Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 374 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

be 2 two avengers and Adele, the girl. 12 He had seen the young girl who was Mark’s friend; he had looked, unseen himself, into her jet-black eyes, and he believed that she would prove a greater foe than the Unknown himself. More than once Major Blister took out the ‘iron dagger and looked at it, with eyes that al- ways flashed and teeth that met like a tiger’s whenever the terrible blade was in sight. It was the exact counterpart of the one whose handle turned. If the two had been placed side by side, they could not have been distinguished one from the other. ‘*T don’t care who wields these two bowies, the same hand fashioned them,” he always said, while he contemplated the one that had struck him. ‘‘ This makes me believe thet the man with black eyes and he with the gray are in league.” And then he would end ‘vith a laugh and say, ‘with the flash of a challenge: ‘*T wish they would come!” Wild Alaric knew what he was saying when he told the Major that Coyote would suit him, and that he would find its society congenial. This turned out to be true. The pards of Coyote took kindly to the Sport of Two Cities. Wild Alaric dropped a few words here and there that led them to infer that Major Blister was a persecuted man, that the erson who had killed Night-Owl Oll wanted his lood also, and that he had been cowardly at- tacked by an assassin in Custer, barely escaping with his life. This was enough to secure to the Major the friendship of the bronzed and dark-shirted roughs of Coyote. Before the end of the first week they were ready to elect him to the posi- tion of alcalde, but he shook his head and re- fused the honor. Six days and no message from Quartz Kid. The boy had received certain instructions from Major Blister before the flight from Custer; he could not forget them. He was to watch the He was also to inform them pervayely saat Major Blister and his pard were to found at Coyote. Quartz Kid was the sworn ally of the hunted sports. It was the seventh day after the arrival in Camp Coyote that Major Blister received his first news from the world beyond the mount- ains. He was in the act of pouring into a very thick glass some of Terrapin Tom’s best liquor, when a hand touched his own and he looked down into the eyes of Quartz Kid. The Major started as if a messenger from the dead stood beside him; he left the fiery liquor untasted, * At last! By Jove! [’m boy!” he exclaimed. ‘* You news?” ‘“‘T have news,” said the boy, and his eyes showed that he had come to Coyote with some important information. Major Blister led the way to the cabin, and having crossed the threshold, he turned on Quartz Kid and seized his arm. ‘‘ Now open your budget. By Jupiter! I’ve been waiting six days for something,” he said. ‘Tn the first place, the whole game seems ter be up.” The Major uttered an exclamation of wonder- ment. ‘‘ Mark an’ ther girl hev left Custer, an’ ther Satan-orbed man is gone too.” ‘¢ When did they go?” ‘¢Ther night arter you left.” “Wal, they haven’t hit Coyote,” exclaimed the Major. ‘*T don’t know anything about that of course. All I can say is that they’re gone—the hull set. Tn the second place, Si Slinkum the livin’ mum- my thet stood at the clerk’s desk in the Dolores has vamosed the town.” ‘That's nothing to me!” said the Major. ‘‘He left behind him a paper that created considerable talk in Custer.” ‘He did, eh?’ flashed the Sport of Two Cities. ‘‘ Did that infernal young fool whom I should have throttled—did he aim his Parthian arrows at me?” “IT guess he did, Major. He put the paper where it would not be found till he had thirty hours the start. Jt said that you are not M Blister. It calls you—let me see now—” : ‘‘Never mind what the liar said!” said the Major whose face resembled a lobster’s shell for redness. ‘‘One of these days I shall get m hands on this forger-coward after which he wi leave no more documents behind when he runs off! But what was the sentiment in Custer when you left?” “Pretty much ag’in’ yer Major,” replied Quartz Kid frankly. Max Blister bit his lips m silence for a mo- ment, and avoided the boy’s gaze. Suddenly he looked up again. ‘* Any more news?” he asked. “Yes; last night Gideon came back.” * Gideon Goldbird, my messenger to New “York?” cried the Major almost springing from his stool. ‘‘ What does he say?” “T don’t know. He 2amc upinthe stage from eh 2 i went right to bed. I left at day- Jight, but before I came away I stole up to his ae to see you, ave fetched us a lister, the Sport of T'wo Cities. wouldn’t know Gideon.” “Why not, Kid?” ‘He’s lost the handsome mustache he had when he went away. He looks thin, like a liv- ing skeleton. That man has seen terrible times since he left Custer for New York.” **I wish i had kept back long enough to have heard Gideon’s story,” the Major said. ‘Tf it is like he looks, I don’t want to hear it,” answered Quartz Kid with a faint smile. There was no answer, and the boy got up and went to the little window and looked up the street. ‘‘Jimminy crickets!” he suddenly exclaimed. ‘Talk about Satan an’ he’s sure ter turn up.” ‘© Who’s out thar?” Major Blister was at the boy’s side while he oke. ‘*Mr. Slinkum, late of Custer.” ‘*The hound who maligned me ere he left?” ‘Mr. Slinkum of the Dolores.” The next instant the Sport of Two Cities was on the outside of the cabin, and his eyes caught sight of a figure ere it disappeared beyond the threshold of Coyote’s most prominent bar-room, ‘‘ The fool will think he has trumbled head- long into a human steel-trap,” the boy heard the desperado hiss. ‘‘He had to call me Andros Ruby before he left Custer, and in the papers he left behind he gave me away to such men as Captain Claude and pards. I owe you a terri- ble debt for this, Jasper Judd, forger, thief and burglar’s pal! You don’t dream that in your wanderings you have found the very man of all men whom you do not want to meet.” Away went the maddest man in Camp Coyote with his eyes fastened on the saloon. ‘‘Hang me, if I don’t pity the wandering wretch,” said Quartz Kid, as he watched Major Max storming toward the den, ‘“‘He never treated me half white, that’s a fact, but I pity him for all that.” It was too late to overtake the Major, too late also to get between him and his victim, The boy followed him eager to see what would hap- pen, and ready to shield if possible his old ac- quaintance of the Dolores, Meanwhile, Si Slinkum looking seedy and al- together unlike the sleek or owe cs who usec to receive guests in Custer had reached the coun- ter with a very thirsty look. He had walked straight to the den finding it as if by instinct, and had not inquired where he was. ** Give me your hottest and best,” was the or- der that greeted the man behind the bar, and while Cyrus was pouring out the drink he looked up to ask: ‘‘ What place is this?” ‘* Camp Coyote, sir.” If the fugitive clerk had been told that he had entered pandemonium he would not have shown more astonishment. The up-turned bottle almost dropped from his hand. Camp Coyote! He seemed to realize that he had entered the wrong place. He had indeed remembered to have heard it said in Custer that Major Blis- ter and Wild Alaric had come to Coyote. ‘‘ Let me get out of here at once,” he said, to himself, as he gulped down the burning stuff - that brought tears to his eyes and almost choked ice ‘‘ Tf this is Coyote, [ have stepped into the re.’ At that moment the figure of Major Blister entered at the open door. The desperado saw his victim at the first lance, and the next instant his hand dropped ike a trip-hammer upon the clerk’s shoulder. ‘“‘ This is the last place on earth for you, Jas- per Judd !” he exclaimed. ; Cyrus turned with a ery of horror. If the Major’s hand had not clutched him like the merciless grip of a vise, he would have cleared the den at a bound. f ‘“You? you?” he gasped looking up into Max Blister’s face. ‘‘ Why not?’ laughed the Sport. ‘Did you expect to meet an angel in Coyote? You will never brand me as dros Ruby to another town. Jasper Judd, forger and traitor, your sae come! To you I am Andros the evil! CHAPTER XIV. STILL ON THE TRAIL, GIDEON GOLDBIRD had come back to Custer, which announcement is evidence enough that he had disappointed somebody by not dying in the cellar under Mother Redbird’s Mulberry street trap. clonnie Kid the Major’s boy detective had spoken truly when he said that Gideon had lost his most prominent adornment—his long black mustache which he was wont to keep well waxed and in excellent order. In his little room over the saloon his old haunt and place of business Gideon awoke the morn- ing efter his return, and found the sun shining in his face. He could hardly realize that he was once more in Custer, and several times a | with a cry of gratitude. ‘ strange shiver made his teeth chatter. He got up went to a cracked mirror in a shod- ' down ter Sidney in the corner of the stage room an’ found him still asleep. Major, you | dy frame, looked at his pale and ghastly imare 22 eee —w once, and then gave utterance to an exclama- tion of horror. ‘¢ Another trip to New York, Gideon, would do you up entirely,” he said aloud. ‘‘ May I Lroil on the gridiron ov Tartarus! if I'd repeat my experience for all the gold in the Sierras, That man who calls himself John Leopard is but half- human; he could doom a man to a pit ov taraii- tulas an’ smile while he did it. I am not kack hyer by any of his mercy—not by a hanged sight. I had to lose my mustache whiih f wouldn’t have sold for a thousand a month ago. Nobody recognized me in the stage comin’ up from Sidney an’ I don’t wonder either. I dcn’ti even resemble the ghost ov Gideon Goldbird.” Gideon proceeded to fortify himself with scv- eral invigorating drinks before he ventured cut. He knew nothing of the events which hed taken place in Custer during his absence, and Quartz Kid who had stolen to his room and found him asleep had left him to his dreams without imparting any information. Gideon passed a dozen old friends without be- ing recognized. Nobody dreamed that he would ever come back to Custer without that match- less mustache, The first thunderbolt that struck him was the: death of Poker Perry by the iron blade; then other surprises followed until he knew that Major Blister and Wild Alaric had decamped from Custer. ‘If they are huntin’ the Major with a knife they'll not overlook Gideon Goldbird!” he ejaculated. ‘*‘ Why did I come back hyer when I got out of New York? I didn’t haveter. Yes, I lid: there was the Major’s cool an’ awful threat. starin’ me in the face.” Gideon saw the shadows of nightfall about the Black Hills town before he could decide what to do. He kept pretty close during the day, and the voices of old acquaintances, heard unexpectedly, sent a thrill to his heart. He looked more an more like a hunted man as the shadows length- ened, and more than once he braced his nerves anew by copious draughts of his favorite decoc- tion. At last he made up his mind to quit Custer. There already scemed a Nemesis at his heels, and he appeared to live in the terrible shadow of the iron-handled dagger. In the solitude of his little room, without lamp, Gideon resolved to join the Major and Wild Alaric if possible. Hie remembered that Alaric had inhabited Camp Coyote, and it was natural for him to believe that the hunted perds. had gone there. He would seek Coyote also. Gideon had nothing to pack. is worldly ossessions consisted of the clothes he wore, a owie knife and a brace of revolvers, The weapons were friends with whom he swore he would never part. It was dark when he stole down-stairs ready for flight. The gambling-dens of young Custer were already in full blast and the little city was living again its wild life. Out on the street, Gideon took a long breath. He was again a hunted man, but this time damp walls did not surround him, and he did not hear the merciless laugh of John Leopard, the cool head of New York. He did not think of leaving Custer afoot; he might have need of horse-flesh before he reached Camp Coyote, and he had a steed in his mind’s: eye. N Good-by, Custer,” he said, trying to smile. ‘‘ When I come back, if I ever do, I will not present my present appearance. We three will play a game against this iron bowie which hunts us night am’ day from what I’ve learned. Only let me get beyond Custer—then let its accursed owner look out.” Gideon had not advanced a square toward the spot where he expected to mount a horse before he was glancing uneasily over his shoulder. He seemed to believe that he was already tracked. Once or twice he stopped and Jaid his hand on one of his six-shooters while he ground his teeth and growled defiance. He reached a certain house however, and was admitted. It was the home of the driver of the stage between Custer and Sidney, e big man with a jolly eye and as brown as a Tar- ‘You told me once, Philip, that if ever my day of trouble came to come to you. Wal, hyer Iam.” The stage-driver did not recognize the man before him, - “Who are you?” he cried. ‘* What! don’t you know Gideon Goldbird?” ‘Jehu! whar’s yer mustache? Thar wasn’t another like it West 0’ St. Louis!” Gideon almost groaned. ‘Pll get another with your help, Philip,” he said looking down into the man’s eyes. ‘I’m goin’ away an’ I want a horse. Rememler ie injunction, Philip Phinn. I am in trquble have come to you.” ‘An’ Ill help you, Gideon!” Gideon Goldbird clutched the driver’s arm Help meant escape, “Do you recollect the woman who rece Gomic ooo) <3