Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 202 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 dinary interest was transpiring a few rods away. When the masked band made its swoop, there was one of the party who did not enter the gul- ly atall. This person halted in the road, a lit- tle further on toward Black Bend, but it was not cowardice which prevented a mixing in the drama, Unlike the others, this individual wore the dress of a woman, and though the face was con- cealed by a mask, the form was such as to leave no doubt but that such was really her sex. This, too, explained why she stood back when the men ambushed themselves in the gully. After that she waited impatiently for the coming of their prey, and when they did come, as interestedly for the sound of fighting. None came, and it was evident the emigrants did not intend to resist. A few minutes passed, and then the watcher saw a single figure gliding toward her, moving from the direction of the gully. At first she thought it was one of the band, but when it came nearer she was astute enough to judge | from its suspicious movements that such was not the fact. “It is one of the men of the train,” she quick- ly thonght. ‘‘He has escaped from the band unseen, and is hurrying toward the fort for help. He must be stopped!” Sbe had no doubt but that her suspicions were correct, nor did the fact that she was only a woman give her a moment’s hesitation. She felt fully capable of coping with a single man. Consequently, she drew a revolver and stepped into the middle of the trail, so the un- known man suddenly had the entertaining view of a grim six-shooter presented to his gaze. He halted abruptly, and seemed for a moment disconcerted, but bis hand then dropped toward his belt. ‘* Hold!” said the masked woman, sharply. ‘*This is a peace convention, and we don’t want any shooting. Keep your hands where they are and you are all right, but if you try todrawa - Weapon you sign your own death-warrant.” The stranger, of whom nothing could be told in the darkaess, except that he was of rather — — ee a small siza, looked at bis enemy with more com- | posure than might have been expected. “This is strange talk from a woman,” he said, in a voice which seemed a little peculiar; but the peculiarity would have soon resolved it- self into a faint suspicion of foreign accent. ** Do you not see that I am fleeing from danger? My party is attacked by outlaws, and I am go- | ing for aid.” ‘And for just that reason 1 have stopped | you,” she tersely said. ” «What? Surely, you do not mean that you are leagued with yonder robbers?” ‘‘T mean just that. Yes, sir; I am one of the band, and that is why I thus block your way.” CHAPTER XIV. MONSIEUR DUPAGE. Tues fugitive manifested a degree of surprise at this address which indicated that he might be a new-comer in New Mexico, but his anger quickly subordinated all other emotions, ‘* Sacre!” he cried, with an unmistakable French accent, ‘‘ your Be gant is refreshing. You may be amember of yonder gang for all I know, but that does not give you a right to 4 block my way, as you express it. Step aside and let me pass.” ‘Bah! You do not know me, my gay emi- grant, or you would not talk that way. You can’t pass,” | ‘‘Beware! I have no time to lose, and I may forget that you are a woman.” The masked woman laughed unmusically. ‘*Make believe I am not. What woud you do if | was a man?” ‘Shoot you!” be cried, hotly. “Try it, and I will blow out your brains. Hold there! Don’t make a move toward your oe or I will plant a lump of lead in your The emigrant allowed his band to fall to hig side. Heread the mettle of this female roa’- agent and knew that be would surely invite his doom to try to use his own revolver. Still, he was not subdued in spiri', and he vlared at her savagely. He had hoped to bring aid to the imperiled trainmen, but all his plans were swaying in spice, ‘You shall bitterly repent this act,” he snarled. * Rubbis'! Why will you talk that way?. I know you are a tenderfoot, but that is no reason why we should waste words. When people quarrel, of course the conquered one wants re- venge. That he will get itif he can, goes with- $s hand, She stood before him help are any other one of all the world’s women, nothing.” ‘* And who is that one?’ she curtly asked. ‘*In Houston county they called her Brenda,” was the steady reply. The masked woman reeled back with a star- tled cry and her pistol-hand fell by her side. She seemed alarmed, amazed and filled with consternation, and for a moment she was as weak as a child. It was an opening the emigrant was not slow to improve. He bounded forward, and in a moment had wrenched the se a from her ess, the situa- tion materially changed, but she seemed oblivi- ous to all save one thing. You!” she gasped, knows so much?” ‘‘One who would not have thought this of your father’s daughter.” ‘You do well to reproach me, but I do not know who you are. The darkness bides your face.” She spoke huskily, but with some evidence of returning composure, “It is not necessary that you sbould know me. Let it suffice that I am your friend.” ‘Your voice is familiar—” “Why study upon it? This is no time for idle words. onder cutthroats— Are they your friends?” The masked woman had recovered her cour- age and the curt manner of the stranger aroused her anger. Sbe answered as tersely as he had questioned, and in a defiant tone. ‘ They are my friends—what then?” ‘*Simply that 1 am grieved to find you so situated. Breuda, once you were innocent and loved. What has wrought this change?’ The stranger’s voice trembled a little, but the masked woman bitterly answered: - ‘“ Man!” ‘* Man?” echoed the other, with a start. ‘‘Ay, even so. Are you not proud to be- long to the sex—proud to be one of those lords of creation who win hearts only to break them?” The stranger put his hand to bis throat_as though suffocating. Perhaps sbadows of bis own past floated before bim at that moment, hut the masked woman was not so forgetful of the present. She sprung forward, hoping to again secure her revolver, but, instead, found the muzzle press:d against her temple. ‘* Not so fast, my lady,” said the unknown. ‘* You must not think me a child. I am your master, though you may be an outlaw queen.” She retreated suddenly, but, flashing a look ‘who are you that toward the southern trail, saw that the little ———— ee ee : out saying. Keep your powder to yourself, sir | emigrant,” During this address the man had been staring straight at the masked woman. be her personal appearance which so interested him, for her disguise made all that uncertain, but he appeared to be more interested than at any previous stage of the interview. **“ Woman,” be said, abruptly, as she finished, ‘‘who are you?” ‘What is that to you?” ‘“If you are one certain person, much; if you ’ “ j Vo It could not. scene there was to all appearance about to end. This mysterious man could not bring aid in time to do him any good, so, as she somehow felt a disinclination to bring the outlaws upon him, he might us well go. ‘*'You have said that you wish to go to Black Bend. The way is clear; wby do ycu not go)” The man looked at her keenly for a momeut in silence, and his astute brain was doubtless busy. ‘**T will go,” he then said, ‘although I hate to leave you here. The Brenda whom I once knew is fitted for something better than this life, but I shall a get into trouble by pausing to tell her so, Therefore, I will bid you good-night.” The sight of men moving toward them from the scenes of robbery had somewhat hastened his going, and he glided past the woman at a quick pace, merely watching to see that she did not attempt any act of hostility. He was quite safe, however. for her only anxiety was tosee him go. Who he was, she did not know, but he held a secret of her past life which she had ho she bad forever left behind her, and, under the impulse of the en safety seemed granted her when he went. For his own part. he was so filled with amaze- ment as he ran lightly along the trail, that he was hardly conscious of where he was going. He had not thought to see the strange woman near Black Bend, or, indeed, in New Mexico, and it mav be the encounter had awakened other emotions besides surprise. Whatever the exact direction of his thoughts, he ran rapidly for half a mile, and only stop- ped when a deep bass voice sounded a command in plain English. ‘* Halt, there!” The man paused with startling quickness, and looking up, saw two powerful men seated on their horses in his very path. These meh were Cactus Jack and Jake Bozeman; but not knowing them, the fugitive seemed elarmed afresh. ‘*Who in thunder are you?” Cactus Jack de- manded, trying to size the stranger. ‘‘IT atm an honest man, monsieur, and on my way to Black Bend.” ‘* You don’t belong there.” sé No, sir.” “Then where do you hail from?” ‘*Can I trust you?’ ‘Certain you can. Come, spunk up, my lit- tle man, and don’t be afraid, You're with those that won’t harm you or see harm done Cactus Jack, the-Giant Guide. ——s you if you are true blue, and you don’t seem like a road-agent.” ‘Who are you?” the man suddenly asked. “Who? Well, Cactus Jack is what they calk me. What of it?” ‘Nothing, except that you are just the man | would like tosee, There is trouble over yon- er. ‘** What kind?” ** A train attacked by robbers.” ‘* Ha! are they the Black Masks?’ **I think so; at any rate, they wear masks over their faces.” ‘*To the rescue, Boze!” the giaut exclaimed. ‘We have struck a trail, and, by the Lord, we'll make fur fly. Pard, what is your name?” The last question was addressed to the man who had brought the news, and he prompily answered: ‘Jean Dupage, monsieur.” ‘“Good! Pll see you at the village. on, Zeke!” There was a simultaneous rush, a clatter of horses’ feet, and the guides swept away toward the bluff. Dupage, as the man had called him- self, looked after them steadily. ‘*It is not likely they will find anything, and I hope they will not, unless she is out of harm’s way. Merciful heavens! what evil fate has driven her to be what she is? I had hoped she was happier then I.” Monsieur Dupage remained motionless for some time, but he finally aroused, and moved on toward the village. Come CHAPTER XV. A MYSTERY OF THE NIGHT. MEANWHILE, Cactus Jack and his friend were galloping rapidly toward the scene of robbery. They had been abroad on an errand no more definite than to look the country over, but the encounter with Dupage had aroused them and they were anxious to have a hand in the game. ‘** Ther gang must be ther Black Masks, ‘‘ said Zeke Bozeman, as they hastened on. ‘* Looks like it,” the giant tersely answered. ‘“Hyer’s as hopes so, anyhow, fur I want ter pay off ther old score, Thunder! you don’t spose a Montana mountaineer kin eat crow an” relish it, do ye?” ‘No more nor the wild zebra of the desert ce Wah! I smell blood, and we’jl have our j There was something more than braggadocio in the mood of the guides, but as they swept forward to where they had a view of the train, the profound silence there indicated that they had come too late. Several men were talking in a group and Cac- tus Jack dashed to their side, ‘* Where are they?’ he demanded, in a deep base. ‘‘ Where are the audacious Thracians?” . zene who?” one of the strangers blankly asked. ‘*The Black Masks—the robbers,” “Gone.” Where?” ‘‘Off among the rocks. I don’t know any . Are you from the village?’ at Yes ” “Well, you've come too late. The robbers have been through us, stolen all our valuables and, maybe, worse. One of our number, a Frenchman named Dupage, is missing.” The guide hastened to assure them of the safety of the man:in question, and then he asked some questions in regard to the direction the outlaws had taken and he and Bozeman went away in hot haste. It looked like a wild-goose chase and so it hey for, at the end of half an bour, they alted their horses and looked at each other or: ‘‘We'may as well give it up,” said Cactus Jack. ‘“ The moon will be up soon, and, of course, the gang will manage to get to cover before then.” ‘Oh! you kin bet they’re housed now,” said the mountaineer. “They ain’t any fools and we are beat.” ‘‘Durn the luck!” cried the giant, arerily.. ‘* Are we to be fooled with inthis w: v? 's the buccaneer of the Mimbres to be bambu. zled by” a pack of sneaking kitchen-thieves?” ‘Looks like it,” grunted Bozeman. \ “‘If I was steam, I should bu’st, I’m so mad,” the b pris pel man continued; “* but l’m made of good stuff and I’m dangerous when my mad is up. Dll get even with these critters and make poe, eS run red with gore. You hear me?” ‘*T hear you talk,” Bozeman admitted. “There’s always some fire where you see a. big smoke. Come with me.” The giant turned his horse and, followed by Zeke, rode on -brough canyons and gullies un- til an elevated ridge was reached. Near at hand they dismounted and, leavi. g their horses. went to the top. The moon had arisen and, from their post, they could see the country for many miles: around. The dark, gold hills lay at one side and the plain and river, the former dotted by the fort and village, directly opposite; but alh seemed quiet and calm, <eom / JOO ‘S C (e(0) 4 riwt @ A OF Sf _— |