Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 498 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Luck. 11 eae SOOO way of retort, the hunchback contented him- self with a crisp nod and a significant smile. “A truce to this nonsense, gentiemen,” said Saul Temple. sternly. ‘‘ Since Idaho has decreed that the arrest shall not take place in the E:dorado, I shall not bring on a conflict by attempting it. or not the man is guilty of the crime with which he is charged I know not; but until he is proven inno- oon Ishall look upon him as Captain Redblade, or oname. ‘If he attempts to hold s cret communication | with any one while in the Eldorado, he shall be shot tg when he leaves the place, arrest awaits im, “Major, let us go; I wish to see you in private.” And the two men strode moodily out of the place, accompanied by Perdido Fernandez. In the starlight the three men laid their course to- ward the northern confines of the camp. Halting a hundred paces from the Rldorado, in a broad glare of light from a saloon window, the mar- shal smoothed out a crumpled bit of paper, and read the following, scrawled thereon in pencil: “Saut Tempie:—If you are the friend of Major Axfell in his unequal struggle against the Kingpin and his minions, you will make no attempt to arrest the man styling himself Cactus Burr, Esq. Keep 08 Bader surveillance if you will, but leave him at iberty.”’ ‘‘Humpb! anonymous!” sententiously muttered the marshal, dropping the strange message into his cavacious wallet. Meanwhile Perdido, too, was perusing a document of the same nature. It ran thus: “PeRDIDO FernanpDEz:—Your cause is the hight of folly. Leave Cactus Burr to his own devices, = the camp, or exercise the greatest caution, for already a plot ison foot which promises death to you. WALKING DEATH, THE LEPER.” ‘Great God! ‘hat man here!” ejaculated the sport, starting back asif confronted by some hideous ap- ariticn. ‘*‘ Now, indeed, must I be on my guard, or his words of warning are never vain!” A moment of unbroken silence had followed the exit of Major Axfell, Saul Temple, and Perdido Fer- nandez from the Eldorado, the eyes of the crowd noting each move, however slight, of the man from Hard Luck. He remained with his back to the wall, a ready weapon in each hand, an odd twinkle in his bright blue eye, the cool, almost insolent smile upon his ruddy, boyish face deepening, if varying at all. “ Heigho!” he at length ejaculated, his tone one of mock gp omc f ‘* What a plight is this! ‘Tis for liberty. sweet liberty I pine!’ Then Idaho, the giant gambler. strode forward, a brace of heavy self-cocking revolvers in his hands, and faced the expectant crowd. Now listen, gents, for | am about to warble busi- ness,”’ he slowly enunciated, as his half-closed eyes swept over the array of faces ‘ You have heard the stranger here accused of being a wolf in sheep’s clothing, or something of the sort, “] deny the assertion, and defy our worthy mar- shal to find proof that will convict this man Burr. “Who made the charge agains: him? An avowed enemy, who, for all we know to the contrary, may himself be Redblade the : utlaw! “ The tru h is simply this, gentlemen: “Cactus Burr is inimical to tne interests of Ax- fell, Temple & Co. in their struggle to retain pos- session of the Great Mogul Mine; and, knowing Cs eney have plotted to remove him by deliberate murder! “A strong statement, my friends, but the proof of its truth is found in Saul Temple’s command to his followers: ‘If he attempts to hold sevret com- munication with any one while in the Eldorado, he shall be shot down; when he leaves the place, arrest awaits him,’ ‘Ig it not true that be must remain as motionless | | Whether | as a block of stone, not daring to move, even to | give himself up, lest his purpose be willfully miscon- strued as an excuse for filling his cabeza full of ead? “But for once the plotters of the Great Mo have been too cunning by far; and, instead of con- cealing their object, have made it plain. ‘Were there any reason to believe Cactus Burr guilty of the crime with which he is charged, I would be among the foremost to aemand that due punishment be meted out to him, “7 am authorized by our friend here. Rufus Darn- | ley, to state that, if his espionage of Mr. Burr be ted, he himself will stand responsible for any monetary oss OF infraction of tue laws that may result, ' Isn't the proposition fair enoughy” And as he ceased. Idaho looked the motley assemblage, then turned his gaze upon the tranquil face of the man from Hard Luck. Elegant Fitz Jim moved restlessly behind the two arch pamamiresnrs, eager to act, yet held in abey- ance by the knowledge that his every move was being narrowly watched. ' ! _ | i i | j | | | complacently over | | his pro and the giant gambler, surged forward and densely surrounded the man from Hard Luck. Amoment. Then a sudden swaying to and fro of the inner ranks of the crowd; a shuffling of feet, the sharp bang of a door violently closed, and Cac- tus Burr, Esq., was lost to the gaze of the Barites, “T am truly glad to find myself in such congenial company, for I assure you, my dear sirs, that it is more than mere relief--it is genuine pleasure—to throw off the vesture for the nonce and appear ia | —ten thousand down, the remaining half in five | months, secured by mortgage on the premises. ‘‘Naturally, | suspected nothing else than that at | the end of the five months the tenderfoot would be | disgusted with bis minin | property go by default. experience and let the n the contrary, be asso- ciated with himself men of experience in such mat- ters, and now I find, through spies in my employ, _ that by the sale I lost counticss thousands; for deep. in the drift new *leads’ have been struck—richer far in yellow wealth than any ever pictured even in my real personnel, as—well, as Cactus Burr, Esq.,in | r person!” And the man from Hard Luck laughed lightly as his big blue eyes stared quizzically into the faces of the two men seated opposite to him at the table— | Rufus Darnley, the so-called Kingpin of Nabob’s Bar, and Idaho, the giant gambler! “Cactus Purr!—an odd name that,’’ observed Darniey, exhaling a cloud of smoke from his pursed- up lips, after which very deliberate proceeding he allowed an insinuating smile to steal across his | brutishly-handsome face. “I fear that you have been a sad dog, Cactus—that, in common with a large percentage of the camp’s population, you have laid upon a shelf, somewhere in the dim and musty | past, the cognomen bestowed upon you in the bap- tismal rite.”’ ‘“Who kuows?” quoth the man from Hard Luck, carelessly, as he lit afresh cigar. ‘* But, seriously, it is the only handle I answer to. My genealogy is so brief that I can scarcely refrain from giving it, ‘*Pive years ago a party of gold-hunters, crossing a desert plain in New M xico, came upon the ap- are ‘ntly nvestigation proved that the fellow was alive, with a good chance of recovery, if cared for.” * And you are the man?” interrogated Idaho, ‘“T am the man,’’ was the reply. ‘ But for the life of me, I couldn't tell »ho I was, or whence I came; so one of the party, in a whimsical mood dubbed me Cactus Burr, Esq., of Hard Luck, and the appellation has clung to me more tenaciously than any other /v7rr I ever encountere J.” “A strange yarn, with the additional merit of brevity,’ dryly commented Darnley. Burr, were you ever before in Nabob's Bar?” ‘*Nay—aud with an hour’s start out of the camp, I'll hie me hence forever; for I give it out straight and solid, gents, that one experience like this of to-nigh’is enough for me.” ‘‘On the whole, i am sorry to hear of your deter- mination to leave,”’ said Darnley, flocking an ash- flake from his broadcloth coat. ‘* You are a man of sand, Cactus Burr, and such men are in demand just now, at their own price, provided they are not over-scrupulous as to their duties.”’ Figuratively speaking, the man from Hard Luck pricked up his ears. ‘* Perhaps I could be induced to tarry yet awhile,” he suggested lighily. a strange, half-mocking smile creeping over his ruddy face. Rufus Darnley stared curiously across the table, just a trace of suspicion visible in his expression. ‘“*Well, we will see,’’ he uttered, coldly. ‘‘ That ou may understand what would be required of you, will give you the present status of affairs in Na- ene Bar, and point out wherein my interests are at stake. ‘Whether or not you accept my proposition, I went it understood that all passing between us is in strict confidence; violate that confidence, and—well, the Captain Noname of tve Golconda trail never again shall eat or drink, for he shall start at once upon bis dreary pilgrimage across the river Styx!” ‘‘A cheerless prospect for the genial captain, truly,"” murmured the man from Hard Luck, his blue eyes opening wide. ‘‘ But for the life of me, gents, I can’t see what that galoot tas to do with the case in hand!” “We understand that,” uttered Darnley, with a significant smile. “That we dol” supplemented Idaho, winking furiouslv. ‘‘ No use to beat the devil around a stump, Cactus me boy! May luck go with you in adios Axfell’s ducats!”’ Staring at the two sanity, the man from Hard Luck uttered a malicious little laugh. ifeless form of a man lying in the cacti. | | oe ascertain exactly what Axfell anc fe) * But tell us, | wildest dreams.” You wish to regain the mine!” ex. claimed Cactus Burr, Esq., a thrill of excitement noticeable in his usually steady tones. ‘ But why not foreclose the mortgage? The last payment must be a month overdue,” ‘*So it is; but the scheming devils have discovered. —or claim to have done so—a flaw in my title to the property, and I am forced to await the decision of the courts before I can push the matter to an issue. ‘But Iam morally sure that they anticipate a deci- sion adverse totbeir in erests, for in the stage from Golconda, to-day, was a package containing $10,000, for the final payment on the Great Mogul.” “Then a kind Providence has decreed that this re- doubtable Captain Noname be the instrument by which your ends are served!’ ejaculated the man from Hard Luck. with an ill-concealed sneer. ‘* Leaving Providence out of the question, it was a fortunate thing for me that the toll takers made their appearance on the Golconda trail to-day, for this $10,000 is the last shot in Major Axfell’s locker,’” observed Darnley complacently. ‘* And it was a lucky chance too, that led to your being accused of being Captain Noname, for it in- stantly suggested to me a plot i pea I might his party ‘Isee! Isee! are doing in the matter. “T have s:id that the camp is divided into two Onn one siding with Axfell, the other with my- self, ‘* Now, what I want you to do is to make yourself solid with the Axfe'l crew, and this is how 1 propose for ea to do it: ‘*T will provide you with a roll containing $10,000: | An hour hence, you will go to Major Axfell s quar- ters at Limerick’s Palace, and request an interview, You wiil state that you are Cactus Burr. or whom- soever you please; that while in Goleonda, you overheard a plot to ‘hold up’ the hearse at a certain point on the trail to Nabob’s Bar; that you con- cluded to checkmate the robbery by making a lime- ly descent upon the stage; that you accomplished your plan; that. you have called to deliver up to him the $10,000: and so on and so forth, with an end to gaining his good-will a’ d confidence. “Ere you can leave the room, a sudden descent of masked men will be made, overpowering the two of you, and making way with the lucre, but leaving: you high in the graces of the major. ‘*No matter if you wipe out one or two of the fellows—a little blood spilled will put you the higher in Axfell’s es imation. ‘*Now, what say you? Will $1,000 tempt you to work the racket?”’ And the plotter paused, eagerly awaiting an an- swer. Cactus Burr, Esquire, sat quite still for a moment, 'aetrange glow in his blue eyes, a peculiar smile | parting his red lips. lotters as if he doubted their | “ 2e it so, if you will have it that way,” he said, | his voice jow and mocking. ‘** Were Ia saint direct | from the celestial sphere, you fellows would have | me an imp of darkness!”’ A cynical nod, and Rufus Darnley went on: “This camp, christened Nabob’s Bar, from the supposed richness of its mines, is divided into two factions, numerically almost equal, each of which has a recognized head or leader—Major Axfell pened one of these enviable luminaries, myself the zy rhe split is of recent origin, and came about in this wise: — ‘Until six months ago I owned the two principal mines of the camp—the Kingpin and the Great | Mogul; but. discovering that the latter was a losing His eyes met those of his ally Hank, ina stealthy | glance. smooth, even tones said: “Pair? Perfectly! Saul not object to such terms. Is it not so. gents?” The murmur of disvatisfaction welling up from the lips of the marshal’s stanch followers was com- letely drowned by an assenting roar from the ingpin faction, which, headed by Rufus Darnley Then the latter glided forward, and in | Temple himself could | | i | | | investment, | disposed of it to a tenderfoot of limit- ed means—Major Axfell], ‘No matter’ Sto the means used to accomplish the sale; suffice it. that the price was a good round one, even for the indications in sight.” ‘From which I am toinfer that the mine was salted?’ queried the man from Hard Luck, with the utmost coolness. “Nothing of the sort, my dear sir.” curtly return- ed the Kingpin. ‘* No such means were resorted to to effect a with his eyes open, and recent developments go to prove that Twenty he builded even better than he knew. thousand dollars was the purchase price | aod sale. Axfell bought the Great Mogul | Then he said: * Your plot is wonderfully true to life, Rufus. Darnley. But there is one thing you forget—low can I] elite the agents of Saul Temple and leave the: Eldorado?” ‘* Pooh!" ejaculated the Kingpin ‘‘ How did you get > here? Trust me to get you through the: Temple l nes unmolested. Come, now—give us your answer.” The man from Hard Luck slowly arose, a look of resolve upon his boyish face, “My answer is, that— Crack—crack—crack! A perfect fusilade of pistcl-shots rung out down- stairs, cutting short his words, and bringing the two plotters to their feet with alarm plainly depicted upon their faces. CHAPTER XIl. THE SILENT TONGUES’ MISSION. SrrvaTe in a wild, rough section of Colorado, and having direct communicetion with the outer world over the Golconda trail onl), Nabob’s Bar was a typical gold-camp, both in aypearance and in the character of her teu-score denizens, Slab shanties and canvas tents, here a dug-out and there a wickiup—the first fcr the prosperous, the last for the poverty-ridden—stucding the banks of a slow. sluggish stream dotting the narrow level, rched upon the abrupt slope of the foot-bill on eiiher side, without the slightest semblance of regularity or regard to street-lines, were the habita- tions of the nomadic gold-seekers. | Centrally located, but upon opposite banks of the stream, were the Eldorado and Limerick’s Palace, wrincipal gambling-hall and hestc!ry, respectively— arge barn-like structures, in the erciion of which architectural talent had by no means been lavishly employed, yet institutions to which the eyes of the: average Barite turned with pride; for, in the ver- nacular of the region, ““ W’ile they warn’t es harn- sum’ es brownstun’ an’ marble, still they war good enough fer ther geloots ov Nabob’s Bar. an’ at ther same time laid ’way Over enything ov ther kind in ther foothills.”’ And an odd lot were these same Barites—n’?,. good, bad and indifferent, with the preponderer’ « largely in favor of the second class named. “The two principal mines of the camp—the Great: af th, P ee 900ksS.C ae J > ‘ = _ = 1 | “ . * . - . ‘ 4 * *. .