Beadle's Dime Library No. 392 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

cree ~ on ll - - — is oe . Jn ~ oe — -—_= 4 oa 7 i ae ek - ” . a | doctored decks that night. I am delighted to meet you ag’in. Shake! It was Ruby Rob’s surprise now. He had ex- pected a fight, and not a renewal of friendship. CHAPTER XII. COLONEL TARANTULA IS DESPOILED. THIS unexpected and ludicrous outcome to his visit to the whisky ranch nettled Captain Rob. At first he thought of drawing back and de- claring open war, but a second thought restrain- ed him. ‘*Tt won’t do. I'll play with this Texas quan- tity till I know his cards,” he said to himself. After that his flashing eyes suddenly cooled down and he took the hand which Colonel Tar- antula reached across the counter. The occu- pants of the place looked on astonished, for they, too, had expected a serious collision between the two sports. ‘* Didn’t expect to find me domiciled in Satans- crown?” smiled the colonel. ‘*1’m somewhat of a rolling stone an’ precious little moss 1 pick up on this mundane sphere. Just got back, eh?” Ruby Rob looked at the speaker. Did he mean that he had just returned from his hunt for the Golden Gate heiress? ‘*T have just come in; business took me away several days ago,” he said, watching the effect of his words, ‘** Business! Ah, yes! I know what it is my- self,” said Colonel Tarantula in a manner that was provoking. ‘‘ I trust your business was suc- cessful,” and he looked Captain Rob in the eye as he spoke, ‘* Tolerably so, colonel, tolerably so,” he said, biting his lips behind the answer. “ But you will excuse me now. I will see you later on to- night.” hree minutes later Ruby Rob was in his own cabin, and he had hardly shut the door behind him when he was joined by aman who resembled Diamond Dave. ‘You caught my signal, Gold-dust Jim?” Good! In the name of heaven, what kind of a man is that in charge of Cuban Con’s bar?’ ‘‘A puzzle an’a poison,” was the reply, and Gold-dust James gave a light chuckle. ‘*Tell me everything that has happened since I left. I know that Cuban Con was forced to sell out to Colonel Tarantula, that he got the drop on Diamond Dave and cowed him, and that he was accused of killing the mute. But I want the particulars. Dve got some time on my hands, and I don’t want you to omit anything. Go ahead!” Thus commanded, Gold-dust James proceeded and talked in his way for nearly an hour. He told Ruby Rob everything, and as he had wit- nessed all and was a good story-teller in the rough, he was not interrupted once. ‘* Thar’s one thing that nobody knows but me, cap’n,” said James, at the ending of his story proper. ‘* Well?” ‘** Colonel Tarantula went to the cemetery last night an’ searched the tongueless man.” uby Rob started and uttered an oath. ‘*1 saw the whole proceedir’. He dug the corpse up, took it from the blanket it war wrap- ped in, an’ went through it as if he expected ter find suthin’ in the clothes.” ‘* But he found nothing?” ‘| ain’t so sartain about that.” ‘* What did he find and where?” **He took his knife an’ cut a corner off o’ the dummy’s coat. Thar may hev been suthin’ sewed up thar. I won’t say thar’ war, mind yer, but I remark that thar might hev been.” ‘* After he did that, what?” ‘‘He put the corpse back into the grave an’ covered it up.” Ruby Rob was silent fora moment. It was evident that this revelation was a startler. ‘** Thar is no doubt of it now. That man is on the trail!” he suddenly exclaimed. _, On what trail, cap’n?” ““ No difference, ou don’t know what he did with the piece of coat he cut away?” _ “He put it in his pocket an’ went off—that is, he seemed to do that from whar I war watchin’.” ‘* When does he shut up?” ‘* When the boys get tired.” ‘*Gold-dust, they must get tired early to- night,” said Captain Rob. ‘‘ See here; Diamond Dave has deserted, which leaves a vacancy in the banded pards of Satanscrown. I nominate and elect you to that position.” The eyes of Gold-dust James were seen to leap for joy. One of the pet ambitions of his life was about to be realized. He had long been anxious to be- come a member of the band that ran and ruled Satanscrown. He believed he had evidence that there was somewhere a bonanza in which they would share alike some day, and Ruby Rob’s eagerness over the piece of cloth cut by Colonel Tarantula from the coat of the dead was enough to confirm his belief, ‘Captain, [ve never been a candidate for the place, but if I kin be ov any sarvice to you in ther ranks, ’m yer man.” **'You will consider yourself one of the Six Jewels of Satanscrown,” continued Ruby Rob, giving Gold-dust James his bronzed hand in ‘ ) 5 ¥ ral ,--— . Py ‘i ‘“_ - Z. Onanza. : et token of pardship. night. That will be come back. You and I wi own, James.” ‘Name ther play,” said the new recruit. *“T’m not much on braggin’, cap’n, but when it comes down ter cool business you'll find Gold- dust James always on deck.” Captain Rob got up, went to the door and looked out. ‘** Hello!” he exclaimed. ‘‘ Colonel Tarantula - 7 **T will exact no oath to- ned till the boys play a game of our is closed,” and he came back to the Satanscrown | took from the Silent Hound’s corpse last night,” tough with delight on his countenance. ‘*T want what the colonel cut from the dead man,” he went on, resuming his seat at the rough table. ‘‘Gold-dust James, thar ar’ no secrets among the Jewels. Weare on the hunt of the biggest bonanza that ever existed. It doesn’t have to be mined when found. It is al- ready stamped coin,” ** Jehosaphat! that hits this pilgrim below the belt,” exclaimed the listener. ‘*Do you think that this Texas cool-blade knows aught about the bonanza?” ** He knows.” ‘*Then he shall leave the game!” cried Gold- dust James, and his hand fell with emphasis upon the table. ‘‘Just before Cuban Con left camp he came to me an’ said: ‘ You want ter watch that man. He's hyer with a game ov some kind,’ an’ I’ve had an eye on ‘im ever since. Con war no fool, cap’n.” ‘* Neither was Diamond Dave a coward till this new coyote showed his teeth in camp,” re- plied Ruby Rob with a smile. . on. Colonel Tarantula has shut up for the night. W hat shanty does he occupy?” ‘‘ Ho’s took possession of Cuban Con’s.” ‘Allright. Are you ready to follow me?” “Try me! that 1 am one ov the Jewels. done?” ‘* We want that man,” said the camp boss be- tween his teeth. ** The cemetery ‘find’ is, of course, on his per- son. If he isin his shanty now we go straizht to it.” ‘* We'll find him thar.” At that moment the man from Texas was in the little cabin which had belonged to Cuban Con. He had gone straight from the saloon to the structure, and he sat at a table on which he had laid a revolver. He had divested himself of his coat, for the night was warm and the cabin door stood slightly ajar. ‘** The boss of the hunt has come back,” he said to himself. ‘*I did not know that Ruby. Rob was the man who helped to rob me after I broke the Mexican bank in Taos, When I recognized him as that man, I could hardly keep my finger from the trigger, but I must play coolly the hand Ihold now. Lamon theright trail. The man who died in Satanscrown the other night was hunting Major Lossing’s daughter; and I know now that he was on the scent. If I had found on him what Ruby Rob must have found, I might not be here now. I knew he would come back. He and his men will do anything for the gold bonanza. The woman cannot harm me, although she is a viper of vipers. I hold her down by the threat to drag her to Frisco. She fell in a swoon at Diamond Dave’s feet when he told her that she was wanted at the ranch to swear that I killed the Silent Hound of Cali- fornia. She dared not face me, not even with the truth. I don’t take anybody into my games. I play them alone, and there is never a divide.” e seemed to laugh to himself at the conclu- sion of his last sentence, and his sparkling eyes wandered beyond the door where the moonlight lay. An at once a slight noise fell upon his ear, and he started up. ‘* Colonel, are you thar?” asked a voice at the oor. Colonel Tarantula was at the threshold in a moment, and found himself looking into the face of Captain Rob. Beyond the burly figure of the Satanscrown boss he caught a glimpse of another man, but before he could make him out, he was compelled to look into the suddenly leveled pistol of Cap- tain Rob. . ‘* Colonel, we've got ter play a little game for self-protection,” said Rub b, from behind the weapon which looked as “ugly” as his eyes. ‘*The man behind me is Gold-dust James. e want you, colonel.” _Colonel Tarantula answered not, he made no sign of resistance, and his hands kept at his sides as if the sudden action of Ruby Rob had glued them there. With a firm step he came from the cabin and looked into the faces of the pair. ‘‘T am here,” he said. ‘“ What is your pleas- ure, gentlemen?” ‘You will move forward, colonel. Remem- ber the touching of a revolver will be fatal to you,” responded Ruby Rob. ‘ This is Satans- crown, the worst place in Colorado, and I am its alcalde.” *‘{ think I’ve seen worse places than this, but we'll not argue that point here,” said Tarantula as he moved away covered by the revolvers of Ruby Rob and Gold-dust James. : No word was spoken until the last cabin was What’s ter be ; WV _ i 4 | | : ‘*But let me go | | robbed,” he said. You forget already, Cap’n Rob, | | ee eee | | large man was “ getting back to life,” as 11 behind the Texan and his captors and all were on the road that entered Satanscrown from the west. “* Halt!” All three mop at this word from Captain Rob’s lips, and Colonel Tarantula looked at his enemies, He had been halted in the moonlight and he saw above him the sides of the mountains and the dark net-work of trees. ** Colonel, in the first place we want what you said Captain Rob sternly. The sudden demand made Tarantula give a slight start, which made it evident that he had not expected this. ‘**Maybe you want more than [ve got,” he said eying Ruby Rob. ‘The man at my right is the living proof that you robbed the dead. He saw the wi ole rformance; you cut a corner from the Silent ound’s coat; there was something sewed up in it. We want that something, colonel. It 1s On your person now.” ‘*Does the spy know this, too?” asked Colonel | ecg giving Gold-dust James a withering ook. “TJ know it and that is enough!” grated Captain Rob. ‘1 may have to inform you, colonel, that the bluff games that win in Texas don’t work in Colorado, You are Jooking ito two revolvers that will launch death into your face if you refuse to surrender the find. When I first saw you in Satanscrown I could have guessed your mission. Shell out, colonel!” The little figure of the Texan sport a; peared to shoot up another inch in stature, ‘By Jupiter! I don’t like the idea of being ‘‘ And the thought of being killed is equally distasteful, I presume,” was the reply. in ‘‘ Neither one is pleasant,” smiled the colonel, and then his left hand moved as if reluctantly to his bosom. ‘* I did visit the dead man,” he went on, ‘‘ and I did carry away a corner of his coat.” “It contained something!” exclaimed Ruby Rob in his eagerness. “You are right. It contained a paper which does not interest me now for it was written in aid and I never was good at such things. There is a person in Satanscrown who has a peculiar faculty for solving such mysteries. You call her Nugget Nell, captain. I don’t believe there is a cipher written which that woman ~— cannot make out. As I am to be bulleted if [I don’t produce the paper I took from the Sey Ny here it is, captain, sewed up pretty much as found it.” Cojonel Tarantula extended his hand toward Ruby Rob, and the next moment the boss of Satanscrown held the coveted prize. — He could hardly suppress a cry of exultation. oe He knew that the Texan had not misjudged = Nugget Nell’s ability to decipher secret writing; already the mystery was as good as solved! Ves ‘Colonel, you will not objectif wecommand — you to face-about and keep your back to Satans- crown from now on,” the big sport said. “We —— don’t want you here. The thousanddollars paid by you to Cuban Con for the ranch youcan set down in the less side of the ledger of life. You — re-enter Satanscrown at your peril! You fetched no baggage to camp; you will take none cut, That is all, colonel. In the best of humor, we bid you good-night.” ere > The two men who expected to see eyes flash © and to hear an outburst of rage weredisappoint- ed. The face of the Texan did not change color: — there were no looks of madness. Were. ‘“*T’m one of those Poe whotakethings with- out grumbling,” said the colonel. “The games __ ag’in’ me now; it may turn in my favor at ‘ea another time, and somewhar else. I’ve been dropped so often that I’ve got kinder used toit. lt war my last available thousand; maybe Pl never have another. Idon’tcare much. Goed- night it is, captain. You won’t object if the game turns by an’ by?” t See ‘** Certainly not,” said Ruby Rob. wea Slowly Colonel Tarantula turned away and SFP walked from the sport. The two ruffians saw him go up the road through the moonshine,and gradually lost sight of him. Bers’ ‘** His coolness grounds me. Ineyersawany- thing like it,” said Captain Rob. “Remember! he is to be killed on sight if he ever showsupin —_—/ Satanscrown. Come! we have won the game we were playing.” iv fee The two men went back into the camp and =~ cc gs burst into the cabin occupied by Nug- t Neu. . eae aa I've got something for you,” he exclaimed cutting open the piece of cloth hebeld. “‘Hereis a a mystery for you to read.” os threw a piece of paper on the table; the __ woman picked it up. eet “This is no mystery,” she cried. “Itsimply reads: ‘The fools are not all dead yet!” 5h ee IN PIOUS PHIL’S CABIN. Via MEANTIME, miles away from Satanscrown a — ¥iA it. . oe The reader will recollect that we left Colorado comicbooks.com