Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 484 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

Captain Ready, the Red Ransomer. Vorce quietly. ‘‘ We must all put up with the fortunes of war. Of course have had espe- cial reasons for coming between Mr. Hamlin and his oppressors, and one of them is that I am the deadly enemy of the man who calls himself Captain Ready. That man has wrecked my life.” ‘¢-You know who and what he is, then?’ ‘Yes, His real name is Albert Walker, and his father was noless a man than Judge Walker, of the Supreme Court of Nebraska. Let me give you a little idea of their history, which will alsc give you a glimpse of mine!” He proceeded to detail the tragic events we have just laid before the reader. ‘‘ And so you have at last got track of the ‘black horseman,’ Mr. Vorce?” queried Nick, after hearing those particulars, ‘* He and Cap- tain Ready are identical?” ‘“Yus, It seems that this heartless assassin came here not long after the events I have nar- rated, and in due course became the chief of the Red Ransomers!” ** And you, sir—you have at last tracked him here, and mean to get square with him before you leave this neighborhood?” * Exactly.” Gordon Vorce looked back a few moments, inclining his ear, and then added: **T think we can now ride faster without danger. Evidently there is clatter enough be- hind us to completely cover all the noise we’re likely to cause.” The suggestion was duly acted upon, and a ride of several miles succeeded without further remark between the new friends, ‘* Here we are,” suddenly said Vorce, drawing rein. ‘' This is one of my retreats.” He hastened to dismount, and Nick followed his example. ‘*One of ycur retreats, eh?” he repeated, with a comprehensive glance around. “ Well, I should say as much! As near as I can see in this darkness, we must be near the jumping-off place, or at the fag end of creation.” * Rough, is it?” ‘‘ Like the den of a grizzly! It’s safe to say that you are not disturbed here by neighbors.” ‘‘Never; and that is why it is one of my favorite haunts.” He hitched the horses to a couple of trees, and then Jed the way toward a small log-hut of which Nick was just able to make out the out- lines, in the midst of a rocky elevation a few rods distant. ‘‘Shall we be safe here till morning, Mr. Vorce?” asked Nick, as he followed his de- liverer. : ‘* Till morning, or till next BP by he as you like,” answered Vorce. ‘‘ Not necessarily in this hut, which has often been visited by sol- diers, robbers and others, but somewhere near it, in caves, lava-beds or other hiding-places.” Striking a match at the entrance of the but, Vorce took his way into it, and lighted a candle he had left conveniently near the entrance on a table. ; ‘*Come in, Mr. Peddie,” he invited, as the beams of the candle began to illuminate a smail square apartment, beyond which was a secon one, ‘I? you are as tired as [ am, you will be glad to sit down.” He indicated a rustic chair, and Nick dropped into it with a sigh of relief. In the silence that succeeded, a sound of heavy breathing reached Nick’s hearing from the inner apartment, and he started violently, turning an inquiring glance in that direction and then upon his rescuer, who smiled contentedly. — ‘Of course you can guess who it is, without the least chance of error,” he said. “Mr. Hamlin?” Vorce assented. *T found him at the butte where you left him,” he explained, ‘‘and not an instant too soon. If I had not taken charge of him as I did, be would have been in the hands of the rob- bers an hour later, as two or three different search-parties had taken the butte for a ren- dezvous, How weak he was and is! Whata terrible captivity he has been enduring!” Nick stepped to the door of communication, glancing at the sleeper with a look of the keen- est interest and pity. ** How did he seem when you left him?” ‘In every way right, as near as a man can be, after such a terrible experience, but so very, very anxious for your return. He wants you to him company, and in that case intends to start immediately for his home on the Missouri.” A brief conversation succeeded, and then Gor- don Vorce made up a rude bed on arustic lounge at one side of the apartment, remarking: ** As we shall have a great deal to do _to-mor- row, Mr. Peddie, and as you are evideutly as weak as a child, I think the sooner you lie down here and get to sleep the better.” “ And you, sir?” ‘*T'll sleep later, after arranging such a net- work of strings in all the paths by which the house is reached that no one can intrude with- out giving us fair warning.” Nick had some doubts as tothe wisdom of giv- bs See eae up to slumber, but he had scarcely nded his weary frame upon the couch placed at his disposal when nature overcame him. It is doubtful if he could have remained awake an hour if his very life had been at stake. The balance of the night passed to him as a single brief blank. His first thought on awakening was of Mr. Hamlin, who was still sleeping soundly. Then he looked around in search of Vorce, whom he found in the act of caring for the horses at a little shed upon a second elevation at no great distance from the first. A few remarks were exchanged, and then Nick gave his attention to a number of the features of the landscape, including a brook he remem- bered crossing the preceding evening. ** Well, this is odd!” he muttered, with a start as if he had suddenly conceived a keen interest in his surroundings, He drew from an inner pocket the manuscript map to which reference has been made, and ex- amined it hastily. ‘*Yes, there’s the opening,” he muttered. ‘** Yonder is the spur of the ledge. Here is the garden—” ~ He gave such a start now that Vorce drew near to take cognizance of the cause of his evi- dent excitement. ‘Ts not this the Myers Ranch?” asked Nick. **' Yes, The house was originally built by a Myers—who was killed by the Indians,” ** And the place was afterward sold to a Mr. Thompson?’ pursted Nick, still reading from a memorandum in one corner of bis map, ‘““It was. Mr, Thompson was also killed by the Indidns.” ‘**And the heirs have sold the place to an eastern land-agent?” ‘** Such is the fact.” ‘* And this is my famous farm,” cried Nick, as he returned his map to his pocket. ‘*So much for buying a pig in a poke! This is the renowned Dead Man’s Ranch!” **T could have told you as much yesterday,” acknowledged Vorce, smilingly, ‘‘only it was my intention to get here ahead of you, and give you a surprise. When Mr. Hamlin puts in an appearance, we'll have a cup of coffee and something to eat, and I shall then take pleasure in showing you over your new acquisition.” Nick was about to reply, when light and rapid footsteps fell upon his hearing, and he turned, to find himself face to face with Mabel Barter, of the Rolling Tavern. CHAPTER XXV. NICK AND MABEL. THE hollow smile Mabel had called to her face did not conceal her painful agitation. She was visibly distressed with her unrequited passion for Nick Peddie, and especially with re- morse for the murderous falsehood of which she bad been guilty. ‘*T suppose you’re surprised to see me, Mr. Peddie, after what has passed?’ she simpered, as she came to a halt near him, ‘*No, I can’t say that I am,” was Nick’s an- swer. ‘*A man who has had any considerable dealings with his fellow-beings can hardly be surprised at anything they may do—unless they should do something sensible!” ** How freezing you are!” “Ought I really to regard your visit as a bit of heavenly bliss?’ demanded Nick, sternly. ‘* What's up? What has started you in this direction? Has a raid been made on the Rolling Tavern? Have your father and mother been arrested for their numerous murders?’ “ Hush! You frighten me to death! What if some one should bear you?” She bent a quick and scared glance upon Mr, Vorce, who had been quick to beat a retreat at her arrival, and was now giving his attention to the horses, ‘Tf you don’t wish to hear unwelcome obser- vations,” returned Nick, ‘‘ you had better re- frain from all intrusions of this nature. I’m sure that I don’t owe you for anything—not even good will. These premis:s are mine, Per- haps the man who originally squatted here was a madman or an idiot, and it may be that [m as mad or foolish as he was, but my title is nevertheless perfect. You will oblige me great- ly by taking an instant departure.” The intruder began to cry—partly for effect, partly with actual vexation. ‘‘T come to say that I am very sorry for my wickedness of last night,” she declared hur- riedly. ‘‘I am here to ask your forgiveness,” ‘“‘ T fo give you freely and fully,” replied Nick, “but only on condition that you vanish im- mediately and that you do not come within ten miles of me hereafter. Anything else to say?” y Yes, several things that concern you deep- lyw—” “ Bxcuse me, I must sit down,” interrupted Nick, pushing into the house precipitately. ‘“ You seem to forget that I have barely emerged alive from the tight place into which you thrust me!” : He dropped into a rude chair, motioning her to another, andadded: . ‘“* Out with it, and be brief!” “‘ 7 want, first of all, to warn you against the mysterious man I find here with yon—” %* Well, you can save your powder. Your ‘ mysterious man’ is no mystery to me. I know 19 just who he is and what is the secret of his pres- ence in this neighborhood. I may even add that he has rendered me servicesof the greatest im- portance, and that I have no desire to hear from you any cackle to his detriment, or I may for- get the respect due your sex, and bundle you out of doors with scant ceremony.” ‘* But there is something wrong s bout him!” ‘* Even if there is, it is not for you to accuse: him, He is not keeping a death-trap to catch unwary travelers. He has not fled his former residence—as you have!” Mabel now began crying entirely in earnest. She realized that there was a gulf between her and Nick which could never be crossed. It is unnecessary to say that he was not at all impressed by her tears. ** How cruel you are!” she resumed, ‘ Will you never be anything to me again—not even a friend?” ‘* Not if I know it,” returned Nick scornfully. ‘“*T have no wish to reckon among my friends any person of your character, But why potas an interview so disagreeable tous both? It will be only right and decent to keep out of my sight henceforth.” The guilty woman sobbed a few moments in uncontrollable grief. ‘* Enough!” exclaimed Nick impatiently. ** Will you rid me of your presence?” He made a gesture so full of command and entreaty that she could not ignore it. ** Oh, very well,” she snapped, as she suddenly dried her tears and arose. ‘ If you don’t want my company, there are others who do,” ‘ Allow me to see you off,” was all the notice taken of her observations. ‘I suppose your horse is in the ravine under the pines?” Receiving a nod of assent, he led the way in the direction indicated. The young woman was soon in her saddle, ‘“* Good-by, Mr. Peddie,” she said. ‘I doubt if we ever meet again. We're both going to certain destruction.” ** Well, even that—anything,” returned Nick, with smiling scorn, ‘‘I can endure anything except your presence,” Nick intended to put the case strongly. He wanted this leave-taking to be final. The girl turned frightfully pale. ‘** All is over,” she gasped. ‘‘ It matters noth- ing now what becomes of me.” She rode away, plying her whip savagely, and was soon going over the uneven ground at such a furious pace that Nick expected her to get a fall that would kill her. CHAPTER XXVI. IN DEADLY PERIL. A HAND suddenly touched Nick on the arm— that of his deliverer, * 'Let’s see where she goes,” he proposed. Nick followed his new friend, and was soon at the top of one of the highest hills in the: vicinity. What a surprise there awaited him! From this elevation he was able to look down: into a number of small valleys, or bowl-like depressions, in the general level of the coun- try. The retreating figure of Mabel soon became: distinctly visible, passing under trees that were- sufficiently open to afford an almost continuous: Fan a ie mn ** She really seems to ing away,” exclaim- Nick, “lam delighted.” $ “4 _ “Just look again,” said Vorce, ‘‘She’s turn-- ing off into the open.” Nick started violently, as he looked in the direction indicated. ‘“*Ah! do you see that?” he cried. “ A hun- oak: aera who are evidently on the war- pa It was even so. / In the edges of an open space, at the extreme bottom of one of the depressions we have men-- tioned, bad assembled a compact body of Crows, armed, eager and watchful, as if expecting an: important arrival, At their head was Sword Bearer, in all bis’ paints and feathers, and beside him, in like: garb, were his medicine-men and leading war- riors—all peemenenne apicture whose significance could not have possibly been mistaken. **See!” pursued Nick. ‘That woman sees: them! The chief rides forward to meet her!” Voree could hardly believe the evidence of his senses,as he saw the white girl ride up to | the herculean savage in command of the red- skins, and shake hands with him. “Oh that’s nothing,” muttered Nick, in re- sponse to an ejaculation of amazement that came from his companion, agreed on a matrimonial union! Sword Bearer has become thoroughly infatuated with the hideous creature, and has offered ber an immense fortune to become the head of his household.” ‘* And she is inclined to accept?” “* She is at least inclined, I think, to carry the: matter far enough to get hold of the cash of- fered her.” ‘But has Sword Bearer the her?” ; ‘Oh, any quantity of it, no doubt. His pre-- decessor, you’ll remember, was one of the most: cash to give: “The couple are about — ’ - 4 { a er* 4 f ' s + violent and successful marauders who haseyer- (al) JOO NAL Ss com