Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 545 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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socker, an’ shook his head a leetle, but I reckon he’ll be all rite w’en we gif back.” . ** Do not fear. Heshall not harm you. We will go away, and when he returns he will not Pear] questioned him closely, and he told her |! find you.” what he knew, disguising in a measure the fact that Martel Molina had been seriously injured by that foul blow, As they talked they moved along, Harry act- ing as guide. Pear) told him of her adventures, and thanked him again and again for what he had done for her. After a time they reached a secluded spot, where two horses were hitched amid some bushes. Harry uttered an exclamation of dis- appointment. ‘ Eric hain’t byer,” he said. back ter this place.” Pearl was disappointed, although she con- cealed it in a measure, After a few moments of deliberation, Harry said: ‘Here is a place whar ye kin sot down in these hyer bushes, an’ ye won’t be diskivered ef sum galoot sh’u’d come prowlin’ roun’. [Pm goin’ ter look up ther lad, ef so be he hain’t too fur away.” Although she did not like to be left alone, Pearl] did not object, for she thought that it would only bring Kric to ber side quicker, With a parting word of cheer, Harry left her. She heard his light footsteps die out in the dis- tance and knew that she was alone save for the companionship of the two horses, which she could bear pawing and browsing close by. She did not feel as lonely as she would had not the animals been near. ‘* Eric is near,” she murmured. ‘He will come to me soon,” The thought filled her with joy, and for a long time she sat thinking of her gallant lover. She had fallen into a dreamy state of semi- unconsciousness when the sound of a soft foot- step close at hand startled ber, her heart leaped wildly and she pressed her hands to her bosom, listening intently. Again she heard that light step. Some one was moving stealthily close by. She suppressed a strong desire tc cry for help, and remained silent, though it seemed that the beating of her heart must be heard by the per- son or animal, whichever it was. The step sounded just beyond a thin screen of bushes, and then Pearl saw the bushes slowly parted. She was spellbound with horror. Had her late captor succeeded in getting free and tracked her there? The thought was terri- fying in the extreme, Slowly the bushes were parted by small white hands, and a pale face appeared, while two large dark eyes looked in upon her. Pear|’s feeling of terror changed to one of wonder, for she saw that it was the face of a young woman or girl, It was a pale, sorrowful face, yet marked by a look of strong determina- tion. It was Ruth Foscolo, the Girl Avenger. ‘* Ah!” she exclaimed. ‘‘I have found you. I saw you come here with him—that demon!” Pearl was amazed, ‘* Who are you?’ she demanded. ‘‘ What do you mean?” The bushes separated, and Ruth stepped into the little glade, Pearl uttered a little cry of alarm, and shrunk away. ‘“ Do not bealarmed,” implored the Girl Aven- er. ‘“*I would not harm you for the world. ndeed, I am here to save you from the hands of that dreadful creature.” ‘‘Whom do you mean? Not the gentleman who rescued me surely?” f ‘¢T mean the one with whom you came to this spot. Do you know him? You do not, l am sure, Theu let me warn you. He is a des- perado! A villain of the deepest dye—a mur- derer!” Pear] uttered a cry of amazement and horror. ‘*Oh, you cannot mean that!” she exclaimed. ‘* He appeared like a brave man. Surely you must be mistaken!” ‘* | wish I were. No! no! I know that scoun- drel too well. Listen tome, That man killed my father—murdered him! I saw him do it! Saw him strike my father senseless at my feet!” Pearl gazed at the strange girlin fascination. Ruth seemed to comprehend her thoughts, and said swiftly: ; ‘* J am not mad; Iam assaneas you. Ihave come here to lead you away from this spot—to take you out of his power, ** But he said he would return with Eric,” fal- tered Pearl. ‘* He is deceiving you. I doubt if there is an- other with him, unless it is one of bis villainous followers. He is the chief of the Brothers of the Red Heart.” The Girl Aven ‘* He hain’t kem *s words threw Pearl] into consternation. be knew not what to do. Had Harry indeed deceived her? Was he the dreadful being that this strange girl cluimed? ‘Take me away!” she cried, with sudden dread. ‘‘Quick—quick! We must not be here when he returns!” She seized Ruth’s arm, and burried forward through the bushes, She was trembling and terrified. Ruth an arm around her waist and said: | ——— LT TT LSS Pear! stopped suddenly. ** Oh, I know not what to do!” she cried, Eric should be witb bim!” ‘“The chances are that you will sooner find the one whom you wish to meet if you go with me,” urged Ruth. “I assure you I would do nothing that I did not believe for your good.” Pear! allowed Ruth to lead her away. ‘*T bave a faitiful old servant near at hand,” said the Girl Avenger. ‘‘ He is watching the horses on which we came to this spot. I came here hoping to complete my work of venge- ance, but in rescuing you from that villain’s hands, I feel more than repaid for my journey !” ‘* Did you follow him here?” ** Black Joe, my negro friend, saw my foe and another come in this direction.” ** And another!” echoed Pearl, ‘‘ Surely that was Eric.” ‘*Perhaps. But if it was, the chances are that Philip Barret was but using him to serve eT | some evil purpose of his own. Eric is your lover; no need to tell me that. Your face has revealed the story. Once I fancied that I loved this man who afterwards murdered my poor father. I believed him good and true. God grant that you are not deceived as [I was!” ** Kric’s heart is true,” protested Pearl. “I know it is!” ‘* How long have you known him?” The question confused Pearl a little. stammered as she replied: ** Nearly three weeks,” **No longer?” exclaimed Ruth, in a tone of disappointment. ‘*He is almost a stranger to you. You cannot know his heart.” Pearl was silent, though a flood of words surged to her lips, Within her heart she was She In an instant | sure that Eric was true as steel, yet she knew that she had no proof, Instinct alone told ber that be was not a bad man. They hurried onward without pausing until they entered a wooded defile. Suddenly Ruth drew Pearl into some thick bushes. The ring of iron-shod hoofs came to their ears, Some one was coming toward them. ‘** Keep quiet,” breathed Ruth, with some ex- citement. ** The chances are that foes are com- ing. A moment later two horsemen swept into view, riding directly toward them. They were Hickory Bill and Posey Pete. Past the place where crouched the two girls swept the Chief of Cimarron and his satellite. Fainter and fainter grew the beat of horses’ hoofs until they finally died out in the distance. With a breath of relief, Ruth said: ‘* We will goon. Iam sure that both of those men are villains, Their faces betray them,” ‘*I believe that one of them aided in my ab- duction,” deciared Pearl. “T hope they did not discover Black Joe. He is concealed in a secure spot where there is little danger of discovery.” They continued along the defile and had not gone far before they came to a densely wooded niche, Passing through the thick bushes they found themselves in a small glade, which was occupied by a negro and two horses. CHAPTER XIX. THE MARK OF THE RED HEART. ‘““T’CLARE ter goodness!” exclaimed the old darky. ‘Tse *gun ter fink you’ ’s nebber cum- in’ back no mo’, Missy Ruth. I was des gittin’ skeered, Heard sum’uns go hoppin’ by dis here place like de Ole Boy was arter ’em wif a split stick, Ides gwine ter go an’ see ’f F c’u’d fine yo’. Who’s dat dar wif yo’?” “This is a friend, Joe. whom I found in the Barret—” power of Phili “De b Lawd!” cried the negro, in hor- ror. ‘* Yo’ don’ mean dat, honey? Dat drefful critter w’ot killed pore ole Massa Foscolo? ie chile! It des a mirrycal dat yo'’s alive.” There was no shamming about the darky’s actions, and Pearl began to believe that she had in truth been rescued from the hands of a vil- lain. “ Eric is with him!” she gasped. ‘‘ Something terrible may happen to Eric!” The thought made her very excited, and she again halted as if undecided about something. ‘‘He must be warned!” she cried. ‘‘I must go and find him!” . Ruth caught the tortured etl by the arm. ‘* Wait!” she said, firmly. ‘‘ You cannot find him, and* you may again fall into Philip Bar- _ret’s hands,” ‘* But 1 cannot remain here while he is in danger. Oh, what shall I do?” “Be calm, and I will attempt to find him. You can remain with Joe.” ‘ **No! no! no!” sobbed Pearl, rapidly growing hysterical, ‘I will go with you—I must!” Ruth looked serious, : ‘“My dear friend,” she said, - impressively, *‘you cannot tramp over this rough territory. You are far from strong, as I can plainly see.” “* Do not leave me!” begged the girl. rr seston essen Hustler Harry, the Cowboy Sport. ae ‘** But Eric—this one of whom you speak?” ‘*He must be found. We can find him to- gether,” But Ruth knew that it would not do to make the attempt in Pearl’s company. The poor girl’s nerves were unstrung and by some accident she might precipitate them both into danger. Upon inquiring, she discovered that Black Joe had seen Eric several times, and the darky declared that he would know bim at sight. Why not send kim in search for Pearl’s lover? She soon saw that this was the only course to yursue, for Pearl would not allow her to leave er side, Calling the darky to ker, she carefully in- structed him how to proceed. He listened at- tentively, but shook his head soberly when she had finished. ‘*] don’ like ter fool wif dat dar critter,” he said. ‘‘ Ef he fin’s ole Joe lone, it'll dess be a gone case wif dis coon,” ‘* But you must not let him see you. You may be fortunate enough to find this Eric be- fore he does or to get a chance to speak with him alone. For your life, do not guide Philip Barret to this spot or allow the other to bring tim here, I know that you can be sharp and crafty when you choose, and now. is the time for you to exercise your best skill.” ‘* Pll do dat, honey; but l’se lible nebber to cum back no mo’. Ef I don’t, den yo’ *member dat ole Joe lubbed yo’ like yo’ was his own pick- ininny.” With tears in his eyes, the faithful old negro moved away. A sudden feeling of fear seized upon Ruth’s beart. What if Biack Joe was in- deed going to his doom? Her lips parted and she was on the point of calling bim back when she checked the impulse, <A score of times ere that bad the old negro left her side saying that he would never return; but bis fears had always been groundless, Nothing had harmed him, Black Jce passed on into the busbes, only pausing to cast ove brief look back at his young mistress, Seeking a favorable spot, they sat down with theirarms about.each other, and for an hour they conversed, At the end of that time the felt well-acquainted, having learned each other’s names and histories, Pearl was greatly shocked at Ruth’s tale of the terrible tragedy that had made her an orpban, Her tender heart was filled with pain and p eye At the same time she had learned to loathe the strange man who had res- cued her from Casper Gonzalo’s hands, ‘*Whata terrible creature he is!” she mur- mured, ‘Terrible, indeed,” Ruth assented. ‘* Yet he has the power te make people believe him good and true. As he lay sick in our little home and I watched by his bedside, he seemed the noblest of men. His words were of nd things. His face appeared grand and I thought him a per- fect king among men. Alas! I could not see his black heart! He isa talented actor and plays the part of a cowboy finely: but his nimble tongue and crafty ways do not deceive me in the least. That red heart on bis wrist be- trays him,” Anxiously they awaited the return of Black Joe, but hecame not. Finally Ruth began to grow alarmed, “*T fear that something has happened to him,” she confessed. Pearl was eager to go in search for the darky, but for a long time Ruth would not hear to it. Finally she me so alarmed that she con- sented. They arose and left the little niche together. Back along the defile they made their way, Ruth taking certain precautions to avoid being observed by foes. After a time they left the defile and Ruth led the way toward the spot where she had found Pearl. They did not go far before they found themselves looking down into alittle hollow. zo their surprise they saw four men before them, With a whispered word of warning, Ruth drew her companion into a place of conceal- aap from which the four men could be plain- y seen, Three of the men were Hickory Bill, Posey Pete and Casper Gonzalo. The fourth was at least six feet tall, and wore a mask over his face. A little gasp of surprise came from Pearl’s lips as she gazed at this masked man, There was something familiar about his ap- pearance and bis dress, : **Tt is he—the one who rescued me from the Spaniard!” Hustler Harry? No, it could not*be! Ruth Foscolo’s eyes glowed with a strange intensity. : ‘*'You are right!” she said. ‘‘ That is Philip Barret!” - ‘* But he is with those men—one of whom he rescued me from,” ‘‘A trick,” declared Pearl. ‘‘ Perhaps that was prearranged.” se Hickory Bili and Posey Pete were sitting on a bowlder. Casper was squatting on the ground, The masked man alone was standing, and he sEnranes to be talking while the others lis- - “4 ~ a ~~ . « . pe in eed af Sry oJ — So a "1 ned, NiGDOOKS (E(o) (E() ‘* Pa