Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 525 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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ee Fresh Frank, the Derring ——— _- and, at least until my return, must defer the | help it when he has saved you twice, and he so honor and pleasure of being one of your guests,” ‘¢ But Rhoda shall not,” answered Madelaine, after the positive manner that sat so prettily on her. ‘‘Tf you cannot tarry, she must be left be- hind. The dozens of times that we have talked this visit over when we were at school together! You shall not say a word against it!” The idea was a little startling: but not alto- gether unpleasant to the major. Rhoda had been the worry of his life since they had started on this trip, and to drop her here, if only for a few weeks, would be a blessed relief. ‘¢ Thanks for your very cordial invitation. I will consider it, and it may be that I can see my way through for Rhoda to accept. You have promised to be our guest to-night. In the morning I will give you my decision,” ‘* And it will certainly be, yes!” cried Rhoda, clapping her hands in glee, such as her father bad seen her show but seldom, ‘*‘ Rest easy, Madelaine. When he considers he is lost. I will be your guest at last!” So the two girls, with their arms entwined, lounged about the camp, talking to each other | in u muffled tone, and were as happy as two kittens. The result was hardly a matter of doubt, The major abandoned the ambulance for the night, and the young ladies talked till they were tired. Then they slept quite soundly, and were ready for an early start in the morning. The major did not go with them, He could not take his train to the ranch, nor had he the time sa Pep The distance did not seem as great asit was, and he and Sirene rode with them some little distance, He had no fears for them. The outlaws had not turned up again, and he doubted that they would very soon. If Mr. Foxton had interviewed them after his own _ emphatic way, it might well be that they were in no fit condition to do so. But he gave them a caution about wandering too much without an escort, and advised them to keep their eyes open. Then he turned back without baving fixed any particular time for Rhoda’s visit to end, and only full of the idea of making up for lost time. Jose led the way toward the ranch; the two young ladies rode side by side, keeping up their conversation and not much interested in any- thing else. Of course Rhoda bad somethin her own adventures; and Frank prominently in them, Madelaine had listened with a puzzled air, but it was only when they had swung loose from the major that she spoke frankly. . ‘Rhoda, dear, I don’t understand. This Foxton must be a terrible man, if all accounts be correct,” ‘‘ Not so terrible to any one but evil-doers,” replied Rboda. ‘‘ Father seemed to have a peculiar prejudice against him; to me he seemed very much ofa gentleman when he was where such a thing was possible, It was only when it was life and death for somebody that he became a little des- perado. And then he always placed himself on the weaker side, I think it very fortunate that there are such men; and still more, that we have met him,” ‘‘ But to look at him one would never believe it. To think of Frank Foxton driving away four desperate men—just driving them away as if they had been so many sheep or cattle—to say nothing of what you have told me of your own experience! I really would not have be- lieved it.” ‘“* Why not, dear?” _ pease bes see? I have never told you, but I meta Mr. Frank Foxton inthe East, Our acquaintance did not last long, but I must sa he made the most of his time while it lasted. He was very agreeable, Rhoda; but I thought I had a modicum of common sense, and decided that it would not do. He hardly looked like the sort of man one would want to lean on out here; for I must tell you that between rebels and outlaws, refractory peons, stampeding herds, bad men, rustlers, cattle-thieves, life in the saddle, and plenty of hard work, the man that manages the Banzos Hacienda has no sinecure, told the little villain so, and he only laughed. If he had even taken me toa shocting-gallery and shown me what he could do! 1 was afraid that in spite of myself he would grow too interesting, so I ran away with- out leaving any address. From that day to yesterday, I never found or heard anything of him. How do you suppose he learned anything about me?” ‘*and you never told me anything about him?’ Rhoda said, reproachfully. ‘*How could I? I have not seen you since; and we had agreed that we were not to write— in hopes that we would grow desperate and see each other the sooner, Ha, ha! What dunces children can be! But, do you think it is the same young man?” “Tf the name and appearance are the same I would not have a doubt. If I had only known he was your friend! : ‘Come now, Rhoda, own up, Has he not fascinated you the least bit? How could you to say about oxton figured handsome?” ‘Nota bit of it. I thought him very agree- able, that was all. If father bad not warned me so thoroughly to be on my guard against his fascinations it is sible 1 would not have found him even that. He shall be all your own, if you want him,” ‘Oh, you are going entirely too fast. I did like him, and it will be a relief from the mo- notony to have him put in an appearance. But there can really be nothing serious.” ‘*Then, don’t it strike pon that Mr. Foxton will have made a remarkably unprofitable jour- ney, and a peculiarly unpleasant visit? am sorry for him in advance.” ‘So sorry that you would almost be willing to comfort him. Ha,ha! Don’t fear for bim, dear. He will not break his heart. If he had shown his true colors sooner he would have stood more chance now. At all events, he could not have come at a more appropriate time, and we will try to make his visit agreeable.” And so they rattled on; sometimes about Mr. Foxton, and sometimes about people and things that are entirely foreign to this story. There were no adventures on the way, though to Rhoda the entire journey seemed to be one, and the road through the barranca the acme of romance, ‘‘ They will bave told him tbat I have gone to the Carjador Ranch, and will most likely be back to-day. Doubt not but that we will find him waiting to receive us. But we will say nothing till we hear bis story.” So whispered Madelaine as they rode up to the buildings, and saw that tbeir coming had been noted, A dozen or so of the retainers of the house gathered in almost no time—but there were no signs of Mr. Frank Foxton. Instead, Rhoda saw a tall, splendidly-dressed, and darkly-bandsome caballero, come forward and receive Madelaine as she sprung lightly to the ground, ‘*My dear child, how imprudent!” he mur- mured in her ear. ‘*There will always be welcome for thee at the house of Carjador; not only for thee but all thy train. Come not alone, then, for the jour- ney is long and the way dangerous. Besides, had I known I would have awaited thy coming or met thee on the trail. Neither of us would have had a vain ride, and thou wouldst have been much the safer.” ‘““No vain ride have I had, Senor Raimondo, Truly it was the chance of my lifetime, since I found my dearest friend, whom, else, T would have missed altogether. Rhoda Raleigh, whom I knew and loved when I was in the States!-- Rhoda, this is Don Raimondo Carjador, the friend, the guide, the guardian of whom I have spoken.” Raimondo had experienced his surprise al- ready, and had recovered from it, He acknowl- edged the introduction with one of his grandest bows, and then turned eagerly to the senorita for explanation, giving Rhoda an opportunity to study his face, There was something familiar about the man, though for the life of her she could not remem- ber where she had seen him. ** Yes, she is a brave girl, Her father had oc- casion to visit these regions, and she cameall the way along with bim, just on the chance of see- ibg me. You cannot imagine what that means; but I—ob, when I had been away fora year or two, though I loved my home it made me sbud- der to think of coming back to it, It is so far! It is so wild and desolate to one who bas lived their years in a great city.” ‘* You need not attempt to convince me. I be- lieve it fully, already. But for one who has bad the courage to come it is not hard to make the visit pleasant enough to be long remembered. Seldom it is, Miss Raleigh, that sen, se to the region find their way to the Banzos Hacienda. Rest assured that you are welcome here, and that my own tumble dwelling, with all tbat is in it, will be at your service.” The Don spoke English as well as Madelaine, He also seemed so much in earnest that Rhoda found her first unfavorable impression vanish- ing. She even hoped they would see more of bim, when she had rested. For the present she felt more like rest than anything else. The senorita understood her and cut the inter- view short. Being wise she knew that Rhoda could sooner sleep than talk, and carried her away accordingly. Yet a little later, when they were alone, she made her plaint: ‘Very singular it is, but one and all deny having had a visitor last night. If he came not to the ranch where could he be now?” And revolving the important question they si threw themselves down to take their rest, CHAPTER XVI. A BODY ON THE FLOOR. RHODA was enjoying an afternoon nap. To get back into civilization after so Jong a spell at savagery was regular bliss; and to know that she had at last accomplished the object_of her expedition was complete satisfaction, For the next few weeks she anticipated thorough enjoy- - a-'y «ee . * - A q tr, mat | Pa on 6551 De, ie Oe ‘ er Daisy. planation. 15 ae ment, and so she could afford to take her im- mortal ease at present, But something broke in on her slumbers, It was not a muffled roar, nor yet the roll of distant thunder: though it had a faint resem- blance to both. She heard it without being fairly awakened, and listened like one in 4 dream. When it was repeated she raised somewhat in in the hammock in whick she was reclining, ** Madelaine!” ‘* Yes, dear.” Very sleepily came the answer, but it showed that she listened, ‘*] can hear either an earthquake, or the braying of of Mr. Foxton’s mule.’ “Well?” | The senorita hardly comprehended all that the statement implied. ‘Tf Rbadamanthus is here, or hereabouts, where is his owner?” The question brought Madelaine to her senses, ‘Sure enough! I was not awake yet when you spoke. You are sure it was a mule that he rode? But of course, J remember now, I saw it myself, but he was so far away I bad almost forgotten. Then you think?” ‘That our gallant knight is somewhere near, and that Rhadamanthus wants him, Perbaps something has happened? Perhaps be was here after all? We ougbt to make another effort to find out. ; ‘* The effort shall be made if I have to ques- tion every man, wcman and child on the place,” Rhoda smiled at the sudden earnestness, but made a warning gesture, , ‘Net too loud, and not too emphatic. It strikes me that there may be some mystery here, Of course [ den’t want you to suspect too bastily, but if I were in your place I would not do the inquiring myself. You might only get the same answer over again, Get Jose by him- self, and quietly give bim his instructions, He isan honest young fellow, entirely devoted to wen or Iam very much mistaken, In an hour e can find out more than you would be alle to do in a week.” ‘* But what do you think? this is not a den of thieves!” ‘*T do not know what to suspect, except that it seems to be to somebody’s interes! not to have Mr. Foxton reach the ranch, or his presence be known if be got here. Jose, perhaps, can find out enough to explain the reason.” ‘The first thing, then, will be to find Jose, I suppose it will have to be done without any one else being the wiser. It seems ridiculous; yet we will try it.” ‘ And the fates are in our favor. There is Jose now, with a saddle over hisarm. You can stop bim for a moment, as though to ask him where he is going, and no one will suspect what it really is that you tell bim in an undertone.” ‘‘ You are a terrible schemer, Rhoda, but you will find me an apt pupil. Wait a moment and you shall see me send our man on the trail.” Madelaine tripped away. It hardly tcok the minute for her to give Jose his orders, of which he seemed to need no ex- He nodded carelessly but bis eyes showed his earnestness. He started first to look for the mule, and then for some intelli- gence concerning the mule’s master, Of course, after that there seemed to be noth- ing for them to do but to wait, and they did that so patiently that they almost forgot about the Fresh Sport. They might be pardoned for that, since they felt, somehow, as though they had shifted the responsibility when they bad launched Jose on the trail; when they met Raimondo be certain- Jy did his best to make them forget everything but himeelf, So pleasantly did the time pass that they were surprised enough when late bed-time came. The Don could be a very entertaining fellow when he chose, and this evening he chose, since the Jast thing that he desired was for Rhoda to suspect him, or fancy that_she recognized him. The glimpse she had at Brace Box might or might not bave left his image in her memory, much as he had changed bis looks, The few questions asked concerning her father were so adroitly worded that the Don Heaven bless us, appeared to speak only after the manner of one If he gained no © infcrmation he showed no signs of being vexed, interested for politeness’ sake, So it was, after all this conversation and just when they were uot expecting it, that they heard from Jose, He did not come in person, but there was a light tap, and Madelaine admitted to their pres- ence a young girl, who came forward with some hesitation. A ‘‘T have seen Jose,” she said. ‘‘ He has the mule, and he will see you if you wish. There was a strange senor here last night but art said be was a thief, who stole away taking wit him horses of value so that he would be hung if © caught. Noone was to tell the senorita lest it_ might trouble her or make her afraid,” “And yet they said there was no one here!” exclaimed Madelaine, ‘‘Am I surrounded by traitors? Who was it that should dare to order this thing kept hidden, He a thief! It isan ‘B: com (e 700 he « \“ 5 & + .S | yi 9 * € cots