Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 589 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

- 2 mes — - yess ssp sins opsansnasapastanpsnoashausninunsssnnstassoseeesteneoneeamananaeneeunanseneeeenaennaagtonenensnnseenneansieeneeeeseaneaeeenennnateatlaieiaanealineiaeaanaa as he struggled uppermost and planted a knee on Tanner’s broad breast. ‘‘I ought to knife you for this; but I won’t. If you give me any more talk, though, I'll beat out of your head what little sense there is in it. ‘* Here, some one bring me a rope!” The command was instantly obeyed; and the old man’s arms were pinioned behind his back; and a gag was forced into his mouth. Then he was set upon his feet and his face turned toward Silver City. ‘* Now go!” ordered Hammond, giving him a yutal kick, ‘‘ And let this be a warning to @and your friends not to meddle with my af- eFeafter. The next time I'll serve you in ‘Ou Won't forget in a hurry!” OuMmp Over with impotent rage, the old man m@ peinfully up the street, soon encoun- £0m-cat, who had been hanging in the Hammone crowd, Seiad ip” yelled the Tom-cat, ‘‘ Hyer’s a wictitr os curiosity—same’s I'll be ef I don’t quit snospin’ around this unhealthy place. ‘“'Yanked you, did they, pardner?”’ advancing to Tanner and unloosening his bonds. ‘Twas a pesky crowd went along awhile ago, ‘Now, ef you'll step over to my hotel I'll in- terduce you to a gen’leman that’! be glad to ax you some questions, Friend o’ mine, gen’leman is, an’ he’s a-gettin’ his brain-pan wuss wound up than any kickin’ broncho that ever twisted itself on a picket rope!” CHAPTER VII. A CREEPING TOM-CAT. THE action of Hammond in taking forcible ossession of the Edgerton property, cleared rentwood’s brain of the fogs that had clouded it. : It led him conclusively to the inference that the Gold King was being made the victim of some gigantic plot, having for its object the - securing of the Edgerton Mine, and the sullen hauteur and intractability of the prisoner pro- mised the success of the effort. ‘*If it wasn’t for the girl,” averred Brent- wood, addressing John Mitchell, ‘‘I would leave the fellow to his fate. He iscertainly deserving of no kindly treatment.” The thought of hopeless and helpless Lily Edgerton, whose fate and fortune were bound up in that of her father, spurred the detective to renewed exertions. He had ascertained that the prevailing ele- ment in Silver City was an honest one. It was also stern and obstinate. It believed that the Gold King deserved death for the murder of Ciifford Curtis, and proposed to see that he was properly tried, condemned and executed. If the law would not secure this, then it intended to appeal to Judge Lynch. This element had little sympathy for Hank Hammond, regarding him as a reckless man and a pestiferous agitator, whose influence over the Jawless and dangerous class was likely, some day, to threaten the business and mining inter- ests of Silver City. At the same time they were divided on the question of his right to the property claimed, and held aloof from the affair. The task Brentwood set himself was the con- verting of these men into defenders of the rights and interests of Lily Edgerton. And he set about it in the boldest way. He publicly pro- claimed his belief in the streets, and personally visited every man of influence, In the mean time he had instructed the Tom- cat to keep a close watch on the movements of Hank Hammond, This the Tom-cat found difficult, for Ham- mond was a regular night-hawk. But the cow- boy stuck to the trail with sleepless pertinacity. ‘*They call this biz’ness shadderin’,” he owled, “‘an’ ef I keep it up much longer I’) a shadder sure ‘nuff! Seems like I ain’t had any sleepin’ fer a week; and as fer chuck, I jest have to grabahank o’ sassige an’run. This chap I’m follerin’ don’t take any more rest than a steam-ingine, Thar'’s dirt hyer, gen’lemen, thar’s dirt! Men don’t k eep a-bouncin’ roun’ that-a-way when thev’re honest. Ef he’d on’y stop awhile, so’s I could kinder spit on my han’s an’ git a fresh holt!” This muttered protest came from the cow- boy’s lips as he lay, stretched out in a dark alley, one moonlit night, watching, with hawk- like eyes, the saloon opposite, Into this saloon Hank Hammond had disap- peared, more than two hours before. ‘Stays in thar longer’n he’s stayed any place sence I’ve been a-trailin’ ’im. Reckon, now, he ain’t smelt a mouse an’ puckacheed by the back wey. That would be a ornery trick.’ is apprehensions were soon relieved, for Tom-cat and Pard., Hammond came out of the saloon and strolled down the street, arm in arm with a brother sport. ‘* Hyer goes fer anuther race!” grumbied the Tom-cat, straightening his cap upcn his head, ‘**The boss said I mus’n’t wear this cap while doin’ the shadder trick; but confound it, I can’t git one o’ the reg’lar kind to fit me. They’re allus too big, er too little er too somethin’! Sides its dark now an’ no one c’u’d tell much about it ef I wore a coal-scuttle. ‘* They’re a-breakin’ fer the Edgerton Mine. It’s a reg’lar hornets’ nest down thar, now, ‘sence he’s filled it full o’ men with shooters; but I ain’t afraid o’ hornets, I ain’t!” He crept along in the shadows of the houses, - succeeded in keeping the sports well in view. The mine and mine buildings were just be- yond the suburbs, When he reached the last house the cowboy halted, and from its shelter narrowly watched the retreating men, A broad belt of moonlight made it perilous to continue on. With a sigh of relief he saw Hammond and his companion enter one of the mine buildings, and then concluded to remain where he was until they again came into view. While lying there a form glided stealthily by him. Then another, and others emerged from the adjacent streets. All were evidently cen- tering at the building into which the sports had se ry a ‘*Some kind o’ meetin’ er nuther goin’ to be held over thar! Sh’u’d think mebbe ’twas a fandango, on’y I don’t see any wimmin-folks; an’ a fandango without wimmin-folks would be *bout as int’restin’ as a hoss race ’thout hosses. Guess I'll have to snoop up some way an’ find out what’s a-goin’ on,” Then the iaea came to him that he could safely approach the buildings by walking bold- ly out into the moonlight and advancing as if he were one of the expected men. They were all dodging and sneaking more or less, and their faces and clothing could not be distinguished. He acted upon the idea instantly. When near the buildings he was almost start- led into an exposure, “The boys air comin’ in purty lively, ain’t they?” said a rough-looking fellow, stepping frora out the shadows, The Tom-cat’s band was on his cocked revol- ver, and his fore-finger fluttered nervously over the trigger. Detection seemed unavoidable, “You bet!” he answered, giving a disguising twist to the words. Then he hurried on, expecting every instant to hear the command to halt, It did not come, and he Lreathed easier when the shadows received him into their embrace. ‘*A narrer escape!” he soliloquized, as he slowly circled the sptiriy in which the men were gathering. “‘Thort I’d shorely have to plug ’im. Gittin’ into a muss don’t ginerally skeer me, but fightin’ ain’t my best holt now. l’m a shadder, I am; jest the creepin’, crawlin’ shadder o’ the Texas Tom-cat, an’ not the Tom- cat hisself. Ef I war*you’d ’a’ heerd me howl a good while ago!” There seemed no place of ingress. He could hear the low hum of voices within, but could distinguish nothing. Finally, in his desperate eagerness to learn what was going on, he forced a rear window, The room into which this window admitted him adjoined the one in which the conference— if such it was—was being held. He drew the sash into place, after passing through, so that no prying eyes could detect anything unusual in its appearance, Then he crouched low in a dark corner of the room and applied an ear to the wooden parti- tion. This proved unsatisfactory. Some one was speaking; and, although he could distin- guish the words, he had a yearning desire to see the speaker's face. To accomplish this he felt carefully along the purtition, moving as softly as a veritable cat, until he came to a door which connected the two rooms. The door was light and would have yielded easily to a heavy blow. The Tom- cat had no thought of forcing it, however, and <a himself with peeping through the key- ole. His range of vision was necessarily limited. The room was also very imperfectly lighted, the one lamp being turned unusually Jow. But he could see enough to determine that the apart- ment contained about a dozen men—sports, toughs and miners—and that they were, all in all, a villainous set, The man ceased speaking, and Hank Ham- mond arose to address the assembly. * ry »% . 1 Ps 7 An a <= | Sf rt - 4 ie y Lead Ua ee oh a ¢ . aE. M nn ‘ he : ae ee i ay = ; J ’ a a t rae > Bier) . = Pe ‘ : ** Members of the Silver Circle!” he said, in & low but penetrating voice. ‘‘We have met again to report progress and discuss the work in: which we are engaged. It is a work that re- quires the three Cs—the motto of our organiza- tion—Coolness, Caution and Courage; and I again enjoin their observance. ‘* So far they have led us right on in the path- way of success, For my part I am glad to re- port that, with one or two exceptions, every- thing is working satisfactorily and smoothly. We are in possession of the Edgerton property; and if we can hold it, as I believe we can, our fortunes are made, We can hold it at least until we can turn it into enough money to enable us to leave this country with light hearts and heavy pocket-books. “ FVighting Fred is in from the mountains, and reports that everything is working all right. there. Cliff Curtis is improving rupidly—” The Tom-cat heard no more of that sentence, The words, ‘ Cliff Curtis is improving rapidly !”” burned themselves upon his brain, as if written with a pencil of fire. Then it was true that Cliff Curtis was still alive! And he was in the bands of Hank Ham- mond’s men. What did that mean? Over all swam the thought that there was still a chance to restore to Lily Edgerton her lover, The Tom-cat could scarcely contain himself, so great was his joy at this discovery. His own overpowering ilove for Molly Mitchell rendered him especially susceptible on that subject. He stuffed his catskin cap into his mouth to keep back the chorus of joyful howls that were struggling upward. This was not sufficient; and to keep from exploding, he found it neces sary to give vent to his pent rapture in a series of whispered ‘‘ meows,” When he again applied a watchful eye and a listening ear, Hammond had passed from that subject; but to one equally thrilling and inter- esting, He was giving a running account of Brent- wood’s efforts to arouse the better elements of the town against them. ‘“‘If he succeeds in this we will be likely to have a handsome fight on our hands!” Ham- mond concluded. ‘* And, if it comes to a fight, we’re the boys that can do the fighting. The issue might blast our hopes, however, and so I prefer scheming to open combat. ‘**T believe that, in order to prevent a possi- bility of this kind, we will have to see that this’ detective—for I am satisfied that that is what he is—is placed safely under ground, I have instructed some of the boys to lay for the sneak,,. and if he does fall into our hands, I promise you it will go bard with him,” There was a trampling of feet, followed by a lumbering knock at the front entrance. A few moments later two men marched into the room, driving before them a bound and: helpless prisoner. it was Brentwood, the detective ! CHAPTER VIII. AN EXCITED TOM-CAT. ‘LAY low, my good Pedro! Eat your way into the ground as if you werea badger, The moon shines rather bright to-night for a venture like ours. But, it’s the daring that win, they say. If that’s true, we deserve success. ‘* Fighting Fred’s the bruiser of the outfit. 2 refer cunning to slugging skill every time. t’s brains that win in this world, not muscle! ‘* Maybe you’ve heard something like that be-. fore, though! ‘You’ve got your rope ready?” ‘Ay, senor! If a flock of fool-hens were perched in the tree over us, I could pull one: down without in the least disturbing the others. You see that limb out there? Shall I make a cast at it, just to test the thing?” : ‘¢ Tl take your word for it, Pedro! Hark! is: that some one coming?” Bonanza Bill, the sport and gambler, lifted his head from the ground and peered along the trail leading into Silver City. ‘‘Tt was a coyote skurrying across the path, I guess! Any way, I see nothing, and the sound has died away. I thought probably it was cur detective friend on his way to his lodgings.” The sallow face of the Mexican curled ina grim smile. ‘‘ Hell not reach it to-nigbt, senor, if he- comes the usual way. I couldn’t miss 4 bird, in this moonlight; and I'll be sure not to miss a man,” ‘* So you don’t string your harness across the shoulders of the wrong chap! It might make trouble, you know. But I take it you’ve got eyes, Pedro! ‘Hammond said to put the fellow out of the »_- , y| at i, ; a) tS AL : te oe al aay > Nes Rie ; e . » Te. . + a ® ~ LN x r / e ; , > 5. , 5 » pe ye A > * . vy Wt : We , | i as ae Sy , > ye =" =, \ ‘ * é * ‘ 4 _ — ™ ‘ | - \ + 2 ff 7 @ . ‘ , ~ | Py 7 i | I han ae 1 Se -“, ~ <4 wt © -9 “+5 i . x 4 Bee an att Ts » i —— ee