Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 189 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

-_ o_O —a - i pose in life, so sacredly will I give my every energy to avenging them.” ‘‘Missee callee Slickee Samee?’’ and the Ohinee rode alongside of her, believing she was to him, “No, Sam, I was talking aloud, but to my- self,” she answered, in an absent way. ‘¢ Allee lightee; but we get shootee if go up here,” volunteered the Chinese, “Tf you are afraid you can go back.” Sam looked hurt at having his courage thus impugned, and answered: ‘¢ Slickee Samee not afraid o’ hellee.” This warm assertion startled Edna, and she was about to rebuke the heathen’s utter disre- gard for the purgatory of his Christian bro- thers, when the clatter of hoofs was heard be- hind them. Turning quickly, she saw three horsemen ap- proaching. Two were in advance, and one riding a few lengths behind, while all seemed well mounted, and were coming on at a slapping pace up the Slick Sam turned a soiled white, which gave the lie to his assertion of a few moments be- fore, and evidently felt that the Desperado Dozen had him. . “Ruunee, runnee likee debbee,” he shouted, and believing, that Edna was going to follow his advice, he struck his horse a severe blow, which sent bim bounding up the trail at a ter- rific pace. “ But Edna reined Meteor back, for sh® recog- nized in the coming horsemen the strangers ‘ who had arrived in the stage some hours be- fore, and whom she had observed somewhat critically. She called to Slick Sam, but he could no more stop his horse than he could a locomotive, and disappeared in the pine forest, just as the horsemen pulled up. Raising their hats politely, those in advance bowed low, while one said: “T fear we frightened off your escort, and as this, we are told, is a dangerous locality, permit us to serve you.” Edva saw two men who had the appearance of gentlemen, and she had been told that they were tora who had come West for sport on the plains, and feeling that she was indeed in a lonely and dangerous locality, she an- swered: **] thank you, gentlemen, and will accept your kind offer, while I also beg that you will endeavor to aid me in my search for poor Slick Sam, who is tied to his horse, and I fear may be injured,” — “ Willingly, miss,” “Let us at once ride up on the mountain road,” and Edna, with one of her escorts on either side of her, and the servant still keeping his position a few lengths in the rear, rode on in pursuit of poor Slick Sam, CHAPTER XXV. ~~ & DOUBLE SURPRISE. In spite of their polite manner, and seeming ror ee Edna Insley could not bring herself to y like and feel full confidence in her two escorts. They had the air of gentlemen, ‘their arrival at the Hikok Hotel had been regular, and yet there seemed to rise in her heart a doubt of them which she could not shake off. Anxiously she gazed ahead, in the hope of catching sight of poor Slick Sam, that she might at once turn about on her way to Poker City. ‘ pa te ‘But, after a ride of a mile, not having seen | him, she drew rein with the remark: “T must give up the search for the unfor- tunate Chinese, and send some one out to hunt. ro up who knows the country och for it is rous for us to penetrate these mountains any further.” x “But, my dear lady, if we ride on a mile sree = Be may be able to find that unfortu- nate fellow,” said onc of the strangers. “No, I shall return,” said Edna, firmly. ‘You certainly vill not desert your escort in his trouble, even though he be a poor Chi- nee?” boldly said the other stranger, who was riding on bef left. | “T shall do as I think best, sir, and as you gentlemen seem to desire to continue your ride, pray do not allow me to detain you,” was the haug reply of the maiden. “But we cannot permit you to return alone and unprotected, Miss Insley, and as we do in- tend to go further up into the mountains, you must accompany us.” Wild Bill's Gold Trail. Te oe — ee ee “ Musi?” | The eyes of Edna Insley flashed fire, and she seized her rein and whip with a firmer grasp. “That was what I said, Miss Insley,” was the cool response. “Tnstead of protectors,-then, I find in you men from whom I need protection, it seems, 50 I will bid you good afternoon.” She started to wheel ber horse as she spoke, but the reins were seized upon each side by the two men, while the third spurred quickly for- ward, and she was bemmed in between the three. Instantly she called to her horse, and at the same time gave him a sharp blow with her whip. The animal reared wildly, but the men held firmly to the reins, and then, quick as a flash, she laid the lash aeross the face of each. The stinging pain caused one to cry out with pain and the other to utter a savage oath, but they held firmly to the reins, and in spite of Meteor’s struggles he was unable to rid himself of the gripe of the assailants. Seeing that she failed with her whip, Edna quiekly drew a small revolver from her saddle- pocket, but a severe blow upon her wrist from the handle of a whip held by one of her foes caused her to drop it upon the ground. Then she knew she was in the power of ruf- fians, and in almost despair cried: “What do you mean by this outrage upon an unprotected girl?” **T mean, Miss Edna Insley, to carry you on into the mountains, where your presence is anxiously desired.” “‘ And by whom?” “Captain Tiger, the chief of the Desperado Dozen !” ‘* Ah, Heaven have mercy upon me!” groaned the young girl, burying her face in her hands and bending over in her saddle, while the two men still held firmly to her reins. + “4 Prayers are useless here, Miss Insley, for— a!’ There came a sudden crashing of the under- brush, a shot, and the speaker fell from his saddle, while out upon the trail bounded a horseman, There were several rapid shots, a fall of a horse and rider, a bounding away of a steed with a man upon his back, apd then the stern words: ** Quick, Miss Insley; ride back down the trail, for there may be others of the band near.” “ And you, sir?’ eried the maiden, thinking of her brave resewer. “ Will follow—go!” It was a command and she obeyed it, and away dashed Meteor, with Edna Insley upon his back, and close upon heels came the horseman who had so op ely come upon the scene. ; : That horseman was the Reverend Harvey Haviland, the Fighting Parson. CHAPTER XXVI. REINFORCEMENTS. “A SECOND time, sir, I owe to you more than I can ever repay by words,” said Edna, with deep feeling, as she and the Fighting Par- son drew rein after a gallop of a mile or more. She turned her eyes, brimful of tears, upon her rescuer as she spoke, and held out her hand. He clasped it, bent in his saddle and imprint- ed a light kiss upon the gloved fingers, yet ut- tered no word in reply, while his face flushed crimson, It was evident that though a lion in battle, the Reverend Harvey Haviland was a lamb in the presence of the beautiful girl. Intuitively Edna saw this, and at once con- tinued: “In the absence of my father, I am going to ask “you to be my friend and proteetor, for I feel that I can appeal to you witkout appear- ing unmaidenly.” . ** You can, indeed, Miss Insley, and believe it me, I will be as a brother to you, so command me under all circumstances. | “T cannot but regret, however, that you should be in this wild begin,” | ‘ His embarrassment had now disappeared, and he spoke in a deep, rich voice that was very pleasant to the ear. “Ab, sir! fate has been very cruel to me and mine, for adversity sent my father here to the mines, where, on account of his digging a fortune in gold, he was dogged by those he 13° believed his friends, and tortured be-- yond endurance to make him divulge the hid- ing-place of his treasure. | wo “The man who was his foe sought to make - me his wife, and thus get his grip upon my father’s gold, when he could not wring the secret from him, and discovering just what he was, I came West after my mother’s death. ‘I found my father, and rescued him,. through the kindness and courage of that splendid specimen of manhood known es Wild Bill.” | : Ah yes. I witnessed bis feat at the hotel. He is indeed a remarkable man.” “He surely is, sir, and if you knew alleks | had done to aid my father and myself, you would understand well why I place my conf dence in him.” ‘as ‘“‘ He is now away searching for your father, I believe?” | “Yes, and for the vailed lady, who, you know, was seized by the outlaws for me.”’ ‘‘God grant that he find them both and succor them,” fervently said the parson. ‘‘T say amen gladly to that, sir, and I be- lieve that he will, for the man is one to carry out all he undertakes.” ‘* Have you an idea who were your assail- ants, Miss Insley?’ asked the parson, thought- fully. ‘They professed to be foreigners eome West to hunt.” ‘True; but I doubt their story, for I no- ticed though they spoke before others with a certain foreign accent, they dropped it when they were by themselves,” ** Indeed?” ‘Yes, and more; I overheard one of them say distinctly: “ ¢She has gone riding with only the Chinee as an escort, so now is our time,’” ‘*-You surprise me.” ‘‘TIt surprised me, and for that reason I — mounted my horse, armed myself, and fol- lowed you.” “You were most daring to come alone, sir.” ‘“‘T felt that perhaps I could serve you with- ~ out aid,” he said, with a blush. ** And nobly did you do so.” ‘““T found,” continued the parson, ‘‘ that the three strangers were ahead of me, so teing * something of a borderman mjself, I struck cut on a trail of my own to head you off, as I saw you far up the mountain road. ‘Tt brought me out upon the mountain tr: il just as that frightened Chinee dashed by—” “Was he hurt?” anxiously asked Edna. ‘No, Miss Insley, but fearfully frightened. “T tried to check his horse, but be shouted to me to let bim go, as the ‘ Melican bai manées’ had captured you.” | ** Poor fellow.” “He went on down the trail I had just come, and which will lead him back to the town, while I started forward in search of you to discover you just then coming toward me with the strange horsemen. , “Treined my horse back into the bush to ollow you to pass, fearing that I had been too precipitate, and had misunderstood the inten- tion of the men, as you certainly seemed to dread no harm; but as you drew nearer I heard and saw what had ocourred, aid you know the rest.” ** And again I thank sir, an’ must say that you are a rival of Bill in your deeds of valor; but see, there come a number of horsemen.” Just then there came around a bend in the trail two-score horsemen riding at a At their head was Andy Rush and P evidently leading the party, the cause of whose coming was mace evident by seeing Blick Sam, the Chinee, still mounted upon his foam cov- ered horse, riding jn the midst of the miner‘. A shout of joy went up, as they discovercd Edna safe, and the parson with her, and when the maiden, in a few words, told what had happened, Andy Rush said: : ‘Waal, boys, we’ll leave Miss Insley ter go: back with Gove’nor Dan and ther Heathen Chinee, while we makes ther Holy Terrer our cap’n, an’ go on ter wipe out ther gang 0’ out- laws by stringin’ ’em up.” ) This suggestion was greeted with a cheer, and at once acquiesced in by the Fighting Parson, not from a desire to e in further bloodshed, but to make himself the better acquainted with the sinners he was to lead from their paths of wickedness; and be- cause he thought he might be able to serve Edna’s father and the vailed the <S Eomicboo (E(@)