Beadle's Dime Library No. 351 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

| | | | : | a e mixed up that | gay so, flat-footed, but don’t try to pu Nor’ West Nick, the Border — a revolver, the squat Hercules staggered, dropped his | Ovelman, with a hard laugh, as he took the uncon- scious form of his daughterin hisarms, “If alive { will expose you. If dead, I'll see that your record is curved a your tombstone.” ‘*Do so, by all means,” laughed the detective, “Since running into this town, [ve got so badly am not more than half sure I am what I always have been taught. If you can solve the tangle, ’illowe you a mighty debt of gratitude, and be willing to pay it in any coin you choose,”’ “Oh, cut it short!” impatiently cried Dick Wheeler, with an oath. ** Ef you’re toy skeart : off the eend any longer by stuffin’ us with d-puddin’! Ef we're goin’ to fight, le’s fight /” **Don't tear your shirt, my finerascal. The moon is high enough to see you fairly over the range, and _ devil will see that you do not go astray after that.”’ ‘* You won’t be the fust man that I’ve seen slip up on what he pertended he thought was a sure thing,” laughed the reckless Maverick-hunter. “I ain’t afeared but that I’ll live long a-plenty to see your skull the plaything of the coyotes.” ‘Console yourself with that thought while you can. I’m just in the humor for killing somebody, and I'll know ony. Dick Wheeler grinned defiantly, but made no fur- ther remark, straightening up and waiting the word which all knew must surely end in the death of at feast one of the duelists. **Are you ready, gentlemen?” rung out the mea- ps bom _— of Dan Brown, “ Then, one—two—three —" e ” © At the first number up rose the two revolvers, re- maining motionless as the fingers of fate until the word fire was pronounced. Then they both exploded as though drawn by the same finger. A gasping. gurel g scream broke from the lips of the Maverick-hunter, as he dropped his weapon and raised his hand to his face. In the bright moonlight all could see thet the red blood was streamin through his fingers, and with cries of sorrowf rage, his two mates darted toward him, but too late to save him from ee his body striking the ground with that peculiar, blood-curdling thud which comes only from the contact of a corpse with its mother earth, Steady asa rock stood Nor’ West Nick, though a red streak was drawn across one cheek, where the bullet of his enemy had just broken the skin in its assaze, ee Number one!” he said, his voice filled with a cold maliznancy that chilled the blood of those who heard it. ‘*A dog he lived, and a dog he dies! Now for the others!” The two cowboys saw that their mate was dead— killed so suddenly by the lead which crashed its way through his brain that it may well be doubted whe- ther he was given time for realizing what hurt him —and they turned upon his slayer with deadly fury, each one demanding the first chance to avenge his fal'~~ comrade. ** Hither one—or both at the same time!” cried the border detective, his blue eyes all aglow, his hand- some countenance transformed into that of a verl- table demon of hatred. “raw your tools, dogs! Draw, or [Pil shoot you down tike the rav wolves you showed yourselves when you bad me an °** “Hold!” cried Dan Brown, leaping between the enemies, “The man who touches trigger without my consent must settle with me—” N or’ West Nick turned upon him, savagely. Who the deuce are you, anyhow?” he demanded, hotly. “You have thrust yourself forward quite enough for one rao ou may be a person of authority in this place, but I don’t recognize it, for one, Stand aside, or show your reasons!” You are anxious w Know who I am?” asked the bac detective, showing his teeth in a peculiar “If you persist In sticking your into pie, Sell was the stern response. ee. e «2yY name is Dan Brown, of Denver—” __,' Dan Brown or Dan Devil, it makes no dif*srence what the name,” retorted Nor’ West Nick, “What interest have you in this dispute? What rigne nave va The ot ne ae shiet - this © right of being chief o town, Only Lor to- night,” laughed the detective, but with an aur ot shpat © words were scarcely his lips, when tere came a report, and without a groan, the deteciave fell upon his face! ~ CHAPTER i. . WEICH 18 WHICH? Nerruer threat nor warning preceded the re — oe and clear it rong fo and Dan Boon? . ~ M yt —_ nents) pawrest apes s 5 face, ya ory or SSCA so W the treacherous shot done my Mase = — cry of angry horror ourst from the crowd as they s around to detect the foul assassin, but ‘the mystery in which the affair was euveloped was only deepened by the confused ideas of the direction from whence the secret shot had emanated. In a score of different directions the angry eyes were turned, and more than one innocent shadow was de- aba as the criminal wbefore the mistake was dis- ‘COV (Ay Lucky was it for Nor’ West Nick that all e had Heen riveted upon him during his brief aiteréation With the suddenly-strickea man, else the fall at the herous shot would have been laid to his charge —as indeed it was, though only as a cover to @ deed scarcely less heinous. cuss! fer shootin’ a man “'Take that, ye dirty ‘when he mene oN lookin’!” howled Long-legs, leaping arning :% avenge forward and firin the pe of his mate. sue Sua. “into ye-—chuck—up to—the han’le!” jerked forth a yy oe, backing up his fellow doing his best to = ‘e a raight course and reach his intended victim ee é shortest possible series of tacking, fi u © breaks in his me genie threat with pistoi-sh Wildly the ero scattered as the ed lead + pc ele viciously around, but Nor’ West Nick | Up rose his pistol hand, and with the report of his | begin with you. Say your prayers, if you | weapon, tore convulsively at his left breast with his hands, then whiried half-way around and fell to the ground, shot through the heart, one more victim to the evil ions which seemed to run riot in Rocky Bar that evening. ‘* Number two !” cried Nor’ West Nick, his voice ringing out above the confused tumult with a wiid triumph that sold how intense was his hatred for these men who had so frightfully misused him, “ Your turn, now, Rickety Joe—”’ Even as hes ke, he covered the zigzagging figure _of the Maverick-hunter, but just as he touched the | trigger, a club came whizzin n through the air, strik- is pistol arm, causing his bullet to go widely astray, knocki the revolver from his hand, while his arm fell helplessly to his side. A cry, fierce as that of a baffled panther, burst | from his lips at this second act of treachery, and he half turned in the direction from whence the missile _hadcome, That involuntary action was the means of saving his life, for a bullet from Rickety Joe’s pis- tol, which would otherwise have pierced his brain, on v scorched his temples as though a red-hot iron had been drawn swiftly before his face so close as to almost touch the skin. Then the noted detective showed the manner of stuff which had given him the name he bore of be- ing one of the most deadly hand-to-hand fighters In ing cry—then out flashed his knife, and with it nched in his left hand, the other swaying helpless- ly at his side as though the bone had been shattered by that dastard blow, he leaped straight at the on- coming Maverick-hunter. Despite his nerve, Rickety Joe was startled and taken by surprise by an attack in such an unexpect- ed manner, and though he had time for one more shot before the border detective could come within striking distance, he threw away that chance in his flurry, the lead tearing its way through the close curls of Nor’ West Nick, but without breaking the OR Hastily he cocked his weapon—but that was Swift and deadly as that of a tiger came the last leap of Nor’ West Nick, and his gleaming weapon descended like a flash of lightning, even while his body was in the air. Driven by an arm fired by vengeance and inex- eee hatred, backed the weight of his whole dy, down through felt, hair, flesh and bone sunk ae bay, Pg te to seuane me ore the Beary sharp-poin e, pausing only wherthe guard a the base of the halt was buried in the scalp and denting the bone itself! With a thrust Nor’ West Nick hurled the dying man from him, and whipping forth another revolver, he stood at bay, his eyes me, his face that of a man beside himself with rage andindignation. His voice rung out hard and gritty as he faced the crowd, pistol cocked and ready for instant use. “Who comes next? Where's the coward who struck me from behind? Step out and show your- self, dog and sonof a dog! ou are too craven- hearted to face a man on equal terms, bring all your friends and relatives—one or a score—I'll fight you all! It’s a man that talks.” From almost any other lips, this fierce challenge would have sounded like empty braggadocio, but a stern and deadly earnestness filled the greg and rung outin every tone. On the ground lay the evi- dence of what he could do with the odds heavily against him. With those stark and ghastly forms revealed by the clear, soft light of the moon, bold indeed would be the man who dared accent that fierce challenge, A hard, unpleasant laugh broke the momentary silence which followed his defiance, and witha sneer, Nor’ West Nick added: ““T might have known it! The hand of a coward cast that club, and such a craven never yet dared to fairly face aman! Iwill give five huadred dollars for proof of the act.”’ **And I'll double the sum for one glimpse at the fellow who fired that shot at me!” cried a well- known voice, and Dan Brown, a little unsteady on his feet, but full of pluck as ever, a little rill of blood trickling over his face, moved out toward the bor- der detective, “I'll back you, Nor’ West Nick! We were both foully assailed from behind. There’s cow- ard’s work being done to-night, and if I can strike the right trail, there'll be work for the sexton to- morrow! Come out and show: your colors!”’ The excited crowd swayed still further back, as though expecting the two detectives to make an in- discriminate attack upon them for the sins of one man or two, but not a man ro forward in an- swer to the flerce challenges, not a voice was raised in defense of the cowardly acts, until— A wild, shrill yell arose, cutting short the rapid speech of the Denver detective—there was the sound of a brief but fierce struggle back on the edge of the crowd, then a voice yelled out: ““Whoop-ee-4/ I’ve got the ‘tarnal, indignitorious ’sassinator what tried to bu'st the boss from ahind! No ye don’t! “I'ain’t no manner o’ use to kick an’ squamble! When I gits mv grub-nooke tastened onto a critter, he’s times as Slippy as the old sarpint chat tooled eran’- mammy Eve Dyin n’.2n > sola,” * Dug-gun! let up! cacrted another voice, puff- ing and ann “You cain’t tie them boy-con- structors und my neck; you cain’t ketch one side oO We Plunging through the crowd, using his powerful shoulders With the effect of a battering-ram, Dan Brown reached the side of the two men, who were none other than those who had laid claim to the title of Nor’ West Nick, a little earlier in the evening, now locked in a tight pple, but with all the ad- van in favor of the gangling giant, who had seized his rival from behind by the neck with one hand, the other arm en his bodwand pinning his arms to his side. thus, in & measure, neutraliz- ing his CNormMvus strength, Which one of you accuses the other? Which one spoke first?” demanded Dan Brown, his steel-like grip fastening upon them both, ‘“* He did it!” cried the tall man, eagerly. “T see the ct critter shoot, an’ then you tumbled.” we as that ongainly cuss, boss!” at the same moment vociferated the fat man, “I was watchin’ fer somethin’ of the sort, an’ see him pull trigger.” With an indignant how! they broke off at the same Detective. ee time, and resumed their flerce struggle, cursing and all the wild West. A repetition of that fierce, snarl- | thw, or Hickesstm, to ghee hint the a he cletmed. t tO come, even ef ae was ten | 9 accusing each other in the same breath, For an instant Dan Brown seemed puzzled, but then he spoke again, this time enforcing his words with the muzzle of a cocked revolver. “Enough of this nonsense) I’m going to get to the bottom of this infernal muddle, if I have torun ou both Sones @ quartz mil! to separate lies from ruth! Break holds! Up with your hands! And bear this fact in mind:—I€ either one of you trv to piay any aiogh attempt to break away, before 4& give you leave, Pll bore you through. if it is the last act lever perform in this world!” Thoroughly aroused was the Denver detective, as all who heard his tones could tell, and the bra rascals were instantly quelled. Releasing each other, they sullenly stood side by side before the threatene ing vistol, awaiting the detective’s further orders, They were not kent long im enspense. “Richt about face! March back to the saloon! Bear in mind the warning I gave you, for | never twice to such hang-dog rascals as you have : s Pon Pons fg ad A th ourse , mutte e giant, sullenty obeying, “* but ait the same it’s p’izen hard to be talked 0 like a dog, when & man risked his life to sarve another— like.” “It'll be to me, then, boss!"* broke in the fat fel- “That long cuss is givin’ you wind. He tried to knock you west-end-an’-crooked, that time, an’ then when I him—” a teres er eerar eee ae , he was on o upon when the cold Pall of Dan Brown's revolver was er Quiet!” he thundered. Keep th until I e unde e turn you loose to hatch up some more Ties and dev- iltry, or by the Host of Israel! I'll thrash you both y am n dead men they were leaving out in the aie thinking only of a fresh a of fun with the , the crowd follo , en the . bling-hall, where 8t. Clair Guthrie still sat sh the cards. Onecareless giance he vouchsafed the in- truders, the ghost of a frown seemed to flit over his brow, then and leaving it colder, more icy than before. A man of nerve was the sport of ANG crobchig, eetlebhie. tf roti ties ate ** No crow , gentlem e us room,” said Dan Brown, otonine” the assembly back, then, turning to his dogged captives, “* And ou, back up nst that wall—no questions or esitation, but obey or take the co uences,”’ Back to the side wall fell the two men, only Pea ing when they could go no further. Ag Dan Brown spoke: “Up with your hands—higher! Rest them flat against the wall, and see that you hold them thus untill give you permission to lower them, or ['ll pin pene ast with . Faye ; So) With a ie ee rai you would do & puppet show!” an he layhen softly. sai “Now 1 want an unprejudiced man from the orow’ to step forward—one will answer,” he ye gee = — the number impulsively started forward a the prisoners do not object.” * What good would it do us if we did?” sullenly muttered the tali man, who had given his name as Nichois. “’Pears like you're runnin’ this circus to suit your own tastes; durn little say-so we're havin’ in it, anyway!’ “Yah! what’s the matter with you?” cried Nick- erson, in a tone of ineffable disgust. “‘ Cain’t nothin’ suit ye, at all? The boss ‘ll see that we git jestice done us both.” “Then you'll roost higher’n ary wiid turkey this side o’ monkey-heaven, with your hoofs on nothin!’” retorted Nichols, with a savage snarl. ‘* Boss,” said Nickerson, coaxingly, “‘ jest turn me loose fer two minits by the watch, while I give this p’izen critter the lickin’ that *tarnal bull cheated him out of. That'll mebbe settle his stumick so he won't be so pesky onreasonable., You'll git along a heap faster ef you do it, ve will, so /” It was with no little difficulty that Dan Brown ke his face straight, there was something so peculiar ridiculous in the looks and actions of the rivals, but then, as a twinge in his wounded scalp reminded him of the treacherous shot which had so nearly proved fatal, his sternness returned, “Save your breath to none ng cg with, m a, Se you will show more wisdom. In one wo which one of you called out first that he had caught a Bsc ingly It was your voice, I believe?” nodding to ichols. The giant nodded, but kept silence. Fora wonder oe did not chime iat with a claim, but he only soe ee ee tires, then. What did you see this fel- “ Saw him sneak around ontel he got behind an’ then, when you an’ t’other gent was disputin’, see hiro lift up one arm, to hide the flash of his sane pon, though I didn’t guess that, jest then. He snot, hen slipped ‘round the aidge of the crowd as you tumbled, It tuck me so by s’prise, that 1 lost sight of him when the crowd scattered. I was goin’ to squeal out who did it, but then I thought that he’d | mebbe git away in the row ef I did, so 1 jest waited an’ stole round to wharIsee’d him agi‘n. Then I mounted him, an’ tia know I got treated like a dog fer doin’ of it, too!” ‘“What have you to say to this charge?” de- manded Dau Brown, looking at the other man, who was intently listening to the explanation of his riva a broad smile upon his b and blood-stain countenance. ** Not much. Only that what he says is all truth—” “What! you aekwowininn ring that dastardly shot?’ demanded the detective, his blue eyes, flash- ee ee ee ee ee - — - _—— : ng Not much J don’t!” promptly declared the fel- low, with a vigorous shake of head as added emphasis, “You cut me off afore I'd got fa’rly started. I said that it was all the dead-center truth, ’cept that J pulled the trig er. le did the shootin’, / did the watchin’ an’ w * an’ bouncin’ when the right time come—” “ Careful!”’ warned Brown. “He had you from com (E ** Jones—as well you as another, provided | ——— ‘ ~~ > — at, - +. 2 _ — a ee ee Te ae ee ae eee ee ee ee ee EO