Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 773 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

_ =P The Rustler of Rolling stone which says that ‘‘a rolling stone gathers no moss,” The name came as a part of the accident which induced the commencement of the town, @uintius was a prospector of no mean skill; and in looking over the slopes of the opposite moun- tuin for indications of the precious metals, bis foot had dislodged a stone which went tumbling into the valley, Beneath that stone was the ‘sign ” his straining eyes longed to sec, Within a few days some rich veins were located; atter which Quintius Quartz made a uasty trip to the East, and succeeded in in- aucing some capitalists to join with him iu his enterprise. From that moment dated a boom which had no parallell in the Red Mountain district. Red Fee was distracted, and his cunning hand paralyzed by fear and the effects of drink, Tre shadows of the horrid shape that haunted the Grizzly Bear Mine hung over the campof Lucky Ledge, preventing all progress; aud its rival, Rolling Stone, speedily caugbt up with and passed it in the race for supremacy. lll do him up, yet!” was Quartz’s exultant exclamaticn, as he met his brother one night in the shop for consultation. ‘* Rolling Stone’s on the boom, while Lucky Ledge is standing still, if itis not going backward, If that ghost will just keep up his antics awhile longer, I'l crowd Red Fee to the wall and buy Grizzly Bear mine in for a song. That’s what 1’m striving for. He robbed me of it as deliberately and merciless- ly as does the highwayman who slugsa traveler! Then, I'll be in a shape to pay back the old hunter with big interest, and to make things square witb all those who have befriended me,” lt was a triumpbant and perhaps a boastful prophecy; but the facts just then seemed to justify it. \MoAe CHAPTER X, THE BATTLE OF THE BOOMERS, A **RUSTLER,” in Western parlance, more frequently means a man of enterprise and energy than it does anything else. As applied to cattle-thieves, it isa term of opprobrium., Applied to a man of business tact and daring, it is to a great extent a designation of honor. In this latter sense, it was very likely suggested by the rustling sound which the stiff breeze makes in passing over the prairie grass; and when used in reference toa man, indicated that be moved about with a breezy celerity prophetic of suc- cess. If ever any one deserved the title of rustler, according to this view, it was Quintius Quartz. In his efforts for the advancement of his new town he was energetic and tireless. No grass was allowed to grow under bis feet. What- ever he undertook he did thoroughly and quickly. Red Fee turned his attention from the doings of the ghost long enough to recognize the fact that Lucky Ledge was being outstripped by its new rival, The Grizzly Bear was not the only mine in and about that camp, though it was by far the most promising. He bad only a partial interest in any of these, while be and Thomas were sole owners of the Grizzly Bear. But the latter could not be worked now, and he re- solved to turn his attention to the development of these, in an effort to head off the growth of Rolling Stone. By stretching his credit to the utmost limit, and mortgaging these mines, he brought on machinery, and introduced the latest processes for crushing the rock and extracting the ore, Under the impetus of the money thus thrown into circulation, Lucky Ledge took a quick, up- ward spurt, and fora time seemed destined to regain its old position, his energetic movement on Red Fee's part called for a similar advance by the assayer, and it soon became a battle between the boomers, Both towns might bave succeeded in a quiet way, had their leading spirits been willing. But Quintius Quarts was determined on tbe financial ruin of the man who had so foully robbed him, and Red Fee was equally deter- mined not to be beaten, Both were handicapped by a lack of funds, Quartz had practically nothing when he came into the valley, and Red Fee little more than hope and brilliant prospects, Not to be outdone, the assayer sent for a well- known railway official with whom he had an acquaintance, and after showing him over the camp at Rolling Stone, he invited the official into bis office for the talk he bad hinted at in his letter. ** You see what we've got here,” said Quartz, plunging at once into the subject, ‘' There is _ plenty of ore bere, and it’srich,. The trouble is Oe —_ —— ge, — —o< e it costs too much to get provisions and ma- chinery in and out of this valley. It takes the Lig end of the profits,” He did not tell the official how badly he was in debt, and how sorely be needed money. That would bave been a confession of weakness which be did not desire to make, H-» had strained bis credit to the utmost limit, and felt that something must be done now, or all bis carefully-worked plans would yet result in failure, Of one thing, bowever, he had made sure, He had returned to tbe bunter the amount of his loan, with generous interest, Should ruin come, this debt had at least been paid; and he could secure his other creditors by transferring to them all of the Rolling Stone property. He did not intend tu fail, though, if energy and bard work could prevent it. The cfiicial inclined bis head, but did not com- mit himself, ‘Tt a line of railway could be run from Sun- set City to Rolling Stone,” Quartz earnestly con- tinued, ‘‘it would mean the saving of this im- mense Outlay, and assure the success of the camp.” ‘it would cost a great deal,” the official ob- served, surveying tbe carpetless floor. ‘' To be frank with vou, Mr, Quartz, I don’t think our line could afford it, It wouldn’t pay. There’s too much rough country to be crossed,” ‘* Tt could be done, though?” questioningly. ‘* Yes; it could be done. The only trouble is, it wouldn’t pay.” ‘*That’s what I’ve been wanting to get at!” Quartz exclaimed, earnestly, ‘‘We made an estimate of the value of these mines awhile ago, My brvther and I and three others own them, my interest being the largest. They are already mortgaged, but not to anything like their true value, See here!” He drew out some account books and pro- ceeded to explain to the official the amount of indehtedness resting on each mine, and on the works and buildings. The record of the assays, with computations of the probable wealth of various veins, were also discussed, Theinterest of the offivial, which bad already been awak- ened, was sensibly quickened., “Tf you will run aspur of your railway into this town, I'l! tr vsfer to you three-fourths of ali the shares I have in the mine and property of Rolling Stone.” The man looked at bim earnestly, seeming half inclined to doubt that Quartz meant it. **Tt would not leave you much!” be observed. ** Enough to let me ont, with some to spare,” @uartz did not then tell bim of tke great richness he believed to lie in the heart of the Grizzly Bear Mine, nor of bis claims and hopes in that direction. ‘* There is one proviso,” he continued, ‘* There must be an agreement in the contract that for one year the end of the track, after it has reacbed here, shall not be pushed further.” There was an uplifting of the official’s eye- brows, ** You know, of course, of the rivalry existing between the towns, If Rolling Stone 1s made the end of track for one year, it will kijl Lucky Ledge as dead as a herring.” “They could freight from here; and would have a boom of their own, When the road reached them,” **T understand that, But it would practically cause the removal of their town to this place. The tide might, and probably would, flow back at the end of the year; but in the mean time I should be able to accomplish my purpose,” ‘© Which is?” The assayer regarded bim closely, **{ believe you are a man who can keep a: secret, Felix Redmond stole from me the Griz- ziy Bear Mine, and I am resolved to get it back. If Lucky Ledge took a downward tumble, values will decrease; and Redmond—who is already mortgaged for more than he can ever pay—will be forced to sell; and then will come my time,” ‘* But if the Grizzly Bear is mortgaged?” ** Which it isn’t, and won’t be. He’s tried it time and again; but it has such a reputation that no one will advance a cent on it,” **T’ll look into the matter,” the cfficial prom- ised, rising, ‘* and let you know’ to-nigbt.” He was back again shortly after nightfall, having spent almost the entire day in looking over the two towns, His face told Quintius Quartz that the proposition would be accepted. Before they could arrange the details, a smell of smoke was wafted to them; and while they were speculating as to its probable cause, they heard a low cry and the sounds of a struggle. They rushed out into the street to discover —- ata Sor — = ee a — ——t the place—a building so situated that, if burned, the fire would almost certainly communicate to other houses. The erection of those buildings bad strained the assayer’s slender resources, and their destruction at this time meant ruin. [t was no wonder, then, that his face whitened, and a cry escape his lips, There was a sort of dance or fandango in pro- gress in a shanty a few hundred yards distant, where were gathered all the men of the place; and the fire-bug (Qulntius could not doubt that the fire was of incendiary origin) bad taken ad- vantage of this to accomplish bis villainous work, Ciear and sharp rung out the assayer’s cry of sé fire ” The sound of the scuffle still came, and he raced with the railway official in that direc- tion, The combat was taking place witbin the lee of the building, and almost within reach of the flames. To Quartz’s intense astonishment, the antagonists were his brotber Tom and Red Fee, The latter saw them coming, wrencbed bim- self from Tom, and leaped away intu the dark- ness, vainly hoping his identity was still unre- vealed, ‘' That man set fire to the house!” Tom ex- claimed, springing up in great excitement, ‘Don’. let bim get away!” The official had not recognized Red Fee, not being familiar with his features; but he darted in instant pursuit, a chase which proved fruitless. The alarm of fire bad reached the men at the fandango, and these were now racing down the street, ‘‘ How did you happen here?’ Quintius inquir- ed of his brother, his curnosity at that moment stronger than any other feeling. Tbe explanation was quickly forthcoming, Red Fee had in some manner, gained an ink- ling of the object of the cfficial’s visit to Lucky Ledge, and recognized that if Rolling Stone was thus favored by the railway, all bis efforts to boom his own town would be fruitless, The struggle between the two points had already reached a dangerous pitch. Red Fee was un- scrupulous, and determined on a boid game to bluff this new move of bisadversary. He would set fire to Rolling Stone, and wipe it out of ex- istence in a night. Tom had learned this by overhearing a con- versation between Red Fee and Curt Thomas, The talk bad occurred but a short time before aud immediately at its conclusion, Red Fee had started for Rolling Stone to put his scheme into effect. Tom bad followed as quickly as possible; but be bad been delayed by the changes neces- sary to be made in his personal appearance—for he had feared to venture out as Rose Latham, This short halt bad enabled Red Fee to reach the town and fire the building, but did not give him time to escape. Tom had discovered and assaulted him, and the struggle had ensued, But the young man felt sure that Fee did not recognize his assailant as Rose Latham, the sec- retary. CHAPTER XI. FIGHTING FIRE, Tus explanation had barely been given when Quintius Quartz saw a tongue of flame issue from the upper room of the office he and the as- sayer had so recently vacated, The building beyond it was also on fire; and it seemed more than likely that the incendiary bad applied the torch there first, and that the fire, having gained headway there, bad communicated to the upper part of the office, The crushing thought that the town was doomed, came to both the assayer and his brother. The inhabitants were now gathering in force, and strenuous efforts were being made to fight the flames, preparations for the work being chiefly directed to the larger houses. Quintius turned from these and ran toward the office, after directing Tom to remain with the men and do what he could. There were many small articles of value above the office, which be desired to save. Chief among them them was a bundle of papers, prin- cipally evidence incriminating Felix Redmond in a number of ways, both before and after his coming to Lucky Ledge. The collection of these bad cost Quintius 4 good deal of time and money, and be was not willing to lose them, Especially was this so since this latest outrage. He had placed them in the upper room, think- ing they would be safer there than elsewhere, At the rear of the cffice, and reaching to the upper room, wasa rope, There was a stairway | leading from the Jower room to the one above, flames leaping from tve principal building of | but the door communicating with it was locked, —— - a at o : e re . ; . . cs 2 < “- “ —. one ae - ee a -e > | a — gry” < ~ : _ = . “ ~ — —E uf 14 oe | a rat oa | ‘ in id . ° ; x & ae ~-comicbooks.com a > MY sa! ¥