Beadle's Dime Library No. 351 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

10 ——_ behind when the alarm was given. If you grasped him, how do you account for that fact?” ‘**Cause the p’izen imp is slippier than a chunk o’ fat pork, an’ kin wiggle all ’round a feller like he was a sarpint born without the least sign o' back- bone! That's as nigh as I kin tell the tale, an’ whar’s the Bible fer to take my swear onto? Ef you say so, I'll kiss it to a blister.’ “*One of you two has lied, and I believeI can find out the sinner by a simpler method than by question- ing you. Jones, take a look at the pistols which those rascals carry. That may give us an inkli of the truth.” The man designated advanced and drew the pis- tols one after the other from the belts with which the rivals were girded. A sharp exclamation burst from his lips as he held up the revolver last taken E from Nichols, *““One empty ba.rel, and the el ny shows that it 7 was Giechareed quite recently—this evening, sure!” he yea ee a Io -_-.- 7) ee 3 See “ w are the other weapons?’ demanded the detective. ** All charged, andshowing no signs of being re- Ey discharged,*’ was the prompt reply. “What have you to say to this evidence?” and ae gazed rnly into the giant’s face as he spoke. Intense bewilderment was written on every fea- ture of the fellow’s face as he saw the apparently conclusive proof of his criminality, taken from his own person, but then his face lightened, and a howl of rage burst from his lips. ; “That cunnin’ cuss did it! I felt him fingerin’ at my belt, while I held him, but thought he was only tryin’ to git a weepon toshootme. The dirty imp changed pistils on me. Butit won’t work; my *nitials is on both o’ my weapons.” “By heavens!” exclaimed Jones in amazement, as he closely scrutined the weapons, “They are marked—N. N.—but if you can tell them apart, you're smarter than I am!” The frown deepened on the detective’s face, and his lips were tightly compressed as he examined the weapons. They were four of the same make and size. Each one bore the same initials, N. N., andin the same place. T° wom did the one with an empty chambar reauy pesong? If taken from the ant, mint tt sou be as he said—ihat Nickerson earing exnosure and consequent punishment, had taken advan of the struggle to remove a damn- wroof and fasten it on his enemy? ardly probable, but play! possible, and the giant was given the benefit of the doubt for fear of an injustice, “I'm tired of this infernal muddle!” cried Brown witha gtpece of disgust, casting the weapons at the rivals’ feet, “* Take your weapons and go; but mind; if I find out the truth, I will follow you into the flames of Hades itself but what I’ll make the guilty one smart for this night’s work!” “One moment, if you please,” said a stern voice 7 as Nor’ West Nick entered the circle and confronted * Pare st ae is ih rer " =. De e7 te rl a the twomen. “Iunderstand that you two rascals *y have been masquerading under a name which be- is longs solely to me. Now I give you fair warning ih that if you ever dare to sail under my colors again, Ft and I hear of it, I will hunt you out, strip off your _—“«&worrowed plumes—and take the bide with it into the bargain!” 7 Our names i3 our own!” sullenly muttered yee Nichols. **So is mine, and I choose to wear it a little lon- ta r. You have your warning. Neglect it, and take ¥ . e consequences,” uf Turning upon his heel, Nor’ West Nick was leav- _ {ng the room into which he had first entered in such an extraordinary manner, when a hand was placed upon his shoulder, Turning swiftly, with an angry frown, he was confronted by the cool, smiling face - of the Denver detective. ¥ *““What do you want?” rudely demanded the bor- ; der detective, flinging off the detaining hand, “I’m not in the most agreeable mood, just now, and if you're a wise man, you'll let me alone before vou fet into trouble, Is that plain enough?*”’ “More than a big Tl accommodate you. with pleasure, my ~ When, where and how?” sharply demanded the other. * After I have had a few moments’ conversation with you.” mien it out, then, and cut it short, too!” ot here, bor now. Please follow me, 1 mean ms CHAPTER X, | WHO WAS THE TARGET? For a moment Nor’ West Nick hesitated, gazing keenly into the face of the Denver detective as though striving to read there the secret motives which moved him to insist upon an interview in private after such arude rebuff atthe outset. But face of the sphinx itself was not more incom- _ prehensible than that of Dan Brown when he wished it to be so, and seeming to divine this, Nor’ West Nick flung out one hand with a careless gesture, while a faint smile came into his face. ‘* Have your own way my dear sir, Lead on and Fil follow. But I hope tha your businessis worthy q ll the trouble you are putting me to, for your Vials sake!” -_ Dan Brown laughed softly at the implied threat, but seeing how eagerly the crowd was listening to _ ach spoken word, he made no response, turni - and speaking rapidly, but with a pointedness tha - ‘was not lost on his audience: “Good-night, gentlemen, We'll be on handif any questions are to be asked about those fellows lying outside, but just now we have other business. there are any others in this crowd who owe us a 4 grudge, they are at liberty to follow. Our friends will go about their own business, and not run the risk of being knocked over by a cowardly club- er, or snap-shot from under cever. A word to the wise, you know!” With a bow that savored far more strongly of mockery than of politeness, Dan Brownt: rned upon ~ te a ane a followel in si'ence by Nor’ West Nick upon whose wae pee hard, defiant expression had once more settled. ? a ¢ *.° 3 > “13 1 a Se >a Ie: , - J vel y ae ees — | injury he had suff:red, and o revenge he had exacted? Was it the sight of the three Maverick-hunters, lying there in the moonlight, pneeey evidence of the the terribly thorough Or was it suspicion of the man whose footsteps he was following, that caused the border detective to come to an abrupt halt not far from where dead Dick Wheeler lay? ‘““We'’ve gone far enough,” he said, his voice sounding cold and hard. ‘*Say what you have to say, and be done with it. Little fear of eavesdrop- _pers/ere/” and he glanced from one corpse to the others with a short, metallic laugh. “Why do you use thattone? What havelI done since our first meeting to-night to arouse your dis- trust so thoroughly?’ asked Dan Brown, betrayinga | degree of curiosity such as he rarely suffered to _ Ihis heel and crossed the threshold of Aladdin’s Cave, | 4 > * * * : ‘ P “3 “ 4 * on-aetiee x ote * OLS TL show itself on the surface, ‘Instinct, I suppose,” replied Nor’ West Nick, with a peculiar shrug of the shoulders, ‘It rarely plays me a trick, and from the first moment our eyes met, I felt that there would come a fight to the death between you and me, I feel that premonition more strongly than ever now,” oo. Brown laughed softly before replying to this speech, , ‘*Tt may be true: I may have to arrest you before all is done; but just now I ask a truce, and perfect confilence in each other, Will you consent?” “What for? What is it you want?” still suspi- ciously. ‘First, to look to your hurts, and dress them properly. Second, to have a confidential talk with you, on a subject which [ am quite sure you will find highly interesting and well worth the trouble Iam putting you to.” ‘Look here!” and Nor’ West Nick squarely con- fronted the Denver detective, his eyes aglow, his face hard-set. ‘**That you area man of no little influence in this burg, the manner in which you rode rough- sod over yonder gang shows plainenough. They t ok your word for the genuineness of my papers, without even asking for a sight, and even these bull- headed scoundrels,” with a nod toward the dead ‘quietly yielded to your decision, You talk as though you had the power to arrest me, if such a fancy should strike you. Now, not to pick and choose, what's your name, aad who the deuce are you, anyhow?’ ‘*A man who wishes to be your friend, if you will ermit. As for my name, that [ gave you once, but it is easily repeated—Dan Brown; I am called Dan Brown of Denver.” ‘*Not the famous detective of that name?” ‘*T have been a detective—am one still, for that matter,” laughed Brown, carelessly. ‘*As for the famous part of it, that is purely a matter of opin- ion.” “You are the only man that would dare dispute our right to the title, then,”’ and with more cordial- ty than he had yet betrayed, Nor’ West Nick ex- tended his hand, which was warmly clasped. “I don’t know exactly what I have said, for I have undergone enough to turn a steadier brain than I can boast of possessing, since the sun last set, but if any ofmy blind blows struck you, pray consider them apologized for.”’ ‘*A blind man could see that you were hardly responsible for your words and actions; and little wonder, But Jet’s move on to where we can talk more comfortably. Have a cigar?” Nor’ West Nick accepted the offer, and both struck a match. Brown succeeded in lighting his cigar, but a little cust of wind extinguished the other match and with a short mutter of impatience Nor’ Wes Nick held out his hand for the lighted cigar, but be- fore Dan Brown could removeit from between his lips, there came a peculiar, whirring sound, a flash of light seemed to pass between the twain, and then came the clatter of steel hoofs striking upun the flinty ground. From the deep shadow cast by a building behind, and a little to the left of their position, alone knife had been hurled with deadly force, striking the gp tec cigar from the lips of the Denver detective, filling his eyes with fire and ashes,cutting a gash in the left shoulder of Nor’ West Nick, then glancing on and Spengne its force upon the senseless ground be- ond. Instinctively the two men leaped apart, a curse breaking from the lips of Dan Brown as he tried to clear his eyes of the smarting particles, an angry cry escaping the other detective as his hand fell upon his ready revolver. Both heard the sudden thnmping of a horse’s hoofs on the rozty soil. and catching a momenta limpse of a sha'@w dashing away, Nor’ West Nick flung forward })% revolver and took a snap-shot; there wee time for no more, _—_ came floating a mocking laugh; then the words: } ‘*Missed again! but the third time’s the charm. Beware |” Active as a cat, Nor’ West Nick leaped forward istol half-raised, but in vain his eager eyes looked or the would-be assassin. Only the rapidly receding sounds of the hoof-strokes told in what direction the unknown was fleeing. ‘*No use!’’? muttered Dan Brown, who had fol- lowed quickly. ‘*We couldn’t catch him without horses, and them we haven't got. Come; that crack has been heard, and the crowd is on foot, We don’t care to be deafened with questions.” Into the deeper shadow he darted, closely followed by Nor’ West Nick, and running noiselessly along for a few rods, they came back into the main street not far from the Arlington, in whicb Dan Brown had a@ room. ne pti Tres hotel, Brown led the way up-stairs to § little chamber, closing and locking the door after they entered, A slight smile curled the lip of Nor’ West Nick as he noted this precaution, but no remark concerning it escaped his lips as he sunk into a chair and glanced swiftly around the room, taking in every detail at a single sweep. ‘*Not a palatial residence,” laughed the Denver de- tective, turning the flame of the oil lamp higher, ‘‘especially for a man blessed with a charmin housekeeper, when he is at home, but it wi answer. And now, my dear fellow, allow mo to look at Pac? injuries. It won't be the first time I have played the surgeon, and successfully too!” ‘It’s hardly worth while,” smiled Nor’ West Nick yet yielding far enough to throw off his tattered coat which spoke pee Nata teh of the terrible skill with which the Maverick-hunters had wielded their ————————————————— | whips. ‘*A few bits of court-plaster will mend alt _ breaks, I reckon.”’ An exclamation of indignation escaped the lips of Dan Brown as he saw the blood-red welts and wales ' which aJmost covered the person of bis new-found friend wast. 6 | **Lheartily beg his face flushed demon than a man with a heart Ma killed those fellows, but now I this is their work!”’ ‘**Rather unceremonious, wasn’tit?”’ laughed the other, but it was a laugh totally devoid of mirth, _hard and bitter. “True, they believed, or pretend- , _ed to believe, that I was the notorious robber, Cap- tain Slyboots; but they did not even take the trou- ble to search me for proofs, but took i all for grant- ed. What i suffered during that frightful r’ ‘e, both in body and mind, would have transformed an angel into a demon incarnate. I never claimed to be the first. I swore, every time that I felt their cruel lashes, that 1 would kill the one who plied the whip, and [kept my word, Ido not regret having their blood on my bands, IfI could, I would bring them back to life, only that I might have the grim satisfaction of once more sending them to eternal flames!”’ Despite his nerve, Dan Brown felt a cold chill creeping along his spinal cdlumn as he listened. There was no fiery outburst, no ranting, no excited gesticulation, Cold and even were the tones of the detective as he spoke. His features were hard set, and only the red light which filled his eyes told of the deadly hatred with which his heart was still} filled to overflowing. In ‘silence he finished his work, completing the task with neatness and dispatch, when Nor’ West Nick replaced his tattered coat and resumed his seat. ‘*Some time I will thank you for your kindness to a stranger,” he said, speaking with an evident effort. ‘* Just now I am toosore, both in body and mind, to say much,”’ ‘No thanks are needed,” was the qwick reply. *T owe you thanks, rather, for yielding to my whim and coming here, especially as in doing so, you re- ceived one of your hurts.” ‘Then you think that that knife was meant for your benefit, not mine?’’ asked Nor’ West Nick, with nterest. ‘*You heard what he said about missing again, and the third time being the charm? The first time was when I fell at that shot from behind,” and Brown gingerly touched his head. ‘**Let me play surveon, in turn,” said Nor’ West Nick, rising. ‘My brain is so upset by all that I have gone through, that I had completely forgot- ten. With a faint smile Dan Brown submitted, and nebo’ yarting the curling locks near the top of his hea or’ West Nick held the lamp so that its light fell upon the injury—a furrow through the scalp, several inches in length, so deep that it seemed a miracle the detective bad escaped without a shattered skull. ° ‘a mighty close call, my friend!” exclaimed Nor” West Nick, replacing the light and taking upthe | scissors which Brown had used in cutting the slips of court-plaster. ‘“ A little lower or to the right, and you would never have known what it was that hurt. you; the width of the bullet would have been more than enough. You'll have to sacrifice a few of your love-locks. That, with a little court-plaster to draw the edges together, and you'll be all right.” ‘I’ve nothing to say,’’ Jaughed Brown, lightly; “I'm only the patient, now, while you’re the sur- geon, The wound was quickly dressed, then Nor’ West Nick resumed: ‘**You think, then, that the same hand cast that knife and fired the shot? If s0, it could hardly have been either of those rascals who were masquerading under my name, for the voice was altogether differ- ent from theirs,” **No; I was satisfied that neither of them fired the shot, else they would not have escaped me s0 easily, The long fellow accused the other, to get even with bim for his defeat in the saloon, but the fat rascal = too cunning for him and slipped out of the rap. ‘*Have you any idea what their object was in playing the part they did? They must have known gs they would be detected and exposed sooner or ter. “It’s all a puzzle to me,” confessed Dan Brown, evasively, clear! pera not to make a confidan of the border detective, just yet. ‘*That they are both precious rascals isa self-evident fact, and un- less they levant in a hurry I may takea notion to investigate them, more thoroughly.” ‘- Exactly,” assented Nor’ West Nick, concealing a yawn with his hand, ‘‘I'd like to see the outcome, and possibly 1 may. But this was not what you: brought me here for?” “No, not ing "was the slow response, “T hope you will not think 1 am actuated altogether by an idle curiosity, or trying tocrowd myself into your confidence,” That short, hard laugh cut his speech short. “In other words, you want to know all about my- self and that charming ycung Jady who tried her best to moke me turn Mormon, back yonder; am I not right?”’ Partly yes, partly no, Let me give you 4 little explanation first, then you will seehow I came to bo interested in the matter: . ‘| happen to own a rather good thing here, in the shape of amine, known as the Jealous Girl—a title selected by the original owner, who, I fancy, was. more lucky in prospecting than in love; but let that pass. “Some time since a man named Arthur Ovelman opened a correspondence with me, concerning the sale of this mine. I named my terms, for cash, and the last coach brought him out here to personally inspect the property, He was accompanied by a. young lady, his daughesy Ibelieve. At his request Tealled upon him, at bis rooms in this hotel, early this evening. While with him, I first saw the lady in question. She acted rather strangely, I fancied.’” “Her brain is affected, no doubt, poor thing,’”. said Nor’ West Nick, with a careless yawn behind bis palm. “Bo I fancied, from the very first,” quietly added the Denver detective. “And this impression wae a pardon, my friend,”’ he cried, otly. ‘I thought you more ofa , back there, when don’t blame you, nn ee ee ee ee _e IOOKS sGOMmiIc 4 . ‘4 4 > ‘af Sa > 4 er oA _ 73 P49 ae © se oe . ai éX. - @