Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 699 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

‘ = zr. = £ oe, eo aS. * Seo . -< “ _— ‘cia - « 2 a oe TINE: Ce sll =< a 2, a . .'. eer is _ quaintance, likely.” : ~y R : » » >» - 4 » &.% , A ee. after the shadowy figures, the night is more’n I know,” So great was her curiosity that she finally ventured to steal after the men, though in so do- ing she realized the was running perilous risks, There had been murder in the heart of Irwin, | that afternoon, and should he detect her spying on his movements, she felt sure he would not hesitate to put the thought into action. The sky was overcast, rendering the night just dark enough for her purpose. When the brard- ing-chute was reached, the men halted and oue of them proceeded to kindle a fire in the little sheet-iron stove used by the branders in heating their irons, The flickering light from the half- open door of the stove fell occasionally on the men’s faces, revealing their identity. She had already recognized one--the o'hers were Pedro and a companion of similar low instincts, . Miss Hackett had dropped to the ground when the men halted. Her recumbent position brought into plain relief the chute, together with the wing corral into which were driven the cattle to be branded, Before the fire was well under way [rwin and the cowboy disappeared, returning after a little with a dozen steers from the bunch which had been brought in that afternoon. These were driven between the barbed-wire wings leading to the chute, and there guarded by the cowboy, while Irwin returned to where Pedro was blowing and puffing over the glow- ing coals, lt was plain even to Nancy’s bewildered com- prehension that the cattle had been brought there for branding. But, what the ranchman meant by proceeding about the business in this sneak-thief fashion was not so plain. ; In a short time one of the irons was withdrawn from the stove, its red-hot points tracing fiery’ characters against the black background, as Pedro walked with it to the platform overlook- ing the chute. At the same time some of the Steers were crowded into the narrowing passage. At the point where Pedro stood there was scarcely room for one to squeeze through; and as each pressed by he thrust the glowing letters against its flank. When the iron cooled a second was produced; and in a short time the dozen steers were brand- ed. Then they were driven into a small in- closure not far away, after which Irwin and Pedro returned to the bunk-house, - Miss Hackett was about to creep back to her position in the lee of the building. The strange- ness of all she had seen kept her still, however; and when she saw the cowboy approach the horse corral she was glad) she had not been too basty in beating a retreat, She saw him bring out and saddle a horse. Then he released the newly-branded cattle from the inclosure and drove them away into the night. ** What kin it mean?’ Miss Hackett queried, again and again as she retraced her way. There was no plausible answer. CHAPTER XVIII. A FINAL BLOW, ‘*Tr will take a good deal of work to get things in as good shape as they are down yon- der! One of the old smiles, which it was pleasur- able to see, lit up the bronzed features of the cattle baron. He was sitting in his saddle, or rather half out of it, for one massive leg was thrust straight downward into the stirrup, while the cther was crossed lazily over the seat. The expression had been called forth by a survey of the new location at Pinone Creek. Almost a week had elapsed since his interview with the ranch foreman, on the latter’s return from the expedition against the mustan stealers. Two installments from the great he had been driven to the new range, and prepara- tions were under way for bringing a third, At this particular moment Huntington was survey- ing the proposed site of his buildings, ‘*But we'll have things nicely fixed after a time; and as for range—we’ve got about the whole county.” The mere fact that miles lay between him and the cruel face of Irwiu seemed to revive his old elasticity and restore the former buoyancy of his laugh. ‘Hello! Somebody’s a-comin’,” said the cow- boy, to whom he was talking, nodding his, head toward where three or four horsemen had ap- peared from behind the mesquite. ‘'Some of our new neighbors comin’ to scrape up an ac- | “Td take my ’davy that one of them is {rwin; and what he wants to go slidin’ ’round on bis own ranch likea thief in £ , = id x x : e ; or a x. ha dp AW Shey, ‘ a NM et ee eS “a ey 2 | yt 7 ’ ° s 5 Hunjington twisted about in his saddle and stared curiously in the direction indicated. Almost immediately a shade came over his face. One of the forms was familiar. Yes, there could be no mistaking that. The foremost of the riders was Charles Irwin. ‘* What does the scoundrel want down this way?” the cattle baron whispered. ‘I thought I bad got out of the line of his travels, Does he mean to pursue and hound me?” The cowboy now recognized the ranchman, and likewise evinced his surprise, but in words far different. There was another cowboy fur- ther down theslope; and he, seeing them staring into space in this curious fashion, came up to ascertain what it meant, Irwin’s party was close at hand by this time. Huntington disdained to return his bow as he came on; and even when he was quite near re- frained from looking at him, but glanced in- stead toward a bunch of cattle that were grazing far down the valley. Irwin was not pleased at this, and checked at words of greeting which had risen to his ips. ‘‘T haven’t much to say, Mr. Huntington,” drawing a paper from his pocket and opening it. ‘It will be short and sweet and to the point, As sheriff of Calaveras county, I have here a warrant for your arrest on the charge of cattle- stealing, and also for the arrest of the men With you. A fierce, angry light flashed into the eyes of the cattle baron, ** Hold on!” he cried, imperiously. ‘* You scoundrel! this is some vile scheme of yours, and I won’t listen to it. The absurdity of it! What! Giles Huntington!—who never’ knowingly wronged a man in his life?” He was choking and fuming with rage and astonishment, But Irwin, unheeding his fiery mood, calmly proceeded to read the paper. **T don’t suppose you caught all of that, Mr. Huntington—you arein such a sputter; but, if you will be kind enough to look the warrant over you will see that it’s correct in every detail, and issued by proper authority.” Huntington snatched the extended paper from Irwin’s band and scanned it hastily. ‘The sweat came outon his brow andadeep groan broke from his lips. ‘* Whose cattle are we said to have taken?’ he hoarsely questioned. ‘* Mine!” and the sheriff bowed sardonically. ‘* And the proofs are so plain, Mr. Huntington, even you can’t dispute them.” ‘* My God! what foul plot is this? I can’t un- derstand it. For myself I could bear anything —but my wife and daughter!” . His explosive mood had passed as quickly as it came, and he now looked white and helpless, ‘‘'You do it very well, Giles!” sneered the ranchman. ‘* You must have been practicing at theatricals, And your men seem to have been in similar training.” The latter were scowling blackly at him, and seemed half anxious for a fight. ‘*[’'m sorry to spoil such a neat little lay-out as you have here,” glancing over the wide- spreading valley. ‘lt is almosta pity. A bet- ter location couldn’t have been picked for the work in view,” **T don’t understand you,” Huntington assert- ed, with some show of his former feeling, “Oh, Lhad forgot that I didn’t fully expiain matters. You see it’s the general belief that you ran a few of your cattle up here to cover your stealing operations. I can’t see, though, why this additional disguise should have been deemed necessary. You were certainly succeed- ing very well, as it was. How many cattle and horses you have managed to run outof the coun- try in the last twelve months I suppose no one knows; but it must have been a good many, as every ranchman bas suffered more or less,” ““No more of that,” cried the cattle baron, wrought up to bis former ao of fury. ‘‘ Just another word, Irwin, and Plkdrop you in your tracks, I can stand a gocd deal, but not every- thing. You are making of yourself both judge and jury, and convicting me without a scintilla of evidence.” , Irwin quailed before the fire of his glance, ‘* What evidence have you? I asked you that a while ago and you evaded it.” " Irwin compressed his lips firmly and cautious- ly slipped his hand toward his revolver before replying, ~ ‘** You will doubtless find the evidence in your herds over there, if you'll only take the trouble to look. According to the best of my informa- tion the stolen cattle are there; and as I'll have to take them with me as part of the proof, Pll 6 : > ? ¥}. Cod ae > rant ~ rey eee aoe” is Simple Sim, the Broncho Buster. - NT ee ; * 7” e : ee De UPS. {4 —_— —— — ~*~. parole your cowboys and letthem go down there with my friends to drive them in.” There was nothing in this to which Hunting- ton could object, and besides he was anxious to see of what the proofs might consist, The fact that cattle from other ranges had drifted among his would amount to nothing, Such things were of common occurrence, The cattle, comprising nearly a thousand head, were scattered for several miles along the creek valley, and it was a work of hours to bunch them and drive them to the designated point. Irwin attempted to change the current of thought and discuss minor and trivial subjects. But the cattle baron maintained a moody re- serve; and finally the former rode to where the heavy ranch-wagon was standing and seated himself in its shade. When the united herds had been collected for inspection he remounted and with Huntington and the cowboys rode among them looking for the animals alleged to have been stolen. ‘* There!” he cried, triumphantly, pointing to a young steer. “If thatisn’t mine, then I don’t know my own cattle!” Each member of the party examined it critically. Apparently there could be no mis- take, Irwin’s brand was ‘*C I,” and Hunting- ton’s ‘‘GH.” Irwin’s brand bad been covered over and partially concealed by Huntington’s, The burns were fresh. It will readily be seen with what ease this transformation had been effected. The G of the Huntington brand exactly covered the C of the Irwin brand; and the first upright of the H had fallen on the I, There were a half-dozen of Irwin’s cattle whose brands bad been thus changed, and an equal number from various other ranges. On the latter the work was not so well done, the covered brands being visible almost at a glance, owing to the fact that they differed so widely from the new brands which had been placed over nem, Huntington was dumfounded at this mute evidence of his guilt. He could make no claim that the cattle were his or that the orands had not beeu changed, He bad no wish to make such a claim, “Tt looks black,” he confessed, facing the triumphant ranchman bravely. ‘But I swear before Heaven that I had no knowledge of this thing and am as innocent asa child. And you know it, Irwin, in your inmost heart!” But at such a time protestations were of no avail. The proofs were against him, and it seemed that nothing but his previous good record could serve him now, He knew he had been entangled in a cunning-laid trap; and it was very natural for him to believe that Irwin knew a great deal more of the matter than he professed. His anger burned hotly; but he managed to keep it in check, and said: ‘*There’s nothing for it, 1 suppose, but to go with you. You must give me time, though, to make some arrangements for the taking care of these cattle.” Irwin agreed to leave twoof his men there; and Huntington and his cowboys accompanied him without further words. CHAPTER XIX, THE GREAT TRIAL. THE arrests created a tremendous sensation. Without the aid of telegraphic or mail facilities the startling news spread from ranch to ranch seemingly on the wings of the wind, Noone had ever suspected Huntington, but the con- clusive character of the evidence forced convic- tion of his guilt. On the border no greater crimes are known than those with which He was charged; the rauchmen were sore Over their heavy losses and smarting to avenge them upon some one; and now thata victim was found they lost their heads and clamored for his life, and the lives of his abettors. , The trial was to be held before the Mexican Don, Porfiero Alcatraz by name, who had b some strange political jugglery been elevated to the position of judge of the new county of Cal- averas. Alcatraz was aman of fair intelligence, and had for years been an alcaldé in the coun- try of his birth, But if was pretty generally known that he had no great friendship for the cattle baron, and the belief was common that the latter would receive scant mercy at his bands, | On the great day Alcatraz sat in state in the - adobe court-room of the little county town of San Ildefonso, The sun was blazing hot, and the square, paved court about the building was. crowded with a jostling, sweltering throng, com- — posed of men of every rank and station, from the ' : s\; at bt SF hahey ‘ P ™ 4 ro Ps ; ' oe . , 4 i fee | pukasaae ely C ; _ \ | Cc —~ = ~ wet \ P om i | J é - o* pi. fo b ; por x a + pee ~ “ SGP, (> 'e Wa fx « e j hd d a ™~, A ' ~¢ at te = . f » ° ’ i* oe + sy * — . ‘ “se + “aa # a : Vvroa ; ~ . ase he ~ ate . Ve Y: