Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 365 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

oe So Thunder Tom. Now, sir, without merey and without prayer, I send you to your eternal ac- count.” The revolver leaped up till it covered the des- perado’s head. ‘¢ Another life for the Mormon crime!” spoke Vera sternly, and the next moment a flash of fire revealed the doomed pard’s countenance. Backward over the mountain grave tumbled the stalwart figure of Vera’s victim, and a second later he was lying on his back with a bleeding face upturned. “One whomIdid not expect to find,” mut- tered the avenger going forward; and bending over the prostrate body. ‘‘ The fool made a trap for himself. He could not keep from me the secret he had guarded so well.” Down in the camp a group of men heard the report of the deadly revolver and looked into each other’s faces. ‘*What does that mean?’ asked more than one. ‘‘ Thunder Tom has found Vera,” was the an- swer. ‘That shot was fired near whar Grim George sleeps. Let’s investigate.” The crowd left Red Eye untenanted and moved in a body toward the well known spot. ‘‘Hello! I war slightly mistaken!” suddenly exclaimed one of the number. ‘ Vera found Thunder Tom—thet’s ther difference.” The Red Eye pards stood above the dead ruf- fian and looked down into his bloody face. “'Thar’s a paper in his hand!” cried one. It was true and an instant later half a dozen men were looking at the document in the light of a match. ‘“ What does it say?’ cried the others, ** This: “‘*1f the body of this wretch is given burial within three days, I will call Red Eye to account. Dropshot Bluff is not to be molested if he comes back, though I swear that he is Dave Dastard the Mormon elder. *** VERA THE AVENGER,’ ”’ For a minute after the reading of the paper no one spoke. The match went out and was cast away insilence. It wasa singular tableau. ‘‘Shall we obey this paper?’ asked one in a whisper at last. s ‘““-Yes. Let Thunder Tom rot whar he lies,” was the reply. ‘‘ For my part, I don’t want this cool woman to open a shootin’ matinee in Eye.” The speaker seemed to voice the opinion of the whole crowd, and without a dissenting voice it was resolved to go back to camp. ‘* That is sensible,” murmured a person who had witnessed this scene. ‘I don’t want to fight Red Eye Bar.” CHAPTER XXVI. THE ALCALDE’S MERCY. | “‘Tr is useless for me to think longer. M head aches. I fear the secret has passed from me forever.” ‘* Then we will find the mine without it.” Gilbert Golden who leaned inst the rocky wall of a narrow trail deep in the heart of the sierra and miles from Red Eye started toward his companion ent fiance his arm. ““T have done I can do, Kennard,” he exclaimed. ‘‘ You do not blame me?” ‘No, boy. I find no fault with you. You have tried to recall the locality ; you have done all you can. We must find Ophir in some other manner.” “Why not goback? “To Sacramento, and with my oath unkept?” eried the Shasta Sleuth. ‘I am going to find 5+ 9) “ And throw it at Queen Moro’s feet?” “et Yes !? *T don’t like that woman, She hates Floss,” said the youth. ‘If I could find the girl, T would bid adieu to the sierra; I'd let the gold- hunters fight it out among themselves.” For a moment the detective did not reply, but stood erect and looked searchingly at Gilbert. It was the day that followed under Tom’s death at the hands of Vera the sorceress, and the sun was once more dropping toward the western horizon. ‘“ When we find Floss we'll put you both on the back trail,” he said at last to the youth. **The wolves of Red Eye, the masked mystery and Vera, perhaps, will conspire against you both. Here you are not safe from hour to hour. You don’t want to go back to the Bar now, eh, Gilbert?” ‘‘ At any time!” said the youth, his eyes flash- ing. ‘‘Do you think I have forgotten my ex- perience beneath cabin number four? I dare you to go back to Red Eye, Keen Kennard.” The man from Shasta shook his head and smiled. ‘‘T should not ask you to go back, Kennard. It is my fight, not yours. If Igo back there it will be alone, and somebody will pay for the hanging in the pit!” They'd make short work of you and A secret. It would not be suspension again, boy, but death before twenty-five revolvers.” “Tt will be death here ef you galoots don’t throw up yer hands,” said a low voice that pierced the very wall behind the two men. Gilbert started forward as if a serpent had hissed behind him, but the mountain detective KL sen turned coolly with a hand at the butt of a silver- plated revolver. ‘*Dropshot Bluff and his gang!” ejaculated Gilbert, and the sight seemed to transform him into a statue in the trail. ‘*Ther alealde ov Red Eye an’ his boss back- in’!” was the reply that came from the lips of the burly desperado whose knees and those of his ten companions told that they had crept to the spot where they stood. ‘‘ This isn’t exactly an unexpected catch, gents, but it’s better luck than we expected when we left ther camp. Hands up, er heads down! take yer choice!” Gilbert and Keen Kennard were looking into more than a dozen revolvers, and behind each blazed hungry eyes that gave out no look of mercy. ‘‘ Make the best of a bad bargain,” whispered the Shasta detective, ‘‘ They’ve got the drop on us for the present. Hands up, Gilbert, my boy.” The young keeper of the secret obeyed, and glanced at Keen Kennard to see that he had performed the same action. Headed by Bluff, the roughs of Red Eye came down the trail with leveled revolvers. Ten feet from the captured friends they halted and glanced at their leader. ‘““Throw. yer weapons at ther foot ov ther wall!” he said, addressing Gilbert and the detec- tive in stern tones. ‘* You ar’ no fool, Keen Kennard, or, Magic Merle. You know ther law ov ther mountains, Thar’s no child’s play hyer.” Kennard drew his revolvers and tossed them away in no good humor and with evident reluc- tance. Gilbert disposed of his weapons in the same manner. ‘** About face, an’ forward!” commanded the big alcalde. ** Back to Red Eye?’ asked Gilbert. “No questions, an’ no lies!” laughed Dropshot Bluff. ‘‘ Remember, young man, that there is a sentence but half-carried out, that Lightnin’ Lige is still unavenged!” The youth bit his lips and his eye flashed re- sentfully. **Don’t think fora moment that I have for- gotten!” he cried, throwing all his look upon the alcalde. ‘‘ Your inhuman treatment forced me to shed blood, and—” ‘*Forward!” was the interruption. ‘ Pards, ef thet youngster doesn’t march in ten seconds drop him in his boots! We'll let ther gold secret go ter ther dogs.” ‘““Obey,” said Kennard, touching Gilbert's arm, and then he added in a low whisper. ‘‘ I’ve played in worse games than this. Come!” ide by side down the mountain marched Keen Kennard and his young friend. They heard the steady tramp of the Red Eye pards behind them, and knew that their deadly revol- vers were still leveled at their heads. For more than a mile the march was con- tinued, neither party speaking in audible tones, Were the captives being conducted back to Red Eye? Was there to be another terrible con- finement in the horrid depths of cabin number four? **Halt!” rung suddenly from the alcalde’s throat, and the whole crowd stopped. ‘It is coming now—death,” said Gilbert in low tones. Keen Kennard gave him a look of trust and defiance. The cool man from Shasta had not surrendered hope. “We're goin’ ter separate you two,” continued the boss of Red Eye. Gilbert stepped to the detective’s side with an ejaculation of remonstrance. ‘** Back!” thundered we ca covering the youth with his own revolver. ‘Touch that man ther’ an’ Ill paint thet wall with yer brains.” The boy stood still as if cowed by the voice and the weapon. ‘*Come hyer, Gilbert,” the alealde quickly continued. ‘**Go,” said Kennard in a whisper. ‘Go and trust in the future.” Gilbert advanced toward the band and a bronzed hand seized his arm when he came with- in reach. “We now proceed ter carry out ther pro- amme formed afore we covered yer,” said Jropshot addressing both men. ‘ Wild Wil- septe you will do your part ov ther work. For- ward. A tall rough stepped toward Keen Kennard followed by four men, The detective awaited them quietly for he was covered all the time, and Gilbert soon saw his friend in the clutches of the stalwart five, As for himself, he was in the hands of the al- calde and a part of the band and powerless of course to help the man who had helped him. ** Don’t you never say good-by ter a friend when he leaves yer?” asked Dropshot Bluff. “Keen Kennard is goin’ on a long journey!” ‘My God! are you going to kill him?’ cried the boy. ‘‘ He saved my life—” ** Just as if Red Eye owes him a good turn for that, ha, ha!” laughed the alcalde. ‘*‘ Keen Ken- nard would be better off at this hour if he had never left the Shasta lair. He knows it now, an’ he knows, too, thet ther lost gold trail leads ter death. Do yer duty, William.” : Keen Kennard, the Shasta Shadow. eS Se 23 The next moment Gilbert and the Shasta Sleuth were thrust into the midst of the respec- tive and started in opposite directions. ‘“* Ts this better than hangin’ in number four?” suddenly laughed Dropshot Bluff looking down into Gilbert’s face, ‘‘Anything is preferable to that Stygian hell,” was the answer as a shudder passed over the speaker’s body. ‘** Yer wouldn’t like ter repeat ther experience, eh, Gilbert?” ‘‘No! if 1 am doomed to go back to that place, shoot me where | am!” cried the youth clutching the alcalde’s arm. ‘‘ Death here to unconsciousness and final starvation there!” The boss of Red Eye jerked his arm from the boy’s grasp and laughed. ** You’d be thar yet ef Keen Kennard hadn't come,” he said. ‘* Wild William an’ his pards will make sure that ther fool from Shasta loses ther gold trail ter-night. What does yer head say now, Gilbert?” ‘The secret is mine no longer,” was the an- swer, ** We'll see about that in a few minutes.” ‘* You doubt me, then?” ee Yes.” ‘Very well. Get the secret as best you can; but I tell you here, once for all, you will never hear it from my lips, for it is not mine to di- vulge.” There was no answer, only Dropshot Bluff looked at his companions and smiled derisively. The ‘shadows o yo ae fell abont Gilbert and his captors as they advanced up the mountains, following the trail asit wound in and out amon the trees, and all the while leaving further i, further below the path trod by the detective and his guard. Not for a moment did the Red Eye pards take their eyes from Gilbert. He was not bound, but walked in their midst guarded by cocked revolvers, ready to scatter his brains at the first re at flight. Still on the band moved up—up toward the first stars that showed themselves in the sky. Gilbert walked silently among his guards, er ever to know what fate had been decreed for m. More than once his thoughts went back to the man from Shasta. What had become of Keen Kennard? He liked that cool man, and then he owed him almost life itself. The twilight march promised to become an endless one; Dropshot Bluff and pards seemed to be taking their young captive to the very summit of the mountain. , ‘* Halt!” The command was a relief to Gilbert, and when it was spoken the Red Eye roughs and their prisoner stood on the almost level summit of the peak. Below them was a dim coun that stretched far away on either hand. It was slowly fading before the otal of night, but the keen eye could discern the ragged peaks in the distance. ‘** Doesn’t ther view somewhar out thar recall ther lost Ophir?” asked the big alcalde, with a rapid sweep of his dark hand. ‘ Take it all in an’ answer me.” Gilbert looked over the extensive view for sev- eral minutes, and slowly shook his head, it,” he said, turning to ** You mean thet you’re not goin’ to tell.” ‘**T mean that the secret has passed from my gr ” “Pshaw!? cried the alcalde. ‘‘ We want no foolishness at this stage ov the game, Gilbert. Red Eye is more desperate ter-night’ than it has ever been. This gold-hunt has ter come ter an end, an’ thet almighty soon. We want ther se- cret. Step up hyer, Derringer Jack, with pen- cil an’ paper. A member of the party stepped forward, and took from beneath his coat a piece of dirty paper and the stub of a pencil. “* Hyer! ther map now!” said Dropshot Bluff, taking the materials and thrusting them into Gilbert's hands. ‘‘ We ask yer for ther last time. ‘** T don’t know,” was the answer. ‘‘ Heavens! that terrible secret has been the curse of my life. Willingly would I surrender it now, and forever be rid of it if I only knew.” The men behind the boy broke into a sarcastic ‘* You won't tell, eh?’ said the alcalde. “ce No. » ‘Drive ’im ter ther wall, de of Red Eye faced Gilbert once more. and grasping the youth’s arm, he led him for- neath. for ther gold secret, or a push inter eternity!” é “ i.’ | ~ a a oo oo % .@ com * SS laugh. “You have my answer. Why repeat it?” ‘‘ Did yer give it ter Keen Kennard?” ‘** Dropshot Bluff ground his teeth, and looked into the faces of his mountain gang. ” whispered Der- ringer Jack. ‘ He'll divulge it thar. e next second the al ‘““We give yer three minutes, Gilbert,” he said, madly. ‘‘Tll show yer what’s below us,” ward until he stood on the v edge of the little table-land, with a darkening abyss be- “Now,” continued Dropshot, stepping back, suddenly, leaving Gilbert on the brink. ‘“ Now GOmIGDoOoKS me is an =F