Beadle's Dime Library, Vol. XII, No. 145 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

—— — - _— ‘ ‘ ~ ee ~< _" - eee 4 eee, uaeaers 5 t~ e e ll a —— me ee —T . 4 = is med ee eae me eS Re — x -& ” we m ee { . | \ | | | : ; ee ee ee ep - —_—— es” ~ a ae ee ee ee ee — . « . = ——— Soe eee ee eS eee ~~ - ER eR es-ES ant _ ‘ ~ Sa ° eee eee = —— ‘My dear, he is not running away from us, CHAPTER XXVL VICTOR PAGE’S LITTLE PLOT. “THERE was more luck than judgment in that little stick operation,” remarked Soft Hand, when they could no longer hear even the ‘‘thirr ” of the Spent bullets. ‘“‘ We’ve got a fine drove of horses, it’sa pity to see ‘em go to waste, and I don’t know that there’s any- thing for us to do but to strike south and sell out. They'll run us down, sure, if we stay fooling around here. Fact is, now that we’re on the road, things don’t look as clear as they did when I was planning how to get out of that cursed trap.” "Pears to me, pard, you’re one ez can’t bear prosperity. What’s the trouble now? Gimme a toothful of grub, fur which Ill own up I’m sufferin’, an’ I'll play hide an’ go seek with those chaps fur a week. Why, I know this country, all over, an’ it’s the purtiest you ever rid over.” “Do you know enough of it to tell where this Captain Skull’s ranch is?” Alabaster Jim looked at the other with a sly twinkle in his eye! ‘‘Answer yer own connundrum, an’ [’'ll give yer another to tackle onto it. What do yer think ov this Kunnel Dashwood anyhow?” **T think what you do,” burst out Soft Hand, “*and I wonder I[ didn’t see it sooner. I may be wrong, but I’d risk a thousand on it. He and Captain Skull are one.” **Right you are, fur rocks, pard, fur rocks, Down in Hangtown, don’t you see, they'll know whar to locate ther kunnel, an’ to Hang- town we'll strike and git posted. The two is playin’ it ag’in’ ther field; but we’ll hold our own end up, an’ no flinchin’.” Soft Hand looked a little dubious over the idea of venturing into Tierra Roxo. ‘They had a rope twisted fer my neck there last night, and like as not they’ll be fools enough there yet to try to put it on.” “Notif we getin afore ther kunnel, ez we will. Ef they do, we'll hev to sack the town, that’s all. You needn’t show up either. Jist be ready outside to ride in ef you hear this frolic begin, an’ Pll risk it alone. I kin take yer there in ther shake ova buck’s tail, an’ we'll drop what we don’t want of these critters on ther way goin’.” It seemed like running a great deal of risk; but our two adventurers knew very well that if they wasted time searching about in an aim- less way the danger they were in would be more than doubled, and if they did not intend to leave the neighborhood—as they certainly did not—Tierra Roxo, by daylight, might not prove as unhealthy as they suspected. Still they understood that they had to hold their own against the outlaws in the hills, and the nominally honest men in the town, without knowing bow far the two were identical. Nevertheless, for Tierra Roxo they started, where their presence was certainly not expected. fact the affair of the night before was not such a very great ripple on the life of Hang- town as one might expect. The lynch court seemed like a sudden fury; but it had been more or less carefully worked up. There were @ good many who went into it in a very cold- sort of a way, then there were several score who drifted along with the crowd, and then there a great many more who either were not there, or if they were, took no stock in the affair, ; | Of course it was a subject of discourse the next morning, and the lame ending elicited as much rst + om Sr anything else, though the remarks made about the counsel for the prison- er were not altogether flattering. Suspicion did not exactly point at him, but people won- dered who he was, and what he was doing, and before long hfs investments were known and bis future intentions canvassed. On his return to the Seven Angels, Varna’ receiv him with some scorn. ‘‘ Between you and that colonel you man- aged to have him slip clear nicely. What are’ such men as you worth?” wih age “My dear,” he answered, in conciliati tones, “‘I will admit that I was a little o color last y up to the standard; but the best man bas his weak hours, and I e are over foratime. There is some- rr more behind it all than you see; so don’t . until the affair is finished,” | | there be? The two men are off once warned that we are on ‘ his trail. when Redette again?’ do’ you expect to see Pierre’ Prete Avner rest assured. It is only his utter carelessness that makes him refuse to strike back. This colonel, for some reason of his own, chose to be my friend, and saved Redette to save me. There might have been somé ugly questions asked if things had not gone as they did.” | ‘*'You cannot win if you are afraid to put | up stakes, Why not risk all?’ “ Because it is better this way. When I became involved the plan was changed. A dozen men were sent to the north, and when | morning dawns there will be twocorpses bang- | ing by the side of the trail.” ‘‘A dozen men to take those two! Well, | they will not do it. He will escape. Who | told you of this plan?” ‘*This Colonel Dashwood. He just whis- pered a féw words in my ear as we passed.”’ ‘ And did he say nothing else?” “One word; and that word has troubled me.” “Why? what was it?” * Halves,” “Then be knows more than we thought any living being did except ourselves. Oh, I tell you, this game is no longer in our own hands. Could it have been he who placed us on this scent? Heisa dangerous man. Who is he? Have you been letting your tongue wag in bis presence; has he drawn anything out of you?’ ** He is a stock-raiser, and has mining inter- ests here; in fact, he almost runs this town. That is all I know of him. Save Pedro and his villains, who only half did their work, I have talked to no one of anything but mining schemes and the future of Tierra Roxo. There is no use to borrow trouble. play into our hand, let him. When the work is done, we can easily get rid of him, though I will own I would sooner not have him to settle with.” “Very well. If he meddles it will be at bis own risk. We will stay here until we learn more of what has happened, or will happen. I am enlisted for the war; see that you fail me not,” : “ And yet is there not a possibility that we might have been mistaken? Suppose we are even onthe wrong trail?’ The woman gave hima glance of scorn, and | made no answer. They were not working al- | together smoothly. ‘““ Whoever he may be this colonel is’ work- ing in our interests now; and if we lose our revenge remember our other ends will be just as certainly secured. The man will die to- night.” | Victor Page added this in a positive tone; but just as positively Varna answered him: “ And I say he will not, and when the end ‘proves my words good I will tell you of it.” And tell him of it she did, for that very day, as they stood upon the porch of the Seven Angels, down the street, side by side, as large as life, and very wide awake, came the Pistol Pards. ‘They seemed utterly unconscious that their re-entrance would cause any flurry in the camp; and they steered their course straight for Michael Mitchell’s hotel. Victor, at the sight, drew back a little, ut- terly amazed, while Varna stood erect, with eyes flashing full with hate, as Soft Hand brushed past them, and went in to seek Mitch- ell, from whom he deemed he could best ob- tain the information that he was after. He wanted to talk with a man that would not run and tell as soon as he was out of town. “Cut an’ kim again, perd,” said Alabaster Jim, as he lingered at the door. “ Couldn’t think ov leavin’ Hangtown thout sayin’ good- by to our friends. We shook hands with a dozen er more ov ’em that kim out ez a depur- tation to sing farewell; but that warn’t enough. We’ve kim to shake with the bull town.” The words were spoken at Victor, but he gave no reply, wheeling silently, and following Varna into the house. He was angry enough, mad enough to an- swer bitterly; but the thought struck bim to turn his wrath to some account. It happened that he met a boy in the ball, one of the servants attached to the house. With him he had a few words, and then ascended to his room. ‘It is a chance,” he muttéred to himself, ‘and as Varna says, if you don’t bet you can’t win. If he takes it—good-by, Mr. Redette.” . He hardly counted on the promptness with which the invited chances would present them- selves.’ He had scarcely b to tell to Varna what he had done, when there was a | If he chooses : which, without waiting for his answer, flew open, and Soft Hand glided into the.room. ‘* You sent for me; Iam here; what do you ~want?’ As he entered, the back of Page was toward him. As he spoke to Varna, Victor bad been fingering bis revolver in nervous anticipation. With lightning quickness he wheeled with up- raised band, and with muzzle pointed full at the breast of the man from Cinnabar. “Curse you, to kill you! You have come to your doom!” CHAPTER XXVII. PAGE’S PLOT PROVES A FAILURE. THE idea had struck Victor Page that, as this Soft Hand had been adjudged a public outlaw, and bad been warned away from the camp, if he inveigled him into the passages of the house and shot him on sight, when no one else was by to see the manner of his taking off, that little would be’said and nothing done about it. He had had enough of tools, that always turned out too dull for the work re- quired, and now, he made up his mind, he would do his own work. Of course he did not intend to give the bronze-bearded man any chance. It was not satisfaction but certainty that he was after. He calculated on having his revolver out and aimed, and to take him as he came up to the door. He had not counted on Varna’s pre- sence; though that would bardly make any difference, He bad his revolver in his hand, and at the sound of the voice he wheeled, with the words given in the previous chapter. There was no earthly way by which Soft Hand could help himself, for though his hand was at his belt and he was not altogether taken by surprise, the muzzle was directly at him before he could guess what was coming. Nevertheless he neither winced nor dodged. ‘‘T guess not,” hesaid, quietly. ‘‘1l’ve heard such talk before now, and it was all wind, for I'm here yet. Glad to see you and Mrs. Redette so lively, though. Had a good night’s | rest again, no bad dreams?’ “Tf you’ve any prayers to say, say them now; in another minute you die.” ‘Not very likely. While you’ve been fool- ing round I’ve been taking the drop from you. Move your thumb toward the hammer of that revolver and I'll drill you. Now go on and let’s: hear what you've got to say for. your- self.” ° ‘ It was just as Soft Hand said. He bad not attempted to draw the weapon on which bis hand rested but had swung the muzzle around, holster and all, and the jarring click of the raised hammer accompanied his words. With the pistol held close at bis waist there was hardly a chance that he would miss if he fired. Varna’s quick eye took in’the position ever before Soft Hand spoke. She was full of a bad nerve of her own, and she believed that she bated this man with more than a passing hatred. Toward her breast stole her band, for there she carried a weapon, small but at such close quarters reliable enough. But the man noted that motion too. ‘‘ Excuse me, miss, or madam if you choose, but I wouldn’t. I'd pull on him right off, and when you were left alone you wouldn’t make a good sized mouthful ” “Give in, Victor,” she said quietly. ‘‘ Fate seems agaitst us. Perhaps it is as well, for it was a desperate chance. Now that you bave brought him hither I would ask him a question or two. He may answer them now though he refused before.” ‘“‘Ask, then. I am half inclined to throw away the hatchet and run for it. Such luck, backed by such skill, it is useless to fight against.” | -_ | He spoke gloomily, and as if thoroughly in earnest, but he still held his hand ‘outstretched. _ It was dangerous to move it, for he knew that if there was any mistake made about his in- tentions there would follow sudden disaster. — The man from Cinnabar scarcely put much faith in his sincerity for an incredulous smile curled his lip. : “Tve beard that kind of talk, but it gener- ally brought more sting than honey. Just drop the muzzle of that revolver, take the barrel by the other hand and pass it over. Then this court will be open for business.” For the second time in his Hangtown experi- ence Page suffered himsel to be disarmed. GOMiicooo (G gs) (€@)