Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 328 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

Ss = sri- = _ = th t % qi “e " 2 mt cheek of the maiden. No sound Ieft his lips, but his stern features softened, and the habitual fierceness in his black eyes vanished, to give lace to a worshipful regard, blended with some- ing akin to awe and reverence. y Partle, the Tonkaway, is welcome,” said Lola, in her silvery voice. ‘“‘He has long been a stranger in the lodgo of his friends cn the Leon. ‘My father will be glad to grasp his hand. Turtle is our red brother. He is brave, and his heart is pure. Lola forgets not that he saved her life, on the Brazos, when tho panther was about to spring upon, and tear her to pieces.” As a compliment, and in delicate considera- tion for the chief, Lola strove to speak in an In- dian-like manner, when addressing the brave; and this was always 7. EP by him. ‘* The words of the Lily of Leon are sweet as the song of birds in the ears of Turtle,” returned the Tonkaway. ‘‘ The heart of tho Tonkaway chief swells in his breast, when ho looks in her face and hears the voice of the Lily. ‘* The Great Spirit has smiled upon her and given her the beauty of His sky-children. He as caused the sun to leave its fire in her hair. Turtle’s skin is red, but his heart is warm to- ward Lily of Leon, and his arm is strong toslay her enemies. ‘* Wolves are on the preie They trample on the flowers. Birds that sing and please tho eye fly in the bushes, but the cunning snako iain and swallows them. Turtlo will drive the wolves and snakes from trail of Lily of n. ‘*She pleases the eye more than flowers and birds. I have spoken, and lies build no nests on the tongue of Turtle, the Tonkaway.” **'You seem apprehensive of danger to mo, Turtle,” said Lola, who was accustomed to tho ways and language of the chief. ‘‘ Havo you crossed the trails of any Comanches?” ** Comanches will not come, Trails on south of Colorado.” ‘*Then what does my red brother mean?” “The eyes of Turtle are open, and he can seo the buzzard in tho trail of the sun. It is enough. When the black wolf howls at lange of Lily of Leon, Turtle will hear him, and his arrows fly swift, sure and far. I have spoken.” -s Thanks, Turtle! I could have no more bravo and skillful protector. But como; let us rido on to the ranch.” The eyes of the Indian swept tho prairio whilo he allowed his horse to proceed, Lola riding be- tween the chief and Dick, the latter having watched the interview and listened to the word; that had been spoken with much concern, In spite of his own reasonings to the contrary, Daring Dick became, through tho influence of his red pard, apprehensive of somo danger, tho character of which ho could not for his lifo do- termine or oven guess; and regardless of the jpresenco of Lola, he became somewhat gloomy. The trio soon reazhod ths ranch, tho chief ing kindly and considerately welcomed and cn- tertained by tho colonel; while Dick and Lola took a lover-liko promenade, beforo retiring, beneath tho shades of tho bottom-timber, which, for some distance from the ranch, had been trimmed and cleared partly from the under- growth, thus forming beautiful walks overhung with moss and flowering vines, And whilo thus walking they wero seen by Antonio, tho traitor Mexican, a3 well as when they rodo in with Turtle from the prairie, Lola questioned Dick in rerard to tho words of the chief in connection with danger to her- self, but the young man could seo no real ounds for alarm connected with King Kent— e only person ho could think of through whom danger would bo likely to emanate. This quiet- ed tho maiden’s apprehensions, and all retired early, Dick taking the Tonkaway to his cham- ber to dress his wound. Then tho latter spread his blanket beneath the trees, scorning to repose under a roof. Little dreamed Colonel Landers, Lola, and Daring Dick, that this was to be tho last nigh’ of peace and security they would pass, for a long time—tbat horrors and terrors, anguish ant despair, privation and torturo of brain and body, almost beyond human endurance, was to be the lot of all! _ Was the Tonkaway chief gifted with a power to pierce the future, that he appe so strange aa apprehensive; and that he should have d, with so much mingled pity and adora- n, upon his fair young hostess, as his eyes last rested upon the Li_ty or LEON? CHAPTER X. MURDER MOST FOUL, Toe bandit band, after their chief had de- clared his future plans, kept up their carouse for an hour; after which, Antonio was dis- tched to effect a stampede of tho horses of lonel Landers. _King Kent then asserted, that his father was the only man within two hundred miles, who had any extra money; and that he knew where the old’ man had buried it, although the latter did not t his knowledge. of the villain, in thus proposing suspec The depravi to impoverish his aged father, for their benefit, shocked even the lawless men whom ho had, a a Ce King Kent. ee ee through crime, become associated with; but, as they were to be benefited by the robbery, they | smothered their disgust and contempt, with the aid of liquor, and made no comments, ee Seas —_-_ —- ee ee —-——._. Kent became insane with rage If captured, he knew that his father would have no mercy. This thought maddened him. With a fiendish yell, he jerked his pistol, and The whisky that King Kent had swallowed | fired directly at his father’s breast; not six feet | since his arrival, together with the knowledge | eopararve them at the time. 7 ) V gained from Antonio, in regard to his supposed victim—all this had cleared his brain, and brought him to a more natural state of mind. He was resolved to rob his father, abduct ; Lola Landers, and live the life of a bandit chief! Ho congratulated himself upon having, a few weeks previous, discovered this retreat of the outlaws, unknown to them; and that he had ridden boldly into it without a show of fear, de- manding they receive him as a friend, who would assist i by acting as their spy. He had an object in this. Ho knew that the Vigilantes had already an eye on him, and that they were eager to give him a Judgo Lynch “send off,” on account of homicides he had committed; and for cheating men out of large sums at cards, when those who were playing with him wero intoxicated— drugged by himself! Proofs were all that the committee wanted; and he would, some night, suddenly disappear, to be found hanging from tho limb of a tree. Under these circumstances, ho was fortunate in being able to leaguo himself with the Basin Bandits. Accompanied by two of his followers, all well armed, he crossed the ford, and passed down the north side of the Brazos, to his home—but which was to be a home to him no longer—which he was now about to enter as a midnight thief! Why did the Fates not warn him back? Because they had ordained it, They were cruel—mercilessly cruel! Every step forward of King Kent’s horse was a curse on his head, and heart and soul. Yet he dreamed not of the full extent of the crime ho was about to perpetrate. But, we anticipate. King Kent knew that tho bloodhounds be- longing to himself and his father would bo furi- ous at the approach of strangers—indeed, that they would be dangerous. Ho, therefore, bade his comrades remain at some distance from the ranch until he went forward, pacified the dogs, and brought tho pack back to make them ac- quainted, and insure safety in that quarter. To this the pair of bandits readily agreed. It being night, it was no easy matter to mako friends with the hounds, and had not Big Bill had tho forethought to bring a huge piece of meat, secured to his saddle-cantle, and which ho and Crooked Carl fed to the fierce brutes, mat- ters would havo been moro complicated. With the exception of a negro body-servant, Captain Knowles was usually alono in tho houso; but there was an old Auntio and several other negroes, who lived in cabins quite near tho main dwelling. ‘This latter was an cxcepticn to Texas houses in general. It had a cellar, al- though ths oxcavation was cmall, being under the rear portion of tho house. There was but ono window, and this not very large; but King Tent assured Big Bill that ho could squecze through easily. Tho miscreant also asserted that his father was always full of brandy when he retired, and that he slept like a top. Without a word further, this being spoken in a whisper ncar tho front veranda, King Kent led tho way to ono of tho negro cabins, whero ho procured two spades. Soon the trio were at the cellar window. This was securely fastened, but tho woodwork was somewhat decayed, and they opened it readily. Igniting a pine knot, which they had brought for the poe King Kent thrust’ one end in the carth of the cellar bottom, and then pointing to a wooden platform beneath a hanging closet, he Fave his comrades to understand that it must be ted away. This was casily accomplished. Upon removing the platform, the earth was observed to be loose, as if recently disturbed, and King gave an audiblo and vicious curse, seizing a spade, however, and beginning to dig. Tho earth was fast removed, and soon an iron box wasexposed to view. Rushing toonecorner of the cellar, and reaching up to a joist, tho de- lectable Kent muttered arfother deep curse. **The old gent has taken the key away,” he whispered. ‘‘ We'll have to tako tho box out and blow it up.” ‘* Thet’s casy did,” returned Big Bill. The giant bandit, so saying, jerked tho box from the hole, and carried it toward tho win- dow. Just then the hounds rushed up; some of them gazing down into tho cellar. Then down went the window with a crash, overturned by one of the animals, the dog whining as the sash fell upon its foot. At that instant down the cellar stairs sprung Captain Knowles, in his night-shirt, with a ro- volver in his hand: firin point-blank, in the un- certain light, at Big Bill, who hurled the box through the window, and scrambled after— Crooked Carl close at his heels, and both think- inz only of ag 8 The captain then sprung from tho stairs into the cellar, and began to yell and shout. ‘| chief, for the Mexican, although cngaged es o itha groan of mortal agony, the old man =a a moment, and then fell to the cellar oor. King Kent stood appalled, his smoking pistol in his hand. ‘In God’s name, what hes yer bin, an’ fone, an’ did?” Thus asked Big Bill, through the window. ‘* By ther Lleed o’ Crockett, ther Cap hev shooted his own dad!” burst from Crooked Carl. Kent stocd, as if paralyzed. ‘* My curse, a father’s curse, be on you, living and dead, Kent Knowles!” These words, in a strange and unnatural voice, came from the lips of Captain Knowles, as he struggled to a reclining position, and pointed a trembling finger at his son. " Then the old man fell backward upon tho oor. Captain Knowles was dead—robbed and rmur- dered by his own son! King Kent was a parricide! ‘*Come on, Cap! Ther niggers air rumpus- sin’, Yercan’t help ther ole man now. Ho's dead es a door-nail, an’ I wouldn’t boin yer shoes fer all ther gold in Californy!” Thus exclaimed Big Bill, catching up tho box, and running from tho ranch. Kent Knowles was alone with his father’s corpse, in the cellar of the home he had cursed. But, only for a moment, stood he thus. With one wild and piercing shriek of dead terror, he shot through the window like a mad- man; the pack of hounds following fast at his | heels, and filling the air with their howls; while back at the ranch, screams and yells resounded from the affrighted negroes. King Kent, slackened not his speed, until ho arrived at the motte, when ho fell at tho {cet of Big Bill and Crooked Carl, as senscless as tho corpse of the father he had murdered, now lying in tho cellar of Knowles Ranch. Neither of tho bandits paid the slightest at- tention to their unconscious chief, but proceedcd to pour powder into tho lock of the ircn box. : oon there followed a loud explosior, and thousands of cagles and double-eagles wero c=x- | posed to their amazed and delighted view. These were hastily placed in their saddle-tars and then they poured whisky over the head, enc | into'the mouth of King Kent, who partial!y re- covered; when Uey placed him upon his horse, with a whisky-bottle in his hand. And, not far had they ridden, when tho rarri- cido halted, placed the bottle to his Lips, drank tho contents, to the last drop. | Hurling the empty bottle from him, Eing ; Kent drove deep his spurs, and his hcrso sprung into tho air, and then shot toward the | Brazos ford; the robber and parricide, tho cas ) tardly midnight assassin, shooting shriek after shriek through tho night, causing the coyotes to cease their yelps, and slink away to their hiding- places in the thickets! q Surely ‘‘ the way of the transgresscr is hard.” CHAPTER XI. | THE STOCK STAMPEDE. g THE Say followis that during which Der Dick and his would-have-becn assassin both were so near to death, was fated to be an oventful one to all of our leading characters. / Antonio, the traitorous Greaser, lost no time in carrying out the directions of King Kent, his elie amen a vaquero by Colonel Landers, belonged to tho Basin Bandits. Little thought either Daring Dick er Turtl i that while they had peacefully slept, King Kent . i had robbed and murdered nis own father. And | neither were they to hear this fearful news, as will be shown. Had Dick known of this most fiendish and unnatural deed, it 1s doubtful whether he would have left Landers Ranch, even had all the cattle stampeded with the horses. But he ought to have hives from the experiences of the day previous that King Kent was an un- scrupulous villain, a cowardly dastard, who would not hesitate at any crime, however heinous, ‘ And knowing this, and considering that the miscreant looked with love and favor upon Lola Landers—that he had associated in a friendly way with the Landers family previous to Dick’s advent at the ranch—knowing this, he ought to have felt considerable concern in con- | nection with the safety of Lola herself. : The manner and the ay bier 9 of the Tonka- way ought also to have had more weight and consideration with him, although it was evi- dent that the chief entertained onl a ye Daring Dick attributed the words and man- ner of Turtle to the dissatisfaction entertained by his red pard, on account of his not having aee permitted to shoot King Kent down on ep er. ii mF after the attempted assassination. la, too, was to be censured, for not having confided to her lover the forced interview she | had had with Kent, his proposal of marriage, ; ; ebooks:com . | — Sng Ee com % . 4 4 - * =