Beadle's Dime Library No. 518 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

~— Royal Richard, the Thoroughbred. I3 | ‘*We may count ourselves extremely for- tunate,” Mordaunt observed. ‘*McBuff had laid his plans most cunningly, and the escape of Jose placed our efforts at naught. Ishould bave tied the scoundrel to the wagon. It wasa glar- ing oversight, leaving him foot-loose.” ** An oversight that would have proved fatal to us but for the opportune arrival of .that dar- ing stranger,” said Pauline. ‘Royal Richard,” Nellie murmured, half aloud. ‘* With a little more than a simple trans- position, it becomes Richard Royale. Singular, isn’t it?” Roger Mordaunt started, glancing quickly at Pauline. ‘*It is, indeed, singular,” he returned, his hopes visibly excited, ‘‘ Could it have been Royale mas—” ‘** Utterly out of the question!” Pauline quiet- ly interposed, ‘‘Trust me to recognize Dick among ten thousand!” Nellie looked keenly at the face of her fair cousin, and as, she noted its fine expression a sound akin to a breath of relief fluttered from her lips. Faint as it was, it did not wholly escape Pauline. ‘“*“At any rate, he seemed possessed of con- siderable knowledge concerning Rugg McBuff,” pursued Nellie, coloring vividly as she caught a lance from Pauline. ‘‘ He addressed him as avid Danton—Desperate Dave.” ** Doubtless, the wretch is as well fixed as to names as was the fabled cat with lives,” sug- gested Roger Mordaunt. ** But, be that as it may, I can’t rid myself of the impression that we have not seen the last of our deliverer—that he is, in some mystic, in- tangible way, connected with Royale, ** And, in any event, we owe him far more than we shall likely ever be able to return.” ‘*] agree with you there,” avowed Pauline, and then the conversation drifted into other channels. The afternoon slowly wore away, the ap- proach of night bringing with it a feeling akin to dread. So lame had the horses become that the motte was not reached until long after the sun bad disappeared beyond the hills to the westward. The most fruitful source of alarm, however, was the continued absence of Long Pete Jenkins, Even Roger Mordaunt was forced to admit that the situation was one of extreme gravity. That the Apaches would attack the train dur- ing the night, was more than probable; it was almost an assured fact. All that could be done, however, was to fol- low implicitly the instructions Long Pete had given, Accordingly, the thiee wagons were drawn up in the form of a triangle, the horses securely picketed, and sentries posted, while the girls be- gan preparations for supper. An old soldier, Roger Mordaunt held firmly to the belief that one man well fed was worth two with their vital forces weakened by hunger. About an acre in extent, the motte occupied the crest of a slight elevation, the southern end of which was formed by the cverhanging bank of a narrow, but deep and slugyish stream—at once providing water for the party and prevent- ing an approach from that quarter. The three otoer sides sloped gradually downward from the edge of the timber to the level of the plain. Snowflake was posted at the northern edge of the motte, another negro at the eastern ex- tremity, and the third just within the border to the westward. : When Mordaunt and the girls had finished their supper, they relieved the negroes for half an hour, both Pauline and Nellie insisting on sharing the guard duty. This led to a further consideration of the question, and it was decided to divide the night into two watches—Mordaunt and the girls tak- ing the first, he and the three negroes the seccnd and more perilous. Accordingly, Roger Mordaunt assumed Snow- flake’s position, while Pauline and Nellie went to the west and east, respectively. Each was well armed, carrying, in addition to a pair of revolvers, a fine repeating rifle. ‘ _ It was not without a tremor that Pauline took up her beat, extending from the verge of the steep creek-bank to a point near the northern border of the motte. It was a peculiarly trying ordeal, one worthy a Spartan maid. But the camp must be guarded, and the negroes were not to be wholly trusted, just yet; for it was only too evident that they had not fully recovered from the effects of the drug ad- ministered by the two Mexicans, Jose Nalaja and Pedro Cermenta. Then, too, it served to turn her thoughts irto an entirely newchannel, For a time, she ceased to brood over the non-appearance of her plight- ed lover and to conjure up scenes of peril wher- in her father was the central figure. Her thoughts were of the grim present. Steadily, she walked back and forth, while the moon crept higher and higher in the heavens, its hazy yellow rays investing the night with a weird, mystic charm—a charm not in buman nature to withstand. So Pauline paced slowly to and fro, seat ares forgetting the environing danger, oming ouly dreamily conscious of her real purpose there. Thus two hours we by unheeded. Then came the awakening. A shadow fell athwart her path. Confronting her, his finger upon his lips to enjoin silence, stood Rugg McBuff! CHAPTER XVI. AN INTERRUPTED REVELATION. PAULINE MoORDAUNT recoiled sharply, her gray eyes filllng witha light akin to terror, her face blanching to an ashy pallor. Just an instant thus: then the glowin her clear orbs changed to the fiery sparkle of anger, while the red tide of intense indignation swept aside the pallor of throat and cheek, ‘Villain! go your way! Do not attempt to molest me!” she exclaimed, drawing 2 small revolver and slowly retreating until her back was against the tree. ‘* This cowardly persecu- tion must cease, now and here!” +s Girl” ‘*Not another step, if you would live, Rugg McBuff!” Clear, cold and hard, as if from lips of ice, the words rung forth, and McBuff shrunk back a pace, a pained look on his dark, handsome visage. Miss Mordaunt listen!” he exclaimed, calm- ly folding bis arms across his superb chest. ** Believe me, I mean todo you no harm, even by word or look! I am here to save you!” ‘*To save me?” repeated Pauline, scornfully. ** You save me? From what, pray?’ ‘*From a fate a hundred-fold worse than death!” was the earnest reply. ‘In the light of past events, it may seem incredible; but I swear, before the Great Judge of all men, that it is so! ‘* Listen: The train will be attacked to-night and destroyed. A strong force of renegade Apaches, led by old Death-Eagle, the Merciless, will surround the motte, creeping closer and closer in the tall grass of the prairie. When they strike, not a man will be spared. Roger Mordaunt’s outfit will be blotted from the face of the earth, You and your fair cousin will be carried away to endure a life-long captivity among the merciless red outlaws.” The color had gradually faded from Pauline’s face, and now a choking, gasping sort of outcry followed the words as an echo. She reeled, and would have fallen but for the friendly tree at her back. Yet, her dread of Ruge McBuff remained; the muzzle of her weapon did not swerve, A moment; then her trepidation vanished. It was as if the peculiar expression mantling the eager, handsome countenance of the desperado had acted as a tonic on her nerves, ‘““Why do you tell me this—you, who, per- haps, have prompted Death-Eagle to leave his mountain haunts to make the attack?’ she de- mandéd almost fiercely, her gray eyes sparkling vividly, the pallor creeping over her beautiful face deepening toa hue almost deathlike. ‘‘Is it a taunt—a part.of your wicked revenge?” * Pauline, you wrong me!” McBuff protested, a slight quiver noticeable in his voice, ‘ Be- lieve me, [ have nothing todo with Death-Eagle's contemplated attack. It is only by the merest chance that I am here—here in a position to help you, to do good once instead of evil. ‘*Years ago it lay in my power to save the life of Death-Eagle and his son, Three Bears, and I did it—more’s the pity! Since that time the chief has been outlawed from his tribe; he and his followers are to-day Ishmaelites, with- out friends, white or red, and a meaner gang of cut-throats never went unhung. ‘“‘This afternoon I fell into their clutches, Death would have been my lot but for the chief, who ordered my release and welcomed me to his camp. “ There I learned that your party was to be attacked to-night—that they had singled out your probable camp-ground and were lying in ambush there. **] then demanded of the chief life for life. He made a pretene of acceding to the demand, apres, that yourself and your cousin should e spared, but in reality not altering in the slightest his original design—to place you both in life-long capitivity. **So, when night came, I left the Apache camp, determined to seek you and put you on your guard—to save you from certain doom, if you would accept the service at my hands.” ** Por all of which I am deeply grateful,” said Pauline, slowly and SOnpet ately: ‘*Tt is not strange that you should doubt me,” McBuff resumed, fancying he could detect just a strain of sarcasm in the girl’s even tones. ‘**T have done enough to merit far more than mere suspicion, and yet it was done blindly, madly. : ** The story is too long for this time and this place; let it suffice, just now, that your father’s gold was the magnet that drew me on—up to a certain stage. ‘*Then I became possessed of a wilder, more alluring, ignis-fatuus sort of hope—a hope that might well have tempted me to Seaerambions | Have you an idea-what it was, Miss Mordaunt— Pauline?” The girl drew back just a trifle. There wasa glow in the dark eyes of the desperado she was not pleased to note, ‘‘ As we are utter strangers, Rugg McBuff, it is not to be expected that Ishould have any knowledge of the motives governing your ac- | tions,” she replied, coldly. **Only too true, Miss Mordaunt!” and the desperado inclined himself with great bumility, real or assumec. ‘‘ But I had hoped that you might see fit to make my way in the task before | me not altogether one of thorns, ‘“T bave sought you out to make a clean breast of it, and now I must speak plainly, even : at therisk of appearing brutal, ‘“*In a word, Miss Mordaunt, I loved you— shall always love you!” and McBuff’s voice grew faint and tremulous with emotion, ‘* If—” ‘* Fnough!” Pauline sternly interrupted. ‘* You | forget yourself! Isball hear no more, Go!” he words stung Rugg McBuff tothe quick. | The semblance of weakness vanished. With | flashing eyes he drew himself proudly erect. | ‘‘ Do not make a mistake, Miss Mordaunt!” he protested, coldly. ‘‘ l am not here to insult you, but to perform a duty—a duty to which | have : awakened only too tardily. ' ‘* You are overshadowed by a great peril—a peril beside which the Apaches fade into insig- nificance !” Pauline vouchsafed not a word in response, She simply stared at McBuff with eyes expres- sive of distrust and incredulity. She bad no fear of the desperado; her revolver covered him | and she was an expert in the use of the weapon. ' ‘* And the worst feature of it allis that I bave helped to create that peril,” pursued McBuff, | after a moment of intense silence. ‘In fact, I may say that I was one of the principals of the wicked scheme.” A scornful: smile appeared on the white face of the girl. | ‘That, at least, is worthy of credence,” she observed. Again McBuff inclined himself. " i am happy to know that you are willing to credit at least a portion of my statement!” he | exclaimed, bitterly. q ‘* But, irksome to you as is this interview, I | trust for your own sake you will hear me out, , ‘*T have sought you here to clear my record so faras you are concerned, to point out the pitfall I have helped to dig in your patb. ** Will you hear me?” ** Proceed!” McBuff bowed his thanks, then in a slow, — steady tone—a tone betraying calmness at | the cost of bitter effort—began his revelation, saying: ‘“*T am known as David Danton, a gambler and a desperado. It is not the name handed down froin father to son in by-gone generations of my family; but it will answer here, and bet- ter, perbaps, than the genuine article, inasmuch as it was under that title that I became in- volved in the merciless’ plot toaccomplish your | destruction. ; ‘*For some months past I have been closely associated with a bird of the same feather, known as Oscar Monshall, or ‘The Parson,’ but whose real name is Reuben Harpy.” ng Pauline started. ‘ “Reuben Harpy!” she exclaimed, the pupils Ay of her eyes dilating. ‘‘ Pray go on!’ ‘Our relative positions, may be pire up very briefly,” continued Danton, as the des- perado may better be called. ‘‘He was the superior villain, and where he led I followed—a sort of flunky, or henchman!” and he smiled _ ‘‘ Well, we were engaged in a line of business not strictly in accordance with the rules and ~ regulations laid down by Uncle Sam in his code, and, as a natural result, we became much se after; in brief, were hounded from place | to place by detectives, ‘ | “Tt was during one of these forced marches, _ | just as we were entering the gold-camp of Elephant Lode, Colorado, that vy Uber nap A Bs a letter addressed to‘ Richard Royale,Saguache, Colorado,’ and which seemed never to have been _ opened. 2 ‘‘That letter, Miss Mordaunt, had been writ- __ ten by you, and inclesed was a lengthy commu- nication from your father,dated inthe Mimbres on the 2d of Mareh.”_ . Pauline uttered a quick gasp of surprise. It was as if a flood of light bad been turned upon the strange occurrences of the past week. aaa “Go on—go on!” she exclaimed, huskily, trembling with a vague, indefinable fear, “ el me the worst, and have done with it!” : 4 ‘J ‘It is told only too soon, Pauline,” said Dan- ton, clinching his hands as if steeling himself for a crucial ordeal, ‘‘ Bitter black work fol- — lowed—and that I now would give half mylife ‘We were hard pushed and almost penniless, Learning that Royale wasin the camp, andflush, we determined to relieve him of hismoney, by jm - \ 4 - , a <_ - ‘ a 4 fair means or foul, The fact that he was py’s cousin bad no weight in the matter—unless | it was to simplify it! ee ‘* Let it suffice that we accomplished our end, | Pj Eomiecbooks { com.