The Brand Burners of Cimarron — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

¥ ; ~~. os ‘ot, & 4 rf a : . — oe are ue 7 - ? ° . s ™~ * ta” “ 24 The Brand-Burners of Cimarron. There was little need for that appeal, just then, for every one of the outlaws was in the chase, the captain excepted. Over log and rock, through thicket and open, they sped, guided by intuition rath- er than by sight or sound. For the moment, it seemed that the des- perate dash would win the detective his freedom. So sudden, so wholly unexpect- ed, had been that fiying start, that he was fully a hundred feet away ere a step was taken in pursuit. With his hands free, the darkness would have favored him, and escape would have been reasonably sure; with his hands tied at his back, the dense gloom was against him, and he was lost. A hundred yards from the scene of his capture, Goldspur tripped on a root, stum- bled and fell. He attempted to save him- self, but in vain. His head struck a tree, and all became blank. Two or three minutes passed. Then a triumphant yell started the echoes, ap- prising the chief that the game was again won, and presently the men reappeared, bearing the unconscious detective on their shoulders. “Dead or living?” snarled Captain Brand, hand on knife, as he noted the limpness of the form they lowered. ‘Speak out, curse you! If he’s croaked— Who robbed me of revenge?” “ Alive yet, chief, but bad stunned by a fall, I reckon. He tripped—’” “Alive! You’re sure, Pallas?” “His heart beats, man, and I can find no serious wound.” “Good! Excellent! Now, boys—the horses. We'll take this hound straight to the lion’s den, and let him face the noble game he’s dogged. Ha! ha!” “You're hurt, chief?’ “Hurt? Yes, Pallas, but I'll have sweet salve for the blow!” A moment later, the men came up with the horses. Then Goldspur was bound upright in a saddle, a man mounted be- hind him, and the party briskly started forward. Ere they had proceeded a mile, the bracing night air revived the detective, and he quickly realized that he was again in the hands of the brand-burners. Feigning continued unconsciousness, he stealthily tested his bonds. But they had been applied and knotted with the utmost care, and refused to slip or give. “I’m certainly due to remain in the scoundrel’s clutches for a while yet,” he thought. “ Well, while there’s life, there’s hope, and I’m not dead yet—thank Heaven!” Arrived at the rendezvous, Captain Brand ordered the men to dismount, and detailed two to attend to the horses, then continued: “ Pallas, get that hound out of the sad- dle, then assist me in getting him into the house. I will see to his condition and his bonds myself, for there must be no escape.” Then the detective spoke: “ Don’t trouble yourself on my account, gentlemen, Allow me to remark, your tender regard for my welfare is really touching!”’ “ Yes—it’ll go right to your heart!” re- torted Captain Brand, significantly. “Come, Pallas—pull him down, and hopple him.” The ruffian obeyed. Then each seized an arm, and Goldspur was forced across a stretch of open ground. On reaching the house, the door was flung open, and he was pushed inside. Leaving Pallas to guard the captive for the moment, Captain Brand seized the lamp and passed into the adjoining room. What he saw there was evidently high- ly gratifying, for he returned chuckling, and paused in the doorway to turn his head and say: “It’s all right, dear brother—all right, I assure you! Glad you like it. Make yourself at home, and if there’s anything you need to conjure up the old time, or to stimulate your memory, don’t hesitate ‘to call for it. Au revoir!” - Then the miscreant carefully closed the ; pcb de “yn ’ ; ater io } \ rapt Te. y) P ‘ 7 fe vi? ‘ oa es Svs, et oe. : = . oar . ; 2 sf ‘ é “ : wa - - “ >. é — » ¢ . i * \ art hae iy 4, a £ aa ° +.” sa out i «+. « * _ ; - door, put down the light, and turned to the detective and his warden. “You may go, now, Pallas,” he said, quietly. ‘*‘ Tell the boys to work briskly, and to shove out the different bunches as rapidly as possible, for something warns me that danger threatens. Have Noolan to clear the corral by noon at any hazard, and see that the branding chute is taken down and gotten oyt of sight. We'll not use it again for months, if ever.” Pallas nodded and withdrew. Slowly, Captain Brand locked the door, and motioned Goldspur to a chair. “Sit down. I want to talk to you. Now that you’re in the lion’s den, 1 want to hear how you like it.” “ Not so well as I might under different circumstances, Juan Barmillo.” “Ha! You know, then—” “ All, Spanish John.” The outlaw regarded the detective cu- riously. Then he advanced, and deftly searched him. Nothing of importance was brought to light. Yet, Goldspur no- ticed a tremor run through Captain Brand’s sinewy form when he held up the broken bowie. “It is needless to ask how you obtained that, I suppose? You were there that night, I remember, and so got the point of the blade. But, the haft?”’ “T cannot say, at present.” ‘* Will not fits the case better! Through the son, I suspect. Yes, that is it. He tookvit from the stove, and carried it to you. So much for yielding to a feeling of philanthropy! I should have strangled the imp as soon as he appeared in ‘Tip- top! ‘But, really, it doesn’t matter. You have the tell-tale weapon, and I have you. “What I desire to impress upon you is, your race is run! ** Before you take your trip into Sha- dowland, however, 1 want you to see and hear a few things. Presently, I shall take you to the corral, and let you see just how we operate. It will give me pleasure to make you acquainted, also, with each member of our band. It will teach them caution when we resume oper- ations, later on. “Then, there is another matter. We have here a client of yours, and I wish you to hear a business proposition I have to make to him. * Come.” Captain Brand rose and flung open the door of the adjoining apartment, then took up the lamp and followed Goldspur, who, hampered by the rope on his ankles, walked very slowly. As the steel-nerved detective crossed the threshold, he saw, in the opposite cor- ner, on a pallet of straw, the figure of a man. It was Major Duncan, bound and gag- ged! CHAPTER XXX, THE PRISONERS. Placing the lamp on a wall shelf, Cap- tain Brand drew a knife and stepped to the major’s side. ‘Don’t be alarmed, dear brother! ‘The blade is not for you—just now! How you tremble! Let us remove ‘that nasty gag. There—that is better!” ‘You merciless devil! you—” “Don’t choke, I beg! Ah, you are ex- cited! Quiet, now, and cool down. Tl’ve brought a mutual friend to see you—you —you!”’ Captain Brand was bending over the veteran, with hand playfully chucking the latter’s grizzled chin. But his voice rose a trifle with each word; then, with a forward lunge, he savagely clutched Duncan’s throat and shook him violently, grating: “ you won't tremble, eh? me, eh? Well—we’ll see!” “Drop that, you coward!” Releasing the major’s throat, Brand turned to the indignant detective. “You too, eh?” he sneered. “ Well, that’s pretty good, from a man in your fix You will defy ¥ ~ ~ r é . o ar - oh a) rie 7 ” = 4 7... pg “yit? j TRIES OX animate MO SET .” ae — eT = ht ae f - : ie oO A * ¥ ed : of! a + ,- =... - “~\ ’ a. me e >) ¢ + te he * a ~ fe 2% ie x, ~ * . 7 ‘ - a eg ee 4 “ 7 we _“ , a eed “2% 1 < y ” ~~ . \ ¥ uy / 7 > 2 ~ re : a ” s . ~ comicbooks.com But you’re not far wrong! Candidly. wouldn’t care to try the trick with the major’s hands untied! ; “ But, all this is neither here nor there.” We're losing time. In your companion in” misfortune you have doubtless recognized your employer, Major Nathan Duncan. “ Nate, old boy, allow me to introduce | your friend and co-worker, Detective © Goldspur.” The veteran started, and half rose from the pallet, muttering: “Is it possible?” “ Yes, major, it is I,’”’ Goldspur affirmed, 7 “This destroys my last hope!” “Tt is not so bad as that, major. live yet!” ‘But are helpless.” | “ We both have powerful friends. Don’t despair.” Captain Brand laughed ironically, and retorted: “Really, Goldspur,: your powerful friends can avail you nothing. You will be beyond the reach of human influence long before this den is found. As for the major— “Nate, old boy, are you ready for a business proposition?” ‘““T am compelled to hear what you say, Juan Barmillo.” “ Delightful, isn’t it? So changed from the old time, when I was compelled to endure your hectoring! Really, yes! But—about money, now. You are prepar- ed to settle, I suppose?” “ Settle?” “Yes, for the eye your agents destroy- ed—curse you! Do you think I shall ever forget the score against you?” “Your own evil deeds cost you your eye, Juan Barmillo. For your sister’s sake, when we were married, I gave you an important position. When you be- trayed that trust and to save the family honor I screened you. And you requeted that act, wretched ingrate, by attempt- ing to seize the mine. You planned and made the attack with the utmost delib- . eration. In the struggle you lost your eye. The fault is with you alone.” “A pretty tale, truly!” with a sneer. “ But I deny it in toto, Nate Duncan, and demand ten thousand dollars for the eye. It was lost in your service, and you must pay. “Then, there is another matter. In or- der to get you where I could collect the bill, I have been at heavy expense. This expense you must foot. It amounts to an additional ten thousand. Don’t wince! You are able to pay, and pay you shall!” “ Never!” “ Slowly—do nothing rashly. Remem- ber, we’re not through yet, for there is another item, “ Your daughter—” “Scroudre!l ! Miserable, scoundrel! You stole my child!” With that half-frantic cry, Major Dun- can struggled to rise, but fell weakly against the wall. His stern old face wore the pallor of death, but his dark eyes were aglow with vengeful fury. Captain Brand nodded coldly. “Yes, I stole your child. Rather, I em- ployed a tool—one Esau Black. She lives, and I have kept an eye on her for many years. “ Recently, I ordered her brought here. She is here now, and in my power. A third ten thousands buys her liberty!” “Ruby! My poor Ruby!” “ She is here, I say, Nate Duncan. She is within reach of your voice. Yet never again shall you see her, unless you accede to the demands I have made, and pledge yourself to pay the sum of thirty thou- sand dollars. I need only add: You know I make no idle threats!” “That is true, Juan Barmillo. You are a pitiless monster! On one condi- tion, I will deal with you.” “ And that?” “ Detective Goldspur must be freed.” “T decline to accept that condition!” “Ten thousand dollars—” “Ten times ten thousand wouldn’t free him! A few hours ago I might have ac- cepted. Now, his life cannot be bought!” We © . heartless _—_ - * Py ae ' : * a ee a 4 ot o>