Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 156 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

a ———— _ ‘* Then the miner, who passed on up the river trail, says he looked back and saw in the moon- light Velvet Face ride on, and the one he had been talking to, rene tr raise his arm, and a flash and report followed, ‘‘Tnstantly the miner, whose name is Kansas Kit, ran to the spot, but the man who fired the shot had disappeared, and he heard the rapid clatter of Velvet Face’s horse dashing up the mountain trail. ‘““We, that is Hazel, Godfrey and myself, went on up the valley, the river and the moun- tain trails for some distance, and saw those who beheld Midnight dash by them like the wind, bis master lying limp and motionless upon his neck, and held on, apparently, srg by his rifle stra catching over the horn of his Mexican saddle. “And you could not overtake the horse, father?” ‘*No, for he flies, rather than runs, and frightened, as he must be, there is no telling where he will stop.” ‘* And this miner, uncle, Kansas Kit, did he not recognize the one who fired the shot?” asked Camille, quietly. ‘“* He said it looked like Ralph Reno, but I told him the Guide was in my house at the time, and that he it could not be; but where is Reno?” ‘* He has gone, father.” ‘* Doubtless to search for Velvet Face, for they seemed great friends; I trust he can bring us some news of that splendid man.” ‘*T hope so too, father; but it is late, so let us retire,” and Muriel led the way into the house, and she and Camille were soon in their cosey room, but to neither would slumber come, and every sound without caused them tostart and listen, for they hoped that Hazel or Godfrey would return with news of Velvet Face.” At length just before dawn they dropped to sleep, but awoke with a start, as loud voices were heard without. The sun was shining brightly, and outside on horseback, were several men, and one of them was speaking, and they recognized the voice of the school-teacher. ‘We tracked Midnight, as soon as it was dawn, Mr. Merle, to what is known as the Devil’s Ladder, and his trail led down it, and Hazel has ridden round the mountain to see where it goes after oe the valley, while I returned to open my school.” “* [tcannot be possible that the horse, unurged, went down that place,” said Mr. Merle. ‘It is possible, sir, knowing the horse Velvet Face rode; you remember he came up it alone and drove Featherhoof before him; but we will know by noon.” ‘‘ And if no tracks are found at the valley end of the Devil’s Ladder—” ‘Then horse and rider went over upon the rocks, or into the river, which, at one place, runs beneath against the cliff; please thank Miss Merle for her horse, which you loaned me, and tell her that no human power could get Featherhoof down the Devil’s Ladder again. “Stay and breakfast with us, for the girls will soon be up.” ‘*No, thank you, Mr. Merle; my regards to the ladies, please,” and dismounting from Featherhoof and giving him in charge of Washee, Guy Godfrey walked toward his cabin, near Purgatory eet followed by those who had returned with him from the hunt for Vel- vet Face, And all that day men returned from the search with no tidings of the horse and rider, and at sunset, tired out, and sad-faced, Dick Hazel putin an appearance at Sunset Retreat, and in answer to the eager inquiries of Mr, Merle, said: > Waal, Mr. Merle, I have no good news, for there are no tracks leading from the Ladder to the valley. ‘“‘T went up the Ladder, leading my horse, for that isn’t a place where I like to ride, and at one place it looked as though a horse had gone over. ‘* Was itnot where 1 met with my adventure, Mr. Hazel?” asked Muriel, calmly, though ber face was full of eager hope, ‘*No, miss, if I understand aright, that you pS how mishap at the narrowest part o’ ther Ladder: this were whur it overhangs ther river, and if he went down there, the torrent has car- ried him out ©’ sizht ferever, ’ceptin’ to ther angels o’ God, Miss Mu’rel.” he manner of Dick Hazel was impressive, and Muriel made no reply, but sat like a statue, et “os a went fey oa . are plen er valley as we could spars: and it mre a shame that such a man ould go or nog I am not given ter praisin’ people, Mr. Merle, I will say that Velvet Face were one whose equal I never met.” “And who was his assassin, Mr. Hazel?’ asked Muriel, calmly. “That, nobodv can sw’ar to, though Kansas Kit says it was Ralph Reno.” ‘Rut Reno was here, Dick,” said Mr. Merle, “No, sir, he left some leetle time afvure the shot were fired.” on “Why do you not seek Mr. Reno, and tell him what this Kansas Kit says?’ asked Muriel, calmly, Velvet Face, the B | ‘“‘Kansas Kit went himself, Miss Muriel, to the cabin o’ the guide miner, an’ he wasn’t there; his horse was gone, an’ the fire look’d as tho’ it hadn’t been built up all night: you see, when Velvet Face left here after supper he went up to ther camps, an’ he talked to some o’ ther boys about his gold find, an’ then his bein’ shot so soon after, it looks very dismal for somebody, and ef we kin get wind o’ who he is, thar will be tree-fruit hanging in Death Can- on. All present understood the fearful meanin of ‘‘tree-fruit,” and, rising quickly, Murie sought her room, followed by the fone eyes of ille Conrad, who had read the fact that her cousin held a secret buried in her heart. CHAPTER XII. OLL, THE WAIF, CHIPS IN. A WEEK passed away, and still the talk of the Paradise Valley settlers was the mysterious shooting of Velvet Face, and the still more re- markable disappearance of horse and rider af- ter the firing of the shot. It was believed, after Dick Hazel’s explana- tion, that Midnight, in his fright at having his dead master on his back, had attempted to go down the Devil’s Ladder, and a misstep had hurled him into the torrent hundreds of feet below, and miners had gone down the stream to the shoals, fifteen leagues from the valley to search for the bodies, but had returned unsuc- cessful. Another remarkable circumstance, and which slowly drew suspicion upon him, after what Kansas Kit had said, was the disappearance of Ralph Reno, upon the very night that the mys- terious shot had been fired. The cabin in the mountain still remained de- serted, and every search through the mountains for Ralph Reno had proved fruitless of results, and dark whispers were heard upon every side, and several of the main movers among the Vigi- lante band had questioned Muriel, and all at the cabin that night about the time of the Guide’s departure. In a straightforward way Muriel had told of the departure of the Guide, but bad said noth- ing in regard to the love-scene between them, and the threat of Ralph Reno, while Washee Washee also kept gilent upon several little ints where his Seainicin might have thrown ight, if the crimination of the accused man was the object sought. But the Vigilantes worked quietly to discover the murderer, for all that had seen Velvet Face admired and respected the brilliant man who had flashed like a meteor in their midst and then gone out like a candle in a night, and se- cret threats were made against whoever had sent him to his death, for that he lived not one would believe. And thus two weeks rolled around, and once more a party had assembled around the hos- pitable board of Mr. Merle. But two who had partaken of the supper ae Sunday night a fortnight before, were ab- sent. Those two were Velvet Face, mourned for as among the dead, and Ralph Reno, who was now looked upon with dark suspicion as his murderer, Presently Washee Washee, who was enterin from the outside kitchen, with a dish of ho venison stew, suddenly gave a howl of fright and springing forward emptied the contents o the platter upon the broad shoulders of Dick Hazel, who arose with blood in his eye against the Chinee, shouting in thunder tones: “Yer yaller nigger o’ Heathentown, you hev skint me from my neck to my heels with thet red-hot grub.” Restraining her laughter, Camille pf eee to his aid with a napkin, and Mr. Merle nan apology to the miner, and rebuke to Washee ashee in the same breath, when the latter, who had retreated behind Muriel’s chair, shouted: ‘* Melican manee comee!” As he spoke, he pointed toward the open door, and in oh Ralph Reno, pale, Lag- ae sm and apparently surprised at the excitement his coming had pe bens ‘* Toughtee killee Washee, too,” muttered the Chinee, while the Guide, looking first at Mr. Merle and then at Muriel, said in his deep tones: ‘* My coming seems to cause surprise, and my presence to be unwelcome.” ‘‘ We are surprised, Mr. Reno, for we thought you had fled from the country; come in, sir,” said Mr. Merle, arising. “I fled from the country, sir? I do not un- derstand why you should say so; but I will not, by my presence, disturb so pleasant a party, so will retire.” “Hold on, pard! I has the drop square on yer heart, an’ I’]] send my bullit through it ef yer move,” and springing to his feet, Dick Hazel leveled his revolver across the table, the act causing every one to quickly arise, and glance at the two men. ‘Dick Hazel, have you gone mad?” asked wy > Reno, sternly. — 10, but I is detarmined not ter let you es- pe. ™= order Bravo. a ae ee 9 Ss i te ‘Why should I wish to escape, and for what?” ‘*Don’t play us for softies, pard; we have been s’archin’ fer you ther past two weeks, an’ ef yer attempts to levant now, I’ll jist save the Vigilantes trouble.” “Great God! what means this? Speak! I im- plore you, and tell me of what I am accused,” and with pallid face and trembling form, Ralph Reno, regardless of Hazel’s pistol, strode into the room and turned his gaze upon each face, while he stretched forth his arms with a gesture that was most pleading. ‘*'You are looked upon, Ralph Reno, as the one who shot Velvet Face, two weeks ago to- be ai said Guy Godfrey, stepping toward “Shot Velvet Face? Good God! is that man dead?” asked the Guide, in tones of intense feel- ing. *“You heard my words; he was shot on the river trail, not a hundred paces from this cabin, and not a quarter of an hour after you lett it, and there was one who says he saw you talki to Velvet Face, and that both of you seem angry,” said Godfrey. *“ 1t is false; false as hell itself; I never saw Velvet Face after he left this house, and from here I went to my cabin in the mountains.” ‘ Can you prove that, pard?” asked Dick Ha- ‘*Only by my word, for I saw no one.” ‘Where have you been since then?’ asked Mr. Merle, inclined by the honest manner of the accused to believe his words, ‘“*T have been prospecting in the mountains, and witb great luck, for I have struck a most valuable lead; see, here are specimens of the gold, and I have already named it the Hope mine,” and he emt at Muriel significantly and drew from his pocket a handful of ore of the richest kind. ‘*'You don’t look happy, pard, like one who has struck it rich, for yer face is haggard like, an — ‘*T have been ill, and my horse fell with me and pone me.” Ky S **Hope you kin prove it, pard Reno; but it looks dark for you jist now, aniI considers it my duty to take yer in ~ eal oot ‘Never, sir!” and with a lightning movement Ralph Reno bad drawn a weapon in each band, one covering Dick Hazel, the other Guy God- frey, who had both been caught off guard. * Mr. Reno, |’ve got you covered, so you may as well surrender.” It was Oll the Waif who spoke, and he had suddenly glided from his place in the corner, to the back of Ralph Reno, and pressed his re- volver against his head. Like a hunted stag at bay, the Guide cast a look around him, and then his eyes fell upon Muriel and he seemed to change his mind, as to the carrying out of some act he had sudden] formed, for he lowered his weapons, aud said, dejectedly : ‘Here are my revolvers, Hazel; take them, for | surrender.’ 4 ‘*Give ’em to ther boy, pard, for he is your captor as you had me and my pard foul; take ’erm, Ol ‘‘No, sir. I did not wish Mr. Reno to escape, if he is guilty of killing Velvet Face,” modestly replied he youth. ‘Waal, you did the biz, an’ chipped in lively like, and saved me an’ Teacher here, for he hed it in bis eye ter pull on us, ‘Come, pard, you must go up the valley with me, and the Vigilantes will give yer a fair trial; but your having found a rich lead, just after Velvet found one, and he being dead, it seems tome as ef yer better hunt ’way back in yer mem’ry chest for some leetle prayer ter say, for yer know what ther lads be when they gets on a blood-scent,” ** Yes, I know them well; so be it, lam your prisoner, and I will faee my accusers, and face the result.” He laid his belt of weapons upon the table, and, folding his arms, bowed his head in sub- mission to his fate. CHAPTER XIII. THE VIGILANTES HOLD COURT. MONDAY morning, following the return of — Reno, broke bright and beautiful, but the settlement seemed more like a Sabbath in ap- pearanee, as the miners had not gone to their work, and the saloons of Purgatory City were doing a thriving business, for thither had con- gregated the wild spirits of the valley, and all were discussing the whys and wberefores of the case of the Vigilantes vs. Ralph Reno. The Guide was a popular man, or had been, in Paradise Valley, and he was known ¢o be as brave as a lion, and true as steel, and many had at first hooted the idea of his having shot Vel- vet Face in the back, as Kansas Kit had said; but circumstantial evidence was drawing around him a web from which there seemed no es- ca ust after noon, into Purgatory City rode four persons, and dismounted at the Jarge shanty, which courtesy designated as “the ho- tel,” and in the spacious dining-hall of which *. EONNIE DOOKS (E(0)