Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 340 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

———— —— - = S —— —- — ” = — oe - : Ie se -_ * | _—- - 14 ~ _——- When they did open, they had a half mean- ingless stare in which he did not recognize the disturber of his peace. ‘*'Want—me?”’ he drawled. ‘‘ What for?” “You will see before the moon is much older,” was the reply. ‘‘I failed when I struck you before; this time I will succeed!” There was resolution, vengeance in the speak- er’s tones, and threatenings 1n her eyes. ‘*'You can get up Monte Merle,” she went on. ‘‘Tam here to say that I shall not argue mat- ters. Will you obey me, or shall I leave you here with a perforated head? Take your choice!” The ’Frisco sport looked into the muzzle of the revolver that crept toward his forehead while the ,young woman spoke, then he glanced over the glittering barrel into the stern eyes. The pistol was enough to awaken the most somnolent; but it was evident that Monte Merle was still under the influence of a drug of some kind, ‘“My God! I know you now!” he suddenly exclaimed. ‘‘I saw those eyes once before to- night; it was when I got your knife in my shoulder !” ‘* Yes,” admitted the girl with animation. “} thought I had struck an effectual blow for vengeance. I did not think, Monte Merle, that I would have to strike you again!” ‘*In Heaven’s name, who are you?” ‘One who has a right to pay the debt of jus- tice,” was the quick answer. ‘‘ But get up, and leave this cabin. I count three for you. One— two—’’ Monte Merle, sie rth covered by the dead- ly weapon, got upon his feet and stepped toward the door. His wound had paled his face, his eyes had an unnatural look, and his jetty locks fell over his shoulder in wild abandon. The woman followed closely behind him with her finger at the trigger, and her eyes fixed on the man upon whom she had stolen like a tigress. As Monte Merle crossed the threshold, he saw a horse led up to the door by a man who was stalwart like himself, and whose dress proclaim- ed him one of the permanent citizens of the gold camp. ‘*Can you get into the saddle, colonel?” his persecutor said to him. ‘*T can, but that is Silver Chick’s horse!” ‘‘ What of it? Alls fair in war, Monte Merle, and war this is.” The wily gambler-sport saw that he was caught, yet he wanted to delay events, Delay was much to him. The woman-avenger was playing a bold game in the heart of Pistol City, and a few moments’ dela Hk bring one of the two great pards up loe and her scheme. ** Look hyer,” he said, wheeling upon the avenger. ‘* You’d better drop this game where you are.” ‘*And you had better mount that horse! By the Supreme Father! Monte Merle, I am in this art of golddom to kill, and it matters very ittle to me where my victims fall.” ‘‘ Hades take her!” growled Monte Merle un- der his breath. ‘‘She doesn’t scare worth a cent. ‘‘ And he drew himself painfully up into the saddle and looked down into the woman’s face with eyes that said: ‘‘ Well, what next?” ‘*‘ Hold the reins and watch the monte sharp,” she said to the man who had brought the horse before the door. ‘‘ You will obey me in every rticular,” to the man in the saddle. ‘ Now, forward! Red Roy.” ‘‘Red Roy?’ echoed through Monte’s head. ‘‘That man belongs to this camp. Captain Noll left "Frisco several nights ago to suppress him. Well, he did not do his duty, for the villain is now in league with this black-eyed Nemesis.” The horse started off at a fast walk, with the well-built figure of Red Roy at his head. The female hunter walked alongside with eyes riveted on her captive, and ready, as the cocked revolver in her hand showed, to send a bullet crashing through his brain at the first move on his part. Red led the horse between a row of cabins and toward the dark shadows of the - mountains which the miners of Pistol City had honeycombed in their eager search for golden ore. Sullen, and like a statue, the Frisco rt sat bolt upright in the saddle, grating his teeth against the pain that came from the almost fatal knife-stab in the shoulder. _ ** What are these two pards goin’ to do with me?” he asked himself when the gaunt moun- tain rose before him against the starry heavens. ‘‘ They dare not take my life. No, they will not carry their capture thatfar. They fear the vengeance of Captain Noll an’ the whole crowd. But a madwoman knows no reason; nothin’ daunts a pantheress when her blood is hot.” The horse went on led by the man whose miraculous escape from Satan’s Hotel had as- tonished the whole camp, and pistol watched by The horse stopped and Red Roy looked to the speaker for orders. The spot reached was in the center of a some- what wide trail over which the moon hung in silvery beauty like a round shield suspended in the sky. ‘* Monte Merle,” said the beautiful captor, ‘‘ I declare myself and my intentions here. I am Leo the Trailer, and the trail 1 am on now I have sought ever since by eight men a youn gold prospctor was hung toa crag that jutted over a certain canyon in Colorado. Do you re- member?” Monte Merle could not suppress the start that betrayed his guilt to the speaker who was wae him with the tireless eyes of the ser- nt. He bit his lip under his mustache, and shot Leo a look of defiance. ‘* What if [ do remember that event?” he said. ‘** You must recollect that I was not alone.” ‘*Tll get them all before [m through with this blood-hunt!” was the quick retort. ‘‘ You ought to feel honored, Monte Merle, that I take you first, because I leave your betters behind.” The ’Frisco desperado did not speak. ‘* Nature seems to have intended this place for your doom,” the huntress went on. ‘‘ Above your head is a gallows much like the one that served your dark purpose in Colorado.” Monte Merle instinctively cast his eyes up- ward and saw by the moonlight’s aid a log like object that jutted out from the almost perpen- dicular mountain-wall about forty feet above his head, He saw, too, that the sides of the trail-walls were covered with a profusion of tough creepers entirely strong enough to bear the weight of a man, and when he saw Red Roy take from un- der his coat a goodly coil of small but stout rope he seemed to imagine to what use the creepers would be put. ** Albert, the gold-hunter received no mercy from your hands,” continued Leo looking still at the man in the saddle. ‘I have sworn that you shall receive none at mine.” ‘In Satan’s name, what are you to him?” cried Monte Merle. ‘‘ Are you his sister?” A smile crossed the beautiful avenger’s face. ‘* No, but he was as dear to measif he were my brother,” she said. ‘‘ Your accursed rope 1. gpa us, Monte Merle, just when life was all sunshine, and shortly after that terrible event the yellow hand of a viper from the south- ern border robbed me of every relative I had in the world.” ‘* None of us did that,” said the ’Frisco sport, ‘‘No. Iknow where he is, and I am here to crush the head of the Mexican serpent as well as to take vengeance for the hanging in the Colo- rado canyon.” The girl waved her hand toward the wall as she finished, and Red Roy stepped forward with the lasso in his hand. She did not watch the rough from Pistol Cit as he seized hold of the vines and drew himself uP, but continued to guard the man in the sad- e. Red Roy went toward the gallows hand over hand, climbing with the agility of an ape. He seemed to take delight in the sale before him for more than once he threw a triumphant look down at the man who chafed at the terrible peril he was in, He at last reached a point from which he threw his double coil over the stone arm which jutted in a singular manner from the mountain- wall, and then let it drop until the two ends we side by side almost touching the trail ow A few moments later he struck the ground with a satisfied ‘‘ Thar!” and turned to the moun- tain huntress, “It is well done, Red Roy; now adjust the noose,” was the response, and the man from Satan’s Hotel took up one end of the rope and formed a noose in it so quickly as to call forth Monte Merle’s secret commendation. Almost before Monte could believe that the deftly-formed noose was Saf for its victim, he saw something dart at him like a rattlesnake from its coil, and the lasso dropped over his head, and fell on his shoulders! He raised his hands mechanically to tear it loose ere it tightened, but the voice of Leo the Trailer daunted him. ‘Touch that rope and die!” she said. ‘‘ How- ever, Monte Merle, if you prefer cold lead to a lasso, tear the noose from your throat!” He did not touch the rope, but dropped his hands with a hissing curse. Red Roy now proceeded to fasten the other end of the rope around the body of the horse at the girth, so that when the animal should start forward, he would draw Monte Merle to- bs if peers sage ae! y a. nce during the operation of tying the ro to the horse, the urns of the two men met. oa **]t’s no use, Monte,” said Red Roy in a whis- pee ‘‘T never met that girl before ter-night, ut I’m her slave. Besides, yer Sr Captain Noll banished me ter Satan’s Hotel. et’s Cool Conrad, the Dakota Detective. Suddenly he burst forth in a terrible voice as he wheeled upon the avenger. ‘* By the fires of Tartarus! there shall be ven- geance for this night’s work!” he cried. ‘* You may strike now, my Dakota scorpion, but you forget that you leave unhung some men who are fit to reign in the infernal regions!” ‘‘T forget nothing!” was the cool answer. ‘* Tf I could forget, Monte Merle—if I could blot out the past—I would give life itself. But Hea- ven has implanted in my heart eternal remem- brance. You will be swinging ’twixt earth and heaven before three minutes end. When I strike your horse he will dash forward and com- plete, so far as you are concerned, colonel, my sworn duty.” The speaker stepped to the steed and raised her hand, ‘Count three, Red Roy,” she said with a glance at the stalwart rough, ‘* Hold on thar!” rung out a voice before Red Roy began. ‘* That man belongs to me.” ‘* We'll test that now /” cried Leo the Trailer and she smote the steed heavily with her hand, The horse sprung forward with promptness, and as Monte Merle was lifted into the air, wheeled upon the stranger. CHAPTER XV. THE SEEDS OF VENGEANCE. ‘“ConFOUND you, woman! Don’t you know who youare balking?’ And the man who ut- tered these words sprung forward and seized the horse by the bit and began to force him back with both hands. ‘‘T care not whom I balk!” answered Leo, as she started toward the interferer, a mad light in her eyes, and her finger playing nervously with the trigger of her revolver. ‘‘ Leave that horse, or, by the golden stars above us, [ll drop you dead in your boots!” The threat was unheeded, ‘*T’ve no objection to seeing Monte Merle pass in his chips, but I intend to say something about the manner of his going out,” the stran- ger said, ‘‘ Besides, woman, I’ve hunted this very monte sharp too long to be baffled at this wage of the game!” e did not drop the ‘reins his hands had seiz- ed, but fearless of the menacing revolver, con- tinued to back the steed until Monte Merle, low- ered by the aa fell limp and senseless across the saddle. Leo seemed fascinated by the man’s daring. ‘*Tt is the fellow who calls himself Vaquero Van,” muttered Red Roy, who had been held speechless in one spot by the scenes just describ- ed. ‘*‘He got away slick an’ clean from Cap- tain Noll an’ Silver Chick, an’ now he turns up hyer in time ter block ther gal’s game. Jehu! how cool he is! I wouldn’t hev taken the chances ov thet girl shootin’ ter save ther best friend I’ve got.” be ae you don’t want to shoot me,” contin- ued Cool Conrad—for he it was—looking Leo in the face. ‘‘ This man will not be hanged to- night!” ‘Will not, you say?” flashed the huntress oars up to him. ‘'Do not be too sure of that! The next moment the two stood face to face and looked into each other’s eyes by aid of the moon. “ Ah! is it you?” suddenly cried Leo, ‘“‘ Idid not recognize you in this disgui You are still the older image of Albert.” ‘‘ The brother thet villain helped to choke to death!” replied Cool Conrad, with a quick glance at Monte Merle. ‘‘ And you hate him, too?” sé T do. 9? ‘¢ How did he wrong you?” Leo was silent, although a reply almost part- ed her lips before she choked it down, ‘‘ Never mind,” she said, a minute afterward. ‘He and his fellows inflicted a wound which only their blood will heal. I thought—I hoped rs warning would keep you in San Fran- cisco. Cool Conrad started perceptibly. ‘Then, that letter came from you—then, you are 4—11—21?” A smile of assent passed over the avenger’s countenance, ‘But you warned Oregon Noll also,” he went on. ‘* You made it ooeattls for me to fall inte Monte Merle’s man-trap.” ‘Yes. I was working for my own revenge. I didn’t want you to strike this mountain band before I could get my work in.” ‘*T see!” exclaimed the detective. ‘‘ You have made your double game quite clear to me. It was by chance that I escaped from that infa- mous man-trap, and got upon the trail of the men whose blood I seem to scent from afar. Look at that one on the horse. If your noose hasn't choked him he is yet my victim.” ae eae, sir, he’s connie weet out,” said Red Roy at this juncture. ‘“‘ Ef thet’s ther case, he’s past dna stroke, captain.” Cool Conrad turned to Monte Merle, and. quickly removed the noose from around his Wes ce | | — — 2 ~ ae ee Pe the avenger at his side. | ‘‘ Halt! said the avenger at last much to i! - Monte Merle’s relief, for he was anxious to have | the march conclude in some manner; any way 4, would prove a relief to the strain of uncertainty | a look which threaten _ then upon him. ever got the upper hand, ia Gom neck. Leo went up and looked for a moment inte the face of the emcee ape A sort of triumphant g lit up her eyes, JIOOKS a ote M le did ly, b » Red Ro on erle not reply, but gave y a ie vengeance if he (E(@) - (E