Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 202 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

TTS — *t seer red. ey calk 16 man r yon- q Mass [ imed. Lord, ame?” | Man nptly Some er of Ward bim- and rm’s has she for ved ere ry. | ore the nd ne, lid: er n't in” rt ir io : ‘ Cactus J ack, the Giant Guide. “What do you expect ter see?’ Bozeman asked. ‘‘ Nothing. I came to study nature and see if 1 could get a glimpse at the Black Masks. See anybody, Boze?” ‘* Nary one.” Cactus Jack stood leaning on his rifle, one foot raised on a rock, aud gazed steadily out on the plain. The scene was a fine one and, bois- terous borderman that he was, he fully ap- preciated it. Bozeman, more practical by far, helped him- self to a liberal chew of tobacco and looked more nonchalantly. Suddenly, Jack’s attention became riveted on an object that was more than senseless rock and earth. Across the plain, going from the bills and to- ward the north, and along a course midway be- tween the fort and the river, four horsemen were riding at a leisurely trot. At that dis- tance, notbing could be seen which would show Cactus Jack aroused with a start. ‘* By the Lord Harry, there has been murder done. Did you see it, Boze? One man has shot down another in cold blood, and by my life, ’m going td look into it. Come, old man, get your horse and let us go. Such things are getting too common around Black Bend, and our hands are needed in the game. Come on!” And without pausing for an answer, the ex- citable young giant dashed away. CHAPTER XVI. ONE MYSTERY LEADS TO ANOTHER. THE guides soon reached their houses, mount- ed and rode away in a course as near direct as the way would aJlow. ‘Taney used all possible haste in their movements, too, for they Were anxious to reach the scene of the late tragedy. In their feelings was none of the shrinking ex- citement with which a novice meets such scenes, but they were anxious to seek revenge for the | fallen man. positively what they were, but the guide felt | sure they were not Indians. Ordinarily, the sight would not have given him any suspicions, for they might be miaers, soldiers or citizens of Black Bend; but with the knowledge that the outlaws had been abroad it struck him it would be well to watch them a little further. He called Bozeman’s attention, and then they looked together. ‘Pye an idea,” said Zeke. ‘* What is it?” ‘*D’ye see they are leadin’ right fur Town- send’s ranch?” ‘‘Yoes, What of it?” ‘*T reckon they are all right. They may be ther two boys an’ some men o’ theirn, Either that or they are venturin’ on private prop- erty.” 2 Probably they will soon swerve to one side.” They looked again for a minute or so, and then Cactus Jack grasped Zeke’s arm. ‘*Ha! do you see that?” ** What?” ‘‘ Somebody is following them! Do you see that single person, on foot, who is trotting along in tbe rear? He ain’t oneon ’em, either; he is playing the spy.” This theory struck Bozeman forcibly. He could plainly see the man who was running after the horseman, and, if his eyes did not de- ceive him, he was making use of every tree and rock in the course to avoid being seen by the larger party. The guides were somewhat mystified. Had they known that Apache warriors had been so lately seen in the vicinity, they might have ex- plained the matter by supposing pursued and pursuer to be of red skin, but they were with- out that clew. ‘* Boze,” said the giant, suddenly, ‘I believe I can size that single critter a trifle.” ‘* What is he?’ **Do you observe how peculiar his clothes look?” ‘They don’c look so dark-colored as t’other fellers.”’ **Zactly, old man. Well, I opine that he is one of Uncle Sam’s blue-coats. What say?” *“*Shouldn’t wonder a bit. But see hyar, ef he is a sojer, who are them other chaps?” Jack did not answer. Just then the four horsemen entered a little grove of trees, and the fact that they were getting strangely near to Townsend’s ranch, struck the young giant so forcibly that be forgot to reply. The pursuer was then seen to quicken his pace, as though afraid of losing sight of them, and in a moment more he would have been in the bushes. Suddenly, however, he paused, and then another man came fvrth from the trees and confronted him. At first sight it looked as thouga they might be allies, aud the watchers would not have been surprised to see them turn and go on together; but instead, they stcod still and seemed to be talking earnestly. * Quite a panorama,” Cactus Jack commented, but a vague suspicion was beginning to enter Bozeman’s mind and he did not answer. Perhaps three minutes passed, during which time the two strangers bad not moved, and then he who had just come forth from the bushes suddenly raised bis hand and pointed it toward the other, and a slight, brief flash followed the motion. Both of the guides were shrewd enough to understand the act. Though too far away to hear any report, they knew a revolver had been presented and fired. — ‘Ho! t’other feller is down!” Bozeman cried. Tne exclamation was natural. The man who had, undoubtedly, so ein tae beeome a target for a murderous hand, reeled back from the flash, staggered and fell to the ground. The sight was painfully interesting, and, the guides did not speak as they saw the would-be assassin stride forward and_bend over bis vic- tim. The pause which ensued left no doubt but that the shot had been fatal. If the man lived he would make some resistance, but he lay like a rock, and the assassin’s work seemed well done | lop. A | In ten minutes they left the hills bebind them, and then they started iorward at a gal- Their course lay over a level plain and the moon lighted all, but, from where they were, only the. roof of the Townsend ranch could be seen. Closer quarters must be gained before they could see the scene of the tragedy. They went at a hard gallop and the interve- ning space was soon traversed. Asthey neared y grove they looked anxiously for some sign of life. ‘Ther assassin hes gone,” said Bozeman. * Yes, but where is his victim?” ‘* | don’t see ther carcass.” . Nor I. Itis not on the plain. Where, then, is he? ‘* Ther galoot that killed him has dragged it inter ther trees; you'll find it thar,” Bozeman confidently said. A little further advance took them to where the shooting had occurred, but there was no sign of a body. Still, as the mountaineer had said, it might be in the grove, and they cen- tered their attention upon the bushes. It was no dense, dark place where wild beasts of various kinds might be lying in wait; only a small and insignificant collection of mesquites; and they at once rode around it to see if all was clear beyond. ‘‘Nary sign o’ life,” Zeke commented. ‘*The body must be in the mesquites,” ** So I reckon.” ‘*Then we will find it; but, Boze, where are the other men gone?” The old mountaineer glanced at the Town- send house, now only a short distance away, and rolled his tobacco slowly in his mouth be- fore he replied: ““Eyther they went in thar,” he then said, or else they shied off sharp an’ sudden.” ‘‘Tt was the last, of course; they would not go to the house of old Townsend.” , Cactus Jack leaped down and, drawing his revolver, entered the bushes. Bozeman, watch- ing the four points of compass, waited patient- ly and worked his tobacco with regularity. At the end of ten minutes the giant reap- peared. ‘* What luck?’ Bozeman asked. ‘*Not an iota. There ain’t a man, dead or alive, in that grove. I'll swear to it!” ‘Then whar in thunder is ther carcass?” “You say.” | ' the windows of Townsena’s. 13 Again, having come so near, where did they go so suddenly?” ‘‘ That was easy; ther plain is wide.” ‘‘ Again, who was the man who stepped out and confronted the man who followed them?’ ‘‘ Now you have me.” ‘“‘Tf such a thing was possible, I should say there was a receptacle for stolen goods in or near the house, that the masked men came here to hide wbat they had stolen, that one of them shot whoever had pursued. So far | can reason clearly; but now, where is the dead man, and where the quartet of horsemen?” ‘You’ve got me. Wait until ‘to morrer, an’ I'll tell ye more.” ‘So I will wait, but this place .must be watched all night. There must be no unseen going or coming from Townsend’s, We will do the watching, or you may ride to the fort and call on Captain Brigham for aid.” ‘‘7 reckon we kin do all that is necessary,” Bozeman said, promptly following his partnuer’s lead. ‘* Long as ther weed lasts 1 won’t kick.” No further words were necessary. They were men to act promptly when once their minds were made up, and in a short time thev had gone into camp, as it were, almost under There was not likely to be much more underhand work in the vicinity that night. them on one point. The close watch they maintained satisfied Whatever bad been pre- | viously done near the ranch that night, the ac-_ 'tors inthe drama had done their work and gone. The moon, though not bright enough for | trailing, would have revealed.any nioving ob- ject, and they were satisfied that no such thing crossed the plain, or came cr went from the _ house. | | patiently, and even scouted a little in the gloom Day dawned at last. They had waited preceding the dawn, but when it became light enough for their purpose they threw off all _symptons of languor and went to work system- atically. Retracing their steps they found where the | four riders bad approacbed the grove, the foot- _ this was of no importance at that prints of their horses being plain enough on the sand. Not so with the unknown man who had followed them. The firmness of the sand prevented the least sign of a track, but int. Next, they went to where he fell. There, the red stain was still plain to be seen, and the fact that the sand was not disturbed indicated that he bad made no struggle. Doubtless the shot bad been instantly fatal. | | ** Now, whar did they kerry him!’ Bozeman said. It was an important question, but cne not easy to answer,as they soon found to their annoyance. Except for the tracks of the borses, no footprints were visible on the sand. Not the least sign was visible to show the course in which the assassin had come forth from the bushes to meet his victim. They passed beyond the grove and followed the horse-tracks until they were led to the rear of Townsend’s bouse. There the animals had _ been halted and, evidently, for several minu for the earth was stamped into ridges and hol- | | lows. All this was plain enough, but fresh inquiries | began to arisein the minds of the guides. As B zeman glanced at the house and then at — the river, fifty yards distant on his left. ‘Let us first make sure thar was a carcass,” he said. “A man with a bullet through him must bleed more or less, an’ thar should be blood on ther sand ef we saw aright.” There was no disputing this, and they once more rode around the grove. It was not so easy to locate the spot where the shooting had occurred, but after some search they found just what they bad expected. On the nin, looking dark and terrible in the brigbt light, was a pool of red fluid which could be nothing less than blood, Much of it had soaked into the sand, but a good deal remained above the firm soil. ‘* Where has he been taken?’ Cactus Jack de- manded. ‘*Do you want my opinion?” ** Certain.” ‘* Wal, L reckon we had better drop ther mat- ter right hyer until mornin’. Murder has been did an’ ther carcass got away. with—mebbe by hidin’ in ther house, mebbe by buryin’ in ther motte; but, most likely, by means o’ ther river. Ef we go abead now, we’re bound ter fail short 0’ success an’ spile all our chances fur ther mor- rer. We had better rest on our oars,” There was reason in what he said, as Cactus Jack well knew, for, even then, they might be trampling out valuable signs with their feet; and they promptly withdrew from the imme- diate vicinity of the grove, though the giant was not yet ready to leave the ranch alone. yet, these self interrogatories bad not been iven speech; they both preferred to wait a ittle. Probably the horses had stood for ten min- utes, and, from the spot, their subsequent trail led away due north. It was followed until the increased length of their strides indicated that the quartet had really gone, and that, too, with little hope for the pursuers to learn more, and then the latter turned and plied each other with questions. : Who composed the mysterious quartet, why _ were they solate abroad, and who was the man | who had followed them? According to tbeir . — - ‘‘T ain’t sure but we ought to wake up iown- | send’s folks,” he said. ‘Why so?’ ‘*There may be prowlers in there. Jf those first four men were of the masked band, they had an object in coming so near the house, 7 theory the first party had been of the Black Mask band aud their pursuer, a soldier, but, if so, there was still a good deal of doubt. Again, who had been the single man who came forth from the grove and shot the pursver, where was the body of the latter, and why had the mysterious horseman gone near Townse1 d's atall—more than that, why had they halted under the very walls of the house, when a chance observer from within might hve seen more than they would have been willing to have known? CHAPTER XVIi. SEEKING FOR A CLEW. THE guides looked into each other’s eyes at the end of a sammary of tbe aff-ir in a man- ner which spoke more than their tongues had uttered. Alittle more thought and reascning seemed likely to reveal more than they cared to unearth alone. ‘* Boze,” said Cactus Jack, gravely, ‘‘I reckon we had better call on Cap’n Bricham and let him take cherge of this affair. It is getting too deep for us.” ‘* An’ it are about time fur them ter be up.” The mountaineer pointed to Townsend’s. (E EOMIEDOOKS. (Elo)