Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 202 — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

* wou 30 Cactus I ack, the Giant Guide. mishaps: but he had not gone far when the glimmer of a light ahead showed him he was nearing some place of human occupancy. “T must see who it is. The light is from a torch, and it may be I shall find Marian or—”’ The yellow boy ceased muttering and crept for- ward cautiously. Not far had he gone when he saw the light increase, and peering around a point of rock, beheld a man seated on a pile of skins, with one leg stretched out before bim. It was the robber lieutenant, C, but Zadoc did not at once gauge the situation. ; While he still looked, a hand was laid on his shoulder and he sprung up like a flash. Before him, still heavily masked, stood the chief of the League of Gold! Meanwhile, the battle had been raging fiercely outside. The soldiers were vastly in the majority, but the few desperate men who crouched near the entrance were making it hot for the assailants, and ene did not see how he was going to get at them. Twice he had ordered a dash, but each time his blue-coats were hurled back in confusion and with severe loss, and the captain had consulted with Cactus Jack and Bozeman without arriving at any definite conclusion as to how the work was to be done, If it had not been for the possibility that the ga ld steal away by some minor exit he woulc axe waited for day; but the guides urged prompt action. P Finally one of the soldiers came to say that he had run on a boy in the darkness who had told him of another entrance. The youth had the yellow skin and erinkly hair of a mulatto, and the blue- coat had never seen him before; but his manner had seemed earnest and sincere when he advised Brigham to the entrance. A consultation followed. The affair might be a trap, but the guides were inclined to think the yel- low boy all right; s» the move was begun, which resul in Jack, Zeke, and Bill Bush going in as scouts. Brigham waited outside until their prolonged ab- sence alarmed him, and then, with twenty soldiers at his back, he entered and moved cautiously for- It was not a pieasant duty for men who had been taught the art of war on open fields and opposed to so-called civilized foes, but the pre fellows made the most of it and went on steadily. Brigham was growing more alarmed for a safety of the guides at each passing moment. ey were not men to commit indiscretions, and he felt sure they had fallen into the hands of the Blaek Masks. ‘Tf it be so, and harm is done them, not one man shall live to tell the tale,’ he muttered. ‘ The best men of our party are missing—Jack, Bozeman, James, and Lucas; and it would be a costly victory which was gained at the expense of their lives.”’ At this moment they came suddenly upon a man who was traversing a passage running at right an- les from the one they were themselves going rough. Plainly, the encounter was a surprise to him, for, after one glance of wild alarm, he took to his heels and fled precipitately. Brigham shouted to him halt, and, when the command was disobeyed, fired several shots after him: but the fellow leaped agilely from side to side, and somehow escaped injury. *Pursue!"’ thundered the officer. ‘He will at least lead us to the enemy’s lair.”’ And ~— the boner struck into a — “es throug e passage as fast as was possible. nce they caught a glimpse of the fleeing robber, and then the way suddenly widened into a spacious room, and they saw a welcome sight. The room was lighted by numerous torches thrust into crevices, and filled with articles of almost every description to be found in New Mexico; but the one thing upon which their attention became centered was the body of masked men who were advancing to meet them, fairly bristling with weapons. Drake was at their head, and it was evident that the decisive struggle was at hand. | CHAPTER XII. A WOMAN'S VENGEANCE. Wuen Zadoc, the mulatto, found himself con- fronted by the robber chief he seemed for a moment to wither under the piercing glance which shot from behind the black mask, but in a moment he recover- edand an observer might have seen that he felt no r. He folded his arms, but one hand rested on a re- volver in his belt. ** Well?” he coolly said. * Who are you?’ the chief sharply demanded. ** Am 1 not Pedro?” “7 doubt it much. There is an impostor in our den, and though I thought him caged in a hole— ‘Remove your mask! The yellow boy promptly obeyed, but as the con- cern fell away revealing dark face and curling hair, the chief uttered an oath and made a motion to draw his revolver. Zadoc was ahead of him. His revolver was out a apo and the muzzle covered the heart of the chief. , “Stop!” was the sharp command. ‘“ One move- ment and your life is mine, while if you ait I have somet to say which may interest you. Drop your hands!”’ The order was obeyed, but the manner of obeying was sullen and ominous. The chief did not reall fear to try his hand with the yellow boy, but he h begun to feel an interest in him and was willing to hear what he had to say, unpleasant as was the mode of beginning the interview. ““Speak on, then, forI have no time to lose,” he me said. “You speak truly, my lord chief. This is a bu time with you, for at your gate is a foe which wi surely wipe your gang of sout of existence. More than that, your time on earth is so short that not even Boge can be accomplished.” “Bah!” he interrupted, “I will not hear such ly. If you area preacher, gotalk with women.”’ “Wait, sir. Iam no preacher. You, of all men on earth, should know me well. There was atime when you did know me well—far too well for my good. Perhaps if I was to wash the yellow stain from my face, comb my hair straight again and re- a the garments of a woman you would know me still.’’ Zadoec spoke ina ringing voice. His form was drawn to full hight, and, slight as he was, he seemed master of the situation and like a Nemesis. The chief started. ‘““A woman's garments?” uneasy manner, while his eyes seemed reading every feature of the other’s face. ‘Are you blind? Man, do you not know your victim? Have you forgotten Loella Thorpe?’ The name fell like a thunderbolt on the chief. He uttered a startled cry and shrunk back, his eyes sacri | wild and terrified, and one hand he uncon- sciously pressed over his heart. ** You—you—”’ he began, gaspingly. “IT am not Pedro, nor Zadoc, nor yet a boy. 1 am Loella Thorpe, come back to life.”’ ‘* Merciful heavens!”’ ‘*No wonder you cry aloud in terror,’ the coun- terfeit boy went on sternly, ‘“‘for of all your sins that one was the worst—nay, it was as black a one as ever stained a man’s hand. You found mea girl who, though in a wild country where every woman ought to have a protector, was as innocent and well meaning as any one in the world. Itis not to your credit that I remain so.”’ The man had moved back to the wall against which he leaned heavily. from his nature and he was as weak as a babe ** But, [ thought that—that—”’ “That I was dead. Unfortunately for you, your tools did not succeed in their work, but their failure can searcely relieve your soul of the sin. Do you remember how we met? I was in a quiet mining town, may an honest living, and you came to me with your fair words and plausible ways. I learned that you were of good family and I came to think you perfect. What was the sequel? ‘** You led me on step by step until I loved you as I thought you loved me. One day you took me away from my home, nominally to visit your fa- ther’s family. Instead, I was brought to the den of the League of Gold, where I learned that you were their chief. The mask fell down and revealed the heart. I saw that, while so fair in outward appear- ance, you were really an outlaw and a scoundrel and my love turned loathing. I was, however, still in your power and you made your proposals plainly. If I would abandon my honor, I could be queen of the League of Gold, lead an indolent life and have every thing at my command which money could purchase. *T refused your offer with scorn and we quar- reled. How fierce that quarrel was you remember, for we are both high-spirited. When you saw that I would not yield, you said you would return me to my home. You took twenty men and rode away from Black Bend, but, instead of going toward my home, you went toward the Apache territory. “One evening you encamped on the desert and sent three men away with me. Their orders were to murder me and then return to you.”’ During this narration the chief had grown more composed. Terror had given place to a fixed pur- pose, and the gleam in his eyes boded no good to his companion. ow you come to the part of interest,”’ he said. ‘“*T have listened patiently to what I already knew; now tell me what followed the departure of the three men,” “A good he repeated, in an deal followed, as you will soon learn. Bad as they were, they did not care to murder me outright. ey bore me to a barranca, in which was a large pool of water, bound my hands and feet and threw me in to die alone. Then they mounted their horses and rode swiftly away.”’ * And A bes escaped.”’ “Yes, e affair was witnessed by two men who had encam in the barranca, and when your as- sassins galloped off they rescued me.”’ ‘Who were these men?”’ ‘** Cactus Jack and Zeke Bozeman.” ‘“* Ha! the same hounds to whom I owe my present trouble. Curses on them! they were born to ruin me. I have laid Top after trap for them since they an their work, but the devil protects his own and nothing can kill them.” “They rescued me,” she went on, calmly, * and would have taken me to some refuge, but I left them on the plain and went away alone. From that hour I lived only for vengeance on you. I assumed a disguise and came to Black Bend, and after that I was always busy. I was abroad by night, learning your secrets, and often was in your cave. I was present when you shot Lieutenant A, for plotting to secure your position, and Ialso saw you shoot El- bridge McKey on the cliff.” ‘““ You have kept yourself well out of sight.” ‘“*T have figured in another disguise des that of Zadoc, the mulatto. I was at one time known as Monsieur Dupage!”’ “It is false, for my own hand killed the French- man.”’ Loella, as we will now call her, smiled coldly. ** You thought you killed him, but you made a mistake. The man who walked into your ambush and was shot dead did resemble me as ‘Du % but it was the wrong man, and while you exulted over the supposed death of one whom Queen Zina had pointed out as a dangerous persen, I discarded my disguise and in my proper character, and as Zadoc. keptup my work. I could at any time have guided the soldiers to your lair, but I had two reasons for refraining.” : ‘* You have been wonderfully sharp.”’ “‘ My first reason was that I preferred to let the = do their work alone; the other, to save na.”’ - anor So your heart bleeds for her, does it?” 7) oes.”’ “You are a philanthropist on a big scale.”’ “More than that, I am Zina's sister.”’ ‘*What?’’ cried the man, startled anew. ‘* We are sisters. Born on the same day, we lived comet 2ePry lives as children, but Brenda—such s herr and I never saw or heard from her until, when I re- turned to Black Bend, I found her in your cave. ' ' | fact. Poor Brenda! pransible errand and brought me to the cave to take er place that we were sisters, but such was the She had been, and she con- _ tinued to be, more easily led along the downward | path than you found me. Cc — All the iron seemed gone | le ere She has loved and obeyed you, but you found me less pliable. **T encountered and recognized her the night you made your attack on the emigrants in the pass. called her by name, but did not reveal my own nme gy A and until to-night, she has never that ‘ Monsieur Dupage ’ was her sister in disguise. All along I have oe to save her from eternal ruin, but the future looks dark.” ‘‘It is dark for you if not for her,’* he hissed. ‘*In what way?” ‘* You shall die here, and by my hand.” **Do not try it,’’ she answered, with strange calm- ness. ‘Think of the fate of the three men who tried to murder me in the barranca. One was shot = Apaches; another, when you sent him to dog the old miner, Prospect, to his lair—for you had seen Nola and aspired to 4 her, also—was pushed over the cliff by the old man; the third you sent to the Bend asaspy, but when Tom Knott was shot the last of the trio had gone to judgment.” ‘**L_ shall not fail as they have done.” **You will make a worse failure. You and your band are doomed; this day is likely to prove your last on earth. The avege are here, and nothing can save you. You will die, and your masked face will be uncovered. Then your name, now so hon- ored, will go down to future jyears dishonored and accursed, Man, man, what has made one of your fair prospects so vile a wretch?”’ The girl spoke with startling solemnity. She was handsome, even in her disguise, and she seemed like a spirit come to accuse and warn this guilty man. ‘*So you turn your pity on me?” he — ly said. ‘Ido not. I turn it on your aged father, your sister—”’ ‘You need not waste your time. Better think of yourself, for I have dallied here long enough, and y my life, I will not leave you alive. Witch, I will take your miserable existence from you.” He snatched a revolver from his belt, but, again, the counterfeit boy was ahead of him. Neither fired, however, for his own band was struck upward and he looked around to see Zina, The queen seemed to have ten years during the night. Her face was dreadfully white and changed; her hair and garments were in confusion and her eyes blazed fiercely. She scarcely seemed like the same person. He shrunk from the sight and she laughed wildly. ‘‘Ha! ba! ha! So you no longer have honeyed words for me? Your past and present are known to me at last. You have planned to put the girl Nola in my place and kill me, even as you have twice attempted to murder my sister.” ** Zina!’ he exclaimed, ‘‘ what madness is this?’ ‘**'You name it well, sir; it 7s for a woman to trust aman. I gave all up for you and you have proved a traitor. ell, it is the way of men and I need not complain. Yet, the blow has gone deep and I am maxi, mad !”’ frightened by Ler wild manner. “Calm? Yes, I will be as calm as the tigress that seeks her prey. I will show you my calmness!” She sprung forward so suddenly that her hand was on his throat before he could make a move. He caught her, with an impatient exclamation, but it was his last on earth. e had failed to see that, as she sprung forward, one of her hands drew ase- creted knife from her dress, and even Loella, who finally saw the danger, was too late to arrest the sos she plunged the steel deep into the chief’s reast. Deep and deadly was the wound, and, without a word, the Captain of the League of Gold threw up his arms and dropped to the rocky floor, dead be- fore he touched it. Loella stood in silent horror, but Zina flung her- self on the body and began to per coed kiss tha face from which the black mask had fallen away. The counterfeit boy was wholly unnerved, and he was wringing his hands feverishly when the sound of footsteps was followed by the sudden entrance of Cac'us Jack, man and Captain Brigham. They were marked in more than one place by blood and powder-grime, but it was plain they had no severe wounds and their stride was that of con- querors. oni pe of the trio in front of them they suddenly paused, and all except Jack looked fixedly at Zina and her victim. The giant had an eye for the ¢oi- disant Zadoc, and there was tenderness in his lance. Then he turned to Brigham. ‘**Captain,”’ he said, “yonder lies the Captain of the Black Masks. He will never do more mischief, if read the signs aright, and now you may look on his face and see who he was.” He strode forward, while Zina drew back a little in a quiet manner, and then lifted from the dead man the half-disarranged mask she had tried to — ‘ righam looked, and uttered a cry of surprise and orror. He saw the still, white face of Lucas Townsend. “ Are you mad, Cactus Jack?” he demanded, after a 5 a ‘* He the outlaw Captain?” ‘ es ’ “ And I, too, Say yes,” added Loella, moving for- ward, “6 slew Brigham, it is a strange, sad business,” is wn older b Be calm,” he soothingly said, the guide solemnly continued, “and my heart aches for father and sister; but Justice had to have its due. Lucas Townsend sowed the wind and reaped the whirlwind. Boze and I have knowed for some time what the critter was, but we had to find the new refuge of the band before we could spring the trap. When I told you I had a few arrests to make before we started this evening, I meant Lucas; but the abduction of Marian changed my plan. 1 saw that Lucas was upset by the affair, which I believe to have been a blunder, and I resolved to let him go with us and keep my eye on him. It was folly on name—was of a disposition even more | my part, for he slip away when the sand fell, and restless than my own. She left the old home first, | I don't know what os he has A from Loella_ interru egg oe d th m an 6 locked “a around to see Zina iota across the of Ah! you little thought when you sent her away on a | the chief. She was gasping strangely, and when } ICO iS) <€om (E, Own - ~ ue com)