Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 390 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

ss So they mentally questioned. And they were soon to know, for the res- cuers paused not until they had reached and passed the fallen horseman, and then into the outlaws—man and horse—they poured a rain of lead that eaused them to wheel about and beat a hasty retreat. Cibuta John and his bride were saved. But—heavens! were they saved? Cibuta Jiving—or dead? Such was the awful thought that came to those who were the first to dismount and rush io his side. ‘* He is dead!” cried one. ‘‘No, no!” exclaimed another, ‘‘ he is sive!” And the last speaker was right. Cibuta John was not dead, although unconscious. His had proved a timely rescue, As to Nettie, his bride—and discourteous of us it is, perhaps, not to have mentioned the lady first—she was safe. Regardless of himself, Cibuta’s only care had been to save her. But, let us explain. When the last volley was fired, and Cibuta felt his horse going down under him, he let 2o the reins, clasped Nettie in his arms, and at the same time loosened his feet from the stirrups so as not to be caught foul. And even while so doing, he felt a builet strike him in the back. For an instant the pain was so great that he almost let his bride fall, but by a great effort he held her fast, and then down the horse went, Cibuta certainly believed that he was mortally wounded, and even as the horse fell be pressed a kiss upon his wife’s upturned face, while in his heart he bade her good: Was or? then, regardless of his own safety, as down they went he held her so that she would not be injured. Then he knew no more. He struck the ground heavily, his head came into contact with a stone, and he be- came unconscious. But the lady was safe. Nor had Cibuta saved her that she might again fallinto the hands of her cruel ab- ductors, At the last moment he had caught sight of his friends, as they came on to his aid at full speed, and he knew that although his time ’ had come, she, his maiden bride would be saved. Otherwise—but we will not attempt to search out his innermost thoughts. ‘*Oh! he must not die!” Nettie now cried. ““Yell me—please tell me that he will not die!” \she implored. She had already seated herself on the ground, and was holding her husband’s head on her lap. ‘Please git up, Miss Nettie,” said honest Bill Twicker, who now came up, ‘‘an’ let me find out how bad he is hurted.” ‘Pray do all you can,” the lady suggested, and laying Cibuta’s head gently down, she rose and walked away a short distance. As quickly as possible, then, Bill made an examination, but not a wound could he find, back, front, nor anywhere else, except the “‘bump ” on the head caused by the stone. And barely had he done, when Cibuta opened his eyes, glanced around at the faces bending over him, and exclaimed: ‘* Hello, citizens! Am I still with you?” ‘“That you be, fer a fact,” Bill assured him. ‘‘Chaw me, though, ef I didn’t think ye was a goner, fer sure.” ‘‘And so did I,” Cibuta acknowledged. ** Did you find the wound in my back? How bad— Rut, Nettie! Where is she?’ And forgetful of wound and everything else save her, he sprung to his feet. ‘‘Tfere I am!” Nettie responded, joyfully, and she sprung forward into his arms, Cibuta embraced her, and then turning to Bill Twicker he grasped his hand and said: ‘Bill, | owe this to you—you and your brave men and followers. I shail not forget it. Men, I thenk you, one and all.” ‘‘But, about that wound in yer back,” said Bill. ‘‘I didn’t see any signs of any wound there, alcalde. Let’s look ag’in.” And he wheeled Cibuta around to the moon to see. Not a sign of a wound could be seen. ‘No sir-ee/”’ Bill declared, emphatically. | dagger was known to most of them, that, 18 **Nary a wound thar, alcalde.” EEE eee eee a Cupid. The Giant “It is strange,’’ said Cibuta, ‘‘for I am appearance at Ante-Bar; and this new cne certain that a bullet hit me.” only served to add another chapter to the ‘Wal, it couldn’t ’a’ hit ye very hard, mystic tale. then.”’ All Ante-Bar knew the story by heart, even ‘* But it did. to the inscriptions, which had appeared and first.” disappeared upon and from the blade of the ‘Wal, all I—” | weapon, and those chiming lines ran through ‘‘ What is this?” suddenly asked the lady, | their minds as they listened. interrupting Bill. And as she spoke she’ It may not be out of place to repeat those stepped forward, took hold of a silken cord lines here. that was around Cibuta’s neck, and giving it The first, the original inscription, had been a slight pull, brought to light the—no, not as follows: the. but @ —- SILVER DAGGER. “Though this be buried deep from sight, Her quick eye had caught its gleam where | Yet shall it come again to light; it was half concealed under Cibuta’s arm, pedi oe empante oent ne where it had caught when he fell. ‘Kod the next a Sa fi “ The silver dagger! was the general ex- nd the next, also original—but so inely eliniition: engraved that it could hardly be seen, was For an instant Cibuta’s face paled. | this: What could this mean? It was not Ais dagger, for that was lying in | " his pocket at the moment. | ‘Twill work no further ill.” ‘This dagger is not mine,” he declared;| Then, after the death of Judge Hucklebee, ‘it is not the one you have seen before, my | Who was Known to be the fifth victim of the friends.” And as he spoke he took it from ; blade, these two legends vanished and an- Nettie’s hand. other took their place, ‘Ye say it ain’t yourn?” This, the third one, ran: “It is not mine,” Cibuta repeated. ‘‘ Mine “ The silver dagger’s work is ended, has no cord on it like this. and— But, here Pap paola a Serpe stein the bona) . “k eget oe his os peo rim wlio keepd it Meee sn reast he drew forth the original silver This was still on the blade. agger, and held the two up together. fe re if And now had come to light another dag- twas proof that could not be doubted. ger, with the legend which closes the last It was evidence positive. ‘ is preceding cuapter: tht th ee oe this second dagger come ‘* And when this blade shall find its mate, . P Who holds the two can lauzh at fate— Cibuta had no knowledge that it was sus- If he but act a wise man’s part ended from his neck by the silken cord—in And wear them crossed abuve his heart.” act, he had never seen it before in his life, Little wonder that the citizens of Ante-Bar It was a mystery. listened in awe. Many were the questions, answers and | Little wonder that Cibuta John was tempted theories of the men who stood around, but ! as he was to hurl the weapons from him as none could explain the puzzle. things accursed. ‘*An’ you say you never see’d it afore?” But no, Bill Twicker queried. | Twice they had saved his life, and he would ‘* I never saw it before.” | keep them, come of it what might. ‘* An’ ye didn’t know it war hung ’round| Such was his decision. yer neck?” Even for several moments after Cibuta had ‘*T did not.” stopped, the silence continued, and then ere ‘An’ you didn’t put it thar?” to the lady. | any further speculations could be made, or ‘* No,” was the reply, ‘‘I did not. I never | It almost took my breath at ** When five have fallen by this brand— And five most surely will Unless it be too soon destroyed— new theories advanced, it was rudely broken saw it previously to a moment ago, when you saw me draw it from under John’s arm by its | silken cord.” “Wal, then, it ave a mystery, an’ I give it up. It’s too many fer me!” | **And,” said Cibuta John, ‘‘ this is what saved my life when that bullet struck m back. Jt hit the handle of this silver dagger.’ This was true. There upon the handle of the dagger was the imprint of a bullet. ‘“Twice this night,’ Cibuta continued, ‘*has my life been miraculously saved, and each time by a silver dagger. ‘*l am no believer in witchcraft,” he add- ! ed, ‘‘ but there is certainly something about | this witch the human mind cannot compre- | hend.” While he was speaking he again held the two weapons up side by side, and they were found to be precisely alike in every particu- lar. And, most strange to relate, the bullet- mark on the handle of each was in exactly | fair range. the same spot. | ‘“And you, Nettie,” he hurriedly added, ‘* Say!” some one suddenly cried out. ‘‘Is catching the lady by the arm and drawing there any reading on the blade of this new | her quickly behind two of the horses which one?” | stood side by side; ‘‘ you remain right here.” ‘“‘Sure*’nough!” ejaculated Bill Twicker, And pressing a kiss upon her brow, he was now thoroughly excited. ‘Is thar, Ci-. about to turn away when she grasped his buta?”’ hand and detained him. Ciouta John held the dagger so that the ‘‘One moment, John,” she said. moonlight fell full upon it, and then an- | give me those daggers.” swered at once: Cibuta quickly complied with her request. ‘Yes, there is,” As soon as she received them, Nettie ‘Read it! Read it!” was the cry. caught hold of Cibuta’s coat, and, with ‘* And when this blade shall find its mate, quick dexterity, thrust the weapons through A ton est Se en peeig. tn fate— the cloth, one nee es other, thus crossing ” them directly over his heart. And wear them crossed above his heart. Then, iy” looping the silkencord over their points and hilts, she secured them in their place, saying: “Tf there is any truth in that legend you read aloud, you shall be protected by the charm of the silyer daggers.” Cibuta would have protested, but at that moment the outlaws were within range, and the men of Ante-Bar orened fire upon them. So, once more cautioning his bride to stand in that particular place, he sprung to the defense. On the outlaws came, by the thunder of many hoof-strokes. So interested had all the men been, that _ they had entirely forgot the outlaws for the time being. | But they suddenly came to realize their presence now. At the first sound of the heavy tread of the horses, every man of the rescuers grasped his weapons and faced around. And the sight they beheld was at first a startling one. Down upon them the outlaws were bearing at full speed, and the gleam of their revolvers could be plainly seen. After retreating beyond range, they bad stopped, held a short parley, and resolved to attack the rescue party and recover their prize. And this was the charge, ‘Stand behind your horses, men!” Cibuta John instantly ordered, ‘‘and pour lead into those villains as soon as they come within ‘* Please CHAPTER XXI. THE CHARM OF THE SILVER DAGGERS, Waite Cibuta John was reading the in- | scription on the blade of the silver dagger so mysteriously found, a deep silence pre- ‘vailed. All around him the men listened with dee interest, and almost held their breath in awe. The history of the first—the original silver a 0 ee to say—its history from the time of its first unchecked, and es nNiGboo (E(@) S) (elo)