Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 194 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

a= —————— ~16 ee Fe eho oa a oa) _ ~~ eet ee Ee os OH ° — , oo a = > _-s« 2 Don Sombrero, the California Road Gent. save my skin. If the N. E. & C, was near here, the tattooed man and the fat woman might ehip in and raise a stake of a hundred dollars or so, buf they are many a weary mile away.” ‘What rubbish is this?” “It ain’t rubbish at all. It is a stubborn fact. Lord love ye, general, nobody will ran- som me. I’m a lone tree, a blasted pine, and it will be blasted hard to make a raise on me. You've lifted my sixes, so my only collateral is the seventy-three cents I have in my vest- poci. >t, If you'll take that I'll call it square and wae for a more salnbrious clime.” ilder spoke very seriously, but San Antonio turned to his men, ' **Go through the stage,” he commanded. And then old Joe once more saw the mail-bag in profane hands, but he kept hisown arms well up and said nothing. en sure that no more valuables remained, the outlaw leader, relieved him of his weapons and gave him Laura’s note instead. ~ “urn your horses’ heads toward Mount. Ta- bor and drive like Tam O’Shanter, When you . reach the village give this letter at once to * Ay, ay, Sir,” said Joe; promptly. ‘Then levant!” The driver promptly turned his carriage and, applying the whip, dashed away at a pace ’ which must have astonished his animals, “There goes our last hope,” muttered Wilder, hc Austin, Do you hear?” signage ‘‘Tt is a more serious occasion . than when the Queen of the Air eloped with a - hostler.” San Antonio had done his business and did not propose to tarry Jong, Horses were led from the bushes, oa among them, one each for Wine and Viola, but there was none for r. g the outlaw Jook at him thoughtfully, _he ventured a remark. “Don’t let me il the matinee, I’m.a _ patient man, and, if you say.so; Pll wait until fter me.” you send a carriage and four a “Ride behind that man,” and the captain Perse. to one of the band who sat on a large ; e. Vilder did not wait to have the order re- but scrambled into his place and the 8 was begun. San Antonio went to the front of the wild yband and a gallop was begun toward the south ; onan oe Re the information contained _in:the letter, none of the prisoners knew enough I ot the’ vicin vicinity to have any idea where they were going. "Phe leader of the Triad, however, took care to ‘note every prominent landmark so that, in case he ig te manage to escape, he would be able to find his way back. The ladies nadweslqned themselves to the in- evitable. They had been long enough in Cali- fornia to know the uselessness of an shpee! to the outlaws, and they could only; make the best of a bad matter and wait for Judge Austin to ransom or rescue them. CHAPTER XXV. doce bcs THE OUTLAWS’ HOME. — | RIDE 0. about twenty miles took the par «to the vicinity of the cave where San pes hb had their faa har During this time their course bad en through open fields, but, ar og Ah tthe faces toward ee Sl ns, eyes 0 risoners were banda Then they rode et the gulches for Fait an hour in a zigzag course, ly moving ward, and, at last, a halt e and the captives ounted. They went by arocky way for a hundred yal and phen change in the atmosphere be- the fact that they had entered a cave. ve bee he yo —_ agp pied me ee dages remove m their eyes, and, looking about, errien they were ina cave chamber of considerable size, San Antonio and five of his followers. were visible, and the“captain smiled faintly as they curiously sc the ** What do you think of it, ladies!” he asked. “Ttis we Grae An its way,” Laura an- swered, with a ess which surprised her, “but I would prefer to make the visit under t circumstances,” “ Still, you might be worseoff. You are not threatened with any dire calamity; you will be well treated and promptly released when your ransom is gaol Laura did not reply, but she knew her father’s stern nature well enough to be sure that he would pay no ransom until all other means had failed. if fighting ensued, it might arouse the outlaw to such a pitch of fury that his mood would become more dangerous. ‘I have fitted up a room for you where you will be very comfortable,” said San Antonio, **though you must not expect gas or water im- provements. A pine torch and a bucket of Adam’s ale must content you. I'll call your at- tendant.” : He eb ye nh Poh and then, after a little de- ay, a girl emerged from a passage at the fur- ange sile. of the room Po advanced toward em, ual was ma | | Wilder, who had an attentive eye for female’ loveliness, Jcoked at her in surprise. She was probably twenty years ef age, and as well formed an protty a girl as he could wish to see, Though without any traces of coarseness, she was py, very rugged, the result, doubtless, of a wild life among the bills, and Nature had plainly been in a kind mood when endowing her with gifts of ‘birth. Her costume was one suitable for her life, and, in color, a tasteful mixture of red and black, profusely beaded, and it struck him that she would make a good model for a sculptor who wished to form an outlaw queen. ** Mareb,” said San Antonio, “ I have brought your guests as I expected,” ' She nodded, glancing at the trio without any evidence of pity or emotion, and then he turned to Laura and Viole. , “You are to go with her. She will care fcr ven attentively, but you might as well try to ribe the mountain itself. Eh, Marah?” ‘* Yes, sir,” she calmly answered. He waved his hand, and she preceded the two prisoners from the chamber, while San Antonio turned to Wilder. “lam not so sure what I had better do with you,” he said. Beggars shouldn’t be choosers, but I hope ou won’t oblige me to stretch hemp,” the ex- are-back rider answered, ‘You don’t want to die?” “ No. ” ‘* But you have no friends.” ** None that could raise a stake such as you demand. They might play penny-ante, but they eouldn’t buy up even a blasted pine like me, “Then I don’t see as I shall be able to make much off of you.” **)’m sorry for you really.” ‘* What is your business?’ **None at present,” ‘‘ But you have worked in your day?” **Oh, yes, and I can’t be beat in my- line. _ If you want a moral show for your amusement, I will give it, and, if you don’t object, pass the hat when it is over and let the proceeds go to- ward a ransom,” ; ‘Are you an actor?’ ‘“Only a bare-back rider,” “Why did you leave the show?” “‘T got ambitious, and when the boss cut down the wages several of us left. The tiger- tamer went in search of Sir John Franklin, the tight-rope walker skipped for Europe, the fat woman went t, and I came to Mount ela did to living?” ow you propose to earn your g * By diggin for gold.” ‘Did you fail?” “Wat K“ ee shall ha ition t , perhaps vea proposition to make to you by-and-by. For the present, I'll gone. you, to;acell. You shall be well treated, for L think you area manof my own kind. I admire a cool, brave, philosophical man,” gana I give the moral show to please the s id Not, to-day, but I'll reflect on the matter. Roger, take the prisoner, and see that you use nip. well.” Wilder was led away, and San Antonio looked after him thoughtfully. ‘There is good stuff in the fellow, and if I find he has no conscience, I'll offer him a position in the band,” he said to himself. Wilder was taken to a cell, which was a small den off of the main ehamber, partly natural and partly artificial, while the wooden door at the entrance had stout bars upon it. The furniture was a table, two chairs, and a ted made of pine boughs with a couple of blankets on top. oy et you hungry!” er asked, ‘*‘ Famishing,” ilder answered, with a grimace which set the man fn good-humor, ‘Marah will bring you food afore long,” And then the robber departed, barring the ‘door bebind him, and the prisoner looked criti- aly ith ‘* Nothing sumptuous about the place, but better than I’ve pe up with before ‘now. Reckon I can stand the pressure if the robber irl totes food enough for me. I wanta good ook at her. If my eyes didn’t deceive me, she is a clipper, and maybe, I shall be able to touch her stony heart.” He sat down and lighted a pipe, which had been left him, and the room was full of smoke when the girl-outlaw entered. ‘Excuse me,” Wilder said, promptly rising. *‘T would not have started such a smudge if I had known you were coming so soon.” She smiled, and seemed to grow more hand- some than ever. “‘lam accustomed to it,” she answered. ‘I — brought you food, and hope you will relish i “‘T haven’t a doubt on that point. I can tell a good dinner at forty rods,-for, to tell the truth, [ seldom get nearer to one than that.” Hungry as he had declared himself to be, he showed no. inclination to attack the food ‘but she <peedily withdrew, and he turned his atten- tion to the lesser attraction. “A mighty fine girl,” be muttered bebween - molest his daughters, and ther Philistines, great mouthfuls. ‘It won’t be time thrown away to play the agreeable to her.” And so, when she entered to take away the remains, he tried his luck, but without any per- ceptible effect. She lingered and listened to what he had to say, but there was no evidence that she was inclined to mercy. **Have you been long in this business?” he asked. . My home has always been in the moun- in “Ts this San Antonio any relative of yours?” ** No, I have no relatives.” ‘Probably if your father had lived you wouldn’t be here now?” ‘‘He was once captain of this band, and he bad two stout sons. They were killed ten years ago, when I was a child, and I have been with San Antonio since.” It was more of a confidence than he had ex- pected, and perhaps more than she had intend- ed, for she began to abruptly gather up the dishes, ‘‘Are you going to leave me alone?’ he asked, **T have work to attend to,” she answered, quietly. He expressed a hope that she would call again, but ber reply was not very TOON MEINE om she left the den and barred the door be ind er. CHAPTER XXVI. THE RESCUE PARTY. THE following day, a little before noon, a party of horsemen was riding through a valley at the foot of the hills wherein was the den of San Antonio. In the party were several men well known to the reader—Judge Austin, Theodore Rivers Sheriff Roberts, Dick Meeker, Joe Pike and others, and it needs only this statement for the reader to comprehend that it was a company pe tod to search for the missing daughters of e judge. Mount Tabor had been shaken to the heart when old Joe drove the empty stage back and told his story,:and, among the otber angry men, Edwards Austin raged like a compressed tornado. It was bad enough that outlaws should roam over the soil unchecked; worse still that they should molest the mail, and simply outrageous that their ruthless hands should fall on men and women; but when they went so far as to emanded a ransom for their release, the climax of infamy wes reached, “I will ransom them with the sword!” he cried, inthe language of the ancient gladiator of Rome, and the crowd took fire from his words. se a short time a band of thirty resolute men had been enlisted and a half-breed engaged as a trailer, and when another day opened they aon resolved to hunt the outlaws to their oom, ‘Pablo Diaz and Major Jones had been among those who volunteered, for, though old Joe bad not known the solitary male passenger, they were pretty sure it was their leader, but Roberts had rejected them as of no use and the faithful ‘‘ corners” found themselves left be- hind. The party had been at the scene of the stage- outrage at daylight, and then the half-breed at once lifted the trail, so they were fast nearing the place appointed by San Antonio for an in- terview when we introduce them to the reader. Rivers and some of the lesser lights had ad- vised a far different Poses The former had urged that the plan of the outlaw be accepted, so far as meeting bim was concerned, and then either seize him as a counter-hostage or run him into some trap, but his views had been ridiculed by Roberts and rejected by the judge. Consequently, the idea was to trail the gang to their haunt. ' Rivers no longer offered advice. He was not sulking because his views bad been rejected, but he saw that Roberts ruled the day and he was willing to give him a chance. Joe Pike pressed to his side as they went on. “ We're a-gittin’ nigh the bivouac,” said the ’Forty-niner. 3 So they tell me.” “Ther bot-headed fools won’t do nothin’. This thing will eendin smoke. Didn’t San An- tonio warn ’em not ter try voylence? They are durned leather-heads.” “Tt won’t take them jong to try their luck,” said the Cavalier, cyerbe fb “They could hev tried that at ther Casino an’: done jest es much good. . I’ve fit outlaws more nor onct sence 749 an’ I know their way.” , ‘‘T haye no hope from this venture.’ Still, it’s a pity ter let them gals be held by 2 rayther cotton to ’em, don’t ou?” ‘* They are fine women.” ‘Now you speak it. Lord! I’ve got eyes my head ef my ha’r is variagated by time, an’ ef I war twenty year younger I dunno but I would shine around ’em a bit. Eh?” ‘“ It would be your privilege, maar ene k so, **Q’ course, atis, you an’ mé icomicbooks (C Cc (0) oh