Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 506 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

4 * Misia ‘e hl selves, but I’m too old a bird to play blindman’s , buff.” _ so because he saw at the very beginning that he 6 s Uncle. Honest. ** Tmpossible!” ‘** But-T say they must.” ‘‘ Why, man, it would be the death of Joseph, or, at least, it might cripple him for life. He is | badly shaken up, the bulk of the injury being in one —_ A few days of rest will make that all right, but to move him now would be to endan- ger his whole future.” ‘“‘That is bad,” the stranger firmly replied, ‘* but the risk must be taken. He need not be | carried far, but he must be got away from this village!” stranger. If you are so truea friend to Joseph and Vashti, why do you refuse to let them know you are here?” ‘*T can’t tell you—” Hartley abruptly rose, ‘: Enough!” he said tersely; ‘‘ let us part here. 1 have business on hand, and I must ask you to take your departure,” ‘* Are you going to the Ormes?” ‘*T decline to say.” ‘* Let me have one promise, at least, from you —<do not tell them you have seen me.” “Thatis just what I decline to promise; I CHAPTER VI. | shall assuredly tell them all about you. Having PERPLEXITIES INCREASE. arrayed myself as their friend, I should be doing DoctoR MARK thrust his bands into his | them a wrong not to tell of such a meeting as pockets and looked at Storm Rider with a queer | this with you. Say no more about if,” expression. He was angry, but there was grim They had reached the door, and there Storm humor also in bis manner. Rider paused for a moment. He bent a last ‘* What is your plan?” he asked. look upon his young companion, and the light ‘“ Well, sir,” the Spy Navigator replied, ‘‘ I | of the lamp which yet burned in the doctor’s hope you can suggest some retired hut, or cave, | office fell upon the bronzed face. There was an in the hills, where Orme can be taken. I know | expression there which gave Hartley uneasiness, of a cave, but it is too far away to be con- | If 1t had been one of anger; he would have sidered,” thought nothing of it, but it was quite the ‘You want me to find such a refuge?” reverse, ‘ ** Tt will be very kind of you if you will.” Sorrow, gloom and bitter disappointment ‘*‘ Have you seen Orme?” rested upon the Sky Navigator’s face, and he “No; and I don’t want to until the change of | seemed utterly at a loss to know where to go. base has been made. 1 will, if you please, keep | Hartley, on his part, did not make haste. in the background and let you manage the mat- | Even then there was time for his companion to ter. I am very anxious that Joseph and Vashti | change his mind if he wished, and Hartley hoped should not know that I am near.” | he would, He was disappointed. They went “Why so?” outside together, and then Storm Rider breath- ‘* Excuse me, but I can’t explain that now.” ed an audible sigh and turned away. **It don’t matter,” replied Mark, with a He soon disappeared in the darkness, gracious wave of his hand. | Doctor Mark went on toward Grabam’s in a ‘*Then you agree?’ eagerly asked Storm ! very thoughtful mood, As he approached he Rider. forget the mysterious which made the case so ** My dear sir, if I look as foolish as you seem | peculiar and annoying, and thought only of the to think me, I have only to be convinced of the | Outerbridge faction. fact and I will shave my head like what’s-his- | He had been to the City Hall, and his mission name, the old philosopher, get into a tub, and | had utterly failed. Isaac’s manner had done live there permanently.” ' more than to rebuff him; it had petoly revealed ‘‘T don’t understand,” uneasily replied the , the fact that Uncle Honest had seen his sons Spy Navigator. | and put them in a dangerous mood. Hartley ““T will try to explain. Since this affair began | knew that they must be prepared for the worst; Ihave been treated to mystery without limit. | the misnamed peacemaker had been affronted, It was a vast surprise when I saw a balloon ris- | and his revenge was not likely to be trifling. ing frow the backbone of Sawtooth Ridge; it r used before he entered the house. was another surprise when I found our cast- | He wished that he could force himself to believe aways there. I began my medical attendance | the opinion which nine-tenths of the people of without a selfish motive, but it was a good deal | Hornets’ Nest had of Eliakim and his sons; he shaken when the Ormes refused to make any | wished that he could regard them as just, honor- explanation of their situation. They would not | able men, but the whole history of the moun- tell how they came in this vicinity, far from | tain-locked town was against the idea. : civilization, nor would they give me light in any ‘Heaven helped the Ormes, for my unaided way. Now you pop up like a jumping-jack, and | hand will be but a weak shield!” the doctor you have your pet mystery. Wait!—hear me | murmured, as he resumed his way. out! You won’t tell your name, nor how you | He re-entered the house. came here; and though you declare that you are He found Mr. and Mrs, Graham alone in the a friend of the Ormes, and wish to help them, | lower part, Vashti and Peggy both being with you do not even want them to know that you | Joseph in his chamber, and an opportunity was are here.” vouchsafed for the cooler heads to reason to- Several times Storm Rider had tried to speak, | gether on the subject. Mark would have con- but Hartley would not give way. The visitor | cealed his fears, but, finding his aged friends now spoke eagerly: fully awake to the danger, he changed his mind * But—” and they talked freely. It was agreed that whatever the result would otherwise have been, Vashti’s refusal to confide in Uncle Honest had made that person an enemy, and that meant a good deal in Hornets’ Nest. “Such veg the case,” relentlessly pursued the doctor, ‘‘I refuse to become your aid. will not do what you ask, andif Joseph Orme leaves where he is, be and I sever connection then and there. That is my ultimatum!” ‘“*My dear sir,” cried Storm Rider, ‘‘ your position is perfectly right from your point of view—” ** Just so—it is!” ** But you don’t understand—” “ Right you are; I do not understand.” This grim, dogged humor seemed to shake the Sky Navigator. He hesitated before he spoke When they considered the means of safety every plan was met and rendered useless by Joseph’s condition, and they were forced to rely upon the solitary chance held out by the octor. If the Leather-Jackets did not at once strike —and as Joseph was so helpless, they might de- lay—there was a chance of outwitting them. Joseph ae: gain every day if peapeny cared for, and this gain was concealed from the neighbors, he might advance toward recovery far enough to slip away before Outerbridge sus- pected danger. Upon this small hope they decided to pin their faith and await the result. 7 This decision had just been arrived it when Vashti appeared, A change had come over the girl. She and Peggy had been with Joseph, and Peggy’s buoyant spirits had put all three in good bumor, For the time Vashti forgot that unknown danger which menaced her and Joseph, as well as the ominous visit of Uncle Honest, and the color had flowed back to her pale face untilshe seemed caer apy ibook Such was her appearance when she appeared to Doctor Mark’s view, and the latter could not but feel the influence of such a fair vision of the again. “Tam sure you are an honest man,” he ob- served, at last. ** You do me proud.” ands friend of the weak, helpless and de- ng. “fam willing to help those who help them- ** Do not speak rashly. Remember whom you are asked to help; remember Vashti Orme. She has enemies who would do her harm, and sbe is as good and true as ever woman was. For her sake, will you not aid us all?” Storm Rider spoke earnestly—all the more had touched a responsive chord when speaking f Vashti. Doctor Mark was not the man to ear an appeal made for a helpless woman and hear it in indifference. He was far from being convinced, however. **T have done something in this case already, and I am willing to do more,” he answered; “ but I will not aid ia a move so threatening to Joseph Orme without havin good reasons for it. I decline to work in the dark.” The persuasive hand which Storm Rider had esh. om too, forgot impending peril sufficiently to smile, ‘“‘Have you come from our patient, Miss Orme” = ‘*T trust he is doing well.” ‘He is doing very well, I think, thanks to stretched out fell to his knee. your skill, doctor. “** Heaven help us, thea!” he almost groaned. ‘t More likely, thanks to his fair attendants.” ** Better help yourself.” Vashti smiled, but her mind passed to other matters. ‘* Have you seen Eliakim Outerbridge?” ** No: but I saw his sons,” | ‘* What did they say?” ‘“* Nothing.” ** What can.I do when you refuse me aid?” “You talk likea child, and I dén’t care to ong this interview unless we can strike a erent vein, What little more we say, Jet us away to thepoint. I don’t trust you so very much, = = yA ** Didn’t you mention us?’ ‘* Yes, but it was Eliakim I wanted to see.” ‘*T detect an evasion, Mr. Hartley,” said the girl uneasily. ‘‘ Is there new danger?” ‘* Not to my knowledge; but I will admit that I did not like the manner of the young Outer- bridges. I could get no satisfaction out of them, and I feel sure that the old man bad filled them up with ideas of which we would not ap- prove, to say the least. By the way,I have seen an old friend of yours.” ‘* Of mine?” ? Yea? ** But I know no one here,” Vashti answered, with a puzzled air; then, suddenly arousing, she added: ‘*‘ Was it Knifebelt?” ‘**The boy who ran away with the balloon? No. This man gave the name of Storm Rider.” A Ses change flashed over the girl’s face, and she sprung to her feet. ea Rider here!” she exclaimed excitedly. ** Yes, ‘‘ Where?—where? Take metobim! 1 want to see him at once!” She looked around with growing excitement, as though expecting to see the Sky Navigator appear, but her hope was doomed to disappoint- ment. Her emotion, her eager expectancy, her impatience and impetuosity were such that Mark was rendered incapable of speech, and her gaze finally became fixed upon bis face with a pene- trating regard which found only disappointment there. ; ‘* Where is he?’ she repeated. ‘* He would not come here.” ‘* Did he know I was here?” ‘* Yes, and that was why he would not come.” Vashti che mit into the chair again. ‘* Lost!” she exclaimed wildly; ‘‘we are ruined and lost!” CHAPTER VII. CUPID IN STRANGE COMPANY. Tae doctor looked at Vashti with growing wonder. ‘*T suppose it is all clear tc you,” he said, in a helpless way, ‘‘but I don’t understand it at The girl did not even seem to hear him. She was staring straight ahead, and her set, startled expression was like that of one who sees some alarming sight, but what she saw was a mental picture. Clearly, however, it was enough to cause her acute suffering. A deep sigh finally passed her lips. ‘+ What did he say?” sbe asked. ‘‘He wanted me to help get you away from ” ere, ‘“‘He saw the necessity, too!” the girl ex- claimed. ‘* Probably,” Doctor Mark grimly agreed. ‘¢ What did he advise?” ‘“‘Oh! he had a longing to bea cave-dweller, or something of that sort; at least, he suggested that I conduct you toa cave or deserted hut, Heaven bless us! how little does he know of this region! It is only a few years since the first white man slept near Sawtooth Ridge, and de- serted huts are as scarce as hens’ teeth. But we will let that ‘* What did you answer him?” ‘‘T answered,” the doctor steadily returned, “that Joseph Orme could not be moved for sev- eral days.” A shadow flitted over Vashti’s face. ‘* And then?” she questioned. ‘‘ | asked him to come and see you.” “¢ And he refused?” ““ Yes.” ‘‘Tt was because he had such terrible news that he dared not face us!” she feverishly ex- claimed. Hartley did not answer. He had no more questions to ask in relation to the mystery which surrounded Vashti and her brother, Actuated only by the best of motives he bad tried to win their confidence, in order to work for them in- telligently, but he bad been met by rebuffs which he could not forget. Hewas resolved to try no more, and it must be confessed that his sym- pathy for Vashti was not of the liveliest kind, ‘Storm Rider has completed his mission,” she pursued, ‘‘and it must bave been a complete failure.” ‘ Still Hartley did not answer. “The sooner we get away from Hornets’ Nest, the better,” Vasbti added. ‘‘ Where do you wish tu go?’ asked the doctor. ‘** To the wilderness.” ‘There is plenty of it around here.” “That must be our home.” “T want to say,’ Mark replied, “that you have more to fear from the Outerbridges than any other source. Remote as we are here, there is little danger of any enemy appearing to you. We have no telegraphic communication with tbe world at large, and only an apology fora United States mail, Hornets’ Nest is little known beyond the mountains which bem it in and a stranger might pass near, stopping at other towns, and never heer of us. n’t be afraid of the outside world.” ‘ ‘‘T don’t see why Eliakim Outerbridge should persecute us,” the girl slowly said. ‘‘T can add nothing to what I have already "GOMIECHOO 4 q) es ae fs = o oy 7 Can ElO}) nN >