Beadle's Dime Library, Vol. XII, No. 145 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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Own, é bound and gagged, as you certainly will if you will go no other way.” *‘'You can believe her,” said tbe colonel, dryly. ‘‘ While that mood lasts I wouldn't ‘ And think you that any such mummery will | give a snap for your life if she held it in her be binding; that any priest or preacher will | hands. take part in it?” See that she does not.” “Trust me for that. My fear is Father ‘You will find a hard heart under a gown | Bartolome may find his conscience and give us now and then as well as under a mining shirt. The priest that we have provided will bear nothing but the chink of eagles. your mind that there is no escape, had my experience with you; and you may write it down in your book that I never forget and never forgive. You have sinned, and that without remedy.” \ ‘And write it down in yours then that for | once you have been defied by one who cares nothing for your remembrance and will never ask your forgiveness. Ring up your curtain for a farce; by the heaven above us it shall fall On a tragedy! His funeral, or yours, or mine will follow! I defy you—do your worst.” She drew herself up to her full hight; and | looked at him in a proud fury that lent to her face a deadly beauty. He stared at her a moment, raised his band as though to strike ber and then abruptly left tbe room. CHAPTER XXIX. WEDDING BELLS. CATALINA had some vague hope that she might be left to herself at least until the hour when the mockery of a rite was to be perform- ed, but she found that she was mistaken. She \ | | the skip.” ‘Ha, ba! He is as safe as goid, pistois and Make up good whisky can make him: between the I have | three you will find bim very retiabie. de wiil be fere to-night.” ‘* wish he and night were oere then. No word vet of the two aemonss 4 Wwonuaer vou gave up the cnase. seldom slips cicar im the ena.” ‘“Nor snail these. A aozen are on their track. But it is oniy a question or time. They are here, like woives around a bait, Let them alone and they will crawi in to their doom. Before I leave here I will have settled with them, in full,” grown dark, and the tread of approaching horsemen had resounded below, and all things were set and appointed, the colonel went by himself to Catalina’s room. ‘* Girl,” he said, ‘‘ you know me, or should. I have a word of warning. There will not be a soul bere to-night 1 would not trust with my life.’ You can have your choice between life and death. Submit, or you will die. At the first unseemly motion my hand shall send the shot that shall wing your death. Come, and remember this is no idle threat.” ‘‘ Her dry lips refused to give any answer; and just as she was, in her black yelvet jacket, with her long hair trailing around her in a | had one more visitor, in the shape of, Leon | now tangled, unkempt mass, ber eyes gleam- Cerrado himself, i ; f He was really by no means an ill-looking fel- | low, and the wonder was that sbe had not taken a liking to him. His dark, fervent face would have won many another woman; but it was not, perhaps, enough in contrast with her At sight of bim standing in the door- way, full of life and strength, one thought flashed across her mind. What. a pity it was that soon she would have _to kill this man? For no other .way of escape seemed open; and so, to this, she had made up her mind. He glided into the* room, with an easy, careless grace. . “Pardon me, senorita, but I came to see if nothing I could say would bring’ thee a less unwilling bride. Thou hast scorned me indeed but let that be forgotten. None could more truly love thee.” ‘ And in the world you cannot find one who more fully despises you. Beware that my dis- gust doés not turn to hatred!” : To hatred, senorita! Why shouldst thou hate one who adores thee?’ “Out on thee and thy adoration! I tell you, Leon Cerrado, that when I have to say nay twice the second time it is done with some- thing more solid than a word. In following me you are going straight to your death.” She stood up before them—for Colonel Dashwood leaned carelessly against the door- _ way and watched the interview with a scowl ; in.” that sometimes almost broke into a.sneer. In ber unfeminine yet jaunty garb she was too handsome for a boy, yet looked strangely un- like the woman to win a man in the teeth of the deadly danger she vowed bim. There was the ring of an oath in ber voice, and the straighr, slender finger she pointed at Leon was as unwavering as though fashioned of steel, © | , . ‘“‘ Death let it be,” he answered coolly. “I thought perhaps 1 could find you willing to jend an ear to what I would have said; but I was wrong and the captain was right. We will quarrel no more now; there will be plenty of time afterward. Good-by, for a little ‘Go then, coward, villain, robber, assassin! I will parley no more with you. Henceforth I will be silent—until I can act. Then, be- **You might as well have taken my word for it,” said the colonel, as the two strode away. “ She is like an unbroken colt. Shout- ing does no good. steady hand of power. She may plunge, then, for a while; but sooner or later she will give “Pye had my warning though, and I’d sooner take it from ber red lips than trust to yours. I might not have believed until it was too late.” She must feel the cool,. I ing, her cheeks white with waiting and con- finement, he caught her firmly by the arm and led her away. In the room half a dozen persons were as- sem bled. _ Eve was there, with malicious satisfaction in her face; the witnesses were there, with faces that were cruelly wicked and strange when they were not stolid; the bridegroom was there, handsome and silent, showing his white teeth now and then, however, with his tigerish smile. Leon stepped toward her, the others fell away, leaving them standing side by side, while through the door opposite to that by which she had entered they led forward a cowled and robed figure. The ceremony began. atalina’s silence, and her seeming resigna- tion were not altogether born of despair. They were part of ascheme she had hastily arranged. She believed that if she could throw them. off their guard the time would come before the mockery of a sacrifice was completed, when she might strike a good solid blow that would cut deeply if not effectually. She deceived even Colonel Dashwood. Only once had she spoken. Then she sud- denly broke in as the padre opened his mouth: ‘‘Can nothing avert my doom?” “Nothing,” in one hoarse word answered the colonel; and the mumbling rite went on. Vou lie!” } | In an instant the girl was transformed. She had been biding her time and her oppor- tunity had arrived. In the belt of the nearest of the spectators were two revolvers. For some reason he turned away and seemed to be listening for some sound from without. : ' Before any one could guess her intent she had taken two or three side. steps, and with quick, certain grasp she slipped the weapons from their holsters. Then she sprung. back, leveling the two muzzles, one at the heart of the would-be bridegroom and the otber at the, amazed padre, who looked up from his book just in time to see the shining tube dropping in line with his face, and hear her little thumbs force back the hammers with the ease of an expert. .. . ‘Tt shall stop,” she.flamed out, ‘Swear it to me now and at once, or these two die, Make a motion, attempt the first act of treachery, and I pull the triggers!” ; A wave of excitement swept over the crowd at her bravé actions and bold defiance, Leon Cerrado folded his arms with a gesture of _res- ignation; and the padre with stupid amazement depicted in ee face, stared open-mouthed at the girl. Only the colonel retained his ¢ool- ness. There was indeed a cunning smile on his lip as though he saw his way clearly, and it was not altogether an unpleasant ne. | | tion. “he man that Oaiks you | | ( claimed. Before she could think to turn her pistol from the padre he had her under the muzzle of his own revolver, and was speaking to her in a slow, compressed tone: ‘‘T gave you your choice, and you still have it. You may shoot them or not, as you choose, but either drop those playthings or die.” Doubtless he meant what he said. By the contraction of his brow one couid see that the shot was coming; and yetsne never flinched. What was to be the ena! There came a strange and sudden interrup- Througn the uoorway at Dashwood’s back a woman sprung ‘ightly, and giiding to his side suddeniy threw ois wrist upward. ‘in the name or heaven!” this woman ex- ‘Who 1s this giri, and wnat is the meaning of this scene?” it was Varua: and ciose behind her stepped Victor Page. The two had found their way | thither just in time, though no safe place for Night came on soon enough.. When it had | them was it, since the coionel wheeled likea | flash, and hurling Varna aside confronted Vic- tor with threatening face and hand, ‘‘ And who are you, who have dared to enter here? Away at once, and without a word, or I will slay you both. If they go not, men, cast them out; and do not be too particular about their bones.” _ The interruptiou, and the sound of a woman's voice, caused a momentary wavering in Cata- lina’s purpose. Her eyes wandered to the door, and at once Leon sprung at her like a tiger, and seizing both wrists forced her bands high above her head, ° | And just then, through the other doorway came two armed men, pistols in hand; aud Alabaster Jim in stentorian tones sung out: ‘* Hold on, thar, kunnel. We mean fun an’ you jest bet we'll have it.. Ther fust man et moves gits a through ticket, an’ a transfer check. Hands up, all, we’re on it, an’ no dis- count.” The hunted had turned hunters. CHAPTER XXX. | LEFT IN THE DARK, Sort Hanpd and Alabaster Jim bad not ne- glected the furnishing of their commissary de- partment with supplies at Tierra Roxo. Though these were compressed into small space, and would have seemed a monotonous diet if de- pended. on for any great length of time, they were ready now for a siege of some days. Full of hope they struck out on the track, as they believed, of those for whom they were searching. 3 : It was a bold proceeding, perhaps; but then they were bold men. If it had seemed at all likely that, by storming the ranch, they would accomplish their aim they would have marched straight up to it though Captain Skull and his dozen road-agehts were intrenched within. But they were not so wild as to do such a thing for any uncertain end; and as their spe- cial object just now was to get speech with Catalina they were careful to shun the rest of the world, For this they located the rancb by daylight, and kept watch of it at a dis- tance, leaving for night any close approach. As Alabaster Jim said, he knew the country; and evening drew near and their presence did not seem to be suspected, The shadows came; and with them came something else. Half a dozen men passed along the trail beneath them, heading toward the bacienda. : , Alabaster Jim looked, and then gave a quiet chuckle. Ss ‘*’Pon my soul, Charley, but they’re a fine set ov frauds. Yonder goes a padre, gown an’ all. Yer s’pose he’s needed fur some ov our work! J didn’t shoot to kill; but when you begin to physic with them kind ov blue pills it’s mighty unsart’in bow they'll op- erate.” | , “Nothing worse than a broken leg went with mine. There’s something else. might be possible that they’ye got Wilkins there, and are going to fix up some kind of a job, By eavens! we must see what it is. 2y won't do much in an hour, and by that time it will be dark enough and late enough to venture up.” 3 ‘“ Hyar’s with you; we're ther boyees that kin sack the ranch,” i f an hour passed as they They had not yet laid outa positive plan when, from their eyrie, they watched the hacienda fade away in the darkness. colin (E IOOKS (E(@)