Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 545 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

= 18 Hustler Harry, .4 — ea , a; ——_ — ; : > ae as dialel We the Cowboy Swort. ‘which he placed in Casper’s hands, The Span- iard undid the bundle, and soon approached Pearl with food, but the girl refused to eat. ‘“You must, senorita,” said Casper, firmly. ‘‘T am quite sure that you have had nothing to-day.” ap Pearl did not reply. She lay on the dead boughs, with ber face buried on her arms, her whole attitude one of deep despair. Casper touched her shoulder, but still she did not look up. ‘“T do not wish to be harsh,” declared the Spaniard, ‘‘ but I must insist that you do eat.” The grasp upon her shoulder became firmer, and she slowly lifted a beautiful tear-stained, despairing face. **T want nothing,” she murmured. “But again I say you must eat. You shall not starve yourself, though I believe you would like to do so. A little of this will give you much strength. You should be cheerful, for you are not to be harmed. We have brought you here to be held for money. When that is given us, you shall be restored to your father, and we shall go far away.’ ‘* Yas,” chipped in Posey Pete. ‘‘I don’t reckon as how anywheers ’round Cimarron ‘u’d be healthy fur us arter she tells who did ther job. We’ll all strike fur fresh fields and pax- tures new,” “ Tf you will return me to my father at once, I will pledge you my word that you shall not be molested for what you have done and shall re- ceive a reward for doing so,” Casper shook his head and Posey Pete broke into a shrill laugh. ‘* I don’t reckon we'll give up a good thing when we’ve got our fingers on it,” remarked the bummer. ‘ It’s no go, leetle gal. We'd hke ter *commerdate ye, but it bain’t bisness. Yer ole dad might not feel like rewardin’ us ter no great extent, an’ he might even go fur ‘nuff ter sock usinter ther hog pen what ther o’ Cimarron calls a jail.” ‘“*T am sure that J can persuade him to do anything,” declared the girl. ‘‘I will give you my pledged word that you shall not be barmed, but shal] be rewarded,” **Kan’t doit, Ye see yer old dad ’d hav’a bad holt onter us then, Ip ther game w’ot we’re playin’, we’re goin’ ter hav’ a bad holt onter sumbuddy else as’ll pan out ther skids.” Pearl saw that to say anything further was useless, and once more she sunk back on the boughs. But Casper was determined that she should eat, and he remained by her side, urging her to do so till finally she did crowd down a few mouthfuls, ‘‘ That is good,” said the Spaniard. ‘* You Her heart was too full of will now feel better.” But she did uot, bitterness for food to soothe its aching. The afternoon was well spent and night near at hand. Posey Pete and Casper sat down near together and conversed in low tones, Five, ten minutes passed and then a sofind as of a stealthy step came to the ruffians’ ears. They started, laid their hands on their weapons and peered into the darkness. The next instant there was a bright flash and a loud report. The Spaniard leaped to his feet, ek Fs yell as if hard hit, and then fell forward on his ace. Posey Pete also sprung to bis feet just as a tall form leaped out of the darkness, The new- comer fired as he sprung forward, but the old toper was untouched, “*Cuss ye!” cried the bummer shrilly, as he wrenched out a revolver. ‘* Ye’ve spotted Cas, but PUu—” ‘ He did not finish the sentence, for the stranger had seized his revolver and thrust it aside, at the same time grasping him by the throat, ** You miserable dog!’ hehissed, ‘‘ I will end your life and your dirty work now !” Then both men went down, locked fast in each other’s embrace, For a moment a fierce and terrific struggle ensued, during which Pete’s revolver was discharged. The battle suddenly ceased, and the victor arose to his feet, leaving the other lying silent on the ground. Pearl bad watched the encounter with clasped hands and wildly beating heart. She believed that the tall man was Hustler Harry. As the victor turned toward her, she uttered an exclamation of mingled joy and fear. **'You have saved me again!” she cried. ** You are not—” She stopped in amazement, The victor was not the Man from High Notch, ** Yes, I have come to save you,” said Horace Kelnot, stepping toward her. ‘I saw these ruffians bring you here, and I followed. Good fortune aided me, and I have conquered them both.” For a moment Pearl was dumb, Then she thought that it was better to be rescued by Kelnot than to again fall into the hands of the treacherous cowboy. “*Ohb, take me from this place!” she cried, as she sprung toward him, Horace Kelnot caught her hands in both of his own, ; ‘That I will do, Miss Molina,” he declared. ‘You shall be with your father soon,” ** | shall never forget your bravery and good- ness,” she murmured. For some reason the words seemed to choke her. She shuddered, as she hastily withdrew her hands from his grasp. Kelnot noted this, and his face turned quite pale. “*] bave settled this fellow, I think,” he ob- served, as he turned away and touched the motionless body of the Spaniard with the toe of his boot. ‘‘It seemed a little tough to shoot him down like that, but they were two against me and I had todoit, I hope you will think none the less of me for the act, Miss Molina,” ** No, no! such wicked men, Is the other dead?” ‘No, I think not unless his head is pretty tender. I struck him with the butt of my re- volver. Lam sure that it was nota baby’s blow, but it was not hard enough to kill him. I set- tled the Spaniard first, as he is known to bea desperate fighter. This old hummer I ought to have handled easier than I did.” He stooped and examined Posey Pete, ‘* Just put to sleep,” he declared, quietly, ‘tHe will be aJjl right to-morrow, But come, Miss Molina, let’s get out of this place.” Pearl was quite willing to go, and she accept- ed the arm which Kelnot offered. With no difficulty at all they reached the open air. “Thank Heaven!” breathed Pear]. ‘‘I am out of that cave, and I hope never to return there again. I should die if I did!” Kelnot asked her to give the particulars of her abduction, which she did. He then informed her that her father was quite ill, though not dangerously so, ‘| have a horse not far from here,” he said. ‘*Wecan reach it ere dark, and you can ride back to Cimarron.” As they walked along, Kelnot talked freely, altbough Pearl said little. He told her how by a lucky chance he bad come in that direction and had seen Pete and Casper as they carried her into the cave. How he had followed them and crept slowly forward in the darkness, re- volver inband. She bad witnessed bis fortunate ssh with her captors. ‘* It would have been no more than justice to have shot them both,” he declared. ‘If Posey Pete ever shows his head in Cimarron again he will surely hang. A rescuing party from the camp would have been organized if your father had sanctioned the move. He thought thata few trusty friends could do more than a large number, many of whom might be foes.” “And you saved me single-handed!” said Pearl, pats arya despite her usual aver- sion of the man, ‘‘ How can I ever repay you?” . ‘I ask no pay for such a deed,” be murmured, as be bent his head nearer hers, ‘‘I only hope that you will look more favorably upon me. You know that my heart’s desire is to make you rg el orace Kelnot was not a man to mince mat- ters. He believed in boldness, ‘“*That can never be,” replied Pearl, firmly. ** You have placed me deeply in your debt, and I will do’most anything in my power to show my obligation—but that I cannot do. I ho you will understand me when I say that I do not love you—that I love another. I shall al- ways think kindly of you asa brave man. can say no more,” A strange, unfathomable look came into Kelnot’s face. He seemed on the point of utter- ing harsh words, but checked himself sud- enly. Then they walked on in silence. The twilight shadows were gathering thickly. Darkness was at hand. On either side of them were high banks, rocks and bushes. Suddenly the rocks and bushes seemed to give birth to half a dozen dark forms, In a moment they were surrounded by masked men, Kelnot uttered a shout and jerked forth a revolver. But hedid not use it, There came the sound of a pik § blow, and with a groan he pitched forward on his face, Then Pear! was seized and borne away. CHAPTER XXIII. KELNOT REPORTS TO MOLINA. LATE that night, Horace Kelnot rapped on the door of Martel Molina’s residence. He was admitted by a woman whom he himself had placed in charge of the deranged man. ** How is he?” Kelnot asked the question in a low tone, and the woman replied: ‘** Much better, though he takes on constantly. At times he appears a trifle wild.” “é Is he in his room?” Then Kelnot advanced along the hall and quietly opened the door leading into Molina’s private business room. He entered and found the mine-owner lying on the sofa. Molina started up as the proprietor of the Silver Palace camein. ** Ahi” he cried. “Is it you? Do you bring me news of Pear]?” lt does seem awful, but they were | ) | A Kelnot advanced calmly and sat down in a chair, at the same time motionimg the mine- owner to again be seated. “Sit down, Molina,” he said, quietly, ‘1 cannot tell you everything in a breath.” ‘**Then you bave news?” eagerly persisted the unhappy fatber, as he sunk back on the sofa. ‘** You can tell me something of her?” ‘*] have much to tell you.” ‘** You have seen her—have you?” ‘*Don’t get into such a flurry, Molina,” said Kelnot, with an air of anxiety. ‘‘ You are far from strong, and excitement will injure you.” The maine-owner uttered a groan, and put one hand to his head, around which was a bandage, ‘*T can bear excitement better than suspense,” he declared. ‘* Well, if you will have patience, I will tell ou everything in the shortest possible time. here is much to tell. By a fortunate accident I found your daughter.” Again Molina sprung up. ** You did?—where is she?” Once more Kelnot motioned him to be seated, but Molina sprung forward and’ caught the pro- prietor of the Silver Palace by the shoulder, ** Answer me!” he shouted, ‘t Where is she?” “That I cannot tell,” acknowledged Kelnot, with apparent reluctance, Molina reeled back a step. ‘** Do not know?” he repeated, as if uncertain that be bad heard aright, ‘‘ Yet you say that you found ber. What do you mean? Heavens, man! don’t be forever in telling me the truth! This suspense is terribie!” ** Sit down,” Kelnot again commanded. ‘I have promised to tell you everything as briefly as pussible, and I will do so.” Molina sunk down on the sofa, covering his drawn face with his hands for an instant, and gasping hoarsely: ‘*Go on!” ‘* As I said before, by a fortunate accident, I came upon two men just as they were carrying your daughter into a little cave. I laid lant and was not observed. After they had entered, I crept forward and found the mouth of the cave just beyond a screen of bushes, At first I did not know what to do; but I finally decided to attempt Pear]’s rescue. With a revolver in my hand, I crept into the cave, not knowing what danger I might encounter. After a time, I saw the glow of a light far ahead. Slowly I crept onward until I could see a small fire and two men crouching near it, Beyond, on a mass of dead boughs, lay your daughter. Slowly I crept nearer the villainous kidnappers, but at an unlucky moment, | made a slight noise. Both men sprung up, and without the least hesitation I put a ball through the head of one. I then grappled with the other, and succeeded in knock- ing him senseless without much difficulty.” ** You conquered them both?’ exclaimed the mine-owner, with mingled woncer and admira- tion. ‘*‘ But Pearl—you rescued her?” ‘*'Yes. We left the cave together, leaving the kidnappers where they lay. I bad a horse not far from the cave, and as we walked along, Pearl] told me of her adventures. She hada strange story to relate, The men whom we left behind us were the ones who bad originally ab- ducted her, They carried her to the cave in which I found her, then one of them went away. The night passed, and it was near mid- day when suddenlv the fellow who left the camp in company witb Eric Craddoc appeared, There was a mock struggle, and then the cowboy pre- tended to bind and disarm Pear]’s captor,’ ‘* Pretended to?” gasped Molina. * Yes,” said Kelnot, calmly, ‘‘ pretended to, for the two were in league. hether Pear] was kidnapped at the na la of this fellow who calls himself Hustler Harrv or not, certain it is that the cowboy has joined hands with the villains.” ** How do you know this?” **T have no positive proof except that Pearl herself saw him talking with the three villains who were perpetrators of this dirty piece of work, After he had gone through the farce of binding the guard, he led Pear] from the cave and told her that he would guide her to Eric Craddoe’s side, After a time they came to a place where two horses were concealed, but Craddoc was not there, He told her to wait and he would find the young Easterner. Shortly after he disappeared, a young woman found Pearl and induced her to go away with her, A. short time later they came upon four men con- versing in a bollow, and Pear! recognized one of them as the cowboy, though she said he wore a mask. Two of tbe others were the kidnappers, and the fourth was a desperate comrade of theirs. Tbe cowboy was addressing the three, and he finally paid them money,” Martel Molina had listened breathlessly, and now he uttered an exclamation, ‘‘That proves that he is their leader and the instigator of the whole business.” Kelnot smiled. “That is what I believe,” he declared. ‘“But Craddec—do you think him in league with the cowboy?’ Handy Horace shook his head. “That I dare not say. He may or may not Eomicbooks.