Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 506 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

S$ d = n ~eaoit wit = Om tf ctl O wm re WT Lee) © od we ' Oe ~~, OSS 1 ke Octet Bas Bone Reereos r ie i 'P r- n 1S Uncle Honest. 11 strong ascendency over him. He fell back, still holding the revolver. Joseph stood with a pale, set face, while his breast arose and fell with quick, gasping respira- tions. He was not a coward in tbe ordinary sense of the word, but he knew that he was utterly in the power of the Leather-Jackets. To fight would be folly; he adopted another course—one little more promising. ‘*What means this outrage?” he demanded, unsteadily. Uncle Honest hollowed his hand and held it near his ear with a pretensethat be had not heard. ‘* How?’ Joseph repeated his question, “T know of no outrage,” the Peacemaker re- lied. ‘We are come to arrest you, and my boy tried to prevent you from committing fur- ther crime—” ‘* Why am I arrested?” ” ‘* You will be told at the City Hall.” Joseph looked despairingly at Vashti, but at that moment Peggy flashed into the room. Her face was flushed; her eyes were sparkling; her pretty lips were closed with ominous vloseness— in brief, there was ample evidence that Peggy was angry. She confronted Uncle Honest like a Nemesis. **What are you doing here?” she cried. Uncle Honest smiled and bowed very low. Y ns dear young lady, [ am charmed—” **Who let you into this house?” demanded Peggy, with spirit. ‘‘Nobody! You come in like thieves! Who told you that you might enter this room? Nobody! You did the thief act again, and you are answerable to the law, You shall answer to it, too, if T have to go all the way to Boise City to lodge the complaint,” Very pretty looked Peggy then, with the color flooding her cheeks and her eyes sparkling, but Eliakim Outerbridge was past the age of ro- mance, He heard without admiration—with- out visible emotion. ** There is all the law here that is needed,” he fe none ih replied, ‘* Law!” echoed Peggy. reign law ?” ** What do you call it, child?” ‘* Infamous persecution!” ‘Children will be children!” observed Uncle Honest, with a sigh. ‘‘Sheriff, delay no longer. Bring your prisoners!” He turned away, and Isaac again advanced. Joseph breathed heavily, and his courage arose in arms, but Vashti moved to his side. Not a word spoke she, but her hand was laid upon his. He met her faze, and the useless impulse to re- sist was quelled. He struggled with himself for a moment, and then huskily said; **T will submit, because I can do no other way, but I cannot walk.” ‘The litter is at the door,” Isaac briefly an- swered. ‘*T am ready.” Joseph turned away. He completed dressing by baer! on his coat and boots, and, as he had said, was ready. Aaron advanced toward Vashti, but Peggy stepped before him, If I was a man,” said she, firmly, ‘* you should not conquer here. As it is, if you insist upon taking Vashti prisoner, I insist upon being &@ prisoner, too!” CHAPTER XIII. UNCLE HONEST REPRESENTS THE PROPLE. PETER OUTERBRIDGEH’S face brightened as he heard this announcement, For the first time in his life he was not in sympathy with his father’s rule, If Peter could have had his way, the cru- sade against the Ormes would have been dropped, because, forsooth, it would tend to lessen Peggy’s resentments, A short time before the Leather-Jacket had been a man of war, and nothin more, but dually the charms of a woman had divided his allegiance and his thoughts, Stronger had rown the influence of the woman—though it was not aided by even a word from her—until Peter lived and moved in a world made up of light, of air, and of Peggy. | All other influences, even that of war, had grown weak. Now Peter was pleased to hear Peggy an- nounce herself thus, for if she went along he might find chance to render her many little at- tentions that would win her sympathy and her love. He had an idea that the key to woman’s heart was kindness, and that only; which shows that Peter did not know woman well. _ Unless Cupid, the most uncertain, erratic and incomprehensible of ajl the gods and goddesses, “Do you call your sees fit to turn the aforesaid key, when once it: is made of kindness, the woman is as indifferent to the delicate bribe as though it had never ex- isted. Peter looked anxiously toward his father. “We have nothing to arrest you for,” said Uncle Honest, ans\ering Peggy, si Then I will go along as Miss Orme’s com- on. *‘ Just as you wish, my dear, but I must) ask you to make haste. I have important business on hand, and can delay no longer.” | The venerable Peacemaker’s explanation was not so truthful as it might have been, He knew eee Se eS ee eee | that Doctor Mark and Yank Yellowbird bad gone up the steep side of Sawtooth Ridge to- gether, and he wanted the prisoners fully in his power before the men returned, Confident that all the resistance be would meet would come from them, it was well to i ke the master-stroke before they could inter- ‘ere, Joseph made another effort to learn why they were arrested, but his words lacked the force of one whose mind is at ease. It was a half-hearted attempt, and brought no good result, The Peacemaker refused to ex- plain until they reached the City Hall. All was soon ready, and they left the house. Aaron and Peter aided Joseph, and it was noticeable that they showed real consideration. The stout young men had not forgotten Vashti and Peggy. Joseph was carried to the City Hall on the litter, and the Ormses and Peggy were taken to the office. After that the guard was dismissed, but the word had been given out that the pre- liminary examination would begin just an hour later. The guard departed and spread the news, and it was soon all over Hornets’ Nest. Something like a sensation was created. People talked, and were of one mind. Honest Eliakim Outer- bridge, ever diligent in the cause of law and justice, had made an arrest of desperate crimi- nals. Who they were, or what their crime was, the citizens did not know, but all declared their belief that Uncle Honest would preserv > the sanctity of the town, ancl, at the same time, deal with the prisoners with his usual merciful kindness. Very fortunate Hornets’ Nest considered it- self to have an Uncle Honest to conduct its affairs, Adjoining the office was a larger room, where the public business of the town was conducted. By the hour set for the examination, this place was crowded; nearly everybody had come to see and hear what had occurred. In due time the principal actors in the scene made their appearance from the office. First came Isaac, tall, erect and stern; then followed Joseph, led by Aaron and Peter; while Vashti, Peggy and Eliakim brought up the rear, This’ party went at once to the platform, where the prisoners were given seats. Uncle Honest made a brief address, He told the people that the public good had seemed to demand the arrest of the Ormses, and that, further than that, they must look to the exami- nation to inform them, He told how the pris- oners had been found, and then announced that he would proceed to question them, ‘* Joseph Orme!” he pronounced, in a louder voice. ‘*T am here,” answered Joseph, mechanically. ‘* You may remain seated. ou are now ina court of justice, and the people will listen to your statement.” ‘¢] have none to make.” “* How?” ‘¢T have no story to tell,” repeated Joseph. ‘*‘ But the people are here to listen,” ‘Circumstances prevent my making any ' statement.” Joseph spoke stubbornly, and Uncle Honest looked at the spectators and shook his head gravely. It was always his way on such occa- sions to put the “ ers e” forward very promi- nently—in words. This flattered their vanity, and blinded them to to the fact that Outerbridge was an absolute ruler. ‘This is very odd!” quoth Eliakim, while his nose made the sharpest of hawk-dives toward his chin. Not a word answered Orme. ‘‘ Why do you refuse to explain?” continued Uncle Honest. ‘‘ We have talked of this before.” ‘“Tnformally, only. You are now before the people.” ‘“T don’t believe the people care to pry into my private affairs.” Bliakim cleared his throat significantly. He looked benignly at ‘‘ the people,” as though to gain moral courage, and ee his gray beard with a grave shake of his head. ‘‘ Honest men have nothing to conceal,” he ob served. ‘* Tt seems that they have something to fear!” retorted Joseph, growing angry. ‘* Rear?” ‘That is what I said.” ye: Boa ts you will explain.” ‘¢T think no explanation is needed when I am dragged here like a dog simply because I do not see fit to tell everybody my private affairs. It is infamous!” Eliakim lifted both hands in horror. ‘¢ This to the people!” he exclaimed, like one greatly shocked, ‘*Don’t mix the people with yourself—you, not they, arrested me, and it is you whom [ “blame,” Joseph had seen that Kliakim’s arts were im- fluencing the crowd, and with a sudden return of prudence he tried to ayoid angering the rough but, possibly, well-meaning persons before him; but he was promptly shown what a task he had undertaken. rr mu nl SS ee ae ** Don’t soft-soap us, young feller!” shouted a burly miner; ‘‘ we back up Uncle Honest, ev’ry time. He’s as good as gold.” ‘‘Hurrah fur Uncle Honest!” cried another gold-digger. The cheers were given with a vim which made the room shake, and brought a troubled ex- pression to Joseph’s face. Peggy leaned toward bim, ‘* Don’t anger them!” she whispered. ‘* They Ai follow Outerbridge as a dog does its mas- er. ‘‘ What’s that?’ demanded Isaac, “ No pri- vate talk there, girl, or ’l] have you up for con- spiracy !” Peggy forgot ber own wise advice at once, and answered with her usual plainness. . ‘‘ Keep your advice to yourself, sir; ['ll man- age my own affairs, if you please.” Isaac’s bronzed face reddened with anger. ‘* Rest easy, girl; we have nothing to say to you now, but your turn will soon come!” The look which acccompanied the threat startled Peggy, and it did not tend to reassure her when Peter touched her shoulder and said in a whisper: ** Don’t anger kim!” The warning was significant. not be ignorant of the fancy the youngest Leather-Jacket had for her, and if he discerned danger there was, indeed, good grounds for ap- prehension. ‘“‘T should say that further waste of time is folly,” continued Isaac, res hes 9p his father, ‘*We bave given the prisoners chance to ex- plain, and they have refused it, Now let the people know the truth.” ncle Honest sighed heavily. “Tt is a oppose duty which devolves upon me,” he sadly answered, ‘‘but dearer to me than aught else is the welfare of Hornets’ Nest. We must be purged of all wrong, by fire if need be; by milder means, if possible. Mournful, indeed, is the necessity which makes me buckle on my battle-armor, but my chosen people must be protected.” ‘* Hurrah fur Uncle Honest!” shouted the big miner. pane the cheers rung out with a will, and Eliakim stretched out his hands as though pro- nouncing a benediction. Evidently he was deeply affected. for his grizzled beard trembled violently, and he wiped his eyes with a ding handkerchief. ‘* Bless you all! he finally said, tremulously, “T am an old man, but this proof of your frienship and confidence is dear to my beart.” Peggy’s pretty nose was perceptibly elevate in the air, but she wisely remained silent. ¢ The Peacemaker struggled with his manly emotion and finally regained his voice. ** Honored fellow-citizens,” he resumed, ** you shal] now hear why I bave arrested this man and woman. You have seen them here; you have marked their manner; you have heard them refuse to tell their story. Is not this a trifle rier Half of the crowd were anxious to reply. — ‘* Durned strange!” ** You kin bet they’re crooks.” ‘¢‘ Look on ’em fur counterfeit money.” ‘** Honest folks hev nothin’ ter conceal,” These terse sentences were shouted among others, and it was plain that Eliakim’s crafty course had attached all irrevocably to his standard—carry the banner where he might, they were ready to follow, ; ** You are right, worthy neighbors, it is very strange, and [ am prepared to prove that your worst suspicions are all too correct: to prove that the fair fame of Hornets’ Nest is tarnished by the presence of these unhappy wretches.” Sighing again, the Peacemaker drew from his pocket a paper of some size, deliberately and held it up before him. ‘Listen while I read,” he directed. ‘ This document tells a story of rare interest in con- nection with this case. Hear it, and judge whether the prisoners are guilty!” CHAPTER XIV. LIKE A QUICKSAND AND ITS VICTIMS, Peggy could He unfolded it JoserH and Vashti exchanged an uneasy | ae They had no idea of what was coming, ut their fears suggested enough. Perhaps it would prove to be the truth; perhaps an utter — r fabrication. They believed Outerbridge to be merciless enough to envelop them in any lie, Peggy pressed Vashti’s hand reassuringly, and gave Josepha glance of thesame order, The firmness of the young man aroused miration, In this emergency he had thrown off all signs of mental or physical weakness, and was showing himself a man of mettle. Uncle Honest read as follows: ** To the Sheriff of Hornets’ Nest :— **You are hereby requested to for one Gunnison Alf and his female partner, | fly Nell, They are wanted here to answer for bank — ticularly atrocious nature. One thousand do reward is offered fortheir capture. They are | lieved to have gone further west over the Centr Pacific road, and, it is thought, will move nort through Idaho. If found, please hold robbery and murder, the last crime being of a flars hold them a month. (E(0) in Ehboo Peggy's ad- — diligently watch — yo ea > 7 and notify vs. Release no suspected persons, even if you have to — : | ‘ - , re 4 a - Ps » i Sas ~ a. f ~ oo We Pe ie