Beadle's Dime Library No. 305 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

—a a ee Silver-Plated Sol, the Montana Rover. ‘What now?’ wondered Colton. ‘ Have they gone tosummon the whole family of griz- ‘zlies? By Jupitér! I hope so; it'll make mat- ters more lively!” There was desperation in his remarks, but his mood was suited to his situation. He began to feel his pains anew, and each limb and bone seemed trying to outdo his fellows. The sun no longer lighted the vicinity, and gathering » shadows heralded the rapid approach of night. What new forms of torture darkness would bring, or what other animals would appear on the scene, he had no means of knowing. If one of the cat tribe came, his career was likely to soon be ended. He was unprepared for what occurred next. The rocks suddenly rung with a sound which the canyon and cliffs sent back with varied echoes, and the grizzly on the limb suddenly arose with a snarl of rage or pain; then, slip- ping from the limb despite his efforts to pre- serve his balance, he swung his legs at vacancy and went shooting into the depths of the chasm below, ‘A rifle-shot!” cried Sol, raising his head ‘with sudden hope. ‘* Who fired?” As though to answer his question, a man ap- peared on the ledge which led to the limb, and in a moment more he was working out toward the rover. Sol did not recognize him, but it was neither Danforth nor Burbank, and he caught at the hope of escape, ‘Quick, here!” he said, ‘‘ You’ve disposed of one grizzly, but there are otbers about, and there'll ba warm work if you are found bere,” ‘I ketch your meanin’, neighbor,” was the answer; ‘ther more so ’cause [ see’d ’em my- self. But I'll bev you out o’ this in a jiffy.” He spoke confidently, but, owing to the pecu- liar way in which the rover was tied, several ** jiffies ” must have passed before he succeeded in drawing him upon the limb and, from there, to the ledge, Sol Colton was free, but he was perfectly helpless. His feet refused to bear his weight or move at his will, and when his rescuer tried to earry bim bodily, be found the weight more than he could manage. He was equal to the emergency, however. He removed the rover’s boots, and then began chafing his feet vigorously. The circulation of blood must be speedily restored; all depended upon it. Sol found it difficult to avoid sinking into a stupor. With the reaction came a_ sense of utter weariness which blunted that of danger, and he would almost bave been indifferent had a grizzly been standing over him, ot so his rescuer, He was fully awake to the dangers of the hour, and while he worked he watched anxiously. He knew it was more luck than anything else that he had killed the first grizzly so easily; if another arrived, the chances were be would vanquish both men. But luck was now with the adventurers, and the stranger’s vigorous efforts soon -ufficed to ut life and adegree of energy into the rover. hen again helped to his feet he found they were not so useless as before, and when bis res- cuer put his arm about his waist they managed to walk sadg How far t 4 went Sol did not know; the journey was like a dream; but, at length, they entered some sort of a cave, ‘‘T reckon what you need now isa drink o’ whisky an’a sleep, the stranger suggested. - “Very likely. ‘Thar ain’t no ey hyar.” ‘+ Can’t you send for a few?” “Eh? ou want ’em?” ‘They are great friends of mine.” The rescuer made a grimace. Sol’s vacant manner and his peculiar remarks, told that bis mind was far from being righ and his host hastened to make hima bed of pine boughs, cover it with a blanket and gethim to lie down. Fiye minutes after this was done Sol was wholly unconscious, He had sunk into slumber, or something akin to it, and grizzlies might come or go and he would take no heed. ; When he awoke, daylight was feebly shining into the cave, At first he had no idea where he was, but the events of the preceding day gradu- ally recurred to him, and though all was like a dream from the time be was rescued, he man- aged to get atolerably“clear idea of what had happen esat erect, and as he did soa man came _ forth from the shadows: at the interior of the eave, ** Hallo, pard!” he said, bluffly. Sol looked at him in surprise. ‘Hallo, Sam Leach!” he then answered, re- cognizing one of the stage-robbers, ‘You know me better than you did last night,” said Sam, with a chuckle, ‘| should observe. I was pretty near laid out then, but I reckon Richard is himself again. Old man, L owe you one!” ‘* What fur?” . wi . “What for? Well, Isbould remark that ’twas for taking me out of the confoundedest fix I but the men who tied me up will wish they had kept to themselves. [I’m going back to Bowlder Bar this P. M., and I’ll make me bow! with a big roar, It’s war to the knife!” “ Will you take me in?’ Leach eagerly asked, Sol hesitated for a moment, for be did not forget what he owed to the robber, but be had always found that a lone hand counts more in the end than any other, when it can be played at all, and he did not satisfy the man's wishes, His refusal was, however, made in such a way that no offense could be taken. The rover found that he was in nearly as good condition as ever, though there was a slight lameness in his limbs, consequent on the strain to which they had been subjected, Had it seemed necessary, be would have re- turned to the Bar at once, but it was just as well to wait for night and make a secret visit. Accordingly, the day was spent ia and about the cave, and Leach was as attentive as could be wished. One thing, however, Sol noted as peculiar. His bost seemed anxious to keep him away from the interior of the cave. Naturally, this awoke suspicion, and the rover suspected that Lois Orme might be imprisoned there, but he managed to get a view ard saw a bearded man in bed, and then be tried no more to solve Sam’s secret. Whoever the man had there, he was very anxious to keep him from being recognized, and Sol concluded it was probably some crooked associate who had got into trouble through ways that were dark. He let the matter rest, de Ab and prepared to return to Bowlder ar. CHAPTER XXXV, “I? IS FOR LIFE!” EtTaALA DANFORTH was unhappy—wretch- ed. Troubles seemed. accumulating about ber. Lois was missing, Joseph had grown stern and cruel, and there seemed a determined per- secution of Dave Bond. Until the late events she had not suspected how much she cared for the miner, but all her indignation was aroused against his enemies, and though she did not think of associating ber feelings with lovey she would willingly bave fought zealously in bis be- half had she possessed the power, There had been a stormy scene between her and Joseph, in which he commanded her to forsake the miner, but he bad thrown away a good deal of rhetoric. He might as well havetried to movea rock, In vain Ettala looked about her fora friend to whom she could apply for aid. She felt that if she were a man she could help Dave and rescue Lois, wherever the latter was, but to whom could she apply that would accomplish all those wonders? She could think of no one, and in a sort of despair she remembered the Magician of Mad- rock Ledge. He had told some true things about her at her former visit. At that time she bad not known whether to regard them as derived from natural or unnatural sources, but her mind dwelt persistently on Hamed; she felt anxious to see what he would tell ber about her missing friend, and she ended by resolving to again visit the Magician’s house. It was the evening after Bunker had driven the miners out of the cabins, and two hours after dark. Ettala put on her outer garments and secretly left the house, She was soon on her way to Madrock Ledge. She tovk a wide course, so as to avoid observation in the village, and she w soon where the only light was that whic gleamed from the lone house on the ledge. As she moved up the shelf of rock her cour- age wavered perceptibly; it was a different thing to go alone from going with a companion; but she would not allow herself to abandon the enterprise, and she went on. As usual, ey opened the door, but Hamed was standing close behind him, and he made a motion for her to enter. Somehow, it lacked his usual dignity and impressiveness, but she did not stop to analyze it. She entered, and the Chinaman closed the door behind her, “If your business is professional, we will go to the inner room,” said the Magician, Saati ‘Tt is,” Ettala replied, with a strength whic surprised her, ‘* Then follow me.” Hamed went to his room of prophecy, and Ettala was soon seated in the chair she occupied on a former occasion. ‘I wish to learn the present whereabouts of a missing person,” she said, abruptly. “*T will aid you,” calmly answered the Magi- cian, “ What is his name?” “It isa lady, and name is Lois Orme,” ‘‘T remember her; she called with you ona mieae not long ago. Ican easily trace ber.” _ _ He arranged bis instrument and looked with- in, ‘The girl left Bowlder Bar in company with a tall, dark complexioned man of middle age,” he said. “‘T judge be was a stranger in this Ss van se due south, Icansee them now. They are in No Luck, Colorado.” ‘*No Luck! Whereis that?’ . ‘*Just over the line of the State. They are at a hotel and talking earnestly. I judge that he is aiding her to accomplish some important object, but that dificulties—perhaps dangers— lie in their way. Why they went, or what they seek to do, I have no means of knowin but the stars shine brightly upon them and prophesy success for them. Some day the girl will send word to you; | believe you will meet’ her again, Atany rate, all will be well, Ican tell no more,” Hemed was closing his instrument, but she stopped him with a gesture. She asked more uestions about Lois, but it did, indeed, seem that he had told all he knew. Hecertainly told no more, Ettala approached the remaining subject with considerable diffidence, the more so be- cause she had repeatedly told herself she was foolish to speak of it anyway; but she bad | come to a decision, and would not change her mind. She asked concerning David Bond, ‘*‘| bave heard through my Chinese servant of the difficulty at the village with which he is connected,” said the Magician, calmly. **T need only glance at his past and future, The past is dark, He has lived a life of which he certainly will never tell, It bas been full of disgrace and dark deeds; it is one J do not care to describe to ov, Shun bim, if you are acquainted with im, as you would an adder. No good can come of such acquaintances. Under a plausible exterior he carries a heart like atiger. You had better die than tbink seriously of him,” This solemn warning fell on unbelieving ears, and all Ettala’s faith in fortune-telling van- ished; she even suspected that Joseph’s band was visible in this dismal arraignment, though how he should know she would visit Hamed was not clear, ‘* You seem to take a very cheerful view of your fellow-beings,” she said, with latent sar- casm. * Professionally, I take no view at all,” was the unmoved reply, ‘‘ Through the aid of the stars I am able to see people as they are, and as I find them so J describe them, if at all,” Ettala repressed a bitter retort, and then an- nounced thatsbe had heard all she cared to know, They went to the cuter room and Sing So moved forward to unbar the door. As he did so a peculiar sliding sound was beard at one side of the room, followed re cull thud, It was as though something had fallen between the outer wall and plastering of the house, and the girl would have thougbt nothing of it, had it not been for another circumstance, She was looking directly at Hamed, and she saw him start and raise bis gaze quickly to the upper part of the room, One moment he looked startled and troubled, but bis strong face soon assumed its usual expression. He made a motion to Sing-So, and the China-. man unclosed the door, and Ettala passed out, She had no desire to linger in such company. When the door had closed bebind her, however and she was alone on the ledge, she paused and looked back, For the first time sbe suspected there might be a mystery connected with Ha-. med’s bouse; the sound sbe bad heard, the brief trepidation of the Magician and the sicnificent glances which passed between bim and Sing-So, all combined betrayed the fact that there was something there not generally known. Ettala paused and looked, She saw the light disappear from the lower room and suspected. it bad been taken to the upper one, and she watcbed for its reappearance until sbe remem- bered that there were no windows in the upper portion, She was about to turn away when a fresh sound reached her ears—a dull, muffled sound, it is true; but she could almost bave swora a revolver had been fired near the point from which had preceeded the previous peculiar sounds. Considerably excited, Ettala listened further, but the sound was not repeated. Several min- utes passed away, and then the light reappeared in the lower room and Hamed’s bouse seemed to resu me its usual tranquillity. Satisfied there was no more to be peony Wis > Ettala descended the ledge, wendering wha mystery telonged to the place. There bad never — been anything before to indicate that other Reo ple than Hamed and Sing-So lived there, but — she was now sure the whole history of the house had never been told. | ee What meant the revolver-shot? | She would bave asked the question more earn- estly bad she suspected that Lois Orme bad = been but lately confined there—perhaps was still there. The current of he changed, however, as she reached the ledge and a man’s form appeared in the darkness, She at once recognized Dave Bond, and we need hardly say her brief fears speedily the - EE = thoughts was abruptly Fay). Ms foot:.OF 3 62S ais - “is ‘tl ished. Sr Sergey I didn’t think o’ seein’ you here,” be said, = sn ne ee EE eee ee i know, but they si 7? ¥ » i ever was in, : ton. He came alone and had a secret inter- } . ee SS How did ‘ou get fixed that way?” : view with the girl, What was said I do not “b t I'm glad it’s so. J’ve got a word to say to mre)! | rey ii gampol, that’s one ot the things [ can’t tell, [eth the -Par ort Boeken d rode ae Pork? an Ey aie Pasian Z te oS Ferg ito eRe AS Sasi) 2% mick Sais SS ME eee Soe SE COMMlGDOOKs.« + 6 Oe 9 wf wat pi * Pas 58 t “ff ee Lh aan ee Bay. Vine age ; ' )