Beadle's Dime Library, Vol. XII, No. 145 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

ss Sa aa. , _— —_ = — = 5 3 > - " . % 4 : . ~~ Te o , - i eee ee straight on, ina bull-headed rush for thecamp. , ‘*Then go; perhaps you are striking nearer The sudden attack from the rear was more than he could stand, and off he went. The first movement in a crowd is generally | Instead of bush- | the one that is followed. whacking these men were being bushwhacked, and that unnerved them. There was no lying in wait for these two men whom they had tried to fancy as timid fugitives from justice; on the contrary, the expatriated wickedness of Hangtown was charging them. The panic spread in one electric thrill, and as the Dutch- man raced up the hill the rest of the party were so close behind that a couple of good-sized table-cloths would have covered the crowd. The actual scare only lasted a moment; but whe it was over it was really too late for sanything to be done, for not even that aban- doned set had the cheek to turn around.and go back to attack the two from whom they had ‘just fled like frightened sheep. And they ‘knew, too, that they had lost their thi, of numbers by giving away their position, It is true that no one knew very much about the two, except by a single piece of sample work, but judging from that it was pretty certain that they could give a good account of them- selves, and it would not be surprising if they killed half the party of would-be lynchers in case the latter attempted to storm their posi- tion. Truly the flank movement was a master stroke; for to it the exiles were indebted fora bloodless victory. Back to Tierra Roxo went the dozen, while the two having satisfied themselves that all danger of present pursuit was over, again turned northward, and plod- ded along the road until they came to the head of Red Cat gulch, where Sott Hand halted. ‘“Tt’s little use, for I'll bet ten to one we don’t find Wilkins here; but we'll go down and see, Irish Molly’s will do for a base of opera- tions; and I’m not done with Hangtown yet, by a jugful.” ‘‘ Hyer’s with you, pard. Down we go,” CHAPTER X XI. MR. WILKINS BEGINS TO ACT, CATALINA TRISCADOR, with flashing eyes and poi-ed weapons, barred the way for the men of Captain Skull—and then, suddenly, it seemed as if ner nerve had conquered; least in the present fight. The leader of the outlaws turned his face half-way arotrd and made a backward gesture with his hand. “Bi then, men. It’s but a chicken; but she’ll strike as hard as she crows; fall back! Another tine will do better, when there will be more booty and less hard knocks. About face, and take the back trail! 1 wiil join you in a moment.” he was neither grumbling nor hesitation in the ranks of the Skulls, Instantly they veatas Geo’ then Catalina heard the tramp- ling of their retreating steps.” ‘There, girl, you have done what no man could have done. Be satisfied with your tem- p rary victory. Go your way; ‘warn them if yvu choose; but remember that you have only checked, not conquered; and the delay of a few hours is nothing to one who‘has waited years for his revenge. Perhaps it is better so.” ‘‘You cannot deceive me, there is some treachery about this; but I shall do my best, and if I fail you will have a dearly-bought victory. Are you going now?” y arg - How the little midget puts on airs! you know I have half a mind to test you? If you get into your vain little noddle an idea that you area better man than Cap- tain , beaven and earth won’t be lage enough to hold you.” | The man dropped his hand down toward his belt, as if inclined to draw a weapon and car- ry out his careless threat, but Catalina. broke in with st energy: ‘*Hold! For heaven's sake do not force me to stain my hand with your blood. Perbaps I am wrong as to whose face hides behind tbat mask, but right or wrong, I shall not hesitate to keep my word!” ‘*Even at the cost of some regrets after- ward. Well, well, let. us come to terms, then. I will go my way and you go yours. There is nothing more to do here to-night, and I think norie the worse of you tor what you have done, though I bave some curiosity to know what will aia a next move.” - “T shall do what I should have done before; warn them of their dangér.”” ec ee eee at | _ Pistol Pards home than youimagine. Good-night, I’m off.’’ He turned his horse; which paced leisurely away. The girl was still suspicious. She kept ber eyes still fixed upon bim, and drawing back her reins, backed ber horse steadily _—_ shel- tered by the curve of the gulch. en she wheeled and darted away toward Irish Molly’s, now close at hand, but, as she came up to the building from the lately left dingle behind her, there rose on tbe cool night air the sound of one shrill scream from a woman’s lips, and im- mediately afterward the sounds of a mad gallop. Then she knew that treachery had been at work, though of what kind she could not even guess. She flung herself from ber saddle, and rushed into the raneh through the door, that she found wide open. A light was burning, and at. first glance she saw that Harold Wilkins was no longer in his couch, while seated in a chair, bound and gagged, Irish Molly glared at her with the look of a madwoman. She had come too late to save. Meantime, in the dingle above, the woman she was trying to save had, by her own bold- ness, fallen into the snare that really was not set for her. So strong was the arm about her waist, so closely upon ber mouth was pressed the great hand of her captor, that movement or ery alike seemed impossible, though either might bring to her rescue the brave Catalina, who only a few yards away was pleading her cause without any apparent suspicion that she was so near Hardly had the girl disappeared, before Cap- tain Skull wheeled once more, and she was borne out of the sheltering bushes to meet bim. ‘“T have her, captain,” growled a coarse voice. ‘“ What in thunder she war doin’ in thar I can’t say, but thar she war; an’ when I struck her I just. let the otber one go an’ froze on. I reckon it’s all O. K.” “ Right, Kit, a thousand times. I won’t for- get you.. Woman, 1 know you. No art nor disguise can hide you from me as you are; no superstitious nonsense can make me believe that you ate a shadow from the sea. I have been biding my time and now, at last, you have come to meet your doom. :f my voice has not betrayed me look in my face and see,”’ As he spoke Captain Skull threw back the serape that clung around bis shoulders, raised the mask that had concealed his face, and glared at her with his great, black, burning eyes, that even in the faint light seemed to pierce her through and through. ; Then it was that, the hand having dro from her mouth, she uttered the scream that had reached Catalina’s ears; and a moment later she sunk senseless and cold to the ground. ‘‘ Nothing like quiet strategy, and an eye to what may bappen. If no mistake has been made by Leon our work has been weil done. Give her to me, and you make your way quietly along in the shadow until you can see what is going on at the ranch, And beware that you do not stir up that little tiger-cat again. Her time is not yet come.” Without hesitation the man picked the mo- tionless body from the ground, and heavy though the dead weight was, tossed it up, without an effort, into: the outstretched arms of Captain Skull. Then the two separated, Kit, the outlaw, stealing away on his errand. As he came in sigbt of the cabin he saw Catalina’s mustang standing in front of the door, quietly nipping at the herbage. Quietly as he drew near, aod carefully as be kept him- self concealed the animal started, pricked back his ears, turned his head toward the prowler and gave a low suort. ‘‘Obut!’’ whispered the outlaw. ‘ Keep quiet old fellow; you ought ter know me.” — The voice, low though it was, quieted the animal, for it stood motionless agaia, while Kit stole on up to the window. . Within were but two persons, Catalina and the Irishwomau. The latter had just been un- bound, and was giving to her visitor a hurried account of what had happened. X ‘‘Troth, me darlint, I woke up all in a trim- ble, an’ that same it’s sildim that Irish Molly does, er she wouldn’t be here now wid a foine ranch, an’ cattle on the hills. But trimblin’ I was, though everything was quiet es the grave; an’ I knew there was somethin’ wrong, all along av that quare feelin’, so I started fur the door, Jist thin up pops Mishther Wilkins, rist his sowl, an’ out through the winder. It was —————————— ee — —————— _——— ——— —————— a clane joomp, an’ whin I give a yell an’ threw open the door three big spalpeens fell on me, pickin’ me off me fate like a big baby, set me down here, an’ trussed me up afore oi could give asquale. Then three more ay the same sort ploonged roight over tur the bed; an’ sure it was empty. At that the swearin’ bate iverything.” “ But. the girl—the woman? What of ber? Surely this Wilkins was not such a coward as to desert her.” “She must have been gone afore. Not a sign ov ayther ov thim was in the house. It was all over in a minute. Out they wint and found his tracks outside, an’ afther him they wint, an’ av they come back it’s a hot time they'll have now that we’re riddy fur thim. Sure yez wouldn’t risk it to go out ag’in wid thim thafes av the worruld a-prowlin’ arcund!” ‘‘Perhaps, One thing is certain i seem to bave thrown away my work. Yet who would have suspected a double movement, No won- der he was willing to temporize with me since his other band of ruffians was doing his work. Yet I do not understand it altogether. Where was the light-haired man, the one that has been nursing Wilkins. Surely he was honest and true and would not desert a friend.” ‘‘ Faith! av that same quiet man had been here it’s loively times there’d been fur the b’ys; but it’s to Hangtown he wint, afore dark and it’s back he’s not come yit. Whin he dves, look out!” ‘“ Not back yet!’ exclaimed Catalina, sharp- ly. ‘*‘ Then I will wager there has been more foul play. By heavens! they have made a tool of me for the last time. Good night.” She wheeled abruptly, and passed out of the door, just in time to catch sight of Kit, the outlaw, stealing away. “ Halt there!” she cried. you!” She pointed a revolver at him as she spoke, but he only bounded away to the side, of her mustang, and with one leap was upon his back, bending low behind him, as with voice and foot he urged him away. . ; Off went the animal with frightened bounds, for perhaps a dozen yards. Then, at a shrill signal. from his mistress, he halted as suddenly, gave a quick half turn, threw his heels in the air and bis rider to the ground, following up his work by completing bis wheel and planting both hoofs full and fair upon the breast of the unlucky Kit. ‘Ha, bal” exclaimed Catalina, replacing. ber revolvers. ‘After a salute. trom Moon- shine’s heels it’s litue that you can bave._ to tell me. Fool that you were to meddle with my faithful friend. Moonshine, come here.”’ , Witbout an instant’s delay the intelligent animal obeyed, and swinging berself into the saddle rider and steed darted up the gulch, ‘Tf it should be the truth,” she muttered to herself as she went along. ‘‘If it should, be the truth, and I too late, the, regrets of a life- time would be poor punishment!” Was it too late? | As she swept around the bend and through the dingle a little in front of her there came the sound of the sharp crack of a pisto]. As Captain Skull, still m was moisten- ing the lips of his captive with the contents of his flask, from the side of the gulch Harold Wilkins leaped down, and giving one glance pulled a trigger. a> 4 For a moment the outlaw wavered, then bis arms unclasped from his prey, and man and woman pitched heavily to the ground. ‘‘A word with CHAPTER XXII. . INTO THE VERY LAIR. THE man who thus suddenly and. unexpect- edly came to the rescue was indeed Harold Wilkins; and he bad acted with a nerve and promptness that one would hardly have looked for. : In some miraculous way his strength seemed largely restored, and having distanced his pursuers he had struck in just in time, - Far from being injured, the fall seemed to have a reviving effect, for almost instantly Kate rose to her feet, weak but with all her senses on the alert. A single glimpse was suf- ficient. In that look she recognized | “Take me away!” she said, faintly. “He is here. Quick! you are in deadly danger. So are we both.” | “Fear nothing; he will harm no one again, GOmMmicooo (c ‘Ss