Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 906 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

i the first of the crowd, and his disappoint- ment was great. ‘*Too@ bad!” he cried, ‘‘ when we thought we had them, sure. Hunt for them, men of Gold Lode, and a hundred dollars to the man who captures one of them! They can’t be far off yet!” A yvood many of the crowd made haste to search, but it proved to be a search that was fruitiess, They returned to the Saddle Saloon. There the man who had been struck to the floor was coming to, and his companion was bathing his head. Many had by this time asked what the trouble was about, but it was not until this mun could speak that anything was revealed of the mystery. .** That fellow with the beard is one we have been following for weeks,” he ex- plained. ‘‘He is wanted for murder and robbery, and all we wanted was to catch him in the act of making a deal for certain papers. | “We had the clue that he was coming this way, and it was believed that another murder was his object. Not only so, but to come into a fortune which these two deaths would leave open for him, But, his game has been nipped in the bud, it appears.” ‘‘ But, he still has the papers,” one hearer reminded. ‘sTrue; but now he dare not use them, for we know how they came in his possession. And, if the plan to murder his cousin has not been carried out yet, it will now be use- less for him to perform that part of, his nefarious scheme. First the uncle, then the cousin, and Hanson Burk would be a rich man—if he could have it all his own way.” = ing SRI La = - . « « - ri _ - - ‘ * J - Rel 4 wee 0 1 Lie & a eee ice ‘Fr F ° =i sy = -< ~*~. ie Goe eee — “ ‘ oes “my fm “pea 1 RE LAL GET Ps ~+ hdd e- a Oe ee - “De i> > ~~ - 2 Ti. _ » * ~ ! ~_ : ese os S m ~—— >, e , >* = é ad - “4 y = a = w +<* ng et, a re - * | _ x FF, ‘ad a ta - ~_ _ . > ane + * - » | a -—. CHAPTER XII. MEN OF MYSTERY WELL MET. THis was merely an incident by the way for such a town as Gold Lode. Where all was excitement every day in the week, where fights were frequent and the crack of the pistol often heard, such an inei- dent hardly passed beyond the saloon in which it had taken place, | | That there was something back of the af- fi fair, however, went without saying, and perhaps there was more than the detectives had stated. The two men, however, had made good “a! their escape, it seemed, and the detectives’ J, work had come to naught. The detectives went to the hotel. There a man asked for an interview with the leader, or chief, of the pair. ‘‘T’d like to talk about that affair of the saloon,” he said, ‘‘Well,” esked the leading detective, shortly, ‘‘ what have’ you to say or to ask about it?” ‘3 “You spoke about ‘a murder that might possibly be done.” | sé Yes ” — Sad - = os — ” EFS ES. ae - . “ : —— 4 of >> ** Who is thé person that may be killed?” ‘* First, who the deuce are you?” \ ene ‘“ A detective, just as you claim to be,” Baht" ‘ You?” ; ‘Tam talking about no one else, sir.” "a ‘Did you not come on the stage with see Fee |" ys es “1 did? ‘‘ What are you trying to detect?” ; ‘* You have not answered my question yet, sir.” ‘* See here, are you what you claim to be, my man? If so, we have no objection to talking with you, for maybe you can be of use to us.” | ‘“‘T have not come to you for that purpose, but to sce if you cannot be of use to me. But, we'll never get on at this rate. An- swer my question, and I’ll answer the one you have asked.” miteny. Sez. a5 * Well, the man in danger is one Captain _. Deerforth, of Fort Fenton. But, no doubt “, La .* = . - ~_ _— a! et etme ~ a 1 MF cae “ ~ -* ¥ y we .. 1 eco y —, ip a a- = lm, 95 o“- - - 2 ~~ % oh + > oe =o PP + ; S18 .; i ? a ' “ a) = i | we? 4 _ * * a : he ' ~ > me = aw ‘+3 ~ +> hs ; . pane ce ~ - . mm , ° — ‘. Sis ¥.. * Mg 2 . i wt 5 , - -* ry < "a * : he “ ~ age bw, . “ ee a m* 2 “ A q ~ - : 16 , f «. « a . ’ 5 oe , * >. “xe 7 a ‘ - / - ee | ie “? 7 J r- . _ : ” A : .y et £ ‘sy r : ~— . fe Pe . ; . | Pe - ott ee Te ‘ - . . o 3 eu 5. * ; . » 2 <3) PP ™ a ii» { an 2 Py * * F “7 if : ‘ - - 5 . me we ~~ Stet SD i ve Ae rs 4 ws a 1° : a va os , 4 * IGA _ J é, " “4 wy er es” a! , a atY edu i 4 " sy * @ - : —— > é@ ? ® ef” « (f : 24 ee N.+. * % ~\ Sis te ‘ eh =f SF, age " . + 4g 7"? » * , e : iy id ; . = fiegh - - < as.” md ff . owt s - ‘ os “ og 4 Mf ‘ - 4 4 > - ‘ e ee ; ‘ : ¢ , = Sf rey he rae a4 eek leet . oe Nass be, a Na a > vn x8 2 ae : itt as, ¢ ro a \ a PP ba >? mae 7 . “4 ta Se ae i ¢ é . v4 : +. «ff : ‘ ~ he gl ¥. ‘ t a ° 4 eh a "ted . »* »' ee — 2 V : * > - : i 2 J no ‘ ws ’ * at ie rT; 7 —— . a a 7 hort d bar : ot i Yar ths: rar ie we’ ee vs, r = ’ — ee eee ee See nn = 8 ert OP on * = . - = al oo fs = % _ - > : - Fe 4 ee , = a oe {ye Cea re” -— be a > Gy 4a} “ — cae Sa —_— a he will not be bothered now, seeing that the scheme has been upset and the mask torn off. Now, what say you?” ‘‘Tn answer to what you asked?” ‘* Certainly.” ‘‘ Well, [am trying to hunt down the man who murdered Captain Deerforth at Fort Fenton—” ‘‘ Heavens! then the deed has been done?” ‘‘Yes, he was murdered last night, and an innocent man has been accused of the deed. It is your duty to go to the fort, see the com- mander, and set the matter right.” ‘‘ It was our intention to go to the fort the first. thing in the morning. If we had se- cured our prisoners, we would have taken them with us.” “You must goanyhow. But, these papers, are they important?” : ‘*They are highly important.” “To whom?” ‘‘To the man who hoids them, if he would dare to present them and could es- cape the suspicion of having killed his cousin,” ‘¢‘ Deerforth was his cousin?” »% 66 Yés.”’ \ “The name of the other was Hanson Burk,” | sé Yes,” ‘«* Andewho was the man with him?” ‘A stranger to us; we do not know his name, But, a tool of his, and as you no doubt saw, the one who put the papers in his hands.” , : ‘* And where did the papers come from ‘Taken from the possession of the mur- dered man, no doubt, now that we learn that he has been killed,” ‘Can it be possible!” ‘What surprises you “That I did not recognize the fellow. It seems impossible that he could have been in so good a disguise.” ““ Who did you think it was?” ‘¢T had no idea whoit was: I did not re- cognize the fellow at all.” ‘‘T mean, who do you now think it may have been?” ‘*A deserter from the fort, a fellow who owed Deerforth a grudge and who was sus- pected of having killed him.”’ “You are no doubt right, putting all things together. It is possible that Burk himself did the deed, but it now appears that this man was his ally.” ‘But, why could I not recognize him?” «That is for you to say.” ‘ And Leannot explain it. It must be that Grat Benson was not ‘the man, after all.” ‘*What are you going to do?” ‘* Continue my search for the murderer o Captain Deerforth,” ‘He was a friend of yours?” ‘““Yes, he was. But, suppose we let it recs How long shall you remain at the ort?” . ‘“We may stop there some days, if we think there is any chance for our recovering those papers.” ‘Which you are not likely to do, unaided, now, having let your golden opportunity slip through your fingers.” | ‘‘ For which we have to thank the crowd in the saloon, yourself included, since you have admitted that you were there and saw ©)? 4 “ 9? * what took place.” : ‘‘Tt was oneof the cases that will happen. No one thought they could get out of your hands till they were gone. Your partner here should have used his gun the moment you were hit.” . ‘‘No use finding excuses, or saying what should have been done. If you get on track ei papers will you restore them to us?’ ‘ ves.” ‘Phen there said.” ‘*‘ One question more, and I’]] trouble you no further: In whose interest are you work- ing ' y ; : fety Sam, the Cycle Sport. - ti remains nothing more to be | ‘‘ Why, in the interest of the lawyers who have the estate in hand, of course, sir.” ‘‘ And, seeing that Deerforth is dead, will the estate go to Burk, if he can clear him- self?” : ‘‘Tf he can clear himself; but, it is not. likely that he can.” ‘“The uncle was killed, I think you said.” -*¥.e8,.: ‘* And now supposing that Burk is hanged for the crimes, to whom will the estate go in that case?” ‘‘To another cousin, a degree further re- moved, who will stand next in order. But, that is ss far as I know anything about it, and I can’t swear that is straight.” ‘*You know his name?” ‘1 do not.” ‘‘Have you ever seen him?” ‘oes. ‘‘Tell me, then, was this manhe? Imeam the man who turned over the papers and re- ceived the money.” ‘*Tt was not.” ‘Then that theory is exploded. If not he, and not Grat Benson, who was it? But, no matter, we’ll find out all in good time. lf you remain at the fort some days, you may hear from me.” ‘“No doubt we’ll remain, for men of our profession can no doubt be of use to the commander of the fort, clearing up the mys- tery, and his scouts will beof great service to usin hunting our man downagain, Well, as yOuare going, we'll see you later.” - CHAPTER XIII. SAFETY SAM STRIKES A TRAIL, WHEN the two men, be of the black beard and his companion, left the salosn, they dart- ed straight across the street. . There they passed between two buildings te which stood close togetLer but which afford. ed passage at a pinch, and thus they were immediately lost to sight, As soon as they had gone through, the man of the black beard gave way to the other, telling him to take the lead, which he him. self quite evidently could not do, not know- ing the ground, No time was lost, andthe man of the beard and cane followed where the other conduct- ed, They were soon upon the outskirts of the camp. Here they presently came to a shed, serv~ ing asan apology fora stable, and both en- tered and secured horses. As soon as they led the animals forth, they leaped into the saddle, he of the beard still clinging to bis cane, and they set forward at a walk in the direction of the trail leading to Silver City. They did not speak, and no sound was | made save that of the hoof-strokes of their | — horses. They kept on the outskirts, and did not strike the trail till they had gone some dis- tance from the camp proper, When they in- creased their speed, ‘‘ Well, that was a close call,” said he of the beard, then. 7 “You are right it was,” agreed the other, . ‘‘But, @ miss is as good as a mile, they say, and I have still got the papers in my possession, ” | ‘Have you any idea: who they were?” ‘Yes, I have.” | ‘Certainly not what they claimed to be,” ‘What I thought. If they had been | genuine detectives they would have made sure of us.” 2 oa ‘“They might have done so, perhaps, buat — I will not swear to that, My cane wasabig — | factor in the little affair, you noticed.” ei ‘But their drop would have been a good deal bigger, if they had been the real thiag, for they had it on us in the finest kind of — a “ A ’ . - “i * Pt Se fe “> tie ol , 7 “7 per dae 4s Se a. ha tea OP Le Ow ABS yg Oo : be 7 a ros . 3 “, oP ie * aan | me Ls A : ™ ° { ( / \ y