Beadle's Dime Library No. 351 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

(i Ay Mii " _— --— With a short, mocking laugh, she was re- leased. ** You have your warning; disobey it at your peril. Neither Heaven nor man can save you from the punisbment I have marked out for you, and as the first installment—listen: ‘* Until you made that appeal to me Jast night I had not the faintest idea that yuu were here nor that the man of money whom I had marked down, through my spies, as my game, was Ar- thur Ovelman. long a time had passed since my trial and conviction on your evidence, that I Rincied the old sore was fairly healed—but I soon saw my mistake, and even while I was coldly denying you, 1 was swearing vengeance on you both. **As you bad stung me deepest, I resolved that you should suffer the bitterest torture, and £0 I aimed my first blow at your father. I con- fided my purpose to Dan Brown, with whom I had had dealings as Nor’ West Nick, and he readily fell in with my plans, and together we carried them out, sofar as Arthur Ovelman was concerned, “That story of the mine being attacked by Captain Slyboots and his band was all false, concocted simply to draw your father into a snare. I knew that he was shrewd and sus- icious, and I baited the trap with care. You now how he swallowed it—now I'll tell you what effect it had on bim. ‘*Tim Toplift was our ally, though it was our urpose to dispose of him as soon ashe had done he work laid out for him, not. to have the se- cret known to toomany. He brought the note here, and delivered it. Your father was sus- oe but Tim played bis part well, seeming different whether your father bore him com- pany back or not, and the old fox yielded. “Tim conducted bim into the snare. Dan Brown met him there, and struck him down— Beware!” be hissed, as he drew a knife and held the glittering point to the breast of the horror- stricken woman. ‘‘ Utter a single cry, and you seal not only your own fate, but that of all who attempt to aid you!” This brutal precaution was hardly necessary, for Marjean could not utter a sound. Her limbs failed her, and she would have fallen to the floor, only for the bape sweep of the out- law’s strong arm which encircled her waist. He lowered her into the chair, then, standing close before her, seeing that though in a stupor, so far as her bodily powers were concerned, she could comprehend his words, he mercilessly continued: **'You took alarm too soon, my precious,” with a malignant laugh, ‘‘ Your dear parent was not killed—just then,” and he laughed again as the new-born light of hope was quenched in those lustrous eyes. ‘*Tim Toplift was to be disposed of before he recovered from bis surprise, and Dan Brown was not a man to slight any job to which he set his hand. A bullet bored Tim’s brain, and Dan dragged him into the cabin where your father lay. Then Brown used his knife—sent it home to the hilt in your father’s heart,” slowly ut- tered the outlaw, closely watching bis victim, ready to check any outcry, should her horror allow her to make the attempt. But not a sound escaped her blanched lips. Her eyes were full of unutterable horror, but she was powerless to give it audible utterance. A frightful spell seemed to weight her down. Truly Kyrle Dando was taking his revenge! “Dan Brown secured the money which Ar- thur Ovelman took with him to pay for the Jealous Girl, and in doing so, be detected signs of life still lingering, and to make all sure, he used his knife once more, cutting your father’s throat from ear toear, And he lies there now in that lone cabin, Age Sear testimonial of the manner in which Kyrle Dando pays his debts!” The outlaw paused, as though to witness and gloat over the agony which his horrible story must certainly cause the helpless daughter, but to his amazement, a smile slowly crept over that pale face, and a strange look came into her eyes, He bit his lips to keep down a fierce curse, for he began to fear that he bad gone too far—that the brain of his victim had given way beneath the terrible blows which he had dealt in such swift succession, Tuwere was not a gleam of mercy in his beart, but he was not ready to end allthus. His deep-laid plans were but partly carried out, and he needed the aid of Marjean before complete success could crown his efforts, His chagrin, if not bis surprise, was relieved as Marjean spoke, her voice clear and steady, betraying neither fear nor the grief which would seem but natural. ‘* Why do you take the trouble to come and tell me all this, when yc u must know that I will denounce you—that I will spare no pains to bring you to justice for your crimes?” **’You will never have the chance to do that!” was the swift response, ‘* You will not live to tell of me, Your tongue swore away my honor; it shall never have the chance to swear away my life!” ‘You mean to murder me, then?” and there was not the slightest tremor in her voice, not the faintest shadow of fear on her pale face or in the dark eyes which were riveted upon his old lover, Kyrle Dando SS —— with rn intensity that caused a curious sensa- ay not altogether unlike fear, to creep over im. W hat was the cause of this sudden and com- plete change? Had she some bidden resource of _which he knew nothing? And as the thought _ flashed across his brain, the outlaw cast a keen, | searching glance around thecbamber. Nothing suspicious met his gaze. Notasound came to | bis ears telling that other than they twain were awake in the hotel. What could it mean? The smile had deepened upon the face of the woman as he turned to her once more, and be- cause he could not understand its meaning, it cut him all the deeper, making him more sav- age. ‘*Murder you? Yes—but by inches, not all at once!” he grated, fiercely. ‘' I have sworn that | Ee shall suffer full as much agony as you were he cause of my enduring, and I mean to keep my word. I'll cut out your tongue if I can’t keep you from betraying me in any other way. I'll cripple your wrists so that you cannot put our charges in writing. Or, still better than hat, I will bring back the mad love which I know you once felt for me, and then, when you are ready to perjure yourself in my favor, uite as readily as you once did to my injury— I will lap the cream of my revenge!’ A low, mocking laugh from the strange wo- man cut him short. ‘You are laying your plans far ahead, Cap- tain Slyboots—I believe you claimed that hon- orable title?” ‘* What has got into you?” he demanded, sav- agely. ‘‘ Have you gone crazy? Have you heard all that I told you? Do you know that your father—curse him! even in his grave!—is dead, killed through my agency, if not by my own hands?” ‘IT heard all that you said, but it does not trouble me in the least,” was the quiet response, ‘* Because I know that you are ying, in this, as in all the rest you have speken!’ He stared at her in mute amazement for a moment, then a grim smile curled his mus- tacbes, *‘Hug that delusion to your breast, my pre- cious, if it gives you any comfort. Time will tell which is right,” ‘*'You said that you were Captain Slyboots?” “1 did; and Lrepeat it now. But you will never tell any person of what I have confessed —be sure of that!” ‘It is joy enough for me to know that you speak the truth in this respect,” was the reply, while her eyes glowed. ‘‘ Ha! ha! fool! you have overreached yourself at last! You were not content when your end was ey, won, but you must press your advantage still further, and in doing sv you have opened my eyes toa truth glad as heaven itself.’ “What do you mean, Marjean?” he demand- ed, with another uneasy glance around him. “That you may be tain Slyboots, as you claim—that you may be the foul assassin, rob- ber, thief—but you are not Kyrle Dando—not the man whom I loved—whom I still love!” cried Marjean, her face fairly radiant, her eyes glowing. CHAPTER XXI1. THE GIANT AND HIS MASTER, THE outlaw stared at ber, thoroughly puzzled, Had her overtasked brain given way? Was this the shape her madness had assumed? Was he to find himself foiled, just as it seemed that perfect success in his cunning and deep-laid schemes was assured ? All in a jumble these queries flashed through the brain of the outlaw as the woman confronted him so boldly, laughing in his very face, her own wearing a look of triumph and joy quite beyond his powers of comprehension, and be grasped her arm with brutal force as he hissed through bis clinched teeth: ‘* What do 7s mean by that? Or is it only a crazy freak? Ha!” as a fresh suspicion flashed athwart his busy brain. ‘‘ You are trying to trick me—trying to play crazy and frighten me out of my plans! But it won’t work, my lady— it won’t work!” ** Better for you if that was truth—better if I were really mad—for then your secret might have remained such! But now—I know you have been lying to me! You are not the man whom I loyved—whom I still love, more madly than ever! The wonderful resemblance deceived me at first, but my eyes are open now—” “Indeed?” sneered the outlaw, recovering his wonted audacity and coolness as by magic. **Since you know so much, pray tell me who I really am?” A iar, coward, villain—beyond that I can’t say. Captain Slyboots showed his white, even teeth beneath his pointed mustaches as the dauntiless woman ag these epithets at him, fearlessly meeting his fiery, threatening gaze, ‘* All these—and yet we deny that lam your he laughed, mockingly. ‘*T deny it—yes! Fora time I was deceived, but as I listened to your cruel lies, as I looked into your face to see how such a frightful trans- i ' Nor’ West Nick, the Border Detective. | formation had been wrovght in the gentle, hon- 21. —_ est men whom I orce knew, 1 penetreted the cunning mask you wore—I knew you were not Kyrle Dando, but an impostor who had assumed his name for some vile purpose!” ‘Terribly audacious in me, was it not?’ asked the outlaw, with a mocking laugh. ‘* But pra tell me how I made the slip? If not Kyrle Dando, who am I?” **As I looked into your face, I missed some- thing,” slowly uttered Marjean, with a fixed gaze. ‘‘Something that Kyrle Dando would carry to the grave with him—the scar on bis left temple, from the hurt he received on the day we first met—received by him in saving my life, al- most at the cost of his own.” For a moment the outlaw stared into her face, as though doubting the truth of what she said, but then, with a low, angry snarl, he leaped forward and clasped her form in his arms. ‘Curse you! you know too much, now! But you'll never squeal! I’ve gone too far to re- treat. If worse comes of it, blame yourself for not keeping a closer tongue betwixt your teeth —for facing your cards before the pot was closed !”” Marjean realized the mistake she had made in thus openly revealing the wonderful discovery she had made, but too late to avert the conse- quences. The iron grip of the outlaw closed upon her, stifling the cry which rose in her throat, before it could find birth. Pressing her backward to the bed, he tore therefrom a dark blanket and wrapped it tightly around her head and shoulders, knotting the ends together. Still holding her firmly, be took up the candle and made a few guick motions with it before the curtained window, then blew out the dim light and cast the candle upon the bed. Bending his head close to the nearly smothered woman, he hissed: ‘* Utter a sound—make the slightest resist- ance, and | solemnly swear I’}l drive my knife home to your heart, though I stretch hemp for tho deed the next minute! Be sensible, and your life is safe. 1 only warn once.” There could come no audible answer through those smothering folds, nor did the outlaw wait for one. Lowering her to the floor, he hastily prodaced a light but strong rope-ladder from about his waist, and unrolling it, fastened one end to the inner window: sill, flinging the other outside. A faint whistle came up from the shadow at the base of the building, telling him that his signal had been seen and understood, Catching up the motionless form of Marjean Ovelman, he rested it across his shoulder, sli ing through the window and rapidly descend- ne to the ground, where a tall form was steady- ing the ladder. ‘Let it hang where it is,” muttered the out- law. ‘It will give the citizens something to gossip over in the morning, and throw them on the wrong scent. Lead the way, home, by the rear, and keep all eyes open for snags. Give me timely warning, or so much the worse for your hide!” Silently the tall form glided away in the shadows, as noiselessly followed by the outlaw bearing his now insensible burden. Keeping out of the main street, dodging through the ob- scure byways, a house near the extreme south- ern a of the oblong valley was at length reac ‘Wait here until I give the word whether I want you for anything more or not,” muttered the kidnapper, pausing on the threshold and rapping in a peculiar order upon the closed door with his knuckles, A brief spell of waiting, then the barrier swung open, and he step inside, greeted by a little ex ation as of surprise or annoy- ance, ** Lock and bar, then strike alight. No time to talk, now!” he said, roughly, loosening the tightly - gathered folds of the blanket from around the face of his victim. In silence he was obeyed, but then, as the light of an oil lamp made things visible, it re- vealed the face of a woman, wala neannee but now rendered almost repulsive by the jealousy with which it was filled. ‘** Who is that? Why do you bring her here, without giving me my walking-papers?’ she de- manded, almost savagely, as she bent forward and glared into the white, deathlike counte- nenee which rested against the shoulder of the outlaw. ** Don’t be a fool, Belle!” he muttered, show- ing his teeth. ‘‘This is business, not a mash. There’s big money in it, if we play our cards signk. T’li need your help, I reckon, so don’t let your infernal jealousy get the better of you.” Roughly, impatientl ree be spoke, the woman appeared satisfied. ith one hand resti lightly upon his shoulder, she reached up an pressed her red lips to his. “IT was a fool, Saint. But you can’t blame me. Ihave no claim on you, other than what my blind love gives me, and when I saw you bring a woman here—and one as lovely as a marble statue, at that—wasn’t it natural that I should be jealous? You badn’t given me a hint of what to expect—but it’s all right now. Tell me what I am to do, and [ll do it.” ‘*T didn’t expecc to fetch her here myself,” Can Gomicbooks (G ~_-