THE RAID ON THE OLD STOCKADE.
Although posses were formed and troopers thrown on the outlaw's trail,
he managed to evade them, though several times they got near enough to
shoot at him. But, with that perversity of Fate which seems at times
to guard and protect wrongdoers, bring suffering upon the honest, he
escaped to his fortress on the rock-crowned mountain unscathed.
Yet, in his very hour of gloating, his nemesis was stalking him.
When they awoke the morning after Rogers' departure, Scotty sought out
Rose.
"What claim has Red Rogers got on you, that you stick to him?" he
demanded.
"No man has any claim on Rose Landon!" flashed the girl, flushing at
the question.
"Then why do you go round with Red?"
"Because he has been good to me. He stood by me and gave me money so I
could live an honest life when no one else would have anything to do
with me, because I was Barney Landon's daughter."
"But it's no way for you to live, girl," exclaimed the Scout. "He's
sure to get caught. It's only a question of time--and not so very long
a time at that, and then you'll be branded as his sweetheart."
"It's a lie! I'm no one's sweetheart!"
"But people won't believe that--and then what will you do?"
"Oh, don't! What right have you to talk to me like this, anyway?"
demanded Rose.
"The right my love for you gives me."
"How dare _you_ talk to _me_ of love?"
"Because I mean it. You're too fine a girl to have your life blasted by
Red Rogers. I want to save you."
There was that in the passionate tone in which the young Scout spoke,
and in the expression upon his handsome face that drew Rose to him,
irresistibly--and then the thought of taking her place among the good
women of the world--a thought that always strikes hardest the woman who
sees the opportunity being closed to her, flashed to her mind.
"How can you help me?" she asked, in a voice scarcely more than a
whisper.
"I can make you my wife. Then I shall have the right to protect you.
Oh, Rose, think what joy it would be. Don't say we haven't known each
other long enough. Think what we've been through."
"But what would Red say?"
"What can he? We can go before he gets back and be married."
"But you gave him your word not to. And there's Pedro. He would shoot
you."
"A man isn't supposed to keep his word to a murderer and robber. As for
Pedro, I guess Jennings and I can fix him. Will you, girlie? Tell me
quick before we're interrupted."
A moment Rose hesitated.
Then, with a happy little catch in her voice, she breathed:
"Yes."
But, before they could seal their betrothal with a kiss, Jennings
appeared.
Keeping his secret, Scotty said:
"Let's lay for Pedro and do him up. Then we can get away, obtain
reinforcements from the camp in the valley and raid the Old Stockade
when Red Rogers gets back."
With a scowl, the scout nodded his head toward the girl.
"Don't worry about her. She's going with us," smiled the youngster.
"Really?"
"Yes," answered Rose.
"Good. Then let's start right now. I just saw Pedro sneaking off down
the trail. By keeping our eyes open, we can get out of this place and
hide until he returns, and then go on our way without danger."
No sooner had the plan been suggested than it was agreed upon.
"I wish we could take some of these things," sighed the girl, as she
took a parting survey of the costly furnishings.
"Never mind, now. We'll come back for them."
And, without delay, the trio fled from their prison. Cautiously they
advanced until they found a rock behind which they could hide, and
there they remained until Pedro passed them.
Deeming the chance unequaled to learn the trail, the outlaw's trusted
man had gone down the path, noting its every wind and turn. As this had
taken longer than he had anticipated, he made all haste possible to get
back.
And when he found his prisoners flown, he was panic-stricken.
"Red said my life would pay if they got away!" he wailed. Then suddenly
the thought flashed into his mind that he, too, could make his escape
and thus avoid the wrath of his master--and packing up everything he
could carry, he fled.
With untoward incident, the Mounted Scouts reached the camp of their
comrades with Rose. Their story was quickly reported to the colonel,
and they were immediately summoned before him.
Upon the young Scout's statement of his engagement and as a reward for
the information in regard to Rogers' retreat, the commandant of Fort
Griswold agreed not to have the girl arrested.
"There's one thing I should like to ask, sir," stammered Scotty, as
they started to leave the presence of the colonel.
"What is it?"
"That I be allowed to act as guide when you raid the Old Stockade."
"All right, you may. Now, leave me."
The story of the young Scout's romantic wooing was soon spread among
the troopers, and they all clustered to congratulate him--and when they
beheld the beauty of the girl, they envied him.
But Scotty's love-making was cut short.
Word of Rogers' murders was received by the colonel, together with the
information that the outlaw was heading for the foothills again.
Selecting fifty powerful, dead-shot scouts, the commander put them in
charge of Lieutenant Hastings, with Scotty as guide.
"You best start right away," he added, after announcing the detail. "If
you get there before Rogers, you can hide in the Stockade and seize
him when he comes in. Remember, I want him alive!"
But though they made all speed, the Scouts found that the murdering
outlaw was before them.
Sighting a light from a door of whose existence he had not dreamed,
Scotty crept toward it.
In a trice he whipped out his "Colts" and aimed them within.
Wondering that he did not shoot, his comrades glided to him, and the
sight that met their gaze astounded them.
With chin resting upon its hand sat a skeleton across a box of gold,
seemingly staring at the Scouts. And before them both stood the outlaw,
evidently having just entered.
"I have kept my pledge, Barney!" cried Red Rogers. "I've sent your
murderers to hell! _Now_, I can take my gold and bury you."
As he spoke, Red Rogers stared at the skeleton, then ran his fingers
gloatingly through the gold coins.
This mercenary act shattered the spell that held the Scouts immovable.
"Hands up!" yelled Scotty.
Like a flash, the outlaw wheeled.
"The tables are turned!" smiled the young Scout, grimly. "You're _my_
prisoner, now!"
Realizing that resistance was vain, Red Rogers chose the end that
suited his terrible career.
With a mocking laugh, he dashed past Scotty, straight toward the
muzzles of the fifty rifles.
"Fire!" rang out the lieutenant's voice.
Crash! went the guns, and Red Rogers pitched forward, his body riddled.
The raid on the Old Stockade had been successful!
Rose and Scotty were soon married, and the girl was later awarded a
large portion of the gold found in the outlaw's lair.
For a few days Pedro managed to escape the troopers, but he was finally
caught and sent to prison for the rest of his life.
THE END.
THE THREE OLD WITCHES' DREAM BOOK
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LIST OF TITLES
December 1--No. 1. THE OUTLAW'S PLEDGE or The Raid on the Old Stockade
December 8--No. 2. TRACKED TO HIS LAIR or The Pursuit of the Midnight
Raider
December 15--No. 3. THE BLACK DEATH or The Curse of the Navajo Witch
December 22--No. 4. THE SQUAW MAN'S REVENGE or Kidnapped by the Piutes
December 29--No. 5. TRAPPED BY THE CREES or Tricked by a Renegade Scout
January 5--No. 6. BETRAYED BY A MOCCASIN or The Round-Up of the Indian
Smugglers
January 12--No. 7. FLYING CLOUD'S LAST STAND or The Battle of Dead Man's
Canyon
January 19--No. 8. A DASH FOR LIFE or Tricked by Timber Wolves
January 26--No. 9. THE DECOY MESSAGE or The Ruse of the Border Jumpers
February 2--No. 10. THE MIDNIGHT ALARM or The Raid on the Paymaster's
Camp
February 9--No. 11. THE MASKED RIDERS or The Mystery of Grizzly Gulch
February 16--No. 12. LURED BY OUTLAWS or The Mounted Ranger's
Desperate Ride
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