Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 993 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

: al > - att Saal) Sas A Re Sella altel ets - > 3, - — = ie ers gt FS _—~/- ee me oe bd a ~~? Caretta, | ARS res tee 10 the latter. I missed it about a week ago. I would be willing to pay a goodly sum for its re- turn.” She regarded him fixedly. Was it confusion thut sent the color into his cheek? She thougbt so, and her worst fears seemed realized. Her hands fell her side, and she walked to the far side of the room. After that she did not speak, not even to return the farewell word he uttered, as he turned from the room. ‘*My soul! he is guilty!” moaned Valeria, sinking into a chair, her face pallid with the anguish that wrung her heart at that moment, Soon after the departure of Sheriff Hunt- way, a bearded man appeared at the door, and requested to see Mr. Granger, Tim was away, so Valeria admitted the man, She had seen him once before, he having called to see her uncle, and she suspected 'that he was a detec- tive. Valeria went to her uncle, who told her to admit the gentleman at once, although not jong before he had refused audience to the young sheriff. **T am glad to see you, Mr. Sharp,” said Mr, Granger, the moment the detective entered the room, ‘' Sit down and let’s hear what you have discovered, Huntway was here, but | refused to see him,” ‘* You did right, sir,” returned the bearded man, who was no less a personage than the one who had encountered the first detective on the previous night, and denounced him as an im- .. ‘*T have become disgusted with the move- ments of the sheriff, and that impostor who per- sonated you, Mr. Sharp. As I had never met you, of course it was easy enough to deceive me, ‘* Certainly. I have very important news to- day, news that may shock you, sir, yet it is nevertheless true.”’ ‘*Something with regard to the late rob- bery?” i. have found the robber and would-be agsas- sin. ‘© Ah! news indeed! Who is he?” Mr, Granger bent forward eagerly. ** One whom you would little suspect—Clifford Huntway!” ‘* Ha! is this true?” gasped Granger. ‘**It is alie /” Both men started as the flerce words fell on theirears. Valeria confronted them, white and trembling. CHAPTER XII, VALERIA IS TRUE, . STEELE SuarRp No. 2 sprung to his feet, and regarded the girl in astonishment, His sur- prise was evidently genuine. Mr. Granger stared, his rheumatic limb sliding from its ele- vated position to the floor, the pain, however, failing to affect him. ‘* Miss Granger, you here?” finally articulated the detective, ‘‘ I’m astonished!” ‘*So am I,” vociferated the old eattle-king, finding voice at length. ‘* You have no right to call Mr. Sharp a liar, Valeria, and, besides, it is unladylike in the extreme,” Truly, her uncle had spoken the truth, and Valeria realized her position for the first time. Her soul bad risen in defense of Huntway, and when she beard her lover accused of an awful crime, her indignation caused her to rush to his defense, She now realized her mistake, and was on the point of leaving the room, when the detective rose up suddenly and detained her with a gesture, ‘*T understand your feclings, miss,” he said, with a half-smile that served only to anger her, *“‘Itis natural for a girl to stand up for her lover, even when she knows, as you must, that he isa Aig Ape You bave the evidence of his guilt, Miss Granger—a ring that you tore from his finger not many nights ago, when, in mask, the villain attempted to silence poor Flake, and J have evidence here that will aid in the conviction of the infamous sheriff who has deceived the public so long!” With the words the detective held up a knife, that Valeria at once recognized as the one she had torn from the hand of the night-prowler, and afterward flung into a clump of bushes, How had the detective come into on of it? How, indeed, had he learned of the rin that was even now burning a hole in her han that she had thrust into her pocket? Valeria had told no one about either the ring or the knife, Mr. Granger learned of these things for the Sheriff Huntway, of Montana. aan — ~ a of firzt time, and he now demanded of his niece the | felt disposed to face whoever might come, cour- meaning of all this. She felt obliged to explain; and so, with her own lips, helped to confirm the guilt of Sheriff Huntway. Ina moment of weakness she gave the ring into the detective’s hand, and then fled, sobbing, from the room, ‘*It is a plain case, you see,” avowed Steele Sharp No. 2, ‘‘I will now listen to what you may be pleased to advise, Mr. Granger.” “*T advise the immediate arrest of Sheriff Huntway,” returned the old cattle-king, white with excitement. ‘‘ I oncerespected that young man, and, through my influence and that of my partner, he got the office he now holds, He seems to have no sense of gratitude in his com- ition, ‘*Such miscreants never have,” returned the detective, ‘‘l’llsee that your wishes are car- ried out. My only fear is that, since the jail has been dsstroyed, and there’s no strong place to put the prisoner, the ple may rise up and take him from the officers. You know what that means?” ** Lynch law?” éé Yes. ” ‘* Let it come. I do not care,” retorted the old cattle-king, vengefully. The detective seemed elated at his success as he walked from the presence of Montana’s great cattle- king. In the mean time Sheriff Huntway found that his popularity had suddenly waned. It had in fact vanished in a single night, and dark looks were cast upon him from unexpected sources, While many people thought the skeleton found in the ruins of the jail was that of Grudge Grave, a goodly number believe’ that a trick had been played on them, and that the sheriff had connived at the escape of the pris- The news floated out that Flake, the wounded messenger, was dying, and this seemed to fire the floating element to fever heat, Huntway noticed this feeling against himself, and wondered atit. Why should he he blamed for accidents, and for the suffering and death of Flake? He had put his whole energies to finding out who assaulted and robbed the cattle-king’s mes- senger, and so he wondered at the glowering looks cast upon him as the day advanced, Knots of people gathsred at different points in town, and seemed to discuss something of an important nature, When he would approacn one of these gatherings, sudden silence wonld fall upon the men, and the sheriff wondered thereat, He was too proud to attempt to vin- dicate himself from what he deemed unjust censure, and when he went to his board-place he was consumed with inward wrath, A knot of people dispersed suddenly as he ap- proached, and still dark looks were cast at him from under lowering brows, It was late in the day, and Huntway sat at an open window, smoking a cigar, his white teeth biting fiercely at times into the moist roll. ‘*T’ll just stand this foolishness no longer,” muttered he, suddenly, rising to his feet and tossing his half-burned weed aside, ‘‘ Ab! here comesafemale. It strikes me that her face is familiar,” Huntway went to the window, stepred through, and stood on one end of a long porch that ran the full width of the house. At the present moment no one but himself was on the porch. He regarded the swiftly approaching girl, puzzled at seeing her so far from home at this hour, She came forward pantingly, and turned to- ward him a pair of pleading eyes, and a white face. ‘*Ah! Valeria, I did not anticipate this visit. I am honored--—” f Stop! Listen!” commanded she, with a ges- re. ‘* You must flee at once!” ‘* Indeed?” elevating his brows, ‘‘I don’t know that I have anything to flee from. In any event the duty of the highest county officer is here, at his post of dnty.” She came nearer, even venturing up the steps to his side. **Oh, flee at once!” she pleaded, with a queer look, her handssuddenly seizing hisarm, ‘* They have planned tt arrest you for murder and rob- bery! The whole town is aroused, and—and the mob will tear you to pieces! Quick, or it will be too late!” He could not help admiring her in the rile of a friend. What would he not have given to call her wife! Her words seemed to explain what had puzzled him all day He did not under- stand why this feeling against himself, and he | ageously. j { Flight in the face of a mob would be cowardly, ‘* Calm yourself, Valeria,” he said, soothingly. ‘There is no danger, Iam the highest county officer; they dare not arrest me,” ‘‘ Ah! but you do not know. The detective has been active, there’s not a road leading out of Pine Forks that is not guartied! He means that you shal! not escape,” ‘6 He?” " ‘Steele Sharp.” — Instantly the young sheriff thought of his ad-t venture of the previous night. How couid it be possible that the man whose life he had saved had turned against him? He did not utter his thoughts aloud, hcwever. He was not pre- pared to believe the situation as bad as Valeria feared, ‘* Please don’t alarm yourself, Valeria,” he said. ‘* They dare not harm me, I have doue nothing for which I should feel ashamed. You speak of crime in connection with my name, Will you explain?” ‘It is the ring that bas done it, sir, that awful ring! and the detective has it. I was foolish enough to turn it over to him.” ‘* My ring?” : He seemed surprised as he looked into her ace, ‘* Your ring, Clifford, You know how I ob- tained it. When the truth comes out, they will hang you by law, if not by Judge Lynch. Hea- ven knows how I have suffered since that night you attempted to silence the wounded messenger with a knife. I’ve hadtheringsince, I—I can- not see you hang, Clifford, Flee for my sake, even though we never meetagain, I know lam doing wrong, tbat I ought to turn against you, but—but I cannot. Don’t delay. There are horses in the stable back of this house, Mount one and ride for your life!” W hat was she saying in rapid tones while ber soft hands clutched his arm? Somehow a vague idea of the truth dawned on his brain. He looked down the street and saw a crowd ap- proaching. He could readily understand that something was wrong. But to flee like a coward, that was not pleas- ant to contemplate. 2 ‘*For your sake, you say, Valeria? Do yon ¥ then care for me the least bit?’ He seized her hand and penetrated her with a keen gaze, full of smothered passion. Her pallid cheeks flushed and her head drooped, Hoe was answered, and his soul was thrilled at a look from her glorious eyes, as if had never been thrilled before, He raised her hand to his lips, then said, quickly: *“Do you believe me guilty of any crime, Valeria, even the least?” No answer, ‘Sneak! he demanded. ‘If you believe I could do awrongaction [ will not stir from here, but die in my tracks if the worst comes!” She looked up into his pale face and said: ‘* Tell me truly, are you innocent of this crime —the robbery and attempted murder of Jasper Flake?” ‘‘f am innocent,” he returned, without a quiver in his voice. ‘IT believe you, Clifford,” She put both hands confidingly in his, while her eyes filled with tears, ‘* Heaven bless you, Valeria!” He bent and kissed ber,then turned asa heavy hand fell upon his shoulder and a stern voice “ Clifford Huntway, you are my prisoner!” CHAPTER XIII. A GIRL’S SHOT, VALERIA uttered a cry of dismay. The young sheriff looked into the dark face of ustranger, The fellow had evidently come from the house, doubtless entering by the back way, thus coming uvon Huntway unawares, dignant voice, at the same time backing a ste; and looking the man square In the eyes, “Come peaceably, sir, and I may be able to git you to a place of ssfety before ther mob comes,” growled the man, who wes alnvst a giant in size, and from bis terrible presence had doubtless been selected for the work he was now engaged in, ‘* If you have set the mob upon cfficers of Jaw,, you are the the one who will find yourself under arrest,” cried Huntway,sternly, ‘* Perheps you have forgotten whom you are addressing. [am the sheriff of this county and tbe only man, save my deputies, autborized to make an arrest, Step aside and let me pass,” . “¢ Hands off!” commanded the sheriff, in enin-— — = 3 nr et MG Se PO a Ee 2 P28 ir a OP ‘< — ee ee ER Ay 4 4 yt Tye. 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