Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 339 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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——3 ' thus shame him into accepting the bet. And saying this, he leaped upon his horse and rode away.” He ceased speaking, but Luada remained si- lent. **'You know his object, Luada. Will he suc- ceed with you ?” ‘*No—and yet—if he should win this match— if he should satisfy father, and press his suit; if father should favor him and bid me marry him, 9 ‘You would refuse! You love me! You dare not deny it, my precious, my all!” hoarsely muttered Jesse, fairly beside himself with fear and despair at her strange words. A faint smile came into her pale face, and she gazed into his eyes, her own shining brightly as she murmured: ‘““T believe I do—I think I love you Jesse! But—if he was to win, and father bade me mar- ry him, I fear I could not refuse. He has sueh a strange, wonderful power over me!” Jesse Purchass hardly realized the value of her sweet, yet doubting confession, so intense was his feeling at the picture thus conjured up by the trembling girl. ‘*Tt shall never come to that, little one!” he ~ muttered, his voice hard and strained. ‘‘ Rather than that—rather than see even your father force your inclinations, I would—” At that moment the harsh voice of Morris Kirkendall calling to Luada and bidding her come to him instantly, startled them, and the fierce sentence was left incomplete. Luada glanced hurriedly in the direction from whence came that stern command, and uttered a little cry of vexation and alarm as she recog- nized her parent, stamping fiercely with his wooden leg, shaking a clinched fist toward them, while Sam Ingalls forcibly restrained him from pumping toward them. She rose hastily to her feet, as did Jesse Purchass. She whispered in pleading accents: ‘* Do not face him now, dear Jesse. He is so hot-tempered, you so high-spirited, that there ‘would be sure to be a worse quarrel than ever! Say you will keep out of his way until I can smooth matters over? For my sake, Jesse!” ‘*For your sake, then,” he reluctantly con- sented. ‘“You Luada!” roared Morris Kirkendall, once more, ‘* Ef you don’t run from that p’izen she-wolf’s cub, Pll be the death o’ ye both—so thar !” ‘‘ Remember, dear—if the match is made, he must not win!” she cast earnestly over her shoulder as she fled from the spot. “Tl defeat him, by fair means or by foul !” fiercely replied Purchass, his black eyes flashing a vengeful, threatening glance toward the gay- ly-bedecked figure of Laughing Leo. CHAPTER XIII. A BRIDE IN THE BALANCE. Or course Morris Kirkendall could hear noth- ing of all this, but he could see that his only daughter seemed in no extravagant haste to obey his harsh summons; that she had been in close and friendly conversation with one on whom he had placed his ban—*‘ the peaey crit- ter that ’minded him o’ the face o’ that cussed she-wolf!” He saw her move toward him, but alone. Jesse Purchass stood with folded arms watching the maiden, but showing no signs of taking the same course. On the contrary, he was turning on his heel as though to beat a retreat, the mo- ment after Luada reached her parent and greet- ed him ah ‘You called me, father, and I am here.” ‘‘ Plenty time, too, I should say!” he growled, knitting his shaggy brows ferociously. ‘* Who was that critter with ye?” The glittering gray eyes flashed from her flushed face back to the shadow of the towering rock, and as he saw Jesse Purchass moving away at a fair pace, he cried sharply: What Pa e ‘*T say, you! Come back here! mean by tryin’ to sneak off in sech a fashion li that? Body’d think ye’d bin ketched suckin’ aigs ag’in’ the law! Come back, twice!” There was an Insolence in his tones beyond what mortal man might bear unmoved, and the young hide-hunter turned in that direction, making a swift gesture the exact meaning of which none who saw it could give save Luada. She knew it was a silent appeal to her to release him from the promise she had exacted; a prayer that she sont permit him to face her irate par- ent in manly fashion, instead of stealing away in the face of such bitter taunts. For a moment she hesitated, fearing for the results when two such hot and ungovernable tempers should come together; but not for long. Her native courage returned to her, and she ixnew she could prevent matters from going too far. Besides, since an explanation must come sooner or later, as well have it over with now, And Jesse Purchass saw her give him permis- one defend himself, with a movement of her and, The instant Spread Eagle Sam saw that his — yrotege realized the situation, he re- ea 1s Spre at Eagle Sam. a ee, 17 touch on his arm, and he turned to see Laughing | his words falling sharp and clean-cut. “Tn Leo, who hurriedly whispered: ‘** You and I are just two too many for this little conference, my dear fellow. Suppose we beat a retreat?” Sam hesitated, not through any love of a scene like this promised to ‘be, but because he feared one or both of his friends might permit hot passion to carry them too far, unless some one was nigh to put in a soothing word at the right time. is doubts were decided by Morris Kirkendall himself, whose keen ears had caught the words of Laughing Leo, and who harshly flung over his shoulder at them: ‘** You critters hold your ground! Be I a dose ©’ strychnine, that the hull kit an’ caboodle wants to run away?” The herculean hide-hunter tried to catch the eye of Luada, in hopes of learning her wishes, but they were kept persistently upon the ground at her feet. The flush had faded from her cheeks, leaving them paler far than usual. Her red lips were tightly compressed, her hands closed together, and in spite of her humble atti- tude, Laughing Leo knew that she was nerving herself to play her part in the coming scene without flinching. Morris Kirkendall stared insolently at the oung hide-hunter as he advanced, and when esse stood before him, pale but resolute, he slowly scanned him from sole to crown, then re- versed the process before he deigned to speak. ‘* Waal, it is you, ain’t it?’ he at length utter- ed, his under lip protruding, his shagey brows ae until they formed a hairy vail through which the little gray eyes gleamed and sparkled maliciously. 3 ‘** At your service, Mr. Kirkendall,” and Jesse bowed, stiffly. ‘‘No you ain’t, nuther! Once you was my servant—an’ a monstrous poor ixcuse fer one at that! But I liked your looks a heap sight better then then Ido now. You showed out your raal colors, then. Anybody could see with hafe a eye you was a -baked counter-jumper; but now—what business hey you got with the rig of of a man onto ye critter?” Brutal SONG his words were, his manner and looks conveyed still deeper insult, and only for the presence of Luada, Purchass could hardly have held his fierce resentment in check for an instant. As it was, his face grew pale as that of a corpse, his dark eyes fairly flashing fire as he uttered in a strained, unnatural voice: ‘Since [am no longer in your employ, Mor- ris Kirkendall, it can matter little to you the manner of garb I wear. As for your slurs eaning my manhood, if you have any friend whose age and white hairs do not disarm resent- ment, and you can induce him or them torepeat your words as his or their own, I will answer them as I dare not answer you, an old man— and her father !” ‘* Good lad, Jes’! muttered Spread Eagle Sam nodding emphatically his approval, with a defiant glance toward Laughlin. Even his best friends were often surprised by the whims and eerape changes displayed by Morris Kirkendall. ow, instead of taking of. fense at this labored retort, he grinned and act- ually nodded his head approvingly! **See how jes’ puttin’ on the rig of a white man proves even a weak, shif’less critter like you be! But you better go take it off, boy, ‘fore it strikes in an’ proves too hefty a load fer you to tote. You cain’t hide the bray nur yit the fly-flippers ef you do crawl] into the lion’s hide!” If anything, this patronizing, mock-solicitous tone was even harder to face than the open in- sult, especially when he saw his rival in love standing quietly, smilingly by, en attentive list- ener to all that was uttered. It was well for Morris Kirkendall that Luada stood beside him, in those mad moments, . ‘Once more, sir, I beg leave to tell you that, having left your employ, it is no longer your privilege to say what I shall or shall not do. This is a free country. We stand on Govern- ment land, to which I have full as much right as even you. I can go and come as I choose, without first asking your high and mighty per- mission.” ‘Nur I hain’t got no right to open my head when I ketch you sparkin’ my gal, hev I?” snap- ped the trader. ‘Father! you forget—” ‘* Beauty-bird, hold your hush! Ef he wasn’t sparkin’ you, what was he doin’ so close up to ye, I'd admire to know?” He wheeled quickly upon Sam Ingalls, snap- ping out: ‘*T ax you, Spread Eagle, as the only sensible one in the crowd, leavin’ me out, what does all this stuff mean, anyhow? Who brung him ’way out here whar he cain’t be no more use than two tails onto a bull-buffler? Surely you hain’t bin durn fool enough to take him into your mess, as anythin’ better’n cook?” Patience ceased to be a virtue, and unheeding the imvloring look which Luada cast upon him, Jesse Purchass tapped the irritable old bear on the shoulder, steadily soconnierng. pe fiery firm grip on Morris Kirkendall and | glare as the veteran wheeled upon fell back a pace or two, honestly embarrassed rn ements imental nnn nnn ee ee ND ‘**Permit me to answer your questions, Mr. and at a loss what to do, There was a light Kirkendall,” he said, his tone even and manly, | t spite of your sneers and insinuations, 1 am a man of as good blood as even you can boast, if not better. I met your daughter in society, loved her at first sight. I might have gone to you as an equal in name, in fortune, in all that is commonly held essential; but I preferred to win or lose on my simple merits asa man. For that reason I entered your service asaclerk. I performed my duty so well that not even you could find fault with my work.” ‘“Who’s denyin’ of that?’ bluntly interposed Kirkendall. ‘* You did well enough as a coun- ter-jumper. I didn’t kick ontel you got "bove your business, did I?” Luada burst into a passionate cry: ‘*Pather—Mr. Purchass—for my sake, hold!” The young hide-hunter flashed a look of pas- sionate love upon her pained countenance, but said, almost sternly: | “Tt is for your sake that I must goon and say all, Luada. Would you give even a father the right to say that the man who loves you best of all in this world, is less than a man?’ He turned once more to the irate yet sneering trader. “Tf you mean by getting above my business, that I dared to avow my love for your daugh- ter, I frankly admit that I am not worthy of such a prize; but I also say that I am to the full as worthy and deserving her love as any man who treads the footstool! ‘* "You mocked me then, even as you are sneer- ing at me now. You bade me prove myself worthy to mate with your child, and told me how I might doit. You said that when I had made for myself a record equal to that of Spread Eagle Sam, I might return and plead my suit anew. ‘I took you at your word. I learned to shoot. I came out here, and by good fortune made a friend of your model man. I may fail, but I am going to try my level best to stand on even terms with him when the season ends. Then, if I have reached your standard, Morris Kirken- dall, I will come to you and once more ask you for the hand of your daughter.” “Which you'll be heap more like to ketch her pap’s boot, instead! hatll be the answer ou’ll git from me fer your cussed impedence, critter!” spluttered the angry trader. “If you refuse, I will turn to her,” steadily resumed the handsome hide-hunter. “If she confirms your refusal, I will go off, never to cross the path of eitheragain. Butif she smiles —if she can return my love—I'll take her, with or without your consent, and in spite of your teeth!” With this pointed sentence, Jesse Purchass bowed coldly, turned cn his heel and strede ra- pidly away, paying not the slightest heed to the oaths and ravings which broke frcm the auto- crat whom he had so flatly defied. Spread Eagle Sam turned his back, and no longer able to restrain his feelings, leaped high into the air, cracking his heels together, flap- xing his arms like wings and emitting his pecu- iar, ear-splitting imitation of the eagle’s shriek. ‘**Snow-white, an’ never a paint-bresh tetched him! Clean grit from the top story down to foundation, and the man that even winks to the contrairy’s a hcrs-thief an’ a grunter frcm Pork- barrel! Good—Laud! ef my wings was lcng enough, I'd flop clean up to the sky an’ paint his name in red letters a mile long, asa sign that my side-pardner Jes’ is best little man that ever wore ha’r! An’I kin swaller without greasin’ any critter that says he ain’t—so thar !” Tearing off his bullet-pierced hat, the huge hide-hunter flung it to the ground, stampin cne foot fiercely upon it and standing vith folded arms as he scowled ferociously from — face to face—ending with Luada, winking be- nevolently. It was a piesa ridiculous display, and even Morris Kirkendall lost a little of his hot ecerbity as he looked and listened, then said, half reproachfully: ** You goin’ back on the ole man, too, Sam? ‘Not on the ’riginal ole man, I ain’t, boss,” soberly replied Spread Fagle, coming down to the common level abruptly. ‘‘ Not on the Morris Kirkendall I Yarned to love an’ honor, while he was l’arnin’ me to be a man like hisself. the crazy critter that’s stole his boots, clo’es, hat, face an’ figger. On the critter as cain’t do common jesticeto a decent young feller that’s white clean through. On the critter that spits in the face of a good, true-hearted lad, an’ tries to rub itin a foot deep, then threatens to bu’st his Wiler ef the boy shows his grit by kickin’ Thav's the critter ’'m goin’ back onto, boss!” ‘For him—for that impedent squirt—fer the fool’ puppy-dog that thinks he kin make a man take his two-cent squeak fer the notes of a blood- hound! Fer the critter that thinks the dress makes the man, an’ looks to bamboozle me b riggin’ out in the togs of a hide-hunter! Git ou Sam! You’ve gone clean out o’ your common senses!” snorted the veteran. ‘** Boss, look you here an’ lis’en while I whis- per in your best ear,” said Spread Eagle Sam, all traces of exaggeration vanishing, his voice earnest, his face lighted up with pure and loyal friendship. ‘*‘ You don’t know the lad: I do You never yet ketched me ina lie. You know I Gomicbooks (E But on : econ ot