Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 513 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

ik 6 Texas Tartar. sued him fur breach 0’ promise. She got judg- ment an’ took away his black hoss, all the prop- erty he had; but she brung week, an’ said she didn’t want it, an’ that ef the doctor was sech a powerful eater as the hoss, she was glad ter git off soeasy. She could lead the hoss back by the bridle, but the doctor was so mortal obstinate that nobody could manage him.” Grizzly George opened his eyes. rested on them with a puzzled regard, ‘¢ Wal, neighbor, how does it go?” Yank asked, George put his hand to his head and then winced. “T am hurt,” he muttered. ** Only an artom.” * How come I byar?” ‘*We brung ye.” ‘*T remember!” the ex-hunter suddenly ex- claimed, ‘‘I was attacted on the shore o’ the lake. They meant ter kill me, too, but my head is tough.” ‘¢ Who assaulted you?” asked Texas Tartar. ** Didn’t I say?” “ee No.” George was silent for a moment; then he slowly replied: ‘“*Then I reckon I won’t say.” ‘You ought to have the man arrested.” ** Woula the law avenge me?” 5 ge aecomg ‘1m much obliged ter the law, but I reckon I kin fight my own battles. This is sort 0° a peculiar case, but I know the man who did it, theugh I didn’t see him plain, an’ I'll see him "in ! ” The ex-hunter spoke in a significant tone, and his meaning was clear, “‘T take it you had a quarrel, neighbor,” ob- served Yank. **Not jest then; I didn’t even see him until the first blow was struck. The coward came up behind me an’ hit me with a club, an’ arter that I was dazed. He cotldn’t whipped me fair—why, I could ’a’ broke him in two with one hand—but he ’most killed me ’fore I knowed be was ’round, an’ then he beat me down easy. He tried ter kill me, quite, but old Gregory ain’t dead yet.” ‘You need a nurse,” said Texas Tartar. **No, I don’t; I’m an old borderer, an’ Ill pull through this as I’ve pulled through other His gaze rere ** But you are severely injured.” **T know it.” “It is not right that you should stay here alone.’ ** Young man, you mean wal, but I want ye ter jest let me manage my own affairs, 1 thank e bearty fur bringin’ me in hyar, you an’—I on’t know yer friend.” *¢T’m a borderer, too,” replied the tall stran- er. . ** What's yer name?” “Yank Yellowbird.” ** You don’t say so!” **T consait I do.” “Grizzly George must have heard of you,” remarked Texas Tartar, smiling. ** Who hasn’t?” demanded George, with more energy than he had shown when speaking of his own affairs, ‘Everybody has heerd of Yank Yellowbird, the Injun-fighter, scout an’ moun- taineer. The Sioux call bim Nevermiss, ’cause his aim is deadly. Stranger, is that the rifle that has done it?” The speaker looked with interest at the weapon in Yank’s hands, It was unusually long, and looked both old-fashioned and ominous, ** I’ve carried this bit o’ metal goin’ on twenty year,” modestly replied Yank. *“‘ T’ve heerd on ye; I have, stranger, an’ I’ve often wished ter meet you. [ve fought Injuns some, myself, but I ain’t the terror to ’em that you be. Few meube. Heerd of ye? Wal, I should say so; the name o’ Yank Yellowbird goes ringin’ through all the West!” “Neighbor,” auoth the mountaineer thus eulogized, ‘‘ef I’s you I'd stop an’ git breath; an’ when ye git it, you may as wal take another tack. You mean wal, but your words are an egregious sight too flowery. I’m a simple old mountaineer, an’ none o’ them things you’ve painteld in words. My name ain’t gone a-ringin’ nowhar, but has be’a right in my weskit pocket, an’ elsewhar about me, all the time: whiie as fur the Injuus, I never did harm ter one onless the atrocious insex desarved it. {f ain’t no Jand- pirate nor butcber.” **Good gracious! I didn’t mean to say you was, for nobody speaks anything but good on e, but fame is the penalty o’ bein’ Yank Yel- whbird.” ** Don’t know why it should be,” declared the tall mouutaineer, shaking his head gravely, ‘‘ I never did nothin’uncommon, though I came o’ a family mortally given ter greatness, The ‘ Weimouwoirds trace their pedigreen back ter Adam, who married Eve Smith an’ lived at the Garden 0’ 1 1en, an’ the record would go furder ef the fam’ly had kept the facks an’ figgers cor- reck on paper. This fault 0’ theirn was melan- choly ter contemplate, fur Adam’s brotber, who was named Ithamar, Salathiel, Jepthah, Issa- char, Sibrean an’ Jethuphalel, was all lost ter fame by want o’ kerreck records,” it back inside a ; | eee CO ST A tess sss nse —— a SSeS Nevermiss took a few seconds to silently | lament this mournful fact, and then added: **A good many 0’ the Yellowbirds sence then has b’en noted fur somethin’ or other. Doctor Ichabod Yellowbird fu’st diskivered that cold steel would cure toothache; an’ Lamentations Yellowbird lost a leg on a circular saw; an’ his brother, Parallelogram, could ketch a mule’s foot in his trowsers pocket as neat as you please, when the mule kicked. Then my female cousin, Minnie Hattie Sadie Nettie Effie Yellowbird, writ poetry, an’ my gran’- father was a Revolutionary relict. Ever hear 0 him?” «No? “Tl tell ye about him when I git time. He was a remarkable man, an’ a mortal upholder 0’ the tick-tacks o’ war. That ll give ye some idee what the rest o’ the Yellowbirds was, but I ain’t no great shakes. My left foot is a weak sister, bein’ a coward, an’ [ hev the newrolgy like the mischief, Ever hev the newrolgy?” ‘* It’s the most p’ison thing out. ’Fore I took it bad I was so harn’some ter look upon that I was a powerful fav’rit’ with the female sect, but it has so warped me out o’ shape that I allow Im now komely as they make ’em,” The last assertion was not wholly without foundation. Yank Yellowbird was not a band- some man. His face cdéuld not boast of sym- metry, for his nose was too large, his eyes too small, and his flaxen-brown beard too sparse and erratic of growth; but it was a frank, hon- est, manly, humorous face, and its owner never sighed for those personal charms whick ought to be left to women—delicate features, lily com- lexion and what else that constitutes ‘‘ beauty.” ank was too practical to care for these vanities of life, himself, though he could admire a charm-. ing young lady as much as any one, In form he was talland none too compactly built, if eyesight was to be trusted, but his home ly, ill-fitting hunting-suit hid the remarkable muscular development which had no drawback of superfluous flesh. He was past his fiftieth year, but was still a hardy veteran of the woods aud mountains, and his agility and strength did not appear to have suffered any diminution, Texas Tartar was not unconscious of the fact that the hour was growing late, and he once more expressed their anxiety to do what they could for Grizzly George. His life was not in danger, but he seemed likely to be confined to the house for some days, and a doctor would have decided that the bed was the best place for him, and a good nurse necessary. All this the young man mentioned, but the ex-bunter met the advice impatiently. ‘Never mind me,” he replied, brusquely. “Tm very grateful ter you fur bringin’ me in, as I said afore, an’ I hope ter keep up acquaint- ance with you an’ Yank Yellowbird; but fur ter-night [ have only one favor ter ask or ac- cept. Jest leave me alone.” ‘T consait he knows best,” Nevermiss agreed, ‘San’ he'll do very walnow. Wel’ll go, Texas, an’ call ’round az’in ter-morrer.” The younger man offered no further objec- tions, but he was by no means easy about Griz- zly rge. It was clear that the injured man was medi- tating revenge, and he might be rash enough to attempt it at any time. If he went out of the house again that night he would not only en- danger his life through natural causes, but a very feeble person could get the better of the old borderer as he was then, His will was law, however, and when the had made him as comfortable as possible, Ya and Texas Tartar left the house. CHAPTER VIL. STRANGE SCENES OF THE NIGHT. AN honr previous to the departure of Texas Tartar and Nevermiss from Grizzly George's home, two persons left the Westerley house and walked toward the lake. Their movements were furtive, and everything weut to show that they were anxious to avoid observation. Both were females, and they had come from the “ big Louse” like these who lived there. Their searching gaze failed to discern any other person abroad, and they passed quickly and lightly through the village. Reaching the lake, they kept along the soutbern shore, and soon reached a high, rough ledge, which was al- most a cliff. 4 Here they sat down in a natural recess, with the lake lying eighty feet below them, and stretching away toward the British Possessions of the north. One of the girls, for such they were in point of years, breathed a sigh of relief. “Tsn’t this better than the close air of the house?” she asked, “In one way it is, but the danger—think of that, Norma.” “Still afraid! heroine.” ‘*T devoutly hope I never shall.” “T am east in a different mold. With proper encouragement I could become a war- rior, I know.” You would never make a “How can you jest so, Norma? Have you forgotten the events of this evening?” / e <a . + Pet -. ~ phe ee ee Bet, ME ea Ae Se a el ee . —_- oS nn, ao a land I will not allow you to apologize. I | | i fies ‘*If I was foolish, you area bit severe, my dear Albia. How can I forget?” ** Forgive me; I mean no harm—” “ Certainly you did not, my pretty penitent, We won't mention it. My judgment incoming here is being vindicated every moment. The fresh breeze which sweeps down from the lake cools my blood and clears my mind,” ‘¢T hope you will be well to-morrow.” **1 shall,” ** And your marriage—when will it go on?” ‘*T ghall see Robert to-morrow, of course. Poor fellow! I suppose he was very much alarmed about me, wasn’t he? But you have told me that already.” ‘‘Let me tell you again. Yes, he was alarmed, and so were all of us, It was so mys- terious.” ‘It was mysterious,” was the reply, and the speaker’s voice grew hard. ‘‘I wish I under- stood it. People don’t fall asleep naturally as I did this evening, and even if they did, they could be wakened. I could not. Why?” ‘That is what puzzles me.” ‘‘ My dear Albia, we must learn.” ‘* How can we?” ‘‘ By our wits, or otherwise. The doctor was reserved, but when he gives his promised de- cision, in the morning, I feel sure that my theo- ries will be sustained; and I say there wasa plot to keep me from marrying Robert Ken- dall. I was never sick a day in my life. Was it natural, then, for me to go into such a state?” ‘Certainly not, but what was the cause of it?” ‘*T don’t know what the doctor will say, but I have my own opinion. I think I was drugged.” ** Drugged!” © Nieu,” ‘“* By whom?” ** Now you ask more than I can tell.” ** But, Norma, remember that you were in your own home, and surrounded by your best and nearest friends.” “YT donot forget it, but my opinion is un- shakeu, You know what I think, now, and you can imagine how I am puzzled, and how, when [recovered from my strange condition, I found it impossible to be calm, and insisted upon com- ing here. I have never suspected that | had an enemy, but I believe that some hand was lifted vatphige me from marrying Robert Ken all. ‘*Tt is very strange. Who sbould do it?” ‘Yes, who? I ask myself that question in vain, Perhaps Robert has enemies, but they are not inside our house. If it was they, how did they manage to strike at me in my own howe How was I drugged? Who drugged me Norma pressed her hand to her forehead and tried in vain to see light. She had fully recov- ered from her mysterious indisposition and her mind was clear,but that did not suffice to belp her any. There was nothing to begin upon in forming a theory, Albia watched her curiously, but without hazarding any theory. She found it difficult, for reasons already advanced, to believe all that Norma had asserted. She would not speak plainly, but she attributed evervthing to natural causes and was concerned for Norma’s bealth. The silence which had fallen between the two girls remained unbroken for several minutes, Then a sound which was not one of the noises natural to the night arrested Albia’s attention. She looked up the lake, and finally spoke ner- vously: ‘* Don’t you hear something on the water?” : e.. had not noticed it until you spoke, but I 0. ‘‘ What if it isthe Horned Fish?” asked Albia, with increased nervousness. ‘‘ Nonsense, my dear! It isa boat. Don’t you hear the splash of the oars?” ‘Tt may be, but—”, ‘Still thinking of the lake demon!” retorted Norma, lightly. ‘‘ Remember that I promised on absolute protection from our belligerent ish. ** And who would protect you?” ‘*T would protect myself. Albia, you ought to havea part of my confidence. I am afraid I shall never look up to any man with the sub- missive desire for protection which is supposed to be a female characteristic. I am inclined to protect myself, and I fe:1 all the confidence in the world in my ability to do so successfully.” Albia was accustomed to Miss Westerley’s self-confident assertions, and she refrained from making areply. Instead, she listened eagerly. Her fear that they were about to be confronted by the alleged lake monster had diminished, for the sounds, drawing nearer, had resolved them- selves into the unmistakable splash of oars, Yet the noise was faint, and it was plain that skillful bands were wielding the blades. ‘‘They may be the smugglers!” suggested Albia. ‘‘ Now you talk to the point. I had thought of that.” ‘‘ Who else would be out on the lake at this hour?” ‘‘T dont know. Watch and listen—they are almost here. I believe 1 can see them,” Eomic am,