Beadle's Dime Library No. 429 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

7 5 = - = - az = _ ——— ee = — 7-7 $ i . Pa 26 a pin in that offer, If it’s onthe square I markably bad.” True enough, progress was beginning to be slow, and the way rough. Conversation languished, Mr. Darelle huddling up in a corner with closed eyes, while Hawkins looked absently out at the trail, or covertly eyed the third passenger, with whom it scarcely seemed worth while to attempt to enter into conversation. So the time wore on. The party in the rear must have loitered by the way, for they did not put in an appearance, and finally the stage reached the tumble-down cabin known as Ab Nye’s half-way house. Ordinarily, except when the stage was assing, the place was lonesome without imit, but to-day, to the surprise of the driver, therewere signs of life and population. “‘Suthin’s wrong,” he said, leaning down and addressing Hart Hawkins, “There’s three er four gerloots loungin’ ’round. An’ thar’s one stranger ez lit out fur Small Hopes a-hossback three hours afore we did. Ther stage are a hummer, out itd ska’ssly gain that fur in a squar’ deal. Ther bridge over Devil Gulch are down, I'll bet a slug. You hear me?” The bridge was down, as Hawkins found out in avery few moments, The stranger alluded to was Sam Loftus, and he was smoking a pipe and taking things easy in front of the shanty. He looked up without much animation, and nodded slowly. ** Found ther bridge bu’sted so it can’t be got over ter-night, though thar’s some gen- ‘ous-minded galoots fixin’ at it. Thort I'd come back an’see whar ther rest ov ther travelin’ ’munity went to. You goin’ ter stay hyar, er go back?” ‘‘Whew! That puts the fat in the fire. I wanted to know something about the gulch when [ got there. I dont believe in your chopping deals. If we open a bank and then find we ought to have gone our bottom dollar on short-cards, it'll be another Charley Shiffler lay-out. Ain’t there any other way of getting to the Hopes?” ‘* Might, afore mornin’. Thar’s a blind trail what they used ter use, *bout thirty mile ’’round, Ef yer say so I'll try it, an’ you kin come on to-morrer. War’ goin’ an’ then I thort I’d wait an’ see what come in on ther stage. “Tain’t no use ter argy, I s’pose; but ther signs sez, go back. I’ve a yearnin’ ter tetch ther left-hand upper corner ov old Hoopnagle’s clock. But it’s jest ez you're a-sayin’, boss. I’m willin’.”’ ‘Thought you had got tired touching for luck. ‘Your signs will break you all up yet. Anyhow, I'd like you to get to Small Hopes to-night and keep anecye on matters as I told you; but I didn’t figure on the extra ride.” ‘Then I’m a-goin’. So long.” Sam quietly slouched away to get his horse. He wasn't a loud talker, but he knew how to speak to a purpose; and he had got the lay of the trail he spoke of down very fine. ‘‘I’m not exactly going back on an old pard,” thought Hawkins; “but it’s just as well to get him out of the way before the rest of the gang comes. He might cut up rusty at the last minute.” It seemed a little too much to ask Sam to meet the young lady for whom he had ex- ressed such decided disapprobation, at ye’s. And he did not care to have Loftus a witness of his own carryings on with the lady aforesaid. If he saw the chance, he in- tended to make therunning. It was with some satisfaction that he saw him disappear- ing down a narrow trace, while up the broader trail came the three missing eques- trians, Boutelle had lost his preoccupied look, and all were in the best of spirits. Their faces scarcely fell when they heard the announce- or remain in the cabin over night. Hawkins ES EE —_——— cc, tt el lll LAL COC lll LLC LD LLL LLL LLL i cll ment that they would either have to return | for alltime. Either there has been a cloud- of the men from the Isabella are out fixing at it.” “You gentlemen go,” said Leona. ‘‘ Fa- ther and twill remain here, rest, and take in the chances of making this old shanty com- fortable for the night. A woman’s hands can do a great deal.” ‘All right. I want to see my men any- how. And perhaps we may find it in shape, after all.” “We're with you,” added Hawkins, who felt the necessity for playing to Leonas lead. ‘They will be safe enough here under Ab’s Winchester, and we'll be back before they have a chance to get lonesome.” The governor would have held back, but & look from Leona decided him. ‘They all went off together. Nye was scarcely as bad-looking as _ his wayside hostelry, and there were four rooms are cabin, small as it seemed from the out- side, As Mr. Darelle expressed a desire to sleep, and looked exhausted, he was given a shake- down. Scarcely had he closed his eyes when Leona glided from the room, and seeing that no one was in sight, darted down the moun- tain trail taken by Sam Loftus. CHAPTER XXVIII. CONJUGAL ENDEARMENTS. Tue road was narrow and rough, so that Sam Loftus made but slow progress at the best. It was only the turns in the trail that had shut him out of sight so soon. When he had gone half a mile—perhaps less—he halted, dismounted, tied his horse to a convenient sapling, and sat down by the roadside. He seemed in no hurry to reach Small Hopes; and, in fact, muttered audibly: ‘*Rush er no rush, pard ’ll hev ter wait. ’Tain’t often I hev biz; an’ gen’rally I’m slow on ther talk. Reckon rl hev ter reel off a few yards ter-night, though. I ain’t jest sure how it'll come, but ther signs is right, an’ ther balance’lf be ‘long afore day- break if I hev ter go back to ther shanty. Ter think ov him a-foolin’ me—Sam Loftus— his own pard. But that’s ther way. When calico gits afore yer eyes. A man ain’t got no more use fur pards, common sure, er ary- thing. I'll stop it ef I go dead bu’st.” A light footstep approaching never made him lift his gaze, though he heard it beyond a doubt. There was a little flush on the upper part of his face telling that much. ‘‘Well, sir, silent as usual? And yet I fancied you might have something to say to the woman you have wronged.”’ Then he looked up, and said simply: ‘*] thought the wrongin’ was all on ther other side.” ‘“‘You did? That’s like a man. Now what is it? You see I’m not going to beat around the bush, or try to deceive you. The moment I saw you I knew it was no use, Why have you followed me here? What do you mean to do?” ‘*T haven’t follered yer—I’d on’y be too lad ter put a thousand miles atwixt us. It’s Gans blind luck az we met, whar I'll sw’ar I never expected ter see yer.” ‘*But still you don’t answer. I am not caring why or how we came together, but I never saw that look in your eyes without it’s meaning something. e have got to come to an understanding right here and now. And I must have a safe guarantee that my future will not be interfered with. What sort of a one are you willing to give me?” ‘‘T ain’t givin’ guarantees, ez a gin'ral thing; an’ | don’t see no call fur it in this case, It’s one frum you I want. What dev- lish sorter game hev you bin playin’?” Silent Sam spoke slowly, as though with ‘an effort, and answered her question by another one of his own. | ‘*No game at all have I been playing, but Hair Trigger Tom of Red Bend. ‘the shanty, and if so what matter. clutches and you mean now to market the may see you later.” burst, or else it has been tampered with. If | secret. I1f I will not pay, you will gotomy ' “Very well, so it is in a reasonable time. | it was not so far, I would say we should all | father.” , Ough! The road is certainly getting re- } go on and take a look at it. Probably some * Ruthyer a healthy sort ov father. Can't say I ever heered ov him in ther old days when you thort thar war no one like Sam Loftus. Whar did yer find him, er did yer make him fur this ‘casion only? Thar’s suthin’ queer ‘bout it that I'll want him ter explain ef you don’t.” “I told you nothing of my past life be- cause I did not care to explain that I had fallen so low as to mate with one like you, though I had not then learned my own deg= radation since I did not yet know the vile- ness of your principles. When the time came that I did, I left you without a mo- ment’s hesitation. I did not go inseareh of my father, but he came for me. [| have health, beauty, wealth and—” ‘‘A husband!” added Sam, dryly. ‘‘No! I have not! I will not have! I thought you were dead—l was sure of it, You are dead to me, and must stay so. Claim me at your peril. I swear to you that I will kill you.” ‘Then you hev got some game afoot, jest ez I knowed. Ef it ain’t me yer’ torturin’, it’s sum one else. Reckon yer’ goin’ fur my pard now, Hart Hawkins. Ill save him from sich a she-devil ez you ef it takes a wheel off.” ‘Hart Hawkins!” in profound eccntempt. ‘‘A gambler! A beast of prey like your- self. What should I have to do with him?” ‘* Nothin’; but you will. Thar’s Eg. Shaw, ther big gun ov the Bar. Yer hev bin mak- in’ eyes at him; but he’s another hawk, an’ ef he kin clean out ther old man, he won’t take a ’cumbrance, ter say nothin’ ov ther fact thet he'll drop to yer afore he gits through, an’ then, good-by ag’in. When he leaves yer you'll go back fur Hart, an’ he's my pard. Ther truth hez got ter come out ter save him, an’ ter open ther eyes ov an in- nercent old fool. Ef 1 kin prove ter him thet you robbed me of ten thousand dollars, an’ lit out with a handsomer feller, maybe he'll watch out thet you don’t play him ther same trick. I don't b’lieve much in ther father dodge; but true er not I'll put him on his guard, an’ tell ther truth ter Hart, an’ ther outsiders.” He spoke doggedly, not roticing the flam- ing wrath that was rising higher and higher in her face. ‘‘If you dare!’ she cried, bending over and shaking her weg finger until it al- most quivered against his cheek, while her eyes gleamea like coals. “T reckon thar ain’t nothin’ I don’t dare. when it comes ter givin’ you yer just dues.” Then! There was a sudden, sharp report. Sam Loftus fell over backward, while Leona, with a smoking pistol in her hand, turned and fled back up the trail, unconscious of the face that had been, for a moment, turned toward her from among the bushes beyond. CHAPTER XXIX. _ THE OUTLAWS MAKE AN EFFORT. “(THE report can hardly be heard from boldest course is the best. It can be blamed on our friends, the road-agents. will be best to see one or two. I have not been gone twenty minutes. My return was cut off. Iwas hiding. Perhaps I can find another path by which to reach the place. At all events I am rid of him forever. to be heiress to a million. perhaps—Egbert Shaw.” Such things as these Leona was running over in her mind, not confusedly though in ‘haste, as she hurried up the trail, growing cooler with every step. She had thrust | away the pistol, ylanced at her hards to see that they were not stained, and was ready to defend herself to the last from any evil con- sequences of her desperate throw. Yet she did give a start, and thrust her | The. Perhaps it» Now Failing that—.. I have come to my own again, and am living | hand swiftly into her bosom when she came s thought he saw Leona give one glance at the | : . Had I never | face to face with some one as hurriedly ap- es e : back of the man vanishing down the bridle- | the life of an honest woman. | Ri path, but he was not sure. Anyhow, that | met you I could be happy forall my fu- | proaching. A second glance showed her th made no difference. ture.’ | that it was a woman—was Fairy Fan. 2 ‘‘ How far is the bridge, anyway?” asked ‘*Well, that ortn’t to interfere, S’pose “Stop, stop, Miss Darelle, siop !” she ex- ~ o x the governor. you jest take me to that father ov yourn an’ | claimed, though her voice was hardly above | a whisper. ‘Stand aside!” was the harsh answer. “Your jealous rage has followec me even here, but you make the mistake of your lifee- comicbooks,;com i ‘Three or four miles,” responded Colonel | say, ‘Hyar’s my husband; pervide fur us Zz Boutelle. both.’ 1 reckon he'd be willin’.” ** It is one of theimprovements I have had ‘You villain! That is what von want me put in, and I could have sworn itwould stay to do. You think you have me in your