Beadle's Dime Library, Vol. XII, No. 145 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

Pistol Pards. 1] looked at him to answer for them as well as for himself, “It has been murder, most foul. You speak truly. We, bere, are the law, and it is time for the law to act. I am ready, and I believe the rest of you are. What cun be done? Where is the culprit?” ** He will be taken, neverfear. Half a dozen of us were together, striking for the Star, bre we came upon the body. Three of us rought it here, while the rest followed off on the trail. He can’t escape them, but if they don’t come soon more of us must join in the hunt.” “T am ready, for one,” answered Victor; and a dozen others chimed in, offering them- selves as human sleuth-hounds, to hunt down the murderer. | Nor did they remain inactive long, but sally- ing forth from the Star, a force of fully a score, under the guidance of the men who had | found the corpse, they went straigbt to the spot where Pedro had fallen, and finding the trail of the three pursuers, followed it straight | along a pathfrom which no one seemed to have | departed either to the right or to the left. “'Tain’t hard fo see whar this are goin’ to | bring out at,” whispered the man who walked at the side of Victor Page. thar’s. goin’ to be ary ’count took ov findin’ ther stiff ov a deadGreaser. Won't he jump when be hears ther jedgment horn a-tootin’?”’ Page bad already begun to look suspiciously around, He did not like the way that he was | dritting. He had his suspicions. And there was something weird and horrible in being one of this silent score that was mercilessly tracking the murderer. If the truth were all known how soon the rest of the pack would turn and rend him. Supposing something should bappen that they would learn it! Inas low a tone he answered: | ‘*Whatdo you mean’ Which way are we going?” | ‘+ Ef thar ain’t been some mistake we'll fetch up at ther old mission. Ez a jin’ral thing thar’s nothin’ thar but kiotes an’ owls; but now an’ then thar’s a two-legged wolf slips in ter hide, an’ I reckon we’ll find one ‘thar to-night. Ef so, Oregon Hank won’t be kerryin’ that las’ rope fur nothin’. ’ , This time Victor shivered in spite of himself, “It’s bin a cuss ez | knows ther ropes ’round bheur, but don’t ’spéect the stairway, and some one below was shcut- ing vigorously enough to furnish a very good guide to where he lay. Moreover there was | been unearthed in the cellars of the old mis- sion. He believed that it would be brought to | the eamp; and if, in its presence any unfortu- a faint glimmer of light almost immediately | nate charge sbould bs brought against him he his way to the spot that he knew only too well, and halted at the doorway. A lighted lantern illuminated the scene. | doubted if he would be able to retain his cool- ‘ness. Of course this was only a temporary _ weakness, so be reasoned, and, perhaps even _by the next day-dawn, be would again be all Three men were tbere, in various stages of | hard and cruel, and void of conscience. excitement, and in the corner was a pile of , visible, and among the first Victor Page pushed | | dirt and stones, showing that the grave so care- _ fully covered had in some way been found and | torn open, | Half sick, Page leaned against the stone | wall. He could not go further; and he dared | not flee. He left to others the task of finding out what mystery had been revealed. | he rush of the rest did not cease until every man had passed Victor; and first of all went the man who had appealed to bim in the Star of Empire saloon, who gave one amazed glance; | for three men laid out was not by avy means what he had expected to see, ‘‘ Hi, Jack McCaw, what’s up? Did yer find him?’ ‘You bet, an’ he war red hot; an’ I ‘guess are still a-heatin’.. I don’t want him; you can have him; an’ ef that don’t suit let him 7? | But how’s this? Are‘youmuch hurt? An’ | Tom an’ Harry? ‘Pears to me they must ’a’ | J double banked yer. which way did they go?” | **Oh, thar war on’y one of ’em; but hé war a bu’ster. By ther jumpin’ réd-horn rhinos- keros, he plugged the hu)! three on us.” * Ye’r right he did,” interposed Tom Denham, holding up an arm hastily bandaged with a handkerchief. ‘‘ An’ ther wust ov it war we caught him unawar’s an’ we had our irons all cocked an’ready. ‘Surrender! ses we. Bang, whang, bang! He jist turned at ther word, an’ each hand held a six. I dunno who fired first, but I know in about er second we war all salivated. * Yow ain’t hurt,’ sez he, ‘ but dow’: try that no more, er next time Pll play fur keeps, Good-night.’? With that he war gone. I don’t see bow you helped meetin’ him.” While the redoubtable Tom was speaking, the new-comers were examining the wounded 'men. It was easily seen that the two who had spoken were only marked with flesh _ wounds, and it turned out that the third was and looked around as though he was the woif | sh: t through the hand. that was being hunted. Of all places the ruin- ed mission was the last that he wished to go to, But there was no way for him to escape. Mentally he cursed his folly in thrusting him- | ‘We may es well see what ther galoot war / up to. We mounted him in yonder hole, an’ it’s my idear thar’s sign, thar, ov foul pley.” | Toward the spot inuicated the men crowded; self forward on au expedition which he might | anil one, more daring than the ‘rest, leaped in- have avoided. He never would have been so | to the opening, landing upon the lid of the foolish if the thought had not occurred that | box that still rested’ there, though hidden no some one might have seer bim, at some time, conversing with the now defunct Pedro, and _ longer. “ Hold ther lantern hyér a minute. Thar’s attempt to call him to‘account for not giving | a box hyer, an’ ther cover’s split. I reckon I some sign. This way he was speaking by his | know what’ Il find; but I don’t want to feel actions. He was in for it now, since chance had thrown him in the center of the crowd. round in ther dark:” ; Ashe spoke the man cast out a long strip of Whatever developments might come he must | the splintered lid, and then held down the accept. He felt of his weapons, and nerved | light that/had been handed to him. - himself for the mental strain that he kKnéw must come, and went boldly on. There was no mistake now about the objec- tive point. Tbe dark outline of the old mis- sion was at last in view. And just as they came within say two hun- dred yards of the walls, they heard faint yells. and the. muffled report of perhaps half a dozen pistol-shots, following each other in rapid succession. ji. : At that the score set up a shout and dashed forward. The game had been run to a hole and had shown fight. They expected to see a perforated ruffian. But as they entered the building through the ete door upon ‘the one side, there was a mocking laugh without, followed by the discharge of a revolver, and the sound of a horse, ridden recklessly away. © There would have been an immediate ward a howl from somewhere within and below. As ‘a result half a dozen ran aim- lessly after fp yeu horseman, while the rest, inclu r Page, plunged down the stone ze. ,w ‘led to the cel- lars. CHAPTER XIV. _ ‘Sure enough,” he continued after a mo- meént’s inspection. ‘It’s a stiff. This must be his buryin’-ground. I ’spose he war gittin’ a _ place ready fur ther Greaser. He does biz by ' the hullsale, mind I tell yer.” ~ “ Js*he dead?’ | Very dead. » Stiffer nor a ramrod.” ‘Haul him out hyer, an’ we'll see what he looks like. Who's missin’ from’ camp? Ary _ galoot hyer got a lost pard?” | Vietor Page had stood the inquiry so far; but at the proposal to bring the corpse from its resting-plaee he could remain no longer. There was a bottom somewhere ‘to his con- scienceless soul, Actually sick and white he ' turned away, and while every one was intent | on the expected revelation he’ made his way out into the open air, and started back toward the Seven Angels. As he went be heard a | scattering volley, perhaps a quarter of a mile: stampede in that direction had it not been | that there came almost immediately atter- | away, and had little doubt bat that the bal- ance of his party had run afoul of the supposed assassin, ann B hej He halted a moment and listened. On the clear night he could hear the sound of voices, but the words were too indis- tinct to make them cut. As the firing had ceased he had a suspicion that either dead or | are surely crazy.” , alive they had their man; and that man he was ot anxious tq meet, though he wished to FINDERS ARE NOT ALWAYS KEEPERS. ALA- | see his AN undeniable odor of gunpowder pervaded ' Perbaps he might bave remained and risked | kim off in ther cellars ov the old mission th recognition; but he {eared the thing that had © nights ago. | How many ov ’em, an’ | Thinking thus he turned his face campward again and made the best of bis way back to- ward the Angels, cursing himself as he went, that be had been so foolish as to leave the shelter of its hospitable roof, even though, by so doing, he had learned that matters were go- ing on which very nearly concerned himself. As he neared the limits of the camp there suddenly entered his mind tbe conviction that he was being foilowed. He heard nosound, of that he was certain; but all the same be seemed to know by instinct that a pair of ghostly feet were dropping, dropping, drop- ping bebind him. Furtively he looked over .his shoulder, but he saw nothing; and he shuddered tor fear, in the future, he was to be subject to such un- pleasant tricks of the im:ngination. As he de- scended the side of a dark little gulch just out side of the town, he drew bis revolver and cocked it, for the idea possessed him more firmly than ever that some one was in pursuit, and very near. Yet, as if. ashamed to give way to his fears, he locked steadfastly for- ward, all the time listening for sounds that he could never distinguish. It was almost a re- lief when, though still he bad beard no soun:, some one touched him lightly on tbe shoulder. On the instant he wheeled and thrust the muzzle of bis pistol straight at the breast of the nan he now knew must be behind him, and tugged at the trigger. But all ready ashe was, and confident of the result, he. was doomed to disappointment, for the foe, if such he must be called, was as_ vigi- lant, as well prepared and as quick as himself. As his revolver came into line the hand that held it was grasped by another hand,. and though his-finger tightened no report followed. The hammer was held as motionless as though set in.a steel vise, by a finger that pressed against.it until the muzzle had been thrust up- ward, so as to point over the. assailant’s shoul- der. , os And then Victor Page was aware of the fact that a glittering knife was held over his breast, and that bis life was hanging on a slender thread if this man chose to strike. fel We The man did not so choose, bowever, but gave utterance to a short, hard laugh. $e “‘Thet’s right, Victor, draw it) mild) I wouldn’t hurt yer fer a thousand—unless I hes to. I jist wanted to say a word er two, an’ then you kin toddle on. I don’t want ter roust out ther neighbors, an’ ef you be .wise, you won’t want to neither, Victor Page.” | ‘‘Unhand me, villain,” answered Page, in as low a tone as the man had assumed, “If it-is robbery that you are after you can get nothing but blood or lead from me.. I have ten dollars on my person, If you are ° you will be off. .A score of men. are coming this way, and they will make but short work of a foot-pad, ,;who falls into their hands. They are vigilarites from the camp, hungering for blood on account of a murder which perhaps you have committed. I have but to raise my voice to call them upon you.” ¥ “ Well, then, I wouldn’t let her rise, Don’t yer see, you and me is pards, in a sorter: way, an’ it wouldn’t be ther squar’ thing to give a man away that sort. I’m not a-robbin’ yer; not, at least, just now. lLon’y wanted to let yer know I war around, an’ war goin’ to stay around, Let go ov yer pop-gun an’ let’s hev a word of sense. Then yer kin git under the shadder ov ther Seven Angels’ wings ez soon ez yer like.” . rig Dee vila “What are your intentions! To me you are a perfect stranger.” | : ‘‘T won't be long.. Pm Alabaster Jim, au’ Tve picked yer out fur my banker—I'’m a ] an’ a screw—I’m a ba-aad man _ to handle ef I onst git riled, an’ ’ve got it dowu on you mighty fine, an’ I’m goin’ te play it fur all it’s wuth.” ‘ SM . ‘In Heaven’s name what do you mean? You : - _ ‘Not very much, I’m. on’y a confidentooal agent, thet kin a secret—ef I’m paid fur it. I know ther hist’ry ov a leetle thet I know ther hall story clean cS (E| 90 fe) e€oim (aie)