Beadle's Dime Library No. 562 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

Sat “SF a, - | e + 26 Lone Hand, the Shadow. and shots of the savages, but it was soon mani- fest that the Indians were on foot; the fugitives had an important advantage, and they suc- ceeded in ae from their howling ene- mies, but not until they were well out of the Wichita Mountains, did they dare to breathe their horses, CHAPTER XXXII. GREERVILLE HEARS THE NEWS. THERE was little conversation between the two men until the town of Greervile appeared in the distance, then Bishop broke the long silence by saying: “Upon my word, I do not remember any- thing that ever occurred to meduring my life that has been as painful to me as this unfortu- nate affair.” ‘‘ Yes, itis a terribly heavy blow to me,” Eddie Livingstone responded. ‘‘MacAlpine was one of the best pards that ever a man had, and to think that he should be cut down in this untimely way, right in his prime by these bloodthirsty savages is perfectly awful.” ‘* Ah, and it is a sad thought to me too, that I am, in a measure responsible for it!” Bishop de- clared with a doleful shake of the head. ‘“ For if [had not induced you and your friend to go upon this expedition the accident would not have happened.” **Tt is not your fault; you acted for the best,” Eddie Livingstone replied. ‘* Yes, that is true, and, of course, I had no suspicion that there was any danger. It was an event that could not be foreseen, and, really when you come to reflect upon the circumstance it was a mercy that both you and [were not killed, as well as your unfortunate friend,” Bishop observed. ‘*We hada narrow shave for our lives, that is a fact.” ‘‘Tt makes me shudder when I look back and reflect upon our narrow escape. It was a mira- cle that we managed to get off. But what on earth do you suppose put it into the heads of the red warriors to attack us?” ‘* Sheer deviltry—nothing else!” ‘““And not the slightest warning was given either.” “That _is_the way that these red butchers do business,” Eddie ;Livingstone replied. “It is always their game not to give their men whom they attack any chance for their lives.” “Tt is really too dreadful!” Bishop declared. ‘* But what do you propose doing now?” ** Go to Greerville and raise a force of men so ss to hunt these red butchers down!” Eddie Livingstone replied with fierce energy. ‘* Yes, yes, that ought to be done, of course, and no doubt if the men start promptly they will be able to overtake and punish these miserable murderers.” ‘* Well, I don’t know about that,” the other remarked, with a doubtful sbake of the head. ‘“*There’s a good deal of room in the Wichita Mountains, and one of these wandering bands of red-skins get over a good deal of ground in a day; and then, too, they have the advantage of being thoroughly acquainted with the region, so that it is not an easy matter to overtake them if they get a good start.” “ But we can make the trial, and that will be some satisfaction,” Bishop observed. ‘* We can do all in our power to punish the red-handed scoundrels.” ‘* Yes, but the chances are aguinst us,” Eddie Livingstone replied, with a sigh. ‘““T presume so, and it isa terrible thought, too, that these miserable scoundrels will be able to escape punishment,” Bishop declared. And then, as if a sudden thought had occurred to him, he continued: ** And to think that your poor friend came to his death on a fruitless quest; but, of course, we could not tell that in advance, My information in regard to the treasure was evidently correct enough, but, unfortunately, we were not the first in the field; some one got ahead of us.” “Yes, we were too late.” “By the way, do you think that it is neces- sary for us to tell the people in the town all the rticulars of the affair?” Bishop asked, slowly. ‘IT mean in regard to what twok us into the Wichita Mountains? I don’t know how you feel about the affair, but for my part, Iam so dis- sted at our failure that 1 would prefer not to ave people know that we went on a wild-goose chase, and all that we had was our labor for our pains.” “No, I do not think that it is necessary to go into particulars,” Eddie Livingstone replied. ‘*“Wecan say that we were on a hunting ex- pedition—that is the truth, you know,” the other suggested. ‘*Yes; and as long as we did not succeed in our search it is as well to keep the matter uiet. Undoubtedly we would be the laughing stock of the town if the affair gets out,” Bishop said. ‘It is bad enough to fail without having every- body know about the matter. The jokers of the town would have no end of fun at our ex- pense.” ‘Tt is just as well to keep our search for the treasure in the background, for it is no one’s business,” So, acting on this determination, when the pair arrived in Greerville and told the story of the tragedy they did not speak of the treasure- hunt wibch had taken them into the Wichita Mountains, The news created the greatest excitement. It had been some time since there kad been any trouble with the Indians, although during the time when the settlers first came into Greerville county there had been quite a number of fights between the whites and wandering bands of red-men, who had stolen away from their reser- vations, It was immediately suggested that a meeting be called at the hotel to deliberate upon what ought to be done. Word was passed around town and the citi- zens began to flock to old Pop Anderson’s hos- telry whither Eddie Livingstone and Bishop had gone, ; When the pair entered the hotel, Maggie greeted Eddie Livingstone in her usual light- hearted way, and immediately inquired for eaoey MacAlpine. ‘Where is your bosom friend, Sandy?” she asked, ‘* It seems odd to see one of you without the other.” The face of the young man darkened; he had come fully prepared to tell the young girl all the particulars of the tragedy, and relate how Sandy MacAlpine’s last thoughts had been of her, but now that he was face to face with the girl he shrunk from the task. The shadow upon Eddie Livingstone’s face was soon perceived by Maggie, and her quick wits told her that something was wrong. ‘* What isthe matter?’ sheexclaimed. ‘‘ Why do you look at me in such a strange way, Eddie? Has—has anything happened to Sandy? ‘‘ Well, I—I—,” and the young man broke down. ‘“‘ For Heaven’s sake, speak, Eddie, don’t keep me in suspense!” the girl cried. ‘‘ Something has happened to Sandy—I know it! Oh, what is or aoaadbe i y dear young lady you must prepare your- self for a terrible blow,” Bishop bctiarkadi, ‘*Oh, Eddie, speak to me—tell me what has happened!” the girl wailed. ‘‘I am strong, I can bear it! I can bear everything but this suspense |” : Maggie, you will never see poor Sandy again,” the young man remarked, finding the use of bis tongue at last. ** He is dead!” she cried, ‘Yes, killed by the Indians in the Wichita Mountains, and his last words were of you; we were fired on by the Indians from an ambush; Sandy was hit and fell as we were running for our horses. I stopped to pick him up, but he told me to goon and save myself, as he was mortally wounded. ‘Tell Maggie,’ he said, ‘ that my last thoughts were of her; and then he fell back dead.” ‘‘Ob, merciful heavens! I shall go mad!” the girl cried. ‘‘My brain seems to be bursting! I am all on fire!” Then she gave utterance to a piercing shriek and fainted dead away. Her mother and father hastened to her assist- ance and carried the girl away. ‘Poor thing! she takes it dreadful hard. I reckon she must have loved Sandy after all,” Livingstone remarked, By this time the crowd began to gather, and as it was soon apparent that the saloon would not be big enough to hold them all an adjourn- ment was had to the open air. Eddie Livingstone told the story of the tragedy and suggested that a force should be raised to pursue the Indians who had committed the murder. This idea met with favor, but a few of the older citizens were of the opinion that it would not be possible to effect anything by proceeding ‘in that way, and one old gentleman made quite a speech in regard to the uselessness of under- taking to pursue the murderers, aaa ad he finished, when the crowd were amazed by the appearance of Maggio Anderson, wild-eyed, haggard and almost grief and rage. “Ts there a man iu this town of Greerville who is coward erough to hold back when the word is passed around to take the war-path to avenge this most brutal murder?’ she cried. ‘Tf there is let him step forward that I, a wo- man, may tell him to his teeth that he is utterly unworthy the nameof man! The blood of the murdered Sandy MacAlpine cries aloud for ven- geance! Andif you men of Greerville fear to undertake to pursue these red butchers, say so outright and we women will take upon ourselves the mission! The blood of the innocent cries aloud to Heaven, and the God of vengeance will surely give the murderers into the hands of the ministers of justice. Blood for blood! Sandy MacAlpine’s death must be avenged!” And then the girl, overcome by excitement, fell into a violent fit of hysterics and was carried away, screaming and writhing so that it took four stroug men to hold her, This settled the conservative citizens, and rantic from . i! - = ~ ae ‘i . i er ts Mt ES ALES there was no more talk about the uselessness of a pursuit, be violent words of the girl wrought the crowd up to a great pitch of excitement. ‘The gal is right!” Bud McCracken, the town marshal declared. ‘‘ It would be an everlast- ing disgrace to Greerville if we didn’t take this thing right up! Fellow-citizens, we must raise a gang and go in to see if we can’t hunt down these murdering red bucks!” ‘Yes, yes!” yelled a dozen voices. ‘You can count me in!” the marshal con- tinued. ‘‘And if thar’s ten or fifteen of you who will go with me, I reckon we will make a good try for vengeance, anyhow!” **1’m with you, for one!” Comanche Charley cried, “* And J—and I!” echoed nine other voices. It was soon to be seen that it was not a ques- tion as to getting men to go, but to determine who should be selected, for almost all the citi- zens in the town volunteered. CHAPTER XXXIIL THE SEARCH. AFTER the mustering of the volunteers it did not take long for them to get started. There were twenty men in the party, includ- ing Eddie Livingstone and Mr. Bishop, all armed to the teeth and ready for war, All the best men in the town were there, as one chap, inclined to be poetical, remarked, ‘the flower of Greerville had gone on the war- path.” That these twenty good fighting-men would be able to whip fifty, or sixty, Indian warriors no one doubted; but as far as Livingstone an Bishop were able to judge, there were not over eight or ten men in the attacking party. By common consent the command of the party had been given to the town marshal, Bud McCracken, although quite a number spoke in favor of putting Comanche Charley as a leader, for, as they argued, he was used to ‘“ Injuns and their ways,” being an old Indian-fighter, and would be able to handle the expedition bet- ter than the marshal, who, though a good man when it came to a town row, yet bad no Indian experience, ut Comanche Charley, to the surprise of his admirers, declined the honor. ‘‘No, Lain’t anxious to lead the gang,” Co- manche declared. ‘‘ Let the marshal take com- mand. Budisa good man—none better in the town, and he will do the thing up in as good style as any man you kin scare up in the count is no discount on him,” the citizens assented. ‘¢ But he ain’t use to fighting the red devils—he hasn’t had your experience with the bucks, and when it comes toa skirmish you would give bim a hundred p’ints in the game and beat him.” ‘© Don’t yeu worry ‘bout that! You are not going to find any red bucks to fight,” Comanche Charley replied with a sardonic smile. ‘‘ Do you take these red devils for a pack of fools? If you do, you have made a big mistake! They have too much sense to stay in the Wichita mountains, and wait for us to hunt them up. Long before this they are back on their reserva- tion, and every soul in the place, men, women and children, are prepared to swear that nary a buck has stepped outside the lines for a month of Sundays. e will find the dead man all right, but the fellows who killed him will be over the hills and far away!” ‘Yes, but can’t we track ’em, you know, strike their trail and followit right intothe Res- ervation?”’ urged another one of the party, who was listening to the conversation. ‘‘ Yes, mebbe it could be done, if the red bucks were greenhorns or tenderfeet, but they ain’t neither, and I reckon they will be able to blind the trail so that no man in our outfit will be able to find it.”* We have detailed this conversation because the opinion expressed by Comanche Charley was the one held by all the well-posted men con- cerned in the expedition, As far as overtaking and punishing the In- dians who had committed the murder went, there was not one chance out of ten that such a thing could be done. Still, in obedience to ogg ho clamor, due more to the lamentations that so Anderson had made in regard to the fate of her lover than aught else, the expedition had set out for the express purpose of discovering and punishin the Indians who had committed the unprovok assault. A balf a mile from the town the party met the ranchers, Alex Wallace, of the Triangle, and Lige Maxwell, of the Double-cross, Astonished at the array, the pair inquired in regard to the meaning of so large a force being upon the road, and greatly amazed and horrified were they when they heard the particulars of the tragedy. ; : -“ Well, gentlemen, I was going to Greerville to attend to a little business,” the ingle rancher remarked, ‘‘ but I reckon that business will have to wait until this expedition gets back, for Iam going right along with you, gentlemen!” “So am I! Lige Maxwell declared, ‘And I hope we will be able to get hold of these red / com ria ” o Oh, yes, the marshal is a good man—there — cbooks.com.