Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 188 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

Phe Phantom Mazeppa. “He was, and dressed like a city dandy; do ~ 5 Did you know her?” 4s es ’ “And you believed her wronged by my son?’ ets. * ** She was not.” ‘‘ How know you this?” ‘‘From one who gave into my hands her di- ary. ‘* Poor girl, she loved the boy to idolatry, and when one, who professed to know him well went to her and told her that he had deceived her, for he was already married, and showed to her | a certificate of marriage, with her name and that of Merton Mabrey, she cared not to live, and without one word of reproach took her own life. “Old man, thank ycu for those words, for you have said that Merton Mabrey did not de- ceive Clarice Cordova.” **No, for the woman who told this lie to his young bride was my dishonored wife, and the certificate was one of my marriage to her.” A strange look flashed over the face of Lucien De Leon, and for some time he remained in deep thought, his brow clouded, his lips sternly set, and it was evident that the o d man’s story recalled from the bygone some scene in his own life of deepest iuterest. CHAPTER XXIX. A MYSTERIOUS TRAIL TO FOLLOW. AFTER some seconds of this seemingly painful meditation, Lucien De Leon came to a halt and said, abruptly: ‘*Go on with your story, old man.” “You are interested in it?” ‘* Deeply.” Ab me, it has been one of deepest interest to me. “ Well, I at last found that my son had gone to the pres, after his wife’s death, and there i 7 t him, ‘*T heard of him here and there in Texas as a wild, dissipated, reckless young devil, yet never could I find him, and at last they told me he was dead. ‘*Sick of civilization, caring little for life, I roamed the prairies with my horse and rifle, and expected to die there, until one day I met a young man in a border town whose face seem- ed strangely familiar to me. “‘ Hearing my name he told me that my son ‘was not dead, but had gone to the northern plains, and that he was going to follow him there soon, as they were boon companions. ‘This gave me renewed hope, and I joined a band of cattle men going north, intending to meet gies eraceg and my scn at a given place on the Republican. ‘The Rens I was with crossed the river at Beaver Creek, but I left them there and came on alone up the stream to Rock Creek, my place of rendezvous with m y young friend. ‘There i camped alone for some two weeks, and one day up rode my young friend and he was alone. ‘‘ And a sad story he told me too, for he said my son had been recently killed, shot down in cold blood by one of the members of the train, but, if I wisbed to avenge his death, he would lead me to where I could meet the assassin. ‘* Young man, you can imagine that, in my frame of mind, l longed to meet the one who bad killed my son, and I went with the one I be- lieved to be the friend of my boy, and it was this place he brought me. __ ‘‘And yonder, in that thicket I crouched, awaiting the coming of the a-sassin, while my son’s pretended friend described the man and his horse to me so that I would not fail to know him, and said he would go back to the train and send him, under some excuse, to this piece of timber, ‘| intended to give the man a chance for his life; but when I saw him coming across the rairie, and remembered the story told me, of heve cowardly he had assassinated my poor boy, [ held no mercy, my rifle covered his gost bes he came slowly into the timber, and I touched the trigger. ‘‘ He fell dead from his horse, and I intended to leave him to the ceyotes for food: but my heart revolted at this, and 1 gave him decent burial, tied his horse to a stake at his grave and mounting my own mustang left the ated Spot. ‘The next day I struck the trail of a train, and joining it, to my surprise and horror found that it was the one to which my son and his false friend had belonged, and that Merton had not been killed as reported, but neither he, nor his friend, had been seen for two days. ‘‘And more, it was then that I discovered that the man on the blood-bay, and dressed as I described, was not the murderer of my boy, but my son himself. ‘In bitter anguish I haunted this place, be- lieving I mourned by Merton’s grave, and hop- ing against hope that the man who led me to commit murder would come this way again and the angels in beaven could not save m my in vengeance.” _ ** Was the one who professed to be your son’s friend a small man, with a handsome, strongly- marked face?” asked Iron Arm. ‘ ' | | ' | ! em renemnn anne nnmee e ee ee 000 } ' | | | | os ——— ou know him “T have met him,” was the evasive reply. “‘ After you killed this man, whom you believed _to be your son’s murderer, did you notice if he wore any jewelry?’ ‘Yes, a handsome ruby ring was on his little ger. ‘* Had he other jewelry?” ‘* I did not notice, for I cared only for his life to satiate my revenge.” | ‘IT noticed, I think, that he wore a watch; I | will bring it here,” and walking over to where the corpse lay Lron Arm took from it a watch and chain, and then, after regarding the face and form attentively, returned to the father, who had closely watched his movements. ‘This is your son’s watch, sir, for I remem- ber it; but the dead man, I'll take oath, is not Merton Mabrey.” ‘Thank God for that.” “*So say I, sir.” ‘* But where is my son?” “That were hard to tell.” ** He must be dead.” Why do you think so?” ‘“‘This man that I shot had on him his ring and watch.” eit te ‘* Then my son is dead.” “No, for Tam confident now that I saw him two nights ago.” ‘*Saw my son?” “Yes, Mr. Mabrey, and I will find him for you, and solve this strange mystery.” “God bless you for those words, Set. man,” ** And more, I will find his false friend ; where is your horse?” ‘In the old stockade fort in the other end of the timber.” ‘““Get him while I rebury that body, and then go with me,” said Jron Arm, quietly. CHAPTER XXX, THE DANDY SPORT. THE presence of Tiny Tim in North Platte seemed to create considerable interest, as he was a different-looking personage from those who went to make up the population of that, at the time of which I write, crude frontier set- tlement. Tiny Tim, as far as the tiny was concerned, seemed to suit the geen. man for a prefix to his cognomen, and the mass of Plattites did not care whether his name was Tim or Jim, But to come to that place and not be reba tized was something that was not to be thought of, and a score of new names were bestowed upon the young man, one of which seemed to suit him better than all else. That name was the Dandy Sport. It was iven him by a six-foot viJlain who had seen im ‘‘sling pasteboard ” as he expressed it, and which, being interpreted, means play-cards, and had lost through the skill of the young gen- a le of d b ed tti ter a couple of days passed in getting ac- quainted with the citizens and the place, and somewhat anxiously glancing out over the rairie toward the distant rivers, the North and uth Platte, that run on either side of the town, Tin Tim, or otherwise the Dandy Sport, went to the Overland Rest as soon as the sha- dows of night began to fall, as he had done on the previous evening. Here had congregated all the grandees, card- layers, scouts, cowboys and loafers in general or ees , gossip and guzzling liquors, and the Dandy Sport secured a table for himself and soon heard the news that was flying about from tongue to tongue. irst he learned that the mustangers, enra at the mysterious and supposed death of their leader, [ron Arm, had divided into quartettes, and gone on a thorough search for him, or for those who had dealt foully with him. Next, he learned that a party of young bloods from the East had arrived in town that day, intending to go on a hunt on the plains, and that they were expected to look in on the Over- land seemed to gratify him exceedingly. Hardly had the Dandy Sport turned these morsels of information over in his mind, when the door opened and in sprung a pallid citizen, with three words breaking from his lips: ‘“ The Phantom Mazeppa.” Instantly the room was a scene of dire con- fusion. Some men sprung for the door, others uttered curses, and still more kept theit seats, yet all seemed impressed. Among those who started for the door was Dave Perry and the Dandy Sport, and they ar- rived in time to seea “angel object go by like the wind, and to bear the wild, mocking laugh- ter that broke from the lips of the mad rider, that keen eyes saw was still bound full length upon the back of the flying animal. Awe-struck and wondering the Dandy Sport looked at Dave Perry, and Dave looked at him; but this mutual looking gave them no solution to the weird mystery, and they returned in. doors, and, to banish disagreeable thoughts, Tiny Tim proposed a drink all round at his ex- pense, and there was not a single refusal. Enlivened by the ardent spirit, the spectral } i } | | LL St . ee ee spirit gradually faded from the minds of Dave's = and clouds of tobacco smoke rose indo- ently above groups of yd a” y eda who in the exciting games of chance had forgotten almost the existence of the Phantom Mazeppa. But again came an interruption, though not of a weird nature, for in stalked Ramsey Pres- ton, and upon either side of him was a prisoner, bound securely. One glance was sufficient to recognize Grizzly Gabe and his pard, Bedrock Mose. At once a hum of excitement went round, and Gospel Luke, who was sipping free bitters at Dave na Me expense, sung out: ‘* Alas! brothers in iniquity, I urged you not to go the thorny path, but to remain with me.” * You is a durned yelpin’ liar, Gospel Luke, fer yer begged ter go with us, an’ I wishes yer hed done so, an’ were whar poor H Lazarus are now,” cried Grizzly Gabe, angrily, as his captor forced his way through the crowd to the table where Dave Perry sat, and which was next to the Dandy Svort. “* Been hunting, Mr. Preston?” asked Dave, as the cattle iy approached. ** Yes, and ed some game, as you see, Perry,” answered Ramsey Preston. “ Been throat-cutting, or cattle-stealing, Griz- zly?” asked Dave, in a nonchalant manner. ‘We hain’t been doin’ nothin’, pard Perry; this are a put-up racket on us, ter pay back fer t’other night, fer we is as innercent as lambs,” answered Grizzly Gabe, in a hurt tone. “Yes, you look it; do you make a charge against thern, Mr. Preston?” “Yes; they came to the ranch on the Bird- wood, where my cousin has made his home, and endeavored to take my life and that of Berk- ri Preston, and also to kidnap his daughter, ta. “‘ Indeed?” and Dave’s scowl meant daggers. “It is true, Perry; but they were thwarted by the nerve and pf of my fair cousin, and lost one of their number, and these two worthies I have brought to you.” “‘T guess their trial won’t take long,” signifi- cantly said Dave Perry. “String ’em up!” cried a voice, and it was evident that the crowd seemed to think this the best decision to come to; but Dave Perry sum- moned Ben Fanshaw, the constable, and gave him orders to the prisoners to jail and hold them safely. The constable quickly organized a posse to aid him, and among the first volunteers was the Denay Sport, who placed himself alongside of Grizzly Gabe, who whispered: ‘“‘ Yer must save us, Leetle Tiny, or I'll tell on yer, durned ef I don’t.” Tiny Tim turned very pale, but said, calmly: ‘Would you turn traitor?” “My neck are worth suthin’ ter me, boy, an’ I'll squeal ther whole racket ef yer don’t save us. “* How can I?” ** Yer hes gold?” se Yes. ” “ var hes pockets, hain’t they ?” ‘ es,” “Then work yer dust, an’ don’t yer lose no time, fer this are a onhealthy kentry fer suddint deaths,” “‘T understand you, and my money shall flow freely to sive you.” ‘Ter save yerse’f, oe mean; but we won’t quarrel on thet, so as I gits away. ‘* Heur are the jail, an’ it hain’t a palace, so I don’t keer ter stay long.” “If money will not ae your liberty?” ‘Then git my gang an’ tip this heur durned shanty over, an’ me an’ my pard won't tarry ter see it sot upon end ag’in.” ‘‘ All right; I will save you,” and the Dandy Sport returned to the Overland Rest, where he found some strangers had arrived during his absence. CHAPTER XXXII. THE DANDY SPORT MAKES A BET, THE strangers whom Dandy Sport, as all seemed to unite in calling Tiny Tim, found at the Overland Rest upon his return from the jail, were the young hunters from the East. There was a party of six of them, all dressed in hunting costume, and looking like men who head pon of sport, and willing to take risks to fin Open-handed, dropping their Eastern affecta- est, and tions of speech and manner while willing to take things as they found them be- yond i limite ot otvisatton, tat pany to set up the drin y a game of ca g a son or join ina rhe et, they at once became ntae in North Platte, and the Dandy Sport found them hail fellows well met with the boys upon his return, | Their leader, and the one who had gotten up the hunting party, was a young man who owned a cattle ranch and considerable herd near Kearney, and had twice been on the plains be- f ore. With Buffalo Bill as his guide and prairie tu- tor he had learned wisdom,and con entl had avoided the misfortune of having bimeel made a target of by some hot-headed frontiers- Eomichoo CAFO)