Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 154 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

— a Carmela met his keen gaze haughtily, but Gas- pard lacked no boldness where women alone were concerned. ** A few plain words at the outset, senorita, may save a world of trouble and no end of hard feelings. You know that Don Manuel Camplido left me in charge?” Carmela bowed in silence, fearing to trust her tongue tospeak. She sought to guess the fellow’s real object, but only succeeded in dee p- ening her own perplexity. ‘*Good, sofar. You must know, too, what a precious prize Don Manuel considers . you, fro:a the trouble he has taken to secure possession, To my mind he is a fool for his pains, for no woman that ever lived could equal the risks he is run- ning—but that is his affair.” id you intrude on my thoughts merely to say this?’ a little sharply demanded Carmela, eager for, yet dreading the end. ** Allin good time. A wise rider never spurs a willing horse,” coolly retorted the fellow, dropping toa sitting posture before the maiden, “Thea master left pe in my care, and swore that my life should pay the forfeit in case you were not forthcoming when he returned. No doubt be thought I would sit up and keep watch over your slumbers, but we have a long anda hard ride before us on the morrow, and I did not close my eyes in sleep all Jast night. For the health of my own throat, I mean to keep you snugly enough, even without losing my rest. Just how depends upon you.” ‘*“Say what you mean at once,” impatiently cried Carmela. ‘*You are a good Catholic, and know the penalty for breaking an oath when taken on the cross. Swear that you will make no attempt to escape us’to-night, and.-you shall be left at SASe Seen and I will bind you hand and oot. Carmela hesitated, but only for an instart. ‘There. is little hope of a feeble girl cepa ping from a force like yours, but it would be blas- Bhemy to subseribe to an oath dictated by such astardly ruffians.” ** You prefer the bonds, then?” “Yes, Let me have a blanket to shield me from the night air. That is the only favor I ask of you.” f Carmela arose as she spoke, and as though looking for a more.comfortuble place to lie, drew near the cover where Tio Tomas was hidden. Gaspard shrugged his shoulders, but raised no objection as be removed the serape from his own ‘person for her use. * i? you are uncomfortable through the night, blanre yourself, not me, Imust have my’sleep, thou,h the devil knocked at my door. Yet it is not too late, even now. Giveme your pledge—”’ For answer Carmela draped the serape about her, then held out her hands. With rapid dexterity Gaspard tied them together so that is would be impossible for her to release hersell, yet without giving positive pain. Then Car- mela sat down within arm’s length of the bushes, and the ruffian bound her ankles after the same manner. * Safe bind, safe find, is a good rule, but should you repent during the night, a word to the man on guard duty will procure you relief, lady,” he adued as he arose, and after a moment’s pause, turned away toward the camp-fire. ‘* You acted precisely as you should, little one,” came in a whisper from the bushes that screened the veteran gambusino from view. **When extorted by such villains, a broken oath would be no great crime, but now you need not be troubled even by such a feeble scruple,” * You beard what he—Manuel Camplido— ssid!” asked the maiden, keeping close watch upon the men by the camp-tire. ‘Every word—and my finger itched terribly to send a bullet through his black heart! Only for your sake could 1 hold my hand,” replied Tio Tomas, his voice trembling with passion. ‘He has gone to carry out his diabolical revenge against Don Joaquin—your friend as well as mine, Tio Tomas. Only you can save hini—and save him. you must! Go at once— steal away and hasten to my friends. My aunt’s house is the nearest. She is vold and bard, but she loved her brother, my penx father, and will spare no pains to avenge him. Go—tell her the whole truth—save Don Joa- quin from the terrible doom that threatens him, then bring friends to rescue me from these ruffians. Go, as you love me, go!” More than once Tio Tomas tried to edge in a word, but only when strong emotion and a lack of breath ent short her eager pleadings, could he make binself heard. ‘**{ will do all that you say, little one, and more besides, but to act as you wish, would be fatal either to you or Don Joaquin—possibly to both. It would be day, long before I could reach the hacienda of Senora Isidora, and night in ere I could lead a force back here, much less to Don Joaquin’s prison. You heard him say that a long and hard ride was in store for the morrow. You might be many a long mile from here when I returned, and following even a horse trail through a region like this, is a slow and delicate job.” : ’ “Go and save Don Joaquin—never think of Joaquin, en wee ~ ee + -_-+ me—the blessed Virgin will guard and protect me from evil,” ‘‘ Pardon, little one,” said Tio Tomas, respect- fully but firmly, ‘To serve you is my first duty—after that comes Don Joaquin, Nay— listen. The surest way to save bim is to first rescue you. Once beyond the reach of these ac- cursed ladrones, the rest will be easy. There would be doubt and hesitation when I told such a biack story against a man like Don Manuel Camplido, but one word from your lips would raise the whole country in arms against him. Before he could learn, or even suspect the truth, lia would be hemmed in beyond the _ possibility of escape. Carmela was only partially convinced by this reezoning. ** ‘You heard that ruffian say that I could ap- peal to the men on guard duty, should I find these bonds uncomfortable during the night. They would notice my absence, even should [ succeed in stealing away, and by scattering in ursuit, we would soon be overtaken. I would restored to captivity—you would be murder- ed, and thus the last hope for both Don Joaquin and myself be quenched, No, you wust go at once and tell the black story of Manuel Camp- lido’s foul treachery. By the duty you owe my family, I bid you go!” ‘Were you toask for my life, little one, I would lay it at your feet without a moment’s hesitation, but for your own good, I must re- fuse you obedience in this respect. To comply would be almost certaio ruin to all a hopes.” ‘*T find a traitorous rebel, where [ thought to find a friend!” bitterly uttered Carmela. ‘*- You will feel sorry for those hard words, little one, when yen bave time toreflect on their injustice,” was the simple reply, uttered with a native dignity that sharply pricked the con- science of the maiden, and she hastened to say: ‘*Pardon me, old friend. I hardly knew what I was saying. My brain is whirling—I am not fit to lead now—tell me how I must act, and I will obey you without a murmur.” A murmur of joy escaped the veteran as he gained his point, but his words were humble enough as he made reply: ‘It is I who should ask forgiveness, little one, for daring to run counter to your wishes, but believe me, my advice is given for your best interests.” ‘**Hnough—I agree to follow your lead, but speak quick! Every moment lost now is worth a life’s ransom!” ‘‘Make haste slowly, has won more battles than it has lost,” shrewdly replied the cool- headed veteran. ‘‘See! the rascals are pre- paring to turnin. A few minutes more patient waiting, and then we can get to work. Hist! tbat devil Gaspard is moving this way. H he suspects aught, be ready—” His sibilant whisper died away as the tall chief of the salteadores approac ed, but there was no occasion for special alarm,. Gaspard only asked whether Carmela had changed her mind and was ready to give the rp brs pledge, but quietly retired when the maiden coldly re- plied in the negative. ** Now listen,” again whispered Tio Tomas. ‘*Watch the cecal while I am speaking, and check me if any one seems to grow suspicious. ‘** | marked the spot where they put out their horses, and unless they are oe guarded, [ can easily steal away a couple. there be a horse-guard out, the job will be more difficult, but still it can be done. The animals once se- cured, I will come back here and lead you to them. Once in the saddle, we can laugh at the heathen, and need not draw rein again until you are safe with your friends, telling them the story that will weave a halter for the throat of that black-hearted dog, Manuel Camplido.” Tio Tomas spoke so confidently, and placed the part he was to Kn in such a light that Carmela overlooked its really perilous nature, and as he reached forward to cut her bonds, she felt almost as good as rescued already. Tio Tomas, despite his words, did not under- estimate the danger he was incurring as he stole like a human serpent away from the cover that had rendered him such good service. He knew that the chances were against, rather than in favor of, his success, and he knew, too, that failure meant death, Yet he never hesitated for one 110ment. His life belonged to his young mistress, and he was ready to lay it down at any moment in her service. He expected to find a horse-guard on duty, and therefore exercised to the utmost. his really wonderful skill as a scout, taking advantage of every cover, and utilizing some that seemed hardly sufficient to shelter a rabbit. But his chagrin may be imagined when he saw, occupy- ing a spe from whence a fair view could be obtained of all the animals, not one but a couple of Mexicans, seated close together, smoking and conversing in low tones. ‘“May the foul fiend fly away. with them both!” he growled ina rage, grating his teeth together barney as he lay under cover, not a seore yards distant from the men who alone stood in the way of his success, ‘As if one guard was not enough—or if two, why it nose to nose after that ridiculous fashion?’ — The comment was quaint enough, all things the Saddle King. potting in that emergency. He had expected to d a guard over the horses, and counted on having to use cold steel before all was ended, but he knew what rank folly it would be for him to think of killing these two stout fellows without letting an alarm reach camp, when the entire force would be upon him. Snarling indistinctly through his teeth, the veteran lay under cover and racked his brain for some ruse which would divide the force be had encouaotered, but despite his efforts he eculd think of no expedient that promised success without also enlisting the main force cf the ot; At length, in desperation, he fixed ona ven- ture that promised a faint hope of success, but fortunately he was not called upon to put the project into execution. One of the Mexicans arose and stretched himself, with a prolonged yawn, ~*~ ‘*T am sleepy as a dog, Perico, or I would keep you company longer. ‘There's no need of watching the horses, but you must grin and bear it. Gaspard is the very devil when Le has lost any sleep, and should you be cauzht off guard, I’d not give a peso for your lease uf life. Adios !” ‘* As if other men didn’t need rest, as well as he!” growled the horse-guard, dciscontentedly, as his friend moved away. At any rate, he seemed resolved to take his comfort, and lighting a fresh cigar, he drew his serape closer around him, then settled down with bis back to the bowlder, his face toward the animals he was set to guard. apy the minutes passed by, but Tio Tomas was well content to wait, for already he saw that sleep was stealing upon the man, bis head slowly ping forward, to be drawn erect with a sudden ee that almost dislocated his neck. Twice this happened, the somnolent fellow growling and umbling at his hard fate between spells, but then the heavy bead sunk upon his breast and the cigar fell from bis lips. A grim, silent laugh revealed the teeth af the veteran as he drew.a long knife and felt of its keen point and razor-like edge with his thumb, then noiselessly crept toward the luckless wretch whom he had doomed to death. A true Mexican, Tio Tomas felt small scruple against shedding blood when his interests demanded it, much less se now that hé was Signer for the god of his idolized young mistress. ough he had known this man for years, had eaten and drank with him more times than he could num- ber, and really felt a calm sort of friendship for him, despite the well known fact of his being az unscrupulous rascal, the pulse of the veteran gambusino beat calmly, and he felt not the faintest shade of regret at the thought of stab- bing the fellow in his sleep. As he would have slay, of the other to be slain, at that time and in that manner. Crawling forward like a serpent, he raised upon his knees close to the bowlder against which the sleeping man rested. One mcement’s sause to note the most favorable spot for the deadly steel to enter, then the glittering wea- n descended, driven with all the force of bis ny, shrunken yet powerful arm, At the same moment his left hand was pressed be over the doomed guard’s mouth, smother- ing the convulsive groan that rcse gurgling in his throat. But that was all, save a slight, spasmodic quivering of the flesh and straighten- ing of bis limbs. Tio Tomas had handled cold steel too long to make botch-work when an op- portunity was given him to deal a deliberate blow like this. ‘You can slee now, good Perico, and never fear the wrath o that son-of-a-devil Gas ard,” Tio Tomas muttered with a low, grim chuckle as he drew the death-dealing steel from its bloody sheath and wiped the tarnished blede on the dead guard’s shoulder. ‘‘ Your guard duty is over in this world—may Satan give you as vat atask, when you gain the region below!” e carefully propped the body against the bowlder, then sunk flat upou bis belly and crawled away to where he saw several saddles and bridles lying near. Securing two of each he mounted them upon his back, then craw] back toward the spot he had mentally chcsen while forced to lie inactive. “It is not likely that there was more than one guard placed over the horses,” he muttered, after a momentary hesitation,” but it is better to be too careful than not cautious enough, If the little one only does not grow impatiert at the delay, and spoil everything by some rash move!” Disincumbering himself, Tio Tomas crept away tc make sure that there were no more men watching the horses. This duty consumed some little time, for the storm-clouds were breaking away, and the bright face of the full moon was only obscured at brief intervals. The ground where the horses were picketed, was comparatively free from cover, and he was forced to choose his time carefully. But at length the circuit was completed, and Tio Tomas drew a long breath of relief as he found that Perico alane haa been stationed as guard. Creeping down into the natural corral, the veteran was not long in selecting the best two answered, it was all fate; the fate of one to. 17 considered, but Tio Tomas had no_ thoughts’ of — (COU EIDOOKSAEO