Old Cap. Collier Library No. 379: The Lawyer Detective — page 20: what you’re looking at

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20 THE LAWYER DETECTIVE. some object by the roadside, and nearly un- seated his rider. “Td about forgot old Tom’s coltishuess,” declared the colonel, but he made no offer to exchange animals with Ragsdale, and the latter was too proud to mention such a thing himself, Darkness had fallen. Colonel Redhart was in advance, while Ragsdale brought up the rear. They were crossing a ridge, through a rather dense cluster of timber. Of a sudden a loud gnort was heard; then the cry of a man in alarm, followed by a crashing of brush and twigs. ‘‘Hello!” cried Colonel Redhart, drawing rein. ‘‘ What’s up behind there ?” ‘‘T guess an accident,” said Shade. ‘‘I see nothing of our friend, Ragsdale. His horse has fallen over the ridge!” 4 Then he’s done fur!” exclaimed the colo- uel, ——$—— CHAPTER XIX. THE FACE AGAIN, IT was true. Ragsdale had gone over the ridge. Horse and rider had rolled down an em- bankment some forty feet, and both seemed to be dead, since neither stirred. Colonel Redhart and his companion dis- mounted, and securing their horses proceed- ed to investigate. ‘‘Tt war all old Tom’s doin’s,” said the col- onel, as he descended the steep in advance of Shade, the detective. ‘‘I oughtnt to have let the young feller ride the or’nary critter.” ‘‘T hope he is not killed.” ‘It’ll be er miracle ef he ain’t.” The two men soon reached the foot of the declivity, and stood quietly listening. It was too dark here in the woods to see anything. Presently a groan assailed the ears of the twain. ; ‘¢That’s him,” said the colonel. ‘¢ He isn’t dead, then ?” ‘‘No; I'm glad on’t. Hello, Ragsdale! Where are you?” To this call no answer was vouchsafed. However, the two men were not long in finding the spot where man and horse lay. Matches were brought into requisition, and an examination made. The horse was stone dead. His neck had been broken. ‘‘Confound ther luck,” growled the Mis- sourian. ‘‘ What now, colonel ?” ‘That horse,” declared Redhart. ‘‘ He cost me two hundred, and now he’s dead. I’m dumbed sorry.” ‘‘ Never mind the horse. How is it with the man ?” ‘‘ He’s dead, too, I reckon.” Shade bent over the prostrate young law- yer, and placed his hand on his heart. In order to ascertain if life remained the detect- ive removed his glove. ‘‘ Hold a match this way, colonel.” Redhart did as requested. He even went further, and ignited a bunch of weeds and twigs, thus making a torch that burned for a considerable time. He held the light so that it lit up the face and form of Ragsdale. ~ “Wal,” said the colonel, ‘‘is the young fellow dead ?” ‘“ No.” ‘He may die though ?” “Time enough. It’s a bad accident,” agreed Shade. ‘* You’ve lost a valuable horse, and the community may have lost a very smart man.” There was something like a sarcastic ring in the speaker’s voice at the last. It was quite evident that Detective Nat uate did not think highly of Hilton Rags- ale. ‘‘There’s no use talkin’,” declared Colonel Redhart, ‘‘the Denver feller is smart and I hate to have him die in this ere way. We must git him home some way, Nate.” ‘We'd best go home and send some one out with a team, It might be the death of him if we tried to carry him on our horses. If he dies it isn’t your fault or mine, colonel.” ‘‘That’s true, I admit.” The Ught was burning, low now, and its faint flashes revealed a weird picture—two | job now, did he suspect that Ragsdale would men, half bending over a prostrate form on the ground, a dead horse near, tall trees loom- ing up in shadowy outlines on every side. Slowly the picture faded out, and a solemn darkness covered all. The wind moaning through the trees sound- ed like a dirge. One of the men shuddered. Perhaps he was superstitious, or perhaps he had a guilty conscience that makes cow- ards of men, ‘““Come,” said Shade in a low voice, ‘‘ let us go.” ‘* And leave Ragsdale ?”’ ‘Yes. I’m sure he can’t last long. The body can be carted in to-morrow and shipped to his friends—that will end it all.” A heartless remark. It did not seem to affect the Missouri colonel, who signified his willingness to de- art. The two men climbed the hill, remounted their horses, and rode swiftly away. “‘Where’s Ragsdale ?” It was buxom Mrs. Redhart who put this question the moment her husband and De- tective Shade entered the house on their re- turn. ‘‘ He’s hurt,” said the colonel. He then explained. ‘Oh, dear! that’s too bad,” sighed the] woman, ‘‘ A gentleman was here, soon after you left, a-lookin’ for the Denver man.” ‘* Hh—is that so ?” The colonel seemed interested at once. ‘It’s so. Do you think I would lie about it, colonel ?” The woman looked indignant. ‘“No. Who was he, Nance ?” ‘*T dunno.” ‘‘ Whar was he from ?” ** Don’ know that nuther.” ‘‘ Wal, you’re smart. Why didn’t yer find out who he was, whar he was from an’ what he wanted ?” ‘‘He didn’t give me time. He was ina powerful hurry, and rid off jest as soon’s he found you’n Mr, Ragsdale had gone.” ** Sho!” A troubled look overspread the face of the colonel. At length he said: ‘‘What sort of a lookin’ chap was he, Nance?” ‘* A likely young feller.” ‘“Can’t you describe him ?” ‘*T might.” ‘* Do so, then.” ‘A trim-built young man, with a smooth face, chestnutty hair, and dark eyes.” “His clo’s ?” ‘* Neat as wax.” ** Store clo’s ?” ce Yes.” ‘‘By thunder! it was some tenderfoot from Denver, Ill bet a hoss.”’ The colonel seemed troubled, however, and went to his smoking-room, whither he called Shade, and the two talked long and earnestly, not separating till almost the morn- ing hour, * * * * % * In the meantime what of our Denver friend who had been left to his fate at the foot of the wooded ridge ? He was not dead. Nor was he injured so deeply as Colonel Redhart and his companion supposed. The moment the two men departed there was a movement on the part of Ragsdale. He sat up. It was too dark to see objects, but the young lawyer knew about where he was. His nerves had received a severe shock in more than one particular. He had made a discovery that tingled to the very tips of his fingers. It will be remembered that Shade, in order to make an examination of Ragsdale’s condi- tion, had removed his glove. Under the glare of the colonel’s torch, the hand of the detect- ive was plainly revealed to the prostrate young lawyer. It was the sight of a missing little finger that had startled Ragsdale. After that the man from Denver lay quite still. Once this man, then in mask, had at- tempted to take his life. He believed the fel- low was nome tog good to make sure of the live. And so the lawyer-detective had ‘‘ played possum” to good advantage on this occasion. He had made a most important discovery. Nat Shade was a villain! He certainly was not what he purported to be. Did his employer, the doughty Missouri colonel, know the true character of Shade? It was this unanswered question that troubled Ragsdale more than aught else. It was with some difficulty that the lawyer regained his feet. When he succeeded in doing so he felt weak and faint. ‘‘So they will send for my body in the morning,” mused Ragsdale, with a grim laugh. ‘‘I’m thinking they’ll not find it this time. I presume it’s a steep climb up yonder hill, but it must be made, and then I'll rest under a tree till morning, when I'll pounce down on some people I know and give thein a surprise party.” The lawyer detective waited till he felt a little stronger, when he began the ascent of the hill. It proved a toilsome climb for one who was yet weak from his tumble down the ridge declivity. When he reached the summit of the ridge he sat down and listened. Far away on the trail he heard the metallic click of iron-shod hoofs. His two late companions were making good time on the return to Three Oaks Ranch. ‘‘T’ll surprise them in the morning,” thought Ragsdale, and in: this reflection he seemed to find a good deal of comfort. Presently he started to his feet, and stepped aside from the trail. Why this movement? He had heard a sound that assured him of the approach of a horseman along the trail. This was a surprise to him, since he su posed his friends, who had so considerately left him to his fate, were far away on the re- turn to Three Oaks. A flash of heat lightning lit the night for an instant, and in its glare the concealed man caught a view of the approaching horseman. ‘‘ Ah!” exclaimed the young lawyer. A moment later the traveler had passed on. ‘¢ That face!” exclaimed Ragsdale. ‘* There's but one such in the world, and he is an im- portant factor in this strange case.” Even while he soliloquized, the sound of horse-hoofs fretted the evening air. Once more a flash of distant lightning lit up the trail, revealing the face and form of a second horseman. ‘‘Glory! glory!” exclaimed Ragsdale, in an ecstasy of delight. The next instant he sprung into the trail, and uttered a name that brought the horse- man to a hali—the name of Sid Gidley, the boy homesteader. “Good land! is that you, Hilton ?” ‘‘Tt’s me for a fact, Sid, my boy,” returned the lawyer, ‘‘and I’m very glad to see the face, and hear the voice of a friend once nore.” ‘And I’m dreadful glad to find you, Hil- ton!” returned the lad. ‘‘ I’ve been looking for you. It’s kind o’ strange how we git sepa- rated so. I don’t think we've traveled in company much after all. I found out you'd come to the old kunnel’s cattle range, and so pointed this way myself.” ‘‘Did you meet the colonel and his man Friday ?” ‘‘ Who'd ye call Friday ?” ‘‘ Mr. Shade.” ‘No, I didn’t meet ’em.” ‘You must have passed them.” ‘*T didn’t follow the regular trail,” said the boy, ‘‘and must have missed ’em in that way. How’d you come to be separated from ’em, Hilton ?” The young lawyer explained. ‘*T told you Shade was no good.” ‘“*T don’t believe he’s a detective,” declared Ragsdale, ‘‘and what’s more, I’m afraid the colonel isn’t sound.” ‘ It looks that way.” ‘« And, Sid.” “Well, Hilton ?” ‘‘T saw that face again just now.” ‘‘ What face ?” ‘‘The face of Olive’s other lover—the face of the man whose photograph is in the locket you found, Sid.” An (C EO DOO S