Beadle's Dime Library No. 392 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

EES y er ial eg At ON GE gt Oe I ER IIE ie ( ls. ~ . ~ é<,"; i « * + 3 , eT een ae ee Ff > f a ~ é oe > SS oH: «a hawk by the eccentric man known as Colorado Car] Os. The two men had left the Hotel Occidental be- ‘hind, and as they went down the street not one wof the many people who noticed them thought ‘that one was the captive of the other. We remember, as we return to them, that the mountain Ishmaeliti had told Colonel Tarantula in plain language that if he showed any signs of treachery his life would immediately pay the forfeit, no matter where he was at the time, and ‘the manner in which the words were spoken lent a, stern sg, mee to their potency. Colonel Tarantula, plotting all the time, led ‘his captor down several streets before he turned abruptly toward the Chinese quarters. Colorado ‘Carlos saw the change at once, but he did not speak of it at the time. ‘* Is the girl in this part of the city?” he asked «at last, eying the colonel sternly. ‘* Don’t suppose I'd guide you wrong, eh?’ was the reply, and waiting not for the Ishmaelite to reply, Colonel Tarantula looked straight ahead and kept on, Three minutes later the two were in the heart of Chinatown, and everywhere were seen the Mongolian citizens of Frisco. ‘‘ This man is playing a game at a risk,” said ‘Colorado Carlos, looking down upon the person at his side. ‘* He is planning now to serve me a trick. I can see the scheme in his eye; he can’t conceal it, to save his soul.” The big sport, however, did not speak his sus- picions but let the cool Texan lead him on. At length a narrow street almost as dark as ‘an alley opened before the twain. Colonel "Tarantula was about to plunge in when the hand of Colorado Carlos fell lightly upon his sshoulder. ** See here! he said. “It is my way to the girl,” answered the col- eonel, with asmile. ‘* Ar’ ye afraid, Colorado” The bold eyes of the Colorado sport answered that question. ‘** No,” he said. ‘* Come on!” With a gleam of victory in his eyes, Colonel “Tarantula started forward and the moment he entered the darkness the click of a revolver as- sailed his ears. ‘* Jt is at your head, colonel,” said the voice of Colorado Carlos, and the word “it” was ex- plained by the cold muzzle of the unseen wea- pon as it touched the Texan’s head just over the. right ear. All this time Pious Phil and Idaho Ivan who had followed the couple from the hotel had not lost sight of them, but now the gloom of the dark street swallowed them up as effectually as if they had gone into a cavern. ‘* Shall we follow?” whispered the boy, look- ing up into the face of the lean alcalde. “No: there is another way through. When I frequented Chinatown I knew it lke a book, an’ I guess I hevn’t forgota single leaf. We kin beat ’em to the other street. Follow me.” Pious Phil turned away with the boy at his heels and entered a saloon kept by a Chinaman who stared at the alcalde a moment, and came forward with a grin, ‘*Not now, Hong Fo,” said Pious Phil. ** You've got a memory likea fox. I don’t want ter see you now. Thar’s other work on my hands.” te ’Melican Phil dlinkee with Hong Fo, any- ow. **No rot-gut—thanks!” and the lean alcalde, crossed the room thick with smoke and half- filled with the worst part of Chinatown. “i want the old way,” he added, in a whisper to Hong Fo. ‘I haven’t used it for years, but it is thar yet, I know.” **Wayshut up. ’Melican police findee outee.” ** We'llsee. Come, Idaho, These yellow dogs lie in their sleep.” aioe Be opened a aid = oe hee of the bar ung into a poorly li allway. “an Chinatown is undermined,” he weil on, ‘speaking rapidly. ‘“TIl show you one of the underground avenues, Here we are!” ed upward revealing a door and a flight of steps. t Go down,” he said to the ; Idaho Ivan obeyed; Pious Phil descended after him and shut the trap. ‘Give me yer hand! Ah! hyerit is!” he went on, and the next moment the boy was jerked forward and was running rapidly down a dark corridor in which he could not see his hand be- ~ fore his face. ° ‘‘ Tf we bring up suddenly against a wall there will be a catastrophe,” he laughed. If he had seen the hand that the lean alcalde kept o advance, he might have left his words , en. After the run of a minute Pious Phil came to a sudden stop. ‘* T hear voices,” said the boy. CUr course you do. We will go up an’ see the ers The Alcalde of Trigger Bar found a flight of ‘steps in the darkness, and a moment later by opening a trap-door similar to the one in Hong Pro's little back room, the two had emerged from tthe darkness of the underground retreat. Must we go through this street?” = o a wm 4a s int /> wy ® * ' ee - eee ee eS ~~ “ - ; ‘ Lost Bonanza. = : . Fy ys ate The 5 ‘*We have beaten Colorado and the colonel through the street,” said Pious Phil, with con- fidence, when they had passed through a saloon to the sidewalk. ‘‘ We will wait here till they show up, an’ then play ferret ag’in. I rather like trackin’, Idaho, but I’d sooner foller a trail in ther mountains.” The two pards stood within a few feet of the mouth of the narrow thoroughfare, and began to wait for the two men whom they had seen en- ter it on the other side. All at once a man came out. ‘* Look!” exclaimed Idaho Ivan. ‘‘Two went in, one came out.” The man who had emerged from the street was not Colorado Carlos. His build showed this, neither did he look like Colonel Tarantula. He was barely visible in the poor light that fell at the mouth of the narrow way. Pious Phil leaned anxiously forward; so did the boy. ‘‘ Heavens!” ejaculated the latter. “It is Colonel Tarantula, by all that’s holy! Where is Colorado Carlos?” At the same moment Pious Phil seemed to have made a like discovery. “They hev parted,” the mountain boy heard him say. ‘ The colonel worked one o’ his chap- arral games in the dark!” The Alealde of Trigger Bar went forward as the last word was spoken. His hand was at the butt of a revolver, and-Idaho Ivan’s keen ears heard a slight click. The man called Colonel Tarantula turned to- ward the lean alcalde before he had approached him by three steps. He appeared to have caught his tread, which was almost noiseless. ** Halt! [ve had foxes enough at my heels for one night!” flashed the Texan, and up went two revolvers as Pious Phil partly lifted his weapon, but stopped within a few feet of the mountain Ishmaelite’s late companion. Idaho Ivan stood spellbound at this thrilling tableau. ** About face!” commanded Colonel Taran- tula. ‘‘ I have killed a dozen men for following me a less distance than you have, Pious Phil. You have tracked me from the gold-camps, an’ I am to be shadowed through Frisco because you make my game yours. You did bring Colorado Carlos back ter life when Topaz Tom had drop- ped him on sight at Trigger Bar, Turn, an’ follow me no more! It is déath to dog the foot- steps of the chaparral king in the capital of the gold-coast. Now, my Colorado sleuth, about face! Pious Phil saw the leveled weapon over which these stern words came like notes of doom. “This man is as quick as a cat, an’ as merci- less as an Apache,” he said to himself. ‘‘ We will hev another chance at him if we let him go now.’ He turned his back to the cool Texan, but re- luctantly; his lips were glued together, and there was a flash in his eye. All at once one of Colonel Tarantula’s revol- vers dropped, and the next moment a loud re- port rung down the street. _ Pious Phil tottered against the nearest build- ing, but quickly recovered, and turned half-way round. Idaho Ivan darted forward, an excla- mation of horror on his lips. ‘*T am here, Texan coward!” he cried. ‘The game you play can never win while 1 hold a band!” The lean alcalde lifted his revolver at that moment and blazed away. It was the shot of a man half-stunned, and had no effect. In a moment Colonel Tarantula had disap- ecphie It was doubtful whether he had heard the boy. ‘““It war what we call a flesh shot, Idaho,” said the alcalde, showing the excited youth a bleeding furrow above his right ear. ‘“‘ { don’t like em thet close, but I take "em as they come. Thet man war ther colonel, sure enough. We'll see what kind 0’ game he played in ther dark.” Already Pious Phil seemed himself again. He icked up the hat that had been knocked off b he Texan’s bullet, and turned toward the dar street. ‘‘Colorado is somewhar in hyar,” he said to Ivan. ‘‘I don’t see how ther colonel could git away if he war Colorado’s prisoner.” **He went off alone, at any rate, and the e for the Lossing millions has en a new The two pards were in the little street which they had lately avoided by taking to the subter- ranean passageway under the Chinese saloons. Suddenly Pious Phil stopped and drew back with an expression that alarmed the young miner. “ Colorado Carlos.” wes ‘epic orado Carlos,” was the startlin ; Idaho Ivan knew that his Retapeaion had gone forward, and was stooping over some object of discovery. ‘Here is whar the colonel played his hand,” he went on in a low voice as the boy got down beside him, and then a match flashed up. A moment later a starting Oy parted the miner’s lips, for stretched at full length on his back across the narrow street lay the magnifi- cent fi of Colorado Carlos! | The huge arms were outstretched, and near ; . 23 one lay a revolver, which, beyond doubt, it ha lately Idaho Ivan, struck speechless by the spectacle, could only stare at the moun- tain king. ‘* Boy, you’ve heard ov ther weazel turnin’ on ther eagle in mid-air, heven’t yer?’ suddenly asked Pious Phil, with a strange smile at the corners of his mouth. ‘* Wal, this ar’ a case ov thet sort. Ther Texan weazel war too much for ther Colorado eagle.” The match was burning brilliantly now, and Idaho Ivan could see the handsonie features of i the mountain Ishmaelite. ‘Tell me that this magnificent fellow isn’t dead, Phil,” he said, laying his hand on Colo- rado’s pulse. ; ‘“‘ Td like ter do nothin’ better in ther world, — but I can’t,” was the answer. ‘‘Hyer is ther — iron-handled dagger that did ther work. This is ther Texan weazel’s tooth.” Idaho Ivan looked once at the weapon of death and sprung up. as this is for Kate’s inheritance,” he ex- Colonel Tarantula a # oe. e — oS Ata claimed. ‘‘ By heavens! shall never win the game!” CHAPTER XXVT. TWO THUNDERBOLTS. | ““Wuat is your report, Agate? Have we lost the trail in Frisco?” ak ‘It looks that way, cap’n. The game came hyer, thar’s no doubt about that. I have seen Colorado Carlos, an’ Pious Phil, an’ ther boy.” ‘* What boy? not—” | a? ‘Yes, ther youngster we thought fellinto the cabin pit from Topaz Tom’s hands when ther ~ mountain Ishmaelite dropped him in Satans- — crown. Some-how-or-other ther boy escaped.” Ruby Rob was silent. He could not contrive — by what means Idaho Ivan had escaped the fate to which he had been condemned; but it was no time to think about it in San Francisco. Itwas enough to hear Agate Alf say that the youn miner was in the city, and the discovery told — him that he and Pious Phil were hunting the _ Golden Gate heiress. re Captain Rob and his last pards, Onyx Olland ~ Agate Alf, occupied a small room in one of the — numerous second-class hotels of the city. Itwas the night after Colonel Tarantula’s adventure — with Colorado Carlos, The three Jewels had come together for con- — sultation. They had failed to find Mountain — Moss, but the failure bad not discouraged them. — With three and a quarter millions at stake, they were not going to quit the trail. They had © found the gold girl once, had even had herin | their clutches, but the cunning and coolness of the man who called himself Colonel Tarantula = had baffled them after an almost ceaseless hunt of eight years. ce They did not know that Colorada Carlos bad fallen beneath the dagger of the man he had — captured. Nobody had seen the play in the . dark. Colonel Tarantula had drawn a blade which he carried along his leg, and, with the _ quickness of the cat, had turned upon hisenemy, _ even when that enemy was holding a cocked re- _ volver within an inch of his head! Pe a ~~ Jue SOAS ef ‘““What do you say ter a play without girl?’ suddenly suggested Onyx Oll inthe room in which we found the three pards at the hea of the present chapter. | ie “Fudge! what kind of a play would that be? exclaimed Ruby Rob. ‘‘ Without Kate welose the whole sum. The girl must be found! Re- — member that we haven’t been long in Frisco. I~ can’t say that we hev the hang o’ the work hyer et. We hev seen Colonel Tarantula only to © ose him in Chinatown. What is yer play, “Tt war a scheme for tappin’ ther bank be- — forehand,” was the reply. ‘Thar ar’ three an’ hi a Fe millions for ther girl when produced.” ear ‘ “*T got a look at Leroy La Croix ther head trustee ter day. I studied him well until I dis- covered in him a man I used ter know in ther San Juan kentry when he warn’t worth ¢ ey dollar.” es “Can that be?” exclaimed Ruby Rob. “That man isa golden nabob hyer now.” } ast ‘*T don’t care what he is,” said Onyx Oll, with emphasis. ‘‘I reckon I haven’t forgotten Gold Gaston. Thar is French blood in his veins, — hence his present name, Leroy La Croix, for he cannot conceal his Sayer J ancestry. Know that man? If I war ter walk into his bank an’ _ mm: Je- ’ -+ * 3} re say, ‘Hello Gold Gaston! he’d jump outo’ his clothes in spite ov his collar. Id like ter do it, too; hang me for a Greaser ef I wouldn't.” ‘“But your scheme?” said Captain Rob, eagerly. _ ‘¢ What is it, Onyx?” iS +: “Simply this. I walk into La Croix’s presence — an’ say: ‘ What’ll you give meif I don’t fet ch | Golden Gate Kate for’ard? That will take his breath ov course, an’ then he may laugh in my ace + here, Soh 2 < Gg e* ay “That is just what he will do, an’ you wil on ecny if you ar’ not put out,” smiled Agate ‘*Ttll never come ter thet.” gri Onyx Oll, “If he laughs at me T’ll lean for’ard an’gay, — ‘This is bizness, Gold Gaston.’ He won’t heva a ov color arter thet harmless remark. rt Soe ow that man. Gold Gaston is changed Pi : - a a 9 Be a t com (E} 0)e)) C 7 @ ft |" ( } _ | | . => oa ‘am e