Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 390 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

— ——- - a 2 7° custom of their country, were fairly ablaze with live fireflies, which were stitched upon their dresses and arranged in their hair. Some had them placed in the form of stars, cres- cents, etc., and the effect was grand. In the whirl of the dance their skirts would rleam and flash. growing brighter and brighter until it seemed that they were burst- | ins into flames, } The dances were of various kinds, some being American, and others Mexican and Spaaish, but each one was heartily enjoyed in its turn. No thoughts of danger had any one, and yet danger was lurking near, Presently, just as a new figure was being arranged, for the dance, there came a sud- den cry of great alarm, ‘Fire! Fire!” rung out loud and shrill, and many a cheek grew pale at the word, ‘‘ Where?”’ was eagerly asked. It was soon apparent where it was, though, for bright flames were seen at the further en] of the town shortly after the alarm, At the first cry, half the people in the pavilion rushed out. What could be on caught? Cibuta John urged the men who were near | him to go to the fire at once, and told them to put it out if possible, or to save all the property they could if they found the fire be- yond control; and they hurried away to obey. Then Cibuta turned his attention to his bride, who was clinging to him in affright, vad almost ready to faint. The excitement of the day, her attempted abduction, and now this new alarm, were too much for her nerves. But scarcely had the men rushed away to the fire, that is, the citizens, when a new danger was at hand, Suddenly out from the crowd at one side of the room sprung a man, and in his hand he held a revolver. ; Instantly Cibuta John recognized another scene of his warning and mysterious dream. It had not come about just like he had seen it in the dream, but it was sufficiently like it for him to recognize the scene at once, The man had a mask over his face, and was disguised in clothes not by: any means his own, but Cibuta recognized him immedi- ately. fire? How had it | act. The Giant Cupid. SSeS The fete was now at an end, and where all | cried out, ‘ yo’ “ ws’ fotch de chile back, else had been gay a moment before, all was now | dis ole nig’s heart clean done break, fo’ silence and sadness. The fire, too, was raging, and as those who had rushed away to fight it knew noth- ing of what had taken place at the pavilion, the question of pursuit to rescue the bride was for a time impossible. As quickly as possible, though, the alarm was spread, The fire proved to be devouring an old stable, which had undoubtedly been set on fire to attiact the citizens and thus give the rascally Mexican the chance to carry out his scheme, and if was soon got under control and extinguished without doing damage to any other building. hen the citizens heard the story of the | abduction. ‘An’ didn’t none o’ you fellers help Cibuta John any?” asked Bill Twicker of some of the guests who had seen it all. ‘‘ Did ye ’low that leetle gal ter be carried off ‘thout firin’ a single shot?’ And he looked disgusted. ** Well,” one gentleman answered, ‘‘ it was all done so quickly that no one had time to It was done in a moment’s time. We were horrified to see your hero shot down, for we certainly believed he had received his deatb-wound, and before we could recover and take action, all the rest was over.”’ ‘An’ did Cibuta foller th’ p’izen cusses?” ‘‘Yes, as soon as he realized what had been done, he sprung out in hot pursuit.” ‘* An’ still none o’ you helped him a bit?” ‘You mistake, sir,” the man responded. ‘Several of us sprung out in pursuit, but as we did not know the ground very well, we were soon distanced. We heard one or two pistol-shots, and then followed a great rush of horses’ feet, and it was all over.” ‘‘An’ has no one seen Cibuta since?” Bill queried. No one had seen him since. “Wal, psrds,” Bill declared, ‘‘somethin’ has got ter be did, an’ that mighty suddent, too. Cibuta has either been shot, or else he’s gone on th’ trail alone, an’ we must find out which it are. ‘‘Come, now, pards; every man o’ ye that’s got a hoss, vit him out an’ ready!” A score of men hastened to obey the order at once. Mr. and Mrs. St. Clare attended to the The tip of each ear plainly showed where final closing of the ball, and provided for the his, Cibuta John’s bullets had cut them guests. some days previously. It was Don Juan Bartolo. Straight upon Cibuta John he rushed, pre- senting his revolver as he came, Seeing her husband’s danger, Nettie sprung before him and threw her arms about his neck, | She was willing to sacrifice herself to save him. Had she nut done this, Cibuta had a fair chance to draw and defend himself; but she spoiled it all. She cluny to kim so that he found’ it impossible to get at his revolvers, ‘Now, die /” the Mexican hissed. ‘‘ You’ shall never possess this woman; J have sworn at/” And ashe uttered the words he took aim and fired. Cibuta John had barely time to thrust Nettie aside to save her from being struck by. the bullet when the shot came. ‘And the bullet flew true to its mark. ‘It struck Cibuta John’s breast, directly over his heart, and caused him tc stagger backward as though mortally wounded. But, strange as it may at first seem, the bullet had not penetrated. 1 It had struck the hilt of the silver dagger, | which Cibuta now carried with him, and was turned aside, inflicting only a slight scratch- wound upon our hero, In an instant all was wild confusion, The moment the shot had been fired, the Mexican sprung forward and _ seized the bride who was just falling to the floor in a faint, and several men rushing at once to his assistauce, she was carried quickly away. But aticr them sprung Cibuta John. The warning of the silver dagger had not been in vain Only for it Cibuta John would have re- ceived his death-wound, for the bullet would most certainly have gone through his heart. To describe the dismay and confusion which followed in the pavilion is almost im- possible. Many of them decided to remain at Ante- Bar all night, and those who had to go away left a servant behind, who was to bring them the news next day concerning the rescue cf the bride. All were most anxious concerning her, and several of the guests who had horses joined the search party, to render whatever service they could. It was a sad ending to so happy a day. None gave Cibuta John knew positively who was at the bottom of the villainous scheme, but there were several others who could guess pretty correctly. Among these was Mr. and Mrs. St. Clare. And they did not hesitate to make their suspicions known to a few of the determined men who were about to take the trail. ‘By th’ great Saint Peter!” cried Bill Twicker, who was the recognized leader; ‘if it 2 that ’ar p’izen Mexican cuss we'll hang him, ez sure ez fate! Well settle him an’ his false claim racket both ter wunst,” *“That’s jest what we'll do, an’ no mis- take!” echoed Jem Patterson, who was one of the party, his wounded arm having now quite recovered its strength and useful- ness. Jeff Parsons, Tom Billings, and many ek at And honest tears rolled down his ace. And the postmaster, good old Uncle Dan- iel Derrick, added: * Yes. pards, be off, an’ bring her back Ere harm can ler befall; Au’ if ye are successful, then May Heaven biess ye all.” And his eyes were dim with tears as he spoke. In truth, it was a great blow to Ante-Bar to have the belle of the town thus rudely snatched from their midst and carried away to what might prove a horrible fate, and few were the hearts that were not full, “Yes, come!” cried Bill Twicker, ‘‘ We must be off! Are ye all ready, back there? All right, then—forward!” and the little cav- alcalde started, The hour was now growing quite late, and the moon was just rising above the hills and shedding her light down into the valley. And it was fortunate for the men in pur- suit, for the light would enable them to pick up the trail and follow it with much more rapidity than they otherwise could have done. They swept up the valley at a good speed, passed the big cottonwood tree, which has been mentioned somewhere in the preceding pages, and then along the banks of the creek toward the main stage-trail beyond. When they at length passed out from the rocky canyon and struck the main trail, they stopped, Here Bill Twicker dismounted and care- fully examined the ground, ‘* Which way, Bill?” Jeff Parsons asked. ‘** Hev they struck fer Bung-eye Camp?” ‘*No,’ Bill answered, after a moment, ‘they haven’t. They’ve struck fer th’ hills, an’ we must be off an’ after ’em, hot-foot.” And as he spoke he sprung into his saddle, and away they all flew. For an hour or more they rode on in si- lence, Bill Twicker riding ahead and care- fully watching the trail. for the moonlight was strong enough to enable him to do so. And then suddenly, and with an oath, the leader cried: * Halt /” CHAPTER XVil. IN HOT PURSUIT. ‘“Wuat’s th’ diffikilty, Bill?” asked Jem Patterson. ‘‘ Have ye lost th’ trail?” “No,” Bill growled, in reply; ‘I ain't lost it, but 1 don’t know but 1’d a-might as well.” 3 “Why, what’s th’ trouble?” ‘Trouble enough, you kin jest bet high on that.” ‘“Wal, what @ it? Come!’ ‘Wal, it's jest this: These heur p’izen critters has parted company, an’ some’s gone one way an’ some’s gone t other.” ‘“Ther deuce ye say!” ‘‘ It’s so, fer a fact.” ‘What kin we do now?” queried Tom Billings, ‘Wal, we'll have ter split, too, I spose, an’ foller both trails,” Bill replied. “That's about it,” Jem Patterson agreed; ‘‘we must be after ’em ez hot ez all hail columbiar; an’ whenever we find ’em up to tricks, we must be up to tricks, too. Come! jest divide yer force, Bill, an’ let’s get on.” ‘Now don’t git yerself into a cast-iron sweat, Jem,” Bill enjoined, ‘* but jest try an’ keep cool. We don’t want ter go off at half- eock on this heur biz, an I want a little time ter figrer on it.” “Wal, figeer away, then.” “That's jest what I’m a-tryin’ ter do. ‘“Now, ez I said, some’s gone this heur others uttered similar threatening exclama- | way and’ some’s gone that ‘ar; an’, th’ ques- tions. ‘Or else bring him in prisoner,” cried Mr. tion is, which party took th’ gal?” -* Not a very easy question to answer, I’m Skynn, the lawyer, ‘‘and let me put the thinkin’.” observed Jeff Parsons. \ law on him! Oh! how I would make him sweat!” And Jem Patterson’s wife, Sally Ann, cautioned her worthy lord and_ master (7) that if he could not bring ‘‘ that dear child” Latlg again, Ae need not return, and that set- tled it. | “Vor tight, it ain’t!” Billi Twicker had dismounted and was carefully examining the ground. He was an old plainsman, and was right at home in following a trail. ‘“Bovs.” he said presently, ‘‘some four or five of ’em have turned off heur to th’ left, “We'll bring her,” Jem stoutly asserted; an’ ali th’ rest hey kept right on. Now, how ‘well bring her, Sally Ann, or— or bu’st!”’ | th’ merry old dickens are we ter tell which ‘Fo’ de lub ob goodness.” old Snowball party th’ little rosebud is with?” White, Clara St. Clare’s aged negro servant, No one could tell. Eomicbooks (E C “: 4 i’ $ (0)