Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 197 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

©. ON be ‘- 7 VS w& * a. — a wre ee eee eee of clearing away the dark mystery which clouded the past: ©») Before she had time to explain the precise method she intended pursuing, there came the sound of shuffling footsteps along the hall, fol- lowed by a peculiar rap at the door. “Ts if you, Morgan? Come in.” The door opened, and, strange sight for Nug- get Camp! a man in the black gown of a monk entered the room. “You understand—you think you can play the part—” ‘*Paith, if I don’t it won’t be for the lack of | experience, anyhow,” laughed the man, with | just a trace of the brogue. “I was born and rought up to the trade, until the matter of ten | years or so ago, when I was unfrocked for a bit | of diviltry which made my supariors look cross- eyed at me,” ‘‘ What! you really were a priest?” demanded Dashing Della. “That very same, and no slouch of a one at that, if I do say the word myself,” was the grinning response, ‘So much the better, if you have not forgot- ten the tricks of the trade. You understand— the man we take you to must be made to con- fess freely and fully. I will be where you can see me, and if he tries to deceive you, by a sign I will let you know.” She whispered a few words to Pet, then en- tered the other room, where the surgeon was | watching beside the patient. Jasper Quigley ee was still unconscious, but Dr. Watkins had pre- pared the drugs he required, and now adminis- tered them, saying: “Tt will be half an hour before they take full effect. You will have ample time to make your preparations.” These were few and simple, consisting of hanging improvised curtains at the head and on one side of the bed on which the patient ley, placing a small table with writing materials thereon and several chairs behind the screen. Morgan was summoned, and Dashing Della, Pet and the dcctor took their places behind the screen as Jasper Quigley gave signs of recover- ing consciousness. A gasping cry escaped his lips as his blood- shot eyes rested upon the figure in priestly ha- biliments. ‘Father! thank Heaven that you have come!” “T was sent for, my son, because they told me you were dying and craved my services,” was the grave response. ‘It was well that I lost no time, for the end is nigh.” ‘*'You mean that I am dying?” faltered the wretch, though his voice was steadily growing stronger, the work of the deftly-mixed drugs. ‘There is no earthly hope for you, my son,” and the voice sounded still more grave. ‘‘ And but little elsewhere, unless you seek it with a 7 Some heart.” re uspicious even then, Jasper Quigley glanced around the room. Those behing the Ph ie held their breath lest he should hear them, and even yet triumph over their hopes. ‘Who brought me here? Who sent for you, holy father?” A warning frown contracted the heavy brows, and the pretended priest raised one finger admonishingly as he said: “You are foolishly wasting your only chance, my son. You are dying. nless you make free confession, I cannot grant you absolution, and you will be doomed to pass all eternity in suffering the tortures of the damned!” A dogged light came into the eyes of the wretch, “IT own to at been a great sinner,” he said, slowly, ‘‘but I will even die as I have ved rather than throw away the vengearice for which I have struggled so long and des- perately. Unless yousolemnly promise to keep all I ad a profound secret from those whose names I mention—” With a stern gesture the priest checked him, The secrets of the confessional are deep as the grave, and my priestly oath forbids my re- vealing what may be confessed to me under that sacred seal; but you sin in trying to ex- tort such a pledge. You admit that you have sinned seriously. Now TI say to you that unless you free your bosom and ask full pardon for your wrongs, that I will not only withhold my services, but will call down the curses of an outraged heaven on your impious head!” Jasper Quigley cowered down, and a hunted light came into his blood-shot eyes. Yet it was plain that he placed full dependence in the words which reminded him of the vows which place a seal on the lips of a confessor. _ It would bea repulsive task to follow the dy- ing wretch through his confession, and for- tunately enough of the past has been told to render that course unnecessa Enough that he cleared Pet Flamsteed of the crime of mur- der, by confessing that his hand administered the poison that caused the death of Martin Luther Wesley. Swiftly Dashing Della wrote down the words as they fell from his lips, and breathlessly Pet Flamsteed listened to the sickening tals of dia- bolical treachery and crime — listened until asper Quigley told all, then with a gasping —_—- o-— _—_— — Revolver Roh, the Red-Handed. _2- a oe ery she fell from’ her chair tearing down the screen as she fell. Jasper Quigley heard that cry, saw that face, anda furious curse burst from his lips as he leaped out 6f bed, his eyes aglow, a bloody froth ae his lips. ; The prétended priest caught him in bis arms, and there was a momentary struggle. Then he lowered him to the bed. The man is dead.” @HAPTER XXII. LUCKY JACKSON RISES TO EXPLAIN. A VERY demon of rage and bloodthirstiness seemed Revolver Robinson as he glared around upon tbe crowd, his weapons in readiness for instant use, every nerve tensely strung, stern defiance flashing from his eyes and written in every line of his pale face, over which now be- yan to trickle a crimson rill, proving that the treacherous lead of Sandy Lithgow had not en- tirely missed its mark. “Tf that dead cur had any mates or friends,” he cried in a hard, rasping tone, *‘ Jet them step forward or make some sign, and we will settle accounts now and forever!” There was breathless silence, and a slight tremor ran through the crowd, but it was caused not by the advance of the dead man’s friends, but by a general shrinking back lest the maddened desperado should connect them with the one who had tried his level best to as- sassinate him. For a few moments Revolver Rob glared around him, waiting and longing for some one to accept his bold challenge. “Tf that carrion had no friends, have I no enemies? Surely since I have been in Nugget Camp | have trodden on some of your toes? To all sueh I am ready and eager to make amends. One or a dozen, I care not. But step up and face the music like white men should, not strike a coward blow from behind!” The three surviving members of the league interchanged covert glances, but though they were what are usually called *‘ good men with plenty of sand,” now they were thoroughly cowed, not only by the fall of the two men whom they looked upon as leaders, but by the wonderful luck which had befriended their enemy through all that day. Though thirsting more than ever for vengeance, they slunk away when they fancied the movement would not be noticed, to bide a more favorable time. A short, mocking laugh parted the red lips of the desperado as his bold challenge remained unanswered, and tossing the borrowed weapons back to their owner, he rapidly recharged his own tools before saying anything more. By his direction, four of his followers raised the form of Captain Nemesis in their arms and deposited it in the shade of one of the trees, while others ran back to town in quest of a cot and blanket on which to convey the corpse. ‘“He was the bitterest, most unscrupulous enemy the earth held for me,” said Revolver Rob, gravely, as he covered the face from view with his handkerchief, and sternly motioned back the curious crowd which was gradnally ressing nearer. “ But for all that, he was a rave man, and in memory of the days when I called him friend, | will give him as good and Christian burial as this town can afford.” The cot was soon brought, and covered from sight with a blanket, the four men bore the body into town and up the hotel steps to the room of Revolver Robinson. ‘Miller, you will remain with me. The rest of you, boys, take this, and see that the crowd is kept in good humor, but mind that you keep your brains cool and hands steady enough for work to-night.” He dealt out the golden coins with a lavish hand, then closed and locked the door after them. As he turned around there was a sudden movement of the form upon the cot, and as the blanket was cast aside, Captain Nemesis rose to his feet, laughing very unlike a corpse! Revolver Robinson did not seem at all sur- prised, though an impatient, almost sullen grow] broke from his lips. ‘You can laugh! No doubt it was prime fun for you, making me seem an ass and covering me with ridicule—all for what? Give your reasons, and make them plain, or by the great toe-nail of Satan! Pll change your name from Lucky to Unlucky Jackson, and that in a hurry, too!” “Time enough, my dear fellow,” laughed the other, tearing off a false wig and beard, then removing his outer garments, bis eyes twinkling as he held up the vest with a small bladder attached, both now stained with blood which had escaped from a slit in the latter. ‘‘A good trick, and remarkably well played, if I do say so myself!” ‘But for what end? Ctirse you, man, have done with these infernal hints and winks and nods! You have led me by the nose just as far as I intend going. Explain, or take the conse- quences!” snarled the desperado, with an ugly ‘* Tt is all over. frown. “Time enough, with the best part of the afternoon before us, Let me wash away the last reninants of Captain Nemesis, for should —— we e+ - =e - o> oe -— OC eee -_<--— ete oO te erm o_——- — —s the whole ‘truth ever leak out, Nogget Camp would boil over in good earnest, not 50 muth for being fooled so slickly, as for the ducats they lost on their champion shot.” - Coolly he washed and dressed himself’ and when this was done, it would have been keen eyes indeed that could have recognized Captain Nemesis in the dashing gambler, Lucky Jackson. **You shall héar it all in ‘good time, Miller,” he said to the man who ran the Oasis, * but just now you can do us better service on the other side of the door. Take your stand there, and see that no one comes within earshot with- out giving us warning. What we have to sav must not get wind, or there may be more hemp- pulling in Nugest Camp than will agree with our good health,” Without a word of objection the man passed outside, and looking the door bebind him, Lucky Jackson returned to the table where Revolver Robinson sat scowling, awaifing an explana- tion which must prove satisfactory, else trouble would ensue. Lucky Jackson was keen enough to divine this, and his justification was begun at once. ‘“ A week ago, you laughed at me when I told ou to keep an eye on Ned Wicklow, for I lieved he meant mischief. Last night I killed him, to save your life!” An ominous sound hissed betwixt the other’s teeth. ‘“Look to yourself unless you can justify that act, for if there is the slightest flaw in the chain of evidence against r Ned, Pil send your soul a-whooping after his!” ‘* And welcome,” was the coo] response. “* You are too hot and out of sorts to listen to the storv of how I came to find out all that was brewing, just now. After I have told how I saved you from a traitor, and you have thanked me for my pains, there wil] be time enough for that, ‘“* Enough for the present that I learned of the lot, of the time and plece of meeting, and that was at the rendezvous, the deserted mine in Arrow-head Valley, even before Ned Wicklow himself, and he came precious near discovering me too, before the music feirly begun. Only the coming of one of the conspirators saved me that time.” Lucky Jackson went on to tell of all that occurred in the deserted mine, as narrated in the opening chapters of our record, of the address made by Ned Wicklow, and the ‘black deeds which his five chosen fellow-conspirators brought against Revolver Robin:on in justifica- eres their hatred. ; " aabbe ** In my eagerness to learn all, to recognize possible baen Orie of the conspirators, I too close to Ned Wicklow for my own safety, and though it was all darkness, I saw that be had discovered that somebody was eavesdrop- ping them. I knew then that it was either his death or mine, and I made a lucky grasp at his throat, at the same time putting a bullet through his brain. “Even as I did so,a plan of escaping the consequences and turning it all to your and my good, flashed across ny mind, and before those five rascals could make a move or fairly ¢om- prehend what had occurred, I stripped the dis- ise from the oun and donned it myself hen opened the slide of his lantern. I played the game for all it was worth, and as none of them knew just who it was that was enlisting them, while they did know that Ned Wicklow was accounted your best friend and shadow, they fell into the trap readily enough. ‘* Ned had already said so much that I had to rub it into you pretty beavily, but that only served to pul the wool over their eyes the more perfectly.” | ‘** Never mind the details—tell me the end.” *“ When I dismissed them to await further orders, I took the precaution to go first, and in helping them out of the shaft, I marked each man on the shoulder with red chalk, bidding them be sure and visit the Oasis that same night. They did so, and by that red cross I spotted them for good.” ‘*There was a red cross on the back of the fellow I shot for insulting Miss Delsarte—Paul Chaprioneer.” ‘*He was one of the five, and the league was broken almost as soon as formed,” laughed the mbler. ‘‘Sandy Lithgow was another, and ‘aptain Nemesis was the chief of them all.” ‘‘ And the other three?’ demanded Revolver Robinson. “Dave Partlow, Dan Klotz and Lycurgus Swabe.” . “The first two I suspected, but I cannot place the other. But let that go for the pres- ent. What was your idea in getting up this abominable fares to-day?” ‘Say reasons, and you will be nearer right. I had several, either one of them good and suf- ficient. In the first place, I wanted to draw the conspirators into a trap from which they would never escape to make further trouble, and to do that successiully, Captain Nemesis must first be gotten out of the way, else they might have suspected something and fought shy, unless he was there to lead the way, which would be running too much risk to agree with my ideas of prudence. IJOO S (E(@) m (E —eEwrwnrr™ (E()