Beadle's Dime Library No. 518 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

7 = ee 2 ot 3a Royal Richard, the Thoroughbred. + ee The evening was a delightful one, and the moon, rising in the purple eastern sky, flooded the plateau with light, For a time the girls, arm in arm, walked to and fro in silence. Each was busy with her thoughts, but with a common subject. ‘‘ Pauline,” began Nellie, at last, with visible hesitancy— ‘* Pauline, may I ask if you saw Dick Royale at the camp lasé night?” ‘*] did, Nellie,’ was the low-toned reply. ‘‘ But that was all—just a glimpse; and then I fainted, and was carried away by the Apaches.” ‘‘ But were you sure it was Dick?” ** Why do you ask?” Pauline paused as she put the counter-query, the flush in her cheek giving way to pallor. Dave Danton’s interrupted revelations came back to her with startling force. Nellie, too, changed color. She was about to reply, when a burst of distant war-whoops checked the words, A tall, lank form arose from a rude bench near the stockade-gate, and rifle in hand passed out to the open plateau. It was Long Pete Jenkins. A moment later, and he was joined by Dan Yuba, ‘‘ Pard,” uttered the gangling giant, lifting his head from a listening attitude, ‘‘ I kalkilate thar be sum one comin’ up ther pass. Le’s slip down an’ see.” Accordingly, they hurried to the bottom of the declivity and sought shelter in the shadowy undergrowth. Not a minute too soon, A horseman dashed furiously up the pass and halted beside the empty wagons. “It be thet Royale feller, Pete,” muttered Yuba, as the rider turned his head so that the moonbeams crossed his face. ‘Ye bet!” ejaculated Jenkins, springing from his covert. ‘“‘This way, pard, ef ye be lookin’ fer ther camp.” . The pretender, with a start of surprise, turned and came forward. ‘Up thar,” tersely continued Jenkins, point- ing to the steep and narrow roadway. ‘Thar be red-skins down ther pass?” ‘*Yes—somewhere near its mouth, been hard pushed.” The plainsmen resumed their places among the bushes. Hardly had Rube Harpy gained the plateau when two men glided into view from down the pass. There could be no mistaking the burly form and rugged features of the one iu advance, Dan Yuba started so sharply as to betray their exact pos-tion, ‘‘ Heavings, pard!” he exclaimed in a hollow voice, clutching at Long Pete’s arm, ‘“ Jt’s Big Dale, or his ghost !” Uttering a cry of delight, Jenkins broke away and sprung forward to be followed a moment later by Yuba. As the three met and clasped hands, a perfect torreat of ejaculations poured from each. ‘‘No, [ hain’t dead,” avowed Big Dala, for perhaps the twentieth time; ‘* but I soon will be, ef you galoots don’t let up!” In the mean time, within the stockade above, Pauline and Nellie had watched with deep in- terest the preparations to meet the Apaches in the event of an attack, Their interrupted conversation was for the time forgotten. In the midst of the activity occasioned by the alarm, a mau slipped in at the open gateway, and, after a searching look at his surroundings, strode rapidly toward the two girls. Not until he confronted them with out- stretched hands did either notice his approach, “* Pauline |” In suppressed, yet musical tones the name fell from his lips. ‘‘ It is he!” exclaimed Nellie, starting back. Pauline voucbsafed not a word in response, Her gray eyes fixed themselves upon his eager, handsome face in a sort of wondering stare. ‘Pauline, do you know me?” ‘6 { do!” was the coldly uttered reply. ‘* You are Reuben Harpy! | q “Go!” and she pointed imperiously to the open gateway, PThe. araier drew back as if stabbed, A dull, leaden hue came over his face, an ominous light into his eyes. ‘ ‘* Most assuredly will I go, Pauline Mor- daunt!” he began, enunciating the words with the greatest difficulty, so overpowering was his rage, his chagrin. ‘But I shall return, and ou— ‘* Ye dirty cuss !* grated a hoarse voice in his ear, as a heavy hand dropped upon his shoulder, “Dye know me? ITve cheated the grave fer a chaince at ye, an’ won!” For just a breath the entrapped desperado seemed to have lost his nerve. He quivered and trembled under the weight of the avenging band asif utterly cowed. Then—asif a current charged with daring, with recklessness, had been infused into his veins—he turned in bis tracks, throwing off the heavy hand as slightly as if it possessed but a feather’s weight! I have A lightning-like succession of terrific blows— |. a ringing yell of defiance, and he darted toward the gate, a cocked revolver in each hand, leaving Big Dale, Long Pete and Dan Yuba in a be- wildered, struggling heap! CHAPTER XXXII. IN THE GOLDITE CAMP. It was not without a feeling akin to despair that bold Royal Richard retreated, after the _ mishap to bis house, into the growth of young trees and bushes extending along the southern side of the narrow valley. It was painfully evident to him that in his condition he stood scarcely one chance in twenty of eluding the wary and wily Apaches, But that chance, desperate as it was, was not to be lost, and as Big Dale and Dave Danton spurred toward the pass be disappeared with a suddenness that fairly startled the over-confident red-skins, ‘*T must get up into the hills, or J shall go under,” he gritted, as a burstof yells at the edge of the growth apprised him of swift pursuit. ** My only chance is to find cover.” Keeping up the valley, he glided through the bushes until he reached the entrance of a dark gorge extending back into the hills, into which he plunged without hesitation. At that moment the Apaches were not far in his rear, as was evidenced by their frequent signals, A few hundred feet above the valley, Royal Richard left the gorge, cantiously clambering up one of the sharply-sloping banks to a more gradual ascent, F The effort cost him not only the keenest agony, but complete exhaustion. But the ascent bad been accomplished with all the stealth the situation so urgently demand- ed, and the sport had the satisfaction of hearing his pursuers glide by in the darkness, As soon as he had, in a measure, regained his strength, he again set forward, laying his course toward the upper hills and keeping in the shadows as far as possible, A few minutes sufficed to bring him to the bor- ders of a spleadidly wooded plateau. There bis progress was arrested in a manner as startling as unsuspected. Forth from the shelter afforded by the trunks of tbe trees darted three men, brawny, well- armed fellows, roughly dressed and of sinister aspect, heir faces were hidden by masks of some dark stuff, but it was evident to Royal Richard that they cared very little whether or not their identity was discovered. ‘* Upon him, pards!” exclaimed the one in ad- vance. ‘‘Take him alive. He is one of tne three spies, and Queen Madge will pay well for his capture!” So sudden was the onset that the sport was caught fairly off his guard. Hisrevolvers were knocked from his hands, and the next instant he was seized and thrown to the ground. ‘* Your lariat, Jim,” cried the desperado who had taken the lead. ‘‘?’m thinkin’ ther feller’s a game ‘un, an’ we cain't resk lettin’ him es- cape.” The rope was quickly forthcoming, and, as any further attempt at resistance would have been simply preposterous, the Red-Hand Sport quietly submitted. When his hands had been secured, he was raised to his féet and given to understand that he must keep a still tongue, under pain of death. The desperadoes then plunged into the depths of the woods, one taking the lead, and the others walking on each side of the captive. A rapid walk of a few minutes carried them to the outposts of the Goldite camp, where they were balted in regular military style before be- ng, permitted to pass the lines, old Richard, forgetful of mental and physi- cal misery alike, noted in detail the more salient features of the encampment as he was hurried forward, ‘‘Perbaps Captain Dale may hear something to his advantage, if I am not made into mate- rial fora funeral before the rising of another sun,” he mused, eenny: Little time was left him for observation or cogitating, however. His captors hurried him straight across the envampment and into the yawning mouth of a huge cavern reaching away into the bluff at the back of the plateau. Here again were they halted by a sentry, and this time they were forced to await the appear- ance of Queen Madge from the interior of the cavern, As sho. glided into view, the sentry saluted. ‘Who is it that has asked to see me?? she de- manded, peering sharply at the bandits and their captive, — ‘It aire me, Arkansaw, my queen, and these galoots with me aire Injun Dick an’ Sol Moses,” returned one of the trio, advancing a pace, ‘*Ob, yes; you are the men Lieutenant Mor- ales sent out to learn the position of the caval- ry,” the Bandit Queen exclaimed. ‘ But what is your business with me, my men?” ‘** We hev captured a spy,” saw, in reply, with a grandiloquent wave of bis announced Arkan- | hand to indicate the Red-Hand Sport. ‘‘ We nabbed himin ther very act. This is him, my queen.” ** A spy?” and Queen Madge started. ‘‘He aire thet same sort ov a critter, my queen,” Arkansaw Jim declared, emphatically. ‘Thar war three ov ’em left the blue-coat camp, es Sol, hyer, an’ Dick, kin tell ye. They kem down the valley, while we’uns took the cut *crost ther hills. We nailed ther cuss back thar jest in the aidge ov ther timber,” ** And the others, Arkansaw?” ‘*He war ther only one w’ct kem this way. They must ’a’ separated down in ther valley.” ‘Quite likely; but bring the fellow inside, Arkansaw. As Morales is away, I willsee wha I can make out of bim. ‘* And you, Dick and Scl, wait here until Ar- kansaw joins you.” The outlaws mumbled a response, and then the Red-Hand Sport was led along a narrow para and thence into a large and airy cbham- ver of the cavern, where a light was burning upon a rocky shelf or projection. A glance at his surroundings convinced the captive sport that be was in the quarters of the Bandit Queen, There was a strange glow in his eyes, and he stood with averted face as the woman confront- ed him. ‘Bind him hard and fast, Arkansaw, and lace him upon that couch,” ordered the queen, ber voice betraying something of sympathy as she noted the condition of the captive. The command was promptly obeyed. ‘* Now, leave me, Arkansaw, but await my call in the passage,” pursued the queen, and as the desperado retreated, she took up the light and eit Rake ep the couch. The Red-Hand Sport lay with his eyes half- closed, to all appearances utterly indifferent to his condition and his surroundings; yet his brain was busy, and he noted and weighed well the varving expressions of the Gol¢ite queen. “You are in a bad box, my man,” she ex- claimed, her magnificent black eyes ablaze as she peered into his face. ‘ But wait—your dis- guise has become partially disarranged; per- mit me to remove it.” Royal Rickara’s eyes opened wide, ‘* Hold, my lady! That is taking an unfair advantage,” he protested, half in mockery. ‘¢ You unmask, and I’ve no word to say.” The woman, going down into the haze) orbs of the sport with an expression akin to fear, pe) bes checked the sharp retort that came to er lips, be r2 you will! she exclaimed, forcing a laugh to conceal her agitation as she drew aside the mask, ‘* It can matter little, as you will never leave here alive.” ‘*You are mistaken on that score, I think,” was Royal Richard’s cvol response, as he gazed steadily at the beautiful face. ‘' But proceed, my lady; I am awfully sorry my phiz has been so eaten es within the past few hours, There was a time when it would have been charming in your eyes!” Queen Madge started enem , and yet her white, tapering fingers trembled weakly as she tore aside the disfiguring mustache and wig, Just an instant she stared down into the face of the captive sport—an instant in which a world of feeling—of joy and sorrow, of hope and despair—surged over her, leaving her weak and trembling upon the edge of the couch, Royal Richard looked at her with cynical eyes, ee It is you!” she sobbed, rather than said, lifting her great black eyes to bis face. ‘‘ I have been told that vou were dead!” “It is no fault of the Branded Viper or his brood thatit was not the truth you beard,” he curtly averred. ‘* You may remember that,” Queen Madge quivered as if deeply touched; then proudly lifted ber head, ‘* That is the truth, save where I am concern- ed,” she admitted, with no show of reluctance, her eyes filling with a softer light, a slight flush staining cheek and throat. ‘* Before Heaven, I never harmed you, Dick—shall not now! The worst—all—that can be said, is that I courted your love and failed!” The flush deepened—the glorious black orbs grew tender and moist with unshed tears, The woman’s agitation was piteous. The Red-Hand Sport steeled his heart, Bit- terly as he disliked and detested Madge Harpy it was foreign to his nature to witness her grief unmoved, / ‘* We will pass that—let itremain a sealed book,” he uttered, coldly, anxious to avert the outburst the woman’s face portended, ‘* Let us — deal with the present, and as foes,” The next instant the detective’s teeth sunk in- kis nether lip almost fiercely. He had blunder- ed—had hastened that which he was striving to © escape. The woman weeping violently, flung herself upon his breast, crying: ‘‘ Foes? Never, Dick—never! Anything but that! Oh, my love!—” The awkward shuffling of booted feet, a dry significant cough, broke in upon her incoheren ravings, to the inexpressible relief of ve Richard, and partially recalled her to her senses, ne MNIGbooks Cc 7a “ 4 Ms ,