Beadle's Dime Library No. 263 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

—— —— “Tet me follow him; [ will go and avenge my wrongs; I will tear bis throat as a panther tears his prey. ll kill him; ki i-ill bim!” She was in a furious mood, but Norola had always been able to control ber and the present case was no exception, “You do not know bim, Miss Wild,” she soothingly said. ** Don’t know him? When the tigress forgets her young, I'll forget him! Don’t know him? Ha, ba! How ean forget, when the big dia- mond blazes at his breast? Ah! be may hide in earth or sea, but while he wears that jewel, all will know him. And he will wear it for- ever.” ‘“ What is his name?” “ Name?” sé Yes,” “T don’t know. And yet, I ought to. Strange that I should forget when I have such cause to remember.” ‘““You knew him once, then?’ The Wild laughed shortly. ‘“Pidn’t If I knew him well, say was his name} call bim Lucifer.” “When and where did you know him?” “1 don’t know. How sbould 1, when I don’t What did I Well, never mind; let us even know my own name? I’m all at sea; but I know he once did mea wrong. I can never forget that face—I can never forgot that dia- mond. When I look at it I feel like one receiv- ing an electric shock. But come with me and we'll find him again. Come!” The Wild was in earnest, and it was only by the use of gentle persuasion and a promise that Griff should look into the matter, that Norola coaxed her away to the cabin. And this promise she meant to keep. If The Wiid bad found a leaf in her old life, it must be recovered if her efforts, or those of her father, could avail anything. That evening two men sat in an obscure room in San Francisco. One was Ben Bolter, who smoked and took his ease in « big but dilapi- dated aro-chair with the air of a prince at home. The second was Mr. St. Jerome; but one glance showed bim iu a mood far from happy or contented. Sitting at a table, he leaned his elbows on the board and pillowed his head on‘his bands, while the serpent’s eye glittered fantastically in the light. Bolter bad glanced at him curiously several times in half an hour, and he finally spoke: “ Ef this ain’t a Quaker set-up, l’d suggest as how we sling tber picture-pack a bit. I ain’t no great gambolier, but ’most any one kin fall inter line on poker or—” ‘*Curse your cards!” growled St. Jerome. *“‘T um in no mood for playing: Do you believe in ghosts?” ‘ “Ghosts? No; can’t say Ido. Ef you'd said spearits, an’ made ’em liquid, ’d b’en on ther home base.” ‘‘ And you never saw a dead person after he, or stie, was buried?” Mr. Bolter shook his head as though the fact grieved bim. ‘‘Nary time,” ‘‘What would you do if an enemy was to come back?” * Kill him over again.” the rufflan coolly an- Swered, as he cleared bis pipe with a fragment from the broom. | | ' St. Jerome lowered his hands and looked squarely at his ally, while the serpent’s eye, set in motion, danced and glittered afresh, ‘*T have such an enemy,” he slowly said. ‘Show him ter me, an’ his candle will go out jn ther bloom of youth, and all sech trash. I’m ther boy to exsassinate him.” CHAPTER XVI. AN OLD ENEMY REAPPEARS, Sr. Jerome smiled slightly, but it was not a mirthful or hopeful expression, “What are your terms?” he asked. “Tl kill any man, woman or child in Cali- fornia fur ther sparkier you wear ov your shirt- bosom. That air jewel is a daisy. Ef I had it Td put on swell clothes and appear in Washing- ton among ther scribes an’ Pharisees.” ** You like it, eh?” : ** Dian’t I say so?’ “You did, but we can’t trade. I wouldn’t ive that diamond for the whole wealth of ! California. Money could not buy it.” “Why not?” ; ‘“Tt’s a talisman; a safeguard against death and peril of all sorts.” ‘© How's that?” ; ‘““Years ago it was foretold that no harm should come to me as long as I wore it—and obeyed one or two other orders, I’ve done it right along and all has gone well. I wouldn’t give the talisman away. anyhow.” Bolter looked at the diamond pence and it was well for St, Jerome that his tool expected to make an equal sum out of him by more secret work. Still, it occurred to him that if matters ever assumed the a 350 shape, the diamond might change hands, Its glitter had a strange Iron-Armed Abe, tl meck shorter than he. the Hunchback fascination for him, as it did for every one else, but Ben looked the serpent squarely in the eyes. finally added, cheerfully, ‘‘an’ ef you see fit to hang to it that’s no reason why I should not kill your enemy. What’s his handle?” ‘‘My enemy is a woman,” said St. Jerome, gnawing his mustache viciously. ‘* All samee. Whois,she? Is it knife or re- volver?” ‘‘ Neither,” was the moody reply. ‘She mustn’t be killed; I wouldn’t have her killed for a fortune,” Mr. Bolter stared stupidly. : ' * Which?” ‘‘T hate this woman and there is danger for me while she lives, but 1 dare not kill her or or- der her killed. Jn fact, 1 won’t bave it so.” “Why not?” St. Jerome hesitated and seemed on the point of confession, but be evidenily changed his mind, Arising abruptly, he paced the room several times across with lowered head anda gloomy face. Bolter eyed him constantly, but his gaze was oftener on the diamond than on the face, The ns api eye had a way of flashing in the light which was charming to the gentleman surnamed Bolter. Finally, the other man returned to his seat, ‘“‘T won’t try to explain all this to you, for it would be a waste of breath. Let» me, bow- ever, put a question before you, Can you tell me how to eifectually dispose of this woman withont doing her bodily i: jury?” , ‘* Shut her up som’ers.” ‘* These pe scuen people always escape.” ‘‘Not when I take charge on ’em. Let me turn the key on her one’t an’ she'll never peep again in public till you say so.” **Have you a prison in mind?” © ‘‘ Ther coziest ye ever see’d,” St. Jerome thought of a certain place far away in the wilds of Arizona which might well be termed *‘ cozy,” but he made no comment, In coming to San Francisco he left all his City of the Desert men bebind, and he did notintend to tell Ben Bolter of his kingdom. With the ice fairly broken, however, he was not long in coming to terms with the fellow. He had been a San Francisco rascal for years and knew itsins and outs, and he declared at the wave of his wand a man or woman would whee “Spar as completely as though literally uried, When the leading villain left full arrange- ments bad been made for the abduction of the mad woman who had given him such a fright. He would not be safe while she was at liberty, and be was not one to delay about a settled pur- ose, f Leaving the house at last, St, Jerome paused at the door to light a cigar and thep started down the street. The hour was that when nearly all working-people had taken to their bomes, and yet not late enough to present de- serted streets. He was strolling along when some one touched his arm and a yoice sounded in bis ear: ‘* May I trouble you for a light?” It wasa polite call, and one men seldom hear without sympathy as man to man, but some- thing in the voice made St. Jerome wheel with susp:cious abruptness. hen from his lips fell an exclamation too emphatic for even causual repetition. Before him stood a powerfully built man, and yet one who was more than a head and A buge hump was be- tween his shoulders, and as he stood his un- naturally long arms dangled below his knees. This man smiled sarcastically. ‘‘- You don’t se2m pleased to see me,” he ob- served. ‘* Pleased? I wish the devil would fly away with you,” was the earnest answer. ‘Don’t get in a passion, King Diamond. Be- tween old friends there should be no show of mere ceremony. Exult, and be glad, King Diamond!” St. Jerome bit at his cigar until it fell in pieces at his feet, but the hunchback met his ferocious glare with a calm smile. “Why have you followed me bere?” | ‘To see you in your new rolz, and to know what that role is. Naturally, I feel an interest in you, for you are aremarkuble man. At the City of the Desert you are a king; here you are a gentleman of the first water, Great is King Diamond!” '* What do you want?’ “* Have I said that | want anything?” ss No,” ‘“Then give yourself no concern about me. Better look to yourself. Leaving jesting alone, you know I am no friend of yours. The bleach- ing bones of some dozens, more or less, of your sensational Black Riders bear witness to the prowess of Iron-Armed Abe; and were it not that your race is not so far run as pleases me, I would wrap wy fingers about your neck and strangle you like asick cat!” The hunchback smiled ns and held up his long, muscular fingers, They looked capable of crushing wood and steel. St. Jerome leaned Destroyer. i i mm ‘Every man knows his own affairs best,” be 18 against the nearest building, and his white face twitched nervously. ° Given a sword, or a revolver, he would bave met five ordinary men at that moment without a waver; but in the hands of Iron-Armed Abe he was almost like clay. Had a score of his men been there he would have ordered them to kill him; but for his own part he could not stiike a blow, * lve come here to find out what game you’re playing,” the hunchback continued, ‘‘and lam going to know. . You slipped away from the City of the Desert silently and secretly; but it’s a blind trail I can’t follow. I’ve been yo shadow, King Diamond, ever since you drove her to her death.” St. Jerome started. Many times before, in the last five years, he bad heard this same taunt from bis enemy’s lips, but it had never fallen so heavily before. The trembling about his mouth was not like him, but there was a method in all his freaks. At this moment a police officer directed them to move on, and Jron-Armed Abe suggested that they go into a saloon, St, Jerome spoke of oing to his room, but his corhpanion merely aughed, and holding his arm, led him to, the place unresistingly. They sat down, called for drinks, and then sat looking silently at each other. Gradually, however, a smile crossed the hunchback’s face. ‘“You’re meditating mischief, King D.a- mond,” he said. ‘* You own a tolerably stoical face, but I can read you well. Still, I don’t blame you; I’m your enemy, and it is natural you should wish me out of the way,” ‘* You know I dare not kill you.” \ ‘Nonsense! You’re foolish to let such seru- ples stand in your way. IfI was you, I wouldn’t doit, You area senoge companies of strength and weakness, py Diamond, with the flavor of unsurpassable villainy over all.” . St. Jerome did not answer, but sat scowling at the light as thougb it had some share in his discomfiture. The serpent’s eye, too, seemed to gleam more vividly than usual, as though aware that its owner was under a cleud, ‘: Sometimes,” continued LIron-Armed Abe, ‘‘] wish I had strangled you years ago—” “JT wish you had!” the ‘younger man fever- isbly cried, ‘You wish nothing of the kind, King Dia-’ mond, All you wish is that I-was less alert, so that orn tools might put me out of the way. You bate and fear me, and you would almost surrender your power at the City of the Desert tosee me dead. Yet, if I was to turn my own revolver upon my breast, and bid you fire at this moment, you would not pull the trigger.” Captain Diamond did not answer, and yet the statement wastrue. It was epe of the peculiari- ties of his nature, which, as hunchback had said, was a strange mixture of strength and weakness. He dared not touch the man he hated, yet at that moment he was planning his death. Never before had he realized how dangerous to bim was Iron-Armed Abe. — - ‘* Do you ever dream of her ?” the hunchback suddenly asked, “No,” was the only reply. “T believe you speak falsely. Even you, King Diamond, can not grind out human hearts det toeiup and leave no record. It is my inten- tion, when I kill you, to give you a nameless grave, the same as she had. Well, perbaps it was just the same; marble slabs and shafts can’t © brirg peaceful sleep. It is well she died, King Diamond, for if she bad lived to suffer, | would — bave tortured you as an Indian never tortured bis prey.” . Sc. Jerome did not answer. He was Jooking ® moodily away, and the hunchback reached ou one long arm and touched bim on the shoulder. Instantly the man started to bis feet, overturn- ing his cbair, and a look of terror was depicted on his face, ; wit Tbe emotion pas as quickly as it had come and he resumed his seat with a short, unmusic laugh, while Abe wondered at bis unusual nerv- ousness. : He did not know that a,guilty mind bad made bis companion foolishly imagine that the touch was that of another hand than Abe’s; he had not known that the guilty man, in turning, had momentarily expected to seé the face of The Wild. ‘“ What game has brought you to San Fran- cisco?” continued the hunchback, ‘* None.” ¢ ‘‘ False, King Diamond, false. ‘You have © scme -plot in your prolific brain and [ am going to learn what it is and thwart you.’ ‘Don’t meddle!” warned St. Jerome, a trace of bis old fire rape in his eyes. ‘‘Bah! you know how lL regard your wrath, and you can’t bate me more than you do now, I tell you I am going to baffle you. Meet me as | you will.” Before St. Jerome could answer, the keeper of the saloon began making preparations for closing for the night and the two enemies went out together. At the door Abe plucked his Sa eee by the sleeve. ; ‘* Good-day, for now,” he said, ‘‘ but remem- ber I on a t plots!” your track, I shall biffle your earest plo : « — * ome J00KS.com (E Ss) « _ > 7 ~ } vo 4 . * ~~ i _j . ‘ ee an ef < par: us e * 7 - ¥ a a 4 > > is get a a. ae a 5 teak ee TS FP. 3s & OF § eee te = bh oe Ce ha ot Pu Pn Minas . , é 4 we - ae sh NES x ‘ ce J