Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 365 — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

28 Keen Kennard, the Shasta Shadow. On the very summif of the mountain, if she could but reach it, Floss believed she would be less liable tointerruption till morning. The fire had probably burned over it, and nothing dan- gerous would be found there. “Tf this is the heart of the sierra, Heaven take me from it,” she exclaimed. She continued to move upward until she reached the fringe of the fire. Her horse sniffed the atmosphere and drew back, and but for Floss’s presence of mind he would have left her alone on the mountain. All at once the girl heard a noise that thrilled her, ‘That was a human voice,” she exclaimed whilo she listened for a repetition of the sound. ‘* Have I encountered some of those men whom Queen Moro hates so cordially?” For several minutes no sounds were repeated. The girl did not move. ‘*Thank Heaven! Iam out of this scorched wood at last!” said a voice so near that the girl retreated as if the speaker: had suddenly risen from the ground before her. Then she stood like a statue beside her horse, and waited for the next move. It was the most thrilling moment in Floss’s life. ‘*T’ve heard of miracles but 1 never thought that I would be the subject of one,” continued the same voice, ‘*‘ When the ground crumbled under my feet, I thought I was lost. The alcal- of of Red Eye will have to hunt again for Gil- rt!” Floss uttered a wild cry which it would have been impossible to keep back, At the same time she dropped the bridle rein and sprung for- ward. ‘* Gilbert! thank fortune!” pealed from her lips. She heard a voice in r nse: ** It is Floss!” A figure sprung into view from among the trees, and the girl found herself clutched by a pair of hands whose touch sent a thrill to her heart, ‘‘ Let me draw you into the starlight that I may look at you,” exclaimed the young man and suiting the action to the words he pulled Floss forward with a laugh. ‘Yes, he con- tinued looking into her face. ‘* Yes, you are Max Mongalle’s child. You are Floss! Now they can take their gold mine and share its wealth. I will give the secret away to the first man I meet.” The girl stood before the youth in a bewil- dered manner, The unexpected meeting seemed to daze her. ‘‘Tsawthe fire,” she said, ‘* Webothsaw it—” ‘Ah! the fire!” interrupted Gilbert. ‘It followed one of the most terrible events of my life. I fell into the hands of the alcalde of Red Eye and his pards, Keen Kennard and I were together, and when we expected no surprise we were covered by the revolvers of the gang and forced to surrender. We were separated. was conducted by Dropshot Bluff in person to the very summit of the mountain. Heaven knows where Kennard was taken, and what his fate. The alcalde wanted the gold secret—that secret for which the men of Red Eye banded themselves together years ago. He saw his op- portunity again. Unfortunate Gilbert Golden was in his hands, ‘“ Marched to the mountain-top, I was pushed to the brink of the summit and forced to stand there while I was dogged at the revolver’s muz- zie for the secret which at that time had com- pletely escaped me. I could tell the desperadoes nothing; it was not in my power. All at once I felt the ground To way beneath my feet. I fell down, down, down!” ‘* My God!” cried Floss, excitedly. ‘‘May that terrible descent never be repeat- ed!” ejaculated Gilbert. ‘‘ Consciousness left me before I struck in the heavy top of a pine which, determined to save me for another fate, broke my fall, and lowered me to a tree still be- low it, where, weak and bruised, I lay, until sensibility returned. I could not move without racking my body with torture. It was most terrible. Suddenly I saw a light far above my ion. Nearer and nearer it came, and I saw a object hissing through the air, and saw it alight in adry tree near by. Ina moment, as it were, the great fire began. The long tongues of flame darted hither and thither, till I was menaced. Filled with horror, I tried to reach the body of the tree, but the pou that sup- rted me broke suddenly, and [ fell again. This time it was a fall from limb to limb by stages, as it socemed, till I struck the ground. The whole mountain seemed on fire overhead, and burning cones fell about me in fiery showers. Bruised and bewildered, I stag- gered hither and thither until, after encounter- ing a thousand perils among the flames, I reached the limit of the fire.” ‘* Who threw the fire-ball down?’ asked Floss. “*T do not know; thealcalde of Red Eye, per- haps,” was the reply. ** There is a day of reck- oning for that sierra demon, Floss—a day of vengeance which I have sworn anew he shall not escape!” ‘‘ Little did I think, when I saw the fire-ball shoot like a meteor from the mountain-top, that you were so near, and in such terrible peril,” said the girl. ‘‘T believe I would endure it again to find “you,” was the answer. ‘Some other time I will | tell you about the trail to the fabulous mine that cost your father his life and me years of in- sanity. e will not talk of that now, Floss. When Dropshot Bluff saw me disappear from before his eyes I was not in ion of the gold secret, but the fall, the excitement that fol- lowed, restored it in a flash, as it were.” Floss could not repress an exclamation. ‘*Tt is all back again,” continued Gilbert, ‘and while I have it I will draw the map and let the secret be yours as well as mine; but I am willing to give it to the first trailer we meet save the demon of Red Eye Bar.” CHAPTER XXXII. THE FALSE KNOTS, Tue alcalde of Red Eye was no less astounded than Dagger Johnny when he looked up into the face of Vera the Viper. Dagger Johnny’s attack had been sudden and irresistible, and Dropshot Bluff had _not_re- covered when he saw the sorceress of Red Eye standing near. Yes,” continued Vera, ‘“‘this man, Dave Dastard, knows my mission!” The eyes of the alcalde flashed. ‘*T ought to know it by this time,” he said. ** Arter the deaths ov Grim George an’ Thunder Tom, I ought to have my eyes open, You ar’ ther soldier’s daughter.” ‘*T am Edna the Gentile,” was the reply, spoken berets almost closed lips. ‘‘ My years of sojourn in Red Eye as its sorceress were buta part of my scheme of vengeance. I made cer- tain of Si and your two pards in time.” ‘‘Tf [ had known it there would have been another game played in that camp.” **No doubt of that,” smiled Vera, her “ree ‘But the day of retribution has pba oy come at last. Dagger Johnny, this man belongs to me.” The exiled pard shook his head. ** That’s ter be seen,” he said between his teeth. ‘*I hey been banished by ther law he made—” ‘** Stand back and give me this man!” interrupt- ed Vera, and her hand seized Dagger Johnny’s arm. ‘* You expect help from Keen Kennard the Shasta Sleuth. He will not give you any. Stand back, I say!” The Red Eye looked into the woman’s face and stepped back with the sullenness of a beaten desperado. Dropshot Bluff found himself unarmed, for Dagger Johnny’s first care when he made the attack, was to deprive his enemy of his wea- pons, and Vera stepped coolly between the pair as she uttered the last command. ‘* Face to the north,” she continued, speaking to the alcalde. ange ee Bluff bit his mustache, and hesi- ted. ‘**My mission is death, and I am not particu- lar when I end it,” she went on, covering the boss of Red Eye with a revolver. ‘ Disobey me, and you will die where you stand, Dave Dastard; obey, and you will have a chance.” There was a mad look, but no reply, and Dropshot Bluff faced to the north, ‘** Tie that man’s hands on his back,” she went on, to Dagger Johnny. ‘*‘ You are never with- out a cord. I have watched your characteris- tics in peg ‘*T will do that, but under protest, mind yer,” said the exile stepping forward. Vera laughed, and watched an 30 Johnny carry out her commands, under the threat of the silver-mounted weapon that covered him. ‘‘T'm goin’ ter give yer a chance, cap’n,” whispered Dagger Johnny, while he placed the cord he had ** This ken from his esti woman has no more right ter get even with yer than I hev. I don’t give yer this chance be- cause I like yer; heavens, no! I do it ter give Dagger Johnny a chance ter git even for ther banishment in ther hereafter.” Dropshot Bluff made no reply, but a vivid glitter came to his eyes while he felt the cords placed about his wrists. ‘Tf this fool gives me a chance, I'll owe him one,” he said to himself. ‘*Give me an oppor- tunity to meet this woman squarely, an’ [ll complete ther work left unfinished in Mormon- dom!” The operation of tying the alcalde’s hands upon his back did not last long. : ““T’ve made a false knot thet would deceive ther best eyes,” Ww red Dagger Johnny. ‘‘ All yer hev ter do is ter jerk yer left hand first. Ther cords will fall off, an’ ye’ll be free.” ‘* A thousand thanks,” murmured the boss of Red Eye. i Ne Johnny stepped back and waved his hand toward Dropshot Bluff, as he faced the female avenger. ‘‘Thar he stands, tied for keeps,” he said, “TI don’t consider yer game a fair one agi’n’ ther one I am playin’; but no difference, Vera. Thar’s yer man!” Still clutching the revolver, the sorceress of Red Eye stepped forward and looked at the cords. She saw nothing of Dagger Johnny’s treachery, for the shrewd ruffian had perform- ed his work ina manner to deceive the keenest eyes. ‘* Forward,” she said to the alcalde, as she | stepped back, apparently satisfied with the ex- a et ee ile’s work. ‘**Thet’s not ther way ter Utah” exclaimed Dagger J sees f Vera threw him a quick glance. **The trail may end there,” she said, with a faint smile. ‘‘I want no interference by your hand, Dagger Johnny. The man before me is the last of the Mormon trio, and the hand that attempts to rescue him, will be left for the vul- tures’ beaks in the sierra!” Dropshot Bluff had already obeyed the com- mand of the sorceress by moving forward, and by Johnny was left alone on the spot where he had surprised the big alcalde, ‘** Thet’s about ther coolest interference I ever heard of,” he said. ‘That woman has a way ov turnin’ up when she isn’t wanted, thet fails ter poe a chap like me. If Kennard an’ I had kept together on our advance upon Red Eye, ther alcalde would be my prisoner now, instead ov in Vera’s hands. Just wait till he shows her what a half-tied man kin do. Hang me fer a snake! ef [ war goin’ ter let her get ahead ov me, just because Dropshot, as Dave Dastard, played a game once ag’in’ her in Utah! My time must come yet. Cap’n Bluff once left me for dead on the floor ov his cabin. I want blood for thet trick!” Meanwhile, the alcalde of Red Eye was walk- ing up the rather wide trail, a few feet in ad- vance of the avenger from Mormondom. The night was still, and the brilliant moon that stood directly over the path, showed the two persons every tree and rock. Inwardly, Dropshot Bluff was chafing like a tiger. He was impatient to try the effect of Dagger Johnny’s tying; he could hardly bide his time without betraying his eagerness. ** Mebbe ther famous liar ov Red Eye has de- ceived me,” he muttered. ‘‘A short time ago he was ptt, my life in camp; now he pre- pares the way for my release, he says. I don’t trust Dagger Johnny very far, e is a liar from the ground up. Butif he has made false knots—if he has told the truth for once, ’llshow the lioness‘at my heels a trick that will discount the game I played in Utah.” Vera the Viper watched the man in front with a gleam of satisfaction in her eyes. This was the last of the infamous trio, this was Dave Dastard, the hunted Mormon elder, the man of many crimes and many names, the wretch who had fled from Mormondom with red hands, to gather about him a bandas reck- less as himself—whose life-hunt was to be the lost mine, which might, after all, be a myth. For more than two miles the alcalde of Red Eye marched with grated teeth in front of the woman from Utah. A thousand plans of attack were formed and abandoned. e did not know how to turn the tables, and yet his fingers itched to clutch the throat of the avenger. The gold map next to his skin seemed to burn him like a piece of heated iron. He had found the secret at last; but now he was a condemned man; he had been hunted down by Vera the Viper known to him as Edna the avenger. * Confound it all! I must make the break!” he suddenly ejaculated. ‘‘The tread of that woman sounded on my ears like the grinding ov hell’s doors. What better place I ever find than this?” The next instant he wheeled and faced Vera the sorceress. She stepped back a pace amazed, and gave him a stern look.” ** Am I goin’ ter Utah?” he asked. ‘Why not?’ was the response, ‘‘ Why not back to the noose of the Gentile League, Dave Dastard?” ‘* But it is disbanded, I hear.” ‘“The noose remains, and my hand is ready to adjust it.” Dropshot Bluff stepped forward and sent a ringing laugh into the woman’s face. : “Tt is a long way to Mormondom,” he said. ‘To make sure of vengeance don’t you think you had better end ther trail hyer?” ‘*No! To Utah!” “ce Afoot?” ** You shall see.” ‘*T want to see ef you really mean business,” sail the alcalde moving nearer to the avenger. ‘*T want ter look in ter ther eyes ov ther Gentile major’s child. A man with his hands tied be- hind him ain't no tiger, Vera. Isee yer father’s features in yer face now. Fool I war notter see it while you DS rhe sorceress at Red Eye!” _. Scarcely five feet separated the twain while the alcalde spoke. Vera had instinctively re- coiled, but he was leaning forward and laughing derisively after his last sentence. i All at once he straightened and then tried the cords. They parted as Dagger Johnny said they would, and as his hana 2 aaa in front of him the avenger from Mormondom recoiled again this time with a startling cry! ‘* After this, shoot yer enemies on sight!” he roared. “‘I’m a re jar double-breasted thun- aor when I get started. Now it shall not be tah! He cleared the space between Vera and him- self by a tremendous bound, he knocked down the arm that lifted the revolver and in less than Gomilcboo SEO)