Beadle's Dime Novels, No. 91: The Lost Cache — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

. &, MUBDER.., 65, the. blue clay, the. sides. had been plastered with mud, which, still adhered. to them, and it. had been carefully fashioned and protected,.as if for the reception of something valuable, Ad-. ams thought, as he examined. it more closely, that. he. could perceive small, shining particles on the,bottom and at; the sides ofthe hole... | fs “ Thar’s somebody been here. afore me,” was. his muttered, conclusion. “ P’raps it was old Mus-to-qua himself. No, that ain’t likely, fur what would he hev’ done with the gold? = It’s been here, that’s sartin,.and it’s gone, that’s sartin, too. Jest like my infarnal luck ! Curse it! I.feel as ef I could. kill somebody right now.” As. he spoke, he looked around, and saw, as if a lamb had appeared for the sacrifice, a white man descending the declivity- by which he had entered. the cafion where the treasure was not. It was a young man, innocent in appearance, with a pail in his hand, and Burt Adams marked him as.an easy victim. The outlaw crouched in the cover of a projecting point of rock, and watched the young man bend down. by the side of the stream, and fill his pail with the clear water... As he rose to leave, with the pail in his hand, there was a stealthy step behind him, #sudden spring, a heayy blow,.and a long two- edged knife went, through him, cutting his heart in twain. The step, the blow and the knife were Burt Adams’, who chuckled triumphantly as he stood oyer. his fallen victim, «“ Who is this feller ?” he muttered, as he gazed at-his work, “J don’t believe it’s one of those up thar’,” (pointing in the direction. of Fort Myers), “’eause sech fighters as they are couldn’t’ hev’been so green, Shouldn’t. wonder a bit ef he b’longed to other party, though they can’t. be sot. down as fools, nuther. Reckon I'll take the back track, on his trail, and see whar’ he come from.” The outlaw wiped his long knife, picked ‘up his rifle, and went up out of the cafion as he had come. . The water of the little stream was reddened, fora while, with the blood of. the murdered man—but it was only for a little while. | Burt Adams had been terribly disappointed, for he had felt as sure of the possession of; that gold, as if he had had,it in his hands. There could, be no doubt that he had gone to the right place, for the directions were plain; he, had followed comiclbooks.com «