Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 194 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

> _—, a RE RO I ott a 0 or shoot him. There is another galoot with im.” ‘* Pursue and capture both,’ the leader tersely command In the mean time, the judge’s horse had taken bim some distance into the wood before he could be subdued, a fact not particularly dis- pleasing, and even when he was controlled his master was balf inclined to go on, Tbe artival of his unknown friend at this juncture was an ble event. ‘* Bravely done, judge,” said the latter, laugh- ing. ‘‘ Your trained steed, or untamed charger whickever is correct, bas won for us the t move in the game.” “The outlaws are coming. Do you hear them?” ‘Yes, but it will not be easy to find us in the darkness and thick undergrowth. What do you advise now? Is it flight, or hide-and- ’ “I hardly know,” the judge answered, in perplexity. “What is the nature of the wood to the north?” ‘It is like a chaparral, and would take us into a counter both wild and rough.” ‘* T reckon our best way is to double on the enemy.” ‘*Can it be done!” ‘It can be tried, Th dozen, and, in this lab th, we ought to be able to evade them. The oaly danger is that our horses will betray us. here! They are coming fast, and I propose we get behind yon- der thicket and let them pass, if they will. If discovered, we must fight.” The last idea was not a pleasant one, but the coolness of the stranger im sed his com- panion greatly and he promptly agreed... They sought the shelter of the thicket, and mone too soon. The sounds of pursuit had grown near, and the crashing made by the horses was spiced with oaths from the robbers as their flesh was lacerated by the thorny bushes, ** Don’t let your horse bolt again,” cautioned the stranger, ‘I think we will be all right if no new complication arises.” The judge was not so sanguine, but there was no time for furtaer words. The pursuers were nearly abreast the thicket, and the fugitives kept a tight rein on their horses and waited the result. lt was a moment of unpleasant suspense, but the outlaws rede slowly past, cursing as they went, and, sseming to be more interested in dodging the bushes than in their search, ‘There is plainly a. boom in our favor,” whispered the stranger. then, bo! forthe road. These fellows are bung- lers at their business.” **T reckon you are too much for them,” the judge answered, admiringly. They wuited.until the pursuers had receded somewhat and then rode from the cover .of the thicket and stented toward the road. ‘‘ We are liable to run afoul of some strag- gler,” said the you *man. “If we do, fly low and let me size the varmint, before we pro- ceed to extremities,” His suspicions Fae well-founded, for they bad gone but half the way to the road, when a voiee hailed them, from the darkness, Tho astute stranger recognized San Antonio, by the sound, but bis words were reassuring, ‘Have you seen a sign yet?” the outlaw asked. ‘‘ Nary sign,” wes the reply, so promptly and uncouthly given, that the judge was surprised and delighted anew. “lm afraid,they will make a detour and gain the ridge to the east. Ride that way, you two, and don’t leave the road until I see you nee The old rascal must not escape.” he stranger answered in the’same disguised voice, and then hey rode on, passing within twenty feet of San Antonio. ‘‘ That was a close call,” muttered the judge, as they receded, ‘‘He must be a one-horse. road-agent,” chuck- led the other. ‘I could do better, myself.’ So we are to guard the road at the top of the ridge? Bet your boots we will, if we can get there, but we are not yet out of the woods,” ‘The road igs not more than a hundred feet away.” ‘* And I reckon the way is clear.” It was a Datural surmise, but as they were about to emerge from the bushes, a man sud- denly arose in their very path. . “ Who goes thar?” he suspiciously asked. ‘‘ Friends,” the stranger quietly answered, holding his revolver ready. ' ‘Friends be durned! Call your names, or I'll shoot. Cuss me if 1 don’t think you’re my meat, if it is dark,” ‘Nonsense! Take a squint at my face, old mau, an’ see what a fool you are,” The fellow leaned forward, but instead of the desired look, he got a blow from a revolver- butt, which sent him in a heap to the ground, where he lay without motion. . “Time!” said the victor, derisively, “ He is insensible,” said the judge... go on at once.” don’t count over a 6 us on Sombrero, ** Wait a minute and | the Ca They did as he said, and as no more foes > as socn left the dangerous locality be- bin The judge thanked his ally warmly, adding that he would be pleased to take him to his home in Mount Tabor, but the invitation was politely declined. “T ride with you a mile further and then take the road to the south.” ‘‘But, surely, you will call at Mount Tabor soon and let me entertain you?” ‘**T may at some future time, but business calls me elsewhere now,” ‘*T shall be pleased to see 70 at any time. Pardon me, but the darkness has not allowed me a fair view of your features, and [ should not be likely to recognize you if we should meet again. If you would give me your name— The judge hesitated, politely,and the other quietly said: “It is Thom ‘Thanks. Now, when you come to Mount Tabor, you have only to ask for Edwards Austin and any one will—” The ker paused as bisally started violent- ly and faced him squarely. ‘Whom did you say?” he asked, in a husky voice, ‘* Judge Edwards Austin is my name and title. Have you heard it before?” The stranger hesitated before replying, and, had the darkness been less. pronounced, the judge would have seen that his face was work- ng strangely. The emotion soon passed, how- ever, and his voice was calm when he spoke. ‘t have been told that the largest ranch of Mount Tabor is owned by a Judge Austin.” ‘‘T am that man,” said the pleasant answer. ‘‘ Well, very likely I will call on you at some future day.” Austin was pay pleased at the answer, and, when the diverging road was reached, he said good-by with a repetition of his invitation; but bis ardor would have been checked could he have seen the look which followed him as he rode away. ‘‘ Now, by all the gods of war,” said Thomp- son, aloud, ‘‘this is most wonderfully strange. I have saved the life of a man I haye myself sworn to kill, and not even bis invitation shall turn me from my purpose. But I will call on bim just the same, though ina way for which he will not be prepared. I will call when he least expects it, and my way of doing business will not please him.” Forgetful of the fact that the men of San Antonio’s band might at any momant appear, Thompson sat still on his black borse and scowled after the unsuspecting ranchman. “So that was Judge Edwards Austin, the man for whom I have crossed wide acres of land, but not to serve. I have sworn to destroy him, together with his family, and [| will keep my vow. He will probably treasure the name of Thompson, but, if I was to whisper my real name he would be astounded. I am sorry I have met him, for, dark es itis, to-night, he may recognize me when I appear in Mount Tubor,” He started his horse and rode leisurely away toward the south, but his thoughts were still -_ _---- -—- ~ ee wt n, sir,” usy. ‘* The road-ag®nt business seems to flourish in this locality, and [ am half-inclined to try it myself. I must make a raise in some way to support myself, and, since I am about to plunge into crime, I may as well make a .clean sweep of it. I think that by assuming a big Mexican hat and cloak I can so well hide my identity that no one will know me. Then I can prance around and raise a row whenever I choose, after which I will sink into my proper sphere and no one suspect I am leading a double life. By my life, [’ll do. it, and, unless Judge Austin succeeded in sizing me better. to- night than I think be did, my path will be one of roses. At least, I'll hope for it.” CHAPTER III. THE MASKED RIDER. THe town of Mount Tabor was not a large one, but it had many features which bade fa to make it well known at some future time, and what it lacked in size was made up in activity and local pride. We have called it a town, but the Mount Taborites never mentioned it as such; to them, it was a city, and, as it had a ATOR, erhaps we ought to go with the tide, It had eam named after one of the moun- tain peaks directly to the east, and_was an out- Rowe of the discovery of gold in the foot-hills, Vhen mines began to be worked, the “ city” sprung up, and a good business was done in fur- nisnine supplies for the wielders of pick and cradle, In the course of time, sundry people awoke to the fact that the level fields around the place would furnish fine grazing and agricultural lands, and at the date of our story many rancbes were to be seen here and there. Compared with other mining places, Mount Tabor was not ahard city, ‘True, there were desperate characters there, men who would not hesitate to cut one’s throat if money was to be made by it, but the law-abiding element pre- lifornia Road Gent. rn rr dominated, and there had never been a reign of terror, such as many places see, The quiet state of affairs was in a great measure due to the wise course of Mayor James, aman who had made himself popular with all classes except the very worst, and he liked te call him<elf the father of the ek He was cer- tainly old enouh to bear the title, but, except for that, it did not seem applicable. It was one of his pet ambitions to have law and order reign in the place, and, as a move in this direction, hé had endeavored to prevail on the citizens to discard all weapons, but be had found few followers in his faith. A revolver bt a very handy article in California at that ay. ; Sein, the mayor practiced what he preached, and he was somewhat proud of the fact that he bee never needed a weapon since he d em, One evening, about a week bag pe t to the scenes of the preceding chapters, Mayor James and three of his friends had been to the ranch of a gentleman who lived outside the village to partake of a supper given in their honor. . The hour was near midnight when they were riding slowly homeward—nearly every one went on horseback at that period around Mount Tabor—and not one of the quartette bad a thought of danger. On the contrary wigs were in a very gay, happy mood, the result, it may be, of the wine imbibed after supper. Contirantlorl was running on some trivial subject—they never afterward remembered what—when, in the darkness, a solitary horse~ man suddenly loomed up in their path. The fact that be was in the way did not nn them, and they would have turned peaceably aside to pass, but his voice suddenly rung out sb and clear: _ ah See !" he tersely said. Halt they did, instinctively, and them lookea& at him in surprise. aor saw a goodly-sized man mounted u a powerful black horse, but more than this it was hard to discover. The rider wore a serape, or cloak, and a wide-brimmed hat which left little else of him visible, **Do you know me?” he asked, seeing they were not inclined to speak. ‘*Can’t say we do,” Mayor James answered, ‘*T have the honor to be a road agent and have come to ask a loan of you. I am a pecn- liar man, but very systematic in my way. T’ll take your money now and pay when conven- ient to me.” ‘‘We have nothing to loan,” said James, a trifle alarmed. **T don’t expect a bonanza, but what loose change you have in your pockets. Here is my receipt, gentlemen.” The stranger exhibited a large revolver with a nonchalant air, but the quartet began to per- ceive be was in dead earnest, . ‘* What practical joke, is this?’ the mayor sternly asked. ‘It is not a joke, my dear sir. I mean busi- ness, 1 am a road-agent and I have come for your money.” ; “That game won’t work around Mount Tabor!” the official declared, an augry flush creeping into his cheeks. “The proof of the pudding is in the eating. I say it will work, and [ll prove the assertion beyond a doubt this very night. ‘By the Eternal, sir, you shall suffer if you don’t get out of our way at once. Do you know who I am, sir?” “The fact that ee are the Mayor of Mount Tabor does not chill my young blood. I had as soon blow out your brains as those of any other man. This is plain talk, and, to continue it, I will say that, though I bope you dt ny ah over your shekels, 1 am prepared, if need , to enforce my demand by the power of two sixes,’ He showed a pair of revolvers and the four men began to feel uncomfortable. Not one of them had a weapon, so they were at the mercy of this cool:stranger. A puff of wind bad lifted the side of his bat and revealed a mask over his face, all of which went to prove him a genuine road-agent. They began an elaborate argument but they might as well bave talked to the mountain. He was in earnest, and when he spoke of the necessity of baste and carelessly cocked his re- volvers, they decided to give him full sway for then and gave up their money. “A thousand thanks,” he politely ssid. ‘Now, remember, this is only a loan, to be re- turned at my convenience. Good-day.” Tbey had no words which would apply to the titan, so they sat in silence as he rode slow- ly away. The firsh word was spoken as he dis- appeared in the darkness. “This comes. of going unarmed,” curtly said one of party. ‘We will go well heeled after this!” cried Mavor James,” and this don with the sombrero shall pay dearly for bis work.” ‘“T say, let him go free. We haven't lost much, and ‘I, for one, don’t want people laugh- ing at me. Let us say nothing about Don Som- brero, or whatever his name is.” It was a suggestion which struck all, even the mayor, favorably, and they decided to let the EOMMIE NOC) (C CSG (0)