Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 293 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

—=~-— 2 — Vo i OE eee => - y rey i " 4 *s : te » _ being forced to favor the suit, through fear of if made pubiic, would disgrace me and m 16 Stampede Steve. eee eee eee and the young scout lost no time; soon finding the point where Lije and Bill had departea, leading tie horse of the major, which they had stolen—tbe count going on foot, in the direction of the river and the camp. This discovery gave Steve much gratification, and he followed the horse trail, until convinced that the two villains bad gone toward the south, over the open plain. That a plot had been formed, by Broquier, to capture the train, the young Texan was confident. The count had made up his mind that, with such a man as the scout in their company, it would be no easy matter to gain the hand of Dora Dale by threats and through the influence he had obtained over the old planter. Thus reasoned Stampede Steve. Consequently, Broquier had determined, since he had found two unscrupulous confederates who were well posted as to the lay of the land on the intended course of Major Dale, and also acquainted with the lawless element of the border, to take by force all that he had at first plotted to gain through his power over the hat the two miscreants had been dispatched by the count to get the assistance of some band ot outlaws to capture the train, when it should = ally on the unsettled frontier, Steve was con- nt, . Satisfied in this respect, he returned to the **open ” and took up the trail of Broquier, as the latter had proceeded toward the river with the intention of entering the camp. But a sbort distance bad he gone when he saw a white object in the grass, and picking it up, found it to be a crumpled paper. It was stained very much, and had the appearance of having been in a water-saturated pocket. Opening this paper with care, Steve gave a ery of amazement. lt contained writing, and the first words that caught his eye was the name, ‘‘ Duncan Dale.” He felt sure that it was the signature of the old planter, and smoothing out the paper, the young man read as follows: “DALE PLANTATION, June 6th, 185-. “This is to certif Aacc as I pay the sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000) to Count Biron Broquier, as a bribe, to induce him not to reveal a secret eich, amily, as well as condemn me to an ignominious death, ‘“Signed,) Duncan DALgE.”’ Steve Speed was perfectly astounded upon reading this most singular and criminating docu- ment, relating to a man whom he had believed to be the soul of honor. Had the scout found this paper previous to his having met Dora Dale—even though he had known the major—he would have felt interest in it. He might have made up bis mind that there were good reasons for shunning such a man; in fact, he would bave felt pretty positive that the old planter had committed some hein- ous crime, But as his feelings toward Dora were now— though he saw this written acknowledgment of -gome capital crime—Steve’s one ghought was, rovidential the paper had fallen that it was Major Dale, be believed, bad into his hands. ‘been forced to write and sign it, and by none other than Count Broquier, Had be not already known that the count | great power over the planter, and also ) sing the knowledge that he didof the base character of the former, Steve might have been convinced that Major Dale was a criminal, who - merited death by banging. scout reviewed the late But as the youn - gcenes, he could not but feel confident that the major was an innocent mav—an honorable man, guilty of no crime, but who had, in somé mysterious manner been the victim of Broquier —thus placed in a position where be was liable to be convicted of some base and cowardly erime. All this bad been done to forward the oe aghiowr gry plot of this villain, to gain the and fortune of the daughter, the father ——sbeing accused aad convicted of capital crime. re im Me e wording of the document proved beyond ? Ree ! ubt that the count held the old major in his power to an alarming extent. ad -—s‘ this not been so, the latter would never bave _-—s executed such a criminating instrument. —~——s Phankfui, indeed, was Steve that the paper es had fallen into bis hands. ei, The question now was, did Broquier hold ss another such document? » Pcs" he forced more than the sum therein designated from Major Dale? ~~ Tt did not seem possible that such could be the > Case, as the document was dated but a month Oye vi ss previous. ; “ye Why, after receiving such an amount, did this wretch still persecute the old man, and en- _-»-—s deavor to force bim to bestow the band of his - —- daugbter upon him? ss S§teve’s mind was busy. Ps He had sworn that he would defeat all the - plans of Count Broquier, and he meant to keep _-—s«s that oath to the letter. It really seemed that he had been providen- tially guided, not only ona trail that had enabled “y him to save the life of a most lovely girl, but “ae also to right a great wrong. my 4 i * Ln Fh ay ; Even the finding of so important a paper was nota little strange and providential, and strengthened the belief of the scout that he had 0 merc to defeat the scoundrel’s vil- ainy. Steve felt that it would not be prudent to |: show the document to either Dora or the team- ster, although he well knew that damaging to the major as were the contents, they would not fora moment entertain the faintest suspicion in regard to the one they so honored. It was no longer strange to the young man that Major Dale should have acted as he did, or allowed such a villain to form, as it were, one of his family. Indeed, there was no favor under the circumstances that be could withbold from Broquier, inasmuch as he had put bimself en- tirely in his power, and that in black and white. Steve believed that he now understood what had so changed the manner of the count, trans- forming bim from an insolent and domineering ruffian, with bravado in every word and mo- tion, toa cringing coward in manner and ex- pression. He bad lost the pare, which had constituted the greater part of his power over the major. ence he wasina most discouraged frame of mind, which must have been doubly prostrat- ing to him, had he not formed hopes of success, ot the plot just formed with Lije and ill, Placing the document carefully in his pouch, Steve strode onward; when he became con- vinced of the truth of his reasoniogs in regard to Broquier’s despondency, fur, back and forth from tue river-bank for quité a distance, he knew that the miscreant, had come and gone, seeking what he had lost, The ‘‘sign” plainly proved this. The young scout had learned enough, and he proceeded down the river to his horse. He had just gotten far enough into the mys- tries of the case in hand, to feel in a great worry unless he was gathering new evidence, and fresh points in the detective line. Yet he felt that he could not expect to ac- complish much more, in the way of clearing up the mystery, for some time to come. It was wonderful, however, what he had al- ready done, It had changed his whole life, and aims, and hopes, Had any one predicted such a chain of events, so important to bimself, thirty-six hours pre- vious, he would have looked on him as a mad- man. Would it benefit him in any way, were he to confer with Major Dal? Would it be the means of relieving the mind of the old planter, to know that Broquier had no longer the document that so vitally con- cerned him? Shoulé he inform his new employer of the Conger. ahead on the trail, at once, or should he wait These questions puzzled Steve Speed, and he wus in a deep study when he returned to camp. ip py he rode directly to, and passed the end of the wagon, into which Broquier had one. Gazing through, where the tilt was not close- ly drawn, Steve discovered the ruffian in a eatb-like slumber—a slumber, which the scout resolved should be mcre death-like still, before another moon had waned. When, staking his horse, Bob Barr came for- ward, patting the animal as he asked: ‘““Wa-al,, pard, anythin’ new over ther drink? “lve found the trail, Bob! Those two fiends Licata south, with the major’s horse in ead.” ‘* What d’ye make o’ thet, Steve?” ‘*T don’t think we’ve seen the last of them, by a long shot,” was the reply. ‘They'll hev company, when they nex’ glide in on we-’uns. Thet air my opine on ther sub- ic’. ‘*Tt coincides with mine to a dot, Bob!” “IT c’u’d chaw my years off with pure mad, when I think what a idjit, 1 war, not ter hev knifed both, ’fore I slung ’em inter ther drink! ‘*Ef I bed, all would ba’ bin smooth an’ lovely. But, dang my heart! ef we won’t gi’n ’em a lively ole fandango when we gits a show at ’em ag’in; an’, es fer ther cuss in ther wagon —count, er Dusty Dick, I doesn’t keer what he calls hisself—dog-gone me, ef I doesn’t think hit’s sorter risky givin’ him free range. ‘*T goes in fer stringin’ ther hellyun up, afore he cuts up any more deviltry.” ‘‘Keep cool, Bob, and let your hair grow! We haven’t proofs sufficient to proceed to ex- tremities; but, as | bave before remarked, we'll give him rope and he’ll hang himself. He came very near it last night. ‘*T want to clear up everything for the ma- jor. If we could capture that Lasso Lije, I be- ieve we could choke all the proof we want out of him. ‘** Have you bad your nap yet, Bob?” * Nary a wink, sinee night ’fore last!” ‘Then take a snooze now. That’s what I intend to do, for we must hitch up for the trail at three o’clock this afternoon,” * Thet suits me, Steve, yer kin bet heavy; an’ - . “ . e~ ] vf . * « 7 . i me, a . - . _ _ = © - ik aan a os ° “+ . ™ 4, 4 a a. & 2 any te be dead asleep es soon es I kin spread my- self.’ Both lay down in the cool shade, closed their eves, and soon were launched into the land of eams, CHAPTER XIX. THREE OF A KIND. Wuen Count Broquier, Lasso Lije, and Bill Bowers galloped off mm company, the latter was obliged to clutch at the saddle-horn for support. Even then, he reeled from side to side, and was on the point of falling to the ground more than once, had the others not sustained him in the saddle. Bill’s eyes were bloodshot, and he gazed alter- nately from one to the other of his conductors, with a look of superstitious terror. The livid marks about the wretch’s throat showed how fierce had been the assault of the infuriated old planter, and how near to death Bill had been. None spoke a word, but all spurred madly on, casting apprehensive glances behind them. Broquier’s dusky face was almost cadaverous in appearance. None were like y to forget the treatment they had received, and all realized wbat would be their portion, should they again fall into the hands of Dora Dale’s avengers. ‘*Satan tortur’ me!” said Lije, finally, and gazing at Bill in wonder; ‘‘pard Bill, yer looks cur’ous-like. What's ther difficult wi’ yer?” ‘*Let bim alone, Lije; he’s not got back to brain biz yet,” said Broquier, ‘‘We must make fast time, to reach some safe place, where we can hold a consultation, and plan for tbe future. I’m glad we happened to meet again. “Tt was a strange and fortunate meeting for both of us, and your friend here came in for his share of the benefit—nothing less than his life! “How happened it that he left the girl, I wonder? But he will tell us all when he recovers, Do you think tbere is any doubt of those fellows finding her? ‘*T had intended to take her to the arms of her loving father, and all that sort of thing, you know. It would have been a good card in my game, you better believe!” “TI thought yer hed ’nough good keerds in thet leetle game,” said Lije, with some show of indignation, ‘‘ au’ hed played ’em ter sweep ther board. Yer war goin’ ter runin ther gal when me an’ Bill hed been wiped out by thet cussed scout, war yer? Who war he, anyway? An’ who hed he with bim?”’ ‘You ask questions like a Yankee,” said the count; ‘‘but Vll explain. I thought I had the deadwood on the old planter, and I would have wov the game long ago: but the girl was too young—that was the excuse, you know, ‘‘However, I leeched him for ducats, and forced bim to sign a Bt which puts bim in my power. You see, I thought you were dead, and for want of you as a witness I would lose all. I frightened the old fellow, and made him promise to fork over five thousand dollars in thirty days. ‘The time is up to-morrow, but, under the circumstances, I shall be forced to rest on my oars, ‘This morning I had the worst set-back. That devil of a scout rescued the girl from a mad steer. is known as Stampede Steve, and a regular devil he is. But I’ve sworn to kill him, and Ill keep my oath. That settles the scout. ‘You know very well that if F had known you were concerned in the abduciion I would have joined you at once. But _we’ll outwit them all yet, and win the game. I'll marry the girl, and then it will be easy enough to give the old man a free s to the other world, and the propert will a'l be mine!” ‘‘Ef I *members right, I war ter. hev ten thousand pesos, an’ I hain’t see’d nary a pica- yune o’ hit till yit.” ‘*You shall have that amount, Lije, and Bill shall have a like sum, when the old man makes a die of it. I have a thousand for each of you, to commence with.” ‘* Now yer talkin’, Dick! Whar’s ther rhino?” “In my saddle-bags in camp. But I say, vour friend don’t seem to be recovering fast. Haven’t you any liquor with you, Lije?” ‘* Ya-as, dang’d ef I hesn’t! Broke one bottle in ther tree, but thar’s another left. Bill, ole pard, take a suck o’ chain-lightnin’, an’ hit’ll fotch yer ’roun’ ter biz!” Lasso Lije leaned over in bis saddle and placed the bottle to his pard’s mouth. Toe latter drank freely, He bad listened with wonder to every word that had been uttered: the horses having been allowed to walk while me and Broquier had conversed. ill was not yet in a condition to talk, and the others decided that they must coe fur- ther explanations until they reached some se- cure retreat. Consequently they again started ata gallop, This they kept up for quite a dis- tance upon the open prairie, and then turned west; speeding in a course parallel with the oak- belt, until they were beyond the scene of the abduction, and the ford. Then they spurred to, and through the oaks, entering the river-bottom timber. Finding a small “ open,” they removed the com (E * ° & sy Ne Si " You’ve heard of him, I reckon; he. V