Five Cent Wide Awake Library (vol. 2) (1894 07 20)
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DENVER DAN, ey oe ee retin Sas ies “DENVER DAN, AND HIS MYSTIC BAND. F A TALE OF THE FAR WEST, By ©. LITTLE. CHAPTER I. “ A ORY FOR HELP AND ITS ANSWER. | Just on the edge of a range of mountains, one of the eonnecting spurs of the great Rocky Mountain line, stood, at the time of our story, a little cabin, occupied by a miner and his family. : : Ned Travis was a man of about-forty-five years old, and had emigrated from the east, bringing his wife and two children with him, and had already got together a snug little fortune. His two children were Mary, a girl of about nineteen, and as beautiful as a fairy, and Jack, a lad of about seyen- be tcen, 2 fine, handsome boy, with a heart of steel, an eye F like an eagle’s, an arm that could fell an ox, and a nature r as frank and open.as a child’s. eee _ Jack and his father worked at mining or trapping as oc- easion offered, and Mary and her mother remained at home and looked after the house. , _ Mary had been taught to shoot with revolver and rifle, - and was almost as good a shot as Jack himself; but with’ _ allthese manly acquirements she was as gentle and modest ~ im her deportment as the most cultured belle of the city. Mrs. Travis was a good, motherly woman, who brought up her children to be strong, honest, healthy, useful mem- _ bers of society, whether that society was in a mining camp or a busy manufacturing town, and she had never known an idle moment, though her disposition was so cheerful that she did not look like an overworked drudge, but like i fey body, to whom work was a pleasure and idleness a trial. : __- Tt was customary for Ned Travis and his son to be off three or four days at a time occasionally, and during such periods Mary and her mother felt noalarm, as visitors were rarely seen, and no one had ever molested them. - Putus up a plenty to eat, mother, for I don’t expect - to be back till the day after to-morrow,” said Ned to his - wife one morning. ‘‘Jack and I are going off prospecting, and won’t be back very soon. I hope to strike it rich,and « if Ido, will have an addition to the house, run up another story, and fix up the porch.” . ‘The men departed, and Mary and her mother set them— selves to work, and in doing the many necessary things that fell to their lot, the time passed quickly. _ _ Tt was afternoon, and Mary was sitting sewing, softl humming to herself, while her mother was taking a bate of crisp, brown loaves from the oven. _ Suddenly a shadow fell across the threshold, and Mary, lancing up, saw a rough-looking man standing in the Loorway. ye aes “or Tl have todo some shootin’, He was a stranger to her, and the sight of him standing there filled the girl with a strange dread, though she was by no means timid. ‘*Mornin’,” he said, gruffly. ‘This where Ned Travis hangs out?” “This is his home,” said Mary, ‘but he is away at present.” oes She at once blamed herself for having uttered these words, for a smile of deep satisfaction passed .over the man’s forbidding countenance, making it look even more repulsive. “T fancied he wasn’t about,” said the man, ‘‘’cause me an’ Ted Ranos watched him an’ the boy go off this mornin’, one we thought that now was as good atime as any to call.” : : ‘What do you want?” asked the girl, rising in alarm. es ‘Something to eatan’ drink, an’ all the money what’sin the house. Maybe you’ve heard tell o’ me. My name’s Colorado Charley, and when I get mud, look out.” The mention of the man’s name sent a shiver through . the girl’s entire frame. She knew it as the appellation of. one of the most noted desperadoes of the section, and had often heard her father and brother tell of the cruel deeds _ done by the man. ¥ 5 “Come in and sit down, while I go and call mother, an@ get you something to eat,” she answered, as calmly as she could, determining to obtain her revolver, which was in the cupboard, and show this marauder that she was not as de- fenseless as he imagined. ; As if divining her intentions, the desperado put his — hand to his boot, and said, quietly: , ‘No you don’t. I know what you’re up to. I’ll get what I want myself. Just yousit down where you was and don’t stir!” At this moment Mrs. Travis rushed in from the kitchen, all excitement. seein Sear “Get the.gun, quick, Mary,” she said. ‘There’s a rough man out there, and he means mischief.” Then the poor woman saw the man that had frightened Mary, and her breath was nearly taken away by the sight. eS still an’ don’t make a noise,” said Colorado Charley, - Hey, boys, come in — here and help yourselves!” ee: Three or four villanous-appearing men rushed in at this -moment, and began ransacking the» chests and table — | drawers. hi ‘ ; tras kaa a ee Mary grew indignant at this, and made a bound for the —
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