Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 194 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

1 iv } : ) 22> --- shelter, saying he was in trouble ai the village and wanted to bide until the storm blew over. Austin promptly refused to harbor bim, and began te upbraid him for bis crimes, whereupon a stormy scene ensued, which ended by Roberts shooting his former fxrjend. Dorval and the dog were aft band, and the latter rushed at the assassin, but a second. shot | dispatched him, and then the two desperate men rode toward the gate. As bad luck would have it, they met Laura, who had been alarmed while outside by the firing, and Roberts had at once seized her, and, aecompanied by Braxton, taken to the moun: tain road and gone at a mad gallop. _ They soom disappeared, and. Dorval refrained from pursuing tecare for his master. The latter was carried to his room, where he was still ly- ing, ealm but, very weak, and it was probable that the wound was a fatal one, A physician, had fortunately been near at hand, and he was doing all in his power, but with little hope of saving his life. Such ‘was the story to which Rivers listened, and at its end he prepared to at once follow the abductors. He could dono good by remaining where he was, and prompt action on his part might, save Laura from great peril and hard- ship. Ho’ was soon in the saddle and galloping to- ward the mountains. , * This be marks a turaing-point in my life,” he muttered, as he wenton. ‘' I came to Mount Tabor to ruin Edwards Austin and his family, but fate has conspired to turn me from my dark purpose, From this hour I renounce my vows of revenge, and I will live only to be the friend of those I came to destroy. ‘Vengeance is mine,’ saith the Lord, and | leave him to deal out justice.” He urged his gallant horse on, looking sharp- ly about as be went for si of the fugitives. For the first time since he knew Laura he gave way othe love he felt for her, and he had but one thought in his mind—to rescue ber or die. He was nearing Winship’s mine when he saw a borseman advancing toward him, and a sec- ond look showed him to be Dick Meeker, Tne miner had been riding rapidly, but bé moderated his pace and thé earth was thrown high in the air as Rivers pulled in bis horse, “Ts anything wrong?’ ker quickly asked, “Yes, Sheriff Roberts has asdueted Miss Austin. Have you seen them?’ ‘‘No; but one of ther boyees see’d him an’ Ben Braxton ride up ther mountain like mad with a female witb them, an’I war so sartain summut was wrong that I was ridin’ down to see. ‘They have’ stolen ber, Dick, and I am on on ea Where, do you think they have one , | “ Right ther mountain, I say, squire, ef this isa ee fight, let me go with on will ye?” The miner looked very, anxious, but. Rivers had no idea of refusing the aid of so valuable a man. He promptly agreed to the proposal, and the two were soon riding on together. Rivers briefly related what bad occurred, and his aby eenparee numerous exclamations. Vi ’a’ thunk it?” he had the candor to ask, .‘‘ Roberts has be’n ther shinin’ light 0’ Mount Tabor, an’ [ never see’d a luminary so cut short in a hurry as this yer case,” ‘* Can we get. more of Winsbip’s men?” ‘They are all in ther mine, except Joe Pike, an’ it would take balf an hour to get them byer.” ‘* We cannot stop. A large force will soon be on the track, but we must push on alone.” And so they burried on until their horses be- to breathe hard, but it was no time for de- y. Now and then Meeker dismounted and ran slong the trail, every time finding signs of the fugitives in fresh footprints, and they began to have some “Tl bet — o’ dust they are headin’ fur Aztec Valley,” said Meeker, at length. The idea struck Rivers forcibly. The valley and its wild vicinity would make as good a hiding-place as could be found, and it would be the first place of which Roberts would naturally think, ‘Tf we come upon them, it will probably be a Tome encounter,” he said. “That’s jest my best holt. Blood and glory are what I delight in, an’ I'd like a game o’ lead with Mister 3.” ' | ‘‘ Braxton,is justas much to.be feared, Heis a desperate man, and be would. not have aided Roberts to escape if he had not been heart and body im accord with him.” “Oh! you can’t tell me anything about Ben Braxton. I know ther varmint well. He isas low brutal a dog as ranges these hills, but I will say he is a dead shot an’ brave enough in a fight. He would murder his own grandmother fur gain, an’ be would pick us off as he would a pair o’ buzzards ef he had the chance,” . * Still, I don’t think either of us fear bim,” “You bet your life we don’t, squire. M blood is sizzlin’ fur a chance at him. Thar’s only one man I hate wuss.” “Whois that?’ “ Don Sombrero.” i s “ You don’t forget how he robbed you.” “T reckon I don’t, an’ Pll get squar’ with him \ a nt ° rs a —_—— a some day. AIlI ask is ter hev him as nigh me as. you are now, squire.” | He might be as near, perhaps, when undis- guised, and you not recognize him,” “Don’t you believe it. Why, I could smell ther varmint ef he got so nigh,” Meeker boast- fully said. Rivers made no answer, and they went stead- ily forward. They were fast nearing Aztec Valley, and the suspicion that Roberts was peaabng for there began to assume tangible Oorin, The Cavalier could not help contrasting this journey with his former,one to the place. Then, aura was with him, free, untroubled and hap- py; now, ber fatber lay dying at Arcadia and she was a prisoner in the hands of a merciless enemy. His reflection ended as Meeker announced that they were nearing the entrance to the val- ley, and, as they rounded a bend in the canyon they were following, both looked ahead to catch a glimpse of the “ garden,” as Dick termed it, hen they abruptly pulled in their horses, for at the very entrance, they saw an unexpected sight, it was Sheriff Roberts, on foot, with Laura beld in front of him by one hand, while in the other he held a cocked and leveled revolver. It was a welcome but rather confusing sight, for they at once realized that the desperate man intended to use his prisoner as a shield for his own villainous person, and, in that narrow way, he had a decided advantage. ‘Hold up!” he sharply said. — ‘If you try to fire or advance, you doom this girl to certain death. Ihold the winning cards in this game!” CHAPTER XXXvV. THE TRIAD AT WORK. IMMEDIATELY after the departure of Rivers on the trail of the sheriff, a party was formed of men who were mad for the fugitive’s blood, but when they rode away, Horace Wilder re- raained behind. ‘I ought to go,” he muttered, “but they have plenty of good men and my single arm will not be missed. Still, I stay because I have other work, and I will at once proceed to hunt up my corners.” y He looked for the other members of the Triad, and finally found them in the Casino, playing penny-ante as composedly as though nothing unusual had occurred, “What luck?” he asked. ‘The Maser leads me,” said Diaz. * Ob! yer chile understands how ter handle de. painted pasteboards,” the colored corner declired. ‘*T flaxed you yesterday.” ** An’ Lam flaxin’ you ter-day. Yah! yah!” ‘“*Put away the ‘little jokers,” said Wilder. “JT want to confab with you.” ‘ _ “My ears are open,” said the Major. Diaz. simply nodded, and Wilder, after a lance around to make sure no one could over- ear them, went on in a subdued voice: “It is time for the Triad to take to the war- path again.” ' “We are.ready,” Diaz promptly said. “We shall never have another chance like this. The dog at the Arcadia is dead, and, with Judge Austin lying in such a precarious condition, there will be no watch kept for in- truders. We can go as we went before, armed with ladders and spades, and we will soon have the mound open.” ; “ Ain’t it rayther rough ter tackle the job when de household is in mournin’ ?”’ the Major asked, Wilder winced perceptibly. * Itis a durned mean trick,” beacknowledged, ‘and I feel as cheap as a blind dog in a fight, but what can we do? We want to see the in- terior of that mound, and the only way is to strike while the iron is hot. We don’t hanker for a row, because we don’t want to burt any- body» and I think there will be a clear field, to- t. ni * Yon are right,” said Diaz. ‘Of course, we will feel like sneak thieves, but we want the treasure,” ** Dat am a fack,” the negro admitted, And so it was settled that the Triad should that night make another attempt, and, after everything was arranged, Wilder left his com- panions. ‘7 wish I knew what is really inside that mound,” he thought, as he went away. ‘I would feel meaner than a chicken-thief if I should get caught, but what won’t_ men do for gold? a show on m glory ever after.” ” The afternoon passed slowly enough and he was glad to see night approach, although ke felt.a nervousness not experienced in any. pre- vious effort. He was at the rendezvous at the appointed time, with the rope-ladders, and his ‘‘ corners” soon made their appearance, bearing three spades. : They passed from the village to the Austin ranch without adventure and were soon beside the iron fence, Everythiog was silent and dark about the own hook and rell in wealth and I could raise a good pile I could start | _ Don Sombrero, the California Road Gent. ce L ee ee — — eS .. e eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee $$ a ae es —— _ A TS, —— —_— ee inclosure, except at an upper-room of the. house itself, where a light shining behind a curtain betrayed the fact that there was the sick- chamber of the wounded judge. Wilder felt a deep sympathy for the house hold, and, as he bad said, it was with extreme reluctance that he prepared to enter, “T hope we won’t be discovered,” he mut- tered, ‘‘for the excitement might kill the sick man outright, Weare in mean business, any- way. pie the treasure,” said Diaz. “I do remember, and we will go on,” A few attempts sufficed to fasten the hooks of the ladder to the top of the fence, and then the Triad entered as on the previous occasion. Silence still continued, and they glided cau- tiously toward the mound, The obstruction of iron and stone looked for- midable, but their plans were all laid. and, se- lectipg the most favorable side, they plunged their spades into the soil together and began tbe work of digging under, They worked in grim silence and with vigor, and, in a short time, a bank of earth began to arise bebind themr and a bole of corresponding size to appear af the foot of the stone-fence. The earth proved to be less compact than they had expected, and good progress was made, Anon, the excavation began to extend under the fence and beyond, and then at Jast, it was sufficiently enlarged to permit them to pass through. Once more they stood beside the mound, with only a thin deposit of earth between them and the treasure, and though little was said, they began to grow nervous and excited, n an hour they would, perhaps, be rich men. They attacked the mcund with zeal. Fresh vigor was thrown into their work, and under the steady thrusts of their spades, another pile of dirt began to accumulate. **Golly! I sweat like de dickens,” the Major said, drawing bis sleeve across his face, **'You ain’t accustomed to manual labor,” Diaz said, tvorking steadily on and speaking thickly. ‘* Reckon J kin make de gold fly, dough, when me git it.” ‘*We all can, my beloved corner.” said Wilder, “‘ we all ean, but it is yet to be got. Work on, slaves of the needle, and trust to your good saints, if you have any,” Wilder’s spade struck egainst something and he began to work moze cautiously. A few spadefuls and he saw a white object glistening in the dirt, and he excitedly produced his dark- lantern and turned the slide. As be bad expected, be saw a fleshless bone, and the Triad ceased work for a moment. ‘* Weare on the eve of a discovery,” said the leader, in a_ tragical whisper. ‘‘Here is a skeleton to begin with, and the case opens promisingly.” ‘“Caramba! Let us proceed,” Diaz said. They renewed their labors more methodically, and in a short time a buman skeleton was un- covered and lay at full length, peaceful and barmless, but ghastly as a symbol of death. “IT think there is another beside it,” said the leader of the Triad. ‘‘ Work on!” They obeyed, and in due time not only one, but two more human remains had been found, The three Jay side by side, as they bad been buried, and the grave-robbers made another pause. ) ‘“They are very like what we shall all some time be,” said Wilder, ‘‘ but they were of a race never seen by cur people,and the ground bes covered them for centuries. How strange it is that, in some cases, human remains will be reserved by some peculiarity of the soil, while in others, even our poor bones will soon crum- ble to dust.” ‘ ‘*Seems like ter me I should rise up.an’ accuse my disturbers, ef I was dem,” said the Major, who plainly felt a superstitious awe for the remains. — “Tt isn’t the way of dead men,” said Wilder, “and as these unknown meowe have slept calmly so many scores of years, I think we may safely trust them to continue docile.” .._. ‘‘ T don’t see no gold nor trinkets,” said Diaz, who was of a practical turn of mind. ‘‘The treasure is underneath, of course. Let aS place these bones carefully aside and dig ower. The negro showed a reluctance to touch the skeletons, but bis allies laid them out of. their way and the digging went on as before, Fresh excitement began to se ze the members of the Triad, for, if a treasure was there, it would soon be found, and they had thought upon the subject until their faith was strong. Surely, they must succeed. Deeper and deeper yet they went, and every adef! of earth was brought under the light of the bull’s-eye, but neither coin nor precious Vv was found, . Wilder began to grow uneasy. He noticed that the earth had grown very bard, as though never before disturbed, and, though this: might be due to the passage of somany Renee, he could not but begin to waver in his faith. “Tf any treasure was buried her2,” he was JOO GoOmiic S) (0) Cc