Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 484 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

ce Captain Ready, the Red Ransomer. * 21 ing which had so recently been vacated. ‘ But where?’ ‘‘ The question is easier asked than answered,” replied Sword Bearer. ‘‘ There are places with- in half a mile of us which offer every desired chance of concealment. I do not refer merely to the caves and other retreats with which I am familiar, but to those of which I am ignorant. If we had hounds, we could track the runaways, but it will do little good for even our best scouts to waste their time inthatdirection. Neverthe- less, Pll try.” He summoned a number of his most capable braves, including those who were especially fa- miliar with the neighborhood, and set them to work, giving them all the assistance possible, In vain, however. The half-hour devoted to this business was a half-hour wasted. ‘Then what are we to do?’ was Mabel’s in- uiry, after the chief had made due report of the non-success of his scouts, ‘‘ There’s only one thing we can do,” replied Sword Bearer, “‘ and that is to watch the sol- diers of Captain Haskell, and see what action they take in the course of the next few hours. If the fugitives are there, the captain and his i will soon get in motion for the Union Pa- cific, ** Why so?’ ** Because Hamlin was captured in that quar- ‘* But why should he go back there?” ‘* Simply because he bas buried a great pile of money near that railway.” ‘* At the time of his capture, you mean? But why didn't the Red Ransomers find it?” ** Because the road had just been newly bal- lasted thereabouts for several miles, and conse- quently the spot where the money was buried had nothing to distinguish it from miles of simi- lar excavations in both directions from the scene of Mr. Hamlin s capture!” Mabel smiled a little cynically. ** You seen: to be very well posted about the ‘* Well, I ought to be,” was the reply. ‘I spent weeks there, with scores of men, in the attempt to get track of that million or two, but all in vain.” The girl reflected. “Tf Hamlin and his crowd should start in that direction, as you think they will, would it not be well to follow them?’ “Certainly. That is my intention.” “Tf they dig up that money, you ought to be able to lay hands upon it!” “Tf 1 don’t,” returned Sword Bearer, ‘‘I shall come to the conclusion that I am losing my grip. Considering the importance of this mat- affair,” she said. ter, I had better dispatch a couple of scouts to keep an eye on Haskell, and report the first sign of a movement.” He hastened to do so, “And now, Star Eyes,” resumed Sword Bearer, with a return of the sentimentality which had become almost chronic with him, ‘*let us come back to ourown affairs. You have had a long night to sleep and dream since I showed you that million. Has my pleading all been in vain?’ ‘Oh, I did not say that,” returned Mabel with an affectation of timidity which she had found to be very effective in her dealings with the cultured savage. ‘* Then do you mean to imply that you consent to become mine?” ‘*The temptation is certainly great. Think of a whole million!” ‘* It shall be yours if you will marry me,” as- sured Sword Bearer, as his rugged features flushed with eagerness and hope. ‘* But how mine? In what way will you place the money in my hands?” The wily chief hesitated a moment about his aT. Notwithstanding all his infatuation for the bag a infatuation which had been provcked ya line of conduct which was at least question- able—he was not so foolish as to be tgnorant of the fact that she seemed to think a great deal more of the money he had promised her than she did of him. This he didn’t exactly like. He would have been glad to be loved for him- lf, Nevertheless he had no intention of making the actual situation of affairs a cause of quar- rel, With a long-drawn sigh he answered: ‘*T will place the money in your hands in any way you please. Here, or at the Rolling Tavern, or at any place you choose to name.” ‘* Thank you, great chief.” She leaned toward him from her saddle, layin her head against his breast, and he did not fai to avail himself of the opportunity thus afforded him of bestowing one of his hearty kisses upon her forehead. ‘* Now I know that you love me, great chief,” resumed the girl, in her most wheedling voice ‘*and I can do no less than respond to your sui favorably. My heart has re for you.” ‘* Then you will be mine “*Tt is agreed. If you send the bridal present you have promised me to the Rolling Tavern in | the course of the day, I will become yours to- morrow |” For once Sword Bearer was too delighted to speak English, bursting forthin a perfect tor- rent of ejaculations in bis mother-tongue, Then he forced himself to be calm, and re- fete his ardent thanks in such a way that abel could take them in by hearing as well as sight. ‘* As tothe million,” he added, with as easy grace as if he were speaking of a mere bagatelle, ‘“*T will say only a few words. You will find this bridal gift in your little room at the Rolling Tavern whenever you choose to go home!” He turned to his chief medicine-man and an- other of his favorites, giving them an order in their native tongue, and they inclined themselves and hurried away in the direction of the camp of their people. The glance with which Mabel looked after them was full of greed and anxiety, as well as satisfaction. i Why should she care for Nick Peddie? Of what account was he in comparison with a million dollars?” A strange gleam came into her averted eyes— the gleam of a person who is ready to dare and do all! ‘Of course you would have killed that Nick Peddie for me, as we talked, if we had got hold of him?’ she murmured. ‘* Of course,” be nodded. ** But since he has escaped us, great chief, let him go.” Another assent. ** The fact is, we have things of more import- ance to think about!” pursued Mabel, as the gleam in her averted eyes grew deeper and deeper. Once more Sword Bearer assented. ‘*Such being the situation of affairs,” con- cluded the girl, as she brought her glances back to the face of the chief in all their treacherous hypocrisy, ‘‘I will go home to my father and mother, and tell them of my decision!” The chief seemed to think this abrupt leave- taking a little hard, but he was too stoical—or too hopeful—to complain of it. ‘*But I shall expect you either to-day or to- morrow by the middle of the afternoon, or sooner,” added Mabel, greatly to the delight of her ardent wooer. You will not fail?” ** Certainly not!” The assurance called a flush of joy to the girl’s face about which there was not the least trace of hypocrisy. For once she was sincere on wishing to see him! ‘*Of course I shall be pleased to take you to the tavern,” he added. Mabel shook her head. ‘**Or send an escort!” ‘*That, too, is unnecessary. None of the Red Ransomers will dare offend me, seeing that Cap- tain, Ready has so long been anxious to marry me! They separated upon this basis, Mabel ge ed ing her hold mer the chief by embracing him earnestly—for the first time in all their acquaint- ance, CHAPTER XXX, MABEL’S PLOT. As Sword Bearer had promised, the girl found, on her arrival at the Rolling Tavern, that she had been preceded by the two representatives of her wooer, and that eee box full of money had been duly deposited in her apartment. To be sure, she had ridden home slowly, so as not to interfere in the remotest degree with this very vital and important proceeding. She found her parents ina state of tremen- dous excitement, of course. *Do you know what that too ardent admirer of yours has been doing, dear?’ was the greeting with which the old woman met her daughter, as the latter alighted. ‘* Certainly,” was the answer. ‘‘He has literally filled your room with money !” ‘“That’s the result of a little understanding to which Sword Bearer and [ have come!” The girl spoke with forced calmness, The old woman looked shocked. She even shuddered. “You mean—a marriage!” faitered old Bar- ter, who had taken the girl’s horse by the bridle as a preliminary toward leading it away to the shed which was used as a stable. ‘“‘That’s the talk,” avowed Mabel, with a keen look around, to-assure herself that no one save her parents was within hearing. “But do you intend to go through the farce of an Injun marriage with him?’ asked the mother, with a sort of dread and horror one could not conceal. ‘Certainly not,” answered Mabel, as a bard, cold look mantled her face. ** What then?” ‘¢ You shall soon hear.” She dropped into a chair upon the narrow veranda, and continued: “The poor horses are all as sound as usual, I sup 38 ‘Old Barter nodded. | ‘* And in excellent condition? Ready to go for their lives at any moment?” ESS esses -—— Se eR ee eee eee om. maEE A second nod. ‘*Then keep them so,” enjoined Mabel, as her face grew still darker. ‘' We shall soon have use for them.” The old woman sunk into a chair near her daughter’s, with a nervousness she made no at- tempt to conceal. ‘You know I’m not fond of riddles, Mabel,” she declared. ‘‘I’d like to know just what you propose to do!” ‘* So that we can lend our aid,” supplemented the old man. ‘‘ And make a success of the project,” added the landlady. ‘““To all of which I assent,” declared the daughter, ‘‘ Listen, Sword Bearer will be here early in the afternoon, and the first thing I shall do after bis arrival will be to mix up one of his favorite toddies, making ita little stronger than usual!” : ‘Or putting a drug into it thatl put bim asleep in short order!” suggested the mother, ‘Or else a dose of poison,” whispered the old man, ‘‘that?ll kill him before you can say Jack Robinson!” ‘«‘ No—none of that,” returned Mabe). ‘* There is no occasion to take that course. It is a day of peculiar excitement for the fellow, and he will hardly keep the count of the toddies I press. upon him, or even remark their ‘strength. ithin an hour after his arrival, he ought to be- as senseless and powerless as a stone man from: Egy t! He will be, no doubt!” muttered Mrs. Barter, with a sigh of relief at the simplicity of the girl's plot for reacbing the grand re- sult of the occasion—the reduction of the too ardent wooer to silence and helplessness. ‘‘ And once he’s in that state?” asked the old man, with a wicked leer. a “We'll dump him out i the prairie,” was the girl’s answer, with the calmest mien and voice in the world. ‘* And go away?” queried Barter. ‘* And leave him bebind us?’ supplemented the old woman. ‘* We'll go away and leave him behind us,” de- clared Mabel, who grew more and more unlove- ly with every word she uttered, and who had already grown to look like an incarnation of murder. ‘* But before we go too far, we'll kindle a fire to the windward of the spot where he is lying, and so render his sleep one from which there will be no awakening!” The old couple looked at her approvingly, but, not without a certain tremor of horror, which caused them to look whiter and more ghastly than usual. ‘** Of course we must hawe that money,” said Barter, after a pause. ‘‘ How much is there in the whole pile! ‘*He promised a million!” ‘* Well, I should say he has kept his promise,” declared Mrs. Barter. ‘‘ It made me almost scared to see it!” ‘In other words, she became as white as any corpse you ever saw,” remarked the husband and father. ‘‘ We knew at once that you had formed some plan of becoming the possessor of every dollar of that money. But go on, dear: What is the object of the fire?” ‘* Simply, to make the death of the chief look. like an accident. You see at a glance how easily a death of that sort can be explained. As is known to everybody who knows anything whatever about Sword Bearer, he often drinks himself into such a state that he don’t know bis. head from a barrel of apple-sauce. While in that condition, he bas dropped a spark of fire from his ee and kindled a blaze around him, or one of his followers has produced such an ac- cident at no great distance. In any case, the result we are seeking will be sure to arrive, The chief will be roasted or suffocated at the spot where we leave him, and we shall make our’ escape with the million!” The assent and approval of the old couple to. this scheme could not have been given more een than it was, although neither uttered a word. ‘And now a serious word with both of you,” resumed Mabel, lowering her voice to a whisper as she bent another keen glance around in ques of intruders. ‘‘ As Sword Bearer bas been foot enough to place this money in our bands, we’d be simpletons of the most simple kind not to order our affairs in such a way as to live in comfort and elegance the rest of our days, hh is the yearly interest on a milion, fa- er ‘** About seventy thousand dollars, if we reckon the rate of interest as in New York, or about a bundred thousand a year, if we estimate the interest at the legal rates of most of the Western States and Territories,” The girl looked her astonishment, as did her mother. “Just think of it!” exclaimed the former. **A hundred thousand dollars a year is nearly two thousand dollars a week, or almost three hundred a day!” The old couple not only comprehended her figures, but shared her amazement. * Of course the Rolling Tavern, with the four horses hitched to it,” resumed the girl, ‘* will roll away at a fine pace before the fire to com JOOKS Cc Gor