THE SACRIFICE.
The plucky stand taken by Celeste Seldon won the admiration of Harding
at once. He did not understand why she had been so prompt in her reply,
so willing to at once yield herself as a hostage until a ransom was
received for her release. But she did offer, and he at once decided what
he should do.
"See here, cutthroat," he said, "I have something to say to you."
"Well, out with it, but be more choice in your epithets bestowed on me,
if you wish to keep in good health."
"What! don't like the name, eh? Well, I called you by a name that
denotes your calling."
"What have you to say?"
"Just this, that if you will allow this young lady to ride on to Last
Chance, on one of my stage-horses, for he will carry her safely there, I
will remain your hostage until Landlord Larry sends the money out to you
which you demand."
"As a hostage you are of no value, but the lady is."
"Well, again?"
"What is it?"
"If I pay you the amount you said was to be sent by me, will you let the
lady go?"
"When will you pay it?"
"Now."
"Do so, and I will let the lady go free."
"No, no, sir, you have not the money," cried Celeste to Harding.
"Yes, miss, I can make it good, for I have a little more saved up than
he demands, and I can start over again to lay up a fortune, you see, for
I am young yet."
"I will not consent to that, except that I return you the money, my kind
friend, for I am well able to do so. I will recompense you, by paying
you back my ransom."
"We will not quarrel on that score, miss, so give him the money," said
Harding.
Celeste turned, and, raising her skirt, took the bag of money from its
hiding-place. This she handed to Harding, who threw it at the masked
outlaw's feet with the remark:
"Your spy informed you correctly; there is the money; just thirty-two
thousand dollars."
"Thank you," said the outlaw, quietly counting the money before he spoke
again.
"Yes, it is all here. Now, miss, had Harding ransomed you, it was your
intention to have repaid him, you said."
"By all means, for I have no claim upon that brave gentleman."
"You are able to pay back so large a ransom, are you?"
"Had I not been able to pay it back I would not have made the offer to
do so."
"You have not got the money with you?"
"Oh, no, I am no traveling bank, nor am I a fool."
"Well said; but as you are able to pay a ransom for yourself, I shall
hold you a prisoner until you pay me the money I demand."
An oath burst involuntarily from the lips of Harding at this treachery
on the part of the road-agent, while the young girl turned pale with
momentary dread. But she said firmly:
"After receiving the money you demanded, and which I feel it my duty to
pay back, as it is really my ransom, will you be so vile, so lost to all
manhood, as to enforce your words against me?"
"What more can you expect of one who has no character, who is already
damned body and soul. Oh, no, I have no conscience, so do not appeal to
me, for all I wish in the world is gold, and that I will have, no matter
who the victim or what the means I have to take to get it."
"You are indeed lost to every human feeling."
"So I said, and you are my prisoner until this man, Harding, brings me,
well, say thirty thousand dollars ransom money for your safe delivery to
him once more. Now, miss, I will take your baggage along, for you may
need it, and you will go with me."
"Where would you take me?"
"To my retreat, and you will be treated with respect; but money I must
have. As for you, Harding, go on to Last Chance and raise the money for
this lady's ransom. Give it to Doctor Dick, and let him come with you
in your coach on your next run out.
"Halt just here, and he will be met by one of my men with this lady. If
others come, her life shall be the forfeit. When my messenger receives
the money, this lady shall be given into the charge of Doctor Dick. Do
you understand?"
"I do, and you will understand that all of Last Chance, every man
capable of carrying a gun, will be upon your trail before night."
"Just let any one pursue me, and instead of finding me, you will
discover the dead body of this young girl in the trail awaiting you.
Remember, I am not to be followed, or intimidated. Do you understand
now?"
Harding made no reply, for he was too much overcome to speak; but the
small leather trunk belonging to Celeste Seldon having been taken from
the coach, along with a side-saddle and bridle she had brought with her,
the driver clasped her hand in farewell.
Harding was unable himself to speak, for his emotion at being unable to
protect the girl. Celeste Seldon said to the outlaw:
"I would like to have a word with this gentleman."
"Before me, yes," said the masked chief.
"Very well, I have no secret to make known to him, so you may hear."
Then, turning to Harding, she continued:
"You have been most kind to me, sir, and I appreciate it. You have done
all in your power for me, no one could do more; but let me say to you if
you can raise the sum demanded by this--this--robber, do so, and every
dollar shall be refunded to you within a few days after my return East."
"The men won't ask it, miss."
"But I shall pay it. Now to the reason in part of my coming here."
"Yes, miss."
"Try to find out for me among the miners if a man by the name of Andrew
Seldon is known to any of them, and, if so, where he is."
"I will."
"Try also to do all in your power for that poor young man Bernard
Brandon, who, you told me, had been crazed by a bullet-wound, doubtless
given by this very--murderer."
"Yes, I shot him, and killed Dave Dockery, the driver, and a miner at
the same time," was the remark of the masked road-agent, delivered with
the utmost effrontery.
"You seem proud of your red work, sir."
"Yes, killing is a trade with me just now."
Celeste Seldon turned from him with disgust and horror, and, addressing
Harding, continued:
"Ask the one you spoke of as Doctor Dick to do all in his power for that
poor sufferer, and he shall be well rewarded for it. When I am released
I will go to Last Chance, as it was my intention, and do all I can to
find my father, and minister to the sufferings of poor Mr. Brandon. Now,
I thank you once more and bid you good-by."
Harding clasped her hand, dared not to trust himself to speak, but there
were volumes in the look of intense hatred he cast upon the masked face
of the road-agent chief. Then he mounted to the stage-box, gathered up
his lines, and drove away in a silence that was most expressive.
Harding glanced back as he came to the end of the canyon, but saw that
the road-agents and their fair prisoner had already disappeared.
Then the lash descended upon the backs of the startled horses and the
team was sent along at a pace that was dangerous indeed.
But Harding could only find vent for his pent-up feelings by rapid and
reckless driving, and never before had the distance between the Dead
Line and Last Chance been covered in the time in which he made it.
Notwithstanding his delay at the Dead Line, he went thundering up the
valley half an hour ahead of time, and when he drew rein before the
hotel his horses were reeking with foam and panting like hard-run
hounds, while his face was white, his eyes ablaze with anger and
indignation, and his teeth set firmly.
"Great God! Harding, what has happened?" cried Landlord Larry in alarm.
Throwing the mail at the feet of the surprised landlord, Harding leaped
to the ground and said hoarsely:
"Come, I wish to speak to you."
He led the way into the office and then told the whole story.
"We will mount a hundred men and go in pursuit at once," cried Larry.
"What! do you forget his threat?"
"What threat?"
"To kill the girl!"
"He will not do it."
"He will."
"No, he dare not."
"You do not know him--I do."
"Well, what is to be done?"
"Just what he demands."
"What! pay him?"
"By all means, and save the girl!"
"You are right."
"But have all ready then, the moment that she is safe, to throw five
hundred mounted men on a hunt for him, have the entire country about
Dead Line surrounded, and then hunt him and his men to death," savagely
said Harding.
"Yes, it must be done; but now to tell the men what has happened," and
Landlord Larry went out, followed by Harding, to find a large crowd of
miners gathered about the hotel.