Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 589 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

— ' fa’r trial. We'll go bail thet they won’t leave town afore mornin’,” He fingered his revolver in a nervous, excited way, as he spoke, ard Hammond saw that several of the horsemen seemed equally anxious for a fight. ‘‘I appeal to you, citizens of Silver City,” said Hammond, addressing the crowd that hov- ered expectantly on the outskirts, ready to run the instant that bullets began to fly, ‘‘is thisa fair deal? We caught these men, red-handed, as you may aay They had just fired the kouse over there, hey deserve death. Is Silver City to be placed at the mercy of such fire- bugs?” An angry muttering came from the crowd, insti ated by Hammond’s adherents. ‘* What!” shouted Reke Tanner, wheeling his horse so that it faced the grumbling men, ‘‘ Stand up fer a scoundrel like thet, do ye?” The angry mutterings ceased, and the men pe back as if they expected him to fire on them. ** It’s no use, Mr. Hammond!” said Molly, her voice firm, but her cheeks as white as ashes, ** Your friends may be willing, but they’re not strong enough,” **You’ve got the upper hand of us!” replied Hammond, with sullen anger. ‘‘We must do as you say. But, I warn those scoundrels in there that from now on it will be war to the knife, and they need expect no mercy from us.” They were ill advised words, for they served to show the real depths of his animosity; and he instantly regretted their utterance, ‘* Whoop!” shouted the Tom-cat, appearing at the window and throwing a kiss to Molly Mitchell. ‘*The wimmin forever!” He was followed by Brentwood, ‘*Il wash my hands of the affair!” growled Hammond, walking sulkily away, an example followed by his associates, ‘‘If the people of Silver City want to be burned up in their beds by such ruffians, it’s their own lookout,” The detective and the cowboy leaped to the ground, and were instantly surrounded and shel- tered by the protecting horsemen. CHAPTTER XI, THE TOM CAT AS A NARRATOR, THE firemen had contented themselves with protecting the adjacent buildings; and when the little cavalcade, led by Molly Mitchell and the Tom-cat, started toward the town the fire had almost burned itself out. The red glare on the sky mingled with the light of the coming dawn. The Tom-cat was evidently overcoming his diffidence, for he rode boldly by Molly’s side, sitting bis horse with the ease and grace of the genuine cowboy and the pride of a prince, and careless of the curious glances given him. Only the recollections of the recent excite- ment enabled him to maintain that proud bear- ing and erect carriage. He was literally worn- out. For three days and nights he had scarcely bad an hour’s rest or sleep, On reaching his room he cast himself heed- lessly on the Sed and at once sought the slumber so strongly demanded by overwrought brain and nerves, When he awoke it was nearly sunset. ** Great horns!” he cried, starting up. ‘I’ve been jest a-layin’ back hyer and snoozin’ like a buffler in bunch-grass, the bull day! An’ thar’s that gal a-weepin’ ber eyes out fer a lovyer she thinks isdead. Plum fergot all about it this mornin’; hanged ef I didn’t!” Molly was singing away like a lark, as she moved about the living room, busy with her household duties. ‘* Now thar’s a gal fer you!” said the Tom- cat, addressing his boot. ‘‘ Lord love ye, didn’t she come down on them fellers like a perairie fire! Never seen sech grit in a female.” Then a brilliant idea came to him. He would make Molly the medium by which to transmit the joyful tidings to Lily, « Bvonin’, Miss Molly!” he said, stepping into the room where she was at work. ** Why, Tom-cat, is that you?” she asked, giv- ing him a bewitching look, that went straight to the poor fellow’s heart. ‘I thought you were asleep.” , ** Ho, ho, Miss Molly!” he chuckled, awk ward- ly fumbling his catskin cap, ‘‘ Didn’t think I’d snooze forever, did ye?” He seated himself in a chair and stared at her for a moment, wondering how he ought to pro- ceed to break the glad news, **'W on’t do to blurt it out too suddint! Wim- min air skeery critters sometimes. Lando’ love! ae would I doef she sh’u’d faint when I told er?’ Tom-cat and Pard. 9 *“I suppose you will be ready for supper, | cowboy scrambled back into the chair with such after your long fast?” she asked, at length, with a sly glance, remembering his cowardice on that point, To the Tom-cat’s credit be it said, however, that on two or three recent occasions, when he could see no way of avoiding it, he had taken his meals there, ** Most anybody could eat your cookin’, Molly,” was the rather equivocal compliment with which he parried the thrust, ‘‘ But I didn’t come fer feedin’, though I’m hungry enough, I come to ax you some questions, ‘* Now, le’s s’posin’ a case ertwo. Le’s s’posin’, frinstance, thet you had a lovyer!” He stared hard at her to see if the plan he had Outlined as the proper one to pursue promised to work well. +s Way Ay, what can you mean, Tom-cat?” asked Molly, stammering and slightly coloring, “Thar, drat it! she’s a-goin’ to faint! That’s what I was afeard on.” As he made this mental comment, he squared himself to spring at her should she show signs of keeling over. Seeing that she still maintained her erect ai ete he gave his mental machinery another itch, and proceeded: ** An’ s’posin’ ’at you loved him, loved him powerful! kick!” Molly stared at the cowboy as if she could scarcely credit her ears, while the color eéx- ae until it reddened her entire face and neck, From the first, Molly had been well aware of the cowboy’s attachment; and she had, too, a rather warm feeling for this bashful and eccen- tric lover, She had sufficient discernment to discover the genuine diamond which lay be- neath the rough exterior and to properly appre- ciate it. ‘*He is smart, if he hasn’t got much educa- tion; and he wouldn’t be ugly if he’d throw away that outlandish cap. But | wouldn’t marry him, I wouldn’t marry anybody—that is, not while father lives,” Over and over she had said this to herself when thinking of the Tom-cat, always adding the qualifying clause with a queer little thrill of regret which she could not quite understand and half-feared was wicked, “Why, Tom-cat! What can you mean?” she asked again, giving her broom a vigorous swish to hide her agitation. ** An’ s’posin’,” continued the cowboy, watch- ing her as a cat watchesa mouse, ‘that yer father had told this hyer lovyer’at he couldn’t have ye. That in fact he had, ali unbeknownst to you, promised you to another feller?” **T should promptly tell him that my father had no right to bargain me away in that kind of style!” Molly replied, wondering what was coming next. ‘* Land o’ love, ain’t she han’some!” thought the Tom-cat, as the color receded and then came again to her round, plump cheeks. The thought of his own absorbing passion al- most drove from his mind the story he was try- ing to tell. ‘* Ef I on’y dar’d to!” he whispered, half-star- tled out of his wits at the bare suggestion, ‘*T—I sca’cly know how to tell ye what I’m tryin’ ta!” he exclaimed, pantingly, endeavor- ing to go on, but thinking much more of himself and Molly than of Lily Edgerton and her lover, ‘Seems as ef [’m teetotally tongue-tied this evenin’, My brain-pan rattles like a dried-up buffler-punkin,” Molly cast him a symphathizin brought him at once to the verge o ice, ‘**Oh, Lordy!” he cried, clapping a band to his mouth, as if to hold back the words that were surging for utterance. ‘' Hang it, I e’ena’most let ’em slip that time!” ** Let phat slip?” Molly inquired imnocently, for the cowboy had inadvertently spoken his thoughts aloud, He colored to the roots of his raven hair and trembled like a leaf. Then he castan imploring glance arouhhd, and endeavored to rise from his chair. But his knees gave way and he sunk imploringly at her feet. ‘I didn’t intend you should know it, Miss Molly!” he cried, with a helpless wail of sub- mission, ** But I’m into the water,now,an’ | can’t get out. No! drat it, I don’t tell ye now [ll go an’ drown’d myself fer bein’ the biggest fool in America. “* lm a-lovin’ you, Miss Molly, wuss’n a bum- ble-bee loves red clover! Thar, it’s out! And { don’t keer who knows it!” A heavy step was heard inthe yard, and the That you Harder nor a mule kin look that the preci- | | ludicrous haste that Moll breaking into a loud laugh, ‘‘Ts supper bout ready?” asked Mitchell, com- ing into the room, followed by Brentwood. ** Yes!” Molly replied, hiding her merriment and confusion in the depths of the cupboard, ‘*T think it well to have the parties in author- ity open the graves and see if Curtis is really dead, before we proceed further!” said Brent- wood to Mitchell, evidently continuing a conver- sation begun along the way. The cowboy leaped to bis feet as if shot. ‘* That-er-er—reminds me!” he said, flushin and stammering. ‘‘l was a-er—tryin’ to te Molly somethin’ bout it jest a little while ago,” ‘* About what?” Brentwood stared as if he thought the Tom- cat bereft of his senses. ‘“Why, they ain’t no use o’ openin’ any graves. Curtis is alive!” ‘+ What makes you think so?’ with a surprised could not keep from look, that brought the Tom-cat at once to the oint. a5 I heerd Hammond say so las’ night. In the buildin’, ye know, afore you come, He said, an’ these air his identical words: ‘ Fightin Fred is in from the mount’ins, an’ he reports that Clifford Curtis is a-improvin’ rapidly!’” ‘* Why didn’t you tell of this some time ago?” ‘‘ Hang it! I was so sleepy! fergotit. I was a-tryin’ to tell Miss Molly, awhile ago—when, er—when you come in,” ‘* This is important!” said Brentwood, paying no apparent heed to the cowboy’s evident con- fusion. ‘‘ Hammond had no idea the Tom-cat was listening, and he doubtless told the truth in addressing his men. Now, where is he and what are they bolding him for? Those are the things we must proceed to find out.” ‘* Where air ye goin’, Molly? Hain’t had sup- per yit, ye know.” Molly had tossed a shawl over her head, and bad a band on the knob of the door as her father spoke, ‘* Supper will keep better than such a piece of news as that!” she exclaimed. ‘I’m going to tell Lily Edgerton.” ‘Whoop! that’s the ticket!” the Tom-cat shouted after her. ‘‘ A knowlidge that her lov- yer's still a-kickin’ will jest chirk her up power- ful!’ CHAPTER XII, A CONSULTATION, ‘‘ Yrs; that’s the most important piece of news we’ve had yet!” continued Brentwood, staring thoughtfully after Molly, as she ran lightly down the trail, ‘* What other informa- tion, Tom-cat, dropped into your long ears while you were concealed behind that door?” Thus questioned, the cowboy gave a succinct account of all he had heard and seen while shadowing Hank Hammond and the members - of the Silver Circle. ‘*That only confirms what I have thought for several days!” mused the detective, speaking aloud. ‘‘ This Hammond is at the head of some scoundrelly crganization, having for its main urpose the getting and holding of the Edgerton line, I was convinced of it as soon as Ham- mond produced those papers and tock forcible possession of the property. ‘*There are several things about the affair, however, that puzzle me, It seems clear, to my mind at least, that Hammond intends and expects the early execution of the Gold King, Probably he has been watching for an oppor- tunity to grasp the property, and when Edger- ton shot Curtis he took advantage of his arrest and imprisonment to put his scheme into effect. ‘Tt may be, however, that he acted simply on the spur of the moment, thinking it too good a chance to be lost. ‘‘ Now, my idea is, that be or some of his men were not far ater when the shooting occurred, Curtis was not killed, as we now know, though Edgerton no doubt believed and still believes him dead. ‘‘Tf Curtis is not dead then the Gold King cannot be hanged for murder. So they bore the wounded man away to enable them to carry out the theory that he had been slain. The re- port of bis murder was spread, and to make the play more realistic they had a mock funeral in the early hours of the morning, at which only an’ I don’t want to! fer ef | Hammond’s frierds and supporters were pre- | | sent. ‘That is why the alleged funeral was held at so unseemly an bour. ‘Why they didn’t kill the young man out- right and use his body as conclusive evidence against Edgerton, I can’t say. The wickedest " ‘n “.. oe “Ag x yh yer my ‘ ; o cy i a" i ws ke ‘ve f ya | ie omicbook 7. Wau b: ~ — i | es At ay af . i+ ‘a | as Ne a