Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 702 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

Blue Jacket Bill. 13 success, and there were wounded men who wish- ed tu have.a few words of consolation from a rson. But that person had again mysteriously dis- appeared, At first it was thought by Senor Du Val that he had accompanied Redfern; but then he changed his mind after a peon had reported the condition of the parson’s room, He at once made an investigation to find that this time the parson had premeditated a de- parture, and a lengthy if not a permanent stay. He had taken everything with him except an extra Bible and a number of tracts. Then, too, the landlord claimed that Parson Freeze had frozen to his best horse, and had left some time before Redfern, while no one except the stabdleman had seen him depart for other pastures, So Landlord Du Val grew suspicious toward afternoon, for he, too, heard the rumors that Parson Freeze had drawn a revolver instead of a Bible, an ae ape fracas, and had also fired a shot, not in the defense of law and order, but which had been aimed at Redfern. So, late in the afternoon, Landlord Du Val re- turned to his own comfortable rooms and pen- ned the following note: “My Dear Reprern:— “Do you know that I believe that parson is a fraud of the greatest magnitude? “Taking all in all, his emotion when you asked him to cig St. John, his strange manner at the grave, his former mysterious disappearance, and t night his drawing a revolver during the row and Jiring at you, put all together, convinces me that the parson is living a double life. “I learn now that he left before you did, and he took with him all but his stock in trade, while he rode away the best horse I had in my stables, “T give this information for what it is worth, and send a scout upon his trail, while a messenger bears this to the fort to you. ‘The scout has orders to report to you there als», when he has fully gotten the direction which the parson took, ‘Fortunately my horse, which the parson rode, was shod only yesterday, and for mountain work, so his tracks can be readily followed by a good trailer, which the man I ‘aaay is. “Permit me to congratulate you upon beginning ig work well, and with regards to Lariat Dick be- eve me, . * Yours always, “Du Vax.” In the mean while Redfern and Lariat Dick had gone on toward the fort with their prisoner, upon whose wrists the youth had slipped a pair of handcuffs. : They had ridden on until dawn, and there camped for breakfast and rest; continuing their wer after several hours, t was after nightfall when they reached the fort, and went directly to the quarters of Colo- nel ‘Rockwood, where they were at once ad- mitted, Colonel Rockwood greeted the youth most warmly, saying in his pleasant way: T Knew you would come, Kedfern, at my call, He also welcomed Lariat Dick cordially and then gave a glance at the prisoner. Redfern understood the look and said: ‘‘T have to report my arrival, Colonel Rock- wood, and that of my comrade, Lariat Dick, and we are ready for ee sir. ‘‘ But, I wish also to deliver to you this pris- oner, whom I charge with being an outlaw of the Blue Jacket Band, and whose capture, I re- ret to say, caused several deaths at Devil's neh, for the miners wished to hang him then and there.” “Orderly, send a guard here for this pris- oner,” called out Colonel Rockwood, and when the Blue Jacket was removed, Redfern gave his reason for having arrested the man, ‘* | saw him cheating two of my mon, sir, and as his shirt collar was unfastened, I caught a glimpse of the secret sign of the Blue Jackets, so determined to arrest bim, and I only regret that there was fatality attending my doing so, “ But, Colonel Roekwood, I have anotber story for you to hear, and Lariat Dick here will tell ie to you, So as to explain my report of hav- ing seen Blue Jacekt Bill banged. riat Dick then told his story, and the col- Onel was greatly surprised, but was glad to know that the settler had escaped, and congrat- ulated the young miner upon his good work, Then Redfern said: _ “Colonel Rockwood, I hope I am not’ mak- ing another mistake in wrongfully accusing an innocent man! but 1 believe that a parson now at Devil’s Ranch is not all that he represents himself to be, for in the unpleasantness that fol- lowed my capture of the Blue Jacket in the gambling hall, I certainly saw him aim a revol- ver at me and pull trigger, but another got the bullet, and I concluded, as the fight ended in about fifteen seconds, to pretend I did not see it. ** Now I wish to start upon the track of that parson, and something tells me I will not go upon a fruitless errand,” f ‘I leave the whole matter in your hands, Redfern, and congratulate you upon having so able an ally as your friend bere, ‘Hunt down the Blue Jackets in your way, and when their chief is again caught, make no mistake in your man,” said Colonel Rockwood, CHAPTER XXVI. ON THE TRAIL OF THE SERPENT, THE next morning, after the arrival of Red- fern at the fort, the messenger came from Senor Du Val, and the youth carried the landlord’s letter at once to the colonel, who remarked: “You were on the right trail, Redfern, about that parson, as you always are—except when you hanged the wrong man up in Colo- rado,” added the commandant, with a sly wink at the youth. ‘*T am glad he was not hanged beyond recall, sir; but when this scout arrives which Senor Du Val wisely put upon the trail of the parson, I shall know Just what todo, for now I believe the man is Blue Jacket Bill himself,” **Do you really think so?” “wee, ie” **T had Lot thought of that.” ‘* [know that be is about tke height and size of Blue Jacket Bill.” ** Yes?’ ‘*But he is very round-shouldered, though that could be put on, sir, you know, under his coat.” “True,” ‘* His hair is cut short, his beard close-shavon, while Blue Jacket wears long hair and beard, which to remove would almost disguise him,” ‘* Very true,” ‘‘There is one thing which would betray him,” ** What is that?” ‘* He has one blue, and one black eye.” ‘The parson?” ** No, sir, Blue Jacket Bill.” ** And the parson?” ‘* Wore glasses with a bluish glass, pretending tosuffer with his eyes,” ss Ah!” “That would hide the color of his eyes, sir, anil I remember that the lenses of the spectacles were very large, and the frames large and fit- close under the brow and to the cheek.” ‘* He may be your man, Redfern,” “If heis, sir, then he is also the foe of Settler Baxter, Lariat Dick’s friend, and more, he is the Devil’s Ranch gambler who took the name of Trent Baxter, the Sharp from Texas as well, and in him I wili find the murderer of Miner Gray St. John.” ‘‘Do you believe it?” ‘* Yes, sir, such is my idea, and he not only murdered the miner for his money, but from a long standing revenge, for the man, I. believe, was Miner Gray’s boyhood foe and rival Hugh Hammond, ‘* If so, he means harm to the miner’s wife and daughter, and I shall see that he does not carry out his plot of wrong.” ‘*T declare, Redfern, you are a natural born detective and scout and I am led by your view of the case to place confidence in all you say.” “Itis my own idea, sir,and may be wrong; but if I am right, then our man is none other than Blue Jacket Bill as well.” The orderly now entered with a report that ascout had arrived at the fort and wished to see Mr. Redfern. ‘* Admit him here, orderly,” said the colonel, with a glance at Redfern. Soon after Du Val’s scout entered and after saluting the colonel said: “Senor Du Val sent me, Pard Redfern, to track that old Sky Pilot Freeze, and then report to you.” ‘* Yes, and you have done so?” ‘Yes, pard, [ picked up his tracks on the Blanco stage trail, and followed him to Blue Jacket Toll-Gate,” ce Ab {” ‘*He pushed hard for the place too, as his tracks showed, but halted there for rest and fooled around on foot for some purpose I could not make out, . ‘* But it was night when he was there.” “Well?” “Then he lit out over the ridge, leaving the | —————. sage trail and making for the northwest coack trails, ‘**Soon as I got bis direction, and seen that he was dodging open trails, I came to report to you. ** You have done well, pard.” ‘“‘And here is the four mates to the shoes put on Landlord Du Val’s borse, which the old sky pilot got away with for sure.” He handed over the four iron shoes, which Dw Val had told him to take, as they were made especially for the horse taken by Parson Freeze, and after Leing complimented by Colonel Rock- wood on his quick and valuable work, he went. out to the scout’s quarters, ‘* Well, colonel, it looks as though I was right,” said Redfern. ** More so than ever. ‘** When do you start?” ‘*As soon as it is dark, sir, and I shall go at once to Blue Jacket .Toll-Gate and camp until morning.” ‘* And Lariat Dick goes with you?” ** Yes, sir.” “Then I predict for you success, Redfern,” was the emphatic response of Colonel Rock- wood, As soonas it was dark two men rode away from the fort. They were Redfern and Lariat Dick, and they carried a led horse with them, as though their jaunt was to be a long one. They reached Blue Jacket Toll-Gate before midnight, and after looking to the comfort of their horses, sought rest. With the first peep of dawn they were up and searching for the parson’s trail. Two such trailers were not long in finding it, where Du Val’s scout bad said it branched off from the stage trail, and they started just thirty- six hours behind the fugitive parson. The wisdom of bringing an extra horse was soon evident, for one could always be rested from carrying the weight of a rider, and then better animals were hard to find, They did not spare their horses, but took bet- ter care to husband their strength than had the arson to save the animal he rode, and the traib helie a well-marked one, they followed without much delay, for Redfern soon got an idea just where the fugitive intended to strike for. But trailing was slower work than going di- rectly on one’s way, and they reached the stage station just forty-eight hours behind the parson. They learned of bis going east by coach, almost immediately after bis arrival at the sta- tion, and the description of the man and horse which Redfern recognized, left no room to doubt. that they were upon the right track. But the coaches on that branch only ran once cteens so they were delaayed for five days there, Then leaving their horses in charge of the sta~ tion agent, and Redfern purchasing Du Val’s horse also, they took the coach eastward with tbe same driver who had taken the parson. And so the trailing of the serpent was con- tinued, slowly but surely. CHAPTER XXVII. IN THE COIL OF THE SERPENT. Ir was just the kind of home where happiness should dwell, the cottage where the wife and daughter of Miner Gray St. John had found a refuge. Mrs. St. John, a beautiful, but sad-faced wom- an of thirty-six, had bad ber share of grief and hardships, for her life had known many sorrows. Her boy hero, Gray St. John, had become ber husband when the two were hardly more than children, for she was but sixteen, he not twenty- one at the timethey were married, She bad seen Gray St. John shot down by his rival, Hugb Hammond, and had nursed her lover back to life after long months of suffering. Through poverty in their married life they had struggled, until at last, with their daughter Ethel growing ip years, the father decided to try bis fortunes in the gold-mines of the far West. At firstit was only disappointment. Then came a letter full of hope, followed by a remittance, and life took on a rosy hue. The letters and the drafts came regularly, and the mother and daughter each had a bank ac- count building rapidly into a fortune, They gave up the little rooms where they had kept house in Baltimore, and purchased the pretty cottage in the suburbs of the city, with its garden patch, flower plot, lawn, shade-trees, and comforts, It was neatly furnished, and the mother and daughter at last knew what it was to live in lux- ury. com (Ss era cpoo ‘SAS?