Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 245 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

23 ee ——eee Gwe Ct — —— ma ne 5 +k oe Barranca Bill, the Revolver Champion. a This was Agatha, | «She js as meek and innocent of outward look Horace pulled his mustache thoughtfully. Vivian had been for a moment like one in a | asa kitten,” she thought, “‘but I fee) sure it is | ‘Then, of course, you are Mr. Neville. dream, but her mind guickly cleared and her | but a mask. She is deep and dangerous. ‘*No; she claimed that I was named Donald natural bravery asserted itself. She looked at | ‘Agatha, the Cricket!’ The name was not ill | Lander.” the soft-spoken -young woman in that critical | applied. I feel more than ever certain that she lt was lucky for Horace that bis brother was way in which the best woman in the world re- | is no sister of mine, and it remains for me to | at that moment filling his pipe, for the startled gards those of her own sex against whom cir- | learn what she is. I place my sole hope in Bar- | look which crept over the schemer’s face could eumstances have prejudiced her. | ranca Bill.” | not have been explained by any ordinary ex- Vivian was surprised by the appearance of | Barranca Bill? No; not on him, but on a base | cuse, Even his color changed, and witha gray- Agatha. | knave who has usurped his identity, who is liv- | ish pallor on his face he stared at Bill as though Judging her by her record when she was | ing a life which Barranca Bill would seorn to | a ghost had arisen beside them, **The Cricket,” she had expected to see a bold, | live, and who cares nothing for Vivian | ‘ortunate, indeed, was this pause for Hor- dashing creature after the style of a female | Brown’s interests unless he can win her for his | ace, and by a powerful effort he managed to = << —_ bandit, but she was quite a different person, Small, rather graceful, richly clad and with- out any offense to good taste, she had a face which looked childish, weak, soft and none too intelligent, She might be compared to a kitten, but they have claws and it was not certain that she was thus provided, Her greeting to Vivian was an index of her nature, and when she spoke it was with remark- able gentleness. Was this Agatha, the Cricket?—was this the woman who bad taken a false oath by means of which Abe Neal was sent to the California State’s prison for five years? For a moment Vivian doubted, and fhen she remembered what had gone before—the story of the ex-convict, the odd agitation of her father, and the other minor circumstances by which she had arrived at her decision, ‘‘- Yes,” thought Vivian, ‘‘this is Agatha, the Cricket. There cannot be two such wonderful Agathas in Nevada.” The new-comer talked of her journey with entle vivacity. She had come all the way from ‘irginia City in the carriage; it was very kind of her papa to have sent it, but she felt sure he was always kind. Vivian’s face grew darker at each moment. Already she hated this soft-spoken girl-woman. In her throat there was a sensation as though she were liable to choke, but it was merely in- tense indignation. : The Honorable Mr. Brown smiled on Agatha and acted duly attentive, but when he looked at Vivian it was with a scowl which was really ugly. By his look he commanded her to speak or meet his severest wrath; she knew it, but not a word except monosyllabic replies to direct questions passed her lips. Agatha did not seem in the least disturbed, She chattered like a well disposed parrot and seemed inclined to make herself at home. Anon, when he bad called Katie to conduct her to her room to prepare for dinner, Mr. Brown turned to Vivian: ‘‘ Well,” he said, icily, “what am I to make of this extraordinary conduct?” ‘To what do you refer, sir?” “To your treatment of your sister.” ““Have I failed to treat her kindly?” ‘¢ You have sat like a statue during the whole interview. You did not return her greeting; ou simply endured it; and your expression was hat of one at a funeral, rather than one wel- coming a sister. Remember what she has suf- fered, For my own part I am filled with re- morse that I have so long been neglectful, and now it is for me, and for you to make her forget her hardships in the light of a new exist- ence.” Cephas had gone from one extreme to another during his remarks, being now severe and then thetic, but to Vivian he seemed far from be- ing sincere and she somehow remembered the terse verdict of a spectator after her father had finished a soaring speech in the Nevada Legislature: ‘ prncenie f i ae Yet she replied calmly: **Do not ‘expect too much, father, You must remember that my position is a peculiar one—” ‘ “You are thinking of the ’mighty dollar!” retorted Brown, 66 Cin 9)? “You do not forget that there are now two heirs to my wealth,’ Vivian’s eyes sparkled anew. ; “Tf such thoughts disturb your affectionate heart, sir, I beg that you will make Agatha the sole heiress. For me, you need have no thought.” With these words the girl swept from the room, afraid that in her indignation she would betray her suspicions in regard to Agatha. Cephas had made a mistake in thus forcing hos- tilities, and from that hour Vivian need have no scruples in regard to her war against the plot she believed she saw, Once in her room she threw herself in a chair, and looking out of the window tried to analyze the situation, It was not her nature to give way to tears, and all her heroism was in arms against the new order of affairs. ‘“‘ How I hate this woman!” she uttered, with @ look which spoke plainer than words, “‘ It frightens me to think of it. I have believed in duty and honor, but all these things seem like shades of the past. Is this I?—am I hating this woman so much, or do I dream ” ’ It was not strange that she asked the question, for in the last fortnight great changes had oc- qurred, . Ne ee eee ee... eee jor) wife, The air seemed to grow hot and heavy, and Vivian arose and went to the window. smoking, bis face turned toward the house, She recognized Luke Gridley, and was impressed by the fact that, frequently since his call on the night when the lynchers came to town, she had seen him lounging around and seemingly acting the spy. Who and what was he? She knew no more than that his interview with Brown had ended in trouble between them: but she was now so impressed by the fact that he was acting a part of more than ordinary interest that she was for a moment tempted to go ouf to him. The idea gave her another. ** Abe Neal!” she muttered, ‘‘This is the man who came to my father with the story of Aga- tha, the Cricket. Ah! Iseea chance to win a move in the game. [If [ tell him of Agatha’s present, he will tell me of Agatha’s past, and in this way I can prove that she is a mere adven- turess. I will see him; I must. But how? Barranca Bill cannot aid me, for Neal, still laboring under his mistake, would shoot him at sight. , must see the man myself—but how? Where shall I find him? I feel sure he is still in Comet Camp, and I must put timidity aside and seek for him. Wherever he is, there will I go!” It was a brave resolve, but she did not know he was at that moment lying, desperately wounded, at the Weeping Willows, CHAPTER XXXI. BARRANCA BILL HEARS STRANGE NEWS. Tae position of the Lincoln brothers was a singular one. Outwardly, they were always polite, attentive and even kind, but they never went so far as affection. With Horace, this feeling was unknown; selfishness had long since absorbed the little good vouchsafed him by na- ture. Barranca Bill never forgot that he was his brother, and at times he tried to stir up a little warmth, but something seemed to stand like an impassable barrier in the way. He did not, however, allow himself to doubt him, He turned his back on the evidence which con- victed him of basely murdering Square Rob, at Ramrod Bar, and by figuratively closing bis eyes, Managed to believe his side of the story. And Horace?—what was he doing in return for this noble proof of the bond of blood? As we have seen, he was assuming his bro- ther’s identity with Vivian, hoping to marry her for her money; and he had not only in- duced Abe Neal to murder him but, when that man failed, be had himself taken a shot at the brother who had saved him from the wrath of the lynchers, Despite all this, the miserable wretch met Barranca Bill in just the same way that he had done the morning after he was snatched from the hands of death, planning, meanwhile, to strike again, Something had led Bill to withhold confidence in all matters of importance, but as it became evident that his search for Helen Neville was a hopeless task he felt impelled to tell Horace of his singular affair, He could no longer doubt but that the girl had met her fate at the hands of either Hecate or Brown, and with the refusal of Sheriff Sharpe to make an arrest on the present grounds of oe he felt like seeking advice, as people will when themselves at fault. Accordingly, after the brothers had adjourn- ed to the sitting-room, after breakfast, the fol- lowing morning, he began the story. that Helen had claimed him as her husband was so overshadowed by her disappearance that he forgot to mention that part—merely saying that she appeared during the antics of the ] qpenere—and Horace listened carelessly to the end. He was secretly sneering at what he deemed his brother’s folly in working so hard for noth- ing, but he concealed this opinion and ob- served at the end that he had certainly done his uty. Pye done my best,” said Barranca Bill, ‘**but, together with her disappearance, is an- other circumstance I would like explained. When the girl saw me, the night of the riot, she at once claimed me as her husband, making avery affectmg appeal. I was sorry for her, but as I never saw her before, of course I could not step into the husband’s shoes.” ** What did you say was her name?’ asked Horace, who had grown suddenly interested. “Helen Neville.” os = Two hundred feet away a man sat on a rock | The fact’ control himself, though his smile was a sickly one as he said: ‘*T suppose she was old and homely.” Barranca Bill had ignited a match and he | paused to get his pipe in action before he an- swered; an irritating delay to Horace, “No; she was young and pretty, a neat little woman, scarcely more than a girl, with lady- like ways and a sad face. It seems this brute of a Lander deserted her, but her love did not die and she started to hunt him up. It was in that search that she met her fate.” Horace puffed furiously at his pipe. “This is a good kind of tobacco you buy,” he said, with assumed carelessness. Yes,” admitted Bill; “better than many cigars.” orace then proceeded to describe ‘* the best brand of tobacco he had ever seen,” and Helen Neville was not again mentioned; but an ocea- sional far-away look on Horace’s face indicated that he might possibly be allowing his thoughts to run upon her. Soon after he retired to his own room and it was not ten minutes later when Hans Vedder announced a‘caller. Barranca Bill directed that he be admitted, and soon after a short, stoutly-built young man phew an evil, furtive face, slouched through the oor, The superintendent’s first impression was not favorable. Seen in a city, the visitor would have been pronounced a sneak-thief, and Bill did not feel bis heart go out to bim, ** How are you?” said the young man, some- what airily. ‘*‘ Hope 1 haven't disturbed you.” ‘‘T am at liberty fora few minutes,” said Bill, coldly. ‘Sit down and I will hear your busi- ness.” The nine man smiled broadly, ** All right, old man,” he said, tossing his hat on the table, ‘I’m ready for the start, and IP’) begin by saying that my name is Luke Grid- ey. ‘Barranca Bill bowed coldly, The name sounded a trifle familiar, and he believed he had seen Luke before, but he did not succeed in placing his face. ‘*You may not be aware of the fact,” con- tinued Luke, ‘‘ but I am the son—the eldest child—of Cephas Brown.” ** Indeed!” said Bill Story “Didn't know that before, did you?” ** No,” said the superintendent, curtly, ‘*T see it don’t please you.” ‘* Don’t please me?” ** Exactly.” ** Why, confound your impudence, what have I got to do with it?” ‘Of course poe tumble to the fact chat an se ee child divides old Brown’s money- ags. * What of that?” e Why, Miss Vivian don’t rake the whole t. ‘* See Lere, my man, what are you driving ati What have I to do with old Brown’s money? Come right down to bed-rock, if your visit has such a thing, and let me know what you mean.” “‘T mean that es I shall scoop in my half of old Brown’s money, it will reduce the pile you get when you marry Miss Vivian.” Barranca Bill flushed slightly, and then forced a laugh. “You have the cheek of a Government mule,” he said, ‘but Il am inclined to bear with you. Your claim on Brown isa matter between him and yourself wes while the inti- mation that I am to marry Miss Brown is a clear-cut fiction. If any one told you such a thing was to happen, they simply lied.” Gridley winked knowingly. : ‘* Nobody has told me so, for the very simple reason that I believe ony Vivian, you and my- self know of the fact. The secret of Graveyard Gulch has been well kept.” Barranca Bill was wholly inthe dark; buthe = decided to learn what ax this sinister young man wished to grind before he kicked him out of the door. ‘Permit me to inquire what you know of the secret of Graveyard Gulch?” he distinctly said. “1 know that you are secretly wegen Vivian Brown there nearly every night,” sai Gridley, bluntly. “* Possible? How did you find it out?” “ye seen you there myself. I've been | around and bad my ears open, and I know that though the trouble between you and old Brown obliges you to meet her secretly, you intend to ‘marry her in spite of him. Toshow you that I am not dealing in fancies, let me say that night before last you met the fair Vivian at Grave- So micbooks: