Beadle's Dime Library No. 199 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

18 Diamond Dick, the Dandy from Denver. sockets, and shone glassily, and his features be- ing drawn with an expression of such intense longing, that the sight of him would have melt- ed a heart of stone. As the girlsaw his agonized face, she held the canteen toward him, allow- ing a tiny stream of the water to flow down and soak into the earth. She then gazed gloatingly into his eyes, and without the slightest show of pity in her own. havin she held the canteen to her lips, and drank slowly, with an air of satisfaction the most tantalizing. Taking the iron picket-pin from the end of her lariat, and securing the legs of her captive, she proceeded to loosen the earth in a small circle near the position of Rube, who now lay with his eyes fixed in piteous pleading ea hiee 4 Rube Reynolds,” sh ‘*Tam digging a grave, Ku ynolds,” she said, in a strange whisper, in the ear of the poor wretch, which caused his flesh to creep and his hair to writhe. ‘“‘Il am digging your grave. I could bury you alive, but I'll not be so cruel to os as you were topoor baby. You would smother to death, and that would be a very painfulend. Oh! no, Ido not want you to die in the same way as my baby, or | would have you hung by aa im; but you must not die as my little darling did. I would not even bury you as baby was buried, but that I know the wolves will dig you up, and that your bones will bleach on the hot plain. ‘*T love the wolves, for they never kill their own young, as you did, and I believe they would not eat you if they knew what you had done. How hot it is! If there is any way I could make sure of your not escaping me, | would foree you to dig your own grave!” As Dolores spoke she sto er work, to look at him. The miserable being strove to speak, showing that he realized there might be a way of escape from his terrible doom, if he were thus allowed the use of his arms; but a second glance at her changed countenance, fol- lowed by her mocking laugh, once more plunged him into the lowest depths. ‘*Ha!l ba! ha! I cannot allow you to dig, Rube Reynolds. That would never do. You little thought that the poor helpless wreck you left behind in San Antonio would hunt you to the death—that she would travel thousands of miles, and suffer privations that strong men break down and die under, to avenge her wrongs! But I shall bury — and perhaps marry Diamond Dick. ThenI shall enjoy my- self, as I would have done through life had you never crossed my trail. Ill come and dance on your grave sometimes—but, I forget: you will not here, for the wolves, you know, will attend to that!” The suffering of Reckless Ruhe from the thirst, which caused his senses of sight and hearing to be doubly acute, were beyond de- scription. hile Dolores had been speaking, she had ex- cavated a deep hole some five feet from the sur- face, and about a foot and a-half in diameter. She then bound the limbs of Rube more secure- ly, andslid him feet first into it. As he now d erect, his head and shoulders were just above the surface. Filling in the loose earth around bim, and stamping it firmly about bis body, the crazed girl soon left little more than - the poor wretch’s head in view. At this moment, her attention was caught by a rumbling sound on the plain; and, looking to- ward the north-west, she saw a score of war- ere Apaches coming like the wind, their thers and hair flaunting, their weapons glit- a and their steeds snorting. Still the look of exultation on the girl’s face “was unchanged—not a trace of fear or concern was Visible. With a rush like a tornado, the om a pte demons of the Llanos galloped forward, and surrounded her. Halting suddenly, they stared in surprise at the strange scene; and when they saw the head of Reckless Rube projecting above the plain, and perceived that their appearance had no effect upon the young squaw, they gave deep, ittural grunts of amazement, each gazing at the other, and tapping their foreheads with their fingers, after which they pointed upward, signifying that the Great Spirit had laid his hand upen the squaw before them-—that she was insane. Just then Dolores, with a yell, drew her re- volver, a movement that caused every Apache to start back, for it would, according to their traditions and belief, bring ruin and death upon them, if they should barm her in any way. However, the girl was too quick for the In- dians; for her pistol belched forth fire and lead, and a pony of one of the Apaches fell dead, the rider bounding up instantly behind one of his fellow-braves, and all dashing away toward the south at headlong speed, casting back glances of terror, as the wild laughter of Dashing Dolores filled the air. ‘*Ha!l ha! Rube Reynolds, you are in luck, The wolves might have failed to visit you to- night, but for the horse those Apaches have kind- ly brought, ‘You would have been lonesome, I know: now you are sure of company—com- pany that will how! your requiem, while the Stars look down and smile in triumph. Baby is in one of the stars that you will see to-night. It is the brightest one among them, and he will laugh with glee when he sees the wolves enter- taining you. Here, I’ll give you a drink, forI do not want you to die too soon!” Dolores then poured the remaining water from the canteen down the throat and over the head of the doomed wretch, and then sprung into the saddle. ‘‘Rube Reynolds, adios! I go to see after Diamond Dick, but Ill call to-night and see how the wolves and you enjoy each other’s company. They will not oe boa you—never fear—for the dead horse will draw them here. Reckless Rube, adios !” With a ringing peal of insane laughter, Do- lores, waving her sombrero in adieu, galloped toward the range, the wild, imploring screams of Rube, who had, through the draught of water, recovered his voice, sounding in her ears, and causing her to turn in her saddle and shriek back in mockery. CHAPTER XXIII. NOT ONE MAN LEFT. THE wine she had drank caused the Queen of the Wild Cats to brighten, her cheeks flushed, and for a moment she stood undecided whether to end her torturing suspense, and yet not dar- ing to awaken the sleeper, lest her hopes should at once be dashed to the earth. Such an end- ing to the interview that awaited her seemed only too probable; this was evident in her mind, for a shudder occasionally shook her frame. She step toward the door, as if fearful of awaking the sleeper; but, at this instant, the hands of Diamond Dick were raised upward, as if to ward off some danger, and from his lips came the words in clear tones, although he still slept: w Stand aside! He dies by my hand!” ** He is ‘coe in his dreams,” said the bandit Queen. ‘‘ Will he say anything of me?” So saying, she approached and knelt by the lounge. Fearing to disturb him, she waited for some time in silence. At last the lips of the young man parted, his face e ene great anxiety, but only a single word broke the deep stillness. It was spoken as if the speaker wished the presence, but knew not the location, of the one whom he called: ** Dolores!” No sooner did this hated name strike her lis- tening ears than Lucile Luzerne’s face became contorted with murderous passion. Her eyes blazed with jealous fury, and her band uncon- sciously clutched at Diamond Dick. He sprung to his feet on the platform, at the same time thrusting both hands around his belt for his re- volvers. This sudden and unexpected movement threw Lucile forward upon tbe buffalo-robes, where she lay, striving to control her fierce passion. Without fully comprehending where he was the young man, seeing that he had overturne some one, stooped on the impulse of the moment, and lifted her to her feet. She was trembling, and feigning to sob. Hatred and the most intense abhorrence took full possession of our hero, as he cried out: ‘‘ What means this intrusion, murderess? You have mein your power. If my time has come, I am ready, but otherwise come not near me. You are weeping, I see! Does that mean that you are beginning to —- of your past crimes? If so, ask your God to > theres you, and avaunt! Quit my sight! t thee to a nunnery!” The outlaw Queen did not allow her face to be seen until Dick had ceased speaking. Then she threw aside her long hair, and stood before him in all her ravishing beauty. It was only for a moment. With a bitter cry she sunk at his feet, exclaiming: ‘*George McClellan! I, who never knelt or sued to mortal man or woman—lI, Lucile Luzerne, Queen of the Wild Cats kneel to you! You say you are in power. It is I who am in your power. "Tis I whose time to die has come, and you are my executioner. I came hither to watch your slumbers, not to disturb you; but in your sleep you fought your battles ever again, and awoke—” ‘“‘And I say to you, Lucile Luzerne,” said Dick, in amazement and contempt, ‘‘that you have gone mad! Do you suppose it possible that I could look upon a poisoner of the innocent with other feelings than those of horror and loathing? Ay, even though she isa woman, and a very Cleopatra in beauty! What do you take me to be? [Lhavesworn to avenge my murdered aunt and her children—the woman whose place pa usurped, whose husband you lured from ome and honor to vice and crim have sworn that he shall die, and that you shall curse the day that you met him! And you can judge, peehere, whether I am one who will keep is oath. I ama prisoner, it is true, but I fear no man, and I feel that a God of justice will =one my life, and nerve my arm. George olbrook, who forged my father’s name, and then deserted his family to fly with you, even when he knew that they had already been doomed to death—he, I swear, shall die! You are a woman, and tkerefore safe from violence at my hands, but your suffering shall be none the less severe. Some way will be open to this end. I feel, even now, that your race is run and that the Fates will hurl disaster an destruction along your path!” While he spoka, Lucile bowed her head and vailed her features; being nearly thrown into spasms of fury. But she was determined to te him over, if possible, and she calmed her- self. **George,” she said; ‘‘if I were what you seem honestly to think I am, I could not blame you for your words, or your vow. But you wrong me—you are terribly mistaken! I am far from being the woman you deem me. Had it not been for the wretch Holbrook, whom I never enticed from his home, I would not now Lea member of a bandit band. I have never done personal injury to any one, except in self- defense. Sooner than have given poison to Katharine Holbrook and her little ones, as you have charged me, I would have swallowed it myself. olbrook may indeed be guilty, if they did not die from natural causes. 1 believe him to be capable of it. I detest him more than tongue can express. To prove my words, if he be alive, I will deliver him into your hands, to do with as ou will. Circumstances have fcrced me into this awless life; but I would change it all, gladly and live on a crust of bread with you, ere, I rule supreme. I have countless gold, all of which is yours if you say so. ‘You can be the chief of the band, if you choose, and I your willing slave; or we can fly, with a princely fortune, to some land where we shall not be known. Do not say that you hate me—I am yours, George McClellan, if you will take me, body and soul.” Diamond Dick felt compelled to admit, as he looked upon the woman before him, that it seemed absurd to connect such a beautiful be- ing with the crimes which he had believed her to have committed. As he listened to her ap- l, he felt that very probably Holbrook had indeed seduced Lucile from the path of virtue; although, had he not been within the influence of her voice and presence, he would have struck vt earth any man who reasoned as he now id. Still, he was suspicious; the glamour of her voice and beauty had cast a lover him, and yet he was not convinced in his own mind in regard to her innocence. For his own safety, however, and to carry out his plan of ven- geance, he saw that he must take advantage of the infatuation Lucile felt for him. Much as Dick detested dissimulation, he deemed it excusable in the present emergency. a resolved, therefore, to take a neutral posi- ion. As the bandit Queen ceased speaking, he raised her to her feet and placed her on the lounge. “ Lucile Luzerne!” he said; ‘God and your- self know whether vou speak the truth or not in regard to what I believe to have been crimes. It does not seem possible that my aunt and her three children could have died as they all did, within three weeks, from natural causes. Iam very willing, however, to think that you may have been wronged by the suspicions against you. Do not speak of my turning bandit. You ought to know that I would die before I would link my fate with such men as form this outlaw band. But doas you suggest. Deliver into m wer George Holbrook, alias Captain Half- and, and from him I will extort the truth!” Diamond Dick paced the platform impa- tiently during these remarks, and the Queen of the Wild Cats watched his every movement, and weighed well each word, feeling both relief and triumph; for, she reasoned. if George Mc- Clellan could change so much at one meeting she could in time win him over, and in place o ber kneeling and suing to him, the tables would be completely turned, She was cunning enough not tospoil the a of what she bad said, by using more words on the subject; and, rising to her feet, she crossed the apartment toward the door, saying: ‘“‘T shall keep my word. Youshall have Cap- tain Halfhand in your power; and, as to what I have proposed to your consideration, think the matter over. I regret to hold you for the resent a prisoner, but your life would be taken instantly should any of the band get an oppor- tunity to kill you, as they are all furious against ou. Without awaiting a reply, Lucile gave a ges- ture of parting, turned the key, and lifted the ponderous latch; but at this instant, the bar- rier before her was pushed quickly, and with great force inward, The bandit Queen was thrown prostrate, and half a dozen of her followers rushed over her, with weapons presented, their vengeful curses filling the chamber, as they rushed toward Dia- mond Dick, firing as they seweseee Comprehending at once that the outlaws had rebelled, and that his life was in great peril our hero sprung to the side of the table, and ping a number of heavy quart bottles, urled them, one after the other, with terrific force and precise aim, into the massed bandits, who fell before the shower of glass, as if a vol- ley of musketry had been discharged into their Lucile Luzerne, springing from the floor toa . chooks ‘com ree cor °- .