Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 293 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

tee Bn ron) ee baal + @w?Qeenu ill ear ce et, yer is er | ‘ cS Bed. Wey ates: ¥ He s - eo, wk ~~ ~ Dale, strengthen ‘a would { Butas the teamster bad been some distance eae job on, and I have nearly worked the plot to a point. Where's your pard? ‘‘There’s a regular devil of a Texan after you. This is too hot a place for us; we must get togetber and travel. “Tve been following your trail, Lije, with- ae dreaming you were alive. Where’s the rl? ‘“T say, Pll work another plan. I want revenge, as well as the girl, and I'll have it.” Just then the outcries of Major Dale, which sounded strangely to the two miscreants, rung through the timber. ‘Satan tortur’ me, ef thar ain’t more ranch- ers arter us! Come on, Dick, an’ ’splain things dater, We've got nags nigh byer, ‘Ther gal’s safe in a tree, an’ I reckon my ard, Bill Bowers, hev gi’n bimself the bounce. e knowed my yelp, 1 reckon, an’ "lowed I'd gone up the spout, ‘‘Come, we'll skute fer ther critters an’ git!” ‘Will they be able to find the girl, though? Tt will eon all my plans if harm comes to her, Lije. e must have her taken back to ber father and everything made smooth. “You'll understand when I explain matters.” ‘* Ya-as, they'll find her fast enough; fer I drap’t a whisk’ bottle down ther tree, an’ hit smashed ter flinders, seatterin ‘sign’ enough, yer jist kin bet. She’s foun’ by this time, I reckon! We must git, Dick, er we-’uns "Il be corraled an’ h’isted up a limb. Dang’ ef I ain’t p’ison glad I run ag’in’ yer! But I sw’at I’d ha’ wiped yer out ef yer hedn’t ha’ told a plain story, an’ spoke squar’ fer onc’t. ‘I war p’ison mad ter think yer'd throw off on me; an’ I hed good reasons, as yer’ll ‘low when I ’splains ’em,” | Five minutes after Broquier and Lasso Lije were mounted, the latter upon his own horse, and the count upon that of Bill Bowers. ” _ Then they rode along, slowly and stealthily, in the direction of the belt of oaks. They heard the voiees of Major Dale and Bill, and Me the jeopardy of the outlaw, they resolved that they would rescue him—the fact that the horse of the old planter was near opening a way of escape for them all. Having detected the presence of Steve Speed and the teamster, who were now searching the trees, and feeling sure that the captive girl would be found and taken back to the camp— also positive that they were doomed did they not make a hasty escape—they formed their plan, and as the reader knows, quickly executed the same. Thestrio of villains dashed up the river, west- ward, amid the oak openings, and disappeared from view, leaving behind them three men and the captive maiden, and but one horse. That was the animal that had been ridden by. Steve, the Scout. CHAPTER XV. THE LOST FOUND. STEVE and Bob burried to the place where Bill Bowers had been captured as he slid down the grape-vine in his attempt to escape. Bill had no doubt in his mind that Lije had been deceived in believing he recognized an old pard on the decayed tree, and he felt that this unknown man had slain Lije and flung him into the river. Tbat Lije had killed one of his assailants, Bill was confident; forming this decision from having heard the ery of mor- Lr b mei which had preceded the yells of Lasso _ Consequently, it was no wonder that when jerked from the jaws of death—from the mad clutch of Major Dale—he was dazed with the superstitious terror Proinced by beholding his pard, whom he had believed dead, and with him the mysterious stranger whom Lije had called Dusky Dick. The transformation was too sudden and amazing for Bill’s benumbed faculties, But to return to our friends. No men ever set out upon a search with more determination to effect their purpose, or with more pity, sympathy and agonizing concern for the object of their search. They had reasoned, with good grounds, that the maiden must be somewhere in the tree- tops; otherwise the abductor would not have ee found, as he was, descending from the Springing into the lower branches of the tree from which hung the grape-vine that Bill had used, both Steve and Bob quickly climbed upward, agreeing to keep some fifteen feet apart, and thus proceed in a parallel course toward the river, Bob has his belief as to the position of Dora if d by recalling the fall of the bottle, which had for the time entirely slipped his mind. Henow mentioned it to the young scout, who became more confident that they succeed in their search. away, he could not decide as to the location of the tree from which the bottle fell. He judged it, however, to be between the dead stump and the spot at which Bill had beep captured, ‘Bob had not said a word in regard to bis dis- covery of the count, or in explanation of his en & <.. et ae Li ¥ ’ * S72, bs it ore RR LLL LLL ELL LLL LLL LLL LL LL tliat er Stampede Steve. being on the trail, to Steve; for both had been from the time of their meeting, in constant action and deepanxiety. Besides this, he re- frained from saying a word in connection with the recent occurrences in the presence of the old major, intending to make a confidant of Steve the first opportunity that offered. All the curiosity and concern, born of hearing the cries and yells, had been banished from the mind of the young Texan through the anguish he felt in regard to poor Dora. His all-engross- ing object was to discover and relieve her from the torture of mind and body which he felt con- fident she must be suffering. On, over and through the huge moss-draped trees climbed Steve and Bob, searching care- fully, and guided by the rays of silvery moon- light that shot downward. At times the young scout would halt and cry out, but not loudly for fear of betraying his own exact location. ‘*Dora, we are searching for you! Keep up heart, Dora! Your father is here.” Thus Steve would call, and then he and Bob would remain still and silent, listening intently. But all remained still. The longed-for voice was not heard. The silence was most discouraging, yet the two young men despairéd not, but still went on. They heard the furious words of the major, as he demanded of the captive outlaw the whereabouts of his lost child; and they had no fear that the miscreant would be rescued, or in any way escape, Indeed, they were confident that there were no persons, except Dora and themselves, in the southern belt of timber that bordered the river. Bob felt assured that the coward Broquier, did he escape drowning, would keep a safe dis- tance; and the wretch, whom he had, later on, thrown into the river, would not for some time recover from his terror, and forced bath. ‘* Bob, this is terrible!” said Steve, at length; ““we bave passed that poor child, if she is in the line of trees through which we have come. We have searched closely, yet we must go over the ground again; and this time, nearer to the upper branches, For Heaven’s sake, Bob, re- turn to Major Dale, and find out what informa- tion he may bave forced from that captive ruf- fian! “Tf you did not kill the one you hurled into the river, I’ll run bim to his hole. But the wretches must swing. I swear it!” ““T’ll go, pard Steve, an’ lively: but, fust off, I'll tell you thet ther cussed count struck out arter yer, es soon es yer tuck ther trail. ‘*Thet’s why I’m hyer. I knowed he war arter yer, ter plug a bulletin yer brain, ef he gut ashow. Does yer see thet dead tree stump?” Steve gazed toward it, but did not answer. The teamster continued: “Wa-al, I jerked ther count offen thet stump, when he war layin’ fer yer, an’ I slung his car- kiss inter the river. He jist squeeled like a skeered ole woman—dang’d ef be didn’t, an’ [ reckon yer must ba’ heerd him!” ** Bob, you are a brick! You astonish me! So the scoundrel followed me, did be? Well, the next time I shoot in his direction, I don’t think I'll aim at his horse. You must be right; he sought revenge, and might have scooped me in out of the dew, if you hadn’t been on the watch. “Towe you onefor this, Bob; and I'll not forget it you'll see!” ‘**Thet’s all hunk, pard! All I’m worritated *bout, outside o’ Miss Dora, air ‘cos I didn’t jov my knife inter him, an’ settle ther biz. “Ef ’'d know’d what I did a leetle tims arter, I’d ha’ did bit, dead sure an’ sartain, Steve. “Ther last creepin’ Kiote what I chucked inter ther drink war p’intin’ fer thet stump, an’ { nailed him. When I cotched a holt 0’ him, he thought I war ther count, I reckon; an’ I opines he’s aole pard o’ ther count in deviltry.” ‘‘ What makes you think so, Bob?” “Fer a aiguty good reason. He sung out, when I grabbed him: ‘Dang yer, Dusky Dick, not so fast! I’m Lasso Lije, yer ole perd.’ ‘“Thet’s what ther cuss spit ouf, an’ I’d like ter know what more yer kin make o’ bit.” ‘I believe, Bob, you have struck an impor- tant clew; very important to me, for I have vowed that I will ferret out the mysterious oy ai which this Broquier holds over Major ale, ‘You and I must work this thing secretly. Tell no one what you have just told to me. The count is a cowardly villain, l am aware; and, if Lam not greatly mistaken, a criminal, He is now, I have no doubt, in disguise, and has assumed the title and character he bears. “But, we must not linger in this wy, Hurry, Bob. and if that wretch has not revealed the place where he has hidden Miss Dora, let =~ know at once, and we'll find a way to force im.’ “I’m off, pard Steve! Keep yer peepers open!” So saying, the teamster disappeared down the ree, Steve Speed clambered still higher than he on Sat mounted, scanning eagerly each patch of tangled vines and bunch of moss, —$—$——— LL LL LLL LLL LL LLL LL LLL ALLL LLL RL ARR LLL LCL tt ttt ta oy 13 And, not twenty feet above where the young scout and Bob Barr had halted, discouraged, and conversed for a few moments, as recorded, was Dora Dale. The suffering maiden was indeed, as Steve believed, enduring the torture of the lost. She had heard the approach of her friends, and had listened intently to every sound that betrayed their presence: and she was almost overcome with joy, as she realized that they were ap- proaching her. She heard, also, the furious cries of her poor father, and wondered what it all could mean, What could be the difficulty? Had the poor old man gone insane with grief and anguish? His wild and extravagant out- cries seemed to indicate that he bad. But it was a consolation to Dora to know that they were all striving to rescue her—that her father and Bob had followed the outlaws, as well as had the young scout. She felt confident tbat ber father would not be so excited and furious, when he should know that bis daughter was safe. No language could express the despair of poor Dora, when she found that Steve Speed and Bob Barr, though they bad been directly be- neath her, had become disheartened. ould they leave the tree, in the top of which she lay bound, and incapable of speech or motion, and leave her to the terrible fate of which she dared not, for a moment, think? Again she listened. Great was her amazement, to hear Bob men- tion the name of Dusky Dick. She knew that one of ber captors bad recognized a man in the undergrowth, as an old friend, by that name; and, from the words of the teamster, she now understood that Dusky Dick and Count Biron Broquier were one and the same person! She had felt sure, indeed she bad no doubt in her mind, that the man, who had some time previous formed the acquaintance of her father, and in some way had gained a powerful in- fluence over him, was a treacherous villain. That Count Broquier bad deep designs upon her father, that be was endeavoring by every possible means to frighten him into influencing herself in his favor as a suitor for her hand— that a marriage with her was his ultimate ob- ject, Dora Dale was confident. However, she had not before this thought that the count could be so low in crime, so depraved, as previously to have mingled with, as confederates, such mis- creants as ber captors, | Those wretches had signified their intention to leave her, thus bound and gagged, if dan- ger threatened them too closely, and they had already done so. Was it possible that the count could be leagued with such inhuman mon- sters? This, judging from their words, could not be. But was it possible, indeed probable, that Broquier and Lasso Lije, both of whom had been thrown into the river by Bob Barr, as the latter had stated—which explained to Dora the fearful shrieks she had heard—was it not prob- able that the two would meet, and endeavor to carry her off? This would, should they escape from the river, be comparatively an easy matter for them to accomplish. Again a hopeless despair settled down upon the suffering maiden, but from it she was provi- dentially relieved by the departure of Bob and the upward climbing of Steve Speed, Muttering to himself, the i scout neared the spot where, faint and helpless, lay poor Dora, her mind a mazy whirl of hopes and fears. Was it the mysterious, subtle influence of her resence that caused such a strange feeling to ll his brain? Certainly there was a singular fascination, a strong and unaccountable attraction, to climb higher, although hiding-place at such a hight, for the reason that there were now fewer limbs ard less foliage. Up be went, panting from exertion, until] be stood upon a limb directly below the place where the young girl reclined. He placed his foot upon a smaller branch and then sprung upward, catching at the limb over his head; but with an outcry of horror hé sunk backward, only saving bimself from fallin headlong to the earth by clutching the boug upon which he stood. Panting for breath, Steve clung to the limb for a moment, trembling in every nerve, So intense was the strain upon poor Dora, so terrible ber anxiety and the awful emotions that ruled her, fearing that the scout wovld pass her and never on earth be so near to her again—so intense was this strain that the maiden’s brow was covered with beads of cold perspiration, and her face was like that of a corpse! And Steve Speed had placed bis hand direct- ly oe that cold face, withdrawing the same on the instant, in borror, He knew that bis mission was atan end. He had found Dora*Dale, but he believed that be had found her dead! Her silence, then, was explained, A corpse could not respond to her name, The miscreants had murdered her! s Eomicbooks Cc there appeared to be no | 7 . . . cd -~ be Pos oA >. bd ir a" * . . at