A VISITOR AT PIONEER POST.
Horseshoe Ned, the driver of the Overland coach running to and from
Pioneer Post, drove into the fort with an all-important air toward
sunset one evening, caused by having a lady seated upon the box with
him.
She was attired in mourning, wearing a heavy crape veil which she
drew over her face as she approached the gate in the stockade wall.
But Horseshoe Ned knew that it was a very beautiful face, with large
eyes that were simply magnificent, though she hid them under a pair
of eye-glasses when she drew her veil about her.
Who she was Horseshoe Ned did not know, more than that she had been
transferred to his care by the driver who had had her in charge up to
the station where his run ended.
“I say, Pard Ned, jist let yerself out in entertainin’ thet leddy,
fer she are a sweet one and jist as perlite as kin be. She rides on
the box right through, and wants ter know ther whole history o’ ther
trail as we goes along. She are mournin’ fer somebody as is dead and
gone, I guesses, from her dressin’ in black, and I feel sorry for
her, for I sees away back in her eyes that she hain’t just happy,
notwithstandin’ her pretty smile.”
So had said the driver who had given her into the charge of Horeshoe
Ned, who replied:
“I’ll treat her same as a princess, pard; but what is her name?”
“I hain’t heerd it, pard.”
“Waal, she’s a beauty, so interdooce me.”
The past guardian on the trail of the fair stranger led Horseshoe Ned
up to the lady, as she came out from breakfast at the station, and
said:
“Here’s whar I leaves yer, miss, but I gives yer inter charge o’ ther
best driver on ther Overland, and one who has got a name as a dandy
all round, take him at what yer please. He are Horseshoe Ned, miss,
and he takes ther old hearse through ter ther fort, and yer see he’s
got ther best coach and team on ther entire outfit.
“Don’t be skeered, though his run has been known as the Death Trail,
fer on it Silk Lasso Sam and his men have been hanging out for
deviltry, though that game won’t be played no more. Not knowin’ your
name, miss, I can’t interdooce you ter Horeshoe Ned, only him ter
you.”
“My name is----” and after a short hesitation she added the name:
“Ruth Arden, Mr. Baldy.”
Having learned the name, Baldy was not going to leave the
introduction half done, so said quickly:
“Miss Ruth Arden, Horseshoe Ned, and if you don’t treat her
first-class yer quarrels with me.”
“I am sure that he will do all in his power, Mr. Baldy, to make my
ride as pleasant a one as it has been with you.”
And Horseshoe Ned did, for he showed how he could drive, gathered
wild flowers here and there for his fair passenger, told her the
legends of the trails, and showed her the scenes of Silk Lasso
Sam’s red exploits, and graves which he had been the one to dot the
roadside with.
“I tell yer, miss, thet Silk Lasso Sam is a terror, and I has seen
him do killin’ more times than I cares to remember. It hain’t been so
very long since he kilt my Pard Ribbons, and he has nipped me slight
several times; but that is his business and drivin’ is mine, and it’s
every man to his occupation, and I must say Silk Lasso Sam stood
above ’em all in what he undertook.”
“And he is now a prisoner at the fort, sir?”
“Yes, miss. He’s soon ter be hanged, they says, though I won’t
believe it until I sees it.”
“Why, do you think he’ll receive a pardon?”
“A pardon, miss? Silk Lasso Sam receive a pardon? No, indeed, miss,
never from God or man!” was the vehement response.
“He has been so very wicked, then?”
“He has had nothing but wickedness in his heart, miss. Nobody has
been able to escape him, men, women or children, for he is merciless
to all, and but for Buffalo Bill, Surgeon Powell and a miner named
Deadshot Dean, he’d hev gone on his wicked ways and done no end of
harm.”
“I am sorry to hear that he was a man of whom nothing good could be
said, for it is seldom you find a man who has fallen so low as that,”
sadly said the passenger.
“He brought it on himself, miss.”
“Yes, I can believe that; but why is it that you do not believe that
he will be hanged?”
“Well, miss, he has been in so many tight places, and always gives
his foes the slip in some way, that I has begun to think he hain’t
born ter be hanged.”
“One cannot live an evil life and never expect just punishment in the
end, sir.”
“Just punishment for him, miss, would be, to my thinking, solitary
confinement in a cell where he’d hev ther chance ter be alone with
his conscience and feel all ther deeds he has been guilty of, for
shootin’ would be too good fer him, and hangin’ would soon be over
with. But there’s the fort, miss, and we’ll soon be there. Has you
friends there, miss?”
“I have a letter to Colonel Dunwoody,” was the reply, and after a
couple of hours’ rest the visitor to Pioneer Post presented herself
at headquarters and asked to see Colonel Dunwoody.
The colonel received his fair visitor without any ceremony, wondering
what had brought a lady by coach so far to see him.
He saw a form of exquisite grace, clad in black, and when she threw
back her veil and her face was revealed in all its beauty he was
fairly startled, for it brought to him at once the memory of an ideal
portrait which he had seen in the long ago, and which he had in vain
sought to find the counterpart of in life.
He bowed and led her to a seat, while he said in the courteous manner
natural to him:
“Pray tell me how I can serve you--miss.”
He added the _miss_ after a slight hesitation, for it did not appear
to him that he stood in the presence of a married woman.
“Permit me to introduce myself, Colonel Dunwoody, as Miss Ruth
Arden, and to say that I am here to present a letter to insure the
fulfilment of the request I shall have to make you.”
She gazed into the handsome face of the man before her with a look in
which there was both confidence and admiration commingled.
She had heard of the daring, dashing Indian-fighter, the youngest
officer of his high rank in the army, and one whom report said was as
noble in nature as he was brave.
“I assure you, Miss Arden, I should be most happy to do all in my
power for you, even did you not bear this letter,” said the colonel
as he broke the seal of the letter.
A cloud crossed his brow as he read the purport of the communication,
an official permission for Miss Arden to visit her brother, the
outlaw chief known as Silk Lasso Sam.
“Your brother, Miss Arden?” asked the colonel, and there was almost
reproach in the tone.
“Yes, sir, your prisoner is my brother, for I will not disown him,
even though I must deeply regret that he is so unfortunate as to be
under sentence of death for his many heinous crimes.”
“Miss Arden, I deeply deplore his fate, especially the more since
now I have met you. I felt in my conversation with him, that he had
been well born and reared a gentleman, whatever the sad circumstances
which had made him a criminal and fugitive from justice. I extend to
you my deepest sympathy, and I will at once escort you to the place
where your brother is held a prisoner and arrange that you see him
alone.”
“You are indeed most kind to me, Colonel Dunwoody, and you have my
deepest gratitude.”
“May I ask where you have obtained quarters while here, Miss Arden,
and how long your stay will be?”
“I have secured a room in the sutler’s home, sir, and his wife is
most kind to me. I shall remain only until the next stage departs for
the East.”
“Permit me to say that my friends, Major and Mrs. Lester, will be, I
know, most happy to entertain you while here, and you will find at
their house a relative, Miss Clarice Carr, who I know will extend you
the warmest of welcomes also, for she is a true woman.”
“Perhaps, sir, it would be best for me to remain at the sutler’s, for
you know that, no matter what I may myself be, I am the sister of
the condemned outlaw.”
“Through no act of your own; your misfortune, not your fault, Miss
Arden, and my friends will regard you and your position as I do.”
“You are most kind, sir.”
“Then shall we go first to Major Lester’s quarters?”
“You know best, Colonel Dunwoody, only I do not wish to be an
intruder and----”
“Come, Miss Arden, for such a thing as your intruding is not to be
thought of. Though our trade is war, we soldiers are yet not wholly
heartless,” and the colonel led the way from his quarters.
The home of Major Lester was one of the best in the fort, and
situated slightly apart from the others. Clarice Carr was seated upon
the piazza as they approached, a book in hand, but she arose and met
the colonel cordially, and cast a quick glance at the beautiful girl
accompanying him.
There was something in the face of Ruth Arden which seemed to win her
at once.
“Miss Carr, let me present to you Miss Ruth Arden, a young lady who
is here on the sad mission of visiting her unfortunate brother and
bidding him farewell, for I refer to the outlaw chief, now under
sentence of death.”
Instantly Clarice Carr stepped up to Ruth and kissed her, while she
said quickly, with an intuitive knowledge of why the colonel had
brought her there:
“And you will be my guest, will you not, while you are here, for you
will need me to cheer you up, I know?”
The tears came into the beautiful eyes of Ruth, and she said in a
voice that quivered:
“Yes, for your sympathy and friendship will be so dear to me.”
“You did just what I was going to request of you, Miss Clarice, for
Miss Arden is at the sutler’s, but I will have her things sent here,
as I know that Lester and that sweet wife of his will do as you have,
ask Miss Arden to be your guest.”
“They will, indeed, Colonel Dunwoody, but they are not at home just
now.”
“Well, Miss Arden will return here when she has seen her brother.”
“I will come within an hour, Miss Arden, to fetch you back with me,”
was the prompt reply of Clarice, and both Ruth and the colonel gave
her a look of gratitude for her thoughtfulness.
All wondered as they saw Colonel Dunwoody escorting a veiled lady in
the direction of the cabin where Silk Lasso Sam was held a prisoner.
Captain Dick Caruth was officer of the day, and Colonel Dunwoody
sent a soldier in search of him. He joined them at the barrier which
shut off the prisoner’s cabin, and was introduced to Ruth, who still
kept her veil concealing her face completely, for in spite of being
dressed differently, and with her hair arranged in a different style
from what she had worn it as Bonnie Belle, the captain had seen her
at Pocket City, and she did not wish to be recognized.
Then, too, she desired also to avoid Buffalo Bill and Surgeon Frank
Powell, who also knew her well, and might recognize her as Bonnie
Belle.
Captain Caruth bowed low, heard what the colonel had to say, and at
once said:
“I will report to the prisoner his sister’s coming, Colonel Dunwoody,
and”--turning to Ruth--“if I can serve you in any way command me
during your stay here, Miss Arden.”
“You are all so good to me,” was the low reply.
Captain Caruth at once hastened on ahead and coming to the sentinel,
he said:
“Sentinel, march forty paces from the cabin and take up your beat
there, for there is a lady to see the prisoner alone.”
The sentinel saluted and obeyed, and opening the cabin door Captain
Caruth entered.
Silk Lasso Sam greeted him politely, while he said in a tone in which
there was some sarcasm:
“This is an honor, Captain Caruth, I appreciate.”
“The honor, sir, is to come in the visit of one whom you should have
thought of ere you allowed yourself to become what you now are,” was
the stern reply.
The prisoner started and his face changed color.
“I do not comprehend, sir,” he faltered.
“You have a sister, sir?”
“Yes, my sister Ruth.”
“Miss Arden, your sister, is now here to visit you, for she is coming
with the colonel.” An expression of joy swept over the face of the
outlaw while he said in a tone that seemed sincere:
“God bless her for coming here to see me. She is a brave, noble girl,
true as steel.”
“It is to be regretted that you did not think of her in the past.”
“I did, and of my mother, too; but I was born bad, my heart was
wicked from boyhood and it was destined for me to be the devil I
am.” The prisoner spoke bitterly, and Captain Caruth said in a kindly
tone:
“Well, Arden, your sister is here, and so take what comfort you can
from her visit. She can remain an hour, and see you alone.”
“I thank you, sir,” and the outlaw bowed his head as the captain
turned and left the cabin.
“I have told your brother of your coming, Miss Arden, and he is ready
to receive you. I regret that I cannot free him of his irons while
you are with him, but it cannot be.”
“I do not ask it, sir. He must not expect favors where he has shown
none, and led the life he has,” was the reply.
The colonel then escorted Ruth to the door, and bowing, said:
“The sentinel will inform you, Miss Arden, when Miss Carr comes for
you.”
Ruth bowed in silence, and entered the cabin.
Her brother sat there, in irons, his head bowed upon his hands. She
turned pale at the sight, brave as she was, and stood for an instant
regarding him. Then she said, softly:
“Arden, my brother.”
He arose slowly, his face pallid, and in silence extended his
manacled hands. Either he was playing a part with perfect acting, or
he felt deeply and despairingly his situation, and that she should
see him thus.
“My poor brother,” she said, laying her hand lightly upon his
shoulder.
“You pity me, then, Ruth?” he asked, in a quivering voice.
“From the very depths of my heart and soul I pity you, brother. That
is why I came at your call, came when I received your letter, to say
what words of cheer I could to you.”
“You came to do more, Ruth?”
“You mean to save you?”
“Yes,” he said eagerly.
“I have come to save you, brother, for with you I feel that you are
not fit to die, that you should have time for repentance, should do
all in your power to atone for the past.”
“God bless you, Ruth, and I know that he will. I felt that you would
not desert me in my last hour.”
“No, I have long tried to save you, have worked so hard to help you,
to take you from your evil life, and it seemed all in vain, for you
seemed wedded irrevocably to sin, and every pledge you made me was
broken.
“But I am not here to upbraid you, but to have a long talk with you.
Sit down and let me tell you just what I have done and why I am
here.” She gently forced the prisoner into his chair while she began
to pace slowly up and down the cabin.