Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 340 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

++ et ne a ee = — ; ee a ee -_— A > * -_ - - ah SG CTE —_ = = - _— co -** me ie ato pay them back!” ee < - = _ wee nna wn = ther blade. He saw yer faint an’ went off like powder, takin’ ye for dead. He’ll turn up soon, an’ then we'll all os re for this vengeance- hunter from the North. Vaquero Van, you'll stay hyer and see the picnic, won’t yer?” **T’ve nothing ter take me away just yet,” said the vaquero, a strange glitter in his eyes. ‘* After all, this man you speak ov may not come.” “Gods! but he will,” said Monte Merle. ‘*‘ He’s not one of ther kind thet turns back. I saw thet in his eyes ther moment I got a look at him. If he is the brother of the man hung ter ther crag, look out for him.” ‘* We will, an’ bring his hunt ter a sudden ending!” cried Oregon Noll. ‘Ther boys are gittin’ impatient out thar.” ‘* Let em come in an’ drink ter my recovery,” smiled the monte sharp. Captain Noll stepped to the door and admit- ted the miner-toughs who swarmed into the den again, eager to learn what Monte Merle had im- rted during their absence. **T’ll see yer to-morrow ef not sooner,” said Vaquero Van, touching Oregon Noll’s arm, ** An’ you, Monte, we’ll meet again.” He left the saloon alone, followed by the eyes of on eg every one present, and soon disap- r iar Who is he, Oregon?” asked Monte Merle. ‘** A rollin’ stone huntin’ moss among ther gold camps,” was the reply. ‘**Didn’t he ever buck ther tiger at yer tables?” ‘*T don’t remember him, but his eyes look kin- der familiar.” a eyes, Monte Merle? es. ‘* Well, I'm in the tiger’s lair sooner than [ hoped,” muttered the vaquero when he found himself some distance from Holy Hank’s. ‘‘ They don’t know me; the seven doomed villains don’t suspect that the avenger of innocent blood is in their very midst. Ill wait till Silver Chick comes back, and then, by heavens! Ill strike a blow this wild region will never forget! The woman who struck you, Monte Merle, fortunate- ly did not kill. What debt has she to wipe out? 1d like te know, an’ if she comes to Pistol City, T) find out.” We need not say that the eyes of the vaquero flashed like balls of fire while the words just re- corded drop from his tongue. ‘‘ They still boast of their infamous deed in the Colorado canyon. Wait till I lift my hand @ was now near the famous place known as Satan’s Hotel, and the moon showed him the yawning down which, but a few hours be- fore, Red Roy had been lowered at the end of a rope. . RS Halt! I’ve got you!” suddenly hissed a voice behind the vaquero. ‘* You can’t play a double game when 'maround. Your eyes gave you away ter me ther moment I saw yer! You may fool Captain Noll an’ ther boys, but you can’t fool Tunis!” Vaquero Van had turned, and stood face to face with a man who covered him with a revol- ‘ver. ** You ar’ the Dakota Detective—the man who fell through Monte Merle’s trap the other night. I know you!” continued Tunis, in tones of tri- umph. ‘‘Hyer you masquerade as Vaquero Van, but in other quarters you’ve gained the title ov Cool Conrad. Hands up! I march you back to the lions!” A moment of intense silence followed, and then. —the unmasked man leaped straight at Tunis, and the hand that clutched the revolver was caught at the wrist and firmly held. It was a second’s work, and it took Tunis by rise. ‘“Yes: you are right!” was hissed at his ear. ‘¢‘T am Conrad from Dakota, an’ I’ve spotted the men I want. It has been a long hunt, but [’'m getting thar at last. So your eyes ferreted me out, eh? So you war going ter march me back ter ther lions of Pistol City? Tunis, my deluded oot, I shall have ter tell you thet you’re mis- en. Lintend ter clear my way asI go, for I have sworn that nothing s stand between me and the avenging of my brother’s blood! They sent Red Roy to ther bottom of Satan’s Hotel last night, and you, Tunis, are going ter join “For God’s sake, no!” pleaded the spy. ‘Ill not hon you. I—” ps Trust vou Tunis?” laughed the detective. **T guess not!” e almost lifted Tunis from the ground, as he ¥ stepped toward the brink of the pit; then he pushed him headlong forward! ‘‘T’]] see who plays this game through!” Cool Conrad said. CHAPTER X, THE COOL HUNTER. THER man who was playing this desperate double game in the gold camp stood for several moments longer near the petnk of Satan’s Hotel, and then turned and quietly walked away. He was as cool as if nothing of importance had happened, as if his clever disguise had not heen mo and his true name breathed aloud 2» the air. a Tunis would carry no more messages to his chief at San Francisco; he would never unmask another vengeance-hunter. If sought for he would be found at the bottom of Satan’s Hotel. In the mean time, Monte Merle, the gambler sport, had been carried in a blanket by the miner roughs to Oregon Noll’s cabin, where he was laid on the on couch with a sleeping potion administered by Doctor Pablo. Captain Noll stood over the gambler for a few minutes, or until he had dropped into a heavy | sleep, when he left the shanty and went back to Holy Hank’s, where the toughs were discussing | ‘* Boys,” said Oregon Noll, placing himself be- | fore the quartette with his arms folded on his | the events which had just taken place. Selecting four dark-faced and resolute-looking fellows from the crowd, he beckoned to them to follow him, and he led them to a shaded place under the brow of the nearest mountain. breast. I kin say freely to you what I would- n’t say to ther pards left at Hank’s. In ther first place, lask ye ef yer recollect the young- ster we strung bx ter a crag once in a Colorado canyon because he wouldn’t betray ter us ther location ov a gold vein which we hed reason ter suspect he had diskivered?” ‘*We hevn’t forgot ther kid, captain,” an- swered one of the men promptly and certain nods told that he spoke for all. ‘“Thet galoot hed a brother—a fellow called Conrad, an’ he’s now playin’ tiger on our track.” ‘*Whar is he?” cried the listeners. ‘‘ Ef he wants a picnic, let him come ter Pistol City! So ft tiger, eh? Put us onter him, Captain oll. ‘*He war in’Frisco a short time ‘ago, an’ he struck our trail thar,” continued the leader of the canyon hangmen, ‘‘ Silver Chick succeeded in cagin’ him, an’ left thar, b’lievin’ thet he war out o’ our way forever, but hyer comes Monte Merle with ther news thet he’s loose somewhar.”’ : : “4 he ther daisy what cut Monte Merle?” Oo. ‘** Who did, then?” ** We'll find out soon enough, but we’re hyer ter prepare ter receive thet infernal Dakota De- tective who, havin’ struck our trail in ’Frisco, will follow us hyer. We must stand together in this fight for life, for thet’s what it is, pards.” ‘With six ag’in’ one?’ was asked with a sneer. ‘* Yes,” said Oregon Noll. ‘A fight for life it is with six ag’in’ one, None but ther coolest man on earth would go inter such odds. We must watch for him, an’ when he comes we must deal with him as certainly as we dealt with Red Roy.” ‘*Give us a chance at the pard from Dakota!” exclaimed the men. ‘Ef we don’t prove too much for him, by Jupiter! we'll leave camp an’ herd horns on ther Texas frontiers!” Captain Noll’s eyes gleamed virgen. on the mep who stood ready to second his most despe- rate suggestions, He knew them all; he had seen them tried under circumstances that were enough to test the mettle of the bravest, and not once had they quailed. He had but to tell them that a vengeance- hunter was or their track to make their eyes flash, and to send their bronze hands mechanic- — to the weapons that were ready in their ts. The majority of gold camps possess men like the pards of Pistol City, but few of the bands have been trained under leadership like Oregon Noll and Silver Chick. Monte Merle was a member of the same band which, some years prior to the date of our story, had hanged a youthful gold-hunter in a Colorado canyon because he would not divulge a vont eo secret; but Merle had drifted apart from companions, to become the rich monte king of San cisco. Still, his companions had not lost sight of him, neither had he lost friendship for them. It is true that he and Silver Chick were bro- thers in flesh, as well as in dark atrocities, but there were few persons outside of the brother- hood who knew this. Monte Merle’s ride from ’Frisco to warn Cap- tain Noll of Cool Conrad’s escape was proof enough that he considered himself one of the old band of desperado-sports who had at one time terrorized the gold-fields of the Colorado. The gambler-sport was to his old pards true as steel. Captain Noll listened with a smile of satisfac- tion to the mad exclamations of the four men he had led from the camp. ‘Thar’ll be five ov us waitin’ for him when Silver Chick comes back,” he said. ‘“Whar is ther Chick?” ** He’s gone ter look arter the Monte. Daylight ‘Il see him back, an’ then we'll hold a final council. I want thet man- hunter ter come. He won't ketch one ov us may om Gods! I wish he war hyer now.” rouched behind an unusually mY bowlder, not twenty feet away, was a man who had not lost a single word dropped by Captain Noll and his pards. This person was ag ex Van, and his eyes twinkled madly while he listened. rson who cut ee ee ee eee Oe OS | i | Cool Conrad, the Dakota. Detective. He saw the five march back to camp, with his hand at the butt of a revolver. ‘* Not yet!” he said to himself, as his dark eyes followed them. ‘‘ I shal) wait till she comes, Silver Chick will not find the person who gave Monte Merle the benefit ov a bowie. I will wait for her before I strike.” Gradually his splendid figure rose above the rock, and he watched the five pards until they oot ora among the shadows of the shanties, ‘**'There’s something Id like to know,” he went on, before he moved away. ‘* You don’t stay up all night, Captain Noll, and besides, you'll go back and watch by Monte Merle. T’li seek you there!” ‘* Maybe you’d better not.” The voice was low but plain and Cool Con- rad turned half-way round to confront a vers itable night serpent, Doctor Pablo. The instant he saw the Mexican he stepped toward him and reached his side before he could recoi] an inch, ‘‘So you’re prowlin’ round camp likea spy, eh?” he said, darting the doctor a fierce look, ‘‘Wharever [ve found your race I’ve found sneaks and a By Jehu! I’ve a mind ter wring yerneck! Do you know me? oe ‘it The heavy hand of the detective fell like a trip-hammer upon the doctor’s shoulder, and threatened to drive him into the ground. ‘“You are Vaquero Van. I know that be cause I heard you say so,” was the answer. Did Cool Conrad trust the truth of that re- ply? He gave the Mexican a look that seemed to pierce him rete and through and to say— ‘ Lie to me, and Pll kill you!” ‘“ Very well. You b’lieve I am Vaquero Van because you heard me say so eh?” he said, still looking at the doctor. ‘‘ Justa minute ago you said thet perhaps I'd bettér not go to Cap- tain Noll to-night. What did you mean?” ‘* Oho!” laughed the Mexican. ‘‘ I mean be- cause the captain is not in the best of humor. He imitates the tiger when the fur’s been smoothed the wrong way. este! I would not go to him to-night.” “You are not Vaquero Van,” smiled Cool Conrad. ‘‘T know that, senor.” ‘‘ Consequently, you do not care to interview the tiger. Very well. I shall.” “Do as you. please. You'll find him with Monte Merle by this time.” The man-hunter’s hand fell from the} doctor’s shoulder, but he did not step back. ** Did a in from ’Frisco to-day?” asked ablo, ‘*You didn’t see anything of a woman who wants my blood, eh, captain?” Cool Conrad could not suppress a smile. ** Wants your blood, Doctor Pablo?” he cried. ‘¢ Whoin the world wants it?” Doctor Pablo ground his teeth, “The viper that sent me this hiss,” was the answer, and there appeared a piece of paper 14 the doctor’s hand. ‘ [ll strike amatch for ou, Senor Van, an’ hold it for you while you read it.’ ‘‘ Tt’s no love-letter is it, doctor?” ‘ » “Caramba! no!” hissed the Mexican. A moment later he had struck a match, and was holding it up for Cool Conrad to read his note of warning by. Doctor Pablo watched the detective closely, but his eyes were not keen enough to detect @ slight start on Coo] Conrad’s part. ‘ Hello!” said the Dakotan to himself. ‘*‘ What does this mean? ‘The person who sent me the note of warnin’ at the hotel in Frisco tells Doc- tor Pablo hyer in Pistol City to prepare for death. His enemy an’ my friend? I don’t un- derstand this. An’ Monte Merle says his assail- ant was a woman!” He read the warning through without missing a word, ; ‘“‘ Thar’s no lovein that letter, doctor,” he said, with a smile, as he handed the letter back to the Mexican. ‘‘ Hate to the core, senor!” and Doctor Pablo’s hands clinched. ‘‘ Let the viper come! Doctor Pablo is ready tc grind her head in the dust!” The match went out, and the Mexican thrust the letter back into the pocket from which he had taken it. ‘* So,” he said, abru thy, ‘vou ar’ still of a mind to visit Oregon Noll ‘* Yes,” said Cool Conrad ; “Let me give you a piece of advice. Don’t mention where Tunis 1s. Despite his coolness, the Dakota Detective started back. ; . ; ‘““Do you know?’ he said, looking down into the x hall me face. ‘* Si, senor.” ‘¢ And vou are ready to betray me?” ** Not for the world. You hate Silver Chick?” ‘As I hate a liar.” ‘Then Doctor Pablo will never give you away.” And the Mexican held out his hand, ‘That camp dog has said that he will hold me up while the she viper strikes. You hate Silver Chick. Doctor Pable will not betray you, senor; the revolvers of Pistol City could not make him tell whe sent Tunis down Satan’s Hotel after Red Roy. Trust the doctor, senor.” (E| 90 No) com Sj (E()