Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 455 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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Yank Yellowbird. ject will admit. Enough to say that this inter- view had greatly increased his perplexity. ‘Of one thing only am I certain,” be thought, as he neared Yank’s hut; “‘ unless 1 want to get hopelessly entangled with a girl who has Indian ; blood in her ves, I must keep away from Zelda!” He walked into the mountaineer’s habitation with a tread which was certainly heavy, and might well be called stubborn; his mind was directing his feet. “Home ag’in?? asked Yank, in his usual genial manner. ‘‘Wal, I’m glad on’t, fur I want ter consult ye.” * In regard to what?” ** Miss Hannah Kitchen!” ‘ ‘What! has she been here again?” ** No,” replied Yank, ‘‘an’1 don’t mean she shall. Iam goin’ ter have sev’ral locks, bolts an’ bars put onter the door; I'll keep that aegous female out ef engenuity kin do it. ar’s one thing I won’t do, an’ that is ter change my name ter Canary. Why, all the . Yellowbirds for twenty or thirty ginerations | back would be risin’ up an’ ha’ntin’ my onquiet | sleep, ter ask me why Td forgot my pedigreen thusly.” ‘I take it you have seen Miss Kitchen, some- where.” ‘“T hev, by hurley! an’ of all the triberlations an’ distresses I ever heern on, I’m in the wu’st. I met her in the street, an’ she took me prisoner | ©’ war, Got me cornered, an’ the way she laid down the law was egregiously onpleasant. I tol’ my left foot ter run, an’ carry me off with it, but my right foot was so skeered it couldn’t foller the weak sister, an’ we all stayed thar ina heap an’ drunk in the entrancin’ sweetness o’ Miss Kitchen’s discourse. By the way, Benja- min, d’ye know how much fryin’-pans cost by the cart-load?” “No. Iam-sorry, for I divine your inten- tions.” ‘““T hope ye a’prove on ’em. Tell ye what, I’m goin’ ter give her a flood o’ fryin’-pans; I'll send enougt. fur practical use, an’ then she kin take the rest an’ wear ’em ‘round her neck, as some females does beads, I consait that ef the supply 4 fryin’-pans don’t give out, I kin buy er off, ‘No doubt, for I think she means well,” an- swered Buckingham, smiling. ‘* Yas, an’ she’d do wal only that her inside bein’ is so egregiously out o’ kilter. An inside bein’ is a troublesome thing, an’ you can’t never tell when it*ll break out like a volcaner. I take it Miss Kitchen’s case is chronic, fur her mind runs ter poetry, an’ poetry is the last stage o’ a disordered inside bein’. "Member distinctly when & cousin o’ mine was took that way. Ev’ry weddin’ or funeral in town—female minds run egregiously ter sech things—she’d set te a eS down an’ w m. She perdooced sev’ral | pounds 0’ the indlanshily matter ev’ry week. All kinds ©’ poetry is named, like dogs an’ hosses, an’ she learnt me the names, though I never got so I could call’em by name when I met ’em in print. Most o’ these names I’ve for- ae thar was cae, linnets, idols, round- a » Ipecacs, muddygals an’ pasture-poems, Ef Miss Kitchen writes poetry, I should say by the way she worries me that she’d mostly’ deal in canters an’ roundabouts.” __ Yank’s quaintness was irresistible to artessass ham, and he made no effort to interrupt until the mountaineer came to a stop. Then he more gravely observed: ms hea have had an encounter, Nevermiss,” ot with Abe Rooks?” No; with Zelda.” Yank started perceptibly, and then slowly re- plied: ‘* That so?” “Yes. I met her accidentally near her cabin.” ‘i, I s’pose she wasin her usual speerits?” She seemed to be, but, Nevermiss, is it safe for her to be here in the village?” Why not?” irritably repeated the rover. “Have you forgotten our night flight? What would have happened then, only for that flight? And now she is back in the village, living alone within reach of her enemies.” Yank stroked his beard slowly, and philoso- phically answered: ‘* Wal, you see that sarcumstances alter cases: they alter ’em egregiously. That danger is past, an’ I dar’ say the half-Injun gal knows when she’s safe. She ain’t the kind o’ a person who is blind mentally, but she’s alert an’ far-seein’, I b’lieve she ht hev been a second-sight oracle —I do, by hurley! Anyhow, she kin see a long ways, an’ see clear, too,” ar. ST perceive that you are fully in her confi- ~ dence,” answered Ben, rather sulkily, ‘** Wal, some; that is, I think I onderstan’ her as wal as a woman kin be understood.” 4 How long have you known her?” Six months, or more; yes, I think it will over-run six months by four or five days,” ad- mitted Yank, with p worthy regard for ex- - actness, P ‘‘ Did you know her parents?” es. _ that I’m aware on,” ‘ S she always lived in Medicine Springs?” ‘ No, fur the town is only ’bout three year old, Dea Enna EE EEE —_ aac a te ? I b’lieve. Afore that, she lived among some o her folks, somewhar, I believe; though I ain’t sure they was relations o’ hers.” ‘* Her life is a strange one for one of her sex.” ‘***Tis sorter hum-drum fur an Injun gal,” re- plied the mountaineer, with either singular dull- ness or obstinacy, “‘ but you must ’member the red blood is adulterated with white. This last is sorter slow, so ter speak, an’ that’s what makes her content ter live in a civilized town, I consait.” Ben’s investigation was not progressing favor- ably, and he decided to abandon it, Something else came in the way of an interruption, how- ever; footsteps sounded at the coor, and as Nevermiss reached for his rifle, a fourth person entered the hut. This was Julian Morincy, the telegraph oper- ator. eae Pi CHAPTER XXII. MORINCY VISITS THE HUT. THERE was momentary silence, during which all three men looked at the new-comer. Morincy had come to Medicine Springs in an important capacity, for the telegraph line was a thing dear to Medicine Springs’ heart, and there was not a citizen but knew him by sight. Despite this, Yank was not so ready as usual to give his cheerful greeting, and it was Morincy who spoke first. ‘**Good-evening, good people!” he said, com- lly. & a evenin’,” responded Yank, though without his usual] heartiness., ‘*Am I welcome at your cabin?” continued the Frenchman, his gaze wandering from Never- miss to Ben and back again. ‘*Consait you be; I don’t turn nobody away from my dooref they bebave as wal as they should. Many a time I’ve been abroad ’mongst strangers, an’ suf’rin’ egregiously with the newrol’gy, an’ a frien’ly roof would ’a’ be’n ight welcome. Set down, stranger, an’ I'll do all fur ye 1 kin, though I warn ye that ef you’re suf’rin’ with newrol’gy I can't help ye a bit. Posserbly ef ye went ter Doctor Todd an’ got biled, an’ e’t some o’ his Careless-crower root, it would bring ye around,” The mouniaineer had recovered his usual manner, and, having seen Morincy seated near him, was ornamenting his remarks with appro- priate gestures of his long fore-finger. ‘* Fortunately,” answered the young French- man, smiling, ** Lam not afflicted with neuralgia. pomaens of more importance has brought me ere. ** That so?” +s Yes.” ‘*Ef thar is anything on yer mind I'll relieve ye on’t, ef the 1 ain’t too heavy.” “It belongs on your shoulders, so you will have to it, anyhow,” Morincy retorted quickly. ‘‘ May I ask if any of you has received a letter to-day ¢”’ ‘* I ain’t been ter the post-office, nor the post- office ain’t been over hyar. L[ain’t had no let- ter for up’ards of a year, or it may be two years. l ain’t got the date on record.” Morincy glanced at Buckingham, who shook his head. ‘* No letter has come to me.” ‘*] have reason to believe you will get one soon, Mr. Buckingham, and that letter will be a forgery to decoy you into dangea.” ** Land o’ Goshen!” ejaculated Yank. **May I ask how you know all this?’ Ben asked, a trace of suspicion in his voice. ** 1 overheard a conversation not intended for my ears,” the Frenchman coolly admitted, ‘But who’s goin’ ter write ter Benjamin?” asked Nevermiss, with evident curiosity. ‘* A woman!” Buckingham started perceptibly. ‘** A woman!” he echoed, ‘Yes. At least, such will seem to be its origin, but it will be a forgery, as I said before. The plotters hope to Gandy Mr. Buckingham by making the letter seem like a call from the woman he loves, I dare say.” Ben’s gaze flashed to the aker. He had on that there was a significance in the last words—a hidden meaning—but Morincy’s face was as calm as ever. ‘* Let us begin this conversation right,” the rover said, with considerable determination of manner, ‘‘I am not liable to get any letter from ‘the woman I love,’ for the good reason that there is nosuch woman, Now, proceed, Mr. Morincy.” ‘*T note your correction,” the Frenchman ob- served, gracefully. ‘Omitting what I inferred, let me rest on thefacts. I heard it said that you were to be decoyed by a letter purvorting to be from some lady, and that when you, Mr. Yellowbird and this young warrior answered the call, you were to be shot down as one man by a volley from a dozen assassins.” ‘A fine scheme!” exclaimed Buckingham. ‘*To be sure it is,” added Yank, ‘‘ but ef the atrocious insex git me ter slaughter it/ll be an egregious rise ter me, by burley!” ** You are duly warned,” said Morincy. ‘* We be, young man, an’ we thank ye hearty. You’ve done wa]; you’ve done very wal; you’ve done most mighty wal, sir.” - “* - ? 7 : “ » ’ 5 a ay al 19 ‘‘But who,” asked Ben, ‘are the would-be assassins?” ‘““If I tell that,” replied the Frenchman, ‘I must bind you to inviolable secrecy.” ‘*We won't breathe a word,” Yank asserted. ‘The men were Nelson Langleigh and Sheriff Bunker!” Trail-Lifter’s peculiar whistle followed closely on the announcement. Ali looked at him; bis fingers flashed over, across and under each other rapidly, but Ben utterly lost the message. “To be sure,” said Yank thougbtfully. | ‘* Mr. Morincy,” continued Buckingham, ‘‘ we / owe you warm thanks. Langleigh is your em- | ployer.” | “He did not hire me to keep guiity secrets.” | ** What more did these men say?” “‘T overheard but little. It seems that they hate and fear you, though why I did not Jearn,” ‘*] was to be decoyed by a forged letter?” sé Yes. ” Buckingham knit bis forebead into a thought- ful frown; there were ideas in his mind he would not willingly have divulged. ‘‘Langleigh may be your employer, young man,” said Yank, ‘** but he’s a venomcus sarpent, _an’o’ all creetur’s I dishke a snake. Benjamin, hev ye any idee what woman would be likely ter write ter you?” An answer was prevented by the sound of footsteps outside the door. orincy gave a quick spring and gained the shelter of a box, while Nevermiss as prom ptly glided to the door, There he met a small, shrewd-looking boy. ‘* Hello, youngster,” saluted the mountaineer, _in his easiest manner. ‘* Ain’t you out late?” ‘“‘Is Mr. Buckingham here?’ asked the boy, without noticing the leading question. ** To be sure.’ ‘‘ This letter is for him,” | The boy shoved the sealed envelope into | Yank’s hand, and then beat a retreat witha _ celerity which indicated tbat be wished to avoid | being questioned. The mountaineer made no ! mon todetain him, but turned back into the | hut. ‘The missile has got hyar, sure as hurley!” asserted Yank, gingerly handing it to Ben. ‘* Let’s hear what sort o’a bait the egregious | critters hev spread afore ye.” Julian Morincy had come out of concealment, and all eyes were bent upon Buckingham. He | believed that he could surmise what name would _ be signed to the letter, and was not only troubled but embarrassed. All this he concealed under a calm exterior, and deliberately tore open the envelope. The inclosed note was brief, and read as follows: ‘**Mr. BucKInGHAM:—Please meet me at the rock by the river at eleven o’clock to-night. I have some- thing of importance to say. Ihope you will not disappoint me; I expect to see you, | Oe ae ae Nobody knew better than the rover that these letters were intended to represent the initials of Imogene Langleigh, and he found himself placed in a delicate position. The letter was a decoy, and as such its sup- posed source must be one from which be would naturally expect a letter. Yank and his other companions would understand this; and if the letter was shown them with a statement that he did not know who “I. E. L.” was, they would surely surmise her identity at once, or, failing that, would study it out. | To frankly confess that ‘I. E. L.” was Imo- gene Langleigh would be to admit’ that he had reason to expect a letter from her, and though, as we have seen, he had more than once met the girl since he came to Medicine Springs, he was anxious to keep the matter secret. True, it was known, it seemed to Langleigh, but so much was represented in his uaint- ance with Imogene that he was not willing to let another into the secret, even though it be Yank Yellowbird. He quietly put the note away in his pocket. ‘* The decoy has come,” he tersely observed. Nevermiss stroked his beard and seemed to wait for more information, but it was not vouchsafed. Then the mountaineer dryly ob- served: ‘It’s egregiously vexing ter git a love-letter an’ find that ‘tain’t one arter all. IL know, ’cause I’ve had exper’ence—leastways, a frien’ 0’ mine ‘* But this is not a love-letter. I think that I said I did not receive such.” ‘* It’s credible ter you that ye don’t, fur of all the things I know on, love will upset a man’s inside bein’ the most. Ef I’s a doctor,” added | Yank, shaking his forefinger gravely at the rover, “‘an’ skilled in the cause an’ effect 0” drugs, sediments an’ anecdotes, I’d turn all my Sc eee ee ee n’us to curin’ voy’lent cases 0’ love. I reckon could build up an egregious practice. So the decoy has come?” ** 1 ain’t seen you go yit.” ‘Tam tempted to go, and give those scoun- drels a lasting lesson.” . “Don’t ye doit. Let ’em grovel in the mud o’ their own dissipated plot.” ‘“* By all means, keep ‘ It is evident that I have enemies in this away,” said Morincy. ; ~comicbooks a C