Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 156 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

“ee ~ recognized Ralp ~~ - ————————————EE Malcolm Merle, in trembling tones, gazing upon the stranger. ; But the eyes of the maiden were already riv- eted upon him, and she said in awe-struck tones: **Is it an apparition?’ ‘**'No, Miss Merle, that man is my bitterest foe, and—he is my twin brother,” and more pal- lid now than when death by hanging had cast itsshadow upon him, Ralph Reno turned toward the very man whose absence had so nearly cost him his life, and the one he held as a prisoner, and who was certainly the counterpart of the Guide in face and form. CHAPTER XV. A MYSTERY SOLVED. RAISING his sombrero to Muriel and Camille, as he approached, for room was given him on all sides, Velvet Face, with his hand still resting on the shoulder of his prisoner, said in his clear, decided tones: ‘*T was told without that a man was being tried here for having killed me; it looks as though, with their usual hastiness, the Vigi- lantes had made a sad mistake,” “Hold on, pard, we don’t "low criticisms on our acts,” angrily cried Lew Baker. ‘“‘Then, instead of being the Regulators of Justice, as you profess, you descend to the level of cutthroats,” was the fearless retort, and as Velvet Face looked straight in the eyes of Lew Baker, that personage did not consider it his duty to reply, and the Border Bravo con- tinued: ‘‘ Being one of the interested parties in this matter, | beg to interfere, and inquire why a man, whom [I deem my friend, is dragged here to be hanged like a dog, for the supposed crime of having killed me?’ and the eyes of Velvet Face flashed with anger, and the Vigilantes re- maining silent, Muriel said: ‘“' lwo weeks ago, sir, the night you took a9 per at Sunset Retreat, a shot was heard shortly ufter the departure of Mr. Reno, and a witness states that you were seen in angry conversation with the Guide, who, as you rode away, turned and fired upon you, and, either wounded or killed, you fell forward on the neck of your horse, which bore you to the Devil’s Ladder, where all trace of you was lost.” ‘* This is strange, for I left the valley just af- ter departing from your home, Miss Merle, and meeting one who gave me information of an important character, I have not been back un- til to-day; but did you all not know that Ralph Reno could not be guilty of an act so vile?” ‘* Hold on, pard; ’pearances is deceivin’, folks say; but I seen “a that night, and thought I here, tho’ now I sees ther ger- loot yer has yer grip on, I is a leetle mixed jist now ’bout that; but as Ralph run off thet night, and jist returned yesterday with gold he’d struck in ther mountains, it did look sus- picious like ag’in’ him,” and Kansas Kit arose and confronted Velvet Face, anxious to clear his own skirts. ‘“*] admit, Reno, matters did cast a shadow on you; but I had no such meeting as described with you, as you well know.” ““True, but why try and convince men to the contrary, when they are bent on carrying out Scripture in the one particular that suits them best; that is ‘An eye for an eye, and a life for a life’?” said Ralph, calmly, and Kansas Kit again put in: ‘Then who in thunder was it, ef it wasn’t you, pard?” and he turned to Velvet Face who answered: em a ap this not have been the personage you mistook for Mr. Reno?” and he turned his pris- Coe around so that Kansas Kit could see his ace. ‘‘Durned ef I don’t believe he were ther ga- oot; yer see it were moonlight, and I couldn’t see plain as day, but somehow his rig now catches my eyes as it did thet night; but 1 w’u’d hev swored thet ther face was Ralph Reno’s; who ther devil are he, nohow?’ ‘*He is a gentleman whom I took for Mr. Reno, and approached in the mountains, and he undertook to master me, and found it a case of the biter bitten; in fact, he is one of Jean Leo’s Vanites.” A howl of rage followed this announcement, that caused the prisoner to turn deadly pale, and Ralph Reno to look around nervously, while Kansas Kit asked: ‘*Buthe may hev been ther feller I tuk fer Ralph; but who in thunder was ther one I tuk fer you, pard?”’ a, a was mounted on a black horse?” ** Was he dressed as I am?” * Fact!” ‘* The same style of sombrero?” ‘‘ Thet’s it, pard.” ‘** And h’s face?” ‘““Was shaved clean as a padre’s, same as yourn.” ; “ Then it was Jean Leo himself.” This announcement also caused an intense ex- citement to pervade the room, and all eyes turned upon Velvet Face, who continued, as he bent his piercing gaze upon the prisoner: “ferhaps you cao tell us, sir; was your es chief, Jean Leo, in the Paradise Valley two weeks ago?” ‘* He was,” came the answer, in an indifferent tone. ** And you met him there?” “i Yes,’ ‘Why?’ ‘If my liberty is promised me, I will tefl you all,” was the cunning remark, ‘No, we care not to know more than that it was yourself and Jean Leo, instead of Reno and myself, that Kansas Kit saw that night; but one question I will ask you, and that is if your chief is dead?” The man hesitated a moment and then said: ** He is not.” Seeing that Velvet Face would not question him further, the prisoner said: ‘**T will tell you, if hg promise to let me go, why Jean Leo came the valley, and why an attempt was made to kill him.” ‘*] will make you no promises; you are a member of the Danite League, for when 1 cap- tured you I found their oo upon you and, as such, you should be dealt with, and I turn you over to the Vigilantes,” said Velvet Face, severely. ** Hold on, one minute; I confess that I came to this valley two weeks ago, and it was to meet Jean Leo here. ‘*We had words, because I would not aid him in a plot against the settlers, and threatening to punish me, as Danites only can punish one they turn against, he rode away, and I fired upon him, and my bullet glanced on his skull, tem- porarily stunning him. “*Strange to say, he did not suspect the shot to come from me, but from that person, I sup- pose,” and he pointed to Kansas Kit, ‘“‘ who had just passed us, and I returned to our retreat un- molested, and found him there, for he went by the way of the Devil’s Ladder.” ‘““ Now I am tired of the life I lead with the Danite League, and if you swear to set me free, I will betray them to you.” ‘*The Vigilantes may do as they deem fit; as for myself, I would not trust you, and as for Jean Leo and his band, their days are num- bered; here, gentlemen, is your prisoner if you wish him?” ‘“Oh, we wants him, an’ is obleeged to yer, pard, for ther present, for we set forth ter hev a hangin’ an’ guesses we'll hev one; but we is all uncommon sorry we misjedged our pard Reno, for ef our pretty jedee hadn’t ’a’ gone ag’in’ us, he’d ’a’ been cold meat afore now. ‘*'You must excoose us, Ralph, an’ ef yer wants ter kick me I won’t say nothin’, an’ I guesses t/other Vigilantes will let yer gi’n them a h’ist too,” and Lew Baker half-turned his back to pag Reno, as if expecting to have the lat- ter kick him. ‘No, no, Lew, it’s all right, I suppose; only be a little more careful in future beiore string- ing aman up,” said Ralph. ats ‘Yes, for not long since I saved six innocent yeople from your vengeance, when you were led on by Carl of Colorado, a man who was a spy in your midst, as he is a member also of the Danite League; come, Reno, I wish to see you,” and Velvet Face turned Pehl but stop- ped as the Danite prisoner called him, and said in a whining tone: you are leaving me in dangerous hands, sir. ‘* True, you deserve to be.” ** You will not accept my offer?” ‘*To betray your comrades, no!” **T can tell you a secret that this valley is in- terested in,” ‘*T care not to hear it.” ‘That man will vouch for me, for I am his brother,” and he pointed to Ralph Reno, who turned quickly and said: ‘“‘ Alas! that it is so; yes, you are my twin brother, and you have made my very life a curse,” ‘‘And you will see these men hang me as though I were a dog?” ** Your crimes deserve it,” was the stern re- sponse, ‘Hard words to come from a brother’s lips to a brother, Ralph.” ““T admit it, Paul; but our paths in life di- vide here, evenif yours go to the grave; fare- well, and may God have mercy upon your wicked soul.” Turning, Ralph Reno passed quickly out of the room, and the Vigilantes determining to keep the Danite until the morrow, to get what information they could from him, Lew Baker, in loud tones, dismissed the crowd as follows: “This heur court is adjourned until next time; but from ’pearances, I guesses yer’ll all be invited ter a hangin’ ter-morrow, as this ilgrim from Salt Lake looks uncommon un- healthy.” CHAPTER XVL THE BROTHERS. As the shadows of evening crept over the val- ley, a party of seven persons were assembled in the sitting-room of the Sunset Retreat, for Mr. Merle had asked Velvet Face and Ralph Reno home with him, and Murie) ew) Comite had a -———— + eee —— | tcowed, escorted by Guy Godfrey and Dick zel, Upon entering the cabin and finding the man there, whose life had been so nearly forfeited to a fatal mistake, Muriel had gone up and offered her hand, and said frankly: ‘*Mr, Reno, if I seemed unmaidenly to-day, | or unkind, in becoming your judge, believe m>, acted to save you, for, even bad you been guilty, I cared not to see Aa punished as those _ men intended you should be; let us be friends,” The lip of the strong man quivered, and, after : an effort at self-control, he answered: ‘* Let us forget the past, and be friends, Miss Muriel,” ‘*] guesses I ought ter ask pardon too, pard, for I was a leetle too fresh in pressing you against the wall; but I would have done the same against Velvet Face, ef it had been said he had put you out of the way, as was said of you, ‘**T have a heart, if it is beneath a miner’s shirt, and from to-day you can call me your friend.” To the surprise of all, even to that of Gu Godfrey, his inseparable companion, Dic Hazel, had suddenly dropped the border slan and style of speaking, and let out the secre that he had in the bygone seen better to pa Ralph Reno grasped his hand warmly, and then, after some hesitation, said: “y may as well tell you all why it is I have the feeling against my brother that to-day I showed; but, the truth is, my affection for him ended years ago.” ‘**Let the buried past remain buried, Reno, for l assure you none of us feel any idle curi- osity to hear a story that must needs be painful to you to tell,” said Velvet Face, quickly. *“No, I prefer to tell you why I seemed to hate rather than love my brother, ‘“‘He is my twin, and from the day of our birth my parents showed a strange partiality to him, which I felt deeply as I grew older, and I fear it warped my nature. ** As we grew to boyhood, Paul had a private tutor at home, while 1 was sent off to an aca- demy; but all this I stood with patience, until one day a forgery of my father’s name was committed for a large amount, and it was traced to Paul, but 1 was the sufferer, for the bank official could not tell one of us from the other, and would not swear which of us it was that drew the money, and my parents finding, as they said, certain damning proofs of guilt in my desk, I was tried and sentenced to the peni- tentiary for years, for they made no effort to save me, ‘*Those proofs were taken from my brother Paul’s desk and placed in mine, and conscious of my own innocence I made my escape from prison, and with some money I had in bank be- came a wanderer about the world. **Some time after I learned that my brother had gotten into pecuniary difficulties, from which my father refused to extricate him, hot words following, in some way they came to blows, and Paul was a fratricide. ‘* He made his escape, but the blow killed our mother, and from that day my life has been dogged out of me by my brother, who seemed to track me wherever I went, well knowing that I would not give him u to justice ** The last I heard of him he was in Salt Lake City, and to-day I know him as one of Jean Leo’s Danites, and, as you know, his preseuce in the valley two weeks since nearly caused me - be strung up as your murderer, Velvet ace. ‘* Well, he'll not trouble you after to-morrow, Reno,” said Mr, Merle petra “No, for | am confident the igilantes will hang bim; now, if you will excuse me, I will go and look after some little matters, and, if you will be my guest, Velvet Face, I will come by for you, and we'll go to the cabin together.” “Thanks; Pll accept thé invitation, Reno, but stop for me at the upper camps, for I wish to see several of the miners,” and, declining‘Mr, Merle’s offer of a room ph Reno, evidently deeply impressed with what he d gone through, left Sunset Retreat, and mounting his horse, which had been kept in Mr. Merle’s Hable, rode down the valley toward Purgatory ity. Avoiding observation as much as possib'e the Guide at last halted before an isolated cabin, that stood on the outskirts of the little hamlet, and was sheltered by a thicket. The place was dark, but before the hut door paced a tall miner. It was Kansas Kit, and as Ralph Reno ap- proached he called out, sternly: ‘‘Halt, pard! thar’s a treasure in heur, a leetle more precious than gold-dust; keep off, for I is told ter shoot, not chin, with any one comin’ heur.” —. “It is I, Ralph Reno, Kit, and I wish to talk with you.” f ‘Stand right thar, pard, jist whar I kin keep my eyes on yer, an’ say ver say.” , ~“*T wish to talk to you about the prisoner, my brother. ? . ‘I knows it; yer big heart kinder has ther bleed fer him, an’ yer’d like ter hev him skip; I was ag’in’ ver to-day, pard, but I knows yer ter he : eser py: elenn through, an’ T wou’dn’t Velvet Face, the Border Bravo. <S (E(@) Gomicdoo