Beadle's Boys Library No. 54 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

10 California Joe, the Mysterious Plainsman. had sent a guide and escort with them, and they bad arrived in safety at Sunset Settlement, ‘* And Maggie?’ Joe had asked. ‘(Whe is Maggie, Joe?” ‘Little Maggie Reynolds,” be answered, re- ferring to the little golden-haired girl that had | kissed him good-by. And then his mind would wander away in delirium, and he would make those who nursed him laugh at the tricks he imagined he was playing upon the Indians, Yet never once did he refer to his past life, from whence he had come, to bis parents, or to one act of his boyhood before his life upon the plains. Once did Major Van Dorn hear him say in his sleep: “T am going Sails to the old Kentucky home,” ‘“‘ Joe,” he said to him, as the boy was get- ting better; ‘Joe, are you from Kentucky?’ “I never said so when I was out of my head, did I, major?’ was the pete question. “nN 0, Joe. Zo ¥ Then Tll not say so: now, major,” was the ealm response, and the major refrained from questioning him further. At last the boy got on his legs once more. His wounds ne healed under the surgeon’s @are, and he said he was ready to go. “Go where, Joe?” asked Major Van Dorn. “ Anywhere,” * Why not stay here?” ‘Well, you have proven yourself a great Indian-fighter, Joe, and I would engage you as a scout for the fort and give you good pay.” ‘What would I do with the money, major?” ‘(Ts there not some one you could give it tof?” ‘6 No. % ‘Well, some day there may be.” ‘* Yes, ‘there may be. ‘(Pll keep what I’ve got; but how much is it?’ ‘*T allowed you the same price for the last ponies, Joe, and sent them to head quarters, where they were needed, so I have for you, or the Paymaster has, just sx thousand and sixty dollars,” “Whew! I’m rich!” ‘Yes, quite well off, Joe. But you can ac- eumulate more as a scout.” ‘No, major; I’m going west.” ‘Well, Joe, I was under the impression that this was west, and a long way west,” said the major, with-a smile. - ‘* Not west enough for me. ‘‘T am going to the Rocky Mountains.” ‘In Heaven's name! what are you going there for, Joe?” “Trapping, hunting, and looking around,” was the cool reply. ‘You'll never get there.” “T guess so.” “You'll be killed.” ‘¢T guess not.” ni ‘‘'Well, you wish to take some money with you?” “No, I have enough. 4 The major looked at the strange youth in surprise. He could not make him out, and the more he saw of him, the more of a mystery. he became, He seemed to have an air of refinement about him at times, which he also seemed to en- deavor to hide. He spoke naturally one day, and in border slang the next. Here wasean opportunity for him to remain at, the fort, where be bad won the esteem of officers and soldiers-alike, and was looked upon ‘as a hero. And yet he was going to leave, and though alone, friendless apparently, coolly said his destination was the Rocky Mountains, ‘“What shall I do with your money, Joe, if vou do not return?’ asked th major, ‘**Oh! I'll be back some day,’ was the con- tident response. ’ But in case of an accident-.-” ‘You mean if I get killed?” . “6 Yos,” ‘Give it to Maggie, and tell her Joe left it for her.” “Maggie Reynolds?” ai Yes.” : ‘‘She is but a little child?” ‘‘'Yes, only four or five years old; but I guess she’ll grow.” “‘No doubt of it, Joe. “Well, Pll give it to her if you do not re- turn.” “Now, major, don’t be in too big a hurry about it, for I'll come sliding back some day.” ‘‘V’ll wait three years, and if I should be ordered away from the post I will leave it with the commander who follows me, and so on.” ‘“‘ Better make it five years,” ““So be it, Joe.” And this financial matter being settled, Joe set about his preparations for his departure. He had the pony he had selected from his herd, and the major said that he had shown great speed, as the men had raced him several times while Joe was ill. Then he added: ““But Joe, l’ve got a borse I wish you to accept as a present from me, and he shows his heels to anything on the border, so far. “Then I have arifle,a new patent, and a smalt one, I wish you to have. “You can use your mustang as a pack-ani- mal, and the men say you shall go well stocked with stores, from the commissary and the sutler, so you'll want for nothing.” Joe seemed touched at the kindness shown him, and several days after mounted the splendid animal given him by Major Van Dorn, and with bis mustang well loaded and in lead, rode out of the fort toa tune from the band and a cheer from the entire garrison. All watched him until he got some distance off, and saw him head due west. And many predicted that he would lose his scalp before a week went by, while others con- fidently asserted that he would yet be back and give a good account of himself. “‘He’ll dismount a whole Indian tribe yet, and be back with the mustangs,’”? said the major with a laugh, and as the youth was yet in hearing he continued: ‘“Now, men, three ringing farewell cheers for Joe, the Boy Pioneer!” With a yell they were given, and Joe was seen to turn in his saddle and raise his hat in response. , CHAPTER XVIII. A FAVOR RETURNED, Wuar becdme of Joe, after his dbgariuve from the fort, no one ever knew, for several years passed away before those who had known him then heard of him again. Sofie said he had indeed gone to the Rocky Mountains, and had passed a year or more roaming through its wilds, and others reported that a. youth answering to his description, had been guiding trains over the Santa Fe trails, and had won a name in Upper Mexicoasa most daring Indian-fighter, and a man whom few of the-desperadoes of the plains cared to meet. But one night he came suddenly before sev- eral who had known him at the fort, when he brought his taptured herd in, and it wasin this way. Major Van Dorn had been pushed further west with his command, for the Star of Em- pire would not allow the border to remain long in one locality, as the march of civilization beat the red-skins further and further toward the Land of the Settjng Sun. About his outpost Major Van Dorn had been annoyed a great deal with a gang of desperadoes, who were road agents, horse-thieves and all else that was vile. and he had offered a re- ward for their capture dead or alive. Ove night he bad gone over toa small settle- ment, a few miles from the outpost he com- manded, to witness the marriage of a young ete trapper to a settler’s daughter; and as there was just thena number of histroopersoff ona raid, be had been accompanied only by one ‘ofa his officers and two cavalrymen. The trapper was a handsome young man, es but there was that in his face which neither the girl’s father nor the major liked; but the maiden had fallen in love with his good looks, and plainly told her father that he did not like her lover because he wanted her te marry the old fort sutler, who was rich. The settler gave his consent, however, to the marriage, and the day bad been set, or "rather the night, for the ceremony. Promptly at sunset the young groom ar- rived, accompanied by several wild-luoking comrades, who he said had come down from the hills to see him ‘“ spliced,” as he termed it. The major saw these friends, and liked their — looks less than he did the groom’s, and, as more of them dropped in, until there were nearly a dozen present, he determined to be on his guard, well knowing that was .a locality for char- acters of a most dangerous kind. One of the guests attracted the attention of the major in particular, and he was about to walk over to where he stdod and ask him where they had met before, when, as though divining his purpose, the young man left the the cabin abruptly. ‘‘Did you see that man, Stewart?” asked the major of his brother officer. ‘Yes, major, and a dashing looking fellow he was, with an eye like an eagle,” was the reply, The one to whom they referred was six feet in hight, superbly formed, and had a mass of brown curls hanging down his back. His face was full of daring, resolute, and his eyes were black, lustrous, and in repose sad, while a slight mustache was just shading his lip. He was dressed in a full suit of buckskin, fringed and beaded, and even in the settler’s cabin wore a black sombrero, the broad brim _turned up in front. Around his waist was a belt made of a pan- ther-skin, and in it were a pair of revolvers and a long bowie-knife. ‘‘T have met him somewhere before, Stew- art.” **So it seems to me, major,” and the two officers tried to recall where and when the young man had crossed their paths in the past. At length the bride came in, upon the arm of her father, and her lover and his pards en- tered from outside the cabin, where they had been joking and frolicking with each other in a somewhat rude manner. It was evident that they had all been drink- ing, and the lover, whose name was lost under the border appellation given him of Bowie Bob, said in an insulting tone, as his eyes fell upon the major: “This hain’t no military wedding, and I wants them blue coats and brass buttons to git.” His pards cheered at this; but the settler, Seth Kenten, stepped forward and said: ‘““ Bob, these gentlemen are my friends, and their being on this border prevents our bomes being burned and our families massacred, and I invited them here to see Mollie married.” “Waal, I say no, old man,” was the -ruda reply. .““Pardon me, Mr. Kenton, but I do not wish to be a stumbling block in’ the way of your daughter’s marriage, so I will retire, and Cap- tain Stewart will accompany me,” said Major Van Dorn quietly. The old settler evidently feared bis intended — son-in-law, and knew not what to say; but Mollie Kenton spoke up and said: ‘For shame, Bob, to insulf my father’s friends.” ‘‘T’Jl do more than that, gal, ef they .dou’t travel quick. “‘Come, git out o’ this, and lively I'll make ié lively fer yer,” eried thea t wis. GO {06 E Soa