Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 38 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 Beadle’s Dime Library. The interview with the McCloud chief seemed like the baseless fabric of a dream. ‘‘Am I then a renegade from my race that the dusky heathen thinks to use me for a tool?” he muttered. ‘‘ Has the sun which has bronzed my skin changed also my heart? A fair bribe he offers. Heis right! There is no prettier squaw in the McCloud nation than this dusky beauty. And the chief gives her to me!” The white man laughed, his quiet, bitter laugh. ‘‘The old rascal! The girl is mine already if I choose to take her, and neither the great chief of the McClouds nor all his tribe, were they ten times more powerful than they really are, could keep her from me or take her, once she was safe in Cinnabar town with me. And Blanche del Colma, too! would no other white squaw in the settlement suit him but this dainty Californian beauty, pure as a lily and as proud as though the olden days still lingered and she could claim the free control of ten thousand broad acres? Blood! the seizure of this dark-eyed girl would cause a river of it to flow! Strange what a world thisis! For the sake of a white squaw this filthy savage, ugly as sin itself, would put in peril not only his own life, but the very existence of all his people; and what a mean, miserable wretch he must think me, when he dares to boldly propose such a bargain to me!” Bitter indeed were the thoughts of the wayward man, whose life had been such a constant struggle between good and evil. The pine forest passed he came again in full view of the swift- flowing Shasta, rippling along so merrily over its rocky bed. And as he came into the broad trail by the river the sound of a horse’s hoofs in rapid gallop fell upon his ears, ‘Whoever rides that beast is riding fast!” he murmured, sur- prised at the unusual speed so plainly indicated. And then around the bend in the road came the flying steed. A riderless horse, although the bridle and the bitted mouth plainly betrayed that, at a very recent period, a master’s hand had controlled the animal. There was no saddle upon the back, and Velvet Hand quickly and easily guessed the nature of the accident that had evidently but just occurred. As the horse came so fleetly on, the velvet sharp recog- nized the animal: it was the spotted mustang of Blanche del Colma! To spring into the center of the trail, throw up his hands and check the speed of the panting steed was but the work of a moment, and, as the horse shied off to one side and endeavored to plunge into the thicket of scrubby pines which lined the way, it was an easy matter to lay hold of the reins and so make captive the steed. Once the bridle was fairly in his grasp, Velvet Hand swung himself upon the horse’s back. Like the wild red chiefs he could ride as well without a saddle as with one. He urged the horse around the bend in the road, expecting to behold its fair mistress, and he was not disappointed. A half a mile or so down the trail stood the girl, busily engaged in coiling up the heavy masses of her glorious blue-black hair which had been disarranged by her fall By her side upon the green turf was the fancifully-ornamented Mexican saddle which had been strapped upon the mustang’s back. Velvet Hand rode straight up to the girl, and she acknowledged his salutation as politely as though he had been an emperor instead of one of the wildest sports in the city of Cinnabar, ‘‘This is your horse, I fancy, miss,” he said, dismounting, but still keeping a firm grip upon the animal’s bridle. ‘I succeeded in stopping it a short distance down the road.” ‘IT am very much obliged, sir,” she replied; “‘the girth parted, and so I lost my seat in the saddle.” ‘¢ Permit me to repair the damage.” Years of experience in the wild prairie life had taught him how to quickly repair the damage of such a mishap, and in a few minutes the girth was spliced and the pretty saddle again strapped upon the mustang’s back. . Velvet offered his hand to assist the girl to mount, but with a smile she declined the aid and vaulted into the saddle as lightly, almost, as a bird. “Thanks, sir!” she exclaimed, gathering up the reins; “ at present I am your debtor, but I hope to soon requite the obliga- tion.” ‘“‘To be able to oblige a lady is quite sufficient payment for such a service,” the gentleman answered, gallantly. “Oh, believe me, I shall not be satisfied until I repay the obligation!” Blanche exclaimed, bowing graciously, and as she bent her superb head her eyes caught sight of a diamond ring upon the little finger of Velvet Hand. A look of amazement appeared upon her face and an exclama- tion of astonishment burst from her lips. “That ring, senor!” she cried. For a moment Velvet Hand appeared puzzled, but the look vanished almost as soon as it had appeared. He could not mis- take the ring she referred to, for it was the only one he wore. “This,” he said, holding it up to view. It was an odd, peculiar ring; one once seen not easily to be forgotten. It was fashioned after the pattern of a coiled snake, and the diamond—a_ beautiful stone—was securely clutched within the outstretched jaws of the reptile’s head. ‘‘Pardon me, senor, if I express amazement,” she explained; ‘“‘but the ring is so familiar to me; may I ask how the ring came intw your possession?” “Certainly, it is yours,” and Velvet Hand slipped the trinket from his finger as he spoke and handed it to the girl, “* Yes, it is mine; it was my father’s,” "1 found it, senorita,” replied Velvet Hand, unblushingly. He fully understood the case. Fernando, in his mad passion for play, had possessed himself of the ring, and lacking money to pay his “‘ debt of honor” had pledged the jewel. ‘ ** Oh, thanks, senor!” the girl exclaimed, her cheeks flushing and her dark eyes sparkling. ‘It is not the value of the ring I prize, but the remembrance which is attached to it.” “IT am pleased at being able to restore it to you,” the card- sharp replied, gallantly, and then over his mind as he spoke came the thought that Fernando would be terribly enraged when he learned of the occurrence. “Two favors in one day I owe you, senor. I fear that I shall be your debtor for some time, but if gratitude can repay the obligation, then, senor, you are paid, for I am very “s There was a flush on the peach-like cheek of the beauty, a kindling light in her dark eyes which plainly told that these words were more than empty lip-service. ** Miss, I am more than paid at being able to serve you,” “You are a friend of my brother, I believe?” | ‘Well, I’m an acquaintance, miss,” the man replied, honestly. “Perhaps my brother may find a way to serve you.” “Oh, don’t speak of that, miss, but now that I think of it, I’d like to give you a word of advice. Be careful in your horseback excursions not to go far from the town. These Northern Indians cannot be trusted, and death would be far preferable to the fate which would surely await you if youshould fall into their hands.” “*T shall be careful. Oh, senor! you heap obligation upon obligation. Adieu!” And with a farewell glance such as no man in the Shasta valley had ever before received from Blanche del Colma’s glorious, dark eyes, she spurred away. Velvet Hand followed slowly down the road, a strange expres- oe his manly face, strange thoughts in his clear, knightly min And, just as his figure disa from view around the lower bend of the road, out from the pine thicket stepped Yuba Bill and Bertrand Redan. ) CHAPTER XV. A MASTER IN ORAFT, Botu of the men were armed to the teeth. They had been coming down the trail from Angel’s Bar which joined the main road about a hundred feet above the spot where the interview between the card-sharp and the sister of the Cinnabar mine owner had taken place. Attracted by the sound of voices they had crept forward and witnessed the latter part of the meeting. fe Too far off to overhear the conversation they could only judge of the nature of the interview by the actions. Bertrand Redan had seen enough to enable him to guess only too well the meaning of this stolen meeting afar from the to by the Shasta’s bank. The woman whom he had marked out for his own was already the prize of another man! The glorious Californian beauty, proud and haughty as the descendant of along line of kings, had stooped to favor Dick Velvet—Velvet Hand, the card-sharp, the man who lived by his wits. He, of all men in the town of Cinnabar, to win the smiles of Blanche del Colma! ‘‘By heaven, I would not have believed it if I had not wit- nessed it with my own eyes!” Redan exclaimed, in a state of great excitement. ‘‘A sure enough fact!” Yuba tersely replied. ‘“‘The girl is mad to throw herself away upon such a fellow.” “T reckon that wimmen don’t never trouble their heads much ’bout who or what the cuss is when he happens to ketch ’em,” Yuba sagely observed. “T'll put a stop to it though, pretty quick!” Redan eried, abruptly and angrily. Yuba looked astonished. ‘‘What in thunder is it to you, anyway?” ‘¢ Maybe I want her myself.” ** Sho!” | “Anyway I'll put a spoke in this fellow’s wheel!” | ‘¢-You’ll have your hands full, old man, for he’s a tearer.” “A shootist, eh?” ‘‘Oh, yes, I bet yer! He’s all bull-dog except his head and that’s grizzly bear!” | ‘‘So much the better!” and Redan smiled, complacently. ‘“‘T reckon I don’t savvey,” Bill observed, doubtfully. “Why, so much the more honor in cutting his comb,” Redan explained. ‘The fellow is evidently in my way and he’s got to get out of it. I’m not the man to let any miserable gambler step in between me and fortune.” - “Sport, you will have a lively time!” Yuba declared, impres- sively. “That remains to be seen,” Redan returned in his cool way. ‘‘In the first place, ’ll keep my eyes upon the two for awhile, and then, if the strong suspicion which I now entertain that the fellow is in my way is confirmed, I’ll take measures to upset his apple-cart.” “Old man! he’s a hummer now, I tell yer!” Yuba exclaimed, solemnly. ‘‘ Why, he war ready to fite the hull darned town this morning, an’ all fora John. We wanted to hang the yaller euss, an’ this velvet sharp steps in an’ durn my cats! ef he didu’t back us all down.” | ‘¢‘ He skeered you, eh?” “Right he did! an’ he meant fite, too, all the time. I-ain’t no slouch, an’ I’m jest as brave a man as you kin find clar from hyer to Oregon till I meet another galoot that kin hump himsel: better than I kin,” GOMIGVOOKS (EO)