Beadle's Dime Library No. 258 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

aa te ————————— See gl 4 Bullet Flead, the Colorado Bravo. way. At the worst, I can repay him in kind by stealing the daughter he is said to love so well.” Important matters seemed upon the mind of the outlaw, for it was long before his meditative mood ended. At times he paced the room and then sat well-buried in his easy-chair, but in every way his manner betrayed the man who » grasps and wrestles with matters of importance. In point of fact, Bullet Head that day fought a great battle with himself, Every instinct of his nature impelled him to desert his one-time companion at Kidder’s hotel. Why should he help him ?+~why should he risk his own life in a Quixotic movement when it was to his inter- est to abandon the man to bis fate? He had strong reasons for believing that if Abram Bel- ford was dead he was, himself, safer than he bad been for years before. _ Yet, the good ear he in his nature triumph- od over the evil and he finally came toa firm decision, ; ‘*T will not act the knave; I will do my ut- most to throw light on the fate of that man, and if he is dead I willavenge him, Bartlett bas a daughter. In what way can I make her useful to me?” He suddenly turned to the black giant, ‘** Goliath!” The man came forward and saluted his cap- tain with a gesture which was graceful and not without dignity. He was a man of superb pro- portions, and, lacking the awkwardness which renders so many large men mere clowns in their boasted strength, was surprisingly intelligent. ‘‘ What do you know of the man Bartlett, at the village?” Captain Bullet abruptly continued. ‘* He is the richest man at Red Bullet Bar; is ‘the owner ofa mine, has a fine house, a hand- some daughter and four Chinese servants about the house. Men respect him.” ** Because be is rich!” dryly added Bullet Head. ** Very well; lam about to begin war on the man. For very good reasons, I hate him 3 for revenge, I will wring his heart to the core. ‘You bave only command, captain,” Go- liath replied, respectfully. It was unnecessary information, for Bullet Head already knew his standing.in the band; but he sent for his second in command and was soon talking with him confidentially. Lieuten- ant Darke was a young man and good-looking at that, with his black, curling bair and grace- ful form. He showed the same respect b-fore - noticed in Goliath, Having received his orders he went away, and once outside his leader’s private room his dark face lighted up with joy. ‘*T don’t know what game Bullet Head has under way, but it is clear that the hour of my vengeance is at band, Lila Bartlett has scorn- fully declined my offer of marriaze; we will see if she wili fly so high when she finds herself here. Perhaps I underrate her courage, but I could almost swear she will fall amiga! into my arias. But, what is Bullet Head trying to do? Can he, too, have fallen in love with the fair Lila? Scarcely, for that isn’t his way, More likely he wants a few hundred dollars for arausom. Well, we will see.” That evening Eimund Bartlett’s daughter was alone in a grove not far from her father’s house, he was one who seemed to live a happy life, She was young, wealthy andadmired. Numer- ous men had n to tho mine-owner to seek his consent and aid to a matrimonial end, but be had given oS ftle satisfaction as they had received from Lila, Evidently, the right man had not yet made his appearance, though it is hard to understand and speak confidently of the workings of a wo- man’s gp ¥ ‘ me On this occasion she was deep thoucht when she was interrupted by a ste rune ee side. She looked up and saw Darke beside her. The astute lieutenant in his dealings with the people of the village had taken particular care that they should not suspect his connection with the road-agents and he was free to come and go as he pleased. Lila, however, had once refused him, and her feelings toward him were those of contempt and hate. She arose on seeing who had intruded upon her solitude and would have left the place bad not he barred the ~_. ‘* Wait!” he said, in a voice of conscious power. th a sight of my face enough to drive you away ‘“Tt’s my opinion, it is,” she frankly an- swered. ‘Tt is of no consequence since my superior strength is enough to keep you here.’ Darke glanced toward the house and, know- ing the place was anything but safe for an rrp tere quickly, and somewhat brusquely, added: “I wish to give you one more chance to act sensibly, I have offered you an honest love and ican give you a comfortable home. decline these?” ss Yes!” She answered with a curtness due to her |:nowledge of bis nature and their past quarrels. Hig uttered a little whistle and half a dozen men eroso irom ambush. He allowed her to look for half a minute, smiling grimly as he saw the Do you 5 color recede from her cheeks, and then, grasp- the right or left, his —— held well up and bis ing her arm, spoke in a low tone: ‘Do you see those men? They are under my command and will obey me implicitly. I have come here to abduct you—I am frank—but it is in your power to save yourself. Go with me to the minister’s and then leave Red Bullet Bar with me and you are safe. Take your choice, On one side is love, kindness and a good home; on the other—well, 1 dare not tell you what may happen, Be warned and choose wisely !” Lila was alarmed, and there was good reason i ' | ' why she should be, but she was surprisingly | firm. “*T choose the least of two evils and decline the honor of your hand!” she answered. ‘* Beware!’ ** Of what?” “My anger.” ‘*It is preferable to what she said, scornfully. ‘‘ We have talked on this subject before and you know my views. You know I despise you. Let that be sufficient and let us waste no more words.” ou call your love,” _ Darke’s face actually paled. Ms oat you thought well on this matter?” * Yes. “Ten minutes later, if you should wish to change your micd, it will be too late. J speak as one who loves you should speak. Avoid the fate in store for you, if you reject me, as you would avoid the touch of a rattlesnake.” ‘‘Enough, Mr, Darke; I see no reason why we should talk further. Lam not one to change my views under the persuasive influences of a threat, and as this is not the age of miracles you need not hope for my love.” The last sentence was altogether too much for the lieutenant’s composure. A desire for re- venge arose superior to all else, and when Lila would have passed him at her last word he caught her arm and, at the same moment, placed one hand over her mouth. His men understood the turn of affairs; they sprung forward and added their hands to his and the girl’s last a of returning to the house faded away. ot being aware that Darke was a member of Bullet Head’s band she had no means of su ting that she was doomed to go to the lair of that notorious out- law, but she saw very clearly that her former opinion of Darke had been correct. The return to the cave was accomplished without trouble and Darke at once reported to his chief. He had no means of Papal, $afnres purpose Bullet Head had in view and he lin- gered for several minutes, but the latter was not in a communicative mood, Left alone again he devoted half an hour to thought, and then another of his subordinates entered. *‘T have been successful,” he said. ‘‘I hap- pened on one of Bartlett’s Chinamen by a neat chance and the fellow is now in the cave.” * What is his mvod?” ** He’s as cool as you or I could be, sir.” “Then we'll give him until to-morrow to think of it,” said the chief. ‘‘ You may go.” Once more Bullet Head was alone. He arose and began pacing the room in what seemed a vexed and uncertain mood. In point of fact, be was far from being at ease. He was taking steps which might not be prudent. o one knew better than he that there was a long drama in the life of Abram Belford: a drama in which Bartlett was to a certain degree roixed; and if the troubled waters were brought to a boiling pitch no one could say what might come of it. Was he doing well to use Belford’s cause, Or would it be better to let the man rest wherever he was, aud be forgotten? It was a superfluous question, for he well knew that his own safety demanded that the matter be dropped forever. et, he was resolved to act, and todo all he ae for Belford, let the result be what it micht, Tired by his own efforts, the road-agent at last lay down upon the bed at one side of the room, and was soon asleep. An bour, perhaps more, passed; then he arose, dressed himself, took from the table a glittering knife and a light, and left the room. movements were methodical, and yet they were not guided by reason; the fixed gaze of his eyes and the rigidity of bis face all bettayed the sleep-walker. Bullet Head, what- ever his purpose, was obeying that mysterious monitor which few people meet in their lives; but had any one seen bim they would have sur- mised by the knife he carried that something of a tragic nature was afoot. But he was unseen. Goliath, who slept near his master, had not been awakened, and the other men, though their position would hi an intruder from reaching Captain Bullet’s quarters, were some distance away. There is something weird and unnatural about somnambulism; the working of the body with- out the co-operation of the mind, can, at the best, suggest nothing more pleasant than an accident to the sleep-walker; while in the resent case the knife gaye an ominous air to ullet Head's solitary promenade. He moved on steadily, not once turning to | re —_ «ms well forward, and his gaze fixed straight abead. In this way he advanced toa place where a door had been neatly fitted to an opening in the rocky wall. At that time it was bolted and barred, but it was only a short piece of work to remove these obstacles, The somnambulist opened the door, and passed through. The second room was small, and had been fitted up asa sleeping apartment. On the bed lay Lila Bartlett, soundly sleeping. She bad laid down witbout removing her clothing, and despite her trouble, had lost consciousness in slumber. Bullet Head paused beside the bed, and fixed bis gaze upon her fair face. Unconscious he certainly was, but his eyes saw, and he was following some wild idea of his mind or of its phantasy—a dream. Unstable as was the cause which led him, he had come with a settled purpose, aud without a change of countenance he raised his knife on high, and witb bis gaze fixed on her expanding chest, prepared for the fatal blow. CHAPTER V. ALLEN QUAIN, OnE afternoon a young man approached a mansion-like residence on one of the best streets of the city of St. Lovis, ascended the steps and rung the bell. His air was neither indifferent, timid nor bashful, but rather like that of a man who has some task which he has resolved to per- form regardless of some unpleasant element, He was shown to the parlor by the servant where he was soon joined by a tall, ray-baired man in whose appearance one could read the fact that he was at once a man of business and of wealth. The visitor arose. ‘**Good-morning, Mr. Quain,” said the elder man. ‘‘Il am informed that you have business with me,” No smile crossed his face, he remained stand- ing, and his manner was far from being polite; but be had to deal with a man who possessed a good deal of quiet firmness. , “You are right, Mr. Jackson,” he replied, with outward calmness. ‘‘I have come to ask the band of your daughter in marriage.” The blunt announcement, made under such unfavorable circumstances, did not cause a change of expression on the face of the elder man, but it did have the effect of causing bim to sit down. ‘* 1 feared as much,” he coldly observed. Not a very promising comment for a lover to hear, but thougb Allen Quain’s heart sunk, metaphorically speaking, be retained his out- ward calmness. “*T love Miss Jackson,” he continued, “ and, as you know, have the means of providing ber with a comfortable home.” ‘‘] am aware,” said Jackson, coldly, “ that ou are the heir of Mr. Garland, the lawyer. far as money goes, all is satisfactory, and it would be the sameif you had nota dollar. Still, I cannot consent to the marriage.” “And why not?” “TI trust you will not press me for an an- swer.” “Do you know aught derogatory to my char- acter?” ‘‘Nothing. To tell the truth, I have never investigated the matter, but I believe your gen- eral reputation to be good.” ‘* Then, sir, why do you dis me?” . a Jackson mg ea ema» for some ae alf-unconsciou andling a weigh which lay on the table. He was far nl bein a heartless man, and would gladly have spanea bis visitor the pain be must give if he spoke plainly; but as his daughter , was old ee to act for herself, he felt sure that she would become Mrs. Allen Quain unless he took some decisive step to stop it, and, oddly enough be relied on the honor of the would-be husband as a preventative. ‘“Can’t I persuade you to abandon this use- aa hope by saying that I do not approve of i ‘* With all possible respect for you, I must re- quest a well-fuunded reason,” answered the suitor, in a respectful voice where a firm resolu- tion was also apparent. He was a gentlemanly young fellow, in man- ners, dress and look, and it was the fact that he believed bimself to be the social equal of Rose Jackson that he spoke with so mucb quiet firm- ness. “Then, Mr. Quain, I must speak plainly and open to you a chapter in your life of which I believe you ignorant. If what I relate causes you unhappiness, remember that | spoke at your command.” | Allen was bewildered, but he steadily directed bis companion to proceed. “You live, I believe, with your uncle, Mr. Eben Garland, and your mother, Mrs. Quain, Have you any other relatives?” ‘‘ None near enough to be considered, sir.” ** What of your father?” ‘* He died years ago.” ** Are you sure?” COMMUC MOOLKS) ul