Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 283 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

— — — _ ———e —— passed, bis little fortune increased until, at the date of this story, it had assumed quite respect- able proportions. It was during a Aying trip to the bustling city of Denver that Willard Yorke made what he considered bis luckiest stroke, and it came about after this fashion: It was early evening of one summer day, and Lois Talfourd was returning home from a visit to ope of her school girl friends when a man, —— Sleek Sam, succeeding year after that mile-post in life was | the matter, Lois stood there in the shadows, | tall, dark, of middle age, and not unbandsome | at the first glance, persisted in pressing his company upon her, despite her unconcealed dis- like. This was not the first time by many that the same man had caused much annoyance to the — girl by bis fulsome attentions on the street, | though thus far she had as often managed to give him theslip without making ascene. But now, clearly under the influence of liquor, the Spanish-looking fellow persisted in attempting | to draw her arm through bis, whispering his disgusting compliments in her ear. And when she shrunk away, he strove to touch her red lips | ! only refuse, and if he sbould, the situation will with bis own. With an angry, panting cry, Lois struck the whisky-inflamed face with her clinched fist, A savage curse parted his lips, and showing bis white teeth, the rascal caught her lithe, quiver- ing form in his arms, drawing her to his bosom, “You beautiful litthe demon!” he hissed, as he lifted her clear of the ground and made one step toward the dark ailey. “If fair means fail, we'll try—” Just what, never crossed his lips. A grip of steel closed around his throat, and a hard fist was dashed between his eyes, once, ——saEe Gee | | ; | twice, thrice, the last time with a force that. tore his throat from those muscular fingers | and hurled him twice his length away. His. carcass struck the ground with the dull, heavy | thud that marks the fall of a senseless mass, | and he lay there without even a quiver to show that a particle of life remained in bim. Thus it was that Willard Yorke first met Lois Talfourd. thanks of her mother, as well as her own, honest, manly face was his passport at first, but See od —— a wt a ee - - - ee ee barely choking back a little cry of terror as her lover once more reached her side. ‘‘ You came so like a ghost that it frightened | me!” she murmured, yielding to the ere | a) y stole lovingly around her lithe waist. did you leave me so abruptly?” the Devil of the Mines. : —s — ~_—_ — ot n~ os A oe eee eee | —_—_— -- -- CHAPTER VI. DIEGO TAKES ONE DROP TOO MUCH. ‘“ WILLARD—you are jesting!” ‘‘Indeed I am not, little one,” was the earnest reply, as the young ranchero drew tte form of the surprised, agitated maiden closer to him. |] can understand how you came to fall into ‘tT fancied { caught the sound of a footstepin | / near you, and in disguise, but—” the bush behind us, but | was mistaken.” ‘Ob, Willard, if it should be—” “ But it is not, pet,” was bis soothing reply, as his lips caressingly touched her fair brow. ‘“*And yet, dear one, | would hardly repine if discovery should come—save for your sake. | feel like a thief in the night, striving to steal something to which I have no right. end, Lois!” Closer she clung to him, trembling. ‘* What do you mean, Willard?’ ‘*That the time has come when | mustact the man,” was the firm response. ‘“‘ You> fatber is here, and I must see him. It was to prepare you for this that I begged you to meet me bere this evening. In the morning | will call on bim, | and frankly ask bim to give you to me, Hecan be no worse than it is now.” For a brief space there was silence between them. Willird fancied bis decisive speech bad | / now, given her offense, and once more his lips gently brusbed her brow. lt must. Impulsively ber arms were wound around | his neck, and in earnest, agitated tones she mur- mured: the error, knuwing es you did the I must be “Then who is he? That man—that one who gave me that note from you?” Her unsteady tones told how greatly this un- expected disclosure had shaken ber nerves, but that ber confidence in her lover had not been weakened in the least, was amply proven by the manner in which she yielded to his caresses, “Hector Ajax Rivers, Esquire; a weary pil- grim whose sole aim in life seems to be a long- ing to get out of the wilderness and to bunt bis hole,” laughed Willard. > “T never heard you mention his name be- ore.” ‘* Naturally; since I formed his acquaintance since we left Denver,” was the light response, Again Lois started and drew back her head far enough to enable her to look full into the eyes of ber lover. Dim and uncertain though the light was, it afforded a chance for her to see that the young ranchero was in earnest “A stranger! And you confided—oh, Will- ard!” Yorke was thankful, just then, for the friend- ly gloom. His face flushed hotly as be divined ‘‘T know the course you indic ite is the most | They are so I fear noble and honest, but still 1 fear. proud—so haughty to all save silly me, they would refuse to listen.” ‘Still it must be done, pet,” was the quiet re- sponse, ‘‘ We cannot go on like this forever. The longer it is postponed, the more difficult it will ba to take the pjunge.” ‘‘Ic may be: but lL beg of you to give me a little more time—to wait for a more favorable opportunity. Give me a little more time to make my confession, and show him how wholly my happiness is bound upin you. Surely he will not refuse when he knows all—especially after He accompanied her home and received the | His | then the discovery was made that be and they | were acquainted with more than one of Den- ver’s citizens, and by invitation Willard Yorke | id repeated visits to the house of the Tal- ourd family. And not only that, but the young couple, favored by that complaisant chance which smiles on all deserving lovers, met quite as fre- og on the streets, and when at last Mrs. alfourd took the alarm, it was too late. Love vows had passed between the young couple, and Willard Yorke made full confession, ask- ing the band of the blushing Lois in mar- Poona aud haughty, a most devout worshiper of blue-blood, and knowing that her husbaud fully shared her sentiments, the lady mother coldly declined the proposed honor, and when the young couple tried to shake her resolution, she sternly forbade Yorke the house, and even | placed Lois under guard. do you mean‘ | | | | | For a few days the young man hovered | around the prison which inclosed bis lady-love, meditating desperate acts of daring and devo- tion, but then his brain grew cooler. He ob- tained an interview with Mrs. Talfourd, and frankly told ber that bis love for Lois was the one passion of his life. It would never grow weaker, let the obstacles be what they mig'it, and in the end he meant to win the prize. At the same time, his business interests demanded his presence, and he was forced to leave town for a brief time. When affairs were arranged at bis ranch be would return and make une more appeal. If that was refused, then he ' ' some cavalier! you so nobly risked your life in his defense only this night!” Willard Yorke drew back his head a little in order to gaze keenly into her tear-dimmed eyes. “You talk in enigmas this evening, little one!” he exclaimed, in perplexed tones, ‘‘ What When?” With a low, soft laugh Lois drew closer to him, tapping his lips with the tips of her fin- gers. ‘““It was well played, you silly boy, and de- ceived even my eyes, keen as they are. And yet—when I first heard that voice, it startled me, and I looked around for you. lt was like, yet unlike yours. But when I beard it come again from those li r rather from out that mass of shaggy, grizzled hair, I was ashamed of myself. The idea! My handsome, stately lover—that bideous creature! Ha! ha!” : ‘Lois! do you mean—” ‘* Hector Ajax, the gallant brave—the hand- I suspecied it from the very first, but when you slipped that note into my band, I knew | was right. You carried out the character right faithfully, but for my sake, dear, do select a more appropriate one. You know I love you dearly—with al] my life and soul!—but my self-esteem would not long sur- vive if I bad to whisper such a confession to Hector Ajax!” , Softiy her merry laugh bubbled up, and though Willard echoed it in the same guarded tones, there was a trace of seriousness in his voice as he spoke again: * Tell me just what happened, dearest. How did Heetor—bow did I serve your father? Nay, would seek out the father and make still anoth- | n«ver open your eyes like that, but gratify me, ea. After that— oldly she refused to hear more, and Willard Yorke took bis departure from th from Denver as well. er e house and | plied, giving a hasty lease. I will explain, after.” Sobered, she eaneey knew why, L»is com- ut clear account of the adventure which had befallen Randal Tal- Within a week a hastily-written letter found | fourd.on his way to meet his family, and of him, in which Lois told him of the message they all that took place at the house of Diego had receivei from Randal Talfourd, calling | Zarate, them to bim at once. Never mind the res’: enough that the same train that conveyed Lois and ber mother away from Denver, also car- ried Willard Yorke, carefully disguised. After that first fond evectia , and still nest- ling within bis strong, yet gentle embrace, Lois briefly detailed what bad occurred since their last meeting, ending with a little langn: ‘I’m so glad that you have taken off thut hideous disguise, Willard! Actually, the first glance made me shuider with a strange aver- sion, even while I knew that the seemingly old and ignorant ruffian had risked his life in de- fense of dear father!” Willard Yorke started sharply and his fond embrace grew jess close, but if wae not because of the half-reproachful, balf-laughing words she uttered. He fancied he beard the sound of a cautious footstep among the shadows, and bur- riedly whispering to her, be turned and crept silently away. lremb'ing, scarcely comprebending what was | — So Dim and uncertain though the light was around them, Lois could see that a slight smile was playing around the lips of her lover, an: there was a trace of pettishness in her tones as she added: ** Now, sir, I bave obeyed, and it is your turn to giv@an explanation of your conduct.” _ ‘* Hector Ajax, as you call him, pet, is a jolly good fellow, as the world goes, and I believe be would go almost as far to serve you or yours as even I could; but for all that, 1 beg of you to be guarded while in bis company, and never give him what belongs to me alone!” “Willard, what do you mean?’ she stum- mered, anxiously, “That you have been deceived, dear Lois— or, rather, that you bave deceived yourself,” was bis laughigg response. ‘This is the first time I have had a chance to speak to you since your arrival at New Babylon, I did not risk my life to save tbat of your father—-worse luck for us!” In his defense—risked my life‘ | the reproof she meant to convey, more from her tone than the words her lips uttered. ‘You think I have been rash in trusting even this much of our precious secret to a stranger?” ‘‘No—I trust you in this, as 1 have in all else!” was her impulsive reply. ‘‘I will not be- lieve that you have acted unwisely, and ye!—” ‘‘ Your reason tells you that I have,” inter- posed Yorke, with a short laugh. ‘** Listen, lit- tle one, and you sball judge. ‘* We had hardly left Denver, before I came within an ace of being left behind, for good and all. My foot slipped on the platform as | was passing from one car to the other, and in such an awkward manner that 1 could not bave saved myself from going down between the wheels. IL know that when I tripped I was alone on the platforin: and yet a friendly hand caught me by the arm before I touched the track, and lifted me out of danger. helonged to the old man you have seen as Hec- tor Ajax.” ‘‘ Heaven bless him for it!” murmured Lois, her moist lips touching his, her frame trembling in his embrace. ‘* And I certainly did nc t curse him for inter- fering to save my life without waiting for an in- troduction,” laughed Yorke, oreterrteg to view the matter in a humorous l'ght. ‘‘ We went in- to the smoker together, and naturally fell into conversation. He was an odd-looking genius, as you bave noticed, and almost from the first, ] felt positive he was playing a part, if not ac- tually in disguise. ‘‘] rather think he read my doubts, for before long it came out, quite naturally, in the course of our conversation, that he knew several of m friends in Denver and on the cattle ranges, To draw bim out still more completely, I showed him some of the letters and papers I carried, and then be favored me after the same fashiou. In strict confidence he told me that he was a detective, hunting for a great criminal, who was believed to be somewhere among the mines. And then he said that his first objective point was Dixie.” ‘‘ Where we are going—our new home!” “Precisely. And that, with his papers, seattered the last of my doubts—if doubts they may be called.” ‘And yet—might not he have forged those papers?” lLesitated Lois, conscious of a vague dread of coming i Si and connecting it with the strange old man, she could scarcely have told why. ‘- Barely possible, of course,” laughed Yorke. “But why should he bave taken ali that trou- ble? And what could ke hope to gain by it? For of course he could not cave foreseen my clumsiness which resulted in our getting ac- quainted.” , ‘‘{ don’t know,” Lois slowly replied. ‘‘ And yet—I cannot help wisbing that you had never given him even this much of your confidence. From the first glimpse of him, he impressed me strangely. When 1 believed him to be you, in disguise, 1 accounted for it in that manner, but now—I do not know what to think!” “Think as Ido: that he isa man on whose friendship and fidelity we can place implicit dependence,” quickly replied Yorke. “I did not give him my good faith until my mind was entirely satisfied. Even then, I told bim but little that could serve bim, if he should turn out to be an enemy instead of a friend. . ‘You warned me in your note, to be particu- larly careful about awakening the suspicion of your mother. It was very hurd to keep awey from you during all that long journey, rut I would not run counter to your wisbes. boping for a better opportunity to see and speak with you, when once we left the cars Instead, [ Gomicbooks That hand: CO ——