Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 533 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

a ay we > < 26 word or two to his lieutenant, made his way to! laws moved out in a body, save a couple who the cabin. The door opened quietly, but the slight noise wakened the prisoner, who started to a sitting posture, and stared at the intruder, not at once realizing where she was, ‘Don’t be excited, fair cousin. your devoted admirer, Cyril. I found it neces- sary to return sooner than I expected, and of course looked in on you first thing, All com- fcrtable, eh?’ ‘*‘ This looks like comfort,” she answered, bit- terly, with a wave of the hand to take in the surroundings, ‘* And I had forgotten everything for the time. I should have known that you would not even let me sleep my sleep out. What is it? Why have you brought me back to life before my time?” ‘¢ Sorry I am to disturb you; but the gang is about to change its headquarters; and you will have to move with it. I expect we'll bave a whole menagerie with us before the say is over ; and these quarters are entirely too contracted.” ‘Ha! Then they are on your trail, and sooner or later you will be brought to bay. I might have known your wickedness could not prosper. Neville was harder to kill than you thought for.” ‘* He bas the luck of a cat—you see I’m al- ways telling the truth to you. If the young man was ever worse scared it was not because he was in more danger. When Long Ebe flour- ished a lock of your hair that he said had been found in Blindman’s Shaft the crowd was so bloodthirsty they couldn’t raise a yell. A select committee dragged him right away with a rope around his neck. They intended to beat the truth out of him first, and had their sticks actually in the.air.” Cyril paused, and looked maliciously at the young girl. ‘* And you stopped them?” shesaid. ‘‘ Surely you would not’ let such a brutal crime be done, when a word from you would stay it!” ‘¢ And legislate my own back under the rod? Thank you. I never give myself away after that fashion. The trouble was, I was not there, If I had been, the punishment would Lave gone on until Master Neville found his tongue, I'd have tried a snapshot on the one man in Brace Box that dared to face such a mob, Curse them all for cowards! He backed them down for school children; and walked away with the prisoner as though he had the power of life and death at his finger ends. But I think I got even—though even that was mistake. I pulled first on the wrong man, When he went down and I aimed at the other a little fool had to be there to throw up my band. I knocked him down with the one hand and shot with the other, but had no time to see where the lead wentto. [don’t thinkit was altogether wasted.” ‘* And you ean tell me all this, when a whisper of it would stretch your neck? You must be crime mad,” **T want to Jet you know exactly what sort of & man you are dealing with, though I have lon had an idea that you suspected. You did no really suppose that I was such an innocent as to believe that you were taking all this trouble simply to hand me our aunt’s fortune, Come! Tell mo the truth if you dare; and then say that you do not deserve all that you get—and more.” ‘‘Teame to see that justice was done. You know as well as I what that means,” ‘¢ Probably that Oregon is a United States marshal, or a detective; and had a warrant in his pocket for my arrest. Would it have been any wonder if I had killed you all three on sight? And yet, if he had known who I really was, he would have torn your paper to pieces, and gone into the gameon his own account. He’s not the kind to send to court the man he wants to kill. He will not be apt to trouble any of us again.” ve now, uo doubt, you intend to kill me, Viola looked up at him with flashing eyes, measuring the distance between them, There was a meaning in her glance that Cyril caught, and involuntarily he threw his hand to a re- volver and stepped back a pace, Then he laughed shortly. ** And now, [ do not intend to do anything of the kind, I can’t leave my friends until we have a final settlement with Brace Box—or such part of it asdesires to take a further interest in our affairs. After that we will take our wedding tour, bringing up at New York, reduce our aunt’s fortune to possession, and be ready for what comes next. Blissful prospect! Glorious future, shared with thee! We'll separate a while and dream over it. But if I never come back, then you will die.” ‘“‘He went away without offering Viola an opportunity to reply though to his sneering rhapsody she had nothing fosay. Only as he walked it seemed to her that his step was ae lit- tle less jaunty than usual, and even that he staggered slightly as he stepped. The woman who served as turnkey went with him, and they held a short, whispered conference outside. Presently breakfast came, and after. that, there was a little bustle in camp. The out- ~ It is aie served as guards, There was a chance, per- haps, after all. When they moved in that manner, it meant that they expected to meet either foes or victims; and if they never came back, it would not be strange. Some day there would come such an ending to Gadley’s Gang. The country must certainly grow too hot to hold it. And yet, in that case, what fate had ee prepared for her? To Viola, Cyril never 1e ° In about an hour, two of the outlaws came hurrying back. They only lingered long enough to say a few words to the guards, and then made their way directly to the cabin on the ledge. ‘* Beg yer pardon, marm. Ther captain sent me ez bein’ somewhat acquainted. ou know *bout my style. Smooth ez silk ef you treat me purty, but thar all ther time. I guess there’ll be no nonsense. Ther boss said you knowed what become of Number Six. He didn’t foller orders; [ will, Git ready. Ye’r’ goin’ somewhar.” There was scant time for questioning; and none at all was needed for getting ready. She followed Number Eight without a word. Once off of the ledge, and safely in the val- ley, the outlaw took a precaution that hardly seemed needful, He carefully knotted Viola’s wrists together, aad then, tossing her on the back of a saddle- horse, fastened her to the pommel. ‘‘ Wf it war any one else, ’d blind yer eyes; but ther boss didn’t say nothin’, an’ I don’t guess he counts on comin’ backhyer. It’s a fool game, but he pays his money and kin have his fun. But don’t try any ground an’ lofty tumblin’. You'll break yer purty little neck, sure.” With this final caution; Number Hight led the way. He had a leading line attached to Viola’s horse; and behind her the other outlaw followed closely, They went up the valley—Captain Gadley had led his men down—and the prisoner could see that they were taking her further away into the recesses of the mountains. Discerning this much, she felt certain that Cyril knew of some movement for her rescue, and had gone for- ward to check it, while removing her further out of its way. It was a wearisome journey that followed, and one that she would bave dreaded to take alone, even to save her life, The sure-footed animal under her went along the tortuous, dan- gerous path without hesitation or stumble, but more than once she held her breath as they trod on the merest thread of a path, that hung against the side of a precipice. And at nearly every one of these difficult places, they had turned aside from what seemed to be the truer path, and le*t no trail to show they had done so. umber Hight glanced back from time to time with an approving nod, but held his peace, The coolness that she showed had its effect, but he knew that it would do her nerves no good to speak of it until the danger was past. When, however, they came to a ledge that seemed to be near the crest of the range, and yet led easily down into a pleasant nook, the man had his say. ‘¢ Tt’s not every man the boss would trust ter go over that trail, an’ I didn’t believe a woman could doit. Blessed ef I didn’t think he wanted ou ter drop. He knowed yer nerve better than did, an’ that’s a fact. We'll camp hyer fur a bit, an’ see how things pan out,” He removed the cord from her wrists, and helped her to dismount, then led the way toward a hitberto unseen opening in the rocks. ‘¢ Handle me with care,” said Viola, looking at him firmly. ‘‘ Your captain’s arm is long, and he would take fearful vengeance # anything happened to me. ‘‘He might, an’ then ag’in he mightn’t. [ ain’t so sure he’s ez badly mashed ez you think fur; an’ I know, ef things take a whirl ’round I’ve got orders, Ter tell ther gospel truth, I don’t see whar you come in at, nohow,” ‘‘ We will not discuss that for the present. Dare you tell me, without transgressing your orders, whither your captain has gone now?” ‘*T can’t see ez it kin do any harm fur you ter know it, an’ fer me ter tellit, He’s gone ter have a shot at Brace Box. A hull army are on rans road, an’ he means ter make ’em jest too sick, ‘* Would he dare to be so reckless?” ‘¢ What he says goes with ther boys, an’ that’s what he taiks, But byer’s yer campin’-ground fur ther present. It’s easier ter keep track ov er in hyer, an’ ther boss—ef he’s comin’—won’t e round fur a few hours, We'll be right out- side, takin’ keer ov you. We'd climb a rope like Number Six if we didn’t, So-long.” Again Viola was left alone to wait. CHAPTER XXXII. MRS, MORRISON GIVES HER GAME AWAY, CYRIL made no mistake about there being a little army onthe move from Brace Box. He had done enough to turn the town inside out, if its citizens had been like some commanities. A good many of the kind that usually get to tbe Oregon, the Sport with a Scar. — front in such expeditions were out of conceit with Colonel Rollins just now; and ctl ers felt that if they had no business engagements at home they would like to have. Still, there were men who thought it was about time that some- thing was done with Captain Gadley and his Gang, and were ready to act accordingly, and these were the men Neville hit. Neville North had just had a lesson, and no one could accuse him of apathy under this last attack, He did not at once recognize the form under the window as belonging to Merry May, but he sprung out, and raised her from the ground, ‘*Look out for a man with two barrels empty!” he exclaimed, to those tkat came dash- ing up. fr He's killed Rollins, and left his mark here, though I think it was at me the villain fired. Some of you spread out and look for him, Is there a doctor here, or near? If so, send him to the front,” ‘“‘Tf Killer’s burt we'll bave Doc Borden round in no time, The old coon wouldn’t come for anybody else, Slim Jim bas gone for him now. But who’s the kid; and where does he come in at?” ‘¢ Heavens!” said Neville, looking closer at the figure on his arm, ‘ It is Merry May!” It was but a few steps to the door, but some of the crowd went in through the window. Neville preferred to take his burden by the ap- propriate route, though by this time he knew it was a living being be was carrying straight to her room, ‘¢ Let me down and prop me up somewhere,” she whispered, “Tm all right, and don’t want to make a show of myself. The villain hit hard; but ve got a tough little head of my own, and I'll live to get even yet, Goin and see what’s the matter with Rollins, Ul be around shortly.” ‘Tf you really don’t need any help?” ‘‘Not a bit—now. I want to pull my wits to- gether. .I’ve just got away from the Gang, and will have a strange story to tell. Go, before the mob takes a notion to look for you again.” There was no mistaking. her earnestness; and her voice seemed to be getting stronger. North hurried away to Rollins, If she needed him, he could not leave a woman; but to Rollins he was indebted for bis life, and he felt a strong inter- est in the nervy pistol chief, who might be dead or dying on his account. Doctor Borden’s shanty was scarcely a stone’s throw from the hotel, and the doctor came puff- ing in from his brief run just as Neville entered the room. ‘** Get out, you gentlemen; and a couple brutes can stay! Do you want to smother him? Here, give the old manachance! Maybe it’s not as bad as it looks,” Without any ceremony he cleared the room of all but two or three. ‘‘Bad work! bad work!” he muttered, putting on his spectacles and looking the colonel over carefully, ‘‘Morty-four caliber; bones smashed; blood lost; enough to kill an ordinary man, Humph! Blood in good condition; always in training; brain all right; guess he’ll do. Bad shock, and only half an inch to goon, Don’t think he’ll die this time.” The owners of a row of anxious heads at the window gave a shout of satisfaction, and the doctor threw up both hands, ‘‘Get out of this, or Pll begin to shoot my- self! Do you want to yell him into his grave? Last time of asking! Goaway from there or Ill peak and any lynch court in Brace Box will say served you right.” When Borden was not precisely sober he would just as soon as not be as good as his word, so that considering the chances of the doctor’s being in his normal condition, his nae went for something. The head disappeared, and the doctor went on with his examination, his water dressing and his stimulants. In a little while the patient began to revive. ‘* You're something of a doctor yourself, eh?” said Borden, looking keenly at Neville. ‘‘ A little, but my experience with gunshot wounds has been limited.” ‘‘Hine place to enlargeit! There’s nothing the matter with him now but a little hole. Take care of him, If you keep ‘him quiet you can’t go wrong. If he won’t be quiet, and will talk send for me. Ill talk to him with a club, Good-night, ’m going home now; going to sleep. Must have it.. See youall in the morning, if the earth don’t crack, Wouldn’t have come out for anybody else, Lot of these drunken hoodlums layiv’ fur me, and ’'m going to make them do their shooting by daylight. Mad because I won't nurse ’em fur nothing, and pay my board bill to boot. Humpb! [Pm off! Of course they didn’t find the shooter.” The shooter had made his escape good, with- out any one having obtained a glimpse of him, but Neville had no doubts as to who it was; and was just assure that any pursuit that pight would be in vain, so there was no temptation for him to leave the side of the colonel after Merry May came gliding into the room, ‘‘Can I beof any use?” was her greeting, as North looked up. comicbooks —————Ee ee ee ! :