Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 991 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 | Two Dudes from Doomed Camp. all “By whom? You have lived in this mine?” “Tt’s been my home for some time.” “You° must have seen the thief, then. He must have left some traces of his visits: to Heart-of-Gold Mine. Tell me what is this person like?” Samson Peters shook his head. “T never saw him in the mine,” said he. “I only know what his track is like. I know he stole the papers. He carried off the secret which Bandy Nick- ell left hidden here.”’ “His track, then! Where is it?” “This way,” said Peters. ‘“ But, just one minute. Be fair with me, miss. What has happened up there?” Nelly told the story of the mystery of Shakedown, omitting nothing in the murder mystery up to date, and while she talked the hermit of the old mine stood with folded arms against the wall, his face a picture of eargerness and his mien attention. “Who is the dead man?” asked Peters at the end of the narrative. Nelly shook her head. “The young gentlemen say they know, do they?” “They say so.” “TI don’t know about that. Only this I know—a terrible time is brewing up there. There will be bloodshed in Shake- down. I have heard the mutterings of the storm.” “ Heard them?” cried the girl. “Yes. You don’t believe me, but let me prove it.” Peters took the waif’s arm and led her from the chamber into a narrow pas- sage, dark and close. In a short time they paused, and the hermit’s hand pressed Nelly’s cheek against the wall. “Listen!” said he. “ This is my tele- graphic connection with the world up there. Isn’t it marvelous? You can hear the toughs of Shakedown! »Listen to that I must see that. gruff voice like the growl of a wild beast.” Nelly drew back with a cry. “Tt’s the voice of Mountain Kidd!” she exclaimed. CHAPTER V. MOUNTAIN KIDD INTERFERES. , Bob Hanley and Ben Park were cous- ins. Their fortunes had been interwoven from early life, and their companionship had increased with their growing years. Blessed with a fair share of this world’s goods, they had left home for the purpose of seeing the West, as well as to solve a little mystery regarded as of some importance in some quarters. Active and fearless, they had gained some fame in the new lands where they visited, and the title of the Dandy Dudes had been given them by the miners of the West. Just what their real mission is our story will unfold as it proceeds; suffice it to say now that they had come down to Shakedown on that mission. The report of the finding of the dead man by Alkali Tom had reached their last stopping place, and with quick intu- ition they seemed to realize that Shake- down was the place for them. The morning after the night of ex- citing scenes in the mining camp al- ready detailed dawned fair and beauti- ful. Bob and Ben were early astir, and walked out on the porch of Oregon Dave’s hotel to breathe the fresh air. They were noticed by a man who dodged around the corner of a cabin across the street, and this individual seemed to take more than a passing in- terest in the new comers. “Tll go an’ see ’em alone,” said he, and he came around the shanty and walked toward the hotel. The dudes recognized him as Mount- ain Kidd. He crossed the street and drew up in front of the Hotel Eden. “ Good-morning,” said he, looking up at the two friends and cousins. “JI thought we'd better have-a private con- fab before the rest o’ the camp catches on.” Bob leaned forward and answered: “ All right. I don’t fairly understand you. I can’t see why we should hold a consultation, seeing that our mission to Shakedown cannot interest the whole camn,”’ “Just so. It seems ter me that some one may have been a little fast last night, and I will just interview you a little. Shall it be here or in my shanty over there?” “Come up to our room,” suggested Bob, and Mountain Kidd sprang upon the porch, to be piloted to the room up stairs. In the room the giant folded his arms and leaned against the foot of the bed. ‘‘In the first place,’ said the, “the boys don’t like too much mystery all at one time. You understand? The man in Goldbug’s shanty was found dead at the white rock, an’ they consider that mys- tery enough, till after the funeral, any way,” “After that you will try to sift the matter to the bottom?” “Yes, that’s the intention.” “You don’t know the man?” Mountain Kidd shook his head. “There was nothing about the body that would identify it?” “Alkali Tom found nothing.” “The murderer took away everything that would tend to identify the dead man?” “TIT suppose so.” “That would be natural. Tom? ” “He went away yesterday an’ wou’t be back for a week.” “Where did he go?” Mountain Kidd seemed to grow rest- less under this inquisition and plainly showed his irritation. “See here,” he suddenly cried, “I don’t get to do much of the’ talkin’. You fellars do it all.” “Very well,” answered Bob, with a Smile. ‘“ Sail in!” The camp Hercules seemed to increase an inch in stature as he took in a full breath. He glanced at the door to make sure that it was shut, then he took a step forward and almost touched Bob’s face with bis whiskers. “Did they send you down here ter in- vestigate?’”’ was his first question. “Who?” ‘““T mean, did they send you down ter Shakedown ter find out all about the man’s death? You came from the north you say—from the Doomed Camp?” “You mean from Briggs’s?”’ “Yes. Did they send you—Captain Shadow and his pards?” “We are not sent by Captain Shad- ow,” assured Bob.. “I can answer that question emphatically. We came from no detective agency. We are not detect- ives in that sense of the word, but we have a right to solve this murder mys- tery if we can.” “JT don’t dispute that right, but it seems to me that you've got'your hands full.” Where is . : a oe , , ; Si le 7 : Tl ge 2 UROP Ue ee A ep) ah ay ee Loe ee /p* pe, Je ~~ ‘ Ms Ee f “uy * ; tebe . = » 4 = Cn \/ if \ | ~ f | | Ae eT ME eh ee fy! 4) Bob and Ben looked at one another and smiled. “That may be, Captain Kidd, but we are here to ferret out the mystery. I know there are some men in Shakedown who will not care about giving us any aid or sympathy, but that does not di- minish our zeal in this matter.” “No? Well, if Captain Shadow did not send you, and if you don’t intend ter run across our path, you kin hunt the mystery all you please; but, be careful! This is Shakedown. No other camp like it on top o’ ground.” “You mean that we must go go far and no further?” “That’s pretty much what I mean.” “ You mean, then, that if we approach the solution of this mystery and if it in- volves some prominent citizen of Shake- down City we must give up the hunt at once,” Mountain Kidd was silent. “You kin infer what you think best from my remarks,” he growled. “I can’t explain. The dead man in Dan’s cabin may have deserved the fate that oaver- took him.” “That will come to light by and by. He was foully murdered, no matter what he deserved, but we are not prepared. to indorse your opinion of the matter.” Mountain Kidd backed to the door, with his face still turned to the young detectives, his eyes in a rage. “You kin go too far in this case. We're a peaceful set o’ men; haven’t our like in the world when the fur is rubbed the right way; but rub it the wrong way. and see what’ll happen! Good-mornin’, gentlemen. We intend ter plant the Un- known this afternoon over on the hill.” He had opened the door by putting his hand behind his back, and in another moment had closed it again. “The autocrat of Shakedown,” said 7 Ben, as he looked at his cousin. “The storm centre,’ was the answer, while the heavy boots of Mountain Kidd sounded on the stairs. “We must pre- pare to meet this man in his own home. He is the head of the roughs of Shake- down, and it is with him that we must deal.” | Down in the lower room they heard the voice of the giant as he talked in loud tones to Oregon Dave. “Why did you give ‘em room?” said he, ‘‘ Don’t you know the rules of the camp?” ‘“T know the rules that you made a year ago, but I am here ter accommo- date the public.” There was a laugh, and the big man seemed to walk upon the porch. “If anything happens through them,” said he, in a voice of defiamce, “if any- thing occurs ter mar the peace of Shake- down through the dudes up stairs, them the Hotel Eden will go up in smoke.” “And the man who makes the first move will never live to complete it,’ was the reply, and the voice of the land- lord died away. Kidd strode across the street, but glanced up at the window of the cousins” room and seemed to grit his teeth. The rising sun shone upon his giant frame and his broad-brimmed hat, with the rattlesnake band, and he tossed back the long hair which the cool, crisp breeze blew into his face. Bob and Ben descended, and entered the bar-room of the Hotel Eden, where they found Oregon Dave quietly cleaning; a formidable revolver. “JT guess you've got me inter trouble,’ he remarked, with a smile, as he looked up and greeted his guests. “We hope not,” “Mountain Kidd isn’t in the hest a” » 7 an ue - * ‘ “/) )! s Videos “\6 7 eee ee Neer . ~ ¢