Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 156 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

ee ee Se oe who held the sympathy of every miner, woman and child in the settlement. Without the slightest dread of treachery she had gone with the supposed Ralph Reno, and, engaged in conversation, had not noticed the way they were going until the mountains sud- wre loomed up before them. 4 hy, Mr. Reno, this is not the road to Pur- gatory City,” she said, in surprise, ‘‘T know it, Miss Merle, and Iconfess to hay- ing deceived you, fearing that your father would not let you come,” was the quiet reply. ‘*But why deceive me, sir?’ ‘“*T will tell you; my unfortunate brother es- caped from prison to-night, but was pursued and overtaken up in the mountains, after being severely wounded. **Unable to bring him back with them, for fear of the movement causing instant death from hemorrhage, the Vigilantes sent me after be: and I thank you for coming; but let us asten, as poor Paul may die ere we reach there, and the Danite secret he wishes to con- fess to you will never be known.” Still unsuspecting treachery, Muriel rode on at a rapid pace, pitying the man who was by her side, as his hoarse voice seemed to tell her that he felt deeply for the erring brother. Suddenly ore them loomed the forms of two persons, whom Muriel recognized, when she bent low in her saddle as she passed, to be the Bannock Indians, and her daring captor held his revolver ready for instant use, there been any movement on the part of the maiden to show that she held the slightest sus- picion of him. And on they went, up the mountain-side to the top, and then the man turned off squarely to the left, in the same path that Muriel had before been led by her Danite captors. “Ms. no, I have perfect confidence in your courage, but this is a dangerous locality, and I care not to go further,” and Muriel drew rein. “Tt is but half a mile, Miss Merle, and the Vigilantes being in the mountains, there is no dread of other danger; come, let us hasten, for I would see my poor brother alive.” And once more they continued their way, until Muriel felt that over a rile had been one over since their last halt, and once more e drew rein. “It is but a few hundred yards now; there, where you see that large tree,” said the man. ‘‘ And that is where the Devil’s Ladder be- gins.” ‘““True, you have a good memory to recall the spot in the dark; my brother was caught as he was about to descend the Devil's Ladder, and now lies in the shadow of yonder rock,’ and as her captor spoke he gave the dismal hoot of an owl, No answer came, and he repeated it several times, until there was heard in response the long-drawn-out howl of the mountain wolf. ‘““Why all this mystery, Mr. Reno?’ asked Muriel, ‘Because this is a dangerous ipeality, Miss Merle, and the Danites are known to nightly be in this neighborhood, it being one of their haunts from which they watch the settlers, and I wish to be certain that the Vigilantes have not been driven away by them,” was the ready lie. ‘We “The wolf howl tells me that my friends are here; come!” They rode on once more and presently en- tered a chasm between two huge rocks, the man leading the way. But suddenly he turned in his saddle and said, while he came to a halt: ‘Miss Merle, I have deceived you, and you are my prisoner.” ‘* Never, sir!” and with a touch of the rein Featherhoof wheeled quickly and darted toward the entrance to the ravine; but a loud call from her captor caused several dark forms to glide down before her, ‘*Stand aside!” she said, firmly, and seeing that they did not obey, she drew from her pocket a small pistol and leveled it, while she cried fearlessly : ‘‘Over them, Featherhoof!” The noble horse bounded forward at her words, there was a flash and report, a struggle curses, and Fectherhoof was in the grasp of half a dozen men, while Muriel felt a stro clutch on her arm, and heard at her side, in tri- urpphant tones: **Miss Merle, as I said before, you are my prisoner; but you have made your debit into the Danite League by killing one of our num- ber; that pistol, please, which you used so skill- fully.” The speaker was Paul Reno, and his grasp upon her arm caused her to relinquish the wea- won, while sbe said, tersely: “] t that you were not the one that I shot, sir; but there shall come a day of reckon- tug for this, Ralph Reno.” ‘Allow me to disabuse your mind, Miss Merle; Iam Paul Reno.” ‘Ha! now I recognize a difference in your voice, and, oh God! I am in the hands of the Danites,” and Muriel reeled as though about to fall from her saddle, oY ‘Yes, Miss Merle, I am Paul Reno, a lieuten- ant of Jean Leo, the Danite chief and, escaping to-night from the Vigilantes, I conceived a daring plan to win favor in the eyes of my cap- tain by bringing you with me, and, my strikin resemblance to my pious brother has enabl me to successfully carry out my plot, for you are now in my power, thanks to these members of our League, whom I felt confident I would find near here.” Muriel gazed around upon the half-score of men who stood near, and then she shuddered, as her eyes fell upon the prostrate form of the man she had slain. With his grasp still upon her arm Paul Reno felt her tremble and saw her glance, and he said; ‘‘He is dead, Miss Merle, and b throw him over from the Devil’s and then let us be on our way.” ‘* But Pll run ther rackit now, pard, seein’ as how I has orders from ther chief,” and a huge Danite stepped forward and confronted Paul Reno, who angrily asked: ‘¢ What do you mean, Carl, the Killer?’ ** Jest what I says; Lew Baker is down in the settlement playin’ honest, Kennedy went over ther Ladder, at ther crack o’ thet Velvet Face’s pistol, an’, as I has orders ter take you prisoner, [’m ther rankin’ officer arter ther chief,” was the cool reply of Carl of Colorado. ‘‘Man, you are mad!” angrily replied Paul Reno, dropping his hand upon his revolver. ‘*Guesses all my pards heur then is mad, for they heerd what Cap’n Leo tole me.” ‘* Men, has this fellow orders to make me a risoner?’ and Paul Reno faced those before your hand; dder, men, im. ‘* He has, sir,” replied one, politely. “Why? What have Idone?” “You jest git ther cap’n ter answer thet conundrum, pard Reno; but he sent us heur ter fetch you back, an’ we intends ter do it, an’ it’s my opinion thet there’ll be a bigh-toned funeral in ther League, an’ you'll be ther corpse, for it’s said as how you shot at ther cap’n.” ‘Tt is an infamous lie!” shouted Paul Reno. ‘Tt is the truth, men, as I will swear to your chief; ha! ha! ha! Paul Reno, there are a pair of us in trouble,” and there was a tone of tri- umph in Muriel’s voice that sunk deep into. the heart of Paul Reno, and he moved forward, as though to silence her scornful laughter; but in- stantly he was seized by Carl of Colorado and his comrades, and ten minutes after the party were mounted and slowly descending the Devil’s Ladder, Featherhoof tremblingly obey- ing the command of his mistress to make the perilous descent. But in spite of her own peril, Muriel Merle re- joiced in the fact that Paul Reno, wko was se- curely bound to the horse that slowly followed Featherhoof, had been caught in his own trap. CHAPTER XXVIL. THE TWO PRISONERS. Ir was a long, dreary, fatiguing ride for poor Muriel, over mountains and through valleys, on that night of her capture; but hers was a brave spirit, and she did not despair of succor, for she felt assured that Velvet Face and the miners would soon learn of her capture and pursue her captors to the bitter end. f the Danite League, in whose power she was, she had heard strange stories, of how they were sworn to obey the commands of the Mor- mon Prophet, and to smite and slay all who came into that fair land who were not of their faith. In spite of the dread of the League brave men had made a home in one of the loveliest valleys in the heart of the mountains, and from out the generous earth were daily digging for- tunes of yellow metal, which the Mormons felt should belong only to men of their creed. Against these then was the Danite vengeance turned, and Muriel knew that often a mysteri- ous murder was committed in the mining camps, the only solution of which was that some Mormon spy in the camps had done the And more, now and then one of the loveliest of the valley’s fair daughters would disappear mysteriously, and at length the secret would come out that she had been stolen from her home and carried away to become a Mormon’s bride, Where the haunts of the Danite League were none seemed to know who did not belong to the band, and it was into the power of such men that Muriel had fallen, and well she knew what her fate would be, if she did not escape from them, and escape seemed impossible. But she kept up her courage, for once before she had been in their power, and, single- handed, Velvet Face had rescued her. And, in spite of her sorrow, she found some comfort in ing into the face of the man who rode by her side, his arms bound behind him, and his feet securely fastened beneath his horse. Silent, stern and upright he rode along, with Murie! on his left and members of the band behind and before him, and none of them ever speaking, until the silence seemed to be- come unendurable to the fair captive, and, as she glanced toward him, Pau! Reno said: tees. 2 i a lie peti 6 ny oi ae nasties aie CN mele aeiet OEE Ae Ne ei A eS — a A a Sl A ne Un a Tee EECA ee RE ane ee ee bh Velvet Face, the Border Bravo. ee suppose you know what your fate is ta sé Yes. ” ‘What?’ ‘‘ Death!” ‘* You surprise me,” ‘*T mean it,” ‘¢ But you will not be slain.” “*T will take my own life,” mS: will not be such a fool, brave as you are, ‘ : ou will see,” was the firm reply of Mu- riel. ‘You mean you prefer death to becoming the bride of the Mormon chief?’ “é Yes. ” ‘“ He is a good man to his wives.” ‘‘ So is a tiger to its mate.” ‘* He will honor you as your beauty deserves.” ‘“‘T tell you I shall never be a Mormon’s wife.” ‘We shall see.” ‘*So be it, Paul Reno; but before 1 am I have an idea that 1 will see you shot.” The man winced, and then asked: ‘“ ‘Why should I be shot?” ‘“Why are you now a prisoner?” ‘‘ There is some mistake.” ‘‘There will be none about their killing you.” ‘You draw a pleasant picture, Miss Merle.” ““T am pee that you like it; but I have heard. out enough a this Danite League, of which you are a member, to feel assured that they will punish your treachery with death, Paul Reno.’” “Jean Leo will not kill me, without proof that I was a traitor.” ** But he shall have proof.” “What proof?” “‘T will tell him that it was you that at- tempted his life, and that the act nearly cost: your brother his life.” “ And you think he will believe you?” “Why not? A man who lives upon a vol- cano, as he does, must needs doubt all around him, and he will be assured that what he onl suspects now, was the truth, when I tell him I know.” ‘* And you will do this?” “1 certainly will.” “You will have my life on your soul, my blood on your hands!” ‘*L have one Danite’s blood upon my hands, and it doesn’t trouble me,” was the bold reply, although it was a great effort for Muriel to su p- ress the shudder at the remembrance of the orm she had seen fall at her shot, and then thrown over the cliff by his comrades, — as, had 1 met you reer ago, could have kept me from crime, and made my life afar differ- ent one,” said Paul Reno, with a sigh. ‘‘T regret that I have met you so late in life even,” was Muriel’s provoking reply. The man felt the shot, but remained silent for awhile, and then he said, lowering his voice, so as not to be heard by his comrades: ‘* Let us declare a truce between us.” “Well?” ** Aid me, and I will help you to escape from these fellows.” “How, pray?” ““T am bound, as you see; when next we come toa narrow path ride close to me, and free my arms with my knife, which you can draw from my belt. ‘Then, at a place ahead, which I know well, I will give the word and you can wheel into a ravine and I will shoot the men nearest to me, and follow, for you know they did not iake my weapons from my belt.” “Well?” said Muriel, quietly. * The ravine is narrow, and the others cannot immediately follow, as they will be taken by surprise, and that horse of yours, and the one I ride, are both far faster than the others, which are merely mountain ponies, and then we are “To go where, for you dare not return to Paradise Valley. “True; but we can go elsewhere; yes, far from here, and my whole life shall be devoted to you, for, fair girl, I love you with my whole heart,” and the man spoke in impassioned tones; but in terse, cutting tones came the an- swer; ‘This is a love-scene under difficulties, Paul Reno; no, I prefer to put up with the ills I now bear than fly to others I know not of.” A muttered curse was the only res the thwarted man, who once more r grim silence, nse of eon is CHAPTER XXVII. THE DANITES’ RETREAT. . THE gray light of dawn was creeping above the mountain as the —— cavalcade turned into a canvon that was little more than a split in a hill, for it was a chasm of twenty feet in width, and with rocky precipices rising high on either side. A ride of a quarter of a mile through this chasm and a path turned to the right, and along a narrow shelf, strangely like the Devil’s Ladder, the Danites held their way in single file, their fair captive following in silence and seemingly without fear, and Paul stern, ‘“You are a strange woman; just such a one : sas EGomichoo SiG