Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 545 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

! SS — - — Hustler Harry, the Cowboy Sport. mil which had occurred in that very room the night before, Not that he felt more favorable toward Eric Craddoc, but he regretted his harshness to- ward Pearl on that occasion. Other measures would bave served as,well he was fain to be- lieve. ‘« Don’t you want me to bathe your head?” she asked. ‘‘T guess not, pet,” he replied, as he drew her nearer. “It will feel better by and by. Itis always necessary for these spells to have their run,” She laid her head down upon bis breast and was silent for along time, He lightly stroked her hair, not heeding the food she had brought, At last she started up, saying: ‘** Now, father, you musteat. See what [ have brought you. Surely you can find something here. He looked at her and smiled, although bis head was still throbbing. ‘“*T will drink the tea,” he said; ‘‘and I may eat a little, You may come again by and by. After I eat, I may try to catch a little sleep. You may come by nine. If lam better then, I will speak with you about a certain matter.” Pear] left the room with an unpleasant feeling in her bosom, despite her father’s kind words, That last sentence had revived the memory of that unpleasant interview of the previous even- ing. Was it that of which he wished to speak? Witbin her room she leaned from the open window to catch the cool breeze. As she did so she heard a sound beneath. ‘* Pear] !” Her heart lea as she heard that softly spoken word. She knew the voice ere she saw that dark form beneath the window. Eric was there. That day she had sent him a brief note, in which she had expressed a desire to see him, but had warned him not to attempt to call on her, as it would be worse than useless, Her father had forbidden her taking her usual ride into the hills, depriving her of meeting him in that man- ner. ‘* Eric,” she whispered back. ‘Is that you?” ‘* Yes,” was thereply. ‘* Yousaid you wished to see me.” She had said so, but now she hesitated about meeting him in a clandestine manner. It seem- ed a wrong thing to do, but even asshe hesitated she felt that she would be given no opportunity to meet him differently. Sbe felt sure that her father would do everything that he could to separate and estrange them. She bad written Eric that she wished to see him; the opportunity had come; she would not reject it, = Stay there,” she whispered. “I will come wn,’ Swiftly she threw a dark shawl over her bead and shoulders and silently stole down the stairs, Her breath came short and quick and her heart fiuttered wildly within her breast. Was it be- cause she was doing something at which, if he knew, her father would be very angry, or was it because she was going to meet him She could not tell herself, Swiftly she ran around the corner of the house straight into a pair of strong arms which caught and held her fast, while alow musical laugh sounded in her ears and a kiss fell upon her forehead. For an instant she was too surprised to speak or resist. She had hardly looked for such an action on Eric’s part. In that one brief moment that she lay with her head against his shoulder he whispered softly: ‘* My darling!” ; Suddenly she started from him. He made an effort to hold her, but finding that she was de- termined allowed her to step back a pace, where she stood trembling like a leaf, “Mr, Craddoc,” she said, almost hoarsely ; but she failed to complete the sentence of rebuke. ** Pearl!” Again he uttered her name, and thi: time there was a tale of passionate love in that one word. She heard and understood, although she still trembled and her heart beat within her bosom as a bird newly prisoned beats against the bars of its gilded cage. He reached out and grasped her bands witb both of his and she allowed him to draw her nearer, ‘*Pear],” he breathed, “‘ forgive me, but I could not help it. You are not angry?” *“Why shouldn’t 1 be?’ she uttered, with a little broken laugh. ‘* How dared you?” ** Don’t ask me that, for I cannot tell, I never should have dared, I fear, had I not found you so suddenly in my arms. But I'll not retreat now. d, I am going forward,” He drew her still nearer. She hung backa little, hardly knowing whether to yield or re- buke him. His eyes were looking down through the dusky gloom, and she caught their earnest low as she flashed one startled glance upward. | spell seemed to fall upon her, and when she would have drawn away she was unable to do so. ‘* My darling,” he again said in thrilling tones, ““T am not going to retreat. I am going to burn the bridge hind me, Pearl, I love you!” He had said it, and again she was startled, al- though she did not spring away. For some Bed . f > ea j j i = a. reason, she had not expected him tosay it so quickly. She had hoped that he would, yet she hud not looked for it then. ** Don’t be frightened little one,” he pleaded. She attempted to reply, but could not. Her voice failed her, but she summoned strength enough to look upward into his face. That glance told him all, ‘You love me!” he murmured. ‘I see it in your face, Until this moment I have not dared to hope. Pearl, my darling!” He caught her in his arms and kissed her again and again, Suddenly she started from bim, saying bashfully: ‘*Come away! comeaway from here! We may be seen, and I would not have any one know now for the world!” She drew him toward «a tree standing near, Beneath its branches was a dense darkness, There they would not be apt to be discovered, When they had reached the spot, he asked, half-reproachfully: Way would you not have any one *now for the wor d? Surely, Pearl, you are not asham- A soft hand was pressed over his lips, and swiftly, passionately she said: ** Don't say it, Eric! You should know that I would do nothing of which I was ashamed, But I am afraid.” He drew her nearer. “Of whom? Tell me, Pearl, whom you are afraid of? I will protect you with my life!” “Tam not afraid of posi violence, but if papa only knew he might prevent our meeting again, ‘Surely your father cannot look so unfavor- ably upon me. Iecan prove to him that I am an honest man. We love each other. Why should he step between us?” ‘** Eric,” she said, frankly, ‘‘I will tell you why. He believes that you are an adventurer.” ** I can easily convince him of bis mistake.” ** But there is still another reason, He wishes me to marry Horace Kelnot.” ‘*] feared as much, But surel he will not force eg into such a union against your wishes?” ‘** No, I do not think he will use force, but he will bring forward everything possible to in- duce me to accede to his wishes.” ** But you do not care for that man?” She shuddered a little, ‘*! fear him, He fills me with a feeling of dread whenever he comes near me,” ‘*And you love me? Tell me true. I read your lovein your eyes, but I long to bear the sweet words from your lips. Say: Eric, I love ou, Softly she murmured the words. pressed her to his breast, ** Nothing shall come between us, darling,” he whispered, with strong determination, ‘I have loved you since the day we first met, though Idared not hope to make you mine. Whatever lays in our path to happiness shall be surmounted,” “I fear you will find it harder than you dream.” “I care not. Knowing that you love me, nothing shall daunt. I have been investigating Horace Kelnot’s record, but I can learn nothing Again he of it before he came to Cimarron.” ‘Ob, Eric, I am sure that he is a wicked man! Something tells me that heis. If you ss only convince papa of this—prove it to m. But Eric was too wise for such a move. ** No, no, little one: that would not do. Even if I could prove to your father that Kelnot is a bad man, it might nct put me in a more favor- able light. I would never try to build myself up by pulling down another, If he learns any- thing against Kelnot, I will not be the one to open his eyes. He must learn it through some other agency.” earl was silent for several minutes, She pa the wisdom of Eric’s words. Finally she said: ‘*Papa must be shown the kind of a man Horace Kelnot is, Perhaps some accident will reveal the man’s true character.” ‘*Such fortunate accidents seldom happen,” sighed Eric. ‘But we will hope for the best, little one,” The lovers talked for a time longer, and then Pearl declared that she must return to the house, Eric made her promise to meet him there again, and then they separated. Pearl entered the house and cautiously as- cended to her room, Within ber private cham- ber she sat down by the window and gazed out into the gloom, which was broken bere and there by the lights which shone from the win- dows of adjacent cabins, Her thoughts were both joyous and sad, Her heart was full of gladness, for now she knew that Eric truly loved ber; she had heard bis lips whisper loving words. But she realized that, unless something of an une nature oc- curred, her father would never consent to her union with Eric Craddoc, While she sat there in the darkness she fan- cied that she heard a suppressed ery from be- low. She started to her feet and listened. Everything seemed silent within the house, but 7, ‘easier afore than I shell next time,” CO NWWY"'-——-—-— > -——-— OoOooa@*, for some reason she felt that something was wrong. Her Se ene something had happened and he had called to her. With her heart beating violently in her bosom and her limbs trembling beneath her, she stole swiftly and noiselessly down the stairs, Like a silent shadow she flew to the door of her father’s room and laid her band on the knob, An in- stant later she was within the room, be Papa—” ¢ She stopped short, the word frozen on her lips, Two masked men were in the room. Her father was sitting on the sofa, and one of the men held a cocked revolver to hishead. Both men glanced toward Pear! as she entered. For a moment the four persons within the room were as silent as if carved from stone, Then a sharp shriek of surprise and terror burst from Pearl’s lips. Both of the masked men gave utterance to oaths of consternation and dismay. ‘* Ther game’s dished!” exclaimed the one who held the revolver. ‘* Scoop ther gal, pard,” The other sprung forward and caught Pear! in his arms, at the same time hissing: “Caramba! You boa the game; we take you, not the money. our father will pay for you well,” * Right you are, pard,” piped the other, as he reversed the heavy revolver and struck Molina ou the head with the butt. The mine-owner was knocked senseless, As she witnessed this brutal blow, the girl uttered a second shriek and struggled wildly to escape from the strong arms that beld her. ‘*No you cannot,” hissed the smooth voice. ‘Tf you are not still, senorita, then we shall have to make you so,”’ But the last sentence was wasted, for Pearl had fairted in his arms. CHAPTER XIV. FACE TO FACE, OBTAINING his cigar, Husting Harry bit off the end, and as he lighted it, coolly glanced | around the room, The man from Maine was standing within four feet of Hickory Bill when Hustling Harry entered, and Uncle Peter heard the bully mut- te ‘* r: **Tbhar’s my bird. I thort he’d cum,” The Down-Easter surveyed Hustling Harry critically. As the Man from High Notch leaned carelessly against the bar for a moment, he felt a touch on his arm, king around, he perceived a ratber jolly-appearing old fellow at his elbow. The stranger winked with the whole broadside of his face, as he said: ‘* Why, hello ye, mister! I didn’t quite know yeou when I see yeou cum in, but sez I to mer- self, sez I, Pl bet a punkin I hev met that feller somewheres, So I jest cum over to see ’f I was right or wrong; an’ by golding, I was!” arry could not repress a smile, as be closely surveyed the man from Maine, At the same time there was a suspicious light in the cowboy’s eyes. fe I know it’s a mighty onery thing not to re- cognize an old pard,” smiled the Man from High Notch; *‘ but I hope ter lose my holt on King- dum Cum ef I kin place ye,” ‘*T guess yeou mean by that that yeou don’t know me?” ‘* Wal, that’s "bout ther size of it,” ‘* Cum over beer.” Hustling Harry fancied that the Yankee was acting a part in pretending to know him, and although he did not hesitate to follow the man from Maine, he was sharply on the alert for any unexpected move. Uncle Peter moved away to a deserted part of the room, then be turned toward Harry, **P’r’aps you may think it funny that I want to speak to ye: but Vl 'splain it. My name's Hodge—Uncle Peter Hodge, an’ I b’long in Damascus, Maine, I’m out heer lookin’ for my fu’st wife’s brother, an’, by thutteration! I’m havin’ a *tarnal hard time findin’ him. Feller might jest’s well bunt fora needle in a hay- meow. ’F ’d known what an all-goshed great big country this was, ’d stsid to bum. My fu’st wife’s brother’s name’s Jinkins—Jonathan Jinkins, an’ he’s—” 7 ‘* Wal, what’s all this terdo with me?” de- manded Hustler Harry, with some impatience. ‘*Neow, hold on a dite,” spluttered Uncle Peter, a little confused. ‘‘ I’m comin’ to that. My s’arch took me to this village, an’ seein’s I was pritty well peetered when I got here, I went to ther leetle pen that these fell’s call a room an’ took a snooze. When I waked I heerd sum fellers in the nextroom, They was kinder layin’ a plan to fix sumbuddy fit to put inter a coffing. I kept still an’ heerd the *hole plan. An’ if hain’t mistook, you are the man they’re arter.” — Harry was interested now, and with little dif- ficulty he succeeded in learning all that Unclee. Peter knew. The man from Maine told his sto finished, Hustler Harry thanked him. “Ef thet big calf wants to try me ag’in, let him do so,” said the cowboy. ‘‘I used him in his own quaint style, and when he had — -_ a) (E(6) JOOKS mire eon 4 ty 4