Old Cap. Collier Library No. 379: The Lawyer Detective — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

THE LAWYER DETECTIVE. pu ee “* Yes,” “Will you ob2y ?” ‘‘T don’t see how IJ can.”’ “Tt is a matter of life or death.” “To whom?” ‘‘To you.” The last was uttered sternly. Ragsdale realized that he was in a danger- ous situation. Evidently these men were desperate fel- lows, and yet they might be only attempting to frighten him. “T cannot make the required promise,” finally said the man from Denver. ‘‘Then you force a terrible alternative on us. Hilton Ragsdale.” The mask drew his revolver and cocked it with great deliberation. “ You must either leave Wyoming or die. So it has been decided, and I shall not hesi- tate one moment.” Ragsdale was really alarmed now. ‘“ Just hold ona minute. Don’t knock a fel- low out on such short notice,” cried the pris- ouer. ‘ You ought at least to be willing to tell me why you desire my absence from this territory.” ‘I cannot enter into explanations,” said the mask. ‘‘ We have decided to spare your life if you will leave the territory at once, and swear hever to return, or to send any of your friends into this country.” ‘‘But hold on, sir. You are making the conditions harder and harder!” exclaimed Ragsdale. ‘“ And you must accept them or die!” “You will offer no explanation of this strange proceeding ?”’ ‘* None.” ‘* Strange——” “<T'll give you just three minutes to make up your mind,” the mask interrupted, draw- ing out his watch. The young lawyer started. His gaze was fixed onthe hand that held the watch. There was something familiar about it, he was sure. The little finger was gone at the first jomnt— the little finger of the left hand. ‘One minute!” said the mask, solemnly, He was too busy regarding the watch to note the prisoner's start of surprise or the direc- tion of his glances. A dead silence reigned. “Two minutes!” Only another minute between him and eternity. And yet the prisoner could not take his fascinated gaze from that mutilated hand. He had seen it somewhere,'he was sure, but where? This question he could not answer. “Three minutes !” The words rung out like a death-knell. A new light seemed to glow in the eyes of the mask who held the revolver. The gentleman from Denver was not ready to die without making a struggle for life. As the man returned the watch to his pocket, Ragsdale bent his head and darted forward, his head striking the would-be mur- derer in the stomach, doubling him up like a jack-knife. Spang—spang! Two sharp reports rung out, and Ragsdale disappeared into the gulch. When the mask, who had fallen before the onset of the prisoner, had regained his feet, he was trembling with rage. ‘‘Where is he?’ he demanded in a loud voice. ‘‘ He shall die now, surely.” ‘« He is already dead, pard.” ‘Show me the body.” ‘““ You will find it at the bottom of Satan’s Gulch,” and the speaker pointed to the black opening into which Ragsdale had plunged. ‘¢T heard shots.” ‘Yes, we fired upon him the moment he attempted to escape,” said the second mask. ‘‘T think it is better so. No one will ever be the wiser.” ‘“‘True. His blood be on his own head, we are not to blame. I can’t rest till I know that we are safe, however.” ‘‘ Would you go into the gulch?” 6 Yes. ” ‘“‘ T move that we partake of breakfast first. cap'n,” said one of the men, who had not yet spoken. ‘It'll take a good hour to go into the gulch by the path, and you know as well as I’atno man can tumble sixty feet onto solid rock and come out alive. Besides, this man has two bullets in his body.” Plausible reasoning, surely. The leader of the masks consented to first partake of food ere exploring the gulch. The whole party repaired to the log-house in the woods near at hand, where a stock of provisions was disclosed, and soon the masks were enjoying a substantial morning repast. Not a man removed his face covering. Each addressed his neighbor by number in- stead of by name. Evidently these men were engaged in un- lawful work, and believed they could not be too cautious, Day had fairly dawned when the last man moved from the table. ‘‘ Now for the gulch!” exclaimed the leader of the masks. At this moment, however, a diversion took place, that changed the plans of the outlaws somewhat. A single horseman rode into the copse, and dismounting at the door, called loudly: ‘“ Number Ten!” The leader of the masks at once left the room, and stepped aside with the new-comer, who was masked like the others. The conference lasted half an hour, and was of a most earnest nature on the part of the new arrival. ‘* Boys,” said Number Ten, on his return to the house, ‘‘ we must scoot.” ‘“ What's up?” “ Danger.” A buzz of excitement followed, and a little later the grove about the log-house was de- serted. The last man to go was the one who had been the bearer of important news, ‘‘T scattered ’em,” he chuckled, as he leaned against a tree and peered about him keenly. “The next thing isto find out ifa murder has been committed.” Removing his mask, the man exposed a rather handsome face for a brief moment, while he wiped the perspiration from his brow. Restoring his mask, the man walked through the timber and stood on the spot where the late tragedy had been enacted. ‘‘T hope, for the girl’s sake, he isn’t dead,” muttered the mask. He was soon making his way along a nar- row trail that led into the gulch by a circuit- ous route. The distance was great, and the difficulties of the way rendered the movements of the pedestrian slow and laborious. At length he arrived at the bottom of the gulch, and turned his steps along its base, to- ward the spot where the man from Denver had plunged to his apparent death. Presently the searcher came to a halt, He listened intently. A groan assailed his ear. ‘The fellow is alive, surely,” muttered the masked searcher. He was not long in finding Ragsdale, who lay in a clump of alders at the foot of the de- clivity. “‘Insensible,” decided the searcher, as he examined the young lawyer, ‘‘ and likely to die. Now what had I better do? Leave him here, or try and find a shelter and help for the fellow ?” After a few minutes of reflection, the masked man lifted Ragsdale in his arms and staggered down the gulch. Scarcely had the mask disappeared, when a third man burst through the bushes and glared about him. He wore no mask, and we have met the man before. It was Tribune Tripp. His eyes glowed like coals of fire, and his strong hands were clinched in a way that de- noted terrible passion. : Suddenly drawing a revolver, he darted swiftly after the masked rescuer. CHAPTER XII. A STARTLING REVELATION, Wuen Hilton Ragsdale again opened his eyes, he was aware that he was experiencing considerable pain. The ceiling above his couch was rough, and one glance about the room assured him that he was in a frontiers- man’s shanty, , explanation. that the girl’s lover murdered her. terrible affair, and after we learned of the 13 What had happened How came he here ? to bring it all about? ‘‘ He has opened his eyes. See, mother!’’~ A rather sweet voice fell on the ear of the ear of the injured man, and a moment later a pair of dark eyes looked into his from the face of a brown yet pretty girl. ‘* Are you better, Mr. Ragsdale ?” She seemed to know his name. wonders never cease ? At this moment an elderly woman entered the room and bent over Ragsdale. Shesmiled and drew her daughter aside. ‘* You were badly hurt, sir,” said the wom- an. ‘‘I suppose you know how you came to fall into Satan’s Gulch.” ‘¢ Ah, yes, I remember now.” said the youn man, passing his hand over his brow. ‘ was fired on. I made a leap for life, and went into the gulch, that is all I remember.” ‘It is quite enough for the present. You must remain quiet till you feel better.” ‘¢ How long have I been here ?” ‘‘Three days.” ‘* Ts it possible ?” ‘* You must be quiet now.” ‘No, no, I can’t keep quiet till I hear an Who brought me here? How came you to know my name?” ‘¢You were brought here by a man whom we do not know. Our cabin being the near- est to the gulch we took you in.” ‘¢ You were very kind.” ‘‘Not at all,” declared the woman. ‘In this wild country one is quite apt to get into trouble at any time. e must be ready to aid one another when occasion arises.” She then left him to his own reflections. Three more days passed before the young lawyer was able to be on his feet again. He had now been absent from his friends a week. Ragsdale was well pleased with the appar- ent refinement and gentleness of the girl and her mother. On the seventh day Ragsdale said that he must not tarry another hour, ‘‘ Where do you live, Mr. Ragsdale ?” ‘‘In Denver when at home,” he answered the girl who had put the question, ‘‘ but lam here looking into the murder case at the Three Oaks ranch.” ‘My brother told me about that,” said she. ‘It seems that the people generally think It was a Would finding of the poor victim's body, I didn’t sleep nights for a long time.” ‘*T do not wonder at it.” Just then a clatter of hoofs announced the approach of a horseman. ‘It’s my brother!’ exclaimed the girl. “Tm so glad he has come before you went away. I want you to know each other.” Ragsdale was glad, too. ‘‘My brother, Mr. Ragsdale.” The man from Denver started as he found himself looking into the face of the new arrival—Benay Flash! Although the woman had given their family name, Ragsdale had not thought to connect it with Colonel Redhart’s factotum. He was disappointed. Flash was his aversion, And, too, he could now account for the deep tint on the cheek of Miss Mindora Flash. There was Indian blood in her veins. He hated the race, and the feelings that had become suddenly aroused in his bosom fell as suddenly to zero. ‘* So this‘is where you are keeping yourself, Hilton,” cried the half-breed, something like a sneer curling his lip. ‘I had no idea you were acquainted with my people. Do you know. you have created as much of a stir by your running away as Miss Olive did a year ago. ishall demand an explanation at once, sir.” ! ‘‘ Demand away,” retorted the Denver man, ‘Tam not obliged to explain to you, Benay Flash.”’ Mindora gazed at the two men in evident astonishment. As Ragsdale was turning away, he noticed the girl’s blank surprise, and deigned to say: ‘©T have met your brother before, Miss Flash; he and I are friends.” ‘‘The very best of friends,” emphasized Benay, with a low laugh. He then dismounted and entered the house. ‘We're homesteaders like many others,” declared the half-breed, in a pleasant voice, GOMMGIOO (C SS