Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 197 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

ig rd ed ; land. [ve got a thousand dollars that say you can’t make your word good.” ‘The lesson will be worth double that amount to you, if only in curbing your sublime self-con- ceit,” was the coolretort. ‘Say twothousand, put up your money in some responsible man’s hands, and I will cheerfully accommodate you.” Before Revolver Robinson could utter a word in reply, two-score hands were in the air, each one grasping gold or bank-notes, and as many voices eagerly begging him to take their money as a portion of the wager. Buta sharp gesture on his part quickly silenced them. ‘*Thanks, gentlemen, but | risk po man’s money save my own.” The ge laughed softly, then called out: ‘*] will cheerfully accommodate such of you as have any loose change to invest, as soon as the preliminaries are settled, gentlemen. Rest easy; your money shall not go begging.” Where both parties were so eager for the test, but little time was cut to waste in selecting a stakeholder and posting the amount of the wager. Then the stranger glanced keenly thrsugh the crowd, and finally singled out one of them, saying: ‘Though you are a stranger fo me, sir, your face is sufficient recommendation. Will you oblige me by taking any and all bets that may be offered against my winning the money up? Or—pardon me!—you may have your sympa- thies enlisted on the other side?’ “* Not a bit of it!” was the swift reply. “ I’ve got a few ducats I want to lay out in the same way. The nian thus selected was none other than Sandy Lithgow, one of the League of Six, and known as Number Four. Was that choice pure chance, or was there more in this sudden oppo- sition to the man whom the League had vowed to bunt down to death than appeared on the surface?” Sandy Lithgow was quickly surrounded by a score of excited men, each one eager to invest his money before the purse of the stranger should be exbausted by tbe demands upon it; but their fears seemed wholly without founda- tien, for each and every offer at even money as accepted and covered at once with notes rom the fat ket-book, Revolver Robinson paid little attention to this, being busied in cutting a five-pointed star out of white paper, which, when done, he gave to one of his adherents, bidding him tack it ona tree and measure off thirty paces. ‘* As the challenged party, I believe it is m privilege to name the first test,” he said, ad- dressing the stranger, who carelessly nodded his assent. ‘I will just set you a little example, - if you can copy it, then you can take your urn. Going to the score, Revolver Robinson nodded to the man, who counted six at intervals of a few seconds, the marksman firing at the word. At the last shot the star fell to the ground, and —s to the stranger, Revolver Robinson said: ‘To peabnny any chance of dispute, perhaps you will be so obliging as to bring in that bit of paper for inspection? CHAPTER XVI. A BOLD KNIGHT OF THE TRIGGER. WirTh an easy step and cynical smile the cool stranger advanced and picking up the paper without more than a casual glance at it, re- turned and placed if in the hands of the man ebosen as stake-holder, Long John Wilkinson. Even that cool and iron-nerved sport could not refrain from expressing his wonder aloud, for as he held up tbe paper star, all could see that each one of the five points were clipped off, while the sixth shot had struck so near the pon my) as to cutout the tack which held it to the ree, Long and enthusiastic were the cheers of those who had wagered their money on Revolver Robinson, but through it all the stranger stood with that cold, sneering smile curling his mus- taches, that mocking light in his eyes. Revolver Rob saw this, and it evidently stung him, despite the perfect control under which be usually held his emotions. ‘‘ There is your pattern, sir; duplicate it, and the money is yours,” he said, his eyes glittering with a dangerous light which was by no means lessened as the stranger laughed sofily. “T @ ted something more from a trigger- knight of your widely extended tation ; something beyond the common run of work. manship—” ‘Equal that bit, and then talk,” was the short reply. ‘Very well. Only no more child’s play. I have traveled two thousand miles to test your skill, but I do not care to spend a week in by- play before coming to the point.” — ‘“T don’t know what your name is—” “You may call me Captain Nemesis, for the present,” was the swift interjection. Sandy Lithgow intercbanged glances with three other men who stood near him; the only four who had dared to place a dollar on the stranger against Revolver Rob—tbe four who had been enlisted in a death-hunt by a masked man who gave them this same ominous title. _ Revolver Rob, the Red-Handed. — am ee ae —_——~ - ——— eS — Were the chief of the avengers and the man whom he had sworn to kill, face to face thus early in the game? ‘“‘AsI was about to remark, Captain Neme- sis,” continued Revolver Rob, uttering the title as though the most common-place name had been given him, ‘it is easier to talk than to perform. You may be all that you pretend in the way of apie but as a professional bet- ting man, it is a rule of mine to put my money freely against any one who makes too big brags before showing any foundation for them.” ‘*‘And my rule is to accommodate all such customers. Name your figures, my dear sir.” ‘*Shall we double tbe stakes that you do not duplicate the example I have set for you?” ‘With the greatest of pleasure,” -was the prompt reply, and as quickly as it could be counted, the amount was placed in the hands of the original stakeholder. This cool confidence on the part of Captain Nemesis deterred the crowd from offering any further bets, and anxiously they awai the result. Little time was cut to waste. At the request of bis adversary, Revolver Robinson cut out another star, exactly the same size and shape of the other, and when it was tacked to the tree, he added: ‘* Will you be so kind as to give the word for me? This style of shooting is not what I have practiced—” “Shoot as you prefer. There was nothing mentioned about firing at the word. I ask for no advantage over you. [ choose my favorite style, and you have the same privilege, of course.” | ‘* Doubtless; but I prefer to beat—or equal, since your target is perfect of the kind—you at your own choice.” Again the face of the noted desperado flushed a but he made no reply, nor spoke again until Captain Nemesis was at the score, pistol in band, ) Steadily he counted, and promptly the weapon rose and exploded at each number. And a gasping breath ran through the assem- bly as the paper fluttered and dropped to the earth as the sixth shot echoed on the air. Revolver Rob did not wait to be asked, but strode to the tree and picked up the target. Unlike the other, also, he paused for a moment to examine the paper, and his face was white and hard-set as be returned and handed the mutilated star to Long Jobn Wilkinson. ‘‘Make asecret mark on the last star, and after mixing them up, hand them back to Mr. Robinson,” said Captain Nemesis, quietly. ‘If he can indicate the one I| shot at, then the stakes belong to him. ‘‘ No—I give in,” was the hoarse reply of the desperado. ‘The target is perfect. The money is yours!” An angry yell arose from those who had placed their money upon Revolver Robinson, and one of the boldest advanced. ** We protest!” be cried, hotly. ‘‘ When our bets were made, the understanding was that it was won and lost only when one of yuu two was beaten, fairly and squarely, not that he should simply equal your pattern!” *That’s so! It ain’t beat—only tied!” All the blood in his body seemed to fly to the face of Revolver Rob as these cries broke forth, and his pistols covered the foremost of the ob- jectors as he thundered: *“T said that if he equaled my pattern, he won. Dare to kick, you hounds, and you shall settle with me!” Bloodshed appeared inevitable, but Captain Nemesis swiftly leaped before the leveled pistols of Revolver Rob, though with his back toward them, facing the excited crowd. ‘Peace, gentlemen, you are wasting your breath for nothing. No man can say that I ever accepted a dollar that I did not first earn fairly an uarely. I agreed to beat Mr. Robinson at bis own game, and until 1 do so so plainly and decisively that the most captious among you all is forced to admit as much, your money is neither lost nor won.” Never was a speech of equal length more en- thusiastically received, never an unpopular man w into general favor so quickly; but stilling the wild yells, Captain Nemesis ed to his rival, smiling suavely. ‘*T beg your pardon, my dear sir, for inter- ty s ut for good and sufficient reasons, which you may possibly learn ere we call quits, I must ctfully but positively decline to ac- cept any favor from your hands. As all bets go with the stakes that money must stand until fairly won and lost,” ‘‘ As you insist 7 it, let it be so,” was the cold response. ‘It is your turn now. All I ask is that you make it short and ga ol Captain Nemesis laughed, softly, mellowly. ‘My dear sir, I never was in a hurry in my life, and I am too old to begin to change my habits now. We have the whole afternoon be- fore us, and besides,” his voice suddenly grow- ing sharp and metallic, ‘it is my purpose to test sore cthing more than your skill as a marks- man,” Revolver Robinson stared at the bold speaker half in anger, half in doubt, but those black 23 ——-— —-— —_— = ~ ——_—_ - es — —— — _ — ——— — — + - — —- eyes met his without flinching, and that hard- set face baffled him as completely. “You seem inclined to talk in riddles, Cap- tain Nemesis,” he uttered, coldly, but with an ugly light in his eyes that warned him who knew him best of breakers ahead. ‘‘T wo to one that the little circus winds up with a funeral!” muttered Long John Wilkin- ' son in the ear of an associate, who shook his head dubiously before answering: **Double the odds that Revolver Rob bowls him out without getting plugged himself, and I’}l take you.” It was the turn of the keen-sighted gambler to shake bis head, for there was something in the cool daring and even insolence shown by this dark stranger toward one so noted and widely known as “a bad man,” that told that he was no novice in the game where pistols were trumps, and consequently not a safe man to lay odds against in a case of this sort. And besides this, there was something unnatural about the looks and actions of Revolver Robin- son himself. Never before bad he been known to endure so much without powder being burned in deadly earnest. Could it be that he felt that at last he had met his master? Or had this dark stranger cast a spell over him—to “ hoo- doo ” the desperado? “Tf so, they are riddles which I am perfectly willing to solve for you, my dear sir,” returned Captain Nemesis, ating a yawn with one hand, then adding languidly: ‘I do not deny that you are a fair shot—a good one, for that matter, where all is plain eaeibg and you are at liberty to carry things according to yeur own liking—but I do deny that you have the nerve which all true pistol- ’ shots possess—’ A hard mocking laugh cut his words short. ‘‘Indeed! But are you not rather begging the question?” ** Not in the least. Your reputation as a phenomenal pistol-shot has spread over the whole country, and the great majority of men seem to think that such another, much less a superior, has not yet seen the light of day. In that I differ from them. Without wee to boast, or blow my own horn, as the vulgar hath it, I believe that I am your master in this as wellas every other respect that constitutes a co ae isa shorter and surer way to settle that—” ‘**Pardon me, my dear sir, but I bave not vite finished what I was saying,” Captain emesis uttered with a cool insolence that drove the hot blood from the face of the des- rado. ‘‘ Permit me to have my say out, then Pha be ready to hear what you may have to offer.” Revolver Bob turned abruptly away, as though fearing to trust bimself, but the low, mocking laugh with which the cool stranger greeted this movement, caused him to turn quickly. **Still another proof that my claim is well founded. As long as you suffer your nerves to be so easily shaken, just so long will you lack the one great essential of a genuine pistol-shot, just so long will I, among others, be your master.” ‘** Have you finished?” hoarsely demanded the desperado. ‘* Not quite. As I remarked, you are a re- spectable shot, so long as nothing occurs to ruffle your temper and shake your nerves, but ou do not deserve the wide reputation you ave won. Ask yourself, and answer can- didly: at this very moment are you fit to shoot for your life? Are not your nerves all unstrung—” With an angry snarl Revolver Robinson cut him short. ‘‘Say no more! Nerves or no nerves, I can out-shoot you for money or for blood—” ‘We wil talk about the first, just now,” was the cool inte ition. ‘Time enough for the other when | have proven my assertion, I have a little wealth here—” ‘* How much?’ ‘* Ten thousand,” | Revolver Robinson turned abruptly toward Harvey Miller, ostensible owner of the Oasis saloon and gambling rvom. ‘*Take my horse and ride to town. Bring back the amount he mentions with you. Make heste, for I am growing sick of this talk-talk and no cider !”” A short, mocking laugh broke from the stranger as Miller leaped into the saddle and rode swiftly toward aha Camp. | “You will feel worse before you are better. But to end what I was saying: You area fair target-shot, but when faced by a man, I believe you will prove an arrant coward!” CHAPTER XVIII. A SHOT FOR A LIFE. For asingle instant following those dangerous words, the astonished crowd stood spell-bound, but then, expecting nothing else than that lead would begin to fly in deadly earnest, their close- drawn ranks divided and rolled back on either side, leaving a clear lane behind the two knights of the trigger. And for a brief space it did JOO EGOmiG ‘SS (E(0)