Beadle's Dime Library No. 170 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

. el ae SE — Rail sennt 4 _—— 3 — tied ee as? aS SSS LS Ot..-apy =e a aus . -~ - ie Sa = o. y — ee oe . Sg ag oer ~ - 7 ee gee - ——— a + ee . * = fi — . mg a an ” ee ee re ee 2 een “ x - + 4 ae - * lp .. - —_, ~— . “ f Swe ~ ~~ eee ee ew eg Ge ee ~~. . RS es NI —————- _- - * ~~~ ~~ _ benumbed fingers. — a 26 ee —_—~ Aroused by the wild tumult, Gerald Evans | sured that Leo Friend was in no immediate came rushing forth. He saw Simple Simon | peril of of his life, cooled down at once, and by lead the outlaws into the woods, and a moment | a few sharply put questions, learned enough for later a man came running up the road and | her purpose. paused beside the stupefied maiden. By this time, the entire “Trid my hoss to death, fetchin’ the news,” | ten men in all, Raising the man gasped, by snatches, ‘“‘ He’s bin tuck— | undivided attention, she spoke: thefre callin’ out the Vigilantes fer to hang “One and all, I ask you to remember the him. I left Jim to watch whar they went— | solemn oath you have taken. On penalty of he’ll bring word "long the road—” death as an unworthy member of the family, it “Who do you mean? Who has been taken?’ | binds you _torisk your lives in defense of a demanded Mattie, arising, her lips even whiter | brother-member, no matter what the odds may than before, the terrible truth flashing upon her Tam about to test your faithfulness now. mind even as she spoke. One of our number lies under sentence of “Leo Friend—old Johnson brung the word | death in the jail, yonder. We must rescue him to town. I hearn him ring the big bell that | or meet the doom of traitors. The task will not calls out the Vigilantes, an’ hearn a man say ié | be so difficult. Tue jailer is one of us. If there was fer Leo—” are any other guards, shoot them down, One Mattie turned sharply, and found herself face | stout effort, all united, and the job is done. to face with Gerald Evans. Something in the | Can I depend upon you?” twitching of his lips gave her a suspicion of the The response was unanimous, and in the af- truth. er face flushed hotly, a menacing glit- | firmative, but that the task before them was ter filled her eyes. _ anything but agreeable, the sullen, hang-dog “Tf your hand is in this, Gerald Evans, as I expression of their faces, plainly showed. firmly believe, you have dug your own grave! ‘Very good! I felt sure I could depend upon Though you hide your head in the bottomless | you. The time has come when Leo Friend can pit, I will seek you out and exact blood for | throw off the mask and be known to all for lood |” what he really is—a true and trusty member of Without pausing for reply, the infuriated | the Crimson Clan. So don your masks, one woman brushed past him and sped toward the | and all. Let all who have eyes see who it is stables. em, a horn that hung beside the | that makes this rescue!” . door, she sounded one shrill, prolonged blast, In silence she was obeyed. Hats were removed then flung a saddle upon the back of the white | and secured. A close-fitting hood of crimson mustang, drawing the girth until the creature | cloth was drawn over each head and down to winced with pain. urriedly adjusting the | the shoulders, Two round holes in front al. bridle, she led the animal forth, just as the out- | lowed their eyes to look forth. That donned laws hastened up in response to her signal. by Mattie only differed from the rest in being “To horse!” she cried, her voice sounding | made of silk. harsh and strained. “Mount and follow! we A single glance to assure herself that all was must ride for life and death! Haste—there is no time for idle questions!” ‘‘ She is mad—the old man’s death has crazed her!” cried Gerald Evans, drawing near. ‘If A follow her, you will ride to your death. he Vigilantes are up—” A howl of pain cut short his speech. With a hissing imprecation, Mattie urged her horse to his side, and the raw-hide whip in her right as oe the wah by a a whistle, alight- ing fairly upon his face, laying open his check and both lips. Quick as thought cs drew a, pis- tol, but the lash again descended, ‘this time across his hand, and the weapon fell from his fer ‘band to secure in readiness, then Mattie led the way at arapid gallop down the road. Ten minutes of*hard riding brought them within sight of the jail, which, as before stated, was some little distance from the town. To all appearance it was deserted as, with drawn pistols, the Crimson Clan dashed up to the door. Mattie sprung to the ground and striking upon the door, cried: + Open, Jones—in the name of the family, open!’ As by magic the bars were removed and the door opened, the jailer, white-faced and trem- oe appearing in the aperture, ‘““Fer God’s sake go’way! The Vigilantys "ll kill me—” He partially stooped to regain the weapon, “Out of the way, or Ill save them that but an ominous growl awoke him to a sense of his danger. A dozen pistols were bearing full | trouble. Youdare not go econ your oath,” upon him. Certain death awaited his further tog! Mattie, pushing® past him, with drawn stru pistol. As once before, under somewhat similar cir- cumstances, Leo Friend confronted her. As be- fore, he was unarmed, but now his limbs were left at liberty. “T am come to save gle. ” fake that as a foretaste of what awaits you, if what I suspect is the truth,” cried the infu- riated beauty. ‘‘I command these men, not you. Am speaking the truth, men?” she added, turning toward the outlaws. ou,” cried Mattie, A united cheer was the prompt response, eagerly grasping his arm. ‘Come! the rope—a ‘Enough! to horse—and ride for life along ahieishil death awaits youhere. Come—lI will the road to town. One hundred dollars to the | save you—” man who first overtakes me!” The white mustang was off like an arrow fresh from the bow, amid the enthusiastic shouts of the outlaws as they sprung to their horses, each eager to win the promised reward. Under whip and spur the white horse flashed along the woodland road, up hill and down every muscle strained to the utmost; yet still the cutting rawhide descended and the biting ur scored its white flanks until the blood- ae trickled down and fell upon the dusty earth. Behind came the dark riders, those in front exulting, the rearmost cursing furiously and punishing the horse that had not speed enough to win the prize. like madmen—and uncon- gircrow & ing to their death! One-half the distance was covered, when Mattie Foster heard a loud cry and caughs a woe of a gesticulating figure beside the road. th cruel force she jerked upon the heavy eurb, throwiag the mustang upon its hauncl.e so far that it would have fallen over back- ward, only for the spur that buried itself in its flank. Stung by the pain, the be- wildered creature regained its feet, and stood at is it—quick!” hoarsely demanded the wo as she recognized in the re the man called Jim, who had remained behind to watch the course of the Vigilance Committee. ‘* Young Friend—the one you told us to watch fer—he’s took.” ‘* I know—where-is he? What have they done with him? Oh! why do you stammer and halt —can’t you speak out?” _ “ He’s safe enough,” and the fellow instinct- ively flung up one arm as though to guard against a blow, as Mattie urged her horse still nearer. ‘I was layin’ low ’mong the rocks over Johnson’s hut, an’ hearn ’em say it—” ‘‘Say what? ri quicken your tongue with a bullet, if you don’t tell me at once!” raged the win deh te a’ pistol. “In jail—they tuck him thar,” apueeres the fellow. ‘I cain’t talk no faster’n I kin, ef you shoot me a dozen times.” At this moment the leading outlaw dashed up, with a cheer of triumph, and Mattie, now as- ‘“T would rather die the death of a dog, by the rope, than owe my life to you, Martha Foster.” Cold and deliberate were the words, cuttin like a knife. Mattie shrunk back with a cry o pain, as though a rough hand had rudely grasped her heart-strings. Only for a moment —then, with a hard, unnatural laugh, she said: “Tf not by fair means, then by foul! Go with us you shall, and if you are roughly han- dled, blame yourself.” “You must kill me then—I’ll not be taken alive.” ; As he spoke, Leo retreated until his back was guarded by the log wall, fight written upon every feature. _ ‘Take him, men!” cried Mattie, her eyes glaring. “ Take him, but alive. The man who harms him, dies by my hand!” . There was a fierce rush—a few stout blows that hurled more than one outlaw headlong to the floor—a confused struggle; then Leo Friend was pulled down, half a dozen stout men hold- ing him, despite his frantic efforts to break free. At that moment a startling cry came from ithout. Bee “The Vigilantes are coming! To horse! and ride for your lives!” CHAPTER XXXII. THE LAST RESOURCE. - CoweEp by the threatening looks and ready pistols of the outlaws, Gerald Evans drew back, wiping away the blood that oozed from the pur- le wale left by the whip of Martha Foster. Rover a word did he speak until after the fair fury bad ridden away, followed hot haste by all save himself and two others of the party. These two remained in obedience to a covert signal, though with evident impatience. Not every day were they given a chance to win a hundred dollars. Gerald laughed goo as he noticed this. ‘You will thank me for hol you back be- fore another day. Those who follow that mad girl are riding to their death. The Vigilance mmittee are afoot, and she means to rescue Leo Friend from them—to destroy the band for her crazy love of a man who hates her, They : ge -” Sweet William, the Trapper Detective. | ion? three to one—you can guess how it will end. “*'What sort o’ work is it you've got fer us to do?” asked Jake Ramsel, knowing from experi- ence that Gerald Evans troubled himself little concerning the welfare of others unless he him- self was to be the gainer thereby. “Work that will in all probability save you from stretching hemp, that will certainly be fifty dollars apiece in your pockets. In ene word: will you volunteer, or sball I order you, by virtue of my commission--” ‘*You only need to tell us what you want,” interposei John Hopper. ‘‘ Ef two men kin do it, we will.” ‘‘Good enough! ‘You, John, take our three horses and start off down the road. Get under cover, then take to the timber and circle around unfil you cache in the thicket back of the cabin. Wait there until we come. Be off now!” Motioning Ramsel to follow him, Evans turned and entered the house. Nancy, white- faced and trembling, met them at the threshold. To her Gerald spoke: ‘‘ Bar the door and don’t let anybody enter— mind, I say nobody, or itll be the worse for you. Mechanically she obeyed. The awfully sud- den death of Hark Foster bad almost stupefied her brain. With a sign for Ramsel to follow, Gerald passed through into the crimson room. At his entrance, Belle Gladden, pale and baggard, sprung to her feet and stood like a fawn at bay. vans laughed, shortly. Cuitical though the situation was, he felt a peculiar pleasure in the horror his presence inspired in this girl. After his own fashion he ioved her, and promised him- self a rare treat in breaking her will, in forcing her to yield obedience to bis wishes. Brushing pas her, be unfastened the hidden door through which Martha Foster had conduct- ei Justus McKee, then turned to Jake Ramsel, saving: ‘ “, Go see if the coast is clear; then come back ere,’ Closing the door behind his coadjutor, Gerald turned toward Belle Gladden, speaking in a sharp, determined tone: ‘‘Something has happened that causes me to alter my plans concerning you somewhat. [I intended this should be your bridal chamber, but that cannot be now. lam going to take you a two days’ journey on horseback. Just how you will be treated depends mainly upon yourself. If you act the fool and are obstinate, then I will drug = If, on the contrary, you are sensible and yield to the inevitable, you shall be treated as kindly as the circumstances will admit. Go you must, in one way or the other. Take your choice.” “1 will not go with you alive—” With a cat-like leap Gerald was beside her, one arm wound around her waist, bis other hand clasped age over her lips, stifling ber shriek in its birth. spite her desperate strug- gles, his steel-like muscles held her helpless un- til Jake Ramsel returned and entered the room. “Quick!” growled Evans. ‘‘ There’s a bottle in my pocket. Take it out and wet yonder handkerchief with what's init. Now tie it over her face—so!” In a few moments the baleful drug began to take effect. The maiden ceased her struggles, and her limbs hung limp and nerveless. Evans removed the cloth and thrust it into his pocket for further use, if required. Then, bidding Ramsel bear the captive, he led the way out of doors and, Keeping well covered by the dense undergrowth, hastened toward the spot where John Hopper was already in waiting, with the three borses. | Mounting his horse, Evans held out his arms for the maiden, whom he supported upon the saddle before him. “Up with you!” he muttered, hurriedly. “‘ Keep a good look-out. If you find anybody spy - ing upon us, put him beyond telling of what he has seen. Itis life or death now.” Though far from fully understanding the cri- sis, the ruffiaas were quite ready and willing to carry out the orders of their leader. ey were bound to Obey him as far as their lives went. Leading the way at a rapid trot, Gerald Evans did not draw rein until full two miles from the Foster cabin. Thus far he had kept to the un- broken woods, but the progress made was not satisfactory, and he resolved upon a bolder course. “We must take to the road,” he said, bar- ing his heated brow. “But first, I'll tell you just how we stand. You already know that o Friend is in the bands of the Vigilantes, and that Mattie Foster has led the boys to rescue him, or, rather, to share his fate. She lied to them. Friend does not belong to the band but is one of our most bitter enemies. That fool girl is crazy-mad for his love, and swore to.me that if harm game to him she would blow the whole thing—tell who all belon to the league, and who it was killed Don Larkin. To save our necks as well as my Oe I bade you stay. he fellow will be dead before she can get there, and in her fury she will expose everything.” “ But she tuck the oath—” began Hopper. comicbooks:;com “ —- a : 1 . ¢ ‘ : J 3