FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111  
112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   >>  
l. Every man was to be dressed in his best, and, in honor of the occasion, the saloons were to be all closed. When, at last, the day arrived, Harding mounted his box and gathered up his reins, Doctor Dick following to a seat by his side a moment after. The bag containing the gold to be paid in ransom was placed between their feet, Landlord Larry gave the word to go, and the coach rolled away at a rapid pace, followed by the wildest cheering. The doctor was fixed up in his most magnificent attire. His jewels shone with more than accustomed luster, and there was an expression upon his face that boded no good for the road-agents if they meant treachery in their dealings. Harding was also rigged out in his finest, and wore a pleased look at the prospect of meeting Celeste again, upon whom he considered that he held a special claim, and yet, underlying all, was an anxiety that some hitch might occur in gaining her release that would destroy all prospect of seeing her. The coach had been cleaned up to look its best, and a United States flag floated from a staff fastened upon the rear. The harnesses had been burnished up, and red, white, and blue streamers had been attached to the bridles, so that the whole outfit presented a very gorgeous appearance, and one intended to impress the beholder with the grandeur of the occasion. And so it was that Doctor Dick went out with the ransom for Celeste Seldon, with Harding proud at holding the reins over the picked team that would take her back to Last Chance. "Well, Doctor Dick, what do you think of our chances?" asked Harding, when the coach had turned out of the valley and was fairly started upon the trail to the meeting with the masked road-agent chief. "How do you mean our chances, Harding?" "To get the young lady?" "You were the one to make the terms." "True, and I fear treachery." "What chance is there for it?" "We have the money." "Yes." "We are but two." "Very true." "They have the captive." "Yes." "And they can bring many against us." "Also very true, Harding." "Now, if the chief means treachery, and has his men there, he can hold us up, get the ransom money, still keep possession of the girl, and there it is." "He might do so; but I hardly believe we need submit to even half a dozen outlaws, where so much is at stake." "I'm with you, Doc, in whatever you say do." "I know that, Pard Harding; but there is another wa
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111  
112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   >>  



Top keywords:

Harding

 

treachery

 

ransom

 
Doctor
 
prospect
 

chances

 
Celeste
 

meeting

 

occasion

 

fairly


started
 

valley

 

turned

 

impress

 

beholder

 
grandeur
 

intended

 

gorgeous

 

appearance

 
picked

Seldon

 
holding
 

Chance

 

outlaws

 

chance

 

possession

 

captive

 
submit
 

masked

 

rolled


Landlord

 

wildest

 

cheering

 

jewels

 

accustomed

 

attire

 

doctor

 

magnificent

 

closed

 

arrived


saloons

 

dressed

 

mounted

 

moment

 

gathered

 

luster

 
expression
 

States

 

floated

 

United