Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 194 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

_ high, barbed She would have been less than a woman—less than human, peer we should say—if she had not enjoyed her triumph and her secret to the fullest before enlightening them. Then they lamented in mock seriousness that they had been outstripped in the race for the favor of the American Cavalier; but, had they become really enough in earnest to notice that she made no further boasts, they might, perhaps, have sus- ected that Rivers was a tamerof more than orses—the master of at least one woman. The morrow came, and, with it, Theodore Rivers, Bvidently he had been expected, for a ser- vant was at band to take charge of his horse, and when he had been ushered into the sitting- room, Laura soon made her appearance. They met without embarrassment, as becomes people of the worid, and in a friendly manner, and then they fell to talking like old acquaint- ances, but the tete-a-tete was soon interrupted by the entrance of Octavia and Viola, Later, came Judge Edwards Austin, who de- serves more than a passing glance ati this stage of our story. j He was about fifty years of age, but, except that his hair and beard were quite gray, he showed little signs of the wear and tear of time. Of medium hight, he was powerfull built, aud this, combined with a broad tace full of power, served to give him a commanding ir. One could see at first glance that he was not a man to relish idle jesting. His deep-set eyes were keen and cold, the brows above them were heavy and massive, looking not unlike an abatis erected over a wall; the belligerent beard entirely concealed his mouth but suggested a resolute expression underneath, and, taken all in all, the master of Arcadia looked like one who would make a good soldier and act the martinet, Still, bis greeting to Rivers was cordial and kindly, and, afterward, he tallied pleasantly of crops, mines and the prospects of Mount Tabor. Through all, the nearest approach to a smile was an occasional quiver of his bearded lips, and Rivers could not but wonder that such a man should be the father of childrén so amiable as Laura and Viola. The Cavalier had not intended to make a long call, but he was so cordially asked to remain to dinner that he consented. Afterward, armed with cigars, the gentlemen went outside for a stroll. When Jadge Austin settled at Mount Tabor, he had astonished the people by inclosing an acre of land, on which stood bis house, with a iron fence, but it was, perhaps, a wise measure, since s0 many lawless characters were abroad by day and night, and, when they saw that the vew settler was inclined to be ex- elusive in his ways, the fence seemed in good keeping; and, in any case, he was rich and had a right to do as he pleased, Various tropical trees and plants had been started at the same time, so if was a very pretty wilderness of beauty through which he took his guest. ‘*T trust, for your own sake, Mr. Rivers,” said the judge, ‘‘ that you have come to Mount Tabor to remaiu. I prophesy that within a year you will have a chance to dispose of your property at three times what it has cost you but, if kept still longer, its inereased value wi astonish you,” ; ‘*Such is my idea,” was the reply. ‘‘ They tell me the mines are paying as well as ever, and people are just awakening to the fact that these are fine agricultural ranches.” ‘*Exactly,” Austin answered. _ Ju.t then they arrived at where an iron fence inclosed a space about ten feet square, and, looking inside, Rivers saw an elevated mound which was entirely destitute of ornament. He glanced at Austin, wondering for the moment if it was the burial-place of a member of the family, but the bearded lips quivered in the attempt at a smile before noted, ‘* Here, Mr. Rivers, isa relic of far-off days, one of those mounds whoss history is forever gone, whose builders perished hundreds of years ago and left no explanation behind them." ‘‘T have seen them before, but I was not aware that we had any near Mount Tabor. Have you ever opened it?” “‘No!” said the judge, quickly. ‘‘{f would net permit such a thing. nee or twice I have been approached on the subject by men who suggested that treasure probably lies inside, but, to me, such a relic of those mysterious mound-builders is worth more than gold or silver. I propose to preserve it as it is.” “A very good idea,” commented Rivers, but without any particular enthusiasm. They lingered for some time about the place and the judge spoke of the mound builders in a way which showed he had read all attainable works on the sep ece, but had Rivers given his opinion, ke would have said that he should not care to bave a graveyard in his garden. Anon, they went into the house again, and the Cavalier rode away, conscious that he had enjoyed himself very much, and determined to accept the invitation to call again. | EEE EE EE eee EE Oe Ii Don Sombrero, the California Road Gent. ‘*T wonder,” he thought, as he rode home- ward, “if that mound is really a relic of ancient days, or, is there a mystery connected with it?’ CHAPTER IX. SHERIFF ROBERTS, THe following evening something occurred which made it advisable for Horace Wilder to for a time absent himself from Mount Tabor. In the village was an institution called the Casino, which was a drinking and gamblin house in one, and when the leader of the Tria sauntered in to enjoy a smoke and survey the crowd always present in the evening, a quarrel was maliciously forced upon him by two roughs, one of whom was called Ben Braxton and the other ‘‘ Jonathan ’—a name given bim because he was a typical Yankee. They met with a surprise, however, and were well punished by Wilder, who astonished all by his remarkable muscle and quickness. He used many tricks learned whilein the circus business, and the two men found in the end that be was a 7 of human tiger, despite his rather slender build. Joe Pike, the veteran ’Ilorty-niner, was pres- ent, and gave moral support to the stranger, and some unseen hand ha just burled a knife which cut through both of Braxton’s hands, when the room was invaded by the city’s sheriff and a posse of his men. _ He had heard that a fight was going on in the Casino, but when he arrived no one seemed inclined to point out the guilty parties, and Wider seized an opportunity to gain the outer air. There he was speedily joined by bis associates in the Triad, and Diaz confessed that it was he who had flung the knife which wounded Ben Braxton. Moreover, he stated that the fellow was in favor with the sheriff, and expressed the opinion that he would betray Wilder and have him arrested, relying on his friends to give evidence more injurious to the circus man than truthful. Such being the case, Wilder decided to leave the city for a week, so he said good-by to his partners and qneny left the vicinity. If the sheriff had learned the names of the rioters there was no immediate evidence of it, and in an hour every one seemed to have for- gotten the trouble, ‘ Abner Roberts, the sheriff, was, however, destined to play a more important part than that of a mere officer of the law in the events which followed, as Theodore Rivers soon dis- covered, When he made his next visit to the Austin ranch he found Roberts there, and though the afternoon passed pleasantly enough,the Cavalier could not but perceive that his was more than a business visit. _ Riding homeward, he soliloquized in this fash- ion: ‘The sheriff seeks one of the daughters of the judge, probably Laura, Maybe he’s in love, or it may be the money he covets. In any case he regards me as arival, and, if his black looks furnish a criterion, I may yet feel his claws. Californians do not tolerate rivals, and if he could get a hold on me through the law, he would use it.” The Cavalier looked troubled, though it did not seem as though a man of his standing need fear the law, rich, noble and kind-he as he was, and he twisted a lock of the bay horse’s mane in an abstracted manner for several minutes, “Let him work,” he finally said, aloud, ‘‘and we will see if his brains are better than mine, I will not turn back in my work if every sheriff in California is sneaking at my heels,” Having arrived at this conclusion, he rept quletiy on in his chosen path. He was rarely absent from the Cactus Lodge, as he had named his new home, and every day he was engaged in some improvement, “ In spite of this, he found time to visit Arcadia often, and never without a cordial welcome from all. He did not again meet bis rival there, but, one day, when out for agallop as Laura’s escort, they passed Sheriff Roberts, who looked after them with a rather sour face. ‘‘T don’t like bim,” said Laura, abruptly. “People speak well of him around: here,” said the Cavalier, quietly. ‘*T know they do, for he is regarded as a zealous arm of the law, but many crimes re- main unpunished and I suspect a bribe would have due effect on his zeal.” ** Your father seems to like him.” ‘Yes, and that is what troybles me,” Rivers looked at her keenly. * Still, I suppose he does not insist on your making his friends yours?” _ ‘He has poured the praises of Sheriff Roberts in my ears until I am tired of it.” — _‘ L suppose you find quite a contrast between him and the people you knew in Mississippi.” “! There is a difference,” she acknowledged. Ido not see how you ever came to leave your old home for this wild country.” _ “It was my father’s wish. Were you ever in Mississippi, sir?’. 4 —s | *“*T passed down the river.in a steamer by night, onee, but the country is strange to me, ‘You could not help liking the place, I iy when we left that it was te only en- durable place in the: United States, but we are all satisfied here now.” He asked her many questions about her na- tive State, and in this manner time glided on unnoticed, He went away at last, and in a satisfied mood. Sheriff Roberta might possess ‘the favor of tre parent, but he certainly did not have that of the daughter. At that moment, the fair Laura was thinking of Rivers, and among other things that came to her mind was the fact that he bad asked her many questions of ber past life. So strongly did this impress her for the time, she could not but exclaim: ‘‘ He has the history of my whole existen and I kaow no more of him than his name, no even from whence he came when he settled at Mount Tabor. Scill, it is not at all odd, for he is of a secretive nature. Such men,” she slow- ly added, “‘ make the best friends and—and— But I am talking nonsense!” CHAPTER X! THE SHERIFF GOES ON THE WAR-PATH, ABNER ROBERTS was one of the shining lights of Mount Tabor. In small places everywhere a halo of glory bangs about the favored faw who. hold public offices, and this arm of the law in his official capacity was really second only to Mayor James. He fully realized his impor- tance and made the most of it, andin many cases he was certainly zealous enough in the discharge of bis duty. There were those who complained because he was so intimate with Ben Braxton and “ Jona- than,” but he explained all this to Mayor James by saying he found the men useful. Nothing was known of his life previous to his coming to Mount Tabor; but, judging from his looks, he must have met rough seas at times to make him look so old at thirty: One day Mr. Roberts was: seen posting a no- tice in a conspicuous place in the village, and when regd it proved to be a reward offered for the capture of Don Sombrero. News had just come that two miners had the previous night been robbed by the road-agent, and the placard went up after a consultation between the mayor and the sheriff. } Afterward the latter rode ont of the town to see the latest victims, but they could tell no more than that they bad been humiliated and plundered by the cool outlaw, and as the sheriff rode homeward in the darkness he saw no clear way) to success, , Deep in thought was the sheriff, but he was. abruptly and rudely aroused when, lost dust, bis horse suddenly stumbled and oly, pitching his rider like a rocket over his: ead, The horse was soon on his feet, uninjured, but it was five minutes later when Robertsregained - his senses, for the fall had been a hard one. He came. back to life to find himself again seated on his horse,‘but when he would have lifted his hand to his aching head, he was sur- prised to find his arms tied behind bis back. A. touch on his shoulder caused him to turn his head, and there beside him, mounted on the famous black horse, was Don Sombrero! It was the sheriff’s first sight at the road- agent, but there could be no doubt, Tlie serape, the big hat, the masked face—all went to prove it—and the arm of the law quailed for a mo- ment at the fierce light which blazed from the stranger's eyes through the holes in bis mask. “Roberts,” said the outlaw, in a deep, hoarse voice, ‘‘ you are my prisoner.” The sheriff was quick-witted and an old companion of danger, and he rallied quickly, $s devils alivel” he snarled; “and .who are you? ‘‘Don Sombrero, at your service,” was the calm reply. vi ‘The outlaw.” “Tam Don Sombrero,” was the rejoinder. ‘‘How dare you put bonds upon me?” cried Roberts, fiercely, after a vain wrench of his hands. age. ‘* Do you know who I am?” ‘**One Roberts, sheriff, ete.” Oh! you can sneer now, but Pll make you pay dearly for this outrage.’ > ‘Is that what you callit? Ain’t-you a leetle ‘hard on me? I only stretched a lasso acrossthe road to trip your horse, and then, when [ found you insensible, tied you up for fear you might injure the animal before I had time to explain that it was my fault,” The. sheriff uttered a bitter curse. Not only were his hands bound, but his feet were tied under his horse’s belly, and this elaborate pieee of work rendered him wholly at the mercy of the road-agent.. If he cried for help the sound would probably be wasted on the air, and, in any case, it was likely to bring Don Sombrero’s revolvers to his bead. ‘* Roberts,” continued the road-agent, “I alorig she very place where Dick Meeker had § . is S > sf 1 wasn’t aware that it required much cour- | - ~ 5 ‘ . a eer e v 2. “4 , ae oe 7? had ' a 4 ae] -* i re an. ee s a > ’ Py - * : : a) a as Se a ’ * 4 : oad JOOKS Goim (C (0)