The Dragoon Detective; Or, A Man of Destiny — page 23: what you’re looking at

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i The Dragoon Detective. 25 4 cave him the key of his stable and asked him to so up and feed and water the horses, if they were not back by nightfall. ‘*'There is a trail here, Bad Luck. ‘* Did you see who went along?” ‘*No, cap’n, he passed in the night, but l heard him swearin’ at» his horse, and it struck m9 it were thet limb o’ Satan they calls Tem- j Daag ge ‘“T see; well, we may be back at noon, and perhaps not,’ and the Dragoon and Hannibal rode on. Tho trail was taken which had been followed the night before, and the brook had rmm down so rapidly that it wascrossed without tho horses swimming. Teking the trail to the right they came to tho fresh tracks on the ridge, end a comparison with the drawing which the Dragoon had made of size and peculiarities of the tracks leading ly tho cabin of Bad Luck, showed that the samo horse that had been along there was with (he party whose trail they were then follow- ing. If Tempest was one of the two men the tainer saw with the parson and Miss Conrad, -who was the other, Hannibal?” ‘Tt is hard to tell, sir; but thosetwo men were the ones who captured the Lady Gold Dust and ‘the parson, though just where we cannot tell, as their tracks are washed out.” ‘You are right, Hannibal, without doubt. ‘«Those two men captured them, and coming here were joined by others. ‘Tt was a well-arranzed plot; but now to fol- low on as far as we can,and we will know where they were taken.” A ride of a mile along the trail and Hannibal dismounted and picked up a red plume, beaten into the ground by the rain, It lay just beyond where a trail branched off from the one they were following. ‘‘That brave girl gives uy a guide whenever they strike a new trail, for sho knows the rain will wash out their tracks,”’ ‘‘ And I guess sho heard the meu talking about the trails, sir, for it must have been so davk they had to search for them in the storm,” ‘* Doubtless.” Once more they rode on, and after a couple of miles came to where a halt had evidently boen made, Here were numerous tracks, showing that fully a dozen horses had remained there in wait- ing for some time. ‘* What do you make out of this, Hannibal?” ‘*Tt looks, sir, as though the first two cap- tured the prisoners, and were to fly to where tue other two horsemen waited on the ridge, ang, these were to cover their retreat, if pur- sued, ‘* Then, if pressed hard, they were to come on here, where @ large force could keep pursuers at bay. "you see this is a good place for a stand, air ‘‘ Hannibal, your head is serenely level, for ‘you have called the turn on their little plan. ‘When the others came up they all went on together, turning off here to the right, as you see.” “Yes, sir, and here is the Lady Gold Dust’s whip,” and Hannibal sprung down and picked it up out of the mud. ‘* Hannibal!’? Yes, sir,” ‘The Lady Gold Dust, as the miners call Miss Conrad, isin the retreat of Captain Brass, and «h> ras been captured by the aid of some one in Gilt Edge City.” ‘That is certain, sir,” ‘*Wecan do nothing ourselves, and we have found out all we need know, so we will return and find outif the trail leading by Bad Luck’s cabin, and coming up here, is that of Tempest’s horse.” ‘Yes, sir, andif it is, then you can make him tell all.” ‘*T think so; but perhaps that good fellow, Murdock, has found out something also.” So saying, and armed with the plume and whip of the kidnapped girl, the Dragoon turned his horse homeward, and Hannibal rode close by his side, the two talking over the best plan of action, Upon returning to the trail, that had been made before dawn, the Dragoon followed it di- rectly to the stable of the miner Tempest. This settled the question as to Tempest’s part in the kidnapping. His cabin was flocked, but his horse, as seen through the cracks in the logs, looked gaunt and tired, while the saddle and bridle were wet. Returning home the Dragoon found on the floor, slipped under the door, a piece of paper upon which was written: “Tempest: was all right. “ Returned just b~fore dawn, _‘‘Lbeve arranged plot with him to say we were ‘ariven out of Gilt Edge City and join Road Raiders. *‘Then to aid prisoners to escape and claim re- VG, ‘‘He has gone to his mine, andl am gs osed to be finding out just -vbat reward miners wat iva for . and the Governor will pay for Lady Gold ust, “We meet at nine to-nizht at Barracks, and, if under any pretense you can drive us out of the camps, the better it will look for us. ‘*T am confident Tempest is a Road Raider, or | the agent at least of Captain Brass in Gilt Edge, and his excuse for going to him with me will be that he could not remain here. ‘*T will see that Tempest does not attempt to use a firearm, 80 as to force you to kill him, fcr he lmovs the way to the secret retreat I am sure, “To-nizht at nine at Barracks. Marrt.”’ This letter pleased the Dragoon greatly, and he rode at once over to Fort Folly, where ho told the grieving parents that he hoped coon to | bring them good news. Of course Gilt Hdge City was greatly excited over the disappearance ot the new parson, and the Lady Gold Dust, but it had been set afloat as a rumor, that tho two had attemp‘ed to cross the swollen brook, on their return, and had been swept away to death, so that no foul play was suspected, except hy a fow wise heads, who felt sure that something was wrong in that mys- terious disappearance. CHAPTER XLV. AT TEE BARRACKS. TH miner Tempest arrived early at The Bar- racks, In fact he went to his cabin before sunset and changed his toiling-suit for his best. Then he went up to The Barracks and treated himself to a hotel supper with a bottle of wine, something new for Tempest to do, as he was known to be stingy and wine was twenty dollars a bottle. But somehow Tempest was flush with funds and that evening wanted the best and plenty of it. Of course the main topic of conversation around The Barracks was the disappearance of the Lady Gold Dust and Parson Prim, A search had been suggested by many, but it was said that the torrent, such as the brook had been the night before, would have swept the bodies scores of miles away. Those wh) suggested foul play were longed at, and an offer to. have all Gilt Edge City turn out and hunt for the missing ones was nut, for some reason, encouraged. When the Road Raiders were hinted at as the captors of the couple, it was said that Captain Brass and his men had decamped from the mountains, alarmed by the fate of the four men of tho band who had been hanged. And so the talk went. After his supper Tempest felt good, and it struck him that it would be a good thing to play cards, if he could find some oné whom he could cheat without being caught. Now, Tempest was considered an oxpert card- player, and be almost always won; but there were many who hinted that he cheated, though he could not be caught at it. If he played a gamo where he did not win, he ‘would soon draw out; but as long as he was win- ning he would p'ay. You might kill a man and not have right on your side, in Gilt Edge City, but to cheat at cards, usurp another’s mine, lay claim to a lead that did not belong to you, or to steal a horse, or weapons, were offenses that could not be overlooked, and were not. Sometimes tho offender was instantly exalted in the world, as anexample to others, but a rope was the motive power. So if Tempest cheated he played sly, and gambled only with those who could not detect ert for he had never been caught in the act. As he was a desperado of the worst type, and always played with his ‘‘ gun” on the table by his side, few cared to arouse him by a sugges- tion that all was not square. He had been known to kill men over the table, and then to call another to take his vacant chair and play with his cards, often stained with the life-blood of the unfortunate. So Tempest was, in border parlance, a terror, and it was his pleasure to terrorize. Observing his intimacy with the parson, some had hopes of his reformation, though a few ‘doubting Thomases” were fearful that he would get Zekiel Prim into card-playing and make of him a fighting preacher. In looking about for victims, the eyes of Tempest fell upon a person who had just ridden up to The Barracks a tew moments before. It was the Darling of Destiny. Now, Tempest was a reasoner, and he said to himself : ‘“Now Destiny does lead thet feller ter luck allther time. | ‘* He shoots ter kill, he escapes bullets, makes mines thet are down ter bed-rock pan out big, and jist has things bis own way. ‘‘ Now there are exceptions to all rules, and he’s got somethin’ as will tarn agin’ him, and, os he never plays keerds, I believes he’s afeerd ir ‘‘T hes never see him play, and some say he is afeerd he will lose his luck. “s ‘*So TP] tackle him fer a game, and if he are a winner I'll draw out durned quick.” With this resolution, Tempest walked up to | ss Dragoon, as he stood talking with Landlord hamp, and said: | lord Champ ‘*Pard Dragoon, how are yer?” ‘Well, thank you, and you?” ‘¢T am dull as a old shovel, pard, ter-night, and am lookin’ for a leetle game o’ keerds, so I thought I would make bold to tackle you.” ‘* Well, Tempcst, I seldom play cards, except for amusement.” ‘‘T only plays fer dust, and I wants yer ter play with me, ef yer hain’t too stuck up ter play with a ordinary man.”’ ‘*Oh, no, I am willing to play if we can make it a four-handed game,” ‘lempest had won many a dollar from Land- Shrewd as he was the landlord could not play cards well, and so he had given up gambling. So Tempest said: ‘* Waal, there’s yer bosom fr’end, ther land- lord,” Landlord Champ was about to refuse, and al- so to tell the Dragoou boldly to have nothing to do with Tempest. when he caught the eye of the soldier. There was a look in it that he read aright, and that was to accept, so he replied: ‘Tf you feel like playing, captain, I’ take a! hand as your partner, but lama poor player, and it is only to please you.” ‘* Well, I do not care to play, but our friend Tempest here asks it, andif he will get a part- ner, we will play a few games with them.” Tempest looked around, and seated in the sa- loon, having lately entered, ho spied Matt Mur- dock. ‘' Thar’s my pard, Matt Murdock, and he will j’ine us.”’ ‘*T don’t think much of him, but I guess he’ll be a good partner for you, Mr. Tempest, so get a table and let us begin.” Tempest did not see the sarcasm in the re- mark of the Dragoon, and turned away to speak to Matt Murdock. ‘*Pard,I has got ther Dragoon ter playa game o’ keerds with me, and his partner,is ter be Landlord Champ, who ain’t no good. ‘‘T wants you, and jist back me up and [ll win yer lots o? money, but don’t go headstrong yer own way, as you has no luck, yer know.” ‘¢ All right, Tempest, lam willing; but can’t the Dragoon play a good game?” ‘Thar must be suthin’ he can’t do, and thar’s nothin’ else I kin think of jist now thet he don’t do prime.” ‘All right, we'll beat ’em, for you always win,” cri Matt, knowing that the Dragoon had some deep motive in playing with tho ces- perado. In the mean time Champ had said quickly, as Tempest turned away: ‘Why, captain, that isthe worst fellow you could have picked up in Gilt Edge City to play with.” ‘‘That is why I wish to play with him; but, Champ, do just as I wish in this, and don’t you be surprised at anything you see. “Tf I cover Tempest, you level at Murdock, if you see need of it, but for God’s sake don’t draw trigger on him, or kill Tempest either. ‘* Leave the latter to me.” ‘“‘T thought you and Matt were friends, and—” ‘“We are, only Tempest don’t know it, and I have not time now to tell you what I intended to do; but you back me up, no matter who ap- pears to suffer.” PH doit.” ‘* Gents, we is ready,” called out Tempest in a loud voice, and the Dragoon and Landlord Champ walked over and joined the desperado and Matt Murdock. CHAPTER XLVI. A GAME OF CARDS, THE table which Tempest had selected for the game of cards was one of the most conspicuous in the saloon. He seemed anxious that all should know that he was playing cards with the Darling of Des- tiny and the landlord. ntil of late, since his close association with Tempest, Matt Murdock had been looked upon by the better class of miners as a very square fellow. But caught in bad company, the opinion re- garding him was changing. Comment was made, however, that Tempest had in some way struck better-company than was his wont. The fact that the landlord was playing again created a sensation, for it was known that Champ had given up cerd-playing long before. That the Dragoon should play caused also ex- citement. He had never been seen to take a drink at the bar, and he had always refused a game of cards when urged by different miners to play. So all were interested,and other games suffer- ed from curiosity to witness the playing of the quartette. With prophetic souls that had had much basis for prophecy in the past, a number pre- dicted a row before the game should end. ‘* Nobody kin play with thet devil Tem iba whispered one. ‘* He cheats,” said another. ‘He'd steal.” oO GComichoo <=) Eo