Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 28 — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

~ i Three-Fingered Jack. ' 29 ———— : i _, being, first to regain the two horses brought | ed Zimri. ‘‘ Though f mought ’a’ knowed it. It’s | Ham-fat seriously affirmed—and succeeded in | uin’s camp, and by their aid to reach from Jo Hard Luck before the two eget comrades of Sleepy George could give the alarm to their master. Their disappointment may be imagined when they found the animals were missing; as Zimri quaintly observed ‘* common cussin couldn’t do the subjee’ jestice.” ‘‘You see the sign,” he added, with a snort of disgust. ‘‘ Them ain’t our huff-prents. While we was palaverin’ over yender, them two pizen imps o’ thunder an’ guns smelt out our crit- ters—” “The e’s up, then, unless we can cut them off through the hills. And I’m in a sweet condition for that work!” grumbled Hayes, rub- bing his lame leg. ‘© What's did cain’t sca’cely bo helped,” philo-— sophically replied Zimri. ‘Even ef Long Tom slips us now, time ‘ll come—sure! But now —it’s jest es you say. Ill try to head ’em off, ef you say so—mebbe I kin git thar ahead of ‘em. You kin go back an’ wait fer me, ef you like, or foller the besti you kin.” ; ‘We'll go together. You couldn’t show your nose in Hard Luck without being made cold meat of by the first man you met, and it’s part- ly my fault that this is the case. I don’t mean to leave you until P'veset that all square. Come pl show you what avripple can do when he ies,’ ’ Zimri’s tolerable knowledge of the country stood them in good stead, and by choosing the shortest and easiest cuts, they made really ra- pid progress, delayed though they were by the sheriff's injuries. They pressed on all night, halting for an hour in the morning to roast a rabbit which Zimri knocked over with his re- volver, then on again, nearing the town of Hard Luck not long after noon. ‘‘Something’s turned up!” muttered Hayes, as he noted an unusual bustle around the Miner’s Rest, principally of women and ** John’s,” with a sprinkling of rough-clad dig- jest a piece with the hull tormented doin’s!” ‘**Let’s have a look at this room you were — about. There may be something in there worth seeing.” result if Long Tom should return and learn that | they had betrayed his trust. But a sharp word from Hayes solved their doubts. He was more to be feared, present, than their employer ab- sent. The room remained much as when the reader saw it last, save that the iron chest now yielded readily to the sheriff's touch. It was empty. The gamblers exchanged black looks. Though they had suspected as much, this proof that stealing two horses, nearly killing them in their haste to warn their employer of his danger. Long Tom swallowed this—with a grain of salt, | yet swallowed it—and gave the rascals the fev The gamblers hesitated, evidently fearing the | undreds which he had about his person, ther hastened to wind up his affairs as thoroughly the time would admit. The fugitives had not lied-—merely exagger- ated a little. As they realized that nckcdy was _ chasing them, they paused for breath upon the Long Tom had fled, came none the less heavily | upon them, *“Now, boys,” said Hayes, as they returned to the outer room, ‘‘I guess the best do is to lay around here until this matter is set- gers and an Indian or two, to make the medley complete. The sheriff and his companion were quickly recognized, and the crowd thered -around them; but ere a question could be asked or an- swered, Mrs, Champion, half-frantic, elbowed her way through and set le wail, whereupon a dozen or more sympathizing spectators en- deavored to reveal the trouble her sobs and tears rendered obscure, yes bore it allas best he could for a few minutes, but then sternly commanded silence. Picking out one of the number, he bade him speak quickly and to the point. “The young can be iss Mary, you know, boss—she's gone—no don’t know whar nur how, no more’n nothin’,” came the reply. “Some evil villain has dragged her away—I know the poor dear will come home all dead and—and murdered!” sobbed Mrs. Champion, hysterically. ‘““'Phere—I don’t believe it is as bad as that. Calm yourself, madam—we will do the best we can, and will restore your niece in a few hours.” Then he bade two of the women look after the hostess of the Miner’s Rest, and as she was led away, he called the dozen miners around him, tled. You may not be needed, but if you are, I ling you can | should hate to have to send after you. Come on, | old man; let’s travel.” The two gamblers looked as though they | George had cached the stolen gold. would like to ask a few more questions, but the | cold, hard look the had learned to know so | well, settled over the sheriff’s face, and they felt that it might be dangerous. So, with more than one curse upon Long Tom’s head, they re- turned to their interrupted game of ‘‘ draw.” ‘*Tt’s plain as the nose on your face, old man,” quoth Jack Hayes, as he hobbled down the crooked street, paying little attention to the diggers who hesitatingly followed him, at a re- tful distance; ‘‘ when we find the girl, Long om won't be far away. Whether willingly or not, she left this burgh in his company—that I am free to swear, If we can only strike his trail—and that makes me think! Didn’t I see old Superfine back yonder? Go tell him that there’s whisky to be earned, Bring him with you to Michigan Ann’s shebang; lively, now!” Zimri understood the sheriff romptly made his way back to the Dew-Drop n, where the shrewdness of his guess was made apparent by the presence of a half-drunk- en Indian, no less than ‘“ Superfine,” big chief of the Pi-utes, A tall, fine-looking warrior, when sober, simply dressed. A ra blanket hang- ing from one shoulder; an old flour sack wrap- _ around his loins in such a manner that he big blue letters SuPERFINE could only be _ seen when the chief was faced from the admiring spectator. A true Indian in his love for strong ink, Superfine willingly followed Zimri, when he learned what was required. Meanwhile Hayes was busy. He experienced some little difficulty in gaining admission into the ‘‘high-toned ” maison,du joie presided over _ by Mistress Michigan Ann, but once recognized telling them in a few short sentences what had | been discovered since his departure. ‘* Hold!” he cried, sternly, as a wild yell of angry vengeance greeted the intelligence. ‘ Re- member that we are white men. No violence until I give the word. We will arrest Long Tom, but he shall have a fair trial—that is un- less he has took to his heels already,” ‘‘He was runnin’ a game, as usual, last night.” ‘Enough! Scatter and surround this hole,” This was effected without difficulty, then Hayes entered, with Zimri Coon, first giving orders to arrest any and all parties attempting to leave the building. They only found two men within, playing ker. Hayes recognized them for two of Long 'Tom’s dealers. Where’s the old man, Curley?” asked the— sheriff. “Td give a few to know that myself,” was | the surly reply. ‘“Now, Curley, I’m on business, There’s been a power of dirty work hatched up in this she- in his official capacity, his work was unexpect- edly easy. He found the woman in a maudlin condition—full of bad whisky, disappointed love and Jealousy, and quietly proceeded to pump her dry—-figuratively poadicinae It was not hard to do, pie All Hard Luck knew what tio connected Long Tom and Michigan Ann. He had visited her the night before. There had been a furious quarrel, Long Tom ended it by giving her a sound thrashing—as her bruised and diseolored face bore plain evidence. Then he swore that ali was over between them, ad with devil- ish cruelty that he had found another woman worth ten thousand of her. But Hayes could learn nothing more from her if indeed she knew it. That Long Tom had fled the town, he knew before; a clew as to the di- rection taken, the probable point for which he was heading, was what he ed to learn. But that Michigan Ann could not, or would not tell him. Disappointed in a measure, he went down- stairs, and calling the household tc ether, ques- tioned them sharply. But there is & peculiar notion of honor among the class he was dealing ies and despite his threats, he could learn no : Rejoinin Zimri and Superfine, he re-entered oe VN a rp Be he Sates, to we chie wishes, a lean, hang-dog looking fel- low aceosted him. . ‘You axed some questions over to the house bang, and eet to put the whole outfit yender, boss. You know how ’tis; them gals’ e. Idon through the ere finger in the pie, but the er and straighter | you hoe your row, the better it will be for you. want Long Tom. Suppose you tell me all you | are yas up to now?” sharply demanded know about him. “He was here last night, as usual, but the | pe was slim, and he said we'd better shut up, e went to his room, in there, but come out ag’in soon, We bunked down here, That was e last we saw of him. I know he went over to | t say you’ve had any | scratch the eyes out o’ a feller ef he was to squeal on an y they knowed—” “Spit it ght out, Pimple—what fae Mos es, ive me fifty dollars, an’ ’M! show you Tom!” CHAPTER XXXV. A TERRIBLE PERIL. THE keenest-eyed observer could not have de- Michigan Ann’s—they say she cut up mighty | tected anything unusual in the BPVOGrence. of rough about something. I went up to her drunk. Ef it’s business reckon he got wind of it and ’cluded to le- vant. Somebody called him out in a hurry last night—” ‘One was Cock-eyed Waddel,”® put in the other gambler. “TI hearn his voice, an’ knowed it in a minnit.” ‘* Durn the corn-twisted crooked luck!” growl- ated | Long Sher as 7. ehigtes Sew Dew uh inkin’ thin’ was wrong, but she was ad far from midnight. et hi Game Met it's business you want him fot 1 |' tiigled with the rop Inn, not asty that told hi ons speech im hi carefully-cherished plans were all ruined, that naught but instant flight could save him from a disgraceful death, He had been called out by: Cock-eyed Waddel and Ham-fat Zack, who, tald him how they had waylaid Crazy Billy, of what followed. How they bad fled—‘ from ack Hayes,” as nigh onto forty men, onder S meaning, and | | ridge, glancing back toward their recent cm- bush. They saw three men gathered arcund Sleepy George, and recognized one as being Sheriff Hayes. They cculd tell, too, that the bummer was still alive; this, in such hands, they knew was equivalent toa full cenfessien. Turning to recume their flight, Waddel discov- ered the two horses in the valley beneath them, and finding no cne was guarding them, he de- clared his intention of confiscating them. This was adroitly Cone, unsuspected by the owners, and the thieves rede hotfcot to where Sleepy Securing this, they warned naus Tom of the ccming stoim, and fled before it themselves; Lut not far. Two days later there was a hanging-bee in bic- dletown. Joaquin’s Coubt concerning his horses had, happily, come to pass; Ceck-eyed Waddel and Ham-fat Zack dicd as horse-thieves. Long Tom glanced quickly around the bar- room. He saw ‘ The Preacher” sitting at a ta- ble, half drunk, though capable of prcmpt cbe- dience as quick as he caught his master’s eye. ‘*Come,” muttered the gambler, as they ¢n- tered the darkness, ‘‘ Ycu must brace up, old man, for there’s work ehead of us, Tl tell you all when we get toa suitable place; and while we are walking, you just make up your min to do as I think best, without asking any ques- tions. You've been soaking your brains so long that you're fit for nothing else. Mind—I say you must carry out the part I give you, or the odds are that we will koth grace the end of a trail-rope before another sunset.” They reached the house presided over by Michigan Ann, ang ordering scme liquor sent up to his room g Tcm briefly related what he had been told. ** Now you see how we stand, Paul,” he began, only to be interrupted by the other, whom the startling tidings had partially sobered. “ How you stand—I had nothing todo with it— ‘“You were along when the boys tried to rub those two devils out; that would be enovgh to hang you. But evenif not—we have rowed in the same boat too long for you to think of set- ting up for yourself. Don’tdrive me todowhat Ibave enn threatened; that old affair can be easily revived.” X “You killed him—I only—” faltered the Preacher *‘Hush! you cursed fool!” hissed the gambler, his eyes glowing. ‘‘ These walls are like paper. But you know I can do all I say—no matter what the real fects are. We must leave this’ hole, before day. You must go with me—and one other. You can guess who I mean?” _“Not—not her?” faltered the drunkard, half pleadingly. ; “Yes—her, You need make no bones about it. You must induce her to go with you, se- best Tell her what you will—that a detee- tive has struck your trail—anything you please; only mark this. If you fail me, I will go and tell her everything—mind, everything, and show her the proofs, too; thatinstead of an unfortunate defaulter, her father assassinated one man, then deliberately swore away the life of an innocent man—sent to the gallows for the deed you Tit Tc h will ise _ can coax her, you. promise to— to do the square thing by us?’ asked the drunk- en wretch, cowed by the fierce audacity of the greater and stronger criminal. “I told you before that I loved her better than my life, I asked her to marry me, bu she refused, I didn’t much care for that, for I counted on you to talk her over. This will be a good chance, You get her to premise to become my wife, and I will give you every proof I hold concerning thatold effair. If you fail—well, I cae t ou pase I Ai hang you for gp Job. tals a rope for my own neck at the. same time!” “ ns There was little more conversation, all bear» ing Bapon the same point, The result was jus as might have been expected between two such men. The preacher—Paul Morton—yielded— as he had done too often—and set off at once to meet his daughter, Mary. Scarcely had he left, when Long Tom found es portede ug ma aa. entineny ya sort of an t. € something o the truth, Michigan Ann bad listened from an djoining room, and overheard all. The inter- view would not be a pleasant one to record, re a reader is y acquainted with the res Long Tom hastily left the house, and utter- jag a peculiar sound, had the satisfaction of seeing ‘‘ Pimple” appear with three horses Slipping a few ounces into the man’s hand Long Tom dismissed hi But Pimple was no’ so easily satisfied, and dogged the g er as ° Gom ecbool