Beadle's Dime Library No. 518 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

ee Royal Richard, the Thoroughbred. rc 19 a mighty heap ter tell ye, then! All good—too good ter keep!” Jenkins led the way, Pauline following with all the stealth she could command, Keeping as far in the shadows as possible, they skirted the encampment until they bad reached the low cliff whereon was perched Dan ‘Yuba. A slight noise in the undergrowth checked the signal the giant was about to utter. : A single piercing glance in that direction, and the origin of the sound was revealed. Within less than a dozen paces was a prowl- ing Apache. ** Keep back!” breathed Long Pete, gently pushing Pauline against the cliff. ‘* We'll be shut ov bim in a minute.” Tne words were surely prophetic, for scarcely . had they been uttered when a shrill signal rung out a short distance away. Ben Harpy had recalled his red scouts. ‘‘ Thank fortune, I’m saved from thet leetle tussle” muttered Jenkins, sheathing his knife as the prowling Apache glided toward the lodges. ; ‘All quiet below?’ came the voice of Dan Yuba, low-toned and cautious, ** All quiet, Dan,” returned Long Pete. ‘‘ Drop us yer lariat, an’ pull away easy like, fer ye’ve a dainty cargo!” The squat Hercules complied, and within a few minutes the happy trio were on their way to the point at which the horses had been left. ‘‘Hark!” exclaimed Jenkins, as a medley of sounds arose in the Apache camp, ‘‘I kalkilate ther reptilians hev diskivered thet ther bird hes flown!’ ‘* Are we in no danger?” queried I’auline. ‘““From back thar, no; thar may be a few red-skins scattered thro’ the bill, but we’re not like ter run ag’in’ ’em,” returned Jenkins. ‘* Yuba be pilotin’ us straight fer ther horses; an’ ef we find them all right, we may laugh et all the ’Paches in ther Mimbres, ‘¢ An’ now, Miss Pauline, let me tell ye thet both yer father an’ yer lover, Dick Royale, aire at ther train.” ‘‘Thank heaven! papa is safe!” ejaculated Pauline. ‘ But tell me, Mr. Jenkins, was Dick hurt in the fight at the camp?” ‘* Not a scratch,” was the prompt avowal. ‘‘In fact, yer folkses warn’t burt in ther least. They beat off ther *Paches in Bob-royal style!” Long Pete then narrated the adventures at- tending his scout toward Dead-Tree Knob, Pau- line listening attentively, and in return re- counting all that passed during his absence. Great was the wrath of the giant guide at the treachery of Jose and Pedro. ‘Powder an’ lead war too good fer ’em!” he asseverated. ‘* They desarved bangin’! ‘‘ But wouldn’t I like ter meet thet Red-Hand Sport! It’s wu’th a year ov eny man’s life ter cross hands with a chap like that ! ‘* An’ even McBuff, ther dandy blacklaig, de- sarves sum credit fer at last showing up better color. Id never ’a’ thought et ov him!” And thus conversing, with Dan Yuba several paces in advance, the party pushed forward making fairly good progress, until the sheen o the moon gave way to the radiance of the sun. ‘* We'll head straight fer ther Hidden Hope,” said Jenkins, when they had secured the horses. ‘“‘ Ther train is now on ther wa thar, an’ likely we'll fall in with it fore many hours.” So they mounted and set forward, Yuba leading the extra horse. At the expiration of an hour, they found them- selves in a smail, densely-wooded glade, through which coursed a stream of good water. Here they decided to halt and take breakfast from the contents of Yuba’s lunch-bag. Accordingly the horses were watered and picketed for a fifteen-minute graze, after which the two plainsmen and their protegee proceeded to break their fast. Scarcely had they finished, when they were startled by heavy footfalls in the undergrowth, and the next minute Dave Danton broke into the glade. W hat a figure the desperado presented! His once natty attire rent into ribbons, his face and hands torn and bleeding, hatless, his hair disheveled, his eyes half-closed and blood- shot, he looked the incarnation ¢ f distress, One quick, wild look at the startled group confronting him, then with a choking sort of cry he flung himself upon the ground at Pau- line’s feet, his hands lifted imploringly. ‘* Listen!” he cried, his voice boarse and strained; *‘ you must hear what I have to say! Naught but Fate itself could have thus brought us together! * Dick Royal is— *“* Great God—too late !” Following close upon the hiatus came the wild shriek—the cravk of a revolver, and the luckless desperado toppled over—to all appear- ances lifeless. / “‘Quick, Dan! Thar’s reds in ther bush!” ex- claimed Long Pete, his practiced eve detecting the faint wreath of white smoke marking the position of the author of the dastard| ‘Cut loose ther hosses! ther extra!” A lively scramble—a rush—and Pauline was shot. Three’s enuff—darn TTT TT EL TT TT TET LT ' fairly tossed into the saddle; just a breath, then Turning into this valley, he rode forward for the two pards and their fair charge dashed out | perhaps a mile, then sought the shelter of a of the glade, and away across the plain. CHAPTER XXIV. QUEEN MADGE OF THE MIMBRES BANDITS. WHEN the pretended Dick Royale rode away gloomy pass, where he dismounted and tethered his horse, He then took a closer look at his surround- ings. Phe place certainly seemed to afford the cov- from the Mordaunt train, the action was not | eted seclusion. taken without a well-defined pxrpose. First of all, he wanted to be to himself for a few hours, for he felt that to keep up the part he haa assumed, he must do some tall thinking. Yet, scarcely had the pseudo-Royale con- cluded his survey, when he was startled by a hoarse voice just behind him—a voice saying: ‘*Hands up, sport! Touch a tool and you Then, too, chance might lead him across tbe | die!” path of Danton, or of the Red-Hand Sport—two Even as he wheeled, the pretender complied men so thoroughly inimical to his scheme as to | with the pointed request; his eyes were aflame, excite his deadliest animoslty. however, with a light that boded ill to some- As to an attempt to rescue Pauline from the | body! clutches of the renegade Apaches, nothing was Confronting him, at a distance of three paces, so far removed from the thoughts of tne despe- | was a man—a tall, brawny, deep-chested fel- rate adventurer, Long Pete and Dan Yuba should have the field in that direction. | He was quite willing that | low. It required no glance at the masked face—at. the leveled ‘‘six”—to confirm the suspicions So he rode along, mile after mile, following | aroused by the hail. the line of the foot-hills, busy with his thoughts, yet on the alert. Some ten or twelve miles north of the Lone Timber, his course led him into the self-same glade in which Jenkins and his companions, Jater by a few hours, halted for breakfast. “Tt is a capital spot, and here I may as well rest until I bave studied it out,” mused the des- perado, drawing rein and narrowly surveying his surroundings. ‘‘No danger of a surprise here, if a fellow takes the commonest precau- tions.” Dismounting, he sought a snug retreat for his horse, then wrapped himself in his poncho and sat down to meditate, his back to a tree, his pipe between his lips. or a time, thought followed thought with feverish rapidity; his pipe burned out, and then, ere he was aware of the approach of its van- guards, slumber claimed him. A stray sunbeam, falling athwart his face awakened him. A moment he stared around with keen, suspicious eyes, then started sharply as a ripple of laughter penetrated the leafy covert. Throwing aside the poncho, he gained his feet with a bound, ‘* A woman, by all that’s handsome!” he mut- tered. ‘* The question is, who can the fair in- truder be?” And drawing his revolver, he glided forward, threading the mazes of the thicket with the stealth of an Indian. Such a scene as was presented to his wolfish gaze! ~ Scarcely a rod before him, standing between her gallant rescuers, was the fair Pauline Mor- daunt. Eagerly, yet steadily, the pretender gazed at the face of the beautiful girl, an evil light in his dark orbs, ‘*She is worth the risk a thousandfold!” he thought, catching his breath hard, ‘‘ And I will win her, too, come what may!” A moment more, and then Dave Danton erashed into view, a wild, hunted look on his bloody face, casting himselt entreatingly at the feet of Pauline. Royale’s face grew hard and cold; his hand crept up until his revolver was in line with Danton’s head. ‘Tf he attempts to reveal even so much as a word, be dies!” he gritted. ‘“‘Curse him! I warned him not to play the traitor!” Danton’s lips moved; he spoke, At the same instant, as if by some fatal instinct warned of his impending doom, he turned his bead; his eyes encountered the luridly-gleaming orbs of his foe, A shriek of dismay, a shot, and, without waiting to note the result of bisdastardlv work, the assassin turned and glided swiftly into the depths of the thicket. Not until he had reached his borse did he pre- tend to pause, and then only long enough to throw on the saddle, sever the picket-rope, and mount. “T[ must get out of this,” he muttered, witha savage thrust of his spurs urging his horse to- ward the adjacent foot-hbills. ‘* It would never do for these fellows to get even so much as a glimpse of me.” Gaining the coveted shelter, he halted and listened. Not a sound indicative of pursuit reached his ears. ‘““That job is done, and well done,” he mut- tered, grimly. ‘“ And I think I shall be able to patch up a tale to suit my beautiful Pauline. I have overheard enough to give me the points.” Turning north, he pushed slowly through the fine timber skirting the foot-hills, It was not his intention to proceed far in that direction. ‘*1 willseek a safe retreat afew miles fur- ther on, and thence join the train during the afternoon,” he mused. ‘‘In the mean time, the hours may be very profitably employed in put- ting together a narrative of tbis venture.” An hour passed, and then he came upon just such a spot as he had heen seeking—a narrow valley, running back among the bills, the sides at times steep and lofty, but — slopin sharply, and covered with a dense, chaparral- like growth, ee eee Ee ee ltt ‘CL The fellow was an outlaw—a road-agent. ‘* Well, what do you want?’ demanded Roy- ale, as much in contempt as aught else. ** Your money—your valuables; so shell out,’” was the terse reply. ‘*The why and the wherefore of which?” sneer- ed the pretender. The outlaw guffawed loudly. ** You are deuced particular, it seems to me!’” he exclaimed, in the hoarse tones evidently as- sumed to disguise his natural voice. “ But if vue must know, I suppose I shall have to ex- plain. ** You see, you have invaded the domain of good Queen Madge, of the Mimbres Bandits, and so must pay the tax invariably imposed upon such temerity. ** And if that isn’t explanation enough, I’ve a. number of diagrams right here that may be had for jest a leetle less than the asking.” And the masked road-agent significantly placed his left forefinger upon the steel cylinder of his leveled ‘* six.” ‘Thank you—no! I comprehend the situa- tion!” exclaimed Royale, grimly. ** But isn’t this pretty tough lines on a fellow- professional?” «The road-agent seemed a trifle staggered at. this bit of assurance. A semi-audible titter ran along the line of busbes just in his rear. ‘* Permit me to relieve you, Morales,” inter- posed a rich, mellow voice, plainly that of a. woman, and forth from the covert glided the speaker. Startled before, Royale was now astounded. Before him was Queen Madge, of the Moun- tain Bandits, A woman of superb form, set off to splendid advantage by her huntress costume of plain black cloth, and a jaunty bat with waving plumes. She was armed, too, for in the broad silver sash serving as a girdle, were thrust a pair of splendid tools as the heart of brigand could wi for. Her face, like that of her lieutenant, was con- cealed by the folds of asable mask; but through. the eyelets gleamed a ne of magnificent black orbs—orbs that could be ness or flash fires infernal. ‘* You may retire, Morales, and leave me to deal with the man,” she said, quietly, but in de- cisive tones. ‘ His face strikes me as being not only familiar, but as one friendly to our cause,” ‘* Certainly, my queen, if such is your wish,” and inclining himself profoundly, the road- agent retreated to the covert. melting in their tender- _ ‘‘And you may come with me,” continued — the chieftainess, turning to the amazed pre- tender. ‘‘Inasmuch as you are covered by a score of my followers, you will elo’ | deem it advisable to succumb with the best grace pos- sible.” ‘“ Lead, lady, and I will follow,” returned Royale, with a slight bow. “This distance will suffice,” averred Queen Madge, halting at the point twenty-five or pak paces from that at which she had ap- r ** May I ask your name?” ‘“‘ Assuredly, madam; but don’t you gamble on the returns, In this section a variety in the way of handles seems to be a popular craze. Pve known several plain John Smiths to turn up in a camp fifty miles distant with such ornate cognomens as Necktie Nick, Ikey, the Rustler, and so ou, grown onto ’em in less than a week, ‘* But I don’t mind telling you that just now I’m called Algernon Fitzgibbon Vincent. ‘There, now! it’s out! Don’t you think the handle a pretty one?” - Tbe woman laughed outright. “Pretty enough,” she answered, suddenly flinging off her mask; ‘“‘but it is hardly as forcible as plain Rube Harpy used to be!” A moment the pretender stared hard at the strangely beautlful face thus revealed—started at the swift, impetuous words, his expression changing to one of profound incredulity. “* Madge?” “Yes, brother—Madge Harpy!” A brief spell of intense silence. ~ — ES ee CS = ————————— SS Ay Ag S.C icomiicboo by yy r hen their - * @ | | \ "| ‘a> rs