Beadle's Dime Library No. 305 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

— Silver-Plated Sol, the Montana Rover, 13 was captured. Nor was this all, Naturally suspicious, be had formed the idea that, to avoid paying Bill what he had agreed, the Ma- gician bad killed him, As we already know, he guessed somewhere near the truth; he had the fact, though not the motive. This being the case, he went prepared for trouble in general. The hour was approaching midnight when he neared the village, but a light still shone from the house on Madrock Ledge, and he made his way there at once, The door was opened by Sing-Soin a cautious way, and as he bad never seem Leach, he looked at him suspiciously. ‘‘ How-de-do, John? Is ther boss in?’ Leach asked, ‘* Wantee flortune tlold?” Sing-So asked, ‘“Want thunder! D’ye take me fur a milk- sop? What I want is ter see’ ther boss medi- cine-man, prophet, tom-tcm howler o’ this wig- wam, Imean Hamed. Trot bim out!” Mr, Leach was feeling in a belligerent mood, and he made no effort to hide the fact, ** Gotee blisiness?” ‘-O’ course I’ve got business, vou pig-tailed coyote! S’pose 1 come byar ter talk over presidential prospects, or ther price o’ granu- lated suger? But my business ain’$ yourn; trot. out the pow-wow chief!” “* Wantee flortune tlold?” persisted Sing-So. ** Now, see hyar, you animated banana-peel, don’t. ye parley) woo no. more; I. won’t b’ar it, I’ve come ter see Hamed, an’ I ain’t gwine ter stand byar an’ court a Chinese sarvant o’, ther male gender on ther door-steps,. Not any! Waltz out ther futurity lookin’-glass, afore I mash yer head, I’m a desp’rit charakter when I git steam up, an’ ef I howl once thar’! hey, ter be room made fur one more pig: tailed cherub,” Sing-So had been anxiously trying to get a word in, himself, but it was mot a_ possible thing until Sam became ready to yield the or, ‘* Hamed not here,’ he then said, ** Not byar?” 46 No,” ‘' Heathen, ef ye lie ter me—” *‘No lie-ee; tellee soblum truth, all samee. Hamed glo down to townee for goodsee,” Sing-So carried the air of truth along with him, and Sam accepted what he said as a fact, though it was rather late for eyen a Magician to go shopping, ** Wal, ef sechis ther case Pll wait fur him. { won’t come in, thank ye, fur I don’t know what goblins an’ giraffes ye hev got in thar ter eat a feller up. I'll wait outside, It was just as well that he so decided, for Sing-So, would certainly not have admitted hi m. He walked down the ledge and stood at the point where, several yards below, Mad river dashed its waters against the rock, The place had a fascination for every one, and it is doubt- ful if any one had ever been in Bowlder Bar without looking off Madrock Ledge into the yeasty pool of water. He was unconscious of the fact, however that he stood on the very spot where Bill Wil had met his fate the previous night. Perhaps ten minutes had passed when a sound from the foot of the ledge arrested Sam’s atten- tion. He looked in that direction, thinking Hamed might |be returning, but what he saw did not have the appearance of a single man. The night was dark and it was not easy to distinguish anything at that. distance, but it looked as though three or four persons were ad- “yan cing. “Or is it a hippobitamus?’ he muttered, ‘They move mighty awk’ard, ez though they is bearin’ some.sort 0’ a load. Wonder what it means? Kin it be I ain’t ther only one that does crooked deeds ’round hyar? Im goin’ ter know, though it might be safer fur me ter keep ter myself.’ He went down on the ledge as far as was safe and, crouching down to avoid discovery, looked over. There had been no mistake in regard to the dark object; it was made up of three men who were carrying some burden which, plainly, was not a light one, Sam Leach was not a quick-witted man, and it was not until they were near the river that he suspected the truth. “By ther demon!” he then exclaimed, *‘ they’ve got a man, an’ they’re goin’ ter chuck him inter ther whirlpool!” He half-started up, and then sunk back, ‘Pll keep ter myself!” he muttered, There was no longer room to doubt that he ‘was about to witness a tragedy. Some poor wretch had fallen under the ban of enemies more po he, and Mad river would end it all. They arrived at the water’s edge, | - At that point the river had cut a channel for itself and flowed ina canal. A few feet below it struck the ledge, whirled around almost in a ing, and then shot away south at a furious speed, as though angry at being checked. Leach saw that the helpless wretch they held cas “would have absolutely no chance at all in the water. He would, be dashed against Madrock’s base, and the shock could not but prove fatal, Tbe watcher felt. considerable sympathy for him, and he would have interfered had he been able, but be had no desire to go down and pick a quarrel with three men for the sake of one un- known to him, Better keep to himself and let the deed be consummated, The unknown paused but a moment; then they grasped their burden the tighter, swung it back, forward, back again—and then with a strong swing it was cast into the water. In the whirl and roar of the river Leach heard no splash, but he saw the dark water close over the helpless man, like a monster greedy for prey. Then followed a period of inaction. All watched the point where the. water struck the ledge, though well aware that, under such cir- cumstances, they could see nothing. ‘“‘ That's ther eend!” muttered Leach, The three men turned away, and the watcher crouched closer to the rock to avoid discovery. ‘Vd like ter know who them critters be, Like ez not ef I did know I could turn ther knowledge ter my gain. By ther Etarnal! I'll try it!” He skulked across the ledge until he reached a point where he could safely descend, By that time the three, men were walking rapidly toward the village, and he moved after them at a trot. Just as be was closing in well, however, they separated, and he saw that he could fol- low but one, He selected his man, and kept on with the skill of an Indian. The pursued entered the village and. strode along, at a swinging pace. Now and then he looked about, as though his mind ‘was uneasy after his crime and he feared detection, but Leach took care not to be seen. At last the man he followed paused before a large building, unlocked the door and softly entered, __ Leach looked at the house sharply. In one corner was an Office, and over the door hung a sign, ** POST-OFFICE.” “Aha!” muttered the trailer, ‘‘so this is whar he herds... Wal, now, it ain’t hard ter figure light out o’ this matter. He had a key an’ entered freely, an’ it follers that he was Joseph Danforth, Esquire, Postmaster o’ Bowl- der Bar. Good! I hev one o’ ther big-bugs o’ ther borough on ther hip, an’ I’ll work ther case up. when I hev time, He shall pay well ter ge this matter shady. Now fur Hamed!” e retraced his steps to Madrock Ledge, went to the door and again rapped. As before, Sing-So onguen the door, and even his patient face bore a look of disgust as be saw who it was; but he admitted that Hamed was in, and after that it was not easy to keep Leach out, | While they were still bickering, Hamed, him- self, made his appearance from the inner room, and when he saw who the visitor was he at once asked him in. Leach followed to the inner room, and then the Magician faced him with his usual calm manner. **’You are late with your report,” he said, ** What report?” ‘* Of the business in which I employed you,” “* Didn’t Bill Wild do that?” “Your friend has not been here,” ‘* He hasn’t, eh?” oni No.” Leach looked at the Magician in a hostile wey: He was strong in the faith that this man had brought harm to his pard, and he intended to have satisfaction in one way or another. ‘‘Now, you veedn’t go fur ter give me no sech taffy ez that. Iain’t no clod. Bill came hyer fur ter make ther report, an’ what I want is ter know what ye did with him.” “‘T repeat, he has not been here, nor do I know how he met his death.” ‘Met his death!” echoed Leach, ie vibe up from his chair, while a look of fury crossed his bronzed face. “Do ye mean ter tell me Bill Wild is dead?” CHAPTER XVIII, HAMED'S HEAVY HAND. HAMED could not misunderstand the look bent upon him, but he remained as calm as ever, ‘*T supposed you had heard of it,” he said, ‘“* Heerd o’ what? Come, speak out; no back- in’ an’ shiflin’, fur I’m aman that won’t b’ar it. Speak out!” He started to obey an impulse to grasp the Magician’s arm, but the latter coolly uncovered and extended a revolver. “Keep back!” he said. ‘‘I do not covet close acquaintance with you, If you want to talk, well and good. . First of all, let mo say your fiend, ts dead. I waited for him all last night, but e did not come. This morning I heard that one of. the stage-tobbera. bad been foun d in. Mad river. I sent Sing-So to loo ‘at the Boag: tt was that of Bill wil or This statement was made in a matter-of-fact way, despite the terrible glare of Leach’s eyes. He had come there with the suspicion that there had been foul play toward bis comrade, and it may be easily understood that his idea had not grown less decisive, a By tber Etarnal! thar has been foul play hyar!” he exclaimed, explosively. **T fear so, myself.” **'You ‘fear’ so! Darn yer flint-hide! you’re ther reptyle that done it; you’re ther lousy sar- vent that sent Bill over ther divide!” asserted each, shaking his fist at the unmoved Magi- cian. é [?”’ “Yes, you! You needn’t speak so mighty scornful, fur I hey it down fine,” ‘You're out of your head!” . **) never hey been in my head yet, but I’m in my skin, an’ I’m a tough hoss ter ride when you use a spur. I say you killed Bill Wild, an’ Pl make you holler fur it. He was my pard, Bill was, an’ I never shake secb, You got him in hyar, an’ then, ter saye payin’ what ye agreed, ye killed an’ flung him in Mad river. Mebbe you think you kin use me ther same way, but you will find I’m ther biggest dynamite bomb ye orem ketched onter; you kin bet yer life on that “Be calm!” said Hamed, icily. ‘You do not talk like a sensible man, I tell you your friend did not come here, Had he done s0, he. would have received the money I promised. As it is, I suppose you are his heir, and I shall pay you the whole,’ Sam was silent for a moment, for he had not expected this; but to his credit, be it said, his devotion to his, late partner was eveu greater than his greed, ‘You think he declared, bim in Mad river More than that, Til hev revenge! pieces—” “That’s enough!” sharply interrupted Hamed, as he again presented his revolver. “I have heard enough of your abuse, and I will hear no more. Here is the money due you; take it and get out of my house!” He extended a purse which clinked with the weight of gold-pieces, but Sam struck it a blow which sent it spinning half-way across the room, ‘* No, ye don’t!” he exclaimed, “I won't take a red cent of it, but I'll take—” He attempted to dash the revolver aside in ou kin bribe me, but you can’t!” ‘TT say you killed Bill an’ flu an’ I ain’t ter be bought off, I’) tear ye in the same way he had the money, at the same time springing forward, but the Magician’s fist shot out, and the fellow fell with a crash. He slowly arose to a sitting position, and stu- pidly rubbed his head. ‘‘ Let that be a lesson!” Hamed sternly said. “‘T laugh at yon and your threats, and advise ou to keep away if you value your life. Iwill ear no more,” Leach gathered himself to his feet with a slowness which spoke well for the force of the blow which had prostrated him, * You’ve won ther first round,” be said, with a moderation which told of deep purpose; ‘ but IT ain’t out o’ ther game yet, an’ | sha’n’t be till I lay ye out. ._ Bill Wild was my pard, an’a ood one, an’ I’m sure his death lays at. yo oor, I hold ter ther rule that an eye shoul pay fur an eye, an’ I'll make ye sick! spe you’ve struck me, an’I never forgive a bluw!” — ‘You are a fool!” the Magician oe hel uously said, ‘‘and as Ido not care to talk with such a man, Ill merely bid you do your worst and finish our interview. There is the door; leave here or I will put a bullet through you!” — He raised his revolver and covered Sam with an unwavering hand, and the latter saw that, like the Chinese, he had got to go. So far as the going was, concerned, he was not sorry, for he wished to know more concerning how Wild died, if possible, before he moved; but it was hard for a fighting-man_ to be thus driven away, . bir go, but V’ll take my time fur it,” he sur- lily answered. ** Make it a short time, then.” ** Don’t hurry.” “TI shall hurry!” said Hamed, with sudden fire. ‘I will bear no more of your insolence in my own house, J give you until I count ten to go; if you are then here I will shoot you like the dog you are!” He began to count in an inexorable voice, but Sam bad no intention of being shot down, and he backed toward the door and out of it with- out another word, He was defeated for the time, but he belonged to the class of men not easily kept down, While he lived it would be war to the knife as him and the Magician of Madrock edge. Ettala Danforth had failed to find her “‘ bur- glar,” and she was compelled to endure a good deal of banter from her brother on the subject; but her opinion that there had been a man in the store-room did not waver, She suspected that Luke Burbank might have told who he was and how he escaped; sho did not consider the gambler any too good to keep off a criminal; EOmMIichbooks (E(0) m