Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 202 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

PL. = | | ~ + : PO Cactus oF ack, Apaches in one long grave and the white men gabe pretentiously rand except for the wounded in the village everything seemed as before. Bill Bush and his fellow miners had gone back to the Lower Bend, the soldiers, failing to find occupants at the place to which James Townsend. had led them, had settled into the old routine; the two guides seemed wholly at their ease and without work to do; and at the Townsend home all were occupied as usual, The elder man was the only busy person of the bousehold, but, with a room full of curiosi- ties of various kinds, he was never idle. He seemed to grow more absorbed and retiring with each passing day, and often, of late, when Marian bad gone to his door, she had found it locked and she was only admitted after some delay. The idea that there was a reason for this be- youd her father’s desire for privacy never oc- curred to her, but Lucas, remembering the revolver he had once seen in the room, now and then felt a lazy curiosity to know what use the naturalist could have for it; but he was con- siderate and affectionate asa son and so asked no questions. Shortly after the heat of midday began to abate, James and Lucas took their rifles and went out together. Marian had vainly asked them to remain in-doors; they had been long enough in the West to feel confidence in their abilities, and they went away laughing at her fears. She watched them as they walked down the street, feeling all of a sister’s pride, and, indeed, two more prepossessing young men did not ex- ist in New Mexico. Strong of form and hand- some of face, they had a gay and pleasant way wbich won them friends outside of their own family. Left alone, Marian busied herself as best she could. Time did not pass any too ain in that remote region, but she was fee ing in a contented mood when a glance from the window showed her she was to have a caller. Mr. Elbridge McKey was walking toward the house, and as her brothers were both away she would have to entertain him. She might as well try to induce a prairie dog to come out of his bole as to think that the elder Townsend would leave his treasures for an ordinary caller. So she nerved herself to be civil to a man she disliked, and when the merchant entered he was received politely if not cordially. He had dressed in magnificent style for the occasion, but with so little taste that Marian barely repressed a smile. His costume was Gorgeous enough for a well-to-do Southern arky. Woolly ignorant of the fact that there was a weak point in his make-up, McKey sat down and allowed his oily tongue full play. He was not one to be at a loss for spiject matter when in a lady’s society, and with such exciting scenes as had lately occurred to talk about, he had a well grassed field before him and at once proceeded to cut a wide swath. Marian listened politely; but she did not her- self seem in a talkative mood, and all the while she was hoping something would occur to inter- rupt the interview. cKey’s mind ran in a different channel. He had come with a settled purpose, and in due time he cautiously approached the subject. ‘How soon do you leave for the East?’ he asked. “Itis not yet definitely settled.” ‘‘Mr. Townsend will have many curiosities to carry home.” ‘Ho has a large number.” | ‘‘Black Bend will miss him sadly. He’ is reckoned our foremost citizen, and in such places every prominent man counts,” ; ‘‘'The Bend’s loss will be his gain,” Marian said, with some curtness in her voice. ‘True! He is more fitted for the East than this remote region. I have half a mind to re- turn Hast myself.” ‘Are you not doing well here?’ the girl asked, taking the alarm at once. ‘Finely, Miss Townsend, finely. I can go home a rich man; but my wealth increases every tae ,,and Ishduld remain were it not for one thing. He paused to give her a chance to ask him what the one thing was, but she remained pro- vokingly indifferent. “T should advise you to remain here, Mr. way 19 MER SY you think it best?” ‘‘ Dacidedly so.” “T would Mee willing to do so on one condi- tion.” Again the visitor paused for her to fill the blank, but it was not done to his liking, ‘* It isa fine and growing country, sir.” “True, Miss Townsend, true. More, it is one where a man can soon get rich. If he lives here, boweyer, he must put up with a good any inconveniences. To be contented, the Western man needs a wife—one whose smile will meet bim on his return from his daily la- , whose care will be over his house, whose love and gpa dc will ever be his, and thus transform he dull routine of daily labor into a state and a fairy kingdom, where he ee ee ge pe ee tee > a ——- — - meme - may reign as monarch—a limited monarch, you understand—and she be an angel to soothe his hours of weariness—and have unlimited money at her command.” Elbridge paused for breath. He had made the greatest effort of his life; he had done what he felt was a fine piece of work in the oratorical the Giant Guide. i j | } i line despite the fact that there were one or two | weak points; and he felt that if he had his | rights Marian would immediately throw her- self into his arms. She failed to do’so, however. It may be his | eloquence overpowered her, or that she thought- | lessly neglected what she knew was*her duty; but, judging from the faint smile quivering about ber lips, one would almost think she was | _and that revelation would bring up a gallows- laughing at his rose-tinted picture. ‘The days of earthly angels are over, Mr. McKey,” she answered. prefers the privilege of marking male faces as the hunter creases the mustang, except that he uses the bullet, we, our finger- nails.” This bheartlessly practical remark was very untimely, but the merchant managed to rally his wavering troops and returned again to the assault, | ‘‘Ha! ha! You are as clever as ever, Miss Townsend, Wit and beauty hover over you like the three graces,” . ‘Nowadays, my sex | SEE cee a eS your lights, but you stand in lamentable dark- ness, ‘There are more things in this world than you in your simple wisdom ever dreamed of.’ I tell you lL hold the Townsend family b the neck. One word from me can ruin you all. You think your family an immaculate one, but there isa dark cloud hanging over this house and one word from me lets loose the storm.” He spoke hotly and his looks terrified her, but she struggled for composure and managed to answer bravely. ‘This empty talk is absurd.” ‘‘Is it? You never made a greater mistake. I tell you I am master of your future. I know secrets which the world would be glad to hear. I can tell who killed the soldier near the mvite, tree and make a vacancy in this family!” Marian grew deathly pale. She remembered the blood-stained coat in the upper room, end for a moment everything about her seemed whirling around. ‘“‘ It is false!” she finally gasped. “Ttistrue, I can tell all that and more. I can tell whois the chief of the Black Muesks. | More, I will tell, and, unless you promise to be- It was a pretty little compliment when taken | in the rough, but a careful analysis would show that be had become slightly mixed in his numerals, while, to tell the truth, he had no more idea what “the three graces” were, or | had been, than he had of the age of the sphinx; but in making love such little tendencies to reck- lessness should never count, He went on bravely. | ‘TY have come here to-day, my dear Miss Marian, with a settled purpose. I bave known you for a long time, and always to my pleas- ure. Day by day my admiration has increased, and now I can no longer hold back my burning words. Marian, I love you! come my wife, I will go out ard shout my news. If I do that a how:ing mob will socn be at your doors, Men will demand the chief of the robbers, and they will find him here. When the rope is around a Townsend neck—” Marian abruptly arose, Her weakness wes gone. She was pitifully white, but her marble face showed that all the strength of her nature was aroused. ‘* Sir,” sbe baughtily said, ‘‘ there is the door. | Do not let me again mention the fact, but take For many days | no other face has been before my mind’s eyes; | no other smile has stirred the pulsation of my breast. Marian, [ lay all at your feet; will you bless my life and become my wife?’ Elbridge did not notice that he had dropped into poetry, and, indeed, such things are so com- | | mon in love-making that, perhaps, it scarcely | deserves mention. Marian was “al ’ blind, for, though the man was turning his declara- tion into afarce, she knew that under the surface lursed a spirit which might yet become unpleas- ant, ““Mr, McKey!” she exclaimed, scarcely know- ing what she said. ‘* Yes, Miss Marian,” he encouragingly said. ‘“‘lam very sorry to hear these words; sorry ant face clouded wit = ee for your sake, for I am unable to return your | affection,” ‘You may learn, in time,” he said, patiently. “Impossible! I already know my mind on the subject, and though I thank you kindly, I must say no, once and for alJ.” “I do not se6 why you should say no.” ‘‘ And I do not see why I should say yes.” ‘“ Have I not been your friend?” “T have other friends, but I cannot marry them all,” she said, a little impatiently. ‘But you should select one from among the number. In this wild Uy ay “Thank you, Mr, McKey, but I have already made a selection.” He looked at her in amazement. Not for a your hated face from my sight without delay.” He,too, arose, his face almost as pale as hers, but it bore an expression fit fora fiend. Heda man angered him thus he would have murdered him, and he could scarcely keep his hands from the slight girl. It was an impressive tableau, tut at that mo- ment the door was opened and Lucas Townsend appeared on the threstold. Close behind bim were James and another person, but Lucas stood as the central figure. He bad entered with a smile on his face, but it died away as he saw the scene before him. He would have been blind had he failed to per- ceive that something was wrong, and his pleas- amezement. “Hallo!” he said, blankly: but at that mo- ment James extered side by side with a young lady. The sight so surprised Marian that she mo- mentarily forgot McKey and centered her at- tention on the girl. She had never before seen her in the city. Younger, probably, than her- self, she bad a very pretty face, a fine form and a graceful, ladylike manner; and Miss Town- send was at once prepossessed in her favor. ‘““My dear sister,” said James, smiling, “T have brought you a friend whom I am sure you will be glad tosee. She has met with misfor- tune, and we must give her shelter for a time. Miss Nola, this is my sister, Marian.” Nola—for it was indeed the mountain gir!— looked almost appealingly at Miss Townsend, tut she need not have doubted her reception, Marian liked her Jooks, and, woman-like, she _ leld out her hands and then kissed the tempting moment had he dreamed that he had a rival in| the field, and her blunt assertion dazed him. Anger quickly followed on the heels of his first emotion, ‘‘ Who is the man?” he demanded. “I must decline to say,” she answered, an- noyed at his persistence, ‘Tt is my right to know.” “You mistake, sir; you have nothing to do with the matter,” she retorted. He sat and looked at her in silence for a mo- ment. He was not an unlearned man, nor yet a fool, though he had made a wretched piece of work in his recent proposal; and he was not a man to quietly accept an adverse decision when it could be reversed, Under the bland exterior he had shown in his life at fhe Bend, existed a fierce will, a hot temper and a merciless nature. Knowing that he held some strong cards, he fully intended to marry Marian now that he had set out in the work. ‘‘T intend to make it my business,” he harsh- ly said. ‘¢- You had better not,” “Why?” ‘¢Wour interference will not be tolerated,” He snapped bis fingers contemptuously. ‘That for the opposition. I propose to range your father and your brothers on my side.” «You can not HO “Il can and sball. “Sir! you are impertinent! I am not to be tamely insulted, andif you do not cease you Shall fee) their vengeance,” | hy one moment a devilish = gleamed in CKey’s eyes, and then it gave place to a smile Which ae little better, a smile which chilled er to the heart, - Girl,” he said, “‘ you are wise according to ' LS SSs==ssesssssssesss-sstenseneenrs le ———— ’ | lips, “You are very welcome, dear,” she said. ‘“‘ Her father has mysteriously disappeared,” said James, ‘“‘ and we feared the same fate would be hers if left unprotected.” ‘““ These disappearances are getting v com- mon around the Bend,’ addea Lucas, “ Here- efter, Marian, you must not go out withent a rotector, for there can be no safety while the slack Masks exist.” ‘** Brigham must arouse from sloth and root them out,” James impatiently said. At this moment, McKey pushed to the front. He had become calm, and a faint smile was on bis face ag he said: “T will bid you good-day, now, friends. Busi- ness takes me away, but I will see you all again sometime.” He nodded to each one pleasantly and then went out, greatly to Marian’s relief, “ Her mind was in a whirl, but she endeavored to center her thoughts on the new arrival, ‘and her kind- ‘ness made Nola feel almost at home. James and Lucas had encountered the moun- tain girl outside the village, rifle in hand, and when James had introduced her to his brother. she said she w~s lookimg for her father. O'd Prospect had not been at the cave since the pre- vious morning, and she had grown alarmed. James, too, remembering that the Black Masks were hunting for the hermit, felt grave fears, and he had urged her to accept an asylum at his home for a time. CHAPTER XXXV, AND STILL ANOTHER TRAGEDY. Tur Townsends seemed to to rival each other in attentions to Nola. arian warmed toward her more and more each minute, and James and Lucas were almost brotherly in their kindness; but it was not strange that the moun- _ tain girl stould awaken all of their interest and sympathy. (E GOmichoo S