Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 197 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

= dead or alive, but as yet with no a nt ef- fect, save to render the noted outlaw more desperate and daring. Twice, on the offer to bestow full pardon on any one who should de- liver him up to an outraged justice, members of the band had entered into negotiations for his betrayal, but each time the plot wes frus- we will obey you as unquestioningly as though we were but the fingers‘on your hand!” ‘* And if there should be one among our num- ber who, through personal fear, or the hope of gain, betrays us by selling our secrets to the ars a trated, and the traitor found dead, placarded | Number One. in the name of Gold Mask, who threatened all A savage, united growl came from the lips of others with the same fate who tried to sell him | the others, which was far more eloquent than to the law. Nearly every desperado of note throughout the territory had, at some time or another, had his name coupled with that of the mysterious Gold Mask, but it was all vague surmise. Al- though Number Five spoke quite confidently, he | Nemesis. lly as much surprised as any one of his fellow conspirators when the chief declared that Revolver Robinson was none other than the notorious outlaw. ‘‘T have only my bare word to offer in proof of this,’ added the chief, coolly, ‘“‘ but ere the passage of many days you will see that my charge is well founded. Revolver Rob is none other than Gold Mask, and as such I have sworn to bring him to justice. ** Just nant obtained my information, it is not necessary you should know, at present; enough that the gang are playing their cards adroitly for the biggest stake that they have ever landed. Unless my scheme fails, they shall do all the work, while we will reap the benefit and bag the dust, without running any risk worth mentioning. When the time comes for work, youshall know more; for the present this is sufficient. ‘‘A few more words, andI am through. I said that you should have wages sufficient to pay you for your trouble, no matter whether we win the big stake or not. While this league exists, you will receive five dollars per day, payable weekly in advance. Is this satisfac- tory? Oy Boss, it’s jest old pie!” exclaimed Number One, adding with a ferocity which was not all assumed: ‘“ Ef thar’s ary galoot here as don’t say the same, durned ef I don’t jest crawl all over his back an’ everlastin’ly chaw his alabaster ear—amen!”’ But there was not a disapproving murmur, and the doughty champion subsided as the was chief opened the slides of bis dark lantern and ee out the sum named into each ready hand, ‘On the first of each week you shall receive the same amount, though I may not always choose the same messenger to convey it to ou— me Then we don’t light down onto Revolver Rob right off?’ asked Number Five, in a tone of disappointment. “That will depend on his own movements,” was the quiet response. ‘‘ We would be foolish to kill our goose before it has laid the golden egg. Your revenge will be none the less sweet tor waiting and anticipating the feast. ‘*l am not rs positive that Revolver Robin- son means to take a prominent part in the big game. If it is arranged so that it will be car- ried out no matter what befalls him, before the scheme is fairly ripe, then I will strike him at once. “If I should get the worst of the encounter, then you can take your turns. Even if Lam rubbed out, you will receive full instructions how to act, never fear. : ‘You will hold yourselves in readiness to act on short notice, with the utmost promptness, but at the same time you will take care to avoid giving grounds for the sligh suspicion—will take especial care not to comé into collision with the gang of Revolver Robinson, unless a fight be actually thrust upon you; then strike home,” “ You know all o’ us, but we don’t know you from a hole in the ground,” said Number Two, a little doubtingty. “ How kin we be sure that the word comes from you, ’stead o’ some 0’ them p’izen critters tryin’ fer to play roots onto us?” “The proof will not be lacking when the summons for work comes, never fear,” was the prompt response. “First: I solemnly swear to put * tae in the way of wreaking full vengeance on Revolver Robinson and such of his gang as may have injured or wronged any member of this league. “In return, you must swear to obey mein all things until that end is reached and this league is dissolved by mutual consent. Do you all to this?” “This chicken do, even though the trail you may p’int out leads straight through blazes!” cried Number One, with an emphasis that could not-be mistaken. ‘“‘ Pet your pottom »? : , “ Heart pel reemary ae mall soul I am ready to take the oath!” came the deep voice of Num- ber Four, the first words he had spoken since giving in his charges against Revol- volver Robinson. ‘ Through fire and Mere’ Some bloodshed and death, through all tha the fiend can lay in the path of those who seek Vv engeance upon his favorite son—only show us how that revenge can be surely obtained, and | i j ERI ———————————————————————————————————————————————————— — TS LL the hottest words. ‘‘ Good,” cried the chief, grim satisfaction in his tone. ‘‘So long as we keep on that platform we are all right. hen I have any orders to give you, they will come over the signature of Revolver Rob the Red-Handed. eat him without salt or pepper!” cried | You swear to obey them, and that. without question or hesitation, even though | they may carry you a foot or two over the line | of the law?’ Quite as prompt! men were not to came the answer. These daunted by such trifles, | Anything to compass the death of Revolver | Robinson—that was their motto. ‘‘Once more good!” cried the chief. ‘* You will await my orders, and not take any decisive step without them. I hardly need repeat the necessity of caution in your movements while waiting. Let Revolver Rob get but the | faintest inkling of this league and its aims, and your lives will not be worth a dollar, all told! strong drink and an overpowering passion for playing cards. ‘“He’s grit clean through, but he don’t know any more about the science of gambling than a tomcat does of operatic music,” tersely uttered Long John Wilkinson, shortly after a profit- able all-night seance with the colonel. Besides the colonel himself, there was only one other inmate of the Flamsteed ranch. That was his daughter, Pet. If she had a more formal name the public in general were blissfully ignorant of the fact. 1t suited her marvelously well, too, this dainty little home-like fairy, for few could think of her, at the first or second meeting, as a full grown woman. And yet she bad been with the colonel from the first, even before the ranch was completed, when any moment might bring the ruthless Apaches down upon them with brand and scalping-knife, days when her hands were far more familiar with the rifle and revolver than book or needle. Of those days she could not be brought to speak at any length, showing such distaste for the subject that those who Fain would have questioned her were forced to desist. . A dark brunette in type, Pet Flamsteed was below the medium hight of her sex, light and _ agile as a fairy, yet with limbs and form well ‘There is no need of my saying anything | more at present. We fully understan other. Yet, if you take my advice, you will not attempt to discover who your allies are. Time enough for that when we get fairly to work, and if ae are in ignorance, you will run no danger of betraying all by talking the mat- ter over with each other. ‘“T will go up the shaft first, and you can follow at intervals as I shaketherope. Steady, now |’ Putting his feet into the loop, the chief al- lowed himself to be pulled up to the surface, and as soon as he was fairly outside, he gave the signal for the first of the five to ascend. He was promptly obeyed, and as the muffled head of the fellow came above the crumbling mouth of the shaft, the chief grasped him by the shoulder and helped him out. ‘‘- You will make all haste back to town,” he said, in a low and guarded tone. “‘Do not loiter by the way, and be sure to drop in at the Oasis to-night. ere may be work to do.” ‘‘That hits me whar I live, boss, an’ you kia bet high that this chicken’ll be thar on time, ready fer anythin’ from a horn o’ whisky toa hangin’ bee. The voice was that of the conspirator named Number One, and where the band of the chief had touched him, the moon now shone upon a small cross in red. Sowith each one of the five. CHAPTER III. A CUNNING GAMESTER. Nor quite two miles from the lively little town known throughout the south-eastern por- tion of Arizona as Nugget Camp, stood the Flamsteed ranch. There was quite a history connected with the place, and for certain reasons which will explain themselves ere many pages have been left behind, that history must glanced at now. Several years before the date of our story— just how many was not generally known, but at any rate before the Nugget Camp sprung into existence—Colonel Forrest Flemsteed came into these wilds and built him this ranch; a substantial one-story structure of stone, which gave outward promise of far more strength than comfort. Little marvel that such was the case, erected as it was in the very heart of the Indian country, where the wild Apaches were wont to roam at will, lords of all that they sur- veyed. The wonder was that any man should have even dreamed of building a dwelling in such a spot—greater marvel that the structure still stood, and that the one who raised it was yet in the land of the living, with his flowing gray locks unclipped by scalping-knife. There were not lacking those, in the days of which this story treats, who told in guarded whispers, eked out by still more significant nods and winks, wild +p blood-eurdling tales of a white chief of the Hill Apaches, but never was the cannes openly made against the dough- ty colonel, whose reputation as a fire-eater was wide-spread. .« Nearly two years before that curious he J took place in the old shaft, word of a marvel- ous “strike” in the mountains spread like wildfire, and from that rumor uprose Nugget Camp. Colonel Forrest Fiams was at the bottom of the movement, and fhough the strike did not ‘‘ pan out” quite as well as was at first expected, gold was found in paying quantities, and those lucky persons who were first on the grounds had or were making their fortunes. As a matter of course, onel Forrest Flam- steed had not neglected his own interests, an at the date of story he was dee the mining king of that portion of Arizona, own- ing several well-developed mines, besides hold- ing many other promising claims. That he was very rich, no one doubted, but gll knew that his wealth would have been’ doubled only for two unfortunate failings: the love of each | rounded and plump. She was rarely lovely, her features well-nigh perfect in themselves, her eyes dark as midnight and gloriously brilliant, her lips red and moist, her teeth white and pure as pearls. espite the lonely life she led—for she rarely went as far from home as to the town below— Pet Flamsteed did not lack for suitors, Indeed, at one time not a male soul in all Nugget Camp but what was over head and ears in love with the dainty little fairy. The trail which led from town to the Flamsteed ranch was then the most traveled road in that section, and scarcely a day passed but what some one or more of the sturdy miners, dressed up in their best, clean shaven and washed, rere the question to ber with their hearts in their mouths—only to slowly re- trace their steps wich that same organ trying to thump a passageway down through the soles of their boots. One and all of these suitors, rich and poor, workers with hands, workers with brains, and that peculiar combination of both, the profes- sional gambler, were treated precisely alike by the Belle of Nugget Camp, as Pet Flamsteea was popularly known, until it became evident to the most obtuse that ‘the little gal hadn’t lost no husband in them diggin’s, at least,” whereupon they very wisely turned their eyes toward another prize which gave promise of being more attainable, and to whom the be- fore-mentioned title of honor was almost unani- mously transferred. This was Miss Della Delsarte, as her name ap- peared upon the hotel register, but who, within a week of her first appearance in aenet Cawp, was enthusiastically re-christened Dashing Dell, and voted Queen of the agg: though not with- ouf some gentle discussion, during which pow- der was burned and bright steel crimsoned, thanks to the few who still upheld the claims of the declining star. Pet Flamsteed did not grieve seriously over her dethronement, though on the evening in uestion, as she sat underneath the little vine- clad porch, ber face was sad, and there was a mournful, far-away lock in her dark eyes that told of anything rather than a happy heart. She was lost in a reverie so deep that the man who came up the trail from Nugget Camp lean- ed against a tree-trunk and eyed her leisurely for several minutes before advancing further. Nor was it until he came forward and stood al- most within arm’s length that Pet arose with a start and little exclamation of alarm. “T humbly beg on if I startled you, lady,” said the man, ing in a low, husky voice, as he doffed his battered white hat letting bis long gray hair float in the brisk air of the mountains, ‘* You sat so still, and my eyesight is so feeble, that I did not see you until just now.” He spoke so humbly, looked so feeble and forlorn, that Pet felt anything but anger at the intrusion, “The fault, if any, was mine,” she said, with a faint smile. ‘I believe I was dreaming. You wish to see my father?” fe A. This is where Colonel Forrest Flamsteed ives? ‘Yes; but just at present he is not at home. He had business which called him to town, di- rectly after an early supper.” .Though unconsciously accompanied this statement, for tte poor girl well knew what was the nature of the business which called the colonel to Nugget Camp, and knew, too, that it might be days before he re- turned, for her to nurse him back to strength d'| and energy sufficient for another protracted de- bauch with the gamblers. A deep sigh which was almost a groan came from the forest of gray hair with which the lips of the stranger were hidden, and he bore more hea } y upon the stout staff, as though his limbs we scarcely abie to support his weight. “Tf I donly known!” he muttered, “T 0\(0\(6) <€om G cS to herself, a low sigh — com