Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 283 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

- 6 — ——_— + = ee ing how long and eagerly the eyes of the hard- pressed South were turned toward Europe, it was cmap ngs # natural for them to offer their services to Maximilian; none the less readily that they could not avoid seeing and pening how frail and uncertain Lis cause was growing. ‘The work was hot and deadly enough even for their war-hardened natures, but they never flinched or lost faith in the desperate cause they had adopted as theirown. Then came the swift-falling blows of bitter black treachery which found a tragic culmination on the morn- ing of July 19, 1867, when the once emperor was butchered by repeated volleys from the guns of his clumsy executioners. Almost by a miracle, Randal Talfourd es- caped the doom which bad overtaken so many of his comrades, ard it was many a day after that before be could call bis life his own. Despite the fast and hot work which he was so often called upon to perform, all was not warfare and bloodshed with the still young Southron. By a curious chain of events, far too long and intricate to find a detailed account here, he had met and won the love of a Spanish maiden, ouly child of one of the bitterest ene- mies to the reign of Maximilian. It was rough aud perilous times for making love, for wooing and wedding, but for all of this, and more, the gallant young Southron found opportunity. In addition to a hostile parent, there was at least one desperate rival, who sought time and time again to remove bis favcred rival by bullet or steel. Failing this, and backed by the stern authority of the father, the Spanish lover rc- solved to first wed, then woo, the baughty maid, And for a time it seemed as though siecess was about to crown his efforts, so far as giving him ‘a bride; but then, like young Lochinvar, he to whom the fair Ysabel had surrendered her love, dashed upon the scene at the head of a trusted tow of bis hardy rough-riders, and leaving the gayly-dressed bridegroom lying senseless or dead on the floor of the church, rode out again, with the bride clinging to bis bosom. A long, hard, merciless chase; then escape; and before bis brief furlough expired, Randal Talfourd left his fair bride on American soil, and returned to faithfully play bis part in those tragic days when the star of the emperor went down in blood. At long intervals the soldier managed to visit his wife, and when he returned, never, as they both believed and hoped, to return to the soil of Mexico, there was a little daughter to share their love and care. Randal Talfourd had gathered together some money:in those closing days, and retreating far from the land where he had so audaciously won a living, breathing treasure, he settled down to enjoy life in peace and tranquillity, after those years of stern and deadly work. Not in the States, for despite the years which had passed since the star of the nfederacy went down forever, Randal Talfourd was still a rebel, still unreconstructed. He felt that be had no country now, and his dearest wish was to gather sufficient wealth to take him and _ bis beyond the seas to a land which he could adopt without such a bitter heart-burning as ever was his when he thought of his old home in the sunny South. It was this restless longing that finally led him to place his wife and daughter in a quiet home in Denver, and strike out into the heart of the mining regions, where a propitious fortune might reward his busy seekings, at a single lucky stroke. It was a trying, wearing life, and as the years passed by without bringing him perceptibly nearer the longed-for goal, they showed upon the man, and he was growing old before bis time. In vain his loved one besought him to eld to fate, and take life as it came, only so hat they might be together. He had never surrendered, even when the odds showed most heavily against him, nor would he yield now. The strange, never-dving fever which claims the gold-bunter as its victim, sooner or late, was boiling in bis veins, and with brief visits to his family, Randal Talfourd toiled on and on. And then, when the little Lois was rapidly wing up to a most fair womanhood, fortune to smile upon the man who so doggedly pursued her. So many disappointments had followed to dash his wildest oe that Talfourd kept his secret even from those who had the right to share his perfect confidence. He would not again raise their hopes, only to bave them rude- lv shattered with his own, when ‘ the bottom should fall out” of this ‘ show.” So he argued in his own heart, and right well he kept his secret, though day after day, month after month the bright prosp ct grew surer. And then the day came when he knew that his fortune was made at last! His lucky discovery proved a true lead, and being the first on the grown” he gathered in the cream before wind of the ‘‘ new discovery ” was spread to the four winds, He called his mine “ The Lost Cruse,” with a sentiment that was something more than the grim humor it appeared on the surface. And when the money-mad seekers came pouring in to build up a “ci y ” near fhe new discovery, it -s-e you ip the morning, no doubt. your servant,” and bowing low, he retreated | from the room, unheeding if he heard the | very keen, honest eye wide open, | where he saw the thin, skinny Mexican host | by step, | muttered Sleek for wages to setting | “*Gone! If you want him, seek him,” was the | ee was through his influence that the growing place was named DIXIE. Even then, when he knew that that dingy, ugly hole in the ground among the foot-hills was | worth a fortune whenever he felt inclined to place the stock wpon the market or sell it out- right, Randal Talfourd could not bring bimself to fully unbosom himself to his wife and daugh- ter. He resolved to call them out to him by rail, and meeting tham at New Babylon the nearest station to Dixie, and conducting them to the mountain town, let them make the dis- covery for themselves. So the important letter was sent, and mount- ing his horse the day before that on which he knew his family would arrive at New Babylon, the mine-owner rode gayly away from Dixie. He expected to reach his destination late that same evening, but an accident which partially crippled his horse and sprained his own ankle too severely to permit him to complete the jour- ney on foot, so delayed him that 1t was nearly Sleek Sam, the Devil of the Mines. | | and a low, smooth laugh came from the thin — Tie deep frown vanished as though by magic, | lips. ' ' ; | four-and-twenty hours later than he expected, | when at length he drew near the town. What followed, the reader already knows. , Samuel Oswald was one of the first to strike Dixie when the true value of the new ‘find ” was realized, himself, and he never spoke of his own affairs, ‘“‘Took to the brush, the pitiful coward! Wel, perhaps that is the best place for the poor fool. And you, Diego Zarate, prepare a bed for me. I will be back shortly.” ‘You'll waste your time, then,” growled the es wolf. ‘lve no spare room for you to- night. eThen make room, if you have to bunk in the kennel yourself, dog,” was the placid reply, as Sleek Sam bit off the tip of a cigar and fumbled in his pocket for a match. The skinny hand dropped to the hilt of a knife, but as it flashed forth, Sleek Sam caught his wrist and tore the gleaming weapon away. The curse on the man’s lips was stifled, and as though that touch cowed him, he bowed his head, shivering. “You will watch for me, Diego? And have a good bed?” ‘Ves, master!” gasped the Mexican, his eyes _ drooping. “Allright. Ill not keep you up very late,” said Sleek Sam, turning from the house with a originally came, no man appeared to know save | Handsome, of good address, clearly an edu- cated man, Oswald rapidly gained the golden opinions of nearly all the more prominent citi- | zens of Dixie, none the less readily that his musical voice, iis suave manner and his genial smilo seemed to be babitual tohim. True, he did no work for bis living, except to mani ulate | the pasteboards; but in a mining community, so long as he seems “on the square,” a gambler is considered just as good as any other man, But in one unlucky day for themselves, a couple of ‘‘ hard nuts” began to crowd the one | whose gentle manners and unvarying politeness had already gained him the sobriquet of Sleek | Sam; and then the devil that lay hidden be- | neath that smooth exterior burst forth in all its deadliness. There was a double funeral the next day, and at the head walked Sleek Sam, cool, calmly smiling, gentle as «ver. Other adventurers came into town, and it > began to be whispered about that Sleek Sam | was in reality one of the “ toughest cases” so | far as grit and fire-eating propensities were | concerned, to be found in all the wide West. | | And then, too, though no one seemed to know just who eh why the expression, an ugly title became linked to the one he already bore: that of ‘‘ The Devil of the Mines.” He seemed more like a good Samaritan, just now, as he bent over the wounded patient, his fingers gentle and tender as those of a loving | woman; and so the two women thought as — they watched his ministrations to their loved | one. Regally beautiful was Ysabel Talfourd, though a mother for full sixteen years. A per- fect type of the Spanish beauty of biue blood; dark yet pure; proud and haughty, with pas- sions that could b get and boil like molten lava in time of need, yet loving and gentle with those who claimed her affections. A miniature type of her taller mother, with a positive resemblance to her handsome father as well, Lois Talfourd was a fully perenne woman at sixteen. Her figure was absolute sek her face was lovely as an artist's ream—a face such as baffles description from the most skillful oe “There!” exclaimed Sleek Sam, drawing ure of Hector _ have escaped the usually keen and comprehen- ina light shawl, emerged _ of the dingy house, and with a hasty, appreben- sive glance around, glided rapidly toward a | back as he finished his self-imposed task. ‘ You | are all right now, Mr. Talfourd. Your head- ache will fegn gl before the sun rises, and only for the bits of plaster, you would not know that your bead had received such a rude salute.” “Tt would have been worse only for you,” gratefully uttered the mine-owner, grasping his hand. ‘‘] have not vet thanked you as om wish for your brave efforts in my be- half.” f ' | short, careless laugh, leaving the Mexican Who he was or from whence he , behind bim, trembling like a leaf. CHAPTER V. UNDER THE ROSE. ir of eyes noticed the depart- jax, however that action might AT least one sive vision of Sleek Sam. From the moment when the old ragamuffin had so adroitly effected that transfer from bis dingy paw to her white hand, Lois Talfourd | watched him clusely, almost tremblingly, striv- ing toread the truth behind that bairy mask, now doubting, now convinced that she had pen- etrated the mystery. She strove to obtain a word in semi-privacy with the old man, but as though bent on defeat- ing her wishes, he hung close to the side of the mother, his tongue wagging glibly, and almost without cessation. Then, as Lois still persisted, he fixed her gaze with bis. then cast a swift, meaning look at her tightly clenched hand, as he tapped his own hollow chest, nodding short- ly, but meaningly. s With her cheeks flushing vividly, Lois turned aside to act on the bint thus conveyed, slipping the tiny notelet into her bosom: and when she turned around once mure, the curious old raga- muffin had vanished. It was not until after the hasty departure of Samuel Oswald, that Lois obtained an oOppor- tunity for reading the few words contained in that tiny missive. Softer grew the flush on her cheeks, and brighter shone her glorious eyes, as once more the bit of paper found its warm rest- ing-place, ot many minutes later, a figure shrouded from tbe rear door clump of trees and undergrowth standing a few rods distant, When vearly at the edge of the shadows cast by the timber, the vailed figure paused, as though with failing courage, but then as a low, trilling whistle made itself heard, Lois Talfourd sprung impulsively into the gloom, to find herself clasped in a close em- brace, “ Willard!” “My own!” What followed, was couched in lover’s lar- guage, which common type can scarcely render articulate, or do justice to. The friendly sba- dows overhungthem. They believed their ren- dezvous, like their mutual love, a secret to al} the world besides. Heart to heart, lip to lip, loving and true; let them be happy while they may, for already the storm-clouds are lower- ing, and the cunning coils of the destroying agepent are drawing closer and closer about them. There was more of prose than poetry in the life of Willard Yorke, until fate brougbt about Sleek Sam gripped the hand, then dropped it | a meeting between him and Lois Talfourd, the with a low, soft laugh as he replied: ‘“You have taken up the tune of our worthy | friend, Hector Ajax, who will insist on shifting | ae sought | Was den! the honor on my shoulders—” He ceased speaking with something very like | ano a frown as he glanced around the room, and | must ‘But you must have much to talk over with | tions for a stout, healthy, growing la I will | Willard was not long in finding work hastily added: each other, aud I will intrude no Jonger, * Ladies »xpostulations of Talfourd, With swift step he passed along to the hall, curled up on a skin, as though sound asleep, A sharp touch of the foot brought bim to his feet, grinning wolfisbly and sbowing bis teeth, ‘Where is that old man?” Sam, the dim ball-lamp showing his brows con- tracted, his eyes gleamin surly reply, daughter of the soldier of foriune, The son of “poor but honest parents,” who in the West the fortune which them in the East, Willard was left ban at an early age, and found that he ‘rustle for a living,” or starve to death. The last alternative possessed slight aod an sufficient- ly paying to keep body and soul together. Aud while sturdily performing bis duty, be kept a Jooking out for something better, This he was not long in discovering, and step the energetic lad began to climb u the ladder his less enterprising parents had fail- ed to mount above the lower round, From sheep-herder to cowboy; from working in ay tam for himself, though in a very bumble way: trom poverty to comparative wealth—these were tie stone. by which Willard Yorke took one after the other And with each ‘com (E before he gained bis majority. Sy mn 200 - eed —— = | i os es..