Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 241 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

—) 23 Spitfire Saul, King of the Rustlers. replied, for bis self. ‘*Not a glimmer, boss. We was ’tendin’ to business, an’ in a pi ain’t no time to loo critter’s doin’, cept you an’ your own mate.” “Very well,” said King Saul, coldly, as he turned once more to the prisoners. dance, you know thar | out fer what any other | ** Under | the circumstances, there is only one course to | | comprehended the full import of the word love, pursue, one decision to make. ‘*Snapper Johnny swears that the shot was fired with malicious intent; but the smart of his wound may war feel confident he would not make such a danger- ous penetae, without firmly believing in its uth. “Lofty Dick swears it was an accident; and that is an unfortunate plea for him. An acci- dent, among men like us, is a weakness, and that is worse than a deliberate crime. ‘You all know the strict rules which govern our pipe and boot-heel dances. If one man wounds another, he is expected to pay the pen- alty. All are bound by those ralak since no mean is obliged to participate, against his free will. ‘‘Now one word to you, Lofty Dick, before ing sentence upon you, You deserve pun- ishment, even if we take the most charitable view of the matter: that your nerve failed you at the very moment when it should have stood firmest,. hen a man in our line of life begins to lose his nerve, he is dangerous to the entire family, and must be taught a lesson. What have you to say before I pass sentence?” ‘Just this,’ was the bold response. ‘‘ You are only too glad of an excuse to put me out of the way. You hate me, because the boys chose me chief to fill the shoes ron had, as they be- lieved, no further use for, You fear that they will soon learn to regret that you ever escaped the rope, to come back and tyrannize over them, and you believe that your reign will last al if Iam put out of the way for good and a **So be it! I am ready to pay the penalty, now that I have shown the real cause of my being condemned. Goon with the mummery! I am ready and waiting!” ‘There is still another charge against you, Lofty Dick. You fired at me, with intent to kill. But that charge can wait a little longer. You sinned against Snapper Johnny first, and it is but proper that you should wash away that - crime, before answering for another. ‘*Brocky Bill, bring out the rope!” Until now, Queen Dixie had remained silent, but as she heard this, she murmured a prayer for mercy in his ear. ‘“Av! mercy such as you and he meant to show me!” grated King Saul, his lips close to her ear, his eyes flashing fire. ; CHAPTER XVII. LOFTY ‘DICK IS ELEVATED. No ears save hers could have caught those words, and the Rustlers were far too b with their preparations for the punishment of Lofty Dick, to note the glance of almost devilis hatred which accompanied them. Thus it was that Queen Dixie alone knew that all had been discovered; that from the moment of his return to the desert sink from the prison, King Saul had been playing a cunning part and abiding his time, only to strike the more surely in the end, Faint and heart-sick, she leaned back against the wall, a red mist-like blood floating before her vision and shutting out the rapidly-shifting figures of the outlaws, save through that dizzy, dancing medium, as though they were but the weird phantasmagoria of a nightmare-dream. Like one in a dream, too, Queen Dixie seemed to hear buzzing in her ears, tearing through her brain, the many speeches which King Saul had made to her on the question of fidelity. Like Ceesar’s wife, she must be absolutely above the faintest shadow of suspicion. All other sins he could forgive and forget, in his great love for her whom he had chosen from all the world, to beeome his queen; but infidelity, though it_be merely in thought, in her dreams, never. Let suspicion once enter his brain, and love would flee his heart, never to return, for a deadly hatred would fill both brain and heart so full that there would be room for naught else. Thus he had warned her, time and again, only to have his black moods kissed away and the loving smiles restored. And when their echo had a 4 died away, Queen Dixie thought no more of the fierce words, for at that time her heart was hard enough to all save her king, and she knew that she could charm away the black devils as often as they should return. Thus had she gone on, dallying with danger, laying with fire, her only intimate associate hagas King Saul, being the dandy Rustler, Lofty Dick. He was polite, well educated, and ssessed many tastes akin to her own. King’ Baul had watched them until he was satisfied that neither had the faintest sentiment for the other to which even his jealousy could offer an objection, and then he would intrust his queen particularly to the care of Lofty Dick, when- ever he went away from the band. Thus matters went on until one day not more his judgment, though I | companions, as well as for him- | than a month prior to the date on which King Saul was captured by his enemies and cast into the jail from which we saw him escape. Then the young couple learned the truth, saw the nah | toward which they had all this time been drifting, but it was too late to avoid it now, Queen Dixie shuddered convulsively as she re- called the events of that day, when first her eyes were opened, and she felt that at last she Then and now—what a horrible contrast! Under cover of her flowing robes she felt an acute pain as the fingers of King Saul pinched her, and like one in a dream, she heard his voice hissing in her ear the words: **Come, Dixie; rouse up and play your part. Would you bring disgrace upon yourself as well as upon me?” The blood-red mist passed away, and she looked straight into the hard face of the King of the Rustlers, a smile upon her lips, cold and icy calm. ** You need not fear me, King Saul. Iam a child no longer, but a woman. You have crushed my heart with your foul suspicions, but you shall see that I am more careful of your reputation and honor than you are yourself.” is great blue eyes looked piercingly into her dark orbs, as though seeking to read the truth therein, but if he thought to awe her thus, he was foiled. Instead, his were the eyes which were forced to falter, then turn away, unable to maintain the keen duel any longer. All this had passed with great rapidity, and as King Saul turned from his queen, the Rus- tlers were just ready for his further orders, standing before him, two men grasping Lofty Dick, around whose neck Brecky Bil! had fitted the noose of a stout rawhide lasso, “You have been tried and found guilty, Latay Dick, of the second highest crime which our laws recognize—that of losing your nerve when the lives of your fellow Rustlers depended upon it. If I chose, I could sentence you to death, and not one of all the family but would applaud the justice of my judgment. I say | could do this; but Iam strongly inclined to be merciful toward you, if only because this is your first offense of the sort, and that we would se miss your quick eye and ready hand in the days to come, when hot work may be reason- ably expected. Even now, if you will acknowl- edge your crime—for weakness of nerve is no less—and beg for mercy, I may decide to put you on probation—” Lofty Dick ai ay be pry his slow speech with a short, hard laugh, full of bitter scorn and hatred. “Bah! you are saying one thing with your lips, while your eyes sing an altogether differ- ent tune. ou have no more intention of spar- ing me or showing mercy, now you have got me fairly beneath your heel, than you would show compassion to a rattlesnake that had just sunk its poison-laden nes into your flesh, Your first thought would to crush its head; you intend to serve me the same way, and are only wasting your breath in trying to make me beg for what you never mean to grant. Get down to business. Put me to the test, and see whether or no I have lost my nerve!” The Rustlers stared agape at the prisoner as he swiftly poured out these words of scorn and defiance, and all save the two men who held his arms, and Brocky Bill with the rope, shrunk back from Lofty Dick, expecting no less than that King Saul would give way to one of those frightful outbursts which had won for him the name of Spitfire. But their alarm was without foundation. A grim smile passed over the face of the King of the Rustlers, while his big blue eyes glittered wickedly; but that was all. His voice was cold and even as he spoke again: ** Change that rope from around the prisoner’s neck to his armpits. I promised you a night of sport, I promised him an opportunity to prove that his nerve had not who ly left bim. Per- haps we can combine the two.’ Rapidly the long, bony fingers of Brocky Bill effected the change, and then he looked inquir- ingly toward King Saul. ag ig your rope and swing him up. Work lively!’ In the center of the ceiling a massive ring- bolt had been fixed, and at a motion from Brocky Bill, two of the Rustlers placed them- selves directly beneath this, face to face, their strong arms intertwined, their broad shoulders braced against each. other. Up this livin pedestal the gaunt old sinner nimbly clinitbet, assing the free end of the rope through the rake ring which hung from the bolt, drawing the ate through as he leaped to the floor. Lofty Dick was led by his two guards directly beneath the ring, and as though they compre- hended the intentions of King Saul without further explanation, they rapidly and tightly bound his legs together at the ankle, leaving his arms still secured behind him by the hand- cuffs, ‘* Bring outa fresh supply of pipes, Brocky Bill,” cutdhanded the chief, his voice stern and cold. ‘*We’ll not only test the nerve of the prisoner, but that of bis comrades, one and all, as well® If there are any among us whose nerves are beginning to give way beneath the strain of the life we lead, the sooner the truth” is discovered, the safer for all concerned.” Queen Dixie, despite the terrible restraint which she bad placed upon herself, could not entirely restrain a sigh of intense relief as she heard these words. King Saul heard it, and swiftly glanced into her face. For an instant she hesitated, fearing tostill further confirm his suspicions of the truth, but only for a breath - then she murmured: ‘Be lenient, my love, my king! You will never regret it, 1 solemnly promise you!” **You heard bis defiance?” he breathed, in the same guarded tones. ‘*‘ What would the men think if I spared him now?” ‘That you showed yourself a king in fact, as in name !” was the passionate reply, while the dark eyes revealed far more than their owner had any intention of permitting, but her inter- est was so great as to overshadow all prudence. “He is young and hot-headed. He feels that he has been wronged and falsely accused. That makes him speak sharper than he would if his brain was not heated. Spare him now, and you will have a brave, true, honest servant for all time!” King Saul made no immediate reply, but the heart of Queen Dixie beat lighter as she saw the faint smile upon his face as he turned again to the prisoner and his comrades. ‘‘Lofty Dick, you say that your nerve is stronger than death itself. It may be so; I hope it, for your own sake. But you know that it isa maxim of ours, to take nothing for Abts when there is a method of putting it to he test. ‘You have sinned, according to our rules and laws, You will make reparation as pre- scribed by the same. If you pass through the ordeal safely, the matter will never again be broached by mortal man. If you fail, you shall receive Rustler honors over your grave. ** One word to you, comrades of mine as well as of the accused. It is now time for you to play your part, and I expect you to do your duty, without fear or favor. “The prisoner will be drawn clear of the floor. A shortened pipe will be placed in his mouth. He will be set to Whirling around at the end of the rope, and at the word, which I will take upon myself to give, the bowl of the pipe must be shattered by a bullet. “Ifthe marksman fails to shatter the pipe either bowl or stem, at his first attempt, he will forfeit all share in the proceeds of our next raid. If he proves so clumsy or unsteady nerved as to wound the accused, though he draw only a single drop of blood, he shall take his turn at playing target, as soon as Lofty Dick passes through the ordeal.” ‘You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink, against his will,” coldly uttered Lofty Dick. ‘ What if I refuse to be- come pipe-holder?” ° ‘*T trust you will not be so foolish,” was the grave response; ‘‘ for in that case, the pipe will have to be tied between your jaws. The sen- tence has been pronounced, and must be car- ried out to the very letter. Do you refuse?” ‘On second thoughts, no, You would say that I lacked the nerve, and that would give me the trouble of giving ou the lie, once more. Go on with your rat- iting” ‘*Bring me one of those pipes, Brocky Bill,” added King Saul. ‘Beauty before all else! i Dixie graciously consents to open the all. Taking the pipe which the old man offered him, King Saul turned to bis fair mate, with a smile upon his face, “Set your gallant knights a brave example, oh fair and gracious queen. Break the stem and let the play go on!” he said, his voice ring- — ing out clear and distinct, as he handed the un- fortunate woman the clay pipe, bowing low as though in deep reverence, but in reality to con- ceal from the view of his eagerly watching men the motion of his lips as he swiftly hissed: * Refuse and I'll know that you are gqualty !” With the calmness of despair Queen Dixie took the pipe and holding it up so that all could see, snapped the frail stem, leaving a fragment only an inch or two in length attached to the bowl. Still in silence she handed the bowl to ae Saul, who laughed as he tossed it to Rocky ill. ‘‘ Look to it, my gallant knights, that you do not let a lady outdo you in the matter of nerve. Follow her example, and if the trial ends with- out a balk not one among you all, including the accused, need blush for lack of nerve.” Lofty Dick flashed one swift glance into the snow-pale face of his queen as he opened his lips — to receive the pipe, taking the stem in until the bowl fairly pressed against his red lps. For a moment her eyes closed, so clearly did she read ~~ meaning of that glance, emphasized by the action. Plain as though he had shouted forth the words at the top of his voice, Lofty Dick had bidden her fear not, but to send the bullet straight through his brain, and thus, perhaps, save herself. As for him, his doom was sealed, and a speedy release would be a blessing. Thus spoke his eyes, his face, in that brief look, and for one instant Queen Dixie felt that miGboo S ote — GOmic er, — cor