Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 271 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

horse’s side. ‘Faster, you brute, faster! I voust know the meaning of this!” There was weaning enough for it, if he but knew the truth; but the trio of plotters at the Bend borrowed notrouble. They were sorry the horse had found its way there, but the blood-stain proved, as they thought, that their tools had done their work well. The horse was stabled, the trailer and an- other man set off to find the clew to the mys- tery, if possible, and the Bend awaited the next sensation. Jack Bunker held bimself in readiness to fight or flee, Each hour deepened his suspicion that a systematic plan had been put against him, and he was trying to satisfactorily place the blame. If he was suspected if would be well for him to get out of town for a while, but he had so put his tools forward for the open work that he hoped to escape molestation. How much did his allies suffer was a matter of indifference to him, Kellogg came to himin the saloon, where he ‘was smoking his pipe in his usual phlegmatic way. ‘* Jack, they’re after me!” muttered the cow- ard, as he sunk into a chair; and his evil genius saw that he bad been drinking deeply to drown his fears and gain courage, a Who?” “They! I tell you I am watched. Several Men are after me; every one looks at me suspl- ciously.” * Rubbish! tbis is all your fancy. What you need is nerve, an’ all ther liquor at ther Bend won't give you ther genuine article. Brace up, man; force yerself ter take it cool!” ‘How can 1? The shadow of the law is over me!” Kellogg buried bis face in his hands, Bunker looked about to make sure there were no listen- ers. He saw only Daddy Clover, who was tak- ing a drunken sleep not far away—if bis heavy breathing spoke truthfully as to his condi- ‘ti jon, Then he kicked bis ally viciously, not liking bis dismal looks. Such things invite atten- on, Tne result of the kick, however, was unex- pected. Kellogg started up with a bowl, which star- tled all except Daddy Clover; then seeing there was no danger, sunk back in his chair with a sickly laugh, It was an unpleasant occurrence, but Jack ‘was equal to the PROAF ERGY “Hit yer shiv, did ye?” be said, as though in answer toa remark from Horace, ‘‘ Wal, you should remember wood is harder than flesh aun’ bone.” Then leaning forward, he added in a lower tone: ‘Curse ye, no more o’ that or I'll ‘fix ye past yowlin’!” ellogg was wise enough to see in bis glitter- ing eyes a danger even greater than the first, nd he made an eff rt and threw off his night” Vv mare partially. Ordering whisky, be gave the bar-keeper’s health and dfank it down. “That’s all right,” said Bunker, ‘but you don’t wanter doit any more. You'll get ez rull ez a fish an’ begin ter talk, ef you don’t hold on. Brace up on nerve; that’s ther way ter do it. Bennett is jugged, but be won't give anything away, an’ all chen rest will come out straight. Your rival, Sterling, hez gone up ther creek an’ counts one out; while ez fur ther old man’s gold, call me a fool ef I don’t get it!” ‘*'You are a man of steel!” * All rubbish. lam a man 0’ flesh an’ blood, but I endure what I can’t cure an’ strike fur my cause when I kin, Do you ther same, an’ hev no fear.” His rugged courage conveyed a shadow of it- self to the yee villain, and he Geran to hold up his bead, Bad as matters looked, all might not be lost, CHAPTER XXX. G'S FURTHER ADVENTURES. We left Allen eae riding toward the Bend with what seemed good proupests of reaching there without further trouble; but hav- ing seen one of the horses with which he started from the robbers’ cabin arrive at the town riderless and blood-stained, it becomes evident that all had not gone well on the trail, What had happened?! Allen started with one horse between his knees and the other led behind, but he had not gone many rods before it became clear he had undertaken a difficult task. The night was io- tensely dark, baffling his eyesight, and he bad not gone on for over five minutes when the horse he rode stepped ina hole and nearly flung him over his bead. | Taught cvution in this way, he moved still slower, but bis next ex ence was to run into acul de-sac, From tb and started afresh, but be was growing un- deniably nervous. He had moved but a short distance from the cabin, and there began to be real danger that Warren might recover bis senses. If he did, and found both horses and prisoner one, he would speedily be on the track. The mense sum of money taken from bim would be a spur almost equal to the loss of life. he retraced his steps |’ And he would naturally look for his late pris- oner in just the direction he had gone. Allen saw his danger and did not like the sit uation at all. He was tempted to abandon the horses, but if he did that Warren would regain them and stand all the chance in the world of ba Laer him the next day, or whenever he ventured from the mountain to the plain, Such being the case, he resolved to hang to them. One more experience like his first, however, showed him it was dangerous to ride, and that, in all probability, he had deviated from the route followed by the outlaws. ‘‘There’s only one way for it; I must get off and walk; but asIcan go as fast that way as any other, it may be the best in the end. Cer- ea le Ishall be less ofa target than in the saddle.” He dismounted and, leading both animals, passed along quite briskly. He was able to choose a decent route, and as he soon entered a guich, it seemed he bad struck the proper course. The way, too, improved under foot and he remounted. The horses went more confidently, and he had soon covered a quarter of a mile. He went in total darkness, however, for the sides of the guich had assumed the size of cliffs and shut him in as in a tomb, Once, be fancied he heard hoof-strokes behind him and turnedin the saddle; but asit was a baseless fear, he saw nothing. He could not provers a feeling of gloom, bowever, and bad e been back at Big Nugget Bend he would bave been a happy man, Another disappointment awaited him; the gulch suddenly ended at the foot of a third cliff; he was in another cul-de-sac, This time he resolved to desert the horses and take to the mountain on foot. It was easier planned than done, When he attempted to scale the cliff he found it impossible. There was no help for it; he must retrace his steps. so he rode back, keeping sharp watch by the way. It was not a cheerful ride, as will easily be seen, for the chances were Warren bad before then recovered his senses and gone in iets llen derived a little satisfaction from the fact thut be bad taken all visible weapons when he left the cabin. Had this fact been otherwise, what occurred might bave been prevented by additional precautions on his part. As he neared the eastern end of the gulch he rae slowly, looking for a chance to turn to the eft. He was still looking, when suddenly, the blackness before him became lighted ie a bril- liant flash, andin the middle of the light he saw, for one brief instant, the form of a man who was kneeling on the ground with a rifle stretched out before him. He had no chance to recognize him; but as bis horse made a bound, reared and fell over against the otber, and thence to the ground, there was little room to doubt. : It was Warren. Allen was enough of a horseman to leap from his saddle under such circumstances, but in the resent case he was beffled by a fact just men- ioned, His own hb fell against the other, and when Allen made a leap be found his foot caught and held between tLe two, Another moment and the wounded horse was down, and there lay Allen, bis leg pinned be- neath him. The next sound to break the silence was the clatter of hoofs as the second animal bounded away; but the first one lay quite still, and Ster- ling wrenched in vain to free his leg. o add to the danger of the situation, be saw the late marksman running toward bim, Clearly, prompt action was necessary, or aiep would never come out of the effair alive. He was equal to the emergency. Hastily drawing his revolver, he raised it without a word and pulled the trigger, once, twice! The fire checked, but did nut seem to injure, the would-be assassin. Seeing a difference be- tween being marksman and target, he stupped his advance and disappeared. For a moment Allen was at a Icss to account fcr this, but as he saw a bowlder in the middle of the gulch, be realized that his enemy had taken refuge there. He made a desperate effort to free bis leg, but failed. The borse, dead before he touched the x10und, had not stirred after he fell, and there he young man was held. To save bis life be could not pull his limb out, and, of course, be could not roll an eleven-bundred pounds borse off of himself with his legs sticking out the wrong way. It was a situation almost maddening, but after awhile Allen grew calmer and resolved to make the best of it. Beyond a doubt the other man was Warren, and as he must know the coveted money was in Allen’s pocket he would spare no pains to recover it, ‘I must watch for him like a cat!” It was a wise resolution and, no longer payin attention to the horse, he lay motionless and watched and listened with all possible care, . Stonefist, of Big Nugget Bend. ti, EL LLL LLL LLL LL LLL LLL LLL LL LAL Len) 23 The wisdom of this course was soon shown, He heard the double click which tells of the cocking of a firm-arm and settled well down be- hind the dead horse. Another moment and the fusilade opened. Six times in rapid succession the revolver was discbarged and a leaden hail whistled around Sterling. About balf the shots went over, while others struck with a dull chugin the body of the borse; but Allen remained unharmed. So jubilant was be over this fact, he could not avoid a derisive sbout. “Try again, my good man; try again, and then I'll take my turn!” An answer was promptly returned in War- ren’s voice, ‘*Come out, you coward, and fight me boldly!” ge xcuse me, but I like very well where I we a te eee ‘*You are a coward!” “All right!” **See here! If you'll surrender that money, I'll let you go,” “You're very kind, but I bave otber plans.” ‘You shall never take it away alive!” “Who will prevent it?” “*T will.” “Mr, Warren, don’t think me too severe, but I want this mon Bg buy up Denver, And I’m oing to do it, if l can bold on to the money. f you want it, you must come and get it!” curse was the only answer and then an- other silence followed. Allen resumed his care- ful watching and listening. Forced as he was to keep bis position, be must not allow Warren to steal on him unawares. Several minutes rolled on without further hostile demonstrations and he employed a part of his time in trying to get bis foot out of bis boot. If he could do this he believed he could draw his leg from under the horse, While thus engaged he heard a barely-audible sound at his left. The place was severs] yards from Warren’s bowlder and he did not at first think it was his enemy, but as it continued it was so like a man cautious! y crawling along the ground thet he could no longer doubt, Warren bad left the bowlder unheard by him, by making a wide d:tour, and was creeping up from anew quarter—one from which he would no longer be protected by bis equine breastwork. Clearly, this advance must be stopped. So Allen leveled bis revolver as well as he could, uader the circumstances, and pulled the trigger. A quick movement on the part of the creeper foil. wed the shot—and then utter silence, Al- len smiled grimly. He knew he bad not seri- ously wounded the man, if, indeed, be had Soucted him at all, but his experience would teach him caution. Another long pause followed. Allen worked fitfully to release bis leg—fitfully, because it would not do to relax bis vigilance for a mo- ment. Warren was going to have the money nestling in his late prisoner’s pocket if sucha thing wes possible, Probably he would have waited for daylight and then picked him cff at bis leisure, but it remained a fact that Allen might in the mean while slip away, and if he went he would not leave the money, An hour passed, Allen was suffering a good deal of pain from the continued weight on his leg and the cffurt to release it, but be would not cease his work. Already he had started his boot from his foot, and complete success seemed only a matter of time, ‘ Anon, he heard the old creeping sound, this time at bis right. Warren had Jong bren silent, but Sterling knew he was again movirg orward to accomplish his work, The young man set his teeth and Jay close to the dead horse, His revolver was already cocked and he did not need to touch it. | Nearer and nearer came the soft, creeping sound, until at last Allen believed he could see hisenemy. He dared not wait ary longer.end, aiming as well as he could, he pulled the ‘trig- ger. The flash and report were not much ahead of a dull, heavy fall and the dark figure disap- peared, Whether it was on the ground or not Allen could not say positively, but there was no rapid retreat and the rustling sound was heard no more. Satisfied that all danger was past, he renewed his efforts to release his imprisoned limb, and as he was no longer bampered by the coution he bad to use belore, it was not long before he was free from his boot. The next thing was to get free from the horse, and this he accomplished finally, though not without severe pain. . He bad thought all would be well then, but the result peeved the error of his eg aes - So long had bis Jeg been beld down, it was like a thing of lead when he tried to use it, and he could not stand. One thing only was needed, however; fric- tion would bring back its olden power; and he sat down to chafe it. While so doing he wondered how be was to get back to Big ugget Bend. Of the horses, one was dead and the other had run away, MIE OOO) KS sO) (E(0) SS