Beadle's Dime Library No. 237 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

| Long-Haired Max. 5 —— “ How will you prove it?” “First of all, I will produce one of my ser- vants who will swear to the fact without a hint from me, and then, if you persist, I shall send East for the depositions of the major and lieu- tenant-colonel of my uwn regiment, as well as for that of General Scott.” For a moment Long-Haired Max was stag- gered by Barstow’s confident manner, and led to wonder if bis witness bad deceived bim, but as he remembered the colonel’s recent conster- nation, he smiled calmly. ‘This is empty talk,” he said. “You shall see, 1 will now call my ser- vant.” Before Max could demur, a bell had been touched, and be resolved to let the matter pro- ceed, CHAPTER V. THE COLONEL'S WITNESS. Nor a word passed between the two men until the bell was answéred. Then a Mexican appeared and Barstow directed him to send Buck Eagan to the room. Pending bis arrival Max allowed his case to rest, but the colonel was not in like mood. ** How does it happen that you presen’ your claim at so late a day?” he dsked. ‘Simply because I knew nothing of it until a month ago, Laccidentally encountered Marcy and he recognized me as soon as he heard my name;I mean that be saw a resemblance to Ernest Baldwin which led him to question me.’ ‘‘T see. Have you been long in the South- west?” ‘* Nine years.” ** Possible? I should not think it from your eh You do not seem to be more than twenty- ve. “That is just my age. I went to Texas when sixteen and served through the war that fol- lowed,” ‘* And your family—your mother and sister?” : A look of annoyance crossed the cavalier’s ace. ‘*Excuse me if I decline to give my family history,” he coldly said. Barslow’s face brightened. Through his enemy’s voice and look he had detected more than Max knew. The colonel would have been willing to wager a good, round sum that he had stumbled upon a mystery: that the claimant had something to conceal. What was it! Too wily to state bis suspicions, he remained silent until the door again opened and Buck Eegan entered. ong-Haired Max looked at him keenly. He saw a man of middle age, a stout, burly fellow, who looked like a veritable border ruffian; a loud-mouthed, swaggering braggart, half fool and all knave, a man just suited to be a tool for one of a higher mental caliber. ‘*Buck,” said his bol tag were you with me in the Mexican war?” ‘‘T was that, cunnel,” was the prompt re- ly. ey. What was my regiment?” “The New York, cunnel.” ‘When did I leave that regiment?” ‘‘Right arter ther surrender o’ ther city o’ Mexico. You was sufferin’ wi’ a fever, an’ aa furloughed an’ went right ter New ork.’ ‘*Wasg I in Texas at all?’ ‘‘ Not after the troops crossed ther Rio Grande ter march ag’in’ ther Greasers,” **You can swear to all this?” *“‘T kin, fur I was with you all ther time.” ir. Baldwin, do you wish to ask any questions?’ oe No.” “No?” ‘Not a question.” Long-Hlaired Max spoke calmly, and Barstow looked at him in a doubtful way. This seeming indifference troubled him, for it showed that the testimony of Buck Eagan bad fallen on barren ground, He sent away his man, and then the cavalier aroused, “If you are done we will proceed,” he said; ‘but I can no longer regard you as a sharp rascal. You are a very dull one. In your anxiety to bluff me off for the moment, you forgot that au investigation would brand youa liar. More than that, my evidence was secured dn advance. Read this letter!” / Max extended the document ho had taken from bis pocket, and Barstow read as follows: **Max BAaLpwin:—I am directed to say, by General Seott, and I have verified his recollection by an ex- amination by official documents, that one James C. Barstow bore a commission as colonel in the U. S. Army during the war with Mexico; but that said Barstow never appeared on a battle-field, having been located for the greater part of the time at Galveston, where he was in charge of the supplies. He was in that place when the Mexican capital capitulated, and remained at least three months longer, when his connection with the army ceased.” This letter, written from Washington, D. C., and signed by General Scott’s private secretary, was a most staggering blow tothe colonel. It threw down in two sentences all his elaborately LT issn om — . aoe ie ues = his lies, and he sat before his enemy completely viene e mechanically returned the letter, and then Long-Haired Max added: ‘* You see I am well supplied with the sinews of war.” “Still, I defy you!” Barstow hotly cried. ‘“That is your own matter, not mine. Be so good as to commit the preceding sentence to your memory, so that if, when you stand on the gallows, you sbou!d appeal to me for mercy, I may still say, ‘ You bave chosen your own road; it is not my effair!’” ‘Do you think I will submit to you?” de- manded the colonel, more botly than ever. ‘‘[ expect you to struggle like a fish on a hook, but I shall land you at the end.” ** Tl kill you first!” ‘*No doubt you have the will, but the power is lacking. James Barstow, I despise a brag- gart; but I will say to you that I am your mas- ter. Ina gameof wits 1 shall win every time; in a game of Jead I can care for myself; and if you try to fight me, just so surely will I bring you to the gallows. 1 swear it!” ‘* We shall see,” growled the colonel. ‘*Exactly. Well, now, the hour is getting late, and asI donot care to passa n'gbt with you, I'll take my departure. The programme for the future is this: V’ll give you one week to reflect, and it lies with you whether you yield tamely or make a fool of yourself. If at the end of the armistice you are stubborn, I shall place my case in the hands of Alcalde Jones, and you know he don’t love you. In the mean- while, it will be just as well for you not to try to run away, for it will end in smoke, 1’ve got you foul, and I shall keep my grip.” Barstow opened his lips as though to make a quick retort, but, thinking better of iv, bowed with an outward bumility which was in itself a sneer. ‘‘Your plan is so generous that I cannot re- fuse it,” he said. Long Haired Max did not think an answer necessary, so he devoted all: bis attention to etting out of the house unbarmed. Sharper By far than Barstow had credited him with being, he had seen that some understanding ex- isted between the colonel and Buck Eagan, What it was he had no means of knowing posi- tively, but he believed the former had managed to say to bis tool, ** Do not allow this man to leave the house alive;” in which case there might be trouble ahead. Very much to the cavalier’s surprie, he found no pitfalls awaiting him, the door of the house and the gate of the wall s.ood open, and he walked safely outside without molestation, “Dm surprised,” he muttered, looking back | went, but robe, cowl, face—al at the grim walls of the bouse, ‘‘Can Barstow — TE . a ee sium a | bave lost his courage, or— No, by Judas, it’s | s not his way; he is not the man to surrender , trary, he was gliding along the wall with a se- tamely, and there is a snare for me somewhere, | cret, catlike step, each second drawing nearer What is it? The most reasonable supposition _ the woman, and seeming to take great care that is that his good cut-throat, Buck Eagan, is am- bushed by the way. I must keep my eyes open. He turned his face toward the village and went on, but only a few paces had been over when he saw a dark form rapidly ap- old mission, he paused for a moment to survey the scene before him, At bis right lay the house of the colonel, at bis left, that of Don - mon Victoria, Both looked calm and peace- ul. Withdrawing his gaze, he looked down on the old ruin, a crumbling pile which, despite its former holy associations, now looked dark and forbidding. Yet, the cavalier’s way lay past it, and he was about to advance when a new and startling sight was presented to bis gaze. CHAPTER VI. THE SPECTER OF THE MISSION, Ir Long-Haired Max bad been of the same material as the greater part of the people of Nuevo Madrid, be would then end there bave turned and fled, for superstition bad a stron bold on the human mind about the town, an the sight thus favored bim was of an uncanny nature. On one of the broad, broken wells of the mis- sion stood a figure ‘‘robed all in white,” its out- lines showing plainly against the dark sky, and making a picture which was vivid, if not real. Long Haired Max, practical in all things, be- lieved that be saw a woman in a white robe, standing érect, silent and motionless, ber bands crossed over her breast, her face turned toward bim. Her white robes were no less colorless than tbat face, and in every way tke creature looked like a ghost of the most approved pattern, As we have before said, nine out of every ten of the inhabitants of Nuevo Madrid woold have fled at once and in utter terror at the sight, but Max Baldwin was made of sterner clay. ‘Shoot me, if this isn’t a first class show!” he muttered, ‘‘That female woman takes a con- founded queer place for her promenade, and her dress seems to be a little objectionable for the outer air; but it isn’t any of my business.” He felt that perhaps it was hardly menly to act the spy at that moment, but his curiosity overcame all other feelings, and he remained watching. ‘** Perhaps it’s a statue, though I don’t remem- ber baving seen one there before, Nonsense, the idea is absurd; motionless as she is, itis a creature of flesh and blood. Hallo! there’s an- other one!” Sure enough, a second creature in white had appeared close beside the first, but in no way except that remarkable whiteness were they similar, “ To all appearances, the second one was a man, and his dress was that of a monk, so far as style 1 were of the same white bue, The monk was not motionless. On the con- she should not hear him. Nearer he crept, until he was by her side, and then he flung his left arm around ker waist. Thus far Long-baired Max bad watched with assed more of amusement than anything else, buta deep exclamation suddenly burst from bim, de- proaching from along the road, Twilight bad spite bis coolness. given place to night, rendering exact scrutiny | out of the question; but Max soon saw that monk had gone up in the air, only to descend the unknown was a woman, closely muffled ina again rola eave straight toward, the woman's breast. | shawl], and, to him, a stranger. She came nearer, moving rapidly, but when With a quick movement the rigbt hand of the The motion was one not to be misunderstood, by bis side, suddenly held out a folded paper. and though Max had seen nothing in the Taken wholly by surprise, Max received it Shaenly hand, be was for a moment impressed by the instinctively, and then the woman went on as_ belief thata knife had been driven home by an | assassin hand, swiftly as ever toward Barstow’s, Recovering his wits, the cavalier obeyed bis first impulse and strode after her, resolved to see where she went; but, never turning her head, she glided like a specter through the gate of the colonel’s house, and was gone trom view. “Infernal queer, that!” commented Long- | Haired Max. ‘Plainly, she is a dweller under Barstow’s roof, but why sbould she give me the note?—if such it is. Probably, I Lad better inquire within.” | As though to increase bis feeling, the woman, _ without a motion beyond the dropping ot her hands, sunk back into the arms of the monk, and Max grew excited at what he thought a cowardly murder. Witbout a word be bounded down the side of the ridge, going at a pace which placed bis life in jeopardy, even though be paid all possitleat-. | tention to where be placed his feet; but, at last, e went away for some distance, and then, | striking a match, saw a few words written on the paper in a coarse, irregular hand. Without direction or signature, it was worded as follows: “Since you know your enemy so well. you must be ready to believe that he will not yield to you tamely. Feware of the bushes just this side of the old mission. Inside them hides an assossin, and unless you use great caution you are doomed, | have warned you; now care for yourself.’” Long-Heired Max laughed lightly. The note confirmed his own suspicions, and he laughed at thought of James Barstow’s ns 7 og He bad counted the cost before making war on bim, and from that time forward it would be cunning against cunning. “Since I know where my cut-throat is con- cealed—it is doubtless Buck Eagan—lI’ll give him a little surprise. By making a detour, I can pass around the crest of the ridge, come down past the ruined mission. and drop on Eagan from the rear. I'll do it!” cting promptly, be left the road, struck into Barstow’s fleld, and soon bad the ridge under erected castles, tore away the gauze-work of ' his feet. Reaching the top, just back of the _ returned, he stood safe but excited near the mission wall. Glancing upward, he perceived the dark, crumbling structure—and nothing more, Monk and woman, murderer and victim, were gone. ha All this was to be expected, in any case, but the sudden change of view acted potently on the cavalier and he stood motionless. i ‘* Bah!” he muttered, angry at bis own emo- tions; ‘‘thero bas been no murder. mere mummery. I say, inside there, DIL ae- knowledge the joke. Come out and show your- self and I’ll buy the drinks to-morrow!” It was a generous offer, but no answer -was The ruin remained silent and dark, and, to all appearances, he was the only person hear the spot. Once more he called, but the silence remained otherwise unbroken, He began to feel a little perplexed, thougk still without supernatural fear, but so strong was his faith that buman beings were inside the ruin, he was about to | walk around to the front and enter at the open _gateway when he suddenly remembered that | this might be a part of the plot to assassinate 1m, That was. 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