Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 385 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

i P -* : ee ee eS ee eee ; = aie ae ere an rn et 7 ~ — a a - - - — on SO — Wild Dick Turpin, the Lion of Leadville. ‘*Thank you; you make me happy. It has | hour of winding up the festivities draws near, ‘been the one great study of my life to make you raiserable. I ig, 5 have killed you, years ago, but I knew that I could secure a most emphatic “revenge OF allowing you to live. Now, however, I am an old man, and I shall soon wind up your -career. My chance has come at last. Situated -as things are here with you, it would be a great blow if, just as victory seemed in your grasp, I ‘should hurl your piens to ruin, and send you to s the scaffold, would it not?” i His quiet air of satisfaction made Dick Turpin long to start forward and seize him by the throat, but he controlled the impulse and an- ‘swered: ““Incomprehensible man! what is the cause of ‘this persistent persecution?” ‘** Hatred!” was the laconic reply. ** Hatred of my parents! Man, what did they “ever do to you?” * Well, boy, you shall know before you die; it is a short story and can soon be told.” ** And because you hated them, you hunt me as a, , hound does a rabbit. Did I ever wrong out a The young of vipers must necessarily be a viper.” Dick Turpin stood looking at the Man with the Scar with emotions of a strange and conflicting nature. To him he owed a ruined life. True, fate had also been against him; the world had been eager to wrongfully accuse him, and to drive him to a path of crime; but all was pri- marily due to this demon in human shape who stood there and exulted over his work. Yet, the ex-road-agent could not touch him then. To seize him would be to lead the villain to expose Dick Turpin’s identity; while, if he had been inclined to shoot him down, as he richly: deserved, the last hope of clearing up the mys- ‘tery of his mother’s marriage would be lost. The Lion of Leadville was helpless. He who had been a resistless power around the neighbor- hood for months was now as helpless as—to use pee moans own comparison—a fly in a spider’s web. The Man with the Scar watched Dick closely -during the pause which followed, and a compla- cent smile stole over his face as he saw the “younger man’s perturbed expression. ‘Why have you called me here?” finally asked “Turpin, almost sullenly. ‘*Merely for a friendly chat, and for a few other things. You have offered a reward for the Man with the Scar—‘a dangerous lunatic,’ ha! ha!—and forced me into this disguise. Can ) ‘So see any signs of the scar now? Aha! my head is an old and a long one; I am not slow at the disguise business. But, boy, you must call off your bloodhounds,” ‘*T will, when you cease meddling with my affairs.” ** What do you mean?” “To-day, my case against Meg Gregerson fell ‘thréugh, This was your work, You secured false keys to the jail—your devilish ingenuity -seems unlimited—and not only released the wo- “man’s cdg per but concocted for her the fiction she told at the trial; and you saw the ‘Chicago minister and made him believe that Meg was one of his old-time church-members.” “True,” was the calm reply, ee ** But this is not the worst. You have stirred - up public opinion against Raoul Legrand, going among prominent men in disguise, of which a lo lack beard was a leading feature, and them see as you wished, That tiendish ingenuity you possess I don’t know, but you have a an honest, innocent man in peril of the gal- Coo] and unmoved was the reply, and Dick in clinched his hands nervously. ‘When you go forth and create a reaction in his favor, I'll call off the police I bave set on your track—not before!” he “ghia Big cttw in Nonchalantly the Man with the Scar shrugged his shoulders, ; “As you will; let your bloodhounds search forme. Itis dollars to. cents that they don’t find me, and, if they do, I shall say: ‘ Gentle- men, I am not insane; nobody is more level- headed than I, and, for proof: of it, I refer you to my very dear friend, Sheriff Bradstreet, alias Dick Turpin, of Leadville!” The ex-road-agent’s gaze fell, His case was hopeless; he was in the power of this man. A word from him and ruin would come to the soi- disant sheriff. Fora few moments the Lead- ville Lion felt helpless and hopeless. Why con- tinue to struggle against such odds?) Why fight _a losing fight? ' ; : Then fierce resentment against this cool scoun- drel arose within him, and he hoarsely replied: ‘‘-You shall have your way in one thing, but mark what I say: If you hound me to the wall, [ will not suffer alone. In some way or other, I will find means of striking you in return, and you shall go down to ruin and disgrace with me! ; ae -“To that I readily agree—if ‘you can work your will. Surely, I ought not to” deny you so. slight a pleasure as that.” : “Sneer on; the tide may yet turn.” ty ‘‘ A very original remark. But, by the way, ‘will you not be missed from the 4 ts oe at ee SS... Ne este SSS take care of Dic -room? “The and those fair creatures will miss your graceful waltzing and pretty speeches. Return to them, and play the gallant; make the most of your one evening in polite society. There! there! not a word more, I will not stay to discuss old issues. From now you will see me daily, and we can talk any time. Goto the darlings of the ball- room, and set their yearning hearts at rest!” With this cold sneer the mysterious man locked his arm within Turpin’s, and drew him from the room. ‘*Remember,” he added, ‘I am now Count Romischoff. I have a hundred other names, but here in Leadville Iam a noble Russian. Now, gallant boy, 60 and dance, and let me see your speeches brighten the fawn-like eyes of the dainty belles of this happy night!” Dick Turpin obeyed, and from then until the end of the evening he missed no dance, while his gayety, his politeness and tender speeches sur- prised and charmed his partners. As Nero layed the fiddle when Rome was burning, so ick Turpin danced when the air seemed black with speedy ruin and disgrace! CHAPTER XXVIII. BROUGHT TO TRIAL. Dick TURPIN arose in the morning, after a brief, but quiet, slumber, with much about which to think. He had accomplished his ob- ject in going to the ball; he had danced with the very young ladies who had previously pro- nounced him a barbarian, brute and monster; so far his triumph was complete. But when he thought of the Man with the Scar there was little of triumph in his mind. His old enemy clearly held the reins of power, and he might at any time see fit to use this wer to crush the counterfeit sheriff. Truly, Dick Turpin was beset with trouble and danger, and a weaker man would have at once taken to flight and left Leadville forever behind. ot so with Dick Turpin. Loving Lois Legrand as he did, he was stab- bornly resolved to remain, win her for his wife, and show her through the coming years'that he was not as bad as men reported him; and, | though Raoul Legrand had cursed him bitterly, he was determined to save him or sacrifice his own life. As for the Man with the Scar, he would not resign himself to defeat while a hope remained. If the villain would delay until Lois was able to bear travel, he would release Raoul secretly, and take Lois and flee from Colorado. Had he been alone there he would have wasted no time in diplomacy in dealing with the arch-plotter, but showing an iron hand at once, would have tried to kidnap and bear him away. Perhaps he would yet be able to do that; in any case, he would keep a bold front and fight his enemy to the last. On this day d was to be tried, but the hour was set so late that Dick had two visitors before he went to the court-room. The first was | Red Kit. She reported that all was well with Sibylla and her children, and that, though a close watch had been kept, there was no sign that her enemies had gained a clew to her hid- ing-place. en this report was made Red Kit seemed uneasy fora few moments, and then abruptly said: ‘‘ Sheriff, I’ve something to say to you.” “Go on!’ ‘¢-You will not be angry?” cc No. ” ‘‘T want to agen ask Turpin! : ‘Miss Hallock, why will you bring up this subject?” ‘“Because I can’t help it,” Kit Bae her voice trembling. ‘I am now all alone here. Father and mother have gone, and J have no one to—to care for, but Dick. How would you feel, sir, if there was some one whom you loved, sick and in trouble, and you could not go to her?” Dick Turpin started. The girl little suspected how true a barb sbe had sped. He was slow with hisreply. | ‘*T think you are doing wrong to cling 1o this outlaw so, Miss Hallock.” ‘€ Outlaw or not,” cried the girl, with a flash of spirit, ‘‘he is as noble a man as lives!” “Well, when he recovers, do you suppose he will have an equally high opinion of you?” Red Kit’s face grew grave, and her lips trem- ed led. “He will hate me; he can’t help it,” she re- plied; “‘ but that isno reason why I should de- sert him. I have been guilty of the most infam- ous wrong that woman ever did; let me now go to him and show my remorse as much as I can. Let me make amends for my sin.” ih ‘‘ Are you willing to nurse him back to life so that he can marry Lois Legrand?” A long-drawn, tremulous sigh escaped the irl’s lips. . ee will be for him to choose, so far as I am concerned, Should he ever be a freeman again and feel so bitter toward me as to curse me, would see him married to her, if it was his wish, and then I would go away—somewhere, any- where—and wish him well!” permission to go and NE ————— er — ——————————————— Dick Turpin shaded his face with his hand for several seconds and sat in utter silence. When ae looked up his face was calm and unread- able. ‘‘ Tt shall be as you say!” ** And I may go to him?” ** Tf you wish.” The light of a great joy flashed to Red Kit’s face, and she fell on her knees at the supposed sheriff’s feet. ‘*Heaven bless you!” she cried. ‘‘ May all B00 gifts be yours all through your life. cannot reward you, but I will pray for you. Dick hurriedly raised her to her feet. ‘*Say no more, Miss Hallock, and—I am full of business to-day. I will write you permission to go to the sick man. Tom, the colored man hired by me, stays there nights; you can re- at at such hours as you see fit during the ay. He sent her away as soon as possible, and then sat looking after her in grave meditation. ‘‘ What a strange thing is the human heart, and how strange is woman! Red Kit could be- tray the man she loved for revenge, and now she wishes to nurse him back to life, even though he married her rival. I ought to hate the girl, but if I could do anything to turn her love to Bowie Ben, I would doit. He is a fine fellow, and would make her happy. I wish it might come about.” At this moment Bowie Ben himself entered the office. ‘“‘Ha! what news, comrade?” Dick asked. ‘‘Tve visited Miss Legrand.” “To-day?” «ec Yes. 7 “You made an early call.” ** So I did, but I wanted to get back in time to hear Legrand’s trial. I should not have gone | to-day, but Miss Legrand intimated that she | wanted me to come particularly. I now know her reason.” ‘* What was it?” ‘“‘T had encouraged her to hope that the so- called Dick Turpin would soon recover con- sciousness, and she had a note prepared which she directed me to give to Dick Turpin as soon as he recovered his senses, and it would be safe.” ‘* Have you it now?” Dick eagerly asked. © Yes.”, ** Give it to me quickly!” Bowie Ben obeyed, and Turpin hurriedly tore open the envelope and read the note. It was as follows: *“*My Dear, Dear RICHARD:— ‘We are all in great trouble, but day follows night, and the sun is sure to fall sooner or later upon our lives. I have been ill, but strength is re- turning to me, and I shall soon be well. Only that you are in trouble I should be content; but I! feel strong hope. Be you of good cheer, too, for the sun- shine will come at last. ° sa! darling, do not have one useless fear about me. Were you ten times a Dick Turpin, I would love you still. I know that you are noble and good at heart, and nothing shall turn my love from you. A woman's Jove is not for a day only, but for life and eternity. Do not have any fear that I will let slanderers poison my mind, Soon, very.soon, I shall be able to get to Leadville. and then I will see you, if love can turn back prison-bolts. Until I do see you, think of me and love me, even as | shalllove you. “Your devoted bride, ee Lors.”’ Ah! was it the Lion of Leadville who let that permis paper fall from his hands and looked at is ally with eyes filled with happy tears? Was it Dick Turpin, of Leadville, who was weeping like a woman? , He. took Bowie Ben’s hand and pressed it fer- vently. ** Bless you, ‘Ben; bless you! Never was there better friend than you, and never did friend bring more joyful news.” The messenger’s face was bright with sympa- thetic pleasure. s ‘“T felt sure that it was good news, captain, and I congratulate you. Miss neers is a noble woman, and second only to Red Kit, in my opinion. Excuse me, captain, for of course you can’t forget what Kit has done—” “T can forget all; I am too happy now to hold resentment. Ben, if you can win Kit jah pe wife, my best wishes will go with you Ben sighed and shook his head. ‘**T have but little hope.” “‘ Persevere! Wonders can thus be accom- plished.” ‘Well, I certainly intend to persevere,” ‘As youand Red Kit will both be on duty at the sick man’s bedside, there can be no harm in letting her know that you and the ‘negro’ nurse are one.” ; Ben opened his lips to say that Kit already knew it, but he felt guilty because he had so long concealed the fact. So he thanked Dick and said nothing more. : They could delay no longer, for it was time to go to the court-room. In due time Raoul Legrand was placed at the bar to be tried for his life. He was calm and dignified, making a good appearance, and though the people of Leadville were so strongly against him, was not without friends. ‘All of his fellow-employees at the Gold Bug Mine had | —— GOMIG JOOKS com.