Beadle's Dime Library No. 51: Red Rob, The Boy Road-Agent — page 40: what you’re looking at

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

40 Beadle’s Dime Library. It was St. Kenelm who uttered these words, as he rushed forward and grasped the old man’s hand. Walraymond, whose attention had hitherto been fixed upon Sheridan, now glanced at the face of St. Kenelm, when a cry of joy, that was almost a shout, burst from his lips. ‘“My boy! my Albert! and alive! Oh, God! this is more than I had ever expected,” and the old man embraced his son, and wept like a child, overwhelmed with joy. Several moments of silence ensued. It was broken by the father. “Albert, I thought you were dead, else I should have gone back to Missouri. i saw the name of Albert St. Kenelm among the list of killed at the battle of Wilson’s Creek. But it was a mistake—it was some other father’s Albert. Oh, this is joy beyond measure, my son!” ‘“‘T had never expected to see you again in this world, father. It was only a few days ago that Aunt Shady told us the real truth concerning the kidnapping of sister Octavia, and your leaving home. From that time I began to live in hopes that you were still alive, and when Mr. Sheridan was telling me of Basil Walraymond, and said that I favored him in personal appearance, I thought it might possibly have been my father, who had assumed another name. It has proven to be the case.” “Then Aunt Shady and that child are still living?” the father asked. ‘“Yes; they are near here now. Three families of us moved from Missouri and Lowa, and ‘settled in this valley, The Boswells and the Gilbrests came with us.” ‘‘I know them—know them well,” said the old man, his eyes sparkling with a childish joy, as he fastened them upon the face of his sou—the child he had not seen for long years. ‘* Albert,” he continued, ‘‘ your face is the same as it was at sixteen, with the exception that it has grown more manly. I can see your dear mother’s eyes-and hear her voice in yours. And if I only had my other child, my Octavia, then would I be Aaron St. Kenelm again. I may yet find her, Albert, though God only knows in what condition. I have, after years of trailing, found the devil that stole her away and left his caild—the one you have known as Octavia St. Kenelm. He .s leader of those outlaws, the Phantom Aztecs. Ah, what a mockery! what an inhuman farce that was, Asa! I recognized the villain almost the moment that I set my eyes upon him. ButI said nothing—pretended ignorance of the startling fact. Yes, that villain and outlaw is Leo- pold Hamallado, the fiend who stole my child. He may have her yet, or know where she is, and if so, I will find her, God willing.” ‘*She is there, Basil, without a doubt,” exclaimed Asa Sheridan. ‘‘I know it now—she is there in the ruins, & noble, beautiful girl, She is called Zella. She liberated me and nursed and cared for me while I lay wounded in a mountain grotto not far from the ruins.” ‘*God is merciful afterall,” murmured the old man. “*T had begun to thiuk that He had deserted me—that my prayers were in vain; but I know better now. It must be my child you seen, Asa—your sister, Albert—my Octavia.” ‘She had soft blue eyes, fair complexion, light golden hair,” said Sheridan, ‘‘and a form of queenly beauty and grace, and.a soul—” ‘“’Tis she—my Octavia!” cried the old man. “There ig no doubt of it, Basil,” continued Sheridan. ‘She sent me a book to read while I lay convalescing in the mountain grotto. In that book was a letter just written, although Zella knew it not. It wasacold, fiendish letter, if I may say so, written to * My dear Aaron.’ The writer spoke of a child that he had stolen—of another that he had left. He spoke of that child having grown to womanhood and that she was the image of Estelle, her mother, and—” *‘ That’s enough, Asa, my dear young friend,” broke in the old man, ‘enough to-convince me that it is my child; but go on again. Tell me something more of my child—as- sure me it is no delusion.” ~ } ‘‘The name of the writer,” continued Asa, ‘“‘ was Leo- - pold Hamallado.” ‘“That’s the thief—the villain’s name,” interposed the old man. ‘* When Zella came back to the grotto, I showed her the letter. At first it seemed as though it would kill her. She knew, however, all about her life. The man whom she had always considered as her father had told her all a few days previous. The news bowed her spirit with grief and shame. The man would not tell her who her father was, nor where he resided. But as soon as I recovered from the effects of my wound, she was to flee the country with me. Once in a place of safety, I was to advertise in the leading papers for her friends. But, alas! The demon Hamallado found my retreat—found Zella there. She was placed in a room under lock and key, while I—vwell, it is a long story, that 1 will tell you another time, Basil. But Zella is held a close prisoner, and no telling what may befall her.” ““She must be rescued,” said the old man. *‘ She will be, and to-night,” said Sheridan. The three turned and walked leisurely toward camp, and, as they moved along, the old man gave Asa and his son a history of his adventures in the tiger-pit, his escape there- from, with a crushed and broken arm, and his trials and sufferings in the forest. He finally reached the village of the Navajo Indians in whose midst he received a warm wel- come. Every kindness was bestowed upon him by those semi-barbarous people, and under the skillful treatment of an Indian doctor his arm healed rapidly. Still, it was not able to be out of the sling when he had bid his Indian friends adieu. As to their young friend, Nathan Wolfe, Basil knew no more than did Asa. CHAPTER XXXYV. ‘* SOLD "—AT SUNSET. As the sun declined westward, preparations for the execu- tion of Red Rob were begun. Twelve soldiers had been detailed as the youth’s execution- ers. Six muskets were loaded with ball, six with blank cartridges. The execution was to take place on the bank of the Rio del los Pinos, about half a mile from camp. Upon the banks of the river, beneath the clustering boughs of a pinon tree, a grave was dug. A deep and solemn silence brooded over all, for it had be- come known throughout the camp that the bullet which pierced the heart of the Boy Road-agent, would also crush the heart of the beautiful Octavia St. Kenelm. But there was no shrinking from duty. The prisoner was finally led out unfettered. The soldiers formed in line, and the settlers crowded forward to get a last glimpse of him who had been a friend to them at the moment when instant death hung over their heads. Dakota Dan, mounted upon Patience, with Humility at the animal’s heels, rode through the crowd, glanced at the youth, and in silence rode on—away into the woods. Captain Rushton was about to give the command for the company to move forward, when Red Rob mounted a stump near the head of the column, and in a clear, metallic voice exclaimed: ‘Soldiers and settlers: it seemes to me this matter has gone far enough. I love a joke as well as anybody, and have enjoyed this captivity and trial very much indeed; but I have no desire for it to go further.” The crowd began to gather around the speaker, some mani- festing indignation, others surprise and curiosity. “Nearly a year ago, gentlemen,” the youth went on, ** New Mexico, as you all well know, was nearly overrun with robbers whose haunts were in the mountains. The name or Red Rob had become a terror to the wealthy men and the stage companies of the territory. Not less than twenty of the former residing in the fertile valley of the Rio had been visited by these robbers; and scarcely a single day pass- ed, for six months, but what they overhauled the pockets of the passengers, or the mail-bag of some mail-coach. So one day the proprietors of these suffering ranches, and the super- intendents of the different stage-lines called a meeting. The result of that meeting was a resolution to employ at their own expense a party of rangers to ferret out the hiding- places of the outlaws, and capture them. Within a week after that meeting, twenty young men enrolled in the employ of those wealthy gentlemen, and I am happy to say that I am one of their number.’’ ‘A devilish clever dodge!” sneered the man from Cone- jos, and his words were followed by other derogatory re- marks and shouts of applause. Order being restored, how ever, the boy continued: “The ranchoes and stage companies equipped us with horses and weapons, and sent us off to the mountains, when—” ‘‘When you turned on your employers, @ la Captain Kidd,” shouted Overbaron, the young lawyer, who had been watching for a chance for a final blow at the Boy Road- agent.” a gee Sa EEE ee —_—— ——EE—— = - a ee ee —— VOOKSAG (Elo) ACe (0)