Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 755 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 to Owing to the position of the moon in the heav- ens, the western balf of the beautiful pocket was now in dense shadow; but standing out clear and distinct in the yellow moonlight was the huge white cross spoken of, and Dan started as his gaze fell upon it, Back to his mind came that strange scene at the edge of the prairie motte in which the Brad- law party had lost their lives, and he half ex- pected to see Roving Ruth and her black riders lurking amid the shadows, Straight to the lone grave be rode, and there in black letters on the white body of the cross was the following: ‘‘In LOVING REMEMBRANCE OF JOHN BRADLAW, Kiiuep At GoLp GULCH, November 10, 187-, BY FLUSH FRANK, Tas Cross 1s ERECTED BY ROVING RUTH.” “Ah, it is more of that strange woman’s work!” exclaimed the detective, as he nervously gcanned the fading lines, ‘‘ Hers is a bitter history, and I would give much to know it.” His errand accomplished, he hastened back to the trail, and reported to Old Calamity, and then in renewed silence the march to Gold Gulch was resumed. It yet lacked two hours of daybreak when the camp was reached, The long, winding street seemed utterly deserted, but the horses were urged into a faster pace to avoid the risk of too close a scrutiny from the occupants of the two or three all-night resorts. The precaution was well taken, for half a dozen tipsy fellows, roused into a semblance of activity by the ringing boof-strokes of the four _ horses, lunged out into the street from one of the saloons, with a bellowed order for the night- riders to halt and give an account of them- selves. A mocking laugh from Gold-Dust Dan was the only response, and a mament later the little cavalcade was safely beyond the confines of the Gulch, dashing away toward the distant camp of the Regulators. At a point about four miles north of Gold Gulch, the party abruptly quitted the trail, en- tering a narrow gorge leading off to the west, and a mile further on halted in response to a sharp challenge. | As they drew rein, a'man emerged from the bushes ahead, and approached with quick, rest- jess strides. ‘‘Tt’s all right, boys. J didn’t know you at first,” he exclaimed. ‘‘But to reach the camp, you'll have to go back a few rods, enter the first fissure on your right and go due south about a mile. The boys have moved. ‘You see, this afternoon the Gold Gilch council, headed by the mayor, paid us a visit and ordered us to clear out, as we're not want- ed in the vicinity of the camp, and as Big Davy didn’t like to cut off the mayor’s jib he told the boys to pull up stakes as soon as it was dark and shift camp to avoid a night attack.” Dan and Old Calamity exchanged glances, ‘* All right, Bob,” the detective returned. *“* We're obliged to you for your information, and will go on tocamp, Any word to send in?” et Ncthing, except that all’s quiet, with no of the Gulchites as yet.” urning back, the party sougbt the fissure and bore away tothe south, In twenty minutes they reached the camp, where they were greeted by Big Davy, who was now acting chief of the Regulators, Briefly explaining the presence of the two cap- tives, Gold-Dust Dan bad them separated and placed under double guard, then looked after bis horse, and turned in for a much-needed sleep. It was high noon when the detective awoke, A plunge in a neighboring stream, followed by hearty meal, put him in fine condition for the work in hand, and after a brief conference with Big Davy he carefully cleaned and loaded his weapons, mounted Prince, and started toward Gold Gulch. em i LLL LLL A LL CCL tL CC Be reached the trail, when the rapid clatter of, hoofs caused him to draw rein, and thé next minute a horseman dashed into view, coming at af full speed from the direction of the Gulch, ae ~ =< ” + _- s é, 2 , : / ’ - Ps y + Sl*4 " Tw, | ’ . ‘ ; . Gold-Dust Dan’s Oath. -_-- a — - As be gazed at the rider, Gold-Dust Dan started, and a sharp cry burst from bis lips, The man was Idaho, the Regulator. His clothing was in shreds, his bands were pinioned at his back, and he was bleeding from a ‘dozen wounds, The recognition was mutual. * Quick!” cried the outlaw, as Dan reached out and checked theflying borse, ‘ If ye’d save Reckless Roy—ride! Those devils at the Gulch are ready ter lynch him!” ‘t And the girl?’ exclaimed Dan, ‘Is she—” ‘*‘God knows whar the poor critter is, A gang broke inter ther hotel jest after daylight, captured Roy an’ myself, tried us as road-agents, an’ ordered us hanged, Tbey took me first, putt me astraddle ov this hoss an’ led me out fer ther rope; but I broke away and run fer et, an’ hyar I am, barrin’ ther blood I’ve drapped on ther way.” Dan nodded grimly. Cutting the, thongs pinioning Idaho’s hands, be pointed out the way to the Regulator,camp. “Send the boys along at full speed,” he re- quested. ‘‘1f I’m not too late, P'll-bold the dev- us in check till they come.” And touching spurs to Prince, he sped away at full speed on his perilous mission, his face white and stern, his eyes glittering with an om- inous light. CHAPTER XI. JAKE ROSE ADOPTS DESPERATE MEASURES, ** BOSS, we tried hard, an’ got ther wu’st ov et. Ther cuss hed all ov a dozen men waitin’ out in ther bresh, an’ when they got onto our leetle game they jest walked in upon us from behind, shootin’ right and left, an’ gobbled up Durango Dave an’ Rocky Randall. My pard bya” an’ me dropped three of the critters, then lighted out, fer et war getting too derned hot ter breathe, ‘‘ We run ag’in’ tber biggest kind ov a snag, boss, but did ther best we could, an’ hyar we aire, Such was the report of the attempted assassi- nation conveyed to Jake Rose by the two mis- creants who had succeeded in getting back to Rapid City. As the banker listened, his face flushed, then grew white, and he uttered a groan of dismay. ‘Curses on the luck!” he cried, starting to his feet. ‘‘I feared as much! We might have known Gold-Dust Dan would not venture to beard the lion in his lair without belp at his beck and call. ‘*Poker Jack, are you ready for a twenty- mile ride?” ‘Ready ef I hed a hoss, boss, My critter war badly burted in the scrimmage,” unhesitatingly returned the ruffian who bad delivered that flan:ing raport. “*Tll give you an order for a horse, and you can start at once, Strike straight for the camp on Elder Creek, and tell Joaquin to take every mas and push up to Gold Gluch as soon as day dawns. It isa are ride, but he is not to spare horseflesh, ** Do you understand?” ‘‘T’ve got et all, boss,” and seizing the order Poker Jack burried out of the office, ‘And you, Jim Burns, I want you to re- main right here in Rapid City to watch the Gold Gulch trail,” pursued the banker, turn- ing to the remaining desperado, ‘‘ Sandy Barnes will have the day and you tbe night whe 4 Report all comers to Silas herein the office. ‘** Kerrect, boss,” and with a nod the fellow de- rted, Locking the door, Jake Rose stripped off his huge black beard and a cunningly arranged wig, and threw aside his outer clothing. Then from a secret locker in the wall he produced and donned a complete disguise, including a full suit of fine steel mail and a splendid set of weapons, When thus arrayed, he stood forth as the Black Hills scourge—Red Panther ! Carefully putting away tbe discarded articles the daring outlaw closed the secret locker, sa down to his desk, and on a letter-sheet wrote: **SmLAs:— ‘** If any one inquires, I have gone to Denver. ** ROSE. That done, he picked up his rifle, put out the light, and quitted the room, Passing along the hallway to the rear of the building, he entered his private stables, saddled and bridled his horse, mounted and rode out into the night, lay- + ing bis course toward the Gold Gulch trail and L ; : « oy! n . ae at 4 ete. SE OSE le saienderts - - ad ee ee oe ee oo — \ keeping in the shadows as much until clear of the camp, The moon was now: nearly an hour bizh, and the outlaw knew be ran a fearful risk in boldly taking to the trail in his present guise, There was a round price on his head—a sum large enough to tempt any lurking desperado to try a shot from ambush, and then there were brave men in the Hills, who, wronged by the renegade chief, had sworn to bave his life if he ever came their way. But the danger thus braved was legs than that to be bazarded by inaction, and with a grim face Red Panther struck spurs to bis horse and galloped on, Five miles up the trail, he swerved abruptly to the north, eatering a gorge leading to the blind pass,spoken of by Flush Frank. This course not only lessened bis peril, but shortened bis ride by many miles, and two hours after midnight he drew rein on the outskirts of Gold Guleb, A brief survey of his surroundings satisfied him tbat bis approach had been unobserved, whereupon he dismounted and tethered his horse behind a small thicket a hundred yards off the trail. Then from its place back of his saddle he took a poncho, and with bis tell-tale garb hidden be- neath its folds, strode boldly down into the camp. Straight to the hote] he went, entering and passing threugh the ballway to a door in the rear of the building, which be opened with a key from his pocket. Passing through into a small chamber, ho closed and locked the door, and lighted a lamp, then pressed a bell-knob in the wall. Red Panther’s every move thus far had be- trayed the utmost familiarity with his surround- ings. Five mir utes passed, then there were stealthy steps in the balls, followed by the click of a key in the lock, and the door opened, admitting the landlord. ’ ‘*This is a surprise, cap’n,” that worthy ex- claimed, as he in turn closed and locked the door. “Flush Frank went down to take you the news, but we’d no idea you'd roe up,” ‘“* Frank is in the bandsof the Philistines, and it devolves upon us to get bim cut,” grimly re- plied Red Panther. ‘‘Go, you, and send Sleek Sid and Weeping Mose to me, and see that we are not interrupted or overheard.” Simply nodding, the landlord burried away. A few minutes elapsed, and then the mayor and the marshal were ushered into the room, The first, Sidney Graft, was an under-sized well-dressed man of thirty years. He was of rather pallid complexion, with sandy hair and beard, a narrow, retreating forehead, and deep- set pale-gray eyes, A keen reader of humen nature would have put him down at once as an unprincipled scoundrel, The marshal, on the other hand, was a big, burly, roughly-dressed man, dark almost as an Indian, with coarse, long black bair and beard, and a Jewish cast of features. His eyes were red and inflamed, and required almcst constant wiping; hence the singular sobriquet of Weep- ing Mose, ‘‘Tendlord Jerry tells me Frank has come to grief,” the mayor exclaimed, with a startled air, as the Boniface locked the door and took up his station in the hal), ‘Is it so?” ! ‘‘T have Poker Jim’s word for it,” Red Pan- ther replied, and he briefly detailed the day’s events, ; The other lictened with closest attention, and the mayor was the first to speak when the recital was ended, “Tvs my opinion you and Frank played right into the detective’s bands!” be promptly de- clared. ‘*The odds are about a hundred to one he was bidding for that very move when he called to see you.” | ‘Et kinder strikes me thet ‘ar way, too,” the marshal observed, with an extremely sagacious air. ‘‘An’ et’s a derned bad business, Ther galoot war not dead onter yer crooks, Jake, but Pll bet forty dollars he is now. He made bis leetle bluff, you jumped at et an’ putt up ther game, an’ he nabbed two ov ther gang—fer what? Why, ter equeeze ’em till they’d squeal, OV course!” ‘‘Perhaps,” Red Panther admitted, grimly. “If so, he got the wrong mev, Rocky Randall and Flush Frank will go to their graves with sealed lips.” “ We can’t tell about that,” Sleek Sid re- marked, reflectively. ‘‘But it’s of no use to lament over spilled milk. é ‘* The question is, what are we going to do? | as pcssible , * wv “ We've got to strike a sharp, quick blow, or re a ~ Oe ‘te . - | a ig fs dhe te . ‘ .