Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 245 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

8 - Barranca Bill, the Revolver Champion. ‘ ——--- “Stand here a moment,” she said, in a tone less dovelike, ‘‘ and I’llstrike a light. The C:r- ral is still and dark, but it is safer than t.e street.” Helen obeyed the direction, ard the match was soon scratched, which was to show the ex- tent of the deception practiced upon ber, CHAPTER IX. LUKE GRIDLEY DEFINES HIS POSITION. THE match assumed its full strength with annoying slowness, but all too soon for Helen’s ace of mind its flame was communicated to a amp. A respectably bright light flared up and the girl glanced about the room. Her first. glance brought no consolation. The Cosey Corral was but a rude hotel, but every- thing was.as neat as labor could make it, while on the floor and walks of the wretched room to which she had been lured was a quantity of dirt which quickened her wits. She turned abruptly on Hecate. ** This isnot the Cosey Corral!” she declared, anger and fear struggling for the mastery. ‘No, dearie, it isn’t,” the woman frankly admitted, ‘*‘ but if is a heap safer place. The Corral is in the bands of the mob, and I have heard such stories of their cruelties that I dared not tell outside for fear you would sink to the earth inaswoon. Bear up, my poor child; be brave, for you are safe,” The words were plausible enough, and under some circumstances Helen might bave been de- ceived, but the nature of the Wilch was written on her evil face, and this, taken with the fact that her dupe’s wits were fast developing, made her falsehood like a vail of gauze, ‘‘T do not believe.you!” cried Helen. ‘* You are deceiving me; you have decoyed me here for some dark purpose. Oh! woman, what do you call yourself that you should*thus betray a sister in ber hour of adversity?” lt. was an appeal of unconscious power, but no ower could touch the heart of the mistress of he Weeping Willows. “Now, dearie,” she began, whiningly; but Helen again drew her revolver and presented it with an unwavering hand. “Quick!” she cried; ‘lead the way from this den or I will shoot!” Hecate realized her danger, but her pulse did not quicken one iota, Skilled in cunning, she felt able to outwit this young woman from the ast. ‘So be it, then,” she said, with a sigh, ‘‘ but do not blame me if you fall into the hands of the mob. Come!” , Helen promptly followed her to the door, but no sooner had Hecate passed the threshold than she wheeled and slammed the door together, while at the same moment her nimble fingers turned the key. She bad scarcely done so when there was a beating on the inner side, but the old Witch had seen the room tested before, and with merely a grim smile she left the place and moved toward another part of her den. Entering a larger room she saw a young man seated at a table, a black flask beside him, his heels well elevated and a morose scowl on his face, but we need not pause to describe him when we soy that he was Luke Gridley. ae where have you been?” he crustily ‘“ Away on business,” Hecate calmly an- swered, as she set down her light. “Have you waited long?” “Well, no; can’t say I have,” *°'You Con’t look happy, and your clothes are dust-covered. Did Cephas Brown throw you into the street?” “No; but since you are so clever at reading s, ’ll admit that some one else did.” *Who?” * A man of Ramrod Bar,” replied Luke, with adeeper scowl. ‘‘ Let that part pass, for one of these fine days I'll have his life for it. I drew my six-shooter then, mad for blood, but I re- membered our great work and decided to run no risk of getting into trouble.” “You did wisely. Well, what of Cephas wn?” ** He defied me.” “He did?” 66 Yes.” Hecate bad been surprised, but the emotion soon ; “You did not play your cards well.” “T played ’em for all they were worth,” growled Gridley, as he took another drink from “And Brown defied you?’ “Yes, He swears he is not Roderic Raymond apd denies that he was ever in Tennessee.” “ That was folly.” ‘* Maybe you can convince him that ’twas.” ‘Bah! he knew it well, or doubted our ability to prove it, More likely, he seeks to gain e ‘* Well, he flew high and fast and aired his glish without regard for my feelings. Some- how, be don’t cotton to me for a son, and the sub Miss Vivian is just as bad! Zounds! if she wasn’t my half-sister ’'d marry her or die! Her beanty set mo wild, and her scorn madden- me, < She scorned you?” es,” ‘‘ st her beware!” cried Hecate, striking the table with ber withered hands, ‘‘ Those of my Ll od don’t bear scorn with impunity, and she had best be respectful to ber father’s son, But, tell me all about the affair.” Gridley obeyed, and as he talked, his ill- favored face was a map of his heart; but through all Hecate’s face remained impassive, They made a forbidding pair—tbe evil, low- browed young man and the hardened old wo- man. **So my lord flies high!” muttered the witch, attheend. ‘ Well, so be it, but we will bend his proud neck. He can’t hold his own when all the cards are in our hands, He will be a fool to try it. But this Daddy Gray—what notion is running in his old head? He should be seen and pumped.” “TI intended that, but our row ends the matter, of course, It’s.a knife and revolver matter between us, and I’ll have his life before aweek, Iswear—” “No, you don’t. Hold your temper, at least for a while. Lintend to see this Daddy Gray and question him. Beyond a doubt he knew Brown in the days when he had a brain; he says he believes he received some injury from the man; and if he has an iota of reason left, Vl draw it out of him, Trust me,” ‘**Have your own way,” snarled Luke, ‘As for Vivian, you are an idiot to rave about her, since she is your sister. Speaking of women, [ have a bird up-stairs who puts.all the Comet Camp females in the shade,” ‘Who?’ Hecate described the events of the evening which ended in the capture of Helen Neville. ** Let me see your bird,” said Gridley. **No,” said the witch, grimly; ** I'll guard her like the apple of my eye. She is my prisoner, and I intend to keep her, but not a man shall lay hand upon her, whatever his motive.” ‘Then why have you caught her?’ The woman indulged in a smile which made her face look more hideous than ever. ‘*To keep up the reputation of the Weeping Willows, One young female like her will do more than every card lay-out in the West to please my patrons, How? Well, I haven’t set- tled the precise fashion. Perhaps she will sit at a card table and represent the bank, maybe she will mix drinks behind the bar, or, perhaps, she will merely sing to amuse our gallants.” “Tf she is as beautiful as you say, they will take ber away by force,” ‘‘Let them try it!” snapped the Witch. ‘It will be a sad day for the man who tries it- V’ll shoot him like a dog. Once more I say not a man shall lay even the tip of his finger upon her. If they are kept at a distance their admi- ration will last, and my pretty bird will make me rich. Oh! Ill defend her with my last drop of blood, so long as she is useful, and you know the worst rough in Nevada can’t stand before me. Hecate stretched out her arms. They were without flesh and discolored, but muscle of which many a man might well be proud lurked along their length, “T admit that your plan is good,” said Luke, upon whom this dumb show fell without force, ‘but how will you control this bonanza prin- cess?” “How?” Ten Hecate chuckled in her unmusical fashion. ‘*You have been a week in Comet Camp, and during that time you have seen me bend strong men to my will—rough, fearless fellows of the knife and revolver, claimants to the title of ‘chief’ and all that sort of thing. Will I, then, fail on a puny girl? Gridley shrugged his shoulders. “T reckon you will manage her somehow, but there is still another flaw. If she is as refine as you claim, it is not likely she will tamely settle down to the companionship of the lambs of your ranch. Once let her get word to the dandy element of the town and they will clear you out.” “Tet ’em try it!’ snapped the Witch, “It will be a bad day for them when they molest the Weeping Willows. Boy you don’t know me yet. But, let it drop; Vl look out for my bird, and do you press your work with Cephas Brown.” | ‘‘ Never fear; I'll bring the old fellow to time or raise a riot, I’m going in to share bis shekels. Here am I, his oldest child, kicking around like a beggar, while he and the dainty Vivian roll in wealth. Zounds! do you think Vll_ bear ape No} my lordly father must divide his S. **He has an iron will.” “So have I, and I’ve Jearned bow to use it by knocking around the wide West,” — “Don’t be too confident. Cephas may employ an assassin.” ‘¢1’ve seen such trash before.” Gridley’s ill-humor had vanished under the magnetic influence of the black flask, and with bis feet on the table he smiled blandly on He- cate, r She, with her tangled hair, repulsive face ood —— ee Rs LE eS 7 and shapeless form, looked like a veritable witch, and in the pair Vice ruled supreme. Where was hope for Helen Neville? CHAPTER X, THE LYNCHERS DEPART. THe blow which prostrated Barranca Bill had been severe only to the degree of stunning him; no injury had been given the skull, and in a short time consciousness returned, Hans Vedder had worked over him with un- usual zeal, and his recovery gave the fat man great pleasure. ‘Where is the mob?” demanded the super- intendent, coming down to business at once. “T knows nottings apout dem, for we are all alone mit ourselves an’ dose udder mans.” Hans pointed to where, a few feet away, Bad Lung was nursing Gentle John, and as Bill strode to the spot, anxious to lose no time, the man of the bow neaey sat upright. ‘*Whar am I, Bad Lung?” the latter asked. ‘* Hey you see’d @ creetur’ 0’ my size anywhar round hyar?” ‘* Me thinkee you here allee time,” the Celes- tial replied. ‘*’Melican man hitee you over de ‘_headee, but Bad Lung setee ’em up ag’in.” ** All down but nine,” added Jobn, feeling of his head, ‘‘I wrastled with an ’arthquake, an’ got laid out, Hyar, give us yer hand; set ’em up ag’in.” -He arose to his feot just as Barranca Bill ar- rived, s ‘I think I’ve seen you before,” said the lat- er. ‘You kin now see me sence,” “What is your name?’ ‘Gentle Johbn—only one J.” “You were with the young woman?” “Yas; I had a charge ter keep, but it got away from me. They are all down but nine.” ‘Who is she?” **Cordin’ ter ther statistics, a young female from the East. She arroved ter-day on ther stage, tuk supper, an’ sallied forth ter see Mr, Cepbas Brown, from whom she wanted infor- mation o’ a runaway husband o’her’n. He cast off ther grapplin’-irons in a way you may be able to understand.” ‘*Softly, my gentle friend. I allowed the girl to give mea bad name, but [ll be shot if any man can tread on my toes in such a fashion, I am not this Donald Lander of whom she speaks, and I never saw her until to-night, Vl swear to it.” V Gentle John looked keenly at bis companion, **] b’lieve you, pard, an’ we'll set ’em up ag’in an’ play a straighter game.” ‘“T’ve been accused of a crime,” resumed Bar- ranca Bill, ‘and now I’m going to see the girl through, and vindicate myself, If you are with me, say so, and we’ll back the girl right along, and find this Donald Lander. I rather cotton to the girl, and the man who deserted her must have been to blame. Are we in the game together?” ‘‘Ter ther death,” said John, putting out:his and, ‘Me takee hand in gamee, allee samee,” said Bad Lung, placing his chubby fingers on theirs. “Oh! you go along; you ain’t good for noth- in’, nohow,” observed Gentle John. ‘« Me setee ’em up fur "Melican man.” ‘¢ Hark!” said Bill, suddenly, *‘ there is figbt- ing over yonder, Miss Neville may be in dan- ger, Followme!” | He darted away, with John and Bad Lung at his heels, but Hans Vedder, after a wise of his head, waddled back into the house, The strife heard by Barranca Bill was the ‘‘ meet” of the lynchers and the Weeping Wil- low rougbs, but the former were soon re-enforced by the division under Jack Joyce, and, beate’ at every point, the roughs fell back and, as soon as was possible, made their way to old Hecate’s den. Consequently, when Bill and his friends arrived, they found a peaceful consultation in progress, and when Sam Soaper had given the opinion that Paul Pindar was not in the village, but had for the time escaped them, it was voied to return to Ramrod Bar without delay, Barranca Bill took the lyncher chief aside; “Who is this Paul Pindar, and what his crime?” he asked. ‘‘ He's a cut-throat an’ sneak, He come inter ther Bar, a few weeks ago, with a b’iled, shirt an’ other fixin’s ter match, an’ sot re fur asport. He slung ther keerds like an angel, but it warn’t long afore the boyees dropped ter ther racket that he didn’t play a squar’ game, We orter warned him out o’ town, but we waited fur proof, an’ when it come we gotadeluge. Yester- day, Pindar played with ther Storm brothers— Square Rob an’ Honest George, we called ’em, ’cause they was white from their boot-heels up. Wal they ketched Pindar cheatin’ an’ tole him 80, an’ that raised a row. What did ther b’iled- shirt varmint do? Ther Stormses was with ther hands above ther board, but Pindar slung his six an’ bored ’em both in cold blood, an’ +4 with no weepings drawed. Square Rob got t right through ther heart an’ went ap ther flume an’ Honest fleorge tuk in a pill which nigh about turned up his toes. They was ther squarest om cam 5 ebooks com (E(0)