Beadle's Dime Library No. 258 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

* al pee a ae “Ta iP 2 . J A rey) a 7 “ - A we «4 / > ‘ ‘* % 4 a »' * s i ve 18 tacks from Bartlett. He decided that it would P - ~ _ dallied long enough. be well for only one of them to sleep at a time, and to eat only of such food as they first saw their host partake of. He would have left the house only that he felt sure such a move would frighten Bartlett atl and, perhaps, frighten him away from the r. As the reader is already aware, Blenker had learned what Bartlett knew and suspected the rest, with the exception of the fact that Eben Garland had telegraphed that he was on his way to Red Bullet Bar. Bartlett was thoroughly uneasy, but he had resolved to await the arrival of Garland before proceeding to extremities. He felt sure that poser could tell all he wished to know, and if is spy, Wicked William, did not succeed in learning anything be must await bis arrival. The lawyer had left matters in a bad state. His telegram had been vague, there seemed no hope of further news previous to his arrival, and as he was on the road Bartlett knew not where te address bim. Bartlett believed he was handling Wicked William to perfection and did not doubt bis faithfulness. Really, Wicked William took good care not to give Bartlett any actual news, and, reporting fully to Crisp, he enabled the latter to form just such a message for the Bravo as he thought proper. Thus, William wasdrawing wages from three employers and favoring the one who paid the most. The fellow had the faculty of looking out for number one, if nothing more. ene following morning the mine-owner re- ceived a letter by the mail. He opened it and read as follows: ““Hunxvup Ser:—These presents is two notify two u that thee fat is neer into thee fish. If you want o make yourselff saf on thee Cinclare case, meat mee at red Groav this Eve att 9. I cann help you anh hurtt others if Ag com. Kno me as wun who helpp you in thiss sad afere. A FRIND.” Bartlett read and sat shivering like a leaf. Wretched as were the spelling and penmanship of the letter, the fact that it was a most ominous communication could not be concealed. He was face to face with what he bad dreaded for a week past; the Sinclair affair, which he had believed settled a score of years before had - arisen Phenix-like, and he had good reason to fee) fear. Why, he knew better than any one else. Singular as it may seem, he decided that, even if Allen and his companion were what he suspected, they had no connection with the let- ter, and he resolved on his line of conduct in a short time. He arose, went to his desk and took out a splendid silver-mounted revolver. It had been _ a gift from friends to whom he had been useful aud bore the mark of manufacturers second to none in the United States; witb that he was sure he would not fail. He put fresh cartridges in the chambers and then laid it down, smiling in a secret way. “*T will meet him!” he said, half-aloud. And so he intended, but he was resolved that the man should never go away alive. He had is hand should send this unknown to destruction and then Allen and Bipoker should go to the depths of the iron vault, “« Who hesitates, is lost,” the schemer thought, as he went through the rest of his mail without seeing a word he looked at; “I will s'rike first and sweep them all out of existence. If they ‘are inquired for, money will cover their trail; it 4 _ will hide that of a troop of elephants!” | ear | . _ Certain eyes were watching Mr. Bartlett at | fell flat, but his joy was short-lived. The man | am stilladoubter. Bartlett, I want the truth per that night, and when a chance occurred , was not much sooner down than he was up, and Blenker whispered to Allen: e ex-detective had made no mistake, for shortly before nine o’clock Bartlett left the xo and took his way toward Red Grove. e need genroaly say the silver-mounted re- volver went with him. Darkness had fallen before he started, and when be reached the Grove all was impenetrable inside, the moon being still an hour’s march be- low the horizon. If the mine owner was nervous he gave no , but, when he saw he was ahead of the he deliberately lighted a cigar and to and fro, (| es meet the end of fifteen minutes he perceived a — =. 1 Pe : s > , | Fs AS dark object approaching the grove. It came nearer and proved to be a man; it entered the trees and came straight toward the watcher, __ who was notsurprised to see a coarsely-dressed _. , rough-looking fellow; it was to be expected Bin bos ym the style of the latter. oes “This hyar is Mr. Ed Bartlett, I take it,” _ @bserved the new-comer. bx. es. What may I| call yous’ the mine- owner curtly asked. Bey -“ Call me Smith, though that ain’t my handle. he pee ee poss, hows’ever; I’m ther potater-bug ir writ ther note ’bout matters an’ things.” , . . io +a e" ae 4 ~- i he we Ts : ‘*Exactly. Well, what you do want?” ‘‘T want ter be ter forgit what I know : t how Reginald Sinclair died!” was the ans ae like answer. ane fish. bites; he will keep the appoint- | nt Bullet Head, the Colorado Bravo. — -e-e- ee eee SS ———e CHAPTER XXII, BARTLETT TRIES HIS SILVER MOUNTED RE- VOLVER. THE mine-owner, prepared for some such as- sertion, met the announcement without a start or change of face. ** What do you know?” he calmly asked. ‘‘Il know how he died,” was the significant reply. ‘* How did he die?” “‘Murdered by Tom Quain, at your com- mand!” It was a bold shot, on which the speaker laced all his dependence; but if it didn’t go ome, signs were deceptive—Bartlett could not avoid a start. ‘* What rubbish is this?’ he hoarsely asked. ‘‘It is ther rubbish that gave you a million dollars; it bas enabled you ter roll fur twenty years in wealth which should never have been yourn.” ‘“My dear Munchausen—I mean Smith—you have a talent for fiction. You should not waste your time on the wild mountains of Colorado.” “Thar ain’t a judge in St. Louis that would call eta lie. Let me tell w’ot I know, and thar would be a Christmas goose ready for hangin’ right away—yourself!” artlett waved his hand impatiently. ‘You have made an assertion,” he said. ** Now, how are you going to prove it?” ‘* Bah!” was the reply; ‘* you don’t know that when Tom Quain went ter kill ther ole man I went with him; you don’t know that I kin place my finger on Tom at any bour, a’most, an’ prove all lsay, Oh! I know all about that affair |” ‘*And you charge me with having instigated this crime?’ ‘*1 do, mister.” ** Possibly you have a motive in calling me here to-night which you have not yet ex- plained?” ‘* Possibly I hev,” retorted Smith; “ an’ pos- sibly I'll prove et afore [ get through. [ll come | right ter ther pint. ‘This is an important se- we it takes money ter keep sech things still. ‘*T see; you refer to black-mail, What am I to give you?” be mine-owner spoke as coolly as though he was discussing a trivial affair. “ Would you prefer et in installments, or by ther lump? ‘* By the lump, by all means, I dislike to owe a man anything—a fvible of mine.” Mr. Smith glanced keenly toward his com- panion. It struck him that the signs of a sur- render were not numerous, and he thought he detected a threatening inflection in the calm voice. | ‘* Wal,” he said, slowly, ‘‘ ef you'll give mea thousand dollars, I'll hold my peace forever.” “‘ Are you sure?” se Yes. ‘Hands up! The man who refuses dies, ag sure as my name is Bullet Head!” The band of the Bravo held the ground; there was no doubt of that, aud from the mixed-up knot of Chinamen arose a variety of hands; they, at least, were going to obey and live to fight another day. artlett saw a half-dozen revolvers bearin on him and fell into line, while Mr. Smith wd the pugilistic gentleman found a place side by side and put up their hands with revolvers in them, the darkness hiding the last fact. We need scarcely add that they were Blen- ker and Allen, or state that they did not hail the arrival of Bullet Head with joy. They could still show bruises received in the ravine, ~ “This seems to be all right,” said Bullet Head, after a pause, ‘‘and I’m glad to see you have such sizable brains. I wouldn’t think it from the way you have been fooling around here of late. ho interrupted the court at first? You did, I believe,” he added, addressing Bartlett, “‘and I'll see that the thread is taken up right where you broke in. Men, get ropes and do your duty.” ‘*T protest against this outrage!” cried Bart- lett, in a voice far from calm. ‘*T expected you would, but it don’t makea jot or tittle of difference. I hold the reins in this race.” The Bravo crossed the open space and went to the side of Allen. **T didn’t meet you at the cave this evenin and dropped in to see about it. Of course I wil see you through this affair; you had a taste of my style last night.” He turned away and Allen grated his teeth in silence. He was tempted to shoot the Bravo down in his tracks, but such a deed meant sure death for him. His cool allusion to the ravine affair was enough to stir up the most serene temper. The outlaw surely held the field. The China- men could torture and murder secretly, or with the odds in their favor, but they were not aspirants for cold earth-beds. rtlett’s hands had been tied behind him and a rope, noosed around his neck, flung over a limb. The outlaws knew and hated him, and me stood by the rope bungering for orders to. pull. ‘Old man,” said the Bravo, “ you interrupt- ed John Smith here just as he was getting down to the pith of bis business. He says you hired Reginald Sinclair killed. Now, then, blaze away and tell the truth!” Allen and Blenker looked at each other in surprise. Did Bullet Head really desiro a con- TERRES, or was this all a comedy for their diver- sion! “What have angrily asked. “Very little, I confess. My part consists in hanging you until dead if you don’t tell tho whole truth. You hear me?’ es nS rrr rersseeesesssleeeseseeeeien in — you got to do about it?” Bartlett. ‘The price seems small, and [I like to pay enough to satisfv all claims, Five hundred or | to take any stock in what that rascal said,” ex- a thousand is a mere trifle. Given no more than | postulated Bartlett. ‘‘ His words were wild and that, you would be coming bere again. That | groundless, bis object being to black-mail me. won’t do. [Pll be generous, and give you enough o dependence can be put on—” to ease my conscience, and so that you won’t ‘What you say.” finished Bullet Head. come back again. Ill give you—this!” ‘Don’t malign Mr. Smith, he means well. As. If Mr. Bartlett had not chosen quite so | for you, I suspect there is truth in this rumor; dramatic a way of doing his work he might | I, too, have reason to believe you were con- | have succeeded better, but he had to deal with | cerned in the murder of Reginald Sinclair. If ' | ' ) | } | such be the fact, speak right out at once.” * It is false, utterly false—” “*T don’t believe you,” interrupted the Bravo, ‘*T swear it!” ‘Heavy evidence, coming frem you, but I a man just as shrewd as himself. At the last word he jerked the already-cocked revolver from his pocket, and the flash and re- port followed almost in the same breath. | Bartlett’s heart leaped for joy as his enemy | in this case. Tell it!” “*T bave: [ swear it!” *“* Hoist away !” The order was most welcome to the road- agents, and in a moment more Bartlett was dangling from the limb. He was not kept in torture a great while, for the rope was loosened at a word from the Bravo. ‘That was a test of truth,” the latter serenely Saar bea “Is your vision clearer now, Bart- ett? The Jatter bad coughed violently, but, recov- ering his usual state to a certain degree, he leveled a furious glance at the Chinamen who had done bis villainy for some years past. ‘‘Help, here, help! or Pll kill you all!” he fumed, “Your temper is wretched!” commented Bullet Head. ‘‘Give bim the second degree!” Again the mine-owner was pulled clear of the ground, and this time he was given a chance to see what hanging was like. It took some work-to put him in condition again, but even then the desired confession was lacking. He swore to his innocence by a most solemn oath, nor could all of Bravo’s threats shake him, In the midst of this scene, of which Allen and Blenker were interested observers, one of the road-agents toucbed the former on the before the amazed mine owner could raise the hammer again the silver-mounted revolver went flying into the bushes, and a less elaborate, but equally effective, weapon was pressed against his temple. : ‘Hold hard, my good man!” said Smith, | with admirable coolness. ‘‘The surest recipe for getting your head blown off is to carry your ugliness further,” fe If the scene had been less exciting Bartlett might have seen that the uncouth style of speech had vanished, but this fact grew dim and weak as, in answer to his whistle, three dark bodies dropped lightly from the trees. This wasn’t the worst of if; one man alighted fairly on Smith’s back, bearing him to the ground, and then four men stood over him, They were Bartlett and his devoted China- men. Once more the bushes parted and closed in a rapid way, and something decidedly hostile went into the happy family. Right and left fell the Celestials, and by the time Bartlett could comprehend what epidemic had stricken, he and the new-comer were the only persons standing. The last arrival had given the Chinamen a lesson in the manly art of a pei he vo Where the finis would have found them if they had been left alone is uncertain, for the maw of the thicket seemed stuffed to its ut- most. Out sprung another detachment, this time one of greater numbers, and a keen, sharp voice broke the silence: ee arm. ‘‘ Now is your time to get out of this,” he said. “ Nobody will harm you now, but if you wait. until the show is over Si may feel the rope. Go quickly but silently !” _ He seemed in earnest, and as they were con rr LL LL ICO EGOoOmie cS **T hope, sir, that you are not foolish enough | cor