Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 188 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

iste Shi ae I, So “)p ——— ~ _—-— - yr ee eee ee - a =— - - .. “ —— ——— ng ~ - - 7 -_ - -~ - - 1 eae -- —— —_— fortune, and a man of means, he pone ys out and took you, then a little girl, to America, and his sister adopted you as her own child until I could claim you. ‘*But fate evilly dog my way, Paulina and I could not shake off the coil of sin aroun me, and you still remained with those kind friends, until at last a letter told me that you had fled from the boarding-school where they had placed you, and had ome the wife of some ignoble man. ** Next, Paulina, I learned of the death of my American friend, that his good sister had gone to Europe, and that you, the last gem of the Alcolo, bad soiled the bright lumage of your honor and gone down into the depths of infamy, dragged thither by him whom you had loved, honored and trusted. “* Paulina, I had sinned, driven to desperation ‘by my misery and losses; but when this news came to me, that thou, my bright star-gem of rx. had fallen, it was to me the Jltzai* that comes to our race to warn us of death. ‘‘And then, Paulina, I swore to go to the far Northern land and seek out him who had done you this wrong and put my knife in his heart.” The man spoke savagely, and for the first time, while he bad been speaking, Paulina Al- colo raised her eyes to his. Then she said slowly: ‘* Brother, those of our name have hot blood in our Veins, and when 1 met one whom I loved, I left all to go with him. “I believed he made me his wife, although he bate not acknowledge me as such before the world. When at last I found, through one of his in- timate triends, that he had wronged me, oh! most cruelly wronged tne, by a false marriage, hiring a tool for the’ ceremony as evil as he was, then I left him and I came to seek you, my bro- ther, for, by a strange circumstance I found zoe through one of Carter Conrad’s friends hat had met you in Texas, and whom you had nursed through a long illness—” “Ha! Roscoe Hume?” sé Yes. ” ‘‘A neble man, indeed; yes, he was with a 78 (Poi oly | in Texas, and, wounded by an Indian, lay long weeks in a hacienda, and I cared for him, and learned to love him as a bro- ther; but how knew he, Paulina, that you were my sister?” ‘He did not know it; but I heard him, in his ‘visits to Carter Conrad, tell of you, and of your real name, and [ kept in my heart your as- sumed title of Sancho, the Half-breed, and where was the hacienda where you lived. ‘‘And there I went, to find that you had come here, and with an army train coming to Fort McPherson I came all the way from your old home on the Red river, and there some cat- tle-men said they would show me the ranch of Don Preston, the ranchero, and here I am, bro- ther Gila, to part with you no more— Holy Mother! look there!” And just then, around the corner of the cabin, having approached across the prairie, hidden from view by the ranch buildings, rode a horse- man, — whom Paulina gazed with blazing w eyes ile she cried, in a trembl.ng voice: « Brother that man is Carter Conrad, who brought dishonor upon me.” CHAPTER XXXYV. ARTA PRESTON TO THE RESCUE. AFTER his unsuccessful chase of the Phantom Mazep Carter Conrad had roamed along at the will of his horse, until daydawn, and then sought 6 camping place upon banks of the Birdw Assured that he would not see the Phantom yet before night, he settled himself for a day’s sleep; but in the afternoon he awoke, and g ill at ease saddled his horse and started once more on his wandering, still leaving it to the will of the animal which way to go. Ater a ride of an hour or so, he beheld in the distance buildings that he knew belonged to the sea of some cattle man, and thither his horse went. Ashe approached from the rear he saw no one in sight, but chickens that roamed near by, and other evidences were visible to show that the ranch was not des rted. ‘‘T can learn here, if there is any one at home, if the Phantom Mageppa is ever seen in this locality at night,” he muttered, as he rode straight for the larger cabin, unconscious that there was a steed and rider coming close upon his trail, for the instinct of a thorough fo ao man causes him to rg an occasional eye be- hind him, as well as in front, and Carter Conrad had neglected this precaution. When he turned the corner of the cabin and beheld two persons ng to their feet, and in one of them saw the beautiful woman whom he had called his wife, he was dumb with amaze- ment, a d sat on bis horse like a statue, while Paulina made the fearful charge against him to her brother. And, at her words, Gila Alcolo, as I will now call him, grew livid with rage, the veins on his * A messenger of death believed in by Mexicans. —TuHe AUTHOR. - Sa - ~- - — ———— - i — Ca et ee — mS them, while his eyes seemed to fairly e. With a great effort he suppressed the emo- tion that welled up into heart and brain, al- most overpowering him, and upon Carter Conrad, who had drawn rein suddenly, and then, as his eyes fell upon the woman to whom he had cruelly refused his name, had cried: ‘Paulina! you here?’ ‘Yes, and my brother, Gila Alcolo, is now my eee ” she answered, proudly. ‘Your brother?” . ‘‘ Yes, I am Gila Alcolo, the Mexican con- spirator that was; now I am known as Sancho e Half-breed. ‘You are Carter Conrad, an Americano, I believe.” Words could not express the tone of sarcasm in which the Mexican spoke, and the Ameri- can’s face flushed and then paled; but he an- swered quietly: ’ ‘‘ Yes, I am Carter Conrad, and I am an American,” “ And a villain,” sé Sir 17? “T repeat it, you are Carter Conrad, an American, and a vi temples swelled like whipcords, his lips were parted and bis snowy, even teeth glistened be- wee flash illain and a coward,” and the Mexican fairly hissed the words. As | have before said, Carter Conrad, what- ever his faults might be, was no coward, and at the insult of the Mexican, he threw himself from his horse and advanced upon him with drawn knife, at the same time saying coolly: ‘*Sefior Mexican, for those words hurled in my teeth I will have your accursed life.” *Sefior, taking a life is a game that two can play at, if one is not.an assassin. ‘**Come on, and I will meet you as you please, and wipe out the stain that you brought yen the name | of Alcolo, when you deceived that or ; pth Mexican had drawn his knife as he spoke, and advanced toward the American, who was pre to meet him, while Paulina, with a frightened cry, sunk down upon her knees, and then dropped down in a heap, wholly unconscious, just as the two blades Both men were fine specimens of athletic manhood, and though the American was the larger of the two, the Mexican was the most wiry; but in the faces of both seemed a deter- mination to kill the other. With the first clash of the knives Carter Con- rad felt that he bad made a mistake in drawin a blade, and wished that he had used a revol- ver, for the Mexican seemed a master at an en- counter of the kind, and his movements were as quick as lightning. Step by step he forced the American back, for Carter.Conrad could do no more than his thrusts and act wholly in self-defense, and seeming to warm with his work, he, by a mar- velously quick and skillful movement, struck the knife from the hand of his antagonist. Instantly Carter Conrad stood like a statue, and said calmly: ‘‘T am at your mercy; do not kill me.” He could have drawn a revolver from his belt, but having been disarmed in fair combat, he scorned to do so. ‘“‘And I intend to drive my knife to your heart and avenge my sister’s honor,” hissed the Mexican, and springing forward he raised the fatal knife, at the same time clutching Carter Conrad by the throat with a gripe ne could not shake off. Another instant and the days of Carter Con- rad would have been ended there and then; but there came a 8 report, a curse and the knife fell from the hand of the Mexican, and bis arm fell to his side helpless. Like a wounded tiger he turned upon the one who had fired the shot, and beheld Arta Preston seated in her saddle, and with her smoking re- volver still covering him. CHAPTER XXXVL IN THE TOILS. ‘‘SENORITA! sefiorita, have you done me this wrong?” It was the Mexican that spoke, and he turned his large eyes with sad reproach upon the maiden, while his sister, recovering conscious- ness, half arose and gazed upon the scene. “Tam sorry, Sancho, very sorry, but I heard that gentleman say he was at your mercy, and beg you not to kill him, and like a tiger you sprung upon him, and I d to save his life,” rta answered, calmly, though she was very ale. a Yes, you fired upon me and have shattered my arm; sefiori ou are the friend of this man, and not my friend,” said the Mexican, in the same reproachfu! tones. ‘‘T meant not to kill you, Sancho; but when I called to you, you heeded me not, and I fired to knock the knife from your hand; come, let me dress the wound for you,” and she gem to the ground, and going up to him laid her small hand upon his wounded arm. But he drew back and said, sternly: ‘“Sefiorita, you have injured me, and saved ee — — 4 The Phantom Mazeppa. 5 at, si) ———— ——— — te ee — _— Oe eee the life of one who dragged my sister, that poor ] crouching there in grief Ae to my jaa as hes stavbed and glanced at Carter mrad, who had stood in silence gazing upon the two, and her face flushed as she said, in cold, dis- tinct tones: ‘‘Mr, Conrad, when I rode up here I recog- nized you,.and yet, though some months ago you rudely offered me insult in front of your club one night, I sought to save you, but now when I hear what this man says, I regret that i saved your life.” ‘‘ Ha! now I recall be3 face, for | wondered where I had met you before, and most humbly I beg paren for the past and erave your mercy, lady,” he said, in a low, earnest tone, advancing a step nearer to her, “T can forgive you the insult, for having saved your life is my revenge; but, oh, sir! what atonement can you cffer that poor girl, whom you have wronged so cruelly?” answered Arta, with deep feeling. ‘‘Wronged, yes, I admit it, for though I married her, I eld our union a secret from the world.” ‘*Married me, Carter Conrad; ay, but your vows were as false as the ceremony that united us, and the heart of the tool whom you hired to do your bidding,” and springing to her feet Paulina confronted the young man with indig- pauon in every feature of her pallid, beautiful ace. ‘Now, Paulina, you wrong me, for, wicked though I am, ges you my pry name, I am not so evil, so false to myself as to wrong ou as you say, and I here swear that, before and man, you are my wedded wife.” There was no mistaking the truth of what Carter Conrad said, for his words and looks testified to it, and with a cry of joy Paulina sprung toward him, while Gila Alcolo stepping po gta extended his left hand and said, earn- estly: Befior, appearances were I was basty; act like a man o this girl and we are friends.” ‘*One word, Paulina; who told you that I had falsely married you?” and there was a dan- genone, Highs flashing up in the eyes of Carter sonrad. ‘Your intimate friend, Benton Vail.” ‘Benton Vail! Ah, indeed! now I under- stand many little things I did not before, and remember that he was always most attentive to Pony bot by Heaven, be shall eat that lie, for ume, as you know, Paulina, was the witness to our secret wedding, and he éngaged the minister that married us. ‘“‘Ah, my old friend, Sefior Hume? Then no longer can I doubt.” ‘*Pardon me, but we owe it to the Sejfior Sancho to attend to his wound, for he is suffer- ing,” and Arta aemsoncned the Mexican, while Carter Conrad said, quickly: ‘‘As this wound was given to save my life, sefior, permit me to become your physician, as medicine was the profession I was intended to follow, and I am a graduate.” Gila Alcolo made no resistance, the sleeves were cut from the arm, and the wound was ex- amined with the eye of one who understood what he was about. Going to his saddle Carter Conrad took from the saddle pack a small case of am gine instru- ments, and probing the wound, while the Mexi- can never flinched, he said: ‘¢ The ball struck the bone, but did not break it, though the shock was a severe one; here is the bullet caught in the flesh near the elbow; I can at once take it out, but am sorry I have not to give you to kill pain.” ‘‘T do not care for it; I have often been wounded before; cut away, sefior,” was the stoical reply. Instantly the incision was made, the Mexican not giving a quiver, the ball was extracted, and the wound carefully and skillfully dressed, and Carter Conrad remarked: ‘Now you will get along all right, but I am bis Fiera you received the wound.” “ Better so, sefior, than that 1 should have taken your life believing you ty of a wrong you were not guilty of,” was frank reply. Carter Conrad made no reply, but turning to Arta, said: ‘* Miss Preston, what can Ido to prove how fully I appreciate 1 owe to you my life?” Arta glanced at Paulina and asked: ‘Do you love your wife, sir?” ‘‘T do, and feel it now more than ever.” ‘Then give her the open love and name you have hitherto withheld from her.” “ Willingly; I will write the governor—I mean my father, ome my return to North Platte, and tell him lam married to as sweet a little woman as walks the green earth. — “Tf he cuts me off without a dollar, my ranch and cattle here, Paulina, will su pes us; will you forget the past, Paulina, and live for the future?” Witha glad ery she sprung to his arms, and unwilling to be an observer of a scene so sacred, Arta turned to Gila Alcolo and said: ‘“‘Sefior, I rode hither in search of my fa- ther, who left home early for a short hunt, and did not return as he promised, and I thought inst you, and honor toward ICO Comic cS (E()