Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 531 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

26 Saddle-Chief Kit. hands to do the deed. I suppose you are withus in the pursuit, Pembroke?’ ‘* Most certainly, Let mea see Mrs, Hollis a moment, after which I will be ready.” The blacksmith went into the house. Saddle- Chief Kit nodded to Perham. ‘*That’s the safest way,” he remarked. ‘What way?” ‘‘For him to go, If he don’t he may get into a blamed fix here. The people sre hot because Quinn persists in not arresting Pembroke, and I’m a bit afraid his life isin danger. At the best they will seize him and introduce him to prison, and what [ fear is that Judge Lynch will mount the bench.” ** Merciful heavens! are the men of Si Gotch so lost to all human feeling!” ‘*Men will be men, parson, and I give it as my opinion that, take em anywhere, they’re a mighty poor lot!” CHAPTER XXXIV. ‘* MADAM, PACK YOUR TRUNK AND GO!” Hatt PEMBROKE came out of the cottage. ‘* Hadn’t we better be off at once?” he asked. ‘* Very soon,” Kit replied; ‘‘ but I am waiting for word from a man whom I expect at once, In the meanwhile, Mr. Perham, we will attend to that job at your house.” ‘* What job?” “The ‘ firing’ of the Bastions!” ** 'W ould it be well for us to delay—” “Tt is no delay. Trust me, if you will, and Til arrange all for the best, Those pernicious barnacles on the hull of the parsonage ought to be excoriated, excommunicated, expellea and extinguished, We'll doit at once, Face to the front! Come on!” Speaking nonchalantly, Kit turned his face toward the parsonage and walked off, with Per- ham and Pembroke by his side. The minister was in a state of mingled eager anticipation and feur, but the latter predominated, and as they neared the door, he observed: ct | think Pll let you do the talking, Mr. Jame- son.’ ** Quite right. My vocal organs are equal to the demands of tbe occasion, and I promise to give the female Bastion no quarter.” They entered the house, and Perham was about to send Harp Moy to request the presence of Esther, when that lady suddenly appeared. The men had entered the sitting-room, and she came in without being aware of their presence, She gave them a supercilious look, but the Cen- taur was not in the least abashea. ““Mrs. Bustion,” said he, calmly, ‘I am a real estate agent, and have control over the Reverend Mr. Perham’s tenants. As such I give you permission to move out, and name fif- teen minutes as the time allowed you to go in!” Esther’s eyes glittered. She comprehended at once that her position in the house was menaced, but she did not intend to go. She ignored Kit and looked at Perham. ‘What's this [ hear?” she demanded. ** My voice may have been audible to you,” serenely returned the Centaur. ‘* Your visit is up here; you can go!” **T sha’n’t go’” declared Esther. ‘** Opinions differ. We prefer not to be severe with a—by George! I almost said, ‘ with a lady!’ —with a female, I mean; but your visit is up. Madam, pack your trunk and go!” ** Parson, do you uphold this wretch in what he is saying?’ demanded Esther, hotly. ‘* Mr, Jameson speaks with my full approval,” answered the minister, somewhat faintly. ** And [ am ordered to go?” sé Ye-es.” ‘*Does it take three men ter put out one wo- mau?” “‘It takes one man,” tersely replied Kit, ‘‘ to eject the whole Bastion brood, and that man is *T am talkin’ with Tyrington Perham; I have nothin’ ter say ter ruffians, Perbam, you da’ssen't send me off!” ** You’re going, just the same!” Kit assented, ** Tf any one dares merlest me, I have a secret the hull world shall know!” Esther’s fave was red and purple with rage, and her eyes glittered like a snake’s, She had shot a venomous look toward Kit, but he re- mained unmoved. **Miss King is away,” he answered, ‘‘ and your secret is of no value, You can tell it all you wish. Miss King was sent away from here to get her out of your reach. She is gone, and our shadowy hold here has gone with her. our power has gone, madam, and you had bet- ter amble along after it. Your room is better than your company; pack up and go!” ss Wait until my son, David, comes, an’ you’!l see-— “We decline to wait for bim or any other reptile, but if your son, David is on the fight, I shall be overjoyed to see him at any time. Tell David to call around, Mrs. Bastion! Let him bring any weapon from a horse-whip and a re- volver up to a cannon and a dynamite bomb, He and [ can have lots of fun together—if he is on his fight!” The Centaur nodded and smiled in his most amiable way, but suddenly arose, ‘> . _ **Madam,” he sharply added, ‘‘ your time is fast wearing away. our infamous reign in this house is over, and the sooner you get out, the better. You have next to no baggage, and you and your daughter can carry it to the hotel, or wherever you see fit to go; but no one named Bastion can stay here longer. In the name of our host I order you to go!” ** Perham, you hadn’t dare ter do this!” fal- tered Mrs, Bastion, alarmed at last, **T have—I do!” ‘** T’ll spread the secret ter the four winds.” ‘* As you see fit.” Perham spoke with a degree of firmness which was not promising, but Esther knew the value LA RRL OE, her position in the honse if pos- sible. ‘*Would you destroy Czarina’s happiness?” she asked. ‘“*T trust she will yet be happy.” ‘* With me as her mother? Perham moved uneasily. ‘*T shall claim my child legally,” Esther add- ‘* Thank Heaven! she is of age!” ‘* Anyhow, folks shall know all about it.” ‘* Beware how you go too far. You have no influence in this town; I have.” ‘* A coward’s argerment!” snapped Esther. ** Tt will not be cowardly to defend Czarina from the attacks of a vicious woman.” **T think that will do,” interpolated Kit. ‘‘ We are not here to argue, but to send the Bastion tribe away. Woman, there is to be no more idle talk here! You are ordered to go, and if you do nut obey, you will be forcibly ejected from the honse. Mercy is out of place witha poisonous reptile, There isthe door, Go!” “fT could kill you!” hissed Esther, now pale with rage and disappointment, “No doubt, if you were able; but you are ‘*T’ll have my revenge, yet!” ‘Take all you can get, woman; but, by heavens! you shall vent your venom no more here!” He advanced with quick steps, and Mrs. Bas- tion retreated to the door. ‘““We will go—me an’my poor Pansy—but you would not da’s’ ter act so ef we was men. We have no desire ter stay in a house which harbors by pocrite parsons an’ iguorant ruffians. Yes; we'll go; but we’ll have revenge. Mark that down!” Uttering these words while her eyes flashed with impotent fury, she retreated up the stairs, Kit had hea of her appropriation of Czarina’s jewels, and determined not to let the women steal anything now. He called Mrs, Granger, and, together, they followed Esther. There was nothing for the two women to do except to put a few minor articles into a valise —their sole worldly goods—and Kit sent the housekeeper into their room to make sure that they packed nothing else. Once more Esther stormed, and Pansy added her venom, but they were beating against a rock, Kit could be as firm as any other man, and, knowing how they had persecuted Czarina and Mr. Perham, he had no pity for them, The minister and Pembroke had remained down-stairs, and the former soon had the pleasure of seeing his departing guests descend. Esther shook her clinched hand at him. ‘* We're goin’,” she hissed, ‘‘ but you'll see that we'll revenged. By noon the secret shall be all over Si Gotch, which will humble that girl o’ yours; an’ then we'll look ter you, I won't rest’ till 1 see you drove out o’ town, ruined an’ disgraced. I swear it!” ** Accept our thanks!” Kit responded. She gave him a malevolent glance. ** You'll come in fur your share!” she said, bitterly. ‘*Thanks! I had been afraid you’d slight me. Well, madam, farewell, adios, vale and all the rest! The women were outside the house. Esther tried to say more, but she was choking with pasar, and she let it go. Slowly she and ansy moved down the street. ** All serene!” Kit remarked. ‘*Mr, Jameson, how can I ever thank you?” warmly answered Perham, as he grasped the Centaur’s hand. ‘* Consider 1t done already, and let’s sit down and wait a bit. I’ve left word to have news brought to me here—” Harp Mov timidly approached. ‘** Clan I speakee with you?” he asked. ‘* Say right on, Moy!” ‘**Tt is plivate,” “Oh! in that case, we'll go to one side. Probably, Perham, he aspires to know the Eastern market price of rice.” With this surmise Kit followed the Chinaman, and the latter began when ata safe distance. ** Mliss Czarina is gonee?’ he asked, opening his eyes widely. ‘*] regret to say she is.” ‘** You lemember the nightee in the Plits?” +e Yes ” ** The e’lostees have gotee her!” . ‘* The ghosts! How is that?” é; ‘‘Samee as live in the Plits.” __ ** You’ve been in the Pits, 1 remember, and it eee | _ Cee eee UEInEInEIIIEEEEEEEEEEEet may be you have an idea ortwo. What is it? Out with it!” ‘* 1 wentee to the Plits with her to see-ee the splirits, She their fliend, then; they getee her now. ‘““Harp Moy, elucidate. Tell me all you know.” **T plomise her I no tellee, but she not knowee how things happen. Me tellee all.” Moy had duly considered the case and was prepared to make a clean breast of it. He told of the night expedition to the Pits—how Czarina . had summoned him and given him the basket to carry; how they had progressed in their mysterious journey, greatly to his alarm; and how they had finally come to a ‘‘demon” who lived ina hut. Here, according to his account, Czarina had given tribute to the monster. Ap- parently, she was either his friend or in his pares and Harp Moy argued that she had at ast been seized by the demon and his allies, Saddle-Chief Kit had always been greatly perplexed to account for Czarina’s presence in the Pits the night of his adventure on the ledge, and although, after her expressed wish for se- crecy, be bad heretofore refrained from investi- ating, he now thought himself justified ia earning all he could, He questioned the Chinaman closely, and was ee in possession of all the facts known to Harp oy. Kit was perplexed. Lacking Moy’s supersti- tion, he did not believe in demons of the kind mentioned, and he readily verceived that Czar- ina had visited a living man in the hut. Who was he? This was a most difficult question to answer. Brave as Czarina was, she had always been one with a great regard for the propreities of life: no one in Si Gotch could name a rash, un- womanly act of hers. What, then, was the secret of the Pits? Kit wrestled with this puzzle for some time, but he could not see that it bore upon ber ab- duction; so be cautioned Harp Moy to mention it to no one else, and determined to Jet the mat- ter rest there for awbile, At this point Perbam appeared and an- nounced that there was some one atthe door who wished to see him. He went, and found the giant who had once stood in Dike Harring- ton’s way when that man tried to leave Si tch, ‘* All right!” annouyced the stranger. ‘* Have you the clew?” “6 Yes.” ‘Then we'll be off. Hasten to the hotel and have the horses made ready. Perham, we have the thread necessary to follow Czarina, and we are off on the trail. You had better stay here, but Lleave one promise to keep up your cour- age. Czarina shall be returned to you in safety. I promise that!” CHAPTER XXXV. HUNTING HUMAN GAME, Ir was not long before the rescue-party was in motion. It was composed of seven men among them being Kit, Pembroke, Con Byrd and the giant. The others were strangers, but were understood to be friends of the Centaur. Tyrinugton Perham was reluctant to stay behind, but he was a ve r horseman, and knew that he had no right to force himself upon the rty. Do haiiee they left, Kit told the minister in an undertone that they had definite tidings from the abductors, and it was believed they would soon be run down, The giant—who was called Driver—led the way, while Con Byrd fell in beside Kit. “ve took the liberty,” he observed, ‘‘ ter arm Ph sie} dashin’ fightin’-critters,” “To arm them?” ‘‘ With spiritual endurance, It stands ter reason that a hard ride ona dry road will be tryin’, it'll fill their throats with dust, an’ as said dust ought ter be washed out, I've supplied the needful fur the wash!” Con threw back one side of his coat and re- vealed the neck of a suspicious-looking bottle, ‘** Liquid p’ison!” he added, with a grin. ‘‘ Your medicine may come in good play be- fore we get back to Si Gotch, but don’t go for the dust tuo often.” ' ~ ead try ter keep. it out by an ounce of pre- wention,” Con answered, as be took a drink from the flask. Driver led the way rapidly. He and the other friends of the Centaur were old border- men who being near, had come to Si Gotch after the attempt on Kit’s life,and though the latter at first resented what be regarded as an intimation that he was unable to care for him- self, he bad consented and put them to practi- cal use, Their latest work had been to look for the abductors’ trail, and Driver had followed it toa point where it could readily be kept in sight from the saddle, Past Mount Lookout’s rugged base rode the rescuers, galloping when possible, and a dis- tance of two miles was soon covered, This was as far as the trail had been followed, and extra care now became necessary. od ri . comircboo Le — 5 9 Mowe