Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 498 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

~~ — lh a er —— squat and powerful-looking, with thick, matted red bair and beard. “Curse you!” he repeat: d savagely, bis revolvers leaping to a level, with hammers poised. ‘Do you remember the nigbt on the mountain-side, devils, submit to treatment such as a Digger Indian would scarcely give a dog?”’ Poker Pete—the gangling rough was none other— fumbled nerveusly at the weapons he dared not draw. His crafty little eyes avoided meeting the er es random, A few paces from the Eldorado he stag- gered and came near falling. The intense, lund glow in his big blue eyes rapidly faded and grew dim, while a strange tremor seemed to shake his _ well-krit form, when you dragged me at a rope’s eno—forced me to | burning gaze of the sport, while over his cada- | verous face crept a sickly yellow tint, “ Durn et! fang ‘im, Sweetsie, or we is gone coons,” be articulated in a husky whisper, with a swift side glance at the empurpled visage cf bis equally villainous confrer. ‘“‘Cap’n kin do nothin’ Witz Jim hes got ‘im lined!” Certain it was that the aon white hands of Elegant Fitz Jim gripped the butt of a pair of ‘+sixes,’ the muzzles of which stared the hunch- back, Diamond Dick, full in the face! The cold smile just visible on the curling red lips of the dealer, as well as the baleful expression of Perdido, warned the throng that a dual vendetta of the deadliest kind would forever settled within the minute, aud it parted right and left, the ad- herents of Major Axfell forming in one line, thoge of the owner of the Kingpin in the other. At the very instant the division took place, Saul Temple and Old Buck Bridger, accompanied by Hank, the Jealer’s friend, entered the Eldorado. Ere the three men could get asecond giance at the thrilling scene presented, a number of shots rung out rapidly and the lights of the place flittered fit- fully and expired. Simul'aneously, a stream of fire leaped from each of Perdido’s wezpons, ana : oker Pete and }weet- water Smith with rang 4, revolvers reeled and fell, one across the other, the blood trickling from a bul- let-hole in the forehead of each! Verily, the reckless sport had wiped out his score. ‘‘ Rally fer ther Kingpin. pards! Down with ther Great Mogul!” shouted a stentorian voice, the flash and crack of a revolver accompanying each word. The single spark needed to explode the mine of pent-up wrath between the rival factions of the gold. camp had beeu supplie :! The incestant cracking of firearms, the clashing of opposing blades, the yells and curses of the maddened roughs, the groans and cries of the wounced and d ing. made the darkened gambling-hell a place of grim horror! Unseen, the door at the bottom of the stairway leading to the apertpent overbead opened cautious- ly, permitting the giant gambler and Rufus Darn- Jey, and with them the man from Hard Luck to enter. jdaho and the mine-owner readily grasped the sit- uation—knew that the faction nen they had schemed to bring about was “on ’ at last and wag- ing with relentless fury, “Now is your time to escape from the place un- molested,’’ uttered the giant, fis mouth close to the ear of Cactus Burr, Esq. “Darnley anda few of the boys will follow you at once, to carry out the iob—elt, Rufe?” . ‘+ At once,” replied the owner of the Kingpin. “I will get the lads together immediately.” As he finished, Darnley glided stealthily away. * Be off—the sooner the better,’ urged Idaho, as the man from Hard Luck seemed to_ hesitate, “Byverything is fixed—you have the roll in your cket. Look sharp, or Rufe will reach Limerick’s alace in advance of you. : ‘‘One moment, dear sir.”’ uttered Burr, his voice strangely soft and purring. yet spiced with a suspi- cion of menace, *’ There is Just one question I must ask. ‘‘T have heard it said Major Axfell had ason. Is it true?”’ eee? Yes; and — yous fellow he was— knowing no fear, and daring unto recklessness. « But that is neither here nor there; for he died with bis boots on, full five months ago, in the wilds southwest of Colorado. And it was myhand that struck the blow, for he stood ia my way. Yes, the whelp is dead.” There was a ring of pitiless exultation in Idaho’s deep base voice, The giants back, chilled through The giant gambler sprun ack, c roug and through by the Mouse ceadly strains of the voice in which the two words were uttered—appalled by the mad glow in the big blue eyes fairly burning in his bearded face! The right arm of the mau from Hard Luck was raised aloft, his hand swinging around and ‘round, in a circle with ever increasing swiftness, produciag a sibilant, hissing sound. “A thousand furies|” gasped the cambler. hi: great hands dropping swiftly to his belted weapons. “Can this be— The hand of Cactus Burr shot forward in a sharp cirele, to be as swiftly drawn back, the movement producing a sudden sound, as of a heavy blow. and wringing from the giant & gurgling’ half stifled _ Quivering in every fiber, Idaho reeled blindly to and fro, tearing desperately at his bearded throat. each instant growing Weaker and weaker until ie dropped in an inert heap 08 the bloody floor. e terrible glow in the eyes of the man from Hard Luck d ned until they shone recly in the dark- ness, white ascream of elfish (elight broke from his high above the uproar of the awful con- | to filet raging all around. An instant he stoo over the lifeless form of the then sprung “aa turned and glided silently t of the b hell, “Onward fe plunged in the starlight, apparently at SS SSS a ae Steadying himself, he again pushed forward, a powerful effort marking eacb step. A dozen yards, then he halted, turaing round and round like one utterly bewildered. A sudden dash of color relieved the deathlike pal- ler of his strangely drawn and distorted visage. Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Luck. SS a - - here in these hills, ahd the two dctectives had beer - employed to bring the murderers to justice. His facial muscles relaxed, and with a low, unearth- | _ ly wail he flung up his hands and dropped 1n a sense- less heap. CHAPTER XIV. CAPTAIN NONAME AGAIN, Tae great harvest moon was just lifting her full, round face above the crests: f the hills environing the Colorado gold-camp of Nabob’s Bar. pouring through a window in the east side of Limerick’s Palace a flood of yellow light and rendering the anney on the sccond floor almost as bright as ay.’ Midway of the hall, clustered befor a half-open — ee ee ee ' Ons, door straining eye and ear to grasp every detail of | the scene transpiring within, were a half score of men, Rough-looking fellows, masked, and with weapons drawn. The very silence of the group presaged a deed of | violence. The room into which they peered was a large square apartment, plainly furnished, and lighted by an oil lamp upon a rough table opposite to the door. Each end of the apartment was cut off by a heavy chintz curtain, reaching almost to the ceiling. Seated at the table, with his back to the door, was Major Axfell. Confronting him was no less a persorage than the mysterious road- gent, Captain Nonsme! he dark orbs of the robber-chief gleamed coldly through the eyelets of his mask. His arms were folded across his chest, carelessly enough so far as appearance went, but each hand clasped the butt of heavy revolver. “Tf you have aught to say be quick about it,” Ax- fell was saying. at the moment the men appeared without the door. ‘“ You have intimated that you are the man who held up the hearse this afternoon. If you are really and truly Captain Noname, cease beating ‘the devil around the stump and say as much,” The road agent laughed lightly. ‘Major, | reckon you and the baldbeaded truth are weil-nigh utter strangers.”’ be observed, in the coolest way imaginable. “I have told you, not in just so many words, perhaps, but yet very plainly, that [have the somewhat dubious honor of being identical] with the bors highwayman of the season, Captain Noname, Got a Bible?” And with the query tie tolltaker lowered his bands and calmly helped himself to a chair * Confound your insufferable insolence!’’ exclaim- ed Axfell, starting to his feet. ‘I don’t take a par- ticle of stock in your cock-and-bull yarn. Ins fact, Ithink you’re a fraud, and I've a great mind to pitch you out the window!” ** And ‘ what’s the matter with the door?’’ quoted Captain Noname. in a drawling t ne! “It isa rare old chestnut, major; but one good turn deserves an- other, you know. | ‘‘ But a word in seriousness, major. Sit down and let’s talk business. It may bore you terribly, but it will stand vou in hand just $10,000, to a supper, And here's the stuff to back the assertion.” As Captain Noname ceased he flung upon the table a thin packet, carelessly wrapped with paper. A strange tremor coursed through Major Axfell’s slender form. Utterly unnerved, ap) arently, he dropped into his chair and crew the package toward m, ‘‘ Count it now, if you wish,” cautioned the masked CURA. et Ma) phe it 4 0. K. en, as Axfeli tore 0 € wrappers and looked through the wealth of bank bills revedled, he went on: “Of course, you regard me as a common high- way thief, major, and, uvtil I have explained how the lucre came to fall into my hands, no protesta- tions can convince you to the contrary, ‘First, let me set myself before you in my person, After that, perhaps my tongue w more easily.” Even as he spoke, Captain Noname removed his mask and sombrero, allowing a mass cf curling, iron-zray hair to descend *lmost to his shonlders, and hg the Shik clear-cut face of Cactus Burr, Esq., of Hard Luck! * You recognize me. I inclination of his head. ‘Now to get at the bottom facts of this much mixed and very remarkable affair. ‘For something like two weeks past 1] have been in the neighboring gold-camp of Goleonda, While there | ran across an old acquaintance in the person of Bolly Darrit, of Denver, a member of the Rocky Mountain Detective Association, . “Ah! you know the gentleman? I judged as much. “ Well, he was in disguise—had been for months ast. With a fellow-detective, posing as Nicholas Solly and Doctor Skaggs. respectively, he had work- ed his way into the good graces of a bard of cut- throats known hereabouts as Bludso’s Band, an’ further south, as the Serpents of Cimarron. ‘It seemed that, Some months before, this band had entrapped and murdered a young :ellow near Goleonda—the son of some well-to-do mine-owner i wag ‘ ‘Your son, yousay? Axfell «asthe name, I be- eve. ‘Well. Dorrit managed to see me yesterday, and put me onto a little job, set up by this same outlaw band, to hold up the hearse between Golconda and Nabob’s Bar, and relieve your daughter of the pack- et here before us, “He asked me tostep in and make off with the booty, and there it is, “So much for the present, major. In the near future | have anotber and more cheering word /or your ear,” As he ended, Cactus l’urr arose. “Stay!” cried Major Axfell, springing up *VYou—” A swift rush of feet drowned the rest of the sen- tence, as into the room trooped the men from the hallway. “Tt was a neat trick you played, Cactus Burr, but he laughs best who laughs last!’ enunciated a cold, hard voice, above the clicking «f a half scure weap- ** Hands up or die. yeu hounds! Booty and beauty is our motto to ule t}" Thus brought to bay, Major Axfe]] and his myst: - rious visitor flung up their hands in compliance with the pointed command, “The game is up—the play isended: Ring down the curtain!’’ cried the man from Hard Luck, an odd smile curling his red lips a mocking light dancing in his big blue eyes. A peculiar rustling sound followed, and the heavy chintz curtain across each end of the room fell te the floor, disclosing two files of ten men each, head- ed by Doctur Skaggs and Nicholas Jolly and all. armed with leveled Winchesters! At the same instant, the door closed softly, and the bolt clicked as a key turned in the lock without! “S’rend«r! ye blasted thieves, or ye'll crowd ther range a-climbin’ over!’’ shouted Old Nick Jolly, his rubicund visage all aglow. To a man, the entra; ped roughs * wilted.” Nota thought of resistance entered their he: ds. Death, too swift and sure, stared them in the face. “A thousand curses upon you, Axfell, for you have triumphed i”’ savagely grated the leader of the band, tearing aside his mask and disclosing the rage- distorted features of Rufus Darnley, the owner cf the Kingpin. ‘** But in the hour of your triumph, let me teil yow that the struggle for the Great Mogul Mine has cost ou even more dearly than you have dreamed, for by that fight you sacrificed the life of your son!” Major Axfell shuddered. The smile upon the face of Cactus Burr, Esq., the man from Hard Luck, deepened. Poising his hands,, he took off the wig of gray locks, and stood revealed a youth of twenty. ‘Taken in and done for Rufus!’’ he cooed softly. ajor Axfell turned like one electrified. **Rollo!”’ “ Father!” The task of disarming and securing the prisoners had just been completed when the muffl. d tread of eight slowiy-moying men, divided into two equal partics, each of which bore a human form, rung through the hallway. Straight to the open door of Major Axfell’s apart- ment strode the new-comers, ond through, to de- posit on the floor their groaning burdens, No second glance was needed to establish the identity of the stricken men. They were Perdido Fernandez and Elegant Fitz Jim. The hue of death was upen the face of each. At sight of the two men, agroan of anguish welled. up from the lips of Major Axfell. Sinking upon his knees between them, he exclaimed: ** Leonidas! Jim!”’ That was all, bu: there was a world of pity in the broken voice, Turning his head unti] his blue eyes rested full upon the face of the owner of the Great Mogul, the faro dealer, with a faint smile, said: * Let it be Jim for the last time, major, * Know me now, as you should bave known me from the initial move of t'is mad game—as the brother of your dead wife—Harold Chetwynd!”’ ‘Harold Chetwynd!”’ ejaculated Axfell. “The cursed hound!’' groated Perdido, writhing desperately to raise himself. Rollo Axfell moved forward, saying: “Hold! There should be no enmity between you ani Harold Chetwynd, Leonidas Axfell. A few words, and you will acknowledge that I am right. “You loved the same woman—an adventuress— | knowing her as Lisette Cremola. the other as Car- see," he observed, with an | lotta Dane. When ber bold game for gold was ended, by an artful intrigue sbe brovmnt about a bitter uarrel between yo:: two, who had been bcsom riends, then fled to her outlaw husband, Rufus sO ible!” idas Axfell * Impossible! asoed Leonidas Axfell. “It is true as FE ne 1? avowed Elegant Fitz Jim in faint tones. ‘** When too late, I discovered her true character—di-covered that she had entrapped you into the commission of a felony. Resolved to hunt her down to answer for her blighting work, I followed her West, but lost the trail, and finally establ'shed myself on a ranch down in New Mexico. mm Sua ot dha Pra seen mes foe ee eae e hands 0 e / 1D & Teeble clasp. Then turning to Major Axfell, Harold Chetwynd continued: ‘A few words more andl am done, It only rc- mains for me to explain why I have been here in dis- guise. Cc co 900