Beadle's Dime Library No. 518 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

| Royal Richard, the Thoroughbred. SS SE A 23 et wouldn’t hev bin sech a onpleasant way ter ’a) cashed in.” ‘© Wot wouldn’t?’ grunted Yuba. ‘“‘Why, bein’ hugged ter death by thet crowd ¢ back thar, Tell ye w’ot, Dan Yuba, they is darned pice gals, both ov ’em.” ‘*Spruce es eny, I reckon,” was the dreamy response. ‘*Ya-as, I allow so; now, ef I war a bit ounger, an’ a mite harnsumer, Dan Yuba, d’ye a pa w’ot I’d do?” The squat Hercules looked up asif aroused from a reverie. ‘Wat's thet? mind reader, Pete Jenkins,” he said. know w’at /’d dol” ‘““ Wa-al,” drawled Jenkins, with a peculiar sparkle in his light blue eyes: ‘ wa-al, I’d jest sot my cap an’ do my purtiest ter capturvate one ov them gals—I w’w’d, by hokey!” ‘* You!” ejaculated Yuba, with a laugh that set the echoes ringing. ‘‘ Wa-al, Pard Pete, I was jest kalkilatin’ es how I’d do thet same thing!” Then Jenkins’s rollicking guffaw mingled with that of his friend, and a moment later the two halted at their destination—the Hidden- Hope Mine. All that marked the location of the treasure deposit was a strongly-built log house of two stories—the upper projecting about four feet on all sides—surrounded by a stockade, The house had been built on a plateau in the western side of the pass, and the face of an overhanging bluff formed the rear wall of the stockade. When the two plainsmen had gained the level of the plateau, they dismounted and seated themselves upon a bowlder to await the coming of the Mordaunts. ) But scarcely had they thus settled themselve into a comfortable position when the very spirit of unrest seemed to seize upon Long Pete, A moment, then his rifle swung to his shoulder. The report was followed by a yell of defiance far up the eastern slope of the pass, while a man was seen to spring from behind a small clump of bushes and dart into the recesses of an extensive thicket. ‘¢ A spy!” ejaculated Dan Yuba. ‘¢ Jest so—bin a-watchin’ him fur two minutes an’ a bhafe, He war thar fer no good, and sol aroppee him thet leetle hint ter vamose,” re¢ sponded Long Pete, ‘But hyar comes Jackson, an’ b’gosh! he looks skeery.” True enough; Jackson Mordaunt at that mo- | medt appeared on the plateau, looking pale and agitated, ) “ss A Goldite spy, boss,” uttered Dan Yuba, an- ticipating bis employer’s question, just_as the remainder of the party rode up. ‘‘He was prowlin’ along ther slope over thar ontil Pete invited him ter cl’ar out,” Mordaunt’s look of concern deepened. ‘+A Goldite spy!” be echoed, ‘* This matter is fast becoming serious, We must try to puta stop to the annoying espionage of these bandits.” ‘“ We'll talk ther matter over arter supper, pard,” said Long Pete. ‘* Yuba tells me thar’s acompany ov blue-coats sum’er’s in ther hills, an’ I reckon we kin find ’em, easy enuff.” ‘¢‘That is my idea, exactly,” Mordaunt aver- No, I don’t set up to be a “But I red. ‘‘ An’ ther wagons, boss—shell we leave ’em down in ther ?? asked Billy Mason. ‘Yes, for if Iam not mistaken we shall have occasion to use them again within a few days; but you may fetch up the horses and put a guard over the wagons until they have been un- loaded.” Tbe Mordaunts then rode into the stockade, where they turned their horses over to a miner who had been doing sentry duty during the ab- sence of his comrades. , Pauline and Nellie gazed at their strange sur- roundings with eager, curious eyes. The soli- dity of the stockade and the numerous loop- holes piercing the thick walls of the house gave the place a formidable look—possessed a signifi- cance not lost upon the quick-witted girls. ‘You must have expected unwelcome guests, papa, when you built this place,” Pauline ob- served. ‘We did,” returned Jackson Mordaunt; ‘ but we were happily disappointed until the Goldites made their appearance a few days ago. ‘* However, I trust that the interior of the place will be found as comfortable as the out- side is cheerless, The four of us have the en- tire establishment to ourselves, the boys pre- ferring a shelter of the tent, yonder, against | the bluff. | ‘‘ And the mine, Uncle Jackson—where is it?” ! asked Nellie. : ‘*We’ll have a look at it indue time, my dear. | . Let us first superintend the unpacking of the -_- wagons, for night is near at hand.” ‘‘ Where have you been, Madge, and you, Rube, during the four — that have elapsed since we so unexpectedly parted company in -- eadville#”? Old Duke Harpy asked, when the situation had been made known to him and he “had in a degree recovered bis equanimity. “Rather ask, where have I not been!” replied the Bandit Queen, a bitter smile curving her red lips, ‘‘From pillar to post, from bad to worse! has been my lot! ‘* But of all that, more anon, Let us be con- tent, for the present, with the fact that I have twenty bold followers at my back—fellows who, for my sake, will stand by the Brood of the Branded Viper, through thick and thin, to the bitter end.” ‘*Good!” exclaimed Old Harpy; ‘‘we may need ’em, ‘*And you, Rube—how has the world used you?” The gambler showed his teeth in a peculiar smile. *‘ Just now, as well as I could wish, though it has kept me down pretty thoroughly, as a gen- ak thing, since that Leadville fiasco,” he re- plied. ‘* But where have you and Ben come from?” ‘“We have just resigned positions of high trust and honor ina band of red robbers, that we might back you up in your clever impersona- tion of Dick Royale,” returned Old Duke Harpy, with an unctuous smile, Rube Harpy simply looked his amazement. ** Now, don’t look surprised, my dear boy,” cautioned Old Duke, leering villainously, ‘* we are onto your little scheme, and we’re going to hold our forces in reserve, to appear at the proper moment, ** In short, the Branded Viper herewith subor- dinates himself to you, with the sole reservation that his wrongs be fittingly avenged!” ‘‘ They shall be,” responded Rube, with a sar- donic smile, ‘‘ But may I ask where and how you came into possession of an outline of my plans?” ** Your pard, Dave Danton, gave the snap away last night to Ben, who, in turn, told me, ‘‘Danton? Curse him, he’s beyond baffling now!” hiss«d Rube. ** But what if Royale should turn up?” asked Madge, ‘* Such a thing is altogether out of question,” declared Rube. ‘* So we thought at Leadville; but—” ‘** He is dead, now. if I understand the matter,” interrupted Ben Harpy coolly. Madge started and turned pale, ‘* Dead!” she faltered, vainly striving to con- ceal her agitation, ‘* Rube—* ‘* He was killed up in Colorado,while attempt- ing to escape an arrest,” glibly interrupted the gambler, ‘‘ Getting possession of his papers, I assumed his name for the purpose of meeting the Mordaunts down bere, ‘** But is it possible, Madge, that you yet cling to that old passion for him?” Into the eyes of the Bandit Queen came a fierce gleam. “I still cling to it,” she replied, coldly and proudly. ‘* I shall always cling to it! It came to me unbidden; [ cannot drive it away!” ‘¢ We'll drop the subject,” said Old Duke Harpy, in a subdued voice, ‘‘ Heaven knows Madge has suffered enough without the probing of old wounds,” ** Yes, I have suffered,” admitted the Bandit (Queen; ‘‘suffered more than any one of you would be willing to believe; but now that Dick Royale is dead ends it all. ‘‘T am a changed woman—a woman with a mission! ‘* And that mission is revenge—revenge upon those who won my lover from me, then upon myself for having sought to wreck his happi- ness! ‘Good Lord! Madge, you must do nothing rash!” expostulated Old Duke Harpy, shivering with a nameless horror at the strange words of his beautiful but wicked daughter, ‘‘Nothing rash—certainly not!” returned Madge, her proud lip curling with contempt. **Rube, you may tell me your plans, and the Goldites will withdraw until they are wanted, ‘* First, See tell me if you have yet pre- sented yourself to the Mordaunts as Dick Royale? ‘** To all save Pauline, and to her indirectly,” replied the gambler, and he related his adven- ture at the motte immediately preceding the attack of the Apaches. ‘** Well, you will not be able to deceive her in regard to vour identity,” averred Madge, blunt- ly. ‘*Much as you resemble Dick Royale, she will detect the counterfeit at once, Remember that “. recognized you the moment you ap- ared, ‘* But I shall meet Pauline under far different circumstances,” promptly returned the gambler, ‘*‘T have studied the matter in all its bearings, and I flatter myself that I am cute enough to — the job to a successful issue. ‘* Then, too, if worse comes to worse, I still have left a fighting chance.” ‘* Provided you get clear.” “Trust me for that. I shall time my appear- ance so as to keep open an avenue of escape.” Old Duke Harpy shook his head dispar- agingly. ‘It is a big risk, Rube,” he observed. ‘‘ Better adopt another plan. Why, with Madge’s party we could capture the train almost without a stru ale. mp at’s °what,” declared Ben. Rube Harpy scowled darkly. ‘““T tell you it’s of no use to argue—it’s m job and must be done my way,” he exclaimed. ‘* Very well, then,” said Madge; ‘' T will with- draw with the Goldites to ourcamp. At any hour, day or night, that you may wish to com- munpicate with us you will find a man here in waiting.” The gambler, ungraciously enough, muttered his thanks, Within ten minutes the Goldites had retired, and he was alone, CHAPTER XXX, FROM BAD TO WORSE, THe trap in which Royal Ricbard, Big Dale and Dave Danton so unexpectedly found them- selves had been thoroughly planned, Not an avenue through which they might slip had been left unguarded, Not less than a score of frowning muzzles covered them, and at such close range that there wasn’t so much as a sem- blance of a fighting chance left. ‘‘ 1t’s no use, pards,” muttered the Red-Hand Sport to his companions, ‘* We are completely corked and about the only thing we can do is to yield with the best grace possible,” “That is a sensible speech, my man,” said the leader of the masked band. ‘ Just raise your hands. Orders are to take you dead or alive, but we don’t care to cheat the hangmaa.” ‘ He’ll get bis own soon enough, I reckon, if you attempt to remain long at this business,” was the cool retort, ‘*May I ask wbat you propose to do with us?” ‘Take you intocamp. Now, dry up; you'll have a chance to do all the talking you can find breath for, by and by. ; “a Disarm them, boys, and tie them hard and ust,’ The command was promptly obeved, Each wus bound to his saddle and effectually gagged. ‘*Now, forward, men, to the horses. We must report at once, forif | am not mistaken, this capture is an important one.” The men fell in with almost military precision it seemed to the three captives, and set forwar at a double-quick. Their objective point proved to be a dense growth of chaparral a fourth of a mile up the valley, forth from the recesses of which, at a signal from the Jeader, were brought a score horses. ** Mount!” then was the order given, and ina moment the cavalcade was pide tel on up the ~ valley at a pace that seemed reckless in the deepening twilight. e better part of an hour was thus con- sumed, and then the party halted in a magnifi- cent grove at the head of the valley. ‘* Steady, now, boys!” came the voice of the leader, ‘' Forward, at a walk.” Again the command pushed forward. Five—ten—fifteen minutes elapsed, then came the hail: ‘* Halt! who.comes there?” ‘** Friends,” ‘** Advance, one, with the countersign.” Two of the men rode forward. Scarcely had they vanished in the gloom when, at a word from the leader, the entire squad advanced, The Red-Hand Sport and his fellow-captives started with surprise, Before them, plainly revealed by a glowing camp-fire, were a number of men in the uniform of the United States Army. a pretty kettle of fish!” thought the detec- tive. ‘But what the upshot of it all will be, remains to be seen,” ‘*“ Ho, Lieutenant Brainard! As you return so soon, it must be with good news!” cried a fine-appearing young soldier in the uniform of a captain, advancing as the cavalcade halted, “Tt is, indeed, captain. My scout down the valley to-night was not without results—results which may be made to speak for themselves,” returned the leader of the squad. | ‘* Ah! you secured a captive?’ ‘* Three of them, captain—as desperate cut- he Sy I dare say, as are to be found in these ills. ‘*Ha! three, yousay! But proceed, Brainard; you may make a full report.” ‘* Six or seven miles down the valley below us, captain, we came upon a fresh wagon-trail, which at that point turned into a narrow pass leading north. ‘‘A few hundred yards below us the valley narrowed to a gorge, making a sharp curve, While making an examination of the trail, I had dispatched a sentry to that point, with the result that he discovered three men approach- ing. ‘Leaving our horses in the chaparral, we formed an ambuscade at the curve and captured the fellows, They are here, captain.” ‘You have, indeed, done well, Brainard,” ex- claimed the captain, in a pleased manner. *‘ Our chase of the Goldites bas heretofore been a will- te ‘o’-the-wisp affair, but now something tangible offers; for, by my sword! these fellows shall ij “Conduct them to my quarters, lieutenant, a es e¢om GEhooks,co