Wildcat Bob, the Boss Bruiser — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

net 14 The New York Library. « minnit w’at’ll hap ther next, now-a-days, as I often held out. [ve hed a presentation o* sum- thin’ o’ ther kind, mysel’.” Half an hour later Iris had occasion to go to ‘the spring for a pail of fresh water. The spring in question bubbled from the rocks, a short dis- tance up the gulch, and was surrounded bya growth of young alders. The water was very clear and pure, and, in fact, was the only water fit to drink in that neighborhood. While she was filling the vessel, Iris heard a soft footstep behind her, and wheeling about, came face to face with Wild Carlos. “‘ Pardon, lady,” he said, smiling and doffing his sombrero, ‘‘though I did not intrude here intentionally. Being thirsty, and hearing the ‘water’s music this way, I sought this spring to quench my thirst.” “You do not intrude, at all,” replied Iris, tly. ‘‘ You come for water, sir, and ‘water shall you have.” She allowed the dipper she had brought along to run full of the spa to him witha gay little laugh. *¢ Drink, sir the dipper and drank, deeply. ‘* Thanks, fair lady. That draught was ddubly refreshing and pure, since it came from your » ‘*Indeed. I did not know my hands possessed Pe) ic an influence,” she rotorted, blushing | gagged and blindfolded. ** You flatter those | raised him, and bore him out into the open air. | beneath his ardent gaze. r little hands of mine, sir.” *t Nay, lady, I do not. Noamount of words of to thy beauteous self could justly be termed flattery, since you are the very queen of all that is beautiful. Any man, with you his bride, might we!l consider himself the winner of a prize more valuable than a whole world’s wealth?” *‘Oh! dear, what absurdity!” laughed Iris, who, for all, was secretly pleased with this gal- lant highwayman and his smooth, easy manners. *‘ You, I suppose, must be one of that class I have read of in stories—woman-killers! for I always imagined they were addicted to flat- te ? Phere you mistake, senorita, I am not the man to fiatter any one. When I express my opinion of a person, it is just as their appear- ance happens to strike me. You are certainl a nm among women, and the man who fails to dead in loye with you ai first sight, is but half a man.” Iris turned her face away to hide her blushes and pretty confusion, and all the while she won- deren why she was standing here in this strange resence, listening to the music of his deep, ch voice, and drinking in his words of admiration with a fastly beating heart, Was he casting a spell of enchantment around her? If so, she must break that spell, and she gurmmoned up all her womanly power to do it. ‘*You should not speak so to me!” she ex- claimed, in a cold, half-haughty tone. ‘‘ You f t that it is ungentlemanly.” } man’s gastep nearer. ‘Is it wrong for man to love, aay dear lady? Certainly not. This is a free world, | i ' ' i ! ' rkling fluid, and handed it | might,” she said, and he accepted | not. By this time the old miller was thorough! | draped figures, with revolvers leveled at his were hurriedly searched, but nothing of the re- mains of.Thomas Lamonte could be found, Completely mystified, they were finally com- pelled to give up, and re the occur- rence in whatever light they could. “*Tt’s cl’ar bes, alm my comprehenshun, gal,” was all the old miller could say. ‘* Thar’s no use frettin’ over it, tho’, ’m sure.” Just at dusk he was about to start off in search of the family cow, when Ivis called him back. ‘*Let me go and hunt up Boss,” she said, eagerly. ‘‘It is so lonesome here, that I’d just ike a run in the open air.” ** As ye like, pet. Yer legs ar’ yo rn mine, ter be sure, and p’arps ye kin hunt up the critter sooner than I c’n’d. get a-goin’, now, an’ hustle the brindle in, in a i 3 Seizing her hat, Iris gladly set forth, and was soon lost from view up the gulch bottom. Thicker and thicker the shadows of night set- tled over the desolate scene, and old Bill Wood sat in the, front doorway of his shanty, anx- iously awaiting Iris’ return. An hour, two hours passed, and still she came alarmefi, and was about to rise and go in ce of her, when he was suddenly seized by some | one from within the shanty, borne back to the | floor, and in a inkling was securely bound, Then strong arms Soon he heard boards shake beneath the feet of those who were carrying him, and he came | to the conclusion that his captors had borne him into the saw-mill. Here he was eae a to the floor, and he heard many voices about him. Not long was he left lying, however, for pow- erful hands again raised him, and the bandage was removed from his eyes, while a stern, gruff voice exclaimed: ** Bill Wood, look around you!” He did look, and what he saw made his face grow white with terror. He was standing on the car originally intend- ed to bear logs into the ee ew of a large circular saw, All around him stood white breast, to prevent his escape. The circular saw was in full motion, making hundreds of revolutions per minute, and another | white figure stood with a hand upon the lever that would force the car forward. By his side | stood another like figure, although the latter was a very giant in size, while the former was almost dwarfish. As the old miller gases around him, he shuddered at the forbidding spectacle, and waited for some one to speak. e manof giant size, and apparently the leader of the gang, volunteered to begin the conversa- tion. ** Bill Wood, ye’ve gazed around ye an beheld ther notorious Bloodhounds of the Border, whose | deeds hev no equality in all ther annals o’ crim- inal ruffianism. Ournamestands distinkt frum But old Bill Wood ‘** Ten! time’s up. on thet lever!” The order was instantly obeyed, and the cer with its load of life forw. and was re- ceived by the whirring saw—received and sawn in twain! A horror of horrors, truly. CHAPTER XII SAVZD BY A MIRACLE—ENTRAPPED. Yes, the taut rope was cut in twain, near its connection with the windlass, and Kitty Aymer stood there upon the cliff with glaring eyes and knife in hand. » ready to fight anyone who should say aught against her or offer to molest her for her terrible crime. Down—down went the rope into the yawning gulf of asl with its freight of human lives. oud yells of horror and indignation went up from the audience below, but even these tokens of sympatby availed the victims of so malicious an outrage, nothing. Wildcat Bob was now clinging to the rope with his right hand, while his Seft arm ‘was ener around the waist of the white-faced Ma elle. Down—down—down, they went with awful velocity toward the bottom of the crowded gulch. Should the rope not be long enough te touch the bottom, they were doomed to be ed against the rocks on the opposite side. The Wildeat took in epeng tinge at a glance, and saw tbat the chances for salvation were few og eee } e co seep them off the wall by thrust. ing forth his feet, he ve possibl Rewcveidk their being dashed into jelly; but a glance con- vineed him that he could not sufficiently break the shock to insure their safety. Below him lay the glistening waters of the creek, and they | seemed smiling up a welcome to him. Wers they deep enough to break his fall from high mid-air? He could but try, at least, and with a silent prayer to his God for mercy, he let go the rope and, with Ma Belle clasped in his arms, went spinning swiftly downward. Down, down, and two seconds later they dis- appeared beneath the surface of Pompeii's creek, en the crowd gave an awful yell of horror, and rushed forward in a mass, expecting te find the crushed and mangled bodies of the twain floating before their eyes, But in this they were mistaken. Nothing was to be seen of them in the clear, transparent wa. ters. They had disappeared! Suddenly one old miner, who had “ rocked ” | the “cradle” since the first gold-fever broke out, step forward, ‘Til tell ye w’at’s ther row,” he said, nodding his head knowingly. ‘‘Thar ar an old water- filled shaft hereabouts sum’ars, an’ m opinion ar’ thet ther boy an’ gal’s gone down thet identi- eal shaft!” ““Good God!” cried Mr. Leek and Colonel | infeerior competitors, an’ we rejoice thereat. | Tupper, as at this juncture or hem roy ta hav- | i ; and if he is willing to take his chances of success or failure, a man has a right to tell his love to the object of his choice, whoever she may be!” ‘‘T shall not dispute with you, sir,” replied Tris, up the pail of water, ‘‘nor can I ‘coor Byram Bg you. Therefore, you will have to excuse me.” She was moving away, when he sprung ckly forward and the pail from her ‘* At least allow me to carry this,” he said, in a tetone. ‘‘ Do not refuse me this tri- favor.” “Oh! no! no, sir!” cried Iris fied. ‘“‘ You must not go with me, indeed, If pops should see me in your company he would very angry. 4 Trae,” said Carlos De Monterey, a trifle bit- terly, as he set the pail uponthe ground. “I Sat ahipost forgotten that I am outlawed from my own race. Pardon my intrusion, lady, and ive mo for what I have said to you.” turning quickly, the handsome outlaw becoming terri- | hu | ; disappeared in the alder thicket. retraced her steps to the humble shanty | called home, her heart beating more rapidly thes it ever beat before, and her face glowing as rag hat did it mean? Was she really in love with this gallant robber, whose manners were gentlemanly and courteous, and whose words tr full of admiration respect? Who can tell? A woman’s heart is so difficult to analyze, that ene can not fathom its . Bo it as it may, one thing is certain—Iris t of that interview, with a pleased ex- m in pak blue eyes, for the remainder of A short time be lore sunset old Bill dug a grave of the pond, and went after the ‘baty of Thomas Lamonte. the amazement on 3 ~ ESE ‘tie 4 — 4 of both himself and | wheel went around and around. nues from ye—twenty-three golden nuggets thet | ye hev hid sumw’ar in thes locality. Jes’’s soon | as ye tell us whar to find them same, ye’ll be sot | free, slick asa whistle. We giv ye ten minnits | ter speek up, in. Ef ye refuse we'll interdooce | ye to this saw!” At this juncture the gag was reaps from the old man’s mouth, and he was enabled to breathe r. **T will not tell ye a darned word, so go on | with om sawing, ef thet’s what yer up to,” he | growled, wiscag At a motion m the giant the old man was pinioned to a log that lay upon the car, so that in splitting the log the lightning fury of the | mming saw would likewise go through the | ery 2 the helpless captive. ‘Will ye tell?’ demanded the Bloodhound | chief, advancing so that he could watch the working of the white upturned face. ‘ Will ye save your life?’ No reply! Two moments away. ** How is it, now? Think more of thet gold than ye like toadmit, eh?’ ‘* I think so much of et that ye’ll never git fat | off o’ et, cuss ye!” was the unhesitating answer. | ‘*That so? Wal, ye see, ef ye can stan’ bein’ | sawed up inter slabs, we kin let the gold slide, | Besides, s a way ter git et, even ef ye sticker | out. Thet gal o’ yourn knows whar't is. ‘* No, she hasn't ther leest ideer whar I hev | concealed it!” ** Bosh! — better nor aripr eh ay cum | none o’ yer shernanni over uble-spur- | red pullet; not much | A long, painfal silence. ‘*Seven minnits gone,” declared the giant, with a horrible leer. ‘ Better hurry, ole boss, | fer yer time ’s gettin’ short.” ‘* Short it never guv ye that goid.” A dead silence, save what little noise is occa- | | sioned by the buzzing of the saw, and the roar- | ing and hings of the water as the great Ee pea gp ye tell ° mi the prisoner. No response _ x > | Bob, as he gently bathed the | the wits out of “Oh! I'm kickin’ yet. out of a scrape 1 many tough places thus far I | ea. eet ee eared Ma Belle now gave signs of tien the rest of the shanty | never, ef ye wish ter save yer life, old man!” po 1 vbr ot later airy | Si oe pal CO ait ** Tt is not ungentlemanly,” e declared, taking | Our visit ter ye, is to collect our rightful reve- | ing descended from the c killed?” ‘“‘ Thet’s hard tellin’,” replied Joe Grimes, the veteran. ‘* More’n like’s not they’re fifteen og a feet below Terrence Firma about this e. ‘‘ Yes; here’s the mouth o’ the shaft,” cried one of the miners, who had waded into the creek. ‘I can feel the edge o’ et wi’ my feet,” “And by the ashes o’ Absalom, heer comes ther party we're lookin’ for,” shouted old Joe. as there was a great bubbling and seething of the water, and a moment later head and shoul ders of the Boss Bruiser came above the surface. A deafening cheer went up from the crow and a score 0: rpg, face reached forth to ai the hero ashore. ith him came the fair Ma Belle; but, unlike her noble preserver, she was age ee : “Make way! git out! make room!” vell Colonel Tupper, aerineings his heavy cathe lato and left, without re, as to whose skull he cracked. ‘* Git, I te ye, an’ let ther breeze git a dab at ther She’s gon’ fain : hev room, I tell ye.” oe ry furtn Thus a ed to the spectators shrun and Ma Belle was laid upon a patch of aa ar i sage thers rep into her face, ‘I do not think she received ruise wound to produce insensibili ty sald Wildcat a tad the maiden. ‘That fall was enough to frighten ey anybody inoue ean ttm within one of getting scared too. Heavens! I would not take another such : amount of money. When a tumble for any | tel thought sure I shouldn't stop short of I went down that ‘** Lucky thet hoel ” | Orient war thar P Seapine old Joe. fer ef et hadn’t been then. Once an’ fer all, I will | a funeral or two to attend. I assure ye. How d’ye feel, melee were with light ach | ae ‘ Leave me alone to come hunki dori. I've been in a “If? said Wildcat Bo Soke Carelesh chew hed 7 o) oXo Ki yr (3 . ‘ 4 <. . &. “|