Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 484 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

? te my husband?” nd ses Lat = Ak row 10 wear his character loosely for you to find him out so quickly!” She turned to Mrs. Hamlin, and added: ‘Perhaps it will be as well to adopt Mrs. Cook’s line of conduct. Instead of bringing the man at once to the parlor, I will just see bim in the kitchen. It will not take me long to accept or reject Mrs. Cook’s unfavorable conclusions in regard to him.” he kissed her mother tenderly, and flitted away to the kitchen with the housekeeper, In five minutes she was back again. A grave and puzzled look had appeared on her features. ‘*There is certainly something about the stranger I cannot fathom,” she reported. ‘* Without telling you anything that has passed between him and me, I'll let him come into the parlor, and so give you a chance to form an un- 1-7 home 1 een of him.” rs. Hamlin assented to the proposition, after a few questions, and the unknown was shown ets presence, flanked by Alice and Mrs, Cook. At her first view of him Mrs, Hamlin experi- enced a repugnance akin to terror, He was indeed a man of chilling and sinister aspect. ‘It’s singular what trouble one has in doing his neighbors a kindness!” was the first remark of the new-comer, as he bowed politely to Mrs. Hamlin. ‘‘ I’m half-inclined to be weary with well-doing!” He seated himself in the chair Mrs, Cook had advanced for his use, and sent a swift and _ Searching glance in every direction around bim, In garb and aspect the unknown was the realization of a returned miner. His hair and beard were long and unkempt: his clothes patched and taftened : his features» gaunt and sunburnt, and his aspect rugged and way worn, 6 was taller than the average man, and there was a massiveness about his chest and shoulders indicative of great strength. ‘His step was quick and easy, attesting that his muscular powers were not merely remark- able, but in the best condition. ‘In the actual state of affairs around us, sir,” replied Mrs, Hamlin, with quiet dignity, you cannot blame a household of helpless women for being careful as to whom they admit into their presence?” And then, looking the unknown squarely in the face, as if she would read the innermost secrets of his soul, Mrs. Hamlin added: ‘‘{s it true, sir, that you bring me news of CHAPTER XIII. A STARTLING LETTER. THE man fumbled a moment in one of his poor and then passed to Mrs. Hamlin a olded paper, remarking: ** Let this document speak for me!” The hand of Mrs. Hamlin trembled like a leaf as she unfolded the paper in question. Her pallor deepened, @ad a startled look pass- ed over her features. “It’s your father’s handwriting, Alice!” she cried. ‘Read it! My head swims!” In an instant Alice was at her side, sustaining her with one hand, while with the other she held for perusal the paper the unknown had presented. The contents of this missive, which she hast- ened to read aloud, were as follows: ‘* Bia Horn RIver. “Drar Wirr:—I have time to write only a f words. The bearer is an honest and faithful friend, who undertakes to earry this line to you, and tell you my whereabouts and situation. He will tell you all that has happened tome, and you can place im- plicit reliance on everything he says. Thisis all I can find a chance to say. RoGeEr.¥ ‘*In THE MOUNTAINS, NEAR } WwW The effect of this communication upon the ladies can be imagined. ** You see that ’'m vouched for,” said the un- known, with a disagreeable smile and mien. ‘¢ The Jetter is really in the handwriting of Mr. Hamlin, is it not?” Alice and her mother hastened to make their excuses. ‘“That’s all right,” said the stranger. “I, too, have been cautious. I did not wish to blurt out all 1 knew without preparing you to hear it.” The ladies bowed in concert, **Tt suggests some great trouble,” Mrs. Ham- lin hastened to add, ‘‘ but refers us to you for the details.” ‘* Which I am here to give—exactly, madam,” responded the stranger. ‘‘ You shall soon be duly enlightened. I believe my name is not mentioned in the letter, and so I will give it. _ It’s Ben Rodman.” He cleared his throat while Mrs, Hamlin and ' Alice bowed their thanks for his information, and then continued: “JT am an original 49 man, and have made and lost several fortunes—only to finish,’ as all such fellows do, at the bottom of the ladder. “This is all I need say about miyeelt, as you _are anxious to hear about Mr. in. Captain Ready, the Red Ransomer. “Tt was by mere chance that I joined the train in which he set out for home, | ‘‘We naturally became good friends by the way. ihe journey was in every way pleasant and favorable until we reached the mountains near Cresco when the train was suddenly halted and attacked by a great swarm of red-skins under the lead of the famous Roering Bison—” The visitor paused, as if overcome by his re- collection of his misfortunes. Alice and her mother exchanged questioning glances. ‘*T never heard of that chief,” said the for- mer, ‘* Nor I,” declared the invalid. perfectly new to me!” ** Tt is only too well known in the neighbor- hood of which I am speaking,” declared Ben Rodman with the calm and unmoved voice of a parrot repeating a lesson. ‘‘ Roaring Bison is the most fiendish of the chiefs who have lately become prominent. Our train was soon plun- dered of all its valuables, and Mr. Hamlin and I were taken out to be shot in revenge for our des- perate resistance.” The mother and daughter could not command their voices to speak. But Mrs. Cook, who had been watching Rod- man closely without allowing him to discover that fact, could not help saying to herself: ‘** He is indeed a terrible rascal! I’m sure he’s lying!” And yet she could not help thinking of that letter from the absent husband and father. In any and every case, there was a sinister mystery in the stranger’s presence, What could it be? She bent nearer to listen. After a sly and searching glance at the ladies, Rodman cleared his throat again and resumed. ‘“As good luck would have it, I was not en- tirely unknown to Roaring Bison. EF had ren- dered him a service when we were both boys, while he was hanging around ona of the forts in the Rocky Mountains, and I succeeded in recall- ing myself to his recollection. He not only spared my life, but granted my prayer for the life of Mr. Hamlin. Assoon as the passions of his furious followers had somewhat subsided, he conducted Mr. Hamlin and myself secretly from the omy pare us good arms and pe orses, and wished us a successful and rapid journey!” The ladies drew a long breath of relief. ** And so you got clear of the Indians?’ mur- mured the daughter. ‘* Yes—that is to say, of the particular band controlled by Roaring Bison,” declared Rod- man, continuing to note carefully the effect of his words, ‘‘ But our situation was by no means free from peril. We were almost a thou- sand miles from here, in the midst of prowling bands of savages and outlaws. There were only two of us, and one was forced to watch while the other slept. The lameness of our horses, or the dangers in which we were environed, forced us to rest for days together. Again and again did we narrowly miss capture at the hands of the Indians. But all of these drawbacks did not prevent us from making gocd headway in this direction, and at last—” ** My busband is here?” interrupted Mrs, Ham- lin, as she clasped her hands fervently. ‘‘ You have come to break the news of his safety—of his presence?” Rodman shook his head, ‘¢ The situation is not quite so favorable as that I’m sorry to say,” he declared, ‘‘ No, Mr. Hamlin is not here. [left him at a ranch on the Republican River, about five days to the westward, where he was taken ill with an in- flammatory rheumatism which prevented him from traveling. He has sent me ahead, there- fore, to say that he is safe, and that he will start anew for home just as soon as he is able to travel.” After all their long and keen anxieties the ladies experienced the greatest relief at these communications, ‘ Father is in good hands at the ranch in question?” asked Alice. ‘* Excellent,” was the answer. ‘‘ The rancher and his wife wlll do al) in their power to make him comfortable and hasten his recovery.” Mrs. Hamlin again looked at the address of the letter Rodman had brought, It was quite full and explicit, pointing out with great precision the location of the home of the Hamlins. ‘With these directions, Mr. Rodman, you had no difficulty in finding us, I suppose?” re- sumed Mrs. Hamlin. ‘But my husband seems to have been hurried at the time of writing this letter—in a position of such t peril that he did not have time to go into the details. What was the nature of that peril? Please give us all the details.” The messenger reddened suddenly, and moved uneasily in his chair. But he was quick to recover himself. “Tf you will glance at that letter,” he ex- plained, ‘‘ you will comprehend tbat it was written before our arrival at the ranch where I left him. It was written, in fact, at a moment when he was in hiding from a band of Indians, and when we expected to be discovered from ‘¢ The name is : r Peas 7 by one moment to another. Afterwards when I took leave of him at the ranch, he was forced to let the communication stand as he had written it, his right hand having become so cramped and swollen as to be quite useless,” ‘The explanation was ample for the occasion, and the tadies gave themselves up to a sense of positive and permanent relief, ‘The ranch in question is not likely to bo troubled by Indians?" queried Alice, * Oh, no. That part of the country has long since been cleared of all hostiles by our troops.” ‘‘ And the road home is perfectly safe?” de- manded Mrs, Hamlin, Rodman bowed, “Then we may look for my husband’s return from one day to another?” ‘* Certainly. He will start as soon as he is well enough, Possibly he may have started the very day after I did,” answered Rodman glibly. ** Tt’s possible, too, that he may still be at the ranch in question. In any case, I am to remain quietly here until his arrlval. He has promised to see that my future is a little brighter than my past, in return for the services I have been able to render him!” “You may count upon the fulfillment of every promise he has given you,” declared Mrs. Hamlin, with aeep emotion. * We shall none of us forget the benefits vou have conferred upon A. host of questions were asked by the ladies, toall of which Rodman responded in such a way as to increase their joy, at the same time that their gratitude to him was perceptibly quick- ened, A full hour thus passed. “But I forget, in my selfishness, that you must be worn out with your long Joma eye at length said Mrs. Hamlin, realizing suddenly the duration of the interview. ‘‘ Doubtless I have tried your patience in my anxiety to hear every- thing bearing upon my husband’s prolonged absence—” ‘* Not at all, madam, I could talk all night.” ** Nevertheless, we will try to be reasonable,” and Mrs. Hamlin smiled brightly. ‘‘ To-morrow we shall have time to resume the discussion. Meanwhile, Mr. Rodman, I hope you will con- sider yourself entirely at home here. We shall all be pleased to bave you here as an honored guest, while awaiting my busband’s arrival.” Mrs. Cook here arose quietly, knowing that it devolved upon her to show the stranger to his chamber. Taking a small lamp from the man- tle-piece, she led the way to the apartment in question. **T hope it?s an outer room, Mrs. Cook,” re- marked the guest, as he entered the room, ‘“T can never sleep unless I can open a window to the prairie.” ** Well, you have just your returned the housekeeper, wit which showed that she was not x¢ fully satis- fied in regard to the stranger and his communi- cations. ‘‘ This window, as you see, sir, opens upon the garden.” : She opened the window in question, inviting the strange guest by a gesture to take a view from it. He hastened to do so, ** Charming! charming!” he ejaculated. ‘* You may leave the window just as it is. There will not be a bit too much air. As dan old plains- man, I can never sleep unless the fresh air is blowing on me.” ‘*Where’s your horse, sir?” asked Mrs, Cook, as she retired from the window, ‘*T left him at the stable in the village.” ‘* Wouldn’t you like our groom to bring him here? or one of our farm- hands?” Ben Rodman smiled, understanding only too well the motives underlying this question—a desire to hint to him that there were ‘‘ men- folks” on the premises, **Thank you—no,” he answered carelessly. ‘‘ Tt’sa matter of no consequence. I will not trouble you.” ‘You ate very little supper, sir. Shall I not bring you upalunch?”’ , ** Oh, no—many thanks,” The housekeeper lingered a few moments, re- moving the counterpane and at the same time trying to surprise some unguarded gleam in the eyes of Rodman, but all excuse for lingering was soon over, and she bade the mysterious guest good-night and withdrew abruptly. ‘**A regular old cat,” was the comment of Rodman, as he dropped into a chair and looked after her. ‘*She’s evidently the ‘man of the house!’ Ishall have to be on my guard against her, She has really looked me out of countenance two or three times already.” He listened intently, looking around upon the pictures adorning the walls and upon the furni- ture with a thoughtful and critical air. ‘*A nice place,” he muttered. ‘* The pany is evidently wealthy. A fine nest this in whic to quarter one’s self, for life. I'd really be tempted to become hon- est! With another sharp glance around him, he reference here,” a nervousness gently locked the door by which he had entered, and then placed asmall table in front of the open window, setting the lighted lamp upon it, After a searching survey of a wardrobe off the ‘comicboo a I wish I had a home here > a i