Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 374 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

Me. 16 for several moments after Gideon closed, the sports did not speak. ‘*So ther girl—Adele—has come ter Coyote,” said Alaric at last. ‘’ As she sent the dispatch thet put John Leopard on yer track in New York, Gideon, i don’t see how yer kept yer hands off o’ her.’ “J did it with difficulty,” said Gideon, who did not think it worth while to state that if he had lifted a finger against Adele during the ride, he would have got a bullet in his head. “T thou; ght Pd find you an’ ther Major hyer, an’ thet’s w ‘hy I didn’t pay her in crimson coin for thet telegram. Won’t ther Major give me a chance ter explain how I came ter send ther dispatch he got?” ‘* [Pll do that, Gideon,” “J don’t want any cee peace,” said Goldbird quickly. he doesn’t , want me hyer, by heavens! I kin | go elsewhar.’ A ‘smile broadened at the corners of Wild | Alaric’s mouth, and he leaned forward and laid one finger gently on Gideon’s sleeve, “Whar would you go, Gideon? We ar’ now between two iron daggers.’ Gideon started and | suddenly grew pale. ** Tf it’s that bad, hang me! if I know whar I would go; but Ta go somewhar,” he said, ** From a remark dropped by ther Major afore he left, [infer thet one ov ther iron blades is wielded by Fred Ferret, ther Broadway Spot- ” ar It is.” ** An’ ther other?” ‘“By aman known as Mark ther. Unknown. ‘“‘He is ther man who has done ther killin’ SO far. He found Night-Owl Oll in Coyote, an’ Poker Perry in Custer, an’ ther iron blade did its work,” “Hasn't Fred Ferret struck yet?” **Oh, yes. Ther Major got ther dagger be- tween his shoulders, but his constitution fetched him through. Gideon, do you think you’ll go away now q” No! not while we have those two men ter fight!” exclaimed Gideon, as if imbued with the courage of a lion in an instant. ‘‘ We three men must fight this game through, then I go back ter New York an’ pay my respects ter John Leopard. Major Blister may not let us ” explain, but he shall not drive me off. I am hyer ter stay. Ill grow another mustache, an’ when I take it to Gotham, the man who corraled me thar must look out! Fight it is, Alaric! wer ter ther knife! What ar’ yer plans?” Vild Alarie, who sat on a rough table, while Gideon occupied a _ three-legged stool, looked down into the eyes thet fairly flashed. Despite the loss of his mustache, Gideon Gold- bird once more looked like himself, and Alaric had seen his courage tested more than once, ‘Stay hyer an’ we'll give you work,” the Coyote sport said. “‘ITamcaptainnow. Ther Major has turned this campaign over terme. [ am ter set ther trap thet’s ter catch ther iron blades.” ‘*Give me yer hand—thar!” of the sports met in a silent pledge of renewed pardship. ‘Burt Browne took tho girl in,” Alaric went on. ‘* We saw him from ther window, but thet means nothin’. Burt Browne is but one man, an’ his influence in Coyote is limited, sleep in his shanty whar she is. We may use hor ter bait our trap. Pm glad you picked her up on ther way, Gideon.” ‘* She picked me up,” laughed the messenger- sport. I don’t want ter play with thet wo- man. I can’t forget thet she sent me straight ter Mother Redbird’s cellar. I could choke her ter death.” ‘ rs But you must not. Keep your hands from er. ‘* Then let her stay out o’ my sight.” The conference broke up and the two sports appeared in the main street of the camp. It was new to Gideon, but not unlike several mountain camps he had already seen. Alaric conducted him to the most important place in Coyote, Terrapin Tom’s, where he was introduced to several inhabitants of the camp. Gideon noticed that he was strangely eved by the men, and at the first opportunity he whis- pered in ’Alaric’s ear: ‘‘Tn God’s name, why do they eye me so? ’m no hoss-thief! I expect ter be charged with murder within ther next five minutes!” Wild Alaric could barely keep back the laugh that bubbled to his lips, He, too, had noticed that Gideon was close y scrutinized, but there ~was something about him that claimed atten- tion. The loss of a mustache worn so long had given Gideon a cadaverous appearance, and his adventures in New York and his flight. had not yet had their marks effaced. Gideon bit his lips under the stares he re- ceived, and invited the crowd up to the coun- ter, The invitation was accepted with much reluctance; some men hung back and looked sullen. ‘*T’m under suspicion, an’ I haven’t been hyer three hours yet,” muttered Gideon. ‘I wish they’d tell me s ehaid they think I’ve done.” At that moment a tall man in a dark shirt with a wide, sailor-like collar, touched Wild Alaric, and led him to one side, ~*~. And the hands | Let her | >? “Ther crisis is comin’, murmured Gideon when he saw the two men halt a few feet from the bar. ‘‘I am goin’ ter know what all this eying means. One thing I know—Wild Alaric will stand by Gideon Goldbird to ther end.” He did not pretend to be much concerned in the whispered conversation between Alaric and the Coyoter, but the quick and stealthy glances he threw at the pair belied his outward mien. At last Alaric came toward the bar, his eyes fastened on Gideon. The man with the wide collar came forward also, ‘**Gideon, old boy, when you lost yer mustache you made yerself like a man who is wanted mighty badly by Coyote,” said Alaric in tones heard by the bronze spectators, **] thought it war suthin’ like that,” said Gideon. ‘* You told ’em, Alaric—” ‘“'Yes, I told Crimson Con, thar, thet you war my pard, thet you’d been thet for years, thet you never war Lariat Lige ther man wan- ted by this camp.” Varn’t thet satisfactory?” ‘‘Not quite, Gideon. They demand a test.” ** What kind of a test?’ asked Gideon. ‘* A very simple one, sir,” said Crimson Con who stepped forward as he spoke, ‘*We demand to see the back ov yer right shoulder,” ‘or what ar’ ye lookin’?” ‘For a mole Lariat Lige had thar,” was the reply. “It is a simple test, an’ you'll not ob- ject. Ther man we want once inhabited this camp; he killed our alcalde five years ago an’ gotaway. He war yer build exactly, his eyes war like yers, you ar’ ther image ov Lariat Lige. Wild Alaric whom we respect, tells us thet you ar’ Gideon Goldbird, always hev been thet in- dividual. We hope’ you ar’. But in order ter settle this question for sartain, we must see ther back ov yer right shoulder.” Gideon winced; the men all saw it, and silent- ly a dozen stalwart fellows drew closer. ‘* Tt’s not much of a test, Gideon,” said Alaric aloud, laying his hand on his pard’s arm. ‘* Throw off yer blouse an’ bare yer shoulder. One glance will confirm my statement, an’ sus- picion will ,vanish, Come, old fellow; off with yer blouse.” But Gideon stood like a statue before the crowd. He attempted to speak, but the words seemed to lose themselves before they reached his lips. *F Hurry up!” said Alaric. ‘*T can’t,” whispered Gideon at last. ‘‘I am not Lariat Lige—you know that, Alaric—but thar’s a mole on my right shoulder!” **'Won’t you submit to the test?” asked Crim- son Con. We can’t stand hyer all night. If you ar’ not Lariat Lige, you will not hesitate ter show up; if you ar’, by Jupiter! we'll strip you ourselves. Come, Gideon Goldbird, as Wild Alaric calls you. Bare yer shoulder!” “‘T need not do that, for strange ter say, gen- tlemen, thar is a mole on my right shoulder, but I swear by ther eternal heavens, that I am not Lariat Lige!” said Gideon forced to the wall by the words of the Coyote leader. ** An’ so will I!” said Wild Alaric solemnly. ‘*T give you my word of honor, gents of Coyote, that that man never was anybody but Gideon Goldbird—” ‘* We'll see ther mole first,” said Crimson Con with provoking coolness. ‘I know exactly whar it is on Lige’s shoulder, an’ so do a dozen men in this pg We play fair, Alaric,” Wild Alaric bit his ip and looked at Gideon. ‘““Thar’s not likely ter be two moles in ther same place on different men,” he said. ‘* Show up an’ satisfy ’em, Gideon.” Sullenly the messenger sport stepped back and drew his blouse. e glared from beneath his long black lashes like a noosed tiger at the caer and silent men who confronted him, and he cursed the day that saw the sacrifice of the waxed mustache. The drawing of the blouse or jacket showed that Gideon was fully armed. e wore a belt above which protruded the butts of two heavy six-shooters, and between them in its leather sheath stuck an eight-inch bowie. All eyes were fixed on Gideon while he doffed his clothing, and the sports of Coyote seemed to hold their breath. ‘‘ Hyer it is! now look for yerselves!” growl- ed Goldbir das he drew his shirt over his shoulder, and turned his back to the crowd, Theshoulder was entirely exposed by the action, and Gideon ground his teeth as the men leaned forward, Sure enough there was on his shouldera mole about the size of a silver dime, It was plainly visible on the white skin exposed to the crowd. Gideon could not see the eyes of the Coyoters but Wild Alaric saw them. Hesaw the men lean forward with gaze riveted on the strange mark, and he could hardly répress a c ry: “This is ther man!” suddenly said a deep voice. ‘‘Thar can be no mistake; ther mole is in ther right place, This is Lariat Lige, ther Outlaw ov Coyote!” With the last word a ary! hand droppe upon the bared shoulder of Gideon Gold Pe and with a startled cry the man turned. “Tt is a lie! I am not your outlaw, Ther mole is ag’in’ me, but by Heavens! I am Gid- eon Goldbird only!” Major Blister, t. or Blister, the Sport of T'wo Cities. Crimson Con took no notice of Gideon's vehe- ment declarations, but turned coolly to Wild Alaric. “We'll have ter claim this man,” he said. ‘‘He may have deceived you, Alaric, but a dozen men in Coyote will swear that he is Lari- at Lige.” Gideon uttered an oath, and his hands leaped to his revolvers. ‘* Not ter-day!” said several men at once, and six hands closed on his arms. ‘‘ You war a fool ter come back | ter Coyote, Lariat. You didn’t hev ter come.’ Before a reply could be made or another word spoken, there came to the door a person entir ely unexpected. ‘Great Jupiter! a red-skin!” ejaculated one of the men, and in came a well-built Indian in more than half-civilized garb, The scene by which he was confronted seemed to surprise him, but he came on without a second’s hesitation and walked to the counter, Something in his manner enchained the at- tention of the whole crowd. He had the black- est eyes that ever twinkled in a human head, Terrapin Tom seemed to know the Indian’s wants, for he set down bottle and glass, and a drink was quickly taken. The next second the red eipetal upon the hard crowd whose pro- ceeding he had interrupted. ‘*Gray Arrow wants that man!” he said, cov- ering Gideon with his finger. ‘‘Not _ter-night!” growled Crimson Con, ‘* This is Lariat Lige, an’—’ No wonder the speaker stopped; the crowd was Jones into two revolvers in the Indian’s han CHAPTER XIX, UNLUCKY GIDEON. ‘THER Major war right. I war a fool for ever comin’ back hyer,” gasped Gideon Gold- bird, seeing the new state of affairs, ‘I don’t know thet I’d better myself by fallin’ inter this Injun’s clutches. He says he wants me, an’ I don’t know ’im. Mebbe they'll fight for me— ther Coyoters an’ this blazin’-eyed red.” Gray Arrow, as he called himself, stood erect as a statue, and a pair of steady arms held the two revolvers in the faces of the astonished crowd. ‘In Satan’s name, what d’yer want with thet man?” cried Crimson Con. ‘ Ye’r’ not his pard, ar’ yer?” ‘*Gray Arrow wants the white man!” was the reply. ‘‘The men of Coyote will give him up, or Gray Arrow will shoot!” ‘*Give him up an’ shoot ther Injin in ther back when he turns,” whispered a man at Crim- son Con’s elbow. ‘‘He can’t get away with Lariat Lige even with him in his hands,” It was evident that the Indian had spoken his last words. His eyes and his fingers intended to do the rest. ‘‘This man is my pard. I am Wild Alaric,” said a voice, which had not spoken before since the red-skin’s sudden coming. Gray Arrow fixed his piercing eyes upon Alaric for a moment. ‘‘-Your pard, eh?” he said. ‘‘Mine! This man is Gideon Goldbird,” ‘* He is Lariat Lige!” hissed half a dozen men. Wild Alaric bit his lip and let his hand rest on the butt of a revolver, but a look from Gideon kept the weapon in the belt. “Take him!” he said, to the Indian. ‘“ But remember! that for all harm done to him I will call you ter account!” A significant glance passed between the two pards, and Gideon step ed toward the red-skin. % It's fryin’ pan aw’ fire, ”he muttered, ‘ An’ my opinion is thet thar’s precious little differ- ence. He stood under the protecting revolvers of the Indian and awaited results. Held at bay by the outstretched weapons, the men of Coyote glared at the red with tigerish eyes; he held them at his mercy, Slowly Gray Arrow began to move back fol- lowed by Gideon who seemed to be fascinated by the black eyes that gleamed behind the pol- ished pistol-barrels. He did not offer his back to the Coyote pards, and madly they bit their lips. The door was reached without interfer- Snes and Gideon and his strange preserver step- out, Inside the Coyoters surged forward, but the voice of Wild Alaric brought them to a halt. ‘*T wouldn’t interfere with that red-skin,” he said. ‘Do you know him?” ‘*No, I am willin’ ter swear that I never saw him before he came hyer. ‘* He is Lariat Lige’s bard,” growled Crimson Con, A faint smile appeared at the corners of Wild Alaric’s mouth, ‘‘So you still believe that he is Coyote’s out- law?” he said. ‘‘We do—ther mole on his shoulder proved it. ” “Tt was merely a strange circumstance. Five years ago you say Lariat Lige killed the al- calde?” ae Yes. ” ‘“ Tive years ago Gideon Goldbird had never \ comicboo ME <S