Beadle's Dime Library No. 415 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

| : * Fad - muzzle. ¢ eT ate | ” “hose who : _ 4le] their position in earnest, and that, too, with - gearcely a thought of Frazer Hot Heart. + + 10 he a weapon; but he had ascended as high as possible and stood there rolling up his sleeves, But one of the lynchers retained his coolness and purpose enough to say, angrily: ‘* Miss Nettleton, are you mad?” ** Mad?” she echoed, derisively. ‘‘That is a ‘fine question for a madman to ask.” ** Do you want the murderer to escape?” ‘“‘Nobody is going to escape. TFT razer Hot Heart is my prisoner now, and, if necessary, [ will march him back to jail at the revolver’s But you who would have doomed him tvithout trial—oh! cowards, are you not asham- ed!” ‘You needn’t fly so high: ’twas your lover whom he killed,” said an insolent voice from the crowd. But Miss Nettleton seemed beautifully uncon- scious of it. ‘* Every person is innocent to true men until proved guilty,”she added, ‘‘and it is nothing short of murder to bang one who has not been tried. Youare many men and I only a woman, but you interfere here at peril of your lives, Keep back, or I fire!” Hot-Heart had remained perfectly calm, but he now held out one hand and addressed the mob himself. ‘Gents, keep cool,” he said, quickly. ‘‘’Tis the duty of every man to obey when Beauty commands, and if I were you I would really postpone the hanging for to-night. I, for one, aminno hurry. It’s a trivial affair, and I can meet you any time again that you wish.” *‘ There will be no more done in the case ex- cept by the legal authorities,” declared Miss Nettleton. ‘But the boys will be disappointed,” urged Hot Heart. ** No we won't!” shouted one of the most ruf- fianly-looking of the crowd. ‘‘The job shall be done now !” He sprung upon the pile of boxes as he spoke, - leaping toward the Fire-Eater, and a huge knife littered in his hand as tbe lamp-light fell on ma gon, The man obeyed, and well he might. A re- volver had been thrust almost into his face, and the hand which held it was as unwavering as the voice which sounded the terse command, And it was Barbara who acted and spoke; wilfile her face was as stern, menacing and beautiful as that of an old-time heroine. It was an impressive scene, and the specta- tors hardly breathed, but the spell was soon broken. The ruffian’s knees began to quake, and he _ «vheeled, sprung from the box and plunged into {ae crowd. | An une ted cheer arose from the crowd. ad been undecided before, now set- Barbara Nettleton had conquered them all. They ‘vere men who could appreciate heroism jn all forms, and when it came in the form of a beautiful woman 9's could resist no more than Cc if the mighty Fe | «- - e. ” . , Lee ) ©, he f iy a in jail, in the hands of the law.” re a."te ™ * rat H . * = a 7 _ ‘times, let me say one pase, ac had been rolling over em. Give her her own way, say I!” shouted a loud -wron voice from the crowd. ‘‘She’s right and we're ,and I’m ready to fight the man who would molest the Fire-Eater now. His place is nother cheer. - Hot Heart turned quickly to Barbara: ‘The day is yours, and though I talk folly at now with all my eart—you have saved my life and I am grate- ful. God bless you!” She looked him full in the face. ‘** Have I saved a man innocent or guilty?” *¢ Innocent! I swear to vou!” _-- -«& Thelieve you. I could almost give you my + ad ~ se ° Za e > r hand were it not for appearances.” Was it proud Miss Nettleton who spoke the Jast sentence? It was said on the impulse of the moment, and at the end she grew confused, aa . = ¥ = % f . SS “id ‘ . a * ’ “zt : 2) yg P ; , oY e ey. _ oy | Ww ye Pal * * UU _ ’ oa Us } é 4, ': fd ae. flushed and turned quickly away. She re- aremark she had made almost uncon- sciously; her thoughts, not her judgment had spoken. . -” Several of the best men of Clifftown came to the front, and under their escort, Hot Heart was taken back to jail. They promised Miss Nettleton that no more violence should occur, and she knew she ‘could trust them. Then she was anxious to reach home. Timothy brought the horses and started, but their pace was slow, and bara rode with downcast eyes and drooping She was no longer the imperious queen, and a flush of shame dyed her lovely cheeks. ‘* What will people say of me? I shall be the talk of the county, and shall dare face no one, - Ohi why didn’t I ask Paul to come with me?” hts like these she rode with drooping head until the clatter of hoofs in front caused her to look up. A horseman came ng down the road at a mad gallop. She recognized Paul; he reined in his horse b er side so suddenly that he almost lost his seat. ‘‘ Where have you been?” It was a shout on his part, and so filled with Occupied with thou ee Hot H ae * “ m -o- P ™ ‘ “eg ee ee ee cart, the Detective Spy. ee eee LT ...QQ ——— + ee anger, reproof and even more, that the high J And there they were now, no doubt, though spirit of the shrinking girl flashed to her aid. he looked her brother steadily in the face, and as steadily replied: ‘To Chfftown.” ** Why did you go?” ‘*To save a human life from a mob.” Paul hissed forth an oath. ‘* Have you interfered in Hot Heart’s behalf?’ ‘“-Yes, T have.” ‘* Miserable girl! you forget that you are a woman? heavens! what has the Nettleton family come to, that one of them has become so lost to all sense of honor?” a) Sir 19 ‘**'You heard mv words?” **[ did, sir,” Miss Nettleton replied, in a calm, clear voice, ‘‘and were you not my brother, | would lay my whip across your face with all the strength of my arm!” CHAPTER XII. RED JAGUAR. PAuL NETTLETON had aroused a whirlwind, but not yet was he wise enougb to know it. He was mad with wrath that after all his la- bor to incite the mob against Hot Heart hisown sister should thus ruin his elaborate plot, and he was playing the bully as he had done when an ill-mannered boy at home. Barbara started her horse at her last words and would haverode on, but he seized her horse’s rein. ‘* Wait!” he cried, viciously. ‘‘I want you to know what you have done, You, a woman, have mixed with a mob to save a vile murderer, and the whole country will ring with your name and fame—a proud fame, truly!” ‘** No bonest man will speak ill of me; no cow- ard shall !” ‘* You'll find that all will speak. How dared you bring disgrace on your family?” ‘*T have not,” ‘*T say you have,” 3 Well, I am my own mistress,” ‘‘You would not long be so if a mad-house were near.” “That will do, Paul Nettleton. You have shown your nature plainly, to-night, and the man who turns against his own sister without cause is ascoundrel. Were you an honorable man you would defend, not condemn me, Lam glad to know Sn as youare, lrcm this day we are on speaking terms, and no more. Release my horse!” Calm and quiet was her speech, every word going incisively home like pointed steel, but, under the calm exterior was a vein of contempt which angered Paul anew. In answer to her last direction he snarled: ** Not until I free my mind—” ** Let go that rein !” The words shot from her lips impetuously, fiercely, and ber riding-whip was raised over his head. His hand fell away. Fighter of jaguars and mas he might be, but that command appealed to a new feeling within him. His brute courage was untouched, but his small, ignoble mind had yielded to a stronger, loftier one. Another moment and he was alone in the road. Barbara had started away, and after her went honest Tim Welch. A very mad man was Tim. ‘* Be the powers,” he was thinking, ‘‘ Oi wish the mistress had seen fit to ask me to settle the uarrel. Ob! wovl’wt Oi jest like to hammer that onmannerly tafe ave the worruld into mince-n’ate? Begorra, is it a Nettleton he is? Then, by the powers, it’s mesilf is thinking that the rest ave the family must have been changed in their erndles. The low-lived blackguard!’ The honest Irishman looked back at the slow- ly following young man. “Oh! wouldn’t Oi like to hould on a bit an’ give him a few licks for luck!” Tim did nothing of the kind, but attended Barbara faithfully home. Before she entered the house she thanked him in her kindest man- ner for his attendance, and Tim would have died for her, if necessary, after that. The hour was so late that Commodore Nettle- ton had retired in blissful ignorance of what was transpiring at the village, but it was long before Barbara a She felt that she had made a mistake in going to Clifftown without a companion of her own station in life, but this only served to make her feel more bitter against Paul. He had turned against her in what seemed a base way, and it was far from her nature to forgive such a thing. Paul bad never been a kind brother. Five years her senicr, he had been a tyrant before he went to travel, and he seemed even worse now, Finding that she continued excited and fever- ish, she finally opened the window and stepped out on the piazza, As she did so, she saw that a light was still burning in the east room. It was not a sleeping apartment, but that in which Paul and Professor Hazlitt had for some days been holding their mysterious, secret in- terviews, x it was nearly one o’clock. Previously Barbara had given but little at- tention to her father’s grumbling, and curiosity, about their secret sessions, but her own curiosity was at last aroused, What was the meaning of these prolonged in- terviews with lowered curtains and locked doors? She had noticed that, outside the secret room, Have you no shame? Do | Paul paid but little attention to the taciturn Great | professor. Clearly, they were engaged in some work of importance, despite Paul’s assertion that it was trivial in one sense of the word, and she felt that it was not right to keep every one else in the dark, 4 Her father, at least, ought to be made a confi- ant. She watched the curtained window for some time, and then went back into the house. As she secured her window, she remembered the care taken every night by Paul to see that the whole house was properly fastened. What did it mean? Jt was absurd to suppose that he was actu- ated by personal fear, after all his experience in the wild woods of Mexico and Central America. She remembered the commodore’s suggestion that Paul might bave brought home a lot of diamonds, but in that case Professor Hazlitt would have been of no use. She bad already tested his knowledge of gems, and found that ke knew nothing ubout them. The object of their persistent labor behind closed doors remained a mystery. Shortly after Barbara retired to the house there was another sign of hfe about’the place. One of the rear doors was unlocked, and after some reconnoitering, the person with the key came out, secured the door bebind her, and glided softly away in the darkness. It was Loyola, the Indian woman. She moved quickly toward the east, and cid not pause until she reached the sparse growth of bushes and small trees that covered the ridge before mentioned—the border of Shaker’s Tim- ber. She had evidently directed her steps toward a designated point, for there she stopped and looked about as though in search of some one, She did not have to wait. The bushes opened and a man came over with a light, yet strong and dignified step. It was Red Jaguar, the In- dian chief, and his tall, powerful figure had never looked more impressive. ‘* Welcome, daughter!” he said, in his pecu- liarly musical, sonorous voice, In marked contrast came her guttural, thor- ou eg Soy accents in ay ‘“ Have you waited long, Great Chief?” ‘“‘No; and if I had, it would not matter. Never run any risk to see me, for the white ople must not suspect you. I bave waited longs and can still wait. hat are months and years in a cause like ours? Is there news?” ‘No, Great Chief.” ‘A light still burns in the house, Who is there :” ‘*My master’s son and the Silent Man.” ‘* Still striving to master the secret?” ce Yes.” ‘*T like not that little old man. He is learned and shrewd, and the secret may be theirs before we find opportunity to deprive them of their unlawful possession.” ‘* Ts it not dangerous to wait?” ‘Yes; but what can we do? It must vanish like the morning dew when we strike, and leave no trace behind. Probably I might secure it any time by force, but this is far from my pur- pose. We must be patient. There is danger that they may at any time discover the secret, but, wise as the Silent Man is, I believe even be will have to work long. Have you any news?” **No, Great Chief.” “‘Tgs there still nothing to show where it is kept?” 4 ‘Nothing at all. When they are notin the east room it is always uxtastened, and there is no place there to lock anything up.” “‘Can it be Paul Nettleton carries it about?” ‘*T don’t know.” Red J reflected for a moment and then shook his head slowly. ‘‘ Tt is not the way of white men, and there is probably some other place. His race have what they call a ‘safe’; a thing of metal, to protect the contents from thieves and fire, Did you ever see one?” ‘*' Yes, Great Chief; in San Francisco.” ‘*There is none at Coast Castle?” ‘*T have never seen one,” “Then there is no way except for you to watch further. Do nothing rash, but try and learn where it is kept.” ‘* Tt shall be done, Great Chief.” ‘“‘ If we succeed in this, your name will be forever linked with the new glory of our race. When our ple are again raised to power, those w]o placed them there will be renowned above al! save the blessed ruler whose name con never d.c. Be patient, steadfast and cautious, Loyola, for we must not fail.” ‘*T am ready to risk my life, Great Chief, ! Eomicbooks (E CO Ls " ;