Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 339 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

_my head. He’ll set me down as clean crazy, _ little opening in the curtains of the democrat that caused Spread Eagle Sam to bend his head “dude.” His trowsers fitted his legs like a second skin. His coat was a short-tailed, light- bodied affair, with huge flaps over the side- pockets. A stiff, glossy, standing collar encir- cled his throat and threatened to saw off his In one Se was tightly screwed a single about his neck b ears. glass, suspend a thin chain | of gold. On_ his head was rakishly planted the | glossiest of silk hats, while the opposite extremi- ties were incased in French kid shoes, with the sharpest of tooth-pick toes. These, with kid gloves that made his small hands smaller than usual, completed the visible articles of his peculiar wardrobe. ‘**Now I know you're a blamed ejiot!” splut- tered Morris Kirkendall, as he took in this gor- geous spectacle. ‘‘A remark that sounds quite familiar to my or hg laughed Leo, removing his tile and bowing ow. **Durned ef it hain’t struck in, then,” was the rough ejaculation, as the gray eyes glowed with utter disgust. “ You take this fera menadgery, that you come out rigged in sech a monkey fashion? Do you want to skeer them pore mules clean out o’ thar hides—say ?” ** Possibly they may be a little surprised,” was the bland response. ‘‘ Doubtless they never before gazed upon a gentleman of fashion.” ‘Gentleman o’—be durned! A clean craz ejiot! A walkin’ sign fer a lunatic asylum! crack-brained bag o’ wind that Vl use fer a football ef it don’t skin out o’ sight an’ hearin’ in a holy minnit!” stormed the disgusted veteran. ‘* Thirty seconds will suffice, if you have your message to Spread Eagle Samuel in readiness,” laughed the dude. ** You ain’t goin’ to his camp lookin’ like that?” “Well, perhaps it would be casting pearls before swine—wasting my sweetness on the desert air—and all that,” mused Laughing Leo, placidly surveying his get-up as well as he could without the aid of a mirror. “ Still, if I don’t complain I imagine he will have no oc- casion for doing so. Of course, if a man has to associate with the rabble, he must expect to put up with sundry little inconveniences,’ For a moment Morris Kirkendall looked as though he must burst, but then he broke into a long, loud laugh. that greatly relieved him. As soon as he could control his tongue, he said: ‘You're goin’ in that rig to see Spread Eagle?” Laughing Leo bowed, his eyes wide opened with yer that such a question should be re- ated, ee That settles it! Don’t tell him you come this fur with me, or he’ll hev a blister ready fer sure!” ‘** Because a gentleman comes as your embassa- dor?” innocently asked Leo. ‘‘Do you really think my dress is too plain and simple? If so, I’m very sorry. I wished to make a favorable impression on the gentleman whom you hold up as my model.” **T ain’t got another word to say, young feller. Go your own way to work. But take this to turn over your tongue while you’re ridin’ thar: ef Spread Eagle don’t fire you out neck an’ heels the minnit you git in range o’ his eyes, then I’m a howlin’ liar right from head- waters!” Without another word, Morris Kirkendall turned and stumped back to the camp, leaving Laughing Leo alone, Not for long. A shril whistle broke from his lips, and a magnificent black horse galloped up tohim. A fing le leap carried the dandy to the saddle, despite his con- fining garments, and as he dashed past the camp-fires, he removed his hat and bowed low with a kiss from his gloved fingers toward a wagon Laughing Leo rode rapidly away from the camp, with the ready decision of one perfectly Jarntiiay with the surrounding country, or at least one having full information as to the loca- tion of the hide-hunters’ camp. The pay smile did not linger long on his hand- some face after he left the encampment behind He grew grave, and there were wrinkles above his contracted brows that told of deep if not unpleasant musings. He looked many years older than when that smile lighted up his countenance, and he seemed more like a man who had suffered deeply in the past than the ever gay. butterfly the most of his acquaintances believed him. It was the rapid strokes of his horse’s hoofs ay attire that brought the mocking laugh to the lips of the herculean hide-hunter, and to his glossy silk hat Spread Eagle Ft as a fitting target for the skill of esse Purchass, Laughing Leo knew that the rude dug-out be- fore him must be his destination, and he was riding directly for it when the double report ans out so sharply. ith a short cry, he reeled like a man death- stricken, the obnoxious hat falling from his head anil rolling over and over as it struck the ground shalren from his head by the sudden start and leap of the frightened horse. For a moment it scemad as theugh he must fall over the haunch in listening; it was his Spread Ea gle Sam. as ee re ee = oe of his animal, but then the sudden shying of the oe caused his body to fall forward upon its neck, Snorting loudly, the black steed leaped for- ward like an arrow fresh loosed from the bow straight for the door of the dug-out, halting ab- ruptly, shooting its rider over its head and in at the door, the hide falling and hiding him from view! CHAPTER VI. ANOTHER FACTOR IN THE PROBLEM. ON that same bright November day, there was at least one more noon encampment in the range of hills which lay to the north and east of the dug-out which Spread Eagle Sam intended should be his head-quarters during that season. Such, at least, a stranger would have pro- nounced it, for there were no signs of tents or other shelter from the night. And yet, from the well-trampled ground where the horses were secured; from the size of the ashen piles where a few coals were still glowing, as well as sundry other points which were more readily felt than described, this seemed something more than a oe halt for the noonday meal. The camp was pitched just beyond the broken ground, in a clump of stunted timber and dense undergrowth. At this point the range of hills were about ten miles in width, and the same es- timate will serve for the distance separating this encampment from that of Morris Kirken- dall and his party. This patch of timber was of unusual extent in that prairie land, lying as it did so far away from the more important water-courses, The solution was found, however, in the fact that several fair-sized springs broke from the surface and lent the soil sufficient moisture to sustain this growth, Near the center of the timber-clump, a slight knoll rose a few feet above the surrounding level, and was comparatively clear of under- growth. A single tree rose from the apex, towering high above its fellows, spreading its boughs on all sides, and forming a tolerable shelter against the sun or storms. Just now the little knoll is occupied by two rsons, one at least of whom the reader is fated > meet again and under very different circum- stances. This person negligently leaned back against the tree-trunk, with head a little on one side, watching the slowly ascending rings of smoke so deftly breathed through those moist red lips, daintily holding a cigarette between the tips of slender, taper fingers. The eyes that watched the smoke circles were large and lustrous, even as they lazily looked through the long, curved lashes, seemingly half-asleep. . The lips, hand, eyes of a woman; yet the owner of all these bore the weapons of a man, and was dressed in masculine garb! A dashing ghey ar commingling of the hunter, ranchero and Indian dress; trowsers of fringed and gayly embroidered doeskin; riding- boots of the finest morocco and kid, armed at the heels with gold-plated spurs of the Mexican fashion, silver bells and bullets jingling against the yellow rowels; a broad belt of elastic webbing which served ‘to support an ivory- hilted knife and brace of revolvers; a shirt of pearl-gray merino, soft as velvet, with a bosom of crimson silk, fluted diagonally, em- broidered with gold; the broad collar fell neg- ligently over the silken tie, the ends of which were passed through a hoop of gold, from which gleamed and glittered valuable gems; a soft felt hat of pearl-gray color rested on her lap; one side of the brim was pinned to the crown by an ornament of peculiar design, being the life-like and colored representation of a gaunt wolf, holding in its jaws the dripping heart of a man who lay with contorted imbs beneath her paws. A second glance was not necessary to decide this gayly attired figure belonged to the femi- nine gender. No man ever possessed a form so rfect, so voluptuous in every curve and out- ine—a modern Cleopatra. Her hair was black as midnight, clustering in short curls around her queenly head, falling in tiny, graceful rings upon her smooth, creamy forehead. Her eyes were large, full and liquid as those of a fawn, looking sleepy and indo- lent now, but even then with a smoldering fire behind them that seemed to lend a peculiar, reddish sheen to them when viewed at a cer- tain, angle. Her complexion was pure as though the warm kisses of the sun, the rude fingers of the prairie winds, had never touched her velvety skin, with the faintest tinge of olive, save where the warm, rich blood chang- ed this to a blush. Her mouth, though a trifle large, was beautifully formed, the red lips arch- ing, forming a perfect ‘‘Cupid’s bow.” Her teeth were rather large, but white as milk and without a flaw in their evenness. In stature she was above the ordinary hight of her sex, but so perfectly proportioned that hers seemed the proper standard. Her figure was full and rounded, without being heavy or awkward; and even in her present indolent attitude one could readily divine her activity and panther-like grace. Beside her, reclining on one elbow, end at such an angle as to enable him to watch the amazon without turning his head or eyes, was a man with grizzled beard, mustache and hair, the former full and heavy, the latter close-trim- med and giving his bared head a soldierly air that was emphasized by his figure and eve motion. Though he wore no uniform; thou his garb was an appropriate mixture of the citizen and the plainsman; there was an indes- cribable something about this man that told be- yond question he was or had recently been a soldier—one, too, more used to command than vay 8 e was handsome, after a certain stern fash- ion, and just the sort of man one would like to see at his elbow when “in a hot corner,” where life depended on hard and desperate fighting: but in his bloodshot eyes, in the lines around his mouth and the puffy, discolored patches beneath his eyes, one could see that he had found a con- queror in that curse to the camp, strong drink. ‘You look like an angel 10-day Queen Le- na!” he murmured, breaking the silence which had fallen over them for a few minutes, The woman started, glancing quickly at him with widely opened eyes, then resuming her former indolent attitude. But there was no trace of sleepiness in the tones with which she answered his remark: ‘*T am feeling more like its opposite, Major Jack. Thereisa taste of blood to this cigar- ette. There isa hue of blood in the air before my eyes. A scent of blood that parches my lips and makes me feel thirsty!” His brows contracted painfully, and his strong hands quivered as he listened to this swift, pas- sionate outburst: but only for a moment. The painful impression lasted no longer. He was too deeply infatuated to see aught of wrong in this woman, ‘Tf I knew you less well, such a speech would deena me, Queen,” he said, with a low, soft augh. ‘* Because it is the truth?” ** Because [ would begin to fear your brain was giving way. Of course, I know it could not possibly be the truth.” ‘* Which shows how little you understand my real nature, Major Jack Westgate, late of the Regular Service,” she said, with a mocking bow and half-sneering smile. ‘‘I am a verita- ble fire-eater, and whenever thirst overtakes me as it does now, I long for blood to quench it as a true lover longs and yearns for hot kisses from the red lips of his mistress. I see blood in the air before me! I feel it in each breath I draw! It seems as beg 3 I must plunge my hands to the wrist in the hot, steaming tide—as though— Bah! you are shivering, my dear fellow! Shall I’ order a fire kindled for your benefit?” No wonder he shivered, adoring this strange woman as he did! No wonder her hard, savage words cut him to the quick, great as had been the sacrifices he had made for her sake—in the wild hope of winning the prize he coveted. Again her mood changed, before he could bring his tongue to pronounce an answer to that fierce outburst. She grew cold and hard and unwomanly after another fashion. Her voice was clear as a bell, but without a trace of softness or music in its tones. ‘You never knew me, Major Westgate; I doubt if you ever will. You persist in setting me on a pedestal far beyond my deserts, far be- yond my reach.” ‘““T love you—that is enough!” he muttered, his eyes glowing brightly, yet with a tender, beseeching light. : She flung out one hand with a scornful, impa- tient gesture at his words. Her red lips curled as she uttered: ‘‘Love—and tome? Man, you are mad!” ‘Tf mad, love for you has driven me so.” ‘* Do you know who and what I am?” she de- manded, harshly. ° ‘‘The woman I love; I seek to know no more than that.” Quietly the words were pronounced, but if hidden, the fire which gave them birth was none the less fierce, none the less easily perceived. From other lips they might have meant but lit- tle; from his they took the place of wildest, most passionate vows. A woman, despite mad pas- sions and many sins, she could not help seeing this, and the hard, bitter look gradually gave place to one almost of sorrow and regret. Only for a brief space. The fierce mood re- turned, all the stronger for the brief lapse into humanity. ‘‘T have heard men talk in that strain before now, Major Jack, and can weigh your words at their proper valuation.” ‘“Give me a chance to prove my sincerity— IT ask no more than that!” he hastily replied. ‘“No more? You ask no reward?’ with a mocking laugh. “You know my wishes, and Iam content to trust to your generosity, Lena,” he said, huski- ly, keeping his passions under control only by a powerful exertion of will. She turned away her eyes, with an imratient movement. She glanced swiftly over the scene which was spread before her. Beyond the central spring, where the under- growth was but scanty and the matted bunch- grass took its place, a number of roughly-clad, COMME! 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