Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 322 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

| \ = ty ig 7 14 CHAPTER XVII. THE CRIMSON COYOTES. WHEN Red Reed spproacied the jacal of Pe- dro, after having felled Lyons, as we have seen, in the bottom-timber, he was in a most desper- ate and dangerous frame of mind. for he had lain awake planning the crimes which he intended to commit, and yet leave, as he believed, no evidence against himself, The last and most excitingly eventful night bad seen his brain and body strained to the utmost in every Way. He therefore felt the need of stimulants, he haviug denied himself for several hours, and this craving, which took possession of him as he drew near the jacal, recalled to the assassin’s mind the brandy flask, which be had lost about the time of his committing the murder. He believed now that Lyons would find it and would trace it and bim tothe Bull’s Head, where he had procured it. He began to curse himself for having, in little details, caused the best regulated plot to fail ut- ven his last act had been a most foolish one, The detective would at once decide that no one but the man whom he was tracing up could have burled the stone. This would prove to him that his ‘“‘ game” hed not yet flown. It would increase greatly the eagerness of Lyons to secure him. It would make him double his efforts to bunt him down. It was just possible, however, that the blow might bave fractured the skull of Lyons, or, in- deed have killed him ouiright. Should this prove to be the case, the whole city would be up in arms, Red Reed mentaliy confessed that he had made an ass of himself ia various ways, all through the business. Had he not depended so much—in fact, based all bis hopes—upon Pedro Pernales, he might have entertained stronger doubts and suspicions in regard to the latter, in connection with the disappearance of the gold and stocks; he might eveu have accused the Mexican of his perfidy. But it was not policy for him to make an en- emy of the man upon whom he so much de- pended, even though matters might point to- ward the ‘‘crookedness” of the Greaser. However, he decided that he would watch Pedro, and he believed be could tell pretty soon by the actions of the Mexican whether he had any hand in the disappearance of the booty. t was daylight when Reed reached the vicin- ity of the jacal, and he was obliged to skulk with great caution along the bank of the San Pedro beneath the willows to avoid observation, although he could perceive no one stirring. The only human being in sight was Pedro, upon hands and knees, evidently still studying tke “sign” left by the person who had entered the hovel by the roof and carried off the gold. From that moment Reed banished all his sus- picions against the Mexican. It was certain that Pedro would not have manifested such zeal or be engaged in examin- ing so long and so carefully the traces of the night prowler had he been in any way connect- ed with him. From the fact that the Greaser knew nothing of the presence cf his white pard, the latter was now convinced that he was true and loyal to him and bis interests. It was now much clearer, and Pedro could de- tect: the traces of the thief quite easily in the moist soil on the bink of the creek, At once, upon hearing the approach of Reed, the Mexican sprung behind the trunk of the large willow, and the ominous click of the lock ie revolver sounded on the morning air. But a peculiar low whistl@ caused him to put up the weapon and step forward from behind the tree, seeming much relieved at seeing bis con- federate, who advanced quickly, saying: ‘* Well, Pedro, what luck?” * “Not much, Senor Reed. Where have you been so long, and what news?” ~ Red Reed related all that had transpired, and all that; and, as he ‘closed, Pedro appeared very anxious and apprehensive. “By St. Iago! Senor Reed,” he exclaimed, ““we must ride fast when night again comes, San Antonio is too small for men like us, »» “Senor Lyons would like to get me in bis ches. If be has seen you and me walking eaking together, he will decide that I have beéh mixed up in this mrepe. He has spies mong the Mexicans, men whom he pays well, and for gold they would sell their own souls, Meg Maria! Why left you the key and paper in the cffice, and why burled you that rock at Lyons? He is as cunning asa fox. We must not stay in town to-day, or we are lost. What sball we do?” ‘‘T know I bave made a fool of myself; but I don’t intend to be beaut. Vil win m Farsi or die! But we must have money, and I propose togetit, . ‘If the boys capture Coleman, all will be well: for we'll abduct Nora Norrington to-mor- row night and skip toward the Rio Grande. He had slept but little for several nights past, After that we'll rollin gold. But we must have enough now to carry us through, We want horses, tod, and a dozen good men. ‘*Come, let us get inside the jacal! I want some liquor to brace me up, and then we will form our plans. Have you foundno clew of the thief who has taken our gold?” The Greaser made no reply, until after they had entered the hut and taken adrink. Then he answered: “Senor Reed, 1 do not give you any hope, but I w sh to follow up a trail, although I have but slight grounds for so doing. ‘* Tell me if you have not been intimate with a senorita who bas cause to be jealous of bape or perchance to hate you, for failing to keep your word? I have good reasons for asking you this?’ a pretty little Nita Nichols, er fatber was an American. She has been pestering me fora year past to marry her. Why do you ask?” watched, and tbat I was not followed—conse- quently the person who took the gold must have been here when we were, and would not have been here then unless on some previous occasion you had been followed when you visited me. ‘“‘To me it appears that, judging from the ‘sign,’ the person who was here and took away the gold and papers, was a woman, disguised as aman. The tracks were made by small boots, and the steps are too short for a man, or even a boy. Look bere!” The Mexican then produced several long black hairs, that were evidently from a wom- an’s head. Wi found these caught in the thatch!” he said. ‘By Heavens!” exclaimed Reed, ‘* you should have been a detective, Pedro. You have in- deed struck a clew. But it is a good thing all round if it was Nita, for we'll get everything back. At the same time, I feel like strangling her. “Pedro, you’re a brick! Pass the bottle, will you? begin to feel better. We'll skin through all right yet, and with a fortune to start on. “ Bat how are we going to work the racket to get the money back? Nita has done this from revenge, or to get a hold on me; and she’s a regular little devil when she gets her mad up. I’m almost afraid of her.” ‘* Tt will be more difficult to get back the ora than if a man hadit, Senor Reed. A woman is hard to understand, The morelI think of it, however, the more sure I am that your Nita has been here. Had it been men, who were suspicious of us, the treasure would have been delivered to the sheriff, and ourselves, too, by this time.” ‘Well, you must keepshady. I will go to the house of the senorita, and see what is to be seen. We have much to do to-nigbt, if we car- ry out our pro plans. Hark!” The sound of hoofs was heard, and then a sig- nal, which Pedro answered, ‘ Augustine comes,” he said. ‘‘ He brings good news, or he would not be here so soon.” ‘*Good!” exclaimed Reed, helping himself to the bottle. Very soon one of the Greasers who had been dispatched to capture Clarence Coleman, enter- ed the hovel bastily. “ Bueno !” said Pedro, “ what luck?” “Senor Coleman is at Rio Medina, tied fast toatree. Caramba! be is a devil! He stabbed Juan and Manuel, both dead. He would have killed me, too, but I knocked him in the head!” ‘Good boy!” cried out Red Reed, grasping the Mexican’s hand and shaking it. “ But you must have some grub and whisky, and then re- turn and guard Coleman until we reach the Medina to-morrow night, Can you get some of your pards to return with you, Augus- tine! “Si, senor; but they will want gold. It is too bad. Three men from Mexico came to San Antonio to-day. They bave many doubloons, to buy cattle. We could get the gold without trouble,” ‘And we will get it!” shouted Reed. ‘I’m just getting into the runcf things. Ill prove that 1 am ‘Red Reed,’ with a vengeance! l’ll Jeave a trail of blood from here to the Rio Bravo. ‘*Get all the men together that you can! We'll have a gang on the Medina to-night, and we'll call ourselves the ‘‘ Crimson Coyotes.” Pedro, without delay, proceeded to give Au- gustine directions as te summoning some of his companions in crime, to meet on the Rio Me- dina the coming night; and he supplied him with food and liquor, to take back on the trail, Augustine left bis horse among the willows, and, stealing among a cluster of miserable jacals, soon returned; when, in a few moments, one after another, a half-dozen villainous-look- ng Mexicans stole into the hovel. bey were at once introduced to Reed, who was profuse in promises of reward; and i oh tiated upon the bright prospects abead, under his leadership, His words bad little effect, how- ever, until Pedro informed them that “El —— —— — --——— —$$—————_——~eeee = The Crimson Coyotes. | ——————— ee — ——_ - Capitan Reed” had killed the great Senor Nor- rington, in his own casa, on the previous night. 10m that moment, their would-be leader ' was looked upon with respect and admiration, | as a most daring and fearless man, and well ; | | | | | | F qualified to lead them; and they needed now only tbe promise of gold to insure their services, In fifteen minutes more these low-browed, swarthy roffians had entered the mesquites, by different points, at the south of the city; and, meeting Augustine by appointment, they al! proceeded toward the Rio Medina—keeping on the ree of the traveled road to the Pleasuniun ord. Pedro prevailed upon Reed to go with bim, to a wild spot in the limestone range, north of the town, there to lie down and sleep until bis yel- low-skinned pard returned for him. He also “That's all right, Pedro. Yes, I have. She’s | promised that he would visit Nita Nichols, and iece enough, by the name of ; gain all the information he could in regard to the missing treasure, and also the doings and sayings of the people of San Antonio, He expected, as well, to get together another ‘Because I begin to believe that we are not | party of lawless Mexicans for the coming nigbt’s service; and, to become members of the proposed band of “Crimson Coyotes,” under the leadership of Capitan Red Reed. And much relieved indeed was Rodney Reed, to gain a place where he could sleep in safety; while he felt confident that everything was working toward success in his infamous anc cowardly schemes, And Pedro Pernales returned to the city, to carry out his part of the programme, CHAPTER XVIIL. CAPTURE OF CLARENCE. CLARENCE COLEMAN, after he hed assured himself of the finding of his note and the key to the safe, by those who had been in pursuit of him, continued on toward the Medina; feeling somewhat relieved, knowing that Sheriff Barnes would not be carried away with the prevailing excitement, but would investigate matters thoroughly and at once. Yet the brain of the young man was taxed al- most beyond human endurance, when he thought of Nora Norrington, as be had last be- held ber; and the scene before ber, when she re- turned to consciousness, It seemed to Clarence, that the powers of evil ruled his destiny at this particular time. He doubted not that Rodney Reed was in San Antonio, secure in the belief that he bad cov- ered his tracks; and that he was safe, from even a suspicion of complicity in the crime which he had so carefully B anned. He well knew that Reed had long hated him, and had wig close watch upon his every move- ment: but he had not entertained the idea that bis fellow-clerk would dare attempt a crime— especially such a fiendish one—with a view of fastening it upon bim., Clarence bad suspected Rodney of the inten- tion of robbing the safe, or of abstracting money, or very possibly of forgery, with the de- sign of implicating himself; and, for that rea- sou, he had determined to ask Mr. Norrington to have Reed keep the keys of the safe and of- fice the entire time, and thus prevent an advan- tage being taken of him in a criminal way. But it was too late. Perhaps the miscreant had effected an en- trance to the safe after having committed the murder, had robbed the murdered man aud his daughter of their all, and then decamped. This, however, was too terrible to think of; lt aaa dismissed the thought from his mind, He now rode, asin a dream; for he had been deprived of bis usual sleep, in addition to the fearful distress of mind under which te labored. He knew tbat he needed to husband his strength, and to keep his senses in their normal condition ; and he was avxious to find some secure retreat, - here be could, if bis mind permitted, gain some sleep. Much to his relief, he goon discovered, ahead, the dark serpentine line of timber, that marked the course of the beautiful Rio Medina, Urging the horse onward—and remembering, at the same time, that he had stolen the -ani- mal from either Brown or Brackett—Clarence, in a very short time, found himself beneath the dark, cool shades, and amid a perfect labyrinth of verdure, The moss-draped and vine-covered limbs shut. out, almost entirely, the light of the moon. The few rays. that did shoot down to the shades of the undergrowth, served to render the surrounding darkness denser in appearance, After wandering for some time among cow- ths, Clarence perceived a natural ‘‘ open.” here, be left the horse, after removing and secreting the equipments. He then crawled into an adjacent thicket, and threw himself upon the earth—his forehead resting upon his out- thrown arms, How long he remuined thus, striving to settle his mind upon sleep but without avail, he knew not; but soon he was conscious of the presence of other men in his vicinity. He at first felt sure that be heard the tramp- ing of horses’ hoofs; but this suddenlv ceased and was followed by a slight distur ance among the undergrowth. Clarence lay stil! cmd livten- GOMIGEHDOOKS (E(@) —_ — Q