Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 545 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

& a4. + Ld - 22) ‘You go on to your home. to moving with as little delay as possible, and will report to you if there is anything of impor- | ‘at bis desk, wrote rapidly | When he had finished he handed the writing to _ Kelnot, and instructed him to have half a dozen tance to tell.” To this the mine-owner consented, for, to tell the truth, he had kept in the saddle with the greatest difficulty during the time that they had | passed over the last mile. His head throbbed with an intense pain, and at times everything _ seemed whirling around, ‘God! ‘“*T fear I am ill,” he muttered. me as soon as there is any news.” A look of alarm appeared on Kelnot’s face, ‘‘ Perhaps I had better see you safely to the house, You may not have strength enough—” Molina set his teeth and straightened up in the saddle, “*No, no!” he said hoarsely. ‘‘I am all right. ‘Send out the searchers. Never mind me, Don’t lose time! Every moment is precious,” There was quite a throng in front of the Silver Palace, and the appearance of the two men wus greeted with a shout, “The boys are poeay smiled Handy Horace. They separated, Kelnot reining up in front of the hotel, and Molina continuing toward his residence. When he reached the door, he had barely sufficient strength to dismount and stagger into the house, leaving the horse where e stood. The mine-owner flung himself on the sofa, and | the boasted chief of When he | recovered, he found the woman-servant at his — for a time, nearly lost consciousness, side, ‘Can I do anything for you?” she asked. Molina told her where to find some liquor, and when she brought it, be took a liberal draught. ‘* There is nothing more that you can do at present,” he said. ‘‘ Leave me alone for a time.” She complied with his request, and the unfor- tunate man was left to curse his luck and groan, He took frequent pulls at the flask of liquor, and as his headache became less acute, he sunk into a doze, When Horace Kelnot appeared, he found the mine-owner fast asleep, Carefully hestole from | the room and sought the woman whom he bad | placed in the house, They held a long consul- | tation. Nearly an hour had passed when the pro- prietor of the Silver Palace returned to Molina’s side. The sleeping man was aroused by a ward He started up as he saw Kelnot by his side, ‘* Away, you villain!” he shouted wildly. ** You have stolen my daughter and would mur- der me! Away, or I will—” He paused and put one hand to his head in a puzzled way. Handy Horace appeared alarmed. ‘* What do you mean?” he Gaaper Molina uttered a groan and gazed straight at him for several seconds, At last he said: “It was only a _ dream, for which I thank | Sit down, Keinot.” With a breath of relief, Kelnot sunk into a chair. “You startled me!” he declared. ‘* You looked so wild at firgf that I thought you must be having another crazy spell.” ‘*it was a horrible dream, It has been years since I have dreamed anything that affected me ‘* What did you dream?” Molina shuddered. ‘“*T don’t care to think of it. You were the eause of all my trouble. Instead of being a friend, you were a treacherous foe. Pearl was in your power, and just as you awoke me, I thought you had advanced to my side with a knife in your hand, intending to murder me,” Handy Horace was quite pale when Molina ceased to speak, ‘* A bad dream, indeed,” he observed, his voice sounding choked and unnatural. Molina tbrew out one hand asif to banish all thoughts of the dream. He fixed his eyes in- quiringly on Kelnot’s face, hoping to read some tidings there, even before he asked a question. ‘* What news do you bring?” searchers have been sent out. I am going to a them soon, but I resolved to see you ere I 80. ** Ts this young Craddoc in town?” ‘+ No. here.” Molina sprung up and walked the floor, his ‘bands tightly gripped behind his back. Finally he wheeled on Kelnot. ‘“T tell you that fellow is a scoundrel!” he cried. ‘‘ 1 am sure of it!” “You may be right,” admitted Handy Horace; “but still I say we have no proof of ve tried to find him, but he is not ‘* Where is be—where is the rascal? If he is an honest man, why does he not show bis nose and give an account of himself. I tell vou, Kelnot, you are inclined to be too easy with the _ fellow.” Handy Horace smiled and shook his head. ‘¢ Possibly; but we have other game that we have spotted. When are you going to post that proclamation?” \ I will get the boys | No time should be wasted.” **Come to | |The news spread like wildfire, offered stimulated those who started out on the ‘‘ None, I am sorry to say, except that the in eee ee.) bee he irk ee Fo ee >* * > is . Hustler Harry, the Cowboy Sport. ‘“‘ As soon as possible. I will write it at once. | He seized a pen and paper, and sitting down for a few minutes, copies made and posted in conspicuous places, An bour later the citizens of Cimarron City | were reading the following: “PROCLAMATION ! “tT Martel Molina, a citizen of the town of Cimar- ron, do hereby proclaim a certain professed cowboy, who gives bis name as Hustier Harry, to be a des- | perado and an outlaw. I have sufficient proof to sustain this charge, and offer a REWARD OF $1,000 for his capture alive. The sum to be ped promptly | upon his delivery into the hands of ss Kayford, the marshal. Double the above sum will be paid for the restoration, unharmed, of oy daughter, Pearl, | who is believed to be in Hustler Harry’s power. “* (Signed, Marte. Mo.ra,”’ CHAPTER XXVIII. THE COWBOY’S BOLDNESS. Boss Kay¥Forp was a large, muscular man, who declared that never had he been ‘ worsted ? in a fair fight. It was noticed, however, that be carefully avoided any trouble with Hickory Bill, imarron. Just how Kayford came to be appointed mar- shal of the camp it would be difficult to explain, There were those who binted that he had ob- tained the position by underhand means, but no one dared express such an opinion openly, Kayford was a man who could easily be bought, and it was almost as often that he ‘* stood in” with crime as defended justice, Kelnot and the marshal were on friendly terms, and when the former placed a certain paper in Kayford’s hands, with instructions to serve it on sight, the cnarshal said: ‘* Depen’ on it, boss, I’m yours t? comman’.” The paper was a warrant for the arrest of Hustler Harry, charging bini with various crimes, and sworn out by Martel Molina at the instigation of Handy Horace, The bulletins proclaiming the cowboy an out- law had created great excitement in the camp. The rewards hunt to do their level best, but little the most of | them dreamed how near the girl for whom they searched was to the camp of Cimarron. The day passed swiftly and the shadows of night begau to gather, Still nothing had been | found to indicate that any of the searchers were | within miles of the cowboy or maiden. Just at dusk a man strodeinto the room where Martel Molina was reclining upon thesofa. The mine-owner started up and saw before him— Hustler Harry! A lamp had not been lighted in the room, but as the Man from High Notch was between Molina and the window, the latter recognized bim at once, Molina gave utterance to an exclamation of genuine amazement, ‘* Evenin’, boss,” saluted Harry, easily, ‘‘ Thort I'd drap in an’ see ye.” ** You bold villain!” cried Molina, as he leaped toward the cool cowboy. ‘* You are my pris- oner!” With a light laugh, the Man from High Notch caught both of Molina’s wrists, brought them together and confined them with one hand, seized him by the collar with the other, and lift- ing bim clear of the floor, kicked out his feet and sat him down upon the sofa, ‘* ’Scuse this uncerymoneous manner of treat- in’ ye,” begged the cowboy. ‘* But it’s some- ter act a leetle more harshly em in ter tork with ye, not ter times necessar than usual. I rassil.” Molina was amazed. What manner of man was this? He had bandled the mine-owner as easily as if he were a child, **T shall call for help,” panted the excited man, as soon as he could catch his breath, ‘*Oh, no you won't,” said the Man from High Notch, quite confidently. ‘‘I reckon you hev er leetle hoss sense. I’m loaaed down with big guns, an’ it might.prove mighty onhealthy fur ye ter Squawk. Use jedgment, map. Don’t be hasty. ‘** ff I call for aid you cannot escape.” ‘* Now don’t attemp’ ter fool yerself in thet way. I’d beshore ter git plum’ erway, an’ them as found ye w’u’d hev ter dig lead outen ye ’fore they e’u’d h’ist ye inter a coffing.” ‘* What do you want?” The cowboy laughed, as he relaxed his hold on the mine-owner’s collar and flung himself into a chair near at hand. ‘“Tbhar, now yer beginnin’ ter tork business,” he declared. ‘Jest keep yer clothes on an’ not go ter callin’in ther naybors an’ we'll hev er right social leetle chat. I didnt drap in here fer northin’—don’t you think it.” ‘¢ But this 1s not stating your business. Come to the point at once, you villain!” ‘* Now see here, boss, can’t ye use a leetle softer cog thanthat? I’m dreadfully fond of pet names, but thet thar don’t jest strike me whar I live. Call me sum'thin’ a trifle softer, please.” Set ot His quiet words seemed to enrage Molina. The mine-owner started up, fairly trembling with fury, as he cried: ‘You wiserablecur! Where is my daughter? Where is she, I say? Tell me, or VI—” He never told what be would do. The cow- boy arose and again seized the excited man and placed him on the sofa, He held him there, as he said, sternly: “Drop this foolin’, boss, an’ cum ter yer senses. Don’t git so tore out. Yer gal—wal, thet’s jest w’at { cum hyer ter speak with ye *bout.’” ‘** Yon have come to demand a ransom,” gasp-~ Molina. ‘* You devil! I swear Pll never—” ‘Now don’t be teo hasty, oldman. Is’pose ye’d be fool ernuff ter let yer darter die in despair afore ye’d fork over fifty thousan’?” ‘* Fifty thousand!” repeated the tortured and excited father. ‘‘ Is that your price?” ‘* No, ’tain’t, old man; ye’ve made a plum’ fool of yerself if you think I know whar the gal is. If I did, I’d bring ber back ter ye; not fer our sake, but fer hern. As fer you, ye don’t ow yer best fr’en’s,” ‘You lie! lie!” cried Molina. ‘*‘ You have Pearlin your power. I know it—have proof of it! Let me tell you that if she is not restored to me within ten hours, you shall hang!”’ ‘Its allus ketchin’ afore hangin’,” said Harry, grimly, ‘an’ ’m er mighty hard flea ter ketch. Jest ther same, I don’t fancy bein’ branded as an outlaw. I promise you, pard, thet ye shell yet be ashamed of thet eetle job. It is plain ter me thet ye don’t know who yer frien’s are. I’m no more an outlaw than you are, yerself, an’ you'll find it out so.” ‘““Of course you will deny it, but I have the proof. Where have you been since yesterday?” ‘‘ Chasin’ a hoss-thief,” was the prompt reply. ‘A cuss stole my critter, an’ thet of Pard Crad- doc. [struck his trail an’ run him clean to Red Nose Gap—an’ I got ther critters. Ther durned thief skipped me.” There was every appearance of sincerity about the cowboy’s words, yet Molina did not believe him, ‘* A pretty tale!” he sneered. down just the same.” ‘‘ But I kin prove thet IT was in Red Nose Gap this mornin’.” “That will not clear you. We have sufficient evidence from the lips of the tools whom you hired to do your dirty work to doubly convict ou.” mc Tools—w’'at tools? W’at yer drivin’ at?” “You know well enough; it is useless for you to pretend ignorance.” For the first time Hustler Harry’s temper was started. The grip on Molina’s shoulder tight- ened till the mine-owner uttered a little cry of ain. “Tt doesn’t go ‘“Splain yer words,” commanded the Man from High Notch, his eyes fairly glowing in the gloom. ‘‘ W’at d’yer mean?” ‘“You know well enough whatI mean, The three ruffians whom you hired were overheard talking of you. They unconsciously gave the whole foul game away.” Harry seemed nonplused, ‘‘Ye can’t mean Hick’ry Bill an’ his pals?” ‘¢ But those are the very ones that I do mean, If they are captured, they will be forced to testify against you.” ‘Who heard ’em say thet I hired ’em?” ** T did.” For a few moments the cowboy was silent. He seemed puzzled, but the shadows prevented Martel Molina from studying his face. “‘T reckon thet things do look kinder bad,” he admitted, after a time, ‘“‘Thet is w’at I kem hyer fer, ter find out jest w’at ther evidence ag’in’ me ’mounted ter.” ‘There is evidence enough.” ‘“P’r’aps yer’ right, but ’pearances are at deceptive. Vm goin’ ter prove ter ye that hain’t ther galoot w’at yer takes me fer. Yeu shell hear frum meergin. Jest now it’s gittin’ dark, an’ thar hain’t no light in this byer room, I don’t reckon it would be right healthy fer me ter stop roun’ much longer, so I'll slope, Jest you keep yer settin’ an’ remember thet I've got a gun out, an’ lookin’ at ye.” ; For the first time the cowboy displayed a re- volver. He backed slowly toward the door, keeping Molina covered all the time. Reach- ing round behind him, he took hold of the knob and opened the door. ‘““ Day-day, partner,” he laughed, and sprung backward through the doorway, closing the door behind him. Until that moment Molina had been awed by his boldness. As the door slammed, the mine- owner leaped to his feet with a furious oath and sprung forward in pursuit. In his excite- ment, he was unable to open the door for a mo- ment, and as he did so, the outer door closed with a bang. : ‘““ He isn’t out of the net yet!” gritted the mine-owner, 9s he rushed along the hallway, re- volver in hand. Le A moment later, he was standing in front of the house peering sharply into the darkness on either band. : There was no one in sight. Swiftly lifting the revolver, he discharged (E(0) (E m a - ee — > ge a a Le 5 he eee ~