Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 156 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

+ — = oT ~ eae Ea a eS ee a ts 2, tee Pa ae I te De Ee a a iN od 8 ae PE RS ot SEE le ao ee , al +7, — = === = 2 ee cree er ee oe ee ————eEEEee -_— A ee LR rr -- =e * the mining camps and Purgatory City could also be seen not very far distant. emigrant who has pretty women in his home never fails to find plenty of willing hands to aid him in building his house, and thus it was that the lovely faces of Muriel and Camille drew to the assistance of Mr. Merle all the oung miners from the camps, and the idlers rom Purgatory City, anxious to lend a hand to the o!d gentleman to curry favor with the young ladies. * Thé consequences were that Sunset Retreat, ‘as Mr. Merle called his home, guided into sha most rapidly, and was the cabin of the settle- ment, and, under the taste and skill of its fair “occupants, was a most comfortable and cosey home, far surpassing anything seen in that wild region before. Vhy Mr. Merle had come West the Purga- torians soon discovered, as he held the title to a mine purchased some time before from one of his depositors for a mere song, and which, when adversity had overtaken him, he had been forced to rely upon for a support, Some‘told him that the mine had never panned out well, while others said that there was some mystery regarding it, as the former owner, the man from whom Mr. Merle. had. purchased it, had left Paradise Valley a poor man, it was supposed, and yat, after having suddenly dis- appeared, he had been seen in Chicago, by miners hs ehip. home, rolling in wealth, not a year after his departure. And more, some few days after his leaving, a party of miners had looked in at the mine and discovered two dead bodies, that no one there remembered having seen in life, and who had knife-thrusts in their hearts to show the cause of their death. Since then Dead Man’s Mine had been avoided by the dwellers in the valley, that name clinging to it, instead of Gold Canyon Pocket, as it had previously been called. Mr. Merle was determined, however, to make what he could out of his bargain, all that re- mained to him, and shortly after his arrival in the valley appeared in the dress of a miner, and with several others he had hired wended his way each morning to his mine and bégan work, while Muriel and Camille spent their days in housekeeping, beautifying their homes, and in gallops along tho paths and trails near the set- tlement, and at night entertained their visitors, prog whom were Dick Hazel and Guy God- frey, the school-teacher, whose duties had been greatly added to by the arrival of the train, bios had brought a number of children along. As if determined also to settle in the valley, Ralph Reno had built him a small cabia on the mountain-side, and was daily prospecting for a rich find, for, could he strike a lead that would per out well, he would offer himself to Muriel rle, and at once take her from the scenes where she seemed so thoroughly out of place. Though he looked upon Velvet Face as his , for he was not blind to his fascinations, and the fact that Muriel admired him atly, he had invited him to share his humble home with him, and the invitation had been accepted though the Border Bravo had slept there but one night, and eaten but one meal with his host, as he was constantly on the go, being absent for cage at a time, and gone no one knew whither, and none dared ask, for there was that about the strange man, in spite of his light, pleasant manner, that forbade intruding upon per- sonal affairs, Why he had come to Paradise Valley none knew, and the only one to whom he had been’ permnaly known before his coming was Ralph no, and he had very little to say regarding him, until one evening, when a party of seven were gathered avonsd the hospitable supper-ta- ble of colm Merle. Those seven consisted of, besides the host and the two maidens, Ralph Reno, Dick Hazel, Guy Godfrey and a slender-formed, handsome, but sad-faced youth of about nineteen, a waif that had strolled into Purgatory City one day, com- from no one knew where, and having noth- ing to say for himself, other than that he had come to the mines to dig a fortune. Though ever obliging and barmless, from some reason he had not been fancied by the miners, and having noticed his lonely con- dition, and been touched by his sad face, both Muriel and Camille had urged Mr. Merle to. take him into his employ, and, though he was not able to work hard, Oll, the Waif, as he was called, toiled in Dead Man’s Mine every day, and Sunday nights came to Sunset Retreat to supper, a& in his life which he seemed greatly to enjoy. Guy Godfrey, the teacher, Dick Hazel, the miner, and Ralph Reno were also among these fayored Sunday supper guests, and it was not to hear the ex-banker’s conversation upon the financial condition of the country, and the pos- sibilities of the ‘‘Great West” that brought them there, either, but rather the bright eyes of ile, as far as Dick and Guy were con- cerned, and Muriel, the reader already knows, had won the heart of the Guide. vay cabin, dor ‘Washoe Washes, the Chinse away cabin, for ‘Velv LLL LL LL tr ag rr ee whose neck Velvet Face had saved from stretch- ing, had been employed in the household, and under the teaching of the two maidens was de- veloping into a superior ‘“‘ Melican cookee man,” as he expressed it, and cooked to a turn the de- licious game with which Blue Snake the Ban- nock chief kept the table supplied. Black Brick, Yacob Holstein and Murphy Maginnis, the three others who had so nearly met death at the hands of the Vigilantes, being the ones hired by Mr. Merle to aid him in working his mine, it will be surmised that the ex-banker had become quite an important per- sonage in Paradise Valley, which was by no means lessened by the beauty of his daughter and niece, Just as the party had sat down to their Sun- day eer to sample Washee Washee’s culi- nary skill, that important personage skipped into the room, and said with a grin: *“Goodee Melican manee comee,” and he turned his eyes upon Muriel, as though the in- formation was for her particular ears. * Who is it, Washee?” asked the maiden. ‘“‘Goodee Melican manee * savee Washee Washee from hangee.” ** Ah! he means Velvet Face,” said Mr. Merle, and Ralph Reno’s quick eyes saw the color rise in Muriel’s face at the name. ‘*'Yesee, Vellee Faces, manee.” ‘** Ask him to come right in, and then bring another plate and chair,’ said Mr. Merle, just as the person spoken of entered the door, and said pleasantly: ‘‘ Good - evening, ladies, and you, gentle- men,” General salutations were exchanged, and tak- ing the seat assigned him at the table, Velvet Face went on to tell them of a discovery he had accidentally made of a rich lead of gold, and he took sume specimens from his pocket, and all pronounced them most valuable. “‘T found it by accident up in the mountains and have staked out my find, and it will yield largely I am certain.” After supper Velvet Face said he desired to see some one in the camps, and turning to the Guide he added: ** Reno, Vil claim your hospitality to-night, for | want you as a partner in my mine, and we'll go there to-morrow, as I have then to leave for a week.” And to go where? Could a man go to any place in that country for a week, and what could call him away? were the thoughts in Mu- riel’s mind, after Velvet Face had gone, and observing her distrait manner, Ralph Reno turned and said: “Miss Muriel, will you not sing for us to- night?” ‘After awhile I will; but tell me, Mr. Reno, where did you know that man before?” ‘“What man, may I ask, Miss Merle?’ was the answer, though Ralph Reno well knew to whom the maiden referred, ' “Velvet Face, for I know him only by that name,” **And no one else knows him by any other, for his life is a mystery.” ‘Tell me what you do know of him,” Rone came over Ralph Reno’s face, but he replied: ‘I have met him at several of the forts on the plains, and he has won a name as being the bravest of the brave, a dead shot, and though never seeking an encounter, he never avoids one, and many a man has fallen before his deadly aim. ‘*Some say he roams about to avenge some wrong done him in the past, and it may be, for that smile he wears is a mask to hide deeper feelings, I am confident; what brought him here I know not, but thank God he came, for—” and Ralph Reno glanced around to see that Mr, Merle had left the room, and Camille was en- tertaining the others out on the piazza, and he continued earnestly : ‘For he saved you from worse than death, Muriel, and I love him for it, for 1 love you with all my heart, and have built up the fond hope that one day you would return that love and make me happy.” Muriel started at the man’s earnest words: but she looked him squarely in the face, while she laid her little hand upon his arm, and said: “Mr. Reno, 1 am sorry you have ken thus, for I do not love go, though I admire and like you ever so much, **Come, let us be friends, for we can never be more.” ** Never is a hard word, and a sad one; tell me, Muriel, that if I can dig a fortune out of the ground, you will one day be my wife, and once more you can live, as you deserve, amid civilized scenes, instead of here in these wilds.” **T like it here,” she answered, moodily. ‘““Then you shall remain here, only pro- mise—” goodee Melican **No, no, I cannot, I will not promise.” “Muriel Merle, I know why you will not ee why Ae have cast me aside—yow love elvet Face, that man who dare not make known his own name,” and the man trembled with suppressed passion, for jealous rage had taken possession of him, et Face, the Border Bravo. ‘*Mr. Reno, you forget to whom you are speaking, sir,” and Muriel arose haughtily. *“*So be it, I will leave you, but you shall never marry that man; J swear it !” The next instant he was gone, and tremblin with emotion Muriel sunk back in her chair, an hid her face in her hands, to start suddenly some time after as a shot was heard without. Ere she could reach the door Washee Washee darted in, crying out: **Missee, missee, goodee Melican manee shotee; he comee heree, he ridee longee, and manee shootee he.” **A man shot him, you say?” asked Muriel, with awful calmness of manner. *'Yesee, missee; shootee with gunee: poodee Melican manee no fallee off, only so, and horsee runnee way withee he,” and Washee leaned across the back of the chair to more fully ex- plain his words of how Velvet Face had fallen on the neck of his horse at the shot. ‘Then the shot wounded hin, if it did not kill him; bere, Washee, tell me, did you see the one who shot him?’ and she grasped the China- man by the arm, * Yesee; me t’inkee he wasee Ralphee.” **Oh, God!” and Muriel sunk back in her chair, just as Camille and Oll the Waif entered the room, both of them very pale, and the for- mer cried: ‘“‘Muriel, some one fired upon Velvet Face from an ambush just now, and a miner has just come and reported that Midnight flew by him up the road, with his master hanging over on his neck, as though severely wounded, or dead.” ‘*So soon, so soon, Hulph Reno has kept his oath,” murmured Murie , dazedly, and with a sudden cry she fell upon the floor in a swoon. CHAPTER XT. WHO WAS THE ASSASSIN! WHEN Muriel Merle recovered conscicusness, after her swoon in the sitting-room of the cabin, at the words of Camille Conrad, she found her cousin bending anxiously over her, and in- stantly the thought that she had betrayed her- self caused her to bring her powers of self- control into play, for, as the reader knows, she possessed remarkable nerve, and opening her eyes she said, in a fatigued sort of way: ‘What is the matter, Camille?” **You fainted, that is all, cousin mine,” was the response. Ah yes, I remember; somebody was shot, I believe?’ ‘* Yes, that is Velvet Face was shot at, and it is supposed was wounded badly, or killed.” ‘**Can no one find out which?” asked Muriel, rising to a ae aig > ‘* Uncle, with Mr. Godfrey and Dick Hazel, have gone up the valley in the direction taken by the horse of Velvet Face.” “Then they did not know that I fainted, Camille?” asked Muriel, quickly. ** No, I closed the door, and only Washee and Oll know it; but I told them to hold their tongues about it, and they will; Oll has gone to camp, but the Chinee is most anxious about you, and is sitting out on the doorstep now.” ‘‘That heathen has more heart than most Christians, Camille; but if was thoughtful of you, dear, to shield me, for they would have thought me so foolish to faint just at the news that a man had been shot,” and Muriel rose to her feet and approached the window, while Camille smiled, for, woman-like, she penetra- ted the mask her cousin had put on. ‘*Come out into the air, cousin mine, and you will feel better,” and opening the door leading out en the jazza, she continued: ‘Here is Washee now.” , Yes, Washee waitee see if missee alles ’ *“Yes, Washee, 1 am better now, and I hope eae speak of my being ill,” said Muriel, n * The Chinaman rolled his eyes upward, gave a rin, and then his face assumed that ‘* child- ke and bland” expression so well depicted by Bret Harte, and replied: “Washee allee yitee; talkee littee, talkee sense, talkee muchee, talkee muchee fool.” ‘¢Vou are a good fellow, Washee.” “Tankee, me goodee allee samee likee Meli- can man damn rascal,” was thé ingenious reply, and even Muriel laughed at the heathen’s quaint manner and expression in extolling his virtues. ‘**Melican manee comee,” suddenly cried ee, and all heard the clatter of hoofs a proaching, and a few moments after Mr. Merle dashed up to the door and alighted. ‘Well, father, what does it all mean?” asked Muriel, with forced composure. ‘It means, my child, that there has been a foul deed done, and Velvet Face is the victim.” ‘Ts he dead?” asked Muriel, in the same con- strained voice. ‘“No one knows; it seems he was returning here, doubtless to get Reno to go on to his cabin with him in the mountains, and a miner says be saw him draw rein and talk toa man over in the trail, and that high words passed between them—” “Well, father?” o> JOOKS AMLUCS (E(O) +o €O