Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 743 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

‘You are sure?” Buck Taylor’s Boys. ‘‘Then I pointed out to Merton my parson, ‘‘T know him but too well, Captain Ruth, for | and we took a good look at him, he killed my brother years ago,’”’ was the re- sponse, and Ruth said to herself: ‘¢T followed the wrong horseman.” CHAPTER XXIII. IN DISGUISE. THE thought that the old man who had been ber guest, had reminded her of Dick Drummond, and that following bim she bad actually crossed the path of the.real man whom she sought, puz- zled Ruth considerably. She could not understand just how it was, and sending the men in to have breakfust at the ranch, she paced up and down the piazza tw col- lect her thoughts and become more calm. ‘“‘Tf only I had followed that other trail,” she said over and over again to berself, At last the two men came out, more than pleased with the breakfast Nannie had given them, and pointing to chairs upon the piazza, Ruth said: ‘‘Sit down, for 1 wish to ask you some ques- tions,” They obeyed and she went on: *¢ You followed the trail as I told you?” ‘‘ Yes, miss,” ** And where did it lead?” ‘*To Mustang Center, Miss.” ** Weli, tell me about it,” ‘* We went along for several miles, miss, when we saw that the trail was going to Mustang Cen- ter, so, as I knew the short cut across the Buffalo Ford, I told Merton to keep on after his} man, while I headed him off and from some ambush got a look at him. ; ‘‘ So Merton followed on the trail, while I cut across by Buffalo Ford, ‘‘T reached the ford, staked my horse out down the stream, and got into a position among the rocks and timbers where I could see distinct- ly any one crossing. ‘*T had not been there ten minutes when my man came in sight, **To my surprise I saw the old man who was your guest night before last, miss, and whom you supposed you were trailing.” ‘‘ Impossible! for we found our man, and he was not in disguise as I expected him to be.” _ ‘“ Well, Captain Ruth, the man who came in sight was the very old man I saw here, only he rode a different horse.” ** You amaze me, Carl,” ‘‘T’ll amaze you more, miss, when you hear what I have to tell you.” ‘** Go on,” ‘*He halted by tho ford, dismounted, and hitched his horse, ‘“‘Then he took off the saddle-bags from his saddle and went to a rock jutting out in the water, ‘‘T could see him distinctly, and opening the saddle-bags he took out a suit of black clothing like a parson’s, a black hat, pair of spectacles and a wig of straight black bair. ** He Te cod them upon the rock and then be- gan to disrobe from the well-worn suit that he wore, ** Then he took off a Jong gray beard and wig, and the face of Dick Drummond was revealed, only his black mustache was shaven off, and his long black hair cut close.” ‘¢ Can this be possible?” ‘“‘] cannot mistake that man, Miss Ruth, for he killed my brother, Joe Winter, and wounded me at the same time, though Joe was in the wrong to bring on a fight as he did, I admit.” ‘*Tt was then Dick Drummond?” “*1it was beyond all doubt, and I was greatly tempted to kill him then and there, but resisted as I did not know how you would feel about it.” ** Do not kili him, for he must be taken alive,” Ruth said, Theo she added: ** Tell me more,” ** He washed his face well with soap, taking off cvr'tain stained lines to indicate age, and the darker hue of the skin, “Then he proceeded to shave, with a razor and glass he took from the saddle-bags, after which he put on his clerical suit, black hat, white tie and glasses, and no one would have ever recognized Devil Dick in the man he then appeared to be, ) ** He stowed away in the saddle-bags all his other traps, thén mounted his horse and rode away carrying bis revolvers under his coat-tails out of sight.” ** And then?” ‘I waited until Merton came along, told him what I hud seen, and we rode in together to Mustang Center, getting there just at dark. ‘*Merton went up and hada talk with him: and said he told him he was an itinerant gospel- peddler, going from place to place making miners turn from their evil way.’ ‘‘The villain,” hissed Ruth, while Merton said: ‘* He offered to pray with me, but I told him I had already been converted by Bible Bill, and after we got supper at the tavern, Carl and me lit out for home, as we had no orders to do any- thing else, Captain Ruth, and Parson Devil Dick told me he intended to stop in Mustang Center for several days,” ** Ab! he said that did he?” ‘*' Yes, miss,” ‘* Then go to the camps and get what rest you can, for after dinner I wish you to return with me to Mustang Center, and tell Bible Bill I desire him to go also, and to take four men with him; but how do you account for this man and the one I followed meeting?” ‘*T believe they were pards, Captain Ruth, and thatit was Devil Dick who came here to the ranch, ‘* When they met on the prairie they changed horses, and you followed the wrong man; but was your man hump-backed too?’ ‘** Yes, and it was real,” ** And Devil Dick, 1 forgot to say, took off his hump; he copied the man whom you overtook in his make-up, that is certain,” ‘Well, we start on Devil Dick’s trail to-day,” said Ruth firmly. CHAPTER XXIV, THE HERMIT. ‘*Parp, I want ter speak ter yer!” The speaker was bebind a rock, glancing over the sigbts of a rifle, and he aimed full at the heart of the one be addressed, The latter was a borseman, and he had just dismounted to go into camp fer the night. It was Devil Dick, and it was the second day after his visit to the ruined camp of the Co- manches over whom he had been a ruler, He was so fairly caught by the one who coy- ered bim with his rifle, that he made not the slightest show of resistance, ,— To have done so would have simply sealed his ate, So he glanced at the head over the rock, and answered coolly: ‘Well, pard, what have you to say?” ** You be Devil Dick, I take it?” ‘** Well, what if I am?” ‘* We have met before.” ‘*T cannot see you in your hiding-place, so cannot say.” ~ We has, and | owes you a debt of grati- e. “* Indeed?” ‘*T does.” ‘‘And repay it by covering me with your rifle,” ‘‘ Well, yer see I are a very particular man.” és I see,” ‘‘Had you seen me afore I did you, why I might have got a bullit, fer yer see I knows you is a man as carries his life in his hand,” ** Well?” ‘* As I wanted ter be safe I concluded to cover You with my gun, and when I were in no danger we ¢c’u’d talk it over.” “Talk what over?” ‘* Say it’s peace atween us, and 1 puvs down my gun,” ** So be it.” The man from behind the rock disappeared, and a moment after came into view near the desperado, . If he saw that meanwhile the renegade had gotten his revolver in hand he paid no attention to it, but said: ‘* My little camp hain’t far from here, so come along and put up thar for ther night, for all I has yer is welcome to.” **I know you now,” and the renegade put his revolver in bis belt again and held out his hand, ‘** You are Red Hand, the Hermit,” “Yes, and I mind one time when a party of young Comanche bucks brought me a prisoner into their village, you set me free, and I never forget a favor or an injury.” ‘* Nor do = but what are you doing here?” *T told you my camp was near by, and you are welcome.” He led the way, the renegade following with his horse, and after a walk ot a mile they came to a log cabin situated upon the spur of a moun- tain, Beneath it was a valley where several horses yes Sa ie RTA Aor ay Pes - 7 int i Atel “ 3 4 ~ > Ved bes . — io tae “oe 1l were staked out, and a couple of large dogs lay before the door of the cabin, ‘“* Yes, sir, the Injuns calls this Great Spirit Valley, and none of ’em ever comes here, while white men is too scared of meetin’ Comanches here ter hunt ’round much, so 1 gits let alone and lives here pretty quiet,” ** ‘What do you do?” ‘*T traps, hunt, fish, eat and sleep.” ‘You must enjoy life.” ‘** ] does, for 1t is better ter live here in solitude than go to ther settlements and git hanged, for L guesses l’m something like you.’ *t How is that?” ‘* Can’t live among my fellow-men in peace. ‘Yer see I am deformed, and this hump on my back causes men ter make fun of me, and the man that does do it I kill—see?” sé Yes,” ‘¢7)] tell you that once I was rich, and, I re- ceived a college education; but I was imbittered with the world on account of my hideous de- formity. ‘* But I had a heart and loved a young girl. ‘‘T believed that she loved me, understand, strange as it was, and we were to be married, she was to be mistress of my elegant home. ‘* But reverses came, for my guardian squan- dered my fortune and out of the wreck | got just one thousand dollars. ‘** Then the woman I loved laughed at me and told me she could have put up with a hump- backed husband who was rich, but poor he would be as a nightmare to her, ‘* Well, I killed her—see? ‘That sent mea fugitive from the law and I hid myself in Mexico. ‘‘ Men derided me, and I kept my hand busy taking life—see?” * Yes, I see.” ‘* Well, I was forced to hide, so came bere, and I have been here ever since. ‘*Your bucks found me and took me to your vileg®, for you are a renegade, I take it?” ce am,” ‘Well, you see my home, and you are wel- come here, Chief Ka-noon-ka,” The renegade had listened with deep interest to the strange story of the man, and said when he ceased speaking: ‘‘l am not Chief Ka-noon-ka now, for the Comanche village was destroyed, and I led a band of warriors in ok ine of some white captives, and we were ambushed and almost destroyed, so I lost my hold upou the Indians,” ‘ And what will you do now?” ‘¢ Like you I am a fugitive,” “Yes, 1 guessed that by your turning rene gade.” ‘* But I have two things to live for.” ** W hat are they?” ‘*Gold and revenge.” ‘*Good! so have I, and I believe together we can make gold, and whenever I kill a man I satiate my revenge against mankind! See?” ‘* Well, we will talk it over, and see what we can do together; bat my plan is to turn road- agent and raider.” ‘‘ There’s money in both; but you need men.” ‘¢ And I know where to get them,” ‘*Good! [ am with you, /my friend, in all devillry we can concoct together,” and the hump-backed hermit laughed viciously. CHAPTER XXYV, A COMPACT OF CRIME, Drevin Dick was perfectly delighted at meot- ing the deformed man, wbo had so boldly con- fessed to him the crimes of his life, In the Great Spirit Valley be would have nothing to fear from a prowling band of red- skins, and he well knew that onl) a large jorce of soldiers would dare penetrate that far into the Comanche country. The hermit was a man to enjoy his comfort, as was soon evident, His larder was well stocked with game, and half a dozen sides of bacon were hung up there, too, Then over in a little bit of rich ground which he bad fenced in, be had planted a eye and potatoes, turnips onions and beets he had laid aside in plentiful supplies, A bag of bard-tack and another of crackers, with flour and meal showed that he had some means Of procuring supplies, and it caused the renegade to ask: ‘* How do you get supplies, pard?” ‘* Well, you see I go over to the stage trail and the driver is a nat o’ mine, as | pay him well, so Il give him a bundle of pelts and every twe , ar