Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 28 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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eter, ee ow Jack had had considerable trouble with several of them, who had left paying claims entirely unprotected behind them at such short notice. y by swearing that he would shoot the first man who attempted. to leave before the boss’s re- turn, could he keep them there. Others were more complaisant, 4 rigor most of their time at Long Tom/’s gambling-tables. ‘*Tt’s a dub’ous outlook for you, I’m ’feared, young fellow,” said Jack Gabriel, thoughtfully, after receiving notice to hold his prisoner ready when wanted. ‘‘The boss is wuss than a b’ar with a. sore head—the jury is a durned sight wuss, an’ they mean to rush the thing through in a hurry. Ef they’d ketched your pard it’d be a heap éasier fer-you, ’t ennyrate, ‘‘ Let them do their worst, old man—it’ll bo all the same a thousand years fromnow. Only —I don’t like to be beaten even ina brace game, and Ill fight it through the best I know how. There comes the word now, I guess,” The boy miner was right. A. messenger came bidding Arkansaw Jack produce-his prisoner— that the court was awaiting him. Gabriel hesi- tated, and fairly blushed as he thrust.one hand into his pocket, where something clinked softly. Little Volcano smiled faintly and held out his hands. “Slip: them on, pard—don’t think I blame ou, only one would think that, after my ac- ion t’other day, my word of honor would be sufficient.” ‘*So it would with me—more than enough, lad—but what kin I do? I told you the boss was sharp set,” muttered Gabriel, as he clasped the handcuffs around the boy miner’s wrists. The court was awaiting them, at the old spot beneath the wide-spreading oak tree, The judge did look stern—while more than one of the jury seemed fairly wolfish. The crowd—far less numerous than that of the first day—evidently shared the same feelings, and vindictive looks greeted the prisoner from every side, while low muttered threats and curses came to his ears from all sides. Instead of intimidating him, the effect was directly opposite. Casting a proudly-defiant glance around, the boy miner resolved to fight bravely and stubbornly for the life that had, only a few hours before, seemed utterly valueless. There was little time cut to waste. The judge arose and rapidly, though clearly and justly, gave an epitome of the evidence already given in. On coneluding he asked the prisoner if he had omitted anything. Little Volcano expressed his complete satisfaction, Several witnesses were called, sworn, and gave in their evidence, but the testimony is scarcely worth recording in full. A great part of it was merely hearsay, the only direct por- tions being in regard to the actions of the pris- oner at the time when Joaquin rode through the town on the Sunday when the Man-Hunters were first organized. With this the prosecution ended their testimo- ny and rested their case. The judge asked the prisoner what defense he had to offer. ‘‘T have a good deal to say, your honor, but I will not waste more of your time than I can help. I could wish that these useful ornaments were removed, but I do not ask it, as your guard is so small,” with a quiet glance around at the crowd of scowling faces. ‘‘ As the first of my witnesses let the man called Sleepy George take the stand.” ‘“T’m a witness ag’inst him,” protested the bummer, but his protest was cut short by Ar- kansaw Jack bun ing him forward. ‘You will please repeat gene story of the chart to the gold placer, Tell the jury every- thing connected with it,” said Little Voleano. Sleepy George obeyed as Gabriel gave him a warning punch in the ribs, His evidence was nearly the same as that already recorded. Then the prisoner questioned him closely as to the everal shape and appearance of the paper. he bummer stumbled dassush as best he could his uneasiness by no means lessoned as he caught the cold, glittering eye of the judge riveted up- on him, ‘‘Gentlemen of the jury,” said the prisoner, ‘“ you have heard this man’s evidence, He has described the chart which he claims as his pro erty, and which he swears I and my friend stole from him. He has given evidence, too, as to where this gold placer is situated, has named the landmarks with sufficient clearness for you to recognize them. ry the fact that I, on the first day, handed his honor the disputed chart; hehasitnow. Please remember what the witness has sworn; that the writing is with ink and in the English language; that he believed there was no name signed to it, or if there was that he had overlooked it. Now, our honor, will you please pass the paper over o the gentlemen of the jury?” The chart was passed over, and eagerly ex- amined. It was written with a lead pencil, in Spanish, and across the face of the chart, in let- ters full half an inch long was the name of Joa- quin Murieta. Sleepy George saw that he had made a slip, and hastily cried out: | “They’s some trick in it—that hain’t the pa- per I had.” ‘““Shet. up ontel you’re spoken to!” growled Arkansaw, adroitly knocking up the bummer's Now I recall to your memo- } a nt Three-Fingered Jack. — ——— —— ———— ———— ee jaw with atorce that made his teeth rattle and the tears to come into his eyes. “Youre right as to what you ay, young man,” said the foreman, coldly. “But it’s mighty queer evidence to put in fer one as stands ’cused 0’ bein’ one 0’ Joaquin’s gang.” ‘** All in good. time, my friend; perhaps that oint can be explained also, if you are patient. our honor,” added the boy miner, ‘‘ for what I now have to say, I wish to be put_on my oath. L know it is not regular, but it will match well with what has preceded. If you will hear what I have to say, I am willing to take my chances. In no other, way can I explain the chain of accidents which has put me in this un- comfortable position.” . ‘You s have every chance we can give you,” replied the judge. ‘‘ We are not assas- sins; we only wish to get at the truth.” Little Volcano was sworn, then proceeded with his story. He briefly ran over his coming to Hard Luck, with the events which decided him to go prospecting alone for a claim, in preference to choosing one near the regular mines. Then he tersely described his adventure with the run- away horse and what followed. ‘‘T had not the faintest. suspicion then, of their identity, and yet, had I. know the truth, [ might have acted the same, The lady—for lady she was, beyond all doubt—was_ seriously injured, we feared fatally. The only chance for her life was in. procuring assistance at the earliest possible moment. at could I do, as aman with a heart in my breast? Just what I did do—just what any, and every man pres- ent would have done, assisted them as far as I was able.. We carried her to the valley where his band rendezvoused, Then, for the first time, I knew that my companions were Joaquin Murieta and. his wife. ee-fingered Jack recognized me, and attempted to. take my life—you know that he was one of those who stopped the up-coach last month, when I helped to drive them away. Joaquin saved my life then, and bade me follow him. I could do nothing else. If I had attempted to leave then, I should have been followed and murder- ed. It was while his wife was being attended to that he told me the story of his life. It may have been exaggerated—I know nothing about that; I only know that it affected. me strange- ly at the time, , He showed me. that his whole life was wrapped up in the welfare of his wife, and, to prove that he was not ungrateful, he gave me that chart, first swearing that there was no blood upon it, that it had been honestly come by. I took it, as amy man would have done. At that moment there came an alarm —the camp was attacked; you all. know the re- sult. I had no choice but to leave as best I could. I couldn’t fight with Joaquin, nor against him, as I was situated, . I escaped, and aaah the fight was still going on I met_ Bill Blazes. .He insulted me—I knocked him down and went my way. JI found my partner, and told him everythi We were examining the chart, and discussing it, when we discovered an eavesdropper. That eavesdropper was none other than Sleepy George. at he over- heard there is all he ever .knew about that chart, but. it was enough to cause us all this trouble. We tried to throw him off the track by advertising a lost paper, but in vain, Then came the row at the house of Long Tom. It was a put-up job to get hold of the chart, by double beniang me. It failed, though I was knocked senseless. We slipped off that night for our placer. They followed us. They stole up in the dark, but we were on guard, The fired the first. shot; we returned it, and in self- defense killed two men. They besieged us, but that day Joaquin came up. and drove them off, We never asked his help, nor could we refuse it. He rode away, and left us to ourselves, What followed, you all know as well as I, This, your honor, and gentlemen of the jury, is a, true and faithful story of what you my crimes, so help me God!’ ‘‘Have you no other witnesses to call?” asked the judge. : ‘* None, your honor. You have heard every- thing that bears upon the case—except one gr. ‘Is it of importance? The day is passin and our time is of importance,” a little Sova asked the judge. ! “T consider it of the greatest importance, your honor, since, in all probability, my life de- pends upon it.” “Very well, what is it?” ‘*T am not entirely satisfied with the P het ae aro ae cannot be helped now; the evidence is in— ‘“*T must ask leave to make a brief statement, then,” quietly added Little Volcano. “TI can prove that two of the members have taken money as pay for bringing me in guilty.” CHAPTER XXVTLI. WAITING FOR THE VERDICT. LixE a bombshell falling into asleeping camp, came this bold assertion of the prisoner; for a moment the judge, jury and spectators stared in mute amazement—but then came changes. The burly foreman of the jury arose, his broad a put no w 23 face fairly glowing, his voice half-smothered with rage. But a quiet motion from the judge quieted him. Through this little bit of by-play, Little Vol- cano had been making good use of his eyes. He saw one pale, handsome face grow still whiter, and fancied he could hear the bitter hissing oath that really came from beneath the drooping mustache. He saw two of the jurymen inter- change swift glances, and move uneasily upon their seats as though they were growing uncom- so Aty warm, This much he saw and noted before the voice of Judge Lynch broke the al- most painful silence. “You have made a serious charge, prisoner —a very serious charge, and it’s only right to tell you that it will only prejudice your own case unless you can prove your assertion, beyond all doubt. If you have made it only with a view of gaining time, you had better withdraw it at once, while, there is yet time.” “T have no wish to withdraw anything, quickly replied the boy miner. ‘‘What 1 have said I can prove ; and I stand ready to do 50, if you insist. Though I can point out the guilty men, together with the man who has promised _—if indeed they do not carry the blood-money in their pockets at this moment—them a certain sum if they will hold out until Iam brought in guilty of enough to insure my death, yet I hold no deep grudge against them, since they are lit- tle mere than blind tools in the hands of a cow- ardly assassin. Though I can ruin them forever in the sight of all honest men, I would rather not—unless I am forced to do so, If your honor will agree, I will prove my charge by a witness to whom none of you can object. is done, 1 am willing to rest my case and abide by your honor’s decision—if you say guilty, I will quiet- ly submit, though innocent of any intentional crime.” “T hain’t got the gift 0’ gab like he hes,” blurted forth the foreman of the jury; “but I reckon he means he wants the jury discharged. That won’t work. Ef what he says is so, thar’s some pizen mean cusses in our crowd, an’ now he’s got to p’int ’em out. Ef we’re turned out ’ithout that, every durned galoot among us ’Il be ’spected by some fool or ’nuther. I say—let him prove his words!” pial ‘““Your motives may be good ones, prisoner,” said the judge, ‘‘ but if your charge is true, it would be rank injustice to ten innocent men were we to do as yousay. You must go on and prove your words.” " rN Very well; as my first witness, I call Long om. This announcement created not a little sur- prise, for all knew that there was little good- will between the two men. |The most surprised was probably Arkansaw Jack, but after a mo- ment his puzzled look changed to a broad grin, and he started toward the gambler, who was adually edging his way out of the crowd. ng Tom visibly shrunk as the heavy hand of Gabriel rested Zten his shoulder, and he madea motion as though to draw a weapon, ‘‘Kinder easy, mister man,” said Jack,’ his brawny zipbt arm. stiffening by his side as he spoke. “Them tricks won’t do here. You're wanted fer a minnit, an’ I reckon you'll hev to £0, ‘“T know nothing about the matter—why does the fool pitch on me? He only wants to gain time—” Arkansaw Jack did not wait to hear the pro test, but led the unwilling witness up to the stand, then drew backa pace; but Little Volcano could see that he held himself in readiness for prompt action; | & Tom was duly sworn, though he took the oath most ungraciously, declaring that he had no evidenco to give. < ‘Your honor, I wish the witness to state the conversation that passed between him and certain. man, night before last, in the private room back of his ambling-room.,” “Judge,” angrily cried the gambler, ‘I will not submit to these insults—for such nonsense is nothing less, I repeat that I know nothing whatever of the matter in questaon, nor wi i Eaeubintt to be made a laughing-stock of by {believe you are asking too much, prison- er,” said the judge. a: “Very well—I. will call my other witness first, then. Only you will please hold that man ready to appear when wanted.” : Ata word from the judge, Long Tom relue- tantly approached and took a seat beside him. Then Arkansaw Jack took the stand without waiting to be called. But before he did so, it was noticed that he spoke to two men, who quietly took up their positions behind the bench upon which the jury sat. And Gabriel, him » Placed a revolver upon the table before him, ; Expecting, they scarce knew what, the 1 ape dy drew nearer, with every sense upor e alert. . t eodicia stag. 2 tal, cor t aiche Rea ot a dirty sk an’ I ain’t a-gwine to hiewash over it, nuther. They’s bin a heap o’ shufflin’ an’ stockin’ an’ dealin’ from e bottom in this little game, but the keerd: hain’t all run out yit. ‘‘The pris’ner yender sais as how two oy Lue comicbooks.com