Beadle's Dime Library No. 263 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

gand dollars toshoot him, Captain Diamond will see it paid.” “ The lead ain’t run, and the steel ain’t tem- red ‘that’l! ki!! Iron-Armed Abe,” one stout ellow announce |, with a aismal shake of his head. ‘* Come!” shouted the hunchback; ‘‘ what are ou going to do aboutit? Captain Diamond’s ills float from every sign post in tbe city and offer a reward {or me, dead or alive. Come and take me—I am waiting,” “Have it your way this time,” said Camp, trying to beat a graceful retreat, ‘* You shall see me again.” “ Possibly, but you'll still be Solon Camp, the man who will cringe and creep rather than put on a bold face and stand firmly before his ene- mies. Well, you do wisely, and I advise you to’go furtber and let your nimble legs carry you away from Golden Valley. Get you gone while you may.” “I don’t run for any man,” declared Camp, more courageously. “Stay, then; if you will; remain and share the fate of Captain Diamond. Prepare for death, however, while you may. A curse and a cloud are over yonder city. The reign of the king grows short and he is going swiftly to bis ruin. D-ath is waiting to embrace him and his Black Riders. Share their fate if you will, Solon Camp.” ‘Get back to Black Pit and hold communion with your other fr ends.” ‘* Hal you dov’t dare accuse me in plain words of being in league with the Evil One, do you? Good! when I first appeared I was a bhump- backed scoundre! and «n imp of darkness. Now, your tongue wags less flippantly, So you wish me to return tothe Black Pit. Good! I will, and | respectfully invite yow to follow me. Come, Solon Camp; come to my bome!’ Iron-Armed Abe stretched one Jong arm, to- ward the smoking mountain and laughed wild- 7 Doster Rube looked at him in wonder not un- mixed with awe. The melody and resonance of his voice were not only remarkable but in start- ling contrast to bis bn gi form; and in spite of the ill work of Nature he had a species of dignity which was not lost on the pbysi- cian. Snddenly the latter found the hunchback’s long rizht arm leveled in bis own direction. ‘Who is this stranger who seeks the City of the Desert?” he demanded ‘‘ Young man, if you contemplate mating with yonder demons I would say, better seek the company of the loathsome rattlesnake or the hungry jaguar. Only those who sell themselves to infamy can flourish there. The City of the Desert is a playue-spot; beware of it, and return while you may to the known world.” Doctor Rube raised bis voice quickly, under the impulse of the moment. ‘‘T am a prisoner; tell me where I am!” ‘You are lost, forever lost. Those who come here as prisoners never go back. That’s right; hold bim fast, but all Mae 2 arts cannot prevent me from saying that Captain Diamond, the most merciless of men, rules in yonder city. You ask where you are. No man can tell, This city, these mountains and yonder desert are nameless; they are unknown to all but Captain Diamond’s cut throats and myself. As for me, lam the man born to ruin those who dwell yonder, and the day isnot faraway when I shall stand here and see the City of the Desert and its people silent in death and oblivion. All this shall I see!” His voice rung out with startling force, and Camp, who had sprung forward to stop Doctor Rube’s speech, stood in seeming alarm and said no more. Iron-Armed Abe, however, had evidently freed his mind, forat the last word he waved his hand and disappeared. His going was so abrupt that they balf-expected to see him re- turn, but when a full minute had elapsed Camp drew a quivering sigh of relief. ‘* Mad!” he said, uneasily; “mad as a March hare. Come, men, get in motion; if he appears again I'll put a bullet through bim.” espite the boast Mr. Camp seemed seriously disturbed mentally, and when they moved on, after readjusting the doctor’s eye bandage, they went in such dead silence; and with such an in- crease of speed, that the latter was not at fault to know the reason. Boast as they might, they really feared Iron- Armed Abe, the deformed Hercules. Doctor Rube wondered who he was. He was strange in more ways than one, but everything be had seen since the Black Riders crossed bis vision had been strange; this City of the Desert, of which ne Arizonian, so-called, seemed to know aught, was like a scene from an old fairy tale. What the hunchback had said did not pass from his mind and he began to wonder more than ever what would be his experience in the mystic city. as he wanted for some simple case or for something as strange as what had gone before? He regretted, now that it was too late, that he bad not risked all in a combat with hie cap- tors when crossing the desert, but the time had / Tron-Atmed | Abe, the —— eee ee ee ee comé and gove and he resolved to go on to the end and see what fate had in store for him, As the party descended the mountain the shadows of night thickened rapidly around them, for, hemmed in by mountains as the valley was, darkness fell early and the last beams of the sun had some time before ceased to touch the upper peaks. They reached the village and went steadily on, but the few people they met did not seem to notice Doctor Rube. No obstacles were iter- posing to prevent the consummation of the plans of bis captors. When they paused it was beside one of the large stone bonuses before mentioned, but not in front of it. They were at the rcar, and by the rear they entered. There, the bouse bad a yard inclosed by a wall six feet high and looked not unlike some Government institution, Doctor Rube felt himself led along a paved way and into a house. There he threaded several passages and finally came to a halt. The bandage was removed from bis eyes and he found himself in a well-lighted room with only Camp for a companion. ‘* He who sent me for you will soon be. here,” Camp at once explained. ‘‘ You, have been a sensible companion by the road and I wish you well, so ll say that your future depends on yourself. He who is coming can be as gentle as a woman when pleased, but if crossed he is not less deadly than the jaguar, I remark thus so that you need make no mistake. Whatever you are told te. do you bad better perform promptly and faithfully.” “That'll all depend on circumstances,” Doc- tor Rube sturdily answered. -‘‘If the work comes within my idea of what’s right, weli and good, Otherwise, I don’t do it,” ‘‘Perhaps you had rather lose your life,” Camp irritably said, “If I see fit to take that course I suppose it’s e,! own business, ain't it?’ his direct inquiry remained unanswered, for at that moment the door opened and another man appeared on the scene, Camp hurriedly executed his best; bow. ‘** Captain Diamond, Doctor Reuben Leyden,” he said, with extreme politeness. Doctor Rube looked attentively at the man who was said to bold bis future in bis hands, Captain Diamond, he had heard him called, and the name seemed appropriate, for the first arti- cle in the way of minulie which the doctor ob- served was @ brilliant ray of light which seemed to shoot out from the new-comer. This might have been various things, but. practical Doctor Rube perceived that if was a huge and very brilliant diamond breast-pin. Further than this, Captain Diamond was, perhaps, thirty years of age, tall, slender, dark- complexioned, with a pale face and dark, velvety eyes. He looked like a student but not like a cut-throat, and as Doctor Rube noted his plain, but elegant clothing, and his scrupulous neatness, he felt sure they would not be foes, CHAPTER IIL. A TERRIBLE ALTERNATIVE. ? “4 CAPTAIN Diamond, Doctor Reuben Ley- en! ; Camp spoke with the meekness of a man who is in the presence of bis superior, but Diamond vouchsafed only the slightest bow, ‘‘Pll not waste time in saying I am glad to see you, doctor, for the pleasure can bardly be mutual. I trust, however, that you have not been treated with any unnecessary harshness,” ‘‘ Except. that I am kidnapped, I have no fault to find,” said the doctor, bluntly. ‘‘Of course that is unpleasant, butt am about to prove to you that we are your friends, not our enemies, You bave been brought here cause we have a surgical operation to per~ form and you ere reputed skillful. If you per- form it seusoyaly Son may return to Snicker’s Guleh a bundred dollars richer in pocket,” ‘* That’s not bad,” Captain Diamo od smiled, and_the.,doctor could see no trace of the typical villain about him. Hebad a sort of unhealthy beauty, and would have been adored in Eastern society if he was a writer of poetry. Then, women would have raved over his dusky, waving hair, his dark eyes and his intellectual brow, as wo- men will. Could this be the man Iron-Armed Abe had declared to be a fiend? ‘“Before we work, let us eat,” continued Diamond, ‘ Your ride must have given you an appetite; follow me and you shall satisfy it. ‘Doctor Rube reso’ ved to go with the tide in the affair, for a while at least, and he followed without question. He was conducted toa room where sat a table already spread, and it was not long before a substantial supper was placed upon if, ; Then the strangely-met companions, ate to- gether, talking of matters of the world in about the same hymor that two chance travelers might converse to kill time. Captain Diamond, despite his remoteness from the center of civil- ization, was well informed, and he talked with the ease of an intelligent and educated man. Hunchback Destroyer. ee ee ae ee ee —a eee me . — Doctor Rube marveled;more than ever, but his every uttempt to make Diamond speak of TE the City of the Desert was useless. The various traps were skillfully avoided. Supper over, Diamond produced a pair of meerschaums and they smoked together. It may be mentioned as a curious fact that, in this wild Jand, their conversation was of a celebrated prima donna whom both had seen. When their pipes were empty the host quietly arose. “‘T will now conduct you to your patient, and explain what is wanted,” he blandly an- nounced, The doctor made no opposition but ag oJ followed. He was conducted through a ha and to a second room. It was well lighted, and as he entered he saw that it was furnished as a bed-chamber, Two persons were visible; a woman of abun- dant form and a man as far the reverse, As they did not appear like invalids, Doctor Rube glanced toward the bed. There his gaze was arrested by one of the most beautiful faces he had ever seen; the face of a woman of most remarkable loveliness. She was young, with light-brown hair and a remarkably clear complexion, though there was a good deal of color in her cheeks, and every feature was so shapely and perfect that Doctor Rube at once pronounced her the most beautiful woman he bad ever seen. She slept. Her eyes were vailed, long lashes aware her cheeks, and she seemed a sleeping ebe. But even there the physician saw no sign of.a atient. A more healthy person it would be ard to select from appearances, Who, then, was he to doctor? who had been using the chloroform he could smell? He turned inquiringly to Captain Diamond. “Yonder is your patient,” the latter ex- plained, pointing to the bed, ‘‘Of what fatal malady is she to be cured?” One of the physician jestingly asked. Diamond drew him to the bedside, her arms lay outside the bed-clothing, and a slender, shapely hand, a round wrist, and large white Jower-arm were revealed. Diamond raised her hand in one of his, and uae the fore finger of the other hand on her wrist, look- ed steadily at Doctor Rube, and slowly and dis- tinctly enunciated: ‘* You are to amputate this arm at the wrist !” Doctor Rube’s blood seemed to turn to ice. With his physician’s skill, as well as with his common-sense, he saw that there was no surg- ical necessity for the operation. Ne wound or injury or disease lurked in that delicately-made but beautiful hand that it should be separated from its companion arm. It would be just as sensible to cut off his (Doctor Rube’s) head. The first shock of horror at the idea of muti- lating so lovely a creature past, the doctor looked at Diamond as though hoping to see him smiling over a good joke. Captain Diamond did not smile. His face was set, cold and stern, and his eyes had a re- lentless stare. Seeing this, and remem g how he had been brought to the City of the Desert, the doctor again shivered, The glitter- ing diamond caught his attention and seemed like a serpent’s eye. His companion had been in earnest; he was really desired to amputate the arm! The long pause grew awkward to all, but as mph Rube remained silent, Diamond again spoke, ‘**T suppose you heard me?” he coldly said, oe ly, I don’t believe I did,” was the blunt reply. . You are to amputate this arm af the wrist,” the captain evenly said, ‘For what purpose?” ‘“*Simply because [ wish it,” ‘‘There is no reason for it.” *‘T am the best judge of that.” ‘This hand,” cried Doctor Rube, energetical- ly, and feeling a strange thrill as he touched t 4 white member, ‘‘is as sound as a piece of oa . ‘‘ Nevertheless, you are to amputate it,” _ **]’m not so sure of that,” the doctor déflantly said, and never flinching before his Capit ‘‘Give me good and substantial reasons for the operation and I'll perform it, but if you.expect me to deprive a young and bealthy person of a hand, when she is sleeping from the effects of a powerful nareotic, you are mistaken!” “Possible?” said Diamond, lightly, ‘* Possible and true.” ‘Perhaps my man has not explained to you that your own future depends on your prompt obedience?” ‘** He has said so.” ‘* And you refuse to obey?” ‘T refuse to perform this diabolical deed,” ‘*You can have your choice between obedi- ence and death. I swear by all the saints in the calendar you shall die unless you perform the amputation!” Doctor Rube folded his arms across his breast. f bi roceed with your killing,” he stubbornly said. Diamond’s face did not change expression. 2 (CONE OOO KS G o .