Beadle's Dime Library No. 278 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

i? BS OnPS wre © PrP HPRERPS MOD we 412? CQO Qhaortm- @G Com & me , 2 eae YY —o le ? * _= —— we a — —— = > —4 Hercules Goldspur’s velvet hands. I hate him because he has baffled me. To your father! Hesitate, Zoe, and 1 may leave you dead for him to find when he comes back.” With the last words madly spoken the Mexi- can huntress clapped a revolver to Zoe’s head and hissed over the polished barrel. ‘*Oh, I sha’n’t hesitate to kill if you resist! I am going back to your father with a report of some kind. Will you go alive, Zoe?” The menacing weapon would have decided the most stubborn. Zoe stared down the barrel for a moment, and then glanced at the girl who held it. ‘¢T will go,” she said in low tones, Lola laughed. ‘*T said vin myself that I would rob the mountain nest,” she said. ‘‘ When Hercules comes back won't he swear? But we will not hear him, Zoe, for we will be faraway. Come, We go now.’ Still clutching her captive’s wrist, Lola led the way from the cabin. ' Her eyes fairly blazed. The Mexican huntress was in her element. She led Zoe down the mountain trail and into a little copse in the middle of which the two came suddeniy upon a horse which instantly recognized Lola, ‘‘He’ll carry double, Zoe,” she ‘*Let me help you up.” A moment later oldspur’s love was firmly seated on the animal, and an agile spring placed Lola on the same perch. ‘* Now, Hercules, choke me if you can!” she exclaimed. “Ihave robbed you of Zoe, your little pard, and I’m ready to defend the prize I’ve taken.” Then Lola spoke to the steed which started forward, and in less time than five minutes he had cleared the thicket, and was in a com- paratively open trail. The capture and abduction had not occupied more time than ten minutes, but the horse api et ee the two girl's was already far from thes Allat once a figure appeared in the starlight in rates of the mountain cabin, and the next in- stant a man crossed the threshold. **Zoe—Zoe! Your dream is a fraud!” he laughed, but ceased suddenly and started back. ‘*She’s gone!” rung in mad accents trom his throat. ‘* Woe to the man or woman who rob- bed me ov Zoe! I am a tiger, as men bave found out, when I’m ’roused, She didn’t desert me ov her own accord. No; somebody has been here!” He drew a match from bis pocket, struck it against the cabin-wall, and moved it over the ground beyond the door, Suddenly he sprung up, and dashed the match to the ground, ‘She leaves a trail, the Mexican viper!” he hissed. ‘“‘ Her throat just fits my band. She has follered us all the way from You-Bet. Zoe asked me to-night if I did not fear her an’ Pig- my Pete, an’ | laughed an’ said ‘No,’ Z:e knew more than I did about that yaller tracker. Wal, Zoe’s dream warn’t such a fraud, arter all! He went back into the shanty, but came forth again a moment later. ‘“Outwitted by a Mexican gal! By George, Mr. Goldspur, don’t yer feel like sellin’ out dirt cheap? She’s workin’ fer Ferd Sutter, She will take Zoe back to her father, if I let ’er; but mebbe I'll be mean enough ter block ber game. Shouldn’t wonder ef I did. Robbed ov Zoe! I have sworn thet nobody sbould ever do this, but hyar I am at last—alone—Zoe gone—tricked by Pigmy Pete’s Ra al pard!” e laughed derisively at himself at the end of the last sentence, and while the tones yet vi- brated on the air, he sprung down the mountain- sile with a tigerish eagerness to strike Lola’s trail. laughed, CHAPieR XVI. THE HAPPY RATTLERS’ CAMP, Lona the Mexican was proud of her prize. More than once she glauced furtively, yet with eyes full of triumph at Zoe, und thought of the reward she had fixed her mind on. As for Zoe herself, she remained silent uatil the horse reached a small stream, some miles from the cabin, and lowered bis bead to drink, ‘‘ What does 1 my father look like?” she asked, no —_ able out of curiosity to keep back the uestion “A Ah, he is bandsome!” exclaimed Lola. ‘Tall and straight as an arrow, with the eye of an eagle, and the strength of a grizzly. He would make any woman proud of him. Such is our father, Zoe.” ‘‘ When did you first meet him?’ “Long ago. He came to me and said: ‘I want you to belp me find my cbild, Pigmy Pete will help you; I have engaged him.’ But I would have helped your father without any thought of reward, ‘I jike handsome men, but that at not why I am Pete’s pard,” and Lola lau Pies gmy and J are friends, but we will not aiwaye be,” she wenton. ‘' This hunt for you, Zoe, is going to tear us apart. Ah! if Pete turns on me as he will when a Scaeeics edie Cave aa ae ad a es aan. dk Naa ctr Laie Sens aca. Mey const ee event takes place, be will hate the girl he loves now.” og | a not understand you,” said Zoe. ** Mebbe not, but you will,” was the quick re- onse, “Ab! whata handsome man your fa- ther is, Zoe!” Zoe's eyes watched Lola for several minutes after her last exclamation but she did not speak, The horse was quenching his thirst in the starlit stream, and Lola’s eyes were burning brilliantly for her comment on Ferdinand Sut- ler’s manly beauty. ‘He is beyund this stream!” exclaimed Lola. “Tlong to meet him. I am eager to give him back his daughter.” The horse left the water and plunged on. Suddenly there rung out upon the clear air a voice that drew acry from Zoe’s lips and made Lola draw rein and revolver, ‘*Halt an’ hold up, pard!” said the voice, ** It's my first attempt ter play road-agent, but I’ve got ter stop ye. **T ought to know that voice,” said Zoe to her- self. ‘I have certainly heard it before.” Lola with ber finger at the trigger of her weapon was leaning forward, trying tu make out the person who had stopped her so suddenly. “Is it hold up er a tumble, my beau ideal?’ continued the man. ‘‘I can’t stand hyar all night, an’ George ar’ rayther impatient ter kick suthin’,” Lola uttered an exclamation which told Zoe that she had identified the man. ‘It’s bold up till Ll get the drop on him,” she grated in tones heard only by her prisoner. ‘‘I will never be the captive of that reptile from Silver Bow.” Then she thrust her revolver back into the pocket from which it had been taken and her bands went up over her head, ‘*Thet’s sensible, my cherub!” exclaimed the Happy Rattler. ‘Jes’ keep yer paws elevated till L hev taken a squint at yer size.” And the two girls saw the speaker ride toward them. * Jehosaphat! a double catch!” fell from his lips as he stopped with a coarse ‘* whoa!” along- side of Lola’s steed. ‘‘I war born in a good sign an’ cut my eye teeth on ther luckiest day ov ther year. Two on’em! Rattl er, yer’ no disgrace ter Silver Bow. You an’ George ar’ its most distinguished representertives. Goin’ back ter You-Bet?’ Lola’s eyes flashed madly but her lips moved not. ‘*Mad, eh? You ar’ sweetest when you frown, my poutin’ pard,” laughed the Rattler. ‘Ef [ can’t git a word out ov one, Pil try the other. Which way, Zoe?” ‘** Lola says to my father,” was the reply that drew a qu uick glance from the Mexican. ‘*Ter Ferd Sutter? I know ’im,” said the man frome. Silver Bow, “Vl take charge OV you, oe Lola drew back with a light cry. ‘* You?” she cried, glaring at the Happy Rat- tler. ‘‘ You rob meof Zoe? Never!” ‘*Oh, yes, my honey-bee,” laughed the man. ‘Ym a wild-cat with his ha’r smoothed ther on a when | git riled. Sha’n’t hev Zoe, eb? we'll see. He leaned toward the girls as he finished, and _ bronzed hand was stretched forward to take oe. “You shall not!” exclaimed Lola, throwing one arm around her captive as the other darted toward her revolver. ‘‘Iam not going to be robbed by you!” “ By jingo! by nobody else!” was the quick reply. ‘' Look down inter this an’ photograph yer face on cold lead!” and a revolver of the argest caliber was thrust into Lola’s face, “I laugh, but I also shoot. Yes, I'll take Zoe.” be Mexican looked over the gleaming barrel of the revolver. ‘** Darn me, ef I don’t mean b‘zness.” the Rat- tler hissed. ‘I'd ez soon spoil your face as look at it. Lift yer shoo in’-iron, Lola, an’ the gen- tleman from Silver Bowl)’ send you ter yer gravea maid, Shall | hev the zal i Lola’s arm reluctantly left Zoe’s waist, and the next moment the Happy Rattler had trans- ferred ber to the back of his donkey. * Ride on ter You-Bet an’ report thet owin’ ter circumstances ye could not control, Zoe didn’t come along,” grinned the Rattler, “Go back an’ bury yer disapp’intment on Pigmy’s bosom. Don t siay in these parts, ez ther climate may prove onbealthy. Move along, George! 6 The donkey started forward, but Lola’s eyes followed bis master, and her lips madly ex- claimed: “ Coward! thief! devil! what are you goin’ to do with Zoe?” ‘* Thet’s a conundrum!” was the harsh, laugh- ing rejoinder. ‘‘ Hang me ef it would stump Silver Bow fer a solid week.. What am I going to do with this daisy jumper ov ther mountains? I ben’t exactly decided, Thief, eh? Wal, meb- be I did steal Zoe from ye; but who did you rob, hey, my honey?” : . A braver man than you will ever be!” cried ola. ‘*Thet’s yer opinion, in ther Happy Rat- tler’s. But we must part. I regret ter hev ter inform you, Lola, thet this ’ere partin’ grieves my very heart. My constant prayer will be thet we will meet ag’in—” ** We will!” flashed the Mexican. geance of Lola wi!] overtake you.” ‘*Thanks! Ef you don’t find me soon jes’ ad- vertise. I’m ther Happy Rattler ov Silver Bow, an’ this distinguished person is Kickin’ George, E-quire, ov tner same locality.” A dig in tne donkev’s rits sent bim forward again and Lola the Mexican was left alone on the mountain captiveless and almost beside her- self with rage and chagrin. She heard the clatter of the donkey’s boofs mingled with the coarse laugh with which the Rattler had supplemented his last sentence. ‘*Robbed! robbed by the meanest man in Idaho!” fell from ber aoe “*] will never go back to Ferdinand until I can make my own terms, and without Zoe Fosnat name them.” She wheeled her horse in the direction toward which the Happy Rattler had ridden, but did net urge bim forward. “I guess you’d better not foller!” was the ad- monition that came suddenly from the dark- ness, ‘I knowed a feller once thet run ag’in six inches ov round steel and never backed off either.” She well knew it was the Heppy Rattler’s voice, and its effect was such as to make ber keep her place, and let bim depart with his prisoner. ‘* He’ll run against Hercules Goldspur. I hope he will!” she cried. ‘‘A man that laughs is, of all men, the most dangerous. He shoots while he laughs. Take Zoe back to The Man of The Velvet Hand. Ican rob him again. Ob, lam not going to be baffled because you have robbed me, Rattler. I will soon re-arm myself with the weapon that will bring Ferdinand Sutter to terms.” She did not move until the Rattler’s cutting laugh and bis donkey’s hoof-beats had ceased to salute ber ears. Then she turned her horse’s head toward You-Bet, and rode slowly and thoughtfully down the trail. ‘ By hokey! you left You-Bet too soon,” said the Rattler to Zoe when he bad put a mile and more between himself and Lola, *‘ They’ve hed times thar since ye left. One little shootin’- match an’ a reg’lar Injun raid. My mountain posey, it war a time.” Zoe's look was a question but her lips did not unclose.” “Them red devils came downon ther place when nobody war lookin’ fer em,” the Rattler went on, ‘It war three nights arter Cold-Deck Carl came back an’ made: a lot ov new pards with Big Wolf’s scalp.” ‘“ What!” exclaimed Zoe. sport alive?” “ He war at last accounts. Not only alive, but yer father’s pard.” Zoe started and shuddered. ‘**Cold-Deck Carl my father’s friend?” she cried to berself. ‘‘That means something. Ah! It means that I must ever hate thes man,” “But let me go back ter ther Injun raid, Jehu! them greasy devils came down on You- Bet like a cataract. It war suthin’ awful. Portland Express hed jes’ left when thar war a yell, an’ Joe’s place war full ov red-skins be- — fore a man could draw bis dropper. All ther Injuns in Idaho wouldn’t hev made more racket, an’ I guess they war all thar. Thar war some fightin’, tut not much. What ml war war done by ther reds. The next stra thet comes ter You-Bet will hunt a long fer a drink.” The Happy Rattler supplemented bis last re- mark with a significant grin and a far-away look which did not escape the girl's yb ‘“ They took the place by stern e" e said, **T should remark ter mention, ” was the an- swer. ‘If I war foot-locse an’ oy a speculative turn, I’d go back tbar an’ take a mine. Them Injuns, ter be plain, Zce, didn’t leave a snud- gin’ ov Jivin’ anatomy in You-Bet. Thar war a few chaps what got away, but Joe’s war a first-class morgue when ther reds left. I’ve heard ov clean-outs, my robin, but it war ther cleanest one I ever inspected. Joe, an’ nearly all got it, and all because Cold-Deck Carl came back an’ waved Big Wolf’s ha’r over his head. He'll never do it again in You-Bet,” ‘* They killed Cold-Deck, then?’ | ** Hardly. Didn't I lately remark that he an’ yer father ar’ pards? They’re together some- - whar. Zoe, you must learn to bate that man, He’s a traitor to yer father. I heard ther bull agreement. He’s promised ter help find you; but he’s ys a purpose in view, ther mean skunk! You ry a blamed sight safer with — Hercuiez Goldspur, ef 1 don’t like ’im, than you are with yer father while Cold-Deck Carl ar’ bis pard. But you are safest with the honor- able gentlemen from Silver Bow.” There was a good-natured but somewhat avaricious twinkle in the Rattler’s eyes as he spoke, but Zoe saw only the former. ‘** We could be friends,” she said, “ We're goin’ ter be. Everybody in this wild kentry hez a game ov his own ter play. I hev mine, an’ since [’ve found you, Zve, Dye taken a trick I hardly looked for. About what do yer — think Ferd Sutter is worth?’ os The ven- **Ts that gambler- (EO) NMLCE| OOo) (E * a) GE (@) = J -_—. 3 » . te