The Dragoon Detective; Or, A Man of Destiny — page 8: what you’re looking at

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8 The Dragoon Detective. His hands were above his head, and he was a piciful sight,indeed. ‘* Well, Flush Fred, it was another case of mistaken identity with you.” The words were uttered in a scornful tone, and the desperado asked: : ‘© Who is he?” The Dragoon laughed and replied: ‘*T thought I knew you pretty well, and I was not mistaken, asit has turned out. I knew that you had beenin great haste to get out of Gilt Hdge City, and it struck me that you were aware of the road I would have to take; sol took an old uniform of mineand hat, and brought them along with me. ‘““Talwayscarry a glass, and asI rode along I was watching the trailabead. AsI expected, I caught sight of you, halted at this rock; sol dismounted and stuffed my uniform with fine straw, braced it with sticks, and when I drew near here put it upon my horse, I tied my lariat to my effigy, to pull it off the saddle when you fired, and walking behind the led horse was not see. by you, in the dark. ‘Ts my oxplanation sufficient?” and the Dra- goon laughed in his light-hearted way. “And what will you do with me?” growled the baffled ruffian. ‘‘T intend to give you another chance, for I never take a human life unless it is necessary to do so.” ‘* What kind of a chance?” ‘Well, I shall leave you here, unarmed, while I go on, taking your horse and your weapons with me. ‘* After I have ridden a mile [ shall halt and tie your horse to a tree on the trail, leaving your weapons near. When you think I have been gone long enough to ride a mile, you can walk on until you tind your horse and arms.” ‘“ But will you leave them?” ‘‘T am no robber, and did I wish to act in bad faith to you, I would kil] you now. ‘* But [take your horse and weapons, as I do not wish to trust you until I am well on my way, for there areside trails here that you could dodge off on and head me off.” ‘*f wouldn’t be mean enough for that, pard.” ‘*You are mean enough to do anything; you are bad medicine, through and through. But, let me warn you never to cross my path again, for patience ray cease to be a virtue, ‘* | broke your friend’s arm last night, to keep from Idling him; but he wouldn’t take the hint, so [ killed him. ‘Now, good-night, and heed my warning.” and the Dragoon gathered up his ‘‘ dummy,” and the desperado’s Phin aoa and mounting his horse rode on, leaving Flush Fred standing in the trail gazing after him. Getting his horse from the thicket he led him on, too, and after a ride of ten minutes, halted. Hitching the desperado’s horse to a tree, and placing the rifle and belt of arms by the side of it, he mounted and rode off ata rapid canter, for he was anxious to hasten on with the dis- patches of the dead sergeant. CHAPTER XIV. THE ROAD RAIDERS OF THE ROCKIES, In one of tho wild recesses of the mountains, and within twenty odd miles of Gilt Edge City, there was a canyon so bleak, so desolate and for idding, that one passing there would not have thought that man would ever care or dure to invade its fastnesses. It penetrated the very heart of a high, rugged mountain, and its lofty sides of jagged rock looked as though they were going to fall in any moment. The canyon was a perfect chasm in the moun- tain, hardly a hundred feet in width, and with the rocky walls upon either side rising several hundred feet into the air, until the streak of blue sky seen at the top looked like a blue rib- bon, It was a wild and rugged valley, too, that this canyon opened upon, a valley taat seemed to have been at one time the bed of a migbty river. Through its center ran a stream, not deep, but clear as crystal, and it went foaming along like a mill-race. Along the bank of this stream a faint trail was visible, and a horseman was slowly follow- ing it. Arriving opposite to the canyon this horseman turned into1t and rode along at the same slow pace, As he went on the canyon at times seemed al- most arched over, and at one place a huge mass of rocks had fallen. Riding around these the horseman found a narrow space, into which he rode, and a split or crevice had opened the mighty wall of the can- yon, leaving a path wide enough for a pack- horse to ascend. ; The ascent was steep and the man dismount- ed, leading his horse. It was a climb of nearly a quarter of a mile, but it led the horseman out into a pretty little valley almost in the very mountain top. Aman was seated upon a rock at the end of the path, and from his point of lookout had evi- dently seen the horseman when he entered the canyon far below. ‘* Hallo, pard, I thought it were you; but | then, I didn’t see how it were you was alone,” | be one of a band of cut-throats. said the man on the rock, and who was evident- ly on watch, for he was armed to the teeth, and from his appearance looked as though he might “‘ Yes, it’s me, and I’m alone. Where’s the cap’n?” . ‘*Up the valley at his den.” «Ad right, I?ll go there,” and the man rode on, appearing as though he was not in the best of humors, As he rode along the pretty little valley, horses were visible here and there, staked out to feed, and further on were a number of. rude log huts. Before these were men, a score in number, lying down asleep, playing cards, cleaning their fire-arms or smoking, as the hnmor suited them. At the head of the valley a cabin stood alone. It was larger than the others, more stoutly built, and had a pine-straw shed in front. A man sat in a bear-robe chair by the door, and a Chinee was busy at a fire, cooking. The horseman rode toward the 1 tter cabin, saluting the men in a sullen way as they spoke to him, and dismounting and hitching his horse, advanced toward the one who sat in the bear- robe chair, The latter was a large man, with the form of one who possessed both endurance and strength. He was dressed in a suit of gray corduroy pants, stuck in top-boots, a blue woolen shirt, and wore a black Mexican sombrero embroid- ered in silver thread with various designs, and in white thread, directly in front, witha skull and'cross-bones, His face was a strong one, but the strength lay rather in the way of deviltry than good- ness, Still it was a handsome face, and the gray hair on his temples showed that he had lived his two-score years. He was armed with two revolvers, and a bowie-knife in his belt, and looked the man to use them. One of his hands was in a sling, and it was his right. ‘* Well, Flush Fred, you are back soon, Any- thing up?” he called out as the horseman dis- mounted and approached him, ‘‘ Yes, cap’n, there’s a good deal up.” ‘* What is it?” ‘“‘Pve come to stay,’ and Flush Fred threw himself upon a bench near by. ‘‘Gilt Edge City is getting sickly, eh?” and the man smiled. ‘«Tt's worse.” “* How??? ““Tt’s deadly.” ‘‘ Ah! tell me about it.” ‘“ Don’t you miss some one?” ‘* Your second self, Tiger Tom?” ce Yes.” ‘* Where is he?” ‘* Planted yesterday.”” ‘“ No! Dead?” ‘*Dead enough to bury,” ‘€ You seem in ill-humor, Fred?” ‘‘T am that.” ‘*Come, out with your sorrows,” “Tiger Tom is dead, and I’m alive on proba- tion,” Captain Brass laughed, and Flush Fred con- tinued: ‘“* You know after our ambush of the Dra- goon and getting Dan Sully instead?’ es, ‘* Well, we came here, a3 you know, cap’n, and stayed until you sent us back to get what news we could.” ob Yes.” ‘Well, we returned to Gilt Edge, and went up to The Barracks that night to play a leetle cards and learn what was going on, ‘* Well, in came the Darling of De:tiny—” “The Dragoon?” ‘Yes, sir, and he just begun at once on Tom and me. He got the drop on me, so I elevated my hands in becoming style, and Tom got mad and tried to shoot; but the Dragoon broke his arm, and then Tiger tried his left, ouly to get a bullet in his head,” ‘* And you?” ‘“‘That Dragoon is cross-eyed, for he never took his eye off of me, while attending to Tom.” ‘* And then?” ‘* He gave me until noon the next day to get out of town, yet I stayed. It was raining, and I was that hot I meant to have it out, and so when I saw a mounted soldier dash up to The Barracks, I sailed out and let him have it,” ** Killed him” ct I did. ” ‘*Thank God!" and Captain Brass sprung to his feet in intense excitement, ‘*But, captain, I killed the wrong man, sure as my name is Flush Fred, an’ what’s more, the Dragoon came in the rear door, covered me, and ordered me to leave town, so T left.” ‘¢ And the man you killed?” ‘Was an army 8 rgeant carrying dispatches, who happened up at a bad time for himself. ‘The Dragoon said he would carry the dis- patches, so I concluded to lay for him, and I did.” ‘* With what result?” ‘€T ambushed him, and hit where I aimed.” ‘““Then he is dead?” eagerly said Captain Brass, ‘* No, for it wasa dummy in the saddle, and he covered me, from behind his horse, and gave me more advice and let me go.” *“He is a cool one! And you came here to stay?” ‘Yes, cap’n, for Gilt Edge hain’t healthy for me ncw.”’ ‘* You areright; but with you and Tiger Tom no longer there I must find two more spies for the camps.” ‘‘ Better send two of your own men who are strangers, for[ don’tknow who to tackle in Gilt Edge, that I could trust.” ‘“Tll do it, and let them go there under the best circumstances. ‘*T will select two, to-night; but this Dragoon certainly deserves his name as a Darling of Destiny, but we’ll make his destiny for him.” ‘* Don’t be too sure of that, for he is chain- lightning, and sharper than a sleuth on the scent, But, captain, [ think I could get a splendid horse for you, and one for myselt, if I tried.” ‘* How?? ‘Take several of the boys by night, and run off the Dragoon’s two splendid blacks, for he is away now and there is nobody at home but a negro and a cripple, old Bad Luck.” “Do it, Flush, and I'll pay you well for mine.” ‘Pll do it, and to-night,” said Flush Fred, decidedly. CHAPTER XV. THE STRANGERS. Ripson ROB wore a worried look upon his brave, honest face. He was standing by the door of the Overland stage station, and he knew that within an hour he must be on his run over the mountains to Gilt Hdge City. It was early in the morning, and the sun was shining brightly, while the forests near were alive with song-birds. But neither the bright sunshine nor the music of the birds removed the shadow from Ribbon’s face. He was usually such a reckless, good- humored fellow that it seemed strange to see a shade in his bright eyes,’ The trouble was, Rob had a precious load to carry through the mountains. There had ar- rived by the coach from the Hast, the evening before, *‘ the strangers,” as the intended settlers at Fort Folly were called. Rob had taken another letter to Landlord Champ, along with a snug sum of money, tell- ing him to do all things needed for the new home, and that several wagons had started by the valley trail, loaded with furniture and ac- companied by some horses and cattle, that the strangers might make themselves comfortable there. ¢ Ribbon Rob had also received word that they would be along in time for the next run. Somehow, Rob pictured to himself a whole family, a dozen in number, in facta stage-load of children, and he was considerably token aback when his partner of the ribbons drove up to the station the evening before with the stran- gers, and they panned out but five persons. ‘¢Dash my buttons, thar hain’t a kid in the hive,” cried Rob, as he saw the five alight from the stage. . First came an elderly gentleman, a solid-look- ing, well-preserved man of fifty, with a fine face and hearty manner, ; Then there sprung lightly out [a young girl, that caused Rob to ejaculate: ‘‘Thet are a streak o’ sunshine!” She was hardly more than eighteen, very graceful in form, very lovely in face, and she had a wealth of golden hair which the jostling of the coach had brought down in rich confusion upon her shoulders. She wore a close-fitting traveling-dress, and a slouch hat encircled by a small silk sash of scur- let, that was very becoming. he next person to alight was a young girl of twenty, neatly dressed, and evidently standing in the ight of half-companion, half-maid to the young lady. : : A young man then alighted, with a half-lazy air—a man of thirty, well-dressed, intelligent- faced and with the appearance of a geptle- man, : Then came the fifth one of the party, a meek- faced lady of forty-five, and evidently the wife of the elderly gentleman, the mother of the lovely girl. “Now, thisis primitive; but I like it, and I know I shall like our wild life in the mines,’’ said the maiden, turning her eyes about her and then letting them fall upon Ribbon Rob, who jumped as though she had struck him. “T do wish your good father had never con- sented to your mother and yourself coming to this wild region, Miss Kate,” said the younger man, stepping up to her side. ‘*Nonsense, Mr. Varnum, you are always croaking. Father was a surveyor long years ago, became a fine prospector, and through it found a fortune in gold, He has lost heavily of (C(O) AMC Owe) S (E(0)