Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 488 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

—— As 20 “Only a miracle can save them,” came the swift response. ‘Then all’s done but crowing.” And from behind that sable mask came a laugh, musical in itself, but so heartless, so dia- bolical when taken in connection with what had just occurred. j alts. Mechanically both riders jerked in their steeds as they gained the top of Satan’s Ladder, and swept their glowing eyes down the straight, steep, narrow trail—to see nothing alive of brute or human nature, ‘Tis over, one way or the other,” muttered Bark Matson, with a long-drawn breath that lifted him in his stirrups. Queen Esther cast a glance over her shoulder. Half a dozen men in masks, all mounted, were coming after them. Beyond, guarded each by an armed man, lay the three passengers, two nearly frightened out of their senses, the other playing his part to perfection, cunning rascal that he was. The driver lay as he had fallen under that heavy stroke, dead or unconscious. “To's all right at that end, anyway,” she mut- tered, touchmg her steed with an armed heel, and sending it down the Ladder at a brisk trot. “(Tf all is as snug at the other.” ‘** Steady! if the brute slips or stumbles, you’re gone!” cried Matson in alarm, as he followed closely. ‘* Think of—” “Pm thinking of that, safe enough,” with a elanced over the pre- | short, hard laugh, as she cipice on their right. “Thinking it’d be a quicker death right here than even at the Kl- bow.” Matson was silenced. There was something so strangely reckless in her voice and manner that he felt awed, troubled, fearful for the out- come of their diabolical plot. He felt that speech only made matters worse, and just then he was helpless to do more than warn. Satan’s Ladder was only one of the perilous oints of which the mountain stage-lines can ast. There was no other point at which the range could be crossed within a score miles in either direction by wheeled conveyances, and this one only after great pains and labor had been brought into requisition. Yor full a quarter of a mile the trail, partl blasted out of the living rocks, partly the work of nature, ran straight as fate, angling sbarply atthe end of this distance, forming what was popularly known as ‘‘Satan’s Elbow.”. Beyond this the course was straigbt for a few rods, then swinging around in a gentle curve until the level ground was reached. In no one place along its length was there room on Satan’s Ladder for teams to meet and ass each other, but there was seldom occasion or guarding against such an awkward contre- temps, for rare indeed was the wheeled rig that made the ascent or descent, save the daily stage. The great length of the Ladder made railin its outer edge altogether out of the question, an though there was # line of rocks pecs to guard its most dangerous point—at the abrupt turn called the Eibow—nothing else was done to pre- vent an accident. None bad ’happened since the route was form- -. ally opened, but all knew that it was a risk of life each time the stage made the trip over that portion of the route, If anything broke or gave _ way— > With ayes glowly redly through the slits in her sable mask, Queen Esther drew rein at the Elbow, one gloved hand stretched out and point- ing downward! No need tospeak, Every one of the party bad seen how the loose rock wall at the abrupt curve was broken—all knew that a frightful accident (!) had occurred! ark Matson leaped over the head of his horse as he wrenched him up, and caught the wcman chief firmly by an arm, uttering a shaken warn- _ ing which met her ears alone, thanks to the sul- Jen roaring of the river tearing along through its rocky channel directly below them. For at the Elbow of Satan’s Ladder, the base of the cliff was washed by the same turbulent stream in which Hart Oakes had fought so des- hs -perately for dear life; the same whose angry flood had carried away Gypsy Gale, locked in the frightened grip of Dick Mann. A sheer descent of full fifty feet, with naught to break a fall until thé rock-broken, foam- crested waves were reached. And there, lodged on one of the water-washed rocks, lay the terribly shattered remnant of the stage-coach. Caught in a crevice, one mangled carcass lay hidden save its tail and haunches; the other horses either suuken beneath the surface or torn 2 ‘free from the wreck and washed down the river. Not a sign of life. Only that wreck, doubly ‘hideous when jt is remembered what a precious freight it carried! This was what the disguised woman was -pointing at, but the grip of anxious Matson on eet ae eons the brief spell, and a sharp, me- - -tallic laugh parted her lips as she cleared herself of the cloak, flinging it across his arm as she - leaped to the ground beside Matson. Quick! there’s no time to waste! There ee et = . é he Thoroughbred 8 | She flung aside her slouched hat, tore off her sable mask. She removed the close-fitting sack | coat which she had worn under the cloak, and another touch of her deft fingers loosened a cas- cade of jetty hair from its snug fastenings. ‘Lively wlth the rope! Give me the bundle! Every second is worth a snug fortune now!” she panted, stamping her booted foot angrily. Yet there was no perceptible waste of time. Everything was going on smoothly, as though each actor was letter perfect in his part, The road-agents were all on foot, two of their number guarding the animals. Matson caught a small package from one of their number, and _ even as Queen Esther spoke, he placed it in her arms. And as she swung it on her shoulders, held there by a prepared sling, his hands were passing a Sean rope about her person, while four sturdy masks gripped the slack, ready for the word, ‘* Close your eyes while going down, and don’t throw off the noose until you havé secure foot- ing—your life is worth more than—” | * Don’t whine—act /” she sharply interjected. ** Am [a baby?” “ ¥ owre my heart—my more than life, dar- ing! Only for her ear the words, so full of intense passion. None other ear could possibly kave caught their meaning, yet Queen Hsther shrunk away with a little shiver, But she covered the action perfectly, and in his strong agitation the tall road-agent failed to read it aright. If he bad, would he not have met a different fate when the end came? | With a fearless step she balanced herself upon ‘the rock left bare by the wrecked stage and frantic team as it plunged through the frail wall of rocks. One keen, sweeping glance up and down the narrow trail, Then she spoke quickly, | calmly: ‘‘Steady me over the edge, Bark. Then see that the fellows don’t shake me out of the loop, or—slip it up around my throat, I’m not reacy for actual hanging—just yet!” _ Matson shivered violently as her low, mellow laugh came to his ears, despite the sullen roar- ing of the waters. Strong as were his nerves, hardened his heart by a life of crime, great as was his passion for this woman, her cool care- lessness after that diabolical tragedy shocked him keenly. Without a word he lowered her lithe form over the escarpment, and with a death-grip on the rope he managed her perilous descent, seconded with steady nerves by the brawny fel- low at his back. Without a slip, without a jar, smoothly and evenly the rope was paid out, their grip aided by the frequent knots tied to it, and within one minute from the time of her leaving the solid rock, Queen Esther was safely lodged on a rock nearly opposite the wrecked coach. Breathlessly Bark Matson gazed down upon her. He saw her unsling the package from her back and tear it open, shaking out the outer garb fit for her sex, He saw her coolly bend over and dip the garments into the angry waters, then glance upward with a gay wave of her hand. He lingered until she stepped back | against the face of the cliff to slip on the gar- | mertts, then drew back, fingering the rope as a fisherman fingers his hand-line, There presently came a sharp tug on the rope, and he quickly drew it in, hand over hand, one of the masks deftly winding the slack about bis body as it came up, and when all was secured thus, he slipped on the cloak, hat, mask—all the articles discarded by Queen Esther! And in another moment he filled the saddle she had vacated, looking her second self, even in the anxious eyes of Bark Matson. And then— From down at the bottom of Satan’s Ladder came loud yells and cheers! And as the clatter of horses’ hoofs came floating upward, the road- agents leaped upon their steeds and wheeled in hasty flight, just as a strong party of armed men came into view far below them! CHAPTER XXIV. MAN-HUNTER, TURNED WOMAN-SAVER. So prompt and speedy was this flight, that it may well be doubted if more than one or two of the rescuing party even caught a glimpse of the rond-agents before they vanished from view around Satan’s Elbow. But that was enough, and Judd Varley, leading the van, urged his good steed up the sharp incline, his voice ring- ing out in a wild cheer. as ft ‘‘ Spurs bloody, men!” he cried, suiting the action to the word. ‘‘ We'll get ’em yet! If we don't, we'll copper their little game, any- way! p the slope at full speed, rushing past the Elbow without even a glance towar fi broken wall, seemingly too intensely excited to observe that terribly significant fact. And Judd Var- ley, still in the lead, sent a couple of hasty bul- lets whistling after the road-agents as the rear- most member gained the level ground at the top of the Ladder. [’ve marked one, anyway!” he laughed, sternly, slipping the weapon back port. — | the masked gang. se ————————————————————————— —— —— LL If he completed the sentence, it was lost to other ears in the sharpringing of irona-shod hoofs on the flinty trail, and the sullen roar floating up out of the river below them, At best, Satan’s Ladder wasa hard test of wind, and the animal never lived that could cover it upward in a run, and gain the level bit of ground on the backbone without feeling peer well ‘*pumped out.” But apparently udd Varley was too intensely excited to think of this, in bis eagerness to make his mark on And of course bis lead was followed to the letter by all behind him. Panting, staggering, his horse came to an ab- rupt halt on the backbone, its rider glaring fiercely about, pistol in band, searching for a living target on which to practice in dead ear- nest. Butin vain. With only half as great a stretch of slope to climb, the road-agents had been able to keep on at speed, and not even the clatter of their animals’ hoofs came back to guide their pursuers, ‘“Fer the love oct don’t ride us down, pard!” came a choked and . frightened voice, giving Varley a sharp start as his gaze lowered to catch a glimpse of four human figures lying on the ground, only a few yards below the crest. Swift as thought his weapon covered them, and he cried sharply: ‘* Hands up, you curs! at—” ‘Hol’ on—hol’ on!” spluttered the grizzled rascal, rolling over and thrusting his bound feet as high as he could stretch them. ‘‘ We ain’t them, but us/ Trussed up like a fat tur- key—dow’t shoot !” udd Varley leaped to the ground, striding forward with pistol still at a level, bis face pale as death, his eyes glowing redly, bis voice harsh and strained as he demanded: ‘* Who are you? What has happened? Where'd they go? Speak, or—” ‘Look at Zimmerman!” cried a voice at his elbow, ‘and the pale speaker pointed toward the motionless driver, whose blood-marked face was turned upward, grim and shocking in its ap- pearance, ‘* Dead! and the stage—God above!” in deepened horror at the truly frightful idea born of that question. With a vigorous effort the grizzled rascal brought himself into a sitting posture, the pic- ture of stupid verror, as he glared at the party now ccllected in goodly numbers, all excited, a eager, yet fearing to learn the worst. “Tt run away, an’—they was a gal into it, wuss luck!” i £4 Judd Varley leaped forward and gripped him tightly by the arm, his eyes glowing, his teeth showing wickedly as he grated: “Run away? How? Which way? Not— Good heavens, man! not down the Ladder? Don’t say that—don’t—” “Ef I say anythin’, boss. I reckon [ll hev to say that,” whined the cunning actor, seemingly frightened half out of his senses. udd Varley staggered back, pale as a corpse, glancing from face to face, the majority of them reflecting his own assumed horror, ‘‘Down the Ladder—and we saw nothing of it!” he gasped. ‘“‘Thar’s the Elbow!” huskily ventured one of the men. Judd Varley sprung through the crowd, Pll blow you through hoarsely crying: ‘*Look to these fellows, some of you! The rest follow me!” : He brushed past the jaded horses and rushed rapidly down the long stretch until he reached the broken wall on the outer curve of Satan’s Elbow. He actually shivered as he flashed a glance at the balf-hidden wreck in the river, eg leaned far over the escarpment, shouting aloud. Twice, thrice his voice rung out at a wild pitch, but no answer came back. And paler than ever, he looked as the awe-stricken citizens began to gather about the sharp angle, ‘If there was—if anybody was in the stage—”’ ‘* Hope may die ef they wasn’t a gal, boss!” panted the veteran, as he came hobbling to the spot. ‘‘ When the team broke loose—” ie Floating upward came a faint, shrill wai Judd Varley flung himself flat on his face and leaned far over the brink, glaring downward— to distinguish a female figure clinging to a rock, half-in, half-out of the river! Instantly the edge was lined with eager spec- tators, and fully one-half of their number saw the same sight. ' **T see her lift her head—bang on, my brave girl!” Varley yelled at the top of his voice. ‘‘ For life don’t let go! We'll save you or lose ourown live in the attempt!” Again that faint, pitiful wail came floating MRT To ‘the bh bring ropes—livel ” o the horses—bring ro iv men cried Varley, as he Ee back from the brink and began tearing off his belt of arms and extra clothing. ‘Quick! it’s for life, men!” Pabedan of the party were already tearing at s dete a Ro few ers « ———— up the slope, as eager to save as th et, had been to slay buta few minutes before. And ~~ ¥ as there was nothing more to bedoneuntilropes == — into its case and giving both hands to aiding his panting horse along the steep trail. ‘‘ Maybe we'll be in time, even yet! Maybe—” _ -mustn’t be even a shadow of suspicion rest on this part of the job!” -, Her hands were busy as her tongue the while, Bis t es” Ne a Pez. 4 Sent . oe FS sp x ; f « : f. } a ve ie +c* “a ee wT, os ce + Rae ” at AEA Say RON sie Ng