Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 365 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

24 The men took a step forward and thrust their revolvers into the white face of the threatened youth. me Oh, for a moment with a revolver!” flashed across Gilbert’s brain. ‘‘ This is the future to which Keen Kennard bade me look with hope. It is doom!” “Count five, Jack!” said Dropshot Bluff to his lieutenant in buckskin. ‘‘ Ther boy bas but ter throw up his hand ter save his life. Ther ac- tion will indicate thet he will divulge ther gold secret. Now, Derringer.” Derringer Jack looked at Gilbert, and began to count. The only sound heard was the des- perado’s voice as it pronounced the numerals. ‘* One—two—three—four—” The counter hesitated, and looked at the al- calde, ‘*Go on!” thundered the big sport. “ Five ” Not a word from Gilbert’s lips. Dropshot Bluff sprung forward with a curse. ‘Jump! we play no fool game now, Gilbert Golden.” The boy turned, the ground gave way beneath him, and he disappeared! CHAPTER XXVIL. KEEN KENNARD’S FORTUNES. THe pards of Red Eye seemed to be thrilled by the terrible fall of the youth. They sprung back as if the whole surface of the mountain summit was about to leave their feet. ‘*He didn’t jump,” said Dropshot Bluff, who was the first one to break the silence. ‘ Ther edge of the cliff crumbled under his feet. I half-believe thet he would hev given us ther secret.” ‘ No; Gilbert Golden could not part with any- thing he did not possess. At last the leader of the gold-pards ventured forward and looked down the mountain. He saw no sign of the lost man of Gold Gorge; the thousands of trees rising like ghosts far below seemed to tell a story of doom. ‘Now for our pards,” said the alcalde, turn- ing to his men. ‘Ere this they have finished Keen Kennard, the gold sleuth from Shasta. We hev now ter find the lost bonanza by some other method than through ther boy. He is dead.” They turned away and went down the trail they had followed to the top of the mountain Dropshot Bluff in the lead. Not one sugge a journey to the spot where Gilbert must have struck, and it is more than probable that the big alcalde would have greeted with derision a sug- gestion of the kind. Where was the man from Shasta? In the midst of the men headed by Wild Wil- liam he was marched, as we have seen, in a di- rection directly opposite the one taken by Gil- bert’s bronze guard. The faces of the band were turned toward Red Eye, but it was not their intention to con- duct the gold detective back to the famous camp. - Keen Kennard walked erect covered by the revolvers of the five, and watched constantly by eyes that exhibited no gleams of mercy. While Gilbert was climbing the mountain Kennard was inet over a sloping trail down into a little valley where the pines grew in little groups and where the grass was thick and like a velvet carpet. Wild William seemed to have a certain desti- nation in view for he walked before the band and led the way to the very depths of the se- cluded valley when he came to a sudden halt, and wheeled upon his prisoner. ** Ther’s no use in callin’ ther rules, Keen Ken- nard,” he said. ‘‘ This is ther sierra kentry. Man makes law hyer, an’ sarcumstances exe- cutes whar ther is no law.” The man from Shasta who looked into the stern faces of the men in the waning twilight | did not stir. Folding his arms upon his breast he threw back his head in a haughty manner, but said nothing. ** We carry out Dropshot’s orders,” continued Wild William. ‘Ther court ov Red Eye hez passed sentence on you.” ‘Without giving a man a chance,” suddenly sneered the coolhead. ‘ This is is the justice of the bravest court I ever saw. Gentlemen of Red Eye, this wouldn’t be practiced where men are cowards. They give a men a chance where I came from. e give our hoss-thieves a show in | Shasta land; but I forget. This is the sierra kentry; we are under the rule of the alcalde of Red Eye Bar!” Rough as the desperadoes were, they winced under the detective’s cutting sentences. ‘* Show er not, we’re hyer ter execute,” said Wild William. ‘You mean to murder!” Keen Kennard leaned forward as he spoke these words, and ran his hand down before the faces of the men by whom he was confronted. ‘* Before Lever saw Red Eye Bar,” he said, ‘* IT was told about the coolness, the bravery of its people. I have found them. I stand before five representatives of that celebrated place, and I am covered by the revolvers of them all, Gen- tlemen, have I believed a lie Has Shasta heard a falsehood about your bravery? I used to tell the camps thar that I would vouch for the bravery of Red Eye. I hev even backed yer character when men talked about it. Ihev stood by men whom I never saw until a few days ago. Pardon me! I have been deceived. I have back- ed the wrong men.” _ ‘* Nobody asked yer ter,” growled Wild Wil- iam. “ IT did it because I thought men were given a show hyer,” was the prompt reply. ‘‘ I would be ashamed to go back to Shasta, now.” ‘* What kind ov a show dyer want?’ snapped Wild William, whom the detective’s words cut like daggers. ‘* A chance for dying like a man ought to die,” said the Shastan. ‘‘I would grant my meanest enemy that.” ‘* Mention ther chance, an’ we’ll consult.” The faintest trace of success appeared ina smile at the corners of the detective’s mouth. He was making a desperate man’s fight for life and with but little hope of final victory. ‘* T once saw a fightin rim tie fs between three men,” he said, ‘‘ The right legs of two, from the knees down, were bound to the left leg of the other. They fought with knives—ten inch bow- ies—two men against one, It did not last a minute, gents. It wasn’t a fair fight—ther ee galoot hed a chance in a million, an’ ost. ‘* Got killed, eh?’ cried Wild William, start- ing forward, a sudden thought lighting up his i @® Me es. ‘* As a matter of course!” said Keen Kennard, coolly. ‘It war hardly a chance in a milion as Ive said, but it war better than being shot down in cold blood—murdered by a gang.” ‘* Ts thet yer proposition?” daned, the leader of the roughs. ‘* Tl fight two of you in that manner.” Wild William stepped back. ‘It ar’ ag’in’ or- ders,” he said to himself “hut whar’s his chance? Two ag’in’ one! hy, with Bodie Bill an me tied ter him he wouldn’t stan’ ther ghost ov a show!” Keen Kennard seemed to know what was pas- — in the mind of the Red Eye pard; he resum- ed his old position and bided his time, ‘*Hang me, ef we don’t give yer ther one chance,” suddenly exclaimed Wild William. ‘* Produce ther cords, men, an’ Bodie Bill an’ Wild William will give yer a tussle.” ‘‘Not this chick!” said a man in the crowd, and the speaker who was a well-built man shrunk away. ‘‘ Please excuse Bodie Bill from fightin’ thet way.” ‘* Why not?” cried Wild William whirling up- on the speaker. ‘‘ Thet man knows thet ther odds ar’ ag’in’ him.” **Nary a fight,” growled Bodie Bill. ‘‘Coward!” hissed the alcalde’s lieutenant. Bodie Bill who was in the act of walking off turned and took one great stride toward Wild ‘* You want my reasons, eh?’ he exclaimed. ‘Wal, hyer rf ar’! I saw a fight ov thet kind once in my life, in a camp along ther Joaquin. e hed caught a cabin-burner from Pistol Gulch, a rival colony, an’ war goin’ ter shoot ’im when he made ther very proposition that man has made. We took up with ther scheme at once, bound Parson Paul an’ Cool Carl ter him an’ dropped ther hat.” Bodie Bill stopped as if he had reached the end of his narrative. ‘*Wal, what happened next?” asked Wild ig Ses f lay that ust what might happen if you a ame hyer,” was the answer. ‘ We Seta aul an’ Car] thet gh Jehu! ther man they fought war a holy terror in a three cornered fight. No; please excuse me. Take another sucker, Wild William.” ‘* Ha, ha, ha!” laughed the detective till Bodie Bill’s face grew black. ‘‘I don’t want to fight cowards. I prefer to face men who will fight when all the odds are in their favor.” ‘“Wal, yer won't fight this golden chick,” mangas Bodie Bill. ‘“By Jupiter! I want ter see that three-cor- nered fight. Who will j’ine me in it?” and Wild William seanned the faces of the men before him. ‘‘ Will you, Cipher Clade?” The man addressed shrunk back with a ges- ture of refusal. ‘* Will you, Marmoset?” “1 rather not, cap’n!” ** By Jehosaphat! J will!” At the same time the speaker stepped for- sdamkag and Keen Kennard fixed his eyes upon im, In stature he towered several inches above the Shasta detective; he was a perfect. Hercules, broad-shouldered, long-armed, and .a veritable athlete. “ Thar’s grit in Red Eye for all.” said Wild Williem, greeting the new ally. ‘“‘ Mark Maroon will redeem the camp, Now, tie us ter ther prisoner.” Wild William and Mark Maroon divested themselves of their jackets and threw them side by side on the grass, “Strip!” the former said to Keen Kennard, and the next minute the gold detective had fol- lowed their example. SS a Keen Kennard, the Shasta Shadow. A cord sufficient to secure the limbs of the men as designated by the Shastan in his brief ac- count of the three-cornered fight in the North, was gee in the crowd, and Marmoset did the work. It did not take long, and when he si tn back the three men stood in the fading light thus strangely united. ‘“Give hima knife,” commanded Wild Wil- liam. ‘‘ We don’tintend ter begin without giv- in’ him one chance for his life.” Marmoset stepped forward again and placed his own bowie in Keen Kennard’s hands, then looked at Wild William, as he asked: ‘* What’s ter be ther signal?” ‘*A count,” was the answer. Kennard?” ** Perfectly,” was the reply. At that moment Bodie Bill threw his head back toward his nearest companion and said, in a whisper: ** Thar’ll only be three of us ter jine Dropshot an’ ther rest. No man proposes a fight ov thet kind thet doesn’t understand the terrible sleight ov killin’ two men in a second.” The man who heard these words tightened his grip on his revolver, and looked at Marmoset, who had taken off his hat and stepped to one side where the three duelists could see him. ‘* Ready?” heasked. ‘Ready !” responded the three men. Bodie Bill stepped back and lifted his revol- Sina “Ts that fair y ther eternal! we'll cut three dead men loose,” he grated, ‘‘for if Keen Kennard wins this fight I intend ter drop him on ther field ov battle.” ‘Go on!” said Wild William, impatiently. ‘“We've been tied together ter fight. Proceed with ther count, Marmoset, At ther fifth num- ber we open ther ball.” But Marmoset did not proceed. ‘‘Hades an’ horns!” roared Wild Willian: again. ‘‘ What’s got inter yer, Marmoset?” ‘*Let somebody else call,” said Marmoset, stepping aside. ‘“‘Il beg ter be excused ter- night.” ae You’ve seen suthin’.” ‘““T hey. Look yonder, all ov yer, an’ see for yerselves,”’ In an instant all eyes were directed toward the spot faced by Marmoset. For a moment nothing startling was seen, and then a wild cry rung from Wild William’s throat, ‘Ther woman in ther black mask!” he ex- claimed. ‘Queen Moro!” said Keen Kennard, The mounted on a fine-limbed horse. The men awaited her as motionless as statues, __ ‘“ She sha’n’t interfere,” growled Wild Will- iam, ‘This is not Grim George’s grave, an’ Keen Kennard is not Vera ther sorceress. Cover that woman with yer weapons, men.” ‘* Not if you value your lives!” came over the horse’s head from lips hidden by the black mask. ‘Far from stopping this fight, I decree that it shall proceed, The man called Keen Kennard was once in my service, but I consider him out of it now. e will waste no time with words. I will give the usual signal in affairs of this kind. When I have counted three, the men bound together will fight.” Silence followed Queen Moro’s words, and the three cool and desperate men were seen to tighten their grips on the bowies. ‘All ready now, gentlemen,” continued the masked woman. ‘I want this fight to be to the death. Theman who shrinks isa coward. Now: One—two—three !” For a second after the delivery of the last number the three men did not stir, but the next instant three bronzed hands carried aloft as many bowies. There wasa moment of terrible suspense, then three arms came down! Nobody could count the blows that followed, they were given with such terrible rapidity. Two sharp cries followed the strokes, the three men closed for a moment as if they had clinched, and then separated. ‘ The breathless tators started forward. “ Back!” cried Queen Moro tothem. “ This duel is to the death!” ‘* And to the death it has been fought!” said Keen Kennard, coolly; and the next minute the knife he held cut the rope that had bound him toe his foes, and he stepped forward, ‘“‘ There is a sleig t in fighting two men at once,” he said, with a smile, ‘as the two gen- erally find out to their cost!” CHAPTER XXVIII. THE WORK OF A MATCH. “Wat did I tell yer?’ said Bodie Bill who had witnessed the duel he had tried to prevent. ‘‘ Thar’s a sleight in fightin’ two men at once tied together in thet way,” and then he added in a whisper to the thunderstruck pards: ‘We must avenge ther boys!” Meantime, Keen Kennard had walked to where Queen Moro sat ou her horse and was looking up into her eyes. aie ‘Weve been along while getting together,” he said. rson named came forward slowly, — com sa