Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 209 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

~ capital A-——/ Buck Farley, the Bonanza Prince. out what it was, It was more than possible that he might strike something of interest in the line of his profession. ** Will you kindly favor me with your name?’ he asked. ‘*My name is Manuel Vincente,” replied the mav who had conducted the negotiation. Wesley Ryder bad reasons of his own for wishing to know all he could learn about Man- uel Vincente, and here was that individual thrown at his head, as it were. ** There will be no occasion to use any force,” he said. ‘I did nos suppose the affair was so urgent.” CHAPTER XXVI. STRIKING AT THE HEART, Jacos HorRNBY was dead and buried; but he ‘was not forgotten. Rosina cherished his mem- ory as that of a dear and faithful friend, He had not only proved his friendship by dying in the defense of their joint property; but his will had made her the heiress of the greater part of his possessions, which were a fair little fortune in themselvés. Mrs. Outram mourned bis loss sincerely. She had hoped that in time ‘‘ ber Rose” would con- sent to marry that friendly and well-balanced man of business. The Little Ruby mine, under the superin- tendence of Parmenas Pratt, with the super- vision of Rosina, began to ‘‘ pan out” satisfac- torily, and its promise was excellent, sina, whose active temperament would not allow ber to remain cooped upin the Lincoln House, frequently rode out to the mine with Pratt, to inspect the ore as it was brought out, and to watch the work. One evening, when they were returning from the mine together, rejoicing over the growing richness of its product, Rosina became more thoughtful as they approached a little clump of trees, near the mouth of a narrow glen that opened out from the hills. ‘*] have often thought,” she said, ‘‘what a lace that would be for an ambush for a party of highwaymen, if they cared to capture us ‘““T have thought of that, too,” replied Pratt; **but we have often passed that place, and no rson has shown a disposition to molest us.” “The pitcher that goes often to the well, Mr. Pratt—” Was broken before she could finish the sen- tence. Five men sprung out from a clump of trees— a heavy force to be arrayed against one man and a woman—and surrounded and seized them before they could resist. These five men were well armed, and all were masked, and the operation was conducted in a style which showed that they were accustomed to the business. ‘*What does this mean?” demanded. Rosina. “What do you want?” **We want you, my lady,” replied one who evidently tried to disguise his voice as well as his face. ‘As there are two of you, we must take both,” “That is nonsense,” said Rosina, speaking ‘more calmly than she felt. ‘‘ We will give you our money and all the valuables we hove about us, and you will let us go on.” *“Not much, miss, You are mistaken in the men. That is not what we areafter. We have some particular business with you, and all. you’ve got to do is to go right along with us.” Parmenas Pratt, whose hands had been tied behind his back, looked piteously at Rosina, whose face was impenetrable behind her vail. Whatever she felt, she- was not the sort of young woman who would “ weaken,” except at the last extremity. ; ** Lead on, then,” said she. ‘‘ When you have run your necks into’a noose you need not say that I did not warn you.” They did lead on, the horse of each of the captives being led by oneof the masked men, and the otbers walking at the flanks and rear, as if to prevent the possibility of escape. They went up the gien to the top of the divide, and then down between two spurs of hills to an old road, up which they turned, and soon reached the mouth of an abandoned ‘mine. ‘Why, this is the New Ophir,” said Pratt, wishing to convey that information to Resina, though it might not be of any value, * old your jaw!” exclaimed the man at his side. The young lady naturally thought of her ex- parnore with that speculation, and of how she ad ben saved from disaster by the liberality of Buck Farley. She also naturally thought of Pedro Rosalba, who had lost so heavily, and who then claimed to be the owner of the mine. With these thoughts the disguised voice of the leader of ber captors was connected, and it was natural that she should fear that she was being led into a serious difficulty. The two prisoners were dismounted and taken in at the mouth of the mine, which slanted downward, following the lead that had out- cropped in the side of the hill. One of the men took a lantern from a hole in rE ssn een sess sss nee down the damp and slippery incline, until they reached asubterranean chamber of considera- ble size, from which the former managers of the mine bad tunneled in different directions, with the hope of striking a new lead in place of the exhausted one, or with the intention of deceiv- ing investors. Here a bright fire was burning, and three mep were seated near if. One of them arose as the party came in. ‘* Have you got her?” he excitedly exclaimed. ** Are you sure you are right?” ‘**T have no doubt of that, uncle,” replied the leader of the party. ‘‘But you shall see for yourself.” His voice, which was no longer disguised, was that of Manuel Vincente, and the other voice was Pedro Rosalba’s. Rosina shuddered as she heard them. ** Now, young lady,” said Manuel, ‘‘ we will 5 an end to your mystery by raising this vail. She put out ber hand to prevent him; but he was too quick for her, and her indignant face and flashing eyes were fully exposed in the light of the fire. : ‘*So it is really you, Rose Warren,” said Pedro Rosalba. “You have been a long time away, and I am glad that you have returned at last. **T would never willingly have come within sight or hearing of you,” she indignantly re- plied, ‘‘and you will yet suffer for your brutal- ity in bringing me to this place. You have no right or authority over me, and I advise you, if you value your own safety, to let me go.” ‘*T have heard pullets try to crow before now, young woman, and I have always laughed at them. If I remember rightly, you are not yet fully of age. Saran pam your mother is your natural guardian, and | am her repre- sentative. I hope you understand that.” ‘‘T understand that you have some evil scheme of your own to serve by getting me into your power, but I warn you that it will not succeed. If it depends in any particular upon my will, I shall refuse and defy you.” * We will see about that, You may as well calm yourself down,” **But I hope, sir, that you have nothing to gain by keeping this gentleman a prisoner, and that he may go free.” 7 you take us to be such fools as to let him run out and spread the news? Not until we have settled your case, anyhow. Besides, I have good cause to remember him, and am pretty strongly inclined to give bim good cause to rernember me.” It was plain that the chances of escape for the two leaky might be represented by a very small figure, and that there was nothing for them to do but settle down toa patient en- durance of their fate; but Rose Warren was anxious to know the worst, to be informed of the extent of her step-fatber’s intentions. ‘*T hope, Senor Rosalba,” said she, ‘* that you will not one to telling me why you have had me brough here. What is it that you want of me? ‘‘You shall have it straight,” he replied. ‘Your mother and I have long been anxious that you should make a respectable and proper marriage, and we had picked out the right sort of a husband for you, when you got entangled with a roving Yankee.” ‘Whom you basely murdered!” broke in Rose, His face was livid with anger, if not with another emotion. ‘You had better be careful what you say, girl. There is a limit to my patience. The hus- band we had gs out for you was your cousin, Manuel Vincente, who still loves you dearly, and a strong point in his-favor is that he is not a Yankee.” Rose’s lip curled scornfully. ‘* But you ran away like a wild heifer,” con- tinued Rosalba, ‘‘and in course of time this good Manuel went to search for you, following your silly step-brother.” ‘* Did Benito leave the ranch?” eagerly asked ose. ‘‘ Yes; I have got rid of that nuisance. The young fool went to look for you, I 28 4 ng *“*But I found you, when the hunchback had failed,” said Manuel. ‘I wassure that I had found you, cousin Rose, when I surprised you in San Francisco, ates = you slipped away from me so shrewdly, You ought to reward my devotion.” — ‘You are no cousin of mine!” passionately exclaimed Rose. ‘‘ You can claim no kinship with me, and I despise and detest you!” ‘‘But you shall marry him, all the same,” said Rosalba. ‘There are to be no more airs, and no more high-stepping ways. You shall marry Manuel Vincente, and it is for that pur- /pose that you bave been brought here.” ~ **Now I understand you fully,” said Rose, “and now I know what I must meet. I will never marry him, And you can never force me “We will see about that, my girl. To- morrow yeu will sing another song. Then you shall be married tosuit me. Whether you con- the rock, turned up the light, and led the way ‘ sent or not, there shall be a good encugh mar- riage to suit my purposes. Now, Manuel, I will ride to the ranch and inform the senora of our splendid success. In the morning I will send adre Sarza to you, with exact instructions as to what he is todo. Besure that you keep a good watch, and don’t fail to tie that show fellow securely.” Pedro Rosalba went away, and Rose felt re- lieved by bis absence and by the knowledge of es respite that kad necessarily been allowed er, CHAPTER XXVII. A CASE OF FITS. AFTER the departure of Pedro Rosalba, Man- uel and his companions, who were well supplied with provisions, prepared their supper, and invited the prisoners to partake. Rose Warren and Parmenas Pratt did not allow their appetites to be affected by their sit- uation, and duly fortified themselves with the food that was set before them. They also slept as well as their hard couches would permit them to, though his bound limbs made every position uncomfortable to the ex-showman. In the morning Manuel waited vainly for Pedro Rosalba anit the priest he had promised to send. Neither of them put in an appearance. In their place came a messenger from Rosalba with the information that Padre Sarza was absent, having been suddenly called away to a distant camp. Rosalba sent word that he would en- deavor to find a person to take the place of the absent priest, and would bring him to the old mine as soon as possible, Manuel cursed his luck, and Rose thanked God that the time of her trial had been again put off. The morning hours passed slowly, and neither Pedro Rosalba nor any other person put in an appearance, anuel, who had all along been impatient, began to grow furiously angry. He made no attempt to confine his wrath, but let it flow forth freely in conversation with his com- panions. ‘“* Uncle Pedro is a coward,” be said. ‘‘ He is willing that we should all run onr necks into a noose, but is afraid to show up when there is the least chance of danger to bimself.” The others were decidedly of the same opinion, and the impression seemed to prevail that the Mexican was shamefully leaving them in the lurch. This impression was naturally pleasing to the prisoners, as every respite increased the chances that something might turn up in their favor. | At last Manuel was so far overcome by his impatience that he decided to do something, So be took two of the band, and sallied out, as he said, to do a little foraging on bis own hock. He did not happen to know that at that time Pedro Rosalba was a prisoner in his own house, where a close search was being made without the formality of a search warrant, ane that enough was found to connect him with the robbery of the office of the Death Gulch Mining Company. Within half an hour Manuel and his two com- panions returned in high glee, bringing with them a man who had the appearance of a a Sc ‘We're all right now,” exclaimed Manuel, as he led this gentleman down to the large chamber that was lighted by a fire. ‘‘I can give unc'e Pedro points, and beat him eve time. Here’s a preacher, and now we wi finish up the business right aba Sa Rose directed an appealing glance at the al- leged preacher, and he answered her with a slight twitch of bis upper lip and a faint wink of his left eye. He had the look of a gentle- man, and she could not suppose that be would willingly lend himself to tke base designs of Manuel Vincente. ‘¢ This is the lady, parson,” said Manuel. ‘*My name is Wesley Ryder,” remarked that individual. ‘Very well, Mr. Ryder. She and I are the ones that are to be married, and the sooner the job is done, the better.” ‘“‘T desire to say to you, sir,” said Rose, ad- dressing herself to Ryder. and pointing at Manuel, ‘‘ that I do not wish to marry that person, and 1 do not mean to marry him. Iam well aware, too, that if any ceremony of mar- riage should be performed against my Consent, it would be a sham, and void in law.” “There seems to be an obstacle here,” quietly remarked Ryder. “It is no obstacle at all,” replied Manuel. ** All you’ve got to do is to go ahead.” ‘* But I feel it to be my duty to say that I agree with the young lady’s view of the law.” “ I don’t care a cuss for the law. And this is no place or time for any high-flown ideas of duty, either. Just you go rght ahead and marry us, and I will look after the consequen- ces. ‘“*Asa matter of right and consistency, Mr. Vincente—” “Don’t give me any talk about right and con- sistency! lam notin the humor for any foo!- ing. Here is a good sum in gold for you as m 100 AEOLAMIGE S) Cc (0) | | ‘| -—_ ——