Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 597 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

: az; Yes.” ‘*‘ Suppose he escapes, and you say he belongs to a band of outlaws?” ‘* He'll not escape,” was the significant re- sponse. And then the chief continued: * | will tell you why. ‘* This man was once a member of my band, and I found he was playing me false, for he was taking money from outlaws to let them alone, : and his companion, a go+between, was the man you killed. ‘* T bad the fellow arrested, and his trial fol- jowed, but be escaped, and in doing so killed the gu ird, and he vowed to kill me, and so joined Lue band of outlaws known as the Black Bra- vos—” “The Black Bravos!” cried Edgar Dumont, eagerly. ** Yes: a band of outlaws that were driven out of Texas, and so came to Colorado to raid upon the miners. “This man and one other were their spies; the other you rid the country of, and this man willsoon hang for his crimes, for I shall turn him over tothe miners in Gold Dust City, as they have a justice of the peace there who will see that the rops is bis end: but here we are at my quarters,” and as the chief ceased speaking he halted before a tent, and a negro came for- ‘ward and took his horse, ** Boston, look to the horses of this gentleman, too, and then let us have supper, for we are as hungry as grizzlies.” Edgar glanced about him with deepest inter- est. Hesaw half a dozen tents, small, but com- fortable, and indicating constant use from their weather-stained appearance, Before them were brush shelters which pro- tected them from the noonday sun, and in the rear of each was a camp-fire, around which were the men eating their evening meal. The fires cast a ruddy glow, and up the can- yon were seen a number of horses staked out. There were a score of men visible, ana, with the men off on duty Edgar Dumont judged that they must be half the force of the Rocky Moun- tain Detectives. He had heard much of Dave Cook and his Se- eret Service Men, and it was tbat which had «aused him to come and see if they could help him in his bunt for Brandt, the Bravo, whose trail he was upon. He had searched for them from camp to camp, and certainly his coming was under most favorable circumstances, as he had saved the life of the chief. A man came forward and greeted General Cook as he rode up to his tent, one who was evi- dently in command of the camp in the absence of bis superior. ‘Well, Ronald, !m back again, and I have news, too—but for my young friend here I would never have gotten to camp, ‘¢ Permit me to introduce you, Ronald, to Mr, Edgar Dumont, of Texas, and remember, I owe him my life. : ‘* That fellow, Lucky Jim, has gotten to the end of his rope, as this time he will not escape, as I wish you to take him over to Gold Dust City and give him to the judge with my compli- ments. ‘* Been to supper?” ** Yes, chief,” and Ronald greeted the guest of the general warmly, and then led the pris- oner, Lucky Jim; as he was known to tlie detec- tives, over to his camp, where’ he was given some supper and placed under guard. Boston proved himself a good cook, and the larder of the detective chief was well filled, so that Edgar Dumont 7 ah enjoyed his supper, and afterward sat down to have a talk with the man he had come so far to see, CHAPTER VIII. ONE OF THEM. “Now, my young friend, I will hear what brought you here to see me?” saia Chief Cook, as he made himself comfortable after supper, ‘My story is not a long one, sir, and'I may say at once that I am on the trail of revenge.” ‘Ah! I thought so; from the look in your face. Hardly old enough to have a love affair and be on a rival’s track, eh?” and Chief Cook smiled. ‘No, sir; but I may tell you that my father, Colonel Dillon Dumont—” ‘* Ab! are you his son, for I know him well by name as a Texan Ranger chief?” ‘Yes, sir, he was my father, and he lived upon his ranch in Texas, while I was away at a agthern military academy. . feed pia i. - Ps orm > ote aah a * ’ +a" sa oe) eae roe The Young Texan Detective. ee = ee ‘*My mother was a Mexican lady, and her peon servants and the cowboys also dwelt upon the ranch with my father. ‘*T came home to spend my vacation, got a borse at the nearest town to the ranch, and | arrived at midnight to find my father dead, lying murdered by the grave of my mother; and the house in flames, while tbe peons had also been killed, but one, then dying, told me that the Black Bravos, under their chief, Captain Brandt, had done the work.” **T had heard that they left a trail of blood and ashes behind them before leaving Texas, and you have my sympathy, Mr; Dumont, for the way you have suffered,” said Dave Cook, feelingly. ‘*f lost my father, the servants whom I was much attached to, and my home, while the cat- tle and horses were driven off and sold. ** All I had left was a little money, my father’s horse, ani some arms and things I picked up which the robbers had left. ‘**T took their trail and followed it into New Mexico, and from what I learned, I am sure that the cowboys were in the pay of the Bravo chief, or, in fact, some of his band. ‘* My fatber, in fact, had written me that his cowboys were leaving him and going off to go into business for themselves, and he had to get new men,” ‘*T see, and these new men were members of the Black Bravo’s band?” ‘** Doubtless, sir, for not one of the cowboys could I find about the rancb, though I remained there several days,” ‘*And you tracked the robbers into New Mexico?” ‘* Yes, I trailed them to New Mexico, and at last discovered that Brandt and some of his picked men had decided to give Texas a rest for awhile, and work the mines of Colorado, ‘*{ had heard often of you and your detec- tives, General Cook, so I decided to look you up and see if 1 could not join your band to hunt down these Bravos.” ‘** Ceftainly you can, and glad to have you I am, ‘* Now, let me tell you that I am encamped right here now on account of these Black Bravos, and I was returning from a: trail to ferret out their camp when you so timely ap- peared before me. ‘These fellows seem to have fairly struck terror into the mining-camps, for they have dashed in by night and made several rich hauls of dust, and where they bave their retreat is a question that no one thus’far has been able to discover, and, young though you are, [ am sure you will be of great assistance to me. ‘* Perhaps you had better go with Ronald to Gold Dust City, and see if you can learn any- thing about these Bravos that)my men have not picked up.” ‘*T will be glad to go, sir.” **They wear a uniform, I suppose you know, or rather dress in black and wear masks?” ‘* Yes, sir, they wear black clothes, masks, and ride black horses, [ have discovered, and so we have to find their retreat to run them to earth, as, being masked, they could, when they wished, come into the mines without their dis- guise and remain unkrown.” ‘* That is very true, and perhaps, as you are unknown bere in these parts, and no one would know you as one of my men, it would be as well for you to take a run through the mining-camps alone, upon the excuse of searching for some one, ‘*T will Jet you see my men here, so you will know them, and we have secret signs that I will make known to you, in case you need their aid. ‘*T will hold the prisoner back for several days, but send word to Judge Baldwin that he may have him to hang on a certain day, and he can give it out so as to collect a crowd, and that will bring some of’ the outlaws in, so you may have a chance to watch for any man you have seen in Texas, “If you find one, look up my men and hold him, for if we make a mistake I have the law with us, you know,’ I wil] do all I can, sir, you may rest assured; but when do you wish me to start?” ‘*Oh, wait a couple of days, for there is no hurry, and you and your horses need rest. ‘** Do you need much money?” ** No, thank you, sir.” ‘* Well, keep an account of all you spend, for you are in my pay now, and I will give you what I do my other men, ‘“* In a couple'of days you will be rested, can get acquainted with your brother ' detectives and learn'our ways, so make yourself comforta- ble, and, as Ronald has a tent alone, just share Lv TTT TT 5 it with him, and remember you are to feel per= fectly at home in our camp.” ‘*Thank you, sir,” and the young Texan felt that he was no longer all alone ia the world, but had a true friend in the man whose life he bad saved, while he was proud at baying been en- rolled as a member of the Rocky Mountain De- tectives, CHAPTER IX, AT GOLDEN GULCH. THE mining-camps and towns of Colorado, at the time of which I write, were filled with a wild lot of humanity. Many men were there, honest, industrious, and working hard for the loved ones at home, while they did all they could to avoid blood- shed and law-breaking in a community where there was little of law outside of the revolver and bowie-knife. It was among these camps that young Du- mont went as a detective. e was utterly fear- less, strong in limb, active, quick of eye and a dead-shot. Few men were better able to take care of themselves than was this Texan youth. He went to the mining-camps pretty well posted by Dave Cook, with all he had to con- front, and he went prepared to meet any danger that might confront him, to face death in any form tbat he might run upon it. He was well mounted, thoroughly armed, car- ried no needless luggage and rode into Golden Gulch one evening and up to the shanty hotel with the air of one who had been raised in the mining-camps. He got lodgings, such as they were, at the Bonanza, as the hotel was called, and confided in the landlord that he was in search of an uncle who had come to the mines and struck it rich, be bad heard. ‘‘ What are the name o’ yer uncle, young pard?” asked Landlord Jim Patrick, who though an educated man, affected the border dialect to ‘‘be in the swim,” as he said, or in the fashing. ‘‘ Charles Kennerley,” replied the youth, think- ing of a name he bad heard his father mention. ‘‘No, I don’t know sich a name, tho’ I may know ther man, fer they changes the’r names when they gits inter these parts, and maybe it are best they should, ‘“‘Now I recommembers, thar were a Ken- nerdy hung here seme half a year ago fer horse-stealin’ and he might ha’ been yer uncle.” “*T guess not, sir.” ‘“Thar was a man as had ther name o’ Kenny died with his boots on one night, fer playin’ more aces than thar were in a honest pack o’ keerds, and it might be ther name got diluted and he were your uncle,” ‘+ Ah no, my uncle did not cheat at cards, for he never played, and as he could not ride borse- back, it stands to reason he would not steal a horse. “T do not think you were acquainted with my uncle.” ‘“Maybe not; but if you stay in camp a few months you might run across him, and I kin give yer a fine room, only six others in it, and the best grub in the mountains, while them as knows says my table is as bigh as any in them tony hotata in ther East.” ‘““Tt may be as high,” muttered Edgar Du- mont; but he said aloud: ‘*] will only stop until to-morrow, as I hear there is to be a hanging up at Gold Dust, and I want to get there in time to see it.” Landlord Jim Patrick was all attention at once, A hanging was a treat to bebold in that re- gion, though frequent enough certainly. : ‘Is it Vigilantes?” ‘*No, the law.” ‘‘Oh my! whar did you git ther news?” - Heard it as I came along,” a ** When is it to be?” ‘Tn a week, I believe.” : ‘Next Friday, then, I guesses, for Friday are the law’s hang-day, though we hain’t so par- tic’lar when we has ropiu’ ter do, ‘Who are ther miner?” ‘*A man run in by Cook’s Rocky Mountain Detectives, I beard.” ' ‘“The deuce! them detectives is Old Nick’s own fer keeps, and no mistake. ‘ll jist write out a notis o’ ther hangin’ and paste it up, for thar is plenty o’ ther boys as will make it @ holiday to go. ‘ But let ne show yer room, pard,fer a wash- up, and diuner will be on in half an hour, and in the mean time I'll see ef I kin hear anything oO yer uncle. “Kennedy, you said bis name was,” ‘‘No, Kennerley, Cnarles Kennerley.” a SINIA, 7 . ? 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