Beadle's Dime Library, Vol. XII, No. 145 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 through;.an’ Mister Page, ’m on ther, make. I don’t want money now; fur [ve got thou- sands, but Ill be bruke soon, dead broke, I feel it in my boots, an’ then I'll play you fur rocks, an’ yer got tokimdown. You hyer me, eh!” ‘* And do you think you can frighten me by any such trumped-up story as I[ see you intend to manufacture? A man that can face you with- out a quiver, in the darkness, with your knife at his breast is scarcely the kind to choose for black-mail.” ‘‘My angel pard, yer hes nerve; but when yer know ther drop is on yer you don’t squirm. Thet’s ther hull.on it. An’ when ther’s a woman in the case ther’s allers a double chance. When ther time comes you'll shell out, er pass in yer checks, an’. that hand- some sister’ll stand er fall with yer. Mebbe I won’t see yer ag’in fur a year; mebbe it. won’t be a fortnight. Wecan’t tell how ther keerds willrun: but Alabaster Jim won’t lose sight on yer, an’ don’t yer furgit it. Don’t try any tricks now, but band over that pepper-box an’ light out. I mean it.” Atthe last stern words of command Victor Page relaxed his gripe upon his revolver, which dropped into the hands of Alabaster Jim, who held him covered, as he wheeled and walked rapidly toward the camp. CHAPTER XV. ALABASTER JIM ‘‘ HUMPS HIMSELF,’’ AND CALLS ON A PAIR OF SIXES. In the shadow of the porch at the Angels stood Victor Page, trembling and uncertain. He found that he was not as great a villain as he had hoped that he was, and his vengeance and bis interest alike were overshadowed by otber conflicting feelings that had arisen. His crime began to trouble him some, and _its con- sequences more. Although he had been too much interested in his own affairs to pay much attention to what was going on in the camp, he had heard a version of a little trouble that bad oceurred at the Star a few nights be- fore, and in it had figured a certain cool, skill- ful desperado, who now seemed to be on his trail. Just when he had hoped that his secret was being buried it came to life in a vigorous form. And then he felt as though he could not rest until be found out the extent of the revelations that were to come when the party returned from the old mission. He dared not fly, and he feared to remain. While, then, he stood there, listening to dis- tant sounds of loud, excited voices, he was startled, by a sudden touch on his shoulder. Fiercely he wheeled around; but to his sur- prise it was Varna that stood by his side. ‘““What! you here?’ he exclaimed sharply. “Twas up not so very long ago and you were sleeping soundly. It might have been better if you had been awake then; or asleep now.” “Why! Itis true I slept for a time; but something wakened me; and I called you. When I found that you were not there I came down. Has anything happened?’ | ‘“Much. Pedro Mercado has been k and they tracked his murderer to the old ruin, and found an open grave and coffin, with a corpse in it. The ruffian escaped them for the time; but I believe that they have him. What may he not reveal? I could not stand it to remain there or I might buve known his story by this time.” -\ "Is that the cause of your uneasiness? Have ‘nofears. It may be all the better. There are plenty of tizers bere, that are ready to growl ‘and rend when they see wolves getting the prey. If they find a scape-goat for our sins, _ in the shape of some ordinary ruffian, it will make us doubly safe, only we must know what is said and done. have halted, and whatever is to be said and done will be over soon. “You! But perhaps it will be best to act as you suggest. Westand or fall together.” Out from the shadow of the porch they moved, and again toward the Star, where there was a hubbub of voices. | The party had returned thither; and with them they brought a prisoner. It was far on in the night, and a great many of the citizens of Tierra Roxo and vicinity were well advanced in their cups, so that everything was favorable for a sudden rise of the worst element, while even the better, if it uppened to be abroad, was none too lenient a desperado, taken ina crime. Several of the Come! If you fear to face. this matter I will go with you. Yonder they Pistol Pards. party at the old mission were of the so-called law and order class, or, probably, there would have been noprisoner returned to Hangtown, no trial, no nonsense;. only a dangling corpse and | fish, and mighty hungry. swing a man off on an empty stumjack, would a whispered story for the morrow. As there had been more than one. assassination of late, almost anybody would do for a victim. stranger, so much the better. But a few insisted that the prisoner should have the benefit of what little law Judge Lynch. might be able to dispense, and. accord- ingly the captive was dragged into town, and right up to the Star of Empire. The crowd would have surged on in; but at the threshold they were met by the proprietor, Fritz, who was heeled for the occasion, Despite his name, which he had picked up somewhere and adopted, after the free and easy method of the West, Fritz was no Teu- ton. He had a firmly placid disposition, which viewed as matters of course a great many in- conveniences to which he submitted in the line of his business. But a lynch court in his saloon was more than he was willing to stand, and so he frankly told the crowd. ‘‘ Hold on!” he exclaimed, to the leaders, who were dragging on a limp, unresisting prisoner. “Ef ye’r goin’ to hev a circus, set up yer own canvas; you can’t pitch yer ring under mine. When two gentlemen hev a difficulty hyer, an’ smash things a leetle, I don’t say nothin’, fur that’s business; but hangin’ a man’s somethin’ else. I don’t want such fruit bunched on my lodge-pole, so jist have yer fun in ther open air. The night dews won’t burt the most of you; an’ asther prisoner will be apt to go out of the wet very shortly, I don’t think the damp will do bim any barm.” He enforced his argument by holding up two navy revolvers of the largest size, and added in a steady voice: ““T mean it.” Fortunately the sober ones of the crowd were nearest the speaker, and. understood his position exactly. It was shrewdly suspected that Fritz had his eye on some particular par- ties, and though a determined rush might dis- pose of him in short order, he would still have time to get in a shot or two that would not be conducive to the health of Hangtown, whatever it might do for its graveyard. | Those in front, then, checked the rush ; turned, and after a short conference yielded gracefully in so far that they organized the court of Judge Lynch in the open air. As the proceedings would not be apt totakelong it could make very little difference. Fritz was kind enough to put some of his lamps in the windows, two or three lanterns were hung out, and the pris- oner, around whose waist had been twisted a cord, was allowed to double himself up on a bench under a guard, while the organization of the court went on. ‘‘ Now then, boys,” sung out one of the cap- tors. ‘“‘ We want a good solid man, .with no nonsense in him, for Judge Lynch. Don't all speak at once, but let some level-headed man name his choice.” “T’l] name Andy Barber,” said a voice from the crowd, and the proposition was followed by as near toa general laugh as one could ex- pect from men who were bent on such a dead- ly purpose as theirs. Andy Barber occupied an anomalous position, being credited with the post of City Marshal, though a confirmed sport. “That’s too thin,” sung out an answering voice, ‘‘ Besides, he ain’t here. Some of the boys run him into Hoodlum Hall when they saw a show for fun, an’ him an’ Lame Baker hez agreed to play draw till the party is over.” “T'll put up the man; he’s in Fritz’s now. It’s Kunnel Dashwood. He’sa square man, an’ knows what’s what.” “Bring him out, bring him out!” was cho- rused by a score or more; and without delay a man or two started in search of the colonel, who was scarcely likely to decline the honor so unanimously conferred. No one at first seemed to pay much atten- tion to the prisoner, who was. certainly not very rampant, but while the selection of a judge was being discussed, one man edged quietly up, and addressed him in a cheerful tone: ‘Chirk up, ole man; yer ain’t dead yet, so yer needn't look so blue, Ov segs ther law's got to hev its swing, but ef I kin do anything to make you com le give us a hint an’ I’) do it ef it takes my duckat.” The man addressed moved his head _ a little, and no doubt was looking upward, but his If a | face was shaded with a broad-brimmed Mex- ican hat, that even then concealed his features. ‘*Thankee,” he answered. ‘I’m dry as @ They wouldn’t | they?’ | “TIT don’t know what they wouldn’t do, but _durned ef they shall. Hold on, hyer. I'll be ‘round in a minute, er my name ain’t Alabas- | ter Jim,” It was that ubiquitous individual, as usual laying his foundations for any amount of | trouble. | “ Just water, James, just water,” said the prisoner, stiffening visibly under the inspiring | presence of the rough-and-ready sport. | ‘Water with a dash of bitters; I’ll fix yer,” and he hurried into the Star. He was only gone a few moments, and re- turned, bringing a tumbler, and a chunk of meat hastily caught up. The dash of whisky in the glass was so heavy that there was little room left for water, but down it went; and up came the spirits of the recipient. He braced himself, and looked sharply at his guards, who were keeping com- fortably close, and bad viewed with some dis- favor the attentions of Alabaster Jim; but were also much interested in a sudden motion made to adjourn the court until after they could bang the accused. The motion was made, and seconded vigor- ously by a dozen hang-dog looking fellows, who were anxious to push the work through before the colonel could take his seat on the bench, which, on this occasion was a store box. ““What’s ther use ov wastin’ ther time ov this yere court? Didn’t we find him just pilin’ away ther stiffs; an’ when we told him to hold up his hands didn’t he plug away at the hull crowd? He’s a desprit character, and don’t yer furgit it. Salt bim down right now, er you may find him too freshto keep. Yere’s yer rope; go fur him!” Jack McCaw’s personal feelings were voiced by many others; and one of the as yet unplug- ged caught the rope, knotted a noose in it, and with a yell sprung forward. | “Hurrah, boys, hyar’s what'll drag him out! Whar’s the man that humps himself when the boys of Hangtown says, swing?” ‘‘Hyer's ther identickle durned ole fool ez does that very thing. No trial no fun; an’ hyer’s two more ez sez ther same.” And Alabaster Jim, slipping deftly behind the prisouer, over his two shoulders extended two revolvers, and faced the swaying crowd, as cool as an iceberg. CHAPTER XVI ‘“ BECAUSE I KNOW IT IS TRUR.”’ A UNIVERSAL how] went up at the bold defi- ance; but the front rank again played conser- vative, and Alabaster Jim kept the floor. “Ob, you’re a-howlin’; but I’m the law an’ order, an’ these two friends think allers ez I do. It may look like a small hand, but it's good fur all I risk on it. Ef yer don’t believe me call it and see.”’ ‘‘He’s another of ’em; he’s.a side pardner, au’ needs ther same treatment. Yank ’em both out!” exclaimed McCaw,.from the heart of the crowd. , “That’s so. It’s the knife-thrower, that fixed Kunnel Dash, right in this byer saloon, the other night; hang ’em both!” added Harry Wade, who had journeyed in from the old mis- sion with hopes of vengeance that were con- stantly expanding. “T wouldn’t try it on too fast, aryhow, onless yer willin’ to die fur ther fun ov a fun’ral. Git up yer judge an’ jury, an’ ef ther's a squar’ shake an’ a cl’ar case I'll pass; but while ther trial goes on, me an’ my friends stands jist so, to see fair play, every time.” , By this time, Colonel Dashwood, after some show of reluctance, had come out from the saloon, and as he saw the position of affairs and recognized the man behind the prisoner, a a distorted his f due everth ler was in real- ity shone, om the dignity of .his court, be scarcely saw how he could at once express what he undoubtedly felt toward that cheerful individual; especially as he was not yet posted as to the way he had “‘ chipped in;” and he sut- fered him to remain without notice. Mounting the store box Colonel Dashwood addressed crowd glibly en his words at once restoring something like order, EONAIE NOOO KES (E() .