Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 385 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

<t good deal more whinnying. Ben men where pees was confined; but would it do to let Red Kit see that Ben was on such good terms with him? Would it not arouse suspicion? He explained this dilemma to his ally, who at once replied: “Pll go disguised. With these garments on, my figure looks wholly different from that of Ben, the road-agent; and Ill wear the skull-cap I used when we attacked the stage.” There were obiections which might be made against this, for it would look singular, to say the least, to see a sheriff’s assistant go disguised so fantastically, but there did not seem to be any other way; so Dick agreed to the plan, and preparations were made for the start. The Lion watched Rel Kit sharply when Ben appeared, so grotesquely attired, but ‘she did not seem to pay any attention to him after one glance. Fresh horses had been procured from Hicks, and they were put to a sharp pace and the trio rattled rapidly along the back-track. No- y else seemed astir, and they reached the vicinity of the house where Sibylla was im- prisoned without adventure. It proved to be a long shanty, covering a ood deal of ground, and put together more rmly than the average of such buildings. Leaving their horses secreted in a ravine, they went as near as was safe and then paused to - map out their plan. Red Kit explained where she believed Si- bylla’s room to be, and then they considered the chances. A light shone from what seemed to be the main room, and Dick Turpin determined to have a look inside. He accordingly left the others and crept forward. He was no sooner gone than Kit turned to her remrnaining companion. ‘* Ben, you are doing well,” she quietly said. “Eh? I don’t exactly understand, miss, and my name. is not Ben,” he answered, with some trepidation, ** Nonsense! Don’t let us lose time by spar- ring with words, for I have something to say before Bradstreet comes back. He isn’t the worst man in the world, but it won’t do to let him know too much—much learning may make him mad, as somebody said. Ofcourse [ know you, Bowie Ben, and that you have played a game on the sheriff and got a chance to take eare of Dick Turpin. You don’t know how | glad Iam of it, Ben, for I know you will eare for him well; but beware of Bradstreet! If he suspects, you would be in trouble, too.” Bowie Ben forgot all else in his desire to ask a question: ‘Would you care, Kit?” : “Of course, for you are my friend.” ** Nothing more?” ** Now, don’t mention that, You know what I have told you, Ben, and I want to be your friend. J can’t be more. Please don’t be angry, Ben, for I don’t know that I have a friend in the world besides you!” Her mournful, unsteady voice touched the young man, who quickly replied: “Twill be your friend to the end, Kit; don’t be afraid in that respect; and if I can ever help you, I will.” **Can you prevail upon Sheriff Bradstreet to Hi a be one of Dick’s nurses?’ she eagerly asked. Bowie Ben hesitated. He knew that the self-styled Bradstreet was against the idea, but would it not bring Kit near him? Ben was only - human, and he promised to use his influence, At this point, the Leadville Lion was seen re- turning and conversation ceased. They looked innocent enough as he came up. ‘“Three men are in the main room,” he re- ported, ‘‘and I can see but one way to get them out. ey must come out, for the only entrance to Mrs. Marcy’s room is through the one where they now are. We must lure them out.” ‘“What’s your plan?” Ben asked. ‘*In the smaller shanty, yonder, their horses are kept. There is no one there at present. Well, I propose that you go there and raise a racket, giving them the idea that some one is stealing the animals; and if they rush out, as I hope, tg will then hurry Mrs. Marcy and the children out by the rear door. If this don’t work, I must call on them in my official capacity to surrender their prisoners, but, as I’ve said be- fore, I don’t Want to do this.” He had a good reason for this; it would show that he had been near the scene of the stage- robbery, when he wanted to be thought in ex- actly an opposite direction. Ben renal y agreed to perform his part, and they prepared for the attempt. Dick took his station near the rear door, and anxiously wait- ed for his ally to begin. Suddenly a loud whinny sounded from_the stable. Even a horse was helping them. Then came a tremendous racket from the same point, and the men in the room looked excitedly at each - other. ‘** What's that?” one asked. ? Then came a louder racket, accompanied by ad found some way to excite the horses, and was making _ the most of it. ‘By ther fiends!” cried one of the men, ‘* somebody is stealin’ our hosses!” er eet ‘* That’s ther figger—it’s hoss-thieves!” ‘By ther Furies! we'll make it hot fur them. Come on, men! Draw your sixes, an’ we'll fill ther villains up with ad, Come on!” And then, greatly to Dick’s satisfaction, out they rushed in a body. The coast was clear! Quick as a flash the Leadville Lion opened the rear door and ran in. That which led to Sibylla’s room was secured by a wooden bar, but he cast it off and tore the door open. There stood Sibylla, pale and alarmed, her children both clinging to her. derfully at sight of Dick, and she advanced with outstretched hands, but he could lose no time. ** Quick!” he exclaimed; ‘‘we must get away at once. A minute’s delay may ruin all.” ‘* Give me one of the children!” It was a woman’s voice, and Red Kit flashed past Dick and caught up the little girl. Turpin seized the boy, and then, somehow—Sibylla could never realize how-—they all got out of the shanty and into the open air. But the danger was not over. The men had quickly discovered that there were no horse-thieves about, and one of their number had been shrewd enough to suspect a trick. They came running back just in time to see the rescuers, and rescued ones, hastening away, and then fierce yells arose from them. ‘* A trick!—a trick!” “They've got ther woman an’ ther kids, Shoot them down! Fill them up with lead!” And with these yells they came rushing toward the weaker party, and a bullet fired by one whistled close to Dick Turpin’s head. Bowie Ben had joined his friends, and neither he nor Dick felt the least fear of the pursuers; if they were inclined to return their fire, their re- markable skill with the revolver would make Wild Dick Turpin, the Lion of Leadville. Her face brightened won- | | | Dick Turpin could have explained all this had he seen fit, but he said nothing. He knew very well that Sibylla would not be safer because Meg Gregerson-Donaldson was im prison; the sly, secret, ever-active Jude would gladly seize a chance to offset the captivity of his ally by again seizing Sibyla. Yes, she must be securely concealed ; so secure- ly that all the arts of the enemy could not find. 1er, i But where? It was Red Kit who found an answer to this , question. ‘*Give her into my charge,” she said. ‘‘ Get quiet quarters somewhere for her, the childrem and me, and let me take care of them. If any- body gets them away from under my eyes, they'll have to be smarter than I take them to be.” The proposition struck all forcibly. Young as Red Kit was, she was almost as capable as a man of taking care of herself, and Sibylla had taken a strong liking to the girl since she knew how much she owed her. Dick Turpin was forcibly impressed, and he believed that Red Kit would be faithful. True, her treachery stood as one of the most promi- nent features in his life, but she was trying hard to win back her clearer record. Yes, he felt sure Sibylla would have a faithful friend im the mountain girl; but even then he hesitated, He could not look at Kit, or think of her, without intense bitterness in his mind; but, de- spite all, she was near him a good deal of the time. He felt that he ought to drive her away hike a leper, but she persisted in invading his: daily life. ‘* Let me redeem myself,” she had once said to him, and she seemed trying to do so; but how, he asked himself, could she ever miake amends itself felt, even in the darkness, Both, however, | for what her treachery had wrought? wished to avoid bloodshed, if possible. It would never do, though, to allow the women and chil- dren to be made targets, and, seeing that Sibyl- la remained unexpectedly cool, Dick handed the child to ker, saying: ‘**Go on in charge of Red Kit; obey her in all things and you will be safe. Ben and I will stand at bay.” All this was quickly done, and, as the non- combatants burried on, Dick and hisally halted. Ata word from the former Ben joined him in drawing a revolver, and the Lion then added: ‘**Give a volley over their heads!” It was done, but without effect, and the situa- tion became serious. The strangers were com- ing on, and a shower of bullets began to whistle around the fugitives. Dick and Ben were giv- ing ground slowly, but in such a way as toallow their charges to gain ground. The stubborn pursuit, however, was dangerous; chance shots were liable at any moment to dispose of the ex- road-agents; and then Sibylla and the others would be unprotected. . This thought stirred Turpin to action. ‘* They will have it, Ben!” he said, ‘‘ and it’s madness to hold off any longer. Aim at their legs, and shoot to hit,” ‘* Tm with you!” , Ben spoke with a nonchalant coolness, for this affray brought the old days and stirred his blood to rapid action; it was a rare bit of fun, by the way, to him. Both men fired together, aiming as Dick had directed, and the rapidity with which they work- ed their revolvers was remarkable. A perfect hailstorm of lead went flying toward their pur- suers, and these fellows were shown a sample of shooting ina way not to their taste. Two of them went down, their legs shot through and throngh, and only one remained. He, however, seemed to bear a charmed life, and came flying onward, with reckless courage. Dick did not like to pull trigger on such a gal- lant man, jailer of a woman though he was, but the jailer had no such scruples, himself; his re- volver kept working, and, as a bullet tore through the Lion’s sleeve, he accepted the inev- itable and fired to hit. Down went the pursuer, with a broken leg. Nobody was left to obstruct their retreat, and the two victors hastened to rejoin Red Kit and her charges. The brave mountain girl had them mounted and ready for flight, but the result en- abled them to go as they saw fit. The entire party mounted and rode away. Each horse now had a double load, but there was no haste, and they could bear it. And so they rode on through the night, each busy with his, or her, thoughts; and, surely, there could hardly have been more diversity of opinion, for many a thread of love, plot, and mane or less harmless double-dealing ran through CHAPTER XXIII. THE INVISIBLE HAND. THE question now arose, what was to be done with Sibylla? Of course it was imperative that she should be placed somewhere that she would be beyond the reach of her enemies. far as she was concerned, there was no light as to the identity of these enemies. She had been ab- ducted as the hotel-keeper said, but by whom, or why, she could not explain or surmise. a ee Oeoueyeyeywewuwuo—— n—> 0 maoaoaoaonw4dgd«C i@WW—<Y—ia~<sS ss a ee His one great wish now was that Bowie Bem might win her love, as he had long been trying to do, and take her forever beyond his sight. ST uik now she was valuable as an ally, and it would certainly be indiscreet to drive her away. ee settled that Red Kit’s plan should be adopted, and as Turpin could think of no better place of refuge than that he had previously selected for Sibylla, it was arranged that they should go there at once, late as was the hour.. This plan was carried out, and the women and children duly installed in their new quarters. Dick had avoided a private conversatiom with Sibylla, for he saw how it would end. Her eyes had a sad, reproachful look, and it was clear that, despite the rescue, she was he- ginning to regard herself as an unloved wife. As soon as he could get away Dick went to his room, threw himself on the bed in a weary, hopeless way, and tried to lose his trou- bles in sleep. In this he was completely suc- cessful, and several hours of peaceful rest fcl- lowed. In the morning he found awaiting him a for- mal printed invitation to attend a ballto be iven the evening of the next day by the mayor. his was one of the great social and fashionable: features of Leadville life. At regular intervals the mayor gave a ball, and nobody ever refused an invitation. Dick Turpin knew something about these af- fairs, and be was well aware that the real Sher- iff Bradstreet never missed one of them, That gentleman had been eminently a business mat since Leadville knew him, but he broke away from al] cares when the mayor gave a ball, and enjoyed himself. , is impersonator knew this, and knew, too, that he would be expected to be there; but he tossed the card impatiently aside. _ “For once, the sheriff will remain away,” he muttered, gen) + er He remained strong in his opinion for several minutes. and then a spirit of bravado assailed. him. Why should he not attend the ball? Often he had been in Leadville, in disguise, and heard himself commented upon by the class of people who would be at this gathering, He had seen fastidious young ladies who glit- tered with jewels, and tried to glitter with the acts and profound wisdom of one or two yeers out of school—he had seen them, clasp their bands and shiver at mention of his name, and apply to him such epithets as: ‘t Monster! Brute! Barbarian! Wretch! Vampire! Horrible crea- ture!” and so on to the end of the chapter. ___ Would it not be a rare joke, the Leadville Lion thought, since all people must sooner or later know of his daring deceit, to have these high and lofty young women know, when the exposure cone, that they had actually danced with Dick urpin? ‘* Miss the ball?” cried the adventurer. ‘‘Never! Unless the crash comes before to-morrow night, I'll be there; and I] give the nabobs of the town something to talk about for years to come. Ah! belles of fendville, I don’t believe Pve forgotten how to play the gallant, and you shall have cause to remember me in days to come!” His face lit up with a glow and fire like that of the old days, and he laughed mockingly. In imagination he saw the consternation that would fall on them all when the truth was = \ } Eomicboo (E S) (ele)