Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 385 — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

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Oh! heart of sweet sixteen, of wise seventeen, of supercilious eighteen, of lofty nineteen, of peerless, transcendental twenty, will nct the ‘memory of that awful night haunt on through countless years? Will you ever recover from the shock of knowing that an outlaw’s arm has been around your waist, and that you whispered tender speeches to him so willingly? The officers of law were also bitter against the bold adventurer. To his deeds on the road he had added the unpardonable crime of usurp- ing Bradstreet’s place, and it is to be feared that a lynching party would have met with but little opposition. An unexpected incident added fresh fuel to the fires of their hatred. Mr. Chester, the aged minister, appeared with -a singular story. He laid before the officers two revolvers which, much to his surprise, he had just found in the pocket of the coat he had worn at the interrupted wedding. Of these revolvers, each of which had one empty chamber, one was recognized as Sheriff Bradstreet’s, while the other had the letters ‘‘ D. T.” rudely marked on the barrel, and was believed to be Dick Tur- in’s. 2 Then it was that the fickle people decided that Turpin, and not Legrand, had shot Abe Knowl- ton, and it was demanded that he be tried on the charge of murder. Evidence in this line was injured by the dis- covery that Turpin’s revolver had a bore too small to carry the fatal bullet, while Brad- street’s was just right; but it was easy to sug- est that the road-agent had seized and used the sheriff’s, and the authorities yielded to the uni- versal clamor and agreed to bring the man to trial at once. He was to be tried for murder! CHAPTER XXXV. SENTENCED TO THE GALLOWS. ALL through the first day of his captivity, Dick Turpin sat almost like a statue in his cell. When the guards who were with him spoke, he Loaded with irons, he sat and stared at the blank wall with some absent, hope- less expression on his face and said nothing. Even the coarse, rough jokes of the men at his -expense failed to arouse the faintest sign of anger. The Lion of Leadville was tamed at last— tamed by dire misfortune. No one came to see him. There was no friend to cheer him in his misery, for they were La —all gone. The homeless dog that skulked through the street was not more despised and forsaken. Leadville hated him—could never forget the wound to its pride—and found pleas- ure only in anticipating his death on the gal- lows, People came to look through the bars and see the ed lion. They went away, exulting at his arta aye NE He was a crushed, broken- spirited man, and they felt that the first step in their revenge was taken. They knew of his de- sertion by those he had loved and trusted, and they tried to forget their wounded feelings by jesting about his misery. ah Some, when they saw him so oblivious to all around him, wondered what course his thoughts were taking. Could they have known, they would have said that he was a madman. Mad or not, he saw one picture continually as he sat there. Hesaw four people riding along the winding mountain road at a oe pace, At “the head went Raoul Legrand and his wife, Be- hind them, riding side by side, went Bowie Ben -and Lois All were nervous and frequently looked be- hind, as though dreading pursuit, but they tried at times to be gay. Lois seemed the lightest- hearted of all. Now and then Bowie Ben would fall into deep thought, and his face assume a look of deep gloom. His conscience smote him, _ but when Lois aroused him, he would look at her pie te 5 -aipetan Bes It was, of course, pure imagination, but Tur- pin seemed to see them goon mile after mile, past varied bits of scenery, and ever in his mind sounded the tread of their horses. Tramp! tramp! tramp! ‘ It was as though every hoof-beat was against his throbbing brain, and the pain was keen and -continuous, He was, indeed, deserted and alone. Com- mon treachery he could well bear, but not that of the two he had most loved and trusted. Cim- -merian darkness had fallen on his life, and he -only regretted that he lived. arly in the evening an order came which -sent all his guards from the cell. He was left alone, but did not realize the change. Neither did he realize, a little later, that a single man had entered the place and stood looking at him. It was Jude Peterson. The face of the police spy was pale, and a cloth was wound around his head, but, though this was plainly due to the blow he had received from Dick’s hand, his face did not bear the a expression one might have expected there, He waited for Dick to speak, but, as the latter said nothing, was himself obliged to break the silence, ‘** Good-evening, Mr. Turpin!” The prisoner shivered, moved his ironed kands, and then, like one coming out of a fog, lifted his gaze to Peterson’s face. The latter repeated his words, and Dick then quickly answered: “So it is you?” ee Yes.” Jude touched his bandaged head, and added: ‘*T have this to remember you by.” **T recollect that you were hurt—think you fell from a horse. No, wait! I remember now. We fought, and I shut you up in a closet.”’ ‘*F'rom which I was rescued in due time. I bear you no ill-will for that blow, and if I had known that you were Turpin long enough before then to have thought calmly on the situation, we should never have had our trouble. I have no grudge against Dick Turpin, and I am now here as your friend. It was through my influence that the guards set here by the deputy-sheriff were withdrawn. I argued that it was absurd to have a friendless, heavily ironed man watched by a regiment of officers.” Turpin had thoroughly aroused, and he now quietly said: : ‘* What ax have you got to grind, Jude?” The police spy looked furtively around before he replied, and then lowered his voice. gh propose to set you free if we can make a bargain.’ “Ah! What do you want?” “First, a friend of mine—in brief, she who was tried for attempting your life at Coffin Gulch —wants to know how you learned so much of her past life.” “First item. What next?’ ‘**T think that I ought to be paid for releasing you. As Dick Turpin, of Leadville, you have made a spre of money. Give me a fair share, and I will get you safely from the city, so that you may go forth over the land as free as any man who lives.” ‘* What more?” ‘Nothing. My conditions are simple.” ‘Very simple, Judas, but they are declined. I make terms with no one like you. I have long known that you used your official position here to help the knaves and law-breakers of Leadville, but you cannot make terms with me. I don’t want to escape.” Jude bit his lips angrily. **Do you prefer to remain and be hung?” és Yes. ” **'You are to be put on trial for killing Abe Knowlton. They have exonerated Legrand, and you take his place as accused. The missing re- volvers have been found in Chester’s possession. How the old man happened to have them he can’texplain, but it is clear toevery one else that he picked them up and put them in his pocket as a common man would throw a dynamite bomb into the river—to get the devil’s weapon out of the way—and then forgetthem. You know how weak his mind is. But let me speak of your case. You’re to be tried for murder,” ** Very well.” ‘** Very well!’ Are you mad?” “ee No.” ‘Then why remain here like a fool, when I promise to help you away?” ** Because I would not go if the door was held wide open for me. I am indifferent to the fu- ture. t them hang me if they wish. I don’t care!” ee Fool }”” “Thank you!” Jude was very angry, as well as disgusted. The ape coolness of the prisoner was some- thing he had not expected. e glanced toward the jail corridor, and then anrap ly said: ‘‘Have your own way in this matter. Ill come to you again when you are sentenced to the gallows, and [ll wager something you'll not be so stiff.” ‘“‘ T will never accept a favor from your hands, Judas. You are too contemptible a hound for my taste. Yes, you had better leave me. Go! get out of my sight. You poison the air!” Dick did not raise his voice, but deep disgust was in his tone and Jude muttered ‘a curse, turned and strode from the cell. The prisoner was again alone, The following day the court-room was crowd- ed to hear, and see, Dick Turpin, of Leadville, tried for the murder of Abe Knowlton. Rich and poor came alike, but, as had been the case for years, the former were the enemies of the prisoner, while his few sympathizers were found among the poor. We need not dwell upon the trial. It was more of a farce than d’s had been, for the men who had testified against the miner seisaheesionee eigenstate tn gt in ES hb Wild Dick Turpin, the Lion of Leadville. woe now sure that Dick Turpin had done the The evidence would not have stood in any legitimate court, but it served the prosecutors’ purpose there. ‘When a verdict was reached, it was “ guilty.” And then the same judge who had sentenced Raoul Legrand proceeded to sentence Turpin. He was given five days in which to live. At the end of that time he was to be hanged by the neck until dead. He went back to his cell adoomed man, while Leadville exulted. No more would the terrible outlaw rob the stages and pedestrians, and no more would he make love to the belles of the town. Truly, Leadville had reason to rejoice and be exceeding glad, But the calmest man there was Dick Turpin. .The visit of the police spy had aroused him from apathy, and, after that, nothing escaped his no- tice, though he was wholly indifferent as to his fate. e did not neglect his food, and seem- ed to have no trouble now, but, when his execu- tion was referred to, he spoke of it as coolly as though it was to be the most trivial experience of his life. One—two—three more days passed. Night followed, and Dick went to his bed at an early hour. His irons had been reduced to hand- cuffs on his wrists, and he had managed to rest fairly with them on, thusfar. He expected to do so this night, and lay down with his clothing on, as usual, He fell asleep, and some hours passed, but he finally awoke with the consciousness that some one had touched him on the shoulder. A light was burning, and, as he turned his head, he saw —Red Kit! It was a great surprise, but it sent his blood shooting through his veins with fresh vigor. Stricken and stunned as he had been when last at Legrand’s cottage, he was aware that the mountain girl had tried heroically, fervently, to save him from arrest, and he was not ungrate- ul. He would have spoken, but she laid her hand on his lips. ** Softly, Dick, softly! Don’t speak too loud. I have come to rescue you.” ‘To rescue me?” ‘Yes, See! here is the key which will unlock your handcuffs, and there will be no trouble af- ter that. Ah! I have not been idle. Here!— hold out your hands, and let us go at once!” Her manner was eager, but he held his hands away. “T thank you, Kit; from the depths of my heart, I thank you; but Icam’tgo. Life has lost its charms for me, and I will remain and face my fate. But you, Kit—I can’t say too much in praise of you. hen all others deserted me, you remained faithful. They were the friends of my one of prosperity; you of my time of adversity. When they struck me to the heart, you gave all the wealth of your hi Sea to the crushed wretch who had no otherfriend. Kit, may all blessings be yours in the future! I shall die hoping that you may live long and happily.” er face had grown soft, tender, womanly in the extreme. ‘** Do you mean it, Dick?” ‘**T do, upon my sacred word.” “Then make me happy!” she replied, in a trembling voice. ‘If you go to the awful death to which they have doomed you, my after life will be a curse to me.” ‘No, no, Kit; do not say that. You are young, and new avenues of life are before you. pe fone and begin anew, forgetting the old, ark past. ‘‘T can never forget, this side the grave, and I had rather die than leave youhere. Dick, Dick! will you not go with me? The way is clear; come, let us ge!” ‘‘T am sorry, Kit, but it.can’t be. My deci- sionismade. I shall remain and meet my fate!” CHAPTER XXXVI. HEMMED IN, Rep Kir did not look dismayed at this asser- tion. Strong as were Turpin’s words, she be- lieved that there was a wavering of his resolu- tion, and she redoubled her efforts. Not once, however, did she refer to her love for him, or ask that he should place her in his heart where Lois Legrand bad reigned before her treachery. It was such an argument as a strong, devoted friend would use. : Dick Turpin did waver. The girl’s presence brought back the old life oS tomme blood, which had been for days sluggish, an to flow as usual. His mind began to shape arguments in support of her arguments. Why, he asked himself, should he remain and be disgracefully deprived of life on the gallows for a crime he never committed, merely because a fickle woman had jilted ? With this mental question and Red Kit’s elo- quent pleading on the same side, it is not to be wondered at that he finally held out his hands. ‘‘ The key!” he said, tersely. ‘‘I will go!” The light of a great joy flashed over Red Kit’s face, and the handcuffs were quickly re- moved. ; ‘* But,” added Dick, ‘‘how are we to leave ~ Tcomicbooks.