Beadle's Dime Library No. 263 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

—— the town; but he listened in vain for some sound to show that the girl was with them. This effort succeeded no better than one to catch the sound of Diamond’s voice, The suspense became so unpleasant that be raised his voice to ask a few questions. He might have saved his breath, for no answer was returned. Anon the hoofs of the horses began to ring audibly, and Doctor Rube could draw but one inference, They had reached border ground, and that only lay in the horseshoe line of hills. Could it be they were leaving the valley? The question answered itself, for the fact that they were ascending soon became undeniable, In the same grim silence they crossed the mountain and struck the eae soil beyond. No more ringing of hoofs on the stones; they were on the desert. ‘ They went on at an easy trot hour after our. Every attempt of the doctor to open conver- sation bad been in vain. He would almost have thought himself alone had not such a thing been absurd. At last they halted, the bandage was re- moved from’ his eyes and he was at liberty to use them to the utmost. He was on the desert. As far as his eyes could reach, there was the same dead level, ex- cept that at the west a low, blue line marked the mountains which walled in the City of the Desert. His companions were three men in the well- known uniforms of the Black Riders, dark, bronzed, taciturn-looking fellows. Diamond, Tron-armed Abe, and the girl had vanished like a dream. He addressed the Riders; but no answer was returned. They might have been deaf and dumb, so far as be could tell. Food and drink were given him, and he was well used in general, but he was left in doubt and per- plexity. The sun of the following day was setting when the party, after a steady and wearisome journey, halted and bade Doctor Rube alight. e did so, and then the bandage was removed from bis eyes. Another moment, and the Black Riders swept away along the back track, and the doctor felt a thrill of uneasiness, Was he to be left alone on the desert with his hands bound behind him? He turned and looked in the opposite direc: tion. What he saw gave hima start of sur- prise. A mile away were the cabins, hill-en- circled, which made up the town of Saicker’s Guich, from which, it will be remembered, he was originally kidnapped. One more glance at the fast-receding Riders sufficed to convince him that, having returned him to his home, they were making all haste to get out of the way before they could be followed, He resolved to prevent it; all that was manly and chivalrousin his nature arose to urge him on to rescue the unknown girl from her equally un- known fate, and settling down into a rapid run, he made for Snicker’s Guleh without a pause, His arrival created considerable commotion, as may well be supposed; but among such men it was not hard to find a party to pursue the Black Riders. But, quicker than they, the darkness of a Southern evening was descending. When they rode from the village the Black Riders were invisible, and though they started on the trail, if was soon made indistinct by night. We need notlinger on what followed. On the desert, where trails cross and recross, or are entirely obliterated .by the sand shifting under the wind like light snow, it is hard to follow a Soe trail. f octor Rube and bis allies were baffled, and not more in finding the trail than in finding the mystic city. A little time the rough miners ave to the subject, and then they decided that be had but dreamed; that the City of the Desert, and all its people, were the delusive Rennes of a disordered mind, e almost believed it himself when he heard from Los Angeles, and could learn nothing of a girl who bad disappeared from there; when, after weeks of effort, and after throwing away money on various guides, he failed to find the mystic city. ‘There is no such place!” declared every one except the doctor, But he, remembering the eyes of the girl— her strangely lovely eyes, and her equally lovely face—could never forget her peril. As long as he lived he would remember, — CHAPTER VIII. BOXFIELD'S ENCHANTRESS. **My dear fellow, I want you for to-night,” ‘You have me now, I should say.” “True, but, to-night, there is to bea grand ball at the Aberdeen mansion. Belgium’s capital isto get her beauty and chivalry together again and t them shake the light fantastic toe.” ‘With the old result?” ‘No; I reckon ‘the foe, they come, they come,’ won’t come at all unless it’s to those who ‘ drink too much wine.” iron-Armed Abe, the Hunchback Destroyer. ‘Well, my dear Boxfield, I should be glad to go, and all that sort of thing, but I can’t afford it. Icame to San Francisco penniless, almost, and nota patient have Iseen yet. Ilack the clotbes to figure at this gathering of the clans and must respectfully decline,” ‘No, you don’t, Rube; no, you don’t. I say you're going. Clothes be hanged! You and [ used to manage that in our college days and I reckon we can now. You must go; to tell the truth, I have a particular reason,” ** Ah! what’s her name?” ‘‘The dickens! you pick one up sharp, don’t you? Who intimated there was a feminine pro- noun in the case?” ‘“You can’t deceive the eyes of a doctor, Ned,” **In this case, I don’t want to; you shall be m y father confessor, or whatever it’s called, and I’}l pour out my guilty secret. Iam in love. Her name is Leora Templeton, and she is the prettiest girl in San Francisco. Moreover, she’s as good as she is pretty and your humble servant means to marry her if he can.” Doctor Rube Leyden looked more gravely at his friend. He knew Boxfield to be the hero of a score of flirtations, but there was seriousness in his voice now, and, like a good friend, the doctor became interested. ‘*T shall be pleased to see the future Mrs. Box- field,” he said, kindly. “Tm not so sure you'll see her when you se Leora Templeton, but I hope so. At present 1 am in suspense, and I'll be frank enough to ad- mit she has given me no actual encourage- ment,” He went on at some vip ieee dilating on the many excellent qualities of the young lady in question, and Doctor Rube’s thoughts went back to an event in his life which had made a deep impression; his memory brought to light a face he could never forget, and he sighed without being aware of it. A year had passed since his adventures at the City of the Desert, and, having beggared himself by vain attempts to again find the mountain- environed town, he had yiven up and removed to San Francisco, hoping in the bustle of the Pacific metropolis to forget the face of the un- known girl. It seemed a vain hope. He saw the face, in his imagination, in his office and in his chamber, in street, theater and church, and always the marvelously lovely eyes appealed to him for help. The uncertainty surrounding her fate made him moody and miscrable. Had Diamond suc- ceeded in his villainous purpose, or had I[ron- Armed Abe aided her to escape? Again and again the question floated through his mind, but the answer never came, and, often, he awoke at night from a dream in which he saw her beau- tiful arm severed at the wrist. The invitation of Ned Boxfield to attend the ball pleased him, and he resolved to go, hoping to drown his moody recollections in society, Boxfield, by the way, was a young lawyer. He was gay and brilliant in a certain way, and as he was studying with an old attorney and always had plenty of pen-work to do, he fancied he was going along the road to fame ata gal- lop. His aim was the Chief-justiceship of the United States Supreme Court and the target was a broad one. The evening of the great event arrived, and the two young men wended their way to the Aberdeen mansion as buoyantly as though the elaborate dresses they wore were not bor- rowed plumage, Doctor Rube found the scene a brilliant and interesting one, but as this is not a society story we need give no detailed description of it. He had come with more curiosity to see Boxfield’s enchantress than anything else, and the chance was soon given bim, Conducted by the young lawyer, he was soon near the charmed circle of beauty. ‘* Miss Templeton, my friend, Dr, Leyden.” The latter acknowledged the introduction his most graceful manner and then lifted his gaze to the young lady’s face. Then he stood in mute amazement; unless he was dreaming, mad or the victim of a strange delusion, he was face to face with the girl of his old, mysterious adventure, Form and face were alike, even to every feature, and surprise gave place to joy in the young doctor’s mind, She had escaped after all, Instinctively bis gaze fell to her hand--that hand he had once been ordered to amputate. It was there as nature and time had made it; the cruel knife had spared it. ‘‘T am pleased to meet Mr. Boxfield’s friend.” The words, spoken in the well-remembered tones of the girl, recalled the doctor to bimself, and he looked into her smiling face. He be- lieved he saw a mischievous look in her lovely eyes and did not doubt but that he was recog- nized in turn. : ‘*T assure you the pleasure is mutual, Miss Templeton,” he answered, quickly, ‘‘ for you have scarcely ever been out of my thoughts since that eventful night. Pray, how did you escape?” Her smile gave,place to a puzzled look. @ ** How did I escape?” she slowly repeated. ‘Yes, from Captain Diamond.” ‘“* Really, sir, Idon’t know what you mean,” she answered, doubtfully but kindly, “TI dont know any one named Captain Diamond; nor do I know to what you refer.” For a moment Dottor Rube was dumfounded, but he was both generous and quick-witted, and it flashed upon him that for some reason she desired that period in her past to remain a secret. a He made bis excuses in due form, speaking of | a deceptive resemblance, and peace and serenity were soon restored. His thoughts and atten- tion were all on her, however, and he seized the first opportunity to talk with her in pri- vate. In a curtained alcove they at last found them- selves separated from the other revelers, but et are lady made no haste to refer to the as ‘but [am all impatience to talk over the —to know how you escaped from the City of the Desert.” Again the puzzled look crossed her face. ‘*T don’t know what you mean,” she said, “‘Perhaps you would have known had [ am- putated this fair arm.” ; He ventured to touch her hand as he spoke but she drew back as though alarmed anid’ fut the hand behind her. ‘*Ts this a jest, Dr, Leyden?” she asked. “Tt wasn’t then,” he answered, a good deal puzzled himself by that time: her manner was not such as might be expected under the cir- cumstances. ** But I don’t understand.” She knit her pretty brows in a way which in- dicated that if he hadn’t been the friend of Ned Boxfield he might have found a small tempest raging around his ears. For the first time Doctor Rube began to think he was in the same situation. The young lady was repudiating all knowledge of tbe Arizona affair, and as it suddenly flashed upon him that she was a San Francisco heiress he was com- pelled to see that it did look absurd to suppose she had been in the City of the Desert, | Could it be he was deceived by a resem- blance? Such a thing was possible, but if so, it was a remarkable one. Her form, ber face—every feature—her voice, her motions—all were those of the unknown girl. His perplexity increased, but politeness to a lady and a regard for Boxfield were not to be defied. He muttered some excuse, and had the satisfaction of seeing Miss Templeton smile and express her forgiveness, but he saw that he still looked at him with a shadow of fear in h lovely eyes, and it was a mutual relief when Boxfield reappeared. Doctor Rube soon excused himself, but, secur- ing a post favorable for observation, began to watch and study Miss Templeton, Every look and motion was weighed, and as a result he finally closed his teeth with a painful jar, “Tl take my oath the two girls are one and the same. Now, then, what mystery have I stumbled upon?” | Even as he asked the question a tall, pale- faced man Marty to the side of the lady and smilingly addressed her, at the same time nod- ding to Boxfield. Rand ee Doctor Rube started back as though struck, ; The pale-faced man was Captain Diamond! ‘“Bxcuse my impatience,” said Doctor es CHAPTER IX. THE STORY OF AN INHERITANCE, Ir was no wonder that Doctor Rube was amazed, for the appearance of Diamond was more to be wondered at than was Miss emple- ton’s, The medical man had seen him in one base piece of work, and he had no doubt a hun- dred more lay at his door. Yet, here he was in San Francisco, well- dressed, smiling, polite and perfectly at his ease, No shadow of crime walked by his side, and he might have been an exemplary member of society and have been less composed. , Strangest of all, he was bending over Miss Templeton and they were smiling at each other in a friendly way. Doctor Rube stared in blank amazement for several seconds. In his imagination that old scene at the mansion in the City of the Desert arose before him. Once more the drugged girl lay on the bed and Captain Diamond, pointing downward, said: ; ‘* You are to amputate this arm at the wrist |” How well-remembered were the words, the seene and its minutest particulars. And’ yet, the man who would have done this deed, and his marked victim, were now side by side and engaged in friendly conversation. | ‘Can it be?’ wondered the docter. “ AmI again the victim of an optical illusion?” He gained a position in frem of the man and looked at him keenly, scrutinizing each feature and each peculiarity. Allowing himself sore time he finally arrived at a conclusion whie nothing could shake. The man was Captain Diamond; he would swear to it. True, his dress wen - Gomichboo ‘“S | | Ul