ruins of what once had been a small fort, but one that thad been deserted several years before, after the small force stationed there had one night been massacred, leaving but one to tell the story of that cruel scene. And that one was Fancy Frank, at that time a surgeon in the United States army, and on —T n the stockade. e night of the massacre he had volunteered to go for aid, as the provisions were getting fJow, the ammunition was growing scarce, an af help did not come soon, the besiegers must * — the gallant little command. veral had attempted the daring deed of running the red gantilet, but their scalp-locks had been shaken tauntingly in the faces of their comrades the next morning, and all knew that their danger at the distant fort was not - known. But at last Fancy Frank had said he would go, and in spite of all urging not to do so, as - @ertain death would follow, the brave surgeon was determined, and went to his quarters to prepare for his most hazardous undertaking. After half an hour’s absence he suddenly ap- before his comrades, oi them to spring to their feet in alarm, for they beheld before them a tall warrior, in full war-paint and feathers, and believed that the Sioux had gained entrance into the stockade. But a quiet laugh and a word told them that i. Fancy Frank had simply used his Indian knowl- to metamorphose a pale-face into a red- warrior, and so thorough was the disguise that all thought it must certainly deceive the savages themselves. With a grasp of the hand in farewell, he crept out of the stockade in the darkness, and those he left behind saw no more of him. Like a serpent he wormed his way along to the nearest thicket, where warriors were pass- ing to and fro, and rising from the ground he stalked boldly among them, here and there spoken to as one of their number, and replying romptly in such perfect Sioux, that not one oubted that there was a spy in their midst. Seeking the corral where the ponies were kept, he selected one he believed the best fitted for a long and hard ride, and soon after he was scouring across the prairies at a sweeping gal- lop. And within twenty-four hours he was back at the stockade, with a hundred gallant troopers at his back; but, alas! the dead, not the living = ie Teer at ° : s FS Captain Crimson. ——- 2 + —m = — them, for, only a short time befdre, the ndians had carried the place by storm, and none were left to tell the story of the hard- fought combat, and the desperate danger he had risked alone saved Fancy Frank. And to this stockade did the guide wend his way, as soon as he had seen the Malcolm train, under the escort of the cavalry, well on its way toward the place where they were to settle. He had spoken truly, when he told Wildbird he knew well the stockade, for bitter memories I offered you a home far away, and to bury forever our secret of the past we had known.” ‘‘[ would rather be true to him, outlaw though he be, than untrue to mysel/, as the companion of a saint.” ‘Oh, Ido not plead with you any more, my virtuous Wildbird, for my love has undergone a change, and I love devotedly one whom I met in the emigrant train, and whom I have sworn to have.” ‘*Spare her, I implore you, for look at wt welled up at the name, and since that night of | and see what an evil man has made me, and massacre he had not been there; but he did not | not drag down into the same abyss of crime hesitate now, for he feared no grim specters | one who is now innocent,” and the womau that superstitious trappers and hunters said | clasped her hands pip roe a hy but again he made their home there, and should he meet foes of flesh and blood, he was fully able to cope with them. The moon lighted his way, and it was nearly midnight when he entered the timber land, in which was the ruin. Cautiously he approached until he stood within a hundred feet of the stockade, and his quick eye detected a slight glimmer, as from a fire- light, reflected against the surrounding trees. ismounting, he left the well-trained Ebony concealed in the brush, and cautiously approach- ed on foot. Suddenly, while crouching down, and slowly moving forward, his rifle ready, his hand touched something that caused him to start, and then to grasp it with a firm clutch, as though for a death-struggle. But instantly he released his gripe, for his fingers were upon the throat of the dead. Passing his hands over the prostrate form, he now saw that it was a white man, dressed in rough attire, still wearing his arms, and that a bullet-hole in his forehead had caused his death. Not yet cold, he knew that but a short time had passed since there had been another tragedy in the timber around the old stockade. But who was it that had taken the man’s life and then left his arms? That was the question that puzzled Fancy Frank, and he was most anxious to solve the mystery, for perbaps his coming might have frightened the slayer off, and even then he might be near, watching and waiting for him. ‘Tt cannot be the woman; and yet why not? ‘*She certainly did not hesitate the other night in firing upon those Indians; but this is a white man, and—ha! I forgot the glimmer of light in the steckade,” and so saying the Scout went back the way he had come, treading as noiselessly as a somes and making a détour, soon approached the ruin from the other side. ’ Throwing himself upon the ground, he crawled to the opening and cautiously glanced within. A few of the cabins still remained, but some of them had been barned, and upon all rested a look of desolation and gloom. Gazing searchingly about, he soon saw that from a crevice in one of the cabins came the glimmer of light that cast the dim reflection upon the tree-tops, which had caught his quick eye. * oeeoathinis the cabin he glanced within, and what he saw there caused him to start sud- denly, and drop his hand upon his revolver, as if for instant use. And what he saw was enough to make the heart of a brave man quiver with emotion, for a woman was in dire peril of death, and the one who held held her life in his hands was a man. CHAPTER XXVI. A STARTLING DENOUEMENT. FAcE to face, the woman crouching down across the cabin, the man standing with his back against the door, and his revolver pointed at, her heart, the two made a thrilling tableau for Fancy Frank to gaze upon, and the interest of which was increased, when in the one he be- held the beautiful face of the Black Specter, and in the other a person whom ata glance he did not recognize, as his clothing was blackened and charred, his face red and blistered, his bair and mustache crisp from contact with the fire, and his whole appearance indicative of one who had had a narrow escape from death by fire; buta long, earnest gaze, and the Scout saw in at before him none other than Dick Har- w . ‘* What have I done to you, Dick Harwood, that you should wish to take my life?’ asked the woman, in a low, trembling tone, The man laughed bitterly, and answered: ‘‘Itisa joy for me to see you tremble from fear, my beauty, for you have sought rather than shunned death.” ‘¢ And I would welcome it now, did I not have a duty to perform, for what have I to live for? I hate life, for my life is a curse, but I would not die now, no, not now, not now, and hence I plead for you to spare me.” ‘*T will—upon conditions.” ‘*Name them.” pA ‘You have thrown my love aside in the t—.’? ‘*You would have me be untrue to him [ swore to love, honor and obey—” ‘Bah! he is but an outlaw.” ‘‘ He is my busband, and your chief, sir.” ‘* And he keeps you here in deadly peril, when ———E laughed bitterly, and answered: ‘“She led me on, Wildbird, te believe she cared for me, and then scorned my love; ay, through her I nearly lost ~ life through that accursed mystery known as the Man of che Iron Face, who took her from me, and together they left me to die on the prairie, with a fearful fire behind me. ‘* Ay, they left me to my fate, and I gave up all hope; but the devil takes care of his own, my agree f and I made my horse serve my pur- se, for his carcass was my retreat until the mes swept over, but that for a minute I was in a hell on earth, let my appearance show,” and he pointed to his scorched face and hands, and burnt ee ‘*It has certainly spoiled your beauty, Devil Dick, but has kindly given Pv a foretaste of what you may expect hereafter, if you do not repent you of = sins,” was the not very sympathetic reply. ‘*'To the devil with your preaching, woman, ‘Thad enough ef that in the long ago, when my father was a clergyman, and | the organist of his church; well, you see what good it did me, for here I am, Devil Dick, lieutenant of the Prairie Tigers,” he said, bitterly. Vb you led a different lite in that long ago, and— ‘*Bah! what are you, woman?” ‘* Alas! what am [?”’ she moaned, sadly. ‘*A woman whose love was her ruin, and whose stubbornness will be her death, if she does not pledge herself to do as I wish.” ‘‘ And what is it that you wish?’ ‘‘That you aid me to get the girl in that train, whom [ now both love and hate, into my possession.” ‘Never! I will never be so base as that.” ** And yet, not an hour ago, I saw you delibe- rately slay a man.” ‘* It was because he was dogging my steps, set as aspy upon me by my husband; [ h-d twiee.. warned him back, but he followed me here, anc. when I threatened his life if he still pursued me, he drew his pistol and I acted in self-defense: and killed him.” ‘‘T do not blame you; but when your hand is. so ready to take life, I should think you would. be willing to save your own by aiding me.” ‘Not as you wish.” ‘‘I feel that you are here to meet some one: from tbe train, and you can easily help me if you will.” ** But [ will not.” ‘** Wildbird, look at me; I am a desperate man, and I shall hesitate at nothing to gain my ends; you can join the emigrants and say that ip have been a prisoner, and escaped from the igers, and they will protect you; watching your chance you can lead Violet Vassar—” ‘Violet Vassar!” 685 why does the name cause you to start * Oh, nothing; it brought up a name I had known in the past.” ‘* Well, Violet Vassar is the woman I love aad hate both, and unless you aid me, [ swear to you that I will kill you. “Do you forget that the Mad Colonel would avenge me?” : ‘Oh no; I would tell him that you discovered the man he sent on your trail, and attacking him, you both killed each other; that I was ly- ing sick and suffering in the stockade, where I came after the fire, and that I saw, but could not prevent the affair, but, as soon as able, buried you both, and should he seek to find you, my story will be proven.” ‘And would you thus shoot down a wo- man?’ ‘*Oh yes; you are not my friend, and the | Colonel is beginning to see me through your eyes, so I would be glad to have yowout of the on if you aid me in this, I will marry the girl, and then go far trom here, and lead a dif- ferent life.” ‘You will never be different from what you are, for like the drunkard, having once tasted the intoxicating cup of crime, you will needs drain it to the very dregs.” ‘* Then you refuse to aid me?” ‘Th dos" ‘*T shall kill you, remember.”’ ‘Oh no, do not so cruel a wrong— Stay, hear me!” s Well.” ‘‘ Spare my life for twelve hours, and I swear I will come here and let you kill me, and I will kiss the hand that deprives me of life, for in the graye is rest.” 100 <eom Cc ‘S) re