Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 48 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

20 fearlessness, cunning and bravery did sek Frank, Dick and Perry owe their lives. Drawing up the rope and concealing it in case ‘of future Sent the Boy Hunters shouldered their rifles and marched og ward Lake Tahoe, CHAPTER XVIL LOVE MESSAGES, Tux birds of morning sung their sweetest songs, and the cool, fresh breeze came laden with the rich breath of the pine forest. The cabin of the Mad Trapper, alone in: the mountain vale, wthowed no signs of recent habitation save.in the thin white column of smoke curling lazily up from the capacious chimney. The door was closed; the windows barred, and the whole per- vaded with an air of silent desolation, Buzzards wheeled in the air overhead—rising and falling in spiral circles, their naked coral necks outstretched, and their eyes fixed on the valley, as though by instinct they knew the prevailing silence boded the presence of death—something upon which to feast their filthy maws. Idaho Tom, the Outlaw of Silverland, noted ell this Pot his concealment on the northern bluff overlooking the valley, and.a vague feeling of horror seized upon him. ‘‘Something is wrong at the cabin of the Mad Tamer. the youth mused to himself. ‘‘ The silence of death broods over and around all. I hadn’t ought to leave here without first inquiring into the mystery that hangs over the cabin; nor I won’t. But I will run down to the lake first, If she is well and safe, how thankful I will be!” So saying, he passed from his concealment, and keeping around to the left of the cabin, moved briskly down to Lake Tahoe, He never paused until he stood upon the northern shore of Silver Bay. Wildly beat his heart with joy, when: he tlahe sight of the floating island; and wilder still beat the pulses when he caught « glimpse of a female form among the green shrubbery upon that island. |} “Oh! if I could be permitted to seenk but om word. to her,” the young outlaw sighed, ‘“‘one word to her-the idol of my heart! I must let her know by somé means or other that. am — near, I will make a fool of myself in doing so, but I can’t help it, if I lose all, Perhaps some would call this a boyish infatua- tion—Jack Hill does, come to think. They say all boys of my age are fools in their first love, and I reckon that’s what’s ailing me. But, I'll send her a token of my—my—yes, by the ghost of Cesar—my love!” He started around the bay in order to get, the rrind fair against the island. As he went along he gathered, some light twigs and wove and tangled them into a kind of a wicker, bas- ket. This he lined with flakes of moss plucked from the tree- trunks, Then he gathered some wild flowers and arranged them into a tasteful bouquet, and this he placed in the basket along with a slip of paper upon which he had written with a pencil, these words: “For the Lady of the Isle, from her friend, who is very desirous o1 ome token of her respect. Ipano Tom.” Tom placed the basket on the water, freighted with its mes- sage of love. The wind drove it slowly out upon the bosom of the beautiful bay, straight toward the little island. The youth threw himself beneath the umbrageous boughs of a great pine to watch the passage of the little craft across the waters that separated him from his heart’s idol. an hour went by. To the impatient boy it seemed as though the drifting message-boat would never reach its destination. Suddenly it occurred to him that if his note was answered by the same little transport, he would have to find it on the oppor site shore, for the wind would drive it south of the island. Feeling as though his hopes must be realized, he arose and made his way around the lake to a point due south of the island, Here he waited and watched for fully anotker hour, and his ‘Ineart gave a great throb of joy when he discovered. a little white object flutter out from the island and drift rapidly toward him. With bated breath and distended eyes, the youth watched its approach. As it came nearer, he saw that it was his own little craft of twigs and leaves to which had been attached a snowy little sail made of a white handkerchief. Idaho Tom could scarcely restrain his emotions of joy—hardly wait till the little sail touched shore wee the ston NE uf missiv¢, Beadle’s Dime Library. He whistled and danced to keep down the exuberance of spirit that threatened to burst forth in joyous demonstrations.’ ©"! Gaily the little craft sailed down with the wind, bearing: its Cupid arrow aboard, while to and fro beneath the branches of a great pine paced the impatient boy. At length the little sail ‘put into harbor,” and witwa/dthgle bound Tom stood at the water’s brink by the tiny boat of twigs. His eyes caught sight of a neatly folded paper lying in it. Snatching it up, he retreated into the shade and unfolded a deli- cate missive, written in a neat hand, and read thus: “Your note, Mr. Idaho.'Tom, came duly to hand, three cents postage due. Accept my thanks for the bouquet. To you I owe a debt of grati- tude that I can never repay. My best wishes for your safety and plea- sure are all that I can extend to you. pie Zox,” Tom fairly danced with joy. He iad and 5 apa the note. ‘It was written in the unmistakable hand of, a woman—there was no deception about it. ‘‘And Zoe is her name,” he mused, 4 areal orethyss name } 00; but now, another question arises—one thing leads to another. What secrét is connected with that island?—what mystery, with yonder canoe? Is it anything that will prevent me from board- ing that island?—from ever standing face to face with Zoe?” Thus musing he: spent an hour by the shore; but being sud- denly reminded that time was passing rapidly, he stepped down to the water's brink, and lifting the little craft from the ene concealed it in a clump of manzanitas, “Rest there, little boat, till I come,again. _ You have parse to me a treasure worth more than all the gold of the Pacific shore; and I may want you to go again ppalbiteRegpiie i the island.” He turned and moved around the bay and away toward. the eabin of the Mad Trapper. When he came in sight of the cabin, 4e paused and scanned the valley and the lonely huts) 96) 1%» There was still no sign of life about; that same deathlike soli- tude brooded over the valley like the angel of death.) “‘Something is wrong there, sure as the sun shines: Andit wouldn’t be right for me to leave without looking into the:mat- ter. It’s singular they don’t know all about it down at the lake, for I know. they are related, in some way or other. But then, maybe they do—maybe they have'deserted the: cabin for good, and all gone to the lake. I do wipes where I could find old ‘Zedekiah Dee, the trapper?’ ‘‘ Here I be, right here my young kid,” oneal hdscopaleadin ‘familiar voice behind him, and the Mad Trapper stepped from a oovert of bushes and confronted the youth. » a 9 Die “ By George, trapper, I am monstrous! aed ito gee yous” ? ex- claimed Tom; *‘ how’s times?” ‘‘ Magnumbonum, Thomas Idaho,” was 6 the ‘eieiettenahpostias ‘‘most confoundedly lively, Idaho—skittish as'a ‘blind hoss in fly-time, or a nigger in a hornet’s nest. ‘How’s your pulse been a-throbbin’ since the night of that little affair, aapeenie: d yoy “Two hundred to the minute.” p10 yoy “ Livin’ purty fast then, arn’t ye? Crveding tenon: ‘years into one. Well, 80 jogs the world along, Tom, my gay young vaga- bond.” ‘‘ This is a fast age, trapper; but it does seem to: me-that it’s looking dull around your cabin.” ‘* ve been sayin’ so fur some time. Lett early this mornin’, and when I hove to in that bush two minutes ago, something struck me under the scalp as being wrong. I don’t know why I think so, Tom, but I am _— to see about it, Pri ine pc down?’ ro “T will, certainly.” The two descended the bluff, crossed the walley and: saminda ed the cabin. At the door they paused and listened. Ail was still within. The Mad Trapper pulled the: latch-string, opened the door and cautiously entered the cabin. | is ge ‘‘Jews an’ Gentiles} Lord) of Israel, presarve me!” burst from the lips of the old borderman, as his eyes fell.upon tvw@ forms—two human forms—seated before the fire-place. Both were white men. They were seated upon chairs, or rather tied there, with their faces turned toward, the fire, Their hands hung idly over their knees. Their chins rested upon their breasts. One of them held an — wre in one hand, while the other. held.a slip of paper. | ** Asleep, are they, Zed?” said Tom; “ been ait on & inca drunk?’ The trapper shook his head, gravely, then he sepitbe to: the two men, but they stirred not. He laid his hand upon one’s shoulder and shook him, or tried to, for the man was stark and stiff!» ““They’re both dead, Tom,” the trapper said, in a low; husky tone. “This is the hellish work of that fiend incarnate, Molock,* ‘9 Mik imtid (EO MMIE NOOLKS G (0)