Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 374 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

9 2 —_—_ — when you went East?” Philip. Gideon started till his clutch tightened. ‘‘Heavens! I ought to!” he exclaimed. ‘Td just like ter have my fingers at her throat for two minutes before leavin’ Custer!” ‘“Wal, I saw that same creature since sun- down.” ‘*In Custer?" ‘*Tn Custer!” A cold chill seemed to sweep over Gideon, then his eyes blazed like two hard struck matches, ‘*Do you really want to see her, Gideon?” asked the old whip. ‘* N—no, not now,” was the answer. ‘ I want to get out o’ Custer just now. Tl turn on that she viper some other time!” Philip Phinyn smiled and led the hunted sport to the stables where he kept his horses. ‘*How did you get along East, Gideon?” he asked. ‘Let me answer that question some other time. How did I get along, Philip? I wish I Major Blister, the Sport of Two Cities. suddenly continued | _ stopped spellbound on the threshold. had a revolver at the head of a man who stands | on the pier in New York an’ watches like a | spider for his victims. Give me your best horse, Philip.” ‘*T’ll do that, Gideon.” Gideon Goldbird contented himself as best he could while a well-limbed horse, full of fire and eager to be off, was saddled by the stage-driver, The Custer Sport was eager to be off; he longed to pass the sixty miles between Custer and Coy- ote, and to look once more into the cool eyes of | Major Blister, his master. tighten the girth. ‘‘Watch out, Gideon! They want you with the rest,” said the old fellow. ** Who does—who wants Gideon Goldbird?” *Ahat You ought ter know by this time!” was the retort. ‘‘ Forward, my friend! When you come back, bring your old mustache along.” ‘*By Jovet I will!” was the answer. “I swear ter you, Philip, that whenever I come back ter Custer Ill ev that mustache,” and laughing for the first time in many hours, Gid- eon rode away. The stage-driver was destined to recall that oath before long. Philip watched Gideon till the shadows of nicht hid his,figure. That man will fight like a tiger when cor- nered,” he said; ** but just now heis under some wild spell that makes him look like he faces a ghost.” As for Gideon, he rode through the suburbs of Custer, past the ghostly, scattering houses, the tall trees and spectral bushes. He left the wild scenes of the dens at his back, and loosened his _ didn’t I let those papers be?” cried bowie and looked to his revolvers as he went | over the trail that far away ran through Camp — Coyote. ‘* Stretch me for a Greaser, if I haven’t struck a streak ov luck at last!” cried Gideon, with two miles behind him. ‘‘So the woman who shadowed me ter Sidney was in Custer at sun- down? Let her stay thar till I’ve settled with | the Major an’ Alaric in Coyote—then let her come on!” Ten minutes later, without a sign of warning, a dark figure md ae ee in the Coyote trail. ‘**Isn’t Custer healthy, Gideon Goldbird?” said a voice which made the hunted sport recoil and | forget for the moment that he was armed to the teeth. The question was oe Lv oe le by a cer that awoke a thousand strange echoes in the Wild pass. ‘**Come, Gideon! don’t force me to spoil that face of yours. You have left Custer, I see. You must have found it as uncongenial as you found New York.” ‘* Jehosaphat! you?” Gideon leaned forward and saw the person who confronted him. A woman on horseback! “Tt is you, is it?’ he eried, ‘You are the woman who followed me to Sidney; you posted the man who waited for me on the pier in New York. I see! You are a part of the league against us. I warn you now, witch, to keep out of my way! Lowe you a debt which your sex will not prevent me from paying. Oh! you in- fernal tigress, I will spoil your beauty! Tl make dim your mad black eves!” Gideon was becoming bold. He even laid his hand on one of his revolvers. with a menace in her tone. Coyote, and we will “You had better not, Ill strangle you in- side of a mile!” The answer was a defiant laugh. “ Well risk that, Gideon!” said the woman. New York. Where did you leave that brilliant mustache you took away? Ah! off we are! Now go on with your story.” The two horses were side by side in the trail; their riders touched. Gideon was amazed at the coolness, the fear- lessness of the strange woman. He looked into In Satan’s name, who are | , are two iron blades exactly alike.” | told you a while ago, I guess your time has At last he was in the saddle, and saw Philip 13 the giant figure of Major Blister barred the way to freedom by the door. When Blister stepped back he caught the clerk’s wrist again and led him away, Cyrus noticed that the iron-handled dagger was miss- ing; he knew it had not been returned to the shelf; it must be concealed on the Sport’s per- | son, Tne two went up the camp’s main street to- gether and at the last cabin Major Blister turned suddenly toward the mountain. Cyrus was led on like a lamb to the slaughter. ‘* They may carry this thing too far!” he said to himself at last. ‘‘ ll die a fool if I make no fight for life, and after all it is better to go back to New York, and face the law than be | murdered in the Black Hills.” To the merciless man whose fingers seemed to sink into his wrist Cyrus Slinkum said nothing _as he was hurried along. He saw the ghostly trees and rocks and knew that they had left Camp Coyote behind. Major Blister did not halt with his prisoner until he had reached a place a mile from camp. It was a secluded spot between two rocky walls and a suitable place for a terrible crime. ‘*Hyer we are, Cyrus,” he said in bis old tones as he looked down into the clerl:’s face. ‘*T never beat about the bush in a caso cf this kind. I am going to end your trail with the knife that hunted my heart in room Number 44 at the Dolores.” Cyrus saw a movement that confirmed the desperado’s announcement, he iron blade had no glitter; its surface was dull and dark. her face and saw that she really was his stage companion to Sidney. ‘By Jupiter! I will try to take her to Coy- ote!” he suddenly thought. ‘‘ Pll play my cards with that end in view, and if I succeed, I prom- ise myself that she will never shadow another man in Sidney! Never!” CHAPTER XV. TIGERS IN COYOTE. QUARTZ Kip, who reached ‘the door of the saloon in Coyote in time to see Major Bhster swoop down upon Si Slinkum like an eagle, He deeply pst the clerk, who had walked into peril, and e—the boy spy—accused himself of much of Cyrus’s present misery; for he had acquainted the Major with the circumstances attending the flight from Custer. “Td like ter help you in some way, Mr. Slinkum, but I don’t see how I can,” said the boy. ‘* You’ve tumbled into the claws of a | tiger, sure enough, an’ they won’t prove velvet claws, either.” The young spotter saw Cyrus dragged across the bar room by the Sport of Two Cities, who looked at him with that triumph displayed by a hawk when he has captured a stubborn victim. ‘**So you ran off from Custer, but left behind papers that denounced me as Andros Ruby, a thug from New York?” hissed the Major. ‘* Don’t you know, Si Slinkum—as you want to be called here—that you play a bad hand with papers of that kind? I have you now, and as I | come!” ‘*T have done wrong, Major. M Major went on. yrus. ‘Yes! I will never ask ask it again at your laughed Blister. ‘‘ Come | hands. You are Andros Ruby, the New York I am executioner, judge an’ | thug, who with four men committed robbery in a case of this kind.” and murder one night in that city, You told e turned abruptly, with the young man still | me at the Dolores that if I gave you away you in his clutches. Quartz Kid saw the move- | would have my life. You called me Jasper ment, and stepped back, but he was too slow for | Judd. In an evil hour, when I was employed in Cyrus Slinkum’s eyes. the banking-house of Sharpe, Dodge and Com- ‘*T see who did it all!” the clerk exclaimed. | pany, I fell, and became a criminal. Men of ‘* That boy is ahead of me. He told you, Major | your stripe helped me to ruin, Andros Ruby, I Blister. e was here when I came. He never | am not sure that your hand was notin my down- God! why “Yes, why not? with me, Cyrus. jur liked me, an’ now this is his revenge.” fall. I fled to the West and under another Quartz Kid made no reply, but watched the | name I was trying to wipe out the past till you exciting scene of Cyrus being dragged toward | came. I did not think you would know me, I the cabins by his captor. called you Andros Ruby to your face in your “IT don’t hate that poor wretch. I never did, | room and there you threatened to send me hack but I didn’t like the style he used to put on at | to New York. I resolved to brand you and to the Dolores. He used to be a little too big for his clothes, but for all that he’s a good fellow at heart. Vl help you if I can, Corus but Pm | afraid I can be of no service to you.” Major Blister took the clerk to the cabin, | hands.” which he and Wild Alaric had inhabited since | Major Blister could not conceal his chagrin reaching the camp, and Cyrus was dumped | over these words firmly spoken by the youth upon a wooden stool without any ceremony. who looked up into his face. The voice did not He had no color now, and his eyes were fullof quaver, the young man’s eyes had no fear in fear and fright. their depths now. ‘**Do you recognize this?” suddenly asked the ‘* Curse you! you might have left Custer with- Major, taking from a rough shelf some object | out denouncing me,” said the Major. wrapped in pone: ** But I did not.” Cyrus leaned forward with a curiosity which ‘No, you would not! Come! we must put he could not suppress, and uttered an exclama- | an end to this. I am playin’ a cold game tion when the paper was fairly unwrapped. against this iron dagger and ite mate. I want A_terrible-looking iron-handled bowie lay in | no stumbling-blocks in my way. Are you the Major’s hand, and the desperado Sport look- | ready to die, Jasper Judd?” ed up into the clerk’s eyes. The reply came from an unexpected quarter. ‘‘ Have you ever seen this before?” he asked. | There was a slight noise at the side of the me into your clutches, No; I do not beg for mercy any longer. Add another crime to the long list treasured up against you. I amin your ~ Yes,” path, and the next mcment a figure alighted **'Whar!” at Blister’s side. **Tn Custer.” “*T think you are wanted in camp,” said the “ When?” ‘| new-comer addressing the Major. ‘Mark the ** The night Poker Perry was killed.” Unknown has just arrived.” Major Blister shook his head. ‘* Heavens!” ejaculated the desperado drop- ‘*No; this is not the one. The handle of that | ping the clerk’s arm. blade turned; this one will not move. I felt | ‘It is true! I saw him just awhile ago. You this devilish dagger between my shoulders, but | know that I would not lie to you, Major. I : ' out an invitation to do so, “‘T am anxious to know how you got along in | - now dark outside, and the nearest cabins were Thar | am Quartz Kid. your pard, an’—” | ‘“T will go, but first let me attend ter this The clerk of the Dolores exhibited his wonder- | tarantula that bit me ere he left Custer,” and ment in his eyes, he started toward Cyrus Slinkum who had “T am going to get the owners of those dag- | started back. ers,” the Major went on. ‘‘ We are waiting | ‘‘No! leave him to me,” said Quartz Kid or them now, Mr. Slinkum. You came on! planting himself firmly between Blister and ahead of them, so we'll have to deal with you the youth. ‘‘Goto Coyote an’ settle with the first.” iron blade before it gets to work again. Go Cyrus almost bounded from the stool. The now.” Sport of Two Cities spoke with a coolness that , ‘* By heavens, I will!” sent a shudder through his frame. The next instant the two youths were the ‘“* Mercy!” he cried. only occupants of the spot where a moment be- “Don’t be a child, Cyrus!” laughed the Ma- | fore Cyrus Slinkum’s life was not worth a cop- jor. ‘ You never thought of mercy while you | per. They looked into each other’s face for I'm not hyer ter tell the story, Cyrus. : | war drawing up the papers that denounced me | some time without i pageant ‘*Don’t do that, Gideon,” wi the woman, ‘We are not go- | ing to part ge I am going to Catap ceep each other company.” | as Andros Ruby. Show some courage now, and | look your fate squarely in the face.” ‘*What—are—you—going to—do—with me?” *T shall pnt you out of Andros Ruby’s way forever!” was the cold whisper. The next moment the hand of the Sport en- circled the clerk’s wrist, and Cyrus got up with- | He did not plead again; but with all color out of his lips and hope fading from his eyes, he stood ready for his fate. Major Blister suddenly dropped the young man’s hand and went to the cabin door. Tt was ‘**T never expected to see you here when I told the Major about the papers,” said Quartz Kid, | breaking the embarrassing silence. **And I never thought to wander into Camp Coyote,” was the reply. ‘You must wander ont again,” the boy spy went on. ‘*‘ Maior Blister will never focriare the deed you did before you fled from Custer. He will hunt you down for it. Don’t thank me for coming here in the nick of time, Cyrus. I pity you. Between the crime in New York and Max Blister’s hatred, you will have a terrible time, I fear. We have never been close friends, but I never hated you. You must not go back to Coyote. Your trail lies in another direction.” “T will thank you first, anyway,” said Cyrus, scarcely visible. Cyrus looked at the little win- dow to his left, but 1t offered him no escape, and ‘*Have you stopped prayiug for mercy?” the flee. 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