Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 533 — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

~ + Oregon, the Sport with a Scar. 29 If he could have been present at the interview | ment was checked by a sudden grasp of the between his cousins, he would have heard enough to satisfy even his jealous soul. Viola been sitting hopelessly in semi- darkness long enough to have every nerve wind itself up to its utmost tension. Few young ladies were there, of her age, who could be cooler, or had better control over their nerves; but her imprisonment was beginning to tell upon her, especially since she had found out for herself how absolutely helpless he was to make her escape. ‘* Well, cousin, dear, are you ready?’ Cyril asked, as, stepping lightly forward, he placed himself, before she knew it, boldly in her pres- ence, ‘‘ Hor what?” she answered, trying to speak with sternness, ‘* For our bridal, of course. The boys are all ready, drawnup inline, The parson 1s waiting. Even Neville, our well beloved cousin, has con- descended to be here, to grace our nuptials with his presence. I met him with a guard of honor and escorted him into camp. All things and everybody seem to be ready, save you.” ‘Cyril North, are you mad? How else could ; i | —_— ' | ailer who held him prisoner. Viola did not be- ieve that he knew the fate in store for him, and she feared to look longer at him lest it should shake her own nerve. She could die herself— probably would die—but it seemed even harder for her to doom him, ** No nonsense, now!” exclaimed Cyril, barsh- Mi I have less time to waste than perhaps you think. This is the lady, Mr. Bear. You have desired, in view of the seeming irregularity of affairs, to have her assurance that she acts of her own free will. She will tell you that, and then you will proveed with the service.” He saw that Viola was watching him intently, as if she would read his soul, and he made a covert gesture that turned her eyes to Neville. The two outlaws that had held him bad fallen back a step, and stood with their revolvers poised at his head, even while they watched their captain for a signal, All was Sigh to carry into execution the savage threat by which he had backed his orders. ‘* A thousand times, no!” she burst out. ‘You want to gain the fortune that would you dare even to think of such a thing! Sucha/| have been yours had you been worthy; farce would not be binding. You would only be Jaying up for yourself punishment and wrath m the future. Pause, before it is too late. Do you think that Neville, even, would know rest or sleep until your punishment was complete?” ‘‘ Neville is a secondary matter in this affair! When he bas been initiated into our ways and habits, I imagine he will thereafter attend strictly to his own business, and let mine alone. You seem to be wasting agreat deal of virtuous indignation over me, and my plots and plans, past, present and to come, I was letting you severely alone; why in the name of Heaven didn’t you two return the compliment?” ‘““Ask your own guilty conscience that ques- tion, Cyril North.” “So I did; and got a straight answer, While I hved you could not enter into the full ml i ment of that snug little fortune that was rightly mine; therefore it was necessary that I should die. And you, the delicate woman I once ador- ed, aided by the one man I hate, set out to hound me down. ‘““T intend to checkmate you. I intend through you to possess that fortune. I intend to make you my wife. If the ceremony here, to-night, is not good enough we’ll have it re- peated with all desired variations,” ‘‘One moment, Cyril. How do you know that we came to hound you down? If we did, upon what charge?” ‘Thanks. You don’t suppose I care to an- swer such a leading question. As being Cap- tain Gadley, perhaps. Enough of this. Iam talking very straight now—with the bark on, as they say in the West. As my wife you cannot bear witness against me; how am I to make you such? Will you show your good sense by promising to behave during the services, or must I first begin a gentle pressure? You can- not escape; why not then be reasonable? If you try to balk me, I swear our hands will be joined over Neville’s dead body, and the cere- mony go on just the same, Answer.” ee i answered you long ago; once and for all time. Let Neville look to his own safety if needs be. I purchase it by no such sacrifice as that.” . ‘‘ The worst it is, then!” sternly said the man; and yet there was a quaver in his voice that Viola had never heard there before, ‘‘] have sworn, and keep my oith. Ho, there, Number Six! Light the torches and bring in the whole procession! The doors are open, and it is time for the performances to begin.” CHAPTER XXXVI. OREGON CRACKS HIS WHIP AT THE GRAND FINALE, in the absence of the lieutenant, eae De col tent to take the place of i nd, bat ae ae received full instructions, and so need no explanations when Cyril North gave his orders. , é At the opening to the cave, and just outside, a fire was burning. In the shadow of the rocks a guard was stationed, to prevent any intrusion that should be a surprise. The only routes into the nook were already guarded by vigilant sen- els, Two of the outlaws marched between them the reluctant Leonidas; while two more brought the unwilling Neville. f The half-dozen torches that were thrust into crevices of the rocks made the little cave almost as light as day. The apartment was perbaps thirty feet in length and breadth. For the first time Viola could see its bare extent. Her eyes roved around its full circumference, and she satisfied herself that no friendly forms could be lurking there, in the shadow. Then she turned her glance toward Neville. He did not look like one who bad lost all hope. Ex nodded encouragingly, though the move- | ou want to win that other one that elongs to me; but most of all you want to save your wicked neck from the gallows, You murdered our aunt with poison, and I am the only living witness; the only living being who can swear how you crept into the house that night and gave her the drug that worked her death. Hear, all! Some day one of you may be willing to speak, I charge him with that murder. I came out here to find bim whom the law could not find; to avenge by the law the foulest crime of the year! I can die— but no power on earth, or below, can make me his wife, or save him from punishment for his crimes. That is my answer. Now, beware! If the law and the rope fail, and I live, one day or another the chance will come, and I will slay you with my own band!” To her surprise Cyril stood with folded arms, and uttering no word of protest. His face was pale—or so to her seemed—and his jaws were clinched resolutely together. Outside of that he gave no sign that he was listening until she c Then he spoke, but in a low, concentrated ne: ‘** Bring that cur around, boys, and force him on his knees here, right here. And you, Bear, step forward. Go on with your work, man, You're not the kind to refuse; but if you do your brains will spatter the bride elect, and we'll hunt for a more complaisant man. Quick! How is it?” “This way!” exclaimed the Reverend Leoni- das, leaping lightly to one side, his hands filling with revolvers, and covering Cyril as he spoke: ‘*Stand by me, boys! He is playing you foul, and he tried to kill me, ll run this thing; and, for the first, Cyril North, move an inch and youdie. You bad your shot back there and missed; when I take mine you drop,” The two men that had been acting as guards over the supposed Leonidas—the two to whom had been intrusted the task of securing his presence—fell back at the same time; and their actions said that they meant to stand by the speaker. Of the rest of the outlaws a couple promptly followed the same lead, while the others seemed too much surprised to act. ** W bat nonsense is this, Helen?” began Cyril. ‘* What do you mean by your mad talk? Why this masquerade?” ‘* It means that after I had helped you in your dirty work; after I had risked my life to be- wilder your enemies, capture your foes, save you from the hounds of the law, and the aveng- ing bullet of the ei you had harmed beyond redemption; after I had beaten the best men of Brace Box, and marched with a muzzle in my ear to lead the hounds intoan ambush, you tried to murder me because I was in the way. You would have deserted me, your own lawful wife, to fool this girl with your fraud. Itis fortunate that I am an adept at disguise. When I*met the real Leonidas Bear on the way hither, I heard from his attendants your purpose, and very different 1t was from the one you told to me, I brought the boys back under my author- ity, and assumed his clothes and character, com- ing here to see how far you would go. This is my headquarters, this is my gang, formed by myself. am Captain Gadley, the only true and authentic king of the mountains, I take back the power I delegated to you, and hold you for treason to our best inter- ests. If law and order cannot do you justice we'll see what the rope of the road-agent can accomplish. Good-by, Chestnut Chiuk, the lad that fooled the best of them, and learned where to strike to draw blood! Good-by, Helen Mor- rison, whose brother Paul waits for her in the ravine below! Good-by the false Cyril North, that sometimes acted for the falser. Good-byv everything but Captain Gadley! And now take him away, some of you, and I’ll look after these prisoners myself. As Cyril’s only lawful wife we hanpen to be in some sort related, though don’t know that I love them any the more.’ i = = — —— eee ‘*Hurrah for Queen Helen!” shouted one of the outlaws, and the rest joined in. The blood- less revolution was over. There was no mistaking the woman for any- thing but what she was, as she poured out her jealous wrath in words that were as true as they were burping, And yet Cyril seemed neither maddened nor subdued, and there was acold smile on his white face as she ceased. ‘** All those heroics weigh but little with me now. Can’t you understand that I bate Neville and love Viola? I swore I would kill the one agyd make the other my wife. ‘**T would bave kept my oath—I would hardly bave thought of letting the fugitive wife whose husband once fell before my pistol as I dropped to his, stand between me and my aims, even if I aid go through the farce of a marriage when a befooled court had set her free, ‘** But fate was too strong forme. Last night Rollins drew on me; and when he draws he al- ways kills. His bullet bored me through and through. DPve been dying by inches all day, though I barely knew it. I would scarcely care to leave you behind—-you, my evil genius—-to enjoy the wealth that waits for Cyril North. I leave my love with Viola; but you and Neville —gec out of the dew!” iller Rollins himself, never drew quite so quickly. The quiet, subdued tones had deceived them all, and even Helen was no longer on guard, First, he fired at her; and then, wheel- ing as the hammer raised, he threw up bis hand to cover Neville. A second shot echoed through the vaulted chamber; but Neville, who bad never flinched remained unharmed, while the revolver dropped from Cyril’s shattered fingers. “Not this time—some other time,” muttered Merry May, as she recocked her smoking wea- pon, but her voice was drowned by the harsher tones of Oregon: ‘* Hands up, all! The game's ag’in’ yer; an’ by ther rollin’ wheels, ther first one ez moves a shooter bites lead! Steady, boys! Keep yer men covered, an’ shoot ef yer hev to.” A wild cry arose, Oregon and Merry May were not alone. Dave Dunn and the Brace Box contingent were with them, and so were Solid Sam and his pards. Before the Sport with the Scar spoke each man had covered an outlaw, and now that the latter looked around, they saw nothing but death in resistance, ‘*One minnit, one holy minnit, pards!” said Number Six, holding his hands high above bis head, and stepping a pace forward. ‘““We may ez well be shot now ez hung to- morrer; but f ain’t sure we can’t make it inter- estin’s What do yer want with us? I don’t reckon the bosses will bave much use for us after this, an’ if you’ve got half sense we may come to terms,” ‘* Piney Allen, you talk sense by the cord,” retorted Oregon. ‘“* It’s the bosses we’re after. We don’t know much against you unless it is that you’re in blamed bad company. We do want to clean out the mountains so it'll be safe for a white man, with a dollar in his pocket, te go over them, Gadley’s Gang can’t loaf ’round hyer, above ground, ‘**Bat if you mean ter git, why lay down yer arms an’ go. Some other camp, that’s got more time, can hang you,” Without a word, Number Six dropped his weapons on the floor, and moved out through the doorway, the men all following suit. Only Cyril and his wife, the woman who posed in Brace Box as Mrs, Morrison and Chestnut Chink —remained behind. Cyril was a valuable captive, but he was slip+ ing from their fingers fast. The Killer’s bullet ad done its work well, though the perversity of the man had rendered the result certain. ‘The bullet that Merry May bad fired, just in time to save Neville North’s life, hastened the end a little, but that would have been just as sure without it. Neville, who, of course, had been loosened, took Viola’s hand in his and led her away. Neither cared to see him die, Merry May, a woman in spite of herself, stood by the side of the queen of the outlaws, and would have examined what sort of wound had come from Cyril’s revolver, but Oregon brushed: her away. ‘Yonder is your pris’ner, Cyril North. EzT it a share somewhere I guess this one’s mine. f I don’t git back, I want you, Dave, ter hustle. these lambs into Brace Box, an’ I'll see you in ther mornin’, Now, git back all, an’ let me He lifted the form of the wounded woman and flung it across his shoulder; then strode out of the cave, still carrying one of his revolvers with the hammer back, ready for what might come; and they saw him no more that night. If Cyril North did not expiate on the gallows. the murder that Viola bad vowed to bring home to him, ber chase caused his death. Of his wife who hated her former spouse so. deeply, nothing more was heard than tho few words of Oregon, when he came back the next day. “Yes, she’s livin’, an’ Paul, that brother of cGomicbooks: co: