Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 202 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

the | 1 to in- ke 6-8 mn ~ ; | 7 of , Cactus Jack, James’s quickness proved too much for even broad shoulders. Among tbe quartet peace and good-will al- ways prevailed. Even James and Lucas wére usually of one mind, and when they differed it was With a marked regard for the other’s opin- ion. All this served to make more pleasant the soldier’s visit, but be would have been seen less frequently had it not been for Marian. The others were pleasant companions, but she— well, she filled a space in Brigham’s esteem— yes, we will use the word—which he knew would turn to a mighty gulf of despair if she went away. Jf she did! What was to prevent it? Town- send bad announced that the family was soon going. and when the others turned their backs on Black Bend, of course Marian would go too, and he would never see her again. He thought of all this as he sat near her, look- ing at her fair face as an idolator looks at his earthly god, and the thought brought a sbarp pain to bis heart. Wasthere no way to keep her at Black Bend? He could think of but one. If she was his wife she could stay, but it is a devoted woman who, with her eyes wide open, will marry a soldier, liable as he is to be at any time transferred to another post. But, pshaw! the idea that fair Marian Town- send could by any means care for him was the wildest of all. The family had heard of the expedition :gzainst the robbers, and the young men, in particular, were much interested. ‘*T suppose you have no doubt about their being the so-called Black Masks?” said James. ‘* None at all,” answered Brigham. “tis strange 1 have never seen any sign of them, for | have often been along that very vicinity.” ‘I trust you will not go any more, James,” said Miss Townsend, nervously. ‘Why not?” ‘* Because they are liable to kill you.” ‘‘What shonld I be doing meanwhile?’ laughed James, stretching out bis long arms. “Tf they took a fancy toshoot you in the back, you would not do much of anything. You are all of you too venturesome by far. You and Lucas go out with your rifles,and father after his specimens, without a thought of dan- ger. What if you should fall into the bands of the dreadful Apaches?” ‘Couldn’t you raise a rescue-party, sister mine?’ Lucas banteringly asked. ‘* You’re not worthy of it!” declared Marian, with an oy of severity. ° All smiled, but had the able to look into the future, they would have acknowledged that, for once, at least, a woman’s fears were well founded. ‘You say the scouts gained no clew to the iden‘ity of the gang?’ continued Lucas, address- ing the soldier. ‘They saw the faces of two of the men, and they will not be likely to forget them. Besides, they heard the female outlaw called Zina.” ‘*Sbe cannot be known in Black Bend.” ‘* Probably not,” ‘“‘Can’t youand I take a band in the game, James?” ‘*’m afraid we should make poor work of it. I was never made for a detective,” James lazily answered, ** How do you propose to act, captain?’ ‘‘T shall leave all to the guides for the pre- sent,” Brigham answered. ‘* They are very sagacious, yousay.” ‘‘ Suca is their reputation, and their looks and _ manner corroborate the report.” ‘‘T suppose they will leave no stone un- turned,” “Such are my instructions to them.” ‘Then we may soon expect to see the Black Masks brought to justice. They have done a good deal of mischief around the Bend, and we shall all breathe freer when you have extermi- nated them. Isn’t that true, Marian?” And Lucas closed his pleasantry by winking at Brigham. CHAPTER IX. JAMES BECOMES A CHAMPION. AFTER apleasant conversation of two hours, both Mr. Townsend and James excused them- selves and went away, e former could not long remain away from his treasures of rock and plants and his son had business of equal importance. rie James at once took his rifle and left the ranch, but he took guod care to keep out cf Marian’s sight. . She would be frightened to death if she knew I was going into the hills, but I have pro- gees this expedition and I’m not goingto give t up for any rascally man or woman in mask,” he muttered, as he strode away. lt was no mysterious errand be had planned— only a trip among the hills, a method of killing time to which he was very devoted. He left the town and walked on toward the rougher ground. His knife was carried over his shoulder, but in a careless manner, for he expected to see neither red Apache nor masked thief. If he did not meet with any adventure, it would be his first since arriving at Black Bend. He was astrong, sensible young man of twenty-five, and though bis courage had really never been tested, there was promise of plenty of itin bis earnest face. There was, in fact, little false sentiment or weakness in the Town. send family, though we dare say many a prac- tical man would place a ban on the calling of a man who lived only to collect ‘‘ specimens,” as the elder Townsend did. James entered the hilly country and moved on for half a mile in a leisurely way. There was no occasion for hurry, and the warmth of the day made him feel indolent. **T wish I could run upon one of the outlaws,” he thought, as he paused at the mouth of a can- yon. ‘* There would be a spice of interest in getting ahead of those lauded guides; but, Lord love me, I wouldn’t know a road-agent from a miner.” He smiled at the idea, for, since coming to New Mexico, he realized that his life was a wholly useless one and he bad almost fallen into the listless contentment of the southern man who has no employment and does not want any. For a while he stood in thought, but the neighboring shadow of the cliff looked so inviting that he finally went to its cover, lay down and was soon fast asleep. Perhaps half an hour had passed when another person appeared in the canyon. From its upper end, a young woman camedown ata steady walk, moving toward where James lay, but undoudtedly unconscious of his presence. Had he been awake, the sight would have sur- rised and interested him, and for two reasons. irst, the girl—she was no more than twenty— was a stranger to bim; and, secondly, she was very pretty. Though not large of frame, she was so plump and well formed that she looked the picture of health—the result, it may be, of a wild mountain life—and the plain, stout dress of dark blue, the beaded Indian moccasins and the small straw hat served to iucrease the attractiveness of her appearance, She seemed almost like an Indian princess; but one look was enough to prove her of pure white blood, and an observer would have been left to wonder how she chanced to be among the hills. To all appearances, there was no such ob- server. James Townsend slept in the shadow of the cliff, and no other person was visible ex- cept the girl. She advanced fearlessly, though this may have been owing in a measure to the fact that she carried a small rifle across her shoulder, and in this way passed James, A few yards further on was the beginning of the canyon, and she was just passing the point of rock when the scene suddenly changed. Without warning, two men darted from cover directly into her path, and one look was enough to make her pause. No ordinary rovers of the hills were they, but men of red skins and wild sg, RI a ace warriors, beyond a doubt. The sight was one which might have alarmed even aman, and the girl’s face changed color; but ber rifle darted into position promptly, and the two red-skins paused, with the muzzle cov- ering at least one dark breast. Then ensued a tableau, for they halted and glared at the young woman who faced them so boldly; and, a little in the rear, James Town- send slept peacefully on, unconscious of the sit- uation so near bim. ‘* Attempt to come near me and you seal your own fate!” cried the girl, in a ringing voice. One of the Apaches forced a guttural sound, which a liberal stretch of the imagination might term a laugh. ‘* Peace, white squaw,” he said, in tolerably good English. ‘‘ You make the cliffs laugh when you talk thus to an Apache warrior.” “If my rifle makes them laugh it wiil be to your sorrow,” she retorted. * You dare not shoot.” ‘You had better not test me.” ‘“‘Pale-squaw, put down Pfs short gun. The red-man laughs at it, and you will make him angry if you act like a child.” “Have no fear; I shall act like a man,” she said, with perfect steadiness. The red-skins hesitated. Brave as they were, they had a horror of fire-arms—neither of them was thus equipped—and they had no desire to risk their lives before the muzzle of the rifle. Still, they aimed to capture the girl, and they wer? not men to be easily turned from their u ; 4 Under the circumstances they decided that strategy would be the proper course, and they were about to separate when the scene assumed a new phase. The sound of voices had intruded on the slum- ber of James Townsend, and when he finally awoke, he was amazed at what he saw. Oddly enough, none of the others had seen him, and he sat up and listened until the state of affairs became clear. Then he suddenly arose, and strode forward to the side of the gir). His appearance materially changed the situ- ation. he girl’s face brightened and the Apaches scowled at sight of another rifle, but rr the Giant Guide. there was po evidence that they intended to — ‘this w 9 ee, ‘‘ What is the trouble here?” James demanded in a ringing voice. ‘*These Indians have barred my way, and they now demand that I put down my rifle,” she hurriedly said. ‘*Don’t you doit. They mean mischief, and such rascals are never to be trusted. Apaches,” be continued, addressing the warriors, ‘‘ what are you doing here?’ ‘Why do-s the wind blow?” one of the men asked, but James could not interpret the meta- phor satisfactorily, ‘*] am talking of you. you so near the big fort?” ‘* The whole prairie is free to the Apaches,” “Perhaps so, but the people of the white Again I say, why are man’s race are not included in the grant. Why have you stopped the maiden?” ‘*She is to go to the Apaches’ country,” was the firm reply. ** Who says so?” ‘*1 do, and I am the Red Tiger.” ‘‘Have you consulted the maiden in this matter?’ The red-man made a gesture of disdain. ‘** ‘When the Apache forms a plan, he does not g° to others to ask how they like it. His will is aw. Now, he has said that the pale squaw is to & to his village and it shall be so.” nder some circumstances, the cool assur- ance of the Indian would have been amusing but James knew the mettle of the red lords o the prairie, and knowing, too, that he was in- experienced in all kinds of hostile work, the ~ future seemed to bristle with importance, Still, he was not alarmed, and he turned to the girl, who seemed more engaged in scan- ning him than in trembling before the Apaches. ‘*[T need not ask whether you want to go with these red rascals, miss, for it is plain you do not regerd them in a friendly way.” ‘‘They are the enemies of all white men,” she steadily answered. “If you belong near here you must be awareof that. Death would i a boon to me compared with captivity among em. ‘* In that case, [Il try my luck against them, I carry a rifle and they don’t, so I consider my- self a match for them. Aha!” While talking, he bad teen watchiug them keenly, though secretly, and as he saw Red © Tiger, as he had called himself, stealthily move his hand toward bis hatchet, he raised bis rifie and covered the red breast. ‘Hold up, right there, my gay Apache. I’ve got the drop in this game, and if you try to play your cards on. the sly I'll shoot you,.by thunder!” . CHAPTER X. RED TIGER SHOWS HIS TEETH. A DISINTERESTED spectator might have thought the situation a trifle amusing—ratber too rauch of the David and Goliath order for modern timies—but James Townsend was speak- ing in a firm, quiet voice, and he certainly did have the advantege of weapons, The Apaches eyed him as though taking ac- count of stock. They were not now on the broad plain, astride a swift steed and many in number, but simply two roving warriors, on foot, almost in the town of the pale-faces, and menaced by a pair cf rifles. It behooved them to go slow. ‘ ‘* Look!” cried the Red Tiger, suddenly; ‘‘ the white man i3 not acting wisely. He love not know the squaw, but he would risk his life for ber. This is not wise. Men should fight for gain, and not where no reward can be won.” “That. mav be Apache logic, but it isn’t wive. Ill defend this lady to the last.” The eyes of the wild warrior glittered. He | wanted the scalp of the man almost as much as he wanted tbe girl, but he was chrewd cnough to see that it could not be easily gained. sides, the report of the rifles might bring other pale-faces to the spot. ‘‘Beware!” be darkly said. ‘‘ You make a bad enemy when you anger Red Tiger.” “] reckon I can stand it.” se » ioe still say we must give up the pale uaw ‘* Yes, sir,” said James, promptly. The warrior turned to bis companion, and they spoke together in a subdued voice. So far a; James was concerned, they might have shouted with all their vigor, for they used the Apache language, and it was all an unintelligi- ble jargon to him. | : ‘They are plotting mischief,” said the girl, uneasily. ‘* Indian-like. they probably are, but we must contrive to baffle them. Where do you live?” She hesitated 2 moment before replying 7 ins. My fa- “ Half a mile away, among the h ther is a miner,” she then said. ‘‘ At which mining-camp are you located?” *“ At none, sir. We live alone in a cave.” The young man was astonished, for, even in d country, it seemed odd for a woman to dwell thus. ' “They will follow us there,” he slowly said. ‘‘ Not if I can prevent it. We do not receive many guests anyway, and such as come there G cS Eomiehboo com