Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 154 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

clear. Poor girl! I wish that my conscience was clearer concerning her!” Fortunately for his own peace of mind, per- haps, Joaquin had not leisure just then to devote much thought to the hapless Indian girl. In truth, he had treated her badly, though there was much that could be urged in extenuation. But his sin was destined to bear its own fruit, Rapidly he saddled and bridled his horse, then carefully inspected his weapons, greatly pleased to find that they had suffered no hurt by the rough usage he had been subjected to. Through many a peril they had been his companions, and never yet had failed him when called upon. With them in his posncns on he felt doubly armed, yet he did not discard the weapons taken from dead Jose. He was about entering on a struggle to the death against fearful odds, and the time might come when he would need every possible resource, Removing his torn and stained jacket, Joaquin cub it into four equal parts, and placing a layer of sand on each one, he securely muffled his horse’s hoofs. Then mounting, he rode slowly back to the great gates and entered the paved court-yard. Here the object of his precautions was made apparent, for not the faintest sound accompanied the footfalls of his steed, The revels in the servants’ quarters were still in progress, and Joaquin rode boldly up tothe door, gazing quiet]y upon the riotous scene, but with a dancing, glittering devil in each eye that boded mischief to somebody. Pedro Canales occupied the position of honor at the head of the table, furthest from the door. He was on his feet, kept there by leaning heavily against the board, and saying: “Once more—death and eternal damnation to Joaquin!” “Joaquin is here!” and bending low in the saddle, oaquin leaped his horse into the room, his lasso, whirling round his head, A yell of terror escaped Pedro Canales, but it was his last. The deadly noose settled around his throat, and wheeling, Joaquin rode away, sweeping the table clear with the body of his ile CHAPTER XII, CAMPLIDO AND HIS CAPTIVE. ‘*My dear, your health will suffer and your beauty fade away like a summer cloud, unless you grow more reasonable and partake of some nourishment.” | The speaker was Don Manuel Camplido, and he addressed Senorita Canales Felix. There was a mocking politeness, an e erated soli- citude in his tones that was insulting, and so the maiden considered as she turned away her head with a gesture of aversion. The sun had just set, but the red, angry-look- ing sky cast a flood of lyrid light over the lit- tle agg day perched there amid the thick- lying rocks, a lone and dreary spot, but pecu- Narly pepoar iets for these desert vultures. Don Manuel Camplido, bearing Carmela be- fore him, had ridden hard and long after leay- ing the spot where Don Felix had fallen a yic- tim to his atrocious treachery. He reached the rendezvous first, but ere long his men began to drop in, having divided the more surely to break and obliterate their trail. All were jovial for they felt that a difficult and dangerous B dab had been carried through most successfully. Fires were kindled and supper prepared. After that one frantic outburst, Carmela had been like one stupefied by the immeasurable calamity which had fallen. Don Camplido had accounted himself lucky that such was the case, since it saved him trouble while on the road, but now he began to feel uneasy and tried to move the grief-frozen statue, caring little whether it was to tears or reproaches. “My dear, dainty lady-bird, you are actin very foolishly,” he added, seating himself beside her. ‘*The past is past, and cannot be recalled. Of course I deeply regret all that has happened, but for this you are to blame, not me. I met and loved you. I declared my passion, and you accepted my suit, only to throw me over fora low-born dog of a cattle- driver—” A sharp cry of anger broke from Carmela’s lips as she turned sharply upon the taunting lain, her clinched hand striking at his face, to arenes the insult Bah on the man whom she loved, But Don Manuel caught her hand in his, laughing maliciously as he held her prisoner, for he had at length accomplished his purpose. ‘So, you can feel thespur! Show your native ood sense now, by eating some of this meat. Fou will need all your powers of body and mind, remember, before this pleasant captivity can come to an end.” Don Manuel succeeded even better than he expected. A change as sudden as it was com- plete came over the maiden. The traces of tears left her eyes, seemingly dried up by the steally, burning fire that glowed therein, A cold, icy smile curjed her lips, and taking the prepared meal with fingers that were far steadier than his own, she ate heartily and with seeming relish, She even laughed at his undis- guised surprise—a laugh cold and metallic, that cause.l a peculiar chill to creep over him for the moment, Joaquin, the Saddle King. “You see, I take your advice. I have acted the poor, silly, weak woman, but that is past now.” Don Manuel Camplido began to wish he had left well enough alone. A woman like this would Bre him trouble before the end, but he quickly disguised his fears, and in hopes of undoing the work he had been so anxious to accomplish but a brief apace before, he gave full vent to his natural malignity,. “T am overjoyed to see that you are recover- ing your usual good sense, my dear. Not that 1 blame you much for giving way, for the knowledge that naught of this sad affair would have come about only for your fickleness and love of admiration, must be bitter indeed. You are to be praised for bearing up so well, and no doubt your father would feel yery pants of his child as an honor to his race, but alas! does such knowledge reach beyond the grave? Carmela turned ghastly pale, even to her lips, at this hypocritical speech from the lips of the demon who had so treacherously slain her pa- rent; but her nerves were steeled, and she gave no other sign of the torture she felt. Camplido had been drinking freely ,both while lying in ambush, and since the tragedy, while conveying the captive to the rendezvous. Until now he had given little sign of feeling its in- fluence, save in his blearing. eyes, his flushed countenance and his slightly thickened speech. But as he yielded to his malevolent ons, he lost all control of himself, and perhaps spoke more freely than he would have deemed pru- dent, were he fairly himself, “ Bah!” he exclaimed, in a coarse, brutal tone. ‘*T am tired of wearing a mask and keeping m tongue under guard. You have seen enoug this day to know that I.am no saint; for once you shall see me as I really am. ‘‘T meant you and yours fairly enough when I first began to plead my suit, and could I have won your love then, I would have been a better man than now. But you all looked down on me—-you most scornfully of all, lady-bird—and then I swore a solemn oath to succeed, by foul means if fair ones failed. It was not difficult to read Don Felix, and when I saw that his dearest hopes lay in his heir, Don Luis, I laid my plans accordingly. “Tt would take too much time to go over in detail all that I accomplished ; enough that I se- cured the hold I desired—that by my agenc Don Luis was led over head and ears into all manner of extravagances, en in a crime that will have to be expiated by death, if ever T am forced to make the whole truth known,” The villain paused here, and i keenly at u Carmela, but she made no sign, red no word, steadily eating her food. With a short, ugly laugh Don Manuel con- tinued: “‘T admire the depth of your sisterly love— but let that pass. ou know how we were be- trothed—how all went smoothly until that low- born vaquero blundered into saving your life, for which, like a true-born heroine, you gave him your love, ‘I was not long in learning of this, but for your credit, rather than my own, I made no outward sign, but tried to put the audacious rascal out of the way of airing us more trouble. The devil, his sire, stood his friend then as he has since,and I only lost the services of two good tools. But when one blow fails, 1 know ow to strike another, and at length I have my he on Joaquin Murieta.” ‘Yesterday, when he defeated and disgraced ase Lin he caused you to cringe and cower umbly at his feet like a sorely flogged hound— he alone, you backed by at least a score of armed men, all his enemies?” sharply cried Car- mela, promptly taking advantage of the open- in orough-paced villain though he was, Don Manuel flushed hotly with shame at the mem- ory, but he quickly recovered and barbed his words with sharper stings than ever. ‘That was his turn; mine came a few hours pee But let me relate things in their proper order, “Joaquin Murieta, flushed with his brief tri- umph, hastened to sun himself in your approv- ing smiles. He found you—if necessary, I could repeat every word that passed between you, de- scribe faithfully each one your little endear- ments, for besides the spies whom Don Felix had at work, I had men on the trail even moré cun- ning than his. . ‘They saw Don Felix break in upon you— saw him lash your low-born hero like a dog— saw him bow tothe degradation, but utter a bitter threat that he wouid bave revenge.” ‘* A lie—foul as the tongue that gives it utter- ance!” cried Carmela, indignation getting the better of her resolution. ‘Possibly. A gentleman never contradicts a lady,” retorted Don Manuel, bowing low with mock politeness. ‘‘ Unfortunately for your dandy cow-herder, my spies make no preten- sions to gentility, and when questioned, they will swear that Joaquin uttered that threat to be bitterly avenged. Nor is that all. “After leaving you, Joaquin Murieta was joined by old Tio Tomas, and together they con- cocted a precious plot. Tio Tomas told hi ne A SD where you were bound, and what trail your party would follow. He said that the only way win you, was to ambush the escortand carry ou off by force—that you would not be mor- ally offended, and readily grant your forgive: ness as soon as you caught the flutter of a priest’s gown in the distance. Complimentary, but true!” Carmela made no comment, for she believed Don Manuel was deliberately 1 ing. Senor Don Vagabundo leaped with joy at the idea, and vowed that he would act upon it. He roposed, but I disposed. Already I had put wo good men on his track, and when my spies reported the conversation they overheard, I at once resolved to take advantage of the fact, to reap the reward, while he should be made to bear all the odium. **T had searcely plotted the details, when my two good men brought in Joaquin a prisoner— Ha! that touches you!” and he laughed mali- ciously as Carmela gave a convulsive start, turn- - pain as a corpse as she pictured her lover a. elp scoundrel. ‘Tf startled, it was by your audacious ly- in her bosom was heavy as lead. ‘* No two men in your employ could take him alive—nor any two score, unless they called foul treachery to. their aid!’ ‘* All the same, he is now chained hand and foot in the death-dungeon underneath my ha- Coe still living, but only by my sufferance. Shall I tell you why I have spared his life? oe you wish to know the fate in store for m ‘*Remember what my spies are able and ready to swear. In addition, two of the escort who escaped, will swear that they recognized Joa- quin Murieta as the leader of the band dis- guised as Apaches. They will tell the story— search will be made—the discarded disguises will be found; these will prove that the assas- sins of Don Felix were white men. In a few minutes I will return home, the terrible news having overtaken me on my way to the city, I will take the field at the head of my men— and in good time I will capture Joaquin Mu- rieta, with undoubted proof of his guilt—the dying confession of one of his men,” ‘“] will fight you to the bitter end!” cried Carmela, her eyes flashing hotly. ‘‘I will ex- pose your foul plot—” “Gently, my beauty,” laughed Don Manuel. ‘To do this, you must first achieve your liberty, and that you can gain only after you have be- come my wife. Then it will be too late to save your lover. [ will never relax my vigilance until I see him die the death of a dog, either by the garrote, or the noose of the hang man.” “Heaven will not let you triumph so far—or if it does, then I will avenge him!” cried the maiden, resolutely. “That is a risk 1 am prepared torun, I have little fear but what I can manage you, when once my wife—” ? That time will never come—I will die ‘‘ Death does not always visit those who call on him the loudest, lady-bird, and bear this in mind; there’s more than one way to tame and break the will of a woman, ou are now wholly at Ey, TEERY If I chose—and I warn you not to try me too severely—I could make you beg on your knees as the greatest boon, what you now scorn. I will not descend to such harsh measures, until all else fails. this be sure. ou are fated to become my _ wife, and struggle how you may, I will conquer you. | ‘You are a good Catholic. Before takin you where your tongue, if unbridled, might work me harm, you shall take the most solemn oaths never by word or deed to reveal the art I have, or am still, to play in this little a. “You see, I am guarded at every point. Nothing has been forgotten, and I ane ‘ite to win the game. Think over what I have told you, while I am gone, and try to make up your mind to yield to the inevitable.” Without waiting for a reply, Don Manuel arose and passed over to where men were busy eating. He drew Gaspard aside, and gave him particular instructions concerning his care and treatment of Carmela, then mounted his horse and rode rapidly away. penned iat Bis odious picasa? Carmela show r geard and despondent coun- tenance howe deeply his infamous revelations had affected her. Despite her bold denial, she began to feel that her lover had indeed fallen into the power of his bitterest enemy. In no other manner could the bold assurance of Cam- plido be explained. Her thoughts had carried her this far, when Carmela became conscious that a human bein was trying to attract her attention by protrud- ing a hand from a clump of dense bushes hard by, and moving it rapidly. Her heart leaped into her throat with a glad bope, and she glanced toward the outlaws, They ected nothing, and she answered the signal. en a face took the = of the hand—a face she at once recognized. ess captive in the power of this merciless: ing, she boldly retorted, even while the heart. i But of | SHnalEO GomiGchdoo Ea 7 = . - ig —— — 4 P il —— ene ° — aaa | my