Beadle's Dime Library No. 147 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

- ’ 10 One b Edgar Peeaserace was ahead of her, and the of his horse had caused him to forge far in advance of his men. ** Well, Miss Sibyl, you have joined in the chase too, it seems; I am delighted at the pleas- ! ure of your company,” he said, pleasantly, I touching the fine animal he rode with the spur, as he saw that the maiden’s horse was going Mi I regret that I cannot remcin and enjoy your company, Lieutenant Emmerson,” she an- swered. ‘* What! do you return to the garrison?” ** No, I continue on after The Gentleman from Texas.” ' **T beg of you not to do that, for I am con- Ln a that the man is not what he professes to ‘‘ [ do not fear him, sir.” the spurs touched the lieutenant’s horse, for Red Bird was half a length ahead, and the animal forged along level again, while his rider remarked: **T know not what to think of the man; but, as I see you have the faster horse, let me beg that you remain with me.” ‘‘T cannot, sir.” ‘“‘That man may keep you as a hostage to hold us at bay.” **T have no fear of that; besides, he can easily leave you, as see, his horse is not at more than ‘True; I never saw a fleeter animal, and he runs like a deer, seemingly without an effort; but again I ask you to hold back,” and the cruel urs were driven so hard and fast upon the straining horse of the lieutenant, that Red Bird a was again dropping behind, in spite of his great | efforts to keep up. *‘'No, I must go on,” was the firm response. “For what for surely you do not expect to capture bin?” Ob no, I intend to do him a service,” was the significant reply. ‘‘A service!” cried the surprised officer, a cane raking his spurs along the flanks of his | ** See, ESO SNS ear Yonder — com or you, an autiful company , for f isy ur sister.” ‘“* My sister /” and the man wheeled quickly while his face a color, as he yy back in the direction in which Sibyl looked. ‘‘ Yes, she too is coming on in pursuit of Gold Spur, it seems; but good-by, for really I cannot ‘i longer, as your horse is so Xa ae Vith a ight laugh she loosened the draw she : had on the reins; and Bird sprung . _ away from the straining horse at his quarter, ) and yi ae nee patled poky, oom ee He ew anim the regiment his ,an Z tha Bepertes Lieutenant’s only bis superior. Ad Emmerson uttered something very like an oath, as Red Bird bounded away, but, as his gaze was back upon the fair form upon the dark iron-gray, so rapidly passing his troo _—s ers, it was not known whether it was Sibyl’s |. desertion or the p of his sister’s coming > that brought the profanity to his lips. Dh Once freed from the restraint of the small a but firm hands that drew against his bit, Red My Bird seemed fairly to fly over the prairie, and soon began to gain upon Gold Spur, whose ani- mal was gall olding to his steady, fleet, and ! op. With the winning smile, the beauty of which . fascinated the man upon whom she bent it, the a child widow passed each trooper, as Sibyl had any with a pleasant word, and then began to a overhaul her brother. ; a Once or twice he had glanced over his shoul- der at her coming, and each time his brow had ee darkened, and his eyes had become more mel- ae ancholy in their glance. ; At last be knew that she was close upon him, d yet he did not turn his face from the front, ki until the head of the iron gray was level with a his 5 oe ae “Well, Sir Moody, have you no word of wel- " come at my orm no admiration for my _ gplendid horse that has so easily d the zl p animals of your regiment?’ she said f aa rd yy not why you have come, Clarice,” re ; - to be with an to fly by your side over the vee rolling prairie, brother mine,” she said with a look of scorn that gave the lie direct to her words. ‘* You had other motive, Clarice,” he replied, unheeding her sarcasm, and noticing only the » - yemark, ey: “Had I? What, pray?” .* ** You visited yonder man in the guard-house, bits ne was 8 prisoner there?” igh ‘‘ Yor Lave met him before?” yi st : oe ou know well who he is?” ‘Will you not answer me?’ «What do yon wish, me to ay she anid im 5 | er dar y as her his straining gnimal on. one she passed the troopers, until only eer a a _ Gold Spur, the Gentleman from Texas. ‘“Why will not a lie.do as well, brother mine?” ** Doubtless you prefer lies to truth,” he sneered. ‘““T prefer whatever answers my purpose.” ** And you will not answers me?” . * Xes,’ ‘*Have you met that man before?” ‘* The Gentleman from Texas?” sé Yes. ” ‘“*T have.” ** Who is he?” he sternly asked. ‘*Lend me your ear, brother mine, for I would not that the balmy prairie winds should catch up my secret and bear it to others.” He leaned toward her and she whispered but two words; but they turned his face to the hue of a corpse, and he reeled in his saddle, while, with a ringing laugh she bounded away, once more hot on the trail of the two in advance. CHAPTER XIX. SIBYL’S SIGNAL. We left The Gentleman from Texas, mounted upon his matchless steed, sweeping over the prairie with a long line of pursuers behind him. Among these pursuers, the gallant troopers, who should have been the ones to press him hardest, were in the rear, strung out in Indian file, according to the speed of their respective steeds, and yet pressing on with good intent to be in at the death if wind and muscle held out. The next behind Gold Spur in pursuit, was Sibyl the Child of the Regiment, and steadily her noble horse was gaining upon him, thoug not yet had the lash touched his glossy hide. Behind her, a hundred yards, or more, and holding her own, if not gaining slightly, was the child widow, Clarice Conrad, and her eyes seemed fixed upon the two ahead, a strange look having come over her beautiful face, since her words her brother which had so moved him. ‘* Come, Gray Gull, what is the matter with pea she cried, with a harshness one would not ave believed could have passed her ripe, red lips, and once, twice, thrice the keen whip fell upon the horse, and caused him to snort with pain, and bound forward at a - that threat- ened soon to overhaul Red Bird. The snort of the gray, and the crack of the Mies 2 reached the ears of Sibyl, and glancin behind her she discovered that the widow ha not stopped with her brother, as she had ex- pected her to do, but was coming on a pace that hy quickly lessening the distance between t em. *‘ Come, Red Bird, you must show that you deserve your name 0 being the fleetest of the regiment; come, old fellow!” she cried hee y) ana. nae Bird began to mend his pace with a will, . But the widow now showered blows upon Gray Gull, and that animal, mad with vain. unac- customed to such treatment from the fair hands of his mistress,and frightened by her an voice, bounded forward with greater bpeed, and again steadily gained upon Red Bird. ‘‘She has some motive in this, and what can it be?” muttered Sibyl. ‘‘I remember ne the colonel tell her brother that she reco Gold Spur as a man she had known in Texas hark! she is calling to me to wait for her, but I will pretend not to hear her; come, Red Bird, or you will ruin all,” and then, for the first time, Sibyl’s whip descended upon the glossy red hide of the flying animal, which had been her father’s pride, and that was his personal property he having captured him from an In- dian chief whom he had killed. ' That Red Bird was surprised at the blow was evident, for he gave a bound that almost un- seated Sibyl, and with his neck stretched far out, ran along at a pace that was terrific, each cut of the lash on Gray Gull, causing him to quiver, fearing another stroke from the firm hand that held his rein. “ Come, Bird, you must go faster, for you’ve got a Texan in your rear that is as fast as you are; come, the gray is gaining upon you, and [ must give these things to yonder noble man, for I do not believe he is what men say he is,” and once more the whip descended, and snorting with pain Red Bird mended his pace, But Gray Gull was coming on at terrific bounds, urged by the cruel lash, and strive as he might, Red Bird was being gained upon, and Sibyl recognized the fact, that ere another mile was gone over, if the wind of the widow’s steed held out, she would overtake her. Then she turned her eyes upon the form ahead, who had not once looked around, nor checked the steady, sweeping gallop of Fea- therhoof, and saw that she was not gaining up- on him fast enough to reach him before Clarice Conrad would be alongside. The things she had for Gold Spur she. had fastened firmly to her saddle, and she was _de- termined to give them to him, if she rode Bird to death. ‘ Besides, there was in her mind an idea that he would see her father, and she wished him to tell him that she believed him true, whatever those who doubted him might aay. Finding, however, that the Gray Gull was still pow ides she suddenly determined to signal to Gold ear to ride slower, and putting the handle of her whip to her lips she gave one long, loud, shrill call. _ It reached the ears of the trooper furthest in the rear, and ran along the line, surprising the lieutenant, who was still urging his horse forward with all : it was a by the ‘child widow, and her beautiful eyes became fixed upon the handsome form of The Gentle- man from Texas to note its effect upon him, - well she knew it was intended as a signal to im. The call reached the ears of Gold Spur too and he turned gracefully in his saddle, an calmly surveyed the position of affairs, while he muttered: ** Th» troopers are beaten; but the lieutenant holds on well; and Clarice! she urges that Gra of hers on with the same determination wit which she goes into everything. ‘* Yes, that call came from that glorious little beauty, the Child of the Regiment; she sees that Clarice is beating her and signals for me to draw rein, for without doubt she has my traps for me; ab! there is the signal again,” and instantly, like a top, Featherhoof spun to the right about, and at the same sweeping gal- 74 pe on the back trail, directly toward ibyl. the widow saw the act, as well as did the Child of the Regiment, and she firmly lashed her horse to reach the maiden ere Gold Spur i The lieutenant and his troopers beheld the act, and pressed on, for, not understanding the cause of the strange maneuver, they feared for the widow and the maiden. The deed was also seen. by those at the garri- son, and standing upon pe perape of the fort and dreading too for the safety of Clarice an Sibyl, as he expected Gold Spur, having ob- served the greater speed of their hurses to those of the troopers, intended torun off with both of them, Captain Moreland called a crew to a gun, and sighting the cannon himself fired it, ight at the daring horseman, now nearly three miles distant on the prairie. CHAPTER XX, ‘ FOILED BY A GIRL. THE roar of the coming shot, a twenty-four pounder, and the boom of the gun came to- gether hurtling over the prairie, and, well aimed, the iron missile struck the und not sixty feet from Gold Spur, and, with a rico- chet, went flying over his head. But thoug @ gray of the widow gave a sudden shy at the whizzing shot, neither Red Bird nor Featherhoof started, and the course’ of the latter was not changed, only his speed slightly increased. moment after, and before asecond shot was fired from the fort, Gold Spur wheeled along- side of Red Bird, and the two horses were run- ning along side by side, with the widow coming on, thirty len in the rear. ‘Well, my Child of the Regiment, Red Bird has tested Featherhoof’s and endurance sooner than you thought,” said Gold Spur, pleasantly. ‘Yes, and has been shown that your horse is as wonderful as his master; but this is no time for words, but acts; here are Mead traps,” and she unloosened the saddle pockets and handed them to him. : He threw them across his saddle and then re- ae from her hands the haversack, and said, quickly: “i¢ ak S00. but I hope your service to me will not you into trouble with your regi- mental fathers.” ‘Do not fear for me, sir; but oh! if you see my own father tell him I do not believe that he has become what men say he is, and will not so believe until I see him with my own eyes at the head of a red-skin band.” She spoke earnestly, and the tears filled her beautiful eyes as they were turned upon Gold Spur, who answered kindly: “Little girl, your father is under a cloud now; but, my word for it, he has been belied, and that one day the clouds will drift away, dark as they seem now. ‘Now you must return, for the fair lady in our rear is almost upon us, as Red Bird is fagged from your hard driving. Good-by, and say to Colonel Eldred, when you see bim, that I wil] di ge Miss Eldred and Miss Gerard in safety in is bands.” “You!” and Sibyl’s beautiful eyes opened with a look of real suspicion. “ Yes, 1.” he answered with a smile, “Oh, sir! tell me, you are not what men be- lieve you?” she cried earnestly. ‘“‘T am Gold Spur, The Gentleman from Tex- as,” he said calmly. ‘‘ And Gold Spur, The Gentleman from Texas, you die!” Like a rocket Gray Gull dashed alongside, and the pretty arm of the widow was thrust for- ward, and a pistol was leveled full at the head of Gold Spur. And now, the tiny forefinger touched the trigger, the weapon loded, and the bullet, inteoaed for the Frain of Gold pur, went above his head, almost grazing it. GORGE cS JOO Mo %®%