Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 367 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

~ your husband to me. A Royal Flush. 11 of a corpse. ‘‘ You know something—you are keeping bad news from me—my poor husband!” is was a little further than Johnny-jump- up intended to go, and he earnestly, hastily cried: ‘You wrong me,madam! Indeed you do! I know nothing of bad news that can concern you. It is true, just before I came across my old friend, there had been a fight with the gang of Aces-and, but I pledge you my word of honor that Dan Brown never mentioned the name of If he did in the letter he wrote his wife, [am also ignorant of the fact.” ‘*That, more than anything else, convinces me my fears are well founded,” uttered Mrs. Scott, in a calmer tone, though still ghastly pale, her hands and lips quivering with strong emotion. ‘If not—if all had been well—he would not have let you come here without at least a word to reassure my poor heart!” ‘*But Mrs. Brown—” ** She writes so Srangely She hints at news, but does not say that my husband is well—does not mention him—only begs me to come over with my child to stop over a night or two with her. ‘* Because she ‘felt lonesome,” ventured John- ny-jump-up; but the poor woman shook her head with a wan smile, ‘* Mr. Brown has written her something whicb she dared not commit to paper. It can be but the one thing—bad news of my r husband. If good news, she would have spoken out plain- ly. ve You will go to her?” ‘** At once!” and she started to leave the room, turning again with a trembling smile as she faltered: ** pervcree i eo my rudeness. I am so dreadfully agitated, I scarcely know what I am saying or doing.” 1 | beg of ‘you_not to mention it, my dear madam,” bowed J ohnny-jump-up, with a bright smile. ‘‘I never once suspected it, I assure you. And while you are getting ready for the ride, I will just step outside and look to my horse, if you will permit me.” ‘*And please tell Top Dancer to saddle my horse.” Johnny-jump-up bowed and left the room af- ter her. She ran up-stairs to where her little girl was sleeping, while he passed outdoors. Top Dancer received the message in silence, and in a few minntes brought around a beauti- fully spotted pony, equipped for a lady’s use. rs. Scott did not keep them long in waiting, but bearing her child—a lovely little girl of two years of age—in her arms, emerged from the ranch and announced her readiness for the road, ‘* Look after the place, Dancer, please, and see that—” ‘* Begging pardon, madam, but ’m going with you,” respectfully interposed the man, his hat in hand, his face grave and earnest, ‘* But this gentleman is going back with me.” “Tl not crowd him, madam,” and Top Dancer smiled slightly. ‘I only know that Mr. Scott bade me watch over you while he was away. Hesaid I was to attend you wherever you cared to go. He is my master, and you would not wish me to incur his anger for break- ing orders?” ‘ Of course not, but—” “T must go, ma’am,” persisted Dancer, still respectfully. ** Without her permission?’ and Johnny-jump- up arched his brows. ‘‘Or yours either,” nodded Dancer, with a flash in his eyes. **Mine?” laughed Johnny-jump-up, lightly. “*T'll be delighted to have yous company, lam sure. I’ve really fallen in love with you!’ A glance from the eyes of his mistress checked the hot retort that leaped to the lips of the faith- ful guard, and without a word he assisted her into the saddle. He vaulted into his own sad- dle, and at a word from him three of the other ds also mounted and closed in about their air mistress, Johnny-jump-up made no further remark, but there came a deadly glow and glitter into his blue eyes that, had he not vailed it with his long lashes, might well have betrayed his evil pur- pose. As it was, the lady and her faithful guards rode ely on in a direct line for the int where the outlaws lay in ambush, thirsting or blood. The good horses covered the ground at a rapid rate, and Johnny-jump-up, in a glorious humor, kept the party from thinking too deeply. His nimble tongue rattled on, recalling ROA gIBALY events of the — in which he, with Dan Brown and others whose names were household words in that region, had figured, His spirited horse had carried him just a little in advance of the others; he was sitting partially sideways, holding his hat in one hand, gesticulating with the other, his handsome countenance lighted up with ardor, when hs hat fluttered to the ground directly before the ny ridden by Mrs. Scott. It flinched and ped to one side. : And then, with a revolver in each hand, the demon fired four shots in such swift succession that they made but one prolonged report. . Death-stricken, unable even to touch a wea- pon, the guards reeled and fell to. the earth, while J ohnny-jump-up laughed aloud in devilish glee as his men broke from their ambush and spurred to cut off the flight of the terribly star- tled woman and her child. ‘** Hi-yah!” yelled the desperado, casting his hat high into the air and sending a brace of bul- lets through it ere it fell, ‘‘I drew to fill, and caught ’em the first clatter! A royal flush, as I’m a cherubim!” CHAPTER VIII. **A KID FULL ON QUEENS!” ONCE again was Rachel Brown conquered. by her maternal love. The sight of the deadly ril which menaced her boy paralyzed her arm ‘or a single breath, but that was long enough to insure the safety of Aces-and. A swift, sure grasp, and the revolver was torn from her hand without being discharged. And at the same in- stant the outlaw chief called out sharply: ‘‘ Hold your hand, Baby! I’ve got the tiger- cat, so spare the cub!” Johnny’s Infant obeyed, though the ferocious smile faded abruptly from his ugly countenance, Aces-and tossed the weapon out at the win- dow, then forced Rachel Brown back into her seat, re both of her wrists together with one of his sinewy hands. A slender forefinger uivered before her pale face, and the voice of the gamester was harsh and menacing: “It seems tO me you haven’t been paying much attention to the way the cards are run- ning, my dear woman, or you'd see the worse than folly of making so many bad breaks. For this once [ll let it pass, but another clatter of the same stripe will make you sup sorrow, and that with a mighty short spoon. You under- Rachel nodded, but Aces-and could see that this was a purely mechanical motion. Her eyes were fixed hungrily on her boy,, whom ohnny’s Infant still held in a painfully tight ‘ip, and in such a manner that the long, ugly cnife hung close before his eyes. ‘Never mind the kid,” impatiently uttered the outlaw chief. ‘‘ He’s all right so long as you keep inside the track, but if you make another such break—well, I’d be lying if I said he’d come out of it as clean-skinned as just now.” ‘*My poor boy!” murmured the half-crazed mother, “If you’d show a little more common sense, and not do so much whining about uy one poor boy,” sneered Aces-and, “it would do your motherly love a heap more credit.” ‘* You drove me mad with your vile, heartless taunts!” ‘* Well, the sooner you get your senses back, the better for all concerned,” was the brutal re- tort. ‘‘ You want to understand your position while in our company, and I don’t know of a better time than the present to teach you. ‘**As I had the honor of informing you a bit ago, we are playing a big game of freeze-out against Dan Brown, Sol Scott and their blood- hounds. They’ve made their. brags that they wouldn’t let up until the last one of our kidney was swept from existence, They’ve been par- ticularly loud and bitter in their denunciations of myself and brother, even going so far as to say that after running us down and capturing us, they would strip, mount us on donkeys, placard us, and in that style parade us through the whole country, before hanging us like sheep- killing curs!” “If so, would it be worse punishment than your countless crimes have so richly merited?” cried Rachel, with a reviving flash of spirit. ** That’s from your side of the board,” was the cool retort, as the outlaw regained control of his hot passions. From ours—look: ‘* We could hear the yelp of the bloodhounds on our trail. We felt them closing in on us, cut- ting off our hopes of escape ss all save one avenue, And that—it was doubly dangerous but at the end of it we could see a rich rew for all risks we might run. It only wanted nerve, audacity, heartlessness, if you choose. rt ile Dan Brown and Sol Scott were press- ing us, as they fondly fancied, into a corner from whence escape with life would be impos- sible, we were doubling on them, were swoopin down on their pet dove-cotes, our beaks whet and hungry for fresh and dainty food. For a little while we half-resolved to have it, too, knowing that in that way we could sting our bitterest enemies the acutest. But then, the meal once ate, and all would be over. And so we thought of a more scientific game. ‘*Freeze-out, as I said before, with us poor devils of horse-thieves pitted against the marvel- ous players whom the community have dubbed the‘ ROYAL FLUSH!’ Long odds, but what better can we do? And do you know, my dear girl, I begin to believe that we'll get there, too?” Aces-and laughed softly, rubbing his hands to- ether in high glee as he fell back a pace or two, eaving Rachel Brown to comfort the little girl once more, The poor woman shuddered as she glanced into his dark, bandaged face. ‘You brought Dan Brown an enormous {o- tune when he married you, I have heard. Sol Scott was equally fortunate with his darling. Some do say that both have met with heavy losses, but I am confident enough remains to make a ys gloriously worth playing for, to give each and every one of us enough ducats to retire from active service, to enjoy ourselves in prime style, at least long enough for our past history to grow dim in the memory of the dear public, and enable them to get together fresh goods for our eins, ‘You don’t want to fool yourself, my dear girl. We've counted up all the chances for and agains us in this little game. We know the pen- ty of defeat, and if fate will have it so. we will y it without kick or murmur, Not until the st card is shown and summed up, though! Nothing but grim death can freeze any of us out! ‘What part am I and these poor helpless children to play in your wretched game?” falter- ed Rachel, as Aces-and paused as though expect- ing some remark or comment, from her, ‘You three are part of the hand we expect to win the stakes on,” was the swift reply. ‘“T have sent Johnny-~jump-up off to bring back Sol Scott’s wife and young-one. With them, join- ed to you three, we'll have a good enough hand —a kid full on queens !” he laughed, pleased at the odd idea. ‘‘In a regular game, a royal flush would beat that all hollow, but I don’t reckon it will this time. Not when Dan Brown and Sol Scott realize that there's a knife-point at each dainty throat, the muzzle of a revolver pressing over each loving heart!” ‘* They will pay you your own price, though it strips them of every dollar and every dollar’s worth they own in this world!” impulsively cried Rachel, her dark eyes glowing, ‘** Just what I calculated on, my dear,” laugh- ed Aces-and, in more good-humored tones than any he had used before. ‘‘ They'll come down handsome, no doubt of that. They’re human, as far as love for their own flesh and blood is concerned. Be sure I settled that point before I dealt out a single card.” ‘* Then why use such harsh measures? Wh treat these r children so brutally?” impul- wits! cried the mother. ‘‘ Partly to let you know that we're not play- ing this little game for fun, but mainly to crush that fiery spirit of yours, my lady. You might give us trouble at an awkward moment, else. ou’ll handy make the effort if you know be- yond a doubt that your children will be the ones to suffer most from your rashness. I warn ee once more: if you cut up rusty—if you try shoot or cut or run again—if you take a single step out of the trail I show you—that precious cub of yours skall bear the burden, and what he has tasted thus far will be no more a ig a flea-bite to what that punishment will e! ‘* As for this note you have written, Pll i my word. I will add nothing to it. You sha see me pin it u yonder, where the eyes of your husband can rdly escape seeing it at the first glance, When he does, he will know just what sort of game there is before him.” Rachel’s lips parted, but closed again. She dared not ask a favor of the villain, lest woise come of it. But he was apparently satisfied with the severe lesson already read her, and at a sign from him, Johnny’s Infant released Willie, who ran hastily into her eager arms, _ ee ates smiled grimly as. he noted this, then said: ‘You keep an eye on them, Baby, and see that they don’t leave this rcom before I come or send for them. If she tries to pocket a knife, gun or any other tcol, take them away from er, and report through the window. Jl] come back, and you can lecture the cub again for his mother’s fault.” ‘I have given you my word, sir,” coldly ut- tered Mrs. Brown. “I’m not taking any such pledges at this stage of the game, th you,” was the sharp reply, and then the outlaw turned and left the rcom. A single comprehensive glance showed him that all was going well outside. The cowboys were lying quiet where placed. His men were on the alert, a number of them mounted and riding slowly around the ranch, keeping a close lookout for possible visitors. The remainder were between the building and the corral where the cowboys lay helpless. A single whistle from the lips of Aces-and brought them around him, and cutting little time to waste, he spoke out: ‘*Our main object here is accomplished, my lads, and in less than half an hour we must be in the saddle and riding away. During that length of time, after picking out an extra mount for each man from Dan can gut the building if you feel like it. Only bear in mind that we may have toride hard and long, and 7 ig your plunder. It is only pick - ings, after all, when we look at the rich stakes we are playing for in this big game.” ‘‘ But every little helps!” laughed big Dave Bristow. ‘‘ Look. to the cattle first,” added Aces-ar¢. ‘“By that time. [ll have the woman and k‘(s ready for traveling, and you can have free 1tun of the house until I sound boots-and-saddle.” ICO to the trunk of the tree out | rown’s choicest stock, you | Comiel S , * ~*~ [ . ¥ i a Py Pant.” . 4. ‘ ° . ws ¢