Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 154 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

a peat if you are playing me false, I will ou High couraged though she undoubtedly was, Josefa shrunk away from the fellow, awed b the terrible passion which she had awakened, but only fora moment. She remembered that but for her, Joaquin Murieta must die a shame- ful death for a crime which he had never com- mitted, and that to effect his escape, this man must be removed. ‘Look in my eyes and read the truth there, Jose, if you can not believe my lips,” she breathed softly, coming so close that her clothes touched his. “*There is but one man ip the wide world for me—the rest are less than noth- ing!” There was no acting in this last assertion, but Josefa did not mean Jose, though that foolish fellow believed she did. ** And his name is—what?’ he asked, eagerly, his vA pond, rh " day—not now,” laughed Josefa, co- eapaoe vAS then drawing forth the flask, and holding t before his eyes. “See! though I dare not stay here ik dot ou shall not stand guard alone. It is cold and damp here. This will warm you.” But Jose shook his head, once more sus- picious. ‘*No, I am on guard, and must not drink. The master was tive, and you know what he is when the devil that is in him once breaks loose. He may return at any moment. Put up the bottle—give me a kiss instead.” Better for the unlucky rascalif he had yielded to the temptation and drank. There was im one course left for Josefa to follow—a terri- a one, but she remembered Joaquin, and took She yielded to his eager embrace—one little hand nestled playfully against his throat—then closed upon it like a vise as her right hand drove a long blade home to his very heart! | CHAPTER XII. JOAQUIN STRIKES HOME. Swirr and sure was the blow, though dealt by a woman’s band. Checked only when its struck against the quivering flesh, the blade punctured the wildly-throbbing heart, cutting short the thread of life, scarce granting the doomed wretch time sufficient to realize that he had Leen betrayed by a kiss. ~ No cry, no shout, only a gurgling, hollow groan that was nearly s ed by ‘‘e fierce gras which the human tigress had fastened upon his throat. A convulsive sbuddering that could not be called a struggle, then the sinewy limbs of the betrayed ye gave heh and only for Josefa, he would have fallen heavily to the floor. Instead, she pushed him back to the wall and Propped him against it in a sitting posi- tion. even then did her deadly on his throat relax—not until she saw that death had claimed its victim beyond all doubt. Then she rose erect and gered back, one hand clasped over her eyes, the other pressed convulsively to her Now that the fear- ful deed was done, she realized its enormity, and her heart turned gg! sick within her bosom. After all, she was but a r, weak girl, driven to the very verge of madness by the peril which threa the man she loved. An indistinct sound from beyond the heavy iron-bound door came to her ears. She arCOg nized the clanking of chains, and quickly rallied. J oy was * a prisoner, yet in danger, and © + u in safety, she could spare no thought for herself. Fitting the heavy key, she turned the rusty bolt, then swung the door open. In the dim light, the white face of the young Sonorian looked like that of some specter, his eyes glow- ing with defiance as the opening door attracted his notice. But as he recognized Josefa, instead of the mocking enemy he expected to see, a low of wonder parted his lips. he half-breed girl sprung to his side, her little wel Fm upon his mouth as she hur- igo u ** Not a sound—not a word as i value your life and liberty! For my sake, if not for your own, place a guard upon your lips until the open air is reached.” - While she spoke, her hands were not idle, One by one the bolts were turned and the heavy shackles fell from his limbs. In silence he suf- fered her to perform this, gazing at her in a bewildered manner, unable as yet to realize the truth. In all his dreams of escape, not one had assumed this shape. Knéwing the fiery spirit of the girl, he would sooner look for a knife- _ Josefa smiled sadly as she read his thoughts in his face, but she said nothing then, only arose when the last iron dropped off his limbs, Tomes horde th “threshold, Joaqui speedil ce across the old, Joaquin i became his usual self, and a ferbbided ripe came into his eyes as he recognized the face of Jose—but only for an instant. He saw death in the man’s face, and noticed the red streak down his bosom where the blood had flowed from bis punctured heart. He turned quick toward Josefa, who had just closed and ‘loc the door of the dungeon. Her head drooped be- Joaquin, the Saddle King. fore his inquiring , but there was no per- ceptible tremor in the voice that uttered: “There was no other Mb He refused the drugged brandy I offered him. He stood be- tween you and freedom. To save your life, I took his.” _ ‘*T am sorry that his blood is on —not but that the villain deserved his fate. I had sworn to kill him if ever I won my free- dom. I am only sorry for your sake, Josefa.” ‘Your life was in peril—I thought only of that, and if a dozen lives had stood between, I would have taken them without a single pang of remorse!” The girl’s voice was not so steady, and there was a growing light in her dark eyes that gave Joaquin some uneasiness. They were not yet out of danger, and should she give way to her — now, the,result might be fatal to them th. **You must tell me all when we once get out- side of this cursed place, Josefa,” he said, more coldly than he should have spoken under the circumstances, but the desired effect was ac- py apne ** Take his weapons, then,” she said, all traces of emotion having vanished. “I have your own arms concealed outside. I did not dare bring them with me, lest some one should no- tice them and suspect my purpose. I believe the passage is clear, but we may meet some one, and you must not be recaptured after this,” with a glance at the dead man. “Not all the servants on the place could bar my penee while I hold these tools!” exclaimed Joaquin, taking a knife and brace of revolvers from the corpse. ‘‘ But you, Josefa—you must run no further risk on my account.. Go on ahead, and wher you are safe, I will follow.” ‘*No, if you have to fight, I will fight too. Unless you can escape, my life is worse than nothing.” Quietly the words were spoken, but Joaquin knew that it would be a waste of precious time for him toattempt to change her determination. Taking the dead man’s sombrero and pulling it far down over his eyes, he satisfied himself that his weapons were in working order, then said: ‘Come, then. Keep behind me—” For answer Josefa sprung lightly past him and led the way up thestonesteps. Not a little annoyed at her running this unnecessary risk, Joaquin swiftly followed her. But fortune seemed to smile upon them. The great hall was deserted by even old Blas, who satisfied his conscience by bolting the door then joined the other servants, who punished yn! a flask of good liquor while discussing the startling tidings recently brought them. Josefa ned the door, and they emerged from the building. Both knew that there was one more barrier to be before om could fairly be claimed, and anxiously they looked toward the great gates beyond. But the master was absent, and the old proverb held good in this case. Pedro Canales was too drunk to think of enforcing discipline and those worthies whose duty it was to attend to the great gates, the only mode of ingress or our hands egress, were quite as fond of cracking a bottle = boone = rary master, and had deserted the of du ty. With a low, jad cry, Josefa sprung ahead to the gates and flung them open, but even on the threshold of liberty Joaquin 1 a The servants’ agtinnbe though inclosed by the same wall as the hacienda proper, were un- der a separate roof, in one corner of the ex- tensive courtyard, Bright lights could be seen glancing through the open windows and door- way. From within came the confused sound of voices and clinking glasses. Then, Pha as Josefa flung wide the last barrier, a hoarse, thick voice roared out above the din: “Gentlemen and ladies, I give you a toast: death and eternal damnation to Joaquin Mu- rieta, the traitorous assassin and kidnapper!” The voice was that of Pedro Canales, and as Joaquin remembered the brutal treatment he had received when a helpless prisoner in his hands, his blood n to boil, and drawing his weapons he strode toward the building. Josefa read his action aright, and swift as a deer, she intercepted him, her voice intense but ‘Are you mad? Would you ruin all that I have dared for your sake? ‘You might kill him, but there are others—one, two score. They are half-crazed by liquor now. They believe you murdered Don Carillo Felix and stole away his daughter. One glimpse of you would render them frantic—would change them into demons, aoe you would be torn limb from limb in their ury 1" “Stand aside, Josefa!” he muttered hoarsely. ‘I swore to kill that dog in human shape, and not even you can hinder me!” Suddenly releasing him, but still barring the way, Josefa drew from her bosom a dagger that still bore red stains. ‘Look! with this blade I killed Jose to set ou free. The hand that could kill a man, can ila woman. Backi abandon your mad pur- , or I will ‘drive this dagger home to my henth, even as it pierced his!” : Even in his madness, Joaquin saw that the half-breed girl was making no idle threat, that unless he yielded, she would send the blood- stained steel to her heart, and reluctantly he abandoned his purpose. **Come, then, quick!” he muttered hoarsely. “If I hear him again, not even you can keep me from leaping at his throat!” and turning he rushed back through the gates. At mb be are free!” but the words ber : sound of sadnessrather than joy. ‘* Go—secur a horse and flee far from here. Every momici:( you delay but increases your peril. By to-mor- row the avengers of blood will be upon your trail. Ride hard and fast, for there is nosafety for you this side of your far-away home!” A low, hard laugh broke from the young So- norian. “You do not know me yet, little girl. From what you let drop a moment since, I know that: Don Manuel Camplido has carried out the first part of his diabolical plans. Don Felix has given me no particular cause for loving him, butIdo love his daughter, and for her sake I swear to avenge her father, She, too, must be in deadly peril, and while that is the case, I ae no time or inclination to think of my~ self. Josefa shrunk away with a low, gasping sob. Joaquin understood only too well, and he drew her to his side with gentle force, his voice sounding strangely soft and sweet. “Dear child— my sister!” and he gently Lage sp his lips to her cold brow. ‘To attempt hide the truth would be cruel. If I had never met Carmela Felix, both your fate and mine might have been very different. While she lives, my héart can never recognize another love—” ‘*Stop!” cried the Indian girl, tearing herself from his arms. ‘‘ Would you kill me? You know how Llove you—how I have fairly idolized you from the day we first met—yet you can coldly tell me of your passion for another! What has she done to deserve your love! I—I havo shed the heart’s blood of a man who brutal though he may have been, Joved me and wanted to make me his wife. Could she have done that?” a Love sent, Josefa. This was all Joaquin dared to say just then, but it proved sufficient. With a sobbing cry, Josefa flung her arms around his neck and pressed her cold lips to his; then released Lim and fled back to the house. Joaquin hesitated for a moment, but then turn Manuel Camplido kept his private saddle-horses. A bit of rapid but thorough scouting convinced him that there was no guard on duty, and en- tering the inclosure, he cautiously approached the horses. Like all true born horsemen, Joaquin was gifted with that peculiar magnetism that is rarely resisted by even the most suspicious horse. A gentle approach, a few soft words, and then his fingers closed upon the forelock of the noble animal which he had taken from Don Manuel Camplido in exchange for his own’ black stallion. As he led _ the horse to the entrance, a grating: curse hissed through his teeth, and he jerk forth a pistol, for a human figure arose before him as though to dispute his passage. But only for an instant did his alarm last, for he recognized Josefa, the half-breed girl. “Child,” he exclaimed, reproachfully, ‘you should be more cautious. y that the moon- beams enabled me to recognize you in time, I would have taken you for an enemy and sent a bullet through your heart!” “The lead could not have base me a more deadly pang than your words of a moment since,” sadly replied the girl, then addin more natural tone: “‘ But think not that I came back to reproach you. I forgot to show you where I concealed your weapons and boriePar niture. Come, your escape may be discovered at any moment.” In silence Joaquin followed, leading his horse. Josefa uncovered the articles, and seemed wait-. ing for him to apply them and take his depar- ture. Murieta read her intention, but, as her loeeriy would interfere with a daring resolve e had suddénly formed, he spoke: ‘Some day | hope to thank you for all you have done for me, dear child. ere is no time now, and my tongue would fail me were I to make the attempt. As you say my escape may be discovered at any moment. For myself, now that [am armed and horsed, I have no fears, but for you—many. I beg ou to return to the house and go to bed. That will avert sus- picion that might otherwise fall upon you. Go, dear sister, for my sake.” As he concluded, Joaquin bowed his head and pped a gentile kiss upon her forehead. Josefa seemed about to oe but then, doubtless fear- ing to trust herself, she turned and glided away. Joaquin watched ber until he saw her vanish inside the gates, and drew a long breath of re- lief as he saw that she made no attempt to close the barrier. ‘It would only be one more obstacle; but, as time is precious, I am glad that she left the way, where it wills, not where it is away to the corral where he knew Don’ in a’ AML IOOKS (E(0)