Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 328 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

.-+&'™ King Kent. 9 and the threats used by him upon her rejection of his suit. But Lola feared that, if she revealed this, her Jover would be furious, and seek a meeting | with King Kent with hostile weapons. ; The time was near, however, when the maid- Daring Dick hastened into the house, the chief | striding to where his horse was stak ceeding at once to equip the animal. At the low mention of her name at the foot of the stairs, Lola Landers came tripping down, ed, and pro- ! sun had scorched and tanned ; | His complexion was naturally florid, but the is skin a deep, dark red; in fact, it was blistered in many laces. : His eyes were small, his brows beetling, and and, as no one was within view, she clasped her | his nose a decided pug. ] et not having informed her | arms about the neck of her lover as she stood ; 0 wonre Sere, Dd =e ; | upon the lower step, saying, in her sweetest and flowing open Ng mt his hairy, sun-burn skin father and Daring Dick of the insulting threats that had been made in her presence. And the time was near, also, when both the young Texan and the Tonkaway would rom of t not having shot the dastard in his tracks, in place of merely giving him a fright. ut to return. We have mentioned that Antonio, the traitor Greaser, lost no time in doing the bidding of King Kent. The Mexican bribed one of his comrades to go to the ranch in the morning, and report the stampeding of the horses. This was to make sure of the following after them of Daring Dick, thus leaving the ranch unprotected, except by the colonel, who seldom remained at home. Not only this, but Dick would be far from any ranches on the San Saba, and as the Basin Bandits were intending to start at once for the same point, there would be a fine opportunity to shoot Dick, and no one would ever know what had become of him. Antonio planned and executed all this well; for he had the herd of horses on a wild stam- gy toward the Colorado at midnight, or about esame time that Captain Knowles was shot by his worthless son. Antonio followed up the Rio Leon for a long distance, and then, with the assistance of two of his fellow vaqueros whom he induced to go with him, the herd was headed off, forced over the Leon, and on toward the Lampasas Hills, in a southwesterly direction. Full fifty miles had the stampede been forced, when the sun arose, giving Antonio a safe start, and beyond the probability of being overtaken. Daring Dick and Turtle were conversing on the veranda, after breakfast, both having en- joyed a refreshing sleep. The Tonkaway was roposing to mount his horse, and start off on a fone scout, when he and his white et ee ceived one of the vaqueros, coming at headlong gallop, over the prairie, toward the ranch. At first neither of them paid any attention to the approaching Greaser, as the Mexicans generally galloped at full speed at all times, whether there was any occasion for it or not. la had been out early, as was her wont, and had gathered a quantity of beautiful prairie flowers, She pla y decorated Dick’s sombrero with these, and also the fillet and quiver of Turtle. She was now singing merrily, in her own apartment, while the red and white pards were conversing, both at times pausing in their talk, to listen to her silvery, melodious voice. As the Mexican w nearer, Daring Dick and Turtle saw that he was much excited, for he was waving his sombrero, to attract their at- tention. Both men stepped from the veranda, and up beside our hastened to meet Soon the Greaser oped friends, and ¥ dager his horse to his haunches, ‘‘ Well, Pedro, what is the difficulty?” asked Dick, quickly. The vaquero would have spoken first, but his attention was attracted by the Tonkaway chief, whose presence at the ranch he was ignorant of. Probably he feared that the Indian would ac- company Dick on the trail of the stampede, and w read the “sign” correct, knowing that the horses had been driven off the rapge, in ers of having stampeded from fright, as he tended to represent. However, there was no time to concoct an- ether story, and he must run the risk. ** Senor Dick,” answered the Greaser, ‘‘ the horses have all stampeded up the Leon!” “ When did this happen?” demanded the young man anxiously. “ Last night, senor.” ‘‘ Where were you, Pedro?” ‘“‘Camped toward the Brazos,” “Did i know of the stampede before this ** No, senor.” ' “Where are the boys?” “On the trail of the horses.” ** How know you this?’ * Only by following the trail a few miles my- pelf, senor. es shee Fs were not near when the stampede ‘‘]T was miles away, senor.” ‘* That will do, P . Goback, and mind you do not allow the cattle to stray off the range.” ** Si, Senor Dick; I know my duty.” And touching his sombrero brim, the Greaser 1 nar on his return over the prairie. * e,” said our hero, quickly; ‘this is serious business. I must follow the stampede and it will not do to inform the colonel, as it would w: him greatly. He prizes those breed mares very highly. Will you go with me?” “Turtle o with his white brother.” our company will be very agree- able tome. I will to Lola a sabato and then be with you. © will start at once,” ' ; A blue woolen shirt, buttonless at the oom tones: | breast. Buc eggins and stoga boots ‘Well, darling Dick; what can Lola do for | completed his attire. you?” He wore a belt taken from a portion of a The young man impulsively folded the angelic irl in his strong arms, pressing ki upon her brow, and trembling with the intensity of his ionate love and adoration. Then he spoke: ‘‘TLola, I must leave you for a time. The horses, I have just learned, have all stampeded, and I must follow and head them off, driving them back on the range.” ‘*Oh, dear! Don’t you go, Dick. Can’t the Mexicans attend to the horses? That is the ser- vice they are paid for. Don’t 0, darling! ‘*T shall be so lonely, and I ha ment of coming danger. I know it is foolish, and unreasonable, but I cannot drive away the apprehension I have felt since I had that conver- sation with Turtle, the Tonkaway.” ‘That is strange, Lola. I never knew you were so easily influenced or impressed, But, fear not. I shall soon return—to-morrow, or the next day; perhaps, indeed, to-night. i ve a presenti- | mule harness, and upon the same were, in scab- bards, an old rusty revolver, and a bowie-knife. The pistol was useless beyond a doubt, and worn merely to be in the fashion of the frontier. The mule he rode was a scraggy animal, most appropriate to the rider; its coat of hair being aos the ears of the beast huge and long, and hanging listlessly. The animal’s nose nearly touched the ground as it walked, while its eyes were half-closed ina sleepy manner. _Its motions were indolence personified; for it. paid no attention to the violcnt whacking of a club, with which Mickey belabored it, being greg Fete nase of the blows. Edna Edwards was a sprightly brunette with bright, sparkling eyes, long dark curls, slender in build, agile and energetic. Indeed she was overflowing with life an Ht good spirits; just the rson to - Bee away dull care, or a fit of the lues, from those who were favored with her ‘You are perfectly safe here, and ought not | c idle fears, Tonkaway has a spell of the blues, I reckon.” ‘Oh, I can’t help worrying, although I can ive no reason for it. Perhaps some danger will fall you on this trail. You may be killed, and then what would I do?” The fair girl burst into tears, ‘* Lola, I am astonished,” said the young man. ‘**’'You are not well, I fear. Do not cry, for you will cause me hee anxiety and concern when on the trail. Do dry your,tears, dear, and say good-by. ‘Don’t tell your father anything about the stampede, for it will cause him needless worry. That’s a darling,”—kissing her, as she smiled sweetly through her tears—‘‘now I shall feel less apprehension in regard to you. Are you really unwell, Lola?”. ‘Oh, no, Dick! Just a little tiny mite of the blues—that is all. It is of no consequence. Don’t mind me. If you must go, please come back as soon as youcan. Won’t you, dear?” ‘* Most certainly, Lola! The a ion here is too strong for me to remain absent any Jon- ger than is absolutely necessary. By-by, dar- Good-by, Dick!” And thus this handsome pair, who adored each other, parted; little dreaming of the horrors and torture of mind and body each was fated to suffer before again they should gaze into each OOhari ig Di k at ipped his h d aring Dick at once equipped his horse, an accompanied by the Tonkaway chief galloped up the Rio Leon to strike the trail of the stam- tae trail that would lead them far from ders Ranch, into dangers most deadly, and bring tortures to Daring Dick such as he had never thought of in his wildest imaginings, or ed of in his most unreasonable visions of the future. to bother your little head with idl CHAPTER XII. THE NEWS AT THE RANCH. LOLA LANDERS stepped out upon the veranda for a few moments, r taking leave of Daring Dick, and with tear-dimmed eyes watched him and the Tonkaway chief as they galloped over the prairie, parallel with the Rio Leon, in a southwest direction. Until they were two mere dots on the far-off plain Lola serie after them. Then, as she was about re-entering the house, she discovered, to the north, riding toward the ranch, and but a short distance away, Mickey McCafferty, who had for some days been pt Men on @ ion down the Rio Brazos for the colonel. Mickey was mounted upon a mule, and by his side rode a young lady. Lola’s lovely face brightened with joy and relief, for she recognized the fair equestrienne as Edna Edwards, the daughter of a ranchero on the Brazos, and with whom she was quite intimate. Lola was overjoyed to see her friend co ; would be company for her during absence of Daring Dick, for well Lola knew that her father would not be content to remain at home, especially as some of the cattle had stray- ed across the Brazos, and Dick, who had gone the previous day to seek the same, had failed to find them. We already know why the young man was unable to continue the search. Mickey McCafferty presented a most comical ap ance, he persisting in wearing an old battered ‘‘ stove-pipe,” or “‘ plug” hat, which he had found stored away in a loft, and which the colonel had worn in former days. This hat Mickey wore, jammed hard on the back of his head, his , coarse, sandy hair bristling on all sides, his beard, as he rode up, being fully a week’s growth, and giving hima most untidy appearance. ' SSS LL ompanionship. The | Edna was a beauty, in every sense of the — but of the very opposite type to her riénd. ‘*Oh, Edna! I am so glad you have come,” cried out Lola, impulsively, joy beaming upon her angelicface, ‘* Dick has gone away in search of the horses, and papa, I know, will ride to the Brazos; which would have left me lonely indeed, had you not taken a notion to ride up the Leon. How have you been?” ‘* Just lovely, Lola! I always am, you know. But I shall ped myself more here than at home. It is decidedly dull there. “I'm sorry Dick .s away, however, for I de- pended on him to go fishing with us; but Mickey will make a jolly companion. He has kept me laughing all the way.’ ‘*How do youdo, Mickey?’ said his young mistress. ‘‘ Excuse my neglect, but Miss Edna took up my attention. You have been away a long time, and I am glad you have returned in e safety. “ Bat what is the matter with you? You look despondent. Are you ill?” ‘“Upon me sow], it’s sick in me moind, I am, Miss Lola; an’ ’'d forgot it entoirely in the con- varsin’ I had wid Miss Edwards thin. “Dye moind now, it’s the divil’s own news I has to tell ye, an’ it’s afther givin’ ye the cowld chills it'll be doin’. Be the holy piper } Killarney, 'm thinkin’ ye won’t belave i At these words of the Irishman, a look of hor- ror overspread the face of Edna Edwards, and she became very 8 ser as she cried out: **Oh, Lola! is indeed terrible—even be- yond belief. I strove hard to drive it from m mind, and with the help of Mickey, I suncendelle but now it rushes upon me with ten-fold horror, Tell her, Mickey; for I cannot!” se oodness’ sake, what have you to tell For g me, that is so very dreadful? Nothing that It’s the most divilish concerns us, I hope?” “Thunder an’ turf! thing ever was known in Texas, Miss Lola. Be- gorra, it’s not fit for the likes o’ ye to hear; se suppose I must be afther tellin’ ye. wn o’ the Avil One, King Kent, robbed and ot his own fa-ather, the owld captain, last night, at twilve be the watch!” ‘Good Heavens!” burst from the lips of Lola, who became pale as death. ‘*But no—that can’t be! Such a crime is be- yond belief. You do not mean it, Mickey?” ‘‘ Thrue it is, Miss Lola—as thrue as the prays ers 0’ the praste. Sure the divil will snake K Kint through the fires o’ tormint foriver, for the doin’s last night!” “Tt’s only too true, Lola,” put in Edna ‘There isa crowd of men at owles Ranch, The negroes are howling, and terribly frighten- ‘‘They have found an iron box in a motte near the ranch, which blown open with powder, and is supposed to have contained a large sum of money. One of the negroes, it seems, saw and ae Kent Knowles, as he fled from the scene of his horrible and unnatural crime. “Ca Knowles was found dead—shot through the breast—in the cellar, with his dress on; and a hole fresh dug, showed the robbers had dug up the chest of gold, which no one knew magtidine about, except the captain and his son Kent. Isn’t it just too horrible?’ ‘The word does not describe it,” ag Lola, — ‘ : with a shudder. ‘‘ Papa and Dick will oan dumb with astonishment. It is awful” * = me sowl, young ladies, I wouldn’t go near the ranch dark, if ye war till give me Dublin Castle! Sure the ghost o’ the owld captain ‘ll wandher about, ontil his divil of a on They will hang King Kent, without a trial ** They g King Kent, without a if they can catch him,” asserted Edna, <eom Ebooks: com -~