Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 105 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

——y — —L eT ep ee oe ——— = " * ia - = -_—— = > — ED a ——-—-— — — a tees <a wisi eo een... fe ofa Sad —=_* : om Ba 2s Em —_ ’ 4 - e gt ee a 0 ted S 3 alt —_ eS a a 20 ~~ 2° 07? Peer vee aide es omy — ‘ Pe Tk ep Lae hae A hoarse united yellof vengeance arose. The comrades of the murdered Vigilante hurled Brown and Dodge aside and grasped the dying wretch, who feebly cursed and blasphemed as, wi h him ia their midst, threatening the police with their revolvers, they hastened to the foot of the nearest tree. A lariat was quickly flung over a horizontal limb, and the noose adjusted around the neck of ihe road-agent. fhen Noah Crabtree gave the signal, and a lozen stout arms ‘‘ walked away” with the cope, the tightening noose cutting short a hor- rible flood of blasphemy and reviling. CHAPTER XX. STARTLING DISCLOSURES. THERE was an evil light in the eye of Frank Blackwood as he sat in his saddle, gazing after me ee ee ee ae ee eee eee the rapidly receding form of the woman, law- | iully bis wife, yet whohad so proudly defied the worst he could bring up against her. He sat iotionless until she disappeared from view around a small grove of trees that stood near the low ranch of Jack Gill, then he wrenched his liorse’s head around, a low, peculiar laugh part- ing his lips. ‘By the wig of Absalom! she looked like a tragedy queen as she huried that scornful defi- ancein my teeth! Had she been always the came, Ll could hardly have deserted her, even for the fortune of fair Rachel. A poor, pale, weep- ing, eternally damp ghost of a woman—and now a steel-nerved Vittle fury! Look out, my lady! One more such interview as that, and Jack Gill may be called upon to fight for his young bride!” Laughing again at the visions which this con- ceit called up before his mind’s eye, the young lawyer rode slowly back to the Crabtree place, his brow growing darker and more bent as he pondered over the many evils which this unex-_ pected meeting might cause. He was playing a bold game for high stakes. is clear brain and cold heart had given him the better thus far, but as be glanced at the future, ie could see the many threads of bis cunningly woven net growing more and more entan led. lirst had come the appearance of Dan Brown of Denver upon thescene. Then the mysterious cGisappearance of the marriage certificate to which the name of Beverley Brownell was ap- pended as the groom—the husband of Rachel « owbridge. And now, just as he was playing iis ecards with two different methods of winning (oe game in v.ew, there must arise this ghost ‘rom a black and unhol icemed forever buried from human ken—his «wife, now calling herself Agnes Gill, wife of the L.eutenant of Vigilantes! With a fierce, grating curse, Frank Black- wood plunged his spurs rowel deep into the flanks of his horse. The spirited animal bound. od rorward with a snort of pain, nor slackened its breakneck pace until the Crabtree ranch was reached, Disinoanting and tossing the reins to David, rank strode away to meet his worthy parent, who was beckoning to him from beyond one of ‘he corrals, strong anxiety depicted upon his vulture-like countenance. ‘Tie sight of his evident perplexity seemed to act as a sedative to the young man’s nerves, and be instantly became his usual cool, insolent self, They were alone upon the level plain. No one could ap; roach them unseen or unheard. ‘here was no necessity for his wearing the mask just now, and his real character was openly dis- closed. ‘What is this strange story I hear?’ demand- ed the elder lawyer, with a nervous glance around them, ‘Surely you have not been quar- reling with your frend, Mr. — ah, Captain Moonshine?’ ‘““What is friendship when a fair lady is in peril/”’ uttered Frank, with a mocking lengin past which he had | | ' | | | ee * Did you not urge upon me the wisdom of pul- | ting my best foot foremost with Rachel? how could I better recommend myself to her good graces than by rushing to her rescue when her liberty, if not honor itself was at stake?’ ‘* But David and Racbel both say that you shot to kill—that Captain Moonshine had re- ceived his death wound when carried away upon the neck of bis horse.” ‘* Very likely. The odds were two to one, and I did not know how many more might be hicd- deu among the bushes or around the turn in the yoad, After all, 1 took them by surprise and showea myself a hero in the eyes of the fair ‘amsel at but little danger to myself.” The father stared at his son in hopeless per- p'-xity. Tbe enigma was beyond his solving. rie said, nervously: | ‘if you killed bim, you have made the whole | bend your deadly eneinies, and they will know uO rest until they hunt you to the grave or-—to the gallows! If not—if he is only wounded— ‘yen the case iseven worse. From a firm friend .@ will become a terrible enemy. He will ex- nose ell we have done! Curse it! sir! you have iiiserably botched the whole business, and [ vein to take the stage and be on my road home .o-morrow, before the storm can burst!” og aid wudiv favehed the son. More and OFS Augry waxed the father, motil, fairly nd EE ——— } ' ; ’ | - 2 ee ee Dan Frown of Denver. foaming at the menth and shaking bis gold- headed cane vigorously, be seemed on the point | of inflicting corporal chastisement on the railer. | Frank Blackwood checked his merriment, barely in time to avert a caning, and suddenty growing serious, bis strong hand closed upon the arm of the irate old man with a powerful pres- sure that caused the cane to drop from his quiv- ering fingers. “Bnough of nonsense. It was in me, and had to out or [should bave burst, Calm yourself. I am not mad. I am no foo}, though L have been playing the first part in a roaring farce. Be content. Captain Moonshive is as sound in mind, limb and body as I am at this moment.” Ezra Blackwood stared in epen-eyed amaze- ment. In the city and among the courts he was as acute and far-seeing as the best of bis brother legal rats, but out here in these lawless wiics, he was like a landsman in a hurricane on the ocean. Frank saw this, but he was not annoyed. Af- | o——— + - ——- — . te a ee mw ee ae ene full glow of that blissful belief, I came face to face with my wife!” Ezra Blackwood started, but said nothing. His brain was beginning to buzz and whirl crazily before all these startling revelations and he could only stare vacantly into the now cold and stern-set countenance of his son. ‘‘ My wife, now known in these parts as Mrs, Agues Gill. She was one of the passengers in the coach with you. If Captain Moonshine bad only known the truth! But here she is, and she swears that if Ido uot abandon my foul schemes — en | —as she terms them—against Miss Trowbridge, she will betray me and my past to the Vigil- antes, of whom her present husband—so called —is a leader.” ; 4 ae is bigamy,” muttered the old Jawyer, still UnZzead, ‘Fear of that connter-accusation would not hinder her, if ever I give her cause. The devil was in her eyesas big as a wood-chuck when she ter the heavy blow that had been dealt him by | the appearance of the wife whom he bad believ- ed lost forever, if not actually dead. he felt just in the humor for open confession. pecan zest in narrating bow his cunningly- a our hands There was a - id plans had been rendered in vain by a ghost | 2a | She must be talked or frightened into having of the past. ‘* Listen—and look less like an idiot, or a fresh] y-resurrected corpse, if you can contrive it just as well as not,” he said, with cold inso- lence; then continued, with a careless compo- sure: ‘‘ You remember the appeal you made to my heart, before we left Grenada? Why could I not put on my best bib and tucker, and make up to the fair Rachel as a suitor? thought the matter over, and concluded that | might do worse. True, I had one wife living Well, I | somewheres, but if was not likely that she would | ever turn up to cause me trouble, ‘The fair Rachel is a little inclined to be ro- | mantic: indeed, ,ou gave me that clew your- self. way to the heart is through hero- worship. Knowing this,{ had little difficulty in laying my plans, still less in putting them into execu- tion. try thot. told me so. No, that plan must be abandoned. 1 ut none the less the fortune must confe into We have gone too far to back out now. The first plan must be carried out to the bitter end. ‘If that certificate cannot be found, then Captain Moonshine must abduct ber once more. the ceremony performed over again, for, no matter what iruuble it causes us to do so, there uiust be vo grcunus for doubting the legality of the marriage.” ‘*Sbe will never fall into the same snare ayrain,” said the oid man, more like his usual self now that legal topics were introduced. ‘She will die before consenting—” ‘‘ There is a way to make her glad to do 0,” interrupted Frank, with a short, significant laugh. ‘If all other means fail, then we yili Afterward—when the right to her fortune is securely invested in us—then, I am sadly afraid that the fair Rachel wlll pine away With one of her temperament the shortest | ‘*In order to do so, 1 joined the Vigilantes— | what a howling and gnashing of teeth there | would have been could they have even suspect- ed all we know! ‘* As I said, 1 joined them in their ride, until at a point not far from where I had a rendez- vous arranged; then was conveniently over- powered by the heat of the sun. David knew what to expect—” “Then he is—” hesitated Ezra Blackwood. ‘*Exactlv. He is one of the best spies of the band. It is through him that Captain Moon- shine receives the information that enables bim to constantly foil the most subtle and danger- ous plans which are formed by the Vigilantes. ‘Together we hastened to the rendezvous, —and die !” Whatever response Ezra Blackwood may have made to this diabolical speech, will never be known, for David, accompanied by a horseman, s that moment was seen hurriedly approaching them. Frank Blackwcod appeared to recognize the ran, and drew him to one side out of ear-shot, _ then received bis communication. His face grew and while there I set my newly-formed plan in | motion. I came here, 1 as an invalid. “You know how I played my part. You know, too, that David persuaded Rachel out to ride with him, and that I, not long afterward, having in a measure recovered from my illness, also set forth on horseback. ** Lucky chance! for by it | was enabled to display my wonderful heroism by rescuing the damsel in distress—” “You don’t mean that—that it was all a fraud?’ ejaculated the old lawyer, his fishy eyes protruding. “So!” laughed his son, mockingly. ‘* You begin to see through the raillstone at last? Yes, I do mean it! That rendezvous was kept with — Moonshine and a trusty fellow known as Grizzly. I bade them watch their chance and spring the trap at the right moment, when I would put in an appearance and wrest the choice morsel from them.” ‘* But the boy—David?’ ‘‘He acted as I knew he would, periesey: There was no charge in bis pistol, wh ch be a 8 against Grizzly’s breast. The struggle which ensued between them was a mock one, Grizzly pretended to throttle the lad, but was careful not to injure him. “Captain Moonshine, following my instruc- tions, tried to learn from Rachel where that document was, but in vain. Either she does not know of its present whereabouts or else she can lie to perfection! | ‘While the captain was thus engaged, Grizzly slipped into the S cttieed and cave me the signal. I clapped spurs to my horse, and dashed upon the tragic scene ina blaze of glory. My first shot crippled Grizzly—in a horn—while the second sent Captain Moonshine reeling away cn his horse with his death-wound-—-cqually imagivary. Of course neither of them were touched. are too good tools for me to misuse them in any way. Be sure I made the mostof my oppertunity. and dropped sweet vows into the ears of the fair damsel whom Thad rescued from friehtfal peril by bravely risking niy Ife. | don’tsay that she fully reciprocated, but | honestly believe shat | made an impression on her heart that would ere jong enable me to call ovyself its water, So fer all h Dy oa, hE Tees Pt el ee ry ss ’ tt Serb «teant Zs "= >" bi tere When all was understood, David and | = a ——— ea cea ae They | pale and stern-set, while his eyes filled with an ugly, dangerous light that boded ill to some one, The horseman turned and trotted away. ‘‘Come,” said the young lawyer, in a low, strained voice. ‘‘ I have received an important call, A very dear friend of mine has gotten bimself intoa serious scrape, and has begged me to come and defend him. There is no time to lose. You two must make my excuses to the Jadies. Tell them why I could not stop to make my adieux. You, father, remain bere until | come back, or you hear from me.” Hastening to the corrals, Blackwood caught up his horse, saddled and bridled it, then mount- pe and sped away toward Grenada like one bound on a mission of life or death. YHAPTER XXII. A CURIOUS PROPOSITION. On the morning following the fire and the fight with the road-agents, Dan Brown of Den- ver was seated at a side table in the dining- room of the Golden Eagle, eating bis breakfast with an appetite by no means lessened by the exciting scenes he had so recently passed through. Nor was ke altogether dissatisficd with the work that bad been done, True, the bead rascal was still at Jarge, but his band had suffered great losses. At least one-half of those composing ‘the family ” hud been slain outright. At that rate, another week would see the end! At this point the detective’s meditations were broken iv upon by the curious behavior of one of the waiters, a sable son of Africa, who scem- ed almost bursting with some important secret. Fortunately the room was seatt empty, ehe the exaggerated mystery observed by the tei- low would assuredly have defeated itself, bi fei » he placed a folded rapkin before Brow n. fa the inside of which peeped the corner of a s:; 4)’. pink hia Wholly disregarding the darky’s energeti. gestures which seemed to declare the siric, necessity of secrecy, Brown tossed him a si!vc quarter, withdrew the dainty note from tl. napkin, epenea the envelope and read the con- tents at a giance, The closest observer could not have detected the slightest change in the countenance of thu detective while thus engaged, yet he might weil be ve exhibited surprise, : The handwriting was feminine: so too the perfumed and delicately scented paper. There was neither address nor signature attached, ve the detective did not doubt that the n essacu wes intended for him. ‘The contents of the note read as follows: ‘One whom you heve served, and who wishes vou well. it in nogsesaion of facis of the greatest Import. rce to the end vou have in view, if mm more, «al (€ ‘© (E(e) ~~ com Ne - —_ —_€, —— - _ = |