Old Cap. Collier Library No. 379: The Lawyer Detective — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

The half-breed smiled on him with the ut- most coolness. ‘‘So we meet again, Hilton,” said the fac- totum of Three Oaks Ranch. ‘* You see now that I made no idle threat some time ago.” ‘« Tt will prove idle in the long run,” retort- ed the lawyer. ‘¢Do you think so ?” ‘© T know so.” ‘Don’t be too sure, Mr. Ragsdale,” retorted the half-breed. ‘‘ We have laid a train that, when it is touched off, will blow you and your aunt to kingdom come.” The fellow laughed grimly. ‘¢Benay Flash, you are a villain!” ‘* Pooh!” ‘You are a scoundrel from the ground up, but your plot to win a hundred thousand will not succeed, and within six weeks I will see you behind prison bars!” For once the thick skin of the mercenary half-breed was pierced. He actually trembled under the gaze of the Denver lawyer. ‘‘T mean what I say, Benay Flash. Your plot has been pierced, and you and your com- panions will fall into a dupgeon before you are aware of it.” ‘‘Bah! I’ve heard sheep bleat before,” sneered Flash. ‘‘ Your aunt will hang for a double murder She is the one who has plot- ted to win a fortune, not I.” Then the factotum turned on his heel and rushed away, evidently not pleased with the manner of his reception by Ragsdale. He had gone but a little way. when he aused, turned about and shook his clinched Bet at the retreating form of the Denver lawyer. Ragsdale walked on a little further when he caught sight of two men riding into the city from the north. Both men had come under the eye of the young lawyer before. One man was Jack Stoneset, the leader of the vigilantes; Rags- dale found time to wonder what business the leader of the criminal hunters could have here, before he turned his attention to the ether? . One glance into the face of the second man sent an ejaculation from the lips of the law- yer man-hunter. Springing to the side of the horseman, who had now halted, Ragsdale cried in a stern voice: ‘‘Dismount, Worthland Rivers, you are wanted.” CHAPTER XXIX. STRANGE DEVELOPMENTS. THE man thus rudely addressed by Rags- dale, was young and handsome. His face was sunburned, and his clothing somewhat the worse for wear, yet he had about him the air of a gentleman, not to be mistaken. ‘* Ah, I think I know you,” said Rivers, as he glanced into the face of the man from Denver. ‘‘ You and [ met in a lonely cave up in the Big Horn country. I lost a coat and a horse at the time, and surmised that you might give me some information that would lead to my finding them. Was I wrong ?” ‘‘No. Ifound the animal, but it was one that had been stolen from me at an earlier date, and so I appropriated it.” ‘Very well. No hard feelings on that score, Mr. Ragsdale,” returned the man, with a forced laugh. ‘‘ You spoke just now as though you were anxious to talk with me. I am in something of a hurry, yet will not re- fuse you an interview. « Jack, ride on to the hotel, I will see you later.” The leader of the vigilantes did as requested, and Rivers dismounted and walked to an open space under some trees, where they found shelter from the rays of a hot sun. ‘“‘T am ready now to hear what you have to offer, Mr. Ragsdale. Please be brief about it. as I have much business on my hands to transact before night. The man’s cool, business-like manner quite disarmed Ragsdale’s venoni. ‘‘Do you know the Tripps, Mr. Rivers ?” ‘*Tntimately.” ‘*T thought so.” ‘¢ Well ?” The young lawyer hardly knew how to proceed. At length he said: ‘‘Mrs, Tripp is in this town, accused of a THE LAWYER DETECTIVE, en. double murder, Mr. Rivers ?”’ * All about it.” ‘*T mistrusted as much. What do you know about it, You are, then, one of the conspirators who hope to gain a fortune by sending an innocent woman to the gallows. Let me tell you, Worthland Rivers, it won’t work.” Ragsdale spoke sternly now. He saw Rivers recoil and tremble. ‘*You mistake me utterly, Mr. Ragsdale,” declared the other, in an unsteady voice. ‘‘I know of the plot you speak of, but, as Heaven is my judge, I had no hand in any of the vil- lainous work. Don’t interrupt me, please, till | I am through. I know that Mrs. Tripp has been arrested. I know, too, that she is an in- nocent woman, the victim of a plot, which, Heaven helping me, I mean tothwart. My business here to-day is, in part, tosave Mrs. ‘‘I wish I could believe this.” ‘‘T am sorry you distrust me, sir,” returned Rivers, coldly. ‘‘I am sure that you have no cause to doubt my friendship for you. On two occasions I have rescued you from the | Philistines, and now you turn upon me with |accusations. Isn't this a poor return for past favors, Hilton Ragsdaie *” The rebuke in the man’s voice the young lawyer felt was merited, and yet -ow could | he overlook the fact, brought out by the let- ters that had been found in Rivers’ coat? A fact that, in the eyes of Ragsdale, branded the man before him a murderer! ‘*Tam much in your debt, Mr. Rivers, and had I only to consult my own feelings, I might be lenient; but a foui murder was com- mitted on the night of June 16th. last year, | the victim being my own cousin, an innocent | young girl, whose blood cries from the lonely grave on the prairie for vengeance. Would I not be a dastard did I not pursue the murder- er to the death ?” The eyes of the speaker fixed themselves in a penetrating gaze on the face of the man before him. Again Rivers started and trembled, a fact that did not escape the notice of his accuser. ‘*T have hunted the prairies and gulches of | Wyoming in my search for the assassin, Worthland Rivers. I have made discoveries | of a most startling nature within the past few | hours.” i ‘In fact, you have been acting the detect- ive to some purpose.” ‘‘T think so, Mr. Rivers.” ‘You turn upon me, imagining that J harmed Olive Chester ?” The speaker’s face was as white as death when he put the question. ‘‘T have the proof, Mr. Rivers.” ‘* No, no, that cannot be.” The young man trembled more than ever | under the accusing words and gaze of Rags- | dale, a fact that only confirmed the lawyer- | detective’s worst suspicions. ** Rivers, I did not know when I came here i that my poor cousin had two lovers. I have | learned this fact lately. The whole world has | looked upon Evard Demming as Olive’s lover and murderer.” The young lawyer paused, but as his listen- er made no effort to speak, he proceeded: ‘“‘T assisted in saving Demming from the hands of a mob of lynchers, and am satisfied that I saved an innocent man. I ain glad of that act. It was by accident that I discovered that Olive had another lover. I have since pursued my investigations till I found that the finger of fate points to Olive’s second lover as the one who fired the fatal shot. I am sorry for you, Rivers, since I know the deed was done in the heat of passion, and that you have since repented it; but nothing in the law can excuse you. My aunt must not suffer for the crime of another.” ‘True, true!” exclaimed Rivers, ina hollow voice. ‘ You speak truly when you say that shot was fired in the heat of passion, Hilton Ragsdale. I would give all my life to undo that one fatal blunder.” To the young lawyer’s surprise the accused man was admitting hiscrime. He had looked for indignant denial. ‘¢ Confession in open court may aid you, Mr. Rivers,” said Ragsdale, his voice now assum- ing a sympathetic tone. ** Confession of what?” ‘‘Of the murder of Olive Chester.” © ‘“No, no, I make no such confession, I 9 29 murder the woman I loved better than my life! Itis false, I could not do so wicked a thing. Ishall not remain here to be accused of this crime. Back! you touch me at your peril!” A gleaming revolver was thrust into the face of Ragsdale, while the young plainsman retreated to his horse near at hand. ‘* Halt, Rivers.” The hand of the lawyer-detective fell to his hip, but he dared not draw, since his enemy had him covered, and he could see by the gleam of the fellow’s eyes that he was a des- perate man. Reaching the saddle, Rivers rode swiftly away toward the open country. And thus had the confessed murderer es- caped. Ragsdale was in a heat. Now that Rivers knew he was discovered, he would doubtless flee the country, and a long chase would be necessary before the mur- derer was captured. The lawyer watched the murderer till he was lost to view in the distance, taking note of the course the man pursued. Returning to the town, Ragsdale consulted with the authorities, and Jearned that his aunt must lie in jail two weeks before trial. In that time the young man resolved to hunt down the real assassin. He went to his aunt and told her the cheer- ing news that the real murderer had been dis- covered, and then he mounted thesorrel mare, and accompanied by Sid Gidley, set out on the trail of Worthland Rivers. This was found to lead directly to the Tripp ranch. It was night when the two friends ar- rived. Rena was there alone to receive them. ‘Mr. Rivers has not been here!” declared the girl. ‘I might find him, however, if itis of importance.” ‘It is of the greatest importance,” declared the young lawyer, regarding the girl admir- ingly. He thought her brave to remain at the ranch alone, and he was learning to care for the plainsman’s daughter in a way that he little dreamed of a few days before. ‘Mr. Rivers will not leave the country with- out seeing me,” returned Rena, *‘and I will tell him you want him.” A smile touched the face of the lawyer-de- tective. ‘* [hardly think he would come on being told that he was wanted,” said Ragsdale. ‘‘ Truth is, he has fled.” ** Fled ?” **From justice.” “Sir, what do you mean ?” ‘‘T mean that Rivers confessed to me that he murdered my cousin Olive, and then mounted his horse and fled, thus leaving an innocent woman to suffer in his place.” ‘*My soul!” gasped the girl, clinging to a chair for support, her face blanching. ‘‘ This cannot be true. Worth never, never com- mitted a murder. He shall not be accused of it. I will die myself sooner! Poor boy! poor Worth!” Then she sunk limp as a rag into a chair, and covered her face as if to shut out some horrid picture. Ragsdale clinched his teeth. Rena loved this man Rivers. There could be no doubt of this, and the knowledge sent a stab of pain to the heart of the young lawyer. He must not spare on account of this beau- tiful girl’s love. He was more than ever determined to hunt down the assassin. ‘‘ T have spoken only the truth,” said Rags- dale, aftera moment. ‘‘ This man Rivers is the assassin, and he must not be permitted to escape. If you know where he 1s, tell me at once.” ‘*T do not know.” She looked up into his face, her own white and ghastly. He could see that she suffered more than tongue could tell. Her love for Rivers must be deep and abid- ing. g If you cannot aid us, we must trust to our own resources,” declared Ragsdale, turning to depart. As he reached the door Rena Tripp sprung to her feet, and tossing back her midnight GOMMGOOO (C SS GO)