Beadle's Dime Library No. 258 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

————— < all Bullet Head, the Colorado Bravo. 23 stumbling on the cabin and releasing her, and then there'll be a breeze.” ‘‘ What can she do?” Darke was watching his future father-in-law closely. A hasty, angry reply trembled on his lips, but to the lieutenant’s disgust he checked it and more calmly answered: ‘* She is liable to betray us both.” ‘*She can betray me, if she sees fit, and wel- come, for I have a way of looking out for my- self. I didn’t cut loose from my base of sup- plies when I eloped with the fair Lila, and I can fall back on that and laugh at what she may say. As for you, what harm can she do ou?” Bartlett looked sullenly at his companion, unheeding the question, a full minute before he spoke, Pe Crisp,” he then said, tersely, “‘ what scheme have you planned? Come to business!” “J will, my dear sir. You see, I had no sooner got clear of Red Bullet Bar, after steal- ing Lila, than it occurred to me that I wasa fool to give up my income here for the thou- sand dollars yougave me. Again, why should I run away from a rich father-in-law?” ‘*In plain words, you returned because you gaw more money in such a move?” “T have confessed it,” the lieutenant coolly acknowledged. xi ; And you hope to secure my wealth through ila? ** Possibly.” ‘Your hopes are vain.” **So you will disinherit her?” ét WI, ? ‘‘No? What then?’ ‘*She is not my daughter, nor my beiress!”’ isp sat ins hless amazement for a mo- ment, and then an angry flush passed over his face. ‘* That’s a lie!” he bluntly exclaimed, **T swear that it is the truth. Didn’t it occur to you as being ecm em] that a man should doom his own daughter to such a fate as I worked out for Lila when I sold her to you? She is not my daughter. True, she has n reared as such, but such things are common. As an adopted child she did well enough until she displeased me. When that day came I re- solved to get rid of her, and I’ve done it if you earry out the contract. Do you see now that you can never inherit a dollar of my money ex- cept what I see fit to give you?” arke did see; he was not fool enough to threaten the rich man of Red Bar, and he sat in silence, except for an indistinct muttering. ‘If it’s money you want, perhaps we can still agree,” continued Bartlett, feeling the on in his bands. ‘* Will you hear my offer?” * Yes. ‘You don’t seer very anxious to marry Lila or you would have been fifty miles away and a Benedict before this. Now, I have another offer,” ** What is it?” ‘“‘Tam my own master and I won’t submit to black-mail to the extent of adollar. If you want to go to Sheriff Wood and make a charge against me, go. I'll wager something I put you in an insane asylum as your reward.” ‘Hold on!” Crisp exclaimed; ‘‘ I don’t intend to try it. I throw up the sponge, so to speak.” “Very good then, I will give you another thousand dollars whenever you will convince me that the girl will never come back.” The millionaire leaned forward and whispered the last words, but as Darke caught their meaning he started back. ** What!” he exclaimed, in horror. ‘“ What do you take me for, you old rascal? Do you suppose I would murder a woman? Never—not for all your gold; never!” He spoke with real indignation, for, villain that he was, he had no taste for such a coward- ly crime as the one proposed, but Bartlett smiled coldly. ‘‘“You have come here on business,” he ob- served, ‘‘and business you shall have. You will accept my offer—or fake the consequences,” “111 do the latter then.” “ Softly! If you decline, you will never leave this house alive!” Darke looked really uneasy. He knew some- thing about the mysterious disappearance which so interested his chief, Bullet Head, and he did not know what kind of man-fraps might be yawning around him. “Of course you are at liberty to choose,” add- ed Bartlett, his gaze fixed significantly on Crisp’s face. “Tell me what you want,” said the latter, sullenly. “You say you have the girl ina hut on the mountain. Vory well; Pll give you a dru which will end her earthly career forever, an when it’s done you can summon me to the hut to see her. That will satisfy me you are sincere, and then you shall have your money.” ‘Demon!” Darke could not avoid exclaim- ing. fy waste of breath. Do you accept or de- cline?” Darke instinctively looked down at his feet, as though expecting to see a trap-door yawning for him; then, with a shiver, he replied: “ Yes.” “Very well; I'll get the drug.” Bartlett spoke serenely and left the room in search of Ki Lee. On the way he snapped his fingers and pcdinened teenaged observed: ‘Half the men of this world were born to be led by the nose!” His work with Ki Lee was soon finished and he returned to the other room. Darke was sit- ting where he left him, but his expression was not that of a happy man. He brushed his face with his hand, as though to remove the perspira- tion, and stared mutely at the package in Bart- lett’s hand. ‘‘Here is the article,” said the latter, as he extended it. ‘‘Do not let a grain pass your lips, for it is deadly poison !” Darke held out bis own hand, but at that mo- ment a third one glided over Bartlett’s shoulder, the pocsnee wae snatched away and a triumph- ant laugh rung in their ears. CHAPTER XXTX. BULLET HEAD SHOWS HIS TEETH. BARTLETT wheeled like a flash and Darke sprung to his feet, for such an interruption com- ing to a compact of murder was certainly enough to startle any one. What they saw was by no means encourag- ing. A rather short, stoutly-built man stood before them, holding the tay aloft and looking as triumphant as his laugh had sounded. Darke, though he had never seen his captain’s face, was not slow to recognize the form; be knew Bullet Head stood before him. Bartlett did not at once recover his self-pos- session. How much of his dangerous remarks had this man heard? Again, who was he? There was something familiar about his face, but Bart- lett could not place it. ** Hallo!” the intruder finally exclaimed, “ how are you, my good friends? I just dropped in for a little chat. Ed Bartlett, you can’t keep out of mischief to save your soul, can you?” ‘*Give me that paper!” cried Bartlett hotly. **Couldn’t think of it, my dear fellow. J want this; it may be the means of hanging you some day.” “Beware! I will call my servants!” “Call them if you see fit, but first let me say I am heeled to the chin.” He threw open his coat revealing two heavy wares and a knife, and then pointed to arke, ‘* Furthermore, that man fights on my side. There isn’t a ghost of a chance for you. [ll keep this ang you get some more if you want to poison Miss Lila.” be schemer stood aghast. Here were two witnesses of his infamous offer; he began to see the gallows looming up and made a dash for the door; but with a quickness and strength which was pee Bullet Head caught and flung him bac “Stay there!’ he ordered. ‘I didn’t come here to play. Iam your master, Bartlett, and Ill proveit. Carefully, now, or [ll tell all about the Sinclair affair!” Again that ominous subject was thrown into his face! He looked at his assailant with gath- ering alarm. ‘* Who—who are el he ga “Ha! hal you had better ask. Well, if it’ll do you any good, my name is Tom Quain!” Bartlett’s hands dropped to bisside. After twenty years of peace and enjoyment of bis fortune, inherited from Reginald Sinclair, every one that knew of bis old life seemed jumping in- to the arena to shout that crime of old in his ears. And Tom Quain! He had good reason to fear him more than any one else on earth. He was there, and as an enemy, and his voice would make serious trouble. In St.Louis bis wealth would not bend all ' mankind asin the narrow limits of Red Bullet r. His distress was so comical that Bullet Head laughed again, while Darke, though he feared the Bravo would end by doing him harm, en- joyed it considerably, bimself. _ ‘Didn’t expect to see me, did you?’ Quain resumed, after a pause. ‘* Well, of course I am not less welcome. Between old friends there should be no coldness.” ** Malediction!” hissed the mine-owner, “* what evil genius brought you here?” | ‘“Why, you seem to insinuate that I’ve come along distance. Possibly you im»egine I am consul to Australia, or prime minister to some South Sea king! No; I have been at your very elbow for the last * aya or two. Am I right, my Rood Mr. Crisp ‘Yes, sir,” said the latter, meekly. ““Tifere you have it, Edmund. es, I’ve been near you, but it was not until this evening that I saw fit todropinon you. My gay friend, I see you haven’t given up your old ways. Cold poison for one, and that one a gir young, pretty and unsuspecting. Ed, you’re a rascal!’ Bullet Head spoke banteringly, even to the end, but his words were like whips to Bartlett. ey moment he expected to hear the truth about the Sinclair case flung forth for Crisp’s ears to drink in, and he began to perspire as freely as he had made the lieutenant a little be- fore. “It is all right, Mr. Quain,” he finally basten- ed to say, “‘ and tam glad to see you. Just step into the next room while I speak with this gentleman, please.” **Nonsense, Ed! Let him remain with us, Isay, My Crisp-y friend, you don’t object, do you? You won’t turn pale when we talk of poison, revolvers and bowie-knives, will you?’ The facetious Bravo punched his lieutenant under the arm so forcibly as to almost knock out his breath, but Darke dared do no more than to faintly murmur an affirmative. ‘*But I wish to speak with you in private,” urged Bartlett. “There should be no privacy among friends. Crisp, here, is discreet; give breath to your secrets. Explain why you wish to poison Lila; tell how Reginald Sinclair died: reveal the history of the last days of Albert Leverett, car- a and Abram Belford, otherwise named bert Sinclair!” The laughing mood of the Bravo had changed. His face, which bad a power that almost made amends for its brutality, had grown stern and menacing. He stood erect, and poured forth his terrible words like fiery bolts. Bartlett had grown paler still, but he made a desperate effort to stem the tide, “Stop!” be cried; ‘‘I command you te stop! ‘* Bab! go talk to the wind; it'll mind you as well as lL. You smooth-coated murderer, you crawling viper! what do you expect? I know you, and I’m not afraid to talk. Why, for a dollar I'd go to St. Louis, and say, ‘1 am Tom Q@uain; I know bow Reginald Sinclair died!’ Take care, old-man, that I don’t talk!” Maddened beyond endurance,’ Bartlett snatched a revolver from his pocket—it was the same silver-mounted affair we have before seen —and attempted tv pull the trigger. The result was a surprise for him. There was a report from in front, and his weapon went flying across the room; Bullet Head had accomplished the feat of j from his pocket, and he had shot well. ‘* You'll find it well to take it to a locksmith before using it again, as the hammer is blown away,” observed Quain. Bartlett did not answer; but glanced fur- tively toward the door. shot would be investigated by his Chinamen, and as they would fight well under his eye, he expected to make trouble for his enemy before the interview ended. Bullet Head, bowever, was equally quick- witted. Seeing the secret glance, he to the mine-owner’s side, and seizing his arm in a crushing grasp, menaced him with bis yav Smith & Wesson. “If any one comes to the door to ui what tbat shot meant, you will explain that you accidentally discharged your revolver. Do Barteria dh promise rtlett did hear, and he gave the i just as ihe — — a = inquiry. Mena y in, his former ally answered as directed, and the woman went away, satisfied, or otherwise, “You will repent this before we are done,” the old man buskily said. ** Perhaps as you did Abram Belfor **T don’t know the man.” * What did you do with him?’ **T repeat—’ “JT repeat that you are a liar! You kid- me him; took him from the hotel, and very likely = him under the sod. That was a cowardly work, Bartlett; a deed worthy of a demon. Oh! you wretch,” he added, , his firm teeth, ‘‘ you ought to be torn on the rack for that!” i Bartlett smiled coldly; he felt sure the iron — vault would keep its secret even as it kept its victims. ‘*Go on; my day will come,” he said, It is here already, but it is waning never to brighten again. You'll soon come ap with a short turn. Right here, let me ask who this , Lila, is. You have reared her as y ughter, but you declare she is not that. then, is she?” ** [ decline to state.” ‘*Oh! you do. Well, it may be you glibly chirrup all you know about her, rather than hang for trying to kill her. I am tempted to take you to—to a safe place and make you talk, but I'll wait awhile. I’m going now and Crisp is going with me. Your negotiations with him on the poison question are broken off fo awhile. dare !” ; Bartlett lacked a good deal of being a coward, but he shivered at the closing words, The bull- dog nature of the Bravo came to the front and he snarled and showed his teeth in like fashion, His victim receded a step and hastened to de- clare that be would remain silent. He kept his word. Bullet Head and bis lieu- tenant went together, sliding out of the wind. ~v, but Bartlett was shrewd enough to ‘tha * the former would linger where he watch, and he had no taste for wildlead. z J : | = ‘ eS ee oe ae — a -. —_————s <€om He knew the revolver ) ou ho torput me ous-of the way —_.. for In the meanwhile, follow us tf you — : P s SS OL PE -__ | j a aa “take a | a chooks:com