Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 257 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

} / : | —- ae ee eS —— - + ‘A o—= ee ‘To cut it short, I tumbled over head and ears i. love with the dainty darling, but before I could fairly recover from the shock that dis- covery gave me, I found out her father was making preparations for an overland trip to California, taking the girl and her younger brother with him. ‘*T at once resolved to make one of the party, and did so. Others joined us, and by the time we started, there were four wagonsin the train, and a round baker’s-dozen of people, including myself; none too many, though, if the red-skins should conclude to give us a brush by the way. ee ‘The old man, parent of my divinity, was among the first to take in California when the gold-fever broke out, afid he came along this route, passing close by and noticing the very bonanza your Hard Man from ’Way Back led ou here to work, though at the time he was $60 green to make the discovery of gold. He never forgot it, however, and so selected this trail on the present trip, to prove whether or no his surmises were correct, but for fear of fail- ure, keeping his real reasons to himself. ‘* Little over a month ago we washed out our first dust, and the old man showed us the bo- hanza in good earnest. Two weeks of tough work laid it fairly open to us, and since then we have been raking in the dust and nuggets at a most wonderful rate.” Something very like an oath broke from the lips of the eagerly-listening man, as Benedict paused to catch breath. “Then Painter told the truth?) And we only missed it by a month! The deviil’s own luck!” ‘‘ How so? If you get your share of the gold, and find it ready dug to your hand, why need you growl?” laughed Benedict. ‘*' Then you mean—” “To finish my yarn, if you will permit,” in- terposed Clay Benedict, taking a malicious leasure in keeping bis old pard on the tenter- ae ‘*T believe you asked me about Pain- r : Jeff Archer gave a sullen grunt, but vouch- safed no further reply, and the treacherous miner nodded approvingly. ‘* Good lad! arn every lesson as perfectly and you'll rise in the world—if only by the aid of a stout rope with a snug slip-noose in the end of it. But about Budd Painter: “He came blundering into our camp yester- day, and though he showed his teeth like a true bulldog when crowded, I me him with one of my snap-shots, before he had time to do us any serious injury.” You didn’t kill him?” asked Archer, quickly. “No; just creased him enough to let tie boys pe on the bilboes without having to fight too ard. The fellow had said — enough to make us suspect that he was not alone in the neigh- borhood, and I fancied I could draw the truth out of him by close questioning: but to do the fellow justice, he kept a mouth close as a clam. The boss sent out men to scout the vicinity, and he must have stumbled over your trail, dhough the soil was so dry and hard that he couldn’t make out its meanmg very perfect- ly. As a result, we concluded to keep your pard close prisoner until we could clean out the ket, unless his fellows stumbled over us in ne same fashion, when we were to fight for our rights, though an army showed up. ** At that time I was one of the hottest of the hot, but that same evening something occurred that cooled me off and worked a remarkable conversion in my case. Never mind just what that something was, You may learn in time, or I may conclude to keep it a secret. In either case it concerns you just this far: gives you a chance to make a rich stake, if you care to join hands with me in striking a bold blow.” * Against your friends?” “They are wy eremies, not friends,” savage- his face flushing with evil passions, “TI hate them worse than poison—bah!” with a short, hard laugh. ‘‘ The old name brings with it the old nature, and the world shall see that Tiger Jim is not dead yet,” OF “Tm with you, when, where and in what- ever you matte out as worth the powder and lead,” was the prompt assurance. “If you say so, we’Jl form a rew band to take the road again, and I reckon we can discount the old record—” | ‘‘ Not any in mine, if you please,” interposed Benedict, with a positive shake of the head, “That line of business is getting overdone already, and there is more money to be made in other ways. This one little job, = I mean to sink Tiger Jim and the past so deep that it won’t even be resurrected when Father Gabriel blows his horn on the last day.” “ How much money is there in the job? You said a bonanza, but that word covers a mighty wide range.” . “Enough to satisfy even your avarice, my ood fellow,” coolly replied Benedict, knocking @ ashes out of his pipe and restoring it to bis . “Just how much that is I will leave oaee yen to figure out for ‘a bit while I take a closer k at these fellows of ‘yours. Of course I don’t doubt your assurance that they are rank rascals, ready to cut a purse or slit a weasand ee _—— > * i“ De th-Trap Diggings. with grace and dexterity, but I'll feel more mn emer if I have tested the timber my- self. ‘*No need to get up; let them do the walk- ing,” said Archer as Bonedict arose to his feet, ‘* Til bring them over here, and trot them oub for you in a jiffy,” he added, crooking a finger in his-mouth and blowing a sharp, clear blast, With admirable promptness, the five men caught up their rifles and hastened to the spot where their chief lay, pote a + regarding the visitor, and hisintentions probably having quite as much to do with their celerity as discipline, though Archer complacently appropriated the credit to himself. ** My good fellows,” he said with an affected yawn, “ you have all heard of a gentleman called Tiger Jim, the smartest confidence-man, the adroitest bank thief, the most audacious tax- collector and holder-up that. the road _ has seen since the palmy days of Joaquin Muri- eta and his merry men. 1, in common with the rest of the slippery fraternity, long mourned him as defunct—cut off just in the prime of his glorious career—but it seems we wasted the briny, for the hero still lives to startle the world, to confound the honest and fill the pockets of the wicked—the last of whom we are a part of which! Gentlemen, my particular friend, Tiger Jim: know him,” of wy ran to make your acquaintance, gen- tlemen, I assure you,” politely uttered Benedict with a low and comprehensive bow; ‘‘ and par- ticularly so at the present time and place, for, unless the gentle Jefferson yonder, has been in- dulging his propensity for drawing the atk bow a trifle more than usual, we can be of g service to each other.” “No need to beat around the bush with them, Tiger,” called out Archer. ‘‘They’re true bloodhounds, and not easy scared by the pros- ect of red work, when they can scent good pay in the same quarter. Don’t be mealy-mouthed, but out with it!’ Benedict gave no signs of having heard a syl- lable of this speech, but continued in the same smooth tones: ‘** Archer told me with what hopes you came to this spot, and how mysteriously your guide vanished, leaving you in the lurch. Suppose I am able to solve that mystery? Suppose | were to say that the fellow you know as Budd Paint- er stole away while you were soundly sleeping, with the express purpose of selling you out to the enemy ?’ The five men interchanged uneasy, doubting sig then looked toward their chief, who azily nodded as he said: “Tll back up anything the gentleman tells you, lads, You can believe him as implicitly as though the words fell from my own lips.” Benedict accepted this wholesale indorse- ment as a matter of course, without a change of countenance, and quietly added: ‘*Painter played his part with a skill and coolness that would have done credit to a more honest man. Hestruck an old trail that aroused his suspicions, and brought you here to lay by until he could confirm or dissipate his doubts. He left his mule and rifle with you for a double reason, If he failed to make the stroke be con- templated, that would bear him out in the ex- cuses he would give to account for his leaving. If he succeeded, you would be kept here waiting for his return, and so fall an easy sacrifice to his cunning. ** Now I'll show you just what he was playing for. He told you the truth when he spoke of a bonanza lying in this region, and no doubt he meant fair play when you started. But he found out that another party had got in ahead of you, and were lapping up the cream so fast that by the time you could drive them out, if at all, there would be little left for you; so he made up bis mind to save himself at your ex- ense. ‘‘ He struck the other camp yesterday, and offered to furnish six stout, healthy slaves to work the mine, if he was insured a fair share in the proceeds. He swore he could do the trick easily enough, and turn the half dozen over without a shot being fired or a blow dealt.” The last words were drowned by the savage chorus of oaths and threats which burst frém the five men, and if the Hard Man from ’Way Back had been within reach of their vengeance — moment his sbrift would have been very rt. Benedict waited patiently until the “ wire- rea was taken off their rage, then spoke rap- y. “Luckily for you, gentlemen, the boss of the even which Patiriet wageel to elt pouts aves suspected a trap in the proposition, an knocked him ‘over with a blue pill—” Say you killed the p’izen cuss an’ T, fer one, ll work @ year for you free 0’ all pay!” cried one of fhe men, **T didn’t kill him; because the thought whe ee the men" he ‘sou ht to betra wo refer dea out his punishmen themselves.” — ets | ‘Not exactly, though I felt pretty certain I -* @ could find you if I wanted to do so, I thought the whole matter over iast night, and here you have the result: ‘““T can give you a fair chance to get even with the man who tried to sell you for slaves, besides making a neat little stake for your- selves. Of course I expect to make more my- self, but if you don’t care to accept my proposi- tion, say so outright, and I’ll look elsewhere for my men,” ‘‘ What size mought the stake be?’ ““If you strictly obey orders I'll guarantee you each man one thousand dollars apiece, and possibly doubles that amount.” The men stared at him incredulously for a brief space, but then, as they saw that he was speaking in sober earnest, their hands were eagerly extended to close the bargain, “ Good enough!” Benedict exclaimed, his black eyes all aglow with a satanic joy. ‘‘ You obey orders, and be sure [ll keep my part of the con- tract to the very letter.” ‘¢ When shall we git to work, boss?” asked one of the rascals, adding with an apologetic laugh: ‘*T hain’t fingered a dollar fer so cussed long that it makes my hooks eetch wuss than ef Vd bin handlin’ p’izen ivy!” ‘You will receive your orders through Ar- cher. And now, if you please, get back to work. That jerked meat will come into good lay, for there mustn’t be any more powder senede until it is needed for two-legged game,” added Benedict. The men promptly obeyed, and the traitor turned to where Archer was reclining, and re- sumed bis seat again. ‘* May I ask a question?” ‘* A dozen, if you like, my gentle Jefferson.” ‘Were you giving it straight to the boys about Budd Painter, or were you simply exer- cising your imagination?” ‘* A jittle truth, to leaven a great deal of lie,” laughed Benedict, preparing afresh pipeful of tobacco, ‘‘ Of course you had a reason; is it fo remain a secret?” ‘‘Not from my old pard. You see, Jeff, I ex- pect to become a man of money very shortly, and as such it behooves me to take care of my »recious health. Your Hard Man from ’Way ack blames me for his little misfortune, and swears to get even if he is ever given the ghost of a chance. As Tiger Jim,. such ‘a pros- ct would not trouble my dreams in the east, but as the future millionaire, I- thought it wise to throw out an an- chor or two to windward, in case tke hot- blooded rascal should chance to escape from m little trap, either by his own wits, or throug any feeling of ee among your men for one with whom they bad chummed, You comprehend?” Archer nodded assent. “If he falls into their hands they’lb flay him alive! If ail of your schemes are as adroitly laid, ’d guarantee their complete success, for a trifling sum.” is ‘‘'W hich is a polite hint for meto tell youall,” laughed Benedict, in high good-humor, since seemed working so admirably for his treacher- ous schemes, ‘“Without understanding the situation per- fectly, how can I be expected to carry out your plans?’ growled Archer. sci) ‘*You should have been in full possession, 7 long ago, only for the fact of my own ignor- ance,” coolly retorted Benedict. ‘Until I met and sounded you and your men, I could form no plans; but they are rapidly taking shape in my brain now. ‘*In the first place we must make ‘a clean sweep, leaving not one to tell the tale as it really happened. I think it would make all safer if we could arrange matters so as:to cast suspicion on the red-skins, should the remains be discovered before the wolves clean them out of the way.” fats Archer hastily leaped to his feet, and passing 3 over to where their luggage was. stowed, soon returned with a couple of stout bows and a brace of quivers full of arrows. io . ‘“Maybe these tools will wes you out, We had a little brush with a gang of reds one nigh when they attempted to run off our stock, an rather got the best of them. I brought those along, more as trophies for future reference ou knowed who we was an’ whar to than from any idea they would ever come into — play in these parts. | **Good enough!” exclaimed Benedict. “ Chey- enne arrows! Weare beyond their range, but — na it may be laid to a foraging band, or trick of other reds, aiming to throw the odium from their own shoulders, It’s frequently done, ITknow. 9 ‘‘There are nine men, not countin ritty fellows, well armed to use their tools ifthe hey have two women and a@ lad wit instead of Painter; all stout, and read arises, = them, but that adds to their stren weakness, for they are ey are in a position not readily one easily defended. ?” with a mocking. laugh. Pett looks ugly,” was the Frank EGOME JOO +o Sj | Budd necessit general favorites, and the boys would fight for either of them even Fae ‘and fietcer than for their own lives. How do you like the pros- response, “ but — = * . ¢ i et a i