Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 484 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

wf 12 Captain Ready, the Red Ransomer. | there is no ranch in the case, no father, no any- thing?’ asked Rodman. “Nothing is easier. All we have to do in such a journey is to march from lie to lie, pre- cisely as one would march from mile-post to mile-post.”’ ‘** Very well, Dirker. If we must, we must. But it’s hard to pull up so suddenly, after all the dreams I’ve bad of passing ihe winter here and living on the fat of the Jand. You shall go with us, of course, but I can’t introduce you under that horrible name of Dirker! What a pity it is that you stuck a knife into that miner, or that you didn’t do it more secretly! The name ’ll ar on you forever.” ‘“No, nor a minute longer!” returned its owner. ‘Pll take a new name—something clean and stylish. You may call me Potter. Potter is good. With my great capacities for lying, that young lady and her mother will doubtless be as clay in my hands.” ‘** All right, Mr. Potter! Suppose you walk over to our future estate with me, and I will in- troduce you to the ladies,” **'That?ll suit me exactly.” They walked away together, ‘*T like the idea of this trip the more I think of it,” observed Potter, aswe may as well call him. ‘Fact is, if the gir] should be unable to find her father at the raneb, we can aiways find her at any minute she may be wanted! Those Red Ransomers give me an idea. I dare say ail our interests lie in this direction. Upon the very face of things, it would seem desirable to separate the mother and daughter, and dig a it between them which only gold can bridge? o you take, old fellow? By playing this card properly, we can strike the old lady for twenty or thirty thousand before Christmas!” ‘“T’m glad you’re so wide awake!” declared Rodman, ‘ Permit me to mention a little idea that has crept into my noddle. From all we have learned since our arrival in the neighbor- hood, Miss Alice Hamlin has no avowed suitor. Now, Im not a beauty, but if I simulate a few ood deeds, and disnlay a little heroic devotion, may become positively handsome to the ro- mantic Miss Alice! Suppose I lay myself out for her capture?” ““That’s the very thing todo, Ben! Should you succeed in planting yourself, I can become your factotum ata handsome salary. Let the dear creature have her way. Ifshe is so anx- ious to brave the perils of the plains, let’s brave them with her. We can invent lots of exciting situations to show off our devotion and make ourselves useful. Wecan invent Red Ransom- ers, red-skins, and what not! Wecan save her from robbers—from anything she fears, in fact! The journey will be as interesting as a play— especially if we should really stumble upon tbe father and effect his rescue, which is by no _ means a far-fetched possibility.” ‘Bravo! let’s be off this very afternoon!” roposed Rodman, ‘‘A few hours will suffice or every necessary preparation.” The event verified this prevision. The pretended zeal of Potter in their service rendered him acceptable to the ladies, and he had no difficulty in persuading them that the ———KS———K——— TG sete” caravan was seven, and they had two or three | Thus, as a grand total, you see that we have extra horses for use in case of any sudden con- tingency. hus far no actual disaster had overtaken the travelers, although, as already indicated, they had experienced a number of scares, some of which were of a decidedly thrilling descrip- tion. An air of gloom and preoccupation rested up- on the features of the entire party. ‘Seems to me that we’ve about reached the end of our rope, old boy, unless we invent some- thing fresh and original,” said Rodman to his confederate. ‘It’s high time for us to reach the ranch where we left Mr. Hamlin. We can’t continue to pull the wool over the eyes of Miss Alice, unless we make our lies a little more robust.” ‘**7’d no idea her courage ’d hold out so long,” returned Potter, with a sigh. ‘‘ What daring she has! What energy! I agree with you, however, that she bas fed upon bear about as long as even her sanguine nature can stand it!” The face of Mr. Dayton, as the responsible chief of the expedition, was even more clouded than those of the two weary plotters. He was a man in the prime of life, hard- handed and honest-hearted, who had passed a number of years on the plains, and who had consequently been regarding his guide for sev- eral days with wonder and suspicion. ‘‘I’m sure we ought to have reached the ranch in question before now,” Alice was say- ing to Mrs. Dayton. ‘‘Can it be that these men are deceiving us? Can it be that we are wandering at random over the prairies?” ‘** Heaven only knows,” replied Mrs, Dayton, who was a motherly, sensible woman of about forty years. ‘‘ They certainly seem to have a great deal of private consultation with each other, and their countenances, it must be con- fessed, are not passports of the best description. But did they not say at noon that we should un- doubtedly be at the ranch in question in the course of the evening?” ‘* Yes, they did, or [could have hardly kept up my courage,” replied Alice. ‘* Perhaps I am too suspicious, but I fancied there was some- thing hollow and false in the assurances of Mr. Rodman. He is probably unserupulous enough to say almost anything to keep me quiet.” ‘** Well, we can at least wait to see what the evening will bring us,” said Mrs. Dayton thought- fully. ‘* At the worst, we can turn our faces in the other direction, with or without the know- ledge of these men and go home.” ‘** True, unless Rodman should turn out to be a thorough villain, and to have a gang of out- laws at his service. He may be one of the Red Ramsomers for all we know to the contrary. As you have doubtless noticed he bas been hang- ing around me disagreeably ever since we set on upon this journey. Whatis the man aim- ing at? Does he really expect me to be satis- fied forever with these slim results?” ‘* He’s certainly acting ina very queer man- ner,” said Mrs. Dayton. ‘‘ But let us hope that another day will throw new light upon the situation.” The afternoon wore slowly away. — plenty of business for the approaching winter.” “s en: and we'll ‘make hay while the sum sbines,’ I’m thinking,” said Rodman, with a side- long glance at Alice, ‘‘ I have not yet plucked up courage enough to present myself as a suitor, but a good round of woe and misery will open the road to that line of conduct, if some chance discovery concerning the father does not open a better one. Be sure to confirm every lie I tell, as heretofore, and we shall come out trium- phant.” Drawing rein suddenly, Rodman raised him- self in his stirrups and bent a long and earnest gaze upon the shapeless mass of ruins which had now loomed up distinctly to his right, ‘*As true’s 1 live, Miss Hamlin,” he eried, with well simulated agitation, ‘‘ that is the ve house in which I left your father! The red- skins have burned it!” All was at once excitement and apprehension in the little caravan, of course. ‘** Be cautious now,” resumed Rodman. ‘ Mr, Potter and I will ride forward to reconnoiter, while you come on more slowly. Look sharp for Indians!” The couple rode forward at a smart pace, and had soon taken such an advance that their gibes and sneers were in no danger of being overheard by the victims of their misfortunes, A sufficient examination was given to the premises for the two ruffians to feel sure that no one was lingering in the neighborhood, and then they rode quietly back to Alice. ** It’s the work of the red-skins, asI saw at a glance,” reported Rodman, “but the usual signs of murder are lacking. I daresay the oc- cupants bad time to make their escape!” , The soul of Alice Hamlin was too full for ut- terance, She scarcely took her eyes from the unsightly ruins until she was close beside them. By this time the first gray shadows of evening were falling. “This is awkward enough,” said Rodman, addressing himself particularly to Alice. ‘‘ We're not only defeated in the one great object of the expedition, but we’re without shelter. I had counted upon a good night’s rest here for all of us, and especially for the horses,” ‘ Well, the horses at least can be made com- fortable,’ returned Alice, mastering her emo- tions by a resolute effort, ‘‘ There isno other house hereabouts, Mr, Rodman?” ‘‘ Not within ten miles, and that is an old Government station.” ‘It’s out of the question, then,” said Alice with a sigh. ‘* We must stay here till morning. Let the horses be unsaddled. I'll have 6s Dayton pitch my tent in this little hollow back of the house.” The little cavaleade was soon encamped for the night, and due attention was given to the wants of all its members, including the horses, It was a sad and gloomy hour for Alice. Her soul was torn by a thousand conflicting emotions. Had her father been killed by the red-skins, or had he made his escape? ‘In the latter case he would have set out for roposed expedition for the relief of the absent It was near night when Rodman and his con- | home, if able to do so,” she whispered to Mrs, usband and father was a wise and timely mea- | federate, riding a short distance in advance, | Dayton. ‘‘He may be at home at this very gure. caught sight of a ruined stone house at no great | moment, and I hundreds of miles from him! Or ty ‘“We shall meet Mr. Hamlin before we have | distance ahead of them. he may have wandered forth into the wide been three days on the road,” was the final ‘*There’s a house we stopped at over night, prairie, where, sick and helpless, he has since _ assurance of the conscienceless schemer. ‘‘ But | old boy, when we were on our way eastward,” | died of starvation, or been killed by wolves!” his return home will be all the more pleasant | observed Rodman. ‘‘Do you remember the These reflections were too terrible to be en- _ and rapid for our presence.” name of the occupant?” dured in inaction. i It was still early in the afternoon when the ‘‘No. He’s evidently had a streak of bad Arising, and declining the food Mrs. Dayton little expedition took its departure, and long be- | luck. Perbaps the red-skins have scooped him!” | was pressing upon her, she sauntered to the oP fore night it had reached the solitudes of the ‘““T think not. We've hardly seen enough of | of the crest of one of the rolllng ridges by which. area pairict. the red-skins to warrant such a conclusion, | the camp was bounded. 4 i ‘We've taken a big step in the right direction, | Still—” ; ——. _ old boy,” whispered Potter to his confederate. ** Still they might have been here,” suggested CHAPTER XVII. ‘The three members of the family are now in | Potter. ‘‘Anidea strikes me. How would it A NEW VIEW OF THINGS, _ three different places, and we'll taks good care | do—since we must do something—to make this “Hist!” enjoined a voice abruptly, ‘ Don’t that at least two of them do not get together | ruin the ranch at which we left Mr. Hamlin? | be afraid, miss! I’m a friend!” _ again until we are well paid for our arduous | Poorman! The Indians have made an unex- In the mood which had come over her, Alice _ Jabors.” pected descent upon the place and have killed | was more interested than alarmed, as she turned Ben Rodman laughed noiselessly, averting | him!” toward the speaker. _ his gaze from Alice Hamlin, ‘No, that won’t do—the killing business, I ‘‘?’m the man who lately lived in this house,” eM = = + It would be no easy matter to record all the _ rascally hopes and designs which were pushing him at that moment in the direction he was _ going! CHAPTER XVI. ALMOST DISCOURAGED. A WEEK had passed since Alice Hamlin com- _menced her perilous journey over the great __ plains of Kansas and od _ westward, ascending one o * were takin “ » 2 x * unk of young men leading as many pack- ebraska, It had been a week of constant fatigue and anxiety, and of perfectly useless inquiries and explorations, The travelers were still pushing slowly to the p the branches of the Republican River. _ The two conspirators, as was perfectly natural, the lead, : Behind them rode Alice and Mrs. Dayton. In the rear was Mr. Dayton, followed by a orses, _ The whole number of persons in the little mean,” returned Rodman quickly, ‘‘ Perhaps the leader of the Indians was my old friend, Roaring Bison? In that case, Mr. Hamlin bas been carried off to the camp of the Bison to re- cover from his rheumatism.” ‘** Or to make more business for uws—ha, ha!” laughed Potter. ‘‘In any case, yonder ruin is all that remains of the house at which you left Mr. Hamlin. Isn’t that so?” ‘*T can swear to the fact—the very house! Evidently a band of red-skins has made a raid in his direction, and burned the house to the ground, capturing or murdering its occupants— men, women, and children, As we don’t wish to be too hard upon Miss Alice, let’s allow that the old man wasn’t killed, but has either made his escape, fallen into the friendly hands of Roaring Bison. or bas been carried off by some similar red-skin!” ‘“* The very thing,” commented Potter, ‘‘ Leave me to put in the fancy touches and the blood- curdling embellishments. First, this is the spot where we left the interesting rheumatic. - ond, the man’s gone. Third, we must look for him elsewhere, Fourth, we can keep looking. pursued the voice, as a man of middle age sud- denly presented himself to her view, under cover of a group of bushes, and within a few yards of her, ‘‘ My name is Britton.” ‘Britton! Mr. Rodman told me your name was Houseman!” This was indeed the name Rodman had re- peatedly given as that of the rancher to whose care he had left Mr. Hamlin! ‘* There’s some mistake, 1 reckon,” assured the new-comer, ‘* My name is really Britton.” ‘* And you owned and occupied this house be- fore it was burned?” **T did—and own it still.” ** Who burned it? The Indians?” **'No, miss. It took fire accidentally.” Alice gasped for breath. ‘* And—and no one was injured by the fire?” she murmured. ‘ No one was burned, I mean?” ‘*Certainly not. I even had time to save most of my furniture and other effects.” ‘One question more, then. Where is Mr. Hamlin?” The new-comer repeated the name in simple amazement, (EO) C Bb eS ey PSG. +