Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 245 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

a ang ieee lerligere eos « € 18 : a 2 -- Then, after they had fired, he began work in turn, and, aided by Gentle Jobn, bad won the battle. ‘Have you a horse?’ abruptly asked Bill. * Yas.” “Mount at once, then. Cephas Brown is just ahead, and our only hope of learning his resent business is to follow at once, I fear it E too late already.” They leaped into the saddle and clattered along the pass just asa vigorous dash of rain came as the vanguard of the storm. It was seldom that storms visited that region, but when they did it was in a business way, and the riders felt a little uneasy as a rush of wind came through the gap, and the thunder and lightning played their part overhead. Despite all this, Barranea Bill asked his ally how he chanced to be there, and the latter told how he had seen the trio fall into place behind Bill, and suspecting their object, had followed at their heels. His coming was welcome, if not more, For a quarter of a mile the two rode on as fast as possible, though without seeing any sign of Brown, and then they struck a more level part of the gap and met a wind which was not to be braved, No horse could stand against it for ten min- utes, Without losing any time they rode into a cross guich and took refuge under the nose of a cliff. Bill had abandoned all thoughts of again seeing Brown and they only desired the storm to pass away so that they could return to Comet mp. pow vate for their especial accommodation, the wind and rain soon began to abate, though thunder and lightning were uncommonly vivid, and they were thinking of starting forth on their return when an unexpected sight was vouchsafed them, Barranca Bill was a man who never allowed himself to be caught napping in a time of dan- ger, and in closely watching the vicinity, he now and then glanced toward the top of the o ite cliff. hus it was that when he once again took ad- vantage of a lightning flash, he saw a woman standing on the top of the rocky monument of nature—we use no figure of speech, for to him it seemed for an instant as though he was look- ing. on a statue, he white light of the electric flash contrasted with her dark apparel, and with her hair and shawl blowing in the wind, she looked at once romantic and weird. : He pmaped Gentle John’s arm and with the other hand pointed upward. Again flashed the lightning—a long, hover- ing gleam—and both saw the woman. She stood as before, near the edge of the cliff, and one would almost have said she enjoyed the war of the elements; but nearly in the same breath a man appeared behind her, his arms were thrown mid her form and she disappeared from ew. ‘‘Cephas Brown!” exclaimed Barranca Bill. ‘An’ ther gal was her—was Helen Neverill; I'll sw’ar to it!” said Gentle John, excitedly, Bill started. ‘By Jupiter! you may be right, and I am not sure but there is being a murder committed. Quick! John, we can scale that cliff a little to the right; follow me!” They darted away, leaving their horses, and the ascent was begun. By day it was nothing icularly ag oe and it might now have m easily done had they taken time, but their impatience would not allow them to wait for the lightning flashes and they urged each other on in a wild and perilous scramble. Barranca Bill had not been impressed by a resemblance between the woman and Helen Neville, but as he had believed that Cephas Brown had gone out to visit the girl, it was not hard to believe he was murdering her on the Panting and nearly exhausted, they at last reached the top. Again flashed the lightning, but it showed them a bare, nearly level surface which ended on two sides at the crescent-shaped cliff’s top and on the other in a ravine. Clearly the man and woman must have gone in that direction. ‘Set ’em up ag’in!” said Gentle John, moving forward at once. Two long bounds took Bill to his side, and they ran to the edge of the ravine. Again the lightning flashed, and they used their eyesas best they could, but it was all to no purpose; not a human being was visible. “Tt’s no use to plunge headlong into that ravine,” said Bill, disconsolately. ‘‘In such darkness an elephant could bide from us, and we would break our legs before we went three rods. meer know of a path somewhere, and by that way t ey have gone.” ‘* Our best holt is ter stay right byar an’ use gar eyes when ther lightnin’ pops,” said Gentle There was really no choice in the matter, and waited accordingly; but though the elec- did its part, they saw nothing more of in All down but one!’ John finally muttered “7 ° ee in a melancholy tone. ‘‘We are beat, we ‘“‘T do not give up so easily. Jam inclined to think there is a cabin near bere, in which Miss Neville is living. Let us start out and search carefully, so as to break no bones, and if we find our game, get an explanation of the whole case before we leave.” ‘ They did as be said; but at the end of an hour, once more stood upon the flat rock. They had made the search without finding a buman being or a trace of a human habitation. ‘*T reckon they are all down now,” said Gen- tle John, mournfully. ‘* We are baffled, that is certain.” ‘Thar is one. good thing.” ** And that?” “Ther lightnin’ is dryin’ my clothes.” And John spread out bis hand as though to catch a fancied heat. Barranca Bill was not in a mood for gosting, and he remained looking thoughtfully off across the range. The storm had practically ceased. The rain had passed away some time before, the wind had ceased to blow, except gently, and the elec- tric flashes were less frequent. The night’s work was far from being satisfac- tory, though this was not because of a lack of zeal on their part. What had become of the eople seen on the rock! That one of them was rown he felt positive, and Gentle Jobn affirm- ed that the other was Helen Neville; but inany case, their disappearance was mysterious. f An exclamation from John caused him to urn. ‘** Durnation! what does this mean?” The elder man was pointing to the rock al- most at his feet, and as another flash of light- ning came Barranca Bill saw a dark, liquid pool in a little hollow, the nature of which could not be mistaken. ‘** Blood!” muttered Gentle Jobn., The two men looked each other in the face. ‘‘By my life, there has been murder done here!” exclaimed Bill. ‘‘ lt was indeed a trag- edy, of which we saw the first part, and that man killed the woman he thus surp: ised.” “Then we've got the bulge on Ceph Brown,” ** We can swear to nothing.” ‘‘Swear ter nothin’?’ shouted Gentle John. ‘‘T’ll sw’ar ter every crime in ther stature ef Helen Neverill hes be’n merlested. Howlin’ hosannas! I’il walk inter Ceph Brown with a hull arsenal o’ weepons an’ blow him ter ever- lastin’ smash |” ‘* Gently, John, gently!” “ Ain’t I allays gentle?—spell it with a g. _ O” course I am, But, see hyer, pard, ther buddy may be stowed away in a niche, Let us look.” hey did so; but in the fast-fading light from the heavens the worle was in vain, and they finally decided that they had better return to Comet Camp, and send Sheriff Sharpe with a posse early in the morning. They rode homeward in a thoughtful mood. Neither had a doubt but what a murder had been perpetrated on the cliff, and if their eye- sight had not been strangely deceptive, it was vaphas Brown’s hand that had driven home the nife, Again and again Barranca Bill asked himself if Helen Neville had really been the victim, but there was no way of solving the mystery. The mystery? According to. his view, the air was full of mystery; it stalked through the streets of Comet Camp hand in hand with crime, and each day increased the cloud. CHAPTER XXIV. AGATHA IS MENTIONED. Soon after daybreak the following morning, Sheriff Sharpe started for the scene of the tragedy, guided by Gentle John; but. they returned at noon without having a single success to their credit. However dark the deed on the cliff had been, there was no sign left to tell of ib except the dried blood-stains, and Sheriff Sharpe did not hesitate to say that the whole affair had been a ‘romantic notion,” aud that he should mix no more with it, ‘*That Barranca Bill bes kept me runnin’ arter this female fur a week, an’ all fur nothin’. I'm goin’ ter quit right byar, an’ it’s my opinion Bill is crazy.” ‘“Mebbe you think I’m crazy, too,” suggested Gentle John, heliisene pir, ‘‘ Rither crazy or a fool,” Sharpe confessed. What occurred next was never reported twice alike; but the spectators were unanimously of the opinion that none but white men would have shaken hands so cordially, and have set ‘em up so freely for the crowd, as did Gentle John and Mr, Sharpe right after their rough-and- tumble battle, and it is also worthy of record that, instead of serving a warrant on Jobn for assault, the sheriff appointed him bis deputy within the hour, and the two were fast friends. Barranca Bill had kept his eye on Brown’s house during the forenoon without discovering anything; but there was one circumstance which naturally escaped his notice. Cephas received a letter from Luke Gridley, who claimed to be his son, and it was of sucha menacing nature that he devoted a good deal of , ee . : Barranca Bill, the Revolver Champion. i eps Aa ae SRR RR A a ne a ene a ei ad a ; — Sand i i time to considering how he could get ri! 0° Sunt pertinacious claimant. If Gridley was to be believed—and Cephas was very much afraid’ that the young man, despite his hang-dog face, was telling the truth —something had got to be done right away or the Honorable Mr, Brown would be in much the same position as a once-fast trotter with an in- curable lameness—off the track and posted from the glory of his past achievements. Various persons were interesting themselves by trying to learn all about Cephas. Luke Gridley, Barranca Bill, Vivian and Daddy Gray each held a thread, andif luck ever wound them in one it would be bad for Cephas; but there had been things in bis life of which none of them seemed to know. Many a subtle plot had he planned and exe- cuted, and with the greatest of all his schemes menaced, he set bis teeth tightly together. ‘* Luke Gridley must die!” It was not a very fatherly decision, but then Luke was in the way, He must die! And so the Honorable Mr, Brown, havin burned the threatening letter, went out an held a brief interview with a man who existed in Comet Camp without any visible means of support, and when they separated Gridley’s fate was settled as far as Brown could control it, The latter did not fail to see Barranca Bill about the village, and he wondered how he had escaped Abe Neal and his allies, as well as what had me of Abe; but the matter was settled when, after dark, that ruffian made his appear- ance with head bandaged and bis face pale and told of the affair in the pass. “Tt was a durned trick o’ Barranca Bill’s!” bissed the ex-convict, “but I’m a-goin’ fur him, His bullet just plowed a ridge along my skulp an’ Jaid me over, and when I come toI was layin’ between Snow and Perry, both on’em stun’ dead an’ ther blizzard bowlin’ around me, At first wished I was dead, too, fur my head seemed bu’stin’ an’ my strength all gone; but suthin’ seemed ter whisper in my ear ther word ‘ Ven- geance ! an’ Tariz from ther grave an’ drawed myself like a maimed snake all ther way ter Comet Dani “¢ He paused for breath and Brown stared at. him like one fascinated and payer zed. ‘““[?m hyar now,” continued Abe, “an’ when I git my strength a bit, Pll look fur Barranca Bill! Yas, Pll look an’ Vl find, an’ then I'll t’ar his heart out—so!” He raised his brawny hand and moved his fingers ina way which made Brown shudder, but the weakness soon passed. ‘*You are right, and as I don’t love bim, my- self, I’ll give you two bundred dollars the hour the deed is done.” ‘Your hand!” The politician gave it without hesitation, and then a sickening smile crossed Neal’s face. “T work fur love an’ money,” he observed. At that very moment Vivian was hesitating on the side of Graveyard Gulch, She had gone to meet her ally; she had been nervously anxious to see him, and yet the gloomy wallsof the place made her shiver as usual, f Out of the shadows, however, came a humar orm, ‘‘Mr, Lincoln!” exclaimed Vivian. joyfully. ‘‘Otherwise known as Barranca Bill,” was the laughing reply, and Horace claimed his false honors with his usual nonchalance. ‘' You are as prompt as usual,” ‘*T dare not be otherwise, for I would not be alone in Graveyard Gulch fora fortune. Bah} Iam a coward. Let us now proceed to busi- ness.” Her erratic manner showed Horace that somes oping unusual had occurred, and as Barranca Bill had been so much away he feared something serious. ‘‘Do you know a man named Abe Neal?” ‘‘ No,” he answered, after a slight pause. ‘« Well, I have beard him swear to kill you.” **'To kill me?” Horace was treading carefully. If any one had sworn vengeance, was it on Barranca Bill or the other Lineoln? 4s Yes.” ‘« And for what reason?” ‘He says you sent him to the California State’s Prison for five years by falsely swearing against bim—you and a woman named Agatha Draem.” . Horace bounded from the rock upon which he had been sitting. ‘“ What?—who?’ he excitedly demanded. ‘* Agatha Draem.” A dead silence followed, and in the darkness Vivian could not read her companion’s face, That he was deeply moved by something was plain, but he rallied quickly, ‘‘ What nonsense!’ he exclaimed. “I never heard of Agatha Draem, Abe Neal or—or of this affair; while as for sending Neal or any one else to the California prison, I was in Michigan, cop- per-mining, until four years ago, and I never was west of the M i until then.” ‘ The emppaecic declaration pleased and disap- pointed Vivian at one and the same time, <S=COmMy ©