Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 385 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

Wild Dick Turpin, the Lion of Leadville. 15 The ex-lieutenant did not repl ‘* Let me answer for you. commit murder!” ‘*T did not!” retorted Duke. ‘‘Nonsense! I know you, my man, as well as ou know me. You are Duke Hallock, once ieutenant of Dick Turpin’s band. You have got the idea into your stupid head that it was Dick who betrayed the band. You were never further from the truth. He did nothing of the kind, but you have sworn to kill him, just the same.” ** Well, you seem to have it down fine,” growl- ed Duke. ‘So I have. Am T sheriff here, only to close my eyes like an owlin daytime? No, sir; I am well-informed as to you and your doings.” **More traitors!” said Hallock, bitterly. “Well, say what you will, you can’t make me believe that Turpin did not betray us.” ‘*T swear that he did not. Your own daugh- ter, Red Kit, confessed to you that she, alone, was responsible.” ‘The girl is infatuated with Turpin, and she took the blame on herself to save him.” ‘*Rubbish! She only told you the truth. But, even if she had a motive for lying, I have none. Surely, you don’t think I am ‘infatuated’ with this miserable Dick Turpin, whom we propose to hang before many days.” Duke was silent for a few moments, and then he sullenly replied. wo 4 ‘*T don’t know what your motive is, but I do believe Dick Turpin was a traitor.” ‘*You are at liberty to believe what you choose,” the self-styled sheriff impatiently re- You wanted to plied. ‘I would as soon try to convince a mule as you. One thing I will say, however; you can’t get to my prisoner if you try. That window, which looks so simple on the outsides, is impregnable when you go further. Entrance is impossible. Now, sir, as your gang of des- peradoes is so well riddled, I do not care to molest you, if you will take yourself off, out of my way. For this time you are at liberty to go, but if I catch you fooling around here again, Pll hang you higher than Haman!” There was no misunderstanding this warning spoken as it was. In the old days Duke had been his captain’s favorite, and one of the wildest men in the band, but he was a mono- maniac now and Dick dealt with him accord- ingly. The ex-lieutenant was not convinced, nor did he intend to abandon his trail of vengeance, but the unexpected offer to let him go was something he could not afford to despise. He therefore said, with more respect of manner, that he would take himself off, and, after some further talk, which included a re- peated warning, he put the promise into exe- cution. Dick followed him to the street and saw him move rapidly away, and the derk- ness soon hid his form from view. Dick realized that the man was in a dan- erous mood, and did not expect him to aban- ou his intentions, but the sick man was so well guarded that he had little fear that Duke would get to him. The interview had given the adventurer fresh confidence in his disguise. He had carefully controlled his voice, and nota suspicion entered Duke’s mind that he had been talking with just the man he aspired to kill. The Leadville Lion returned to the lodgings which had nominally become his when he as- sumed Bradstreet’s apes pS He had never felt more friendless and wretch- ed; he had never been in greater peril; he knew that, at any moment, he was likely to be unmasked; he knew that of all the people about him he could depend on Bowie Ben only; yet he laid down and slept calmly until morn- ing. fis “‘ nerve ” was remarkable. When he awoke he made a deliberate break- fast, and was just going out when a letter was pees him. He opened it and read as fol- OWS: “ SHERIF¥Y BrapstrEeT:—The undersigned has in- formation of vast value to you. He can tell you where all the gold stolen by Dick Turpin’s band, dur. ing the past two years, is stored. At present only one of the band knows this secret, and he is—Dick Turpin, of Lead:ille, As you are aware, he can't tell just now, bi-cause of his condition, and you can bet high that when he recovers he 7 on't tell. Unless I speak nobody will ever see this gold; if I do, all who have lost through euspin may be reimbursed. This will be good news for the merchants, and others, of Leadville. ““T would not share this gold with any one, but it is where no one man can get it alone. “I must have help, Come to Coffin Gulch to-night, at nine o'clock and you may meet me, I shall be entirely alone, and i rely on your honor that you will come the same way. Ishall, however, take such precautions that, if you bring others, I shall know it and you will not see me. £TE Brown.” Twice Dick Turpin read this letter through, and then put it quietly away with the remark; se I will go !” At that same moment Jude Peterson and Meg were in the latter’s room busily talking, They had, however, made the discovery that the walls of the room were very thin, and they took care not to paise their voices above a low pitch, ‘By this time,”, Jude was saying, ‘‘ Brad- street must have received his letter.” ‘* Do you suppose he will enter the trap?” Meg asked the question feverishly, but Jude confidently replied: ee I do 9 ‘*f am not so sure; he is shrewd and long- headed. You ought to have seen the way he conducted himself at his office when I went there with the mayor. Not for a moment did I sus- ook that he had a bombshell ready for me until e hurled it. Who would have supposed that be knew that chapter in my life, in which that old California fool figured? “We underrated him on that point,” Jude confessed; ‘* but that he is only human is proven by the fact that he does not suspect who I am. I have wormed my way into his confidence ; even made myself his personal friend; and he does not suspect that I am his bitterest foe.” ‘*T wonder will this new scheme work well?” Meg muttered, thoughtfully. ‘‘T have no doubt of it. Once he is in our power, we can spread our slanders here in the city, and ruin him among all decent men, and then make such terms with him as we see fit.” ‘Oh! I long for revenge!” the woman ex- claimed. ‘**Not so loud! Rest easy; revenge shall be yours. He is sure to walk into our present trap. My letter, with its allusions to Turpin’s gold, will draw him to Coffin Gulch, and, once there, our men will give bim no chance to escape, Have no fear, the scheme will work!” Meg did not reply, but sat with her eyes glit- tering ominously. new idea had entered her mind. Jude thought it prudent for him to be in Leadville when Bradstreet went to Coffin Gulch, so Meg, disguised as a man, was to have charge of the ruffians they had secured to trap the sup- posed sheriff; and the new idea in her mind was one she did not see fit to speak aloud. ‘*T shall have supreme control there; wh can’t I secure immediate revenge? If Rob Brad- street is shut up anywhere, he may escape. There is a better way than that. Once let him fall into the hands of my allies, and I will have him strung up to the nearest tree. He shall hang like the dog he is, Aha! noble sheriff, you shall see how Meg Gregerson can hate!” At noon the Lion of Leadville was visited by Bowie Ben, who announced that he had visited Lois Legrand. The girl was still too weak to leave her bed, but everything indicated speedy recovery. ** Well,” said Dick, eagerly, ‘‘ what was said of me?” ** I told her what you directed,” Ben answered —‘*that I was a friend of Dick Turpin’s, and that f wanted her to delay her judgment until she knew more about you, asserting at some length that you were not one-tenth part as bad as men said Turpin was.” ‘Well, what was her answer?” gage near as 1 can remember, she answered thus: ‘*** Sir, asa friend of Richard’s, you are wel- come, and I am glad to hear you ak well of him; but it was not necessary in this case. I suppose I must admit that Mr. Barnes and Dick Turpin are one, but I know him too well to be- lieve he is very bad, As for Dick Turpin, the poor in these bills all sound bis praise, for he has aided them often; but I know him better than they, Whatever he may be to the world, I am sure that great misfortune drove him to such a ates and I will honor and love him to the end! ‘Such, captain, were her words, as near as I can remember them.” Dick Turpin warmly grasped his ally’s hand. He was no longer the Lion of Leadville, but a man with all the weaknesses of common mor- tals. He had placed confidence in Lois, despite all that was so dark in his, career, but such strong confirmation as this made him inexpressi- bly happy. ow, indeed, could he boldly face the count- less dangers that hemmed him in. With the star of love shining brightly upon him, no peril was too great to be more than a pastime. When he left Ben his head was proudly up- held, and his stride that of a conqueror. Dan- gers might threaten, but could not daunt him. He was again the Lion of Leadville, All that day he was busy, but he did not for- get the letter he had received. Shortly after dark he had Brutus saddled, and then rode away toward Coffin Gulch. The night was dark and gloomy, with skurry- ing clouds in the sky and a mournful whistle of wind in the guliches, All this, however, was an old story to the ex-road-agent, and he went as coolly as though it were day. : Whom he was about to meet he did not know, but he sat boldly in the saddle as Brutus bore him on toward the place of meeting. Surely he ought not to fear any one man. , It lacked a few minutes of the appointed time pod he rode into the somber shadows of Coffin ch, CHAPTER XTX. A HALTER FOR WILD DICK TURPIN. CoFFIN GuLcH was only a small branch of a larger gulch, so there was no trouble to be an- i a ee ee ]T]FHPM --- °+ -™-rRTYTTO0O©0O©COWO>ODW?W?S sss... ticipated in the finding of ‘‘ Pete Brown,” as the writer of the note had signed himself. | Dick Turpin rode half-way, and then reined in Brutus and sat looking about him, He did not have long to wait; a dark figure came from the foot of the cliff and, in reply to Dick’s challenge, made answer: ‘*T am Pete Brown. Who are you?” ‘* Sheriff Bradstreet.” ‘* Then we are well met. I am glad tosee you here on time. Did you heed what I said, and come alone?” ss Yes.” ‘All right, then. We need lose no time, but come to business. Here is a rock just back of us; will you dismount and sit down there?” ** I suppose I may as well.” So saying, Dick slid from the saddle, left Brutus and followed Mr. Brown. The latter seemed to bea slight, boyish fellow, and per- haps it was this which led Turpin to comply with his requests so promptly. The youngster did not look dangerous, The rock proved to be one of several scattered at that point, and the two sat down side by side. ‘**T suppose you were surprised at getting my letter,” said Brown, lightly. ‘To a certain extent, I was, for I did not su pose Dick fant, ee stolen money would be found. I have been trying to learn all I could about the fellow, but I judge that my knowledge of him is slight compared to yours,” **l.am well informed on that point,” Brown confidently declared. ‘** Were you one of his band?” ‘** No, but I have had a good chance to learn all about him, and I have some things to tell which will surprise you. First of all, let me surprise you with the revelation that—you are my prisoner !” ons Brown’s voice suddenly changed in tone, growing sharp and stern. ‘*Eh¢ Hello! what’s that?” echoed the sup- posed sheriff. ‘** Look to your right, sir!” Dick Turpin looked. There stood a man with a revolver leveled at his head. _ “Look behind you!” | Again Turpin obeyed. There stood two men in the same position as the first. ** You see how it is,” Brown added. ‘ Three revolvers aré covering you, and, if you make one movement toward drawing a weapon, your- self, you will be shot as dead as the rock beside you. Mind; not one movement or you are a dead man!” ** Scoundrel!” hotly exclaimed Turpin, ‘‘ what do you mean by such treachery? You promised to be alone, and to meet me as a friend. do you mean by such infamous conduct?” Brown laughed sarcastically. ‘*T mean that you are a blind fool! Oh! are ou a sheriff, wise and experienced, and yet so idiotic as to be decoyed iato a trap? Fool, poor fool! All this talk about Dick Turpin’s gold is rubbish, for I know nothing about it. The long and short of it is, I Wanted you in my power, laid a trap for you, and you walked blindly in- to it. ‘** But your motive—your motive?” “To capture you.” ‘““ By the fiend, you want to go slow about this!” the self-styled sheriff declared. ‘‘I am a man of power hereabouts, and I'll make you squirm if you molest me, Send away your se or Pll have every one of you hung a week! ‘*Hung!” scoffed Brown, ‘ That’s a good joke—a Reauliory good joke, Still; I won’t send away my men. On the contrary, one of them will now advance and bind your wrists, and if. you try to resist, you will be shot dead!” The trapped man protested warmly, but all in. vain, The revolvers were turned inexorably | defy, he had to remain inactive while one gang bound his wrists behind him. ‘* Brown” then laughed mockiugly. els “Fool! fool! you are, indeed, in my power, and it is time for me to tell who lam. My name is not Brown, nor am I a man, J am Meg Gregerson |” upon him, and, as they were not safe things ie _A bitter exelamation fell from Turpin’s } lips. ** Tricked!” he added, hoarsely. “Yes, tricked; and decoyed to your death, You had your day when in your office; now it’s my turn, You were weak enough to be merci- ful, but Iam not such an idiot. You are in my power, and the revenge which I covet shall be mine, Out yonder is a tree, small, but large enough for the purpose. Over one limb hangs a rope. In one end there isa noose, In five min- utes you will be hanging there by the neck, — dead! March him away, men!” . re Dick Turpin protested, but he might as well have talked to the wind. He was dra : to the tree, and the noose flung over his head and drawn tight. Then the men seized the other end - of the rope. “You see, Rob Bradstreet,” said Meg, hissing- ly, ‘‘to what you have been brought by wrong- ing me. Black Run, and then cast me off—” “I wanted a wife, not a tigress,” dryly inter-> rupted Dick Turpin. What idea — You wooed me in the old days it | - ~ a pam a JOOKS MIG (elo) ee —_ eo - Or +