Beadle's Dime Library No. 170 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

ee ee —— 1 didn’t b’lieve it, until you run away from the jug while the case—” ‘*T was drugged and carried off, against my will, by my worst enemies,” interposed the young man. ‘Tt don’t matter, much. You was brung in guilty. They’s a price on your head, like you was a wolf ora painter. By rights I’d ought to hand ye over to jestice, without a word. But you heard what Belle said. She was sorter out o’ her head, then, an’ didn’t mean all she said, but ruther then hurt her the least bit, ’d turn you loose, honor to one thing.” ** And that is?’ quietly demanded Leo. ‘*That you'll go straight away from here, an’ never come back ag’in. I ain’t a rich man, but Til pay you cash down for your property here an’ take it at your own price. by the grave o’ your mother, that you'll never set foot in this county so long as we two live here; that you’ll never write a word to my gal, never send her a message o’ any kind, an’ that you'll never speak to her if you should ever meet her. Sw’ar to this, an’ you’re a free man.” ‘You sav Iam an outlaw, convicted of. rob- bery and murder. You would be foolish to be- lieve the oath of such a man.” ‘‘l’m ready to run the resk. man. thar was tears in your eyes. Sweet William, the Trapper Detective. his heavy oaken chair—no mean weapon in a | ducked his head and crawled away from tho struggle for life at close quarters. Evans was | line of the leveled weapon. Fool or no fool, he too eager for his prey to lose any time. ** Leo Friend, I arrest you in the name of—” *“Stop!” and as the side door opened Belle sprung beSween the two men, heedless of Ger- ald’s leveled pistol. ‘‘Shoot me—you must kill me first!” I will, if you'll pledge me your | You’re to sw’ar | her mem’ry, | know you'll keep the oath,” was | the quiet response. ‘*] thank you for that, at least. listen to me,” said Leo, in a low, yet passionate tene. ‘1 swear by the sacred grave of my mo- ther that I am innocent of the crime for which I stand outlawed. May she arise in her wind- ing sheet and curse me forever, if I do not speak the truth! So much for that part of the question. Now for the other. ‘*l love your daughter better than i do my own soul. Though I know that before one week passes by I will be a dead man; though I were insured a hundred years of life for the mere But now — | saying so, I would not renounco my love for | her. While I draw breath she will bo first and foremost in my thoughts; when | die, I will die with her lovein my heart, her name upon my | _ the general opinion would have been confirmed lips.” “You will die, then, an’ that afore another | sun,” sharply uttered Gladden, pulling quickly at his pipe. ‘That may be. I know that you hold my life in your hands, but unarmed as [ am, you will have to fight hard for it; not that I am afraid to die, but because my life is pledged to another. ‘he moment [ could free myself from those who abducted me from tho jail, I started to givé myself up to stand my trial. On the way I was taken prisoner. by one who had al- ready. started out in hopes of earning the blood- money. For what inducement I obtaimed the favor need not be spoken of now. Enough that he gave me one week it which to arrange my affairs. I swore to fight against capture, no matter what the odds, and never to surrender while I breathed the breath of life. I mean to keep that oath. You may take my life, but you can’t take my liberty.” ‘* You won’t do as I say, then?” and there was an anxious, almost sad cadence to the giant’s voice. ‘‘T cannot. I would break the most sacred oath you could devise, even though I| tried hon- estly to keep it.” ‘* Pm sorry—honestly sorry. You talk like a man, ef a foolish one. You've got ’most a hour yet. You kin think over your pra’rs. You’ll never see the sun rise ag’in. I’vesent the nigger to town with word that you was here.” Leo made no reply. The two men confronted each other, smoking ekg calmly, lt was a strange, weird situation, Waiting in motionless silence—for what? Leo knew that there was only one hope for him, a hope, though faint. Only one man con- fronted him, sitting there in cold silence, just within arm’s length. Before a weapon could be drawn he could have him by the throat. One stout blow, and he might be away, a free man, instead of idly waitig there for the arrival of the fresh enemies summoned by the giant. Yet he did not stir. —EEEE — A | | He could not raise his | hand against the father of the maiden whom he | so earnestly loved. He waited for the coming of the others. ainst them he could and would fight, let the odds be what they might. He might be slain, but he would never be captured — alive. Slowly the old clock upon the wall ticked off the fleeting minutes. The clattering of horses’ hoofs was _— without, but neither of the two men moved. Thethin curls of blue smoke is- sued from their lips with the sume calm regu- larity. And yet they were awaiting the coming of almost certain death. Hasty footsteps, then three men paused upon the threshold. Leo’s brow contracted as he recognized the foremost. More than ever he was resolved that death alone should conquer him—not Gerald Evans. Slowly she retreated toward her lover, one hand upraised and warning the others back, the other hand behind her holding a loaded pistol, which Leo eagerly grasped. ‘**Go, darling,” he hurriedly muttered, as he cocked the weapon. ‘‘ Go—leave him to me!” Evans lowered his pistol with a hissing curse. Smith and Rigdon burriedly drew aside as though fearing to intercept a bullet intended for their friend. Gladden was for the moment fairly stupefied by the sudden and inopportune appearance of the one whom be, until that mo- ment, believed safe under lock and key. But he was the first to recover his senses, and made a step toward the excited girl. ‘Stop! father,” she cried thrillingly. ‘‘ God knows how I love and honor you, but if you in- terfere now, I will hate you with all my soul! Four men upon one—for shame!” At that moment a queer shock head thrust | itself in at the open door, a huge body followed, You’re a white | l’ve heard you talk of your mother, an’ | Kf you sw’ar by | but so silently that none heard the movement, and only the lovers, who were facing the en- trance, were aware of the intrusion, until, with a swift celerity, the new-comer brushed past the four men and seated bimself in the chair which stood before Leo. ‘Don’t let me interrupt the preformance, gentlemen,” he said, in a deep, booming voice. ‘*l’m nobody but old Sweet William—go on with your rat-killin’!” CHAPTER XVI. IN A TIGHT FIX. FLATTENING himself against the ground, his head thrust into a bunch of dried grass, bis eyes gleaming like those of an irritated snake, lay Simon Singleton. A man may be somewhat deficient in the article of sense, and yet be abundantly supplied with curiosity. That Simon was but one degree removed from a fool, few of those who knew him would doubt, and by the actions of the fellow on the night in question. He was lying at full length upon his stomach in a small moonlight glade, one half-closed hand full of fire-flies, the sluggish movements of which he was lazily watching, when the cau- tious tread of some heavy animal broke the si lence. A swift change came over the dreamer. The fire-flies were flung aside, he slid forward upon his stomach for several yards, until bis head and shoulders were buried in a bunch of dead grass. His limbs were curiously coiled up, forming with his body, an oblong heap of what more nearly resembled a pile of dried and de- caying leaves than aught buman. A moment later he heard a human footstep, then the bushes parted and a lithe, graceful figure entered the little glade. A moment’s hesitation, then the new-comer passed on, within arm’s length of the prostrate simpleton. Something in that face, so ghastly white, or else in the stealthy, cat-like advance, stimulated Simple Simon’s curiosity, for scarcely bad the bushes closed behind the form than the flutter- ing mass of rags grew animated, and like a a ys snake, crawled silently along the fresb rail. His self-imposed task was a short one. A few rods, then the white-faced figure came to a pause, with Simon close upon its heels, so close, in fact, that he dared not attempt to better his position now that his gamé had paused, the un- derbrush was so thick and tangled. The faint- est rustle might turn the tables, and make him the hunted instead of the hunter. He knew that the trailer was watching some thing or person; beyond that he was at a fault. Who or what that was, he could only surmise. Fortunately he was not kept long in suspense. A sharp report, a sbrill, vindictive laugh; then the white-faced figure turned and fled, fairly springing over the prostrate scout, Simon arose and plunged after the fugitive. Close upon his heels came vengeful Leo Friend, whose bullets were sent after Simon, not after his would-be assassin, whose mocking laugh came back in answer. Untouched, though the leaden missles whistled by him in unpleasant proximity to his ears, Simple Simon did not hesitate an instant. Guided by the sound of hoof-strokes, he pressed on in pursuit of the assassin with a swift ease which few men could have equaled, never pausing until the guiding sounds suddenly died away. For one breath he stood with inclined ear, listening. Then, slowly and silently he advanced, parting the bushes without a rustle until he stood = a the edge of a wagon-road, | Nearly opposite him stood a snow-white mus- tang bearing the statu whose right arm level ue form of a woman a pistol. full at the Gladden arose and gravely greeted the trio, | covert of the wondering Simon. Was this the whom he had not met since their venture at digging gold. Leo also arose and moved behind Pe y | , | assassin? With ludicrous promptness, Simple Simon ee a did not choose to be shot for another man. A few minutes of impatient waiting for the . appearance of her pursuer, then, with a low, bitter laugh, Mattie Foster galloped rapidly down the moon-lighted road. As though the same impulse moved the two, Simple Simon started in swift pursuit, keeping upon the shady side of the road, running low but with the speed and ease of a sure-footed hound. Never once did he lose sight of the reck- less rider until after she bad reached her home. As she drew rein at the threshold, the door was opened and Hark Foster emerged. Simple Simon was near enough to note the anxious look upon the old man’s face, but their low spoken words were inaudible. His curiosity must have been strong indeed, or else he was too simple to realize the risk he was running in the attempt to gratify it, for, lying flat upon his stomach he crawled across an open space of ground and coiled his supple limbs up beneath a scrubby bush not thirty feet from the twain. ‘‘Isaw them,” he heard Mattie reply, to a question asked by her father, the words of which he failed to catch. ‘‘ There is a messenger expect- ed from headquarters, either to-night or to-mor- row. Youare to meet them at the old shanty with in an hour. - There is work on hand. But mind, You are not to touch a drop of liquor until after you have heard all and reported to me. There must be no mistake’ in this affair.” ‘Tl be keerful an’ do jest as you say,” re- sponded Hark, adding in a tone that grew soft and imploring. ‘‘ I do wish it was the last! Ef you'd only give it all up, an go away with me whar they wouldn’t be any more sech troubles—'pears-like I'd be too happy to live! I’ve bed sech bad dreams 0’ late—dreams 0’ you an’ black trouble a-comin’ onto you like a cloud o’ death. Less go ’way, gal, afore the wust comes. You're too good for sech a life—” A short, mocking laugh was the woman’s answer, as she sprung lightly to the ground and entered the house. Hark stood gazing after her for a minute, then slowly shaking his head, led the white mustang away to the little low stable back of the cabin. Simple Simon slowly backed out of his covert and crawled away until safe among the shadicws. But his curiosity only seemed whetted by what he had seen and heard. His eves never left the open door of the stable until Hark Foster came forth and entered the house. His stay there was not of long duration, and when he emerged, a long rifle was resting in the hollow of his left arm, After a swift glance around, he crossed the little clearing and plunged into the timber. Simple Simon was still upon the watch, and followed close upon the old hunter’s heels. Once more he exercised his skill as a shadow, and great though his curiosity must have been, it was not allowed to override his prudence. - He knew what he might expect if be was dis- covered now; a bit of cold lead asa hint that he was too inquisitive. But this did not deter him. His own shadow could not have followed old Hark any more silently than did this mass of animated rags. With the velvet foot of a cat, Simple Simon seemed to possess its powers of vision, as well. More than once old Hark paused short, glaring around him and sniffing the air as though he suspected the vicinity of an enemy, but as he paused, so did the human shadow; when he advanced, Simple Simon fol- lowed, step for step, never losing nor gaining an inch. The trail was a long and winding one, but at length Hark Foster cntered a deep and narrow hollow, along which he hastened with less than his wonted caution, like one who bas reached the end of along journey. So Simple Simon rea- —? and events proved his surmise was cor- rec Hark paused and uttered a low, quavering whistle. As by magic the gloom beyond was lighted up by a broad sheet of ruddy light, and the signal was answered.. Hark uttered a low grunt of satisfaction and glided forward.,. Simple Simon crouched down beneath a bush. He saw three men standing in the light, saw. Hark join them, and a moment after the daz- zling light vanished as quickly as it had ap- a red. ‘* That’s the shanty she spoke about, I reckon. Wonder would they take me in ef I was to do that whistle?” Luckily for himself, Simon was not foolish - enough to make the attempt, although, as his actions evinced, he was resolved to find out the mystery sbadowed forth by this secret meeting. But how? That was the question. Not a ray of light was now visible, since the door was closed after Hark Foster, and as Sim- ple Simon silently crawled up to the shanty passing his hands over the wall, he found that it was perfectly tight, though built of logs. The spaces between the logs had been chinked, then plastered over thickly with mortar that seemed little less solid than stone itself. By ressing his ear to the wall, he could just dis- nena a faint murmuring sound, as of far distant voices, but not a word could he catch, ,OO (C S Eom cor