Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 340 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

— “aly b= ° Se eae - = - A n 4 t > i id » ~ . _ -_ a; “mm . ~ wr ~ Re ® Y ar. ~~ gm - | devouring 26 Cool Conrad, the Dakota Detective. ——— together, and Cool Conrad had another sentence on his lips when the menaced trailer continued: ‘‘Don’t you know me? I’m Red Roy. ~ George! I’m even with Captain Noll, at last. hanged him fer lowerin’ me inter Satan’s Hotel, but somebody cut him down. This time salt- peter won’t save ther boss devil ov Pistol City.” ‘‘ What have you done?” asked Cool Conrad, eo ‘‘ Jest what I hedaright ter do. I left Cap- tain Noll dead in his shanty, a little while ago! Thet’s what he got fer makin’ me a guest ov ~Satan’s Hotel!” A mad oath, that sent a thrill through Red Roy, sprung like a hissing serpent from Cool Conrad’s lips. The next instant his left hand shot forward and landed on the big rough’s shoulder, while the revolver in the detective’s right hand almost touched his face. ‘‘ Did you do that, Red Roy? Have you really killed Oregon Noll?” “1 should say I hev. But, hedn’t I a right ter? ** You? no! But, how did you kill him?’ ‘*T opened the door of his shanty, got a glimpse of him at his table, an’ painted ther wall with his brains. He put me inter Satan’s Hotel, sir. You forget thet.” Cool Conrad looked into Red Roy’s face a moment longer, and then lowered his revolver and walked away. ‘Don’t follow me. I might kill you!” he said. CHAPTER XXVIII. A GREASER ON DECK, ‘‘SnHor by an avenger an’ clawed by a se: ea He was mine! ther! Sacrista! I am worth a camp oy men yet!” The speaker stood in a mountain trail with the last beams of day about him. His garments bore evidences of a tussle with a beast of some kind, no doubt a panther, as he had just mentioned, and he looked ready to re- new the combat if the enemy would but show himself and seek the encounter. It was the second night after the events that take up the chapter before this, and the man in the trail was the viliain the Mexican serpent called Doctor Pablo at Pistol City. Alive yet despite his misfortunes, and quite ready to commit any deed that would to the ightest degree satiate his revenge. Leo knew that Santa Cruz still lived, would she not turn for a moment from Captain Noll and his pards to hunt him to the bitter end? She had fired point-blank at the Mexican’s breast, but she did not know that the blade of a knife concealed under his jacket had turned the ball aside, and sent it into a part of his body a few inches from the citadel of life. So Doctor Pablo was yet at large, and the yellow serpent was able to crawl and to dart madness from his little eyes. Was he going back to Pistol City? He in .e trail like a person waiting for night to come that he might carry out some pro- ject which the light of day would baffle. He saw the last streaks of day fade from the west and then he started forwa ain. ‘‘There’s nothin’ I'd like better than to find Leo,” he said. ‘‘I remember her when a little girl—how she came back to the ranch that day with her father an’ found it in ashes. Peste ! how she cried an’ how her father cursed. He never thought that I did it, that by that stroke I paid him for his severe orders. She doesn’t know the secret I still possess. Ha! ha! Leo! if you knew what Doctor Pablo knows you would turn from your blood trail for a while.” The Mexican’s eyes glittered for a minute, and then he went on: ‘‘T can strike again, my southern flower!” he exclaimed. ‘‘ Your bullet found my knife, not the heart you aimed at, an’ I will still be master of a part of the gold region. Silver Chick will never hold me up for you to strike. When I have finished you I will turn on him!” A mile from the spot where we found him at the head of the present chapter the Mexican halted suddenly, and drew back behind a rock, ‘* Ha! ha!” rung out a voice that startled him and brightened his eyes with evil _— ** You have caused me to hope for years of happiness.” ‘Tam glad of that,” was the answer, coming from a point down the trail. ‘‘ When I first met you J never dreamed of this.” ‘“‘Nor I, I thought they all perished at the -hands of that villain of villains, Santa Cruz.” The last name caused Doctor Pablo to crane his neck forward, and to tighten his grip on the revolver in his right hand. ‘* Dios ! what’s that?” he ejaculated. ‘ Is for- tune bringing the huntress into my clutches?” He grew ee and eagerness seemed to be He put one foot forward and tried to look down the trail, which was a winding one at that point, but a sudden bend prevented. The voices he had heard were the voices of women, young in life, and not far away. They were coming toward him, mounted, for his acute ears could hear the hoofs of horses strike the stones which protruded above the trail at intervals, ‘Tam glad that we have met,” suddenly re- sumed one of the unseen females. ‘‘I never thought to see you any more. I was taken from the house before it was fired. I was sent into Mexico and there I afterward found Captain Noll, who made me his protegee and brought me to Pistol City. Some time later Doctor Pablo came to the camp. I did not dream that he was the cause of all our sorrow, for the scar which he wears above his eyes changed him from San- ta Cruz.” ‘* But he could not balk me forever, Floss,” was the quick reply - ‘* The best disguise in the world could not hide the real serpent from me.” ‘‘ Heavens! if I had stumbled on the truth during my life in Pistol City, I would have avenged the past. I would have paid him back for the most terrible night of our lives, sister.” ‘* Sister? Sacrista!’ growled Doctor Pablo, waiting beside the rock. ‘‘ They have met, an’ all is known. I wonder how they recognized each other?” He had to wait but a minute longer, and then two horses with riders loomed up between him and the brilliant stars which had come into exis- tence as it were at the death of day, ‘‘Come on, my beauties!” he fairly hissed, ‘*Ride into the clutches of the man you have been cursing. Come forward into the hands of Doctor Pablo. You haven’t forgotten the past, it seems, senoritas; neither have I!” Like a spider at the mouth of his den watches for the fly that approaches his thrall, so the Mexican waited for the two people riding ina slow walk toward his rock, His eyes became balls of fire and he could hardly control his intense eagerness. ‘*Come on, my doves! Now thet you have found each other out, you will also find Doctor Pablo when you don’t look for him. A moment more an’ I’ll have you both.” The two riders of the horses were plainly seen —two sylph-like figures side by side in the moun- tain trail. All at once the figure of Doctor Pablo straight- ened and stepped into the road. ‘* Halt!” he said in distinct and triumphant tones, and the two hands that shot forward in- stantly covered the riders of the horses with cocked revolvers. ‘* Heavens! it is Doctor Pablo!” exclaimed one of the women. ‘‘ No! it cannot be,” was the response. ‘‘Tt is! itis! Look for yourself, Leo!” ‘* Yes, Tam Doctor Pablo!” hissed the hunted Mexican. ‘* You ladies have ridden into a sleek trap which the night set forme! Ha! you were not lookin’ for me here. Don’t touch your pistols, senoritas, I see your hands, an’ my fingers are at my triggers.” The two females who were Leoand Floss could not keep back looks of wonder and amazement. They had ridden into the clutches of one of the biggest scoundrels in the gold region, and one who, judging from the past, would not shrink from any deed. ‘Throw your pistols away!” continued the Mexican in a voice of command. ‘‘I see fit to disarm you, senoritas. Throw them to the left where the tases is. Quick! Don’t hesitate! I am Santa Cruz.” An exclamation parted Leo’s lips at the men- tion of this well-hated name. ‘‘Santa Cruz! and the meanest man above ground! Retribution is only retarded by this success of yours. It cannot be put back for- ever.” ‘* Away with the pistols!” was the response. ‘* The mornin’ will come by an’ by.” Sullenly and only because they were compelled to on peril of life, the two girls drew their weap- ons, and threw them into the grass at the side of the trail. ‘* There! does that satisfy you?” asked Leo. ‘‘ Perfectly,” was the answer. ‘‘ Now come forward. You were goin’ the right way. We will all go to Pistol City.” ‘*To the camp?’ exclaimed the twogirls atone breath. ‘Why not? Does not Floss belong there an’ do not the menof Pistol City want Leo?” laughed Doctor Pablo. Leo shot her pe ere a quick look. ‘‘ Very well; to the gold-camp be it,” she said, turning to the yellow desperado, and the two horses moved forward while Doctor Pablo awaited them in the middle of the trail. With glittering eyes he suddenly placed him- self between the steeds, and looked up at his prisoners, ‘“We go to Pistol City now. Forward!” he said and then quickly added: ‘Slowly, senoritas. A gallop might empty two saddles!” The fair couple understood that threat and obeyed the scamp. The next few minutes witnessed the tacle of two horses moving in a walk over the trail with aman walking between them with a cock- ed pistol in each hand. How his ms snap nance seemed to fl umph he had won! e was glancing a at his captives almost constantly through his long black lashes; he watched them likea hawk. , and how his counte- with the unexpected tri- tT CL LL CC LLL LL LE RRL ttt tt ___ Cc rr nr ee ‘Oh, for a chance stroke!” murmured Leo as she contemplated the cunning of the devil between the horses. ‘‘Great heavens! are we to be conducted back among the lions by this monster? Must we be thrown into their jaws helpless, and powerless, to resist? Give me a moment for vengeance—a second’s time for a stroke!” The eae of the beautiful huntress seemed uttered in vain, for the vigilance of Doctor Pablo was not relaxed for an instant, and the horses were nearing Pistol City as Floss knew amiliar scenery. ‘* They’ll receive you with open arms; ha! ha!” the faces of his captives. ‘‘ Captain Noll will be glad to welcome Senorita Floss home; an’ you, Leo—caramba! mebbe Doctor Pablo will pay you back for you shot before the whole camp.” ‘* Do it!” cried Leo, bending toward the Mexi- can and lowering her voice to a defiant hiss. ‘‘ I tell you here that you will have to play your pre- sent hand shrewdly or I will hold the best cards when the game ends. If you want to pay me for my shot which failed, I see, to kill, do it now and here, Don’t wait till you enter Pistol City for your stroke. You might fail there. Here you have things yourown way, Take m advice and strike while you have such a bril- liant opportunity.” The only reply Leo got was a sudden gleam in Doctor Pablo’s eyes, |and the shine of the teeth he showed in a grin. ‘‘ Wait, then, and fail,” said Leo, resuming her old position. ‘‘ There’s many a slip, Doctor Pablo, between jail and scaffold.” Still no reply on the Mexican’s part, and his reticence told that he had resolved not to be drawn into a display of passion. Leo looked triumphant when she showed Floss her face again, and the two prisoners watched the yellow sport as narrowly as before. All at once a light like a star burning along the horizon greeted the eyes of the trio. Leo and Floss exchanged ama glances, and Doctor Pablo smiled to himself. They all knew what it meant. Pistol City was but a short distance ahead. The trail descended for a little distance, and then reached a level with the light. ‘We are here, senoritas,” said Doctor Pablo aloud speaking for the first time in many min- utes. ‘‘ The pards of Pistol City will soon be surprised. e’ll find ’em all at Senor Hank’s.” Leo started at the name that finished the last sentence. . She recalled her last experience at the famous whisky den, her peril and her rescue by Floss who threw a pistol over the heads of the des- perate crowd in the nick of time. And now she was going back there Doctor Pablo said—going back to face the same villai once more, and this time without a hope of rescue! The prospect was not inviting; it was peril- ous. A short time afterward the trio found them- selves among the rough cabins. ‘‘Porward to Senor Hank’s, senoritas!” said Doctor Pablo, ‘‘ Peste! hear the hyenas of the mountains swearin’ over their whisky !” The horses, guided by the yellow sport, passed down the narrow street of the gold camp. ‘‘ Halt!” said Doctor Pablo stopping in front of the most famous place in gold-land. ‘‘ Hello! in thar, pards! Come out and see yer doctor’s catch!” In a moment the loud noises beyond the thres- hold of the whisky-den grew still, and then sey- eral stalwart figures and bearded faces appeared at the door. “Doctor Pablo, by Jupiter!” cried one. “Bring out the lamp! her Greaser ain’t alone. He ketched suthin’ in ther mountains.” In a second, as it were, the tin lamp that lit up the interior of the place—and the same one which we have seen Floss cut down with the whip—was jerked from its place on the wall and brought out. ‘‘ Jehu! ther two daisies!” was the exclama- tion that soared starward. ‘‘ Whar did yer run in’ °em, doctor?” ‘They stumbled onter me!” laughed the Mex- ican. ‘‘I warn’t lookin’ for ’em when the came up. I fetched ’em hyer fer punishment, senors. Captain Noll kin tend ter ther young one. lowe Leo thara grudge an’ with yer per- mission, senors, I’ll pay ’er hyer!” ‘‘No yer don’t, doctor!” said the men who started forward. ‘‘ We'll settle with her our- selves. You hed yer time among ther moun- tains. Why didn — git even thar?” Doctor Pablo looked daggers at the crowd, and behind his lips he ground his teeth till they fairly cracked. | “Keep off!” he grated, displaying his two re- volvers to the pards of the gold camp. ‘ You kin take ther youngest one, I say, but the other one I claim.” The Mexican faced the mad crowd with the of an enraged lion. ‘‘ Ploss kin b’long ter Captain Noll. I don’t object ter thet,” he went on. ‘‘ But Leo has been huntin’ my blood for years, an’I have a right ter strike her for sheddin’ it!” The whole crowd stood before Holy Hank’s <S EGOmiGchboo suddenly chuckled the desperado looking up into ~ (E(0) _ atl cect A