Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 379 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

- eurious to hear it all. guess, Until this night Iceberg Dave had al- ways treated him with respect, listening to and acting upon his suggestions with hardly the shadow of opposition. Desperate, fearing he scarcely knew what, Mallison growled: ‘*What are you trying to get through you, anyhow? What have you to do with that time —what did Morris Grant ever do to you?” ‘** Suppose I was to say that the former part- ner of friends? What if I say that I only recently learned how thoroughly you gouged the poor young fellow?” Colonel Mallison forced a laugh, but there was precious littlo mirth to be detected in it. ‘*1f any man accuses me of i, saya but per- fect fairness in that transaction, he is a liar! I can prove it—and so can you, if you care to take the trouble to go back and ask fora glance at the papers. They are square as adie. As for Franz Moskau—bah! I’m an ass for ever listening to you, Dave Ingram!” He sunk back in his seat with an affectetion of contempt, but the cool sport opposite only laughed softly as he added: ** Ugly Dan Bennison is one of your witnesses, I suppose?” Despite his attempt to steel his nerves, Malli- son visibly flinched, and showed signs of renew- ed fear and rage. “Curse him! has he dared to— Bah! Iway off, Ingram!” “Then, why don’t you laugh at my playing the ass?’ retorted the gambler, showing the tips of his teeth ina malicious smile. ‘‘ What made you start and shiver as I named Ugly Dan? Be- cause he is dead? Did you love the two-legged angel so much? Destroying angel !” here was a peculiar emphasis placed on the last words that were worse than a blow, and the colonel shivered anew. He tried to speak, but only a low, inarticulate sound came up in his parched throat. One hand rose to his forehead, where the great veins were throbbing and turn- ing purple. A friend would have grown alarm- ed at the spectacle, but Iceberg Dave seemed to hugely enjoy it after his fashion. * Dead—laid out so suddenly that not a word or a sound escaped his lips, old fellow! So sure and slick that I even doubt if bis mind had time to go back to the time when he tortured poor Franz Moskau at your bidding, until the lad had to yield.” “A lie—I never—” Iceberg Dave leaned across the table and lightly tapped the livid lips with the back of his hand, It could scarcely be called a blow, but it served the double purpose of checking that inco- herent denial and gratifying the deadly hatred which David Ingram for tbe first time permitted 2 to exhibit toward his partner in The ‘*T fear you will injure your voice, my dear sir,” he said, softly, almost purringly, bis words and tone in startling contrast to his action. ‘You are still suffering from that unfortunate choking spell—may you never know a more se- rious one! Yet men have been hanged for much less than Franz Moskau accuses you of, dear fel- low!” No answer, but the face grew redder, the veins stood out more prominently, the breath came heavier and shurter. : Iceberg Dave smiled more openly, his white hands rubbing together as though he decidedly enjoyed the ugly sight. Truly, his cause for hatred must be great, else his usual nature would never have undergone such a complete ‘ransformation! Until thatnight, Iceberg Dave had ever met his enemies openly, with blows in- stead of word-stabs. “You don’t ask how Ugly Dan took the ex- press over the range, but I know you must be seg 2 not? Did he not serve you faithfully in the days when you were Morris Grant?” Still no reply. Only for the red glow in the bloodshot eyes, the stertorous breathing, Colonel Joe] Mallison might well have been a corres: ‘* He was stabbed to the heart by a wild-look- ing: fellow in rags, who started up like some black ghost of the past—and perhaps he as! / ‘* You know Frank Spartan? You know how bad stuck he is on the girl who came to My House to-day with the widow? The daughter of Herman Moskau, the blind fiddler, I mean. You know, possibly, that Frank has sworn to find Franz Moskau, alive or dead. “‘ Well, Frank was standing close by when this ghost struck Ugly Dan down, and ri_ked his life to save him from those who wanted to lynch the ragamuffin for downing Dan. Why? Because he recognized the man he was searching for—he called the fellow Franz Moskau!” Swift and penctrating came these concluding words, and they were sharp, bitter, menacing enough to pierce the sort of stupor which appar- ently enchained the colonel. e started to his Youw’re _ feet, clasping his temples with both hands, gasp- ing, panting—then flung out his hands and fell _ like a dead man! Active as a cat, Iceberg Dave leaped forward and caurht him. holding him long enough to guard eacaimst the shock startling the house, | ee suffering him to rest at full length on the oor. ‘* You deal your blows mighty hard when you do hit, David!” came a clear, musical voice that caused the gambler to spring erect, his face flushing hotly, his eyes aglow, a cry of astonish- nent passing his ips as he confronted widow ercy Watkins. She laughed softly as he involuntarily glanced toward the door, in which he had deftly turned orris Grant was one of my dearest | the key on entering. | ‘¢ An angel or a fairy has little need of any- | thing so material, my dear friend,” she uttered, half-mockingly, as she gingerly held back her’ skirts as she stooped a little to gain a better view of the stricken man’s face. ‘‘'You heard, then?’ muttered Iceberg Dave, scarce knowing what he said, so completely had he been taken by surprise. ** A touch of apoplexy, I fancy!” muttered the widow, then rising erect with a soft laugh. ‘* Well, if one will feed and drink like a hog, one must expect something of the sort.” ‘Tl go for the doctor.” “Its hardly worth while, David, I think. What is to be, will be, you know. And then, I hardly think there is any particular danger. It looks to me more like a case of brandy. We'll put him on the bed, and let him sleep it off.” There was an indifference in her tones that was little better than brutality, and in his ordi- nary state of mind Iceberg Dave weuld have felt a degree of repulsion for a woman whocould give frank utterance to such a speech. But now his brain seemed in a whirl such as he had never experienced before. He hated this man, He loved this woman with a passion that was little short of insanity. In silence he lifted the colonel in his arms and placed him on the bed. He loosened his collar and garments generally, without a word pre- venting widow Watkins from touching him, She made no second attempt, but stood quietly by, a peculiar light in her downcast eyes. And when the gambler had done all he could for the comfort of the stricken man, she lightly touched his arm, oe. ‘* You stayed so long, David, that I grew im- atient and came to seek you, as I hinted just efore we parted down-stairs. And now he is well fixed, please to bear me company.” Mechanically the gambler turned toward the door, but with a short, low laugh, the widow checked him. ‘*You know what we were to each other— that man and I,” she said, smilingly. ‘‘ So one more secret will not shock you beyond recov- ery, I hope.” She led him to the rear wall and touched the secret spring by which the hidden door opened, A dark, narrow passage was revealed, ‘‘' You are light-footed, and there are a few of the boarders in the house, so I fancy there is no danger of our being mistaken for rats!” she laughed, taking his arm and stepping inside. ‘* You are not afraid?” “With you?” An hour’s speech could say no more than those two words uttered in the tone he gave them. The widow gave his arm a grateful squeeze, then said: ‘Touch my shoulder, or take a curl as tow- rope, if that likes you better, my gallant knight. A light might betray more than I care to have the whole world know, though I am trusting you so blindly!” ‘You shall never regret it, Mercy!” In silence she led the way along the narrow, dark and crooked passage, finally opening an- other door which led into her chamber! Iceberg Dave accepted the chair she offered him, without a word. As he had for many long months, he was holding down that fierce pas- sion with a desperate grip, fearing to give it any play, lest. it escape his control and bring ruin upon his own head. For, so all-absorbing was his love that he never, even in his wildest dreams, for a moment believed it could ever be returned? One glance into his sternly composed face ap: peared to decide the widow as to her own lineof conduct, and taking another chair, she at once broached her subject. ' ‘‘ After what you have seen, Mr. Ingram, you will not be surprised to learn that I have been | listening to nearly all you and the colonel said in his rooms. I had my reasons for so acting, and as I have resolved to not only trust but to ask an immense favor of you, it is only right that you should know my reasons.” ‘Only if you prefer to give them, Mrs. Wat- kins,” was the steady response. ‘‘I will serve you just as blindly without them.” uP know it, David, and that is one reason why I prefer to be perfectly frank with yon, even at the risk of losing your—your respect.” ‘‘That you can never do, though you commit- ted all the crimes in the decalogue!” was the swift, passionate response. ‘“T thank you now—some day I may do more,” was the quiet answer, the brown eyes meeting his gray orbs with a glowing gaze that sent the hot blood thrilling through his veins, ** Now—to business! ‘‘T believe you know that, years ago, I was connected with Frank Spartan. 1 was younger then, and hotter-headed. I had more fanciful notions, too; but the less said of them the better, It is enough that in time I chafed against the cool, careless insolence with which Frank treated my little outbursts, and to avenge my- self I ran away from him. ‘* I took particular pains to leave a plain trail behind me, expecting and even hoping be would follow after. But apparently he was glad to get rid of what, until won, he had sworn the choicest treasure, the world or the hcavcns could provide, for he never took a step to re- cover me. And then, when hottest against him, I accepted the offer which Joel Mallisom made me, and married him,” It was a hard story for a lover to listen to, even though he had so often told himself he was: as far removed from her as though they inhabit- ed different worlds, and Iceberg Dave had to struggle hard to keep his nerves under control. But he succeeded, and sat motionless, his face cold and composed, his eyes alone betraying the emotion which was inwardly raging. As for the widow,she made the confessiom withouta blush or a stammer, seeming to regard it as a simple business transaction. ‘* All this is merely preliminary,” she said resuming. ‘* You will soon understand why if have taken the trouble to goso far back in my story, for Frank Spartan is connected with the favor which I have determined, after much sober thought, to ask of you.” ‘‘ Which is granted before you put it into words.” ‘‘T expected no less, from what I have seen of you, David, but all the same, I thank you—how sincerely, let the future tell!” Again that hot thrill! Was this woman wil- fully trying her powers over him? Was she maliciously punishing him for daring to love her, even in secret? Despite himself Iceberg Dave felt these wild thoughts flashing through his mind. Nor could he banish them at once, though he loyally en- deavored to do so. It seemed like treason to the widow! ‘Long agoI learned that at one time in his career, the colonel had gone under the name of Morris Grant,” quietly resumed the widow, ‘¢ At the time I paid little attention to the mat- ter, but recent events have awakened an inter- est in 1t such as [ could hardly make you com- prehend, without a frank and ample confession —a confession such as I hate to begin—to you J” Did she mean to drive him mad? If not, bet- ter for them both were she to steady her voice, to vail those glowing brown eyes, to place less tender emphasis on words that referred to him pa ‘‘ Why do so, then?” he said simply. ‘‘I will do your work without asking why you want it done. Surely you can trust me?” She shook her head with a low laugh. ‘*T am a woman, and you must let me have my head, cr there’ll be another runaway of a different sort from the first! But—business!” ‘‘T heard of this blind fiddler and his daugh- ter, whom report made but little less than an angel of duty and a marvel of beauty! I heard | of their wanderings and of their weary search- ing for tidings of one Franz Moskau, but it was. long before I began to connect them with that secret page in the colonel’s life history. In fact I paid but little attention to the matter at first, knowing how anything in the shape of woman is exalted and exaggerated by the inhabitants of a wild and woolly country like this! ‘** But as time passed on, the name of my old flame, Frank Spartan, began to be connected with theirs, and then—you see, IT am as frank as TI promised—my interest began to grow until, when I met them this day, I resolved to learn the whole truth before I let them pass out of my sight. For that reason I dared the gun of Ugly Dan, and by your gallant aid, brought. them to My House. ‘‘T saw that my old suspicions were pretty ' near correct, when Joel Mallison shrunk back on meeting Herman Moskau as though he had bumped noses with a ghost! And when we were alone together, I charged him with being Morris Grant, with having cheated Franz*Mos- kau shamefully, if he had not even killed him to the better cover over his frauds.” ; ss Ugly Dan acted as his deputy in that af- air. ‘So I heard you say, a little bit ago. But Joel Mallison fears to have the whole truth come out, quite as badly as though he had killed the young fellow with his own hand.” ‘Tf there was actual murder done,” slowly uttered Iceberg Dave. ‘If you heard what I told him, you cannot have forgotten that about the crazy fellow who killed Ugly Dan this even- ing at The Mint.” ‘Then that was no more than the truth?’ She half-rose from her seat, her eyes glowing vividly as she bent toward him, now terribly in earnest. ‘“That Bennison was killed by a ragged wretch who afterward.swore he had to do it, because, ages ago, Dan had stolen away his brain, filling his skull with mingled fire and ice instead—yves,” ** And about Frank Spartan?” es, a. . - Gom Cc cS . - > Pen. ie te