Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 365 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

: ee Cs Keen _ the mountain into whose depths the pards of the camp had gone to find Gilbert, If an enemy had stolen into camp the keen ear of the alcalde would have heard his step; if a panther had [pens down the street the eye of the giant guard would have noticed him, “Pm guardin’ something worth lookin’ arter,” muttered Dropshot Bluff. ‘‘ Her hand kin fetch Gilbert around all right when ther boys find tim. Ef I war mad, I b’lieve a pair ov eyes like hers could prove ther right medicine, I wonder whar Dagger Johnny is on ther trail ov Queen Moro? That Gentile spy thought she war play- in’ it when she confronted me with a recollection ov ther Mormon game. Vera knows it, too. Can those two women beconnected? Vera killed Grim George ere she left, killed him an’ left him with ther mark ov brotherhood defaced. I let her play sorceress too long. I gave Queen Moro ther grand bounce at once.” Within that same minute a sound reached the alcalde’s ears and drove him forward. He drew his revolvers and scanned the street visible for a short distance in the starlight. ‘Tt had a human sound!” he ejaculated. “ It struck me like a death-rattle, but—” “Am [in camp? Great God! is—this—Red Eye?” Dropshot Bluff bounded forward. The heart of the big alcalde was in his throat and the strange cry and the ghostliness of the hour had sent a strange thrill throughout his frame. Clutching his pistols, ready for any foe, he halted a short distance from the wagon and waited. There was uppermost in his mind the belief that some person desperately hurt had come to e. 4 Mtn, ghost er devil, which war it?” he at Jast asked himself in a whisper. ‘‘ Pll solve ther mayetery ef I hev ter rake ther camp.” efore him rose the outlines of his own cabin, and Dropshot Bluff moved toward it, to secure matches with which to prosecute his search. *““Who’s opened my door?’ he exclaimed at the threshold. ‘I shut it when I went ter guard Floss, but now—” He paused abruptly, for at that moment his foot came in contact with some yielding object on the floor, “Tt is hyer—a man!” cried the alcalde, stoop- ing and feeling in the dark. ‘‘ By Jove! some- body has come ter RedEye. My hand is moist. Blood! by Jupiter!” The next moment a match flashed up in the ruffian’s cabin, and he bent over the man on the floor, “Dagger Johnny!” fell from his lips. ‘*My God! old pard, you found ther Gentile spy, eh?” The big pard seemed dead as he lay before Dropshot Bluff, in the flickering light of his match. Blood covered the face, and his hands bore the same terrible stain. Suddenly the hand of the alcalde descended upon Dagger Johnny’s shoulder and shook him rudely. ‘““Dead er not?’ cried Dropshot. ‘‘In ther name ov Heaven, who sent yer back ter Red ye in this fix?” he rough shaking seemed to bring the Red. og pard out of a eeeey akin to death itself, hen he saw the light and the face revealed by it, he uttered a lou mii ‘“‘Ye'r’ with us yet, Johnny,” said the alcalde. ** Yer found ther Gentile spy?” “‘T found ’er, an’ I fetched it with me, cap’n. ae my bosom, an’ clutch ther gold map. Thar’s no discount on Dagger Johnny. I’m at ther end ov my trail, but Eye’s just at the door ov hers!” Dropshot Bluff’s hands went straight at the pard’s breast; they opened the shirt with mad eagerness. His fingers clutched a paper. Thet’s it, cap’n. Gilbert drew ther diagram for her, but I got it,” cried Dagger Johnny. The alcalde uttered a shout of delight, but the next moment it was changed to one of despair. ‘‘ What's up, cap’n?’ asked the man on the oor. ; ‘‘T'm afraid ther map’s ov no account; it is soaked with blood!” Dagger Johnny groaned and shut his eyes. CHAPTER XIII. THE SHASTA SLEUTH COMES BACK. “Tarn me about it. How did yer get it in er hands? Couldn’t ye hev fetched ther gold ma ack ter Red Eye in a better shape than this? Dropshot Bluff bent over Dagger J ohnny while he spoke and held his hand on the man’s shoulder. ‘‘T follered her from camp; she took Gilbert away at ther revolver’s muzzle. On ther way I war stopped by Vera ther Viper, but I broke away from her. It wara cute trail, cap’n, but I kept it. She told Gilbert when she took him away thet ther secret ’d come back ter’im in ther mountains, an’ sure enough it did. He drew ther diagram for her, but when she thought she had it safe I pounced down on her like an eagle, an’ we hed it nip an’ tuck for ther map. a Johnny paused for breath, and the al- ealde of Red Eye waited anxiously for the con- clusion, Kennard, the Shasta Shadow. ** Yes, you got ther diagram but what be- came ov her ?” he asked. ‘‘ Yer orders were—” ‘*Ter keep her this side 0’ Mormondom? yes, cap’n. Wal, I don’t know what Idid. I struck twice with ther best bowie in ther sierra then, with ther map, wounded myself, an’ losin’ blood at every step, I got away. It war a tussle, cap’n. Thet woman has ther strength ov a lioness an’ ther fury ov one, too. It’s all right now! You've got ther map an’ I’m at ther end ov my trail. I’m gettin’ thar with a flush thet’ll do me no good. Id like ter go ter sleep now.” ** Never!” cried the alealde trying to shake his companion out of the lethargy into which he was again passing. “If we can’t make this map do, we'll get another. Wake up, hyer. Ther’s better luck in store for yer, Johnny, than death.” The answer was an audible groan, and Johnny turned suddenly on his face. For a moment Bluff gazed at him and then went to the table with the bloody map. The little lamp burning there showed him the price- less document in all its ghastliness, and when he discovered that the folds were pasted to- ether with blood he glanced at the stalwart gure lying at his feet and let slip a curse. Suddenly, throwing thc map upon the table, he turned and stoo over the wounded rough. ‘*He shall tell me whar it happened. I'll take ther trail myself. Ther diagram that Ill clutch will not be blood-pasted! Gilbert in Queen Moro’s hands,eh? He shall be in mine inside ov twenty-four hours! See hyer, Johnny. Wake up once more afore ye cash yer chips at death’s counter. Whar did it all happen? This time he shook the wounded pard in vain. at jad Johnny was not dead, for his heart was still at work as the alcalde could tell by listen- ing, but he had fallen into a terrible sleep bor- dering on the everlasting one. os ng it! This is provokin’!” suddenly ex- claimed the ruffian. ‘“‘Tll find it, anyhow. Let him die thar!” He sprung up and dashed from the cabin. “T'll leave Red Eye ter his care,” he went on, as he hurried toward the wagon where he had left Floss quietly sleeping. ‘‘Ther boys will plant ’im ef they come back aforeI do. Gilbert a ther Gentile spy ther map he rubbed out or me! [ll put my fingers at his throat for that! Dll forever divorce him an’ ther beauty ov ther wagon, an’ then, ter cap ther climax, I'll make her queen ov a Red Eye that’ll dis- count this mountain den.” At the wagon he halted, and cautiously lifted the curtain. Floss still slept, and the first intimation she had hig Dropshot’s presence, was his hand at her wrist. ‘‘ We don’t wait any longer for Gilbert,” he said. ‘‘ We'll go an’ find him.” The girl’s reply was an eager ejaculation, and in less than a minute, she was on the ground beside the big alcalde. **Can you find him?” she asked. “Tf I can’t, nobody can!” was the reply, as the alcalde smiled. ‘‘Tll beat ther whole camp thet’s now on hunt ov him. Ar’ yer ready ter trust Dropshot Bluff?” ‘*T am ready to find Gilbert. I must call you friend,” said the girl. ‘*T am friendless in this unknown region.’ A singular gleam of triumph filled the out- law’s eyes, as he turned away to conceal his looks. ‘Bet yer life, ’'m yer friend, my. Californy ink! he said, under his breath. ‘‘ When you nd Gilbert, he’ll be under my thumb, an’ we’ll be nearer ther lost bonanza than we ar’ now,” Floss permitted herself to be led away by the alcalde, and the twain passed down the deserted and silent street. At the half-open door of hisown shanty, Drop- shot left her, and stepped inside. “*Tll leave a message for ther boys, in case weet should come back afore I do,” he muttered. e little lamp still burned on the table, and in its weird light, lay the man whose terrible re- turn to Red Eye, had filled the alcalde with mo- mentary horror. With but a glance at Dagger Johnny, Drop- shot seated himself at the table, and wrote in his bold hand, on a bit of paper, the following message: “To Rep Eyr:—Floss an’ I hev taken up Gilbert’s trail, from news fetched back by Dagger Johnny, who war killed by the woman, Queen Moro, If you et hyer before I do, keep Eye tilll come. I eel ther lost Ophir at my fingers’ ends. We ar’ ananty nigh ther big layout thet we’ve been starvin’ for era ther Viper should come back hyer— but she won’t! DropsHoT BLuFF.’’ This message he placed under the lamp in a manner that it would be easily seen, and then paid his attention to Dagger Johnny. ‘‘ T said in ther message thet he war dead, but he isn’t,” he observed with a smile. ‘‘ Wal, he will be when ther boys come back. Good-by, Johnny! Next ter Grim George, you war Dropshot’s best pard.” The alealde of Red Eye let fall the hand be had lifted and went out, closing the door after him. ‘“‘Now for Gilbert!” he said to the girl who waited for him in the starlight. ‘‘ When we see er meee thd Red Eye ag’in’, Floss, you'll be ther happiest mor- tal in Californy !”’ ‘‘ That will repay me for the past!” exclaimed the young girl. ‘I will endure any thing to find the lost man.” If Dropshot had gone back to the cabin ever then he would have seen Dagger Johnny come back to life, as it were. As if the lethargy had been broken by some strange influence, the Red Eye Mats rose to a sitting posture and looked around. ‘* Desarted!” he cried. ‘‘When a man gets near ther great divide they turn ther backs on him, don’t they? If thar war a chance for me— one chance in a thousand, ’d make things hum. Whar’s ther map I fetched back ter Red Eye? Did he throw it anny because it war soaked in my blood? By heavens! Dagger Johnny, arter all, follerin’ ther Gentile spy war a mighty poor game!” After awhile the man dragged himself to the table and reached the stool left there by Drop- shot Bluff. He looked like a person on the verge of death; his eyes had a strange inhuman gleam. ‘‘ What is this?’ he suddenly exclaimed and his crimson fingers clutched the message held down by the lamp. ‘‘Mebbe it war left for me!” He drew the message to him and read it. ‘‘Jehosaphat! Gone off with ther girl an’ left me for dead, alone in Red Eye?” fell from Dag- ger Johnny’s lips. ‘‘ Thet’s what a man gets for comin’ back, cut ter pieces in his sarvice. This is my pay for staggerin’ down ther mountain trail with ther gold map in my bosom! He wouldn’t stop ter doctor me? No! Mebbe, Dropshot, mebbe you'll find Dagger Johnny ee liveliest corpse thet ever dropped in Red. ye. Twice he read the message before he cast it aside, and each time his eyes seemed to emit flashes of rage. ‘**T’m in poor condition to play any kind ov & game just now,” he said. ‘‘T feel Queen Moro’s nife in me yet, as it war. Wouldn't I give much ter know thet one ov my strokes put her out 0’ the way? No! I wouldn’t. Ef she is really ther spy ov ther Gentile League i want her to send yer back ter Utah, Dropshot. You've desarted Dagger Johnny at death’s door. May ther noose o’ the old league find yer yaller throat fer yer cowardice!” The door opened with a slight noise, and the ruffian started. ‘“‘Hades an’ horns!—you?” he cried, and the next moment his hand fell upon the message he had just cast aside. A tall and handsome man came in, with his eyes fixed on Dagger Johnny, and halting at the table he put out one hand till it grasped the mountain tough’s wrist. *“ Ar’ you ther only man in Red Eye?” he asked. ‘‘ Whar ar’ all the rest—Dropshot Bluff an’ ther girl who came in the wagon ‘¢ Let me get my breath first,” said the aston- ished rough. ‘‘ You’re the last man I expected ter see hyer.” ‘Perhaps. I think I look inter ther face ov ther man who dropped me in Gilbert’s cabin when I stood at ther boy’s table. I am quite sure ovit now. You are Dagger Johnny, an’ you look as if you’ve been chawed by a grizzly.” “Er pa through a quartz mill, eh?” es- sayed Dagger J Oban, with a grim attempt at a smile. I guess kin say, Keen Kennard, that ’'m ther man what shot yer in Gilbert’s — shanty. I’m at yer mercy.” For a moment the Shadow from Shasta looked Cown into Dagger Johnny’s face, and then re- leased his wrist. Heseemed to have seen in that brief time that the Red Eye pard was on the borders of the other world. ‘“-You knew me the moment I came to Red Eye?” he asked. “ce Yes.” ‘*My mask ov Magic Merle did not deceive ou?” wee All ther masks you could hev worn wouldn't hev done it. I told Dropshot thermoment I got a good look at yer thet you war ther famous sleuth-hound ov the North. I war once a Sha:s- tan myself. I saw yer daily fer five years. Aha! when you fool this mountain chick, Ken- nard, you'll hoodwink ther Almighty. I’m alone, an’ consequently at yer mercy,” ‘‘T will be merciful,” said the detective. ‘‘I never hasten a dyin’ man’s lest minute. Who cut yer?” . ** Queen Moro.” cc at?” Keen Kennard seemed about to spring across the table. “Queen Moro. D’ yer know a pantheress by that name?” ‘* Heavens, yes!—the woman who sent me upon this hunt. Ww as she masked?” “e Yes.” “The same!” cried Kennard. *“ Couldn’t she wait for my report? Whar 1s she?” ‘““Mebbe dead whar I left her,” answered Johnny, with ferocity. ‘‘I struck out ter kill. We had a fight for a bit ov paper thet may be Ivin’ somewhar about saturated with my blood. It war ther diagram ov ther lost Ophir.’ , Kennard uttered a cry of surprise. ‘CORNICE OOO KS