Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 202 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

4 _8 = pee i 2° Cactus J ack, the Giant Guide. 17 a ‘Oh! you're a fightin’ pair; we don’t doubt that; but your claws are cut cl’ar ter ther fet- locks, You can't bend a bow in this shoot.” - ‘‘Durn a coward, anyhow! You dassn’t give us a show,” declared Bill Bush. ‘‘ So you’ve broke out ag’in. You howllikea hyena, but though your music is soothin’ ter ther n’arves, I shall have ter pull ther string,” So saying, the masked man dropped by the | miner’s side and insinuated his hand into his pocket. Bill squirmed and stormed, but in a short time he was relieved of all the valuables in his possession, including his arms, Then the stranded man became the focus of the Black Mask glances. ** Chip in, tenderfoot,” one of them said. *Durn your impudence, I’m no tenderfoot. I browsed in New Mexico afore you left your | dad’s shanty. I’m Old Tom Knott, from Siroc, an’ Pve see’d good days, though this ain’t one on’em. Your gang went through me in ther pass an’ I’m a dead bu’sted man.” ** We will prove it by searchin’.” ‘* Wade in, my gay antelope,” Knott cheer- fully said. The search was made, but not even a tooth- pick rewarded their labor. The result naturally vexed them, but the leader speedily rallied. ‘* You must do somethin’ fur ther good cause,” he said. ‘‘Ther heathen need dust, but they also need rags. Shake off that new outfit o’ yourn, Your shirt an’ pants will jest fit me.” The stranded man set up an indignant howl. It was bard to be robbed of the glory of his new garments, especially as the deed would leave him in a state of complete nudity, and then began an eloquent nikal It was cut short by the ready revolver of the CHAPTER. XXII, BROTHER AND SISTER. Lucas TOWNSEND grew excited under the miner’s appeal and sent two shots whizzing down the canyon after the robbers, but the lead spent its venom on the air and the Black Masks disappeared among the rocks just as the two men before mentioned came up with rapid ‘What's the riot, pards?’ demanded one of them, and Lucas recognized Cactus Jack and Bozeman. - ‘‘Another outrage from the Black Masks,” he said, in ‘explanation; but the words were scarcely out of his mouth when the guides bounded away in pursuit. Already Tom Knott was dressing, but he | paused with one foot in the air preparatory to a | dive in his most essential garment. ‘‘Good Lord! they won’t ketch them,” he said. ‘‘I’m a stranger round hyer, butI kin see that them rocks ain’t ther place ter find nothin’.” Meanwhile, Lucas was liberating the miner, | | who at once gained his feet and attempted to join in the pursuit, but not far had he gone be- fore his treacherous legs gave out and he sprawled again on the sand. ‘*Ts he wounded?’ Lucas asked. ‘*Wounded with whisky; hit plum’-center,” Knott answered, diving into his shirt. ‘‘ Whisper it low, though, fur mean’ him are pards. Durn it, young feller, you kim at jest ther right time, fur we was dead bu’sted.” ‘* Bu’sted!” echoed Bill Bush. ‘‘I’m wuss than bu’sted. Ther infarnal dogs hev got my money an’ my weepons. Yes, I’m bu’sted, but ’m ther boss o’ ther Lower Bend an’ I'll make robber, | ther Black Masks smoke afore ther fire dies ‘** No words,” he tersely said. ‘‘Strip or chew | out.” lead” ‘*'The Black Masks!” echoed Lucas, starting. ‘*T won’t!” the stranded man shouted. ‘ Thar ain’t no garden o’ Eden round hyer, an’ I should be pulled in an’ court martialed ef—” Tne masked leader quietly thrust his revolver under the speaker’s nose. ‘* Strip!” he shortly ordered. ‘Oh, Lord!” howled the victim; ‘‘ would you disgrace me forever? Durn your ugly carcass, “Were they indeed of that band?’ ‘“‘Sartin they was. Oh! tarnal young feller, why didn’t you shoot?” demanded ush, ‘*T ought to; I wish now that I had; but, to tell the truth, this is my first experience in such an affair and [ was not sure I could hold the drop when I secured it. A couple of shots, thunder, ‘you’re meaner’n a Root Digger Injun. You | well aimed, wou!d have thinned out the outlaws would rob a blind man o’ burnt beans. What! | and given us sizht at two faces.” give you my outfit an’ go naked? 1 reckon not, an’ I’ll see you hanged first.” from their fruitless chase. The robbers had **Find yer gallows-tree mighty quick then. | evalted them in the devious cours:s among tie Pari, I reckon you will have to strip ther | rocks, but they wanted licht. varmint while I hold ther joker under his An explanation was given, Bill Bush doing nose,” , most of the talking, and though he had suffered ‘* Let up!” snarled Bill Bush, rolling frantic- | severely from the event it was plain that the ar- ally in the sand. ‘‘I’]l hunt yer ter your death | rival of aid had prevented any personal violence ef you molest my pard. I'm ther boss o’ ther | and—saved Tom Knott’s new garments, Lower Bend an’ a bad spell o’ feven an’ ague The guides took it coolly; so much so that when I ketch bold of aman. Let up, I say!” Bill Bush accused them of want of sympathy, His threat was disregarded, and under the | but he cooled down anon and accepted their persuasive influence of the revolver, poor Knott finally disroted. Hurling his oa Just then Cactus Jack and Bozeman returne’1 the Lower Bend. garments on the sand, he stood before the rob- They went awa bers in nature’s costume, a furious, but, for the ‘time, harmless and ** bu’sted” man. His persecutor laughed behind his mask, and, returning bis revolver to his belt, stooped to pick up his clothes. - At that moment, however, a new voice broke the silence, ‘* Hands up, all! The man who tries to draw together, and at the same time Lucas turned the otber way and hurried home. As he went be kept close watch at the sides of the canyon, for it was possible the rob- bers bad not gone far, and if they were hover- ing near their wrath would naturally be ci- rected toward his precious head, No enemy appeared, however, and it was not long before he reached the remoter cabins of a six must chew lead. I mean it!” the Bend proper. In so doing, he in~ ocently Tue Black Masks wheeled in concert. They | interrupted a couple of persons well kaown to saw before them a stoutly-built, well-dressed | him; for one was his sister, Marian, and tho young man, who had not the look of one accus- ; other Elbridge McKey. tumed to manual labor, but from the way in The brother’s face clouded, for, despite the which he covered them with a pair of shining | bland. exterior of revolvers, there could be no doubt as to his fa- | not like him. miliarity with the weapons. Evidently the interruption was not unwelcomgy ‘Cut and deal again,” said this young man, | to Marian, and Lucas read as much in the way he merchant tailor, he did coolly. ‘Sir robbers, don’t try to draw, or out | she greeted him, though McKey’s face settled go your lights. I hold the drop, and I mean | into a sourness it did not lose while the trio re- business,” mained together. —— ee ee — ‘**Do vou interfere here?” asked the masked leader, angrily, but wisely making no motion to draw, » ‘* Apparently I do.” **(’ course he does.” shouted Bill Bush, from the sand. “* Why shouldn’t be? That’s Lucas Townsend, from the Bend, an’ when he draws he smashes ther target.” ‘‘Makes a center ev’ry time,” added Knott, wondering if it was policy to make a dash for his clothe . } ‘‘Gentlemen,” continued Lucas, fer the young man was indeed he, *‘ you are not wanted here. | Vamoose!” nor | Tie robbers hesitated, | out thev would bave laughed at this presump- | tuous young man, but they knew that while | they were drawing them he could, if he was a This was not long, for the girl plainly told Lucas that she wanted to see him et the house, and when McKey’s store was reached he said good-day and went inside. ‘“Isn’t be horrid?” demanded Miss Townsend, who had not forgotten the expressions of her younger days. * Do you think so?” Lucas asked. ** Haven’t I told you so hefore?” ‘‘ It strikes me you have,” he dryly admitted. ‘Doubtless You also remember thut I agree with him?” ** Not becau’e I wanted to, you may be sure. He saw me from his store when I went out for a s‘roll, and forced bis company upon me. I would have given him a plain invitation to keep away, but for your sake I resigned myself to the affliction like a martyr. “For my sake?’ echoed Lucas, in ment ** Yes,” ry What do you mean?” ‘Didn’t you advise me, only last week, to treat him well?” you. But why were you walking with With their revolvers that. help might at any moment arrive from the Bend. As though in answer to the Jast recollection, | two men at that moment appeared to view in the canvon, and they were no soouer sighted by | the robbers than they wheeled and began a e : rapid flight. 3 grit g ucas laughed and then grew grave. x Fire!” shouted Bill Busb, rolling in the sand “ Don’t throw too much aponethtiht on my in a vain attempt to burst bis bonds. I ae Shoulders, sister mine, for I don’t feel worthy you a hundred dellars ter drop en. Port ot it. Father suggested that, as McKey was away, youngster, fur ther Lord’s sake! one of the foremost men of the Bend, it would astonish- offer to see him and the stranded man safely to be well to keep bis good will while we remain here, and I echoed his idea: but I frankly said then, and | say now, that I don’t like the man. However, let us use him civilly, and if that won’t content him, tell the fellow to keep his distance,” ‘He follows me like a shadow,” complained the girl. ‘** Pll break his neck if he gets too familiar.” ‘* Mercy!” cried Marian, ‘‘ what are you talk- ing about, you horrid boy? Ill endure him a thousand times rather than to have trouble. There is already enough of that about the Bend. Where do you suppose the missing soldier is, Lucas?” She had suddenly remembered the night tragedy and the blood-stained coat she had found under the floor. She sprung the question on her brother with equal quickness, but Lis face only grew grave. ‘That is a mystery I wish I could sclve, Marian, It annoys me that it should occur right under our walls, as it were, for such tragedies always leave their imprint. A house in which a murder has been committed is ever’ after a branded place, and people will not scon forget this midnight mystery.” ‘** And then there is something more.” * What is that?’ ‘People may suspect the Black Masks have a friend inside our ranch.” ‘“Such a suspicion can have no foundation. Ordinarily, [ would not boast, but we are not a family to sympathize with robbers and assas- sins. I suggested to Brigham that we have our house searched, but he laughed at the idea.” His manner made Marian’s heart feel lighter, and for a moment she forgot the tell-tale coat of blue. Lucas, at least, was good and noble, and he little knew why she caressed his hand as they walked. ‘* Perhaps, after all,” she thought, anon, “the coat may have been brought inside the house by some one not known to any of us.” They reached their home, and found Mr. Townsend earnestly searching for something beneath the window. ‘Prospecting for gold, father?’ Lucas cheer- ily asked. ‘““T have met with a severe loss,” said the sci- entifie man, as he straightened up and brushed the bair back from the pale, broad forehead. “An bour ago I captured a very Jarge spider, and having brougbt him inside the house, left Lim on the wimdow-sill, with a pin through his back, while I made afew notes. This done, I looked around fer my prize, but, lu! he was fone.” ‘*Did he fall out of the window?” Marian asked, for, though cordially detesting and fear- ing the venomous creatures of the Southwest, she was always in outward sympathy with her father’s schemes. P ‘“‘He must have done so,” said Townsend Jooking anxiously about, as trough he expected to see the spider walking off on stilts. ‘* Let me help you,” said Marian, stooping as she spoke. ‘“‘T’ll go in and look there,” said Lucas. ‘* He may be throwing up intrenchments somewhere. You can’t depend on a spider, anyhow.” He smiled lightly ait wank in, ascending at once to his father’s room. It was a curious place, full of rocks, plants, and pin-pierced ‘subjects.” But Lucas had been there before, and he only glanced once over the room, and then began to look for the escaped spider. In beginning the search he went near to the naturalist’s table, and then paused in astonish- ment. On the table Jay a revolver, with car- tridges showing in the cylinder, and the fact that such a weapon should be in his father’s possession was simply astounding, Townsend ad never been known to so much as handle a fire-arm. Lucas curiously picked up the deadly toy. It was a Smith & Wesson, thirty-two caliber, and improved make, and, though specked bere and there with rust, looked capable of taking a life very easily. Five of the chemters c ntained cartridges, but the sixth was empty, und the stain of the powder was still visibie, While be was still holding it, the naturalist entered the room in good spirits. **’You needn’t search any further, Lucas.” he said. ‘‘The bright eyes of your sister soon found the runaway, and this time I’ pin him securely to the wall. Ab-b!” He paused suddenly and uttered a little cry as Lucas turned with the revolver in his hand, and the young man looking up with a smile was surprised to see the red color surge to his father’s pale face, ‘“Where—where did you get that pistol?” demanded the elder man, and the spider fell unheeded to the fl or. “Tt was on yourtsble. Isn’t it yours?’ asked Lucas, amazed at this strenge confusion. ‘‘Yes—no; that is, I suppose so. I found it outside of the ranch.” | ‘Was it loaded then?” ‘Of course.” “One chamber is now discharged.” | “T tried iton a tree,” Townsend explained, wiping the perspiration from his forehead. ’ \(E| eVoye) cS com