Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 188 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

ee ee ee ies ee ee ee One of these was upon the Loup Fork, an- other Rock creek, a branch flowing into the Re- ete and the third upon an island in the outh Platte, and not very many miles from North Platte. It was to this latter place that he intended to take Iron Arm, under the guard of several of his band who constanty remained there, until he got his reward from Tiny Tim. eeling assured that no one had seen his kid- napping of the ranechero, and congratulatin himself upon the balance of the reward whic he would soon finger, Grizzly Gabe rode along in a pleasing frame of mind, carefully plotting how he was to capture Arta Preston and win his other hundreds, while his comrades jogged along on their mustangs, all seemingly satisfied that the dangerous man in their midst was wholly in their power, for he seemed to be still unconscious, and was securely bound, hand and foot, to his horse. “ Rocks o” Gibralty! look thar, pards!”’ The cry broke from one of the band, and all came toa halt and gazed behind them, seem- ingly expecting to behold a band of Indians rushing upon them; for the one who had given vent to the exclamation, was gazing back the way they had come. ; ‘“Holy smoke! it ar’ thet cussed white horse an’ ther howlin’ Mazeppy, or | are in a wilder- ness 0’ liars,” cried Grizzly Gabe, who had been eonsiderably shaken up when the Phantom Ma- aeppa had dashed through the town. ‘It are comin’ fer us, d,” said one. ** Tt are, an’ what’s ter be did?” eried another. “T’ll try eold lead an’ hot powder,” suggested Griszly Gabe, unslinging his rifle. *‘ Don’t do it, eap’n, don’t do it, or ther ghost will scoop us in; let’s sling a leetle prayer musie at a4 impressively said one, a sling hoofs, I will; I doesn’t like ther eritter; come!” and Grizzly Gabe set off on a ran, and his comrades started to follow him, But here trouble came for them, as Flash re- fused to run, apparently not liking his master bound upor his back. In vain Grizaly Gabe cursed, pulled, and eoaxed; Flash was obstinate, and the Phantom was comin eo on. "7 e ther brute, he shell carry a dead jead,” yelled Grizzly Gabe, and drawing a re- volver he leveled it at the body of Iron Arm and fired. ’ At the shot Flash reared wildly, tore himself Joose from the man that was holding him, and skurried away across the prairie ata speed the robber band wished their mustangs could equal, for they were now tho hly alarmed at the near approach of the White Phantom, which held steadily on in pursuit of eye while they, with Sah spurs, and curses, urged their horses to their utmost speed. In the mean time Flash sped across the prai- rie like the wind; but, after running a mile or more, suddenly slack. ned his speed and came to a dead halt, ‘ Then the form on his back moved, writhed a few moments, and then he le to the greund, while the deep tones of Lucien De Leon said: ‘Well, that aceursed lariat was bound 80 tight I feared I could never get it off; but I am free onee more, and I owe it to the Phantom Mazeppa. ‘‘ And I know who were my captors, too. “Well, Grimly Gabe, you gave me a good blow, and your shot was meant to kill, but my skull is too thiek to break easily, and this gold Texas star I wear glanced the bullet; but I owe on a return, and will pay itsome day, and with est. inter “* By the Lord Harry, how those devils ran at sight of the Masgeppa, and they’ll not stop at river, either. ‘Well, I will now head for my ranoh, and as soon as I feel myself again, I’ll pay another visit to North Pla Come, ta 5 must overtake the herd, and it’s a good p ahead.” So saying, Iron Arm sprung into his saddle, and, at a swinging op, the noble horse started ever the prairie, bearing to the right se as to make a wide circuit of the village, a the of the North Fork. hy eae ap ed the river he saw a horse- man slowly approaching him. He was mounted on a white horse, and as hs drew near, even Iron Arm started, for the man whom he saw pass by him with a strange stare, was one whom he believed dead. a y Heaven! that was Merton Mabrey, or— his ghost,” he muttered, and he drew rein and looked baek, but the horseman rode on as be- fore, © no look behind him, and as bolt upright in the saddle as though he was frozen. Por a moment Iron Arm hesitated, seemingly not knowing what to do, and then he carefully looked at his arms, which Grizzly Gabe had not deprived him of, as though intending to return in pursuit of the horsemen, whose presence s0 strangely moved him. A few steps he then retraced his way, and, coming to = halt, muttered : ‘<1 must be mistaken, and I care not for trou- ble, now, so will solve the matter another wey will visit the grave in the eottonwoods, and it will tell the story of who lies buried ere. ‘Come, Flash, we'll seek the nearest timber and eamp by day and travel by night,” and Iron Arm headed southward to take the trail leading aeross the South Platte. CHAPTER XXII. PURSUING A SPECTER. AFTER her severe exercise, and the exciting adventures of the past few days, Arta Preston was not as bright as she wished to be, and con- aa et her cousin Ramsey rode slowly, and halted often during the long day’s ride to his ranch. With these halts it was sunset, and the party had some miles yet to go. But Ramsey Preston rendered himself most agreeable; talked of the great profits in cattle- raising in Nebraska to Mr. Preston, and told of his travels and adventures to Arta, and made the miles seem shorter by his brilliant conver- sational powers and wit, while, as the moon rose above the horizon, he broke forth in song and surprised the maiden with the richness an ee of his voice, until a certain dislike for er cousin, which had been creeping over her vanished entirely, and she felt that she head wronged him in the belief that she first held of him, ‘*Do you see that glimmering light, Arta— there, just above the prairie horizon, like a rising star?’ asked Ramsey Preston, suddenly breaking off in a song, an ere far ahead as they went over a roll in the prairie. Arta’s quick eye caught sight of the distant light, and saying so, her cousin went on: “Well, that is my home; the spot where I have dwelt the past few years, contented if nof happy, my only intimate companion Sancho, a exican. ‘After Alita’s mysterious disappearance I became, as it were, a hermit, aweblie wholly apart from the world, and scouts, trappers and travelers who came this way gave me the name of being an inhospitable old brute. ‘*At last I learned from a friend in New York, to whom I wrote, to look up your fa- ther and yourself, that you had started West to come to my home, and instantly I became a changed man, for I cast off sorrow, let the past bury its dead, and will be more than happy in our sweet presence and the friendship of your ather, for I intend to be most neighborly.” ‘“‘T hope you will, cousin Ramsey, for you may expect father and myself to surprise you many a morning at breakfast.” **Do so, Arta, and you will find a warm wel- come and a good breakfast, for Sancho is a fine cook— Godin heaven! see there!” All drew rein at the startled exclamation, and beheld, right in their trail, as though he had suddenly risen out of the ground, a snow- white steed. And upon his back the wr tern He: lainly showed, was a rider, strapped at full length, and the clothing, and long hair, trailing in the prairie grass, revealed the fact that it was a “The Phantom Ma ” whispered Berk e Phan ze whispere rk- ley Preston. — ne ty ‘If it be the devil himself it shall no longer haunt my path,” cried Ramsey Preston and driving his spurs deep into the flanks of his horse he bounded forward. : ‘*Oh, cousin Ramsey! what would you do?’ called out Arta, in alarm. **Ramsey, come back, for the love of God!” cried Berkley Preston. But the man was set in his sudden determina- tion, and rode directly for the white steed, which, with head erect, stood not sixty yards away. But suddenly there came a wild, ringing neigh, and it was followed by a burst of mock- ing, demoniacal laughter, and wheeling to the rightabout the white animal went away like the wind. ‘*Curse you, you shall not escape, for I will follow you to the confines of hell,” shrieked Ramsey Preston, and he tore the flanks of his splendid steed to a him on in the chase. And, maddened y the pain, frightened at the wild manner of his master, that ever be- fore had treated him with such gentleness, the noble horse bounded forward at his utmost speed, and seemed to fly over the prairie. ‘‘Curse you, beast, you are creeping, and ? — horse, phantom, devil, or whatever it is going like a bird,” shouted Ramsey Pres- ton, and drawing his knife he drove the point sharply into the flesh of the animal to urge him on. But, strive as he might, the white steed in advance was the superior in speed, and slowly drew away from his pursuer. Maddened at sight of this, Ramsey Preston threw his rifle forward and fired. But still the spectral-looking steed flew on, Drawing his revolvers, shot after shot was sent after the flying animal, and back in re- nse came a wild neigh and mocking laughter, ‘*Great God! it is her voice; but, no, she ean- not be alive; no, no, no, she is dead and yonder bound form is her spirit.” The man, as this thought came over him, * The Phantom Mazeppa. 13 reeled in the saddle, his head grew dizzy, his strength forsook him, and he fell in a heap upon © the prairie, while his faithful horse, forgiving his cruelty, turned and stood by his side, while he neighed loudly to attract the attention of Mr. Preston and Arta, who had lost sight of pursuer and pursued. ~ But hearing the call of the horse they changed their course and came to the spot ra aay: ‘*What! ean he be dead?” cried Mr. Preston, in alarm, springing from his horse and kneeling by the side of his cousin. “] heard firing, and he must be wounded; yes, he lives, and I will bear him to the ranch as rapidly as possible, while you, Arta, ride on and have all in readiness for our coming.” Away darted the maiden over the prairie, heading direetly for the now plainly visible light in the ranch, and raising his cousin’s limp form to the back of his own horse, Berkley Preston mounted and slowly follow Hearing the rapid hoof-strokes, the watchful Sancho came out ready to greet friend or foe, and was somewhat startled at sight of a stran youth, for, in her disguise, he suspected not the sex of the visitor. ‘‘ Ts this Sancho?’ asked Arta, ‘That is my name, sefior.” ‘* \7ell, your master has fallen from his horse and my father is coming on with him.” - to mean Sefior Ramsey Preston?” yon,’ ‘*T heard firing, and saw pistol flashes out on the prairie; was the sefior shot?” ‘*] know not; he was riding with us and we were coming here, when we saw a white horse, and on its back—’ ‘Holy Mother preserve me; I saw the same twice, sefor, and it is a fearful sight; did my master see and hear it?’ ‘Yes, and went in pursuit, and we found him lying unconscious upon the prairie, so prepare for his arrival, please.” ‘*T will, sehor; only that ghostly horse and rider are fearful to look upon; oh, sefior, there is trouble coming for the sefior and Sancho,” and the Mexican entered the cabin and soon had lights ready , and the cot bed prepared for his master’s reception. A moment after Berkley Preston rode up, and Arta gave a sigh of relief to see her cousin was mounted upon his own horse. ‘‘That accursed horse fell with me, and I was. stunned by the fall,” he said, hoarsely, ashamed of his weakness, **It was for following the trail of the dead, sefior; no mortal must pare a spirit,” whis- pered Sancho, significantly. ‘‘Shut up, and prepare beds for my friends here,” was the angry retort of Ramsey Preston, and the look on his face and tone of his voice caused that feeling of dislike to once more well up against him in the heart of Arta Preston, and she watched him closely as she told the story of the adventure of her father and herself with the Phantom Mazeppa, and how the wolves had been then hangin e bloodhounds on the trail of the white . CHAPTER XXII. GRIZZLY GABE ON THE TRAIL. Wuen Grizzly Gabe returned to North Platte, and reported to Tiny Tim his successful eapture of Lucien De Leon, the Iron Arm, and then the fright that had caused him to fly and leave the balky horse and bis rider, that young gentleman was in no pleasant mood, and re- marked: *‘There are certain things to be done that are necessary to my safety and happiness in life, and to gen those ends I am willing to pay well, and I selected you as the tool to do my bidding.” ‘Oh, § eee _ 8 buzz-saw when I’m greased with gold-dust. “So I believe, and you did well, and most skillfully captured Iron Arm; but you acted like a cowardly schoolboy to run from a spec- tral-looking horse on the prairie.” ‘*Leetle pard, ef thet horse had been goin’ the t’other way, I’d be ther gerloot ter go arter him; but he kept comin’ straight fer us iahank children, an’ we levanted. “I tried ter earry ther Iron Arm’s horse: along, but *twa’n’t no use; he balked, an’ all purgatory couldn’t move him our way.” “Why didn’t you kill the horse ank take the man?” “Thar wa’n’t no time for swappin’ jack- knives, leetle pard Tim, so I jist put a bullet in the man.” ““What! you killed Iron Arm?’ and Tiny Tim sprung to his feet, his face flushing and palin by turns. ““Thet’s what X¥ did, pard; he hed a blow on ther he’d as kept him as quiet as a poodle in a lady’s lap, an’ seein’ as we c’u’dn’t take him, I jist sent a thirty-two caliber into his life-works, an’ away went the horse at full speed.” ‘You are sure you killed him?” ‘‘ Now, leetle pard, s’pose I were to put one 0’ these bullets in your body, don’t you think your chances w'u’d be durned small ter keep yer toes from turnin’ up?” and Grizzly Gabe showed the size of bullet his revolver carried. “Well, here is a hundred dollars for you, and JOO EOLAMINCE CS) See 5 (E@) oe