Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 374 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

— Sew SU — = TE | Major Blister, the Sport of Two Cities. ee ee ~_— thrown under his chair. The last vestige of color left his face, and the Major smiled. ‘‘’d rather not express it,” was the reply. **T wish I could forget that one night. It has haunted me ever since, for I see that entrapped man in all his agony. May I rot here before I go back to New York. ld rather talk on an- other subject, Major.” ‘‘T would not,” said Major Blister, sternly. **The very subject I have sprung is the one I want to talk about. This is Custer City, thou- sands of miles from Gotham, and you are safe here, Gideon.” ‘‘ don’t doubt that! If I thought I warn't, you wouldn’t find me slinging drinks this side o’ ong Kong. ‘What would you take to go back to New York?” ** About two worlds like this!” A derisive laugh was the response. ‘**By Jehu! you’re high-priced, Gideon,” con- tinued Major Blister, and then he leaned for- ward and touched the waiter’s wrist. ‘‘ I want you to go back thar!” ‘Heavens, no!” gasped Gideon Goldbird, shrinking away as if a serpent had hissed in his face. ‘* What must I go back for?’ ‘For Major Max Blister,” was the slowly- spoken reply. ‘‘I want you to look into the Mulberry street trap!” The listener leaped up and appeared on the eve of flying from the room. ““ Sit down and hear me through,” the Major went on. ‘You must remember, man, that an oath, which it is<leath to break binds you to me. You must go to New York: you must start before daylight; you must not stop short of the trap, where I doubt not you left,the night- spy of Gotham.” *“‘Tt was sealed up when we left, been opened for four years.” ‘*T care not for that. I want to know from you, by actual observation, what is in that chamber now !” Gideon Goldbird looked at the Major but did not utter a word. ** What kind of eyes had Fred Ferret?” ** Black.” ** Are you certain, Gideon.” ““i’d bet my head on it!” ag They could not have been gray?” oe No y It hasn’t ** Well, never mind; black or gray, you go to New York, Gideon.” ‘* Send Perry.” ‘**T want him here,” was the answer. “What has happened?’ cried the waiter. **- You don’t think that Fred Ferret—” ‘**T don’t think anything. I want to know!” was the interruption. ‘‘ He was dead as a herring when we left ; ” ‘‘T want you to see his skeleton then.” _ Gideon ‘settled back into the chair with a groan. Fate was against him. : “T think I could find the place,” he said; ** but they’ve made some changes in that part of the city since we left, I understand.” ** That place remains, and you must find it. I want to make no threats, Gideon; you know the oath you took, and you understand the penalty. I say go to New York and inspect Fred Ferret’s prison, then report the truth to me. I may send another inspector, and if he should find that you had played me false in the slightest rticular, [ wouldn’t give much for your con- inued good health.” ** Shall I report in person?” “ First by telegraph. If you find everything all right send only the words ‘8 ill here — if the trap should be empty say ‘Missing.’ This is simple, Gideon, and you will obey.” Major Blister filled the two glasses and handed one with a steady hand to the man who acer it eagerly and carried it swiftly to his S **T reckon it would do me no good to object to goin’ East,” observed the waiter, ‘It is a long journey, and besides, as you know, Major, a certain Gideon Goldbird is wanted by the police in New York.” “Tf you want to walk into the arms of the first pppupeman you meet and proclaim your identity, of course you can do so,” remarked Blister with a smile. “Tm no fool!” cried the waiter, his eyes dilating with astonishment. “I'll get in and out of New York without one of them dream- ing that one of the old gang has come back.” *You_ must, for your own safety and for mine, Within one hour everything will be in readiness for your ee Keep the si messages in your mind, and play your part o this game with shrewdness, nr sR just how long it will take you to reach New York, and how long also it will take you to find the place and inspect it. I will make allowances for the telegram’s time, too. Work to my time, Gideon, or you will find on a track a person worse than all the police of New York.” -7 ‘¢ TP’l] work to the minute,” promised the waiter, looking down into the keen and glittering black eyes fixed upon him. | “You want to. This is all. Come to this room at the end of an hour.” Gideon Goldbird went slowly down-stairs. He a eo a a Is a 550G«w—w«sS I 00090995 ee restored bottle, glasses and tray to their accus- tomed places and went out. **New York!” he ejaculated. ‘‘I’d sooner be sent to the Cannibal Islands. I am expected to pry into a. secret which has been shut up in the worst quarter of the city for four years. Why can’t the Mad Major take my word for it? Fred Ferret had black eyes. I would swear to that; so will Poker Perry and the rest. May I roast in Hades if Il ever swear to serve another man like this Major Blister. But, it’s go to New York and carry out his infernal orders, or be knifed some time when you don’t expect it. Hang the luck! I’ve got to goa thousand miles and more to look in upon the skeleton of the man I helped to kill.” Gideon was in no good humor over the and the prospect before him. He cursed journe Major Blister from the bottom of his heart, and was only deterred from escaping from Custer at | once by the terrible threat which had accom- panied the orders just received. More than once Gideon looked behind him to see whether some watcher was not already at his heels. He made his way toa saloon a little more pretentious in outward appearance than the one where he served, and entering, inquired for Quartz Kid. ‘* Hyer I am, Giddy,” said a voice, and Gold- bird turned to greet the boy himself. ‘“* The very fellow I want. Let's go to your room, Kid.’ Five minutes later the two occupied a small room directly over the saloon and the boy threw himself upon a cot while Gideon took a chair, ‘*“You’re in trouble, Gid. What kind ov a ghost war it you struck awhile ago.” ** None, but [’'m liable ter strike suthin’ afore I get back,” answered Goldbird. ‘** Goin’ off, eh?” “To New York.” Quartz Kid gave vent to a low whistle of as- tonishment. 3 murder of Poker Perry was a well-shaped man of about forty. He wore good clothes, which had seen a good deal of service, and seemed to | be a stranger in Custer City. “I'm liable not ter come back,” continued | Gideon solemnly. ‘‘ Quartzy, I want you to take possession of a certain paper. If I come back witbin thirty days, deliver it to me; if 1 don’t, burn it.” While Goldbird spoke he dived beneath his | shirt-bosom, and after a little manipulation pro- duced a buckskin envelope, tightly sewn, and extended it to the boy. “That holds something mighty important,” | I he went on. ‘If I come back I’m to have it again; if I don’t, it’s to be burned.” ** All right, Giddy,” assented the Kid. ‘“‘ Isn’t this trip unexpected?” ‘Yes. But don’t question me any further. I go to New York to-night. Attend to my com- mands. I ask no more.” The boy had already stowed the packet away beneath his clothing, and a minute later the two left the little room. Gideon Goldbird disappeared from the saloon, but Quartz Kid retired to a chair in one corner, and settled himself back for a rest. passed, during which time the usual night cus- tomers of the “Happy Pilgrim” came and went, Quartz Kid stuck to his chair. At last one man came in, the sight of whom brought the boy upon his feet. It was Major Blister. ‘*T’m on hand, Major,” announced the boy, appearing suddenly at the sport’s side. ‘* Ah! here you are, sure enough,” was the | answer. Iwant you. Something important!” The Major led the way out into the street. In hight he was nearly six feet; his shoulders were broad but shapely, and he had black eyes and long hair, the latter escaping from beneath a light-gray sombrero, with a faded blue ribbon for a band. From the first he had taken his arrest without a murmur, and his coolness and nonchalance had puzzled Major Blister and his friends, He merely said that his name was Mark—he gave no ‘ther name, as if he had none to give— that he had but lately arrived at Custer, and intimated that he intended to leave the city in a short time. When arrested he was in the act of entering the Dolores. He had been followed from the alley back of the hotel, where Poker Perry had been found dead with the iron-handled dagger in his breast, and a spy watched him until the arrest was made, Major Blister felt certain that the right man had been captured, and that before his victim was cold. He had sent Poker Perry down to the hotel to watch for the man who had robbed @uartz Kid of the letter, and he believed that his pard had found the thief and was following him up or accusing him when killed. This was the Major’s conviction until the boy assured him with much positiveness that he was not the man who had taken the letter. Quartz Kid was certain of this. He had said that he would know the gray-eyed man among a thou- sand, but Blister had not led him to the right person. , Meanwhile, the prisoner showed no signs of anger, but stood erect between his two guards and took matters with a coolness that was ag- gravating. Not twenty feet away, and in the reception- room of the hotel, a number of men were dis- cussing the strange murder. It was no unusual thing for a man to lose his life in Custer, but a cold-blooded assassination like the one just per- pea pees was an uncommon occurrence, It was he work of some avenger, who had gone calmly to work. The men in the reception-room looked in wpon the little group in the adjoining apartment, and discussed the question of lynching. Major Blister, disappointed by Quartz Kid's reply, turned suddenly and walked from. the room. He fully expected to hear the boy ac- _ cuse the prisoner of taking the letter, and such An hour | “You told me awhile ago, boy, that you | would know the man who robbed you at the Dolores Ans a thousand,” he said. **T don’t go back on that statement, Major.” “Then, Pll give you a trial.” ‘** Have you found him?” **I hope so. A man named Poker Perry was ago, and a man has been arrested for the crime. I think he’s the villain who took my letters.” Quartz Kid looked into Blister’s face, amazed at its terrible expression. ** ‘Was Poker Perry your friend?” he asked, ‘He was. Come on!” The Dolores was not far from the Happy Pil- grim resort, and Major Blister, still leading Quartz Kid, soon entered the building. The reception-room was well crowded with men, but the big sport forced his way through to a smaller room adjoining it, where a human body lay on the floor. Several men stood near by, and looked at Blis+- ter and the boy as they came in. ‘There lies Poker Perry,” said the Major, halting by the door. ‘‘ He was stabbed with a dagger with an iron handle. Now, look at the man standing between the two fellows yonder. He is the man charged with murder. Did you ever see him before?” demanded Blister. Quartz Kid turned and looked at the man eonenaterd a full minute, then he shook his head. ** That isn’t the man,” he decided. ‘I never saw that one before!” , CHAPTER IIT. MARK, THE UNKNOWN. THw person who had been arrested for the found murdered near the Dolores, half an hour ‘ | of us all ther same, — _ have no proof, but, seein’ whar you came a charge would have satisfied him that Poker Perry’s murderer had been found. Several men came up to the Major the mo- ment he left the smaller room, and plied him with uestions, Blister, biting his lip. ‘‘I thought he would be able to fasten a certain other charge upon him which would deepen my suspicions, but he does not, The man back there is a mystery. We can’t prove, I’m afraid, that he killed Perry.” The crowd seemed to be of the same opinion, although it was plainly seen that the stranger was not above suspicion. ‘We kin make Custer too hot to hold him, though,” said several in low whispers while they eyed the accused like tiger-c ts. “Of course we can’t prove ter a dead certainty that he handled that iron-hilted dagger. He hasn't denied it wi be ath When told why we held him, he smiled, and merely said we war liable ter hold ther wrong man.” “Thar may have been a threat in thar some- whar,” suggested the Major. ‘I guess we'll have to let him go.” “With orders ter leave Custer within a sar- tain time?” ‘No; give him all ther leisure he wants, but let him be watched secretly all the time.” “That’s a good idea, Major. He may have pards; who knows?’ - Watching will develop it.” The men of Custer City often took the Jaw in their own hands, and at the time of which we write a secret Vigilance Committee was in ex- istence. It was resolved by the crowd in the hotel that the stranger should be set at liberty, There was no proof whatever against him; it was all suspicion, but more than one man who looked furtively at him believed that he had had some- thing to do with Poker Perry’s death. A committee of three waited on the stran- ger, and made known the decision of the men of Custer. He seemed to take it as a matter of supreme indifference. He acted as though he would have received a sentence of death in the same manner. ‘*Custer City pledges herself to get at that man’s death,” remarked the spokesman of the three, pointing to the corpse on the floor, while he addressed the late prisoner. ‘‘ Poker Perry was no highly respected citizen; but he was one We can’t hold you; we m. almost before ther murdered man had ceased ter breathe, we had # right ter bold yer.” Mark the Unknown received this with a nod and walked coolly past the dead man and out into the night. Forty pairs of eyes followed him. 1¢ boy doesn’t identify him,” answered ° (E b>» 4 ee ¢€om