Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 513 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

a < = ; > An a i, URS ; ae. : a 4 ‘Texas ‘T'artar. aaa a i a a A a 5 — nn OO fully, or there would have been a iregey at once. He saw the man for whom he bad been hunting, but the discovery did not fire his nature. Instead, he experienced a sensation as though his blood was suddenly flowing in a sluggish way, and he looked stupidly at the men. ‘‘ A pleasant night,” added Westerley. “sé Yes,” The ex-hunter answered mecnanically, but it was at Kendall, not Westerley, that he looked. ‘‘ Have you been ont on the lake?” ss No.” ‘“You do well; the Horned Fish may be astir.” ‘‘ There isother dangerous things ’round hyar besides the Horned Fish,” answered George, looking at Kendall in the same fixed way. ‘‘Thar is some scourges not so mister’us as the Horned Fish, an’ not so hard ter find. Ive k’en lookin’ fur one on ‘em, an’ I reckon I have found hiin,”’ CHAPTER V. AN ACCUSATION DENIED. THE ex-hunter’s voice was thick and heavy, but his words did not seem to convey any sig- nificance to Westerley. ; ‘‘ What have you found?” David asked. Grizzley George leaned heavily upon his rifle, He still looked at Robert Kendall, but the dark- ness prevented any such thing as observing that young man’s expression. ‘* Until a couple days ago,” returned George, ‘‘T had a darter. I was a lone man only fur that, an’ I reckon I’d have lived out my old life huntin’ an’ scoutin’ until a bostyle bullet laid me low, or old age tackled an’ got the best on me. Aster that I can’t say, fur I did hev some one else ter think of. That was Hive. She was the light 0’ my life, an’ when I come home at night her bright ways cheered me up amazin’. That was how it was, but it ain’t so now.” ‘‘You have my sympathy, George.” ‘‘ Mister Kendall don’t speak,” added the ex- hunter. Tue silent man started. ‘‘Qverlook it, friend Hendricks,” he replied; ‘‘T was deep in my own painful thoughts, I think, however, that I do not need to tell you how sorry lam, Ihave often been your guest; IT have gone with you on more than one hunt; and {, too, knew and liked Eve.” “ You did?” 4s Yes,” ‘* Did she like you ?” ‘©] believe she respected me, friend George, and regarded me as a friend.” ‘“No more?” ‘*T don’t understand.” ‘‘T’ve heerd it said thar is nobody so hard ter see as them who won’t see.” ‘*T am still in the dark.” ‘‘The amount of it is,’ put in Westerley, ‘‘George is deep in sorrow. That explains it.” ‘No, it don’t explain it,” returned the ex- hunter in the unnaturally-stolid manner which had settled upon him, ‘‘Tharismore, My girl left a note which said that some man had won her love, an’ then desarted her; an’ it was that which driv her ter suicide. I know who the man was.” It was Westerley who made reply: ‘* Who was it?” Grizzly George extended one hand toward Kendall. *‘Him! That’s the man!” <‘ What's that?” demanded Kendall with an- other start, ‘* say you are the man who won my girl’s heart, an’ then tossed her over fur a richer bride!” ‘“‘Great heavens!” exclaimed Kendall, ‘‘are you mad?” ‘“fus a wonder I ain’t, with the load that is upon my mind,” ‘* But do I understand you to say I had any share in poor Eve’s fate?” Hendricks leaned more heavily upon his rifle, and thickly replied: shan. “You are mad, indeed. Eve never cared for me, except as a friend.” ‘* Who did she care for?” ** That I don’t know.” “Tdo, DPve got the news, an’ it ain’t ter be gainsayed. Young man, it’s a wonder ter me that the Lord don’t strike ye right down whar you be, fur sech wickedness is beyond even man’s tolerance.” ee But—” ‘* You come ter me as a friend; you was re- ceived in my house free an’ hearty, and Eve did her part to make youat home, You know how you abused that trust. She didn’t see inter your black heart, my girl didn’t; fur she wa’n’t used ter scoundrels, I[ thank the good Lord that, even ef she is dead, thar is not one blenish on her, The weaknesses 0) other humans was not hers, an’ she went down ter her grave as spotless as an angel. She never madean enemy, an’ nobody but has good ter say of her, All wished her wal but the man who was willin’ ter break her heart fur the sake o’ an idle flir- tation. He did it, too. What is the result? - - ca ~ tT, ewe, ee ee ee Se eee She isin her grave, an’ the man who did it is you !” Again the accusing finger was leveled at Ken- dall, but the latter answered with increased ex- citement and earnestness: ‘‘ You wrong me, Griazly George; you wrong me inevery way, You never were more mis- taken in your life, Never did I utter one word of love to her; never did I seek to gain her love; and I am positive that she had no warmer feel- ing for me than that of friendship. Iam not even sure she had that feeling for me—certainly, there was no more.” The speaker paused for a moment, and then added, in a firmer voice: ‘‘ You have made a serious charge against me, Grizzly George. What are your grounds for doing so?” ** How’s that?” ‘*Did Eve ever tell you she and I[ had a love affair?” ee No,” ‘‘ Then what do you base your charge upon?” ‘* [ve jest heerd it.” * from whom?” ‘* No matter.” ‘* Tt matters a good deal to me.” ‘** i can’t tell ye who.” **Do you mean that you will make such a serious charge against a man, and then refuse any information as to*where you get your news?” ‘** Jest now I kin do no other way.” ‘Then you act very unlike the George Hen- dricks I have known,” declared Kendall, who, judging by appearances, seemed to be trying to control himself and speak calmly. ‘' You have charged me with a crime of which I am inno- cent, and you give me no chance to defend my- self. You must see how I am placed when you potice that I am now accompanied by the bro- ther of the lady I hope to marry. hat must he think of me?” ‘‘ Believe me, Robert,” answered Westerley, ‘*T place no faith in the charge. That Grizzly George is sincere I do not doubt, for he is a man of honor, but I am sure you are the same, George is laboring under a strange mistake. This, however, does not excuse him from refus- ing to explain. It is a duty which he cannot shirk that he explain.” ‘‘Am I my own man, or ain't I?” asked the ex-hunter, irritably. ‘* You certainly are, as far as your own af- fairs go,” replied Kendall, firmly; ‘‘ but when you take hold of my affairs and insult me, a common excuse will not save you.” ‘*Save me? From what?” ** Justice! You have libeled me: I ask you to prove what you assert, or retract,” ‘* An’ what ef [ don’t?” ‘*‘ Don’t force me to consider that,” Grizzly George looked at the speaker in won- der—almost in bewilderment. ‘*Thar’s an implied threat in yer words,” he said, slowly. ‘‘ You seem tar insinuate that you will do we harm ef I don’t bend to ye. It’s odd consid’rin’ what almost happened ter-night, an’ how I feel toward ye.” The ex-hunter tightened his grasp upon his rifle with the serious intention of making sure that it was still there. He was dazed and un- certain. He had fully intended to kill Robert Kendall that night, and had been prevented only by an accident; and now that he bad unexpect- edly met the man, the fire of batred burned as fiercely as ever in his heart, but he had been kept back from action by some impulse he could not fully understand, Considering Kendall given over to him by fate for doom, it dazed him more than ever to see the presumptuous boy, whom he could al- most crush in his grasp, as he believed, take such a bold stand, ‘‘T make no threats,” responded Kendall, ** but I claim that you are using me badly.” ** An’ you hev done no harm?” ‘** None.” ‘* Young man, I hev jest come from the new grave over yonder.” ‘“Would to Heaven Eve were alive! She would exonerate me.” ** Prove it.” **The burden of proof lies with you. The charge you have made is utterly false, and you decline to give reasons for such an unjust state- ment. Unless you speak out like a man, I re- fuse to talk with you longer.” Once more Kendall was speaking sharply. He might be innocent or guilty, but in any case the charge touched him keenly. He still hoped and expected to marry Norma Westerley, but if Grizzly George’s story was made public it would injure bim greatly, and Norma might decline to go on with the marriage until she had been convinced of his innocence. The ex-hunter slowly lifted his rifle. <A little while before he had vowed to shoot Kendall at sight. The chance was now his, but somethin stayed his hand. He did not fully understan why he delayed his revenge. Personally, he felt able to cope with both his pom companions, but he was still in the dazed mood, He lifted the rifle to his shoulder. ‘** ]’}] see you ag’in, ter-morrow,” he observed, and walked quickly away.- ee >> s Be TN SARE ee Pe th Kendall looked after him with anything but a pleasant expression. ‘‘ He will see me to-morrow!” the young man declared, ‘¢- You mustn't let this trouble you; no one will peneye such an absurd report,” Westerley re- lied, Pre He must retract or take the consequences.” ‘““No doubt, the story can easily he proved false, But come, let us think no more about it. Let us walk homeward now.” “1 don’t think I will accompany you now, David, for I have work elsewhere, Good-night!” He extended his hand. A cordial pressure was exchanged, and then the two separated, West- erley’s course was toward home, but, when he had gone a few yards, he looked around and saw Kendall disappearing in the direction just taken by Grizzly George. CHAPTER VI. STRUCK DOWN IN THE DARK, HALF an hour later two men passed along the shore of the lake. They reached and passed Purcell’s boat-house, and then continued their course ina northerly direction, They walked slowly, and talked earnestly in a low voice. One of these men was Texas Tartar, The Man with Nine Lives, and the other was a tall, beard- ed man of middle age. They had reached the outskirts of the village when the second man suddenly paused. ‘* Hullo! what's all this?” he exclaimed. ‘ ‘‘ What do you refer to?” asked Texas Tartar. ** This!” The speaker took two or three steps and knelt on the sand of the lake-shore, and his compan- ion saw a buman figure stretched out at full length. , ‘“What have we here?” he demanded. ‘* Should say ’twas a man in an egregious fix.” ‘Ts he dead, Yank?” ‘‘No,” replied be who had been addressed as Yank; ‘‘thar is life in him, an’ his heart beats with tolerable briskness, but thar’s a moisture about his head that’s suggestive. Hev you a match, Texas?” a6 Yes,” A transient light was soon produced, and it showed that the *‘ moisture” Yank had felt was that of blood. The fallen man was unconscious. ‘It is Grizzly George!” Texas Tartar ex- claimed. ** Who's he?” ‘A retired hunter who lives in the village.” ‘That so? Then, by hurley! I ought ter bave a feller-feelin’ fur bim, for I have done an artom 0’ trampin’ as hunter, an’ sich like, my- self, He’s met an inemy, this chap has; an’ he’s got an egregious s wipe across his head,” “Then you don’t think it an accident?” ‘*Not much, it wa’n’t, Somebody hit him a vicious blow, an’ followed it up with others o’ the same sort. Pooty bad bunged up, he is, though [ don’t reckon he’s fatally hurt. Ef he’s an old hunter, it’ll take a heap ter kill bim, Bring some water, Texas, an’ le’s git bis lost senses back ter him.” ‘‘His house is only a few rods away—why not carry him there at once?” ‘¢Tt’ll be the best way. Lift bim up!” This was done with skill and care, and Grizzly George was soon in his own habitation. When a light had been made he was laid upon bis bed, and his new friends set to work to resuscitate him. The tall man soon proved that be was no mean surgeon for an amateur. He washed away the blood and bound up the wounds ina commendable way. Nothing was said about sending for a doctor, for they did not consider his injuries dangerous, ‘ F, He'll soon git his senses back,” Yank de- cided, ‘‘ Who could have assaulted him?” I Horned Fish, mebbe,” replied Yank, dryly. ‘Then we wh, to have been a little sooner,” returned Texas Tartar, smiling. ‘¢ So the varmint could bev laid us out, too?” ‘*So we could have captured it.” ‘‘T ain’t much o’ a fisbefman, though some o” my ancestors was, One on ’em, Noah Yellow- bird, built a fore-an’-aft, topsail, centerboard man-o’-war which be named the Ark, an’ put out from Bangor, Maine, on a fisbin’-trip ter the South Pole. They was out forty days, or more, an’ ketchbed an atrocious lot o’ fish, but they didn’t git no sech outlandish critter as this lake- demon is,” p “ Probably this Horned Fish needs different ait.” **T consait so.” ‘* Lead might take him,” ‘Jes’ so. But I think our injured frien’ is gittin’ back his reasonin’ faculties. I hope so, by hurley, fur it’s a p’ison bad thing ter be robbed o’ a man’s mental equal-abrakam. Doc- tor Eleazer Yellowbird had a case o’ the sort. *Twas a gal who hal been disa’p’inted in love, an’ it struck in like the measles, She did nothin but set an’ sing ‘Whar Has My Highland Lad- die Gone? an’ sech techin’ anthems, all da long, an’ she had a chronic flow o’ tears whi *bout ruined her eyes. The doctor cured her b feedin’ her on onions an’ cabbage, an’ he felt proud o’ his cure ontil she turned ’round an’ - sole "Eomicboo ‘S.COr ett), ¥ me? Ps | eh sy S ; =—~ ad =" = =. “ Veni wd