The Dragoon Detective; Or, A Man of Destiny — page 17: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

—* 17 The Dragoon Detective. “ What fer?” ‘Well, I don’t think I'll like it here, sir, and—” : ‘‘ Nonsense, pard; yer won’t like heaven ontil | yer gits us’t to it, and acquainted.” ‘*But I will go back, so please come to a halt,” “* Do you mean you'll walk back?” “« Yes, sir.” “« You is the durndest fool I ever see.” “‘T know it, sir; but I must go.” ‘*T will go back ag’ day after to-morrow.” ‘* No, Tl go now.” ‘* Sit down and don’t git excited.” ““Tf you don’t let me git down, Ill jump, @r.” ‘‘Pard, I were jokin’ with yer, for Gilt Edge City are ther healthiest place on ’arth—’ceptin’ purgatory,” and the last two words Ribbon Rob said to himself. ‘S No, Pm young, I’m innocent, and unused to the wicked ways of such people as you tell about, so I will go back,” “Sit down, for yonder is whar the Road Raiders stopped us ther day ther Dragoon scooped two of ’em in. ‘« We'll be thar in a minute.” ‘‘Then lend me one of your guns, lend it to me, please,” cried the young man, now all of a tremor with fright, ‘Pll do it, ter soothe yer, but like as not yer’ll shoot me or yerself with it,” and Rob drew the revolver on his right hip. The young man took it with trembling hands, waile Rob said: ““Durned ef I believe yer know which end <soes off.” ‘¢ Yes, I know a little about guns; but this is 2 revolver.” ‘* Yes, we call em all guns out here.” “13 it loaded, sir?” ‘* Does yer take me fer ther blasted fool you is, young feller?” ‘*Oh, no, sir; but Ill get back here, sir,” and he climbed up on top of the stage. Then, cite as a flash he jerked the other re- ‘volver out of Ribbon Rob’s belt, and leveling one at him cried sternly: ‘' Draw rein, Ribbon Rob!” Rob thought a Road Raider had spoken; but a glance, and he took in the situation, ‘ Draw rein, sir!” Ribbon Rob obeyed. Then came the words that proved to Ribbon Rob that he had picked up the wrong man fora fool: ‘*Ribbon Rob, you got a package of a thou- sand dollars at the station to-day, to pay off the men at your end of the line, ‘““[Pve been off on a little business trip, and have been a trifle extravagant, so I’ll trouble you for that thousand dollars,” ‘¢ Who is yer?’ gasped Ribbon Rob. ‘*T am the lieutenant of Captain Brass, the Road Raider chief.” ‘Waal, ef I hain’t ther durndest fool on ’arth, jist shoot me. “Here's ther money, and by ther time [ makes it good [’ll kinder know green from red -when I sees it,” : The young Road Raider laughed, took the money which Ribbon Rob threw on the top of the coach, and then slid down over the rear to -he ees : ere, Rob, as guns are such necessary ar- ticles in Gilt Edge City, I will not take yours “rom you, but place them on yonder rock for vou to come and get,asI am pretty well pro- vided myself,” As he spoke he unbuttoned his loose sack coat # nd revealed a belt-of-arms beneath. “* Lordy, lordy! jist shoot one o’ my fingers “ff, pard, when I holds it up, thet I may be ae recommembrance of my bein’ a born fool. ‘*No, youll remember me without that, Rob; but give my love to the Darling of Destiny, whom I am anxious tu meet, and accept my thanks for your entertaining stories. ‘his is my way home. d-by.” He turned into the trail leading over the ridge 28 he spoke, placed Ribbon Rob’s revolvers up- onarock, and with a wave of his hand walked briskly away, disappearing in the gloom of the timber. Dismounting from the box Rob got his wea- pons and then drove on to Gilt Edge City a sadder and a wiser man. CHAPTER XXXII. THE PLOTTERS, THE young man who had s0 cleverly fooled Ribbon Rob went on through the timber at a rapid pace, 6 seemed to know the trail well, and as he went along wore no shadow upon his face to mark the fact that his life was stained with crime. He had gone half a dozen miles when the sun set, but thisdid not seem to disturb him, and even when the darkness came he held on at the game brisk pace, It was some time after dark when he came to a steep hillside, and up this he climbed, though with some difficuity. Then a walk of a quarter of a mile brougat | him to the head of the little valley in the moun- | tain-top, where the Road Raiders had their camp. There were several camp-fires burning | brightly, and toward one of these he made his way. It was the one in front of the chief’s cabin. ‘‘ Hello! Dudley, back again?” cried the chief, who was in his easy-chair, reading by the glow of the firelight, ‘Yes, sir, 1am back again.” “‘T was beginning to get anxious about you.” ‘‘No need of it, for I got through all right, captain.” ‘* And you went to the places I sent you?” ‘Yes, sir.’ “Gained all the information I wanted?” “All, I think.” ‘‘ Good.” “7 think my trip was successful, sir.” ‘* Your money held out?” ‘Well, not exactly ; but I won alittle at poker one night in a hotel, and again I made a gentle- man stand and deliver.” ‘* You took big chances to play highwayman in the Kast, Frank Dudley.” ‘“T took the chances of going to jail; here I take the chance of a rope,’ ‘True, and I’ll not scold as you were success- ful; but how did you come back?” ‘* Took the stage and came over to the Pass with Ribbon Rob,” ‘* Curse that fellow.” The young man laughed, and then he told his chief of the joke he had played upon Rob, Captain Brass lau sent» snipe g and said: ‘Tam avenged, Dudley, and [ thank you. ‘‘ Why,that will nearly kill that dandy driver with mortification.” ‘t Well, he will not be pleased over it, I am re.” ‘‘T would give much to hear him tell the story.” “ Tf he tells it.” ‘* Oh, he'll do it, for he’s honest, anyhow. ‘¢ Pq kill him, only I like the fellow, and what is more, he’s got the pluck to run the road where others would not.” ‘‘ He told me some news.” ‘* Well?” : ‘You have had a hard time since I left?” ‘“* Rather.” “* You have lost two men?” ‘* Well, I should think so, and more.” ‘* More?” ‘* Yes, for that accursed Dragoon killed Tiger Tom and drove Flush Fred out of the camps, so I had to send two more spies there. ‘(Then he cleverly captured two a few days 0.” ‘« And hanged them.” “‘ Hal do you know this?” ‘‘ Ribbon said so.” ‘* He hanged them, then?” ‘* Yes, he gave them a fair trial by a jury, chosen by lot, and with the landlord of The Bar- racks as judge.” ‘t Well, poor fellows, it was hard on them; but we must expect it.” ‘* And your other two went also?” ‘What others?” “Stonefist and Rattler.” ‘* They are in Gilt Hdge City as spies.” *“'Yes, upon the hill.” ‘What do you mean?” ae tyet occupy snug quarters in the Rock of ges! ce Dead q ‘* Hanged.” ‘*How and where?” ‘*Oh, it was the Darling of Destiny, according to Ribbon Rob’s story.” “How? ‘* Flush Fred made a raid on his stable?” ‘* Yes, and failed.” ‘* Lost his horse?” ee aL ‘‘The Dragoon’s negro cut off the leg from the horse, followed the trail, tracked Stonefist and Rattler as being with him, and they put on airs one night, Stonefist got in some of his sledge-hammer knocks, and then tackled the Dragoon and got floored.” ‘© Tmpossible |” ‘Ribbon Rob said that the Dragoon just warded off Stonefist’s blow aud with one straight from the shoulder, dealt our man one in the face that spoiled his beauty and knocked him senseless,” ‘*T cannot understand it,” ‘Nor could Stonefist; but the Dragoon had his eye on the two, and brought them face to face with the other pair of Road Raiders, re- cognitions followed, and the four were hanged in arow,” ‘Great God!” ‘*This Dragoon means business.” ‘* He does indeed.” ‘*Can’t we capture him?” ° : . I guess 50} but it will not be easy work.” Oy sir. ‘“‘Tamin a quandary what to do, for four of our best men are gone, and we have not had much luck of late,”’ ‘That is true, captain.” » ‘*T will think over what is best, and then we will act, Dudley.” ** Yes, sir.” ‘‘Tn the mean time the men must keep close in camp and it will be thought that the hang- ing of those four men has frightened us off.” ‘*Thereis too much money looming up before us, captain, for us to be scared off by a few deaths.” ‘* Yes, there is, and I have a plan by which I think we can make a big haul.” ‘* How is that?” ‘* Well, it needs work in Gilt Bdge City to do it; but I have not thought it all out yet. ‘* When I do, I will tell you and then we will act... ° ‘*But in the mean time IJ will not allow a man to leave camp, nor stop a coach, and it will make us stronger when we do strike.” ‘Tt certainly will.” ‘* Now go and give orders that nota man shall leave the retreat, and then come back and we will look over the report you bring of your work Hast for me.” The Road Raider lieutenant departed, and returning, until after midnight the two were in the cabin talking in low earnest tones, plotting some plan of evil toward others. CHAPTER XXXITI. UNDER GUARD. WHEN the young lieutenant uttered the words that he did to the Dragoon, that he ar- rested him asa deserter from the army, Kate Conrad uttered a slight cry of alarm. But both she and the Dragoon drew rein. The six cav en were in line, with their carbines leveled full at the heart of the Dra- goon, and the young lieutenant had his sword dra so that resistance on the part of the man who called himself Earl Gaston was utter- ly out of the question, Seeing soldiers, he had not expected an trouble, and he had not had an instant in whic to draw a weapon. At the words of the officer the Dragoon’s eyes flashed fire, and for a moment he looked as though he meant to charge upon his accuser ; but lashes instantly his face changed, and with a smile he said in his pleasant way: ‘‘Pardon me, sir, but there is a mistake here.” ‘No, there is not a mistake, sir, and, begging this lady’s pardon, I must hold you under ar- rest, for I am sent from the command to do a2 ‘¢On what charge?’ “* Desertion and—” ‘Go on, sir, for I wish to know the fullcharge against me.” ‘* Desertion and murder.” ‘* Ah! so bad as that, is it?” ‘© Yes, and-you take it cool enough.” “Tt is my way, sir; but will you ride on with me until I escort this lady home, and then I will go with you.” ‘¢- You must be ironed, sir, and two of my men shall see the lady home.” The eyes of the Dragoon fairly flamed; but he said, calmly: ‘*T asked this lady to ride with me, sir, and I shall return her in safety to her home, ‘* You are at liberty to follow me, as close as you please, but I am not to be dictated to, nor will I be, in this matter, though you are seven to one.”’ The lieutenant looked at the bold man, and replied: ‘* As I desire no trouble before this lady, you can do as you will; but the slightest attempt on your part to escape will be your death-knell, I Warn you.” Tho Dragoon responded : “‘T am not one to attempt anything of the a. ‘* Shall we continue our ride, Miss Conrad?” She gazed at him in wonder, for every trace of annoyance had gone from his face, and, as they rode aloug together she had found him more entertaining. Close behind them rode the lieutenant, and two by two in his rear, came the six troopers, all with their carbines ready for use on the in- stant. Thus they passed through Gilt Edge City to the amazement of the denizens, and they were more convinced than ever that the yen sae had not come to the mining-camps without strong backing and for some good cause. They did not understand the situation as it wag, Had they suspected that the Dragoon had been charged with desertion and murder the seven cavalrymen would never have left Gilt Edge City, bad they attempted to carry off the Darling of Destiny with them. Past The Barracks bei went at a gallop, the tired soldiers and horses looking longingly at a place where there was rest and food. As they dashed by, the half-hundred men gathered there gave the Dragoon three rousin cheers, which the’ lieutenant and his men took for themselves, and the former raised his hat and the Darling of Destiny did the same, for he knew whom the men were honoring. 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