Beadle's Dime Library No. 297 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

Ee te Tiree? —_ a et che « 38 Mrs. Ralston did not answer, and both her companions rajlied her for a few minutes con- cerning ber gravemanner. Her husband, how- ever, was neither blind nor indifferent. ‘* Mona,” he suddenly said, after studying her face, ‘you have a well-defined fear. What is it?” Mrs. Ralston hesitated, glanced at Zetta and replied: You will remember that I told you, even before we were married, that there would be no real safety for us near Sugar-Loaf; that .we must go beyona the knowledge of my brothers to be safe from the hatred we knew they felt for us.” Ralston’s lips closed tightly while she spoke, but, while he did not make light of the matter, it was clear he was not alarmed. ‘‘] am aware that your brothers felt bitterly toward me, but, now that overtures toward peace on my part have failed, we must protect ourselves. I do not think they will interfere with us, however.” The speaker was conscious of telling a false- hood, while he spoke. If Mona had a vague suspicion, he had a well-defined fear in the case, He knew the Buzzard brothers bad cast their votes for Cyrus Mumford because he—Reuben Ralston—had been in favor of the rival candi- date. That the giants of Suger-Loaf would hear of the new alliance, which made Colorado Rube second in power at the town, with equa- nimity, did not seem probable. For himself Ralston had no fear, but to-night he was just a little sorry be had kept his wife near her vengeful relatives. The temporary gloom was dissipated by the entrance, without ceremony of a fourth person. He was a man of fifty years, six feet in hight, and both slenderly and awkwardly built, while upon his ungainly form he boasted a suit of clothes which hung so loosely that a second man might almost bave found quarters in them. He had a homely face, with small, light-blue eyes, an exceedingly long nose, and a beard which was independent enough to grow in spots like solitary trees scattered bere and there on a prairie; but it was an honest, good-natured face, and bis blue eyes | 2amed genially on the trio before bim. ‘*Good-evenin’, one an’ all. I seo that Hot- epur City has gathered here ‘her beauty an’ her chivalry,’ ez Socrates used fer ter say.” ‘*The chivalry is certainly here, now you have arrived, Mr. Mullin,” answered Mrs. Ral- ston. ‘* You do me proud, but drawr it light. ‘We are prone ter vanity ez ther sparks do upward flit,’ ter quote Socrates ag’in; so drawr it light, an’ not make me vain,” You never forget your friend Socrates, do ou?’ ms He was a man well worth knowin’—a phi- losopher 0’ a stamp we seldom see. Ter quote his own words: ‘ We shall never see his like ag’in.’ Yes, feller-citizens, Socrates an’ me was fast friends; our intimacy war ther brightest spot o’ my cbildhood. But, ter business: I hev a'p’inted myself a committee o’ one ter escort you ter ther beforum o’ justice, fur ter see ther mayor-select swear.” ‘“We will get ready at once.” They proceeded to do so, and the party took its way to tne center of interest. Colorado Rube. a town were soon congregated. The number in- cluded, besides Mumford, Ralston, Rosseau and others. Nearly all were young excepting the mayor-elect, and as the latter sat among them he looked patriarchal and well fitted for the bead of justice. When the appointed hour had arrived, Colo- rado Rube srose and rapped on the table for silence. ‘* Fellow-citizens,” he briefly said, ‘‘we are now about to take the last step toward making our town a city in fact, as wellasio name. By the taking of the oath of office Cyrus Mumford becomes our mayor, and | am sure he goes into office with the good will of all. Permit me to say, in behalf of the committee, that we thank you for your good will, and hope peace and prosperity will always abide in Hotspur City.” Applause seemed necessary, and if was given. Then Cyrus Mumford and the Reverend Mr. Wolff moved forward and a breathless silence followed. All were interested in the taking of the oath. But, as the two men stood side by side, with a Bible held between them, a harsh voice broke the silence: ‘‘Hold! I’m hyar ter take part in ther busi- ness, an’ [I'll shoot ther first man who yells. Hands up!” CHAPTER III. THE BUZZARD BROTHERS SHOW THEIR TEETH. IT was a startling interruption to the peace- ful scene, and in a moment more Bill Buzzard and his three gigantic brothers strode down the aisle, only stopping when they had reached the platform, Each man held two cocked revolvers, and as Tom and Jack wheeled about so as to face the audience, the whole house was under their eyes. There was a deathlike silence, and then a deep breath arose from the citizens. To know the full effect of the interruption, the standing of the Buzzard brothers must be clearly under- stood. As has been said before, no crime had ever been traced to their door, but they were the terror of Hotspur City. Men knew they were vicious, revengeful and remorseless, and while women and children shivered at the sound of their names, there were not three men in the city who would have dared meet any one of them in fight. They were practical outlaws. True, they came to Hotspur and traded at the stores, but they never addressed any one unnecessarily, and were themselves unaddressed. Men shun- nedand feared them. Had it been asserted that their hearts were flint-rock, or that the blood which flowed in their veins was jet-black, many would have believed it. Had four ordinary men entered the hall to interrupt the proceedings they would have been quickly ejected; but the coming of the giant brotbers was like that of a regiment of soldiers. Hotspur City felt outnumbered and cowed, * You kin hold on right whar ye be,” contin- ued Bill Buzzard, in a deep, menacing voice. ‘* Hotspur City won’t bave no mayor ter-night; owe not that old liar who stands a-quakin’ thar. Cyrus Mumford was ‘‘quaking.” He was not a brave man, and had four tigers been let Hotspur City had just finished a somewhat | Joose upon him, it would scarcely have alarmed pretentious building, which was to be the tem- | him more than did the coming of the Buzzards, ple of justice, and to which they had given the name ot Independence Hall. Every one was going that way at the hour when our friends from Ralston’s house also started, and men, women and children were wrapped up in the forthcoming event. Brawny miners bad laid aside the pick and forgotten business cares; men who had been foes had shaken hands and drank together over Elbridge BSrown’s bar; peace and good-will reigned su- preme in the village. Cyrus Mumford, the mayor-elect, was already at the hall and talking with the defeated can- didate. He was a man well advanced in years, with snow-white beard and hair;a genial, im- pressive and dignified air, together with the marks of a gentleman; but a close observer would have seen that his face was not a strong one. On the contrary, he gave evidence of a somewhat weak, vacillating nature. ven a casual observer would have seen that he did not possess bodily strength. His limbs had lost their power, his hands trembled, and the flesh bung loosely on his cheeks. There were those who had at first declared such a man was not fit to rule Hotspur City, but he was president of the newly-establisbed bank, half-owner of a mine, a friend of Denver and New York capitalists, and thuse who urged him for the office did so because of the dignity, respectability and weight he would bring to it. @ was Conscious of his own bodily infirmities, and he at first refused to allow the use of his name, but he bad been over-persuaded, the election had taken place, and in half an bour, Providence permitting, he would be the first, and the legal, mayor of Hotspur City. A platform had been erected at one end of the ball, and on this the priucipal men of the it 7, 7. Ls - a. -—— a 4 ree ; 7 —_— ' ’ > as gel é 5 as - - a PM Bie. emer d 9 ee ee A LLL LLL LLL Among the other startled persons was Mrs, Ralston. She, too, feared her lawless brothers, though in a different way from the majority of the people, and, meeting the glare of Dave’s fierce eyes, she shrunk back against Zetta Willis. Only one in the hall remained calm. Colo- rado Rube had lived a rough, adventurous life for ten years; he had never known what fear was, and at his present age he was a man of re- markable courage, shrewdness and natural dip- lomatic skill. He advanced to the front of the stage and confronted Bill Buzzard with a face that ex- pressed neither fear, harshness nor feigned sur- prise. ‘What is the matter, Bill?’ he eagerly asked. “Ther matter is that we’ve come ter yer funeral,” was the grim reply. ‘‘ We cast our votes in ther election, an’ I reckon we hev a right ter be hyar, but we ain’t come ter sing jubilees nor songs o’ peace. Weve come ter make ther holiday o’ Hotspur City a funeral, ny ‘ou, Rube Ralston, are ter be one o’ ther ead! There was no facetiousness in the speaker’s voice, and no disposition to play with his intend- ed victim; his heavy tones bad a startling vin- dictiveness and resolution. But Colorado Rube remained as calm as ever. ‘Tf you have a cause for complaint, we shall be glad to hear it,” be steadily answered. “Ef [hev a cause fur complaint—ef I hes! Ain’t I? Isit nothin’ ter be played fur a fool, ter be lied ter an’ ‘used as a cat’s-paw? Some people might b’ar it, but when you play ther roots on Bill Buzzard, blood has got ter flow!” 3 The ominous threat rung out through the hall like the swelling note of an organ. Still, Ralston remained calm. ‘‘In what way have you been deceived?” he asked, ‘‘T've been lied to—lI’ve been played for a fool ter git my vote fur that Judasthar. Don’t yer flatter yerselves. I don’t understand ther game. Thar war a tie vote in ther town. Somebody thought o’ Bill Buzzard and his brothers, an’ knew their ballots would turn ther scale. But they bad refused ter vote. How could they be prevailed on? You, Rube Rals- ton, thought o? a way. You said ter old Mum- ford: ‘Go ter them an’ say J am fur Rosseau, an’ they’ll vote fur you.’ He did it; ther trap worked; we voted an’ Munford became ther man. Ye was cunnin’, Colorado Rube, but ye bas throwed off the mask too soon. Ther mo- ment you showed up ez Mumford’s chief clerk, ther game was bare. You was fur him all ther while,” Bill Buzzard poured forth his accusation rapidly, his face full of fury, but Ralston did not waver for a moment. ‘‘'Your suspicion is incorrect and unjust, as would have been explained to you before bad you not told Mumford, when he visited you, that the next man you found on Sugar-Loaf should die. For that reason, we kept away.” ‘* It’s wal you did!” declared Bill. ‘*You shall now hear the truth. I was for Rosseau. Mr. Mumford I respected and liked, but Rosseau was my personal friend, and he had promised me a good position under him, I made no suggestions to Mumford, nor did I know he bad gone to the Roost until after the second casting of votes. When the matter was decided, however, it was agreed to settle every- thing amicably, and Mumford came to me, as Rosseau’s right bower, and offered me the posi- tion of chief clerk. Lacceptedit. That is the whole story of a transaction in which there was no deception whatever.” ‘‘A lie!” shouted Bill Buzzard. ‘‘ You want ter blind me ag’in, but it can’t be did. You've sowed, and you’ve got ter reap.” ‘‘f am ready fo support my statement by the word of Mr. Mumford, or that of Rosseau, or—” “You needn’t go any furder, fur I bev no doubt you’ve got it all cut an’ dried. But it won’t work. The cat is out o’ ther bag, an’ you’ve got ter pay ther fiddler. You’ve fooled ill Buzzard, an’ he’s come fur revenge. Men o’ Hotspur City, 1 ain’t got no quarrel with you, but I’m byar ter kill Cy Birina tied an’ Rube Ralston, an’ ther streets o’ ther city sball swim with gore ef any o’ you lifts yer hands fur them !” The eldest Buzzard turned a glare upen the audience which made many of them cower, but a band was suddenly, but lightly, laid on bis arm. He wheeled abruptly. His sister, the wife of Colorado Rube, stood before him. The desperado raised his hand, as though to strike her, but she met his angry glare un- waveringly and his hand fell to his side. “Brother,” she said, steadily, ‘‘think .twice before you proceed to extremities.” ‘““T’ve thought a’ready,” he growled. “William, I am your sister, and the man you threaten to kill is my husband. For my sake, for the sake of the score of years I lived with you, and tried to be kind amd faithfal to you, listen to the voice of reason and do nothing rash. “Ther voice o’ reason!” he sneered. ‘‘ Did you listen ter it when you married a sneak you knew I hated? From ther first time 1 saw Ral- ston, I was his enemy. He came to Suger- Loaf like a sarpent an’ bewitched you with bis oily words. I warned him away. Then he met ye@in secret until be finally married ye. D’ye think I'll forgive ther dog? Never! T'll have his life, an’ ef you don’t go I’ll have yours, a Culorado Rube stood on the platform and watched this interview with a gaze which never wandered. He was stil] calm, outwardly, but there was a tense look about his mouth which told that the tiger was arousing, and that it needed but one indignity te bis wife to make bim hur] bimeelf like a Seer upon Bill Buzzard. “William,” continued Mrs. Ralstcn, evenly, “did Lever demand that you abandon a wish which was to your happiness?” “It makes no diff’rence whether you hev or not; when I said I hated Ralston, that should have been enough. But that’s nyther byar nor thar. You are no longer my sister, an’ I won’t listen to yer palaverin’. Clear out!” “ Brother—” He caught her arm in a cruel rasp. ‘* Away!” he hotly exclaimed. “Git out o’ my sight. or J’ll crusb ye ez I would an adder!” e made a motion to haul ber aside, but there _— a light bound and his arm was caught in time. ** Stop!” said a steel-like, penetrating voice. He turned, slowly, because he knew who was there, and met the gaze of Colorado Rube. Plainly, it needed but one step more to fully arouse the slumbering tiger in the younger 5 ap | ~~ COMmMIcDOOK _| a a 0) -