Beadle's Dime Library No. 147 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

, Le ‘ a - sd a <2 : \ Gold Spur, the Gentleman from Texas. 5 commissioned officer in the army; why is this father?” ‘* Do not ask me, child.” ‘¢ You will not tell me?’ iz) No.” ’ She seemed deeply disappointed, and said: ‘*Then I am nok £o know why it is you have come to this far-away place to live, a common soldier only, where you should command?” ‘‘ That secret must die with me, Sibyl.” * Alas! that it is so; but do you know that I believe rm have been more sinned against than sinning?” He started at her words, and said earnestly: ‘God bless you for those words, my child.” She placed her hand upon his, and said: ‘‘ Father, the whip-o-will ,is the crest of our name; it was the cry of that bird that led you away from your comrades, and now I[ ask you, who was it that you followed that night?” ‘*T will not tell, for I cannot, I dare not!” ** Ah me! you will not trust me, and I must act in the dark to serve you,” she said moodily. ** What do you mean, Sibyl?” ‘*T have sworn to save your life, father.” ‘‘ Tt is useless to make the attempt, my child.” “Tt is not,” she answered firmly. ‘‘ Your words have some strange meaning.” ‘‘ Yes, for you must not die.” ‘* Alas! nothing can save me now.” ‘* Father, do you wish to die?” + No ” ** Am I not dear to you?’ ‘* Yes, dearer than all the world.” **One question more.” **T am listening, Sibyl.” ~ a you guilty of the charge against you?” 4c oO. ’ os Sg: did not intend to desert?” ee oO. * Somethi what you will not say, called you - the inden camp?” . ** Yes. **Had you not been discovered with the red- skins you would have returned to the regi- ment? ‘* Yes, Sibyl.” ' ‘‘ But thesecret of your going you will not di even to me?” ‘“‘ Even to you I will not, Sibyl.” She gave a sigh and for a moment was si- lent and then she said: **Could you prove your innocence if you lived?” ** One day it might be proven.” ** Will you live to prove it, father?’ ** Alas! I cannot.” **T say you shall.” He started at her earnest manner, and saw confidence in her face and he asked quickly: ‘Sibyl, what do you mean?” ** There is one who says you shall not die.” ‘In Heaven’s name who is he?” and the man sprung to his feet, greatly excited. ‘‘Have you heard any one speak of one himself The Gentleman from Texas?” **Yes, I have heard them talking in the -room about him, and they also speak of as Gold Spur.” **Do you know him?’ ‘“‘T never saw him, child, but what know you of bim?” > ‘**‘ He says you shall not die,” as byl, he is but a stranger in the gar- rison, and his words will hold no weight.” ** His act will, though, and he bade me say to you to hope.” “ What know you of this man, Sibyl?” ea- Cera te area clmen of, manhood e isa ndid specimen of manhoo and when I looked in his face and heard him say that he would save you I believed him and took an oath that you should not be shot, for I feel sti _in my determination to prevent it, and with I bid you hope, father.” Without another word nn arose and left the cabin, and Maurice Sylvester was alone with his bitter thoughts. CHAPTER VIL. A STARTLING METAMORPHOSIS. Pig three Lo : ues ane , and —— came e one on whic rgean urice vester had been doomed to die, and & giocen Was & n all in gH nem ve the eas who had so en from honor, been i - ith al who knew him, a favorite e settlement, where the emigran pitched their homes the same eo eet ae rested, for those of the Gerard train remem- bered the bright, beautiful girl whose presence had brought sunsbine to their midst, and that she had found her father but to lose him by a death most terrible, and for a crime most heinous. The last day of grace the prisoner had re- fused to see any one, even bis child, and had sat with bowed head, meditating upon the life that was drawing to a close. Before that he bad received a number of visits from the officers, and his soldier comrades, and his daughter had been constantly by his side to cheer the rapidly fleeting moments with her But, when at midnight follo the second day she had left the cabin, she requested the sentinel to admit no one else, and the wish of the doomed man she had gone to the colonel and begged its enforcement, and in solitude and gloom the hours had glided by. : Motionless as a statue, his face buried in his hands, the sergeant had remained, on food, denying admission even to the chaplain, and seemingly desiring to brood over his fate in silence and loneliness. At length the roll of the muffled drums was heard, and following came the march of the platoon that was to escort the prisoner to.the scene of execution, and become his execution- ers. Halting before the guard-house the officer, Hiram ois entered and said bluntly: ‘** Are you ready, Sylvester?” “‘T am,” was the low reply, and the sergeant arose to his feet, drew his slouch hat far down over his eyes, and with bowed head, stepped out and placed himself between the guards. Again the drums sounded, and, in the gather- ing twilight the procession moved toward the clump of cottonwoods on the river-bank, where was the burying-ground of the garrison’s dead. Behind them came those of the garrison who cared to follow the sad cortege to the fatal spot of execution, and, strange to say, upon the arm of Major Gregory, came Sibyl, the por daugh- ter of the condemned man, for she had insisted onan going, and not one had the heart to refuse er. As if to be near her, some of the wives of the officers, and Edna Eldred, the commandant’s niece, also joined the sad rocession, which, with the beat of the m drums, moved out of the garrison. At length the halt was called, the platoon pagoes in position, and Lieutenant Hiram Hale ed the doomed man to the spot where he was to stand, at the head of an open grave. In silence, with head bowed upon his breast, his hands hanging by his side, he stood, seem- ingly so dazed by his fate as not to care fora word of farewell to his daughter, or those who had been his comrades on many a field of car- idly the shadows of night were gathering, ee already hee the pe gone oe ae cr ® p and, seemingly indifferen to the aad scene, wiitre others ood in silent awe and sorrow, Hiram Hale moved about giving his orders with no tone of feeling in his voice, At last all was ready, and the hoarse voice of The Hercules was heard, with no particle of wd sana d in it: “Sergeant Maurice Sylvester, forgetful of a soldier’s honor, you dese your regiment, and allied yourself, as a renegade, with red- skins, and a court-martial has doomed you to death, and this moment is the last of your life, so make your peace with your God.” Then turning to the silent platoon of execu- tioners, he cried in a loud voice: ** Attention platoon! “6 Ready—” ** Hold !” Every heart present gave a bound at the ringing command, coming from the ed lips of the man they had expected to see die without one word, and every eye was riveted upon him. ‘*Colonel Eldred, to you, sir, I address my- , and crave your mercy, for I am not Maurice lyester, but Gold Spur, The Gentle- The lon false beard, that had so thorough] e long fa so concealed the face, was thrown aside, aud with it the slouch hat, and upon his shoulders drop- as his gold hair, and glancing upon all was in- eed the handsome, daring face of The Gentle- man from Texas. CHAPTER IX. THE HERCULES’S CHARGE. To depict the amazment upon every face,when man whom all had ed to be Maurice Sylvester, was suddenly metamorphosed into Gold Spur, would be impossible, for all stood in dumb dismay gazing upon The Gentleman from Texas as he awaited the answer of Colonel Eldred, his false beard and slouch hat in one hand, and the other resting in the breast of the coat of the se t. At length Colonel Eldred, a grey tained old veteran with a kindly face, found the power of speech, and said sternly: ‘What does this daring act on your part, mean, sir?’ All listened attentively for the reply, the platoon still standing with their carbines at a ‘ rpady. 7” In the distinct, musical tones of Gold Spur came the answer: ‘*Tt means, Colonel Eldred, that I have rea- son to know that Sergeant Maurice Sylvester did not intend to desert, or become a renegade, though the secret of his visiting the Indian camp I cannot make known. “/ wing that at heart he was paceam, he mpe pity for his sorrowing daughter, I pl from ‘ ‘He has escaped then, sir?’ said the colonel “He bas.” - an ~ ~. -~ taken, and ‘* By heaven! he shall be pursued at once and “Hold! Colonel Eldred, first hear me: pursuit of the sergeant is useless, for he left his prison last night.” ‘Who was the sentinel on duty then, Hale?’ cried the colonel. ‘* Private Farrarof I company, sir,” answered The Hercules. ** He shall suffer for this, and—” “Colonel Eldred, the sentinel on duty was not to blame, and is as startled at beholding me here, instead of the sergeant, as you are. “T alone am to blame.” “And I, too, sir; but I could not see my father die,” cried Sibyl, stepping forward. ** And you, too, are in this plot to thwart military justice,” angrily said Colonel Eldred, turning upon the young girl, who answered, fearlessly : ‘I would break God’s laws to save my father from death, sir.” . “The maiden, Colenel Eldred, acted but a minor part in the sergeant’s escape, for lam to blame for it all. ‘‘I, taking advantage of my size and form being like the sergeant’s, and some disguises I carry with me for p s of my own, told Miss Sibyl that I would save her father. “To do so, I visited him with your perniis- sion, and caused numerous others to do so, and these visitors, in a measure, confused the sen- tinel on duty. “Then I made the sergeant change clothes with me, and cut his off, while I donned his unif and this false beard, and took his orm Pe Boldl then he passed th tinel, who be = y then he the sen who be- lieved him to be me, and moun a horse I had secured for him, rode out of t still believed to be me, while I, to keep up thoroughly the eo yee to receive any more visitors, and even deceived you all to the very brink of this grave. ‘* Miss Sibyl simply aided me in the minor de- tails, and I now surrender myself to you, sir, for what punishment you may decide my act deserves. ‘* You bave done a most daring act, Sir Gold Spur, and what punishment yon deserve, I will decide upon after a consultation with my offi- cers; as for this young girl, she must—” “ Pardon me, colonel, but we have, by uni- versal consent you know, sir, made this girl the Child of the Regiment, and I beg you tbat she be dealt with only in kindness, for h she has offended military discipline, she acted me her inion Gee fa yer 7 te t was or Gregory who spoke, an cS) . plause his words received proved that he had e sympathy of the — ent. «Bo be it, major: Sibyl, our Child of the Regiment, has my full pardon for her share in this most daring and remarkable transaction; but, you, my Texas friend, need not expect to > am content to bide my fate, sir,” was the coo came to the garrison, in spite of the hiding of your real name, prove you to be a gentleman, I will treat you as a man of honor, ard accept your not to leave your quarters—” zo moment, Colonel Eldred,” and The ercules forward. | “ afer: lieutenant?” ‘I before suggested to Major Gregory, that this man was 0 he represents himself, and his carrying with him disguises, causes me to fully believe bim to be one whom we all mere cause to fear.” se ae 4 eyes were turned upon The Hercules, | as he paused, Gold Spur remarked calmly: “And who is it, sir, that you claim that I In a distinct tone came the order: ‘**Men, cover that fellow with your carbines, and if he moves, kill bim in his tracks.” ‘‘Lieutenant Hale, you assume unwonted authority, sir,” sternly cried Colonel Eldred moving forward, while Gold Spur never moved, or changed the smili ression on his face. _ ‘Tt is because I know what this man is, Colo- nel Eldred,” replied The Hercules. “ And again I ask what am I?” asked The Gen- tleman from Texas in the coolest tone ble, The answer came with savage earn : ‘The renegade chief known as the White Jackal,” All present started, and every eye was turned upon Gold Spur; but he did not even change color, and said in his quiet way: _ “Colonel Eldred, 1 am your prisoner until you discover the truth or falsity of this man’s charge against me. ‘* And you, sir, when itis proven, you settle with me,” and there was a dangerous ligbt in. the Texan’s eyes as he turned them upon The Hercules, who smiled grimly. / ‘‘Under the charge of Lieutenant Hale, sir, I shall be compelled to place you under arrest, and if he 577 gg the sentinel on duty shall be wt Adjatant.Teylor, issue i chico for ** Adj aylor, an | rat once the capture of Sergeant Masvise Syleceres and a reward of one thousand dollars for his return, ~~ E€omic cS. aN bn 8 oe — 4 100 8 ae Ed response. ‘“‘ As your appearance and actions, since you — ¥ . . \