The Dragoon Detective; Or, A Man of Destiny — page 22: what you’re looking at

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ee e Dragoon Detective. He handed the little wet kerchief to the mo- | ther, and there in one corner was embroidered the name: VO Arey? ‘* And you think that she dropped this, too, Gaston?” ‘‘T know it, Governor, and.it, and the glove, tell me that she was a captive, being carried ¥ woff.” ‘* And the parson?’ ‘* May be a captive with her.” ‘* But the motive of her captors? *< Gold. ‘* Ransom?’ ‘* Yes, sir, for they think you will pay enor- mously for her return.” ‘“T will give every dollar I own to get her back, and begin life over again.” ‘* There is no need of that, sir.” ‘What ao you mean?” ‘* Will you trust me to find Miss Conrad?” ‘*Gladly!” cried both the Governor and his wife. ‘« Then I will do so.” ‘“ You seem most confident, sir,” and Vernon ‘said it almost with asneer, “*Ta 1so confident, Mr. Verncn, that I here vow to restore Miss Conrad to her mother, without the expenditure of a dollar in ransom, and more, if her captors have treated her un- adi I vow that each and every one of them sball hang for it, for 1 saw other evidence that convinced me there were others in waiting, and the tracks of six horses led from where I turned back on the trailinto the mountains. ‘‘Mrs, Conrad, at dawn I will begin my work. “‘Good-night,” and the Dragoor. departed, declining the urgent invitation from the Goy- vernor and his wife to remain all night. CHAPTER XLII, A COUNCIL OF WAR. Matt MurpDocK was one of the most reckless young miners in Gilt Edge City. He was not given to dissipation, but he work- ed hard all the week and ois Saturday night ‘came was wont to lose all he had madein a game of cards. ‘ Nota bad fellow was he,and yet he was a dangerous man to fool with, He had killed his man, and did it in a square, stand-up fight, He hada mine that paid him fairly, and yet he could save nothing for a rainy day, andoften said that Le expected to die a3 poor as he was born, Attracting the attention of the Dragoon one i ae when he was gambling, Champ had been usked regarding him, and what he said was strongly in his favor, The Dragoon watched him gambling for ‘awhile, and then heard him say: ““T'm about broke; but if I had the money to bluff you on your hand I believe I would win, and I’d go high.” ‘* How high, sir?” asked the Dragoon. ‘* Five hundred, if [ had it, for I feel I’ve got a good hand.” ‘* 111 lend it to you,’’ was the response, and it was thrown upon the table, ‘*T thank you, pard, but I might lose, and it ~would take a year to pay you back.” “VW risk it.” “* Done.” ‘The bluff was made and Matt Murdock won. That night he rode home with the Dragoon for company, for his cabin was the nearest one ‘to the Darling of Destiny’s. ‘* Murdock, I like you, and I wish to serve you. ‘* What would you want for your mine?” “ Oall it fifteen hundred, captain.” “Tl take it, and you continue to work it for ame on wages; but do not let any one know I bought it,of you, and more, though we are to Jbe friends, no one must know it.’’ “Tm your man, captain, and I thank you.” “€ Tyo you know Tempest?” “*T do, sir, and @ hard but he is, too.” “* Are you friendly with him?” “* Not frienaly or unfriendly, sir.” ** Cultivate him then. ‘* He is.a great borrower of dust, I heur, so lend him some and charge the loan to me. ‘S'You know he is a devil, so let him think you are, too.” ; ‘*'You are 7 g something, captain!” “Yes, and you will know what in good time.” ‘Count on me, sir,” was ther that day Matt Murdock and the secretly pards. Upon returning to his cabin from Fort Folly, ‘the Dragoon found Matt Murdock there talking ‘to Hannibal. He threw off his storm-suit, but having swam the brook, was very wet, so Hannibal soon rig- qed him out in dry clothes and slippers, for the arling of Destiny loved to take his ease, ** Murdock!” ‘* Well, captain?” ‘“*We will discuss this supper Hannibal has for us, aud then we'll have a business talk.” ** All right, captain,” ly, and from ragoon were The supper was disposed of, and with a relish, and then the Dragoon said: “You and Tempest seem as thick as thieves | of late.” ; as a Stable, he made his way on foo ‘¢ We are, and he’s a great one,” ‘‘The parson seemed to take kindly to him.” ‘* Yes, the parson said he was so very wicked he would need special prayers, so he began on him at once.” “They seemed to haye a good many prayers together.”’ ** Captain, my idea is that the parson was a fraud,” ‘‘ Ho.and Tempest seemed to understand each | other.” ‘* Yes, they did, and they had many a confab together; but Tempest is a little shy of me, and didn’t tell me all he knew, I am sure.” ‘‘Murdock, I believe you to bea very brave | , man,” ‘I am not easily frightened, captain.” ‘t Are you willing to take a big risk to do good?” ‘Yes, sir, I am willing to do as you say.” “ Well, Murdock, we will hold a council of war.” ‘* | am ready, sir.” ‘* Are you willing to take abuse, when you | know itis not meant?” wo AGeag air,” ‘€T think, Murdock, that Miss Conrad has been kidnapped by Road Raiders.” ‘* Indeed, sir?” te Yes,” “You suspect the parson?” ‘He may have been a tool of the Road Raid- ers, and may be innocent, and captured with her, for these mountain scamps know that the miners would pay ® good ransom to got back their parson.” ‘They would indeed.” ‘Then Captain Brass knows that the Gov- erpor woul daughter back.” ‘* That is so, captain.” ‘‘The Road Raiders have been hit so hard of late that they have kept quiet, and this may be a master-stroke to get enough to retire on, and give up the road.” ‘*T believe you are right, sir.” ‘‘Now no one knows where their retreat is unless it is Tempest, and somehow I believe that he-does.” © Yes.” ‘‘Tf Miss Conrad and the parson have been taken by the Road Raiders, they have been taken to their mountain den. ‘““T9 attack it with a hundred miners, as we might do, would perhaps cause Captain Brass to threaten his prisoners, and thus defeat our aims, so I wish you to go to their ae 13 learn its ap- proaches, workings and all, and let me into the secret.” ‘* How can I go, sir?” “T am sure that Flush Fred, Darby and Bruiser Bill joined them, for I trailed the two last into the mountains where I left the trail to- night,” “You did, sir?” “Yes, and there is where they have gone, and I wish you to go, too.” ‘ But how can I get there?” “ Ag IT said, I. think Tempest knows the way, and I'll see that you both leave Gilt Edge City to-morrow,’’ aud the Dragoon smiled significant- ly, which caused the young miner to understand that he meant to play some deep game in which he and Tempest wero to be participants. CHAPTER XLITI, PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT. In spite of the storm that was still raging, Matt Murdock left the cabin of the Dragoon and returned to his own, Putting his horse up in the anes y that served to the cabin of Tempest, who dwelt not far from him, All was dark, and his knocking failed to arouse any one, Then he went to the stable in the rear of the cabin. It was locked, but by chirping and calls, the young miner discovered that there was no horse witbin., ‘¢ He went away this morning, and he has not been back since, ‘He is not at The Barracks, so where is he?” So saying the miner returned to his cabin, It was after midnight, and throwing off his storm-suit,; he built a flre, and leaving his things to dry laid down to rest. ; At the break of dawn he was up, had his brpeletnat and then strolled over to Tempest's cabin. , He was just opening his door, and called out: ‘* Ho, pard, it were a bad storm we had last night; butit bave cleared off now.” ‘\ Yos, it was a bad storm; but where were you last night, ein oa ‘* Asleep in my cabin, whar every man sh’u’d be on sich a nigbt,” “‘T knocked at your door as I came home, but couldn’t get an answer,” “T was that weary I didn’t tarn over all night.” ‘Did you hear the news, Tempest?” give a small fortune to get his | ‘* What were that?” ‘‘The parson has run off with the Lady Gold Dust.” Ot ‘‘Ttis a fact, or they have been taken in by Road Raiders.” ‘‘T want ter know.” “They went riding yesterday afternoon, and they have not been seen since.” ‘* Maybe they stopped out of ther storm some- whar.”’ ‘*No, she wouldn’t do that; but the storm has washed out every trace of their trail,” ‘‘ Waal, waal,” ‘“Pard?? ee Yas,” ‘€T wish we had thought of that little scheme,” ‘*What’s thet?” ‘‘Why, wecould have made a fortune by it.” “By what?” “Just capturing the Lady Gold Dust and the parson, for her father would pay big for her re- turn, and the miners would chip in lively for the parson.” ‘That's 80,” ‘T wish we had only thought of it.” ‘¢ You wouldn't hey did it,” ‘© Why not? ‘* Yer lacks ther sand.” ‘¢T only wish I had had the chance.” ‘¢ Waal, it would have been a big thing.” ‘Now it would, and I guess it would pay bi eh f Better than digging for gold.” ‘Yes, indeed.” ‘Waal, others hev got ter git ther dust fer ther return of the leddy.” ‘‘Tempest?” “Yes, Matt.” *¢ Why could we not recapture her?” ‘© What?” ‘“* Why could we not bring her back and get thereward?” ‘¢ OW ’d it be done?” **T think so.” ‘* How?” ‘* Well, we could find out just what reward | the Governor would give, and how much more the boys would chip in for the parson, ‘¢ 1f it amounted to ten thousand each of us, we might find some way to recapture them.” ‘Tf we knew whar they is.” ‘*Pard, you know as wellas I do, that there is but one person who would kidnap her.” ‘* Who are that?” ‘* Captain Brass.” ‘¢ You think he did it?” ‘¢T’m sure he did.” ‘¢ What makes you sure?’ ‘¢ Well, no one else would do it.” ‘¢Then if he has her it’s no use.” “You are wrong there.” ‘* How so?” ‘* Well, we might find the mountain retreat, watch our chance, and help them out.” Tempest shook his head. ‘* Well, I know a better plan.” ‘What areiti” “* Let us join the band.” ‘Would you tarn outlaw?” ‘« There seems 10 be more money in it than ja cg + ” “ We could hunt them up, say we were driven out of Gilt Edge City, and get to be members, ‘‘Captain Brass wishes to get a large force, I know, and they would be glad to get us, ‘Then we could watch our chance, free the two prisoners, apd escape. ‘¢ Bringing them back to Gilt Edge, we could get the reward, and with that much money ws could go where we please.” ‘* Will you do this, pard?” ‘¢T will, Tempest.’ ‘¢ Pat your hand thar, pard.” The young miner grasped the hand of the burly ruffian. ‘Now, Pard Matt, I’m in this leetle game with yer, for 1 see your way makes us rich, while my way only gits me a few hundred. ‘‘T knows whar them two is, ther parson and Lady Gold Dust, and you jist hunt around and find out how much will be paid for their return, and you and me will fetch ’em, though we'll hev ter make ourselves lonesome in these parts, as Cav’n Brass hain’t po man ter play it on.” “Tt a bargain. and I’ll know all by night and meet you at Tbe Barracks at eight o’clock.” ‘Waal, I'l go to my mine now, and be at Ther Barracks on time, you bet,” Thus they parted, aud a smile of Sipe rested upon the face of Matt Murdock as he walked rapidly back toward the cabin. CHAPTER XLIV. THE DRAGOON ON THE TRAIL. Iv was just dawn when the Darling of Destiny arose Ret! began to dress for the work before him. Hannibal was up betimesand soon had break- fast ready, and then the cabin was locked up and the two started off on horseback. The Dragoon took Hannibal with him, well knowing his great skill as a trailer, and also how valuable his advice was. Going to the cabin of Bad Luck, the Dragoon COMNIELOOLKS aah