The Brand Burners of Cimarron — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

-out hard words. 22 ————- the creek bed is used for a drive-way, and the gate again opened, restoring the stream to its normal proportions and washing out the trail. ‘‘ Understand, Goldspur, I do not vouch for the correctness of this information. It is all hearsay, picked up among the men.” “1 understand, sir.” “The cattle will reach the brand-burn- ers’ corral some time to-night, where everything will be in readiness. To-mor- row the herd will be rebranded, driven off in small bunches, and sold in the towns along the Santa Fe as soon as practicable,” This statement caused Pawnee to start uneasily, and he bent a sharp glance on the captive. “ You are sure of that?” he asked. “T have repeated just what I heard, gir.” “The information is correct, I judge,” Goldspur averred, and he recounted the conversation he had overheard between Noolan and Dandy Dave on the river bank, “Then we must round up the rascals to-morrow, or I shall have to own my- self beaten! ” ‘“ Precisely, Pawnee,” “The deputy turned to the prisoner and asked: “Ts the corral near?” “Tt is not many miles distant, sir, and is south of the river. More than that I do not know.” ‘‘ What force will be there?” “Probably a dozen men.” “ More than we could handle, I fear, for they are desperate fellows. “ Goldspur, if you will remain in camp here, I’ll ride to P——, secure help, and return before morning.” “That is our only hope, Pawnee.” The two officers drew aside and held a whispered consultation. When this was ended the deputy secured his horse and departed. Just as Goldspur resumed his seat, Gimps appeared with a brief message from Lightfoot. As the lad concluded, he glanced at the prisoner. Then his face paled and his eyes gleamed fiercely. “What is it, Gimps?” Clear as a bugle call came the reply: “That man, sir—Jack Rabbit, the sport! “Twas he who killed and robbed my father! ”’ CHAPTER XXVIII. A GLANCE BACKWARD. Nearly a month prior to the scene just described, in a cottonwood grove on the banks of the Arkansas River, one night, a number of men were encamped. These men were freighters and travel- ers, journeying in various directions, and all stopping’ for the night at this one spot, because of the abundance of wood, water, and grass to be found there. The numerous camp-fires blazing through the grove showed many vehicles seattered about, while in the edge of the plain back of the timber a large number -of horses were picketed. As the night advanced, many of the fires died out; but near the centre of the grove one was kept blazing high, while near it on a wagon sheet, beneath a num- ber of lanterns, six men sat gambling. The game was for high stakes, and the spectators looked on with intense inter- est, fearful that out of the play a tragedy would spring, for three of the players were of ill repute, and notorious along the border as desperate men. But the game ended at last, and with- A stranger had won—a man of cool, decisive manner, whom. the roughs seemed to fear, for they permitted him to depart without challenge. This man was Goldspur, disguised as ‘9 rancher. As he moved away from the central fire to turn in for the night he - maused:. | | | “What peculiar eyes the fellow had! “Tn disguise, too, and a thorough rascal! - * so i « ae 4 ao ~ 4 - *. pind bat nh te” -« > eA ae , ’ bs ¢ : Ba . : beg (| Y ‘ tice APRS of , nad ~~, - he tl car, io. Ff > ee i ' ry a aly ‘ Saeed Lite ne er ee ¥v Mi 4 oye ie ? " Neo te TY ~ J > 3 rein , , a, —_ 7 S Yh ee ay Pe nh } ' : “a4! 7. y i hae i ‘ wit? >, + : : > vy ‘ : ’ en 4 " . eet nf mi . . ’ " 3 - “I did well to note his features care- fully, for we shall meet again, I feel.” Then he looked to his horses, which were tethered in the grove, took a couple of blankets from his pack saddle, pre- pared a bunk between two trees, and lay down. At this moment a man and a boy de- scended from a white-topped wagon near by, and approached the detective. “ Sir,” said the man in a cautious voice, “I’ve come ter putt ye on yer guard. Them chaps over yonder are outlaws, some o’ them, an’ ye’ll do well ter sleep with an eye open. “Ye won good money from them ter- night, an’ showed much more, so be keer- ful, or they’ll get all afore day.” “Thank you, my friend. I’ll heed your warning, for I have no desire to be robbed, I assure you,” the detective re- plied, and a moment later the man and the boy turned back to their wagon. Goldspur meant to be as good as his word, for the appearance of the men around the fire had aroused his suspicions before the warning was given, but, wear- ied by a day’s hard riding, he quickly fell into a doze, from which he was suddenly awakened by a heavy weight upon his chest—a stifling clutch on his throat. He attempted to cry out, but the shout did not rise above a hollow gasp. Then he became conscious of a swift patter of feet near by, just as a crushing blow left him senseless. When consciousness returned the de- tective found himself surrounded by a half-dozen friendly faces, and at once sat up, bewilcered. “Well?” he asked. “They tried to rob ye,” some one ex-~- plained. “Who did?” “Ther sport, Jack Rabbit.” “Yes. I remember something now. Tell me of it.” “ Half a dozen voices arose at once. ‘‘You tell me,” the detective requested, laying his hand on the arm of the one who had first spoken. “ Silence, all! ” “Wal, ther sport hed ye fast enough, but Solomon Gimps caught on—” “ Solomon Gimps ?” “Yas; ther man with a boy in a wagon clost by whar ye laid. He see’d ther thing, an’ jumped out. Then the sport clipped ye over ther head with his pistol butt, an’ made fer Solomon, an’ knifed an’ robbed him. He’d a got you, too, but ther boy, wakened by ther fracas, raised an alarm just as he turned back, an’ ther critter hed ter skip.” “The boy recognized Jack Rabbit?” “No; et was dark thar. But a man saw ther sport prowlin’ ’round whar ye lay a bit before et happened.” “ Ah, you’ve got the sport, then?” “No; we hed him, but while we fixed a rope ter hang him, he made a break an’ got away.” , “He denied it, of course?” “©’ course. They allers do.” “ And this man—who was he?” “ Don’t know his name. He’s ther chap with ther queer eyes, who, lost so much ter-night.”’ “ He’s here, I suppose? ” “ Yes, somewhar around.” “ Bring him here, will you?” Four of the men hurried away. They were gone some little time, and came back one by one. All had the same re- port. The man with the strange eyes was ‘missing! Meanwhile the freighter remaining be- side the detective had continued: * An’ Solomon Gimps, he’s dead.” “Dead! Poor fellow! I am sorry to hear that. So his attempt to serve me cost him his life?”’ “ Yes, sir; an’ et’s sad, too, fer et leaves ther kid alone in ther world.” “No, not alone, my man, for while I live that shall not be said. Where I go, he shall go, and my home shall be his home. “ Fetch him here, will you?” “T am here, sir, I have heard your > - ‘ Py See Tost. ateu, Li Se) ae. ADS & kindly words, and I thank you with all my heart,’ a firm, though boyish, voice responded, and into view stepped the lad. His face was pale, with eyes red and swollen, but there was that in the youth- ful visage and clear gray eyes which won the detective’s approval, and he beckoned the boy toward him. “Leave us, for the present,” he re- quested, and the freighters obeyed, while eagtre: drew the boy to a seat beside im. “Now, my lad—your name?” he asked, “ Joseplt Gimps, sir.” ‘< Age? 2? “ Fourteen.” “You live near here? ”’ “ Until a month ago, sir, I lived in St. Louis. Since that time I have traveled with my father.” “Is it true, Joseph, that your father’s death leaves you alone?” “It is perfectly true, sir.” “Are you willing to accompany me?” “When I have avenged my father’s death, I shall be, sir.” “ Boy, that duty falls to me. He gave his life in defense of mine.” “Sir, the duty is mine, but I shall be glad of your assistance.” “Very well, Joseph, you shall have it.” “TIT thank you, sir.” “Now, Joseph, I will tell you a secret. I am a detective.” “T knew as much, sir.” “ Indeed? ” “Yes; I heard two men talking last night, in whispers. They said you were Detective Goldspur.”’ “Your report is far from flattering, Joseph. I supposed myself unknown. “ But the men—are they here now?” “No, sir. They were leaving camp when I overheard them. It was just after . the gambling ceased.” “Well, well! But how would you like to become a detective, boy?” “ Above all things, sir! Then I could surely trace down my father’s slayer.” “Can you act the gamin?” ‘‘I can, yes, sir.” “Very well; when we leave here, that shall be your role.’ I shall call you Gimps.” With this brief retrospect in mind, let us turn again to the scene beside the can- yon camp fire. CHAPTER XXVIII. GIMP’S DISCOVERIES. Jack Rabbit, the captive sport, halt ° rose from his seat as that damaging charge pealed from the lips of the boy, and flung up his hands, as if warding off a blow, then met Goldspur’s gaze with an appealing look. ‘Slowly, little pard,” the detective cau- tioned, gripping the shoulder of his pro- tege. “The man’s Jack Rabbit, fast enough, but—is he the guilty one?” “Surely, sir—” “Careful, now! step!”’ ‘He was accused that night, sir! ” “ Accused, yes; but where’s the proof against him?” ‘““He was seen prowling around the place you slept with his knife—” “ All a lie—a foul, black lie, patched up by that demon with the odd eyes! ” hot- ly interrupted the captive. “‘He was the guilty man, Goldspur. Boy, I never in- jured your father!” . “Yet you fled that night! ” “ As would any man have done! ” “Twas said to be a sign of guilt.” “Bah! My life was menaced. Judge Lynch and a rope’s end stared me in the face. What chance had I to prove my innocence? ” . “Very little. That is true, Jack Rab- Mi’? Gimps spoke despondently, and turned to the detective. “ Jack Rabbit is innocent, little pard,” Goldspur assured. man who accused him, we shall have the Come at it step by man we want.” * “The chase seems hopeless, sir. I fear we may never chance upon him.” i. a o « - ; i ‘ ‘ ~ . . ay’ —- 1 3 * io * ; _. - ae : i i . :. . ; ; ; 4 x ove t _ Le - ¥ : i 1) Al a, + o ‘a es »f * ) . 4 F > a ? rf fJ ; gy SiR Sg SAME we? CN Tao Rear say Lisa Bains Sl are Le © prd « SR ste. ye < + % * &, ) Lae ore fi * is é weld "i “When we find the: ; at “4 2) * e - cn aes Sm me & & Pe te f