Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 302 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

only have been one result, but, prompt to act, the road-agents pounced upon the desperate foreman, tearing him from his antagonist, strik- ing heavily with fists and pistol-butts. Bruised, bleeding, half-stunned, Milo Vincent was thrown upon the ground while the chief of the marauders staggered to his feet, gasping, panting for hreath which was expended almost entirely in fierce and deadly oaths. As soon as the bloody mist cleared away from ——— eee ee = Eee veyance for the money. It is beyond your reach, and you can’t—” “Not even by searching a woman?” broke in the outlaw, with a short laugh of triumph, as though confident he had at length gained the keen clew. ‘‘A rather embarrassing duty, to | twenty thousand cases are at stake,” “If you have the nine lives of a cat, perhaps you might survive the ordeal,” coolly retorted his vision sufficiently for him to recognize the | Stella Timberlake, who was ‘‘looming up” after shape of his assailant lying bound and he!pless | a most extraordinary fashion for one who was at his feet, the ruffian whipped out a marderous- | wholly unused to the peculiar customs of the looking knife, and crouched like a panther in the act of leaping upon its prey. All this had passed soswiftly, that no one else had time or opportunity to interfere. Had he been the bravest of men, instead of havin roved himself a craven of the first water, ol eatherwax could not have lent an aiding hand, for the Se Se who stood nearest him, at the first sign of an outbreak, struck him heavily on the back of his head witha revolver butt, almost bringing bim to the ground, and so confusing bis wits, that all was over before he realized what was occurring. Stella Timberlake was flung aside when Milo Vincent made that desperate leap, and with difficulty keeping her footing, she only recov- ered herself in time to see the masked chief rise and flash forth bis knife, With a sharp cry the little woman darted for- ward, falling on ber knees beside the helpless foreman, leaning over his heaving breast as though sbe would shield it from barm with her own, one hand motioning back the desperado, he) crouched within leaping-distance, knife in and. “Back, you cowardly assassin!” and her voice rung out clear and menacingly. ‘Dare to harm this gentleman, and not one dollar of that money sball ycuever finger! Spare him—swear on your word as a thief and cut-throat that you will let him go free and unbarmed—that you will not—” “No, no, I beg of you!” gasped Vincent, im- ploringly. ‘‘Do not betray me—do not render it impossible for me to keep my sacred trust! Better death than tbat!” “Which is just what it will be,” brutally in- terposed the masked chief, straightening up and slowly replacing his knife. ‘‘That’s the only show for saving your wind.” ‘“You hear?” softly uttered Stella, glancing down into the convulsed face. ‘“ He will mur- der you by inches unless he can lay hands on the money!” ‘“‘Let him! I will never tell!” ‘‘Then I must!’ was the firm reply, as the young woman rose to her feet and confronted the road-agent, paying no further attention to the husky pleading of the unhappy man whose rn she seemed determined to save despite him- self. : * You want that money; I can give it to you,” she said, coldly, showing no signs of fear or flinching, as she faced the masked leader. ‘But, whecher I will or no, depends wholly on the terms you are willing to make with me. ‘Don’t you be too sure of that, my dainty little bird,” growled the ruffian, all traces of politeness ying vanished from voice and man- ner since toat brief, desperate struggle. ** You'll be glad metry to sin close my fingers around your windpipe! Come! no more nonsense! Where's the boodle? Point it out, and be in a hurry, too!” “When you have come to my terms,” was the cool response. ‘“‘ Bah!” with a little laugh of contempt as the fellow raised one clinched hand as though about to dash it into her smiling face. ‘Do you think to frighten me so easily? Strike if you dare, and then whistle for your money !” ; It seemed a risky experiment, but it succeed- ed. The fist was slowly lowered, and there was something of admiration in the voice which muttered: “‘ Well, you are a plucky one, for a fact!” ‘Because I dare face a sheep-hearted wretch like you?” with a short, contemptuous laugh. “Go easy, girl! Don’t rub it in too deep!” “Never fear,” with the same careless scorn in her voice. “I am not so much in love with your face or maaners that I care to protract our conversation any longer than is absolutely necessary. I simply wish to show you that woman though I am, I hold the balance of wer in this little game, and am not to be itetteoed into playing falsely by either threats or empty blustering.” “Have it your own way,” with a poor pre- tense ata laugh. ‘‘It’s only a fool that tries to wag tongue against. that of a woman. Name your terms for handing over the money.” “Sbe knows nothing of it!” hoarsely cried Vincent, ling to regain his feet. ‘‘ You have searched me without finding anything of it, and that should satisfy pla that what I told out if once I you from the very first is plain truth.” “You drew the money, in bank-notes, and—” “ Granted,” quickly interposed Vincent,speak- ing price ge yay deo > a pope ot in w me nough, somethin awakened my suspicions—I ‘what has bappened—and i @ safer con- | —>—EEE nnn ml - —_——ee OO eeeoO07O_—_— Ee ee ‘**wild and weolly West.” As she spoke, the rays of the afternoon sun were reflected brightly from a silver-mounted instrument which by some mysterious means slipped into her right hand. A deft motion lifted the hammer part way dnd sent the polish- ed she clicking merrily as it revolved over | her left palm. “Big and ugly as you are, my murderous friend, this charming little tool places us on an equality, so far as power over life is concerned,” she said, with a low, mellow laugh. ‘‘I hardly think your stock of vitality is large enough for you to attempt searching me before I give my permission, Do you?” With that gleaming weapon leveled full at | his head, the masked outlaw had nothing to | say. He shrunk perceptibly from the plucky little woman, and gave an audible gasp of relief when that equalizing tool was lowered. “Enough fooling,” he muttered, surlily. “ Gritty as you are, you can’t fizht us all, and I warn you in advance, if you kill one of the ang, the rest will forget that you wear the ress of a woman, and treat you as your actions deserve.” **In other words, butcher me to make a how!l- ing circus, eb?” with a careless laugh, ‘** If they do, it will be your own fault. Come: your terms?” “You are to let us go free and unharmed, and swear not to molest either of us until after we have bad time to reach Good Enough. Do you agree to this?” “ He may, but J don’t!” hoarsely cried Vin- cent, struggling vigorously to free himself from the stout hands which still held him to the ound, “I ask no favors—will accept none rom the hands of such a cowardly cut-throat!” “Rope the bowling idiot, lads!” sternly cried the masked chief, ‘‘ And if he tries to use his jaws too freely, clap a stout plug between them as well!” His orders were promptly obeyed. Strong and desperate as he was, Milo Vincent could do little against such heavy odds. And while he was being bound and gagged, Stella Timberlake ne quietly looking on, contenting herself with: **Do him any bodily harm, and I'll lay that hand cold in death!” Doubtless this sharp threat saved Milo Vin- cent from more bruises than one, and he was but little the worse for wear when, ten minutes liter, he was Rinoes upon his feet close beside Epaphroditus Weatherwax, who still stood with hands elevated, like a ragged, shaggy statue of patience, “Now then, where’s the boodle?” ‘‘Once more, | beg of you, do not betray me!” muttered Milo Vincent, his voice ime b pleading, his bloodshot eyes turned imploringly upon the strange young woman, ‘Tt is for your sake that I do it,” was the soft replv. “IfI did murder you!” ‘‘Ay, and kill him by inches, at that!” chimed in the leader of the road-agents. “Don’t forget that, my dear.” "both the threat and you, not speak, that fiend would ‘Pll remember curse you, dog!” grated the foreman, his eyes glowing luridly. ‘‘ You’d better kill me while you are about it, for I'll never rest quietly until I have paid off this score with double in- terest.” ** Let to-morrow take care of itself,” careless- ly retorted the robber. ‘‘ When you call, I'll try and be at home. But now—to business. Spit it out, my gentle turtle-dove! Where is the boodle? Orco you prefer being searched? If so, select your man, and the rest of us will hold our hands over our faces.” ‘*] have not the money; I have never even touched it. I cannot swear that I have seen it, Only for your questions, I would have known nothing whatever of the presence of a large sum of money in the coach,” “Ha! it is hidden in the hearse, then!” ex- claimed the masked chief, moving toward that vehicle, “To the best of my belief, yes,” was the de- liberate reply. ‘‘I saw Mr. Vincent cut a slit in the back lining, and fancied he was slipping something into the cut. I paid little attention to the act then, but now I have no doubt but what you can find the money you seek in that same slit.” | The road-agent did not wait for the conclu- sion of this ppeert but darted toward the coach and sores de. A few moments of searcb- interior, then, with ll Qo, Bas Seer, te WS eb OR Faro Saul, the Handsome Hercules. | | | e sure, but one can stand a good deal when | part in this drama. | — a ~ - = —_ (§ “Called the turn, or I’m a howling liar! Little daisy, you’re a brick—gilt-edged and carved trimmings!” Almost suffocated by his surging passions, Milo Vincent listened to the deliberate speech of the woman who was playing such a curious He knew that she bad sur- prised his secret, and at that moment, forgetting all that she had done for him—that she was making this confession with the avowed pur- pose of preserving his life—had his hands been at liberty, he would have gladly choked her to silence, if not forever. He watched the outlaw plunge into the stage with even greater interest than that displayed by the road-agents who had bim in charge; but great as was his interest, it did not prevent im from feeling a gentle touch upon bis wrists where the stout thong beld them behind his beck. And then, as he gave an involuntary start, he felt the thongs drop away, and knew that he had been set at liberty. But by whom? He cast one swift glance around him, Epaphroditus Weatherwax was standing motionless, his hands still elevated above his head. Stella Timberlake was quietly watching the result of the search. It did not seem possible that either of them could have done the act. “He stuck in his thumb, and pulled out a gee saying how elevated is that, anyway?’ augbed the masked outlaw, shaking tbe pack- age almostin the face of the foreman. ‘ You might as well have saved your time and kick- ing, my dear fellow, for—” ; Fie never finished that mocking sentence, for like a flash the young man shot out one hand tearing the package from his p, thrusting it into his bosom, even as bis left fist dashed itself with stunning force full between the eyes of the astounded outlaw, knocking him headlong clear off his feet! | And then, with a roar of long pent-up , Milo Vincent turned upon his astonished guards, — snatching a revolver from the belt of the nearest, even as he drove one foot heavily into his stomach, then leaping aside to avoid the hasty blow which the other leveled at him. The road dent never made another one. A flash— a report—and he fellin a quivering heap with ahotbes eyelet in his black mask! All this transpired with such rapidity that the eye could scarcely follow the swift changes, and the surviving road-agents hardly realized that trouble was brewing until their recent captive was free and armed. Stella Timberlake uttered a little cry, and her pistol flashed forth from its place of conceal- ment, but before she could use it on either friend or foe, it was knocked from her hand, and she was lifted bodily from the ground, swung into the air and settled before the saddle on the horse recently ridden by the masked chief. A into the saddle leaped Milo Vincent, one arm wound around her waist und controllisg the snorting horse, his right band clasping a leveled revolver, as he cried, sharply: ‘“‘Hands up and empty, you dirty whelps! The man dies who tries to pull trigger!” Stella shrieked wildly, struggling to free her- self, and this undoubtedly saved the life of at least one outlaw, who was raising his ip tr His aim disturbed by her struggles, Vincent missed his mark, and with loud yells the road- agents scattered as though to take him on either flank, thus being able to slay him without injur- ing the woman whose form effectually protected him in front. ) One of their number dropped with a bullet through bis breast; but the others would doubt- less have proven too much for the young man hampered as he was by the woman, who 1e¢ to be frightened out of her senses. But then oc- curred a surprise not a whit less extraordinary than the sudden onset of the foreman. With a shrill whoop and yell, Epaphroditus Weatherwax leaped upon the struggling form of the chief, tearing the belt of arms from around his waist, and then, witha revolverin each hand, he opened a furious fusilade, screech- ing: f Git out o’ the way, ye little fishes! "Nother sit o’ fickness comin’on. I’m a doctor, boun’ fer to kill or cure; an’ I don’t keer a continental cuss which is t’other! Rep, slap, set ’em up ag’in. Open yer tater-traps an’ take Sead dose o’ medicine, ef it do turn ye wrong side out.” On his box sat Don Bobtail Fandango through all this, hugely enjoying the scene, and alr forming the sentences which should carry con- fusion forever to those infidels who had to cast dirt in the face of Good Enough. At last his dearest wish had come to pass! p sheaf was placed onthe proud pinnacle fron the apex of which his idolized camp should gaze blandly down upon her humbled rivals. ied But when he began to smell powder—when he witnessed the desperate dash against such heavy odds by the young foreman—he could hold out no longer, and thongh guiltless of any wea more formidable than his long-lashed whip, brake-bandle and lea r g fit to split his part in tke affray, ye With their chief. down, with two of number slain or disabled, before they Gomicbooks — — ~~ ~