Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 379 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

OP On — we ewe - —_ EE 8 .. we 8 es ee es - — eee re et + ee EP re PS Me owe ye ee SS SS ra SS Se > ee Se . zw, i. — _—- a . I don’t think! Better hunt your hole ag’in an’ wait for another procession to come along.” ‘*T must see him—it is like the voice of that hell-hound, [ tell you!” and the ragged object pressed forward, unheeding if he saw the clinched and threatened fist. Jonathan showed a forbearance unusual in one of his stamp, and instead of knocking the | - intruder down, he pushed him back, saying: ‘* Better you didn’t, pard! I don’t want to hurt ye, but—” **T must see his face!” panted the stranger, struggling vainly to press forward, then his tone changed to a piteous pleading: ‘‘I beg it of you, dear sir! Just one glimpse of his face! It will cool my poor brain and—ZJ will see him !” The last words came almost in a scream, and bright steel flashed in the lamplight, but Howling Jonathan proved equal to the emergency, his left arm knocking aside the armed hand, his right fist shooting out and sending the stranger reeling away, to drop heavily to the ground, CHAPTER XII, UGLY DAN ON THE WAR-PATH. : ‘*‘ Keep your hooks on him an’ look out fer snags, pard!” sharply warned the Terror, with a glance over his shoulder toward the detective in charge of Perry Blair. ‘‘ Mebbe it’s a trick to climb us an’ sot him free, but I reckon I kin tell better—The devil!” He sprung forward to the shadow at the edge of which the ragged fellow had fallen under the powerful blow, but the ground was bare, nor could he distinguish any fleeing form, glare about keenly as he might, though he did catch sight of a tall figure striding hastily toward the hotel, coming from the direction of The Mint. ty Ugly Dan!” and his brows contracted sharp- dy as he turned back to the detective and party, muttering: “No time to lose, pardner. Best git to kiver whar ye kin stan’ some show o’ bluff’ off a gang ef so be they come fer us red- hot. Out here—waal, I reckon you kin see!” ‘*They may get us, but Perry Blair won’t be worth much te them,” was the grim observation és the detective forced his half-crazed prisoner forward, with a warning glance toward Frank Spartan, who made a move in the same direc- ‘tion, His handsome face was very white and very lhard-set as he spoke: ‘‘T am one of the party, until I am satisfied that everything is on the square, and that you have a perfect right to arrest this man, If I find a single flaw in your side of the case, Ill set ‘him free or go over the range in trying! That is sworn to!" Howling Jonathan fell a few paces behind the remainder of the party, as Ugly Dan came on at a half run, and choosing a point where a line of shade deeper than usual would partially cover af the red-haired deputy wheeled and cried sharply: ‘*They’s a dozen small-pox flags hung out right afore ye, pardner! Better check yer mad career an’ make a break the other way afore e ketch yer everlastin’ sickness! It’s a heap fri’nd that’s talkin’!” ‘That's all right, old fellow,” was the prompt reply, as Ugly Dan briefly paused in the clear light, holding up his bands, both free from weapons. “Im a friend, ready and anxious to aid the cause of justice. You'll need all the strong arms you can get before you clear Good Leather with Perry Blair.” : He moved forward as he uttered the last words, and Howling Jonathan made no further objection, He realized the truth of that state- ment, and he had heard enough of Ugly Dan to Jmow that his reputation would aid them more ‘than his weapons, even. With his three men forming a compact guard about himself and his prisoner, the detective hurried Perry Blair on through the town, com- ing to a pause before a low, squat structure composed of stone and mud. He nodded to one of his followers, who unfastened the heavy door «of hewn slabs, and then assumed charge of the - prisoner long enough to place him out of harm’s ‘way within. As for the detective, he turned upon Frank Spartan, who had kept them close company to the building. ‘* Now, sir, Pll settle with you,” he said, sharply. . ‘‘] intend you shall, and I give you free warn- ing that there must be no f-way about it, either,” was the sharp response, ‘* You want to show your authority for taking Perry Blair prisoner. You want to make out a perfectly clear case against him, or I swear to set him free though it costs my life and the lives of a seore better men!” The young man was intensely wrought up, and showed this fact in his every tone nnd move- ment. He had been kept on such a trying strain for weeks and months past; he had not come out of his scene with widow Mercy Watkins wholly unshaken, though he had so cleverly left her with an exactly Gppneive opinion; and this sav- age charge made by the gambler had stung him to the very quick. He was dangerous, as one far less experienced than the tall detective could readily Ccivine. “ The last would be far more likely to happen then the first, my d-ar sir,” he laughed, coldly, ee en See Howling Jonathan. knowing that he was playing with fire, but find- ing it hard to swallow such sharp threats. Vith a powerful effort Frank Spartan crush- ed down his hot temper, and in a few words ex- plained just how he stood in relation to the | prisoner, adding: ‘* This is why I take such an interest in the mat- ter, and why I say to you, by all that men hold holy! unless you can: satisfy me that you are keeping fully within the pale of the law in mak- ing this arrest, I will set Perry Blair free or die in the attempt! With a single cry I can set a mob to howling for your blood. If you are not a blind idiot, you can see what the end would be.” ‘* Heaps o’ fun, you bet!” chimed in the Howl- er, with a reckless laugh, as he and Ugly Dan came up just in time to catch this last hot speech. ‘* Be durned ef it was me runnin’ things, ’'d show up my papers to choke off the bloodthirsty critter—I would so /” ‘‘ As I am ready to do now that the prisoner is in safe quarters,” coldly uttered the detec- tive—‘as | would have done without any of this talk, if you had shown a little less bluster, young man,” Frank Spartan cared little for the manner in which his demands were met, just so he receiv- ed the data by which he could clear his man- hood of the foul charge flung in his teeth by Perry Blair. Keenly, carefully he examined the documents produced by the detective by the light of a pocket lantern, finding them genuine and complete. ** Are you satisfied, sir?’ half-sneered the de- tective, as he took back the papers and stowed them carefully away. **T must be, though Id had delayed the arrest an young man. The detective laughed, shortly, replying: ‘**Only for you, Perry Blair would still be at liberty, my dear sir!” Frank Spartan turned upon him with a fierce ejaculation, but the officer of the law laughed lightly as he held up a hand in truce. ‘* Tt is the solemn fact, my dear fellow, though you never knew it until this moment. I heard of your row, and of the fight that would al- most surely follow. I wanted to let Perry Blair run a little longer, for reasons which needn’t be particularized, but he was too valuable to run the risk of losing in a duel. So, you see, it is partly your fault that he is in limbo this early.” ‘* He may not remain so long,” gravely warn- ed Frank Spartan, with an effort, casting aside his own interest in the case, ‘‘He has man friends here in Good Leather, and they’ll be al- most sure to raise a crowd to down you and re- lease him. For my own sake Id like to see it done, but as an honest man I feel it my duty to give you this warning. Get him out of town as quickly and as quietly as you can. Travel mighty fast, or find a secure hiding-place, if you want to bring him to the bar.” ‘**T reckon we can manage it, sir,” smiled the detective. “Allright. I’ve done my duty. Itis you for it now,” coldly uttered Spartan, turning on his heel and striding away. As he did so, he fairly brushed shoulders with Ugly Dan, who now pushed past Jonathan, and faced the detective, his voice hard and full of a vicious hatred as he uttered: ‘You wouldn't listen to me back there, and I'm not blaming you. But now your game is safe caged, and you’ve got to hear me through!” ** You are the fellow people call Ugly Dan, I believe?” ‘‘Never you mind my name; it’s about Ice- berg Dave—David Ingram, in full—that I want to talk. Iswear he is one of the gang of road- agents, and ten thousand times more deserving of arrest than Perry Blair! I can give you plenty of proof, and—” ‘*Tceberg Dave crippled your hand, didn’t he?” coldly interjected the tall detective. ** What has that got to do with it, curse ye?” snarled the other. ‘* Quite as much as I have to do with Iceberg Dave,” was the careless retort. ‘‘ Settle your own quarrels,” ‘* But I accuse him of being an outlaw and a road-agent!” ‘* And I don’t care if he is Captain Clean-up himself! I came here in search of a particular criminal, and ’ve got him. I have no author- ity to arrest any other, Iceberg Dave, Ugly Dan or the devil! If you can prove your charge, why don’t you take the fellow yourself and claim the rewards, if any are offered?” coldly uttered the detective. ‘*D——d if I don’t, then!” snarled Ugly Dan, his eyes glowing viciously, turning on his heel, knowing that after his public charge that even- ing, he must either take or be taken. ‘* An’ be letter d dash d ef I ain’t goin’ long to see the fun, my kearty!” cried the Howler, with a bound gaining the side of the desperado. I’m on it to-night, wuss then a nest o’ ram-cats, an’ ef this yer’ chunk o’ coldness you're lookin’ fer hes got a few o’ his ‘lations swimmin’ in the fame channel, mebbe I kin git a bite at the free Junch afore the boss kicks us all out-doors!” Ugly Dan growled shortly as the red-haired eyc'one took bis arm, and there was a half-sus- ive a finger if you our!” frowned the — poecus glitter in his eyes as he lodkcd into that airy face. But the Howler seemed to be wholly at ease, and his nimble tongue rattled on so free- ly that Ugly Dan soon forgot his doubts, for they were faint and undefined at the most, *'Tain’t that I want to crowd in whar I ain’t wanted, pard, fer ’m one o’ the most bashfulest critters you ever see propped up on two legs; but it’s fun I live fer, an’ without fun V’d dry up an’ blow away wuss then ary old maid you— Thar he goes now!” Ugly Dan started sharply, hisgound left -and dropping on a revolver butt as the Howkr uttered that ejaculation, and he glared arcund with eyes of fire, expecting to behold Iceberg Dave. ‘* Where, curse you, where?” he grated vicious- ly. ‘The first drop tells the tale, and if I miss it through you, even Iceberg will be too slow to save your skull!” ‘*Not him—I meant that spunky critter as wanted to chaw up the ’tective fellers ’count o’ oe Blair,” hastily uttered Howling Jona- than. ‘¢ frank Spartan?” Jonathan nodded vigorously. ‘‘He jest went in the saloon, yender, an’ he looked like he meant holy business in a minnit! So-long, pard! thar’s fun a-brewin’ in thar, an’ os it’s the nighest, ’m howlin’ right that course, am ha " He dashed ahead, followed by Ugly Dan with scarcely lesscelerity, for the building indicated was no other than The Mint. Even in his madness, Ugly Dan did not lose sight of his natural craftiness. He knew that if Iceberg Dave had shown up at his place of busi- ness, and Frank Spartan was to attempt a row, the cool sport would surely interfere to preserve order; and if this was so, he might be taken un- awares by his enemy. The Howler was not deceived, though he had caught but a momentary glimpse of Frank Spartan as he entered The Mint. The young man was still raging under the bit- ter charge flung in his teeth by Perry Blair, and knowing right well that he had plenty of enemies in Good Leather who would be only too happy to catch at even the shadow of a slur on his courage or manliness, he hastened at once to face it and them down or fight for his credit. The instant silence which reigned among those who occupied the bar-room as he entered, told Frank plainer than words that he had formed the subject of conversation, and a Cangerous light came into his eyes, as he spoke clearly, sharply: ‘Gentlemen, I have just learned of the arrest of Perry Blair, with whom I had a little dispute this evening. I tried my best to get him set at liberty, but failed. Now, since I cannot settle my debt with him in person, I come to ask a favor of his friends, Tl fight any of them that cares to take his place, in their own style. I'll fight them one after another, until they are cleaned out or I am laid cold. I mean clean business, gentlemen, and you can’t come to the front one second too quick to suit my taste!” His jetty eyes roved swiftly over the startled faces before him, and just then he looked an awkward customer to handle, even for the best of tough men. Still there came no acceptance, and after a brief pause he spoke again: *‘ If the odds seem too great, gentlemen, make yourown. lll take two, three—the entire num- ber, for that matter! I won’t give his mates even the ghost of a chance to fling dirt when my back is turned. ‘I'll prove my earnestness, if you'll but give me a chance! hat! not éven one friend to pick up the gauntlet? Poor Perry! At least, he was a man who knew no fear, and he deserved better and truer friends than those who fawned upon him while he was free-foot and hand-open!” No answer, even now, There were dark and sullen faces to be seen among those lit up with broad smiles, and it was an easy task to yick out those who eataerees Frank Spartan oe the ones who had trained under the colors of Perry Blair. But not one of the latter seemed inclined to take up the quarrel on behalf of their disgraced chief. _ A short, mocking laugh parted the lips of Frank Spartan as he became fully convinced of this fact, and he cried as he moved toward the bar: “Tt is your election, gentlemen, and if ever you hear a fool talking over this unfortunate af- fair, you can bear witness that I tried my levcl best to give Perry Blair a chance to even up through his friends. They declined the offer, and now—what ‘ll you take, gentlemen?” There was no refusal to accept this sweeping invitation, even by those whom all present knew had been closest to and most intimate with Perry Blair. They knew that such a refusal would surely bring on a fight in which the friends of Frank Spartan would all the more gladly participate that he was present in per- son to lead them. It was a curious spectacle, but one by no means uncommon in such wild and almost law- less sections. The barkeeper was deftly slinging out the glasses when Ugly Dan slipped into the salocn, his left hand armed with a cocked revolver, his /, Gomichbooks (E(e) jal me > i