Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 486 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 ———— Se ——— ee —— open!” and the girl sport stood facing the Vigi- Jante, with a pair of revolvers in her grasp, ready for use, Sealskin had not drawn a weapon, but main- tained the same careless position, as if there were no danger menacing him. “Waal! aire ye goin’ ter surrender?’ Lion Lije demanded, growing enraged at the Spark- ler’s nonchalance. ‘‘ Ef ye aire, ye had better hurry up about it—ITll give ye a pomter on that!” ‘*T haven’t the least idea of doing anything of the kind!” Samanswered. ‘‘I am astranger to you all, and do not wish ill for any of you; but I give you fair warning that if you attack me some of you will have cause to regret it! You have heard me !” Lion Lije eyed the cool stranger a moment, hesitatingly, for a something in the tone of the last speech implied more than a simple threat. ‘*Cuss ye, ef ye don’t surrender we’ll bore ye full o’ bullet-holes!” he growled, ‘*Better not!” was the terse answer. “If I am forced to, I shall try to drop at least a dozen of you myself, although you have the drop on me! **T ll save you that trouble,” a voice cried in the Sparkler’s rear, and at the very word, a lasso settled around him, and pinioned his arms temporarily to his side. Ere he could extricate them, a dozen men pounced upon him, and although be eried manfully, it was but a& few minutes ere they had made him a prisoner, Three miners lay upon the floor, insensiblo, and a third had received a knife-thrust that was likely to prove fatal. ‘*Hurrah! we've got ye, now!” Lion Lije cried, dancing about the prisoner, who, though bound, was only held down by two stout miners. “Ye thort we couldn’t take ye, didn’t ye? Ho! hc! take that!” And he gave the Sparkler a slap in the face, with the flat of his hand. ‘‘ For shame!”’ Placer Poll cried, indignantly, while the victim grew a shade paler, from the anger he tried to keep back. ‘‘ Tl dare you to repeat that action, Lije Landers! ye cowardly brute!” ‘‘Cuss ye, what'll ye do, ef I do repeat it?” Landers demanded, glaring at her. ‘* What wull ye do, ye nameless nobody!” The girl’s fair face flushed, and she uttered an exasperating cry, as she stepped toward the vil- lain, her eyes fairly blazing. ‘* Have acare what you say, Lije Landers!” she warned, looking him straight in the eye. ““’m enough sight better than a hundred like you, even if 1 am a waif of the mines, \ hose real name nobody knows but myself. If you don’t want to die before your natural time, I warn you not to cast evil insinuations on my name or character!” So terribly in earnest did she speak that Lan- ders shrunk back a pace, as if quailing from her righteous indignation. ‘Darn ye, ye needn’t git up on yer ear about it,” he growled. ‘I guess no one is partic’ler afeard of ye, no matter who ye be!” ‘You'll find who is afraid of me if you don’t conduct yourself a little more carefully, you shameless loafer!” she replied, in a meaning tone. Then turning to Colonel Clarkson, who had just entered, she said: ‘“Mr. Clarkson, this ruffian, Landers, has arrested a total stranger, on the simply ridicu- lous charge of being the chief of the Tribunal of Ten. As he is ready to prove that he has not been near this place for all this ycar, you will see that he cannot be the real party. I trust you will order his release,” Altogether different was Placer Poll’s man- ner and speech, now, from her usual rough-and- ready style, which caused Sealskin Sam to give her a quick interrogative glance, ‘¢ How is this, Landers?’ Colonel Clarkson de- manded, glancing from the prisoner to the Vigi- jante chief. ‘¢ It’s all right, cunnei, an’ ther boys will tell ye the same. Billy Ashcroft committed sui- cide, a few minutes ago—that aire, he shot his- self an’ war makin’ a confession, when some one ut his candle out, ye see. I guess no one see’d the last shot fired, ’ca’se all war lookin’ at Billy. Billy war tellin’ thet he war a forced member -o the Tribunal o’ Ten, an’ war goiug to speak ther capting’sreal name, when the shot war fired, Tt shet off his wind an’ he couldn’t speak, but he did ther next best thing—p’inted ont thet Seal- skin Sam, thar, as bein’therman. The Sealskin skip ter one side, but Billy’s ‘indexer’ turned ter him ag’in. I don’t know what yer want plainer ner that. We’s all satisfied, an’ we’re goin’ to hang Mr. Samuel higher than Haa- zaman!” | / Sealskin Sam, the Sparkler. ‘¢ What have you to say, sir?’ Colonel Clark- son demanded, turning to the Sparkler. ‘*Nothing more \than I have said before, sir— that I know nothing whatever concerning your so-called Tribunal of Ten, nor bave I ever be- fore until to-day and to-night been within fifty miles of this town.” ‘* What is your name?” ‘* Seaiskin Sam.” ‘That is not your own name?” ‘Tt is the only one I lay any claim to since I have roamed in the West. If I ever had an an- other name it does not matter what it is, so far as this affair is concerned.” ‘‘Thar! now what d’ye think of it?’ Landers demanded in triumph. ‘ Ain’t it a clar case, cunnel? Ye kin see fer yerself.” ‘*Who shet the young man the second time?” Mr. Clarkson asked, without answering the Vigilante. ‘‘ Nobody seems to know that,” Placer Poll spoke up. ‘‘ Whoever did it was careful to do it so quickly as to defy detection.” ‘*T can throw some light on that part of the matter,” and all turned around to beheld Circe, the masked proprietress of the Cremonia, stand- ing near’. ‘Then speak up!” the colonel demanded, giv- ing her a keen glance. ‘“‘Itisa grave affair at best, and if possible, some light should be thrown upon the act.” ‘*T have only this to say,” Circe answered, turning her gaze toward the Sparkler. ‘‘ I know not whether the stranger is connected with the outlaw band, but an instant before the last shot was fired I saw his hand behind his back and a pistol in its grasp. I did not see the shot fired, but should presume it was the prisoner who fired it.” ‘‘This is simply false testimony, puree designed tocriminate me!” Sealskin Sam cried, with a sudden fierceness. ‘* Who you are, what you are, woman, I know not, but I do know that you have uttered a most villainous lie! have not grasped a weapon in my hand to- night! In God’s name, what is your motive in wishing to make me out a murderer in addition to the other false charge against me?” ‘‘T have no motive, further than the desire to see justice done!” was the reply. ‘* You are un- doubtedly guilty, and should be punished!” ‘*T am not guilty. More likely it is you who are guilty, and are trying to screen yourself, by implicating me!” “This is not reasonable!” Colonel Clarkson said. ‘‘ Mademoiselle Circe bears a good reputa- tion, sir, in our town, and no one ever speaks ill of her. As the matter stands, I do not see but what it is perfectly proper to arrest you, until an investigation can be made!” ‘Tf you choose to do so I suppose I cannot ob- ject,as lam already aprisoner. I warn youall, 10wever, that I shall not submit to this indignity tamely. If I am not released I will berevenged on those who have proven themselves to be my enemies!” Sam retorted, ‘‘Oh! I guess ye won’t hurt no one!” Vigilante Landers declared, withan evil chuckle. ‘* We’ll take keer ye don’t git nothin’ less than a noose around yer neck, Git a rope, boys, an’ we’ll fix him, you bet, sealskin coat an’ all!” ‘‘Hurra! it’s ter be a lynch picnic!” cried several, ‘‘No! no! There shall be nothing like that!” Colones Clarkson ordered, sternly. ‘* The pris- oner shall not be lynched—certainly not until an investigation ismade!” ° ‘‘T reckon "tain’t all jest as you say about that!” Landers growled. * ‘‘Tt is just as I say!” the colonel retorted, with decision. “If a hair of this man’s head is harmed before he has had an opportunity to vindicate himself, you will find yourself a dead man, sir!” The scowl upon Landers’s face did not lessen, although it was evident he stood considerably in awe of the mine-owner, ‘*T jedge no one ain't skeert to death, 0’ you, 'ca’se you've got a little money,” he gritted. “I say, boys—how aire it? Shell we string the cuss up, or let ther colonel hev his way about it? The miners exchanged glances. There was, undeniably, a strong inclination among them to visit peremptory death upon the handsome sport; but there was something that caused them to hesitate, The majority of the miners presefit were em- ployees of Colonel Clarkson, and felt rather in duty bound to respect his order and wishes, ‘*T reckon et’s no more than fair to give the feller a show!” one miner responded. °‘‘ He or- ter hev a trial, ennyhow!” This was a signal for the others to assent, — aa eae ee which they did, until the expression became af- most unanimous. f *'Ye’r’ a pack o’ fools!” Landers flung at them, his rage an disappointment increasing. ** Yer” a lot o’ babies, w'ot is afeard 0’ Clarkson, Bah! ve disgust me. Ef ther feller hain’t lynched, 1ere’s what will take devilish good care he don’t escape. Fetch him along, boys, an’ we'll lock him up in Jo Roscoe’s caboose, an’ put a guard over him,” There were plenty ready to assist In taking Sealskin Sam to prison, had he been inclined to refuse to go peaceably. which he was not; so he allowed two of the miners to seize him by the: arms and lead him from the saloon without a word of remonstrance. He was a prisoner, and had naught to do but conduct himself as such. A crowd of curious ones followed. A piercing wind of wintry coldness blew down the gulch, bringing with it a few flakes: of snow. It was a dark night, but the lights rom the places on either side made the way clear. Roscoe’s cabin was but a few doors from the Cremonia, and was the most substantia] struc- ture of its kind in the camp, and therefore was. known as the caboose; but from bits of conver- sation he overheard, as he marched along, Sam judged that it was untenanted, because of an existing superstition that it was haunted, On reaching it, the heavy door was unlocked, and the prisoner shoved inside, the two guards: following him, and likewise Lije Landers. ‘‘Hyer ye be,” the latter said, gruffly. ‘Ef yer wanter lay down, the flcor aire the best ac- commodations we hev fer sech as you. Bet yer life ye kin consider it thunderin’ tacky ye ain’t: danglin’ to ther limb of a tree, instead.” ‘*T presume I shall be as thankful as the oc- casion requires,” Sam retorted. ‘‘If I get free, [ll guarantee to get square with some of this: town’s interesting people. Ill let you feel the ower J hold then!” and though he spoke caliniy, it was with the intense bitterness of a man who» considered that he had been made the victim of great injustice. ‘Ve better not brag, or ye may git the rope, afore mornin’ as it is,” Landefs warned, signifi- cantly, as he and his comrades went out, and closed the door, leaving the Sparkler in inky darkness. CHAPTER VI. THE TRIBUNAL OF TEN. Tue Tribunal of Ten was a secret band of daring villains, none of whom were known to the public at large, yet were alleged to be prom- inent persons of the camp. Placards had been posted, signed by the *‘ Tri-- bunal,” giving various warnings to citizens,. and, also, others, defying the public to capture members of the league, or to break up the bro- therhood. They robbed stages and persons, boldly or by” strategy, as the case required; stole horses, committed murder, when safety or personal spite required; forged and counterfeited, or held arsons for ransom——in fact, anything, by which to realize pecuniary profit. It was, therefore, little wonder, considering this existing state of affairs, that the population had come to stand in constant dread of the un- known league of desperadoes, and large rewards: had been offered for the capture or breaking up: of the gang. Stimulated by this, a trio of would-be detec- tives had taken the matter in band, and at- tempted to ferret out who were really the mem- bers of the dread Tribunal, and where was their’ place of rendezvous. The result was that one of the three had been found dead, shot through the heart, and the other two had turned up missing, never to be heard from afterward, Both Colonel Clarkson and Eben Selden had been robbed on a number of occasions, and it was by them that the larger reward had been offered; but_up to the time of Sealskin Sam’s arrival in Hunki-Dori, nothing of a definite nature had happened toward the ultimate breaking up of the gang. Later, that night, when the town was wrap-. ped in darkness and quiet, and the blasts of win- try wind howled a weird dirge through the gulch, the Tribunal of Ten held a meeting. The place wasin an apartment of considera- ble size, which, from its damp, musty smell, EMEny Barely have been judged as being under- ound, er The ceiling was low, and whet light there was, was obtained froma couple of lanterns swung: to a beam overhead, / chool * eee Ne