Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 271 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

Stonefist, of Big Nugget Bend. him belligerently, for she had not forgotten that bis first visit had in some way worried the mouey-lender, “Good-morning, my dear,” said Old Ketchum, bis mind all on business. ‘‘I would like to see Mr. Lockyard.” ‘*l am not so sure he wants to see you,” she r_torted, ‘: Be so kind as to ask, anyway.” Zora paused to deliberately arrange her panes, and the lawyer still absent-minded, ad ied: “Will you make haste, my dear?” ‘‘ My name is Miss Lockyard and I will trou- ble you to remember the fact. As for the ex- pression, ‘my dear,’ you need not use ib again to me, You are too familiar!” The look of utter astonishment on Old Ketehum’s face rather embarrassed Zora. Sbe bad taken a strong dislike to him and was will- ing he should know it, but she was conscious of having overstepped the bounds of politeness and her really kind heart, at once reproached er, But the lawyer, after one look of surprise, be- came like a machine in his strong politeness. ‘Miss Lockyard, can I see Mr, Lockyard?” be asked. ‘** You will find him in the inner-room; walk in,” she replied, hardly knowing whether to laugh or otherwise, Oid Ketchum obeyed. The money-lender had beeu reading, but his paper had been laid aside and he looked grave and anxious. The visitor greeted him and then came down to business without much loss of time. ‘I understand your clerk was arrested this morning.” ** Yes,” Lockyard admitted. “What do you think of it?” “Think? Dil stake anything he is innocent,” was the warm reply. “Um! Well, Tceeo just had a letter thrown into wy office which | wish you to read;” and with these words Ketchum passed the mysteri- ous missive over. Tuis is what Lockyard read: “Lawyer Wisecrarr:—Young Sterling has just been arrested by men claiming to be Denver detec- tives on a charge claimed to be embezzlement in Denver. In my opinion the whole matter i: a false- | dood and a plot. Ido not believe the men were de- tectives, but. I do think the affair off the same piece ‘with the Quickstep mine swindle. Sterling out of the way. I advise you to see Lock- yard and convey this suspicion to him, but above all bid him be cautious. Another plot is surely planned against him, Tell him to doubt the loyalty of his left hand to his right, but to pretend to be without suspicion, and if he sees evidence of a trap, ‘to pretend to walk into it and then let you know so the plotters may be foiled. Iu this, fai not ha y a Tinishing this singular letter, Lockyard Taised bis eyes and looked at the lawyer, “ What does this mean?” he asked, *¢ You know as well as I do.” “T do not know as well as you, wrote this letter, yourself!” ‘Pardon me; I did not.” “Then it was written by your dictation,” ‘* Pardon me; it was not.’ **At least you know the author of these ideas,” Sir, you The money-lender tapped the letter with his | finger. **T will not deny that I suspect, but if I am right it wads one who is your friend, It is known to me that you have enemies who, at the very Jeast, seek to deprive you of your fortune, [ say ‘fortune,’ because I am aware that you inherited a large sum of money from your un- cle, Mr. Knott, who recently died at an ad- vanced age. Well, sir, such a fortune is a tempting bait for sharpers and they are after you. Witness, the Quickstep mine affair. ‘They had it cut and dried to scoop in fifty thousand dollars, there, but timely warning saved you. Now, your correspondent suspects another’ plot; be thinks the arrest of Sterling but a scheme to get him out cf the way; aad once more you are warned in time.” Ola Ketchum said all this rapidly and his parchment-like face showed a fresher color than usual. But the money-lender looked at him thougbtfully and the suspicion came to bim that the man before him might be the chief of his enemies—a wolf in sheep’s dress, “There is too nruch mystery about this to please me, sir,” he replied. ‘* Who are you who knows 80 much about me and my affairs?” ‘‘]’m one in the tug of war,” Ketchum grim- ly replied. ‘** Answer ritably. ‘- My dear sir, I cannot agree to give my bis- tory; let it suffice that I knew your uncle, W. N. Knott, and your late brother, William; also that you was leit the legacy I mentioned. Now, Ido not profess any great love for you but I will swear I am vot your enemy; and I wish to gee your enemies baffled.” ‘* Without expecting a fee?” ‘Mr. Lockyard, if you want to go to Jaw, eall on me if you will; but in this matter, nota cent of your money will I touch. Understand ane, too; 1 am not. going to mix with your af- to the point,” Lockyard said, ir- Some one wants | — fairs, I pass along the warning; save yourself or not, just as you please.” The money-lender leaned back in his chair, a sort of hopeless look on his face, . ‘‘T am deep in the shadow of mystery; you give me no light as a guide; I have already seen one plot, and know Lam menaced; but now you refuse to confide in me, and I am like a rudder- less boat.” ‘‘ To tell you all,” replied the lawyer, ‘‘ would be to betray secrets I bave no right to unfold; I should become criminally to blame if | did. My advice to you is to guard your fortune; further than that I bave nothing todo, But the writer of this note asks that if you see evi- dence of a plot you will lead the plotters on, and catch them in their own net.” ‘‘One question: is the writer of this note the same as the one who warned me in regard to the Quickstep mine?’ ‘** Probably they are one.” ‘* Don’t you know?” esd they are one,” was tha impassive reply. 3efore more could be said Zora rapped at the door, and then entering, announced a gentle- man, a stranger, to see ter father. The latter bade her admit him, and K+tcbum held a paper before bis face and pretended to read, ockyard bad.a presentiment that something of importance was about to occur, and mentally compared his companion toa vulture brooding over him. Without much delay a young man entered; a very neat, respectable young man; one whom a casual observer would feel sure be could pin his faith upon; but, evidently, just a little too slender and young for Western life. But he spoke bravely, addressing Lockyard, and told bow he had come from Denver to Big Nugget Bend to get the benefit of country air; adding that be had been sent by Lockyard’s friend, Mr. Halpine, who had given him a recommendation, and said that, perhaps, Lock- vard could give bim a situation. Would Mr, ockyard read his recommendations? The latter readily agreed. A man recom- mended by Halpine must surely be all right, | and it occurred to the money-lender he might use the young man in the place left vacant, Lem pararhy or permanently, by Allen Stir- ing. | He read the recommendations. Mr. Halpine spoke in warm terms of the | bearer, Joshua Bennett, and two other business ' wen of Denver appended their names—at least, they were there, As Lockyard raised his eyes from the reeonm- mendation he chanced to encounter the gaze of Old Ketchum, The latter held bis paper so that Bennett could not see bis face, but he bad clearly been trying to get the money-lender’s attention. And when he did so the elder man was astonisbed by the fire which blazed in Ketcbum’s eyes. “ Take him !” The lawyer’s lips framed the two words, and then a suspicion flashed upon Lockyard. The recommendation was a forgery, and Bennett was a tool of his enemies! With this idea in bis mind the money-lender bad hard work to avoid betraying himself, but be rallied and did surprisingly well. He told the young man he believed be could give him a position in his own office, and if he would eall again in the evening he would give him a definite answer, Bennett was very grateful; at least, he said he was; and he went away with the highly respectable air so well-recommended a young man should carry. Then Lockyard turned to the lawyer. ‘Well?’ be questioned. “Your correspondent’ has argued well; Sterling was removed for a fixed purpose, and this smooth-spoken young bound is a traitor!” CHAPTER XXII. DEACON STONEFIST ADDS HIS VOICE, PREPARED as he was for the announcement, Lockyard could not avoid a start. ‘‘ Explain yourself,” he said, “This young man, I repeat, is a traitor, or, rather, be will be one if you give bim a chance, He is the agent of your enemies, Sterling was decoyed away to make a vacancy so they could introduce one of their tools, and, lo! he is bere, Those recommendations are but .for- geries, The object is to get Bennett in and then to rob you,” ‘** But you advised me to engage him; at least, your lips framed the words, ‘Take bim!” ‘*So they did. Do you remember the advice of your unknown correspondent to seem to fall into a trap whenever one became visible, and then unmask the plotters?” ‘* And vou advise me to do this?” ‘ee I do.” Father Lockyard sat confused and uncertain. He was no longer a young man, and matters were going in a way so at variance with the | lacid life be had led for ak years that he | a elt about as cheerful as tho he had been ordered to leap upon an Express-train running at full speed. ’ . Not so the lawyer. The matter was in exact keeping with his nature, and he was never in better humor, Had he been in Lockyara’s position he would have enjoyed carrying out the counter-trap to the end, At that moment the money-lender wou!d have givan all bis year’s gainings to bave bad Allen n terling to consult with upon the subject. A clear and honest head was needed to help him out. While he hesitated an angry voice in the outer room led bim to open the door, Bartholomew Blake stood in front of the desk, his stern eyes fixed upon Zora, and his merciless tongue running io the old channel, ‘“‘Tf you will take advice from one older and wiser than you, you will cast aside the vain ribbons from your neck and hair, and appear like a true woman, Vanity and love of Mnery are woman’s besetting sins.” “Vanity!” cried Zora, ‘And who bas just bragged about their wisdom? ‘Older and wiser’ than I am! Perhaps you are, but you don’t show the fact, and if it ain’t vanity to brag of it I don’t know the meaning of the word!” , $8 Thoughtless girl! What will your wayward tongue— ‘‘Ob! never mind my tongue, I was restin it when you came in, andif we both do that it will be wisdom, I think, DPve Bob tired of your lectures, Deacon Stonefist, and I advise you to change your business. We need a first-class barber at the Bend, very much, ard though I shouldn’t want your bands on my throat, you will probably do well.” Black as a thunder-eloud, to use the old ex- pression, became the face of the reformer, but at that moment Father Lockyard’s benevolent face appeared like a gleam of sunshine amid a storm. ‘Child! child!” he said, with gentle reproof, ‘do not use such language,” ‘It’s the English 1 was taught, and if there was any peor grammar I overlooked it. Now, then,” and here she waved her hands ry | over a pile of papers, ‘‘I am busy, and Vil thank everybody to stand back and let me breathe. I can’t talk and work, and 1 won’t try. Arrange tbe picnic as you wish, but leave me alone—do!” Deacon Stonefist’s face lost its usual expres- sion of severity to give place to one of borror. Evidently, in all hisexperience with the wicked- ness of the world he had never seen avything quite equal to this. He looked at Zoraa moment in silence, bis face speaking volumes, end then turned to Father Lockyard. ‘*T wish to see you for a moment alone, sir,” he said, his manner gloomy and ominous. The money-lender seemed to think this the. best way to end the difficulty, and led the way to the inner room. Deacon Stonefist bowed coldly to the lawyer, but refrained from any remark. It seemed as though his power of handling people without gloves was for the time taken away by his late experience—tbere is a difference between bom- barding and being bombarded. ‘IT wished to see you privately,” said he; ““ but—” ‘*Consider me a post, or something of the sort,” Old Ketchum interrupted; ‘1 will bear nothing.” ‘“You may speak freely,” added Lockyard eonvineed that the crank of the Bend co have nothing of importance to say. “ Very well, sir. I wished to refer to the young man I saw leave your office just now. The circumstances of the case lead me to think you have intimate relations with him, I am surprised at the fact, sir.” . **Why so?” ‘* Because he is wedded to evil ways, and it is an oe saying that birds of a feather flock to- ether. ; The reformer was recovering his usual weight. . r, Lockyard laughed slightly and then grew grave, ‘You speak of this young man asthough you knew him well.” , ‘*‘ And don’t | know him well?’ Bleke severe- ly demanded. ‘¢‘ You should know that best; but if you do, [ wish you would tell me what you know,” ‘‘] know this: he was at one time a decoy, s0 c°lled, of infamous men in New York city, who used bim to help rob unwary people with less brains than money.” The Deacon spoke wore bluntly thah usual, and Father Lockyard only kept Ketchum from coming in explosively by a quick gesture . ‘‘ Yet,” said he, ‘that young man has just applied to me for a situation, and presented re- commendations,of good character.” “From whom?” ‘‘ Honorable business men of Denver.” Blake looked the money lender straight in the face with his steel-like eyes fora moment before replying. ; ‘¢Are you sure they are genuine recommen- dations?’ shat Old Ketchum wheeled around and spoke } ; ‘ed = | | quickly: . 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