Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 339 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

—? 4 CF? Spread Eagle Sam. 25 away foot by foot, fearful of alarming the camp; I saw them mount and ride off—on their wedding tour, let us hope!” , ‘*'You saw it—you knowed it all ag oh be you didn’t say a word to save the little lady?” in- eredulously cried Sam. , Leo laughed, harshly, flinging out one hand with an impatient gesture that told how thin was his composure. ‘‘Put yourself in my boots, Sam, and you can answer that question without stopping to think twice! Remember what she said only a tew hours before. Remeimber how she regard- ed me, If I had checked their flight, she would have thought I did so to save myself an un- willing bride?” ‘* But to let her run off with him!” ‘‘She loves him, and he her—how-could he help it!” and for the first time Laughing Leo showed agitation in his voice. ‘‘ She swore she would be his bride or death’s. What could I do? Simply hold my peace and wish them good- s l Morris Kirkendall, weak, terribly shaken, looking many years older than he had but a single day before, now tottered from his rude couch and Spread Eagle Sam broke the bitter news to him as gently as possible. ‘‘Mebbe they hain’t gone fur—mebbe the lit- tle lady hes altered her mind—mebbe we'll find ‘em at the wagons,” he added, not through his own belief, but in hopes of giving the sorely shaken father at least a brief respite from de- ir. “Pte rly caught at the frail hope, and call- ed for his horse. Sam vainly endeavored to coax him to remain while he rode on for news; tried to convince him that he was far too weak for the ride, ae so soon after his shock; but allin vain. The old man muttered, tremVling- ly: ; vee No, boy, ['m goin’ fu’st of all. It’s her dad- dy she’ll want to see fu’st. Your faces ’d come more like those of a perleece—she’d feel as though I’d sent a warraut a’ter her.” And so, pale and trembling, but borne up by a wild, rant gees hope, Morris Kirkendall led the way out of the rocky pass and over the level ground back to where the wagons had been left under guard the day before. And as he drew near the spot where Spread Eagle Sam made his big score in that ucky match, he motioned his companions back, muttering: ‘*Me fu’st, critters! All o’ you to oncet would skeer the pore little child! It’s fer her sake I ax it, not mine.” He rode ahead at a gallop, his once sturdy form bowed in the saddle, swaying with weak- ness, and Laughing Leo muttered: “The shock will about kill the r fellow! Better have broken the whole truth to him at once! Keep close behind him, Sam, to do what you can. He places the most trust in you.” And so it was that Morris Kirkendall entered the camp, with Spread Eagle Sam close behind him. e cast one swift look around, and felt his last hope vanishing forever, for he could see no signs of Luada or of Jesse chass. ' With a desperate effort he steadied his reeling brain and huskily cried to the staring man be- fore him: ‘‘ Hev you see’d anythin’ o’ her—Miss Kirken- dall?” : ‘Waal, she was here airly this mornin’, an’ she—” , ‘‘ Now—where is she now?” gasped Kirken- dall. ‘She rid off long o’ young Purchass! Good Lawd!” ary With a hollow groan the trader reeled in his saddle, and only for the quick aid of Spread Eagle Sam, he would have fallen headlong to the ground. He lay like a dead man, only for that_horri- ble quivering motion, and as Spread Eagle Sam bore him over to the still standing tent, tears of honest grief and Spetay were running down over the long yellow beard. It was asad sight, that father’s angiueh, and Sam’s heart was as tender as it was ig. ) ‘‘ Durned ef I didn’t think they was somethin’ wrong when the lady routed us out airly,” con- fidentially said the guard to Laughing Leo, as the remainder of the party came up and dis- mounted. ‘‘But she was the real boss, ever sence we left St. Paul, an’ when she give me the note an’ said—” : ‘A note? Where is it?” sharply interrupted Laughing Leo. 4 was goin’ to tell the boss when he keeled over,” ip erat muttered the guard as he roduced the missive. . It was directed to Morris Kirkendall and seal- ed. Laughing Leo seemed on the point of open- ing it, but then held his hand as he saw Spread le Sam pares from the tent. orris Kirkendall was lying in a sort of stu- por, something similar to the one that had come over him when he first realized the flight of bis idolized child. Spread Eagle Sam believed it would gradually pass away after the same man- ner, and as he had done all that lay in his pow- er, he came forth to learn the truth of the matter. In silence Laughing Leo handed him the note. Sam did not hesitate a moment in breaking the seal. He felt almost as if he were the father of the rash child, and time might be of the | ee a value if they hoped to save her from urther misery. - Slowly he spelled out the few hastily written nes: ‘“* Father, when you read this I will be far beyond your reach. I wish I might take your blessing with me, but after your harsh words last night, I seé the folly of entertaining any such hope. You swore that I should marry that laughing demon, Death would be preferable, even were I heart-free. But I am not, I love Jesse Purchass as he loves me, and when you and I meet again, I will be his wife! ‘* It will be vain for you to follow. We travel light, and even if overtaken, I will die before you shall tear me from him—my love, my husband!’ There was neither address nor signature, but neither were needed. Surely the language was plain enough! “ie He mustn’t see this, leastwise not untel he’s | A frightful suspicion seized upon him, and he ** You ain’t—no/ the good Lord wouldn’t let you do it!” : ** The good devil governs my movements, my dear husband!” she laughed, mockingly, but warily watching his slightest move. ‘‘As a proof, listen for a few moments. ‘*T foiled you. I made you believe me dead, I kept far away from your circle, for many yen only asking to be let alone. But then, as began to grow old and to think what the future might have in store forme, Iremembered you. I cautiously made inquiries, and dis- covered that you had made another fortune; that you had married, and though now a widower, you were blessed with a beautiful daughter. ‘* | resolved to have a share of your gold. [ stronger then he'll be this day or two to | hada very dear son, and resolved to provide for come,” moodily uttered Sam, as he refolded the note and carefully concealed it upon his per- son. ‘‘’Course he must know she’s gone, but them hard words would nigh kill the pore ole man. Ef I on’y hed my grip onto that durned sneak! An’ to think I called im my pard !” A cold, metallic laugh parted the companion, | | ' | ips of his | well founded; the man you ‘Don’t forget what she said, old fellow. If | she had begged me or you to do the same thing, under limntlar circumstances, I fear neither one of us would have had the moral courage to deny her. By her love! That would tempt an angel to sin!” 4 ** But he needn’t ’a’ run off like this!” growled am. ‘* But he did—and she went with him willing- ly, as | can bear evidence. That she did so, set- tles the matter with me. I never cross a lady in her whims, be they ever so strange and unac- countable. I will not do so now. She bids us abandon all pursuit. I mean to obey. If you are wise, you will do the same thing, my dear fellow!” “It’s fer him to say,” muttered Sam, rising and striding back to the tent where Morris Kir- kendall lay in a pe that would have closel resembled death, only for that peculiar, convul- sive twitching and shivering. Laughing listened to the eager conversa- tion of the men, but there was not much more to learn than the note conveyed. Only that Luada with Jesse Purchass had reached the camp before daylight, and taking a few articles in a couple of bundles, tied behind their saddles, him, also. And my first move, I sent him to gain your confidence, and her love. Ah!” and she smiled with satanic glee as Morris Kirken- dall half-rose from his couch. ‘‘ You begin to ess the truth? You see now how utterly you ave been befooled? Ay! your suspicions are ow as Jesse Pur- chass, is my son !” It was a terrible blow, and Morris Kirkendall was too weak to bear up against it. One con- vulsive effort to leap at her throat, then he sunk back, senseless. pread Eagle Sam rudely brushed past the She Wolf, and bent over him anxiously. ‘* Never fear, big fellow,” she cried, jeering- ne ‘*He’s not dead. He'll live to feel some- t ing of the torture which he inflicted upon me?’ ‘*‘Go your way, woman, ef woman you be!” muttered Sam, harshly. ‘‘Go your way afore I _fergit that you be a woman!” ** When before. recovers. ‘*T hold his daughter in my power. Myson took her to me early this saga Tell him that when he transfers to me the Government bonds he holds—$100,000—that I will send him back his daughter. I will come for his answer at your dug-out in three days from now. ‘If he refuses todo this, he will never see her have completed my mission, not To you I say the rest; tell him when he again; or, if he does, he will rather gaze upon I am capable of, from sad experience. left the note and galloped rapidly away in the | direction of the hide-master’s dug-out. It was late in the afternoon when Morris Kir- kendall awoke from that heavy stupor, and when his eyes opened they fell upon a strangely tri- umphant face beside him—a face that drew a faint, trembling cry from his lips: ‘It’s the she wolf! come to haunt me as she swore she would! Take her away! Take her away!” ‘Halt ha! ha!” laughed the owner of that face, her voice mellow and musical, but sound- ing like harsh croakings of a malignant fate to the trembling trader. ‘‘ Let them try it, Morris Kirkendall! I am mistress here, my darling husband!” Spread Eagle Sam hopped forward, his face and voice both troubled, his strong hand trem- bling as he mechanically scratched favorite action when sorely puzzled. ‘‘ Ef you please, ma’am, the boss ain’t fit fer—” ‘If you please, gawky, keep your distance and speak when you are spoken to!” snapped the virago, turning upon the big hide-hunter so sharply that he beat a hasty retreat. Laughing Leo stood his ground, his arms folded across his bosom, a hard look upon his face, his lips tightly acs | cer ed. ‘* My business is with Morris Kirkendall, and the first dog among you who dare interfere be- fore my pleasure, will _~ sorrow!” she cried, shaking a clinched fist at Laughing Leo, who merely smiled, without moving another muscle. ‘* Livin’—she ain’t! It’sa lie! It’s a cheat!” muttered Morris Kirkendall, brushing a band across his eyes as though expecting to obliterate the unwelcome vision. ‘*I see her dead an’ rot- ten! I buried her deep—co deep nobody but the devil hisself would take the trouble to hunt her up when the crack 0’ doom come! Dead—I say she’s dead an’ in—!” ‘‘Tf so, ve come back for you, dear hus- band!” laughed the She Wolf, mockingly. ‘‘ But you're wrong. See! does that feel like the touch of dead lips?” and she suddenly stooped over him and touched her hot lips to his sweat-be- dewed brow! He shrunk back with a low, gasping groan. Surely this was no ghost! She still lived! It was bitterer than death to him for one brief breath—then his old hatred gave him strength ep stagger to his feet and try to clutch her hroat. It was only a spasmodic gesture, and he sunk ack again, helpless: but it was sufficient to bring a shade of terror even to her cheeks, and she peas rapidly, with less of peat “Yes, Morris Kirkendall, I am still alive. I swore I would not die until I had full and com- ae revenge pe you for all you made me suf- er; and now I have dealt my first blow !” | | for her, what then?’ cold] ; | ; ) } | ; is chin—his | her corpse! Tell him J said this, and he will need no more definite threat. He knows what Ha! ha! 9 ‘* And if we choose to hold you as a hostage uttered Laughing Leo, his eyes glowing vividly. “Bah! do you take me for an idiot to come into his presence, without a safeguard?” sneered the woman. “If I do not return within a cer- tain length of time—if I am followed or if you make the slightest effort to find and rescue the girl before he has paid her ransom—she dies a thousand deaths in one!” She spoke so_ boldly, so confidently, that Laughing Leo fell back, like one stunned. She laughed again, yemR ‘* Tell him all this, big fellow. Tell him that not one penny less can buy her freedom with remaining honor. Tell him I will come or send for his decision, in three days from now.” She said no more, but glided out of the tent and over to where a magnificent horse awaited De eee a or ee ee her. She leaped into the saddle with the activ- ity and grace of an athlete, riding in the man- ner best suited to her man’s saddle and mascu- line garb. She cast a kiss from the me of her fingers toward the two men standing in the door, crying: ‘* Tf followed, she dies! Remember!” She rode rapidly away from the camp through the deepening twilight, and as she disappeared, Laughing Leo strode to his horse, throwing on saddle and bridle. With a short cry, Spread Eagle Sam caught him by the arm, ‘Whar you goin’, man? Didn’t you hear what she said?” “T am going to rescue Miss Kirkendall. or die!” sternly replied Laughing Leo, freeing his arm and leaping in the saddle. “Tt'll kill her, ruther! Come back, durn ye!” and Spread Eagle Sam jerked a revolver from his belt. ‘‘ Come back, or I'll blow ye through, sure’s fate!” ‘Shoot if you dare! The shot that kills me, kills her!” and Laughing Leo flashed back a flaming "ein then rode off on the trail of the She Wolf. And Spread Eagle Sam dropped Lis pistol, afraid to shoot! on | CHAPTER XX, LAUGHING LEO CLAIMS HIS PRIZE. ‘“ MAJOR JACK, I like a fool, but you will suit me too well!’ Lena Burvenich, the ‘‘She Wolf” of Morris Kirkendall, was the speaker, and che addressed the ex-officer whom we have seen in her com- — pany on a prior occasion. ow it was night, and in edditicn to a large, blazing fire of wood, two huge ibe lamps filled with melted prcase and twisted rags fora wick, cast a reddish light over them. They were in en underground retreat, rvde, GOMNE JOO — ~~ = — a eee oe eos - _ = — “S (E(©) Sie