Old Cap. Collier Library No. 379: The Lawyer Detective — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

THE LAWYER DETECTIVE. CHAPTER XX. ROBBING A THIEF. BENAY FLASH, accompanied by a cow-boy from one of Colonel Redhart’s ranges, drove away from Three Oaks on the following morn- ing, in the direction of the ridge where it was supposed Hilton Ragsdale had met his fate. They rode in a two-horse wagon, intending to bring the body of the unfortunate lawyer to the ranch. The colonel’s countenance wore an uneasy expression during the day. He rode out in company with Detective Shade in the morning, and the twain halted at the lone cabin where thé body of the mur- dered girl had been found. The two dismounted and searched the cabin and vicinity thoroughly. They made no important discoveries. ‘“‘There’s not a clew left here, Nate,” said the colonel. ‘‘I’ve an idea the fellow who shot the gal won’t never be found.” ‘*You don’t have much faith in the detect- ive you have employed, then, colonel,” re- turned Shade with a low laugh. ‘Well. you know how it is, Nate: the young feller from Denver’s gone under, and he was the most interested in findin’ out ther facts.” ‘Of course, but I sha‘n’t rest easy till some- one hangs for this.” ‘© So?” “Yes, colonel.” . A queer expression shot from the eyes of the speaker. ‘So you’re goin’ to hunt some one to the gallows, Nate?” ‘‘That’s the size of it, colonel.” The ranch owner said no more on the sub- ject then. Remounting his horse he faced toward home. Shade kept him company. ‘“‘ You seem troubled, colonel.” ‘¢T be troubled, Nate.” ‘Why should you be?” ‘‘ It’s about the young feller.” ‘Ragsdale ?”’ ‘< Yes,” ‘* Are you to blame for an accident ?” ‘‘No, I s’pose not; but the feller trusted me like I was his father, and ’twan’t usin’ him right ter gin him that hoss, Nate, I sw’ar ‘twasn’t. Dum my skin, ef I don’ believe his spirit’ll ha’nt me allus.” The colonel drew his rough sleeve across his eyes. fs Crying, as I live!” exclaimed the Che- yenne detective, mockingly. ‘‘Don’t laugh, pard, yer hurt my feelin’s,” said Colonel Redhart. ‘‘The idea that you should think so much of Hilton Ragsdale. I thought you had more sand, colonel.” To this speech the Missourian made no re- Half an hour later the colonel was pacing up and down the porch in front of his house. ‘It’s bad bizness, mighty bad,” muttered the Missourian. ‘‘I’ll hev to send a telegram to Denver and inform the uncle, I s’pose. Dod blame me, why’d I consent, why did I? Fust I know the gallus’ll be yawning for my carcass, sure’s the notion. I never did a bad deed in ole Missoury, and it’s er shame ‘at I should come ter Wyoming and go into in- iquities.” That the colone] was in an uneasy state of mind was to be seen at a glance. He entered the house, and procuring his pipe, filled and lit it, returning to the porch, where he sat down and smoked vigorously to drown his troubled conscience. In the meantime Nate Shade retired to his room on the ground floor at the rear of the house. « He sat down and dyew an envelope from his pocket. . From this he removed a long, legal-looking document, and proceeded to examine it care- fully. ‘“Last will and testament of Mrs. Julia Tripp,” muttered the man. ‘‘ An important document, truly. It was lucky I went through his pockets last night. This may lead tosome- thing, and I may be able to feather my nest at your expense, Mr. Ragsdale.” _ He examined the paper carefully. ‘¢So she’s made the Denver man her heir,” mused Mr. Shade. ‘I can see through this like a mice. You’re euchred this time, Mr. Tripp, sure’s the world. You got the widow, but not the money. Ha! ha! ha!” The man from Cheyenne laughed fill his sides shook, so pleased was he over the situa- tion. ‘‘Now, if my very dear friend Ragsdale was living, I should not touch this paper, but since he has joined the majority, there’s no harm in my seeing fo it.that his heirs do not profit by this legal document. Let me see, who are the witnesses? What!” Shade bent low and glanced at the paper, his eyes shining like glass beads. ‘‘ That man’s name signed to this!” The fellow trembled visibly. He was truly deeply moved, and in a way that betokened the most intense anger as well as alarm. ‘‘T had no idea that he was in this country, yet I notice that it was only a few weeks ago that this document was made out. I believe that man, whom I hate above ground induced Mrs. Tripp to make this disposition of her property. Should she die suddenly, the money in Cheyenne Bank would go to the relatives of Ragsdale—providing this will is ever found !” There was a deep meaning in the last words of the pretended detective, and the gleam in his eyes was something unpleasant to see. Lighting a. match, Shade held it under the paper. Of asudden, however, he threw away the match, a new thought having dawned on his brain. ‘‘Whata fool!” heexclaimed. ‘ This paper may be worth more to me in my possession, than it possibly could be, destroyed. I don’t mean to play into the hands of Tribune Tripp and his ilk; I’d much rather deal with the heirs of Mr. Ragsdale. Tll keep the paper till such time as it becomes necessary to use it.” Refolding the important document, the schemer thrust it back into its envelope and shoved it into his coat-pocket. He then lit a cigar, and sat and smoked for half an hour. The room seemed close and stifling. . Shade drew off his coat and threw it over a chair. He still smoked. He was in deep meditation, when a sound attracted his attention. He rose languidly and went to the window. What he saw caused him to start and change color. A score of mounted men were less than half a mile distant, riding toward Three Oaks at a gallop. ‘“Cowboys,” muttered Shade. ‘‘I wonder what they want with the colonel ?” For some moments the man from Cheyenne stood watching the coming troop. He soon satisfied himself that the party meant to halt at the ranch. ** Tl] step out and see what’s in the wind,” muttered Shade. ‘‘There’s nothing like put- ting a bold face on matters of this kind.” , Shade left the room, locking the door after 11m. His coat still lay on the chair, and that stood near the open window. Scarcely had Shade left the room, when a hand was thrust through the open window, and seized the coat. Soon the garment was tossed back, and the hand withdrawn, Immediately thereafter a man crossed an open space near the house, and glided into the grove near at Land. All this was but the work of a half dozen minutes. Meantime the troop of horsemen galloped up to the front of the house and halted. The men were a hardy set, all armed to the teeth, and well mounted. Colonel Redhart removed his pipe and stared at the new arrivals. The leader of the troop rode right up to the steps, and leaned from the saddle. ‘‘Helloa! Jack, is it you?” cried Colonel Redhart, springing up and extending his hand. The man on the horse did not seem to notice the friendly greeting, but said: ‘‘Have you a stranger in the house, col- onel ?” ‘‘ What d’ye mean, Jack Stoneset ?” ‘‘ Jest what I say.” 2 1 ‘*T don’t reckon I hev.” The stalwart homsteader, whom we met on one occasion at Catamount Ranch, turned to his followers. ‘‘ Boys, I expect you'll hev to go through the ranch.” ‘* Hold on,” objected the colonel. ‘‘ Jest ex- plain a leetle. o yer ‘magine I’ve got a criminal in my housen ?” ‘* That’s it to a T, colonel.” ‘* Git off yerself, then, Jack, and go through the old trap. Who yer lookin’ fur, anyhow ”” ‘‘ Fur a man on a sorrel mare—a young fel- ler in store clo’s and calf boots.” ** Who is he ?”’ ‘* A hoss thief and a coyote.” ‘‘'Wal, he ain’t here.” At this moment Nate Shade appeared. He was looked over keenly and curiously, but was not molested. Jack Stoneset went through the ranch, and returned to the outside satisfied. “‘ Now, see here, Jack,” said Colonel Red- heart, after the search was over, ‘‘did yer ’spect J wor in ther low, dirty business of hidin’ hoss thieves ?” The colonel’s voice rung out indignantly. Jack Stoneset did not seem to scare, how- ever, Tapping the irate colonel on the shoulder with the butt of his revolver, the stalwart homesteader said: ‘*Colonel Redhart, gittin’ mad don’t skeer ther boys, nor your’s truly, wuth a cent. Thar’s a good many men ‘at we've trusted as hev did wuss nor hide hoss thieves, and ther Big Horn homesteaders has stood all their a- goin’ ter of sich devilment. Thar’s goin’ to be a rattlin ’mong their dry bones, colonel, and all Ive got to say to you is, jest thank yer stars ef you hain’t a wuss skeleton in yer closet nor the one you mentioned. Mebbe we'll call again some day. Till then, good- bye, au revoy, adieu.” With a mocking bow the leader of the vig- ilantes turned, sprung to the saddle, and rode away at the head of hiscommand. ‘*So that’s the way the wind blows,” said Race ‘‘You’re suspected, colonel, as I ive.” ; ‘* Dod blast ther picters!” This was all the remark the Missourian made at this time. That he was deeply moved, however, was plain to be seen. - He refused to discuss the affair with the de- tective, and the latter soon returned to his room. He took up his coat and felt in the inner pocket. An alarmed expression visited his face as he felt rapidly from pocket to pocket. ‘‘Great Heaven! the will is gone! stolen!” he exclaimed. ’ — CHAPTER XXI. DON RAMON ARRIVES. ‘¢ 7] THINK myself that is the best way.” ‘‘The peoplejabout here will think you are dead, or gone home, and you'll be able to do a heap more huntin’ out the vagabonds at would screen a murderer.” A boy and man sat under a tree not many miles from Three Oaks Ranch. - Near by was a horse nipping the short prai- rie grass. The two persons were Hilton Ragsdale and Sid Gidley. The twain had ridden a long way since their night adventure in the woods on the ridge. Ragsdale was feeling almost himself again, and took a more rosy view of the future than he had done in a long time. Sid was a boy of resources, and he had made many valuable suggestions to his new friend. His last was that Ragsdale drop from sight entirely, and pursue hisfurther investigations in disguise. It was this suggestion of the boy that brought forth the words opening the present chapter. ‘‘The next thing will be to procure a suit- able disguise,” said the young lawyer. ‘That won’t be much of a trick.” ‘Tm thinking it will.” ‘Just you go home with me, and I'll !°.: you ER declared Sid. ‘““T'll do that. And, Sid!” ‘Well, Hilton ?” ‘¢ That locket,” COMlCcoooks.conn