Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 28 — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

— SS 2 } 2 =o ws alone. . . ; j ¢ ’ i P “ them, T will awa bler; ‘‘and even if you did, he would say I had 3 Aa 1 ’ ’ 4 worthy a better one—a man who can love you 1s 30 4 -——-— — ee we SS he made a circuit around the town, hitching the animals near the foot of the ‘‘ Devil’s Chute.” Growing impatient, after a few minutes’ wait- ing, Long Tom started toward the town, but a a ee ~- Beadle’s Dime Library. ne ee ou in ease and comfort, who has the heart to ove, the brain to provide for, and the arm to protect you. Ican do all this—I will do it. I ask you now to be my wife. Wait—don’t an- met Paul Morton and his daughter hastening | swer too hastily. Consider your situation—con- toward him. Heaven only knows what lies the wretched drunkard had She was sobbing painf deavoring to choke them k, and seemed on- ly anxious to leave the town as Foe aS possi- ble. She paid little attention the gambler. Morton managed to whisper in his ear that she knew him only as “a friend,” and that he had better keep shady until they were clear of the town, at least. They rode up the Chute, still followed b ured into her ears. , though bravely en- | — ——_ ‘ Pimple, who scented money in the | sider what may be the consequences to yourself and to him, before you speak.” “There can be but one answer—and that an- swer I have already given you,” firmly replied the maiden. ‘‘I do not love you—I never will. I have always disliked and feared you—now I loathe and despise you!” “You have thrown away your last chance!” snarled Long Tom, as he grasped her arm tight- ly. ‘*I warned you—I warned you!” Mary shrieked aloud with terror. Morton air, nor did he leave the trail for one moment, | was aroused from his drunken ane by the cry. measuring his speed by theirs, until he sawthem He saw the gambler dragging turn into a small cave, just as the day was dawning, leaving their horses in a little valley just below, where they would be effectually screened from view of any passer-by. Pimple squatted down under cover and to be made out of this affair—but how? Why had Long Tom left Hard Luck so secretly? An elopement? That looked like it. Did Michi- gan Ann know anything about the matter? ‘*]’ll run the resk,” he muttered, stealing down the valley. ‘‘ Ef it’s news to her, she'll pay big fer the office.” : Pimple quietly collected the animals, led them beyond sound of the cave, then mounting one, he drove the others before him along the narrow trail for several miles, then left them, doing the same with the one he was riding when a couple of miles from town. Not until they had entered the cave and kin- dled a fire did Mary Morton recognize Long Tom in the companion of their flight. Her - surprise and discomfort cannot be easily mea- Whrh 1 * sured, and she kept close to her father’s side with a distrust she made no attempt to conceal from the bler. His ugly temper deeply ruffled by recent events, Long Tom was quick to note this fear, ' and it soon awoke the devil in bis breast. For a timo he did struggle a the temptation for he really loved—with a ‘fierce, un overned passion—Mary, and felt that he could endure almost anything for the sake of hearing her call him her husband. Had it been considered advisable to travel through the day, the terri- ble scenes which followed might ee have been averted. But, knowing that Hayes would re no pains to hunt him down, Long Tom did not care to risk the chances of meeting an one who might afterward point out their trail. Tor this reason he resolved to travel only by night, at least until at asafe distance from Hard Luck. Unfortunately for himself, Paul Morton had not forgotten to furnish himself with a goodly~ sized flask of whisky, and rendered uncomforta- ble by the evident anger of Long Tom, he con- soled himself by frequent swallows of the liquor, skillfully eluding the eyes of his child, until he | scratched his head. He believed that there was | fallin | | ry away, and his long dormant manhood revived as if by magic. “Stop!” he cried, springing forward. ‘ Un- hand her, Long Tom, or Pili— My God! he has murdered me!” he shrieked, staggering back and to the gronnd, the hot bl spurting from his breast. _ Long Tom had plun a bowie-knife deep into the drunkard’s left breast as he attempted to rescue Mary. “You would have it!” snarled the gambler, thrusting the bloody weapon into his then turning to Mary, who crouched in one cor- ner, almost stupefied: “See what your. cursed folly has wrought! Only for you he would be living now.” As he pressing struggled. aes he forcibly drew her toward him, is hot lips to hers. Vainly the maiden She was nang’ but a child in his fierce grasp. A wolfish glow filled his eyes. She felt that she was doomed beyond all human aid. He pressed her madly to his breast. Her hand closed upon something hard. She clutched it and struck despairingly. There was a fierce yell, a loud report—then all was dark. CHAPTER XXXVI. A DREAD CONFESSION. *“T pon’r reckon you need me Sg ee boss,” said a peculiar cracked voice. ‘* Yender’s the lay-out. The trail lays atween them two trees; runs straight ahead fer some twenty paces, then turns to the left. Look at that patch 0’ bushes, by the p’inted rock—that’s right whar the hole is. You cain’t miss it—” ‘‘Not with you fora guide, Pimple,” quietly responded Sheriff Hayes. ‘I don’t believe you wo care to try any of your tricks on me, still— “You hain’t paid me, yit—besure I wouldn’t run the resk o’ slippin’ up on that,” grinned Pimple. ‘“‘ Your folks is in thar, ‘less they’ve tuck to the hills afoot. Ill wait yere fer ye— but I’m free to say I don’t keer to face Long Tom when his mad’sup. He’dsee the hull thing the minnit he flung glimmer onto me, an’ he’d send Pua me, shore!’ = ould be the best: act he ever was guilty of,” laughed Hayes, shortly. ‘‘ There’s no use imple. ““U you’ve sunk into a drunken slumber. As thoug lL got togo. And watching for this moment, Long Tom drew | mind : Pll ‘send for’ you, at the airst sign nearer the maiden. : of crawfishing.” , ' “This is an unpleasant business, Miss Mor- Pimple to wish he had let this promis- ton,” he began. ‘But two more nights will carry us beyond all danger, I ho will havo an easier time of it. me Ob; wir!” erie Mary, ioiploringly: “Fe Oh, sir!” crie mplo eee ther has told me all—that take for your aid he would have been—been arrested. Believe me, I am grateful, but—please leave us to go our We will remember you—” expect you ne Se irene lieve there is much danger of you forgetting me very soon said the gambler, with a disagreeable laugh. ‘‘ Now—see! Since you have opened the sub- ject, sup we go through with it. You say you are y grateful for my services; yet you are anxious to get rid of me! Let me tell you what I have done. I have left my business— as good as twenty thousand dollars a year. I have put myself under suspicion of being a or in your father’s—we'll say misfortune. ere I to return to Hard Luck, the odds are I would be arrested at once, 1 don’t tell you this to draw forth your thanks; only to show you that when I once put my hand to a game I play the limits. I’ve said I would see your father through with this scrape, and I mean to do it, Of course I have my reasons. Men don’t work in these days without at least a hope of pay. You are smart enough to know better, even were I to swear that I am doing all this through pure friendship for your father. I like him well enough, but I you a thousand times—” 5 «J will not listen to such words,” cried Mary, her eyes flashing with anger. ‘If you repeat ; father—” “You couldn’t do that,” laughed the ; then you e will spare earned the right to be listened to. You see,” he added, as Morton only gave a low t, as Mary called to him and shook his shoulder. I did not lie to you. He isdead-drunk. Do you think he is a fit guardian for you? No! you are ng you deserve to be loved; a man who can keep a TL ) He had been paid by Long Tom for his services, and then had sold him to Sheriff Hayes, for a consideration. _ While Hayes was procuring horses and givin his men their instructions, Zimri_ Coon sough out the only doctor left in Hard Luck and dis- atched him, in charge of a trust ide, to the ermit’s cave. His conscience satisfied, he join- ed Hayes in his mad ride with redoubled zest. Pimple pay ed them well, and they reached the foot of the hill in which the fugitives had sought refuge just as the sun was set the steep trail; but su scream—a pistol-shot. : “There's devil’s work going Hayes, pressing forwar ly 1%? Pimple’s foot slipped and he fell, rolling out of the way, among the rocks. He was not so badly hurt but that a satisfied grin distorted his countenance as he peered after the men as they scrambled up toward the cave. A ery of horror broke from the sheriff's lips as he dashed aside the leafy screen and sprung into the cavern. : > Three bodies lay upon the blood-stained floor; only one of them signs of life. Paul Morton, supporting f upon his right hand that ¢c the still smoking revolver with which he stricken down the maddened gam- bler, his other hand vainly trying to stanch the Lote life-blood that welled from a deep wound in breast, gasped: oe Se gt sure of pete Tom—he murdered me and my—m u r! * Stir oo that fine old man,” cried Hayes. “ Hawkins, draw that fellow’s teeth there,” he added, as the Aca strove to arise, on hear- ing strange voices. : yes, after a hasty investigation, assured himself that the maiden had not been injured beyond a slight cut upon the h where she had fallen against a rock point. He gave her into charge of two men, who conveyed ou ing speculation alone. y there came a wild on there!” grated Lively, boys, live- m; | 'only I wish to show him up,” he said, as the | stimulant strengthened him. ‘‘ | daughter. _ You will not make her suffer for her father’s was silent as they ole pom. clambered up | — ~ ee ee | side where the cool evening air would soon re- store her to consciousness. ‘*Run to earth at last, Long Tom!” cried Hayes, with a chuckle of intense satisfaction, when the extinguished fire blazed up and ren- dered objects as visible as the noonday sun. _ You've come too late for more than to see me die, anyhow!” snarled the bler. ‘‘Ican laugh at your rope, thanks to the girl and that drunken sneak yonder.” As he spoke he plucked a bowie-knife from his breast, where the blade had been buried almost to the hilt. A gush of blood followed; and the _ gambler laughed harshly as he caught some of | it in his hand and flung it at Hayes. ‘Don’t crow too soon, my man,” coolly re- lied the sheriff. ‘‘ We are used to quick work. . ore just hold his hands while I plug up this ole,” | The wound was bandaged, and the gambler’s | hands bound, lest he should attempt to tear off the cloths. Another wound was found upon his head, where Morton’s bullet had glanced from | his skull, but it was only trifling. | Meanwhile Morton was not neglected, though | it was plain that he was fast sinking—that 7 hours. When given to un- derstand this, he asked for liquor, to strengthen him until his story was told. ‘*T don’t care much what becomes of me— could not live man And Mary—my She at least is innocent, gentlemen. sins?” ‘We call ourselves white men, stranger,” sharply said Hayes. ‘‘ We’re rough and reck- less enough, but we’re not so low down as all that comes to. Rest easy about the lady. Go on with your story—but make it short, for Long Tom seems bound to cheat the rope.” Enough of the tragic story so painfully told by the dying man has already been shadowed forth in the course of this story, to render it un- nece for us to follow his words in detail. A brief opsis will be enough. Paul Morton, Thomas Langford and Charles Fletcher were all employed in the same bank. They were ‘fast young men,” close friends, and entered the same downward path together. Langford proved the evil ~ penne of the trio. Fletcher’s was a most confiding and trusting nature. Morton was weak and easily influenc- . There were many things which Morton could not entirely clear up, but on the main points of the tragedy he was positive. eee murdered the young planter with Fletcher’s knife, and robbed him. Fletcher was arrested for the crime, tried and condemned. Morton and Langford swore bis life away; the former forced to doso by Langford, who had discovered him in a forgery to make good the money he had stolen from the bank. Fletcher was hung. Morton found himself in the power of a hard task-master. From that day on, the bank was regularly robbed, and the books ‘“ doctored ”— not a very difficult task, since the confederates i A were now cashier and assistant cashier. t last discovery threatened, and Morton joined then fled, apegunne die. ie oe e y in California. One 7 Langford showed’ him a letter from a friend East, who wrote that Mrs. Morton and her child had both died. Then he gave up all hope and took to drinking more than ever. But the letter was only half-right. His daughter still lived, She joined her aunt, Mrs. Hector Champion, who was bound for ae iat in the vague hope of finding her ather. Providence guided the travelers to the town of Hard Luck, and Morton’s amazement can be imagined when he recognized the sister of his wife. That night he learned that the oung girl was his daughter. For some da e ceckatad the palin pag but finally on himself known to Mary, though he begged h to keep his secret. They met frequentl: . cone rally at night. (At this point Zimri n lis- tened with breathless attention.) She told him how Little Voleano—the only name she as vet knew him by—had saved her life, and how * ee had learned to love each other. In return he warned her of the plots being laid inst the pox inet life. e 6 shed the party led by py George, o serve Volcano far as lay in his oe | | 7 In conclusion he narrated what had occurred since their flight from Hard Luck. In addition to what we have given, Morton revealed other crimes of which Long Tom had been guilty, enough to condemn him sand times. But, as these crimes bear no rela- tion to this story, I have posed over them, Through it all the ler maintained a sul- len silence. He saw that death was inevitable, and with dogged courage he resolved to “die game. 1 Morton fell back exhausted, as he concluded his confession. A flask of whisky was held to his lips, and he soon gained stre: enough to beg that his daughter might be sent to him. You shall see her—but it’s only right to tell you that you are going fast, stra - OU can’t live the night out—maybe not another hour.” turning away, he added: ‘Take EGomichbooks Cc (0) ee - sr » a - eo eae rai see a ot Sa ’ ~