Beadle's Dime Library No. 321 — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

- oo ‘ —_—— + Ad ~~ flashing of his dark eyes, and be seemed to in- crease an inch in stature. ‘Well, sir, go back and die like a man,” the Unknown said. ‘Not till I know about the youngster byer, You gave bim the gold-map, you say?” ‘“*T did.” ‘“*Thirteen years ago?” és. Yes,” ‘‘Warn’t that about the time the Santa Fe stage war plundered an’a young woman killed?” “Do vou know about that?” dain '< ~ Hy ‘* Who are you?” It was a curious question for the man in the mask, for at that moment he was scrutinizing Keno Kit’s features with all the perceptive powers at. his command. ‘Keno Kit, I guess,” grinned the mountain outlaw. ‘I’ve bad an idea ever since I heard mad Captain Leopard say that eight from twenty-one leaves thirteen—that Fearless Frank might be the son of that young mother,” he masked stranger started violently. ‘* He was her child!” he said. ‘é Then—” Keno Kit was interrupted by a startling voice, *{ kill the man who deserts his leaders!” rung out on the air, and the pard of the gold- captain turned in time to drop in the flash of Mountain Jule’s revolves. The vext moment there was a loud exclama- tion from Eldorado’s lips, and then the clatter of boofs as a horse sprung down ¢he trail. ‘ll try you one, anyhow, Mountain,” said Eldorado, and the report of. his revolver joined the echoes of the unexpected shot. A few yards beyond the light of the torch a buman being threw up both hands and then went headlong over the neck of a horse. Mountain Jules! Fate had guided the avenging lead to its tar- get. Scarcely had Keno Kit touched the ground ere be got upon bis feet, and came toward the man in the mask with approaching death stam on every lineament. “Hear me!” he said to the stranger, ‘Ef the boy is the son ov the Woman murdered on the Santa Fe stage-trail, he is my nephew, for by heavens! she war my sister!” A wild ery parted the masked man's lips. The next moment his right hand went up and the mask was flung madly against the can- yon wall, ‘** Your sister?’ he cried clutching tbe sboul- der of Keno Kit as he reeled away, ‘‘ She was my sister, too! Didn't 1 pay Captain Leopard for that night’s work?” ‘** Did he kill ber?” ‘*He did, the fiend, and: why?) Because she chose another man and not him,” ‘*Why didn’t I know it when I linked my fortunes to his?’ cried Keno Kit. ‘‘ My mother used to tell me that I hada brother who ran away from home when a boy.” ‘*l'm that brother. I am Paul Prentiss.” There was a leap from a horse and a pair of strong arms went around Keno Kit, Fearless Frank stood like one spellbound be- fore this singular scene. ‘Tt scoops my rocket,” said Eldoredo Epb. ‘Tt ar’ stranger than the mystery ov Don Dia- volo’s golden tomb.” When Paul Prentiss had lowered Kero Kit to the ground and hastily made him comfortable, he rose before the young miner and held out his hands, “For the first time for thirteen years, Frank,” be said in a voice full of feeling. ‘Come bere!” | The miner of Steeltrap did not hesitate, but sprung forward and found bimself lucked in a fervent embrace, * Ab! you don’t recognize in me theman who came to Santa Fe suddenly about thirteen ars ago, and took you away,” be said to Piaviees Frank. ‘‘I told you then that your mother, who bad gone fo Pesos del Rio to plant flowers on the grave of your father would not be back for along time. It was, alas! too true, Captain Leopard, the fiend, had extended her journey into the land of the Unseen. Boy- ike, you trusted me then, an’ one night when I bad put — under the influence of a powerful narcotic, I gave you the gold-map in tattoo. It was already on my breast. Shortly afterward IT lost you.” ‘*T ran away,” said the youth. “And afterward turned up in Steeltrap City?” : ‘oVes.” - ‘‘Since then I have trailed the murderer. I feurd him one of the ten thousand who want Don Diavolo’s wealth. I found bim mad to possess the gold-map, and I made one for the wretch,” The man—no longer a mystery—ceased sud- denly at the sound of Eldorado’s voice. ‘| thought 1 heard suthin’ tumble arter my shot,” be said. ‘lt went down the trail a piece ter investigate.” | | | | | ewe eee eee “Thar’s a dead man down yonder,” was the answer. Keno’s eyes glistened thankfully. ‘‘T’ve struck sutbin’ better than the big bo- nahnza,” he said with a smile, ‘‘l’ve found Lucia's heir.” : Frank went forward and put his hand in Keno Kit’s; there was a convulsive pressure, and as he was drawn down to the desperado, a gasp ended another career! CHAPTER XXX1X, AT LAST. QUEEN Bess was astonished to find herself confronted in the vestibule of the famous gold- cave by the men of Steeltrap. She did not know even that they had left the camp on the mission which had changed the lives of hundreds during the past fifty years. She could hardly credit the statement that the mountain pards bad been tenanting tke cavern for a number of hours and yet had not discovered the treasure it contained. In an instant a light was struck and she found herself Jooking down into a Jarge pumber of fa- miliar faces. It was the day that succeeded the startling events that have just been detailed in the fore- going chapter, events of which the girl herself, as well as the pards of Steeltrap City, was ig- norant, California Claude, the Lone Bandit. mmm me ee ee masked trailer, had met with a literal fulfill- ment. California Claude had died on the gold-trail, and would infest the mountain camps with lasso and revolver nevermore, Captain Leopard, with the map be wanted burned into his breast, bad been paid for for his crimes and Bonita Ben and the other gold- desperadoes had either followed or preceded bim. Crooked Tom, the dwarf, bad also been unsuc- cessful, and Keno Kit, the last of the doomed to die, had failed to tread the Jost corridors. Tbere proved to be gold enovgh forall, and the three ‘eee of Steeltrap went back bonanza princes all. As for Fearless Frank and Queen Bess, they made a wedding not long after the last events recorded in our mountain bistory, and in the very shadow of the big mine began a life which has flowed along with nothing to mar its bappi- ness, | Paul Prentiss went to the coast with the young couple, and I believe still occupies a part of the elegant residence, which they call home, iv Oakland. The Steeltrap pards kept the secret of the location of the old Spanish mine until they had stripped it of most of its treasure, when they let it slip, and in an incredibly short space of time the canyon country swarmed with adven- turers, But they arrived too late, and found a com- ‘This kentry looks like a good one for big | paratively empty hive. bonanzas,” said the leader of the miners as be looked up into the young girl’s face. ‘‘ Don’t you think i¢ must be somewhar nigh, Bess?” The Queen of Steeltrap found herself hesitat- ing suspiciously in the presence of the pards, Should she disclose to them the treasure which had been bidden so long and which she had dis- covered by accident? ‘Ef you know, tell us, Bess!” cried the stal- wart fellows as they crowded around ‘her. ‘* We've stood by you through thick an’ thin in Steeltrap. We'll let you take yer share an’ never growl. Ef we've shook you once since you came among us, Seal yer lips! It was an appeal almost irresistible. Bess ran back over her life in a moment as it wore. The men before her, rough and hard though they were, bad befriended ber on more than one occasion; she could call them friends any- where, and af all times, ‘* Why keep the secret from these men! They have mined for years for a pittance. Let me make myself and them glad by making them all gold kings.” A moment later she was on the ground. ‘“Give me the torch!” she exclaimed as she took the light from the band that beid it, The miners followed her enthusiastically. They had found Don Diavolo’s wealth at last! ‘* Bo careful; [left two desperate men down there a short time ago,” said Queen Bess to the men who surrounded the opening leading down into the treasure pit. “Only two?” was the sneering rejoinder. “What's a cozen ter’thirty who scent the golden prize?” She tried no more to keep them back, but saw them go down a rope, one after another like human apes. Their torches explored the pit, and in a cor- ner locked in each others’ arms lay two men— dead! Txo red-bladed bowies near by told the story. **Colonel” Sardine and *‘ Major” Jack had found the bonanza too big to divide, and had fought for it all, with the terrible result just discovered. Later in that eventful day the gold-cave was invaded by three more men. In an instant all would bave been ‘riddled with bullets by the watchful Steeltrappers if Queen Bess had not flung herself with a cry of mingled joy and remonstrance before their leveled weapous. There followed a joyful reunion then. ‘*] told. these men the secret, Frank,” said the girl to the young man whom she had greet- ed joyfully. ‘The old gold-mine has been found at last. There’s enough for al).” But Fearless Frank turned away with a shud- der. | “Give it to the pards of Steeltrap,” he said, ‘*Let them go back, money kings. I feel the cords that Mountain Jules drove into my flesh. With you by me again, Bess, ’m the richest miner in California. And here is one who says that without the gold that has cursed all its possessors, we shall be rich enough,” and the oung Mazeppa of the gold region waved his fata toward Paul Prentiss, late the man of the mask, It seems that Keno Kit had been taken to a smaller cave after his shooting by Mountain Jules. and that those who were with him had remained at his side till his death. With him died the last member of the most desperate band of men that ever infested the | | } eee ss __ _______ ______ ii endl The fortunate ‘‘ bees” were making a tour of the California towns bucking the tiger and breaking the faro-banks wherever found, It was flush times for Steeltrap, but they soon played out, and thirty oad “bonanza kings” suddenly found themselves as poor as Eldorado Eph, who had refused to touch a single nugget. Eldorado Eph, whose wanderings through the mountains did not end in anything definite, although many believed them backed by a strong motive of some kind, left the Gold Range with Fearless Frank, and to-day apt the young man’s Havanas, while he still smil- ingly calls himself a ‘‘ mountain pauper.” e may add that the bones of Don Diavolo and his Indian bride were carefully colleeted by the lucky Steeltrappers and decently buried, and that nothing was learned of their history more than the vague information contained in the questionable tradition that had existed so niany years. Paul Prentiss bas never revealed how he got the gold-chart tattooed on his breast, nor just why he gave it to bis nepbew, Frank. Of the existence of the buckskin chart which Eldorado cut up with bis bowie in the ontset of our romance, be knew nothing until he found it on the person of.the strange man found hanging ~ from a Jasso in our first chapter. That man was probably one of California Claude’s numerous victims, and one whom, at the time, the famous Curse of the Placers had failed to subject to a close search. If he had found the golden chart then, some of the most thrilling chapters of our tale of the Sierras might still remain unwritten. Here let us, reader, at the termination of the great gold-trail, write THE END. DIME DIALOGUES AND SPEAKERS FOR SCHOOL FAH 1B1 TLONS AND HOME ENTERTAINMENTS. Dialogues, Nos. 1 io 31 inclusive, 15 to B popu- lar dialogues and dramas in each book. Each vol- ume 100 pages 12mo. Speakers, Nos. 1 to Minclusive. Each speaker 100 pages 12mo0, containing from 50 to 75 pieces. YOUNG PEOPLE'S SERIES, Dime Book of Winter Sports, — Dime Book of Summer Athletic Sports, Dime Gents’ Letter Writer. Dime Book of Etiquette. Dime Book of Verces. Dime Book of Dreams. Dime Fortune Teller. Dime Ladies’ Letter Writer. Dime Lovers’ Casket, Dime Ball- Room Companion. ~ Dime Book of 100 Games. Dime Chess Instructor. Dime Book of Beauty. 2 The above books are sold by newsdealers everywhere, or will be sent, post-paid, to any ad- The question came from Keno Kit, whose gold-mountains of California. | dress, on receipt of price, ten cents each. BEADLE eyes were fixed on the old gold-hater. The prophecy of the rock, written by the ' anp Apams, Publishers, 98 William st., N. Y. S) ,OO 4 Gomic <€om