Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 488 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

| =, og aera ees, SP SL ab ey pr i, .) 4 F . gt aoe ra @ * om — - r . - i . g . ba - : * « . ‘ é a he ee! * , ; ¥ Pi b wn res a The Thoroughbred Sport. ly new to him. It!was so wild and rugged. Rach prominent landmark looked so much like any one of a dozen others, that it is nothing strange that, long before noon, he was forced to adrait to bimself that he was all at sea—that he was once more lost! But he doggedly kept tramping, making for the highest practicable points, in hopes of thus sighting the trail, or the town itself. More than once he believed he had sighted the road, only to find his mistake on putting it to the test. And as the sun began to slope to the West, his anxiety grew into absolute torture. If Olive Tempest was indeed to come by that day’s stage, as Gypsy Gale calculated, and he should fail to find the road in time to intercept her! Ifshe should fall into the grip of Judd Varley! ‘111 take ber out, and his grip ‘ll be mighty weak and feeble when I’ve done it, bet your sweet life!’ he muttered, viciously. It was late in the afternoon, when Oakes had absolutely abandoned all hopes of discovering the stage route, that he actually stumbled upon it—metaphorically speaking, of course! He doggedly kept to his original plan of scal- ing the hights in order to gain a wider view, and was crossing an ugly ridge near where it made a sharp angle with itself, when, far below him he caugat sight of the river in which he had so nearly met his death. And determining to follow it down until he ‘came out somewhere!” he pressed ahead. To come abruptly on the road, here winding around the mountain, on a ledge barely wide enough for a single team, with the river braw- ling along in its deep channel, where— x clatter of hoofs and rattling of wheels star- tled him, and looking up the steep road, he gave a wild, gasping cry of horror! Running at full speed down the steep and straight trail, unguided and uncontrolled, came the stage! And out of the window next the wall, a woman was holding her arms, franti- cally trying to open the door! ‘“ My God! theyll pitch over the turn!” gasped Oakes, in horror. ‘* A woman—is it pard’s little girl?” CHAPTER XXII, A DIABOLICAL DEED, ‘“ Wr he never makea sign? Will it never come?” Leaning back against a gray rock, gazing steadily yet impatiently through a pair of field- lasses, Queen Esther, dressed much as she had en when Hart Oakes first made her ac- uaintance on the preceding evening, muttered em sentences, her voice filled with angry sus- pense. Which came to an abrupt end, however, as she caught sight of a white signal fluttering for an instant from the top of the distant tree on which her gaze was focused. ‘* Ready, lads,” she cried, in harsh, strained tones as she closed the glass and tossed it to a masked man who stood a little to one side. ‘“* Billy gives the signal that all’s right! The stage is coming, and our game is along! Ready —and the man who forgets or botches his part had better never been born!” ‘*'You’re certain you read the signal aright?” asked the.tall road-agent to whom she had flung her glasses. “Am I a fool, Bark Matson?” she sharply snapped. ‘*AmI blind? Do you think J could make an error, after all our careful planning?” The tall fellow seemed a little cowed by this vixenish outburst, and meek eee ‘*T meant could it be that Billy made a mis- take “uy you know.” E only wish I was as certain no one else will blunder! Take command, now. You know what to do, and howto do it! Put it through in good style, or—well, I believe I could find it in my heart to shoot even you, Matty, if failure comes now!” “You know, dear—” But Queen Esther did not wait for his pas- sionate response. She turned and disappeared through the bushes which here lined the trail. There was a reddish glow in the dark eyes which followed her until lost to sight, then Bark Matson hurriedly assured himself that all was in readiness for carrying out their truly diabol- ical plot. It was along and hard tug up that winding trail, but the driver was an old hand, and knew how to favor his team when necessary. Know- ing that when the ridge was crossed, Satan’s Ladder lay just before them, more difficult to descend with safety than any other part of that stage, he let his beasts take their time. ‘“Hands up, pard! We'll riddle both you and the hearse they’s a weenty bit of a kick, you want to mind!” With a stupidly drooping jaw, the driver jerked up his team, almost on the crest of the ill. Road-agents weresomething newon that line, and it amazed him to find his path so barred; but he knew enough to obey an order which was so emphasized by frowning rifles. * §tartled ejaculations, mingling with a truly feminine cry, came from tbe interior, but as Bark Matson harshly thundered : _ “Turn the stage into a riddle ef they kick, lads!” the outcry came to an abrupt ending. ‘ Se - .. * - bet ee ee eee ee ee te Revolver in hand, he strode to the door, and thrusting the grim muzzle through the open window by way of a visiting card, he growled: ‘¢No monkey-work, gents, if you please! We won’t rumple a feather ef you act white. But —waal, you hearn me yeip to the boys l reckon?” ‘** Don’t let blizzer, boss! hyar, an’—” ‘‘Give her a leetle more room then, pardner, by tumblin’ out with your fingers empty an’ your rags full—you hear me sing?” ‘“‘Wobblin’ ekil to ary mockin’-bird I ever knowed, boss!” mumbled the digger, shambling ! out of the coach as Matson opened the door. He was promptly followed by two more pas- sengers, both of his own sex, and each one look- ing white ‘‘ about the gills,” as the vulgate hath it, And then came a musical voice, trembling just a little: “Shall I alight, sir? I do not want to anger you, but—.” Here voice broke in a frightened sob as that black masked face was thrust in through the window, those keen eyes flashing into her pale and startled countenance, She was alone. And Bark Matson felt confi- dent that no error had been made in their calcu- lations thus far. ‘*] don’t reckon you need git so bad skeert, ma’am,” he growled, in his gruffest tones, draw- ing back his head a little, but still keeping her fixed by that glittering pair of eyes. ‘I don’t reckon itll break the bank ef we do let you skip toll-free, but—I say, lads!” ‘**'Yourn, boss!” came the prompt response. Bark Matson drew back far enough to take in the situation. Sofaras he could see, everything was in order and “ according to Hoyle.” One mask stood at the heads of the leaders, firmly gripping their bits. ‘Two others guarded the wheel pair, at the same time keeping the driver covered with a brace of revolvers. But somehow this last sight did not exactly piease him, judging from his sharp command: ** Tumble out o’ that box, Johnny! Ive hearn tell you toted more’n a whisky-flask in that off boot o’ yours!” ‘*?Rore Moses, boss, I hain’t got even a tooth- pick, let alone—” ‘“*Tumble off, I say!” and his pistol swiftly covered the frightened driver. ‘‘Who said toothpick? I mean rocks, durn ye!” *“ Ef I gotared, hope | may— Ain’t I comin’?” the last words rising in a terrified squeal as he literally obeyed orders, at the no small risk of his precious neck. ““Git in line with the gents, thar, Johnny, an’ hold your hush ef you ain’t dead-gone fer a fambly funeral. Stiddy ’em, lads!” ** Bet ye, boss!” grimly responded the road- agents who guarded the quartette, turning them back toward the stage, and making them hold ‘their ams up at full length. ‘“Look to the team, lads, though I don’t reckon they'll make any fuss afore they gits thar second wind, anyway. An’ now—ef I mought trouble you a weenty bit, ma’am,” turn- ing to the stage window again. *“*T have only this, sir,” timid] the young woman, her little gloved hand holding forth a small portemonnaie. ‘“*I wear no jewala, and if you will be so kind— If {£ had nown—” ** You'd ’a’ fetched "long a hull Nashnul Bank —don’t I know it, ma’am?”’ grinned the road- agent, but coolly accepting the proffer. ‘‘ Not fer keeps, ye want to know, ma’am, but jest as a ixcuse fer furder ‘quaintance—ef so be you’re *greeable to that effec’, ma’am.” Olive Tempest shrunk back with a little shiver, more frightened by this clumsy playfulness than by his former ferocity. ‘**Pears like that don’t hit ye whar ye live, nuther, pritty!” laughed the road-agent, slip- ping the wallet into his pocket, then adding, briskly: ‘** All the same, rules is rules, an’—but fu’st- off, you’re bound fer what place, ma’am?”’ ‘* Silver Lode, I believe itis called. But—” ‘‘ Jest a-travelin’, or goin’ som’ers, ma’am? Which is to ax, was you thinkin’ o’ settlin’ down in Silver Lode, or jest passin’ through?” **T—I do not know, sir. I was—my father was to meet me at a place of that name, but whether he intended to stay there—” ** The—good—Lawd |!” rh coger Matson, in affected amazement. ‘* Your pap livin’ in Sil- ver Lode? An’—a beauty like you—that camp! Don’t know ef you'll stop fer good, or—I say, ma’am?” . ts I oe tenon ey dha ER. — down, sir?” gas the poor girl, for ite her years, she looked little more than a child, and could scarcely keep her feet. “Set down twicet, ef you want, .ma’am!” Jaughed Matson, apparently enjoying the terror his gruff manners and gruffer speech inspired. ‘‘An’ while you’re settin’,mebbe yon'll try to tell a cur’us critter what fer feller this pap o’ youre mought happen fer to be? Mebbe I knows im; mebbe we’ve got drunk an’slep’in the same mud-hole *long o’ each other. Jest think! how romantic that would be, eh?” ~ From among the bushes came a sharp, impa- tient whistle from the lips of Queen Esther. They’s a Jeddy in murmured Reon Tees hifieactel sh SBS und Se. OT ‘ 4 -. oy ——— SE sss wis - or - a - * a. 4 ae . " 4 Bark Matson heard it, and had no difficulty in correctly interpreting its meaning, though he gave no outward show of being moved by that: fact. He only dropped his coarse raillery, speak~ — ing short and sternly: ‘**What’s your pap’s name, I'm axin’ ye, ma’am?”’ ‘* Tempest—Stuart Tempest, sir.” ‘Then he ain t none o’ my truck, ef it'll tickle ye any fer to be sure o’ that, pritty. Never earn tell o’ the name afore. But that don’t Men is men, in these parts, an’ names: Now, [ll send you back this yer’ in Silver Lode long: of ye. Jest a-loanin’, count, ain’t nothin’, doin’s, ma’am, ef you stop enough. We ain’t robbin ye want to know!” With a clumsy bow he turned away from the door, leaving it with the handle jammed so securely by means of a block that no ordinary etrength could open it quickly. He made a covert signal, which was readily interpreted by the fiends by the horses, who lost no time in carrying out their prior instructions, Deftly each tail was raised, and a needle-studded pad slipped underneath; then they sprung aside, just in time to escape injury, as the pain- maddened horses dashed away at top speed, whirling the stage after them, bound for de- struction! The driver, startled by the clatter, wheeled as he gasped: ~ above! who done that? They’re gone— the gal—down Satan’s Ladder to sart’in death!” CHAPTER XXIII, MANUFACTURING AN HEIRESS. FORGETTING all else in his horror, the driver sprung as though to chase the runaway team, but before he could take a second stride, Bark Matson, with clubbed revolver, struck him down: with vicious certainty. “* Stiddy, lads!” he roared, with an ugly oath, both hands arming and grim muzzles covering” the startled passengers as though he anticipated. immediate trouble, ‘' Hold ’em level! Ef they try to break away—” ‘Oh, I say, durn it!” howled the grizzled dig-- ger who had been the first one to step from the: stage in answer to Bark Matson’s summons. ‘ It hain’t we’uns that’s runnin’ away! Let up—- don’t shoot!” He ducked and dodged with his head and body’ in a most ridiculous manner, trying to keep out of range of those ugly bores, bh not daring” ro ‘aes his tracks lest that be taken asasign of flight. His two companions in duress were almost too badly frightened to do even so much, and had they not in a measure supported each other, the would certainly have fallen limply to the ground. “We ain’t takin’ no chances—we ain’t!” and Bark Matson still held the trio covered as he added: ‘* Run in an’ kick the underpinnin’ loose, ee dene boy!” One of the masks spate acted on this call, fastening a grip on the two passengers, jerking. them backward just as he tripped their feet from under them, dodging aside to let them fall with full force upon the ground. And he seemed on the point of serving the veteran after the same fashion, when that worthy saved him trouble by plumping down upon his ragged stomach in the dirt, hastily squealing: ‘Flag o’ truce, pard! Don’t hita gent when he’s down as low’s he kin git ‘thout hevin’ a airthquake fer a side pard to split opena handy = crack fer—ugh !” An explosive grunt came from his a as ** Monkey ” dropped heavily across his back, re- volver muzzle tapping his grizzled pate, looking up to the chief and asking: ‘Shell Tram a gag in from this side, boss?” ‘Not ef he bottles up his wind, A loud crashing in the bushes cut short bis hurried instructions to the men, and he sprung quickly to one side just in time to avoid being knocked down by a horse and rider—thbe latter | . J wrapped in a thick, long cloak. “Leave a euard over the game—the rest mount and follow me!” cried the cloaked figure, in barsh, indistinct tones which few who knew > her would ever attribute to the silvery-tongued woman chief. ‘‘ We must save that if buman endeavors can avail aught!” ‘* Rasy up a leetle mite, Monk!” muttered the grizzled fraud whose broad back supported the __ rd. “ Don’t she play it Rigen pes cog though? _ m ‘Ain't she jest a howlin’ daisy frém Flower- stall?” ** Bottle up—d’ye want them to smoke—” “They're so mighty skeered they couldn't tell Pi, ’emselves from a hole in the ground!” chuckled — the rascal, but with lowered tones, Mie For all her seeming excitement, Queen Esther secure from future recognition in her cloak that_ shrouded her preps and the sloucbed felt that covered half he steed and waited until Bark Matson could se- cure an animal and wheel at her side. they rode across the little level ears: a Will it work? Will they pitch over at the Elbow?” ; % ' JOO ou o* (E(0) mire = 1D Monkey! cart yo Look to them other gents, you critters, while—” poor girl, — r long mask, reined in her ace which ex- tended to the top of Satan’s Ladder, she hoarse-— ly uttered, in tones meant only for his keen, — “» 4 6 " -. = See “ PP LES Oe »* Moe oe a ae ¥ ul = Wie. ten - oa?” » 5 : da’ 4 a on - * = > a a pare. *& = ee <i Mo yf ah dé a. * a 7 1) ae ‘r : - fa A, Sa] ie ye a vc # a a _* fi , ef ' at