Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 194 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

of * » - - 6 eided interest in these old veterans. Joe Pike! Easy to speak and easy to remember, Hoeisa picturesque old fellow, like all the relics of ’49, and [ll interview him at some future time, He may be of use to mein getting informaticn, if T need any, and at the pace lam going I shall need a good many things before I get through with this region.’ He soon reached the shanty, and, finding the mine-owner in, proceeded to business. In brief, the property he bad recently pur- ¢hased includ several acres of mountain land, and, the thought having come to him that there might be gold in the earth, he had come to Winship, as an é¢xperieneed miner, for an opinion, The verdict was not very promising. “‘There may be pay-dirt there,” said Win- ship, ‘‘and Ill go over it some day with you and prospect a little, but I know the boys tested the soil more or less some years ago and I wouldn’t care to pay you any great sum for it. Evidently, he had no faith whatever in the place, but he repeated his offer of assistance in so friendly a way that Rivers could find no fault. ‘“‘Tam not at all surprised,” the latter said, as he rode away from the camp, “but [ would like to strike a bonanza among those rocks, The money would come in mighty bandy, just now. I can’t carry out my scheme without money, and carry it out I will if I have to turn road agent to do it.” ¥ As though an echo to his thoughts, a man who was just then passing, paused and nodded. ‘*T reckon you're ther pilgrim thet has jest moved in down thar,” he said, pointing down the mountain. ! “Yes, ny name is Rivers,” answered the cavalier. **Wal,I b’lieve in doin’ a feller-creetur’ a good turn when I kin, an’ I want ter warn ye ter a yer eyes peeled all along thet road.” ‘ so? “Cause I was stopped thar, last night, by Don Sombrero, an’ robbed of ev’ry ounce 0’ dust I had.” Rivers’s face changed expression. ‘Don Sombrero!” he repeated. ‘ Yes, I’ve heard of him.” ‘*Most ev’ry pilgrim ’round hyar has, an’ TPve heerd on him ter my cost. Ef ever I git my eyes on him ag’in, out goes his candle.” ‘It’s a hard thing to rob a poor man of his money,” said the cavalier, ina slightly husky voice, and he seemed very much engaged in smoothing the mane of his horse. ‘*Hard! Weal, I reckon, but Dick Meeker ain’t ther kind o’ a pilgrim to take sech a thing without revenge.” ** What do you propose to do?” CHAPTER VII. AN ADVENTURE. Rivers had raised his eyes and was looking straight into the man’s face. ‘*Dof”’ repeated Meeker, fiercely. “ Why, I a. ter shoot the crittur.” ‘*He did not try to shoot you, did he?” ee No, but he.robbed me, which war jest es “Do you think a man is justified in seeking | “the life of a fellow-creature out of revenge?” The cavalier’s voice sounded stern and harsh, and Meeker’s hot blood rebelled at what he th t a reproof. **You kin bet your hull pile Ido!” he de- clared, ‘‘an’ I sw’ar by all ther saints thet Ill shoot Don Sombrero afore another month!” Rivers shuddered. ‘Is that ,the temper of this region?” h asked. ‘* Bv’ry time. No durned road-agent kin pla ther funny business round Mount Tabor. Mar that down, But I’ve got ter go now. lve warned ye, an’ all you’ve ter do is keep yer eyes open. Ef you see Don Sombrero fire et er first glimp’, unless yer conscience won’t let yer. ‘Wait a moment. What sort of a looking man is this road-agent?” **’Bout pF size, an’ rides a black horse.” ‘* How does he dress?” ‘* Wears a blac.< serape an’ sombrero, the last big enough fur a meetin’-house, an’ a mask over his face.’ ‘* Thank you; I'll look out-for him.” The cavalier rode on and Meeker looked after him with a scowl. ‘Go your way, an’ hyer’s hopin’ Don Som- brero will ‘light on ye. I don’t cotton ter a man that asks ef it are justifiable ter shoot a road-agent, Bet he robbed an orphan asylum ter get funds ter buy his claim over yonder.” Rivers, too, was deep in reflection as he rode away. i. Povdau't care to have that man on m track. He would as soon shoot as to eat, such the sentiment of the whole country around Mount Tabor, I am in a fine country for amy work. So the man thought my conscience was troubling me! He would be surprised if he knew me aslam. And he thinks Don Sombre- -ro is about mv size. I hope no one else will get that fancy into their head, for I am a stranger SS? “sists sins _—_—_ err here, and if they should charge me with being the road-agent it would trouble me, to prove har Pg am not and nip my career right in the ud, He rode on for some time in such deep thought that he took no heed of what was going on about him; but at last throwing off bis melancholy mood, he urged the bay horse into a gallop and swept on toward home, He reached and passed the place where Don Sombrero had ambushed Dick Meeker and his partner, but with only a sweeping glance on each side he kept on at the same speed, Per- haps the idea had occurred to him that it was in such places that road-agents would naturally lay in wait for their prey, but no one appeared to molest bim in any way. A little further on, passing a curve in tho road, he saw first, and by mere chance, a small boy crouching behind a bush, and then, second- ly, another rider coming toward him at a leisurely trot. The small boy was not of interest, but the rider was, for it was a lady, of fine form and graceful saddle movements. ‘‘Laura Austin!’ he muttered. to meet her.” The words had scarcely fallen from his HPs when the small boy darted from behind his cover, almost into the face of Miss Austin’s horse, and accompanying his movements with a sharp cry. The result is easily imagined. Her spirited horse, aroused from his dainty steps so rudely gave a sudden bound and then shot forwsa like an arrow, while the small boy, with a grin on his face, darted into the bushes and was gone, It was very like his species; he had had his ‘‘fun ” and was now anxious to quit the scene thereof. What was amusement for Him, promised to be anything else for Miss Austin. Her fine saddle-skill had enabled her to keep her seat, but when she tried to 1 een in ber horse, he took the bit in his teeth and went like a shot. All this had been seen by Theodore Rivers, and as the runaway bounded toward him, he saw that he had a call to make himself useful. He spoke to his own horse, settled himself for the shock, and then; when the other animal would have Sse te past, he suddenly found his rein seized in an iron grasp, which settled him back on his haunches. The struggle was over in a brief space of time; the runaway, beholding the hand of a master, gave up the rebellion and settled into hypocritical meekness, and Rivers, lifting bis hat, politely said: ‘‘T think you will have no more trouble with him, miss,” The color of Miss Austin’s cheeks was en | ing from red to white, and back again to red, with erratic rapidity. Bold rider, that she was, she had not been really alarmed at her peril, but now matters had assumed a more confusing aspect. She was at last face to face with the ‘* Ameri- can Cavalier,” in a situation where she could not avoid’ speaking, if she would; but though she had laughingly declared to her sister and Miss Octavia that she would be the first to make the acquaintance of and captivate the new lion of Mount Tabor, her courage utterly failed, when the chance to do the first was given her. : ‘‘j--IT am very much obliged to you,” she stammered, and then hated herself for being as awkward as a school girl, ay she afterward ex- pressed it. **Do not mention it,” he politely answered, ‘for I did no more than the feeblest man might have done.” “You are mistaken,” she answered, rallying, ‘ for it is notevery one who can subdue Nero so easily when he is in a vicious mood.” ‘‘T have been a horse-tamer in wy day, and I consider myself the master of any creature of the species,” he said, smiling. . There was a sudden deepening of Miss Aus- tin’s color. ‘‘T see the cause of my trouble has gone,” she said, looking around. ** Did you know the boy?’ ‘‘No, and Ican not imagine his object in frightening Nero. ‘Purely a mischief transaction, miss. He wanted tosee him run. I’ve done the same thing myself, but not recently. I would prove my loyalty to your cause by chastising the boy, but he is already out of sight, Pardon me, miss, but 1 am inclined to think we are neigh- bors. Iam the owner of yonder estate and my name is Rivers, at your service.” ‘*T thought as much, for | have seen you ride ast my bome. Iam Laura, the daughter of and 6 Austin.” ‘““Then we are formally introduced,” he said, laugbing, ‘‘and the fact is due to the young rascal who hid behind a bush and tried jto do you mischief, I thought he was Don Sombrero, when he first appeared.” Miss Austin shuddered and looked up and down the road. ; **T almost expect that horrible creature to appear whenever he is mentioned,” she said. “Tam going Don Sombrero, the California Road Gent. / Oe ee SS - “Meaning Don Sombrero? Well, I suppose he is an object that might come under that head, but, as I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting him, I can’s say but what ho is an Adonis and Moses combined.” “The pleasure of meeting him! Mercy, Mr. Rivers, don’t use the word in reference to that borrible man. He is a desperate cut- throat, and | should decide to giveup my riding altogether, rather than to run the risk of meet- ing him, had not Mr. Roberts solemnly promised to hunt him down.” ** Mr. Roberts?” “The sheriff, you know.” ‘Ob, yes. Aud so Mr Roberts has promised to catch Don Sombrero,” ‘* Yes, and I feel that be wil) do so.” “Are you so thirsty for the road-agent’s blood?” ‘*Not that, particularly. If he would go to South America and let us alone, I would be willing he should live a bundred years, but we are not safe while be is around Mount Tabor.” ‘* Has he flourished here long!” “‘Only for four or five weeks. I remember, now, that his first appearance was about the time that work was begun on your house.” “He may have come from San Francisce with me,” laughed Rivers, and the subject was dropped. CHAPTER VIII. THE MOUND. Miss Austin and her rescuer delayed for some time in conversation, but she finally glanced at the sun and declared that she must; return to her home. So she turned Nero about and they rode together at a walk. Somehow, neither cared to increase the pace, and their conversation was very cordial for new acquaintances, but, of course, they owed some neighborly courtesy to each other. Rivers received an invitation to accompan her to the house, so that the judge could thank him, as she expressed it, but, pleading pressing business, he said he must defer the call until the following day. ‘Expect me then,” he said, at parting, “fT have thus far been immersed in business, but [ am anxious to become acquainted with the people of Mount Tabor, and I will not forget your kind invitation.” And then adieus were said, the cavalier sp~-ke to his bay and departed at a trot, and Miss Austin rode on alone. She did not seem in any haste, The rein was held loosely in her hand, and she was looking straight at vacancy as people only do when in deep thought. “‘T bave met him at last, but I would not have him know all the foolish things I have said for anything. I never realized before how ridiculous all such lightspeechesare. Ah! if he knew that I have been boasting that I would have him at my feet in a month’s time he would never condescend to set foot in our house, The idea of my being able to bring such a man to my feet! Now, that I have seen him, I would as soon think of trying to captivate a prince. He would never give a serious thought to such an insignificant creature asI. He said that he was the master of the horsé creation, and he might well have said of the buman also. He was born to be a master!” Tbus soliloquized the judge’s fair dau; ! ter, and then, as though ashamed of making a coufi- dante even of herself, she started Nero into a gallop and soon reached Arcadia, as she had named her home. : The Misses Octavia and Viola were seated in their private room when she walked into their presence. ‘* Busy over your worsted work, I see,” she carelessly said, after a glance at their pretty faces, for the three really madea very attractive rio. ‘t Yes,” said Octavia, with assumed severity, ‘‘we have been usefully employing our time while Pb have been galloping over the hills like a Donna Quixota.” ; ‘In the same manner that you did yesterday, But I admire your gph nevertheless, Stijl while you have been making mats, I have ba an adventure,” f ‘‘ With Don Sombrero?” questioned Viola, lightly. ; ; | ‘‘No,” said Laura, indolently. ‘I have been riding with Mr. Rivers.” Down fell the worsted work, and the dainty fingers ceased their deft movements, ‘“Merey!” cried Viola, Octavia, however, looked incredulous. “You are not forgetting that truth is & tok beyond price, child, I hope,” she severely sai _‘*Not at present. I came to tell you that my ride has brought about a new order of things. I have been in peril, my life has been saved by Mr. Rivers, and he is to call here to-morrow.” _ How she enjoyed their blank surprise—they, sitting in utter amazement, she, as calm as though she had been discussing the prospects of the crops around Mount Tabor. a 7 4 . ¢ | ° é GOmilGbooks. (C