Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 484 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

= T's ‘ va why ti $i ava: MG . 20 cursed the Rockies. He is known to have maintained detectives at each end of the trans- continental route to post him as to all move- ments of persons and remittances, and it is said that he has more than once scooped a million in a single haul. Sword Bearer is now in posses- sion of these funds, and doubtless has a finan- cial strength that many a leading millionaire of the country would be glad to possess!” “And he’s ready to waste his cash upon such a creature as that!” ‘*Oh, nothing is more natural, About the only thing he and his braves want money for is to buy whisky. As you know, the whole band is supported by the Government, and they pick up furs and other valuables in such quantity as to help themselves supplied in current cash, so that 7, ge have no yeat bohaaion to fall back on the old chief’s accumulations.” ‘** But, see! Mr. Peddie!” exclaimed Mr. Vorce excitedly. ‘‘ The couple are,evidently talking of you! See how earnestly they are looking in this direction.. The girl is pointing out some- thing. I should say the girl is making a bar- gain with the chief to kill you! They shake hands upon it!” Nick shared these views entirely. ‘They think we're tired—helpless,” added Vorce. ‘“‘Now they are pointing away to the eastward, in the direction of Haskell and his men, as much as to say that they cannot come to our assistance in time to save us. See! Sword Bearer makes a gesture to his men, and they all leap into their saddles. Doubtless they’ll soon be in motion in this direction.” Quick!” cried Nick, ‘turning away. ‘‘We must arouse Mr. Hamlin and take leave of the Dead Man’s Ranchin a hurry. We haven’t a moment to lose. We're in deadly peril!” Another glance, and the fact was confirmed. Sword Bearer and his men were in motion! CHAPTER XXVIL. CAPTAIN READY AND ALICE. CAPTAIN READY, in his pretended character of Mr. ** Hobart,” bad taken but a few steps at the head of the little cavalcade presented by Alice Hamlin and her friends, when he came to the spot where he had left his horse, which was one of the very best to be had. As he mounted, he caught a full view of Mr. Britton, the old cayalryman who had been serv- ing Alice as guide, and a very peculiar expres- sion passed over his features. ‘* Yes, I know that chap,” he said to himself, ‘‘and he’d know me, if he could once get a good view of my figure-head. I must take care not to get too near him, and to keep my face turned in the opposite direction!” This was easily done. As fate would have it, Mr. Britton had fallen into an interesting conversation with Mr, Day- ton—to which the two young men of the party were listening eagerly—and were also neteG up the rear, so that no opportunify was afford bim or them to get a view of the features of the su ed rancher. n the right of Captain Ready rode Mrs. Dayton, who was an excellent horsewoman, notwithstanding her somewhat ample propor- tions, and on the left rode Alice, both of the ladies keeping near their new guide and leader. Wary, watchful, and resolute, the chief of the Red Ransomers kept up such a conversation with the couple, and especially with Alice, that they did not have time to become suspicious, or to reflect upon one or two singularties of the whole proceeding which had struck them. As to the effect of the presence of Alice Ham- lin upon the robber-chief, we need only say that he had experienced at sight of her the first real passion of his entire existence. He had never before been so charmed—so de lighted. And to think that she was entirely at bis mercy, and that he was taking her where he would—what a delight for the lawless ruffian. He was so intensely overjoyed that he bad no little difficulty in preventing his jubilance from invading his features, and even his speech and manner, and so leading to his detection. ‘““Are you a man of family, Mr. Hobart?” asked Mrs. Dayton, during one of the short pauses in the conversation. “Certainly, madam,” and he smiled in his most engaging fashion. ‘I may even say,” he added, as he thought of his eighty followers- ** that my family is a very large one.” ‘And you dare to live in this wilderness with them?” pursued the lady, **Oh, yes, why not?” **T should think you'd be afraid of the In- dians!” “They’re not sary Saha fortunately,” de- clared the captain. ‘None of the red-skins in this neighborhood are hostile. The one who is the most dangerous, as well as the most power- ful, is Sword rer, and he and I are on the best of terms, ” . At this avowal, the ladies turned quick and almost startled glances upon him. The remark was indeed a sort of slip on the part of the a a e noticed the effect of the avowal, and hastened to add: : ~ “I merely mean that Lam too well protected ! itt tt ALLL LL LLL by the Government for even a hostile to dare molest me.” ‘* But the Red Ransomers, Mr. Hobart!” pur- sued Mrs. Dayton. ‘* Are they not very near us, or at least somewhere in this neigbbor- hood?” “To be candid, madam,” answered the pre- tended rancher, ‘‘ they’re nearer to you at this moment than you would consider pleasant.” ‘* And you're not afraid of them?” ** Not in the least.” ‘* And that terrible Captain Ready—are you not afraid of bim?” ** Of course not!” “That only shows how used to danger you men are!” commented the good lady. ‘* For my part, I should be scared to death if I were to find myself in the presence of that man,” ‘*Oh, you might not,” assured the captain, smilingly. ‘‘ Everybody agrees that he’s a very pleasant and agreeable fellow when he chooses to be so.” ‘* Tt can’t be possible!” ““Tt’s only too true, Ifear. You wouldn’t be a bit more afraid of bim than you are of me.” A brief silence succeeded. ee m4 thinking, Mr. Hobart,” then said Alice, ‘‘ that we.may make you a great deal of trouble, there are somany of us. Is your house a large one?” ‘Yes, particularly so for this quarter of the world,” was the answer.. ** As we are now clear of the woods, suppose we ride at a quiet gallop? We shall get there all the sooner, and have more time in which to make ourselves comfortable for the night.” The suggestion was duly acted upon, and little more was said until two or three miles had been left behind the little cavalcade. ‘‘Are we not almost there?” asked Alice, as Captain Ready set the example of coming to a walk, ** Almost!” ‘‘T see lights!” suddenly cried Mrs. Dayton. ‘* And a vamp-fire!” added Alice. ‘““Yes, those are my cowboys,” declared the pretended rancher. ‘‘If you have no objections I'll let them know that [ am at the head of this arty, and so relieve them of all fear of Red nsomers and Indians, if our arrival should cause them any.” He drew a whistle from his pocket and blew three peculiar blasts, and tnen led the way through a narrow fringe of trees into an open space of considerable dimensions. ‘* Here we aro,” he exclaimed, with an intona- tion of profound satisfaction, as he leaped lightly to the ground, and gave the ladies due assist- ance? ‘ This is my house,” The villain had carried his point, Alice and her friends were now in the camp of the Red mers, _ CHAPTER XXVIII. THE PLANS OF MR. HAMLIN. As Nick and Vorce reached the house, they found Mr. Hamlin justin the act of emerging from it. The situation of affairs was explained to him in few words, and both he and Nick, as strangers in the neighborhood, looked to Vorce for his ibe as to the best course of action open to them. ‘*Of course we could hide on this very ranch as I have suggested, so that the enemy would not find us very soon, if ever,” Vorce hastened to say, in response to that mute appeal. ‘‘ But a better, because safer, way, will be for us to take refuge in Captain Haskell’s camp,” The trio were promptly in motion, getting clear of the ranch several minutes before Mabe and Sword Bearer reached it. ‘Of courss we must leave you to take the lead, Mr. Vorce, said Nick, with a sigh of re- lief on Hamlin’s account, as soon as he saw that they were getting away unseen, ‘ You know just where Haskell is encamped.” ‘Yes, and how to reach him without being seen by the enemy,” returned Vorce. ‘ As they descend toward the ranch on one side of the ridge, we'll gain Haskell’s on the other.” This programme was duly carried out, and in the course of three-quarters of an hour the trio drew near their destination. They were seen, of course, and Nick was rec- ognized from a considerable distance. As they approached one of the sentries on the side of the camp nearest them, Captain Haskell himself was seen hastening to meet them, as the central figure of a considerable group of his men who were off duty at the moment. The cordial manner in which the captain re- ceived Nick was quite enough to put him quite at his ease and make him oblivious of all he had suffered through the mistake of being mistaken for Captain Ready. ‘‘T need not say how pleased I am, Mr. Ped- die, to see you looking so well,” greeted Has- kell, shaking hands warmly with bim, ‘“‘ The same to you, Mr. Vorce.” Even as the captain uttered these words, bis whole attention concentrated upon Mr. Hamlin, whose very aspect was suggestive of his identity, ‘“* 1 see, captain, that you already have some suspicion of the nameof the gentleman I am now to have the pleasure of presenting to you ——— eee eee aed = Captain Ready, the Red Ransomer. in person,” said Nick, joyfully. ‘‘A strange hazard has accomplished all your zeal and de- votion failed to do!” “What! You mean that this gentleman is Roger Hamlin?” ** Such is indeed the fact.” It is needless to say how very cordial were the preetina exchanged by the two gentlemen, Mr. amlin having been duly enlightened by Nick as to all the captain’s zeal in his behalf. ‘*'You have been looking for me, then, and trying to effect my deliverance?’ queried Ham- lin, when the couple bad exchanged the conven- tional greetings of the occasion. Haskell assented. ‘* Perhaps you have seen my messenger?” The captain shook his head. ‘“Then how did you learn of my presence in the camp of the robbers?” ‘* Through one of my men, who passed several days as a spy in their midst.” ‘And you haven’t seen either my messenger or the letter I intrusted to him?” ‘* No, sir, nothing of tbe sort. All I know of your affairs has been told me by my spy, and it is upon his report that all my steps in this affair bave been taken.” The escaped prisoner heaved a sigh of the profoundest regret, What must be the anguish of his poor wife at that moment! What must be the grief of Alice! “And now what service can I render you, Mr. Harolin?” pursued Haskell. ‘‘If Iam not mistaken in the situation, you are anxious to communicate with your family at the earliest possible moment?” ‘*Oh, yes—yes!” ‘*Then suppose we fall in immediately and start for the Union Pacific?” “The very thing.” The order was accordingly given. Then the rescued prisoner drew the arm of Captain Haskell within his own, and walked away a short distance with him, so that no one might hear further what he bad to say. ‘*Captein Haskell,” said he, in a mere whis- per, ‘“‘did you ever hear the circumstances under which I was captured by the robbers?” **Only vaguely,” was the answer; “but I have been told that you managed to prevent the ed Ransomers from getting hold of your money.” ‘* Yes, I had that good luck, simply because I got warning that the train was to be held up at a certain point. After taking the advice of the officials of the train, I came toa halt, and paus- ed Jong enovgh in a lonely spot, to bury my treasure, with the aid that was afforded me by the conductor and others. I even bad hopes of making my escape, but the robbers bad fore- seen by our very delay what we were doing, and I had not gone ten rods from my cache when I was captured ” Captain Haskell looked disturbed by the de- claration. ‘*In that case, may not the robbers have foun your cache and dug up your money?” he as “{ feared so for a long time, but without cause,” answered Hamlin. ‘‘ Since I have been here, Thave Jearned in various ways that these villains failed to find where the money was hidden,” ‘* Well, your first act must be, then, to re- cover this buried ges Hi ‘‘Naturally. I would like to go as directly and quickly as possible to the spot where it 1s buried.” ‘Quite right, sir, Need I add that my men and | are wholly at your disposal, and that we will do all we can to hasten your restoration to your family, and assist you in the recovery of your money.” Expressing his thanks, Hamlin led the way back to Nick, to whom he stated briefly the conclusions to which he had come. ‘*And now, Mr. Peddie,” he added, ‘‘ what are your intentions? Will you go East with me, or are you inclined to remain at the Dead Man’s Ranch?” Nick made a gesture of irrepressible disgust. ‘*T am going with you, Mr. Hamlin, if you have no objections,” he declared» ‘* My dream of a fine stock ranch, where I could raise horses and cattle, is now a thing of the past. Natur- ally enough after all the difficulties which have presented themselves to me since my advent into this region, I have concluded that I have no call to be a rancher!” **Good,” commented Hamlin. ‘I shall have the pleasure of your company on this long ride!” The couple were soon in motion, ‘“Ah! if they could have known that they were going directlv away from Alice, and that she was in the hands of Captain Ready. CHAPTER XXIX, A WOMAN'S WILES, THE disappointment of Sword Bearer and Mabel at the escape of their intended victims was intense. ‘‘ They’re certainly at no great distance,” de- clared the scheming girl, after a rapid surv of the Dead Man’s Ranch, including the dw comicbook ~_-> & =m tb 1.4 ok ee, Te