Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 365 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

c= Keen Kennard, the Shasta Shadow. 8 the boy went on, ‘I can give the secret to Red Kye and settle back with Floss. She is better than gold, ha! ha! Magic Merle, I don’t owe you anything. You kept the girl back. She must have broken away from you and come to Red Eye.” The mountain detective looked amazed into Gilbert’s face. He could not suppress his thoughts, ‘*' Don’t be a fool,” hoe cried. ‘You'll play a thundering poor game, if you give the secret to the tigers of Red Eye. God knows how the gir] got here, I don’t. She says she drove to Red ‘ye in the dilapidated wagon you may have seen down the street. Yes, that girlis Floss— Floss Mogalile. I didn’t know she was nearer than Sacramento, when I told you about her. I left her there months ago in the clutches of the mysterious woman called Queen Moro. I am in that woman’s employ to a certain extent, but the hand that harms Floss stirs me up. Don’t be a fool, I say.” Gilbers gazed into Keen Kennard’s eyes, and muttered: ‘* We have promised to be friends and pards, I know that; but, as I have said, I don’t care a snap for the gold secret now. Tve been losing it again ever sinc) yeu went away.” ‘* You don’t mean that, Gilbert?” ““T do! If you had let me draw the map, when I woke up in my right mind, as you know you would have itnow; but I’m losing it again.’ Keen Kennard uttered a ery of disappoint- ment. ‘*This will never do!” he exclaimed. ‘ Gil- bert, my boy, you must not lose itnow! You shall give it tome before it entirely vanishes. We'll shut the door and go to work.’ The man from Shasta suited the action to the word; he shut the door and placed the little lamp on the table. _ **T saved the piece of chalk found on the floor the other time,” he said, placing the little white object in Gilbert’s hand. ‘‘Now, go to work. Draw the route on the table, here, I will trans- fer it to my head as you work.” Gilbert seated himself on the stool which the detective had drawn up to the table, and took the chalk between thumb and finger. ““Go on!” said Kennard. ‘‘ Remember that the morning will come, and don’t forget that this is Red Eye Bar.” Gilbert took his eyes from the detective’s face, and turned slowly to his task. He acted like a person whose mind was losing its grasp on some- thing he was striving hard to retain. More than once, he passed one hand across his fore- head, and slowly shook his head. The big detective stood over him in the lamp- light anxious and silent. Suddenly Gilbert’s hand dropped upon the table and he began to draw. ioen ennard bent over his shoulder, and watched the lines the chalk made, Tortuous and meaningless lines they were at first, but as the diagram advanced, the man from Shasta saw that they took definite shape, and became a map of some region, which he vowed he would discover. Gilbert kept on until the map seemed com- lete. m When he paused he looked up into the detec- tive’s face with a self-satisfied smile. “T couldn’t have held it much longer,” he said, ‘It was nearly gone from me when I began.” he lost man of Gold Gorge settled back ex- pr a His face did not possess a particle of color, ‘Tt is all there but your compass points,” said Keen Kennard, grasping the youth’s wrist. ** Aha! did I overlook that important thing?” ejaculated Gilbert. ‘‘ Well, here they are, Ma- gic Merle,” and with the chalk he made the valu- able acquisition. ‘‘Let me study that map a moment,” said the detective. ‘‘Tll get it into my head as a whole to be dissected at leisure.” Gilbert leaned forward and bowed his face between his arms, while Keen Kennard began to study the map. Suddenly in the midst of this scene there rung out a startling shot, and the giant form of the Shasta detective leaped up and reeled away! Gilbert Golden sprung up with a wildery. He saw the man from Shasta sink at the foot of the cabin wall, but the next moment he got up and started toward the table. ** Blot it out! blot it out!” he exclaimed. ‘ For Heaven’s sake!—” The broken sentence seemed his last, and when the horrified youth had obliterated the gold map by one sweep Of his right arm, Keen Kennard lay on the floor like a dead man. All this in the space of half a minute! ‘* When he kivers me ag’in an’ forces me to take water, by Jupiter! he'll know it!” grated the man outside, who turned away with a smok- ing revolver, ‘‘What Dagger Johnny. knows, he knows! It war a bad day that sot yer down in Red Eye, Keen Kennard.” Still clutching the weapon, the alcalde’s pard stalked down the strect and into Dropshot | Bluff’s cabin. ‘“*Wal, I’ve settled with him,” he said, con- | aes the alealde. ‘*‘ They don’t make Dag- ger Johnny lie for nothin’, cap’n. I got ther ead drop on old sharp-eye an’ fetched *im ther first shot.” ‘* What hev you done?” ‘*Wiped out Kennard from Shasta! I found im in Gilbert’scabin. Ther boy war drawin’ suthin’ for him on ther table—” ‘‘ Jehosaphat! ther map!—ther trail ter Ophir!” yelled Dropshot Bluff, rushing toward the door, ‘He drew it once for me, but took a crazy spell an’ rubbed it out. Mebbe he added ther com- ee Pa to ther map for ther Shasta gold- 10und!” **Ye’d better wait,” said Dagger Johnny oe ie the alcalde’s arm and holding him ack, ‘*Not a minute! I’ve waited years already!” was the answer and Dropshot Liu? jerked loose from his pard and rushed out. **Hang me ef I go back thar,” cried the al- calde’s pard. ‘‘Tll stay hyer an’ wait for his report. war drawin’ for Keen Kennard, by Morpheus! I didn’t shoot ’im a second too soon. Mebbe it*]l be ther means ov gettin’ us on ther right trail at last. Ivo lived like Lazarus lo! these many years, an’ ef my revolver gives me a grip OV a bonanza I'll canonize it, by Jupiter!” Dagger Johnny settled back upon the alcal- de’s stool and laid a revolver upon the table within easy reach. He did not know what might happen after shooting a man like Keen Kennard; he was not sure that the Shasta de- tective had not come alone to Red Eye, and, un- der the circumstances, he thought it best to be prepared for an emergency. ree minutes had barely passed when Dag- ger Johnny was startled from his seat by the sudden bursting of a man into the cabin. It was Dropshot Bluff out of breath and curs- ing like a sailor. ‘ Thar’s nobody thar!” were the first intelli- gible words he put together. Da ger Johnny uttered a cry of unbelief, ‘** Nobody?” he echoed. ** Nobody, dead nor livin’!” said the alcalde. ** Ar’ ye sure ye dropped anybody?” ‘‘Am I sure I’m in Californy?’ cried the thunderstruck rough. ‘‘ Didn’t I see im tumble when I touched ther trigger? When did Dag- ger Johnny fail on his man at twenty steps?” ‘* Wal, thet cabin’s empty,” said the alcalde. ‘**T found ther table standin’ all right, but ther map warn’t thar.” et Johnny looked mystified. ‘** This blamed camp ain’t bewitched,” he said. ‘*Ther witch is gone. A dead man can’t get away without help. Thet’s one ov ther impossi- bilities.” ‘Then you think thet Gilbert took ther Shasta Sleuth away?” ‘*Yes, ter bury him somewhar. Who knows but thet my sudden shot’s thrown ther youth off his balance ag*in?” ‘Tt might hev done it. Come! We’llinquire inter this.” The two pards left the cabin. ‘We'll see how ther girl gits along in her wagon,” said Dropshot Bluff. “She would sleep thar ter-night. I set ther boys on ther watch for fear ther hosses might move off on their own account, yer know.” wy ag Johnny followed the alcalde to the spot where the little old wagon which had car- ried Floss to Red Eye still under the stars. Quiet reigned about the vehicle, and the closely-drawn curtains told that the girl slept after the exciting events which had followed her introduction to Red Eye society. . The two men approached on tiptoe, the burl sombreroed figure of Dropshot Bluff in the lead, and at last the bronzed hand of the alcalde lifted the side curtain. The interior of the wagon was dark, and he had to satisfy bis curiosity by listening. ‘* She’s thar yet, cap’n,” said a voice at Drop- shot’s elbow, and he saw the figure of a Red Eye rough at his side. ‘* We haven’t taken eyes off ther vehicle since yer went away. Ther wild rose ther winds an’ them hosses fetched inter camp, still blooms fer Red Eye.” ** All right, Duncan,” responded the alcalde, dropping the curtain as he slipped back. ‘ Re- member that she’s under my care. The man what touches Floss touches Dropshot Bluff!” ** 'What’s that, sir?” saida voice. ‘‘ Does that wagon contain a person named Floss?” The three men turned and looked up into the speaker's face. ie masked woman sat in the saddle before em. ** Look, cap’n! Vera, thersorceress, has come aoe with her face kivered!” exclaimed Dagger ohnny. ‘** No, not Vera. Gentlemen of Red Eye, my mission here is not one of blood; but I tell you plainly that Iam not to be disobeyed. I want to see the occupant of that wagon.” ‘*Cracky! A hummer from Hummersville!” said Dagger Johnny. Dropshot Bluff looked at the woman on the horse, and then put on his boldest face. **T don’t know about this,” he said, moving a ‘step nearer the wagon, as if to shield its fair tenant with his giant figure, ‘‘I reckon we run nn | this sierra shebang. We've talzen keer ov it a long time, my saddle witch, an’ we’re capable ow continuin’ ther job.” What would have followed this grated defi- ance will neyer be known, but just as the al- calde of Red Eye finished, a small hand lifted the curtain from the inside and a face appeared. The woman in the saddle leaned suddenly for- ward, ‘* Heaven! you here, Floss?” she ‘exclaimed. **@ueen Moro!” cried the girl. ‘‘God above? I thought I was beyond your clutches forever. Men of Red Eye, that woman is my deadly en- - emy.” (Pe ‘ou touch Floss at yer peril, then!” growled the big alcalde. CHAPTER X. A STUBBORN GUEST. DropsHot BuurF had the best of backing, and the two men who stood beside him, laid Ef thet war ther Ophir trail Gilbert ; their hands on their revolvers, and glared at. the masked woman on horseback, . ‘*Thet girl came ter Red Eye in thet rig, an” she’s goin’ ter be protected in her right ter re~— main thar,” continued the alcalde, ‘‘Ef you ar’ her enemy, as she says, you don’t want ter play a bold hand ag’in’ her hyer!” Queen Moro looked from the speaker to the face framed by the curtain of the wagon, and then back again, “Tt makes but little difference to me,” she said. ‘‘Il have ever been her enemy, though and she shall remain here till death, for aught ii care. So this is Red Eye?” **Red Eyo Bar!” said Dropshot. ‘‘ We don’t like mysteries,” and he looked hard at the silk mask. ‘‘ P’r’aps you'd better jine ther sorceress, we've lately exiled.” “Tf I did, it would be to kill her!” hissed queen Moro. ‘Do yeu drive me from Red e?” ‘* No, not that,” answered the alcalde. ‘‘ We don’t want any new inhabitants, though. Yow may remain awhile on condition thet you don’t bother ther beauty ov ther wagon.” ‘**T shall not notice her, for that matter. My mission hither is not to find her.” The curtains dropped at this moment, and Floss disappeared. ‘** Has she taken to the trail herself?” exclaimed the young girl, in the darkness that once more surrounded her. ‘She could not wait for Keen Kennard’s report. She is hunting for the lost Ophir in person. What will she say when she confronts the Shasta detective in Red Eye? I wish I could post him. I wish I could tell Gil- bert, if he is here, that the most dangerous wo- man in California is on the gold trail.” The girl listened and heard the parties out- side move away. ‘Tf I but knew the mysteries of this camp, Z would undertake to warn Keen Kennard and Gilbert,” she went on. ‘All is strange to me here. A sin r fortune brought me hither, Heaven knows what will happen before I de— If she could have taken a view of objects out-_ side, she would have seen Queen Moro’s horse being led away by Dagger Johnny. The alcalde had whispered: ‘‘To Grim George’s,” to his; right bower, and thither Queen Moro was being conducted. ‘It isn’t a crystal palace, madam,” said the Red Eye rough when he had halted in front of. the little shanty. ‘It war Grim’s house ther other day, but he’s given it up fer a residence om ther mountain-side, As tains anybody, we never built a hotel. Walk in; yell find a lamp an’ a bed. Yer hoss VU leave out hyer.” Queen Moro who had already alighted looked gnoe at the cabin and then turned upon Dagger~ ohnny. ‘* How old is this camp?” she asked. ‘‘T can’t exactly tell yer. Weleft Gold Gorge: —let me see—” The woman uttered a light cry. ‘* That will do,” she said. ‘‘Gold Gorge, eh?” *¢ Yes, an’ we hevn’t found thet rascally bo- nanza yet!” laughed Dagger Johnny. ‘‘ Ef thet’s what ye’r’ after, madam, let us say thet. ye might as well go back. e’ve never beer able ter get anything out o’ ther boy, though ther cap’n claims ter hev been on ther edge ow ther secret once.” ‘‘ When was he there?” asked the woman, ‘‘ Ther other night. I think it war.” ‘* And it slipped through his fingers? ha! ha!’” ‘Yes, pretty much like an eel.” Dagger Johnny gered back and left Queen Moro alone. She watched him glide away until his figure was lost and then she turned to the cabin. 4 ‘Two desires burn_me like red-hot irons,” she said to herself. ‘ I want the life of the wo- man called Vera the Viper, and I want the se- cret this camp holds. For which shall I strike first? I'll go in here and collect my thoughts.” Three minutes later the strange woman wear- ing still the mask the sorceress had lifted en- tered the cabin and found a stool and table in the gloom that reigned there. Seating herself on the former she bowed her head and gave way to deep thought. She did not hear the footstep that approached. Eye never enter’ a Eomicbooks. — Is Ps > = - bs &