Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 322 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

ee ———.__<._—— ed intently, being soon fully persuaded that pursuers were on his track and that they were near at band. This was simply astonishing to bim, for he be- lieved that those who bad followed him from the San Antonio river had all turned back dis- couraged. Ere jong, however, he became posi- tive that a spy was crawling toward the ‘‘ open,” on each side of his covert, and another directly toward him. Clarence became alarmed. He realized that be was in a dangerous posi- tion, and that if he was set upon in the thickets he would be at a disadvantage. Could he gain the “ open,” where the horse was feeding, there would be a chance for es- cape. With this thought, he crawled forward, Once be halted, for he had placed his band upon a branch of deadwood, and it bad snapped joudly—tbus betraying his presence. But, as he stopped to listen, all was still, and he continued crawling along cautiously, soon gaining the bordering bushes of the “ open.” Gazing out from these, Clarence could see nothing to indicate the presence of other human beings besides himself. Even the horse had not ceased feeding, prov- ing that the animal had not scented danger or the presence of strangers. Much relieved, the young man crawled out from the busbes; but, at that very instant, two men sprung upon bim—one from each side—and as they clutched bim, they yelled exultantly for a third to come to their assistance. At the first glance Clarence saw that his as- sailants were Mexicans of the lowest order— probably belonging to some band of outlaws— and he sprung to bis feet, both the Greasers clinging to bim and cursing at the extraordi- nary exhibition of strength in their intended victim. Neither of the Mexicans had a weapon in hand, their orders having been to capture Clar- ence Coleman alive; but they quickly drew knives, as they saw the steel flash in the hand of the desperate man whostruggled in their grasp. He seemed to ss the strength of a ocigaly bear and the rapid movements of a panther. But the Greasers were behind time. With a terrible stroke, right and left, Clar- ence literally ripped open the chests of the borri- fied men; who, with fearful yells ofjagony and terror, fell into each other’s arms, as their as- sailant leaped backward! It was a borrible sight, there in the clear moonlight as they rolled over, and lay side by side; their faces contorted, and their limbs and bodies writhing in the agonies of an awful death! Spellbound by the sight, Clarence Coleman stood, his blood-dripping knife extended, bis fea- tures deadly pale, and with a desperate and bun- ted look in his eyes; gazing upon the first tragi scene in which he had ever taken a leading ars. . But, while he thus stood, there stole out from the dark shades behind him, another swarthy Mexican; his black eyes glittering vengefully, and his white teeth set firmly together. He held a revolver ready in band, as with the cau- tion of a cat, he stole forward. The next moment, Clarence Coleman lay, senseless and bleeding, beside the corpses of his victims; stretched there by a terrible blow, de- livered by the skulking Greaser—the only sur- vivor of the trio that had been sent in pursuit of him by Rodney Reed! This Mexican, Augustine, as he was after- ward addressed by Pedro, upon his arrival at the jacal in San Antonio, bound his captive fast with a lariat, and dragged his senseless form into the thicket. He also secreted the corpses of bis comrades, and then staking their two horses, with the ani- mal that bad been ridden by Clarence, he sprung upon his own mustang and rode rapidly off on bis return to San Antonio to report, as has been shown, to Red Reed and Pedro Per- nales, Nita Nichols resolved that, upon the followin morning after her strange adventu res, she woul make a call a the bereaved girl in the Nor- rington Mansion, ere was much that she wished to learn. _ But first, she wanted to know positively if Miss Norrington and young Coleman really loved each other. She knew that the latter was not wealthy, or he would not have been in the position of a clerk; and she felt that such a man as she be- lieved him to be would, regardless of his love, choose to remain single rather than wed one so far above him in wealth and station, He no doubt, intended to carve out a name an fortune before asking the hand of Nora in marriage. But now all was changed. The robbery of the safe would leave Nora as poor as Clarence, if not more so, Nita had now a grand scheme in contempla- tion, It was in her power to make two bearts ba ; Although the old banker was dead, Clarence The Crimson Coyotes. So oe —~ - a, — ee - = SS ——— --—— —— Coleman would still be actuated by the same | tle, but from a glass. I shall trace this flask pride, which would keep bim and Nora apart. Under the circumstances, Nita Nichols re- solved to keep secret the fact that she had in her possession the papers and gold that had been taken from the safe, until such a time as she saw fit to reveal the facts and deliver them up. To bave this power of favoring Clarence Coleman, who had her regard and sympathy from his having been, like herself, so wronged by Rodney Reed, was a great consolation to the poor girl; and it served, somewhat, to mitigate ber own bitter sorrows, She made up her mind that, on the coming nigbt, she would secure the gold that she had | buried in the mud of the San Pedro; although she felt assured, that the attempt to doso would be attended with extreme danger to herself. But first, she would, during the day, visit Nora Norrington. In the morning, as Nita went to the old church on the Plaza, she heard the groups of excited men howling for the blood of Clarence Coleman; and she felt truly thankful, that the innocent young man had escaped the blind ven- geance of the rabble. Terrible, indeed, it would have been for Clar- ence to have suffered an ignominious death for the crime that had been committed by Rod- ney Reed! CHAPTER XIX, NITA AND NORA. WILLIAM Lyons lay fora long time, before he recovered from the effects of the blow he had received. Upon coming to bimself, he was not long in deciding that the stone had been thrown at him by Rodney Reed; who must have been eavesdropping at the house, and spy- ing upon him afterward, Lyons was not only furious, when he thought of the cowardly assault, but be resolved that be would place all doubts at rest, in connection witb what be bad heard of the similar assault upon Clarence Coleman, This last act pointed toward the man who had done the same coward- ly deed before. Previous to being felled, the detective had Greer ator a well-defined foot-print on the ank. This he carefully measure}, and then crossed the stream, to the point whence the missile had been hurled at him. There, he discovered an- other perfect foot-print, exactly like the former. His doubts were all dispelled, It was Rodney Reed, and he was the assassin, and the safe-rob- ber also, He must be, still, in San Antonio. Lyons determined to begin his work forth- with, and to work with a will. But be must first attend the inquest, so he hastened back to the house. There, he found that a jury had been summoned, and were in attendance; Dr, Dare being present as well. Much to bis surprise, he beheld Miss Norring- ton, closely vailed, and leaning upon the arm of the doctor. The examination commenced. Nora gave her testimony in a clear voice, al- though it was evident to a]l that she was suffer- ing greatly and was exercising wonderful self- control, Her testimony created great surprise and wrought a complete revolution in the minds of those present. William Lyons, when sworn, created quite as much excitement. He related the result of his examination of the thicket and astounded all by showing the wound he had re- ceived in thesame manner as that dealt to Clar- ence Coleman, as attested by Miss Norrington. He stated that the foot-prints made in both cases were exactly alike. He also produced and read the note that had been written by Clarence, and left on his desk: also the one sent to the sheriff. But they were doubly astonished when Lyons revealed the fact that after the murder of Nor- man Norrington, the assassin bad gone at once to the office, and robbed the safe of all its valu- able contents, er | by wistake a key of his own manufacture in the safe-door. Thus, it was made clear that the miscreant had plotted to get rid of the father and lover of the maiden, de- rive her of her wealth, and in that way have er at his mercy. There was proof wanting, the detective ad- mitted, which would without doubt be forth- coming; but the circumstantial evidence was strong—strong encugh tw vith Rodney Reed as high as Haman, and he called for a verdict in accordance with the evidence, Even while Lyons spoke, bis eyes fell upon a flask that lay partially hidden by a lounge. He reached for it nnd read the label—“ Old Otard, Put up by Bob Caile, Bull’s Head.” “Gentlemen,” said he, ‘‘ the man who lies, cold and dead before you, was never known to drink intoxicating liquors. Neither was Clar- ence Coleman. Here | find a flask of brand which has been but recently opened, the cor pried out, and the contents nearly all drank. ‘Had it been opened in this house, it would have been done with a cork-screw, and the liquor would not have been taken from the bot- | u ee ee p. ‘‘ Again, Mr. Coroner, I ask you to pass this stone, found in the murdered man’s band, around to the jurors. They will at once see that it bas been only recently taken from the river-bed, for there is living and sti!l moist moss adhering to it. You can all see, gentle- men, why that stone was placed in the dying man’s > ‘* But the assassin lost sight of the fact that such missiles are not usually found in a gentle- man’s library, and certainly not, with flesh and living moss upon them. ‘‘Gentlemen, I have no more to say. I go now to hunt the cowardly robber and murderer to earth. I mean Rodney Reed!” Dr. Dare had conducted Nora from the libra- ry previous to the detective’s testimony being given, for the poor maiden was trembling vio- lently, and he feared she would faint. The jury were not long in rendering their verdict. It was to the effect that *‘ Norman Norrington came to his death by the hand of an assassin; who was, in the belief of the jury, one of the clerks of the murdered man, by name Rodney Reed.” Lyons immediately hastened up to town, and pit a dozen trus'y men in search of Reed. He also dispatched a skilled scout, to trace up, and induced Clarence Coleman to return to San Antonio, and give evidence against bis fel- low clerk; promising him protection against any of the rabble, who might favor the latter. The city was soon wild, once more, with the new and exciting turn affairs bad taken. Pedro Pernales congratulated bimself, upon having gotten his pard out of town; for, most certainly, he woulc have been Slee and hanged by the mob; as every dwelling in the place was thoroughly searched, and patrols sta- tioned around in the suburbs. It bad been a fearful tax upon the nervous system of Nora Norrington, to be present at the inquest; but she bore up bravely, and the hysician, after prescribing a sedative, took bis eave. The undertaker was then placed in charge of the corgse, and he prepared it for burial, All w&s soon quiet—quiet almost as the dead —in the Norrington Mansion. It was then, that Nita Nichols called, and bade a servant say to her young mistress, that she had something of great importance to com- municate, Nora was much surprised, but di- rected that the young woman be admitted. She could scarce think of anything import- ant, that she could care to bear of now. Most dark and hopeless did the future appear to the poor young girl. When asked, if she would see a Jady on urgent business, she bad listlessly, and in an absent manner, bade her be shown up-stairs. The servant opened the door for Nita to enter, and then retired. Nora perceived that her visitor was a Mexi- can; for sbe walked forward, bent at ber feet, and kissed her hand. At once, Nora raised ber upward, and pointed to a chair by ber side, as she said: “Do not kneel to me, my dear girl! What can I do for you! I see, by the lines of care so eget face, that you are a sufferer, like my- self. ‘* Yes, Miss Norrington,” was the reply, sadly spoken; ‘‘ and through the same monster, in the form of a man!” ‘“What do you mean, and what is your name?” asked Nora, hurriedly. ‘* My name,” said the other, ‘‘is Nita Nichols, and I was bornin San Antonio. I have known you by sight, for years, as | have Clarence Cole- map. I have not intruded upon you, at this time, without good and sufficient reasons, ‘‘ Miss Norrington, I am a dishonored woman! Scorn me, if you must. It was different. ove year ago. Too late, I bave found out that Rodney Reed is a villain. He has broken the solemn promises that he made to me, and now I seek revenge. I have come to tell you, that it was be who murdered your fatber! ‘*That is not all, he robbed the safe in the bank. I can prove what I say. Ciarence Coleman is as innocent of those crimes as you are.” ““T believe you, my poor girl,” answered Nora Norrington. ‘‘I dotrust you can prove what you assert. The coroner’s verdict is against ed, but there are no direct proofs. ‘“T pity, and sympathize with you, Nita, from the bottom of ee But, you should see the sheriff and Mr. Lyons, as soon as pos- tee Will you go to them with your informa- tion ‘Certainly, Miss Norrington. I shall leave no stone unturned to bring Rodney Reed to jzs- tice. But, pardon me if I ask whether and Mr. Coleman are not lovers? It is not mere curiosity in me—I have a wortby motive in ask- ing, ‘Mr. Coleman and I are engaged,” was the reply. if But, neither of you bad much thought of an early marriage?” “‘T cannot say that we had, for'my father was a very proud man, and Clarence equally so With the aid of a Mexican, ~i! * 4 GOMER OOKS = i tba |. ot te ol ~ 9. Pa & = 7 —~™ -_ ee mas “eee « salt a Rd