Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 229 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

‘man, full ov sand, an’ er leetle a desarvin’ ones; an’they say ther Slap Jack’s fur er millyon.” Captain Cutsleeve. men as the Cutsleeves* and being young and brave hope was strong within her, She went ** W’ot interest c’u’d you hev in it anyway?” | quietly to sleep on a rude couch inside of a asked another. ‘‘ You never hit er pick in ther ruder hut. What was the exact nature of her drift, an’ the on’y time yer ever kim ’round thar | surroundings she was unable to guess nntil the Kunnel Canley, he jist booted ver clean outen sight. A man w’ot won’t either work ner fout orter go soak his head till he dries up.” | next morning. Then she had another rise, The bolts that secured the stout door upon This was a side shot, from a man who had | the outside were thrust back, the door opened, worked in the mine, but had managed to worm into alittle claim of hisown. He could not make much more than wages at it; but it gave him the right to swell a little; and he didn’t like Sandy Bob anyhow. — But such remarks as these stirred up public feeling until there was an informal meeting that by its very size attracted a good share of the men in town. After some little talk, Alligutor Abe, who had been cogitating over Sandy Bob’s question of what was to be done about it, proposed an an- swer. “711 tell yer, men, jist what I moves be did. Ef this byar thing ar’ fa’r an’ hands on ther boord, it ar’ all right. But ef this hyar ar’ a ouge game, sot up on ther Gulch ter play ’em fur ats, why thar’s too much coin in it ter "low it ter go through. I moves ther be a committee | i i ' ' a and into the room peered a man, who was evidently one of the outlaws, Quite picturesque be appeared. He was dressed in black corduroy a of a fineness and gloss that resembled velvet, a red shirt with a black slash of velvet across the left sleeve, top-boots that reached well up toward the thigh, and a broad- brimmed black sombrero, one side of which was looped up with a large golden star. Over his face was a black mask such as the gang always wore on their maraud- ing expeditions. his person touched his hat with a rather graceful gesture that resembled a military salute. Then hespoke in what might be a disguised, but was certainly a pleasant voice: ‘* There’s no use tryin’ ter fool yer, miss; but till ther Cutsleeves decide what’s goin’ ter be pointed by this hyar court ter ’zamin inter ther | done in your case we'll try ter treat yer square, claims of this hyar female, Ef et’s hunkus dorus, lett’er went. clean papers give her the big bounce, an’ we’il run ther Slap Jack fur ther benefit ov ther town. it’s wu’th it, an’ don’t you disremem- in the plainest of ber.” Though the case was put words, there was a solid bed rock to the argu- ment that pleased the crowd, so that there was a chorus of affirmative voices, though Sandy Bob did sneeringly remark: ‘“‘T guess ez how you figgers on bein’ chief ov that committee, an’ if she can’t sbow er clean bill then it’!] be ’cos she ain’t sense enuf ter jingle er couple ov slugs ’round yer head.” A few, who heard this shrewd criticism, laughed approvingly, but before any one else ds sak Alligator Abe got in his answer: “Feller-citerzens: I perfess ter be a squar’ uick on ther shute. I wara boss till Hart Blaine plugged me, an’ sence that I’ve sung slightually small, spendin’ ther most ov my time gittin’ well. I’ve got so fur on ther road thet I’d scrub this hyar street up with Sandy Bob’s carkiss, ef it warn’t fur disturbin’ ther quiet ov a publick meetin’ settlin’ with er no’count gerloot as couldn’t hit ther side ov ther Pilgrims’ Rest at two rod. If I war on ther committee, you'd hev er man ez duckats couldn’t buy ner bullits frighten; but I ain’t ther kind yer want, My head’s level ’n’ solid, but it ain’t ther breadth fur ther subjeck. Thar ar’ a man in camp ez [ kin reckermend fur ther work, an’ what he sez you kin gamble on fur gospel. I perpose, fur that committee, Dr. offin—ez squar’ a man ez ever nussed a sick lam’ through er slit in his chist, er a bad spell ov ther fever.’ The affirmative chorus that arose was this time stronger than ever. Even Sandy Bob did not care to throw straws in the way of the ris- ing storm of approval. ~ No other name could bave been suggested that would have enlisted the same amount of sympathy. , * He’s ther man!” “Ef thar’s any skull-duggery he'll see right through it, I tell yer he’s er boss ter see what’s under ther riffle.” “Send him along. He'll give fair play; an’ what be sez we'll sw’ar to.” “Then, feller-citerzens, I move this hyar meetin’ stan’s "journed till five er’clock, ter h’ar ther doctor’s report. Eft Major Bang an’ Dutch Pete "Il an’ tell him what dooty this hyar burg hes put on his shoulders.” No Aeoalty did the designated pair make and with the departure of the trio the “court ” for the most part dispersed. CHAPTER XXIII A LITTLE MERCY—OR WHAT? ELLEN CANLEY, once satisfied that force nor reason, such as she bad to offer, could help her, accepted her fate with as much coolness as pos- sible. There was no doubt in her mind as to what ‘was her destination. The Cutsleeves—of whom she had heard so often during the latter part of her journey—bad taken her captive, as they had done others be- fore her. hat their intentions were was a very solemn question. they intended to hold her for a ransom, of course if was not so bad, because they would scarcely hold her much beyond what they im- agined was her actual cost value, which she be- lieved her father would cheerfully pay if there was no better way. If, as one of her captors had informed her, they had taken ber to enact some terrible re- venge for the part she bad taken in repulsin their attack on the stage, then she might expect gomething horrible enough. Fortunately she could not fathom the possi- ble depths of. wickedness in the hearts of such ‘long, ’'m ready ter hunt Coffin up’ | | ——$——— * ee EE nn == T_T TTC O. EK, | You'll hev yer breakfast in a minute er so, an’ Ef she can’t show | I'd advise yer ter eat hearty. After that, if yer feel like bein’ er good angil—ez I sh’d say yer would frum yer face—ther’s a chance we'll give yer ata man ez has fallen inter our hands, an’ may be wuth ther nussin’.” “More likely it is one of your gang who fell under the bullets of one of my friends,” Ellen answered boldly. ‘‘It would be like you to ask me to nurse him.” ‘*An’ why shouldn’t we ax yer ter clean,up whar yer hadn’t finished yer work? There’s mighty few women ’d be so ready on ther shoot, er wouldn’t be glad fur a chance ter save ther life ova human bein’. Ef ther wust sort ova man got mashed in a stamp-mill er blow’d up in a blast you’d break yer neck ter help him, but LL ever been able to find it, though soldiers and vigilantes had searched for it often enough. he young girl did not draw back, or evince any signs o hide twisted around her wrists, The very care used convinced her that foul play was not in- tended. Had her life been wanted, there was nothip ee the outlaws from taking it at the will. Guiding her by a hanging end of the thong the outlaw led Ellen from the prison hut, and strode away. W here i was she could only guess; but it seemed to her that she was on a hill-side, with a deep valley below her, and that her feet trod on a rocky ledge that wound across the face of the mountain. Quite a little distance was traversed before an turned sharply to the left. hen she knew by the sound of their footfalls that they had entered a cavern. ‘You've nerve fur a dozen,” the road-agent said, admiringly, at last. “« You're the on’y gal ez could take that trip *%thout a shudder. Fur pure pluck you take ther cake. But it’s about over now, an’ hyer you are.” He unloosened the thong as he spoke, remoyv the bandage from. her eyes, and turning toward a low bed, on which she could see the figure of a man, he added: “‘ An’ thar’s yer man,” ) **Can you tell me who he is?” Ellen asked, as she peered around, striving to pierce the dark- ness of the cave-like apartment, ‘‘T ain't sure, but some un sed it war Kurnel Jim Canley, ov Glory Gulch, Him ez ar’ work- in’ ther Slap Jack shaft.” a when a christyun scholar an’ gentleman, ef he | happens ter bea road-agent, in the line ov biz its drilled full ernuff ov holes fur a skimmer e ain’t fit ter wipe ole shoes with. Well, he ain’t sich. Somebody give it to him through ther lungs, an’ we took him in outen sheer good- ness ov heart, He’ll die ef he don’t git good nussin’.” ‘*Oh, if Ican be of any use I am ready. Since I must be here find work for my hands so that my head will forget. Yet must I stay— and for how Noo rare chuckle proceeded from under the mask, ‘*Thet’s ther way ov weemen. They can’t ax one question ata time ter save’em: Don’t make n® differens—don’t know arything about it. Hyer comes yer breakfast things. When yer through Ill let yer see ther patient.” The man stepped aside sufficiently to allow a woman to enter the cell-like room. She was a prizzly, hard-featured, weather- beaten woman, of Mexican birth, who looked as though her life had been one of toil and submis- sion. In her eyes there was no spark of either SS eee — — —— interest or sympathy, but she set down a wood- | en platter well filled with viands, and then drew back to the door with her arms crossed, and her hand resting on the long knife that hung at her waist. there was more of watchfulness than threat in | ber position. As Ellen had missed her supper the evening Vithout doubt she knew | well enough how to use the weapon, though | ' before, it was not so unnatural that the sight | and smell of the really well-prepared victuals should arouse a very fair appetite, and that she should do ample justice to the meal that was set before her. She tried her attendant with several ques- tions, but the weather-beaten face put on a stolid look, and the only answer given was: ‘No understand Americanos,” When she had finished, the masked man re- appeared at the door. ‘We ain’t trustin’ ver an artom. Ef yer kin git erway with ther Cutsleeves, it’s ther wus fur us, an’ ther better fur you, though it’s a mighty onhealthy thing ter try. Ther hospittle ar’ stronger ner this, an’ better guarded, so I warns yer not ter try on any anticks. Them guards shoots mighty ht. But ef yer ready ter take hold, yer kin kim right erlong.” ‘*Any changs will be for the better,” said Ellen, recklessly and she raised from her seat on the bed to follow. ‘“‘Erlow me, then. We don’t hev no outsiders hyer, wanderin’ ’round, takin’ notes.” Very skillfully he adjusted a scarf around her es, “Now, hold up them leetle hands 0’ yourn, Ef yer deal a squar’ game yer must hev er artes Whar thar’s no limit, some durn’d fool allers comes along, an’ bu’sts ther bank wide open on ther turn, Evidently the outlaw did not intend to give her any chance either to escape or to find out more than was necessary about the haunts of the Cutsleeves—a spot so skillfully concealed and so well guarded, that, as yet, no one had ' / ’ CHAPTER XXIV, ELLEN FINDS A FRIEND. At the, to her, astounding declaration, Ellen was too much amazed to make any outcry. She stood gazing at the bed with dilating eyes and tied tongue. She knew very little of this father except by his letters, but she had learned to love him from the fact that she knew tbat more than once he sacrificed himself for her. The first thought wasthat he had made some desperate effort to es her, and had so been thrown into this strait. | The wounded man moved faintly, but did not seem to notice her presence, and with clinched | a she waited to regain her presence of mind. Would it be worth while to reveal her identi- ty to her father, whose only chance might be in keeping quiet in mind as well as Syd Of course, whatever this outlaw might ow, eome one of the Cutsleeves knew of her rela- tionship to this man. The nature of the trap that had been laid for her, and into which she had so readily fallen, convinced her of that. Through the eyelets of his mask the outlaw watched ber narrowly. He saw there was some sort of a struggle tak- | ing place in her mind; and perhaps he under- stood it. It was only when Itllen had had time to brace herself up that he spoke. ‘You won’t have nothin’ todo but ter take keer ov him, an’ what yer want kin be told ther guard at ther door thar. Ef it’s to be had you’ll git it, fur when we ain’t in ther line ov bizness us Cutsleeves ar’ ther softest-hearted cusses yer ever seen. When we ar’—yer mout ez well buck erg’in’ a nest ov roarin’ grizzlies, Don’t yer go fur gettin’ inter trouble, fur I'll sw’ar it/il on’y © cost yer life.” ) . “It is not very likely I will be so foolish, I see no avenue of escape for me to try.” **No. Ther’s rock all round, ’cept ther winder — an’ door. Ther’s grates on one an’ lock on tother. Ef yer gits outside ther’s a man with er rifle that’ll shoot sure, Ef yer got er leetle fur- der— Waugh!” There was evidently something worse in re- serve, the nature of which he did not care to tell. Perhaps the threat was more in:pressive from the unknown terror it indicated. “No need to threaten. When I get tired of life I can dash my brains out on the bars; I certainly can get no further; but tell ogee ee long must this suspense last? How long m remain ignorant of the fate in store for me?” “Yer axed that afore. I dumno; an’ won't know till ther capt’n comes back. | went over ther mount’ins. ’round m er week—mebbe not. You'll know soon enuf when he — back. That's enough chin-chin. Yer kin sit down thar till he wakes up, an’ Burke kin git outen this, So-long! Kim erlong, Burke.” | Another outlaw came into si crouched on & low bench, and E hitherto noticed him. He, too, was but it was evident that be was well please a word he slouched across Pes But what am I to dof” After all she had only a nursing this sick man was ] and disap- JOO Geom (E S 15 fear, as she felt a thong of green - ies Mebbe he'll be o~ “Sex t. Hehad been ~ Ellen bad not. > ‘ d to be relieved from his unpleasant duty. Without the floor t 4 idea t ike this" wounded ° 22 _-. 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