Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 488 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

T — ee —— rr a mS ce _ a) eT . wae Ty 7 a. mee ed oo A EN \- 2 gin sain i + Jj ~~ « Ct e Thoroughbred Spo came, Varley once more lay on the brink, shout- though he had no monetary interest in the ing out encouragement to the woman below. Ina marvelously brief space of time, consid- ering the nature and scope of ground to be covered, men came back with ropes, and Varley with his own hands knotted the lariats together, careful as a man naturally would be when he knew that his own life depended on the thor- oughness of his work. **T found this, boss, over in the bresh nigh whar them critters was trussed up, an’ I didn’t know—she’ll be mighty wet an’ cold an’ apt fer to ketch a chill, ye know!” spluttered one of the party, holding out a black cloak. It was the same which Queen Esther had worn. The one donned by her double, to guard against any possible chance of her figure being missed by the driver or the two honest passen- gers. And after this fear was past, cast aside on a bush, as if torn loose through an accident in its wearer’s headlong flight, to still further serve its owner, ‘* Hold on to it—be ready with it when I fetch the poor woman up with me,” muttered Varley as he rapidly tested knot after knot. He deftly formed a loop in which to rest his feet, while another one, wrapped thick with a heavy coat, passed around his broad Chest, just beneath his armpits. Then, with a short cau- tion to his*companions, he backed over the escarpment, Slowly, steadily, two-score strong arms low- ered him down the face of the precipice, two men holding a roll of garments on the rock where the rope glided over, to prevent the strain parting the line. Down, untila slackening told them that the noble rescuer had reached the bottom and found secure footing, ** An’ she’s still kickin’!” T seatbles| > an- nouuced one of the men who had nothing more important to do than keeping watch over the edge of the precipice. ‘* He’s got her—whooray fer hurraw!” Wildly rung out their cheering, and back from the depths below there came the words: ‘*Thank heaven it?s no worse! She's still living!” ‘*Then I’m open fer big bets that she’s got full-growed wings onto her!” boldly cried one of the party. ‘* Why, they couldn’t a feather tumble down all them ways ’thout knockin’ its’ durned brains out!” There came no offer of acceptance, if he look- ed for such, for just then Judd Varley gave the agreed-upon signal that all was in readiness for hoisting away. And with the men keeping the rope from chafing, the rest drew in the tensely strained rope hand over hand. Not with head- long haste, dire though they felt the ordeal must be to their leader, with a helpless woman hang- ing on his arm and only that line between them and a frightful death on the ragged rocks be- low. Slowly, steadily, without jerk or tremor to set their precious burden to swinging back and forth. And then the guards on the verge change their grip to the rigid arms of the pale gambler, drawing him up high enough for his feet to secure a footing on solid ground once more: This was by his own wish, for he refused to permit them to relieve him of his burden. ‘** Room—don’t crowd, gentlemen!” he panted, pale as death, staggering visibly as he crossed che narrow trail and gently deposited his silent burden on the rocks, catching up the cloak and wrapping it tenderly about her form, even shielding her ghastly pale face from curious eyes before drawing his tall figure erect, to cast off the noose, Only a passing ‘glimpse had any of the com- pany gained of that face, but what they saw sent a thrill of wonder and awe through their veins. lt was so white, so deathlike, with its closed lids! Looking all the more so from the long, jet- black hair, still dripping with water, lying par- tially over ber face and neck. ‘**She’s only fainted, Senha added Var- ley, as he glanced around the company, gripping one after another the strong and trusty hands to which he owed his immunity from death on those cruel rocks. ‘She held out brave and nervy as any man living, until she knew she was safein my arms. Then—she fainted awav!” ‘‘ It’s God’s mercy that she still lives!” rever- ently murmured one of the citizens, his face and tones both showing the awe with which the thought inspired him, ‘ Over Satan’s Elbow! And lives to tell of it! If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes—I can’t believe it even now!” vadd Varley frowned darkly. He didn’t want the matter looked at in any such light as that. He wanted it taken on trust, as-a sort of natural miracle, if it must, but there might be peril to his bold plot in too close examination, ‘““She’s living, but how long we can say that, may depend, gentlemen,” he said, his tones re- gaining their wonted cold composure, *“ She needs more and better care than we can give her, in this place. The soonér she gets to Silver Lode, where a woman can look to her hurts and nurse her up, the better!” ‘¢She cain’t ride a hoss—an’ yender’s all they is left 0’ the ole hearse—cuss the crooked luck!” ‘said the driver, his tones and his face showing how heavy the blow had fallen upon him, even _them, a sensation stirred the admiring yet property. “Don’t be a fool, man!” growled Varley, sharply. ‘‘ Keep your ugly face out of range, in case she should come to! And the rest—we’ve got to make a litter, gentlemen! That’s the only way we can get her safely over the trail to Silver Lode.” This was all that was needed to send the men skurrying off in hot haste, each one eager to have a hand in the affair, which would afford many an hour’s talk for weeks to come, Over Satan’s Hlbow in a runaway hearse! And alive to tell of it! Judd Varley did not join in that mad skurry. He seemed to feel that he had done his share already, and he stood as a vigilant guard over the rescued woman. There was little need of this, She made no sound, She lay as he had placed her, still and motionless as a corpse. And, more than once, the handsome gambler stooped to gently touch her bosom, as though fearing she must indeed be the corpse she so closely resembled, In a marvelously brief space of time, the litter was completed. Two horses were fastened in line, long, springy poles running along each side, firmly secured to their saddles, Across this boughs were bound, covered with coats and shirts and saddle-cloths, On this the woman was placed, and slowly borne down Satan’s Ladder, And Hart Oxrkes watched them move, from the rocks above the trail! CHAPTER XXV, THE PLOTTERS IN COUNCIL. NEVER once suspecting this—not for an in- stant dreaming that every action from first to last had been watched, noted and marked down for future use if occasion arose—who!ly uncon- scious of the dangerous fact that the cool, nervy stranger sport had witnessed the audacious ‘*manufacture of an heiress” from beginning to end from his snug covert among the rocks which overhung Satan’s Ladder-—the little pro- cession wound its slow length down the danger- ous trail. On foot, with one hand touching the arm of the seemingly-unconscious woman as she lay on the rude litter, Judd Varley walked close beside her, on the inner side, ready in case of accident to snatch her out of peril with his strong arms. ‘*Reckon it tuck the tuck out o’ the boss, workin’ the Elbow!” one of the citizens ven- si to remark, in an undertone, to his com- rade, ‘‘It}s a heap more gal than elbow, to my thinkin’,” was the dry response. ‘‘ Looks to me as ef they wasn’t gwine fer to be a mighty good shake fer a weddin’ drunk—waal, now, it does, honey!” Be this as it may, Judd Varley drew a long breath of imtense relief when the foot of the dangerous trail was reached in safety, and not until then did he take his ready grasp from the arm of the woman whom the majority present actually believed had so race es- caped from a frightful death through a miracle of good-luck! s he fell back to reclaim his horse from the fellow who had led it this far, he hurriedly mut- tered in his willing ear: ‘* All eyes 2! Joe! The lads look to you for orders. If any one tries to investigate the wreck, you be in advance, And if—there mustn t be any woman’s body discovered, mind yout That was the one weak point in their bold as cunning scheme, and right well Judd Varley knew it. And yet, the danger was not so very great, after all, The driver and passengers were ready to take oath that the stage contained only one person when the frightened team broke away to meet their death et Satan’s Elbow. And had they not witnessed her daring rescue from the very jaws of death? Though he seemed to have eyes and thoughts only for that fair figure lying so st‘ll and death- like on the litter, Judd Varley knew that not a soul dropped away from the party as they reached the bridge which spanned the river. And as the roar of the waters died out behind them, he felt assured that.their scheme was surely winning, | | It was still some distance to Silver Lode, after the river was crossed, and by this time the red glow of sunset was fading into the gray of i a But the only man who hastened on ahead of the little procession was one dis- atched by Judd Varley himself to secure the est accommodations possible at the hotel for the injured lady. i Not long after the river was left behind awed escort. There was a faint cry from the litter; and the young lady partially lifted ber head, staring about with a bewildered look in her dark eyes. ‘* Where am I? What has—my heavens!” and a thrill of intense horror came into ber voice as a flash of memory appeared to clear her clouded brain, ‘The cliff—the river—over to death!” Judd Varley bent over the bysterical woman, li \ i oA \ / a er a mam es aie a Se a ae at a a ee a a I “4 rt. _ " ij ‘ t '* “ . > oy 7 4 rs speaking rapidly, soothingly, though few of his. words reached other ears than hers. But they seemed to be well chosen, for the poor lady grew calmer, and her fears seemed to die away, once ya for all. ‘‘She’s gritty, [ want fer to tell ye, pards,” | muttered one of the citizens, combing his tangled 4 beard with his fingers,’ ‘*’Tain’t every man that f ’d simmer down so quick after takin’ sech a fly- ; me-down-to-glory as Satan’s Elbow hangs up— y waal, not much !” ; There was something in this. The you woman did recover her powers of speec ee : body in a remarkable manner for one who had > taken such a wild fall as the large majority of S the company firmly believed. She answered Judd Varley in tones as steady and far more distinct than the ones he saw fit to use. She sat ; op in the rude litter, wrapping that black cloak closely about ber person, a fold passing over her head, concealing the greater portion of her pearly-white face. AS But Varley would not let her risk too much. my As he rode alongside the litter, his strong hand a seemed to lend her support. And when the town a was gained, and the litter balted in front of the- hotel, where his messenger, together with the. worthy host came out to receive them, he leaped. oy to the Wieck and, despite her faint remon- — strance, lifted the cloaked figure in his strong y arms, bearing her into the building and up to ~~ the chamber which had been hastily prepared = for her reception, 4) ** Keep on the alert, girl !* he muttered hastil =)! as he placed his fair burden on the bed. “ ee must.see you as soon as | can steal a trick on aM these fools! Ready to open when you bear the 4 old signal!” ‘** J will—caution, honey!” she murmured be- low her breath. After all, it proved a much easier task than Judd Varley had dared hope, knowing as he did how much might bang on their complete avoid- ance of suspicion until after their plans were working smoothly. He had long boarded at the hotel, and after drinking a glass or two at the hotel bar, in recognition of the many compli- —_ | ments which poured upon him from all sides, what more natural than that he should retire to — his chamber to remove the stains of that long and hard man-hunt? ” First assuring himself that the poorly lighte@ corridor which ran from front to rear of the © second story, with chambers lining each side, _ was deserted by all others, Judd Varley stole noiselessly to the chamber assigned ‘*‘ Miss Olive _ Tempest,” tapping softly at the door, thenrub- bing ‘his thumb along the panel, producing a ~~ peculiar “ bur-r-r,” eg Almost instantly the door was opened, and he slipped inside, ioe’ ‘Wait a bit, Varley, until I can strike a light,” came the musical notes of the woman — road-agent, ‘‘I thought it best not to runany — risk, I'm naturally supposed to be tootimida creature to be opening my bedroom after dark, _ you know,” ending with a low, mock ng aah: ne ‘‘ Tt’s arisk, but { had to bave a talk,and it — can’t come any toosoon!” in guarded but uneasy if not frightened tones, . , oo ‘‘T know—you made a botch of it. How | under the canopy you could, after all wasso- ~~ carefully and fully arranged, blessed if I can | think,” \ . Re’ y # The candle was: relighted. and as she spoke — these words, the false Olive Tempest dropped om _ the edge of the bed, ber dark eyes flashing, her red lips curling half in scorn, half in anger, as she gazed into the pale face of the tall gambler, ith a swift, passionate movement, Judd — Varley caught her in his arms, pressing his lips) _ to hers almost fiercely, She made no effort to — escape, quietly submitting until, as thon ) ashamed of his outburst, Varley released her, drawing back a trifle as she coldly uttered: ‘* Don’t be a bigger fool than nature intended mt Varley. Time for gum-sucking when the trail is clear before us. Business, my man.” Re be * All right, little woman,” with real or as- — sumed relief. ‘‘Glad to find you so sensible. ; expected to see you boiling over like a kettle of — hot water.” ey ‘“ There’s no time for that. "You lost the Big — Bracer?” eb ‘‘Tf I did,his master found him!” with a short, — grim laugh, ies ‘““-You’re sure he’s dead, then?” | “You know Dick Mann, He said he’d sent his steel home. And then the river; wounded, | if not slain outright— Bah! Gypsy Gale will never turn up to bother us, be sure of that, | 3 only wish I was as positive about the gir” = “The queen is dead—long live the queen!’ laughed the false heiress softly, not the slightest _ trace of guilt or remorse to be read in her face, eyes or tones. ‘I’il answer for her, No doubt her body is held in the wreck. And evenif | ever it comes to light—am J not here? Haven't we two-score solid witnesses ready to swear they helped draw me up out of the drink? Won't — Grizzly swear that I'm the fair passenger who bore him company until the road-agents stopped” the stage? ell—that disposes of any corpse.” Pec hoping it'll never come to light, for all ‘That goes without saying. 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