Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 245 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

eC Sete - ™ Barranca Bill, the Revolver Champion. e —— -- -_—— - —_—2-+ ‘‘T am very sorry on one account.” “ What is that?’ T believe it is this Agatha Draem my father intends to present as his daughter.” Again Horace started visibly. “This is a coincidence of names,” he acknow!l- edged. ‘‘But no, no; Cephas Brown would never take her into his house. It is impossible —a—a woman that swore away another man’s life—wasn’t that what you said?’ , ‘‘Yes, And bv the way, Neal said your real name was Ben Warren.” “ Rubbish! Who is he, and where is be? How did he get these notions into his head?” ‘(He said he wasa stranger in Comet Camp, but that he saw you on the street and recognized you as Ben Warren.” ‘You are sure he meant me? There’s a Tom Lincoln over in one of the mines—” ‘He didn’t say Lincoln; he referred to you as Barranca Bill.” His listener laughed lightly. ‘It is all a blunder; a case of mistaken iden- tity,” he declared, ‘‘I never heard of this Abe Neal; he is deceived by a resemblance. Yet, since there is an Agatha in the case, you may as well tell me all as nearly as you can recollect it, I may gain some idea of the truth.” Vivian complied and gave a full account of the visit of Abe Neal to her father the previous day—little suspecting be was at that moment just finishing a second call—and with an excel- lent.memory she gave the story the ex-convict had told. ; we, ; Horace sat quietly through it all, trifling with a stone he held in bis hands. ‘‘ Mr. Neal is away off,” he said, as she finish- ed, ‘‘ for, as 1 before stated, I was in the Michi- gan copper mines five years ago. I could laugh at the affair were it not that you suspect this Agatha Draem is the other Agatha.” “Would you laugh to see Abe Neal after you with a belt-full of revolvers?” ‘* Bah!” said Horace, ‘‘ 1 don’t care a snap for that. Let him come on and Ill walk all over him. I’ve stood up before five men before now, and I reckon I won’t tremble before one. As for revolvers, I put my shooting against that of any man in Nevada.” Horace desired to impress his companion with the idea that he was a hero, but for once he overstepped the mark. Miss Brown admired bravery but detested boasting, and as a result she abruptly changed the subject. ‘* How are your detectives succeeding?” ‘‘ Like all detectives, ‘They have followed up every false clew in the State, so l now begin to think they will soon strike the right one.” “They must hasten, or this Agatha, who is fronts named the Cricket, will reach Comet Camp ahead of them.” ‘* Pl) basten the fellows.” The remainder of their conversation was un- interesting, and they soon left Graveyard Gulch and proceeded toward the village. This time Luke Gridley was not around to act the spy, and, after saying good - night, Horace hastened toward his brother’s house un- watched. : “ By the foul fiend!” he muttered, “this is a pretty state of affairs. So Abe Neal,alias Tyler, is in Comet Camp and looking for Ben Warren, I must keep my eyes open. And Cepbas Brown’s bird is Agatha, the Cricket! Ye gods! the old crowd is running together, and as I am cor- dially disliked by the Cricket, 1 may have a warm time between her and Abe, Moreover, I’m inclined to think Abe will make ib warm for my worthy brother, Ha! an idea strikes me, Suppose Abe kills Bill, and is hanged for the deed, what is to prevent me from proving that the murdered man was Paul Pindar and myself stepping into the shoes of Barranca Bill? A huge idea, Ha! ha!” CHAPTER XXvV. MATTERS BEGIN TO LOOK MLXED, VIVIAN walked rapidly toward the village after leaving her late companion, but, some- how, her thoughts were not so much on herself as they had been for the last week. “T don’t understand Mr. Lincoln so well as I did, or, rather, so well as I thoughtI did, All Cornet Camp praises his bravery, chivalry and modesty, and I thought him a remarkable man at our first meeting, but in Graveyard Gulch he has developed into an altogether different man, He is no longer modest, grave and earnest, but rather boastful, light-headed and—but no; he is my ally and I won’t criticise him,” It was a praiseworthy resolution, but Vivian would have broken it had she known what her ally was then thinking. She bad nearly reached the edge of the village , two men sprung from behind a her before she could take a step when, sudden! toward fight. “Hold share ou are, my lady!” cried one, with a coarse laugh. ‘‘ What’s ther use o strugglin’? You’re only a child in our bands an’— But Vivian had seen the strength of bis asser- tion, and with all her power she sent forth a ory for 4 as Only a woman can, Before it could be repeated a broad hand closed over her mouth and a few scattered curses fell from the lips of the ruffians. They had overlooked the probable and given her a chance for one ery, but they did not intend it should be repeated. Without delay they began hastening away with her between them—their faces toward Graveyard Gulch—and her heart sunk. She | tried to scream again, but the effort was a fail- ure, Suddenly, however, her strained ears caught the sound of a footstep, a sharp crack followed and one of her captors released his hold and fell to the ground, He had gone down under a terrific blow, and, secing that danger was abroad, his compan- ion put up his hands for defense, but the aven- ring fist darted through the guard and he went aon near his companion. Both men remained motionless, each stunned by a single blow. Vivian had bravely remained on the scene and as she recognized her champion she uttere a little cry: ** Barranca Bill ** Miss Brown!” echoed the superintendent— for if was the genuine Barranca Bill this time; and there was deep surprise in his voice. What could take the girl to so wild a place at that hour of the evening? He lifted his hat politely, however. “Tam glad to have been of service to you, but if we wait for these fellows to recover, there will be fresh trouble. Unless your busi- ness calls you elsewhere, allow me to escort you home,” **T shall be glad encug to go. Those horri- ble men assailed me as | was hastening away, and I had almost despaired of help when you came. Iam surprised, however, for I supposed you were in your house before now.” Bill smiled gravely. ‘‘T suppose that isa reproof on keeping late hours. Well, [ suppose I am justified in calling myself an early retirer, but business of impor- tance kept me out to-night.” He spoke so gravely that Vivian, never sus- pecting he was not the man she had lately met at Graveyard Gulch, regarded it as a good joke, while his manner was so respectful that she began to wonder why she had thought him disagreeable, *T need not ask if you have been to church, since Comet Camp don’t possess one,” she said. ‘*My business has been less agreeable than that,” said Barranca Bill, almost curtly. Vivian felt Pho) True, it was right to go to church, and she admired him all the more because he believed in going; but, somehow, ber own company seemed to be referred to slightingly. ; “IT wonder that you live where there is no church.” “IT get good wages here, and prosperity will bring a church, I’ve seen both extremes, for mine has been a wandering life. I lived Hast until fourteen years of age, and then ran away; at fifteen I turned up in California where I re- mained seven years, gold-mining; then I went to Texas and acted the ranchman for two years, and four ge ago I landed in Nevada. I’ve seen rough times and easy times, but all I de- sire now is to settle down and take life easy, I begin to feel old.” Barranca Bill seldom grew so confiding as this, but he was drawn toward Vivian Brown by the invisible bond of congeniality, and it overstepped his usual reserve. ° Vivian, however, paid no attention to that. An hour before, when in Giaveyard Gulch, the man she believed to be Barranca Bill had made an earnest assertion which was now over- thrown. ‘“Why, I thought you said once, to-night, that you were never in California; and now you claim to have lived there for seven years,” “You must have misunderstood me the first time,” said Bill, carelessly, “‘for I am an old Californian.” Vivian was amazed. Not yet suspecting that she had met a counterfeit Barranca Bill at the Gulch, she contrasted his assertion that he had never been in California, to clear himself of all connection with Abe Neal and Agatha, the Cricket, with the present avowal. She let the matter pass and resolved to test him on another point. ‘* What sort of a place is Michigan?’ she asked. ““T don’t know,” answered Bill, simply; ‘I was never there.” Another thunderbolt; the man at Grayeyard Gulch had claimed to have labored for some time in the Michigan copper-mines. ‘Permit me to ask where you were six years ago?’ she continued sharply. ‘‘T was in Texas,” answered the superinten- dent politely, though clearly amazed at being so strangely addressed. * William Lincoln, you are laughing at me!” she cried passionately, ‘‘ Believe me, sir, I am not in a mood to relish jokes. Your contradic- tions are absurd enough, but they lack a good deal of being witty.” Barranca Bill looked at her in bewilder- ment, ‘‘T reckon we had better call for new hands; 1)? i RS — — T haven’t an ace, face or trump,” he observed. “| don’t understand a word you say. In what manner have I contradicted myself? Oh! I recollect, there was something mixed on the California business. Well, it was only a mis- take; you misunderstood me, for I never denied having been there. Why, miss, it was there they gave me neh sobriquet, and Barranca Bill I suppose I shall be to the end of my life, just because of the playful fancy of my California friends,” Vivian was in a mood for speaking with addi- | tional severity, but at that moment the pas- sage of a man who looked at them keenly reminded her that they had reached the first of the village cabins, ‘‘TDo you see where we are?” she asked. ‘Yes: most of these cabins are occupied by my own workmen,” ‘Yes; butif we go any further, we are liable to be seen together,” she reminded him, He looked at her sharply, and then drew the natural inference in the case; it looked as though she did not wish people to see her in his company. “Very well; if you think you will not be molested again we may as well part here,” he eoldly said, ‘*T think it best so, for though I really fear these roughs very much, it is best I should run some risk from them rather than be seen with you, Once more, thank you for rescuing me, and—good-night.” ‘‘ Good—night.” Barranca Bill spoke the words very slowly as he looked after Vivian, while she glided rap- idly away, and then began pulling viciously at his beard, ‘Well, Pl be hanged!” he commented, ‘1 never could get the statistics of womantkind firmly in my head, und this one knocks me fur ther out of time than all the rest. She is kind and friendly one moment, and sharp as a bhuzz- saw the next. And she wound up by sweetly remarking tbat she bad better risk the toughs than to be seen with me. Well, I appreciate the boost she gave the toughs, but it seems to. me I rather suffer by her philanthropy. So. she don’t want to be seen with me? Barranca Bill, you had better go and hang your harp ona willow tree!” He strode away—forgetful, if he was in ear- nest, that willow trees did not flourish around Comet Camp—but suddenly paused, ** Hold on! I catch an idea, Cephas has taken her into his confidence, and all her seemingly vague talk about California and the Michigan copper-mines was to pump me. I called on Cephas and asked him if he knew Helen Neville. He said no; but he lied, He has obtained pos- session of her somehow, and either killed or se- creted her; and now he has deputized Vivian to learn something about my past. She claimed that I denied having been in California, A}} rubbish; she knew I never made any such claim As for her talk about the Michigan copper- mines, I don’t exactly catch on; but it is clear she wanted to know if I had been there. Well, by Jupiter! this krocks me allin pieces, I had e1u ng to the idea that Vivian was very different. from her father, but I reckon women are pretty much alike!” At the same moment Vivian was groping in wa as profound as his own, metaphorically speaking. ‘*Did Barranca Bill intend to jest to the ex- tent of an insult, or is he crazy?’ she mentally inquired, as she hastened home. last ten minutes he has denied all he so earnest- ly asserted at Graveyard Gulch, and I am be- wildered. So he intimated that he had not been pleasantly employed while with me at the Gulch! Upon my word, he is very polite!” Miss Vivian’s eyes sparkled, and could she bave seen Mr, Barranca Bill at that moment, it is very likely she would have politely informed him that their partnership was no longer agree- able or desirable. It was not until she was alone in her room that. she saw a partial excuse for her supposed ally’s. last statements in the fact that it was a part of the Graveyard Gulch compact that if she ever met Bill in the village, neither of them should allude to their business alliance, ‘That must be why he talked so strangely,’” she said, brightening; ‘‘but I can’t say I ad- mired his words, for all that.” CHAPTER XXVI. THE MAN IN THD BLUE SPECTACLES. Horace LINCOLN did not retire that night as soon as he reached his room. what he believed to bea brilliant idea, and he was trying to see his way clear for its accom- tee without bimself falling over any of be stumbling- blocks in his way. From the time when he first thought what a flood of good luck would descend upon bim could he change identities with bis brother, his. mind had gone on until the idea became his phere 8 on. If that brother was dead, he, Horace, could take advantage of the remarkable resemblance between them, freely appear in public, and te “During the. amen He had conceived ° MIEOOOKS (E(0) eon a et —_= -_—- I a / | — ret ee all all 7 ee et ad