Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 241 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

i : > —_ ene @ ea eee ef those whom he trusted most, though the cap- ture was not a bloodless one. Captured only to add another to his warvelous record of still more miraculous escapes, ‘ If the citizens had a leader, it was Sheriff Black, and seeing him submit, none other cared or dared to take the lead. And so it was that all this time Spitfire Saul had remained unmo- lested; but now, as he leaped into the sadule, and Black lifted bis sobbing daughter from the ground, there was an excited bustle among them, which King Saul greeted with a laugh. Free from his irons, well armed and superbly mounted, he cared little for the demonstration, but swinging the Winchester above his head, he | uttered a wild, prolonged yell of taunting defi- ance, then struck the good horse with his heels and dashed straight at the thickest part of the | circle. The rifla now lay across his thighs, and a re- yolver was clasped in each ban, the reins hang- ing loose. of smoke shot out of the leveled tubes, and with agonized cries, two men reeled, flung aloft their arms and spinning around, fell to the ground, stone dead. A mocking laugh, then taunting words and stinging epithets burst from the lips of the man- demon as crowd, scorning to fire upon those who made no resistance, who thought only of seeking safety in beadlong flight. Still on, past the dead men, then drawing rein and wheeling in the saddle when fairly clear of the town. ' Up came the rifle, out poured the stream of lead, dealing death or stinging wounds. Then, with one more taunting laugh, Spitfire Saal dashed away over the sand-hil's, a free man. CHAPTER VL. A COOL CUSTOMER. PERHAPS it was because he fancied there might come another ettack from the scattered Mavericks, but while the gay little cavalcade rode briskly away from the timber island, Fred Bloodgood cast many a keen glance around them, one of which chanced to light upon Gente 1 Guy just as that worthy impulsively leveled his rifle in that direction, A slight twitching of the long mustaches as the thin lips beneath them pressed more firmly bopetner a swiftly-born and quick-vanishing lint of fire in those piercing orbs, were all that ndicated the discovery he had made, and those changes were so slight, so speedily disguis d that not another one of the party even suspected that ought was going wrong. They were riding quite rapidly, for tho gait of ber horse was so smooth and even that Ora Ainsley found her ankle gave her less pain when cauteriog than while holding her spirited steed down to a walk, as he fret ted less, She und Kirke Bloodgocd were riding to- gether, a little to the rear of the other couple, and it was in falling back to ask how she was bearing the ride, that Lucille Debonay inter- posed her form between that of Fred Bloodgood and the leveled rifle of Genteel Guy. Even had she not done this, it may well ba doubted whether the young foreman would have risked a shot, though the superb weapon he bore was good for a longer range than the half-mile which separated them. While Lucille was conversing with Ora, Bloodgood cast a comprehensive glancé before them, taking in the lay of the ground, and mentally comparing it with that which ppey bad passed over since leaving the timber island. A short, almost {imperceptible nod told that he had formed his decision, and when, a few moments later, Lucille touched up ber horse to take her former position, Bloodgood abruptly drew rein, with a little exclamation of annoy- ance, “ Kirke, you haven’t—of course not! Ladies, I fear I must deny myself the pleasure of riding further with you just now. ? find that I have lost a package—among other valuables, the let- ters introducing us to Mr. Debonay. I had it just before reaching the grove. It must have allen from my pocket while there, or on the way to this spot.” Lucille hesitated a moment, with a swift glance toward Ora, then said: . We can wait here, or [ will ride back with u— *Do neither, I beg of you!” quickly uttered Bloodgood, with far more earnestness than the occasion seemed to demand. “It wonld be cruel to keep Miss Ainsley in pain longer than is absolutely necessary. I beg of you, ride on to the ranch, and borrow no trouble on my account.” ** But you are a strenger in these parts, You may be unable to find your way back.” *You forget Mr. Abbey,” with a_ short laugh. ‘I will bail him, and beg his services, not only to aid me in recovering my property, but to guide me to the ranch. Indeed, I am al- most pleased that I bave so good an excuse, for ’ My consrience has been pricking me most un- | ranch as you would have me infer. | fear, too, that the ladies have not left pleasantly, for leaving the gentleman alone and afoot.” Though she could not have explained it, even . to herself, there was something in ‘ade speech ees a ee ' with them, at a brisk canter, and hac e dashed on, through the scattering | , could see the timber island, and a few rods + ata, stam tilt CL LA we eee a a ee | that caused Lucille to drop ber eyes und avert her bead to conceal the hot flush with which her countenance was suffused. ‘Spitfire Saul, King of the Rustlers. SS — taches curled a trifle as he noticed bow stern set was the handsome face of the fcreman, how | brightly burned the resolute fire in his blue eyes, | ‘To your care I confide the ladies, brother,” | added Fred Bloodgood, with a playful smile. ‘*Should danger threaten by the way, forget that you are a tenderfoot, and perform your devoir gallantly, under penalty of never more calling me brother! Escort toem safely home, but do not enter into business until | return.” Doffing his bat, he bowed low as the trio He saw that Genteel Guy more than doubted him, caring little whether those suspicions were rightly interpreted or not. * As a stranger in the Jand, I can bardly be expected to be as well posted as a native, but | where Il came from, if we had any occasion to | passed on, then wheeled bis horse and rode | swiftly along the back trail. Not for many rods, however. Just before the separation, they had crossed a _ gentle slope which shut off all view of the tim- ber island. Bloodgood rode back until he crossed this natural divide, then drew rein and dismounted, apparently busying himself about | ' the saddle-girths, but in reality taking in the | situation with swift, earnest glances. And as he dashed forward, twin jets | ing away from the spot where he had they turned their heads for a backward glance, they _ could barely bave distinguished his head amidst the gentle waving grass with which the crest of ' the lor g slope was crowned. In the opposite direction Fred Bloodgood nearer, the lithe form of Genteel Guy, rapidly following along the trail. A dangerous light filled the black eyes as their owner saw this, and though no sound es- caped his lips, that vicious glitter clearly ex- pressed the thoughts which flashed through his busy brain. ‘*Curso the fellow! who thought he possessed such a memory? Never met but that once, and then I was without a disguise. I couldn’t re- cognize myself, at first glance, in the glass, with this mop of bair covering my head and glossy beard over bis breast. Kirke Bloodgood and the two girls were rid- | yarted | | | | | ) think a lady threatened by peril of any sort, we lost no time in speeding to her aid. But you—” ‘* Have studied prairie politene-s too long and thoroughly to even dream of taking precedence of a stranger,” cut in Guy, with an exaggerated imitation of the other’s courtesy, bowing low, but quickly recovering his erect attitude, still keeping the stranger covered with the muzzle of his rifle as it lay across his Jeff arm, though without appearing to mean any especial suspi- | cion by so doing. The black eyes glittered, but after a hesitation so brief that it could scarcely be called such, Bloodgood touched his horse with the spur and rode a little in advance, neither man making further remark until the crest of the long slope was gained. A* quick breath of relief broke from tbe younger man as his eager gaze swept the grourd be yond them, jast catching a glimpse of thetwo maidens and Kirke Bloodgood ‘as they disap- peared over the next crest, nearly’a mile away. ‘* Thank Heaven! they’re still safe, and riding straight for the ranch!” he muttered, uncon- _sciously breathing the words jusé Joud enough face,” and his long fingers twitched aft the | for his keen-eared companion to catch their meaning. = ‘* Since they started with that express inten- tion, and as Miss Ainsley must be suffering con- siderable pain from ber sprained ankle, I fail to see why that fact should so greatly surprise you,” commented Bloodgood, laughing softly as Genteel Guy gave a little stert of surprise. But he quickly recovered himself, and quietly | said: “He suspected the truth then—he more than | suspects, now; else why was he drawing bead on | | to go there.” me a bit ago? So much the worse for him!” and the red light deepened in his eyes. if he thinks to chip in, [ll freeze bim out with- out a sight for his money, or I know nothing of gambler’s bluff!” A second glance assured him that Kirke and the two girls were riding steadily on toward the distant ranch, and then, as though the cefect had been remedied, Fred Bloodgood remcunt- ed his borse, and slowly rode down the slope, timing his progress so as to meet Genteel Guy in the level low-land at the base. When first sighted, Genteel Guy was running swiftly along the trail, carrying his rifle at a trail, but as he caught sight of the main object of his suspicions alone bis pace slackened, and his rifle rose until it rested across his left arm, bis right hand covering the trigger guard. Firmly believing that his startling suspicions were well founded, the young foreman was on his guard against treachery, though he had time before the meeting to school his voice and fea- tures so that neither should betray him too soon. As Bloodgood halted, he drew a handkerchief from his breast-pocket, and waved it toward Genteel Guy, glibly lying as the young man came within easy range of his voice: ‘* Are you bound for the ranch, Mr. Abbey?’ ‘* Did you take the trouble to ride back this far, just to ask that question?’ retorted Guy, with a slight sneer. ‘‘ Not altogether,” laughing lightly. ‘* I lost a note -book out of my pocket, and rode back to find it. I stumbled over it just back there, and seeing you coming this way, concluded to wait for you, as the ladies, owing to the pain which Miss Ainsley was suffering, rode on without me.” ““You are very kind and considerate, Mr.— What did you cail yourself, pray?’ ‘** Bloodgood — Fred Bloodgood. But you give me too much credit. not over fond of fast riding; hardly saddle- wise, as the saying is. Neither am [ an adept at follewing a trail. failings, I began to doubt whetber I would be able to reach the Debonay ranch this evening, after all. Now if you can guide me—” “‘T}] keep an eye on you, never fear,” inter- osed Genteel Guy, just a little contradicting bis title by the sharp manner in which be em- phasized his words with anod of the head. Bloodgood laughed softly as he turned his horse’s head. ** Luckily my conscience is wholly at ease, or that speech might easily be given a meaning just the opposite to that which I know you tutend to convey. I can imagine how uncom- | fortable that keen eye might make a criminal | feel—” | Genteel Guy flung out one hand impatiently. ‘‘We are wasting time which might be better eraployed, if you are as anxious to reach the I begin to the danger of to-day behind them.” Bloodgood glanced swiftly into his face from beneath his heavy eyebrows, and his huge mus- The honest truth is, 1m | ‘“Tve dealt | the cards to win a big stake in this game, and , ‘T’ll take great pleasure in explaining all that when we arrive at the ranch—if you still desire ‘* Tf?” echoed Bloodgood, lifting his eyebrows, My dear sir, you choose very queer expres- sions, somehow. Ihave traveled over’a thou- ' sand miles, with no other object on earth than And between the two | | } | ' to have a business interview with the owner of the Debonay ranch, if be proves to be the gen- tleman of that name whom | corfidently hope to meet. I believe I said something like this before, though youappear to have forgotten it.” ‘* Possibly because my memory is growing treacherous of late,” retorted Guy, with a grim smile, as he gezed keenly into the face of the horseman. ‘* You remember that I hadafare you and I had met before, I could not recall the man’s name nor bis character, try bard as I might. You will feel tempted to laugh, when I tell you how wide of the mark [ shot,” ‘*Tn other words?” asked Bloodgood, stifling a yawn with one hand, as be glanced carelessly toward the point where the trio of riders had vanished from view. ‘‘Of course you never heard of a gentleman whose ‘moneker’ is Windy Jess?” Bloodgood stared at the speaker with wide- open eyes. “His what? I ely am ashamed, but my knowledge of zoology is lamentably deficient. Do you allude to an organ-gritder? Do gentle- men of this region amuse themselves with that wonderful instrument, and cerry their monkeys Oo giving them pet names? But why Windy ess?” Genteel Guy watched the speaker keenly, and for the first time since he raised his rifle at the timber island, he began to doubt the truth of the belief which had then flashed across bis brain. There was nothing of confusion or anger in the bearded face. The brilliant eyes met his searching geze with open frankness. There could be detected only a languid surprise, mingling with a feeble curiosity. ** Moneker, not monkey, my dear sir. <A bit of argot, or rogues’ jargon, Meaning name or title, and in this case that of a rather celebrated character up in Socorro County: Jesse Paran, Windy Jess, from his Jinguistie propensities, robety; and one of the right-hand men of Spitfire Saul, the self-styled King of the Rust- lers, or cattle-thieves and light-fingered gentry in general.” ‘And you mistook me for that gentleman? Many thanks, my dear sir, for the compliment!” laughed Bloodgood. ‘The best of us are liable to make mistakes, you know, end I do not claim to be infallible, At first I doubted, then I could have taken an vath that you were the man,” * And now?” ‘Shall I answer you frankly?” “Certainly!” with an uplifting of his eye- brows, “Very well. I donot know just what to be- lieve. Something tellsme you are playing .@ cuunifg part, for no eh purpose; that you are the rascal I believed; but then, again, I can- not feel sure, since you say you are going to the Debonay ranch. If you really are Windy Jess, you must know that there are men on the place who would be almost certain to recognize Tv comicboo , s « | | :CcO 7 = - i= HF P22" bi --