Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 438 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

> a drawing the guide back a trifle as he spoke. “You're skeerin’ what little wits he’s got left right out o’ the pore, shackly critter.” e words were not intended for the ears of the stranger, but a faint smile wrinkled his dirt- streaked face, and the next words he uttered told that nothing was the matter with his sense of hearing, at all events. ‘* He don’t look like sech a ’stravagant man, stranger, to waste a good ca’tridge on mighty pore gameesI be. Not that [d keer so awful much!” with sudden bitterness, as he held out his shivering hands and glanced downward over his person. ‘‘I ain’t got so turrible much to lose, hev I, now?” No one contradicted him, for to do so would be lying brazenly. A more wretched-lookin creature never stood up in full health ind strength. Though thin, unt, stoop-shouldered and hollow-chested, the fellow seemed healthy enough, but that was all one could say in his favor. He shivered like one afflicted with St. Vitus’s dance. He seemed utterly broken- spirited by what he had undergone that day. His clothes hung about him, a mass of rags, scarce sufficient to cover his nakedness, is head was hare, save for the long, snake-like locks of coarse black hair that hung dripping from the rain. His dark, parchment-like skin was streaked with scratches and marked with scars both new and old. One foot was bare, and the leg of the boot on his right foot was split from top to instep, the edges showing fresh in the red light of the camp-fire. All in all, a more dilapidated wretch could hardly have been found in all the Nation that night. ‘A purty pictur’, ain’t I?’ with a sickly grin as he Bowel aroad himself about to give hank a complete and comprehensive view of himself. ‘* But it’s all they is left o’ Jerry Viggles. Jest a shell. What heart an’ courage an’ grit he hed went out when the boys was tuck.” Husky, barely articulate the words, and the shivering wretch dropped down in a heap be- side the fire, moaning like a dog in a troubled sleep. Oklahoma Nick showed some signs of pressin him with closer queries, but indthearted Evanda Wright checked him. ‘‘Let the pore critter rest, lad. It’s plain enough what he’s gone through, an’ we can guess at how hard it cuts him.” ‘*T only wanted to make sure that he meant no harm in dogging us as he and his party did to-day,” muttered the guide, his brows still cor- rugated, his air still that of one ill at ease. Still, he yielded, as in duty bound, for although he accepted no pay for acting as guide for the party, and was thus given more freedom of ac- tion, Evander Wright was the head of the little company. In company with Perry Wright, Oklahoma Nick picketed out the animals where they might gain some little picking during the early part of the night, for they had to depend on natural food during their long journey. And the young men interchanged congratulations as they saw how rapidly the clouds were breaking away above. ‘It was awful while it lasted, but it left us safe and unharmed,” said the guide. ‘‘It has gone, and we can count on a week of good weather at least.” Perry nodded assent. He understood the al- lusion, and placed implicit reliance in what had given it birth. If not a positive fact, it is still a curious co- incidence that every ‘‘twister” of note in the West has been followed on the seventh day by a heavy storm from the quarter toward which the cyclone blew, heavy enough almost to be called a hurricane, but blowing straight forward, without the frightfully destructive circles of the ‘+ twister.” Together the two po men returned to the camp, finding Jerry igg es looking wonderfully improved in physical bearing, as he lovingly hugged a tin cup of steaming coffee. d before the supper was half over, the waif of the storm was bustling about busy as a flea, laughingly declaring that the only way in which he coul ny, for his supper was by waiting on the kind ladies. And as this seemed to give the poor wretch a certain degree of pleasure, no one oujeceet and kind-hearted Evander Wright led for much more coffee than he was in the habit of drinking, purely from pleasure at giv- pleasure. hen, while the women were clearing away the supper things and preparing the tent for the night, the men squatted about the cheery fire, smoking and ne ‘You were one of the fellows we saw dogging us, then?” abruptly asked Oklahoma Nick, as he saw that Evander Wright made no move toward igen tn uneasy question. A sickly smile stole into the face of the storm- waif, and he nodded assent, irre little more rapidly at his pipe perhaps, but giving no other sign of uneasiness. *Rackon we was,” he muttered, between puffs. ‘* Ain’t much harm in that, was they?” nd That depends on what you hoped to gain by Oklahoma Nick. a er —_—_—- ‘¢ An’ we got heap more’n what we hoped fer, too,” with a shiver as he cast a nervous glance over his shoulder at the gloom behind the fire- }** circle. ‘‘ What’s become o’ them as was with you?” interposed Evander Wright. Jerry Viggles drooped his head with a hollow moan, shaking from head to foot like a shrub | shivering in a whirlwind. ct re ra eran eae nen cee ——————— “~“< ‘*Gone! Licked up like a fire licks up grass!” he huskily muttered. ‘* Three as good boys as ever drawed the breath o’ life—wiped out in a breath—tuck up an’—ugh !” Even Oklahoma Nick seemed awed into silence as the storm-waif crouched before them, bis face hidden in his trembling hands. Only for a mo- ment, Then, with a sudden start and shake, Jer- | | 9 — ee UE amined his Winchester, and made sure it had sufferod no harm in the storm. Jerry Viggles volunteered to keep the guide company during his watch, but as his jaws were widely gaping. while wens for a reply, his offer was declined. And hardly waiting to wrap the blanket around him which Evander Wright produced for his comfort, the waif of the storm curled up near the fire and lay snoring quietly. Unlike the rest, Oklahoma Nick showed no signs of sleepiness for the time being, His brain was far too busy for that; he bad too much food for thought; too much to keep him widely awake. And as he paced slowly to and fro near the still grazing horses, or stood in silence leaning on the muzzle of his rifle, staring at vacancy, ry Viggiles lifted his head and glanced quickly | the handsome young guide gave himself up to from face to face, a ghastly smile upon his own features. spoke: And his voice was more natural as he | | | ‘‘They’re gone—good pards as ever mortal | man could hev or wish for—but mebbe they’re the gainers, after all! Anyway, it was a higher will then ours that called ’em, an’ I’m a fool to give way like this. reckon.” There was an echo of fatalism in his tones as he picked up a fresh coal to drop into the bowl of his pipe. — ‘* How long had you been following us?” ‘“We hit the trail last night, an’ tuck to it i ; | never forget him? It was so ordered, I. these thoughts. They concerned Otelia Wright, her past, the present, and the future of them both. ‘* Not "Telie, because he used to call her by that name!” he grated through his clinched teeth, his dark eyes glowing redly. ‘‘ Willske Must he ever stand inmy way? Ay!” with vicious emphasis as he started along his beat again. ‘‘ Until he pays the penalty of bis crime on the scaffold!” And for days and weeks he had been flatter- ing himself that he was surely it slowly win- ning his way to the glorious mark on which he had set his eyes: the love of fair Otelia Wright! with the fu’st gleam o’ day, ridin’ pritty peert | He felt that she was learning to love him, even fear you mought try to give us the slip, we hung back, jest keepin’ nigh enough to ketch a glimpse now an’ then as you riz a hill, like.” ‘‘ What were you following us for?” persisted Oklahoma Nick. ‘* Waal, you see, it’s like this,” slowly respond- ed Jerry Viggles, stretching out his left hand and marking something like a rude map on its palm with the stem of his pipe. ‘‘ We was ina mighty bad way up thar in Kansas. Try how we mought, we couldn’t git no sort o’ headway on, an’ so—waal, we ‘lowed we'd try what var- tue they was in all this blowin’ *bout Okla- homa. ‘* ‘We wasn’t rigged out to j’ine one o’ them colonies, even ef the idee’d suited us, which it didn’t by a heap. They git stopped too sudden, ye see. They’reso big that Uncle Sam’s boys can’t holp but run upag’inst ’em. An’ then we meant pure business, not empty bluff. We wanted to git thar, not to lay dawdlin’ long the trail, drawin’ grain an’ fodder from them that did work. An’ so—waal, we struck out ona bee- line, nigh’s we could fleger it out in our own heads, ‘lowin’ to keep shady, to ketch our own grub, an’ mebbe git thar in good time. We lowed to pick outa good claim each, an’ hold simmered down, like, ‘* An’ so—waal, we hit your trail, an’ knowed from the sign that you was runnin’ a straight ticket; that you was white, an’ lookin’ fer what you hed a mighty good idee whar to find it, or you wouldn’t be so fur from the big gang, nur makin’ sech a straight trail—see?” The explanation was reasonable enough, though it might easily have been couched in plainer words, ‘*' We took you for scouts in search for strag- glers, and that is why we ran right into the cyclone.” ‘* An’ we didn’t know no better then to foller ye right slap into the wu’st of it!” with a groan of sorrowfui disgust. An’ we was so skeered ou’d slip us in the dark, an’ we’d lose the trail in the rain that was comin’, we hurried on hot- foot without thinkin’ o’ trouble or danger from overhead, when—waal, that’s "bout all I know,” with a nervous shiver, his voice growing husky and indistinct. ‘‘The wind come down an’ twisted me out o’ the saddle. ’Peared like it was tearin’ me in ten thousan’ bits, an’ liftin’ every one of ’em up to the stars!” ‘* And your mates?” asked Evander Wright. Jerry Viggles shook his head gloomily. ‘* J°ll never tell ye!” Rough, ignorant, uncouth though he was, he seemed to suffer so much from merely recalling those terrific moments, that not one of those ba aoa him bad the heart to question him u er, From what they had witnessed and endured themselves, they could partly imagine the ny thi y this time the clouds had broken up and the stars were shining with unusual distinctness, though the moon was stil] hidden behind a bank of clouds. The air was clear and cool, as though purified by the terrible tempest which had so recently swept over that section. Although their emotions had been so strongly stirred the party began to sbow signs of sleepi- ness, ana before long the little circle about the camp fire was broken up. Otelia and her mother had sometime since re- tired to their cots in the little tent, after bidding the rest good-night. And as it was the turn of Oklahoma Nick to stand guard. as well as his duty, he bade Evander and Pericles roll them- selves up and sleep while they could. “Tf anytbing unusual should hap n, be sure T'll rout you out,” he lightly add , as he ex- A rr ee tte enters STE ontel we sighted your wagon-kivers. Then, fer | as he loved her. Until this night—until she cried out that she hated bim! And for what? Because he tried to save her life, at the risk of his own! Alone, he could easily have ridden beyond reach of the dread cyclone; but be had doubly weighted his good horse, and barely escaped death in consequence, And this was his sole reward! And yet—did the poor girl really comprehend what she uttered? She was driven half-mad . through fear for her parents and brother. She. felt that he was to blame for thus separating her from them. And when she had time to think it all over—when she was cool-nerved and clear-brained again—would it not be different? lt would, if must ! ‘*T love her so dearly! And I have both fa- ther and mother on my side,” he reflected, more hopefully; was it because he was growing sleepy that the hard facts grew softer, the keen points blunter? Several times Oklahoma Nick started and stared about him with his senses rousing. But all was still and peaceful. The horses had picked their fill, and were sleeping on their feet, with drooping heads and relaxed muscles. The sky was clear. There could be no danger—and on to it the best we mought, ontel things sorter | of course he was going to sleep, but— But he did, all the same, or appearances were. | wonderfully deceiving. With heavy, sluggish movements, very un- like his usual lithe activity, Oklahoma Nick kept on for a few minutes more, walking his beat; but then, moving like one already asleep, or under the influence of some powertul Crug, he dropped his rifle, staggered a step or two further, then sunk to the ground with a lifeless thump! He struggled as though to arise, but it only resulted in straightening out his limbs. And then the sound of his heavy breathing went out on the still night air. Then—-was it some frightful nightmare? A dark figure knelt with sharp knees diggi g into his laboring chest, Bony fingers met aon his throat until his eyes flew wide open, And then one band rose swiftly before his eyes, grip- ping a long knife that flashed in the starlight as a vicious hiss filled his ears: ‘*Give a kick or a whimper, an’ slit goes your wizzen, critter!” CHAPTER VI. ‘““THUS FAR AND NO FURTHER.” THERE was no need to ask why Boomer Balt uttered that fervent ejaculation as his limbs gave way beneath him, and he dropped down, a limp and nerveless heap, now that his temporary goal was reached. Though a fire had been kindled from the confused mass of what had once been a smart timber island, it could hardly be called a camp- fire. It was rathera r beacon round which | gathered the bruised, battered, wretched survi- vors of the Boomer colony. Well might one be thankful he had no friends _ — connected with the ill-fated expedi- ‘ion Not that there was so much of death or misery to be caught at the first glance, for the fire had been but recently kindled by a few of the survi- vors whose nerves were sufficiently strong, whose brains were clear enough to take thought of others. They were still piling up the splintered debris, still coaxing the crackling flames into vigor sufficient to bid the heavy rain defiance, And yet, a single glance into any one of those hard, rugged faces was sufficient to tell the ob- server that something awful bad occurred, Nothing in the ordinary course of human events could bring such a wild, haunted look into mor+ tal face; an expression of fear, awe, griey ~ “— Ecomicbooks — . ——- 7 La all LP ee ty Se See te PIS WOME, 76 Ft. /| | " ‘ = LI * hd “-e a7 Pi #4. fog ak: ‘ee r ae + oe att. Ere. oOo?