Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 718 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

a EY Ee Gee STS TT lek, Egg ——— ~ - Ve - } a _ eat g. PP. < — — ~~ 26 Gee — Jangh. <ton't know where the book is now, but I can tell you where I saw it last.” ‘¢ Where?” ‘‘In the hands of a fellow named Miguel Passadena, or Arizona Mike, as the boys call him, for short,” ‘* Pvesce’d the critter,” asserted the giant. ‘‘ He was at Happy Valley somethin’ like ten months sence. Thar was a gal with him.” ‘* His daughter, Zelda,” explained Tiger Trick, **~ reckon she’s with him now, for the old rascal, tough as he is, cherishes her like the apple of his eye. And she’s a regular jo-dandy for looks, too!” . ‘‘ Never mind the girl. How did he get hold of that book?” ‘* Well, Pll treat you just as white as you’re treating me, Larrimer. I lost it to Mike one night at poker.” Yet Huck Shaw valued it so highly? And he left it in your care, an object of trust? Was that white, McAllister?” ‘‘ Wait a bit, pardner! Don’t kick.a poor fellow mighty hard. I knew Huck Shaw valued the book highly, but I also knew that all his dreams of a real crater of gold were just as wild and visionary as those of the poor crack- brain who first put them upon paper.” ‘* Who was that?” ‘“Cranky Jordan, that?” ‘* Yes, but I wanted to see how near the truth you were sailing.” ‘*Wbhy should [ lie about it? I’ve got the worst of this deal, but one game don’t break a wise player. My turn may come, one day, Then, too, ’m getting over my mail fit. If lI could have done you dirt at the send-off, [1 never stopped to think twice, As it is, I’m working for my liberty. See?” ‘If you deserve ityyou shall have it, be sure. You say you lost this book to Arizona Mike at poker?’ I wonder that Huck Shaw didn’t tell Didn’t Shaw tell you “* Yes, - you about the fellow, for Passadena has been even more crazy over tbe crater of gold than Huck, which was needless! I know he offered Shaw a moderate fortune for the book, before Huck struck off up-country, a few months ago. { told’ Huck it was a case of two monstrous fools meeting, but he wouldn’t have it that ey Then—well, I was playing in terrible hard luck, that night, and when Mike came at me witha big bet against the worthless book, I just swal- lowed my scruples, and Jet her went!” ‘* Passadena won, then?’ ‘ ‘Right off the reel! Id tried skill and science, botb, but they were no good, Mike both outheld and out-cheated me, I reckon. Anyway, [ trusted it all to pure luck, and we had a hand dealt us at stud poker, I held aces to his kings in the four cards faced, and reckoned all that was left was crowing for luck. If Mike didn’t face another king my down eard, while I caught a measly trey, hope may die!” Larrimer remained silent for a few moments, after this, He was both watching and listening keenly, and he knew that Trick McAllister was speaking the plain truth, just now, at least. No man could counterfeit such supreme dis- gust, ** Arizona Mike placel a high value oh the book, then?’ pay ‘* Or its contents: he just did. Why, don’t you know, the fool was in sober earnest when he romised mea mule-load of gold, when he found is crater! He did, for a fact!” ‘Then you reckon he’s gone to bunt for it?” “‘T don’t think; I just know it! He hired a little gang of tough nuts on a certainty—regular wages, you know, whether they found anything or not, so certain was he of striking it rich!” ‘Of course you looked into the book, more than once?” ‘Not a look! I’d Beard entirely too much about it for that, knew Cranky Jordan _ before he petered out, and be coull talk of ' nothing else bat the crater of gold, out of which the thousands of grizzlies drove him and ate up - bis partner who--” ‘** Did you ever hear of that partner’s name?” slowly asked Lute. “TET did, it’s slipped the mind of me. Why? Was he anything to you?” asked the desperado, his curiosity glittering in his eyes. ‘*f brought you here to answer, not to ask questions, Have you any idea which way Passa- <lenawent in search of the golden crater?” “Only that his general course was to the morth west,” . ; ’ f ‘* Then the crater must lie in that direction?” _L wouldn’t swear to that,” with a short , ‘Arizona Mike is nobody’s focl. He said bis course lay up yonder, but he may have 4 “ oe » ' a EE | ‘ te a ’ i : é 4 > be i 4 ¥¢ 4 . eet. - « , . ad ss 4 waif * a _ so eur a eee eee rrr SSSEeeSeSeSeSeeSSSesSeSSsSeSSeSSFSl__lu_"ly’'m™y»’}?'”_.-.d ws Light-Heart Lute’s Last Trail. flung that out as a blind, in case any of us took a notion to follow him,” ‘** In case you wished to find him, what course wvuld you follow, then?” ‘* Well, ’d make sure by striking his trail. He showed his faith in the gold crater by tak- ing along a train of pack-mules, besides horses for his entire outfit, Thatought to make a trail to last for months in this dry weather. If you want to track him up, why—” ‘* You’d give me directions which your own gang could follow up even more readily, with you at their head, Tiger. Is that it?’ laughed the Lad of Luck. “ Why should I go toall that trouble? I never took any stock in those fool’ yarns, and I'd hardly begin at this late hour.” **Hew about playing even with us for this little trick?” ‘*1"l] match it, sooner or later, of course,” with a grim laugh, ‘‘ But if you’re fool enough to chase such a crazy ghost as that crater, Pu wait until you come back: if you are so lucky!” ‘**Don’t ye reckon it’s pritty nigh time fer to git down to business, lad?’ rumbled Poley, chipping 1n for the first time, ‘* You've fetch- ed out only a pack o’ lies, Give me leave to try ef Icain’t do better. He jest needs a bit 0’ prickin’ up, like this!” making a vicious move- ment with his bared blade before McAllister’s eyes, ‘* Easy, Poley,” sternly cried Larrimer. ‘‘ He’s told the truth,so far. Iknow somuch. Il’ve been watcbing him too closely for a lie to pass.” ‘*T'll kiss the book, if you’ve got a Bible handy, Larrimer!” raid Tiger Trick, with a low chuckle, Ligbt-heart Lute flung the cartridges out of the pistols, then handed McAllister his weapons, saying: ‘**'You know the road home, Trick. Good- night to you, old fellow!” ‘*'You really mean to let me go? Itisn’ta sell?” reanpanan asked the desperado, but ea- gerly grasping his weapons, all the same. ‘‘Didn’t I tell you I would, if you played white?” ‘Yes, but—” backing away until out of reach, then adding as he ran rapidly off through the night: ‘* Guard ye, Larrimer! Showy Joe and Roxy are both living, and they swear vengeance on your head!” CHAPTER V. TRICK MAKES A CALL. ‘* Hop up, Tiger!” called out the Lad of Luck, making, one swift leap in the direction taken by the fleeing desperado, then pausing in the clear moonlight, ‘‘Only a coward runs when he’s in no danger!” **7°l] run bim down in a braces 0’—” ‘Steady, pard!” and Larrimer caugbt, the giant by an arm as he would have started in hot pursuit, ‘‘ He’s loading up, and could drop you from cover like a mice! Let bim go. 1 don’s believe—” ‘Steady, on your side, Lucky!” came back a cry from the desperado, who had leaped from bright moonlight into cover at bis first opportu- pity. “Pve got lead enough to sink a dozen craft of your size, if you’re crazy enough to fol- low in my wake!” ‘‘Leave him to me, Poley,” muttered Larri- mer, as the big fellow gave an angry quiver at those fiercely mocking words, then calling aloud in response: ‘* That’s all right, McAllister. I knew what I was doing when I gave back your property. You're too badly scared to hit a flock of barns at ten feet.” ‘Step a foot anda half tothe right, if you want to test my nerves or eyesight, Lute Larri- mer! ‘* Call halt when I’m fixed to suit your taste, McAllister,” coolly spoke the Lad of Luck, mov- ing to the right, as directed, then facing the un- seen desperado, arms lightly folded across his chest, Poley Applejobn gave a muffled roar of angry consternation at this seemingly suicidal move, Taken by surprise he could not prevent its being made, but the next instant he leaped forth from cover, placing bis gigantic figure before bis be- loved chum, ‘*Chaw my meat fu’st, dug-gun ye, Tiger!” ** Well, you’re a dandy, big fellow!” cried Mc- Allister, promptly stepping forth from cover, a reloaded pistol gripped in bis rigbt band as he faced the chums, Applejobn apparently bad no ear for flattery, for bis armed hand was flying toa level for a spap-shot, when Larrimer gripped his wrist and turned the weapon aside, at the same time call- ing out: , ; ; ; ’ o . 4 : Phe i ‘ * 4 . . . - “Flag of truce, Tiger! Why can’t we finish our little talk?” ‘* Flag of truce goes, since you ask it,” laughed the desperado, boldly coming back, though still keeping bis pistol in readiness for use. ‘ I didn’t run because I was afraid, you mind, gents; just hoping you’d chase me, in fact. If. you had— well, ’ve burnt powder by moonlight before this! ‘** You’d have dropped us, then?’ ‘*Bet 1 would! And yet—I’m not so mighty sure, Larrimer,” his tone changing perceptibly. ‘“‘Tf | had dropped you, I'd bave felt sorry over it when [ came to think—honest!” ‘‘Which means — just what, McAllister?” smiled the Lad of Luck, ‘** That I like your grit, after all!” was the im- pulsive reply, as the desperado came still nearer, seemingly forgetting, possible peril in his sud- den conversion. ‘I couldn’t tell you so much, as long as you held me up. If I’d tried, you both would bave thought me playing the baby act. But now, with a loaded gun in my grip, l’m good as the best, let it be for talk or for fighting. And so I say—I like your grit, Lute Larrimer! You're heap sight too good a boy to be let go under in the dark, And that’s why I gave you the hint, a bit ago.” ‘* About Showy Joe Hoover and his wife?” slowly asked Larrimer. “Yes. I more’n half expected the big fellow to down me with a snap-shot, after all, and that’s why I shot the word back so quick. Maybe you won’t believe it, but I wanted your eyes open, even if mine were to be closed,” Despite that harsh, balf-defiant, half-apologetic tone, Light-heart Lute felt that the desperado was speaking the truth. It was bard for him to do so gracefully, but he really wished to do his recent captor a favor! ‘* And you really meant me to believe that, McAllister? Roxy’s all right, so far’s I know, but [ saw Showy Joe Hoover cash in his chips!’ ‘*’‘You saw him tumble into the drink, then?” ‘You know that much? Then you must have seen Roxy, sure!” ‘‘T’ve seen them both: Showy Joe as well as bis woman. I tell you, Larrimer;they’re both living, and they’ve both got it in for you, big! They’re wild for hair, and swear they’ll down you for keeps, if it takes a lifetime, They’ll do it, too, unless you’re smart enough to get in the first blow,” ‘* Where are they, now?” Tiger Trick gave a short laugh, shrugging his shoulders as he drew back a pace, even so soon seeming to regret his impulsive warning. ‘*Steady, my boy! That’s beyond the limit, I can’t sell a pal, you ought to know!” ‘‘ Are they down yonder?” persisted Lute, nodding toward the distant lights in the valley. **'You can tell by searching. The way’s open, follow it if you reckon the game’s worth the candle,” crisply uttered Tiger Trick, turning about and moving away from the two men. Poley Applejohn looked into tbe face of his chum, but Light-heart Lute silently shook his head. Tiger Trick never turned his head, but walked down the slope with as much seeming coolness as though parting from sworn friends instead of — open enenies. His face was just a trifle paler than ordinary, and a disagreeabje chill was crawling up and down his back the while. » “* He won’t do it,'but the big fell.w may!” kept passing through his brain, ‘The moon’s bright enough to make shooting sure. Larrimer’ isn’t that sort of man, but—is that big devil taking aim? Curse ye, man! shoot if you’re goin’ to!” | It was a test of nerve such as few men have ever been called on to endure, but Tiger Trick proved fully equal to the occasion, in outward seeming, at leash He never glanced back, never quickened his steps, never attempted to take ad- vantage of what cover offered itself. If death must the penalty, be would not show those men even a glimpse of the white feather. ‘““They made me kouckle before the gang, but they can’t do it out here, where they're two. to one. "T'was the surprise did the trick, Ye lie if ye say I was frightened! Shoot if you think that way! Shoot, and get it over with, ye devils!” ; Even when he had passed beyond sure pistol range of the spot where be hed last seen his captors, Trick McAllister could not believe he was to go scot-free, He felt almost positive that Poley Applejohn was stealthily following him, pistol in hand, playing with him much as _ a cat will toy with a helpless mouse, Surely they wouldn’t be foolish enough to let. him go free, after the bitter oaths he had sworn, after adding this last ugly debt to the black y q rf