Beadle's Dime Library No. 387 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

+ lien, —_ Dark Durg, the Ishmael of the Hills. and held a flask to his lips. Dark Durg frown- ed and made a motion as though he would push the hand away, but desisted as the young man muttered: ‘*T wouldn’t do that. The poor devil is well- nigh suffocated. He’s going to have a square drink, scowl as blackly as you may!” ‘‘ Down him, boss!” savagely grated Lop-eared Mose as Knapp removed the nearly emptied flask. ‘*Down him, an’ I'll be your dog from now on!” Dark Durg laughed shortly as he glanced up into the face above him. Knapp drew back, something like disgust written upon his features. Mose Sawyer had not improved his condition any by that vicious cry. ““TPve done my duty, as a white man. It’s you and him for it now,” coldly uttered Knapp, folding his arms, ‘‘ After me!” suddenly interposed Rex Stuart, breaking the spell which had held him motion- less, his blue eyes beginning to glitter and glow as he moved close to the prisoner. ‘* What brought you here? You followed me—who with and for what purpose?” ‘“hf IT make a clean breast of it, you'll turn me loose, boss?” whined Sawyer, catching atthe slenderest hope. ‘+ He has nothing to say in the matter,” coldly interposed Dark Durg. ‘*I took you prisoner. I will punish or reward you according to your merits. But you may serve yourself if you tell a straight story.” ‘‘ What do you want to know fu’st?”’ sullenly asked the rough. ‘¢Who did you come here with?’ demanded :' Stuart, though he felt that he could give the an- swer to his own question. ‘* Old Wingfold an’ his boy bossed the party.” Stuart turned away and sat down ona conven- ient bowlder. He had learned all he cared to hear just then. The rest could be readily imag- ined. But apparently Dark Durg was more dif- ficult to satisfy. ‘* You came here after this gentleman and his party? You knew what object they had in view? Answer straight, if you care for your life!” Lop-eared Mose nodded his head in assent, **Tell us how you learned so much. Your master, Damon Wingfold, had a spy employed in the house of his half-brother, I believe?” ‘** They was a gal—yes,” growled Sawyer, re- luctantly. He saw that his captor knew too much for him to attempt any false story, without running great risk of being caught lying. ‘Go on and tell the rest. How you found out about the clew to the treasure. From beginnin toend. And bear my warning in mind. If catch you in a lie, Pi cut your tongue out that same moment!” ‘ There was something in those glowing ge that warned the Droop-eared Daisy to be on his guard. He felt that his life depended on the re- sult, and all thoughts of evasion vanished that instant. , ee He told how he had known Sterling Coin in the days gone by, and how curiously he had dis- covered his one-time partner in the terribly de- formed Humpy Dick. He gave his real reasons for attacking the hunchback, keeping nothing concealed. And thus, for the first time, Rex Stuart learned the whole story of that eventful night in Denver. He exposed the attempted arrest of Humpy Dick, even giving the name of the accommodat- ing judge who had afterward suppressed all mention of the affair, securing and destroying the warrants, cautioning the policemen to keep the matter close-locked in their own bosoms. He told how Nettie Malcom, paid by the gold of Damon Wingfold, and rendered still more eager in her espial by the love-making of Earl Wingfold, managed to overhear and see shough on that night to give the bold plotters all the hints and clews they otherwise lacked. She had even overheard the greater part of the story told by Humpy Dick before his strength be to fail him, though she could not satisfactorily ex- plain how it was that Dark Durg managed to escape from the house with his wounded friend. Dark Durg laughed softly as he listened, and a faint smile came into the face of Rex Stuart as his memory reverted to the heroic struggle Doc- tor Shipley had that night with “ the cat.” ‘‘The most o’ this the gal writ out that night, an’ next mornin’. She hunted up tke boy, an’ ive him the note, as you see’d, .” turning his bloodshot eyes toward Rex Stuart, ‘I was watchin’ of ye then, an’ fearin’ you’d Varn too much, | run ahead an’ give ‘em the office. They broke away, but I see Pd give myself away, oe That didn’t make so much difference, though, sence I’d got two good shadows at han’ an’ you hedn’t gone twenty rod afore one o them was on your track. ey done thar work as well as mortal men could, an’ we thought we hed you dead to rights. The gal swore you hedn't left the paper at her house, so we knowed you must hev it on your pusson. An’ so we made up our minds to lay you out that night, an’ take the dockymint fer pay. ' “The old man, to give the job a healthy color, takes an’ sets a story goin’ as how you'd kicked him shameful. It was pritty nigh the truth, | | | | t too, though I ain’t sayin’ he didn’t desarve all he got—durn him fer gittin’ me into sech a p’izen nasty scrape as this!” savagely growled the rough, in an undertone. ‘*Stick to the text, Moses,” coldly warned Dark Dureg. ‘‘The boy was to let it be knowed that he wes on the hunt fer you, with a hosswhip to balance your boot. He wasn’t to take no long resks, though I won’t call him a coward. It was the boss that laid out the plan, an’ the lad hed to stick cluss to it, A lot o’ us boys was to keep him in sight, an’ when he bounced you, boss, we was to close in an’ lay you out, strip your karkiss an’ levant fer dark kiver. ** Tt looked like a dead-open-an’-shet when you come in on us all by your lonesome self, that night! But we slipped up on it—bad! You got away in the dark—that was my part, to take keer o’ the lights, while the boys downed you. I done what I was told to, but somehow you give the boys the slip, an’ got away. ‘* That wasn’t the wu’st, though! We couldn’t find you that night, nur yit the next day, though T reckon we hunted the hull town over so cluss that a mouse couldn’t’a’ got away ef we'd bin lookin’ fer that! An’ it was itt dark ag’in afore we give it up that you’d give us the slip an’ struck off fer the lost cache! ‘**The boss ciphered it out. was a fri’nd to young Knapp. He knowed you He found whar _he-had registered and took a room at the hotel | whar you hung out. | | | _sech outfit, an’ then we Then he found out that he’d set off fer the hills the day afore, an’ the rest come easy enough. ‘* Afore midnight we was ridin’ away from Denver, puttin’ in our best licks. We stuck to the trail fera day, but couldn't git word o’ no ive over tryin’ fer your trail. I was pritty well knowin’ to the lay 0’ the ground, an’ undertuck to bring the boss ' nigh about the place we thought most likely fer to strike ye, or, anyway, some signs to tell us which was the right road to foller. ‘*Late last night we went into camp over yender a bit, an’ this mornin’ I sot out fer a look through the hills—wuss luck!” Witha pa yeae ener a covert but deadly glare at his captor, Lop-eared Mose concluded his re- cital. ‘“Where you met a warmer reception than you anticipated—precisely,” interposed Dark Durg, bending forward and picking up the gag to knot a fresh thong in place. “ve told everythin’ I know, an’ Pll take oath it’s the clean article, boss,” uneasily mut- tered the Droop-eared Daisy, licking his dry lips with his tongue. ‘Turn me loose, like a white man! Til make a straight shoot fer town, an’ you won’t never be bothered with the likes o’ me ag’in!” **T don’t intend to,” coolly replied Dark Durg, the gag in one hand and the point of his knife touching the hairy throat as he spoke. ** Open your jaws for a moment, please!’ ‘** Don’t let him, boss!” muttered the wretch, through his tight-clinched teeth, turping an ap- pealing panne toward Rex Stuart. ‘“He has nothing to say in the matter. You are my captive. ou are to live or die, just as decide,” was the cold response, as the point of the knife bit through the skin of his throat. ‘* Will you open your mouth, or shall I make a slit large enough in your throat?” “Tl ha’nt ye—” Deeper sunk the knife, and seeing naught but cold, merciless decision in those gleaming black eyes, Mose Sawyer yielded in despair. Louis Knapp shivered with disgust as he turn- ed. 3) ax Stuart. et’s get out of this, pard! It’s turning m stomach, bad !” Wee # Without a word the young man rose and the four gold-hunters moved away from the spot, pains over much the same trail by which they ad reached the valley. Not a word be- tween them. They had plenty of food for thought, not alone in the confession the Droop- eared Daisy had made, but in the words uttered by Dark Durg. The lost cache was indeed a Gold Phantom! And then—to be so utterly deluded! To be used as a lure to draw others into the net of this Dark Durg! As they regained the hight, Louis Knapp at- tempted to utter some consolation, but his friend turned from him with a little shiver. ‘‘Leave me by myself for a few minutes, rd, he muttered, sinking down on a rock hat grew near the edge of a deep, narrow chasm in the rocky earth. ‘ No,” he added, with asmile, as he caught Louis glancing from this abysm back to his face. “You needn’t think that. I’ve all the more reason for living now. Precious will need a living friend, far more than a dead one!” Louis Knapp saw truth in his eyes, and drew apart with his mates, leaving Rex Stuart there alone. Not for long did he remain thus, how- ever, for the light echo of footsteps aroused him from his gloomy reverie, and he glanced up to behold Dark Durg close beside him. A vivid flash came into his eyes and he said sharply: ‘*Will you never take a hint? If wise, you will keep out of my path. ou are y eyes 23 are open, now, and [’m in an ugly mood, Go away !” ‘*When I have fully explained my conduct, Mr. Stuart,” was the reply, grave and earnest. ‘If I have suffered you to deceive yourself, it was because I saw no other means of gaining my ends, without running too great risks. I[ have all but gained them now. Ihave Damon Wing- fold and the only living person whom he loves and would shed a tear for, safe within my grasp. You lured them hither, and I thank you for it.” ** Unwittingly on my part, I assure you!” with a low laugh. . ‘* But none the less surely,” was the quick re- sponse. ‘* In doing this, your part is played to the end. Go back to your city and give over your worse than vain hope of ever securing the Gold Phantom—for phantom it is and ever will be to you and yours!” Rex Stuart rose to his feet, but his cyes were downcast and he spoke no word in reply. Dark Durg was silent for a brief space, but when he spoke again his voice was softer, kinder, almost gentle. ‘* You know that your hopes are all in vain, so far as the gold is coniveirtsd, but still your trip has not been without its good result. You can return home, knowing that Damon Wingfold nor his son will ever trouble your friends, They came toslay—they will ba slain!” Savagely came the last words, and Rex Stuart looked up quickly. ‘Why do you hate them so bitterly? What have they done to you?” . ‘* Made me what I am, an outlaw and an out- cast—an Ishmael of the Hills, my hand against all mankind, even as their hand is against me.” *Then—Humpy Dick at first called you the Indian Avenger, or something like that! Wasit your story he was telling?” ; ‘Whether yes or whether no, it matters no to you, young man, Go back to Denver and make your love happy. She deserves it. She is as near being an engel of light as mortal flesh ever becomes. Treat her kindly, and never leave her to go wandering off after gold—never do that, unless you wish to tempt fate as—” pg Durg paused abruptly, turning his face aside. Rex Stuart stood in silence fora brief space, his brows contracting, his eyes filling with a dogged light that partly betrayed the subject of his thoughts. Why was this man so anxious for him to hasten away? Could it be that the Gold Phantom was a reality, after all? That he, Dark Durg, possessed the secret? If so— ‘**Go back to Denver, young man, and forget these wild dreams of sudden wealth, if you hope to escape shipwreck as many another poor devil has suffered. Be content to make your livin slowly and surely. Marry that girl, and she w make your home blessed. Tell her I send her my blessing, if she will accept it. Tell her father—tell him that if I cannot forget, 1 will try to forgive, if only for the sake of his pure and gentle daughter, Will you tell him this?” oe “What have you to forgive?’ slowly asked Stuart, though the moment the words escaped his lips the answer flashed across his mind. ‘* Murder!” sharply uttered Dark Durg. ‘**'Then you are the—” * Dark the interposition. ‘ Let that knowledge suffice. It can do you no good to learn more. Once back in the city, try and forget all that has passed here, and—” “T am not going back—at least not for some little time.” ** What do you mean by that?” ‘** That I’ve not yet abandoned hope of captur- ing your Gold Phantom! That I am going to hunt for it until I see better reasons—” With a harsh, snarling cry Dark Durg grasped him around the body and held him suspended over the yawning abyss, helpless as an infant! CHAPTER XV. HOW DARK DURG PLAYED THE HOST. HELPLESS as an infant in the grasp of a riant, his arms pinned to his sides, unable alike strike a blow or draw a weapon, Rex Stuart hovered over the deep chasm, down which meant death after awful maiming and mutilation! For a score of seconds thus, then, with a short, hard laugh Dark Durg step back, turned around and lowered his captive to the level. He folded his arms across his chest, seemingly untouched in wind or muscle b that almost marvelous ,exhibition of sirineth and nerve. For an instant Rex Stuart staggered, his brain turning di from the sudden revulsion even more than from the glimpse he had o tained of that frightful depth when he felt that only a few moments stood between himself and aT Then, with a low, gasping cry of mad rage, he tore a revolver from his belt and thrust the muzzle almost against the broad bosom of the Ishmaelite. ** Shoot, if you are a coward!” Cold, scornful came the words. Dark Durg made no motion to either knock aside the menacing muzzle nor to draw a weapon of his own. He did not even unfold his arms, though a single movement of either would be sufti- urg, the Ishmael of the Hills!” was Gomicboo € Ss) (E(0)