The Brand Burners of Cimarron — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

af - a a e * - * - ™ ° ~~ Sie Rs “" ——- rt 20 ‘The Brand-Burners of Cimarron. cattle thieves and brand-burners who have been raiding ranches over there, and who are said to rendezvous near here. I thought you were he, perhaps? ”’ sé Naw! 9? ‘Can it be you’re a: brahd burner?” “T’m Lariat Dick, Panhandle cowboy, I tells yer—wuss luck! ” “ And I don’t believe you! ” * Yer don’t? ” “i Gon th" * Don’t, then! ” ** Softly! You are in a bad predicament, my friend. You must clear your skirts.” “*F’m what? * Suspicion! * S’picion? ” “You were engaged in a felonious as- sault upon the honest settlers residing here when we appeared,” “Yer reckon so?” “I saw the act.” “But ther mis’abul rascals hed ther gals tied.” “ Because those girls were under arrest for aiding and abetting the brand burn- ers! ” “JT don see de gals tied an’ chipped in, Ole Gimlet eyes.” “You're gallant! ” The purring tones ended with a snarl. Quickly stepping back, the chief ad- dressed each of his followers in an under- tone, then covertly watched as they ad- vanced, one by one, and scrutinized the face of the prisoner. Cool and undaunted, Goldspur returned stare for stare, gibe for gibe. Thus far, his cunning disguise had served him well, and he began to ‘hope that he might escape detection. Slowly the review dragged, until the last man of the desperate clan had peered keenly into the bronzed face of the capt- ive, and yet no hint of recognition came. Then one of the masked and cowled figures whispered a sentence in the ear of the chief. A start of surprise, or in- credulity, and the beady black eyes again scanned the face of the captive. But nothing was to be read there, be- yond a trace of defiance that anon broke through the skillfully-simulated expres- sion of blank wonderment, and the out- law leader shook his head, muttering, just above his breath: “ Surely, it can’t be, Pallas!” “T’ll stake my life I shaved that head last night, Captain Brand! And I have with me the gold piece that bribeaq my tongue to silence.” “Tf it be so—” 4 “ Caution, then, and let us learn in se- cret.” “Prudent as ever, Pallas. right! ” No word of this whispered colloquy reached the ears of Goldspur, although he readily understood that he was the subject discussed. Turning to his men, Captain Brand told off five, and ordered them to start at once with the prisoners. “ You will keep them apart, and permit no communication between the major and the girls,” he explained. ‘“‘ Proceed at once to headquarters, where we shall fol- low you presently.” That the outlaw chief ruled with an iron hand then became evident. The five desperadoes promptly brought out the prisoners and departed in an orderly manner and without question. “Now, Pallas, we'll demonstrate the truth or falsity of your theory without further loss of time,’ Captain Brand ex- plained when the retreating body had passed beyond hearing. “Just hold the lamp for me, will you?” Palas complied, with sycophantic eager- ness. Seating himself astride of the help- less detective, the captain again peered keenly into that bronzed and seemingly immobile visage. “Tt hardly seems possible, Pallas,” You are Brand continued, while the others looked on. “In my experience it is a peculiarity of these bloodhounds to quail when you get them in a tight place. But this fel- tow doesn’t quail.” isan Bes - 7 5 . 7 of a i . Tn oF. ee t A * et ri a S> ” S aad - ‘ e 7h: *) rv + “4 ~ee rw @ ee’ i o sr . . . a | e os + —_. “All the more dangerous, sir.” “Really? Notice what hideous hair the fellow has, gentlemen—black, long and harsh! Ah—h! ” While speaking in that peculiarly pur- ring tone, Captain Brand had carefully entwined his fingers in the coarse black locks of the detective’s wig. The exclam- ation was preceded by a violent wrench, and he held the artificial covering aloft. “ Gentlemen, you see?” Then he playfully dashed the mass of hair in the detective’s face, exclaiming: “My dear Goldspur! How do you feel?” “A precious sight less comfortable than I would be with your carcass elsewhere,” was the unmoved retort. “You no longer lay claim to the title of Lariat Dick, 1 suppose? ”’ “No. Unlike yourself, Captain Brand, my own handle is good enough, just now! ” “Gentlemen, you hear! He admits he is that accursed spy, Detective Goldspur, and virtually defies us. What are we to do?” “There is but one thing we can do,” Pallas declared. ~, A * Kill him! ” “And you, gentlemen?” “Pallas is right,” the three outlaws agreed, “So be it, then! men,” Moodily Captain Brand stared down into the unflinching face of the helpless detective. His beady black eyes, gleaming through the holes in his mask, caught an odd glitter from the flame of the lamp, and Goldspur started. 7 Faint as it was, Brand detected the movement, and his fury, long suppressed, broke forth: “ Accursed spy!” he grated, jerking a knife from its scabbard. ‘“‘ You have al- most ruined us, and now you defy us! Well may you quiver, for this blade shall drink your blood! ” “*« Threatened men live long,’ Captain Brand! ” “ Quiver, I say! Beg—plead! ” “ Never!—you soulless cur! ” Half rising from the prostrate man, the outlaw leader vttered an oath, and raised the knife to strike. Then a vivid flash filled the window. A heavy report jarred the air, and the knife, struck by a pistol ball, fell from Captain Brand’s hand to the floor! Before any of the outlaws could move, a nimbled figure bounded across the threshold, hat in hand, and the elfish voice of Gimps rang through the room, crying: “Skip, po’ds—skip quick! Thar’s fifty men comin’! ” Stand back, gentle- Run—run! CHAPTER XXV. GIMPS UNFOLDS A TALE. A stroke of lightning playing in their midst could scarcely have created confu- sion and consternation greater than that wrought by the mysterious shot and the words of the urchin. The outlaws, led by the redoubtable Captain Brand, bounded through the doorway facing the north, just as a num- ber of shots rang out, and quickly disap- peared in the darkness. Prompt as was that disgraceful exit, it was discounted in celerity of movement by Gimps. A sweep of the hat in his hands extinguished the light, and then, grasping the knife, he fairly fell upon Goldspur. “Mum's ther word, perfessor! ” he tn- formed, in a shrim and panting whisper, while groping for the detective’s bonds, “Keep up yer nerve! I’m wid yer! ” Then the blade sawed its way through the cords, with more or less damage to cuticle, and Goldspur scrambled to his feet—free. . “Glory to Jasper, perfessor! Wasn’t et—’’ “ Just a minute, Gimps! ”’ Stepping quitkly to the north door, the ~— ee + ~ san ¥ 4 neg /" » . é xe ”" yet pd 7 ‘ ® > > <! ) La 4 2; é' os “: lees tla - wee ’ ve otcin Ben he : a %. yi Oy gos ms =.’ t * aS a ‘ detective listened a moment, then turned back, saying: “They're in full flight, Gimps, and I owe you my life! ” “ Sams 0’ Davis, no! Perfessor, et was ther other feller.” “The other fellow? ” “Ther chap at ther window. An’ oh, vO! But that was a dizzy shot! Jest w’en my heart was flutterin’ like a geese in ther mud, too! ” “Let me understand you, Gimps. The man at the window—” “He did ther shootin’, perfessor.” “Who was he?” * Don’t know.” “But you saw him—you planned with him? ” “Nit! Et was spontan’us combustion. He planned and I figgered, but I didn’t see him till he poked his hand in ther window an’ shot.” Goldspur mused a moment. “ Could it have been Pawnee, or was it Lightfoot?” he muttered. “Not knowin’, perfessor, I don’t feel ekal tér answer.” “Well we'll drop it for the present, Gimps. The man, whoever he was, has evidently gone in pursuit of Captain Brand and his men. I must do like- wise.” “ An’ I'll keep ye company, perfessor.” “You? *Shorely! When et comes ter a thing o’ this kind, I reckon I’m ekal ter a bull- rake in a medder.” _ “YJt’s dangerous, boy. You'd better re- turn to Tiptop.” “I’m jiggered thar, game, perfessor. Besides, over with news.” “Very well, I’ll hear you presently. “But what brought you out here, just at this time?” “Thet’s part o’ ther news, perfessor.” “Wait, then. Strike a light. My weap- ons are here, and I must secure them.” Gimps obeyed, and in another minute Goldspur was again in fossession of his weapons. When he had replaced his wig, the light was extinguished, and the man and the boy quitted the cabin. The sounds of horsemen crashing heay- ily through the undergrowth off to the northwest could be heard, and the detect- ive hastened in that direction, with Gimps at his heels. They had proceeded but a few rods, however, when a signal call jarred the crisp air, and Goldspur stopped, “It is Pawnee,” he explained, answer- ing the call. ‘‘ We'll await him here.” The deputy soon appeared, followed by Danger and the prisoner, Denver Red. The two officers briefly compared notes, and the pursuit was resumed. “ Bub, you’re keen as a tack,” Pawnee commented. ‘“ You gave Captain Brand a turn he’ll never forget.” “Ner fergive! My, no! But ye’re ter blame, Pawnee. Yer gun putt ginger in ther snap, or ther perfessor’s cake w’u’d shore ’a’ bin dough. Honest, I hed ager in ther knees till yer pop popped.” “Tt was a brave act, Gimps, and showed both courage and shrewdness,” Goldspur asserted, warmly. “I'll never forget it, little pard. “ But come, now—you spoke of news?” “Yep! Fu’st an’ fo’mos’ly, Peggs an’ his wife hev levanted.” “Skipped? ” “Just at dark, perfessor. They was warned off by Cap’n Brand. I got in ther house when they left, an’ found his note. Ye kin read et when ye gits a light.” The urchin thrust a crumpled sheet of paper into the detective’s hand, and pro- ceeded: “ Next, One-eyed John hes made a shift in ther program, an’ ther weddin’ thet was ter be is not ter be. Belmont flunked. Glory ter Goshen! But ther Spaniard was mad,.an’ he bu’sted ther combina- tion.” “You heard the quarrel, Gimps?” “Bt was in ther air, perfessor, an’ I’d after this little I’m _ bubblin’ icbhook: oe