Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 80 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

| | the rest of the band, and there is but the one foot Rosebud Rob. . . * : |“ There is not one nayin the box, and your doom is trail across the pocket bottom, I am positive that — the man who furnished the news to the Deadwood authorities isa member of my band—one of you who are gazing at me as I speak. Boys, I hate to suspect any of you, but the oath we all took must be ad- hered to and the traitor punished. ‘Therefore, I brought this paper, which is an ex- act measure of the foot. Let every man step upon it, Aquanenys and we will see who is the traitor!” “But, captain, will it be just to judgea man by the size of his foot, when several may wear boots of the same size?’ interposed Idyl. “No!” Nugget Ned replied, sternly. ‘I am no murderer, and I will judge no man guilty until I can name further proof. Go on! I will shoot the first man who hesitates, for hz is the traitor!” Without a word the lieutenant proceeded to set the example, He spread the paper out upon the rude earthen floor, and stepped upon it with precision, A murmur ran among the knights. The boot of the lieutenant was several sizes smaller than the paper print. ; “You are not the man!” Nugget Ned said, bend- ing over and scrutinizing the impression. ‘“Idyl, you may step aside. Number One, roe next.”’ A short, stout fellow compe ed prompts, quite covering the slip of paper with his stogy boot. *“Not the one!’ Nugget Ned announced, quietly, although there was a stern glitter in his eye, waver |" Numbers Two, Three, Four and Five in succession stepped upon the fateful strip of paper, but covered it ‘by a large majority.” : Number Six, a tall, strong-limbed fellow, straight as an arrow and compactly built, next stepped for- ward to measure, He had only a medium-sized foot, and the atten- tion of all was called upon him, He was seen to tremble visibly, as he caught the stern eye of the chief. “Step upon it!’ Nugget Ned said, sharply. “ Idyl, look to the measure, I think we have our man!” Number Six trembled violently, as he placed the right foot upon the paper that was to tell the tale. ‘It is ex the size of the measure, captaia!”’ Lieutenant Idyl replied, a moment later. ‘A shoe- maker could not have cut a better pattern of the bot- tom of Number Six’s boot!” “As 1 thought,’’ Nugget Ned replied. ‘‘ Wesley Dandleton is the traitor. But I wouldn’t hang ado even on that proof. Some one bring a piece o sodded earth larger than a man’s foot. Number Six will step upon it, and if his foot leaves an impression e a star in the heel, he is the man we want beyond ute.’ ne of the knights turned to leave the cabin, but a cry from Number Six caused him to pause, ‘Stop! ne need not go to that trouble,” the ac- cused said, hoarsely. ‘I will acknowledge that the star is upon my heel, and that I am the traitor! God in heaven help me!” And the wretch fell upon his knees, and began to groan and snivei. “Stand erect!” cried Nugget Ned, sharply. ‘“‘ Kee back, boys--” as the knights pressed forward wit leveled revolvers. “I'll attend to this case, if you please. Wesley Dandleton, stand erect, 1 say! th a geen the traitor obeyed, but hung his head and trembled violently; more than he would, perhaps, had he not feared instant death. “Look at me!’ Nugget Ned next commanded, and in a tone which ca the guilty wretch to comply —for he knew refusal or hesitation meant instant death. He gave a single affmghted glance, and then dropped his gaze to the floor. | “Wesley Dandleton!” the Knight of Knights said as he cleared his throat, “ you have acknowledged Aplin a traitor among us. You are well aware of he penalty which we all swore by an awful oath to mete out to that member who should deal by us treacherously. I need not say thatitis death You have done more than betray the secrets of our brotherhood—you have branded us to the author- ities as road-agents, and we are henceforth as out- laws, though we have done no deed of outlawry. Will you make a clean breast of the matter? Tell us the why you betray and how far?” ‘No! what wo it avail me?” the poor wretch, demanded, hoarsely. ‘It would be death all the same.” , “Ay! it could make no difference in that re- spect. “Then, I will carry my secrets with me to the death. (Go ahead and kill me. I am as brave now to meet ny doom as I can ever be!” os “You need not look upon me as your executioner! Nugget Ned said, calmly. ‘I will leave your fate in the hands of those who have been your brothers dur- ng our league as a band. Yonder is a box, upon the le. Let each man write on a slip of paper ‘ Yes, or * No,’ and cast it into the box. I will then count them. If there be more nays than yeas, you are free to go whither you will. If to the contrary, you shall hang to the noose which does its work for many & traitor!” At a motion, each of the eleven knights wrote u on ae of paper, and cast them into the box as di- rected. In mute supplication Dandleton dropped upon his knees, and raised his eyes toward heaven. Nugget Ned next went to the box, and with a coolness born of experience in critical moments, counted the strips. At last he turned upon his heel, and with a new- born hope the guilty man half sprung toward him. But he shrunk back when he saw the shake of the ht’s head. ma is not what I had hoped for!” he said grimly. ‘ sunset sealed!” **Oh! merciful Heaven!’ the traitor murmured, dropping flat upon his face with a pitiful wail. ugget Ned turned aside, perhaps to hide any agi- tation he may have experienced, although the mask was over his face. Several paces about the room; then he paused and glanced about, into the faces of those who had served faithfully under his flag. ‘* Comrades! Ileave you to execute the work you have unanimously consented to do—namely, the lynching of Wesley Dandleton. As for myself, I leave this valley for good. You can follow me into the neighborhood of Deadwood, and hold yourselves ready to answer the call of my silver shriek. Re- member! the order of our union is not yet broken, and though you know not and never have known whois your leader, under the disguise of Nugget Ned, I believe you have enough confidence in me to follow where I lead!”’ “Ay! ay | capes I can answer as to that for the boys!”’ Lieutenant Idyl cried enthusiastically. **Good! I am glad to knowit. But now, adios. I go to Deadwood on business which brought me into these Hills. Be you in waiting close by, but not ina body, with disguises in your saddle-bags, for you may be wanted at any instant. When they hang Nugget Ned for a road-agent, it will be because he cannot pulla trigger in self-defense.”’ And, turning Bpon his heel the chief of the myste- sey knights left the cabin, without a backward glance. Lieutenant Idyl then motioned to one of the num- ber, and from up among the rafters the noosed end of a strong cord was brought down, until about nine Neg from the floor, where it hung, swaying to and ro. Not a word was now spoken. The men went at their work as if they thoroughly understood what devolved upon them to do. While several bound the doomed man, hand and foot, others placed a table beneath the noose, and a stool beside it. Dandleton was then led forward, and lifted upon the table to a standing position, so that the horrible noose dangled before his face, as if to mock his fears, **Mercy!” he gas appealingly. **No! mercy is eocothine 1 Paow not in the execu- tion of my duty,”’ Idyl replied, dosing é He then stepped upon the table beside the pris- — and adjusted the fatal noose about Dandleton’s neck. Then, he stepped from the table to the floor; there were several minutes of silence, after which the table was suddenly jerked from beneath the doomed man’s feet, and he swung by his neck in mid-air. Idyl then turned to his companions with a shud- er. “The jobisdone. Placard the body, and then each man away to the outskirts of Deadwood. Let not a moment be lost. Number Seven, blow the call for the horses; the rest of you pone up the traps.” The order was obeye In fifteen minutes the cabin in the hemiocks was dismantied of everything portable, and the knights were ready for a start. At a word from Idyl they mounted and dashed & way across the vauley, and soon were lost to view in = crevice of the mighty piles of craggy rock which roiled m into the pieturesque grandeur toward a sky. Scarcely were they out of sight, when a man rose from among the natural flower-beds of the pocket, and glided to the cabin door. It needs but a glance to recognize him as one we have met before, and that one none other than the mine-owner, Munro Malvern. ‘* The devil is to pay!” he hissed, as he skulked up to the cabin door and listened. ‘‘ Dandleton, my spy, was not among those fellows. What does it mean? He was to meet me, an hour after dark. Can it be—” He pushed open the door, and peered into the cabin with a shiver. Then he leaped back with a yell. A frightful spectacle met his gaze—a distorted corpse dangling to a rope in mid-air, near the center of the apartment. And upon the breast of the lynched traitor was fastened a placard, upon which was written in crimson, the words: “A traitor—A warning to those who would imitate his example!” “Ten thousand furies!’’ Munro Malvern gas ed, turning away. “Again am I foiled by that dev in mask, who styles himself Nugget Ned!” CHAPTER VIL COMING TO AN UNDERSTANDING—BEL HELENE “TAPS ” LAMONT. WE return to Deadwood. , Tt is now several days since the occurrence of the incidents, last narrated, in the mountain pocket. Munro Malvern sat again in his library, and there was a dark expression upon his countenance. “Curses on this worry which is now constantly upon my mind!” he cried out, fiercely, glaring at the figures in the matting upon the floor. ‘“‘A month more of it will put mein my grave. Curse the dandy, Rosebud Rob—curse everybody and everything; I hate all! Ha! ha! they are working to hedge me in, these enemies of mine, and crush me out of exist- ence. But, ef shall find me steel to the last! I will fight them with weapons made of gold. Ha! ha! the Big Bullion mine is yet mineown. They cannot get it away from me—unless Robert Mapleton should come to light!” ‘** Robert Mapleton has already come to light!” 2 cried a triumphant voice, and the guilty mine-owner wheeled around with a startled oath, to behol« — Rosebud Rob, the Sport standing just within ihe room, attired as usua with the greatest precision. “Ha! you!’ the millionaire gasped, a glare of hatred coming into his eyes. ‘**Rather calculate that it isn’t no one else!” was the cool reply. ‘‘One would have guessed that you were expecting to see a ghost by the way you looked around!” “IT was not expecting you, curse your impudence’ How did you gain admission, sir?’ ‘*Oh! that was easy enough. I allowed a smal sized six-shooter, which I pee carry, to grin at your Ethiopian servitor, down in the hall, and he made himself invisible in the wink of a cat’s eye.” Munro Malvern arose from his seat, a hard ery pression coming over his features. ‘**See here!” he said, bending toward the Sport, s devilish glitter in his eyes—** we may as well under- stand each other at once. You have come here te Deadwood for a purpose. You need not deny it, for I know to | contrary. What is that purpose, curse you—what is it ?”’ ‘Tut! tut!’ Rosebud Rob said, calmly; ‘‘ don’t get excited! We can just as well take things like am icicle, as to boil over with a superfluity uf wrath, onal will find it to your advantage to not get um ruly!’ Malvern fairly frothed at the mouth, as he hear@ and glared at his cool visitor. All the evil passions of his evil nature were aroused—he could have flowm at the Sport and clawed his heart out. “Furies take you!” he hissed, his fingers clench ing a opening convulsively. ‘‘What do you want?” ‘**You shall know!’ Rosebud Rob said, a suddez He ea ac coming over him—*‘ you shall know, Munre lalvern, have come here to investigate a few matters refating to the decease of my father, Robert Mapleton, and to his estate. You must know that] would naturally have an interest in the case. I have: not been idle—oh! no. I have been digging dee after the truth—searching for the truth that woul hang you upon a murderer’s oath ‘**Ha! ha! you start, you black-hearted villain—. you start! you tremble! What better acknowledg- ment can there be of your guilt? Tell me, Munre Malvern—where is my father, the owner of the Big: Bullion mine, whose prince you are usurping?” And the tones of the speaker were force and threatening. tbe mine-monopoltist staggered back, like a wolf at bay. “Blast you!” he gaspec, his face distorted by @ terrible rage. “What a. vou mean? Would row brand me with murder, yor viper?’ Get clear o7 m house, before 1 am tempted te murder you /* ‘**Ha! ha!” Rosebud Rob laughed, coolly. “ Ne doubt you are sorely tempted ic co that very thing, now, but you realize itis out of your power. Sit down, Munro Malvern. ane lev me rélate a arte story. Itis not of zreat ‘engtt. ~» cerves te inure duce to you the Man you see before w-n—* A Maw te Suit All Cireumstances! Wilt vow ticten?’’ ‘Go on. the mine-owner grow'e.. savagely “FI will hear you, standing. When *2v are throven— “ Exactly! When Iam through, I wll go, f as: ure you. Now about the story. To begin with: “Once upon a time, as all fairy tales open, there came into the precincts ot the mining strike in Cin- namon guich,& queer old customer of the tramp species, Who had in his possession a vouth whom the tramp fondly called sonny.’ This y uth was a iad who had buftetec the world alone for some years, until he had joined in with the tramr. ‘*End of Chapter First! “In Chapter Second we find the youth developing, under the old man’s instructions, into a first-class actor, albeit this same youth had previously Leen upon the stage, in minor parts, The old man fur- nishes him with money in plenty, and tutors him inte a& man ready to suit all circumstances—a dare-devil —a prize-fighter, a young bully—yvyet, @ gentle man | “Chapter Third. This youth ‘pans out in purty much good style,’ip the vernacular of Cinnamon gulch, and men soon understand that, although a woe 4 asport, a man tosuit all circumstances, this: indiv dual is a man who fears naught, and that once upon the scent of a foe, bloodhound-like he follows— ferret-like he pursues with a vengeance, until the game pauses, baffled, cornered, foiled at every turn, with an eternity at either hand—a yawning gulf over which there is no escape! “Chapter Fourth. The old tramp dies, and dis closes an important secret, and wills his money to this pard of his, with the provision that the young indi- vidual, who, froma fondness of wearing buttonhole Doniagee had earned the sobriquet of Rosebud Rob would agree to certain things which he might name, “Of course this Rosebud Rob did agree, where - upon ends the sanguine romance. Do you see the point, Munro Malvern?”’ . , “I see no point in your nonsensical attempt at ste ry-telling, sir.”’ “Then, know you, that I have struck the sce and shall hunt you down to the end of the trail 1ilt which you are following. I shal not have the east merey on you, because you are not of those merciful, You murdered my father, Robert Maple ton, Senior. I cannot ere it, and ge shall not noise it abroad at present. But, I guard you as I would a nugget of gold—ha! ha! es. and when it comes handiest I shall accept the Bi : Bullion mine from your hands, while your neck ig: 39 gh <8 Judge Lynch's accommodating noose« a! ha! ha! GomiGcnee (E@)