Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 202 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

a ~™ Cactus J ack, the Giant G statue-like victim seemed suddenly electrified. | us and heard our plans, and unless he is cap- One sweep of his powerful arms cast aside, both guards, but at the same moment his right hand grasped D’s revolver. He knew that he must die, but he wanted to see the chief precede him over the dark river. The muzzle was turned, and Zina uttered a little ery, but the man was buffeting against a rock. Before he could pull the trigger a bullet ‘went crashing through bis own brain, and he fell headlong to the floor. The chief slowly Jowered the fatal revolver, ‘* Bear the body away,” he coldly said. ‘‘So perishes a traitor, and so will I sweep away whoever dares to plot against me.” It was no empty boast, for the man and his way were well known, and many there took warning as he intended they should; but as those nearest stooped to pick up A’s body, a deep and swelling voice supplemented the last remark. ‘* Liar and assassin!” The words were uttered in a way which the echoes of the cave swelled to a thunder-like sound, and while the men started in alarm even the chief was dismayed. His emotion, however, was of a practical nature. ‘Who spoke?’ he demanded, No answer was returned. The unknown did not seem desirous of enrolling his name among ‘the victims of the Captain’s revolver. Tne latter, however, was plainly disturbed. It did not seem as though one of his band would have the audacity to speak thus, however strongly he might sympathize with the late lieutenant; and if a stranger was in the place he must be found, or be could ruin them all. ‘‘ Advance, every man, and unmask,” the chief ordered. They came forward promptly and obeyed the command, The faces were for the most part rough and brutal, but all were known to the leader. ‘‘One man is missing,” he said, flashing his eyes around. ‘* Where is H?” ‘‘He was beside me only a moment ago,” said J. ‘Separate and search the cave. We must find the owner of that voice. Notify the men on guard, and bid them let no one pass without all the signs being given.” They hurried away, and Captain went back to the throne and stood in a thoughtful atti- tude. Once Zina spoke to him and he made no reply. He was all tiger then, and though in a certain way he cared for this lovely woman who was so true to him, it was only at times that be thought of love or would lose himself and his ambition in her presence. In a few minutes one of the men returned from the rear entrance to the cave. He came hurriedly and seemed troubled, but the chief read the signs and imperiously spoke one word: Well?” ‘‘N, who was on guard, lies insensible at the rear entrance. The men are trying to revive him, and in the meanwhile I have brought this note which I found pinned on his breast. He held out a@@rap of white paper and the Captain snatched it quickly and read the few words it contained. “Go on with your mumuinery, your robbing and killing while you may, but beware of the day when vengeance falls. The League of Gold is doomed and the chief thereof shall die the death of a dog. Beware!” Captain dashed the note to the floor with an oath and bounded toward the rear entrance. The guard was just recovering his senses, and in a moment he had told kow their brother, H, had come to his side and given him an unex- pected blow which dashed bim senseless to the rocky floor. ‘Tt was not H, but some one who bas usurped his place to do us harm,” the chief said, with sup- pressed fury. *‘Go out, twelve of you, and make search. If you find a stranger, bring him here, dead or alive.” They hurried away to obey his orders, while he went back to the council-chamber in a thoughtful mood. CHAPTER XXV. ZINA’S SUSPICION. THe Captain of the Masks found Zina alone when he reached the council-room. Every member of the band recognized the danger to which they would be exposed if an enemy had really been in the cave—and it did not seem as though any member would attempt a practical joke—so a careful search was being made. he chief resumed bis seat on the throne in silepce, Then, with one foot beating a tune on the stone, he sat for several minutes while Zina quietly watched him. When he aroused, it was abruptly. } “ Zina,” he said, ‘‘ you are a woman and sup- posed to be quick-witted. What do you make of this man who bas invaded our temple and defied us?’ ‘Have you no idea?” ‘ ‘‘None whatever. It is plain that some one in some way usurped the place of the genuine H, but how, when and where is uncertain. The trouble lies right here; the unknown bas seen | tured we may all be dead within twenty-four hours.” “ Better flight than that,” said Zina. uide. 5 The man of science stood looking down ufon it in a thoughtful manner, ‘‘T will take the thing outside and bury it,” he said, flashing a nervous glance around. “Tl defend my stronghold,” declared the | ‘‘Some one may chance upon it bere, and if chief, sternly. ‘Captain, [ have a faint suspicion which I wish you to hear.” ‘* Speak it at once, my dear.” ‘“‘Have you seen a man named Dupage, at Black Bend?’ **T don’t place him.” ‘‘ He is one of the emigrants we robbed on the lower road. Well, 1 have had two strange in- terviews with this man, who is a Frenchman, of which you ought. to know. You remember that on the night of the attack I stood some distance back and awaited the result. While there I was accosted by this Dupage, who said he had just escaped from the hands of the rob- bérs. 1 would have stopped ‘him, but he was quicker with the revolver than I and won the game, Worse than that, he called me by the name of my girlhood and spoke of my old home,” “ And you did not recognize him?” **T did not.” ** That is strange.” “Strange and startling.” ‘*By the way, what is your real name? I never thought to ask before.” Zina hesitated for a moment. ‘* Be as forgetful now,” she then said, slowly. **T do not care to speak of my past.” “Just as yousay. Well, what of Dupage?” ‘*He went on to Black Bend and I saw him no more that night. This evening, however, he reappeared. ‘This evening?” ¢é Yes.” “Where?” She told of the meeting in the motte, and the chief listened with growing anger and uneasi- ness. When she came to the Frenchman’s dec- laration that Townsend’s ranch sheltered the chief of the Masks, that individual ground out an oath between his set teeth. ‘‘ Evidently this Frenchman’s knowledge is too great for our good. He made a mistake in regard to my identity, as you are aware, but such men keep on picking up fagots until they get enough for a good-sized fire. Monsieur Du- page must be removed.” ‘*Can’t he be brought to the cave?” Why?” ‘“T would like to know how he obtained his knowledge of my past life.” ‘‘ Perhaps he would tell too much,” said the chief, dryly. . ‘* What do you mean?” “There! there! Don’t flash * at me. I meant no barm; but I, for one, like to have eople let alone the footprints 1 have covered in the past.” While they talked, the searchers returned but they came without a prisoner. A spy had been in their midst, cunningly disguised, and he had gone away with information which, if used, would put Captain Brigham’s soldiers in possession of tha cave within three hours, Zina had made no mistake in her suspicion, The spy who had come and gone was Monsieur Dupage; and when the pursuit began he was so near to the Bend that pursuit was useless. He did not pause until safe in his room at Dutch Hans’s hotel, then flinging himself on the bed, he looked hard at the wall of the room and muttered aloud: ‘*] suppose I have done a foolish thing, for Brenda, alias Zina, will be dull indeed if she does not suspect who shouted in the council- chamber; but I could not neglect the opportu- nity to give bis roval majesty a start. Peste / he still uses his mummery of dress, throne and speech, but his ways are ever tiger-like. If Zina betrays me, | suppose he will bunt me down, if he can, but { do not fear him.” Dupage snapped his fingers contemptuously ; but it was rather supreme self-confidence than contempt for the Captain’s powers that gave birth to the feeling. Matters were tolerably quiet at the Bend the following day. A few remarks were made on the robbery of Bill Bush and Tom Knott, for the latter had come up to the city proper and given the thrilling narrative; but the only results of the affair were an additional spite against the Black Masks, a sort of charitable pity for Knott, and increased respect for Lucas Townsend, Cactus Jack and Zeke Bozeman, who had so promptly taken a hand in the game, One incident of the day deserves mention. Toward night, Nathan Townsend left the room where he had been poring over bis “* speci- mens,” and went to the attic in what seemed a secret way. Once there, he looked around to see that he was alone, and then knelt on the floor, Beneath his touch a small board moved, and then from the space underneath he pulled up a blue coat which was ornamented with brass buttons. It was the same which Marian and Molly, the colored servant, had seen, and on the breast was still the stain of blood, and there also, the bullet hole, leer | Brigham’s eyes should see it, perhaps ’twould bring me to the galiows. Aha! he thinks me buried in rocks and plants, but there are things in my life he knows not of.” Kneeling, he rolled the gory coat into a’com- | pact bundje and then wrapped a paper arcund it. He went to the door, hesitated for a moment, and then went quickly down, Setuaeles| about as though fearful of being seen an questioned. No one molested bim, and he went safely away with his bundle, Thus it was that, a few hours later, Molly came to Marian, with her dusky face beaming. ‘*Miss Marian, dat t’ing am gone,” she said. “‘ What thing?’ ‘Why, de coat up under de floor.” Marian’s face brightened. ‘* Are you sure?” she asked. Molly was quite sure. The curiosity of horror, if we may use the expression, had impelled her to seek the spot again, but the coat of blue had gone,and Marian was left to wonder who had deposited and who had taken it away. CHAPTER XXVI. ON THE CLIFF, At about the same hour that Nathan Town- send was ascending to his attic, a man was clambering over the rocks that lay to the west . “3 canyon-road from the upper to the lower end. He moved like one who had a fixed purpose in view and his way was straight ahead. The man was no stranger; we have seen him before and his name was Jean Dupage. Very light-footed was the Frenchman, and he was covering ground rapidly when something brought him to a sudden halt, Directly in front he saw a young lady of fine face and form, all of which was added to by a picturesque garb: while over her shoulder was a small but deadly rifle. “It is she,” he said, aloud; ‘‘I feel sure of it, but it can easily be proved.” He stepped from behind a rock and the girl started slightly, but he lifted his hat in a reas- suring manner. ‘‘Have no fear, young woman,” he said, po- litely. ‘‘I am here as your friend; in fact, I was seeking your bome to do youa favor, This meeting is one of chance, but it is a lucky one, for I am in haste.” | ‘What business have you with me?’ doubt- fully asked the girl. ‘“‘Important business—that is, if you are named Nola.” Yeap is my name,” the mountain girl coldly said. ‘* And you have a father who is a lone miner?” ‘*Pardon me, sir, but before I answer I must know your object in asking so much. You are a stranger to me, and I cannot conceive how you gained the information you possess,” ‘** Because you have led a secluded life in the mountains. Well, the people of Black Bend know very little of you, but I have made it my business to be abroad when others have slept. I know of you and your cave home, but I shall never use the knowledge to your injury. On the contrary, it was to do you a favor I came here to-day.” : He spoke in a tone which convinced Nola of his sincerity, but she did not wholly forget her habitual caution, i ‘You have made no mistake,” she admitted, speaking slowly. ‘‘I am Nola, and my father is a miner.” ‘* Such being: the case,” continued Dupage, “TI will do my business and go. I am in haste, so I will speak plainly at the first.” He glanced to the upper hills, the only places that were still touched by the setting sun, and continued: ‘‘A few days ago you were rescued from danger by a man named Townsend, and he sub- me oo v sited your home.” , defiant gleam shot into Nola’s eyes. Some- how, she felt that she was about to hear some- thing unpleasant, and with the perversity of a woman who has taken a fancy to a man, she rebelled at any shaft aimed at the honor. of James Townsend. She did not answer and’ Dupage again con- tinued: ‘I wish to warn you in regard to that man. He is young and handsome and his tongue is smooth and oily, but he is a fiend at heart, I know him well; I know how he can lure and held; but I also know how he can crush and destroy. Girl, you are young and innocent, and with my right hand upraised to bear wit- ness whenI say I know whereof I speak, I would | advise you to shun him as you would a viper! he Frenchman beld up his hand and his voice was grave and earnest. He had traveled several miles to try to save the mountain girl: traveled, too, over a road which he knew might bristle with danger for him; but he knew the u GOnNE DOOKS: eE——7" b ‘d ~ »* —— nr ee ee * ge a i it a ——_ ——- ——— ee