Beadle's Dime Library No. 411: The White Crook — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

Pur a” 4 a’ or . a, ,~*? 4 * i. el , ot et tn a eens . ers a ee -9@- ° — ae tea ro ee ae 4 ane ios + auc ~ : } a the most of the remainder of daylight; * 390 in Say et et , << : The White Crook. ae Se 2 a Sl Kf ae *~ - te = Sle tot ten aeienins emenieeee = $i sles Ser pate ‘ Prva hr? J 2 miss : wt * Ve ‘ ’ * y a> i - | te Ley ne ) , . ot EP Eis ‘, ’ . cult route, over ridges and through ravines, un- til they came out on a rocky level which, they were quite sure, must terminate at the cliff which they desired to reach, Indeed, they believed that they had but a lit- “tle distance to travel to reach that point, when ‘the main trail took a turn tothe left, and evi- dently descended ths mountain. At the same time they perceived that a smaller “trail led straight on toward the cliff. ‘*Durned if I ain’t stumped this time!” ex- claimed the leader. ‘‘ I’m keen to bet now that this trail leads down to the Bella Vista pass, and -so thar must bea way out that we never dis- kivered, sharpsighted as we thought ourselves.” This was the opinion of the others, and the «question was, what should be done about it? Shawnee Jim and Captain Dunning, after ex- amining the ground carefully, were confident ‘that the main party which they had followed from the glen had taken the larger and newer ‘trail which descended the mountain. ** Seems to me,” observed the old man, ‘ that they must ha’ got wind of our goin’s on, and so they took the hint and cleared out.” *“Why should they have chosen this route, then,” demanded Mark, ‘‘ when it would have been easier for them to take that which brought us into the glen yonder?” ** Mebbe because they thort that we mought - scome in on ’em that way.” ‘*T don’t see what there can have been that was likely to give them any suspicions. But we need not argue the point, We want to follow them, wherever they’ve gone; but it seems tome that before we try the downward trail, we may as well go on to the edge of our basin and see chow the scheme was worked there.” * All right, Mark, as we can’t be fur from ‘that p’int; but you must remember that it’s gittin’ late, and we hain’t got much time to ‘spare. ‘ Pile cart hastened forward, wishing to make ut they grogtos had not taken many steps when their hawnee was arrested by a warning sign from Jim, who was in the lead. He had suddenly dropped down behind a rock, rand directly he came crawling back to them with the information that there wasa man just ahead of them, who seemed to be seated at the sedge of the cliff. This was. good news, as they might expect to getsome important information from the man af he could be | pao d secured. The task of securing him was delegated to Shawnee Jim as the most catfooted one of the ‘party. He was directed to creep up on the solita ~watcher and seize him before he ‘‘ could squeal,” _ -while the others were to follow cautiously with _ “the view of supporting the attack if pts dM i The attempt was successful, though not qui as successful as might have been desired. - $Shawnee Jim crept forward noiselessly, and the first his comrades knew of his action was when he threw himself upon the watcher and seized him from behind. The man was easily mastered; but, before the -others could come up and choke him down, he - . had uttered a shrill cry which must have been at - i oie = ay) Ady as Re ara ? - > Sh “My ; , ey iS i be 7 * he may toet “FA : ie eas the --meant for a signal. He was a rough scalawag of a fellow, evident- ly frightened by his seizure, and the situation at the edge of the cliff, including the scheme for _ stealing the ore, was made plain by a glance. A heavy pulley was made fast to the trunk of san overhanging tree, and a coil of rope lay near a ‘Havin g satisfied themselves on this point, the -attention of the party was turned to the prison- er, who had been dragged backward and bound, ‘Where are your partners?” demanded Mark, The man made a show of ignorance and stu- ‘pidity, pretending that he did not know what was meant by his partners, but he was speedily _ forced into a realizing sense of his position. You have been caught in a thieving game,” ‘said Stepney, ‘‘and we have the right to strin you up. Tell us who your bpd are, an what has become of them, and we will turn you loose, If not, we will hang you with your own ‘rope as quick as a wink.” "he prisoner was apparently glad to purchase his life upon such easy terms, and declared his ss to tell all he knew. Zeke Stebbins, he said, was the head of the gang that had n stealing the ore, and the Fisit of Mark Stepney and Captain Dunning to the basin had convinced them that they had ‘been deceived and would be hunted down, ry “Ga ‘ Therefore they had decided to turn the tables -on their foes by watching their departure and striking them in their own home, and for that ara they had taken the downward trail. ** How long ago?” demanded Mark. *’Bout two hours, I reckon.” ** How many of them?” ** Five with Zeke.” The sound of distant shots startled the party. _ “They are at Bella Vista now!” exclaimed ‘Mark. ‘‘Comeon, my friends! We haye no time to lose.” ‘** Not that way,” protested oung man started tow ‘ Captain Dunnin aed the other tra ! ar “* This ‘ll be the quickest.” ¥ \ 4 \ CHAPTER XLII. HZR FATHER’S OWN CHILD. THERE was uneasiness at Bella Vista after the departure of the search expedition, and the person mainly afflicted was Hester Sarpy. She had seen the party go away and had made no objection, unless her mournful looks might be construed into a protest; but they had no sooner got out of sight than she began to worry herself and her friends by imagining all sorts of harm that might happen to them. Her friends sympathized with her, but none of them felt or professed to feel any such un- easiness as afflicted her. It was in vain that Hester argued that they did not know whither they were going or whom the search might disclose; that they might be ambushed and slain, or met and overcome by a superior force—her friends could not be per- suaded that the absent men were incurring any special danger. ‘* Here is where the danger is, if there is any danger anywhere,” observed Jack Bunn; ‘‘ and that reminds me that we are very neglectful in leaving the passes unguarded. Mr. Sarpy, if he could be with us, would object to that most seriously. Somebody might sneak in here as the Apaches did, and give us lots of bother.” With the praiseworthy object of atoning for this fault as far as possible, Jack sallied forth after dinner to guard the cut that led down to the pass, and Eva went with him. It is quite likely and such was Bob Dunning’s openly expre opinion, that he made this move for the sake of being alone with his lady love; but there surely seemed to be a warlike purpose in it, as he was fully armed, and Eva carried a Winchester rifle. Yet there was nothing like military discipline maintained in their double sentryship. They sauntered down to the head of the cut, sea themselves there in the shade, and ap- parently paid no attention to what was going on anywhere outside of their two selves. In pursuance of the praiseworthy purpose of civilizing the ex-Apache girl, Jack was pace employed in teaching her a new language whic she was more than willing to learn, and that was the language of love. Thus the few hours that remained of the day passed wey and quietly, and the sun was pre- paring to set behind the hills to the westward of the plateau before the teacher and his pupil per- ceived that it was getting late. Then the teacher suggested to the pupil that she had better go up to the house. ‘**T will go when you go,” answered Eva. “No, you must go without me. I was not joking when I said that this place ought to be guarded, and I think I had better stay here.” “T will stay with you, then. Hush! what's that?” She drew him back behind the rock, and there they listened to the sound of voices approaching them from the upper ena of the plateau. ** Is it possible that our people ave come back already?” whispered Jack. ‘Of course it isn’t. ae, would have come up this way. Who can t be? ‘Wait a little, and we will see.” Cautiously they peered out from their con- cealment, and plainly saw five men creeping along, under cover of the trees and near the edge of the plateau, toward the house, ‘** They are not our friends,” whispered Jack. ‘*No, they are bad men, and at the head of them is that squaw man—him you call Zeke Stebbins,” ‘* They are our enemies then. They have giy- en our friends the slip, = have come to cap- ture the house, supposing it to be undefended. Stand aside, Eva, and let me shoot that scoun- drel down,” ‘* Not yet, Jack, unless they should stop here and find us. Let them pass on if they will, and then our chance comes to hurt them. Jack Bunn knew that it would be idle to argue the point or attempt to dissuade her from her urpose. Besides, the VEree was a good one, the best plan that could be devised. So they waited and watched, with cocked rifles and anxious eyes. The five men passed their position, and moved steadily and silently toward the house. ** Now, Jack!” whispered Eva, and her touch on his arm was like an inspiration to him. Lightly she stepbed forth from the place of concealment, posted herself behind an adjoining tree, and opened fire upon the men who were swiftly walking away toward the house, | Jack selected another tree, and followed her example with most commendable alacrity. The first shots told, and the sneaking depreda- tors found themselves in a most unpleasant pre- dicament, Unexpectedly assailed from the rear, they were at first so astonished that they did not know what to do with themselves. As wellas Jack and Eva could judge in the growing darkness, at least one of them hastened on toward the house, and two others dodged be- hind trees to fight the foes who had sprung up in the rear, They fought well, too, as soon as they discov- FAS oe ‘ | Ar © ae — ‘ E . < —_ ered that they wee not outnumbered or out- flanked, and the bullets rattled in a lively manner about the trees which sheltered Jack and Eva. After a few minutes of this furious fusilade a lucky bullet from Jack’s rifle disabled one of the intruders, and the other ran off, probably in the direction of the house. As soon as the noise of the firing ceased in that quarter the two remaining fighters heard shots in the direction of the house, and then the wel- come sound of the voice of Bob Dunning, who was calling Eva as loud as he could yell. Sbe answered with a shrill and peculiar cry which was doubtless understood by him for whom it was intended, “We are all right now,” said Jack. ‘‘We have got them where we want them, and can soon Clean out the scamps. Stay here a bit, Eva, or step back to the head of the pass, while I run and help Bob to hunt them down,” He ran toward the house without waiting for an answer, and Eva started to follow him; but she stopped, hesitated, and flnally returned to the place of concealment at the head of the cut. As there were then no more sounds of shoot- ing or of strife of any kind, it seemed that there were no more rascals left to hunt down. Those who had not been killed or disabled must have taken to flight and made their escape, Eva began to get impatient when she had been left alone there a few minutes, and to Jong for the return of Jack, who would of course come and report to her as soon as possible. She heard hasty steps approaching the cut, and walked forth to greet her lover, but was surprised, if not astonished. It was not Jack who came running to her, but Zeke Stebbins, the squaw-man! Stebbins was as much surprised as she was, Doubtless supposing that the pass was no longer guarded, he had sought that way of es- cape, only to find the girl in his path. As it happened, the charges in her rifle nad been all shot away, and she had no more car- tridges. She was well aware of her defenseless condi- tion, but was not on that account a bit less reso/ute and fearless, standing there at the head of the cut and barring the way with her slight form. ‘ith Zeke Stebbins it was neck or nothing. He must burst that frail barrier or be cap- tured by the men who were seeking him. ‘*Git out, girl!” he shouted. ‘Clear the track, if you don’t want to be hurt!” ‘You squaw man!” answered Eva, with an intensity of contemptuous emphasis, ‘“* Git out, I say!” ordered Stebbins, as he drew a revolver and advanced upon her. As quick as thought she swung her rifle and struck up the revolver, which was discharged harinlessly. fe swinging rifle did yet more effective work, It struck the squaw man on the side of his head, knocking him senseless to the ground. The next moment Jack Bunn, who had heard the report, came running to the spot, reaching it just in time to hear voices and steps coming up the cut. ‘‘ Who’s there?” he shouted as he leveled his rifle down the pass. An answering voice assured him that friends were at hand, and Mark Stepney and his com- rades.came hurrying up the cut. A few words from Jack put them in possession of the main facts, and Eva was highly compli- mented as the heroine of the occasion. ‘* Are all safe at the house?” demanded Mark. ‘* All safe and sound, and all the rascals have been killed or have got away, except this one, and I don’t know whether we will have him to hang or not.” Mark Stepney hastened to the house to join Hettie, and the other eaeee up Zeke Stebbins and followed slowly behind. It was for some time doubtful whether the squaw man would live or die; but Eva’s sturdy stroke had fractured his skull, and he lingered in unconsciousness until near morning, when he was pronounced dead. Meantime the plateau had been thoroughly searched with out discovering any of the late as- sailants alive, with the exception of one man who had been disabled by Jack Bunn’s last shot, That fellow was taken to the house and cared for until he was entirely recovered, when he was permitted to remain at his own request, and he proved his gratitude by faithful service. Bob Dunning returned to the ranch with Joe Buller and Ben Boggs; but Captain Dunning and his wife did not follow them untila clergyman had been secured and there had been a double wedding at Bella Vista. The house and the platform were ample for the accommodation of two families, and it was long before Mark Stepney got Hark Sarpy’smine in working order, and a single stamp mill with water power from the mountain made it a pay- ing property. f marriage did not complete the civilization of Eva, her first child settled the business, and from that day to this the occupants of Bella Vista have been troubled no more by Apache or other > raids, THE END. ‘ EComicboo e ad : *4 =, > ° “» $ P >. a nn f i ‘ '