Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 389 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

¥: ' -_ ~ ES aes “Tt ain’t loaded,” he said, with a sneer, as he boldly stepped forward. ‘* We'll sce about that,” was her quick answer, and as quickly she pulled the trigger. » The result proved to her, as she knew it would, that the desperado had lied, and his leg caught the bullet which she had sent to maim him. With a cry and a curse he stumbled and fell forward. She had been near the horse when she fired the shot, and with a spring she was in the saddle. Hastily securing the pistol, she gave the horse the rein, ani away he flew at headlong speed. She did not care to check him; mdeed, she urged him on, and shouted to him as he dashed and bounded over the rocks and among the bowlders. This was rot because she feared or even ex- pected pursuit. Colonel Double-edze. a0 ——— worse, from the frying-pan into the fire. He was Jack Koopman, the cattle baron who had raided the ranch in the valley, and whom she had helped to fight. Hé recognized her as soon as she recognized him, and was even more amazed than she was. ‘* Hello!” he exclaimed. ‘* What’s this? That squatter girl, by Judas! How did she ever get here? Now that she’s come, we'll keep her, Hi, boys! Stop her there!” Etta Throop bad turned her horse, and was about to leave the premises, when she found her way barred by a ring of cowboys. A bronzed and stalwart young fellow stepped up and seized her bridle-rein. She drew Ben Hillman’s revolver with the in- tention of fighting for her freedom: but the young man held up a warning finger and spoke She well knew that Ben Hillman was disabled ! to her gently: and was not likely to make the least attempt te follow her, even if he could have hoped to pur- sue her without a horse. The truth was that she was exalted by a sense of freedom and safety; that her escape from a frightful peril had so excited her, that she was scarcely conscious of what she was doing. Of course a revulsion came, Her strength could no longer bear the tension to which it had been subjected, and she felt her- self giving way. She was only able to pull up the fine horse she rode, and to speak to him soothingly. The intelligent animal halted at once, and she slid from his back to the ground, still clutching the eee which he allowed to slip over his head. She fainted as she fell, and lay there mction- less and senscless in a swoon, which was prob- ably the best condition for her just then, It was the horse that roused her at last. He had made no attempt to break the light hold of her nerveless hand, but had stood by her, showing symptoms of impatience now and then, but on the whole with commendable steadiness. At last, as if he hadhad enough of that sort of thing, he put his head down and nosed about her face. This action awoke her, and with an effort she sat up and looked around. Where was she, and what had happened to her? At first she was dazed and unable to account for her position; but gradually the truth came back to her. Naturally the horse sterted her recollection, and then the discovery of Ben Hiilman’s hand- some revolver completed the chain, ; Her peril and escape came back to her with a rush, and she knew that she was free and pos- sessed of the means of further flight. Her thoughts at once flew to home and friends, and she was fil.ed with an eager desire to return to the ranch and learn the fate of those who were near and dear to her. Unable then to spring into the saddle, she led the horse to a rock, mounted him Icisurely, and rode down throu~h the hills, hoping to find an exit in the richt direction. Tt was then after sunset, as well as her pnosition allowed her to judze, and sho knew that dark- ness would come very swiftly. It was necessary, therefore, that she should make the best possible use of her time, and she endeavored to dos. Fate was against her, as it seemed, and when she had ridden until darkness, shut her in with- out finlJing any way out of the tanele, she was obliged to confess almost despairingly that she was lost. She had then the choice of two plans—to «*op and wait for day, or to keep on blindly in ine hope of finding a way out. The first was not to be thought of while life and strength remained in her. So she determined to give the horse the rein, trusting to the instinct or intelligence of the animal to extricate her from that predicament and take her to a place of safety. The horse seemed to know what this meant. He chirruped as if he understood the situa- tion, and started cff in a different direction from that which his rider had been endeavoring to follow. Etta made no further attempt to control him, but let him have his own way, believing that he knew what he was about, The danger was that he would go home—if Ben Hillman could be supposed to have a home; but that was a risk which she had determined to n. . After about two hours’ travel, during which - time the horse went s‘rhight on without falter- bitation. - i t was evidently a ranch of considerable size and importance, with a roomy dwelling house, a large corral, and numerous outbuildings. Surely the lost girl must find friends at such a place, and it pleased her to perceive that, though the hour was by no means An early one, there were men moving about, as if engaged in some belated employment. She was riding up to the house to state her case and ask assistance, when the door was opened, and a man came out hastily. ing, he came out on a plateau where there was aha I —————$ ee en aro rn rn 09009000 ais ** Easy, miss! What kin we do fur you?” ‘*Show me the way to the Gonzalez valley,” she answered. ** All right, miss.” ** What are you doing there, Abner?’ shouted Jack Koopman. ‘Ive got an account to set- tle with that jade, Bring her here!” ‘Not much, boss,” quietly replied Abner. ‘** V7e didn’t hire for that sort o’ thing.” ‘Bring her here, I say! If you turn her loose I'll shoot the horse she’s on.” The cattle baron drew a pistol, but was quick- ly and quietly disarmed by his men, ‘What do you mean by this?” he roared. ‘She is a horse-thief. That horse is the cne I gave Ben Hillman, and she must have stolen it. Bring her here, I say!” _ “* Not much, boss,” again answered Abner. “We are all willin’ to doa heap o’ things that mebbe we ortn’t to do; but we draw the line at sech as this, and we draw it tight. The Gonza- lez valley is down that way, miss. It’s a plain trail, and all you’ve got to do is to foller it.” Releasing his hold upon the bridle, be took off his hat and bowed as the young lady rode away in the direction he pointed out to her. Jack Koopman, rendered helpless by the opposition of his men, devoted himself to a severe course of cursing, and the very air seem- ed to turn blue with profanity behind the dis- appearing figure, The moon had risen, and Etta Throop had no trouble in finding the trail and following it, With renewed bope she urged the horse for- ward, though he was manifestly unwilling to et away from the good quarters to which he 1ad returned, and in the course of a few hours descended into a broad valley, which she be- lieved to be that of the Gonzalez, lt was a consolation to find herself there; but she was still in a dilemma, as she had not the least idea of the direction of her home, As she halted, considering this question, with- out finding any answer, she was startled by the tramp of a horse near by. She could not expect to find a friend there at that hour, and any person she might mect was necessarily an enemy to be avoided. By this time she had endured so much, and was so completely worn out by fatigue and lack oe food, that any further exertion was impossi- e. She tottered in her saddle as the horseman drew near, and uttered a faint cry as the moon- light revealed a familiar face. ** Ohinquapin !” The lad had rode up and caught her in his arms, CHAPTER XXXVI. GONZALEZ STIRRED UP, WHEN Jeptha Jones met his returning friends and communicated to them the sad news of the disappearance of Etta Throop, their consterna- tion was only equaled by their grie*. This alone was needed to complete the chapter of calamities that had overtaken them that day, and it was surely enouch. George Throop was driven frantic by the blow, but was with difficulty persuaded to re- strain himself, as it was thought best that the evil tidings should be kept as long as pcssible from Walter Brandis, whose condition might not enable him to bear up under it, It was late in the afternoon when the mourn- ful cavalcade reached the ranch, and then it ap- peered that there were no discoveries to be made yond the simple fact that Jeptha Jones had learned, and that nothing could Gs immediately done toward searching for Etta Throop. There were plenty of horse-tracks about the house, some of them apparently fresher than others; but there was such a network of them leading in all directions, that to fix upon any | It needed but a glance at that man to tell her | lost er had left the door open, and was laid om. that she had gone from a bad predicament to a | a be | ed one trail out of the many would be the merest | guesswork, Chinquapin, who could not have been re- strained if anybody had wished to restrain him, had ideas of his own concerning the Cisapresar- ance of the young lady, and proceeded without delay to act upon them. After a few words of explanation, he mounted his horse and rode across the valley. Walter Brandis, help'ess and almost uncon- scious, was carried into the house where the and made as comfortable as possible, As soon as he was able to speak and compre-- hend his position, he inquired for Etta. It seemed so natural that she should be there» | to receive and attend upon him, that her absence caused him the greatest perplexity. So persistent were lhis inquiries that it was: necessary to tell him the truth, and it was: broken to him as gently as possible. Mildly as that terrible truth was stated, it- proved to be too much for him. He seemed to give up then, losing his hold upon life, and sunk into a lethargy, from which it was difficult to arouse him. George Throop was very restless, finding bim-- self unable to remain at the ranch while there was a possibility of doing anything to discover and rescue his sister. Nobody believed that there was the faintest chance for him to accomplish anything, as there was no trail and night was coming on; but nobody thought of dissuading him from the purpose that would not allow him to rest. He mounted and set out with one of the circus: men, followed by the best wishes of the others, though to all recurred vividly the sad picture: of the pursuit that had ended in the discovery of the corpse of Chinquapin’s sister. Jeptha Jones also had business to attend to in~ connection with the search, but it was of a more: practical character and promised better results, though time would be required to work them out, His plan, moreover, was the one that was ad-- vised and commended by Lieutenant Cripps. When he had done what he could to make his: friend comfortable, he left the ranch and the wounded man in charge of Cripps and the cth-- ers, and set out for Gonzalez, to get a physicien for Walter Brandis, and to report the latest. outrage of Devit Dick and his gang. Though it was late at night when he reached the town—or, rather, early in the mcrning, be soon stirred up such an excitement amcng the xcople of Gonzalez as they had not known in a. ong time, The death of one man and the serious wound- ing of another by the murderous rufflans might not have roused Gonzalez thoroughly; but the abduction of Ette Throop woke up the town for” all it was worth. She was so well known and so warmly admir- ed there, that every white man in Gonzaler— not counting, of course, the Mexicans end In- dians—felt a personal interest in her loss and an ardent desire to rescue or avenge her. A physician was sent to the ranch with an es-. cort, and then a public meeting was held on the plaza, the saloons willingly contributing to the excitement by keeping open for the accommo-- dation of the thirsty citizens. It was the unanimous opinion of the meeting, abundantly, and forcibly expressed, that the time had come when a full stop must be put to: the depredations of Devil Dick and his partner, and all who were associated with them in their- nefarious operations. Coupled with the names of Devil Dick and his: partner were those of Jack Kocepman end sere of his men, and the cattle barcn was mentiercd in a nanner that might have seriously cisturbcd the equanimity of that solid but rather objec- tionable citizen. ‘“Thar’s got to be some hangin’ done,” wes the way Sheriff Mabry summed up the sitca- tion. ‘“‘ The sooner we git at it the better, ¢ nud I don’t know but I may as well say that the more we do of it the better, teo.” The result of the hasty deliberations was that. within an hour after his arrival at Gonzalez, Jeptha Jones left the town accempanied by twenty men under the leadership of the sheriff. All were picked men—all were well-mourted and armed to the teeth, and all were determin-. ed to make such a finish of the breiness they were engaged in as should relicve them of the necessity of undertaking enothcr jcb of the- same kind very soon, As an earnest of their good intentions they carried some light but strong ropes that were. adn.irably adapted for hanging purposes. The moon was shining when this formidable. party rode forth from Gonzalez, ard it wes after> daylight when they reached the Throop Ranch, n the mean time something hatl occurred at. the house that gave the circus man and his friends a joyful surprise on their arrival, The physician and his escort hed arrived from Gonza fog and Lieut, Cripps, who had been watch- ing the wounded mean almost despairingly,. stemmed cut to reccive them. Ashe did so be looked across the valley, and the moonleht shoved Lim ecmething that made. his heart bound and cuickly revived his nearly exhau: ted cnergics, It was a small party desecnding the s!ope cn the other side and approaching the ranch. There were four persons in the party, and three of them were men—no doubt of that—end the fourth—could he believe his eyes? Yes, it was surely a women! He pointed out the party to the physician, who was clearly of the opinion that the fourth rson was a woman, and there could be no» doubt that they were fnends, as they were wav—- ing and gesticulating to the group at the house. —_ 0)(0\(0) CO im S (C (E(9)