The Dragoon Detective; Or, A Man of Destiny — page 13: what you’re looking at

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The Dragoon Detective. 13 way of springing upon his foes which had got- ten him the name of Panther prefixed to that of Pete, which he answered to. Springing upon the steps, he called out: ‘* Pards, ther Darlin’ o’ Destiny don’t run this town ef I has my say, and I says so now. ‘* These men is Road Raiders, and I says hang ?em, and I puts ther rope about now.” e seized one of the prisoners as he spoke, and threw a rope, which he had ready, over his neck, A wild shout greeted his bold act, but sud- denly above the shouts one voice was heard. ‘¢ Hold on, there, Panther Pete, youare going too fast!” It was the Darling of Destiny who spoke, and he advanced to the head of the piazza steps and confronted Panther Pete and the maddened crow’. CHAPTER XXIII. SETTLING A DIFFICULTY. At the words of the Darling of Destiny, ad- «lressed to Panther Pete,the eyes of the whole wild crowd were turned upon him, He had spoken in a voice that rung, to make the crowd hear him; but they saw now that he was as serene as a May morning. Panther Pete had made his boast, and all now alesired to see the upshot of it. The * Panther” was feared and well known, He was a brute in his way and well deserved the name he had won, : Toe Dragoon had also been seen tried, and he was of a different caliber from the Panther. The crowd knew well that they had no right to hang those two prisoners without the sanction of their captor. But they thirsted for excitement and here was va chance for it. When they saw that it must come to a ques- tion between the Dragoon and Panther Pete, ‘the excitement became greater, and the prisoners were forgotten, Would. Panther Pete back down from his ~words? What would he do? What would the Dragoon do? Such were the thoughts of the crowd. As for Panther Pete he turned quickly at the words of the Darling of Destiny, his hand upon his revolver. But his first look was into the calm, fearless eyes of the Dragoon. ‘*Pard, does yon say these men sha’n’t hang?” he called out rudely. ‘‘T have said nothing about that as yet.” ‘‘ Well, what does yer say now?” “Tsay that those men are Road Raiders, my prisoners, and that they are to be tried by a ju of twelve miners, and, if found guilty sha suffer according to the decision of those who try tbem,” ‘‘ We don’t do things that way in these parts, Dragoon, and you might as well know it now,” was the impudent response. ‘‘This talk is idle, Panther Pete, for I have ‘told you what shall be done, so go your way and let these men alone.” ‘¢T don’t, though, for we hang these men now, ‘* Don’t we, pards?” Many of the crowd had already gone over to ithe Dragoon, but there were plenty yet to keep up the excitement and to incite bloodshed, and a chorus of many voices cried: ‘* Hang ’em now!” ‘That settles it, and you keep yer hands off, Dragoon, ef yer knows what's good fer yer.” As he spoke, Panther Pete sprung up the steps toward the piazza, All knew his strength, and yet just what he meant to do, no one knew. _ He doubtless intended to direct the movements of the crowd, and hang the men up from the heavy bar that upheld the hotel lamp over the -steps, for he had his rope in his hand, ut suddenly he was seized in a grip of iron, dragged bodily from his feet and hurled ten feet away upon the heads of the crowd, going in his flight over the two prisoners aud Ribbon Rob, who stood by the bottom step, The crowd tried to separate, but he caught them, and thus broke his fall. A perfect howl of admiration went up at this -wonderful feat of strength on the part of the Dragoon, and Sylvester Vernon in the window called out: ‘‘ Marvelous! marvelous!” Not hurt by his fall, but livid with rage, Pan- ther Pete arose, and drawing a revolver, fairly leaped toward his enemy. ll gave way to him, and he had reached the ‘bottom step when he opened fire. But it was his last shot, for be fell dead upon “the steps, a bullet in the center of his forehead, Sa Gentlemen, are you satisfied to allow me to do as 1 deem best with my prisoners?” came in the calm voice of the Dragoon.” The cheers of the crowd answered him, and ealling to Ribbon Rob, the Dragoon said: “* Let us take them to a room the landlord has for them, and he will get a guard for them.” ‘““Yowre still boss, cap’n; but go in and calm ‘ther strangers, as they may think our play here a leetle rough, this bein’ their fu’st day.” The Dragoon called to a man and told him to have the body taken off for burial, and turning, he entered the parlor once more, where their deep interest in what had occurred still held the strangers, “7 fear your entrée into Gilt Hdge City will cause you to desire to at once depart, Mrs, Con- rad,” said the Dragoou in his pleasant way. There was not the shadow of any excitement, his fave was serene and smiling, and no one could have believed him to be an actor in the tragedy that had just occurred. ‘*T expected wild scenes, sir, when I consented to come; but the one just occurring, and our having been halted on the road by highway- men—” ‘‘Road Raiders, mamma; you must get the right terms used here,” corrected Kate in her off-hand way. ‘* Well, Road Raiders, since my daughter wishes it; I confess, I say, it is more than I an- ticipated, but I congratulate you, Captain Gas- ton, upon your safety.” ‘‘My dear madam, 1 hope that you do not think I fired without just cause. ‘*T shrink from taking human life, and yet these men ate many of them as dangerous as wild-cats, ‘* That one, Panther Pete they called him, bas killed half a dozen men right here, and was con- sidered a terror, in the language of the border. ‘He had no right to drag those men off and hang them, and I, as their captor could not per- mit it, ‘* He played a bold game and he lost.” Aad I never saw unything so coolly done, captain. ‘You are a marvel, sir,” said Mr. Conrad, ‘‘T have had considerable schooling in wild life, sir, but let me ask if you have horses with your wagon-train, which let me tell you arrived at Fort Folly half an hour ago,” ‘*Indeed, Iam glad to hear this, for we can move in allright in the morning, and my wife needs quiet; but as to horses I would say that I expected to purchase saddle animals here.” ‘“ You can do so, sir, for Mr, Champ can sup- ply you, but if you will permit me to present to Tiss Conrad the very fine animal that Captain Brass so cleverly lost through Ribbon Rob, I will feel gratified, and she certainly deserves him for her driving off so cleverly.” ‘* But, sir, you may need him yourself, and—” ‘“ No, I ride only black horses, and Inow have five superb animals, so I beg Miss Conrad’s ac- ceptance of the Raider.” ‘* What do you say, Kate?” ‘“‘T will accept him in the same spirit that he is offered, and I sincerely thank you, Captain Gaston,” and Kate offered her hand. “T will send him over in the morning.” ‘* And I shallname him Dragoon,” said Kate with a laugh, as the Dragoon bowed himself out, ‘*Come, Rob, go to supper with me,” said the Dragoon, as he walked out upon the piazza, and mounting his own horse, while Ribbon Rob rc upon the Raider chief’s handsoine bay, the two rode off, leading the pack-animals, CHAPTER XXIV. AT HOME. WHEN they went to their rooms, the strangers were really surprised to find out how comfort- able Landlord Champ had made them, and they began to think that after all they might not have to ‘‘ rough it” as much as they bad feared, Kate Conrad stood at the window of her room, and her eyes were upon the Darling of Destiny and Ribbon Rob as they wended hole way down the one street that Gilt Hdge City boasted of. She saw them cross the stream and ascend the hill toward the Dragoon’s cabin, and then dark- ness hid them from sight, : ‘* Who would have thought of meeting such a man here?” she muttered. ‘** And who is he?” ‘‘He seems to me to have seme sorrow to bear, ‘Well, he isa remarkable man, as handsome as an Apollo, as brave as a lion, and yet he has the gentleness of a woman. ‘* His hand is small, and his grasp is firm yet honest; but how he did hurl that desperado through the air, and seemed no more ruffled than if he had done nothing. ‘‘Papa and mamma both urged him to call and he said he would do so; but I can see that Sylvester is as jealous of him as he can be.” Then Kate was called by Pink to supper, the the latter remarking: ‘* Miss Kate, I’m afraid I came all the way out here to fall in love, for I do think that stage- driver is pee splendid,” ‘‘ And I like the Dragoon, Pink, so we will not. be rivals: but, indeed, Ribbon Rob is a fine fel- low, handsome and brave.” “And don’t Mr. Varnon look black when you treat the Dragoon so nicely?” . ‘* Does he?” and Kate laughed, as she went to join the others at the supper-table. Landlord Champ had done his best, and the supper set before his guests was a tempting | one. He had a good cook, and there were venison steaks, boiled birds, hot biscuit, baked potatoes, honey and delicious coffee. All enjoyed the meal immensely, and while the ladies returned to their room after supper, Mrj Conrad and Sylvester Vernon rode out with Landlord Champ to Fort Folly. It was a ride of a mile, and the moon was shining brightly, so that Mr. Conrad and Ver- non could see well as they rode away. The wagon-train, which Mr. Conrad had char- tered to bring his effects from the last railroad station, bad arrived before sunset. There were half a dozen ‘‘ prairie schooners,” as the border wagons were called, acartand a carved spring wagon, the two latter being pur- chases of Mr. Conrad. Half a dozen fine cows, seven sheep, and one load of pigsand poultry, with two cats and three dogs would give the place a most farm-like and home look. Then there was a negro woman as cook, her husband as major-domo, and their son and daughter, respectively eighteen and twenty. The teamsters were anxious to start back in the morning, so the household goods were un- loaded that night, and whep Mr. Conrad re- turned he was able to to tell his wife that things were getting into pretty comfortable shape while he had found their home was far beyond his expectations. Never in its history had The Barracks been more quiet than it was that night, and Mr. Con- rad quite won the hearts of the frequenters when he entered the saloon with Vernon and invited all to join him in a drink. Vernon called for a repetition of the drinks, and the crowd voted them good fellows when they retired. Tired out with their long journey, none of the party arose very early the following morning, although they were anxious to move into their new home, so that it was nearly ten o’clock be- fore they started for Fort Folly, Ribbon Bob driving them over in Landlord Champ’s spring wagon. Ribbon Rob had remained all night with the Dragoon, and having a day off before starting back on his run, was anxious to see his friends settled in their new home, so had come to The Barracks to take them over. As they drove along they came suddenly upon a little procession, moving along by a trail that crossed the one they were on. There were over a hundred men in line, all walking slowly, while one at the head was play- ing the Dead March on an accordeon. ix men were bearing a coffin on a stretcher, and in spite of the solemnity of death, the scene brought a smile to the strangers, as Ribbon Rob came out in his original way: ‘*T halts fer a stiff allus, as it are bad luck ter cross ahead or through a pursession that is car- ryin’ fruit ter ther grave. ‘*Now, thet galoot in the. box, and which thet accordeon is howlin’ so mournful over, are ther pilgrim thet therDarlin’ o’ Destiny kilt. ‘Them with him hain’t his friends, fer he hed none; but they is them as was most afeerd of him when he were livin’, and is goin’ ter see him well planted now. “Then, yer see ther Dragoon stands all ex- penses, with enough over ter treat ther boys when they gits back ag’in to Ther Barracks,” Such was Ribbon Rob’s story of the burying of Panther Pete. ‘“You have many funerals here, do you not, sir?” asked Mrs. Conrad, ‘‘ Waal, the’r hain’t many nateral deaths, marm, but ther boys is called on ter tarn up the’r toes quite some often, fer lead and steel fevers is catchin’ in these parts.” ‘“ And you have a cemetery near town?” ‘*It is up yonder, marm, not very far from your home; but then yer’ll find them neighbors peaceable and quiet, a leetle dif’rent from what they was when prowlin’ round full o’ tangle- foct. ‘“We calls ther place Rock o’ Ages, marm, fer it’s a place they clings to.” Ribbon Rob certainly entertained his hearers, but had he seen the smiles on their faces he would not have understood, in his border inno- cence, that he was saying aught that was amus- ing. irivigs at Fort Folly one and all expressed themselves as delighted. : The negro servants had gotten to work early, and all in the large cabin was ready for its oc- cupants, the cattle were feeding on the hillside, the chickens, ducks and geese were wandering about the stockade, delighted at their freedom from the coops, and the dogs barked a joyous welcome. Awaiting their coming was a tall, fine-looking po who bowed with courtly grace and said to te: ‘* Miss Conrad, my master asked me to bring your horse over to you with his compliments,” He held the beautiful animal by the bridle, and he looked as sleek as Hannibal could make him Kate was delighted, and caressing the horse an jnstant he followed her about as a dog would, ‘* Please say to Captain Gaston that I thank, i S GComichoo