Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 365 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

4 . | ¥ 1% sea — . eT — . a ns ————— . ef . —— = 2 = a a . = = ~ — ri 7 ** Banishment!” finished the spokesman. The alcalde scowled. **T had better fixed him myself,” he muttered. *“‘ Thanks,” said Dagger Johnny smiling. ‘‘I walk from Red Eye banished forever from ther old camp whar we’ve been pards. Hades! what need I keer in ther fix I am!” and he struck his breast. ‘‘ Accordin’ ter ther law, banishment means ter be hunted an’ shot on sight.” * We'll not add thet, Johnny, because we don’t intend ter do it,” was the reply. ‘ This verdict war dragged out o’ yer jury. It had ter be one ov ther two. Ther other one war death, dearly hated by us all!” ** Oh, let’s get over this,” said the boss of Red Eye. ‘* Ther verdict has been pronounced. Thar ar’ two trailsleadin’ from Red Eye. Ther doomed man kin take his choice. He knows ’em both.” Snapping off his last sentence the big alcalde turned away with a look of fierce triumph not unmingled with disappointment. ‘*- You go yer way, I'll go mine,” hissed Dag- ger Johnny, covering Dropshot Bluff with out- stretched hand. ‘‘ Arter all, my trail may be longer than yours, Dropshot. Banished an’ wounded, I may turn on the tiger ov ther old iat ; “Turn an’ be hanged!” came over the broad shoulders of the alcalde, as he kept on. ‘* Good-by, pards,” continued Dagger Johnny. *““T’m no express train ter-night, but Tl get thar all ther same. Don’t bealarmed ef Dagger “s pany meets yer at ther door of ther lost phir.’ ‘* What's thet?’ exclaimed several voices. ‘“*Let that man go!” cried the alcalde, who stood a few feet away. ‘‘ What’s a verdict ef it isn’t carried into effect?” The mountain jury slunk back, and the ban- ished man laughed derisively at the alcalde. ‘¢Thet’s so! what’s a verdict for ef yer don’t respect it?” he said. ‘‘I won't bother yer any longer, boys.” He strai htened, waved his hand tothegroup, and walked away with the firmest step he ald command, More than one eye followed him. “That man knows suthin’,” passed from lip to lip. ore next moment the alealde appeared in their midst. ‘“Tt war a one hoss verdict!” he exclaimed full of rage. ‘‘I didn’t ask for it. I wanted ther other one. You must see nothin’ but jus- tice when yer pass on a man.” ‘** But we couldn’t help feelin’ thet it war Dag- ger Johnny, cap’n, thet he war at death’s door—” ‘* At death’s fol de rol!” roared the alcalde. ‘*TIn the sierra, banished men may be shot on sight. Ill attend ter this one!” CHAPTER XX. SHASTA TO THE RESCUE. ‘‘T reeL the fingers of that mad boy at my throat whenever I think of the fight. It was a close call; about the closest lever had. I don’t fancy another.” Keen Kennard stood in the shadow of a tree some distance from Red Eye, four days after Dagger Johnny’s banishment. The sun was soon to drop behind the western horizon, and the shadows about the Shasta Sleuth were long and cool. We left him, as the reader knows, on the ground, and at the mercy of Gilbert Golden, e lost man of Gold Gorge. Kennard’s throat ‘was in the mad boy’s grip, and the detective al- most believed that his last hour had come. The truth is, that Gilbert thought he had fin- ished him, and when he walked away, the man from Shasta lay like one dead across the sierra trail. As we have just heard him remark, it was a close call; he knew no other like it in his eventful life. Four days later he stood where we now find him, the same determined man as ever. If he was waiting for any particular person he was not disa eaten for a horse and his rider appeared s nly in the trail and came toward Keen Kennard stepped back into the shadows and watched this person. ‘* Vera the sorceress!” he ejaculated. I will know something perhaps.” He waited until the horse was opposite his re- treat then he step suddenly into the trail and laid his hand on the bridle. ‘* Watching me, were you?” cried the rider. ‘* For the last three minutes,” was the answer. “You haven’t found the bonanza yet, Keen Kennard?” te No. bP) ‘* Do you think you ever will?” 29 I do. ” Vera laughed. ** Fool!” she cried,-and then bending over she wjJaid her hand on Keen Kennard’s shoulder. “You may be wanted at Red Eye just now,” she went on. ‘Are you afraid to go down there?” . “Tam not. What has happened?” ** Several important events. Gilbert has come back.” ** Mad?” ‘* No, sane; but don’t throw a my eyes, Kennard—he has rev ‘* Now uestion into ed nothing. a i i TT = tM Then, Floss is missing—she has eloped with Dun- can, the best pard the camp ever Next, Dagger Johnny has been banished.” Keen Kennard greeted this news with an ex- clamation. ‘You carry all the news!” he said with a smile. ‘‘ But you have omitted one person.” ** Have I?” ** Queen Moro.” The sorceress of Red Eye started perceptibly and smiled. ‘*T have not forgotten her. I cannot do that,” she said. ‘I thought my life was not worth the turn of a card when she took me from under the Red Eye revolvers at Grim pleorges grave and marched me into the mountain. It was her in- tention to kill me there for having looked upon her face, but when I stood before her alone and at her mercy, her heart failed her. The revol- ver cocked for my destruction was gripped in her right hand, she told me that no person spoke see her face and live; but Lam here, ha, a! ‘*' Yes,” said the detective. ‘‘Tll wager my hat that it was the first time that strange woman ever backed down.” ‘*She failed with me before her at any rate,” continued Vera. ‘‘ All at once, and when I was expecting a bullet, she turned away and left me alone, the most amazed person you ever saw.” ** Without a word?’ ‘Without a single one. That woman is a mystery. She wants the lost Ophir to play some kind of a game in’Frisco, Itis a game of ven- geance, but I have no clew toit. She says that when she doffs her mask it will be to throw it at the feet of a lot of ruined and doomed men.” ‘* Tn ’Frisco, eh?” ce Yes.” ‘*T would like to ask you again what her face is like, but I know you would not tell me,” said Keen Kennard. ‘I shall see for myself one of these days. So you think I had better go to Red Eye?” ‘* Gilbert is there. He has the gold secret.” ** But Queen Moro may find Floss in the moun- tains. That girl was once in her hands, She hates the girl and all her kin, she says. I am here at the masked mystery’s command. I swore to lay the key to the lost Ophir at her “feet.” ‘* While you shall never do that,” said Vera, ** vou might go back and protect Gilbert.” ‘**T ought to, perhaps. WhenI saw him last his hands were at my throat, and he was trying to choke me to death.” ‘*He was mad then; he issane now. He isin danger. Keen Kennard, if you do find the gold key vou must find it where Gilbert is, There is no other recourse for you. If you are no cow- ard you will goat once to Red Eye; the battle ground is there, and not in these mountains.” ‘* Where are you going?” ‘*T will not be far off,” smiled Vera. ‘‘ What- ever you do in Red Eye, and they may cover you if your presence be discovered, do not end the life of its alcalde.” ‘* Your friend, eh?’ ‘“My bitterest foe!” cried the sorceress. ‘There were two of them until lately; there is but one now. I tell you, Keen Kennard, the crime committed in Mormondom shall not be forgotten. Don’t question me about it, Let the future recall my words. Go to Red Eye. Gil- bert was not responsible for his actions when he had you by the throat. Poor boy! thatawful jour- i Ophir back to Gold Gorge, turned his ead. ‘** T will go!” exclaimed the Shasta detective. ar spent me! if you ain’t better than Queen Moro to send mé upon a trail. I will go back, and woe to the hand that harms that boy.” “T like you,” laughed Vera, ‘ If I could, I would go myself. almost wish I could show you the mine, but my oath prevents. I showed you the land of prone from the mountain top. I can go no further, Kennard, of Shasta. You mar ee oing to your death when you go down to ae it is barely possible that you are going to Ophir. You must take the chances.” “pT always take them!” cried the Shasta Sleuth. ‘* You will find hiding places in and about Red Eye,” the sorceress went on. ‘‘ You will enter the camp from the east if you go from here. Let me re you to shun the fourth cabin from the en b “Why?” “Tt is merely a ree Its floor has a large trap-door in the middle that opens under the slightest weight. It stands over a natural pit which was there when Dropshot Bluff and his pos built their shanties. That pit has never n fathomed; it is like the bottomless one. Three men, supposed to be Gentile spies by the alcalde, came to Red Eye last year and sudden- ly disappeared. I traced them to that cabin; that, was enough. I thought it best to post “T thank you,” said Keen Kennard. ‘‘I do not pro to join the missing trio. .Where can I meet you at the end of three days?” ‘* Here.” Keen Kennard, the Shasta Shadow. Vera. ‘‘Good-by, Kennard. I like a brave man, and if Iam sending you beyond the gates of doom, I shall pray for your safety.” The sorceress straightened in her saddle and d at the man in the trail. ‘* Are you still mounted?” she suddenly asked. ee I am.” ** Don’t show your horse in Red Eye. It will give you away.’ ‘* Trust that to me.” Vera the Viper took up the lines and rode ony She knew she was watched by the man left behind but she did not look back. ‘‘There goes a strange woman, almost as great a mystery as Queen Moro,” said the detec- tive gazing after her. ‘‘ I am confident that she knows the gold secret, and I am very sure that she will never divulge it. Sheis right. I have to get it from Gilbert, and he is in danger. Who menaces him? Aha! I must find that out at Red Eye.” The man who rode down the mountain road a few minutes afterward was burly of figure and well mounted. He did not look like Keen Kennard with his full black beard, real dark hat and somewhat dingy costume, but be was no other person than the Shasta Sleuth-hound on his way to the mountain camp. Vera had turmed him back, and he conld not but think that he was going to > the person who had tried to choke him to death. ‘*T'll stand by the boy,” he said with deter- mination. ‘‘ Woe to the man who harms him!” A few hours’ ride took him to a spot near the camp. He dismounted and found a secure place for his horse then walked boldly forward and with the courage of a lion strode into Red Eye pine he knew discovery by its alcalde meant eath. The camp for once was still, and the detective was inclined to believe that it was, deserted by its inhabitants. He saw the phantom-like cabins beneath the stars, but all lights were out. Was he the only living person in Red Eye? At his heels at that very moment crept a man who had seen him enter the camp. e Red Eye pard had drawn his boots, and his steps sent forth nosound. ‘‘ What in thunder fetches Duncan back?’ muttered Keen Kennard’s trailer. ‘‘ Has he lost Floss somewhar in ther mountains. [ll tell im that he comes ter ther wrong place when he comes ter Red Eye. Yes, that man is Duncan.” The tracker quickened his gait, and reached the man moving down the street. ** Duncan, isn’t this a bad Sm for you under ther circumstances?’ he suddenly said. The man from Shasta stopped and looked down into the speaker’s face. ‘* Jehosaphat! I thought you war Duncan!” cried the man, shrinking away. ‘‘I see ye ar’ not that pard now, neither ar’ se Dagger John- a Who ar’ yer, anyhow?—ther galoot from Shasta?” Already the hands of the discovered detective had clutched the startled rough, and a pair of mad eyes were glaring at him. ‘It makes no difference who Iam!” he grated. ‘*But a good deal ter Red Eye, mebbe,” was the answer. ‘‘See hyer, pard. Ye’d better go an’ show yerself ter Dropshot. He ain’t in the best ov humor. We had a time with Gilbert ther fool ter-night, an’ ther result doesn’t set well on our stomachs.” ** What has happened?” ‘“'That’s nothin’ ter you,” said the man sullen- y. ‘* Tell me!” : The detective’s hands tightened on the fellow’s arms; his eyes seemed to take on a menace. ‘‘ Thar war blood,” said the man sententious- ly. ‘‘ Gilbert shot one ov ther boys,” ‘‘ You maddened him.” ‘‘Kinder so. Dropshot told him that this monkey business had ter quit. Red Eye war ov ther same opinion. That’s all. You’re not a Red Eye pard. Excuse me, You look like ther Shasta man in ther x Keen Kennard felt a thrill pass along his bones. Accusation would come next. ** This camp is almighty quiet for the tragedy you mention,” he said, ‘‘What’s ther use ov losin’ sleep over it? It ar’ Red Eye ag’in’ a boy; that’s nothin’! Aha! Isee you, now,” and the man leaned forward and looked searchingly into the detective’s face. ‘“You ar’ Keen Kennard, sure enough! i see it in ee ov yer beard. You had better git out o’ Red Eye.” ‘* Not until I choose to go, What is your name?” ‘* California Charley.” ‘* Whatif Dropshot should face usnow’—what wouid you do?” + “Ter be honest, I should denounce yer,” was the answer. ‘* You could swear ter my identity? **T could.” ‘* But would you do it?” te Yes 17 The detective’s lips met firmly when the last reply was spoken. He dropped ore hand amd drew a_revyolver. ‘‘T am not going to haveany fool game hyer,” he said, looking into California Charley’s face, ] es | CORNICE OOOKSAEO) Jd ; ° - fae fafa” od oa - . . 3 a = intial ‘at