Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 209 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

14 --— oo — gleefully. ‘‘ You shall have any chance you want, then. the mine.” ‘Well, now, that is a matter of business, and | we will consider it at our leisure. JI must confess that,it is quite another matter of busi- ness that s brought me into this region, though you were, of course, an extra attrac- tion. Sauce I had such you that ficty thousand— ‘Ob, you precious usurer!” broke in Rosina. Suppose you take a partnership in | | good luck in ioridting | ** You don’t know bow near you came to losing | . your money.” : : oe. **T do know that I got it, and that the trans- action paid me well. AsT was going to say, I have become quite a money-lender. after you left San Francisco [ made the ac- apaintance of a young man, a member of an r) d Californian family, named Manuel Vin- , n cente.” Rosina started, and. could not wholly sup- press dn exclamation of surprise. ‘* Do you know him?’ asked the broker, ‘**T have heard of him. Never mind that at present, but go.on and tell me about him.” “T thonght you must have some sort of an me- acquaintance with him, as he was askin about you. In fact, he introduced himself to me for the purpose of making inquiries con- cerning a you g lady. who was doing, business ' upon you. Shortly | i ; ' ' ! | ' / : in San Francisco under the name of Rosina. | But, your note had warned me to keep a still number two. You may eall'me a coward if tongue. about course he. got nORIAS out of me on that Fo apa *‘Of course, my dear Mr, Hornby, I knew that I could trust you.” - “Tshould hope so. Well, in course of time it turned out that the young man wanted to borrow a pile of money on a big cattle farm u here, that belongs to his uncle, Pedro Rosalba. Rosina started again. . ‘Do you know, .the place Hornby, ‘“‘T know,.something about it. Have you lent the money ; ‘“Oh, no—not at that distance. But he offered me such a high rate of interest, and it seemed to be such a promising speculation, that I thought it worth while to come up here and .look after it, and at the same time to look after ou and the Little Ruby, Now, Miss Rosina, f you know any thing about the place and the parties, [hope you will kindly give me some paints, as.I should dislike above all things to ose money by a Mexican,” Rosina, reflected. She, had no doubt that Pedro Rosalba, having been crippled by the crash in New Ophir, was seeking ip raise money by the pledge or salo of the ranch, and she was pet es eran OP tit Rs the property, in all probability, belonged to her. She might. say to Hornby, Nethat is my ; roperty, and you can get no title to it from Rocha, but that statement would render necessary such an explanation’ as she was not yet ha to make. “You kpeW something about the place ple,” said the broker, observing her besita- ion, “T think you ought to tell me frankly what it is.” oe he A be an ” quickly asked iration, and perhaps if was. “Go to Buck Farley,” sate she, “He is a good business man, and [ believe him to be an’ onest man. He is well aequainted about here, and can advise you.” ve phere will T i ea ‘“He was in Warneton a little while ago. If he is not here now, you w find him at Death lk u m up. y. , . “T wou like to know what av he" ve ou,... When you have see 2 i you come SS ete ‘““ T have seen Mr, ‘What did etal SOrT 'to y eat Ste secret.” * “Indeed! That is very strange.” “3 ‘« von have a ene acd ection with this matter, a, I suppose I may have one, se te iss Rosina, I's nay have “Of course you may. . But there is one thing I ought to know. Did he tell. va that i erould be safe to lend the ORGY Fr bh Bmte © “ Well swind] shi Rosalba in the morning, When ne will the Little Ruby. “ CHAPTER XVI, -) Ox nia eat BEN HS ltt tes N his return from unsatisfact for Buck Farley, Pedro Rosalba was ly crestfallen, and went into a fit of the sulks. When he described to his wife bis encounter with the Bonanza Prince, he knew that she would treat him scornfully; but. he was prepared for that. . ‘*And so you fainted dead away,” she said, ‘‘at the mere sight of your foe. I had not sup- posed you to be such a coward as that.” n I have seen come, and consult with you about or the’ dden thought struck’ her, If seemed to’ 5 . —_——.s — CU —- —_- rrr : ———————— was not until night that Ib Horn re- durbdats Berta Ret ha pe pce a 7 Farley,” hesaid.. 9 -* Se ek | | je living at the Lincoln House. Tf ield to our will. But, as you sai , Ma . : ot sone wi need akmegh® eeMcata som ef Ok I may ay that Iam not likely to be |’ by any Mexican. Is sea Pedro “Wait a moment.” said Rosalba, ‘There | Buck Farley, the Bonanza Prince. t “Are *cu rudy to make the loan‘l bad con- are some things which will strike down tbe | tracted for?” bravest of men. Do you believe’that the dead can live again on this earth?” Her tone changed as she thought of her own experience, ** What do you mean?” she asked, feebly. ‘* Do you remember what you saw as we were coming home from that cursed exhibition?” “T have tried to-sbut it)from my memory, Pedro, but cannot. It was a dream, a phatitom; an accidental resemblance.” **Perbaps it was. I dd not preterid’ to say what it was. But I know what an effect it had To-day, whén’ that man had shot my pistol out of my Hand, he stepped up and faced me, and what face do ‘you ‘suppose I saw?’ sé ” Not— “Not your dead Husband, Lucia; but another dead man.” Mt. ** Another?” ‘if it had been a few years” younger; and had not worn a heayy beard, it would have been the face of Edward Dorlon!” _.“ Santissima ‘madre! What is coming to us?” ‘*} don’t know that it can be much worse than has alréady come. Whatever it -is, it seems to be something that we* cannot fight: against. I am now wondering wio will be you and your affairs,,and of | you will; but it was that face, Lucia, that struck me down.” ‘* But you are a man, Pedro Rosalb: ought not to be afraid of anything ‘living or dead, {nthe present or in the past.” ' “T am not afraid, and you shall yet admit that’I am no coward. Iwill maxe the best fight I can make, though I may be fighting against fate.” | Before the day was done, Rosalba and _ his wife were greatly cheered and strengthened by an arrival at the ranch—the arrival of no less a person than Manuel Vincente, ad He brought with him the marks of dissipation, but the air of success. A keen and unscrupu- lous gambler, he had made his tour pay, and was Well dressed and confident, with the gold pieces of the Yankees jingling in his pockets. Bat he had sad and strange news to’ hear. He had been duly informed of the New Opbir disaster, but had yet to learn of the stccessive blows that had fallen upon the Rosalba family. those unpleasant facts were related to him, his countenance fell. The state of affairs an far from being such as he had expected to nd. The story of the death of Bill Saunders startled him, He also was interested in the question, who would be number two? The suab- sequent events, which had so shocked and as- tounded his relatives, were equally oom and astounding to him, and he did not preten to understand them.” But, when he had heard the worst, he pulled himself together, and declared that something must be done. y Of | oT “We must make a different sort of a fight,” te said ; “a strong, bitter and merciless fight. 8 must assault the camp of the enemy, and give no quarter. For this we will need pct and itis a good thing that I have been lucky in my travels. : og eae; most important matter,” said Senora Rosalba. ‘You have not brought Rose back: Have you found her?” rm My a _“ Yes, ‘That is' to say, ‘ e'trail of a A I believed to be . But had no oner spotted he re a jn, what direction = a not Jearn whe Pad @ Bhat 1 ‘Where did you find her?” “In San Francisco, She was quité a business . ° i Fe s ‘ i fee af fas iA ve: t her!” he said. “She is’ 4 now here, or in Warneton, which is'but a few" ‘miles from” Death Gulch: comethe owner of the Little Ruby mine, and: that woman we can take her, and compe ““T have arranged: for that, uncle’ Pedro. I | have brought here a San Francisco spéeculator / money-lender named Hornby, who is read ea _ you money on the ranch show a satisfactory title, and I believe I can manage that. He ll come to see you to-mor- row morning,” ‘“t! , | __ Jacob Hornby rode up to the Sn aba Soe the next morning, and was graciot rei by Manuel Vincente and his uncle, who set re- freshments before bim, including a liberal sup- ply of. wiue and liquor. . t the man from San Francisco would neither eat nor drink, end his manner, though bland and cheerful, was not such as to encour- age the would-be borrowers, “Have you thought over the matter of busi- ness we were talking about?’ asked Manuel. and you ut you seém to have had rio luck in the r than she flitted, and I could: if you can ved ron thre, ps lating in’ | stocks, and POR rch td oa : the table beforé him: he has lately be~ | my ex 3 here. -Good-morning.’ ately ba esac ‘| Rosina th had been taken from his mind. claims the does it pretend to have been given?” Farley.” had a good title to proper have laid claim to it long ago? be “966 « “Not yet,” replied Hornby. ‘‘I have made a few inquiries, and am compelled to say that I am not attogether satisfied with the security.” “Oh, we can satisfy. you on that point. There may be.a slighé:cloud on the title, but it can easily be cleared away.” ‘‘But the cloud that I baveseen, Mr. Vin- cente, is not a slight: one, It is strictly an ad- verse title: I have been shown a deed to this Reema: and itis not a deed to yourself, or to r. Rosalba, or to his wife.” The thoughts of the Rosalba family at once settled dn Rose Warren, whom they. believed to be living in the neighborhood under the name of Rosioa. It must be she who was re- sponsible for this new conrplication. “Who has dared to attempt to deed away this property?’ demanded Pedro Rosalba, ** If therdeed you speak of is signed by a young per- son named Rose Warren, it is worthless, as she, if she is living, is not .yet of age.” ‘““The deed is not signed by Rose Warren,” replied Hornby» ** There can be no other person who has even a shadow of a elaim to the ranch, .1 hope you are not joking with us, Mr. Hornby,” '* Indeed I am net joking. Iam telling y& the’simple truth: Tbheman who made this deed seems to have been able to show a clear title to the land.” * A man? Who was he?’ .. ‘s Phe name signed to the deed is Henry War- ren. Thisname fell upon the Rosalba family like a thunderbolt. Senora Rosalba shrieked, and her husband’s dark face turned livid. Manuel Vin- ‘céente sat as if he was stupefied. Jacob Hornby, bland and cheerful as ever, waited patiently for them to recover from the shock. ‘* It is an imposition!” exclaimed Senor Ros- alba. ‘* When was this pretended deed dated?’ **September 10, 1872.” ‘It is the clearest possible case of fraud. Herny Warren died more than ten years before that date.” ‘‘ Are you sure that he did?’ calmly asked Hornby. “Of course he did. He disappeared, and nothing has since then been heard of him. He is sup to have lost his way at night, and to have fallen into the great chasm near here which is known as Death Gulch.” o og Did you or any other reliable person see him ie *€ Oh, as to that Dhave told you all I know. There can be no doubt that the man was dead long before that deed was dated. Nobody in the neighborhood doubts it.” ‘* But the deed I speak of, Mr. Rosalba, raises what I must call a strong doubt. It is duly witnessed and properly authenticated.” “It is a forgery, sir; a base forgery, and I shall see that the for are punished. Who ro under that deed? To whom ‘* Buchanan Farley, commonly known as Buck “* Buck Farley! Shall I never hear the last of that man?’ The consternation of the Rosalba family was complete, and Jacob» Hornby did not attempt to increase it by adding a word. “It is all a fraud,” said Pedro Rosalba at last. ‘It is a plain and. palpable fraud. If that man Farley, whom I believe to be nothing _buta swindler ona large scale, believed that he ty, would he not Yet this is the retended deed.” “is strange,” replied Hornby, ‘‘and I cannot undertake to explain it. But I have that is enough for me.” “Then you fefuse to go any further ip the business?” asked Manuel. — + Sedippoeet ca will wanby curetpenseepaid ~ **Tsup you will want your e i maw he ir exp paid, ‘** You need not trouble yourself about that, Mr. Vincente. I think I shall be able to clear first we have heard of his ’ Ww Hornby ania Warneton, ought that/he looked as if.a weight _ “Thavenot lentthe Mexican any money, Miss Rosina,” said he, ““and 1 am not likely to. If you are still in the mind to sell meashare in the Little Ruby, [ am ready to talk business,” ; ae oe + CHAPTER XIX. JUMPING A CLAIM. WHEN Rosina and Jacob Hornby bad had their talk, it was settled that the firm name of th A ey ngs tet the Little Ruby mine should be Jacob Hornby & Co., and the young lady was glad, as many other ladies are who are not business women, to have ‘‘a man at the head of the house.” The arrangement was also high- ly hasten Outram, who had a good oa of Hornby, and believed that ‘her ” was hardly fttted for the business of run- ung a mine. ith. Hornby’s capital and en of reopening the Little Ruby an ' the. work making a CORNICE OOOKS (C (C (0)