Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 367 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

———— a = ~ 1" — 13 = - - + evidence. He knew, too, that his life was in i deadly peril, if not utterly forfeited, and deep down in his heart he cursed himself for having dailied so long, for having thrown away his great advantages. And then once more his scorching rage and intense hatred swept away the last vestige of prudence, and he snarled vi- ciously, his blue eyes all ablaze: ‘* You'll sup sorrow for this, Dan Brown! You'll weep tears of blood for your share in this vile outrage, Sol Scott! Think of your wives and your children when Aces-and learns how his messenger is treated! Think of those dainty women turned over to the gang—” Enoch Dodge cut his frenzied outburst short, after a characteristic and unique fashion. ‘* Johnny, Johnny, my son, won’t you never Varn perliteness a-tall?” he muttered, reproach- fully, as his sinewy hands close on the shoulders ( of th diminutive desperado and with a dexter- ous twist brought him off his feet and across his deftly protruded knee. And then, squatting there before the remain- der of the Royal Flush, Enoch Dodge held Johnny-jump-up helpless with one sinewy hand while the other played the traditional role of a maternal slipper until.the surrounding atmos- phere seemed full of exploding firecrackers. ; ‘* If your conscience tell ve it ain’t putt on thick enough, Johnny,” mildly uttered the gaunt detective as he released his victim and rose - erect, beaming genially down on the crouching desperado, ‘‘all you got to do is to make a sign, an’ [ll double the half-solin’. °’Tain’t no man- att oe trouble. Fact is, Il ruther like the doin’ of it! 1 Saget ee rose, gazing fairly into the | face of the grim humorist with eyes that glowed like living coals of fire. His face was as white | as death, his blanched lips quivering with deadly hatred. But in nothing lee did he betray agi- tation. His voice was cold and even as he spoke: “I won’t forget this, Enoch Dodge. If I have no other points of an honest man, [ always pay my debts. Tl pay you off, sooner or late. And may the devil lend you strength and life ; sufficient to carry you tothe end of that pay- ment!” “‘Lord love ye, little cuss,” grinned the tall detective, blandly. ‘‘ I count on seein’ the gra ha’rs of my great gran’ childern, an’ I hain’t even begun fer to look ‘round a’ter a wife, yit! It won’t be no trouble fer my len’th o’ life; but it’s yours that gits me—gits me bad! Fer you do look the most onhealthiest! Fact is, it | wouldn't s’prise me one mite ef you was to go tr oif the hooks any minnit!” ‘‘ Murder me—that’s all that will save you!” | savagely grated the spanked desperado; then : turning to Dan Brown and Sol Scott, both of whom were gravely watching, waiting, If either of them had doubts as to the pru- dence of the course taken by Enoch Dodge, neither suffered these doubts to appear in their | faces. Having given place to him, they were not men to trust only half-way. He would have Nae free swing. “But even that won’t save . dogs!” added Johnn Jump-up, is eyes blazing, ’ his face hard and deep-lined. ‘‘ By this time | word is speeding to Aces-and of your treachery! Before you can do aught to prevent it, your wives and children will pay the penalty! Kill me, if you will, Vl go under feeling that my vengeance is assured!’ ‘7 ‘* You hain’t got enough, I see, Johnny,” and rim Enoch dropped a hegyg hand upon the f shoulder of his prisoner. ‘* You will let your angry passions rise, when I’ve told ye time an’ time ag’in that ye didn’t ort to doit! It’spesky queerious how hard it is to Yarn some boys which is which an’ which is t’other! They won’t take it in at the top eend, which one’d think was the easiest, nur you cain’t hammer it in at : Vother, But ’'m willin’ to try ag’in—I’m willin’ ae to keep on a-tryin’ ontel my han’ gives out, an’ } _ then I'll rive a shake out of a tree, an’ keep on “3 in’. Fer o’ sech is the kingdom o’ pappy- ; ood! i> Despite himself, Johnny-jump-up shrunk back 1 and cowered beneath that sturdy grip. It was | fear of bodily pain. He believed himself ‘ grit- | ty ” enough to withstand all the torture his ene- a mies could inflict on him. But the shameful ; humiliation was worse than any torture any In- Fine dian brave conceiyed. | Enoch Dodge felt him-cringe and quiver be- 7 » neath his hand, anda short, grim laugh parted ree his lips as he said: ‘All right, J obnny, I cept your ’pology. ey Don’t transgress nomo’, an’ you shain’t take a lay-over for bottom repa’rs ag’in. Lord loveye jad, I ain’t cog fer it! I don’t w’ar gloves, an water is too skurce in these parts to make it nice work. ’Deed I tell ye, now!” With a desperate effort Johnny-jump-up com- posed himself sufficiently to turn to Dan Brown and address him calmly: 2, ‘** You arethe one most deeply interested in this affair, Mr. Brown, and to you I put the query: Do you sanction this outrage?” ‘*Do you mean your spanking?” coolly asked the Denver detective. _ It was worse than a blow in the face from the hand of a pretty woman. Johnny-jump-up ‘ “ewe ou nor yours, _ OF eee. eC ——..U turned pale as death, then flushed until it seem- ed as though the boiling blood must burst through the skin. From red to ashen, then he managed to speak: ‘* You know what.I mean. I came here a mes- senger, a bearer of a flag of truce, so tospeak. I gave you terms on which you might hope to re- gain possession of your captured families, you and Sol Scott. You begged for time in which to consider the conditions, and I granted it, be- lieving you to be in earnest. Asa proof of my entire confidence in your good faith, I lay down in the midst of your armed ruffians and fell asleep. I awakened—to what?” His voice choked and he ceased abruptly. Even to complete his desperate arraignment, he could not allude more distinctly to the humiliat- ing punishment he had received from the hands of the tall detective. ' ‘*To a knowledge that your vile schemes are known to us all,” Dan Brown coolly uttered, his blue eyes glowing fiercely, but his face calmand composed, his voice low and even in its tones. ‘*You pitiful rascal! Did you for a moment think that we couldn’t see through your trick? Did you think we would come to your preposter- ous terms?” ‘*Then you doom your family to worse than death!” ‘* If so, you will never be the wiser! You will not be there to gloat over their sufferings!” ‘‘ Tt is as I suspected, then?’ quietly asked the desperado, his wonted coolness and nerve return- ing to him as he looked the worst fairly in the face. ‘‘ You mean to murder me?” ‘* Tt is no murder to cut off a mad dog in the midst of its last frantic rush. It is not murder to crush the head of a rattlesnake as it sounds its warning and draws back to strike. And you are even more dangerous than the worst of the two. Murder! and you ?” Dan Brown turned away with a short, hard laugh of bitter contempt. Johnny-jump-up glared around him like a mad wolf turned to bay. Little comfort could he extract from those stern, pitiless faces. From them his gaze reek swiftly beyond, to be arrested by a figure near the corral, creeping slowly, painfully toward the lonetree. <A figure which he recognized at. a glance and the sight of which rendered his face still whiter, hiseyes still more desperate. It was Top Dancer, dragging himself nearer to the spot where the demon who had so ruth- lessly shot him down without warning while in the performance of his sworn duty, was about to meet the penalty due his manifold crimes. Dan Brown also discovered the wounded cow- boy at the same moment, and his low ejaculation directed the attention of Sol Scott toward Top Dancer. The detective started forward, mut- tering: ‘* | swore he should see it when the time came —should take a part in the punishment!” At a sign from Dan Brown, Turk Elder and Nor’ west Nick followed after Sol Scott, to aid in carrying the sorely wounded cowboy. Turning once more toJohnny-jump-up, Dan Brown said: ‘* Tf you have anyt ing further of importance to offer, John Sand, address yourself to my friend, Enoch Dodge. I have turned you over to him, to deal with as he sees fit and proper.” ‘An’ ef you go to cuttin’ up too rusty, little shaver, [ll turn you over jes’ as I did a bit ago, to show you the big difference they is atween a man an’ a runty scoundrel from Rapscallion- ville!” placidly supplemented the shining light of Grenada. A hard, reckless laugh grated through the clinched teeth of the handcuffed villain, ow- ing how helpless he was in the hands of these strong men, he had nerved himself to bear all they might see fit to put upon him, and thus cheat them out of the dearest portion of their revenge, ‘*Do your worst, devils! Til show you that it don’t take a mountain to makeaman! You can hang or butcher, but that is all. Even in death I'll show myself your better!” “T want to know!” drawled Enoch, with arched eyebrows. ‘‘ Waal, now, sonny, ef you was free to bet, an’ ef I wasn’t a ’spectable pil- lar o’ the church, I'd go ye a cookie that you’re lying right from the word go! That you'll squeal wuss then two pigs onder a gate afore I’ve bin argyin’ with you a week. An’ afore the month goes by— Good Lawd! whar’s the use in talk- in’? *zorter under the ‘fluence o’ the power, couldn't git within telegraph range o’ you—no, sir /” ‘Don’t forgit one thing—those women and their children will have to pay for all this, Dan Brown!” A heavy hand fell on his shoulder and whirled him around to face Enoch Dodge once more. The ex-mayor of Grenada spoke sharply: ‘* Keep to the text as the boss lined it out fer ye, Jobnny! He said I was fu’st mate on this at-boat, an’ you hain’t no right to jaw back at the cap’n fer what I give ye. Sabe, John?” ‘They'll suffer for it!” snarled the desperado, a wild and hunted light leaping into his eyes as he found his last hope deserting him. a-chawin’ on that, ef you like the e juice, Johnny MeritEne Beet PENT, P e ‘* Kee taste o’ grinned Dan Brown’s representative. Oe eee nan a ———— rv ———————— won’t take the trouble to choke ye off. Ye know it’s the rule fer to give a man all he axes fer when the gallows is sot up an’ the noose isall ready an’ waitin’ fer his thrapple to fill it out snug an’ tight. You play you was that man, Johnny, an’ take all the comfort ye kin, while ye kin—fer yer sands o’ life is runnin’ mighty short!” ‘Get it over with, curse you!” snarled the desperado. ‘‘ Ef you're in sech a mighty rush, mebbe it won’t come to an eend quite so soon,” placidly retorted Enoch. ‘‘ Thar comes the second boss, an’ from the lovin’ looks that pore critter he totes is castin’ at ye, I shouldn’t wonder a mite ef he was kerryin’ a reprieve, or somethin’ to that effec’—no, I shouldn’t, now!” A short, husky laugh broke from the pallid lips of Top Dancer as his bearers paused before Johnny-jump-up. ‘IT knew it, you cur!” he gasped, seeming to gain renewed life and strength as he beheld his assassin helpless in the toils, ‘‘I still live, and you—you are doomed! I said I would live—to spit on your vile corpse! Ill keep my oath, now |’ It was bitter as death itself for Johnny-jum BP to stand helpless and listen to those words. They cut deeper than the ironical comments of Enoch Dodge, and in desperation he turned to m. “You claim to have charge of this affair. What are you going to do? Spit it out.” ‘* In a heap bigger hurry than you was when you held the whip-hand over these gents, ain’t yet drawled Dodge. ‘* Waal, I don’t know as blame ye much. It must be pritty rough fer to take sech a tumble from your high hoss—to come down to listenin’ an’ beggin’ so soon after you filled the pulpit—it must so /” Johnny-jump-up relapsed into a sullen silence. ‘* Makes a powerful sight o’ difference whose bull it is that gits the hornin’ , don’t it, Johnny?” grinned the master of ceremonies, ‘' Time was when you jes’ loved the sound o’ human wind, an’ couldn’t draw the sarmon out fine enough. But then it was white men as suffered, you low- down whelp o’ perdition !” Hot and bitter came the concluding sentence, and as his just indignation overpowered him, Enoch Dodge caught the desperado in a mighty ipe that threatened a speedy vengeance. But ol Scott caught his arm and uttered a warning murmur. Instantly the ex-mayor of Grenada relaxed his Brasp and fell back, whipping both eee behind him, the better to resist tempta- ion. ‘* Little more an’ I’d ’a’ done it, wouldn’t I?” he muttered, with a half-abashed smile upon his honest countenance, ‘‘ Thinkin’ o’ the way he kivered you all over with his dirty insults sort 0’ sot my blood to b’ilin’ over; but it won’t hap- pen ag’in. It ain’t fer the likes o’ him to ho the twig so easy. No, sir! When he goes, it’ll be with a blessin’ on the hand that sends him on his down trip to the old boy!” ‘‘And I must have a—hand in—it!” panted Top Dancer. ‘‘ The boss promised—I might.” Johnny-~jump-up knew now that he was doom- ed to death, if not worse, and his eyes glanced swiftly around during the brief interval in which Enoch Dodge was off hisguard. He saw the horses standing near—so near that_two mighty leaps would carry him to them. With his hands ironed and behind his back, it would be a delicate job, but—at least it was the ghost of a chance, and anything was better than to stand still and bear all these bitter taunts. With a move like lightning, he lea up and kicked Enoch Dodge in the middle, then leaped past him with a wild yell. Only to come in contact with one long arm as Turk Elder bar- red the way. And, lifted from his feet by the huge ex-pugilist, he was held kicking and wri- thing as he cursed and blasphemed, high in the air, utterly impotent. Shell I drap him, boss?” quietly asked Elder, the hard light in his eyes, t ognmerng of his mighty muscles telling how hard he meant that drop should be. “No,” guk’y cried Dan Brown, leaping for- ward and tapping the huge arm. ‘He must squeal before he croaks!” ‘‘ All right, boss,” placidly replied the giant as he lowered his captive to the ground, steady- ing him until he felt his feetagain. ‘ Ef you say ueal, squeal it’s got to be, in course!” ’ Not from my lips!” sullenly grated the baf- fled desperado. ‘* You can kill, but you can’t make me talk more than I choose of my own free will. Even in death I'll have my re- little high-kicker,” venge !” ‘“‘That’s your say-so growled Enoch Dodge, his face still showin signs of the vicious stroke he had receiv ‘Wait ontel Pve tried my powers 0’ persuasion, an’ then see. I’ve handled more contrary crit- ters then you dare be!” Sol Scott stepped forward and with a sudden trip, threw Johnny-jump-up to the ground, kneeling on his body while he_ deftly knotted a stout thong about hisankles. Rising, he handed Top Dancer a revolver, saying gravely: “We leave the rascal in your care for a few minutes, Top. If he manages to break his bonds, shoot him like a dog! Butnotunless you ECO AMIKELDOOLK<S G (E(@) me —