Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 340 — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

i+ 6b Yes.” penetrated my disguise, called me Cool Conrad | ~~ gtood in the bursting daylight alone. | ' Cool Conrad, the Dakota Detective. 28 night even, war yer time, Cool Conrad; ter-day b’longs ter Pistol City an’ her devils!” He did not have to wait long for the miner- roughs to come to him from the little shanties, | now plainly seen in the brightening dawn. The minutes, as they resolved themselves into hours, left Captain Noll watching his enemy with the same gleaming eyes and interest un- abated. Not once did Cool Conrad cast a glance to- ward him; his eyes were turned toward the Each hut, as it were, yielded an occupant, and door which he faced, but not with that expec- | by and by the burly figure of Oregon Noll was tant look which a man in his situation might be | distinguishable among the buzzards of the gold expected to have. wre A Vithin and without all was still. ‘*(Jentlemen, ar’ ye all armed?” he asked the crowd, Toward morning Holy Hank sold his last whisky, took a look at his patched face for the | The reply was the exhibition of the heavy six- shooters which the pards of Pistol City knew so last time, shut up his trap, and went to his shanty. well how to use when life or vengeance de- The vigils of Captain Noll and his mendid not | manded. cease. | ‘We want no successful interference this Pistol City had in its keeping the most impor- | time,” continued Captain Noll. ‘‘ Remember tant prisoner it ever held. that Marmoset an’ ther two girls ar’ loose some- It lacked but a few minutes till daylight when | whar.” the boss of the gold camp left his couchand:! ‘An’ Red Roy, cap’n.” glided toward Cool Conrad. | ‘An’ Red Roy, durn’im! Remember, I say, Suddenly the eyes of the two men met, and that they all want Cool Conrad out ov our for some time they gave each other look for look | hands, that a rescue oe be attempted. It must without a word. not succeed! Weend ther trail ov thet Dakota ‘*T want ter ask yer a question, Conrad,” said _ man-hunter ter-day er to-morrow fall ourselves Noll, at last. afore his droppers. I am goin’ ter send him “Well?” after Tunis.” ‘* Have you finished Silver Chick?” The men looked strangely at the speaker. ‘* No.” “ Arter Tunis?’ echoed Fancy Joe. ‘‘That’s all. By heavens! I war afraid yer “That's what I said.” hed met an’ wi im out.” ‘* An’ whar is Tunis?” Captain Noll seemed relieved; then, steppin ** At ther bottom ov Satan’s Hotel.” back a pace and folding his arms on his broa ** Jehosaphat! who sent him down thar?” chest, he went on: **Cool Conrad. Look! ther sun is up now. “You don’t expect mercy at our hands, I| We make Cool Conrad’s trail end afore he imagine?” touches yon point in ther mountain.” ercy? Captain Noll led a dozen members of the band The word had a sound that seemed to amuse | back into the cabin. Cool Conrad. ‘“Ther sun is up an’ we ar’ hyer,” he said to ‘‘T haven’t mentioned that word for years,” ‘*Tunis wants ter see yer, he said. ‘‘I never gave it a thought.” ‘‘Then, ov course, you don’t expect nothin’ ov ther kind.” ** From you Captain Noll? No!” ‘** An’ you sha’n’t be disapp’inted! Thar war seven ov us two weeks ago; now, countin’ Silver Chick, ef he’s alive, thar’s but three. 1 came up too late last night ter save Dan, but not too late ter throw a winnin’ card on ther board. Mar- moset played a cool game awhile afore you came on, Conrad. Doctor Pablo caught ther two girls somewhar among ther mountains an’ fetched ’em inter camp, but ther boy took ’em away from ther whole gang with two six- etia Ther boy turned on ther doctor, then—” ‘“And killed the Mexican serpent?” finished the detective. the man at the post. Conrad!” The two enemies looked at one another while Captain Noll spoke, but there was no reply. na few moments Cool Conrad was removed from the post, but ropes still secured his hands, and he was march those outside. They greeted the avenger-detective with looks of hatred and low curses, and stepped quickly for- ward ata signal from Oregon Noll and surround- ed him. ‘* Keep an eye on ther street,” whispered the boss of Pistol City to his pards. ‘* Don’t forget thet four of this man’s friends still live.” Then he turned to the leaders of the crowd, and in loud tones issued his commands: ‘‘ Forward! straight ter Satan’s Hotel!” The bronze guard started and presented one ‘‘ No; they lowered him inter Satan’s Hotel | of the strangest spectacles ever witnessed in a an’ promised ter cut ther rope, but you came an’ , California vee S terward, it war dis- In the right hand of each man glittered the interrupted ther sport. Livered, thet ther rope hed been cut all ther same; but ther boys say they didn’t do it.” Cool Conrad did not respond. He knew one os who hated Doctor Pablo enough to cut the rope that held him over the black depths of the pit in the ground, but he did not thrust his opinion on Oregon Noll. ‘* Another question,” said the desperado in- stead of turning away as he showed signs of doing. ‘‘ The t night you came ter Pistol City, Tunis, my spy, turned up missin’. Did you meet him? ‘* Tunis? Oh, yes, the man who, with Silver ace dogged my steps in ’Frisco.,’ ay es ’ polished barrel of a large revolver, and their merciless eyes saw more than the prisoner who, without a quavering muscle, walked erect in their midst. between the cabins, as well as Coo] Conrad. The distance from Captain Noll’s cabin to the was not great, and when the halt was made near the brink, the men saw the severed rope that lay on the ground. That piece of cord spoke Doctor Pablo’s doom, but the pards of Pistol City did not bestow a second look upon it. ed Cool Conrad forward, and, stepping back, left him within three feet of the edge. The day had fairly begun its reign. The sun was mounting the heavens in golden lendor, and the cool winds of morning waved the long black locks of the fine-looking victim who had been brought there to die. ‘*Cool Conrad, this is ther day of Pistol City’s vengeance,” said Captain Noll. ‘‘ Hyer ends ther trail struck in ther Colorado canyon. You see afore yer Captain Noll an’ one ov his right bowers; they helped ter lift skyward ther boy aloot who wouldn’t give his gold secret away. ilver Chick also lives. You bev failed a long ways this side ov ther haltin’-place mapped out when yer swore ter avenge Albert. It isn’t much ov a revenge arter all, eh, Cool Conrad?” The lips of the avenger-detective seemed to | meet with more firmness than ever, but they did not reply to the desperado’s taunt. He was going todie and make no sign. ‘*Up with yer revolvers an’ kiver Cool Con- rad, boys,” continued Captain Noll. ‘Ill give him two minutes in which ter jump inter Satan’s Hotel, unriddled, er ter tumble inter it a human ‘* An’ he is missing? Have you hunted for him, Captain Noll?’ ‘Not much. He has been foully dealt with else he would have turned A safe afore this. ‘Cool Conrad, you know whar Tunis is!” Grating his teeth and with his bronzed hands clinched, Captain Noll stood before his hand- some, helpless prisoner and glared into his face. ‘Whar is Tunis?” he cried. ‘‘ Keeping Doctor Pablo company, I think.” ‘* At ther bottom ov Satan’s otel?” ee ——™ ‘* You sent him down thar?” ‘* It was a question of self-preservation,” said Conrad coolly. ‘*‘ He dogged my steps here, he instead of Vaquero Van, and there was nothing Jeft for him but Satan’s Hotel.” | For a moment it seemed as though Captain Noll would administer a terrible blow with his clinched hand, but, instead of doing so, he turn- ed on his heel, and went to the door. Opening it with a quick pull, he saw the figures | of ‘several of the guards and heard a salutation. ** Mornin’, captain!” They were watching the streets and the lanes | ' | Roy’s arm. i ' | ‘Thirty seconds yet,” said the big d rado again. ‘* Make up yer mind mighty quick, Con- rad. Jump or fon bye e et Still no reply: the only movement on Cool Conrad’s part was a slight straightening of his gure, ‘*About ten seconds left!” parted Oregon Noll’s lips, and then he shut the watch with a pe es dy! men ov Pistol City,” hesaid sternly. ‘* Hyer ends yer tiger trail, Cool Courad. Blood fer blood is ther motto hyer. Now, pards—” Se yer shooters every mother’s son ov yer. e hold a better hand than you!” said a voice. CHAPTER XXXI. TWO MORE. ‘“ Hoty heavens!” exclaimed the captain of the gold camp executioners. “By ther eternal! ther unwished-for hez oc- curred!” The men who had turned half-way around without leaving their tracks, saw the sight that drew the language just recorded from Oregon Noll’s lips. It was a sight thrilling enough to startle the whole crowd, and one which did startle them. At the mouth of one of the narrow camp thoroughfares which meandered between the cabins stood four persons, two young women, a youth, and a stalwart man. They had step to the front when the eyes of the roughs of Pistol City were fixed on l Conrad, and when Captain Noll had closed his —— and was about to speak the detective’s oom. The boss of Pistol City knew the four at sight. He saw that two repeating rifles and four re- volvers covered him and his band, and back of them he saw stern looks and flashing eyes. It was Red Roy’s voice that had commanded the thirty toughs of California to lower their pis- tols, and the stalwart fellow was looking steadi- out into the presence of | ly over the shining barrel of his rifle. ‘Hang it all! we’ve got ter compromise with ’em!” growled Captain Noll to his_ pards. ‘*They’ve got ther drop on us, boys. It gives Cool Conrad a new lease ov life, mebbe.” What! another lease of life for the merciless tracker who stood on the brink of Satan’s Hotel? a thought made the toughs grate their teeth. ‘* Shall we open our batt’ries, captain” con- tinued Red Roy impatiently. ‘* Ye’r’ ther first man I ever saw alive arter bein’ shot through ther head at three paces, but never mind thet. Order yer pards’ pistols down, er we proceed ter work our triggers.” Captain Noll scowled sullenly, and issued a command that seemed to bite his tongue. There was no help for it. ‘*Come for’ard, straight toward us, Conrad,” said Red Roy addressing the Dakotan. ‘ We'll see who holds ther best hand.” Cool Conrad threw a look of triumph into Oregon Noll’s face and stepped from the brink abyss that yawned in the heart of the gold camp | of the abyss. ‘Tt won’t be long, captain,” he said. ‘‘ When T am your equal with arms we shall meet in ‘That suits me!” was the quick answer. ‘*'You dare not settle it forever hyer.” In an instant a mad light burned in the de- After the halt near the pit four men conduct- | tective’s eyes, but he did not speak again until he stood before Red Roy. | ‘‘ Here! cut me loose!” he said holding out his ccrded hands. ‘‘ By heavens! I am going to end the second part of the game before I leave this tiger den.” ‘“No!” cried Leo as her hand fell on Red ‘*Listen to me. Don’t cut that man free. He has baffled me all slong. There are not more than three of the Colorado band left. I haven’t shed one drop of their blood in accordance wit’: my oath. Don’t sever his bonds. e—” It was too late, for all at once the howie of Red Roy cut Cool Conrad’s ropes, and as they struck the ground Leo found her own revolvers in the grip of the cool hunter. It seemed the worl: of a second—no more, With a wild exclamation of baffled power the beautiful huntress sprung forward, but Cool Conrad, with a look that seemed capable of slay- | ing, drove her back. ' ! ‘* Yes, mornin’, an’ Cool Conrad’s last day on | lead-mine. Yer hear thet, Conrad! Yer time | earth!” was the reply. begins now!” The man tied to the upright post heard these words, but did not start. Captain Noll stepped out and was soon sur- rounded by the guards. ‘* Git out every galoot in Pistol City,” he said. ‘““Tell each man to come hyer armed ter ther teeth. We settle with Cool Conrad at sun-up.” The six guards scattered, and Captain Noll the palm of his left hand. Cool Conrad looked over as many revolvers which covered his bosom. What would the doomed detective do? Did he expect a rescue? ‘Yer first minute is up, pard,” sudden] the oo Noll glancing up from the di and. The thrilling tableau remained undisturbed. spoke ‘‘This is my day,” he said, under his breath. **The mornin’ comin’ up over ther mountain sees ‘ther end ov a trail thet began in a canyon away | uo in Colorado, Yesterday, an’ a part ov last tinctly. Oregon Noll took out a watch and laid it in - The thirty men who stood in a line before | ' i | { | in his they stand!” he said. ‘*“My oath was taken before yours. Stand back, woman!” he said sternly, and while the last word still quivered his lips, he whirled and walked easel Satan’s Hotel his eyes riveted on Captain Noll. ee ‘We are equals now!” he said in challenging tones, ‘“‘ Throw up your weapons and defend yourself. We pisy our game out with the sun where he now shines.” There was the show of a movement, of a mad rush forward on the part of the men of Pistol City, but Red Roy’s face dropped suddenly to the stock of his rifle. ‘‘ Rack! let ther two men hev it.out whar ‘“ We end ther life ov ther first one thet attempts ter interfere!” Captain Noll who threw up his hands cid not The watch ticked the seconds off clear and dis- | stir from his tracks. The two bitter enemies, hunter end hunted, EOMmicbooks (E(0)