Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 244 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

em oe - -' Merciless Mart. “23 i ee tame ~_ . ee ee eee ee “ Will you men please to cut us loose? This is an outrage! It is bad enough to have been treated as ly. “The dead boys must be buried, and the am- + will serve to carry the wournied. awful manner, even now, in my great joy at finding Please assist my mother to alight. I have told her obli a —s The young man assisted Mrs. Florence to the round, and now perceived, for the first time, that Ger daughter bore a very strong resemblance to h er. ‘Thanks, Mr. Washburne!”’ said the lady. ‘Ten thousand thanks for this, and for all that you have done for my child. But here comes Captain Flor- ence, my daughter’s uncle; he has given these wretched Indians a thrashing, it is to be hoped, they will remember." ) ismounting, the officer delivered his horse to an orderly, and advanced, with much admiration in his look, as he saw Vlora, who met him, exclaiming: * Dear uncle Forrest! I am so glad, so rejoiced to meet you, and to see that you are not wounded, I fear that this search has caused much trouble to you, as well as suffering and loss of life to others.” ‘*My dear little much-wronged niece,” said Cap- tain Florence; “I cannot express my relief and joy os “fi you—meeting you, indeed, as one from the ead. ‘Of course, I only knew you as a pretty little baby; but I had never quite given up the hope of some day finding you. Most earnestly do I pray that the happiness of your life to come may, in & measure, repay you for the much of which you have been deprived. “When I think of the fiendish crimes of that monster, Mart Maxwell, I am rendered nearly frantic, at thinking that, in all these years, I have never been brought face to face with the dastard. As to your being the cause of any trouble or loss of alte, FAY dear Flora, that is simply and entirely ab- surd. ‘Had you not been in that coach, all would have been the same; for I should have followed the Comanches to their distant villages, and punished them for the brutal massacre. Mrs. Florence, I[ hope you have suffered no inconvenience or un- necessary alarm since we parted; but I suppose that is expecting too much from you, under the cir- cumstances.” “tf am very happy now, Forrest, as you must know: and I cannot find words to express myself. ** Allow me, however, to introduce the gentleman who was conducting Flora to you, to save her from further persecution—Captain Florence, Mr. William Washburne!”’ ‘Extremely glad to form the acquaintance of ay friend of my niece,” said the officer, extending his hand; ‘‘especially one who has proved himself so devoted and self-sacrificing, and has shown himself a true soldier.”’ “Thanks for your seta St captain!” re- turned the young man. “I, for my part, am very happy to meet you. But you have mentioned Mart Maxwell. Iam pleased to inform you that we have that miscreant, and his confederate, one Rand Rogers, tied hand and foot, in,the timber yonder, ‘The wretches followed us to Texas, finding the wreck of the coach, and following the ‘sign’ from there into the bushes of Elm Fork, where they were captured by the Indians, They were rescued by Single-Eye and Turtle, who supposed them, it being night, to be Old Rocky and myself. They then dis- appeared—but, it is a long story; it will suffice to say, that they succeeded in getiing Flora into their clutches, and that we rescued her, and now have the villains safe,” When Will ceased speaking, Captain Florence grasped the young man’s hand, saying: “Mr. Washburne, this has indeed been an event- ful night. We have recovered Flora, and have also in our power, the flend who has so wronged her and hers. ‘*Do you and the scouts bring the two ruffians bere, in order to make sure of them; for I fear they may escape, or be killed by some skulking Indians. Upon such a happy occasion as this, I do not wish to express my true feelings toward the wretch, Mart Maxwell, but his doom is fixed!’’ “‘T will have them brought out on the plain at once,” returned Will; “for I am as anxious as yourself, Captain Florence, to guard their escape. “Mrs, Florence, (am somewhat puzzled in regard to your presence on the frontier. How did you be- come aware that your daughter was alive, may I ask, and also of her whereabouts?” : “That is easily and quickly explained,” replied the lady, ‘ Do you remember a litile negro boy at the seminary where my daughter was placed by Maxwell?’ “ Certainly I do, madame—very well. The little fellow was a faithful friend to both of us. It was through him that I informed Flora of my retura from New Orleans." “Well,” said Mrs. Florence, “he found in the clump of trees where you and Florence had met previous to your departure,a memorandum of yours, containing the details of your detective service in the Crescent City, with the names of Mart Maxwell, Captain Florence, Ambrose Ashland and myself, There were also our addresses in full, with notes and comments in connection with our family history as far as it had become known to you. “The little negro forwarded this nemorandum to my father, where I have been residing, and he stated that the Flora Floyd who had left for Texas with Mr, Will Washburne had gone to join her uncle at Fort Davis. This caused meto start at once for Fort Belknap, where I learned that you and Flora were pasgengen: on the previous coach. Captain Yiorence, I also learned, was then at Fort Phantom Hill, l * Judge of horror and anguish when I found that the sta ein which you had taken passage with Flora bad been attacked, and that you and my darling had been taken captive! I waited at Fort Phantom Hill until the return thither of my brother- in-law, when he immediately started on the trail. You know the rest. “T can explain everything more fully when we are at the fort. Butlam so rejoiced that the villain, Maxwell, has been captured. When I was at Fort Belknap I heard that two strangers had been mak- ing ing about you and Flora, and that they had urchased horses and gone toward Phantom Hill. tain, I hope we are soon to leave this blood- lain. The here is horrible.” ately,’? was the v2- “Ca tainte age very atmo order a return imm I must leave you now, as I have much to attend to.” Having joined his pards, Will, with Old Rocky, Single-Eye and Turtle, proceeded toward the Clear Fork, southwesterly, toward the point where Max- | Mart Maxwell. well and Rogers had been thrown into the thicket. There lay the merciless abductors of Flora Flor- | ence, senseless and bound, where they had been ft | It was now not far from sunrise, and a detail which had been ordered to proceed to the timber at the | and ascertain the whereabouts of | Comanche cam the Indians, rode up and reported them ason the jain. There they had dismounted and were in a ody, evidently waiting to bury their dead, The safe distance which they seemed particularly de sirous of maintaining from the timber proved their dread of the fast and far-shooting guns, and that no further attack upon the cavalry was to be appre- hended from them. By order of Captain Florence, another detafl now collected the horses of the slain; and it was decided to pack the dead upon animals to the fort; in order to prevent them from being exhumed by the Co- manches, and scalped, as well as otherwise muti- lated. The wounded were then placed in an ambu- lance, and started for the fort. But one thing more remained. Mart Maxwell and Rand Rogers were bound fast to the backs of horses, and guarded at one side by Wili and the scouts; they not wishing to mar the happiness of mother and daughter, by allowing them to behold the blood- stained, ragged and lacerated rufflans that had been the curse and cloud upon their lives, Besides this thoughtful act on the part of Will and his friends, Single-eye vowed that he “ wou'dn't ‘low ther condemned kiotes ter be glided outside ther can e o’ his, an’ Skip’s peepers.’ 18 the range,” on the “long dark trail, would religiously keep his vow. CHAPTER XXX. NEMESIS AT LAST. prospect was, that, until they ¢ tet over e O14 SCOUL As it was not deemed prudent to cross the Clear | Fork, and again attack the Comanches, the prepara- | tions for the return to the fort were expeditiously | performed; and, as the glorious Southern sun peeped above the horizon, the ambulance, filled with wound- ed followed by Flora, her mother and Will Washburne. led by Captain Florence, were close | The one behind, while Single-eye and Old Rocky brought up the rear, leading by lariats two horses, fast upon tho backs of which, were Mart Maxwell and Rand Rogers. The latter was as pale as death, his features being drawn, in abject terror; but the face of the former showed defiance and flendish fury. A more "aor sight than either, could not be im- agined. Scratched and bleeding from many slight wounds, the clothing from their bodies being torn from the waists up, showing the livid and blue stripes of the torturing quirts, which had been plied without mercy by the Comanches, while the latter held cap- tive. The Tonkaway was not with the scouts, nor in the command; but all soon became aware of bis loca- tion, for the rear of the expedition was not a rifle- shot from the west side of the battle-ground, when they were all brought to a halt. It was the far-ringing war-cry of Turtle, that they | claim ber fortune from now heard, in exultation and aennting intonation. As ib rung out eon and again, it signaled the tearing of a scalp from the head of a Comanche brave, while he flourished the gory trophy about ~ plumed head, as the whoop of his tribe cut 1¢ alr, backward at the tlitting figure of the Tonkaway, with his flaunting feathers; but soon all were brought again to a halt. Out from the timber dashed a fiends, at this mutilation of their dead. Turtle, nothing daunted, went on with his revolt- ing task. When, however, the braves were almost upon him he vaulted suddenly into his saddle, and cha ed directly toward them, firing his revolver, as his horse hap. frantically forward, Both warriors fell to the earth, and before those in the rear could reach the spot, the Tonkaway bad scalped them, and waving the fearful trophies in triumph, with a whoop of taunting derision, galloped toward his amazed prairie-pards, Single-Eye and Old Rocky. Yells of rage now came from the Comanches, who urged their mustangs out from the screen of bushes atthe bottom timber; but they kept their ition near the same, fearing to invite another conflict. In the middle of the forenoon all reached the Elm Fork, where a halt was made in the deserted Comanche camp, for rest and food. The scouts conveyed their villainous captives into a retired “‘open,’? and there bound them securely to sap- nys. “Yer better say a pra’r er two, an’ put a heft o’ meanin’ inter yer words,” advised Single-Eye, as he secured Maxwell, “though I opines ef yer ever knowed one yer hes fergut hit. Ef ther old boss o’ Tophet hain’t gut a big mor’gidge on yer soul, ef yer hev any, I'm a dod-rotted , an’ yer kin gamble heavy thet he air "bout ter foreclose.” “IT dare you to hang us!" said Maxwell, defiantly. ‘*We have committed no crime, unless you call it such to rescue a maiden from the Comanches. You | were simply jealous because we got ahead of you in that business. But youcan prove nothing against us.”’ At these words of Mart, the face of his companion in crime seemed to brighten; but soon it resumed its terrified look, as Single-Eye replied: “Dang yer ugly pictur’! We- uns hes eoonas roof ter hang yer a dozen times over, an’ we'll do it, bet yerscalp! Jist yer wait, an’ yer’ll see what yer'll see. Sich scum es buse an’ spile ther lives o' decent folkses. Don’t say a word, erTll slash yer years off now—dang’d ef I doesn’t!" Here Captain Florence, Will Washburne, and Turtle entered the “open,” and Mart demanded, in a surly manner: proceeded east guarded by an escort, and close | yund | ozen infuriated Comanches, yelling like | er can’t be ‘lowed ter | : t come, Will; are you dreaming? This will * Pease satel oat " e e you and my niece to ride on horseback. we have by the savages, without be insulted and all about you. “ However, we have now plenty of extra animals. | abused by these half-savage border bullies. “Keep your tongue to yourself,”’ was the cap- tain’s answer, as with great difficulty he restrained himself, “or use itin pleading to your Maker for forgiveness for your many crimes. I know you, Hu! You start; and well you may. *lam Forrest Florence, the brother of the man you basely murdered on the Missouri river, and then abducted his wife and child, to incarcerate the former in a lunatic asylum, and to rear the latter as your ward, for the basest of purposes. ‘Long have we searched for them both in vain; but, thanks to this noble young man "—pointing to Will—‘' who overbeard your conversation and plot- tings with your comrade in New Orleans, after this villain, Rogers, had been liberated from prison, you were defeated. Again, it seems, you had nearly succeeded, after these brave men had rescued you from tbe Indians. ““We bave found, in your saddle-bags, the cloth- ing and jewelry worn by my brother's child, with a full description of her, Many papers also, valuable to the family, though useless to you, we have dis- covered. Plain proofs, you see, if any were need- “All this is false as h—I!" roared Maxwell, in fury, although .his consternation had been mcet marked, as Captain Florence made these revela- tions. It is all false,” he repeated, defiantly; “it is the wretched fabrication of that young upstart, to gain favor with you, that he may marry Flora Florence. “I defy any of you to prove my SDE against me, The babe, it is true, came into my bands, and I& reared “her, that through her! might have my re- venge for the insult that had been put upon'me by her mother. * But all thisis no crime. Cut me loose, I say, or ae make you all suffer the full penalties of the ‘* Dang my half-sister’s black cat, ef we doesn't gf yer all ther law yer keers fer!" broke out Single- Lye, his lone optic glowing with fury, ‘Will Washburne and Turtle stood, with folded arms looking upon the two villains in silence. “This farce has gone on long enough," said the formeratlast. “The sightof that cowardly ruffian and murderer infuriates me, I really believe that his companion would not bave been a criminal, but for the influence of Mart Maxwell.” ‘Let sing death-song,” put in the Tonkaway. ‘Heap bad white men. Run hide when cut loose from Comanches, then steal White Rose. tle want scalp.”’ “Dang’d ef I’d kerry ther mangy kiotes’ scalps *bout me!” exclaimed Single-Kye in disgust, **But, es Will says, hit hain’t no use ter waste time on sich scum. Ef I war yeou, Cap Florence, I'd b’ist ‘erm up a limb, in two skips of a bighorn’s crup- per-holder!" Will's last remark had given to Rand Rogers new courage. He braced uP, and thus pleaded: “Save my lifo, gentlemen! I am not in the least implicated in this man’s crimes, I knew nothing of the murder of Colonel Florence, until Mart came to our cave, near the Missouri, with Mrs. Florence and her infant. He influenced me to agree to his plan for raising the wind by marrying Flora, though he had originally intended her for his own wife. “He was deterred from that by his fear of being recognized upon rg wr with her to Missouri, to Ir, Ashland, her grand. father.” Mart glared at Rand like an infuriated Ls, ak The confession was sufficient, however, to decide the listeners to immediate action. A wave of the hand - by Captain Florence, was followed by the ona. As the command moved again, they at times gazed | loose of Mart Maxwell: and Single-Eye and Ol Rocky now dragged the miscreant into the main camp. After a brief consultation, the others freed Rand Rogers, bidding him run for his life, or the scouts would hang him. Then all gathered in the clear space beneath the trees, in the old Comanche camp. Mart Maxwell stood upon the back of a borse, a noose around his neck, and Single-Eye upon a branch above, was making fast the slack, Old Rocky hold- ing the animal in position. ith bulging eyes and pallid face, his bravado ali disappearing, Mart Maxwell thus stood upon the horse. He had not believed, until now, that they would dare execute him without proof of his crime; not dreaming that Rand would * peach,” or that Mrs. a the victim of bis vengeance, was so near - “Mart Maxwell,” said the captain, In a stern voice, “‘make your ce with God, for you have a gh minutes to live. Confession is good for the soul,’ ‘*T confess only that I exult in what I have done,” yelled the villain, who now saw that there was no longer a hope that his life would be saved. I did fail Frank Florence, when his soul was racked by the sight of his home sinking into the merciless waters of the mad Missouri. “I swore to be revenged, eighteen long years ago and I have, as far asin me lay, kept my oath. ad I not been a fool, and drank to excess in New Orleans, all my plans would have succeeded, and Flora Florence would have been the. wife of that weak fool, Rand Rogers. “T should have fingered the fortune, and puted my revenge on the mother, by disclosing her, when the proper time canfe, the character of her darling’s husband."’ Further words were prevented by the tigh of the rope by Single-Lye, and Mart would have been instantly lanched into eternity, had not a piercing, horrified yell, followed by a single Co- manche way-cry, cut the air from down-stream. In aninstant Turtle drew knife, and bounded from view. Five minutes after he reappeared, waving another Scalp over his head, as he cried out: ** Comanche brave kill Rand. Scalp Rand. Turtle > ——— Scalp Comanche. It is good. augh!"’ Again rung the was boop of the Tonkaway, and g itasa signal, Old y sprung aside, pricked ' the horse upon which stood the doomed ruffian, and m (C JOO (E(©) S)A (El)