Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 173 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

- . ** “_~ - i "< t “Ses ‘7 - a * a 7 74m * , —- = : oe “4 > &£ es. ~ > - we af eh é - ‘ : °°. a2 ee - e* od 18 es eee gle ha, ie ee as Bere Ss BM 3 Sen et California John O 3 . ee % - MAS 2 ¢ + ———__—-— =— —_—__———— ‘ & 13m » Bei - 1 nose On a man’s face. Thar’sa ganginit! The | accused, never fora moment entered their heads. man we hung was the boss and this gal is one of the head-devils too.” . ‘* More likely a tool,” Charley Yampas sug- ‘“Women are not generally ringlead- It may be true that there is a gang, and if so we ad better be on the look-out, for most certainly they will try to get square with us for punishing their pals. ouldn’t it be a good idea for some one to try and frighten this girl into a confession? She knows that we have hung that man, and if she thinks she is likely to be put to death fear may induce her to tell all she knows.” The idea seemed to take, and all expressed their approbation with the exception of Keno Bill; he was disgusted with the way in which things were going. A oe 4. little geen it So A pew pees Charley Yampas, having origina ea, should be intrusted with the carrying out of the estion. Th -breed had a wily, plausible way with aoe and the townsmen conjectured that he would be able to achieve success if such a thing was possible, Her room was on the second story of the hotel Two windows in the apartment looked eat upon the open lot at the side. The hotel not being high-storied, it would not have been a difficult feat, even for a woman, to drop from her windows to the ground. After his interview, therefore, with Miss Romero, the careful captain placed a sentinel without in addition to the man in the entry keeping watch upon the door of the apartment, And the captain impressed upon the half- breed the necessity of ‘‘ piling on the agony, ;” he must ‘‘skeer the gal;” he must represent the town to be in a ferment of excite- ment—that the citizens entertained no doubt of her ilt, and that the prospects were she would not be given any trial, but be hanged at ence. Yampas declaring that he would play it for all that it was worth, departed on his errand. The girl was seated by the center-table, in ay the same position which she had occv- pied when the committee had first surprised her wioh their unceremonious call. The half-breed apologized for his intrusion, eraved her permission to be seated, and ex- plained that he came as a friend. Miss Romero surveyed her caller with inter- est, he was so different from the usual run of men whom she had encountered in this wild region. And the question which had puzzled a t many wise heads flashed at once upon r: was this peculiar-looking personage really & man or only a masculine-looking woman dis- in male attire? On his per Yampas gazed into her face with & look which no one in Needle Bar had ever seen upon his features before; and the captive was astonished by it. With a sudden start like unto one waking from a deep and solemn reverie, he proceeded to execute his task, but his failure was complete; either the girl was not to be frightened or else she was innocent of any guilty knowledge; then the questioner questioned the girlin regard to her early life and how she had come to be under the protection of the man known as Jason Wentworth, but whose right name was Martin menyon. Although surprised that the half.breed should take any interest in the subject, she willingly related her simple story. “‘Reared in a convent, eh?’ the half-breed murmured, thoughtfully. ‘“ Yes, sir.”’ ‘Then Kenyon’s son, who, if he lives, would | be about the same age as yourself, was not edu- eated with you?” **Kenyon’s son!” the girl exclaimed, in amaze- | = ‘*T never knew he bad one. ‘ ‘You never knew a son—never heard him k of one, even if you did not come together? and remember! You must have heard him spoken of!” Yampas declared, strangely excited. “‘No; Iam sure he had no son, for many a tims he has told me that be would give almost ‘anything he had to give if I had been a boy in- stead of a girl.” . ; “Tt must have died—died in its infancy, far from its natural protector who would have shed the heart’s blood freely to protect it from harm and him; but, he is dead, and so let him rest, if In their opinion the evidence was too strong to admit of any doubt of her guilt. ‘ Alcibiades alone had protested, but his words fellupon dullears. All he was able to accom- plish was to delay matters. At first the citi- zens were for trying her off-hand; but a sug- rence from Bill, who was determined to save e girl if possible, operated to delay matters. He advised that the trial should not be hur- ried. The girl was safe, and if she had any con- federates the chances were great that when they learned she was a Pico they would at- tempt to rescue her, and then some other mem- bers of the gang could be secured. So this idea was adopted, and the conference broke up. Alcibiades proceeded to take measures to re- pond damages. The citizens had fought the mes so gallantly that only the rear part of the building had been destroyed, and the saloon part was very little dam With his characteristid energy the Keno King engaged a gang of men 0 clear away the rub- bish and then to rebuild the shanty, and while Alcibiades stood by watching the work the Doo- tor sauntered up. ‘Well, did you plant him?” Bill asked. ‘*Oh, yes, sir; fixed him in first-class style,” ‘‘T s’pose you went through him?” Bill t- fully remembered the wealth which the had so easily wrested from him at the poker-ta- ble. ‘*Why, what do you take me for?” cried the Doctor, with a e. “No, sir, I’d scorn to do such a thing,” he continued, loftily; ‘‘ besides, what would be the use? I reckon the fellow didn’t have much, anyway.” Alcibiades knew that the medicine man lied; his condition was.plain proof of that. He evi- dently had got money from somebody, and it took wealth to get the medical sharp in a ‘happy ”’ state. As he had often been heard to sadly remark, ‘‘an occasional spree ” would not do for him; it spoilt the looks of a ten-dollar piece to get him full. On the present occasion the Doctor was full— as full about as Bill had ever seen him; go it was plain to Keno Bill that he had got money from somebody. ‘‘He had four or five hundred dollars in his pocket,” Alcibiades remarked. ‘‘ He won over two hundred from me at poker the night before.” ‘Well, well, if I had only known that!” the Doctor exclaimed, pretending to be amazed. ‘‘Hiko got the money, I suppose then, for he would be sure to go through his pockets before he planted him if you didn’t.” ; ‘*Hiko didn’t plant him; he ran off to see what the trouble was in the town with all the rest of you.” ‘Who did bury him, then?’ ‘Your humble servant to command.” ** 1 didn’t think that was in your line.” ‘Well, I didn’t know how long it would be before any one would come to attend to it, and as the man was dead I thought the quicker he was got rid of the better, so I just threw the body into the river.” ‘Into the river!” exclaimed Alcibiades, as- tonished. ‘* Yes, and by this time, as the river is prett high and the current is cenipccs, Polghineg , he is robably twenty miles away on his road to the Gulf of California.” A grim smile came over the face of Alci- biades; he understood why the bummer had set the body afloat. It was to cover up the fact that he had possessed himself of the dead man’s valuables, The doctor, as if to shut off further talkabout the matter, passed on, and Alcibiades, a weight removed from his mind that his foe was finall out of the world, gave his attention to the wor before him. Night came; Keno Bill had not completed his repairs: so his ranch was not opened, and thcuse who generally frequented it were forced to go elsewhere. Members of the ‘‘committee” dropped in to have a chat with Bll about af- fairs—the last being Captain Joe Kersands. He and Alcibiades had a hot.argument and parted, as most contestants do, each with a firm conviction that he was clearly in the right and that the other was an extremely blind and ob- stinate man not to admit it. It was about eleven when the captain de- such a man as he was can rest anywhere,” mut! parted and after a few minutes’ further rumi, tered the half-breed, much to the amazement of the girl, and then rising to his feet, his face loomy with thought, he be ged the girl to par- on him for having troubled her, and withdrew. lé was a strange incident, and the captive maid knew not what to make of it. CHAPTER XXXI. A STRANGE AFFAIR. * THe citizens were disappointed with thé re- port Yampas was obliged to make, for they had eonfidently hoped the girl could be scared into a confession, but with natural pigheadedness, con- eluded that she was ‘chock-full of grit” and would not confass, out of sheer obstinacy; that ber declaration was true—that she was innocent of all knowledge of the crimes of which she was 5 nation the troubled Alcibiades thought a stroll before he retired to rest would compose his nerves; so he went forth into the open air, but had not got out of the shadow of the building when he stumbled over the prostrate form of a man extended at full length. Recovering his footing he was able to make out that the body was that of the old store- keeper! Alcibiades’s first thought was that he had fall- en in a fit, and so kneeling by his side he essayed to undo the collar of the flannel shirt, but upon inspection found the shirt to be already open at the neck. As he made this discovery Captain Joe began to revive. ‘*What’s the matter?’ the old fellow to rise to a sitting position. ——— > the Pacific Thoroughbred. — asked Bill, assisting | of his revolver, which was TT Re ce ee ee ‘*Oh, help me into your place,” the captain co paworae! rising witb Bill’s aid to his feet, but very weak, Alcibiades assisted the store-keeper into the saloon, and the captain sunk into a chiir. From the expression upon his face it was clear that he was laboring under some strong emo- tion. ‘‘Give me a glass of whisky for Heaven's sake!” he Bill supplied the fluid, which the other gulped down at a single draught. ‘What was the matter with you, old man?” the saloon-keeper demanded. ‘** Do you believe in ghosts?” “*Ghosts!” Alcibiades was amazed at Ree. . ‘* Yes, ghosts—spirits, you know.” ‘*No, Ido UI yg bd ‘“‘IT have seen one to-night—felt one, toot Isn’t there a red ring around my neck?” And sure enough there was! ‘The ghost I saw was the spirit of that man we hanged to-day, you know—California John!” CHAPTER XOEXTI. MORE AND MORE MYSTERIOUS. fe rage agree gh ae ome PC pe a Be while the cap with a trembling-band, pro- ceeded to help himself to another drink of whisky. ‘*It’s an awful thing, I tell you, Bill,” the old man continued, after he had gulped. down the liquor—something rare for him, for he seldom ey anything. ‘‘I never was so upset in my e. ‘* Well, that is ey, near correct, I guess, seeing how I found you.” “It was jest awful. I am an old man, Bill, and though I say it, I reckon I have seen as much of life as ary man of my years. l| have heard a heap sight jg aeinge spirits aud that sort of thing, and I will say right out that I never took any stock in the stories,” ‘No more do I; when [ see a ghost I will own up beat, but not before,” remarked the other, incredulously. ‘‘Same way with me, Bill—same way, sure as you are born; but, seeing is believiny, ain’t it! ‘Not always,” Alcibiades responded;+ “I have known a man to see rats and snakes and all kind of things when thar wasn’t nary hide nor hair of the critters within a mile.” Ae yes I understand all about that, but, as [Tam a living, breathing man I swear to you that I saw to-night the ghost of that poor devil we hung to-day.” The store-keeper’s manner was seriously solemn, but Bill was not convinced. ‘Well, Cap, [reckon he must have found it uncomfortable in the other world or else he wouldn’t have come back so soon.” ** Don’t joke, Bill!” exclaimed the old fellow, rotestingly. ‘I tejl you what, it ain’t any joking matter. I got a turn to-night worse than | ever had afore,” ‘* Tell me all about it,” suggested Alcibiades. “There ain’t much to tell, for the hull thing didn’t take hardly a minute. After I got through talking hyer with you, I started for home, as you know, but right arter I closed the door after me and stepped down off the stoop somebody grabbed me from behind; mebbe i had walked ten or fifteen steps and had got to the corner of the building. t waa griped right around the neck with a clutch that was as hard and as cold as iron. I wriggled round to show fight, for I thought of course that it was some footpad who had been laying in wait to make a stake out of somebody, an¢# as I did so, by the aid of the light coming from your window, I caught sight of a face looking over my shoulder, and that face was the face of the man we hanged to-day. I never got such a shock since I was born, and 1] reckon I bave got nerves like iron, but the grit went clean out of me the mo- ment I caught sight of that horrible, white face. Why, the very blood in my veins seemed to stand still; I got as weak as a cat! It flashed on me immediately that the man was innocent and his ghost had come back to haunt tlie town. Since we have found out these things about the girl I have been dreadfully afraid that we were a leetle hasty in regard to the hanging; it really doesn’t seem now as if he was guilty.” “*Cap, I don’t doubt that you are perfect honest about this matter,” Alcibiades remarked, ‘‘but Ireckon your imagination has been too much for you. You were right bout some fel- low, hungry for a stake, goin’ for yous and per- haps he might haye looked something like the man we hanged, and that is al? thar is ’bout it. Look and see if he hain’t gone through you,” ‘Oh, nary time!” the store-keeper responded, confidently, but when he shoved his hand into his pocket a most decided change came over his face, ‘Well, you ain’t got so much wealth as you had, eh?’ and Keno Bill smiled. ‘‘Curse me! if you ain’t right!” the old cap- tain blurted out. | ‘‘ Your money is gone?” : ' ‘Every bit of it!” Then'the captain thought uite a costly wea- is side, under hig pon. , The holster belted to | y the = -Gomicbooks Pe . ie. i ——~> —— ——_—_ “ss F j el