Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 340 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

| : Marmoset did not withdraw, but stationed whence they could see what was transpiring on himself at the window, and kept his eyes riveted , the inside. , on the camp’s visitor. : He lodked like a man still under thirty; his eyes were very black, his hair long, and his | figure splendid and without a fault. It was true, as Pure-Gold Floss had informed Marmoset, that Monte Merle had come to Pis- tol City with a knife sticking in his back. On a few blankets hastily collected and thrown He caught sight of the youth all at once, and on the floor of the saloon, lay the proprietor beckoned to him with his hand. Marmoset, without hesitating, went to the oor. ‘‘ Hyer, kid!” he exclaimed. City?” ‘“That’s what we call this camp,” said Mar- moset. ‘‘T thought so, but I warn’t sartain. Never been in this part of the diggin’s before in all my life, and IL ani I’ve used spur an’ lasso over nearly ther hull ov Californy. Pistol City, eh? I’ve been hyer ten minutes, an’ still breathe in my boots.” Slasaionst could not but smile at the ludicrous expression that was visible on the new-comer’s face while he gave utterance to the last sen- tence. ‘It’s not such a deadly place toa man who attends strictly to his own business,” he said. ‘‘ Which means, boy, thet you owe yer present health ter strict attention, eh?” ‘* Perhaps 1 do.” ‘‘ Then, I could live hyer an’ grow fat,” laugh- ed the stranger. ‘ Whar's yer pisen dispen- sary?” ‘‘ By riding down the street a few yards you'll see Holy Hank’s sign, and—” ‘‘Holy Hank’s, eh?’ interrupted the new- comer. ‘‘Must be a relative ov Celestial Char- ley, who used to mix straights when Sawdust City war in its prime. Thanks, my boy. Vaquero Van is under obligations to you for yer kindness,” and himgary os horse suddenly and giving him the point of the spurs, he rode in the Erection indicated by Marmoset. The youth gazed after him with much cu- riosity, and saw him leap to the ground in front of Holy Hank’s, After awhile a camp roustabout came from the place and taking the horse by the bridle led him toward the corral and horse-sheds. ‘Vaquero Van must have concluded to stay awhile,” said Marmoset drawing back from the window. ‘It remains to be seen how he will get along in Pistol City.” His idea, of the case seemed to be the correct one, for the sun crept up to the zenith, and went down toward the west, and he had seen no signs of Vaquero Van’s departure. Once or twice during the day he caught sight of some of the well-known citizens of Pistol City, but nobody came to his cabin to give him a + LR to discover how the man with the fancy garments had been received. Night came again, swooping down upon the gold camp like eagle from the mountains, and Marmoset could no longer rely on his little window for a point of observation. ‘‘ Tm goin’ out to see for myself,” he said to himself at last. ‘‘I am Doctor Pablo’s patient no longer. That Mexican viper whom I hate—” He was stopped by the opening of his door and the next moment he looked into the face of Pure-Gold Floss. ‘Red Roy was right!” he exclaimed. ‘‘ You are not Karl the Kid any longer. What shall I call you now?” ‘‘Pure-Gold Floss,” was the answer. ‘ But don’t let us talk about that. I have some news. Did you ever hear of Monte Merle?” ‘“Yes,” said Marmoset eagerly. | * Well, whoever he is, he has just come to Pistol City. They’ve carried him into Holy Hank’s,” | ** Carried him?” echoed the boy. ‘Yes; a knife was sticking in his back!” ‘* And he got here dead?” ‘He isn’t dead yet,” said the girl. “It’s a terrible thing isn’t it? Who is this Monte Merle?” ‘*The proprietor of the biggest monte den in ‘Frisco, There is astrange connection between him and Captain Noll. What should fetch Monte to Pistol City at this time? that’s what I’d like to know. He wasn’t far behind the man who calls himself Vaquero Van. Letvus go and see what is happening at Holy Hank’s.” Marmoset took the girl’s hand as he finished, and led her to the door before she could reply. As they stepped out into the starlight they heard a pistol-shot, and then these ringing words: 2 ‘‘T am on the war-path ag’in! Woe to the man who gave Monte Merle his present ov steel |” The two youn le halted. ** Silver Chick. rs tiger when he smells blood!” whispered Pure-Gold Floss. CHAPTER IX. ON DANGEROUS GROUND. From where they stood, Floss and Marmoset saw the stalwart re of the man who had just spoken the terrifying words. It was Silver Chick, and as he came toward the yo couple they shrunk toward the boy’s cabin held their breath while he passed on. They then went forward again and halted at the open door of Holy Hank’s place, from | | | of the gilded gambling-den of San Francisco. His sudden appearance and in the condition he then was, had struck terror to miner-pards “Is this Pistol of the famous gold camp. hen he was lifted from his horse he was thought to be already dead, but an examination showed that life still remained in his frame and he was carried tenderly into the place an ’ | laid on the blankets. Doctor Pablo for once turned up just when he was wanted, and dressed the wound of the weak and unconscious man. All was excitement in the saloon. The blow had been dealt apparently from be- hind and with murderous intent; the knife had entered the body behind the shoulder, and had | been evidently aimed at the heart. ‘of a ce If a bone had not resisted the keen blade, Monte Merle would never have needed Doctor Pablo’s services. A draught of strong brandy forced between the gambler’s lips revived him somewhat, but he suddenly fainted again, and a cry of ** He’s dead!” went through the crowd. Then it was that Silver Chick bounded from the saloon, firing his revolver to give emphasis to his rage, and uttering the mad threat against the — who had used the knife against Mon- te Merle. ‘* What do you think of him, doctor?’ asked Oregon Noll, who stood over the man on the blankets. ‘* Live, mebbe,” was the answer. ‘‘ A little lower, Senor Noll, and Monte Merle’s heart would have bled.” ‘‘Thank Heaven for the miss,” ejaculated amg Noll. ‘*‘ We can’t lose Monte; he is one of us. A sin gleam seemed to light up the eyes in person who stood near the boss of Pistol City as he finished the last sentence. This was the new visitor to the gold camp, the man who called himself Vaquero Van. His arms had helped to bear Monte Merle into the den, and he had watched him with much curiosity ever since. Vaquero Van had passed nearly his whole time) since his arrival at Holy Hank’s, and this is why nobody had seen him moving about the camp. Silver Chick and Oregon Noll had taken kindly to the fellow, for among other things to commend him he had plenty of money which, if the owner was inclined to ‘ fight the tiger,” was the “open sesame” to Pistol City society. The new-comer seemed exactly what he called himself—a wealthy vaquero who had cut loose from his herds in the Southwest and was making a tour of California for amusement, and per- haps, profit, if fortune in cards did not desert By the time Monte Merle arrived to lend an exciting episode to camp life, the vaquero had me somewhat of a favorite at Holy Hank’s, and he was among the first to denounce the per. son who had assaulted Monte Merle. ‘When we get Merle ter talkin’ we'll know suthin’ about this infernal stab,” said Oregon ‘*Doctor Pablo will brin him ter that stage befére long. Silver Chic went off like he often does—half-cocked. He thought Monte Merle, his brother, war dead, an’ thet war enough ter rile any man.” ‘‘His brother?’ ejaculated bea res Van, somewhat surprised as he showed by his looks, ‘* Yes, Monte Merle an’ Silver Chick ar’ brothers, though not many ple in Californy know it,” was the answer. ‘'Thet’s why, twixt ou an’ me, pard, ther Chick always won at erle’s tables. Say, thar, doctor; can’t ye git Monte ter talkin’?”’ ‘** Pretty soon, captain,” said the Mexican, and within the next five minutes Monte Merle found his oo Oregon Noll stooped eagerly over the bler with an important question bubbling to his li Monte Merle threw a glance around upon the impatient crowd which Captain Noll under- s Noll to the vaquero. ‘‘He wants ter make a revelation ov some kind, boys, an’ he’d raythur not hev us all hyer “ he said looking up atthe miner-roughs. ‘ It'd be polite for ye ter withdraw a minute till he’s hed his say. If it consarns the camp ye shall know it; I promise yer thet. Ther’ shall be no camp secrets hyer any more ef I kin help it.” The crowd began to move toward the door, and the two young people outside glided away. ‘*T wish you’d stay, captain,” said Oregon Noll to the vaquero who was moving away with the crowd, and the man with a pleased look re- mained behind. When the door had been shut Oregon Nolland source Van stooped over the handsome man on the blankets, The gambler sport was white, but his black eyes shone like diamonds, and his hand clutched regon Noll’s arm as he said in audible tones: ‘‘ He got away after all.” ‘‘ Who got away?” asked the boss of the gold camp. rf The man who fell through my floor—the human tiger from the Northwest.” ‘* Hades! that’s bad!” ejaculated Noll. ‘* Floss saw him go down in a dream, but she didn’t see him git away.” ‘* Floss?’ asked Monte Merle in a strange manner. ‘* Who’s Floss?” ‘* You'll know. by an’ by,” was the response, ‘*So he got away?” ‘* Yes; curse him!” ‘* How did it happen?” *‘T hardly know. Silver Chick told you how the trap was sprung ” es.’ ‘*T thought that was enough, for no man ever got away before,” said Monte Merle coolly. ‘1, went up-stairs to watch the tables for a few minutes. When I went to look after our pris- oner I found the = empty.” ‘* Jehu!” cried Noll. ‘Thar must be a traitor in your house.” ; ‘‘In my establishment? Never! The devil must be that bloodhound’s right bower. He got awav by magic. I didn’t stop to consider how. I knew that Tunis an’ Silver Chick had started for camp, an’ as I knew also that the man who fell through my floor was brother to the young- ster ed years ago in the Colorado Canyo : came hyer ter warn you all that he was at arge. ‘* An’ he met you on the trail somewhar an’ gave yer a knife under yer shoulder?” ‘“No. It wasn’t that man-hunter,” said Monte Merle with much emphasis. ‘‘Who, then?” ed the desperado sport eagerly. That’s what I don’t know for certain. I war ridin’ along slowly, a eee my horse a breathin’-spell, when something darted out at me from the mountain wall, an’ I heard a mad cry like a woman’s voice an’ felt the steel hit home. It war all over in a second, an’ I guess the person thought the first blow settled me. It warn’t repeated, an’ as every star faded out ov sight immediately my horse started off like an arrow shot from an Injun bow.” Oregon Noll could hardly wait for Monte Merle to conclude. ‘**Do you think a woman did it?’ he exclaim- Cool Conrad, the Dakota Detective. 9 ed. ‘‘My God! what kind ov an enemy hev — you made in ’Frisco?” ‘‘T don’t know,” was the reply. “I don’t think I war struck for anything I may hev done thar. As the knife came down I heard a voice hiss: ‘ Take this for the Colorado hangin’, Monte Merle ’—that war all!” Oregon Noll almost sprung erect at this rey- elation. ‘* Great heavens! a woman on our track, too?’ he cried. ‘‘Did you ever hev a tigress at yer heels, Vaquero Van?” He looked into the vaquero’s eyes as he put the TeOnly ’ then it ed tigress—an y once, an’ then it war a red ti Injun woman,” answered Van, with a smile, ‘**] gotTid ov her easily, an’ since then I’ve not been bothered by women. But Monte Merle, your friend, doesn’t say thet his assailant war a woman; he only thinks so.” ‘*T am ready ter swear ter it,” said the man on the blankets. ‘‘ The voice belonged to a wo- man, an’ the flashin’ eyes also.” ‘*Thar’s another puzzle fer us ter Oregon Noll replied. ‘“ Ef thet Dakota Detec- tive finds Pistol City, he’ll be down hyer, for, twixt you an’ I, Vaquero, he has good cause ter hate about seven ov us pards. Isn’tthet straight goods, Monte?” ‘ Oregon Noll’s appeal was not without its ef- ect. ‘*You kin just bet he has!” exclaimed the *Frisco sport. ‘‘ Ef Satan hedn’t aided him, I wouldn’t be hyer, cut, mebbe, ter ther death!” ‘*Tt’s not thet bad. Doctor Pablo assures me thet he’ll fetch yer through all right.” “* He shall have twenty thousand ef he does!” “We allow no robbery hyer,” announ Captain Noll. ‘‘He shall bring you through ai’chhvge ther bill ter Pistol City. But thet woman?—she puzzles me!” A smile appeared at the corners of Monte Merle’s mout “Time will find her out,” he said. ‘' You must look out for the Dakotan: He will not give up the trail he struck in ’Frisco.” ‘**Let him come!” hissed Oregon Noll, a ti in his eyes. ‘‘We found him out as Noah Nel- son thar, an’ we'll penetrate all his disgui hyer. He can’t hoodwink the ds ov Pistol City. Avengin’ his brother, eh?” ‘**T suppose so.” . ae Ne let him come hyer an’ show his hand! ar war eight ov us when thet young- ster war pulled up ter ther Colorado crag, an’ since then only one ov us hez passed in his chips —Hemlock Hal, who tried ter git ther best ov two grizzlies at once. Does this man expect ter wipe out the score single-handed? I say, Monte, does he pit himself ag’in’ you, an’ me, an’ Silver Chick?” Monte Merle’s eyes dilated at the last name. ** Whar is Silver Chick?” ‘Gone ter find ther person what gave ye “S Gpoo com ick at,” (E(0) -