Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 158 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

et a nl = -w* ., — . a]. g * . J * 4. crief, know that I had come West?” asked Do- lores, coldly. ‘Oh! she would not lose sight of you, and was anxious to know how you were getting along. ‘‘T believe you are a governess to the cap- tain’s daughter?” and Mercer Aldrich gazed ad- miringly upon the little beauty, Hortense Har- mon, who, with her father, had walked back to the fire, leaving Dolores to entertain her visitor. ‘‘Yes, and my pupil is as lovely in charac- ter as she is in face, and I feel that 1 can be happy out here.” ‘‘T Lope so,” said the man, earnestly, and being called to supper, while his cowboys looked after his and their horses, he joined the captain’s men around the camp-fire. A man of brilliant conversational powers, Mercer Aldrich soon charmed all by his anec- dotes, and witty stories, and after supper was over, took up Hortense Harmon’s guitar and sung for them in a voice full of pathos, and even Dolores regretted when the hour for re- tiring came, for, though sbe had always shunned the man at home, there was in him such a change on the plains, and he being the only link present to connect her with the happy past, she felt drawn toward him as she never had before. The next day he continued on the march with them, and the next, and he had quite won over every one in the train, excepting Do- lores. As for her, in the bright glare of daylight, she saw marks in his face that she did not like, and she felt confident that his genial, courtly manner was not natural to him, and she began to dread him. One evening, several days after Mercer Al- drich had joined the train, there rede into camp a horseman. : He was splendidly mounted and thoroughly armed, and possessed a face and form that would attract attention among a thousand men. A face that was strikingly handsome, reso- lute and perhaps reckless, a form over six feet, straight as an arrow, and clad in buckskin, and long dark hair falling far down below his shoulders, he was the very type of a prairie hero, The guide of the train recognized him ata glance, and sung out in cheery tones: ** Boys, it are Buffalo Bill!’ Dismounting, he greeted the guide kindly, and was presented by him to Captain Harmon, to whom he said: ‘‘ Pardon my intruding on your camp, cap- tain, but 1 am a Government Scout, and learn- ing that a man answering to the description of John Leigh, the Danite, bad lately joined your traia, I ran in to have a look at him.” ‘You are welcome, Mr. Cody; but you have been misinformed, for no such person has joined us,” answered Captain Harmon. ‘*] am glad to bear it, and must be wrong; but did not a party of horsemen join you lately?” ‘‘ Yes, sir; but they were known to us, one being in fact an old friend of a lady of our party, and the others bis companions.” ** Ah! that accounts for it, but let nie urge, sir, that you double your guards from this on to Fort Bridger, which I believe is your des- tination, for dangers will lie thick in your trail.” ‘‘T thank you, Mr. Cody; but you will re- main with us all night?” ‘No, thank you, tor I am bearing dis- patches and must not tarry; but [ will join you at supper.” A few moments after supper was announced and the handsome young scout was presented by Captain Harmon to Dolores and Hortense, and also to Mercer Aldrich. _ © Buffalo Bill’ indeed 1 am glad to meet so famous a borderman,” said Mercer Aldrich, as he grasped the scout’s hand. But, from the moment of meeting the rauchero, Buffalo Bill kept his eye upon him, | | striving to recall where they had met before, for the face of Aldrich seemed to come back The Doomed Dozen. —————<—- therefore must be all right, for she could not love a bad wan,” And, as Buffalo Bill rode on his lonely trail across the prairies that night, the face of Mer- | cer Aldrich the ranchero still haunted him; but not until days after did it fash upon him who he was. Then he cried suddenly: ‘‘By tbe Holy Rockies! that man is John L-izh. ‘* Fool! fool that I was not to know him, be- cause he had cut his beard and hair off. ‘*] willat once— No, no, it is too late now for whatever devilment Leigh intended, it is already done,” and with gloomy face Buffalo Bill continued on his way, for a dread of evil rested on his heart. CHAPTER VIL. THE THREAT. ONWARD toward the setting sun went the Harmon train, dragging its slow length along over prairie and hill toward its destination in the Territory of Deseret, now Utah, the land of the Mormon. And each day did Mercer Aldrich linger with the train, evidently held there by the fas- cination of Dolores Moultrie’s beautiful eyes; and each day he grew more in favor with ail in the train, His comrades, whom he called his cowboys, spoke of him as a noble-hearted man, and the wagon men guide and hunters of the train were willing to swear by him, while Captain Harmon also seemed greatly drawn toward him, But with both Dolores and Hortense it was different, for both of them, without divulg- ing their feelings the one to the other, seemed to fear the man, and the former constantly avoided him. One night, when the train had gone into camp in a pleasant grove, Mercer Aldrich asked Dolores to walk with him to the sum- mit of a hill near by and enjoying the sunset scene, Fond of the beauties of nature, and with no ready excuse for not going, she arose and accompanied him, and in watching the fading glories of the setting sun, glancing upon mountains of gold, purple and crimson clouds, she was fully repaid for ber walk, But at. last the rusy hues died away, and sbe said: ‘* Come, let us returne now, Mr. Aldrich.” ‘‘Qne moment, Dolores, while you. hear what | have tosay,” he said eagerly. ‘But tell me while we retrace our way to camp,” she urged. ‘No, hear me now, and let me know my fate. ‘‘ While I believed that you cared for your cousin, or rather Captain Moncrief, for you have told me he was really no kindred of yours, and he loved you, in my belief, I breathed to you no word of my love; but now when I know that you are free to listen to me, I throw myself in entreaty at your feet, Dolores, pleading for one little word of love from you, one atom of hope to which I can cling and know that 1 am not to leave your side forever.” He ceased speaking and gazed earnestly irto her face, awaiting reply. She had stood, with her eyes bent on the western Lorizon, and no& on her pleading lover, and her tiny boot tapping tke earth with almost impatience, Not once had she by word or gesture, in- terrupted his passionate appeal for her love, until he stood waiting her response. Then.in ber soft voice she answered: “Mr. Aldrich, believing that you mean what you say, I feel sorry to have to tell you that I can never love you, that cur friendship, such as it has Leen, must end here forever.” ‘Hal you love another then?’ he said | angrily “TI do not acknowledge your right, sir, to question me,” was the cold reply. ‘‘Rut 1 tale the right, Dolores Moultrie, and ask you if youlove another.” Her fave flushed with anrer; but she replied to him lke a troubled dream, and he mut- _haugbtily: tered: ‘I feel that I have met that man before, and under circumstances of an unpleasant na- | the camp. that I will even lose respect for you.” ture, ** But where? where? ‘* Bah! L must Le mistaken, for he is, 1 be- “Jieve the captain hinted, the acknowledged suitor of that handsome Miss Dolores, and ‘You should be content, sir, with the knowledge that I do not love yeu, and, if you do not permit me to pass you, and return to “By the God above! girl, you shall rue these words,” he hissed. ‘‘No tbreats, sir, for I have a protector in Captain Harmon.” —_——— SS ‘‘T fear not Captain Harmon, or any one else, Dolores Moultrie, and again | say to you that the woman who casts my love beneath her feet will rue it to her dying day.” He stood aside and permitted her to pass on to the camp. Swiftly she went along, his words causing her real.alarm, and had arrived within a short distance of the camp-fires, when she glanced back and saw him standing where she had left him, his form relieved against the sky. And, as she looked, she heard a long, shrill! whistle given. Instantly there was a slight stir in the en- campment, and a moment after four horsemen dashed by her, one leading an animal which, even in the twilight she recognized as the steed belonging to Mercer Aldrich. ‘‘Tt was a signal from him, and his men are going to join him, ‘‘Oh, Heaven! can that man really mean his threat against me?’ she muttered, and quickly she ran on te camp, and dropped down beside Hortense, who wondered at the emotion of her beautiful governess. CHAPTER VIL. SNAKES IN THE GRASS. Ir was a beautiful spot in which to camp, and both Dolores and Hortense who had rid- den on ahead with Revolver Nick, the guide, flattered themselves upon having selected the prettiest encampment of the long and weary march. Behind them towered lofty hills, at the base of which glided a crystal stream, and before them stretched away a plain, knee-deep in juicy grass for the stock. Revolver Nick had argued that it: ‘‘War a pretty place fer a meetin’-house, but no kinder place fer a camp as hed ter be guarded from inemies, both pale-face and red.” But his arguments were overruled and the train went into camp, the horses were lariated out on the plain, the guards placed, and long before midnight the sounds of music and laughter died away, and nothing broke the deep silence that darkness had cast upon the scene, The guards leant half-asleep upon their rifles, the horses and mules had tired of feeding and had dropped down to rest, or stood drowsily with heads bent. But one in the camp tossed uneasily, for somehow a presentiment of evil had been upon her ever since two weeks before she had beard the threat of Mercer Aldrich, Strive as she would she could not drive his stern, sinister face from her mind, and some- thing told her that he would meet her again. Rising, because she was unable to sleep, she dressed herself and stepped out of the tent, and stood gazing upon the calm scene, Soothed by its quietude she laughed at her fears, and was about to return to her tent, when a form startled her by gliding up to her side. ‘Why, Hortense! how you startled me.” « Forgive me, Miss Dolores, but I could not sleep; I have a weight on my heart, and see- ing youcome out, I dressed myself and fol- lowed you.” ‘TIT too have that iceliug, Hortenss, fp %vel- ing of coming evil; but see, are uot those men coming yonder through the long grass?” She pointed quickly out upon the plain, ana Hortense saw the dark forms too, and said: “There is a guard stationed just there, I think, and they must be some of our people, aad—” She never finished her sentence, for there came a flash off on the plain, a cry of pain, and up from the grass-covered prairie sprung a hundyed forms, and wild war-whoops echoed back from the hillside, as they dashed upon the surpris»d camp. 7 Ciasped in each other’s arms the maidens shrunk back for shelter behind a huge tree, while areund them wayed the fierce batue, for the train men knew they fought for their lives, And ‘thus crouching, more dead than alive, they saw Revolver Nick fall, fighting bravely against 2 score of painted savages; then came a cry that Hortense knew too well came from her father’s lips; a ery of pleading, not for himseif, but for his child, and a pistol-shot was the auswer., And thusit went on, the fight surging away from them toward the wagons, and they gave up ail hope. : EOLA UUCGLOOKO LSS (E(@)