Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 271 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

i | i | Hi | rr aE = SS as — == > ee ee et ee . . ~—— He hoped the latter might be recovered, but, as we have seen, the animal had left the mountain in hot haste, and made its way to the Bend, stained by the blood of bis dead mate, to spread fresh alarm there. And when day broke Allen Sterling saw the body of Warren lying flat on its face twenty feet away. Forever done with the world was the man, and Allen was free to go where he would, And in his pocket was the robber’s mouey. =- CHAPTER XXXI. DEACON STONEFIST SHOWS A BETTER SPIRIT. BARTHOLOMEW BLAKE walked into the money-jender’s office. His face was as stern as ever; but as he Des age through the door he aused abruptiy. Zora was at the desk, but er head was bowed and her aititude one of scrrow and dejection. Despite this she made a pretty picture, and the reformer may have realized it as he looked. Certainly, his face changed expression and gee less stern, and he seemed to hesitate to reak the silerce. When he did it was not in his usual fashion, but with a cough which was almost embar- rassed, The girl looked up quickly, Her face was unusually flushed, and her eyes red, sure signs that she had been weeping. A shadow flitted over her face at sight of him, and he was shrewd enough to know he was not welcome. Still, he had given aid to, her father, and she did not turn away from him. Instead, she greeted him pleasantly, ‘' You are in trouble,” he said, slowly. His voice lacked the old, severe inflection, and she noticed it at once, “ Yes,” she said, simply. ‘* May Lask the prey 9 ‘*‘ There is more than one thing to trouble me, but I am chiefly worried about Allen Sterling. You bave heard how the horse came in stained with blood, and people think it is that of Mr. Sterling.” * You feel kindly toward the young man.” **1 do. He has been an inmate of our bouse for some time, and both my father and myself regard him bighly.” “The young man js fortunate.” Blake spoke mechanically, as it seemed, and | looked at vacancy, but Flora put a marked meaning to bis words, ‘* He was like a brother to me,” she said, ex- planatorily. **One would think he was something more.” **] don’t know why one should. You refer to my tears, I suppose, but people—at least such | worldly people as I—shed tears forabrother. I eared for him no more than that. Besides, I | believe be cared for another girl I could name,” ** Who is she?” “That is a secret not mine to tell.” “{ ecan.surmise; you refer to the school- te cher. I bope you are wrong. She is of a cold, proud nature, and until she changes her heart, unworthy of such a regard,” “1 don’t know why she is, I have never seer: the signs of pride you refer to; all people are not alike. erhaps, however, neither of us is a good judge.” A slight smile came to Blake’s face, but it quickly disappeared, He did not fail to detect tue rebuke. ‘* You speak of other trouble,” he gravely said. ‘‘ What is it?’ * All this warfare against my father troubles me. ‘One of the evil men who have plotted against him is in corfinement, and the rest may soon be seeured, Mr. Wisecraft, the lawyer, is helping your father.” ' & Why not?’ Zora besi‘ated, It seemed strange that she should trust Blake, especially as she had so often quarseles with him, and yet she was inclined to 0 so. ; “The first time he came here there was something said which worried my father great- ly. Woat it wasi do not know, for he would not confide in me—he even declared my gus- _ picions unfounded; but I was not so easily de- ceived. Mr. Wisecraft has bad a good deal to do with our affairs lately, and father has evidently come to look up-n him as a friend and ally; but Iam not so easily led to forget the past. There was something then which led father to regard him as anything except a friend, and I believe ‘Old Ketchum’ is trying to get him wholly in his power. I am afraid he has escaped a sword-fish to meet a shark!” There was a curious mixture of sorrow and defiance, of confidential ways and indifference in the girl’s manner, but Blake received it | and thoughtfully. “I think you are wrong about the lawyer,” he then replied. ‘* He is an eccentric man, but I believe he is honorable ” for you to talk. I “Thais is a new wa thought you believed all people villains.” *“ I do not trust that man,” she said, quickly. The Deacon did not change expression. ‘““There is still ample reason for me to bring men to see their failings while cards and liquor rule in Big Nugget Bend, but, having taken sides in this plot against Mr. uocky eet I must necessarily forget my professional duties and distinguisa between what is partially bad and what is all bad.” ‘*Classing me as all bad, I suppose,” said Zora, with a laugh. ‘*No,” he answered. “I have pointed out sundry failings of yours, but I see you have discarded your worldly dress for one of be- comipg black—” ‘*Tt was because I felt sorrowful enough for it; I shall put on the plaid you so abhor just as soon as Pay Sterling returns safely !” She made the assertion with a mixture of real and feigned defiance, but even that failed to bring the old, harsh look to his face, ‘*T hope not, child,” he gravely said. “I hope you have enough regard for my friendly interest to leave gay colors and ribbons to your weaker sisters.” “‘ Still, I don’t believe I have.” ** Would you deliberately go contrary to my expressed wishes?’ ‘*‘ Why shouldn’t I?” **T bave an interest in you.” Zora eould not avoid laughing. ‘* At what per cent.?” she asked, mischiev- ously. ‘That all depends on yourself and how much you deserve.” ‘* Well, I don’t believe J deserve much, and you had better not bet anything on me,” ** Bec! Do you, suppose I would be guilty of such a thing? There was a touch of his old manner in his question. ‘* Why not, if you see a chance to win?’ “Child, this levity is shocking!” Before she could answer there was a shout outside the office and both went to the door. They had scarcely done so before Zora uttered a cry of joy. Allen Sterling was approaching the house accompanied hy several of lis sym- pathetic fellow-townsmen, who bad met and were escorting him in triumph to his old post. One look was enough to show bim in good spnaien and then Deacon Stonefist turned to ora. ‘* Now is the chance to don the gaudy dress,” be slowly said. Zora started aud looked into bis face, It was composed and witbout the shadow of a smile; _and though he did not show any severity it wes evident he wished to try her. F ur a mcment she hesitated, but it was not in her nature to openly displease him after their la'e interview. ‘‘L_ think my present dress will do for now,” she replied, They had time to say no more, for Allen was at hand, and he deserved attention. ; Zora greeted him warmly, and then bis other friends went away. All knew be would resume his place at Lockyard’s office, but no one knew of the money in his pocket. This fact be intended to keep secret for a time, atleast. It was as much bis as any one’s, though he was notsurehe should keep it. It was the fruit of robbery; and though Warren was dead and Yates would not dare to claim it, it would be a fortune be could not enjay without many misgivings, But if he kept it and said nothing, Yates would be sure to suspect where it was, he argued, and it might lead to his be- ing caught. An investigation bad been begun to learn if he was still at the Bend in disguise; but it was not likely he would delay long after Allen’s return, As tbe reader already knows, he bad gone seey, as soon as the blood-stained horse came "At this juncture a note was brought to Blake, signed by Lockyard, and requesting his pres- ence in Wisecraft’s office; and he went over at once. He found Old Ketchum in bed, and likely to remain there for some time. The wound re- ceived from Bunker’s revolver, and which he had at first treated lightly, was giving him @ good deal more trouble than he had anticipat- ed. The best surgical skill at the Bend had been employed, but the chances were the law- yer would keep his bed for some time to come. All this was explained to Blake by Ketchum and Lockyard, who spoke alternately, and then the lawyer added: “This blow comes at an unlucky time. I am here with important work on my hands; I am engaged in a tug of war which concerns more than myself; and it is of vital importance that the work go on. I need a strong, resolute man to undertake the task I must for the time aban- don, and I have turned to you, Mr. Blake. Will you aid me?” Lockyard’s face expressed dissatisfaction, and it was clear he did not approve of puttibg a crank forward in such a way; but Blake’s face did not change. ‘“‘T cannot answer until I know the nature of the work,” he evenly replied. “It isa battle for right, justice, and a father- ™ - (EO) Stonefist, of Big Nugget Bend: less girl,” replied Ketchum, gravely, ‘‘ You cannot but give your sympathy.” And then in the gathering twilight he began his story, revealing another proof of man’s av~ arice and crime. CHAPTER XXXII. KELLOGG’S CLAIM. Ir was an hour later when Nathan Lockyard returned to his own bouse. He went with a shadow on his face which seemed to have per- manently replaced the old, peaceful expression. And the shadow was not caused by direct medi- tation on his own affairs, which had materially brightened with Sterling’s return, e was thinking of Old Ketchum and trying to measure the man, What was he to think of him #—was he better or worse than he seemed? It was a question bard to answer. Not many days before, when the lawyer first called upon him, he had referred to a secret the money-lender hoped, and believed, was forever buried in the grave of tbe past. It was this which bad troubled him, as Zora had seen, and the reason that he would not confide in ber was. that the secret.intimately concerned her, This interview led Lockyard to regard Ketchum as bis enemy, but close after it came other interviews. Twice, the money-leader bad been warned of plots against him through Ketchum’s instrumentality. As a result, the plots had failed. rponeeanent) , Ketchum was to be regarded as a friend if all was bonest and. above-board. But was it so? At times, from the very beginning, he had felt a vague doubt, a self-inquiry whether the lawyer was not the instigator of all these plots. But meditation had brought no answer; Old: Ketchum was an enigma. And the story told to Bartholomew Blake.,. according to Lockyard’s opinion, only served to increase the mystery. ‘Lhe Jawyer had en- veloped his so-called ‘‘tug of war” in a yail of uncertainty. He had not called eny names, reserving that for another time, be said, but. merely giving an outline +0 Blake could decide what to do, In answer, Blake had promptly agreed to manage affairs and do what was necessary while Ketchum was recovering. Lockyard hardly knew which seemed the greatest crank. Ketchum’s vague, mysterious ways, and his confidence in Blake, an avowed crank, all looked unexplainable if he was in his. right mind, So the money-lender went home perplexed. and troubled, But, once there, he partially forgot all this. Sterling was back, alive and well, with a story of adventure to tell, and Zora was in such good. spirits that even her father soon remembered. how to laugh. Half the evening passed agreeably, but after- Sterling went out another mbshell made its: appearance. The door between the i. ner an outer cffice had been Jeft open, and a footstep became audible where they sat. Lockyard arose, but he might have saved himself the trou- ble. The man who bad entered came straight: to the inner room and, meeting the money- lender at the door, paused and stood like a statue. Lockyard started back with a sudden change of expression. He knew the visitor and was. not pleased to see him. It was Horace Kellogg. Weeks bad passed since the ycunger man had crossed his uncle’s threshold, but he had only himself to thank for the fact. He had been helped financially until further aid was folly, and worse, for all bad been’spent in dissipation, and a complete breach bad followed Lockyard’s refusal to belp him further. Even when they had met in the street they did not speak, for Horace had refused to notice the man be could not du But, this evening, he Rad come again, and as he stood there, an insolent smile on his face, it was plain be had been drinking heavily. ‘‘Tep of the evening to your worship!” he impudently said. ‘Glad to see you looking so blooming, and the same to you, my fair cousin. Zounds! bow she grows angelic, don't she old man ‘‘Never mind this,” said the money-lender firmly. ‘‘Why bave you come here, Horace “To clasp your bonored hand and, [ think— ves; r am sure of it—to kiss my charming ora!’ He started toward the girl as he spoke, but. Lockvard stepped between them. ‘Keep back, sir,” said the old man, an indig- nant quiver in his voice. ‘Do not add insult fa iney A a * Insu ‘ “Yes, sir; for the touch of your lips, affected as you are by liquor, would be contamiiiation for her.” Kellogg laughed unmusically- | **So-ho! the cat jumps thas way, does she? Our Zora is too good for ie to look at, is. she?’ ‘Yes, sir; she is!” Lockyard declared. “A rare comedian you are, unc Nate, but } like melodrama better, there's aiways a start- NIiGDOOKS (C hy eo ‘ ‘ O <1 A et <i