The Brand Burners of Cimarron — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

fei ies OGCO fF cr ’ sie tla itt ei a cai mB ct le, , floor, mervously. rae ye a Soya : es ; ae et — Pegges, returning from the old ranch house. “ Hallo! ” the detective hailed. ‘“ Hold up a minute, can’t you? Did you meet a man just now—the man who uttered that cry?” “Did I? Bagonets! ter—” “You did, then, Mr. Peggs?”’ The veteran started, peered stupidly at his questioner, and demanded: *““Who’re you?” “ Goldspur.” “Wal, I met ther stra: He skeered my mule an’ upset ther cart—dang ’im! ” “And did you notice which way he went?” “Int’ ther big tim’er on ther west. Ye eain’t ketch ’im. He runs like a deer. Vum !—yes.” Goldspur studied a moment, then stepped toward the cart to seat himself beside the veteran. But Peggs had been slyly preparing to terminate the inter- view. Under cover of the darkness, his whip descended viciously and the vehi- ele rolled rapidly away. “ Confound the fellow!” the detective muttered. “He acts queerly. Where's the rub? Fainted this morning—runs away now. Peggs, my lad, you're hiding a blemish. I'll find it! ” With that, Goldspur retraced his steps and sought Dr. Antitox. “The man went south and entered the big timber,” the detective explained when he had. found the physician. ‘“‘To look there to-night would be the old story of the needle and the haystack.” “ Yes, such a search would be useless,” the doctor agreed. ‘“ We will have to wait till morning.” The two men were standing in the Shadow at the corner of a building. Di- rectly behind them was the foot of a wooden stairway leading to the upper which was a sort of public hall. Beneath this stairway a crouching, in- distinct shape quickly appeared, and a blinking black eye, aglow with a sinister light, peered sharply at them through the space between two of the steps. This spy was none other than Spanish John, The detective, it will be remembered, was in the assumed character of Hercules Redrock. Surprise at seeing the pretend- ed sport and Dr. Antitox together and apparently on confidential terms, quickly deepened into suspicion on the part of the gambler, and he had stealthily crept beneath the stairs, where nearly every word that passed between the two mén, no matter how guarded the voice, could be distinctly heard. At the moment Spanish John assumed this position he was wholly unsuspicious of the pretended Redrock’s true identity; but he was not to remain long in ig- norance. A few unimportant remarks passed be- tween the two men, and they seemed about to separate when the following oc- curred: “ Come—spend the night with me, Gold- spur.” | “Thank you, doctor; no. I shall re- main at the camp-house. To go else- where might seriously disarrange my plans. “But if you are homeward bound I'll accompany you a part of the distance, for I am going to turn in quickly.” That was all Spanish John heard, for the two men at once moved away. But it was enough. He had penetrated the de- tective’s cunning disguise, and his eye snapped and sparkled as he crept from the covert. Meanwhile, Goldspur and the doctor had proceeded but a few rods when they met Pegg, the cobbler. The, veteran was greatly perturbed, and the night dark, but he recognized Anti- tox and stopped him. “Doc, my gal is missin’,” he informed, “Hey ye seen ‘her? J “T have not, Peggs. But I daresay she'll turn up all right. At some of the neigh- Consarn ther crit- / pore, haat ll | ret ra i ey" we _ ifn pial th ts : - ~ — + er dilate al - 2 = _ Ga v > if : tes nee er, 4 : Lal Se - The Brand-Burners of Cimarron. “No, I tell ye, she’s missin’. Su’thin’s happened her. supper ter do an errand, an’ she ain’t come back,” “And it is now after midnight. It does look suspicious. Have you made any at- tempt to find her?” “No. I’ve bin away all evenin’, jest got home,” “An’ Miss Ranger?” interjected the detective, keeping up his assumed char- acter. “She with yer gal?” “No, stranger, thet’s ther queer part 0’ et. She started ter ther camp-house soon es supper was over ter see Brown’s cawpse afore et was laid away, an’ she ain’t come back.” “ How ye know they ain’t tergether? ” Pegges was silent. “Vum! Et might be,” he admitted, after a moment. “ Anyway, both gals aire gone, an’ Mommy’s nigh crazy. I sw’ar I don’t know what ter do.” “Go tell ther Marshal.” “Thar hain’t no Marshal.” “Tiptoe is not incorporated,” Antitox explained, then added: “ You’d better go home, Peggs, and let me attend to the matter.” “Ef I ec’u’d see Lucky Luke—” “T’ll see him and explain. He can call at your house to get the facts.” “ All right, doc, ef ye will. I’m too shaky ter be any good. Good-night.” “ By ther way, Mr. Peggs, ye war away, ye say?” the detective asked, as the vet- eran turned to depart. sé Yas. *) “C’u’'d ye tell us jest whar ye was?” “Bagonets! I ec’u’d, but I won’t. Whar I was cuts no figger.’’ “ Perhaps not. Wal good-night.” Peggs walked away. The doctor and Goldspur turned and retraced their steps a short distance, then paused. “ What's up?” Antitox asked. “I took the cue from your nudge, but I confess I’m in the dark.” “As aml. But I suspect Peggs is keep- ing something back. In a word, I believe he has spirited the girls away! ” “ But his object, man—’” ‘Who can say? But let us drop this branch of the subject. “Tell me, doctor, who is this Lucky Luke? ” “Luke Lightfoot.” “ Sport?” “ Yes; and hunter. He is said to be the best trailer in the territory.” “ And his character? ” “You can trust him. need help, he’s your man. him.” “T do need just that. Pawnee has gone to the Cimarron, and there are two trails to look up at daylight.” an’ Indeed, if you Il’ll vouch for “Very good. Luke is your man. If you'll come with me—” “No, doctor; we must work secretly. No one must see me with the hunter. You find him, and bring or send him to the camphouse.” Antidox, whose interest was aroused, readily agreed. Soon thereafter, Goldspur entered the camphouse. The building was | dark, silent, and deserted. Lighting a lamp, the detective drew down the curtains, pushed a chair to the table, and sat down, A moment later he* heard steps with- out. Then the door was thrust open, and two men stepped into the apartment. They were tall, sinewy fellows, bearded, and wore their hats slouched closely over their eyes. “ Pvenin’, pard,”’ the foremost saluted. “Gentlemen, good-evening.” ‘* Lonesome? ” “Oh, no; not much. * The appearance of the men impressed Goldspur unfavorably. Moreover, their presence at that time would prevent his interview with Lightfoot, and he decid- ed to withdraw and await the sport out- side. But at that juncture the door was again flung open, this time to admit three men. In appearance, these newcomers were keenly ee eee S- She left home right after 4» ’ ont i 7 r at i oe Ww x Pied skit i ARTE re. aa gl AM RS 2 7) a ie , t% ‘ yee A vy " > ’ ce ms é Wwe: i aia Ek uke vs Sa ald tty » Jie Vv - ; a _ % 11 even more repulsive than their predeces- sors. All eyed the disguised detective in a covert but critical and sinister manner, while they were moving about the room, and his doubts as to the character and purpose of the men quickly vanished. They were outlaws, and their mission was to entrap him! As that thought assailed him, Gold- spur coolly arose and stepped from be- hind the table. At the same moment the two men seated beside the door sprang to their ‘feet, and the taller one . exclaimed: “Hold on, pard! We wants ter do a leetle business with yer! ” CHAPTER XIV. A GRIM DISCOVERY. The voice of the outlaw was at once deep and significant, sinister and terrible. He had pushed his hat back, and a hid- eous smile distorted his face. At the same time he brandished a long knife which he had drawn from a sheath — in his belt—an example quickly followed by his comrades in crime. Of the trio, two had assumed positions beside the windows. The third man re- mained standing near the centre of the room. Thus, every outlet was securely guarded, while the extra Man was near enough to the detective to grapple him at the firat st of resistance. The five outlaws felt that they had plotted most cunningly, and the glitter of the five blades flashing in the lamp- light was not @ whit more cruel and menacing than the gleam in the half- score eyes watching the detective. Goldspur stood cool and impassive. His Javert-like instinct had prepared him for the denouement, and he gave no evidence of surprise. His fearless blue eyes glanced at each of the miscreants in turn, then flashed back to the spokes- man, ; “ Business, eh?” he returned. “ Hexactly! ” “State it.” “Yer bin stealin’ hosses! ” “ You’re a liar! ” “No hard words, pard. We've got yer! ” “Poof! You are bungling rascals. Do you think that flimsy charge conceals your purpose?” “Tt’ll do! ” “Do for what?” “Ter hide what we does! ” «e Oh! Ped “Yas. Yer see, when yer karkus is found ter-morrer with a hoss-thief kyard on et, everybody’ll say, ‘Sarved ’im right *) 3 The detective laughed. “Upon my word, you seem sure of the game,” he remarked. “We is, an’ now calls on yer ter s’ren- der.” “Tf I refuse? ” “Thar’s five o’ us.” “TIT see there are.” “Sport, no more foolishin’ goes. Yer must come ter Limerick!” , “Oh! JI thought there were five of you! ” The outlaw uttered a snarl of rage. It dawned upon him that Goldspur was merely parleying to gain time. “ Forward!—all!” he grated, brand- ishing his knife. The four men promptly obeyed—the more readily, perhaps, because the de- tective had as yet refrained from draw- ing a weapon. ; With a single backward step, Gold- spur retreated behind the table, where he seized and. extinguished the lamp, which he instantly hurled at the near- est of his foes.. The next breath, the table followed the lamp, and then he caught up the heavy chair and swung it— rapidly around his head. Dire confusion followed. In the in- tense gloom, the outlaws were unable to dodge the missiles, both of which took effect. Then the chair struck another