Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 385 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

rr SS ee ea tae ee © _ a Ca A EE > St _ able. - but she immediatel for some time. 6 nt oe 12 ——s ——————— ee ee eas ild Dick Turpin, the Lion o f Leadville. would make all Leadville rise as one man and join in a howling mob to tear from his false posi- tion the dashing outlaw who had ruled the road in the days of the band. “Tf they get the hint,” he thought, ‘‘no one man can save me as I saved Legrand. I should be hanged without the shadow of a trial. Noth- ing can convince the pone that I am working honorably now. Will that word be spoken? The Man with the Scar was never my friend, and the attempt to assassinate me in the pass recalls what he once said to me when I was a child of five years: ‘I may some time have to kill you, my pretty boy!’ He has tried it once, and if he does not set the men of Leadville upon me, it will be because he has schemes of his own to work. Men call me Sheriff of Leadville to- day, but never did sheriff stand in sueh immi- nent danger before. Known and unknown perils menace me; the palpable and the mystic alike surround me, Yet 1 will go on to triumph or death!” He firmly closed his teeth; the Lion of Lead- ville might be threatened, but he was not daunted. Shortly after he investigated the lynchers’ at- tack, and satisfied that the employees at the jail had helped rather than hindered the mob, he discharged every man, New attendants were appointed, and the extra guard of officers ordered not to desert their posts under any condition, unless person- ally ordered by him. The captured lynchers were notified that the would have prompt trial and punishment, and, moreover, the ‘‘ sheriff ” posted a notice warning the escaped adherents of Judge Lynch that rifles had been stored in the jail, and that, if another attack was made, the defenders had orders to kill every rioter they could. Nobody was surprised at this, for the real Bradstreet had been a man of force and resolu- tion; but the order led the people to name the sheriff anew: ‘‘ The Man with the Tron Hand.” When such a course seemed safe, Dick flung himself upon a bed, still dressed, and slept soundly for some hours. When he awoke, Bowie Ben, once more disguised as a negro, was waiting to see him. The subordinate had seen Sam Tobin housed at Old Man Hicks’s, and then returned to Leadville. Dick promptly installed him as chief nurse of the sick sheriff, alias the road-agent. The man who already held that position remonstrated, but he was well paid and peremptorily dismissed, Now that the die was fully cast, Dick Turpin did not hesitate. He trod the streets as though all Leadville was his, and all matters were handled with ungloved hands. If he came to grief in the midst of his career, it was not likely that people ever would forget how the Lion of Leadville had ruled them, Reports from Lois Legrand were not favor- She was conscious, but very weak, and it would be some days before she could bear a long ae . Until she was better, Dick must either old his rilous position or abandon Raoul Le- grand ot fate. ‘ Shortly before noon Dick went to the sheriff’s office, where, to his surprise and annoyance, he found Red Kit awaiting him. The girl had } gro extremely obnoxious, to express it mildly, him. In his opinion her crime had been a most villainous one, and only her sex saved her irom punishment; but, mixed with the loathing, there was the recollection of the old days when she was like sunshine in the cave, and the fact that she had done all this because she loved him! _ These items were influential enough so that he could not drive her from the office, but his gaze was anything but friendly. Red Kit had improved in looks. The color had come back to her face in a great measure, and some of her old life and activity mingled with her gravity. ‘‘T suppose you’re surprised to see me,” she said, abruptly. eS am, considering what I said before.” ‘‘ But I’ve not come to speak of Dick Turpin,” ‘Indeed! What then?” “Do you know a lady named Sibylla Marcy?” in started. ‘‘Rather. Yes, I do.” “* She has two children?” ah Yes. ” Dick looked abruptly at Red Kit. Did she know that Sibylla claimed to be his wife? ‘“« They are in danger.” ‘From what?—from whom?” ‘‘ That I don’t know.” ‘You are talking in riddles,” brusquely ob- served the counterfeit sheriff. ‘‘ Are you try- ing to work up a boom for yourself, by pos- ing as their friend?” — I should want a better helper than you!” The retort was made in Red Kit’s old style, grew grave. “Excuse me; I did not mean to speak thus. Hear me, Mr. Bradstreet, and you will accuse - me of no double ne op a ** Sit down, Miss Hallock, and talk nga Dick felt lighter-hearted than he had done His success in hiding his iden- tity from the mountain girl led him to believe that all others, who had no cause for suspicion, might be equally blind. True, he was disguised by the bandage over his face, and the loss of his mustache, while he took great care to disguise his voice; but the eyes of love are said to be sharp, and Red Kit was not one easy to deceive. She obeyed his last direction and came to business at once: ‘Tam now living in Leadville. My mother and I came here, went to a quiet house and re- solved to live such secluded lives that no one could find us. The few survivors of the band had disappeared; Lasso Lije and Revolver Rube went openly, to seek other scenes of adventure; Bowie Ben mysteriously disappeared; and my father, almost a monomaniac in his desire to find and punish Dick Turpin for what father will term his treachery, wandered away. Mother and I were alone, so we came here. ‘‘ As I have said, the house was a quiet one—I suspect that all the lodgers keep very close; in fact, are in hiding for one reason or another— but we at once discovered that we had a neigh- bor on one side who was a woman, and that the walk between the two rooms were thin. ‘** Late last night this woman had a visitor—a man. At first we took but little notice what they said, but she talked loudly, passionately, and some words which we caught led us to listen. She was cursing you deeply and loudly, but the man interrupted her. ‘** Enough of this,’ he said; ‘ you will alarm | the whole house if you make so much noise, Let | us change the subject. I have investigated the woman and children at the hotel.’ ‘** Ha!’ she exclaimed, ‘what have you learn- ed?’ ‘**T believe the woman is Bradstreet’s wife!’ ‘* Upon that she swore roundly; as much so as any member of our old band ever did in my hearing; and wound up by vowing that she would go to the hotel ae kill them. *** No, you won’t,’ the man answered, ‘ Such a move would be a fatal blunder, and would ruin all our hopes, for you would probably be detected and arrested. Ihave a plan worth a dozen of that. The woman and her children must be kidnapped, We will secure them, take them to a safe place and secrete them, and then we will have Rob Bradstreet’s heart in our grasp, to bend and break as we see fit.’ ‘The woman readily agreed to this plan, and he promised to attend to it at once, That’s what I heard, and I’ve come to tell you,” ‘*Did you hear the names of the persons talk- ing?” Dick asked. ** His was Jude; hers, Meg.” ‘* Just so! I suspected as much, and I will see that their little game don’t work. Thank you for telling me, Miss Hallock.” Red Kit opened her lips as though to speak, but closed them again and abruptly arose. ‘“*T’ll go now,” she said, Dick delayed her while he asked some further questions, and then she left the office and glided quietly down the street, her face concealed from casual view by a vail. ‘Turpin looked after her thoughtfully, wondering at the change which a few days had made in her appearance, but he had other matters to attend to, and he suddenly aroused, ‘*So Jude Peterson Be i to remove Slbyl- la‘and her children! He suspects the truth, and I thought he would. I wish it was in my power to wind up that unconscionable villain at once; but Bradstreet made a pet of him, and I must use him well during my brief term of office, or he may tell that which will do harm. I can easily foil his intentions in regard to Bre by having her change her quarters, and if shall be done at once, If, as she asserts, she is Robert Bradstreet’s wife, I must care for her as earn- estly as though [ were a real sheriff. If Rob recovers, and ever learns the truth about me, he shall not accuse me of having been untrue to him and his interests.” Arrangements were soon made for Sibylla and her children to go to a private house where he believed they would be safe, and he then went to the hotel to notify her of the desired change. It became necessary for him to invent some fiction. He would not tell her the truth con- cerning Jude Peterson, for it would unnecessa- rily alarm her, so he merely said that men who were trying to get his office from him were look- ing for a chance to do him harm, and that she must remain in pag for awhile, Sibylla was of an obedient nature, and inclin- ed to do whatever he thought best, but she did hold out for an acknowledgment on his part that she was his wife. Considerable tact now became necessary, but Turpin performed his part so well that, though plainly not satisfied, she yielded to his plan. She would go into positive retirement with her chil- dren, trusting to him to duly recognize her in the end. - The Leadville Lion left the house considera- bly relieved, but he would have been less pleased had he seen who shortly followed him out. This was Jude Peterson, his small, evil eyes filled with an unusual glow, and he hastened at once SO iki room in the house where she was in iding. _“*The time has come!” was his abrupt saluta- tion. ‘‘ Sheriff Bradstreet must be immediately attacked; we must strike without delay!” __ eee Ee err SS CHAPTER XV. HOW DICK TURPIN MET THE DANGER. MzG sprung toher feet. A fiercer gleam shone from her eyes, and a greedy look was on her passionate face. ** At last!” sheexclaimed. ‘‘ At last, and never was a prisoner more overjoyed with a reprieve. This waiting, waiting process has sapped my life day by ony It was as though a vulture was tearing with his beak at my heart. But what has bappened?” Jude Peterson had waited impatiently for her to finish. ‘‘The long and short of it is that I have dis- covered that he is about to remove her from the hotel to some other place; I didn’t learn where. Neither do [ know his object, though I suspect that he don’t admire the woman, and wants to get rid of her. The excuse he gave I know to be a lie.” ‘Well, if he hates her, perhaps we need not. molest her.” ‘‘ Wait, wait! She may be unloved, but if she is his legal wife—” ‘‘T see; I see! Nothing but her death will make me safe.” Meg spoke fiercely, and her features worked as though the figurative vulture was, really, tearing at her heart. ‘ But, to resume,” added Jude. ‘‘I saw Brad- street going to the hotel, followed secretly, Jis- tened at a transom and overheard all, and then ITsaw that there must be no more delay. You | must strike!” ‘“*Tam ow ‘‘For myself, I must remain out of the game. That stupid fool of a sheriff does not suspect who I am, and [I can harm him more as his pretended friend than as an open enemy. ‘The distinct. work you must do yourself, and now I want you to go direct to the mayor, tell your story and have Bradstreet arrested.” Meg caught up her outer garments. ‘‘T am ready!” she tersely said, ‘“Mind, now, that you remember all my mi- nute directions, and—waita second! Say to the mayor that eee think Bradstreet is about to flee the city, and that proceedings must be begun at once.” ‘** 11] remember.” She would have gone on foot, fierce as a blood- hound on the trail, but Jude ordered a carriage: in which she would be concealed from public view, and go with a degree of respectability out- wardly. When this was done Jude went to the sheriff's: office, and, for several hours, made himself bus there. He had never seemed a more valuable assistant. He entered into all of his superior’s plans with zeal, and threw in a good deal of ju- dicious flattery which would probably have pleased the genuine sheriff, Dick Turpin, however, knowing the accom- plished scoundrel as he did, felt a strong desire to set upon him boot and fist, and give him a thrashing he would not soon forget, No shadow of this desire was on his face, however, and he gave Jude no cause for suspicion. Another twilight came, and darkness followed. There yet remained some hours before the time appointed for calling again on Sibylla, and, after making a visit to the jail and hospital, to inquire concerning Legrand and Bradstreet respectively,. the impersonator of the latter sat down in the office alone. Jude had gone on an errand devised by himself, and Dick had the scene to himself. An hour passed, and then the door opened and several persons entered, First came the mayor; then Meg, and, at the rear, two officers. The men Dick was not so to see, but, at sight of Meg, he did not need the troubled look on the mayor’s face to reveal the truth. He re- alized at a breath that a trap had been sprung upon him, but not by as much as the quivering of a muscle did he show alarm or embarrass- ment. Rising, he gave his hand to the mayor. ‘‘Good-evening, sir; glad to see you. I was having a solitary smoke, and shall delighted to heve you jom me—if the lady does not ob- ject.’ 4 : He made a courteous gesture toward Meg, who. seemed dumfounded by his cool self-possession. “Thank you,” the mayor answered, hesitating- ly, “but the fact—a—that is—we have come on ess. ‘‘ Glad to hear it,” airily replied the Lion of Leadville. ‘‘ Business has become confoundec lax and coquetitish of late—a regular will-o’-the- wisp. Nothing more stirring than a few lynch- ing-bees, and the massacre of a tribe or two of road-agents. But why don’t you explain, Mr. Mayor? You force me to do all the talking!” onsidering that Dick gave nobody else chance to put in a word, this was further evi- og his will, if ek arr ee to run matters. ut the mayor gravely replied: ‘“*T wish eerie Ae you to do all the talk- ing, but I have an official duty to perform. We have come to arrest you, sheriff! Dick Turpin laughed lightly. ‘‘ What's the offense?—petty larceny, or li- bel?” ‘“T wish it was nothing worse, That is to say —well, here’s a—lady—who claims that you are her husband.” Eomicboo (C cS (elo)