Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 328 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

ST ee eae ~—_- . > * . prospe 10 By this time, the three had reached the ve- randa and Mickey quickly threw his right leg over his mule’s head—he could place both feet on the ground while yet astride—and assisted Edna to alight. The two girls entered the house, and the faith- ful Irishman attended to the horse and mule; muttering to himself the while such expressions as, ‘* He’s the divil’s own spawn, bad ’cess to him! He’ll burn in a hot corner, be gorra!” This last being given in a loud and indignant voice. The colonel soon joined Mickey, who, in his own lar way, detailed the news, and re- orted in regard to the business upon which he ad been sent down the Rio Brazos. Colonel Landers was thunderstruck, and or- dering his horse, sprung into the saddle, drove ie and gallo fast toward the Brazos, and owles Ranch. Mickey made fast time to the culinary depart- ment, and surprised and gratified the old ‘* Auntie” in charge by his voracious appetite. Then he stretched himself in the shade of the bottom-timber, for a prolonged siesta, it being long past the hour of noon when he awoke. During this time, Lola and Edna had lunched, and gossiped freely; exchanging confidences, examining needle-work, at which the ‘* Lily of Leon” was expert, and had then takena ride on the prairie—they being unable to find Mickey, and being obliged to call one of the negroes to equip their horses, Soon after their return, however, the Irish- man made his mppenrance at the dwelling, with a huge chunk of corn-pone in one hand, and a rib of roast beef in the other; eating with keen relish, and wearing his plug hat more upon the back of his head than ever. The young ladies caught a glimpse of him, from their window, and tairly screamed in mer- riment at the sight. When their mirth had subsided—the same not ‘‘ setting back” Mickey in the least—Lola bade him prepare to accom- ay her and Edna down the n bottom-tim- r, for rifle practice. Mickey actually danced with delight, at the et of fun with the *‘ ger-ruls;” but he did not allow his poy to interfere with mastication. Daring Dick had presented Lola with a superb little rifle; richly ornamented with inlaid silver work; and she, to please the donor, had racticed until she had become quite expert in he use of the . Edna was equally as skill- ful, and she left her rifle at Landers Ranch yon the occasion of her last visit—the two prac- . ticing for hours at a time, when with each other. Mickey McCafferty made fast time eating. He then bathed his face and hands, and got down. his rifle—an old ‘* Kentuck” that the colonel had long since thrown aside, and which, although Mickey frequently carried the same, no person had ever seen him fire. Ind he appeared to be afraid of a gun, notwithstanding his ‘‘ military record.” Soon Edna and Lola appeared, in becoming costumes, their little rifles in hand; and they both looked enchantingly lovely, presenting a icture to chain the eye with admiration ; the Triehenan, in strong contrast to the maidens, marching ahead, with shouldered rifle, aping the airs of a bo peering around sus- pictouny at the thickets, and at times throwing gun into the hollow of his left arm, with his thumb on the hammer; as if he expected cause for the immediate use of the rifle—as if deadl danger threatened the maidens whom he guard- ed and guided, his eyes staring wildly all the while, | All this was done so awkwardly, his walk and ise of form being so comical, that he kept Bana and Lola avaiang, elnoss ponsingsoay and the awful crime of King Kent was, for the time being, banished from their minds. As to the villein himself, it was reasonable to suppose that he had fled from Knowles Ranch, as as the fleetest horse could carry him; as he would know that the Vigilantes would hunt for him high and low, for a long distance, and at all points of the compass. CHAPTER XIII. CARRIED INTO CAPTIVITY. Hap it not been for the continuous jabbering of Mickey, the horrible crime of King Kent would, doubtless, have been uppermost in the minds of Edna and Lola; and their spirits would not only have been at a low ebb, but they would have appeared and felt decidedly fune- |. real-like. The two maidens and their attendants passed down the Leon, where the ripple of the waters among the reeds and flags along the shore fur- nished soft and fitting music, in consonance with the scenes through which they Pemees while, high on the tree-tops, softened by dis- tance, and in harmony with the melody from the river, floated the song of many birds, and the hum of insects. The Irishman was delighted at having charge of the ‘‘gerruls;” and, when not running his tongue like a Yankee shuttle, hummed the air of “* Hrin go Bragh.” About half a mile down the river they wan- dered, before Lola called a halt. ‘Now, Mickey,” said the young girl, “ will —— King Kent. a poems pin up this circular piece of paste- r . on that tree yonder, and we will soon be ready? Both the maidens then proceeded to load their rifles, which they did in so dexterous and grace- ful a manner as to cause the Irishman, who had never before accompanied them to practice, to open his eyes in wonder and admiration. ‘* Be the prize-pig o’ Donnybrook fair, but it’s Mickey McCatferty ll take oath he never saw a racruit of three months’ standin’ fade a gun- muzzle wid half the aise as yous gerruls! Sure, thin, ’'d not be afeard till hould the targit in me fingers, afther obsarvin’ the beautiful way yees has o’ handlin’ the shoothers.” The light laugh of both young ladies followed the remarks of Mickey, as they adjusted caps on the nipples of their rifles. ‘*Stand aside more to the left, Mickey!” di+ rected Lola; ‘‘it is my first shot, and I fear, the tip of your nose being sunburnt, and more pro- minent than the bull’s-eye, it might get slightly damaged.” ‘* Sure, an’ I'd feel paeae o’ the ch’ice ye’d make betune them, Miss Lola. Fire away, thin! I’d not moind havin’ a bit o’ me nose tuck aff in a fri’ndly way; an’ it would sarve as a remimbrance o’ ye in the days that’s com- in’, when 1 won’t be luckin’ at yer purty face any more.” he sharp report of Lola’s rifle now broke on the air. The bullet struck the outside of the small piece of pasteboard some three inches from its center. Then Edna fired, striking the bull’s-eye, fair and square, at thirty paces. The next shot by Lola was planted also in the bull’s-eye, and then a whispered consultation be- tween the two maidens followed. The Irishman was examining the target, and expatiating upon the skill of his fair friends, in muttered soliloquy. ‘* Now, Mickey,” said Lola, with a merry twinkle in her eye; “here isa large leaf. You have been a soldier, and have nerve. Wéill you please just hold it in your hand, for me to shoot at? *“W'u'dn’t ye be afther shootin’ a few more times first?” returned Mickey. ‘‘ Begorra, yer first shot was three inches from the cinther; an’ three inches on a man’s hand is somethin’ till be losin’. Besides, how kin I be afther knowin’ if ye bees aimin’ at the lafe, or at me hid? Bedad I can’t watch the shoother an’ the lafe both!” ‘* Why do you wish to watch the leaf?” asked Edna, laughing. ** Till see if ye hit it, av coorse.” ‘** You simpleton! Why, there will be a hole through it if we hit it—will there not?” ‘** Be the powers o’ powther, ye bees right!” re- turned. the Irishman, scratching his head; ‘‘ an’ through me hand, too, I’m thinkin’!” ** Here, hold, the long stem of the leaf,” direct- ed Lola, ** stand up, like a soldier. Eyes front! Steady !” As the last words were spoken, Lola was re- turning to her position; but, observing that Edna was laughing immoderately, she ed about, and perceived that Mickey had lowered se nePtts and that both arms were hanging by s side. ‘What are you doing now? Did I not direct you to hold the leaf out?” Thus asked Lola, ‘** Be the pipers o’ Ballyhack! Ye tould me till stand like a sojer, an’ it’s that I am. A sojer w’u'd luck like a fool standin’ wid one arrum out, houldin’ a lafe. It’s new tactics ye’d be ckey Mc , you are incorrigible! exclaimed Lo settee ; ‘but we ‘will now insure your safety. Stand behind that tree, and hold a leaf in each hand, just clear of the trunk, and both Edna and myself will shoot at the same time, You see, then, it will be impossible to hit ou. bP) ‘* Thin yees don’t be afther thinkin’ the bullet Wren BP. hrough the tree entoirely?” ‘* What an unreasonable being you are!” said Edna. ‘* You ought to know that it is impossi- ble. Lola, station him behind the tree. We are wasting time.” 3 Not without some trouble and much laughter, did they succeed in placing the Irishman in sition; he holding the leaves in trembling No sooner had Lola raised her rifle than, to the yaxerion of both the girls, the leaves disap- ared. ‘* What are you about now?” demanded Lola. ‘* Begorra, yees didn’t hit aither o’ thim!” yeli- ed Mc capil & ‘* Why, we haven’t fired atall yet, you goose!” cried out Edna impatiently. ‘* Mickey, hold up those leaves! You know very well we haven’t fired. You haven’t heard any report.” ‘‘Have I got till be afther stayin’ here all day?’ he inquired. ‘Sure, I darsn’t come out from this, at all, at all!” ‘* Hold up those leaves! I insist upon it, for the last time!” And both the maidens elevated their rifles. But, as they saw no sign of their orders bein obeyed, they both fired, with but a slight interva between the shots. Mickey, knowing now that their rifles were empty, danced around the tree, shouting: “ Splindid shots, botho’ thim, gerruls! Right through the cinther 0’ aich lafe. Be the powers! I c’u’dn’t ha’ done betther mesilf.” ** What is that you say?’ demanded Lola. ‘‘T was afther sayin’ yees both hit the l’aves,” returned Mickey, holding them up, and exhibit- ing a large hole in each. ‘This is the first time I ever knew, or heard, of a rifle shooting around a curve,” said Ecna, as she took the leaves from the Irishman’s hand, ‘‘and, besides, I never knew a bullet to expand to such an extent. These rifles are both small bores, and those holes indicate a ball of about two ounces in weight.” ‘Yes, they are just about the size of your finger. Mickey, you are very cute, but you are a poor hand to hold a target. Were you afraid of a when you were in the army?” ‘“ Divila bitam I ateard of a ” said the shame-faced ex-military man—“ if I’m on the right side o’ that same.’ ‘ Do you see that squirrel, Lola?” asked Edna, as she pointed up at the branches of the tree, the trunk of which they had been shooting at. All directed their gaze at the point indicated. At that instant a crashing blow sounded in the ears of the maidens, who, turning quickly saw poor McCafferty felled to the earth, an themselves confronted by four flerce and ruffian- ly looking men. Ata glance they felt positive that these be- longed to the outlaw band whose depredations had created great excitement for scme weeks ia among the rancheroes of the Leon and razos. Their cries of alarm were stifled by rough palms, and they were hastily gathered in the arms of two of the cowardly intruders, and hur- ried through the bottom-timber, the others fol- lowing behind, armed to the teeth, and ready to deal death to any who might pursue them. But thé maidens knew there was no one to help them in this dire extremity—no cne to res- cue them from the dastards who were bearing them they knew not where, and to a fate they dare not think of, Hurriedly did the rude outlaws hasten scme five hundred yards down the Leon, when they reached their horses. Here thcy mounte taking the. terrified young girls up before them, and , as fast as the nature of the ground would permit, down the, Leon, in cover of the timber. How long or how far they traveled, Edna and Lola could not form an opinion; but they knew that they had been carried many miles from Landers Ranch, and judged that they must be near the Brazos, or the confluence of the rivers. Both shuddered, as the horses slackened pace, and a yell of triumph pierced their ears. _ The next moment they found themselves with- in a dark, tree-crowned basin, with high, clay sides, A fire was blazing in the middle. Horse and camp equipage, as well as arms, were scattered around. Brutal, long-haired, low-browed, scowling men stood here and there, or were seated upon, All this the maidens saw at a glance. Then words came to their ears, in a voice that —— = both to mo a familiar ri elcome, young ladies, to the Basin Bandits! King Kentis proud and happy to entertain you!” in Kent with wild and bloodshot eyes glar- ing & oatingly and exultantly, too before them They knew they were in the power of the mis- creant, the mat cfléas murderer, Kent Knowles, saddles, smoking. : ring: Ps hat of the The poor girls turned, and looked at the er Both the maidens shrieked aloud in horror. the parricide! TF CHAPTER XIV. CAPTURED BY COMANCHES, DarRinG Dick.and Turtle, the Tonkaway, did not waste time seeking the stampede in the vicinity of Landers Ranch but pellped up the Rio Leon, for many miles; striking the broad trail, which led, in an almost straight course, parallel with the Leon. It was noon before they reached the point where the herd had been headed cff by Antonio, and forced to cross the river. Here, the chic’ alighted, and passed the jaw-straps of his blac! steed to Dick, saying: ‘‘ Let my white brother stay cnhorse. Turtls want look at trail in mud cf river,” I don’t Ike the The horses would have kept + All nent, pard—proceed! right on, up-stream, unless headed off. It looks look of bad, The chief did not wait to hear this; but, with long strides, disappeared in the timber. : After being gone some fifteen minutes, he re- turned, and sprung upon his horse before sray- ing a word. Then he gazed into the face of Dick, who returned it, inquiringly. ‘* Horses no stampede, no scare,” he asserted, decidedly. ‘‘ Antonio he bad, all kad. Turtle know bad when look in eye. Antonio drive GOMER OOKS a st a il il rs Bi gm Mi. de cor | f ; / ) :