Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 293 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

- ‘ome. * i. Eee - 7s. Werf any Ki " Sar) a “| ‘ ’ i ‘ . * ° afar out over the bank of the river into the dark waters! ° With a sounding plunge, he disappeared in the depths. . Bob delayed not an instant, His blood was coursing hot through his veins. He believed that Dora’s safety hung upon the next few mo- ments. Rushing into the thicket, to his surprise he ran against some one, whom he likewise clutched. At first he thought it was Steve; but the man called out, sharply: ‘*Dang it, Dusky Dick, not so fast! I’m Lasso Lije, yer ole pard!” ‘his was enough for Bob Barr. It was not Stampede Steve. Then it must be an enemy. Bob had the advantage, and improved it. High in air, at arm’s length, by a tremendous exertion the teamster raised Lije, and ran to the river-bank, bis victim yelling with terror, but prevented, held as he was, from making even the slightest defense. , In another instant the cowardly abductor felt himself shooting through the air. Another far-sounding plunge was heard, and the second victim of the exultant teamster disappeared beneath the dark waters of the ‘Guadalupe! Just then Steve came Ss The shriek of Broquier had startled the scout. He thought it came from Dora Dale, but upon slight reflection, he became convinced that the cry came from a man in mortal terror. Could it be that the two miscreants were con- tending for the possession of their captive? If so, now was his grand opportunity. At any event the sounds would lead him, without doubt, to where Dora was. He there- fore hastened on through the undergrowth less cautiously than before. Steve, making his way toward the river, heard the fearful yells of Lasso Lije. What could the terrible sounds mean? Convinced that Dora Dale was, in some manner, connected with these shrieks, the scout stole forward, revolver in hand, and gained the very point where Bob bad stood but a moment before, . All was silent as death. Steve 8 gazed down u the dark waters, satisfied that, within their depths, was at least one of those whom he had heard shrieking in despair; for he had also heard the plunge of Lije into the river, He listened intently, and soon a splutte and heavy breathing were heard, mingl with gurgling sounds. A man was in the water. Who was he? . : Mentally Steve asked this question. Where was Dora? Certainly one of her captors was in the river. Where was the other? Whither had he retreated so quickly? To follow him would be to find Dora Dale. Steve now listened for sounds inland. He heard a slight rustle of the undergrowth. “Then, as this came from — near, the young scout stole forward half of the way, then i and detecting movements, bounded ike a madman, crashing through the thickets. Soon be and Bob Barr were solitea in desperate conflict amid the bushes; but neither of them wishing to kill the other, Each expected his epettens could be compelled to lead him to ora. Thus each strove to prevent the other from using bis weapon, as they struggled desper- ately. But this did not long continue; for Steve thinking he had bis adversary helpless, hissed out: ‘Curse you! I'd split your heart, were it not that I intend to force from you what I must know! Speak, fiend in human shape! Where is your innocent victim—where is Dora ~ Dale?’ To the utter astonishment of the scout his opponent replied with an immoderate laugh: hat could he :neau? Had the wretch gone insane? But speech quickly followed the laughter; the familiar words and intonation of which caused quite as much surprise to Steve as the merriment. “Dog-gone\ yer, Stampede Steve! Doesn’t ver know yer friends? tup, I tell yer! I’m ‘Bob Barr, an’ thar’s hefty biz ahead. ‘“We-uns must skute lively, er Miss Dora air a goner. I lunged one o’ ther cusses inter ther river, and I war dead sartain you war ther other, ontil ver shot off yer tongue.” Up sprung Steve, crying out: ~~ Tn the name of wonder, how came you here, Bob? What does all this rumpus mean?” “ Thet’ll keep witbout salt, pard,” returned the teamster; ‘‘ but come on speedy, if yer wants ter help Miss Dora. Ther cuss what’s gut her’ll skute arter hearin’ ther yells o’ his ‘T know ’bout whar they comed from. Come os | | on, Steve—levant!” tag by. > £ ys rat RS C -_* _s 74 rs - ee. > wi Va “’ “he %, j >. = 2. a *% ' em o> 4a. ee oO Stampede Steve. Without a word the young scout sprung for- ward. Steve and Bob separated some twenty paces apart, and passed directly beneath the tree in the branches of which was poor Dora. Just then the scout caught the sound of Bill’s boots, as the outlaw clambered from limb to limb to gain a distance from the tree in which his captive was, and then descend, make a de- tour, and, eo poe secure his horse. It was thus he hoped to escape. - Through the undergrowth crawled Steve, keeping beneath the miscreant, who was so terri- fied that he forgot to be prudent. Reaching what he thought to be a safe dis- tance, Bill bastily lowered himself by a huge grape-vine; but just as he came near the ground, he felt his weapons jerked from his belt, and realized that he was lost. With yells of terror, he let gothe vine; but a powerful blow from Steve’s fist knocked him senseless. Binding the villain’s arms and legs, the scout gave alow whistle; but this was not needed, for the teamster had beard the yells, and inter- preted them aright. | ‘* Bully fot we’uns!” exclaimed Bob, as he came up; “‘ they air all corral’d now, an’ we'll choke this hyer cuss ontil he spits out ther locate o’ Miss Dora,” ‘** Did you kill the other fiend?’ asked Steve, ‘* 1 don’t reckon he’s gone up—that air, ef be e’u’dswim. Ichucked him inter theriver. I reckon he won’t be lierble ter scratch dirt on this side ther drink. I gi’n him sich a scare.” ‘* You can explain everything when we get out of here,” said Steve; “‘ but first give us a lift with this rascal, and we'll take him into clear ground on the border of the timber. ‘* Pll hash him into cat-fish bait if he doesn’t tell where they have hidden Miss Dale! ** By heavens, Bob, I dare not think of what that ae girl must have suffered! ** We'll git her, Steve,” said the teamster, in a confident tone; ‘* hyer we goes.” On through the dense undergrowth the two men carried the senseless Bill Bowers, and soon emerged from the timber to what was compara- tively clear ground; but at the very moment that they put down their burden upon the sward, Major Dale dashed around the bend from the west at wee ome filling the calm evening air with bis loud and anguished outcries, as bas been already narrated. CHAPTER XIII, SO NEAR, AND YET SO FAR. NEARLY wild with relief and joy was the agonized father when he saw his teamster and Stampede Steve. Had he not discovered them he would, in bis mad misery, have gone on, only knowing that he was riding in the same d ion as the abductors of bis daughter. Unable to bear the anguish of mind in regard to his child’s danger, the old planter bad left camp alone and started after Steve on the trail. Dashing up, he now exclaimed: ‘‘Ob! Pm so glad to see a human being, but pe pd you, my boys! But, for Heaven’s sake, can you give me some good tidings of Dora? Have you seen her?’ ‘“‘Cheer up, major,” said the young scout, pointing to the senseless outlaw. ‘‘ There lies one of the rascals, and Bob has thrown the other into the river. We have not found Miss Dora yet, but we'll find out from that wretch. ‘* Have you water in your canteen, major?” Finan re, me it! You have a rave- » DOYS; We could not expect more, I sup 6 But how is it that you captured those villsins, ‘| and yet bave not found my daughter?” The young men now explained matters, and Bob Barr proceeded to pour water on Bill’s head. Anxious as the scout was, be strove to con- ceal tae feeling from Major Dale. ‘I think, major,” he explained, ‘that the “poor child is bound and gagged. They have concealed her in some thick-t. but we will find her. Dismount, and I wil) stake your horse.” With a groan the old man complied, and Steve then said to the teamster: ‘‘ Bob, do you think .that other cuss, whom you threw in the river will dare come on this side if he escapes being drowned?” “He mought, Steve; bit’s hard tellin’. We- ‘uus wants ter guard ag’in’ bit anyways, fer he’d risk a heap ter git even on ther deal.” “This is terrible!” said the scout. ‘He ae get away with Dora yet. Is it safe to e ‘*T want to try and get an answer from her. If she is not gagged she will reply. That is, if those villains have not killed her!” ‘* Yell thy pard Steve! Hit’ll let ther cuss know we air hyer, an’ air es lierble ter do good as harm. It mought scar’ the condemned pirut, an’ pervent him comin’. ‘1 fotch this cuss ’roun’ ter biz in a bit.” And yell Steve Speed did; and r Dora Dale heard, as the reader knows, but could not answer. Silence, deep and profound, fol- lowed, . The old major joined Steve and Bob in the loud calls, stopping occasionally to listen, while the expression of his face was painful to wit- ness. 11 Luckily the moon arose to dissipate the dark- ness, and toacertain extent the gloom of the bottom-timber. The old planter groaned aloud, as time passed, and silence still reigned, Under Bob’s treatment, Bill began to revive. Steve had given full vent to his fury and rage, when he struck the outlaw. It had been a terrible blow. “This will not do,” be now said, in great anxiety and apprebension; ‘‘ Major, recover | was filled —— — $$ that infernal villain, and Bob and I will strike into the timber. That wretch had, no doubt, been guarding Miss Dale, and sloped when he heard the yell of his pard.” ‘*Dang’d ef I hain’t gut an idee!” suddenly broke out Bob Parr, as Steve ceased speaking; “ef ther cuss war keepin’ guard over Miss Dora, an’ levanted when he was skeered, what war he in ther tree ’bout? He w’u’dn’t’a’ clumb hit ef he’d wanted ter skute. Does yer take?” ‘I see, Bob; I see,” said the scout, quickly; “‘and I was a fool not to bave thought of it be- fore. The young lady is concealed in a. tree- top, bound and cagged | , “Come on! We'll find her, and woe to that a you flung into the river, if we run against im. “Cheer up, Major Dale! We'll find Miss Dora. Pump that devil when he comes back to Texas!” The face of the old planter brightened, Then, as the two young men sprung into the timber, he dashed the remaining water into the face of Bill; at the same time, giving the miscreant a powerful kick. ' A fierce oath burst from Bill’s lips, followed by a snarl of fury, as be glared into the major’s ace, This was more than buman nature could bear; and, indeed, something of this character was needed just then to ar the uubappy father’s emotions, for he was really on the verge of dis- traction. Like a panther, he sprung upon the cowardly abductor of bis darling child; catching the ruf- , one by the throat, his eyes flashing with insane ury. ‘‘Where is my.daughter, you infernal de- mon!” the major sbrieked, as his clutch upon the outlaw’s throat tightened until the eyes of the latter bulged from tbeir sockets, and his tongue protruded from his mouth. ‘* Speak, curse you,.or by heaven I'll throttle you! Where is my daughter?’ Not until Bill Bowers grew black in the faco did Major Dale loosen his grip upon the wretch’s throat. It was some time before Bill could articulate a word—several moments of contorting and gasping. Speak, curse you! or I'll choke the vile life from your loathsome carcass! Where, I say, is my cbild? Where have you hidden her? Speak! Do you wish to die the death of a rap 1 Little less of vengeful fury was depicted in the face of the old planter, than in that of the wee villain. ili Bowers bad suddenly chanced, In the tree he had been a trembling. coward. He bad fled, in terror, when be heard the de- spairing shriek of Lasso Lije, bis pard. | He bad believed bimself to be safe, when he was slipping down the pg said His mind with fiendish exultation, at the thought of having had his revenge for the death of Lije; for, bad he not doom the prime cause of it all, as she had been the temptation in their way—to a lingering and ter- rible death? She would die in the tree-top. The buzzards would be with her in her last mo- ments. This was victory to the depraved wretch. It was his revenge for everything else. Such thoughts had filled the demon’s mind at the very moment when Steve's blow felled bim senseless. When he recovered, and was kicked and choked by the major, whese words proved him to be the father of the girl, the villain well knew that he was doomed—that nothing would save him. Even shough tion desired, he would be hanged just the same. Bill felt that his time had come. This old man, if infuriated beyond control, aad not be satisfied with slowly strangling im, He decided that he would answer in such a way, that the old man would lose sight of the slower and more torturing death, and use his weapons. Thus he would not only escape hang- ije’s death ase ing, but would have avenged wel as his own. esperate, indeed, was the miscreant. The fear of the rope was an incentive to has- ten death from any other source. And so he decided, ; Regaining his breath, Bill replied to Major Dale, in a manner that was certainly calculated aa ger the desired result—an immediate eat The old planter had arisen to his feet, and 4! stood, like a Nemesis, over his victim; hishands outstretched, and bis fingers bent ina manner _ ize Ls q <i. ‘ Sih, sti : iets 4‘ ® « ei was suggestive of the threatened stran- gling. ‘> mic the maiden— he gave the informa-— With eyes flashing his hatred and triumph, 5 a.