Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 48 — page 38: what you’re looking at

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

38 Beadle’s Dime, Library. et . me to. play on it. It’s connected with the floatin’ island. on the bay, over a mile distant... I:war:called, jist now, and I'm goin’ ‘to answer, ‘Here,’” and. he, adjusted the connecting rire, 8 and ( thumbed off the word in a*twihkling. The: next instant the battery began a rapid clicking. | Dee | stood with ~his» head,»partly » turned, listening, closely to catch ‘every word; and Tom, noticed, as the sound continued, that the trapper’s face assumed a painful expression. At ‘length the sourid» ceased, |‘: Zedekiah: drew a long, heavy © breath; arid glancing toward Tom, exclaimed: “My -God, Tom!” “ What is it, Zed?” ‘“Zoe Leland is a captive!” Tom groaned in spirit. “Who captured her, Zed?’ she asked, “ Wait a minute, and I’li find out.” Zed asked the question’ over the. wire. ‘‘ An Indian, they say,” Dee replied,: after receiving : an answer. ‘‘ They don’t) know how he ever got to the island; but -long before night he got; there someway or other,,and carried her off in one of their own canoes, Strikesme as:being a queer vthing, Tom.” ‘Why haven't’ we known this sooner?” «¢ Because we ‘haven't been here, nor'\down to! the: bay.’ Le- land says he’s been: tryin’ to: git. me: here for:four long hours, and you see we've only been here a little: while. anne eo the hull thing.” ‘‘ Well, what’s to ba done?” “‘*Were wanted, at, the-island; :rightiaway.:| It‘is:being be- sieged by a hundred red-skins that seem Bent on itsskapter..;Le- *\ land says we'll have: to,approach with 'great caution.” ‘Ts any one in pursuit of Zoe's captors; did he say?’ “*T’ll ask,” said the trapper-operator, —— the. cnsiremens 1 swapidly. ~ her. The answer was soon flashed back. . “Frank Caselton and a friend are in pursuit.. .The rest of the Boy Hunters are here on the island, fighting nobly, for us.” _ A look of, disappointment clouded Tom’s.fuce, and, in a bitter tone, he replied: ‘*T dare say that curse of this land, Mat Molock, the Wolf- Herder, has got her in his denere this. And if so, what can two boys do toward rescuing her? My opinion is that Zoe Le- land is lost.” “Tt may be, Thomas, but let us hope for the best till we are | positive.” But, Tom, ‘will you go to the island with me now?” TF hardly know what to do—whether to ‘strike out for Mo- lock’s quarters, and lend REPRE ARiEeeeer RG enon Saves SD the bay.” Tom,” said | Dee; seriously, ‘‘ I verily believe that you are in “love with Zoe Leland.” Tom blushed, but finally stammered out: **T am not ashamed of the truth, friend Dee. Ido love Zoe Leland with all my heart,:and» have from the ‘hour I first saw My love told me that the boy Albert, who came here, that memorable night, was Zoe in disguise, notwithstanding your ef- forts to deceive me in the matter.” . The old trapper smiled, sadly, and replied: ‘*T b’lieve you could see through a millstone, Tom, if you're- cognized . Zoe in her disguise that night.’ But. then, I alers ~ Dlieved you loved that girl) She’s a cherribim, Tom, if, thar . Were ever one on earth. , She’s good enough, purty enough and sweet enough for an angel to marry, I do solemnly believe.” | “Dhat’s what I’m’ afraid of—that she is too good for a young ‘vagabond. like me,” ** Heavins, listen!” exclamation. It was the old trapper that uttered the The, sullen boom of a cannon volled up from, the lake and © burst forth anew in a hundred mountain echoes. “‘They’re having it hot and heavy down there,” said: Tom, with a nervous start. ‘‘ Let’s git ready and go down,” replied Dee; ‘‘ what say you, ‘Thomas?”. | ‘Tam ready for anything, Zed,” answered Tom. The two secured their wee-ponsand plunged out into the night. The sky was overcast, and a dense fog. hung over the valley | and hills, Down the gloomy, pass the two men turned; their feces, and | - moved with hasty footateps. They hurried on in silence.for somerdistance,, when Idaho Tom _ rey said: “Hina Xt ait th pst month hs bon | » most eventful one of my life”. Ziad fh “Why so, Tom?” asked the borderman, “Because. I have been completely puzzled and mystified ali ~ the time.” ‘Well, what. about?’ “Things around Tahoe; the secret connected with the floating island and; other things,.down to your connection with the he whole.” “Don’t let that, this, or anything bother your brain now, Tom,” replied Dee. ‘I'll explain everything one of these days, I know things you speak of look queer to a stranger, but then, it is the object of those interested in the matter that they should wear an air of mystery so as to keep the red-skins away. But, dang ’em, they don’t *pear to skeer worth a Continental. Rest is oe Tom; that thar is nothin’ wrong’ about‘any of this ap- ‘parent mystery that puzzles you.” ‘‘ But, Dee, those two men that we buried the other dass were friends of yours, were they not?’ ‘‘' Wal 'ya-as; they war, Tom,” the trapper replied, with some hesitation. ‘And were they not down’ to Virginia City, not very long ago?’ questioned Tom. ‘« Yes, a few days: afore they war killed ‘by the red: heathens, ' But I\should think you knowed all about that, Tom,” was the re- i (sponse, that started Tom slightly. ° “Why should I, Zed?’ “*Cause, didn’t you play poker with:them?” *Yoes; I believe I did.” 4 And didn’t they scoop you outen'a diamondring?”. . “You, they did; and’I’saw that ring to-day on:Zoe Leland’s finger.” “The boys give! it to her, for it was her mother’s ring, that she prized very dearly.” ‘‘ Indeed?’ exclaimed Tom, in the deepest surprise. ) ‘‘ It was taken from her,” Zedekiah. continued, f{7bout two o three months ago by! the: road-agents, while passing, througa Purgatory valley in ‘the stage-coach, And, Tom, its, being. m your | possession looked a deetle»suspicious.- The | matter was placed in the hands of detectives: to: work-out in hopes of gettin’ the rest of the jewelry taken at: the same time, also, to watch you, and find out» your ‘héadquarters, and |capter the hull ¢aboo- » dle, But,Tom, I.never b’lieved you war a road-agent, and so that’s jist why I’ve told you:what I have.” “J thank you very much for: telling: me, Zed; but does Zve '» know that your friends won the ring from me at poker?” sé Yas. ” Tom sighed regretfully; and after a:.moment’s) silence re sponded: “ Zed, I tell you I am no road-agent: nor robber. | That ring was given me by the clerkof the ‘Ophir: Exchange,’ in, consid- eration of a valuable service rendered him,:: He told me atthe time that it had been pawned at the saloon for a keg of whisky, but, as it was ‘hot’ redeemed ‘within ‘the stipulated ome ‘camie the clerk’s property.” “T believe you, Tom—every word you’ have ‘told me,,and shall to the last. But; lad, as we’are now comin! near. the lake, we'd better look a leetle out for red-skins.” “ How are we going to get over to” Settee ee we © the bay, Zed?” | “Prust that part to me, Tom)” replied the trapper. The two moved on now in silence, and soon came to the mar- gin of the woods skirting the bay..’ Within the: shadows they ~*pansed and glanced out upon the beach.’ “The moon, peeping ~ tion. through the clouds just then; showed them a number of shadowy forms moving along thé shore to the right and left of their posi- ‘“‘ Dar’n’t make a break here,” Zedekiah whispered. | | Keeping ‘within the shadows, they stole around to the south _ west side of the bay, and again’ paused and listened. All was ai- lent here. The Indians appeared to have .concentyated: their force all on the nort! ern side of the bay. At least, this was the -garmnise of Zed and Tom; ‘founded pon the extreme,silence that ‘prevailed’ along this part of the shore; to their surprise,. how- i} bi be» <i - - ever, they were suddenly startled by a low moan. Tom ‘uttered a low exclamation of surprise, while the Mad Trapper chuckled as if with suppressed laughter. Looking through the ‘parted foliage: before them, both saw a red-skin seated in a canoe, writhing ee. teagan in all the agonies ‘of. death. iN0 «‘ Ah! friend trapper!” exclaimed Tom, iar tr eins tone, asleep NGRAIC as eh Bae: gene RE tes - a age , enw iid ; ol eA tui ‘| ind éitait Eomichboo a ee me “ _ amas ’ — —e * : a te Ren et eer ew _—