Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 367 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

— here, Use force if necessar y, though I don’t much think he’il try to get off w ithout our last answer, ‘You bet he'll be hyar when you want him, boss!” Dan Brown did not wait for this response, but mounting a fresh horse, he dashed away to meet his old fr riend, Enoch Dodge. To those who are familiar with the preceding stories of Dan Brown and Sol Scott it would be superfluous to dwell upon the sterling qualities of Enoch Dodge, Marshal of Grenada when Dan Brown first made his bow to the public, and afterward mayor of his favorite mining-town. It is enough to say that the ‘‘ heart of gold "was true and faithful as ever, When the brother detectives took the field against the audacious gang of “rustlers” and criminals who had had theit own w ay for over a year in that region, they did not act until | their plans were well laid and all ready to press matters to a finish. To insure success, they wrote to Enoch Dodge to pay them a long-pr omised yisit, and immedi- ately pressed that genial worthy into service, not alittle to his delight. Another letter brought Nor’ West Nick from Rocky Bar, and with him came none other than the big ex-pugilist, Turk Elder, who had so nobly seconded Dan Brown and Sol Scott at Red Rock. Then the united team began the brisk operation which soon gained for them the title cf ‘THE ROYAL LUSH,” and won for them the undying en- mity of ‘Aces-and and his particular following Tall, gaunt, Yankeefied as eyer was Enoc 1 Dodge when Dan Brown met him in company with Sol Scott, freshly mounted and rapiily spurring toward the ruins of the Single Pot Ranch. But there was renewed life and courage in the warm grip with which he caught the hand of the haggard detective, and Dan Brown felt it go tingling through his veins, ‘“They’s bin a little ole hell to pay, I see!” rimly muttered Enoch, his keen gray eyes rov- ing over the scene of desolation. **Sol told me enough to chaw on. Don’t you worry. Things is boun’ to come out all right in the eend. Ef we cain’t pull’ em quite to rights fu’st off, the boys is comin’ to make up what we Jack,” ‘* Nick and Turk?” ** Comin’ as fast as hoss-flesh kin tote ’em, be sure,” was the prompt response, as Dodge turned for a glance over his shoulder. “ They don’t ride as light as the ole man, but they won’t be much ahind ’im. They hed two critters like me, an’ knowed they was more’n the wu’th o’ Hoss- critter dependin’ on fast time.” ‘You saw Bill Hampton and his outfit, then?” ‘“Sart’in. The signals tuck us thar, not tw 0 hours after you left. We got extry mounts, an’ rid ’em fer all they was wu’th.” Sol Scott uttered a sharp exclamation as he for the first time remembered Dough-ball Jim- my and the pledge ho had given him. ‘You didn’t see—they hadn’t been hanging anybody there?” * Dough-ball Ji immy, you mean? Bill told me to tell you they jes’ give the p’izen critter a few licks with thar ropes, an’ told him to pull foot out o’ thar Jur isdiction the quickest the law "lowed him.” Even in his own sore trouble this report com- forted Sol Scott. And it may be mentioned here that he never knew that Bill Hampton had sent him a false report. The trio of friends were now within a short distance of the tree beneath which Johnny- jump-up still la , peacefully slumbering, and as they reined in t eir mounts, Enoch Dodge said: ‘Tt mought be a good idee to send a couple 0’ the boys on my back trail with led hosses fer Nick an’ Turk. Ten to one they’re afoot. We'll need ‘em afore this muddle is cl’ared up, I reckon.” Dan Brown quickly acted on this hint, and when the cowboys rode off on their mission, the three men passed around to the further side of the tree, there to consult and decide on their im- mediate plan of action. In as few words as possible the brother detec- tives told their shrewd old friend all that had transpired up to the moment when they first espi ad his approach, Silently Enoch D ige lis- tened, and then, while the sorely-tortured detec- tives watched him and looked for a consoling answer, he stood with bowed head, vigorously chewing tobacco, spitting with cool accuracy at a little ant hill near by, to the utter discomfiture of its inhabitants, ** Well, not a word of comfort, old friend?” at length uttered Dan Brown, his face full of pain- ful “anxiety, his eyes wild and like those of a hunted man. ‘*Tt’s a pasty pickle—the nastiest I ever run into, mate,” was the frank response, ‘I’m foared you was right when you sot down that dirty galoot fer a fraud from ’way back! He don’t mean to play the game anyway fa’r. T hey mean fo grab all they kin an’ keep all they’ve got into the barg’in!” ‘“‘Not while I live!” doggedly uttered Dan Brown, his heart sinking after a fashion very unusual for one of his naturally sanguine dispo- sition. ‘*T didn’t say they would do it, mate, but that’s what they ‘lowed to do,” was the quiet re- | | | | | | A | ne eta LL LLL LALLA | | id | A Fe ce ree Flush. sponse. **T reckon we kin best the critters when if comes down to raal hard playin’ fer keeps, but it’s a nasty pickle, as I said afore—a mighty nasty pickle.” Enoch Dodge was simply talking to keep his — comrades in play. His cool, keen brain was busily revolving the case over and over, untan- gling the knotted threads and smoothing them out so he could trace any particular one from its beginning to its end if necessary, The brother detectives began to realize some- thing of this, and they choked back their im- patience as best they could, contenting them- selves to wait until the oracle should see fit to speak to the point. Before this came to pass, Sol Scott caught sight of the returning horsemen, and his glad ejaculation seemed to rouse Enoch Dodge, ‘I say, mates, you’ve got two or three men in the bunch you can bet high on *thout much fear 0’ thar goin’ back onto ye?” “T would answer for any one of my em- loyes,” promptly replied Dan Brown, only to ders. “It’s a good thing fer to hev a heap 0’ confi- dence in a feller’s heap more to be dead sure, even ef you hev to do a bit o’ suspec tin’,” dryly retorted Enoch Dodge. ‘*That p’izen critter’ as good as told ye he hed spies on the watch, ready fer to pass him word ef you tried to double onto him.” “ He was lying.” ‘*Mebbe yes, but mebbe not. It won’t do no hurt to act as if he was slingin’ gospel truth at ye; best be on the safe side o’ the bars.” “ why do you ask? What do you want of the boys? ‘I want you to send off the hull heap an’ b’il- in’ of em, to w har they cain’t see jes’ what we do to that pizen critter of a Jump-up- Johnny. Round ’em up in one o the corrals, fer lack of a better place, an’ set a couple or three o’ your best men to watchin’ that they don’t none on ’em take to peekin’ afore they’re give leave.’ ** You mean to—” ** Never you mind, honey,” was the cool inter- ruption. ‘‘ He said this was a game of freeze- out. You play we was goin’ it bl’nd, an’ do jest | as the ole man tells ye. Will you, lad?” “Yes,” firmly cried Dan Brown, as he grasp- | ed the extended hand and pressed it warmly. | ‘*T know you are true as steel, and your brain is . heap clearer than either of ours. You too, Sol? ‘* Me too,” was the quiet res “Then git down to work, an’ meet the boys. Dan = your men an’ git the rest onder kiver, “Pl look out fer the rest 0’ the little game.” Having once yielded, neither Dan nor Sol wasted any time in executmg their orders. Brown selected West Long, Frank Munson and Ben Jimson to act as guards or patrols, and giving them their instructions, in'a few well- chosen words, made the remainder understand that while no one among them was suspected of any wrong, it was deemed best for the dear ones held in captivity for them to lie quiet, as though sent away from the spot when Johnny-jump-up should awaken. Sol Scott hastened out to meet the remaining two members of the Royal Flush, Nor’ West Nick and Turk Elder. And taking ‘them under his charge, he bade the men escorting them to at once report to Dan Brown. Scarcely had all this been arranged, and the men stowed away in a distant corral, where it would be impossible for them to obtain even a glimpse of what was transpiring under the lone tree, than Johnny-jump-up awakened, stretch- ing himself with a prolonged yawn. ‘Feel a heap better, don’t ye, stranger?” ask- ed a quiet voice that caused him to leap to his feet with a startled ejaculation, to find Enoch Dodge smiling grimly upon him. ‘‘ Hope I did- n’t roust. ye up out o’ your snooze, Stranger? Was just takin’ a mind photograph 0’ you so I could paint a devil in my next pictur’ o’ life in the Far West.” ‘* Of the Royal Flush going bu’st in a game of freeze-out?” laughed Johnny-jump-up with ad- mirable coolness. In truth he was startled far more than he would have been willing to acknowledge even to himself. The speedy coming of Dan Brown and Sol Scott had amazed him, for he could not even guess how they came to get wind of the affair so soon after it occurred. And now he saw the three men who went to make up the Royal Flush, all together, all watching him with more intentness than love or respect. Nor’ West Nick was there, fat as ever, with a still more enormous pair of mustaches ‘curling fiercely back to his ears. But in no other re- spect the same Nor’ West Nick whom we first met at Rocky Bar, at least to the outward eye. Then he seemed the typical bummer and dead beat, dirty, frowsy, ragged and disreputable in| every respect. Now he was neatly dressed in n | modified cowboy costume, his enormous waist encircled by a broad belt of stamped leather, studded all around with cartridges, and support- ing a knife and brace of heavy revolvers. His usually beaming countenance was grave and nse. ou, Scott, go out @ gr ected by a shrug from those bow ed’ shoul- | ’stablishment, but it’s wu’th a | ce i 17 stern, and Johnny-jump-up felt a peculiar thrill as those small eyes stared stexdily athim. They had such a strange, fishy look in their depths, peering out from double rolls of fat. By his side stood Turk Elder, a giant in hight and weight, with a round bullet-head so small as to look ridiculous at first glance. The ex-pugil- ist had been well treated by fortune since his meeting with Sol Scott in the secret chamber of the Owls. His honest bluntness then in the face of utter defeat had attracted the notice of the Masked Miner, and afterward, in those troubled days at Red Rock, when Judge Bruno and his _ particular henc hman, Equinox Tom, came to | grief, in part owing to the courage and might of t the once prize-fighter, r, this feeling was turned to | real liking and r espect. Sol Scott set Turk El- der up in business of his own, but as the days | passed on Turk showed peculiar qualities as a | detective, and he was transferred to the Agency at Denver. T hen, when the fight began against | Aces-and and his extensive gang of evil-doers Turk Elder was sent out to aid in ridding the community of the scourge in answer to a request signed by Sol Scott and Dan Brown of Denver. J ohnny-jump-up concealed his secret uneasi- ness admirably, though it was redoubled as he | saw all save the Royal Flush had disappeared | from the scene while he slept. He felt that the | cards were r unning contrary, and that he would need all his nerve to carry him safely through the game. | “Or of a johnny-jump-up growing with on’y one root, an’ that cne turned the wrong eend up- ards,” laughingly retorted Enoch Dodge. ‘It’s the durndest place fer nat’ral queeriosities, this kentry !” J ohnny- -jump-up turned away from the gaunt speaker with ashrug of his shoulders, addressing Dan Brown of Denver: ‘*Have you taken time enough to weigh the little matter I spoke of, Mr. Brown? If so,I am ready to receive your answ er, and carry it to my principal,” he said, with a trace of impatience in his tones. ‘** You refuse to make any change? You will not offer us any more reasonable terms?” slowly uttered the detective. ‘* For the last time, no!” cried the desperado, his blue eyes glowing as his right hand crept al- most imperceptibly tcward a revolver butt. ‘*'You are foolish to ask any such question. If you are only seeking to gain time—if you have sent off your men in hopes of w aylaying me or of tracking me to the spot where Aces-and is waiting my return, his knife at the throats of your children—y ou are making a bad matter worse. Come! I want my answer!” ‘* An’ byar you've got it, honey!” grated Enoch Dodge as he suddenly grasped the little despera- do from tehind, one strong hand Menttuiog each arm, a bony knee pressing heavily into the small of his back. “TI reckon it ccmes quick enough to suit your hurry, don’t it?” ‘*Curse you all! This will be the death of—” A dexterous twist burled him flat on his face to the ground. — f CHAPTER XIII. A COLD DEAL FOR JOHNNY-JUMP-UP, EVEN as he fell heavily, the little desperado contrived to snatch a knife from its scabbard, but before he could use tke blade, hampered as he was, Nor’ West Nick was at his side and wresting the u ugly weapon from his gra And then a touch of the keen edge severed in twain the belt which encircled Johnny-jump-up’s waist, and with this in his hend the fat detective fell back to the side of his mates, grinning in thor- ough appreciation of the scene, ‘** Let np, youcoward!” panted the desperado, struggling with all the frenzy of a madman. “Jump a man from behind! Ill be the death of you for this—Satan grill you alive!” * When you ’sociate with curs an’ cowards an’ sich like, do as they do.” equably retorted Enoch Dodge, watching his chance and sud- denly twisting both hands of his antagonist be- hind his back, when a sharp click told his mates ' the job was ‘done. , Meet ‘em at thar own tricks, an’ that’s jes’ what I’m doin’ now, J ohnny-w ith-the-pansy-pesy !” Enoch rose erect and stepped back a pace, per- mitting the handcuffed desperado to scramble to his footing as best he could. It was an almost hideous face that Johnny- | jump-up_ turned toward Dan Brown and Sol | Scott as he regained his feet, so full of ferocious | hatred was it—the face of a fiend rather than that cof a man. And his voice was harsh and rasping as he spoke: Is this according to your orders, dogs? Did you order him to assail me after this cowardly fashion? Did he even have your consent 0 bounce me like this?) Speak, you dirty whel His savage rage got the better of him, an he broke off in a torrent of oaths and curses that seemed enough to blister his tongue, only ceas- | ing for lack of breath, And then Dan rown, who had quietly listened to hisraving, made re- rly: * Enoch Dodge is one of us, and whatever one does, all are responsible for.” Johnny-jump-up knew now that his game | was lost. Those cold, measured tones would have proven that without any more convincing — IOO eom (E 4 q (S.COr ; ms Ay he ‘7 cad i! Men