Old Cap. Collier Library No. 379: The Lawyer Detective — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

THE LAWYER DETECTIVE. 25 eee ee a ae aL ee oe ee a ene 1a kis a eae ‘‘Not so harsh a deed as that, but we must be rid of you.” ‘‘In what way have I harmed you, Sir Mask ?” ‘‘In more ways than you imagiie.” “Did you murder Olive Chester ?” It was a blunt query, bluntly put. The mask started and clutched at his throat. A significant movement. ‘‘Furies, man! what a question to put toa man who is above harming any one not his deadly foe. I came here on purpose to——” ‘‘Hunt down the assassin?” The eyes of the prisoner peered sharply into the masked countenance, as though he would read therein some familiar lineament. ‘‘You have guessed right,” said the mask. ‘“T knew it. You are the tool of Colonel Redhart.” ‘‘T am his friend.” ‘‘ Did he have a hand in this villainy ?” ‘‘The colonel knew nothing about what was to come. He intended to guide you to Dem- ming, but I did not desire to have if so. The ranch-owner is badly hurt, for which I am sorry.” ‘‘Perhaps it was your intention to murder the colonel as well as myself ?” ‘“No, but the old man was in bad com- pany.” ‘You refer to me ?” “Exactly.” «You are complimentary.” ‘‘To you, yes. But this confab may as well end.” ‘‘One moment, Sir Mask.” “Well?” ‘““You are an impostor.” “What ?” “‘T know you, Nat Shade!” “Eh?” The mask started and trembled. “‘T know you,” repeated Ragsdale. ‘‘ You robbed me of a precious paper, and left me for dead at the foot of a ridge inthe night. Was that fall of mine an accident, or was it an at- tempt at murder? I know my horse was frightened by some object in the woods, I now believe it was a plan to murder me.” ‘‘Nothing of the kind. At any rate I pre- sume it wasn’t. My name is not Shade, soof course I can’t judge of the intentions of that gentleman.” However, Ragsdale could see that his cap- tor was not easy in mind, and the Denverite was fully assured that he had made no mis- take in his man. ‘Before Ragsdale could speak further. the masked leader turned to his companions and addressed a few words to them in an unknown tongue. It was doubtless one of the numerous In- dian dialects of the North-west. Ragsdale was seized and hurled to the rocky floor of the cavern. Then strong hands proceeded to bind his legs. After this his body was wound with ropes, until he was as jointless as a stick of timber. ‘Now put in the gag.” At this the prisoner demurred. ‘““Let me retain my power of speech,” pleaded Ragsdale. His request was unheeded. A gag was thrust into his mouth and se- curely fastened. Then he was placed on his back, in a posi- tion where he could not move, and-only look straight upward at the low ceiling. ‘¢ There!” said the masked leader, ‘‘I guess that'll do. I’ve only this to say to you, Hilton Ragsdale: you have brought this fate upon yourself. Your late disguise condemns you as a man to be distrusted. Nobody will ever think of looking in this lonesome place for- you. The mouth of the cave is completely hid- den by vines. and you will have a long time to think over your past life, and of the evil you have done. : ‘‘You made asad mistake when you con- sented to act the spy on better men than yourself. You see how it ends. I am sorry for you, but necessity knows no law. At the end of a week I will visit this spot again. If the coyotes have not picked your bones, I'll see that your body is decently buried. Time presses, and I must bid you farewell. ’ With a mocking bow the inan in the mask turned away, Soon the light faded out, and the sound of footsteps died away. The silence and darkness was terrible to contemplate. The brutal masks had left Ragsdale to a fate most horrible. They had shot Colonel Redhart, and visited a worse fate on the young lawyer. Strange emotions shot through the mind of the helpless Denverite as the minutes waned. At every step in his investigation of the murder of his cousin he had encountered op- position, and it began to look as though the whole Big Horn basin was anxious to have the investigation squelched. Hark! What sound is that? A step, or rather a stealthy tread, in the darkness. A cold chill shot down the spine of the helpless man. He imagined that one of the masks was returning to send a knife to his heart. Mayhap Nat Shade himself, who feared to trust to time and the wild auindals to deal with his prisoner. Nearer:and nearer drew the steps, creeping along in a careful manner. Was it an animal coming to make a meal off the helpless lawyer? It wight be. With a mighty effort the bound man tried to burst his bonds. Not a particle of effect was made on the knotted cords. Great drops of sweat oozed out on the brow of the bound man. He felt that his doom was sealed. He tried to cry out. The gag only choked him and smothered his voice. Ah! the second of doom has come! Something touches his breast!—a human hand! It feels for his heart! Ragsdale understands now. The villain, Shade, has returned to make sure of the murder he dare not commit before his companions. ‘‘T’ll find them somewhere on his person, I’m sure,” muttered a voice. After a minute the roving hand pressed aside the binding rope and entered the pris- oner’s breast pocket. ‘‘Ha! I have it!” exclaimed the searcher. And then he drew forth a paper. The searching hand continued its work till the locket was also procured. ‘‘T neglected to get these things sooner— come near forgetting it as it was, my dear Ragsdale,” chuckled the voice. Of course the bound man could make no reply. Having secured his booty, the mask hurried away in the darkness. He had left the cave, and was moving away in the gloom. when something dropped as from the sky upon his shoulders. The next instant the masked outlaw was hurled violently to the ground. CHAPTER XXV. TWO LETTERS. ‘‘MeRcy!” gasped the fallen man, who felt a cold ring of steel press against his temple. ‘‘T oughtn’t to show you any,” growled a voice. ‘‘ You are a cowardly outlaw, who has deceived the good people of the Big Horn long enough.” ‘“Don’t shoot me, sir.” ‘‘ What have you been doing ?” ‘‘ Nothing to harm any one.” ‘‘I know you lie now,” retorted the other. ‘You had a prisoner.” ‘* He escaped.” “Truly ?” ‘* As true as that I live.” ‘*T do not believe you.” ‘‘T never uttered a truer statement in my my life.” ‘‘Then you will never be convicted of hon- esty,” retorted the man’s captor, who pro- ceeded to make sure of his prisoner by draw- ing his wrists together and inclosing them in handcuffs. ‘“Good heavens! do you mean to make me a permanent prisoner, sir ?” “Yes,” uttered the man’s captor. ‘ Not another word now, but lead the way to the Ra OR SRE NF SI ane a Fa RCO SNe a es sro where you have concealed Hilton Rags- ale.” ‘*T tell you he escaped.” ‘‘T know that to be a he. dered him ?” Noe ‘IT am inclined to think you have, and so I may as well avenge his death now.” Again the naked muzzle of a revolver touched the temple of the masked villain. The contact of cold steel sent a shudder through his frame. ‘‘Mercy! Don’t shoot, and I’Jl tell you where Ragsdale is.” “Very well.” _ “ Fe’s in a cave not far from here.” ** Alive?” ¢ Yes,” ‘* You must lead me to him.” The speaker arose to his feet, and assisted his prisoner to rise also. ‘* Now move on, and mind, no treachery, or you are adead man.” Again the ring of cold steel touched the face of the masked outlaw. Tremblingly he led the way to the mouth of the cave. ‘He is in there.” ‘*Go in.” The prisoner obeyed. Once inside the cavern, the strange man who had captured the leader of the masks, turned on the light from a dark-lantern, thus illuminating the whole interior of the room. The bound form of Ragsdale was seen on the floor of the cavern. ‘Tis well,” muttered the stranger. ‘‘ Re- man where you are till I release the fel- ow,” Soon the man who had come to the rescue of Ragsdale was bending over him. He had some difficulty in severing the bonds. When he had succeeded in doing so, and re- moving the gag from the mouth of Ragsdale, the latter uttered a cry of joy and amaze- ment. ‘‘Who are you, sir?” cried the late pris- oner. ‘A friend to justice,” answered the man. ‘*T have seen your face before.” ‘« Perhaps.” “Once, at the house of the Gidleys, the night I lost my horse——” Before Ragsdale could finish his remarks the stranger turned and dashed away, leaving Ragsdale alone—in total darkness. The move was sudden and wholly unex- pected. ‘* What had caused it ?” Was the man the one who stole the sorrel mare, and had he taken fright at what seemed an accusation from Ragsdale ? This could not be the solution of the strange movements of the man. Ragsdale remembered that a second person had accompanied his rescuer, and doubtless he had discovered that his prisoner had fled, and had gone in pursuit. This was the real explanation of the stran- ger’s sudden departure. For some minutes Ragsdale stood immova- ble in the darkness, debating what move to make next. At length he began to grope his way toward the mouth of the cave. Once here he passed out, and stood silently surveying the gloomy surroundings. ““What had I best do?” mused the young lawyer man-hunter. ‘‘ Perhaps, if I remain here, my friend (or enemy, which ?) will re- turn, and then I can interview him, and learn who and what he is. I am sure he is the man of the locket, and the man who stole the sorrel mare. ‘He befriended me to-night, for which I ought to thank him. If heis a bad man, why did he come to my assistance? Perhaps it is a part of the plot. Who knows?” Every movement of the stranger was in- volved in mystery. Ragsdale did not recognize the person who accompanied his rescuer into the cave. Had he seen the handcuffs on the wrists of Nat Shade, the young lawyer might have formed an opinion nearly correct as to the situation. : ‘My disguise bas been penetrated,” mused Ragsdale, ‘‘so there’s no use sailing under false colors longer, at least notas Don Ramon. I'll remain in this vicinity for a time, and see Have you mur- GEOG ooo (C S