Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 229 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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- - - — — a - cards. I don’t see that I’ve got a2 chance any- way at all, but I'll have the fun of seeing you deal. I suppose you’ll chuck me in alive.’ ‘‘ That’s the figger. At least it would be ef I thort yer hed ther grit. Curse you, | believe er hev. Ef ye'r’ goin’ ter squeal, I'll put er nife in yer now. It’s easier draggin’ out er corpus! ‘* Yes, it’s more fun to kick a dead lion than a | live mule. Well, take your choice, Drop me now, or lead me out to slaughter. If my time bas come [’]1 go out of the wet; and if it hasn’t, «shel the knife forged thatcan break the skin, Lieutenant Lew looked at him in mute admi- ration. This beat every thing he had ever seen, The man must know that his words were no practical jest; and yet here he was sneering about the preparations for his own execution. ‘You'll sing a different song when ther time comes,” he said, at length. ‘‘Tead me out and see. Open the road and lll walk right over the top. I tell you, man, I can’t die until my time comes; and when it does, whining woa’t help it, and I won’t try it.” “Try it I will, then. With yer hands hand- cuffed tergether ther’ ain’t much ter risk, Ef er tries ter run I’ve a bullit ez kin run faster. f y r stop, er yell, I’ve a knife ter sink in yer back. Ef yer goes straight ahead, you'll see when yer git thar.” | i | | i | Captain Cutsleeve. niche-like huts along the pathway were used as uk pea pag Some little distance beyond and low was the place where Colonel Canley was slowly recovering; while above—though con- cealed from sight by a bend in the canyon wali a was pondering over her miserable for- une, Touch.Me-Not noted everything visible with a careful eye. The mask was on his face; the outlaw uniform over his form, For the pre- sent he thought he could defy recognition, and he would trust to luck not to betray his igno- rance of tbe secrets of the place, ‘Now then, I’m chief of Captain Cutsleeve’s henchmen, I reckon lll run this gang awhile. And first to find Ellen.” He laughed to himself at the idea. A great deal of trouble and time had been spent, first in the effort to slay, and then in the attempt to secure him; and now he rather fancied he would beat Captain Cutsleeve at all points, His ears had not altogether been idle since he had been a prisoner in this mountain retreat. He had heard footsteps passing and So mag and had caught fragments of conversation. To seek for Ellen he first went higher, When he came to the bend of the canyon and looked along the hitherto concealed part of the pede’ at no great distance lounged a couple of magnified counterparts of himself. Around Touch-Me-Not’s waist there was an | There they watched alike the prisoner bebind whey ring, that opened and closed with lock and o the lock Lieutenant Lew applied a key, and shackle and chain fell to the floor with a sullen clang. Then he blindfolded his prisoner with a scarf, and led him out to the open air. ‘‘Now move forrads. I’m doin’ this job all alone on my own hook, an’I want ter do it ight. When ther drop comes you’ll know it.” as the man LN yd Ph ged ot thougbt though he s orwa or a fow pacen” without hesitation, Lieutenant Lew following briskly. Then the little sport half turned his head. “Is it far, yet?” he asked. **Go on, an’ you'll find out.” The voice was close at his shoulder, for Touch- Me-Not had suddenly halted, and then, at the instant he wheeled and struck outward, and a little upward, straight at the voice. All blind- folded as he was Touch-Me Not had suddenly slipped his wrists from the fetters that he had allowed to remain there only at will, and judg- ing of his time and distance by sound alone had sent a right-hander home. CHAPTER XXXIL A BROKEN NECK AND A NEW LIEUTENANT. Tovucn-Mx-Nor counted well when he took his risks. Had he attempted to tear the band- age from his eyes the outlaw’s knife would have fallen. Never, in all bis life had the little sport hit quite so quickly, or qui.e so hard. The blow was simply terrific. There was @ crash, asnap, and the heavy thud of a falling body, even as Touch-Me-Not tore away the scarf and glared around him. In front lay Lieutenant Lew, with a broken neck, quivering just as an ox quivers that has been felled by a pole-ax. The victor turned away with a shudder, and saw that not more than two paces further, in the direction he had been going, there was the clearly cut edge of the precipice. Advancing, he looked over, and away below were jagged rocks, among which tumbled a shallow stream. ‘‘He meant it,” said Touch-Me-Not to him- self. ‘I’m gladof it, too. He has bis last sick- ness. That time I hit for keeps, and got it in where it would do the most good. It’s done, and the wretch deserved no mercy, so there’s no use to worry over it. Now to make the most of it. Thank my stars, there’s no nonsense about me. He’s just about my size—that is, my size when I'm mad, About that time I weigh a With some little show of repu ever, be carried the body bac the room which he bad just left, and then hastily donned the clothing that speedily transformed him into a Cuteleeve. ‘ 6 n my soul, I believe it’s the man who was Hart Blaine’s second. Well somebody else will go over into the drink this time. I had my checks stacked and counted but it wasn’t my turn to change in.” , Again he fitted the body; and this time he bore it out and cast it over the brink. It was the last of Cinnamon Cy, Then he gazed down into the valley that he could see in the distance. It was a remarkably well-hidden pocket in the mountains. He could see huts and tents nest- ling there, and the smoke from half a dozen fires was rising through the marvelously clear air. It had as much the air of a prosperous lit- tle miving settlement as of an outlaw’s camp. ance, how - a i a a This was away down below him, and down | along the face of the canyon he could see the trend of a narrow ledge which led to the spot. This aerie where he stood was probably in- tended as a place of resort in case a last desper- ate extremity should come. if cool, desperate and well armed could hold it A handful of men. against an army. Meantime several of the | the triply locked door, and the narrow road- a a i tended downward on either hand. is was, so to speak, the back door of the re- treat, and the most convenient way to Glory Gulch. From what he had heard, however, the little sport conceived the idea that there must be an entrance to the hidden valley, somewhere in the direction of Walnut Bar or Peters Fiat. But Touch-Me-Not had gong else to think about now. To show any hesitation might invite suspicion, Though he had no doubt in his mind that he could readily dispose of these two men by using the pistols that he had taken from Lieutenant Lew, it was almost certain that the reports would be heard, and might bring foes that, being forewarned, would be more numerous than he could handle, So he swaggered up to the two men, thought- fully gingling the keys that he had more than once seen the outlaw carry in bis hand. “*Pears ter me,” said one of the gua with a coarse attempt at jocularity, ‘‘yer mout leave them keys with us a while. Shemale heifers ain’t so plenty in camp an’ some ov us 'u’d like ter go a-sparkin’ too. This hyar one ar’ pry lookin’ an’ bez lots er callers.” “You, Sam Peters! Yer couldn’t tell her face frum a hole in ther wall. Better git yer eyes open what ther leetle sport plastered shut, An’ ef yer wants ter boss this thing I reckon I'd better begin ter argy the case now.” Touch-Me-Not risked everything as he spoke, but he was sure that he recognized one of the Peters boys, and for himself, his imitation of the voice and manner of the man he was persona- ting was perfect. As he spoke his hand dropped fiercely to his revolver. “Hole on, luftenant, fur glory’s sake, hole on. I war jest a-jokin’, an’ I ain’t got another word ter may Don’t pull! Yer ther only boss hyar.” “Then keep yer blasted rat-tiap shet, er there'll be a winder in yer shirt-bosom, Goon along down ther trail an’ look fur ther doetor. Ef yer see him, tell him ther job’s done,” The man gave a sort of military salute and walked awny, as though glad to escape so cheaply. Lieutenant Lew was generally ready for a joke, but if the joke did not please bim there was danger in the air. The other guard looked on in silent unconcern. He obeyed his orders, and cared nothing be- ond, He did not even look up when he heard ouch-Me-Not enter the cage for what seemed apother interview with the guarded prisoner. She turned around quickly, and did not detect the change. Her face was brighter than it had been, and ske looked upon this, to ber, rather silent outlaw with less disgust than she had done. Was he not tobe the tool through which she was to make her escape? He spoke to her in the coarse, rude dialect of Lieutenant Lew—and still she did not see the difference. ‘“‘I reckon this hyer is a dog-gone low-down game they've sot up ag’in’ yer; an’ I calkerlate it’s bout time ter show yer me hand. I’d allow yer wouldn’t mind ter waltz outen this?” “Thanks. You are kinder than you looked. Yes, I would give much to be safely away from this; but not all. I cannot pay the price your friend, the doctor, asks. I cannot, will not, marry him, even if that decision costs my father his life and me my own!” Touch Me-Not executed a low whistle. He was afraid to give vent te his amazement in words. ‘No, [dare not. And yet why should you hesitate to befriend me as you would hove done had my answer been different! There is money to be had, there is the deepest gratitude to be earned,” ‘Yes, I know all that; but there’s some things a man don’t do fur money—an’ gratitude ain’t worth shucks when ther subject ov it are 21 dead. You wouldn't ax me ter break my oath, go back on my pals, and sashay out ter sartin eath fur a woman I never seen afore, an’ ain’t very likely ter see ag’in? I should just guess yer best holt are ter equar’ things with ther doc- r. He’s bin hyar lately.” ‘You know what he said well enough, and now that you know my answer you will aban- don me, Very well. Go your way. I can meet a man’s fate like a man, girl though I am. ‘* That’s ther grit I like ter see, an’ 1 war just a-trvin’ ov yer. Ther fact ar’, l’ve cometer git ver free. Chirk up, an’ be reedy fur a move. It’s ruther a pity, though; I'll hev ter kill ther feller outside, an’ mebbe yer won’t like that?” “T do not—I do not! You are strong—cannot you strike him down? Surely you would not ill him, except as a Jast resort? ‘*'What’s his worthless life to your liberty? He must die.” ‘‘His life’s wuth a good deal!” shouted a hoarse voice at the door. ‘Say, stranger, who be you? Don’t yer move, neither, fur I have yer kivered.” The guard had managed to overhear the con- versation, and was there to talk for himself, CHAPTER XXXTIL BILLY BENDER WAKES UP. THE knife-thrust at Mr Gouger did not make a hole as broad as a church, or as deep as a well, but it made an orifice ee enough to be decidedly uncomfortable, and kept him pinned up for a few days, just when he most wanted to be out and around. He raved over the disappearance of his ‘‘leetle pard,” in a manner that made even the hardened sinners of Glory Gulch look around for a back seat, though some were so uncherita- ble as to suggest that this was al) bosh, and that Gouger bimself had a band in Touch-Me Not’s taking off, or he would never have refused to allow Dr. Coffin to be called in to look at his wound. One man, however, looked upon him with a parent admiration—Old Billy Bender, e bummer from Black Dam hed been out of the but turned way when the riot was progressin "4 the eitien | morning, and took right hold at. nursing with an air of propriet« that. tickled Gouger’s fancy. The two held.a sort of consultation over the case, and then went to work, with wet cloths and a Jargely reduced allowance of benzine, and the Death-Shot of Shasta did as well as could be expected. The second afterncon, while Gouger was sleeping serenely, and Howlin’ Billy was keep ing watch, there eppeared a gentleman of hang- dog appearance but brawny muscles, and a belt full of arms, It was the redoubtable Huckle- at ‘‘Ar’ yer hurt bad. pard?’ be asked, as Gou- er, hearing his tread, opened his eyes and ooked up. ‘It tickled the.side of ther lung a Jeetk, by ther way she feels; but Tom Gouger ain’t a go- ing ter turn his toes up ter ther daisies yit er- while. I'll be ready for yeina few days, I spose you’]l hang on ag’in ez usual?” ‘* You bet!” Huckleberry brought out bis favorite mono- syllables with extraordinary empbasis. If there was any good thing in this man it was his devo- tion to his partner. ** Oh, I wasn’t a-doubtin’ ov yer. Now, how's aaa goin’ at ther Blap Jack? Is it much ova n ‘It’s rocks—jest heaps on ’em.” ** An’ what kind ov a crowd ar’ it a-runnin’ ov it!” Huckleberry expectorated copiously before he answered, giving a va gears glance at Billy Berder and another at the window. “Ther’s three er four crowds, each one a-working on ther own level, and when they be- gin knockin’ out the’r shells | wouldn’t wonder ef ther war an awful smash.” “Give us ther p’ints, Huckleberry. This hyar ole man ar’ solid, an’ I got an eenterest ther.” “Ther’s a ding-blasted game o’ some kind. Fust, thar’s this woman ez runs things. She’s a screamer; but that cuss, ther doctor, ar’ stackin’ up a cold deck ter wring in on her. He ain’t on ther square, nohow.” PY “Sho! Yer don’t say so? What’s his game?” “He are gittin’ ready ’ter jump ther claim hisself. Ther’s shooters thar, ther’ is, They kin sling er bowie a durn sight better ner they kin a pick. When ther time kims they'll all be on hand—an’ they count on me bein’ thar too. But that ain’t ther bull depth ov his game. Thar’s three fellers from ’Frisco, er tharsfouts, ez are lyin’ ‘round waitin’ ter corral thet woo- man, They’d ’a’ bed her foul «f they hedn’t bin struck with a little bit ov greased lightnin’.” Gouger nodded. ‘‘That’s our leetle side pard, ther small, young as travels on his muscle.” “Yaas. An’ since then ther doctor bez bin a-holdin’ ov ’em off, an’ J reckon a-droppin’ sum rocks in their pockets. He sent me round ter tip °em ther wink—that’s what I made outen his caper—an’ ef they don’t bear different things, ter go fur her sharp.” niEcbooks (E(o) (E() — —_ a =o 5 he oe - 7 ~ —- ———— - — - _——— se a