Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 271 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

ee ee _ showed excavation 26 Stonefist, of Big Nugget Berd. Once on the way, however, Blake began to | new to him, and great beads of perspiration talk. **Weare not going to Wisecraft, Miss Law- rence; that is, not unless you insist upon it. He bas confided a good deal of your affairs to me, and I svall work for you to the best of my ability. The man Bunker has at one time wrongfully appropriated money belonging to you, | understand, To-day he let fall certain remarks which Jed us to believe be hus buried this money beneath the floor of bis cabin, and Wisecraft has suggested that I dig there for it with you to watch me.” ‘To watch you?” “Yes,” replied Blake, without a ripple of resentment, ‘“‘Of course the money is yours, not mine, and I migbt run away with it,” “] am sure wr. Wisecraft did not mean that,” said Althea, laughing in spite of herself, *] am sure be did, and his precaution is a wise one. Big Nugget Bend is bad, all bad, and it is welltbuta man should doubt every one that he can’t watch. Crime runs rampaut here, and no one can be trusted.” “Yet | sball trust you, Mr. Blake.” “ Don’t! I warn you not todoit. I begin to feel the sinful fever so contagious in this for- -saken and undone town rushing through my veins. Tnere is no knowing what I may do. So, when I dig for this buried treasure, you ris well watch me.” he reformer spoke with as much severity as he bad used to other people, and for a crauk he was certainly commendably cosisiest. He felt the grasp of wuywardness upon him, and was resolv to chastise wherever he found cause for it. But Althea, after laugbing a little, grew very rave and deubtful. The next few hours bade air to do mucb toward settling her future, and everything ‘rembled in the balance, Which way the scale would tip was uncertain; luckily for her, perhaps, sbe knew not what the future had io store for her. CHAPTER XXXIV. DIGGING FOR THE TREASURE, Ir was not dificuit to enter Bunker's cabin. Having little exposed to view tbat was worth stealing be never fastened the door, and all ss had to do was to push it open aud enter, lake bad provided himself with a lantern, and this he at once set upon toe table. Althea looked about wich curiosity, but ber companion acted as though be had cften been there, * Now,” be suid, ‘‘it-is very likely we havea long task avead of us, and as we do not want to be interrupted, it will be well to secure the door and keep out intruders.” He did as be said, while Altbea finished her | survey of the place. She was again proving tuat she had good nerves, for every one wuuld not care to be thus shut up with tbe cank of the Bend, despite the fact that an emergency bad served to put his monomania fora time in the background and make him a man of sense. ‘**It doves not seem possible that our enem has been dwelling hero so long,” said the “mf absently, * Refer tothe unbappy man a? your enemy, if you will, but not as mine. Though he bas deviated widely from the path of rectitude, he is still a fellow-creature and [ cannot pass bim by. I hopeto see him reform, though at the eleventh hour!” Btonefist bad picked up the spade and he stood with it held in one hand while with the other he en:phasized bis remarks by appropriate gestures. He was consistent, even then. “Have it as ‘ae will,” the girl answered, somewhat impatiently, * but let us not stop for argument, There is work to be done,” ne . am the a . e reformer turned away and began tearin up the floor of the cabin. This was not hard, for it was but loosely laid. Once up, he ex- amined the whole area carefully, looking for a place where there were sigus of previous dig- ** He has left no clew,” he said, at the end of the search, ‘but this need not discourage us, It was not to be expected.” T have little hope,” Althea remarked. “Be not so easily divcouraged. All things are ible co the resolute,” ithout further us-less words Blake began his work. He piguged the spade into the ground and turned the first mass of earth. From there be went on steadily. If be worked like a novice it was not without zeal and every stroke ao effect. He worked! systematically, so as to handle no earth a second time and the w steadily larger. Althea held the ligbtand looked on with pain- ful gerne one soone enamedot ree the result o at night’s effort. t Bi ugget Bend le bad thought ber no nd chase a '. bat resolute, woman, who had deserted scenes amid which she was reared to con- quer her fortune in the West. Little did they 2 of the oe ss ~ ares little did y ac ter’s vow bad taken her to the ee pare to seek, not for revenge, but for At the end of an bour Blake was compelled to | stop for breath. Strong as he was the work was stood on his forehead. Both his face and Althea’s began to have an anxious expression. He knew very well that the earth he had thus far turned had never be- fore been molested by man; at least not since Big Nugget Bend bad a being; and unless fate was coquettishly reserving their triumph for the last moment, it might be withbeld altogether. The night wore on and still the solitary digger worked. The scene was a s'range one, but the minds of the couple were bent on only one point, And as the space grew smaller, and the spade failed to reveal the buried treasure, their faces grew corresponding!y grave. The conviction was forced upon both that Jack Bunker bad»lied; that no treasure was buried under the cabin; and that they were no nearer triumph than they were a week before. At last, when he had explored the last corner, Blake partially arose, and, leaning against the wall, looked up and met his companion’s gaze. Disappointment and dismay were written on her face, but his was as resolute as ever, though it might have been the courage of desperation. ‘* The last bope is gone!” she exclaimed. “There is surely no hope of finding anything in this a. he admitted. ‘* And the fortu.e for which so much has been done, and suffered, is forever lost,” ‘“That does not follow. It isa long road that has no turning, and Bunker has already met a check to his successful career. I deem this cause a worthy one and shall strain every nerve to succeed. He must be forced to disgorge his ill- gotten treasure.” ‘“* But how can it be done?” ‘*T am unable to say now, butI am enlisted in the cause of right and 1 will go on steadily to the end. Bunker shall either give up the money or be pushed to the wall.” ‘* T have little hop,” sighed Althea, ‘* Be not weak of beart. Am I not with you? I will spare no pains, and [ will not spare the rod. In this case, extreme rigor is excusable.” He resumed work, and replaced the earth and the flooring as nearly as he could in their old places. When it was done there was nothing to show a casual observer that anything unusual had .occurred, After that he saw Althea safely home. Few people were out of bed at that hour and there was no one to wonder at seeing them together. Althea secured a little sieep before morning, but she need not have been ina hurry about rising. Soon after breakfast a caller was an- nouocced and she went to the sitting-room to find Allen Sterling there, She flushed a little at seeing him, while on his own part he showed unmistakable embarrass- ment, ‘‘T hope you will pardon my intrusion, Miss Lawrence,’ he said, ‘* but [am the bearer of a note from Bartholomew Blake.” He extended it as he spoke, but, though she received it, she looked at the bearer rather than the note. ‘“Why do you apologize for coming here?’ she asked, diffidently, ‘* Because I thought it necessary,” he bluntly answered, ‘*T hope you do not think so badly of me as that. I am not bappy in my way of treatin others, I am ready to believe; but you aid me when such aid was needed and you must not think me so mean-spirited as to forget it.” ‘*Tf I was to ask remembrance, it would not be for what favors I may bave bestowed, I wish to be judged merely for myself. But we will not speak of that. If you can tolerate my presence | am glad of it.” “Mr, Sterling, you bumble me to the dust. Iam obliged to confess that I bave not treated you asI should, nor as your gentlemanly con- duct deserved. But, believe me, there was a motive for it, Perhaps I will explain what I mean, before many days, and let you see I am not all pride and ingratitude.” a Je i eve me, I pode nares aught of ” ce | ng you,” he replied, a good de rplexed, but se at all displeased, at ber chan ro of man- ner. ‘‘Ibave never a harsh thought for ou, for [recognize the right of every woman to be her own mistress.” Having placed themselves on this amicable footing, they abandoned the subject and Miss Lawrence read her note, It was to the effect that, owing to the excitement in the village over the recent arrests, it was the wish of the people that the school be discontinued until the matter was settled. To this, Bartholomew Blake’s name was signed. Althea read it gravely, but she could not avoid the suspicion that it would never have been written but for Allen Sterling. So formal a way of doing business was not common to the Bend. But, even though it was all an excuse contrived by Allen to see her, she did not feel angry in the least de She had used him somewhat harshly some a was surely ri Her suspicion was unfounded, however, and as Allen walked awav after a brief, but easant, interview, be was elated at her unusual ness. 4 He bad gone but a few yards, however, when inane EE EPS 9S | he saw Zora among the hills at tic »orth of the town and at once resolved to Joi uci. It was not a long walk, and though she disappeared long before he reached the place he went on without a thought of trouble, His views changed, however, when a man suddenly stepped trom bebind a rock and con- fronted him, for.in bim he recognized a well- known acquaintance, It was Yates, the robber partner of Warren. His hand fell to his pocket in search of bis revolver, but the weapon was not there, anda grim smile crossed the outlaw’s face as he real- ized the fact. ‘‘Hallo! my young hound, b hed just the mn 1 wanted to see,” he said, with an evil ook, “Well, I am here,” Allen cautiously ob- served, **So I see, and we will have a squaring of the old account while we can, ou know what [ mean,” ‘I know there is no love between us, but I need scarcely remind you who began the trouble,” | ‘We used you well, Iand my partner,” said Yates, “‘ but you got the ube and, somehow, and carried a bigh hand, arren is dead and Il am robbed.” ‘‘T am aware of that,” ‘You take it coolly, curse you!” ‘Not so fast. If you knew the circumstances of the case you would not blame me so much.” ‘*Wouldn’t If I suppose you count the mur- der or Warren as nothing, but he was my part- ner for many a day, and a faithful one at that. Now I am going to avenge his death!” “Not so fast. Let me tell you how it occurred. ‘You lay all the blame to me, but you should blame your partner, It was he who robbed you, for he had turned traitor and resolyed to run away with the money, That he failed to do so was because I managed to free myself and get the upper band of him. We fought, with the odds in bis favor, and J won the battle by a close chance. Mark what I say. Your partner was a traitor!” ‘It’s a lie!” Yates hotly exclaimed. ‘I’ve tried him in fair weather and foul snd I knew Lim well. Herob me? He would as soon have cut off his hand!” “IT swear it wasso, He—” “You need not swear, for your lies will not godown. Youarea coward totry it. But, in any case, Warren is dead, and you acknow ledge he died by your hand. I am here as his avenger, and I am going to have a life fora ife CHAPTER XXXV. A NEW MISFORTUNE, YATES was in dead -arnest; there could beno doubt about that. Whatever bis otber faults, he believed his late partner had been as true as he himself was, and as he bad been killed b eae Yates was resolved to avenge h death, Sterling saw all this, and was trying to think of a way to save himself. It did no goed to re- solve never to go abroad unarmed again; he must find some way out of his present trouble. But how was he to do it? He did not possess a weapon, while Yates was fully armed, and there could be no doubt but the revolver in his hand was loaded and ready for use. If he tried to close with him, or to run, a bullet would speedily go crashing through him. ‘‘ It was a mistaken mercy that I spared you at the mountain cabin,” the outlaw resumed. ‘“‘T knew at the time fats were a dangerous man, and one shot would have saved Warren's a and my money. What bave you done with t ‘*You won’t find it on my person, nor will you find it anywhere else. Ihave put it away, without saying a word to any one at the Rend, and if you shoot me it will decay or be eaten by vermin of some sort,” “Tl bave it Ply I swear it!” ‘You can’t find it without my help,” Sterling was beginning to see a ray of hope. He might possibly save his life by promising to return the money. © “Do you take me for a fool?” Yates retorted. ‘You want to bend me to your purpose, but you can’t doit. Ihave everything fixed for a. campaign which shall give me the lion’s share. Come with me—no, go you first!” The outlaw indicated the way he wished his companion to go, and drove him along a sort of miniature gulch at the muzzle of his revolver. Allen was full cf wrath, but he knew enough to yield to the fellow’s whims for a » Turning a point of rock, however, be paused so suddenly that Yates almost ran upon bim. There was ample ceuse for his emotion. Be fore him was Zora Lockyard, bound and con- fined to a dwarfed tree. - Her sudden disappearance was e ed; she had fallen into the hands of the outlaw. “Steady, now!” added the latter. ‘* Don't get any heathen doctrines into your bead and make a fool of yourself. You see I hold the reios in thisrace, The girl is my prisoner and ~~ —257- Comicbooks cor i.