Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 173 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

oo ee, my : y ~~ oy ee &-dying to find out how great a chief you are in this line. There are sundry weighty circum- stances existing at present which prevent me from seeking you in the bread light of day amid the haunts of civilization; and 60, rather than be denied the pleasure 1 crave, I have taken this rather unusual method of meeting you. Will you have the kindness to come out of the stage, leaving your weapons behind of course. I will dismount, tether my horse, also leaving my weapons behind, and we can sit down to a social game. My venerable friend, Si, can be the umpire, and I am, perfectly will- ing to be plugged instanter if I fetray the least sign of treachery. The moon is bright and will afford plenty of light for our game. I have got a few hundred dollars in my pocket which say that at poker I cannot be beaten by any man who w the earth, and if you think you can #ax me you are welcome to the dust.” Now in the opinion of both listeners this was about the fairest possible offer and with a spirit characteristic of the true «sport the paymaster accepted the banter. Out from the hack came McCook; down from his horse dismounted the stranger; while the veteran driver proceeded to make himself comfortable upon the box, in eager anticipation of the heat which was in store. At work then the two antagonists set. The paymaster lugged out his cash sacbel, which in- cluded the five thousand he had wrested from Charley Yampas, and, confident of victory, played with liberal stakes, only soon to discover that good fortune was not always his. | The horseman won steadily and persistently, and ere two hours were overshe was the master of all McCook’s own money. He rose to depart. ‘*Tt has been a fair game?’ he said. Fair, but deuced unlucky for me; but I say, give me something to remember you by!” ‘*My name wiilldothat. Tell the world that you had no show to win for you with the ghost of California John! And swinging himself into his saddle he rode away. ! play ed cards CHAPTER XXXVII. COMING TO AN UNDERSTANDING, » AGAIN our scene shifts to the lonely cabin b the bank of the muddy Colorado, wherein dwelt Hiko, the Hunchback, and the strange woman who had occasioned the inhabitants of Needle Bar so much wonder. It was near the midnight hour, and in the little cabin, which was illuminated by a soli- tary candle burning upon the table, sat the mysterious woman and the Hunchback, busy in consultation. Just forty-eight hours had elapsed since the strange meeting on the prairie had taken place, as related in our last chapter. The coach had made its trip, returned, and the driver, with great gusto, had told the story ef how the ghost of the hanged man had ‘‘skinned” the paymaster at the game of po- ker. Needle Bar listened and wondered, and great was the talk that the affair occasioned. And now the Hunchback and the woman were debating in regard to the matter. “It is quite evident,” remarked the Hunch- back, ‘‘ that the sport esca death, although hew the trick was accomplished is a mystery, for I distinctly saw him hanged with my own eyes,” “**Tyue enough, and so did I, but, you see, there is no doubt that he did escape, and what, is more, he is hovering around the town bent on mischief.” , ‘What is more natural than for him so to act! He is a bold, resolute and skillful man, with blood, not water, in his veins. He has been badly used, and is not likely to rest con- tent until he can square the account.” [| must see him!” the woman exclaimed. _ ‘No easy matter, Ifear. A man whose life is forfeited, and who is obliged to appear in the character of a ghost, will not be likely to be very accessible to visitors.” ‘‘ Where there is a will there isalwaysa way. He will come to the town in time—” . Tn ise, you mean?” ‘* Yes, , of course.” ‘‘ How to know him, then?” pt ‘ at ‘ a a ” * dell id . “ ' oa Sad > a a ar. two horses which stood there, already saddled aud bridled, and set out. The moon shone bright as she rode on her lonely way over the desolate prairie, where no trace of either human, beast or bird was te be distinguished. The little clump of cottonwoed trees growing by the bank of the Colerado, to which reference has before been made in our tale, was only about a mile northward from Hiko’s cabin, and therefore it did not take many minutes for the hardy little animal which bore the woman to cover the distance. " As she approached the trees her keen eyes distinguished, when quite a distance off, that there was a mounted man halted beneath the shadows, + My though® was right, then,” she mur- mured, when sheymade this discovery, ‘‘I felt sure I should find him.” her 2 par although he sat facing her, for he di war, a revolver glistening in his right hand. ‘‘T am a friend,” she said, as she rode up and halted by the horseman, taking a good look at him as she spoke. And as she looked she was perplexed. Fresh of Frisco, He seemed a much larger man in build, not taller, but much more burly. The face of California John was smootbly shaven, with the exception of a neatly-trimmed mus- tache and imperial, while this man wore a heavy beard, and in complexion too the horse- man seemed to be almost as dark as an Indian, but this might be partly due to the deep shadow | cast by the trees; in the very center of the little clump he stood. ' ment ; » ir é * r y P, 5 } F {« ‘ <a x. F% b 3 ee F 5S Pacific Thoroughb: | ; | the threat, for the Doctor was not noted for his The horseman did not seem to be conscious of | courage. : | ‘ | She had been doomed: and in proof of this he California John appeared to be every inch a> gentleman, a cool, keen sharp, while the stran- ger had that unmistakable. look about bim | which to the practiced eyes proclaimed the frontier desperado. But in spite of all this the woman believed the horsoman to be the man she sought. | Suspicion. ‘* /\ friend! well, as to that I reckon that Jam © the friend of every petticoat from here to Kingdom Come,” be replied, in a way that plainly indicated he was inclined to be jocose, and though lightly spoken the words, yet the man’s voice was as rough and brawling as though a defiance to mortal combat bad been given. ‘* You wait here for some one?” ** Mebbe yes, and mebbe no.” ‘‘l am the one for whom you wait.” “‘Tain’t sure though that you are the one I want to see.” ‘*Oh, I know you in spite of your disguise, and 1] am the one that aided you to escape— although you didn’t manage to get. off, but that was because luck was against you, and through no fault of mine—and I sent you the message | r | bidding you meet me here.” ‘Well, perhaps [ am the man and perka ain’t, but if you choose to take the risk of it, clusion that the gazer meditated mischief and ee , their —-—e - — ; ' ’ j ; fire away, for I reckon you hav’n’t taken this | trouble for nothing.” | owner was absent. ‘* You are not acting in as good faith as I | though,” the woman retorted, ‘“‘for I do not you disguise your identity.” ‘*] ain't so sure ’bout that,” the other replied, instantly, ‘‘Perbaps you ain’t playing a@ part and then ag’in mebbe you are. [never saw vou afore, not rig out as you are now, although mebbe I would be willmg to bet a trifle that I credit for being,’ the woman observed, a cu- rious expressien upon her face. ters not. If you have penetrated my disguise, e quicker; and now to business. No donbt ou thought it wonderful that strangers should interfere in your behalf, but there was a pur- se in view; aman like yourself was needed. wanted to buy you, and I judged that life was about the best thing that I could offer.” ‘‘ Life is a mighty good thing, but as the riffle wasn’t wade Iam not sure that I ought to con- sider the salea go. But what am I wanted for, any way i” ‘*There’s a | eap of money to be made by my | ass of a doctor!” the stranger wi oe have seey you in another character altogether.” | ‘*You are sbarper sighted than I gave you ‘But it mat- | , cern, well and good; we shall understand each other | | parent that if admittance was not granted ' began to parley with the man. _ whisky so bad that it has turned me inside out, == | Vilgive you five dollars if you'll curethisdurned not move in the least. The woman no- | matter, for it proved clearly enough that the ticed, though, that he was well prepared for | captive maiden was not without friends in the. In no | that noone else should save her. single particular did this man resemble the not pay his price then she must die. fem eT ' troubled with a guilty conscience, he imagined —_ | any wav whatsoever. : , tude of his cabin meditating over the “yee Gat , ¢andle, so that any ene passing | get in, light or no light, for he thundered with = fear to openly reveal to you who I am while | oho ‘Trust my eyes to detect him in any dis- | partmer in Needle Bar when Keno Bill is run | guise that he may assume; I care not how com plete it may be.” ‘We made an appointment _ but he failed to escape; perhaps he maigns go there now, thinking to meet his unknown Hiko suggested. friends,” ‘* As he is situated at present a few friends in Needle Bar would be | of great assistance to him.” ‘ The time of the appointment was midnight, was it not?’ exclaimed the woman, abruptly, springing to her feet. ‘lt was.” | | | out of it,” the woman remarked. ‘‘T am really afraid that we can’t trade: but with him once, | bow about the girl whom Keno Bill and the rest are hunting down—can she be saved /” | Five dollars did not hang on every bush, and, | “Ys ‘‘] want no rival near my throne!” exclaimed | the woman, her lip curling. ‘“T knew we couldn’t trade; you would want to boss the shop, and we should quarrel in- stanter. I have made up my mind to save the girl in spite of all the men in yonder town.” ‘*You don’t count the women then?’ and the woman gathered up the reins of her beast, pre- ‘It is about twelve now, and I will ride | paratory to departing as she spoke. thither and take the chances of meeting him.” ‘Do you wish me to accompany you?” ‘No, I will goalone, I will reGurn within an hour whether I succeed or fail.” Then the woman proceeded to the little stable in the rear of the cabin, mounted one of the ‘You are in the opposite camp then?’ ‘Since you are not for me, I must be against “T hate to fight women, but to,help this girl I would face a fiend fresh from the fires below!” With a scornful smile the woman rede away. | knew that the man was an enemy, although gees | Son, and in his hand a cocked revolver gleamed. _ é. a " . , ba coe ae Fs ; » * er a ~™ pe ww ° a4 . . =) a ~ be: A CHAPTER XXXVIIL TAKEN IN AND DONE FOR, Our esteemed friend, the Doc, had been on pins and needles lately, to use the common say ~ ing. Ever since the.time when the parcel had been thrown inte the captive’s window Keno Bill had kept a most suspicious eye upon the movements of the medical man; for Alcibiades did not in the least credit the Doctor’s declara— tion that he knew nothing whatever about the matter. It was too thin! Keno Bill had declared in. the most emphatic manner, and he had warned. the Doetor that if he caught him trying any gum-games his life would not be worth a mo- s purchase, and as Rice knew the Keno- King to be a man of his word.it wasn’t any wonder that he was considerably affected by ne GaSe : ’ Keno Bill had been greatly excited over the town, and that those friends would endeavor to- aid her to escape from the dreadful doom im- pending went without saying; Bill, with a great: oath had sworn, since she had rejected his offer, If she would But so odd and peculiar was the man—se —~ eager that all attempts to aid the girl should be. — frustrated by his hand a!one that he never said ~ a word to any one implicating the Doctor in the > parcel affair, although he told his fellow-citizens ~s that certain facts had come to his knowledge’ which made him sure that the girl had accom- ATS plices near at hand who would make a desperate he effort to assist her to escape the death to which kes produced the letter which he said he had inter- cepted on its way to the prisoner, but he did not mention the Doctor’s name in connection. Rice was ignorant of this though, and wane that every one in the town regarded him with Every time that any one happened pte! to look at him the Doc at onee came to thocon- so he had kept himself secluded as much as pos- sible from public gaze; he had seen quite en- ==, ough of his fellow-citizens of Needle Bar to know that they were fully capable of stringing him up in short order if they got the idea inte © eads that he was playing any ‘‘roots™ upon them, to use the vernacular of that region. Heartily the Doctor cursed the young woman, the ill-tated hour in which she entered the © town and his own inordinate greed in being tempted to mix himself up with the matter in And while Rice sat in the darkness in the soli- sant position in which he found himself t came a rap at the door. | The Doctor being desirous of keeping asse- = cluded as possible had refrained from lightnga = by seeing no light within would be apt to imagine that the — * But this visitor was evidently determined to- "A his fist upon the door with all vengeance. dn ava ‘Git up and let me in, you blamed old jack- thout cried in hoarse tones not familiar the earsof Rice. ‘‘T reckon that I am p’isoned and I’ve got to have a Nanny-goat or a Billy-goat, er whatever — kind of a goat you call it! Gitup! er Pil kick the hull front of the shanty in!” And then, as ~— if to es due force to the threat, the man threw himself against the door with a force so which threatened to burst in the entire con- aN A « AA ee Now the door was nota very strong oneand from the way the man was going on it Lary? ap- e, im, .°} tied and mages Sony a too, he would force bis way Baie: in, 80 1p Order to save his property the Doctor OU « Ve . .S yee + ‘a ie : : ‘Hello! what do you want?” > ‘Tm p’isoned, I tell ye! got held of some and I want you to gin me somethin’ to take. ¢ ae old green apple belly-ache which isa-jest taking aed the liver out’n me! ye, The offer at once dispersed the Doctor’sfear. as there was evidently no danger to be f a | 3 Rice hastened to admit the applicant. Gas wy | ‘Come in, and I'll have a light ina moment.” he said, as be opmed the door. “Don’t be — afraid. I will give you some stuff that will fix. — you all right in the wag of a mule’s tail.” Bees os f... Then he went to the table, struck a match and lit the candle, while the new-comer closed = the door and p aced bis back against it. <> aes The candle lighted, Rice turned, and the sight. that met his eyes almost congealed his blood 2 with horror. “Ge The stranger barred the portal his with per- LAR e r. Ps , The Doctor realized instantly that he was ina trap, a foe had stolen a march upon him. FR ‘ u JOO ‘ 5 Ae sissy s od a ; ee os en Se 7 - “7 2 em © ©) ~ = ie (E