THE OUTLAW LOVER.
The man who had ridden into camp gave some order, which Andrew Seldon
could not hear, and one of those about the camp-fire at once set about
preparing supper for him.
There was upon his face a red mask, much as the others wore, but he was
dressed in somewhat better style than they, wearing cavalry-boots
instead of heavy ones such as his men had on, while his body dress was a
velvet jacket.
His hat was a slouch, encircled by a silver cord representing a snake,
as the gold-hunter discovered, when he afterward got a closer view of
him.
He talked to his men for a few minutes, but what he said the gold-hunter
was unable to hear. Then he walked away in the direction of the other
fire.
"Now I can know what this means," muttered Andrew Seldon eagerly.
The young girl had certainly seen the man arrive in camp, but she had
shown no interest apparently in his coming, and now, as he approached,
she calmly remained seated, her eyes, however, following his movements.
As he drew near he politely raised his sombrero and said:
"I hope I find Miss Seldon well?"
"Seldon! She bears the name I now am masquerading under," muttered the
gold-hunter in intense surprise.
"Miss Seldon is as well as could be expected under the existing
circumstances, of being the captive of a band of cutthroats," was the
cutting reply, and the listening man, who heard all, opened wide his
eyes.
"You are harsh in your terms, Miss Seldon."
"Are you not road-agents, robbers, and murderers, and are you not
holding me here for ransom, after having robbed me of a large sum in my
keeping?"
"Yes, such is the case."
"Then why wince under the name of cutthroat? But you have been away for
some days."
"I have."
"You have seen your chief?"
"I have."
"And what message does he send?"
"You are to go with me at dawn to the rendezvous on the Overland Trail,
where you are to be given over to the one sent by the miners of Last
Chance to pay your ransom."
"I am glad of this; but will your chief keep faith, or will he play the
traitor for a third time and escape giving me up through some trick?"
"No, for if he did he would surely be run down, as he knows, by the
miners, even if your life was the forfeit."
"I hope it may prove true that I am to be ransomed, and I will be ready
to go with you; but where is your chief?"
"He is in his other camp."
"Then he has two?"
"Yes."
"Am I to be blindfolded and bound again when you are taking me from
here?"
"Such are his orders, Miss Seldon."
"He fears that I, a young girl, may lead a force upon his secret
retreat?"
"That is just what he fears, Miss Seldon."
"I only wish I _was_ able to do so."
"Miss Seldon, may I speak a word to you?" suddenly said the masked
outlaw, drawing nearer.
"I believe there is no more to say, for I will be ready at the hour you
desire to start."
"There is more to say, and say it I will. I wish to tell you that I have
been a very wicked man, that I went to the bad when hardly out of my
teens, broke my mother's heart by my evil life, and ruined my father
financially, driving him to suicide in his despair.
"I came West and tried to redeem the past by becoming an honest miner;
but luck went against me, and I at last turned once more to evil and
found a band of outlaws. Money came to me in plenty, and at last I
drifted into the band that our chief commands, and, as you know, I am
his lieutenant.
"He found this mine and sent us here to work it and have our retreat
here also. Much gold is coming to us through our work, and also by our
holding up the coaches on the Last Chance trail, for he posts us where
to be on hand for an attack, as we have what we call the post-office
half-way between our camp and his.
"When he made you a prisoner I felt for you, and, as I was the one to
hold you captive and bring you here, I grew more and more fond of you
until now I must, I will tell you, that I love you with my whole heart
and soul, Celeste Seldon."
The young girl had not moved during the time that the outlaw lieutenant
was speaking, but now, when he proclaimed his love for her, she arose,
drew herself up, and said haughtily:
"And I, Celeste Seldon, abhor such love as you, an outlaw, would feel
for me, and command you not again to speak one word to me while I am in
the hateful atmosphere of your presence as your prisoner."