Beadle's Dime Library No. 237 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

—é. ‘into a laugh, but it was a The bland, oily tones did not wholly conceal a sarcastic inflection, but the cavalier’s lip curled scornfully. ‘So you think I am harmless,” be said, **Oh, yes.” ‘‘ Well, sir, as | am not yet ready to convince ou to the contrary, | shall not rave now and ee to shake your Opinion. Yet, you must be- lieve me a pitiable coward to forget a father’s blood. J have sworn to have vengeance and it shall be mine.” With these words Max abruptly arose and went to one side, and Barstow made no attempt to renew the conversation. He took a drink and left the saloon, and then Tim Foley came out of his hiding-place. He had not remained there through cowardice, but he would not in- terrupt while matters were quiet. He had held a revolver ready for use, but he replaced it as he arose to view. ‘‘ Howly Pater!” he said, as he went to the cavalier’s side, ‘it’s mesilf expected a riot, Whin I saw you an’ dhe ould captain a lookin’ at ’ach ither I said, to mesilf, ‘Dhere will be a did mon bere in dhe twenkling av an oiye,’ Begorra, yez hev a puile av nerve.” “Tt would have been madness to quarrel. I want to give these men plenty of line until I can land them, When I face Barstow I feel like springing upon him with hands outstretched for his throat, but I must bide my time. Until my witnesses are here I can do nothing.” Tim hastened to tell what he had heard before the cavalier’s arrival, and then the latter re- solved to see Peters at onee, The captain had retired to his room, and as no time was like the present Max went up without delay. He found his man in a chair at the window, smoking furiously, but his welcome was not cordial. ‘*Tve dropped in on a little matter of busi- ness, captain,” Max blandl!y said. *Um! Wal, set down,” ‘You owe me one for protecting you when in the saloon,” said Max, as he obeyed, ‘Fur protectin’ me?’ The captain looked at his visitor with a mix- ture of defiance and fear, but back of all was a dogged look which told that he was preparing for a struggle. His sharp, cunning face be- trayed a keenness not easily defeated under equal circumstances, but with the odds so ter- fbly against bim he was uneasy even while stub- bornly firm. ‘Yes. LIrefer to the fact that I did not re- veal to Barstow that I was once a passenger on the Water Witch.” ‘* What in thunder has he got tew dew abont it?” demanded Peters, in assumed surprise. ‘* 4 good deal. Come, captain, don’t seek to play with me. I know more about you than you think. Do you suppose I am ignorant of the red light on the cliff, the twin lights of the schooner or the nice little game you and Bar- stow are playing?” The small, furtive eyes of the son of the sea wavered perceptibly, bat the dogged look did not leave his face. ‘““What the blazes be you drivin’ at?’ he demanded. ‘I ain’t playin’ no game, I never saw Barstow till tew-day an’ I don’t know nothin’ about no lights.” ‘* Possible? Perhaps you will also assert that the Water Witch is at the bottom of the ocean?’ ‘* So she is.” ‘‘ Wrong, Jabez, wrong. She did encounter a bit of wind, but, instead of sinking, she is safely anchored in a miniature harbor down the coast.” Pet;rs changed color under his deep bronze. ss Aou’re a darned liar!” he cried, striking the table angrily. | ‘‘ Softly, captai.., softly. Iam not a man to be irritated with impunity, for I know too much about you. Had you refused my money at Callao, all would have been well, but you trod on my toes and vexed me when you plar- ned to throw me to the fishes that dark night off the coast. I walked out of the schooner as you remember, but I thought you worth looking after, and, lo! I stumbled on your game with Barstow.” During this speech Peters had been greatly excited. His small eyes seermed to almost emit sparks of fire, his face worked nervously and his breath came through his set teeth witha hissing sound. Max, though he had gone on steadily with bis remarks, expected to see him either leap forward or fall in a fit, The captain did neither. Instead, he burst forced, unmusical sound. ‘Wal, by gosh! you’re the champion liar!” he said. Long-Haired Max leaned ‘forward over the table and looked him steadily in the eyes, ‘Captain Peters, this is folly,” he said, steadi- ly. “T have come here to offer you a chance to clear your skirts from the peril which now menaces the Black League, to desert a sinking ship. Colonel Barstow is doomed, just as sure as the sun rises and sets. He is near the end of bis present rope; very near that of another rope which dangles from the gallows. In all proba- bility, he will take other men with him in his downfall. Beware, sir, that you are not one of ‘ SS Ss sleet ss Long-Haired Max. them. To-day, I offer you a chance to turn against this man who is the chief of the Black Brethren, and I swear that you shall go free if you confess; to morrow, your chance may be forever gone!” This speci which was delivered earnestly, warningly but never harshly, would have moved a more cowardly man to weakness, but Long-Haired Max did not know the Yankee skipper, Villain that he was, he was not made of cow- ardly or traitorous material. He was, however, sufficiently impressed by the amount of knowledge which Max seemed to possess to be stung to desperation. He resolved to kill his companion then and there, trusting to Barstow to save him from punishment. Slyly he reached for his revolver, end when it was fairly drawn he proposed to essay the at- tempt of cocking and firing it at one and the same time, The result proved that he bad not correctly measured his enemy. Just atrifle before he was ready for work, up came the cavalier’s own hand, holding a gleam- ing revolver, and the muzzle was thrust within a few inches of the captain’s face. ‘** Put your hands above your head!” said the cavalier, with a calmness which did not conceal the threatening inflection back of all. Peters was not a fool; he recognized the met- tle of bis adversary and obeyed the order with a groan. ‘**T will relieve you of your weapon,” contin- ued Max, blandly; and he at once appropriated the revolver. ‘*Wal, must I say my prayers?” sullenly ask- ed Peters. ‘*T have a faint recollection of a passage in literature which says that the prayers of the wicked shall avail nothing. Better use your breath by making a clean breast of all I wish to know.” ‘Pll be darned if I dew!” snarled the skipper. ‘* Yew may shoot me, but not a word will yew git out o’ my head!” CHAPTER XXIII. THE ALCALDE ASSERTS HIS RIGHTS, A LONG pause ensued. Long Haired Max at last comprehended the material of which his companion was made and he knew a rack would scarcely have power to wrest the skipper’s se- crats from him. From that moment he bad abandoned the at. tempt, but he was looking forward to the fu- ture. Plainly, Peters would tell Barstow of the new turn of affairs, and the latter would be stirred toa dangerous degree when he learned that the secrets of the Black League were known to his enemies. Could this revelation be prevented? So far as the colonel’s wrath was concerned Max had no fear, but, once warned, he might take pre- cautions which would save the mysterious Black Brethren from discovery, The Water Witch was on her way up the coast, but Bar- stow believed that Max thought her at the bot- tom of the ocean. Was there any way to keep him in ignorance? While Max meditated, Peters gained fresh courage and prepared for an attempt at escap- ing his present predicament. Rnddaul y he bounded to his feet, hurling the table against the cavalier, and the force of the shock sent the revolver flying across the room. Another moment and the two men were lock- ed in aclose but by no means friendly embrace. Max had been taken by surprise or he would not have lost his revolver, but he went into the fizht without any fear of the long-armed skip- ver. He cp ae be a bad opponent, hut Max aldwin had fought too many such battles to tremble before a single man. Back and forth they struggled in that close rip, each exerting himself to the utmost, but ora lane rey? no perceptible advantage was gained, Both were strong and skillful, and each kept his feet without great trouble. Peters, however, had no desire to achieve a bloodless victory. Nothing short of Baldwin’s life would satisfy him, and as he remembered that he had a knife inside his coat, he set to work to draw if. Finally he succeeded, and then nothing was needed except one straight, outward lunge; but, unluckily for Jabez, his enemy had not been ob- livious of bis movements, and just as he was ready for the lunge bis wrist was caught by an iron hand. The incident excited both, though no word was spoken, and they redoubled their efforts so much that, as they neared the table, which had befcre been knocked over, they did noi observe it until the captain’s heels struck and they went crashing upon it, breaking the frail concern into less mass. . At the moment of falling the cavalier had re- membered the knife, which was still held be- tween them, and he had experienced a fear that the blade would penetrate his body, but no such accident erica and he looked to the skipper. The latter did not stir, but lay motionless amid the ruins of che table, and Max was not / 17 long in perceiving that the knife had been turned about, and was buried in his body. i Judas! he is dead!” the cavalier mut- tered. Such did indeed seem to ke the fact, but when he recovered his wits sufficiently to make an ex- amination he found that he was neither dead nor fatally wounded. He had a bad cut in bis side, one which would evidently keep him in bed for at least two weeks, but his insensibility was caused by a blow on his head, which bad struck the floor forcibly. Max reflected quickly. Peters was supposed to be a stranger in Nuevo Madrid, and he re- solved to keep him where he would not be able to communicate with Barstow —an easy task, he believed, since the latter would not dare to insist on removing him from any refuge in which they might place him. Forming his plan, Max went down to Tim and told him all that had occurred, bidding bim hasten to Alcalde Jones with the story, and also the plan he had formed. Then he returned to the skipper’s room, and proceeded to dress bis wound as well as was pos- sible. It had bled freely, but not dangerously, and he knew the man would not die unless 1t was through his own folly; if he kept quietly in bed all would be well. The alcalde and his men came more quickly than he had expected, and the wounded man was conveyed to the official’s own house and comfortably arranged in a room over the of- fice. Two men, upon whem Jones could rely, were placed over him as combined nurses and jailers, and then, as he showed signs of return- ing consciousness, Max descended to the office, Strictly speaking, they had not proceeded ac- cording to law, but in border towns forms and ceremonies count for but little and their plan must be carried through if possible. Above all, Peters and Barstow must not be allowed to talk privately. At the end of half an hour, Jones rejoined Max and reported that the wounded man had recovered bis senses but remained too weak to leave his bed. ** I’ve tole ther critter who I be,’’ continued the alcalde, ‘“‘an’ he said he was right glad ter be in such hands, but ther durnation critter bad a wishful look in his eyes an’1 reckon he is wishin’ he might see Barstow; but he dassent ask for him. e! he!” His honor laughed merrily, but at that mo- ment Max chanced to look through the door and see Lieutenant Mellough approaching with five of his men. He mentioned the fact to Jones, who scowled fiercely, **] reckon ther a varmint has got some new ijee in his noddle, but he don’t want ter air it too freely in this hyar tabernacle, I won't hev no familiarity while I set in ther boodwah 0’ jestice!” is honor spoke with unusual emphasis, and it was evident that he was prepared to defend his rights while the American eagle flapped its wings over California soil, Mellough reached the door, entered and locked surprised at seeing Max. Pie cog just the man I want,” he brusquely said. S Indeed! In what way can Ibe of service to you? Max spoke calmly and politely, for though he suspected what was coming he bad no wish to quarrel with one who wore United States blue, **T have come to arrest you!” said the lieu- tenant, in the same offensive way. ‘* Possible? And for what reason?” “Tf it isn’t murder, it isn’t your fault. I have heard of the fight at the hotel ard [ am obliged to take you into custody,” Up to this point the alcalde had listened in silence, but his wrath grew with each passing moment, and at this point he pushed to the front. His left arm was akimbo, while bis right was outstretched toward Mellough and each one of his long, bony fingers was trans- formed into a menacing pointer, ‘Hole on, thar, hole on!” he solemnly said. “Tt strikes me you are gettin’ inter ther wrong pew. What in thunder hev you got ter do with ther hotel affair?” , ‘Tam the military commander of this dis- rict. _* Precisely, You hey gi’n ther proper defina- tion o’ your persition an’ I hope as how you'll stick to it, rememberin’ that I am at the head o’ ther jewrispudence o’ jestice. Ther case now in hand, ther scrimm-ge of this hyar proximo, is my business, not yourn!” ‘“TIl show you whose business it is!” sput tered the little lieutenant. “I’ve got fort soldiers at my back, and I won't allow a crit: nal to escape.” ‘Hole on, thar, hole on! Do you accuse me 0’ allowin’ any criminal ter escape?” ** It looks a good deal like it.” ‘“‘ All things look alike ter a blind man, an’ that’s what you must be; but I warn ye, mist-r, not ter a’cuse ther alcalde an’ mayor o’ this hyar city o’ any complicity with criminals, Remember, sir, you stand in ther boodwah o’ jestice!” Jones made a sweeping gesture around the office. Gomicbooks (0) (E