Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 374 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

ase, ards Hens 1im- hose the ung xv Es ked 73 A ing fire ve zh, uld ‘ou ‘to Major Blister, the Sport of Two Cities. Spotter he had sprung forward, and Gideon re- coiled when he halted suddenly before him. ‘*T am here, Gideon!” he cried, looking into the pale face of the wounded rough. ‘‘ You did not find me in the old dungeon? No, no! I was in Custer when the Major sent you on that fool’s errand. When you wall up another trail- er, Gideon, you will remember the day.” ‘‘ By Heaven! I will—as long as I iva: too!” was the answer. “I see your eyes. They tell me that you are the man we shut up in old Mother Redbird’s dungeon four yearsago. Do you know John Leopard?” (ey os,” ‘‘So do I! I’d give my chances of paradise ter hoid a six-shooter before his face, Fred Ferret, [ never hated you. I had ter do what Andros Ruby said then, but now, by my life, I hate that same man! Give me a chance to- night. That man yonder has taken me twice from the pe ov Coyote, an’ twice did Wild Alaric refuse ter shoot me loose, Give me a chance, I say!” ‘* A chence for what?” ** Liberty !” said Gideon, his voice sinking to a whisper. ; Before the detective could answer, a quick step sounded behind him. ‘* Leave the blabber alone; I want to see you, Ferret,” said the voice of Mark, and the Spotter turned away. ‘*Mebbe my chance will come,” murmured Gideon, while the two avengers walked away. ‘‘T am a bird thet can’t fly far, eh, Mark, ther Unknown? Give me half a chance ter try my weak wings, an’ ll show you a flight thet I amaze yer!” Side by side the two men went slowly up the trail nor spoke until they had turned a little el- bow and were no longer in sight of Gideon. ‘¢ We must not be enemies,” said Mark. “It seems that we want the blood of the same men. I have found two with the same weapon, and the third one waiting back there for doom, will soon follow. I know what you have suffered. I know why you have trailed Andros Ruby and his gang from New York to the Black Hills: but, sir, the man who suffered first should strike first.’ Fred Ferret looked into Mark’s face a full minute before he spoke. ‘*When you have completed your vengeance there will be nothing left for me,” he said with asmile. ‘‘I cannot—I will not go back without revenge.” “You don’t take it when you have an ap- portunity.” ‘When did I fail?” ‘** When you gave Major Blister your dagger between the shoulders at the Dolores.” Fred Ferret bit his lips vexatiously and his eyes fell beneath Mark’s glance. ‘‘T who suffered first should take vengeance first,” Mark went on, repeating his words of a minute before. ‘‘Not if I can get ahead of you!” exclaimed the Broadway Spotter. ‘ We are on the same trail; our quarry is the same, and we have found it. Circumstances will not let us hunt together, so let each man strike when he can, you for the crime that made you swear eternal hatred against five men—I for that same crime, and for my torture in Mother Redbird’s trap. Go back to your wounded hawk; but even if you find him, you can’t carry out your oath to- night, You have lost your iron blade, It has fallen into Major Blister’s hands again. Go back to your bird, Mark. Let me hunt wherever I find my prey.” Fred Ferret would have left the black-eyed avenger if he had not caught his wrist and drawn him close enough to show him a flash in his eyes. ‘Don’t make me turn on you,” cried the Un- known. “I don’t want to for Adele’s sake. Thet girl adores you, Fred Ferret.” sé e?” ‘Yes! I am her natural guardian and protec- tor; her avenger, too. I tried to keep her back, but as well might I have tried to stem the tide of the ocean, If I fall she would step into my tracks and wield the iron blade I wield. She told you first about that dagger, she let you have it long enough to make one just like it save in the movable belt. You cannot be blind to the fact that Adele loves you. It is impossi- ble, Don’t interfere with my man-hunt, r say; don’t for the girl’s sake.” The Broadway Spotter waved the avenger mah ‘will strike when I can,” he said, “ Prom to-night it will be a race for two men—Androg Ruby and Wild Alaric,” Mark the Unknown dropped the wrist he held -ted back. and i mber that one part of my oath said : uld be death to the man who that it | ee me and my enemies,” he said solemnly. - “ Han oath!” growled the Spotter. “Go bank 2. your win hawk. I have an oath.too.and I carry my 4agser while yours is in the hands of your worst foe. ‘< epimsoned first.” Sone ‘at the man who was laughing Ha, ha! we will | coolly in the trail, and with a last look of warn- ing turned away.., ‘| don’t want him to interfere, for Adele’s sake,” he murmured. ‘That girl is the world to me, and | don’t want to give her to him when I know he has taken life. I am the. man who has the right to strike; I am the proper aven- ger of the crime that shocked Gotham over its breakfast service. Let him beware! I have warned him. He must not slay the two men who will be left when morning comes. They belong to me—to the iron dagger which, though now in Major Blister’s hands, will yet find their hearts!” He went back to the two rocks where he had left Gideon Goldbird, but the messenger-sport was gone, Mark the Unknown started, and then burst into a light laugh. ‘* My crippled hawk is trying his wings, sure enough!” he exclaimed. ‘‘He was _ hardly worth rescuing the second time, for death had him by the throat when I brought him awa A Aad 1e noose. Where are you, Gideon Gold- ir Mark the Unknown fell to examining the vi- cinity of the two rocks, and for some minutes he searched the ground with great care. This prisoner had fled, sure enough, and Fred Ferret’s warning that the wounded hawk might try his wings had been realized. ‘* Let him go!” suddenly said Mark, abruptly giving up the hunt. ‘What's the use of hunt- ing a man who has felt the point of the iron blade among the vitals. I have never failed yet. I thought him dead when I took the bowie from his body and carried it to Wild Alaric’s door; but he managed to crawl back to camp and into Crimson Con’s lariat. It is good-by, Gideon Goldbird, I count you the third man for all. To-morrow the sun will find your stif- fened corpse somewhere near by. Now for the last men.” The black-eyed man looked once more down the trail, and walked once more toward Camp Coyote. e had given up the hunt for Gideon Gold- bird, who at that moment was still alive and not half a mile away, but in the midst of dark- ness that seemed to take shape. ‘* This is what I call tryin’ my wings with a vengeance!” he muttered. ‘‘I thought I war crawlin’ into a clump of bushes when I war en- terin’ ther mouth ov a cave which ends heav- en knows whar. I’m safe from that cool critter with ther iron blade, however. I doubt whether a bloodhound could find me hyer, ‘* Arter all it seems thet fortune has struck me at last. I will either die or rekiver hyer. An hour ago I wasn’t partic’lar which turn would come, but now I want ter live. Iswore ter ther old stage-driver ov Custer thet I would come back thar with a mustache like ther one I had when I went ter New York. I want ter do thet. T want ter show Major Blister that ther pard who has served him East an’ West will stan’ no foolishness. Gideon Goldbird, you’re in luck, but it’s infernal slim. Whar does this dungeon end? Itis darker hyar than it war in Mother Redbird’s trap; ybut thank , Heaven! ’'m not walled up alive.’ After a short spell of rest amid the intense gloom, the messenger sport crawled on again deeper and deeper into the cavern which he had accidentally found. All at once he drew back with a startling cry of horror. Another foot an’ I would hey pitched head- long into space!” he cried. ‘‘ This is what I dis- kiver by feelin’? my way. I must turn about— no more advance in thet direction. I don’t fancy fallin’ mebbe a hundred feet just now. Not for Gideon Goldbird if yer please.” ‘Say a thousand feet,” said a voive, so near Gideon that he recoiled. “ ehosaphat! Iam not alone hyer. Who are you The answer was a laugh that seemed to chill nye sport’s blood, and then a lucifer blazed in his ace, ‘** [ll show you who I am, Gideon,” continued the voice. ‘“ It cannot be that you have forgot- ten me. While we have never been intimate, you have seen me often.” Gideon’s eyes were anxious to see the inmate of the underground den; he could not imagine who he could be. ** T know you, though you look like a ghost!” exclaimed the sport, staring into the face re- vealed by the match. ‘“ You ar’ Si Slinkum, ther young clerk ov ther Dolores,” ‘* ’m the shadow of that person,” was the an- swer, and the speaker tried tosmile. ‘‘ Merciful heavens! Gideon, I know not where to go, was saved from Major Blister’s revolvers by Quartz Kid. I am a fugitive. I dare not ¢o back East; I would not face Major Blister again for the world. I am half-starved. I could al- most eat you, Gideon.” ‘You look like it,” said Gideon. ‘ But pluck up an’face fate like a man. Misfortune will make us friends.. I went you ter look at my wound an’ ter dress it. Let me git fixed up ag'in, Cyrus, an’ we'll make things hum in cer- tain quarters ov this mountain vineyard!” Gideon’s teeth cracked as he spoke. t —_ | er ss eg ee A hide CHAPTER XXV. THE SUDDEN EXILE, MAJorR BLISTER, as we know, did not hear of Gideon’s second rescue by Mark the Unknown until after it had occurred. Then he was told by Quartz Kid, who heard the Sport of Two Cities curse the man with the iron dagger. ‘** Pll find Alaric anyhow, and by heavens! I'll know why he didn’t shoot Mark dead in his boots!” growled the Major. ** Wal, hyer [ am now—always on hand!” said some one near, and the Sport of Two Cities wheeled to face the man of whom he had spoken, The mad eyes of Blister flashed; he took a hasty step toward his pard. **You didn’t kill him when you had a chance!” he cried. ‘Wal, no,” grinned Alaric. ‘Don’t you want ’im for yerself, Major? What ar’ yer holdin’ ther iron blade for ef not for Mark ther Unknown?” ‘* By Jupiter! thet’s a fact,” was the response. ‘‘Tim glad you didn’t shoot him, Alaric. He saved Gideon again?” ce Yes.” ‘** This time he finished him.” ‘Certainly. Is that all, Major?” Wild Alaric stepped back as he spoke, ** Whar are you going now?” ‘* Ter fill an engagement,” was the reply. Out of camp?” ‘* Yes. Wait for me at ther shanty.” The tiger sport of Coyote gave the Major no more time for questions, but hurried away and Blister and Quartz Kid were alone. ‘*He’s goin’ ter fight ther Satan-orbed man!’” said the boy, ‘‘I heard theengagement. They are ter meet at ther two rocks if yer know whar they are.” **T don’t, but we could find them.” **Mebbe we'd better not hunt ‘em up under ther present circumstances, Major. It is their fight, not ours. Let ’em fight,” fajor Blister looked after Wild Alaric with indecision. He fumed when he thought that the Broadway Spotter who had outwitted him at Terrapin Tom’s was so close at hand. He felt like st mata forwerd and taking a hand in the duel to be fought by the two rocks, ‘*Didn’t yer get ter see ther girl, Major?’ asked Quartz Kid, breaking in upon his medita- tions so suddenly that he started. ‘* No, curse Burt Browne’s manner of cooling a fellow down!” was the response, ‘*That’s how she came ter come in between Alarie an’ Fred Ferret. I see it all now. If you had seen her-—” ‘** By the infernals! she’d have come between nothing!” interrupted the Major. ‘I’ve con- cluded ter let them fight. We'll go down to Terrapin’s and sample his rot.” “Excuse me, Major,” said the boy. ‘ You'll hear Crimson Con and his pards curse Mark ther Unknown thar. It'll do yer soul good I know.” And the boy spy of Custer was off and out of sight before he could be restrained. Major Blister sent a growl after the nimble fellow and walked down to the liquor den of the camp where, as he expected, he found a crowd were paying forcible respects to the cool man who had taken Gideon Goldbird from the sha- dow of the noose, ‘* Hyer’s ther Major!” cried several Coyoters when the Sport made his appearance at the door. ‘*‘We lost ’im ag’in, Major! When we had Lariat Lige in ther noose he war teken out by a man with lightnin’ eye an’ steady hand.” ‘* Lariat Lige?” echoed the Major reaching the counter, ‘‘Didn’t he tell you that that man isn’t your outlaw?” ee es,” ** And you let him go on that?” ‘We did, but for all that thar’s still ther mole on his shoulder. Lariat: had one thar.” ‘What if he had? We'll pass that by, gents. Gideon Goldbird is nothing to me now, A man who can’t telegraph ther truth to his master, won’t do,” The Major proceeded to invite the whole crowd | up to the counter, an invitation which was quickly accepted, and twenty glasses fell back upon the whisky-sodden bar. ‘**Major, follow me,” said Crimscn Con in a whisper as the Sport of Two Cities turned away. Blister gave the Coyoter a look that tried to pencinae the business he seemed to have on and, and without a word followed him out. ‘*To my shanty, if yer please!” the leader cf the Coyote pards said, ‘‘ This is amatter which we want ter attend ter alone.” Major Blister did not speak again until be found himself in Crimson Con’s cabin with the door shut behind him and the light of a litilo lamp in his face, ‘* Now, proceed. I am to be at Wild Alaric’s cabin before long,” hesaid when he found Crim- son Con silent for a longer time than the cir- cumstances seemed to demand. ‘ve been puttin’ this an’ that togcther ever since you came hyer with Alaric,” said Cc n, ‘*‘an’ if I'm not mistaken you have had anothc: name hesides Max Rlister,” The Sport almost left his little stool. “Don't get excited, Major, I'll go slow ar? (SCA ALICE 200 cS Pa (eo) a + a a i nl 2 ee SE A eee bt as ie % ...