Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 365 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

== the cabin; she did not see the man who glided up to it and listened. ‘‘ Hang me, ef I want her in camp,” said this individual, who had the burly figure of Drop- shot Bluff the alealde. ‘* We’ve just got rid ov one sorceress an’ hyer another one comes. Vera killed as she went away, but by Heaven! this one sha’n’t! Ther questions she asked Dagger Johnny give her mission away. She hunts ther big Ophir. Her trail is Red Eye’s. We won’t , have any rival in this gold-hunt. She shall not _ stay!’ Thus in Jow but determined tones spoke the man who listened at the cabin door near which stood the horse that had carried the masked wo- man into camp. ‘* Mebbe I’d better serve notice on ’er quiet] an’ at once,” he went on. ‘Arter thet we'll hunt Gilbert an’ Keen Kennard, shot by Johnny. This woman who is called Queen Moro shall un- derstand thet men kin run this camp. Drop- shot Bluff late ov Mormondom is master hyer. Interlopers will please take notice!” The alcalde of Red Eye stepped to the door as he finished and laid his big hand gently upon it. The latch already raised and he opened it slowly. Darkness greeted him. “I am here,” said a voice. “‘I thought you ‘would come, Dropshot Bluff. Take a seat till I light the lamp [have just found. This isGrim’s cabin, eh?—the man your sorceress lately killed,” The alcalde of Red Eye exhibited amazement on his countenance; but before he spoke the limmer of a match broke the gloom and he saw he figure of Queen Moro. “This is Grim’s,” he said. ‘* Yes, Vera ther Viper shot him dead, but we'll cancel ther debt afore long.” With the lamp between them the boss of Red Eye saw the splendid figfire of Queen Moro, and the black anal that hid her face. “Tm not hyer ter ask whar ye’r’ from,” he said, ‘‘ I didn’t come ter pry inter any secrets ye may hev fetched ter camp. I’m only hyer ter Bay thet ther pards ov this camp kin run it.” ropshot Bluff thought he detected a quick flash in the eyes behind the mask while he spoke but he was not sure. ‘*T am not here to interfere with the manage- ment of Red Eye,” was the answer. ‘““Then show yer face an’ let us see what ye’r’ like.” Queen Moro seemed to recoil a foot. “Hit yer hard thet time, eh?’ laughed the alcalde, ‘‘ We don’t need masked women hyer. This is no Mexican fandango town. This is ther only Red Eye in existence, an’ I am its alcalde.” here was no mistaking the lan ® con- veyed by the last sentence. It meant that the days of the masked women in Red Eye had already been numbered. ‘* Business is business, madam,” Dropshot Bluff went on coolly. ‘“ { never talk in riddles ‘when I kin pick up plain English. We've deci- ded thet we don’t want yer hyer.” What could be plainer than this? The blunt words had their effect; the eyes of Queen Moro did flash. ** Thet’s ther heft ov it,” continued the big al- calde moving toward the cabin door and giving the masked woman a look which added interest to the command to quit Red Eye. ‘‘ Yer hoss stands outside. Ye'll be safer elsewhar than in this camp. " “Halt there, Dropshot Bluff!” said the wo- ‘*T came here for no quarrel, I have turned the girlin the wagon over to you for the sake of peace. I am to be ordered from Red Eye before I have had an hour’s deez be I? Very well. What more shall I expect from the de- saint of Mormondom?” Dropshot Bluff started as if a serpent had hissed suddenly at his feet. ‘‘ What’s thet insinuation?”’ he cried, spring- ing at the woman who had drawn her figure to its true hight. ‘‘T only said something about a deposed saint of Mormondom—it was nothing much!” laughed Queen Moro. **Did yer mean me?” *‘ From the effect of my remark one would say that the sentence stung.” ‘““T hev been in Mormondom,” said Dropshot Bluff. ‘*Thar’s precious few places in ther West an’ Southwest whar I hevn’t been. But thetis not hyer. You must leave Red Eye forthwith.” ‘‘Tt’s a repetition of the famous order, dated VJ 4 10th, 1867.” wild cry drove the alcalde’s lips apart, and staggering to the door, he glared at the coo woman like a tiger forced to the corner of his cage by brute superiority. Dropshot Bluff, when I reached this camp I had no idea that it contained the man I now face,” continued Queen Moro, coming around the table and facing the alealde. “I had heard of Dropshot Bluff before, but how could I know west and the de and hunted saint of were identical. It is nothing to me to know how long you have been wearing this mask. I know all about the crime that shocked even Mormondom, wicked esitis. I know that the oath-bound Gentiles have lost your trail, but gg Keen Kennard, the Shasta Shadow. that if they found it to-day they would have your blood at the end of it. You have buried yourself from vengeance in the depths of the sierra, the saint has turned alcalde, and Salt Lake has been exchanged for Red Eye Bar. My mission in these parts is not to hunt you, but you may go too far with the order to quit this camp. I guess we'll quit here and call it even. Drive me from Red Eye and I may not stop this side the Gentile League!” Dropshot Bluff heard these words with his back against the door. **Shoot me for a ’possum! ef I hevn’t stirred up a tigress,” he muttered. ‘‘ I’d givea thousand ter look behind thet mask. She knows more than she shall keep an’ live. I don’t want ther Gentile League at my heels now. I had it thar once, This woman iy when she talks. Ef I drive her away I send her ter my banded ene- mies, eh? Tl see to thet, but she leaves Red Eye all the same.” ' a put his hand behind him and touched the atch. © ‘*Remember!” said the woman. ‘* Drive me from Red Eye before I want to go and you send me to the avenging League whose oath taken over the dead is unfulfilled to-day. I shall not trouble you long, Dropshot Bluff. My trail led me into this camp. promises to lead beyond it. The girl in the wagon I will not interfere with, though I am the deadly enemy of her kith and kin! Ah! you are going,I see. Ihave but one parting word: ‘Remember /?” “Til do thet, bet yer life!” said the alcalde. ‘*T couldn’t forget youef I tried. By Jupiter! ye’r’ a greater pest than ther sorceress war.” He opened the door with the hand he had put behind him and bounded away so quickly that Queen Moro started, to find herself alone, ‘* Drive her out, eh? I'll do even worse than that!” cried the mad alcalde, sending a fierce look over his shoulder. ‘‘*‘ Desperate remedies for desperate diseases’ has been my doctrine all through life. This isa hard case, an’ ef I don’t rescribe ther proper medicine inside ov an our, Pll give up my diploma!” Bluff went back to the wagon and its beauti- ful occupant. All was quiet there and Duncan was still on guard. “Ef ye hear a singular cry don’t stir, Dun- ean,” said the alcalde dure down in the guard’s face. ‘‘On no account let nothin’ draw yer from yer post,” then he glided off before the surprised sentry could put in a question, ‘*Cap’n, [ve a bit o’ news,” said Dagger Johnny who suddenly appeared before the al- calde. ‘* Gilbert’s come back!” ‘** Without the man you shot?” “Yes. He took Keen Kennard away an’ buried him somewhar in ther mountain. Ther boy is now in his shanty tryin’ ter wash blood- stains from his clothes.” ‘*Thet’s all right, Johnny. Ther secret ov ther big Ophir is safe yet. But I hev work for you. hat would yer do ter an individual thet came ter Red Eye ter break it up an’ send me back ter Utah under guard?” **T'd drop him in his tracks!” was the prompt response. ‘* What ef thet person war a woman?” ** Thet wouldn’t stop me.” ‘*Thet’s what we’ve got ter do. Come with me. We go down before Grim George’s shanty an’ holler ‘ fire!’ When ther door opens an’ ex- poses a face, as it will, we shoot once a piece.” Johnny nodded obedience. CHAPTER XT. COERCED AND TRACKED, SHOULDER to shoulder Dropshot and his pard walked toward the cabin in which but a few minutes before the alcalde had left Queen Moro. ‘“*Confound that masked mystery!” growled the chief of Red Eye. ‘‘She turns up jest when we don’t want ter be interfered with. Came from Sacramento, I jedge, from what Pve found out, heard ov me in Utah, and says that ther Gentile League ain’t disbanded thar.” “Ther deuce!” exclaimed Johnny, throwing a look of amazement into Dropshot’s face. ‘‘ Meb- be she’s ther League’s ey ‘*Thet’s about whar I’m beginnin’ ter place — ng al os we Renting pies dene: ttin’ ow her, p’r’aps, er gue’s spy, eh? By heavens! thet sends my blood pilin’ through my veins. Remember! that woman must never leave Red Eye alive. She hes found me, an’ thet’s reason enough.” ** Whatever you do fer Red Eye or for Drop- shot Bluff, you’ll find Dagger Johnny on hand!” was the reply. Nobody seemed to see the two men as they moved quietly down the silent street of the si- erra camp and took up their station in front of Grim George’s shanty in which not a ray of light was visible. The big alcalde tiptoed it across the street and listened near the door a minute, then rejoin- ed his pa ‘* Tt’s as still in thar as when I invaded ther cabin awhile ago,” he whispered. ‘‘She’s put out ther light since I left. Forward ter ther middle ov ther street. Hyer we ar’, Ar’ yer ready?” * Ready !” said Dagger Johnny cocking the re- - + we volver he had drawn. alarm, cap’n?” ‘Yes, she might know my voice.” The next moment the alealde’s pard inflated his lungs and then, ‘‘ Fire! fire!” rung out on the calm night air. It was a cry that penetrated to the remotest corners of Red Eye Bar, and at the hour it was delivered, it had a thrilling sound. A strange silence followed the last utterance. The two pards stood together like statues, their eyes fastened on the cabin door, and their fin- ers at the triggers of the deadliest revolvers in the sierra. ‘Hang it it all! ther cry has no cherms for her,” whispered Dagger Johnny. ‘* Let it slip again.” ‘‘ Fire! fire! fire!” shot from the pard’s lungs. Dropshot Bluff bit his lips and looked non- plused. ‘* Mebbe ther shanty doesn’t hold her,” he said, ‘** Tl see in a moment.” When he bounded toward the cabin he had Dagger Johnny at his heels. The alcalde laid his hand on the door and threw it open. At the same time his companion struck a match. ** Ther bird has flown!” the alcalde exclaimed glancing around the empty cabin. “ If she has broken for Mormondom, woe to her, I say. She is surely ther spy ov ther Gentile League. She thinks she has reached ther end ov her hunt in Red Eye, Foller ther horse from ther door. I have other business elsewhar.” ** What ef I find her?” ** Shoot ther Gentile witch on sight!” was the retort. ‘‘Thar must be no half-way business now. Don’t come ter me till you’ve found her. Foller her ter Utah—only kill her afore she gives me ye ter ther League.” Dropshot Bluff was excited, he did not wait for his man to hesitate; he would not have heard a remonstrance. Before Dagger Johnny could collect his thoughts, the mad alcalde was striding away. **T don’t like ther job but it’s go er look inter ther muzzle ov Dropshot’s six-shooter,” he mut- tered. ‘‘He had ’er afore him awhile ago. Why didn’t he kill ther my oY ther Gentile League. I don’t more’n ha lieve that she’s a spy. I made her start when I mentioned ther lost Ophir. T’ve got ter track her, though— mebbe ter Mormondom whar I have no business ov importance.” With very little enthus‘'asm Dagger Johnny set to work and found without great trouble hoof-tracks in the dust of Red Eye’s one street. They led toward the western terminus of the camp and while Dropshot Bluff was walking to- ward his own shanty, Johnny was following the fresh trail. All at once the trailer stopped and then re- coiled. He had almost walked against a horse that stood alongside a certain cabin, and it was with difficulty that he suppressed the exclama- tion that lea to his lips. ‘Found already?’ ejaculated Dagger Johnny. ** By Jehu! this is a long ways this side ov Mor- mondom. I’m in luck. I have run down the masked spy ov the Gentile League an’ thet in Red Eye.” Dagger Johnny had already recognized the cabin before which the horse , and his face was a curious picture as he approached the little window beyond which glimmered a pe The next minute the alcalde’s pard straighten- ed beside the door and looked in upon a scene that surprised him. The first figure he saw was that of the masked guest of Eye Bar standing erect beside a young man who occupied a stonl'as the table. ‘** Holy Moses! what a chance for car~yin’ out ther cap’n’s orders!” exclaimed ther Ked Eye pend half lifting the revolver still clutched in ishand. ‘I could spile ther face under thet mask an’ by touchin’ a trigger deprive ther e ov its spy. She’s got ther boy corner- ed; she took him unawares—pounced down up- on ’im Jike an eagle.” Fast upon Dagger Johnny’s last word came a voice from Gilbert as he looked up at the cool, glittering eyes that regarded him. ‘“T could do you no good, I tell you,” he said, ‘‘The whole thing has passed from me. There have been times when it was in my head, clear and distinct, but all is jumbled now. You can find it as soon without me as if I were by your side. For Heaven’s sake, let me stay!” ‘“No. In the mountains it will come back, if it has really left you,” was the reply, *‘ Gilbert Golden, I cannot tell you how I have longed to look into the face of the lost man of Gold Gorge. I have found you at last, and my sworn duty will not let you slip through my hands.” ‘‘Show me your face first, Let me see who wants the riches of the lost mine worse than I do.” The woman seemed to recoil. ; “‘Not for a thousand Ophirs!” she cried, ‘T am no beauty, though—I can tell you that, Gil- bert. We will find the mine together, and I will divide.” ** No; I stay here.” ‘Because Floss has come, eh?’ suddenly laughed the woman. . ‘‘ You are going with me now, Gilbert. The girl—may Heaven curse her and her kin!—is safe here till you come ‘Shall I give ther false EORNIE DOO KS