Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 197 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

yu of 18 d it d a a $$ ee glance, then averted her eyes with a shudder of strong aversion. ‘‘ You did not—you heard him speak of another paper—” Here her voice failed her, buf Gold Mask comprehended her wr ge enough, ‘‘No, I did not find it. Either he was lying, or he has the paper written by your husband safely hidden. In either case I do not think vou need borrow trouble on that score,.lady. The dirty scoundrel will not trouble you again, after the hint which I intend giving him. [ know that what he said was all false, for his face was almost as easily read as your own, and upon every feature of that was imprinted inno- cence. As for this precious document, it shall cause you no further annoyance—see!” As he spoke, Gold Mask held the warrant in | the flame of the candle until it was entirely i | consumed, then scattered the light ashes with a | single breath. ‘* Now, lady, to explain how I came to be at hand in time to foil that scoundrel. Evil and all that is vile as men accuse me of being, I do not make a practice of eavesdropping young ladies and their visitors, but I believed that | had good reasons for suspecting that villain of méaning me harm, and to counteract his mis- chievous designs, I played the spy upon him, [ followed him here, and when I could gain a —— from whence I could see and hear him, ‘he was insulting you. ‘Perhaps I should have at once beaten a retreat, but I am glad now that I did not. When he added violence to abuse, I could restrain my indignation no longer, and so put a quictus to the affair.” ‘And earned the heartfelt thanks which I have been too backward in giving—” With a graceful wave of his hand, Gold Mask checked her. ‘“The knowledge of having served you, even in such a trifle, is ample reward, lady—” Gold Mask paused abruptly as he saw a look of horror come into the face of the little woman, while she cried: ‘* Look out—he'll kill you—” Jasper Quigley had recovered his conscious- ness, and for several minutes had been fully aware of what was going on, though he still lay motionless as a dead man, his eyes barely opened wide enough to take in the scene. While lying thus, he heard the thinly-vailed threats of the outlaw, and readily interpreted them. He realized his danger, and when he saw the warrant burned by Gold Mask, he resolved to have swift and sure revenge. _Though the outlaw had removed the weapons from his belt and cast them out at the window Jasper Quigley felt that a keen and serviceable knife which he habitually wore in a sheath at the back of his neck, had escaped the notice of his enemy, and taking advantage of a moment when the face of Pet Flamsteed was bent down- ward, while Gold Mask stood with his back toward him, he drew the weapon from its place of concealment, then leaped lightly to his feet, hoping to plunge the deadly weapon to the hilt in the outlaw’s back beforé he could defend himself. But Gold Mask was not so easily handled. Even before the wild cry and willer words broke from the lips of Pet Flamsteed, his keen and well-trained ears warned him of impend- ing danger. Swift as thought he wheeled, at the same time leaping actively to one side, thus foiling the vicious thrust which Jasper Quigley made. Then out shot one gloved hand, and alighting full upon the throat of the would-be murderer, knocked him clear off his feet and headlong to the floor. Before he could make a move to arise, half-stunned as he was, Gold Mask was upon him, wresting the knife from his grasp and pressing the keen point against his throat until the red blood began to ooze forth. Never in all his evil life did Jasper Quigley stand so near to death’s door as he did at that moment. Like balls of living fire glowed the orbs of the outlaw. Tighter still grew his vise- like gripe on the throat of the dastardly villain, until Jasper Quigley turned purple in tho face, his swollen tongue protruding in a most horri- ble manner, So utterly frightful was the sight that Pet Flamsteed sta forward with an involuntary cry, but then as she remembered what bitter cause she had for fearing and hating the strang- an wretch, she recoiled, covering her face with her bands, trembling like a leaf. Still, her action had saved the life of Jasper Quigley. Gold Mask turned his head at her cry, and instantly relaxed his deadly grasp. None too soon, Another minute of that suffo- eating pressure, and Jasper uigley would never again have drawn the breath of Jife. Even as it was, some little time elapsed be- before he regained the ge of motion, and a still greater period ere he could stand upon his feet without falling. ' Until then, Gold Mask said never @ word, but stood over the trembling wretch stern and cold, judge and executioner both. But when he did speak, his words were sharp and to the int. ar Jasper Quigley, I know you now. By your own confession you richly deserve death—and | catapult. - ——E | _ Tholuck stood revealed to the eyes of the curi- ee death would have been your portion this very night, only for the clemency of this lady. But bear this in mind: you are only reprieved, not pardoned. If you ever molest this lady again, either directly or indirectly, your doom is sealed, for I swear to hunt you down to the death your crimes so richly merit, even though you seek to hide from me in the very bowels of the earth. I am Gold Mask. If you have never heard of me and wine, go ask the first man whom you see, and learn whetber-I am wont to make idle threats. “Tf you are a wise man, you will delay not, but shake the dust of this region off your feet, and pull out for a more salubrious climate. give you one week; if you are here at the end of that time, there will be a funeral, with you as the chief mourner!” Pushing the trembling scoundrel to the door, Gold Mask removed the bar and flung the door back. Turning Jasper Quigley squarely from him, he dealt him a kick so forcible that he was shot out into the open air as though from a Cool and equable as before, Gold Mask turned toward Pet Flamsteed, his voice softand musical, “] feel sure you have nothing further to dread from that fellow, but I will have a close watch kept over him while he remains in these parts, and his first attempt to make trouble will be the last.” Pet Flamsteed murmured her thanks, but the words were hardly audible: Though she had borne up with remarkable fortitude, consider- ing all that she had been called on to endure, overtasked nature was now beginning to take its revenge, and her limbs could scarcely sup- port her weight. There was a light in the eyes of the noted out- law that told he was reluctant to leave her, but with more delicacy than might have been ex- pected, he shortened his leave-taking. Bowing over her little hand until the gold lips touched it, he turned and left the house, while poor Pet, her strength of both body and mind deserting her of a sudden, staggered to the bed, falling upon it as she lost her senses. CHAPTER VIL ‘THE WALL-EYED PIKE 0’ THE PEAK.” ‘‘WnHoo—ee/ Hyar we come, back-fin up an’ tail stale Fish-trap open all ready fer business! Hunt your holes, ye little min- ners, fer yar comes the scaly whirlpool o’ death an’ destruction—the gamest fish that ever swal- lered a hook, fit a gar or sucked in a young oslin! Cl’ar the riffles, fer yar | be—Barnacle ildad Tholuck, the Wall-eyed Pike o’ the Peak —whoo—kxE !” pang’ queer and gasconading challenge had rung through the confines of the ‘‘ Oasis,” pet saloon and —— rooms of Nugget Camp, by long-haired and wild-eyed disciples of the pick and spade, moved thereto by the all-powerful bug-juice which transformed a peasant into a king, and made the lowliest brave fancy him- self a mighty chief, whose particular mission was to ‘‘take the town,” but never one so whimsical as this which burst upon them with- out note or warning. The swinging screens of green baize which stood just within the front door, were flung violently apart, and as he gave vent to that closing squeal of defiance, Barnacle Bildad ous in the full glow of the a And he formed a picture well worth looking at, too, for those who could appreciate physical beauty and power in a fellow-being. A veritable giant in size, standing but little under seven feet in his boots of horse-hide, but sO nepetnces § proportioned and balanced in every way that this extreme hight was apt to be overlooked or under-estimated unless a com- oot was made with some other of known ight. As he entered the saloon he doffed his broad- brimmed hat and tossed the long hair back from his high, snow-white forehead; bair that might have done honor to a woman, fine and silken, curling naturally, of the purest corn- vellow bue. His beard was a shade or two lighter, worn full and so long that the ends were tucked under the beaded belt which en- circled his round, compaet waist. The only drawback to an otherwise remark- | ably handsome face was to be found in his eyes. They were of a heavenly blue, remark- ably brilliant, but so very lane and postales ant as to constitute a positive deformity. From this peculiarity no doubt had arisen that ap- pellation of ‘ wall-eyed.” ‘‘Pin back yer eyelids an’ take a good look at the showcus, gentlemen!” he cried, squaring him- self before the amused and critical audience. “The one greatest an’ onliest king-pin o’ fishes that’ navergates the dry airth onto his two legs as easy an’ nat’ral as he do the ragin’ canaw!l with his double-geared fins an’ screw-propeller ! The only Wall-eyed Pike o’ the Peak! The ’riginal Colorado Barnacle o’ ’Fifty-nine!. The fust galoot to clean up gold on Cherry Crick an’ the man who climbed the Peak an’ pulle the Pike up after him—Bildad Tholuck, Esquire, gentlemen: let me make ye ’quainted!” _ ea —— ee C—O a Revolver Rob, the Red-Handed. 9 eee —— ——<——$—_——_ With a sweeping wave of his hat the stranger bowed low, then drew himself erect and gazed benignantly around upon the smiling audience. But for those unlucky wall-eyes he would have looked the perfect demigod. Of all who listened only the dark-browed barkeeper seemed irritated rather than amused, and said, shortly: ‘* When fish o’ your caliber comes into this hole, they either holds thar bush or else calls fer a squar’ bait o’ sech medicine as ‘ll do them the most good.” ‘* An’ mebbe you think I ain’t got the sand to do it, or the rocks to settle the bill, ol’ alligator- gar?’ laughed Barnacle Bill, lugging forth a heavy buckskin sack and tossing it up to the ceiling and catching it again as it descended. “Right thar’s the purty boysas sais you missed your guess when you tuck me fer a dead-beat —fer a snappin’ turkle as takes everythin’ that comes in his way an’ never gives or spends nothin’ but a smell o’ spilt musk!” The surly bartender made a muttered apolo- gy, for he had mistaken the stranger for one of those annoying bummers whose sole mission on earth seems to be the “ beating” of saloons, but Barnacle Bill minded neither it nor him. “Swim up, ye big an’ little fishes—the only ’riginal Wall eyed Pikeo’ the Peak slings his in- vite to’rds ye. The best ye got, barkeep’, an’ take your pay out o’ that,” he cried, tossing the purse of gold upon the counter. The invitation was promptly accepted, for that class of men who frequent an Arizona sa- loon accept drink as freely as they bestow it upon others. It was yet early on the evening which wit- nessed the meeting of the six conspirators in the old mine, and the same which Jasper Quigley chose for his interview with Pet Flamsteed, but already the crack resort of the sporting class was well patronized, both at the bar and the gambling hail beyond. ‘“Make me a Arizony cock-tail,” cried Bar- nacle Bill, as the barkeeper slung glasses along the long ccunter with a skill peculiar to the pro- fession. ‘‘ Pour in the peppermint an’ kyann, but needn’t mind the rotten aigs nur karrysene. The Wall-eyed Pike o’ the Peak kin git away with ’most anything he tackles, but he draws a line at them wegetables!” ‘* New-comer in these parts, I reckon?” ven- tured Long John Wilkinson, the genteel card- sharp, who had mentally calculated the con- tents of the buckskin sack, and come to the conclusion that it was worth “going for.” ‘*“Reckon you’re a Yankee, fer you ketched it fust cast,” was the smiling response. ‘‘ Not that I’m a tender-foot, for I was one o’ the fust to sling pick an’ wrastle with a shovel on Cherry Crick in '59, an’ I’ve stuck to that line like a bullhead to a angle-worm ever sence. But this is the fust time | ever riz my back-fin an’ wig- gled my tail in this camp.” __“ Prospecting, or have you made your pile— if that’s a fair question?’ added the gembler, nodding to the barkeeper to fill them up again. ‘* Prospectin’,” was the short response; but then, as though altering his determination, Bar- nacle Bill added, his big eyes twinkling: ‘* Yes, sir, ’m out on the prospect, but not fer dry-. diggin’s, nur wet-diggin’s, nur yit a quartz mine. I’ves’arved my time thar.’ ‘“*Something in the pasteboard line?’ suggested Long John, his countenance falling a little. “‘Short-cards or faro?” “ Neither one nur t’other. Don’t know one keerd from another. Wouldn’t recognize a straight flush ef I see it, an’’d be dead sure to throw away a hand o’ four aces, ’cause they didn’t hev more spots onto them,” was the can- did response of the unsophisticated wanderer. ‘No; it’s a bit 0’ caliker which I’m prospectin’ <e it o’ caliker with a woman done up into it. ‘‘ Wife run off with some other man?” hazard- ed the other. ‘‘ Jest the t’other way: I want some woman to run away with me/ Don’t keer much whether she’s somebody’s wife or not, jest so she’s a woman. Fact is, the other day I stum- bled onto a queer sort o’ book—the Bible, it was called; don’t know whetber you all ever hearn tell o’ itor not. Anyway, in thar it said that it was p’izen bad medicine fer a man to play it alone all his life. Fer the last year or two, I’ve knowed that thar was somethin’ lackin’, though I couldn’t tell fer the life o’ me jest what it was, ontel [ read them words. I studied it over fer nigh a week, an’ then girded up my lions an’ struek out for this plaee, as somebody told me it was the chuckest full o’ purty women o’ any other mining camp this side o’ the range. Now what I want to know is, kin you fill the bill? Is thar ary chaince o’ a critter 0’ my caliber ketch- in’ onto a neat littte heifer in this burg to spend my ducats an’ nuss the young-’uns?” hen Bildad Tholuck began, his audience seemed inclined to regard it all asa jest, but they were soon convinced that the giant was in sober earnest. If ever man longed for a wife, hé was that very individual. Long John Wilkinson could hardly keep his face straight, even with the remembrance of that well-filled buckskin sack, the contents of which he already looked wpon as good as his GComicbooks com