Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 718 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

- ioe: Light-Heart Lute’s Last’ Trail. not—waal, I’m too big a hog to let you hev all | own life, first of all! Bid them stand back, and the fun, pardner!” The younger adventurer dared lose no more time in trying to win a better concession, He could see the athletic figure of Tiger Trick McAllister before his own bar, seemingly giving the keeper some instructions. Fearful lest his rize should escape him, after all, Light-beart late slouched his soft felt hat further over his eyes, then hastened forward, boldly crossing the threshold. He had never before been at the Half-Way House, but he knew about what to expect, and as his eyes gave one rapid glance around, he found his expectations fairly well met. The ground floor contained but one room, large, and devoid of any pretense at comfort or style. One-half was devoted to the bar, while strong tables and benches, all bolted securely to the floor, marked the section given over to Samoling. In one corner stood a faro lay-out, ut this was less often in use than might have been expected, considering the fact that Tiger Trick was a gambler, born and bred. Like the majority of his henchmen and customers, McAl- lister preferred short cards, and even at this early hour several of the small tables were in use by (eorh aye geyo In all, nearly a dozen men occupied that large room, but after that one swift glance, Lute con- fined his attention solely to the proprietor of the Half-Way House, ‘** Evenin’, pard!” be cried, in a husky toue, as he paused in front of McAllister, who turned swiftly at the first sound of his footfalls. ‘* Hev a nail ‘long o’ me?” ‘*lt’s my fault, of course, but some part of you’s grown clean out o’ my memory, stranger,” said Tiger Trick, slightly shifting his position as he spoke, turning his left side toward tke black- bearded fellow, thus guarding his pistol-band. ‘* That’s all right, pardner!” laughed Larri- mer, tossing a yellow coin upon the bar as he added: ‘**My name’s cash, an’ ef yours hain’t Bourbon’straight, then you want to take in your sign! Sling out the p’izen, Johnny-bebind-the- bar! Fer I’m on it bigger’n a wolf, to-night!” It was a good imitation, but Lute was using his eyes as well as his tongue, and he saw that Tiger Trick was Badk more suspicious than ever, although he knew his disguise bad not yet been fully penetrated. Still, delay might prove fatal to his hopes, and as he gave a clumsy cavort, he managed to lock McAllister’s right arm with his left, at the same time pressing the muzzle of a big-caliber derringer firmly against the desperado’s side, thus leaving his own right pend free to deal with the gang in case of need, “Give a sign, and I put a tupnel clean through you!” he whispered, fiercely, through his beard. ‘‘ Play to the tune I set, and you’re all right. I’ve backing at the door, and you’re covered from top to toe!” ‘*What do you want of me?” muttered the desperado, standing without sign or motion, his fiercely glittering eyes fixec upon that masked face. ‘If my men droptoyour littlegame— J knew it !” i Whether he made some covert signal, or whether their suspicions had been awakened by those movements alone, certain it was that .the men playing cards were starting to their feet and beginning to handle their weapons in an ugly manner, ** Hold ’em back, or you die in your tracks!” grated Larrimer, his free hand gripping a ready revolver. ‘‘ What’s wrong, boss? Shell we mount the durn’ critter?” ** Choke ’em back I say !” ** Steady, boys!” called out their leader, but his voice was almost drowned by a shrill cry from the barkeeper, who caught sight of the weapon pressed above the heart of his employer. ** It’s a sheriff, boys! He’s got the boss foul!” An ugly roar burst from the gang, but louder, é ‘fiercer still came a mighty roar from ‘the lungs of Poley Applejohn, who stood at the threshold, covering the startled gang with a brace of re- volvers. **Stiddy, you!” he rumbled, sternly. ‘“ Til drap all who lifts a finger to mix in this pie! Sti dy When I burn powder, I shoot to kill!” * The big devil!” hoarsely muttered McAllis- ter, as his men, taken so completely by surprise, stood irresolute. ‘‘ Then you are—” oy Light-heart-Lute, the Lad of Luck!” cfied, Larrimer, sharply. ‘‘ l’ve come to pay you that visit, Tiger Trick, but if the cold meat follows, you'll be to blame,” | ** What do you want of me?” “Bid your men stand back, first. Do it, J ‘pay Ff’ with cold ferocity. ‘‘It’s to save your / idle!” , It was a terribly bitter pill to swallow, but Tiger Trick knew that to disobey meant death, and he loved life too well to relinquish his last chance too easily, ** Stand back, boys,” hesaid, boarsely. ‘‘ Time enough to act when I give the word. Now— what is it, Larrimer |!” ‘* Business, from the word go, McAllister! I want a little talk with you, and—” **Spit it out, then. Talk about what?’ ‘Don’t vou try to rush the procession, Trick,” Jaughad Larrimer, though thoroughly on guard the while, ‘‘Too many keen ears and curious eyes in here. You must step outside, where—” ‘* Must?” echoed the desperado, with the ghost of a sneer on face and in voice. ‘** Tf you care for life, must it is!” came the re- sponse. ‘‘I know your gang, can down me if they try it on, but you’ll past crowing over their victory, I'll drill you, first of all!” “*Stiddy, critters!” rumbled Applejohn. ‘* Fetch him, parduer.” ‘1s an arrest, then? What for?’ ‘It’s not an arrest. I have a message for you. I swear to let you come back, safe and sound as you are this minute; if you play as white on your side. Now—come /” Tiger Trick knew the alternative, for one far less keen than he could not mistake what those given eyes said. To refuse meant certain death. To comply might mean both escape and revenge. . ‘“T}] take your word, Larrimer. Lead the way, please.” ‘Arm in arm looks more sociable, Trick,” smiled Lute, then adding, for the benefit of the gang in general: ‘* You understand, lads: cAllister is going with us, of his own accord. We don’t care for followers, and the first man who dares cross that doorstep before your boss comes back, is good as a dead man,” “The fu’st an’ the last, with every dug-gunu critter atwixt the two, ye want to mind!” sup- plemented the giant, across his leveled pistols, ** Add your mite, McAllister,” whispered Lar- rimer, pressing that hard muzzle closer to the breast of his enforced companion, ‘‘It makes all the difference between life and death—for you,” ‘* Don’t try to chip in, men, unless you hear me call, or catch a shot,” growled the desperado, with difficulty smothering his vicious rage at being forced into snch a pipawaeti position. ‘*Tf I don’t come back, you'll know who to look up: Poley Applejohn ard Lute Larrimer.” ‘¢ An’ Poley’ll be right out hyar, in short pis- tol-range, ye want to hold fust into the mem’ry of ye all,” nodded the giant, as he permitted the strangely-linked couple to pass him by, vanish- ing from sight of all inside the building. ‘* Let the critter most hungry fer a blue pill come out fu’st. So-long, critters! Call, ef ye want me fer anythin’!’ : He stepped backward, passing from their sight, then bastening along to overtake his chum and their prize. Even yet he hardly dared hope for success, without a fight; and bis weapons were held ready. to foil any crooked movement on the part of Tiger Trick, But McAllister made no attempt to give trou- ble or escape. Knowing that his own death must dertainly follow, he preferred to wait un- til these bold adveaturers saw fit to fully expose their hands, ‘*T’ve come after the papers Huck Shaw left in your care, McAllister,” said Lute, after a brisk walk. ‘‘T’'m sorry, but you’re too lute, old fellow!” CHAPTER IV. THE CASE GROWS COMPLICATED. ‘WHAT do you mean by too late?” ‘Just what too late always means,” was the rompt response, ‘' That you have called too ate; that another fellow’s pulled the plum ahead of your coming, Larrimer!” ‘* Business comes fu’st, both o’ ye!” warned the giant, lightly closing his left hand upon the neck of the desperado from behind, at the same time touching his skull with the muzzle of a revolver. ‘‘ Draw his teeth, pardner, afore ye talk. It’s heap sight the safeter, I reckon!” ‘You agreed to—” **Turn you loose, safe and sound, provided you played white,” interrupted Light-heart, at the same time disarming their prisoner, ‘* So we will, and as the surest safeguard against your yielding to temptation, out come your teeth !’ ‘*Two against dhe, yet you—all right!” with a reckless laugh, bis tense muscles relaxing, as f eS eeooo ‘‘7T will make the odds a little more even, I reckon, Don’t overlook the penknife in my left-hand pocket, 1 beg of you, gentlemen!” But, neither of his present captors were men to be disturbed by chaff or ridicule, They knew his nature, and having an important end to gain, they took the surest method of {‘ getting there ” without serious trouble, Poley Applejohn held Tiger Trick motionless, while Lute deprived him of all weapons, secur- ing them on his own person for the present, then saying: ‘You shall have them all back at the right moment, McAllister. It’s more for your own alee than ours that we’re taking so much trou- e. ‘“You’re almust too kind to live, gents!” mockingly. | ‘Button up, critter!” growled the giant, shifting his grip from neck to arm, then forc- ing tne desperado onward in the direction of the now distant hills, ‘Save your wind ag’inst the time we want ye to chin.” ‘‘ Better let me talk while I’m in the humor. There’s a spice of the mule in my composition, you want to understand, and when I’m told to go, I most generally feel like don’t-have-to!” Light-heart Lute had been looking back in the direction of the Half-Way House, bending his head in listening. There were no suspicious sounds to be heard, and nothing to be seen that indicated pursuit in the face of those repeated warnings. And satisfied on that point, he turn- ed again to his captive, speaking curtly: rs TT only be a few rods further for you to walk back, McAliister, so we'll make the hills before talking further. You’ve begun all right enough: keep up the same lick, and you'll soon be back home, helping your gang laugh over this MDa soll out th hty cheap, if I sell out the prospect mighty cheap, 1 could find any one fool enough to make a bid,” laughed the fellow, harshly. ‘‘ I wouldn’t care so much if only we three knew of it, though that would be bad enough. But—to be roped ip before the whole gang!’ ; ‘¢ You're boss. Show yer teeth to em, Tiger.” ‘‘ And flesh ’em, too!” grimly snapped the tough. Nothing more was said until the trio gained the spot where the two chums had lain in hiding, watching the enemy’s camp and waiting for the cover of darkness under which to make their approach, rom here they could rae, locate the little settlement by the dim glow of* lights, The val- ley lay under the light of the,rising moon, but the keenest scrutiny failed to discover any mov- ing figures, and no sounds of excitement. came floating across the valley. : “New, McAllister,” said Lute, turning to his prisoner and speaking quietly: ‘‘ I'll repeat what I said down yonder: I’ve come after the pers, or, rather, the little green-covered note~ book whick Huck Shaw left in your charge some three or four months ago,” ‘Where is Huck Shaw?” asked the Tiger. _ “That don’t count. If you doubt my authori- ty, I'll strike a light and show you his signature to an order for the book. Shall I?” “ Well, I’m not insisting, Of course you wouldn’t lie about it. ‘And the belief in your robity led me to ask the question: where is uck Shaw?” ‘*T fail to see the connection.” ** Well, I'll explain, Huck and I have had more than one argument in our time, over the existence or non-existence of a literal hell, I held there was snch a place, but Shaw held differently, Now—he’s found out all about it, and J’d like to bear your opinion,” “Then you think he’s dead?” ‘Why not say know it?” ‘Who told you so much?’ ‘Well, my common sense, for one thing. I know what a foolish value Huck placed on that little book, with its wild ravings about a crater of gold, and such fool’ truck, I know that he’d never part with it for good, unless dead. So— you see?” ‘Then you haven’t seen—never miad,” and Larrimer choked back the name which was al- most ie his lips. ‘* We set out to talk about the book Huck Shaw left in yourcare. I’m here to claim that property, To gain it, I was will- ing torun the risk of bearding tbe lion in his den, so to speak, By that youcan guess how set [am on securing the property, So—where is it, McAllister?” _ ‘““ Wish I knew, but I don’t,” ‘“ What do you mean by that? Don’t pla with fire! J’m not anxious to put out your light, but if { have to, I can do even tt at!” ‘I'm giving you straight goods, Larrimer, I ; i ‘ ‘ J ' / : See Dh es A Oe —s } — a an m