Beadle's Dime Library No. 518 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

“crooked paths. 22 ** For he had us in a tight box—crowded to | the wall—and it was almost his life or ours. ‘* Monshall had obtained possession of a letter from Miss Pauline Mordaunt to Royale, detail- ing the discovery of the Hidden-Hope Mine, and telling of its wonderful richness; and it was while we were reading this letter and formulat- ing a scheme to obtain possession of the mine that we were surprised by Royale, ‘*He had crept up behind a great bowlder |: lying near the verge of a precipice, and bad the drop on us when we discovered his presence. ** Desperate, caught like rats in a trap, what more natnral than to show fight? **'We had but one revolver between us, and Monsball carried that—unknown to me. An exchange of shots followed, and Royale went down behind the bowlder.” “T cain’t see but ye'’re guilty!” interrupted Big Dale, at that point, ‘‘Ter my mind, ye war jest as much a party ter ther murder as ef ye’d ’a’ hed a dozen we’pins!” ‘*But there was no murder!” protested Dan- ton, with intense earnestness, ‘* Roycle was not killed !” Big Dale turned yet paler. “Git out!” he ejaculated, in strains scarcely above a whisper, ‘‘It is a gospel fact!” Danton asseverated. **T pushed around the bowlder to note the effect of the shot. Royale was lying on his back, at the verge of the cliff, insensible, having received an ugly scalp-wound. ‘*No matter as to my first impulse—a touch of my foot would have sent him to the rocks three bundred feet belcw! Strange as it may seem, I took him from his perilous position, lacing him in the shadow of the overhanging owlder, then, with one of his revolvers, re- returned to Monshall, stating that Royale had gone over the cliff, and that I had found the weapon on the verge.” ‘“* Pardner, thet aire a purty tough yarn,” re- marked Big Dale, as Danton paused, “‘It may seem almost incredible,” the des- perade admitted; ‘‘ but it is as near the exact truth as I can put it. ‘*To resume: Monshall, whose real name is Harpy—Rube Harpy—and who is really a cousin of Royale, and to all appearances his exact counterpart, on being told that Royale ‘was dead, at once decided to adopt the scheme he had bad in view. ‘*So he took the name of Richard Royale and left Colorade for New Mexico, determined to »aJm himself off on the Mordaunts, marry Miss aulme, and eventually secure possession of the fabulous mine. ‘* We were hand-in-glove in the matter, until the persistent attentions of this Brazzleton, thie Red-Hand Sport, brought about a difference of opinion, which eventuated in an open rupture. **Monshall, or Harpy, went his way, and I went mine—he to carry out his original plot, I to capture the two girls and hold them for ransom, “In this, I was baffled by Brazzleton, the Red-Hand Sport,” and Danton recounted briefly his adventures, from the attack by himself and the two Mexicans upon the Mordaunt party, up to his meeting with Big Dale. ‘An’ ye kalkilate ter go back ter Colorado and find Royale?’ the latter asked, after a moment’s silence, ‘¢ There is where I’m bound,” was the reply. ‘* Tt is as much as my life is worth to proceed single-handed, for between the three Harpies on one side and the Red-Hand Sport on the other, my chances would be just about nil.” ‘ Thet’s yer move,” readily agreed Big Dale. **Tn fact, ’m goiw’ with ye!” You!” ejaculated Danton. **T’m ther hairpin,” was the laconic response, **Good!” and a flush of hopefulness came into the desperado’s face. ‘*‘The Red-Hand Sport can hold Harpy level uncil we return,” *’ He jest kin,” supplemented Dale; ‘‘ and two kin find at he quicker nor one. ** Now, Pll jest call up my hoss, and ef ye’ll give mea light we'll git back ter ther motte whar ther party camped last night, fer I need a little fixin’ up. ‘* Mind ye, pardy, I’m tryin’ jest es much es I know how ter b’leeve ye, an’ [m a-goin’ ter trust ye jest es fures I kin, fer ye look derned honest, jest now, ‘*Ef 1 find thet ye hev bin chuckin’ a cobweb at me, howsumever, or ef ye tries ter play double with me, why [Pll crack yer purty white neck—jest es surees I’m goin’ ter crack Rube Harpy’s one ov these days! Ye hear me, now!” Danton nodded, saying: ** No danger of either, old man; I’m done with If I pull through this job, ’m going straight home. I’ve an old mother down Little Rhody.” **Good enough! Ef thet’s yer trail, we’re straight out pards till the round-up ov ther Harpy herd. Yer hand on’t!” CHAPTER XXVIII, A CHANGE OF PLANS. PLACING his fingers to his lips, Big Dale Keith uttered a shrill whistle, whereupon horse arose from the tall grass a few rods to the south and cantered to his side. ee CS ‘** Now thar’s a critter as kin be depended on,” exclaimed the plainsman, as he slowly scrambled out of the shallow grave. ‘‘Naixt ter Pete Jenkins an’ Dan Yuba, that hoss aire the truest critter top ov sod! ‘Now, pard, jest give me a leetle h’ist to’ard ther saddle. I’m powerful weak, lam, Seems as ef ther dirty cuss hed let daylight clar through me,” Danton gave the required assistance, and then the two rode slowly across the plain toward the timber clump. On the way, Big Dale related his adventure with the Red-Hand Sport, telling how he had been ambushed later on, shot from the saddle and buried as dead, ‘*Ther bullet come from thet Harpy, too, fer by ther flash ov his we’pin I sighted bis face off in ther grass,” he declared. ‘An’ ef ther hoss hadn’t shied, thet grave back thar would ‘a’ an- swerel fer ull time, too! ‘*But Harpy overreached hisself. I s’pose I hed fainted, an’ he jest planted me fer dead. It wa’n’t a ginooine plantin’, uther, else 1’d ‘a’ staid thar fer keeps, but jest a loose permise’us kiver- in’, piled on in a hurry, an’ at ther fu’st move I jist poked my head right through ther roof ov my sepulcher. “Dern ’im enyway, fer a sneakin’ kiote! I’m ’most sorry I promised Brazzleton ter keep my hands off!” ‘I’m under no such promise,”’ said Danton, with a grim smile, ‘“‘Maybe I'll get a good square chance at him one of these days, with no advantage on either side,” Arrived at the motte, the two men halted at the spot where Mordaunt’s three wagons had been drawn into a triangle. ‘* Look a leetle out, pard!” exclaimed Big Dale, warily, as they were preparing to dismount, ‘*T see three or four hosses out there, to’ard ther plain. Likely we ain’t the only ones in the tim- ‘* We'll scout forward a bit,” suggestsd Dan- ton, ‘‘It may be reds, or itmay be some of Mordaunt’s folks,” ‘‘Or jest stray critters,” Dale said. ‘‘ Least- ways, they ain’t picketed.” he move was duly accomplished, and the last supposition found to be correct. Three horses all Jame and travel-worn, were grazing just with- in the bounds of the timber. ‘*But I glimpsed a fourth,” remarked the plainsman, peering into the bushes, ‘‘ Oh, thar’s ther critter!” True enough; and at that juncture the animal in question walked slowly out into the open. A cry of surprise came from Big Dale, to be caught up and echoed by Danton, Bound to the back of the horse, Mazeppa-like, was a oan! And that man, as was to be seen at a glance, was the Red-Hand Sport. His face bore upon it the hue of death, and his form seemed cold and rigid. ‘*Good Lord!” ejaculated Big Dale; ‘‘it is a corpse—the corpse of Dick Brazzleton.” ‘* [t certainly is the Red-Hand Sport,” Danton affirmed, riding forward. ‘‘ But it remains to pe seen whether he is dead. For my own part, I incline to the belief that there is yet life in him, ‘‘He has fallen into the hands of Harpy’s Apache outlaws, been bound thus to his horse, and then, accidentally or otherwise, has taken the ride of a parm 6 ‘*In any event, he has fared roughly, and our first duty is to look to bim,” ‘¢ Ef thar’s a chaince, sail in,” exclaimed Big Dale. ‘*Es fur es I’m consarned, all I’m able ter do is ter look arter ther hosses, Ther real work falls ter you.” A brief examination convinced Danton that his first surmise, at least, was correct. The Red-Hand Sport was simply unconscious. ‘* He’s had a rougher experience than I’d care to undergo,” the desperado remarked, as he bent over the detective afew minutes later. ‘‘ Blessed if his wrists and his ankles aren’t as raw as an egg, not to mention a network of bruises ancl scratches extending from his head to his heels.” A faint smile wreathed the pallid face of the Red-Hand Sport, and his eyes suddenly opened. ** You areright, Danton. I have fared rough- ly since we parted over there in the hills,” he eclared in a low tone. ‘* The Apacbes were too much for me—capturing me at the very mo- ment [ reached my horse.” And that was all either said just then. The two wounded men were speedily made as comfortable as possible, and then it was decided to take an hour’s rest in the motte. During that time a general gy ing Siem haha secured, as a result of which the Red-Hand Sport, singularly enough, promptly announced a determination not to put Danton under ar- rest. “Tf certainly believe your arts of the at- tempted assassination of Royale,” he declared. ‘* In fact, I may say that I now possess proof that you have told the exact trut your connection with that affair, ‘““T may go even further: I may say that Royale is alive—that he is in the immediate vicinity, and that he will confront Rube Harpy before that worthy is many hours older!” . ben. sitive as to ¢ ¥ fe - eg! vi Pe | ; ’ ~ +i: Be eweahtten’ she PMA del t 6 aor are “ " = F ee OF i a = 'ied4 OO a Danton and Big Dale exchanged a glance of amazement. ‘* Ye war mistaken, then, last night?’ asked a lainsman, ‘* Ye know, ye said Royale war ead, ‘*T was laboring under a delusion.” ‘* Hev ye see’d him?” ** Yes, and no—that is, I have seen that I was mistaken,” “ A question seemed to be trembling upon the lips of Dunton; but he repressed it, and witha peculiar gleam in bis eye he moved forward and extended his band. ‘*T am glad to hear that, Brazzleton,” he said, his voice fraught with significance, ‘‘ It saves me that trip to Colorado, for I suppose Royale will turn up—when he is wanted !” ‘*It is to be expected tbat be will,” admitted — Red-Hand Sport, accepting the proffered and, ** And you say Pauline Mordaunt escaped, or was rescued, Danton?” ‘* Yes, sir; she was with two of the scouts be- longing to the Mordaunt outfit at the time of Harpy’s attempt to kill me,” ‘They war Jenkins an’ Dan Yuba, pard,” averred Big Dale, who, for a few minutes past, had seemed wholly at sea, ‘' Ye kin ’pend on thet, fer ther descripsbun will fit no other two men in ther Territory, ‘* But see hyar, pards. hedn’t we better decide w’ot we're goin’ ter do? I think I kin stand ther saddle, ef we take it slow an’ easy a leetle ays, P. We'll follow the wagon-trail,” answered Royal Richard, derisively. ‘* Thesooner we are off the better, too.” In due time the three were in the saddle, fol- lowing the plainly-marked trail at an easy speed. Big Dale rode with grimly-compressed lips, for his wound was painful, theugh not dangerous. Not once during the afternoon did he speak un- less directly addressed. As for Royal Richard, the torture be suffered must have been excruciating; but, if so, he en- dured it without a groan—even lightly. aaa found the three well back in the foot- ills, “We're within a few miles ov ther Hidden Hope,” said Dale, in reply to a question from the Red-Hand Sport. ‘‘It’ll take less’n an hour ter make ther riffle.” ‘¢ The wagons are not far in advance of us,” observed Danton. ‘‘The trail has_ steadily freshened.” ‘*They hev reached the mine afore now,” Dale averred, Just at that point the valley narrowed and made a sharp curve to the northward; and as the trio sweptswiftly around the angle thus formed, forth from the deepening sbadows of the rocks on either side darted a file of men, masked and armed, blocking the way with their leveled rifles. ‘‘ Halt!” commanded a tall fellow, visibly the leader of the party, as he took a position a few paces in advance of the line. ‘‘ Halt! You are prisoners, my fine birds, for escape you can- not!” ‘* By heavens, he speaks the truth!” the Red- Hand sport exclaimed, casting a glance over bis shoulder. ‘* We are completely hemmed in!” A muttered curse from his companions at- tested their appreciation of the fact, CHAPTER XXIX, AT THE MINE—THE BROOD IN COUNCIL, THE reunion of the Mordaunts was a most happy one, and Long Pete and Yuba, despite their efforts to escape at the last moment, came in for a full share of affectionate attention, for their part in bringing about the sudden transi- tion from gicom to gladness was such as not to be overlooked, even at that moment, by Jack- son and Roger Mordaunt and their daughters. ‘*We owe more than life to you, Pete Jen- kins, and you, Dan Yuba,” warmly avowed Jackson, as, with Pauline, he turned to the two frontiersmen. ‘‘ As, indeed, do we,” Roger declared, as he and Nellie pressed forward, ‘‘Such a debt as you have placed upon us is one that we can never pay. Our only resource is to offer you the widest measure of affection and esteem.” ““T declar’, folks, ze kinder flustrate me—ye do now,” exclaimed Long Pete, laughingly. ‘* Hey, Dan?” ‘“‘Hain’t felt so mean fer twenty year,” averred the squat Hercules, retreating in con- fusion. ‘‘ Ther fact is, folks, we hain’t done eny more fer ye then the law allows, I reckon,” pursued Long Pete. ‘‘ Ye see, sech doin’s as we hev bed lately don’t count fer much witb Dan an’ me, an’ ef ye'll jest let the matter drop we'll burry up ter ther mine an’ hev a bite ter eat, for I c’u’d eat a wolf, ’'m so poy it fe ‘‘But hyar’s ther jedge, Blue Dan an’ Billy Mason, jest a-dyin’ ter take ye by ther hand.” , The men alluded to at that moment stepped forward, while Long Pete and Yuba turned and rode on up the pass. ‘‘Pard, that war a narrer escape,” ejaculated the Giant Ranger, glancing over his shoulder. ‘‘’Paches warn’t a sarcumstance; but, arter all, com par -qR ne ~“—t,. me ae | Ebooks.com