Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 229 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

| gone sight. 20 again soon; and as soon as you can bear it, he will take you from this terrible place.” ‘““Where, then, am I?” ‘* Ye'r’ with ther Cutsleeves, kurnel. Ha, ha! We ain’t so bad ez we look, un’ now an’ then we do a good turn. We're doin’ one fur you now.” A masked outlaw stood grinning at the two; at least Ellen seemed to see the savage smile that the words betokened. Yet she was becom- ing accustomed to the presence of the bandits, who came and went, and scarcely ever dceigned to speak to her. These words did not move her nearly as much as they did her father, His pale face flushed, he gasped, and looked from the one to the other—from the masked outlaw to the fair young girl—and gasped: “My poor girl, why have you come? Would that I had left you in your safety. Since you started everything has gone wrong for me; and this is the worst of all?” “The best, you mean. What better thing pe there be for me than nursing you back to e ’ ‘*}uife is not always worth the price it costs to keep it. Why did you come?” “She come, kunnel, because she couldn’t help it. Yer see, we owed you one fur a favor yer done us—mebbe onbeknownst ter you, but all the same a favor, fur yer saved a Cutsleeve’s life. So, when we found yer up a tree, like, an’ lierble ter pass in yer checks, we done ther clean thing by yer, an’ brung yer hyer, whar power- ful 4 pig nussin’ pulled yer through. At least I jedge ye’ll make ther riffle if yer don’t hev no backsets.” ** And then?” “Then we'll take yer down whar we found yer, an turn yer loose.” “And my daughter?” “She is yer darter, then. Durned curi’us that. We brung her hyer, "bout ther same time, but not ter nuss her up—not by er dog- We got one ag’in’ her.” ‘Heavens! What can you have against one who is an utter stranger? ‘* You saved er life—she tuk one er two, It’s er way we hev. Life fur life; an’ I reckon she’ll hev ter lose hern.” Very grave and sresob was the outlaw now; and yet Colonel Canley could neither under- stand nor believe bim. **But vou cannot be such cowards, such brutes! How could a girl barm you? Or if harm ske has done and by your villainous laws ri is forfeit, take my worthless one and let “Sorry, kunnel, but ther thing can’t be did. Hyer, every tub stands on its own bottom. Ef it can’t stand it’s got ter flopover. Don’t ex- cite yerself. The doctor ’ll be hyer ag’in, soon; an’ we want yer lookin’ yer best so ez he kin —_, yer inter Glory Gulch, soon ez it ar’ possi- e “What! and leave my child here, in the power of vou wretches? Never!” “Kim, kim. Hard words ain’t doin’ ner hurt—'cept ter you. I jist looked in ter see how ye’r’ makin’ it, an’ ef yer could do with- out yer nuss. She had better bundle up an’ kimerlong. Mer old quarters are a-waiting fur her. When she goes out ov them it ill be ter hey an intervoo with errope, I dunno ez I did right in lettin’ her stay hyer; but when ther capt’n ar’ erway I’m boss hyer, an’ I run ther resks, I’ve did ther best I could but I ain’t run- nin’ no more resks, kin take keer ov yer now, an’ I want her in byer afore Coffin kims, so ez he kin give her ther p’ints.” ‘* And you would take ber away in the ve first moment of recognition? No, not while have life.” ‘* Yer heven’t any ov thet article ter spar’, so don’t yer try cavortin’ ’round. Id hate ter draw on er sick man an’ a gal, but if there’s any trouble I’d drop her dead, right hyer.” He touched the revolver in his belt signifi- cantly; and there was no mistaking his tone. Colone! Canley, whose muscles had been mo- mentarily thrilled with a short-lived strength, fell back upon his couch and covered his face with h’s hands while the outlaw coldly pre- d Ellen as before, and led her away. As he eft the room the Mexican woman whom Ellen had seen the morning after her arrival, entered and t ok her post with a resigned air. Whether all this was to kill the colonel or not on gm to make no difference to the lieutenant of banditti, who was as unconcerned as fate As for Ellen, she had borne this all with a cool resignation that was wonderful; yet, when she was once more alone in the little prison pen, and felt that no eyes were on her, she crouched jin one corner ina mute despair, against which for a time she found it useless to strive. ** Cheer up, little woman,” said a not unkindly voice at her ear. _ Ellen could not have even given a fair guess at how long she had been there; or how, or when Dr. Coffin had entered. There he was, though, pen, Sete upon her, with deep concern pictured on his now not alto- gether unhandsome face. ‘‘ What is there to cheer me? Indeed, for me, could anything be worse?” “A heap worse. You ain’t dead yet—and . a Captain Cutsleeve. all your troubles.” ** And you will?” A sudden hope sprung up in Ellen’s breast. She felt that the doctor was deeply in earnest, ven could not believe that he would trifle with er. ** Perhaps. better man than I seem. before you in the character I put on when I first came to Glory Gulch. After I had wrung it in on the people I could not drop it. Until I met you I did not care. Now, I wish only that vou could see me at my best.” The fact is, Miss Canley, Iam a ou’ve got a friend here, in me, that can stand you to the death—r he may help you out of | | | could it not be he tbat offers so much? say no at this time; yet I doubtif it will then be yes.” *‘It will be; it must be. I shall save you in spite of yourself.” *Time’s up, doctor, hustle out.” At the door stood the masked lieutenant. Tbe doctor caught Ellen’s hand, pressed it firmly, raised it reverently to his lips, and was gone, leaving the girl alone in the semi-dark- I have had to appear | ness to ponder over his strange proposal. ‘*] dare not; I dare not,” sbe whispered to herself. ‘There isa face between us. I may never see bim again, and yet, if he should come what would there be left for me? Why Yet he ‘* What difference? Yet, why did you assume | has left me to my fate.” a disguise in the first place?” ** A man will do much for bis life’s sake. is along story. Enough that a villain deserted a young girl—a cousin of mine. Though the man was a Villain he stood well enough in the world, and he had brothers and cousins who would make his quarrel their own. ‘*They had wealth, too; and law or no law, they had their way in that section of the blue- grass region. ‘““T did not care for that. I shot the scoun- drel, and then I fled. Before I had gone fifty | had killed numerous men in miles three of the family were after me—in fact, were upon me. ‘‘Then it was a desperate fight for life, for they came armed for slaughter. law was too slow, certainly as they could direct its course. *‘T was wounded in a dozen places, but I struck them all down and escaped. Since then I have hidden my real name and identity, not from fear, but because the thought of having to | ' And the face that she was thinking of It | belonged to Touch-Me-Not, the little sport. CHAPTER XXXII. ONE FROM THE SHOULDER. LIEUTENANT Lew, of the Cutsleeves, was eminently worthy of his place. He was not a large man, but he exactly filled his boots. He always precisely fulfilled orders from his supe- rior, and if his inferiors did not carry out his own his knife or pistols began to speak. He is day, and if his life was spared he expected to kill as many more. Yet this man, steeped in all sorts of crime, For them the | bowed to two things—discipline and gratitude. He walked down the narrow path by which the doctor made his exit, chatting glibly enough. ‘* When yer wants ther trick done tip me ther wink. It’s jist ez well not ter let ther rest ov ther boysin. They wouldn’t squeal now, what- kill these sleuth-hounds was more repugnant to | ever yer did; but some day it mout be differ'nt, me even than the halter, and I believed that | an’ it’s jest ez well not ter give em a hank on they would never leave my track so longasthey | yer.” lived. ‘‘T buried myself here; and I have done my | duty, whether to the honest men of Glory Gulc or even to the outlaws of the mountain, and in so doing I have accumulated some wealth anda troop of friends. ‘* A day or two ago I found that I had been fleeing from a shadow. ‘‘The man ] had fancied I bad slain recovered from his wounds; and the three avengers, also recovered, after several years of riotous living were slain in brawls. A fortune alsoawaits my claiming, and nothing now holds me in Glory Gulch but—you /” 66 7 97? ‘‘Yes, you. Strange as it may seem, from the first moment my eyes fell upon you i loved you, and vowed that I would save you. It was for you that I saved Colonel Canley’s life; for you that [ run the risks of these renewed visits. On earth there is but one power that can save you, and I am that power.” ‘And you will save me—me and my poor father?” ‘** Rest easy in regard to him; he is in no dan- ger. You have heard the code of these Cut- sleeves—an eye for an eye, a life foralife. He has saved one of the gang, and they will repay his kindness if it costs them the life of every man in the gang. You have taken life; and they will have yours, no matter whose daughter you may be.” ‘* How then can you save me?” ‘*Through the man you have seen more than once. He is the lieutenant of the band, and is bound to me by gratitude, since I actually dragged him away from death’s door. ‘‘ He dares not violate tke strict letter of his oath, but he will help my wife to escape. Your father can follow at his Jeisure, and once safely beyond the reach of these bandits, if the devoting my life can secure it, your happiness will be supreme. Speak, and speak quickly. It was only after hard pleading that I secured this interview. Will you make me the most happy or the most miserable of men—for I swear, if you shut your eyes, and go blindly cn to destruction, that I will not survive you.” He spoke in the most impassioned of strains, and held out his hands beseechingly. If ever there was truth in a man’s face, there was in his—and yet the villain lied. Ellen besitated. She owed much to this man who, under such strange circumstances, was pleading for her hand. She bad now met him three or four times, and at each interview he had gained upon her. Perhaps, if she had time, she could care for bim. ‘“‘Tt is sudden,” she faltered. ‘‘Give me time to think. When once I answer, | want to hold that answer as good as sworn to.” “But there is no time. The chief—Captain Cutsleeve—is coming, and at any moment he may be bere. Upon him I have no hold, and if you have ever heard of him at all, you know how cruel he can be. ‘‘ And I can make excuse for but one more visit. By that time it will be patent that your father is out of danger. If I am to take you out to freedom, life, and love, you must go with me then. Quick! Why will you hesitate? Your answer.” “T cannot give it now. I will not altogether ‘Tm trusting yew. Ther old man air doomed; an’ I reckon yew hed better g’in bim ther fust dose of his cordial tew-nighbt. e won’t go up ther flume fur a day er so, an’ b that time this nonsense with ther girl will be all straight, one way er another, Ez fur ther leetle man with ther white bands, he’s dumb ez aclam. Wild horses couldn’t make him speak, an’ I'll never find what went ov our money er Gunnison’s papers.” Lieutenant Lew laughed py It amused him to hear the doctor put on the twang with him. Then he whispered: ‘“When yer comes back be won’t be here. He ain’t more ner ther size ov yer thumb; but I reckon, ef he got at his tools we’d find him desp’rit bad man.” ‘* With or witbout. He crawled all over the Peters boys. An’ he’s slippery ez an eel an’ won't speak ter save his life.” ‘* An’ yer say yer hev no furder use fur him? Good enough. I owe him one, an’ it’s a big one. ‘** Go for him.” ‘‘Good-mornin’. Neither hev we.” Leaving the doctor to go on his way yt = the canyon Lieutenant Lew went back, soft and slowly. He had something of a care on his mind, and he was, for a time, more than thoughtful. After a bit, however, his face brightened, his step quickened. ‘Pil do it myself, an’ I'll do it now. It war his bullet ez downed poor Tom, an’ it’ll be my hand ez will wipe out ther record.” He took out a keen knife that bung at his belt, tested the point on bis thumb and then re- turned it to its sheath. A moment later he threw open a little door that was an exact counterpart to the one to Ellen’s cell. Witbin, with a chain around his waist and his arms a painfully bebind his back, stood Touch- -Not The little sport was somewhat paler looking, and his clothes a good deal more dilapidated; but he was really very little the worse for the wear of the past few days. Though inwardly raging, outwardly he was as cold as the North Sea whaling-ground, and the entrance of the outlaw was, to all appearance, scarcely noticed. ‘‘Tt’s kinder rough,” was the salutation of Lieutenant Lew. ‘I’ve kinder taken a fancy ter you, feedin’ ye up like a overgrow’d baby; but it’s got ter be did. l’ve kim ter turn yer out.’ : ‘*Quite likely, after the trouble you had to get me. When you turn me out it will be feet foremost.” ‘‘Wall now, pard, I didn’t think ye’d drop to it so quick. The fact ar’, there’s on’y one road out fur you, an’ that’s over ther range. I guess you'll hev ter start.” ‘* How?” The little sport never winced, and he asked after the manner of bis taking-cff as though it was a matter of the merest modicum of in- terest. ‘‘Ther’ ain’t no question but what you killed Tom, an’ ef it kim to ther reguler thing, it *u’d be ther rope. But life’s uncert’in, an’ I can’t spend ther time a-waitin’, so I’m jest goin’ ter pitch yer over inter ther drink, an’ be done with if. You killed me brother, an’ venge’nce can’t wait.” ‘Allright. If that’s your lay-out pull your IOO <€om C 5 ¢ eee xem” a trae