Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 240 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiator. A thorough inspection of the first or right- band side resulted in no discovery, except that he came across the place where began the stone stairway, which ascended through the rocks to the Phantom Acre above. Two rough-looking fellows guarded the arched entrance to the pr wt who gave Kit an ugly look as he approached, but he walked on with- out paving any attention to them. He soon came to the chaparral jungle in the lower end of the gulch, similar to that in the upper end where the falls were located. Search- ing about, he soon found a narrow path along the bank of the stream, which penetrated into the heart of the thicket, Following its course, he soon came to the mountain end of the gulch in that direction, and likewise into a onal clearing in the thicket. Before him the rapid stream rushed down un- der the base of the mountain through a black, tunnel-like hole of considerable size, there being enough space in the tunnel alongside the stream for a wagon track, which had evidently already been improved. This then was the avenue by which the Mor- mons found their egress and entrance, when Old Meg, the witch, was laboring under the supposition that she had until recently held the only pass herself. The one before Cyclone Kit had evidently been in use a number of years. This was not the only discovery that the sharp eyes of Cyclone Kit made. Lying upon the ground in the clearing, not far from the tunnel entrance, were two dead men—ruffianly-looking fellows, who had been shot through the temple. Near by, perched composedly upon a bowlder, and engaged in gnawing some meat from a bone, was a skinny, withered-up little old man, who looked as if a good wind would blow him away. In face he was wrinkled and shriveled, with a big mouth, hook nose and little black eyes, which peered out from under a pair of shaggy overhanging brows. His face was barren of beard, and his hair was long, shaggy and tow colored. _His clothes were of the commonest descrip- tion, and his only arms consisted of a revolver and a repeating rifle. Kit came to a halt, and surveyed the fellow narrowly. ; ‘*Did you kill those men?’ Kit demanded, pointing to the bodies. “Yas, stranger, I rather calculate I did, ef old Vermont knows berself, an’ what’s more, I’m liable to fix ye the same way if ye come any 0’ yer bulldozin’ ’round me!” was the reply in a sharp nasal voice. “Oh! don’t get in a fever on my. account,” Kit answered composedly. ‘I am not liable to hurt you unless you get obnoxious.” ‘Oh! ye don’t say! Well, young man, that’s good of you, an’ ef I didn’t remember your cool independent ways from boyhood I should be inclined to be offended!” Aer, Kit surveyed the man a second time in astonishment. ‘You know me?’ he exclaimed, incredu- somaty: ‘* Well, I reckon I do!” the shriveled-up indi- vidual declared. ‘‘ You look jest as natteral as ye used to, by gum. Spect you don’t know me, eh? Rather a hard-lookin’ old crow-tail, I know, but then, I’m all here, what’s left o’ me.” ‘* No, I do not know you—never saw you that I remember of before to-day, and I presume you are mistaken about knowing me,” ‘‘Notin the least. You are Cleve Carlison, as natural as life, except for your long hair, goatee, and frontier attire!” __ Cyclone Kit uttered a surprised ejaculation. ‘*And who in blazes are you?’ he gasped approaching nearer to the superannuated stranger, ‘lam Josh Grim, at your service—formerly your father’s family servant, confidant and friend, but now of the Boston detective force.” Cyclone Kit went forward and extended his hand heartily. “I believe I have heard my father speak of you—and speak well too—prior to his death, but do not remember your face. What in the world brings you so far from Boston?” ‘** Business, sir—business, to the backbone!” Joshua replied, taking a chew of tobacco. ‘* Ostensibly to find two heirs to a fine fortune —in reality to find the same and also a noted criminal. You may possibly have known him, since it was he who caused your departure westward, ho!” ‘What! Arthur—my brother?” ‘The same.” : “ Well, this is news, indeed. Of what has he been guilty, pray?” . ‘ —_<-. ‘‘Oh! a good many things. In the first place, and most important, he is a murderer!” be re Kit staggered at this, and turned pale. ‘*My God! I never thought he’d come to that!” he said. **And why not? A man mean enough to charge forgery upon his only brother, in order that he might win his brother’s promised wife— a man like that, sir, is capable of any crime.” Cyclone Kit bowed his head in acknowledg- ment of the fact, a hard expression coming over his face. ‘*T never heard how that came out,” he said. ‘‘Arthur and I had had a dispute, a few days before the blow came, during which I had oc- casion to knock him down, for slandering Mag- gie. He swore dire vengeance on my head, but I laughed athim. But I awoke to my mis- take a few nights later, when, while standing at the depot, a friend came and told me that | father’s name had been forged in a large sum; that it was in my style of chirography, and that Arthur had openly accused me of it, and the officers were hunting for me. In one single moment I foresaw the disgrace that must fol- low, whether I were proved guilty or no. I shrunk from disgrace; I jumped aboard the train, and forever turned my back upon our home, of which I have never heard since. I suppose, however, that Maggie married Arthur, because she all the time rather favored him.” ‘Yes, poor fool, she married the infernal rascal and got her pay for it. He abused her like a pirate, and finally capped the climax by killing her, because she made oath before court that he was guilty of the forgery, instead of you. How he escaped, I do not know, being in Boston at the time, but escape he did, and I was telegraphed for and put on his track.” “It will not be well for him ever to run across my trail!” Cyclone Kit said, ‘‘ for, even ne he is my brother, he shall find me his deadly enemy.” ‘* Presumedly, if I don’t happen to nab him first, and bounce him back to Bosting.” ‘But, you don’t expect to find him in this confounded hole?” ‘Well, ldo. I trailed him like a fox, and am satisfied he is in this very Mormon town.” ‘You must be mistaken. I have seen noth- ing of him.” ‘Well, that matters not. Ill tell you why I think he is here!” And then Grim went on to relate, in sub- stance, if not exactly word for word, the same story of the Mather will—also that he believed Arthur Carlison had come to Gold Flake for the purpose of securing Bertie Bird, and win- ning her by representing Cleve Carlison as dead, or by force, if by no other means.” ‘‘And the rascal is evidently here, then!” Kit cried, excitedly, ‘‘for Bertie Bird sudden- ly disappeared last night, and has not yet been found.’ ‘* That settles it! Arthur Carlison is the man who has her,” the detective said, emphatically. « if he has escaped from this hole, he may elude ‘But, in event of his securing the girl, and inducing her to marry him, what can that ac- quisition possibly avail him? He could not go back to the scenes of his former crimes, without running the risk of arrest.” ‘* No; but he probably has some plan in view, whereby he can arrange matters-—-for instance, like growing out his beard, and passing himself off as you, which, though a bold attempt, he could probably do, as you look alike as two peas, with conception of a few items which could be remedied. He is a great schemer, and any scheme is not too good for him to execute,” t this juncture, further conversation was in- hea 2p on that subject by the sound of ap- proaching footsteps, and a moment later several rough-looking men entered the glade, at the head of whom was Alf Legree, looking as fierce as was his wont. ‘* Hello!” he cried, with an oath, as he beheld Kit and Josh Grim, and at the same time the dead guards. ‘*T thought we’d better look here for you, my festive gladiator, at which. point it becomes me to arrest you in the name of the law, for the niurder of Juan Cordiz!” CHAPTER XI. JOSH ADOPTS A SIX-IN-HAND. The announcement was made in a peremp- tory manner, but did not seem to affect Cyclone Kit, whose revolvers were cocked and ready in his hands, the moment he caught sight of the men. And Josh Grim was not slow in grab- bing up his rifle, on the defensive. 11 for another per- ‘You are b abtirig 5 huntin son!” Kit said, as he surveyed Legree and the Danites, coolly. ‘‘I am not a murderer, and you cannot try meas such. I met Juan Cordiz fairly, at the point of the sword, after first hav- ing mastered the beasts he turned loose on me —I had him down, once, and offered to make terms when he plead for mercy, but he refused, when I gave him another show for his life, and a dig in the side. Is he dead?” ** No, not yet, but since you have refused to assume his slack, at the head of the people, they have resolved to arrest you and treat you the same as any common murderer, Until the Don dies, you will not be hung.” ‘*l am of that same opinion, myself,” Kit re- torted. ‘I am not even a prisoner, yet, and I doubt if I ever am taken by such a looking gang asyou. You'd better go back and get re- enforcements.” | ‘What! do you mean to say that you will not sufPender?” Legree demanded, evidently surprised. ‘'That’s the very ticket I vote, you bet!” Kit responded. ‘There’s not enough man-meat in your whole crowd, to capture one side of me. eeing is believing, and you have seen my cali- ber; so you’d better let up, while you’ve a chance. If you were to get into a fight with me, you’d need a fine-tooth comb to rake to- gether your remnants, after the trouble is over!’” Legree and the other ruffians exchanged glances. Evident it was they had none too much confidence as to how such a battle would result, after having seen Kit’s prowess in the ring, the night before. ‘We ain’t so sure about thet ar’ matter,” Legree retorted, gruffly.. ‘‘ We’ve orders from the people, to nab and cage you, and we ain’t liable to get bluffed out of our purpose!” “Then, sail in, and take the consequences, ’'ve given you fair warning,” Kit answered. Joshua, you are with me, are you not?” | ‘*Clean up to my cravat!” the Yankee detec- tive assented, a dangerous twinkle in bis eyes. ‘‘Count me a dozen, at least, as I’m purtickler death on Mormons.” , ‘* We'll see!” Legree yelled. “ Forward, boys —at ’em hard !” And the Danites eng tee with yells. Crack! bang! crack! bang! The reports of firearms awakened the echoes of the a atine a ing evening and sent them reverberating through the walled basin. ) Alf Legree paid the penalty of his folly before he had taken half a dozen steps. A bullet from Grim’s repeating rifle effectually settled his ac- counts, as far as this world was concerned, Coyote Jake immediately took the lead, and rushing on, weapons were clubbed in a desper- ate hand-to-hand conflict. It is highly probable that the conflict would have resulted disastrously for the Danites had not re-enforcements come to their assistance, when they were beginning to stagger and waver under the fierce attack of Grim and Kit, in the shape of a dozen Mormon citizens, who of course sided in with the Danites, and in a jiffy our two defenders were surrounded and overpowered by sheer force of numbers. Struggle as best they could, Kit and the de- tective were securely bound hand and foot. Their feet, however, were released by order of Coyote Jake, and they were marched toward the Mormon town amid hoots of victory from their captors. , As they entered the village a mob of the Mor- mon believers lined the street, and howled, screeched and shook their fists threateningly. ‘‘We're in for a picnic now,” Kit remarked to the detective, who was marched beside him. “They’re riled enough to string us up at once,” _ “T don’t believe they’ll go as far as that,” Grim replied. And he was right. They were taken direct: to the temple and put under poard, on separate sides of the building, after which the majority of the crowd took their departure. People came in and out for awhile during the evening, but about midnight they ceased their calls, and all was quiet until morning. The two guards who kept watch over Cyclone Kit, and the same number who ed Grim, were wide awake and vigilant the whole night. In the morning, relief-guards were sent to take their Rlace ‘and they brought the news that Juan Cordiz was still alive, but sinking fast, and had expressed a wish to see Cyclone Kit hanged before he died. Kit heard the report with seeming indiffer- ence. ‘“*T presume, etc rgy e that, 1 will have a speedy trial,” he said to the guard who had granted the information. 4 Gomicbooks (E()