Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 438 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

Hy ie rd iy 4 o M4 a hy a ray - -« , : > ' ft ash ov . so 8 ~ ee 2 ee - — ee —— me eee eee But no! Again came that glad cry, clearer and more distinct, and as she uncovered her eyes and peered through the night, she caught sight of a faint, twinkling light, bobbing up and down as it came nearer and nearer. It was no wilJ-o’-the-wisp! It was a lantern, and the hand of her dear, great, clumsy twin brother held it! With a sobbing cry that seemed enough to strangle her, Otelia sprung to her feet and dart- ed forward, keeping her eyes on that light. And only for the quick grasp of the guide’s hand as she stumbled, she must have come to grief with almost her first step. Thus support d, though she seemed ignorant of the fact, Otelia ran on, laughing, crying, hope and fear strangely mingled. Oklahoma Nick could understand her emo- tions, and as they drew a littic nearer the light, he cried out clearly: ‘‘ Your sister is well. How is it with you “all?” ‘Safe an’ sound, through the merey o’ God!” came the deep-tone response, as the light rusbed toward them with still greater rapidity. ‘*- You see, my faith did not fail us,” muttered Oklahoma Nick. ‘* l knew that all would prove well with them, though you—” But Otelia had broken away from him, and darting forward with marvelous swiftness, sprung into the arms of ber twin brother, sob- bing on his neck, covering his bearded tace with kisses, fairly wild with Joy. Brother though it was, Oklahoma Nick frown- ed darkly as he picked up the lantern which Pericles had dropped to embrace Otelia, and it was quite as much to cut short this affectionate scene as to learn what had happened that he uestioned the young giant. And as ho moved orward on the plain trail ot the new-comer with the lantern, naturally enough they followed after without delay. : There was much to tell, though the impor- tant points can be briefly summed up for our pose, The escape of the Wright family was quite as strange and happy as those which have al- ready been placed on record; yet, like them, true and unvarnished facts. Despite the frantic racing of their good horses, they could not clear the course of the twister. And only for one of those mighty leaps which the death-balloon so often take, death must have been their portion. As it was, the cyclone leaped over them, without so much as sbaking a fold of the wagon-covers, striking the plain beyond, to tear oP a pit large enough to bury a score of wagons ‘Ihe mad roaring of the winds as they whirled over, frightened the horses so that they stopped short in their tracks; two of them dropped down as though smitten with death, but this was through fright alone, | As the peril was past, though all knew that a heavy storm was almost sure to follow the twister, the course in which the doubly-laden horse had vanished was marked out, and speedy ursuit would have been given, only for the re- ux winds, which kept the two men busy fighting for their property as well as their lives. And, somehow, the proper line was lost, and since early dark Perry bad been vainly search- for them. “Ts ended now, though!” he cried, with a cheery laugh, as he pointed out a red light which suddenly came into view some distance off. ‘‘ That's the fire father promised to kee burning. The timber has hidden it until now, reckon.” He spoke truly; and, hand in hand, the twins ran along, eager to join their parents, whom one of the twain had despaired of ever meeting again in this lower world. And with them ran Oklahoma Nick, bearing the lantern, for if he did not feel quite so overjoyed at the outcome, he was far too wise to let his feelings appear on the surface just then. . Of the meeting—what? Only that it is not for idle description. It was like a resurrection: from death to life, peace and content. CHAPTER V. A WAIF OF THE STORM, NOTWITHSTANDING their almost miraculous escape from what had looked like certain death, the Wright family had not come through the storm entirely unscathed, The cyclone proper had leaped over them with- out doing the slightest damage, but in the wild reflux of winds, one of the wagons was over- turned and its contents somewhat demoralized, Fortunately this did not bappen until its liv- iia ee LL LL See ee contents were safely on foot, looking after | the frightened horses, freeing them from the traces and guarding against the mad flight which almost certainly follows such spells of paralyz- ing terror. Some broken hows, a torn cover, a few frailer articles demolished and the rest damaged to a ter or less degree by water, was the sum etal of the damage. But had it been a thou- andfold as great, it could not have brought a —— Oklahoma cloud to their brows, a regret to their lips in that hour of joyful reunion How joyful, only those who have passed | true enough, fur’s it gues, through a like separation can even begin to con- ceive, ‘*There was only one earthly hope left, ’Telie,” murmured the mother, a slight, delicate-looking woman who showed her years far more plainly than hersturdy helnmmate. ‘' It looked as though you might outrun the storm, and even when our peril looked blackest, I was praying for that!” ‘*1t’s only a hoss, some’d say,” he laughed, half-abashed yet wholly in earnest, ‘‘ an’ that’s Only a hoss; but wnile it was gone, they was cne link missin’, while now the hull thing looks complete. Here’s every livin’ thing they was with us when the cyclone fu’st showed up. It lcoked a sg dub’ous fer us all, but we’ve pulled through right; an’ somethin’ tells me we'll git to the happy eend jest as safe en’ sound!” t was much later than their customary hour “Tl never forgive him—never!” shivered | for eating supper, and now that the first trans- Otelia, with a quick glance toward Oklahoma | ports were dying down to soter content, the Nick, who was freshening the fire. ‘*l feared him then, I hate him now !” ‘*?Telie—he saved your life!” murmured Mrs. Wright, one thin hand slipping over the paling | lips of her child asshe glanced apprebensively toward the guide, ‘*T would have beensafer with vou. Andeven if not,” with a flash in ber great blue eyes that even tears could not entirely dim, ‘‘ what right had he to drag me away from your side against my will?” - ‘* He thought it was the only hope, "Telie. He thought—as we all believed—that death was cer- tain, here. fle could only save one; and who should that be but the one whom he Joved, whom he hoped to make his wife?” Though so softly speaking, almost timidly, like one who dreads being overbeard by other ears, Mrs. Wright was clearly in earnest as she pleaded the cause of Oklahoma Nick. It was plain enough that the dashing young guide had one stanch friend in camp, if no more. Otelia knew this, and ber face grew a little paler, a little graver, and even stern as she cast a brief glance toward the fire; to see Oklahoma Nick watching her, even while listening to Evan- der Wright as the excited boomer talked of their marvelous escape, 7 A little shiver shook her lithe figure as there flashed across her memory part of what had hap- ned out yonder on the rain-drenched plain; the impetuous words of love—the passionate kisses with which Nicholas Van Bibber had covered her face as she lay helpless in his arms, And a hot flush colored her cheeks as she remembered how piteously she had called him back, begging him not to desert her there in tbat horrible gloom. She must have been mad! She feared bim though she could not have told just why; had feared him almost from their first meeting, long years ago, when she was but little more than a child in age, though even thena woman in ex- perience. Now—as her memory freshened and rew more distinct—she hated him! ‘‘Mother,” sbe uttered, her tones strangely harsh as she whispered the words. ‘‘ Mother, if he had saved my life, and the rest of you had lost yours; if we bad been separated through bis action; [ would have killed him like a dog!” Hardly, almost viciously the words came, but with them vanished the feverish strength of the over-tried girl. She buried her face in the bosom of her mother, and their tears were mingled. Oklahoma Nick took a step tcward them as be saw this, but Evander Wright quickly checked him, shrewdly muttering: ‘*We ain’t wanted thar, lad, Let ’em cry it out; it’s true wimmen's medicine, an’ wu’th more’n a hull drug-store or a camp-meetin’. Stop ’em from cryin’, after all they’ve b’in through, an’—they'd bu'st !” j The result seemed to justify the boomer’s pre- diction, for after a few minutes of convulsive sobbing, Otelia gradually grew more calm and like her natural self, Of them all, Oklahoma Nick seemed the least at ease. The others, if they were still nervous an given to starting at the slightest sound fri m the night, and to watching the black space above them as if fearing the return of that frightful wind-scourge, were at least thankful for their miraculous preservation, and happy in being once more together. But the guide ap- parently forgot all this as he saw how persist- ently Otelia refused to be left alone with him, even for a moment. There was one little incident of a rather curi- ous nature which broke in upon the interchange of experience after the first transports of re- union were over. A low, whimpering neigh startle1 the little company, and as Oklahoma Nick sprung to bis feet with a sharp ejaculation, a saddled and bridled horse entered the circle of firelight. It was none other than the animal from whose back Nick and Otelia had been brushed by the whirling wing of the cyclone, ‘*Rumpled up a little,” chuckled Evander Wright as he slowly examined the creature and its trappings. ‘‘Them’ll need a little patchin’ an’ a buckle or two, an’ he’]] want time to grow out a bit o’ hair or so; but they ain’t nothin’ to cry over, as [ kin see!” ** God has been very merciful to us all,” chok- ingly murmured Mrs. Wright. ff lips were silent, more than one heart re- echoed her words, Somehow the safe return of this creature ap- peared to lift the last weight from the spirits of the Boomérs, and the improvement was so marked that Evander Wright could not help speaking of it. ee rugged, healthy hoomers tegan to think akout creature comforts. ‘* [t's wet an’ sloppy erovgh, Lut whar’s a fire thar’s cookin’ kin be did, I reckon,” laughing- ly called out Evander Wright; and this Lad the desired effect, Mrs. Wright ;utting Ofelia aside and bustling about after her usual fashion when meal-time drew nigh. Oklaboma Nick tried to take advantage of this division, but as though she divined his pur- pose, Otelia at once sougnt the side of her great twin brother, making pretense of helping him raisa the little tent in which, asa 1ule, the two women siept at night. And ence more the love- lorn guide fell back, baffled, discontented. The rain was stili falling, ard apperentl would last for some time, if not all night, ie here and there a star might have Leen seen peep- ing for an instant through a tiny rift in the clouds above the camp. Everything was pretty thoroughly so&ked, as the wagon which bad suf- fered most from the returning winds was the one which contained the every-day necessaries: the tent, sleeping a 3g and cooking uten- sils. But Perry Wright declared that he was afraid of catching cold if be was forced to eat su in the open air, and Otelia was only too willing to humor his threadbare joke by lend- ing him company. As Oklahoma Nick fell back, frowning, he gave a sudden start and dropped a hand to the weapons at his waist, omy | keenly through the gloom which fell around the firelit circle. ‘* Don’t shoot, stranger! It’s on’y me!” came a quavering, husky voice from out of the dark- ness, ‘‘Who ’re you, ard what’s you’re business here?” sharply cried the guide, a cocked revol- ver aimed by sound rather than sight. ‘* Show your colors in a hurry, and say your prayers if thev ain’t the right sort!” ‘*Let me come in the ligbt, stranger,” came that peculiar, shive ing voice again, if possible sounding more doleful than at first. ‘‘ The ain’t nobody but me—an’ I couldn’t hurt a sic kitten jes’ now, I’m so e-tarnally done up! Don’t shoot—it’d be wuss then murder!” As he spoke, the fellow advanced until be stood just within the circle of firelight, shrink- ing, shivering, one sbculder lifted to partially guard his forlorn-looking head. And over that trembling guard came the half-ludicrous, half- pitiful words: ‘** Does I look so mightv Cargerous, stranger? Does I look so awful wolfish that ye’re skeered to give me jes’ a whiff o’ heat an‘ light?” ” ei mighty little rattler can meke it precious hot for the biggest man, stranger,” slowly ut- tered the guide, but lowering his revolver as he turned to glance at his employers, if so the Wright’s might be called. There were no signs of the dreaded “ blue- coat” in this wretched stape, and that was enough for Evander W right. ‘*Come in, stranger,” he cried cordially. one hand dropping on the guide's revolver, pushing it still further aside. ‘' You’re more’n welccme to what we've got; it ain't this night of all nights that we ought to keep the latch-string pulled in!” ‘“That’s white—white an’ hearty, stranger,” muttered the waif of the storm, in a more lively tone ashe shuffled forward and bent over the crackling fire, almost thrusting his heiry bands into the leaping flames. ‘“ Lord knows I feel the need o’ some sech welkim! Lcrd knows I’ve gone through enough this Cay to—+,0u see’d it? You see’d that devil thing bcuncin’ an’ howlin’ an’ twistin’ through the air?” . ‘And only escaped death by the mercy of high Heaven, sir,” was the grave, almcst rev- erent response. **You was in luck—-monstreus hig luck!” mumbled the stranger, as he cast aswift, {urtive glance around the place, seeming to take in every detail. ‘‘That is,” bis tones suddenly altering as be looked up Into tke grave face of the boomer, ‘‘ef you was the party we follered to-day ontel that twister bit us?” Oklahoma Nick bad been keenly watching the man, as though still suspicious, and now inter- posed, his voice bard and almost menacing: “So youadmit keing one of that gang? What — were you watching and dogging us for? You kept out of rifle-range toe-dey, but you're near enough for a center-shot just now,” The storm-waif stared at the bandsome speaker with wide-onen eyes, arrarently too mnch amazed to feel fear at first. Evander Wright saw this, and his faintest dovlhts were dispelled. This was not one whom they had c nse to fear. certeinly. ‘‘ Leave him to me, lad,” he muttered softly, comicbooks.¢ ta © —~v ee mm en re em tr a ee ee ee ne re ee ‘ 2 . |