The Brand Burners of Cimarron — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

Se Ss bale - . os) v= ty ess > .- = ries. Te a ee - re, a 2a os ns aw . Ope hee The Brand-Burners of Cimarron. ~~ “ A eee # the two Territories, not to mention my- self, Pawnee,” Talbott declared. ‘‘ Those fellows meant murder, and had me se- lected as the victim.” “So I saw. There’s been a standing order to take them, dead or alive, for three months past. I’ll make my report, and I wish you’d send a man in to Guth- rie with it and the bodies, Talbott.” “ Certainly.” “Then, there’s another matter. I dropped into town this morning to see you concerning a Major Duncan, who passed through here two days ago, but you were away.” “Yes. He did pass through just before dark day before yesterday, Pawnee. An old man, going to Tiptop.” “So I learned. Well, he met with foul play a mile or two beyond the river, and is held captive back in the timber. I’ve got the place located. There were six men there this afternoon, and I want to get help to rescue ‘him.” “You shall have it, and to make the case sure, I'll pick the men myself.” “Good. Get them as soon as you can. I'll be here, ready, in an hour.” Hardly had Marshal Talbott turned away, when an alarm of fire rang through the town, calling every one to the streets. The woodland, both east and west, was burning fiercely, and for some little time the town itself was threatened, although surrounded by fire-guards of burned land. Then, when the danger was past, it yas found that the sentries posted along the river to watch for the approach of the cattle thieves thad been compelled, to a man, to abandon their posts and return to town. “Luck is shore with them cusses,” growled Foss Martin. “Ef they slip by now, we'll never find ther mark o’ hoof, fer they’ll leave ther river an’ scatter over ther burnt kentry, whar ashes’! fill ther prents es fast es made.” Both Talbott and Pawnee Bill were forced to admit the truth of the old cat- tleman’s plaint. - Shortly thereafter the marshal report- ed with six men, well mounted, and armed. The-deputy was in readiness, and led the way out of town at a gallop. Fording the river, the party proceeded direct to the spot where Major Duncan had been captured, two days earlier, then turned westward and rode slowly through the blackened timber. The better part of an hour was con- Sumed thus, then Pawnee suddenly drew Tein, and uttered a sharp cry of disap- pointment. Just ahead lay a heap of smoldering ruins, and it was this that had drawn the cry from the deputy. “ There stood their cabin,” he explained. “The major was hidden in an old wolf- pit beneath it. But the fire has driven them out, and I must look elsewhere. “ Talbott, the boys may as well go back to town, now. It may be days before I locate the gang again.” “That’s true, Pawnee, but if you need help—” “ A still hunt will be better, I believe, Talbott.” “As you will, sir; but, when you are ready for help, call us.” The quarter-blood thanked the marshal, then calmly watched the posse turn and depart. When they had passed beyond sight and hearing, he dismounted, spoke to his horse, and approached the ruins of the cabin. The roof had fallen in, and the greater portion of the walls, but the stone chim- ney yet stood, and in a corner near it a yawning pit was open, showing that the outlaws had carried the prisoner with them in their flight. That a search for the trail, just then, would be worse than useless the deputy knew, for the steady north breeze con- stantly stirred and shifted the eimders “and ashes with which the ground was / iat = « ; ad Mi 7 “i Ax , ~ { Ve? 4 bat covered, quickly filling depressions and obliterating footprints of man and beast. “Yet they are not far away,” Pawnee \? 7 te it th q ee MI Fe yh + 41> - ie Ao ~ 7 “£. ™ ‘ . re Au 4 7 hee. ,;* , J ws) 48 + ts 7 Se a wie ded AP haa) ne ih Ae mused. “Even nearer, perhaps, than I suspect! ” Calling his horse to follow. he turned and walked away, laying his course toward a barren hill outlined against the western sky, and halted only when he had gained its summit. This point of vantage commanded a wide stretch of country. Away to the west was a light that he knew came through the window of a house, while off to the northwest was a similar gleam. This much ‘the saw in a single sweeping glance, and a careful scrutiny failed to add to his discoveries. “Tll try one, then the other,” he mut- tered. “If both fail, I’ll sleep and try for the trail at daylight.” Carefully noting the location of the nearer light, Pawnee mounted and rode toward it. Long ere he reached the foot of the hill, the ray was shut from view, but he held steadily onward, and in a little less than an hour reached the vicin- ity of the house. Again leaving his horse, the deputy silently approached the building, a small cabin, and peered in at the open window. Within, a man was seated at a table, busily engaged in cleaning his weapons. He was a tall, angular fellow, marked by a peculiarly pointed long red beard. When his gaze fell upon this man, Pawnee started. A second glance showed that the cabin possessed but the one occupant, and the deputy briskly advanced to the door and stepped inside. Instantly the red-bearded man jumped to his feet. “Hold on, Denver Red!” warned Pawnee, sharply. “I’ve got a mortgage on your life, right here, and if you stir 141 foreclose. Savey?” “Yer got ther drop, fast enough! ” sul- lenly. ‘“ And mean to keep it. Sit down, Den- ver, but keep your hands away from those tools. I want to talk to you.” ae ruffian scowled wickedly, but com- plied. ‘“You’ve had a fire over at the other place, I see,” the deputy continued. *Wihar? ” “You know—beyond the hill, over east. Did you bring the major here?” “I’m no good at riddles, Pawnee Bill! ” “I’ve got a dead-or-alive warrant for you, Denver Red! Answer: did you bring the major here?” “Don’t wait till I tells yer, Pard Pawnee! ” The deputy smiled, grimly. Then the re- volver in his hand cracked, and the heavy bullet grazed the lobe of the ruffian’s ear. Up ‘he sprang in sudden terror. “Fer ther love o’ marcy—” “Did you bring the major here? ” “Yes, yes, Pawnee! ” “ Where is he now? ”’ “Honest, now, 1 doesn’t know: Ther was six oO’ us thar, an’ ther fire run us out. Arter we got hyar, ther chief come along, an’ went away with ther others an’ ther major.” | “The chief, eh?” ‘Yes, Cap’n Brand.” “Who's he?” “I doesn’t know—I doesn’t know, Pawnee. workin’ on trial, an’ they doesn’t trust me yet.” “And never will, if they’re wise! But what direction did they take, Denver? ” “ North.” “ All right. We'll follow.” The deputy deftly manacled the outlaw, then secured a’ long piece of stout rope, which he attached to the handcuffs. That done, he extinguished the light, and with his prisoner left the cabin. Calling up his horse, Pawnee ordered the prisoner to mount and remain silent. Then, with the end of the rope in hand, he laid his course by the north star, and hastened toward the second cabin. A half-hour’s tramp brought the deputy to a small knoll from which he could again see the light, and he ordered Den- ver Red to dismount, eta bt lain >! 4 * >i. aed ime ea. . acy ty 4 Fi : ~ ee 5 2 Se I’m a new man in ther gang,. x ; + . + AS m 4 ' - . ¥ *4 ' » me iA ~ é , . 6 @ tn : sO Soe | EGE is \ | | a A ~ ~~ * P. - . , ae = - dl J al “ + > é 7 = oa y * P explained in a guarded tone, suiting ac- tion to words. “If you make an outcry or attempt to escape, the horse shall kill you, “Here, Danger! Watch this man. Make him stand, and keep him quiet.” The horse advanced, thrust his nose against the breast of the captive, and ut- tered a faint whinny. 19 “I am going to tie you to a tree,” he Denver Red shrank back in terror, an@ ' whimpered: “Lordy, Pard Pawnee! Don’t leave me alone with that brute! He’ll kill me!” “ Assuredly, if you stir or utter another sound! ” Laughing grimly, the deputy turned and hastened across a wide strip of plowed land lying between the tree and the cabin. A door was open and moving forms could be seen within. To avoid discovery, Pawnee made a slight detour, and cau- tiously approached a window in the end of the building. Voices came through the open casement —the first cool and contemptuous, the second fierce and threatening. A moment the deputy listened quietly while peering at the scene within. Then he quickly drew a revolver, thrust his hand through the casement, and fired! CHAPTER XXIV. GOLDSPUR’S PERIL When Detective Goldspur found him- self confronted by outlaws in overwhelm- ing force in the old cabin, he promptly shifted a revolver to cover the newcomers and stepped backward, planning to escape through the door by which the had en- tered, Three steps thus, then a pistol-lock clicked sharply behind him, and the muz- zie of the weapon was pressed firmly against his head. “Hold hard, stranger, fer ye’re up ag’in” et,” an ironical voice informed. “ Tip up yer flippers, please, till one o’ ther gen- ‘ tlemen in front relieves ye o’ them shoot- in’ irons,” The faintest show of resistance just then meant death swift and sure, and the disguised detective mechanically raised his hands until his weapons pointed to the roof. “ Thet’s et—thet’s proper an’ comfort- able! Now, pards! ” A rush followed, and in another minr- ute Goldspur was disarmed. The two girls witnessed this scene with terror-distended eyes. With the downfall of the daring intruder the hopes that had risen in their hearts died away. Yet neither had given any sign of recognition, and therein lay Goldspur’s only hope. * There, that will do,” the leader of the masked party announced, when the capt- ive’s wrists had been securely pinioned. “Cy—Jim, take the major and the girls into the other room and guard them closely. Do not let them talk.” Then men thus singled out obeyed the command, quietly and quickly, and the outlaw chief, waving back the others of his force, at once turned to the detective, crouching beside him, and staring down with gloomy, beady, black eyes. Stolidly Goldspur returned that stare, subtly distorting the natural lines of his face to lessen the danger of detection, while secretly striving to glimpse the identity concealed by the mask. Then a baffled scowl crossed the hid- den face and the chief spoke: “Who are you?” “Lariat Dick,” the detective answere@ in a voice befitting his assumed character. “ Who’re yer?” “ Softly! idly. Lariat Dick, eh? Cowboy?” “F’m ther Panhandle.” ‘“‘Or the Creek Nation? ” ‘Panhandle, I said.” “Pardon me! to meet a cowboy detective from the Creek country near here to-night to form plans for stamping out a band of lawless fe » J ’ < : Sf? > 4 Abe a - -« - Aa | : Vee Ch ~ Let us not progress too rap-" I had an appointment , on a ee ro a P ‘ _™/‘,, Bao Pa be oe *~ Ser 1% ang mir - _— se o <a \ *~ _* > m