Beadle's Dime Library No. 351 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

< rae 4 Nor’ West Nick, the Border a - a ee eng TE ew — ss love of my only daughter, and they were en to be married. This with my cordial consent, for I loved him too, and believed him the very soul of honor. But the time came when ca, PS bg were opened to the sad truth, and I came to know him in his true colors—as a liar, a gambler, a thief and a debauchee! ‘* What could Ido, as a loving father, proud of his child, but still prouder of the unstained and untar- nished name which had been handed down to me by my fathers? Just what any honorable man amon you would have done, under like circumstances, anc with the same overwhelming pepe which crowded upon me. Itold him all that 1 had discovered, and bade him begone. “The very next day a check signed with my name, was presented at my banker’s, and paid. It was a forgery, and that night the forger was arrested—the man who now calls himself Nor’ West Nick! “The trial came on, and the crime was proven in every detail. Then, as a last, desperate resort, he capped the climax of his satanic infamy, by declar- ing that the check was given to him by my daughter, on learning that 1had disowned him and cast him adrift. e had her called to the witness stand, and when, being upon her solemn oath, the poor child was torosd to deny his statement, he turned upon her like a demon and heaped the foulest curses upon her innocent head. Shesunk down in aswoon, and from that moment to this, her poor brain has been turned—yet through it all, she loves him, faith- ful to the demon who had ruined her fair young e! . ay ree the impassioned speaker broke down, cover- ing his face with his hands, his frame quivering as though in the effort to smother the sobs which were still distinctly audible. aan Fh actor did Arthur Ovelman prove himself at day! He had said enough—more than enough. Inflamed with bad whisky, excited by the wild scenes and bloodshed of the past night, wrought up by the bit- ter speeches of the cowboys, the ste a corns mob was for mischief, and in Nor’ West Nic bes f fancied they saw the very victim they needed. e sullen muttering rose to a roar that once heard can never be forgotten—the cry jor human blood! “Hang him-—-lynch the dirty cuss that treated the urty lady like a dog—burn him—whar is he—whar the p’izen critter as calls hisself Nor’ West Nick?” Such were the words which burst from the mob growing wilder and more fierce with the passage of each moment. And then, clear and defiant came the answer: ‘*Here I am, gentlemen! What do you want of Nor’ West Nick?’ Instantly there fell a hush over the madly yelling mob, as this bold response smote upon their ears and all eyes were turned upon the speaker—Nor West Nick himself, mounted, a cocked revolver in either hand, a cold, chilling smile upon his reckless, dare-devil face as he confronted them! CHAPTER XITl. THE POT BOILS OVER. OnE man against a hundred, nine-tenths of whom have just declared for his death at the top of their voices—but that man, playing a lone hand, was Nor’ West Nick! Looking very different now from when they had seen him last, fresh from that frightful ride Ma- zeppa-fashion over the desert on the back of the mad Texan, Then with his garments whip-tattered and soiled, now looking as though he had just step- ed from the hands of some fashionable tailor. ingled blood and dust upon his face in layers and streaks, last night. Now, the only sign of what he had passed through was the red streak across his face, the track of the bullet which bad been calcu- lated by Dick Wheeler to end the duel in his favor. A mocking smile curled the lip of the border de- tective as he noted the sudden silence which fell upon the howling mob at his bold challenge. The muzzles of his rev lvers were suffered to fall back until they rested lightly upon his shoulders, his arms hanging at careless ease—but it was a carelessness more apparent than real. In case of need, the least possible movement would bring those glittering wee into position ready for hot and swift work, id I not bear somebody gently breathe the name of Nor’ West Nick, but a mgment since?” he asked, his voice ng gs soft and gentle, yet containing a sting sharp as that of a rattlesnake’s tooth. ‘Methought I did, yet I must have been mistaken, or else you are the most modest lot of gentlemen it has been my fortune to meet for tnis a, a day!” Soft and musical as that of a child, came his low dangh, yet a blow in the face could not have stung more sharply. A low muttering ran through the crowd, tell fe eaouen that they were ripe for mischief, ey only had a leader—that prime essential, de- rived of which a mob is actually less dangerous an a ~~ resolute man. Arthur Ovelman saw this, and saw, too, as their es were turned instinctively toward him, that they looked to him for the first move—that without he lent them the needed impetus, even now his cun- ningly wrought up scheme might fail, Though neither pore, nor morally a brave man, he felt that the world was not large enough for them both to live in, and though a tremor of fear crept over his frame as he anticipated a pistol- shot from the man whom—as he now firmly be- lieved—he had so terribly wronged in the days gone by, he summoned his courage and cried: “Tt was my voice you heard, Kyrle Dando, and I ‘was giving these gentlemen a bit of your life history anne escaped convict—deny the charge if you There was a slight movement of one armed hand and the capitalist ducked his head with a celerity that told how thoroughly he was awaketo a sense of his danger, but no shot was fired. Instead, Nor’ West Nick laughed sarcastically at the terrified movement, then retorting: * Cannot you give me a more distinctive title, old gentleman? of those fellows around you are convicts, who have either served out their time or have given the authorities leg-bail. me gentle- man, or honest fellow, if you want to awaken a spirit of antagonism in your audience!” . There was a movement in the crowd as these cut- ! | a of stu | —- | Brown, who ting words fell upon their ears, but it was one ex- d amazement at the supreme au- acity which this man eee. They could not understand it. That smooth, mocking voice stunned them. Each word was like a blow in the face from a mail-clad hand, and not one among them all knew what defense to attempt. They suspected a trap of some sort. Surely no one man, unless heavily backed, would dare speak in that manner!” Arthur Ovelman alone came near the truth, but he dare not attempt to draw back now. One of the twain must go down forever, and calling up all his spirit, he cried: “There’s yet another title which you forget, most conveniently for yourself— Captain Sly! octs—” A mocking, reckless laugh cut him short. **So—that’s your game, isit? Well, lll meet you and your precious crowd of heelers half-way—and as the first move, I'll mark you so that I'll have no dif- ficulty in recognizing you the next time we meet!”’ Even as he spoke, Nor’ West Nick flung forward one revolver, discharging it before Arthur Ovelman could divine his intention or dodge out of danger. A yell of mingled fear, rage and pain burst from the lips of the capitalist as he clapped one hand to the side of his head, for the surely aimed bullet had cut away the lobe of his right ear, clean as though a knife had been used. Quick as a flash of lightning Nor’ West Nick cov- ered the surging crowd with his pistols, his blue eyes all afire, his white teeth gleaming beneath his mustaches as he cried: *““Any other two-legged Maverick in this crowd that wants marking? Don't be backward about coming forward, gentlemen! I’ve got my hand in now, and would just as soon clean out the whole gang. as not—a little rather, in fact.” ld with rage, forgetting his bodily fears, fairly foaming at the mouth, Arthur Ovelman jumped up and down on his frail pedestal, one,hand c sing his mutilated ear, yelling: ‘“*Tt’s Captain Slyboots! Kill him! One thousand dollars for his head, dead or alive!” _ That was all the crowd needed. With wild cries, their weapons flashed out, and the air was rent with the discharge of pistols. A mad rush was made to- ward the daring detective. But that head-money was not to be so easily won. From the first Nor’ West Nick knew that it must come to this sooner or later, and he was pre for the crisis. A touch of his armed heel sent the good horse plunging forward, straight into the midst of the mob. It was a reckless and apparently suicidal act, but Nor’ West Nick knew what he was doing. This was not the first time he had encountered an angry mob, and the result fully justified his course of ac- tion. Wild with rage, blind with passion, acting without any acknowledged leader, the moh was o1l confu- sion, more dangerous to their own members than the man they sought to slay, and this confusion was redoubled by the swift plunging of the well-trained horse, whose heels were lashing out, whose white teeth were snapping viciously, while in swift succes- sion the pistols of Nor’ West Nick emptied their chambers, each bullet finding its mark as surely as though the border detective was practicing at a tar- get, with not a breath of danger in the air. Thus tor a few moments only, then the ng mob was cut fairly in twain, and the daring rider burst through, still with that mocking smile upon his lips, still uttering that taunting laugh, apparently untouched, unlfarmed. ; **Hold!” cried a loud, commanding voice. ‘The man that dares touch him strikes at me as well!” and Dan Brown came running down the street at full speed, But he was too late. A blaze of fire burst from the crowd as pe? realized the partial escape of their destined victim, and with an almost human scream of agony, the good horse reared up, pawing the air wildly, then plunged forward, falling in a ee its body riddled with the lead intended for its r er. With cat-like activity Nor’ West Nick sprung clear of the dying horse, alighting fairly upon his feet, then swiftly wheeled and confronted his enemies, a fresh pair of revolvers flashing in his hands. Right and left he worked the deadly weapons, using one hand as readily and as surely as the other, and with yells and curses of pain, the fore- most of the gang reeled and fell back, unable to face’ that storm of lead. A witness of all this was Dan Brown, and though he felt that he had arrived upon the scene too late to effect his purpose, he did not falter nor pause to consider what might be the consequences to himself. Straight through the mad crowd he forced his way, using his revolver freely, not to kill, but to knock aside those who barred way in their blind excitement, the heavy, gold-bound butt thumpin head ‘after head in a most impartial manner, send- ing their owners reeling aside, or dropping them to their knees, before they could tell what was up. Through the crowd he fought his way, and then, as Nor’ West Nick fired his last shot, he leaped to his side, crying: *“*Shoulder to shoulder, mate! If we can’t face down that g of howling wild beasts, we'll make it a or them while the circuS lasts, any- way ” are short, hard laugh broke from the border de- ctive, ““There’s enough for us both, I.reckon, even if it isn’t exactly what you might call pie /”’ “Hold hard, men!’’ shouted Dan Brown, ing | one hand. “if you want fight, you shall have it, red-hot—but listen to me while I speak one word, first. I ask it asa fellow-citizen of Rocky Bar—in the name of common justice.” Never before was the power and influence of a | single man more strikingly exemplified than on the present occasion. Instantly the wild, howling cry for blood was | hushed, leveled weapons were lowered, nerves and | muscles tightly strung for the flerce charge which | should crush the bold man who had so fearlessly | defied and taunted them down to death, were sut- : pe dye to relax, and all eyes were turned sperker, . Every man present knew and respected Dan had won his way into their good graces by his friendly manner, undoubted courage and —— _——_— — TTT ett upon the Detective. open-handed generosity. To no other manin Roc Bar would they have listened then, with their woun smarting, with the man who had inflicted them standing almost within arm’s length, mocking them with his smile. ‘A hundred of you upon one man—and hea stranger! For shame, men of Rocky Bar!” cried Brown, his eyes aglow, his voice ringing with scorn and indignation. “Tt’s that dirty cuss, Cap’n Slyboots!” doggedly returned one of the foremost miners, his right arm dangling helplessly at his side, the bone broken by one of the shots fired by Nor’ West Nick, but who held a pistol in his left hand. “* Whoever told you that, /ied, Mark Davis,” bluntly retorted Dan Brown. ‘*‘ You all know me. You should know whether or not my word is to be depended upon. I tell you now that this gentleman is no more Captain Slyboots than Iam. He is the man you have all heard of—and heard nothing to his discredit either—Nor’ West Nick, the celebrated detective. I answer for him with my life, if needs be.” “That old cuss told us he was Cap’n Slyboots, an’ offered a thousan’ scads fer his head, dead or ve—’’ “He lied in his throat then!” was the sharp reply. Rifebbe he did—’course he did, ef you say so said Davis, grimly. ‘“‘ Your word is good as gold with any of us boys, an’ what you tell us we jest swaller without salt or winkin’, But that ain’t all. The p’izen cuss hes bit hard—”’ ** In self-defense—and you should be the last man to blame him for that, Mark Davis,”’ “* All the same, he’s got to pay fer what he’s done,” doggedly. ‘* Ef you're wise, you'll pull out an’ let him hoe his own row. ‘Tain’t your quarrel. Then what makes you stick in?”’ ** Because I call myself a white man, and no true man could stand by and see a hundred stout fellows jump a single man, without chipping in,’ was the smiling response—but it was a smile that meant Sanens, -” those who knew him best could tell only too plainly. Mark Davis scratched his head with the blackened muzzle of his revolver, seemingly puzzled what to do or Say. Just then a diversion was effected by a voice from the rear of the crowd, c out, warningly: “Too durn much talk! Don’t you see that the blamed collywobbus is takin’ ’vantage of it to load RUT Oa ae, tay BEF Rill fhalive f “Too late, my gay and festive friend!” cried Nor® West Nick, with a lecht nod of his head toward the shaggy face of the speaker, none other than Dave Nichols, the tall claimant _of his title. “i'm ready for business once more, Mr. Brown, and I join my appeal to that of my friend Davis. While I fully appreciate your kindness, and will be delighted to return the compliment, should you ever find your- ind er ag A I Fon ee I age my own row roug e » ou will just st : e him a s word, boss!” erly cri te c yi mig hh rau to bog di ceca ous u you stan’ in the way, it’s hty li , git ed corns trod on, tool” nape terey oc “Thank you for your good will, Davis,” was the cool response. ‘I have passed my word that this entleman is innocent of the charge brought against Tian , “You cain’t talk out the woun , se doggedly. ds he’s give us! “Than your stars that itis no worse,” laugh Nor’ West Nick. ‘“ Zhen I was only shooting tor amusement; if I am crowded again, J’U shoot for blood |”’ “Heap big talk me!” squealed a voice from t crowd, and Nickerson ducked down, as though re necting he shot os oy A , short, hard lau roke from the li West Nick. . A Si “You doubt my words? Look yonder!” and he panied upward to where a buzzard was slowly cire- ¢ through the ether, farabove their heads, Instinctively all eyes were turned upward, and in- stantly the border detective’s pistol exploded. There was a sudden flapping of the wings which had been held stationary us the obscene bird floated through the air; then the body turned over, and the buzzard came whirling downward, the partially open w Cansing it to describe a ential until it struck groun ‘““Gentlemtn,” cried Nor’ West Nick, with a cold smile. ‘*To prove that I have only been pla with a winging you to keep you from taiing me, as you killed my good horse—i make this propo- sition: If that bird hasn’t got its throat cut by my bullet, Pll deliver up my arms, and surrender to you without striking another blow for my life!” 39 oe) - Pt Fal oe oe eit. a a ~~ =e > > - - onal 8 7 There was a rush for the buzzari, but Nickerson : was the one to reach it first, and a yell of wonder a pgs from his lips as he held the carcass up to pub- | : c view. as ** Throat cut, or I'll ferget the buzzard part an’eat ss it fer plain turkey!’’ he shouted. ‘*Good-da , gents! I've got a *portant 'gagement which I hed Rees all about ontel jest now. You kin hev my share o’ the ie! Jain’t a gully-whompin’ hog! Never did han- Sia fe Good-day—while I kin say er after pie, nohow! it!” and dropping the dead fowl, the fat claimant strode away as though important business called “Quick!” muttered Dan Bro while the vola crowd had their attention momeateriiy divetted ie . the remarkable shot and its results “Just over there is my office. They'll not be satisfied with what they’ve got, but will coine hotter than ever. If we cn, es a py 8 may be hag es them off n eir blood cools eno n reason, Now’s our Shansh—cowdet® i - The distance was short, hard fifty yards from where the two men them’ étond” The Buildir was -_ * of one story, po pen he Ney its front a, aa ei. : } of the mine, Jealous Girl, while below it w name of the Denver detective. A frail fort, ps ow but it was infinitely better than to remain where they were, in the open, liable to be surrounded at any ment, when a treacherous shot while their attention was in the opposite pe Pe, So ppo direction, could forever Still f cS —_ 0\(6)(6) <€om (E t ‘ > i with a thump. LS d ; a 64 vo - % ‘ “. « * ; ? tS ety r a ee ee ee ee ee 7a > > it - > ane * os p an —_—— i : fo) ee _ 13 | if ; cs : i ) ve rt | the crowd, but retreating rapidly. the . Tt two men hai covered rather more than half the dise tance which divided them from the building, when —S a (an ee %