Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 385 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

‘ . a ba . not once did he imagine t Wild Dick Turpin, the Lion of Leadville. —— known, and he could not resist the temptation to | body knows better than I that it is precipitate; cover his brief career as sheriff with all possible | but both the prosecuting attorney and hae glory. | been so besieged by citizens— men of high posi- He was preparing to go out when a messenger | tion—who insisted on an immediate trial, that came to say that Raoul Legrand wished to see | we both bad to yield to the clamor.” him. ‘Who are these citizens?” suspiciously asked Up to that time he had avoided the miner as | the visitor. much as possible, not caring to trust him with The mayor named some of the foremost men the secret of his identity; but he could not very | of the city. well refuse to answer his call, Accordingly, he| ‘‘ What the dickens do they care about the walked over to the jail. | case?’ the supposed sheriff asked. ‘‘ They are Legrand bore his imprisonment without philo- | rich, proud and exclusive; Abe Knowlton was sophy, patience or courage. He had been sullen | poor, humble and coarse. Why this unusual and aggressive by turns, and had, on the whole, | stir in his behalf? Other men get shot in Lead- injured his own cause, but matters had arrived , ville, and the aristocracy don’t turn a hair. at a crisis where he felt the need of help, so he | Why their sudden flurry in this case?” sent for the sheriff—or he supposed he had for | ‘* Well, Pll be hanged if I know,” the mayor hat it was Dick | admitted. ** Did they not give a reason?” ‘*Oh! they said that the good of the city re- quired that an example be made of him, and also said that he was probably an ally of Dick Turpin.” ‘** Could not equally strong reasons be found in the case of every alleged murderer?” ** | should say so—yes.” ** Then, Mr. Mayor, I must protest against this haste. lam the most important witness in the case, and my reputation requires that the case be properly presented.” ‘** lm sorry, but you see I’ve promised the gen- tlemen I named that it should go on at once,” ‘** Suppose I call on these men?” ' **You can do so, if you wish; I certainly don’t | object.” Turpin. The latter walked into the cell with the bluff greeting! ** Hello, Legrand! ing?” ** Well in body, but that’s all I can say,” the miner bitterly replied. ‘I’ve sent for you, Mr. Bradstreet, because you have all along given the opinion that I had no hand in shooting that man, Knowlton.” “Such is my real opinion, Mr. Legrand,” — ‘Well, then I am placed in such a light that I must regard you as my only friend, and I | need some friend badly. You have, of course, heard the news.” ‘* What news?” “ About my trial.” “What about it?” | This was enough, and Dick went to the house ‘““Why, it’s ordered for day after to-mor- | of the nearest of the men, who was a wealthy row.” | merehant. He expressed the views the mayor ‘6 What?” | had attributed to him, and showed a good deal Dick Turpin started back in surprise and dis- | of feeling against Legrand; but when asked why may. He had hoped to see Legrand proven in- | he had made such a sudden start in this case, he nocent, or to rescue him, before he could be | hesitatingly acknowledged that his views had brought to trial. been shaped by a gentleman who called on him ** The prosecution has so notified me.” and presented the case strongly to him. ‘** By the fiends!” cried Dick, ‘Show is that? | Asked who this man was, he said that he was Only yesverday I notified the mayor that I a stranger, and that he did not even know his should not be ready to proceed against you for name, but that he was a very respectable-looking two weeks, or more.” man with a beavy beard of raven-black color, ‘* Well, ve got a letter from the prosecuting | So far he had talked quite moderately, but attorney in which he says that, ‘with the ap- | when Dick tried to argue against undue haste, proval of the mayor,’ he shall proceed with my | the man became excited, and held out for Le- trial on Thursday.” grand’s immediate trial, in such a way that Dick ‘“* Say that you are not ready.” set him down for a fanatic and went to citizen **T wrote him that at once, and back came an | number two. ' answer from the mayor, himself, in which he , Here the former interview was almost exactly said that the people demanded immediate trial, repeated. Until of Jate the gentleman had been and that no postponement could be allowed. but little interested in Legrand’s case, but an un- But, see here,” added the miner, thoughtfully, | known man with a heavy black beard had called ‘‘isn’t it queer that the sheriff who made the on him and argued the case so strongly that he arrest should be so passed over—snubbed, as it now clearly saw that the good of Leadville re- were?” quired that a prompt example be made of Le- It was queer, and the thought had been in| grand. He, too, wasaggressive and unmovable. Dick’s mind ever since he heard Legrand’s state- | A third and fourth citizen were visited with ment. like results, What did it mean? Dick Turpin began to be confused and His first theory was that he was suspected; puzzled. that he bad been recognized as Dick Turpin; but. ‘‘ Here were four men, who had never before this idea he speedily abandoned, Clearly, if he | madea similar move, all shouting for the prison- was suspected, the authorities would not lose a_ er’s prompt trial; and all had been led to do so moment before making his arrest, | by the arguments of the man with the black ‘**It’s a remarkable piece of business,” he re- | beard. Who was this man? None of them knew. plied, to the miner’s last question, ‘‘ and I'll see | He had been a very respectable-appearing man; the mayor at once and find out what it means, | one who seemed very regardful of Leadville’s In any case, keep up your courage, Legrand; I | morals; and he had made them see as he saw—or shall give emphatic testimony in your favor at | as he wished them to see. : the trial.” All this was mysterious. The man seemed ‘* Thank you, Mr. Bradstreet; you’re a man | absolutely to have gained a mesmeric influence I can honor and like, By the way, how is Dick | over them. But there was something more. Turpin?” Dick Turpin clearly saw that a personal motive, ‘“‘ He is doing fairly.” ‘ ' not regard for public morals, was at work. The ‘Curse him!” Legrand fiercely exclaimed, “if mysterious unknown aimed directly at Legrand, I could get at him, he would bave a relapse he or, through him, at some one else. The affair would never get over in this world. Inever | had become almost weirdly mysterious. harmed a human being in my life, but I could | Whose wes the invisible hand at work in the kill that black-hearted scoundrel with less pity | case? than | should feel for a mad~iog!” The Leadville Lion put one hand against the wall for support. tte felt faint and dizzy. This man who had cursed him was the father of the woman he loved, and for him and her he, Dick Turpin, was putting his own life in jeopardy, hoping to wrest victory from inexor- able fate, and win for them, and him, a happy future. He had felt himself friendless except for them, and now—now he was bitterly cursed by him who, he thought, should feel some degree of pity for him. ns ale | | Rnd yet—yet—what pity did Dick Turpin How are you this morn- CHAPTER XXIV. THE WEB OF DOOM DRAWS TIGHTER, Dick TURPIN was completely mystified. He knew of no one who would answer the descri tion given of the man with black beard. His impression was that he had been an agent of ae other person who was at the bottom of the ot. . Who was this person? This question he met and meditated upon for some time, but without result. Naturally, his deserve? ‘ . | first thought had been of Jude Peterson, but ‘¢-You are right, Legras he said, hoarsely, | there were several arguments to be used against ‘but let me not stop here. I'll go tothe mayor, | this theory. and I’ll save you or die in the attempt!” First, it was not Jude in person who had And he hurriedly left the cell. ; visited the citizens; secondly, he could conceive ‘‘Save me or die in the attempt!” echoed Le- | of no person whom the police spy would use as grand, ‘‘ Well, that’s pretty rons language; | an agent; and, thirdly, he could not see what but if he feels that way I certainly don’t object. | Jude was to gain by hastening Raoul Legrand’s But what can he do? I used to suppose him a | trial. power in Leadville, but he has been ridden right Next, there was the Man with a Scar. He had over in this affair.” the will to injure the self-styled sheriff out of Dick Turpin “vent at once to the mayor, burst- ' tion: ; not like his; and Dick did not believe he woula ‘““Why have you ordered Legrand’s trial so employ an ally. soon? y case is not half made up against he situation was perplexing, mysterizus, an- him.” noying and serious, iekecnand was brought in ““My dear Bradstreet,” was the reply, ‘‘no- guilty, and Dick feared he would be, his execu- | simple mischief, but the description of the black- | ing in on that official with the impetuous ques- | bearded man did not apply to him; the work was | 19 tion for murder might follow as promptly as his trial. It seemed as though everything was ccn- spiring to make the counterfeit sherifi’s } osition more difficult and dangerous. After long effort he decided that the tide could not be ehecked. The clamor for Legrand’s trial was as strong as it was mysterious; tle opinion and demands of the citizens could mt! & changed or modified. There was something 2!- most weird about the way in which the blac! - bearded man had influenced them. He, an ¢:- tire stranger, had come to them and, introauw- ing a subject on which they had been wholly ix- different, had left them positive fanatics. W hat was the secret of this? Had he mesmer— ized them; bent them to his will by unnatuial powers; or was it merely the cunning of a re- markable man? Here there was much to suggest the Man with the Scar. He was cunning, mysterious and in- enious. Was he the power behind the throne? urpin could not decide, but, whatever was the fact, it was clear that an invisible hand was working directly to his disccmfiture. The blow, he believed, was not at Legrand, but at him- self. Feeling that Legrand ought to know all, he went back to him with his report. The miner listened somewhat apathetically. As long as they seemed determined to rush him into his grave, he cared not whether it was due: to a black-bearded man, or *oone with a beard of fiery red. All he could do was to get good counsel and fight for his life, ‘Whatever the result, sheriff,” he added, “I thank you for your efforts, as one honest man may thank another.” ‘*T ll do all I can for you, as you'll find at the trial, Legrand. Keep good courage.” ‘‘One thing I do hope,” Legrand slowly con-. tinued. ** What?” ‘That if these bloodthirsty wretches eae me in guilty, my execution will be delayed unt after Bick eae is hung!” : ‘Probably it will,” said the supposed sheriff in a hard voice, for only a great effort enabled him to be calm, ‘*Can’t you hurry up his execution?” ** Not while he is sick in bed with brain fever.” ‘When I think of that devil,” continued Le- grand, his hands working convulsively, ‘it makes my blood boil. Brain fever or not, Vd tear out his black heart if I could get at him. He came to my home, where all was peace, sun- shine and happiness, and with devilish arts von our confidence. What is the result? I must go to the gallows; my Lois will die of shame and a. broken heart; and my wife will be alone in ber oldage. Oh! what convulsion of perdition sent. such a black-hearted wretch upon the earth?” | Dick Turpin stared at the speaker in speech- less horror. Worse than the sentence of death to a criminal was this attsck tohim, Fait, dizzy and stunned, he pressed one band to lis. breast, and it seemed as though the world and all it contained was tottering and crashing around bim. How he got from the cell he did not knew, though he was conscious of taking an appro- priate leave of bis companion in a hard, steady voice; but when once in the corridor he became calm again. The jail employees were there, and he made an effort to ly. He looked in on Meg Gregerson, and the men captured with her, They were to be tried the next day, and he intended to have the woman imprisoned for a short time, at least, so that she could be found later. On reaching his room he found Bowie Ben awaiting him. Agreeably to his instructions, Ben had again called upon Lois Legrand. His report was favorable. The girl, though still un- ph to sit up, was stronger, and his words in defense of the Leadville Lion had done much to render her cheerful. They had again talked a good deal about Dick, and her eyes had brightened when Ben expressed the opinion that the supposed sick man, when he recovered, would be able to make a compro- mise, and exchange his illegally-gotten money for liberty. | Lois had declared tbat if this was done she would go with him to the end of the world, if need be, and begin life anew. . This report bad a wonderful effect on Dick Turpin. The dark clouds of his life were swept away by that most potent of suns—a pure wo- man’s love—and he felt capable of facing all bis troubles boldly. Once let Lois recover suffi- ciently to travel, and Legrand’s trial would be a mockery which he could easily override; he would release the miner without ceremony, and with Lois, flee where he was unknown; an where, in the hght of ber smile and her love, he could lead an honest life and make amends for the old, dark past. During the day Red Kit called at the sheriffs office. She said that all was well with Sibylla and her children, and announced that Duke Hal- lock and his wife had left Leadville. The latter had prevailed upon her husband to abandon his. intention of killing Dick Turpin, and, if Duke did not again change his mind, they would be seen no more in Colorado. “They wanted me to go with them,” added e himself outwara-" ao (E(0) Eomichboo S