Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 609 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

=< > : ~ eek , a7 — = aoe nee - amy — — i a —_ At that moment Gideon Grim reached the outskirts of the crowd. ‘* What’s the racket, boys?’ he demanded, in an asthmatic voice, as he pushed his way toward the center, ‘‘ What is it, Isay? Somebody fix- ed for plantin’?” And then, as he caught sight of Rico Rubeand Pate Brown and their captive, he halted, staring first at one, then another, of the trio over the rim of his glasses, ‘**What’s the meaning of this outrageous scene, Marshal Pepper?” he cried, indignantly. ** Meanin’ enough!” gritted Rico Rube, half- savagely, half-fearfully. ‘‘I reckon, Mr, Grim, we'd orter see’d ye first, but ye warn’t ter be found—an’ that’s ther plain, unvarnished truth!” ‘“* Ther critter aire a durned thievin’ bum, yer Honor,” Peet Brown hastened to say, with a nod at the captive, ‘‘ We ketched ’im hidin’ in ther bresh back ov our shebang, an’ we’re only follerin’ ther law.” ** Law be hanged! You fellows haven’t the first idea of law /” grunted the mayor, in disgust. ** What you got io say, marshal? Pm waiting to bear from you.” ** Nothin’,” Pepper replied, ‘* Peet and Rube hev told ye all I know. But I reckon ther critter had better move on ter sum other man’s camp,” At that juncture, Major Menace stepped for- ward, saying: ih een to me, Grim, that the course suggested by Marshal Pepper would be a little hasty. The man may be all right, and he may not. Give him a chance, say cL» ** Certainly, major,” blandly acquiesced the mayor; *‘ that is my idea exactly. lways give @ man a chance for his white alley. Now, = dear fellow, what can you say for your- - f?? and he turned abruptly to the captive um. The broad grin that came over Bill Williams’s face gave it a grotesque look, But he repeated the statement made to Pepper, affirming with due earnestness that he was plainly and amg 94 a miner seeking employment; and, as before, Little Lightning vouched for the truth of the statement. Gideon shook his head dubiously, and after a moment of deliberation said: ‘*To tell the truth, gentlemen, 1 more than half believe you; but you are both strangers here, and the means to substantiate your state- ments are not at hand, It is my unvarying rule to thoroughly investigate all such cases, and therefore I shall have to commit you to the lockup for safe keeping until two o’clock to-mor- row afternoon,” Little Lightning’s face turned first red, then white, as he listened to the mayor’s pompous strains, ‘** Am I to understand that J am under arrest?” he asked. ** You certainly are, my youthful friend.” **On what charge?” ‘¢ You are a witness in this case, and therefore rust be locked up for safe-keeping,” ‘* But [ am friendly to the cause of the defend- 7 and would certainly appear in his be- Mayor Grim looked over his glasses with an air of owlish wisdom. .* Very true, perhaps; but these are troublous times in Yellow Dust, and a witnessin hoc ig worth a score at large,” he observed, ‘*Rico Rube, you and Pete Brown unharness the galoot; and you, Marsbal Pepper, do your duty.” Again there was a surging and swaying of the crowd, with here a murmur of approval, there an expletive expression of dissatisfaction. _ Little Ligbhtning’s slender brown hands closed just a trifle more tightly around the butts of his weapons, and he braced himself as if fora strug- gle; then his eves met those of Bill Williams, and his bands dropped to his sides, in’ token of sub- mission, Major Menace was quick to note the exchange of glances. Sullenly enough, Rico Rube and Pete Brown removed their lariats, and Marshal Red Pepper reinforced by three men deputized from the crowd, marched away with the prisoners, In the mean time, a peculiar smile just part- ing his bearded lips, Orthdor Pete had watched the varying phases of the singular affair much asacat watchesarat-hole,_— . The Jehu, it may be remarked in passing, was arecent addition to the population of Yellow Dust; but during the three weeks be had been at the camp his eyes had not been idle. Mayor Gideon Grim followed the marshal Boll y Darrit, the Veteran Detective. ae moment later, Rico Rube and his pard skulked | upward on the table. awa dox,. But that personage had disappeared. Again that peculiar smile flitted across the ye of the Jehu, and into his twisted orbs came a fire. Uuobserved he left the Monumental, and took his way southward along the rough street run- ning lengthwise of the camp. Fifty yards abead, just discernible in the star- light, were the objects of his solicitude, Rico Rube and Pete Brown. On toward the outskirts of the camp, with noiseless steps, they hurried, keeping to the darker side of the street, as if anxious to avoid notice. After them, with ail the stealth and cunning of a red-skin, stole Orthodox Pete. At the last cabin on the street the desperadoes halted, and, after a wary survey of their sur- roundings, pushed open the door and entered. ‘*Kasy, boyees,” came the voice of Old Man Keene from the gloomy interior. ‘‘ Shut ther door, an’ [’}] turn on the light.” Even as he spoke the door was closed, and the next instant the rays of a lamp dispelled the gloom. ‘*Sot down, pards,” continued Keene, in the same cautious tones, as he helped himself to a seat at the rude table in the center of the room. ‘* Sot down an’ onbosom yerselves, ‘* W’ot’s ther racket with ther fat piigrim, enyhow?” ‘* A racket ov ther wu’st kind,” averred Rico Rube, with a grimace that disclosed his yellow fangs. ‘‘ Ther greasy cuss aire a SPY Q” ‘* A spy!” echoed Old Keene, visibly surprised and amazed. ‘*Yas, aspy! Pete an’ me ketched’im with his ear ter a crack in ther near wall ov our shanty,” pursued Rube. ‘*But afore hec’u’d heur a durned thing,” Pete Brown put in. : ‘Yas, we hed jest sot down ter fix up a scheme ter git holt ov ther gal, when we lit onter ther cuss. ‘“‘ But if he heard nothin’, why this byer pow- wow?” Keene demanded, suspiciously. ‘Ye must see ter et thet ther critter don’t stay in ther camp—thet’s ail,” said Rube, ‘‘ He heerd nuthin’, but we don’t know w’ot he sus- pects, an’ ef he played ther spy onc’t, he’d do et ag’in. ‘* Thet’s true enough,” nodded the Old Man, ‘We'd ’a’ done for im fast enough,” Pete Brown declared, his voice sinking to a whisper, *‘on’y we didn’t know how many more sech cusses thar might be round; an’ es things hed ter seem fair an’ reg’lar, we jest trotted ’im down ter ther Monumental,” ‘“‘Ther best thing ye c’u’d ’a’ done,” averred Keene, with knitted brow. ‘‘On’y—ef Gid Grim hed ’a’ took one ov his cranky notions ye’d both ’a’ gone inter limbo with ther two galoots an’ hey sp’ilt ther bull racket.” Sa a moment the two ruffians seemed star- tled. “‘°Tain’t too late yit!” exclaimed Rico Rube, “Keep out ov his way,” advised Old Man Keene, smiling grimly. ‘* But now you fellers hed better scut, I’ve got bizness up-town, an’ I reckon we don’t keer ter be seen together. Do yer work, an’ ther dust is yours at daylight ter-morrow.” Without further parley, Rico and his ally left the cabin. Old Man Keene followed a mo- ment later. Straight tothe St. George, the principal hotel of the camp, went the wily old rascal, there pass- ing through the office and ascending to the second floor, where he balted at the door of an apartment facing the street. A short, dry cough, then a key clicked in the lock, and the door opened, revealing the white face of Major Menace. Old Man Keene glided into the room, Seated ata table, bottle and glass in hand, was Gideon Grim, the Mayor of Yellow Dust, ‘Hallo! hallo!” he exclaimed, his eyes beam- ing with satisfaction. ‘* You are punctual to tho minute.” ‘‘Tt’s a way the Old Man has,” remarked the major, as he and Keene drew up to the table, ‘* Yas, siree! I make et a p’int ter do bizness right up ter ther han’le,” averred the shrewd old double-face with a leer. “Tell me w’ot ye want done, an’ I'll tell my price,” " ow for Old Man Keene,” muttered Ortho- | bis *¢ Leaning forward, his blue eyes fairly blazing above the gold bows of tacles, he asked: ‘How much is a man’s life worth?” Old Keene closed one eye reflectively. ‘¢?Pends on who ther cuss is,” he muttered at length, glancing from one to the other, his glit- tering black eyes aglow with an evil light. ‘¢ Deal yer keerds,” Grim drew a breath of relief, ‘Ther kid you were taking in tow for a sucker, we'll say,” he cautiously suggested, watching the face of the thug as if he would read his lightest thought. ‘“‘How much to get him out of the way, clear and clean?” ‘* A couple of hundred, I reckon—hafe now, hafe when done.” ‘Don’t speak too quickly,” cautioned Major Menace, just the trace of a smile showing itself on his cold face. ‘¢ All must be swift and sure; and let me tell you this Little Lightning is a dangerous cus- tomer for even you.” Old Keene uttered a contemptuous laugh. ‘‘That may all be!” he exclaimed grimly, his black eyes snapping. ‘‘ I’ve sot ther figgers, an’ thar they stick, with ther job warranted.” ‘‘That’s the talk!” assented the mayor, ap- provingly, as he tossed his glass and filled it from the bottle. ‘‘T’ll go down and release the young reptile. Get him outside of the camp, and— Major Menace raised bis hand warningly. A startled hush came over the trio. A scuffle of some sort was in progress in the hallway. A moment of suspense, then the sig- nal cough brought Menace to his feet. With noiseless steps he crossed the room, un- locked and opened the door. Marshal Pepper staggered into the apart- ment, In his arms, limp and lifeless, lay Orthodox Pete, the Jehu! CHAPTER IIiI. BOLLY THE VETERAN, WHEN Marshal Pepper and bis squad, with their prisoners, left the Monumental, they turn- ed northward on the winding, irregular street, passing the St. George Hotel and a second gam- bling-house, then a long row of tents and shanties, ere they arrived at the leck-up. ‘¢ Hvar we aire,” announced the red-bearded official, as he finally halted at the door of a stoutly-built cabin and knocked vigorously with the butt of a revolver. A light step sounded within; then a bolt was drawn from its socket and the door opened, re- vealing the jailer—a lank, loose-jointed fellow, with matted, straw-colored hair and beard, prominent cheek-bones and ferrety little eyes. ‘A brace of birds fer yer cage, Sandy Jor- dan,” exclaimed Pepper, pushing bis prisoners into the cabin. ‘“ Fine birds, w’ot’ll take close watchin’, er l'm mistaken,” ““T guess ye’re bout rigbt thar, Red,” the jailer returned, gals ey. at the homely face of Bill Williams, ‘‘They do look like tough galoots—the ole one ’specially, But, ye kin bet I’m ther the dandy rustler w’ot kin hold ’em wal! No hijinks goes with Sandy Jordan e bet!” and he tapped the pair of forty-fours in his belt, ‘‘That’s as good es sworn to,” smiled Pepper. ‘Then come an’ s’arch ther varlets,” ‘‘Ther cage am allers ready, but I went through it not a half-hour ago, an’ ye kin put yer last ounce on et thet things aire ship-shape.” the jailer declared, as he lighted an extra lamip. ‘* Now, shoot out yer orders, Red.” ‘‘ Take ther fat cuss fu’st, Sandy.” The jailer went at his task with alacrity. Williams remained passive, quietly surveying the interior of the cabin. The building was of hewed logs, closely board- ed up inside, with a heavy partition from front to back. The outer door was provided with a wicket and stout bolts aud bars, as also was the door in the partition. ; There were two windows in the outer room, one front, one back, each five feet from the floor and protected with solid cross-bars and in- side shutters of oak. Rapidly Sandy Jordan emptied the pockets of the tramp, passing the articles to Marshal Pep- per for inspection. A plug of navy, a short, black pipe, a hand- ful of smoking tobacco and a tattered copy of a Denver newspaper, three weeks old, completed Major Menace and the mayor exchanged a | the list. swift glance, ‘“Go abead!” muttered the gambler. reckon he can be trusted.” ‘‘Umph! give ther truck back ter im,” mut- ‘I | tered the marshal, pushing aside the articles . 7 | in disgust, after having helped himself pretty posse from the gambling-house, and a! Grim drained his glass, then turned it bottom ! liberally from the navy.