Beadle's Dime Library No. 51: Red Rob, The Boy Road-Agent — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

—_—— side, made that scar in the Conejos saloon,” continued Mis- souri Moll. ‘‘I swore then I'd have revenge, even if you were backed by a legion of devils, and I will too. ‘The two girls’ captivity is but a foretaste of what’s to foller. Besides, you've not the road agents to aid and abet you as they did at Conejos. Your triend, Red Rob, will not be so lndy next time. He'll not dance with yer gals soon again, for they are my gals now.” ‘‘T can’t see what all that’s got todo with that scar on yer face, and that bigger one on yer soul, Away up yander, Missouri Moll,” said the ranger, lifting his hand warningly toward lieaven, “ is a God in whose eyes you are a smaller speck of insignificance than in mine, He'll settle accounts with you, man, and send you below where Satan is already punchin’ up the fire in anticipation of your comin’. The horn of Gabriele will soon proclaim the judgment morn in your ears,” The old ranger’s words seemed strangely prophetic, for scarcely had they died upon the clear, vibrant air, ere the shrill clangor of a hcern came thrilling down from amid the gray mist of morning clouds, gathering volume as it advanced—bounding and rebounding from mountain side to side, and rushing away through the shadowy gorges, awaking a thousand slumbering echoes. Our friends started with amazement; the outlaw’s face was aghast, with terror., All lifted their eyes upward. A cry burst from every lip, now pale and trembling, Down from amid the clouds, along the mountain side where it seemed impossible for the foot of man to have picked its way with safely, came a horseman at a wild, breakneck speed. His. head was bare, his hair flying in the wind. Neither saddle nor bridle hampered the chamois like movement of the gallant steed, from whose nostrils the hot breath poured in almost fiery currents, and whose smoking flanks, were cover- ed with frosty foam. The ring of the iron-shod hoofs could be distinctly heard upon the stony mountain side, and with every footstroke fire seemed to burst in jets from the rocks, “My God!” exclaimed, St. Kenelm, “who is it?—-what madman thus riding into eternity?” No one answered, for no one knew, Still on comes the mad; reckless rider, straight down the dangerous mountain side. He will soon reach the table rock upon which the outlaw and maiden stand—and then, na power on earth can save him from plunging over the cliff inta the valley, hundreds of feet below. The movements of the rabled. steed. Pegasus could not have been more swift, his footsteps more unerring among the clouds, than that of the animal now flying down the mountain side; nor his rider less daring than the gallant young Bellerophon as he dashed on to the conquest-of the dread Chimera. There was a kind of a horrible fascination in the awful scene, and the, three men ix the valley, and the outlaw on the cliff forgot all else,and watched the wild horseman, galloping down into the awful abyss. As he drew nearer and nearer the ledge, the flushed face of the rider began to assume a look of familiarity, ‘‘ Red Rob!” exclaimed St, Kenelm. ‘‘ Red Rob!” repeated Boswell. ‘‘ Red. Rob, the Boy Road-Agent!” added Dakota Dan, with a nervous start. CHAPTER XXVY. RED ROB IN BONDS. Wuen they recognized the face of Red Rob rushing on, into a fearful death, Dakota Dan and his; two companions, turned aside to shut out,the horrible sight so. soon. to. come, Then their. hearts almost ceased to beat—their very souls sickened with horror im anticipation of hearing that awful crushing sound. Aside from the ring of the horse’s hoofs a pistol-shot rung, out from the cliff above; ap awful cry of human agony fol-; lowed, Our friends lifted their eyes upward, anda cry of aston. ishment burst from their lips. They saw Missouri Moll stagger backward and fall. ‘They saw Red Rob check the speed of his animal and come to @ sudden halt. at Maggie’s side on the very brink of destruc- tion. They saw the young outlaw lift the terrified girl to a seat before him, and then go bounding away up the moun- tain side, his Pegasean steed bounding {rom terrace to terrace _ Red Rob, The Boy Road-Agent. a — LT with all the swiftness and accuracy of footstep of the moun- tain goat The three men witneseed the whole with a sort of a vague, horrible suspense. Dakota Dan raised his. rifle to fire, but St. Kenelm pre vented his deadly purpose. ‘* Do not fire on him, Dan,” the young man said; ‘ rob ber though he be, he is too brave-—too noble to die—bul look yonder! There are Missouri Moll’s friends!” True enough, the sudden turn of affairs had brought the outlaw’s friends from their conceuliient, and with all their speed scaled the mountain side in pursuit of the reckless boy outlaw. The form of Missouri Moll could be seen hanging half-over the edge of the cliff, his life-blood trickling from a woundin the heart. Prophetic indeed had been Dakota Dan’s words. In less than a minute from the time of their utierance, the spirit of | the desperado lad gone to the judgment. ‘*Now what, Dan?” asked St. Kenelm. ‘* Ay! what indeed?” replied, the raager, ina tone of deep perplexity, as he watched Red Rob disappear from view amid clouds that still hung like a pall around the crest. of the mountains. ‘1 never war so helpless in all my life, Neither man, hoof nor howler can put in a lick, kick or tooth, Rut the question now arises: is the gal out of the fryin’- pan into the fire? Whatll that wild young dare-devil do with her?” ‘Yes these are the questions, indeed,” said young Bos- well, ‘‘I felt in hopes we were out of the reach of that outlaw, albeit we are under many obligations to LADD “And Pll bet well be under another one,” said Dan. “He’s already been a pestilence to that Missouri Moll, and—” ‘““You think, then, he will take sister Maggie to her friends, do you?” interrupted Boswell. ‘‘He’s capable of other good acts, I dare say, That boy is an outlaw and’robber for nothing but the wild fun and adventure: in it, 1 dare say. :-We ‘hear of this doin’ more good acts than bad ones, and that’s sumthin’ you can’t say of two outen every three of mankind, be they saints or sin- ners; and yit the latter go onpunished, but are simply called ‘doubtful,’ ‘scaly,’ or—to put:it a little stronger—* rascals,’ But Red Rob! Oh, Lord! he’s a mouster—a boy outlaw! a-murderer, and all sich, beea’se he pullops down once and, awhile and relieves some ole ‘ don’ of his ili-woltten gains and fast hosses, and raises’\a general rompus ull over the, ranchoesé—scares the peons to*death, and then gallops back to the: mountains to hear the thunder-roar, and latl in his, sleeve. 1 don’t approve of. sich things, boys; bul then that Red Robert isa prince of a robber, ‘and may turn, out to sumthin’ good: afore Le dies.. Thar’s no tellin’.” 4¢T hope, Dan, that your, words will prove true, in this case,” declared St. Kenelm, as his mind reverted to Octavia’s love for the young outlaw, | “* But, boys, time is precious. Neither of the girls is rescued.” ; ‘True,” responded Dan,.as if suddenly started from a doze; ‘let us at once hasten back to the Hidden Home set, tlement. If ahgt young scump takes Maggie home, she’ll be thar afore us.’ : ‘Without further delay they turned their faces down the. pass and moved with dispatch. ) ‘They soon passed the, ‘three dead outlaws and emerged in- to the open valley. 0" Crossing the San Juan, they hurried rapidly forward and . reached home just as a band of masked horsemen, with Red | Rob at their head, came;in sight of the camp. On a pony at the young outlaw’s side rode Maggie Bos: well. | | Dakota Dan’s words had again proven prophetic; Red Rob had restored the maiden to her friends unharmed, , On the outskirts of the settlement the main body halted, Only Red Rob rode into camp with Maggie. <A look of bit- ter disappointment was upon his handsome face, for Maggie; had told him of Octavia’s,abduction, | Friends rushed forward to greet Maggie and rejoice over her safe return, while Dakota Dan and Dick Boswell made their way to the side of the young outlaw to extend their many heartfelt thanks to, him for, what he had done. The. youth .greeted them warmly, and spoke facetiously of the night at Conejos. , At the same time, however, he seemed uneasy and restless. But, excusing himself for declining to accept the hospitality of the settlers, on the grounds of great haste, Le turned to leave. (COMMIE OOO KS