Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 192 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

Th Cc is about. Don’t forget; that is your strong point. Whether you are his daughter or not his freezing onto you is the best proof that your name ought to be Vernon. Unless he is a great a fool as myself, and having fallen a victim to your fascinations is bound you shall be the heiress. That would be a game for him to play.” . The latter part of his answer took the form of a soliloquy, and Nellie heard with a troubled mind. There was a suggestion then that fitted into the case so fairly as to be alarming. She began to grow interested in spite of her- self; to forget the nature of the man with whom she was speaking. “This other girl—this Little Lide! What of her? Whois she? I have done wrong. I should hava met her half-way when she at- tempted an exwianation. I had not the time. Can I not see her now? Surely you have done her no harm?” ‘‘Too many questions. A week would not answer them. If you and she came to a square fight I am not certain that she would not win. I thought so well of her chances that I was willing to allow her to retire.” ‘‘Menster! You surely cannof have slain her? If you have, my hand can avenge her if Slaughter Bar forgets its duty!” The eyes of the Bullion Boss dropped mood- ly and he did not at once answer. When he oroke the silence it was in a different and ruder tone. “ Accidents will happen, and it is not always advisable to speak of them. If she threw her- self over the rocks along the way it was mad- ness; if she slipped if was unfortunate. Hither way the result could only be a dead girl. Trouble yourself no more about her. She is removed from your path forever. the whole truth when the scouts come in this eveving—and will tell you then if you care to hear,” “And you did that?” He shrunk away from her fury. His face even wore a look of regret. For the time being the Bullion Boss was in earnest in his pursuit of the girl; and he would not have shocked her in this way for a thousand or more. Of the retirement of Little Lide: he was positively innocent; though up to the present time he had not thought of the construction Nellie’ would probably put upon it; having considered ‘it rather’a*matter for congratula- tion. \ A’girl who lived among the influences of Slaughter Bar might be led to look upon a dashing road-agent as a hero; but the cold blooded; murderer of a woman was something else. This was no time to press his suit. ‘‘ If she still lives she shall tell you that I am guiltless. Not that bad am I; and when I have proved as much, I may also show you that in other ways I am not as bad as my reputation. But this much remember at all times, that sooner or later you shall be min; The judge is a half-way villain, who can never reach hisends. For years Ihave known of him and something of his secret, carefully as he tried to guard it until the time came when he would dare to strike. Ose spy of mine he killed, crushed him in a shaft, and other mur- ders lic heavy om hissoul. Forget bim. Iand I only can give you the wealth and position you yearn for; and willing or not I have sworn that through me you shall receive them.” ‘‘And you think you can bend me to your will! Attemptit,andsee. You have strength and opportunity. Very well, so willI have — if I wait. Sooner or later I will kill you if you hold me. Notin a vain struggle; but ina silent, treacherous, deadly way. A knife in your heart when you are sleeping, poison in your food when you least expect it—there are | a thousand ways a resolute woman can find to relieve the world of a monster; and | am wise | But first of all | enough to choose the surest. friends must fail me—as they will not—and mine. The case is hopeless, is it? So much the more satisfaction in the winning. We will yet enjoy the Vernon fortune together, win fame and name in the Old World, and as for the judge—” He ceased speaking and turned away, afraid to trust himself longer in the presence of the girl, with whom he was becoming more and moreinfatuated. Yet as he passed silently out, he completed the sentence: ‘* _-T shall have to kill him.” Had he known he was threatening a ghost, even the Bullion Boss might have felt a cold chill of fear, CHAPTER XXXII, CIRCUS PETE OPEW8 EM SHOW. Circus Pete had moted tate the closeness of the guard over him hed released; bet his eyes were sharp enough to se@ rapre. He joked with the men about the eaances of his escape as if he was bent wpon stickimg to them, and they answered htm in kind. They looked upon his coming fate with something like regret; eee eee ee ee ee = OOO eee and meantime took all the pleasure possible | out of his society. Within certain limits he roamed around at his ease, though no chance was there for him to reach the excavations higher up in the rocks, where the other cap- tives were held. He was seated on a huge | bowlder, smoking a pipe, when one of the men with whom he had been exchanging experi- i ences sauntered along. ‘You've got a deal of nerve, Pete; an’ I reckon you'll need it all afore this hand’s | played our.” IL will know | “That depends on ther keards. It don’t take much nerve ter hold four aces when they ar’ royals. It’s five aces er three thet needs nerve ter stand ther last dollar on ’em.” eee EE ——————— ee — ‘‘That’s so, Pete; but fur the sake ov old | _ luck for the end to be all right. times, I don’t mind tellin’ yer that it’s mighty slim keards yer a-holdin’ now. Yer know too much, _capt’a even, there’s them at ther Bar ez would take yer in. Ef yer got erway from ther They knowed yer war comin’, | and’ they hung one feller thet carried yer | handle. ov ther hearse.” : ‘Thankee, Joe; but I'm all sirene. ther time ter go out ov ther wet hez arrove I'll He got thara couple of weeks abead | 27 Watch him, an’ don’t yer furgit there’s a couple carbines thet’s lookin’ yer way all ther time.” . Circus Pete shut one eye sageir. He meant that he understood, and that no tempting bait would draw bim into a trap until he was ready to go. ‘“You keep mum an’ Ill never breathe a whimper. You do me a good turn an’ I wouldn't wonder ef I paid it back some day.” ‘‘That’s hunky dory; but it’s ther fun TL want. An’ I wanted ter let yer know Joe Byers were yer friend. I won’t risk more talk now, so look out fur yer rizzard.” Then he laughed, as though emused at some jest of the juggler, and went back agin, while Circus Pete continued sucking contentedly at bis pipe. After he had finished his tobacco, be looket carelessly around him. It was well on toward evening now, and half a dozen of the outlaws were lounging in. the little dingle, gathered together in a knot. While the juggler hesitated, uncertain what to do with himself, though little choice had he, he saw the Bullion Boss and bis lieutenant glide into view, coming from a rift in the 10cks, which Circus Pete shrewdly suspected led to a, pass through which communicatiou was to be bad with the outer world, The captain passed straight on, and monnt- ing the short but steep ascent reached ard entered one of the dcorways that scemed cut. into the solid rock. Jean, the Frenchman, lingered a moment and speke a few words to several of the men, who nodded in answer. As they cast a glance toward him, Circus Pete suspected that he had been referred to, If it was to hasten the camstrophe that Joe Byers had prophesied. le was sorry, fer he was not ready to make his effort yet. Still, if needs be, he could ply his little game for all it was worth, and trust to Without seeming to do so, he searched for Iyers’s eye—and caught it. Then he under- stood that the crisis was coming, and he ;avé an almost imperceptible signal. He saw By eis carelessly speaking to bis comrades, and crew © Jong breath. Unless very much deceived he _ would soon be at work, and desperate work at When drop in ther bone-yard; afore that, if-it rains | —— ee pitehforks I'll hev a steel umbreller.”’ ‘“Ye'll need it, Pete. -I dunno how they’ll do it, but they’ll put yer outer ther way afore long—you ah’ ther other galoot, ef he don’t come down awful heavyy “They can’t pull ther wool over this chicken’s eyes; The Cap’s dead gone on ther calico an’ he *won’t hev time ter work up ary other lay, so he'll just bury yer both an’ say nomore about it I’m sorry, Pete, but I can’t slip yer'a keard; J kin only tell yer ther ‘size ov his hand,” ° ‘IT know’d that already, an’ I don’t ask nothin’? They might do worse ner take mein fur a pard; they’d get a hummer; ‘an’ it’s all a ding-blasted mistake. It’s ther other chap they were after, an’ hyar he’s ‘a-riotin’ round ther Bar, while Pm ‘took in. But, Joe, I ain’t bunched my hand yet, an’ ez you’ve done ther squar’ thing, let me give yer this piece ov advice. When they try ter crowd me Ill most likely cut loose; an’ when JI cut loose, stand from under. You hear me.” ‘‘Kerrect, I do, an’ I'll keep paws out. I ain’t runnin’ no risks, but I wouldn’t mind seein’ yer go through ther bull outfit.” ‘An’ yer sure they’re goin’ ter kill me?” ‘*Ez sure ez one kin be in sich a cussed world. They hain’t give ther sign yet, but it’ll come.” ‘** An’ yer wouldn’t mind seein’ a leetle real genewine fun?” “ That’s my name.” “Well, tip me the wink when yer think it’s _ beginnin’ ter git sultry. Then, ef you want escape be impossible, as I do not admit. You | ther fur ter fly, stir ther boys up ter see a cannot break my spirit, and you cannot escape | leetle of my jugglin’. your doom,” I give ’em a touch at ther Bar ther t’other night, an’ they thort it In all her life Nellie had never been so | war fine; but hyar I’) just make ’em shout,” royally handsome as now, when au ordivary | girl would have been crushed and despairing. | he knew his man. Circus Pete was giving his hand away; but Joe Byer’s had something Horror had given way to wrath; and with | wore in his mind than sympathy for a victim, splendid courage she hurled her defiance at its and the man felt it by instinct, and took his object. And his mood had changed also. His eyes chances, A grin of expectation spread over the sparkled and he looked at her with strange | hard, battered face. satisfaction. “Ob, you are worthy of any man’s love, my | don't yer make any mistake. “Til do it, Pete. I sw’ar Pll do it; but It’s a hard queer; no wonder it is that you have won crowd ter craw): an’ that French:nan’s a devil. that. Soon the others seemed to urge, and after a brief hesitation, Byers came toward hi, ‘Look sharp, it’s passed around to get up a quarrel and drop yer. Two er three men ez seen yer signs an’ grumbled is out ov ther way on guard, an’ ther’s bad news come in. Ther other gal can’t be found, so she must ’a’ got clean off; an’ thar’s a couple ov sports, thet ther captain left aman ter watch, bez ‘slid outen the Bar an’ is s’posed ter be on ther war trail. Ther Boss is goin’ ter git rid ov you and move ther gal. Now go slow, ef yer can't climb er cbhimbley.” . ‘*Thanks; I kin only try. You stand outen range when ther band strikes up.” ‘Bet high on that an’ yer won’t lose, I drawed ther wool over ther boys’ eyes, an’ they’re wild ter see a leetle slight-ov- band.” ‘‘Tt looks like murder, Joe, bu€ them fellers —roasted my mother.” For the first time the man showed intense feeling. It was only for a moment, but in that time his face grew to be an asken gray, and the Jistener heard his teeth close with an angry clash. ‘*Then you are Dan Sliter?' Right yer are. Them’s ther boys, an’ Jean war at the'r head. I'm a sinner on wheels, but if I’d been thar, ther’ would ’a’ bin some shootin’, sure. Go fur ‘em. IT 1l tef ‘em you'll show ’em a thing er two, ter bet the’r eyes on, like suckers at a country fair!” ‘You may. Ef I kin lead them up Ill make things square; ef I can’t they won’t go no worse. I'm ready.” Side by side the two men advanced toward the knot of outlaws. ‘‘Hyar he is. He didn’t want much ter show off whar he hadn’t ther tools ter do good work; but sich ez he is he’s willin’ ter oblige; an’ ve’ll find him a howler.” Circus Pete smiled dubiously at the compli- ment. “ Thar ain’t ther chance hyar, right in ther open, ter pull the wool over ther eyes ov sich smart chaps ez you be; but ef I had the fixin’s I might make yer stare. IT’ll do my best ter give yer a leetle fun ef yell stand back n’ give mea show. Ther twist ov ther wrist kin beat eyesight; ef yer don’t believe it + u.ca ICO (COUMINCE “S (Eo)