Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 365 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

/ Keen ‘A vehicle, by Jonah!” ejaculated Dropshot Bluff. ‘‘ Wal, thet beats my time all’ holler. We'll hev ter move along, I guess. Civilization has found Red Eye out. e’ve got ter move along!” There was not a sign of life about the myste- rious wagon; the very horses seemed dead, though on their feet in the harness. The three men approached cautiously and lis- tened by the wheels. Not a sound came from the inside. ‘‘Mebbe ther blamed thing’s discharged its freight,” suggested Dagger Johnny. ‘‘ Strike a match an’ look inside,” No sooner said than done. A match flared up in the alcalde’s hand, and Dagger Johnny held up the curtain. It took a moment for the match to illumine the interior of the mysterious wagon, and when it did, Dagger Johnny uttered a cry of astonish- ment, ; ‘A sleepin’ angel, by hokey! Cleopatra on wheels!” he cried. Too astonished to speak, Dropshot Bluff and Keen Kennard were staring at the tenant of the wagon. This person was a beautiful young girl, who lay asleep on some blankets with her arm for a p low, and entirely unconscious of what was appening around her. ** Td like ter’ know who guided all this beau- ty ter Red Eye,” finally said the big alcalde. “We'll take keer ov her, though. Mebbe she’s connected in some way with ther lost Ophir. I'll just open her eyes a bit.” Dropshot Bluff put forth his hand and was about to touch the sleeping beauty when he found Keen Kennard’s hand at his wrist. ‘* Let ’er hey her sleep out,” said the detective, and then he added under his breath: ‘TI don’t want this girl to recognize me now. Heaven knows how she ever found Red Eye!” ‘Very well,” said the alcalde. '‘ We'll let her sleep it out; but meanwhile we'll hunt up ther man what drove ther team.” CHAPTER. VII. VERY CLOSE QUARTERS. KEEN KENNARD could not keep his eyes from the strange wagon while he moved away leav- ing it occupying the spot where it had been found. He knew the young girl on sight, though he had seen her but once before. He still remembered the night when before Queen Moro the masked woman of Sacramento he had taken a wild oath to find, at any risk, the lost gold mine; he recalled the strange scene in the house, the sudden appearance of the beautiful girl who in heartrending tones had pleaded with him to abandon the project. He saw the masked beauty clutch the fair being and hold her at bay wkile he completed his oath; he had never blotted these scenes entirely from his recollection. And now the girl, whoever she was, and he thought he knew, had come to Red Eye Bar in a mysterious manner, She it was who was tho occupant of the wagon drawn by the sleepy horses. Yes, where was the man who had driven the team? Had the sleeping beauty come to Red Eye of her own accord, or had she been taken by force from Sacramento and carried by brute power among the mountains of the sierra? **Not for the world must she recognize me as Kennard now,” muttered the Shasta Shadow while he walked away. ‘‘I must not be found out yet, pliheneS I have been truly named by a mysterious letter which falls into Dropshot Bluff’s hands; but by the eternal! the hand that touches her touches me!” The beautiful occupant of the wagon slept soundly and threatened to do so till broad day- light. The news of her arrival was circulated quietly throughout the camp, and more than one bronze-faced and booted ruffian stole up to gratify his curiosity. A look in the ng of a match was always sufficient, and the Red Eye pard would steal back on tiptoe vowing that such a_ vision of loveliness had never struck the Bar before. A thorough search of the camp revealed no driver. If aman had driven the girl to camp, he had abandoned her there. It was a very mysterious case. ‘Mebbe she came hyer all alone,” suggested Dagger Johnny catching Dropshot in a deep study. i = Thet girl?” almost roared the big alcalde. ‘‘Thet’s what I modestly remarked,” was the reply. t What's yer opinion worth anyhow?” cried Bluff. ‘‘ You swore awhile ago that Magic Merle war Keen Kennard an’ yet when he came inter my pes eh you beat a corpse for pallor. It strikes me, Johnny, thet you’re not sartain who he is.” Dagger Johnny colored to the temples and showed his teeth, ‘‘T'll prove it yet—I will!” he cried. ‘T still stick to my assertion. That man is Keen Ken- nard. He'll never deny it if I throw the charge inter his teeth.” **Never mind. We'll find out suthin’ about Kennard, the Shasta Shadow. ther mountain Cleopatra first. find it out now.” Johnny was at Bluff’s side when he started to- ward the wagon again and in a short time the two halted beside it once more, The alcalde lifted a curtain and looked inside. Aided by a match, he saw the faultless figure among the blankets, but what a wonderful change had come over the girls face, Instead of being asleep her large black eyes were wide open, and Dropshot Bluff found them gazing into his face. ‘* Where am I?” suddenly cried the girl, spring- up, ‘*Is this a camp, and what do you call it? ‘‘This is Red Eye,” said the alcalde with a smile. ‘‘ You’ve fallen among friends. Ther rascally hound who drove yer hyer an’ then de- serted yer—” ‘* Nobody did that!” interrupted the girl laugh- ing. ‘**T came here alone.” ‘You did?’ ejaculated Dropshot drawing back. ‘*T have driven this team over the mountains until I could resist sleep no longer, I believe I drove and slept for many hours at a time. So this is Red Eye Camp, and you must be its al- calde.” ‘*That’s just what I am,” said Dropshot Bluff. ‘What may I call you.” ‘Floss Mogalle,” was the reply. ‘You'll get out, Floss, an’ let us give yer ther best quarters we’ve got in Red Eye. By jingo! we don’t often hev angel visits like this one. Vl help yer out, girl.” ‘It is not necessary. I may not want to stop here, end.” ‘* We'll make it so as far as treatment is con- sarned, Thar’s no women in camp just now, though thet’s not sayin’ thet Red Eye hez never known ther fair sex. Hyer, Johnny, help hold ther canvas up until ther young lady kin alight.” ** Not until you have answered one question,” said Floss, touching the alcalde’s arm with her small white hand. ‘‘Do you know anything about the lost man of Gold Gorge?” ‘Whar “‘ Jehu!” ejaculated Dagger Johnny. an’ how did she get on ter thet?” The ; irl looked at the Red Eye pard who was quickly rebuked by a look from Dropshot. ‘IT see that you have heard of him, she said. **Ts he here?” A strange thought had flashed across the al- calde’s mind, ‘**She can influence him if anybody can,” he said to himself. ‘*‘We kin get her inter ther toils an’ I will mold ’er ter my likin’, I’ve heard Gilbert talk about Floss a thousand times. This is the girl, She can draw from him the diagram of the gold mine. She shall become ther Deli- lah of Red Eye Bar. It’s worth a trial any- how!” Then the alcalde of Red Eye answered the anxious girl, ‘** Mebbe ye’r’ pretty close ter ther lost man ov Gold Gorge,” he said. Floss uttered a cry of delight. ‘*Take me to him at once!” she exclaimed. ‘‘Thank heaven! I have found him at last! What a wild, strange and lonely journey [ havé had. I escaped from a singular woman and un- dertook this hunt alone. I have found Gilbert! I have beaten the man from Sliasta!” Dropshot and Johnny exchanged quick glances at the last sentence. ‘I’m glad ye got hyer safe,” said the alcalde. “Take my hand, now, an’ youshall see him afore long.” ‘* Gilbert! Gilbert!” exclaimed the girl joy- fully. Nake ’er face ther man from Shasta first, cap’n,” whispered a voice at the alcalde’s elbow. **She’ll either confirm my words er prove me a liar. I want ther trial made,” ‘ll do it,” assented Dropshot. ‘Go an’ find Magic Merle.” Jonny started off and the big alcalde turned to assist the girl from the wagon. By ais time a dozen men, burly, like the al- calde, himeelf, had reached the wagon, and would have greeted Floss with a loud cheer if Dropshot Bluff, by a look, had not prevented. ‘Wait hyer a little while,” said the alcalde, gently holding the girl back. ‘‘I’ve sent for some one,” ‘* For Gilbert? I thank you, sir?” and Floss looked her thanks as she spoke. ‘‘ You do not | know,” she continued, ‘‘ how I have longed for this moment. I vowed to find Gilbert if he were alive. I grew tired waiting for reports from the .man sent out from Sacramento.” ‘* Hyer he comes!” — The next moment two men came in sight, and | one was recognized by the crowd as the man called Magic Merle. Dropshot Bluff took a bunch of lucifers from his pocket and struck them on the wheel. agic Merle started slightly when he caught sight of the girl standing on the ground beside _ the big alcalde, but continued to advance, eyed | like a hawk by Dagger Johnny. who kept at _ his side. | Hyer’s a gent I want yer ter see first, Floss,” said Dropshot Bluff as Magic Merle came up. Red Eye Bar may not be my journey’s 5 | ‘ I’m goin’ ter | ‘ He’s an old friend no doubt—left yer in Sacra- mento some time ago, eh? Hyer he is!” The young girl leaned forward under the up- lifted matches with a great deal of curiosity in her eyes. The men seemed to hold their breath. ‘She'll give him away; Vll bet my throat on it!” ejaculated Dagger Johnny. “Then, good- by Pach Kennard!’ Having halted before Floss, the man from Mount Shasta drew himself to his full stature and looked her in the eye. It was a look of life or death. { Floss Mogaile sprung toward the gold detec- tive, but seemed to quail before his glance. ‘‘T don’t know that man!” she said looking up at Dropshot Bluff. ‘‘ Never saw him afore, eh?” Floss did not hesitate. ‘* Never!” she said. . The crowd started as if the spell had been broken. ‘* Look me in ther eye an’ say that!” exclaim- ed Dagger Johnny, and a moment later he cliche the girl’s arm and drew her forward. ‘‘ By Jupiter! [ know a thing or two, I guess, Tell me you don’t know thet man, eh? Look in- ter Dagger Johnny’s face an’ say thet he isn’t Keen Kennard, a detective from Shasta! No foolin’, miss. Yer say thet a man left Sacra- mento on a great trail—you’ve said thet he came originally from Shasta. Tell me thet he doesn’t stand thar! Will yer?” Floss looked up into the merciless face of the alcalde’s right bower since the death of Grim George, but did not flinch. “If I repeat my words you will not believe me,” she answered. ‘Not ef you say thet man isn’t Kennard, the Shadow from Shasta!” was the retort. **'Very well, I say it,” was the answer. Dagger Johnny, dropped the girl's arm in amazement and threw a mad look at Dropshot and the crowd. ‘‘ Tt stumps me,” he grated. ‘‘I say, gents ov Red Eye, thar stands a man who is koown round Shasta as Keen Kennard, a gold-detec- tive. He knows thet ’ve unmasked him—thet I know he is no more Magic Merle than Red Eye is New York! He kin stand thar an’ curl his lip, but thet doesn’t make out Dagger Johnny a liar! It is my word ag’in’ his’n, pards ov Red Eye Bar! Dagger Johnny ag’in’ Keen Kennard, Take yer choice!” The speaker stepped back and awaited results.. His eyes flashed triumph, and the hand that had covert the man from Shasta dropped slowly to is side, Floss’s eyes had fallen beneath Keen Ken- nard’s gaze. ‘“ Heaven help me!” she murmured. ‘ Par- don the falsehood I have spoken to save his life, I did not expect to find him here, I thought him dead long Ago: Where has he been hunt- ing so long? wish I had never met you, Keer Kennard. All at once the mountain detective stepped forward and glared at Dagger Johnny, ‘*Tt is pimehLy. strange that a man can’t peaceably visit a camp without havin’ himself denounced by a miserable rnffian!” he said, his black eyes fixed on Dagger Johnny. ‘‘In the eyes of that camp liar I am Keen Kennard of hasta. I want him to make good that asser- tion by fightin’ me whar we stand! What’s yer choice, Dagger Johnny? Ye’ve got a belt full ov heart-huntersthar. Draw ther one yer want. mee Merle ov Mercedes is at yer service! ‘* No eRottpanament no flinchin’!” he went on. ‘Gentlemen ov Red Eye Bar, a man has a right ter meet a charge as he pleases. Stand back and let that galoot face the man he has accused. Me Keen Kennard? Let the best eye an’ the quickest trigger decide.” Dagger Johnny glanced at the crowd with his hand at the revolver to which it had leaped. ‘What ef I refuse ter fight yer?” he asked with a sneer. ‘Then, by the fires ov Tartarus! I'l] paint yer pards with yer brains whar yer stand!” wasthe response, and Keen Kennard’s revolver leaped into the ruffian’s face. ‘* Is it fight or a dog’s death?” he cried. ‘* Be quick with yer choice.” Dagger Johnny jerked back and threw an imploring glance among the startled crowd. ‘Tl take it all back!” he said. “I see thet I’ve been mistaken.” ; ‘“¢’Yer do?” ‘* Yes, Cap’n Bluff, this man isn’t Keen Ken- nard. Iseemy mistake now. I beg yer par- don, Magic Merle,” Keen. Kennard drew back. ‘*Good-night, gents,” he said waving his hand to the crowd as he turned away. ’s only a brief respite,” h sal ito himself ‘We've got to fight it out.” La CHAPTER VIII. WOMAN AGAINST WOMAN. SITTING on a horse not far from Red Eye Camp, and among the shadows of night, was the woman Vera, who had left the rough’s retreat a few hours before. ‘* He came down upon me like a thunderbolt, Eomilcbooks.com