Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 209 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

a _ impudence. a eee ee Se fresh start was at once begun, and proceeded | senior partner. ‘‘Can we rely upon them, in rapidly, the indications being good and the part- ners hopeful. re netieyo I have succeeded in getting a good superintendent for the mine,” said Hornby one morning, * Anybody I know?” asked Rosina. “IT suppose not. His name is Pratt,” “Ts not that the man who gave an exhibition at Death Gulch a while ago?” “So Tam told, He isa sort of strolling char- acter.. But he seems to be a sénsible and. capable man and he is well recommended by Farley & Warne,” “Tf they recommend him he must be the right man. I would like to make his acquaintance.” “You shall do so, of course. But I have a complains to make against you.” ‘What is. that, sir?” | ; ** Miss Rosina, I have been taken in.” ‘Asa partner, Yes.” aris **Taken in and done for is what I mean,” ‘Mercy on us! What is the matter?” ‘* When you sold me an interest in the Little Ruby. you. did not tell me there was a. hostile claim on the mine,” . “‘T could not have told you so, Mr, Hornby, as I knew nothing of the kind. Nor do I know it yet.” ; ' ‘Read this document, and you wil? be wiser. Tt was left at the mine yesterday, and I pot it this morning.” The “‘document” was a half-sheet of fools: cap, on which this notification was written, in a fair hand: ** To whoever may be claiming, occupying or atorking the Lite Ruby mine; . “You are hereby notified thaf the. lead you.pro- ose to work in the so-called Little Ruby mine be- ongs to the New Ophir mine, of which Iam the pro- prietor, and that any working of the samé by you is unlawful, and will not be allowed. “You are therefore ordered and required to quit and abandon the same within twenty-four hours from the receipt of this notice, and deliver posses- sion of the same to .my agent, or suffer the conse- quences of your refusal to do so, ’ ; * Prpro ROSALBa. *°M. RAFFERTY, agent and witness.” ' **Pedro Rosalba!” exclaimed Rosina. ‘*Yes. It seems that we both know him. He is the same man who made a big strike in New Opbir, and got swamped. Naturally he wants to get even on somebody. The same man, also, who tried to swindle me out of my money, and failed, Do you propose to obey his order? “Of course I do not. I would sooner cut off my right hand and throw it into the fire. What possible claim can he have on the mine?” “Well, the abandoned shaft of New Ophir adjoins us. That’s as near as I can get. to if: But | regard his action as a piece of unparalleled He wants to spite me, I suppose, because [ refused to lend him money. Any man can make mischief, if be is mean enough to Parmenas do it, though he has not a shadow of right on his side.” ee “But the law will protect us,” said Rosina. ‘It won’t do to trust to the law, and there is recious little of it about here to trust to, We- Braet do as other people do, and fight for our rights.” ; ‘Right? rT; Yes. likely to lose his stak It is a amon on ae Gey Mea en waa e, “But lam not a fighter, Mr. Hornby, and I doubt if you are,” senaintnell ceee if “T don’t pretend to be. But we can hire men to fight for us, as the other side will See oPEOis -BpAcH dda ¥OreHl to per nlle Wer thcotiaiit do. I, must. go, out. to t ine and lea whether we.can. rely tipod. the. intners t by us if the Mexican tries to drive us off.” ‘*T will go with. you,” Mrs, Outram put in a vigorous protest against this proceeding;..but Rosina’s. will was too strong for her, and Hornby was of the ppinion that there could be no danger as yet, So the young lady mounted a horse, and rode with her partner to the mine... They reached the mine near the close of the afternoon, and found Parmenas Pratt in charge. — Rosina was manifestly pleased with his ap- pearance, as he ne a right and active man, seeming to have plenty of spirit and determina- on. | They had some difficulty in getting to the mine, which was located at the oust a a glen, as the passage was choked up with bowlders which the miners were, rollin up, instead of being employed at their or “. What are you trying to do, Mr, Pratt?” asked Hornby. . ‘Well, sir, there’s no telling what may ha pen, and I thought it best to prepare for trouble y throwing up a sort of fortification.” Mr. Hornby took Rosina into the mine, and pointed out to her the work that had been done and that which was about to be undertaken. ‘Then they returned, and inspected Pratt’s for- tification, which was a substantial one, and only needed to be properly manned to become formidable. “How about the miners, Pratt?’ asked the stand case we have to fight?” ‘‘T suppose so, sir; but I have not yet put that |’ point to them plainly.” ‘“‘T will do it now. - We must know where we stand.” Hornby made _a little speech to the men pre- sent, reading Rosalba’: notification, explaining the position of affairs, and asking them if they would stand by the owners in the defense of the miue. It was at once apparent that sométhing was the matter with them. ‘They looked at éach other, and moved about uneasily. ‘* What jis the matter? asked Hornby. “ You shall be well paid for your'services. Speak out plainly, and -let us know whether we can’ de- pend on you.” e The men shuffled about, and looked dt one whom they seemed to regard as their leader. ‘*T don’t know how "tis with others,” said thisman at last; ‘‘ but da heap ruther live than die; and T wasn’t hired fur fightin’” “ Nor I,” said each of the others, ** As it’s about knockin’ off time,” continued |: the leader, “I reckon we mought 48 ‘well quit’ right now, and go homie.” a Not a word was said to detain them, and they put on their coats, and silently left the mine. “That is a cowardly and shameful desertion,” said Rosina, **T think T understand it,” remarked Hornby. ‘Those men have been tampered with. In plain words, they have been bought up by the enemy, who has paid them to leave us“in’ the lurch, [am afraid that we have begun to move in this matter a little too late.” Rosina looked at Pedro Rosalba’s notice to quit, and then glanced at her watch. ‘** Tt seems to me,” said she, ‘* that the twenty- four hours allowed us by this notice must have run out.” Hornby, after a brief consultation with Par- menas Pratt, admitted that she was probably right on that point. ‘* But that-would make little cr no difference with the men we have to deal with,” he said. ** This does not pretend to be a legal proceeding, and I presume the notice was intended only for outside effect. If Rosalba and his gang mean to clean us out, they won’t stand of any sort of ceremony, but will strike when they ean do us the most damage with the least harni'to them- selves. What are you doing, Mr: Pratt?” “Just piling up a few more stones, sir. “The smaller the garrison, the more protection it will need. ~ “What! Do mine?” “That is what Tam here for, Mr. Hornby.” ‘But they will come in a crowd, if they come at all, and you will soon be wiped out.” * Until then, sir, I willdo my best,””": "You area very brave man, Pratt; or a very stubborn one. you expect to remain at the will stay with you. “Miss Rosina, I am sorry that I shall be unable to escort you home,” But Twill lead out qGas horse, and as he is very fast IT have no doubt that you will have a safe’ride back to Warnetou.” pita ps oitami | A ~ ¢¥6i may leave’ the horse winere tice re- plied Rosina. “I will not neéd him yet a- while.” : ml BV « ie : if @2W uit ‘* What do you mean?” "" mw age ai- “Simply this—as Mr. Pratt’ is going to stay Pian ta Sotend Mr. Evatt, I shall stay todetend you, -. “My dear young lady, think ‘ofthe’ danger! You are no fighter.” © “98 eC tom Liy i ‘ “No more are you. You told més6 a while 0,” NW UnSad a | ' ‘to Warneton; but his words had no’effect upon her whatever. Nn De ace toms | ye _“You have known’ me ‘Jong’ enough,” said she, “ to ‘have learned that I have a will of my’ own, and that when I have determined’to do a thing I am not likely to change’m of the other, and neither of us ought to Mr. Pratt, if he is eee ano self. By the way, Mr. Pratt, for.arms and ammunition?” ~ a «There are two breech-loading ‘rifles here, dtippty-ot ‘cart- sacrificing him- ey and two revolvers, with a good ver of m ridges. t sort. of difficulty, -and came prowaad. Hornby shook his head, s ent t work to help Parmenas Pratt complete his forti- fication. But he soon got enough of lifting stones. ~“That is high enough and strong enough,” said he, ghing, and went'to ; too nervous to shoot straight.” 4 He put on his coat, and sat down by Rosina. Twilight was ended, and the stars were coming out. ‘ “Hark!” said Pratt. ‘‘ They are coming!” The trampling of horses was heard at a little distance, and then it seemed that the riders had halted, and were dismounting. ‘*‘ Now comes the tug of war!” said Rosina. —_————__ the Bonanza Prince. yesterday. - will “you!” As you are so determined, I- shot from without broke thes Pi a | ‘here to defend the’ mine, aid you are going to’ | their ‘one partner strays, he oug f to have the support esert add how are you off avg Sha | & ‘digwedieabth oe thimetia not what Thad looked ridaee. , “How fortunate! And Ibhavea good revol-’ own, and a hand bag full of cart- thought that we might get into sonie’ ‘‘We mustn’t strain our muscles at’ these stones, Mr. Pratt, until we make ourselyes” -- _-—_ > CHAPTER XX. NUMBER TWO. THE approaching party, whoever they were, could be seen as they made their way toward the mine. As many os a dozen could be counted, and there were probably more. Tt was a heavy force to be met by two men and one woman, and Hornby looked sadly at the forlorn hope. That they must be ‘ wiped out” was far too evident. But there was’plenty of determination in the pale countenance of Parmenas Pratt, and Rosina handled her revolver as if she were both willing and able to use it. They’ are moving cautiously,” said Pratt. ‘*T suppose they know that we are here, and just how many of us there are. Our rascally miners have told them.” The advancing band halted, and a man stepped out in front of them, and hailed: ; ** Hello; the mine?” ‘* Hello, yourself!” replied Hornby. ‘* Who are you, and what do you want here?” “We want that mine, You got the! notice Are you ready to give it up?” “Ttis our property, and we give it up to no robbers.” 9" | ‘* You had better give it up peaceably, or you et hurt.” ‘ig : ** You may be murderers, as wellas robbers,” replied Hornby; ‘but there is a hereafter for this sort’of thing.” ‘We are not to be scared by talki» Last one now. Are you going to give it up?’ The spokesman stepped behind a'rock, and at the same moment his companions disappeared from views ©) - Again Jacob Hornby looked hope, and sighed audibly, ‘Il think you had better take command, Mr. Pratt,” he said. ‘‘I put myself undef your orders,” ; ‘“Very well) sir. I can only advise you to keep yourself well under cover, and to use your rifle to the best of ‘your ability, firing as fast as you can if they make a*rush. As for the lady, f she will fire off her pistol'in the air, or any way to make a noise, it may help to give them a big idea of our numbers.” _** Indeed, sir,” proudly replied Rosina, “I ee fire at the enemy, and shall take good aim, upon the forlorn As she spoke, she threw back her vail; and her face, pale and animated, gave a new luster to the starlight," ©» ° ae It was the first-time Jacob Hornby had seen that face, and it was a revelation to him. He gazed at it with an intensity of admiration. "“*T am no fighter,” he said; ‘‘ but I swill fight to the death here—nct for the mine, but for ‘For God’s sake keep under cover, Miss Rosina!” implored Pratty ‘Your eyes are a better mark than a deer’s eyes'in'a still bunt.” She’ smiled upon them both, just as a -rifle- ss, and the bullet whistled near her head. Lh Parmenas' Pratt’ replied to, the shot, and the unequal battle’ began. oo ©) © oon The’ Claim-jom pers were unexpectedly cau- tious, if not poh eramppho a 80, considering: the avorin point of ‘numbers. They probably been told. by the absconding miners that t at 6 pow totoe though few, were well armed and wel protected, and were un- will risk their lives rasbly to gain what mi ht be ore safely secured by patience. . sy kept ata pretty safe distance from the | well as the defenders of ‘the mine were ‘shel- ification sheltering themselves ‘nearly as ed, and ‘from behind rocks and trees ‘main- tained a steady, but not @ rapid fire; to which opponents made a live —— Jacob Hornby, after a few shots, han his: rifle like an old campaigner, and Rosina fired her a frequently through a chink, and at least d her shareof making a noise. -- The bullets rattled egainst the stone wall, and ‘hummed terdugt the air as they flew over it, and ‘the*sulpburous smell of burned powder to the excitement of the scene, for,” remarked Pratt: ‘*They must be trying ‘to.tire us out.” . But it soon became evident that they were trying to do, something more than that. It could be seen that those who were firing on the fortification were fewer in number than they bad been, and that they were drawing nearer cautiously advancing from cover to cover. It was reasonable to he that they’ were protecting a more secret advance of their friends on cae flank or both, who had ceased firing for a time. ** Yes, they are stealing up to make a dash,” said Pratt, as he fired ineffectually at a man ‘whom he saw darting from a rock to a tree. **Oh, that night or Blucher would come!” ‘What nonsense is that you are talking, Pratt?” asked Mrs. Hornby. “T was wishing for an* earthquake or the Green Guard,” replied Pratt. “The Green Guard?’ exclaimed Rosina, 4 “Oh! if we could hope for that!” CORNICE OOO @ <SGO