The Brand Burners of Cimarron — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

“You have access to it?” “No, perfessor. Like ther Zebra, I’m barred.” Again Goldspur reflected. Presently an idea came to him, and he addressed his youthful ally at some length, in a low tone. Gimps nodded comprehensively, and his eyes sparkled. “T’ll do et, perfessor,” he declared, and ' the next minute was lost to sight in the undergrowth. 7 . ’ 4 . ' grasping Pawnee’s hand. ’ ' rer CHAPTER VIII. THE PARDS. Burton King’s eyes opened wide with horror and incredulity when he heard Redrock’s damaging charge against Bel- mont and the gambler. He caught his breath sharply, and shiv- . ered. Then he suddenly shrank back, pointing to a figure in the doorway. The newcomer was Pawnee Bill, the quarter-blood. A peculiar sparkle in his dark eyes told that he had heard the accu- sation, and he nodded quickly’as he met -- Redrock’s glance. “Hallo, chief!” the sport greeted, “You heard?” “Yes, all. But—can we prove Brown Was poisoned?” “T think so. A secret autopsy will tell.” “Can that be arranged?” “Ther man’s ter be buried this evenin’,” interjected King, uneasily. *“ How soon?” “Just as soon as ther coffin’s done. Spanish John arranged for me ter do the ob.” ; For a moment Redrock seemed lost in thought. Ere he could frame the query he was about to put, a heavy trampling sounded without, and two men appeared at the threshold, bearing a long, rudely- fashioned box. * Hyar’s yer sarcophagus,” the foremost announced. “ Right in hyar, boys,’ King requested, and in another minute the coffin rested on the floor beside the corpse. The liveryman settled with the pair, and they at once departed. sé King af % Wal, Mr. Redrock?” “Brown must not be buried at present.” “Lordy, pard! Ye’re goin’ ter get me inter trouble !” “No danger.” “I tell ye, delay will shore get me ina fuss with Spanish John.” *T’ll pertect ye.” “You?” “So I said, sir,” and Redrock’s voice Tang out sharply. “ Ef thar’s been mur- der done, it must be avenged.” King nodded reluctantly. * Right, but et’s on’y s’picion yet.” “ With an autopsy, s’picion will become sartinty. We must work —eeeeneny an’ hoodwink Spanish John.” “Kin we do et?” “With your help, yas.” _ “ But, thar’s ther kink ! I—” “You shall help,” interpolated Pawnee Bill, sternly, and quickly stepping for- ward he exposed a metallic badge. “A Deputy United States Marshal ! {?* gasped the liveryman. “Pxactly! Have a care you do not become a party to this crime, Burton King.” “What ye want me ter do?” “First, to keep a still tongue.” “Lordy! I’m no woman, boss, but—” A commanding gesture stopped him. Then in a few words, Pawnee outlined a _ plan. “T reckon I’ll hey ter do et,” groaned King. “Ef Spanish John ever finds out, though, he’ll shore plug me !” ys a Yes, upon your silence depends your safety.’ “ But why don’t ye seize ther body, dep- uty? Thet w’u’d let me out.” “ Because these miscreants have a deep game afoot, and we do not care to alarm them, just yet.” ¢: ‘Ther sont annee o’ aseitide is on’y one >A. » 4 "6 od AS ‘ 5 S be he hl si at b. nt : ws , Le) d wa 4. et a, i. . ab wa . « ’ The Brand-Burners of Cimarron. sarcumstance o’ ther case,” supplemented Redrock. Soon leaving the mystified liveryman with the dead. A short distance from the camp-house they entered an-abandoned shanty, to compare notes. “Goldspur, things are coming to a pinch,” Pawnee Bill informed. ‘“ These miscreants are determined to possess the girl. It seems she was bound to Spanish John, not Brown.” “So it appears. Have you seen Gimps?” “He came to me this morning.” “And the ticket?” “IT secured it—No. 66. But I do not un- derstand the move.” The disguised detective laughed. “It will all be clear presently, when the drawing occurs.” “A trick?” “Yes. It will give Spanish John some- thing to think about. “ But I am growing aiarmed at Major Duncan’s non-arrival. He should have been here ere this.” ‘ll go over to the Cimarron to-night,” volunteered Pawnee. “He was to come by way of P—, and by inquiry there I may learn something. “ And about the girl, Goldspur. 66 wins—’”’ “Leave her with Peggs for the present, I’ll see her as soon as possible after the result of the drawing is known. “Keep an eye on the gambler. When the wheel is turned, I’ll be near, to give you aid if you need it.” Pawnee Bill nodded, and withdrew. A careful reconnaissance disclosed no one loitering in the vicinity of the shanty, and he hastened toward the crowd surround- ing the distant platform. thereafter the pards withdrew, alone If No. Let us return, now, to the moment when Spanish John quitted the house of Zebu- lon Peggs. His face was beclouded with rage and chagrin, and there was something tiger- ish in his movements as he glided, rather than walked, toward the Silver Shades. In the den above stairs Rupert Bel- mont patiently awaited his coming. Looking neither to the right nor to the left, the gambler quickly entered and passed through the resort, ascended the stairs and confronted his ally. Belmont sprang to his feet. “ What is it, man?” he demanded, ner- vously. “Defeat !” “ Peggs—” “ Defied me, as did the girl. them! I'll have revenge !” “This forces us\to use the wheel?” “Tt does; and lucky it is we fixed that scheme last night.” “ Peggs will refuse to give her up.” “ Not to a woman of your sister’s char- acter and standing.” “ There’s the rub! My sister may re- fuse to act—to receive the girl.” A sneer curled the gambler’s thin lips. “Not she, if you explain the matter properly. Being of the sickly, Christian sort, she’ll go to any length to shelter and protect the waif.” “ That is true, Barford. And that view Satan take of the.case had escaped me. Let us drop the matter where it is, and I’ll have my sister act.” “No! The girl must go on the wheel !”’ = Think of the danger—the publicity !” “No matter. I hate her—I hate her father! ’Twill humiliate her now—her father later. Raffied like an ox or a horse! Think of it !” “The citizens may object.” “No! They dare not! Brown’s pa- pers, altered to suit the case, place the girl under my control for the next two years. The keenest eye in Tiptop can never detect the fraud, so all must ad- mit that her labor is mine until she’s of age.” “ Granted, too.” “ Well, there you have it! The good people in and around Tiptop, like -your sister, will wink at the rafile, for through % ? 7 > “ea ye + ere ei? $ + ’ , : ~— %, m «”. me a =f. .~ > a - 4 * x. © ° “eF . . Be Th SS re 7 eit » ee yy avis » ~~ ~~ ‘ ; re ‘ > ’ 3; NY. — ee it the girl passes from under my con- trol. See?” “If they take that view of it—yes.” “You must see that they do.” .‘ By heavens! They shall see it so 14 CHAPTER IX, RAFFLED. The footrace between the quarter-blood and Luke Lightfoot, as described in the opening chapter of this romance, was followed by a series of similar contests, the final event iin decided just before sundown. Truly, it had ‘been a lively day for the denizens of Tiptop—one of excitement, sport and carousal, and many of the Strangers within the little settlement’ limits declared it a wonderful place. Following the judge’s decision on the closing race, there came a confused mur- »mur—then, a breathless, expectant hush. Spanish John’s single glittering black optic glanced sharply over the sea of up- turned faces surrounding the platform. It was a bold, reckless, defiant look, not unlike the ferocious glare of a wild beast at bay; and many of the more timid ones felt a thrill akin to terror as their gaze wavered and fell beneath that deadly, stare. Then the gambler spoke. His voice was cold. and even—each word distinctly enun- ciated. Briefly, he told his skillfully-con- cocted story and made known his pur- pose. There was much of art, of consummate cunning, in that tersely-spoken address, with never a trace or tinge of fear. And, thanks to Rupert Belmont’s specious and oft-repeated plea, no Voice was lifted in open remonstrance. The preliminaries were quickly arran2- ed. Two or three men and the lad Gimys were called to the platform, to assist in the drawing. A canvas sheet concealing the whee] of fortune was Swept aside, and the men glanced at the contents of the two compartments. Then the bey was blindfolded, and the drawing began. The man on the left received and an- nounced the numbers, as drawn; the one on the right, the blanks. Both passed their respective slips to a man in the rear, while Spanish John busied himself turn- ing the wheel. A feeling of deep and eager interest © held the crowd silent, motionless. ENO: “Zbo~ “ Blank.” “ K’rect !” Thus rang the announcements of the tellers and the judge, until one hundred and thirty-two numbers had been drawn. The crowd was growing restless. Faint mutterings began to be heard. “°Tis a shame !” grumbled one. “An outrage, sir !” “No harm shall come to her !” *“"No! I'll swear it !” * And I!” This breath from the rising storm reached Spanish John. He glanced cur- iously at the crowd, then gave Gimps the signal. Again the wheel turned, “No. 66 !” “Prize !” * K’rect !” . The gambler started violently, and stifled an oath. A feeble cheer came from the throng, and a tall man pushed for- ward to the edge of the platform. It was the quarter-blood. “ Sixty-six?” cried Spanish John, ‘Look again, gentlemen. Be sure you are right.” “ Sixty-six she is,” affirmed the judge, Pawnee Bill held aloft his ticket. “JT hold that number,” he announced, * You? recoiled in amazement and alarm, “Yes, I, scoundrel !” With that, the quarter-blood leaped nimbly upon the platform, ‘and, ticket Im — hand, faced the crowd. “Men of Tiptop,” he erted® “you have seen the drawing, and you have seen ee BH Now, that i nn ee ¢ I hold, the winning number, > . Pe ley +“ cd ah ‘ 4 +" a eat as ROR, : rt, 7 “ogee, bs es ‘>, a “con icbooks.com Perdition !” and Spanish John | _