Beadle's Dime Library No. 305 — page 17: 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. | **T shall not forget this right away!” he said, ‘pantingly. 1, had ter do it,” apologetically said Giant ‘Dave, and he was about to add that he was sorry when he remembered what had caused the trouble, ‘ He believed himself the last man who should engage io afight, but Ettala’s honor must be maintained at all hazards. ‘‘T have no more to say now,” the gambler continued, *‘ but you shall hear from me aguin. Of course such a thing as this can’t be lightly passed over. My throat is nearly crushed, and no man ever laid an augry hand on me yet and lived to boast of it,” ‘‘I have no desire ter boast,’’ said Bond, mildly, ‘‘an’ 1 should be glad ef it could be dropped bere—-only Miss Danforth must not be insulted.” ‘ Rest easy; I shall say no more about her,” replied Burbank, who began to see he had taken a losing way of winning a wife. ‘‘The matter lays between you and me after this. We will settle it, too, and the settlement means death for one of us!” With this dark threat he turned and strode away. Daye and Ettala were left alone with each other, but the interview was cut short. The girl was frightened and unnerved, and as she was anxious to get back to her home, she bade the giant a kind good-night and hurried away. Dave looked after her until she disappeared, “‘She’s an angel, ot thar ever was one!” he thought. ‘I’m sorry she see’d me when my mad was up, furit wasa disgrace ter me. But I had ter do it!” CHAPTER XXIIL, THE PUGILIST PLAYS A LONE HAND. Giant DAVE sat down and mentally reviewed the scene just enacted. He deeply regretted the trouble with Burbank, When hesettled in Bowlder Bar it was with the resolution to keep his temper under control, and his bands from his fellow-men, For along time he had done so. He was among men who had frequent quarrels; who fought one day and forgave each other the next, or fought and held a grudge, as the case might be; and he was often sorely tempted to resent some of the sneers heaped upon him, but he had resisted temptation while he was alone concerned. Of late he bad made enemies who, he felt sure, would not let the matter drop where it was—Mose Devlin and Burbank. He had brought both to grief, and both from the same cause, to defend Ettala, He was not sorry for what he had done, but he was sorry that the necessity bad arisen, Since he took his new stand in the world he had looked upon woman as a creature to be respected and defended, and he had done his Auty. Whatever the consequences might be he knew he bad nothing with which to reproach himself, but, as he expressed it, be ‘' was the last person in the world who ought to fight.” Finally, his thoughts took another turn and dwelt upon Ettala’s visit. It had been a re- markable occasion in his life. While she was there all bad seemed to be sunshine, and he had followed her eyery movement with rapt admi- ration. Now that she was gone, the place seem- ed dark and gloomy, The giant rested his head on his hand and thought long andearnestly, When he aroused it was abruptly, and he arose from his chair. ‘¢‘] mustn’t think on it; itis madness, She would never take notice o’ sech a man ez me, She’s far above me, an’ 1l’m not only a poor miner, but rough, clumsy an’ unedicated.” Hesitating for a moment, he went to the locked chest, took out a book, and began to read and think, He found the task of educating himself a difficult one, for he had a poor basis pon which to begin, and lacked practical means Pa tcataoeentt : ie he did not allow himself to be discour- ed. ~He was thus engaged when Alfred Lovering entered, and the announcement that Silver- Plated Sol wished to see him was enough to end studying at once and take bim from the cabin, , Lovering led the way at once to the edifice where he had left Sol, and the two set about getting the information they desired in regard to Danforth, Tueir questioning was done so skillfully that Dave did not suspect the object, and it ended in complete success, ; . They learned that Danforth was interested in Lois Orme, and Dave gave the general impres- sion of Bowlder Bar—he said that the two were engaged... Nondcemine it pradent to ask too much of him, they dwelt but a short time on the sub- ject, ab conversation drifted into other chan- nels. Sol did not mention his late adventure, and Bond had no intimation of the storm that was gathering. Neithe: dia he suspect that he had iven information calculated to bring Dan- forth to grief. Had he done so, he certainly would not have said anything against Ettala’s brother. At the end of an hour Lovering accompanied him back to his cabin, a promise baving first been gained that he would not mention that be had seen Sol. At the time he gave it, he did not remember that be had promised Ettala to find the rover, Another hour passed before Lovering rejoined Sol. When he came, his expression was that of a victor. **Good luck?” questioned the rover. ** Rather, I should say. We have our enemies on the hip.” ‘‘ What have you learned?” ‘This: both Joe Danforth and Lois Orme were absent from Bowlder Bar at the time Roger Hillard was killed,” ‘Excellent. Did they go together?” ‘* No, and, of course, they would not be so foolish as that, The girl left, and returned, by stage; Danforth went with his private outfit, horseback,” ‘Events begin to wheel into liae,” said Col- ton, ina bard voice. ‘*We are meeting with the usual reward of perseverance, and Roger Hillard’s murder will be avenged, I will spend a year, if necessary, to gain what proof we need. This female, this Lois Orme, must be a fiend,” Lovering did not answer at once. **Can it be she is guilty?” he finally asked, ‘* How can it be otherwise?” ** Your question isa bard one to answer, but I would rather have it otherwise. Perhaps Danforth had some other accomplice.” ‘* Nonsense! Why should he take another, and that one a woman? No, we have the right parties, and it only remains to connect them with the tragedy.” ‘**] bave considerable curiosity to see this Lois Orme.” “So have I, and, with your perzaission, we willdoso. It is now fully dark, and we can sately venture out if we use due caution—and it is only a matter of time when I show Danforth & Co, that I escaped the fate to which they doomed me. We can go to the house where Dave tells us she lives, and if luck is on our side, we can see her and remain unseen our- selves,” ** Done!” They prepared for the expedition, and Sol pulled the wide brim of his hat down over his eyes as a partial disguise, When they reached the street, few persons were abroad. Bowlder Bar was not a town where people delighted in making night hideous, There was a degree of dissipation and objec- tionable doings, but all was quietly done; even such men as Mose Devlin usually kept shady when on the street. The village was small and it was nota long walk to Shaw’s house—the home of Lois Orme, They soon neared the place. Unknown to them, all was favorable for their venture, Shaw and his family were visiting at the further side of the village, and Lois was alone in the house, When the arrived, they saw that only one room show a light. As luck would haveit, it was not Only « rear one, but the window was slightly rai at the bottom, and they could safely investigate, Sol pushed aside the curtain and looked in. Lois sat beside the table, engaged in sewing, Her whole attention was on her work, but ber thoughtful expression indicated that her mind was elsewhere, Seeing her, the rover forgot the objact of his | | 17 Lwis, aroused by the sound of the door, was looking toward that of the room in which she _ and, plainly, expecting to see the Shaws re- urn, The door opened and a man appeared on the threshold, but it was not Mr. Shaw. It was Mose Devlin, the pugilist! Lois sprung to her feet. She recognized the man who had molested ber and Ettala not long before, and she had learned to fear him as she would a wolf. Plainly, he was not now ina mood less dangerous, for there was a flush on his evil face which told that he had been drink- ing deeply, and men in such a condition Jose all control over themselves, He advanced a pace and put out one band in a friendly way, however, ‘‘Don’t be skeered, young woman,” hé said. ‘‘I hey come with tber olive branch in my hand, an’ ef I’ve got a whisky-bottle in my pocket, that don’t count. I’m bere as a dele- — ter ther peace conference, I be; though ’m ginerally a. bad man witb a hole in my boot, an’ when [ go out fur ter paint ther town red, she gets painted a reg’lar scarlet, Them is my sentiments, but, ez I afore observed, ’m now hyar ez a milk-sop o’ ther first water. Don’t be afeerd!” Despite this reassuring speech, Lois looked troubled. She was of a naturally courageous nature, as we have seen before, but there is only one way to deal with a drunken brute—to beat Lim with the very. weapons he prepeys to use.” ‘‘Have you business with . Shaw?” she asked, in a reasonably firm voice. *: Not PreanoHly, y business is with you, solely, only, singly an’ onely. It issummut 0’ an honor fur you, fur I’m Mose Devlin, ther be mere an’ I'ma bad man witha hole in my oot; but I know you are a ne plus ultra, e oe unum, ter express it in Choctaw, an’ reckon we kin git along salubriously. I hev been a-trainin’ with Joe Danforth, but talents like mine ain’t ter be bid under a bushel, an’ I’ve pow come out ez an independent candidate an’ penpose ter play a lone hand,” ‘*}am busy now, but if you'll call again, I will see you, ” Lois answered, trying to think of some way to git rid of the ruffian, ‘*Put away yer other business an’ attend ter me,” said Mose, with a flourish of his band. * It’s seldom you see sech a man ez I be, an’ you don’t want ter slight him when ye do.. I offer ye my full assistance, an’ it is rightful that you should hev some good pard. Thar is danger afoot fur you, an’ them ez is interested in the Selden an’ Hillard cases will find me a mi hty dangerous rock ter run against. Ef you don’t take me, they'll make it hot fur you!” CHAPTER XXIV. FOOD FOR THE FLAMES. Mose DEVLIN had not long been in the room before both Silver-Plated Sol and Lovering were watching. They s side by side and gazed at the ill-assorted pair inside, but not a word passed between them, Their chances for observation were admirable. The window was partially raised ard the cur- tain entirely down; they could look past it with- out much danger of SROUNE Sol Colton bad grown deeply interested in t scene occurring inside, His mind had persis in ignoring the dark facts of the case ever since he first saw Lois; perhaps we should say his heart had vanquished his bead; and his sympa- thies were all with her when he saw what a vis- itor she had, Devlin’s last words, however, had served to suddenly interest both watchers, and they lis- visit, and ed with admiration. She was a | tened with additional care, beautiful girl, and he was enough like the ma- ‘You are interfering with what dou’t con- jority of his sex to realize the fact. Her stat- | cern you,” said Lois, haughtily. ure was above the average, her form well- Devlin waved one band as though he were a rounded and perfect of contour, and her face | Fourth-of-July orator, one to challenge the admiration of a stoic. ‘When rourder bas been did. all men are in- Silver-Plated Sol looked, motionless, until | t’rested,” be said. ‘Roger Hillard bas been Lovering became impatient and put him away | killed, an’ 1 know why it was done. It was ter with gentle force, enable you ter bold ther Selden money!” Tben he took his place. ‘* It is false!” Lois exclaimed. What thoughts were in Lovering’s mind no ‘Tell that ter ther marines! Gal, I’m an ale one could say, He saw the girl who had been | bird, an’ I’ve got big wings. You can’t fool Abram Selden’s adopted daughter; who was| me. I’ve got onter this racket, an’ 1 mean ter accused of having stolen his wealth. We have | feather my own nest. I ain’t goin’ ter stand once seen Lovering claim to be a Selden heir. | back out o’ sight an’ let Joe Danforth take all If such be the case, he must be Lois’s enemy, | ther plums; notI. I’m goin’ ter bea chief in but he gave no sign of sucha fact then. He | ther case, an’ your right-hand map.” looked as earnestly—more s0, if possibl!e—as Sol “Never!” had done. ‘* Don’t be so sure.” When he turned, the two men looked at each “1 will bave nothing to do with you.” other in silence for several seconds, It was So * An’ J say you will.” who spoke first. “If you are a friend of Joseph Danforth, you ‘* She don’t look like a murderess,”’ had better go back tohim and let him take ‘* No,” the elder man admitted. care of you. I do not want such acquaint- ‘* Can it be we have made a mistake?” ances, and I commend you to leave the bouse, Colton hesitated, and then he remembered | If you decline, I will for help.” 7. Roger Hillard and the indications that connect- ‘Do it!” Devlin loudly retorted. ‘Do it, if ed the girl with the crime. you dar’! Jest call in ther neighbors, an’ you'll ‘No; it is impossible. In yonder room is the | find out ther kind o’a manI be, Ef pushed ter fiend who drove the fatal knife into Hillard’s | ther wall, I’m a bad man with a hole in my back!” boot. Call in help, an’ I'll say ter them: Hyar Lovering shivered and did not reply, and at | is Bertba Wardner, who is wanted in Illinois that moment their attention was arrested by | for stealin’ twenty thousand dollars, an’ Joe the closing of a door in the houss, Danforth is her accomplice, rightfully named Sol again applied his face to the place of ob- | Charles Winter; an’ they killed Roger Hillard servation. p him from tellin’ ther heirs o’ Abram 6S (E(©) MIGDOO (E(0) (C